Chapter 49 Have a child for me

"...Lin Yi, have you heard?"

"What?"

"During this period, Chen Zhinan collaborated with that super popular comic reading platform and released a series of short stories. It's said that investors have already been in contact with them, wanting to develop some IP-related merchandise..."

I see on his WeChat Moments that he's flying all over the country, attending all sorts of anime conventions and industry meetings, doing really well..."

Lin Yi didn't even look up, casually stuffing a thick sweater into his suitcase, his tone indifferent: "It's fine, I wish him all the best!"

Zhang Zexuan on the other end of the phone was silent for two seconds, as if digesting Lin Yi's overly calm reaction. Then, his gossip spirit ignited again: "You two... really have no contact at all? He's so popular now, hasn't he contacted you, his old classmate, to catch up?"

Lin Yi bent down to reach for another coat, but paused upon hearing this. He subconsciously looked up, his gaze passing over the messy floor and landing on the bedside.

Shen Beidao was facing away from him, slightly bowing, holding several storage bags in his hands, carefully packing his underwear into them.

Professor Shen is truly a "virtuous wife and loving mother" today.

Lin Yi deliberately distanced himself: "What are you talking about? What kind of connection could we possibly have? We were just ordinary classmates..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Zexuan's heartless voice rang out again: "No... he was still your ex-boyfriend, after all. Back then, you two were..."

Zhang Zexuan was completely unaware of the potential "listeners" on the other end of the phone, nor did he know that Lin Yi was playing the call on speakerphone. He continued speaking to himself:

"Do you remember the last time you two went to the temple together...? You both drew some kind of fortune stick for marriage, and the interpretation of the stick said..."

"Zhang Zexuan!" Lin Yi interrupted him, frantically reaching for his phone to hang up: "What nonsense are you talking about! It's completely untrue! I'm warning you, don't spread rumors! I'm busy here..."

"Hey? I haven't finished yet! Didn't my cousin sign up for another I Ching training course?"

They conducted a more precise analysis of your divination slip, saying that you might experience a major change in your love life this year, and that an old flame might rekindle...

Zhang Zexuan's voice was mercilessly cut off by the busy tone of "beep."

The world fell silent instantly.

Lin Yi stood frozen in place, holding his phone whose screen had gone black. He didn't dare to turn around, but he could clearly feel a gaze falling on him.

He turned around slowly, forcing a smile: "That... Zhang Zexuan just loves to talk nonsense! It's all completely fabricated! The temple fortune-telling thing, he made it all up..."

He observed that Shen Beidao's expression did not change significantly, and he was just about to relax.

Shen Beidao asked, "You and your ex-boyfriend went to a temple together?"

He asked, somewhat surprised, "Did you go to draw lots together?"

Lin Yi chuckled dryly twice: "That time was just a coincidence... I just happened to run into you. I didn't tell you because I felt it wasn't necessary..."

"Zhang Zexuan knew you went to draw lots with your ex-boyfriend, but I didn't?"

Lin Yi was repeatedly forced to retreat by the questions: "No! I am actually an atheist, a very firm one!"

"My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens! Praying to gods and Buddhas is all feudal superstition! I stopped believing in it a long time ago!"

He raised three fingers and immediately swore an oath.

He simply couldn't explain why he had drawn a fortune stick, and even told Zhang Zexuan about it, and asked Zhang Zexuan's cousin to interpret it... No matter how he explained it, it seemed like he cared a lot about his ex-boyfriend.

Shen Beidao paced around the room for a moment, then pondered, "Let's analyze this objectively. When was the last time you went to the temple with me?"

"...Oh, it was right when we first started dating, and then not long after, we broke up because of some misunderstandings."

He paused, looked at Lin Yi with an innocent gaze, "But you went with that ex-boyfriend, and now his career is booming. From a metaphysical point of view, that doesn't seem fair?"

Lin Yi: "...?"

I'm trying to reason with you!

You want to talk about fairness with Buddha?

Shen Beidao continued cautiously, "But... last time we went, we didn't draw lots together, let alone have any marriage fortunes interpreted."

"Fortunately, there's still time. Let's go to the temple again tomorrow."

Before leaving Jiangzhou, I felt it necessary to do everything that needed to be done and to ask for what needed to be asked.

Lin Yi: "But didn't we agree to go to the hot springs tomorrow?"

He booked the private hot spring and romantic king-size bed room at the resort hotel a month in advance, and even secretly prepared some small toys to give Shen Beidao a surprise.

"It's not too late to go at night."

Shen Beidao was adamant: "I think that since you're going to Japan to study, where you're unfamiliar with the place, you should at least bring some auspicious Chinese items with good connotations, to ward off evil spirits and to put your mind at ease."

Looking at his serious-sounding nonsense, Lin Yi belatedly realized that there was something else going on.

He curled his lip: "Hmph! If you're jealous, just say so. Why beat around the bush and argue with Buddha!"

"childish!"

Shen Beidao raised an eyebrow slightly, took another step forward, and trapped Lin Yi between himself and the suitcase.

"I'm not jealous," he denied. "It's just that my tastes have changed recently; I prefer something a little sour."

Lin Yi: You're so jealous!

Lin Yi was secretly pleased, and deliberately said, "Alright, I'm telling you this with very little confidence, there's no way Chen Zhinan and I could have any relationship beyond that of classmates. You can rest assured!"

"I'm not at ease."

