“Your boyfriend is here to pick you up after class.”

What a fascinating phrasing.

For the first twenty years of his life, Zou Yang had never once imagined this sentence would have anything to do with him—let alone that a single line like this could leave him utterly absentminded through two full morning classes.

Empiricism forms the very bedrock of research…

What time is it? Has Fan Jun finished his hospital discharge procedures yet?

The pathway of the broadcaster, the transmitter, and the receiver…

Would Uncle Lu and the others go pick Fan Jun up? Oh, probably not. Fan Jun wasn’t living in Nanzhouping anymore, so there was no need to take such a long detour to fetch him…

“The Vatican?” Liu Wenrui whispered beside him. “What does this have to do with the Vatican?”

“Van Duijn!” Zou Yang glanced down at the book on Liu Wenrui’s desk. “Could you at least flip your book open and glance at it?”

“Old Yu has an accent,” Liu Wenrui tutted.

“Your brain lacks folds,” Zou Yang countered.

“True, though I wonder how many folds you have left now that you’re in a relationship,” Liu Wenrui remarked. “Anyway, I’m counting on you for the practical simulation next period.”

Zou Yang let out a sigh.

“Oh, and that lesson plan design,” Liu Wenrui added.

“Just drop out of school,” Zou Yang suggested.

“Even Longlong is still hanging in there, I’m definitely not dropping out,” Liu Wenrui said, stretching his arms.

【Fan】I’ve arrived. Come straight over once your class is dismissed.

【Zou yang】Mm.

“So you won’t be having lunch with us, then,” Liu Wenrui noted.

“Are you peeking at my phone?” Zou Yang asked.

“Do I even need to peek?” Liu Wenrui looked highly disdainful. “Right now, whenever your finger touches that screen, you’re chatting with Fan Jun. Do I even need to peek?!”

“As expected of my brother.” Zou Yang slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“And I guess you won’t be having dinner either,” Liu Wenrui sighed. “You definitely won’t be coming back to the dorm tonight. We have class tomorrow morning, can you even make it back in time?”

“I’ll make it back,” Zou Yang said.

“Fine,” Liu Wenrui scraped his fingers across his eyes twice. “We shall wait and see.”

The spot where he had waited for the bus with Fan Jun last time wasn’t far from the main school gate; almost all the students heading out to find something to eat would pass by here.

Zou Yang scanned the area as he walked over, but he didn’t spot Fan Jun.

He didn’t even need to look closely—one sweeping glance was enough to tell him Fan Jun wasn’t there.

He had forgotten to ask Fan Jun how he was picking him up. Was he coming on foot, or was he driving He Chuan’s car?

【Zou yang】Where are you? Have you reached the main gate?

【Fan】Go stand in the open space next to the lamp post.

What kind of nonsense was this?

Zou Yang turned his head and looked around. There was indeed a lamp post, and a few shared bikes were parked beside it.

Feeling somewhat bewildered, he walked over and stood in place anyway.

Once he stood there, it suddenly clicked. This spot seemed to be the exact location where the two of them had been captured by the map panorama car back then.

Just as he was wondering what Fan Jun was up to, a mecha-styled electric scooter rounded the intersection.

A smile lingered on the corners of Zou Yang’s mouth as he watched Fan Jun—his left shoulder and arm still immobilized by the medical brace—use his right hand to steer the scooter, pulling to a stop right in front of him.

“Hey, handsome,” Fan Jun tilted his head, looking up at him. “Are you alone?”

“Your unc… Hey, handsome,” Zou Yang was slightly speechless, but he played along anyway. “I’m waiting for my… boyfriend.”

“Is it me?” Fan Jun asked.

“…Yes,” Zou Yang said.

Fan Jun smiled and dismounted.

Zou Yang stepped forward, pushed him aside gently, and rolled the scooter onto the sidewalk to park it properly.

“Are you out of your mind? Operating a vehicle in this state!” He glared at Fan Jun.

“You’ll be the one driving me in a bit,” Fan Jun smiled, stepping up to stand right in front of him.

“Why did you make me stand like a pillar over here?” Zou Yang asked.

“To take a photo.” Fan Jun pulled out his phone and stepped up right next to him.

Understanding his intention, Zou Yang let out a laugh: “You psycho.”

“The map hasn’t been updated yet, and who knows how long it will take,” Fan Jun said. “I just thought it would be pretty interesting to take another photo in the exact same spot.”

