Chapter 42: Graduation Season
“My mother is very overbearing. Since I was little, whatever she said, went. I’ve never had my own choices; she paved every road I was supposed to walk.” Seeing He Chen stop to listen intently, Song Min suddenly felt his mood lighten significantly. “She came to see me today to talk about studying abroad again. She believes a learning career isn’t complete without studying overseas…”
Song Min’s mother was an ‘Iron Lady,’ the chairwoman of a listed company. Her desire to control her work and her family was intense, and Song Min was a product she had personally crafted.
Song Min was the definition of “someone else’s child”—the perfect kid parents compared their own to. He was excellent, but his excellence was forced. His mother had strict requirements for everything, planning out every detail of his life, from what he ate that day to what he should study and what class leadership roles he should take. Song Min lived a very exhausting life, but he had never told anyone about it. Except for He Chen.
He Chen, whose parents practiced a “free-range” parenting style, expressed his sympathy. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like to have one’s life manipulated by another person. To be unable to do what you want, unable to get what you desire… and the most terrifying thought: would his marriage also become a tool for control?
“Do you have a dream?” Something stirred in He Chen, and he suddenly wanted to ask.
“A dream… actually, I do!” It took Song Min a moment to say it. “It’s from when I was a kid. I saw a commercial for New Oriental on TV, and I wanted to go there to learn how to be a chef…”
Song Min said this with a straight face; he was completely serious. But He Chen couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Realizing his reaction was a bit much, He Chen quickly reined it in and comforted him. “Actually, I have a dream too. I want everyone to know about my family’s soup rice. Our soup rice is delicious; it’s a pity other people don’t get to eat it.”
“You didn’t major in Logistics just to deliver takeout, did you?” Song Min asked casually. To his surprise, He Chen nodded. Of course, He Chen was joking, but Song Min took it as the truth.
In that instant, Song Min was deeply shaken. He hadn’t expected He Chen to be just like him—harboring a similarly small, “unambitious” dream. It felt as if an arrow labeled “Dream” had struck his heart. The childhood notion of “Learn cooking at New Oriental” became increasingly clear in his mind.
“Why are you spacing out? Let’s go!” He Chen raised a hand and patted the dazed Song Min. Song Min turned his head to see He Chen smiling at him, and for some reason, his heart skipped a beat. He Chen’s smile went straight to the bottom of his heart, like a beam of intense light illuminating the abyss within him.
The image of He Chen smiling with such reckless abandon and youthful energy was branded into Song Min’s mind from that moment on, never to be forgotten. It was also from that day that a strong, unprecedented desire grew within Song Min: he craved to have He Chen. It was the first time Song Min realized that he, too, could be the kind of person who desperately wanted to possess something.
He really, truly wanted the person in front of him to belong to him—including his smile and everything else. Song Min felt every cell in his body clamoring for it.
Song Min lacked nothing, nor did he need to worry about the future; his mother had already planned and prepared everything. Things others had to work incredibly hard for were within his easy reach. Consequently, aside from meeting the goals his mother set, he had never really wanted to do anything. His only dream had been that silly, cute, childish ideal.
Song Min was passive to his core; he had never deeply desired anything. The passion in his life had been ground down by his mother’s dominance, unable to spark even a single flame.
But He Chen… with just a smile, and without even knowing it, he had lit a fire in Song Min’s life. That fire melted the frozen world, turning it into a spring where flowers bloomed.
“You are like a fire in the spring…” Song Min began to hum softly, which immediately made He Chen look at him with new eyes.
“Not bad, brother! You can actually sing!” He Chen threw an arm around his shoulder.
“…” Song Min froze for a second. He had just formed some taboo thoughts about He Chen, and now He Chen was being so intimate with him. He felt completely unnatural.
“Why so shy all of a sudden?” He Chen was confused. It wasn’t the first time they’d walked with arms around each other, but Song Min was acting as bashful as a maiden. Was he repulsed by him?
He Chen sniffed himself. He didn’t smell bad, so why the rejection?
“Sorry, I just spaced out.” Seeing He Chen’s action, Song Min immediately realized He Chen had misunderstood. He quickly found an excuse to explain. It would be a disaster if this caused a rift between them.
“So that’s it.” He Chen accepted the answer with a grin. He figured as much—how could anyone be repulsed by someone as perfect as him? He was the Logistics Class Heartthrob, after all.
“Let’s go eat. My treat,” Song Min said, taking the initiative to put his arm around He Chen’s shoulder.
Since neither had eaten dinner yet, He Chen familiarly led Song Min to the small alleyways near the school. The late-night snack stalls were just setting up, and the entire alley was filled with the aroma of food.
“How about Malatang? I know a place that’s pretty good!” He Chen didn’t care about his image at all, sniffing the air vigorously. When a handsome guy does something unrefined like that, it doesn’t look gross; instead, it just looks like he’s being a goofball.
