Mistaken Canary Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Suddenly, Ying Tongchen realized…he was in a relationship?
This happened way too suddenly; nobody had given him a heads-up.
Is it fashionable now to start a relationship and then just announce it afterward?
I haven’t even gotten started, and yet someone’s already sprinted all the way to the finish line of love, even calling their family to wait for them there?
“What exactly is going on between us?” Ying Tongchen asked for the ninety-sixth time.
“You already know,” Zhuo Shu replied without looking up.
“Then can you go back and do your homework at your own desk?” Ying Tongchen sighed in frustration. Zhuo Shu was taking up most of his desk space. “Your two desks are spacious enough, why not put it to use?”
“That’s because I’m worried you’ll be lonely doing homework by yourself, don’t think I didn’t see you secretly wiping away tears,” Zhuo Shu suddenly had a bright idea. “How about I be your deskmate?”
Ying Tongchen pointed at Zhen Mingxin, who was anxiously scratching his head, trying to write a love letter. “And leave him sitting all alone in front of us? What kind of weird seating arrangement is that?”
Zhuo Shu glanced at Zhen Mingxin and remarked, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”
After returning from morning exercises, Zhen Mingxin found his desk all alone at the very back; his original spot next to Zhuo Shu had been robbed.
“!!”
Zhen Mingxin shot a resentful glare at the damn couple sitting in the row in front of him, furious enough to expose their misdeeds in his love letter, earning the sympathy and pity of Meng Gong.
…
The classmates noticed that Zhuo Shu and Ying Tongchen had been unusually close lately—obviously something was off. Many suspected Ying Tongchen had secretly bribed the class monitor, which explained why his name was missing from this week’s naughty list.
Ying Tongchen had to warn Zhuo Shu, “Stop being so obvious when showing favor.”
“Naturally.” Zhuo Shu sneakily showed him the discipline record book, filled with entries like “Ying Tongchen hit his deskmate”, “Ying Tongchen pulled his deskmate’s ear”, and “Ying Tongchen’s tardy to class, leaves early, refuses medication”.
It had only gotten worse.
Ying Tongchen: “...” You really outdid yourself.
The following week during the flag-raising ceremony, the entire school was buzzing. The model student wasn’t just keeping others in line, he didn’t spare himself either!
The broadcast came over the speakers with dramatic flair:
“Next up, Zhuo Shu. Disciplinary violations include talking with his deskmate during class, passing notes, sneaking off campus to get takeout, and dating?! Wait, dating?!”
The sports field immediately erupted.
“Zhuo Shu is actually in a relationship?!”
“Maybe he’s dating his math homework?”
“But no one’s seen him getting close to any girl recently.”
“That’s Zhuo Shu for you—quietly making big moves!”
“Help! The school bully just fainted!”
Whispers and gossip spread everywhere, but no one really knew what was going on.
Only Ying Tongchen, standing silently at the back of the crowd, was left speechless. He even wished he could disappear.
Then the broadcast called out Ying Tongchen’s name—
“Ying Tongchen: talking during class, sleeping in morning self-study, and dating.”
The crowd gasped again. Although this transfer student had only been at the school for a little over a month, the combination of his striking looks and outstanding grades had already made him famous.
He had countless admirers, but sadly, every confession had been crushed by the model student Zhuo Shu’s discipline record notebook.
“Who the hell stole my man? I swear we’ll be enemies forever!”
“Boohoohoo, my new male god was snatched away once again!”
“Goodbye Mama, tonight I set sail for faraway lands!”
(TLN: Lyrics from ‘Moonship (月亮船)’, the ending theme song to the children TV show ‘Happy Planet (快乐星球)’, the first Chinese science fiction TV series for children, produced by the Henan Chaofan Film Production Co and began airing on CCTV channels in 2004. Here’s the timestamped link, unfortunately there are no subs. https://youtu.be/G5Pzcv-fXNE?si=kgGVhMZYQ8zhKbTt&t=68)
Amid the chaotic chatter, Ying Tongchen stepped up to the podium and came face to face with the members of the ‘Eliminate the Villains’ club.
After shaking hands with each member, he reached Zhuo Shu standing in the center, shooting him a sharp glare.
Then, under everyone’s eyes, Zhuo Shu took his hand and pulled him to stand beside him. Yet, no one found this unusual.
…
That morning, the director of their grade hauled several students with serious discipline issues to the Student Affairs Office. Both Zhuo Shu and Ying Tongchen were caught in the net.
