RSDH CH78

September 1st arrived. Xing-chan successfully moved up to the first grade of Huist Bilingual School, becoming a brand new, shiny elementary school student.

At the entryway, Duan Xingye was seen wearing a white shirt without a single crease, navy blue trousers reaching his knees, a belt around his waist, and pure cotton socks wrapping his tender, slender ankles—refreshing and bright.

Kan Dashan pinned the school badge on the child’s white shirt, patted his shoulder, and smiled kindly: “Elementary school is different from kindergarten. What goals do you have at school?”

New school year, new atmosphere. As an elementary school student officially stepping into the threshold of nine-year compulsory education, blood surging, he had to at least say “study hard and improve every day.”

Duan Xingye puffed out his chest like a spirited little white pigeon, his voice crisp and bright: “I want to get to know every classmate in the class within three days!”

Kan Dashan was caught off guard: “……”

For Xing-chan, there was no difference between elementary school and kindergarten.

Cheng Duzhou stood not far away, unsurprised by this.

Duan Xingye was the little overlord of the kindergarten before; he believed he would soon dominate the elementary school section.

Cheng Xian waited to send the two children to school and casually asked Cheng Duzhou: “What is your goal?”

Under Kan Dashan’s arrangement, Cheng Duzhou also entered Huist, in the same class as Duan Xingye.

Cheng Duzhou looked up, bright eyes and white teeth: “Get an elementary school diploma.”

“……”

Cheng Xian rubbed Cheng Duzhou’s head.

His son seemed to have no lofty ambitions, but steadiness was a virtue.

On the first day of school, Xing-chan garnered a large following of gazes because he was overly cute, beautiful, and lively.

Some children from his former kindergarten also moved up to Huist Elementary School. Many ran specifically from other classes, peeking outside the window during breaks, saying they were looking for Duan Xingye.

So Xing-chan walked out of the classroom under everyone’s gaze time and time again, becoming a figure like a little celebrity.

Before the morning was half over, because of his popularity and beauty, he easily gained the classmates’ approval. Everyone wanted to be friends with him.

A little guy named Jiang Siqi, whose mouth could stretch to his ears when he laughed, looking clever, became familiar with Duan Xingye in just the time of a morning assembly.

The teacher arranged seats according to height. Cheng Duzhou sat in the last row, not fond of talking, low-key and transparent just like when he was in kindergarten.

Harboring the goal of graduating elementary school smoothly, he sat in his seat flipping through books during breaks. Occasionally, his gaze glanced at Duan Xingye sitting in the third row.

Duan Xingye’s seat was surrounded by classmates. When he spoke, he was used to raising his snow-white face high. His pitch-black upturned eyes looked down slightly, somewhat arrogant but not annoying, exquisite like a ceramic doll.

Cheng Duzhou’s deskmate was a sturdy-looking little boy with a sturdy personality. Catching Cheng Duzhou’s gaze, he said bluntly: “I saw you and Duan Xingye coming to school in a car together this morning. Are you friends?”

Cheng Duzhou nodded, giving a very light mn.

The deskmate asked: “Then why doesn’t he talk to you at all?”

“……”

Duan Xingye was really too busy; he couldn’t attend to anything past the third row.

Cheng Duzhou lay on the table, chin resting on a small fist, lowering his eyes to read: “There are many kinds of friends.”

Hearing such a high-level argument for the first time, the deskmate asked curiously: “What kind of friend are you to him?”

Cheng Duzhou said: “A mentor and helpful friend.”

The deskmate raised his chin towards the group in the front row: “What about them?”

Cheng Duzhou lifted his round peach blossom eyes.

He saw Jiang Siqi sitting on the table in front, dancing with joy, laughing exaggeratedly.

Cheng Duzhou withdrew his gaze and whispered: “Fair-weather friends (fox friends and dog friends).”

The sturdy-looking little boy: “……”

After the third period, Cheng Duzhou went to the toilet. He specially waited for the peak period to pass before leaving the classroom.

In the bathroom.

The deskmate pulled out the cumbersome belt, moving faster, and said: “I’m going back first.”

Cheng Duzhou said: “Mn.”

Just as the deskmate left, a slight click came from behind. A stall door opened, and a very small milky voice came out: “Cheng Duzhou…”

Cheng Duzhou looked back and saw a pink-carved, jade-polished little face poking out from the open door crack. Cheeks flushed red, pitch-black pupils a bit moist.

