After entering autumn, the temperature drops rapidly. Especially after a weekend spent alone together, filled with sweetness and warmth, the quick temperature decline makes students feel like they’ve entered early winter.
Everyone wraps themselves in coats, and the first words every morning are, “It’s so cold today.”
But Lin Jia feels…
Xu Yin and Yan Ningchuan seem to be living in a different season.
It’s not about how cool they dress…
Lin Jia just inexplicably feels that these two have suddenly become so clingy!
Actually, everyone knew they had a great relationship before, especially after the mid-term exams, their closeness reached a new height. They do everything together, whisper secrets, and especially Yan Ningchuan, who is like sticky rice, just like now, seeing Xu Yin going to brush his teeth, Yan Ningchuan puts down his book and solemnly follows suit.
Xu Yin had just finished squeezing toothpaste in the bathroom when he saw Yan Ningchuan and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Yan Ningchuan, with a serious expression, peeked left and right beside Xu Yin.
Unable to hold back his laughter, Xu Yin glanced outside the door, saw Lin Jia and Wang Feifei not following them, then turned his head and quickly kissed Yan Ningchuan on the cheek.
Yan Ningchuan: “!”
Yan Ningchuan was startled.
He left the bathroom with a smile.
Xu Yin shook his head with a smile. Since that day, this guy always finds opportunities to seek affection.
He also remembered that night… a boy holding him on the roadside, whispering softly, repeatedly saying, “I also like you, Yinyin.”
Just thinking about that scene, Xu Yin couldn’t help but smile.
Outside, Lin Jia and Wang Feifei watched Yan Ningchuan walk out with a sweet smile. They returned to their desks, seemingly oblivious to the glances from the two.
Lin Jia clicked his tongue and said to Wang Feifei, “I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I always feel like those two…”
Wang Feifei calmly responded, “It’s probably not your imagination.”
The magic lies in the fact that the whole class seems to vaguely sense something between Yan Ningchuan and Xu Yin, but everyone acts like they haven’t noticed… the entire class reacts with surprise, yet remains calm, silently understanding.
Meanwhile, everyone continued their Spartan-style intense studying.
The progress during the midterm exam stimulated even the academically indifferent second-generation rich kids. They hadn’t expected that hard work and dedication would be so effective. Achieving improved grades also brought a sense of accomplishment.
Having tasted success, this group of people fell for it.
Teachers were surprised, parents were delighted. Knowing that Xu Yin was leading the way, the impression of this child improved among all the parents in the class.
At the end of November, another monthly exam took place. The class average for all subjects in Class 12 surpassed the grade average, and everyone’s rankings improved.
Wang Feifei and Lin Jia both solidly entered the top 300 of the grade. After systematically improving his comprehensive knowledge, Xu Yin directly stepped into the top five of the grade!
The whole grade was in an uproar. The momentum of Class 12 was too strong!
Some students in other classes couldn’t withstand the pressure and began adopting the Spartan-style approach. The study atmosphere in the entire senior high school section gradually became highly fervent.
New Year’s Day has arrived.
Strict father and mother were once again away on business, so Yan Ningchuan stayed in the dormitory with Xu Yin.
Yan Ningchuan’s grandmother sent a video of Xiao Hei. Indeed, Yan Ningchuan brought Xiao Hei home, but due to his parents’ frequent business trips, the house was often empty. Therefore, he temporarily sent Xiao Hei to his grandparents’ house.
In the video, the elderly lady affectionately touched Xiao Hei’s head and cheerfully said, “Come, look at the camera.”
Xiao Hei grinned, sticking out its tongue. It tilted its head to the left and then to the right, irresistibly cute.
After watching the video with smiles, the two left the dormitory, heading to the cafeteria.
It had snowed heavily the night before, covering the entire school in a blanket of snow. Walking on the path, the snow beneath their feet made a “creak, creak” sound.
“Which university are you planning to apply to?” Xu Yin asked casually.
“What about you?” Yan Ningchuan didn’t answer directly but inquired about Xu Yin’s choice first.
Knowing him too well, Xu Yin said, “Don’t ask me. You should have a target university in mind, right?”
Yan Ningchuan furrowed his brow.
Certainly, he had one, but that was before he met the boy beside him.
He lowered his gaze.
