Chapter 040: The End of This Street is the Civil Affairs Bureau

As for He Bin, he also woke up early. Following the address Ling Huanzhen sent him on WeChat, he arrived at a children’s basketball training center.

As the children dribbled past him, He Bin had a thought… Could this be a part-time job Ling Huanzhen introduced me to?

He found the front desk and gave his name.

The receptionist smiled warmly, gave him a bottle of mineral water, and pointed to the basketball classroom furthest inside, saying, “President Ji has already arrived. He is waiting for you.”

President Ji?

He Bin walked to the end of the corridor with a puzzled feeling.

Do CEOs personally conduct part-time job interviews now?

He pushed open the door and saw a standard indoor basketball court. A middle-aged man in sportswear was dribbling skillfully and smoothly under the basket, then jumped, and the basketball went through the net with a swish.

“Ji… Ji Bo?”

The middle-aged man called Ji Bo threw the ball to He Bin, wearing a calm and trustworthy expression. “Nice to meet you, I’m Ji Bo. My current business is children’s basketball training, so I set the location for our exchange here.”

He Bin looked at him, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

“Although I haven’t played a formal game in two or three years, I often play pickup games with old friends. Come, let’s see if my skills have regressed.”

Ji Bo clapped his hands, pulled up the legs of his sports pants, and assumed a defensive stance.

This was arguably the best 3-and-D player in CBA history. Ji Bo not only possessed extremely high long-range shooting ability, but in the CBA semi-finals five years ago, he single-handedly defended against Jiao Yingfeng, holding the “King of Asian Three-Pointers” to under 15 points in a single game.

“Please instruct me!”

He Bin took a deep breath. He would seize this opportunity and do his best to catch up within the limited time!

---

Three days later, the game between Jin Province Finance University and Chengjiang College concluded. Ultimately, Finance University won against Chengjiang College with a score of 98 to 88, successfully qualifying for the divisional tournament.

These days, although many provincial universities proposed practice matches with Ningchang University, Ling Huanzhen knew very well that the level within the province differed greatly from other school teams in the Southeast Division. Even if they kept practicing with Jin Province Finance University, it would be difficult to make significant progress, let alone adapt to various playing styles.

Ling Huanzhen asked Coach Tao of Finance University for the phone numbers of several school team coaches, hoping to arrange some practice matches.

However, Ling Huanzhen didn’t expect that while he was somebody among athletes, he was a pure nobody in the university coaches’ circle.

He first contacted the coach of Chujiang University. After all, this coach had briefly coached him. As the saying goes, “A teacher for a day is a father for life.” A father couldn’t possibly give his son no face at all, right?

Ling Huanzhen humbly asked for advice, then broached the main topic, asking if the two schools could play a practice match.

As a result, the Chujiang University coach lightly refused: “Sigh, Little Ling, we really don’t have time. The school just approved a joint training session for the two merging schools. We have to train with Fusheng University of Technology. Let’s arrange it next time.”

Ling Huanzhen naturally understood what the other party meant. People strive to move up; teams arrange practice matches with stronger opponents to improve.

And the level of the entire Jin Province, where Ningchang University was located, was average.

This “father’s”—this coach’s—meaning was also obvious: to be Chujiang University’s practice partner, you had to at least be at the level of Fusheng University of Technology, a national Top 8 team!

But Ling Huanzhen had always been known for his thick skin. If Chujiang University wouldn’t do, he’d find someone slightly lower level… Xiangnan University of Technology, the upstart of the Southwest Division, might be worth a try. Maybe they were also short of practice opponents?

But Ling Huanzhen underestimated Xiangnan University of Technology’s inflated confidence after reaching the top four in the Southwest Division last year. Their coach was enthusiastic and thought they could arrange it, but their players started making a fuss on the other end of the phone.

“What’s the point of playing Ningchang University? Just send the second team!”

“Yeah, always playing weak teams gives no improvement!”

“If it were their Jin Province Finance University, maybe there’d be some point!”

Hearing those players shouting, the veins on Ling Huanzhen’s forehead were about to burst. These brats really didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth!