“Mm, we could even take one every year,” Zou Yang took the phone from his hand. “Do you still remember what posture we were in back then?”

“I remember,” Fan Jun turned to look at him. “Do you?”

Zou Yang didn’t say a word. He rested his arm over Fan Jun’s shoulder and flashed a peace sign toward the camera lens.

Fan Jun smiled and raised his hand to flash a peace sign as well.

“Smile,” Zou Yang instructed.

“11:36 AM,” Fan Jun said. “A single instant in our lives.”

After snapping the photo, Zou Yang looked down at the screen. When they took it last year, he had been wearing a plaster cast; this year, Fan Jun was wearing a medical brace… Talk about a couple sharing trials and tribulations.

A couple.

Zou Yang suddenly felt a brief wave of absence.

A couple.

“Sorry to interrupt you two handsome guys,” a voice suddenly spoke from behind them. “Could we trouble you for a few minutes? I’m a street photographer…”

Street photographer, my foot.

Zou Yang turned around, glaring at Liu Wenrui who was standing right behind them.

Beside him stood Li Zhiyue and Zhang Chuanlong, both grinning widely.

“My name is Respect,” Liu Wenrui insisted on finishing his self-introduction. “I think you two look incredibly handsome. May I take a photo for you guys free of charge?”

“But we… actually have something to do…” At this moment, Fan Jun put on a look of sheer dilemma, cooperating perfectly to catch the cue.

“Watch fewer short videos, please!” Zou Yang stared at him.

“Just five minutes,” Liu Wenrui said, thrusting his phone right in front of their faces. “You can take a look at my portfolio…”

Zou Yang had no choice but to glance at the phone.

The prop was thoroughly half-hearted. In the opened photo album, the first few pictures were all close-up shots of Zhang Chuanlong sleeping like a log during class.

“With this kind of quality, you still call yourself a photog—” Zou Yang felt like he couldn’t even keep up the act anymore.

“Alright, we’re in a bit of a rush. Make it quick,” Fan Jun said.

“Great, it’ll be fast,” Liu Wenrui walked to the edge of the street. “Were you two going for this angle just now?”

“…Yes,” Zou Yang said.

“Glasses, rest your arm over Scarface’s shoulder, just like you did earlier.” Liu Wenrui raised his phone.

“Care to repeat that nickname one more time?” Zou Yang rested his arm back over Fan Jun’s shoulder.

“Hey, it’s not like I actually know you two, I’m just a street photographer…” Liu Wenrui chattered as he pressed the shutter button.

The two of them raised their hands to flash peace signs, repeating the exact same pose as before.

“Alright, off you go, you two,” Liu Wenrui looked down at his screen. “I’ll send the photo to you guys in a bit.”

“Where are you guys heading?” Zou Yang looked toward Li Zhiyue. “Without me around, you guys shouldn’t be heading out to eat… Don’t tell me you specifically stalked us?”

“We’re heading to the back gate to get some rice noodles,” Li Zhiyue smiled. “We only spotted you two after we stepped out of the school gates.”

“Want to join us for rice noodles, Brother Fan?” Zhang Chuanlong asked Fan Jun.

“No,” Zou Yang declined on his behalf.

“I’ll treat you guys to a huge feast another day,” Fan Jun offered.

“Which day?” Zhang Chuanlong inquired.

“…Tomorrow,” Fan Jun said.

“Deal,” Zhang Chuanlong nodded. “Thanks, Brother Fan.”

Once the others walked away, Zou Yang straddled Fan Jun’s scooter and tilted his head toward him: “Get on.”

“What kind of rice noodles are they having?” Fan Jun sat down behind him, wrapping his right arm around Zou Yang’s waist.

“There’s a newly opened pickled cabbage noodle shop near the back gate, they’re running a buy-one-get-one-free grand opening promotion,” Zou Yang started the scooter. “I’ve been eating there with them for three consecutive days.”

“Then how are the three of them going to split it today?” Fan Jun asked.

“They’re all students from our school, they can just grab a random person once they get there.” As Zou Yang steered the scooter down the curb, the vehicle jolted slightly, prompting Fan Jun’s arm to tighten.

Zou Yang patted Fan Jun’s hand gently.

“Even a complete stranger is fine?” Fan Jun asked.

“Anyone works,” Zou Yang said. “It’s a win-win cooperation. It doesn’t matter whether we know them or not, as long as we split the bill.”

