On the other side, construction had officially begun on their home in Zhazha Pavilion, so recently Xing Wu had been busy shuttling between supervising the construction and visiting the hospital. It seemed the leisurely days during New Year when they had nothing to do but spend time together had completely ended with the post-holiday bustle.

They only had a few hours together in the evenings, but once Qing Ye resumed her regular rhythm, her sleep time instantly shortened to just five hours a day, sometimes even less when busy. She had her own things to organize and review at the hotel. Xing Wu would sometimes lie on the bed watching her, and although it was hard for him to suppress the urge in his heart, he couldn’t bear to waste her time – he’d rather she use those hours to rest better.

Feng Bao was particularly concerned about Qing Ye. One day after everyone left the factory, he specifically went to ask her, saying he heard something happened at Xing Wu’s home and asked where she was staying now.

Qing Ye casually told him she was temporarily staying at a hotel, so Feng Bao said since it was on his way, they could walk back together. Since most people lived in the Zhazha Pavilion area and Feng Bao was heading toward Fourth Lane, Qing Ye didn’t mind going along with him.

On the way, Feng Bao somewhat shyly asked, “Qing Ye, what school do you think I could get into? Or what major would be helpful for future employment?”

Qing Ye turned to look at him and smiled, “If you’re asking me now, your options are limited. Put in more effort and try for a 211 university.”

Feng Bao pushed his glasses up in surprise: “You think I could get into a 211?”

Qing Ye spoke earnestly: “Spend some time on classical texts and poetry. Get a small notebook and memorize what needs to be memorized – there are no shortcuts. Your writing is good. Spend at least twenty minutes every day browsing current events news and topic reports. Trust me, this habit might help you turn things around in the college entrance exam.”

Feng Bao stared at Qing Ye with shining eyes: “Do you do this every day too?”

Qing Ye nodded: “Yes, started in ninth grade and kept at it for four years.”

Before they knew it, they had reached the hotel. Feng Bao felt like every minute talking with Qing Ye was like discovering new worlds, and somewhat reluctantly asked: “I feel like you’re quite busy – do you have time to follow all this every day?”

Qing Ye stopped at the roadside below the hotel and said to him: “Why wouldn’t I? Whether eating, using the bathroom, or taking a shower – you can always squeeze out time if you try. Go study the essay topics from various provinces these past two years and you’ll see how important this kind of material is. There are 60 points right in front of you – I’ve taught you the method, now go get those points back. The 211 universities are waving at you.”

She smiled at him, and Feng Bao felt like he’d been enlightened, suddenly knowing which direction to push himself in. The dim street light fell on Qing Ye’s face, her clear features unstained by dust, mesmerizing Feng Bao. The young man’s passion was instantly ignited by her, and he said somewhat excitedly: “Qing Ye, thank you.”

Qing Ye shrugged: “You’re welcome, I’m going now.”

Just as she turned around, Feng Bao suddenly called out to her retreating figure: “Have you chosen your school yet? I heard you’re planning to study abroad?”

Qing Ye’s smile gradually faded, and she lowered her eyes. After a while, she turned back to look at him: “I haven’t decided yet.”

When Qing Ye returned to their hotel room, Xing Wu was leaning by the window with a cigarette between his lips, looking down. He didn’t turn around when he heard her come in.

Qing Ye put down her bag and asked: “What are you looking at?”

Xing Wu casually extinguished his cigarette: “Watching how a pure-hearted young man becomes infatuated with you.”

Qing Ye laughed: “Are you talking about yourself?”

Xing Wu lazily turned around, his eyes containing a hint of playfulness. Qing Ye immediately realized something and ran to the window to look down. Sure enough, Feng Bao hadn’t left yet and was lingering aimlessly by the road.

Qing Ye turned to look at Xing Wu with an odd expression. He was still leaning casually by the window, looking at her sideways. Just then, Qing Ye’s phone in her pocket suddenly buzzed. Xing Wu’s gaze slowly moved from her face to her jacket pocket, saying playfully: “Want me to get that for you?”

Qing Ye awkwardly took out her phone and looked at it. Sure enough, it was from Feng Bao: “Qing Ye, tomorrow morning I’ll wait for you downstairs, shall we go together?”

Qing Ye glanced down – Feng Bao was standing in the strong wind looking anxious. She looked at Xing Wu again; his dark eyes held a burning intensity: “Reply then, don’t break the pure-hearted young man’s heart.”

Qing Ye immediately punched him, but Xing Wu caught her wrist and pulled her back, making her fall into his arms. He bent down to bite her ear, his breath scorching as he said: “How many people’s ethereal love do you want to become?”

