novelraw Chapter 202 IF Path - 18th Birthday
Chapter 202 IF Path - 18th Birthday
Irresponsible IF Side Story - 06
Although Jiang Haochen had already said he wouldn't pursue Xie Lingzhou anymore, Chi Yuan still stayed on set until Xie Lingzhou finished filming before leaving. Jiang Haochen could only sigh helplessly; what could he do? He couldn't very well let his brother search for all sorts of random information online.
Fortunately, the child is very well-behaved and will massage his shoulders and legs and give him food, which is still quite comforting.
After they went back, the style of their conversations changed somewhat.
"Brother, I got first place in this month's exam."
It's not good to always be number one; at least give the second-place student something to look forward to.
{Bro, the second place winner is my deskmate, a really handsome guy. I'm not letting him have it.}
What's wrong? Did the classmates have a fight?
{We didn't have a fight, it's just that he's not the person I like, so I won't give in to him!}
{!! Study hard!}
……
"Bro, I got one physics question wrong this time and lost a point."
{Chi, you're a top student, but you can't be too perfect. Next time, try to deduct 10 points and let me know.}
I lost this point because I didn't sleep well last night and felt sleepy during the exam.
Why can't I sleep well?
Did I have a crazy dream?
{A dream of messing around?}
{It's just... I'm sure I like men's dreams!}
{!! Study hard!}
……
"Bro, a female classmate gave me a love letter today."
How do you feel?
I told her I wanted to study hard.
Yes, I need to study hard.
She asked me which university I wanted to apply to. She wanted to go to the same school as me.
{Then what?}
I told her she couldn't do it.
Why?
She scored 100 points lower than me on the monthly exam, and she still wants me to tutor her.
{Quite persistent.}
I told her that the reason I got good grades was because my brother told me to study hard and not think about those other things.
{...You'll never find a girlfriend like this.}
{Bro, does this also prove that I do like men?}
{...You won't have a boyfriend even if you act like this.}
……
"Brother, I'll be eighteen after midnight tonight."
Happy Birthday! Red Envelope! Red Envelope! Red Envelope!
Chi Yuan accepted all the red envelopes one by one.
Thanks, bro.
{Turning eighteen means you're an adult.}
"Brother, you're an adult now, does that mean you can do whatever you want?"
{Believe it or not, I'll break your legs!}
After sending the WeChat message, Jiang Haochen felt utterly exhausted. He turned around and saw Xiao Cui, and couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Cui, what were you thinking about in high school?"
Xiao Cui seemed a little confused by the question, and after thinking for a moment, he replied, "The college entrance exam?"
Jiang Haochen: "Besides the college entrance exam, have you ever experienced first love or anything like that?"
Xiao Cui chuckled: "Who only starts to experience romantic feelings in high school? I already had a girlfriend when I was in sixth grade."
Jiang Haochen was shocked: "Sixth grade? Isn't that too early?"
Xiao Cui: "They say they're boyfriend and girlfriend, but they're really just close classmates. It's puberty, a time when people are curious about the opposite sex, which is perfectly normal. Parents in China are strict, so they wouldn't actually do anything. I've heard that it's quite open abroad. Brother Jiang, you weren't a virgin in high school, were you?"
I'm still a virgin!
He discovered he was attracted to men in high school, but all he could do was date guys, and he couldn't bring himself to do it.
But he wouldn't say that. After all, he's 26 and still a virgin; it would be too embarrassing to admit it. He could have been a virgin if he hadn't, but it's all the fault of that brat.
Thinking of Chi Yuan, Jiang Haochen added, "Can you make some time in today's schedule? I'd like to go back to City B tonight."
Xiao Cui checked the schedule: "It can be adjusted, but you have a scheduled event in H City early tomorrow morning. If you return to B City in the evening, you'll miss that event."
Jiang Haochen: "Can't we push it?"
Xiao Cui: "No, this was arranged three months ago, and the entire program revolves around you. Even if someone else doesn't go, you can't not go."
Jiang Haochen frowned: "Buy a flight that departs at midnight and fly there."
I'll go back at night and leave in the early hours of the morning; I won't be staying for long anyway.
Xiao Cui asked, puzzled, "Is there something urgent?"
Jiang Haochen: "It's the kid's eighteenth birthday."
Birthdays are the days that most remind people of their parents. Thinking of his unreliable parents, Jiang Haochen decided to go back home. After all, eighteen is a coming-of-age ceremony.
When Chi Yuan sent the message to Jiang Haochen, he didn't really think too much about it. He hadn't made a point of mentioning his birthday for the past two years. His brother was too busy, so busy that he sometimes even forgot the date. The reason he sent this message to his brother on this day was simply to tell him that he had come of age.
He likes his brother.
His brother said in an interview that one shouldn't date too early, but he's eighteen now, so it's not considered dating too early, right?
However, he didn't plan to pursue her right now. Although he was already eighteen, he was still a student, and until the college entrance exam was over, he could only maintain a connection through his phone. Fortunately, his brother had promised him that he wouldn't date this year.
"Chi Yuan!" His deskmate nudged Chi Yuan, who was lost in thought.
