Chapter 74

Chrysanthemum Garden.

As usual, the third period was a self-study period. Feng Fei sneaked in through the back door, getting himself seated lightly on his own seat. Hai Xiu’s eyes brightened as he whispered towards Feng Fei, “Aunty left?”

Feng Fei nodded and whispered back, “She said she’ll find time and take a trip back here with my Father in July.” p5Q cY

Hai Xiu copied a summary of the teachers’ lectures and handed them along with a bunch of handouts, stating in a soft voice, “These were handed out in the morning.”

Feng Fei took the notes and replied helplessly, “I’ve only been gone for a while and my desk is already flooded with papers….”

Hai Xiu chuckled in response. Feng Fei took a folded umbrella from his school bag before placing it on Hai Xiu’s desk, stating, “I bought this yesterday. Don’t lose it this time… Have you brought everything you wanted to bring with you?”

“Yep. Brought all my clothes and whatnot.” Hai Xiu took a good look at the umbrella that Feng Fei had just bought for him, giving it a cherishing touch. After putting it away, he said in a lowered voice, “Teacher Ni said in the morning that we’ll take our graduation photos this afternoon.” W3kwAK

Feng Fei raised his eyebrows. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would have changed to what you’re wearing sooner if you notified me beforehand.”

Feng Fei was referring to the beige colored shirt that Hai Xiu was currently wearing. He had the exact same shirt albeit in a bigger size. Jiang Yuman bought it for the both of them earlier, which Feng Fei declared as their couple’s outfit.

Hai Xiu didn’t really mind the two of them being dressed differently, whispering back in a low voice, “It’s fine. The teacher said that he would give an entire period to ourselves, so we could walk around the school campus with our fellow schoolmates to take a few personal photos.” Hai Xiu gave Feng Fei an expectant look and continued, “Why don’t we get someone to help the two of us take a few photos? Hm?”

Feng Fei chuckled in reply, “Definitely!” CNPt9x

The second period in the afternoon was the most insufferable hour during the summer. People get easily fatigued, lowering the efficiency of their studies, so the teachers picked this period for them to take their photos.

As the school bell rang, signalling the start of the period, Ni Meilin walked into the classroom and informed everyone to line up by the assembly hall to get ready for their photos. In an instant, everyone was struck awake as the students noisily headed down the stairs.

Feng Fei and Hai Xiu weren’t in a rush. They only headed down after everyone was gone, so by the time they arrived at the assembly hall, all of their classmates had already lined up on stage. A class monitor was directing the students to stand in ascending order according to their height when Feng Fei walked up to him, patting on his back, and said, “You go up. I’ll tell you where to stand.”

When he didn’t receive a response from the class monitor, Feng Fei urged, “Move it! Shoo! I’m obviously way taller than you, do you think my sight is worse than yours? Hey, you! Wang Peng! Move down a row! How can people see you when you’re standingall the way at the back with that small stature of yours? He Hao, go to the back row and stare at the others’ back from behind! Go and stand beside your deskmate! Hai Xiu… right, you just stand there and don’t move.” gRM7KA

The class monitor conscientiously allowed Feng Fei to manage the entire situation. Firstly, Feng Fei reserved a space for both Ni Meilin and the principal at the very front row. Then, after segregating the genders to two sides, he had the students line up from front to back in rows according to their height. He then rearranged the student’s position if they were in the wrong place, getting everyone in their designated spots within a few moments. Finally, Feng Fei shouted, “Who dis! Pan Bai! Move a spot to the right!”

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Hai Xiu’s ears reddened. He had already understood Feng Fei’s intentions when he stole the class monitor’s job just now. HPTaov

He wanted them to take the graduation photo while standing next to each other.

The principal and Ni Meilin stood at the very front. The principal took this opportunity to say a few words to the class, encouraging them not to be too nervous in the following few days. When the photographer gave a hand signal, Feng Fei placed his palm on Hai Xiu’s shoulder.

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“Say Cheese!”

