It felt like a dream. Zhuo Junli sat across from Shi's mother, watching her stirring the coffee on the table while complimenting him with her red lips,
"Before, both his father and I wondered why Shi Qing's grades improved so quickly. We suspected there was something fishy going on. He used to rank at the bottom, and it's hard to believe his grades could suddenly improve."
"We decided to call and ask him, and this kid told the truth. He said you were a top student, excelling in your studies. You've been helping him with his studies. You are truly a good kid, and Auntie must thank you."
Zhuo Junli still had some hesitation. Shi's mother noticed it but didn't inquire further. She looked at her son, who was sitting next to Zhuo Junli, drinking his coffee with impatience. She observed his domineering aura and his confident demeanor, not to mention the way he casually took Zhuo Junli's slender and fair fingers, holding them in his hand.
No matter how you looked at it, her son wouldn't be at a disadvantage. She had come here specifically to make sure Zhuo Junli wasn't pressuring her son into anything.
She was relieved when she saw them together. Although Zhuo Junli didn't speak much, the way he looked at her son was indeed affectionate. She raised her coffee cup and took a sip.
"As a mother, I won't interfere with your relationship, but both of you, remember that you shouldn't engage in any sexual activity before you turn eighteen."
Zhuo Junli blushed at her words, not expecting this topic. He hesitated for a moment before agreeing with a shy nod.
On the side, Shi Qing furrowed his brows and looked displeased, but he held his lover's tender hand and didn't react further. He leaned over to Zhuo Junli and whispered,
"She's not targeting us. My mom grew up abroad, and things are more open there. My grandma is worried about her being influenced, so she reminds her every day not to do anything before eighteen, or else she'll be chained by someone named Shen He."
Zhuo Junli nodded in understanding, his face still flushed. In truth, he hadn't thought that far ahead. Most importantly, in his mind, only when he achieved good grades did he have the qualifications to do anything with Shi Qing.
While they were talking, Shi's mother had been watching the two of them. She nodded in satisfaction. In any case, in her eyes, Zhuo Junli was the perfect son-in-law she had imagined.
According to the information she had gathered from the class teacher, Zhuo Junli was indeed outstanding. Excellent grades, a gentle temperament, diligent, and reliable. Even though his gender didn't quite match, it didn't matter to her.
They earned money as a couple, partly because they enjoyed it, but also because they wanted to leave something for their son. Having two men with no inheritance for their child would be truly tragic.
After meeting her son's boyfriend, Shi's mother looked at her watch and said, "Alright, I have another meeting tonight, so I won't disturb you anymore. Shi Qing, now that you have a boyfriend, think carefully before making any decisions. If you have any conflicts, come to me anytime. Don't act like a child and break up over trivial matters."
"I won't break up with him," Shi Qing said firmly.
The school bully held Zhuo Junli's hand and added, "We've already agreed to attend the same university."
Shi's mother's expression suddenly became subtle. She looked at her son, then at Zhuo Junli, and her face showed a hint of hesitation.
"I remember Junli is ranked first in your grade, right?" She then continued, her gaze turning somewhat dangerous, "Shi Qing, since you have a boyfriend now, remember that choosing a university isn't just about yourself. It's like deciding half of Junli's life. You can't just think about yourself and neglect him; that would be irresponsible."
Shi Qing clicked his tongue in annoyance. "What are you thinking? I want to attend A University."
Shi's mother's expression became even more complicated. After a few seconds, she nodded, "Alright."
"Although I've never heard of anyone being able to buy their way into A University, if you want to try, we can ask Uncle Zhang. He has connections there."
The school bully first froze, then he realized and stood up abruptly. "Mom, what do you mean? I said I wanted to get in on my own."
"Sure, sure, I believe in you," Shi's mother replied nonchalantly, picking up her purse. She glanced at her watch while standing up. "Good luck, you're the best. Well, I won't disturb you any longer. Junli, take care of Shi Qing. If you ever have any problems, come find me anytime. Don't break up over trivial matters like children."
Shi Qing was still holding Zhuo Junli's hand and watched his mother leave. His confident face now had a hint of hidden grievances.
"Why does she act like she doesn't trust me? What's the meaning of this? Can't I get into A University by myself?"
Zhuo Junli gently stroked his hand to comfort him, speaking in a warm and soothing tone, "You still have more than a year. There's still a great chance."
"Even if you can't get into A University, B University is also good. It's not much different."
"That won't do."
Shi Qing snorted. "The more she doesn't believe in me, the more determined I am to get in."
