Evaluation of Academicians

Fang Chuan and Huang Fuda chatted for a while. When Fang Chuan got up to get water, he suddenly remembered something and said to Huang Fuda, "Boss, there's something I need to tell you, so you won't overthink it."

"What's up?"

“It’s been raining a lot lately, and the area where you’re working is a bit moldy. It needs to be left to dry for a few days. I think it will be sunny the day after tomorrow, so let’s stop work for now and resume the day after tomorrow. It’ll be a good time to give the workers a break.”

Huang Fuda looked up in confusion, "Does this still have any impact?"

Fang Chuan seemed to see through everything, and he turned his face to face Huang Fuda, smiling relaxedly.

"See, I knew you didn't trust me, so I told you in advance. Boss, you're not in my line of work, so it's normal that you don't know, but you have to trust my company's professionalism."

"I didn't mean that, I was just curious." Huang Fuda avoided Fang Chuan's gaze, reached out and placed his hand on Fang Chuan's face, then pushed it away.

There was no progress.

The young man's eyes sparkled as he peeked at him through his fingers, his clear voice carrying a hint of coquetry.

"Mr. Huang, it's been several days...can I have a kiss?"

Fang Chuan's lips opened and closed, gently scratching his palm, warm and with a slight breath.

Huang Fuda placed his hand on the back of the young man's head, pulling him close. From light kisses to biting, each swallow was unusually urgent, the taste of rust filling their lips and tongues, making them want more. He felt a bit oxygen-deprived, his head spinning and throbbing, until Huang Fuda's vision began to black out, at which point he pushed the young man away.

He took a deep breath and calmed his head until it stopped hurting before chuckling softly.

"I'll make it up to you when I'm better."

Fang Chuan took two more light pecks and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay."

One was lying down, and the other was sitting; the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Fang Chuan got up, went to the restroom for a while, and then said goodbye to his boss, Mr. Huang, saying that he had other business to attend to at the company and would come back later that evening.

Huang Fuda lowered his eyes and smiled, urging him to go quickly.

Not long after Fang Chuan left, he made a phone call to his assistant.

"Take some time today to go to Yunquanhui and see if it's getting moldy. Then bring my computer over this afternoon and try to hide it somewhere."

Assistant Li was very efficient. He hid the computer in a small suitcase and brought it to Huang Fuda, while also explaining the construction situation.

After learning that Fang Chuan's words were true, Huang Fuda was relieved and sent his assistant Li back. With the help of the caregiver, he secretly resumed his work.

With lunchtime fast approaching, he decisively turned off the computer, had the caregiver put it in his suitcase, then put the suitcase in the closet, and pretended to watch a movie on his tablet.

Fang Chuan arrived just a few minutes later.

Huang Fuda glanced at the wardrobe without making it obvious, secretly feeling a sense of danger.

Fang Chuan accompanied him to the movie, then told the caregiver to go home, saying that he would stay and keep him company tonight.

You have to go to work tomorrow, right?

"I know, I'll be quiet when I leave tomorrow morning so I won't wake you."

"...That's not what I meant."

"Feeling sorry for me again?" Fang Chuan looked at him with smiling eyes, but the smile quickly faded.

"Mr. Huang, if you really don't like me, could you please stop saying things that make me misunderstand?"

"Are you this nice to everyone? You worry about me when I haven't eaten, you worry about me freezing to death, you protect your subordinates when they're bullied, and you even wipe away the tears of the person who threatened you when they cry. What does it have to do with you whether I can get enough rest? You don't need to feel sorry for me; it's my own fault for being so pathetic."

Fang Chuan paused briefly, his eyes scanning Huang Fuda's entire body, before continuing.

"You just need to promise that I'm the only one by your side. I don't need you to say sweet words or give me any insincere compliments. That would make me reluctant to part with you."

Huang Fuda opened his mouth, wanting to say no, but the words stuck in his throat.

After a long pause, he turned his head to the other side and said, "Stay if you want, it's up to you."

Fang Chuan quickly recovered, massaging his legs and shoulders, talking about work to amuse his boss, Mr. Huang, and occasionally stealing a kiss.

However, Huang Fuda has been unable to recover his form for a long time.

That day, Fang Chuan asked him if he liked him even a little bit, and he said yes. He had just never officially confirmed a relationship with anyone, but he wasn't unaware of what liking someone meant.

But what's the use of that little bit of liking?

Meeting Fang Chuan was his bad luck, but Fang Chuan falling for him was also bad luck.

He felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, and the guilt he had previously hidden was slowly being squeezed out again, making him feel somewhat cruel.

Fang Chuan breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Huang Fuda gradually cool down.

The two slept through the night, each with their own thoughts.

The next morning, Huang Fuda received the same chrysanthemums and fruit basket as the day before.

He asked the caregiver to bring the chrysanthemums to him and carefully examine them in front of him for any notes or greeting cards. But there was nothing.

Not wanting others to see this troublesome sight, he simply told the caregiver to throw the flowers outside, but Fang Chuan still discovered them when he arrived at noon.

"Were the chrysanthemums in the trash can outside delivered today?"

"Do you have any chrysanthemums? I didn't receive any."

Fang Chuan frowned and said, "You don't need to lie to me. Who would bring chrysanthemums to a patient for no reason? You're probably the only one in the whole building who would get them."

Huang Fuda smiled but didn't say anything.

"Was this fruit basket delivered along with it?"

"yes."

Fang Chuan picked it up and went out the door.

When Fang Chuan came back in, he saw Huang Fuda observing him from time to time.

A few more moments passed.

"Don't throw it away next time; so many people want to eat it but can't."

"I didn't throw it away, I gave it to the homeless person downstairs."

His boss, Mr. Huang, burst into laughter, a laugh so bright it was impossible for him to look away. "How can our little Fang be so kind?"

Fang Chuan lowered his eyes and couldn't help but smile. He walked closer, bent down, and kissed him. After kissing him, he nestled against Huang Fuda's chest and said with some grievance, "Why is your health always so poor? I'm about to suffocate."

"Didn't you do it in the bathroom yesterday?"

Fang Chuan's face turned red instantly.

"...That's different."

He didn't continue the topic and instead said, "There's an exam at school this afternoon, and then I have to go home tonight, so I won't be coming. You should get some rest."

Fang Chuan only had lunch with Huang Fuda, and then went to the school library to go through the contents roughly.

After finishing the exam, he went back to his dormitory, put down his books, and was about to leave again when Liu Jiacheng happened to return.

After chatting for a few minutes, Liu Jiacheng said, "Fang Chuan, do you know that Dean Fang is going to be nominated as an academician?"

Fang Chuan really didn't know.

"I heard it's almost finalized. We happen to run into each other today, and I have something I'd like to ask for your help with."

"What's up?"

"I want to study under Academician Fang as a graduate student, but there are very few spots available..."

Fang Chuan turned his head slightly, not looking at Liu Jiacheng, and said, "The selection results haven't been released yet."

"Did you know that Teacher Wu asked me to secretly report your whereabouts before?" Liu Jiacheng continued without waiting for Fang Chuan's reply, "I apologize to you, that was my fault. If you can help me, I can keep it a secret from Teacher Wu in the future."

"Then why don't you go find my mom?"

"Dean Fang dotes on you a little more."

Fang Chuan turned his head and smiled, telling him to wait for news.

At the dinner table that evening, Fang Chuan casually said, "Dad, I went to school today and heard that you're being considered for academician."

Mr. Fang looked relaxed and content, and said that was right.

Seeing his reaction, Fang Chuan knew the outcome was pretty much certain, so he didn't say anything more.

The next day, he arranged to meet Liu Jiacheng alone at a dessert shop.

"Contact Professor Bai and apply for her graduate program." Fang Chuan took a sip from the coconut.

Liu Jiacheng hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard that Teacher Bai is going to work in the administration department."

Fang Chuan's eyes swept across the counter and stopped on the plate of cream puffs. He said, "Trust me, you'll be fine. Just focus on getting Teacher Bai to accept you."

"Wait a minute, I'll buy some more food. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Liu Jiacheng shook his head, and then Fang Chuan returned with a box of cream puffs and two small cakes.

Fang Chuan gave him one of the cakes, and then took a cream puff from the box and ate it slowly.

"What have you talked about with my mom before?"

Liu Jiacheng recounted each item one by one, all of them seemingly insignificant, but things gradually changed towards the end.

“She would occasionally ask me to go to your apartment, and I had to tell her whoever I met there. Fang Chuan… you like men, right? Once I saw a man coming out of the shower at your apartment, and the smell in the room hadn’t even dissipated yet.”

Fang Chuan looked up at him, "You said that too?"

"No, I only told Teacher Wu that you have a male friend in your room. But if it happens too often, I'm afraid Teacher Wu will become suspicious, so you should be prepared."

"Anything else?"