Xiangnan University of Technology’s head coach explained nicely, “Don’t underestimate them. Their head coach this year is Ling Huanzhen! Jin Province Finance University already lost to Ningchang University! I suggest you treat this practice match opportunity seriously!”

Unexpectedly, their assistant coach reminded them from the side, “But we have an appointment with Xiangcheng University of Science and Technology this month; we agreed to play 3 games!”

The opposing head coach had to apologize to Ling Huanzhen: “Coach Ling, you heard that. How about this, let’s see if we can play a game next month?”

“Alright, thank you. Let’s contact again next month.”

After all, for Xiangnan University of Technology, the University of Science and Technology in the same division was the formidable enemy and the key subject of study.

Ling Huanzhen continued to scroll through his contact list and suddenly saw a familiar name: Guan Qian.

Wasn’t this his junior high classmate? He didn’t expect him to be the head coach of Shenghai University’s team! Being old classmates, arranging a practice match shouldn’t be too much to ask.

After Coach Guan answered the phone, he immediately understood Ling Huanzhen’s intention, skipping even the pleasantries.

“Ling Huanzhen, do you still remember the female classmate with two braids who sat in front of you?”

“Huh?”

“She liked you a lot and always turned around to talk to you, but you always ignored her.”

“Did… did that happen?” Ling Huanzhen had a bad feeling, though he didn’t know exactly why.

“During your glorious days in the CBA, she watched your games every day. Even when she was heavily pregnant, she didn’t miss your finals.”

“So, that female classmate… are the mother and child safe?” Ling Huanzhen stammered, wondering why he was being told this. He definitely wasn’t the father.

“Of course they are safe! That female classmate is my wife! And you dare come to arrange a practice match? Do you want my wife to bring my son to continue cheering for you?”

With that, Guan Qian hung up the phone.

Ling Huanzhen scratched the back of his head vigorously. He genuinely felt this grudge was inexplicable.

No, he had to call back. Your wife being my fan isn’t my fault!

Just as the call connected, Guan Qian answered immediately, his voice icy: “If you want to arrange a practice match this month, it’s impossible. Our school team is going to Qincheng University for a practice match. I can talk to the Qincheng side and let you bring a few players to observe. Then we’ll look for an opportunity to see if we can let your players on the court.”

Ling Huanzhen tilted his head and blurted out, “There’s… such a good thing?”

“Damn it… my wife was right behind me just now…” Guan Qian’s voice sounded like he was gritting his teeth.

“So you’re henpecked!”

“Do you want to die? Or do you want to cancel the observation?”

“No no no, I wish you and your wife a hundred years of harmony and early birth of a noble son!”

“Screw you, ‘early birth of a noble son,’ do you want my wife’s life?” (Implying she already gave birth or is too old for another safely).

“Sorry, sorry, growing old together isn’t wrong, right?”

“Hmph!”

That was Qincheng University, top eight in the country. Their tactical execution and individual combat capabilities were first-class.

There seemed to be a star player in the First Division League there too, called… Yang Huaiyu! Known as the “King of Double-Clutch” in the Southeast Division!

Ling Huanzhen exhaled and spent the whole afternoon waiting for Guan Qian’s call, hoping for good news.

Finally, before dinner, Guan Qian replied: [Qincheng University agreed, but they don’t want the content of the practice match leaked. You are only allowed to bring two players, and no recording is allowed.]

Ling Huanzhen replied immediately: [Understood, I will abide by their conditions. Thank you, old classmate.]

Guan Qian: [Hmph! 凸(>皿<)凸]

Ling Huanzhen looked at it for a long time before understanding what the messy symbols meant.

Sigh, how old are they, still so childish.

---

After confirming the observation trip, Ling Huanzhen thought for a long time. Only two people allowed to go to Qincheng… who should he take?

He definitely had to pick one from the forwards and one from the guards, and they had to be the strongest.

Since Guan Qian promised to find a chance for the Ningchang University players to play, if they performed brilliantly and made Qincheng University feel threatened, maybe they could lure them into a practice match.

Having made up his mind, Ling Huanzhen called Jiao Yingfeng.

