Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Ji Mian took Luo Ye off campus to grab a bite.

But Luo Ye’s claim of being hungry was just an excuse. He’d already had lunch and wasn’t hungry at all. He just ordered a small snack and couldn’t finish it.

“You’re full already?” Ji Mian frowned. “Didn’t you say you were hungry?”

“…” Luo Ye had no choice but to get a serving of shaved ice at a dessert shop.

This kind of dessert isn’t heavy, so you can still eat it even if you’re full. Luo Ye doesn’t usually go for sweets, but he’s okay with this light, refreshing ice dessert.

They got a mango shaved ice and sat at an outdoor table.

Ji Mian sat across from him, turned slightly toward Luo Ye, his right hand on the table as he texted with one hand.

He was likely explaining the situation to Luo Zhishu.

The shop was nicely decorated, with lots of plants outside. Sunlight filtered through the plants and the decorative fence, lighting up Ji Mian’s profile in a pretty way.

Luo Ye ate while watching him, his legs swinging lightly under the table.

He was feeling good.

*

They headed home early, and Ji Mian didn’t even take his backpack.

They were about to hit the final hundred-day stretch, and he’d been wound up for too long. Taking a day to unwind would actually do him good.

The system reminded him, “Your grades are solid, and you’re not staying in the country for college anyway.”

Xiang Nian’s grades were so-so, so Xiang Yanming had pulled strings to get him into universities abroad.

At this crucial point, Ji Mian couldn’t just change course. The system also pointed out he could aim for a better school, but staying abroad was the way to go.

If Ji Mian’s provincial ranking stayed in the top thousand, he’d be set for the world’s best universities. The rest would come down to his language scores and overall skills.

Ji Mian lay on his bed for a bit and replied, “Yeah, I know.”

But he’d come this far in the affiliated school, and too many people were counting on him. If he could push for better grades, he still wanted to try his hardest.

The next morning, Ji Mian walked into the classroom, full of energy.

Wang Yang yawned and said, “Where’d you go last night? Why’d you skip the study session…”

“I took my brother home early and didn’t feel like coming,” Ji Mian said, then remembered yesterday at Class 3’s door and asked, “I stopped by their class yesterday—why were all those kids staring at me? Do they know me?”

“Ah… isn’t that normal?”

“?”

“Go to any class in the first or second year, and it’s the same. Who in our school doesn’t know you?” Wang Yang rolled his eyes. “Bro, when will you have some awareness of your own popularity?”

Good grades and good looks are one thing, but the most important thing is that this guy genuinely doesn’t think these honors are anything worth mentioning.

Ji Mian still found it strange. “I’ve been around our grade, and everyone didn’t react like that.”

Wang Yang’s mouth twitched. “That’s because you’re close by, seeing each other all the time, so they’re used to it.”

Comparing people can be infuriating. Wang Yang gritted his teeth.

Screw it, let him stew in his own juice.

*

In June, Ji Mian sat for the college entrance exams.

Including Lu Zhou and the first world, this was his third time taking the college entrance exam, and he was pretty calm about it.

The exams went off without a hitch over the two days.

On the day the college entrance exam results came out, Luo Ye was still in school, his summer break yet to begin.

He was in the classroom for the second class, and as soon as the bell rang, the classroom erupted into chatter.

Luo Ye glanced at the clock on the classroom wall.

The results were probably out by then.

How had he fared?

Luo Ye realized that he was actually nervous too.

He bit his lip, wishing he had a phone so he could ask his mother about his brother's results during the break.

The next class was math, and Mr. Lin, who taught math to Class 3, walked in, handouts in hand, with a big smile.

The students still in class looked at Mr. Lin, surprised. Luo Ye stared straight at the smile on Mr. Lin's face, and he felt a sense of relief.

Mr. Lin put down the handouts, looked over at the kids horsing around, and walked down from the podium.

He walked around the aisle and finally came to Luo Ye's side, put a hand on his shoulder, and whispered, "Fourth in the province."

Luo Ye's lips turned up in a beautiful smile.

...

On the day the results came out, the Xiang family was flooded with congratulatory calls from the school.

In the past five years at the affiliated high school, the only one who made it into the top ten in the province, and fourth place at that...

Xiang Yanming didn't even go to the company, staying at home to answer the phone all day, beaming with pride.

Representatives from several top universities reached out to inquire about Ji Mian's school preferences and introduced their admission policies.

Unfortunately, even if Ji Mian wanted to go, he had to turn them down politely.

With the results out, he also had to start getting his applications ready.

Xiang Yanming knew that his son was planning to study abroad and had already aced his language tests. However, he didn't expect that after the college entrance exam results came out, Ji Mian's choice remained unchanged.

After all, with Ji Mian's college entrance exam results, he could pick any program at any university in the country.

It’s tough to say which path was better. As a father, Xiang Yanming naturally hoped that Ji Mian could stay in the country, closer to him. But in the end, he chose to respect Ji Mian's wishes, and after communicating, he began helping him with the applications and the move abroad.

For the next two weeks, Ji Mian was swamped with applications and interviews.

Fortunately, the final result was good, and he got into a top-ranked university.

On the day he received the school admission email, Luo Ye’s summer break had also begun.

Xiang Yanming and Luo Zhishu came home early from work and had Auntie Lin whip up a feast.

