December, Yancheng Private High School, office.

“Wen Zhiling, help the teacher hand out the test papers from last time,” the homeroom teacher said.

“Okay.”

The girl who responded was wearing the Yancheng Private High School uniform, not rigid, with a very academic style shirt paired with a sweater vest, a red and white cotton jacket on the outside, and a skirt below, with tights wrapping around a pair of slender, straight legs.

Actually, the winter uniform came with matching pants, but they were too bulky. Wen Zhiling thought they were ugly and didn’t like wearing them.

However, her grades were good, so the teachers didn’t nag her about it.

She was carrying a stack of test papers ready to go out when she was stopped by the Class 8 homeroom teacher: “Oh right, Wen Zhijing is your brother, right?”

At Yancheng Private High School, Classes 1 through 8 were science classes, and Wen Zhiling was in Class 9, a liberal arts class.

“Yes, what’s the matter, teacher?”

“Please help me call your brother and Lin Huairan over.”

Probably because such situations happened too often, as soon as he finished speaking, a teacher at a nearby desk laughed: “What’s the matter? What have those two little devils done this time?”

The Class 8 homeroom teacher slammed the test papers heavily on the desk: “What kind of terrible tests did these two take!”

“How bad was it?”

“They tied for first place in the grade for science with 287 points, but what the hell were they doing with the Chinese test? They directly brought down our class average by several points. Wen Zhijing didn’t even write the essay, and Lin Huairan was even worse. When the reading comprehension asked for his opinion, he actually wrote ‘not much’?! What kind of attitude is that?!”

The other teacher couldn’t stop laughing: “You should be content. At least they can get first place in science and raise the average score quite a bit. Besides, you have two school heartthrobs in your class. That’s something to brag about.”

“Forget it, what’s the use of being heartthrobs? They use their looks to seduce the well-behaved girls in my class. Who knows if they’ll make those girls’ grades drop!”

Wen Zhiling: “…”

She cleared her throat lightly: “Teacher, I’ll go call them over.”

The Class 8 homeroom teacher hadn’t noticed she was still there and had spoken without restraint. He was a bit embarrassed and waved his hand: “Alright, thank you.”

Coming out of the office, Wen Zhiling walked toward Class 8’s classroom.

If Lin Huairan and Wen Zhijing were the acknowledged school heartthrobs, then Wen Zhiling was the acknowledged school beauty.

She walked through the science class floor, with many boys whistling at her from the corridor. Wen Zhiling completely ignored them all.

She had been spoiled since childhood, and as she grew up, she became increasingly willful. The young girl’s neck was beautiful, slender and fair, like a proud white swan.

She walked to the back door of Class 8’s classroom and looked in, but didn’t see her brother or Lin Huairan.

Suddenly, her ponytail was pulled from behind. Wen Zhiling was pulled backward with her head tilted back, staggering a step, while simultaneously her waist was supported.

A voice filled with amusement sounded behind her, relaxed and casual: “Miss, who are you sneaking a look at?”

Wen Zhiling didn’t even turn around; just hearing this voice made her go black before her eyes.

If you asked Wen Zhiling what she regretted most at the age of 17, she would definitely say without hesitation that it was finding herself a “boyfriend” out of childish ignorance, and even having it recorded online where it could still be found.

What a situation.

A stain from when she was four years old would accompany her for life.

Lin Huairan was holding a basketball in the crook of his arm, his black hair damp, his body radiating warmth. When his peach blossom eyes were tinged with a smile, they looked particularly alluring.

He leaned against the wall, eyes lowered, eyelids pressing down then lifting, scanning her from head to toe.

He drawled: “You’re really the number one candidate for arthritis.”

This comment was mocking her for wearing the autumn skirt uniform in winter.

Wen Zhiling glared at him, quickly stepping back several steps as if avoiding suspicion, and lowered her voice: “You’re just wearing a shirt yourself!”

Lin Huairan tugged at his collar, having unbuttoned two buttons, revealing a section of exquisite collarbone. His Adam’s apple slid up and down, exuding a certain indefinable youthful desire.

