Ming Che leaned against the side of the car, twirling a leaf he had just picked up. Sure enough, he heard Wen Lin’s voice, reciting an inspiring speech. He wondered what expression Wen Lin had on his face now.

The back door of the stage opened, and a few students walked out, Wen Lin among them. Ming Che saw him but didn’t intend to greet him. He just glanced over and then got into the car.

On the other hand, Wen Lin kept looking in that direction, not moving his gaze away for a long time.

A companion noticed his unusual behavior and curiously asked, “Wen Lin, what are you looking at?”

They weren’t very familiar with each other, only coming together when student representatives were needed.

“Nothing.”

Wen Lin looked away and walked with them towards the teaching building. They had already reached the ground floor when he suddenly stopped.

That person’s face kept lingering in his mind, the kind of slightly sorrowful look that made him feel the need to go back.

“I have something to do. You guys go ahead.”

The others left behind exchanged puzzled glances.

Ming Che was driving slowly through the campus, preparing to leave, when he saw a familiar figure in the rearview mirror.

He slowed down to let the person behind catch up.

“You saw me just now, didn’t you?”

Thanks to Ming Che driving at a snail’s pace, Wen Lin could keep up just by walking.

“I did.”

“Then why… didn’t you say hi?”

“Do you mind your classmates knowing you have a friend like me?”

Having just been in a dusty room, Ming Che’s hair and face were covered in dust, and his white clothes had a dirty spot from who knows where.

“What does it matter? I don’t think knowing you is a big deal.”

“Ah—”

So cute.

“Don’t underestimate yourself.”

Ming Che stepped on the brake, genuinely surprised that Wen Lin was comforting him.

He leaned against the car window, his face getting closer.

Wen Lin wasn’t used to such proximity and turned his face away uncomfortably.

“Class is starting. I’m heading back.”

“Good luck in class. You’ll have a bright future.”

Ming Che drove the car far away, soon disappearing from Wen Lin’s sight.

A bright future.

Wen Lin felt embarrassed. He hadn’t expected Ming Che to hear his speech content.

–

[977, why do I feel like lying isn’t very good?]

[Host, it’s just a task, and you know his future, don’t you?]

[True.]

Ming Che quickly discarded that feeling. He was just a lesson in Wen Lin’s life, and after this lesson, Wen Lin would still have a bright and beautiful future.

Today was unexpected; Wen Lin didn’t show up at the night market and hadn’t appeared for several days.

Ming Che had no idea what happened. Did Wen Lin’s adoptive father have a change of heart?

“Hey, handsome, why aren’t you talking?”

This guy again.

Ming Che swatted away his restless hand.

“Twenty-eight in total.”

“You’re just as unromantic as my ex-boyfriend.”

Ming Che didn’t mind hearing his story, but he was still running a stall.

“Move over a bit; you’re blocking the people behind.”

“Huh? Where’s that little brother next to you? Haven’t seen him lately.”

Ming Che glanced at him.

Why is this guy still thinking about Wen Lin?

“Don’t look at me like that. I have my limits. I don’t have any improper thoughts about him.”

“Don’t have any about me either.”

“One, you’re an adult. Two, you’re single. So having some thoughts about you isn’t illegal, right? I have many good qualities, you know. I can cook, I can earn money.” The man lowered his voice, leaning closer to Ming Che like a thief.

“And I’m pretty good in bed too.”

“…”

Who wants to hear that?

“We’re all men here. What’s there to be shy about? Don’t you wake up every morning with—”

“Excuse me.”

A voice from above suddenly interrupted the man’s words.

Clearly a teenager, but with an imposing expression, and from a downward angle, it was quite intimidating at first glance.

Ming Che placed the payment code in front of him. “Remember to pay.”

Another failed attempt at flirting, the man left dejectedly.

Wen Lin circled around and stood next to Ming Che, not saying a word, just standing there like a lamppost.

“Here to see me?”

“Why does that guy keep coming to you? You should be harsher with him, so he won’t…”

“I know.”

Ming Che just thought that every time the guy came, he at least bought something, so he could make a profit. Plus, the most the guy did was touch his hand a few times.

But he didn’t plan to tell Wen Lin that.

“I won’t be coming at night anymore.”

“That’s good. Focus on your studies.”

Wen Lin nodded. The school’s teacher had found his adoptive father, and now the school would start evening self-study. After some discussion, they decided he wouldn’t go to the night market at night anymore, so they wouldn’t meet again.

Though they hadn’t known each other long, Wen Lin thought for a long time and felt he should come and tell him. But he hadn’t expected to witness that scene earlier.

“Okay, I’m heading back.”

“Alright.”

Wen Lin suddenly couldn’t take a step forward. There wouldn’t be any more chances to meet.

“If you don’t run the stall, what do you want to do?”

