Returning to Infancy with my Nemesis - Chapter 72

January 4th.

There was an unusual sight of a snowy-white sun in the sky, but despite the snow, it was still cold, and the temperature remained low.

Tang Mian still bundled himself up like a dumpling, with gloves hanging around his neck. His hair had grown longer, reaching down to his shoulders. Instead of tying it up as usual with a small elastic band, he let it hang naturally, which would be warmer.

The illness he had before the final exams made him uncomfortable for a long time. He really didn’t want to get sick again.

Yangchun Temple was located on the mountain, and most people chose to visit the temple for blessings on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, so there weren’t many people on the fourth day.

The road to the mountain was paved with cement, and the accumulated snow was hastily swept to the sides. However, there was still a lot of ice in the middle of the road, making it very slippery to walk on.

So, the group stepped on the soft snow on the sides of the road, clumsily climbing the mountain.

Shen Siwan and Tang Minghuai had gone to visit relatives, while Fu Yu stayed at home with Grandma Fu to entertain guests. The only ones who came to the mountain were Tang Sheng, Jiang Tian, Tang Mian, and Fu Shizhao.

After all, it was a temple for marriage, suitable for young people like them.

Before setting off in the morning, Shen Siwan teased Tang Mian and Fu Shizhao a few times. Tang Mian blushed and ran off without saying a word. The family was very open-minded. Although they didn’t advocate early relationships, they weren’t that conservative either, especially since Tang Sheng and Jiang Tian had been together since high school.

When Fu Shizhao almost slipped for the third time on the icy snow, Tang Mian finally grabbed his hand – through the gloves. Tang Mian said, “Be careful.”

“Okay,” Fu Shizhao’s eyes flashed with a hint of a smile.

Ever since Mu Zichen and Fu Jiacao got together, Tang Mian had consciously or unconsciously started paying attention to their interactions. This included but was not limited to, using illness as an excuse not to sleep in the same bed with him anymore and always finding an opportunity to pull away when he held his hand or wrist.

During the few days of staying over for the New Year, they did sleep in the same bed, but Tang Mian bought a full-body pillow and hugged it while sleeping, no longer holding onto him… Besides, Fu Shizhao also noticed many details.

If he didn’t take any action soon, he wouldn’t be able to take advantage of anything. Tang Mian pressed his lips together, continuing to look at the path ahead, walking with Fu Shizhao on the thick and soft snow.

He wanted to keep some distance from Fu Shizhao, who increasingly resembled the one from the previous life as they grew older, but… falling down and getting hurt in such an environment was as tormenting as getting sick.

He didn’t want Fu Shizhao to fall and get hurt again. Besides, holding hands through gloves didn’t really count as holding hands.

The four of them climbed the mountain, chatting and laughing along the way.

Tang Mian’s attention was soon drawn to the topic of his brother and sister-in-law, and he no longer paid attention to the hand he was holding with Fu Shizhao.

“Then let’s get engaged next year,” Tang Sheng held Jiang Tian’s hand and looked down at her with a slight smile.

“The year after next, when Xiao Mian and Xiao Zhao grow up a bit more, they can be the best man and bridesmaid,” Jiang Tian said.

It wasn’t that she really wanted to wait for Tang Mian and Fu Shizhao to grow up a bit more to be the best man and bridesmaid. It was just that she and Tang Sheng had just graduated for less than two years and were in a period of career advancement. She wanted to wait a bit longer, until things were relatively stable after two years, before getting married. After all, there were too many things to worry about after marriage.

Tang Sheng glanced at Tang Mian and Fu Shizhao walking behind them, sounding a little aggrieved. “As they grow up, they’re going to overshadow me, the groom.”

“In my eyes, you’re the most handsome,” Jiang Tian’s eyes curved as she knew how to please her straight male partner.

Tang Sheng was nine years older than Tang Mian, twenty-five this year, while Jiang Tian was the same age as him, just a few months younger. They were indeed at the age to get married.

Tang Mian’s heartbeat slightly accelerated, excitedly gripping Fu Shizhao’s hand tighter, and his steps became much lighter.

Finally, his brother and sister-in-law could enter the hall of marriage. He had been waiting for this moment for too long. He wanted to share this good news with everyone.

If… if the Fu Shizhao from the previous life knew, he would definitely be very happy too. Tang Mian bit his lower lip, loosening his grip on Fu Shizhao’s hand slightly.

Why did thoughts of that traitor come up again?