Shen Beidao's gaze slid down Lin Yi's cheek, across his neck, and finally landed on his slightly disheveled collar. "I think, perhaps you can do something that will put my mind at ease."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Lin Yi's waist. Before Lin Yi could even cry out, he used a little force to hoist him onto his shoulder!

"Shen Beidao, what are you doing! Put me down!"

Lin Yi felt dizzy, being carried headfirst by him. Both ashamed and angry, he struggled with his hands and feet, yelling, "You again! Don't fall!!!"

Shen Beidao carried him steadily to the bed, laughed out loud upon hearing this, and patted his buttocks.

"Your Japanese pronunciation is pretty good. Practice more; it will help you in class."

"And I love it when you say that."

"..." Lin Yi was so angry at his shameless interpretation that he felt dizzy and gave up struggling, wanting only to bury his head.

The bed was piled high with clothes that hadn't yet been packed into the suitcase. Shen Beidao tossed the man into the soft heap of clothes, then covered him up, placing his hands on either side of his ears to trap him beneath him...

Lin Yi was dazed from the fall and before he could recover, he heard Shen Beidao ask him in clear and standard Japanese:

"このフレーズ、日本语で何と语いますか??"

(Could you call me something a little nicer?)

"???" Lin Yi looked at the face so close to his in surprise. "When did you learn Japanese?"

"just."

Shen Beidao's eyes were deep and unfathomable, like a sea concealing a dark night. "Seeing how diligently you're studying, I also need to preview the material beforehand, otherwise, how can I be your study companion..."

"Just now?" Lin Yi was even more confused.

Shen Beidao, however, seemed to be suddenly struck by something. He frowned slightly, looked down at Lin Yi, whose clothes were half undone, and his tone carried a rare hint of self-doubt:

"I don't know why, but when I'm with you, I can't help but want to do this. My reason tells me I should restrain myself."

Shen Beidao looked annoyed: "We should have proceeded more gradually, or at least not so frequently."

He paused, his fingertips gently tracing a fresh mark below Lin Yi's collarbone: "I almost don't recognize myself anymore. Do you think I should try to control myself?"

At this moment, Lin Yi's hoodie had been pulled so tight that half of his shoulder was exposed, and the cold air had caused his skin to break out in small goosebumps.

As he listened to Shen Beidao's pointed "reflection," his body began to stir uncontrollably due to the other's words and touch.

He was too lazy to even fully open his eyelids, only glancing at the pretentious, serious face above him through the gaps in his eyelashes.

"You're really talking more and more nonsense..."

He took a breath, his voice a little hoarse: "If you really like pretending to be a gentleman that much, then fucking do it with your clothes on! Don't try to be all high and mighty here!"

He was increasingly unable to stand Shen Beidao's behavior. Despite his overwhelming desires, he liked to stop at crucial moments and say some high-sounding, sanctimonious words, as if this could cover up his insane possessiveness.

"No swearing."

Shen Beidao shook his head, his feigned confusion vanishing, replaced by a stern, parental correction: "Impolite."

As he finished speaking, his breathing became noticeably heavier.

Lin Yi felt a surge of anger rush from his lower abdomen to the top of his head; he had had enough of this slow and deliberate torture.

He raised his arm, hooked it around Shen Beidao's neck, and pulled him down. Then, with his other hand, he reached down to the other's lower abdomen without hesitation, precisely found the metal zipper, and yanked it off forcefully...

"Hmm..."

All out-of-control language and superfluous thinking are replaced by more primitive behavior.

The night was long and chaotic...

The next morning, Lin Yi felt as if he had been taken apart and put back together. His body was sore and weak as Chen Beidao dug him out of bed, and he groggily put on a thick coat and put him in the car.

When they arrived at the temple on the outskirts of the city, the morning bell had not yet rung, and only a few early-rising staff members were cleaning the courtyard.

The side hall for drawing and interpreting divination slips was not yet open, and the master who was said to be very effective was not at work.

Shen Beidao pulled Lin Yi to the main hall.

The two knelt down side by side and, in the empty hall, earnestly kowtowed three times to the solemn Buddha statue.

There were no elaborate rituals, no prayers or vows, only the unspoken devotion in one's heart when the forehead touched the cool prayer mat.

Stepping out of the hall, Lin Yi rubbed his forehead, which was slightly red from the bump, and whispered to Shen Beidao, "Just now, I made a wish that we would be together forever, never to be separated for all eternity."

"Okay, I understand."

Shen Beidao glanced at him, then took his hand and led him down the mountain.

Staff members were already selling incense, candles, and bottled water in the small pavilion outside the hall.

Lin Yi ran to buy two bottles of water, opened one and took a big gulp, then handed it to Shen Beidao.

"What did you wish for?" Lin Yi leaned closer to him, curious. "Did someone speak ill of anyone in front of the gods?"

Shen Beidao took the water bottle and, in the spot where he had drunk, tilted his head back and took a sip.

The cool liquid slid down my throat, dispelling the last bit of drowsiness from my early morning commute.

He handed the water bottle back to Lin Yi, his gaze fixed on the gradually brightening horizon in the distance:

“I prayed to Buddha that Lin Yi would bear me a child.”

"puff!!!"

Lin Yi spat out a mouthful of water, creating a brief mist in the morning air.

He choked and coughed, his face instantly turning bright red. He stared at Shen Beidao in disbelief, his voice trembling:

"What the hell???"

"I'm a man! A man!! If you made that wish, even Buddha would want to call the police!!!"