Wen Zhiling pressed her lips together and looked away.

“I just finished playing basketball and I’m all sweaty. How can that be the same as you?”

The school beauty and heartthrob gathering was the most eye-catching thing on campus, especially since this pair had a “childhood betrothal.”

Just as the two were talking, a female voice cut in: “Brother Ran, our class girls have basketball training later. Could you come coach us a bit?”

Wen Zhiling turned her head to look. It was the female sports representative from Class 10, a liberal arts class, named Cheng Huan. She was pretty, with an outgoing personality, and knew most people in the school.

Lin Huairan glanced at her and said flatly: “I have class next period.”

“Isn’t it just a self-study period? Just skip one class to come to our rescue.”

“We’ll see.”

The girl wasn’t bothered by his cold attitude and said with a smile, “I’ll be waiting for you then,” before leaving.

Wen Zhiling secretly rolled her eyes and got straight to the point: “Where’s my brother?”

Lin Huairan looked at her: “How would I know?”

“Weren’t you playing basketball with him?”

Just as she finished speaking, Wen Zhijing returned.

“Your homeroom teacher wants you two to go to the office,” Wen Zhiling delivered the message and immediately left without looking back.

Wen Zhijing clicked his tongue, knowing without asking what it was about.

As Wen Zhiling ran through the science class corridor, the gazes of those boys outside followed her silhouette.

Lin Huairan snorted lightly: “Come on, you guys. She’s already gone, yet you’re still staring. That’s all you’re good for.”

The two walked toward the office.

Lin Huairan caught a whiff of lingering fragrance, frowned, and turned his head to ask: “Is your sister wearing perfume?”

“She’s vain. She has a cabinet full of perfume at home, and she won’t listen even when my dad says something.”

“Reading books and wearing perfume? And wearing such a short skirt in the middle of winter? Does she look like a student? And she’s a class monitor?”

“So you also think—” Wen Zhijing gave him a knowing look and said slowly: “Does she look like a student?”

“…”

At the office, the two stood side by side at the desk, listening to a lecture.

The teacher was red-faced and fuming, but they remained cheerful and unrepentant.

Lin Huairan even poured a cup of tea for the teacher and kindly advised: “Moisten your throat first, don’t get too angry. Your health is important.”

The teacher exploded with rage: “Lin Huairan!”

Finally, they fell silent.

Because their attitude was not proper, the lecture dragged on for a full half hour.

The self-study period was already half over, and it was too late to teach those girls’ basketball training. Lin Huairan didn’t mind. Just as they reached the office door, he turned back, walked to the Class 9 liberal arts homeroom teacher, and smiled: “Hello, teacher.”

The Class 9 teacher was a young woman who was charmed by his smile and responded kindly: “Do you need something?”

“Yes, I do have something,” Lin Huairan said. “It’s about Wen Zhiling in your class. She’s still wearing a short skirt in the middle of winter. Other things aside, it’s mainly a health concern. The weather is both damp and cold. She shouldn’t just care about looking pretty, don’t you think?”

The teacher was bewildered by his words: “Ah, yes.”

“Wen Zhiling entered her rebellious phase around age six and doesn’t listen to her parents or her brother,” Lin Huairan pointed to Wen Zhijing standing at the door. “No one can do anything with her.”

Wen Zhijing: “…”

Lin Huairan: “So I’d trouble you to advise her to wear winter uniform pants in this cold weather, and also not to wear perfume at school.”

With everything accomplished, he left a “Thank you, teacher” and went out with Wen Zhijing.

“Do you know how abrupt that request was just now?” Wen Zhijing was speechless. “Asking her to wear winter clothes is one thing, but why are you also managing whether the little girl wears perfume or not?”

Lin Huairan snorted dismissively: “We know she’s wearing perfume, but some blind idiots were saying behind her back that the school beauty has a natural scent and stuff, with expressions that couldn’t be more disgusting.”

Wen Zhijing said with a smile, “If you like her, just say it properly. What’s the point of tattling to her teacher?”

Lin Huairan quickly replied: “Who likes that annoying girl?”

