T/N: FINALLY!! THE MAIN STORY IS OVER! I feel such a huge relief.

First of all, to all my dear readers, whether new ones or the previous ones(from the old site), thank you for being here. I am grateful for your presence. Jiang Xu and Jin Jiayue deserve all the love in the world. I had a good time translating this, and I hope you also had a good time reading this.

Once again, thank you for being here! (≧∇≦)ﾉ

Schedule for Extra: Will be completed by 7 Dec. I will be uploading daily. (I have 11 Extras in draft. I need to translate 8 chapters. Either I will upload all of them at once on Dec 7 or upload daily.

The three of them found a restaurant and ate dinner together before dispersing.

Jiang Xu went straight back to Jin Jiayue’s place. The lights at home were off, and Jin Jiayue hadn’t returned yet.

Although the weather in March was warming up, it wasn’t yet time to take off down jackets. The heating in the room wasn’t on, and the floor was cold.

Jiang Xu turned on the heater, threw his backpack onto the sofa, and went back to the bedroom to take a shower and change his clothes. Then, he sat on the sofa and called Jin Jiayue.

The dial tone rang for a long time before Jin Jiayue picked up.

“Ge, you’re not off work yet?”

“I still have some work left here, and it might take more than an hour.” Jin Jiayue’s speaking speed was fast, probably very busy, but he didn’t hurry to hang up. “Have you eaten?”

“I already ate before coming back,” Jiang Xu asked. “How about you?”

“I haven’t yet…” Jin Jiayue said. “I’ll eat after finishing work.”

Jiang Xu knew that when Jin Jiayue was busy, he wouldn’t pay attention to meals, and advising over the phone might not work, so he said, “Come back directly after finishing work, I’ll cook dumplings for you.”

Jin Jiayue said, “Okay.”

After hanging up, Jiang Xu took out a rectangular box containing ties from his backpack. He looked through them and finally chose a dark red tie with a patterned base. Most of Jin Jiayue’s ties were light-colored, but the suits varied in shades, and he was still missing a brightly colored tie.

Jiang Xu held the open box in midair, staring blankly after walking around for a while, and suddenly sat upright.

He imagined the scene of giving the gift to Jin Jiayue, and no matter how he imagined it, it seemed somewhat dry.

Would it be bad to only give a gift?

But today wasn’t a holiday. He simply wanted to buy a gift for Jin Jiayue because he recieved his prize money.

Despite thinking that, Jiang Xu still got up and walked around the house.

He first placed the gift on Jin Jiayue’s bedside table, but then thought that putting it there might not be noticed immediately by Jin Jiayue.

How about putting it on the coffee table in the living room?

That seemed too casual.

Jiang Xu’s two eyebrows twisted in worry. He stood at the entrance, trying to mimic the path Jin Jiayue would take coming back.

It seemed putting it on the shoe cabinet would work, at least ensuring Jin Jiayue would see the gift immediately upon returning.

But that was even more casual.

Who puts a gift on a shoe cabinet?

Jiang Xu searched around but still couldn’t find a suitable place, so he simply placed the gift on the coffee table, took out his homework from the backpack, and started writing.

He wrote for over an hour. Seeing that the time was almost right, he called Jin Jiayue again and learned that Jin Jiayue was already on the way back. He hurried into the kitchen to cook dumplings.

The dumplings were the ones he had wrapped himself and brought along. Together with the wontons, they filled the entire drawer. Previously, he wasn’t skilled in wrapping, so the dumplings’ shapes were all different, and some weren’t even sealed tightly. They would fall apart while cooking in boiling water. Now, after wrapping dumplings for a long time, his skill had improved, and the size and shape of each dumpling were basically the same.

He cooked twelve dumplings in total, all plump and white, bobbing in the boiling pot.

Jiang Xu was adjusting the dipping sauce when he suddenly heard the door open. He poked his head out from the kitchen and, across the dining area, saw Jin Jiayue enter the living room.

“Ge,” Jiang Xu called, “you’re back?”

Jin Jiayue walked over in slippers, his steps somewhat heavy, and his face showing fatigue. He glanced at the kitchen. “Are you cooking dumplings?”

“It's almost done,” Jiang Xu said. “Sit for a moment, I’ll bring them out immediately.”

Jin Jiayue responded and went into the kitchen to wash his hands, then stood aside watching Jiang Xu work for a while before turning to leave.

Jiang Xu carried the dumplings and dipping sauce out. Jin Jiayue was already sitting at the dining table waiting. He had taken off his coat and was wearing just a white shirt, with his tie hanging loose.

“Twelve dumplings,” Jiang Xu said.

Jin Jiayue frowned as usual, “So many again.”

Jiang Xu placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of Jin Jiayue, “I’ll eat the rest.”