With a faint smile, the young man nodded and slowly pulled him down to sit. The two of them got close, and in the intimate atmosphere, illuminated by dim lights, their relationship became more ambiguous.
A hint of sweetness surrounded them, wrapping around the two figures.
Shi Qing's satisfied smile curved up at the corners of his mouth. His narrow eyes squinted slightly as he leaned in closer to Zhuo Junli:
"Today's a day off, and we have plenty of time."
Zhuo Junli clearly had the same idea. He smiled, looking a bit smug, which was quite rare.
"I've got something special to show you."
Shi Qing smiled knowingly, his eyes filled with hidden meaning.
"It must be something valuable."
Then, he watched as Zhuo Junli pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket.
Shi Qing: "..."
He watched as Zhuo Junli unfolded the paper and handed it to him, his expression stiff.
At the top, it was written: [Winter Vacation Study Plan].
Zhuo Junli: "You see, I've analyzed your current progress and study speed to create this plan. It includes your weak subjects and how to overcome them. You're more suited for textbooks from People's Education Press. If you follow this plan during the winter vacation, your grades will improve to at least the top ten."
"Though it's not extremely high, at least you'll be able to keep up with the class progress. If you continue to work hard, there's still hope for A University. If not, we can go to B University; it's actually not that bad. You don't have to attend the best university."
Shi Qing: "..."
With an "enthusiastic" gaze, he stared at the study plan held by that slender hand.
"What a precious... treasure."
Zhuo Junli's face turned slightly red, but his eyes were shining with happiness.
"As long as you like it."
"I like it. Of course, I like it."
The school bully picked up the study plan and examined it closely.
"I, Shi Qing, will attend the best university."
"Just study; that's enough."
He added, "But you have to accompany me."
Of course, Zhuo Junli would accompany Shi Qing. This summer vacation, they practically spent it together.
Studying.
Countless nights, they were in the same room.
Doing! Homework!
The guest room's lights never came on because Zhuo Junli slept in Shi Qing's room. After all, every night before going to sleep, they cuddled under the warm blankets.
Usually at this time, Shi Qing would turn on the air conditioner, wearing thin pajamas that revealed his pretty ankles, monopolizing the youth's embrace.
Back! To! Textbooks!
Apart from occasionally touching his hand, kissing his cheek, and nuzzling his nose, when they went to sleep, he would snuggle into his lover's arms.
Nothing else happened.
Zhuo Junli didn't feel that anything was wrong with this; he continued to study while helping Shi Qing. After the winter vacation, Shi Qing's grades did indeed improve.
Then, he started to find creative ways to "torture" his little brothers.
During the winter vacation, the little brothers had indulged themselves due to the lack of supervision. Although their grades didn't drop to the level before they started tutoring, they certainly couldn't compare to their pre-vacation levels.
Then, they were forced to study by Shi Qing.
Others were motivated because they could see someone worse off than themselves. They thought it was great to have a chance to see someone worse off.
They always felt that since Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli had become close, Shi Qing had become more and more eccentric.
For the teachers, it was like a drastic change. They had become good students, not only at their own school but also guiding other students in their studies.
For Shi Qing's abusive father, it was a year of disaster because he frequently ended up with broken limbs and hands.
The college entrance exam was quickly approaching.
There was almost a sea of people outside the exam hall.
Of course, these people were not students but parents.
The students were inside taking the exam.
When taking the last exam, Shi Qing wrote very quickly, his gaze determined and focused.
A passing exam proctor looked at him and nodded in approval.
This must be a high-achieving student with great confidence.
High school parents were waiting outside.
Because cars were not allowed to stop near the exam site, they rented a small shop across the street, sipping milk tea while waiting.
Shi Qing's father, a man of culture and refined manners, wore a suit and spoke softly:
"They're inside taking the exam, and we can't help them. Why do we have to wait outside?"
"This is tradition, parents wait for their children during the college entrance exam."
Shi Qing's mother sipped her straw, her eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of her, and her hands flew over the keyboard, multitasking as she answered her husband:
"If we don't come to watch our son take the college entrance exam, he might think we don't care about him."
Shi Qing's father: "He already thinks we don't care about him."
He fell silent for a few seconds but couldn't hold back any longer. "Why did you bring me here? You could have come by yourself. It's bad enough that you brought me along, but you won't let me bring anything. I'm just sitting here bored."
Shi Qing's mother stopped what she was doing and raised an eyebrow at her husband. "Why are you always so thoughtless in your actions? Don't you know the situation at Junli's home? His alcoholic father would never come to see him. You're here to fill in as his father figure, do you understand?"
