That night, Ji Liao was scrolling through his friends circle when he came across Lin Jiang’s status: Fuck! Bitten by a crazy dog again!! This fucking life!!

  The accompanying picture showed a ferocious dog with someone holding its neck.

  Ji Liao laughed, then realised that Gu Ming Ren had commented. Its contents consisted of only one word:

  ???

  What was up with this unconventional dog food?!

  A melon-eating mindset spontaneously established itself within Ji Liao, who quietly gave Lin Jiang a Like before quitting WeChat.

  While he was memorising some English words, Xu Ai Wen knocked on the door and came in. She was very pleased to see her son studying very hard recently. Putting the warm milk aside, she reminded Ji Liao to take care of his health and not to stay up too late.

  Ji Liao nodded, and when Xu Ai Wen was about to leave, she thought of something else to say. Turning around, she asked, “Tang Tang, how about having a meal with Uncle Meng after exams next week?”


  Ji Liao froze, but agreed. “Okay.”


  Xu Ai Wen heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. “Then Mom won’t disturb your studies any longer.” With that, she opened the door and left.

  The final exams were divided into two days: the first day was English and Math, and the second day was Literature or Science.

  Yu Jin had gone to study art for over a month, so he was very excited to come back for the exams. He had arrived to class early to wait for Ji Liao to appear, and the moment he saw him, he rushed over to hug him. “Bro, I miss you so much!”


  Ji Liao was startled by his sudden enthusiasm, but couldn’t help smiling. He gave him a token pat on the back and said, “Aren’t you exaggerating?”


  Yu Jin released him and gave a pitiful expression. He complained to Ji Liao, “Do you know how boring that art studio was? If I wasn’t drawing blocks, I was drawing apples. So sick of drawing.”


  As Ji Liao listened, he put down his schoolbag and comforted him. “You’ve just started. In the future, you’ll get to draw something else.”


  The conversation made Yu Jin fall into even more despair. He was currently in year two and the progress was relatively slow. He heard that the third year class next door was progressing very fast and already drawing nude models!

  At first, he was very happy. Nude models! He had run over to take a peek, thinking that even if it wasn’t female, in any case, it should be a good-looking guy, right?! It turned out to be an old man. Fuck!

  It almost made him want to poke his eyes out and give up in specialising art.

  “If I say any more, I’ll cry.” Yu Jin covered his face and wept.

  After hearing this, Ji Liao laughed and joked mischievously, “An old man is better than an old woman. You should learn to be satisfied.”


  Yu Jin looked at him with heartache. “You’ve changed Ji Liao. Quickly return my cute and kind Tang Tang to me!”


  With that, he pressed down on Ji Liao’s shoulder and shook it vigorously.

  Ji Liao became dizzy due to his shaking and quickly stopped him, saying, “Okay okay, stop shaking me. I still need to take my exams later.”


  Lastly, he warned, “Don’t call me Tang Tang!”


  In the past, both of them had been from the same neighbourhood. Xu Ai Wen had often called him by his nickname. When Yu Jin found out, he kept using it to tease him, saying that it would be nice if he were a girl, as “Tang Tang” sounded soft and sweet, which was very suitable as a wife.

  When they grew up though, Ji Liao became angry with this opinion, so he gradually stopped mentioning it.

  “I know.” Yu Jin’s lips curled.

  The atmosphere calmed down. Looking at the person in front of him, his restless heart slowed and became stable. At the studio, there were many times when he couldn’t endure it, but once he thought of Ji Liao, he persevered and tried again.

  Previously, he had thought that this boy was just his best friend, but after their separation, he realised Ji Liao’s significance in his life and that maybe he wasn’t just a friend to him……

  After the exam, Yu Jin asked Ji Liao if he wanted to go eat fish together as the two of them had been away from each other for a long time.

  Ji Liao agreed, and after reporting to He Cheng Ming, they left school.

  They often used to visit a specific fish restaurant. Yu Jin led the way with ease and found a seat.

  Ji Liao ordered and the two of them chatted for a while. Yu Jin asked him, “What are you going to do during the winter holidays?”


  Ji Liao said, “I should be looking for a temporary job.”


  In order to lessen Xu Ai Wen’s burden, he would normally work during the winter and summer holidays.

  Yu Jin was sad. “Too bad I can’t accompany you this year.”


  In the previous years, he had always gone with Ji Liao.

  “You should just concentrate on painting naked old men,” Ji Liao laughed at him. In actuality, he was very grateful towards Yu Jin as he had always helped him, eased his anxieties and never left him.

  “Eh Ji Liao, have you been badly influenced by someone? Why did your tongue become so poisonous?!” Yu Jin bellowed.

  Ji Liao laughed and thought to himself, it was probably He Cheng Ming who had badly influenced him.

  But he liked himself the way he was now — no longer uninteresting, cowardly and quiet.

  After they were done eating, they went to the bus stop to wait for the bus. When the cold wind blew against them, they shivered.

  Yu Jin silently moved in front of Ji Liao to block him from the wind, but Ji Liao didn’t notice. His head was bent over as he sent a message to He Cheng Ming, telling him that he was going home.

  The bus soon arrived and Ji Liao was the first to leave. When he alighted, He Cheng Ming was seen waiting for him.

  He trotted over, expelling white puffs of air from his mouth, and his smiling eyes were exceptionally beautiful.

  He Cheng Ming took his warm hands out of his pockets and cupped Ji Liao’s face, bending his head to ask him, “Cold?”


  Ji Liao’s voice was relaxed. “It’s okay.”


  Then added, “Didn’t I tell you not to come? We have exams tomorrow.”


  Once He Cheng Ming finished warming his cool face, he withdrew his hands. He turned to hold the hand of the person beside him and said, “I was worried about you, afraid that you would be abducted.”


  Ji Liao rolled his eyes and muttered softly, “Full of nonsense.”


  “Huh?” He Cheng Ming’s hearing was very sharp, and with one stride, he stood in front to stop him. “What did you say?”


  Ji Liao retreated a step back, wanting to escape, but was pulled into a hug by the long arms of the one in front of him. He was a little ticklish and the other boy’s hands happened to be right on his stomach. He started giggling, and the sound of his laughter elicited delight.

  “Baby, who’s full of nonsense?” He Cheng Ming bit his ear lightly.

  Ji Liao tried to avoid him sheepishly, then exclaimed, “You, it’s you!”


  He Cheng Ming swallowed as some indescribable images appeared in his mind.

  The former Ji Liao was awkward and cute, and it made him want to kiss and bully him. But the current Ji Liao was lively and witty, making him want to press him down and fuck him.

  “I’ll eat you up sooner or later!” With that, he covered Ji Liao’s mouth with his, causing him to move back until he was pressed against the wall beside the street.

  Ji Liao curved his lips, then opened his mouth to cooperate with him.

  Since the two of them got together, the frequency of their kisses increased. He had also become more used to the other boy’s lingering rubs and deep passion, even embracing his neck and wanting to hang himself off of the other’s body.

  He Cheng Ming was uncontrollable as he reached inside Ji Liao’s clothes, igniting a fire everywhere he touched.

  Ji Liao let out a sound of protest and stopped his hand.

  His clothes had been undone by him, but it was too cold for that!

  At this moment, a luxurious car passed on the road. Xu Ai Wen gazed out of the window, and as far as she could see, there was the back of a tall boy but with two pairs of shoes below.

  She clicked her tongue and shifted her gaze away.