Transmigrated as the Campus Heartthrob’s Cannon Fodder Ex-Boyfriend Chapter 69

Shoutout to Kari for the commission!

After the New Year, as spring had just begun, Le Cheng watched a travel documentary mainly about the customs and cultures of different countries. It was divided into two parts, with three episodes each, and he finished watching all of it over the course of three days.

Le Cheng liked the episode about Country G the most. He watched it three times in a row and even searched for it on social media.

A week later, Zhou Shirui casually told him that he had booked plane tickets to Country G.

When Le Cheng heard this, he was holding his laptop and doing his homework. He froze for a moment and asked, “Why are we suddenly going on a trip?”

Zhou Shirui glanced sideways at him. “Don’t you want to go?”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Haven’t you been watching documentaries about Country G lately? And I don’t know who it was that talked in their sleep and said they wanted to go to Country G.”

Le Cheng was stunned. After thinking about it, he asked somewhat bashfully in a quiet voice, “I talked in my sleep? I really said that in my sleep?”

He really did want to go, but had he really wanted it that badly?

Zhou Shirui was also holding a laptop and said nothing. Le Cheng scooted over and rested his chin on Zhou Shirui’s shoulder, looking at him with his big eyes before glancing at the laptop.

He discovered that Zhou Shirui was actually making a travel itinerary.

“You even made this?” Le Cheng couldn’t make such a detailed itinerary himself. He looked it over carefully, then poked the screen with his finger and asked, somewhat dissatisfied, “Do we have to go to bed at eleven even when we’re on vacation?”

Zhou Shirui thought for a moment and answered seriously, “Not necessarily. If there are no special circumstances, we’ll go to bed at eleven.”

Le Cheng asked, “Then what counts as a special circumstance?”

After asking, he felt that his question sounded rather stupid. Realizing what Zhou Shirui might mean, he immediately turned the accusation around. “How come you’re being naughty?”

Zhou Shirui caught his hand and gently bit it, giving him a half-smile. “Who’s the one being naughty? I haven’t even said anything.”

Le Cheng laughed, finding the bite ticklish. After looking at the itinerary for a couple more seconds, the words started making his head spin. He had no idea how Zhou Shirui had the patience to keep writing it. He leaned against him and played around for a while before Zhou Shirui patted his butt and said, “I’m not finished yet. Go play by yourself for now.”

Le Cheng ran to the hanging chair on the balcony to bask in the sunlight. The sunlight was particularly nice from that angle. After sitting there for a while, he belatedly realized something and turned to look at Zhou Shirui. “I actually didn’t talk in my sleep, did I?”

Without even looking up, Zhou Shirui admitted, “Mm, you didn’t.”

So angry, Le Cheng ran over and left a neat ring of bite marks around Zhou Shirui’s wrist.

Before the trip, Le Cheng also made his own itinerary, though it wasn’t nearly as detailed as Zhou Shirui’s. He simply typed out the places he wanted to visit and the foods he wanted to try in his phone’s notes.

He even showed it to Zhou Shirui. Zhou Shirui glanced at it and said very seriously that Le Cheng had a strong ability to summarize.

When the plane landed, the scenery in Country G in March was pleasant, and the temperature was moderate. The two of them adjusted to the time difference first before going out to explore.

Although Le Cheng looked slender, he was actually in pretty good physical shape. Even after adjusting to the time difference, he was still full of energy. He stayed out all day, and after coming back at night, showering, and lying in bed, he still couldn’t fall asleep.

“The little lion is so cute.” Le Cheng muttered to himself. “Its paws are so soft, too. But its daddy’s butt is so big. I don’t even dare touch it.”

Zhou Shirui stroked his back intermittently. After listening for a long while, Le Cheng’s voice gradually grew softer. When Zhou Shirui glanced sideways, he realized that he had already fallen asleep.

They stayed in Country G for two and a half days. One day while they were eating, Zhou Shirui suddenly said, “Do you want to meet my mom?”

Le Cheng’s chewing stopped. He almost suspected he had heard wrong. “What?”

Zhou Shirui looked at him. “She happens to be traveling nearby with her boyfriend. Do you want to meet her?”

And so, in a daze, Le Cheng got into the car to go meet Shen Lan.

Even on the way there, it still felt surreal. He asked, “Do I need to prepare anything?”

“No,” Zhou Shirui said. “It’s just meeting her once.”