“I need to borrow your precious apprentice for two days to take him to Qincheng to watch Qincheng University play against Shenghai University.” After speaking, Ling Huanzhen felt that daring to use a commanding tone with Jiao Yingfeng might cost him his life, so he quickly added gently, “Is that okay?”

Jiao Yingfeng was straightforward: “Sure, take him. Let him have some fun too.”

“Jiao Jiao, you’re actually allowing him to play?” Ling Huanzhen looked incredulous.

“The kid isn’t wild at heart; he knows what he should do. Besides, at his age, he should go out and see more of the world.”

Ling Huanzhen then called Zhou Zhexiao. “Hey, want to go to Qincheng University with me?”

There was a second of silence on the other end, making Ling Huanzhen suspect the Great Demon King looked down on domestic powerhouse schools since he had played in the NBA.

Just as Ling Huanzhen suspected the other party was about to hang up, Zhou Zhexiao’s cold voice rang out: “The King of Double-Clutch, Yang Huaiyu?”

“Ah… haha… with you around, who dares claim to be the King of Double-Clutch? That’s simply displaying slight skill before an expert. But brother, you also have to accept the fact that this body is only eighteen.”

The eighteen-year-old Zhou Zhexiao hadn’t gone through the tempering of the NCAA and NBA.

“Going. Let’s see how handsome that Yang Huaiyu can be,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

“…” Ling Huanzhen frowned. Why did he feel a hint of sourness in the Great Demon King’s voice?

Could it be… Xia Chiyi was a fan of this Yang Huaiyu guy?

Xia Chiyi, who claimed to be a die-hard fan of the Great Demon King, dared to jump ship?

Now that would be a good show.

---

Ling Huanzhen acted quickly. Within half an hour, he had booked the high-speed train to Qincheng and the hotel.

As for Xia Chiyi, during his last round of “21-point shooting practice,” Jiao Yingfeng waved him over.

“Master, what’s up?”

“Do you want to sprint and see if you can finish within 70 seconds?”

Xia Chiyi tilted his head, calming his breathing and heart rate. “Master, if I want to attempt a new record, shouldn’t I try at the beginning of training?”

“Because at the beginning, I hadn’t received your coach’s call.” Jiao Yingfeng crossed his arms. “Try sprinting. If you make it, on Friday afternoon, you’ll go with Ling Huanzhen to Qincheng to watch the practice match between Qincheng University and Shenghai University live.”

Xia Chiyi’s originally somewhat tired expression instantly became radiant. “Qincheng University? That was the national third place last year!”

“National third place, big deal. You guys will get in this year too.” Jiao Yingfeng took out the stopwatch. “Giving you ten minutes to rest.”

“Okay—” Xia Chiyi walked along the sideline, adjusting his breathing and heart rate.

His body data was transmitted via Bluetooth to the computer. Fan Qingliang kept rubbing his chin, his brows furrowed tightly.

“What’s wrong, Old Fan?” Jiao Yingfeng walked to Fan Qingliang and asked in a low voice.

“His heart rate recovery speed is faster than before… This kid’s adaptability is too strong.” Fan Qingliang exhaled. “But I still think asking him to break 70 seconds today is a bit forced.”

“It’s rare to have bait to dangling to stimulate the little guy’s enthusiasm. I just want to test if, in an exhausted state, sufficient incentive can make him perform beyond expectations.” Jiao Yingfeng blinked.

Besides, even if he didn’t break 70 seconds, he would still let him go watch the game.

As Xia Chiyi adjusted his breathing, his brain cleared up as well.

Fan Qingliang passed the ball to Xia Chiyi, and Jiao Yingfeng held the stopwatch.

Xia Chiyi told himself he couldn’t make mistakes; there was only one chance. With the sound of a whistle, he began to sprint.

When Zhou Zhexiao came down from the upstairs gym, he saw Xia Chiyi making a beautiful shot. The boy’s gaze was focused, but his vision was no longer limited to the basket in front of him. No matter how Fan Qingliang’s passing speed, force, or even angle changed from the sidelines, Xia Chiyi could react instantly and execute the score cleanly.

Today’s boy was different, so handsome one couldn’t look away.

When Xia Chiyi completed the last ball, he looked at Jiao Yingfeng with expectant eyes. “Master… what was the time?”

