To pursue Su Lian, running away is not only shameful but also useless.
Chi Wang decided to fill his stomach first, progress gradually, and then face the final battle with the dark cuisine.
He slowly picked up his chopsticks, prioritizing the visually appealing braised pork in front of him. The taste was delicious, with a burst of aroma in his mouth.
He offered heartfelt praise: "Fragrant, tender, and juicy, fatty but not greasy. I can almost see carefree little pigs running freely in the mountains, greeting the spring breeze blowing over the hills."
Su Lian: "..." Please don't be so dramatic.
For his second bite, he chose the spicy diced chicken next to it, with moderate spiciness and excellent flavor.
Tilting his chin up slightly, he searched his mind for lines: "The chicken is fragrant, crispy, tender, and smooth. The perfect combination of chili and Sichuan pepper gives a unique sense of profundity and classical feeling. The different layers of flavor are like different instruments, combined by you in the wok. I can almost see you holding a conductor's baton, directing various ingredients to jump into the pot in an orderly fashion."
He paused, then added: "This isn't just a dish, it's clearly Chopin's sonata, and you're the Chinese Cooking Master Boy."
Hearing this cringe-worthy flattery, Su Lian couldn't help but retort: "...Please shut up, you're even more exaggerated than the judges in Chinese Cooking Master Boy."
Chi Wang swallowed the meat and ladled himself a bowl of soup: "This is sincere praise from the bottom of my heart. Has anyone else eaten your cooking besides your dad?"
"Ex-boyfriend," Su Lian replied simply, picking up his bowl to drink some porridge.
Chi Wang's expression immediately darkened, his voice lowering as he said through gritted teeth: "You were really good to your ex. Why did you have to cook for him? Doesn't he have hands?"
That guy really had incredible luck, not only being Su Lian's first love but also once enjoying this kind of gentle care. It seemed like the cooking wasn't just a one-time thing either.
The more he imagined the details, the more sour he felt. The braised pork in his mouth suddenly lost its flavor.
Su Lian raised his eyes to look at him, pointing out the fact: "You have hands, and I'm cooking for you too, aren't I?"
The implication was clear: I've cooked, so just eat. What more do you want?
Hearing this, Chi Wang felt quite pleased and smiled: "That's true."
At least the ex-boyfriend definitely hadn't eaten Su Lian's cooking before they started dating. This round could be considered a big win for himself.
He pursed his lips and took a sip of the thick soup, feeling warmth spread throughout his body, thoroughly comfortable.
However, when his gaze fell on the bowl of black porridge, he quickly looked away and continued picking at the dishes.
Noticing his small movements, Su Lian reminded him: "Don't just focus on the dishes, eat some of the main course too."
Chi Wang's brow twitched, and he quietly pushed the bowl a bit further away, avoiding direct eye contact: "I'm not that hungry, I'll just eat some of the dishes."
Su Lian emphasized: "I made it especially for you."
Especially, for you, made it - the subtext was very clear: Don't be ungrateful.
The atmosphere gradually became tense, even the dust particles in the air didn't dare to settle, fearing that World War III might break out at any moment.
However, such heavy care was truly too much for a humble, pitiful, and helpless high school boy to bear.
In this life, Chi Wang hated insects the most. It wasn't that he was afraid, he just found them a bit disgusting.
The previous health porridge was merely exotic in taste, but the bowl of porridge in front of him now was daunting just by its appearance.
But not eating a single bite would surely upset Su Lian, who had painstakingly simmered it for an hour.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, with the arrow on the bowstring, he could only close his eyes and bravely sacrifice himself.
Chi Wang picked up the small bowl with trembling hands, slowly moved it to his mouth, and painfully scooped a spoonful down his throat with his chopsticks.
How to describe it? It wasn't as unpalatable as he had imagined, but if you chewed carefully, you could hear the sound of cicada pupae breaking open.
Just imagining those insects being bitten and dismembered made him feel nauseous, with stomach acid threatening to rise up his throat, causing extreme physical discomfort.
