Although it was already evening, every road in the school was lined with bright streetlights, and the view remained clear.

The two boys were brazenly holding hands, which was somewhat strange, especially since Jing Tian was sporting a silver head that reflected light conspicuously.

As they walked out, they occasionally brushed past people.

Jing Tian dared not look up, pretending that no one noticed him.

“Why are you walking so fast?” Zheng Xunqian asked him, “We’re not in a hurry.”

“W-what if they finish early and Yang Yue can’t find me…”

“He’ll just call you,” Zheng Xunqian said, taking out his phone with his other hand to check the time, “We still have time. Enough for you to finish drinking and then go back.”

He was right, Jing Tian couldn’t refute it, so he remained silent.

After walking a few more steps, faint voices of unfamiliar girls’ conversations could be heard in their ears.

“Look over there, look over there…!”

“Shh, keep your voice down, they might hear us.”

Jing Tian hurriedly tried to retract his hand, but before he could apply any force, Zheng Xunqian tightly held it.

The two girls soon passed by them, and Jing Tian could clearly feel their inquisitive glances.

This made his face flush.

Zheng Xunqian must have noticed his movement but didn’t show any reaction. Instead, he just held his hand even tighter.

Jing Tian secretly glanced at him, but he remained unmoved, showing no reaction.

“…It’s very hot,” Jing Tian whispered, “My hands easily sweat.”

“Is it?”

Zheng Xunqian said.

He responded very casually, as if Jing Tian had just said something trivial like “the weather is nice,” and there was no need to read into it.

Jing Tian had no choice but to say directly, “Can you let go of my hand?”

Finally, Zheng Xunqian looked at him and asked, “Why?”

How was one supposed to answer that?

Furrowing his brows and lowering his head, Jing Tian thought for a while before asking, “Why are we holding hands?”

After thinking for a while, Zheng Xunqian answered, “I’m afraid I might accidentally lose you.”

This answer was too nonsensical, and Jing Tian couldn’t help but find it amusing, “How is that possible?”

“Why not?” Zheng Xunqian glanced at him, “I’ve already lost you twice.”

Jing Tian quickly realized what he meant and felt even redder in the face, feeling a bit guilty. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond and could only keep his mouth shut.

After walking for a while, Zheng Xunqian spoke again, “How much do you remember about that day?”

He thought it was already over, why bring it up again?

Jing Tian pressed his lips tightly, continuing to play dead and not uttering a word.

“Alright,” Zheng Xunqian sighed, “then I’ll recount bit by bit, and you chirp in when you remember.”

Jing Tian was immediately terrified, wanting to snatch his hand back and run away immediately.

This bubble tea was too expensive, and he couldn’t afford it.

His panic was so obvious that Zheng Xunqian quickly laughed.

“Okay okay,” Zheng Xunqian still held his hand tightly and said, “I just wanted to ask…”

Jing Tian’s heart pounded, nervously watching him, waiting for the continuation.

“Why was that person with you guys?”

Zheng Xunqian had remembered Yang Yue’s name, so he was definitely referring to someone else.

The ambiguous atmosphere instantly disappeared, leaving Jing Tian embarrassed and motionless on the spot.

This question must have been circling in Zheng Xunqian’s mind for days, gnawing at him until he got an answer.

“Coincidence?” he asked.

Jing Tian hesitated for half a second, considering whether to admit it randomly.

Before he could make up his mind, Zheng Xunqian spoke again, “Looks like it wasn’t.”

What’s going on? The atmosphere seemed fine just now. It turned out Zheng Xunqian deliberately tricked him out to interrogate him?

Jing Tian regretted it deeply.

“You definitely remember,” Zheng Xunqian asserted, looking at his profile.

Jing Tian remained silent with his head down for a moment, then carefully recalled the various things that happened at the bar entrance that night. Suddenly, he felt a little upset.

“…Why should I tell you?”

Before speaking, he took a deep breath, trying to make himself appear more firm and imposing. But when he actually said it, he felt awkward and soft-spoken.

“I want to know,” Zheng Xunqian said.

He was really straightforward.

Jing Tian turned his head, “He called me four times that day.”

Zheng Xunqian listened quietly without interrupting.

“You only called once,” Jing Tian said.

“You didn’t pick up,” Zheng Xunqian replied.

Jing Tian imitated his usual tone, “Oh.”

The two walked quietly for a while, and Zheng Xunqian made a light tut.

“He’s too annoying,” he glanced at Jing Tian, “Making so many calls, what’s the difference between that and harassment?”

“This kind of person must have a strong desire for control,” Zheng Xunqian held his hand and continued, “Not suitable for getting along with.”

“Whether he has a strong desire for control or not has nothing to do with me,” Jing Tian said.

Zheng Xunqian glanced at him again.

“…He probably won’t call me again,” Jing Tian still kept his head down, “I told him not to bother me anymore.”

Zheng Xunqian was curious, “What did you say?”

“We had an argument.”

Zheng Xunqian was surprised, “You argue?”

Jing Tian was embarrassed, “I…I’m not very good at it.”

Even if he was infuriated to the point of near death, after taking a deep breath and preparing himself, all he could muster was a powerless “You’re really embarrassing,” which was quite useless.

