Chapter 34

Chapter 34

The test papers were handed out, but he couldn't start writing yet. Shen Gali quickly skimmed over the exam.

The cramped, tiny print made him incredibly drowsy. Ever since his near-death experience, both his physical fitness and memory had taken a nosedive. Even though Nan Liujing had been glued to him from eight in the morning till eight at night lately, the second he looked at the test paper, his mind went completely blank.

From where he stood, all the multiple-choice answers looked practically identical. He felt like all four options were correct, yet at the same time, none of them were.

According to the term defined by ISTQB, "risk" is associated with which of the following options? ()

A. Negative feedback to the tester.

B. Factors that will cause negative effects and their chain reactions.

C. Factors that *may* cause negative effects and their chain reactions.

D. Factors that will cause negative effects on the object under test and their chain reactions.

Shen Gali: ...

He didn't know the answer, but this question had already had a negative effect on him... He felt like he'd seen it before, yet it also felt completely unfamiliar.

Besides, was there even any difference between the last three options?

Just as he was about to skip this question and move on, Nan Liujing's face suddenly popped into his mind out of nowhere.

Nan Liujing was holding a practice test: "You solve this problem."

Shen Gali picked C without a second thought.

"Correct. Now explain why you chose C," Nan Liujing said.

Shen Gali: "C is statistically the most common correct answer in multiple-choice questions."

Nan Liujing: ...

Shen Gali remembered that cold smile of his.

Then he said: "The word 'risk' implies a prediction, so just find the option that has something to do with prediction among the choices."

Oh, he had gone over this question before.

So the answer was C.

For the rest of the multiple-choice questions, at first glance he didn't know a single one, but with Nan Liujing's face replaying on a loop in his mind, he could always fish the correct answer out of the things he had said.

What exam gods do college students pray to? They should all go pray to Nan Liujing—even the lazy and slack could be carried to victory by him.

After four exams, Shen Gali's health bar was at 0.1%.

He wrote what he knew and gave it his best shot on what he didn't. Now he desperately needed to lie down for ten minutes to recharge.

Just as he walked out of the exam hall—

Suddenly, a bad feeling washed over him.

"Brother!"

Shen Gali: Run—gah—

Shen Lanqing, tall and long-legged, blocked Shen Gali's path in just a couple of steps. Even though he was about the same height as Shen Gali, he deliberately hunched over to create a height difference and looked up at him: "Brother, why did you leave this morning? I have so much to say to you."

Shen Gali couldn't figure out how he had spotted him right away among so many exam halls.

"The day after tomorrow is graduation photos. Have you picked up your cap and gown, bro?"

Shen Gali: "..."

"I haven't picked mine up either, so let's go together," Shen Lanqing said. Then he glanced shyly at Shen Gali's hand. "Brother, can we hold hands?"

Shen Gali looked up at the blazing sun overhead and raised his hand to shield his eyes.

It was no wonder a few people might get heatstroke in this heat. The original novel's male lead, Shen Lanqing, after his dark turn, would have wanted to crush the original owner with his bare hands. But what did he say? "Can we hold hands?"

Shen Gali slowly raised his hand and pointed at the campus supermarket outside the window.

Meaning: hurry up and grab a popsicle to cool down before the heat fries your brain.

Shen Lanqing didn't understand. He only saw that his brother had reached out his hand. He giggled shyly, took Shen Gali's hand, and held it tight in his.

"Got you. Won't let you run away now." His brows and eyes softened into a smile, his tone both proud and playful.

Shen Gali: ...

He tried to pull away, but the other's hand was like a crab claw. Forget it, he gave up.

Under the scorching sun, their tightly clasped hands grew sweaty, yet Shen Lanqing still refused to let go.

All along the way, Shen Lanqing chattered nonstop: "Brother, when we take graduation photos the day after tomorrow, can we take one just the two of us? I don't have a picture with you."

"Brother, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Can I come to your place for dinner today? I've learned a lot of new dishes lately. How about I show you what I can do?"

Shen Gali remained silent the whole way.

After picking up the cap and gown, Shen Lanqing started again: "Brother, can you put it on for me now? I want to be the first person to see you in your cap and gown."

Shen Gali: "It's hot."

"Then wear it when we get home. Let's walk faster."

