Yao Zuizui was sitting at her desk, analyzing her final exam report card.
She did well in math—if she had been a bit more careful and spotted the trap in that multiple-choice question, she could have scored full marks.
However, her Chinese grade dragged down her overall score. Writing essays was always a headache.
Still, she was deeply grateful for the original host’s genius-level intellect, which not only made studying much easier but also instilled in her a genuine love for learning.
Otherwise, someone like her—who had always found ways to slack off even while cultivating in the immortal realm—would never have been able to focus wholeheartedly on academics.
As Yao Zuizui was lost in thought, a report card suddenly slammed onto her desk with a loud *thwack*.
Following it was Ji Zican’s arrogant yet gleeful voice: “Guess who’s dead last again—yours truly!”
“……” Was that something to be proud of?
Yao Zuizui couldn’t comprehend Ji Zican’s bizarre thought process. The single-digit scores across all subjects on his report card made her skin crawl.
This was probably the natural reaction of a top student…
She shot him a disdainful glance before carefully sliding her own report card out from under his.
Ji Zican inexplicably flared up.
What kind of look was that just now?!
Disgust?!
Why was she so disgusted when *he* was the one who scored last?!
He had even double-checked whether she was still ranked first!
By the time Ji Zican got angry, Yao Zuizui had already left the classroom.
Just as he was about to chase after her to argue, he noticed Li Xin sneaking after her.
Ji Zican’s expression darkened.
Perfect timing—he had pent-up anger with nowhere to vent, and now Li Xin was asking for trouble.
He decided to follow and see what Li Xin was up to.
—
The sky was a clear, brilliant blue, with fluffy white clouds drifting like cotton candy.
Cicadas buzzed, and sunlight filtered through the dense leaves of the camphor trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Tiny specks of dust floated in the air, and an occasional breeze rustled the leaves.
Suppressing the discomfort of her sticky skin, Yao Zuizui tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “What do you want?”
Li Xin stood opposite her, nervously twisting his fingers. His face was flushed—whether from the heat or something else, it was hard to tell.
Li Xin had a clean, scholarly appearance, though his thick glasses gave him a somewhat nerdy vibe.
After a long internal struggle, he finally mustered the courage to pull out a pink envelope from his backpack, stammering, “I—this… is… for you…”
Yao Zuizui had already wasted a lot of time patiently humoring him to avoid crushing his fragile heart.
But when she saw that unmistakable love letter, she nearly laughed in exasperation.
Every semester, Li Xin would hand the original host, Chen Xiaoxiao, one of these letters.
Perhaps out of pity for his timid nature, Chen Xiaoxiao had never outright rejected him, only telling him to focus on his studies.
Yao Zuizui wondered how someone who could barely string a sentence together without stuttering found the courage to confess like this.
Still, she didn’t want to discourage him so badly that he’d never dare to confess to a girl again and end up alone forever.
So she set an impossible goal for him: “I won’t accept this. Come back when you’ve scored first place.”
Li Xin becoming the top student was impossible—because Yao Zuizui would always be number one.
With that breezy remark, she turned and left without another glance.
Ji Zican, who had been hiding nearby, barely managed to conceal himself in time.
His expression was already dark.
He had initially planned to have Li Xin beaten up, but then he reconsidered—Li Xin had just been rejected. Beating him up now would make *him* look like the villain.
So, Ji Zican swallowed his anger, his face taut like a volcano on the verge of eruption, and went home.
Little did he know, the days that followed would be…
—
It started with a dream.
The night after receiving his report card, he had a nightmare.
He dreamed of a transfer student—a hulking, pig-like figure with four rolls of fat around his waist.
The worst part? This “pig” scored first in the entire grade, surpassing Chen Xiaoxiao.
And then, he became her boyfriend.
Watching this pig “harvest the cabbage” (a metaphor for an undeserving guy winning over a girl), Ji Zican was so furious he woke up in a rage.
Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable sense of vigilance.
During the day, he had been too far away to hear their conversation clearly.
But he vaguely remembered Chen Xiaoxiao saying something about scoring first to become her boyfriend.
She was his deskmate—a fresh, tender little cabbage! How could she just let some random pig take her?!
Ji Zican absolutely refused to allow it!
Chen Xiaoxiao was so shallow—how could she use grades as a criterion for choosing a boyfriend?!
It infuriated him.
Anger kept Ji Zican awake.
