Striving for Science C114 extra

It was Saturday afternoon, and a light snow was falling. Chen Panpan pulled out her newly bought down jacket from the closet, put it on, and carefully applied lipstick in front of the mirror.

Chen Panpan's mother saw her about to go out: "It's so cold, are you still going on a date with your boyfriend?"

"It's so cold, if he dares to ask me out, I'll dare to push him into the snow." To gain her boyfriend's favor in front of her mother, Chen Panpan knew how to talk.

Hearing her daughter's fierce words, able to control her boyfriend, Chen's mother, although she muttered that she shouldn't be so unreasonable, her expression softened: "Then why are you still going out?"

"Today is Shen Chang'an's treat for his lover, it's been planned for a long time, don't even mention the snow, even if it's raining knives, I'm going." Chen Panpan adjusted her hair and put on her gloves.

"What, little Shen has a girlfriend?" Chen's mother's face showed regret, "I was thinking of introducing your cousin to him."

"Mom." Chen Panpan was both annoyed and amused, "He didn't even look at Zeng Yi."

"Love is hard to say, it's not about who is more powerful, who is more worthy. According to you, ordinary people can't be liked by outstanding people?" Chen's mother reached out and tapped Chen Panpan's forehead, "You're young, but your thinking is quite outdated."

Chen Panpan laughed: "Mom, he already has someone he likes, it's not appropriate to talk about this now."

"That's true." Chen's mother stuffed the scarf into Chen Panpan's hand, "It's cold outside today, be careful when you go out, and don't drink too much."

"Don't worry, we're just having dinner, what kind of drinking." Chen Panpan waved to her mother and ran out quickly.

When she got downstairs, her boyfriend was already waiting in the car. She opened the door and got in, stamping her feet: "It's so cold today."

Her boyfriend adjusted the car's temperature: "Shall we go now?"

Chen Panpan nodded. She was actually quite excited to see the person Shen Chang'an liked. A lot of things had happened recently, especially the nationwide power outage a few days ago. The various departments kept issuing disaster warnings, which didn't seem like an after-the-fact explanation, as the experts said, a temporary magnetic field disturbance caused by planetary movement.

But Director Du and Aunt Juan kept mum about it, and the higher-ups seemed to have lost their memories, collectively not mentioning it anymore. It's just that in the past two days, a lot of funny jokes or touching love stories related to that day suddenly appeared online, making netizens quickly forget the fear they felt at the time.

In the entire department, except for Ding Yang, that fool, everyone probably noticed something was wrong.

But her subconscious told her that she couldn't continue to pursue this matter.

A thin layer of ice had formed on the ground, the car tires made a crunching sound as they drove over it. Chen Panpan looked at the hotel in front of her, unable to help but wonder what the person Shen Chang'an liked looked like.

When they arrived at the private room Shen Chang'an had told them about beforehand, Chen Panpan found that Director Du and Aunt Juan were actually there. She took off her coat and sat down, feeling a little surprised. Usually, Director Du and Aunt Juan wouldn't attend gatherings of young people in the department. Today, not only did they come, but they arrived earlier than anyone else.

"Chang'an will be here in a while. He accidentally got injured during the magnetic field disturbance a few days ago, and he's been recuperating at home. He got up late this morning." 

Du Zhonghai took the initiative to explain, "He told me to just order whatever you want when you arrive, don't be polite."

Chen Panpan picked up the menu on the table, each dish was so expensive that she doubted she was eating food, but gold.

"Director Du, did Chang'an win the lottery recently?" Chen Panpan was a little afraid to order, she was afraid she would eat Shen Chang'an poor.

"It's okay, order whatever you want." Director Du looked up at the door, his expression a little haggard, "Now he's not only not lacking in love, but also not lacking in money, you can't eat him poor."

Chen Panpan held the menu thoughtfully, and after a long time, she asked in a low voice: "Director Du, is Chang'an's lover very rich?"

Director Du shook his head, then quickly nodded.

"Rich, very rich."

