Chapter 71 New Desk Mate

Chapter 71 The New Deskmate

When he turned, Bai Yingchuan saw Jiang Ruotang holding an Yixing teapot in his right hand while pressing the lid with his left, pouring tea into the cup. His fair wrist and slender fingers, accustomed to holding a paintbrush, formed a strangely arresting contrast against the dark teapot.

There was a calm, collected demeanor about him that Bai Yingchuan found unexpectedly compelling.

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something. Is it because your fans targeted Qilin Video, and you're worried you’ll land on the blacklist of investors and platforms?" Jiang Ruotang asked.

Bai Yingchuan nodded. "And I know Lin Chengdong is behind this. He’s probably in talks with Yunfeng Video right now, so he wants to undermine my relationship with Qilin Video to curry favor with them."

"Are you worried other studios, unaware of the inside story, might think you’re secretly encouraging your fans to attack investors? That they’ll see you as vindictive and your fans as too destructive to control?"

Bai Yingchuan lowered his eyes. "Yeah."

"What’s done is done. Overthinking it won’t help." Jiang Ruotang leisurely picked up a piece of honeycomb tripe and chewed slowly.

He thought about his previous incarnation—how he had been Lin Lu’s pawn.

What Lin Lu had done these past few days was exactly the same foolishness Jiang Ruotang had committed in his previous life.

Back then, Lin Lu had waved the banner of "standing up for Bai Yingchuan," urging Jiang Ruotang to distribute red envelopes and organize fans to file grievances. Single-handedly, he had dragged down several Qilin Video executives, leading to a wholesale turnover of its management, from the general manager to the financial and copyright directors.

At the time, Jiang Ruotang had gone too far, thinking he was helping Bai Yingchuan save face. But in reality, he had caused him immense trouble. Later, Bai Yue had to step in, working the banquet circuit to secure opportunities for her son.

Bai Yingchuan must have hated Jiang Ruotang back then—a perfect example of "it’s not the godlike opponent you should fear, but the pig-like teammate."

But in this life, it was Lin Lu who had incited the fans. His destructive power and organizational skills were clearly no match for Jiang Ruotang’s.

"I can’t help but worry," Bai Yingchuan said quietly, taking a sip of tea.

Jiang Ruotang replied unhurriedly, "Relax. In the industry… you don’t even need thirty years. What’s west of the river this month could be east of it next month. Capital follows the money. When the benefits you bring far outweigh the uncertainty caused by radical fans, they won’t abandon you. On the contrary, they’ll see your fans as die-hard and believe casting you means ratings gold."

"Are you comforting me?" Bai Yingchuan asked, an unusually vulnerable hint in his expression.

Jiang Ruotang took another bite of his Flaky Char Siu Bun. "Then let’s get down to brass tacks. Aren’t you starting filming for *The Boiling Years* after the seventh day of the Lunar New Year? Do you genuinely love acting?"

"Of course." Bai Yingchuan’s expression was earnest.

Jiang Ruotang believed him. In his past life, Bai Yingchuan had been beyond reproach when it came to professionalism.

"Then be more proactive and perform well. Feng Moshan, the actor playing your grandfather, is a national treasure actor. Learn from him, seek his advice. Old Mr. Feng has strong ties with the national broadcaster. If he speaks well of you, a single word from him could earn you their approval—resources and advantages you’d never get from Qilin Video or the likes of Lin Chengdong."

Bai Yingchuan studied Jiang Ruotang, who remained as calm as ever.

Everyone around him—his agent, even his mother—wanted him to cash in on his youth for all its star power. Jiang Ruotang was the only one who believed he could make the leap to a serious actor early.

"Just wait. When Qilin Video can no longer siphon even a drop of K-pop star power, you’ll become their golden boy."

"No more K-pop influence?" Bai Yingchuan frowned. "How is that possible?"

"Maybe you should check the news. See how K-country’s candidates view us. Policy dictates cultural trends. Right now, casting K-stars means scripts, filming, post-production—plus the approval process. It takes two or three years before anything airs. But in those two years, policies could change dramatically."

Bai Yingchuan’s eyes widened in realization. Suddenly, Qilin Video’s approach seemed self-destructive.

