Chapter 242 – Extra – The Land of Embarrassing Pasts

(1)

“Your parents are coming to my hometown?!”

In the beautiful afternoon sunlight, the Ghost Server Legion Leader’s soul was frozen stiff by this sudden “happy news,” then shattered into the most gorgeous clouds on the horizon amidst a wave of dizziness.

Meng Chudong sighed softly, taking the mouse from his leader’s hand and maneuvering the alt character that had been beaten to death by monsters back to the respawn point. Once the client’s account was safely settled, he helplessly looked at Fang Zheng: “According to them, they just happen to be traveling to your hometown city, so—by the way—they’ll pay a visit.”

Fang Zheng was stunned for a long moment before nodding with absolute despair: “Yeah, that’s not a stretch at all. Not at all.”

Meng Chudong smiled bitterly but had no choice.

“Is there really no room for negotiation?” Fang Zheng refused to give up, still struggling in his death throes.

Meng Chudong rubbed his temples in frustration: “From what I know of them, we should be thanking our lucky stars they even called to inform us.”

Fang Zheng slumped into his chair in despair—he just knew life had been going too smoothly lately, this happiness was unscientific!

“But we still have two options,” Meng Chudong suddenly said.

Fang Zheng froze, then quickly sat up straight, ears perked in obedient attention.

“One, we do nothing, let them arrange the meeting however they want, let them meet and hang out however they please, as long as they’re happy.”

“…If your second option is even more insane than this one, then don’t even bother TAT”

“Two, we take the initiative, act as intermediaries, help both sides coordinate the meeting time, location, and we can even be present during the meeting.”

“So either way, they’re still gonna meet in the end?!”

“But with the second option, we can control the situation.”

“Like how?”

“For example, forcefully intervening if the conversation starts heading in a bad direction, or steering the mood based on how things unfold, minimizing the risks of this meeting.”

What were the risks? Their embarrassing pasts stored in their parents’ memories!

Although they had both visited each other’s homes before, who would showcase every aspect of themselves in front of their partner’s parents? Of course, they’d only show their best sides! But in the mouths of parents who think “no matter what, my son is amazing,” black, white, and rainbow-colored stories would all be shared indiscriminately. If they hit it off, they might even dig up old stories from their sons’ childhoods all the way back to when they were born. Just imagining that scene was enough to make one’s “soul tremble.”

“Let’s go with the second option, we’ll take charge!”

“Mm.”

“Birdy!”

“Got it, you love me the most.”

“…”

Though he’d experienced this hundreds of times, the Ghost Server Legion Leader still wanted to scream at the heavens on the one-thousand-and-first occurrence—couldn’t he just let him finish a single romantic line?! Mind-reading in advance completely ruined the romance!!!

—Wait.

Fang Zheng suddenly thought of a problem, and the clear sky on his face slowly clouded over with doubt again: “Why would your parents suddenly want to meet mine out of the blue? There’s no reason for it?”

Birdy met his leader’s gaze calmly: “Who knows, maybe a sudden whim.”

Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to his boyfriend’s face: “No, there’s no smoke without fire… Mmm…”

Why kiss when we’re in the middle of talking?!

Wait, his kissing skills seem to have improved again…

Youthful recklessness, hot-blooded passion, one disagreement leads straight to bed.

As for why the Meng parents suddenly took an interest in his own parents, the Ghost Server Legion Leader, lost in waves of desire, had long forgotten to think about it, leaving only passion behind.

[Five days ago, the Meng mother-son heart-to-heart]

Madam He: “Are you coming back for Dragon Boat Festival?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “Probably not, the studio’s too busy.”

Madam He: “That studio of yours with fewer employees than fingers on one hand hasn’t gone bankrupt yet?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “…”

Madam He: “Why do you always respond to my questions with silence?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “What do you want me to do? Flip the table and argue with you?”

Madam He: “I don’t advocate using violence or arguments to solve problems.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “So, I can only stay silent.”

Madam He: “No, you can retort sharply.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “…”

Madam He: “As expected, love is blind—you can’t see people or things objectively anymore.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “What do you mean?”

Madam He: “I told Xiao Zheng to be patient with you, this silent gourd, but guess what he said? He actually said you’re incredibly eloquent, always hitting the nail on the head, and that no one who tries to out-talk you lives to see the next sunrise. My son, how exactly did you trick that child?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “…Mom.”

Madam He: “Finally speaking, yes, mom’s here.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “How do you have his number… No, who said you could contact him directly… No, how long have you been in direct contact… No, exactly how long has this been going on?!”

Madam He: “Is that one question or four?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “…Forget it, pretend I didn’t ask.”