Chen Panpan instantly understood. Some people could not only make money through their skills, but also through their looks.

"So good?" Ding Yang, who was sitting next to her and also didn't dare to order, looked at her with envy. "Why can't I encounter this kind of worry about others saying I'm eating soft rice?"

"Don't worry, you'll never have this opportunity in your life." Chen Panpan smiled. "Heaven is very merciful to you."

Ding Yang: "..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sorry, I'm late." Xu Ze strode in, and Ding Yang noticed a girl with a pale complexion but a beautiful face following behind him.

"This is my fiancée, Yiyi." Xu Ze took the coat Yiyi had taken off and hung it on the coat rack. "This time I specially brought her here to meet everyone."

Du Zhonghai and Gao Shujuan both looked up at Yiyi, their faces showing some surprise.

Chen Panpan felt that the director and Aunt Juan weren't surprised because Xu Ze had a fiancée, but because they were surprised why Yiyi was here. Did they know Yiyi?

She secretly turned her head to look at Yiyi. This girl who had seemed a little cold just now was inexplicably restrained in front of the director and Aunt Juan. This attitude... was it reverence?

Director Du liked to hold a teacup and read newspapers every day, and Aunt Juan liked to fiddle with her hair when she had nothing to do. Both of them had good tempers. What was there to be afraid of?

Footsteps sounded again at the door. Xu Ze and Chen Panpan both turned their heads towards the door, and saw Shen Chang'an standing at the entrance.

In just two or three days, Chen Panpan inexplicably felt that Shen Chang'an's face seemed to have undergone post-production retouching, becoming even better looking than before. Could dating help improve one's appearance?

"Sorry, I'm late." Shen Chang'an stood at the door, smiling and waving to everyone. "Have you ordered the food yet?"

"Ordering food isn't urgent. Where's your lover?" Ding Yang stood up and looked behind Shen Chang'an. "You didn't come alone, did you?"

"Of course not." Shen Chang'an stepped aside. "Now, let me introduce my boyfriend, Dao Nian, to everyone."

"What?" Ding Yang thought he had a hearing problem, but when he saw the person standing next to Shen Chang'an, he fell silent.

There was a brief silence in the room. The first to react were the older Du Zhonghai and Gao Shujuan. They greeted Shen Chang'an and his boyfriend with smiles, their attitude friendly to the point of being almost obsequious.

Ding Yang felt that, as a young person, he couldn't be outdone by the older generation. He wasn't a stubborn and feudal person. It was just that Shen Chang'an had a boyfriend. It wasn't a big deal. He had to stay calm!

But, he really couldn't stay calm!

Shen Chang'an's love interest was actually a man?!

A man!

The dishes were served one after another, and the delicious food gradually brought Ding Yang back to his senses. He looked at Shen Chang'an, who was acting intimately with his boyfriend, and finally had a clear impression in his mind.

Oh, Shen Chang'an's partner was a man.

This man knew what Shen Chang'an liked to eat.

This man even naturally helped Shen Chang'an with his food, and even when he was drinking soup, he tested the temperature for him.

It seems... pretty good.

The atmosphere at the table gradually returned to normal. After dinner, Shen Chang'an leaned back in his chair, not moving, and turned to look at Dao Nian.

Dao Nian looked at him silently.

Their gazes intertwined in the air. To outsiders, it seemed like a lingering, passionate gaze, but in reality...

Shen Chang'an: Go pay the bill.

Dao Nian: You go.

Shen Chang'an: My head hurts, my waist hurts, my legs hurt too.

Dao Nian: ...

In the end, it was Dao Nian who stood up. He suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for the time when he was in a wheelchair. Back then, Chang'an always protected him, unwilling to let him do anything troublesome.

Men, once they get love, they start to lose their patience!

Shen Chang'an felt that Dao Nian's gaze was full of reproach as he left. He touched his arm. He hadn't done anything to make Dao Nian unhappy recently, had he? Yesterday, when he saw Dao Nian wake up, he was still very happy.

