The weather had continued to grow colder, and Yu Qian had long since started wearing her down jacket. In just a few days, the final exams would be over, marking the halfway point of her senior year.

Jiang Zheng looked at Yu Qian, who was wrapped in a long black down jacket with a yellow scarf around her neck, leaving only her eyes visible. “Little Fish, how do you plan to spend your break?”

Jiang Zheng walked beside Yu Qian, watching as she tucked her hands into her sleeves and waddled like a little penguin.

“Make-up classes and a trip back to Jiang City.” Yu Qian’s voice came muffled from within the scarf.

“You’re going back to Jiang City?” Jiang Zheng’s expression changed. He had just been about to ask her to go skiing with him.

“Qianqian, you’re going back to Jiang City?” Lin Niannian, overhearing Yu Qian’s response, quickly followed up with her own question.

“Mm.”

“Then will you come back for the Lunar New Year?” Lin Niannian pressed on. If Yu Qian spent the entire break in Jiang City, it would be a long time before they could see each other again.

“I will. I still have make-up classes to attend. I’ll probably be gone for about a week before coming back.” Yu Qian replied.

She missed her three friends a little. Although they frequently video-called each other, it still wasn’t the same as meeting in person.

Hearing that Yu Qian would only be gone for a week, Jiang Zheng’s expression softened slightly. His fingers, hidden in his pocket, clenched and then relaxed.

────ρя


Yu Qian’s trip to Jiang City was just her personal plan. She hadn’t told Wang Jiajia and the others yet. She had wanted to surprise them, but unexpectedly, they ended up giving her an even bigger surprise first.

As soon as the final exams ended, Yu Qian eagerly started packing, planning to spend a week having fun in Jiang City before returning for the Lunar New Year and her make-up classes.

But before she could finish packing, she received a call from Fang Yan.

“Where did you say you are?” Yu Qian blinked in surprise and instinctively put the call on speaker.

“We’re at the airport in the capital! Come pick us up, I’m starving!”

Hearing Fang Yan’s exaggerated wail from the other end of the line, Yu Qian’s disbelief quickly transformed into sheer joy.

“I’m coming right now! Grab something to eat first, I’ll be there soon!”

Yu Qian hurriedly put on her coat and shoes, then rushed downstairs to have the driver bring the car around.

“Are you heading out?” Bai Qiming, who was drinking water, saw Yu Qian in a fluster and couldn’t help but ask.

“Yeah, my friends came to see me. I’m going to the airport to pick them up.” Yu Qian grinned like a child receiving a long-awaited gift.

Bai Qiming thought back to the first time he met Yu Qian. Those three girls had been right by her side. His voice carried a hint of quiet concern, “Be careful on the road and come back early.”

“Got it, Brother Ming! See you later!” Yu Qian’s eyes curved into a smile as she waved and got into the car.

Not long after Yu Qian left, Jiang Zheng arrived. He stepped into the house without even glancing at Bai Qiming, scanned the room, and immediately asked, “Where’s Little Fish?”

The way he said it made him look like a husband returning home and asking his child, ‘Where’s your mom?’

Bai Qiming, unfazed by being ignored, simply replied indifferently, “She went to pick up someone very important to her from the airport.”

Someone very important? Jiang Zheng’s heart skipped a beat, and he hesitantly asked, “Is it her family?”

“No.” Bai Qiming delivered the bombshell in an even tone, “It’s her classmates— the ones she talks to on video calls every day.”

Classmates? Males or females?

A sudden wave of unease surged in Jiang Zheng’s chest. He glanced at Bai Qiming, who was watching him with a knowing smirk, and pressed further, “They’re girls, right?”

Bai Qiming gave him a meaningful look and chuckled. “What do you think?”

With that, Bai Qiming ignored Jiang Zheng and strolled upstairs, thoroughly pleased with himself for getting back at him.

Damn it, how was he supposed to guess? He just hoped they weren’t guys.

Jiang Zheng clenched his teeth irritably. Without thinking any further, he grabbed his phone and called Yu Qian.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

All three calls went straight to a busy line. Jiang Zheng angrily stared at Yu Qian’s number. Who the hell was she talking to that she hadn’t hung up for half an hour?

────ρя


An hour and a half later, Yu Qian finally arrived at the airport.

Wang Jiajia and the others were sitting on a bench, munching on snacks they had bought from a nearby stall. As soon as they spotted Yu Qian, they excitedly waved at her.

