Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The Lu residence had two floors, boasting three studies: one private office for Lu Zhihong, a large public study, and another smaller study which Lu Nian used on a regular basis.

In the past, Lu Nian would usually have her tutoring sessions in the communal study.

Qin Si walked a step behind her.

This time, for some unknown reason, her feet seemed to have a mind of their own, taking a sudden turn and changing direction.

The August sunlight was at its fieriest, casting fragmented shadows of the osmanthus flowers from the Lu estate's courtyard onto the corridor. A faint fragrance wafted through the air, occasionally accompanied by a cool breeze bearing a hint of moisture from the small pond in the Lu family's yard.

Qin Si followed her silently, retracting his gaze from the window.

A place both familiar and foreign to him.

How much time had passed since his last departure and this visit?

He recalled the conversation he had with Lu Zhihong.

He had always been restrained, capable of endurance. Lu Zhihong detected nothing amiss, and he smoothly secured a promise - a commitment to gain entry into the Lu family circle.

But at this point, it was nothing more than a promise.

Neither of them spoke again until they reached the end of the corridor. Lu Nian grasped the handle of the study door, saying nonchalantly, "We're here."

She opened the door.

Brilliant sunlight greeted them, rushing to meet their faces.

Lu Nian often ensconced herself in this study to read alone. Bookshelves lined two walls, housing neatly arranged books. In one corner stood her easel, accompanied by a box of paints and brushes - a collection of art supplies.

There was also a light beige checkered fabric sofa and a wicker table, where she occasionally enjoyed afternoon tea.

In the center of the room stood a writing desk.

The room was adorned warmly, emanating a soft fragrance typical of a girl's room, a blend of floral notes mixed with the fresh scent of books. A plush puppy lay scattered on the floor.

She closed the door behind her.

In the quiet of the morning, the sound of the lock engaging was particularly distinct, a faint yet crisp noise.

Suddenly, only the two of them remained in the room.

Right now, Lu Nian had absolutely no mood for tutoring; her mind was swarming with questions, and she almost wished she could press him against the wall and force out all the answers.

"Weren't you determined to stay in Ancheng?" She steadied her emotions before choosing an angle to initiate the conversation, "So now, you've changed your mind? You were so adamant back then."

The young man was cool and indifferent, stating, "I am here to tutor you."

The implication behind his words seemed to suggest that his personal matters had nothing to do with her, right?

Lu Nian couldn't help but find the situation almost laughable.

After all, they were childhood friends, having known each other for so many years; even a block of wood would have developed some affection in this time.

Their last argument had nearly ripped their friendship apart, and now he appeared at her home without any explanation, utterly bewildering.

"Tutoring?" Lu Nian settled onto the small sofa, propping her chin with her hand, "Then, I would like to understand Senior's level of expertise a bit more, is that not allowed?"

She blinked, "Without understanding, how would I know if you are competent?"

At home, amidst the sweltering heat, she was dressed very casually. A thin, gauzy sleeve slid down, revealing a segment of her smooth, luminous forearm.

The space was secluded, inhabited only by the two of them.

The young man hung his head slightly, his eyelashes casting a delicate shadow on tightly pressed thin lips. From Lu Nian's perspective, she could see his slender and refined jawline. He didn't respond to her words, as if he hadn't heard them at all.

He pulled out a book, his expression maintaining its usual cold demeanor. Only his distinctly articulated fingers, gripping the spine of the book tightly, betrayed a sense of tension, their arc strained.

"We'll find out if it works by trying," he said.

His voice was cool, not even a flicker of emotion crossed his face.

Lu Nian was furious, so angry that she wanted to bite him to vent her frustration.

She forcibly held back, reminding herself not to get angry, to keep a level head.

If he was going to treat her with such cold indifference, then she could simply reciprocate in kind.

The desk was spacious, capable of accommodating the books needed by both of them. However, there was only one chair in front of it, presumably the one Lu Nian normally used, equipped with a soft cushion, aside from the fabric sofa.

Lu Nian took her textbooks from her bag, seemingly unaware of any issue.

The young man remained standing, his somewhat slender back still impeccably straight. "The chair," he said.

Without turning her head, Lu Nian responded, "Hmm?"

The girl bent slightly at the waist, revealing a segment of her neck as white and delicate as jade. She had tied her hair up today, allowing the fine tendrils of her black hair to flutter against her neck.

