SPDO Extra 5

“How do I look? Do I seem a bit too mature for my age?” Qin Cheng tidied his hair a bit. The man in the mirror, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, with a bit of hair wax, truly looked like a ‘grown-up’.

“Pretty good,” Jian Heng, sitting on the suitcase and sending an email on his phone, looked up at him and commented, “It doesn’t feel like going back home, more like attending a class.”

“With this kind of suit,” Qin Cheng winced at the price tag but still couldn’t bring himself to haggle further, “it should at least be something the governor would wear to attend a lecture.”

“Doesn’t the governor skip gym class?” Jian Heng laughed, “Isn’t it against the rules to wear a suit to class?”

“Yeah,” Qin Cheng stopped tidying up and glared at him, “So what’s the point of you buying me this outfit?”

“Looks good,” Jian Heng said. “Didn’t you get recognized as an outstanding teacher[mfn]優秀教師 (yōu xiù jiào shī): an honorary title for outstanding teachers. In China, this title is generally granted after careful assessment and democratic selection, and is approved by the government, education administration department, or education union, etc., and appropriate material and spiritual rewards are given. Particularly outstanding teachers may be designated as model teachers, model workers, or special-grade teachers.[/mfn]?”

“I’m quite embarrassed to receive this award,” Qin Cheng sighed. “I hardly taught any classes this semester, and I’m still being called an outstanding teacher. My health is so poor that I’m frequently bedridden with illness.”

“The students like you, and it’s well-deserved.” Jian Heng put away his phone, walked over to him, and tied his tie. His long, slender fingers, accustomed to holding a scalpel, moved gracefully and beautifully in front of him.

After tying the tie, he really does look the part. Qin Cheng has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and when he fastens the button, his waistline is accentuated. With his tall stature and long legs, combined with this face, he could immediately take a few photos and become a fashion model.

“I’ll drive first for a while; you didn’t get much sleep last night,” Qin Cheng said.

“Mm.” Jian Heng said.

The two of them didn’t have much luggage, just packed some clothes to change into and gifts to take back, and then they set off.

***

On the way, Qin Cheng’s phone rang. He was driving, so Jian Heng answered it.

“Hello?” Jian Heng said.

“Are you two on your way?” Tan Qi’s loud voice could rival Cheng Bin’s. Even without putting it on speakerphone, Qin Cheng could hear it clearly.

“On the road!!!” Qin Cheng shouted back, “If you shout any louder, you’ll send me off!”

“You really are getting more delicate by the day,” Tan Qi said in a lower voice.

Jian Heng pressed the speakerphone button.

“Speak human language,” Qin Cheng said.

“Ahem, I just want to tell you two things.” Tan Qi’s tone was unusually serious.

“Are you pregnant?” Jian Heng said.

“Oh my God, what have you learned from Qin Cheng?” Tan Qi paused, “I have serious matters to attend to.”

“Go ahead, you’re still just a kid,” Qin Cheng said.

“Fuck!” Teacher Tan couldn’t help but curse, “I’m telling you two that Teacher Zhang and I are together! With you two, I can’t just keep listeners in suspense, the two of you are about to kill me!”

“Together?” Qin Cheng raised an eyebrow, making eye contact with Jian Heng, “Did the movie actually effective?”

“Roll! I was just about to tell you, your movie almost made me die on the spot, the country almost lost an outstanding people’s teacher,” Tan Qi’s voice rose again, “What kind of dog blood[mfn]狗血 (gǒu xiě): dog’s blood; melodramatic; contrived; absurd; exaggerated; ridiculous; In ancient Chinese culture, (black) dog blood was considered the antidote of black magic. In a modern context, 狗血 (dog blood) means something unbelievably cliche/ embarrassing/maladroit/exaggerating that needs to be neutralized with dog blood. An alternative explanation is that it is developed from an old saying 洒狗血 (spray dog blood) in the old time for the actors of Peking Opera. It’s quite a humiliating way to criticize an actor for acting in a contrived and theatrical way on the stage in order to draw attention. It originally meant someone who intentionally put dog blood on his/her body or spill it on the ground to fake bleeding.[/mfn] plot is this ‘you love me, I don’t love you, you don’t love me, I regret loving you’ drama, and in the end, the main characters all die!”

“Wow,” Qin Cheng savored it for a few seconds, nodding, “This director has improved. When Jian Heng and I watched it back then, one of the main characters died.”

“……” Tan Qi was silent for a few seconds. “Just pretend I don’t have a brother like you.”

“Hello, stranger,” Qin Cheng said.