Zheng Xunqian chuckled softly, “Next time, take me with you.”

“Will you argue?” Jing Tian asked.

Zheng Xunqian thought for a moment, “I can try.”

Jing Tian also smiled, and after a moment, he said, “There won’t be a next time. I don’t want to argue with him at all.”

He didn’t want to waste time and energy on Chu Chen Tao; it was pointless. Besides annoyance, nothing could be gained, and it wasn’t worth it.

Zheng Xunqian nodded.

It seemed like the atmosphere had improved again.

Just as Jing Tian was secretly delighted that the topic had passed, Zheng Xunqian brought it up again, “But why did he end up with you guys in the first place?”

Here it comes again, why was this person so persistent?

“I…I drank too much and accidentally spilled the beans on the phone,” Jing Tian said, “He recognized the bar.”

Zheng Xunqian nodded slightly at his words and said, “Next time you go to a place like that, bring me along. You’re too prone to doing stupid things when you’re drunk.”

Jing Tian instinctively turned his head to look at him.

The two locked eyes for a few seconds, and Jing Tian’s face suddenly flushed. He quickly pulled his hand away.

“I won’t drink anymore in the future!” he said as he walked quickly ahead.

After a few steps, he sneaked a glance back.

Zheng Xunqian silently followed behind him. When he turned around and saw him, he smiled at him.

Jing Tian was frightened and hurriedly ran forward.

When he returned to the entrance of the dance studio, the rehearsal was coming to an end, and everyone was gathered around Zhao Qinqing, listening to her speak.

Jing Tian swept his gaze around and quickly spotted Shu Ziqin sitting on the floor in the corner, his legs crossed.

He had his chin resting on his hands, staring at the backs of the crowd, looking blank.

Jing Tian wanted to go over and chat with him, but before he could move, Zhao Qinqing announced the end of the rehearsal, and the crowd dispersed.

Yang Yue turned around and immediately saw him, smiling as he ran over, “Free at last! Let’s go!”

“Here,” Jing Tian raised the bag in his hand, “Bought by Zheng Xunqian.”

Yang Yue was slightly surprised but soon smiled, “Oh, he’s quite thoughtful. Thanks!”

“I’ll pass on your thanks to him,” Jing Tian said.

“What’s the need to pass on thanks, I’m not thanking him, I’m thanking you,” Yang Yue laughed, “It’s all thanks to you.”

Jing Tian didn’t respond, then waved at Shu Ziqin, who was still sitting on the ground, “Shall we go together?”

Shu Ziqin quickly stood up, smiled at them from afar, but didn’t approach.

“…Strange person,” Yang Yue muttered.

Shu Ziqin continued to behave quietly after that.

He silently followed the two seniors downstairs and walked to the fork in the road.

The dormitory buildings for different years were in different areas, so they were not on the same route.

“Then we’ll go first?” Jing Tian waved to him, “Goodbye.”

Shu Ziqin smiled awkwardly at the two of them from a distance, waved his hand, and walked toward the other fork in the road.

After they had walked a little further, Yang Yue couldn’t help but complain, “Where do you know this person from? He seems a bit slow.”

“Uh…” Jing Tian didn’t know how to answer.

Yang Yue hadn’t seen Shu Ziqin’s usual behavior, so naturally, he didn’t realize anything was amiss and just thought he was naturally strange.

Jing Tian didn’t know whether he should explain for this junior.

Just as he was hesitating, there came a shout from behind, “Seniors, wait a moment!”

The two turned around, only to see Shu Ziqin, who had already walked far away, running towards them at a fast pace.

He ran too fast, and when he reached them, he was already panting heavily, and had to bend over to catch his breath.

“What’s wrong?” Yang Yue asked, “Is there something?”

“I, um…” Shu Ziqin took two deep breaths, straightened up again, and looked at Yang Yue, “Could you exchange contact information with me?”

There was some sweat on his forehead. After he finished speaking, his lips pressed tightly together, his eyes bright, and his expression nervous yet earnest, making people instinctively want to respond seriously.

Yang Yue was puzzled for a moment, “Oh, sure.”

He still had some suspicion, but quickly took out his phone from his pocket, “Should I scan yours or you scan mine?”

Shu Ziqin let out a long sigh of relief and smiled, “Either way is fine!”

The two quickly added each other as friends. Shu Ziqin became even more nervous and excited than before.

“Thank you, Senior!” As he spoke, he exaggeratedly bowed to Yang Yue.

Yang Yue was startled, “You’re welcome?”

Shu Ziqin straightened up, flashed a hearty and silly smile at him, then turned and ran away quickly, just like he had come.

Yang Yue blinked blankly a couple of times, before he could say anything, Shu Ziqin suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned back, waved vigorously at the two, and shouted loudly, “Goodbye, Seniors!”

After shouting, he turned around again and ran away in the darkness as if he were sprinting a hundred meters.

The two stood there silently for a while, until Shu Ziqin’s figure disappeared completely.

“…That’s weird,” Yang Yue scratched his head, frowned, and looked at Jing Tian in confusion, “What’s he up to?”