He couldn't help but mention, "There's only one chair."

It seemed only then did Lu Nian realize. She found the book she was looking for and straightened up with it in her arms, saying, "Oh, it's usually just me here."

The study housed a landline phone. She dialed Miao Miao's number, "Miao Miao, can you bring a chair to the small study, please?"

Miao Miao appeared somewhat surprised upon arriving.

Because she knew that this study was usually exclusively used by Lu Nian, who sometimes stayed inside for an entire evening, never allowing anyone else in.

She couldn't help but take a few extra glances at the young man.

His features seemed somewhat familiar, but Miao Miao couldn't quite recall where she had seen him before.

Nonetheless, he was extremely handsome.

The kind she felt Nian Nian would be attracted to.

Miao Miao observed them for a moment longer, then said with a smile, "I'll have someone bring some tea over in a while."

"Thank you," Lu Nian said as she saw her out.

At last, it began.

He picked up Lu Nian's math textbook, flipping first to the table of contents, "Which part don't you understand?"

The girl propped her chin in her hand, her big eyes sparkling and portraying an innocent demeanor, "I don't know any of it."

He pursed his lips, "Bring out your last term's final exam paper."

Although Lu Nian was known for her extraordinarily calm temperament, the tutors she had before had always spoken to her in gentle tones, fearing they might displease her.

She pulled out the exam paper, and for some reason, the score of 91 out of 150 seemed glaringly prominent for the first time. A flush of embarrassment warmed her cheeks.

Fortunately, Qin Si didn't comment on it. He quickly skimmed through the paper, mentally taking stock of the areas she needed help with.

He estimated where she had lost the most marks, and started explaining from the last section, focusing on the major questions.

Surprisingly, Qin Si explained everything very clearly.

His thought process was extremely clear and logical, and he seemed to tailor his explanation to her level of understanding. Lu Nian realized that he had a deep understanding of her academic standing, breaking down some calculations into several steps which he could have easily solved in one.

He hardly used any draft paper, able to calculate most of the problems mentally with nearly a hundred percent accuracy.

Lu Nian suddenly remembered.

When they were children, they used to do homework together in that attic. Even back then, he had already displayed such a talent.

And over the years, they both had grown up.

Suddenly, Lu Nian felt a bit uncomfortable.

"Do you understand now?"

Lu Nian was indeed listening attentively and had actually understood. She was about to nod when memories of their previous argument surfaced, bringing with them a surge of inexplicable resentment. She changed her answer, "No, I don't."

"I'm really slow," Lu Nian blinked, "Once is definitely not enough."

She wanted to provoke him into anger.

The young man's thin lips tightened, his expression unchanged. He picked up the pen, seemingly ready to explain all over again.

Lu Nian, "..."

"I understand now," she said irritably.

She snatched the pen from his hand, "No need to explain again."

The girl's fingers were soft, the tips warm. As they made contact with his cool and slender fingers, Lu Nian didn't feel much and continued to work on the problems with her head lowered.

Yet, his ears suddenly felt a burst of warmth.

It had reached the point where they couldn't touch anymore... it had come to this extent.

A stray strand of her tied-back long hair fell, obstructing her view. Casually, Lu Nian tucked it behind her ear, revealing her porcelain-like, flawless white cheek.

He closed his eyes briefly, moving his gaze away with a hint of despair, trying his best to avoid looking at her.

In this enclosed space where only the two of them were present, he had gradually realized that offering himself up like this was a torturously mistaken decision.

"I've figured it out!" Lu Nian exclaimed enthusiastically.

She was quick to anger but also quick to cool down. Apart from the occasional moments when he irritated her, most of the time, her disposition was quite gentle and soft. Noticing that he seemed somewhat unusual, she asked, "What's wrong?"

He didn't respond to her query.

The morning time flew by quickly, leaving Lu Nian feeling a bit hungry.

Glancing at the time, she was surprised to see that three hours had passed without any breaks in between, so she suggested, "Shall we call it a day?"

Normally, their tutoring sessions lasted three hours.

The young man said, "A whole day."

Lu Nian, "?"

"It's a full day of tutoring, from morning to afternoon."

Lu Nian was taken aback, "A whole day? Does that mean we have to continue into the evening too? When will this end?"