But she was an elder, after all. Le Cheng vaguely understood that Shen Lan probably didn’t like him, or rather, it wasn’t that Shen Lan disliked him personally, but that she wasn’t satisfied with this relationship her son was in.

He unconsciously frowned. Zhou Shirui noticed and reached over to smooth the crease between his brows. Then he pried open his tightly clenched fingers one by one and held his hand in his dry palm. Looking into his eyes, he said seriously, “Don’t be nervous. Trust me.”

After being together for so long, perhaps it had become second nature. Le Cheng nodded, and his heart settled somewhat.

“You can call her whatever you want when you meet her,” Zhou Shirui said. “You don’t need to worry about her boyfriend. Don’t be nervous.”

Although they said they were traveling, the car instead drove into an estate. Le Cheng followed behind Zhou Shirui and finally met Shen Lan.

She was very well-preserved, with an elegant yet relaxed air about her. After Le Cheng nervously greeted her with, “Hello, Auntie,” she behaved completely differently from what he had imagined. Shen Lan showed no uncomfortable emotions at all. Instead, her eyes lit up when she saw him. She came over with a smile, put an arm around his shoulders, and said, “You’re even better-looking than in the photos.”

Le Cheng was a little embarrassed by the compliment, but sweetly replied that she was beautiful too. Shen Lan walked along with an arm around him, while Zhou Shirui followed behind.

Everything was incredibly simple. Le Cheng had a meal at the estate, then went upstairs for an afternoon nap. During that time, he also met Shen Lan’s young boyfriend, who had black hair and green eyes and looked very young.

Lying on the bed, Le Cheng was pinching his own cheek when Zhou Shirui came in after closing the door. He pinched a little too hard and immediately hissed.

Zhou Shirui walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his cheek for him. Frowning, he asked, “Why are you pinching yourself?”

Le Cheng rubbed against his palm. “…It feels so unreal.”

Zhou Shirui paused. “What feels unreal?”

“It’s just… so simple. I met your mom so easily, and we even… got along pretty well?” Le Cheng rolled over on the bed to face him. Zhou Shirui’s palm naturally came to rest on Le Cheng’s head. “Your mom seems pretty easygoing.”

There was a hint of a smile at Zhou Shirui’s lips. “…That’s good.”

Although Le Cheng was rather simple-minded, he wasn’t actually stupid. He guessed that perhaps Zhou Shirui had done something behind the scenes, only he hadn’t let Le Cheng know.

But if he didn’t want Le Cheng to know, then Le Cheng would just continue not knowing.

After their afternoon nap at the estate, Le Cheng first spent some time playing on the lawn with the two little dogs raised by Shen Lan’s boyfriend. Then Shen Lan called him over.

Shen Lan had gone out into the world to make her way years ago. Naturally, seeing so many people had made it easy for her to become restless and impatient. After gradually retreating from the front lines, she developed an interest in wellness, practicing calligraphy and drinking tea.

Le Cheng didn’t know much about tea, but when he saw the lifelike tea pets, each one looking fresh and vibrant as though renewed by the tea poured over them, he couldn’t bear to put them down. He spent three hours with Shen Lan in the tea room. During that time, Zhou Shirui found an excuse to come in four times, and all four times, he failed to get a word in.

When it was time for them to leave, Shen Lan gave Le Cheng a jade rabbit tea pet. It was plump and white, small and delicate. Even if it weren’t used as a tea pet, it would make a beautiful decorative piece.

Le Cheng smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Shen Lan said, “I’m glad you like it.”

Although it was March, even in Country D, the temperature dropped in the evening. After they stepped out of the main hall, the driver went to get the car. A gust of wind blew by, and Le Cheng felt a little cold. He sniffed, then turned his head and tugged on Zhou Shirui, who was making a phone call beside him.

Zhou Shirui turned his face toward him and silently looked at him. 

Le Cheng immediately reached out and buttoned up Zhou Shirui’s coat for him. Zhou Shirui let him do it, then took his hand and rubbed it twice. Feeling that it was a little cold, he enclosed it in his palm and casually slipped it into his pocket along with his own hand.

Shen Lan watched this incredibly natural scene from the side, as though it were something that happened every day in the past.

When the driver arrived, Zhou Shirui also ended his call. Le Cheng was wearing a hoodie without a coat. Zhou Shirui shielded his head as he helped him into the car and frowned. “Don’t wear a hoodie tomorrow when you go out. It’s too thin.”

