Chapter Summaries

Shen Yu struggled to choose his subjects and settled on politics, history, and biology, while Ji Cიცen chose the same package to stay near him. After Shen Yu wondered whether Ji Cიცen had a girl he liked, Ji Cიცen overheard and said he liked no girls.

• Shen Yu complained about the school's fixed subject combinations and struggled to choose subjects.
• Shen Yu proposed politics, history, and biology, and Ji Cიცen selected the same combination without hesitation.
• After the classes were reassigned, Ji Cიცen spent more time with Shen Yu, who continued to avoid running during PE.
• Shen Yu asked Shen Jun whether Ji Cიცen had been acting strangely and wondered if he had a girl he liked.
• Ji Cицen overheard Shen Yu's speculation and said there was no girl he liked and that he did not like girls.

Shen Yu mistook Ji Cицen's attention to girls for a crush, while Ji Cицen quietly tried to learn whether Shen Yu liked anyone. At the next flag-raising ceremony, Shen Yu saw a girl and boy give self-criticisms for dating and misread Ji Cицen's envy as jealousy of a romantic rival.

• Ji Cицen asked Shen Yu whether he liked anyone, and Shen Yu described his ideal girl as gentle, long-haired, and pretty-smiling.
• Shen Jun teased Shen Yu that his ideal type resembled their mother, Lin Yujing.
• Ji Cицen watched girls passing their classroom and redirected Shen Yu when he tried to look at one, insisting he did not know or like her.
• Ji Cицen warned Shen Yu to behave because the school was cracking down on dating.
• At the following week's flag-raising ceremony, Shen Yu spotted the girl from outside their classroom giving a self-criticism alongside a boy and noticed Ji Cицen watching them enviously.

Shen Yu kept imagining romantic dramas about Ji Cицen, whose unrequited crush was actually on Shen Yu, and Ji Cицen repeatedly tried to stop his deskmate’s gossip. After Shen Yu finally remembered Ji Cицen had said he did not like girls, he stopped watching girls around him and began secretly observing boys instead.

• Shen Yu imagined Ji Cицen turning his heartbreak into devotion to studying, while Ji Cицen warned him to stop bringing up romance.
• Shen Yu continued inventing stories about Ji Cицen and girls, drawing the attention of their classmates and Teacher Xu.
• After the principal warned students about dating, Shen Yu watched Ji Cицen’s interactions with girls and imagined new romantic plots.
• Ji Cицen reminded Shen Yu that he had said he did not like girls, and Shen Yu admitted he had thought it was a joke.
• Shen Yu stopped watching girls around Ji Cицen, but Ji Cицen noticed him secretly observing boys instead.

At the coming-of-age ceremony, Shen Yu was teased for being the youngest student and then faced a confession from a boy who had once asked him to date after he became an adult. Ji Cიცen watched the exchange and angrily feared someone had stolen his place beside Shen Yu.

• Shen Yu complained that he was still seventeen while most of his classmates were turning eighteen, and Yao Maolin teased him about being young.
• Shen Yu chased and hit Yao Maolin, who tried to escape Ji Cიცen's displeasure by recalling their childhood defense of Ji Cიცen's hair.
• A boy gave Shen Yu milk and said he had become an adult, then reminded Shen Yu that he had promised to consider dating after coming of age.
• Shen Yu explained that he could not date the boy because he was not yet an adult, embarrassing the boy and himself in front of their classmates.
• Ji Cიცen watched Shen Yu and the boy exchange looks and grew angry, thinking that someone had stolen his home base.

Shen Yu rejected a boy’s confession during the school’s coming-of-age ceremony, prompting Ji Cицen to question him about it. Shen Yu mistakenly thought Ji Cицen was worried he would disapprove of his romantic preferences and promised to support him, while Ji Cицen concealed what he really meant.

• Shen Yu turned down a boy’s confession and comforted him before returning to his friends, while Ji Cицen watched with a jealous, darkening gaze.
• The second-year students celebrated their coming-of-age ceremony with games, fireworks, food, and free meals, and Shen Yu ate his fill.
• Ji Cицen took Shen Yu on a walk after lunch, and Shen Yu grew uneasy when they stopped away from the usual path.
• Ji Cицen asked whether Shen Yu was put off by guys and remarked that the boy’s confession seemed to have left an impression.
• Shen Yu misunderstood Ji Cицen’s concern, said he did not mind his preferences, and promised to support him; Ji Cицen accepted the promise while hiding his deeper meaning.