The boat had already been carved from the wood; there was no point asking how the tree was cut down. The only thing he could hope for was that the waves created by this boat in the future would be small.

Madam He: “Your sister remarried.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “I know.”

Madam He: “Now our family only has you left.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “Mom, how many times have I told you, I…”

Madam He: “Will never get married in this lifetime, and if you do marry, it’ll be to Fang Zheng. If he wants to be the husband, you’ll be the wife; if he wants to be the wife, you’ll be the husband—with the ultimate goal of pissing your dad off to death.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “That last part is completely fabricated, don’t try to pin it on me =_=”

Madam He: “What about the rest? Still feel the same?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “Of course, I’ve decided on him.”

Madam He: “Then marry him.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “You people are really… Huh?”

Madam He: “After observing him for over a year, I also think Xiao Zheng is a good kid.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “Can you give me a heads-up next time before making such sharp turns.”

Madam He: “But marriage is never just about two people, it’s about two families. Since you’ve decided to be together, the adults should sit down and talk. It’s just that your dad and I rarely have time off. Right now, Dragon Boat Festival is the only opportunity, but we already planned a trip to go hiking… Oh, isn’t there a mountain in Xiao Zheng’s hometown? I heard it’s a 4A-level scenic spot. Perfect, we can combine tourism with meeting the in-laws.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “You could’ve made that transition even more awkward… Wait, hold on!”

Madam He: “Hmm?”

Deputy Commander Meng: “If I remember correctly, the opening line of this phone call was you asking if I was coming home for Dragon Boat Festival, right?”

Madam He: “Yes, so when I heard you were too busy with work to come back, I was relieved. Wouldn’t want my son to make a wasted trip.”

Deputy Commander Meng: “…”

Darling, I’m sorry, I tried.

Also, this in-laws meeting was definitely a sudden whim on my parents’ part and has absolutely nothing to do with me repeatedly stimulating their nerves with declarations of love for you. Absolutely nothing.

(2)

The news that Birdy’s parents were “just happening to visit for tourism” was taken very seriously by Old Man Fang. Though constrained by pride, the old man didn’t directly answer the phone, stubbornly clinging to his pure dream of “I refuse to say one more word to you two little brats.” However, judging by Mother Fang’s account of him immediately rushing to the wardrobe to find suitable meeting attire, it was clear he had already classified his future in-laws as “ultra-high-priority guests.”

As for how it was such a coincidence that out of hundreds of cities and countless scenic spots across China, Fang’s hometown was chosen? Old Man Fang didn’t question it at all, instead feeling immense pride in his hometown’s beautiful mountains and waters.

With things having reached this point, Fang Zheng could only “enthusiastically” help his parents plan, fully participating in arranging the meeting time and location—though the Meng parents had mentioned paying a home visit, the post-visit family banquet still required a good restaurant to properly fulfill their duties as hosts.

Thus, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived in all its glory.

Fang Zheng and Meng Chudong returned a day early. This was the latter’s third time visiting the Fang household—the first two were during New Year’s, the first time accompanying Fang Zheng home to come clean, the second time visiting as the “acknowledged future son-in-law” to pay New Year’s respects.

To be honest, the second meeting had been quite warm. But since the lineup of relatives was identical to the first coming-out disaster, it inevitably dredged up memories of that initial catastrophe. Like being chased by Father Fang wielding a deadly weapon, and those dazzlingly white buttocks under the bright living room lights.

The Ghost Server Deputy Commander wasn’t someone prone to psychological trauma, and the Ghost Server Leader had skin thicker than a city wall. Yet faced with these memories, the young couple unanimously chose avoidance ╮(╯_╰)╭

Liu Shuxian wasn’t thrilled that her son was staying at a hotel instead of home, but Fang Liangang was greatly relieved. Though he’d accepted his son being gay in his heart, theoretical acceptance was fundamentally different from seeing his son share a room with another man. If he heard any outrageous noises in the night, Fang Liangang feared he might impulsively create a tragic morality case =_=

The “meet the in-laws” day dawned clear and bright.

Perhaps blessed by the heavens, the meeting went extraordinarily smoothly. Fang Liangang set aside his cleaver, amiably resembling a neighborhood committee uncle, while Meng Wenzhi shelved his sarcasm, approachable as a children’s TV storyteller. As for the two mothers, they smiled throughout, speaking softly and gently, giving their husbands full face while adding a tender breeze to the warm gathering.

None of the embarrassing pasts Fang Zheng and Meng Chudong feared were exposed. Instead, the parents derived immense satisfaction from complimenting each other’s sons while indirectly praising their own, even making a gentleman’s agreement to visit each other more often in the future.

