Wanda said longingly, “I don’t even know what it is, but anyway, going out to have fun and even staying overnight, just sounds so carefree.”

What spring or autumn outings, you never really get to enjoy them—this time it’s basically no different from going on a trip.

The more Wanda talked, the more he got lost in his own fantasies. Ethan Young nudged Henry Howard in the waist with his elbow: “Bro, isn’t it a bit inappropriate for someone your age to attend a coming-of-age ceremony?”

Henry Howard reached out, trying to hook his arm around his neck, but missed.

“Come here, what do you mean by that?”

“Wasn’t I obvious enough?” Ethan Young said, “I mean you’re old.”

Wanda was halfway through his daydream when he looked up and saw the two of them tangled up together again.

These two are always getting handsy with each other in public, not caring about appearances at all.

But this time things were a bit different—their roles were reversed, and Ethan Young had become the one being chased.

Henry Howard didn’t really intend to hit him, just messing around. After a couple of steps, he couldn’t keep a straight face, and stood at the door, smiling as he beckoned to Ethan Young, “Stop running, come back.”

Ethan Young stopped, leaning against the window to look at him.

Henry Howard said, “I won’t mess with you,” and walked into the hallway, but once he got close, he still grabbed him and wouldn’t let go: “I’m old?”

People were coming and going in the hallway.

The two of them, both tall and long-legged, wearing school uniforms—just seeing their nearly overlapping backs was enough to set imaginations running wild.

Wanda shook his head, used to it by now, thinking that their image had long since been shattered to pieces anyway.

The detailed schedule for the coming-of-age ceremony spread like wildfire—within just a few class breaks, everyone in the grade had heard about it.

There were three tentative locations: the history museum, a famous person’s former residence, and finally a temple fair in the evening.

“You’re all really enthusiastic.”

Old Thompson didn’t want them to get distracted, planning to talk about it during class meeting a few days before the ceremony. But after holding back until a week before, he realized he didn’t even need to say anything—they all already knew: “Get everything you need ready, we’ll get on the bus at eight in the morning. First stop is the People’s Memorial Hall.”

Not sure what to bring, most people just treated it like a spring or autumn outing—besides a change of clothes, they packed a big bag of snacks.

Before leaving, Luke Carter said guiltily, “I didn’t bring my homework. Is that too much?”

“Why bring homework? Leave it in the dorm,” Logan Wright said. “It’s very well-behaved, it’ll take care of itself.”

The weather was hot, and the bus was stuffy with a whiff of formaldehyde.

Ethan Young had just taken off his mask, but after smelling the air, he put it right back on.

Henry Howard adjusted the air conditioner above his head so the cool air blew directly at Ethan Young: “Uncomfortable?”

“A bit stuffy.”

Henry Howard added, “Bro, you can lean on my shoulder.”

Ethan Young: “What’s the use of that?”

Even so, after sending a text to Ms. Miller to report in, Ethan Young still fell asleep on Henry Howard’s shoulder, lulled by the gentle rocking of the bus.

Henry Howard raised his hand, his fingers gently touching Ethan Young’s ear, hooking the black strap behind his ear to help him remove one side of the mask.

He couldn’t help but stare for a few moments.

Then Henry Howard snapped out of it and took out his phone, planning to send a token message to his own Old Howard.

He thought Old Howard would just reply with a simple “Got it,” but after a few minutes, he got three words instead: “You’ve grown up.”

The bus ride was about two hours. At first, everyone was still lively, shouting about singing songs.

“What are you singing for? Don’t sing,” Henry Howard signaled for them to quiet down. “My deskmate is sleeping.”

Someone in the back row shouted, “Bro Henry, you’re spoiling Ethan Bro too much.”

As soon as that was said, the others started making a fuss.

Henry Howard didn’t bother denying it, but Luke Carter, Wanda, and the others reacted even more strongly than he did.

“Of course good brothers should spoil each other,” Luke Carter said, throwing an arm around Wanda’s shoulder. “Right, Dada? Don’t I spoil you?”

Wanda gritted his teeth: “Spoil! You spoil me a lot!”

“”

They were making so much noise that Ethan Young, who was a light sleeper to begin with, half-opened his eyes, the other side of his mask slipping off: “Spoiling what?”