“That’s pretty nice.” Fan Jun smiled, resting his chin on Zou Yang’s shoulder.

“What’s pretty nice?” Zou Yang tilted his head slightly.

“University students,” Fan Jun said.

“There’s plenty of annoying ones too,” Zou Yang tutted. “Our dorm is alright, but the guys next door fight every single day. They even broke a bed frame to pieces once.”

“Fighting?” Fan Jun paused for a moment. “Oh.”

“Fan Jun?” Zou Yang couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “What is up with you?”

Fan Jun smiled without a word, the arm wrapping around Zou Yang tightening a fraction more.

Everything along the street of Commercial City remained exactly the same—the sunlight, the cobblestone paths, and the blue roof tiles reflecting subtle glints of light.

The moment they stepped into “Chuan & Lu,” they could catch a distinct scent of patchouli. He Chuan loved using patchouli and agarwood the most for his self-made incense, and Zou Yang could smell it every single time he visited.

“You didn’t even drop a line when you got discharged,” He Chuan set down the teacup in his hand. “I could have driven over to pick you up.”

“Would the shop close if you did?” Fan Jun countered.

“Is that a problem?” He Chuan waved a hand dismissively.

“Then you’ll drive me out in a bit,” Fan Jun looked at him.

“I’ll just lend you the car,” He Chuan said.

“My hand can’t drive right now.” Fan Jun gestured with the medical brace on his arm.

“Zou Yang can drive,” He Chuan looked at his arm. “When can that thing be taken off?”

“Why?” Fan Jun asked.

“Three days? Five days?” He Chuan mused.

“Just tell me which day and where we need to go,” Fan Jun said.

“Linjiadu this weekend,” He Chuan said. “It’s all timber—a few old stumps, sunken wood, that kind of stuff. While we’re at it, help Old Sun inspect some lightning-struck wood.”

“Me?” Fan Jun asked.

“Yeah,” He Chuan nodded. “He Lu’s witch shop is starting its trial operations these few days, so I have to help keep an eye on the Plaza shop.”

“Witch shop?” Zou Yang felt a bit curious.

“It’s just some tarot and astrology shop, packed with all sorts of tools, very occult,” He Chuan waved his hand. “Can’t make heads or tails of it.”

“Sounds pretty interesting,” Zou Yang remarked.

“Exactly, it’s precisely what kids your age like the most,” He Chuan said. “Go check it out once it’s fully set up.”

“Car keys,” Fan Jun held out his hand. “I’m heading out in a bit. You don’t need the car this afternoon, right?”

“Aren’t you working?” He Chuan asked.

“I’m still on leave today,” Fan Jun stated.

He Chuan dropped the car keys into his palm: “Linjiadu this weekend. There are still four days left, that thing should be ready to come off by then… Even if it isn’t off, it shouldn’t be an issue, it’s less than two hundred kilometers…”

Fan Jun went to the backyard to soothe Xiao Bai before heading up to the second floor with Zou Yang.

“Where are we heading in a bit?” Zou Yang whispered.

Fan Jun caught Da Hei, who had scrambled all the way up his leg onto his stomach, and said in a low voice: “Accompany me to go look at apartments.”

“What?” Zou Yang was stunned, his voice almost cracking as he failed to suppress it. “You’re buying an apartment?”

“What are you thinking,” Fan Jun laughed. “Renting.”

“You’re not staying here anymore?” Zou Yang asked.

“It was only meant to be temporary anyway,” Fan Jun explained. “Back then… I wasn’t really in the right headspace to look for a place.”

“You are now.” Zou Yang cupped his face.

“Yeah.” Fan Jun nodded.

“Do you have options in mind?” Zou Yang rubbed his cheeks.

“Two,” Fan Jun said. “Help me take a look so we can choose one.”

“Sure,” Zou Yang said, leaning in to plant a kiss on his lips.

Then, his hand slithered across Fan Jun’s body, lifting his shirt to feel upward from the waist… only to hit the bandages.

He had no choice but to slide his hand around the back from the waist, but when he tried to pull him close, the left arm brace blocked the space between them.

“Screw this.” Zou Yang tried a few angles but couldn’t get a proper hold. Ultimately, he reached downward, sliding his hand past the waistband of Fan Jun’s pants to give his butt a firm squeeze.

Fan Jun laughed, pressing a kiss against the side of his neck.

