Zhuang Fanxin shot up straight: "Confession? What confession?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "You don't know what a confession is?" He slowly moved away from the desk, nonchalantly, "Didn't I tell you I have someone I like? And that person seems to like me back, so I was thinking of making my feelings clear to him after the competition."

Zhuang Fanxin stammered, "That's... so soon..."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "Wasting time is wasting life."

He watched Zhuang Fanxin's expression—hesitation, shock, nervousness, all mixed together on that face. He thought to himself, 'Zhuang Fanxin must be so anxious, hoping that the person I like is him, yet worried that it isn't him.'

Zhuang Fanxin was indeed anxious. 'Is it Qin Wei or Wang Churan?'

For some reason, he didn't want Gu Zhuoyan to confess so quickly, even though it was none of his business.

The sun was setting, and the light in the small hall turned red and dim, like the color palette of an old Hong Kong movie. After a moment of silence, Zhuang Fanxin said hesitantly, "It's not like... by the time I get back from the competition, you'll already be in a relationship, right?"

It sounded like such a pity. Gu Zhuoyan said, "That wouldn't be very loyal of me. I'll wait for you to come back before I confess. I'll let you witness me getting out of singlehood."

Zhuang Fanxin didn't feel comforted at all, nor did he really want to witness it, but he was always happy to help. He said, "Then wait for me to come back. If you need help setting up the scene, I can help."

Gu Zhuoyan asked, "How long will you be gone then?"

The ACC Competition was an elimination-style contest. The initial screening was very strict. Among the thirty selected contestants, half would be eliminated in the first round, leaving fifteen to compete for the top three spots. The design theme for each round was unknown and would be announced with a 24 to 48-hour time limit for design, creation, and presentation. This period included individual independent design and random group collaborations.

There was a twelve-hour rest period after each design round. Everyone used to joke that it was to prevent the contestants from dying suddenly from the stress and overwork. Zhuang Fanxin answered, "A little over a month."

Gu Zhuoyan said in surprise, "Longer than the Olympics?"

Zhuang Fanxin finally smiled slightly. "I have to arrive in Los Angeles three or four days early. After the competition ends, I'm also going to spend a few days with my grandparents."

Gu Zhuoyan asked, "Your grandparents are over there?"

"Mhm." Mentioning visiting family, Zhuang Fanxin remembered that the other was also going home. "What about you? It's right around National Day. Do you want to stay a few extra days after your competition ends?"

Gu Zhuoyan hadn't thought that far ahead. If he stayed for a few days, it would be inevitable that he and Gu Shibo would glare at each other like class enemies. But since it was a rare trip back, it was a good opportunity to reunite with his gang of roguish friends.

He thought for a moment. "I'll probably just hang out with Lian Yiming and the others."

'He hasn't been home for so long, yet he doesn't mention his parents and only thinks about his friends. Could it be that he's still on bad terms with his parents because of the breakup?' Zhuang Fanxin's mind wandered as he held his brush, reasoning to himself, 'If Gu Zhuoyan still blames his parents, does that mean he still hasn't gotten over his ex-girlfriend?'

He thought furtively, 'Gu Zhuoyan and his ex-girlfriend are classmates. If he goes back, won't he inevitably see her at a class reunion?'

Zhuang Fanxin couldn't help but press his lips together. A class reunion, seeing the first love he was forced to break up with, someone he still thought about... coupled with the teasing of his classmates and buddies, wouldn't rosy memories come flooding back? Wouldn't the old flame, which can't be extinguished by wildfire, reignite fiercely...

That's not good!

Since he's planning to confess to a new love, how can he get entangled with an old one?

Zhuang Fanxin knew this was none of his business and that he shouldn't ask too much, so he asked very curtly, "Class reunion?"

Gu Zhuoyan did miss his classmates over there. Besides, Lu Wen was having a concert, and everyone would probably go to support him. He said, "Since I'm going back anyway, I might as well see everyone."

With that one casual word, "everyone," Zhuang Fanxin was convinced that the ex-girlfriend was included. Suddenly, he felt a bit unhappy. He shot Gu Zhuoyan a glance, his gaze as sharp as a disciplinary dean's, and his words had a very paternal tone, "You're going back to participate in a competition. Don't just focus on catching up with people. You need to get your priorities straight."

Gu Zhuoyan said, bewildered, "Weren't we talking about after the competition ends?"

Zhuang Fanxin was choked up, unable to argue his point. He could only think resentfully, 'He'd better be careful his confession to Qin Wei or Wang Churan doesn't fail.' A pair of beauties in Rong City, a white moonlight in his old hometown... Gu Zhuoyan was truly a Casanova from the north, causing grief for this single guy from the south.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Gu Zhuoyan was a little puzzled. "Why the long face?"

Zhuang Fanxin lied with a cool and haughty air, "Just thinking about the competition."

