Today, Dong Shu also returned home early from work, stopped by the market, and began selecting filling for the day’s baozi.

“How about pork and cabbage?” Unsure of Feng Yijiu’s taste, she simply chose the most common option.

Just thinking of Feng Yijiu made Dong Shu’s blood simmer.

“That little rascal! Inviting a girl out just to do homework—fine. But why show up dressed in the classic school uniform trio: shirt, pants, and shoes?”

She felt her hands-off parenting had utterly failed. If she were Feng Yijiu, she wouldn’t look twice at her own foolish son. Yet flesh and blood couldn’t be undone. Though Li Hao claimed he liked someone else, Dong Shu saw right through him.

“If he really liked a girl, why invite another one out alone to do homework? And didn’t his sudden love for studying start right after sitting next to Feng Yijiu?”

Li Hao was clearly in denial—but well, he was at *that* age.

Dong Shu drove home and began preparing dinner.

…

Meanwhile, Feng Yijiu and Li Hao continued homework. Li Hao tried the newly learned “hamburger method.” Whether illusion or not, his work flowed smoother than before. As the clock crept toward five, he finished his assignment, clicked the pen’s rear button on the desk, and glanced at Feng Yijiu.

She scribbled calculation steps on scratch paper without pause. After two lines of equations, she paused briefly, spun her pen twice between her fingers, then resumed writing. Finishing the final answer, she let out a long sigh. Her tense focus melted into lazy ease.

Noticing Li Hao packed and waiting, Feng Yijiu smiled and quickly gathered her bag.

“How much do you have left?” Li Hao asked as they exited the library.

“Hmm…” Feng Yijiu squinted. “Chinese undone, English vocab not memorized, one math paper left.”

“That’s it?” Li Hao’s eyes widened.

“You’re probably similar. I did some earlier,” she replied absently. Walking, she deliberately lagged half a step behind, subtly tightening her black windbreaker to hide the white camisole underneath.

“I’ve got two papers left, three liberal arts subjects, and an essay,” Li Hao said, leading ahead unaware of her thoughts. “My place is close. You rode your bike?”

“Mm.”

“Follow me.” At the bike shed, he wheeled out his plain men’s bike—no basket, just a rear seat.

Feng Yijiu’s black mountain bike resembled a Giant XTC 800. She shot him a surprised glance.

“Bought it secondhand,” Li Hao shrugged helplessly. Dong Shu had tightly controlled his allowance; he’d spent most on sneakers. For a fifty-buck find, he felt perfectly at ease.

“I thought you saved that seat for Wen Yao!” Feng Yijiu teased.

“N-no… of course not,” Li Hao stammered, face flushing slightly.

Seeing his fluster, Feng Yijiu secretly breathed relief.

*Danger averted.*

*Hmph. Just scaring myself.*

Relaxed, she snapped her slender fingers. “Let’s go!”

*Ding-ding—ding-ding—*

…

“Your place really isn’t far,” Feng Yijiu murmured, eyeing the apartment complex. “Five-minute ride.”

“Mom, we’re here,” Li Hao said after hanging up. “Coincidence—baozi are almost steamed. Come up, they’ll be ready soon.”

“Wow, thank you, Auntie!” Feng Yijiu rubbed her stomach. Dinner time neared; hunger stirred.

The elevator *dinged*, doors sliding open.

“Mom, we’re back!” Li Hao called. Dong Shu emerged from the kitchen, apron on, beaming. She wiped her hands casually. “Yijiu! Sit, sit. Hungry? First batch’s nearly done. Auntie wasn’t sure what you like…”

Li Hao slipped off his shoes, feeling utterly invisible.

“Auntie… I’m not picky. Thank you,” Feng Yijiu said, uneasy under Dong Shu’s unusually warm fuss.

“Go sit in Gou Gou’s room—just a moment!” Dong Shu hurried back.

“Auntie, need help?” Feng Yijiu stepped toward the kitchen in slippers.

“No, all set!” Dong Shu gently ushered her out. “Gou Gou, take Yijiu to your room. Chat!”

Pulled toward his room, Feng Yijiu blinked. “Gou Gou?”

“My childhood nickname,” Li Hao muttered, face nearly black.

Feng Yijiu pressed a hand over her mouth—suppressing laughter was her final act of respect.

“Duo queue?” Li Hao muttered, pulling out his phone.

“Sure.” Feng Yijiu set down her bag.

Assigned jungle role this round, she picked Genghis Khan.

Li Hao, playing support Zhong Kui beside her, shot her a look. *Is she mocking me?* No proof.

But Li Hao wasn’t innocent either. His hook silently locked onto the enemy’s Bai Qi.

All in all—an exceptionally joyful match.