"So because you suddenly had a nightmare and ran back, the issue with the Young Imperial Grandson was just resolved like that?" Ji Nian lay on her bed, talking to Shen Qingtang on the phone. "Not exactly. According to Sister Zhile, my dad and uncle went to give Lu Zhi a hard time..."
Speaking of this, Ji Nian felt exasperated.
Who would’ve thought that the person who suddenly united two men who had been at odds for years was Lu Jinghuai?
"But I talked to my dad again later," she continued.
"He said he could pretend not to know. If I want to give it a try, then go ahead—he just doesn’t think it’ll work out."
Truth be told, when Ji Tingzhou said those words, his tone was dripping with bitterness, sarcasm, and reluctance.
But who cared? Ji Nian was happy.
Recalling how Ji Tingzhou had recently been dragged by Chen Mo to watch The Butterfly Lovers, he let out a cold laugh.
At this age, the more you try to stop them, the more rebellious they become. Better to let things take their natural course and allow the feelings to fade on their own. That way, Ji Nian would eventually realize this wasn’t just some fun little game.
Of course, Ji Nian had no idea what Ji Tingzhou was thinking.
Even if she did, she would’ve just smiled faintly.
This age?
If we’re talking psychological age rather than actual age, Ji Tingzhou could call her "big sister."
Ever heard of an old house catching fire?
That’s exactly what was happening with Ji Nian right now.
After finishing her call with Shen Qingtang, Ji Nian did some studying.
Lu Jinghuai had returned to Country O after her birthday. Even though he’d be attending university here in the future, he couldn’t just abandon everything back home—after all, he was the sole heir.
Though Lu Jinghuai himself suspected his father had deliberately called him back to let the heat die down.
By now, it had been quite a while since they’d last seen each other.
When Ji Nian first returned from the parallel world, she couldn’t resist calling him on video before bed, just to see his unharmed face and reassure herself.
Back then, she’d even joked, "I think I might like more than just your face."
As someone who prioritized looks, seeing the Lu Jinghuai of that parallel world in such a state hadn’t made her think once about his disfigurement—only heartache.
It wasn’t until the system pointed it out that she realized her feelings for him weren’t just skin-deep.
Lu Jinghuai hadn’t said anything in response at the time, but even through the screen, the light in those silver-gray eyes was unmistakable.
Hearing Ji Nian say she wasn’t just attracted to his looks—even if it was just to placate him—probably made him incredibly happy.
The weather was getting colder.
Lately, Ji Nian had been choosing between takeout or home-delivered meals for lunch, with the cafeteria as her last resort.
She only ventured outside when the midday sun was at its brightest.
Today, she ate lunch with Yang Xinyu and Xiang Wan. Afterward, the three of them went behind the cafeteria to feed the cats. This area was a popular spot for small animals to sunbathe, and students often gathered here to pet the furry little creatures.
"Boss, is Brother Lu still not back yet?" Yang Xinyu asked between bites of the oden Ji Nian had bought him.
"He said he’ll be back next week."
"Ah, that’s still so long."
Ji Nian nodded. "Yeah."
But it was just a week. A few more days wouldn’t make much difference.
Before her nap, Ji Nian received a message from Wei Junze, inviting her to dinner that evening to discuss their project.
She had agreed to collaborate with him a while back.
Now, the two of them were gearing up to make their new hemorrhoid ointment a global sensation.
Ji Nian had even come up with a sneaky idea—adding an extra effect to the ointment, like turning the affected area pink... or something along those lines.
She could already imagine how popular it would be if they succeeded. People would buy it not for the hemorrhoids, but for that side effect.
Sure, she replied.
After sending the message, she tossed her phone into her desk drawer, put in her earplugs, and lay down for a nap.
She didn’t plan to sleep long, so unlike her classmates who had brought special recliners, she just rested her head on the desk.
Just as she was drifting off, she felt a slight tremor on her desk.
Her eyelashes fluttered, but she ignored it.
Then, a familiar scent—one she hadn’t smelled in a long time—drifted into her nose. She inhaled deeply, savoring it.
Her sluggish mind slowly processed the realization, and she opened her eyes, lifting her head to look forward—
Someone had appeared on her desk without warning.
He occupied only a small space, mimicking her posture with his face buried in his arms, leaving only his eyes visible as he gazed at her.
He looked just as he had on her birthday, though his hair had been cut shorter. Since he couldn’t flaunt his earrings at school anymore, he’d taken them off and hung them on a chain around his neck. The familiar gray crystal dangled against his arm, catching Ji Nian’s eye as she glanced down.
Seeing her awake, his already gentle eyes curved into crescents. He freed one arm and extended a finger toward her.
Ji Nian instinctively mirrored the gesture.
There they were, lying on the same desk, fingertips touching as they looked at each other.
"I’m back," Lu Jinghuai whispered.
Ji Nian smiled and pressed her finger more firmly against his. "Does this gesture mean something?"
Lu Jinghuai said no—he just wanted to do it.
Since it was naptime, they had to keep their voices to hushed whispers.
But—
"Ahem."
A deliberate cough snapped Ji Nian’s attention away from Lu Jinghuai’s face—which, as always, was impossible to look away from.
Only then did she notice.
For some reason, most of their classmates, who should’ve been asleep, were wide awake, watching them with undisguised curiosity.
Ji Nian: "......"
She turned back to Lu Jinghuai.
No way he hadn’t noticed!
Meeting her gaze, Lu Jinghuai blinked innocently.
He’d obviously known all along and pretended otherwise!
He wasn’t even wearing his uniform—how had he gotten in?
Ji Nian laughed in exasperation, reached over, and yanked the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, pulling the drawstrings tight.
The hood cinched around his face, effectively blinding him.
Satisfied, Ji Nian sat up.
Since sleep was out of the question now, she got up to wash her face.
Lu Jinghuai, ever the willing victim, stayed put, obediently waiting for her to vent her frustration.
By the time Ji Nian returned, he hadn’t moved an inch, still sitting there like a well-behaved hostage.
Amid their classmates’ teasing, Ji Nian finally relented and freed him from the hood.
While she remained impassive, Lu Jinghuai chuckled at the crowd’s cheers.
With Lu Jinghuai’s sudden return, Ji Nian’s after-school plans naturally needed adjusting.
Standing someone up felt rude, so she sent Wei Junze a very earnest message:
Really sorry, something urgent came up today. Next time, I’ll treat you to make up for it (bows
Used to Ji Nian’s usual casual tone, Wei Junze—fresh off a basketball game—draped his towel over his neck and replied: Something wrong?
If Ji Nian was being this formal, was it something serious? Something to do with the Ji family...?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, his phone buzzed with a notification.
Wei Junze lowered his gaze to read the message—
"My boyfriend is back."
