When getting off “work” from No. 7 High School, Zou Yang walked out of the school gates to the spot where Fan Jun usually parked to pick him up. He looked around for a long time but didn’t see He Chuan’s beat-up pickup truck.

“Not here yet?” Liu Wenrui asked.

“Not here?” Zhang Chuanlong had earphones in, listening to who-knows-what. “Do we need to go pick him up?”

“Longlong, don’t speak,” Li Zhiyue said.

“He just told me he arrived.” Zou Yang took out his phone.

Just as he was about to make a call, someone whistled behind him.

Frivolous!

Zou Yang turned his head.

Fan Jun walked out of a nearby supermarket holding a shopping bag, the corner of his mouth turning up into a smirk at him.

“Fan-ge,” the guys greeted him.

“Dropping you guys back at school?” Fan Jun asked.

“Yeah,” Liu Wenrui looked around. “Where’s the car parked?”

“I drove a slightly nicer car today…” Fan Jun pulled a car key from his pocket and pressed it. A dark purple BMW parked on the side of the road flashed its lights.

“Where did this come from?” Zou Yang paused in surprise. “You bought a car?”

“What are you thinking? He Chuan bought it last month, kept it parked over by the shopping plaza,” Fan Jun smiled. “Drove it over to the Trade City last night.”

“This car is pretty nice,” Zhang Chuanlong said. “How much was it?”

“Not sure about the exact amount. Maybe 400,000 all done?” Fan Jun said.

“My family definitely wouldn’t agree to buy me this,” Zhang Chuanlong said.

“Nonsense,” Li Zhiyue said. “Losing 400,000 right out the gate upon graduation, who’d take that deal.”

Despite saying that, the guys still surrounded the car and started examining it.

“He let you take his new car out?” Zou Yang asked in a low voice.

“I said I’d drive the pickup,” Fan Jun replied softly, “but he has to deliver a couple of stone slabs to someone later, so he told me to drive this.”

“He Chuan as a person…” Zou Yang said, “You could say he’s a shrewd businessman, but you could also say he’s pretty solid.”

“Yeah.” Fan Jun smiled.

Zou Yang thought about it and clicked his tongue. “Mainly it’s because when things happen, you really step up.”

Taking a slight detour to drop the guys off at school, Fan Jun then drove toward Nanzhouping.

He even turned on the navigation.

“What,” Zou Yang said, “it hasn’t even been that long since you moved out of Nanzhouping and you already don’t know the way?”

“No,” Fan Jun smiled. “Just for fun.”

Zou Yang looked at him without speaking.

“What is it?” Fan Jun asked.

“Jun’er, you’re pretty cute.” Zou Yang leaned against the car door, staring at him.

“…Oh,” Fan Jun glanced at him. “What’s the situation at the hospital?”

“Looking at my dad’s condition, he won’t last more than a few days,” Zou Yang said. “Can’t move, can’t speak, not a single good patch of skin on his whole body. I don’t know if he’s lucid, but he’s not in a coma either… To be honest, living like this now is worse than being dead.”

“Are you really okay?” While stopped at a red light, Fan Jun reached out and gently stroked his face. “If I dared to say that right now, you’d probably cuss me out.”

“Anyway, I won’t be stimulated into a fever over it again,” Zou Yang sighed. “It’s just a bit of an indescribable feeling. We were just arguing a few days ago, and in the blink of an eye, he ended up like this. He was such a particular person, someone who cared so much about his image…”

Fan Jun didn’t speak, his fingers gently pinching Zou Yang’s earlobe rhythmically.

“What did you buy at the supermarket just now?” Zou Yang asked.

“Snacks and stuff,” Fan Jun said. “I told Uncle Lu we were coming over for dinner. He definitely would have told Monkey, Sun Xulei, and that bunch of kids. Brought them something to eat.”

“Mm,” Zou Yang responded.

Even though his mom was still in Nanzhouping, he felt like it had been a long time since he last visited the place.

