Chapter 40

Zhou Hang sat ramrod-straight for a long time, pretending to focus on his exam paper, but nothing stuck. His mind was spinning with one thought:
Qiu Li hates people gossiping about him and Yan Xiao.
That frown, that irritated look, it had been real anger. Which obviously meant he only saw her as a sister. That’s why words like “dating” and “girlfriend” ticked him off so much.
Phew. That was close.
He gripped his pen tighter, cold sweat beading in his palms.
Thank goodness Qiu Li didn’t know that Zhou Hang had once secretly shipped them, the “XiaoLi” pairing. He was even part of the “hope-they-get-together” camp. If Qiu Li ever found out, he’d probably kill him on the spot.
Ugh, my poor ship! he moaned inwardly. It’s sunk! And it was sunk by the captain himself!
The first time he ever shipped anyone, and it ended in tragedy.
Staring at his chemistry paper, Zhou Hang sighed, looking as though the heartbreak of an entire fandom rested on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, the two people at the center of all this didn’t even notice the chaos online.
Qiu Li buried his thoughts deeper than ever.
And Yan Xiao, she had one goal left.
The college entrance exam.
She was going to fight the battle of her life.
Still, before that came the third mock exam.
Once April passed, exams sprouted like spring flowers, every kind, every level, nonstop.
Every day brought another test, another paper to review.
At that stage, everyone was exhausted. Scores rose and fell with the tides, sometimes up ten ranks, sometimes down twenty. Even top-hundred students fluctuated wildly. It was normal.
But only first and second place stayed constant, switching back and forth, as if they’d bought a year-long subscription to those two spots.
The rest of the school, long since numb to their brilliance, started treating it as entertainment. Their see-saw rankings became a running joke, something bright in the otherwise nerve-wracking final stretch.
A few days after Labor Day, results came out for both the third mock and the monthly exam.
This time, Yan Xiao took first place in both.
Their levels were almost identical, there was no telling who’d win next.
There had been times before when Qiu Li dominated two consecutive exams, but that didn’t matter to Yan Xiao.
Even without earning points this round, she was genuinely happy.
That good mood carried her all the way to May 16, her birthday.
Because the college entrance exam was so close, the Yan family didn’t throw a big party. They only invited her grandparents, uncle, and aunt for dinner at home.
And of course, the nearly-resident Qiu Li was there too.
By now, his academic excellence had softened most people’s prejudices. Some still whispered about his background, but no one could deny his brilliance.
He was the kind of student everyone respected, and that the Yan family’s elders were more than happy to have around.
After all, a good, hardworking boy who spent his evenings studying with their daughter was infinitely better than one who went out partying.
So when Qiu Li came over after school, the family welcomed him warmly, as though he were already one of their own.
This birthday was the quietest one Yan Xiao had ever had, and the warmest.
No grand ceremony, no fancy dinner. But she liked it that way.
After dinner, her relatives didn’t stay long. They were afraid of disturbing her studies, so they only chatted for a while before leaving, promising to take her on a trip once the college entrance exam was over, anywhere she wanted to go, anything she wanted to do. They told her not to stress, to eat well, sleep well… after another round of doting reminders, they finally left.
As everyone was heading to the car, her aunt Chen Zilu suddenly tugged on her niece’s arm, pulling her aside.
Yan Xiao blinked, glancing at the group by the door. “What’s wrong, Auntie?”
Chen Zilu smiled mysteriously. “Of course I’ve got something to ask. Anyone chasing you at school lately?”
Yan Xiao: “?”
Completely baffled, she replied matter-of-factly, “Of course there are! I’m so outstanding, how could no one chase me? Auntie, do you really think that little of me?”
Chen Zilu: “…”
She honestly hadn’t expected her niece to answer so straightforwardly.
Yan Xiao grinned and added, “But I’m not interested in dating early. I’m still young.” (Though technically, she was already an adult.) “Right now, I just want to study. I’m telling you”
She paused mid-sentence, sneaking a glance toward the door. Chen Zilu followed her gaze, just in time to see Qiu Li turn around and look back toward them. When he spotted them, he smiled, that clear, bright smile that could melt glass.
Chen Zilu: “…”
See? Didn’t she say that boy looked at her niece differently? She knew it! Her instincts were impeccable!
“I’m definitely going to be the top scorer in the college entrance exam!” Yan Xiao went on, completely unaware of her aunt’s thoughts. She leaned closer, whispering, “I haven’t told anyone else, but I’ll tell you, I’m going to get it. Don’t tell the others, okay?”
