That evening, Wu Ya's punishment was finally decided. Perhaps because the incident was too egregious, the principal even looked into the conflict between the two students.
The investigation revealed more than expected—the principal hadn't imagined students in his school could go so far. In the end, Wu Ya wasn’t just given a disciplinary record; she was outright expelled, with the incident permanently noted in her file. The other students who had helped fabricate evidence all received major demerits and were suspended for a year.
Ye Shuang felt that simply expelling the girl was letting her off too lightly. Had he known, he would’ve kicked her one more time—after all, she had fought back too. At worst, they’d both spend half a month in detention.
But after this commotion, no one would likely dare trouble Bai Yuyou again.
Once he taught her how to live independently, Ye Shuang thought it might be time for him to leave.
"But after leaving… what would I even do?" Ye Shuang glanced at the girl beside him, who was carefully chopping ginger and garlic. The evening glow streaming through the window draped over her like a sheer veil.
Noticing his gaze, Bai Yuyou slowly looked up. Her eyes reflected the hues of the sunset, so beautiful it seemed almost surreal.
"Be careful not to cut your fingers," Ye Shuang reminded her gently.
Bai Yuyou nodded lightly and resumed chopping.
Eventually, he would have to leave.
Ye Shuang walked to the fridge and took out some eggs, his eyes inadvertently drifting to the living room—
No longer cluttered and messy, the space now felt warm and cozy despite the old furniture. The white linen curtains swayed in the evening breeze, accompanied by the faint chime of wind bells. Everything felt so peaceful.
"Without realizing it, this place has started to feel like a home…" Ye Shuang murmured.
It was as if, at some point in the past, he had longed to see this very scene in his home. When had he forgotten?
A tug at his sleeve pulled him from his thoughts. Turning, he saw Bai Yuyou holding onto his sleeve, her head tilted slightly as if puzzled by why he was standing frozen in front of the fridge.
No wonder she had tugged at him—he hadn’t even noticed the cold air wafting from the open fridge.
"It’s nothing." Ye Shuang smiled faintly and tapped her forehead lightly with a finger. "Next time, don’t grab someone’s clothes with dirty hands, got it?"
Bai Yuyou glanced down at her fingers, still stained with bits of ginger, garlic, and chili. Without much thought, she stuck them into her mouth.
The sudden spiciness made her eyes well up instantly, her usually calm gaze now watery and slightly aggrieved as she looked at Ye Shuang.
"I—I’ve told you so many times not to put your fingers in your mouth!" Startled by her teary expression, Ye Shuang quickly turned to grab milk from the fridge for her.
Watching her sip the milk clumsily, he found himself staring at the living room again.
He realized he didn’t need to leave so soon.
Bai Yuyou still had a ways to go before she could truly take care of herself.
Maybe he could stay a little longer—live with this girl, and let his life take a slightly different turn.
As he watched her, the thought settled in his mind.
……
……
"Come out with me tonight. We’ll buy some daily necessities," Ye Shuang said. Though they had stocked up on many things last time, small essentials like nail clippers only came to mind when needed.
Bai Yuyou nodded. She had no objections to going out with Ye Shuang—in fact, she loved being with him. She didn’t quite understand the emotion, only that it felt comfortable and warm.
As night fell, the city lights flickered to life, making it the perfect time for a stroll.
"Early evening really is the best time to go out—not too hot, not too cold," Ye Shuang remarked, enjoying the cool breeze.
Bai Yuyou walked beside him, hugging his arm. Her body warmth and a faint, soothing fragrance reached him. Still in her school uniform and a head shorter than him, a slight glance downward revealed the pale expanse of her neck and collarbone.
"……" Ye Shuang reached over and buttoned one more of her shirt’s buttons, his wrist brushing against her skin—soft and warm.
He pushed aside distracting thoughts. Bai Yuyou was watching him calmly, entirely unfazed by the contact, her innocent eyes sometimes making him feel guilty under their gaze.
"Ye Shuang?" Bai Yuyou suddenly spoke.
"What is it?"
"Sometimes, I hear classmates say they really like this part of girls." She placed a hand on her chest and looked up at him. "Do you like it too?"
"Cough—"
Caught off guard, Ye Shuang choked slightly.
Then, very seriously, he said, "Of course guys like it. But you must never let anyone touch you there, understand? That’s something only for someone you truly love."
"Mm." Bai Yuyou nodded earnestly. "I’ll save it for Ye Shuang."
"Why me?"
"Because I like Ye Shuang," she replied.
Ye Shuang stopped walking and looked at her. "Do you know what ‘like’ really means?"
Bai Yuyou thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Liking someone is a complicated feeling. The way you like me isn’t any different from how you like your favorite foods."
Ye Shuang smiled and pinched her soft cheek. "When you understand what real ‘like’ is, you’ll have grown up."
"Understand?"
"Right."
"Then, Ye Shuang, do you want to touch here?"
"……"
"Did you even listen to what I just said?"
By now, they had reached the night market near their old apartment complex. The air was thick with the smell of frying food.
"Didn’t we just eat?" Ye Shuang chuckled as he noticed Bai Yuyou’s eyes fixed on a grilled squid stall.
"Hungry."
"That was fast." Despite his words, he led her to the stall. "One large squid, please."
"Coming right up!"
The stall owner’s voice sounded familiar. When Ye Shuang got a clear look, he froze.
"Why is it you again?" He stared in disbelief at An Shiyu, now dressed as a squid vendor.
Just how many jobs do you have?
"It's you, old man." An Shiyu deftly flipped the squid on the grill. "Since you're a regular, I'll give you a deal—15 per squid stick. But the combo's better—just 35 for two."