Shen Gali was dragged by Shen Lanqing to the school gate. The weather was too hot, and Uncle Li happened to arrive just in time to pick him up. As soon as he saw them, he got out of the car.

"Whoosh"—a dark shadow flashed before their eyes.

"Lanqing..." the newcomer spoke hesitantly.

Shen Lanqing, who had been smiling like a flower, gradually lost his smile upon seeing this uninvited guest, leaving only coldness.

Nan Feiyao, who had been given the cold shoulder by Shen Lanqing for a long time, had learned about today's graduation exam and came at the right time to intercept him. As a result, he saw Shen Lanqing and Shen Gali holding hands and chatting happily.

His gaze darted back and forth between their clasped hands, and the blazing sun above only added fuel to the fire in his heart.

But in front of Shen Lanqing, he could only suppress his anger and force a smile: "Lanqing, are you still mad at me?"

Shen Lanqing didn't speak, but Uncle Li on the side spoke first: "Second Young Master Feiyao, long time no see. We haven't seen you since you participated in our Mr. Shen's 'Perfect Wife' competition and won the championship."

Nan Feiyao: ...

Shen Gali felt Shen Lanqing's hand noticeably pause. The next second, it was as if the air had frozen, the noisy cicadas fell into a vacuum, and all he could hear was Shen Lanqing's rhetorical question delivered with a strange smile:

"Brother's perfect... wife?"

Shen Gali: ...

He's about to snap, he's about to turn evil. The signs of a person about to go dark are as calm and serene as the calm before a storm.

"And you even won the championship?" Shen Lanqing let out an incredulous "Ha?" his gaze suddenly unsure where to land.

Nan Feiyao, seeing this, felt a surge of joy in his heart.

He has me in his heart. He's jealous.

"Lanqing, let me explain." Nan Feiyao reached out to grab Shen Lanqing's hand, simultaneously pushing aside Shen Gali's annoying little hand.

"Smack!" Shen Lanqing swatted him away, his almond-shaped eyes misting over, the rims gradually turning red.

Even Li Shu, an outsider, couldn't help but feel heartbroken for that face on the verge of tears.

Nan Feiyao was also flustered by that expression, a mix of joy and worry in his heart.

On one hand, he was secretly glad Shen Lanqing was jealous for him. On the other hand, he was worried—great, he's impossible to soothe now.

Shen Gali truly deserves to die.

With a soft sound, tears rolled down his cheeks as Shen Lanqing completely broke down.

"I'm sorry, Qingqing. I really know I was wrong. I was just playing along with the kid back then. My heart only has..."

"Enough!" Before he could finish, Shen Lanqing cut him off ruthlessly.

His hand clenched tightly, the knuckles turning a pale, strained green.

"What right do you have..." It should have been a powerful sentence, but halfway through, it was all grievance.

"What right do you have to participate in Brother's Perfect Wife competition? Are you even worthy? You didn't even tell me! What about me? I was clearly the most likely to win the championship, but because I didn't get to join, I missed the opportunity. Is that fair to me?"

Shen Gali: ...

Li Shu: ...

Nan Feiyao: ?

Shen Lanqing choked up, looking at Shen Gali with pleading eyes, "Brother, hold another Perfect Wife competition. Let me join this time, okay? I'll definitely win. I'm the most suitable candidate for you."

Shen Gali: Have mercy. Don't force me to lock you up.

"Brother, huh? Give me a chance?" As he spoke, Shen Lanqing choked up again, his lips wobbled in a wavy line, tears falling in big drops.

Nan Feiyao suddenly didn't understand. He understood Shen Lanqing's desire for a sibling bond, but this... clearly surpassed traditional brotherly love.

Wait, they're not biological brothers. They have no blood relation.

Comprehension hit him like a thunderbolt, striking him right on the crown of his head.

Li Shu, having reached the same understanding, fell silent.

Shen Lanqing waited for Shen Gali's response. Shen Gali: "It's so hot."

Seeing Shen Gali's cheeks flushed from the heat, Shen Lanqing struggled to steady his erratic breathing, wiped his eyes, and forced a smile: "Then let's get in the car and go home first. We'll talk in detail."

With that, he ignored Nan Feiyao as if he were thin air and pulled Shen Gali into the car.

