The term "selling insurance" had long been mercilessly mocked by the students of Class 3.

It was Xie Yu who had started it: "You chose this?"

"Carefully selected, it's amazing."

He Chao was dressed casually when he returned to school, wearing a pair of slippers on his feet. After filling out his college application in the computer lab, he added, "I've saved all the autographs for you guys. Wait until your brother goes down in history—"

Go down in history, my ass.

Xie Yu couldn't listen anymore and interrupted, "It is pretty amazing. Selling insurance, a booming, rising industry."

"..."

Although he said that, Xie Yu couldn't help but repeatedly look at the applications they both filled out, glancing at his own, then at He Chao's.

He didn't even know what he was getting out of looking.

They both only filled in their first choice, leaving the rest blank. The others in Class 3 were astounded, to actually witness such an arrogant application in their lifetime.

"You guys are still the most badass," Wan Da leaned over, clicking his tongue in amazement. "The Tsinghua Duo, swindling money and taking lives. I can brag about you two for a lifetime."

He Chao smiled and patted him. "What did you choose?"

"Take a guess?"

Like most people, Wan Da chose a school near A City, close to home.

Xie Yu took a look. The major actually suited him quite well. He joked, "Ah, paparazzi."

Wan Da said, "This is journalism and media!"

By firmly taking every step under their feet, the road ahead for this group of people became clearer and clearer.

But the confusion and helplessness from the beginning of their third year of high school, and that future without any clue... this immature state of mind was also a treasure worth cherishing on the path of growth.

Xie Yu thought to himself that the common ground on this path, whether for him and He Chao or for the rest of Class 3, was probably a sincere sense of gratitude: It's a good thing we stumbled back then.

It's a good thing we stumbled back then.

After a pause and a few detours, we were able to see this scenery.

Thinking of this, Xie Yu had more or less finished eating and closed the lid of his lunchbox.

Old Professor Yang had only mentioned introducing him to someone once; the old man was an understanding person. After that, any other girls who had ideas gave up. They peacefully enjoyed the Central Air Conditioner, shivering from the cold every day, no longer dreaming of being the 'Cold Air Terminator' and taking the Central Air Conditioner for themselves.

Xie Yu said with a smile, "You hold such a grudge?"

"I do. Not only do I hold grudges, I remember everything related to you."

This flamboyant guy looked carefree and didn't care about details, yet such a 'magnanimous' person became especially petty when it came to his boyfriend.

Incredibly petty.

He wished he could draw a circle around Xie Yu and write two words on the side: Mine!

If there was any extra space, he'd add another sentence: Whoever touches him dies!

It was getting late, and the two walked shoulder to shoulder towards the dormitory building.

"Go to sleep early."

"You too."

Even after getting a response, He Chao was reluctant to let go. He pulled the person into his arms again for a hug. In the pitch-black darkness, there was no need to worry about being seen.

"Remember how Old Tang always used to tell us that once we got to university, we could do whatever we wanted."

"Hm?"

"Do my ass. He's a liar, there's no time to even date."

Xie Yu found it amusing.

He had been truly busy recently, so he raised his hand, pinched He Chao's chin, and kissed him.

He Chao took the lead, habitually pressing down on the back of Xie Yu's head. His hair was soft. As he touched it, he remembered browsing the Tsinghua Medical School's online forum the past two days and seeing several help posts: Save the medical students! You give me a head of thick, beautiful hair, and I'll give you back a life in the future! Highlight: Are there any reliable hair growth lotions? Three years of medical school, hair volume decreased, hairline receded, testing the edge of baldness...

Although their School of Economics and Management wasn't much better off, He Chao still leaned in close to Xie Yu's ear and said, "Want me to recommend a few hair growth lotions for you, to take care of it in advance?"

"...You, get over here."

The devoted boyfriend who had come over so late to deliver a midnight snack ended up being beaten back to the ground floor of his dorm building.

Xie Yu had become much more restrained after starting medical school. If he could avoid using his fists, he would. He had grown up, and his methods had upgraded; he usually chose psychological attacks.

But a boyfriend who needed a beating still needed a beating.

"Okay, okay," He Chao habitually admitted defeat, smiling. "Big Bro, I was wrong."

Xie Yu pretended to hit him a few times, letting He Chao grab his wrist and pull him into his arms again. He suddenly said, "I don't have to go to the lab tomorrow."

He Chao didn't react for a moment.

Xie Yu added, "Planning to accompany my boyfriend."

He'd been busy for a while straight, and sometimes he was so tired he couldn't take it, but he still wanted to quickly finish the task at hand to free up some more time.

He Chao said, "Your boyfriend has class tomorrow morning. You should rest more, sleep in. I'll come find you for lunch."

"I know you have class," Xie Yu said, looking at him. "Do you need a study buddy?"

Xie Yu had no intention of sleeping in. The next day, he really did follow He Chao to the large lecture hall to be his study buddy for a morning.

