Decayed Vulgarian chapter 33
You Don’t Remember?
Then Liang Yan’s thoughts went off on a tangent, extending the discussion to the difficulties of treating functional disorders. Since the topic was quite familiar to him, Liang Yan didn’t hold back in his choice of words.
The content of these messages was something Shen Xun couldn’t bear to hear. He made it clear that he didn’t want to continue discussing this topic and promptly ended this unproductive conversation.
So what should he gift Meng Yuan Cen?
However, he received a call from Meng Yuan Cen after work, which distracted him from the gift dilemma.
After some casual chat, Meng Yuan Cen suddenly said, “I really want to come and pick you up at the bureau’s entrance now, but I have evening classes, and it won’t fit into my schedule. If you get bored on the way, I can keep you company on call.”
Shen Xun recalled that Meng Yuan Cen’s previous excuse had been about merely passing by the bureau’s entrance. Today, he had expressed a desire to come to the bureau. These subtle differences created a strange feeling in Shen Xun’s heart. He didn’t mention this and instead diverted the conversation, saying, “This morning, when I woke up, I found that my lips were chapped…”
He hesitated, feeling anxious about how to proceed. Should he say that he didn’t remember what happened last night, or should he express a desire to know who initiated the kiss? Either question seemed challenging to put into words. He needed to think carefully before speaking, rather than letting his impulsiveness take over.
Shen Xun pursed his lips, then quickly changed the subject. “Winter is here, and the weather is dry. Lips tend to get chapped easily. I might need to buy some lip balm…”
Meng Yuan Cen seemed to realize something and interrupted Shen Xun with a serious tone. “You don’t remember what happened last night?”
Shen Xun remained silent for a few seconds. “…Sorry, I don’t remember.”
Meng Yuan Cen couldn’t help but chuckle. Was he the only one who struggled and restrained himself so much last night while Shen Xun’s actions seemed spontaneous and unconscious?
It was lunchtime, and the cafeteria was bustling with people. The noise from the cafeteria made it hard for Shen Xun to hear Meng Yuan Cen clearly. Meng Yuan Cen said, “I’m in the cafeteria, it’s too noisy. I can’t hear you well. How about we hang up for now?”
“…But you just said you’d chat with me for the duration of my walk.”
“Alright, then, wait a moment. I’ll call you back once I’ve got my food and sit down.”
Meng Yuan Cen quickly picked out some dishes, and as he approached an empty spot, he encountered another male teacher he had met a few times. The teacher was from the School of Marxism, teaching sociology, and his last name was Zheng. They exchanged greetings and sat down to chat.
Meng Yuan Cen was puzzled because Zheng chose to sit down in front of him. He texted Shen Xun and explained that something tricky had come up. He wouldn’t be able to continue the conversation for a while but promised to call back later. Shen Xun received the message but chose not to reply.
Zheng, who was sitting across from Meng Yuan Cen, noticed that he was engrossed in his phone. The conversation took a brief pause. After sending the message, Meng Yuan Cen raised his head and met Zheng’s gaze.
Zheng couldn’t contain his curiosity and blurted out, “I saw you on Xiaolan.”
Meng Yuan Cen’s heart skipped a beat. “What’s Xiaolan?”
Zheng’s directness was a bit surprising. “It’s a dating app, and I’ve been following you for a while. I didn’t dare to approach you before because I thought you might not belong to my circle. But now, seeing you on Xiaolan, I realized we’re the same type of people.”
He smiled warmly, revealing a row of white teeth. “I really like you.”
Meng Yuan Cen remembered creating a Xiaolan account out of curiosity during his college days. He had a few unusual selfies on there. However, he eventually lost access to that account after changing his phone number and forgetting his login details. Meng Yuan Cen didn’t mind if people knew he was gay, but he never went back to using that app.
Meng Yuan Cen rejected the offer, saying, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’d be a good match.”
Zheng insisted, “I’m a 0.5 on the Kinsey Scale, so I can adapt to your preferences!”
Meng Yuan Cen could tell that Zheng was relatively new at this, driven by naivety and a strong desire. He felt sorry for him but had to be direct, “I already have someone in my life.”
Zheng’s eyes lost their glow. He returned to his meal, and Meng Yuan Cen left the cafeteria after a short while.
After work, Shen Xun still had the matter of choosing a gift on his mind. He opened a shopping website and aimlessly browsed, hoping to stumble upon something that perfectly matched his intentions. Unfortunately, he was disappointed.
He put his phone down and fell into deep thought. He contemplated that a gift should be something the recipient liked. However, what did Meng Yuan Cen like?
Books on criminal law, perhaps?
Shen Xun was fairly certain that Meng Yuan Cen had an interest in this field. Still, as an outsider, he was hesitant to choose a book with insufficient quality or one that Meng Yuan Cen had already read, which would be quite embarrassing. He abandoned this idea.
Unconsciously, he opened their chat history and scrolled through from start to finish. The texts in the white bubbles didn’t reveal any distinctive preferences of Meng Yuan Cen’s. Shen Xun was close to tearing his hair out from the frustration, but he couldn’t find any clues.
He indeed had zero talent in choosing gifts and suddenly felt a bit defeated.