Chen Zilu: “…”
That’s it? I was all ears for this?
She stared blankly. “That’s all you wanted to tell me?”
Yan Xiao nodded seriously. “Yep. I haven’t even told Mom and Dad.” After all, with someone like Qiu Li as her fiercest rival, it would be embarrassing to boast and then fall short.
Better to make her vow in secret, work quietly, then laugh loudest when she succeeded.
Looking at her niece’s earnest, determined eyes and her fiery confidence, Chen Zilu hesitated for a moment, then let her suspicions go. She patted Yan Xiao’s head and said warmly, “Auntie believes in you. You’re the best! I’ll be cheering for you!”
Still, she couldn’t help sneaking another look toward the tall, handsome boy standing by the doorway. Fine, she thought, I’ll wait until after the exams. Then maybe I’ll test the waters, no need to distract her now.
Yan Xiao patted her aunt’s shoulder in return. “See? You really don’t have to worry about me dating early. I’m an exemplary, study-obsessed teen! Why would I waste my youth and future on puppy love?”
Chen Zilu: “…”
Well, sure, but a little romance never hurt anyone either…
Once upon a time, her little dumpling had followed her everywhere asking for candy. Now she’d grown into a confident, articulate young woman. For a moment, Chen Zilu felt a pang of loss. But kids were meant to grow up, after all. So she only smiled and said, “Just don’t overwork yourself, okay? After your exams, Auntie will take you out to have some fun.”
After seeing the family off, Yan Xiao and Qiu Li sat down to work through a full science mock paper and discussed a few tricky questions. Only then did they call it a day.
When she walked him to the door, she hesitated for a long moment.
It was Qiu Li who broke the silence, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “What is it?”
Yan Xiao thought indignantly, What, ask for a birthday gift? As if I’d ever say that out loud!
She looked up to tell him it was nothing, but under the soft glow of the porch light, the boy in the white shirt smiled at her, and for a second, her breath caught.
She’d always known he was handsome, the kind of handsome that turned heads. But right now, with that faint smile curving his lips under the hazy light, she suddenly understood why the girls at school went crazy over him.
A face like that, smiling like that, it should be illegal.
She tore her gaze away, pretending she’d seen nothing, and huffed, “I don’t want to say anything! And stop touching my head!”
Her ears were burning red. Whether it was from embarrassment or something else entirely, she didn’t dare think about it.
Qiu Li only smiled and withdrew his hand. “Okay. I won’t.”
That somehow made her even more annoyed. She glared, marched him to the gate, and said stiffly, “Goodbye!”
Qiu Li chuckled softly.
Yan Xiao frowned and looked up, glaring harder.
Mid-May nights were already warm, but the evening breeze was still cool and gentle.
In that soft summer air, Qiu Li’s clear voice carried a faint, teasing warmth, like mountain spring water. He tilted his head slightly, dark hair ruffled by the wind, and said, “Not walking me home?”
Yan Xiao: “…”
She didn’t answer.
Then he winked at her.
Yan Xiao: “!!!”
Her heart skipped. “I’m just going to Qiu Li’s place to grab a book! I’ll be right back!” she shouted toward the house.
Before anyone could reply, she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him down the street.
“Hurry up, it’s getting late!” she said as she half-ran, half-pulled him along.
Qiu Li looked down at her and laughed softly, then turned his hand over and intertwined his fingers with hers, walking in long strides beside her.
Since moving into this neighborhood, he’d always lived alone.
When he was younger, a housekeeper stayed with him full-time, but after he turned eleven, she only came by during the day to cook and clean.
Now, the Qiu family house was pitch dark, save for the warm glow of the porch light.
In her rush, Yan Xiao went straight up and unlocked the gate with facial recognition.
Beep.
The gate clicked open, and just as she pulled Qiu Li forward, the once-dark courtyard burst into light.
Strings of colored bulbs lit up all at once, filling the garden with soft pink baby’s breath. A narrow path covered in rose petals led inward.
Yan Xiao froze.
By the time she turned to Qiu Li, he was already wearing a mist-blue vest and holding a sparkling blue diamond tiara in his hands.
“Happy birthday,” he said, smiling. “My little princess.”

Author’s Note:
Chen Zilu: See? Didn’t I say so?!
Qiu Li: Goodnight, Auntie (#^.^#)
Yan Xiao: ??? What is happening right now??