Chapter 10

Jiang Yi emerged from the shower only to find the call had not been interrupted. Yang Yunran was still talking, “Jiang Yi, are you done showering?”

Jiang Yi lowered his head in front of the misty mirror, drying his hair. The lines of his neck extended to well-defined back muscles from rigorous exercise. He replied, “Why haven’t you hung up yet?”

“I don’t want to hang up. I’ll hang up after you fall asleep.”

Yang Yunran seemed to be coaxing him, showing a strong dependency.

Unlike his younger brother Jiang Wei, who had never treated him this way, Jiang Wei used to perhaps admire him, look up to him, albeit with some unfamiliarity and fear. Since the slap, emotions had shifted, his gaze now carrying cold resentment.

With Yang Yunran, Jiang Yi found a sense of being an elder brother. He naturally advised him, “Go study now. Aren’t you having exams at the end of the month? Don’t just play around.”

“I’m not playing. I’m reading papers,” Yang Yunran said, putting on headphones immediately after hearing Jiang Yi had gone to the shower. “How can you care if I study or not when you’re drunk?”

“I do care. Don’t play on the computer.”

“Okay, I’ll listen. There are only papers on my computer. I’ll send you a screenshot.”

Jiang Yi dried his hair, sat down, and saw the screenshot Yang Yunran had sent a few seconds earlier.

They chatted meaninglessly, Jiang Yi’s thoughts somewhat confused. In these three years, Jiang Yi visited home only a few times. He had missed Jiang Wei’s most crucial growing-up period. Before the age of ten, Jiang Wei had been obedient, though not as much as Yang Yunran. He wasn’t a bad kid.

Jiang Yi lacked experience in educating children, and he was still young. At that time, their parents always compared Jiang Wei unfavorably with him in front of Jiang Wei, saying, “How did you score thirty points again? Your brother always scores full marks. He went to Tsinghua at fourteen. Can you do that at eighteen?”

Jiang Wei wasn’t clever; his IQ varied from person to person. What Jiang Yi grasped at a glance, Jiang Wei might not understand even after a week or a month.

If Jiang Yi had spent more effort on this matter a few years ago instead of focusing solely on research, perhaps the situation wouldn’t be so bad now.

Sitting by the window, Jiang Yi reflected on himself for a while. The cold wind on his face accentuated his drunkenness. Both his face and body felt hot. Yang Yunran asked him a question every now and then, and Jiang Yi answered each time. Yang Yunran praised him, “You’re a researcher, how come you know about entertainment?”

“What entertainment?” Jiang Yi didn’t understand what he was asking.

Yang Yunran tried a different approach, “Do you want to be a celebrity in the future? In novels, scumbags often become popular stars, abandoning the original host and becoming even more successful.”

Jiang Yi replied firmly, “I have no such thoughts at all.”

“But you’re handsome,” Yang Yunran persisted.

“Does being handsome mean I have to become a star?” Jiang Yi’s tone remained steady. “There are plenty of good-looking people in the world.”

“Then you should be exceptionally good-looking, with charming intelligence… Oh well, forget it,” Yang Yunran gave up, though he was certain there was an opportunity somewhere. Perhaps if he had participated in a program like ‘The Brain’ with his mind, face, and physique, Yang Yunran could be the one in a million in the entertainment industry. He was a fan, he chased after him.

But every time Yang Yunran thought of him starting and abandoning the event, he felt uncomfortable.

He shook his head and decided not to think about it. When Jiang Yi said he wanted to go to bed, he bid him good night.

Jiang Yi should have closed his eyes, but he remembered the song Yang Yunran had sung.

Professor Chen said that Yang Yunran was a public figure, a star.

However, Jiang Yi had never looked up information about him online. In different fields, information was siloed until now Jiang Yi searched for Yang Yunran’s name on his phone.

He thought Yang Yunran might be a popular singer specializing in children’s songs, but when he searched his name, the results that came up were “collapsed house,” “academic fraud,” “lip-syncing,” “get out of the entertainment circle,” and “smear,” and “chicken school also counts as a famous school graduate?” “The image collapse,” and other negative public opinion, everywhere. There was almost no positive one.

The last time Yang Yunran appeared was when he was photographed by netizens at the airport. He had dyed his dazzling golden hair, his skin was pale with a black mask under his eyes, his complexion was very poor, he raised his hand to cover his face and stopped others from taking pictures.

The Yang Yunran that Jiang Yi knew now was completely different.

