Before the college entrance exams, the school arranged to take the graduation photos.

  The entire level went out in order, one class at a time. Reasonably speaking, He Cheng Ming and Ji Liao wouldn’t be able to meet each other this way. However, some rich person donated a batch of sports equipment to the school in his own name and forced the principal to say that class two and class twelve were to take photos together.

  Class twelve was having lessons and cheered when they heard the news. Even by using one’s toes to think, everyone knew what was going on and winked at Ji Liao. Chen Li Wen whistled in an unruly manner and almost stood up to shout “He Cheng Ming is awesome.”


  Back then when the two of them were together, most people in the class were not optimistic, feeling that Ji Liao was too dull. Even if He Cheng Ming was bent, he would only be fresh for a while and thrown away after being played with. But no one expected that after a year, the two of them were as close as ever.

  Ji Liao was teased until his face flushed and his heart was pounding. He secretly sent a message to He Cheng Ming:

  ?!

  He had recently taken on a cute style when chatting and the “duck” word at the tail end of his message made He Cheng Ming’s mood lift. Leaning against the wall, he replied:

  The formation of class two had already been arranged and only He Cheng Ming had not arrived. The class monitor inspected the area, saw him hiding and playing with his phone and knew that his soul had again been hooked away by the one from class twelve. He urged, “Ming Ge, time to take photos!”


  At this, He Cheng Ming walked over.

  As the outstanding graduate of the year, he should have sat beside the principal. But he silently stood right at the back and nobody dared to persuade him to move, because he would be unmovable.

  He Cheng Ming thought that by hiding in the corner, nobody would pay any attention to him. Unexpectedly, just as the photo was about to be taken, the photographer suddenly raised his head and called out, “Hey, the handsome guy in the last row, since you’re so handsome, put on a smile.”


  The whole class was so happy and only he had a straight face. Moreover, this face was too eye-catching. It would be too dramatic!

  Lin Jiang was standing beside He Cheng Ming and thinking that the photographer was referring to him, he immediately rushed to answer, “Eh, my mouth is already grinning so widely, how should I be smiling?!” The photographer replied to him, “I’m not talking about you! I’m talking about the handsome guy next to you!” Class two roared with laughter.

  It was probably due to being so near graduation that the teachers who normally felt that Lin Jiang was mischievous found him very cute today, and they didn’t even warn him for being rude. Instead, they laughed with everyone.

  He Cheng Ming tugged at the corners of his mouth and it unnaturally hooked in a curve.

  The photographer was still not satisfied. “Handsome guy, don’t give a fake smile! Please be a little more sincere!” He Cheng Ming wanted to kick over his camera. Such a chatterbox when he’s just supposed to take a photo.

  Right then, the boys and girls of class twelve strolled over. Seeing this, someone took the lead in shouting out, “Ming Ge give a smile, Ji Liao can’t run off.”


  People behind started making a fuss, pushing and shoving to find Ji Liao.

  The entire school knew that after He Cheng Ming got into a relationship, the tyrant became a loyal dog. As long as it was regarding Ji Liao, he wouldn’t get angry.

  Ji Liao had originally been walking along just fine when he was suddenly carried away by several boys. Then, these people called out in front of him, “Ming Ge give a smile, Ji Liao can’t run off.”


  When Ji Liao saw He Cheng Ming, his face flushed and he wanted to run but was surrounded by boys.

  “Ji Liao say something.” “Ji Liao, give us a wink!”


  “Ji Liao, don’t be shy. If you’re a man, then shout it out!”


  He Cheng Ming had long since been grinning from ear to ear. The photographer quickly pressed the shutter button and concluded the task of class two’s graduation photo.

  After He Cheng Ming was done, he strode over to the group of class twelve boys and rescued Ji Liao. “Be more polite to my little emperor.” His tone was indulgent, making the class twelve boys slap their thighs and wishing they could also get involved with a guy.

  “Oh, little emperor. That’s a wonderful nickname.” “Can’t provoke you. Little old me will withdraw.” “Ah ah ah ah, my CP is being sweet again!”


  The last sentence was obviously from Xu Xiao Jing, who was so happy she was running around like a screaming chicken.

  With the class twelve photo-taking following immediately after, the photographer understood the situation very well. Before he took the photo, he asked them, “Ming Ge give a smile.” Class twelve answered together, “Ji Liao can’t run off!”


  The overall atmosphere was so good that it almost felt like a party. Even the teachers were blushing and had to admit that it was good to be young — they could love as they wanted and display it openly.

  Once it was over, the rest of the time was free for group photos.

  He Cheng Ming saw Lin Jiang doing nothing and lifted him up. “Use your phone to take some photos for me and Ji Liao.” They got together here and wanted to corroborate it with some photos.

  Lin Jiang felt that it was just a matter of taking some posed photos and was completely okay with it. In the end, He Cheng Ming told him, “You judge for yourself when to capture a snapshot. Make sure it’s good.” Firstly, it took skill to capture a snapshot and he didn’t know how. Secondly, it took skill to make it good and he also didn’t know how.

  “Do you have a problem?” He Cheng Ming seemed to sense Lin Jiang’s rebellion and asked dangerously.

  Lin Jiang shook his head immediately. “No problem. Xiao K died.” He Cheng Ming reminded him with a straight face, “Speak less English in future.” To avoid being beaten up.

  Lin Jiang thought that his pronunciation was up to standard and repeated “Xiao K died” three or four times. When Ji Liao walked over and heard, he asked, “Who is Xiao K? Why is he dead?”


  Lin Jiang felt like a cold knife had just been inserted into his abdomen.

  “Because Xiao K’s English isn’t good.” He Cheng Ming added another knife.