The photographer clicked the camera a few more times before waving at the students, “You guys are done! Would the next class please come up?” dpEthU

Everyone from the class jumped off the stage. They took off with their friends one after another in order to take photos outside.. A few female students from a different class came over and nervously asked if they could take a photo with Feng Fei. Feng Fei shook his head with an apologetic smile, stating that he’s not photogenic, before dragging Hai Xiu away.

The two of them found a place where no one was looking before Feng Fei finally spoke again, “Speak. How do you wanna take our photos?”

Hai Xiu chuckled and teased, “Didn’t you just say that you’re not photogenic?”

Feng Fei lightly patted on his forehead and replied, “Still dare to be clever after taking advantage of me?” 0ckTi4

Of course Hai Xiu didn’t dare, so he tried to do all the right things to flatter Feng Fei for half a day.

Feng Fei didn’t trouble others. He took a few selfies with Hai Xiu underneath the school’s largest French platanus tree. Hai Xiu’s face turned red from being exposed to the sun for too long. He excitedly stared at Feng Fei’s phone — this was the first time the two of them took selfies together at school in such an upfront manner. Feng Fei blocked the sun for him with his hand, letting him take a nice picture.

Hai Xiu felt good about every photo, so he uploaded all of them to his own phone just to prepare and savour its aftertaste in the evening.

“Where do you wanna take photos next?” Feng Fei took a look at their surroundings and replied, “There aren’t any good place to go anymore….” J39Crx

“Then we’ll stop. ” Hai Xiu put his phone away and chuckled. “Let’s go back to the classroom. In the classroom…we can take a photo of you answering exam questions from your seat.”

Feng Fei smirked, “What’s the point of doing that?”

“The serious look you have when you study is especially attractive.” Hai Xiu affirmed. “And the look you have when you’re taking notes. And the look you have when you’re stapling a stack of paper… Ugh! There’s too many scenes to choose from!”

Hai Xiu felt a little unfortunate. He also wanted to take a photo of the second when Feng Fei scored in basketball, of him getting a drink after a match, of him using the hem of his jersey to wipe his sweat after a drink… 3AN910

Feng Fei laughed. “Excellent. My body is yours anyways. Anything else you wanna take?”

Hai Xiu felt a bit better after thinking that he could always take more photos whenever he wants to anyways based on Feng Fei’s prompt reminder.

Feng Fei also felt a bit hot, so he rolled up his sleeves, took a look in the direction of the supermarket and asked, “Wanna get something cold to drink?”

Hai Xiu shook his head vehemently. “Don’t. What will happen if you get a stomach ache afterwards? Let’s just go back and drink water.” Hai Xiu was afraid Feng Fei might be unwilling and continued, “I’ll put in some floral tea and sugar as well.” 2RZNay

Floral tea calms the mind, nourishes the lungs, and prevents heat stroke, making it a great health product for the summer. Unfortunately, Feng Fei had already drank too much of it this month. Don’t even mention drinking, just the sound of tea being seeped into water would make Feng Fei want to throw up. “Don’t! Don’t bother doing that! Water is fine!”

Hai Xiu laughed out loud as he followed Feng Fei up the stairs.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

During the period after taking their graduation photos, Ni Meilin gave one final reminder and checked on everyone’s exam venues, transportation arrangements of the student’s whole family at the time, the parents’ contact details, and finally, the student’s emergency contact details. Under the emergency contact section, Feng Fei and Hai Xiu wrote each other’s mobile numbers.

Everything progressed smoothly before the gaokao period. ojcWfN

Before the gaokao, according to Jiang Yuman’s instructions, Hai Xiu needed to take two days off, and needed to be personally escorted wherever he goes. Not waiting for Hai Xiu to stutter out an explanation, Feng Fei took his phone and spoke to Jiang Yuman instead, “Aunty. The most taboo thing to do before the exam period is to go against your own daily habits. Hai Xiu is already used to studying at my home for the past 6 months, coming and leaving school with me. Since we also coincidentally have our exams at the same place, why don’t you just let him go to school as usual.”

