After finishing their meal, Chu Tao placed his chopsticks aside, casually grabbed a napkin, and wiped the rice grains that had accidentally fallen onto the table.

He was used to cleaning up his spot after sitting down.

Jiang She ordered two cups of barley water to help with digestion.

The barley water was milky white, with a layer of soft, plump barley at the bottom. It wasn’t overly sweet, but it was refreshing and tasty, with a subtle, soft rice fragrance.

Chu Tao lowered his head, bit the straw, and took a big sip. The sweet taste filled his mouth. He looked up and met Jiang She’s gaze.

“I’ll have to go back soon. I’ve been out for too long, and my mom might start to worry.”

Jiang She, who had been stirring the barley at the bottom of his cup with his finger, paused when he heard this. He looked directly into Chu Tao’s eyes and said bluntly, “I don’t want you to leave.”

This was normal—who wouldn’t want to not be together all the time when they were in a relationship?

He would even be willing to move in with Chu Tao immediately. He imagined waking up every morning with Chu Tao beside him, falling asleep with him beside him every night.

He had never liked anyone as much as he liked Chu Tao. He wanted to mark him, to claim him as his own. One kiss was never enough. He could still remember how Chu Tao looked, lost and passionate, when they kissed.

Chu Tao lowered his gaze and lightly tapped the side of his cup with his fingers, speaking slowly, “Unless, unless I tell my mom I need to stay at school to study.”

Many students liked to come to school for self-study on weekends, and Song Mian knew that.

Before exams, Song Mian had even suggested to Chu Tao and Chu Xingning that they should come too, to get into the studying atmosphere.

But breaking habits wasn’t easy. Chu Tao and Chu Xingning had said they’d think about it, but they never planned to actually go.

Song Mian didn’t press them too hard, so the matter was eventually forgotten.

“Then tell your mom you’re staying at school. Later, I’ll take you to play real-life CS.”

“I’m not good at lying.”

Chu Tao sighed, tightening his lips. His gaze became a bit stubborn, as if he were in a silent battle with himself.

Jiang She felt like he had lost himself in his love for Chu Tao. He cleared his throat and asked, “Would it be bad if I taught you how to lie?”

Chu Tao stared at him for a moment, then smirked and said, “Who needs you to teach me?”

Secrets and lies were like snowballs—they only grew bigger the more they rolled. No matter how much he tried to restrain himself, as long as his family didn’t allow his relationship with Jiang She, he would have to keep it hidden.

At most, it was just a matter of how much or how little he hid.

Chu Tao wasn’t so sensitive about it. If he had to offend his mom because of Jiang She, he wouldn’t care for a short while.

Chu Tao raised a finger to signal Jiang She to be quiet.

Then, he took out his phone and dialed the number for his home.

The person who answered was Chu Xingning.

“Hello, Chu Tao?”

Chu Tao took a deep breath, then said casually, “Brother, tell Mom I’m at school studying. I’ll be back later.”

Chu Xingning was a bit surprised and immediately asked, “You went to school to study? You left early in the morning just to study at school?”

To be honest, Chu Xingning didn’t quite believe it. He knew Chu Tao well, and if it had been something related to studying, Chu Tao would’ve at least asked him before leaving.

Chu Tao didn’t really expect to deceive Chu Xingning; he just needed an excuse. “Yes, I’m at the rice noodle shop near the school right now. I’ll head over soon. Tell Mom for me.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Chu Xingning laughed and said, “Alright, just don’t get too crazy with your studying. Come back early.”

Actually, he had no reason to probe into Chu Tao’s secrets. After all, he himself wasn’t sure how to explain his own relationship with the little one to their parents.

After hanging up, Chu Xingning shuffled to the kitchen and said to Song Mian, “Mom, Chu Tao went to school to study, and he’ll be back later.”

Song Mian was a little taken aback. “Did he bring his books?”

Chu Xingning casually raised his chin. “The school has things like mistake notebook. It’s alright even if we don’t bring something from home.”

“Oh, okay. Let him study well, as long as his grades improve, anything’s fine.” Song Mian set up the chopping board and began chopping green peppers.

She now understood—Chu Tao was in his rebellious phase and shouldn’t be overly controlled. He needed to be allowed to go through his own struggles. As long as his frustration was vented, his grades would steadily improve.

Chu Xingning hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Aren’t you going to do beauty treatments with Aunt Tang today?”

