CFHE Chapter 68

“I’ve decided to bring a bottle of alcohol… tonight.”

 

At the coming-of-age ceremony, while Fu Yuhan was listening to Ge Ran giving a speech on stage as the senior student representative, he suddenly felt a warm body approach him and whisper something in his ear.

 

They were about the same height, standing at the very back of Class 6’s formation. That breath falling on his ear tip was ticklish, and Fu Yuhan instinctively dodged forward, lowering his voice: “Aren’t Chen Liwen and the others bringing some?”

 

As the activity initiator, Chen Liwen and his buddies had volunteered to take on the task of bringing alcohol. They were being relatively conservative in their rebellion, worried that some people couldn’t handle alcohol well, so they prepared beer for the boys and sparkling wine for the girls—one small can per person.

 

“Beer is so weak, what’s the point…” Wen Yu’s voice was very low, “Should I bring a bottle of baijiu?”

 

Fu Yuhan turned his head to look at him: “Don’t go overboard. If everyone gets drunk, are you going to carry them?”

 

“…” Wen Yu sighed, “Red wine should be okay, right? I think I have a bottle stored.”

 

Heaven knows, he just wanted to have a few drinks with Fu Yuhan—he had no intention of getting others drunk.

 

But group activities had to consider the acceptance level of the general public, which was a bit difficult.

 

“If you bring red wine, you’d also need to bring wine glasses. Don’t bother with all that, Yu-ge?” Fu Yuhan said helplessly, “Didn’t we agree last time that you’d drink less?”

 

“I haven’t been drinking that much…”

 

“If you want to drink, I’ll drink with you next time, okay? Just don’t make a fuss today.”

 

Fu Yuhan felt like he was babysitting—after hearing Chen Liwen’s suggestion, Wen Yu was excited like most people in the class.

 

No, maybe even more excited.

 

He was a bit tired.

 

Fortunately, after he said this, Wen Yu quickly calmed down and didn’t mention bringing alcohol again.

 

After the coming-of-age ceremony ended, each class returned to their classroom. Class 6 had a small activity that evening, so they dispersed quickly.

 

Fu Yuhan was pulled by Wen Yu to go home for dinner. After eating, with nothing else to do, they decided to go to the agreed location early.

 

Their class had set the activity location at the empty building that Fu Yuhan liked to visit.

 

Fu Yuhan hadn’t been there for a while, and on the way to the playground he felt somewhat nostalgic: “It’s been so long since I watched the sunset… I kind of miss it.”

 

“Too bad it gets dark too early recently.” Wen Yu looked up at the night that had already fallen, “If you want to watch, I’ll come with you tomorrow?”

 

“No, I have art class tomorrow night.” Fu Yuhan shook his head, “The exam is coming up.”

 

Except for evergreen species, the leaves of other roadside trees had mostly fallen, leaving only bare branches. The evening wind blew through, filling Fu Yuhan’s coat.

 

“Zip up your jacket, you’re really not afraid of the cold.” Wen Yu reminded him, “If you catch a cold again, how will you take the exam—the art exam?”

 

In the past, Wen Yu had most disliked when his mother or the nanny auntie told him to button up. Now he was beginning to understand why.

 

“Mm, the joint exam, December 11th.” Fu Yuhan shook his head, “It’s fine, I’m not cold.”

 

But even as he said this, perhaps because Wen Yu’s gaze was too intense, he still zipped up his jacket as requested.

 

“The joint exam is like the college entrance exam, right?”

 

“Pretty much,” Fu Yuhan said, “but if I want to apply to T University, there’s another separate school exam afterward. I heard next year’s New Year is early, so it might be scheduled after the New Year. The specifics aren’t clear yet.”

 

“Are you confident?”

 

“No.”

 

“…”

 

Fu Yuhan chuckled lightly: “So the teacher suggested I apply to several more schools as backup. Anyway, filling out applications is a June matter.”

 

Wen Yu licked his lips, his gaze lightly sweeping over and then back, saying as if casually: “Then you can come to my place to fill them out together, to prevent your mom from changing your applications again this time—and you can celebrate my birthday with me.”

 

Oh right, Wen Yu’s birthday.

 

Fu Yuhan was a bit amused: “How do you know it’ll definitely coincide with your birthday when we fill out applications?”