“Nothing, you’d better not ask.”

Henry Howard said, “These two seem to have something wrong with their heads today.”

By the time the senior year group arrived at the People’s Memorial Hall, it was almost noon. Before the official tour, the Westlake High school staff had set up a simple ceremony nearby.

Old Thompson stood at the front of the line.

Mad Dog had changed his usual style, dressed in a suit and tie, standing under the blazing sun, not looking hot at all: “The coming-of-age ceremony isn’t just for fun. Students, at eighteen, you are adults now.”

As soon as the word “adults” was spoken, the crowd quieted down.

Thinking of the fresh faces of the new first-years at Westlake High, just like when they first entered school, and realizing in a blink they’d reached this stage.

“As adults, you must learn to take responsibility, to have perseverance and integrity, to study hard and work diligently. I am truly happy and proud of you all.”

“No matter where you go in the future, or how far you go, never forget your pure heart! That is our Westlake High school motto!”

“Our Westlake High spirit!”

Halfway through, Mad Dog’s voice suddenly paused for a second.

Then he turned around, raised his hand to wipe something away. Ethan Young, standing to the side, clearly saw Manager Jensen wiping away tears. But afraid of being noticed, he wiped his forehead, pretending it was sweat.

It was clearly a very official speech, but the hot weather made everyone feel flushed.

No one around showed any impatience.

Finally, Manager Jensen actually smiled, his voice softening, different from his usual sternness, showing a bit of gentleness: “Congratulations, you are adults now.”

“Go boldly to farther places.”

------------

111. Chapter 111

After Manager Jensen’s speech, a few more school leaders went up one after another.

The sun was getting hotter.

“Looks like they’re going to hand something out later,” Henry Howard, being tall, glanced ahead and saw the box next to Manager Jensen, guessing, “Looks like books?”

Other schools do hand out books at coming-of-age ceremonies—usually a copy of the constitution for everyone—but judging by the size of this box, it couldn’t hold such thick books.

Old Thompson was busy organizing the group, and Ethan Young quietly leaned back, not really hearing what he was saying.

Henry Howard took the opportunity to lean down—if he lowered his head just a bit more, he’d touch the tip of his ear. He thought for a second, then called him: “Old Young.”

Ethan Young, feeling uncomfortable from the sun, raised his hand to shield his brow.

“You’re an adult now, you’ve grown up, and you need to learn something important.”

The person behind him spoke in a low voice, his breath brushing his ear. The words sounded a lot like what Mad Dog had just said, so Ethan Young didn’t react at first, pausing before asking, “What?”

Henry Howard said, “Take responsibility.”

“Mm.”

Ethan Young replied indifferently. Based on what he knew of this person, it definitely wasn’t going to be something good.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished, Henry Howard immediately added, “For example, you have to be responsible for your boyfriend.”

“”

So that’s what this was about.

“I’ll be responsible—” Ethan Young started to curse, but stopped halfway, breaking character. “Can’t you just say what you mean? What’s with all the roundabout talk?”

Henry Howard just wanted to tease him. Hearing this, he laughed and lowered his head, pressing his forehead into the crook of Ethan Young’s neck.

At that moment, the last leader finished speaking on stage.

Judging by the time, it was about time to enter the memorial hall for the tour, but all the homeroom teachers were gathered around the box, doing something. About five minutes later, each came back with a stack of items.

It was a thick pile of envelopes.

This part hadn’t been mentioned by Old Thompson beforehand, so when Ethan Young received his envelope, he was a bit taken aback.

On the front of the envelope was written “Ethan Young”.

The handwriting was neat and elegant, very familiar—one look and he knew it was Ms. Miller’s writing.

“Where’s yours?” Ethan Young asked, glancing back to see the envelope in Henry Howard’s hand. Under the big characters “Henry Howard”, there was a scrawled line: I am your Your dad.

“”

Henry Howard saw it too, coughed lightly and said, “That’s our Old Howard, real character.”

He’d heard Old Thompson call Henry Howard’s dad in the office before, and Ethan Young thought he already had a clear idea of what Old Howard was like, but it turned out he’d far underestimated him: “He’s definitely got character.”