During a class movie, Ji Cიცen accidentally held Shen Yu’s hand, leaving Shen Yu flustered and unsure how to interpret his reaction. Ji Cიცen followed him to the bathroom and decided to take the initiative rather than wait for Shen Yu to understand his feelings.

• The class chose to watch a movie, and Shen Yu crunched his snacks so loudly that students turned around to glare at him.
• Ji Cიცen reassured Shen Yu and accidentally took his hand, causing Shen Yu to freeze before rushing out to the bathroom.
• Ji Cიცen followed Shen Yu, who grew so self-conscious that he struggled to use the bathroom and blamed Ji Cიცen for it.
• Shen Yu made Ji Cიცen use a stall, then privately berated himself for getting flustered over their accidental hand-holding.
• Ji Cიცen came out and teased Shen Yu gently, then resolved to take the initiative instead of waiting for him to catch on.

Shen Yu struggled with his confusing feelings toward Ji Cицen, while Ji Cицen tried to explain himself before their classmates interrupted them. The Class Advisor sent them back into the classroom, where Shen Yu drew the class’s attention and Ji Cицen’s arrival made everyone withdraw their concern.

• Shen Yu hurried back to class, but stopped outside because he was embarrassed to enter with his face red, and Ji Cицen offered him water.
• Ji Cицen took Shen Yu’s hand and teased him, while Shen Yu denied being unhappy and bit his arm.
• Ji Cицen was about to explain himself when their classmates interrupted them from behind the curtain.
• The Class Advisor caught Shen Yu and Ji Cицen in the corridor and told them to return to class after getting some air.
• Shen Yu entered the dark classroom and was escorted to his seat by a classmate as everyone watched.
• The class’s protective attention toward Shen Yu vanished when Ji Cицen entered the room.

During a class movie, Shen Yu bickered with Ji Cicen, accepted his snacks and care, and tried to hide how much he enjoyed the attention. The chapter ended with Shen Yu grabbing Ji Cicen’s hand beneath the desk with both hands.

• Ji Cицen sat beside Shen Yu, poured him hot water, and soothed him after he protested being treated like a helpless child.
• Shen Yu denied being angry and denied holding hands with Ji Cicen, then turned back to watch the movie when Ji Cicen reminded him he liked science fiction.
• Ji Cicen slipped Shen Yu a chocolate and promised to bring him more, saying it came from a new Ji Family company brand.
• Shen Yu tried to locate Ji Cicen’s hidden snacks, then pretended a mosquito had nearly bitten him when Ji Cicen caught him looking.
• Ji Cicen applied medicated oil to Shen Yu’s arm and kept snacks, milk, and medicine in his desk drawer for him.
• When Ji Cicen caught Shen Yu’s hand beneath the desk, Shen Yu instinctively clasped it between both of his hands.

Shen Yu realized Ji Cizhen had romantic feelings for him, but their awkward closeness was interrupted by a classmate who misunderstood their conversation. After the movie, Shen Yu encouraged a classmate discouraged by academic rivals, insisting that starting behind meant having one less race to run.

• Shen Yu hurt his elbow while pulling away from Ji Cizhen, who comforted him and warned him not to yank his arm again.
• Shen Yu recalled Ji Cizhen's longstanding attentiveness and realized his deskmate had designs on him.
• Ji Cizhen teased Shen Yu about wearing a jacket, but a classmate mistook their exchange for a confession and predicted they would fight if they got together.
• After the movie, a classmate lamented being outmatched by a senior who excelled at math, and Shen Yu agreed that he had three such academic monsters around him.
• Shen Yu urged the discouraged classmate to look on the bright side, saying that losing at the starting line meant having one less run.

Shen Yu struggled with the romantic tension between himself and Ji Cიცen while insisting he was not dating anyone. His brothers suspected he had been bullied or was hiding a relationship, and Shen Yu turned the burden of proof back on Shen Jin.

• Shen Yu tried to make peace with Classmate Han after mocking his resolve to study, while Ji Cიცen's watchful gaze stopped Han from pinching him.
• Shen Yu avoided Ji Cიცen during class, but Ji Cიცen followed him and tapped his hand to make him pay attention.
• After class, Shen Yu refused Shen Jin's help with his bag and declared himself a solitary adult, prompting his brothers to suspect someone had upset him.
• Shen Jin assumed Ji Cიცen had failed to protect Shen Yu, while Shen Jun noticed Shen Yu's evasiveness and asked if he was dating someone.
• Shen Yu denied dating and challenged Shen Jin to prove his suspicion.

Shen Yu spent the day teasing and bickering with his brothers before joining the family for dinner. Lin Yujing gently urged Shen Xubai to consider finding a partner, and the chapter ended with Shen Xubai comforting his younger brothers with affectionate head pats.

