“Half-Immortal, quick, come check if my uniform is straight.” Xia Shan stared at the full-length mirror in the dorm for a long while before finally deciding to entrust his back to someone else.
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Ding Banfan was currently pulling his own uniform jacket over his head. Hearing the request, he gave Xia Shan’s back a direct slap. “I don’t get you. What’s there to be so nervous about?”
“You don’t understand! My dad, my mom, and my sister all decided to come out in full force for my coming-of-age ceremony today!” Xia Shan looked like he was about to cry. “If I make some kind of stupid mistake, they’ll definitely mock me for the rest of my life.”
“Oh, that truly is tragic,” Ding Banfan remarked with absolutely zero emotion.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wei and Shen Yannan were frantically spraying scent blockers in the room.
“That’s enough, isn't it?” Jiang Wei kept dodging the mist Shen Yannan was aiming at his face.
Ever since Shen Yannan had gained a rough understanding of Jiang Wei’s constitution—specifically, his tendency to experience physiological discomfort when different pheromone scents mingled—he had become exceptionally cautious. He reminded Jiang Wei to reapply scent blockers every chance he got.
“Do you have any idea how many people are coming to the school today?” Shen Yannan grabbed Jiang Wei by the collar to focus the spray on his neck. “With that many people, if you really start feeling unwell, Tang Zihe might not even be able to reach you in time to save you.”
“It’s not that exaggerated, really,” Jiang Wei sputtered, having nearly inhaled a mouthful of the spray. He spat a few times. “It’s not as scary now that I’ve been temporarily marked...”
Shen Yannan lowered the bottle and fell silent for a moment before asking, “Are you showing off to me?”
Jiang Wei: “...”
“No, I—”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses. Go, get out of here,” Shen Yannan waved him off, casually slipping his phone into his pocket. “Your attentive boyfriend is probably already waiting for you with breakfast in hand.”
“Is it Mrs. Tang or Mr. Tang coming today?” Jiang Wei asked casually as he sipped his soy milk.
“They said they’re both coming.” Tang Zihe, unlike Xia Shan, wasn't nervous at all. He looked exactly the same as he did any other day.
“Oh. Then why aren't you nervous at all?” Jiang Wei watched the students gathering sparsely on the field, particularly the girls, who were all dressed up.
Tang Zihe shrugged. “It’s been eighteen years. Don’t they already know exactly what kind of person their son is?”
Jiang Wei: “...”
*Well, that makes sense.*
Because the students were so high-strung, the ceremony didn't start on time, just as the Dean of Students had expected from previous years. Consequently, by the time the Dean finished his opening remarks, the parents had already begun arriving on the field in waves, joining the students to listen to the Principal’s speech.
“...Students, the school can only provide you with a platform to spread your wings and fly. The future has always been, and will always be, in your own hands!”
“I wish every student a happy coming-of-age ceremony!”
“Please take your dreams, your passion, and your perseverance, and continue to charge forward—just as you are today, and as you shall be forever: youthful!”
After that, the school did indeed have a surprise prepared for them.
Xu Qian finally realized why he hadn't felt any dust when he sat on the rooftop that day. It turned out the place had been cleaned long ago.
“Rooftop shouting?”
“Is it really going to be that chuunibyou?”
The students expressed their shock one after another upon learning the nature of the surprise.
Normally, some students would avoid such an activity to save face, while most would choose to stand below and watch the spectacle rather than actually going up to say anything.
But today was their coming-of-age ceremony.
After today, they would be adults in the eyes of the law.
So why not let themselves be a little chuunibyou and let their blood boil one last time?
“Teacher, can we say anything?”
Boss Shi nodded. “Yes. Only for today, you can say whatever you want.”
“You don’t want to go up?” Jiang Wei nudged Tang Zihe with his elbow.
Tang Zihe crossed his arms and thought for a moment. “I haven't thought of a speech that suits me yet.”
“Me neither,” Jiang Wei said, mimicking Tang Zihe’s posture. “Then let’s just watch what the others have to say first.”
To everyone’s surprise, the first person to step up was Ye Feiyang, cheered on by the students of Class 3.
“I...” Ye Feiyang took the microphone from the Dean, whom he had clashed with countless times. The atmosphere was more harmonious than it had been in three years. “Being the first one up, I’m actually a bit nervous.”