It was Duan Xingye. Unknown how long he had stayed inside or what happened, the proud appearance he had in front of people was gone.

Cheng Duzhou entered the stall and closed the door.

Duan Xingye grasped the loose belt and said to him softly: “Help me tighten it.”

Turns out Xing-chan couldn’t tie his belt after using the toilet.

Huist’s belts weren’t simplified in design just because they were for children. Many first-grade boys had adults help them dress before going out. After using the toilet at school, they forgot how to tie it back, so they simply pulled the belt out. Anyway, the pants wouldn’t fall down, just be a bit loose at most.

But Xing-chan cared about face and insisted on dressing neatly, locking himself in the stall for a long time.

Two children faced each other in the stall.

Cheng Duzhou bent down, feeding the belt into the buckle, and said: “Can’t your new friend do it either?”

“Jiang Siqi can.” Duan Xingye looked down, seriously observing and learning, and said, “But if he knows I can’t, and if he tells others, people will laugh.”

Cheng Duzhou lowered his head to tie the belt seriously. due to the angle, some black hair covered his eyelids: “You aren’t afraid I’ll laugh at you.”

Duan Xingye frowned immediately, raised his head, small face fiercely milky: “Cheng Duzhou, will you laugh at me!”

Cheng Duzhou shook his head: “No.”

Duan Xingye hummed twice coquettishly: “If you dare laugh at me, I’ll be irreconcilable with you.”

In Xing-chan’s interpersonal view, Cheng Duzhou was the little friend living in his house, belonging to his family. The most embarrassing side couldn’t be seen by others, but Cheng Duzhou could see it, and Cheng Duzhou shouldn’t laugh at him for it.

Cheng Duzhou carefully helped Duan Xingye adjust the edge of his shirt and said: “Done, I wasn’t going to laugh at you.”

Duan Xingye had many kinds of friends; he seemed to be the kind different from everyone else.

“He isn’t Duan Xingye’s relative.”

“Heard he lives in Duan Xingye’s house…”

“His clothes are also Duan Xingye’s, right.”

“…Little follower.”

Cheng Duzhou went to school and back every day with the most popular student in the elementary section. It was inevitable to face gossip. Among those voices were envy and jealousy. Over time, gossip drilled into Cheng Duzhou’s ears.

Cheng Duzhou didn’t explain. Unlike Duan Xingye, he knew from a young age to follow rules and not cause trouble, developing an extremely introverted silence.

In October, the tuck shop at the school gate launched a popular instant noodle snack called Mofashi (Wizard).

Duan Xingye and Jiang Siqi were the first batch in the class to try it.

Beside the tuck shop after school, several little rich young masters opened the bags. A rich barbecue smell immediately spread in the air. Then they opened the powder packet, poured it into the bag, crushed the bag with crackling sounds, pinched the bag opening tight with one hand, shook it crazily for a while, and when opened again—that fragrance, superb.

In the 2000s when snack choices weren’t that many, instant noodles had a fatal attraction for elementary school students.

Huist students didn’t lack money, but many classmates had strict upbringings. Parents feared they wouldn’t eat properly at dinner, so they didn’t give pocket money. So some gathered around Duan Xingye, wanting to mooch a bite.

Duan Xingye was generous, pouring a small mountain of crushed noodles onto every small hand extended.

Cheng Duzhou had to wait for Duan Xingye to take the car home together. Standing not far away, he could also smell the savory and slightly spicy scent, saliva secreting spontaneously in his mouth.

He had pocket money, and Cheng Xian gave quite a lot, but he never carried money on him. He saved it all in the piggy bank, keeping it to ask the family auntie to bring him an old hen from the market every week.

Just then, Duan Xingye suddenly thought of Cheng Duzhou and turned around.

Their last class was P.E. After exercising, Duan Xingye’s soft black bangs were damp, two blushes heated up on his small face, big eyes bright: “Do you want to eat?”

Cheng Duzhou looked at the children surrounding Duan Xingye, each with a fawning smile. He had a bit of small self-esteem, shook his head, moved his clear gaze elsewhere, turned his back to the crowd, pretending to look if his dad’s car had arrived, but secretly swallowed his saliva.

Two days later, the Mofashi craze got hotter.

After school on Friday, his sturdy deskmate also bought a pack. Seeing Cheng Duzhou, he walked over swaying while opening the package.

The deskmate crushed the noodles and held the open bag forward: “Have some.”

The fragrance seemed to have color, rising from the package.

