So, he decided to just strike a few blows.

"After graduation, I won't be staying in Zhen Nan."

"Won't you come back for the New Year?"

Jiang Nian thought for a moment, "I guess I will, but I probably won't stay for long. I'll leave after spending a year there."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuxi's defenses crumbled a bit. She lowered her head, pursed her lips, and didn't speak. Her eyes were slightly red.

"Is it... is it really that hard?"

Jiang Nian almost couldn't hold back anymore. Damn, what are you doing? Don't you get it? Why make it so painful?

"Just focus on studying hard in your first year of high school. What's the point of thinking so much?"

He wasn't serious. The elderly can't compete with the young. The little girl changes year by year; she might be celebrating happiness next year.

Early love is never encouraged.

However, given the current situation, Jiang Nian didn't interfere further and just regarded her as a cute junior.

"I only see you as a sister."

With that statement, the relationship was essentially set in stone.

Lin Yuxi was stiff all over; she hadn't actually thought much about it. It was merely the influence of Jinjiang that made her want to pursue love.

Initially, it was just reluctance, but then she started to care bit by bit.

But even a few minutes earlier, she hadn't thought that much. Yet hearing the final result, it still felt a bit uncomfortable.

"I don't want to, senior..."

"That's the answer. Focus on studying," Jiang Nian said. "Sometimes, people can't control their own lives."

"It's not about wanting or not wanting that can decide everything."

Lin Yuxi: "..."

Her chest felt blocked, and she instantly lost her appetite. Unconsciously, she stood up, speaking with a bit of stubbornness.

"I don't accept this answer."

Saying that, she turned around and quickly left the diner. She walked to the other end of the street, realizing no one was following.

She looked back and saw Jiang Nian still at the stall. Her plate of food was barely touched, sitting across from him.

Perhaps feeling it was a pity, Jiang Nian was picking at the food she had ordered.

Seeing this scene, Lin Yuxi felt a bit guilty, yet found it somewhat amusingly irritating, pondering before heading back.

Jiang Nian looked up, "Huh?"

"Why are you back?"

"I paid for it." Lin Yuxi sat down, took a new pair of bamboo chopsticks, and continued to eat with her head down.

After eating for a while, she looked up and said.

"I never waste food."

"Oh."

"And about that answer, I don't think you're right." Lin Yuxi squeezed the bamboo chopsticks, her knuckles turning white.

"It's not validated yet."

"Oh."

Jiang Nian threw the chicken bones on the table, thinking why she hadn't left. She came back, and now it's troublesome.

.....

After sending off the low-score kid, Jiang Nian returned to the classroom. Chen Yunyun and the others weren't there; they had informed Jiang Nian beforehand.

Due to the drawing lots arrangement, the college entrance exam was to be taken at a separate campus.

Therefore, to get used to staying at the hotel room, they decided not to sleep in the classroom anymore.

For the last twenty-two days, they took noon breaks in the small utility room in the teacher's dormitory, as a form of adaptation.

Bzzz, a message came from Chen Yunyun.

"Want some fruits?"

"I'm heading upstairs," he replied.

"Alright then, I'll bring it to you after the noon break," Chen Yunyun said and sent a picture of sliced fruit.

"This one's for Yuhe, I'll make another one after the lunch bell rings."

Jiang Nian: "Feeding pigs works too, don't waste it."

Bzzz!! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Wang Yuhe sent a photo, something like this.

What has it turned into?

Wang Yuhe: "(Hammer)(Hammer) I'm right next to Yunyun, you're the pig! (Pig)"

Jiang Nian replied with a shrug emoji, "I didn't say anything, just a stone hitting a dog barking."

Wang Yuhe: "(Angry)(Angry)(Angry)!!"

Jiang Nian didn't bother with the elementary student antics. He was going to close the chat when he caught a glance and paused.

Perhaps it was mid-May, and the weather was a bit warm.

Or maybe because he was about to sleep, Wang Yuhe was just wearing a loose white T-shirt, from this angle...

She raised her hand to take a photo, and it wrapped just around a round shape on her chest.

Rather voluptuous.