“Don’t answer calls from strangers,” Jian Heng said, “hang up.”

After a while, Qin Cheng’s WeChat pinged, and Jian Heng opened the voice message.

Tan Qi’er: “Big Brothers, can we at least exchange some pleasantries before we become strangers?”

The two of them laughed together for a long time.

***

By the time they got home, it was already evening. When Song Yingmei opened the door, she looked pleasantly surprised and greeted them: “Come in quickly, dinner is all ready. Warm up first.”

“It’s not cold,” Qin Cheng walked in and bumped into Mao Yong, who had rushed out of the kitchen. The two exchanged glances, both feeling a bit awkward. Qin Cheng was the first to react, smiling and calling out: “Uncle Mao.”

Mao Yong was an honest man. Upon hearing this, he immediately gave a hearty laugh and hurried over to take the things from their hands: “So heavy! Are these going to be put at home or across the street?”

“I bought these for both of you,” Qin Cheng said. “Jian Heng and I picked out the New Year’s goods together, and we also bought a few sets of clothes and shoes and stuff. I don’t even know if you’ll like them.”

“This is too extravagant. Just buy it for your mom; I don’t look good in anything.” Mao Yong said as he put the items on the shelf, then turned around to pour tea for the two of them.

“Uncle, let me do it.” Jian Heng stepped forward, took the teapot, and poured tea for them.

Song Yingmei watched the scene of the family of four interacting, her eyes involuntarily turning red, and she quickly made an excuse to go to the kitchen to compose herself.

She knows her son’s feelings and can now sense that Qin Cheng is truly beginning to accept this family bit by bit. Deep down, she feels both gratified and distressed for her child.

At the dinner table, Qin Cheng was constantly livening up the atmosphere, passing around dishes and pouring drinks, laughing and saying: “I have to drink enough today. Jian Heng usually doesn’t let me touch alcohol because he’s worried about my safety while riding.”

“Indeed, you have to pay attention to safety,” Mao Yong said, “Your place is a big city, and there are many cars. It’s good to pay attention to safety.”

“Listen to Xiao Heng.” Song Yingmei said with a smile, giving him a light pat.

“Hey, of course I’ll listen to him, who told him to be so handsome!” Qin Cheng glanced at Jian Heng. He couldn’t suppress the smile in his eyes.

“I brought back a case of good wine this time,” Jian Heng said, touching his hand under the table, “we can drink to our heart’s content.”

“Are you coming back this winter break?” Song Yingmei asked the two of them.

“If it’s the winter break, I don’t have much to do, but Jian Heng is a bit busy,” Qin Cheng said.

“I can take a few days off for the Chinese New Year, so I can go home.” Jian Heng refilled their cups.

“You two have always been busy and can’t seem to find time to relax. Mom isn’t rushing you,” Song Yingmei paused, looking at the two of them and said: “If you really don’t have time to hold a wedding, you can first get the marriage certificate. With the certificate, you can ask your boss for leave to hold the wedding. They should be able to give you time off, right?”

“……A wedding, huh? I really hadn’t thought about it.” Qin Cheng and Jian Heng exchanged glances, both seeing in each other’s eyes the meaning of ‘How could we have forgotten about this matter?’ They couldn’t help but feel a bit amused and exasperated.

Fuck, this question came out of nowhere, but it’s also made sense.

Including the two years of high school puppy love, they’ve actually been together for ten years.

After working together for four years, the two of them lived every day as if they were in a honey jar. Their absolute trust and sense of security in each other made them not care much about those two little red books, and naturally, they never thought about it.

But Qin Cheng thought about it again. They were already grown up, it’s time to get a marriage certificate, to stamp each other with a mark, the kind that has legal validity.

“How about the winter break?” Qin Cheng asked Jian Heng, tilting his head.

“Listen to you,” Jian Heng said.

“Alright,” Qin Cheng decided, “We’ll get the marriage certificate during the winter break, and have the wedding during the New Year holiday.”

Song Yingmei and Mao Yong had discussed this for several months, hesitating whether to urge the marriage, but in the end, the two kids made the decision casually, causing them to burst into laughter together.

***

The next morning, the two of them got up early. Qin Cheng changed out of his ‘grown-up’ outfit and put on a casual down jacket. After he greeted his mother, he went out with Jian Heng.

“It’s still a bit colder over here.” Qin Cheng breathed into his palm.

“Next time, wear a pair of gloves,” Jian Heng said as he got on the bike, gesturing for him to hop on. “Let’s go.”