“Fine, you don’t like her,” Wen Zhijing couldn’t be bothered to argue. “If she finds out it was you who told her teacher these things, she’ll hate you to death.”

Lin Huairan’s tattling was remarkably effective. That afternoon, the teacher talked with Wen Zhiling.

The next day at school, Wen Zhijing found that she had finally put on her brand-new, bulky winter uniform pants. Wen Liang and Chen Die were startled when they saw her come downstairs.

Because she had wanted a longer winter top, Wen Zhiling had chosen a very large size, which meant the pants were extremely long, almost dragging on the ground.

On the way to school, she was still awkwardly tugging at her school pants.

Wen Zhijing casually asked: “Why are you wearing these pants today?”

Wen Zhiling complained: “I don’t know which bastard tattled to my homeroom teacher, not letting me wear skirts or perfume. So nosy, it’s annoying.”

Wen Zhijing’s lips curved up very slightly, but she caught it from the corner of her eye: “You know something!”

“What?” he played dumb.

“Are you the one who tattled?”

“Am I that bored?” He glanced at Wen Zhiling, whose expression clearly showed disbelief.

Knowing that Wen Zhiling was truly spoiled growing up, if she suspected him, who knew how she might torment him through their parents.

Wen Zhijing quickly betrayed his friend to prove his innocence: “Lin Huairan did it.”

“Lin Huairan!?” Her eyes widened. “Why would he do that?”

Wen Zhijing shrugged, saying no more, putting his arm around his sister as they got into the car to go to school.

At school, the liberal arts and science classes were not on the same floor. The two separated at the stairwell, and Wen Zhiling went up another floor to her classroom.

In the afternoon, there was a physical education class, with Classes 8 and 9 together.

Now that New Year’s Eve was approaching, Wen Zhiling, as both class monitor and cultural activities committee member, took advantage of the free activity period during PE to rehearse the class choir performance for the event. Wen Zhiling was responsible for the four-hand piano duet.

Walking past the basketball court with a friend, they ran into the Class 8 boys playing basketball.

“Hey, Lingling, look over there,” her friend, linking arms with her, whispered excitedly, constantly gesturing toward the basketball court.

Wen Zhiling glanced to the side, still calm: “What is it?”

“So handsome!” her friend exclaimed excitedly, then sighed. “But you probably aren’t excited. One is your brother, and the other is your childhood sweetheart. You’re used to seeing them.”

“…”

Wen Zhiling looked again, just in time to see Cheng Huan from Class 10 run to the edge of the basketball court and call out Lin Huairan’s name.

The friend beside her said: “Oh right, I heard Cheng Huan has been pursuing Lin Huairan hard lately, finding him every day, bringing him water and milk tea.”

Wen Zhiling pursed her lips: “Oh.”

“But Lingling, would you be angry?”

“Angry about what?”

“If Lin Huairan got a new girlfriend.”

“…What do you mean by ‘new girlfriend’? You make it sound like I was his ex-girlfriend,” Wen Zhiling said. “You don’t think that what happened when we were four was a serious relationship, do you?”

“Not to that extent, but you two have a good relationship. Wouldn’t you feel like he was being taken away by other girls?”

Wen Zhiling snorted: “Who has a good relationship with him? I’m sick of him. It would be better if he got a girlfriend, so I wouldn’t have to gossip with him every day.”

She said this just as they were passing by the basketball hoop, and Lin Huairan walked up to Cheng Huan, happening to overhear.

He glanced up slightly, his gaze falling on Wen Zhiling.

Cheng Huan looked at him, shaking the mineral water bottle in her hand: “Brother Ran?”

Lin Huairan withdrew his gaze, unconsciously taking the mineral water bottle.

Only after taking it did he realize—he wasn’t interested in this Cheng Huan, and had never accepted anything she had sent before, but she persisted tirelessly, sending things every time.

Sure enough, seeing that he had taken it this time, Cheng Huan’s eyes immediately lit up.

Lin Huairan paused, held up the water bottle: “Don’t send anything in the future, it’s not appropriate.”

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it.”

“It’s easy to misunderstand.”

