Chapter 37
Proofreader: Akimi
Zhen Yuanbai reached over and pushed Shi Bufan’s face away because he heard Qiu Jing and the other’s laughter.
They had already gotten down from the mountain and they were discussing what just happened while laughing. Zhen Yuanbai was a bit embarrassed and Shi Bufan stood up suddenly, walking over with a gloomy face.
They were still carrying the adjustable red flag down the mountain. The loudspeaker broadcasted at certain times. No wonder Zhen Yuanbai said that he was scared of making too much noise as the sound was too loud and powerful.
The moment Ye Lian saw him, he subconsciously halted his steps and the three’s smiles faded, murmuring, “We…didn’t do it on purpose either…”
Ye Lian said, “Um, we won’t disturb you guys. We’ll be going.”
They dropped the things and wanted to leave, only to hear Shi Bufan saying, “Stop.”
Zhen Yuanbai stood in the pavilion and nervously held onto the pillar, looking over. Qiu Jing smiled and said, “Wait no, aren’t you afraid of scaring your class monitor…”
“Right, sister-in-law is still here.” Ming Mai said, quivering, “Look. Sister-in-law is about to cry.”
Shi Bufan immediately turned around to look at Zhen Yuanbai and their gazes met. There was a bang and the guys immediately threw the items down and ran in the opposite direction. Zhen Yuanbai slowly walked down and walked to Shi Bufan. He was about to bend down and pick up the red flag when Shi Bufan caught his arm and hugged him, saying, “Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“You had been hard at work preparing this.” Shi Bufan couldn’t help but feel bad and say, “Ye Lian had asked me and I couldn’t help but tell him. I just wanted to brag.”
Zhen Yuanbai was stunned and pursed his lips, saying unhappily, “Childish.”
Shi Bufan pressed him in his arms. He was a bit childish. He couldn’t retort, but when he found out that Zhen Yuanbai had personally prepared a birthday gift for him, he was too happy. He originally wanted to keep this in secret, but he couldn’t wait to express his happiness no matter what.
This gift was indeed different from what he expected, but he couldn’t help but think of Zhen Yuanbai swearing an oath while singing the high-pitched national anthem. His snow-white face lit up under the dim light and he said incomparably honestly, “Today, I will give China’s five-stared red flag to my dear…boyfriend. It means that I will give my life to…”
Gift what? Shi Bufan felt so regretful. He was just a moment away from hearing the complete oath.
Although Zhen Yuanbai was a bit slow, Shi Bufan felt moved. The more he thought about it, the more moved he felt.
“How did you think of holding…such a grand ceremony today?”
Why? Zhen Yuanbai pushed him away and bent down to take the red flag down and fold it. He lowered his head and said, “I used to be in the Youth Pioneer Team.”
“Hm?” This was very normal. Zhen Yuanbai has had great grades, so he naturally would enter the Youth Pioneer Team and might even become the leader of it.
Zhen Yuanbai was a bit shy and he said in a low voice, “I am a member of the Youth Pioneer Team and I am very proud of it. Because I love my nation, I…”
Shi Bufan didn’t mock him. He even clapped Zhen Yuanbai’s shoulders softly, saying, “Don’t worry. Say it slowly.”
It might be because of Shi Bufan’s encouragement that Zhen Yuanbai suddenly lifted his face up. His eyes were red and brimming with tears, saying, “Because it’s one of the few things that I was proud of. I even became a leader later on. I know that I will become someone useful in the future because of my good grades or my name might enter history. Many years later, people might talk about me and say that I am an admirable person and not call me a stupid fool.”
Zhen Yuanbai had a weak personality and enjoyed school. He liked classrooms and books. Only when he was in school could he feel as if he existed. His good grades are the only thing he was proud of . He would explain questions for people unconditionally and allow people to copy notes off of him. He felt very pleased when he heard people thanking him. Those who liked him liked him a lot and those who hated him hated him a lot.
There was a type of people who bear your love, but secretly slander you behind your back. They thank you, but they turn around to mock, saying, “What about your grades is there to be proud of?”
Zhen Yuanbai always felt as if he was amazing. After all, who can stay first place since kindergarten? But he couldn’t seem to escape from the nickname that he had been called casually since childhood. Even if he helped other people, people would sometimes say, “Real fool, let me borrow your notes.”
Zhen Yuanbai had gotten angry before, but some people didn’t call him by his nickname with evil intentions. Once he becomes angry, it may make it awkward for other people. “Why are you being so rude to me?… Doesn’t everyone call you that?”
He turned around to say something to someone else, “Maybe they think that I’m an easy target. If they have the ability, then go bully those rascals. They’re the ones who started the hooting.”
Later on, Zhen Yuanbai only dared to act prideful and happy in secret. He had to put in more effort in order to achieve his dream of becoming a famous and admirable person.