The air conditioning was blasting, but he paced around his room, wrapped in a thin blanket.
Realizing that tomorrow was the start of vacation, he felt even more bored.
Ji Zican, who had always hated school, suddenly had a dangerous thought—
School was actually kind of fun.
—
The next day, Ji Zican couldn’t resist going back to school.
Unsurprisingly, it was deserted.
The vast campus was eerily silent, with only the lush green grass and empty classrooms that echoed with every word.
He had planned to nap at his desk, but the classroom was locked, crushing his last hope.
Grumbling, he walked out.
Something felt missing—even his once-beloved summer vacation now felt dull.
Ji Zican left the school and bought an ice cream from a convenience store.
His favorite—watermelon-flavored.
But when he took a bite, it tasted bland, nothing like the usual sweetness.
Cursing under his breath, he tossed it to a stray dog on the street.
Then, he headed to the internet café where his friends usually hung out.
They were already there, gaming since early morning.
In previous summers, Ji Zican would have been the first to arrive and the last to leave.
But now, his tardiness was no longer surprising.
“Ji Shao, you’re here! Perfect timing—we just finished a round.”
“Ji Shao, take my seat—it’s right under the AC!”
Ji Zican ignored their enthusiasm, sitting down with a dark expression.
He logged into the game absentmindedly.
The familiar interface, the adrenaline of virtual battles—
Yet, it all felt unbearably boring.
His hands moved mechanically, but his mind wandered elsewhere.
Chen Xiaoxiao.
He suddenly wondered what she was doing.
Probably studying.
Tch. Ji Zican scoffed bitterly, forcing himself to focus on the game.
After one round, he tossed the keyboard aside and stood up.
“Boring. I’m going out.” He lit a cigarette casually, the ember flickering.
It was almost noon, and the heat outside was sweltering.
Ji Zican walked under the shade of trees, the occasional sunlight stinging his eyes.
He vaguely remembered Chen Xiaoxiao’s address from a form he had glimpsed.
Without thinking, he found himself wandering in that direction.
Passing by a stylish milk tea shop, his eyes suddenly lit up.
What did he see?
Chen Xiaoxiao!
Without hesitation, he pushed open the door.
The automated greeting—”Welcome!”—and the blast of cold air greeted him.
Bliss.
Ji Zican felt like he had found the coolest, most refreshing ice block in the middle of summer.
Yao Zuizui was, as usual, buried in her study materials.
Her family wasn’t well-off, so to save on electricity, she often studied in quiet cafés.
She never expected to run into the troublemaker here.
Ji Zican sipped his bubble tea leisurely, chewing the chewy pearls. “What a coincidence.”
“……” Yao Zuizui pretended not to hear him, continuing her work.
The more she ignored him, the more interested he became.
*Bang!*
Ji Zican slammed his cup onto the table loudly.
The other customers and staff shot him startled looks.
If not for his handsome face—which made his delinquent aura seem more roguish than thuggish—the staff would have kicked him out.
But Ji Zican didn’t regret it.
Because Chen Xiaoxiao finally looked up at him.
Her gaze, however…
Calm yet warning, as if she was embarrassed by him.
The kind of look that screamed, *I wish I didn’t know you.*
It deflated Ji Zican instantly, and he didn’t dare make another sound.
The café had only a few clean, tidy tables. Soft music played from the speakers, the notes dancing lightly in the air.
Everyone was absorbed in their own activities—studying, writing, or playing mobile games silently.
Only Ji Zican stood out.
Because he wasn’t doing anything.
One hand held his drink, the other propped his chin as he stared intently at Chen Xiaoxiao.
Like a statue.
Chen Xiaoxiao didn’t question why he was just sitting there, which eased Ji Zican slightly.
But her silence also unsettled him.
After watching her solve three math problems and twenty physics questions, Ji Zican finally had an idea to get her attention.
The café’s benches were long, seating two or three people side by side.
He moved next to her and shamelessly tugged her test paper toward him.
“Hey, how do you solve this?”
His voice was bright and clear, but his tone was unnatural.
Ji Zican hadn’t even glanced at the question.
He just wanted to sit beside her and talk.
Now, he had succeeded.
They were on the same bench, so close that even through their clothes, he could feel the warmth of her skin.
Faint, yet enough to make his blood boil.
The tips of his ears turned pink.