Instinctively, Jiang Nian thought of enlarging the photo but remembered that it was Wang Yuhe. His finger stopped, and he clicked save.

That was close, almost sinful.

In that moment of wanting to zoom in, he recalled his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut and traveling the universe.

Jiang Nian, oh Jiang Nian, people fight for dignity.

However, to err is human. Let this go, take it as a lesson, and be more careful next time.

The chat ended.

He glanced around the classroom, where there were still many people. But without Chen Yunyun and the others, something felt missing.

With the college entrance exam approaching, he felt more like a loner.

Sigh.

The lunch break ended, and Jiang Nian wasn't there when Chen Yunyun placed the fruit slices in his desk before leaving.

At that time, he was in the corridor hanging out with Lin Dong and others.

"What class in the afternoon?"

"Biol, Biol, Biology."

"Oh."

As they chatted, inevitably, the topic shifted to the plans after the college entrance exam.

Suddenly, Lin Dong asked.

"What are you guys planning to do on the night after the exams end?"

Li Hua: "Internet cafe."

Ma Guojun: "Internet cafe, where else?"

"What about Jiang Nian?"

"I... I really don't know, maybe..." Jiang Nian hesitated for a while but couldn't say anything for a while.

"Damn, why are you asking him?" Li Hua was a bit annoyed, "He'll probably say something stupid, and then you'll want to kill him again."

Lin Dong thought about it and agreed. Jiang Nian, this dog, was probably thinking about hanging out with some beautiful girl.

Screw it, not asking anymore.

He turned his head and looked at Tao Ran, "Hey, class committee, what are you planning to do on the night after the exams end?"

Tao Ran: "Watch a movie."

Lin Dong: "???

Seriously, even though we're all guys here, can you not be so direct as this?

Li Hua giggled, "The committee is watching Animal Planet."

Then, Lin Dong went around asking everyone one by one. The answers he got were all over the place, like sleeping and such.

Yang Qiming: "Probably find a girl to hang out with."

Sun Zhicheng heard this and smirked without a word, but his smile seemed sarcastic somehow.

"I might just take a walk by the river."

Yang Qiming's face twitched, thinking what a show-off. Couldn't he just jump into the river if he was unhappy?

But after pondering for a moment, he didn't voice the thought.

Huang Caicai: "Treat Brother Yang to a late-night snack."

Yang Qiming heard this and pat Huang Caicai's shoulder, "Good bro, I'll be waiting."

Seeing Lin Dong so enthusiastic about his questioning, Jiang Nian chimed in.

"Why don't you choose a time when everyone's here and ask each one by one with your phone."

"Once the exams are over, you can go around collecting answers."

Lin Dong was stunned and immediately got excited.

"Yeah!"

"Brother Nian, I remember you have a camera."

"Not lending it out," Jiang Nian refused outright, knowing there were too much private photos in it, "but I can help you take photos."

"I'll send them to you afterward."

Lin Dong thought for a moment and then nodded.

"That works."

Maybe it was out of boredom or genuine interest, but Lin Dong was now visibly thrilled, starting to plan.

Li Hua turned his head, curiously asking.

"Why is he so excited?"

Jiang Nian didn't answer, instead looking far toward Qingmu Ridge.

"What people fear most is going through something, only to look back and realize they missed it."

Li Hua: "???"

"What?"

"Do you know when you're unsure whether you're experiencing something, what's the best way?"

"What?"

Jiang Nian said, "To record the feelings, write them down or take photos, that's why Lin Dong is excited."

"He sensed it, and you didn't."

"Chi Shi."

Li Hua muddled through the conversation, vaguely feeling something but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"What are you rambling about?" He muttered, "Just hurry up and end it so I can enjoy a whole summer break."

The afternoon classes were tedious, and time flew to dismissal.

Physics extra classes had completely ended. Zhu Yin felt continuing wouldn't mean much.

She wasn't for formalities, and anyone could just ask her if needed.

Thus, Jiang Nian became even more idle.

He planned to find Chen Yunyun and the others for dinner after arranging a meetup via phone, but was stopped before leaving the classroom.

Li Qingrong: "Walk by the river tonight?"