Xu Yin held his hand, and in this cold season, his voice sounded exceptionally gentle, “The future is so long. Even if we have to study in different cities, what does it matter? In modern society, we can call each other every day, meet during breaks, and there are winter and summer vacations. Our excellent classmate Yan, do you really want to compromise your future just for a relationship?”
Yan Ningchuan fell into silence.
Xu Yin stopped and turned to face Yan Ningchuan, asking again, “Which university do you want to apply to?”
Yan Ningchuan gazed at him and said, “…T University.”
T University, a nationally renowned institution and the dream destination for many science students.
It was indeed the place for Yan Ningchuan to spread his wings.
Xu Yin slowly lifted the corners of his lips and said, “I want to apply to S University.”
Yan Ningchuan paused, then smirked, “Just a street away?”
“Yeah, exactly, just a street away,” Xu Yin chuckled. “So, unless something unexpected happens, we can see each other every day in the future.”
Yan Ningchuan was satisfied, “You will definitely make it.”
Xu Yin smiled but remained silent.
He was quite confident in this plan.
It’s good that neither of them has to compromise for the sake of their relationship. They can pursue their dreams at prestigious universities and continue to be with each other.
“However, living in the same dorm is still better,” Yan Ningchuan pondered and asked with a burning gaze, “What do you think about renting an apartment together when the time comes?”
Xu Yin thought about it and found it to be a viable option, “Sure, but we’ll need to learn to earn money on our own.”
Currently, Xu Yin takes drawing commissions, but due to being in the third year of high school, the frequency is low, only earning some pocket money. After the college entrance exam, he plans to expand his business, including translation work.
Yan Ningchuan didn’t hesitate, “I’ll work during the summer vacation.”
With the agreement settled, they exchanged glances and shared a laugh.
Suddenly, Yan Ningchuan leaned in and kissed Xu Yin on the lips.
Xu Yin was taken aback, giving him a sidelong glance.
Previously, Yan Ningchuan had only kissed his face, so he didn’t expect this sudden successful surprise attack on his lips.
Yan Ningchuan blushed, lips curved, and with warm hands, he cupped Xu Yin’s face, leaned in, turned his head, and with sincerity, kissed Xu Yin on the lips.
The air was chilly.
Their breaths were warm.
Their lips were warm.
Xu Yin felt that he had no principles whatsoever when it came to this person.
He gently rubbed the boy’s head and sighed, “What’s even more excessive is that we can only do this after the college entrance examination is over.”
“Alright,” the boy whispered in agreement.
After speaking, he tenderly kissed him again.
…Not far away, Xu Ling noticed the two individuals in the corner, wearing a bewildered expression.
He discreetly stepped back, observing as the two finished their intimate moment before emerging from the corner.
Although they were no longer holding hands, their proximity remained remarkably close.
What used to seem like a close relationship between the two now appeared quite different upon closer inspection…
Xu Ling’s heart raced rapidly.
Xu Yin and Yan Ningchuan?
These two???
Xu Ling was astonished.
After the initial astonishment, a subtle sense of jealousy began to well up.
After the mid-term exams, when he returned home, his mom mentioned that Yan Ningchuan came from an influential family, and his dad wanted to get close to the Yan family through Xu Yin.
After the initial shock, Xu Ling felt a lingering jealousy.
Back then, when he learned about Yan Ningchuan’s influential family background after the mid-term exams, he couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling. If he had known transferring Xu Yin to another class meant placing him close to Yan Ningchuan, he would have preferred transferring him to this class from the start!
As it turned out, Xu Yin and Yan Ningchuan weren’t just good friends; they were… in a romantic relationship!
Could Xu Ling not be jealous?
When he had a bit of ambiguity with Huang Li before, his dad scolded him vehemently. However, after Xu Yin transferred to another class, his grades soared, and now he was dating someone like Yan Ningchuan. Xu Ling could almost predict that if his dad found out, he wouldn’t be scolding Xu Yin like before.
Recently, the troubles at the company overwhelmed Xu Qunzhi. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy, and he was stressed, irritable, often losing his temper at home. Xu Ling was so fed up that he didn’t even feel like going home during his break, preferring to stay alone in the dorm.
