Chapter 79 - Every Year, There will be a Day like Today
The senior curriculum for the second semester may be a lot more compact, but the third-year students of No.12 High School were used to it. They’ve all learned good self-control, so even if the school doesn’t closely supervise their students, most of them would continue to study hard.
Even Double Concentrate Hardworking Zheng announced his upgrade, officially entering ‘Triple Concentrate’ mode. This mode can be summed up as- dawn to dusk learning, numerous sleepless nights, and almost no time for eating and bathing. This was quite different from his previous delinquent boss image, but having witnessed Zheng PingQing’s gradual change into normalcy, not a single teacher or student was surprised.
The students who visited Zheng PingQing’s home during the New Year particularly admired him.
The most shameful thing in the world is when people who have more money than you work harder than you.
So when Zheng PingQing, someone who clearly had a rich and powerful family, was diligently studying hard, it made students feel stressed and ashamed.
But they didn’t know that Zheng PingQing, the perceived winner in life, was actually a lot more stressed than them.
Zheng PingQing actually wanted to relax, but his boyfriend was too much of a genius. Lin Qian had been away from high school for more than ten years already, yet when he came back, he worked hard for an entire semester and won first place in the city-wide exams.
Lin Qian’s grades were more than enough to exceed the requirements of F university, meaning he achieved his university goal even without the school’s recommendation.
Truthfully, Zheng PingQing also achieved good results in the city-wide exams. He had already reached the undergraduate cut-off line and was one of the two star players in No.12 High School who shot up in the rankings. Zheng PingQing’s scores were even higher than the other star player, Gou XinDou.
Zheng PingQing had been very proud of himself at the time. He felt that he was able to live up to his boyfriend’s expectations and managed to get qualified for a university all on his own. According to his current scores, if he worked hard for another semester, it wouldn’t be a problem for him to pass F university’s requirements. Zheng PingQing could already see the pink-tinged university life he was going to have with his boyfriend. But in the end, when he saw his boyfriend’s results, Zheng PingQing got so upset he almost got a heart attack.
He never expected to find out that F University could no longer match his boyfriend’s grades.
But what could Zheng PingQing do, ah? He could only lower his bitter, tear-stained face and study harder.
Fortunately, he lives with his boyfriend now and can receive some tutoring every day. In addition to his improving grades, this also had an additional perk: Zheng PingQing was also able to receive some emotional comfort.
On this particular night, Zheng PingQing was staying up late to review. Truthfully, Lin Qian had made him a study schedule that stipulated he could only study until 12:00 a.m. every day. However, Zheng PingQing was afraid he wouldn’t be able to catch up with his boyfriend before the college entrance exams, so he usually studied for a few more hours on his own. Actually, Zheng PingQing had already been caught several times by Lin Qian due to the light leaking from the crack underneath his door. In the end, Zheng PingQing had resorted to reading his textbooks with a small flashlight.
So when the little hand in his clock jumped to twelve, Zheng PingQing turned off his lights and picked up his flashlight. Under the small light, he continued to work on the problems in his textbook. But before he could finish, someone unexpectedly knocked on his door.
“Zheng PingQing, open the door.” Lin Qian called out from outside.
Zheng PingQing jumped. With his heart pounding, he quickly turned the flashlight off and hid it in a drawer. He ran to his bed, pulled the blankets over his body, and skillfully put on a sleepy voice. Zheng PingQing said: “I’m sleeping. Can’t we talk tomorrow?”
Lin Qian continued to knock on the door. “It’s already tomorrow. Come and open the door.”
Hearing the bluster in Lin Qian’s tone, Zheng PingQing couldn’t help but feel worried. He had already been secretly studying for a few days. Had he been found out?
Lin Qian knew all his weaknesses well. Every time we got caught staying up late, Lin Qian wouldn’t punish him or yell at him. Instead, Lin Qian would study alongside him. If Zheng PingQing stayed up late, Lin Qian would stubbornly do the same.
The next day, Lin Qian’s eyes would be sporting prominent black circles. His white skin made his eye bags very conspicuous, so much so that Xu Yao would glare at Zheng PingQing with eyes full of resentment.
