Chapter 106: Parallel World (5)
In the classroom, Han Min packed up his things. “Let’s go.”
They were reporting to school today, and tomorrow they could move their things into the dormitory.
The four of them walked along the campus path, and a few middle-aged men in suits and ties were walking toward them.
Chu Yu saw them and whispered, hiding behind Han Min.
Those men looked like officials, probably there for an inspection. One of them saw Chu Yu and shouted excitedly, “Son!”
Han Min, who was standing in front of him, froze for a moment, then silently stepped aside.
Chu Yu reluctantly stepped forward and called out, “Dad.”
Mr. Chu pointed to a building not far away. “How is it? Pretty good surprise I gave you, right? Doesn’t it make you look impressive in front of your classmates?”
Chu Yu twitched the corner of his mouth and casually pulled Han Min forward. “Dad, this is my classmate Han Min.”
Han Min greeted him politely. Mr. Chu said, “I know him. He’s this year’s top student in the city. Earlier, your class teacher came to me and said you didn’t want the scholarship?”
“I…” Han Min glanced at Wen Yan. “My family is fine. If it can be deferred, I’d like to give the scholarship to the second-place student.”
Chu Yu seemed to understand, waving his hand. “No need to give it up, my dad has money.”
Mr. Chu said, “Yes, money isn’t a concern. Supporting education doesn’t count the cost. Then we’ll set up two ‘Chu Yu Cup’ scholarships.”
Chu Yu’s face fell. His name would soon be everywhere in the school.
“A-Yan is at the entrance. Go wait there for a while. I’ll be out soon. We’ll go celebrate tonight.”
“What’s there to celebrate?”
“Your first day of reporting.”
Chu Yu irritably scratched his head and walked off, tugging at his backpack.
A black stretch limousine waited at the school gate. Chu Yu became even more annoyed. “Why bring this car out?”
Seeing him, the person inside got out.
The man wore thick glasses and approached Chu Yu. “Young master.”
Chu Yu casually introduced him: “This is Xie Yan, my tutor.”
After saying this, he didn’t even look back, waved vaguely to Han Min and the others, and got into the car.
Han Min exclaimed, “Wow, does his family live in a castle?”
—
Wen Yan still lived with them. He slept in Han Min’s room, while Han Min slept in Fu Xun’s room.
That night, after washing up, Han Min sat on a chair, drying his hair. Fu Xun pushed the door open, stared at him for a moment, and then locked the door behind him.
Sitting on the bed, he suddenly said, “You like Wen Yan more.”
Han Min didn’t think much and casually replied, “Yeah.”
Fu Xun’s expression immediately darkened. It didn’t lighten until Han Min’s hair stopped dripping and he went to grab the hairdryer.
Han Min was even smiling, feeling pleased with himself. His smug expression was ridiculously cute. “Now you see how good I am? Always letting you bully me.”
He turned to grab the hairdryer and dried his hair with his back to him.
His hair was a little long, soft, and especially obedient after washing.
After drying it, he noticed Fu Xun still hadn’t moved. Han Min realized something was wrong. “What’s wrong with you?”
Fu Xun didn’t answer.
They turned off the lights to sleep. After a long silence in the dark, Han Min poked him: “Don’t be mad. I just said it casually. You’re both great.”
Fu Xun didn’t speak, and Han Min had no choice. After coaxing him for a while, he fell asleep while talking.
Once asleep, Fu Xun turned over and draped his arm over him.
Han Min felt uncomfortable and tried to push him away, but Fu Xun held him tighter.
He never bullied Han Min again.
—
The next day, when they went to the dorm to move things, the three of them, plus Chu Yu, happened to be in the same room.
Perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence—after all, Chu Yu owned the “Chu Yu Building” and the “Chu Yu Cup” scholarship.
Fu Xun had been buying milk tea for Han Min every day for a few days and saw that Han Min had no intention of moving from his spot, which put his mind at ease.
Once, returning home, Grandfather Fu said, “Isn’t it because your grandfather is amazing? Every year at the start of school, I have to contact the teacher, tell them about your temper, that only Min Min can handle you. Otherwise, how did you get the luck to be deskmates every year?”
Only his real grandfather truly understood him.
“But that day, hearing you two argue, I wondered if Min Min didn’t like you. If he didn’t want to sit with you, then forget it. So this semester, I called the teacher to ask Min Min’s opinion.”
Fu Xun’s smile gradually disappeared.
“In the end, Min Min still sat with you and even spoke well of you. Look at how magnanimous he is. You mess with people’s hair all the time, and they don’t even mind.”
Fu Xun was overjoyed. Returning to his room, he saw Han Min doing homework.
Suddenly, Han Min was lifted into the air.
Fu Xun held him and smiled at his confused eyes.
—
Another month later, Wen Yan’s father fell from a wall while fleeing during a casino raid and died.
The Chu family sponsored Wen Yan’s continued education. That day, Han Min gave him a flower: “A little red flower, the one you really wanted in kindergarten.”
Thus, the Chu family now had A-Yan and another A-Yan.
Fu Xun noticed the three dorm-mates were very clingy, always watching movies and eating snacks together. Sometimes after watching a horror movie, they were too scared to even go to the bathroom, lying frozen in bed, yet still trying to huddle together for the night.
Of course, they couldn’t all fit, so Han Min ended up on Fu Xun’s bed, shivering all night.
