We Can’t Go Back 63

Chapter 63

At the dinner table, Song Shuci once again witnessed the prowess of youth.

Seeing Xiang Zhuo exclaiming about the delicious food while finishing his fourth bowl of rice, and preparing to get another, he finally couldn’t help but advise: “Eat less, indigestion is bad for your stomach.”

Jian Wu glanced at Song Shuci, as if to say, you’re finally not being a mute anymore?

But Song Shuci didn’t see it, or perhaps didn’t understand his meaning.

Actually, Jian Wu had already advised Xiang Zhuo about eating too much several times before Song Shuci spoke, but Xiang Zhuo clearly didn’t heed his advice and continued eating happily.

For a cook, seeing their food being so enthusiastically enjoyed was indeed satisfying, but he was also genuinely worried about someone having stomach problems at his place.

“It’s okay, Teacher Song,” Xiang Zhuo shook his head, “I have a good digestive system.”

“Even with a good digestive system, you can’t eat this much,” Jian Wu said, “Teacher Song studied medicine, you should listen to him.”

Xiang Zhuo glanced at Song Shuci, then smiled at Jian Wu: “Okay, Jian Ge, I’ll listen to you, I won’t eat anymore, I’ll help you wash the dishes.” He stood up and actively started clearing the table. Jian Wu looked at Song Shuci, who, this time, receiving his gaze, stood up and followed Xiang Zhuo into the kitchen.

He sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

And Song Shuci had an even bigger headache.

He had just picked up a bowl when Xiang Zhuo snatched it from him. He had just put dish soap on the sponge when Xiang Zhuo took the sponge, saying politely: “I’ll wash them.”

He had never seen someone so eager to do chores.

“Teacher Song,” Xiang Zhuo chatted with him for a bit, then asked casually, “Does Jian Ge have a partner?”

Song Shuci figured Xiang Zhuo must have mistaken him for Jian Wu’s friend and was trying to get some information or gain favor, but he wasn’t a saint.

“You should just ask him directly,” Song Shuci said.

Xiang Zhuo actually did just that.

After washing the dishes, he took a book and approached Jian Wu, asking him directly about his relationship status.

Jian Wu glanced at Song Shuci.

He originally wanted to say yes, it was the best way to politely reject an overly enthusiastic pursuer, but Song Shuci still had that indifferent expression, as if nothing concerned him, and Jian Wu suddenly didn’t want to say it.

So he said coldly: “No.”

Xiang Zhuo’s face instantly lit up. He handed the book to Jian Wu: “Jian Ge, a gift for you.”

Jian Wu thought it was a best-selling novel, but when he looked down, he saw an unexpected title — “My Homeroom Teacher,” and the author’s name was “Xiang Zhuo.”

He looked at Xiang Zhuo in shock: “You didn’t write this about me, did you?”

“Yes,” Xiang Zhuo said, “Jian Ge, you left after we filled out our university applications and didn’t contact us, everyone missed you. So I took the lead and wrote this book. Many of the stories inside were provided by other classmates, I just did the editing. I just finished it, I was planning to give it to you after it was published, but I couldn’t wait, so I had it printed myself.”

Jian Wu’s heart skipped a beat.

No one had ever written him into a book before. He was truly touched, but…

“Can I take a look?” Song Shuci’s hand suddenly reached out, wanting to take the book.

Jian Wu quickly grabbed it, preventing him from taking it.

They exchanged glances, and Song Shuci let go first. Jian Wu hugged the book protectively and said to Xiang Zhuo: “Let’s go for a walk outside, I have something to tell you.”

“Sure.” Xiang Zhuo immediately stood up and even thoughtfully sprayed Jian Wu with mosquito repellent.

Song Shuci watched them go downstairs again, watching Jian Wu hold onto the book even as he left, and silently drank a large glass of water.

The evening breeze still carried the summer heat. Stepping out of the air-conditioned room, it still felt hot outside.

“What did you want to tell me, Jian Ge?” Xiang Zhuo asked proactively.

Jian Wu handed the book back to Xiang Zhuo and said carefully: “Xiang Zhuo, thank you, and thank you to your classmates… I’m truly touched that you remember me and wrote me into a book, but—”

“But what?”

“Do you have to publish it?” Jian Wu asked him.

“That’s my plan,” Xiang Zhuo said confidently, “I’ve almost saved enough money.”

Jian Wu hesitated: “Then don’t include my name in the book.”

Xiang Zhuo didn’t take the book, but asked: “Why?”

“Did you… write about the time I helped you?”

“Of course,” Xiang Zhuo’s eyes were filled with gratitude and determination, “I’ll never forget that.”

“Xiang Zhuo, when you almost got hurt that year, do you remember how worried your parents were?” Jian Wu sighed, “I also have family. Although some things are in the past, they would still worry if they read about it in a book.”