No wonder Chen Fangzhou asked him to take care of Yang Yunran more, originally experienced these things.

The next morning, Jiang Yi woke up with some gaps in memory, only remembering going to the bar and drinking a little, Yang Yunran singing nursery rhymes on the phone, and things found online.

At this moment, Yang Yunran was asleep. More than ten minutes ago, he said to him, “Too tired, I’m going to take a shower and sleep. Good night.”

He seemed to see him yawning repeatedly in front of the computer.

Jiang Yi didn’t reply. He walked out of the door and smelled the scent of stewed lamb.

In Inner Mongolia, the Spring Festival was called Chagansa because of intermarriage with the Han people, and the customs in Jiang Yi’s home were reciprocal.

Jiang Yi walked to the kitchen to help cook, cutting vegetables while discussing Jiang Wei’s affairs with his father. His father, busy making dumplings, said, “Xiao Wei’s grades are not good. His classmates are either from rich families or officials. In such an environment, he’s influenced by comparison, making your mother buy expensive clothes and shoes for him. His mind has problems now, addicted to the internet. The more we restrict him, the more he insists on going online.”

Jiang Yi considered for a moment and said he would find a psychologist for his younger brother Jiang Wei and arrange for him to transfer to an ordinary school. He remarked, “If he can get into high school, fine. If not, he can go to a vocational school. There’s no need to spend money buying grades to get him into high school. Whether Jiang Wei succeeds or not isn’t crucial. As long as he’s filial and doesn’t pose a threat to society, that’s good enough.”

Immediately, Jiang Yi contacted a friend who ran a counseling center on WeChat and used his connections in the Ministry of Education to arrange Jiang Wei’s transfer. He was deeply concerned about his younger brother’s affairs. As New Year’s Eve arrived in Manzhouli, while it was still daytime for Yang Yunran, he got up early to wait for Jiang Yi to ring in the new year. He said, “Quick, show me the fireworks!”

Jiang Yi sent him a video. Suddenly, Yang Yunran initiated a video call and said, “Jiang Yi, Happy New Year and congratulations on your wealth.”

“Happy New Year, Yang Yunran,” Jiang Yi replied, looking at the bright smiling face on the screen, with daylight still outside. Yang Yunran was seated at home, with snow-covered trees visible through the window.

Yang Yunran was displeased, “Why do you always use my full name?”

“How else should I address you?”

“My uncle addresses me better than you do,” Yang Yunran complained.

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow, lips pursed, refraining from using that form of address. Perhaps he couldn’t bring himself to.

Yang Yunran added, “Oh, my uncle just called me! Should I hang up on you to talk to him? Forget it, I’ll chat with him for a bit and call you back later.”

Yang Yunran hung up with a “Bye.”

At the beginning of the new year, Jiang Yi’s phone received some New Year’s greetings. His social network was extensive, but he rarely used it. Jiang Yi opted to reply with a mass text.

His relationships with family, parents, siblings, teachers, and friends were all distant. He didn’t keep pets, didn’t date, lived a disciplined life, and occasionally traveled but not extensively. His life was simple, and easily summarized in a sentence.

Yang Yunran’s presence disrupted his monotonous life.

He began answering Yang Yunran’s calls daily, chatting with him, and using hands-free to study with him, since most of the time Jiang Yi had little to say, and Yang Yunran asked questions, he gave brief answers.

So it went until the third year of middle school. Jiang Yi bought a plane ticket and first went to Beijing to see Chen Fangzhou. They didn’t go to the research institute; instead, they chatted at a Cantonese restaurant for a while.

Finally, Jiang Yi said, “Current technology can transplant corneas and retinas using non-biological methods. Skin can also be transplanted non-biologically, but a full eye transplant is still not possible. So Yang Yunran’s issue might still need time.” The feasibility of non-biological corneal transplantation was already covered in his academic paper three years ago.

Professor Chen was surprised, “You know about Baby’s eyes?”

Many people in the institute knew. Professor Chen had taken Yang Yunran to the institute several times to extract samples.

“I know,” Jiang Yi replied.

Professor Chen requested, “Please don’t mention this matter in front of him.”

“I won’t,” Jiang Yi nodded. Professor Chen asked, “I heard that the U.S. is offering you a green card and research funding. Are you planning to stay there indefinitely?”

“After achieving research results, I will return,” Jiang Yi replied.

