For several days in a row, all the attention in No. 4 High's liberal arts building was focused on Gu Fei's head. The reason why it's the liberal arts building is because Jiang Cheng's range of activity was basically just within the liberal arts building. After leaving the building, other than going to the bathroom, he generally wouldn't go anywhere else.  

On the forum, it was also quite lively, with all kinds of secretly taken photos being shown, but other than that day when Old Xu forcibly took off his hat to inspect his head, no one else had managed to take a photo of the full picture.  

Only Jiang Cheng had observed it, and not only observed it, but observed it carefully. And not only observed it carefully, but also touched it whenever he had time.

"I just want to ask if you're still going to do your homework or not?" Gu Fei sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Jiang Cheng who was holding a pen in his right hand, writing homework, while his left hand was constantly on top of his head, "If not, then say you'll finish and we can go out to eat supper."

"Don't worry," Jiang Cheng said, "As long as you don't disturb me, I can finish the homework soon. The homework you guys get at your No. 4 High is just barely passable."

"Don't you still have to do the homework from your original school?" Gu Fei said.  

"I can do it at night, or during self-study time," Jiang Cheng's fingers rubbed against his head, "Hey, it's prickly after just a couple days. "

"What do you expect," Gu Fei was too lazy to resist anymore. He lowered his head and continued playing on his phone, "If you didn't keep touching it so much, it could grow faster. Now I'm worried you're going to touch it bald."

"Oh," Jiang Cheng tilted his head, "Do you dislike people touching your head?"

"I don't know," Gu Fei said, "No one has dared to touch my head before, other than you and Er Miao."

"At least as a boyfriend, I should have some privileges," Jiang Cheng smiled and hugged his head, kissing the top, "Too bad you won't take off your hat, otherwise I would bite a mark here no matter what."

"The one on my waist just faded." Gu Fei said.  

"The one on my neck also just faded," Jiang Cheng tsked.

Matching hickeys, it was something Jiang Cheng had thought about a lot, he had even considered going to get matching tattooed bite marks, but he had never discussed it with Gu Fei, feeling it was a bit silly and girly.  

Moreover, now he was thinking more about how his birthday was coming up soon.

How to spend his birthday, both his and Gu Fei's birthdays were during summer vacation, one at the beginning and one at the end, so they could celebrate them together and force them to be on the same day of the same month.

Ever since he was little, his birthdays had always been boring. He could only stay home on his actual birthday. Classmates definitely wouldn't come over since it would be too rowdy. If he wanted to go out with classmates, he could only do it earlier or later.

But even if he had to spend it at home, they never did anything special at home either. It was always just the family eating a bowl of noodles together, they wouldn't even buy a birthday cake, because that kind of sweet food wasn't good for your health.

Then there would be a summary of the past year, and a look forward to the future, with his parents pointing out his shortcomings over the past year, and stating their expectations of him.

Even work summaries would have a section for self-affirmation, but not just usually, even on his birthday, Jiang Cheng had never received any affirmation. It was always about inadequacies, not enough, no good, need to improve, need to make progress, need to work hard... Every time, Jiang Cheng would feel stifled, and be in a bad mood on his birthday, seeing everything in an unpleasant light, and would get into a big fight with his family almost every year.

He didn't know if there was anyone else like him, struggling in constant disapproval and developing thorns all over.

This was the first time in his life he could make decisions for himself about a birthday. It was the first time he could face this day so lightly.

Although now this day was very directly related to Li Baoguo, he didn't mind. He would only feel a little depressed when thinking about Li Baoguo.

He wasn't very clear about Li Baoguo's situation. He only knew that after Li Baoguo came out of the hospital that day, he never went back to the hospital again, only going to the community clinic twice to get some cough medicine.

It was half a month later when Jiang Cheng received a call from him.

"Your older brother and sister are both coming over tonight," Li Baoguo said, "Didn't you want them to come over?"

"Mm," Jiang Cheng stood in the hallway looking at the people on the sports field, "I'll come over after school."

"Eat something yourself before coming over. No dinner prepared," Li Baoguo said.  

"Okay." Jiang Cheng responded and Li Baoguo immediately hung up.  

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Cheng felt a little confused, with a feeling of groundlessness on all sides.

He and Li Baoguo had no feelings between them, let alone any father-son bonds. But this person had rapidly deteriorated before his eyes in just half a year, and might disappear completely before long. He suddenly felt a little indescribably uncomfortable.

"Li Baoguo?" Gu Fei came to stand next to him, looking out at the sports field together.

"Mm," Jiang Cheng put his phone in his pocket, "Said Li Hui and Li Qian are coming over tonight, told me to go back."