Cheng Duzhou knew eating his deskmate’s noodles wouldn’t be called a “little follower.” He was just a bit embarrassed, but usually, he taught his deskmate to correct wrong questions, so he couldn’t resist the temptation and was about to reach out.

Duan Xingye turned his head at this time and happened to see a classmate offering Cheng Duzhou Mofashi.

He hurriedly licked the powder off his palm, walked over, pulled Cheng Duzhou behind him, and said crisply to the sturdy boy: “He won’t eat it. If he wants to eat, I have some.”

Cheng Duzhou: “……”

Seeing Duan Xingye, the sturdy boy said “oh”, took back the Mofashi, and walked away.

Duan Xingye turned back to Cheng Duzhou and said seriously: “If you don’t like it, you must refuse. Grandpa said everyone has to learn to say no to others.”

“……”

Cheng Duzhou pressed his lips tightly together.

Who doesn’t like to eat a mouthful of crispy and delicious Mofashi?

At dinner, Cheng Duzhou was listless, shoveling rice much slower than usual.

After finishing homework in Cheng Duzhou’s room, Duan Xingye decided to sleep there.

At eight o’clock, the lights in the room were turned off.

Cheng Duzhou lay on his side with his back to Duan Xingye, not falling asleep immediately, his mind full of instant noodles. Going to school on Monday meant waiting two days. If he went into the tuck shop to buy Mofashi, his behavior being inconsistent, would others laugh at him for being gluttonous? Would he never eat instant noodles in his life?

Thinking and thinking, Cheng Duzhou somehow felt a bit sad. A small ball of sourness stuffed his heart. He was once so close to the noodles; he was too curious about the taste. Everyone in the class had eaten it, except him. It smelled so good. If only no one said he was a little follower…

Suddenly, with a snap, Duan Xingye climbed up, leaning over most of his body to look at Cheng Duzhou. As expected, he said in surprise: “Why are you crying!”

Cheng Duzhou turned over, squinting from the light, unable to hold back. rubbing his eyes, he hummed and whined with a crying tone: “I want to eat Mofashi…”

“……”

Xing-chan was too confused.

No matter how sensible a seven-year-old child is, his heart is only a small one. A pack of unobtainable Mofashi can defeat him.

Although Xing-chan didn’t understand Cheng Duzhou’s sudden craving for Mofashi, he still threw a tantrum with the auntie, successfully begging her to take him and Cheng Duzhou out to the supermarket at night.

Before leaving, Cheng Duzhou picked a coin out of his piggy bank and held it in his palm.

A pack of Mofashi cost fifty cents. Cheng Duzhou took two packs, one for himself, one for Duan Xingye. Before the auntie took out her wallet, he quickly placed one yuan on the counter.

Just right, no change needed. Besides, it was small money, so the auntie let it be.

Two children sat on a bench by the river.

Cheng Duzhou opened the bag, added the magic seasoning according to the steps, held the bag and shook it, then opened it again.

He held the bag and took a reserved bite.

Fragrant, crispy, savory, even more delicious than imagined.

At the moment his wish was fulfilled, even Cheng Duzhou couldn’t help swinging his little legs.

Duan Xingye was used to eating it; the freshness was greatly reduced. Seeing Cheng Duzhou eating so deliciously, he said suspiciously: “Let’s swap.”

Cheng Duzhou didn’t understand; both bags of Mofashi were the same flavor, but he still swapped with him.

Xing-chan took a bite of Cheng Duzhou’s bag, chewed with bulging cheeks, and nodded. Indeed more delicious. So he also swung his little legs contentedly.

Saturday, Cheng Duzhou was in Duan Xingye’s room, sitting on the floor drawing with Duan Xingye.

The phone rang. Duan Xingye crawled over, pressed speakerphone, and crawled back to continue drawing.

Jiang Siqi’s optimistic voice came: “My mom is taking me to see Pinocchio tonight. Have an extra ticket; come along. We’ll eat steak for dinner.”

Pinocchio was a stage play very popular among elementary students recently. Teachers required watching it and writing a review.

Cheng Duzhou doodled on his notebook; the lines went crooked.

His parents were busy and asked the auntie to accompany him to see it tomorrow night. He originally wanted to ask if Duan Xingye wanted to go together, but he and the auntie wouldn’t eat steak on this trip.

“No.” Duan Xingye lowered his head drawing and said, “I’m going to see it with Cheng Duzhou.”

