Chapter 56

In the lounge, Jiang Ci kissed Xie Qingyan until her eyes were wet before letting her go.

When they parted, Xie Qingyan's eyelashes were glistening with tiny drops of water, like grass leaves moistened by morning dew, and her lips were rosy and slightly swollen.

Jiang Ci stepped back and turned around.

He felt that he couldn't control himself lately; whenever he saw Xie Qingyan, he wanted to push him down and bully him.

Both of them calmed their racing hearts, and neither dared to mention the bet again.

The bookstore had almost no customers during the winter break. The two of them went to a nearby stir-fry restaurant for lunch and then continued reading at the bookstore in the afternoon.

In the evening, Xie Qingyan finished her part-time job and went to take the bus with Jiang Ci. Jiang Ci accompanied Xie Qingyan onto the bus and took her all the way to the bus stop not far from her home. Only after making sure Xie Qingyan arrived home safely did he take a taxi back.

Every day of winter break was so similar, yet filled with a secret sweetness because of each other's presence. They were like two magnets attracting each other, so sticky that they were almost inseparable.

Against the backdrop of a quiet winter day, the passionate love between the young people fermented and grew even more intense.

Time slips away silently through our fingers, and the year is drawing to a close in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of New Year's Eve, Xie Qingyan got off the bus and immediately spotted the elegant figure on the platform. The wind was biting cold, and Jiang Ci's nose was a little red from the cold.

Xie Qingyan ran over in a few steps, threw herself into his arms, inhaling his clean and refreshing scent, then looked up, her eyes sparkling:

“Jiang Ci, today is Lunar New Year’s Eve. My parents have invited you to our house for New Year’s Eve dinner.” He paused, a hint of annoyance in his voice, “They heard you live alone and said that if you don’t mind, you can stay at our house for the next few days of the New Year. I should have told them sooner.”

Telling you sooner will allow you to feel the warmth of home sooner and make up for those cold and lonely nights you spent alone.

Jiang Ci froze, as if he hadn't understood, or perhaps he understood but couldn't believe it. A cold wind swirled past, carrying specks of snow, causing his long eyelashes to tremble, and his voice to become dry:

Can I come to your place tonight?

"Mm." Xie Qingyan nodded vigorously, squeezing his cold hand tightly. "School doesn't start until the eighth day of the new year, so you can stay here for the next few days. My mom said she's worried you'll be spending the New Year alone, it'll be too lonely."

"good."

Without almost any hesitation, Jiang Ci agreed.

So the two of them had breakfast as usual and stayed at Moyunzhai until noon. Boss Shen arrived at the shop early, cheerfully handing each of them a red envelope and urging, "Go back quickly! New Year's Eve dinner is important! Don't come back before the eighth day of the new year, have a good New Year!"

Xie Qingyan accompanied Jiang Ci back to the apartment to retrieve a few changes of clothes and daily necessities. Then, they returned together to the small courtyard in the old town, which was now filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

Red couplets, golden "Fu" characters, and brand-new red lanterns swayed gently in the breeze.

The small kitchen was filled with the crisp sound of spatulas clattering together and the enticing aroma of food.

Mr. and Mrs. Xie were busy running around when they saw them return. Mrs. Xie wiped her hands, a warm smile on her face.

"Xiao Ci's here! Quick, put your things in Qingyan's room! We'll have to wait a while for the New Year's Eve dinner. You can watch TV or read a book for a bit!"

Jiang Ci felt a little awkward. He wanted to help, but Xie's father stopped him with a smile: "The two of us can manage the kitchen! You young people, go do what you need to do!"

So, the two were "sent" back to Xie Qingyan's small room.

The room wasn't large, but it was clean and cozy. An exercise book lay open on the desk. From outside the window, the faint sounds of children playing and occasional firecrackers drifted in, and a long-lost warmth silently enveloped Jiang Ci.

He stood in the center of the room, somewhat dazed. How long had it been since he'd spent New Year's Eve in this atmosphere?