Xu Yao’s accusatory eyes looked at Zheng PingQing like he was the devil.
Zheng PingQing didn’t care about himself, but he would get very distressed at Lin Qian’s exhaustion. So without much choice, Zheng PingQing had resorted to hiding when he studied.
Who would believe such a thing? In school, not even the teachers would dare try to control him. But unexpectedly, Zheng PingQing’s studies were strictly regulated at home. If he wanted to study some more, Zheng PingQing had to sneak around just so he could steal another hour or two.
He didn’t dare resist Lin Qian.
It can be said that this former delinquent boss had no dignity whatsoever.
Right now, for example. When Zheng PingQing heard the force in Lin Qian’s tone, he couldn’t help but worry. Zheng PingQing calculated how long he’d been secretly studying tonight and panicked. If Lin Qian found out that he’d been secretly studying, he would study the same amount of hours as he did. Lin Qian would force himself to stay awake the entire night! Zheng PingQing was very distraught.
Zheng PingQing got out of bed, put on his slippers, then walked towards the door. As he did so, Zheng PingQing stubbornly tried to defend himself. He called out: “I really was asleep, ah. Your knocking woke me up.”
There was no response.
Zheng PingQing became flustered at Lin Qian’s silence and deliberately opened his mouth to yawn. “Ah, my biological clock is making me sleepy...I can’t open my eyes...if you have something to say, say it quickly...”
Zheng PingQing opened the door as he spoke, then promptly froze.
It was pitch black outside his room, with all the lights turned off. There was only a single lit candle by his door, the small orange fire illuminating the dark.
And there was a face above the fire.
Lin Qian held a cake in his hands, a smile on his face as he said: “Zheng PingQing, Happy Birthday.”
Lin YaZhi stood behind Lin Qian and said: “Student Zheng, Happy Birthday!”
From a very early age, Zheng PingQing had learned not to celebrate his birthday. With his parents busy with work and often away in other cities, there was just no one to celebrate it with. Later, when his parents divorced, he found his birthday to be even more hateful.
He almost forgot that he even had a birthday.
Zheng PingQing blinked, then after a long silence, asked: “How do you know that today is my birthday?”
Lin Qian looked at him with warm eyes. “I remembered, ah.”
In their last life, every time Lin Qian had a birthday, Zheng PingQing would celebrate it with great fanfare. However, not once did he ever mention his own birthday.
For the Zheng PingQing back then, his birthday wasn’t a day to celebrate. Lin Qian respected his feelings, so he never mentioned it. However, not mentioning it didn’t mean that Lin Qian didn’t pay attention to it.
He had always remembered the date.
Zheng PingQing absently noted that his boyfriend looked so handsome against the candlelight. Even in such a harsh light, Lin Qian still seemed so delicate and pretty, like a dazzling star.
If....if there hadn’t been a glowing lightbulb behind Lin Qian, Zheng PingQing would’ve probably turned into a beast already.
Ah, father-in-law, you have such a calming presence.
Not realizing he was being bright and flashy, light bulb Lin YaZhi pulled Zheng PingQing along to the living room and excitedly said: “Come out, Xiao Zheng, let’s sing a birthday song for you.”
Zheng PingQing had no time to organize his thoughts before Lin YaZhi shouted: “Here we are! Everyone, we’re ready.”
Zheng PingQing: “?????”
Zheng PingQing looked at Lin YaZhi a little nervously. There aren’t a bunch of people hiding in the living room, right? Although he was a Boss that had a lot of little brothers below him, in the end, Zheng PingQing hadn’t celebrated his birthday in years. He truly didn’t know what happened at a birthday party, nor did he know what was expected of him.
Fortunately, there was no one else in the living room. Instead, there was a laptop on the coffee table in front of the sofa. On the screen were three video calls going on at the same time.
In the three separate windows were the heads of Zheng BuLu, Chen ShiYi, and Shao SiJia. Because there were too many videos going on at the same time, the pictures seemed to stutter ever so often.
An impatient Shao SiJia said. “Hurry up, ah! Don’t delay my beauty sleep.”