Then came three years of intense study. On the day after the college entrance exams, they sang in the streets, showing off to students returning in uniform: “We’re done!”
That summer, the entire street where the compound was located was demolished.
Fu Xun and Han Min could see each other’s rooms from the windows, but then those too were torn down.
Fu Xun’s father, who had never appeared, bought a villa in the suburbs for the family, while Han Shi saved enough money over the years to buy a small house in the city.
They went their separate ways—Han Min to university in Jiangnan, Fu Xun abroad for further studies.
—
Years later, in a brightly lit university lecture hall, a young man stood on the podium holding a microphone.
“I’ve always known that on forums, you call us the ‘Three Sons of the Liu Family’: me, Jiang Huan, and Han Min. So today, we’ve invited Professor Han to give a lecture.”
Liu Ting nodded slightly toward Han Min sitting below. Han Min stood, bowed to the students in the lecture hall.
The hall was full. A man in a tailored suit, holding a bouquet, crouched for a long time before finding an empty seat.
He put the flowers on the desk, straightened up, adjusted his collar, and returned to a serious demeanor. At that moment, he saw Han Min bowing.
Fu Xun couldn’t help but touch his lips.
No matter how learned and serious Professor Han seemed to others, in Fu Xun’s eyes, Han Min was always adorably silly.
Liu Ting on the podium smiled: “Professor Han is very popular with female students.”
“Just a few opening words. Professor Han is my junior. I begged him for a long time before he agreed to come.”
“Back then, we both studied under Professor Liu Yingliu. Everyone knows Professor Liu is my grandfather. My grandfather often said I wasn’t good enough, that Professor Han was gifted and favored him.”
“In the industry, we’re called the ‘Three Sons of the Liu Family’. I’m the theorist, Jiang Huan is the practitioner, and Professor Han combines both. He mainly studies cultural relics and literature. Many artifacts we studied in class recently were researched under him.”
Fu Xun didn’t listen much, his gaze passing over the crowd, landing directly on Han Min.
By now, Liu Ting had handed the podium to Han Min. Han Min climbed up, and Fu Xun’s eyes followed him.
He was a scholar, traveling nationwide, sometimes joining archaeological teams. Yet he remained fair-skinned and full of literary elegance.
Only Fu Xun noticed his subtle, unintentional gestures—they were irresistibly cute.
—
The lecture ended at ten o’clock. Han Min had originally planned to finish by nine but hadn’t counted on so many students asking questions, delaying it by an hour.
As it ended, someone holding a large bouquet of roses stood up from their seat.
Han Min didn’t see clearly and thought it was a student, calculating how to refuse. As he walked, he realized it was Fu Xun.
He was startled, whispering, “When did you come back?”
Fu Xun didn’t answer, simply handed the flowers forward. Han Min had no choice but to take them. “You…”
“I’m back.”
The onlookers cheered, unaware of the situation. Han Min hid his face behind the flowers, whispered to Liu Ting, and hurriedly left with Fu Xun.
Han Min stayed in a hotel for the lecture, so he brought Fu Xun along.
He placed the bouquet on the table and poured water for Fu Xun. “When did you come back?”
“This afternoon.”
“Why didn’t you say earlier?”
“Didn’t know if I could make it.”
“Why come back? Will you leave again soon?”
“No, I’m not leaving.” Actually, Fu Xun came back this time for the family business. His father had several illegitimate children, one named Fu Quan, who seemed ambitious.
Not wanting to mention it in front of Han Min, Fu Xun added, “When can we go see my grandfather together?”
“Sure. I saw Fu Rang a few days ago. He’s next door playing racing games.”
After a long separation, it seemed there were many things to say, yet nothing could be spoken.
Han Min touched his nose, glancing at the large bouquet. “I’m not giving a concert. Why are you giving me flowers?”
Fu Xun looked into his eyes. “I want to pursue you.”
Han Min froze, then muttered, “Crazy.”
“You don’t remember. That night after the college exam, we had a little wine. At the alley entrance, you kissed me.”
Han Min blushed. “Nonsense, you clearly—”
—
Three years later, Fu Xun’s father relinquished control, and Fu Xun took over the family business.
When Fu Quan made his final attempt to seize control, he ran to Grandfather Fu and threw a few photos on the table.
“Grandpa, Fu Xun likes men. If he runs the company, then…”
Grandfather Fu sat up, put on his reading glasses, glanced at the photos, then recorded a voice message full of pride and joy: “Old Han, your grandson is now my grandson, haha.”
He straightened the photos, snapping each one to show Grandpa Han. As he snapped, he said, “Min Min, why didn’t you say earlier? If you had, that milk tea brand would’ve been yours.”
—
That night, Han Min lay on the bed, too lazy to even move a finger.
Fu Xun diligently massaged his waist. “Is it okay?”
“No.”
His phone on the bedside table suddenly rang. Fu Xun answered it for him, placing it near his ear. Han Min replied twice.
After hanging up, he said to Fu Xun, “I need to go to Mingshan tomorrow.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Heavy rain these days. An emperor’s tomb was flooded there. During the rescue excavation, they unearthed a painting, The Pleasure Trip. They want me to check it out.”
“Can’t it wait?”
Han Min buried his head in the blanket. “No, you haven’t learned anything anyway.”
Author’s Note:
Min Min… so unfortunate.
