ICY Chapter 15

Chapter 15

In the blink of an eye, a month had swiftly passed.

“Did you bring your admission ticket? Check it again.”

“Mother Chu, I’ve checked it almost ten times on the way here, don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, once the stationery is handed out, check if it’s easy to use. If there are any problems, change it immediately, did you hear me?”

“Mom, mom, I heard you, I heard you.”

“Did you eat enough for breakfast? Do you want to drink more water?”

“Go to the bathroom before entering the exam hall.”

“…”

“Jiang Shi, over here! Why did you come alone? Where’s your mother?”

“My mom was too nervous, I thought she’d be better off at home.”

“Oh right, Mom, go home after we go in, don’t wait here all morning.”

“Can’t I?” Mother Chu blinked, looking at the kids.

“Caregiver, if you do that, we’ll feel more pressure. You can wait for us at home, I want to eat braised pork knuckle for lunch.”

“You can’t eat that, it’s too greasy, can Caregiver change it to something else for you?”

“Okay, thank you, Caregiver.”

The doors to the exam hall opened, and the students began to stir.

“Mom, we’re going in, you have to go home.”

“I know, go, go, go.”

Watching the children go inside, Mother Chu contentedly found a place to sit.

“Hey, honey, I’ll send you a list of dishes, go to the supermarket now, come home and cook them, so the kids can eat them at noon.”

“Okay, okay, I’m busy, I’m not waiting at the school gate.”

Mother Jiang hung up the phone and put it down, she wouldn’t be at ease if she didn’t wait.

“Honey, I’m at the company, at work, at work.”

“No, no, I took leave, yeah, don’t worry.”

Mother Jiang hung up the phone, taking a heavy breath, being closer made her feel at peace.

Only a few people were left at the gate, the two women exchanged a look, knowing their purpose was the same.

They nodded heavily, indeed, only a mother understands another mother best.

* * *

“Ding-ling-ling,” the bell rang to signal the end of the exam. The two-day exam had finally come to an end, and the three-month summer vacation was on its way.

“Jiang Shi,” Su Zhao Li called out softly.

Jiang Shi turned his head and saw him, perhaps because of a shift in their mindsets, or perhaps because of anticipation for what was about to happen, their eyes met, and they immediately understood each other’s thoughts.

Su Zhao Li jumped onto Jiang Shi, and Jiang Shi steadily caught him.

“Jiang Shi, why did you come?” Su Zhao Li asked, knowing the answer.

After the end of the Gaokao, most people excitedly rushed towards the school gate. The liberal arts and science students were in different areas, and before Su Zhao Li could see Jiang Shi, he was pulled into the car by Father Chu and Mother Chu and taken home.

He had now snuck out while Father Chu and Mother Chu were cooking, and he needed to hurry back quickly so his family wouldn’t wait for him.

“I missed you,” Jiang Shi replied.

“I missed you too.”

The two hugged for a while before Su Zhao Li spoke, “Jiang Shi, don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”

“I do… I’m so excited, my heart is still pounding.”

“Really? Let me feel.”

The skin under his hand felt hot, the sound of his heartbeat was urgent and strong.

Looking at Jiang Shi’s face turning red, Su Zhao Li wanted to tease him.

“Excited about what? I don’t remember.”

“A Li…” Jiang Shi looked up at him anxiously, hugging Su Zhao Li tighter.

“You said we wouldn’t date in high school, now that the Gaokao is over…”

“Ah, oh, that’s right.” Su Zhao Li pretended to have just remembered.

“Yes, yes, that’s it, A Li…” Jiang Shi was very anxious, looking up at Su Zhao Li pitifully.

Su Zhao Li’s heart was melting, okay, okay, he wouldn’t tease him anymore.

“Carry me to the small path next to us first and then I will tell you.”

Su Zhao Li wouldn’t come down, he wanted Jiang Shi to carry him.

Hearing this, Jiang Shi anxiously carried Su Zhao Li into the small path where the streetlights didn’t reach.

“A Li…”

“You haven’t even confessed to me yet, and you want me to agree to be your boyfriend…”

That’s right, how could he be so stupid, he hadn’t confessed yet.

“I’m sorry, A Li, it’s my fault, I like A Li, I like A Li very, very much, I want to make A Li happy every day, I will give A Li my best, I will be very, very good to A Li.”