Professor Chen smiled, “It might not be so easy to come back then. You’ll need help; contact me anytime. You’ve met the diplomats from the embassy; they’ll assist you whenever you need it. Whether you return to my institute or go elsewhere, I will unconditionally support you.”

Though tactfully phrased, he secretly hoped Jiang Yi would return. Jiang Yi alone could leverage billions in government and national research funding annually.

Jiang Yi neither agreed nor disagreed, just nodded and agreed.

Professor Chen said, “Do you still want to go home? I’ll drive you.”

Professor Chen dropped Jiang Yi off at the entrance of his residential complex. Jiang Yi had bought a house in Beijing after reaching adulthood, within the Third Ring Road, not large, a four-bedroom apartment of about 120 square meters that cost around twenty million yuan. Professor Chen had helped a bit; he knew the developer and arranged for Jiang Yi to have a quiet courtyard layout.

When Jiang Yi got out of the car, Professor Chen asked again, “Is your flight tomorrow?”

“Tonight,” Jiang Yi replied.

“Is someone seeing you off tonight?” Professor Chen inquired.

“I’ll take a taxi,” Jiang Yi said.

Professor Chen nodded, “When you get back, remember to visit Baby,” he paused and added, “I mean Yang Yunran. I’m used to calling him that from when he was young. Don’t mind. He has a hearing in a couple of days.”

Jiang Yi agreed. Professor Chen sat in the car, thinking about Yang Yunran’s matter, furrowing his brow.

Yang Yunran had mentioned Zhao Youmo, showing him a photo. He did resemble his brother-in-law.

Because of his genetic research, Professor Chen had samples of both Yang Yunran and his brother-in-law. He conducted a DNA test directly, and the results left him bewildered.

—

Jiang Yi went upstairs to his home. His mother was cooking in the kitchen, and Jiang Wei was in his room playing games. He eventually got a new computer, an Alienware costing over twenty thousand.

Jiang Yi stood at the doorway and glanced inside. Jiang Wei didn’t greet him, focused intensely on battling on the computer screen.

Jiang Yi had a simple dinner, and before leaving, his mother offered him chocolates, “Ah Yi, your brother said he doesn’t want them, and I can’t eat them. You bought these from afar; take them.”

“No need, I don’t like them. Mom, you keep them. They might expire if kept for too long. They could be given to someone else,” Jiang Yi said. “I’ve already paid for the doctor I found for Jiang Wei. No need to pay again. The clinic will send a car to pick him up when it’s time, so he doesn’t have to squeeze onto the subway.” Jiang Yi gave some instructions and didn’t take local specialties. He bowed his head to his mother and said, “When my research is over, I’ll come back to see you. Call me if you need anything.”

Jiang Yi dragged his suitcase away. This time, he bought a ticket with a layover in Dubai en route to Boston.

Economy class, six to seven hours to land, passing through familiar duty-free shops once again.

Jiang Yi paused for a few seconds, then entered the airport shop and picked out some chocolates, similar to those he bought for Jiang Wei but in greater variety. He also purchased various plush toys, recalling seeing them at Yang Yunran’s house and assuming he liked them.

In the end, Jiang Yi carried three large bags to the boarding gate. He didn’t indulge in extravagance and still squeezed into economy class for the return trip.

After landing, Jiang Yi’s legs felt a bit numb as he pushed his luggage cart out of the airport. Yang Yunran messaged him, saying he was coming to pick him up.

Soon, at the arrival gate, Jiang Yi spotted him—dressed in a gray hoodie and a checkered coat, with neatly groomed black hair and eyes, his head tilted slightly to the right, and his complexion fair and flawless. Yang Yunran spotted Jiang Yi immediately, standing out in height and appearance, waved energetically, then dashed over as if he had been eagerly awaiting Jiang Yi’s arrival.

“Jiang Yi!” Yang Yunran came over intending to hug him but reconsidered upon seeing the crowd behind him. Instead, he helped Jiang Yi with the luggage cart. “Let’s go, let’s go. We’re leaving the airport; I’ve parked the car. Did you manage to sleep on the plane?”

“A little,” Jiang Yi replied.

Yang Yunran pulled out his ticket. “You booked economy class again?”

“Yeah,” Jiang Yi affirmed.

Yang Yunran looked serious. “Your back really won’t be good like this. A man can’t afford to have a bad back.”

Jiang Yi lowered his head. “…”

Yang Yunran also looked down. “Did you buy anything else at the duty-free shop? You bought so much, there’s even a camel.”