Yao Zuizui, however, seemed oblivious. She frowned at him, then at the question.
*Which statement about centripetal acceleration is correct?*
Four options.
She said softly, “This is a conceptual question. The answer is in the textbook.”
“……” Ji Zican recovered quickly. “I can’t find it. Can you read it to me?”
Internally, he was ecstatic.
Chen Xiaoxiao had acknowledged him!
Twelve words, plus a comma and a period!
For Ji Zican, this was a monumental success.
Yao Zuizui began reciting the well-memorized physics concept in her gentle voice.
*The direction of centripetal acceleration is always perpendicular to the velocity.*
Ji Zican almost swayed with delight.
How could something so dry and tedious sound so sweet coming from her?
He memorized it instantly.
Unfortunately, once she answered, Yao Zuizui pulled her test paper back and resumed studying.
Ji Zican sulked.
Her fair cheeks, her determined yet gentle gaze—
He remembered his dream again.
Shaking his head, he decided to disturb her once more.
“Hey, Chen Xiaoxiao.” He hesitated but pushed on. “Is it true that whoever scores first can be your boyfriend?”
Unconsciously, his question carried a hint of cautious hope.
Yao Zuizui’s heart skipped. She looked up at him.
His eyes were bright, filled with youthful clarity—but also an uncharacteristic lack of confidence and fear.
Amused, she kept a straight face. “No.”
Ji Zican exhaled in relief, his heart lighting up like a New Year’s celebration.
But her next words crushed him.
“Scoring first is a *necessary* condition, but not a *sufficient* one.” A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
Ji Zican was lost.
Necessary? Sufficient?
How could someone with the same two eyes and one mouth as him speak in riddles?
Yao Zuizui turned back to her test, writing the final answer.
Then, she packed up, ready to leave for lunch.
Before going, she glanced at the still-puzzled Ji Zican and said airily,
“The definitions of *necessary* and *sufficient* conditions are in the math textbook.”
Ji Zican watched, flustered, as she walked away with her head held high—proud as a swan.
For the first time, he felt like an ugly duckling.
Useless…
Secretly following her to her apartment building, Ji Zican watched until she disappeared around the stairwell.
He slumped onto the steps of the hallway, looking somewhat dejected.
The weather was scorching, and the wind carried waves of heat that seeped into his collar. Yet, Ji Zican didn’t seem to notice, furrowing his brows as he tried to recall the exact words Chen Xiaoxiao had just said.
What had she said again…?
Ji Zican felt like he was about to erupt like a volcano.
It was too convoluted—he had completely forgotten Chen Xiaoxiao’s exact phrasing.
“Hey, Young Master Ji, what are you doing here?” Ji Zican had “brothers” everywhere, so it wasn’t surprising to run into one even while squatting in a hallway.
“Go get me your math textbook,” Ji Zican snapped, his expression dark.
Ji Zican wasn’t acting normal, but none of his requests should come as a shock.
The passing “brother” didn’t even blink. “Young Master Ji, there are a lot of math textbooks. Which one do you want?”
“…The one about necessary and sufficient conditions,” Ji Zican replied, itching to kick a nearby trash can.
“…Uh, I’ll be right back.” The academically challenged brother trudged off to the neighboring building, his face twisted in confusion. *Necessary and sufficient conditions? Did we even learn that?*
Young Master Ji was terrifying.
Spending summer vacation studying in a hallway?
When school started again, First High would have another big headline…
—
Yao Zuizui, full and satisfied, descended from the third floor, planning to continue studying at the milk tea shop.
She spotted a dark, indistinct figure crouched at the hallway entrance, engrossed in a math book.
“…” She tiptoed closer.
Unexpectedly, the person reacted instantly. The moment she approached, he sprang to his feet.
“Chen Xiaoxiao? Going to the milk tea shop to study? What a coincidence—I was just heading there too.” Ji Zican hid the math book behind his back, feigning a chance encounter.
“…” Yao Zuizui began to wonder if the big bad wolf of this world had suffered some kind of intelligence-dampening blow.
The two walked side by side along the tree-lined path. Though the sun was fierce, the shade filtered its rays into scattered spots of light that danced on their hair.
The silence made Ji Zican feel awkward.
The tips of his ears turned slightly red, and his voice was gentler than usual.
“Hey, I figured out the necessary and sufficient conditions,” he said, unable to hide the small note of triumph in his tone, as if waiting for praise.