“Sure.” Song Min had never eaten street food. Although he had heard it wasn’t very hygienic, he didn’t show a hint of disdain.
With Song Min’s agreement, He Chen led him to a Malatang stall. They picked their ingredients and found a random spot to sit. Before long, two steaming bowls of Malatang were placed before them.
“Try the soup first.” He Chen took the lead, spooning up some broth. The taste was so good he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes in enjoyment. “Ah, so satisfying!”
Song Min mimicked He Chen and tried the soup. He quickly understood why He Chen looked so satisfied. Fresh, numbing, spicy—one sip and the warmth flooded his entire body, leaving him feeling fuzzy and comfortable. Song Min was surprised; he hadn’t expected street food to be this delicious. Without a word, he sped up his eating.
He Chen didn’t stand on ceremony. He wolfed down his food with loud slurps, letting out a full belch when he was done, which made Song Min laugh.
Song Min looked at He Chen, who was leaning back in his chair lazily like a cat, and made a secret decision in his heart: he was going to learn to cook. He would make delicious food for He Chen. When He Chen ate good food in the future, he would surely show that satisfied smile again. Seeing He Chen smile was the thing he wanted to do most.
“Whenever I’m in a bad mood, I go eat something good. After sweating it out, I feel a lot better,” He Chen drawled lazily. He looked carefree and rough around the edges, but he actually knew how to care for people.
“I feel much better. Thank you, He Chen!” Song Min stared straight at him, his eyes holding an emotion that was difficult to define.
He Chen didn’t catch the subtext. Seeing that Song Min’s spirits were lifted, he just felt relieved.
From that day on, perhaps because Song Min had bared his soul, the two became even closer—much to the delight of the “rotten girls” (BL fans) in both classes, who frequently discussed them behind their backs.
Once Song Min confirmed his own feelings, he started with a silent crush. It wasn’t until the Class Beauty of the Logistics Class saw through him that he began to actively pursue He Chen, with her assistance.
He Chen was shocked. He had never imagined Song Min would harbor… that kind of thought about him. But considering himself a straight man, he politely rejected Song Min. Song Min didn’t give up. After a year of persistence, he successfully won the handsome guy over. To celebrate getting together, Song Min treated everyone to a meal.
Regarding two men being together, most students in both classes were accepting. Those who weren’t accepting kept their mouths shut. Overall, the “power couple” romance of Song Min and He Chen received everyone’s blessing.
Dating, living together… Song Min and He Chen’s life together was sweet. They argued occasionally, but once one side apologized, they turned the page. While living together, Song Min used his spare time to learn cooking. Every time he mastered a dish, he would make it for He Chen. Receiving He Chen’s praise made him as happy as a puppy.
Song Min hadn’t forgotten he had an overbearing mother who would interfere with, or even dictate, his life. After getting together with He Chen, he began preparing for their future. He needed financial independence to ensure he had the strength to defy his mother.
Song Min shared his mother’s sharp business acumen. He traded stocks and made investments, depositing the earnings into He Chen’s bank account. Watching the numbers in the account grow, Song Min knew he was building the capital for his rebellion.
He Chen knew about Song Min’s mother’s personality. He assumed that once she found out about their relationship, she would act like the mother of a male lead in a TV drama, slapping a check for one million down and saying, “Take this million and leave my son!” However, they had been together for several years, and nothing happened. Song Min’s mother continued to set plans for Song Min as she always had, remaining indifferent to everything else.
Graduation season is also breakup season. So many couples hug at the school gates, then one turns left and the other turns right. But the reality is often more like this: You see your ex, who you just broke up with, running toward you. You’re about to say something pleasantly surprised, only for the ex to say, “What a coincidence, I’m heading to the train station too.”
“…” Too tired to love.
Graduation had no impact on He Chen and Song Min’s relationship. They had already decided to strive for their careers in the provincial capital together; graduation changed nothing for them.
The only sadness was that everyone in the class had their own plans and would scatter to the winds. Some were going to ‘Bei-Shang-Guang’ (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou), some were returning to their hometowns, and others were staying in the provincial capital… The legendary first Logistics Class of the Management Department was like a brightly blooming flower; once the blooming season passed, the petals withered and drifted with the wind to different places.
The closer graduation came, the more depressed He Chen felt. Fortunately, he was healed by Song Min’s delicious food and went to his job interviews full of energy. He was excellent, so he was hired quickly.
In contrast to He Chen’s smooth sailing, things weren’t so easy for Song Min. No matter which company he applied to, he was rejected for various reasons. Song Min knew why. He was certain it was his mother’s handiwork.
A while back, his mother had come to see him again, mainly to discuss studying abroad. In their family, studying abroad was a tradition; they felt it plated their status in gold.
Song Min had refused his mother’s request on the spot. He stated his position, polite but distant.
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