After the performance, there was a speech by the leaders, followed by an awards ceremony where outstanding role models were selected.
As the team leader, Shen Yanlang was naturally selected as an outstanding role model and went on stage to receive the award.
Duan Xu took a few more pictures of him, then looked down and scrolled through them, from the formation to the Military Boxing, and finally the award ceremony. He couldn't help but smile, feeling a strange sense of watching his boyfriend grow up.
After it was over, Shen Yanlang went back to his dormitory, took a shower, changed his clothes, and then went out to eat with Duan Xu to celebrate the end of military training.
At the dinner table, Duan Xu looked at the back of Shen Yanlang and remarked, "It's all tanned."
"Disgusted?" Shen Yanlang raised an eyebrow, then said, "You'll get your fair skin back in a while."
"Why didn't you get tanned before?" Shen Yanlang suddenly remembered the first time he met Duan Xu. At that time, Duan Xu wasn't tanned.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhou said, "His skin is really amazing. Xu-ge and I have some skin like that, but he just can't get a tan, though he does get red."
Xiao Xu nodded.
Zhou Zhou added, "Moreover, as long as you stay in a shady place for a few hours, the sunburned areas will gradually return to their original color, as if you had never undergone military training."
"Hmm? That's pretty impressive." Han Xi couldn't help but admire him.
Duan Xu felt embarrassed by what was said, "I don't know what happened, it just turned out that way."
Han Xi suddenly said, "No wonder your skin is so smooth."
Duan Xu: "..."
This reminded him of what the two girls in the front and back rows had said during the performance.
"Little Xi, you've changed, you've become bad!" Duan Xu said with a look of deep disappointment.
Han Xi nodded with a faint smile in his eyes, saying, "Yes, I've become bad."
"Haha..." The group burst into laughter.
Shen Yanlang patted Duan Xu's head affectionately and said, "Alright, eat up. I'll take you to the movies this afternoon."
"Oh." Duan Xu turned around and focused on eating.
Xiao Xu said, "We were also planning to go to the movies today."
"Don't follow us," Shen Yanlang said immediately.
Zhou Zhou: "... Don't worry, we don't want to follow you either."
After saying that, Duan Xu looked at Han Xi again, "What about Little Xi? Is Jing-ge still busy this afternoon?"
"Okay." Han Xi nodded slightly. "I'll go see him this afternoon."
Duan Xu hummed in agreement, but didn't say much more. It was good that Han Xi wasn't alone.
In the afternoon, Shen Yanlang and Duan Xu went to see a movie, and after the movie, they went home to rest.
*
After the military training ended, Shen Yanlang and Duan Xu gradually became busy. Shen Yanlang had finished his previous projects, but there were new projects to work on.
In order to improve his design skills, Duan Xu also sought out a lot of learning materials and took on orders whenever he had the chance to increase his practical experience.
Zhou Zhou and his team are also busy, preparing for the opening of their company next year.
Soon, it will be National Day again.
Shen Yanlang brought Duan Xu back to the Shen Family, something Ye Lan had been hoping for.
"Xuxu, come in and sit down." Ye Lan pulled Duan Xu had changed his shoes, into the living room without even glancing at her son, Shen Yanlang.
Shen Yanlang didn't mind and followed them inside.
Duan Xu was actually a little reserved. He had a smile on his face, but he was thinking about Shen Yanlang and would glance back at him from time to time.
Shen Yanlang smiled at him after seeing this, and thought to himself.
[It's okay, just treat yourself at home.]
[After we get married, it will still be our own home.]
The next sentence made Duan Xu feel embarrassed, so he simply turned his head away and refused to look at him.
Shen Yanlang smiled upon seeing this.
Ye Lan pulled him to sit on the sofa, then instructed, "Sister Zhang, prepare some fruit."
"Okay." Sister Zhang was a maid in the Shen Family, specifically in charge of meals.
Shen Yanlang sat next to Duan Xu without saying a word, listening to Ye Lan and Duan Xu talk.
"You look thinner after more than a month?" Ye Lan looked him up and down. "Has Little Yan not been taking good care of you?"
"No, I haven't lost weight," Duan Xu replied with a smile.
To be honest, I've gained two pounds.
"If there's anything you want to eat or want, just tell Little Yan and he'll buy it for you." Ye Lan treated her son like a tool without any politeness.
Shen Yanlang was naturally delighted. "Yes, he knows."
Duan Xu smiled and agreed, his initial awkwardness lessened, and they became much more natural in their interactions.
Sister Zhang brought some fruit, and the three of them chatted casually in the living room. When Shen Guofeng and Shen Yu returned at noon, they ate lunch together, and then Shen Guofeng and Shen Yu went back to work.
"I need to take a nap. You guys play by yourselves." Ye Lan yawned gracefully. "If Xuxu wants to rest, Little Yan can take you to your bedroom."
"Okay, Auntie, go and rest." Duan Xu nodded obediently.
After Ye Lan returned, Shen Yanlang asked, "Want to sleep? Or would you like to go for a visit?"
[It'll be my own home from now on, so I can get familiar with it beforehand.]
"...Let's go take a look around first," Duan Xu said.
So Shen Yanlang showed Duan Xu around the house.
This was Duan Xu's first time visiting the Shen Family. In fact, he had already been thinking about it when he came in. No wonder they were a wealthy family. While other families lived in villas, they lived in an estate.
The manor is like a castle, with a large lawn and a fountain in front. Shen Yanlang said there are also gardens and an artificial lake in the back.
The villa also had a separate building for servants, while the family members lived in the main building.
The main building has five floors. The first floor has a living room, dining room and kitchen; the second floor is all guest rooms; and the third floor is where they live, with a total of four rooms: three bedrooms and one study.
The fourth floor houses a home theater, games room, and gym, while the fifth floor features an outdoor swimming pool and a glass conservatory.
From the railing next to the glass greenhouse on the fifth floor, Duan Xu could see the small garden and artificial lake behind it. There was also a shed built next to the lake where people could sit and fish or simply enjoy the scenery and relax.
"Poverty has limited my imagination," Duan Xu couldn't help but say.
Before coming to the Shen Family, he never imagined he could live in such a large place. It had everything, and the area was surprisingly large, almost as big as a school.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yanlang chuckled and said, "What's mine is yours; you are the richest."
Duan Xu smiled, narrowing his eyes, and unceremoniously extended his hand, saying, "Then you can hand over your bank card now."
Shen Yanlang looked down at his hand, then placed his own hand on top of it. "I'll hand the person over to you first, and I'll give you the bank card when we get back."
Duan Xu chuckled and squeezed his hand, then thought for a moment and said, "Let's forget it. I don't need that much money, and besides, we'll be starting a company later, and there will be many other places where we'll need money."
"Yes, I will give it to you," Shen Yanlang said seriously. "My dad just gives the bank card to my mom for safekeeping. If I need money, I just ask my mom."
"Huh?" Duan Xu blinked, his eyes full of curiosity. "Won't this be too much trouble? What if we need it urgently?"
Shen Yanlang gazed at him, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Xuxu, this is about romance. We've been together for so long, how come you still don't understand?"
Duan Xu: "... Okay."