Plans can never keep up with changes.

"Hey, don’t say anything to Tang Manman about this. I was planning to surprise her."

Gu Yue didn’t say much. She nodded lightly, her entire demeanor wilted like a flower after frost, no longer as lively and youthful as before.

"What about you?"

"Have you decided which university you want to apply to?"

Gu Yue paused for a moment before shaking her head dejectedly.

"I haven’t thought about it."

"If my scores were good enough, I’d definitely go to N University too."

"Didn’t you say you’d keep looking out for me?"

"Too bad my scores probably won’t even reach the first-tier cutoff."

"If I can even get into a second-tier school, it’ll be thanks to my mom praying to Buddha often enough."

"Don’t sell yourself short."

Lin Yu patted Gu Yue’s head reassuringly and said,

"The effort you put in won’t betray you. You’ll definitely get into a second-tier school!"

Gu Yue sighed softly, not even holding much hope for herself as she murmured,

"If only that were true."

Lin Yu and Gu Yue walked and talked, eventually arriving at that familiar crossroads—the place where they had reunited and parted countless times before.

Lin Yu stopped in his tracks and, out of habit, turned to face Gu Yue, waving goodbye.

"See you, I’m heading home."

Gu Yue stood still, not reacting at first.

She stared at Lin Yu for a long moment, as if trying to etch him into her memory.

Only when Lin Yu’s expression turned puzzled did she finally raise her hand, forcing a bright smile as she whispered,

"Goodbye."

...

...

As it turned out, plans never kept up with changes.

Lin Yu had originally thought there were still nearly three months before university life began, so he could take his time packing up his rented apartment.

But who would’ve guessed that Tang Manman was leaving now?!

As soon as the scores came out, Tang Manman’s results reached a new high—she ranked in the top ten of the entire province!

This was a big deal.

While University A was undoubtedly a top-tier institution, compared to the absolute best universities in the country, it still fell slightly short.

With a top-ten provincial student willing to study at University A, the school’s leadership was extremely eager, afraid this promising candidate might be snatched away by one of the more prestigious universities.

The day after the college entrance exam results were released, University A’s professors and admissions team traveled all the way to H City to talk to Tang Manman, mainly to convince her to submit her application as soon as possible—lest the "duck that had flown to their mouths" slip away again.

But that wasn’t even the main issue. More importantly, there was a distant relative in N City who had once done the Tang family a great favor.

This relative was now insisting that Tang Manman come to N City, promising to show her around and—incidentally—help tutor their daughter with her studies.

Anyone could see which part of that was the real priority, but Tang’s mother couldn’t refuse the request.

Years ago, when Tang’s father had just passed away, Tang Qinqin was critically ill in the hospital, and the Tang family was struggling the most, it was this distant relative in N City who had continuously sent money to support the mother and her two daughters.

Now that they were making a request, even just to repay the debt of gratitude, Tang’s mother had no choice but to push Tang Manman to go.

And on top of that, they were offering decent pay, giving Tang’s mother even less reason to refuse.

When Tang Manman told Lin Yu about this, her eyes were red, her face full of reluctance and frustration. Clearly, she didn’t want to leave so soon—didn’t want to be separated from Lin Yu this early.

She looked at Lin Yu with hopeful eyes, as if just one word from him would give her the courage to stand up to her mother.

And Lin Yu?

Lin Yu was practically vibrating with excitement, just short of wearing a pineapple crown on his head.

Please!

Go already!

Once we’re both in N City, who’s going to stop us from doing whatever we want?

Tang Manman was hurt by Lin Yu’s enthusiasm and resigned herself to following her mother’s arrangements.

Though Lin Yu felt a pang of guilt, without this temporary sadness, how could there be the overwhelming joy of reunion later?

So he held back from comforting her, planning instead to hit her with a big surprise once she arrived in N City!

After learning the news, Lin Yu started handling his loose ends even faster.

Things he had planned to sell or throw away closer to the start of the semester—daily necessities, household items—he couldn’t wait anymore. Everything was either tossed or sold off. If he couldn’t find a buyer, he just sold it to scrap collectors or dumped it in the trash.

Once the apartment was cleared out, Lin Yu saw that there were still a few days before Tang Manman’s departure.

He decided to use this time to properly say goodbye to his old friends in H City—who knew when he’d be back next?

First, Lin Yu met up with his school buddies, the usual troublemakers, for a meal.

Before parting ways, he specifically pulled White Hair aside and handed him a mysterious phone number, speaking like some wise hermit:

"If you ever run into trouble you can’t handle, call this number and just say Lin Yu sent you."

The number he gave was Zhao Dahu’s—a way of repaying him for stepping in at the tattoo parlor that one time.

If not for White Hair’s tip-off back then, Lin Yu wasn’t sure he’d have mustered the courage to face his feelings for Tang Manman.

In a way, White Hair was half the reason they got together.

After hanging out with his classmates, Lin Yu made sure to have a meal with Zhao Dahu.

Facing this man—someone from another world yet identical to his sworn brother from his past life—Lin Yu couldn’t help but feel a special connection.

Whenever Zhao Dahu showed a hint of that familiar goofiness, Lin Yu would zone out for a second, almost believing none of this was real. That he hadn’t actually crossed worlds, that this was just some absurdly vivid dream.

That he was still in his original world, with strict but loving parents, childhood friends, annoying relatives, martial arts brothers...

Finally, Lin Yu went to see Gu Yue.

For this girl who had learned from her mistakes, he had only one thing to say:

"If you ever run into trouble you can’t handle, just tell me. I’ll take care of it!"

Whether it was Qing Mo, whom he’d rather avoid, or the ruthless Zhao She, Lin Yu wouldn’t hesitate to call in a favor for Gu Yue’s sake.

In his heart, she was the first—and possibly last—person in this world he truly acknowledged as his junior.

Of course he’d look out for her!

"Long-ge, are you really going to N University in N City?"

Gu Yue blinked, looking at Lin Yu seriously.

"Absolutely."

Lin Yu nodded firmly.

No way was he letting Tang Manman go to N City alone. What if someone snatched his girl?