One morning, a week later.

Xue Rui was sprawled out on the sofa, munching on snacks. Empty bags were strewn on the floor in front of him.

He was currently chatting with Gu Muxue on WeChat.

Gu Muxue sent him a lot of photos, sharing whatever flowers she saw or things she encountered each day.

A few days ago, Gu Muxue mentioned she estimated her score to be over 640.

The exam was easier this year, so the cutoff scores would rise significantly. Gu Muxue’s score was just barely enough to get into Chang’an Jiaotong University.

He vaguely remembered the girl’s score from the last time around. When they went to the school to check the results, a teacher had said she just scraped into Qingbei University.

For her score to have dropped so much this time... she had probably spent all her energy on him.

His phone vibrated. The girl had sent another picture, this time of a house.

Xue Rui took a closer look. It was a traditional Chinese-style courtyard home, quaint and antique-looking. It screamed good taste.

Gu Muxue: This house is empty. If you come over, I’ll stuff you inside.

A moment later, she sent a picture of a doggy door: This is the door for you. [Grinning emoji]

Xue Rui laughed as he looked at the screen. ’This girl is hilarious.’

When Ren Qunfang came downstairs, she saw Xue Rui grinning like an idiot on the sofa, playing on his phone. The TV was blasting, and a pile of snack bags was scattered in front of him.

"Look at you, you good-for-nothing. Sprawled out watching TV first thing in the morning. How long are you planning to stay like that? Can’t you be like other kids and go out and have some fun?" Ren Qunfang said with a frown.

Xue Rui raised an eyebrow. "I like it just fine at home. I’m going to buy a computer in a couple of days, and then I’ll play games with Yaoyao every day."

’It’s finally working,’ he thought. Whenever his mom wanted to eat something, he would eat it first. When they watched TV, he would deliberately change the channel. He even said he wanted to learn how to play mahjong from her.

And sure enough, less than a week later, his mom couldn’t stand it anymore.

Ren Qunfang ground her teeth. "Just get out."

There was already one chronically-online, net-addicted girl in the house. How could they handle another net-addicted boy?

"Where do you want me to get out to?" Xue Rui asked with a grin.

In reality, he had already arranged to take the written driver’s test with Lin Ruoxi and Qiu Mengze today. He had to head to the testing center soon, which was the only reason he was up this early.

"Go wherever you want. Go hang out with Xixi. She must be bored all by herself."

"Alright, then you can drive us to the DMV. We’re taking the written test today," Xue Rui said.

"Oh, that’s a good idea. It’s a perfect chance for me to help Xixi with some paperwork," Ren Qunfang said, nodding with a smile. She even grabbed various documents before heading out.

Xue Rui sighed. His mom’s attitude always did a complete 180 whenever Lin Ruoxi was mentioned. ’Who’s the biological child here?’

Then again, getting a driver’s license was still relatively easy back then. The appointment process wasn’t as complicated.

He remembered when he took Xue Yao to get her license, she had to clock in with a fingerprint scan and all that. But back then, there weren’t so many procedures; the driving school handled everything for them.

Xue Rui called Lin Ruoxi ahead of time, and the girl was waiting obediently at the entrance to her residential complex.

Now that high school was over, Lin Ruoxi was no longer in her school uniform. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt, her hair tied back in a neat ponytail, a pair of blue jeans, and white flats on her feet.

To be precise, Lin Ruoxi had a very developed figure, so her clothes looked a little small on her.

But because they were a bit tight, they perfectly accentuated the girl’s flawless figure, making her look like a professional model.

Xue Rui gulped, staring. ’She’s so beautiful,’ he thought.

’So buxom, yet so pure...’

Ren Qunfang narrowed her eyes and said, "Isn’t one this beautiful enough for you?"

"Ahem." Xue Rui coughed dryly, not answering his mother’s question.

Lin Ruoxi recognized Ren Qunfang’s license plate and naturally got into the back seat.

"Hello, Auntie," Lin Ruoxi greeted politely.

