A-level psychology

The day she checked her grades, the weather was so hot it looked like it was going to rain, and the air felt sticky against her skin. She knew the results were likely to be no surprise, but as she sat in front of the computer, her fingers were still cold, her heart beating so fast it felt like it was about to burst out of her throat.

Jiang Yibai was sitting on the chair next to him, looking much more relaxed than him, with one hand casually resting on the mouse, and the other hand... was occasionally pinching Lin Xiyan's slightly trembling fingers on her knees.

"Nervous?" Jiang Yibai turned his head to look at him, his voice flat.

Lin Xiyan pursed his lips, nodded, and then quickly shook his head. He couldn't explain it himself.

Jiang Yibai didn't ask any more questions, but just squeezed his fingers a little harder, with a soothing tone.

Time jumped to the scheduled moment. Jiang Yibai moved the mouse and clicked the query. During the few seconds the page buffered, Lin Xiyan almost held her breath.

The results page popped up in an instant.

The name at the top was still that familiar one—Jiang Yibai. The number following his total score unsurprisingly placed him at the top of the list.

Lin Xiyan's gaze quickly shifted downward, spotting his own name. Second in his grade. His score was about as good as he'd expected, comfortably above the admissions line for the psychology department at that top medical university.

My heart, which had been hanging in the air, seemed to suddenly settle back down, sending forth a wave of bittersweet yet scorching emotions. He had done it. He had truly…reached for the future that had once seemed so far out of reach.

Before he could recover from the huge shock and relief, Jiang Yibai next to him had already picked up the phone, dialed the number, and turned on the speakerphone.

"Mom, um. I found out." His tone was as calm as if he was reporting the weather forecast. "Accepted. Photography Department."

Xu Panting's gentle and smiling voice came from the other end of the phone: "Congratulations, son! I knew you could do it! Where's Xiyan?"

Jiang Yibai looked at Lin Xiyan.

Lin Xiyan quickly moved closer, her voice still trembling: "Ah, Auntie, I recorded it too. Psychological medicine."

"That's great! Double happiness! Auntie will make delicious food for you tonight! Let's celebrate properly!" Xu Panting's voice was filled with joy from the bottom of her heart.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yibai turned his attention back to Lin Xiyan. Seeing that Lin Xiyan was still a little dazed, with slightly red eyes, he reached out and gently rubbed his lower eyelid with his fingertips.

"Why are you crying?" he said, his tone sounding a little harsh, but his actions were gentle.

Lin Xiyan shook his head, wanting to say he wasn't crying, but his throat seemed to be clogged, and no sound came out. He simply looked at Jiang Yibai, the man who had pulled him out of the cold abyss bit by bit and accompanied him to this day. An immense sense of gratitude and dependence surged over him, nearly drowning him.

At this moment, Jiang Yibai's phone vibrated wildly. It was the small group of four people.

Lu Panji: Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I passed the exam!!! Dentistry!!! From now on, all your teeth are under my care! Tremble, mortals!

[He Yunling: [Screenshot.jpg] Orthopedics. If you break a leg in a fight, come to me. I'll give you a discount.]

Lu Panji: @Jiang Yibai @Lin Xiyan, where are you two?! Stop playing dead! Hurry up!

[He Yunling: +1]

Jiang Yibai handed the phone screen to Lin Xiyan.

Lin Xiyan's eyes welled up again as he read the two excited messages in the group chat. Lu Panji, dentistry. He Yunling, orthopedics. Like him, they were both at the same prestigious medical university. They... would be classmates in the future.

An indescribable warmth and sense of security enveloped him. He wasn't alone in facing that unfamiliar environment. He had friends there.

Seeing him staring at the screen without saying anything, Jiang Yibai picked up his phone and replied with two concise words.

【Jiang Yibai: Yes.】

Lin Xiyan: Yes. Psychological medicine.

The group instantly exploded.

【Lu Panji: !!!!!!!!! Awesome!!! (crackling voice)】

He Yunling: Congratulations.

Lu Panji: Wait! Brother Jiang, what about you?! What did you record? Which one is the physics department or the mathematics department?! Tell me now!

Jiang Yibai: Photography.

【Lu Panji: ……】

He Yunling: ...