He didn’t reach into his pockets, and Jiang Yi said, “It’s for you.”

“For me? Ah! The camel is for me!” In the parking lot, Yang Yunran couldn’t wait to take it out and see it. His eyes gleamed, thinking Jiang Yi had thoughtfully chosen a souvenir for him despite not receiving even an apple for Christmas. Jiang Yi watched his reaction, reached out, and grabbed his wrist, “Let’s see them in the car, they are all for you.”

Yang Yunran was even more excited and looked up, “Really!!”

“Yeah.” Jiang Yi’s face and expression remained as calm as ever, but his gaze softened slightly. Yang Yunran found the car and opened the trunk.

Jiang Yi set down his luggage and went to the driver’s seat.

Yang Yunran said, “I’ll drive, you’re tired.”

“I’ll drive,” Jiang Yi started the car, calling to him, “Get in the passenger seat.”

“Alright,” Yang Yunran didn’t argue for the steering wheel. He wasn’t good at driving, and after getting into the passenger seat, Jiang Yi reminded him, “Yang Yunran, seatbelt.”

Yang Yunran obediently fastened it and started unpacking the duty-free shopping bags. “Are these chocolates also for me? Oh? how did you know I like pistachio flavor!!”

He was very happy. Jiang Yi turned his head slightly and saw him already tearing open the boxes. His features softened, and he felt a different emotion compared to his interactions with Jiang Wei.

Yang Yunran opened one and held out a piece of chocolate to him, saying muffledly, “You should have some too.”

Jiang Yi wanted to decline, but the chocolate touched his lips. As he focused on driving, checking the rearview mirror, he glanced down, lips parted around the chocolate. Yang Yunran’s soft fingertips accidentally brushed against his lips, then perhaps unintentionally, touched them again.

Jiang Yi’s heart skipped a beat. Unconsciously, he pressed the brake pedal and glanced sideways at Yang Yunran.

Jiang Yi turned his head to see Yang Yunran looking composed, cheeks bulging with chocolate. He asked him, “Why did you breake suddenly? Do you still want more?”

It seemed unintentional.

Ignoring that odd feeling, Jiang Yi checked the rear for any incoming traffic and continued driving. “No, I’m good.”

Yang Yunran offered him a piece of chocolate with a nut filling, and pistachio flavor, which Jiang Yi tried for the first time. He didn’t particularly like sweet things but found it tolerable.

Driving past Yang Yunran’s house, Jiang Yi glimpsed a young man walking a Samoyed dog along the roadside.

“Is that your Harry?” Jiang Yi asked aloud, recognizing the young man as the one Yang Yunran had tipped the other day.

So Yang Yunran had tipped him for walking his dog?

Yang Yunran leaned over to look. “Ah? It seems… seems like it,” he said quickly, “It’s Zhao Youmo who’s walking him. No need to stop, let’s head to your apartment.”

He wasn’t eager for Jiang Yi to meet Zhao Youmo. Just the thought of Zhao Youmo becoming a sycophant to his boyfriend, as in the original book, saddened Yang Yunran.

He glanced at Jiang Yi with a kind of plaintive frustration. Jiang Yi remained expressionless, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes. “Yang Yunran?”

“I’m fine,” Yang Yunran replied softly, lowering his head to eat another piece of chocolate. “The chocolates you bought are really good.”

“As long as you like them,” Jiang Yi said, checking the rearview mirror. “Who’s the one walking Harry? A classmate?”

“More or less, a classmate,” Yang Yunran replied, avoiding introducing Zhao Youmo further, and Jiang Yi didn’t press further.

They soon arrived at Jiang Yi’s apartment. Inside the elevator, Yang Yunran asked, “School is starting soon. Has your roommate returned?”

“I’ll message him,” Jiang Yi replied. After sending the message and receiving no response, he led Yang Yunran inside. Spotting his roommate’s luggage and shoes in the living room, he knew his roommate was back. He whispered to Yang Yunran, “Come to my room.”

His roommate was present, and Jiang Yi hadn’t obtained permission to bring a stranger home, which wasn’t considerate.

He handed Yang Yunran a pair of slippers. Yang Yunran’s heartbeat quickened suddenly. He lifted his eyelids, eyes sparkling as he gazed at Jiang Yi. “To your room, huh? Sure…”

Jiang Yi hadn’t allowed him into his room during previous visits, and Yang Yunran had always suspected it was either not tidy enough or held some male secrets.

