Lu Guifan’s heart was pulled along. He kept pressing down, his single hand firmly gripping the back of Jiang Ruotang’s head, no longer giving him a chance to misbehave and squirm.

Jiang Ruotang finally managed to straighten his legs, but Lu Guifan, with his physical advantage, kept him immobile.

Jiang Ruotang, who had initially been in control, was finally captured by Lu Guifan. Then came a powerful assault, thick kisses that Jiang Ruotang both loved and found breathless. He finally managed to free a hand, pulling Lu Guifan’s hair with one, and his pajamas with the other, but Lu Guifan paid no heed, as if he wanted to pour all his ardent love into him through kisses.

Jiang Ruotang finally managed to turn his face away, gasping for air.

Kissing Lu Guifan was like this; once he became passionate and invested, he left no room for anything else.

Lu Guifan lowered his eyes, wiping away the wetness from Jiang Ruotang’s eyes, only feeling that such an expression made him want to possess him even more.

The next second, Jiang Ruotang’s nose was pinched. He instinctively opened his mouth, and Lu Guifan’s kiss entered, isolating and eliminating everything irrelevant. Jiang Ruotang was entirely led by him, banished and then reclaimed, thinking he would be destroyed, yet it felt like another rebirth.

Jiang Ruotang knew what Lu Guifan wanted to do. Although he was a bit nervous and scared, the true feeling in his heart was anticipation.

The New Year’s countdown was approaching, and outside the window and from the downstairs television, firecrackers burst in continuous succession.

Like a rapid and fierce tide, the sound echoed through heaven and earth, past and future merging at this moment.

When his soul was about to leave his body, he vaguely saw Lu Guifan’s hand tightly clasped in his, and on Jiang Ruotang’s finger, at some point, there was a ring identical to Lu Guifan’s.

Later, Jiang Ruotang learned that the ring’s material was actually meteorite, found by Lu Guifan through Professor Yang, and it had been verified not to contain harmful substances. It might have formed a very long time ago, even before humans appeared.

Jiang Ruotang lay sideways, embraced by Lu Guifan, holding his hand towards the sunlight streaming through the window. The black ring’s edge subtly reflected light, like a halo.

“If you don’t like it, give it back to me.” Lu Guifan reached out to grab Jiang Ruotang’s fingertips, but Jiang Ruotang dodged him.

“This is mine, don’t even think about it.”

Watching Jiang Ruotang gently touch it over and over, Lu Guifan muttered to himself, “I thought you’d find it ugly.”

“Ugly where? It’s from the universe, maybe it’s the butterfly nebula from the painting?”

Lu Guifan was about to say that wasn’t possible, just about to analyze the material composition of that nebula, when he suddenly remembered Jiang Ruotang saying that he felt the butterfly nebula looked more like two hearts colliding.

At least, this ring came from his heart, and his heart could be any place Jiang Ruotang expected it to be; the butterfly nebula was no exception.

---

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Ruotang accompanied Lu Guifan back to the Lu family home.

Lu Guifan helped his parents prepare the meal, while Jiang Ruotang played with Xiao Wei in the living room.

The little girl had received many shiny stickers for the New Year, and she stuck them everywhere, including on Jiang Ruotang’s face, neck, and hands.

And when she was sticking a sticker on Jiang Ruotang’s finger, Xiao Wei said very seriously, “I saw it.”

Jiang Ruotang tensed up. What did Xiao Wei see? He had been careful not to let her see him and Lu Guifan kissing.

“I saw that you and Gege have the same ring. So, are you my Gege too?”

Jiang Ruotang’s anxious heart immediately softened. “Yes, I’m Xiao Wei’s Gege too.”

“Then Brother Ruotang and Xiao Wei made a promise, you won’t disappear, just like Brother Guifan, you’ll always be Xiao Wei’s Gege.”

Jiang Ruotang hooked Xiao Wei’s finger and whispered, “Brother Ruotang promises, I won’t disappear, and I’ll grow up with Guifan by your side.”

“Mmm!” Xiao Wei nodded vigorously, then found the prettiest sticker and placed it on Jiang Ruotang’s index fingernail.

To avoid upsetting Xiao Wei, Jiang Ruotang had to endure the reunion dinner covered in colorful stickers.

On the sixth day of the New Year, Jiang Ruotang spruced up Lu Guifan. Lu Guifan considered wearing contact lenses, but Jiang Ruotang disagreed.

“Why? Didn’t you say I look handsome with contact lenses and my forehead exposed?”

Jiang Ruotang glanced at him coolly, “The Mu family invites dignitaries, so there should be plenty of handsome men and beautiful women. Do you really have to go and break their hearts?”

Lu Guifan chuckled and squeezed the corner of his eye, resignedly putting on his black-rimmed glasses. In this world, only Jiang Ruotang truly understood him, and only Jiang Ruotang would love him wholeheartedly. No one else would make his heart flutter.

Moreover, a boy like Jiang Ruotang… handsome, intelligent, and good-tempered, would be even more likable, right?