【Lu Panji:……???】

[He Yunling: ...Unexpected, but reasonable.]

Lu Panji: No... Brother Jiang, are you serious?! You got such a high score, and you're going to study photography?! What a waste of talent!!! Didn't your father break your legs?!

【Jiang Yibai: He has no control over it.】

[Lu Panji: ...Okay, you're awesome.]

[He Yunling: So, from now on, it's just the three of us who are dependent on each other? @林溪言]

Lu Panji: Right, right, right! Xiyan! I'll protect you from now on! When Brother Jiang isn't around, we're still here! We promise not to let you get bullied by the perverted courses and seniors in the medical school!

【Lin Xiyan: ...Thank you.】

【Jiang Yibai: No need.】

【Lu Panji: Tsk, you're really protective.】

Lin Xiyan watched the rapidly scrolling messages on the screen, watched Lu Panji's noisy "take care" and He Yunling's calm "congratulations," and then glanced at Jiang Yibai's nonchalant, "I'm enough" look beside her. Her tense nerves finally relaxed completely. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards in a subtle, yet genuine arc.

very nice.

Everyone went where they wanted to go.

And he is not alone.

Jiang Yibai put down his phone and turned to see the faint but genuine smile on Lin Xiyan's face. The sunlight shone in from the window, falling on the slightly curved corners of his eyes and the upturned corners of his mouth, like melted amber, warm and translucent.

He stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out his hand, not to touch his face, but... gently tugged at the soft black hair on his forehead.

"Laughing?" he asked, his voice seeming a little softer than before.

Lin Xiyan was stunned by his sudden and somewhat childish action, and then her cheeks felt slightly hot, but she did not dodge, but just said "hmm" softly.

"That's good." Jiang Yibai withdrew his hand, stood up, and looked down at him. "Let's go."

"Where are you going?" Lin Xiyan asked, looking up.

"Celebrate." Jiang Yibai said concisely, extending his hand towards him, "Lu Panji and the others are already arguing downstairs."

Lin Xiyan looked at the hand stretched out in front of him. The joints were distinct, warm and dry. He placed his hand on it without hesitation.

Jiang Yibai held it, exerted a little force, and pulled him up from the chair.

The two went downstairs together. As expected, Lu Panji and He Yunling were already waiting downstairs. When they saw them, they immediately surrounded them.

"Let's go! We must get drunk today!" Lu Panji excitedly put his arm around He Yunling's shoulders and wanted to pat Jiang Yibai, but was frozen in place by the other's gaze. He had no choice but to pat Lin Xiyan's back instead, "Xiyan! Let us brothers show you the world of adults!"

Lin Xiyan staggered forward after being slapped by him and almost fell into Jiang Yibai's arms.

Jiang Yibai reached out to support him and glanced at Lu Panji coldly: "Don't you want your hand anymore?"

Lu Panji immediately raised his hands in surrender: "I was wrong, I was wrong! Brother Jiang, spare my life!"

He Yunling smiled and shook his head.

Four people walked side by side on the summer evening street. The setting sun stretched their shadows out. Lu Panji and He Yunling were up ahead, arguing over where to go for some fun. Jiang Yibai and Lin Xiyan lagged behind a few steps, still holding hands.

Lin Xiyan listened to the noise in front, felt the warmth of the palms of the people around her, and looked at the gorgeous sunset in the sky.

Three years ago, he huddled alone in a cold rental house, thinking that his life would go on in darkness and silence.

Three years later, he was holding someone's hand, surrounded by noisy friends, with a clear road and shining dreams ahead.

He turned his head and looked at Jiang Yibai.

Jiang Yibai was also looking at him, his purple eyes looked particularly deep in the sunset, and his shadow was clearly reflected in them.

"What are you looking at?" Jiang Yibai asked.

Lin Xiyan shook her head, said nothing, and just held his hand tighter.

Some thanks don't need to be expressed.

He knew that the person in front of him understood.

There is still a long way to go, different universities, different majors, and different cities.

But he knew that some things would never change.

For example, the tightly held hands, the friends behind them, and the shining future they are heading towards together.

Follow this arduous journey to reach the stars.

Their journey has just entered the most exciting chapter.