That question.

Ming Che thought for a moment. “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”

The young man smiled, his eyes filled with countless possibilities.

“But what do you want to do?”

Wen Lin hadn’t thought that far ahead. He just wanted to get into a good university, and then… he hadn’t thought about what came after.

“Let me know when you figure it out too.”

“Okay.”

…

After that, Ming Che didn’t see him again. The system asked him several times if he wanted to find Wen Lin, but he refused.

Feelings either grow or diminish. If he went to see Wen Lin too often, it would wear down the goodwill accumulated earlier. He had to find him at the right time.

[When is the right time?]

[Isn’t it coming up? His birthday.]

As May approached, the temperature gradually rose. During this change in weather, Ming Che got sick again. Having experienced it once, he took good care of himself.

A few days before Wen Lin’s birthday, he went out to buy a gift.

He hadn’t decided what to give yet. After wandering around the mall, he still had no idea. Finally, he walked into a stationery store outside the mall.

“I have a younger brother taking the college entrance exam this year. What would be a good gift for him?”

“You’ve come to the right person.” The shop owner greeted him warmly.

“The most common gift is this pen engraved with ‘Top of the Class,’ but it’s not very practical. I recommend a watch. It’s useful for checking time during exams and in daily life.”

Watches sold in stationery stores weren’t expensive. The best ones were just over a hundred yuan. Ming Che thought it was a good idea, so he picked a suitable one and had the owner wrap it up.

A birthday also needed a cake. Ming Che found a cake shop, and the small desserts displayed in the glass counter looked quite tempting.

“I’d like to order a birthday cake.”

The salesgirl who attended to him had a bright smile. “What size would you like?”

“Something small. Not many people will be eating it.”

“The smallest we have is six inches, about this big. Is that okay?”

The salesgirl pointed to a cake model.

Ming Che glanced at the model, then his gaze drifted to the desserts next to it.

“That’s fine.”

“What style would you like?”

Something simple, not too fancy. Ming Che quickly decided and also set the pickup time for the cake. Everything was arranged.

He walked out of the cake shop, but after a few steps, he turned back and went inside again.

The salesgirl looked puzzled as he returned.

“Is there a problem?”

“Could you get me one of those?”

Ming Che pointed to the small cake in the glass cabinet that had been catching his eye.

…

Ming Che sat on a bench by the roadside, focused on finishing the cake in his hand. His phone beeped in his pocket. He took it out to check. It was a message from the person claiming to be an agent from Senhai Entertainment.

So persistent.

With nothing else to do, Ming Che searched for the company online and found a lot of information.

[977, he doesn’t seem to be a scammer.]

Finishing the last small piece, Ming Che cleaned up the trash and threw it in the bin, ready to leave.

[Host, are you really considering trying it?]

[Still thinking about it. I can’t leave until Wen Lin achieves his perfect ending, so I’ll be in this world for many years.]

Ming Che got on the bus home. There weren’t many people on it, so he sat by the window, replying to messages on his phone.

[I have no acting experience.]

The reply came quickly. [As long as you’re willing to learn, the company will train you.]

[Let me think about it.]

[No problem.]

He still had one last thing to do.

…

May 16th, Wen Lin’s birthday.

Ming Che arrived at their school gate ten minutes before evening self-study ended. After the bell rang, students slowly started coming out. As expected, Wen Lin was among the last few to leave.

He wondered if Wen Lin would be surprised to see him.

His path was blocked, so Wen Lin stepped aside, only for the other person to move as well. He looked up, stunned.

“Long time no see, Classmate Wen.”

His hair had grown a bit, softly brushing past his eyes in the evening breeze. It took Wen Lin a while to find his voice.

“What are you doing here?”

“Because I know today is your birthday.”

Before Wen Lin could ask how he knew, Ming Che pulled him away.

“Where are we going?”

“To celebrate your birthday, of course.”

Ming Che had parked the tricycle a bit far away, so they had to walk a bit to get there.

Wen Lin, still a bit dazed, got on the tricycle. It wasn’t until they started moving that he began to ask questions.

“Where are we going?”

“My place.”

It was so sudden. Wen Lin looked at Ming Che’s happy face. The words to dampen the mood were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them.

They finally arrived at Ming Che’s place. The door was still as hard to open as ever. Ming Che pushed it open and turned on the lights in the living room.

“Come in.”

There were slippers on the floor. Wen Lin changed into them and followed him inside.

Ming Che took the cake out of the fridge and started placing candles on it. The lighter was new, and he quickly lit two number candles. The candlelight flickered in the air.

Wen Lin watched it all in a daze, not even noticing when Ming Che turned off the lights.

It was time to sing the birthday song. Ming Che took a moment to prepare. It was his first time singing it.

Happy birthday to you—