Introduction to Financial Economics.

The professor was quite tolerant of students sitting in on his class. On one hand, he saw it as a recognition of his teaching; on the other, he was deeply moved by the enthusiasm for learning from students of other majors.

So, from time to time, he would call on this class-crasher to answer questions.

"You there, stand up. Tell us, how do you view finance?"

The students in the front few rows turned their heads in the direction the professor was pointing, and once they looked, they couldn't control their eyes. They were incredibly curious about this 'Central Air Conditioner' of Tsinghua Medical School and took the opportunity to admire him for a few more moments.

Xie Yu stood up unhurriedly.

He Chao was genuinely afraid this kid would answer with "selling insurance" right in front of the professor. He impassively opened his book, pointed to it, and whispered a reminder, "Read this line."

Xie Yu showed no stage fright. He glanced at it twice and summarized the meaning in his own words.

"Not bad, this student has great aptitude. Please, have a seat," the professor nodded and took the chance to poach him. "You're welcome to transfer departments. The doors of our school are always open to you. Don't ever suppress your inner self."

Xie Yu: "..."

After the warm-up, once the lecture moved into more specialized territory, the professor stopped putting him on the spot. When a question came up that no one could answer, he would call on He Chao.

When He Chao wasn't taking notes, he tossed his pen aside and habitually took Xie Yu's hand. "Are you bored?"

"The class is a little boring."

Only when the professor bent down to switch the PPT slide did Xie Yu continue, "But it's not boring when I'm taking it with you."

Xie Yu had been listening for about half an hour when his phone kept vibrating. He took it out and saw an unknown number on the screen.

As soon as he answered, the person on the other end shouted, "Hello, Student Xie Yu, we're from the Drama Club!"

After hearing this, Xie Yu shoved the phone into He Chao's hand. "Drama Club, they're looking for you."

He Chao hung up directly and said in a low voice, "Not answering. Will they ever stop? How did they get your number?"

Xie Yu said, "You quit the club? Aren't you known as the top celebrity?"

"Top celebrity my ass. It's too annoying, I couldn't handle it. I only played a bit part twice, and even a fan club has emerged... What are they trying to do, make me debut as a star?"

On the first day of freshman registration, He Chao had stood at the gates of Tsinghua for less than twenty minutes and shot to fame overnight.

In the vast sea of people, Tsinghua's press corps had locked onto their interview target with just one glance. They even suspected he had gone to the wrong place, that maybe he should have been reporting to the film academy.

"Were your three years of high school tough? Now that you've successfully entered the school of your dreams, how are you feeling?"

"It was okay, just took the test casually."

The press corps fell silent for a few seconds before trying to smooth things over. "Haha, this Student He is very humorous. So, do you have any plans for your university life? Or perhaps, between studies, club activities, and social interactions, which aspects do you think are more important..."

The humorous Student He answered in a second, "Dating is more important."

"..."

After the interview video was released, it caused a huge sensation at the school.

The Drama Club, seeing this wave of massive traffic, extended an olive branch to this student.

Although He Chao loved to have fun, he had his limits. His personal fan club was growing too fiercely, and tickets to his performances were hard to come by. The students of the School of Economics and Management had a stroke of genius and even started a ticket scalping business, collecting tickets from everywhere.

They would mysteriously wander between the different schools, wearing a hat, and upon seeing someone come out, they would lower their voice and gesture, "Got any extra tickets? Buying at a high price."

And so, He Chao promptly "retired from the screen."

After enduring half of a tedious and complex finance class, Xie Yu really couldn't take it anymore. It was like someone was chanting scriptures next to his ear. In the end, he laid his head down and fell asleep.

He Chao switched to his left hand to take notes. Afraid that Xie Yu wouldn't sleep comfortably, he gently rested his right hand on his head.

"Alright, speaking of which, let's circle back so it's easier for you to understand. This preference, utility, and risk aversion..."

The two of them weren't being loud, but they still attracted attention.

Someone in the front row nudged the person next to her, signaling for her to look back. "Those two..."

He Chao knew people were watching him, but he kept his hand where it was.

The two of them had never deliberately hidden their relationship, nor would they specifically stand up and explain it. They were completely indifferent to others' gazes, natural and open.

Xie Yu slept for a while. When he woke up with his eyes half-open, the finance professor was talking about the issue of "risk."

Sitting together, for a fleeting moment it felt like they were back in the old days as deskmates.

Except the person beside him had shed his immaturity and become more and more composed. He was wearing a slightly formal shirt with two buttons undone, and on his wrist was a watch with a simple design.

Xie Yu had given him this watch for his birthday last year. It was worn together with a red string bracelet, and the two accessories of vastly different styles didn't look out of place together.

Xie Yu thought to himself, this person named He Chao, no matter what stage of life he was in, seemed to shine.

—And most importantly, he was all his.