Lin Huairan stopped there, and quite gentlemanly, twisted off the cap and naturally handed the water back to Cheng Huan.

Wen Zhiling had already walked some distance with her friend, but heard the cheering from not far behind and couldn’t help but turn back to look—

She saw Lin Huairan accept the water.

“?”

Twist it open.

“??”

And hand it back to Cheng Huan.

“???”

Very good.

Lin Huairan was becoming more and more accomplished.

So it wasn’t about being pursued by girls sending water, but helping them open bottle caps!

Yesterday he tattled on her to the teacher, and now he’s flirting and dating early.

Wen Zhiling linked arms with her friend and walked away without looking back.

After leaving the basketball court, they arrived at the music classroom. The partner who would be playing four-hand piano with Wen Zhiling for the choir was already waiting at the door.

It was the class’s study committee member, a gentle and refined boy.

“Zhiling!” He smiled and waved his hand in greeting.

“Mm.” Wen Zhiling was still thinking about what happened at the basketball court, in a bad mood, and not very enthusiastic. “Have you practiced at home before?”

“I practiced, I practiced. I shouldn’t hold you back.”

“Ah.” Wen Zhiling paused. “But I haven’t practiced yet, I’ve been too busy lately.”

“That’s fine too. This song isn’t difficult. I can teach you.”

However, he soon discovered that Wen Zhiling didn’t need his teaching at all. After just a couple of run-throughs, she could already play it smoothly.

“You’re too amazing.”

“I learned for a few years when I was little.”

“Your hands are exactly what my piano teacher used to describe as the kind most suitable for playing piano.”

Wen Zhiling did indeed have beautiful hands, slender and long, but this comment suddenly reminded her of Lin Huairan. She remembered that Lin Huairan also used to play piano when he was little, though she hadn’t seen him play recently. Those hands of his were truly the most suitable for playing piano that she had ever seen.

Near the end of class, they had practiced several times and were preparing to return to the classroom.

Passing by the basketball court, they happened to meet the group of Class 8 boys who were also about to leave.

Lin Huairan turned his head and immediately saw her with a boy standing beside her. He frowned slightly: “Wen Zhiling.”

She turned around, glanced at him, her expression cold: “What?”

Lin Huairan: “Come here.”

“You come here.”

One sentence each, neither yielding to the other, strangely making people feel they had strong presences.

Everyone around fell silent, watching the two.

Lin Huairan looked at her for a while, tossed the basketball in his arm to a classmate, and walked over to Wen Zhiling.

Lin Huairan had a good personality. Apart from being a bit casual, he hadn’t done anything particularly outrageous, but perhaps some people just gave the impression of being unapproachable simply by their face and aura.

The boy beside Wen Zhiling watched him approach step by step, wanting to play the hero. He pulled Wen Zhiling by the arm behind himself.

Lin Huairan stared at her arm for a moment, chin slightly raised, calmly and flatly said: “Let go.”

Wen Zhiling also didn’t like unfamiliar people touching her. She pulled her hand back, but then realized that doing so made it seem like she was following Lin Huairan’s orders.

“…”

Wen Zhiling asked that person to leave with a few sentences, then asked: “What do you want with me?”

“Who was that guy?”

“None of your business.” Wen Zhiling glared at him angrily, inexplicably saying, “If I say another word to you, I’m a dog!”

Then she turned and left.

Although Wen Zhiling and Lin Huairan weren’t like they were as children anymore, they could still be called childhood sweethearts. Wen Zhiling had a willful temperament and occasionally squabbled with him, but it was rare to see her like this.

Lin Huairan turned back and looked at Wen Zhijing: “Did your sister take the wrong medicine?”

“Didn’t you see she’s wearing pants today?”

“…” Lin Huairan pressed his brow. “You told her everything?”

Wen Zhijing laughed: “If I didn’t expose you, this girl would have suspected it was me who tattled. Then she’d go stirring things up with my parents, and I wouldn’t be able to stay there anymore.”

By evening dismissal, Lin Huairan received a phone call from his father, asking him to take Lin Qingwu from the middle school section back home by taxi together.

