Watching the Setting Sun Along the Same Path - Chapter 20

Finally, the final exams arrived. Regardless of how well they went, it was something to celebrate—after all, summer vacation was just around the corner. Lu Ketong, being the unreliable person he was, naturally had no idea how he’d performed, but he was confident. After all, he’d been tutored by five renowned teachers in rotation.

On the day the results were announced, no one was in the mood to listen. Once the new semester began, they’d be seniors in high school, so they had to make the most of this summer and have fun while they could. The class sports committee member said, “Hypocrites. So many of you have already signed up for tutoring classes. Only I’m genuinely thinking about what to do during the summer.”

Lu Ketong chimed in, “Me too, me too. I’ve been thinking about it for days.”

Just as he turned to ask Fei Yuan if he had any ideas, the Chinese class representative, Chu Ruirui, approached first and said, “Fei Yuan, could you help me carry the assignment books?”

Fei Yuan was untangling his earphones. He set them down and stood up. “Let’s go.”

“Sigh, I’ll keep thinking on my own,” Lu Ketong turned back around. The sports committee member kicked his desk and asked, “Did you know? Ruirui is going abroad to study. She won’t be here when school starts again.”

Lu Ketong was shocked. “I knew that, but why are you calling her so affectionately?”

A while later, Chu Ruirui and Fei Yuan returned one after the other. Chu Ruirui carried a small stack of books, while Fei Yuan carried a large one. When Fei Yuan returned to his seat, Lu Ketong turned around, sitting backward, and said, “Chu Ruirui is going abroad to study.”

“Yeah, she just told me,” Fei Yuan replied, still untangling his earphones without looking up.

Lu Ketong fell silent, staring at his desk without a word. Fei Yuan picked up a pen and poked his cheek. “Why so serious? Are you unhappy again? Have you figured out where to go for summer vacation?”

“All you think about is playing!” Lu Ketong frowned and snapped. After his outburst, he fell into deep thought again. After a long pause, he asked, “Do you think I could become the Chinese class representative after Chu Ruirui leaves?”

“You idiot,” Fei Yuan threw down the pen and pinched his cheek. “Why not aim for class monitor? Being a class representative is beneath you.”

The class monitor happened to be handing out reply slips and stopped upon hearing this. “Don’t mess with me.” Lu Ketong cupped his face in his hands and asked, “Monitor, you didn’t outrank the study committee member this time either. Any thoughts on that?”

“Yeah, I’m heartbroken and disappointed. I’ve decided to go camping at the beach with my girlfriend next week to clear my mind.”

So smug. After the class monitor walked away, Lu Ketong still held his face, a hint of anticipation in his voice. “I want to go camping at the beach too, but I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“What, do you want one?”

“Don’t accuse me wrongly. It’s obvious they all like you. Don’t think I don’t know.” Lu Ketong pouted, glaring at him. Fei Yuan finally untangled his earphones and said, “Cut it out. If that’s the case, then you should know even better who I like.”

A week into summer vacation, Lu Ketong was lounging at home, doing nothing. Qiu Luomin came over to hang out, and the two of them just lay around together. Wen Ning was out on business, and Lu Ruopei was at a meeting at the Public Security Department, so no one was around to bother them.

“Want to play games?”

“Too lazy to move my hands.”

“Want to listen to lectures?”

“Are you crazy?”

“Then why did you come?”

“My dad keeps nagging me at home.”

“Your dad’s home?!” Lu Ketong sat up, anger beginning to burn. Damn it, Lu Ruopei lied again. If the director of the Public Security Department was resting at home, who was he having a meeting with?

Qiu Luomin rolled over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just the usual urge to curse my dad.” He lay back down and spotted the swim ring hanging on the wall. With a sigh, he asked, “Do you want to go camping at the beach?”

“I don’t want to. What if I get a tan?”

How shameless. I’m this pale and I’m not even worried. Lu Ketong got off the bed and rummaged through the closet, eventually finding his little swim trunks, which he held in his hands. Qiu Luomin looked pained and said, “Pervert.”

“Good brothers don’t need to be born on the same day, same month, same year, but they should swim together on the same day, same month, same year.”

“Did you break up with Fei Yuan?” Qiu Luomin got off the bed, took down the swim ring, and slipped it over Lu Ketong’s neck. “Where’s your phone? Let’s take a picture.”

The two of them hugged and took a selfie. Qiu Luomin said, “Post it on your social feed with that swimming emoji.”

“Posted!” Lu Ketong was no longer sad. He was practically glowing, waiting for Fei Yuan to see it and get jealous all over again. After posting, he even gave himself a like.

Within just over ten seconds, the first reply came from Wang Haoyan. Wang Haoyan didn’t comment anything—he just tagged Fei Yuan directly. From that moment on, Wang Haoyan found a place in Lu Ketong’s heart.

