Before school ended, Chu Tao secretly told Jiang She that he had already rejected Su Jingtong. Jiang She, who had been studying listlessly, suddenly became interested and couldn’t resist asking, “How did you reject him?” Chu Tao thought for a moment about his absurd conversation with Su Jingtong and vaguely replied, “I just rejected him.”

Leaning closer, Jiang She rested his head on the desk and whispered into Chu Tao’s ear, “Will he really listen and stop bothering you?” Chu Tao glanced at him sideways and said, “What else? Su Jingtong isn’t stupid. Didn’t he stop bothering you after you rejected him?”

Jiang She scoffed, jealousy dripping from his tone. “That’s different. I wasn’t nice to him. Unlike you, sending him to the infirmary and defending him in front of his ex. Any Omega would fall for you.” Chu Tao smiled, his eyes curving. He reached out to pinch Jiang She’s chin and said, “I’m nice to everyone, but I’m the nicest to you.”

“That’s true.” The special treatment made Jiang She feel particularly satisfied, and he forgot to keep pestering Chu Tao about Su Jingtong. He went back to tackling the science problems in front of him.

Seeing progress in Jiang She’s tutoring, Jiang Qifeng hired two more subject experts to help him catch up on the material he had missed. Balancing these additional classes during senior year revision left Jiang She exhausted, with less than five hours of sleep a night. However, unlike before, when he would have slept whenever he was tired, the thought of attending the same university as Chu Tao kept him going.

That evening, as usual, Chu Tao walked home with Chu Xingning. Because he was in the Omega class, Chu Xingning was always up-to-date on gossip. He even asked about Su Jingtong before their conversation shifted back to exams, speculating casually about how well the top students in their grade had performed.

Chu Xingning suddenly muttered, “When I went to find you earlier, I ran into Fu Kaiyi.” Chu Tao’s heart skipped a beat. He pursed his lips and glanced at Chu Xingning. “What did he say to you?”

“Not much,” Chu Xingning replied with a shrug. “We just compared math answers, and then he asked for my WeChat. I gave it to him, but I guess he forgot about it.” Chu Tao locked up his bike in the shed, replying nonchalantly, “Maybe he’s just been busy.”

Knowing that Fu Kaiyi had confessed to liking Chu Xingning, Chu Tao thought it unlikely that he would forget to add him on WeChat. Chu Xingning, however, seemed indifferent. “It doesn’t matter. He mentioned checking answers for tomorrow’s science exam, but we’re not that close. If he forgot, then he forgot.”

The next day, after finishing all their exams, each class had to bring their desks and chairs back inside. Chu Xingning was too busy to find Chu Tao and didn’t show up at Exam Room 11. Later, Chu Tao specifically asked if Fu Kaiyi had added him on WeChat. Chu Xingning shook his head.

That evening at home, the two compared answers for their science exam and found only minor differences, both realizing they had done well. The first mock exam was rumored to be harder than the actual college entrance exams, but this one had a balanced difficulty level due to its citywide format. Physics and biology were slightly challenging, while math and chemistry were relatively easy.

Over dinner, their mother, Song Mian, served tomato beef soup, a brain-boosting dish she had prepared to help them during this intense revision period. While eating, Song Mian mentioned, “Your dad said Yu Wei passed his interview and got an offer from Jiang Corporation.”

Chu Tao, cutting into a piece of beef, didn’t even look up. “That’s great. Dad can see his old friend often now.” Song Mian sighed, resting her chin on one hand. “Your Uncle Yu was worried Jiang She might hold a grudge against Yu Wei. Looks like he was overthinking it.”

Chu Tao paused, his tongue pressing against his cheek before chuckling lightly. “Jiang She isn’t like that.”

Though rebellious, Jiang She had his own moral compass. He didn’t dig up old grudges or deliberately target others. He preferred to resolve issues immediately and wouldn’t go out of his way to harm someone, let alone use family connections to ruin another person’s career. Yu Wei, while somewhat vain, still had genuine talent. Receiving an offer from Jiang Corporation despite being late to the interview showed he had performed well. For Jiang She, Yu Wei was just a passerby—not worth the effort of revenge.

Song Mian nodded thoughtfully and mused aloud, “Jiang She is a good kid. I used to be prejudiced against him, but after meeting him last time, I completely changed my mind. He’s mature, speaks steadily, and handles things thoughtfully—not like a child at all. Xingning, Tao, you both could learn a thing or two from him. Good grades aren’t enough in society. Personality and social skills matter more.”