Qing Ye laughed at his words and decided to take action, but her little strength was like a chick’s compared to Xing Wu’s. He easily restrained her hands and lifted her onto the bed, saying: “You probably don’t know how irresistible you are when you smile at people. Even from upstairs, I could see him enchanted like a fool.”

“Then what do you want me to do, cry at him?”

Xing Wu bent down to kiss her lovingly, his voice hoarse: “Can I hide you away and have you all to myself?”

He pulled open her clothes and his hand caressed her softness. She moaned softly: “Mmm… you’re already having me all to yourself, you jerk…”

Xing Wu lowered his eyes and smiled, pulling Qing Ye up and saying: “Go take a shower quickly, don’t stay up until midnight again.”

After all this commotion, Qing Ye completely forgot to reply to Feng Bao’s message. After her shower, she sat at the small table by the window and started working on her things, while Xing Wu stood behind her as usual, helping dry her wet hair with the hairdryer.

Qing Ye’s hair had grown much longer, and drying it was a tedious and time-consuming task for her. Since getting together with Xing Wu, she had contentedly handed this troublesome task over to him, allowing her to read or memorize things while he took care of it.

After Xing Wu finished drying her hair, he went to bed. Qing Ye kept working quietly until around eleven when she suddenly remembered she hadn’t replied to Feng Bao’s message. She instinctively stood up to look down at the street, thankfully that guy wasn’t there anymore, which startled her.

Then she turned to look at Xing Wu, who was watching her with half-closed eyes. Qing Ye immediately smiled and closed her book, walking to the bedside: “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Xing Wu shifted his gaze back to his phone: “Can’t sleep.”

Qing Ye sat on the edge of the bed and gradually leaned over, tilting her head to smile at him: “Are you… wanting it?”

Xing Wu raised his eyes to stare at her calmly, without speaking.

They hadn’t done “that” for several days. Since Qing Ye resumed her study schedule, she would sometimes be busy for hours at a time. She couldn’t attend to Xing Wu, and he didn’t want to disturb her, but today she could feel that her boyfriend’s inner volcano was about to erupt.

Xing Wu glanced at the window and said in a low, magnetic voice: “So early today?”

Qing Ye lifted the blanket, and Xing Wu immediately felt her soft presence, instinctively pulling her into his embrace as he heard her say: “I’m done working.”

Xing Wu laughed and turned over to keep her in his arms: “Are you sure?”

Qing Ye blinked with misty eyes, and then the room got quite noisy. Xing Wu was a bit wild tonight, almost making Qing Ye cry. She kicked off the blanket and complained dissatisfied: “Xing Wu! Do you think I’m made of paper? Lucky I learned to dance when I was young, or you would have broken me!”

Xing Wu smiled while rubbing his nose and pulled the blanket back up for her. Qing Ye kicked it off again in anger. After several rounds of this, Xing Wu simply used his body to keep her warm and rubbed her head: “That wasn’t your reaction earlier.”

Qing Ye buried her face in his embrace, mortified. She would never admit that she seemed to understand what addiction felt like now. Yes, she would never admit it.

Every morning, Xing Wu and Qing Ye left around the same time – she to the factory, and he to the hospital. However, today when they came downstairs, a young man was standing by the road, somewhat shyly holding two cups of soy milk and two portions of steamed buns.

Qing Ye looked at him awkwardly, then at Xing Wu. Xing Wu also stopped at the hotel entrance, coldly watching him. Feng Bao came forward and said: “Morning, Brother Wu. I’m heading to the factory with Qing Ye since it’s on my way.”

Xing Wu said expressionlessly: “Don’t you live in Maotang? How is this on your way?”

Qing Ye’s eye twitched. Feng Bao fumbled awkwardly with the breakfast in his hands and offered it to Xing Wu: “You haven’t eaten yet, right?”

Xing Wu took it without ceremony. Feng Bao gave the other portion to Qing Ye, but she waved it away: “No need, I’ve already eaten.”

Xing Wu had already made noodles and fed her until she was full – she couldn’t eat another bite.

Qing Ye said to Xing Wu: “Then I’m going first?”

Xing Wu nodded without much reaction: “Go ahead.”

Feng Bao politely said goodbye to Xing Wu. Xing Wu watched their retreating figures, his eyes revealing a hint of amusement.

In the evening, when everyone dispersed to go home for dinner since Grandmother had been hospitalized, Xing Wu had to rush to the county town during the day and usually returned around eight or nine, so Qing Ye ate dinner at Li Lanfang’s place.