A cloud of dirty exhaust fumes dispersed in the air, covering Nan Feiyao's head and face and choking him.

As the doubts in his heart began to clear and become obvious, immense fear followed.

...

At Nan Liujing's house.

Shen Lanqing looked at the magnificent hundred-acre garden, taken aback for a moment.

This was his first time at his brother's home since the marriage.

He knew the Nan family was a huge conglomerate, with nothing but money to their name, but he hadn't imagined anyone could afford to buy a hundred acres of land in the heart of Jinhai, where land was worth its weight in gold. This house was conservatively valued at over a billion yuan, and it was bought by Nan Liujing, the Nan family's neglected eldest son. And Nan Feiyao, the highly favored heir, would someday be worth an unimaginable fortune.

Yet this man had won the champion of Brother's Perfect Wife competition.

What qualifications did he have to compete with him?

Even under the scorching sun, Shen Lanqing was still visibly shrouded in gloom.

But as the original novel's protagonist, how could Shen Lanqing be defeated by such a small setback?

Brother wasn't the type to be swayed by wealth. So it's a terrible start—I accept that. Big deal. As long as I work hard, one day Brother will realize how I feel.

He stepped forward and threw an arm around Shen Gali, smiling as sweet as honey: "Brother, I've been studying desserts at home recently. Let me impress you. I promise it'll be so good you'll want to eat the plate itself."

Shen Gali: ...

Once inside, they found Nan Liujing was also home.

Hearing the door open, he instinctively glanced toward the entrance, and then his hand, mid-page-turn, froze abruptly.

Shen Gali noticed his gaze fell on Shen Lanqing beside him. Although his expression remained largely unchanged, Shen Gali caught the flash of shock in his eyes.

Right, in the original text, the villain had always had a special affection for the original Shen Gali, viewing him as a pure, spotless lotus standing tall in a corrupt world. In facing him, the villain felt inferior, even a single glance felt like blasphemy.

Shen Gali went straight upstairs, planning to leave the two alone to bond—he was happy to have some peace and quiet.

He hadn't gone two steps before Shen Lanqing caught up: "Brother, can I take a look at your room?"

"What if I say no?"

"Then I'll keep begging until you say yes."

Shen Gali: ...

What a sin.

Entering the room, Shen Gali promptly lay down, while Shen Lanqing looked around the room with keen interest.

"Brother, this room is so small, do you and Brother Jing live here together?" He started nitpicking, trying to manipulate Shen Gali into believing that Nan Liujing wasn't sincere, since he only gave him such a tiny room.

This was the room Shen Gali had chosen himself on his first day—he just liked cramped spaces; big rooms made him feel insecure instead.

Shen Gali closed his eyes, ignoring him, and began to drift off to sleep.

Shen Lanqing noticed there was only one pillow on the bed and was thrilled: "Brother, are you staying here alone? Doesn't Brother Jing sleep with you?"

Shen Gali responded telepathically: Mm.

"Why don't you sleep together? Is there a special reason?" Shen Lanqing seemed to read his mind and pressed on, his tone cautious yet with hidden delight.

Shen Gali sighed and pulled the blanket over his head to block out the noise.

Seeing this reaction, Shen Lanqing was certain—Nan Liujing must be impotent! That had to be it!

Despite encountering someone he disliked on this visit, it was worth it—at least he'd uncovered a major clue from the small details.

He continued searching, hoping to find more useful details that could take down Nan Liujing and let him step up smoothly.

His eyes landed on the computer.

It was on, and the screensaver showed a dignified, elegant mature woman in a pinkish-white dress, chin resting on her hand, fingers delicate, her beautiful face familiar.

Shen Lanqing thought for a moment, then it clicked: "Brother, do you really like Bai Wei?"

Hearing the name "Bai Wei," Shen Gali suddenly perked up.

He threw off the blanket, sat up slightly, and stared straight at Shen Lanqing.

"Speaking of which, my mom's company once cooperated with Bai Wei, so they probably still have her contact info. Do you want me to help you get her number?" Shen Lanqing asked with a smile.

Shen Gali sat up, his eyes filled with longing. Though he didn't say a word, his eager cry was unmistakable:

"Yes! Give it to me! I want to call her right now!"