“I’ll just say one thing. My temper might not be the best, but it’s really not that bad. Some of you don't need to take a detour every time you see me out of fear. I really don't just pick random lucky winners on the field to start fights with.”
The crowd below erupted in laughter. Those who frequently played basketball with Ye Feiyang were laughing so hard they were doubled over.
Jiang Wei laughed and whistled along with the crowd. “He’s probably the least bully-like 'school bully' I’ve ever seen.”
The next few students who went up were strangers to Jiang Wei, but no matter who it was, they received unanimous cheers from the entire grade.
“I hope I can overperform on the Gaokao!”
“My goal isn't as grand as the last person's. I just want to be able to stay home and watch anime every day after the exams are over!”
“I hope I meet someone I like after I get to university!”
“I hope the physics teacher treats us better during this final stretch. Stop giving us so many papers! I’ve been losing so much hair lately!”
“I want to grow another ten centimeters! My current height has zero Alpha intimidation factor...”
...
After listening to all sorts of eclectic speeches, Jiang Wei was laughing so hard he was leaning entirely on Tang Zihe. Mrs. Tang and Mr. Tang were on the other side filming, declaring that they couldn't possibly miss such a youthful moment.
“How did I never notice the people in our school were this funny?” Jiang Wei said through his laughter.
“That’s probably because you put all your focus on your studies and me,” Tang Zihe replied expressionlessly.
Jiang Wei blinked, then laughed even harder.
However, something that surprised everyone happened next.
“That’s not a girl from our school, is it?”
“That uniform isn't ours.”
“She’s actually quite pretty. Which school did she sneak in from?”
“That uniform looks like it’s from the school next door...”
Jiang Wei’s eyes widened. “Holy... Tang Zihe, don't you think that girl looks really familiar?”
The girl, who was already the subject of much discussion as she walked onto the rooftop, took the microphone from the Dean.
“He... Hello, everyone. I snuck over from No. 6 High School. My name is Fang Ruxuan.”
“Some of you might have heard my name, but most of you probably don't know who I am. That’s okay. I only came here to say a few words to Ye Feiyang, who I have quite a history with.”
Whistles rang out from the crowd again. Ye Feiyang was standing not far from Jiang Wei and Tang Zihe, receiving the focused gaze of almost the entire grade.
But he just stared silently at the girl on the roof, his knuckles turning white from how hard he was gripping his water bottle.
“If you still like me, then in consideration of all the effort and planning I put into today, let me see your college application choices later! I want to go to the same university as you!”
Fang Ruxuan’s face was completely flushed by this point, but she still stammered out the rest of what she wanted to say in one breath.
“Because... because I really still like you!”
A roar of cheers swept toward Ye Feiyang like a tidal wave. He looked uncharacteristically flustered, his ears and face turning the exact same shade of red as Fang Ruxuan’s.
Jiang Wei was so shocked he was speechless. “Damn, the relationship between Ye Feiyang and his ex is nothing like what I imagined...”
Unexpectedly, his mutter was overheard by Ye Feiyang, who frowned and said, “We didn't break up because of our feelings for each other in the first place.”
In the end, Ye Feiyang shouted his agreement at the top of his lungs.
The atmosphere reached its peak.
At the end of the ceremony, the parents of each student had to go up to collect a small commemorative gift for their child.
Jiang Wei had assumed this part had nothing to do with him and planned to quietly ask Boss Shi for his gift afterward. However, Mr. and Mrs. Tang had already split up, each taking responsibility for collecting a gift for one of the two boys.
“Make sure you keep it safe. Things like this aren't expensive, but their sentimental value is incomparable.” Mrs. Tang placed the gift in Jiang Wei’s palm.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
“Sigh, if only parents could have gone up to shout earlier...” Mrs. Tang said with a hint of regret.
“What did you want to shout?” Mr. Tang asked curiously.
“I’d shout: I hope a certain student surnamed Jiang can change how he addresses me as soon as possible.”
Jiang Wei’s face turned red instantly.
***
The day after the ceremony.
The school returned to its normal state.
It was as if the madness of that day only remained in their memories.
That was, until Ye Feiyang actively sought out Jiang Wei in Class 1.