Cheng Duzhou buried his head, eyes close to the sketchbook. The lines went from crooked to straight again, ears slightly red.

“Ah—” Jiang Siqi’s voice became dissatisfied. “Did you make an appointment?”

Xing-chan lay on the floor, kicking his two little feet up and down: “Nu-ope (Meiyou).”

Jiang Siqi roared: “Then go with me! I’ll buy you Lego! Don’t go with him!”

“No.”

“Why go with him!”

Xing-chan took it for granted: “Because he is my best friend.”

“Hmph!” Jiang Siqi was angry and hung up the phone.

Duan Xingye ignored him completely.

The room returned to silence.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at Duan Xingye and said: “Seeing the play tomorrow night… is that okay?”

“Okay.” Duan Xingye agreed readily without lifting his head.

Cheng Duzhou’s small heart felt hot.

Others saying he was a little follower seemed to become unimportant. What was important was Duan Xingye saying he was his best friend.

Cheng Duzhou rested his head on Duan Xingye’s stomach, scrolling through short videos on his phone. Big data happened to push Yu City’s delicacies to him.

Cheng Duzhou watched for a while and said: “Baby, want to go to Nanmen Alley for late-night snacks?”

Duan Xingye paused stroking Cheng Duzhou’s head. Memories of bundled chicken, tea oil roast duck, sugar oil sticky rice balls, and a hundred and eight other delicacies popped up…

…The dog head in his hand suddenly wasn’t appealing anymore.

Once late at night, appetite is always surprisingly high. Taking advantage of the vacation, the celebrity couple indulged themselves and drove out.

Nanmen Alley was a famous snack street in Yu City. They often went there in high school, but hadn’t been back much since leaving Yu City.

Easily recognized during the day, it was safer under the cover of night.

The couple wore loose-fitting T-shirts, bucket hats, and masks, blending into the bustling crowd in the alley. Their figures were too eye-catching and attracted some gazes along the way, but there were many trendy influencers in Yu City, so they didn’t cause special concern.

They were familiar with this area, had clear targets for shops, bought takeaway, and prepared to eat in the car.

But when leaving the store carrying fried skewers, the scent of crispy pork ribs emitted bursts of alluring fragrance.

Cheng Duzhou couldn’t hold back first, pulling Duan Xingye into a dim alley corner.

Duan Xingye’s voice was a bit through gritted teeth: “Greedy to death, going to be seen.”

“Won’t be, just one bite…” Cheng Duzhou pulled down his mask, bent his back low, and took a bite of the pork rib skewer in Duan Xingye’s hand.

However, just at this moment of one bite, they were photographed by paparazzi.

#Duan Xingye Feeds Cheng Duzhou at Night Market#

Entertainment Account V:

Travel at Night, Write Feelings visiting the night market hand in hand, belongs to double critical hit. [Cover mouth laugh]

There were several photos below, taken from a distance, blurry, but the two protagonists were still clearly visible.

Comment section:

“Food critical hit plus sweetness critical hit; don’t go too far, young couple.”

“Teacher Duan spoils so much~”

“Travel at Night, Write Feelings killing it crazily ahhhhh!”

“Wearing couple outfits out! Too good at this!”

“Fairy-tale love, still like first love after three years of marriage.”

“Hahaha, so President Cheng and Teacher Duan also hunt for food late at night. My guilt for eating late-night snacks suddenly disappeared.”

…

In the car, Duan Xingye scrolled through Weibo for a while. Seeing they got on a harmless hot search, he turned off his phone and ignored it.

Cheng Duzhou picked up beef offal noodles with chopsticks and fed it to his mouth.

They only bought one bowl, sharing it bite by bite.

They bought two bowls of ice jelly (Bingfen). Duan Xingye suddenly suspected: “Is your bowl delicious?”

Cheng Duzhou was blank: “It’s okay.”

Duan Xingye swapped with Cheng Duzhou.

Cheng Duzhou observed his expression and asked: “How is it?”

Duan Xingye tasted it and nodded: “It’s okay.”

Cheng Duzhou bit the spoon and smiled. The taste of both bowls was the same.

Duan Xingye just saw him eating deliciously—psychological effect. It had been like this since childhood; he just didn’t expose it.

Cheng Duzhou reached out dotingly and rubbed Duan Xingye’s head: “Greedy cat.”

Duan Xingye: “?”

__

Author’s Note:

Teacher Duan: Which bumpkin drooled craving Mofashi when he was little?

President Cheng: …Refuse to attack people with dead memories.