If anything could stir his emotions aside from seeing the Matryoshka-style luxury tomb take shape, it was Bai Wei.

He couldn't confirm if Bai Wei was somehow connected to his mother, but seeing someone who looked so much like her after his mother passed away years ago was a great comfort.

The quick-acting Shen Lanqing soon got Bai Wei's number, dialed it, and asked, "Brother, do you want to call her yourself?"

Shen Gali paused for a long moment. "You do it."

He hadn't yet gathered his thoughts and was afraid of leaving a bad impression on Bai Wei, so he let Shen Lanqing handle the call.

The phone rang for a long time before it connected, and a gentle, clear female voice came through: "Hello, I'm Bai Wei. Who is this?"

The moment he heard her voice, Shen Gali felt a dull ache in his heart.

Too similar—even the timbre was exactly the same. How could it be?

"Miss Bai Wei, hello. This is Lanqing. We've met before," Shen Lanqing said, polite and composed, in stark contrast to Shen Gali, who could only eavesdrop from the sidelines.

"Ah, Shen Lanqing, President Shen's son, right?" Bai Wei's voice carried a smile, not at all annoyed by the unexpected call. "Long time no see. What made you think of calling me?"

"Sorry for being blunt, but I'll get straight to the point. There's something I'd like to ask of you," Shen Lanqing said.

"Alright, go ahead."

"My brother really likes you. The day after tomorrow, he'll have his graduation photo taken. I was wondering if you might be free to come to Jinhai University to meet him. Since he's a brother I care about deeply, I want him to have no regrets on his last day of college."

Shen Gali's heart soared, and he leaned closer, straining to hear the reply.

Shen Lanqing figured that Bai Wei attending a high-profile graduation ceremony at a prestigious university like Jinhai University would be great PR, and no artist would refuse. So he was confident when he asked.

But the line fell silent.

Shen Lanqing's smile faded slightly: "Miss Bai Wei, is there a concern?"

"Yes," Bai Wei said softly.

That single "yes" landed like a blow, shattering their hopes.

"Sorry, you might have forgotten, but I'm the ex-wife of Yu Yanxiang, the president of Jinhai University. He'll definitely be at the graduation ceremony, so I think it might not be convenient for us to meet. I'm sorry."

Bai Wei's voice was gentle, but that gentleness carried an unmistakable finality, making it hard to press on.

Shen Lanqing felt like crying. He'd been so eager to show off to his brother, but he'd messed up.

Shen Gali slowly lay back down, staring vacantly at the ceiling.

Bai Wei was a big star, not someone you could just drop in on, so her refusal was understandable.

But just moments ago, hope had soared high, only to come crashing down. The letdown after such hope was even harsher.

Bai Wei said she had another gig and they'd catch up later.

After hanging up, Shen Lanqing looked glumly at Shen Gali, who seemed listless. He wanted to kick himself.

Why did he have to run his mouth? He should have just kept his mouth shut—he was in over his head.

"B-Brother..." he tried to save face, "It's okay, we can arrange another time. We'll get to see her one day."

Shen Gali closed his eyes, feeling sleepy.

"Brother, let me make you some steamed milk pudding. I'm really good at it."

Shen Gali grunted a low "Mm." He didn't want any, but he needed to get rid of the guy to have some quiet.

Shen Lanqing let out a quiet sigh and opened the door.

As he stepped out, he made eye contact with Nan Liujing.

A pair of razor-sharp eyes, narrow and cold, as if sizing him up.

Bang!

Shen Lanqing's heart skipped a beat.

Wasn't this guy supposed to be old, ugly, and a total mess? Even Nan Feiyao had described him as, "My brother? He's nothing special."

"He's nothing special"? How the hell did those rumors even start? Even a romantic rival would be jealous just seeing him.

Dangerous. Way too dangerous. Brother Gali was living under the same roof as this guy.

Shen Lanqing balled his fists, unnerved by Nan Liujing's stare, and averted his eyes: "Brother Jing, what are you doing out here?"

Nan Liujing observed him impassively, his thin lips pressed into a handsome but overbearing line.

In fact, he'd been standing at the door since the moment Shen Lanqing entered Shen Gali's room. He wasn't eavesdropping—this was his place, and he had every right to hear what was said under his own roof.