"Don't get into any conflicts with Li Hui. Just state your position, how he wants to handle it isn't your business," Gu Fei said, "That kind of person is a local specialty here, quite hard to deal with."

"Got it," Jiang Cheng smiled, "You really know how to handle things, don't even seem 17."

"I already matured early on." Gu Fei said.  

"Is that so?" Jiang Cheng glanced at him from the side.

"Ah," Gu Fei thought about it and laughed too, "Just think of yourself as a miracle pill for getting back one's youth."

"Oh..." Jiang Cheng stared at him for a good while before saying softly, "Sometimes I just really want to grab you and rub you hard, knead you hard. And sometimes I even want to grab anyone and say, do you know Gu Fei? Do you know he's not what he seems? Only I've it!"

Gu Fei looked at him. After a while, he lowered his head and started laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Cheng glared at him.  

"Actually, I really want that too sometimes," Gu Fei said with his head tilted, smiling, "No one knows what the grade's top student is really like behind the scenes. Only I know."

"And I...can't explain it clearly, I just really don't like it when others think you're just a particularly cool boss. You're clearly very outstanding... Am I being silly?" Jiang Cheng sighed, "I wasn't like this before, you have to remember that."

Clearly very outstanding.

Gu Fei didn't say anything else.

Perhaps it was like whenever Gu Fei saw something different in Jiang Cheng he would feel proud, Jiang Cheng felt the same. Although Jiang Cheng didn't know he didn't actually hope for people to notice these things.  

He had no way to let Jiang Cheng know his thoughts, but could understand Jiang Cheng's thoughts very well.

This handsome, aloof student who looked at everyone like they were idiots, only I know what he's really like underneath that facade, clean to the point of sillyness, pretty bad temper, but if you touch him right he has no temper at all...

But sometimes he didn't want to think too much. The more he saw, the more he felt, the further he would feel the distance grow.

The more he would feel like such a person didn't deserve to just shine in the mud, he didn't belong in the mud at all.

Gu Fei looked at the smile at the corner of Jiang Cheng's mouth, the smile in his eyes. Only when he saw this kind of smile could he temporarily cast all other thoughts aside.

He should be like Jiang Cheng, not think too much. I like you, I want to be with you, that's enough. As for the future, the future isn't here yet.  

If one day, the "future" stood in the "present", I would also have no fear. As long as I keep moving forward, nothing can stop me.

Jiang Cheng had this kind of quality, but he himself might not.  

But he was still willing to jump in, and live for the moment like Jiang Cheng. Maybe one day when Jiang Cheng left, everything would slowly fade away. But at least he wouldn't regret not holding on to Jiang Cheng's hand.

"I'll take 2,000 today first," Jiang Cheng said while getting his bike after school, "Won't talk about hospitalization, just say it's pocket money for him."

"Mm." Gu Fei nodded.

"Treat me to a bowl of cold noodles," Jiang Cheng looked at him, "Really want to eat some."

"Let's go." Gu Fei got on the bike.

The weather was heating up day by day. Although true summer hadn't arrived yet, it was the kind of season where you would sweat just by moving a little. Eating cold noodles was very refreshing.

"Tomorrow afternoon," Jiang Cheng said, "Let's go play ball with He Zhou."

"He still hasn't given up on recruiting you for the school team?" Gu Fei sighed.

"He gave up," Jiang Cheng smiled, "It's a practice match with the technical school this time. He Zhou always wanted us to play together, kept telling me countless times."

"Then you go play," Gu Fei said, "I'll just... forget it."

"Why?" Jiang Cheng turned his head to look at him, "It's no fun if you don't play."

"I'll go watch you play. I really don't want to play." Gu Fei smiled.

He never participated in school activities to begin with. The previous basketball game was already an exception. He didn't want to integrate with the students around him. He had his own accustomed rhythm and state. Letting Jiang Cheng into his life was already a completely unexpected change.

And some habits needed to be maintained unchanged, shackled, dormant, in order to persist.

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything else about him going to play basketball together. He was probably still preoccupied with Li Baoguo's side, and wasn't in the mood.

Gu Fei accompanied him to get money, watched him put it in an envelope, then they went to eat cold noodles together.

When they walked to the intersection, Jiang Cheng looked at him, "Are you at the shop or home tonight?"

"Going home tonight," Gu Fei said, "I have to work on Er Miao before vacation, to get her to agree to the treatment during summer break."

"She's unwilling to go for treatment?" Jiang Cheng sighed.

"It's not that she's unwilling to go for treatment. She doesn't understand what treatment is about," Gu Fei said, "She just refuses to go somewhere unfamiliar. I have to communicate with her in advance."

"Mm," Jiang Cheng nodded, "I'll go with you then."  