Today when she returned home, she saw that the ruins from the big fire had been cleaned up. Thinking about how their new home would soon be built on this empty lot made Qing Ye very excited.

Since Grandmother was hospitalized, Li Lanfang had temporarily moved into Grandmother’s room. Now that Xuandao was gone, she didn’t even feel like playing mahjong every day.

However, following Xing Wu’s instructions, she still cooked dinner and waited for Qing Ye to return in the evenings.

After Qing Ye finished eating, Pang Hu happened to come by to walk back to the factory with her. On the way, Pang Hu finally spoke up: “Actually, I don’t know who to talk to… I want to study musical theater… what do you think…”

Qing Ye stopped and looked at him: “You want to apply to an arts school?”

Pang Hu said somewhat conflicted: “I haven’t dared tell my family. My dad would yell at me.”

But Qing Ye frowned: “This major requires an art exam. It’s almost March now – it’s too late!”

Pang Hu suddenly deflated like a balloon and laughed sheepishly: “Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Well, never mind then.”

Qing Ye looked at his disappointed expression, finding it somewhat difficult to speak.

Finally, she gently reminded him: “Musical theater majors seem to require language tests.”

They walked silently toward the factory. Pang Hu nodded, understanding Qing Ye’s meaning – if he couldn’t overcome his stutter, even if he made it in time for the art exam, he might not even pass the initial screening.

Sometimes people are very conflicted – hope and despair coexist, making it impossible to give up yet find no way out.

Later that night, the factory was very quiet. Everyone was doing practice problems, with only the regular sound of machines running. Their first batch of goods was about to come out in the next few days, and Du Qiyan was also working overtime in another office setting up the online store – everyone was very busy.

Qing Ye was buried in her problems when suddenly there was a stir among the crowd. When she looked up, she saw Xing Wu casually walking in with one hand in his pocket.

Since the tutoring class resumed, Xing Wu hadn’t had time to come by. Most of the students here were good students from An Middle School who usually trembled at the sight of Xing Wu. Except for their classmates, some students from other classes didn’t even know if Xing Wu and Qing Ye were related. After being here for so many days, suddenly seeing this school bully make his grand entrance, they immediately held their breath, all staring at him in unison.

Xing Wu glanced at the “Rush for Peking University, Occupy Tsinghua University” written on the blackboard, raised his eyebrow slightly, and walked straight to the back.

Finally, someone gathered the courage to weakly ask: “Brother Wu, you’re not here to collect protection fees, are you?”

Qing Ye silently laughed as no one expected Xing Wu to take his hand out of his pocket and slowly pull out a crumpled notebook, dropping it on the desk: “I’m here to study.”

Pang Hu, Fang Lei, and their group couldn’t hold back their laughter. The students from other classes, seeing Class 2 students laughing, also followed with dry laughter, unsure whether this school bully was joking or… joking?

Qing Ye calmly pulled out a test paper and said to Xiao Lingtong: “Give it to our new classmate.”

“Sure thing!” Xiao Lingtong scampered to Xing Wu’s front: “Brother Wu, here you go.”

Xing Wu took the test paper and looked up: “Can I borrow a pen?”

“…” Fang Lei and the others burst into laughter again, and Pang Hu directly threw him a pen.

Meanwhile, the good students from other classes kept nervously turning back to secretly peek at him, only to find him seriously working on the problems.

Xing Wu leaned back, his intimidating presence comparable to Principal Zhong, making them all fidgety.

Throughout the evening, everyone discovered that this school bully wasn’t here to cause trouble. He just sat in the last row, listening when Qing Ye explained problems, showing no intention of collecting protection fees.

After nine o’clock, people gradually dispersed. Qing Ye still had a small meeting with Liu Nian and others. Her hands were covered in chalk dust, so she went out to the courtyard to wash them. When she came back, everyone had left except Xing Wu, who was leaning against the factory door smiling at her.

Qing Ye deliberately flicked some water at him, and Xing Wu raised his hand to block it: “Looking for death?”

The words were fierce, but his tone was full of doting affection.

Qing Ye walked up to him and raised her neck: “You seemed to listen quite attentively. Did you understand?”

“Of course, I reached the highest level of understanding – seeming to understand but not understanding.”

Qing Ye’s smile bloomed on her lips. Xing Wu lifted her chin and placed a light kiss, Qing Ye had just closed her eyes when she suddenly opened them again to see that one person hadn’t left the factory – Feng Bao.