“Hold on, I’ve got it,” Zou Yang gripped his shoulders to turn him half a round, wrapping his arms around him tightly from behind. A solid, full embrace. The sheer completeness of it made him feel thoroughly comfortable, and he closed his eyes. “How much longer until this brace can come off?”

“About a week. It’s mainly to prevent straining the wound,” Fan Jun said.

“Mm,” Zou Yang murmured against the back of his neck, the hand resting on Fan Jun’s stomach unable to resist sliding downward a bit.

“Zou Yang,” Fan Jun called his name.

“Hmm?” Zou Yang’s hand continued its downward trajectory, tugging open the pants to slip inside.

“Is our smallest window lattice in the second-floor storeroom?” He Chuan’s voice suddenly echoed up from the stairwell.

Zou Yang caught a fright. He snapped his eyes open and was just about to pull his hand back when Fan Jun already used his hip to nudge him away.

“Holy shit,” Zou Yang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“There are a few,” Fan Jun walked over to the door. “They’re placed on top of the box over there.”

“Then I won’t go up, it’s a waste of legs,” He Chuan stood at the landing. “Bring them down for me when you come down later. Someone wants them later today. Are there a few?”

“Four,” Fan Jun went over and rummaged through the box. “Don’t you know your own inventory?”

“No idea, I never keep count of these small knick-knacks,” He Chuan said.

“Don’t say stuff like that in the future! It’s enough that you know you’re clueless yourself,” Zou Yang walked over to the doorway. “Why tell Fan Jun? Are you going to blame him if they go missing?”

“Whoa,” He Chuan looked at Zou Yang and burst out laughing. “Sharp mind you’ve got there.”

“Did you actually have a plan to frame him?” Zou Yang asked.

“Am I insane?” He Chuan turned to head downstairs. “I’d dare frame my own clients before I’d ever dare frame him.”

Fan Jun brought out the window lattices, stepped into the room to put on his jacket, and said, “Let’s go.”

“We really need to find an apartment quickly,” Zou Yang whispered.

“Hmm? Are you afraid he’ll frame me?” Fan Jun whispered back.

“Not exactly,” Zou Yang smiled. “It’s mainly… inconvenient. Doing that just now could easily scare a medical condition out of me. I’m young, I can’t handle these kinds of shocks.”

“…Oh.” Fan Jun cast a glance at him.

The two options for apartments were both near Commercial City—one at the south exit and one at the north exit. Both were one-bedroom units, similar to the tiny place back in Nanzhouping.

“There were a few others that were pretty good too, but only these two landlords allow pets,” Fan Jun said.

“Why didn’t you look at two-bedroom apartments?” Zou Yang asked.

“We wouldn’t need two bedrooms,” Fan Jun said.

“Aren’t you going to reserve a room for me?” Zou Yang turned his head to look at him.

“Watch the road, turn right,” Fan Jun pointed ahead, then turned to glance at him. “When you come over to stay with me… you’re going to sleep in a separate room?”

“What if we get into a fight?” Zou Yang challenged.

“Sleep in the living room then,” Fan Jun said. “It’s not like you haven’t done it before.”

“Screw you,” Zou Yang burst out laughing.

Both apartments were in similar condition and practically at the same distance—both were old units with no interior design to speak of.

However, the first option consisted of two interconnected buildings with a large platform in the middle. The moment Zou Yang saw it, he felt a sudden spasm of phantom discomfort in his stomach.

He preferred the second option. Looking out from the living room window, one could see a stretch of low-rise buildings from the urban village. Though it looked a bit cluttered, the view was relatively more open and carried a greater sense of everyday life.

“Let’s go with this one then,” Fan Jun said. “It’s settled. Moving tomorrow.”

“I have class early tomorrow morning,” Zou Yang said.

“I can handle it myself. The items are all at the old gym, I’ll just get Lao Si and the guys to give me a ha—” Fan Jun cut himself off halfway, glancing over at Zou Yang.

Zou Yang didn’t make a sound, simply leaning against the car window while watching him.

“Do you need to help out with this too?” Fan Jun asked.

“Strictly speaking, I don’t have to,” Zou Yang tutted. “But… how should I put it? This marks the beginning of your new life, right? Am I supposed to be completely absent from it?”

“…Then I’ll wait until you’re out of class,” Fan Jun said.

To actively participate in Fan Jun’s new life, Zou Yang stood up and headed straight out the door the moment his first class ended.

“Hey?” Liu Wenrui grabbed his arm. “Leaving just like that?”

“We don’t have any more classes anyway.” Zou Yang looked at him.