Seeing Chi Wang's pained expression, Su Lian stopped pressuring him and reached out to hold the hand holding the chopsticks: "Didn't you boast that you'd eat anything? If you can't eat it, forget it."
Seeing the disappointment on Su Lian's face, Chi Wang steeled himself and quickly shoveled several spoonfuls into his mouth with his chopsticks.
He might as well pretend it was crayfish seafood porridge; after all, they're all animals, not much difference.
While mentally comforting himself, he quickly emptied the thick porridge, and soon the bowl was clean.
Su Lian was shocked; this guy was really harsh on himself.
Chi Wang painfully swallowed the last mouthful, his face ashen: "I finished it."
Su Lian raised the corners of his mouth: "Mm, I saw."
Before he could finish speaking, the next second, Chi Wang couldn't hold back anymore and rushed to the bathroom, retching.
Turning on the faucet, he raised his hand and gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water, rinsing his mouth clean.
Su Lian followed him with a furrowed brow, leaning against the doorframe to look at him: "Are you okay?"
He hadn't expected Chi Wang's reaction to be so strong. If he disliked it so much, he had said he wouldn't force him, so why did he push himself? It was strange.
"I'm fine, it's just the first time eating it, not quite used to it." Chi Wang took a breath and splashed some cold water on his face. The lingering taste finally dissipated a bit.
He raised his hand to wipe away the water droplets flowing down his neck, closing his eyes to suppress the uncomfortable feeling.
Su Lian handed him a towel, saying resignedly: "Next time, if it's this difficult, just forget it. There are other ways to nourish your body."
"Mm." Chi Wang pursed his lips, his chin still dripping with water, his tone carrying a hint of coaxing, "I just didn't want to waste your thoughtfulness."
The two stood leaning against the doorframe, the room narrow, standing very close. When Chi Wang spoke, his breath fell on Su Lian's face, carrying some warm, lingering temperature.
His voice was very soft, and Su Lian inexplicably sensed a feeling of being cherished and cared for.
He was slightly stunned, recalling the scene when he first brought Chi Wang health porridge. The boy had half-propped himself up on the chair, asking with a fierce expression if he was trying to poison him, looking terribly angry.
And now, even though he was so repulsed he wanted to vomit, he still forced himself to swallow it, just to avoid making Su Lian unhappy.
It seemed that many emotions had quietly changed in their daily interactions.
He couldn't pinpoint the reason, but it felt like Chi Wang's attitude towards him had become somewhat different from before.
"Come drink some soup to feel better." Su Lian turned and went out, ladling another bowl of hot soup for him and placing it on the table.
Chi Wang wiped his face dry and slowly sat back down. Without the cicada pupa porridge, he could finally enjoy today's dinner properly.
After a moment of silence, thinking of the monthly exam results, Su Lian clinked his soup bowl against Chi Wang's: "Cheers to your improvement in the exam."
Seeing this serious demeanor, Chi Wang found it incredibly cute. He mimicked Su Lian's action, clinking back: "I'll continue to work hard next time."
So formal and proper, the two of them looked like Communist Party comrades meeting.
Su Lian stared at him and laughed: "So, tutoring tomorrow?"
Chi Wang put down his bowl and rubbed his stomach: "Let's take a day off. I need 24 hours to recover from the damage caused by the cicada pupa porridge."
Glancing at the time, Su Lian reminded him: "My dad will be back soon."
Hearing this, Chi Wang quickly finished his meal in two bites and wiped his mouth with a napkin: "Then I'll leave now."
Hastily gathering the bowls and chopsticks, they left through the front door and walked from the winding small streets towards the main road.
The streetlights flickered, outlining the tall figure of the young man, casting a long shadow. Su Lian followed behind, enveloped in that shadow, feeling an inexplicable sense of security.
Chi Wang looked back, reaching out to pull Su Lian beside him, joking: "Why are you walking behind? Are you stalking me?"
"You're crazy," Su Lian cursed, but this time he didn't struggle, allowing himself to be held as they strolled slowly through the alley.
Thinking of how they had hurriedly finished dinner earlier, Chi Wang curved his lips: "You know, the way we're hiding from your dad, doesn't it feel like we're having an affair?"