Shi Qing's father suddenly realized and adjusted his glasses in a cultured manner. "Right, I forgot about that. I'm the one who broke his father's leg this time."
For some reason, that guy wanted to interfere with Zhuo Junli's college entrance exam. Maybe it was because, as Zhuo Junli grew older, he realized he couldn't control his son anymore, or perhaps he didn't want to see Zhuo Junli, who had no affection for him, get into a good university and have a bright future. When Shi Qing's father found out, he broke the man's leg again. With a broken leg, he couldn't come to accompany his child during the college entrance exam, not that he could have done it even if he hadn't broken it.
"Boss, boss."
A towering bodyguard, at least six and a half feet tall, incredibly muscular, and wearing all black with sunglasses, arrived. He easily made his way through the crowd.
When he reached Shi Qing's father, he placed a laptop in front of him. "Your computer, boss."
"Good, thank you."
Shi Qing's father smiled gently, opened the laptop, and began working.
Tong Xinyu's parents each grabbed a small stool and sat under a tree. Tong's mother had been distracted by the intimidating bodyguard earlier and had kept an eye on him. Seeing him enter the shop, she stood up and looked around.
"Mom, one, two, three, four, five, five bodyguards. Who are these people?"
Tong Xinyu's father sat on a small stool and fanned himself with a fan. "Why do you care who they are? They're definitely parents here to accompany their children during the college entrance exam."
"That's true. I don't know what's going on with Xinyu today."
"She should be fine. Didn't she say she wanted to go to A University? She wouldn't say that without some confidence, would she?"
"I remember her saying she wanted to go to A University because she wanted to continue eating dog food. Old Tong, did you starve her when I was away on a business trip? Why would our child want to eat dog food?"
"I didn't starve her; I took good care of her. Besides, we don't even have a dog at home."
"Could she be under too much pressure or have some issues? Today, there's still time to ask. Why don't you ask her?"
"How should I ask when I didn't even hear her clearly? I was driving."
The couple argued playfully while the other parents suddenly began to move.
"They're coming out!"
"Some students are coming out!"
After coming out, Zhuo Junli stood within a banner, not going outside. He didn't wait long before Shi Qing arrived.
A smile lit up on the youth's face as he approached Zhuo Junli. The school bully put his hand on Zhuo Junli's shoulder, eager to call Shi Qing's mother.
"Are they out?"
In the small shop, Shi Qing's mother answered the phone. "We're waiting over here with your father."
"Oh, alright. Well, today is Shi Qing's 18th birthday, and Junli and I are going to a hotel."
Shi Qing's father heard the commotion and stopped typing on his keyboard. He raised his glasses and waited for his wife to hang up before asking, "What's going on? Aren't they coming over?"
"They're not coming."
Shi Qing's mother closed her laptop. "Today is Shi Qing's 18th birthday, and he and Junli went to a hotel."
Shi Qing's father furrowed his brows. "This kid always acts like this. Why doesn't he at least have some cake before leaving?"
"Alright, don't waste any more time. Let's go, have a meal outside. What are you doing?"
Shi Qing's father sent a message on his phone. He then looked up, his cultured face wearing a gentle smile. "I reminded the kid to use protection."
"Right, you should remind him of that. By the way, you should tell them to go to the hotel I booked last month. They've reserved a room for them."
After sending the message, the couple left together, with bodyguards both in front and behind them.
Shi Qing eagerly pulled Zhuo Junli to the hotel. Along the way, his face turned red.
He had never looked into such matters in detail before to avoid getting distracted. When they got into the car, he blushed and began searching for information on his phone.
Seeing this, Zhuo Junli leaned in close to Shi Qing's ear and whispered softly, "Don't look at that. I'll teach you later."
Zhuo Junli's face turned even redder while taking a shower at the hotel.
In order to ease his nervousness, Shi Qing pulled open the curtain in the bathroom and tried to encourage and comfort him. However, for some reason, Zhuo Junli seemed to become even more nervous.
Then, in an attempt to make him less tense, Shi Qing turned off the lights in the room. His original intention was to turn them on again after everything was done. Unexpectedly, the room remained in darkness until the next morning when the sunlight finally streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The system had tried to come out several times but was met with obstacles. Now, it cautiously emerged, relieved when it saw no mosaic. It then noticed its host lying on the bed, looking both satisfied and conflicted.
The complexity stemmed from experiencing both fulfillment and heartache at the same time. The system, concerned, asked, "Host, what's wrong with you?"
Shi Qing replied, "...Tongtong, I'm not feeling too good."