This bike is practically an antique now. They rode it for two years in high school, and now it’s been ten years. Back when they started college, he thought about selling it, but he couldn’t bear to part with it. After all, it’s a veteran bike that has witnessed their journey from meeting to staying together. It’s worth keeping until they grow old together.

Qin Cheng hadn’t ridden the bike much since he graduated from high school, but he still maintain it every year, so there’s no problem taking it out for some nostalgia now.

“First stop, Fifth High School!” Qin Cheng hopped on the bike, and with a forceful push of his dishonest feet against the ground, Jian Heng followed suit and rode along.

To be honest, the temperature in Jinhua City is now over minus twenty degrees, and the wind is quite strong. Riding a bicycle in this weather is not a wonderful experience.

But Qin Cheng felt very happy inside, as if he were ten years younger, playfully swaying back and forth like a child, his head rubbing randomly against Jian Heng’s back.

Jian Heng, as always, pedaled steadily on his bike, unaffected by his tossing and turning.

Qin Cheng suddenly felt a bit sentimental, wrapping his arms around his waist and saying: “It’s been ten years already. If you don’t think about it, you don’t feel it, but if you think about it carefully, it’s really been a long time.”

“Time flies,” Jian Heng said, “because we are living well.”

“Indeed,” Qin Cheng laughed. The biting north wind made his teeth feel frozen, but he couldn’t help but laugh: “The first eighteen years, a day drags past like a year, and the next ten years were so easy every day. Have I not aged at all?”

“No,” Jian Heng said, “still very handsome.”

“You did pretty well on this brutal question,” Qin Cheng said, nudging his chin against his back, his voice full of laughter. “This must be talent, specially prepared to flirt with me.”

Just as they were about to reach the school, Qin Cheng shouted: “Stop here for a moment.”

Jian Heng stopped the bike and looked up.

The sign for ‘Fifth High School Stationery Store’ had long been replaced with a new one. Just like its predecessors… it’s unknown which mischievous student had smashed a few holes in it with a stone.

“This is where our Jian-ge heroically saved the handsome guy,” Qin Cheng hopped off the bike and invited him to walk inside together. “I saw the kind of pen you used in the store back then, it cost dozens. I was shocked by your wealth at that time. This deskmate is not only cool and awesome but also super rich.”

Qin Cheng pushed open the door, and the shopkeeper DaMa was still sitting behind the cash register at the entrance, warming herself with an electric heater that was almost the same as the previous ones… The TV dramas on her phone had been replaced with short videos.

The DaMa looked at Qin Cheng for a few seconds, took off her reading glasses to see better, and watched as Qin Cheng and Jian Heng closed the door and stood at the entrance for her to see.

After a while, the DaMa clapped her hands and laughed uncontrollably: “Aren’t you Xiao Cheng and Xiao Heng! You haven’t come over for such a long time. I heard from your mom that you’ve settled down at the university. You’ve really become more handsome. Is it vacation now?”

“Yeah, it’s a holiday,” Qin Cheng smiled too, “came back to check out the school.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the DaMa, Qin Cheng couldn’t wait to pull Jian Heng inside to start looking for the pen Jian Heng had used back then.

“I remember it was around here back then,” Qin Cheng looked at a pile of magazines, “where did it go?”

Ten years have passed, and the layout of the store has long since changed. Qin Cheng turned around and went to look in the other aisle.

“If you hadn’t come to save me back then, I might have been done for,” Qin Cheng said while searching. “Qi’er was really impressive back then. He just let me off. This guy had a knack for spotting puppy love in his class, one after another. Lucky for us, he was open-minded; otherwise, the students would have revolted.”

“Their class’s grades have always been pretty good,” Jian Heng said, “being too strict isn’t a good thing.”

“Still have real skills,” Qin Cheng picked up a pen, “always started by saying I have a friend to tell the story of our high school days, using it to inspire those students and make them study hard.”

“Is this it?” Jian Heng handed one over.

“The color’s not right,” Qin Cheng took it and looked at it carefully. After so many years, he couldn’t remember the specific style, but he clearly remembered the black pen. “The style should be correct, I just can’t remember it well. Alas, I’m getting old.”

Bought ten, paid, and then the two rode to the gate of the Fifth High School.

There is no one on the playground; they should be in class.

The security guard had already been changed long ago. Qin Cheng called Lao Xu, and Lao Xu called the security guard. After a series of calls, they were finally able to get in.

“The school’s security level has increased quite a bit,” Qin Cheng put on his hat, the old north wind making his forehead ache. “Back then, we could just walk in freely.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know Qin-ge,” Jian Heng also put on his hat, “or maybe there is no Qin-ge in the Fifth High School right now.”