He looked terrible and the tears in his eyes were threatening to fall. His pride and arrogance seemed like it would be crushed at any moment. Shi Bufan was speechless momentarily before Zhen Yuanbai asked, “Am I dumb? You also think that I’m very dumb tonight right? I’m a real fool. I actually thought…”
“You’re not stupid at all.” Shi Bufan reached over and hugged him, coaxing, “I told you before. If someone calls you a real fool again, I will beat them up. You have an admirable dream and you will become successful. Today, I am also very touched…it was a bit unexpected, but the more I thought about it, the more touched I am.”
He looked down at Zhen Yuanbai’s face and he said, “You are a bit dumb…just a bit.”
Zhen Yuanbai immediately glared at him and Shi Bufan changed his words, saying, “After all, the three of them were too stupid and ruined the atmosphere.”
Zhen Yuanbai broke into a smile and his eyes brimmed with tears, saying, “Then, am I really not stupid?”
“Then let me correct myself. If someone calls you stupid again, I’ll fight them.” Shi Bufan said, “No matter the reasons, today will be one of the most memorable birthdays in my life.”
No one will probably celebrate his birthday for him like this in the future. He can’t laugh otherwise his little classmate will cry again.
After Zhen Yuanbai was coaxed, he said firmly, “I knew that you will be moved.”
He was moved. But Shi Bufan thought that he was a bit stupid too. He laughed and said, “You didn’t finish your oath. Can you repeat it again?”
“No.” Zhen Yuanbai rejected and said, “I am very disappointed in you, so you can live with regret your whole life.”
“You’re going to hold this grudge against me?”
Zhen Yuanbai pursed his lips and smiled, taking out two small cakes about the size of the palm of a hand, delivering one over. “Happy birthday.”
Shi Bufan reached over and said, “That’s small.”
“It’s just for the two of us. We won’t be able to finish the big one.” Zhen Yuanbai reminded him again, “See if there are words inside.”
Shi Bufan who prepared to poke the fork immediately raised his head again and he looked down, noticing that there was 5 rhombus-shaped chocolate, arranged into the shape of a flower. It says: Happy birthday Fanfan!
Shi Bufan laughed. Because it had the words “Fanfan” on it, he felt as if he was eating something sweeter than chocolates. He looked at Zhen Yuanbai and said, “How about yours? What does it say?”
“Mine has no words.” Zhen Yuanbai said, “I’ll eat with you.”
Shi Bufan squeezed the chocolate and said, “Here, Fanfan invites you to eat Fanfan.”
Zhen Yuanbai subconsciously opened his mouth and thought of asking once he ate it, saying, “What are you eating then?”
“I’ll eat ‘happy birthday.’” The two started to walk towards Shi Bufan’s home and seeing that he seemed to be in a dilemma with the oath, Zhen Yuanbai softly bumped Shi Bufan’s shoulders, reminding, “I wrote it on your notebook.”
Shi Bufan recalled back to the time Zhen Yuanbai was holding a notebook. As it turned out, he wasn’t memorizing it, but rather reading off of it.
He immediately stood by the sidewalk and took out the notebook. Zhen Yuanbai couldn’t help but mock and say, “Can’t you just watch this at home?”
“While I’m still excited and in a happy mood, I need to immediately look at it.”
He flipped the notebook open. The light wasn’t bright enough, so he took out his phone and turned on his flashlight, seeing the row of an oath: “I am part of the Chinese Youth Pioneer Team and I am swearing under the oath that I will love my nation and its people. I will study and exercise and prepare to sacrifice my life to communism. Today, I will give magnificent China’s five-star red flag to my dear boyfriend which means that I will give my life to…Shi Bufan. The magnificent nation gave me my past and present, but you will be my future.”
Shi Bufan closed the notebook and looked up, seeing Zhen Yuanbai already looking around and changing the topic, “Tomorrow…if your parents celebrate your birthday with you, you will go right?”
While placing the notebook away, Shi Bufan stood up and said, “Did you get bribed by them or something?”
“Is their son not my friend?” Zhen Yuanbai answered confidently.
Shi Bufan burst into laughter as Zhen Yuanbai walked ahead with his face flushed. He was suddenly pulled over and his lips were covered in white cream while he sucked on the fork in his mouth, saying, “How could you…”
Shi Bufan pulled the fork out of Zhen Yuanbai’s mouth and he kissed him.
Shi Bufan tasted the sweetness of cream and chocolate as Shi Bufan kissed Zhen Yuanbai. He couldn’t help but tug Zhen Yuanbai closer and tease him with his tongue. Zhen Yuanbai slightly trembled when Shi Bufan’s tongue swiped over his and the small cake in his hands had fallen.
