After the final exam, the students were like released prisoners, grabbing their bags and running outside. They formed groups to discuss where to go during their vacation or the type of tuition classes to take.

  Ji Liao had not seen Yu Jin for a long time. He was just as cheerful and talkative as before and was currently chatting with Li You Xin and some others.

  Seeing him packing his schoolbag, Yu Jin rushed over and said, “Do you want to eat together? I haven’t seen you for a long time, bro.” The last time they had met was during the new year when he went to confess his feelings for Ji Liao but was eliminated before he could say a word.

  Yu Jin smiled with some bitterness as well as relief. Ji Liao must have had a good half-year, seeing that he had a better physique and wasn’t as thin as before.

  “Okay.”


  Ji Liao agreed readily. After all, he was a good friend of many years. After he started dating, he had neglected his friend, not having contacted him in the past six months.

  Thinking of this, he had really put dates before mates.

  Ji Liao and Yu Jin walked out with arms around each other’s shoulders as if they had returned to the time when they had both been single.

  Ji Liao asked, “Have you started drawing old men?!”


  Yu Jin sized him up with an indescribable look in his eye and said with a wry smile, “You only remember the old man, right?! Does He Cheng Ming not satisfy you?!”


  Although the other boy had often told dirty jokes previously, it had been some time since he heard it. Since he had started so abruptly, Ji Liao wasn’t used to it and withdrew his arm from around the other boy’s shoulder.

  “Can you exercise some restraint?!” He was a little embarrassed.

  Yu Jin looked at his shy appearance and his expression was incredulous. “It can’t be. You guys haven’t done it?!” Ji Liao didn’t consider him an outsider and he answered directly, “No.”


  The main reason was that He Cheng Ming had never asked that of him, so how could he bring it up? Besides, although they hadn’t gone all the way, they had already seen and touch whatever there was to see or touch. There wasn’t much difference, right?

  Yu Jin paused and said quietly, “Then he really cherishes you.”


  With the temper that He Cheng Ming had, the fact that he was able to bear not touching Ji Liao until now showed that he had Ji Liao in his heart.

  Yu Jin laughed to himself and felt that he did not compare with the other boy in the least.

  Ji Liao did not say anything, silently agreeing that He Cheng Ming did cherish him.

  Maybe love was really blind. Now when he looked at He Cheng Ming, he found everything about him to be good. He used to think that he had a fierce face but now he found that that same expression to be very handsome. He used to think that he was always easily irritable but now found that he only bristled like a child and just needed some pacifying.

  He was so charmed by him that he probably wouldn’t know which way was north.

  Ji Liao gave him a bright smile. Yu Jin couldn’t look at his besotted appearance and immediately moved three steps away from him. “Don’t look so pleased when talking about your relationship. Are you taunting me about my single status?!”


  “Yes. Who asked you to be single?!” Ji Liao said with conviction.

  Yu Jin started to strangle his neck in a display of anger and the two of them played around happily. Suddenly, Ji Liao heard someone calling him from behind. Turning his head to look, he saw that it was Lin Jiang.

  Lin Jiang winked hard at him. When Yu Jin met He Cheng Ming’s cool gaze, he automatically released Ji Liao and stuffed his hands into his pocket.

  “Ji Liao, is this your friend?”


  Lin Jiang had never met Yu Jin. He had actually seen them when he came downstairs with He Cheng Ming. They had been shoulder to shoulder and looked very close.

  “Yes, Yu Jin from our class.” Ji Liao briskly introduced.

  “Oh, why haven’t I seen him before?”


  As Lin Jiang asked, he looked carefully at He Cheng Ming’s face. Seeing that there were no signs of jealousy, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief for Ji Liao.

  “He’s an art student, so he’s not in school often.” “Oh.” Lin Jiang kept quiet after that.

  Ji Liao slowed down to wait for He Cheng Ming who naturally put his arm around his shoulder and hugged him, asking in a low voice, “How was your exam?” He had seen how hardworking Ji Liao had been and with that effort came the hope that he could get something back.

  Ji Liao lifted his head and smiled at him. “Quite good.” Then he added, “With you as a teacher, can it not be good?!”


  It was obvious that he was in a good mood today — even his words had become sweet.

  He Cheng Ming was blissfully happy from the flattery and his mouth curved into a smile. The arm around Ji Liao’s shoulder tightened and he gently pinched his face.

  The four of them walked out together. Xu Ai Wen had been waiting at the school gate.

  At a glance, she did not recognise Yu Jin until he took the initiative to greet her. “Auntie Xu, I’m Yu Jin.”


  Xu Ai Wen looked at him again and recognising some parts of his appearance from when he was young, she said in surprise, “Ah Jin! You’re so tall now!”


  High school boys sprang up quickly. Previously, she had been busy with work, and rarely attended Ji Liao’s parent meetings so did not see Yu Jin. The physical appearance of a boy really changed when he turned eighteen. She used to always say that the children of the Yu family were like monkeys. She never thought that he would be so handsome now.

  Lin Jiang wasn’t part of their group, so he left after a greeting.

  Ji Liao interjected, “Mom, I’m going out for dinner with Yu Jin.”


  After saying that, he looked at He Cheng Ming. “You can go with me, right?” It was a good time for introductions and to get to know each other.

  Before He Cheng Ming could reply, Xu Ai Wen interrupted, “Why go out to eat? Let Ah Jin come over. Xiao He can come over as well. Mom will prepare ginger duck which I’ve just learned to make!”


  Recently, Xu Ai Wen had been diligently studying the local cuisine, taking advantage of all the mouths in the Meng family.

