The Autumn Wind Rises

Song Shuyi stayed until three in the afternoon, then briskly packed up his things and left.

Before leaving, he patted his junior brother on the shoulder and said, "I remember you have something on tomorrow, right? Why don't you take the day off? Li Aimin isn't here anyway, and Sister Xu will cover for you."

At that moment, his usual joking expression faded, leaving only seriousness. "Don't push yourself too hard."

Cen Zeng replied, "Senior Brother, if you want to talk, give me a call."

"To listen to my long rant, just for you to reply with an 'uh-huh'?" The person opposite him smiled. "It's fine. Once I've thought it through, I'll tell you."

He waved and said goodbye to the others who remained.

Cen Zeng looked down at the nearly finished work, changed some formatting, set a few timers, and then sent a message to Cheng Shuo, saying he was done.

Cheng Shuo was currently in a staring contest with Chen Ziheng.

After Cen Zeng caught him arguing with the person opposite him, Chen Ziheng had constantly worn an "I don't know you" expression in front of him.

It was a rare sight for him not to be so self-righteous, truly a novel experience.

A long time ago, Cheng Shuo would have definitely mocked him thoroughly. But times had changed, and he just smiled at this acquaintance who could arguably be described as sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.

"I was busy placating someone the past few days..." Cheng Shuo said, "so I didn't get a chance to explain."

"I wasn't waiting for your explanation."

"Alright, stop pretending." Cheng Shuo pushed his coffee cup forward slightly. "Anyway, it's fine. You didn't ruin my relationship with Cen Zeng."

Chen Ziheng put on a look of feigned regret. Unfortunately, they knew each other too well, so he could tell the pretender opposite him was actually relieved.

"I know it's easy to cause a misunderstanding. But Xing Ji should have told you too, we're just going to be friends from now on. As for the past few years, just think of it as me going crazy." He said calmly, "I caused him trouble."

Chen Ziheng snorted.

"As for you..." Cheng Shuo said, "we've disliked each other for so many years, so I won't apologize to you. You don't really deserve it anyway."

"Get lost," Chen Ziheng replied.

"You look like you want to ask me something..." It was his turn to be leisurely. "Go on, ask. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll go crazy holding it in and ask in front of Cen Zeng tomorrow. In that case, I might really have to fight you on the spot."

"Not a substitute? Or do you just have a type? You gave up on Xing Ji since he's a friend after all, so you ran off to chase someone else?"

He ended up asking after all.

'How to explain it? The supernatural truth... I haven't even told Cen Zeng yet, so there's no way I can explain it clearly to the person in front of me.'

"I do like him," Cheng Shuo said. "But Cen Zeng and Xing Ji aren't actually that similar. Their disposition, way of speaking, personality—they're all completely different. Chasing Xing Ji was just my competitive nature acting up. With Cen Zeng, I'm serious."

Chen Ziheng sized him up, his expression somewhat surprised.

"Don't look at me like that." Cheng Shuo smiled. "I might seem unreliable in your eyes, but I've never bothered to lie to you, have I?"

That was true. Cheng Shuo had always been open and frank about his dislike for him.

The student council president opposite him took a sip of coffee and said, "How serious are you?"

"Probably ten, a hundred times more serious than when I was determined to win the basketball championship in my second year of high school."

"You've really fallen for him?" Chen Ziheng asked. "You're not just playing around again?"

"When have I ever spent time explaining my flings to you?" Cheng Shuo asked him. "Am I that free?"

Chen Ziheng adjusted his glasses and said, "You look very free every day."

"Yes, yes, compared to the student council president who's busy with a million things and just lectures people without listening, of course I'm very free," Cheng Shuo retorted.

"I..." Chen Ziheng was silent for a moment. "I was indeed in a hurry that day."

It was so rare for him to say something conciliatory that Cheng Shuo wished he could record it and play it on a loop on Chen Ziheng's birthday.

"Anyway, that's the situation," he said. "Don't ask too much tomorrow. Just observe for yourself. If you want to curse me out, wait until after the birthday is over. I can trade insults with you for three hours, I don't mind."

"I'm very busy..." Chen Ziheng replied. "I can't be bothered to curse you."