He had overheard them talking about "Bai Wei."

Nan Liujing let out a cold laugh. "Naive."

Shen Lanqing nervously dug his nails into his palm, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He had heard it all—his own recklessness, his brother's disappointment. He knew everything.

Shen Lanqing made one last desperate glance at the space between Nan Liujing's legs, flashing a powerless smirk.

Can you bring my brother happiness? You can't. It's only a matter of time before I kick you out and take your place. Nan Liujing, go ahead and humiliate me now if you want. It doesn't matter. One day, I'll make you pay back every bit with interest.

Shen Lanqing's corruption progress: 10%——

The plot continued to race off the rails like a rocket.

*

When Shen Gali woke up, it was already evening. The rosy clouds painted the room's interior a quiet, gentle orange-red.

A bowl of double-skin milk pudding sat on the bedside table, topped with mango chunks. Beneath it was a sticky note:

"Brother, I made this special mango double-skin milk pudding just for you. You must eat it! Since you were asleep, I didn't want to disturb you further, so I headed back. Remember to answer my calls. (^３^)"

Shen Gali automatically ignored the dessert and the note.

To be precise, he was awakened by his phone vibrating.

He didn't want to answer, but his phone's assistant automatically popped up a reminder: This call is from the Political Education Office landline of Jinhai University.

He picked up, drowsily saying, "Hello?" A polite, clear voice came through: "Hello, is this Shen Gali? I'm Yu Yanxiang, president of Jinhai University. We met at the art exhibition before."

Hearing the name Yu Yanxiang, Shen Gali sat up. "Hello, President."

Yu Yanxiang was one of the few people Shen Gali liked, mainly because when he was being criticized by thousands, the president came forward personally to clarify and show support. At least he appreciated the president's motto: "Embrace all imperfections."

The president started with some routine pleasantries, then got to the point:

"In two days, our school's graduation ceremony will take place. We plan to announce the official launch of the new college that day. Coincidentally, someone strongly recommended you to me to give a speech as the student representative for the new college's launch ceremony. Would you be willing to accept?"

Shen Gali's liking toward Yu Yanxiang decreased by 1.

He didn't understand. With so many outstanding students, why choose someone who's clumsy with words, gloomy, lazy, and salty to give a speech just because of "embracing imperfections"? President, think it through.

The thought of facing all those strange faces, being scrutinized by everyone...

What a massive public embarrassment. After speaking, he'd have to pack up and go live on Mars.

"President, I don't want to." Shen Gali didn't bother with any polite talk and went straight to the point.

Learning to say "no" saves eighty percent of trouble.

"That's fine. I'm just asking for your opinion. Choosing you was based on multiple considerations. But I still think it's a pity you'd miss out on the 10,000 yuan speech fund the school has prepared."

Shen Gali: "President, I'll do it."

Though saying "no" saves eighty percent of trouble, money can save 99.9999 percent of trouble.

He came out ahead in the calculation.

For the sake of the luxurious nesting-doll-style grand cemetery, he'd just treat the audience as pumpkins for now.

Yu Yanxiang said with a light chuckle. "I'm glad you agreed. I'll send the speech draft to your email later. Good luck, Classmate Shen. I believe in you."

After hanging up, Shen Gali calculated in his head: with this 10,000 yuan, plus his own secret stash, he was only 7,988,020 yuan away from fulfilling his dream.

Tsk, how can I make quick money?

Forget it, I'll just pocket it for now.

Meanwhile, in the study.

Nan Liujing answered the phone. On the other end came the furious roar of Old Man Nan Feng:

"Nan Liujing, haven't I repeatedly forbidden you from interfering with Jinhai University's new college? Are you crazy or deaf? Look at how the internet is cursing us now! The Nan family has been a family of clean reputation since your grandfather's time, admired by all. Now, because of your ridiculous decision, the whole family suffers. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped seven points in one day. What the hell are you thinking?"

Nan Liujing finally realized why he had initially rejected the new college proposal but later took over the matter.

Because that day, Shen Gali was hospitalized in a coma.

But what connection did those two things have?

He went to school to talk about the new college and visited Shen Gali on the side.

No connection.

