Your Distance

“Mm, I don’t have the time to date two people at the same time.” Bai Changyi put the steak on a plate and went to the dining area. “Come over to eat it after you’re done washing your hands.”

At his words, Ting Shuang immediately turned off the faucet, trailing after Bai Changyi even before drying his hands: “Cough, um, does that mean… You’ll just have me?”

Bai Changyi said, “Mm, let’s take our time.”

Mm, let’s take our time.

If he wanted them to take their time, then they’d take their time.

Ting Shuang casually retracted the arm that had reached out to circle Bai Changyi’s waist from behind, and said in a very casual tone, “Cough, okay, I’m not in a hurry anyways. I’m still this young, right.”

Bai Changyi’s lips curved up slightly, and he put down the steak, untying his apron.

Ting Shuang sat down and cut the steak while saying, “Aren’t you eating? Should I go get another fork?”

“I’m not eating. Brush your teeth after eating.” Bai Changyi was about to go upstairs, but halted his steps, “Oh, you don’t have a toothbrush. Wait a minute.”

“Okay.”

Ting Shuang thought that Bai Changyi was going to take out a new toothbrush that he already had at home, but he was surprised to see that Bai Changyi had changed his clothes after Ting Shuang had finished his steak. Bai Changyi said, “I’m going out for 15 minutes.”

Ting Shuang stood up and followed behind him, “Are you going out to buy a toothbrush? It’s the middle of the night, are supermarkets even open now?”

Bai Changyi said, “There’s a gas station a five minute drive away.”

Gas station, oh, a 24-hour convenience store.

“Wait, I’ll go with you.” Ting Shuang put on a shirt, and as he got ready to wear his pants, he shot Bai Changyi a guarded look, “Don’t jump me again.”

Bai Changyi chuckled, “Mm, I’ll try my best.”

Try his best?

Old hooligan.

Ting Shuang finished changing into his clothes, feeling a little chilly as he walked out the door. Looking up, the vast night sky was full of stars.

“How about… Walking there? Ting Shuang couldn’t help but say.

“Mm,” Bai Changyi brought a coat out and gave it to Ting Shuang, “Let’s go.”

Apricot flowers and magnolias were blooming on the sides of the road, the flowers swaying in the howling wind. Occasionally, petals of apricot flowers would drift down, as if they were rain or smoke.

Ting Shuang breathed in the cool air on this quiet night, “I always feel like at this hour, we should… Talk about something…”

Bai Changyi said, “Like?”

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Ting Shuang was a little embarrassed, “Well, like… Life… Or whatever…”

Such things were embarrassing to say out loud. While Ting Shuang talked, he heard Bai Changyi chuckle, and felt like he was being mocked.

He’s too stupid.

He actually thought that the atmosphere was nice, and wanted to delve a little into the inner thoughts of the other party…

Heck.

Could an old hooligan even have inner thoughts?

He could dream on.

Old hooligans only had lowly tastes.

Ting Shuang said angrily, “We can just not talk about it, why did you have to laugh at me?”

Bai Changyi said, “I didn’t laugh at you.”

“You didn’t laugh, you say? I clearly heard it.”

“Why are you studying your current major?”

After being asked this question, Ting Shuang stopped bringing up how Bai Changyi laughed at him, “That’s kind of a long story.”

Bai Changyi nodded his head, saying sarcastically, “Mmhm, and we’re rushing for time now.”

Ting Shuang laughed, “True, we’re talking now anyways, so what if I have a long story to share. It’s just, my family does robotics, so it’s natural that I learn it as well. But to be honest, I don’t have much talent, and I’m really not interested in robotics– Uh. “

All of the sudden, the air seemed to freeze.

He was done for.

He’d forgotten who he was talking to.

Ting Shuang slowly turned his head to look at Bai Changyi’s side profile.

Bai Changyi said, “Mm, you’re not interested, go on.”

“Uh…” Ting Shuang’s face felt a bit stiff, “Uh… It’s just, what I mean is, outside of your class. Really. What I’m talking about is actually the situation before I started taking your classes. Ever since I started taking your classes, my interest in robotics has greatly grown, and I’m now super enthusiastic about learning. Bai Laoban, I think that you’re the kind of professional instructor that clarifies student’s doubts and stimulates their interests. You’re an awesome teacher with a mastery in the field, amazing teacher virtues(1), and excellent academic qualifications.”

Bai Changyi glanced at Ting Shuang, “Be honest.”

“Uh, honestly…” Ting Shuang gulped down a mouthful of saliva, and, with difficulty, put together his words. “If I were to be honest, I can only understand half of your lessons… Mm, a little more than half…”

“Mm.”

“The moment I think of how you might call me up to answer some of your questions, I get scared and spend the entire lesson worrying…”

Bai Changyi’s lips curved up, “Mm.”

“Uh… Actually I haven’t read a single one of your thesis papers… I don’t know your academic qualifications… but based on how I personally think… It should be quite high?”

Bai Changyi’s smile became more obvious, “Mm.”

“And… Your virtues as a teacher… I think… It’s just average… Cough, but I have to thank your worrying virtues. If you were to have amazing teacher virtues, would we be able to go out for a stroll(2) in the middle of the night?”

Bai Changyi laughed out loud, “That makes sense.”

Ting Shuang tilted his head to look at Bai Changyi’s smile, and couldn’t help but grab on to his arm.

Bai Changyi also stopped walking.

The two of them stood facing each other, looked at each other for a while, then shared a long kiss under the stars and flowers.

During that kiss, Ting Shuang slowly felt for Bai Changyi’s hand, and held on to it.

This way, it really felt like they were together.