• Shen Jin pulled Shen Yu into the middle seat of the car after their bickering, while Shen Jun shared cookies with them.
• Shen Yu greeted Shen Xingshuo at home, and Shen Xubai gave Shen Xingshuo an icy look when he teased their younger brother.
• Shen Xingshuo declared that he planned to conquer the acting industry and win a trophy, but Shen Yu instead asked Shen Jun whether watching someone he knew act would feel awkward.
• Lin Yujing told Shen Xubai that she did not care about a future partner's family background and that a boy would be fine, since she was not old-fashioned.
• Shen Yu said he felt sorry for Shen Xubai being pushed to find a partner, and Shen Xubai patted Shen Yu, Shen Jin, and Shen Jun on the head.

Shen Jun reflected on how the Shen Family had weathered rumors and schemes because of the brothers’ close bonds, while dinner turned into a teasing discussion about marriage. Shen Yu joined in by saying he would wait until his older brothers married, prompting Shen Xingshuo to mock him for entering a circle he did not fit in.

• Shen Jun thought about how outsiders had spread rumors that Shen Yu was scheming against his brothers, while Shen Changgeng dealt with those targeting the family.
• Shen Jun watched Shen Yu eat and remembered how the adopted boy had protected and reassured his younger brothers.
• Lin Yujing teased Shen Yu for defending Shen Jun and asked whether he understood marriage, and Shen Yu described two people supporting each other for life.
• Lin Yujing suggested Shen Xingshuo might have trouble finding someone, and Shen Yu joined in with a joke about love being like a tornado.
• Shen Jin's stare prompted Shen Yu to say he would not hurry to marry if his older brothers did not, and Shen Changgeng told him not to join the discussion.
• Shen Xingshuo mocked Shen Yu, telling him not to force his way into a circle he did not fit in.

Shen Yu struggled through homework under Shen Jin’s supervision and later messaged Ji Cიცen, who offered to bring him egg tarts. The chapter ended with Shen Jin overhearing Shen Yu’s thoughts about feeling embarrassed to accept them.

• Shen Changgeng reassured Shen Jun about balancing schoolwork and rest, while Shen Xingshuo recalled how difficult he had been to supervise as a student.
• Shen Xubai’s discovery that Shen Yu wasted time on his phone led the family to require Shen Yu, Shen Jin, and Shen Jun to do homework together after dinner.
• Shen Jin helped Shen Yu solve a math problem and pushed him to finish the rest of his assignments before allowing him to use his phone.
• Shen Yu replied to Ji Cიცen that he had finished his homework, and Ji Cიცen offered to bring egg tarts for him the next day.
• Shen Jin overheard Shen Yu thinking that Ji Cიცen was making him feel embarrassed about accepting the treats.

Shen Yu accepted Ji Cიცen’s offer to bring him desserts and milk, while Shen Jin grew suspicious of Ji Cიცen and tried to keep Shen Yu close by encouraging him to pursue academic competitions. The next morning, Shen Changgeng worried that Shen Yu might be bullied, but Shen Xubai reassured him and Shen Xingshuo fled after insisting there was more to Shen Xiaoyu’s situation than met the eye.

• Shen Yu eagerly accepted Ji Cიცen’s offer to bring desserts and mango milk, and wondered what he could give his deskmate in return.
• Shen Jin inspected Shen Yu’s chat with Ji Cიცen and tried to steer Shen Yu toward academic competitions so he would stay near his brothers.
• Shen Yu woke in time for breakfast and noticed that Shen Changgeng seemed unusually concerned about him.
• Shen Changgeng asked whether anyone at school was bullying Shen Yu and told him to seek help from his brothers if anyone mistreated him.
• Shen Xubai blamed Shen Xingshuo’s previous night’s theories for their father’s worry, and Shen Xingshuo fled while insisting there was more to Shen Xiaoyu’s situation than met the eye.

Shen Yu worried about his future, then cheered up after Ji Cicen reassured him. When Shen Jin’s extra competition classes kept him and Ji Cicen at school, Shen Yu waited in the classroom and was teased about waiting for Ji Cicen.

• Shen Yu complained about a meat bun to coax his family into explaining their cryptic behavior, but Shen Changgeng saw through him and sent him to school.
• Ji Cicen signed up for the biology competition class after hearing Shen Yu praise Shen Jin, then reassured Shen Yu when he worried about choosing a future career.
• Shen Jin told his brothers that his competition class would keep him late, and Shen Yu, Shen Jun, and Ji Cicen insisted on waiting for him at school.
• Ji Cicen took over helping Shen Yu with homework while Shen Jin attended competitions, frustrating Shen Jin.
• On Tuesday, Shen Yu waited alone in the classroom while Ji Cicen went between the office and competition class, and the boy on cleaning duty teased him about waiting for Ji Cicen.

