On Sunday, Jiang Wan insisted on dragging Dou Ming to see a doctor.
But Dou Ming wasn’t too enthusiastic about it.
Jiang Wan pleaded, sulked, and whined, “I want to buy you a piano! I want to hear you play! I really want it!”
Dou Ming fell silent for a moment.
Jiang Wan’s eyes turned into dead fish eyes: Is this kid’s mind going off in another direction again?
Dou Ming casually changed the subject, “I’ll just go to Brother Jiang and ask him to buy it for me.”
As expected, Jiang Wan’s attention shifted. “No way! I’m the one buying it for you! You’re not allowed to go to Brother Jiang!”
“Don’t be so stubborn.” Dou Ming patted Jiang Wan’s head, still sounding like a total scumbag. “Don’t worry, you’re the one I’ll always like. He’s just an ATM.”
Jiang Wan’s mentality had grown stronger over time. He didn’t even blush or get flustered anymore. He calmly replied, “Even if he’s an ATM, I want to be the only one.”
Dou Ming visibly froze for a second before saying, “There’s really no need.”
Jiang Wan pulled out his Alipay app and showed him his balance.
Dou Ming chuckled. “It’s not about the money.” He spread his calloused hands. “It’s pointless now. These hands aren’t suited for playing the piano anymore.”
Jiang Wan muttered, “That was then; this is now. You have me now.”
“You really want to hear me play that badly?”
Jiang Wan glanced around the house. “I just think there should be a piano in this home.”
Dou Ming nodded, then took out several bank cards and stuffed them into Jiang Wan’s arms. “Here, this is the money I earned from working, and some of it is from that gangster boss. You take it.”
Jiang Wan was confused. “Why?”
“You’re in charge of the house renovation now, so I have to hand over my savings too.” Dou Ming hesitated, then added, “But we still can’t do it. We have to wait until after graduation, okay?”
Jiang Wan barely had time to return the cards before rushing to defend himself. “Why do you always assume I’m thinking about that?”
Dou Ming casually responded, “Oh, by the way, don’t go home tonight. Stay here.”
Jiang Wan’s eyes lit up.
Dou Ming’s face remained expressionless. “You wish.”
Jiang Wan: Damn.
This good student facade is hiding a mischievous black heart after all.
Despite his complaints, Jiang Wan eagerly began helping Dou Ming pick out a new piano.
Since Dou Ming had handed over his savings, Jiang Wan took it upon himself to keep them safe. Of course, he wouldn’t actually spend any of it. While he had no shame in pretending to be younger, he did have too much pride to actually spend the kid’s money.
With the semester nearing its end and finals approaching, Dou Ming didn’t want to go to the hospital, and Jiang Wan didn’t push him. According to Dou Ming, his hand injury had been around for a while, so it wasn’t something that could be healed overnight.
Plus, the math teacher had been keeping a close eye on Jiang Wan, dragging him to the office to go over problems whenever he had a chance.
Jiang Wan started to think that maybe it was time to “transfer schools.” After all, he couldn’t really take the college entrance exam. Was it worth putting himself through this torture just for an Alpha?
While working on his math problems, he glanced at Dou Ming, who was studying diligently beside him. The sunlight outlined Dou Ming’s figure with a golden glow. Despite his brilliance, Dou Ming’s presence was gentle and calm, as graceful as a painting.
Jiang Wan thought: It’s worth it. Totally worth it.
This world is really worth it.
Blinded by affection, Jiang Wan unknowingly attended classes for an entire semester and even ended up taking the final exams.
He scored a decently average result, and his math teacher praised him endlessly.
The homeroom teacher, even more amiable, asked with concern if he and Dou Ming had been getting along.
“If you’re in a relationship, make sure it’s a good one. No unnecessary fights,” the teacher said in a quieter voice, before adding, “And no pregnancies, either!”
Jiang Wan gave his teacher a look of disdain and shamelessly replied, “Teacher, we’re still young.”
The homeroom teacher sighed, “Good, as long as you know.”
After the exams, there was, of course, a parent-teacher meeting. Since neither of them had parents, Jiang Wan had Mother Xue and the chef stand in as their “parents.”
Meanwhile, Jiang Wan and Dou Ming snuck off to the piano room to whisper sweet nothings.
Dou Ming shared that ever since his mother died, his father had never once attended a parent-teacher meeting.
Jiang Wan replied, “What a coincidence. Ever since my dad died, my mom hasn’t attended one either.”
Dou Ming kissed Jiang Wan on the forehead. “Where’s your mom now?”
“Oh, I sent her to a mental hospital,” Jiang Wan said with a sweet smile. “She drugged me and tried to send me into an Alpha’s room, so I figured she needed some treatment.”
He said it so casually, but the danger hidden in his words was obvious.
How had an Omega, drugged and vulnerable, managed to escape from an Alpha’s clutches unscathed?
For a moment, Dou Ming’s heart ached, and he felt dazed. “Sometimes, I really wish you were just a normal high school student, not so strong and brave.”
Jiang Wan froze, his expression turning blank as he stared at Dou Ming with dead fish eyes.
Dou Ming slowly realized he had said something wrong. He pursed his lips, looking away.
Jiang Wan thought for a moment and muttered, “So I’m not just a regular high school student.”
Dou Ming nodded, his expression perfectly natural. “Of course not. You’re so cute and kind—how could you be ordinary?”
Jiang Wan, still suspicious, asked, “Is that what you meant?”
Dou Ming, feigning surprise, asked, “Isn’t that what I meant?”
They stared at each other for a moment, Jiang Wan scowling fiercely, but there wasn’t the slightest trace of nervousness or unease in Dou Ming’s eyes.
Does this kid know something?
He can’t, right? I’ve hidden it so well.
Jiang Wan scratched his chin in confusion.
But before he could think any further, Dou Ming tilted his chin up and pressed his lips against Jiang Wan’s.
And just like that, Jiang Wan lost his ability to think, quickly forgetting all about it.