She looked at Chu Tao with a smile. “Especially you, Tao. You never put yourself out there. When you were younger, the class held elections for class president, and everyone else raised their hands except you. Even when the teacher encouraged you to speak, you hid under the desk. It wasn’t until high school, when Ms. Yang directly appointed you, that you became class president.”

Chu Tao lifted his bowl and took a sip of soup, casually saying, “Let’s talk about the future when it comes.”

In the past, he indeed never competed for the position of class president because his older brother had already raised his hand. He didn’t want to compete with his brother. Competing between siblings felt wrong to him, and by not stepping up, he could cast his vote for his brother. That was his simplest and most straightforward thought back then.

Song Mian didn’t really intend to force Chu Tao to change. After all, it was too early to talk about the future now. Once they entered university, things would naturally change. She brought up a different topic, saying, “Hey, Tao Tao, since you and Jiang She are so close and always playing together, does it affect his ability to make other friends?”

Chu Tao frowned slightly, setting down his spoon. “He has plenty of friends, and I get along well with them too. I even introduced Tao Song to him. Besides, we don’t always hang out. Most of our time at school is spent studying.”

Friendships between boys didn’t have the same possessiveness as those between girls. Jiang She hanging out with Chu Tao didn’t make their other friends like Fang Sheng or Xu Yuan feel neglected. Even Tao Song didn’t feel like Chu Tao had betrayed their friendship. It was different from how Song Mian and Tang Lingmei behaved.

Back in the day, if Tang Lingmei went on a trip with other coworkers, Song Mian would get upset, mumbling at home about how Tang Lingmei had found someone new and stopped caring about her.

Song Mian blinked and smiled mischievously, “Not talking about buddies—I mean poppylove, like a first crush.”

With Jiang She’s outgoing personality and family background, Song Mian found it hard to believe he didn’t have someone he liked. Given his confidence, if he liked someone, he’d definitely pursue them without worrying about school rules or grades.

Chu Xingning coughed lightly, covering his mouth and sneaking a glance at Chu Tao. Chu Tao lowered his gaze, scooped a large spoonful of tomato, and stuffed his mouth full, mumbling, “It doesn’t affect him, I guess.” After all, he had already given himself entirely to Jiang She.

Song Mian, still intrigued, asked, “Tao Tao, do you remember your cousin Xu Han?”

Chu Tao swallowed his tomato and replied, “Oh, isn’t she in college now?”

This cousin was the daughter of one of Song Mian’s sisters. She used to play with Chu Tao and Chu Xingning as kids, but as she got older and busier with studies, they hadn’t seen much of her. Their family seemed to have a genetic predisposition for academic success, and this cousin was no exception. A year older than them, she had even skipped a grade and was now a freshman in university. Last year, she ranked in the top 500 in the province’s college entrance exams and got into a top-tier university in an excellent program. However, Chu Tao’s impression of her was still stuck in their childhood days.

Song Mian continued, “Your aunt called me and said Han Han hasn’t dated anyone yet.”

Chu Tao quirked his lips. “She’s only eighteen, what’s the rush?”

Chu Xingning added, “Yeah, I remember our cousin is really pretty. She’s studying at a prestigious university, and there must be plenty of admirers. It’s not like there’s a shortage.”

Song Mian shook her head, “Your aunt says Han Han has high standards. She’s not interested in just anyone and insists on finding someone with a good family background. Your aunt’s family is already well-off—your uncle is a department head—so it has to be someone equally matched or better.”

Chu Tao chuckled dismissively, “Why worry about that at such a young age?”

Song Mian replied, “Your cousin has always been mature and rational, unlike her peers. She doesn’t want to waste her emotions. She says if she dates, it should be the best. Han Han even said herself that relationships are secondary, and economic foundations determine higher-level prospects. It even shocked your aunt.”

Chu Xingning casually commented, “That’s probably something Aunt instilled in her. Didn’t Aunt choose Uncle for his financial stability back then?”

Song Mian teased, “And isn’t your aunt living a much more comfortable life than me now? She plays mahjong, shops, and buys clothes from the mall without checking the price, while I have to write down the item numbers and look for them online later.”

Cornered, Chu Xingning muttered, “True enough.”

Song Mian turned to Chu Tao and said, “After your college entrance exams, why not introduce Jiang She to your cousin on WeChat?”

Chu Tao frowned. “Mom, what are you thinking?”