After dinner, he retreated to his own room, wanting to chat with Meng Yuan Cen. When he opened WeChat, he remembered that Meng Yuan Cen had classes on Tuesday evenings. Shen Xun had set Meng Yuan Cen’s teaching schedule as the chat background, so he could remember it each time they chatted.
Feeling a bit bored, Shen Xun stretched and, accompanied by a fleeting moment of loneliness, his thoughts suddenly came to a halt. The last two words, “loneliness,” made him somewhat dazed. He thought to himself that he seemed to be the frog slowly boiled in warm water by Meng Yuan Cen. The power of habit was indeed strong.
He stopped in front of the bookshelf, considering picking up any book to pass the time. His eyes were initially drawn to the book titled “Philosophy of Crime and Punishment,” the one Shen Xun had lent to Meng Yuan Cen. The rainbow picture was still inside it.
Wait, he knew what to give!
Excited, Shen Xun rushed to ask Liang Yan if the gift idea was suitable. Liang Yan confirmed it, and Shen Xun immediately opened a web browser to search for a guide, including the brand and price range. He returned to the online store to make a selection.
After all the steps, only Meng Yuan Cen’s address remained. Shen Xun intentionally didn’t want Meng Yuan Cen to know about this gift beforehand. He decided not to ask Meng Yuan Cen and avoid falling into any traps.
After some thought, Shen Xun had an idea.
He had a good little brother studying at Hua University.
Shen Xun called his brother directly, but his call was declined. One minute later, a WeChat message popped up: “Bro, I’m in class!”
Shen Xun found it strange, saying, “But don’t you have classes on Tuesday nights?”
Shen He replied, “I’m changing my major, right? I’m auditing the class.”
Shen Xun thought it over and decided to be straightforward: “I want to get the delivery station address at Hua University. Remember to send it to me before tonight, and that’s all. Focus on your class.”
However, Shen He was quick to inquire, “What’s going on? Are you sending someone a gift?”
Shen Xun replied, “You wish! It’s not for you.”
He copied and pasted the address, and Shen He, inquisitive as ever, continued to ask, “So, who’s this package for? Someone from our school? Your blind date? Or is it a special someone? It’s not like you to give gifts, bro.”
Following that message, Shen He sent a series of playful, teasing emojis.
Because Shen He had received gifts from his brother Shen Xun only twice in his life, once for his tenth birthday and the other for his twentieth. On other occasions, for various holidays, birthdays, or noteworthy celebrations, Shen Xun typically transferred money directly, along with a standard wish for safety and happiness. The money given was undeniably substantial, and Shen He could tell that it was both perfunctory and more generous than usual.
Nevertheless, Shen He appreciated such gifts. He found money practical and liberating, and he believed that Shen Xun shared the same sentiment.
Shen Xun pretended not to notice Shen He’s hints and casually asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be in class right now?”
Shen He replied, “It’s a break now, so who are you sending the package to? A teacher from our school? Maybe someone I know?”
Shen Xun didn’t respond.
Shen He then joked, “It’s not for a school leader, is it? Our university frowns upon gifts and bribes. The consequences of being reported are quite severe.”
Shen Xun couldn’t help but chuckle and replied, “Of course not.”
Shen He continued with a playful tone, “So, it’s for a teacher?”
Shen Xun thought, “Why is he so perceptive?”
Shen He proceeded to suggest, “We’re family; there’s no need to keep secrets. I know you’re into guys, and if you have someone in mind, I can help gather information. You know, I know a lot of people at the university, and I’m well-informed.”
Shen He had figured out Shen Xun’s preference for men after accidentally discovering him watching gay content years back. They had an unspoken agreement to keep this a secret from their mother. Shen He had often teased Shen Xun when he went on blind dates.
The tone in Shen He’s messages oscillated between acting mature and a hint of innocence. Shen Xun chuckled, feeling somewhat intrigued. He couldn’t resist testing the waters and eventually asked, “Do you know a teacher from the Law School who teaches criminal law?”
Shen He’s reaction was immediate, and he sent several photos.
The photo quality was poor, likely due to zooming in too much. Nevertheless, Shen Xun instantly recognized Meng Yuan Cen, who was wearing his black coat, standing at the three-foot lectern, looking even more tall and elegant. Meng Yuan Cen was captured in a side profile, his exquisite features and outstanding temperament clearly visible.
Shen He added, “No need to thank me. I was sitting at the back today, so I couldn’t take clear pictures. Next time, I’ll sit in the front row and take some photos for you, if you need.”
Shen He was excited about attending Meng Yuan Cen’s criminal law class, something Shen Xun hadn’t seen yet. Shen Xun was a bit envious but still decided not to ask Shen He for the photos since he knew Meng Yuan Cen personally. Shen Xun replied, “No need.”
Shen He then expressed his amazement, “I never expected this! You like him too. I’ve heard about a student at the Law School who’s head over heels for him. They intentionally failed the final exam just to retake his class and make a lasting impression.”
Shen Xun retorted, “The student you’re talking about probably just didn’t do well on the final exam, right?”
Shen He concluded with, “I don’t know, that’s what I heard. But Meng teacher is undoubtedly very popular at Hua University.”
This message left Shen Xun feeling somewhat touched. He contemplated, “How popular is he at Hua University?”