“No,” Liu Wenrui wore a face of profound tragedy. “Tomorrow we have to discuss the group lesson plan in class! Are you just going to abandon it?”

“I’ll write it, you go up and present it,” Zou Yang said.

“Will you actually write it? Do you even have time to write it?!” Liu Wenrui gripped him tightly, refusing to let go.

“I have time,” Zou Yang said. “When have I ever let you down?”

“You haven’t before, but you weren’t in a relationship back then either,” Liu Wenrui argued. “I’m just lacking reassurance here, alright?”

“I’ll give it to you tonight,” Zou Yang promised.

“You said it,” Liu Wenrui pointed a finger at him. “You promised.”

“I promised,” Zou Yang patted his hand. “Rest assured.”

One good thing about a place like Nanzhouping was that it was incredibly easy to find people to help out.

The fitness equipment, bookshelves, and desks in Fan Jun’s original bedroom didn’t amount to much when gathered together. Aside from Lao Si, seven or eight neighbors turned up to help move.

Zou Yang and Fan Jun basically stood on the sidelines to spectate.

His mother stood in the kitchen, watching them through the window.

Zou Yang felt a bit awkward, but after lingering for a bit, he stepped into the kitchen anyway.

“Mom,” he walked up to her side.

“Are you two… moving in together?” his mother asked softly.

“No,” Zou Yang denied it hurriedly. “No, it’s too far, it wouldn’t be convenient for my classes.”

“I don’t know what’s come over me,” his mother lowered her head, letting out a soft sigh. “To be honest, I didn’t get to see you all the time in the past either, but now I keep feeling…”

Zou Yang didn’t speak, simply listening to her.

“You’ve grown up, you’re leaving,” his mother said. “You’re going to live your own life.”

Zou Yang wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulders. He understood this feeling of hers.

His father had left to live his own life.

His mother had also left to live her own life.

The nature of the feeling might not be entirely identical, but the exact same sense of loss had entangled him for many years.

He didn’t know how to comfort his mother.

He himself had only felt certain missing pieces get filled up because he now had Fan Jun in his life.

“Children have to grow up eventually,” Zou Yang held his mother, rocking her gently. “I’ve simply grown up, that’s all.”

“Mm.” His mother nodded.

“Once things settle down, I’ll come over for dinner,” Zou Yang said. “I want to eat stewed tofu.”

“Alright, I’ll make it for you,” his mother smiled, then patted his hand as a thought struck her. “Oh right, I forgot to ask you something. Have you collected your living expenses for this month yet?”

“Ah, right,” Zou Yang only just remembered. His father hadn’t transferred any money to him. “I thought he would just transfer it directly. I already told him that from now on, it’ll be two people whenever I go over, so if he doesn’t want to see us, he could just transfer the money.”

“He won’t do that, given his personality,” his mother frowned. “The more defiant you are, the more he wants to suppress you.”

“It’s fine,” Zou Yang said. “Then I’ll just head over there. Did he… call you?”

“Yes,” his mother looked thoroughly displeased. “He didn’t say much else, it just felt like he had anger with nowhere to vent, so he came over to my end to disgust me.”

“Is that so,” Zou Yang curved his lips into a smirk. “I’ll go find him in a couple of days.”

“Don’t go causing trouble,” his mother turned to look at him. “It was fine when you were alone before, but now you’re bringing Fan Jun along too…”

“Fan Jun is incredibly stable, you said so yourself,” Zou Yang countered.

“He’s not stable, I’ve realized it now. The moment he’s with you, he becomes less stable—he even helped you smash a car!” His mother grew a bit anxious as she spoke. “Don’t you two go over there and beat people up!”

Zou Yang smiled without a word, looking through the window at Fan Jun outside.

As if sensing his gaze, Fan Jun turned his head and looked over as well.

Zou Yang pouted his lips, blowing him a kiss across the distance.

Fan Jun’s eyes instantly widened significantly.

Zou Yang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Fan Jun swiftly averted his gaze.

His mother looked up at him in complete bewilderment: “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Zou Yang cleared his throat.

“Alright,” his mother gave him a push. “Hurry up and get out there, it makes me feel uneasy watching you hover around in here.”

“Mm.” Smiling, Zou Yang released his mother, walked out of the kitchen, and stood right beside Fan Jun.

“Are you sick or something?” Fan Jun muttered.

“Do you like it?” Zou Yang asked.

“…I do.”