The main house of the Mu family was a historic old Western-style house, and the guests who came were not as numerous as imagined, but many were Shengshi’s industrialists, true pillars of the economy.

Mu He, Mu Xianqing’s father, was a very serious and imposing man, one could imagine how he dominated the business world. In contrast, Mu Xianqing’s mother was slender and elegant. She collected and displayed several of Jiang Ruotang’s paintings, and during the banquet, she continuously chatted with Jiang Ruotang. She was humorous and witty, introducing Jiang Ruotang to other Mu family uncles and partners present, while Lu Guifan was invited aside by the industrialist who needed battery technology, and they chatted privately about technology.

Jiang Ruotang couldn’t get a word in, so he looked for Mu Xianqing, finding him drinking on the terrace, deliberately avoiding socializing.

Approaching him, Jiang Ruotang asked with a smile, “What are you thinking about?”

“Thinking that you came empty-handed for Chinese New Year, not even bringing me a painting. Even if you brought some of your art school assignments for me to see, that would be fine.”

Jiang Ruotang was amused by him, propping his chin and asking, “Brother Mu, want to get rich together? If I didn’t know your family was rich, I wouldn’t even bring you along.”

Mu Xianqing choked on Jiang Ruotang’s words. “You have the nerve to say you’re only approaching me because my family is rich?”

“I do!”

The two joked for a while, then Jiang Ruotang brought up Cai Ji’s game, discussing its setting, market prospects, and overseas development. He especially compared it to the Doyle Group’s Kings of the Realm, talking about the profit model and estimated revenue. All of this greatly interested Mu Xianqing. As Jiang Ruotang spoke, Mu Xianqing seemed to envision a vast future gaming market and business opportunities.

“We have a huge market of over a billion people. Why should we hand it over? How many years have the myths and legends in Kings of the Realm existed? We, on the other hand, have an entire vast and complex mythological system to draw from. We should be playing our own games.”

After listening, Mu Xianqing smiled meaningfully, “You only come to me when you need me to share investment costs.”

“How about I paint a portrait for you? So you don’t think I don’t value you.”

“Alright, don’t be perfunctory with me. We have a studio at home, paint it now. I’m so handsome and dashing, painting me is an honor for you.”

“Oh my god, can someone pull out this narcissus?”

When it came to art and making money, Mu Xianqing’s efficiency was always astonishing.

Almost the very next day, Mu Xianqing spoke to Mu He about the game. Mu He’s level of attention to the matter was beyond imagination. He received Cai Ji’s game and immediately began analysis and evaluation. The report covered all technical, operational, and legal aspects, and he invited Cai Ji and other developers to a meeting.

Cai Ji’s friends were stunned to hear the news; it was the Deyitianxia Group!

They had to prepare a PPT, all in a rush.

It was Lu Guifan who suggested they play the game in groups for everyone to see, with one person explaining, making it more intuitive.

Mu He and the others watched the university students play for an hour, and naturally understood the game’s settings, techniques, and even grasped the selling points faster than the students themselves.

After the meeting, Mu He said to Mu Xianqing, “I once thought games were a distraction. Today, watching those children play, I realized that making games is also a competition of technology, a competition of creativity, and a part of science and technology. How can we give in? How can we lose?”

Hearing Mu He say that, Mu Xianqing knew the project was sealed.

Before school started, Deyitianxia’s investment was finalized, with a total investment of up to one billion yuan. Jiang Ruotang invested two hundred million, and Qi Yanfeng and the Chen siblings also invested. When Cai Ji and his partners heard the investment amount, their legs went weak. They were truly fortunate they hadn’t hastily sold it earlier.

For this game, Deyitianxia and the investors established another specialized company. Cai Ji and his partners remained in this company as core technical personnel, enjoying technical shares and revenue sharing. They were full of drive, and with a mature team and seniors joining, they could also learn a lot of practical knowledge.

Jiang Ruotang watched Cai Ji typing code in front of the computer, as if seeing a future tech giant, his admiration overflowing.

“Hmm?” Cai Ji looked up, tilting his head at him.

“Nothing, just take good care of your hair.”

Cai Ji: “…”

__

After school started, the time entered the college basketball league’s divisional playoffs.

Zhao Changfeng’s Capital University of Science and Technology quickly dominated in the divisional playoffs, winning the championship. Zhao Changfeng won the rebounding king and MVP awards.

Two months later, the national finals kicked off. Jiang Ruotang and the others shouted themselves hoarse at the game. In the final ten seconds, Zhao Changfeng grabbed a rebound, swiftly drove to the opponent’s basket, and facing a high wall of three jumping defenders, he made a strong hook shot under the basket, turning the tide and igniting the entire arena.

Watching his triumphant stance with clenched fists, receiving the roaring applause, Jiang Ruotang’s eyes welled up, remembering the impoverished yet kind Zhao Changfeng from his previous life who had missed out on his sports career.