"Where are we meeting tomorrow?" he added.

Cheng Shuo smiled and said, "My place. Cen Zeng is cooking. Whether it's good or not, you better praise it."

Chen Ziheng rolled his eyes, but held his tongue a bit, saying, "Fine, I get it. I'll go check out the little shop by the school gate that the elementary schoolers love and buy you some cheap junk as a gift."

"You showing up is already the worst gift," Cheng Shuo said. "No need to wrack your brains trying to seem even more shabby."

Before Chen Ziheng could strike back, he glanced at his WeChat, tossed his empty coffee cup into the bin, and said, "Cen Zeng is calling for me. See you tomorrow."

His smile was so sickeningly sweet and disgusting that Chen Ziheng couldn't bear to look anymore. "Hurry up and get lost."

They went to the wet market. Having spent a long time accompanying Cen Zeng to pick out vegetables in his past life, the only skill Cheng Shuo had mastered was to pick whatever looked good.

It was Cen Zeng who asked him, "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"I don't..." Cheng Shuo smiled. "Chen Ziheng doesn't eat cilantro, you can sprinkle a little extra tomorrow. Zhang Yijie hates cucumber slices, so you don't have to make any."

"Why the different treatment?" Cen Zeng asked, also smiling.

"Chen Ziheng deserves it." Cheng Shuo snorted. "Don't mind him."

He picked out green onions, garlic, and millet peppers. Then he watched Cen Zeng pick out pork ribs, corn, and meat.

Then they went to buy seasonings.

Cheng Shuo's apartment had always lacked a lived-in feel; the only kitchen appliance he used with any frequency was the dishwasher.

At this moment, Cen Zeng's fingertips slid over the various brands of dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, vinegar, and oyster sauce before him. Then, having made up his mind, he picked one of each and tossed them into the basket.

"Is there any difference between the brands?" Cheng Shuo asked.

"Actually, I don't know either," Cen Zeng replied. "I just picked one when I was a kid and have been using it ever since."

"You're quite loyal."

Cen Zeng replied, "Actually, I just got used to it and couldn't be bothered to change."

The truth was, using the same brand gave him a faint sense of security. But he would be a little embarrassed to say it out loud.

They carried bags big and small into the apartment and put everything they had just bought away in its proper place.

Cheng Shuo watched as Cen Zeng took out the meat, got out some sealed bags, divided it into several portions, and packed each one away.

He went over, stuffed the few bottles of drinks they'd bought into the refrigerator's fresh food compartment, and turned to ask, "What are we eating today?"

"Pork rib, radish, and corn soup..." Cen Zeng looked at the row of untouched vegetables. "Shredded pork with green peppers, stir-fried squid with chili, and a leafy green dish."

"Then can I help you mince the garlic?"

Cen Zeng gave him a rather surprised look.

"What?" Cheng Shuo's eyes curved into a smile. "Surprised I know how?"

Cen Zeng didn't hold back. "You don't look like you've ever used a kitchen knife."

He hadn't before, indeed. "Someone taught me."

"What else can you do?" the person opposite him asked.

"I can also wipe the table, clean the sink, and start the dishwasher."

Cen Zeng replied, "Very impressive."

"I feel like you're laughing at me," Cheng Shuo said. "You smiled, stop pretending."

Cen Zeng simply let the corners of his mouth lift as well. "I'm not laughing at you. I'm just a little surprised. I thought you wouldn't need to learn these things."

Cheng Shuo pouted, washed his hands, took the garlic cloves, and showed off his skills.

He was quite skilled; the knife and cutting board seemed to obey him.

"If you want to build a life with someone, you have to know a few things, right?" he said.

"Who taught you?" Cen Zeng asked.

'You did.'

"Why do you ask?" Cheng Shuo's smile widened. "Curious?"

"You don't have to answer." Cen Zeng turned his head away, as if he didn't care at all.

Cheng Shuo paused. The aroma of minced garlic filled the air around his hands. He lowered his head as well, unable to hold back another smile. "I'll tell you."

"Like why you know me so well?" Cen Zeng was still looking down, scoring the meat.

'He remembers everything, this person who seems to let everything slide.'

"Mhm..."