The young man's lean jaw tensed up, "...Not including the evening."

That was somewhat of a relief.

Thinking about it carefully, since Lu Zhihong had mentioned a ten-day duration, a slightly longer daily session seemed reasonable.

However, to willingly spend such extended periods with her just to earn some money must indeed be taxing for him.

Lu Nian suddenly felt a surge of sympathy.

Recalling their previous argument, she still harbored a subtle uneasiness within her, prompting her earlier inexplicable desire to provoke him with her words.

But upon reconsideration, there were only ten days left.

After which, he would soon be leaving Ancheng to attend university elsewhere, and they might never see each other again.

With this thought, she found herself unable to maintain her harsh stance.

She guessed he must be swallowing his pride, forced by circumstances to share a room with someone he despised, all while enduring her provocations, just to earn some money.

As the morning passed, her anger hadn't completely dissipated, but the hardness in her heart had begun to soften.

Lu Nian moderated her tone, "Are you hungry? Let's go have something to eat."

With her anger dissipated, her voice returned to its usual soft and sweet timbre, displaying a youthful and gentle charm.

When the two of them stepped out of the room, Miao Miao was already waiting outside.

"The master has gone to the company," Miao Miao glanced at Qin Si before discreetly informing Lu Nian, "Also, Young Master Lu Yang is coming over today."

Lu Zhihong was not around.

Lu Nian's eyes lit up.

But then Lu Yang showed up again.

She suddenly felt deflated.

"Nian Nian," footsteps echoed down the hallway, Lu Yang approached with brisk steps and a beaming face.

Upon clearly seeing the aloof and tall young man standing beside Lu Nian, his smile quickly froze on his face, gradually melting away like thawing snow.

His face contorted with displeasure as he blurted out, "What are you doing here? Who allowed you to come?"

"Mr. Lu invited him," Miao Miao replied, "to tutor Miss Nian Nian."

Lu Nian disliked the tone Lu Yang used with Qin Si; her voice colder than usual, she retorted, "Why can't he be here? This is my home."

Qin Si merely glanced at Lu Yang quietly, without uttering a word.

Lu Yang's eyes reddened in anger.

Lu Zhihong had invited him?

He recalled the numerous hints he had dropped before his uncle, even mentioning the possibility of Qin Si courting Nian prematurely, yet why could he brazenly step into this household?

Could it be?

Could it possibly mean that his uncle wants to...

A dreadful thought rose in Lu Yang's mind, which he promptly shook away, convincing himself it was both terrifying and absurd, impossible to occur.

The three of them dined together.

Lu Yang sat beside Lu Nian, being especially attentive, "Nian Nian, have some soup, it's hot during the summer."

Offering her food and drink with a somewhat triumphant demeanor, he cast a surreptitious glance at the young man opposite them.

To his surprise, Qin Si remained silent, quietly eating his meal without making any overt attempts to get close to her, and their interaction didn't seem intimate at all.

He remembered the words previously spoken by Qin Si.

A man who would go to such lengths for a woman, protecting and shielding her during dangerous times, being at her beck and call even in the middle of the night when she was troubled, and even willingly concealing his true identity without seeking any reward.

If one were to say there was no ulterior motive, even Lu Yang wouldn't believe it.

They were both men, who was trying to deceive whom?

Qin Si had personally admitted that he was willing to do anything for her.

Lu Yang still couldn't figure out whether those words were said deliberately to provoke him or were a genuine slip of the tongue from Qin Si.

What kind of game is this young man playing, exactly?

However, he also knew that Qin Si had been accepted by University A and would be leaving An City to attend school before long. In this regard, no matter what, he wouldn't be able to linger around Nian Nian for much longer.

Afterwards, given the current trend, it was certain that Nian Nian was planning to study abroad. Separated by an ocean, what more could possibly happen?

Once she starts university, Nian Nian's horizons will broaden, and she will meet many new friends, naturally forgetting about him in time.

After the meal ended, the afternoon tutoring session continued.

While working on her problems, Lu Nian grew tired.

Her physical condition wasn't great, necessitating a nap almost every day to sustain her energy levels into the afternoon, especially prone to summer drowsiness. However, seeing that Qin Si didn't seem tired at all, she felt embarrassed to mention it.