To him, Nanzhouping—going from unfamiliar to familiar, from unforgettable back to slightly unfamiliar again—was always a place that brought about indescribable feelings.

Nanzhouping was changing. The area around the old gym—perhaps because it was slated for demolition—seemed the same as before on the surface, but inexplicably gave off a feeling of being more desolate than in the past.

It was only when the car turned onto the street of the old gym and he saw the courtyard gates that this feeling slowly faded.

Both sides of the street looked the same as always. Those storefronts, as old as the block itself, were still in their original state. The various vegetable stalls that were set up on the sidewalks on both sides past 5 PM still had their chaotic yet inherently orderly appearance.

The courtyard gate was open, so Fan Jun drove the car straight in.

Uncle Lu poked his head out of the kitchen, staring at the car until Zou Yang rolled down the window. Only then did he smile and turn back to say something into the kitchen.

“Fan-ge!” Monkey was the first to dart out of the kitchen. He rushed to the side of the car and lunged at the passenger door, slapping Zou Yang, who was just about to get out, right back into his seat.

“Yang-ge!” he shouted again.

“Hey,” Zou Yang responded.

“Long time no see!” Monkey yelled, looking at him.

Zou Yang was a bit surprised. He wasn’t very familiar with these kids. Aside from Sun Xulei having spoken to him a few times, he had basically only seen the other kids in passing.

Monkey’s words inexplicably moved him a little.

Before he could answer, Sun Xulei and a few other kids squeezed over as well.

The car was instantly filled with their shouting.

“Move aside!” Fan Jun pointed at them while turning off the engine. “This isn’t my car, don’t scratch it!”

The gang of kids immediately backed away, but then simultaneously circled around to the driver’s side, lining up on both sides to welcome their beloved Fan-ge out of the car.

Zou Yang quickly got out and walked briskly into the kitchen.

Uncle Lu and his mom were both in the kitchen, busy cooking.

Probably because Fan Jun was back, Lu Ze was actually there too. Just like always, he was sitting at the far end of the dining table playing on his phone.

Hearing Zou Yang enter, he looked up and glanced over.

In the past, he wouldn’t have even given that glance, or if he did, it would just be a cursory sweep and that was it.

But now…

He nodded at Zou Yang and said, “You’re here.”

“Yeah,” Zou Yang responded.

That was almost worse than not greeting at all.

“Been tired these past few days?” His mom walked over and touched his face.

A vegetable leaf was stuck to his face. Mom quickly pinched it off, shook her hand, thought for a moment, and turned around to wash her hands anyway.

“Uncle Lu,” Zou Yang greeted Uncle Lu, walking over to his mom’s side. “Not exactly tired, just having to get up past six in the morning. I’m terribly sleepy.”

“Did you go to the hospital to see your dad?” his mom asked softly while wiping her hands.

“Yeah,” Zou Yang nodded. “Not doing so well. People from his company and his lawyer were there.”

“He just brought this on himself,” his mom sighed. “And harmed a bunch of people too…”

“He has a will. If he really passes, the lawyer will come find me,” Zou Yang said in a low voice. “Don’t answer any calls from his side for a while.”

“Okay,” his mom nodded, then looked at him again. “You shouldn’t… go there anymore either. If you go too much, they might start getting ideas. Nobody is after his little bit of money.”

“Whatever he leaves me, I won’t take a penny less,” Zou Yang said.

“We aren’t short on money,” his mom said. “I’m mainly afraid they’ll start making trouble with you.”

“Make what trouble? Am I scared of them causing a scene?” Zou Yang clicked his tongue. “I have plenty of time.”

“Stubborn as a mule,” Mom lightly smacked him.

“What’s given to him is his,” Uncle Lu chimed in from the side. “If it’s his, he should take it. It’s not about coveting the money, it’s just that there’s no need to take that kind of loss.”

“You’re the expert,” his mom also clicked her tongue, frowning. “What if he didn’t leave a single cent to Xiao Yang? He’s been out there… for so many years.”

“Then just let it be. We aren’t after the money anyway,” Uncle Lu said.

Mom paused.