With no one having lived there for a month, the small apartment room was tidy yet had a touch of lifelessness. The cold breeze poured in through the open window, so Jiang Yi closed it first and then turned on the heater.

He placed the luggage at the bottom of the wardrobe and gestured toward a neatly arranged single sofa where he usually rested. “You can sit there.”

Yang Yunran settled in, looking around. “Your room is very clean, not much decoration.”

There were no picture frames on the desk, no plants or action figures, just neatly organized books. Most were biology-related, with some social sciences and books by Isaac Asimov.

A single-seater sofa by the window, adjacent to the bed, and in front of the sofa is a small round table, just big enough to hold a small laptop and a cup of coffee.

As for the bed, it’s also very small, a large single bed, possibly only 1.1 meters wide, making it seem difficult to get on.

Next to the wardrobe is a compact yet fully-equipped bathroom. The entire room is so small that you can take it all in at a glance, like an economy hotel room. However, for an international student, Jiang Yi’s room is considered spacious.

Yang Yunran asked him, “You’re a PhD student, right? This looks like a dorm for graduate students. Why did the school assign you here?”

Jiang Yi, half-kneeling on the floor, broad-shouldered, was organizing items from his luggage into the wardrobe and drawers. Without looking up, he replied, “Most of the PhD students at the school are already thirty and have families. The other PhD dorms are for married students.”

He is single, twenty-seven, and had no girlfriend when he applied, nor does he have one now, so he stays in the graduate student dorm.

“I see.”

Jiang Yi threw his laundry into a small basket, stood up, and asked, “Is your hearing tomorrow?”

“Yes…” Yang Yunran nodded.

Jiang Yi said, “Then you should study for a while.”

Yang Yunran’s face fell; he thought Jiang Yi had invited him to the room for something else, but it turned out to be to supervise his studying.

With a calm expression, Jiang Yi said, “I’m going to the laundry room. Stay here for a bit.”

The laundry room is shared and just a few steps away.

But it took Jiang Yi two minutes to come back, carrying a mug. The room had warmed up, so Yang Yunran had taken off his coat.

Yang Yunran peeked over, “What’s this? Hot milk?”

Jiang Yi nodded, “My roommate was making some, and I asked for a cup.” He then handed it to Yang Yunran.

“For me?” Yang Yunran started drinking the milk, feeling like he was being taken care of like a child, and asked, “What nationality is your roommate? What’s his name? Should I go out and say hello?”

Jiang Yi replied, “No need. I told him I had a friend over. If you don’t want to say hello, you don’t have to.”

Yang Yunran, a bit of a social recluse, heard some clattering from the kitchen outside and whispered, “The apartment’s soundproofing is bad. Everything can be heard.”

Jiang Yi made no comment. Then, Yang Yunran saw Jiang Yi start vacuuming and making the bed. Given Jiang Yi’s tall stature, the bed and sofa seemed a bit small for him in the apartment.

After Yang Yunran finished drinking the milk, a ring of milk mustaches remained around his mouth. Jiang Yi handed him a tissue, but instead of taking it, Yang Yunran naturally leaned forward and wiped his mouth on the tissue in Jiang Yi’s hand.

This action made Jiang Yi pause for a moment, but he didn’t say anything.

He proceeded to help Yang Yunran wipe the corners of his mouth, throw away the tissue, and say, “I’ll drive you back using your car and then take a cab back.”

Yang Yunran replied, “But I still want to have dinner with you.”

Jiang Yi, having been on a long flight, wanted to rest for a while, but with Yang Yunran around, he couldn’t.

“Do you want to sleep?” Yang Yunran, understanding the situation, sat up straight and obediently said, “I’ll sit here and study. I have my tablet in my backpack to read some papers. I promise I won’t wake you.” He assured him.

“Okay.” Jiang Yi agreed, taking off his sweater by the wardrobe mirror. He unbuttoned a few buttons of his shirt, revealing his collarbones and a good portion of his chest. His skin was not fair but not tanned either, a healthy color in between. Jiang Yi’s well-built shoulders and back were evident even under the black shirt, the defined muscles showing through.

Through the reflection in the mirror, Jiang Yi noticed Yang Yunran watching him with his chin in his hand. Jiang Yi took his pajamas into the bathroom.

After all, Yang Yunran is gay.

Yang Yunran thought, “Why can’t I watch him change?”

“What is my boyfriend trying to hide?”