As she was writing, her pen slipped from her grip, landing on the paper with a faint noise.

She had fallen asleep, her long and curled eyelashes casting a gentle shadow on her fair cheeks, which were adorned by the dappled sunlight through the leaves outside the window. Her fingers, delicate and soft, had let go of the pen, extending towards him. The strand of hair hanging beside her cheek had been tucked behind her ear.

He watched her quietly, his gaze lingering on her cheek for a long while, halting his hand from flipping through the pages of the book.

The shadows on the table shifted slowly.

...

Lu Nian woke up with a start, realizing she had fallen asleep.

Qin Si seemed to be reading a book at the side.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Lu Nian rubbed her eyes.

"Struggling to stay awake won't be productive," he said without lifting his gaze, "You might as well just sleep."

"You're sitting here," Lu Nian mumbled, "How can I sleep? Who knows what I might do while asleep."

She feared her sleeping habits might be ungraceful, perhaps she would drool or something else; she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of him.

Due to the brief nap, the girl rubbed her eyes and let out a small yawn, her eyes seeming even more luminous. While speaking, she unconsciously licked her lips, which seemed particularly moist today.

The young man's fingers tightened around his book, and after a moment, he pushed it aside and stood up.

"Eh?"

"I'm going out," he said, his back to her, "You can sleep if you want."

Lu Nian, "..."

She had just made a casual jest, and he was leaving just like that... But she couldn't comfortably sleep here either.

He had already pushed the door open and left.

Left with no choice, Lu Nian finally got up and returned to her own bedroom. After all, if possible, sleeping in a bed was much more comfortable.

Just one hour of sleep.

She set an alarm.

Qin Si stood in the corridor, not feeling the slightest bit tired; his mind was unexpectedly clear.

Observing every familiar tree and blade of grass outside.

From here, he could see the Xu family's small building across the street and the attic where he used to live.

Nestled in that dim attic, he had stolen glances at this place countless times, watching her walk lightly down the corridor in her skirt, shedding a trail of light as she moved.

Every glimpse seemed to add to his anguish, incrementally increasing his pain.

Back then, he never imagined that one day he would have the opportunity to step into her world formally.

Yet, the distance between them remained as vast as ever.

Lu Yang had appeared in the corridor at some unknown point, observing the young man's slender figure from behind. He turned to leave, but Qin Si had already noticed him.

"I have something to discuss with you," he said.

Lu Yang stopped in his tracks.

Qin Si continued, "The incident with Lin Junrun was your doing, wasn't it?"

Lu Yang paused, recalling the incident where Lu Nian was attacked in her first year of high school, and he had instructed Lin Junrun to impersonate Qin Si.

Lu Yang didn't know how he had found out, but he stubbornly responded, "You agreed to it yourself. Besides, when Nian Nian insisted on knowing who it was, what could I do? I had no choice but to find someone else to help maintain the lie."

Lu Yang couldn't fathom why he was bringing up this matter after such a long time; he could only assume that he was regretting his actions, seeking to gain favor in Nian Nian's eyes by revisiting the incident.

He warned cautiously, "Don't harbor unrealistic hopes. Even if Nian Nian finds out, at most she'll thank you. Have you seen her show any particular affection towards Lin Junrun?"

"Furthermore, Nian Nian's future has already been arranged," he declared, "An agreement has been reached between the Lu and Zhao families."

Otherwise, during Lu Nian's coming-of-age ceremony, why would the Zhao family brothers have been invited, securing a prominent place on the guest list?

He wasn't sure which son of the Zhao family it would be, but what he was certain of was that Qin Si would have absolutely no chance, not even the opportunity to come in contact with her.

The young man remained silent, his expression unchanged, as he asked indifferently, "So, what's your point?"

Lu Yang hadn't expected this response at all, his face turning a pale hue, "So, give up. You and her, it's impossible."

"Don't get too cocky just because her uncle asked you to tutor her this once."

The youth lowered his eyes, speaking in a calm and indifferent tone, "Having the opportunity to get close to her is enough; I don't care about the rest."

Lu Yang thought he had gone mad.

In front of him stood a young man with calm and elegant features, emanating a deep-seated coldness.

Lu Yang confirmed that he was unaware of the incident mentioned in that post.

"We might become colleagues in the future." The youth said, his eyes downcast, a faint hint of a smile, almost non-existent, graced his lips.

