In the blink of an eye, it was already the fourth period of the morning.

The history teacher was dryly lecturing on the historical significance of the Hundred Days’ Reform, repeatedly reminding them that this was a key topic for the college entrance exams and needed to be memorized.

Chen Yao marked the topic as important with her pen, then glanced over at Jiang Xia. She found that he was still extremely focused, completely keeping up with the teacher’s pace.

He seemed like a completely different person. She hadn’t seen his mind wander even once all morning.

’Could this be the magic of love? Does he feel he’s not good enough for Lin Yanwan, so he’s desperately trying to catch up? Just so he can get into the same university as her?’

’If it can really help him significantly improve his grades, then dating at this point in time isn’t entirely a bad thing. It still has its positive aspects.’

She took a soft breath, tossed aside the messy thoughts in her head, and started listening intently to the lecture. She couldn’t let herself be outdone by some love-struck boy.

Before she knew it, the bell signaling the end of class rang.

Jiang Xia felt he hadn’t had enough. All the key points the teacher had just mentioned were seared into his brain like a brand. ’If I’d had this kind of learning efficiency in my past life, getting into the Central Academy of Fine Arts would have been a piece of cake, right?’

"You were surprisingly attentive in class today," Chen Yao said, taking out her insulated lunch box.

Jiang Xia froze. "Wasn’t I attentive before?"

"If staring into space during class counts as being attentive, then today you must have been possessed by the god of learning."

He chuckled lightly and didn’t explain. Anyone who had a second chance like him would probably give it their all.

"I’m sorry. I take back my biased opinion from this morning. Dating can also be a form of motivation, provided you can maintain this positive momentum and it isn’t just a temporary passion fueled by dopamine," Chen Yao said flatly.

By now, she had opened her lunch box. The food inside was still warm, and the aroma of shredded pork with green peppers wafted through the air.

Jiang Xia was exasperated. "Haven’t you gotten something wrong?"

"Isn’t that what everyone’s saying? So many people saw you pulling Lin Yanwan to the nurse’s office, holding hands? Or was that fake?"

"Uh... Forget it. You’re right." Jiang Xia’s mouth twitched. ’If I can’t explain it, I might as well not bother.’

Just then, Wang Ming walked over with his stainless steel bowl, forcefully tapping the rim with a fork and making a CLANG CLANG CLANG noise.

"Old Jiang, what are you spacing out for? Let’s go, time to eat."

"You go ahead. I have to go home for something."

Wang Ming’s eyebrow shot up. He was about to say something when he suddenly saw Lin Yanwan appear at the classroom door.

His face twitched. "I’m almost too embarrassed to call you out on it. Is that what you call ’going home’?"

"If you’re too embarrassed to say it, then don’t."

Jiang Xia cleared his desk, stood up, and walked toward Lin Yanwan. Countless classmates in the room witnessed the scene.

"Chen Yao, see that? That guy keeps insisting he’s not dating anyone, but what’s the result? He’s not even trying to hide it. You should really give him a piece of your mind," Wang Ming said with a pained expression.

"What does that have to do with me?" Chen Yao calmly ate a mouthful of rice, giving them only a brief glance before looking away.

"Uh... I thought you, too..."

As if guessing what he was about to say, Chen Yao cut him off. Her heart had room for only one thing: studying.

"Impossible."

Wang Ming looked sheepish. ’It’s all those other guys’ fault for always trying to play matchmaker, assuming any boy and girl who got along were secretly a couple.’

"Anyone know what’s for lunch in the cafeteria today?"

"Stir-fried tomatoes with tomatoes, potato chips with potato chunks, and broccoli with cauliflower. I’m sure one of them is perfect for you."

"What the hell? That’s cursed. I’m gonna go eat out."

◇

’Ignoring the many strange looks around them, Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan walked out of the school gates side by side. Since we’re already being misunderstood, we might as well see it through. Stubbornly denying it will only lead to more gossip.’

"You’re going home to change your underwear, so why do I have to go with you?" He didn’t understand. ’This is way beyond what normal friends do for each other, isn’t it?’

"I can’t touch cold water," Lin Yanwan said.

Jiang Xia was confused. "Right, but what does that have to do with me?"

"If I can’t touch cold water, I can’t cook, and I can’t do laundry." Lin Yanwan looked at him seriously and said, "To sum up, I need a tool."

"Have you considered that you can use hot water for cooking and laundry? Or, failing that, takeout and washing machines exist. Which makes me, this so-called ’tool,’ entirely optional."

Lin Yanwan’s breath hitched. She bit her lip, the corner of her mouth twitching into an awkward smile.

"Then... why don’t you just go back?"

"...Forget it. We’re already out here. Let’s go. What time does class start this afternoon?"

"One."

"We can just make it."

The two of them hailed a taxi by the roadside and left. Wang Ming, who had been following them the whole time, saw this, and his heart soured as if he’d just eaten a lemon.

’Well, I’ll be. Going home together. Guess it’s time to meet the parents, huh?’

’Other people’s relationships develop over time. These two, on the other hand, are moving at the speed of a rocket. He wouldn’t even be surprised if they suddenly told him they were engaged.’

’He was going to get hot and sour noodles, but now all he wanted was a bowl of sweet tofu pudding.’

’Damn it, when is his one true love going to finally show up?’

◇

Soon, the taxi stopped outside the Brocade Splendor Community. The memory of unexpectedly running into his mother-in-law here yesterday made Jiang Xia instantly wary.

"By the way, your mom... she isn’t home, is she?"

"She’s at work." Lin Yanwan shot him an exasperated glare. "How many times do I have to tell you? She’s my mom, not your mom. Stop saying it all the time."

Jiang Xia feigned annoyance. "You have to give me some time to get used to it, right? What does this prove? It proves my love and respect for your mother is heartfelt!"

"Hmph. You’re full of twisted logic. In any case, you can’t just call her that anymore, especially not to her face!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Jiang Xia pursed his lips and didn’t say another word.

He got in the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor, but he failed to check the direction. He only realized his mistake when the doors closed and the elevator started to descend.

The elevator eventually stopped in the B3 parking garage. When the doors opened, a crowd of people—probably a large family—piled in. One of them was a heavy-set man, likely over 220 pounds, and when he stepped inside, Jiang Xia distinctly felt the entire car sink, nearly setting off the overload alarm.

Pushed into a corner, Jiang Xia instinctively turned and used his arm to shield Lin Yanwan, creating a barrier between her and the large man.

Up close, their eyes met, their breaths mingling in the tight space. Just as a strange feeling began to stir in their hearts, the elevator suddenly stopped. The display showed that they were on the fifth floor.

After they finally managed to squeeze out of the elevator, Lin Yanwan took several deep breaths. Someone in there had a heavy, sour stench, like they hadn’t bathed in a long time.

After she opened the door, Jiang Xia expertly retrieved a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and slipped them on.

Looking at the furnishings in the apartment, memories began to reawaken.

In his past life, it was right here that he had married Lin Yanwan and brought her home.