“Then… will you only be this nice to me while you’re chasing me, and once you’ve got me…”

“No, no, no,” Jiang Shi quickly interrupted, “I will be good to A Li forever, even better than before, if I’m not good to A Li, then I will…”

The words were cut off by Su Zhao Li’s lips, a fleeting touch.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Looking at Jiang Shi’s nervous expression, Su Zhao Li “pfft” laughed, his lips touching Jiang Shi’s again. “I know.” I always knew.

A wet sound arose, Jiang Shi kissed him fiercely, and Su Zhao Li didn’t dare let him kiss for too long before pushing him away.

“We’ll get caught if we stay longer.”

“Put me down, I have to go, I can’t let Caregiver wait anxiously.”

“I won’t, I’ll carry you back.”

Su Zhao Li, who had just been shamelessly thinking about letting Jiang Shi carry him, was now shy, the situation was different now.

“If you don’t put me down, I’ll never let you carry me again.”

This was effective, Jiang Shi immediately put Su Zhao Li down, and the two walked towards the entrance of the residential complex, hand in hand.

When they reached the entrance of the residential complex, Su Zhao Li looked at Jiang Shi, already missing him before they even separated.

“I’ll come find you after I eat dinner.”

“Okay.” Su Zhao Li’s eyes lit up, Jiang Shi must be a worm in his stomach.

“Then I’ll go in first, you hurry home too, don’t let your parents wait too long.”

Su Zhao Li waved goodbye, and after walking a few steps, he turned around and Jiang Shi was still there. Su Zhao Li smiled, waved again to shoo him away, and Jiang Shi reluctantly turned around.

* * *

“Caregiver, Father Chu, I’m in love.” Su Zhao Li said solemnly during dinner.

Chu Nan Du’s jaw almost dropped, that was brave!

Father Chu couldn’t even hold his chopsticks, his job required him to travel to different places often, he didn’t know anything about what had happened before, and he was suddenly told that his child was in love. His heart was filled with shock and a bit of emptiness.

In comparison, Mother Chu was much calmer. A Li had liked him for a year, and it was time for a result.

“When did this happen, little A Li?” Mother Chu asked Su Zhao Li with a smile.

“Just now.”

“Oh, no wonder I couldn’t find you, so you were busy confessing.” Mother Chu raised an eyebrow at Su Zhao Li.

“I’ll get some wine.” Father Chu suddenly said.

“Don’t get the hard liquor, there’s beer in the fridge,” Mother Chu instructed.

“No, he confessed to me,” Su Zhao Li was a little shy, it still took some mental preparation to talk to his parents about his relationship.

“Oh, it’s mutual, who is it from school? Have I met them?”

“Mom, you’ve met him,” Chu Nan Du interjected.

“I’ve met him?” Mother Chu was even more curious.

“It’s Jiang Shi.” Stretching out his head, a knife and shrinking his head were also a knife, might as well do it in one fell swoop.

After speaking, Su Zhao Li was even more embarrassed, covering his face and refusing to look at anyone, naturally missing the change in Mother Chu’s expression.

“Jiang Shi? Which Jiang… that Jiang Shi!”

“Mmm,” Su Zhao Li nodded, covering his face.

Everything was connected, everything was connected.

Small biscuits, New Year’s Eve, increasingly frequent contact…

“Honey, hard liquor, bring the hard liquor over here.”

Chu Nan Du covered his mouth, stifling his laughter until his face turned red.

The situation was noisy here, but it was different on the other side.

“Mom, Dad, I’m in love!”

Jiang Shi shouted impatiently as soon as he got home.

Mother Jiang, who was watching TV, and Father Jiang, who was cooking, ran over immediately.

“Who is it?” They asked with anticipation, even though they knew who it most likely was, they didn’t dare to completely relax until the very last moment.

“It’s A Li,” Jiang Shi said, puffing out his chest proudly.

“Which A Li?” Mother Jiang asked again to make sure.

“It’s A Li, the one who is super beautiful and cute and has been to our house, Mom, you wouldn’t have forgotten him, would you!”

“Great, I haven’t forgotten, I haven’t forgotten, honey, we’re out of wine, go buy some wine quickly, I’ll add another dish, tonight we’ll get drunk and not go home.”

Seeing his parents so happy, Jiang Shi was very satisfied, as expected, everyone liked A Li.

* * *

“Son, you go with A Li, A Li is so young, if he does anything rash, you go and keep an eye on him for me.”

As she was about to leave, Mother Chu pushed Chu Nan Du towards the door.

