Business suddenly picked up these past few days, and Ming Che was so busy at night that he didn’t have time to chat with Wen Lin.

“Hey, handsome, can’t you give me a discount on these four items?”

The prices at the stall were already low, so giving a discount would mean no profit. Ming Che refused, but the person persisted.

“Oh, come on, handsome, I live nearby and will come often to buy.”

Ming Che thought to himself that this wasn’t like buying groceries; how often would someone come? He looked troubled and refused again.

“Handsome, you’re not very good at business, are you?”

As he spoke, the person suddenly touched his hand. Since they were both male, Ming Che didn’t pay much attention at first.

But slowly, Ming Che felt something was off. Why was this person starting to feel him up?

Ming Che stared at the person’s restless hand as it moved up to his arm.

“Handsome, your skin is so nice.”

“…”

“No bargaining. If you don’t want to buy, then leave.”

“I’ll buy! Leave your contact info~”

Ming Che placed the payment code in front of him.

“Thirty-six yuan.”

“Paid, paid.”

Ming Che shook off his hand, packed the items in a bag, and tied it up.

“Take care.”

“What about your contact info…”

Ming Che glared at him fiercely.

“The boss’s contact info isn’t for sale.”

The man’s regretful gaze lingered on Ming Che before he suddenly noticed Wen Lin nearby, his eyes lighting up as he approached.

“How much for these shoes?”

“Think carefully; he’s still a minor,” Ming Che reminded him coolly.

“So he really is a student, huh.”

Perhaps out of a last bit of conscience, the man didn’t pester further, muttering discontentedly as he left with the items he bought from Ming Che.

“Actually, I’m an adult. I turned eighteen last May.”

“Shh! Don’t let that guy hear you. Didn’t you notice? He was trying to hit on you.”

“…”

“But he’s a man, isn’t he?”

“Men can hit on men too,” Ming Che glanced at him, thinking that he’d end up with a man in the future anyway.

“So was he hitting on you just now too?”

Ming Che rested his fingers on his chin, his skin glowing like jade under the light, his features delicate and pretty.

“Isn’t it obvious? Didn’t you see? His hand even touched me here.”

Ming Che lowered his rolled-up sleeve. Due to his thinness, a bone at his wrist protruded noticeably. With a flick of his hand, the sleeve covered it completely.

“You had your birthday last May, so it’s not far off this year either,” Ming Che suddenly remembered Wen Lin’s earlier words.

“Yeah.”

Not getting a specific date, Ming Che turned to ask the system. The main character gong’s birthday would surely be mentioned in the plot, right?

[May 16th.]

There’s still a month to go. Should he do something?

Wen Lin, of course, didn’t know what he was thinking. A few customers came to the stall, and he was busy attending to them.

…

Having spent some time with Wen Lin, it seemed like Wen Lin finally started talking a bit more when facing him. At least he would actively ask him questions now.

“You really like this flavor of tofu pudding, huh?”

It was always red bean flavor; Ming Che never changed it.

“Because it’s delicious, sweet. Want to try some?”

Wen Lin’s gaze lingered on the item in his hand for a moment.

“Of course not this bowl; I’ve already eaten from it.”

Wen Lin looked away. “No need.”

“They say eating sweets at night is good for sleep. Look, you have dark circles.”

“Is there really such a saying?” Wen Lin was skeptical.

“The book says so. Don’t doubt it.”

Although Ming Che spoke with confidence, he was actually just making it up.

Recently, the school’s morning self-study time was moved up by half an hour, so Wen Lin’s sleep time was reduced by half an hour as well.

He rubbed his eyes. It was still early, but he already felt sleepy.

Ming Che noticed the small movements of the person beside him, watching as his head drooped lower and lower. With a playful mindset, he reached out and caught his head as it tilted.

The boy’s face was softer than his exterior suggested. In just a few seconds, he quickly reacted, glancing at Ming Che with some embarrassment and shaking his head to wake himself up.

It really was tough.

Although he was just a task target to him, spending so much time together inevitably made him worry about his situation.

It’s a time for growth, yet he can’t even sleep well. He might not grow tall.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Classmate Wen, how tall are you?” Ming Che asked.

“178. Why do you ask?” This was the data from the last physical test.

“Eat more and grow taller.”

“…”

After saying this, Wen Lin clearly didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

Such a fragile teenage heart.

…

Late at night, Wen Lin tossed and turned in bed. Every time he closed his eyes, he thought of that annoying face, smiling and telling him to grow taller.

It’s just… too annoying.

The school cafeteria’s food was notoriously bad, so many students either ate out or went home for meals. But Wen Lin always ate at the cafeteria, and the cafeteria auntie recognized him.

