Jiang Lan opened the front door and returned home.
In the living room, Shen Qingqiu was watching television. Surprised to see him back at this hour, he asked:
"Why are you home so early today?"
"Something came up, so I came back first."
Jiang Lan changed his shoes and sat down beside the sofa.
Shen Qingqiu turned his head and glanced at him.
"What happened?"
"Nothing major." Jiang Lan considered his words. "It's just... the Vice Dean spoke to me today."
"About what?"
"Central Base City offered me a recommendation slot for advanced study."
Something flickered briefly in Shen Qingqiu's eyes before he spoke:
"Central Base City?"
"Yeah, it's one of the rewards from the exchange tournament," Jiang Lan said. "I can study at one of their top academies. Their resources and everything else are much better than what we have here."
Shen Qingqiu did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned back and fell silent for a few seconds.
"When would you leave?"
"There's no rush. The Vice Dean said I just need to answer within two weeks. They can hold the slot for me, too."
"For how long?"
"The Vice Dean didn't say." Jiang Lan paused. "But since I'd be going there, it'd probably be at least a year or two."
Shen Qingqiu's expression did not visibly change, but after living with him for so long, Jiang Lan could tell he was not as calm as he appeared.
Only after a stretch of silence did he speak:
"Central Base City really is something special. If you can go, it'll definitely be good for you."
His tone remained even as he spoke.
But the moment he finished, Shen Qingqiu began fiddling with the remote on the sofa.
Watching Shen Qingqiu's profile, Jiang Lan suddenly smiled.
"What are you smiling at?"