Just in Time Chapter 101
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 101 Bookstore
On the day of the court hearing, which was a Thursday, it was already late autumn. A light rain was falling from the sky, and the elm trees outside the window had yellow leaves fluttering down in the rain.
Yun Fang went to the early market to buy soy milk and fried dough sticks, then entered the bedroom to wake up Yi Chenliang.
Yi Chenliang had been studying too intensively lately and wasn't getting enough sleep. He was lying sprawled across the bed, hugging the blanket. His hoodie had ridden up, exposing his stomach to the cold air without him seeming to mind.
"Xiao Yi, get up and have breakfast," Yun Fang couldn't resist and gave his stomach a pat.
Yi Chenliang rolled over, burying his head in the blanket. Yun Fang poked at his waist dimple, saying, "Get up now."
Yi Chenliang reluctantly rolled over again and struggled to open his eyes. His voice was still sleepy as he said, "I did comprehensive science all night in my dream... Damn, I didn't get a single question right."
Yun Fang laughed and pulled him up from the bed, "Hurry up and go wash up."
Yi Chenliang yawned and shuffled into the bathroom in his slippers. Halfway through brushing his teeth, he suddenly poked his head out and asked, "Isn't the court hearing today?"
"Yes," Yun Fang was pouring soy milk into bowls. "Don't you remember asking Old He for leave at the office yesterday?"
"Ah—" Yi Chenliang had really forgotten. He spat the toothpaste foam into the sink and rinsed his mouth. "What time are we going?"
"The hearing starts at nine," Yun Fang checked his watch. "It's seven-thirty now."
Yi Chenliang sat on the sofa eating fried dough sticks. He noticed that Yun Fang stopped after eating only three and frowned, "You should eat more."
"I'm full," Yun Fang's appetite was much smaller than Yi Chenliang's. Although they had similar tastes, Yun Fang could never eat as much.
"Now I know why you can't develop abs," Yi Chenliang pointed at him with a fried dough stick. "Since I came back, I've hardly seen you move at all."
At least he liked playing basketball, and if he had time, he would go to the playground to run a few laps. Yun Fang spent every day either hunched over his desk doing problems or watching him run and play basketball, lazily not moving at all.
Yun Fang calmly picked up his soy milk and took a sip. "According to my original plan, by this time I should have already retired, found a house in a village to grow some vegetables and flowers, and sleep in every day."
"Instead of staying up late doing problems every night," Yun Fang sighed.
Yi Chenliang said, "But even adding these two years, your soul is only thirty-seven years old."
Yun Fang smiled serenely. "It would be best to raise a cat too."
"Is the pressure of senior year too much?" Yi Chenliang was almost driven crazy by comprehensive science. "I just want to blink and have this year be over."
Yun Fang remained noncommittal, only saying wistfully, "If I had known, I would have come back three years later."
Yi Chenliang: "..."
It seemed the pressure was indeed too much.
After finishing breakfast, Yun Fang rode his electric scooter with Yi Chenliang to the court. Huang Chu, waiting at the entrance, laughed when he saw them. "Oh, how did these two pandas escape from the zoo?"
The lawsuit went smoothly. Although Su Shengwen's lawyer was somewhat difficult to deal with, with Huang Huishan taking charge, the other side couldn't gain any advantage. In the end, Yi Chenliang won the case, terminating the adoption relationship with Su Shengwen and Chu Xia.
As they walked out of the court, Yi Chenliang let out a long sigh of relief. Even the rain couldn't dampen his joyful and relaxed mood.
Then they encountered Su Shengwen at the main entrance.
He was wearing a black coat, with Zhou Ang standing beside him holding an umbrella, looking at Yi Chenliang and Yun Fang as they came out.
This was Yun Fang's first time seeing the younger Su Shengwen.
Their gazes met through the rain curtain, then quickly parted.
"Liang Liang," Su Shengwen looked at Yi Chenliang, his expression complex. "I didn't expect you to make such a mess of this. If you were rational enough, you should have asked for others' opinions beforehand."
"You didn't ask for my opinion when you forcibly took me away back then," Yi Chenliang said coldly.
Su Shengwen sighed, "You're still too young."