It's just so bad to go from being human to having a divine body. Your divine consciousness is so sensitive, even a slight breeze can make you think the world is about to end.

After Dao Nian left, Shen Chang'an turned to his colleagues and said, "As you can see, that is my lover."

The table fell silent for a moment, and Xu Ze was the first to speak: "It's good, as long as you love each other, whether it's status or gender, it's not really that important."

"Xu Ze is right." Ding Yang was afraid that Shen Chang'an would feel pressured, so he quickly said, "I think you two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven."

"After you're suspended, did you get transferred to the Imperial Capital with Director Du and the others?" Xu Ze asked, "Let's have a farewell dinner before you leave, I and Yiyi will treat you."

The mention of parting brought a sense of melancholy to everyone. After spending this time together, they were both colleagues and friends, and no one wanted to bring up the subject of "farewell."

Shen Chang'an shook his head: "I won't be taking up a post in the Imperial Capital for now."

"You're not going?!" Director Du was surprised.

"Mm." Shen Chang'an said, "I want to travel the world with Dao Nian, see the clouds, the sea, the aurora borealis…"

"That's pretty expensive." Ding Yang said softly.

"It's okay, he's rich."

Ding Yang: "..."

I'm sorry, I'm just being nosy.

Yes, the dignified Life Dao Lord Shen Chang'an, although he saved the world, discovered in the end that he was still a pauper. Compared to his boyfriend who had accumulated countless fortunes, he was practically a poverty-stricken household.

But "Heaven" is fair. Seeing that he saved the world and was still so poor, it sent itself over.

"How long will you be gone?" Chen Panpan felt a pang of reluctance. She was afraid that once they left, Shen Chang'an would never return to Wuming City.

"I don't know," Shen Chang'an smiled. "Before, there were many things I had to do, but now I have someone by my side who is more important than all of that. The thing I want to do most is to make him happy."

"It's great," Chen Panpan smiled. "When you're tired from traveling and want to come back, remember to visit us."

"We will," Shen Chang'an nodded. "Wuming City is where I met him. No matter how far we go, we'll always come back."

The door to the private room opened, and Dao Nian walked over to sit beside Shen Chang'an. Remembering Dao Nian's earlier gaze, Shen Chang'an turned his head and secretly glanced at him.

Well, everything seems normal. I guess I was overthinking it.

Leaving the hotel, Director Du looked at Shen Chang'an, wanting to say something but stopping himself. A few days ago, he could still see the merit emanating from Shen Chang'an, but today, when they met again, Shen Chang'an had suddenly concealed his aura.

But now, he looked even more mysterious than when he was radiating merit, making it impossible for him to see through.

"When are you leaving?" He patted Shen Chang'an's shoulder.

"Didn't Xu Ze say he wanted to take us out to dinner with his girlfriend?" Shen Chang'an turned his head to look at Xu Ze, who was fixing his girlfriend's scarf. "That Yiyi, is she a cultivator?"

Du Zhonghai couldn't help but laugh. "Those few still don't know, this is their new leader."

"Does Xu Ze know?" Shen Chang'an asked.

Du Zhonghai revealed a kind and gentle smile.

"Go back." Du Zhonghai looked at Shen Chang'an, sighing after a long moment. "In a person's lifetime, making choices for what they love, regardless of the consequences, is a great thing. Come visit me and aunt Juan in the Imperial Capital when you have time. We won't be transferred again after we arrive in the Imperial Capital."

"I will." Shen Chang'an nodded, because in the Imperial Capital, not only were there Director Du and Aunt Juan, but also those lovely old men and women.

In his youth, they were the ones who gave him warmth.

A large, navy blue umbrella was held over Shen Chang'an's head.

Shen Chang'an turned his head and saw Dao Nian's face.

"Let's go home."

"Okay."

He took Dao Nian's hand and waved to his colleagues, "Everyone be careful on the way home. We're going home now."

Home.

A place where someone accompanies you, where someone waits for you, that's home.