Chapter 60
When it snowed in Ancheng, Jiang Huaiyu submitted her application for admission. Lu Mingxiao held his phone, and the background music with electronic sounds in the game suddenly became a bit jarring. The small bedside lamp cast a warm light, but the moonlight outside the window was as cold as if it had fallen frost.
They have been separated for six months.
But this is just the beginning. Jiang Huaiyu is still in China, and the two of them are still under the same moonlight. In another six months, there will be a time difference between them.
Noticing Lu Mingxiao's silence, Jiang Huaiyu's game character also stopped and circled around [AAA Boosting Xiaoming], initiating a "hold hands" gesture invitation.
Lu Mingxiao agreed, and the two little figures held hands, standing on the shore of the new map "Silent City".
"Brother Xiao."
Jiang Xiaoyu's voice through the headphones brought Lu Mingxiao back to reality. The game character tugged at his hand and moved. Lu Mingxiao sighed, "Jiang Xiaoyu, what major do you want to study? Can you develop a time machine?"
"...My major was related to investing in time machines."
"I can't take it anymore! It's only been half a year!" Lu Mingxiao pulled Jiang Huaiyu's little figure towards the depths of the sea on the map. The two little figures sank to the bottom with a "glug" and got stuck at the edge of the map. "You said you'd study if you missed me, and I can finish half a workbook in a day."
"Brother Xiao, our birthday is coming up soon," Jiang Huaiyu said.
"Don't try to change the subject." Lu Mingxiao snorted, but still sat up: "It's my birthday, and it's my coming-of-age birthday. We'll be adults in half a month."
"Yes," Jiang Huaiyu said, "I'm preparing a birthday present for you."
"What gift? Can you climb out of the screen and kiss me?"
“...Lu Mingxiao.”
Lu Mingxiao chuckled softly, leaning against the pillow: "I'll like anything you give me, and I've prepared something for you too..."
Two knocks sounded from the outside as Li Qing knocked on the door, her voice so gentle it could melt your heart: "Da Bao, Mom's got you some late-night snacks ready."
Jiang Huaiyu: "...Mom's been in a good mood lately?"
That voice was really well-chosen.
"Yeah, she's been advising me to reduce my study time lately, and she even bought me a game console because she was worried I was getting too tired." Lu Mingxiao's voice rose a few decibels: "Mom, I'm not eating anymore, what time is it?"
Li Qing pushed open the door and came in carrying several small plates: "What time is it? You should eat something. Dinner was four hours ago. This midnight snack is really substantial. Look, boneless chicken feet, pig's ears, chicken wings, squid..."
Jiang Huaiyu was getting a little hungry just listening to this.
Lu Mingxiao picked up a piece of dried ear fungus with his chopsticks; it was crisp and bouncy.
"Mom, this is a late-night snack. Can you give me a beer so I can have a drink? But I'm not studying, I'm playing games."
"Minors are not allowed to drink alcohol! Playing games is great!" Li Qing smiled broadly: "You should rest. Go ahead and play, Mom won't bother you anymore."
Jiang Huaiyu got hungry and went downstairs to find something to eat, where she ran into Chairman Song, who was returning from working overtime.
"Xiao Bao, are you still awake?" Song Jingliang closed the door quietly, afraid of disturbing Jiang Lan upstairs. He glanced at Jiang Huaiyu's phone casually: "Playing games? It's good to relax a little, don't stay up too late."
"Okay, Dad." Jiang Huaiyu nodded and looked towards the kitchen: "I... am hungry, I'm going downstairs to find some late-night snacks."
"Oh, I bought a lot of those pizzas your mom's been liking lately. You can just bake them in the oven. Do you want Dad to cook you something?"
"No need." Jiang Huaiyu smiled very considerately: "You go upstairs and rest. I have a day off tomorrow, but you don't."
Song Jingliang went upstairs in sorrow.
Jiang Huaiyu baked a pizza and asked Lu Mingxiao in a low voice, "Mom has come to advise you to relax a bit. Have you been overworking yourself with your studies lately?"
"Just study, nothing else is really interesting." Lu Mingxiao asked, biting into a chicken fin, "Little fish, is there any special gift you want?"
I want you.
"Cough cough...cough..." Lu Mingxiao, who was drinking water, choked and coughed until tears flew out: "Jiang Xiaoyu...next time when we start the car, can you remind me to hold on tight and sit properly?"
Jiang Huaiyu chuckled: "What did I say? You're overthinking it."
...
On her birthday, Jiang Huaiyu paid extra attention to the express delivery information from Ancheng. When she treated He Yan and a few friends to dinner, she checked her phone very frequently.