After stern lectures for each, the director sent the others back to class, leaving only the two of them behind. With a look of deep disappointment, he pointed at Zhuo Shu and lamented, “I really misjudged you. You’ve always been the one we trusted the most. How did you end up falling like this? One misstep can haunt you forever.”
Sighing, Zhuo Shu hung his head and muttered, “It’s the enemy’s cunning fault.”
The director pressed again, “Who is your partner?”
Zhuo Shu glanced subtly at Ying Tongchen, an action the director immediately pounced on.
The director pounded the table and said gravely, “I’m talking to you! Why are you looking at someone else? Trying to drag someone down with you?”
Zhuo Shu: "."
Seeing no response, the director then turned his attention to Ying Tongchen, adopting the tone of a concerned father, “You may be new here, but your dedication to studying has deeply impressed every teacher.”
Zhuo Shu: “?” Wasn't he usually asleep during class?
“Your homeroom teacher often praises you for being diligent and hardworking, so how come someone so young like you is already in a relationship?” The director sighed with regret.
“I’d like to know that too,” Ying Tongchen agreed.
The director immediately caught the implied meaning and brightened up. “You mean you’re being falsely accused? You’re not really not in a relationship?”
Ying Tongchen glanced at Zhuo Shu’s profile. Zhuo Shu stood there upright like a pine tree, completely unafraid of the interrogation, and even turned to smile blissfully at him—a total shameless move.
“I’m not falsely accused. Maybe I really am in a relationship?" Ying Tongchen hesitated.
“Maybe?” The director was baffled. “Whether or not you’re dating, don’t you know yourself?”
“Teacher, please don’t pressure him anymore,” Zhuo Shu stepped in front of the director, blocking his view. “If you keep asking, he’ll get shy.”
Ying Tongchen: "..."
“What trouble are you causing now?” The director reached out to push Zhuo Shu aside, but Zhuo Shu was young and strong, he couldn’t budge him at all. Then Zhuo Shu used a perfect announcer’s voice to say, “Director, if you want to ask, ask me. Don’t bully my boyfriend.”
The director was so shocked his glasses tilted crookedly. “What did you say?!”
Zhuo Shu politely adjusted the director’s crooked glasses. “Here, Director, let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend. Tongchen, quickly greet him.”
Ying Tongchen awkwardly acknowledged, “Director?”
Director: “Hello.” Wait… Why am I greeting him back? This isn’t an introduction to family setting!
“Zhuo Shu, you better not be lying to me, or I’ll have to call your parents!” The director threatened.
To his surprise, Zhuo Shu rubbed his hands together in an eager manner. “Hurry and call my parents, director! Do it now! Or did you forget their number? I can recite them to you.”
Director: “?”
Zhuo Shu: “My parents keep saying they want to meet their future in-laws, so this is the perfect chance.”
Director was completely exasperated.
He gave up trying to control the situation; this needed the principal’s intervention.
…
After much contemplation, the principal began, “Ying Tongchen, come here. Is everything he said true?”
Ying Tongchen stepped forward, caught in a dilemma between two difficult choices: one, being caught in a same-sex scandal and transferring schools again; the other…
He glanced back at the fool whose eyes were still smiling, and silently rolled his eyes.
“It’s true,” Ying Tongchen said, closing his eyes and bracing for the worst.
The principal put on a stern face and solemnly patted his shoulder: “His parents already informed me about this, but you still need to work hard in your studies. Don’t fall behind, and don’t make the elders on both sides worry, got it?”
Ying Tongchen opened his eyes in surprise, looking at him in disbelief.
“Got it. Well then, let’s get back to class.” Zhuo Shu smiled brightly, slinging an arm around Ying Tongchen’s shoulder as they walked out the room.
After stepping out of the office, Ying Tongchen was still in a daze: “That’s it? It’s over?”
“Yeah, what else did you expect?” Zhuo Shu grinned, glancing at his fair neck, feeling a tickle inside. He quickly let go, stepping a meter away. “But keep some distance in front of the classmates, or else they’ll be jealous of us.”
Ying Tongchen: “...”
…
On the day of the parent-teacher meetings, Zhuo Fu and Mu Qing entered the campus and immediately searched for a glimpse of Ying Tongchen. As soon as they got to the classroom, they saw Zhuo Shu leaning over his desk, his back to the window, staring at the person next to him.
The boy looked clearly bothered, holding a book up to block his view, trying to continue his homework, his ears flushed red.
Mu Qing was about to speak when a laugh came from nearby. “Youth is truly wonderful.”