He no longer needed to fret over being blacklisted by them.

Jiang Ruotang finished his bun and reached for a napkin. Bai Yingchuan tore open a packaged moist towelette and, to Jiang Ruotang’s shock, moved to wipe his hands for him.

Jiang Ruotang jerked his hand back, gaping at Bai Yingchuan in disbelief.

"You—you—"

"What? Didn’t you want to clean your hands?" Bai Yingchuan asked, as if it were the most natural thing.

But Jiang Ruotang’s recoil was like a knife twist, piercing Bai Yingchuan’s heart.

In the past, Jiang Ruotang had organized fan events, airport welcomes, and themed activities for him. If he were still his top fan, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten out of hand. Bai Yingchuan might have even been happy to have such a devoted supporter, someone who could positively guide his fanbase into an ally rather than an albatross.

So why had Jiang Ruotang stopped liking him?

Jiang Ruotang seemed to remember something and added, "As for your mother—"

"What about her?"

"She’s seen all the games of the entertainment industry but isn’t particularly shrewd herself. So when she meets someone like Lin Chengdong, she clings to him. The more she invests, the higher the sunk cost, and the harder it is to let go of the resources he offers, hoping to turn things around someday."

Bai Yingchuan’s brow furrowed. "You’re saying…"

Jiang Ruotang glanced at him sideways. "You know exactly what I mean."

For a moment, Bai Yingchuan was tongue-tied.

The small room was so quiet that only the sound of Jiang Ruotang pouring tea filled the air.

As Jiang Ruotang lifted his cup to inhale the aroma, Bai Yingchuan suddenly spoke. "Then what do you think I should do?"

"You haven’t even graduated high school. What can you do? Where do you want to go for college?"

"Capital Film Academy."

"Your mother won’t follow you to the capital just to keep an eye on you. She has her acting career, social obligations, and connections. Once you’re in university, you can assemble your own team and try the things you couldn’t do under her shadow. If you succeed, Teacher Bai Yue won’t be able to restrain you anymore. Her perspective isn’t necessarily wrong, but the era she lived through is different from the one you’ll face. You should listen to her, but no two leaves are identical. You don’t have to become another version of her."

Bai Yingchuan stared at Jiang Ruotang, stunned.

From his very first acting role, people had repeated the same things: *"This kid’s so lucky—Bai Yue’s son." "Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, destined to be a top celebrity heir." "His mother’s won so many awards; his future can’t be bad."*

From birth, he had been permanently linked to Bai Yue. His label would always be "Bai Yue’s son."

Only Jiang Ruotang had told him, *"You don’t have to become another her."*

And Jiang Ruotang’s analysis wasn’t implausible—his advice was practical, too.

Focusing on the present was indeed more important than worrying about the future.

Bai Yingchuan found his appetite, and he ate another Flaky Char Siu Bun. Normally, he disliked overly sweet pastries, finding sweetened meat fillings odd. But today, it tasted unexpectedly flaky and delicious.

After the meal, Bai Yingchuan put his mask and hat back on. Jiang Ruotang hailed a taxi, and they returned to school.

The moment Bai Yingchuan stepped into the classroom, Lin Lu, who had been napping at his desk, sat up eagerly, waiting for an explanation about lunch. But when he saw Jiang Ruotang follow behind, that familiar stab of jealousy and bitterness surged again.

Yet Jiang Ruotang didn’t immediately return to his seat. Instead, he wandered to the back, stopping by Lu Guifan’s desk and tiptoeing to check if he was asleep.

Lu Guifan slowly turned his head, as if sensing Jiang Ruotang’s presence. He smoothed his bangs and reached into his desk for his glasses.

That slightly dazed expression made Jiang Ruotang’s heart soften.

"Did you eat my ribs?" Jiang Ruotang asked with a grin.

Lu Guifan put on his glasses and poked Jiang Ruotang’s stomach. "Aren’t your ribs right here?"

Jiang Ruotang was tickled by the poke and let out a soft giggle.

"You can go back to sleep, I'm leaving."

Lu Guifan glanced at Jiang Ruotang's receding figure, then looked down to find a neat pile of mint candies at the corner of his desk.