Su Lian glanced at him, exasperated: "What are you thinking about all day?"
Chi Wang clicked his tongue and said leisurely: "It's just that I'm not supposed to be seen, right? If your dad sees me, he'll misunderstand again."
Although after realizing his own feelings, he now felt that a little misunderstanding wouldn't be so bad - it was bound to happen sooner or later - but he suspected that voicing these thoughts aloud would result in an immediate beating.
"If you'd stop with your ridiculous antics, he wouldn't misunderstand," Su Lian said, stopping at the entrance of the alley and patting the large hand on his shoulder, signaling for it to be removed. "Be careful on your way home."
Chi Wang made a sound of agreement, blinking gently, his eyes showing a hint of reluctance to part.
He used to think of himself as quite detached, but ever since falling for Su Lian, he felt he had become much more clingy.
He even wanted to stay at school every day, to be together twenty-four hours a day - it was absolutely maddening.
He bent down to get into the taxi, resting his elbow on the window as he waved, hesitating to speak.
Young love is like that - hidden in the heart, restrained and timid, afraid to reveal even a hint.
In the end, he chose to say: "Goodnight, Teacher Su. See you on Sunday."
The monthly exam was immediately followed by the school anniversary celebration and sports meet, in rapid succession without a break.
During evening self-study, Qi Tian wandered around with the sign-up sheet, bowing and nodding like someone handing out flyers on the street.
"Hey classmate, interested in the men's 1000 meters?"
"Classmate, shot put is such a beautiful sport - it really suits you."
"Classmate, jump rope for the honor of our class?"
Everyone tried to avoid the sports meet events, eager to take it easy in the stands for two days rather than participate.
After several rounds, there were still many empty slots on the sign-up sheet. The sports representative's performance today was quite dismal.
Su Lian waved to him from afar: "Qi Tian, bring it here, I'll fill it out."
"Oh ho, even the top student is interested? There are lots of events left - which one do you want to join?" Qi Tian slapped the form down on the desk and looked around. "You should all learn from our Brother Lian - excelling in both academics and sports, strong on both fronts."
Su Lian's pen paused, quite speechless: "I'm signing up on Chi Wang's behalf."
The inadvertently targeted Chi Wang next door slowly turned his head: "On whose behalf?"
"Yours." As he spoke, he neatly wrote down Chi Wang's name for the long-distance run and four-person relay.
Chi Wang stretched out his long legs, looking quite displeased: "Teacher Su, I don't want to go. Running is so boring."
His tone was lazy and languid, a prime example of a tough guy pouting.
"More exercise is good for your health."
"Why don't you sign up? You got sick just from getting rained on last time. Didn't the doctor say you need to strengthen your immune system?"
Su Lian was stumped, not knowing how to refute for a moment.
While he was in a daze, Chi Wang took the sign-up sheet. Unable to bring himself to fill in the long-distance run, he scrawled Su Lian's name next to the four-person relay instead.
The two ended up sabotaging each other, fully implementing the principle of sharing both fortune and misfortune.
Twirling a pen in his hand, Chi Wang lectured earnestly: "Teacher Su, class activities are about participation."
Su Lian gave a noncommittal "Oh," forced onto the boat of troublemakers, not really wanting to speak.
Qi Tian took back the sign-up sheet and continued persuading people one by one, happily making the rounds. After several passes, he barely managed to fill all the slots.
He stood on the podium and clapped his hands, raising his voice: "There are still two positions left unfilled - the long rope turners. Is anyone willing?"
The whole class was silent. No one wanted to take on such a tiring and strenuous task.
"Then we'll be fair and just - we'll decide by drawing lots." He produced a lottery box from somewhere, clearly premeditated.
Su Lian kept his head down, continuing to work on problems, thinking this had nothing to do with him.
The next second, Qi Tian waved the paper slips in his hand and slowly spoke: "I've drawn the names. Is anyone curious who the lucky ones are?"
From below came the teasing response: "Let's see which two unlucky souls are so unfortunate."