Song Mian didn’t notice the change in his expression and continued, “I think Jiang She is eighteen too, right? He’s not too young, and his family background is great. He’s exactly the type your cousin likes. It wouldn’t hurt to introduce them—they could at least be friends.”

Chu Tao’s impatience became evident, and he firmly replied, “No way.”

Song Mian was taken aback. “Why not?”

Before Chu Tao could explain, Chu Xingning jumped in to defuse the situation. “Mom, please stop playing matchmaker. Our cousin and Jiang She might not even attend the same university, and their families aren’t even in the same city. They barely know each other, so how is that even possible? Besides, it’s not like our cousin doesn’t have any rich kids in her university. She’ll figure it out herself. You parents just worry too much.”

Seeing her sons so opposed to the idea, Song Mian realized there was no convincing them.

She sighed, waving her hand. “Fine, fine. I was just saying it casually. I thought it wouldn’t hurt since the opportunity came up. Besides, wouldn’t it be nice if family benefits stayed in the family?”

In the living room, Chu Jiangmin, who had been watching TV, chimed in. “Alright, stop it. You’re being ridiculous. Your sister’s family might be well-off, but is it on the same level as the Jiang family? Jiang She’s parents are accomplished. Do you think the Jiang family isn’t also looking for an equally well-matched family?”

Realizing how naive she’d been, Song Mian admitted defeat. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop meddling. I was just bored and chatting with the kids.”

Chu Jiangmin quipped, “You must be bored. Jiang She doesn’t need you to introduce him to anyone. Honestly, it’s your son who might need your matchmaking someday.”

Song Mian wasn’t happy with that. “What’s wrong with my sons? Both Tao Tao and Xing Ning have plenty of admirers!”

Chu Jiangmin laughed. “Xing Ning is so picky he doesn’t seem to like anyone, and Tao Tao? Does he look like the type to sweet-talk anyone? He should be glad if people don’t expect him to woo them.”

Song Mian rolled her eyes. “Just watch your TV. You never have anything nice to say.”

With the banter, the topic was dropped.

A few days later, the results of the first mock exams were released. Chu Tao had risen to rank 10 in his grade, while Chu Xingning placed second. Surprisingly, Fu Kaiyi was no longer first; it was rumored that he had mismarked his answers on the science exam and underperformed in physics, dropping to fifth place.

Meanwhile, Jiang She leaped nearly 200 spots, landing in the top 100. His results were no longer just decent; in Chu Xingning’s class, he would have been among the top ten.

Jiang Qifeng indeed found a highly skilled tutor for Jiang She, as the exam questions mostly fell within the scope of his preparation. Meanwhile, Chu Xingning learned from Xi Xun that Shen Hongfang had returned to the top 50 in this exam. It was his first test after leaving the hospital, and he quickly regained his usual ranking, showing that his recent rest hadn’t impacted his performance. Tang Lingmei finally felt a sense of relief.

However, the joy from the first mock exam didn’t last long, as everyone’s focus soon shifted to the upcoming second mock exam. In the midst of all this, Chu Tao and Chu Xingning’s birthdays approached.

As the weather turned colder, the nights grew longer. The distant sunlight failed to warm the dry and chilly earth. Classrooms were tightly sealed, with heaters working constantly to provide warmth. The school no longer required everyone to wear uniforms, and students donned their thickest down jackets. Sitting still in class made it easy to feel cold in their hands and feet.

By December, the trees were barren, and fallen leaves had been meticulously swept away. Occasionally, a thin layer of snow would cover the ground, preserving a few unnoticed remnants of dried leaves.

During a break, Jiang She pulled Chu Tao into their secret hideaway. He shut the door tightly and instinctively wrapped his arms around Chu Tao’s waist. Unfortunately, Chu Tao was bundled up in a thick down jacket, making the hug feel soft and puffy. The small room’s loose windows made it rarely visited, and its low temperature soon reddened Chu Tao’s nose.

Chu Tao raised his clear, bright almond-shaped eyes and tilted his head to plant a soft kiss on Jiang She’s lips. As time passed, their longing for each other grew more intense, and they often found excuses to spend such moments together. Jiang She kissed him deeply and hoarsely said, “My mom transferred 100,000 yuan to me, told me not to be too frugal, and to make sure we celebrate your birthday properly.”

Chu Tao’s expression was complicated. “A birthday celebration costing 100,000?”

Jiang She chuckled. “She probably likes you a lot and feels like you’ve set me on the right path.”

