My Two Dads

As Yang Mo walked into Shou Cheng university through the main gates, he realized this place had became somewhat unrecognizable to him. It was a lot newer, and much more colourful.

He headed towards the office building for the Science and Technology faculty based on his memory. It was almost mealtime, but there weren’t a big crowd leaving since most students were staying on campus to self-study.

Yang Mo stopped in front of the school building.

He saw the boys running to grab the shared bikes, while the ‘richer’ students rode on their own bikes. They were shouting back and forth, making plans to head towards the basketball court next or their spots would be taken by others.

The girls giggled amongst their groups, chatting about their summer vacation plans and any school gossips.

There were also pairs of men and women, walking side by side as their hands hesitantly and shyly touched each other’s without actually holding them yet.

The juniors were laughing and joking along the way, their faces still childish-looking, a little like theirs back then.

Han Shi Yu bought a second-hand bicycle at that time and changed the back seat of the bike himself. He insisted for Yang Mo to sit on it and give it a try.

Yang Mo had no choice but to do so.

The end result of Han Shi Yu’s girly, youthful experience was stopped by the teacher and they were fined for speeding and illegal carriage of two people.

Yang Mo stood in place for a long time, greedily gazing at the two figures running past him in that memory.

Yang Mo was walking in front as he said, “I’m calling myself a dog if I were to sit on it again.”

Han Shi Yu followed behind him pathetically and said, “I promise the next time…”

The Yang Mo in a daze was stared at by the people who walked past him.

He set his attention to the school building as he saw a man walking out of the building, yelling at a freshman, “Aiya! Why are you first-years always like this? If there’s an error in your coding, then just debugging it yourself first. How would you know how stupid of a mistake you made if you never try it?”

“You’re quite a smart kid, but how can you be so complacent? I taught you before…” The student nodded in response, prepared to be lectured with a ton of stories and life lessons again. But Cheng Shao turned his head and caught sight of Yang Mo who was standing not far away.

His mouth was still slightly open, but he had stopped talking entirely now and was just staring straight at Yang Mo.

The student noticed the silence and asked in confusion, “Mr. Cheng?”

Yang Mo stepped forward and with great difficulty, opened his lips and said, “Long time no see.”

Cheng Shao stared at him, took a deep breath and slapped the book into the student’s arms.

Student: “?”

Cheng Shao blurted out without thinking, “You shitty brat, finally swam ashore?”

Yang Mo followed behind him as Cheng Shao nagged him all the way with his arms crossed.

Yang Mo asked, “Where are we going if not the office?”

Cheng Shao: “The art square. Don’t you young people like going there?” He turned back to look at Yang Mo. “You’re already thirty something. Do you still want to experience being invited to the office for tea with the teachers?”

Yang Mo: “…I don’t.”

Cheng Shao sighed while slowing down his steps. Ever since he found out Starry was Yang Mo, he had inquired a lot about him, including the firewall. He said, “I heard you brought the staffs at Ji Xun to work on your alma mater’s firewall, treating it as daily training.”

Yang Mo: “En…”

Cheng Shao said, “Say, how did I end up so unlucky, with a student like you?”

Yang Mo retorted, “Isn’t this all taught by you?”

Cheng Shao let out a ‘hmph’ with a smile. When they got to the art square, he found a stone bench to sit on.

He said, “Ji Xun is a pretty good company. I just never expected Han Shi Yu to turn out like this. Nor did I expect you to willingly work under him.”

“In the past, I really didn’t think well of that brat. Clinging to you all day long while causing mischief everywhere and sweet talking the teachers. What kind of student is that…” While he said that, Cheng Shao noticed the ring on Yang Mo’s finger that he forgot to take off.

Cheng Shao paused and continued to ask, “I saw on the news…that he got married.”

Yang Mo didn’t know what to say, “Yes…”

“That’s good too.” Cheng Shao laughed, “I thought that kid wouldn’t go serious with anyone.” He turned the conversation to Yang Mo and asked, “Are you also married?”

Yang Mo: “Yes.”

“Do you have children now?” Cheng Shao seemed to find it incredible that he managed to find someone.

Yang Mo: “Yes…”

“Then you’re doing quite well yourself,” Cheng Shao began to gossip like the typical elders, “Did you find your partner abroad? Or where?”

Yang Mo was silent for a while as he rubbed his fingers a little. Then he turned towards Cheng Shao and said, “Actually, I’m with Han Shi Yu.”

“I know you two are together,” Cheng Shao said, “You returned to China and followed him to start a business. You also have a share of Ji Xun. The teachers have told me all that.”

“I’m not talking about work,” Yang Mo said, “It’s about life.”

Cheng Shao: “…Ah?”

Yang Mo broke the silence first and said, “I’ve been with Han Shi Yu for 17 years and we got married.”

Cheng Shao: “.”

The air froze for a moment.

Cheng Shao’s facial expression stiffened for a long time before he finally spit out, “Your child…what’s going on?”

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He carefully looked at Yang Mo from top to bottom, and after finding everything to be normal, said, “Han Shi Yu underwent a sex change surgery?”

Yang Mo: “.”

His teacher really thought differently than normal people.

Yang Mo: “…She’s adopted.”

Cheng Shao: “That almost shocked me to death.”

He let out a deep breath and said, “Is that the reason why you didn’t come back to see me for so many years?”

Yang Mo did not answer.

“It’s my first time finding out how thin-skinned you are.” Cheng Shao said, “How big of a deal is it? When Lin Chu studied here in the past, he also peacefully spent his three years here, didn’t he?”

When that name was mentioned, Cheng Shao’s lips trembled a little. He pursed his lips together, reached out and slapped his knees before standing up and changing the topic. “There’s no need to avoid people. Only by saying it out will people slowly accept you. If you never take that step, you’ll always be stuck in the same spot.”

Yang Mo looked at his own fingers.

He just felt that Cheng Shao didn’t like himself. So he chose to act in the same way he treated Old Yang, shutting himself away.

The art square wasn’t that crowded. Most students had rushed home for summer vacation. Only this one old man and young man still sat on the stone bench.

Cheng Shao got up and said, “Alright, go back if you have nothing else to do. Isn’t it busy in the company? You graduated early, I can’t control you. It’s up to you if you want to come back or not…”

“Thank you,” Yang Mo suddenly said. Aside from the few times he had communicated with Cheng Shao at the start, he had called him ‘Old Cheng’ in the next three years and no longer by the title of –

He added on, “Teacher.”

Cheng Shao stood still for a long, long time. In the end, he couldn’t hold back the corners of his mouth from curving upwards. But he still wanted to pretend to look serious, so he coughed a few times lightly without turning around.

Yang Mo couldn’t see how complex his expression was, only hearing him say, “Just making it clear, I’m not forcing this on you, okay.”