If Xu Qunzhi found out about Yan Ningchuan and Xu Yin dating now, he might approach them even if he had been criticized by Xu Yin before. If things reached a dead end, as long as the Yan family was willing to help, what couldn’t he do?
Xu Ling stood frozen, his expression shifting rapidly as intense jealousy flooded his heart. Various thoughts flashed through his mind one by one.
Suddenly, he thought… What if Xu Qunzhi supports Yan Ningchuan and Xu Yin being together, but what about the Yan family?
Could Yan Ningchuan’s parents really accept their son being in a romantic relationship with another boy?
It seemed impossible; the Yan family belonged to a prestigious clan, how could they allow such a thing?
With this realization, a glint appeared in Xu Ling’s eyes.
He pondered for a moment, holding his phone, and quietly followed them.
On that Saturday after New Year’s Day,
After class, Yan Ningchuan received a call from his parents.
After answering the phone, Yan Ningchuan furrowed his brow and glanced at Xu Yin.
Sensing something, Xu Yin, who was about to stand up, sat back down, waiting for Yan Ningchuan to finish the call.
After hanging up, Xu Yin asked, “What’s going on?”
Yan Ningchuan frowned, “My parents said they want to have a meal with both of us.”
“Both of us?” Xu Yin confirmed.
“Yeah.” Yan Ningchuan fell silent after that.
“I understand,” Xu Yin patted Yan Ningchuan’s hand calmly, “It’s okay, your parents must be waiting. Let’s go.”
Indeed, Yan’s parents were waiting outside the school gate. They greeted the two and invited them into the car with a natural demeanor.
At the school gate, Xu Ling, who had been observing from a corner, excitedly hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to follow them.
Inside the Yan family car,
The two elders were already quite familiar with Xu Yin.
Yan’s father, driving, casually asked, “Xiaoyin, is there anything specific you’d like to eat?”
“I’m fine with anything,” Xu Yin smiled, “Auntie, if you like hot pot, we can go to a hot pot restaurant.”
“Hahaha, sure, sure.” Mrs. Yan nodded.
Mr. Yan also chuckled, “I remember there’s a good hot pot restaurant nearby. Let’s go there.”
After deciding, the four of them arrived at a hot pot restaurant in about fifteen minutes. There were no private rooms, only the main hall. They found a quiet corner to sit.
Everyone at the table knew the purpose of this meal.
Xu Yin could even guess how the two elders found out. After discussing it with Yan Ningchuan, they both found it a bit challenging to control their actions.
Yan Ningchuan, the older one, liked sticking to him – something Xu Yin had known since the previous mission world. Unfortunately, he lacked self-control around this person. Over time, they became bolder at school, and it was not impossible for someone to notice.
It was indeed an inadvertent exposure.
As for the person who intentionally leaked the information to Yan’s parents…
Xu Yin squinted his eyes.
After sitting down, Mrs. Yan asked the two to order dishes.
Once the order was placed, a temporary silence fell upon the table.
Yan Ningchuan spoke first, “Mom, Dad.”
Mrs. Yan gestured to stop him and placed the photos on the dining table.
Xu Yin and Yan Ningchuan glanced at them.
There were only two photos.
In one of them, the two of them were close, and upon closer inspection, it was clear they were holding hands.
The other one was taken in the cafeteria, with both of them looking at each other, smiles on their faces.
Xu Yin immediately recognized that these photos were taken on New Year’s Day.
The photos weren’t particularly scandalous, but anyone with keen eyes could understand.
Mrs. Yan said, “We received these photos two days ago, and your dad and I didn’t want to disturb you both. That’s why we came today to talk with you.”
Mrs. Yan first addressed her son, “Ningchuan, I understand your personality. Let me confirm with you, have you thought it through? Is it serious?”
Yan Ningchuan withdrew his gaze from the photos, straightened his back, and replied earnestly, “I’ve thought it through, and I’m serious.”
“You’ve known that you like boys before?” Mrs. Yan raised an eyebrow.
Yan Ningchuan pondered for a moment, shook his head, then turned to look at Xu Yin, his voice softening, “I never considered this before; it’s just that I fell for him at first sight.”
Mrs. Yan: “…” She found her son’s words a bit cheesy.
Yan’s father cleared his throat, “So, this is love at first sight?”
Yan Ningchuan nodded, a slight smile on his lips, “Yes.”