Yesterday, he had spent hours tutoring Jiang Ruotang in the air-conditioned room, leaving his voice slightly hoarse. He had thought the boy was careless, but it turned out he had actually remembered.

After another week of grinding through practice tests and mock exams, they faced the final exams of the first semester of their senior year.

As soon as Jiang Ruotang finished his last exam and stepped out of the classroom, he saw Lu Guifan leaning against the corridor, waiting for him.

His posture was as straight as a pine tree, and his sharp profile drew many gazes.

A classmate patted Jiang Ruotang on the shoulder. "Wow, you've got it made! The Top of the Class waits for you after every exam. Anyone would think he likes you!"

Jiang Ruotang’s heart felt as sweet as if a swarm of bees were buzzing inside.

He gave a light punch to the other’s chest. "Look closely, I'm a guy. Even if you're making up a story, it’s the Top of the Class waiting for his boyfriend!"

"What?" Lu Guifan walked over when he saw him come out.

Jiang Ruotang immediately said, "Nothing, just comparing answers."

"Let’s go, I’ll check with you."

"Then I won’t."

"Why?"

"In my exam room, I’m the ace. When I check answers with them, they believe I’m right. But when I check with you, if we disagree, I know I'm wrong." Jiang Ruotang said matter-of-factly.

As he spoke, he wrapped himself in his wool scarf and bundled up in his down jacket over his school uniform, looking like a roly-poly bear cub.

Lu Guifan followed behind, thinking how this little bear was so afraid of the cold.

When the final exam results came out, Jiang Ruotang nearly let out a high-pitched squeak as he grabbed Lu Guifan’s shoulders.

—He had jumped from 250th place to 189th in the grade.

Even their head teacher, Song Qinghe, marveled, "Jiang Ruotang is shooting up like a rocket! Before, I just hoped he’d stay steady on the ground, but now he’s reached the moon!"

The English teacher nodded. "His English essays are getting better too. The structure and sentence patterns are excellent—I wonder where he found such a template."

Wang Fuzi grumbled, "Where else? The Top of the Class tailored it just for him!"

A young Chinese teacher nearby laughed. "But his Chinese scores are great too. He filled in all the required quotes, his essay stayed on topic, and the logic was tight. He finally cracked the hundred mark!"

Wang Fuzi said with a proud sniff, "If he put a bit more effort into Chinese, his total score might even break 500!"

In this final exam, Lu Guifan remained the Top of the Class, maintaining his undisputed top spot. Cai Ji, now in a stable learning environment with family support, surged into the top ten, joining Lu Guifan in the first exam room. Jiang Ruotang was held up as the poster child for improvement and given glowing praise by Teacher Song.

After the results were announced, Teacher Song shared another piece of news: the class seating would be rearranged.

It had been a while, and some students had grown taller. For instance, it was no longer appropriate for someone as tall as Zhao Zhangfeng to sit in the second-to-last row.

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang immediately turned to look at Zhao Zhangfeng.

He didn’t want to be separated from his buddy!

Zhao Zhangfeng’s eyes also showed a flicker of reluctance—he had just built a strong bond with Jiang Ruotang!

Teacher Song called all the students into the hallway and had them line up by height.

Jiang Ruotang, being fairly tall, stood about two-thirds into the boys' line.

Being shorter than Lu Guifan and Zhao Zhangfeng was acceptable, but why was Cai Ji seven or eight spots behind him?

As Song Qinghe began assigning seats, many classmates who had grown accustomed to their long-time seatmates were reluctant to part.

But Song Qinghe was considerate—where possible, he kept existing pairs together to avoid disrupting their comfort.

For Jiang Ruotang, being separated from Lin Lu would be ideal. He didn’t like feeling watched in everything he did—it was uncomfortable.

And if possible… sitting with Lu Guifan would be even better.

At this moment, Jiang Ruotang kicked himself for not growing taller—why wasn't he 185 cm?

Lin Lu, Bai Yingchuan, Cai Ji, and Jian Sha were called into the classroom one after another, leaving Jiang Ruotang standing outside, so bored he started doodling circles on the ground.

"Jiang Ruotang, come in."

Hearing Teacher Song’s voice, Jiang Ruotang hurried inside. For some reason, he felt like all eyes were on him.

