Chapter 49

Chapter 49

You Nan performed admirably on this exam, ascending to the upper-middle ranks of his grade.

Thanks to Jiang Songen and Yi Jiahe’s tutoring, coupled with his lighter workload, he could dedicate more energy to his studies, solidifying his grasp on the material.

You Nan’s improved grade ranking astonished his teachers and prompted a significant shift in perception among classmates who still recalled his previous poor performance.

Delighted by his progress, You Nan bought water and snacks from the supermarket after class, dividing them into two portions.

He took one portion to Class 1. Finding the classroom empty, he placed the items in Jiang Songen’s desk drawer.

The other portion he personally handed to Yi Jiahe.

Yi Jiahe, engrossed in writing, merely cast a sidelong glance at the offerings on his desk—a gesture of goodwill.

You Nan sincerely thanked him, "These are for you. I’m not sure if you’ll like them. When you’re free, I’d like to treat you to a meal."

Yi Jiahe slid You Nan’s notebook back to him. He looked up, meeting You Nan’s downward gaze—their eyes connected. Yi Jiahe’s hand, gripping his pen, unconsciously tightened, a subtle movement no one noticed.

"Your grades aren’t quite there yet. You could aim even higher in the rankings."

Yi Jiahe extended his hand. "Let me see the study plan Jiang Songen wrote for you. I want to see how he’s structured it."

You Nan scrutinized his face. The boy returned his gaze impassively, appearing entirely professional.

You Nan’s clear, bright eyes studied him intently. After a couple of seconds, he finally uttered, "Oh," and returned to his seat to retrieve Jiang Songen’s notes.

Earlier, when Jiang Songen was analyzing problems for him, Yi Jiahe had asked if he could see the notebook, and Jiang Songen had agreed.

With Jiang Songen’s consent, You Nan had no reason to refuse Yi Jiahe.

Yi Jiahe took the notebook from You Nan.

It was a new notebook, with "You Nan" and his class scrawled across it in a flamboyant hand.

The boy recognized it instantly—it was Jiang Songen’s handwriting.

He had committed every detail of Jiang Songen to memory.

He could identify the other’s handwriting at a glance.

Yi Jiahe stared at "You Nan" for two seconds before flipping the notebook open.

Inside, it was densely but neatly filled with monthly plans, weekly plans, daily assignments, and more.

Some entries even included precise timelines.

As Yi Jiahe read, a growing heaviness settled in his heart.

Aside from Li Qiutian, he had never witnessed Jiang Songen investing such care in anyone.

No, the level of attention You Nan was receiving now surpassed even what Li Qiutian had experienced.

Li Qiutian only approached Jiang Songen for problems he couldn’t solve.

Jiang Songen would only explain things depending on his mood and the quality of Li Qiutian’s "bribes"—though it was mostly in jest.

Li Qiutian’s "bribes" typically consisted of a pack of spicy jerky or a bottle of AD calcium milk.

Only You Nan received such meticulous treatment from Jiang Songen.

Yi Jiahe suddenly felt a constriction in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

A dull ache settled in his heart, an unsettling discomfort.

Even the contents of the notebook seemed to blur before his eyes, becoming illegible.

Before You Nan arrived, Jiang Songen treated everyone the same. But after You Nan, Jiang Songen changed.

He became a stranger to Yi Jiahe.

He had never seen Jiang Songen treat anyone with such kindness.

If Jiang Songen had maintained the same polite distance with You Nan as he did with others, Yi Jiahe wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

But Jiang Songen treated You Nan with an undeniable difference.

Yi Jiahe picked up the drink on the table, twisted off the cap, and took a sip.

Only after drinking did he realize he had picked up the Mizone that You Nan had bought for him.

You Nan loved drinking this.

Yi Jiahe glanced at You Nan’s gentle profile; the other was also studying the schedule Jiang Songen had written.

Suddenly, Yi Jiahe asked him, "Last weekend, were you with Jiang Songen?"

Surprise flickered across You Nan’s face—he couldn’t conceal his emotions. "How did you know?"

