After registering his fingerprint, Li Wu washed both their bowls and tidied up the kitchen before returning to the living room.

Cen Jin was sitting on the sofa reading a book. She liked to curl up in the corner, completely wrapping her lower body in a blanket, as if only this position could give her enough sense of security.

Li Wu observed her for a while, not immediately returning to the study but instead sitting down in the rattan chair nearby.

He sat with his hands crossed on his lap, motionless and silent.

Cen Jin turned a page, noticed the figure to her right in her peripheral vision, and lowered her book, speaking softly: “Why are you sitting there?”

Li Wu’s fingers curled slightly as if it took great effort to speak: “You seem to be in a bad mood.”

Cen Jin held her place in the book with her finger, casually resting it on her knee: “Not just a bad mood, my head hurts terribly.”

He hesitated: “Do we have any pain medication?”

Cen Jin continued looking at him: “Have you finished your homework?”

Li Wu nodded: “Yes.”

Cen Jin asked: “Why are you suddenly asking about me?”

“…”

She suddenly grew wary, her expression showing a hint of insight: “What did Wu Fu say to you?”

Li Wu shook his head: “Nothing.”

“Focus on your studies,” Cen Jin reopened her book, using the gesture to signal the end of the conversation. “Don’t concern yourself with adult matters.”

Li Wu was momentarily speechless, feeling the woman’s rejection in every way. He immediately stood up and returned to the study.

The joy from registering his fingerprint hadn’t lasted long before being quickly devoured by a deeper and more helpless frustration.

He picked up his backpack from beside his feet, pulled out all his midterm exam papers, and began redoing them one subject at a time.

Studying was the only way he could return to his true self, his way of investigating things to gain knowledge.

Only when facing endless practice problems, vocabulary, poetry and prose, cells, elements, and matter could he find absolute fairness, equality, peace of mind, and belonging – unrelated to love or age.

His dedication and hard work earned their due reward.

During Monday morning’s physics class, after distributing the exam papers, the teacher didn’t immediately start reviewing but specifically mentioned his name: “Li Wu’s physics score is first in our class, it would rank well even in the experimental class.”

The whole class let out a long gasp of surprise.

The teacher couldn’t hide her pride as she scolded the others: “How have you all been studying? He’s a transfer student who’s been here less than a month, and you? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Some male student interjected: “His name reversed means ‘physics’! No wonder he’s naturally gifted!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Li Wu’s lips also curved slightly.

After class, the homeroom teacher called him to the office.

The round-faced woman was composed, her attitude more pleasant than when they first met: “Li Wu, you did well in physics this time. I’ve looked into your other subject scores in advance.”

Li Wu stood by the desk, making a sound of acknowledgment.

“Except for slightly weak English, everything else is good,” the teacher shook her head as if impressed: “Unexpected, really unexpected.”

Li Wu asked: “What was my English score?”

“121,” the teacher wasn’t entirely certain and turned to call the nearby English teacher: “Wang Chen! Li Wu got 121, right?”

Teacher Wang found the grade sheet and checked: “Yes.”

Hearing this, Li Wu’s expression darkened somewhat, seemingly unsatisfied.

The homeroom teacher looked at him again, noticing his expression: “Class and grade rankings aren’t out yet, but you’re definitely in the top ten for our class.”

She spoke earnestly: “You just came to Yi Middle School, and I was worried you wouldn’t adjust, but achieving such scores in such a short time is impressive. It’s good to have high standards for yourself, but don’t push too hard, understand? Besides studying, make sure to make friends and maintain a good work-life balance.”

Li Wu responded: “Okay.”

The teacher continued: “I’ll reassign your seat later, pair you with someone good at English so you can help each other.”

Li Wu nodded: “Thank you, teacher.”

“Mm, go back to class now.”

When he returned to the classroom, a group of boys had gathered around Li Wu’s desk, with Cheng Rui’s voice standing out: “148, how did you manage that?”