“Can you give me some emergency tutoring before the Gaokao?” Ye Feiyang scratched his reddish-brown hair. “I think if I work hard, I should be able to get into the same school as her.”
“Tutoring is fine, but for romance, please take a left out the door and go back to Class 3.” Jiang Wei raised his hand with a smile, ready to "see his guest out."
But Ye Feiyang truly didn't want Fang Ruxuan to lower her standards for him, not even a little bit.
Eventually, through persistent pestering—and nearly being beaten to death by a dark-faced Tang Zihe—he managed to secure tutoring sessions for every evening self-study period.
At the same time, Shen Yannan was quietly summoned to the police station.
The parents of the student surnamed Qian were currently wailing at the station, saying their child had been young and ignorant when he made that mistake. They argued that the child was now at a critical juncture with the Gaokao approaching.
The officer in charge had a headache from the noise and could only say that the matter could only be handled with leniency if Shen Yannan agreed to sign a letter of forgiveness.
Shen Yannan only learned of these details upon his arrival.
He finally understood the meaning behind what Lu Zisheng had said long ago: being able to use money to bail someone out wasn't true wealth; being able to put them back in so they couldn't be bailed out, ensuring they got what they deserved, was true wealth.
Of course, he would not sign a letter of forgiveness. If anything, he wished this person would rot in prison for the rest of his life.
“Shen Yannan, Shen Yannan, you’re a good kid. What happened back then was so long ago. Look at you, aren't you living a good life now? Besides, my child already went to prison once for that; he already has a criminal record. He can't go back in! And, and you’re all taking the Gaokao in a month. The Gaokao is so important! My child has studied for so many years just to take the exam and get into a good school... Shen Yannan, I’m begging you, please sign the letter of forgiveness. My child can't be ruined by this at such an important time...”
Lu Zisheng stood by with a deep frown, several times wanting to pull Mrs. Qian’s hands off Shen Yannan, but he was stopped by Shen Yannan’s gaze every time.
“Auntie, when you relied on your family’s wealth and used improper means to bail him out back then, did you ever think this day would come?” Shen Yannan remained completely unmoved, even letting out a cold sneer.
He leaned into her ear and whispered with a smile, “Guess why this matter, which happened two years ago, was suddenly brought back up right at this moment?”
When he finally emerged from the station and stood under the sun to breathe the fresh air, Shen Yannan felt as if a lifetime had passed.
On the other side of the station, Mrs. Qian had completely lost all sense of face and dignity, wailing loudly.
Shen Yannan held Lu Zisheng’s hand tightly. After a long silence, he finally found his voice. “You know, when it first happened, my mother was just like her, breaking down and crying in the police station...”
“It’s different,” Lu Zisheng squeezed Shen Yannan’s fingers reassuringly. “It’s different...”
Shen Yannan fell silent for another long moment before finally nodding slowly, as if confirming something to himself. “You’re right. It is different.”
“Let’s go. If we delay any longer, Boss Shi is going to drag me to his office to scold me for skipping class again.”
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 半仙儿 (Bànxiānr) | Half-Immortal | Ding Banfan's nickname, implying he's like a fortune teller or seer. |
| 气味阻隔剂 (Qìwèi zǔgé jì) | Scent blocker / Odor neutralizer | A common item in ABO settings to hide pheromones. |
| 临时标记 (Línshí biāojì) | Temporary marking | An ABO term where an Alpha bites an Omega's gland to temporarily bond. |
| 施总 (Shī Zǒng) | Boss Shi | A respectful/joking nickname for Teacher Shi. |
| 天台喊话 (Tiāntái hǎnhuà) | Rooftop shouting | A school activity where students shout their feelings/goals from a roof. |
| 校霸 (Xiàobà) | School bully / School tyrant | A term for a student who is perceived as a tough or delinquent leader. |
| 志愿 (Zhìyuàn) | College application choices | The list of universities and majors a student applies for. |
| 改口 (Gǎikǒu) | Change how one addresses someone | Specifically refers to changing from "Auntie/Uncle" to "Mom/Dad" after marriage. |
| 谅解书 (Liàngjiěshū) | Letter of forgiveness / Leniency letter | A legal document from a victim that can reduce a perpetrator's sentence. |