Lin Qian brought the cake to the coffee table and bent his head to look at the laptop screen. Rolling his eyes, he told Shao SiJia: “Don’t pretend. I know you played online games until 3:00 a.m. last night.”
Shao SiJia was unashamed at being found out and replied: “It’s because I didn’t get enough sleep yesterday that I planned to sleep earlier today!”
Lin Qian sneered. “Oh? So you promise I won’t find you online sometime tonight?”
Shao SiJia proudly exclaimed: “Nope!”
After hearing Lin Qian’s words, Zheng PingQing frowned and asked him: “How do you know she was online at 3:00 a.m. last night?”
Lin Qian’s expression didn’t change as he replied: “I checked her online history this morning.”
Zheng PingQing’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you.”
Lin Qian waltzed past Zheng PingQing and put the cake on the coffee table without a word. He sat down in the carpet, patted at the spot next to him, then called out: “Hurry up and sit down.”
Zheng PingQing’s eyes silently threatened: I’ll deal with you later!
You actually dare to stay up all night!
On the laptop, Zheng BuLu smiled and said: “Son, Happy Birthday!”
Chen ShiYi’s eyes were crescents as she greeted him. “Happy Birthday, PingQing.”
Zheng BuLu’s voice turned regretful as he continued: “I wanted to go back and celebrate your birthday, but something happened in the company so I couldn’t get away...”
But then Zheng BuLu’s face brightened once more. “Fortunately, I still have Brother Lin! He’s the best friend a man could have, ah. He knows my heart so well....”
As Zheng BuLu began to go off into a tangent, Chen ShiYi’s brows started to furrow. She couldn’t help but interrupt: “Old Zheng, we’re here for PingQing’s birthday, ah.”
Zheng BuLu let out an ‘oh’ but didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed. “Ah, when I think about Brother Lin, I end up talking a lot.”
Chen ShiYi: “....”
Zheng PingQing sweated a little. “Yes, we know.”
“Then shall we sing? I can’t video chat for too long, so we should get started.”
Lin YaZhi understood the nature of Chen ShiYi’s work, so he clapped his hands and said: “Yes, let’s sing! Come on, 3, 2, 1...”
At Lin YaZhi’s prompting, Zheng BuLu and Chen ShiYi began to sing. The three adults seemed to have some sort of tacit understanding, as they sang concurrently: “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you~”
Lin Qian: “....”
Shao SiJia: “....”
The brother and sister pair looked at each other through the laptop lens. Soon, they were unable to resist the enthusiasm of these middle-aged people and were forced to join in. However, because of the bad video connection, the song ended up being a cacophony of stuttering voices.
All the lights in the Lin home had been turned off, so the only source of light was the laptop screen and the candles on the cake. Zheng PingQing hid his face in the shadows, unwilling to expose his expression.
In their past life, when he ended up in the hospital because of Lin Qian, he didn’t shed a tear. But now, Zheng PingQing was ashamed to admit that their discordant, off-key singing actually made his eyes wet.
“Happy Biorthday~”
At the end of the song, the excited Lin YaZhi pushed Zheng PingQing towards the candles on the cake. “Come Xiao Zheng, quickly make a wish!”
Caught off guard, Zheng PingQing quickly closed his eyes so his red eyes wouldn’t be found out.
Yes, he was an outstanding, quick-witted man.
Zheng BuLu proudly exclaimed: “Goose son, just say your wish out loud. Your father will give it to you.”
Zheng PingQing began: “First of all, I wish my dad’s accent can be a little bit better.” What goose, ah. You’re really cheapening your rich-man temperament.
Zheng BuLu: “.....”
Zheng BuLu was distraught. He’s already trying his best to improve his accent, ah. “Son, please continue.”
Zheng PingQing opened his eyes, his burgeoning tears already gone. With a smile, he looked around. He saw the smiling Lin YaZhi, the excited faces of Zheng BuLu and Chen ShiYi, the silent but impatient Shao SiJia. Finally, his gaze landed on his boyfriend, who was staring back at him.
“Make a wish.” Lin Qian said.
