So cute, I'm talking about you.

In the evening, Xia Yanchun waved goodbye to Li Shiyan, watching as she boarded the bus.

The sunset was breathtaking, with the glass facades of skyscrapers reflecting countless dazzling points of light.

Shen Nian rode his electric scooter back to the neighborhood, stopping along the way to buy some fruit and dinner for Shen Yue.

That brat doesn’t eat anything all day, just waiting for her little brother to bring her food.

Tomorrow, when they return to their hometown, he’d put a giant pancake necklace around Shen Yue’s neck.

Back home, Shen Nian collapsed onto his bed, exhausted. A shower helped a little—his brain was fried from overuse today. If he didn’t rest soon, he’d turn into an actual idiot…

Just kidding.

He got to work.

After finishing two more subjects, Shen Nian glanced at the time, then habitually checked in on various QQ groups to rack up some experience points before lazily flopping back onto his bed to relax.

He’d done everything he needed to today. What a hardworking guy.

Focusing on his system, the task panel popped up. He’d completed a full set of practice exams, and his progress toward becoming an intermediate adventurer had gone from 0/10 to 1/10.

Just as he’d imagined…

In the past, he might’ve pushed himself until two or three in the morning, but today, he was too drained to keep grinding. Before bed, he slowly assembled the two models he’d just acquired.

They looked decent enough—though anything more professional was beyond him. He wasn’t part of that scene, so the most he could do was sand down the obvious rough edges.

The next morning dawned clear and bright.

Shen Nian woke up early as usual, arriving at the park by seven and putting in a solid hour of intense exercise before heading back.

Early riser, fitness freak, disciplined, studious—surpassing 99.99% of his peers. Shen Nian was terrifyingly strong.

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Shen Nian sent Ma Mingfan a video he’d casually taken of the aunties’ square dancing, renaming the file "Outdoor Hot Dance." Don’t get the wrong idea—it was with their permission and had beauty filters applied.

The aunties had one simple rule: film all you want, but if you don’t crank the beauty filter to max, it’s a no-go. The dedication of middle-aged women to beauty filters was something else…

Chen Dong had already seen it, so there was no reason Ma Mingfan shouldn’t. After sending it, Shen Nian set his notifications to receive messages from Ma Mingfan without alerts. True friendship meant keeping each other in heart, not in reach—if it was urgent, good luck getting through.

After his shower, Shen Nian packed his things, waiting only for Xia Yanchun.

Their hometown wasn’t exactly far, but the transfers were a hassle: subway to the bus terminal, then a coach to a crossroads five kilometers outside town. The last stretch required either an unlicensed motorcycle rickshaw (ten bucks a ride) or some creative problem-solving.

Shen Yue still hadn’t woken up at this hour. Once Xia Yanchun replied to his message, Shen Nian fished out his keys and let himself into her place.

"How are you so energetic…?" Xia Yanchun had just woken up, brushing her teeth groggily when she heard the front door click open.

"Early to bed, early to rise. Brought you breakfast."

"Mmm…"

No "thank you," just a quick rinse before she scurried back to her room, sitting at her desk to comb her hair. The unruly mess smoothed out instantly.

Girls had a whole routine in the mornings—skincare, rewashing their faces—so while Xia Yanchun was busy, Shen Nian finished his own breakfast.

He lounged on the sofa, legs crossed like he owned the place.

But this was normal for him at Xia Yanchun’s, just as she never stood on ceremony at his place.

The breakfast was a box of steamed buns and a bottle of chilled soy milk. Xia Yanchun sat beside him, legs neatly together, skewering the buns one by one with a bamboo stick.

She’d already packed a small backpack with notes and such. Clothes and bedding were waiting at home, so aside from homework, all she really needed was her phone.

"Good?" Shen Nian scooted closer, leaning in. "Chun-bao, let’s stick together~"

"Even if it is, you didn’t make it. Tastes like pre-made frozen buns."

"Eh, that’s just how things are now. Hard to find freshly made buns in the city."

Fresh out of the shower, Shen Nian carried a pleasant scent, the warmth radiating off him sending her thoughts into disarray.

Xia Yanchun shifted her hips away, pointing a finger. "That’s only in the city. Back home, everything’s made fresh. When I went back last summer, I saw the breakfast shops open at three or four in the morning, people kneading dough inside."

"Just eat, will you? We’ve got a subway to catch." Shen Nian brushed off the topic, one hand on his phone.

Seemingly distracted, his other hand found its way to her face, toying with the strands of hair framing it.

Just a natural reflex, really.

The tickling strands made her face itch. Xia Yanchun shook her head and retreated to her room to finish packing.

With her gone, the space felt empty. Shen Nian clicked his tongue and followed, sprawling across her bed to wait.

He was all set—just needed her to be ready before they could head out.

As for Shen Yue, she wouldn’t be back until Mid-Autumn Festival. The hometown didn’t offer much compared to the city, and the trip was mostly to visit relatives.

"Get out. I need to change." Xia Yanchun held up a dress, staring at Shen Nian.

Three seconds of eye contact later—

Shen Nian, the absolute legend, closed his eyes, opened his mouth, pulled the blanket over himself, and started fake snoring. "I’m asleep. Even if you strip naked, I won’t wake up~"

Xia Yanchun burst out laughing, whacking him with a stuffed bear until he scrambled off the bed and out the door, shutting it behind him.

When she emerged again, she’d changed into a pretty dress, her hair loose around her ears and shoulders instead of its usual ponytail. A cute panda hair clip held back her bangs.

"Adorable." Shen Nian gave her a thumbs-up the second he saw her.

"Just bought it yesterday. Li Shiyan helped me pick it." Xia Yanchun touched the clip, smiling. "It is cute, but kinda pricey—eight bucks for one."

"I meant you." Compliments were a necessary step in being the world’s best.

"…?"

Xia Yanchun froze for a second, tucking her hair behind her ear before tilting her head. When she processed his words, she just swept her hair to either side and muttered,

"Flirt."

"You’re kinda ugly."

"Drop dead. Aménos."

Shen Nian: ???

Unbelievable. Call you cute, and I’m a flirt. Call you ugly, and I should die. You’ve got all the lines covered—what’s left for me?

"Basic." Shen Nian had one last move.

"Takes one to know one. Where’s your bag?"

"Outside. Let’s go."

Shen Nian went to grab his backpack while Xia Yanchun splashed water on her face at the sink.

Staring at her flushed ears in the mirror, she pressed her lips together.

Her defenses were way too low today. This wasn’t like her.

"Yo, where’d you go?"

"Coming!"

Quickly hiding her ears with her hair, Xia Yanchun dashed out to join Shen Nian, and they set off together.

·

Solo orz

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