"The day after tomorrow is the launch ceremony. If Father has time, you're welcome to come and observe." Nan Liujing said calmly, as unruffled as an ancient well.

"You!" The old man was so angry he almost couldn't catch his breath. He quickly downed two blood pressure pills. "I'm ordering you now: contact Huanhai's PR team immediately, back out of this, pay some compensation, and try to make it go away quietly."

Backing out now would be easy, especially for Huanhai Electronics. But he had just received notice from the school that the student representative for the new college launch speech was Shen Gali.

That made it impossible to back out. He wanted to see Shen Gali make a fool of himself on stage.

"So Father wants me to be a man who doesn't keep his word, like you?" Nan Liujing sneered, his fingers slowly curling into a fist.

The line went silent, only the sound of ragged breathing remaining.

After a long pause, Nan Feng said in a deep voice, "I told you, don't bring up the past. If you don't make a reasonable decision on this, the losses to Huanhai Electronics caused by you will be borne by you alone. And I will reconsider whether you are truly fit to take over as CEO. That's it."

As if afraid Nan Liujing would argue further, he finished what he had to say and hung up hastily.

Nan Liujing lowered his eyes, barely managing a contemptuous sneer.

Before his mother passed away, his father, like the perfect man, held her hand, wept, and vowed never to forget her, never to marry anyone else, and promised to raise their son well and give him the best in the world.

But before even the first seven days of mourning were over, he brought home a young, beautiful college student. In front of his mother's portrait, he said, "Sorry, I broke my promise, but you'll understand, right?"

As for giving his son the best, it was merely giving him the CEO position. It seemed like deep fatherly love, but who wouldn't know the hidden motives behind it?

Because he wanted to leave the chairman position for Nan Feiyao.

In the chairman's eyes, the president was always a humble wage earner.

Finally, he carefully selected for Nan Liujing a disreputable, universally despised fake young master as a spouse. The other family was nearly bankrupt, drowning in external debt. At a young age, Nan Liujing had already been saddled with an aircraft carrier.

So this was the most logical line in the original story: the villain's descent into darkness had its reasons.

Nan Liujing closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. Then a leader from Jinhai University called to ask if the launch ceremony the day after tomorrow would proceed on schedule, if there were any emergencies, so they could make adjustments in time.

Nan Liujing stared at the 3D sticker on his drinking glass and said in a deep voice, "Proceed as planned."

*

"Cheers—"

In the restaurant, Ren Yinuo and Nan Feiyao raised their glasses, the clink crisp and clear.

Ren Yinuo took a small sip of red wine and lifted her eyes to steal a glance at Nan Feiyao’s expression.

He seemed preoccupied—his brow furrowed with worry, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

To lift his spirits, she spoke first: “Today, when I went to Jinhai University for an interview, I recommended your brother-in-law, Shen Gali. The principal was quite impressed with him; he agreed almost immediately—I barely had to say a word.”

At the mention of Shen Gali’s name, Nan Feiyao’s brow twitched slightly.

That infuriating man—how did he keep popping up everywhere? Even online, scrolling through feeds, he couldn’t escape waves of netizens lavishing praise upon him.

“Thanks for your effort—I really appreciate it,” Nan Feiyao replied distractedly, clinking his glass against hers.

“Director Lee has also been contacted. He said he’ll dispatch the news agency’s top reporters for on-site live coverage. Brother Feiyao, don’t worry—everything will go smoothly.”

Nan Feiyao offered another half-hearted “thanks.”

But Ren Yinuo dared not reveal the truth: after she’d posted the video based on Nan Feiyao’s script, the comments had been overwhelmingly critical—condemning Jinhai University for biting the hand that fed it.

Jinhai University, renowned not only for its distinguished faculty but also for its outstanding students, had long maintained its lofty social standing. Yet after the new college opened—lowering admission thresholds and borrowing teaching staff—the current students and their parents were naturally dissatisfied.

Among those parents, many held high-ranking government positions or wielded immense business influence. If they truly retaliated, the consequences would undoubtedly be severe.

But these people hadn’t risen to power without shrewdness—and they wouldn’t be the first to expose themselves. The one-sided public sentiment online was largely orchestrated behind the scenes by them.