“Are you busy?” Lin Huairan asked.

Lin Qingye was quite straightforward on the other end: “Your mom and I are going out to dinner tonight. You take little Wutong, get dinner, and then go home. Take care of your sister.”

“…”

After hanging up, Lin Huairan held his phone hesitantly for a moment, then found Wen Zhijing and asked him to go pick up his sister from the middle school section.

“Sure,” Wen Zhijing quickly agreed. “First-year Class 3, right?”

“Yes, and take her to dinner too.”

“Okay. Do you have something to do?”

“Yeah.”

Wen Zhijing didn’t ask further. He checked his watch, packed up his things, and went directly to the middle school section, passing through a playground to get there.

He had also been promoted from the middle school section, so he easily found the First-year Class 3 classroom. He rested his arm on the windowsill: “Little Wutong!”

Everyone else in the classroom looked over.

Nowadays, middle school kids mature early. Seeing a handsome young man standing at the windowsill wearing a high school uniform, they immediately perked up, with gossipy expressions calling out Lin Qingwu’s name.

Lin Qingwu blushed from the commotion and ran out of the classroom: “Brother Zhijing, why are you here?”

“Your brother has something to do, so he asked me to pick you up for dinner.”

“Oh, then, then I’ll go pack my bag.”

“Alright, take your time, no rush.”

She ran back, quickly packed up, and came out. As soon as her eyes met Wen Zhijing’s, she quickly looked away, lowering her head and saying softly: “Ready.”

Wen Zhijing smiled: “It hasn’t been that long since we’ve seen each other. Why don’t you recognize your brother anymore?”

“I do recognize you.” Little Wutong scratched her head, still lowering her head. “What are we going to eat?”

“What would you like to eat?”

“Anything is fine.”

“Let’s go out and decide then.”

Just outside the middle school entrance was a row of food stalls. They finally settled on a barbecue place.

The restaurant had many people, mostly from the middle school. Wen Zhijing was tall, and walking in was like a giant entering, with a short, undeveloped little figure beside him, immediately attracting many people’s attention.

Some who knew Lin Qingwu teased: “Little Wutong, is this your boyfriend?”

Lin Qingwu’s face instantly turned red, and she hurriedly waved her hands: “No, no.”

Wen Zhijing was much older than they and didn’t react much to this, asking with a smile: “Are middle school students talking about boyfriends and girlfriends now?”

“…No.” Little Wutong bowed her head even lower. “They’re just talking nonsense.”

Wen Zhijing pressed her head to lift it, moving the water cup with his other hand: “If you lower your head any more, your hair will get wet.”

“Where’s my brother?” she changed the subject.

“He seemed to have something to do, maybe went to chase a girl.”

Little Wutong blinked: “Sister Zhiling?”

Wen Zhijing chuckled softly: “Who else?”

“What about Brother Zhijing?” she asked.

“Hmm?”

Little Wutong paused, holding her cup and taking a sip of water: “Don’t you need to chase girls?”

“Good students like me don’t date early,” Wen Zhijing said leisurely. “See, your brother is chasing girls, and I’m here babysitting for him.”

While they were having a good time, things weren’t so harmonious on the other side.

Lin Huairan did indeed plan to find Wen Zhiling, to apologize for the tattling incident, and have a meal together to move past it.

At Class 9’s door, he learned from her classmate that she had gone to practice piano, so he went downstairs toward the arts building.

Outside the piano room, Lin Huairan paused, hearing that it was a four-hand duet.

The door wasn’t fully closed, and when he looked in, he saw the boy who had been standing beside Wen Zhiling during PE.

Then he remembered Wen Zhiling’s words—”Who has a good relationship with him? I’m sick of him. It would be better if he got a girlfriend, so I wouldn’t have to gossip with him every day.”

Huh.

Lin Huairan let out a low snort.

He leaned against the wall outside the piano room and first sent a message to Wen Zhijing.

Wen Zhijing sent a photo back, showing a barbecue grill, with Lin Qingwu sitting across from him. The little girl’s face was flushed red, either from the smoke or something else.