Around 5 p.m., as dusk approached, warm lights illuminated the courtyard. A sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was laid out: braised fish, poached chicken, stewed pork ribs, emerald shrimp, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and Xie's mother's specialty dumplings. Steam rose, and the aroma was irresistible.

Father Xie lit a long string of red firecrackers in the yard. The crackling sound was crisp and enthusiastic, and the firecrackers exploded into a cloud of red fragments, which also dispelled all the gloom and smog of the old year.

"Out with the old, in with the new, may good fortune and prosperity follow!" Father Xie said with a smile, inviting everyone to take their seats.

The four sat around the table, and Xie's mother kept putting food on Jiang Ci's plate: "Xiao Ci, eat more! Look how thin you are! Qing Yan did so well on the second mock exam this time, all thanks to your help! From now on, treat this place as your own home!"

Father Xie also raised his glass, using tea instead of wine: "Xiao Ci, your uncle and aunt aren't good at saying nice things. Anyway, thank you for taking care of Qing Yan, and you're welcome to come often. If you're willing, you can stay here before the college entrance exam, so you two can study together and look out for each other."

Jiang Ci's grip on the chopsticks tightened slightly. He instinctively wanted to politely decline, afraid of bothering them too much, afraid that his status as an outsider would cause inconvenience to this warm family.

But before he could even speak, Xie's mother had already made the final decision: "It's settled then! The rooms are all ready! Qingyan, tonight you tidy up Xiaoci's things!"

Xie Qingyan secretly squeezed Jiang Ci's hand under the table.

A warm current surged through Jiang Ci's chest, almost overflowing. He lowered his head and softly hummed in response, his voice slightly hoarse: "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt."

This New Year's Eve dinner was exceptionally long and warm. With the Spring Festival Gala playing in the background, their conversation revolved around studies, the college entrance exam, and the future. There were no deliberate words of comfort, no carefully chosen topics, only the simplest care and the most practical plans. For Jiang Ci, this was more precious than any sympathy or pity.

After the meal, Mr. and Mrs. Xie quickly cleared away the dishes and took out two red envelopes that they had prepared beforehand, stuffing them into the hands of their two children.

"May your New Year's money bring you peace and good fortune!" Xie's mother smiled, her eyes full of love. "Knowing you still want to study, we won't watch the Spring Festival Gala. Let's go back to our rooms and rest. You can do as you please, but don't stay up too late."

They left the space entirely to the two boys.

Xie Qingyan pulled Jiang Ci into the room and closed the door, her face beaming with undisguised joy, her eyes shining like they were filled with starlight.

“I thought you were going to refuse,” he said softly.

Jiang Ci leaned against the door, looking at him with deep eyes: "Yes, I originally intended to refuse."

"Why?" Xie Qingyan took a step closer and looked up at him. "If you really find it inconvenient, I can explain to Mom and Dad..."

“It’s not that it’s inconvenient.” Jiang Ci interrupted him, reaching out to pull him into his arms, his chin resting on the top of his soft hair, his voice low and husky, his warm breath brushing against his sensitive earlobe, “I’m afraid that sleeping with you every night will affect my studies.”

Xie Qingyan's face flushed bright red, even his neck turned pink. He was stunned for a while before he found his voice and stammered, "How...how could that be? I...I wouldn't bother you every day."

“But I will.” Jiang Ci tightened her arms, holding him closer in her embrace, and whispered with a sigh, “Xie Qingyan, you have no idea how much influence you have on me.”

The moment the words fell, their lips met again, though it was unclear who initiated it.

Jiang Ci pulled out a chair in front of the desk and sat down, pulling Xie Qingyan onto his lap and kissing him deeply. His arms encircled Xie Qingyan's slender and supple waist, while his other hand caressed Xie Qingyan's flushed cheeks and long neck, gently controlling the rhythm and depth of the kiss.

"Jiang Ci..."

"Um?"

"Happy New Year……"

"It's not midnight yet..."

"Couldn't you have told me in advance...?"