Thus, both Jinhai University and Huanhai Electronics—the project’s contractor—were already teetering on the edge of a storm, merely awaiting the final straw to break the camel’s back before being collectively attacked.

This was Ren Yinuo’s own analysis. Her advice had been to suppress the topic and stop fueling the fire—but since Brother Feiyao needed her help, she voiced no complaints.

Just then, Nan Feiyao’s phone buzzed, its screen lighting up.

Ren Yinuo deliberately glanced over—and once again caught sight of the man’s lock-screen image.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She’d thought about it deeply after the last incident—even discussed it with her father. His answer remained unchanged:

“Since you’ve resolved to spend your life with the young master of the Nan family, you must trust him unconditionally and stand by him without reservation—that is a woman’s duty.”

The phrase “a woman’s duty” unsettled her, yet she was accustomed to obedience—never questioning her father’s words.

Ren Yinuo sat up straight and asked cautiously, “Brother Feiyao, I couldn’t help noticing your phone wallpaper—that handsome man—is he a celebrity? Could you introduce me?”

Nan Feiyao’s face stiffened. Of course, he couldn’t tell the truth—not if he wanted to keep his handy tool.

“Oh, it’s just a random picture I found online. I don’t know him,” Nan Feiyao replied.

Ren Yinuo sighed inwardly with relief.

Indeed, she ought to follow her father’s advice and trust Nan Feiyao unconditionally.

Feeling it was growing late, she dabbed her lips with a bright smile: “It’s getting late. I truly enjoyed dining with you today, Brother Feiyao. I’ll take my leave now—see you the day after tomorrow.”

Nan Feiyao grunted in acknowledgment and rose to accompany her to pay the bill.

After parting ways, he didn’t head home. Instead, he drove along the coast, pulled over by the roadside, and stared silently at the dark sea.

Suddenly, something struck him as hilariously absurd. Laughter drifted away on the night wind—growing louder, more sustained—until he doubled over, tears streaming down his face. His shadow stretched across the ground, twisting like a monstrous, man-eating beast.

Nan Liujing—oh, Nan Liujing—how dare you even think of competing with me?

The day after tomorrow is your death day. Take your gloomy, pitiful husband—and go to hell together.

In this world, only I need to exist.

*

Soon enough, graduation day arrived.

When Shen Gali woke up, the indentations from his speech script were still faintly imprinted on his face.

Five hundred words—he’d spent an entire day memorizing them. Fortunately, Nan Liujing hadn’t been around that day, so no one disturbed him. Though, given his memory, it wouldn’t have mattered either way.

He’d fallen asleep while reciting, using the script as a pillow beneath his head.

Waking up, his mood was utterly foul. The thick velvet curtains failed to block out the blazing sun. Such bright weather was pure torture for a gloomy, lazy slacker.

After all—sun-dried fish turns into jerky.

Then there was that damned script he still couldn’t fully commit to memory.

He still didn’t understand: in this scorching heat, did anyone actually *want* to listen to a long-winded speech? Did anyone even care what was said? A simple, direct announcement—“The new college is open”—would suffice. Short, sharp, efficient. Why did people insist on making things unnecessarily difficult?

The more he thought, the more irritated he grew—headache, toothache, his whole body aching.

This money came at a miserable price.

But having accepted payment, he had no choice but to deliver. Reluctantly, he picked up the script and began reviewing it again.

Uncle Li came to remind him repeatedly—to put on his graduation gown at home, since there’d be no place to change at school.

Gently, Uncle Li helped Shen Gali style his hair. Shen Gali sat drowsily before the mirror, eyes half-lidded.

His slightly long hair was combed neatly to the sides with a light spritz of hairspray, revealing a smooth, broad forehead.

His bangs were a bit too long, often half-covering his eyes. When Uncle Li brushed them aside to expose his full gaze, he couldn’t help but sigh:

No wonder Young Master Lanqing had developed a crush on him…

That face resembled a meticulously crafted painting—delicate brushstrokes, refined contours. Under such harsh light, anyone else would reveal flaws—but this boy’s face was truly flawless. No wonder netizens hailed him as “the most beautiful face of this century.”

Even an old man like himself felt his heart stir.

“Almost ready, Mr. Shen. Go change into your gown now. Today is an important day—a major milestone in life. So perk up!” Uncle Li encouraged.