“You already ate, didn’t you?”

Jiang Xu nodded: “Yeah.”

“Not full?”

“I'm full.” Jiang Xu scratched his head. “But if you don’t finish them, it wouldn’t be good to leave them there.”

While Jin Jiayue was eating the dumplings, Jiang Xu brought his homework to the table and continued writing. By the time he finished one subject, Jin Jiayue had almost finished eating too.

Looking up, only one dumpling remained on the plate.

“I really can’t eat anymore,” Jin Jiayue said.

Jiang Xu put away his homework, stood up, picked up the chopsticks Jin Jiayue had used, and grabbed the dumpling, eating it in a few bites. After chewing, he wiped his mouth and leaned over to kiss Jin Jiayue on the lips.

“Eleven dumplings, some progress,” he said.

Jin Jiayue didn’t react to the kiss, staring blankly at the ceiling: “Your mouth smells like dumplings.”

“I’ll go wash the dishes,” Jiang Xu said. “Do you want to get up and walk a bit?”

Jin Jiayue knew that Jiang Xu wouldn’t use the dishwasher. Usually, if there were only one or two bowls, Jiang Xu was too lazy to turn them on.

“I’ll go with you.” Jin Jiayue got up and pushed his chair back under the table.

Jiang Xu washed the dishes at the sink while Jin Jiayue watched from the side, chatting casually with him.

“You seem to have a heavy workload recently,” Jiang Xu said.

"The company started a new project. It’s still in the initial phase, and many things require my personal attention. Once the project is on track, I’ll be much more relaxed.” Jin Jiayue leaned against the counter with arms crossed, tilting his head to look at Jiang Xu, “It’s the project that brought your dad in as a partner.”

Jiang Xu said, “Oh.” He had heard Jiang Huo mention it a few times.

Just as he placed the washed dishes on the rack, a pair of hands wrapped around him from behind.

Jin Jiayue tugged at the apron in front of him, his voice carrying a smile, “Why do I feel like I went through the back door?”

Jiang Xu took off the apron and hung it behind the door. Jin Jiayue pressed against him from behind, making walking difficult, so he had to take small steps to exit the kitchen.

“What back door?”

“Your dad didn’t want to cooperate with me at first. He only agreed because of you.”

Jiang Xu picked up the homework on the table, grabbed Jin Jiayue’s hand, pulling him from behind to in front of him, pushing him to the living room coffee table.

He put the homework back on the table, “It actually doesn’t have much to do with me. The key is still you. If it were someone else, my dad would probably think forever.”

Jin Jiayue giggled.

“All right,” Jiang Xu said. “I still have one exam paper left to do.”

Jin Jiayue’s laughter abruptly stopped, his smile froze, and his eyes showed a trace of disbelief. “You still have an exam paper to do?”

“Just one,” Jiang Xu said. “Once it’s done, I can continue dealing with the rest of the things tomorrow.”

Jin Jiayue: “…”

Jiang Xu felt something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint it. Normally, he and Jin Jiayue followed this pattern: finish their own tasks first before being affectionate with each other.

He was thinking when Jin Jiayue turned his head away, “Do it, do it. I’ll work overtime too.”

Saying that, Jin Jiayue carried his laptop from the study, not bothering to change clothes, and slumped on the sofa, looking numb and almost lifeless.

Jiang Xu sat at the coffee table, feeling like he had forgotten something, but he really couldn’t remember what.

The wall clock moved from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Jiang Xu started writing the last biology question. As his pen touched the paper, something suddenly kicked his waist.

Jiang Xu looked back.

Jin Jiayue sat cross-legged on the sofa, with a laptop on his lap, staring thoughtfully at the screen.

Noticing his gaze, Jin Jiayue raised his chin slightly, “Hmm?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Xu turned back to continue writing.

Halfway through, his waist was kicked again.

This time, Jiang Xu was prepared. His left hand, resting on his knee, shot back and grabbed the mischievous foot.

Jin Jiayue didn’t expect such a fast reaction. He let out a surprised shout and tried to pull his foot back, but Jiang Xu was holding on to it tightly.

Jiang Xu looked back at Jin Jiayue.

Being caught red-handed, Jin Jiayue’s pale face was flushed red. He grabbed the sides of his laptop tightly, “Let go.”

Jiang Xu had no intention of letting go. He put down his pen and touched Jin Jiayue’s foot.

For some reason, even though the heater was on, Jin Jiayue’s feet were still very cold.

“Your feet are so cold. Are you cold?” Jiang Xu said and reached to touch Jin Jiayue’s hand.

Jin Jiayue was startled and quickly lifted the laptop to avoid him, “You touched my foot, now you want my hand too?”

Jiang Xu’s hand froze in midair, and he was speechless. “It's your own foot, and you are still complaining about it?”