Jiang Yuman still felt a little worried. “Then what are you two gonna eat for two days? I only….”

“We’ll just eat whatever we’ve always been eating in the past.” Feng Fei replied, trying to coax and deceive her at the same time. “If you suddenly give him a lot of nutritious food, would he be able to absorb it all? Just let him eat what he’s been having as usual. If you took him back to your place and take the two days off to accompany him, he’ll feel even more uncomfortable. What will happen if this makes him lose his A game during the exams?”

After some thought, Jiang Yuman started to dismiss her ideas and hesitated. “That’s true….” KT0REJ

Feng Fei chuckled. “Wait until he’s done with the exams and you can take him out to play whenever you want afterwards, there’s no need to suddenly take him now. For real. Messing with his usual routine won’t benefit anyone.”

Jiang Yuman understands this as well. She finally nodded her head and said, “Fine, *sigh*. Sorry to bother you then…This year, thanks to you taking care of this kid of mine, I didn’t need to worry all the time. ”

“Then you can also rest assured for the last two days of high school.” Feng Fei handed the phone back to Hai Xiu. “I’ve already spoken with our mom. Don’t worry, I won’t bully you.”

Jiang Yuman heard what Feng Fei had just said and chuckled. “Of course you wouldn’t bully him…I know you treat Hai Xiu well.” hUcqjM

Hai Xiu didn’t feel natural talking to the phone in front of Feng Fei, so he hid himself in the bedroom to continue the conversation with his mom.

“I understand….”

“En, don’t make trouble at Feng Fei’s.”

“En. No eating watermelon. No eating ice-cream. Rest assured…Feng Fei wouldn’t let me eat them.” kMEXTR

“Okay, he won’t eat them either.”

“I know, I’ve prepared everything. 2B pencil. Eraser. Admission slip. ID card.”

“Okay…don’t worry about me anymore. I’m really fine. Bye mom.”

Hai Xiu hung up the phone and saw Feng Fei leaning on the bedroom door frame staring at him. Seeing this, Hai Xiu spoke in an embarrassed tone, “My mom asked me to tell you not to get nervous during the exams and also to stop eating unhealthy foods.” a9Avfj

Feng Fei stayed silent. He felt slightly happier when Hai Xiu said ‘Feng Fei wouldn’t let me eat them’ earlier. He asked, “I think our mom especially likes me right now.”

Hai Xiu didn’t understand. “She’s always liked you.”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Feng Fei chuckled. “‘Like’ as in liking me as a son-in-law?”

Hai Xiu blushed as he corrected, “As in liking you as a daughter-in-law.” qgAykI

Feng Fei raised his eyebrows. “Are you rebelling against me? ”

Hai Xiu wanted to leave, but Feng Fei blocked the door without budging. Hai Xiu smiled helplessly. “Don’t make trouble…go study.”

Feng Fei slipped both his hands in his pants pockets and lightly looked down upon Hai Xiu, revealing a slight scorn in his eyes. “Tell me. Am I the daughter-in-law?”

Hai Xiu was stared at by Feng Fei till his heart thumped loudly. In the end, he couldn’t match the latter and admitted it with his completely reddened cheeks. Only then did Feng Fei move out of the way. However, just as Hai Xiu was about to leave, he suddenly hugged him from behind. dgJIVc

Feng Fei pressed Hai Xiu against the door frame and gave the other a gentle kiss.

“Your mom can rest assured because I’ll never bully you for the rest of my life.” Feng Fei rubbed against Hai Xiu’s forehead in a pampering manner and said, “I’ll treasure you forever.”

Hai Xiu lowered his head and spoke in an inaudible voice, “I’ll let you…occasionally…bully me once…”

Feng Fei understood what Hai Xiu meant in an instant. Beyond Hai Xiu’s expectations, Feng Fei did not make fun of him but laughed for quite a while instead. He gave Hai Xiu’s cheeks a tight squeeze and said, “Stop teasing me…go study!” AdKqfF

Hai Xiu chuckled as he ran away to study for the exams.

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