After Crossing Over to the Republic of China, I've Become a Heartthrob Chapter 29

Sudden Kiss

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The semester following the final exams, Shi Yao not only managed to keep his place in school, but also changed from being at the bottom of the class to becoming a top-ranked honours student.

As the winter holidays approached, Shi Yao moved from the university to Xinmin School, where he helped Han Pu sort out documents and materials while concentrating on teaching and educating others.

When it was snowing lightly, Shi Yao held a cup of tea and watched the snowflakes fall on the courtyard, thinking about the day he crossed over, which happened to be the first day as an English teacher after obtaining his teaching certificate.

When he came here, he thought he could make a big career out of it. He didn't expect that, in the end, he would reach the same place taking a different path.

Han Pu came back from outside, gathered his umbrella and put it on the porch.

Shi Yao lazily leaned on the cushion and smiled at him, "It's late and it's snowing, want a drink?"

"Tea is fine, but not alcohol." Han Pu sat down beside him and poured himself a cup of tea, "Are you free tonight?"

"Master Han is taking me out to a restaurant?" Shi Yao teased slightly, "Ever since I moved in with you, I've been living a good healthy life every day, gradually losing my worldly desires, I feel like I'm not even me anymore."

"If you're not you, who else could you be?"

"I think, I'm becoming more and more like you!"

Han Pu couldn't help but chuckle lightly, "Is that so? For example?"

"For example, I used to only drink Coke and never tea, but now I think tea is quite good." When Shi Yao finished speaking, he took another sip of the tea in his cup, "Also, my writing used to be sloppy, now my handwriting, too, is becoming more and more like yours."

Han Pu picked up the lower case script that Shi Yao had copied on the table and carefully observed it for a while, commenting, "Not bad, great progress, worthy of being my personal disciple."

"How many disciples do you have?"

"The only disciple who lives and eats with me is you."

Shi Yao's heart skipped a beat, why did Han Pu always say such ambiguous words in such a serious manner?!

Mentally reciting the 'Code of Conduct for University Students', Shi Yao changed the subject and said, "Are there any activities in the evening?"

"There's a book reading co-organised by Nanyang University and Beiping University, you should be interested."

"I've been reading too much lately and I'm tired of it, so I won't go."

"There's Coke at the venue."

"I'm ready," Shi Yao asked, "when do we leave?"

———

The book reading was being held at the Richard Hotel, where, coincidentally, the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce was also having an event this evening.

The reading was in the conference room on the first floor, and the Chamber of Commerce event was in the ballroom on the same floor.

As he walked past the ballroom, Shi Yao saw a huge promotional curtain that read:

[Nanyang Chamber of Commerce and Yingzhou Chamber of Commerce discuss cooperation]

Yingzhou Chamber of Commerce?

Sounds like something related to the East China Sea, right?

Song Yuan's business was quite extensive.

I haven't seen Song Yuan for a long time, I wonder how he's doing?

Forget it, it has nothing to do with me, he and I have long since parted ways and have nothing more to do with each other.

As his thoughts ran wild, a round of applause suddenly broke out.

When he stopped to look, he saw Song Yuan standing at the end of the banquet hall, on a flower-covered stage, with his pearl-like voice reaching every corner of the hall through the microphone.

He was still the same.

Personable, graceful and elegant, handsome and gentle, just like a gentleman. Compared to his former concealed appearance, he was a bit more dignified than his former self, raising his hands in a seemingly humble and courteous manner, but with an extraordinary presence.

It has nothing to do with me anymore.

Shi Yao withdrew his gaze and said to Han Pu, "Where's the Coke? I want a Coke."

The two of them went to the academic lecture hall and sat down in their seats before Shi Yao realised that Han Pu had swindled him, and that it was not a book reading at all, but the launch of Han Pu's new book.

The book was called 'Ten Lectures on New Learning', and was a work of enlightenment compiled by Han Pu for students in response to the trend of 'Western learning going East'.

To his surprise, Shi Yao found that Han Pu had added his name to the author's list.

'Ten Lectures on the New Learning', by Han Pu, Shi Yao.

Shi Yao excitedly flipped over the title page repeatedly, "Professor Han, I just did very basic work for you..."

"No, your work is very important to me."

"Professor Han, I'm touched." Shi Yao looked at the seating area filled with teacups of veteran officials, "No Coke though, I forgive you."

"For you." Han Pu took a can of Coke out of his briefcase and placed it in Shi Yao's hand, "I won't lie to you."

Shi Yao held the can of Coke and thought to himself, Han Pu is too kind, so I have to work harder and make more contributions to Xinmin School, and add my own modest contribution to his vision of helping people around the world.

The academic conference was too boring and after ten minutes of listening, Shi Yao was drowsy.

With Han Pu's permission, Shi Yao used the excuse of going to the washroom and slipped outside to get some air.

He walked through the corridor and came to the banquet hall, which was bustling with people, toasting each other and enjoying themselves.

Shi Yao thought to himself, isn't this a good time to hustle for a meal?

Not treating himself as an outsider, he naturally took a seat at one of the tables and asked the waiter for a new set of cutlery. Ah! Luxurious seafood feast, here I come!

As he was eager to try, everyone at the table suddenly stood up in unison.

What the hell?

When Shi Yao looked up, he happened to meet Song Yuan's eyes that were directed at him.

It was as if his heart had been stabbed, and with a thud, Shi Yao stood up violently, kicking the corner of the table, which hurt vaguely.

Song Yuan appeared to be smiling, but it seemed as if he was not smiling at all.

Everyone at the table was fawning over Song Yuan and toasting him.

Song Yuan looked his usual self, as if he had recognised him, but also as if he had not.

Shi Yao's heart was beating very fast, one moment he thought about how unlucky he was, the next he wondered if Song Yuan hadn't seen him, or if he had, did he pretend not to recognise him?

His mind was in turmoil as he followed the others, taking a glass of wine and drinking it with his head covered.

It was so hard to drink.

He didn't have a taste for alcohol and he didn't like it.

The people around him were frantically flattering Song Yuan. Shi Yao was so annoyed to hear this, he stole a glance at Song Yuan and found that the other party happened to be looking at him too.

It was a serious and meticulous gaze.

Shi Yao was so scared that he immediately averted his gaze.

It's better to leave, let's not stay here any longer.

With this thought, Shi Yao turned and slipped away from the crowd, darting out of the banquet hall and heading deep into the dark corridor.

Where exactly was he going? He didn't know, but he couldn't stay with Song Yuan any longer.

At the end of the corridor sat a pot of lush plants, which were orchids.

Orchids, the grass on the Yuan River is green and the orchids on the river are fragrant. (Angel: This is the line of the poem where Song Yuan's courtesy name, Youlan, comes from.)

Suddenly, he was hugged from behind and pressed against the wall, a warm kiss with the smell of wine spread from his neck to his earlobe.

Shi Yao looked to the side to see that it was Song Yuan.

He pushed Song Yuan away, only to have his wrists restrained and be wrapped in his arms again, and a tender kiss landed between his lips and teeth.

Shi Yao's mind went blank for a moment. He bit Song Yuan's lower lip and punched him in the jaw when the other man was in pain, breaking free and running away.

He didn't know how far he had run, but he accidentally collided with Han Pu.

Han Pu asked him with slight concern, "Have you been drinking? Why is your face so red?"

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: June 27, 2023