The system offered, "Don't worry, Host. What's wrong? I can activate a cheat code for you."
Shi Qing declined, "No, I've already experienced your cheat code."
Shi Qing added, "But why doesn't this room have a treadmill?"
The system questioned, "?"
Shi Qing continued, "Oh, there's only a floor-to-ceiling window."
The system inquired, "??"
Shi Qing explained, "I'm not saying it's bad, just a bit chilly."
Shi Qing continued, "It's a pity I'm just an ordinary person. Even though my spirit is active, my body can't keep up."
The system wondered, "???"
Shi Qing sneezed.
The door opened from the outside, and Zhuo Junli, who had gone to get breakfast, entered the room. He heard Shi Qing sneeze and quickly put the breakfast down, then sat cautiously on the edge of the bed.
"Are you catching a cold?"
Shi Qing replied, "A little."
Shi Qing looked at the young man, who seemed guilty, and reached out to touch his own forehead, saying nonchalantly, "It's okay, I'll sleep it off tonight."
But Zhuo Junli still felt guilty, saying, "It's all my fault."
"How can you blame yourself? I was the one who dragged you to the window."
As Shi Qing spoke, he looked towards the floor-to-ceiling window and commented, "This design is really nice. Let's have one like this in our future home."
Zhuo Junli's face turned even redder. While gently massaging his lover's head, he replied softly, "Alright."
"And about the treadmill you mentioned last night, I'll remember that too."
Satisfied, Shi Qing closed his eyes and began to catch up on his sleep.
During this enjoyable holiday without the need to study, Zhuo Junli started his entrepreneurial journey. In his first year of college, he purchased a house that belonged to both of them. In his second year of college, he self-taught himself how to buy a house with a swimming pool. In his third year of college, despite not originally planning to, he bought a car that had no vibrations inside or outside when running. After graduation, Shi Qing was still appointed to his father's company.
In the second year after graduation, he and Zhuo Junli received dinner invitations together. In the third year after graduation, they got married.
They couldn't officially register their marriage in the country, but holding a wedding ceremony sufficed.
Tong Xinyu attended as a classmate.
She sat in the classmates' seats, listening to the classmates whispering around her.
"I could tell something was off with Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli a long time ago. They just didn't show much physical affection, so I didn't think much of it."
A former hooligan who had succeeded in his career added, "You guys didn't know, but it's perfectly normal. Shi-ge and Zhuo Junli are both cunning. The things they want to hide, you can't possibly know."
"But I have to say, I'm truly grateful to Shi-ge. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have met them. Otherwise, how could I be where I am today?"
Another classmate who later got into a university chimed in, "Yeah, I think it must have been during college. In high school, they didn't seem to reveal anything."
Tong Xinyu: Haha.
Tonghan Tangled Legs, Shoulder Support in Class, and Hand-holding during Class - Shi Qing practically hung on Zhuo Junli throughout their time together. And you still think they didn't reveal anything?
A group of blind people.
Next to her, her husband served her crab and placed it in her bowl. "Xinyu, have some crab."
Tong Xinyu leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, dear."
The two of them began to enjoy their crab intimately.
Shi Qing and Zhuo Junli's wedding didn't cause much of a stir, probably because they weren't public figures. It wasn't until they both made it onto the rich list at the age of thirty, with an entertainment account sharing Zhuo Junli's photos, that people realized he was a young and successful self-made entrepreneur.
Fans flooded in.
The entertainment account also gained a surge in followers, and after tasting the sweetness, they began to dig into this handsome and wealthy guy phenomenon. Eventually, they uncovered Shi Qing.
Fans on both sides began to argue about who could rightfully claim the title of the first handsome guy in the wealthy circle. This debate continued until both of them simultaneously posted wedding photos, announcing that they were partners.
Fans were left speechless.
Oh my goodness!!!
While Zhuo Junli and Shi Qing didn't make many public appearances, their names were always in the air. People knew they were high school classmates, college classmates, and that they got married three years after graduating. Informed sources had revealed that photos of Shi Qing had actually surfaced when he took over the company, but they were taken down within three hours by higher-ups. The same applied to Zhuo Junli.
However, there were former employees of Shi Qing's company who had disclosed that Zhuo Junli often came to see Shi Qing. He appeared gentle to outsiders, but he was very critical of the people around Shi Qing, especially his secretaries. Shi Qing might be the only CEO whose secretary was a middle-aged, balding man.
For the sake of fairness, Zhuo Junli's secretary was also a balding middle-aged man. As a result, the rumor of him being the "Jealous King" began to circulate.