“Hmm…” Jiao Yingfeng shook his head, frowned, walked to Fan Qingliang, and showed him the time on the stopwatch.

Fan Qingliang took a slight breath and rubbed his chin even harder.

Xia Chiyi took half a step back, clutching his head with both hands. “Ah… still not enough? I wanted to go watch the game…”

Zhou Zhexiao walked behind Jiao Yingfeng, glanced at the stopwatch, and said, “Big improvement. 69.88 seconds.”

Xia Chiyi’s eyes widened instantly, and his hands stopped grabbing his hair.

“Wh… What?” Xia Chiyi asked.

Zhou Zhexiao repeated calmly, “69.88 seconds.”

“Master—” Xia Chiyi rarely showed an angry expression. He rushed in front of Jiao Yingfeng and took the stopwatch from his hand.

It really was 69.88 seconds. Xia Chiyi gasped; he thought he couldn’t go to Qincheng University!

“Alright, alright, you can go to Qincheng University.” Jiao Yingfeng rubbed Xia Chiyi’s head vigorously with amusement. Even Fan Qingliang couldn’t resist pressing down firmly once.

“How are you so easy to trick, kid?”

On the contrary, Zhou Zhexiao frowned and whispered, “So you worked so hard to finish within 70 seconds just to go to Qincheng University?”

“Yeah! The Southeast Division is full of hidden tigers and crouching dragons, and Qincheng University is the eyes on the dragon’s head!”

Was it an illusion? Zhou Zhexiao seemed to have scoffed.

---

On the bus back to school, Xia Chiyi excitedly looked up a travel guide for Qincheng, while Zhou Zhexiao next to him lacked interest.

“Did you know Qincheng is a coastal city?”

Zhou Zhexiao didn’t react.

“Coastal city means lots and lots of seafood! Big squid! Big abalone! Big oysters! Big lobsters…”

“Eating too much seafood causes high uric acid.”

“We are still young; our metabolism is good.” Xia Chiyi continued checking the travel guide.

Zhou Zhexiao crossed his arms and simply closed his eyes.

But in less than thirty seconds, Xia Chiyi nudged him with his arm again. “Hey, hey, this bar street looks very pretty! There will be many amateur bands playing on the roadside! Can we go see it at night?”

Waiting for three or four seconds with no reaction from Zhou Zhexiao, Xia Chiyi muttered softly, “At worst, I’ll go by myself.”

“You’ll run off to bar street by yourself?” Zhou Zhexiao’s voice sounded in Xia Chiyi’s ear.

Xia Chiyi paused. “What? I know you like quiet, I won’t bother you. Maybe I’ll ask Coach Ling; maybe he’s willing to go with me! We can eat grilled seafood together, drink some cola, and watch band performances. You can just sleep in the hotel.”

“He won’t go to a bar with you,” Zhou Zhexiao whispered.

“Ah? Why?”

“Because your master won’t be happy.”

“Ah… oh…”

Others were “henpecked” (inflamed trachea/wife-fearing), but Ling Huanzhen had serious “Jiao-qi disease” (Jiao-fearing disease)—as soon as Jiao Yingfeng got angry, Ling Huanzhen turned into a coward.

Xia Chiyi thought, If no one goes with me, then I won’t go. Qincheng has so many photo spots; if this doesn’t work, I’ll switch.

After a while, Xia Chiyi’s planning direction changed to the scenic small islands near Qincheng. The person beside him suddenly said, “You are not allowed to go alone. I’ll go with you.”

“Huh? The small island? You’ll go with me? Really?”

“…I meant the bar street.”

Xia Chiyi looked at Zhou Zhexiao’s profile, then thought about this guy deliberately leaving his knee pad in the locker room. Really awkward/tsundere.

Of course, also a tiny bit cute.

“Then what about the small island? Can we go together? This sea parasailing seems very fun.”

“If there’s time, we’ll go.”

“Then what about this? This Folklore Street has lots of check-in spots!”

Zhou Zhexiao looked at Xia Chiyi’s phone screen. It showed graffiti walls by some artists, boats made of glued book covers, glass churches, and the like.