Lin Lu was paired with Bai Yingchuan again, though this time, the seat on Bai Yingchuan’s other side was still empty.

No wonder everyone was staring—they probably thought he’d become Bai Yingchuan’s seatmate, the coveted spot every student dreamed of.

Meanwhile, Bai Yingchuan was wiping the neighboring desk with a napkin, playing the perfect gentleman.

In his mind, given their heights, Jiang Ruotang was undoubtedly going to be his seatmate.

Jiang Ruotang, however, his heart sank—No, no, I don’t want to sit with Bai Yingchuan!

He glanced toward Lu Guifan, who was reading with his head down, not even sparing him a look.

Seriously? Even if there’s a slight height difference, couldn’t you at least hope a little that I’d sit beside you?

At the very least, given how close we are, shouldn’t you care where I end up?

But then, Teacher Song Qinghe pulled a surprise move.

"Jiang Ruotang, you’ll sit next to Lu Guifan."

What? Was this his lucky day?

Jiang Ruotang nearly wanted to build a shrine in Song Qinghe’s honor!

Afraid the teacher might change his mind, Jiang Ruotang eagerly scooped up his bag and rushed to Lu Guifan’s side.

Bai Yingchuan, who had been wiping the desk for his new seatmate, froze. Slowly, he crushed the napkin in his palm, his knuckles turning white.

"And your practice papers and reference books," Teacher Song reminded helplessly.

Suddenly, Lu Guifan stood up and effortlessly gathered Jiang Ruotang’s books.

For the class president to actively "serve" him—this was unprecedented!

Once seated, Jiang Ruotang realized—this seat was pure gold!

Although he had been moved back a row, with Lu Guifan on his left, Cai Ji across the aisle, Jian Sha in front, and Zhao Zhangfeng behind him—

He was surrounded by friends and family!

"Bro! We're still together!" Jiang Ruotang turned and hugged Zhao Zhangfeng’s neck.

To be honest, Zhao Zhangfeng was quite happy too, rarely raising his hand to pat Jiang Ruotang’s back.

Bai Yingchuan turned around, only to see Jiang Ruotang looking as if he had won the lottery.

This new seat made Jiang Ruotang absolutely delighted, his heart buzzing with energy.

He tilted his head to look at Lu Guifan—finally, he could admire Lu Guifan reading from this angle in the classroom.

But Lu Guifan stretched out his hand and pressed down on Jiang Ruotang’s head. "What are you thinking about? Grinning like an idiot."

"Thinking about you, of course!"

"Dork." Lu Guifan pushed his head down playfully toward the desk but didn’t actually use any force.

"Birds of a feather flock together—maybe sitting next to you will get me into the top exam hall next term?"

At this, not just Lu Guifan, but even Jian Sha and Cai Ji turned to look at him.

Zhao Zhangfeng couldn’t help but say, "One should still have a reality check."

Jian Sha twisted the knife: "IQ isn’t pheromones—it can’t spread through the air."

Once the seating was settled, Teacher Song Qinghe announced that after the subject teachers finished reviewing the final exams, the parent-teacher meeting would begin.

For Jiang Huaiyuan and Zhao Yunshu, this was truly a triumphant moment.

Jiang Huaiyuan ran into Lin Lu’s mother, and the two made small talk.

Before, Lin Lu’s mother had always carried an air of superiority around Jiang Huaiyuan, but now, Jiang Ruotang had improved so much that she had to do a double-take.

"Oh, Director Jiang, I’ve heard that your Ruotang not only aced the Art Unified Examination but his monthly grades are skyrocketing. At this rate, Shengda Art Academy is basically guaranteed!"

Before, Lin Lu’s mother had thought Jiang Ruotang had no chance of getting into a domestic university—that he’d have to spend money to attend some no-name college overseas after the college entrance exams. Who would’ve thought he’d rise so dramatically in just one semester?

Before Jiang Huaiyuan could respond, Jian Sha’s mother chimed in, "Didn’t Jiang Ruotang also win the Fu Chunshi Art Competition’s Rising Star category? The only one in the entire province—truly brilliant! The award notice is still up on the school bulletin board!"

