That Nameless Summer Chapter 60

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The air conditioner in the training room blew chills on the back of his neck. Song Li’s fingertips were resting on the keyboard. The phone on the corner of the table was vibrating violently. A message from her cousin popped up, and the words were full of excitement: Auntie asked me who you were dating. She said she looked like the boy from the Ling family who used to live across the door. I didn’t dare to answer. You can tell auntie yourself.

Song Li walked to the corridor with her cell phone in hand, and pressed Mother Song’s phone number with trembling fingertips. The answer was in a familiar tone: “Just finished training? Your cousin said you are dating someone, is it Ling Qingye?”

His Adam’s apple rolled up, and he didn’t dare to say yes or no, so he responded vaguely.Mother Song didn’t press her, she just said, “Bring him back that weekend. I’ll make chicken soup. I haven’t seen the child for many years, so let him come and have a meal.”

After hanging up the phone, Song Li leaned against the wall, his palms all sweaty.When he was a child, he and Ling Qingye were opposite each other. Their parents often visited each other, and Ling Qingye always followed him around. Later, the Ling family moved away and lost contact. They reunited in high school and no one mentioned it to their families.

Song’s mother only thought it was a gathering of childhood friends and had no idea that this was a visit or a meeting.

Ling Qingye came to pick him up in the evening. Song Li got into the passenger seat and didn’t make a sound for a long time.Ling Qingye saw him wilting and reached out to rub his hair: “What’s wrong? Did the coach say something?”

“My mother asked you to go to my hometown for dinner on the weekend.” Song Li raised his eyes, with panic hidden in his eyes, “She thought it was just an old friend who came to visit and didn’t know… about us.”

Ling Qingye paused for a moment, then smiled, pinched his face, and said with warmth on his fingertips: “I know. It’s okay, I’ll follow you. Auntie always gave me candy when I was little.”

He said it easily, but Song Li was not relieved.There was silence all the way. Ling Qingye turned up the air conditioner in the car and held his hand. The warmth in his palm came through, but Song Li’s fingertips were still tight.

After arriving home, Ling Qingye took out his cell phone and checked with Song Li about Mother Song’s preferences: “Auntie still likes to drink Longjing? Do you want sweet-scented osmanthus or something else for the pastry?” Song Li answered every question, and her mind was full of what Mother Song would look like when she knew the truth. He was afraid that she would fall out, that she would embarrass Ling Qingye, and even more afraid that the window paper would be pierced, which would make her return home awkward.

In the next few days, Song Li kept distracted during training and moved out of position several times. His teammates joked that he was lost, but he just laughed at him.

However, Ling Qingye prepared things step by step. When he came back from get off work, he laid out the gifts to check. A simple and elegant silk scarf, a box of Longjing, and the sweet-scented osmanthus cake that Mrs. Song loved to eat were neatly placed in the bag in the entrance hall.

On Friday night, Ling Qingye took Song Li into his arms and patted his back gently with his fingers: “Don’t think blindly. If Auntie really asks, I will carry you and I won’t let you be wronged.” Song Li nestled in his arms, the tip of her nose rubbing against the scent of his cedar. The panic in her heart seemed to have subsided, but she still couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned until the latter half of the night.

At dawn, Ling Qingye got up, cooked porridge and fried soft-boiled eggs, while Song Li picked up the bowl, not having much appetite.Ling Qingye carried the gifts into the car, stuffed the trunk neatly, fastened Song Li’s seat belt, and rubbed his hair: “Let’s go, don’t look so sad. Auntie should feel bad when she sees her.”

The car drove onto the highway, and the wind came in through the cracks in the window. Song Li leaned on the passenger seat, his hand held by Ling Qingye and did not let go all the way.When he was about to get off the highway, he could see the familiar streets. Song Li’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated. His fingertips curled up and rubbed Ling Qingye’s palm.

Ling Qingye looked sideways at him and smiled: “We’re here, don’t be afraid.”

The car parked steadily downstairs in my hometown. The sweet-scented osmanthus tree at the entrance of the corridor was still the same as it was when I was a child. Its branches stretched outside the courtyard wall. When the wind blew, fine yellow flowers fell all over the ground.Song’s mother’s voice came from upstairs, calling his name. Song Li was sitting in the car, his hand on the door handle, but he didn’t dare to open the door.