It wasn’t until near the end that Fang Zheng and Meng Chudong realized why this seemingly unnecessary meeting had generated such enthusiasm from their parents—it ultimately came down to that universal parental instinct.

Whether their son liked men or women, whether they’d landed a domineering CEO or a gentle beauty, parents always feared their child might get the short end of the stick. Even if their kid could lift mountains with their strength, they still needed to see for themselves, to thoroughly understand, to personally vet this final hurdle.

Their son liking men—they’d accepted that. The partner he’d chosen had proven decent after a year of observation. But what about the partner’s family situation? Were the other parents truly accepting from the heart like them, or just paying lip service while secretly disowning their own son? Layers of worry eventually wove into a net, leaving the parents restless until they could see for themselves.

Fortunately, all was well.

The meal lasted from noon until evening. After seeing the slightly tipsy Meng parents back to their hotel—the sunset had already painted vast swathes of fiery clouds across the sky.

Coming out of the hotel, Fang Zheng stretched luxuriously in the warm, dry twilight, feeling more exhausted than if he’d done morning exercises.

“Just hold out until the morning after tomorrow, and we’re home free,” Meng Chudong said, no better off himself—his words offering comfort to his partner while encouraging himself.

“Wait, you actually booked tickets for the morning after tomorrow?” Fang Zheng froze, even forgetting to lower his stretching arms.

“Of course,” Meng Chudong unhurriedly helped him retract his outstretched arms with a sigh, “If we said we’d go hiking, then we’re going hiking. Not a single stone left untrodden.”

“Your parents are really…”

“Hmm?”

“Our, our parents are truly people of their word!”

Meng Chudong quickly pinched his cheek, then pretended nothing happened as he walked ahead.

Fang Zheng stared darkly at that profile with its upturned lips, sensing the sweetness in that smile was built upon his own blood and tears! Damn it, isn’t it supposed to be the husband pampering the wife? Why is it the opposite here!!!

“Fang Zheng?”

An indistinct call reached his ears on the evening’s warm breeze.

Just as Fang Zheng was about to quicken his pace to catch up to Birdy, his steps abruptly halted. After a long pause, he finally turned in confusion.

“It really is you?!”

The delight on Xu Di’s face was genuine and unfeigned—an immediate emotional response. Before Fang Zheng could think of anything else, he reflexively smiled back—

“Long time no see.”

(3)

Meng Chudong had calculated that with his wife’s personality, he’d be caught within a few steps, possibly even payback-pinched. Though the other surely wouldn’t dare pinch too hard, so this playful tussle was mostly flirtation.

Rarely did Meng Chudong miscalculate, big or small.

Today was an exception.

Finally sensing something amiss, Meng Chudong turned to see Fang Zheng still standing not far away, smiling at a man.

The man had peach-blossom eyes—especially charming when he smiled.

Meng Chudong instinctively frowned. His feet moved before his brain, and by the time he reached them, he still hadn’t thought of what to say.

But the two seemed to need no help breaking the ice—

“Damn, you’ve lost so much weight! Liposuction?”

“Fuck off! I exercise every day, healthier than ever!”

“I’m seriously impressed. I really thought you’d never slim down. From far away just now, I didn’t even recognize you—had to get closer to place your face!”

“Handsome enough to shock the heavens, right? How many times did I tell you I was potential stock? Wouldn’t listen—regretting it now?”

“Any regrets would be Gou Xiaonian’s… uh, sorry.”

The lively atmosphere abruptly chilled when an unspoken name slipped out in the rapid-fire exchange.

Looking at Xu Di’s apologetic eyes, Fang Zheng couldn’t claim his heart was completely unmoved—but the ripples held none of their former tangled emotions, only the sighs of time passed.

“You two…” Fang Zheng didn’t know what he wanted to ask, yet felt he should ask something. Sometimes facing things head-on made letting go easier than avoiding them.

“Haven’t been in contact since,” Xu Di shrugged.

Sometimes bidding farewell to the past was easy—even something once carved in bone could eventually be dismissed with five light words.

Seeing the serendipitous reunion’s joy threatened by old shadows, Fang Zheng quickly punched Xu Di’s shoulder—not hard, but enough to shatter the melancholy: “Haven’t asked—you back home for the holiday?”

The punch startled Xu Di, who then rolled his eyes: “What else, here to get married?!”

Xu Di’s offhand joke accidentally hit the Ghost Server Leader’s current situation.

Since he and Birdy couldn’t legally marry, today’s meal basically counted as their wedding banquet. Aiya, thinking of it that way was kinda embarrassing~\(≧▽≦)/~ Oh wait, seems like he forgot something =_=

Birdy?!