“These are all man-made. What ‘folklore’ is there?”

“…True. These are all places for couples to check in and for wedding photos. It’d be too weird for us to go strolling there.”

“Let’s go,” Zhou Zhexiao said suddenly.

“Ah?” Xia Chiyi thought, How is this person’s mind so unpredictable? “Didn’t you just say man-made attractions are boring?”

Zhou Zhexiao motioned to the screen with his chin. Xia Chiyi looked and found he had scrolled to something called “Youth Photo Studio.”

The gimmick of this studio was taking photos wearing blue and white high school uniforms. The sets inside were quite numerous, like “Morning Light by the Window,” “Rooftop Wishing Wall,” “You at the Next Desk,” and so on, having a romantic feel of first love.

Xia Chiyi rubbed his chin and suddenly thought of something. “Zhou Zhexiao, have you never worn this kind of blue and white school uniform?”

Zhou Zhexiao shook his head.

“My god, this is our youth! What did your uniform at Oak Hill Academy look like?”

“Don’t remember,” Zhou Zhexiao replied.

“Don’t remember?” Xia Chiyi frowned, thinking, Could this be a sequela of the car accident?

“Probably suits.”

Xia Chiyi nodded. It seemed many high school uniforms in American dramas were like that.

“Did you wear tracksuits like this to school in high school?”

“Yeah. Does it look tacky?”

“It looks very good.”

“Then let’s go take photos! Go to this ‘Youth Photo Studio’ and take pictures. I’ll share half of my 15 to 17 years with you,” Xia Chiyi said.

“Okay.”

“Then if there’s a chance to go to America, you take me to visit Oak Hill Academy too?”

“Let’s go to Duke University instead,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

“Duke University? You didn’t even go to university there…”

Oh, this guy keeps saying he’s not a fan of Sheng Xingming, but in the end, he treats Sheng Xingming’s alma mater, Duke, as more important than his own high school, Oak Hill.

“Xia Chiyi, I thought…” Zhou Zhexiao rarely stopped halfway through a sentence.

“Thought what?”

“Nothing.” Zhou Zhexiao took out his Bluetooth earphones from his pocket, looking like he was about to listen to music.

But Xia Chiyi deliberately turned off his phone’s Bluetooth, refusing to let him connect.

“What did you think? If you don’t say it clearly, I won’t let you connect.”

Zhou Zhexiao sighed very lightly. “I thought you would search for Yang Huaiyu. After all, you’re about to meet him.”

“I’m about to meet him… what’s there to search? He’s known as the ‘King of Double-Clutch’ in the Southeast Division. Does he think ‘double-clutch’ (la gan) is pulling a suitcase (la gan xiang)? Well… if you pass to me, I can double-clutch too.”

“Then if you witness it live, and Yang Huaiyu’s double-clutch layup is indeed high level, will he become the brightest star among all the ones you ‘love at first sight’?”

Xia Chiyi covered his eyes. “I feel like you’re implying I’m fickle.”

“You are fickle. Whoever shows off in front of you, you show a longing expression.”

“I have already seen the most handsome double-clutch in this world. No matter how bright others are, they aren’t him.” Xia Chiyi exhaled. He looked out the window, his gaze reaching a place incredibly vast and high.

“Who?” Zhou Zhexiao asked.

Xia Chiyi hadn’t expected Zhou Zhexiao to be so persistent with this question. He lowered his head, opened a video app, and searched for a clip. “This is the double-clutch layup—turning the tide, conquering rigidity with softness.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s gaze touched that figure and paused slightly.

The twenty-eight-year-old Sheng Xingming passed several people alone in the finals, singled out the opponent’s center and power forward under the basket, performed an aerial drift, and at the moment he passed the rim—when the opponent thought he would pass—he double-clutched. With god-like hang time, he maneuvered the ball past the defenders and sent it into the basket.

“Isn’t it handsome?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“Have you watched it many times?” Zhou Zhexiao asked with lowered eyes.

“Of course.” Xia Chiyi leaned into Zhou Zhexiao’s ear and whispered, “Let me tell you a secret. When I was cut from the provincial team, I cried in the toilet until my tears wouldn’t stop. But I didn’t want my parents to worry, so I took out this goal and watched it repeatedly. Every time, I would be captivated by him, and then the tears would stop.”

