Chu Xia, thinking she might not have done well, immediately looked at the score report and found out she had ranked third in the class with a score of 498.

This score was quite high.

Compared to her placement test results, there was significant improvement, especially in Chinese and Political Science.

Chu Xia breathed a sigh of relief; this score was within her expectations.

As the scores tend to decrease as one progresses, she focused more on improving in Political Science, Chinese, and Physics, while also needing to work harder on Biology and Mathematics.

Seeing that Chu Xia didn’t show any signs of pride, the homeroom teacher nodded: “Although you have made progress, I believe your potential has not been fully realized. There is still room for improvement, so don’t slack off!”

Chu Xia replied, “I understand, teacher.”

The homeroom teacher didn’t elaborate further, instructing her to leave the completed papers and take the newly assigned ones before letting her go.

With Cen Zhengnian around, Chu Xia felt much more relaxed.

Sometimes, when she came back, the groceries were already bought and chopped, clothes were washed, and Cen Zhengnian had taken care of most of the household chores.

Cen Huai’an complained to Chu Xia that he had no chores to do and couldn’t earn any more stickers.

He was very distressed about the lost stickers because he had finished reading the “Journey to the West” comic book and wanted to get the next one, but he didn’t have enough stickers to exchange.

Chu Xia didn’t comment on it, and Cen Zhengnian also didn’t buy him any more stickers.

Cen Huai’an counted the money several times each day but never spent it on buying new ones.

Today was no exception.

After counting the money, Cen Huai’an hesitated for a long time, not taking a single penny, and closed the box.

Chu Xia whispered to Cen Zhengnian, “Do you believe that after Cen Huai’an finishes counting, he will put the money back?”

With a knowing smile, Cen Zhengnian nodded, “I do.”

Indeed, after counting, Cen Huai’an hesitated for a while, not spending any money, and put the box back.

Chu Xia raised an eyebrow at Cen Zhengnian, who smiled even more, unable to resist patting her on the head.

“You really understand him.”

Chu Xia felt a warmth on top of her head, stunned.

No one had ever been so affectionate with her except her grandfather.

Especially from an adult man, the sensation was a bit tingling from her head down to her back, making her feel strange.

“What’s wrong?” Cen Zhengnian noticed her daze.

Chu Xia quickly shook her head, “It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered how to solve a physics problem.”

Cen Zhengnian’s lips curved into a smile: “With your hard work, you’ll definitely get into a good university.”

That night, as Chu Xia was tucking Cen Huai’an into bed, she accidentally touched Cen Zhengnian’s hand.

Just as she tried to withdraw her hand quickly, Cen Zhengnian grasped it.

Surprised, Chu Xia tried to pull away but heard Cen Zhengnian say, “Chu Xia, have you thought about which university you want to apply to?”

Cen Zhengnian’s body temperature was higher than Chuxia’s.

The warmth from his palm seemed to spread through her hand and up her arm, making her back feel warm as well.

In the cool autumn night, Chuxia’s body often felt cold; she had always had issues with cold hands and feet, which became more noticeable at night.

Even while lying under the covers, she often felt cold.

But at this moment, she felt warmth, as if the heat from his unfamiliar palm was enveloping her entire body.

She suddenly felt her ears warming up.

“Chuxia?”

Chuxia snapped back to her senses and began to think about Cen Zhengnian’s question.

She hadn’t really considered which university to attend; in her view, any university with a good traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) program would suffice.

Since she had already been to college and learned systematically from her grandfather, all she needed was a diploma and a medical license.

However, if she were to take the entrance exams, she would aim for the best TCM university.

She thought for a moment and said, “I want to apply to the best TCM university.”

Cen Zhengnian sounded surprised. “You want to study medicine?”

“Yes,” Chuxia replied firmly, and Cen Zhengnian could tell she had made up her mind.

“The only medical universities I know of are in the capital. The best TCM university should be the Imperial Capital TCM Academy. I’ll check the recent admission scores for you.”

As he spoke, he didn’t move his hand away from Chuxia’s.

The moonlight streaming through the window cast a soft glow on Cen Zhengnian’s face, making him look particularly handsome.

Chuxia suddenly became curious about his past life.

“I remember you went to college in the capital. Do you still remember life in the capital?”

Cen Zhengnian was actually born in the capital.

His father was originally from Liangzhou, while his mother was from the capital.

Cen’s father met Jiang Shengnan while stationed with the army, and they married.

After the war, they lived in the capital for a few years.

However, due to subsequent transfers, they moved to the Northwest, and Cen Zhengnian returned to the capital for university.

After graduating, he went back to the Northwest.

Cen Zhengnian’s gaze shifted from Chuxia’s face to the moonlight coming through the window. “I remember, but I haven’t been back for many years. It’s probably changed a lot.”

At this point, Cen Zhengnian suddenly realized that during his time in university, he was so focused on his studies that he didn’t get to know the university deeply.

