Although their school was a comprehensive university, the Department of Chemistry was the strongest, ranking very high in the country. When Xing Yan and the others stood up, the screen showed the academic achievements of the outstanding students in the Department of Chemistry this year, and Xing Yan himself took up several pages.

When the dean delivered his speech, he also mentioned a few students. When he mentioned Xing Yan, the audience below was in a small-scale uproar. After all, he was a little star in the Department of Chemistry.

Qin Fang had a particularly beautiful expression and said to Han Xiaogong in a low voice, "My Yan-ge is so awesome."

Han Xiaogong said, "He really likes chemistry. He has been immersed in it since junior high school."

Qin Fang listened to the speech of the dean of the Department of Chemistry and looked at his boyfriend who was standing in the front with a cool expression and no expression. "He's very outstanding. Right?"

"Yes," Han Xiaogong couldn't stand his showing off. "Don't show off."

Han Xiaogong told Qin Fang that Xing Yan's love for chemistry might be in his genes. Xing Yan's father was originally an engineer who studied this, and so was his mother. When the chemical plant exploded, Xing Yan lost his parents at once, but he did not hate chemistry. He still loved it.

Listening to this, looking at Xing Yan's achievements on the big screen in front, and also looking at the most dazzling and handsome Yan-ge on the stage, Qin Fang felt that Xing Yan should continue to do this. He shouldn't stop. He belonged to chemistry and should continue to do the experiments he liked.

Han Xiaogong said, "I've looked at several rows of people, and only your boyfriend looks good."

The dean's speech in the front was over, and Qin Fang applauded along with everyone else. He said to Han Xiaogong, "I suddenly feel that I should let him continue studying. I want him to continue researching this."

Han Xiaogong glanced at him and didn't say anything. The dean on the stage was handing out degree certificates to the graduates. Han Xiaogong asked him, "You haven't talked to him about this?"

Qin Fang shook his head and said, "No, he doesn't like to talk about these things. I don't know why he doesn't want to study anymore, is it because of... money? I've never really understood him in this regard. If it's because of some messy external factors, that's not okay. He has me, what is there to be afraid of?"

When Qin Fang spoke, his voice was very low. Han Xiaogong watched his mouth and half-listened, half-guessed. After Qin Fang finished speaking, Han Xiaogong didn't say anything for a while, his eyes looking at Xing Yan in front, only shaking his head.

Xing Yan stood in the middle, receiving his degree certificate. When it was his turn, the dean even stopped and said a few words.

"Xing Yan, a top student." The dean smiled and stood beside him, patting Xing Yan's shoulder, facing the audience and saying, "I said I personally taught him but still couldn't keep him. I said to let him be my last closed-door disciple, but in the end, he still has to leave."

Xing Yan smiled slightly and gently shook his head.

The dean's face showed appreciation for his proud student, which could be seen from his eyes. He held Xing Yan's degree certificate in his hand, reluctant to hand it over.

Later, the dean patted Xing Yan's shoulder again, mentioned a school name, then nodded and said, "Well done, study hard. Come back after you finish your studies."

The school name was so prestigious that Qin Fang didn't react at first. Xing Yan's expression changed slightly.

Before it was Xing Yan's turn, Qin Fang was only talking to Han Xiaogong and didn't pay attention. Later, Qin Fang discovered that when the dean handed the certificate to each student, the screen would display that student's achievements, as well as the next step and the school they were preparing to continue their studies at.

On Xing Yan's page, there was a conspicuous school name.

After Qin Fang came back to his senses, his first reaction was excitement, his eyes full of pride and pleasant surprise. He had never experienced this feeling for himself. Now, Qin Fang suddenly felt he could understand a little bit those parents who had genius children. This analogy may not be very appropriate, but Qin Fang himself felt that his mood at that time was like a proud parent.

He was excited for about half an hour. The previous departments had changed several times before Qin Fang recovered from that feeling.

Han Xiaogong knew he was probably going to praise again, so he smiled and said first, "Your boyfriend is so excellent."

"Thank you." Qin Fang nodded with a smile, "I think so too."

Han Xiaogong patted his shoulder and sighed, "...Where did he pick up someone like you?"

As the initial emotions passed, rationality gradually returned, and many thoughts became clearer.

