Returning to Infancy with my Nemesis - Chapter 65
“Let’s talk about it later,” Tang Mian didn’t directly answer his question.
Fu Shizhao made a soft sound of agreement and didn’t press further.
Although he still wanted to continue sitting next to Tang Mian in class, he wouldn’t be unreasonable about it. He would respect Tang Mian’s choice.
He would cherish the remaining six months of being deskmates.
Even though they would be in different classes after the subject division, he could still wait for Tang Mian after school, write small notes for him, and accompany him to the art studio to draw… It sounded quite nice.
What’s even more important is that he could finally make up for the regrets of the past.
He no longer had to pretend to pass by Tang Mian’s art studio with Mu Zichen, holding a basketball, and not daring to stop and steal a few glances at him. He no longer had to pretend to deliver assignments to the top floor teacher just to catch a glimpse of Tang Mian’s class.
He could approach him openly, talk to him, watch him draw, and go home together.
—-
Fu Shizhao’s arm had recovered well.
Although it took some time, after his arm fully recovered, he made good use of his time and trained with the others in the class. Their coordination was quite good.
Basketball matches and sports events took place one after another.
Fu Shizhao and Mu Zichen signed up for several activities, and Tang Mian… dragged Fu Jiacao along to join the ranks of volunteers.
Mu Zichen jokingly said, “Tang Mian could easily join the cheerleading squad, wear a wig, and a skirt, without looking absurd.”
Tang Mian gave him a fierce glare and told him to get lost, but deep down, he thought to himself that some people never change.
However, what surprised Tang Mian was that halfway through their first year of high school, Mu Zichen, the notorious playboy, hadn’t made any moves yet. There wasn’t even a hint of a romantic rumor, which was quite strange.
He remembered that in the previous life, Mu Zichen had already made quite a reputation for himself in the first year. Maybe it was due to the butterfly effect. But it was a good thing that he was behaving a bit more.
On the first day of the sports meet, Fu Shizhao participated in the 1000m race. Tang Mian was even more nervous than him, holding water and a towel, standing on the grassy field inside the track, waiting for him with Fu Jiacao.
During the warm-up, Fu Shizhao smiled and glanced in Tang Mian’s direction, and Tang Mian gestured to him to cheer on.
They hadn’t divided into different subjects yet in the first year, so there was no threat from the sports students, but there were still many outstanding athletes.
Fu Shizhao was a dark horse among them.
The 1000m race was a middle-distance run, with the starting point and the finish line not being the same. By the second lap, Tang Mian had already arrived at the finish line, waiting for him. Fu Shizhao was leading the pack, leaving the second-place runner far behind, and unsurprisingly, he was the first to reach the finish line.
Tang Mian couldn’t help but cheer along with his classmates, running excitedly to his side and using the towel in his hand to wipe away his sweat.
Other students also offered him water, but Fu Shizhao didn’t accept any of them. Instead, he smiled and took the already opened bottle of mineral water from Tang Mian’s hand, took a sip, and slightly bent down, making it easier for Tang Mian to wipe his sweat.
Amidst the noisy voices of the people around, all he could see was one person.
“That’s great, I’m going to win a few more championships,”
Tang Mian’s eyes curved into a crescent moon as he generously praised. “Alright, if we win, I’ll treat you to hot pot.”
The school would give out cash rewards for achieving good results in the sports meet, so treating everyone to a hot pot meal after winning a few championships would be more than enough. As autumn gradually cooled down, it was the perfect season for hot pot. They would have to eat hot pot together more often this year.
The basketball tournament went smoothly as well. Although they didn’t win first place, getting second place was already quite good.
Tang Mian had some impression of the class that won first place. Several students from that class went on to study sports, and the remaining students were tall and played basketball well.
Their class was full of amateurs, except for Fu Shizhao and Mu Zichen who were slightly more professional. Getting second place was already quite impressive.
Fu Shizhao had been learning from Fu Yu and Tang Minghuai since he was young, especially during middle school when they often took Fu Shizhao and Mu Zichen, who were still growing, to the basketball court to practice.
Coupled with his training in martial arts, his overall physical fitness was excellent.
Mu Zichen had received professional coaching in basketball for a period of time while filming on set, and he had developed a strong interest in basketball.
With the cash prize they received from the sports meet, Fu Shizhao, Mu Zichen, Tang Mian, and Fu Jiacao went out to eat hot pot together.
First year of high school, sixteen years old.
Boys of this age start to come into contact with alcohol to some extent.
Just as Tang Mian and Fu Shizhao returned after adjusting the seasonings, Mu Zichen came over with a few bottles of alcohol, grinning and saying, “No return until we’re drunk.”
In the previous life, Fu Shizhao had a good tolerance for alcohol, but in this life, he hadn’t practiced much. He had only sung a little during the Lunar New Year with his foster father and Tang Minghuai. Drinking didn’t affect his face, and he looked like nothing had happened, but he knew in his heart that with his current body, one bottle was already the limit.