Xu Yin chuckled.
After listening, Mrs. Yan sighed, nodded, and then asked Xu Yin, “Xiaoyin, have you also thought it through before being with Ningchuan?”
“Yes, Ningchuan and I are serious,” Xu Yin replied gently, “Uncle, Auntie, I’m sorry for keeping it from you. Coming out is not that simple, and I thought it would be better to tell you when the time was right.”
Mrs. Yan shook her head, saying, “Coming out is not an easy thing. If you had confronted us directly, I might have found it surprising. We’re not conservative people. There’s nothing we can’t accept about same-sex relationships. Actually, before coming here, we talked to your class teacher to understand some things. Don’t worry; we didn’t mention this matter to your teacher; it would have been too troublesome. Ningchuan has always had good grades. Although I heard from your teacher, Mr. Zhang, that he has shown improvement in the last two exams compared to before.”
In the mid-term exam, it was said that Yan Ningchuan’s performance was normal. However, considering the difficulty of that exam, achieving a score of 732 indicates significant improvement compared to before.
In the November monthly exam, with similar difficulty, Yan Ningchuan consistently scored above 730.
Yan’s mother added, “As for you, Xiaoyin, we’ve also learned that since transferring to Class 12, you’ve been working hard. Not only did you influence the entire class, but you also contributed to the overall academic atmosphere in the grade. I’ve heard from Lin Jia and Wang Feifei’s moms that these two kids surprisingly show a commitment to studying now. Ningchuan’s progress is also because of you, right? You already secured a spot in the top five of the grade in the last monthly exam.”
Yan’s mother shrugged, “If love doesn’t affect your studies and even helps you progress, then I think it’s fine, quite good actually.”
Yan Ningchuan and Xu Yin exchanged a glance.
On the way here, Xu Yin observed the attitudes of Yan’s parents and had a sense that this matter might be easily communicated. However, he didn’t expect the two elders to accept it so casually.
“No wonder Ningchuan always wanted to bring you home before,” Yan’s mother chuckled. “As for you, Xiaoyin, were you reluctant to come earlier because you were afraid of awkward encounters with us?”
At this point, Xu Yin had nothing to hide and replied, “I wanted to wait until after the college entrance exam to formally confess to Uncle and Aunt.”
Upon hearing this, Yan’s parents silently affirmed in their hearts.
Although Xu Yin was young, his mental maturity was extraordinary.
In this aspect, their son still had a bit to catch up.
Actually, Yan’s mother already had a good impression of Xu Yin.
A handsome and clean-cut young man, polite, studious—since their first meeting today, his attitude has been calm and confident. Yan Ningchuan choosing someone like him as a partner, Yan’s mother was quite satisfied.
Teasingly, she said, “So, no need to avoid each other from today onwards, right? Now that everything’s out in the open, spend weekends with Ningchuan at our place.”
Yan Ningchuan’s eyes lit up.
Xu Yin opened his mouth, and Yan’s mother continued, “I’ve heard from Ningchuan about your family situation. Whatever decision you make, we’ll respect it. But if you don’t go home, come to ours.”
Xu Yin was momentarily surprised.
After a moment, he raised his eyebrows.
Compared to Yan Ningchuan, this elder, Yan’s mother, spoke more decisively. Yet, just like Yan Ningchuan, Xu Yin could sense the care and concern in this firm attitude.
He no longer declined and nodded, saying, “Sure, thank you, Auntie.”
With that, the dishes arrived, and everyone relaxed.
Yan’s mother casually mentioned, “By the way, the photos were sent via registered mail. You have an idea of who might have sent them, right?”
Yan Ningchuan pondered for a moment, then nodded subtly along with Xu Yin.
Yan’s mother continued, “I’ve checked the school’s surveillance, and I’ve got your dad’s contact information, Xiaoyin. I will make that call. Just letting you know in advance, you can trust Auntie to handle it.”
Xu Yin nodded.
He didn’t care what Yan’s parents were planning, but after taking a sip of his drink, he calmly said, “If my dad asks you for help in business matters, feel free to ignore him.”
Yan’s mother looked at him intently, “Even if it’s your dad’s company?”
“No,” Xu Yin smiled and said, “he never should have owned that company in the first place, and it’s not worth Uncle and Aunt’s concern.”