Geng Yu’s mother passed by and scoffed lightly. "Talk about clueless. Anyone who wins the Fu Chunshi Art Award wouldn’t stay in Sheng City—professors would be fighting to mentor him at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in the capital."

This made Lin Lu’s mother’s face flush with humiliation.

Cai Ji’s grandmother also came over to speak with Jiang Huaiyuan and Zhao Yunshu, thanking them profusely. "Only kind-hearted people like you two could raise such upright and compassionate children like Ruotang and Zhangfeng! This is the highest ranking my Cai Ji has ever achieved in exams! Without your help, he would never have been able to focus on studying—he’d still be floundering!"

Cai Ji’s grandma’s thanks were noticed by other parents, who began whispering back and forth.

"Hey, I remember at the last parent-teacher meeting, this Jiang Ruotang was just a slacker rich kid, always putting on airs and refusing to study. How come today, it’s like his reputation’s flipped entirely?"

"The announcement of his award is still posted outside! Apparently, it’s the first time Beicheng Guangyao has ever won such a prestigious art prize!"

"My daughter told me Jiang Ruotang actually studies really hard now, improves quickly, and he’s super popular now. Even the most immature boys grow up eventually—look how well he’s doing now!"

Jiang Huaiyuan, sitting in Jiang Ruotang’s seat, kept receiving greetings and praise for his son, smiling so much his cheeks began to ache.

As for Zhao Yunshu, she hadn’t expected so many parents to approach them, eager to make connections—bank presidents, department heads, and more.

She never imagined that her son’s success would also expand their social network.

Lu Guifan’s mother came to the parent-teacher meeting for him.

Now, she carried herself with confidence, her natural appearance dignified and graceful, wearing a tailored wool coat. She also thanked Zhao Yunshu for recommending the job that had changed her life.

For a time, Jiang Huaiyuan and Zhao Yunshu became the star parents of the meeting, praised not just for raising a good child but for their family’s big hearts.

Lin Lu’s mother was left speechless. The irony was, Lin Lu’s grades were still solid—his total score was over a hundred points higher than Jiang Ruotang’s—yet no one praised her, and she had to endure Geng Yu’s mother’s side-eye.

By the time the meeting ended, Zhao Yunshu realized that many of the usually quiet parents were actually well-connected, influential figures from all walks of life.

While the parents were in the meeting, Jiang Ruotang and his friends went to a hotpot place across the street, chopsticks clashing in the bubbling broth, having a blast.

When he got home, Jiang Ruotang also received good news from Mr. Zheng: Gao Cheng had negotiated bank loans for their startup, Little Sweet Fruit. Though some banks remained conservative, Gao Cheng, with Chen Dan’s help and Qi Yanfeng’s connections at a dinner meeting, had convinced several banks to reconsider their loan terms.

Chen Dan, loyal as ever, agreed to mortgage the villa his parents had gifted him as a shareholder.

Not to be outdone, Qi Yanze also threw his car titles into the pot.

Not to be left out, Jiang Ruotang couldn’t just stand by—he had lawyer Dai Ming include his overseas fixed assets in the calculations.

Gao Cheng, moved by the shareholders’ dedication, was determined to push forward with full force.

With the funds secured, Gao Cheng personally traveled to the anime kingdom of Japan to negotiate bulk licensing deals for dozens of anime titles at favorable prices, securing a cut of the profits for popular titles, with deals set to close after New Year’s.

Everything was falling into place.

After the parent-teacher meeting came winter break and the Lunar New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, Jiang Ruotang received many heartfelt New Year’s messages—not copy-pasted greetings, but genuine well-wishes.

Cai Ji wished him success in getting into the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Jian Sha hoped he’d become a trailblazer in art; even Bai Yingchuan sent a text, wishing him everything he hopes for and suggesting they might end up in the capital together for college.

But after waiting forever, Jiang Ruotang still hadn’t gotten a message from Lu Guifan, which pissed him off.

Outside, fireworks crackled, and downstairs, the Spring Festival Gala played "*Unforgettable Tonight*." Midnight came and went, yet Lu Guifan’s message still hadn’t arrived.