Yao Zuizui pressed her lips together and delivered the final blow: “Not getting angry easily is a necessary and sufficient condition.”
Ji Zican’s faintly upturned lips froze.
He was furious.
What did Chen Xiaoxiao mean by that?!
Did she think he wanted to be her boyfriend?
In her dreams!
Ji Zican turned on his heel and stormed off, refusing to spare her another glance.
The heat was unbearable, and Yao Zuizui didn’t want to walk too fast.
She still had studying to do, and sweating profusely only to be hit by cold air later would be uncomfortable.
By the time she leisurely strolled into the milk tea shop, Ji Zican was already seated at the only empty table, waving at her.
His expression was amusing—a mix of anger and amusement.
Angry, probably because his earlier rage hadn’t fully dissipated.
Amused, likely because seeing her made him happy despite himself.
The result was Ji Zican with slightly puffed cheeks and a faint curve at the corners of his eyes, betraying his inner conflict—like a puppy trying to look fierce but failing miserably.
His lips quivered between a smirk and a pout, nearly twisting into an S-shape.
So contradictory.
Yao Zuizui ordered a plain milk tea and a pineapple bun.
She handed the bun to Ji Zican.
Kids were still growing—no need to starve himself into stomach problems.
Ji Zican had indeed skipped lunch while guarding the hallway entrance.
He hadn’t felt hungry before, but the rich aroma of butter instantly awakened his appetite.
His dark pupils dilated slightly as he glanced at Yao Zuizui in surprise.
Then he devoured the pineapple bun in three bites.
So good.
So sweet.
Chen Xiaoxiao was so nice—especially to him.
If humans had tails, his would’ve been wagging furiously.
A warm current surged in Ji Zican’s chest, like a gentle hand caressing his heart.
Sometimes, even the smallest kindness from her felt infinitely magnified, something uniquely precious.
—
Shamelessly, Ji Zican spent the happiest summer of his life.
In the mornings, he’d buy a bag of buns from the shop Chen Xiaoxiao had casually mentioned and wait eagerly under her apartment building for her to appear.
During the day, he’d pretend to study beside her, though most of the time he was stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye.
At noon, after pitifully waiting for Chen Xiaoxiao in the hallway over a dozen times, she finally took pity and invited him over for lunch.
Her family wasn’t home anyway—just an extra pair of chopsticks and bowl.
He washed the dishes and chopsticks himself, so it wasn’t any trouble.
In the afternoon, Ji Zican continued his charade of studying while sneaking peeks at Chen Xiaoxiao.
But dinnertime, and the ensuing night, were the most hated parts of his summer.
During those dreaded hours, he usually buried himself in practice problems or slept.
Since Chen Xiaoxiao didn’t have a phone, he couldn’t contact her and could only imagine what she was doing.
If she was solving problems, he solved problems.
If she was sleeping, he slept.
Even if he couldn’t see her, doing the same things as her was some small comfort.
After living this idyllic life, Ji Zican naturally dreaded the start of school.
Once classes resumed, though they’d still be desk mates, he wouldn’t be able to eat with her or have their… *ahem*… alone time.
Of course, in Ji Zican’s eyes, the staff and customers at the milk tea shop didn’t count as people.
Lost in this bliss, Ji Zican ignored his usual gang of troublemakers all summer.
So when school started and everyone saw the grinning Ji Zican, they couldn’t help rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Young Master Ji’s vibe was getting weirder by the day.
Why wasn’t he angry today?
At that moment, Ji Zican was gazing at Chen Xiaoxiao, who stood on the flag-raising platform preparing to deliver a speech.
Senior year meant intense studying. The teachers’ constant refrain was: “The college entrance exam is like a thousand troops crossing a single log bridge! This year, forget everything else—just study!”
Chen Xiaoxiao was the top student in their grade, so of course she was chosen to speak at the opening ceremony.
As composed as ever, her small face serious, she read her speech calmly.
Her voice was soft, carrying a maturity beyond her years—one of her trademarks.
Ji Zican listened with a proud smile, as if he were the one speaking.
Chen Xiaoxiao was so beautiful.
Her voice was so pleasant.
Her speech was so well-written.
Even someone as emotionally dense as Ji Zican realized one thing.
He liked Chen Xiaoxiao.
A deep, heart-piercing kind of like.
But as First High’s Young Master Ji, he had to save face.