 

“It’s only a few days difference.” Wen Yu said, “So will you come or not?”

 

“We’ll see.” Fu Yuhan thought for a moment, “My mom…”

 

“What about her?”

 

“Nothing,” he shook his head, “I think I heard them talking about the capital or something the other day… maybe I heard wrong.”

 

“…”

 

T University was also in the capital.

 

Wen Yu was a bit speechless: “She’s not going with you, is she?”

 

“Probably not.” Fu Yuhan shook his head, “Not sure, we’ll see. Oh right, you’ve never been to the empty building, have you? Before they arrive, let me take you up to have a look.”

 

Wen Yu was still wondering where he hadn’t been to the empty building, when Fu Yuhan entered the stairwell and went straight upstairs without finishing his turn.

 

The empty building had no water or electricity, not a trace of light, and the stairwell was pitch black. Fu Yuhan took out his phone and turned on the flashlight, turning back to remind Wen Yu to watch his step.

 

The steps were covered in thick dust. As soon as someone stepped on them, they left footprints. Fu Yuhan even got choked by the dust while walking and couldn’t help sneezing twice.

 

Wen Yu frowned behind him: “Which floor are we going to?”

 

“The top floor.” Fu Yuhan rubbed his nose.

 

“Is there anything up there?”

 

“Nothing much, I just like going there.” Fu Yuhan said, “So I’m taking you up to see.”

 

Wen Yu was slightly surprised.

 

That statement was… well, it had a somewhat ambiguous meaning.

 

Speaking of which, another month had passed without him noticing, and lately he didn’t seem to hear Fu Yuhan mention Yang Fan much. Could he perhaps… try confessing again?

 

Fu Yuhan didn’t know what the silent person following behind him was thinking. The empty building had four floors total. He walked to the rooftop, pushed open the unlocked rooftop door, and fresh, cold night wind immediately poured in, blowing his unknowingly long hair into disarray.

 

It seemed like time for another haircut, Fu Yuhan squinted.

 

“Come look.” He turned to call the person behind him.

 

The rooftop was messily piled with cement bags and bricks, dust everywhere. Fu Yuhan navigated with practiced ease to a corner and pulled out a folded plastic sheet from behind a pile of bricks.

 

It had some thickness, like a cushion someone had specifically left there. When spread out it was about a meter square and quite clean.

 

“You left this?”

 

“How could that be,” Fu Yuhan finished laying it out but didn’t sit down first. He walked to the other side of the rooftop, raised his chin, and pointed at the dark construction site over there, “It seems to have been left by construction workers before. During construction, people would come up here to sleep.”

 

“They’re not working?” Wen Yu also walked over, “What are they building over there? It’s been so long with no movement.”

 

This rooftop had quite a nice view. If that construction site could be completed with garden paths, this would be a VIP viewing spot overlooking the entire scene.

 

“Some kind of laboratory building, I think. I’m not sure either. I heard them mention it before – apparently some funding didn’t come through, it’s been delayed for a long time. I don’t think it’ll be finished even by the time we graduate.” Fu Yuhan said, then walked back to the plastic mat and sat down, waving to Wen Yu, “Never mind that, come here.”

 

After saying this, he lay down, his eyes naturally turning toward the night sky.

 

“I came up here once to watch the sunset, and before I knew it, it got dark.” He said, “Then I discovered this place is even better for stargazing.”

 

Wen Yu lay down following his example, but perhaps lacking romantic sensibilities, he couldn’t see what was so interesting about that patch of black sky.

 

Rather, he was more aware of the body temperature coming from the person beside him whose shoulder was touching his – this intimacy made his mind wander.

 

That person fell silent. After waiting a moment, Wen Yu turned his head to glance at him and vaguely saw the faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

 

As if possessed, Wen Yu asked quietly: “Why did you bring me to see this?”

 

“Just thought of it and brought you.” Fu Yuhan’s tone was very casual, “What, don’t think it looks good?”

 

“No.” After Wen Yu finished speaking, he turned back and directed his gaze toward the sky again.

 

The night sky was a magical thing. At first glance there was nothing, but look twice more and stars would emerge from the dark canopy like shy maidens, one by one, gradually forming the Milky Way.