Jiang Ruotang sat at his desk, bouncing his knee, telling himself to chill out… Why should he chill out? If he wanted to talk to someone, he should just say it!

Just as he picked up his phone to call Lu Guifan, the screen lit up with Lu Guifan’s name, startling him so badly that the phone did a 720-degree spin in the air before he snatched it mid-air.

"Happy New Year." Lu Guifan’s voice sounded in Jiang Ruotang’s ear.

Transmitted through electromagnetic waves, it sent shivers down his spine, as if pouring honey into his heart—countless little ants crawling inside, making him feel giddy and antsy.

"Happy New Year! But Class President, you’re a minute late!"

Lu Guifan seemed to chuckle on the other end, the soft sound making Jiang Ruotang’s heart itch even more.

"I was calling people to wish them Happy New Year. I tried to hit your call right at midnight, but I missed by a minute."

"Oh? Who’d you call before me?" Jiang Ruotang pretended to be annoyed.

"Teacher Song."

"Okay, that’s fair."

"Auntie Zhao."

"Hmm? Which Auntie Zhao?"

"Your mom and Zhang Feng's mom. I wanted to thank her for introducing such a great employer to my mother. Lawyer Hong and her family are all wonderful people."

"Oh... I agree she should go first too."

"And Cai Ji's grandparents."

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang felt a bit guilty. Cai Ji was his good friend, yet he hadn't even considered sending New Year’s greetings to the elderly couple.

"The grandparents were really happy when I called. They talked nonstop, and I couldn’t bear to hang up, so I ended up calling you a little late."

"Oh, okay then. Lu Guifan, Happy New Year." Jiang Ruotang lowered his eyes and spoke softly.

After chatting for a while, Jiang Ruotang wanted to invite Lu Guifan to watch a Lunar New Year movie together. But unexpectedly, from New Year’s Eve through the third day of the new year, Lu Guifan had to accompany his parents back to his grandmother’s village in Chengtan. He wouldn’t return until the fifth day because Lu’s mother planned to bring homemade sausages and cured meats to the Hong family as New Year’s gifts. The stuff was heavy, so Lu Guifan had to help carry it.

Jiang Ruotang just wanted to see Lu Guifan as soon as possible. "Then I’ll visit Auntie Hong’s place on the fifth day too."

"Sure, let’s go together."

Finally, after counting down the days, the fifth day arrived. While Zhao Zhangfeng lamented how quickly the holiday was ending, Jiang Ruotang was as excited as a kid, grabbing his gifts and heading to Lawyer Hong’s home.

He met Lu Guifan and Lu’s mother outside Lawyer Hong’s door.

The moment she saw him, Lu’s mother patted Jiang Ruotang’s cheeks and said with concern, "Oh my, Ruotang, you’ve lost weight! When I first met you, you had such a round, cute face, but now..."

Lu Guifan, standing nearby, chuckled. "Mom, if you keep putting ideas in his head, he’ll really start believing he’s lost weight."

Jiang Ruotang grinned. "So, am I fat or thin?"

Lu Guifan leaned in and whispered near his ear, "Feel your belly and see how thick it is."

Jiang Ruotang instinctively reached down to check. "Where? I don't feel anything."

By then, Lu Guifan had already carried the gifts inside. The first thing he noticed was a whiteboard in the living room that could slide up and down, with a problem written on it and several chairs arranged in a semicircle in front.

The living room looked like a lecture hall.

Lawyer Hong walked over with a smile. "You must be Guifan? So tall and handsome—no wonder all the girls in your class must have crushes. How do they even focus in class?"

Embarrassed by the praise, Lu Guifan lowered his head. "Happy New Year, Auntie Hong."

Lu’s mother waved a hand. "Oh, with his cold demeanor, who’d be smitten? They say there’s a real celebrity in his class—now that’s what I call tall and handsome!"

Lawyer Hong took out a red envelope she had prepared. "Guifan, wishing you good fortune in the new year. May you reach new heights in your college entrance exams!"

Just as Lu Guifan was about to politely decline, Jiang Ruotang put his hands together beside him. "Auntie Hong, Happy New Year! May you stay young forever, eternally eighteen!"

Lawyer Hong laughed heartily and handed Jiang Ruotang a red envelope too.