When Jiang Yi came out in his pajamas, his routine was consistent, usually sleeping five to six hours a night with a fifteen-minute nap. But the thirty-hour flight with transfers had exhausted him, and he fell asleep within two minutes of lying down.

Yang Yunran drew the curtains, dimmed the screen light, and put on headphones to watch some hearing simulation videos. Occasionally, he looked up at his boyfriend.

Yang Yunran thought that even though the bed was small, there was some space on both sides. Squeezing in together wouldn’t be too difficult.

He shifted his gaze to Jiang Yi’s face, which still looked indifferent even in sleep. His features were deep-set, but there was a mature and gentle warmth that made Yang Yunran feel very at ease.

Regarding his looks, Yang Yunran had asked about his childhood photos and learned that Jiang Yi’s mother was of mixed Chinese and Russian descent, which explained his good looks.

Yang Yunran realized he didn’t have a recent photo of Jiang Yi on his phone, so he took out his phone, turned off the flash, and snapped a picture.

The photo turned out a bit blurry, but it was still recognizable as Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi didn’t sleep for long. When he woke up, the room was dimly lit, with only a small amount of light softly illuminating Yang Yunran’s face as he studied intently. Yang Yunran had delicate, good-looking features, soft skin, and rosy lips.

Jiang Yi, still groggy, unconsciously watched him for a while and spoke in a husky voice, “Still studying? What time is it?”

Yang Yunran blinked and looked up, “Five o’clock. Did you wake up already?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yi’s voice was hoarse. He stretched out his hand to turn on the bedside lamp. As the room brightened, Jiang Yi closed his eyes to adjust. His pajama collar was open, exposing his prominent Adam’s apple and collarbones, and the lines of his chest muscles were visible. His cheeks were flushed from sleep, his eyelashes were dark, and his expression was a mix of restraint and allure.

Yang Yunran was deeply attracted, wanting Jiang Yi to take off his clothes so he could look, but he wondered if that was appropriate. Had the original owner ever done such a thing?

In the end, Yang Yunran lacked the courage. When he got home that evening, he was still thinking about Jiang Yi’s half-open shirt, feeling a bit regretful: “Why didn’t I just reach in? I’ve already paid for it, might as well touch. Even if I asked him to strip completely for me, he wouldn’t have refused.”

Yang Yunran furiously petted the dog’s head, saying, “Harry, don’t you agree?”

The Samoyed looked at him with its tongue hanging out.

Yang Yunran was feeling overwhelmed, constantly thinking about Jiang Yi when he wasn’t studying.

However, with the hearing scheduled for the next day, Yang Yunran finally took a bath to clear his chaotic thoughts, and then he saw a message from Jiang Yi.

“When do you need to be at school tomorrow?”

“Nine in the morning,” Yang Yunran replied.

Jiang Yi: “Okay, get some rest.”

Jiang Yi: “Almost forgot.”

Jiang Yi: “Good night.”

After saying good night to Yang Yunran, Jiang Yi went online to search for Yang Yunran’s name again.

When Yang Yunran was a celebrity, he was arrogant and offensive, not particularly famous, and had offended many people both in front of and behind the scenes.

Several rivals joined forces, creating a buzz online, leading to the news of #Yang Yunran’s Academic Misconduct Hearing# trending at number one on Weibo from the early hours of the morning.

“Who is this? Never heard of him, is he the next Zhai Tianlin?”

“FYI, Dieboman University is a pretty mediocre school, equivalent to the lower tier of China’s 211 universities. It’s easy to get into, but the tuition is high, catering to rich kids looking for a degree.”

“QS80 is considered a mediocre university? Really?”

“It’s not that bad. Deberman does have some credibility and has produced many famous alumni. Applying for graduate school abroad isn’t just about grades; personal statements and experiences matter a lot. Being a celebrity, Yang Yunran’s application would have stood out.”

“Grabbing popcorn and cola, waiting for the live stream of the hearing, Any internet friends in Boston?”

“Me! I’m in Boston! I’ve set my alarm and am ready to witness it live. Follow my profile for live updates!!”

“Finally, the day has come!! Hahaha! Yang Yunran will definitely crash and burn tomorrow!”

“Who are you kidding with the ‘scholar’ act, you deserved this!!”

“Isn’t the internet being too harsh? Yang Yunran’s academic credentials might be questionable, but he’s definitely better than some of these low-tier stars. Some fans should stop trying to defend their idols at every opportunity.”