Qi Tian laughed: "Chi Wang, Su Lian, sorry you two big shots, it just happens to be you guys."
Su Lian: "..."
Chi Wang: "..."
The unfortunate duo looked at each other, falling into silence.
As soon as she heard the names of the CP protagonists together, Liu Youyou squealed: "Really? Really? Really?"
Qi Tian patiently replied: "Yes, absolutely no cheating, just this coincidental."
Liu Youyou's eyes curved in a smile as she declared with certainty: "If they can be paired up out of over fifty people, then this must be fate."
Turning the rope together - isn't that basically like the bowing ceremony of an ancient married couple?!
"That's right, two tall handsome guys turning the rope - our class will definitely win first place in popularity for the long rope competition," Qi Tian said with a smile, looking at the two whose faces had turned pale. "You might as well accept it."
Chi Wang lazily crooked his finger: "Bring that box over here so I can check."
Afraid of being beaten, Qi Tian carefully brought the box over, saying cautiously: "Look, all the class names are inside."
Chi Wang took it and casually drew a few slips to open them. It really was true. What a coincidence. "Teacher Su, looks like we have no choice but to accept."
Su Lian: "..."
What sin had he committed in a past life? He never participated in group activities, and now he was being forced to do this kind of mechanical stupid task.
"The future of Class 6 rests on you two. Since it's been happily decided, you guys find some time to practice coordination. There's a rope in the PE equipment room." Having completed his task, Qi Tian rolled up the sign-up sheet and went straight to the office.
Su Lian gripped the pen in his hand tightly, thinking to himself that he wasn't very happy at all.
He kicked Gu Anjiu's chair, quickly trying to pass off the task: "Little Nine, didn't you say you wanted to show filial piety? Now's the time."
Gu Anjiu pinched the fat on his arm, his fingers sinking in deeply: "Look at me, do you think I can swing it? I'd be out of breath in two swings. Sorry, my physical condition doesn't allow it. I'll find another way to be filial to you some other time."
Chi Wang clicked his tongue in disdain: "Completely useless. I don't have a son like you."
Gu Anjiu retorted, sticking out his neck: "What relationship are you claiming? I don't have a father like you either."
The two verbally sparred for several rounds, but the outcome had already been decided.
Since they couldn't change their rope-turning fate, they had to practice. For several days in a row, Chi Wang and Su Lian were forced to join the evening long rope practice sessions.
Just the two of them mechanically swinging a long rope in circles on the empty sports field - the scene looked quite idiotic.
After evening self-study, Gu Anjiu stood on the sidelines watching and offering commentary: "Raise your hands higher, the circle is too big, not enough force."
"Let's do him in together," Chi Wang glanced fiercely at the talkative chubby kid, conspiring with the person on the other end of the rope.
Su Lian nodded, his expression cold: "Agreed. Chop him up and make soup."
Gu Anjiu giggled, running a distance away before calling out: "Hey, do you think there might actually be ghosts jumping while you're swinging that rope?"
At those words, everyone stared at the empty jump rope, suddenly breaking out in a cold sweat. The rope Su Lian was swinging gradually slowed down and eventually stopped.
That mouth of Gu Anjiu's - would he die if he didn't speak?
Knowing Su Lian was afraid of ghosts, Chi Wang quickly gathered up the rope, coiling it into a circle. He took the opportunity to kick Gu Anjiu: "Why are you telling ghost stories for no reason?"
"It's dark and windy, I was just setting the mood. I was only saying it casually." Gu Anjiu didn't know what he had done wrong and looked quite wronged.
Su Lian had an especially vivid imagination. Just that one brief ghost story instantly conjured up images of various spirits jumping rope one after another. The hellish scene was absolutely terrifying.
Chi Wang handed the rope to Lin Yan and accompanied Su Lian back to the dorm along the track: "Scared?"
Su Lian pressed his lips together, his voice very soft: "I'm fine."
Actually, he wasn't fine at all. His mind was full of images of female ghosts in red dresses floating in the air jumping rope. He would probably have nightmares tonight.
Staring at that deathly pale face that looked truly frightened, Chi Wang said in a low voice: "If you're scared, want to sleep with me tonight?"