"……OK."

The plan to study together was completely forgotten. That night, all they wanted to do was immerse themselves in each other's warmth and scent, confirming each other's existence in the most intimate way, celebrating the end of the old year, and welcoming the beginning of the new year together.

As the deafening countdown blared from the television, as cheers of "Happy New Year" echoed through the sky, and as fireworks and firecrackers ignited the night sky—

They were holding hands, foreheads touching, listening to each other's heartbeats like drums, and the noisy chimes outside the window.

They finally welcomed the Lunar New Year.

——

During the Spring Festival, Mr. and Mrs. Xie were busier than usual. They not only visited relatives and friends, but also visited buyers and attended banquets of all sizes.

Xie Qingyan and Jiang Ci stayed at home and spent a few rare days of intimate time together.

On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, all senior high school students returned to school. The glaring countdown numbers on the blackboard changed to "100".

On the playground of the 100-day countdown rally, red flags fluttered and vows resounded.

An invisible, heavy pressure and expectation hangs over everyone's heart. The college entrance examination, a battle prepared for twelve years, has finally entered its final 100-meter sprint.

The third mock exam followed immediately.

The day the results were announced, No. 9 Middle School was in an uproar once again.

Jiang Ci ranked first in the entire grade.

Second in total score for the entire grade: Xie Qingyan.

Jiang Ci's total score was more than 40 points higher than Xie Qingyan's, making him not only the top student in his grade at No. 9 Middle School, but also crushing all other candidates in the city, and reclaiming his place at the top.

The teachers of Class 12 walked with a brisk pace, their faces beaming with barely suppressed pride and elation. Jiang Ci's exam papers for all subjects were copied and posted on the school's honor board for all to admire.

Mathematics: 150

Combined Science: 300

English: 150

Chinese: 145

Total score: 745

The terrifying score was like a depth charge, causing a huge stir among the senior high school students.

"Holy crap! Is this a real score?!"

"Perfect scores in math, science, and English?! Only 5 points deducted in Chinese?! Is this even human?!"

"As expected of Jiang Ci, the legendary 'perfect score genius' of Experimental High School, lives up to his reputation."

"Xie Qingyan is also amazing, 700 points, it's a pity he was born at the wrong time, running into Jiang Ci, this great Buddha..."

"This year's college entrance exam is going to be interesting. Our No. 9 High School is about to become famous!"

Amazement, envy, and awe filled the campus.

For Jiang Ci, the score itself was not of great significance. What truly stirred a secret sense of pleasure within him was that the person who had made a bet with him was now standing beside him, gazing up at the leaderboard, his face showing no disappointment, only a burning competitiveness and determination ignited by the stronger opponent.

After school, the crowd dispersed. Xie Qingyan looked at the name far ahead on the honor roll and sighed softly, not out of discouragement, but because she found it a little amusing that she had made a bet with Jiang Ci.

Yes, Xie Qingyan's era as the top scholar has long passed. Now, he stands on a brand new starting line, facing a vast ocean of knowledge and a peak called "Jiang Ci" that he needs to climb with all his might.

“Let’s go home,” Jiang Ci said, packing his schoolbag. “I’ll go over the questions you got wrong again.”

His concern was always Xie Qingyan.

When the two returned to the Xie family's courtyard by bus, they were surprised to find the house completely silent.

Xie Qingyan took out her phone and saw her mother's missed calls and text messages:

"Qingyan, I almost forgot! Your cousin is getting married today, and your dad and I are going back to our hometown for the wedding. We won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. You and Xiaoci will have to take care of dinner yourselves. Your teacher told us your mock exam results—you did really well! We'll cook you a big celebration dinner tomorrow night!"

In other words, tonight, it's just the two of them at home.

This realization made Xie Qingyan's heart skip a beat, and her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably. The bet that had been deliberately suppressed for so long, accompanied by a secret sense of anticipation and tension, suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Jiang Ci saw Xie Qingyan staring at his phone, his ears burning red, and instantly understood. A smile flickered in his eyes as he deliberately leaned closer, his breath brushing against Xie Qingyan's flushed skin: "What are you seeing? Your face is so red."