Shen Gali slowly opened his eyes.

A major milestone in life…

He looked up at the blue sky beyond the window—clouds drifting, shimmering in the sunlight.

Mom, I’ve graduated.

Remembering the lisianthus bracelet he’d never gotten to give her, he fished it out and slipped it onto his wrist. He lifted his arm—the sunlight glinted softly off the silver chain, casting a faint golden glow.

This way, it was as if his mother herself had witnessed this pivotal moment in his life.

Shen Gali still remembered that scene vividly: waking up to find his mother gone—seven-year-old him rubbing his sleepy eyes, calling out for her as he shuffled toward the living room. He heard the gentle, flowing sound of a stringed instrument.

Following the melody, he found her silhouette on the balcony.

The balcony, transformed into a glass greenhouse, was blanketed in pink and white Lisianthus. Surrounded by a sea of flowers, a slender, tall back faced the sun, one hand drawing the bow, the other's fingers dancing across the strings.

In the soft sunlight, the long, curly brown hair was like a thick mane of seaweed, reflecting a gentle, beautiful glow.

It is said that his mother came from a musical family. His maternal grandparents were well-known great artists in the industry. His mother loved music from a young age and followed in their footsteps when she grew up. She should have had a boundless future, but she fell in love with the wrong person, like a moth to a flame, risking everything. She broke with her family, was abandoned by everyone, and single-mindedly pursued the beautiful love she hoped for.

But the result was that Shen Gali had never seen his father's face since birth.

His mother never told him where his father had gone, dead or alive. For a long time, Shen Gali even doubted if the man even existed at all.

Snapping out of his memories, Shen Gali looked at the silver chain on his wrist, chuckling softly.

Uncle Li, knowing Shen Gali was lazy, had already fastened the frog buttons of the graduation gown in advance, so Shen Gali could just slip it on. Then Uncle Li went downstairs to serve Nan Liujing breakfast.

Shen Gali slowly put on the gown, his eyes closed the whole time, squeezing in every bit of extra sleep.

In the scorching summer, the heavy gown clung to his skin, clammy and gross. Even though it had been washed, it still retained the overpowering odor left by last year's graduates.

Dragging his heavy body downstairs, he sat down at the entrance, pulled his knees up, and closed his eyes again.

"Mr. Shen, why are you sitting here?" Uncle Li asked.

"Just waiting to head out..." Shen Gali said weakly.

"Come have breakfast first. We'll probably be busy all day today. You can't handle it on an empty stomach, and..."

"Alright, stop lecturing me, I'll eat..."

He slumped down at the dining table, casually picked up a fork, glanced at the breakfast, and had no appetite.

Opposite him, Nan Liujing was wearing a dark gray suit with subtle white lines, perfectly tailored, accentuating broad shoulders and a slender waist. The diamond on his tie clip caught the sun and stung Shen Gali's eyes.

He closed his eyes. Don't look, don't look. But sometimes he had to admire him—being able to wear a suit in this weather, what a champ.

Nan Liujing looked him over and suddenly sneered, "What's that? A bib? A feed bag?"

Shen Gali was annoyed. What was he picking a fight for so early in the morning? Can't even food shut him up?

Don't respond, don't respond. He's just air, just air.

Uncle Li couldn't help laughing, pointing at his clothes: "Mr. Shen, your clothes are on backwards."

He wouldn't even eat if you fed him. This kid.

Shen Gali opened his eyes and saw that his clothes were indeed backwards, with the hood hanging on his chest. No wonder Nan Liujing had asked if it was a feed bag.

Uncle Li helped him put on the gown correctly and carefully arranged the gray hood.

Nan Liujing looked down at him, then suddenly shifted his gaze and chuckled: "So you're finally graduating."

Shen Gali couldn't be bothered to look at him. What's all the fuss? Haven't you ever been to school?

Nan Liujing put down his cup, lightly wiped the corner of his mouth, and said as if casually: "Today at the new college's opening ceremony, you're giving a speech on behalf of the students. I hope you don't mess things up and embarrass me."

Shen Gali lazily raised his eyes: "What, are you in the business of collecting faces?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Li got anxious and leaned in with his big face: "Young Master! You can't collect those!"

Nan Liujing: ...