Shen Qing, Jiang She’s mother, was a principled and rigid woman who wasn’t good at expressing affection directly. Instead, she often used financial gestures. Although she held a high-ranking position, unlike Jiang Qifeng, she didn’t have access to abundant wealth, as her salary was strictly regulated as a government official. Shen Qing was upright and incorruptible, firmly adhering to her moral principles. The money she sent to Jiang She often represented her significant savings—a somewhat clumsy way of showing her love.

Chu Tao leaned against Jiang She’s shoulder, nuzzling his neck and feeling the warmth of his pulse. “I don’t need that much, nor am I used to it. Let’s keep it simple—maybe just watch a movie quietly together.”

Jiang She’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he murmured teasingly, “Can I put my hands under your clothes?”

Chu Tao gave him a sly smile. “No, it’s too cold.”

Jiang She smirked, their foreheads pressed together. “I can make you warm.”

Chu Tao stopped his wandering hand and shot him a meaningful glance. “That kind of warmth… there’s not enough time for it now.”

After their last class, Jiang Qifeng called Jiang She to say he was waiting at the school gate. When they arrived, his assistant was unloading a massive LEGO box from the car. “Tao Tao, I heard it’s your birthday this weekend. I’ll be abroad for a meeting, so I’m giving you your gift early. It’s Star Wars-themed—apparently very popular with boys.”

Chu Tao looked at the half-human-sized box, feeling conflicted. “Uncle, thank you for remembering my birthday, but this is too extravagant—I can’t accept it.”

Jiang Qifeng waved it off. “Extravagant? It’s just a little toy. Besides, you and Jiang She can enjoy building it together.”

The so-called “little toy” easily cost over ten thousand yuan. Jiang She added, “Mom transferred me 100,000 yuan for your birthday celebration too.”

Jiang Qifeng nodded knowingly. “That’s her style. I’ll transfer 100,000 to you later, so you can return it to her. She hasn’t bought herself new clothes for months but spends like this. Unbelievable.”

Jiang She nodded—it wasn’t the first time this had happened. Shen Qing often sent large sums of money to Jiang She, but Jiang Qifeng knew her financial limits and sometimes funneled the money back to her through Jiang She. Though divorced, Jiang Qifeng still cared about Shen Qing, albeit from a distance.

Despite initial resistance, Chu Tao ultimately accepted the LEGO set under Jiang Qifeng’s insistence. They decided to keep it at Jiang She’s place for now and bring it home once assembled—it would be easier than explaining it to his parents.

That evening, back home, Song Mian pulled out two tickets and laid them on the table with a mysterious smile. “No studying this weekend. Your dad and I are taking you to relax—hot springs, hotpot, and maybe some games in the room. You’ve been working hard on your revision; it’s time for a break!”

The tickets were for a renowned hot spring resort in the suburbs—a popular destination for unwinding. Chu Tao stared at the tickets, momentarily stunned, his expression unreadable. He and Jiang She had planned a quiet movie and dinner, but now those plans would need to change. Worse, he couldn’t spend the day with Jiang She anymore.

Chu Xingning reacted quicker, forcing a slightly stiff smile. “Wow…”

He couldn’t think of a good way to explain it to Pei Jiang. The boy valued his birthday even more than he did, spending weeks planning how to celebrate. Lately, he’d been unusually lively, subtly hinting about going to an idol concert. Chu Xingning didn’t dare show any interest—he wasn’t comfortable with Pei Jiang spending money or flying for something so extravagant.

Song Mian observed their reactions and frowned. “Why don’t you two look more excited?”

Chu Xingning quickly shook his head. “No, no! We’re just too surprised—this is so unexpected!”

Chu Tao raised an eyebrow, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, really unexpected.”

Song Mian smiled warmly and said, “It’s been a long time since we took you out for some fun. Your dad and I have had a tiring year at work too, so this is a good chance for all of us to relax. Look at Shen Hongfang—he took such a long break, and it didn’t affect his studies. Taking two days off won’t hurt you at all.”

This year had been eventful, and Chu Tao’s relationship with his family had grown increasingly distant. Song Mian hoped to use this opportunity to mend the bond between mother and son.

Chu Jiangmin walked over, wrapping his arms around the shoulders of Chu Tao and Chu Xingning. “Your mom booked a family room with a big balcony—it costs 2,000 yuan a night! Tonight, focus on your homework. We’ll head out tomorrow afternoon.”

Chu Xingning slipped out from under Chu Jiangmin’s arm. “I need to make a call.”

Chu Jiangmin was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”

Chu Tao pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze guiltily as he fiddled with his phone. “I need to make a call too.”