Chi Yuan snapped out of his daze: "What's wrong?"
My deskmate said, "Our teacher just called me over and said he's going to give me a spot in the college entrance exam through the guaranteed admission program."
Chi Yuan: "Congratulations."
Desk mate: "No, the teacher said you refused the guaranteed admission offer, why?"
Chi Yuan: "I want to take the exam myself."
My deskmate said, "That's too much trouble. If you get accepted into university through the recommendation program, you won't need to come to class next semester."
Chi Yuan: "But there's no bonus for being recommended for admission."
My deskmate suddenly realized: "You want to earn the prize money? Do your family agree? Although your grades are definitely not a problem, there are always times when your performance in exams is inconsistent. Your parents will probably choose to get you into a top university without taking the entrance exam."
The school offers a scholarship of 300,000 yuan to each student who gets into Tsinghua or Peking University. His family isn't short of that money, so his parents hope he will choose the guaranteed admission option.
Chi Yuan confidently stated, "I can pass the exam."
He wanted to earn the 300,000 yuan, and once he received the money, he would donate it according to the amount in the ledger, and that would be considered paying it back.
……
That night, just before lights out, Chi Yuan unexpectedly received a WeChat message from Jiang Haochen:
Are you asleep? If not, come to the school gate to pick up your birthday present.
Chi Yuan put on his coat and slippers and ran out of the dormitory. The ten-minute journey took him less than five minutes to reach the school gate.
From afar, he saw a tall figure wrapped in a trench coat standing outside the iron gate.
"Brother." Chi Yuan noticed that his brother still had makeup on, clearly having come straight from an event. "What brings you here?"
It was already past eleven o'clock, and the gatekeeper was already asleep. Jiang Haochen didn't want to wake him up to open the gate, so he just glanced at the boy through the iron gate.
"It's so cold outside, why are you wearing slippers?" Jiang Haochen stared at the boy's feet, which were red from the cold.
Chi Yuan grinned: "I didn't notice."
Jiang Haochen: "Wait."
Jiang Haochen then went back to his car, grabbed a pair of his own shoes, and handed them to Chi Yuan through the railing: "Put these on."
The familiar scene reminded Chi Yuan of that morning two and a half years ago, when his brother had given him a pair of shoes in the same way, and he had walked into his brother's life wearing those shoes.
His brother gave him another pair of shoes today. Does this mean he can get closer to his brother now?
Chi Yuanguang was delighted just thinking about it: "Thank you, brother, I really like this gift."
Jiang Haochen: "This isn't a gift, this is."
As he spoke, Jiang Haochen took out a beautifully packaged black gift box from his trench coat pocket and handed it to Chi Yuan.
Chi Yuan curiously opened it and found a dark suit tie inside. He looked at his brother in surprise.
Jiang Haochen explained, "Eighteen years old is an adult, you'll need it later."
Although Chi Yuan didn't say anything, Jiang Haochen knew that the boy had been secretly keeping track of all the money he had spent on Chi Yuan over the years. Chi Yuan had always wanted to pay him back, and while Jiang Haochen wasn't short of money, he hadn't exposed him. In his opinion, the boy's ambition was quite admirable. Therefore, when he gave Chi Yuan gifts, he never gave anything too expensive, for fear of making the boy feel guilty.
His brother admitted that he was an adult.
This sentence gave the gift a different meaning.
Chi Yuan smiled happily: "Thank you, brother. I love this gift so much. It's the best gift I've ever received."
Jiang Haochen was naturally pleased to see that the boy liked it: "It's good that you like it. Let's go back, it's cold outside."
Chi Yuan shook his head: "I'm not cold."
Jiang Haochen knew the child was reluctant to part with him, so he could only say, "I just happened to be passing by and brought you a gift. I have to catch a flight soon."
Chi Yuan was taken aback: "Did you rush back specifically because I messaged you today, brother?"
Jiang Haochen didn't want the child to feel burdened: "Stop imagining things. Your brother is always flying around. Go back now."
Chi Yuan hummed in agreement, picked up the gift and slippers, and turned to walk back. After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly turned back and called out again, "Brother."
Jiang Haochen had been watching him, and upon hearing this, he replied, "What's wrong?"
Chi Yuan: "I'm eighteen years old."
Jiang Haochen said helplessly, "I understand."
"Eighteen years old is amazing," they kept saying.
Chi Yuan asked, "Is it okay to have someone you like at eighteen?"
Jiang Haochen was taken aback. Could it be that this kid has someone he likes?
He was about to adopt a parental tone and urge the boy to study hard, but when he met the boy's eager and bright eyes, he suddenly couldn't say anything.
Oh well, his kid's grades are so good, even if he's in a relationship, it won't interfere with his studies.
"Is it something you genuinely like?" Jiang Haochen asked.
Chi Yuan nodded and gave a heavy "hmm".
"That's fine then."
Chi Yuan was overjoyed. He tried to hold back, but finally couldn't help but say, "Brother, I like you the most."
After saying that, he ran away quickly.
"Sycophant." Jiang Haochen shook his head with mixed feelings as he watched the boy disappear into the night.