Fei Yuan was in the yard washing fruit. Lin Yuzhu was inside packing the travel bag, and Fei Dean had gone to fill up the car with gas. After washing the fruit, Fei Yuan packed it into a box and went back inside to slack off.

“Stop playing with your phone and fold your own clothes. Did you hear me?”

Lin Yuzhu urged him, but Fei Yuan was still staring at his phone. Without another word, he walked out. “Where are you going again? Your uncle and the others will be here soon, and then we’re leaving.”

Fei Yuan ignored her, sat down on a lounge chair, and made a call. The other end picked up quickly. He asked, “Where are you?”

Lu Ketong, still wearing the swim ring around his neck, said, “At home, getting ready to pack up and head to the beach.” Fei Yuan got up and went back inside, found his shorts and tank top, threw them into his bag, and said, “Wait for me. I’ll come find you in a bit.”

After packing up quickly, he grabbed his car keys and was about to leave when Lin Yuzhu hurriedly stopped him. “You guys go ahead. I’m leaving,” he said as he walked out and pushed his motorcycle. Lin Yuzhu shouted after him, “We agreed before the holiday that we’d go on a road trip together! Are you trying to make me angry?”

Lu Ketong got his wish, but when they arrived at the beach, he was dumbfounded. It was nothing like the romantic scene from their previous visit—damn it, the beach was packed with nothing but people and tents.

The guy renting out tents was raking in money hand over fist, grinning from ear to ear. The line for buying coconuts stretched at least ten meters long. Fei Yuan sneered, “Regretting it now? You just had to stir up trouble without seeing the consequences.”

Afraid of being scolded again, Lu Ketong turned and ran. “I’m going to buy a coconut!” He joined the back of the line, sweating under the scorching sun, and looked around to see if he could spot their class monitor. “Holy crap…” The guy in the floral shorts over there looked awfully familiar.

“Woof Woof!” Wang Haoyan, who had just found a place in his heart, now had a nickname.

Wang Haoyan was shirtless, wearing sunglasses, and looking ridiculously cool. He walked over with a mischievous grin and asked, “Who did you come with?”

“Hehehe, with Fei Yuan.” Lu Ketong glanced around. “Where’s Jian Xin?”

“Over there grilling. Come eat when you’re done.” The line moved forward a bit. Wang Haoyan patted his shoulder and said, “Come find us after you set up your tent—the one with the stripes. Remember to bring a couple of extra coconuts.”

He couldn’t buy more, so he just hugged two. By the time Lu Ketong got back, the tent was just set up, and Fei Yuan was laying out the sleeping bags. “Wang Haoyan and Jian Xin are here too. I’m going to bring a coconut to Jian Xin.” He left one for Fei Yuan and ran off with the other.

Passing by the barbecue area was torture—the aroma made his mouth water, but he didn’t see Jian Xin. Luckily, the striped tent was easy to spot, probably brought by them. Lu Ketong walked over and found the tent zipped up, with only a small gap left.

“Aren’t you guys hot?” He bent down, leaning closer to call them. “Damn…”

Wang Haoyan was kissing Jian Xin, pinning him down, wearing floral shorts.

When Fei Yuan finished setting up and went over, he saw Lu Ketong sitting alone in the barbecue area, eating a sausage with his mouth all greasy. Fei Yuan bought a soda and sat down beside him, asking, “Why are you alone?”

Lu Ketong pouted. “I’m so sad. My Jian Xin got mauled by a dog.”

“Fei Yuan! Lulu!” Just as he finished speaking, someone called them. Looking up, it was the class monitor and the sports committee member. Lu Ketong instantly stopped feeling sad, his mood shifting as fast as a Sichuan opera face change. Waving his sausage, he shouted, “Why are you two together? When did the class monitor break up?”

The class monitor sprinted over and snatched his sausage, saying, “Get lost!”

The sports committee member followed closely behind, adding, “I love the class monitor so much—the people’s great class monitor.” It turned out the class monitor’s girlfriend had invited classmates over, all of them girls, making it practically a joint class mixer.

Lu Ketong handed over the grilled chicken wings as well. “Here, take them while they’re hot and go curry favor.”

After eating and drinking their fill, they returned to the tent, planning to take a nap before going swimming. Fei Yuan lay on his back, his arms tucked under his head. Lu Ketong lay beside him, still wearing an eye mask.

Are we really going to sleep like this?

Too formal, like polite strangers.

He gently turned over, squeezing closer to Fei Yuan, then shifted his head, rubbing against Fei Yuan’s arm. A low chuckle sounded in his ear, and he felt Fei Yuan turn toward him. The next moment, the warmth of a palm spread across his stomach.

“Acting spoiled as soon as you’re full.”

Wearing his eye mask, he grinned goofily and even raised his hand to flash a peace sign.

Support