Seeing this, He Yan teased him, "Are you waiting for your girlfriend's message? Today is your birthday, what gift is that poor girl going to give you?"
"He Yan, are you out of your mind?" Another friend threw a pistachio shell at He Yan: "Huaiyu doesn't hold it against you, but don't give her boyfriend nicknames. Anyone else would have punched you already."
He Yan scratched his head casually: "It was just a joke. Little President Jiang wasn't angry. So I won't say anything more. Today is President Jiang's coming-of-age day. How about we have some adult entertainment?"
"Damn it, what are you saying? I'm telling you I'm rejecting bad temptations."
"What are you thinking? I said after we finish eating, let's go to the off-road club in Yunshan and go for a couple of laps!"
"What time is it? It's dark and raining. He Yan, are you tired of living and looking for trouble?"
Just as Jiang Huaiyu was about to refuse, the waiter's elbow knocked over the fruit tea, spilling it all over Jiang Huaiyu. The girl was so frightened that she apologized repeatedly. Eating a meal here was really not cheap. There were five or six teenagers sitting in the private room, all dressed in designer brands. This young master had the most expensive air about him. I wonder how much his clothes cost.
"Hey, miss, watch out!" He Yan peeked in and said, "Luckily it's warm water, otherwise boiling water would have scalded my buddy's bird!"
Jiang Huaiyu pinched the bridge of her nose: "He Yan, can you shut up?"
The young man sitting next to He Yan pressed him back onto the stool, his smile gentle and refined. He quickly and decisively picked up a carved radish and stuffed it into He Yan's mouth.
"Zhou...uh...your grandpa..."
Jiang Huaiyu got up and went to the restroom to tidy her clothes, while also comforting the waitress who kept apologizing and asking for compensation.
"My mom bought the clothes on Singles' Day, two pieces for 140 yuan each, so there's really no need to compensate me. Is there a hairdryer in the bathroom?"
Yes, yes! Please come with me!
Jiang Huaiyu blew on the clothes briefly, but unfortunately, the fruit tea contained mulberries, and half of the white sweatshirt was stained light purple, so it was probably no longer wearable.
He dried his clothes until they were half-dry before returning to the private room. The door was ajar, and the conversation inside could be faintly heard.
"He Yan, can you think before you speak? Why do you still call Huaiyu 'Little President Jiang'? What if Huaiyu feels uncomfortable hearing that?"
"Did I say something wrong again?" He Yan clicked his tongue. "Tsk, be careful next time. In previous years, Grandpa Jiang always threw a big party for Huaiyu's birthday, but this year it's his coming-of-age ceremony and there's nothing at all! That's really too much."
“It wasn’t anything special in previous years either,” Zhou Lingye said. “People come and go, but how many of them are here because it’s Huaiyu’s birthday? I think today is pretty good.”
"That's true..."
"Old Zhou is right."
“Then it’s not wrong for me to call him Little President Jiang!” He Yan’s voice rose again: “Who said that Jiang Huaiyu can only be President Jiang of his Jiang Group? With our Little President Jiang’s abilities, he will be President Jiang wherever he goes in the future.”
Zhou Lingye smiled faintly, his eyes narrowed: "Like coming to your house? Are you afraid you won't be able to support the family business and will bankrupt your family?"
"You have such a foul mouth! Let me tell you, if Jiang Huaiyu is really willing to come to my house after graduation, he won't just be a CEO. I'll definitely make him my godfather and let him rule from behind the scenes!"
The boys inside laughed and cursed He Yan for being shameless.
Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly. His phone vibrated; Song Jingliang and Jiang Lan, who were on a business trip, each sent him a large red envelope in their family's group chat.
[My Chairman Father]: Happy coming-of-age, Xiao Bao! Mom and Dad will make you a belated birthday cake when we get back in a couple of days. Your gift is on the table in the study.
[Ms. Jiang]: Happy birthday, Xiaobao! Happy coming-of-age ceremony! Mom put your gift under your pillow. Mom will be back tomorrow afternoon, and I'll cook you something delicious when we get home~
Jiang Huaiyu: ...
Mom, your intentions are good, but I hope you won't go.
[Sister Qingqing]: Little darling, keep this red envelope safe! Mom doesn't know what you like, so I'm giving you money to buy it yourself. After you finish eating with your friends, go home early and be careful.
[Lu Chuan's father]: Happy birthday, Mr. Jiang Huaiyu! [Applause] [Hug] [Hug]
bite--
The logistics notification says the package from Ancheng has arrived.