He didn’t even come to his brother’s funeral in the previous life. He didn’t deserve to know such good news.

Tang Mian closed his eyes and continued to eavesdrop on his brother and sister-in-law’s conversation.

Feeling the tightening and loosening of the grip on his hand, Fu Shizhao glanced deeply at the profile of the person beside him, probably able to guess some of what was on his mind.

He was also very happy to see his brother and sister-in-law stepping into the hall of marriage.

After all, in the previous life, he and Tang Mian had put so much effort into matching the two of them together. Just like Tang Mian, he hoped they would be happy forever.

Feeling Tang Mian’s footsteps slightly quicken, Fu Shizhao deliberately slipped a bit, causing Tang Mian to have to support him with both hands, and all his attention fell on him.

Such tactics were useful to Tang Mian, whether in the previous life or this life, whether when he was young or grown up. Tang Mian slowed down his pace again. Really… even walking isn’t worry-free.

When he was young, he always used to fall down.

When he was in kindergarten, there was one time when someone ran towards him with something in their hand, suddenly lunged forward, and both the person and the thing in their hand fell to the ground. He cried for a long time, and he comforted him for a long time too. Fortunately, the place where he fell was padded, and he didn’t get hurt.

He didn’t remember if Fu Shizhao was like this when he was young in his previous life; memories had long since become blurry. Maybe it was similar…

The peach trees on the mountain were all bare at the moment, not even sprouting any new shoots, but they were tied with pink or red ribbons and adorned with lanterns unique to the New Year, swaying in the wind, which was quite beautiful.

Finally, the group arrived at the temple on the mountain.

There were free incense sticks provided in the temple, and Tang Mian and Fu Shizhao followed their brother and sister-in-law to offer their respects.

Tang Mian didn’t pray for himself but prayed for his brother and sister-in-law’s blessings.

After all, it was a temple for marriages, and he had no marriage to seek, so he could only pray for his loved ones.

Holding incense sticks, Tang Mian happened to meet Fu Shizhao, who was also holding incense sticks. Together, they inserted the incense into the censer.

Then, they followed their brother and sister-in-law to the wishing pool, taking out the coins they had prepared long ago.

The wishing pool had running water, and the flow was very slow. In the middle of the pool was a small well, and it was said that throwing coins into the well could ensure happiness with the person you loved for the rest of your life.

Around the well were many coins scattered, but inside the well, there were very few, indicating that it was not an easy task.

Tang Mian tried several times without success and gave up directly.

After all, he didn’t have anyone he liked, so participating was just for the sake of it. Fu Shizhao also picked up a coin and observed it for a long time. Finally, he found the right spot and gently tossed the coin into the water.

Tang Mian had been observing his actions. As the coin floated and sank into the water, he couldn’t help but hold his breath, not knowing what he hoped for.

Tang Sheng and Jiang Tian also hadn’t thrown their coins yet and were still observing.

Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, the coin thrown by Fu Shizhao successfully reached the bottom of the well. Tang Mian looked at Fu Shizhao with surprise and praised, “Well done.”

In fact, in the previous life when they came here, Fu Shizhao had also thrown a coin into the bottom of the well, but this didn’t prevent Tang Mian from praising him again in this life.

After all, this life’s Fu Shizhao was more or less “raised” by him, so praising him was like praising himself.

Jiang Tian also smiled and said, “I suddenly remembered in junior high school, the doll that Xiao Mian liked, we tried so hard to catch it but no one succeeded. In the end, it was caught by Xiao Zhao, and then Xiao Zhao caught many more dolls.”

Fu Shizhao explained, “It’s just high school physics knowledge, observing the reflection and refraction of light in water and the flow rate of water. The flow rate is a bit unstable, so you just need to try more… I didn’t expect to succeed in one try either.”

In theory, they understood it all, but people who could patiently analyze and figure it out were still rare. After all, reality was different from a physics problem, and it wasn’t conducted in an ideal environment. Not every time you threw a coin into the water in the same place would it successfully land at the bottom of the well.

Tang Mian, a liberal arts student, admired Fu Shizhao with one glance.

Fu Shizhao deliberately didn’t meet his gaze, but instead lowered his eyelashes slightly and looked deeply at the coin at the bottom of the well. Could he be happy with the person he liked…

He could only try one more time and try believing in it.

“Zhao Zhao, could it be that you have someone you like now?” Jiang Tian suddenly smiled and spoke again.

Tang Mian instantly became alert.