Those Sweet Times - Chapter 4 Part 1

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.

Those Sweet Times

Chapter 4 Part 1

The next morning, Lin Chuyan arrived at the auditorium. Members from the student
council were running about preparing for the welcome event for the new students
tonight. They were going through the dress rehearsal at the moment.

The program director smiled with satisfaction when he saw Lin Chuyan, “Lin Chuyan,
you’re quite handsome today!”

“Thanks.” Lin Chuyan looked down to glance at his own outfit. He was wearing a white
shirt with a black suit; the suit jacket was a bit oversized and the dress pants were a bit
short. He dressed like an impoverished intern who just got a job at an insurance company.
He couldn’t figure out how that made him handsome.

He had borrowed the outfit for the event.

Fortunately, it was rare to see anyone wearing a suit in the campus. Students weren’t
too judgemental about such formal clothes, but it felt more like a costume to them…...so
the program director didn’t see anything wrong with Lin Chuyan’s outfit.

The program director said, “There’s a program change, yours will the last one. The
grand finale.”

Lin Chuyan was surprised, “A piano solo as the grand finale?”

“That’s right, please be more confident about yourself.”

Lin Chuyan didn’t really care, he was here simply to earn his community service credit.

Since he was the last one to get on stage, he asked the program director to take a picture
of him to kill some time while waiting.

The program director seemed to be a good photographer. He shot the picture from bottom
up, showing off Lin Chuyan’s long legs. Though, it made the shortness of the trousers more
obvious in the full view photo.

The program director shook his head while checking the picture, “You look like a refugee
with this expression. I’ll take another one for you.”

“No need, this is good.” Lin Chuyan was quite satisfied with it and sent it to his mom.

His mom called right afterwards. Her voice came through the moment the call connected,
“Your dad’s asking if you have been fooled into a pyramid scheme?”

“No, I’m performing tonight. Do you want to come and see it?”

It was silent for a while on the other end of the line, Mrs. Lin sounded apologetic, “We…...
won’t be going over. Today is our wedding anniversary.”

Lin Chuyan certainly knew it was his parents’ wedding anniversary.

He sighed on purpose and sounded a bit disappointed, “Then I wish you happy anniversary.”

It was quiet again on the other side. Lin Chuyan figured that his parents must be discussing
something. As expected, Mrs. Lin spoke again after almost a minute, “Your dad said he
can give you a red envelope today.”

“En.” Lin Chuyan responded and his downcast eyelashes jittered slightly.

Mrs. Lin lowered her voice, “I’m telling you now that red envelope will only have 1000 at
most. Mom has tried her best.”

“Thanks, mom.”

If Lin Chuyan had bargained for more, his mom would probably become suspicious. But
Lin Chuyan was acting so obediently, his mom felt sorry for him and asked after another
moment of silence, “Where did you get that outfit?”

“I borrowed it from my class president.”

“You’re going to wear this for the performance?”

“Yeah.”

“When is the show?”

“It’ll start at 7pm.”

“This outfit doesn’t suit you, better return it to the class president. I’ll send someone to
deliver a suit to you.”

“Alright, mom. Then can you match everything for me, with accessories.”

“Uhm?” Mrs. Lin responded with hint of suspicion in her voice.

Lin Chuyan paused a while as if there was something he didn’t know how to tell his mom.
Then he lowered his voice, “There will be girls watching in the audience.”

“Ha!” Mrs. Lin was surprised. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No.” Though he was denying it, he spoke softly as if he wasn’t really telling the truth.

“Ok, I know. Don’t worry, my son is so handsome that girls will be head over heels for you
even if you just dress casually.”

“I don’t want to dress casually. I want everything to be good, the suit, watch, all of it.”

“Alright, alright, I know. I’ll take care of it for you.” Mrs. Lin sounded very happy. “Send a
picture of the girl to me when you have time.”

Lin Chuyan didn’t give her a definitive answer.

Mrs. Lin was indeed reliable. That afternoon, Lin Chuyan received a custom made tuxedo
he had worn before and a Bvlgari wrist watch.  

Lin Chuyan put the wrist watch around his palm and looked at it. Then, he started to smile.

He was sitting at the corner and looked like a picture with that smile. The program director
felt that he couldn’t find any word to fully describe how wonderful the picture looked. He
walked over and ask, “Lin Chuyan, are you gay?”

“Get lost……”

…...

Translated by Team DHH at http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com.