How did Yi Jiahe know? Of course, he had seen them.

He saw Jiang Songen emerge from a taxi with a large bag of food, enter a major chain pet supply store, and then reappear a while later with another large bag.

Yi Jiahe had been dining at a restaurant across the street at the time.

When he saw Jiang Songen about to leave, he instinctively rose and followed.

Yi Jiahe had never ventured into such a crowded and dilapidated area. After exiting his car, he watched as the person he admired disappeared into it.

He immediately surmised who lived there.

Even Jiang Songen’s less affluent friends came from working-class families and owned their homes. Only You Nan, lacking financial means, would reside in such a place.

Yi Jiahe waited in his car, intending to wait for Jiang Songen to emerge. But he ended up waiting until dusk settled and the streetlights flickered on.

Two figures emerged from the dimly lit alley.

Their distance varied, sometimes close, sometimes far, as they slowly made their way toward the main road. They were talking and laughing. Yi Jiahe didn’t know how long he had been staring before You Nan and Jiang Songen finally appeared under the streetlights.

Jiang Songen’s striking looks shone vividly under the lights, like blossoms viewed through a mist. You Nan, with his fair skin and gentle features, stood beside him—the two complemented each other perfectly.

Noticing Yi Jiahe seemed lost in thought, You Nan waved a hand in front of the boy’s eyes. "Yi Jiahe?"

Yi Jiahe snapped back to attention at You Nan’s call. Instinctively, he reached out and grasped the other’s hand.

The boy blinked, the warm, delicate touch against his hand causing his brows to furrow slightly.

Yi Jiahe quickly released his hand.

Yi Jiahe still maintained his cool and distant demeanor, refined like a young gentleman with an imposing presence. But You Nan no longer felt intimidated.

He even complained to Yi Jiahe, "I was just talking to you, why are you ignoring me?"

Yi Jiahe averted his gaze, unwilling to look at You Nan, "It was just a guess that Jiang Songen went to see you over the weekend."

You Nan didn’t ask how he had guessed.

He noticed Yi Jiahe was sulking again.

You Nan’s lack of fear toward Yi Jiahe also stemmed from Yi Jiahe’s own behavior.

You Nan realized that Yi Jiahe was a walking contradiction. Sometimes, without knowing what was said, something would strike a nerve, and he would suddenly sulk for no apparent reason.

Yi Jiahe also became aware of his own childish side in front of his "rival," and his expression darkened.

He quickly composed himself and began writing out today’s problems for You Nan.

Indeed, Yi Jiahe was now not only explaining problems and helping You Nan with homework but also creating special problems for You Nan to solve.

You Nan felt dizzy just looking at these problems.

His foundation was already weak, and there were many concepts he needed to catch up on. On top of that, he had to work his part-time job, leaving his days packed. And now, Yi Jiahe was adding more problems for him.

You Nan leaned in to watch as Yi Jiahe wrote.

The cheap laundry detergent scent that Yi Jiahe disliked wafted closer again. Yi Jiahe paused his writing, "Speak properly, don’t get so close to me."

You Nan glanced at the distance between them—there was at least thirty centimeters separating them.

You Nan straightened up, gave a small huff, and said, "Fine."

He had already caught a glimpse of the problems Yi Jiahe was writing, and they looked truly difficult.

Yi Jiahe handed the notebook back to You Nan. You Nan felt frustrated inside but still managed to force a grateful smile, "Thank you."

As he took the notebook and started to turn away, Yi Jiahe suddenly spoke up, "Wait."

You Nan turned back, "Hmm?"

"When you smile, can you show more teeth?" Yi Jiahe said.

You Nan, not understanding why, complied, "Like this?"

Yi Jiahe looked at him for a moment, then stood up and walked over to You Nan. You Nan’s face grew warm as the boy’s fingers brushed against his face.

Yi Jiahe touched the corners of his lips, his eyebrows, and his cheeks.

When Yi Jiahe moved his fingers away, You Nan’s face wore a forced smile.

You Nan’s heart gave a sudden jump as he noticed Yi Jiahe staring at him, slightly spaced out.

