For the next several days, Cheng Lele spent every day recalling that kiss.

While brushing her teeth, “snap,” the memory opened.

When the teacher took a drink while lecturing and wiped their mouth, “snap,” the memory opened.

While packing her schoolbag and seeing lip balm, “snap,” the memory opened.

Even when the student in front sneezed, “snap,” the memory opened.

At least she had progressed from getting goosebumps all over whenever she thought of it to being able to recall it relatively calmly now. She propped up her head, fingers threaded through her hair, eyes full of dark circles, walking in a daze, moving through the classroom and cafeteria like a thread of gossamer.

Once Quan Zirong ran into her and saw her half-human, half-ghost appearance. When he got home, he immediately called Chen An.

“Chen An, your sister is studying herself to near exhaustion. Are you pushing her too hard?”

“What’s wrong?” Chen An asked with concern.

Quan Zirong said: “I’m afraid she won’t survive until exam day.”

In the evening, Chen An estimated the time and called Cheng Lele.

Cheng Lele took out her phone. Seeing the name on the screen, she almost flung the phone away like throwing a hot potato.

She didn’t answer the first time.

After about ten minutes or so, Chen An called again.

Cheng Lele remembered Zhong Ming’s advice and steeled herself to answer.

“Are you feeling unwell? Quan Zirong ran into you today and said you looked very listless.”

“No! I’m very energetic! I’m full of energy—I could do a whole set of military exercises!”

“…” Chen An asked hesitantly, “Is the study pressure too much? I gave you the key, not to force you to get into Media University. If you can’t get in, we’ll pick another school. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Oh oh, I don’t have pressure.”

“How about I come back these couple of days to keep you company?”

“No need!!!” Cheng Lele shouted loudly. After shouting, she realized her reaction was a bit extreme and quickly said, “If you come back, I won’t be able to focus on studying. There’s just over a month until the college entrance exam. I can’t be distracted. Before the exam is over, don’t call me. If you have something, just leave me a voicemail.”

“So heartless?”

“Heart—heartless what? This is called closed-door cultivation.”

Chen An laughed: “One apartment made you this studious? If I’d known, I would have bought and given it earlier. Fine, I can not call you, but you must balance work and rest, combine tension and relaxation. Quan Zirong is watching you for me. If you’re still this hyped up, I’ll come back and personally drag you to rest.”

Cheng Lele mumbled “mm-hmm” to get through it. After hanging up, she lay on her desk and buried her entire face in the crook of her arms.

What, what kind of situation was this?

Chen An indeed didn’t call her again. Ye Xiaomei returned from Beijing. This trip had greatly improved her complexion. She brought back half a suitcase of Beijing specialties. While taking them out, she shared with her daughter all she’d seen and heard along the way, her eyebrows dancing when she reached the happy parts. Cheng Lele hadn’t seen Mom this happy in a long time. That night when sleeping with Mom, they chatted quite a bit more.

Mom’s recovery also helped Cheng Lele snap out of her dazed state from the past couple days. She threw herself back into intense review.

The countdown sign hanging in front of the classroom finally finished flipping. Next came the long-anticipated college entrance exam.

Before the exam, Chen An sent a text message: Darling treasure, charge forward with all your might.

Followed by a string of pre-exam reminders—bring admission ticket, 2B pencils… a bit nagging.

Cheng Lele replied: Oh.

Chen An: That’s it?

Cheng Lele: Oh oh oh oh oh oh.

Chen An: I’ll let you off temporarily considering your exam is coming.

Cheng Lele looked at the three words “let you off” and couldn’t help feeling frightened.

Sigh, talk about it after the exam.

The two and a half days passed quickly. After running out of the exam room, Ye Xiaomei was waiting for her at the entrance wearing a qipao. The bright red color made her skin look fair, rosy, and radiant. Cheng Lele gave her a big hug: “Mom!”

“I wore a qipao—did you achieve a flag-opening victory?”

Cheng Lele felt she’d done pretty well, but didn’t dare speak too confidently: “Not bad.”

Ye Xiaomei linked arms with her and walked a bit farther to hail a taxi. Neither of them noticed that from another corner, Chen An had been watching them until they got in the car.

After lunch, Ye Xiaomei took an afternoon nap in the room while the living room speakers played the lilting “Eighteen-Mile Sendoff.” Suddenly finished with exams, Cheng Lele felt a bit empty, not knowing what to do. In the QQ group, Chen Xiaomu was organizing the long-unaccomplished cycling plan.

She typed a few words when the phone call came in. It was Chen An.

After this one month, Cheng Lele’s mindset had calmed down. She answered the phone: “Hello, little brother.”

Chen An said: “I was waiting for your call.”

He sounded rather unhappy, as if blaming her for neglecting him and not reporting to him first thing.

Cheng Lele used her usual routine: “I was wrong, little brother. I’m done with the exam.”

Chen An heard her cheerful voice and relaxed along with it:

“Sounds like you did well.” He’d been very nervous these past few days—he hadn’t cared this much even about the math olympiad.

“Yeah, I feel like Media University is opening its arms to embrace me.”

Chen An said: “Want to come out and celebrate in advance?”

“How to celebrate?”

“I’m over by Women’s Street.”

Cheng Lele was startled: “You came back to Taixi?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Cheng Lele got up. “I’m coming out.”