He knew he should keep this feeling hidden.
Boys were supposed to be cool.
But.
When his eyes were always drawn to her, how could he hide it?
Even if he kept his mouth shut, it would spill from his gaze.
It was as if his tailbone had regressed—whenever he saw Chen Xiaoxiao, he had the urge to wag an imaginary tail.
Ji Zican was a little annoyed at his own lack of dignity but didn’t dare get angry.
He remembered all too well Chen Xiaoxiao’s words about necessary and sufficient conditions.
As Chen Xiaoxiao finished her speech and the principal dismissed the students, Ji Zican pushed against the crowd, heading for the flag-raising platform.
Chen Xiaoxiao tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, gathered her notes, and walked toward the classroom without waiting for him.
In his haste, Ji Zican tripped over someone’s foot and nearly fell.
“Are you blind?!” he snapped reflexively, about to add *Wait for me after school!* when a chilling breeze seemed to pass over him.
Ji Zican turned and saw Chen Xiaoxiao staring at him, her gaze calm as water.
His heart skipped a beat before he forced a smile at the cowering student. “Hey, you okay? Didn’t hurt yourself, did you? Be more careful next time…”
Leaving the bewildered student trembling in the wind, Ji Zican turned and sprinted after Chen Xiaoxiao.
Like a golden retriever chasing after a frisbee thrown by its owner.
Yao Zuizui had no idea how Ji Zican had suddenly fallen for her.
She hadn’t even done anything.
Nor did she understand why he was so obedient—not getting angry just because she told him not to.
It made her mission several degrees easier.
In high spirits, Yao Zuizui returned to the classroom, but Ji Zican was intercepted by his gang.
“Young Master Ji, smoke break in the bathroom?”
“Young Master Ji, we missed you all summer! Where’d you go?”
“Young Master Ji…”
Ji Zican waved them off dismissively. “No time. I’ve got studying to do.”
The entire classroom fell silent at his words.
You could’ve heard a pin drop.
Unfazed, Ji Zican plopped into his seat and, under everyone’s stunned gaze, pulled out a half-finished math practice sheet.
“Young Master Ji, I—” One persistent guy leaned in for a closer look.
Ji Zican scowled. “Can’t you see I’m—”
Then a certain calm, drifting gaze brushed over him.
Instantly, his expression softened. “You want me to go to the bathroom with you? Sure, let’s make it quick. But I don’t smoke, thanks.”
“…N-no need, Young Master Ji. We’ll go ourselves.” The guy bolted.
Young Master Ji was terrifying.
Getting scarier by the day.
Gradually, everyone noticed an unshakable pattern.
Young Master Ji was becoming more amiable—not because he stopped getting angry, but because one glance from Chen Xiaoxiao could extinguish his rage instantly.
A miracle.
His desk mate had him on a tight leash.
Even more miraculous—Young Master Ji had fallen in love with studying.
During class, he listened attentively.
Between classes, he didn’t leave his seat, burying himself in practice problems.
After school, he’d walk Chen Xiaoxiao home, discussing study questions the entire way.
Even the teachers praised him: “Learn from Ji Zican, everyone! The sea of suffering has no shore, but diligence is the boat!”
Though Ji Zican remained firmly in last place in every exam, big or small, nothing dampened his enthusiasm for learning.
Strangely, his passion inadvertently inspired others.
Like Li Xin.
“Ch-Chen Xiaoxiao, c-can you explain this problem?” Li Xin tapped Yao Zuizui’s desk with the last question on his physics test.
His head hung low, his face redder than an apple.
Ji Zican scoffed and snatched the paper.
With his long arms and quick reflexes, he dragged Li Xin to the seat in front of him. “I’ll teach you.”
Li Xin stared at him in shock.
Wasn’t Ji Zican the class’s worst student? How could he possibly explain this?
“Here, let me walk you through it,” Ji Zican said with a fake smile, playing the role of a helpful classmate while mentally cursing Li Xin a hundred times over.
*Trying to get close to Chen Xiaoxiao under the guise of asking for help? Dream on!*
Except… he didn’t know how to solve it either.
Ji Zican’s face darkened as he shoved Li Xin back. “Let me organize my thoughts first. I’ll teach you after school.”
Once Li Xin was gone, Ji Zican shamelessly scooted closer to Yao Zuizui. “Chen Xiaoxiao, can you teach me this problem?”