Li Wu walked over to find them examining his physics answer sheet as if admiring a miniature wonder.

Sensing the high scorer’s approach, the boys turned their heads in unison and parted ways with synchronized movements.

Cheng Rui was still absorbed in his neat, flawless handwriting, flipping his answer sheet back and forth several times like a pancake, clicking his tongue in amazement.

Li Wu stood beside him for a moment before reaching out to take it back.

Cheng Rui finally reacted and looked back at him.

Li Wu asked expressionlessly: “Seen enough?”

Cheng Rui sheepishly stood up, forcing a flattering smile: “That fill-in-the-blank you got wrong – was it on purpose to hide your true ability?”

“I calculated it wrong.” Li Wu exhaled, sitting back in his seat.

The boys scattered like startled birds.

Cheng Rui still lingered by his chair: “I don’t believe it, you’re quite the sly one.”

Li Wu looked up: “What was your physics score?”

“Goodbye.” Cheng Rui beat a hasty retreat.

The next day, the midterm class rankings were posted on the classroom doors. Most students rushed to look, while the rest either showed indifference or sat at their desks sighing with their faces in their hands.

Li Wu kept glancing in that direction, his heart beating anxiously, wondering whether he should go check.

Fortunately, Cheng Rui was even more concerned than him. By his seventh glance, the boy had already nimbly squeezed out of the crowd, excitedly waving to him, his voice nearly drowning out the break time noise: “Li Wu! You’re sixth! You’re amazing!”

For a moment, everyone in class looked his way.

Li Wu lowered his head, wishing he could hide behind his book stand forever.

Cheng Rui stopped at his desk, speaking in a way that would make their Chinese teacher want to spit blood: “I’m so proud of you, I’m so happy, is this what it feels like when one person’s success brings glory to all around them?”

Li Wu couldn’t help but smile, then asked seriously: “Can you see the grade ranking up there?”

Cheng Rui paused, “Wait a second.”

He ran back, bouncing around looking for his name, then turned back with a brilliant smile, making gestures:

An eight;

A nine.

Eighty-ninth place.

Li Wu’s face immediately fell. He leaned back in his chair, motionless for a long time, dejected and at a loss.

Cheng Rui ran back: “What’s wrong with you? Eighty-ninth is amazing, why do you look like your soul has left your body?”

Li Wu looked up at him, the light in his eyes suddenly dimming: “Not in the top thirty.”

“Brother – the top thirty are all monsters from the experimental class, okay? You’re being annoying and pretentious, you know? If Lin Honglang saw you looking like this, he’d have punched you already.”

Li Wu asked, confused: “Why?”

“…Oh God…” Cheng Rui looked to the heavens and wailed.

Because he hadn’t reached the top thirty in the grade, Li Wu didn’t want to voluntarily tell Cen Jin about his midterm scores.

He was afraid of disappointing her, so he could only delay day after day, praying she wouldn’t ask about it directly.

—

On Thursday night, Cen Jin treated all her close colleagues to a farewell dinner. Wu Fu wasn’t among them – he had declined her invitation.

After dinner, they went to karaoke together. Cen Jin got them a large room, while she sat in the corner with her drink, keeping rhythm, watching them make noise, watching them laugh, watching them sing their hearts out and dance with abandon. Under the colorful lights, she was like a lone audience member watching a film, outside the scene, quietly observing the people in the story, glamorous yet delirious, transformed from humans into beasts in a cave of demons.

When the secondhand smoke made her dizzy, Cen Jin used going to the bathroom as an excuse to get some fresh air.

She closed the door tight, completely blocking out the singing from inside, and leaned against the wall alone, taking out her phone.

It was already past one, but she didn’t feel a trace of fatigue or sleepiness.

Back home, Cen Jin fell into a deep sleep.

It was her first truly sound, sweet sleep since her marriage began falling apart as if she’d been freed from a sentence, not wanting to wake from this great dream.