"Later, when you skipped class, Teacher Wu asked me if you had attended class, but since our majors are different, I just brushed it off. I also told Teacher Wu about the time you went on vacation. Oh right, and Teacher Wu also asked me about the time you had a car accident and ran into my dad at the hospital."

Fang Chuan tightened his grip on the coconut.

"What did you say at the hospital that time?"

"Just say that you happened to run into me at the hospital for a check-up."

Fang Chuan rolled his eyes and asked him with a smile, "Is that all you said?"

"yes."

The weather was nice today, a bright and sunny day. After Fang Chuan and Liu Jiacheng parted ways, Fang Chuan went to Yunquanhui. It wasn't open for business yet; there was only a guard. Fang Chuan wandered around inside for a long time before finally coming out.

He handed a cigarette to the guard and casually asked, "It's the holidays now, Uncle, you must be bored here all by yourself."

"It's not boring. I play on my phone for a while, chat with people, and the time passes by."

"Who am I supposed to talk to if I'm not working?"

“There’s a young, crazy woman at the restaurant next door. She’s pregnant recently and loves to come to our door to sunbathe all the time. I’ve been listening to her ramble on and on. One minute she’s talking about having a dozen kids, and the next she’s teaching them English. Even though it’s all crazy talk, it’s still pretty funny to listen to.”

Fang Chuan glanced in the direction of the restaurant. The crazy woman was sitting barefoot at the entrance. When she saw Fang Chuan looking at her, she waved at him, opened her mouth and said "hello," revealing her empty front teeth.

Fang Chuan withdrew his gaze and continued, "Has no one else come?"

"There is one, she said to be Boss Huang's assistant, the tall and thin female assistant. She came once and even bought that crazy woman a pair of shoes."

Fang Chuan took a shallow drag of his cigarette, then exhaled and smiled.

He was very busy all day. The small project that Boss Wu had given him was finally finished, and he had been working overtime since returning from PPP. He didn't have time to cook for his boss, Mr. Huang, so he picked out a decent-looking takeout restaurant and had it delivered, along with a box of cream puffs.

He worked with the project team until 3 a.m., then drove back to his apartment for a short nap. He was woken up by his alarm at 6:50 a.m. and started preparing breakfast for Boss Huang.

When they arrived at the ward, Huang Fuda was already awake. The caregiver was helping him out of bed. When asked, he said he needed to go to the bathroom, so Fang Chuan took him in and half-carried him into the bathroom.

A moment later.

"You should let the caregiver in."

Fang Chuan reached out to help him up, clicked his tongue loudly, and deliberately said, "Why are you shy with me? It's not like we've never touched each other before."

"Fang Chuan, let go."

"I won't let go. Go ahead and pee, breakfast is getting cold~" Fang Chuan's hand trembled, and he pressed it a few times intentionally or unintentionally, smiling as he looked at Boss Huang, who was already hard to be ashamed of, and made it even harder to be ashamed of.

He put his mouth close to Boss Huang's neck, and in a cheeky manner, he hissed and blew air into his neck.

Seeing that he was becoming increasingly complacent and even more self-satisfied, he loosened his grip and even pressed on Mr. Huang's swollen abdomen a few times.

He feigned innocence and said regretfully, "I really can't pee. Never mind, I'll call a caregiver for you. We can't let our boss, Mr. Huang, get sick from holding it in."

Huang Fuda took a deep breath, grabbed his hand, turned his head and kissed Fang Chuan's forehead, saying, "Good boy, move a little more."

Breakfast was cold when I came out, but thankfully it was still edible.

"Boss, construction on the Yunquanhui site starts today. We can start installing the water circulation system. I heard from the project team that you've already transferred the money?"

Huang Fuda swallowed the egg yolk and said, "Yes, I had someone send it over yesterday."

“Okay, it’s not convenient for you to go see it, and I’m not free either. I’ll ask Assistant Li to go to the site today, and then she can come back and explain it to you in detail.”

Fang Chuan put the egg white in his hand into his mouth and said with a smile, "So you don't have to secretly ask Assistant Li to do it. She's not an expert and doesn't know much about it. You can just ask me directly from now on."

Huang Fuda wasn't embarrassed when he was exposed; he simply nodded and said okay.

In the afternoon, just as Assistant Li was reporting to him, a nurse's cursing voice came from the ward door.

"We've managed to avoid sending chrysanthemums for the past couple of days, but why are they sending paper flowers today? Is this something you can send to a hospital?! Where's security? Take them out of here."