  He Cheng Ming wouldn’t reject his mother-in-law’s invitation, instead, he automatically assigned himself the position of host, looking towards Yu Jin, the guest, whose opinion was more important.

  Yu Jin quickly said, “Okay, I’ve missed Auntie Xu’s cooking very much. I used to go over to your house to eat and drink.”


  Xu Ai Wen was unable to contain her happiness and asked him, “Your parents have been doing quite well these two years, haven’t they?”


  When the two families had been neighbours, there was no lack of interaction between them. Xu Ai Wen and Mother Yu were even closer. However, when the other family moved, being very busy with her work, she gradually lost contact with them.

  Yu Jin spoke about his family’s situation. In fact, their move out of the community had indicated the prosperity of the Yu family. Only by hearing it said did Xu Ai Wen realise it.

  “That’s good.” She wasn’t a jealous person and exclaimed sincerely.

  Yu Jin said with a smile, “My mom still thinks of you and said that you got married. You didn’t tell her and she was even angry with you for a while.”


  Xu Ai Wen felt a little remorseful. When she was thinking about re-marrying, she felt there was no need to publicize it so they hadn’t held a wedding ceremony, only inviting several elders as witnesses and for a meal.

  She had also invited a few friends, but they were all colleagues. Since she had lost contact with Mother Yu for a long time, she was embarrassed to invite her.

  After a few words with Yu Jin, Meng Yao Yao came out and the five of them got into the car.

  Meng Yao Yao sat in the front passenger seat while the three boys sat behind.

  He Cheng Ming knew he shouldn’t be but was still a little jealous. He made endless small movements towards Ji Liao, playing with his fingers, then secretly touching his slim waist.

  Because Yu Jin was beside them, it wasn’t good for Ji Liao to get angry, so he could only glare repeatedly at He Cheng Ming.

  He Cheng Ming’s expression was indifferent as if what his hands were doing had nothing to do with him.

  Yu Jin turned away and looked out of the window, treating it as a little fun between the two of them. Out of sight, out of mind.

  When they got home, Xu Ai Wen asked them to watch television for a while and that she would call for them once dinner was ready.

  She turned and went into the kitchen.

  Without a care that Yu Jin was present, He Cheng Ming patted Ji Liao’s bottom indicating that he wanted a sweet.

  Sweets were kisses.

  This was their latest code.

  Ji Liao was shy and gave him a meaningful look, his eyes full of bashful resistance.

  He Cheng Ming tried to act cute but realised it wasn’t working. So he simply turned around and blocked Yu Jin with his back. Then he held Ji Liao’s waist and kissed him deeply.

  His tongue swept a circle through Ji Liao’s mouth then he pulled back with satisfaction.

  “I’ll go to the kitchen to help your mom while you talk.”


  He believed that Yu Jin had no malice and was treating Ji Liao with sincerity, so he wasn’t worried and decided to please his mother-in-law.

  Ji Liao laughed at him. “Henchman.”


  He Cheng Ming clicked his tongue and touched Ji Liao’s waist. “Little heartless thing. Who am I doing it for, huh?”


  Ji Liao retorted, “For your own sake!” Hrmph, he should stop using Ji Liao as an excuse.

  He Cheng Ming’s lips curved slightly and he whispered into Ji Liao’s ear, “Wrong, it’s so that I can eat you up earlier!”


  Ji Liao seemed to burn up at the words “eat you up” and he quickly pushed the boy away, urging him to go.

  Yu Jin sat at peace with himself on the sofa, not watching, not listening, not speaking, not moving.

  Until Ji Liao called out to him. “What are you doing?!”


  Yu Jin put his palms together and said dispiritedly, “I’ve become a monk.”


  Ji Liao turned on the television and said, “Then you can’t eat the ginger duck that my mom is making. Monks can’t eat meat.”


  Yu Jin retorted immediately, “Forget it. It’s quite good to be an ordinary folk as well.” Eating meat was more important.

  Ji Liao laughed and asked him how he was doing with his painting.

  Yu Jin’s mouth opened, boasting greatly of his talent and that he was a Van Gogh reincarnation.

  Actually, not a word of it was true and it was all bullshit.

  Meng Yao Yao came out to drink some water. Hearing Yu Jin’s exaggerated and vivid boasting, she couldn’t help taking a second look at him. This person was quite interesting. Why hadn’t she seen him before?

  That evening, dinner was very lively because there were more people present.

  Xu Ai Wen had prepared a table full of dishes, asking He Cheng Ming and Yu Jin to eat more. It made Ji Liao unhappy. “So I don’t need to eat more?!”


  Xu Ai Wen said, “You should eat lesser. If you eat more, you’ll put on weight.” Ji Liao: “.……”


  He suspected that he had been picked up from the garbage heap!

  When He Cheng Ming saw this, he quickly comforted him. “It’s good to grow some meat. Feels good to touch.” Ji Liao pinched him. “Then why don’t you grow some yourself?!”


  He Cheng Ming thought, if I put on weight, you wouldn’t be happy. Previously, Ji Liao had secretly reminded him that he now only had two-pack abs left. That regretful little tone of his really made him want to laugh in despair.

  “Be good, I’ll grow in other places.” He had ignorantly opened a can of worms.

  Ji Liao thought that he was referring to height and pursing his lips, he complained, “Only you can grow?!” He Cheng Ming’s pupils darkened and staring at Ji Liao, said casually, “It’s okay, we can enjoy together.”


  At this, Ji Liao realised what was he saying! Instantly, his face turned red and he almost dropped his chopsticks, wanting to run away immediately.

  Beside them, Yu Jin who had heard everything: “.……”


  Who am I? Where am I? Why did I come for this meal?

  He wanted to flip the table!