The boy’s voice carried devotion and admiration; it was the purest and most precious emotion in the world.

“He is like a miracle,” Xia Chiyi whispered.

“Maybe… you are his miracle.”

“Huh?” Xia Chiyi looked at Zhou Zhexiao.

“One day, you will be like him, turning the tide and becoming the center of the world.”

Xia Chiyi thought the other was just encouraging him, but looking at Zhou Zhexiao’s serious eyes, he realized the other was very certain.

Just like every one of his divine predictions. Only this one required going to the distant future to know if it would come true.

---

Back in the dorm, Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao started packing for Qincheng. Although it was only two and a half days, Xia Chiyi packed both his sports gear for playing and casual clothes for traveling.

Ye Chaoying, while applying a face mask, shook Xia Chiyi’s shoulders. “Why! Why! Why! I want to go to Qincheng University too! Not only do they have a cool small forward like Yang Huaiyu, but their guards are also super tough… Last year’s national third place! Ah! Ah!”

“Qincheng University only allowed Coach Ling to bring two people. Besides, don’t you have special technical training?” Xia Chiyi patted Ye Chaoying’s back to comfort him.

“Yeah, so Xia Chiyi, if you get a chance to play on the court with Qincheng University, you must unleash 200% of your strength. Make them dread you, fear you, and want to understand you! You must seduce them, make them incredibly interested in you!”

“And… and then?”

Xia Chiyi hadn’t expected that just going to observe would involve “seduction.”

“Then, to study you, they will agree to Coach Ling’s invitation for a practice match, and we can all have a hearty battle with Qincheng University!”

Ye Chaoying looked at Xia Chiyi with extremely expectant eyes.

Xia Chiyi gulped. “Are you sure we won’t get team-wiped by Qincheng University?”

“Getting team-wiped in a practice match is better than getting blown out in the official game!”

“You… what you said makes so much sense. I… Zhou Zhexiao and I will definitely work hard.”

Although there might be no chance to play at all.

---

As soon as Friday morning classes ended, Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao grabbed their bags, followed Ling Huanzhen to the train station, and boarded the bullet train.

Ling Huanzhen wore huge sunglasses and a mask, and even booked first-class seats, acting as if he were terrified of being recognized.

This was Xia Chiyi’s first time in first class. He leaned back in the seat and sighed, “The first-class seats are so spacious… I’ve only sat in second class before. I couldn’t straighten my legs; my knees felt like they were going to break!”

“Kid, don’t shortchange yourself in the future. Travel first class. God gave you a height of 1.86m and long legs not for you to suffer.”

“The school only reimburses second class. If you hadn’t treated me, Coach Ling, I wouldn’t have that much pocket money.”

“As long as you know. Make sure to be filial to me in the future!” Ling Huanzhen joked half-heartedly.

Zhou Zhexiao opposite them frowned. “Isn’t Xia Chiyi’s train ticket paid for by the Sheng Xingming Foundation?”

Ling Huanzhen took a deep breath. “Right, right, right. Sheng Xingming had foresight! Xia Chiyi, you must mourn him every day in the future! He must always be at the top of your heart! Even Zhou Zhexiao can’t occupy that spot!”

Xia Chiyi: “…”

Zhou Zhexiao: “…”

This train was the fastest from Ningchang to Qincheng, direct with no stops, taking three hours and twenty minutes.

When they arrived at Qincheng High-Speed Railway Station, it was only 3:30 PM. They went to the hotel to drop off their luggage, and Xia Chiyi was eager to go out and play with Zhou Zhexiao.

Ling Huanzhen waved his hand readily. “You two go play, but pay attention to safety. Don’t eat too much junk. Especially Xia Chiyi, if your body fat percentage goes up, your master will roast you like pork belly.”

“Seafood doesn’t make you fat,” Xia Chiyi protested.

“Zhou Zhexiao, watch him.”

“Mn.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded.

Ling Huanzhen turned to find Coach Guan Qian from Shenghai University. Being able to observe this time was thanks to him, so since he arrived, he had to go say hello.