  Lin Jiang, being stabbed by two knives in a row, was very angry. “If the two of you continue like this, I won’t do it!”


  Ji Liao laughed. He Cheng Ming turned to give him a kiss, then asked Lin Jiang, “Did you capture it?!” Lin Jiang: “???”


  Capture what.

  That dog food that was just given without any warning?

  He Cheng Ming looked at him meaningfully. “Take a good photo. If it’s good, there’ll be a reward.”


  Lin Jiang’s fervour appeared instantly and he asked stealthily, “Ming Ge, tell me the truth. What reward?”


  He Cheng Ming arched a brow. “Seven-day tour in Europe, all-inclusive.”


  Lin Jiang exclaimed, “Fuck, you should have said it earlier!”


  He began to look out for various angles zealously. No matter what the two of them were doing, he had to take a photo first. In the end, the shameless He Cheng Ming pressed Ji Liao against the library door for a kiss.

  This move made Lin Jiang confused. Was he supposed to capture this or not?!

  He wanted to look, but at the same time didn’t dare to. He felt a slight itch in his heart, like as if ants were biting at it. Finally, he found himself a reason: I’m a professional photographer. This is art.

  With that, he stared unblinkingly at the phone. On the screen, his Ming Ge, who normally walked with confidence, was facing Ji Liao, his eyes full of tender desire. Their red tongues were intertwined and unwilling to separate.

  Lin Jiang cursed and wondered why it wasn’t over yet. If he continued watching, his blood would be boiling!

  After frantically pressing the shutter button, he kept the phone. Inexplicably feeling a little envious, he licked his lips.

  Ji Liao pushed the other boy away to catch his breath and he panted gently, his body still feeling a little weak.

  He Cheng Ming put an arm around his waist, and with the tips of their noses touching, he said, “Why are you being so obedient today?” Ji Liao was shy and usually didn’t allow He Cheng Ming to kiss him like this in front of others but he didn’t refuse today!

  “Because I felt like you did it on purpose to show Lin Jiang.”


  He Cheng Ming raised his eyebrows, pleasantly surprised at their meeting of minds. He replied softly, “Yes, I want to see if he really is that straight.”


  Ji Liao asked, “So is he?” He Cheng Ming shook his head. “I’m not sure.” “Then didn’t we kiss for nothing?!”


  He Cheng Ming laughed and pinched Ji Liao’s waist with vicious delight. “What’s that? Weren’t you feeling good earlier?” Ji Liao blushed. This guy really could just say anything.

  Lin Jiang waited for them to finish their flirting, then went over to report the completion of his mission. He didn’t know how well the photos turned out as his embarrassment made him lack the courage to look through them.

  In the end, after He Cheng Ming examined them, he felt that they would do. They were very affectionate in one of the photos and he wanted to keep it forever.

  After the college entrance exams, there were nearly three months of vacation.

  He Cheng Ming planned to go on a graduation trip with Ji Liao and to fulfil his promise to Lin Jiang at the same time, he set the location as Europe.

  He called Gu Ming Ren, wanting to confirm the departure time with him but the other boy told him that he wouldn’t be going!

  He Cheng Ming grimaced. “You fucking say that again?!”


  Earlier, the other boy had asked him for help to trick Lin Jiang into coming out to play. So he made up a prize for the photo-taking and even planned to sacrifice his and Ji Liao’s couple tour to bring the two of them. In the end, Gu Ming Ren said he wasn’t going?!

  “If you don’t go, Ji Liao and I have to bring Lin Jiang and we’ll have a family of three on this trip?”


  He Cheng Ming was furious. If they brought two people, they could still have fun separately, but bringing one was just like having a third wheel!

  At the other end of the line, there was silence. Then a deep voice said, “Something might be happening to the Lin family soon.” He Cheng Ming was immediately serious. “How do you know?”


  Gu Ming Ren rubbed the bridge of his nose where his glasses were pressing painfully against. His voice was tired when he said, “I heard.”


  That day when he passed his father’s study room, he heard someone inside saying that a sum of dirty money from abroad had flowed into city A, then disappeared without a trace. The Municipal Bureau had already set up an investigative team and would trace it to the Lin family in the next two days.

  “You bring him along.”


  Gu Ming Ren had thought about it for a long time and decided to get Lin Jiang away first. As for what to do about his parents, he would think of something.

  He Cheng Ming was silent, then after a long time, answered with a word, “Okay.”


  He had a hunch about what the other boy would do but he didn’t ask and just reminded him, “You do what you can.” Lin Jiang was ecstatic when he received the news about the seven-day tour in Europe.

  “Damn, am I really going?” He thought that the other boy was only joking!

  He Cheng Ming’s tone was indifferent. “Yes, we’ll leave tomorrow. You can start preparing.” Lin Jiang was still having fun outside and upon hearing that it was tomorrow, he said, “So urgent?!” It sounded like an impromptu decision.

  He Cheng Ming put his irritable character into play. “If you want to go, then go. If you don’t, then get lost.”


  Lin Jiang gave in immediately. “I’ll go, I’ll go. I’m a bastard if I don’t take advantage of this! It’s fine even if we leave immediately!”


  With that, he immediately went home to pack.

  Only the housekeeper was at home. Lin Jiang asked casually, “My parents seem to be quite busy recently?” Every day, they went out early and returned late. He didn’t know what they were doing.

  The housekeeper replied, “It seems like there’s a serious problem at the company.”


  Lin Jiang acknowledged with an “oh” and feeling that he couldn’t help with company matters anyway, maybe his parents would be more comfortable if he went away.

  Besides, what could happen to the company? Could it go bankrupt overnight?

  He went to pack his clothes eagerly.