Places for Adults

Xia Yanchun was thoroughly exasperated by Shen Nian's questioning.

He had deliberately changed the subject only to circle right back to it. It was obvious he was doing it on purpose.

He just wanted to contradict her!

Shen Nian completely ignored Xia Yanchun's resentful look. "Well? Speak up."

"I don't want to talk to someone like you. I call you a simp and you actually want to act like one?"

"Hehe, if there's nothing to simp for, can you even call it simping?"

"Who told you simping is about the literal action? It's an adjective, don't you know that?"

"Blah blah blah, whatever. I'd simp for you though."

"Get lost!" Xia Yanchun pulled her hand out from his embrace and patted her small pillow. "I'm going to sleep!"

Shen Nian wasn't annoyed at all, but he didn't plan to bother Xia Yanchun further. He returned to the main topic. "Sleep then, sleep. So, there really is a coming-of-age ceremony next week?"

"Should be."

"What's it for anyway? Does it turn boys into men?"

"What are you thinking? Can you not be so perverted?" Xia Yanchun said disdainfully. "I've seen some videos. It's just about saying some grand words and walking through an arch with your parents. That seems to be about it."

"Oh, it's that kind of coming-of-age ceremony. I thought it was the other kind." Shen Nian really wanted to send a disappointed yellow emoji.

"You've watched too many of those videos." Xia Yanchun was almost too embarrassed to call him out. She sighed. "Just treat it as a day off. It'll be like during parent-teacher conferences. The school only uses the morning, and we get the afternoon off."

"Got any plans? Weekends at home are always the same old boring stuff."

"Nope."

Shen Nian grinned. "How about we go somewhere only adults can go that day?"

"...!!"

"Like an internet cafe. I feel like playing some PC games."

Xia Yanchun's face scrunched up, and she stomped on his shoe.

That detestable Shen Nian actually dared to tease his big sister? He must be severely punished. The punishment: Shen Nian is not allowed any kisses tonight.

She had already braced herself for Shen Nian to say something like 'love hotel' or 'bar/nightclub,' ready to smack him on the head and scold him sternly in her big sister tone. And this was his big idea?

Although internet cafes are indeed adult places where minors aren't allowed...

It was all because what Shen Nian said was so ambiguous. You could tell it was intentional just from hearing it.

"Why did you step on me for no reason? Looking for a fight?" Shen Nian quickly grabbed some tissues from Li Shiyan's desk drawer to wipe his shoe. "White shoes get dirty easily, you know. I'm stepping on yours next time."

""

Xia Yanchun hadn't experienced a so-called coming-of-age ceremony either; she had only seen clips online.

Maybe the school leaders would give some touching speeches, making students and parents cover their faces and cry, but that kind of 'motivational' emotion usually doesn't last long. You play a couple of games after getting home and forget most of it.

Both she and Shen Nian had been through that kind of assembly before. Some host from who-knows-where would talk until everyone was in tears, deeply moved, only to find out they were there to sell books. And it happened every year. The first year, it was genuinely easy to cry. The second year, with the exact same routine, if you could still cry, you were truly set for life.

She couldn't speak for others, but Shen Nian would definitely forget.

Back then, after watching an inspirational movie, he also said he would study hard from then on. But that fervor only lasted half a day. The next day, it was back to playing and sleeping as usual.

But then, the coming-of-age ceremony wasn't some noteworthy event to begin with. No need to take it too seriously.

Rather than thinking about that, it was better to think about how to nap comfortably at noon.

She kind of wanted Shen Nian to take her home to sleep and then bring her back after waking up, but that was just a thought. Actually doing it felt a bit troublesome.

Better to just obediently nap at her desk.

Xia Yanchun hummed, snuggling her face against the pillow until she was comfortable. She turned to look at Shen Nian and felt like teasing him again. She raised a finger and poked his lips.

"If you don't sleep now, you won't get to sleep later."

"Going to sleep now," Xia Yanchun said obediently.

...

Afternoon, homeroom.

As expected, Su Kexi came to the classroom to talk about the coming-of-age ceremony.

Shen Nian didn't pay much attention, having already heard about it from Xia Yanchun at noon.

He was more concerned about who from his family would come. Hopefully, it wouldn't be both parents skipping and sending his shut-in sister, Shen Yue, to make up the numbers.

Just imagining everyone else having heart-to-hearts with their parents, talking about dreams, the future, and filial piety, while he and Shen Yue just stared at each other awkwardly, made him want to laugh.

Better let his parents come. Preferably his mom.

Because if his dad came, that would be the hardest not to laugh.

During the lunch break, he had sneakily checked his phone, looking up content about coming-of-age ceremonies. It was nothing more than reading a speech, changing into nice clothes, and holding hands with family to walk through an arch.

Some videos even showed kneeling and kowtowing to parents to thank them for raising you. Nice sentiment, but he was afraid both he and his dad would fail to hold back their laughter, which would ruin the atmosphere and probably earn him a beating.

"Coming-of-age ceremony? I think I've seen those in Japanese movies," Ma Mingfan said seriously.

"I think I've seen them too," Chen Dong chimed in.

"Isn't there usually a big sister who comes to the house to help complete the coming-of-age ritual?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's the one."

Shen Nian laughed and scolded, "Can you two be any more vulgar?"

"Haven't you seen them? I'll send you one later."

"Who do you think you're looking down on?"

The current Shen Nian wasn't the repressed teen from his first or second year of high school anymore.

Because he was a senior high school student now.

If he wanted to watch something, he could find it himself. No need to 'borrow one to speak' for now. Unlike Ma Mingfan, who still had to ask Chen Dong for website links.

What a loser, Ma Mingfan.

After class, there was an hour and a half break.

Shen Nian was part of the late-lunch crew today, lining up with Xia Yanchun, Li Shiyan, Chen Qiuyu, and a few other girls.

The cafeteria at this hour was no longer packed. You could easily find an empty table. The downside of being a late eater was no more tasty chicken legs or cutlets. If you went too late, some meat dishes would run out and not be replenished. The upside was no waiting in line, and the cafeteria ladies would randomly pick lucky students to give extra-large portions.

Li Shiyan was that lucky one.

The auntie, seeing how petite she was, gave her an extra scoop of meat. It was okay if she couldn't finish it; any leftovers would just end up in the slop bucket anyway.

A small mountain of meat piled on her palm-sized plate. Li Shiyan smiled sweetly and said thank you, making the serving auntie laugh.

Shen Nian was different.

"Auntie, this one, this one, give me more."

"Okay, okay."

"A bit more."

The auntie added a little more for him, laughing, "Eating so much, student?"

"Enough, enough. Auntie, could you add another scoop of rice?"

"..."

The auntie sized up Shen Nian. Goodness, he looks tall and handsome, but his appetite is like David Dai's.

Oh well, having a good appetite is a blessing. The more these students eat, the better.

For the few people behind him, the auntie also gave generous portions. It wasn't her money anyway, and leftovers would go into the slop bucket.

Would any auntie really have their hands shaking while serving food?

Pressure!

Shen Nian waited nearby for a bit. After everyone got their food, they found an empty table to sit at.

"That looks like enough for two people, Shen Nian," one of the girls couldn't help but comment, seeing his heaping bowl of rice.

"It's alright. Probably just enough to get full."

"A regular rice bucket," Xia Yanchun chimed in.

"What's that supposed to mean, insulting me? Don't study too hard during night study hall, or I'll buy a big eraser and mess with you."

"Hahahaha..."

Yan Xi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for over 3 million daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other big shots.