Le Cheng was already sitting in the car. Hearing this, he immediately said, “I won’t!” Then, as though remembering where they were, he lowered his voice and added, “It’s only cold for a little while. This style looks really good.”

Zhou Shirui said nothing. He didn’t say whether it was good or bad, but judging by Le Cheng’s expression, it was probably not good, because he still looked unconvinced.

Shen Lan stepped forward.

Le Cheng waved at her and said brightly, “Goodbye, Auntie!”

Shen Lan nodded at him, her voice unconsciously softening. “Mm. It’s cold outside. Close the window on the way.”

Le Cheng obediently closed the window. Zhou Shirui hadn’t gotten into the car yet. He turned to her and said, “The temperature has dropped. You don’t need to see us off. Go back inside too.”

“Okay.” Shen Lan looked at Zhou Shirui, who was now much taller than her. She wanted to pat him on the shoulder, but Zhou Shirui subtly avoided her hand. She didn’t show anything either, simply withdrawing her hand. “Be careful on the way. When will you come again?”

Zhou Shirui pressed his lips together and instinctively glanced at Le Cheng, who was inside the car fiddling with his tea pet and apparently saying something to the driver. His dark eyes were bright, and the corners crinkled as he smiled. After a pause, Zhou Shirui said, “We’ll see.”

Shen Lan understood the meaning behind those words perfectly well. Time had left little trace on her face. She nodded. “Mm. Go back.”

Zhou Shirui acknowledged her and turned around. In that instant, he heard Shen Lan say, “…I was wrong before, Shirui. Don’t hold it against me too much.”

“I know.” Zhou Shirui’s voice remained steady, and he didn’t stop walking. “I don’t blame you.”

Those final words scattered into the wind, like a response that had come several years too late.

Sometimes Shen Lan felt that Zhou Shirui was very much like her in certain ways, yet not quite like her either. But these subtle similarities allowed her to understand his meaning clearly at that moment.

The resentment and dissatisfaction from his younger years had already been completely left behind as time continued moving forward. There were no expectations, and therefore no resentment. There was no question of whether he had forgiven her or not.

Like a tranquil lake, this lake called Zhou Shirui had continued to grow and reshape itself, and from then on, only one person could cause ripples across its surface.

Just like today’s meeting. It was merely the best answer he had presented to that person after countless calculations and careful preparations.

Perhaps Shen Lan would not have understood before, but after meeting Le Cheng, everything had an answer.

Having lived abroad for many years, much of her native language had faded. If she had to describe it, it would be that some people lived like the sun, while others chose to catch the sun and put it into their pocket. It might appear as though one side was holding the other tightly, but in truth, the sun had already chosen to stay, willingly.

Only after Zhou Shirui got into the car did Le Cheng raise his head. He heard Zhou Shirui ask him, “What were you talking about? Why were you smiling so happily?”

Le Cheng naturally leaned against him. “We were telling jokes. Did Auntie say anything to you?”

Zhou Shirui rubbed his hand. It was no longer cold. “She just asked when we would come again.”

Le Cheng said, “Oh.” Then, “If we have time, will we come again?”

“If you want to come, then we’ll come,” Zhou Shirui said.

Le Cheng happily replied that he would. The estate was a long way from the hotel. As night fell, the vast, endless sky was dotted with stars.

It was a sight rarely seen in the middle of the city.

Unable to resist, Le Cheng lowered one of the car windows and tried to stick his head out, only for Zhou Shirui to pull him back. He could only tilt his face up toward the stars and let out a “Wow. Zhou Shirui, look! There are so many stars.”

Zhou Shirui turned his head, but instead of looking at the stars, he looked at Le Cheng’s profile. His long eyelashes curled upward, his dark eyes bright, his gaze chasing after the stars. It was as though a whole sky full of stars had fallen into his eyes.

“Mm,” he said. “So many stars.”

Le Cheng suddenly reached out and pretended to grab a handful from the air. He placed them in Zhou Shirui’s palm, then said with great seriousness, “I caught a star. Let’s call it Little Le Cheng. I’m giving it to you, so you have to take good care of it.”

It was actually a very childish thing to do. Yet it happened to be paired with the most captivating pair of eyes.

Zhou Shirui stared at him for a long moment before lowering his head and kissing his hair at the forehead.

His warm breath brushed over him. Le Cheng obediently let him kiss him, then asked, “What are you doing?”

Zhou Shirui seemed to laugh very softly. He pulled back slightly, then turned Le Cheng’s hand over and held it, saying calmly and seriously, “I’m kissing my star.”