The evening wind blew by his ears and Zhen Yuanbai widened his eyes. The kiss was different from the past and he subconsciously pushed Shi Bufan while the latter pressed him hard against himself. Up until Zhen Yuanbai almost ran out of oxygen, he grabbed Shi Bufan’s sleeves and could barely stand, saying, “You, you…”
“I’m 18.” Shi Bufan said meaningfully, “It’s not enough to just kiss in the future.”
18?… Zhen Yuanbai’s mind was in a muddle as Shi Bufan grabbed his wrist.
Shi Bufan called someone to pick them up as Zhen Yuanbai took out a mask from his backpack to cover his slightly swollen mouth, quietly keeping his head down as he sat next to Shi Bufan.
There wasn’t time for him to overthink as he slowly got tired in the car. He didn’t even know how he got in bed, but it was already the next morning.
He walked out yawning and seeing that Shi Bufan had given up the master bedroom to squeeze in and sleep with him, Zhen Yuanbai knitted his eyebrows and leaned against the door to the bathroom, saying, “Be quicker.”
Shi Bufan glanced at him, feeling as if the two of them had moved in together. He moved over so Zhen Yuanbai could squeeze in. After he was done brushing his teeth and rinsing, he went back to change his clothes. The moment he wore his school uniform, he looked extremely spirited.
Yet, Shi Bufan walked over with the red scarf and said, “Here, let me wear this.”
Zhen Yuanbai was startled and said, “You’re already in high school, so why do you want to wear that?”
“Why can’t high schoolers wear this?”
“You, you will be made fun of.”
“I want to see who dares.” He raised his chin and said, “Quickly help me.”
Zhen Yuanbai was unwilling, but he quickly tied the red scarf on for Shi Bufan. Before anyone could laugh, he started laughing himself and said, “You look silly.”
“Am I silly?” Shi Bufan stood up and the smile on his face was completely different from what the red scarf was supposed to represent. However, he was still handsome as always. He lifted Zhen Yuanbai’s chin and said, “From today on, you will walk with your eyes above your head. Look here. Your dream and pride are here and I will support it for you. If anyone dares to laugh at you, I’ll beat them up until they can’t laugh anymore.”
Zhen Yuanbai trained his eyes on Shi Bufan when the latter suddenly reached over and hugged him. Shi Bufan was too strong and Zhen Yuanbai even stood on his tippy toes as a result. He said with an uncertain tone, “You…”
“You should be proud of your dreams. You should be proud of being a member of the Youth Pioneer Team. You should be proud of maintaining first place within the grade. You should be proud of the birthday gift you spent so hard to prepare for. You should be proud of your past, present, and future. Therefore, from now on, act proud.”
“Do you understand?”
Zhen Yuanbai’s eyelashes flickered and Shi Bufan reached over to kiss him, asking again, “Did you hear me? Hm? You didn’t understand?”
While asking a question, he kissed him. Zhen Yuanbai finally nodded and said, “I understand!”
Ling Xuan had prepared a table of tasty breakfast early in the morning on Shi Bufan’s birthday. The smell of the meat porridge was captivating and Zhen Yuanbai was already hungry long before he came downstairs.
Shi Bufan never liked eating at home. When Zhen Yuanbai followed him downstairs, he had his eyes on the table and Mother Shi greeted them, “Come quickly. After you guys are done eating, have the driver bring you guys over.”
Shi Bufan reached over to grab him, but Zhen Yuanbai held onto the stairs and said, “I, I want to eat. It smells good.”
“…” Three minutes later, the two kids sat down. While eating, Zhen Yuanbai praised the dishes. However, Shi Bufan acted like someone had owed him money. When Shi Bufan glared at Zhen Yuanbai, the latter acted like he hadn’t seen it.
He promised Mother Shi to please Shi Bufan.
Ling Xuan was incredibly happy. It was more difficult than ascending to heaven to have Shi Bufan eat food cooked by her. She said to Zhen Yuanbai, “Do you like the meat porridge cooked by this aunty? You might as well live here in the future. After all, you can be a companion to Fanfan.”
Zhen Yuanbai said, “Then I’ll come over to visit often in the future. Aunty, don’t give me the cold shoulder by then.”
Ling Xuan couldn’t stop smiling. She thought that she could even smile in her dreams if Zhen Yuanbai decided to live here.
The red scarf on Shi Bufan was too eye-catching. The moment he entered school, it started a wave of gossip. Zhen Yuanbai widened his eyes as he watched everyone’s reactions. He wanted to tug Shi Bufan down, but the latter wasn’t even embarrassed at all. He squinted his eyes and said in his ears, “Who are these people who dare to casually make fun of others? Are they worth your headache?”
“Huff…” He blew in Zhen Yuanbai’s ears and said, “Let this boyfriend blow away all your worries.”
Zhen Yuanbai burst into laughter and Shi Bufan smiled, standing up straight to hear him say, “Childish!”