“Mom, I’m not going, I’d be a third wheel if I follow them, is that a pretty sight?”

“I don’t care if it’s a pretty sight or not, you have to go.”

“Mom, A Li is so old, he knows what he can and can’t do, besides, look at Jiang Shi, what does he know.”

Su Zhao Li didn’t expect Mother Chu to react so strongly. Father Chu had already gotten drunk and was helped to bed to rest. Although they had reacted strongly, they hadn’t stopped Su Zhao Li and Jiang Shi’s relationship, so Su Zhao Li was now standing at the door, watching the show.

“And A Li, you have to be back by ten o’clock.”

Ten o’clock!

“Caregiver, ten o’clock is too early, it’s almost nine o’clock now.”

“Hmm?”

“Okay, Caregiver, I’ll be back by ten, hee.”

“It’s all your fault, so late…” From upstairs to downstairs, Chu Nan Du was rambling all the way.

When he saw Jiang Shi, Su Zhao Li’s eyes lit up, he was obviously a lot happier.

Not only did Su Zhao Li’s eyes light up, but Chu Nan Du’s eyes also lit up with a clever glint.

“Wait, my mom just said to follow you two, if you don’t want me to be a third wheel, then…”

“Be a third wheel if you want,” Su Zhao Li said, turning back to look at him indifferently.

Chu Nan Du’s values were truly being refreshed again, was that human language?

“Hahaha, I get it, I won’t tease you, here’s five hundred to keep your mouth shut.”

“Of course, I won’t say a word to my mom.”

“Okay, I’ll give it to you when you come back, don’t follow us.”

Chu Nan Du watched Su Zhao Li happily jump onto Jiang Shi’s back, being steadily caught by Jiang Shi. He had earned five hundred, and he was content.

“My Caregiver said to come back by ten o’clock.”

“My mom told me it’s okay not to come back tonight.”

“Then come stay at my house tonight.”

“That… wouldn’t that be too soon.” Jiang Shi kicked the tip of his shoe, looking shy.

“I’m just kidding, let’s go on a date tomorrow.”

“Okay. Where are we going tonight?”

“I don’t know, just carry me and wander around.”

“Okay.”

The summer evening breeze was fresh and cool, the air was exceptionally fresh and free, the cicadas chirped one after another, adding a touch of liveliness to the cool streets.

Neither of them spoke, the skin that was pressed together was still hot, the quiet time was worth cherishing.

Jiang Shi carried Su Zhao Li aimlessly, but he was also keeping track of the time, bringing Su Zhao Li back to the entrance of the residential complex.

“Sigh,” Su Zhao Li sighed heavily, it was time again.

“Jiang Shi, put me down.”

“Mmm,” as soon as Su Zhao Li landed, he couldn’t wait to kiss Jiang Shi, cherishing the time they had to be intimate.

The two hid in the darkness where the streetlights didn’t reach, carefully savoring the taste in each other’s mouths.

“You drank alcohol?”

“My mom poured me a glass, I brushed my teeth, but A Li still tasted it.”

“I don’t like it, you’re not allowed to drink it in the future.”

“Okay.”

“It’s almost ten o’clock, I have to go.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll find you tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.”

“Is it that you’ll say okay to whatever I say?”

“I’ll listen to whatever A Li says.”

“Then you go back first.”

“A Li go back first.”

The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with uncontrollable smiles.

“Okay, okay, I’ll go back first,” Chu Nan Du suddenly popped out and interrupted.

“Go back, go back,” Chu Nan Du pushed Su Zhao Li’s back and pulled him away.

Su Zhao Li wanted to turn back, but Chu Nan Du pressed him down, “If you look again, you really won’t be able to go back.”

* * *

Watching Su Zhao Li go back into his house and close the door, Mother Chu pulled Chu Nan Du and asked, “How was it?”

“Nothing happened, the two of them just held hands and walked around in the park for a while.”

“Really?”

“Really, what can two high school students do.”

“Okay.”

After entering the house, Chu Nan Du received five hundred from Su Zhao Li.

Chu Nan Du: Thank you boss, boss is generous.

Su Zhao Li, who had just finished showering, received a message from Jiang Shi: A Li, my parents won’t be home tomorrow, I saw the forecast says it will rain tomorrow, how about we stay at my house tomorrow?

Not at home! Inviting me over, is that too fast! Did Jiang Shi learn that so quickly!

Su Zhao Li: Okay