Tang Mian didn’t like drinking, nor did he enjoy the feeling of being drunk. He simply took a cup of strawberry shaved ice and silently declined Mu Zichen’s invitation. Fu Jiacao adjusted his glasses and didn’t say anything.
Mu Zichen grinned and filled three cups.
Tang Mian couldn’t help but speak up, “Drink less, I can only handle one at most.”
“Don’t worry, I can handle my alcohol,” Mu Zichen said as he took a big gulp.
Fu Shizhao also took a sip, and the spicy taste instantly invaded their taste buds. He turned his head and glanced at Tang Mian, leaning closer and saying, “If we all get drunk, don’t worry about them, just carry me.”
Tang Mian took a spoonful of strawberry shaved ice and smiled back, “You’re too heavy, I’ll just carry Xiaocao.”
Fu Shizhao looked visibly hurt.
Fu Jiacao smiled and said, “It’s alright, I can handle my alcohol, I won’t get drunk.”
The group chatted, ate food, and drank. The sky gradually darkened.
Autumn was always followed by rain, and the sports meet and basketball games had been going on for the past few days without interruption. Tonight, not a single star could be seen in the sky, and it was likely that there would be a heavy rain tomorrow.
As first-year high school students, they were considered older kids, and their families didn’t keep a tight leash on them. They just asked them to call and pick them up after they finished eating.
Watching the two people who fell drunk one after another, Tang Mian, whose belly was slightly bloated from eating, couldn’t help but burp. He exchanged a glance with Fu Jiacao, who was sitting across from him and casually singing while drinking.
Unexpectedly, Fu Jiacao was quite… skilled.
He drank more than Fu Shizhao and Mu Zichen. Mu Zichen was trying to get himself drunk by constantly drinking, and Fu Shizhao was dragged along by him.
Tang Mian glanced at Fu Shizhao leaning on his shoulder, his eyelashes trembling lightly. He didn’t show any signs of being drunk on his face, but his mind was getting dizzy. He tightly held onto his own arm, leaning against Tang Mian with a dependent and loving gaze.
“He’s quite heavy.”
Tang Mian didn’t push him away but poured out the alcohol in his cup and replaced it with lemonade.
After taking a sip of lemonade, the intoxicated Fu Shizhao keenly noticed something off about the taste and shouted that he wanted to sing. The hand that was originally holding onto Tang Mian’s arm now wrapped around his waist.
Tang Mian slapped his wandering hand, but didn’t pull away. He pointed to the cup of lemonade and said, “That’s your drink, start singing.”
Lemonades could help with hangovers and nourish the stomach, and it is a good source of vitamin C.
Fu Shizhao stared at the cup of lemonade for two seconds, then obediently started drinking.
Tang Mian didn’t expect that even the intoxicated Fu Shizhao would surprisingly listen.
On the other side, Fu Jiacao was also attempting to negotiate with Mu Zichen.
Once Mu Zichen got drunk, his acting addiction kicked in.
Mu Zichen: “I’m not going home, sob, my mom will definitely scold me. Xiaocao, this world is so big, yet there’s no one for me out there except for you, sob.”
Fu Jiacao always felt like he was being insulted, but couldn’t find any evidence.
Fortunately, they were in a private room and wouldn’t be seen by people outside.
In the end, Tang Mian dialed Fu Yu’s phone number and told him about Fu Shizhao getting drunk. Fu Jiacao used Mu Zichen’s phone to send a message to his family, then took Mu Zichen back to his own home.
Luckily, Fu Shizhao was very obedient after getting drunk, although his intelligence dropped to that of a three or four-year-old, like a child.
Tang Mian had to hold Fu Shizhao’s hand as they walked. When they saw a stall selling sugar-coated haws under the mall, Tang Mian was asked to buy some for him. When they saw a couple walking by, holding balloons, Fu Shizhao also shouted for Tang Mian to buy him a balloon…
When Fu Yu arrived in a hurry, what he saw was Fu Shizhao holding a sugar-coated haw in one hand and Tang Mian holding a dog-shaped balloon in the other. Their hands were tightly intertwined, and they were standing very close to each other
Fu Yu raised an eyebrow unconsciously and walked up to them with the car keys in his hand.
The smell of alcohol was strong, emanating from his own son. Although it didn’t show much on his face, it was clear that he was drunk.
After getting in the car, Fu Yu turned to Tang Mian and said, “Xiaomian, I’ll take you home first, and then I’ll take Zhao’er home. He’s too drunk.”
With such a strong smell of alcohol, who knows if he’ll have some crazy drunken behavior tonight. If Tang Mian stayed over, he probably wouldn’t have a good night’s sleep.
Tang Mian naturally understood his intention and was about to reply when Fu Shizhao suddenly hugged him tightly, squeezing the dog-shaped balloon to the side.
In the dimly lit car, a few cool tears fell from Tang Mian’s neck.
Fu Shizhao’s sobbing voice followed, “I want gege to accompany me.”
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