...
Lu Mingxiao didn't attend evening classes. As soon as the bell rang for the end of the last class, he picked up his schoolbag and was about to leave when he realized that Class 5, which usually rushed to the cafeteria with great fanfare, was deserted.
Everyone slowly turned to look at him, and the next second, the lights were turned off.
In November in northern China, after the last class at a high school, it was already dark. With the lights off, only the streetlights in the school provided a little light, and the shadows stood motionless.
No kidding, at that moment, the hairs on the back of Lu Mingxiao's neck stood on end. He thought he had accidentally entered some kind of infinite flow game.
The next second, the beam of the flashlight shone brightly in the classroom.
"Oh ho~~~"
Happy birthday, Xiao Ge!
"Brother Xiao! Starting today! You can legally and legitimately date!"
"No, the convex lens is looking!"
"Congratulations to Brother Xiao on jumping from 456 to 654 in just one year! Happy new year! May you reach new heights!"
Lu Mingxiao was almost blinded by the flashlight and couldn't tell who was who in the dark. He kept saying thank you. Someone stuffed a bouquet of flowers into his arms. When he turned on the light, he saw pink carnations.
Lu Mingxiao: "...What are you doing? Do you think I'm your mother?"
Liang Jing bluntly stated, "Brother Xiao, carnations are on special offer!"
"Thanks everyone, I'll treat our classmates to milk tea tomorrow." Lu Mingxiao waved the flowers in one hand. "I'm waiting for dinner at home, so I'll be going now. Thanks a lot, everyone! Let me know what you want to drink in the group chat tomorrow!"
He walked along the road, taking pictures of the bouquet amidst the falling snow, intending to send them to Jiang Xiaoyu that evening.
Before returning to his courtyard, he went to the express delivery station to pick up the package from Shanghai. It was a rectangular box, about the size of a backpack, and it felt quite heavy.
He was holding a box and flowers, blocking the view, and when he got home he even stepped on his brother Tiger's foot.
He apologized to Hu Zi, then used his shoulder to push open the door while carrying the box, and was greeted by the aroma of food.
"Bang--"
Lu Chuan unscrewed a small ribbon-decorated firecracker.
Li Qing prepared a table full of dishes and looked at him with a smile: "Happy birthday, son!"
"Thank you, Mom! Here! These flowers are for my dear mother. You worked so hard eighteen years ago!"
Li Qing smiled and accepted the bouquet. Of course she saw the express delivery box, but today was a special day, so she turned a blind eye. The family of three sat down together for a meal, and Lu Mingxiao also received red envelopes from the four parents.
After finishing his meal, Lu Mingxiao chatted with his parents for five minutes before he couldn't sit still any longer and ran inside to unpack his package.
While clearing away the dishes, Lu Chuan asked, "Wife, do you really think Brother Song's cold treatment will be effective?"
Li Qing also looked somewhat troubled: "I'm out of touch with the times. Why do boys like other boys? Look at me and Jiang Lan, we're so close, and we haven't... wait, that doesn't seem to be it..."
"No way!" Lu Chuan sighed, "How about I recommend a website to you? Don't you like listening to novels while you're working? You can listen to novels on that website when you have free time, just to get used to it in advance."
...
Jiang Huaiyu dragged the suitcase into the house. That's right, Lu Mingxiao had directly mailed him a large black suitcase.
The combination lock was on, and Jiang Huaiyu easily guessed that it was the two people's birthdays. The combination lock popped open, and he carefully unzipped the suitcase. The suitcase, which was stuffed full, immediately popped open a small gap, like a magical seashell.
When I opened the suitcase, something was touched, and a thin thread pulled the lever, causing the warm yellow string lights inside the suitcase to light up.
There were many gift boxes, wrapped in silver-blue wrapping paper, with numbers and sticky notes on them, eighteen in total, all neatly arranged.
Jiang Huaiyu carefully touched the box, wondering how Lu Mingxiao had secretly prepared all of this under his parents' surveillance. He probably would get up in the middle of the night, turn on a desk lamp, and pack everything one by one.
He reached for the box with the number "1" on it, then thought for a moment and withdrew his hand, going to the bathroom to wash his hands first.
He moved a small stool over, sat down obediently, and began unwrapping the gifts one by one.
Talking plush ducks, remote-controlled robot dogs, cartoon instant cameras, Transformers models, mini telescopes, mini drones...
Each gift had a corresponding note attached, and Lu Mingxiao sent birthday wishes for each year of his life in the tone he used when he was a child.