By the final week, Zhuang Fanxin only attended three days of class. He formally took leave on Thursday to make some preparations at home before going abroad. The flight was scheduled for Saturday morning. For these two days, he was completely homebound, and the farthest he went was to the backyard to pull weeds.

He read materials in the second-floor art studio; being surrounded by his art supplies helped him calm his mind. He only came downstairs at dinnertime, thinking he would have a good meal before leaving his homeland for a while, only to find a pot of plain, watery instant noodles on the dining table.

Zhuang Fanxin complained, "This is what you're feeding a contestant?"

Zhao Jianqiu said, "You're leaving tomorrow. The fridge has already been cleaned out. Just make do for one meal."

The family of three ate their simple meal of noodles. Zhuang Fanxin picked up a mouthful with his chopsticks and chewed for a long time, thinking sourly, 'What's the use of envying other people's broad shoulders and abs? My diet can't provide me with enough nutrition at all.'

Zhuang Xianyang asked, "Is your suitcase packed?"

Zhuang Fanxin snapped back to reality. "It's packed. Can you guys pack my documents for me?"

Zhuang Xianyang said, "You're a second-year in high school now. Don't rely on us for every important thing. Including this trip to Los Angeles, just treat it as an exercise in learning to be independent."

Zhuang Fanxin pouted. 'Then I'll start being independent with this meal.' He turned to look at the wall clock. Gu Zhuoyan should be out of school by now. He put down his chopsticks. "I'm going to Grandpa Xue's house."

Zhao Jianqiu said, "Don't go over there to freeload a meal."

"..." Zhuang Fanxin pocketed ten yuan, gave a small, petulant eye-roll, full of craving but not lacking in ambition, and said independently, "I'm going to the intersection to buy bread to eat, the kind with jam!"

In the golden autumn of September, this part of Rong City was still vividly green, with only the neon lights of the night adding a touch of gold. Gu Zhuoyan rode his old-fashioned bicycle down the street and, passing the convenience store at the intersection, caught sight of Zhuang Fanxin walking out while gnawing on some bread.

He rang the bell on his bike, propping one long leg on the curb to stop. When Zhuang Fanxin saw him, he quickened his pace. Seeing how heartily he was eating, Gu Zhuoyan said, "Buy one for me too."

Zhuang Fanxin said awkwardly, "I only brought ten yuan."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "Alright then, I'm leaving."

He made a move to pedal away, but Zhuang Fanxin grabbed him and agilely hopped onto the back seat of the bicycle. He gave Zhuang Fanxin a ride, turning into a small intersection and moving at a steady pace. He didn't even stop when passing the Zhuang Family's gate, riding straight through his own.

Zhuang Fanxin indeed did not freeload a meal, but he did freeload a carton of ice cream, which he ate with Gu Zhuoyan in the second-floor guest room. This bedroom was Xue Maochen's movie room. The old man liked to watch old films with the lights off. Now, Gu Zhuoyan had added a game console and other things to it, making it a room for pure entertainment.

"I haven't been to school these past two days. Do my classmates miss me?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "No."

Zhuang Fanxin didn't believe him. "Qi Nan definitely misses me, anyway."

Gu Zhuoyan said, "He steps on your chair every day."

Zhuang Fanxin and Qi Nan's bond was indestructible; sowing discord was useless. He scooped up some ice cream, savoring the sweetness in his mouth as he watched Gu Zhuoyan take things out of his schoolbag. Gu Zhuoyan pulled out the past two days' test papers, then tossed them onto the bed like he was selling scrap, relaying the teacher's instructions: "Just do as much as you can."

Zhuang Fanxin asked, "When I come back from the competition, can you help me catch up on the classes I missed?"

'By then we'll be a couple, so I can help him catch up on anything.' Gu Zhuoyan agreed. He got off the bed to fiddle with the game console. He had bought a new one but hadn't touched it yet. He dug out a controller, wanting to play for a bit.

First, he brought up the large map to check the layout. Gu Zhuoyan decided to charge into the cannibal tribe to rid the people of a scourge. Suddenly, his right arm felt warm as Zhuang Fanxin snuggled up to him, trying to curry favor. He turned his head. "You want to play?"

Zhuang Fanxin said piously, "Can I?"

At this moment, Gu Zhuoyan adopted a parental mentality. The kid was about to cross the ocean for a competition; he should be allowed to eat what he wants and play what he wants. Zhuang Fanxin happily took the controller. As a noob at mobile games, he had never played a major console game and was quite excited.

After entering the game, he stood in place blankly. He discovered the game was set in a Western world, with no specific storyline or clear missions. The triggering of all plot points depended on his own exploration.

He glanced uncertainly at Gu Zhuoyan, only to find that the other was already doing his physics homework.