Hungry and driven by the desire to witness Xu Yin’s misfortune, Xu Ling waited outside the hot pot restaurant for an hour and a half. However, instead of seeing Xu Yin crying halfway through or witnessing Yan’s parents storming out, the four of them emerged after an hour and a half, still chatting and laughing???
Not knowing what they talked about, Yan’s mother smiled and patted Xu Yin’s head. In front of his parents, Yan Ningchuan directly held Xu Yin’s hand and got into the car, which then drove away!
Xu Ling was utterly shocked!
Did Yan’s parents just accept Xu Yin??
Did they agree to Yan Ningchuan and Xu Yin dating!?
Xu Ling couldn’t believe it.
It’s impossible!
What’s so good about Xu Yin? How could Yan’s parents approve of this? Weren’t they supposed to break these two up?
The Yan family has a powerful background. They could even go to the school and demand the principal to force Xu Yin to drop out or transfer. How, how could they possibly agree to these two being in a relationship?!
Hungry and frustrated after missing lunch, Xu Ling now felt not just emptiness in his stomach but a belly full of astonishment.
Just then, his mother called.
Wang Yuqi, usually energetic, maintained a combat-ready state regardless of the time. However, she now sounded tired when speaking, “Why haven’t you come back yet? Where are you?”
“Nothing, almost back. Just spent some extra time doing homework at school,” Xu Ling lied, feeling stifled.
“Oh,” Wang Yuqi sighed, “That’s good. Your dad had another fit and left just now. I feel like his company is really on the verge of collapse. I don’t know what to do when it happens.”
Having followed Xu Qunzhi for so many years, Wang Yuqi never expected that, just over a year into her role as the main wife, Xu Qunzhi’s company would face bankruptcy. She couldn’t fathom her luck.
Wang Yuqi added, “Your grades in the November monthly exam probably dropped again, right? If your dad is unreliable, then your mom can only rely on you. Ugh, I don’t know what happened to Xu Yin; he suddenly made great progress. His scores would have been beneficial for you…”
Wang Yuqi continued to vent her complaints.
The more Xu Ling listened, the more he felt jealous.
If his dad went bankrupt, their family would be penniless, and he would have even less to spend.
As for Xu Yin, someone who should have been kicked out, he somehow got involved with the Yan family!
With his current grades, he might skyrocket to a top-tier university in the college entrance exam.
Why, why!
At this moment, jealousy consumed Xu Ling. He thought about the photos still saved on his phone, and a thought popped into his head. Almost impulsively, he asked, “Did Dad go to the company?”
“I don’t think so. It seems like he went to meet business partners,” Wang Yuqi replied.
“Oh, I see. I’ll be back in a bit.”
After hanging up, Xu Ling glanced at the print shop across the street.
The day he went to the print shop near the dormitory, it happened to be less crowded. Feeling a bit daring, he asked to operate the printer himself, and the staff agreed.
However, he couldn’t help but pay full attention to the people coming and going around him.
Too troublesome.
Today was Saturday, and his dad wasn’t going to the office; there shouldn’t be many people working overtime.
After some hesitation, Xu Yin still turned towards the subway station. An hour later, he arrived at Xu Qunzhi’s company.
He quietly confirmed with an employee working overtime, “My dad hasn’t come, right?”
The person shook their head.
Xu Ling then walked in, found a computer, and discreetly started operating it.
…
After leaving, Xu Qunzhi remembered that he forgot a document and hurriedly returned to the office.
Downstairs at the company, he received a call from an unknown number.
Lately, Xu Qunzhi had been receiving various random calls, and when he picked up, he expressed impatience, saying, “Hello?”
“May I speak to Mr. Xu?” A woman on the other end spoke politely.
Having been in the business field for a long time, Xu Qunzhi could discern the value of a call from just a greeting.
He immediately toned down his impatience and inquired, “Who is this?”
The person on the other end said, “Hello, I’m Lin Ying.”
Lin Ying?
Xu Qunzhi was taken aback.
Wait a minute, if he remembered correctly, Lin Ying seemed to be Xu Yin’s desk partner, Yan Ningchuan’s mom!
Grasping onto the phone like a lifeline, Xu Qunzhi’s tone became eager, “Hello, hello! I—I’m Xu Yin’s father!”