He added more food than usual and started eating seriously. He recalled the height difference between them; Ming Che was indeed taller than him.

The school also had a small shop, but Wen Lin wasn’t a regular. Today, he made an exception and went in, eyeing the lollipops on the counter.

He only had enough spare change to buy two, so Wen Lin picked two different flavors. After paying, he unwrapped one and popped it into his mouth.

It was really sweet.

…

Tonight, Ming Che’s little dessert was gone because the stall selling tofu pudding didn’t show up.

Quite annoying.

With nothing to taste, Ming Che sat listlessly on a small stool, resting his face in his hands, looking a bit melancholic.

Business was also dismal; no one had passed by for half the day. Ming Che switched hands to continue resting his face, lost in thought.

Suddenly, something rolled over. Ming Che looked down to find a lollipop at his feet.

The person next to him reached out to pick it up, but stopped when Ming Che looked at him.

“Strawberry flavor.”

Ming Che picked it up, as if uncovering some unknown secret, and smiled.

“Nice choice.”

Wen Lin kept a straight face. “If you want it, take it.”

“Then I won’t be polite.” With that, Ming Che unwrapped it and put it in his mouth without hesitation.

That bold and lively gaze made it hard for Wen Lin to feel any dislike.

This person was indeed a bit overbearing.

Having taken something from someone, it had to be returned. So the next day, Ming Che forcibly handed the second tofu pudding he bought to Wen Lin.

“Eat it.”

Though Wen Lin’s face was full of displeasure, he still gave in. The portion wasn’t much, and he finished it quickly.

He watched Ming Che out of the corner of his eye, seeing him struggle with a red bean in the bowl, and couldn’t help but smile.

What the heck, even if he’s taller, he’s still so childish.

The more he interacted with this person, the more he realized his carefree nature. He seemed to live quite freely.

…

Ming Che was packing up his stall to go home when the man who had given him a business card before somehow found him again.

“Hey, do you remember me?”

Ming Che raised an eyebrow.

“What’s up?”

“I mentioned acting to you last time. Have you thought about it? We have a role that fits your image perfectly. The moment I saw you, I thought, this role is meant for you.”

Hearing him speak so enthusiastically, Ming Che remained unmoved. Scammers were like this, skilled in sweet talk.

Just like him.

“Why don’t we exchange contact info?”

Despite Ming Che’s cold demeanor, the man remained enthusiastic, introducing the scale of their company and the famous artists who had come from there.

But unfortunately, Ming Che knew nothing about these things.

“Let’s exchange contact info. Knowing more people means more opportunities, right?”

That made sense. Ming Che thought it was quite an effort for him to come over at night, so he took out his phone and scanned the man’s friend code.

“Alright, I’m heading home.”

Ming Che got on his tricycle, started it, and drove off.

Ming Che had been setting up his stall here for a while, and after getting familiar with the people around, sometimes someone would come to introduce him to part-time jobs.

There’s a factory hiring temporary workers, a restaurant looking for waitstaff. Ming Che wasn’t interested and always declined.

“A school ordered a batch of brooms. The boss can’t deliver them that day. Anyone interested?”

Ming Che walked past them, initially uninterested, but stopped in his tracks when he heard the school’s name.

Isn’t that where Wen Lin goes to school?

Ming Che leaned over and squatted down.

“I’ll go.”

“Oh wow, Ming Che, you’re suddenly willing to move? It’s this Friday. Are you free that day?”

Ming Che obediently raised his hand. “I am.”

“Great, then go to this address at nine in the morning. Someone there will let you in.”

Ming Che took the job, and as for the pay, he said they could decide.

The hundred-day oath-taking rally was always a tradition for third-year students, though the timing varied by school. It could be a few days earlier or later.

But it was rare for it to be held this late.

On Friday, Ming Che drove to the agreed address. He loaded the bundled brooms onto the car, took the delivery note, and headed to the school.

Before even entering, Ming Che was drawn to the banner hanging over the school gate. The security guard stopped him, and after some explanation, he was allowed to pass. Ming Che drove through the campus, and as he passed the sports field, he saw it filled with students.

“Over here, over here!”

Someone by the roadside shouted and waved at Ming Che.

“Park here and just put the stuff inside.”

Ming Che braked, and once the car was steady, he started unloading. He casually asked.

“What’s going on at the sports field?”

“An oath-taking rally, to cheer on the third-year students.”

“Oh, can I listen in?”

“If you’re interested, go ahead. It’s just some speeches, nothing much.”

After verifying the quantity, the teacher in charge signed the delivery note.

“Thanks.”

Ming Che got back in the car and drove it behind the stage. It was inconspicuous there, but he could hear more clearly.

The principal spoke, the teachers spoke, and then the outstanding student representatives spoke.