Zheng PingQing closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said: “I hope that every year, there will be a day like this. That every year, there will be a moment like this.”
He hadn’t had a birthday celebration in years, but now, Zheng PingQing hoped that these people would accompany him on all his birthdays in the future.
All three adults were stunned. But after a moment of silence, they all joyfully laughed. Zheng BuLu placed a hand on his heart and promised: “There will be! Every year.”
Chen ShiYi hesitated, then said: “I can guarantee at least a video call every year.”
Lin YaZhi thought for a moment, then said: “I can also video call.”
Shao SiJia propped up her head with a hand on her cheek. “Ok, I’ll be there.”
Lin Qian leaned on Zheng PingQing’s back. “We’ll listen to you.”
“You said it; you’re not allowed to go back on your word!” Zheng PingQing pulled Lin Qian to his front, and because Lin Qian wasn’t prepared, he fell on Zheng PingQing’s thigh.
Lin YaZhi laughed and lovingly commented: “The two kids are noisy again.”
Chen ShiYi sighed. Not only is she witnessing a scene she doesn’t want to see, but her husband is watching the same scene with a silly smile on his face. She had no words.
Meanwhile, Zheng BuLu said: “PingQing, make another wish, ah. One that can be bought with money.”
Lin YaZhi: “.....”
Chen ShiYi’s ex-husband is a nice man who’s good at everything, ah. The only drawback is his rich-man temperament.
It makes the working-class envious.
Not to be outdone, Lin YaZhi said: “Xiao Zheng, make two more wishes. One that can be bought with a lot of money, and one that doesn’t need too much money.”
The corner of Zheng PingQing’s mouth twitched. “....In the end, do you want me to make a wish, or do you want to make a wish?” So many requirements, ah.
In the end, Zheng PingQing resolutely uttered a ‘no,’ then blew out his candles, blowing away the two middle-aged men’s hearts at the same time.
Lin YaZhi wiped his face and went to turn the lights on.
Chen ShiYi’s workplace had strict restrictions on external calls, and soon, she closed her video call.
Zheng BuLu was afraid to keep his son awake so late in the night, so with great reluctance, he also ended his call.
Shao SiJia had already opened up her game when Zheng BuLu started showing off his wealth.
Lin YaZhi cut the cake and gave Zheng PingQing and Lin Qian a piece. After they finished eating, Lin YaZhi put the cake in the fridge and sent the two kids to sleep.
However, Zheng PingQing couldn’t sleep. As soon as Lin YaZhi retired for the night, Zheng PingQing sneaked off into Lin Qian’s room. When he opened the door, he found the lights in Lin Qian’s bedroom to still be on. Lin Qian leaning on the wall next to the door, arms crossed on his chest.
Zheng PingQing smiled. “I knew you would be waiting for me.”
Lin Qian locked his door, then pushed Zheng PingQing towards his bed. As they got under the covers, Lin Qian complained: “You actually dared to do something right in front of my dad!”
Zheng PingQing spoke like his words were inevitable: “You can’t let my birthday wish fail!”
With a perverted smile, Zheng PingQing continued: “You remember your promise. ‘Every year, on the day.’ You said those exact words to me! Today is the day.”
Lin Qian: “....” He was too careless. How could this man make such an impure wish?
Lin Qian couldn’t help but grumble: “You might be an adult now, but I’m not!”
Zheng PingQing immediately tried to wheedle a compromise. “Then how about we just do half?”
Lin Qian: “....”
Lin Qian silently lay flat on the bed. “Come on, then. Did you want my left half or right half?”
Zheng PingQing replied: “....can I choose your bottom half?”
Lin Qian thought for a moment, then replied: “Anything under the knee.”
Zheng PingQing: “....”
The author has something to say:
Zheng PingQing: Then I’ll pinch your toes!
.
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Happy 18th Birthday Zheng PingQing.
Eurgh...it’s been a while since I’ve seen a 4.5k chapter.
I legit laughed at the end part tho. Pinch your toes!
Heroine ZPQ is trying his very best to get in the same university as his boyfriend. And also to get some.
Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on free(w)ebnov(e)l.𝒄𝒐𝙢