 

It really was beautiful, Wen Yu thought.

 

If someone was willing to share something they liked with him, then at least in their heart… he shouldn’t be completely without status, right?

 

For a moment, he really wanted to ask Fu Yuhan again whether he wanted to be with him.

 

But Fu Yuhan spoke first.

 

“My home… that home from when I was little, there was a pavilion on high ground in the residential complex. I used to like dragging Yang Fan there, and the two of us would crane our necks like idiots looking at the stars. When I discovered this place later, I thought about bringing him here to see it too.”

 

Wen Yu: “…”

 

Didn’t we agree to mention Yang Fan less…

 

“You really can’t go three sentences without mentioning Yang Fan.” Wen Yu was a bit sour, so naturally his tone wasn’t good.

 

“I haven’t mentioned him much lately.” Fu Yuhan’s tone was flat, “My mind is full of exams now, where do I have the energy to think about him.”

 

“Are you feeling better then?” Wen Yu asked meaningfully.

 

“Mm.” Fu Yuhan looked at the sky above his head, saying in a daze, “Maybe if I get another opportunity… I can completely let go.”

 

“Like what?” Wen Yu turned his head.

 

“Like the exam?”

 

“Then you absolutely—must—” Wen Yu drew out the syllables irritably, “do your best on the exam.”

 

Fu Yuhan was amused by him.

 

When he laughed, he didn’t make much noise – he turned his face away and his shoulders trembled lightly, but there was no sound.

 

After a moment, he turned back and stared at Wen Yu, his eyes bright and sparkling.

 

“Hey, Wen Yu. Let me ask you something.”

 

“Mm?”

 

The seriousness in his tone made Wen Yu inexplicably tense. He also turned his face and met Fu Yuhan’s gaze: “What is it?”

 

His heart was pounding “thump thump thump” in his chest.

 

Fu Yuhan: “Are you…”

 

Bang—

 

Fu Yuhan couldn’t finish speaking. A loud noise interrupted the tension from moments before. Both of them sat up from the plastic mat simultaneously and looked toward the rooftop door together.

 

“Damn, I knew it. Fu-ge came early but then disappeared.” Sun Wenrui said breathlessly to Fang Jiayuan who was walking up behind him. When he turned back and saw the two’s position clearly, the smile on his face suddenly froze, “Should I… not have come up at this time?”

 

Wen Yu thought to himself that his temper was really too good, otherwise he should strangle these two people first.

 

“No,” Fu Yuhan casually got up from the ground and pulled Wen Yu up with him, “There was nowhere to sit downstairs, so I came up to get some air—are all the others here?”

 

“They’re here, they’re here,” Fang Jiayuan said, “waiting for you two. We guys are drinking first, the girls will come later.”

 

“With just this little alcohol you want to drink in two waves…”

 

“How could that be? Chen Liwen and the others bought two extra cases of beer, planning to keep people around to play Truth or Dare later.” Fang Jiayuan smiled, “Our goal tonight is to help Lao Sun get information out of Chen Mengxian!”

 

Fu Yuhan: “…”

 

Wen Yu: “…”

 

“Should I take Yu-ge and avoid this for now?” Fu Yuhan asked.

 

Sun Wenrui’s little thoughts had never been openly discussed. Fu Yuhan breaking through the window paper like this was both embarrassing and a way to resolve the embarrassment.

 

Sun Wenrui scratched his head and smiled at Wen Yu who was looking over: “No need, no need, Yu-ge… that, I was being petty before. I’ll punish myself with drinks to apologize to you later!”

 

“It’s fine.” Wen Yu lowered his eyes, his expression displeased, “I wish you guys could help me pursue someone.”

 

Fang Jiayuan: “Huh? Who does Yu-ge like? Is she from our class too?”

 

Fu Yuhan turned his head and glanced at him in the darkness.

 

It was dark, so Wen Yu couldn’t see that look clearly. He hesitated for two seconds, then smiled: “I was joking.”

 

However, as these words left his mouth, a sudden irritation swept through Wen Yu’s mind.

 

Between inserting himself into Fu Yuhan’s mind and kicking Yang Fan out of it, he had to accomplish one of them first.

 

He didn’t want to wait aimlessly like this anymore.

 

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