Song Mian had a beauty card with Tang Lingmei for a year, going every two weeks. This week just happened to be the time.

Song Mian lifted the knife and chopped the vegetables loudly, coldly saying, “Not going! From now on, I’ll schedule my time separately from her!”

Song Mian hadn’t made up with Tang Lingmei yet. During this time, Tang Lingmei had sent her several messages and made a few phone calls, but Song Mian hadn’t replied to any of them. She probably realized by now that Song Mian was determined to end their friendship.

Chu Tao put his phone down. “Done.”

They paid the bill and left the shop.

Jiang She naturally put his arm around Chu Tao’s waist and pulled him toward himself.

Chu Tao lowered his head and saw Jiang She’s hand, helplessly saying, “Can you be a little more discreet when we’re out, Young Master Jiang?”

Jiang She smiled and arrogantly pulled Chu Tao into his arms, regardless of whether they were in a bustling street or not. He whispered, “So, have we unlocked the kissing task? From now on, if I want to kiss you, I can, right?”

Chu Tao’s eyelids fluttered, and his bright eyes seemed to be filled with a touch of sunlight. “What?”

Jiang She swallowed hard, his gaze landing on Chu Tao’s moist red lips. “Of course, I want to kiss you on the podium, in the seat, in the small abandoned classroom next to our classroom, and even on the podium in the middle of the school. Especially where you stand when you represent the students—at the front of the podium, where the whole school can see. The principal and the head of the school committee will be standing right next to us.”

“Jiang She!” Chu Tao glared at him angrily and pushed him away.

Such a crazy thing—he wouldn’t do it even if a knife was held to his neck.

Jiang She stumbled a little, but smiled and hooked Chu Tao’s finger. “Just kidding. I wouldn’t want anyone to see you trembling from being kissed. They’d all go crazy with envy.”

Chu Tao pulled his hand back, covering Jiang She’s face with his palm, and said expressionlessly, “You think everyone is like you.”

Jiang She peeked through the gaps between Chu Tao’s fingers, blinking his eyes. His eyelashes brushed against Chu Tao’s second knuckle, making it ticklish.

“You know how crazy I am for you?”

“You, are hopeless.” Chu Tao pulled his hand back and secretly rubbed the spot where Jiang She’s eyelashes had brushed.

At this age, who wouldn’t want to be physically intimate, but he had to be serious. If he let himself go, the two of them would probably end up unable to get out of bed.

The bus to the real-life CS venue could be waited for at the bus stop in front of the school.

Chu Tao and Jiang She went to wait for the bus, but probably because of what Jiang She had said earlier, Chu Tao subconsciously glanced around as they passed the road in front of the school.

He looked at the playground, then at the podium, and finally at the Broadcast station where he had spent almost two years. His heart tingled, and his mind automatically replayed Jiang She’s fantasies. Then, his chest became hot, and he began to feel restless.

Until his gaze continued upward, locking onto the roof of the main teaching building.

The main teaching building at the school had access to the top floor, with a safety passage leading straight to the rooftop. However, it was typically used by the staff for storing mops, brooms, and old furniture. Because of the thick dust and strong winds up there, students rarely went up to play.

But Chu Tao saw someone.

The person was wearing the school uniform and standing on the edge of the rooftop, as if a gust of wind could carry them away.

The person stood still, not like a teacher throwing things away.

Chu Tao’s scalp tingled, and he froze in place.

Jiang She, confused, followed his gaze and asked, “What’s going on?”

“That person is going to jump!” Chu Tao quickly snapped back to reality and rushed toward the school’s main gate.

Jiang She immediately followed him.

On weekends, the school gates were locked, and only third-year students with student IDs could enter.

When Chu Tao reached the gate, he slammed on the window of the security booth. The security guard, irritated, said, “Are you from third year? If not, you—”

“Someone’s going to jump from the rooftop of the main teaching building!” Chu Tao shouted urgently.

The security guard looked up, his face turning pale in an instant. If something like this happened while he was on duty, he’d be out of a job.

Without hesitation, he turned and ran toward the main teaching building.

Jiang She yelled after him, “Damn it, doesn’t he know how to let us in?”

Chu Tao immediately tried to climb over the gate, but Jiang She grabbed him and stopped him. “The guard is already heading over, you don’t need to get involved.”

Chu Tao shook his head, his expression serious. “I think I know that person.”