“That’s right,” Qin Cheng couldn’t help but laugh, “My position back then was still quite unshakeable.”

The playground was still the same as it had been ten years ago, except the rubber track had been renovated. The moment Qin Cheng stepped on it, he still felt a surge of adrenaline.

This is the starting point of his dreams, the capital for him and Jian Heng to stand side by side. All the beauty of the present begins here.

“Stand here and don’t move,” Qin Cheng said as he hugged him for a moment, walked a few steps forward, and assumed a standard running start position. Although he now looked like a bear in his outfit, and the pose didn’t seem as cool as before, he still exuded a certain flair.

Jian Heng stood in place and shouted: “Run!”

Qin Cheng suddenly dashed out. Of course, he hadn’t warmed up and wasn’t giving it his all, but when the north wind whistled past his ears and his feet stepped onto the familiar track, his heart ignited with each stride.

After going around in circles, ahead lies his goal, his lover, the person he wants to spend his life with.

Ten years have passed, and this person will still be waiting for him ahead, just as he wrote on the back of the photo ten years ago——I will wait for you in the future.

Now, he is standing in the future with him, two people walking side by side, creating a future together.

When there were still fifty meters to go, Qin Cheng suddenly accelerated, closing the distance rapidly. He leaped forward, and in his line of sight, Jian Heng walked forward with his arms wide open.

With a ‘bang’, it was a full embrace.

“I really haven’t aged,” Qin Cheng said, panting and laughing, “my steps are still so handsome, so vigorous.”

“Super handsome.” Jian Heng kissed him.

***

After entering the teaching building, the two of them realized that the first and second-year students had a holiday for New Year’s Day, and only the third-year building had the sound of classes.

The two exchanged a glance and, without a word, walked towards the second floor.

The sign for Class 6 of the second year has also been changed. Previously, a corner of the red paint on the ‘6’ had chipped off.

Qin Cheng pushed the door and, surprisingly, it wasn’t locked.

The moment he stepped inside, Qin Cheng felt a fleeting moment of disorientation——the familiar podium, the familiar desks and chairs, the familiar two seats in the last row.

“It seems that the students in the last row this year are quite easy to get along with,” Qin Cheng said as he walked to the last row and sat down in his old seat, tapping the desk. “He actually has a deskmate. Back then, Lao Xu went out of her way to arrange a single villa for me so that I could be beautiful alone.”

“Let’s go see Lao Xu tomorrow,” Jian Heng sat down next to him, “It’s been a long time since we last met.”

“Okay, let’s go buy some things first,” Qin Cheng said.

The air suddenly fell silent, and neither of them spoke.

Qin Cheng leaned on the table, turned his head to look at him just like he did ten years ago, and after a while couldn’t help but laugh: “At this moment, I don’t really want to say ‘I love you,’ it feels a bit too ordinary.”

“You can say whatever you want.” Jian Heng, just like before, propped his chin with one hand, twirling the newly bought pen with the other, the small afterimage left by his fingertips still looking so beautiful.

“Actually, I’ve always been really curious,” Qin Cheng said as he looked at him. “Back then, we clearly couldn’t stand each other. How did you end up liking me? I was so immature at the time, always grieving for spring and feel sad with the coming of autumn, and I was a major school slag.”

Jian Heng put down his pen, placed his hand on his head, and rubbed it: “The first time I saw you, apart from the feeling brought by the pheromone compatibility syndrome, my first impression was that this alpha really has style.”

“Fuck,” Qin Cheng grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard. “You are so cool when you say dirty words. You have been so cool for so many years. When I first saw you, I thought this guy were such a show-off. He acts like it’s completely normal. So cool, so impressive!”

Qin Cheng ran his fingers through his hair, the stubble feeling stiff: “I fell for this hairstyle at first sight.”

“Don’t cut it,” Jian Heng said.

“Why?” Qin Cheng asked.

“What if you’re more handsome than me?” Jian Heng couldn’t help but laugh, “What if you don’t admire me anymore?”

Qin Cheng was stunned for a second, then burst into laughter so hard that his shoulders shook: “I just love how childish you are with me, you’re the most handsome, our Doctor Jian——ah no, at school you’re our Jian-ge——is always the most handsome!”

“We’re still equally handsome, right?” Jian Heng said. “We’re both the most handsome.”

“How old are we now, still acting all cool and handsome,” Qin Cheng clicked his tongue and shook his head, “The most important thing is, we are both look so naturally handsome!”