Shen Yu chased Jiang Minjie around the classroom before settling down to do homework and being teased by Ji Cიცen about their relationship. When Shen Jin caught them talking, Shen Yu fled, leaving Ji Cიცen trailing behind as Shen Jin lectured him.

• Shen Yu beat Jiang Minjie for teasing him about Ji Cიცen, and the two pretended to study and clean when the teacher on duty came by.
• After Jiang Minjie left, Shen Yu struggled to focus on his math homework while waiting for the competition class to end.
• Ji Cიცen startled Shen Yu and admitted he had heard him chasing Jiang Minjie, embarrassing Shen Yu.
• Ji Cიცen asked why Shen Yu was avoiding him, and Shen Yu's explanation that they were meal buddies led Ji Cიცen to suggest they were practically a couple.
• Shen Yu spotted Shen Jin outside the window and fled with his brothers, while Shen Jin scolded him for losing his tongue around Ji Cიცen.

Shen Yu thanked the bodyguard and said goodbye to Ji Cიცen before preparing for a two-day class excursion. As Shen Jin and Shen Jun helped him pack, Shen Jin realized he was too embarrassed to ask Ji Cიცen for help and turned to Shen Jun instead.

• Shen Yu gave the bodyguard a carton of coconut water and waved goodbye to Ji Cიცen as the Shen Family car left.
• Shen Yu enthusiastically packed an oversized suitcase for the class excursion until Shen Xingshuo and his brothers helped pare it down.
• Shen Jin told Shen Yu that he and Shen Jun had missed the previous autumn outing because Shen Yu had been unconscious.
• Shen Jun gave Shen Yu mosquito repellent, and Shen Yu admitted that he thought Ji Cიცen would bring some.
• Shen Jin considered asking Ji Cიცen for help but, embarrassed by their strained relationship, turned to Shen Jun.

Shen Yu left home for a class trip, and his family worried over and teased him before he boarded the coach. There, Ji Cიცen joined the group, and Jiang Minjie’s loud question about who would share a room with Shen Yu left Shen Yu furious.

• Shen Jun messaged Ji Cიცen about looking after Shen Yu, and Ji Cიცen replied that he would take good care of Ah Yu.
• Shen Yu said goodbye to his family, who teased him about his height and worried over his first trip away from home.
• Shen Yu boarded the chartered coach and listened as Jiang Minjie complained about the politics teacher making him study harder.
• Ji Cიცen boarded and sat near Shen Yu after Jiang Minjie offered him the empty seat beside his deskmate.
• Jiang Minjie asked Ji Cიცen loudly whether he was sleeping with Shen Yu that night, and Shen Yu grabbed Jiang Minjie by the neck and shouted at him.

On the bus, Shen Yu and Jiang Minjie bickered until Ji Cицen switched seats to sit beside Shen Yu. Shen Yu pretended to sleep, but Ji Cицen gave him his favorite candy and caught him peeking.

• The class monitor stopped Shen Yu from attacking Jiang Minjie, who defended himself and teased Shen Yu about being fake and calculating.
• After overhearing classmates gossip about who was sleeping with whom, Shen Yu glared at Jiang Minjie, who begged to change seats.
• Ji Cицen offered Jiang Minjie his seat, and Jiang Minjie moved Ji Cицen beside Shen Yu before joking that one husband followed the other's lead.
• Shen Yu tried to attack Jiang Minjie again, but Ji Cицen restrained him, and the bus passengers finally settled into their seats.
• Shen Yu pretended to sleep while Ji Cицen slipped his favorite candy into his mouth, then caught him opening his eyes to look.

Shen Yu secretly watched Ji Cizhen, then remembered how they had become friends as children. Ji Cizhen caught him staring and told him that Ah Yu was the best-looking to him.

• Shen Yu watched Ji Cizhen, wondered why Ji Cizhen's gaze made him uneasy, and decided his deskmate was handsome.
• Shen Yu remembered how he had defended the delicate Ji Xiaocen from a bully in kindergarten, beginning their friendship with Yao Xiaolin.
• Ji Cizhen opened his eyes after Shen Yu laughed while staring at him, and caught him leaning close.
• Ji Cizhen teased Shen Yu for checking how good-looking he was, then said Ah Yu was the best-looking to him.