The dishes on the dining table were even more lavish than during the New Year. Xiang Yanming opened a bottle of wine he had been saving for a long time and poured it for himself and Ji Mian.

Ji Mian wasn’t much of a wine connoisseur and always felt that Xiang Yanming’s bottle of wine, which was of unknown age, tasted strange.

Xiang Yanming kept pouring him glass after glass. Ji Mian drank almost half a bottle, and by the end, his consciousness was blurred, and the system promptly intervened.

Luo Zhishu also helplessly urged her husband to put down the wine glass, saying, "Take it easy, Xiao Nian’s face is already flushed from drinking."

Xiang Yanming, often in the business world, had a great tolerance for alcohol. After half a bottle, he showed no signs of being affected. Upon hearing his wife’s words, he took a closer look at Ji Mian and realized his son’s cheeks were burning hot.

He quickly set down the glass and encouraged Ji Mian to eat something.

But Ji Mian was already overwhelmed by the alcohol and couldn’t eat anymore. Luo Zhishu shot her husband a reproachful look, and the latter awkwardly got up and helped Ji Mian back to his room to rest.

After finishing his meal, Luo Ye headed upstairs.

Back in his room, he took a shower and, thinking about the person next door, left his room and knocked on Ji Mian’s door.

"Brother?"

After waiting for a while and seeing no response, Luo Ye let himself in.

A couple of years back, he and Ji Mian used to walk into each other’s rooms without knocking.

Ji Mian wasn’t resting on his bed.

The room was dark, and someone was slumped at the desk, the laptop screen the only light in the dark room.

Luo Ye approached and found that the screen displayed an email from the school that had admitted Ji Mian.

The scent of alcohol drifted from Ji Mian. Luo Ye gently pushed him.

Ji Mian stirred and slowly lifted his head, saw the email content on the laptop in front of him, and then turned to meet Luo Ye’s gaze.

"Brother, you haven’t taken a shower yet," Luo Ye said.

At this remark, Ji Mian’s obsession with cleanliness suddenly took over. He tried to stand up quickly but felt dizzy and slumped back down.

It was only then that Luo Ye realized how drunk Ji Mian was.

Seeing Ji Mian still attempting to rise, Luo Ye stopped him.

Ji Mian pushed him aside and tried to walk past.

After a moment’s thought, Luo Ye said, "Brother, you’ve actually already taken a shower."

Ji Mian replied, "Oh."

The system remained silent.

Noticing Ji Mian still gazing blankly at the laptop after sitting down, Luo Ye turned off the computer for him.

The room’s only light source suddenly went out, plunging the entire room into darkness.

Luo Ye was just about to reach for the desk lamp on Ji Mian’s desk when his body was suddenly gently embraced by someone.

Luo Ye couldn’t see anything, but he could smell the scent coming from Ji Mian, a mix of fragrance and a hint of wine.

Instinctively, he turned his face and pressed his cheek against Ji Mian’s neck.

Turns out the smell of alcohol isn’t so bad after all.

*

Ji Mian’s flight was scheduled for early September, by then, Luo Ye had already started school.

The flight was at six, and Ji Mian was up before three, packing his things.

By four, he was dragging his suitcase out of the bedroom.

Luo Zhishu and Xiang Yanming were up even earlier, with Luo Zhishu already downstairs making breakfast, while Xiang Yanming waited by Ji Mian’s bedroom door to help with the luggage.

Xiang Yanming, uncharacteristically, lit a cigarette. "You sure you don’t want me and your Aunt Luo to come with you? Going overseas alone..."

"Really, it’s fine," Ji Mian said, curling his lips. "You two should just keep doting on the little one. I’m nobody special..."

Xiang Yanming’s mouth twitched, and he gave Ji Mian a light smack on the back of his head. "Quit talking nonsense!"

"When are you gonna start liking Xiao Ye as much as you like Xiao Chen..."

Ji Mian thought to himself: In a couple of years, you’ll be begging me to stay away from Luo Ye.

Luo Zhishu came upstairs with a bag and handed it over to Ji Mian. "Take this for the road."

Ji Mian pursed his lips, staying in character and not saying thanks.

"They serve breakfast on the plane..."

He got another light smack on the head.

Luo Zhishu smiled, unbothered. "Airplane food’s terrible, so just take it."

Ji Mian took it, though reluctantly.

"I’ll wake Xiao Ye to say goodbye," Luo Zhishu said, reaching for the door.

"No need," Ji Mian said.

Xiang Yanming sighed and added, "Xiao Ye’s got an early class, so let’s not bother him."

Luo Zhishu hesitated but ultimately gave up.

The three of them headed downstairs with the suitcase, and Ji Mian suddenly stopped. "Dad, I forgot my headphones."

"Look at you... always leaving things to the last minute. Go get them."

Ji Mian hurried upstairs but stopped in front of Luo Ye’s door.

He hesitated at the door for a full half minute before carefully grasping the doorknob and pushing it open.

The crack of the door let in a faint beam of light, allowing Ji Mian to see the sleeping boy on the bed.

He approached, gazing at Luo Ye’s sleeping face.

After a moment, Ji Mian leaned down, holding his breath, and gently kissed his cheek.

After a while, Ji Mian left the bedroom, and the door quietly closed.

The sleeping figure on the bed suddenly turned over, burying his face in the blanket.