"What are you two whispering about?" Gu Anjiu squeezed his head between the two, wanting to be part of any gossip.
Chi Wang pushed him out again with one hand, simple and rough, showing no mercy.
When he turned his head back, his voice became gentle again: "How about it? Come over after you shower?"
Su Lian shook his head, saying very seriously: "I can't always hide at your place. I need to learn to toughen myself up and not be afraid of wandering spirits."
Chi Wang laughed: "You don't have to be so cool. It's okay to rely on others occasionally."
Rely on Chi Wang? Su Lian looked up at the moon in the night sky, not responding further.
At eight o'clock in the morning, a stirring piece of music echoed across the campus, waking up the sleeping masses.
Chi Wang cursed, eyes closed as he fumbled for the speaker, turning it off with practiced ease only to find the demonic sound still streaming into his ears.
The same old sports meet march, even more grating than Teacher Su's morning wake-up calls.
Forced awake, he yawned and opened his eyes, irritably running a hand through his hair as he got up to pull out and change into his gym clothes from the wardrobe.
Shuffling slowly in his slippers to next door, he thought he might as well wake the other person up too - no one should get to sleep peacefully.
Su Lian always got up early. When Chi Wang pushed open the door, he had already put on the school's standard gym uniform and was looking down, adjusting the drawstring on his pants.
Staring at his movements, Chi Wang lazily spoke, "What are you doing?"
"I tied a knot and can't undo it," Su Lian said, lowering his eyelashes. His fingers circled the rope, making it even tighter.
Chi Wang quickly walked over, one hand touching Su Lian's lower back, suddenly pulling him closer. He said in a low voice, "Let me help you with that."
His voice was low and deep due to the early morning drowsiness. Su Lian felt that this sentence was somewhat ear-burning, causing him to miss a breath.
He slightly raised his head, staring at Chi Wang's jet-black hair tips. Due to their close proximity, he could feel the other's shallow and deep breaths directly on his face.
With his own waistband still in the other's hands, the situation felt somewhat inappropriate no matter how he looked at it.
Chi Wang hadn't thought that much about it. He was slightly hunched over, focusing intently on untying the knot. As he moved, his thumb accidentally brushed against a strip of exposed waist beneath the raised hem.
The warm touch between palm and waist startled Su Lian, causing his back to stiffen.
Just as he was about to say something, Gu Anjiu's high-pitched voice pierced the air: "Oh my god, the world is going to the dogs! What scandalous thing have I just witnessed?"
Both of them turned their heads in unison, exclaiming, "Are you sick in the head?"
The chubby boy covered his eyes with his hands, muttering about it being unsuitable for minors, and quickly turned around to dash into the bathroom.
Chi Wang tugged at the rope, loosening the knot. His fingers circled it once more, tying a beautiful knot.
Without thinking, he patted Su Lian's slender waist and said, "All done."
He misjudged the position, his hand landing slightly lower than intended, feeling the pleasant sensation beneath his palm.
Belatedly realizing that his action might have been a bit inappropriate, he lightly pinched with his fingertips, as if the warmth from earlier still lingered.
Having been unintentionally touched in such a manner, Su Lian's ears turned slightly red. He pulled the rope from Chi Wang's hands and said, "Thanks."
Chi Wang turned away casually, clearing his throat lightly. "We're about to enter soon, let's hurry over."
"Mm, I'll brush my teeth first." Su Lian brushed past him, rushing into the bathroom without looking back, leaving behind a flustered silhouette.
It seemed he wasn't the only one feeling shy. Chi Wang, with his hands in his pockets, slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
After getting ready, the five of them headed downstairs one after another, walking towards the sports field.
Strangely enough, it always seemed to rain on the school's anniversary. The path was wet, with fine, dense raindrops falling, seeping into their collars with a bone-chilling coldness. It was already deep autumn.
When they reached Class 6's gathering point, Li Guoqing, seeing the slow-moving group, waved his hand from afar, urging them to hurry over.
The opening ceremony of the sports meet was quite boring. After a bunch of leaders finished their speeches, each class entered in turn, circling the field once as a formality.