"How has your grandmother’s health been lately?" Ren Qunfang asked with a smile, her tone exceptionally gentle.

Xue Rui didn’t join in, letting the two of them chat idly on the way.

Ren Qunfang didn’t mention Xue Rui getting involved with two girls. She was very fond of Lin Ruoxi and knew the girl liked her son. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything that would break Lin Ruoxi’s heart, so all she could do was help her scoundrel of a son cover it up.

Besides, she felt that Lin Ruoxi’s meticulous and gentle nature would eventually stir Xue Rui’s conscience.

"Where’s Qiu Mengze? Did he oversleep again?" Lin Ruoxi asked.

"Don’t worry about him," Xue Rui said irritably.

During the last health checkup, that guy Qiu Mengze actually pulled an all-nighter at an internet cafe and overslept, making him and Lin Ruoxi wait for ages.

’He threw his brain out the second the college entrance exams were over. He’ll probably fail the written test today.’

They arrived at the testing center for the written exam, where a crowd was gathered at the entrance, waiting to go inside.

Qiu Mengze saw them arrive and waved. "Over here!"

"All phones must be stored in the lockers. If you’re caught with one, your score will be voided!" a staff member shouted sternly.

Just as Xue Rui was about to put his phone in a locker, Ren Qunfang spoke up. "Let me hold onto them for you all."

Without a second thought, Lin Ruoxi obediently handed her phone to Ren Qunfang.

Xue Rui hesitated for a moment before placing his in his mom’s hand as well.

Ren Qunfang pointed to the convenience store by the testing center’s entrance and said, "Xixi, Auntie will wait for you here."

’My mom is serious about this,’ Xue Rui thought. ’She’s not even leaving. Looks like she’s dead set on giving that house to Lin Ruoxi.’

’But that’s not something I can decide. If she wants to give it to her, so be it.’

The three of them entered the testing hall with their IDs, and soon, the group from Dongfang Driving School was called.

"Try not to fail," Xue Rui taunted Qiu Mengze.

"Don’t jinx me!" Qiu Mengze retorted, his face darkening. He really hadn’t studied the practice questions much, and Xue Rui’s comment made him even more nervous.

Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi, on the other hand, were both quite relaxed.

Xue Rui wasn’t worried about the written test at all. Whenever he saw a short video of a car crash, a bunch of contrarians online would start arguing, inexplicably drilling the traffic rules into his brain. Plus, he had breezed through a few practice tests, so he figured he could pass on common sense alone.

He didn’t have to worry about Lin Ruoxi at all. She was basically a human printer with a photographic memory.

In truth, the first subject was just a multiple-choice test on common knowledge. A perfect score was 100, and 90 was passing.

Xue Rui felt that as long as you took it seriously, anyone could pass.

Except for lazy college students.

Two of his old college roommates had actually failed the written test...

Both of them talked about studying every day, but then Roommate A would see Roommate B playing a game, feel a strange sense of reassurance, and start a match himself. Then Roommate B would see Roommate A not studying and feel relieved as well...

In the end, they only started cramming at the testing center and came back with scores of 88 and 89...

And the one who got an 89 was fucking mocking the one who got an 88...

He was truly... at a loss for words.

The time limit for the written test was 45 minutes. Each candidate had only a mouse and a monitor, with partitions on the side to prevent cheating.

The testing hall was silent. There were candidates of all ages, and staff members occasionally strolled along the aisles.

Xue Rui sat down and quietly began the test, pushing everything else out of his mind.

...

Ren Qunfang bought a coffee and sat in the convenience store’s seating area, playing on her phone.

She glanced at Lin Ruoxi’s phone, the latest iPhone 5S. She smiled. ’My son does have some conscience after all,’ she thought. ’He hasn’t treated Lin Ruoxi poorly.’

She pressed a button casually, and Lin Ruoxi’s screen lit up. The wallpaper was actually a photo of her with Xue Rui.