The note on the first birthday read: "Gurgle, gurgle~"
Jiang Huaiyu laughed out loud, recalling the photo of Lu Mingxiao she had seen in Ancheng. At one year old, Lu Mingxiao was still a chubby baby.
On the three-year-old's note, Lu Mingxiao wrote: Happy Birthday Jiang Xiaoyu! Can I hold your hand and go to kindergarten with you?
The note from my six-year-old read: I'll treat you to grilled sausages after school! Happy birthday! Your brother will treat you to two skewers!
On the sticky note from when he was thirteen, Lu Mingxiao drew two...
The drawing skills are terrible. It looks like two little people are hanging themselves, struggling with their hands and feet, with "Happy Birthday" written next to them.
Seriously, if you can write, don't draw. It's a bit too early to commit suicide for love at thirteen.
On the sixteenth birthday note, Lu Mingxiao drew a small heart: Happy birthday, Jiang Huaiyu. Can I ask the teacher if we can be deskmates?
The gift was only opened when she turned eighteen.
It was a flat box with a note that read: Happy Adulthood Boyfriend! Didn't you want me? Well, I'm here~~
Looking at the two wavy lines, Jiang Huaiyu had a strange premonition that this flat box must have something extraordinary about it. Even though he was mentally prepared, he still fell silent for a moment when he took out the folded life-size standee.
Lu Mingxiao, dressed in his school uniform, struck a flamboyant pose; he was undeniably handsome and incredibly hot.
Jiang Huaiyu stared at the standee for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh as she lay on the sofa, the silver-blue wrapping paper pressed under her like pieces of brightly colored candy wrappers.
...
Lu Mingxiao opened the box.
Inside, there was some black and gold raffia, and on top of it was a pop-up book with a light blue cover. It depicted a snow-covered open space with a large crystal ball drawn on the snow, and two cute little figures lying on the snow, embracing each other.
Lu Mingxiao chuckled and touched the two little figures with his fingers. Jiang Xiaoyu's drawing skills were far superior to his. The two little noses were distinctive, and you could tell who was who at a glance, like two glutinous rice balls stuck together.
The little figure has "Happy Birthday" written in English on it, which was cut and pasted on from cardstock to create a 3D effect.
The cover was so well-made that Lu Mingxiao was almost reluctant to open the inner pages, afraid that he would be too pathetic to hold back his tears.
He carefully took out the pop-up book and set it aside. It looked like there was another book underneath. He opened the thick, black and gold cover, and in the sunlight, the boy's handsome profile came into view.
This is Jiang Huaiyu's newly taken photo album.
Lu Mingxiao was overjoyed. He moved his chair under the light and flipped through the pages one by one, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
As Lu Mingxiao flipped through the pages, he noticed that the further he looked, the more mature Jiang Huaiyu's photos became. From the blue and white tracksuit to the long black trench coat, the boy looked like a young man in the last photo. The makeup artist was highly skilled, adding a little shadow to his cheeks and eyes, which made his handsome face less delicate and youthful, and more gentle and calm.
Just like Jiang Huaiyu four years later, who sent him his photo ahead of time.
Lu Mingxiao's fingertips traced the eyebrows and eyes of Jiang Huaiyu in the photo, a sweet feeling welling up in his heart.
Even without a time machine, his little fish still traversed the long passage of time and swam right up to him.
He couldn't bear to close the photo album; he left it open and set it aside, then went to look at the pop-up book.
The first page has a plane ticket and a high-speed train ticket pasted on it.
From Shanghai to Ancheng.
Below is Jiang Huaiyu's sharp and beautiful handwriting:
2880 kilometers, and I encountered another chapter of my life.
And you.
Pop-up books record the past.
The photos in the album capture the future.
...
The day the final exam results came out was the last day before the winter break for senior high school students. It was snowing heavily in Ancheng, and the Andy Lau merchandise in the supermarket had already thawed. The poor senior high school students were just getting ready for their break.
Lu Mingxiao's seat was moved to a window seat. He stared at the falling snow outside, his slender fingers idly twirling a pen.
Jiang Xiaoyu's admission notice came down last month, and if he hadn't asked, this cunning little fish wouldn't have told him.
He sighed.
Even if you don't say anything, you still have to leave.
Liang Jing rushed into the classroom, holding a report card, and like a wild monkey that had escaped from the zoo, he leaped onto the podium in one swift motion.
"Brother Xiao! Oh, wait, I mean!" He held up the report card with both hands: "I hereby haile you as the new academic genius! Classmates, 701! The second student in our school's history to achieve a score of over 700!"
"My God, Xiao Ge, are you studying while riding a rocket?"