People knew that Zhuo Junli appeared gentle on the outside, but his few instances of anger and resource utilization were all for Shi Qing. For example, when Shi Qing turned thirty, a female celebrity took a photo of him at a banquet to gain publicity, making some ambiguous statements about him. Afterward, Zhuo Junli bought the entertainment company she was in. As a result, the celebrity didn't appear on the screen until her contract expired.
He proved that just because someone looks good and has a gentle demeanor doesn't mean they have a good temper.
Shi Qing was someone who enjoyed having fun. Unlike his workaholic parents, he preferred to delegate his company's tasks to others and enjoy himself. For Shi Qing's sake, Zhuo Junli retired at the age of forty-three. He abandoned work and traveled around with him.
The deaths of the two of them were not publicly announced. It was only when all their assets were donated to charity after their deaths that the outside world learned of their passing. The only confirmed fact was that they chose to be cremated, and they were cremated together.
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the task. Please choose: 1. Rest, 2. Continue with the task.]
Shi Qing lay on a lounge chair and replied, "[1]."
[Ding! Please get ready; you are about to enter the vacation world.]
When Shi Qing opened his eyes, he saw a man kneeling before him. The man was dressed decently, but his words weren't as polite as his appearance.
He was saying, "Sir, as long as you can tell me where my mother received that jade bracelet, I'm willing to trade my mother's remaining life for it!"
Shi Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and quickly checked his memory. In this world, he played the role of a Demon King who intentionally tempted people to exchange precious things for other items, but he had a rule: no trading for money.
The man in front of him was attempting to exchange his mother's life for the jade bracelet.
The man was still pleading, "My mother is in a vegetative state now, but she must have some life left. Sir, please help me. I'm in debt because of gambling, and my mother lives alone. Now, as a vegetable, she can't tell me where the bracelet is. I need that bracelet to clear my debts and turn my life around!"
Shi Qing leaned back and examined the man from head to toe, his eyes filled with disdain. "You have no conscience, you're not good-looking, you're not hardworking, and your health is ruined due to smoking and drinking. Your character is even weaker. You even pushed your own mother down the stairs just to satisfy your gambling habit. I have nothing to trade with you."
The man was stunned. This was completely different from what he had heard.
But he was desperate. "What can I use to trade, then?"
"I'll think about it."
Shi Qing stared at him, showing a hint of contempt. "You have no conscience, you're ugly, you're not hardworking, your body is ruined from smoking and drinking, and your character is weak. For the sake of gambling, you even pushed your own mother down the stairs. There's nothing you can offer."
"I do have something! I do!" The man became even more anxious. "I'm doomed if you don't help me!"
"Fine, but you can't directly trade for the bracelet. You can use your voice to exchange for something else."
"Voice..."
The man thought about the creditors waiting outside, clenched his teeth, and nodded. "Alright! My voice! What can I exchange it for?"
"Your mother raised a cat, right?"
Shi Qing yawned.
The man thought for a moment. "Yes, she had a cat. A friend gave it to her."
"Do you remember the breed?"
"I remember! I remember! It's a British Shorthair!"
"Since your mother left home after selling the family property, she's been living with only that cat. It knows where the bracelet is. You can use your voice to exchange for the ability to understand what the cat says. However, your voice has been tainted by smoking and drinking and is quite unpleasant. You can only exchange for one sentence. You can choose it yourself."
The man said, "I'll do it! I'll do it!"
The bracelet was worth millions according to what his mother had said, but she refused to sell it to clear his debts because it was a gift from his deceased father. She even hid the bracelet.
With this bracelet, he could not only pay off his gambling debts but also turn his life around.
"Good."
Shi Qing reached out and gave him a piece of paper. "Sign here. Your voice in exchange for one sentence spoken by the British Shorthair that your mother raised."
"Once you've asked the cat your question, you will lose your voice. It doesn't matter, as it will tell you what you want to know."
The man eagerly signed his name. He didn't care about anything else and rushed out of the room.
When he opened his eyes again, he was at his mother's place. He opened the door and saw the cat.
Shi Qing sat on a beam inside the room, swinging his legs and humming a song, in a very good mood, watching the man and the cat face each other.
"Quick, tell me, where's my mother's bracelet?"
The cat opened its mouth:
"@#￥#￥￥@%&#"
The man didn't understand a word. "???"
He wanted to ask more questions but found that he couldn't produce any sound.
Shi Qing looked at the man, who was now dumbfounded and crestfallen, with satisfaction. He then jumped lightly from the beam and picked up the cat, patting its head.
"Good child."
"You speak French really well."
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