The smile on Qin Fang's face slowly disappeared. The voices of the deans of various departments were still very loud in the sound system, but Qin Fang couldn't hear clearly.

Perhaps the air conditioning was too cold. Qin Fang felt colder and colder. His body was so cold, but his palms were all sweaty.

He lowered his gaze, and his mind began to turn sluggishly. Many things seemed to become clear to him in an instant, but it also seemed that nothing could be figured out. His brain was like an old machine with gears stuck and unable to move.

Han Xiaogong turned his head to look at him, touched his arm, and called out to him.

When Qin Fang raised his head, his face didn't look very good. He looked at Han Xiaogong and asked him what was wrong.

Han Xiaogong raised his eyebrows slightly and asked softly, "Are you okay?"

"What's wrong with me?" Qin Fang loosely clenched his fists, rubbed his index finger knuckles with his thumb, and after a moment of silence, he asked Han Xiaogong, "You all... knew he was leaving?"

Han Xiaogong pursed his lips and didn't say anything in the end.

Qin Fang nodded and asked in a low voice, "I was the only one who didn't know, right?"

Han Xiaogong still didn't make a sound.

Han Xiaogong didn't want to lie to him, so he didn't speak. Qin Fang saw through it, so he didn't continue to ask anything else.

For the next hour, Qin Fang sat in the chair, sitting like a stone statue. Many images were rapidly flashing in his mind, allowing him to say "so that's how it is" in his heart. But his mind was also very stuck, and every frame he grasped was enough for him to think about for a long time.

A text message came on his phone, which was in his hand. Qin Fang looked down and saw it was from Xing Yan.

— Have you left?

Qin Fang replied: No, what's up?

Xing Yan asked again: Where are you?

Qin Fang said: In the back.

Xing Yan: Don't leave

Qin Fang: Okay.

Xing Yan: I'm coming to find you

Qin Fang didn't reply again. He propped his arms on his knees, lowered his head, and rubbed his scalp with one hand. Since he shaved his head last summer, he never let it grow back. Now the short stubble pricked into his palm, and every prick was very painful.

The dense, slight tingling pain spread from his palm to his heart, making his left chest feel a little empty and a little numb.

Xing Yan walked over from the side aisle. Han Xiaogong patted Qin Fang to indicate to him. Qin Fang sat still, so Han Xiaogong stood up, bent over and went out. After he left, Xing Yan came in and sat next to Qin Fang.

Qin Fang didn't look at him. Xing Yan touched his hand and felt that Qin Fang's palm was full of sweat.

Xing Yan didn't mind these things and held his hand. The fingertips of both of them were trembling slightly.

The ceremony ended, and Xing Yan didn't care about anything else, never letting go of Qin Fang's hand. The two handsome guys walked out hand in hand like this. Many people around were looking at them, but neither of them had the time to pay attention.

When there were fewer people, Qin Fang cleared his throat and called out to him, "Xing Yan."

Xing Yan's movements paused briefly, and he responded with an "Mm".

Qin Fang rarely called him like this usually, always calling him "Yan-ge".

Qin Fang loosened his hand that was holding Xing Yan's, gently rubbed his knuckles, and asked in a low voice, "When did you decide?"

Xing Yan was silent at first, then said, "A long time ago."

Qin Fang asked softly, "...Last month?"

Xing Yan shook his head.

Qin Fang asked again, "During the New Year?"

Xing Yan still shook his head.

Qin Fang looked into his eyes, his voice even trembling a little, "Your birthday? My birthday? The stone?"

His questions were incoherent, but Xing Yan understood.

Qin Fang's eyes were all red, but there was no expression on his face, and his tone was very light, not interrogative. However, Xing Yan couldn't open his mouth and couldn't answer.

Qin Fang stood there looking at him, looking at Xing Yan's face, looking at the eyes he loved the most, but suddenly laughed.

He bent down, as if unloading the strength from his body, propping his knees with his arms, and looked up at Xing Yan.

They stood like this under the sun. The sunlight was very harsh, and there was a layer of sweat on Qin Fang's forehead. He took two deep breaths and slowly exhaled. Qin Fang raised his eyes to look at Xing Yan, his eyes completely red, a faint smile hanging on the corner of his lips, his voice hoarse.

He asked Xing Yan two questions—

"Was it fun playing me?"

"Am I fun to play with?"