Jin Jiayue said, “I haven’t washed my feet since I came back. How can I not complain?”

Jiang Xu: “…”

How can he be so self-righteous…

He withdrew his hand, lifted his sweater, and put Jin Jiayue’s foot inside.

Jin Jiayue’s foot touched the skin under Jiang Xu’s sweater. His toes curled as if to pull back.

Jiang Xu pressed the foot down directly. After a moment, he changed his sitting position and grabbed Jin Jiayue’s other foot, and put it inside his sweater.

Jin Jiayue’s feet were very cold, and when they pressed against his skin, it felt like two ice cubes were stuck there.

“Are you feeling better now?” Jiang Xu asked.

Jin Jiayue was silent for a while, then nodded, and repeated, “I still haven’t washed my feet since I came back.”

Jiang Xu said, “I don’t mind.”

This time, Jin Jiayue stayed obedient. Until Jiang Xu finished the exam paper, he maintained one position, not moving at all.

Jiang Xu packed his homework into his backpack and zipped it up. The familiar motion of holding the backpack suddenly sparked an idea in his mind.

He suddenly remembered something very important--

The gift!

He had actually forgotten the gift!

Jiang Xu’s heart jumped, and his breathing quickened. He hurriedly looked toward the coffee table.

The gift box was still lying there properly on one side of the table.

The breath that had been stuck in his throat was about to release when he suddenly realized something. His movement to reach out froze as he turned to look at Jin Jiayue.

Jin Jiayue was also looking at him. Two buttons on his white shirt were undone, revealing a large area of neck and collarbone. The dark red patterned tie was hanging around his collar, seemed not to be tied securely.

Jiang Xu: “…”

This tie…

Looks so familiar.

Jin Jiayue pulled off the tie, curling one end around his slender fingers, and asked, “Are you looking for this?”

Jiang Xu reached out to take the tie.

Jin Jiayue immediately raised his hand. When Jiang Xu lowered his hand, he wrapped the tie around Jiang Xu’s neck, intending to tie a knot. Not knowing how to tie it for someone else, he made a loose knot instead.

The tie tightened around Jiang Xu’s neck. He coughed, and just as he grabbed Jin Jiayue’s hand, Jin Jiayue knelt from the sofa onto the carpet, sitting directly on him.

Jiang Xu fell back, pretending to give up struggling, though the feeling of suffocation made speaking difficult, “When did you put it on?”

“Right after I came back.” Jin Jiayue made no pretence, putting his full weight on Jiang Xu. He lowered his head and touched Jiang Xu’s lips with his own, “The place you left it was too obvious that I couldn’t help but notice.”

Jiang Xu said, “This is a gift for you. I bought it with my prize money.”

“The competition prize?”

“Mm.” Jiang Xu coughed a few more times, and his neck to his cheeks was burning hot.

Jin Jiayue sat straight, tilting his gaze down at him, and smiled, “This gift is nice. I like it.”

But in less than half an hour, the gift had moved from Jiang Xu’s neck to Jin Jiayue’s wrist, and after another two or three hours, it ended up on the floor in the bedroom.

The next morning, Jiang Xu picked up the gift and washed off whatever had splashed on it in the bathroom.

Soon, the gift, along with the bed sheets and blanket, was hung on the retractable drying rod on the balcony.

After that, the gift stayed in the wardrobe. Jin Jiayue would occasionally take it out to wear, but never brought it outside.

After summer ended, Jiang Xu entered his fourth year of high school, and Jin Jiayue started focusing intensely on the new project. Both had little free time but still maintained the habit of sending each other a few messages every day.

Near the end of the year, Teacher Deng bought a countdown notebook and hung it on the upper right corner of the blackboard. As time passed, the numbers on the notebook got smaller and smaller.

When the two-digit number became a single digit, the class atmosphere actually relaxed a bit.

Outside the window in early June, cicadas were already singing. The sun shone on the grass, the air conditioner in the classroom whirred, and the cold air brushed against everyone’s face.

During the last self-study lesson of the four years of high school, no one was really studying, and everyone whispered to each other.

Jiang Xu also, unusually, wasn’t looking at a book. He leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.

Fei Miao turned to look at him in surprise, “You’re not reading?”

Jiang Xu’s unfocused gaze gradually settled on Fei Miao’s face. He said, “I want to rest today.”

Fei Miao exclaimed, “The sun must have risen from the west! You actually have a day where you don’t need to read or do homework!”

Hearing this, Duan Qing quickly turned to Jiang Xu and sized him up, “So you’re not a robot after all.”

Jiang Xu said nothing, silently staring at Fei Miao and Duan Qing.

The two in front felt their scalp tingle under his gaze.