To save time, the two took a taxi directly to the legendary Qincheng Folklore Street.

Since it wasn’t summer or winter break, the crowd wasn’t as big as imagined, but there were indeed many romantic and cute photo spots.

The two strolled leisurely. There were many snack stalls on the street. The aroma of charcoal-grilled squid attracted Xia Chiyi even with his eyes closed.

“That squid is amazing, bigger than my face…”

While Xia Chiyi was marveling, Zhou Zhexiao had already walked to the stall and handed over a red hundred-yuan bill.

The vendor paused. “Handsome guy, do you have WeChat or Alipay? I don’t have change.”

Xia Chiyi watched from a short distance, then walked over like a real sugar daddy and flashed his QR code. “Without me, you won’t make it.”

Ten minutes later, two tall college freshmen stood by the barbecue stall eating squid.

Xia Chiyi bit one side of the squid, while Zhou Zhexiao held the skewer firmly to facilitate Xia Chiyi’s pull. Half the squid tentacles were torn off, leaving a neat bite mark.

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his eyes, looking at the gap. This expression reminded Xia Chiyi of how he looked sucking brown sugar pearls in the dorm.

“Taste it. It’s quite tender and juicy.”

After saying that, Xia Chiyi felt that if Ye Chaoying were here, he probably would have made a dirty joke.

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his head and bit down right at that small gap.

“Left side is mine, right side is yours.” After speaking, Xia Chiyi suddenly felt like a fool. They could have bought one each; why share like this?

“Okay.” Zhou Zhexiao held it with his left hand and brought it to Xia Chiyi’s mouth again.

Not long after, Xia Chiyi had barbecue sauce smeared from the corner of his mouth to his cheek. He extended the tip of his tongue to lick it, but instead, Zhou Zhexiao pressed a tissue to his face and wiped it.

Xia Chiyi wrinkled his face, but Zhou Zhexiao very seriously wiped away the sauce that nearly reached his ear. It was very light and careful, as if he were something fragile that would crack at a touch.

When this grilled squid was completely annihilated, Xia Chiyi noticed that business at the quiet barbecue stall had suddenly boomed.

People in line were waiting for barbecue while looking at the two of them standing by the road.

“Zhou Zhexiao, it must be because you’re too handsome; you gave the boss a free advertisement.”

Xia Chiyi smiled and tugged at Zhou Zhexiao’s sleeve. As they left, they heard the people in line whispering.

“He was so gentle when wiping his face. If I asked my boyfriend to wipe my face, he’d scrub it like kneading dough!”

“Feeding each other is super lovely!”

“Haha, am I the only one who noticed that handsome guy took several bites from where his friend had bitten?”

Xia Chiyi looked back at Zhou Zhexiao, whose hands were in his pockets, acting as if he didn’t care about anything.

Walking a bit further, before finding the Youth Photo Studio, Zhou Zhexiao was attracted by a candied hawthorn stall. Whenever he was attracted to something, he wouldn’t say it explicitly, but would just stand at a moderate distance, observing silently.

As if by looking earnestly, the thing would belong to him.

Xia Chiyi had walked over ten meters before turning back to see Zhou Zhexiao still lingering there.

This guy looked indifferent to everything, but he was definitely the type of elementary school student who got attracted to inexplicable things on the way home from school.

Xia Chiyi walked back. Following Zhou Zhexiao’s gaze, he saw apples, cherry tomatoes, and hawthorns wrapped in red sugar coating, as well as various small animals drawn with sugar.

These things were popular in childhood, but as one grew up, there were more interesting things, so one wouldn’t be attracted by sugar paintings anymore.

But Zhou Zhexiao… he grew up on the other side of the ocean. Maybe he hadn’t seen these things, or maybe controlled by parents and trainers, he only knew practice and had no time or opportunity to visit Chinatown.

“Which one do you like?” Xia Chiyi leaned over and asked.

“Little horse.”

“Haha, okay. You should be a Horse zodiac like me?”

“Probably.”

Zhou Zhexiao held the little horse sugar painting, not in a rush to eat it, just holding it.