Jiang Ruotang accepted it cheerfully. "Wishing you wealth!"

Then he glanced at Lu Guifan, who immediately understood—this was his hint to accept the gift without refusal.

"I can already smell the aroma of Sister Lu’s sausages even before they were steamed," Lawyer Hong said as she reached for the bags in Lu Guifan’s hands.

But Lu Guifan didn’t let go. Instead, he stood transfixed, staring intently at the words on the whiteboard as if entranced.

Following his gaze, Lawyer Hong shook her head with a chuckle. "Oh, that’s something my husband, Old Yang, put up. He just returned from abroad for the New Year. The moment his friends heard he was back, they came over to discuss some academic stuff—battery conversion rates, transmission efficiency, things way over my head. They just left, and now he’s holed himself up in his study, who knows what he’s working on! When he’s deep in thought, no one can disturb him."

Seeing the look of interest in Lu Guifan’s expression, Jiang Ruotang smiled to himself.

"Auntie Hong, your professor husband left a problem here without the answer—isn’t that just tempting people into solving it?"

"Haha, Ruotang, if you think you can solve it, give it a shot," Lawyer Hong said with a grin.

Jiang Ruotang smiled and took the sausages and cured meats from Lu Guifan’s hands. Only then did Lu Guifan snap back to reality. He started to say, "I—"

"Go for it. I think you can do it," Jiang Ruotang said, giving him an encouraging nod.

Lu Guifan met Jiang Ruotang’s eyes—bright and clear, reflecting his own image.

"Alright, I’ll try." He turned to Lawyer Hong. "May I?"

"Of course! Go right ahead. If you solve it, I’ll never let him hear the end of it."

Lu Guifan stepped up to the whiteboard and picked up a marker. Once he got focused, the entire world fell silent.

He no longer heard the baby crying upstairs, the adults chatting, or the occasional firecrackers outside—everything faded away. He became like a computer, processing calculations in his own world.

He didn’t know how long he had been writing, nor whether his reasoning was correct. When he hit a dead end, he looked for a solution. When he needed to erase a mistake, someone handed him the eraser. When he wanted to adjust the two-tiered whiteboard, someone helped him move it.

Time ticked by.

Lawyer Hong and Lu’s mother sat on the sofa, chatting.

Lu’s mother said apologetically, "That's Guifan for you—once he’s absorbed in something, nothing can snap him out of it. He won’t speak, drink, or eat, like he’s possessed..."

Lawyer Hong waved her hand. "No worries, he’s just like my Old Yang. If those two ever meet, they’d hit it off."

Having sat for so long, Lu’s mother was starting to feel bad. If they stayed any longer, it’d be time for dinner.

She opened her mouth to call her son back, but Lawyer Hong raised a finger to her lips.

"Don’t disturb them, Sister Lu. How about we go to the kitchen instead? You can teach me how to make sweet and sour ribs. These past few days without you, Xixi’s been picky with her food again!"

Lu’s mother smiled and nodded, and the two headed to the kitchen.

An unknown amount of time later, even Jiang Ruotang, who had been standing by, grew tired. He pulled up a chair and sat beside Lu Guifan, propping his chin in his hand as he watched.

Just as Jiang Ruotang’s stomach gave an audible growl, Lu Guifan closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and let out a long breath.

His throat moved as he swallowed. One hand braced against the board, the other still holding the marker, his tall frame straightening like he was coming back to earth.

"Did you solve it?" Jiang Ruotang asked.

Hearing his voice was like a warm drop of water landing on Lu Guifan’s weary heart. He turned and met Jiang Ruotang’s eyes.

"I’m not sure if it counts as solving it. It would need to be tested to know for sure," Lu Guifan said, setting down the marker and lightly ruffling Jiang Ruotang’s hair.

Jiang Ruotang grinned, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Are you two hungry or not?" Lawyer Hong asked, arms crossed, watching them with amusement.

Only then did Lu Guifan glance at the wall clock—it was already 9:40 p.m.?

They had arrived at 3 p.m. Six hours had passed, and Lu Guifan hadn’t even noticed.

"Me! Me! I’m hungry!" Jiang Ruotang raised his hand high.