Lu Yang had always detested this kind of smile on him—cold, mocking, and dismissive, as though looking straight through you, a sign of deep-rooted insanity.

He was gradually understanding it all.

Qin Si's approach to Lu Nian, doing so much for her, was merely to infiltrate the Lu family and exact revenge, which is why he seemed indifferent to everything else.

"You still aspire to join the Lu family?" Lu Yang trembled with anger, "You plan to get close to Nian Nian through dirty and despicable means, and then lay hands on the Lu family? Let me tell you, don't even think about it."

Each time he saw Lu Yang throwing a tantrum, he found it quite amusing.

"I'm not interested." His voice carried a cold indifference.

Outside the window, the garden was lush and vibrant, bearing the lushness and heat of summer.

Lu Nian had already awakened.

She got up, nearly deciding to go out in her pajamas, but fortunately, the cool touch of the doorknob brought her back to her senses.

My goodness, she almost stepped out to see Qin Si like that.

Quickly changing into proper clothes, Lu Nian went out, her hair still draped over her shoulders, her face looked even more pale and delicate in her sleepy state.

The afternoon tutoring session continued smoothly.

Knowing that Qin Si wouldn't engage in a conversation with her anyway, Lu Nian wanted to listen to some music to relax during the break, so she started searching for her headphones.

"Were they taken by Miao Miao?" She couldn't find them anywhere and muttered to herself.

The young man's gaze fell on her bookshelf.

In a conspicuous spot on the first row and second compartment, hung a pair of pure black headphones.

Realizing where his gaze was directed, Lu Nian followed it and said, "Those were left here by Ya Yuan."

They were not hers.

Zhao Ya Yuan had left them behind when he visited her home for her birthday last time. He forgot to take them when he left, leaving them in the living room. Later, when Lu Nian called the Zhao family to inform them, she was told that Zhao Ya Yuan was not in Ancheng, having gone out for a distant trip and wouldn't be back anytime soon.

He was not at home either.

Hence, the headphones had been left at the Lu residence ever since. Fearing that she might forget to return them, she intentionally placed them in a noticeable spot in her study, waiting to have them sent over once he returned home.

His expression remained indifferent, his lips tightly pressed, offering no words.

After a moment, noticing her continued search, the young man's voice carried a note of fatigue, tinged with iciness, "The break time is almost over; either quit listening or use your boyfriend's."

It took Lu Nian a while to register what he was talking about, "He is not my boyfriend, I don't have one," she said irritably. "I am not like you, I have some shame."

She seldom mingled with boys, and due to the absence of biological brothers, even with Lu Yang, she maintained a deliberate distance, refraining from any intimate gestures.

The young man's expression remained unsoftened.

Would it make any difference if that were not the case?

He deceived Lu Yang.

He was evidently seething with jealousy.

A terrifying possessiveness, those wild desires, were constantly suppressed by him over the years, it seemed to have become a habit.

Nan Qiao was virtually isolated from the world; planes only flew to the nearby city of Nan Bin. The only mode of transportation between the two cities was by car. Once inside the mountains of Nan Qiao, even cars were not an option; one could only rely on motorcycles or travel by foot.

When a person like Zhao Yayuan appeared in Nan Qiao town, it inevitably attracted considerable attention.

His evidently pricey casual tee, the headphones hanging around his neck, the deep red A-type sneakers he wore, coupled with his extraordinarily handsome face, were all quite a rare sight here.

However, his expression was rather grim, giving off an unapproachable vibe, hence, few dared to actually strike up a conversation with him.

At the junction of Nan Bridge town and Nan Bridge Mountain, there stood a detached house surrounded by a fence.

Zhao Yayuan pushed open the yard gate. The little dog in the yard barked at him a few times; recognizing Zhao Yayuan's scent, it merely sniffed around him and wagged its tail.

"Wang Cai? Or was it some other name?" The young man rummaged through his pocket, pulling out a biscuit, and after tearing open the packaging, threw it at the dog's feet.

The little dog joyfully yelped a few times while holding the biscuit, and followed Zhao Yayuan with a spring in its step.

Zhao Yayuan opened the door to the house.

The interior was neatly arranged, emanating a fresh and cozy vibe. The furnishings were elegant, and the air in Nan Qiao town was clean and pleasant. In the summer, the house maintained a cool and comfortable temperature, with a bamboo lounging chair placed in the living room.