Zou Yang started laughing.

The food was ready quickly. Two large pots, smelling delicious.

Lu Ze’s girlfriend came over after getting off work too, making the room lively with people.

Zou Yang had initially only thought that he hadn’t come to see his mom in a while and wanted to drop by for a meal. He didn’t expect the gathering to be even more complete than during the New Year.

The crowd was definitely all gathered by Uncle Lu. Making it so grand actually made Zou Yang feel a little embarrassed.

“Before everyone left, it used to always be this lively here,” Fan Jun whispered. “They’re used to it.”

“Now…” Zou Yang thought for a moment. “It’s normally not this crowded, right?”

“Now, unless it’s the weekend when these kids come over, it’s hard to gather this many people,” Fan Jun smiled. “Just taking this opportunity to liven things up.”

“Fan-ge!” Monkey called out. “Can they drink alcohol?”

“No,” Fan Jun said, pointing at him. “And neither can you.”

The group of kids instantly let out long sighs.

“What’s with the noise?” Fan Jun said. “People who didn’t know better would think you drink every day.”

“Pineapple beer then,” Uncle Lu smiled, opening the fridge. “Drink this, at least it has the word ‘beer’ in it.”

The kids cheered again, though who knew why they were so happy.

By the end of the meal, Zou Yang was slightly sweating. His fever was completely gone, but he just felt exhausted.

He didn’t know if it was from the fever or because his physical exertion yesterday was a bit much…

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

“I’m stuffed.” Zou Yang put down his bowl.

“Are you full?” his mom looked at him. “How much longer is that observation period? Why does it feel like you’ve lost weight?”

“I really haven’t lost weight,” Zou Yang said. “Aside from getting up early, the observation isn’t tiring. It’s much easier than classes.”

“Jun’er definitely lost weight, though,” Mom looked at Fan Jun again. “You lost weight, right?”

Mom had always been obsessed with the weight of every kid she considered hers.

“A little bit.” Fan Jun said.

“Then you have to eat more.” Mom said.

“It’s because he was injured and did less strength training.” Lu Ze, who had barely opened his mouth all meal except to eat, suddenly spoke up.

Zou Yang quickly turned his head away, wanting to laugh.

“Ah?” Mom was taken aback.

“Just been running lately, right?” Lu Ze looked at Fan Jun.

“Yeah.” Fan Jun buried his head, scarfed down the rest of the rice in his bowl, and put down his chopsticks.

“How’s your hand recovering?” Uncle Lu asked.

“Not bad.” Fan Jun said.

“Is it really not bad?” Zou Yang, sitting on a chair in the training gym, watched the group of kids flipping back and forth on the mats, seemingly unafraid of puking out the stomachs full of food they just ate.

“The doctor said to keep at it, the recovery will get faster and faster later on,” Fan Jun said. “I was too impatient before.”

“Not impatient anymore?” Zou Yang glanced at him.

“Yeah, not impatient anymore,” Fan Jun smiled. He grabbed a boxing glove that someone had left on a nearby rack and threw it at Sun Xulei, who was practicing with Monkey. “Don’t drop your hands!”

The glove hit Sun Xulei right on the head. He yelled out, “Ah! I’m used to it! If they drop, they drop!”

“Get over here!” Fan Jun stood up and walked to the training area.

“Get over there!” Monkey put his hands on his hips.

Sun Xulei clicked his tongue and walked over.

“Come on.” Fan Jun took a starting stance.

Sun Xulei was a bit reluctant, but still raised his fists, and then seriously threw a combination at Fan Jun’s palms.

The smack-smack-smack sounds had plenty of force.

“Very good,” Fan Jun lifted his chin. “Again.”

Sun Xulei couldn’t handle praise; one sentence and he immediately got cocky. With the next combination, he dropped his hands right away, his right hand failing to return to a defensive position in time after throwing a punch.

Fan Jun followed up immediately with a slap to his head with his left hand.

“Holy crap!” Sun Xulei yelled. Startled and distracted, he neglected his left hand too, and got smacked on the head by Fan Jun’s right hand.

“Holy crap!” he yelled again, quickly hopping backward to dodge.

“If they drop, they drop,” Fan Jun said. “It’s just taking a couple punches, right?”

“Got it!” Sun Xulei shouted. “I’ll pay attention!”

“Sigh,” Monkey watched joyfully from the side. “Won’t fix it until he takes a couple hits, just that stubborn.”

“Come at me!” Sun Xulei yelled at him.

“Who are you trying to scare.” Monkey smiled even more happily.

Fan Jun sat back down next to Zou Yang.

“Is Monkey training with Lu Ze now?” Zou Yang remembered Monkey’s skill level being pretty good, the kind that could go compete.

“Yeah,” Fan Jun nodded. “He goes to the new gym.”

“Liu Wenrui and the guys have gone to train a few times,” Zou Yang said. “Said it’s pretty good, and there’s a new coach too.”

“Mm.” Fan Jun nodded.

Zou Yang didn’t continue asking.

Whether Fan Jun could still be a coach, or whether he still wanted to be one, all hinged on his hand fully recovering. It was a bit too early to discuss it now.

However, regardless of whether he would be a coach again in the future, Zou Yang truly loved the state he was in when teaching classes. It was very… sexy.

He cleared his throat.

“Gonna go chat with Sister Shan for a bit?” Fan Jun turned to look at him. “We should head out soon, I still have to go to the shop tonight.”

“Yeah, I’ll go say a few words.” Zou Yang stood up, stretched, and walked toward the kitchen.

Lu Ze and Xiaoyi were both in the kitchen. When Zou Yang walked in, he heard his mom saying: “Just the few of us having a meal is enough, no need for a wedding banquet. After all, it’s a second…”

Seeing Zou Yang walk in, she immediately shut her mouth.

Zou Yang immediately realized they were talking about getting married.

His mom was a bit embarrassed, and he was embarrassed too.

But the fact that his mom could discuss this with Uncle Lu in front of Lu Ze and Xiaoyi, yet couldn’t bring it up with her own son, made Zou Yang a little unhappy.

“Perfect timing, Xiao Yang, give us your opinion too,” Uncle Lu spoke up. “We were just talking about… the wedding.”

“Have you set a date?” Zou Yang asked.

Although he was a little displeased, it wasn’t like he couldn’t understand his mom’s mindset. It was similar to his own—just awkward.

“It’s early, we just… it came up while we were chatting,” Mom said.

“It wouldn’t be until the end of the year,” Uncle Lu smiled. “It’s indeed still early right now. Your mom means we shouldn’t hold a ceremony, just a few people from the family…”

“Because it’s a second marriage?” Zou Yang asked. “Or do you guys just not want to have one?”

“Sigh,” Mom lowered her head, using her foot to push a small trash can on the floor from one end to the other, and then to the side. “Don’t they all say second marriages should be kept low-key…”

“Why?” Zou Yang said. “If you found someone good in a second marriage, why can’t you celebrate and be happy about it?”

“Kids stay out of it,” Mom said.

“What kid?” Zou Yang asked.

“He’s twenty,” Uncle Lu said.

“Don’t I know how old he is!” Mom glared at Uncle Lu.

“If you want to have a ceremony, then have one, it’s not a bad thing,” Zou Yang said.

“Your mom is worried that some people won’t show up,” Uncle Lu said with a smile.

“If they don’t come, they don’t come,” Zou Yang said. “You’re not marrying them.”

“Aiyo,” Mom pushed him slightly out of embarrassment. “Just leave it, leave it…”

“Lu Ze can sit here, why can’t I be involved,” Zou Yang said.

Lu Ze abruptly looked up at him.

“I didn’t mean…” Zou Yang immediately felt awkward too, “…that way.”

“Actually, we also feel you should just hold the ceremony if you want to,” Xiaoyi smiled. “No need to worry so much, the main thing is that you’re happy, this is a joyous occasion.”

“Mm,” Lu Ze responded in agreement.