“Serves him right, get out of the entertainment industry!!”

Yang Yunran himself wasn’t reading the online comments, but at seven in the morning, he was about to go live on Whale Stream, one of China’s largest streaming platforms, when he unexpectedly saw his name trending.

“Are you kidding me? I thought I wasn’t even popular… How did I end up trending?” Yang Yunran was annoyed but didn’t dwell on it. Just as he was about to start the live stream, he received a message from his agent, Xiao Tang.

“Xiao Ran, the online situation is not looking good… Are you sure you can pass the hearing?”

Yang Yunran, in a hurry to start the stream, quickly typed back, “I should be able to. Talk later, busy now.”

Two hours later, there was the academic hearing.

Yang Yunran’s company’s boss had gathered the agent and legal team for a meeting. The agent, worried, said, “Mr. Zhang, I feel like Yang Yunran lacks confidence. This situation is very precarious.”

Mr. Zhang, displeased, replied, “He’s so stupid; the outcome is obvious! Once the result is out, he’ll be done in the entertainment industry for good. Whatever happened to Zhai Tianlin will happen to him. Isn’t Yang Yunran’s contract about to expire? Terminate it immediately! ”

Yang Yunran didn’t have many endorsements, and they had all disappeared half a year ago. Additionally, the previous contracts were not favorable to the company’s interests, so for the past six months, Yang Yunran hasn’t earned a penny for the company. The legal department often had to deal with breach of contract issues for him.

Therefore, Mr. Zhang’s tone was very decisive: “Xiao Tang, send a message to Yang Yunran. Have him sign the contract and send it back before the hearing!”

Xiao Tang, Yang Yunran’s agent, was used to being bossed around by him. Although they maintained a facade of harmony, their relationship was strained. Xiao Tang had hoped Yang Yunran would start making money, but after signing him, Yang Yunran showed no improvement. His acting was terrible, he had no intelligence or emotional quotient on variety shows, he lip-synced, and he offended people everywhere. If it weren’t for his family’s money, he would have been done long ago.

Hearing Mr. Zhang’s orders, the agent didn’t put up a fight. The legal team drafted the termination contract and sent it over around eight o’clock.

“Termination?” Yang Yunran had just finished his live stream, during which his followers had surged to a hundred thousand. The comments praised his singing to the point where he felt on cloud nine. He couldn’t even find a reason to end the stream early. However, Jiang Yi had already left to pick him up and should be arriving soon.

Seeing the message, he paused for a moment before understanding the reason. The company likely wanted to distance itself due to the unfavorable online situation.

Yang Yunran typed: “No problem with the termination, Tang Ge. Let me review the contract first.”

Xiao Tang was stunned by the respectful address. When has Yang Yunran ever been so polite? Did he learn this abroad? Has he changed?

Yang Yunran started reviewing the contract and also sent a copy to his lawyer. The contract was about four to five pages long, and he feared there might be traps, so he checked it very carefully.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yi was almost downstairs. In a hurry, Yang Yunran got up, dressed, and put on his shoes. He couldn’t afford to be late for the hearing.

While getting dressed, petting the dog, and heading downstairs, Zhao Youmo came by to help walk the dog and asked, “Roy, do you need me to accompany you to the hearing?”

Zhao Youmo had a much-improved impression of Yang Yunran and almost treated him like an ordinary friend now.

Yang Yunran waved his hand and said, “No need, my boyfriend is taking me.”

Zhao Youmo said, “Okay, good luck then. I bought you a sandwich.”

“Thank you.” Yang Yunran accepted it, though he hadn’t told Zhao Youmo that he didn’t really like sandwiches.

Yang Yunran was halfway through reviewing the contract when Professor Chen called.

“Are you on your way to school?”

“Almost, I’m just heading out now.” Yang Yunran replied, munching on the sandwich, as he got into the car. Jiang Yi handed him a coffee and noticed he was on the phone, so he didn’t speak.

Jiang Yi then noticed Yang Yunran had put his shirt on inside out, likely due to nerves.

Professor Chen, having seen the online comments, worriedly suggested, “Sweetheart, should I call the school and ask them to keep your hearing private, not allowing anyone to attend or listen in?”

Professor Chen had some influence on the school principal.

Yang Yunran responded, “Wouldn’t that just confirm that I have a problem? Even if there’s nothing wrong, it would seem like there is. It’s okay, Uncle. Don’t interfere. I’m well-prepared. Trust me, I’ll be fine.”