I’m proud of you, Changfeng.

Jiang Ruotang didn’t expect Zhao Changfeng to rush into the stands and hoist Jiang Ruotang onto his shoulders.

“Ge—thank you! Thank you!” Zhao Changfeng yelled to him at the top of his lungs.

The cheers were like a tsunami from all directions, but all Jiang Ruotang heard was Zhao Changfeng’s strenuous cry of “Ge—”

Jiang Ruotang’s tears fell. He covered his eyes. “Changfeng, this is just the beginning. You’ll go to higher and farther places.”

Two weeks after the game, Zhao Changfeng received an email from across the ocean, entirely in English, like a cryptic text.

Ever since the college entrance exam, he had “given” English back to his teacher and Jane Sha. Now, he could barely recognize a few words, but it looked like some kind of invitation.

He was too lazy to think, so he simply carried his laptop to Lu Guifan. “Help me take a look, what on earth is this written?”

Lu Guifan finished reading and said with a smile, “Changfeng, you’ve achieved something.”

“I have achieved something! I also won the rebounding king in the national finals!”

“I’m talking about this email—it’s a tryout invitation from a prestigious NCAA school. You can go play with them this summer. If they like you, you might be able to stay, play in their college league, or even enter the draft and play in the NBA you’ve always dreamed of,” Lu Guifan analyzed.

Zhao Changfeng’s eyes almost popped out: “Really?”

“Really, assuming you can stay,” Lu Guifan glanced at him. “Changfeng, this semester is also ending. Although you’re an athlete, you still have cultural classes, right? Can you still pass your finals this semester?”

“Oh, come on, why do you always pour cold water on people when they’re happiest?”

With that, Zhao Changfeng angrily carried his laptop away, but after two steps, he came back.

“Help me reply? Tell them I’m happy to attend or something?”

Lu Guifan smiled, “You should really study English. Otherwise, when you go for training, you won’t understand when the coach tells you to get on the court.”

Zhao Changfeng suddenly felt a headache. Why did he have to study English again!

---

June passed, and it was summer vacation again.

Lu Guifan went to the art academy to pick up Jiang Ruotang, but Jiang Ruotang messaged him, saying he was in the art academy’s museum.

Since Lu Guifan was an external student, he had to buy a ticket to enter the museum. The staff kindly informed him that the museum would close in half an hour.

Visitors inside were gradually leaving.

Lu Guifan strolled through, and he found Jiang Ruotang almost immediately, because he was standing in front of the painting Back View, which was a painting of Lu Guifan’s back.

“What are you thinking about?” Lu Guifan stood beside him. Actually, every time he saw this painting, Lu Guifan would inexplicably feel a pang of sadness, because Jiang Ruotang, who painted it, was watching him leave.

“Thinking about you,” Jiang Ruotang said. “Also, I want to ask if you’ve chosen your direction yet?”

“Yeah, I still like new energy,” Lu Guifan replied.

Jiang Ruotang smiled, “I guessed that long ago. I’ve also made up my mind.”

“Made up your mind about what?”

“Do you still remember Mr. Craven?”

“I remember, a professor from a famous art school, a renowned modern painter. After you came to the capital for the school entrance exam and painted the hundred-year-old school gate of Capital University of Science and Technology, he watched you for a long time and left you his business card.”

“That’s right, he’s inviting me to his school for an art exchange, as an exchange student.”

Lu Guifan’s lips gradually spread into a smile, like the soft, slowly rising morning sun.

“Really? That’s great.”

“Really. I checked, Professor Yang’s M University is in the same city, although it’s a bit far, about half an hour’s drive between the two schools, but you’ll drive to see me, and pick me up from school, right?” Jiang Ruotang’s smile held a hint of mischief.

Lu Guifan turned his face, “How did you know I was considering going to M University? I just received the invitation today.”

“Ah? Really? Professor Yang invited you? I was still thinking of begging him to send you an invitation!”

Jiang Ruotang walked over and linked arms with Lu Guifan. Gradually, only their figures remained in the museum.

“I was wondering how to tell you, but it looks like I can reply to him tonight.”

“When you go this time, you must ‘kidnap’ Professor Yang back, and bring back some amazing senior brothers and sisters too. Then, you can establish a new energy technology company. If you’re short on funds, I’ll invest in you! And then you can design batteries that can be used on rockets…”

Lu Guifan watched Jiang Ruotang enthusiastically describe the future, which was the source of all his happiness and anticipation in life.

As he left the museum, Jiang Ruotang looked back at the painting Back View.

The world changes too quickly, and there are many variables between people.

Jiang Ruotang had changed many lives, such as his own, Zhao Changfeng’s, Jane Sha’s, and Cai Ji’s.

But some things were constant, and he couldn’t change them no matter what.

For instance, he liked the feeling of lying on his back, he cherished the tenderness in his eyes, and he still wanted to be by his side even after traversing mountains and seas back to the origin of time.

No matter how many variables there were in this world, they were each other’s return point.