Relying on a master will only make you a noob; relying on yourself is the only way to become a fighter jet! Zhuang Fanxin tremblingly set off on his own. Naturally, he didn't dare to get close to the cannibal tribe; he even skirted around villages with fierce and tough locals. He dodged his way along on horseback, only breathing a sigh of relief when he reached a bustling town.

Zhuang Fanxin asked, "Can I spend some money?"

Without lifting his head, Gu Zhuoyan said, "Go ahead."

Zhuang Fanxin felt more at ease. He first went to a bar to drink and watch girls dance provocatively, then to the theater to watch an opera, and then to a club to play some Texas Hold'em. He didn't trigger any combat, going wherever it was peaceful, as if he only wanted to contribute a little GDP to the Western world.

By the time Gu Zhuoyan finished his physics homework and glanced at the screen, "he" was on the verge of bankruptcy from his losses at the club.

"Zhuang Fanxin," Gu Zhuoyan couldn't help but say, "You'll get beaten up if you go into debt."

Zhuang Fanxin said in alarm, "I don't want to fight! How do you add money to this game?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "You can't."

Zhuang Fanxin finished the round and quickly retreated. He left the club and stood at the entrance, looking around blankly. "Huh?" he said, puzzled, "Why can't I see my horse?"

A system prompt popped up. While he was playing cards, a car had sped by and killed the horse.

Zhuang Fanxin froze. He gripped the controller, his small Adam's apple bobbing. He didn't quite dare to look at Gu Zhuoyan's expression. The atmosphere in the room gradually grew awkward. Gu Zhuoyan's face was as grim as water, like the water of the Volga River in Russia during the dead of winter.

After a long moment, he said with restraint, "We still have to go to the airport tomorrow morning. Let's get to sleep early."

Zhuang Fanxin gently put down the controller, grabbed the stack of test papers, and immediately bolted. Before leaving, he made an embarrassed request, "No one will be at my house for over a month, can you help collect the mail and newspapers and stuff..."

Gu Zhuoyan stood up to see him off. "Got it."

Reaching the bedroom door, Zhuang Fanxin opened it but stopped abruptly, causing Gu Zhuoyan to bump into his back. He turned around, looking at the other from a slightly close distance, and asked in a low voice, "Are you coming to the airport to see me off tomorrow?"

Gu Zhuoyan said, "It's not like you're not coming back."

Zhuang Fanxin muttered, "I went to the airport to see your friends off when they left. Shouldn't you see me off?"

'What's he acting so coquettish for?' The resentment from the dead horse and lost money dissipated. Gu Zhuoyan said, "I was just teasing you. I've already spoken with the driver. He'll take you to the airport tomorrow."

Early on Saturday morning, an SUV was parked outside Zhuang Fanxin's house. Gu Zhuoyan sat in the front passenger seat, while Zhuang Fanxin's family of three sat in the back. After arriving at the airport, they met up with Pei Zhi. Zhuang Xianyang went to get the boarding passes and check their luggage, while Zhao Jianqiu made small talk with Pei Zhi's grandmother.

Zhuang Fanxin was carrying a large bag. He handed it over. "Here. It's heavy."

Gu Zhuoyan took it, acting as the muscle for a while. After everything was taken care of, they moved toward the security checkpoint. He walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhuang Fanxin. With the latter's parents there, there was no need for him to give any reminders or warnings.

Standing outside the line, the two faced each other in silence for a moment, which felt a little crazy. Zhuang Fanxin asked, "When's your flight?"

Gu Zhuoyan answered, "Tomorrow morning. A day later than you."

Zhuang Fanxin had nothing else to ask. He had already wished him luck in the competition, but he didn't really want to just say goodbye like this. Yet Gu Zhuoyan was also extremely patient, not rushing or urging him, just wasting time together.

But time inevitably flowed on. Ten minutes later, Zhuang Fanxin shrugged his shoulders. "I'm going now."

Gu Zhuoyan handed the bag back. "Don't forget this."

"It's for you." Zhuang Fanxin took two steps backward. "I bought it at the mall last Sunday. It's a Rong City specialty. Take it with you when you go home tomorrow."

Gu Zhuoyan's heart warmed. He had so many things to prepare before going abroad, yet he still bought something for him. He stood where he was and said softly from two steps away, "Kind of want to take you with me, too."

Zhuang Fanxin didn't know what to feel. He had never been like this with Pei Zhi, nor with Qi Nan. He vaguely, incredulously, thought... this was flirtation.

He was startled. 'What the hell?' He hurriedly changed the subject, "I have to get in line for security."

Gu Zhuoyan asked, "Will you miss me?"

Zhuang Fanxin pretended not to hear. He threw out a "Bye-bye" and ran to get in line, merging into the dense crowd. That head of neatly combed hair would turn back from time to time, but it would stop halfway, holding back from looking all the way back.

Once he passed through security, he was completely out of sight. The send-off was over.

Gu Zhuoyan turned to leave. His phone chimed with an incoming text message.

Just one word—"Yes."