[Wen Zhijing: Don’t you trust me? I guarantee I’ll take your sister home safely.]

[Lin Huairan: Is she feeling unwell? Why is her face so red?]

Wen Zhijing sent a voice message.

Lin Huairan took out earphones from his bag, opened the voice message, but what came through was little Wutong’s voice.

“I’m not feeling unwell, just hot.” Little Wutong’s voice was soft and sweet.

After chatting a bit more, Lin Huairan put his phone back in his pocket. He had slept late yesterday and hadn’t rested at noon today. Now, being warmed by the sunset, he felt quite drowsy.

In his ears was the piano music flowing from inside.

Until the piano music stopped abruptly, only then did he gradually wake up.

Checking the time, only ten minutes had passed.

He was still drowsy, his brows tightly furrowed. Inside, there was a rustling of conversation, and then the boy came out. The door opened, just happening to block Lin Huairan.

He moved his head slightly to the side and directly entered the piano room.

“Why did you come ba—”

Wen Zhiling thought it was her classmate returning, but when she turned around, she was unexpectedly faced with Lin Huairan. She was stunned, even forgetting that she was having a one-sided cold war with him.

Blinking her eyes, “Why are you here?”

Lin Huairan was now properly dressed in his school uniform. The sunset poured in from the window, shining directly on him, making the angles of his face even more distinct, with superior lines.

He smiled, lazy and casual: “Who was it that said they’d be a dog if they spoke another word to me?”

Wen Zhiling: “…”

One second, two seconds, three seconds passed.

The piano made a deep “hmm” sound.

“Lin Huairan!” Wen Zhiling was furious.

“…” Lin Huairan raised his hand to scratch his eyebrow. “Alright, I was wrong.”

Wen Zhiling quickly caught the first two words: “What do you mean ‘alright’! Is that how you apologize impatiently?”

“Where did you hear impatience in my tone? I’m sincerely sorry.”

Wen Zhiling snorted: “Sincerity doesn’t help, I won’t forgive you anyway.”

Lin Huairan smiled: “It’s not a big deal. Isn’t it just not letting you wear a skirt? It’s so cold, and there are so many people staring.”

Wen Zhiling wanted to argue back, but suddenly she was pulled by Lin Huairan to hide beside the chair.

Behind the piano room was a row of seats. The two hid between the seats.

Wen Zhiling was confused, not knowing what was happening, but hid with Lin Huairan. She asked in a hushed voice: “What are you doing?”

“Shhh.”

The boy from before had come back, but finding the piano room empty, he looked around in confusion and called out: “Zhiling?”

Two syllables.

Zhiling.

Lin Huairan scoffed disdainfully, his breath hitting Wen Zhiling’s nape, burning her. She shrank her neck, feeling that this person was causing trouble again for no reason.

Just as she was about to stand up, Lin Huairan covered her mouth and pulled her back down.

“???”

Is this guy sick?

“Is he your boyfriend?” Lin Huairan asked in a low voice in her ear.

Like a bass resonating, it shook Wen Zhiling’s eardrums, her ears seeming to burn.

It took her a while to realize what question he had asked.

“Of course not,” she said, her voice muffled by his hand.

“Then why does he call you Zhiling?”

“None of your business,” Wen Zhiling quickly retorted. “Don’t you see he’s looking for me? Let me go quickly.”

The windows of the piano room were open, and the sounds from the court below came in, covering their whispers.

“Sister Zhiling,” Lin Huairan suddenly said, his voice husky and lazy.

This was what he called her during their black history period, recorded online.

Having not heard it for so long, Wen Zhiling immediately got goosebumps, vividly reminded of that black history.

“Do you think we can explain our relationship clearly if you go out now?”

“…”

Fortunately, the boy probably thought Wen Zhiling had left for some reason and didn’t stay long, soon leaving with his bag.

Wen Zhiling finally bit down hard on Lin Huairan’s hand and broke free.

He hissed: “Are you a dog?”

“You’re the dog!” Wen Zhiling kicked him once and ran out of the piano room like she was escaping.