…
Li Xin was wronged, but he couldn’t complain.
A long time later, he finally found another suitable problem to ask Chen Xiaoxiao about—one challenging enough to not make him look stupid.
“Ch-Chen Xiaoxiao, c-can you explain this?” Li Xin couldn’t hide his nerves.
Ji Zican was livid. *Again?*
*Is this never going to end?*
He wanted to flip a table. Volcanic eruption imminent!
Just as he raised his hand to slam the desk, he felt Chen Xiaoxiao’s gaze on him.
Ji Zican stiffened, forcing a smile. “Brother Li Xin, come here. I’ll teach you.”
*Who’s your brother?*
Too scared to refuse, Li Xin tried another tactic. “I-I want to know the answer now, n-not after school.”
“No problem. I’ll teach you right now.” Ji Zican hooked an arm around Li Xin’s neck and dragged him to a spot far, far away from Chen Xiaoxiao.
*Think you can get close to her?*
*Not a chance.*
To Li Xin’s astonishment, Ji Zican actually explained the problem clearly and concisely, even offering a more elegant solution than the answer key.
“Got it?” Without Chen Xiaoxiao around, Ji Zican didn’t bother hiding the fury in his eyes.
He even considered dragging Li Xin into an alley after school to warn him against approaching Chen Xiaoxiao again.
But Li Xin was the type to tattle. What if he told Chen Xiaoxiao?
All Ji Zican’s efforts would be wasted.
*Fine. Not worth it.*
After explaining, Ji Zican returned to his seat with a victor’s smile.
Time to steal more glances—no, *discuss studies*—with Chen Xiaoxiao.
—
Senior year was the hardest Ji Zican had ever worked in his seventeen years of life.
It all started that summer.
He still remembered those sweltering evenings, the sunset painting the sky gold.
The breeze carried waves of heat, rustling the hem of a girl’s skirt.
He watched her slender, graceful silhouette, serene and lovely.
She turned, her lips curving, her eyes clear. “If you get first place, I’ll go to the same university as you.”
This was the first time she smiled at him.
Like a flower blooming brilliantly on the water’s surface on a summer night, fresh and elegant without even realizing it.
He was struck to the core.
So desperately, he wanted to stay with her forever.
She spoke in veiled words.
But he understood.
If he ranked first in the exams, they could be together.
In the nights that followed, whether in the sweltering heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter, whenever he felt weary from studying, Ji Zican would always recall that smile, and an endless surge of strength would rise from his bones.
Ji Zican was smart.
His grades weren’t bad to begin with—he just disdained exams.
The school itself belonged to his family, so what was the point of studying?
But once he set his mind to something, his innate intelligence and privileged background made achieving his goals effortless.
His parents were overjoyed when they learned he wanted to study.
They hired the best tutors in the country to teach him one-on-one, guiding him step by step.
He worked hard too, often studying until two or three in the morning to catch up on the knowledge he’d missed.
Yet, for the entire year of senior high, Ji Zican remained firmly at the bottom of the class rankings.
His parents knew how hard he was working and couldn’t bear to discourage him.
They could only comfort him, saying diligence could compensate for shortcomings, and even if it didn’t work out, it was enough that he tried.
Yao Zuizui also found it strange.
Ji Zican clearly knew how to solve every problem—why did he always rank last in exams?
But when she saw the sparkle in his eyes every time the new seating chart was posted, she understood everything.
What an idiot.
Youth was lush yet fleeting, and the final year of high school felt like the darkest stretch of road before dawn—gritting your teeth, only to realize you’d accidentally reached the end.
There were tears, and there was passion.
But what Ji Zican remembered most was the girl in the corner of his vision.
When the college entrance exam results came out, they shocked everyone.
Ji Zican ranked first in the entire school.
Ten points higher than Chen Xiaoxiao.
Only Yao Zuizui had been mentally prepared.
Holding her transcript, she walked out of the classroom and saw Ji Zican standing in the hallway.
The boy was tall and slender, backlit so she couldn’t see his face clearly.
But she knew he must be smiling—soft, pure, as if wagging an invisible tail.
Yao Zuizui walked over and saw his fair, handsome face, his eyelashes catching the light, his eyes shimmering with tiny sparks.
The cicadas in the trees by the corridor were chirping incessantly again.
Another summer had arrived.