“I know. I called today because there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
Xu Qunzhi didn’t even enter the elevator; he stood in place, eagerly listening to Lin Ying. However, as he listened, his facial expression underwent a series of changes.
From the initial delight upon receiving the call, to a moment of stunned silence, followed by renewed excitement, and then disbelief, frustration…
…
Xu Ling held the color-printed photos that came out of the printer, and his heart pounded incessantly.
He had printed over thirty pictures, holding a noticeable stack in his hands. At that moment, he heard someone calling “Boss” from behind. His heart skipped a beat, and just as he turned around, he saw Xu Qunzhi walking in with a stern face, full of anger.
As father and son locked eyes, Xu Ling froze, and Xu Qunzhi couldn’t believe that right after the phone call, filled with frustration, he encountered Xu Ling in the company!
Seeing Xu Ling’s nervous demeanor, Xu Qunzhi knew something was wrong. He walked over, snatched the papers from his hands, and, upon looking at them, slapped Xu Ling directly across the face!
Xu Ling screamed and fell to the ground, startling the employees working overtime in the office.
Furious, Xu Qunzhi pointed at Xu Ling and shouted, “Printing photos again! What the hell have you done this time?!”
Recalling Lin Ying’s call and the anger clashed with the frustration, Xu Qunzhi erupted:
“Do you know Xu Yin is dating Yan Ningchuan? What have you done?! Huh? Sneaking around, sending photos, what’s your intention?! Do you have any idea how many troubles I’m dealing with lately? This was a perfect opportunity to connect with the Yan family, but damn it, you secretly send photos to Yan Ningchuan’s parents?! Are you hoping for my bankruptcy?! Do you think there’s no surveillance in school? Can’t the cameras catch you stalking someone?!”
Pale with fear, Xu Ling trembled as he tried to get up.
Xu Qunzhi directly hurled the printed papers at him, saying, “What are you planning with so many prints? Are you thinking of posting them at the school?! Damn it, you’re just causing trouble for me!”
Terrified yet defiant, Xu Ling couldn’t hold back and shouted, “You have double standards! You approve when Xu Yin dates, but when I want to date, you scold me!”
Xu Qunzhi widened his eyes and roared, “Look at who you’re dating! Compare yourself to Xu Yin?!”
Xu Ling stammered, “I—”
At this moment, Xu Qunzhi’s assistant had to interject, cautiously approaching and saying, “Boss, I just received a call. The previous project seems to have fallen through…”
Xu Qunzhi, in the midst of his furious scolding, felt his anger dissipate upon hearing this news.
He gritted his teeth and asked, “Who sabotaged it?”
The assistant replied nervously, “It’s, it’s still that Li Can Investment.”
Xu Qunzhi angrily questioned, “Are they picking a fight with us? How many times has it happened?!”
While his company had been declining, it could have held on a bit longer if not for this Li Can Investment. However, Li Can seemed to have targeted them, stabbing at them relentlessly!
The assistant was also puzzled and asked, “I checked earlier, Li Can’s boss is named Huang Li. Mr. Xu, do you know him?”
Upon hearing this, both Xu Qunzhi and Xu Ling turned dark, one with a face blackened by anger and the other almost fainting on the spot.
Xu Qunzhi felt a buzzing in his head, and he turned around to angrily shout at Xu Ling, ready to kick him. Xu Ling screamed, crawled away, and others hurriedly intervened, creating chaos in the office!
…
After that day, Xu Yin occasionally received calls from Xu Qunzhi. The latter, in a conciliatory tone, urged him to come home. Regardless of how indifferent Xu Yin sounded, Xu Qunzhi dared not raise his voice at him now.
However, getting Xu Yin to come back was impossible. During winter break, he had gone home with Yan Ningchuan and even traveled together with the Yan family.
Not long after the start of the second semester of their senior year, he heard a piece of significant news.
Wang Yuqi discovered that Xu Qunzhi had found another woman outside, leading to a big scene at home.
Frustrated, Xu Qunzhi directly handed Wang Yuqi divorce papers.1Author’s note: Wrapping up this chapter. Changing worlds now. The next world is a post-apocalyptic setting.2TL: We are Finally done on this Arc 🤧🎉 I hope you’re all still with me! Let’s embark another love story of the MC and the ML💜