"No matter what Yi Chenliang does, it's none of your business," Yun Fang grabbed Yi Chenliang's hand, looking at Su Shengwen with a half-smile. "He doesn't owe you anything. I hope you won't disturb his life again in the future, Mr. Su."
Su Shengwen looked at him, frowning, "You two—"
"It's none of your business," Yi Chenliang interrupted him, pulling Yun Fang away.
"Liang Liang, your mother has already divorced me," Su Shengwen called after them. "She was just sick before... If you have time, you can go see her."
Yi Chenliang didn't stop, disappearing from his sight with Yun Fang.
"Sir, please don't be too sad," Zhou Ang comforted him.
Su Shengwen's face was expressionless. He stood in the rain for a while before saying, "Let's go."
Middle-aged, with wife gone and child estranged.
But he knew what he wanted. Even so, he would continue on his path.
Just as he had never regretted the decision he made years ago.
In the desolate autumn rain, the black sedan slowly drove away from the court entrance.
****
Yi Chenliang's records and student status were all transferred back to Wu City. He was no longer a temporary student but rightfully returned to No. 1 High School.
Old He specifically talked to him once about this, mainly to inquire about his study progress and indirectly ask about his living conditions. He was relieved to learn that Yi Chenliang was living with Yun Fang.
"...It's already senior year, and you've missed a year of classes. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Too much pressure can be counterproductive. However, many students make great progress in their senior year, so we can still give it a shot, especially since your foundation isn't bad..."
Old He rambled on, holding his thermos. "Ask Yun Fang for help often. He's now consistently in the top 100. You two have similar learning styles, the type that shows results after accumulating knowledge. Just stay calm and take it slow."
Yi Chenliang nodded obediently.
Coming out of the office, Yi Chenliang saw Yun Fang waiting for him.
"Why did you come down?" Yi Chenliang asked him.
"Went to the bathroom, just passing by," Yun Fang said confidently, hands in his pockets.
Yi Chenliang raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I see."
The next class was P.E., coinciding with the long break. For once, Yun Fang wasn't cooped up in the classroom and was willing to come out for a walk. They strolled around the school.
It had just rained that morning, leaving the asphalt road wet. Yellow willow leaves covered the ground by the lake. A few students were watching the water by the lake, and one was picking up fallen leaves.
On the other side of the lake was a small dirt path. A large patch of reeds grew along the shore, and the lake surface was covered with withered lotus leaves. If lucky, one might occasionally see little ducks swimming out from the reeds.
Yi Chenliang sat down on a rock and asked Yun Fang, tilting his head, "Big Yi, is there anything you like to do?"
Although Yun Fang spent most of his time in the classroom doing problems or reading, Yi Chenliang knew that wasn't what he enjoyed doing, but what he needed to do.
Yun Fang was stumped by his question. He leaned against the rock, gazing at the lake, "I've never really thought about it."
Most of the time, he was too busy to consider what he liked to do. Or perhaps he knew, but never dared to think about it, to the point where he had forgotten the future he once hoped for.
But now, he thought, maybe he could carefully consider this question.
The autumn wind was cool. As they looked at the not-so-beautiful scenery by the lake, their hearts felt unusually quiet and peaceful.
He never thought there would be a day when he could seriously consider what he actually liked to do, to freely plan a future of his own.
"When I was on a mission before, I passed by a bookstore."
It must have been a long time ago. The streets in his memory were a bit blurry. It might have been in a town abroad, or in a small city in the country. The entrance was paved with bluestone slabs, with a flower shop next door. A plain signboard hung at the bookstore's entrance.
He pushed the door open, and the wind chimes at the door rang.
The bookstore had many floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves, packed full of books. Ladders for reaching books were casually placed in the middle of the aisles. The cashier's position was far inside, a simple desk with an open laptop on it. A vase with some unknown flowers was casually placed on the desk, next to a half-cup of steaming coffee.
He couldn't remember why he entered that bookstore then, only that he was very tired, exhausted in body and mind.
At that time, he thought, if only I were the owner of this bookstore.
He could even imagine himself sitting in that soft chair, picking up that half-cup of coffee to continue drinking, then tiredly laying his head on the desk for a nap.
He was really too tired.
He couldn't remember clearly what happened after that, but he remembered that feeling of envy and the idea that seemed so out of reach at the time—
"Let's open a bookstore in the future."