But Chuxia didn’t ask him about his university experience.

Instead, she inquired, “Why did you choose your current profession?”

Cen Zhengnian smiled and said, “Actually, I didn’t choose this profession at first. It was due to work requirements that I ended up in this field.”

He couldn’t be more specific about his job, so he answered vaguely.

But Chuxia understood and nodded in agreement.

In fact, Chuxia’s own decision to study medicine wasn’t driven by a particular interest; it was more about her grandfather’s influence.

He was a TCM practitioner and insisted she study TCM, which made her rebel and choose Western medicine instead.

Eventually, she continued with Western medicine, but looking back, she couldn’t say she had no interest at all.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t still be contemplating studying medicine, even if she wanted to focus on TCM.

“Chu Xia?”

Chu Xia hadn’t spoken for a long time, and Cen Zhengnian thought she had fallen asleep.

He lowered his voice and tentatively called out.

Chu Xia snapped out of her thoughts and remembered that Cen Zhengnian was quite adept at household chores.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Did you do everything yourself when you were in the Northwest?”

Cen Zhengnian didn’t expect this question. He replied with a smile, “Aside from meals which were provided in the cafeteria, I mostly did everything myself…”

Seeing that Chu Xia was interested, Cen Zhengnian continued to talk about his life at the Northwest base, sharing details that didn’t involve confidential work matters.

When he mentioned interesting things, Chu Xia would laugh softly and ask if it was true, revealing another side to him.

Hearing Chu Xia’s cheerful laugh, Cen Zhengnian felt a tickling sensation in his ears and was moved.

He gently squeezed Chu Xia’s hand and said, “Chu Xia.”

The quiet room suddenly filled with an indescribable intimacy.

Chu Xia’s body stiffened as a warmth spread from where Cen Zhengnian’s hand touched, making her face flush.

She quickly withdrew her hand, turned her back to Cen Zhengnian, and said, “It’s getting late. We should go to sleep.”

As the warm touch from Cen Zhengnian’s hand disappeared, he instinctively rubbed his fingers.

He looked at Chu Xia’s back and then at Cen Huai’an lying between them.

He sighed inwardly: Cen Huai’an’s bed is still a bit slow; I need to remind him.

The next morning, Chu Xia woke up early and looked out the window.

The weather was decent.

Although it wasn’t a bright sunny day, it wasn’t gloomy either—just a bit cloudy.

Such weather was neither too cold nor too hot, which was quite comfortable.

However, every time she met Cen Zhengnian’s smiling gaze after getting up, she couldn’t help but remember what happened the previous night, making her face feel a bit warm and prompting her to avoid his gaze.

Fortunately, she was about to go to work soon and could avoid Cen Zhengnian, which made her feel more comfortable.

By noon, Chu Xia had adjusted her mood and returned to her usual natural state when interacting with Cen Zhengnian.

However, to Chu Xia’s surprise, despite the seemingly rain-free sky, it started raining in the afternoon.

She had not brought an umbrella today, and while at the office, she watched the rain pattering outside, forming curtains of rain, feeling troubled.

Autumn rain is cold, and if she got wet, she would definitely catch a cold.

She wondered if the rain would lessen by the time she got off work.

Unfortunately for Chu Xia, the rain did not lessen by the time work ended; instead, it grew heavier.

Chu Xia and her colleagues stood under the corridor, not daring to rush out into the rain.

“Chu Xia, are you leaving or not?”

Her colleague Huang Tingyue, from the same department, asked her.

Chu Xia was already putting on her coat and preparing to brave the rain with Huang Tingyue.

Standing and waiting wasn’t practical, and Cen Zhengnian had to pick up Cen Huai’an, so he probably couldn’t come to get her.

Chu Xia gritted her teeth and was about to go outside with Huang Tingyue when she heard a melodious voice.

“Chu Xia!”

It was Cen Zhengnian!

Chu Xia immediately looked up through the rain curtain and saw Cen Zhengnian holding a black umbrella, walking resolutely through the crowd going the other way.

He still stood tall, his hair disheveled by the strong wind, seemingly unaware of it, his eyes focused only on her.

“I’m late. Let’s go.”

Cen Zhengnian shielded Chu Xia under the umbrella, with one arm around her shoulders and the other holding the umbrella, and they stepped back into the rain together.

The rain was indeed heavy, mixed with wind, causing a chilling sensation as it hit them.

Chu Xia couldn’t help but shiver.

Cen Zhengnian pulled her closer: “Are you cold? Let’s walk faster. We’ll be home soon.”

Even though they reached home, Chu Xia’s clothes were still mostly wet, especially the front, where the wind had blown the rain past the umbrella’s coverage.

She was wearing a shirt today, which clung to her body when wet, making her feel both cold and uncomfortable.

When Cen Zhengnian closed the umbrella and turned around, he saw Chu Xia’s thin shirt clinging tightly to her body, revealing large areas of her skin beneath.