The schedule for the next two days had already been arranged, with the first group event being jump rope. Classes would enter according to their order.
From third-year middle school to first-year high school, the audience in the stands was yawning continuously. This event was truly lacking in excitement and couldn't arouse much interest.
Liu Youyou had already prepared herself as a frontline reporter, frantically broadcasting real-time updates in the group chat:
[Taro Pudding Bobo #2]: Attention everyone, they're about to go on stage. Are you all ready?
[Taro Bubble No. 27]: My camera is ready! All equipment is in place!
[Taro Bubble No. 427]: The script has been submitted to the group. It'll be read soon!
[Taro Bubble No. 89]: Best viewing position in the stands, ready to go!
[Taro Bubble No. 374]: My friends from other schools have all arrived. Today is the first team-building event for our support group!
......
Half an hour later, it was finally time for the second-year high school students.
As soon as Chi Wang and Su Lian stepped onto the field, the two tall, long-legged athletic youths standing there instantly revived a group of girls in the stands. They screamed at the top of their lungs as if they were at a concert, going absolutely wild.
Li Guoqing, who had been explaining the rules, turned his head in confusion and asked, "It was quite quiet just now. Do we have so many fans in our class?"
"Teacher, you just don't understand. They're all here for our two rope-swinging handsome guys," Liu Youyou said with a smile, her eyes curved into crescents, her whole being radiating extreme excitement.
Standing on the other side of the long rope, Su Lian heard this new team name and felt quite exasperated.
The "Warm-up Duo" and "Rope-swinging Handsome Guys" - was there any difference? Not really. Both were equally corny.
He exchanged a glance with Chi Wang from afar. The other had shed his gloom from the past few days and now looked spirited and dashing, like a peacock with its tail fully spread.
Su Lian didn't know what he was so happy about and inwardly snorted. Was it because of the screaming girls?
At the sound of the whistle, the students from Class 6 participating in the jump rope event lined up in a long dragon formation, orderly passing through the rope one by one.
Having practiced for several days, Chi Wang and Su Lian were perfectly in sync. Their strength and arc were consistent, the long rope cutting perfect semicircles through the fine rain.
Su Lian thought to himself, embarrassing or not, it's just three minutes. It'll be over soon, no big deal.
Suddenly, there was a burst of static from the broadcast station, followed by the announcer's clear and articulate voice: "Next is a submission from Taro Bubble No. 654. Chi Wang and Su Lian, your rope-swinging posture is a once-in-four-thousand-years beautiful sight. Your rope-swinging movements are so in sync. You are the brightest focal points of today's sports meet."
Su Lian's brow twitched. He thought to himself, who wrote this script? The flattery is too cringe-worthy. Please don't read any more.
"The next submission is from Taro Bubble No. 122 of the Taro Pudding Bobo organization. Chi Wang and Su Lian's rope-swinging is not just rope-swinging, it's their shared joy and sorrow. Even fifty years from now, when they look back on this moment, they will still find their joint struggle at this moment moving."
Su Lian: "......"
Seven or eight messages in a row, all without exception from the Taro Pudding Bobo Support Group. After all, no one else would think of submitting messages at the start of the sports meet. This gap had been fully occupied by the support group members.
However, the praise was over the top, with hidden agendas sneaked in between, as if afraid that others' attention hadn't been drawn.
What happened to the promise of not performing in front of the main characters? Su Lian decided to privately message Member 1 after the competition to re-emphasize the group rules.
After all, the sports meet lasted two days, and he didn't want to experience such embarrassing scenes again.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Member 1's name on the broadcast.
"The next submission is from Taro Pudding Bobo Member 1. Chi Wang and Su Lian's rope-swinging has swung out passion, swung out tacit understanding, swung out love's entanglement, swung out eternal devotion... ahem, the following text is not quite appropriate, so we'll cut it off here."
To hell with love's entanglement and eternal devotion.
Su Lian gritted his teeth hard, his fingers tightening on the long rope.
Damn you, Member 1. Today, it's either you die or I perish.