The next afternoon, she returned to the company one last time to erase all traces of her years there.

Wu Fu happened to be there and came over to help her organize and move things, saving her considerable effort.

As they walked out together, applause and cheers erupted behind them, as passionate as when they exchanged rings at their outdoor wedding.

Cen Jin’s steps faltered, and she smiled in acceptance, though her nose burned with emotion.

Before getting in her car, she sniffled and looked at the man before her, curving her lips: “Thank you.”

Wu Fu gazed at her: “Need a goodbye hug?”

“No,” she immediately refused, afraid it would trigger the tears already threatening to fall: “I’m leaving.”

“Alright,” he kept watching her: “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Sitting back in her car, Cen Jin watched Wu Fu walk further and further away until he disappeared. Only then did she rub her nose hard, withdraw her gaze, and take out her phone to message Chun Chang:

I’m free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her friend’s ability to pour cold water was unmatched: Cry if you want to. Come out for drinks tonight, both my shoulders are yours.

Cen Jin built up her emotions for a moment, but found herself like a dry sponge unable to squeeze out a single tear, then righteously replied: Really don’t want to cry, cried too much earlier, there’s no liquid left in my body.

Chun Chang:? Is divorce that miserable? At the “flower of youth” and already heading down the path of premature ovarian failure and menopause.

Cen Jin laughed: Get lost.

Chun Chang stopped joking: When do you start at Ao Xing?

Cen Jin: Next Monday.

Chun Chang belatedly realized: You’re taking three days off?? Taking a mini vacation right after quitting??

Cen Jin: Yep.

Chun Chang: I want to follow your example.

Cen Jin: Don’t, don’t be impulsive.

Chun Chang sighed: True, poverty doesn’t allow me to be willful.

She asked again: How’s your high school brother? Any new photos? Comfort this aging working adult’s heart, preferably in his school uniform.

Cen Jin:?

Cen Jin: No.

Cen Jin hadn’t expected Chun Chang to be so fixated on Li Wu.

In comparison, she as the “semi-guardian” had been extremely irresponsible.

Busy with leaving her job, she hadn’t contacted him for nearly a week, even forgetting to ask about his midterm exam results.

Thinking of this, Cen Jin hurried to make amends.

She switched to messages, about to send a text asking about his scores when she suddenly remembered his unenthusiastic response when grades were mentioned the night she picked him up last week, and he hadn’t voluntarily told her his scores these past few days…

Could it be that he didn’t do well?

Cen Jin pondered, exiting the message screen.

She changed tactics, returning to WeChat to find “Teacher Qi’s” name, carefully composing a message: Hello Teacher Qi. I need to trouble you with something – I’d like to know Li Wu’s midterm exam scores. He hasn’t told me anything, and I’m worried he might not have done well and doesn’t want to say. Rather than asking him directly, I was hoping to take a shortcut through you. If possible, I hope you can send me all his subject scores, so I can better understand his situation and address any weak areas. Thank you.

After sending it, Cen Jin put one hand on the steering wheel, anxiously waiting.

Three minutes later, there was a reply.

It was a long screenshot, which in thumbnail showed what appeared to be a grade report.

Plus a text message.

Teacher Qi: Li Wu did very well, especially in physics where he ranked first in the class – extremely outstanding. His math is also good, and his total score ranks sixth in the class. Both Teacher Zhang and I were surprised. You should praise and encourage him more, this child studies very diligently and has perseverance and drive, and his future potential is limitless.

Cen Jin let out a long breath and quickly replied “Thank you, I’ll definitely cheer him on more,” then opened the image to examine it carefully.

Looking through the row of subjects one by one, Cen Jin couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

However, this smile didn’t last long before turning to slight annoyance and suspicion. Cen Jin narrowed her eyes slightly:

So, it wasn’t that she was too busy with personal matters to pay attention to this kid,

But rather that he was already flourishing at school and couldn’t be bothered to report his excellent results to her?