Yao Zuizui waited for him to say those three words—*be with me*—but they never came.
The boy lowered his gaze and smiled. “Heading home? Let me walk you.”
Along the way, Yao Zuizui waited many times.
Amid the bustling crowd at a red light, under the quiet eaves waiting for the rain to stop.
He never spoke up.
At the foot of the stairwell, Yao Zuizui finally couldn’t hold back.
“You ranked first—which school are you planning to go to?”
“Wherever you go, I’ll go.”
“…Do you want to be together?”
…
“No.” Ji Zican smiled crisply, the curve of his eyes long, but with a hint of something Yao Zuizui didn’t recognize. “I don’t want to be with you.”
This time, it was Yao Zuizui’s turn to be angry.
She ignored him for the entire summer break.
Later, Ji Zican still refused to be with her.
They attended the same university, the same major, the same class.
Ji Zican acted as if he were guarding her, yet kept her at arm’s length.
Leaving her confused, unable to figure him out.
She didn’t know if she had ever truly *flirted* her way into Ji Zican’s heart, so she could only keep trying in secret.
Ji Zican played along perfectly, always reacting just as she expected—yet he never said those three words.
For four years of college, he always found out which electives she took.
Whether required or optional, he’d sprawl beside her… and sleep.
Ji Zican was handsome and wealthy, attracting flocks of girls who confessed to him.
Some even schemed to steal him away.
Rumors spread that he and Chen Xiaoxiao were a couple—he never denied or explained them.
When other girls tried to interfere, Ji Zican would get furious.
If Chen Xiaoxiao was watching, he’d pretend not to care and keep sleeping.
If she wasn’t around, he’d erupt like a volcano, repeating his old tricks to teach those would-be homewreckers a lesson.
His relationship with Chen Xiaoxiao was intimate yet never crossed any lines.
Like old, close friends.
If she reached for something, he’d hand it to her before she even asked.
Wherever she went, he’d quietly follow.
Whatever she wanted to do, he’d scout ahead and pave the way.
But he just wouldn’t confess.
When Yao Zuizui asked if he wanted to be together, he outright refused.
Outwardly indifferent, yet behind the scenes, he did every deeply affectionate thing imaginable.
Yao Zuizui couldn’t figure out what was wrong, but she had no way to force him.
She could only keep trying to bring them closer.
After graduation, Yao Zuizui went straight to work.
At Ji Zican’s family company.
There was no helping it—the salary he offered was too tempting to refuse.
Ji Zican took over the family business, and his favorite thing was using work as an excuse to take her around the world to eat delicious food.
Just the two of them.
Yao Zuizui didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t resist the allure of good food.
She couldn’t understand how he’d discovered her love for gourmet cuisine when she’d never revealed it in front of him.
They often flew together, traveled together, explored the world together.
Yet even then, Ji Zican never said he wanted to be with her.
He’d say, “We’re just friends.”
Yao Zuizui once deliberately found a boyfriend to provoke him.
Ji Zican was furious—the kind of fury that could make a person explode on the spot.
The next day, Yao Zuizui’s fake boyfriend vanished as if he’d never existed. She never found out where he went.
After that, Yao Zuizui didn’t dare pretend to have a boyfriend again, not wanting to harm anyone who tried to help her.
Whether Ji Zican loved her or not became Yao Zuizui’s greatest puzzle.
Harder than Olympiad math in high school, exam week in college, or sealing big deals at work.
His eyes held affection.
But his actions left her bewildered.
And so, they lingered in this limbo.
He gave her the warmest care, the best life.
A generous salary, an easy job.
Anything she mentioned offhand, no matter how far away, would appear at her doorstep the next morning.
For ten years, Ji Zican silently looked after her.
Then, a decade later, Ji Zican smiled and told her, “We can be together now.”
Yao Zuizui didn’t understand why, but she felt as if a weight had lifted.
He’d finally admitted he loved her. The negativity in his soul had been purified.
Could she finally go home now?
Seeing the relief flash in her eyes, Ji Zican hugged her, his gaze desolate—though Yao Zuizui couldn’t see it.
From a carefree youth to a man who shielded her from storms,
Every bit of his love had been about her.
But he didn’t dare be greedy. Ten years was enough.
It’s time to go back, Zuizui.
I’ll wait for you in the next world, until I fall in love with you again.
**[V] The Father of My Child Is a Ghost**
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage