With that, Zhao Binlin turned to look at Feng Ning.

Before he could say anything, Feng Ning went along smoothly, “Sit down and talk, everyone’s staring at you.”

Jiang Wen naturally continued feeding her congee; Feng Ning took the spoon from him. “I’ll eat myself.”

Xi Gaoyuan finally snapped out of it too, plopping himself down across from them. “How long has this been going on?”

“It’s a long story.”

The others were still standing at the door craning their necks; Zhao Binlin shot them a look, and the group, laughing and hooting, pushed each other over to sit at the next table.

“Damn, you two are actually for real?”

Jiang Wen: “What else would it be.”

“Man, I still can’t quite believe it.” Xi Gaoyuan put on a heartbroken expression. “I raised this kid for years, and now he’s suddenly turned into someone else’s dog?”

This sense of being surrounded and teased by good friends felt somewhat unfamiliar, yet also somewhat satisfying. Jiang Wen’s lips curved up slightly.

Zhao Binlin said loudly, “Jiang Wen finally made it through, wasn’t for nothing—”

Catching a glare directed at him, he choked, nearly slipping up, and hastily changed course. “Feng Ning, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“My throat’s a bit off lately.” Her attention wasn’t quite focused; she hadn’t noticed anything unusual, pointing at her own throat. “Sorry about that.”

“Weird, is it because you’re in a relationship now?”

Xi Gaoyuan leaned in, sizing her up. “Somehow Feng Ning feels a lot gentler now.”

Feng Ning smiled faintly.

They didn’t know about Feng Ning’s family situation, so they spoke freely, without holding back. Jiang Wen pointed to the side. “You two.”

“Hm?”

“Go.”

“What’s the rush, can’t we chat with our sister-in-law a bit?”

Zhao Binlin shot him a look. “Sister-in-law, you’ve finally given our top dog here some proper status. He’s always been such a glass heart — these past two years he’s really been tormented by you.”

Feng Ning, looking exhausted, played along with their joking, saying with mock seriousness, “No worries, I’ve got super glue — if he breaks, I’ll just glue him back together.”

Feng Ning had no appetite and was worn out. Drinking the congee half-heartedly, taking a sip here and there, she checked the time and took off her jacket, handing it back to Jiang Wen. “Go back to the dorm and change, then head to class.”

“I’ll take a couple days off to stay with you.”

Feng Ning pushed him away. “I’ll call you if something comes up. Go study properly.”

Jiang Wen glanced at her. “Your phone’s on silent, you won’t hear my calls.”

“Fine.” Feng Ning took out her phone and turned off silent mode right in front of him. “There, is that good?”

Jiang Wen was reluctantly satisfied.

Zhao Binlin couldn’t bear to watch him like this any longer, muttering to Xi Gaoyuan under his breath, “You’d think Jiang Wen took forever to come around, but once he falls for someone, it’s like an old house catching fire — burns fast and wild.”

“Right, quite the contrast too.” Xi Gaoyuan sighed helplessly. “You know, this guy normally acts like even saying two extra words to someone is a huge favor. Who knew he had a whole other side hidden away, and it’s—”

he lowered his voice suggestively, “a total clingy baby.”

The clingy baby Jiang Wen finally said his goodbyes to Feng Ning and left with Zhao Binlin and the others.

Feng Ning had never wasted food since childhood; even with no appetite right now, she insisted on finishing the congee completely.

Just as she stepped outside, someone called from behind, “— Feng Ning.”

She turned around.

Pei Shurou smiled calmly. “Can we talk?”

They went to a small boutique café nearby. Pei Shurou was a regular here; she looked over the menu, raised her head to ask, “What would you like to drink?”

“Just order whatever you want, I’ll have a glass of warm water.”

Pei Shurou: “You don’t look well — how about I get you a coffee?”

Feng Ning nodded. “Sure, whatever.”

“Don’t you have class?”

“I already finished my art exam, so I’ve got some free time for now.”

Feng Ning made an acknowledging sound, took a small sip of coffee — rich aroma, strong bitterness. Not bad, actually. She set down the porcelain cup. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Pei Shurou: “Just chatting.”

“About what?” Feng Ning had no interest in wasting words, nor did she want to beat around the bush with her. “You want to talk to me about Jiang Wen?”

Pei Shurou asked, unhurried, “Are you going back to school this year?”

Feng Ning thought about it. “Yeah, probably.”

“…So you and Jiang Wen, are you two together now?”

“Yes.”

That was Feng Ning’s answer.

“Mm, I could tell, he really likes you.” Pei Shurou seemed to sink into a memory. “The first time I met you was freshman year, you and Jiang Wen were fighting over something in the classroom.”

Feng Ning had no memory of what she was describing at all, and admitted honestly, “Really? I don’t really remember that.”

“Jiang Wen was different toward you from the very start. Now that you two are together, as a friend, I’m happy for him.”

Pei Shurou stirred her coffee gracefully with a small spoon, meeting Feng Ning’s eyes. “I know this might not be the right time to say this, but honestly speaking, you and Jiang Wen — you two might not be all that suited for each other.”

Feng Ning nodded, unbothered. “You’re right.”

“……”

Feng Ning’s expression stayed flat. “That’s it? Nothing more?”

Pei Shurou’s fine brows knitted.

The coffee had cooled somewhat; Feng Ning picked it up and drank it down in one go. She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Anything else? If not, I’m heading home to sleep.”

A little provoked by her attitude, Pei Shurou’s expression shifted slightly. “I know a bit about your family situation — you grew up in a single-parent household, and your mother just passed away recently, didn’t she.”

“Who told you that?” Feng Ning paused, finally looking up at her, half amused, half puzzled. “Don’t tell me you had someone investigate me?”

Pei Shurou didn’t deny it.

Feng Ning shook her head lightly, genuinely finding it a bit funny. “You think too highly of me.”

Pei Shurou let out a light scoff too. This kind of laugh was easy to read — it carried no goodwill whatsoever. She spoke with a habitual air of superiority. “I’m not looking down on you, but Jiang Wen was never really your kind of person to begin with. Jiang Wen was born into the sunlight, his entire path already paved smooth by his family. Feng Ning, don’t drag him down into your darkness, and don’t be the stone in his road either.”

Feng Ning found this kind of script tiresome, and said mockingly, “First of all, I’m a person, not some stone. Second, does Jiang Wen need photosynthesis or something? Needs sunlight this badly, can’t survive without it?”

“Do you always feel this at ease dragging someone down?” Pei Shurou, mocked in turn, didn’t get angry. “Guess you don’t know about Jiang Wen’s plan to repeat a year, then?”

There was a silence of some tens of seconds; Feng Ning made an acknowledging sound. “I really didn’t know that.”

“Now you do.”

Feng Ning nodded, thought for a few seconds, still composed as ever, unmoved even as the mountain crumbled before her. “Alright, now I know. So then, what do you want me to do about it. You want me to break up with him, so I don’t hold back his bright future — is that it?”

“Exactly.”

“What’s your relationship with Jiang Wen — do you like him?”

“I’m his friend.” Pei Shurou paused, emphasizing, “A good friend since childhood.”

“Okay, you’re his friend. So then, what’s your relationship with me?”

Pei Shurou was momentarily stunned.

“Do I even know you?”

Feng Ning looked at her clearly, plainly. “Since you’re just his friend, what right do you have to interfere in my business? If you don’t want him repeating a year, if you want to save him, if you’re hoping he’ll come to his senses — go find him directly. Why come to me?”

“……”

Pei Shurou was left with nothing to say.

“But since you did come find me, I’ll give you two sentences in return.”

Feng Ning stood up, leaned in close, and raised one finger. “First — none of your business.”

She raised a second finger. “Second — mind your own business.”

With that, Feng Ning briskly gathered her things and stood up.

She went up to the counter to pay. Picking up the bill, glancing at it, she left only enough money to cover her own single cup of coffee, and walked out.

Feng Ning planned to return to school in September, going straight into her senior year. She took on both day and night part-time jobs. First, because Qi Lan’s illness had left some debts outstanding, and she wanted to pay them off soon; second, she didn’t want to let herself stop moving — staying busy meant no time to overthink.

Besides, pain always fades slowly with time; you get used to it eventually, become numb to it eventually.

On Saturday night, Simply Sweet was packed. Feng Ning’s phone sat off to the side, ringing several times without her catching it. During a lull in the busyness, she found a quiet spot and called Jiang Wen back.

His voice sounded a bit stifled. “I went to your place, didn’t see you there.”

Qide’s senior class only got one day off a week, on Sundays; most students only went home once a month, so on Saturday nights the school didn’t enforce curfew.

Feng Ning said, “I’m at work.”

“You’re not resting at home?”

“I’ve rested plenty. If I don’t come out to work, am I just supposed to lie at home all day waiting to die?”

Jiang Wen fell silent for a moment, then said, “You could’ve waited for me.”

Feng Ning was amused by that. “Who taught you to crack jokes like that.”

“Is it that same bar as last time? What time do you get off? I’ll come find you.”

“No need, just hurry back to school.”

Someone called out loudly for Feng Ning; she held the phone away for a moment. “What is it?”

“There are a few people waiting to pay up front.”

“Okay, got it.” Feng Ning hurriedly said goodbye to Jiang Wen. “That’s it then, I’m busy right now, we’ll talk tomorrow if there’s anything.”

She stayed busy until two in the morning, when the bar’s customers finally thinned out significantly. Tongtong, having a free moment, ran over to Feng Ning, saying mysteriously, “There’s someone who’s been sitting outside for a long while, not sure who they’re waiting for.”

“So what if they’re sitting there, what’s so strange about that.” Feng Ning was wiping glasses. “Just one more heartbroken soul in this city.”

Tongtong gestured excitedly, “No, no, he looks like a high schooler, and he’s super handsome. Me and Xiaoxi snuck over to peek at him a bunch of times — we asked him what he was doing, and he said he’s waiting for someone.”

Feng Ning looked up, her hand pausing mid-wipe on the glass. “I’ll go take a look.”

This whole street was lined with bars, lively with voices at night, the signboards hung with warm-toned colorful lights. It was quite late by now, but it didn’t feel too deserted.

Feng Ning walked over step by step, stopped in front of him. “Hey, handsome.”

Jiang Wen wore a white hoodie, staring at the wooden table in front of him, not even glancing up at her.

Feng Ning reached out, lifting his chin up with one finger. “Quite the temper you’ve got, ignoring me?”

Jiang Wen’s chin was forced up; he looked back at her.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Feng Ning smiled faintly, saying lightly, “Why are you sitting here without a word? Waiting for me to get off work?”

Jiang Wen still said nothing.

Feng Ning hooked his chin, jiggling it a couple of times. “Gone mute?”

Jiang Wen lowered his head slightly, huffing in annoyance, and bit down on her finger.

A patch of wetness spread across Feng Ning’s fingertip; Jiang Wen’s tongue was soft. She tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn’t let go.

“My hand’s filthy.”

His lashes drooped slightly.

Feng Ning had no choice but to use her other hand to pinch his chin instead. “Alright, are you a dog? Stop biting, quit it.”

After a while of fussing, Jiang Wen let go, still upset. “You don’t tell me anything.”

“What, you came all this way just to fight with me?” Feng Ning ruffled his hair. “Wait here, I’ll go tell my boss and then come sit with you.”

Feng Ning took off her apron as she walked.

Already a crowd had gathered at Simply Sweet’s entrance to watch the show; Tongtong said enviously, “Damn, Ning-zai, so that handsome guy was waiting for you all along?”

Feng Ning found their excitement amusing; she casually set her uniform aside. “He’s my friend, I’m going to talk to him for a bit — if it’s busy, come find me.”

“Go on, go on, what could be busier than a date with a handsome guy right now.”

“Alright.” Feng Ning was just about to leave when Tongtong grabbed hold of her. “Hey hey hey, wait, what exactly is your relationship with this handsome guy?”

“It’s… the kind of relationship you’re thinking of.”

Feng Ning brought out a sparkling cocktail and plopped down beside him.

Jiang Wen: “I don’t drink.”

“I made it myself, no alcohol in it. Do this humble one the honor of trying it, young master.”

A rare display of attentiveness from her; Jiang Wen reluctantly picked it up and took a sip.

“How does it taste?”

“Not bad.” Jiang Wen set down the cup.

Feng Ning thought, finally smoothed his ruffled fur. But her relief lasted all of two seconds before he started tallying up grievances: “If I hadn’t called you, how long were you planning to keep this hidden from me?”

Feng Ning gave a sheepish laugh. “How am I hiding anything from you, the moment you called I told you, didn’t I?”

“Then why can’t you tell me on your own initiative.”

She admitted fault. “Fine, my self-awareness wasn’t up to standard.”

With her acting like this, Jiang Wen couldn’t muster any real anger. He sulked for a while before saying, “If you’re short on money, I can help you apply for a financial aid grant.”

Feng Ning’s expression stayed flat, not much reaction. “What, are you planning to have your family pull strings for me too?”

Jiang Wen caught the teasing in her tone. “I’m serious.”

Feng Ning propped her chin on her hand, looking at him. “Perfect timing, let’s talk, the two of us.”

“Talk about what.”

“A friend of yours came to find me the other day — she said you’re planning to repeat a grade?”

Jiang Wen’s expression shifted slightly; he didn’t answer right away. After a moment’s thought, “Who told you that.”

Feng Ning straightened up, surprised. “You actually really do have that plan?”

Jiang Wen said nothing.

Feng Ning reached out, cupping his head with both hands, shaking it back and forth.

He dodged back. “What are you doing?”

Feng Ning said through gritted teeth, “Shaking your head, checking if there’s water sloshing around inside.”

Jiang Wen wasn’t in the mood to joke around with her. “You want to stay alone in South City?”

“What’s wrong with being alone?” Feng Ning’s expression turned serious. “Don’t do something like this for my sake. You have things you’re supposed to be doing. Don’t act on impulse — let’s settle everything after the college entrance exam.”

He acted unconcerned. “So what if I repeat a year? The colleges I could get into this year, I could get into next year too, all the same.”

“Then what’s the point of doing this?”

The words slipped out before he could stop them: “To be with you.”

“I already told you, I don’t need that.” She sighed, looking at Jiang Wen flatly. “I don’t want you doing this. I’m telling you seriously — I don’t need someone to accompany me. Don’t act on impulse — and going forward, if anything like this comes up, you have to discuss it with me beforehand. If there’s a next time, I really will be angry.”

Their relationship had been unequal from the very start — he liked her, but she didn’t like him back in equal measure. He’d been teased by her so many times that he always had this one fragile nerve she could pinch at will. The moment Feng Ning said something harsh, his mood would instantly sour.

Jiang Wen’s breathing grew heavier, as if suppressing something. “So you think I haven’t grown up, that I’m immature, that I have no ambition, is that it?” Feng Ning restrained her own temper, trying to soothe him. “I don’t think that at all, I just want to talk this through properly with you. I don’t want to fight, calm down for a moment.”

“Aren’t you worried I’ll forget you once I’m at university?” His voice carried a faint trace of resentment.

Feng Ning put on a wistful expression. “I’ll try my best to get over it.”

“I know you won’t worry about it.” Jiang Wen said self-mockingly. “But I will. I don’t want a long-distance relationship, I’m afraid you’ll forget me, is that so wrong.”

Feng Ning: “?”

“You give me zero sense of security.”

“……”

Feng Ning let out a breath, weakly. “So what do you want me to do, to give you, this sense of security?”

“I don’t know, just consider it me being unreasonable.”

“Being unreasonable doesn’t mean skipping the college entrance exam, does it? A grown man still throwing a rebellious phase?”

Jiang Wen didn’t respond.

Feng Ning seemed to think it over for a moment. Suddenly, she moved.

Seeing her lean in, Jiang Wen instinctively tilted his head aside.

Feng Ning braced both hands beside him, tilting her face up slightly, narrowing her eyes as she studied Jiang Wen.

He pretended to stay calm, his gaze wandering.

The dim blue lighting fell across his face. Eyes were eyes, nose was nose, lips faintly shaped, every feature refined and captivating.

Just looking at that face could put out the fiercest of fires.

A sudden warmth on her lips — Feng Ning kissed the corner of his mouth.

Jiang Wen’s expression froze slightly, still in the midst of his sulk.

She kissed, he dodged.

After a few tries, he grabbed her chin with his hand, voice hoarse. “What are you doing, being a hooligan?”

Feng Ning’s eyes curved slightly; she said it deliberately: “Kissing you, what, don’t want it?”

“Never mind then.” Just as she was about to straighten up, almost the very next second, Jiang Wen kissed her back.

A hot, soft tongue tip pried open the seam of her lips, sliding across her teeth.

He kept his eyes closed, his long, dense black lashes trembling rapidly, even his breathing turning urgent. Feng Ning kept her eyes open the whole time, watching him.

She suddenly burst into laughter.

Jiang Wen stopped, opening his eyes in irritation, his deep black eyes clouded with a sheen of moisture. “What are you laughing at.”

“Study hard, okay? Don’t make me worry.”

Feng Ning leaned in on her own, draping herself over Jiang Wen’s shoulder, arms wrapping around the back of his neck. “Did you hear me?”

He turned his face away. “No.”

Feng Ning kissed his earlobe. “How about this?”

“No.”

A kiss landed on his chin. “This?”

“No.”

A kiss landed on his eyelid. “This?”

“No.”

A kiss landed on the side of his neck. “This?”

“Feng Ning.” He caught hold of her hand.

She was still smiling. “What?”

Jiang Wen lowered his head, mimicking what she’d just done, his lips brushing close to her ear. “If you keep kissing me, I might not be able to control myself and do something to you.”