She ran to the school gate, panting heavily. She opened her phone’s front camera to look at herself—her entire face was red, and her body was inexplicably hot all over.

Wen Zhiling angrily stomped her foot.

Why is he so annoying!

Why was he so close to her for no reason!!!

Lin Huairan had originally intended to reconcile with Wen Zhiling that day, but instead ended up making her even angrier. For the next few days, Wen Zhiling’s attitude toward him was very strange; she would walk away whenever she saw him.

Soon, it was the New Year’s Eve party.

Class 9’s liberal arts choir was the last performance.

Several of the boys had already slipped out to play basketball, and they called for Lin Huairan a couple of times, but he didn’t go.

Finally, it was the last program. Staff moved the piano onto the stage, and the choir formation was ready, but the two piano players were nowhere to be seen.

Discussions and murmurs started around them.

Wen Zhiling was a popular figure at school, and news quickly spread: one of the piano players had suddenly gotten a stomachache and couldn’t make it.

Lin Huairan stood up and walked onstage amidst everyone’s gaze.

Wen Zhiling saw him, opened her mouth, remembered her earlier words “if I say another word to you, I’m a dog,” and closed it again.

“Need me?” Lin Huairan asked.

“Huh?”

He lifted his chin, gesturing toward the piano.

“Can you play?” Wen Zhiling asked, realizing as soon as the words left her mouth that she had asked a silly question.

“Yes.”

With no time to delay, the two went onstage without a single rehearsal.

Seeing Wen Zhiling and Lin Huairan sit down together at the piano, the audience below instantly erupted in loud cheers and applause.

Lin Huairan had heard what song they were playing before. He indeed had musical talent, and although he hadn’t practiced piano for long, he had very good musical sense.

As the prelude started, they both struck the first note simultaneously.

Smooth and melodious music flowed out, accompanied by the choir.

In Wen Zhiling’s peripheral vision were Lin Huairan’s hands, bony and slender, nimbly dancing on the black and white keys.

One song ended, met with screams and applause from below.

Walking outside, Wen Zhiling muttered: “I’m done, I’m done, I’m done. Now we definitely can’t clear things up.”

Lin Huairan curled his lips, not saying anything.

Outside, it was cold, and she was still wearing the thin performance outfit. He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Behind them came hurried footsteps. The boy ran over: “Zhiling, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault for suddenly getting a stomachache.”

“It’s okay. At least we didn’t have a gap in the program.”

The boy was stunned, obviously not knowing that Lin Huairan had stepped in to help, and his gaze moved to his face.

Lin Huairan steadily met his gaze, then calmly took Wen Zhiling’s hand, following up on her words: “Then let’s not clear things up.”

“What?”

The young man looked at her, the dim light making his face appear exceptionally gentle, yet he smiled mischievously: “Sister Zhiling, do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“…”

Lin Huairan watched the blush rising on her cheeks and curled his lips: “Can I kiss you now?”

“…”

Wen Zhiling’s face was bright red, not just from embarrassment, but more from shame.

Because those lines were what they had said when they established their relationship during the filming of “Baby Style” as children.

By now, they had certainly forgotten what they had said as children, but theirs had been permanently preserved.

Wen Zhiling pressed her lips together, pretending to be calm as she mocked: “You don’t still frequently rewatch those things, do you?”

Lin Huairan laughed lightly: “Just reminiscing about my obedient Sister Zhiling.”

The boy beside them couldn’t bear to stay any longer and turned to leave.

Lin Huairan paid no more attention, raised his hands to cup her face, his fingertips brushing her lips, and murmured ambiguously: “Before, I only kissed your cheek. This time we can’t follow the script.”

Wen Zhijing had been watching the performance halfway through when he was called away by a short message from little Wutong, and now he was bringing the little girl to the high school section.

The two were chatting and laughing when suddenly Wen Zhijing’s footsteps halted.

He saw two people kissing in public at school, violating school rules: “…”

He raised his hand to cover little Wutong’s eyes.

Little Wutong was confused: “Brother Zhijing?”

Wen Zhijing: “Be good and close your eyes. Little children shouldn’t see such shameless things.”