The Zhuo duo turned to look, noticing two men standing nearby; they were young-looking, but their mature manner led a guess toward middle-age.
It wasn’t until the parents entered the classroom and took their seats that the four learned who the others were possibly the in-laws!
Mu Qing smiled and said, “Hello, we are Zhuo Shu’s parents. Are you Ying Tongchen’s family?”
Tei Cher nodded: “Something like that?”
The homeroom teacher tirelessly introduced the school, while Mu Qing leaned in to whisper, “So, you probably already know, right? About those two boys’ situation.”
Tei Cher raised an eyebrow. “Not really all that clear.”
Mu Qing snickered. “Oh, your kid must be too embarrassed to tell you. Let me tell you about this.”
The parents held their meeting inside, while the students waited outside.
Ying Tongchen saw the two pairs of parents whispering something, heads quickly huddled together, completely ignoring the homeroom teacher. Their little antics were nonstop; they giggled, shook hands, and even pulled out a deck of cards.
“Come with me for a moment,” Zhuo Shu suddenly whispered in his ear, then headed toward the playground.
After a moment, Ying Tongchen followed. “What is it?”
Zhuo Shu glanced around, then pulled him into a nearby small grove, hiding under the shade of a large tree, lowering his voice as he said, “The teachers are busy with the parent meeting, the student council won’t come here, so it’s just the two of us now.”
“So?”
“So…” Zhuo Shu scratched his head, unsure what exactly he wanted to do, “Every time I patrol here, I catch couples in this grove. Isn’t this the spot for dating?”
Ying Tongchen asked, “Who told you that?”
Zhuo Shu: “The disciplinary record?”
“...”
Ying Tongchen leaned against the tree, arms crossed, amused as he looked at him. “Are we really dating? What do you like about me?”
“I like everything about you. The more I look at you, the more I like you. You’ve sprouted a seed right into my heart.” Zhuo Shu answered when a sudden insight struck him. “Do you feel insecure?”
Indeed, though they had confirmed their relationship, nothing substantial had happened yet. Before, Zhuo Shu could hold his hand without hesitation, but now he only dared to shyly grasp Ying Tongchen’s wrist.
“Don’t worry.” Zhuo Shu stepped forward, looked down at him, trembling slightly as he took his hand with feigned nonchalance. “What do we do next?”
Ying Tongchen: “...”
In the midst of silence, their gaze collided.
Flustered, Ying Tongchen looked away. After a moment, he raised his head again, stood on tiptoe, and pressed his lips softly against Zhuo Shu’s.
Zhuo Shu’s pupils trembled, his heart swelling as if something was about to overflow.
When with his eyes closed, Ying Tongchen’s image in his mind was exceptionally clear.
“Mm.” Ying Tongchen suddenly pushed him away, touching his lips. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”
“Not really, I don’t have any experience.” Zhuo Shu, still eager, shamelessly leaned in. “We just need to try more.”
“I don’t want to try anymore.”
“Come on, just once more. This time I promise I’ll do better!”
A few minutes later, Zhuo Shu made a kneeling gesture with his finger on his palm. “Please, one more time. I swear I won’t mess up again!”
“.”
After several rounds, Ying Tongchen touched the scraped corner of his mouth and mused, ‘Early romance really does more harm than good.’
But Zhuo Shu seemed to have unraveled the secret of love, holding his hand and spinning around excitedly. “So this is what dating is like!”
“Who’s over there dating?!” the principal shouted.
Startled, the two boys quickly ran back to the teaching building.
“Wait, I’m going to buy something.” Ying Tongchen walked into the general store on the first floor, bought and put on a mask, and shot Zhuo Shu a sharp glare.
The two slowly made their way upstairs and to their classroom. Taking advantage of the empty hallway, Zhuo Shu quickly kissed Ying Tongchen’s mask-covered lips in a blind spot of the security cameras, and did a little happy dance.
…
After the parent-teacher meeting ended, everyone took their children home.
Mu Qing, Zhuo Fu, and Tei Cher agreed to play mahjong together when they had time. They reluctantly said goodbye to Ying Tongchen before heading off separately.
On the way back, Tei Cher kept glancing at Ying Tongchen’s mask and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Ying Tongchen: “Hey!”
Tei Cher pressed his fist against the corner of his mouth to suppress his laughter and said, “I heard from Zhuo Shu’s mom that you adore him terribly, is that true?”
Ying Tongchen: “......”
“Not true! Who started that rumor!”
.
.
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TL Note: Can you believe we’re just one chapter from the very end?! ahhhh i don’t want this story to enddddddddddd T^T