"Out again?"

When Leng Shuang got home, he didn't see his mother waiting with a steaming meal. The whole living room was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

He set down his luggage, went to the kitchen, and opened the fridge. There was still some frozen meat and vegetables inside.

"At least she left me something to cook."

Leng Shuang didn't expect much from his mother anyway. After all, he wasn't a child born from love. He was born without any romance behind it. To her, he was more like a toy than someone truly important.

He casually made himself some noodles, filled his stomach, then started sorting out the things he'd brought back.

The phone lying on the table, its screen slightly cracked, kept flashing. Leng Shuang glanced at it and shook his head helplessly.

Ever since the college entrance exams ended, people had been constantly messaging him confessions. One after another, without end. At first, he rejected a few, but there were simply too many. He couldn't keep up.

So he decided to wait until they were done sending DMs, then reply all at once.

Meanwhile, Nichikawa Yuriko stared at her unanswered messages. The anticipation in her eyes slowly faded into dimness. She lifted her gaze and looked at the dark clouds gradually gathering in the sky.

A drop of rain fell onto her cheek, then slid down along her smooth chin.

"It starts raining right after the exams? What a pain. I thought we could go sing karaoke!"

"Hahaha, maybe some girls got rejected. Even the heavens feel bad for them."

"Good thing I'm smart. I don't get involved in love. Men are fine to look at, that's enough."

"------"

The crowd surged around her as Nichikawa Yuriko returned to the classroom.

The classroom was already empty. Everyone had thrown away their books and gone home to relax.

She was the only one left, sitting there all alone in her seat. Leaning back against the chair, hands behind her head, she tilted herself backward.

Just like usual, her cherry-pink hair spilled onto the desk behind her, like drifting sakura petals.

But the person who used to sit there wasn't here anymore...

--------

Leng Shuang slept until broad daylight.

He didn't have any post-exam syndrome. He was completely relaxed. Unlike some students, who couldn't eat or sleep in peace after the exams, either because they didn't know their scores yet or because they felt they hadn't done well.

It was already eleven.

After glancing at his phone, Leng Shuang finally got up and slowly went to wash up.

His mother still wasn't anywhere in the living room. She was probably out having fun again.

Knock knock knock!

"Open up, open up! Let's go out and play!"

Leng Shuang had just finished washing up and was about to cook something when he heard knocking from outside.

"Yumo, are you always this energetic every single day?"

He opened the door and saw Yumo standing there with a backpack and a sunhat, her little face full of excitement.

"Come on, let's eat outside. The exams are over, so we should relax properly." Yumo clenched both fists and spoke in high spirits.

"Uh..."

At her invitation, a trace of hesitation appeared on Leng Shuang's face.

"What's wrong?"

Yumo froze for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and studied him. His gaze was slightly evasive.

"Don't tell me you've already got plans?"

"Hahaha."

Hearing that awkward laugh, Yumo spread her hands helplessly.

"Alright then. Since our campus belle Leng already has a date, I shouldn't go be a third wheel. Hope your date goes well."

"Yumo, I'm really sorry."

"It's fine. The exams are over, so doing the deed is totally normal. These next few days, I won't interrupt you while you climb the stairway to adulthood~"

"Hey! Y-You're talking nonsense! What do you mean, stairway to adulthood?!"

Leng Shuang blushed and demanded she explain herself, but Yumo had already backed away. She stuck out her tongue, then darted downstairs.

Seriously. That girl really says the most embarrassing things.

Leng Shuang looked at her disappearing figure. As if thinking of something, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. Then, shyly, he patted his cheeks.

"What am I even thinking? Time to cook."

After casually making himself a meal and finishing it, Leng Shuang grabbed a chair and sat by the window, looking down at the people passing below. There was a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Lin Mo had already called him yesterday. She wanted to ask him out, and Leng Shuang hadn't refused. He was looking forward to his first date with her too.

Last night, he'd even looked up dating tips. Some people said not to let the other person get you too easily, or they wouldn't cherish you. Make them buy you a gift first. If she wasn't even willing to buy a gift, then she didn't really like you at all.

Of course, Leng Shuang ignored all of that.

He only accepted one piece of advice:

"If a woman is truly a good person, you can tell from what the people around her say about her, and from the impression she gave you back in your student days."

Lin Mo had always had a good reputation. She was helpful and had a strong sense of responsibility. Everyone's impression of her was the same: honest and hardworking. Leng Shuang felt that way too.

Without a doubt, Lin Mo really was a very good woman.

Leng Shuang kept looking at the dating advice that person had given him.

There were only four words:

Go with the flow.

Very concise.

"But how am I supposed to go with the flow..."

Leng Shuang smiled helplessly.

"Rulalala le, rulalala le~"

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Lin Mo!

He answered at once, a little excited.

"Hello, Leng Shuang..."

"Hello, Lin Mo..."

They spoke at the same time, as if they were on the same wavelength.

"Hahaha."

An awkward laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"Leng Shuang, I've arrived at your residential complex, but the auntie at the gate won't let me in."

"I see. Okay, wait there. I'm coming down right now."

Leng Shuang picked up his backpack and went to the mirror for a look.

Mm, very good. He looked bright and refreshed.

His soft pink lips parted, and he gave himself a confident smile. Then he slung on his backpack and hurried out the door.

"Huh? Isn't that Leng Yu's kid? Didn't they say the college entrance exams were over? Why's he still carrying a backpack?"

"Probably going out to have fun. Still, that's kind of strange. Doesn't he usually hang out with the Yu family's kid? Why's he alone today?"

"Holy crap! Look, this is huge news! Leng Yu's kid is actually going on a date!!"

"Damn, it's true! He left with that unfamiliar girl! Don't tell me they're going off to hook up. Waaah, no! Why isn't it me instead?!"

"------"

The moment he came downstairs, the neighborhood intelligence network all turned their eyes toward Leng Shuang. When they saw him leave with Lin Mo, they instantly exploded into an uproar.

Some of the older ones, old in years but not in heart, even started wailing.

They'd rather Leng Shuang stay single forever than get whisked away by some other woman.

But sadly, things rarely go the way people want.

With his backpack on, Leng Shuang flashed the girl a bright smile. The two of them wore youthful smiles, tinged with innocent shyness. After casually feeding everyone a mouthful of sweetness, they disappeared from sight...