In recent years, many affluent city dwellers had taken to spending their summers in villas in Nan Bridge town.

Qiu Lan had lived alone in this place for forty years.

Having lost her husband at thirty, she had lived a remarkably solitary life since, which made her readily agree when Jiang Wen Yin suggested sending the young Zhao Yayuan here for recuperation. Over the years, she had cared for him as if he were her own child.

Alerted by the sound of the dog barking, Qiu Lan stepped out of the living room just in time to see the young man who had just entered.

The elderly woman was pleasantly surprised, "Little Ya, you arrived so early? I was expecting you in the afternoon."

Zhao Yayuan called out to her, "Grandma!"

"I'm back." The young man set down his luggage, giving the old woman a bear hug with a somewhat coquettish tone. Qiu Lan's eyes narrowed with joy as she tousled his soft black hair, "Xiao Ya, you've grown taller this year."

He has grown taller, and he looks quite healthy, which is reassuring for her.

She asked, "Have you angered your parents lately? How are your studies? Have you met a girl you fancy?"

Zhao Yayuan replied, "Everything's fine. My studies have improved, my parents are as they've always been. In a few years, I'll bring a granddaughter-in-law for you."

Qiu Lan grinned, "But with your temper, you need to tone it down a bit. Otherwise, no girl will put up with you."

The young man responded with a hint of unwillingness, "Where have I been naughty?"

Qiu Lan reminisced about his initial days in Nan Qiao and merely smiled.

He had two faces; towards those he disliked, he was arrogant and domineering, showing no courtesy. But with those close to him, he tended to be coquettish and craved affection, essentially still the child who feared loneliness all those years ago.

Unable to sit still, Zhao Yayuan wandered around the house. Not seeing anyone, he stepped out to ask Qiu Lan, "Grandma, where is Qiu Li?"

"Xiao Qiu hasn't returned yet," Qiu Lan said, "He should be at school, I presume."

"Those bunch of brats." Zhao Yayuan curled his lip, "What is there to teach them anyway?"

"Xiao Ya!" Qiu Lan sighed helplessly, "Don't speak like that in front of him, it will hurt his feelings."

Everyone knows how deeply he cares for those kids.

"Alright, I won't say anything." Zhao Yayuan raised both his hands in surrender.

When it was almost time for lunch, the door opened.

Another young man entered, nearly the same height and age as Zhao Yayuan. He had a somewhat pale complexion, but his eyes were gentle, and his face was as refreshing as a clear spring.

The young man was holding a full bag, stuffed with various kinds of ingredients.

Zhao Yayuan took the bag from him, looking down to inspect, "What are you up to?"

"I picked up some things from the town on my way," the young man said, "I knew you were coming home today."

Zhao Yayuan chided, "If it was too heavy, you should have called me earlier to help you."

Qiu Li just smiled, not offering any comment.

He said to Qiu Lan, "I'll prepare the meal; you can go and rest, grandma."

Following him into the kitchen, Zhao Yayuan suddenly asked, "Have you made up your mind? You really don't want to come back with me?"

"You ask this every year," Qiu Li rolled up his sleeves, preparing to start the fire, "I am very happy here, I don't want to go anywhere."

"Don't you ever feel discontented?" Zhao Yayuan asked.

Qiu Li's eyes curved into gentle arcs as he said, "There's nothing to feel discontented about. Anyway, it's not like I have much time left."

"Moreover, I really enjoy it here. I love grandma and the kids in the town too."

Zhao Yayuan disliked hearing him speak like this.

He went to help with kindling the fire, but ended up creating a mess. An exasperated Qiu Li ushered him out, saying, "Just wait outside, you're only adding to the chaos."

The author has a message:

Calling you tsundere, there will be plenty of jealousy for you to experience in the future.

(Progress will be made... once Nian Nian graduates high school, the foreshadowing will commence.)

The other side of Four Four Zi... although it's not evident now.

Despite his thin skin, being sensitive and easily shy, and his cuteness, he is also a man!!! (A leopard can't change its spots) (Ugh, scratch that), his true nature will definitely reveal itself.

So Nian Nian, be a bit cautious. If you tease him too much in the future, it might just lead to %￥#&