“Right,” Zou Yang quickly nodded.

“I know,” Mom said. “It’s still early, let’s drop it for now. I just suddenly didn’t know how we ended up talking about it… we’ll talk about it when the time comes.”

“I need a good sleep when we get back.” Zou Yang sat in the passenger seat. In the rearview mirror, he could still see the group of people standing at the courtyard gate of the old gym seeing them off.

“What’s wrong?” Fan Jun asked.

“My brain can’t spin anymore.” Zou Yang closed his eyes.

“Did you say something outrageous again just now?” Fan Jun smiled.

“It was… okay, I guess. Just… mentioned Uncle Lu and my mom getting married.” Zou Yang said. Thank goodness Lu Ze was clumsy with words.

“Why talk about this suddenly?” Fan Jun was a bit puzzled. “Is it because Sister Shan doesn’t want to hold a ceremony?”

“Eh?” Zou Yang opened his eyes and looked at him. “You know your sister pretty well, Uncle.”

“…She overthinks things,” Fan Jun said. “With this kind of thing, she’s definitely worried about what others will think.”

“Anyway, if they want to hold a ceremony when the time comes but are afraid people won’t show up,” Zou Yang said, “I’ll just call my classmates, have them bring their friends and classmates. It’s just getting bodies in seats, right?”

Fan Jun laughed and didn’t speak.

“What are you laughing at.” Zou Yang said.

“I really, really like you like this,” Fan Jun said. “Very cute.”

“Not handsome?” Zou Yang asked immediately.

“Do I even need to say handsome?” Fan Jun said.

“You don’t need to say cute either.” Zou Yang said.

“…Then should I keep saying it in the future?” Fan Jun asked.

“Transfer me to a real person!” Zou Yang yelled.

There was a reason He Chuan treated Fan Jun a bit better. After all, Fan Jun was the only employee in his shop. Aside from his days off, he had to work until 10 PM every day. Although the hours weren’t strictly micromanaged, there was no one to take shifts for him.

He Chuan was actually in the shop today, though he wasn’t doing real work, just drinking tea with a friend.

Fan Jun held a camera, taking pictures of the goods that had arrived earlier. And taking pictures wasn’t just a simple click; he had to adjust various angles and set up lighting to create an atmosphere.

Fortunately, the shop’s layout was designed entirely around atmosphere. Fan Jun just took these bottles and boxes, arranging them here and snapping photos there.

Zou Yang leaned back in a lounge chair with his laptop; it was time to start writing his group’s observation report.

He’d glance at Fan Jun, look down and type a few keystrokes, glance at Fan Jun again, look down at the daily work logs Liu Wenrui and the guys sent over, and glance at Fan Jun again…

“Zou Yang,” He Chuan, next to him, looked over. “Are you drawing?”

“What?” Zou Yang froze, not understanding what he was saying.

“Drawing Fan Jun?” He Chuan said.

…Was it that obvious?

“Ah,” Zou Yang quickly lowered his head and swiped a couple of times on the screen. “Got tired of writing the report so I…”

“Don’t you need to use one of those professional drawing tablets and pens or something?” He Chuan’s friend asked curiously.

So this guy wasn’t completely clueless after all.

Was there a handy weapon around to knock these two out!

“Just doodling for fun,” Zou Yang closed his laptop. “This is a touchscreen, I’m just swiping around randomly with my finger.”

“Oh—” He Chuan and his friend nodded together in understanding and went back to drinking tea and chatting.

Zou Yang let out a sigh of relief and shot another look over at Fan Jun.

Fan Jun was leaning against the shelf, looking at him and smiling.

What are you smiling at!

Zou Yang mouthed.

Fan Jun didn’t speak; he just raised the camera and snapped a picture of him.

Tsk.

Zou Yang leaned back into the lounge chair, opened his laptop, looked at him and mouthed again: Take another one.

Fan Jun raised the camera again and snapped another picture of him.

Zou Yang rocked the lounge chair. What a cozy and tranquil evening—if only He Chuan weren’t here…