Finally receiving his wife’s attention, Meng Chudong offered a sunny smile.

But the smile had brewed too long—it carried something extra.

A chill crept up Fang Zheng’s neck. Swallowing hard, he quickly pulled Meng Chudong to his side. Only when they stood intimately shoulder-to-shoulder did he feel slightly at ease to reintroduce: “Meng Chudong, my… ahem, partner.”

Four words, plus one stumble—not the Leader’s intention.

But reality wasn’t like the game. Under the broad daylight and open skies, this introduction carried a hint of illicit affair =_=

Xu Di first looked surprised, then… completely stunned—

“You brought your partner home?!”

Fang Zheng sweatdropped—the focus seemed off, but since asked, he shared proudly: “Not specifically bringing him home. His parents insisted on meeting mine, so this happy family gathering required our presence.”

“……”

Xu Di needed processing time.

Though he understood every word, their combination bordered on science fiction.

Birdy, however, was done waiting, politely extending a hand: “Meng Chudong, Fang Zheng’s boyfriend.”

Xu Di numbly shook it, still shocked: “Xu… Xu Di. Fang Zheng and I were high school classmates.”

Post-handshake, Meng Chudong maintained a polite smile but offered no further pleasantries.

Xu Di suddenly noticed this person was somewhat cold—not freezing, but distantly aloof, neither hostile nor inviting closeness.

“What’ve you been up to?” Fang Zheng, oblivious to the undercurrents, reclaimed the conversation when no further interaction seemed forthcoming.

Xu Di smirked wryly: “Same old, same old.”

“Still in the same line?” Fang Zheng asked without thinking, immediately regretting it. Their relationship wasn’t close enough for blunt career critiques anymore.

Just as he was about to apologize, Xu Di changed topics: “How about you?”

“Still power leveling. Well, now it’s a studio. You should visit sometime—we’re getting somewhere now, hehe~~”

Initially just moving the conversation along, Fang Zheng ended up genuinely proud, his tone lilting upwards.

Xu Di laughed, but then felt an unexpected pang of envy.

He’d thought the three of them were birds of a feather, drifting aimlessly. Only now did he realize he’d underestimated Fang Zheng. Maybe at some point they’d seemed similar, but Fang Zheng’s pure passion for life would inevitably lead him to brighter horizons.

Like now—though the sun was setting, this person radiated dawn’s light.

“OK?”

“Huh?” Xu Di snapped out of it, only catching this non sequitur.

Fang Zheng laughed helplessly, repeating: “I said my number and QQ haven’t changed—feel free to reach out. Assuming you can forgive and forget, that is.”

Xu Di frowned: “That kinda sounds like sarcasm.”

Fang Zheng facepalmed: “Paranoia is a disease—get it treated!”

Xu Di chuckled, about to suggest grabbing dinner when Fang Zheng waved first—

“We’ll head off then~~”

Xu Di’s words died unspoken.

“Yeah, see you.”

The sunset stretched the pair’s shadows long.

Xu Di watched them walk away, watched that Meng Chudong ruffle Fang Zheng’s hair.

See you.

Probably only during hometown holidays from now on.

Fang Zheng’s “forgive and forget” likely referred to their last text exchange.

Xu Di’s final message had been—[Because of him, I lost you.]

Fang Zheng’s reply—[It’s fine. We were never the same kind of people anyway.]

That had hurt more than any previous argument, essentially meaning “let’s cut ties.” So even now, a year and a half later, Fang Zheng still felt guilty.

Yet the truth was Fang Zheng bore no responsibility for their estrangement—from start to finish, the fault lay with Xu Di and Gou Xiaonian.

That was Fang Zheng—always treating friends and life with utmost kindness.

So while both were gay, Xu Di still lied to his parents while Fang Zheng had returned home proudly with his boyfriend. This wasn’t life’s unfair favoritism—Fang Zheng had earned it.

As for himself? Though they’d never return to how they were, at least they’d progressed from “cut ties” to “acquaintances.” He was content.

“Hey, Sister Sha… Yeah, happy Dragon Boat Festival… Nothing much, just calling to quit… I know I’m old with no degree or work experience, no idea what else I can do. But working nightclubs so long makes me crave daylight, honestly—sunlight feels great… Honestly, you should close the club too, switch to fast food or fried chicken—low stress, high profit! Hey hey don’t hang up—okay, I’m gone. Goodbye kiss…”

(4)

“Whew—” Fang Zheng collapsed onto the hotel bed, gasping to recover HP and MP, “This day drained me more than dungeon grinding.”