Yu Qian rushed over, and the four of them embraced in delight.

“Why did you guys come all the way here? I was planning to go back tomorrow!” Yu Qian hugged Qi Yu, her voice carrying a hint of playful complaint.

“You’re in your senior year now, and you’re still busy with make-up classes. Of course, we had to come to you!” Fang Yan grinned mischievously.

“Aunt Wang knew we were coming to see you, so she even covered the cost of our plane tickets.” Wang Jiajia said.

Earlier, in order to surprise Yu Qian, they had asked Wang Hui about her exact holiday schedule. When Wang Hui found out they were coming, she was so delighted that she directly covered their travel expenses.

“Looking at your chubby face, it seems like you’re adjusting well here.” Qi Yu remarked, sizing up Yu Qian with an expression of motherly satisfaction.

The group chatted warmly as they walked outside.

“It’s already a bit late today. Come back with me for dinner first, and we’ll go out properly tomorrow. How about that?” Yu Qian led them toward the car.

It was already six in the evening. After a long day of transferring flights and traveling, Fang Yan and the others were exhausted. Plus, the winter sky darkened early, making it unsuitable for strolling around. It was better to rest early and have fun tomorrow.

No one had any objections. Yu Qian helped them load their luggage into the car, and they chatted all the way back to the Bai family’s house.

────ρя


“Wow! Qianqian, this house is gorgeous!”

“Is that Heihei, the dog you adopted?”

“Looks like you’re living quite well.”

Fang Yan and Wang Jiajia curiously examined everything around them, chattering excitedly. Qi Yu, on the other hand, stood quietly to the side, smiling but not commenting.

“You’re finally back. Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Hearing the voices outside, Jiang Zheng walked out of the Bai family’s house and looked at Yu Qian with an aggrieved expression.

The sudden appearance of Jiang Zheng, combined with his oddly accusatory tone, left Wang Jiajia and the others a bit puzzled.

Jiang Zheng didn’t expect Yu Qian to answer. Instead, he turned his gaze to the three newcomers. The moment he confirmed they were all girls, his mood instantly brightened. Good, at least they weren’t guys.

A bright smile appeared on Jiang Zheng’s face as he naturally introduced himself to them, “So you’re Qianqian’s friends? Welcome to the capital. It’s late today, but tomorrow, I’ll be your tour guide and show you around. How about it?”

Hearing his overly familiar tone, Qi Yu and Fang Yan exchanged a glance. From each other’s expressions, they both seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Only Wang Jiajia responded bluntly, “We don’t need a tour guide, sorry.”

Jiang Zheng: “……” Little Silly’s friend is indeed silly as well. Can’t she take a hint?

Qi Yu and Fang Yan: Oh, nice! Well done……

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Yu Qian quickly pushed Jiang Zheng aside and turned to her friends. “Ignore him, let’s go inside.”

She led Qi Yu and the others into the house. Bai Qiming was sitting on the couch, and when he saw them enter, he nodded slightly. “Dinner is ready. Go eat first.”

Jiang Zheng followed them in as well, strolling straight into the dining room. He initially wanted to sit beside Yu Qian, but after glancing at the three newcomers, he hesitated and finally sat down next to Bai Qiming, looking a little wronged.

Bai Qiming gave him a glance full of disdain but ultimately didn’t bother to chase him out.

The dinner was rather peculiar.

Yu Qian was in high spirits, continuously picking food for her three friends while Jiang Zheng kept trying to start a conversation with her, but only received perfunctory responses.

Qi Yu and Fang Yan exchanged meaningful glances, eager to figure out what exactly Jiang Zheng’s relationship with Yu Qian was.

Among the six people at the table, only Wang Jiajia was wholeheartedly focused on eating.

After dinner, Yu Qian declined Bai Qiming’s offer to arrange guest rooms for her friends and took them back to her room instead.

The moment they entered, Wang Jiajia pounced onto the large bed, rolling around on it.

Fang Yan, meanwhile, started probing about Jiang Zheng. But after observing Yu Qian’s completely oblivious expression, she came to a conclusion— Yu Qian was still the same clueless Yu Qian, while a certain someone was clearly pining after her in a one-sided crush.

Having gotten their answer, Qi Yu and Fang Yan didn’t press the issue any further.

The four of them lay side by side on the two-meter-wide bed, enthusiastically planning their activities for tomorrow. It felt just like the countless times they had shared a bed before— completely natural and without any awkwardness.