Xiang Zhuo was surprised: “Your parents still don’t know?”

“They don’t.”

“I’m sorry, Teacher Jian,” Xiang Zhuo suddenly realized, “I didn’t think of that.”

“It’s okay, there’s one more thing… Xiang Zhuo,” Jian Wu flipped through the book, his name appearing throughout, he thought for a moment, then said, “I helped you because I was your homeroom teacher. I would have helped anyone else, or any other teacher would have helped you in that situation. You don’t need to include my name, you don’t need to remember it was me.”

“But Teacher Jian… you’re more than just a teacher to me,” Xiang Zhuo held his breath, “Because of you, I became who I am today. I became so cheerful and optimistic all thanks to you. I want to be a teacher also because of you. I really… like you, I want to be like you.”

“You are you. Anyone else, at most, is just a catalyst, including me,” Jian Wu said firmly, “You became who you are today because of yourself.”

The boy’s eyes were slightly unfocused.

“Xiang Zhuo,” Jian Wu patted his shoulder, “You’re my student, and that won’t change whether you graduate or whether I still work at that school. We’ll always have a good teacher-student relationship.”

Xiang Zhuo’s eyes dimmed, and he was silent for a long time before saying: “I understand what you mean.” He changed his address, “I’m sorry, Teacher Jian… I was presumptuous.”

Jian Wu breathed a sigh of relief: “Then let’s go back—”

“Teacher Jian!” he interrupted him again, “I’ll change it to anonymous if I submit it to the publisher, but I still hope you can keep this book, consider it… consider it as helping me one last time.”

He looked at the book in Jian Wu’s hand, his eyes shining with a pure, touching light, “It’s also a way for me to… move on from my feelings.”

Jian Wu looked at him for a moment, then retracted his hand, holding the book, and nodded slightly: “Okay.”

When they returned, Song Shuci was playing with the bird again. As soon as they opened the door, they heard a loud “Xiang Zhuo, idiot!”

Xiang Zhuo, still reeling from his rejected confession, was stunned, his already broken heart shattered again, his composure almost cracking. He pointed at Jian Wenming with a wronged expression and asked Jian Wu: “Teacher Jian, why is he scolding me?”

“…” Jian Wu said carefully, “He just likes to scold people, he scolds everyone, don’t mind him.”

He then glared at Song Shuci. Jian Wenming wouldn’t scold people for no reason, he knew who taught him that.

The culprit avoided his gaze and turned around to continue playing with the bird.

“You go shower first, you can sleep in my room tonight, I’ll share with Teacher Song,” Jian Wu arranged.

Song Shuci’s hand, playing with the bird, paused.

He originally thought Xiang Zhuo would, as before, enthusiastically offer to share a room with Jian Wu, but he just said “okay” and went to the bathroom.

Hearing the water running in the bathroom, he turned and sat down beside Jian Wu.

Jian Wu was reading the book on the sofa. Seeing him approach, he quickly closed it.

Song Shuci noticed his action, glanced at the bathroom, and whispered: “What’s wrong with him?” Xiang Zhuo had been very quiet since they came back from their walk, completely different from his previous eagerness.

Jian Wu pretended to be confused: “What do you mean?”

Song Shuci finally couldn’t hold back his jealousy: “Your good student, don’t you know?”

Jian Wu glanced at him, then lowered his eyes and caressed the book cover: “I don’t know.”

Song Shuci turned his face towards him: “Don’t pretend, I already figured it out.”

“So you can figure it out,” Jian Wu swatted his hand away, “I thought you were blind.”

Song Shuci grabbed his hand and leaned closer: “If he continues like this, I might actually go blind.”

Jian Wu raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

After these past few days of awkwardness, Jian Wu, for the first time, didn’t find Song Shuci’s jealousy that annoying.

This was the real Song Shuci.

Jian Wu leaned back against the sofa, glanced down at Song Shuci’s hand holding his, chuckled, and, with his other hand, touched Song Shuci’s eyelid.

Startled, Song Shuci blinked, his eyelashes brushing against Jian Wu’s fingertip, the slightly itchy sensation spreading from his fingertip to his heart, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

“What are you doing?” Song Shuci’s voice was slightly deeper.

Jian Wu pulled his hand away and stood up, holding the book: “Checking if you’re really blind.”

“Jian Wu!”

The young man turned around.

“Do you think I should be jealous?” Song Shuci sat on the sofa, his hand casually draped over the back, and asked, looking up at him.

“You shouldn’t,” Jian Wu folded the corner of the book and looked at him, “But you can.”

Song Shuci smiled, finally not the forced, magnanimous smile from before, but his own gentle, tender, yet slightly possessive smile.

“Then let me see the book?” he leaned forward.

Jian Wu turned his back to him and waved his hand.

“No.”