Your Distance

22- Happy 520!!

When the kiss ended, Ting Shuang immediately let go of his hand.

Holding hands was quite an embarrassing act.

Having sex wasn’t too different from eating. It was necessary, they were adults, and there was nothing embarrassing about having to fulfil physiological needs. But holding hands wasn’t an essential act, and it was as embarrassing as talking about one’s life. Humans, they’re ashamed of exposing their bodies during adolescence, and after maturing they’re ashamed of exposing their hearts.

They had already exposed their bodies to each other several times, but Ting Shuang didn’t quite feel like it was time to move on to the next stage of exposing their hearts.

No wonder Bai Changyi said to take their time.

Advice from the elderly should really be taken. Mm.

After Ting Shuang let go of his hand, Bai Changyi also didn’t reach for Ting Shuang’s hand. With half a step between them, the two of them continued to walk side by side to the gas station.

After walking for a while, Ting Shuang asked, “Where did I stop just now?”

Bai Changyi said, “You stopped at how my teacher ethics were worrying.”

Ting Shuang said, “Cough, how did I get there… Oh, it was because you asked me why I was studying this major… Actually, to help my family. I have a half-brother who shares the same father as me, but neither of us want to take up the chore of continuing the family business. But my brother, he’s too… well, he’s even more hopeless of a student than me. When it was time to pick an undergraduate programme for the first time, I really didn’t know what I liked to do, and I felt like in the end, there are very little people who can actually do what they like to do. So I thought, wouldn’t it be better to do what I should do first… I was just, quite realistic.”

Bai Changyi said, “Then do you know what you like to do now?”

Ting Shuang said in a flippant tone, “Mm… I just, like… attending your lessons.”

I just, like you.

Bai Changyi said, “Didn’t you just say that you’re always scared in class?”

Ting Shuang said, “… That, uh, I like that too.”

If I can see you, I’m fine being scared.

Bai Changyi said, “You can’t always be afraid, you have to find a way around it.”

After thinking for a while, Ting Shuang tentatively said, “Why not… we strike a deal? In the future, when you’re teaching… Don’t pick me to answer questions, then I certainly won’t be afraid anymore… What do you think?”

Bai Changyi said, “Or I’ll pick you to answer questions every lesson until you get used to it.”

Ting Shuang: ? ? ?

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Bai Changyi glanced at Ting Shuang, lips curving up, “What do you think?”

Ting Shuang said, “What I think? I don’t think anything, nothing at all!”

Bai Changyi nodded, “Mm, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Ting Shuang: ?

That’s what we’ll do? ? ?

F I N E.

When they arrived at the 24-hour shop at the gas station, Ting Shuang brought a toothbrush to the check-out counter, and wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes along the way – Marlboro, mint-flavoured.

The cashier asked Ting Shuang for his ID.

Ting Shuang felt for his pants pocket when he remembered that he hadn’t brought his ID with him. He said to Bai Changyi, “Bai Laoban, did you bring your ID?”