“No choice,” Jian Heng laughed along, “there’s indeed capital.”

“Hey,” Qin Cheng opened his hand, his five fingers interlocking with his, their ten fingers entwined, “Super incredibly handsome Jian-ge, I realize that in this situation, I still have to say this.”

“I love you.” Jian Heng looked at him, a smile in his eyes.

“Great minds think alike,” Qin Cheng said with a smile, gently kissing the back of his hand. “Me too.”

---

The author has something to say:

The end of the text.

The author took out a big teacup for the last time in this book, took a sip of water, and smiled contentedly: This time it is really the end! The author, who consistently updated daily without missing a single day, is very happy! And wants to ask for a hug!

Thank you so much for reading this, my darlings! I love you all! By the way, just a little reminder: the Pre-collection in the column #CampusABO# I Am Not I Have Not! and Urban Strong Professor Yin, Your Takeout! You can check them out~~

With a calm expression, the author finished saying goodbye, then turned around and hugged the keyboard, crying uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but say a few more words: “I really can’t bear to leave, aaahhhh sobbing.jpg”

Wipe away tears and throw in an Easter egg: When choosing the names, for Qin-ge, the author’s goal was ‘this name should make people think that this is a hopelessly straight man at first glance’, while for Jian-ge, it was ‘to make the name so that at first glance, it seems very aloof and cool, but upon closer inspection, you find it has a hint of hidden passion’.

Bow, thank you all! Looking forward to seeing you again in the next book!

Thank you to the little angels who cast their votes or provided nutrient solutions during this period.

Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!

Aaand it’s done!!! Let me cry tears of joy for a moment.

This is the last extra chapter.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, left comments, added the chapter link to NU, and everyone who has read and loved this story. If you can, please leave some comments & ratings on NU so that more people will discover this lovely story. ^^

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[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Extra 5″]
少年老成 (shào nián lǎo chéng): accomplished though young; lacking youthful vigor; young but steady; have an old head on young shoulders; young person lacking in vigour and drive; old young person; originally referring to a person who is young but very experienced.

西裝革履 (xī zhuāng gé lǚ): (esp. of a person) trendy in their taste of clothing; dressed in Western-style clothes; impeccably attired; in Western dress and leather shoes.

清清楚楚 (qīng qīng chǔ chǔ): be crystal clear; be absolutely clear; clear; distinct; clear and organized.

哭笑不得 (kū xiào bù dé): lit. to not know whether to laugh or to cry (idiom); both funny and extremely embarrassing; between laughter and tears; to feel confounded, mildly dumbfounded, or slightly flabbergasted in a polite sense, usually toward a familiar person in an awkward situation; be unable either to cry or to laugh—find sth both funny and annoying.

度日如年 (dù rì rú nián): days wear on like years; a day drags past like a year (idiom); time hangs heavy; time crawls when one is wretched; one day seems like a year; a day seems as long as a year. It means that life is very difficult.

不約而同 (bù yuē ér tóng): to agree by chance (idiom); to take the same view or action without prior consultation; to happen to coincide; act in concert without prior arrangement; (neologism, slang, humorous) to become gay or lesbian after a long period without dating.

傷春悲秋 (shāng chūn bēi qiū): lit. to grieve for spring and feel sad with the coming of autumn; sadness for spring and sympathy for autumn; a sensitive heart; sad emotions caused by changes in seasons and scenery, and mostly describes sentimentality.

心有靈犀一點通 (xīn yǒu líng xī yī diǎn tōng): (figurative) two hearts linked as one; having minds that are in sync; two hearts beat as one; having great chemistry; hearts linked as one, just as the proverbial rhinoceros communicates emotion telepathically through his single horn (idiom); fig. two hearts beat as one; share a deep mutual understanding; have a telepathic connection; be in perfect harmony; be on the same wavelength; have a tacit understanding; a Chinese idiom that originated from a literary work. This idiom is used to describe the mutual understanding between a man and a woman in love, or to describe the understanding between two people. From one of Li Shangyin‘s “Untitled” (《無題》) poems: 身無彩鳳雙飛翼，心有靈犀一點通。, Phoenix’s wings we lacked, to fly as a pair. But linked were our hearts by the rhino horn’s magical might. The rhinoceros’ horn is reputed to confer telepathic powers – it is thought to be extremely sensitive, able to pass stimulus information from its tip straight to the brain in an instant.

痛哭流涕 (tòng kū liú tì): weeping bitter tears; cry one’s heart out; break down in tears; cry and shed bitter tears; Describe the extreme sadness.
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