"What for?" Gu Fei looked at him, "To experience life?"

"Just want to see." Jiang Cheng said.

I don't understand her as well as Li Yan does.  

When Gu Fei thought of this sentence, he kind of wanted to laugh. Jiang Cheng really was pretty cute in this state.

"Then I'll bring you along." He said.

"And..." Jiang Cheng thought about it then waved his hand again, "Nothing, I'm going to Li Baoguo's first. I'll call you when I'm done."

After Jiang Cheng walked a stretch towards Li Baoguo's place, he looked back. Gu Fei was still riding his bike, one leg on the ground looking this way from the intersection. To show he wasn't seeing Jiang Cheng off reluctantly, when Jiang Cheng looked back, he immediately took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

"Idiot," Jiang Cheng laughed. Without watching where he was going, he tripped over something and almost fell. He tsked, "Everyone must have noticed by now that contestant Jiang Cheng's daily life has been a little different lately...The free and unfettered state isn't being maintained very well. Although there shouldn't be an idol baggage..."

He didn't finish speaking. When he was still about 10 meters from the entrance to Li Baoguo's building, he could already hear Li Baoguo yelling.

Sounding clearly weak when he called in the afternoon, but now that he had seen his long absent son Li Hui, his voice was full of vigor again.  

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, slowed his steps, adjusting his own state. He repeatedly told himself not to argue, not to get angry, not to feel depressed. Just give the money and that's it.

"Oh, the youngest son came back too..." An auntie on the second floor kitchen window eagerly said.

These people who treated watching other people's business as their joy and main entertainment activity were also amazing.

Both bystanders, but even without using boyfriend lenses... Gu Fei watched so breezily, yet these people watched in such an unseemly manner.

"Eat your fill then pick your teeth," Jiang Cheng said to the second floor window, "Chew up the crud in your own mouth first before chewing on other people's business."  

The auntie on the second floor was stunned for a few seconds before letting out a "Hey—".

Then she seemed to not know what else to say and didn't make any other sounds.

Jiang Cheng also didn't bother with the aftermath. He went into the building.  

Li Baoguo's door was open, no wonder they could hear it from so far away. After going in, he had wanted to close the door, but after smelling the air inside, he hesitated.

The room was filled with smoke, Li Baoguo and Li Hui were both smoking, puffing away one after another, who knew how many they had gone through. Even as a smoker himself, Jiang Cheng felt like losing his temper smelling it now.

"With your current physical condition, you should smoke less," Jiang Cheng glanced at Li Baoguo, "Doesn't it make you cough badly?"

"I'm not even afraid of dying, why would I be afraid of discomfort?" Li Baoguo laughed, coughing as he did.

"Say what you want to say," Li Hui sat on the side, impatience all over his face as he looked at Jiang Cheng, "You sure have a lot of face, calling us both over with a word."

"Now..." Jiang Cheng looked at Li Baoguo, unable to call him by that term. He could only skip over it vaguely, "With this sickness, he's also unwilling to go to the hospital..."

"I said!" Li Baoguo interrupted him, "I said I'm not going to the hospital! If you have any conscience, give me the money for the hospital!"

"For you to gamble away?" Li Hui gave a cold laugh.

"Shut up with your cheap bullshit," Li Baoguo glared at him, "When I was in the hospital, did you contribute a cent? It was your sister who took care of it!"  

"Then you go get hospitalized now!" Li Hui said.

"I'll get hospitalized if you pay for it." Li Baoguo gave a cold laugh now, "You came out of my balls, I watched you grow up. Do you think I don't know what you're made of?"

Li Hui threw down the half-finished cigarette in his hand and stood up, walking towards Li Baoguo.

Li Qian, who had been silent on the side the whole time, also hurriedly stood up, "Brother..."

"Stop pretending to be a good person," Li Hui pushed her aside and pointed at her, "If you have money, take it out!"

When Li Hui tried to walk forward again, Jiang Cheng blocked him.  

"What are you doing!" Li Hui glared at him, "Want to get physical? You've only been in this family a few days? Already acting arrogant with me?"

Jiang Cheng felt like he had been much better tempered these past few months. His spiky sides weren't on high alert all the time either. Perhaps like Old Yuan said, in an unfamiliar environment, his temper no longer had "free rein". And without all that disapproval at him, he was no longer on edge all the time.  

But now, together with his real "family", face to face with his own older brother, he once again felt that long absent part of himself stirring restlessly.

His own expression, his own gaze, they definitely weren't very pretty right now. After locking eyes with him for two seconds, Li Hui's bluster clearly weakened.

"I don't get physical with just anyone," Jiang Cheng's voice was cold, "You're not even worth it."  