It’s incredibly difficult, almost impossible, to learn an entire subject from scratch in just over a month—unless you’re someone like Jiang Yi, whose brain is an exception.

Yang Yunran, however, had his own techniques for studying. He spent a few days thoroughly reviewing the content taught by the professor, organizing key points, outlining all the research topics, and preparing for any possible questions that might be posed to him.

With confidence in his voice, Yang Yunran assured me over the phone, “Don’t worry.”

Professor Chen was deeply worried. Having received a DNA report revealing that Yang Yunran was not his brother-in-law’s child, he speculated that Yang Yunran might be the child of his sister, Chen Fangru, and someone else. He had not disclosed this to anyone.

Just today, he had taken Chen Fangru’s hair to compare it with Yang Yunran’s DNA, and while awaiting the results, he encountered the online uproar.

The combination of professional setbacks and family upheaval could be devastating for Yang Yunran, who was still young and might not be able to withstand such pressure.

But over the phone, Yang Yunran sounded very confident, assuring him that everything would be fine.

Professor Chen couldn’t shake his concern. “Let me ask Jiang Yi if he has time to accompany you to the hearing.”

Yang Yunran glanced at Jiang Yi. “No need, he’s right here with me.”

“He’s taking you?” Professor Chen was surprised. Jiang Yi wasn’t the type to go out of his way for others, even if it was requested by someone he respected. If Jiang Yi didn’t want to do something, no one could make him.

This suggested that Jiang Yi had a significant liking for Yang Yunran.

Professor Chen said, “I’m more at ease knowing he’s with you. Good luck with your exam, dear.”

“Okay.” Yang Yunran agreed, then continued reviewing the termination contract. After confirming with his lawyer that everything was in order, he signed it and sent it back once they arrived at the school.

“Wait,” Jiang Yi said after parking the car. “Don’t get out yet.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Your shirt is on backward.”

“What? Where?” Yang Yunran looked down and saw that his shirt was indeed on backward. Last night, knowing there would be a live stream and interviews, he had chosen a formal, academic outfit: a navy wool coat with a school emblem on the chest, a plaid shirt, and a cream-colored striped vest underneath.

“Change it in the car,” Jiang Yi suggested, glancing out the window. “There aren’t many people around.”

Yang Yunran nodded and quickly took off his coat, handing it to Jiang Yi, then pulled off his vest. His fine black hair was a bit tousled from static, and he began unbuttoning his shirt.

With the car heater on, it wasn’t very cold.

His skin was almost translucent white, and his waist was so slim it seemed like one hand could encircle it. His flesh was smooth and porcelain-like, resembling mutton-fat jade, with a strong youthful vibe.

Jiang Yi hadn’t intended to think much of it, but his eyes inadvertently fell on Yang Yunran’s chest. The bright red hue stood out conspicuously, causing him to pause for a moment before quickly averting his gaze to the trees and birds outside the window.

Yang Yunran buttoned up his shirt neatly, put on a vest, and took the coat from Jiang Yi’s hands with a playful smile. “Why are you turning away? It’s just changing clothes. You don’t dare to look at me. Haven’t you seen me before?”

Jiang Yi didn’t answer, got out of the car, and said, “Let’s go.”

He pocketed the car keys, while Yang Yunran tidied up his clothes and hairstyle, asking him, “Jiang Yi, is my outfit messy?”

“Not messy.” Jiang Yi casually helped him straighten his collar, his long fingers inadvertently brushing against Yang Yunran’s chin. “There, all set.”

The skin where he had touched felt slightly itchy. Yang Yunran wasn’t dressed warmly and shivered slightly from the cold.

Jiang Yi asked, “Nervous?”

Yang Yunran’s teeth chattered. “No.”

Jiang Yi saw his hair flying, and after watching for a few seconds, he reached up to tousle Yang Yunran’s hair, smoothing it with his fingers, and said softly, “Don’t be nervous, I’ll accompany you in.”

Yang Yunran shivered again, not from the cold this time, but because Jiang Yi’s sudden warmth spread through his palm. Aware of their surroundings at school, possibly being watched, Yang Yunran restrained himself from holding or embracing Jiang Yi, refraining from any intimate gestures.

Just before entering the meeting room, he suddenly asked Jiang Yi, “Do I look good today?”

Jiang Yi lowered his head, his gaze falling on his bright and flawless face. After a moment, he said, “You look good.”