“Hey, watch out it doesn’t melt, or smear onto some tourist.”

Xia Chiyi reminded him kindly.

“If I eat it, it’s gone.”

Hearing this, Xia Chiyi realized he forgot something important. He took out his phone, switched to selfie mode, looked left and right for lighting and angles, then leaned next to Zhou Zhexiao.

“Hold up the sugar painting. I’ll say one, two, three, and you smile!”

When Xia Chiyi pressed the shutter and looked closely, he found Zhou Zhexiao wasn’t looking at the camera but at him. Clearly expressionless, yet Xia Chiyi could feel he was a little bit happy.

“Why are you looking at me! Look at the camera!”

“Oh.”

If he weren’t a guy, Xia Chiyi would suspect this was a couple’s photo.

Finger hovering over the delete icon, Xia Chiyi suddenly felt incredibly reluctant.

Because, for the first time, he had captured Zhou Zhexiao looking at him.

Xia Chiyi didn’t know if Zhou Zhexiao saw it, but he calmly moved his finger away from the delete button and posed again.

“Look at my phone this time; just place the sugar painting between us!”

This photo was standard. Xia Chiyi smiled happily, while Zhou Zhexiao’s expression was plain.

The one just now was better.

“I’ll post our photo with the sugar painting on Moments as a travel souvenir. You can eat the sugar painting…”

Before Xia Chiyi finished speaking, he heard a crisp “crack” by his ear—the little horse’s head had been bitten off by Zhou Zhexiao.

“You couldn’t bear to before; why so savage suddenly?”

Xia Chiyi seized the chance to snap a photo, capturing Zhou Zhexiao with the sugar painting fragments in his lips. He looked a bit innocent, and… very well-behaved.

He seemed to be the type who didn’t need the stars or moon to be coaxed. As long as someone noticed his mood and silent preferences, he would give back a lot in return.

Xia Chiyi posted to Moments with the caption: Zhou Zhexiao ate the little horse.

He didn’t expect the likes and comments to come so fast.

Ye Chaoying: [At first glance, I thought you two were both biting that horse. I almost said, I just didn’t watch you for a few hours, and everyone’s CP dream came true?]

Du He: [Huhu, you two are so sweet!]

Shuai Bei: [Not rushing anywhere else, first stop is Wedding Dress Street? I finally get the origin of your tacit understanding!]

Chen Chuan: [I just checked, the end of that street is the Civil Affairs Bureau!]

Xia Chiyi scoffed internally and replied: [Keep fantasizing. Wait till I get back, none of you will find out if Qincheng University is impressive or not!]

Three seconds after sending this, the guys’ comments changed.

Things like “Two handsome guys make this rough sugar painting shine,” “You two are the coolest cubs on Wedding Dress Street,” “The sublimation of men’s friendship only needs a sweet little horse; what does it have to do with the Civil Affairs Bureau?”

Xia Chiyi “hehe”-ed and continued walking forward with Zhou Zhexiao.

Not long after, they saw the viral photo studio. Its decor was very retro, looking like the old studios where one took family portraits as a child. The display window had many photos of people wearing blue and white school uniforms. There were best friends covering their eyes with small flowers, a couple kissing on a rooftop; every photo was full of atmosphere.

“Let’s go, let’s go inside and look.”

Xia Chiyi was worried there would be a long queue, but business was average, with only a few scattered tourists taking check-in photos outside.

Makes sense; it wasn’t graduation season.

The person sitting at the front desk seemed to be the boss, processing recent samples on the computer. Xia Chiyi leaned over.

“Hi Boss, can we still book a photo shoot today?”

The boss looked up, paused upon seeing Xia Chiyi, and adjusted his glasses. “Student, you are very tall and very handsome.”

Xia Chiyi moved aside, revealing Zhou Zhexiao, who was standing in the center of the studio, hands in pockets, looking at the photos on the wall in profile.

“Haha, is this one even taller and more handsome?” Xia Chiyi raised an eyebrow.

The boss paused, then nodded immediately. “You want to take… travel… souvenir photos?”

Was it an illusion? The boss pronounced the word “travel” very stiffly, as if squeezing it out at the last moment.