Fei Miao couldn’t help but wave his hand in front of Jiang Xu, “What’s with you today? Strange.”

Jiang Xu sighed, “High school life is about to end again.”

“Isn’t that good? I’ve long had enough of this miserable life,” Fei Miao said. “You’re still reluctant?”

“Not really.” Jiang Xu couldn’t put his complicated feelings into words. After a long pause, he suddenly said, “Actually, knowing you all, I feel pretty lucky.”

Fei Miao and Duan Qing were both stunned.

“Oh!” Fei Miao’s face flushed red. Covering his face, he said awkwardly, “Why the sudden emotional talk?”

Then, changing tone, he said seriously, “Jiang Xu, do you know you’re scary like this? What happened to your aloof persona?”

Jiang Xu: “…”

He had just spoken carelessly.

When the class bell rang, Teacher Deng entered for final instructions. Half an hour later, after everyone cleaned the classroom, they all left.

Jiang Xu had packed early, with one suitcase and two bags. Zeng Yun and Du Quan had already left for vacation, leaving only him and Xu Zihui in the dorm.

Having been roommates for three years, Jiang Xu still said goodbye to Xu Zihui.

Xu Zihui, unusually, didn’t just sit lazily playing on his phone. He stood up and patted Jiang Xu on the shoulder, “I wish you get into your desired university.”

“You too.”

“You and Jin Jiayue, take care of each other.”

Jiang Xu nodded slightly, recalling Xu Zihui and Zhan Huaixuan’s love story, which seemed to be heading toward no pairing at all. So, there wasn’t much to wish for.

He was silent for a moment, then said, “Goodbye.”

Jiang Huo and Wen Yuening came to pick up Jiang Xu. Back at home, Li Juan was already preparing dinner. Jiang Xu put his things away just in time for the meal.

Jiang Xu had an exam tomorrow, but the other three people at the table seemed even more nervous than him. At first, they talk about the exam, then they stop each other, saying not to put pressure on him.

Finally, Jiang Huo hammered down, “Enough. No more talking about this.”

After finishing dinner, once Jiang Huo and Wen Yuening had left, Jiang Xu took a shower and lay down on the bed.

Jin Jiayue had already sent a message.

[Jin Jiayue: Are you nervous?]

Jiang Xu leaned against the headboard and replied.

[Jiang Xu: I'm not nervous.]

[Jin Jiayue: Do your best tomorrow.]

[Jiang Xu: Okay.]

The next day was another sunny day. Li Juan got up early to make Jiang Xu a bowl of noodles, topped with two golden fried eggs.

Today was the first day of the college entrance exam. Li Juan insisted on taking Jiang Xu to the exam site. Jiang Huo and Wen Yuening also came. Four people in the car, and besides Jiang Xu, the nervousness of the other three was clearly visible.

Arriving at the school, the gates were crowded with parents.

Jiang Xu followed the other candidates in a line to enter the school. After walking a bit, he looked back and saw Li Juan and the others still standing outside the iron gate, gazing expectantly in his direction.

Seeing him look back, Li Juan quickly waved at him.

Jiang Xu smiled at Li Juan. At the same time, he noticed a familiar figure standing behind her.

Jin Jiayue had arrived without him noticing, probably on his way to work. He was wearing a dark suit with a patterned dark red tie around his neck.

Li Juan’s hand dropped, and Jin Jiayue’s handsome face became even clearer.

Jin Jiayue made no move, simply watching Jiang Xu quietly.

Jiang Xu was stunned for a moment until Jin Jiayue took out his phone.

Soon, the screen of the phone he held lit up.

A WeChat message appeared.

[Jin Jiayue: Still not leaving?]

[Jiang Xu: Leaving right now.]

[Jin Jiayue: Good luck!]

[Jin Jiayue: After your exam, I’ll still be here waiting for you.]

Jiang Xu stared at the last message for a long time. He couldn’t hide the smile on his face. He turned and, facing the rising sun, strode into the school.

The two days of exams passed in a flash. The bell rang, and the college entrance exam was over.

Teacher Deng posted several documents in the class group. The messages in the group were already 99+. Most of the people in the group were very excited, and messages tagging @Jiang Xu came one after another.

Jiang Xu didn’t look at his phone. Carrying his backpack, he strode toward the school gate.

The gate was still crowded with eager parents.

Jiang Xu immediately spotted Li Juan and the others.

And standing in front of Li Juan was Jin Jiayue.

This time, Jin Jiayue waved at him.

Jiang Xu’s pace quickened, from walking slowly, to walking briskly, to jogging. He weaved through the students in front of him, and finally broke into a run.

There was a total of six years of high school life.

And two college entrance exams.

In the end, he stepped on a different path in life.

He thought he was lucky to be able to do it all over again.