In the photo, Lin Ruoxi was holding a lit Fairy Wand, which illuminated her delicate, pretty face. Her son’s face, on the other hand, was dark and grimy, and way too close to the camera...

"Why couldn’t they take a nicer picture?" Ren Qunfang mused with a wry smile.

Suddenly, a call came through on Xue Rui’s phone. The caller ID showed it was a local Hedong number, with no contact name saved.

Ren Qunfang pressed the mute button. She didn’t plan on answering Xue Rui’s phone.

However, the number immediately called back. She hesitated for a moment before answering. What if it was something urgent for Xue Rui?

She figured if it was an emergency, she could relay the message to him.

"Hello? You didn’t open that jar I gave you, did you?"

A pleasant female voice came from the phone.

Ren Qunfang froze for a second. She knew that voice all too well. It was Gu Muxue.

’This is Gu Muxue, and Xue Rui didn’t even save her number with a name?’

"Muxue, Xue Rui is taking his written driver’s test right now. I’m holding his phone for him," Ren Qunfang said with a smile.

As she spoke, she looked at the photo of Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi on Lin Ruoxi’s phone, and her brow furrowed involuntarily.

She couldn’t quite describe her feelings, but she really wanted to slap Xue Rui a couple of times.

"Oh, hello, Auntie! I went to Jiangnan recently. I’ll bring you a gift when I come back. The silk here is very famous," Gu Muxue greeted politely.

"Your mother mentioned she was going to bring me there for a visit in a few days," Ren Qunfang said, chuckling.

"Really? I’ll come pick you up then," Gu Muxue said in surprise.

Ren Qunfang chatted with Gu Muxue for a few more moments. Looking up, she saw Lin Ruoxi had already sat down beside her.

"Xixi, you’re finished with the test?" Ren Qunfang asked her.

"Mhm..." Lin Ruoxi replied softly.

"Muxue, I have to go," Ren Qunfang said into the phone. "Xue Rui should be out soon. I’ll have him call you back later."

"Okay, goodbye, Auntie." After speaking, Gu Muxue waited quietly for the other side to hang up.

Ren Qunfang paused for a moment before pressing the end call button.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. ’This Gu Muxue is such a good girl, too...’

’Polite and poised, even waiting for the elder to hang up first during a phone call.’

"Was that Gu Muxue?" Lin Ruoxi asked.

"Yes." Ren Qunfang’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt...

As if she were the one who had done something wrong...

Lin Ruoxi didn’t notice Ren Qunfang’s strange reaction and said candidly, "Gu Muxue is a wonderful person. She tutored Xue Rui a lot, which is why his grades improved so quickly."

Ren Qunfang was taken aback. "It wasn’t you who tutored him?"

Lin Ruoxi shook her head. "I only know how to solve problems; I’m not good at teaching. Gu Muxue is much better at it than I am."

Ren Qunfang stared blankly. She had always thought Gu Muxue came over every day just to hang out with Xue Rui, and that the tutoring was just an excuse.

’So, Xue Rui’s academic improvement was all thanks to Gu Muxue?’

GULP. Ren Qunfang swallowed hard.

Both girls were so wonderful. No wonder Xue Rui was so conflicted.

’But he can’t have both!’

...

「Meanwhile, in Jiangnan Province.」

"Grandma, my classmate’s mother is coming to visit. Can we free up one of the courtyard houses for a few days?" Gu Muxue said.

The elegant and stately old woman chuckled. "Oh my, which classmate? A boy, I presume?"

Gu Muxue’s face turned red. "Grandma, how did you know?"

"Isn’t it written all over your face? Is that why you didn’t want to come visit your grandma? Good thing I was clever enough to book your ticket for that same day, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have been able to tear yourself away," the old woman teased, making Gu Muxue blush all the way to the tips of her ears.

Eventually, Gu Muxue couldn’t take her grandmother’s nagging anymore and fled to a corner of the courtyard, pouting.

’Who is Xixi?’

Gu Muxue suddenly recalled Ren Qunfang’s last few words.

Without consciously trying, a tall, slender figure flashed through her mind.