Meng Chudong inserted the keycard, flooding the room with light.

“At least it went smoothly.”

Fang Zheng rolled onto his back, grinning at the ceiling: “First time realizing how perfect my parents think I am—praising me so much today made up for twenty-plus years of neglect.”

Meng Chudong lay down beside him, arms and shoulders touching, similarly splayed out: “Don’t take it too seriously.”

Fang Zheng: “Meaning I’m not as great as they said?”

Meng Chudong: “Isn’t that obvious?”

Fang Zheng: “I hate you TAT”

Meng Chudong: “I love you.”

Fang Zheng: “Hate~\(≧▽≦)/~”

Meng Chudong: “Who’s Gou Xiaonian?”

Fang Zheng: “Someone I used to li—li—li—like Pleasant Goat and Pretty Goat~~~”

Meng Chudong flipped over, pinning down his leader, nose to nose, perfectly calm: “Awkward singing may not be the best strategy right now.”

Fang Zheng gazed at that handsome face inches away, steeled himself, then blew softly—making the other’s lashes flutter—before cooing: “Husband~~~~~~~”

Meng Chudong resignedly buried his face in Fang Zheng’s neck, surrendering.

Fang Zheng knew Birdy wouldn’t press further—his evasive tactics had triumphed. And knowing Birdy, once he decided to drop something, it was truly over—no circling back later, no sudden revisiting down the road.

This was how he handled relationships—direct and clean, giving his all while only asking for what the other could freely offer, never demanding equal measure.

The nuzzling tickled Fang Zheng’s neck.

He wanted to laugh, but suddenly, his heart ached faintly.

Finally, he wrapped his arms tightly around the man atop him, sighing softly: “It’s just a cliché story of unrequited love…”

(5)

Deputy Commander: “That’s it?”

Leader: “That’s it. Completely one-sided from start to finish—nothing actually happened.”

Deputy Commander: “Plenty happened—getting drunk, confessing, cutting ties. Plot was rich.”

Leader: “=_=”

Deputy Commander: “If he’d reciprocated back then, what would you have done?”

Leader: “How was that possible.”

Deputy Commander: “Hypothetically.”

Leader: “There was no such possibility. If you insist on asking, then first imagine if Xuanyuan hadn’t PKed you back then, but instead stood up for you, took the hits for you—what would you have done?”

Deputy Commander: “I’d have told him not to bother. Because in the future I’d have my own legion, my own comrades, my own wife—he could go cool off somewhere.”

Leader: “…”

Declarations like this were cheating, dammit! ~\(≧▽≦)/~

Meng Chudong propped himself up slightly, gazing down at Fang Zheng until he squirmed, then kissed him.

“So good.”

Faintly, Fang Zheng heard him murmur.

“What’s good?”

The Ghost Server Leader’s thirst for knowledge knew no time or place.

Meng Chudong looked into Fang Zheng’s eyes from inches away, smiling slightly: “That neither Gou Xiaonian nor Jiang Yang wanted you—so good.”

Fang Zheng swore this was the most backhanded love confession he’d ever heard!

(6)

The Ghost Server Leader channeled resentment into strength, “severely educating” his deputy—at least, that was the Leader’s version. In reality, said deputy had flipped them over not long after “being educated,” even giving the Leader a princess carry.

Being suddenly airborne nearly scared Fang Zheng out of his skin.

Though he’d recently reached standard weight range for his gender, height and age—the upper limit—he’d never dared mention princess carries to Birdy, fearing rejection.

So what was this?

Birdy not only princess-carried him but looked completely at ease!

He wasn’t paper-thin yet, so… just how much strength training had this guy been doing behind his back?!

Carried all the way to the bathroom, it wasn’t until the shower’s warm spray hit that Fang Zheng snapped out of it.

The water washed away their scents, steam fogging the mirror.

Fang Zheng completely relaxed, fatigue rushing in as his eyes drifted shut.

“I love you.”

The warm body encircled him.

Fang Zheng was half-asleep, yet his heart swelled full when he heard this.

Hugging Meng Chudong back, he pressed his cheek to that chest, feeling its steady beat: “I love you too.”

“Mm,” Meng Chudong acknowledged, gently tousling his damp hair before twirling a lock around his finger, “But I only had one entanglement before you—you had two. I’m at a disadvantage.”

Still floating in affection, Fang Zheng blinked blankly before catching the sour note: “That was ages ago… Wait, you can’t compare these things by quantity!”

“Then by quality?”

“…I regret bringing you home TAT”

Dodged the parents, but not the classmate.

—Hometown, you’re just a pit of embarrassing pasts!