In that instant, You Nan remembered the stand-in role that 007 had mentioned in the plot.

He and Yi Jiahe were pretty close now, right? Would he still have to go through the whole stand-in plot?

Yi Jiahe let go of his hand. Just moments ago, he had told You Nan to keep his distance, but now he was the one getting in close.

You Nan and Jiang Songen were different in both appearance and personality.

Jiang Songen seemed easy to approach on the surface but was actually warm on the outside and cold on the inside. You Nan, on the other hand, not only seemed easy to approach but genuinely was, and didn't put up guards with anyone.

Their appearances were also completely different.

You Nan had a rounder, blunter chin, and while his features weren’t striking individually, they came together in a very easy-on-the-eyes way. Jiang Songen, however, had every feature standing out, just like his personality.

Yet, in You Nan’s expression just now, Yi Jiahe had caught a flash of Jiang Songen.

Was it because they had been spending time together, causing their habits and personalities to rub off on each other?

Yi Jiahe didn’t know.

You Nan took a step back, snagged a wet wipe from Yi Jiahe’s desk, and wiped his face.

Turning slightly to hide what he was feeling, You Nan said, "Why did you suddenly get so close!"

"Everyone will be back soon. I’m going back to my seat."

As he spoke, You Nan avoided looking at him and bent down to move his stool.

But his wrist was caught.

The refined, handsome boy bent down just like him.

Yi Jiahe’s voice was soft, "You Nan, you must be really strapped for cash, right?"

You Nan didn’t answer.

He was indeed short on money.

Rent, utilities, living expenses, his younger brother’s tuition—all of it required money. Later, he would also need funds for university. His part-time earnings were far from enough.

You Nan had been cracking down on studying, all for the scholarship the school had promised when they recruited him for his good grades.

In the original storyline, the original character had tried hard but failed.

You Nan didn’t know how things would turn out for him.

Yi Jiahe moved even closer. The cheap laundry detergent scent that he disliked enveloped his overly sensitive sense of smell, but this time, Yi Jiahe didn’t pull away.

"Here's the deal: if you get the problems right, I’ll give you a hundred yuan per problem. If you get them wrong, you just have to do what I tell you."

Yi Jiahe noticed You Nan’s shock and took back the problems he had just written for him.

"Today, there are ten problems. If you get them all right, that’s a thousand yuan. If you get them all right for a month, that’s thirty thousand yuan. Even if you get them wrong, I won’t ask for the money back. You just have to listen to me."

"I’m doing this to help you," Yi Jiahe closed the notebook and met You Nan’s gaze.

You Nan’s resolve crumbled.

He had hoped to avoid the stand-in storyline as time passed, but now it was resurfacing.

You Nan’s legs felt weak, unable to support him. He swayed slightly and eventually crouched down.

Looking directly into Yi Jiahe’s eyes, he asked, "Then what do you want me to do?"

Yi Jiahe looked at You Nan’s upturned face, thought for a moment, and said, "Just like before, when I showed you how to smile. Give me that same smile."

You Nan was feeling a little down.

He felt his relationship with Yi Jiahe was quite good by now. Yi Jiahe had been teaching him, investing time and effort—how could he still mess with him at this point?

You Nan’s chest felt tight. He let out a soft sigh, a hint of reluctance in his expression.

But he quickly pulled himself together.

The original host was strapped for cash, and so was he. A friend was genuinely willing to give him money—he should be happy and grateful, right?

So You Nan touched his face and then flashed Yi Jiahe a smile that had a touch of Jiang Songen’s manner.

“Do you think this is okay?”

Yi Jiahe knew You Nan had agreed.

“Of course.”

Yi Jiahe took You Nan by the wrist and helped him up. For the first time, he even grabbed You Nan’s stool, placed it at You Nan’s desk, and got him to sit down.

In good spirits, he reassured You Nan, “Focus on your homework, and remember to bring it to me for checking tomorrow.”

You Nan looked delighted. “Mhmm, thank you.”

He waited until Yi Jiahe turned away before turning to hide his face.