"I'm worth it," Li Baoguo suddenly laughed behind him, laughing and coughing at the same time, "We even got into a fight before."

"I'm just telling you what I think," Jiang Cheng ignored Li Baoguo and still stared at Li Hui, "Whether he's willing to go to the hospital or not, I don't care anymore. My intention in calling you guys here today is..."

In his current condition, he won't live much longer. However he wants to spend these last few months, gambling or whatever else, he only has a few months left.

Jiang Cheng really wanted to speak bluntly, but in the end he still didn't say it outright. He just took out the envelope and handed it back to Li Baoguo, "There's 2,000 yuan in here. Take it first, if you want to buy some medicine then buy it, if not then do as you like."

"Yo!" Li Baoguo ripped open the envelope and took a look, pulling out the money and slapping it in his hand, "Look at this! Look!"

"Control yourself a bit," Jiang Cheng looked at him, "I can't always take out money whenever."

"Look! Look!" Li Baoguo seemed to not hear him speak at all, and just kept repeating.

"Then I will also..." Li Qian understood what Jiang Cheng meant. She lowered her head, took some money out of her bag, and handed it to Li Baoguo, "Dad, use this first. It's best if you go to the hospital..."

"Look! Look!" Li Baoguo kept yelling in a loud voice.  

"What are you showing off for?" Li Hui suddenly yelled at Li Qian, "Acting like you're a big shot! You think you're so capable?"

Li Qian was startled by his yell. She shrank back and didn't say anything.

"If you have so much money, why don't you buy a villa for your dad to live in?" Li Hui continued yelling, "If you have so much money, why don't you get your cross-eyed daughter treated?"

"No one is forcing you to give money if you don't want to!" Li Qian said in a trembling voice.

Before Jiang Cheng could react, Li Hui suddenly raised his hand and slapped Li Qian in the face, "Did I fucking tell you to speak?"

Gu Fei had told Jiang Cheng earlier to endure it, give the money and leave. But Jiang Cheng never expected Li Hui to do something like this.  

After the initial shock, Jiang Cheng only felt the anger rising from the bottom of his heart. All the repression and helplessness he felt towards this family erupted in this moment.

He punched Li Hui in the face, right on the bridge of his nose.

Li Hui staggered and sat down on a nearby stool. He swayed and almost fell to the ground.

Jiang Cheng looked at him without saying anything.

After Li Hui stood up holding his nose, Li Qian rushed over and pushed Jiang Cheng towards the door, "Go first, Xiao Cheng. Just go first."

Jiang Cheng turned and strode out.

Li Qian followed and ran after him. He looked back at her.

"Where did you get the money?" Li Qian said, "It was from your original family, right?"

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything.

Li Qian took out her wallet, "You're a student without an income. Let me make up the amount. You don't have to give money. Dad he...can't spend much anyway. I can give him a little."

"No, no need," Jiang Cheng retreated awkwardly, "Don't..."

"It's okay," Li Qian smiled, "I didn't expect you to have money. You're still in school. It's not right for you to take out money."

Jiang Cheng didn't know what to say. Now that he had vented, he felt embarrassed. In the end, he could only turn and run away.

He didn't hear clearly what Li Qian said as she chased after him. He ran all the way to the street corner.

After catching his breath, he took out his phone to call Gu Fei.

Just as he unlocked it, he heard a whistle behind him.

"Damn," Jiang Cheng turned around, "I'm so honored. You're waiting for me again?"

"Don't be honored," Gu Fei rode over slowly on a bicycle, smiling, "I'm waiting for Li Yan. He's bringing some food for Er Miao."

"Why didn't you wait for me?" Jiang Cheng asked.  

Gu Fei opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

"It's fine if you're not waiting for me. But you ran out to wait for Li Yan?" Jiang Cheng said.

"...Damn," Gu Fei was at a loss for words as he looked at him, "A top student's logic is just strong, huh?"

Jiang Cheng glared at him for a while then laughed, "Submit or not?"

"Should I just kneel for you?" Gu Fei said with a smile.

Jiang Cheng held onto the bike handlebars and looked at Gu Fei. Amidst the chaos in his mind, when he suddenly saw Gu Fei's face, his mind went blank and his whole body felt light.

No one had ever made him feel this way before. It was like being on drugs.

"Let's get matching tattoos," Jiang Cheng blurted out randomly.

"What?" Gu Fei was startled.

"I'll bite a tooth mark, you bite a tooth mark, then we'll get it tattooed, one each," Jiang Cheng said.

Gu Fei was silent for a long time, as if he didn't understand or was stunned. Just as Jiang Cheng was about to explain, Gu Fei nodded, "Okay."

Jiang Cheng looked at him and frowned, "Do you...not want to?"