"Brother Xiao, did you summon Brother Yu's spirit during your exam? Is it that powerful?"
"That table is something special. I always like to speculate about it. Two academic geniuses came from that table!"
"What I'm saying is, what does this have to do with the table? Brother Xiao's notes are two thick notebooks!"
Lu Mingxiao was also somewhat surprised. He took the report card from Liang Jing and glanced at it. His mood was not fluctuating much, but he felt a sense of relief that everything had settled down.
Liang Jing leaned closer, grinning mischievously, "Hey genius, how are you feeling right now? Share it with us slackers!"
"No opening champagne halfway through, there are still six months left." Lu Mingxiao took the report card and dangled it between his fingers: "Let's talk about it after the college entrance exam. If you can maintain this score, I'll treat you guys to dinner, a seafood buffet."
"My goodness, all for my seafood..." Zhuoran's gaze was firm: "Brother Xiao, for the next six months, anyone who disturbs your studies is going against me!"
She looked at Li Rui, who had suddenly appeared at the door: "What are you doing? Our 701 guy doesn't play basketball!"
Li Rui scratched his head: "What? I'm waiting for Lu Mingxiao to get out of school so we can go home together. My grandma said she bought some seafood and invited Brother Xiao to come over for dinner tonight. Who is Brother 701? What's his relationship with Brother Xiao?"
"It's alright, the price will go up next time." Lu Mingxiao picked up his backpack, slung it over one shoulder, and said, "Let's go! Home for the New Year!"
As soon as Li Rui stepped out of the school gate, he shivered and quickly pulled up the hood of his school uniform. Then he turned around and started bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about.
"Brother Xiao, is Brother Yu really not coming back for the New Year? Aunt Qing and Uncle Chuan are his own parents. It's not that I say Brother Yu is bad, it's just that I really miss him..."
Lu Mingxiao put on a mask, the black mask covering half of his face. A few snowflakes clung to his eyelashes, melting into tiny, glistening water droplets as his breath warmed them.
A muffled voice came from behind the mask: "What are you thinking about? Just because it's yours doesn't mean you can think about it."
Li Rui: ? ? ?
Can't I even think about it? How can you be so domineering!
Just as he was about to retort, he heard the sound of wheels rolling over the snow behind him, slowly slowing down.
Lu Mingxiao heard it too, and the two boys stopped in their tracks at the same time.
A black Bentley was parked by the roadside, and two men in black coats got out. They walked over with a clear purpose, and their gait was different from that of ordinary people, giving off an indescribable feeling.
Lu Mingxiao felt a sense of déjà vu; the bodyguards around Young Master Jiang on the night he was kidnapped acted just like that.
Li Rui was numb. As the two approached, he suddenly bowed slightly to Lu Mingxiao.
"Young Master, the Old Master would like to invite you home for the New Year."
Li Ruiren, no longer numb, slapped his thigh and burst out laughing: "Oh my god, just like that dead guy in the short drama!"
He chuckled twice, then realized Lu Mingxiao wasn't laughing, and suddenly remembered...
Oh, this is indeed the young master.
Lu Mingxiao frowned, his light brown pupils reflecting the wind and snow, carrying a hint of chilling coldness.
"What if I say I'm not going? Can you force me to go back?"
The two bodyguards exchanged a glance, then looked back at Jiang Qiheng's secretary sitting in the car.
The middle-aged man nodded slightly.
The two bodyguards straightened up; the answer was self-evident.
Li Rui's tongue went numb again, and he stammered, "Brother...brother...what do we do?"
Lu Mingxiao suddenly felt a weight in his arms and tossed the schoolbag to him.
Li Rui was terrified: "Brother! Don't do it! I feel like one punch from this guy could kill me!"
Lu Mingxiao walked towards the two bodyguards, getting very close, but he didn't make a move, so the two of them naturally didn't dare to make any rash moves either.
The next instant, Lu Mingxiao suddenly grabbed the arms of the two people on the left and right.
Two bodyguards: ? ? ?
"Why aren't you dragging me away yet?" Lu Mingxiao laughed arrogantly. "I told you, no matter what, brothers have to go home and celebrate the New Year together! Li Rui, tell your Aunt Qing that my maternal grandfather asked me to spend the New Year with him. I was dragged away! It was definitely not voluntary!"
Li Rui: ...
Can you please stop laughing?
The two bodyguards exchanged another glance.
I've never encountered an employer with such a requirement in my entire career. Oh well, I'll just take the money and do the work.
Lu Mingxiao was dragged away in a long line, leaving a drag mark on the snow.
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