"N-nothing." Xie Qingyan hurriedly put away her phone and fled to the kitchen. "My parents went back to their hometown and won't be back until tomorrow. Let me see what we have..."

"Don't bother," Jiang Ci followed him, gently wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder, her voice alluringly low and husky, "Let's order takeout. After we eat, I can explain the wrong questions to you."

His tone was so natural, as if the bet had never existed.

Xie Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little disappointed. He was the one who proposed the bet, so why was he hesitant to mention it after losing?

The takeout arrived quickly. The two ate quietly and returned to their room. Jiang Ci opened Xie Qingyan's test paper, his expression focused, and began to analyze the points he lost one by one, his tone calm and professional, as always.

"In the math problem, the solution approach was correct, but I made a mistake in the last step of calculation and lost 5 points. In the science section, the physics model was flawed, the chemical equation was incorrectly balanced, and the logic of the biology experiment design was not rigorous... I lost a total of 33 points. In the English cloze test, I misunderstood the context and lost points, which was a pity."

He spoke with meticulous detail, but Xie Qingyan seemed somewhat distracted. His gaze lingered on Jiang Ci's thin lips as they parted, his sharply defined jawline, and the slender, well-defined fingers holding the pen. Only one thought kept replaying in his mind: Had he forgotten the bet?

"Is there anything you don't understand?" Jiang Ci put down her pen, looked up at him, her eyes clear. "Do you need me to explain it again?"

Xie Qingyan snapped back to reality, her face flushing with embarrassment: "I was just spacing out. I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

Jiang Ci put down his pen, leaned back slightly, crossed his arms, and looked at him with a leisurely air, his tone carrying a rare hint of seriousness:

"Xie, there are only seventy-odd days left until the college entrance examination. It's not a good habit to get distracted at this time."

Xie Qingyan immediately sat up straight, his attitude upright, but his eyes darted around: "I know I was wrong, Teacher Jiang. Please give me another chance." He paused, as if he had made a great decision, "I was distracted because I was thinking about our bet."

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Jiang Ci's gaze deepened, and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly. He spoke slowly:

“I remember. I won the bet this time.”

"Yes." Xie Qingyan nodded, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes were open and clear. "I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

“Then,” Jiang Ci leaned forward, the distance between them suddenly shortening until they could hear each other’s breathing, “let’s solve our studies first, then we can talk about other things, okay?”

His reason was still making a final struggle.

Xie Qingyan looked at his face so close to hers, at the fire burning in his eyes yet forcibly suppressed, and felt a ticklish, tingling sensation in her heart, as if gently scratched by a feather. An indescribable longing overwhelmed all her restraint.

He suddenly leaned forward, almost touching Jiang Ci's nose, and asked softly with a hint of allure that he himself was unaware of:

"But you were the one who said last time that you couldn't wait."

These words, like the last feather, gently landed on the already overburdened scales of reason.

“Clatter.”

Jiang Ci heard the sound of the string in his mind called "restraint" snapping completely.

The next second, the world spun around.

Xie Qingyan was suddenly pulled into his arms, and a passionate kiss landed with undeniable force and all-consuming heat, instantly overwhelming all his senses. The kiss was filled with long-suppressed desire and the almost thrilling excitement of fulfilling a bet.

Books and exam papers were swept to the ground with a soft clatter, but no one paid any attention.

Their breaths mingled.

Between sobs and low moans, Xie Qingyan clung to Jiang Ci's shoulders, pulling him closer, and whispered in his ear, in a broken yet clear voice, fulfilled the promise of their bet:

A gentleman's word is as good as his bond.

"Jiang Ci, I'm willing to accept defeat."

The night was gentle, and the lights were dim.

Outside the window, the streets are silent; inside, souls have finally broken through all barriers and are embracing tightly.

And their youth and love reached another private peak that night.