Chapter 24: High School Entrance Exam… It's always like this, a little too tight…

On a clear summer day, accompanied by the intermittent chirping of cicadas outside the window, the sound of exam papers being flipped through in the classroom was clear and melodious, the diligent clacking of 2B pencils and erasers intertwined until the final announcement sounded, signaling the successful conclusion of their high school entrance exam.

Gu Ci methodically put away his pencil case and, as he emerged from the exam room, spotted Shang Zui, pen in mouth, joking with his classmates.

Shang Zui, a dance talent, had already been admitted to Xichen's high school program. Taking the high school entrance exam was merely a formality. In other words, as long as he took the exam, even if he ranked last, he could still stay in Xichen.

This explained his constant state of mind.

But the end of the high school entrance exam was indeed a cause for relaxation. While not as grand as the college entrance exam, it was a monumental event for them in their student days.

Seeing Gu Ci emerge, Shang Zui abandoned his bickering. His eyes sparkled, and he threw his arms around Gu Ci, wishing he could soar to the heavens.

"Ahhhh, Gu Ci! We're finally free!"

"I've been sitting for so long, my butt's almost numb!"

Gu Ci's eyes curved, and he patted Shang Zui's back embracingly, praising him, "Congratulations, Shang Zui! Happy junior high graduation!"

Shang Zui whimpered and hugged Gu Ci tighter, "We both want to be happy!"

Then he thought, "You're such a good student, you'll definitely get into Xichen. We'll be good friends then!"

Gu Ci smiled and agreed, "Okay!"

Shang Zui's emotions surged, and he hugged him even tighter.

Holding someone in front of someone else's classroom wasn't going to last long, but Shang Zui, still immersed in the joy of saying goodbye to junior high, held Gu Ci tightly, refusing to let go.

Passing by many unfamiliar classmates, and seeing that most of the people in the nearby exam hall had left, Gu Ci had no choice but to quietly remind them, "Shang Zui, let's go back to the classroom quickly. We have graduation photos to take later."

As soon as he said this, a figure appeared in his sight.

Gu Ci's eyes slowly moved upwards, and then he was stunned.

He quickly coaxed Shang Zui, "Be good, we're leaving."

Shang Zui reluctantly let go, turned around, and saw the person across from him. He gasped, his expression more terrified than if he had seen a ghost.

"Huo Wenyuan... don't you have to take the high school entrance exam? Why are you here in our exam room?"

Huo Wenyuan crossed his arms and glanced indifferently at him, who had just lowered them. His tone was extremely hostile: "If I hadn't come, how long would you have held him?"

Shang Zui was startled again. Even though his hair was standing on end, he still bravely confronted him: "You... what kind of question is that? Gu Ci isn't yours, so why can't I hold him?"

Huo Wenyuan sneered: "You try?"

"..." Shang Zui swallowed and shamefully kept silent.

If he was not mistaken... the veins in Huo Wenyuan's hands were almost unconcealable. If he argued again for the sake of face, he felt like they would hit his face in the next second, and his arm would be useless. You must be kidding!

That was someone who could take on five people at the age of eleven. How could a long-limbed, long-legged, fragile shark like him, a ballet dancer, be his match?

Seeing the awkwardness in the room, Gu Ci walked over in time, reached out, and tugged at the corner of Huo Wenyuan's shirt.

Huo Wenyuan's aloofness visibly faded.

Gu Ci raised his eyes to look at him, two shallow dimples appearing on his fair, soft cheeks: "Let's go, Brother Wenyuan."

"Don't scare Shang Zui."

Huo Wenyuan: "..."

Staring at Gu Ci's delicate hand, he grasped it directly in his palm, not even refusing to glance at Shang Zui, and led him out. Before

Gu Ci could react, he was caught off guard and led away, his five fingers firmly restrained, leaving him no strength to break free.

He quickly turned his head and reminded Shang Zui to go along.

Shang Zui shook his head in shock, his eyes almost popping out, looking at the backs of Huo Wenyuan and Gu Ci, and spat out a "6" with a look of despair on his face.

... Never mind, who told them to be "brotherly and respectful"? After all, living under the same roof, it's understandable that they have a good relationship.

So, in front of the school building, ablaze with hydrangeas and roses, white doves flew by. Gu Ci and Huo Wenyuan, the "close friend," stood on the last row of stairs, their arms and shoulders pressed together beneath their snow-white school uniforms. Shang Zui, standing

nearby, tactfully chose to interact with the students nearby.

The photographer gestured, "Okay! Class, one more. Look at the camera and make the gestures. Three, two, one!"

"Cheese!"

Two developed photos fluttered in the wind, landing in two different places in the Huo family's home.

One was on the nightstand with a Labubu doll, next to a cute lamb water bottle.

The other was placed next to the Endless Summer hydrangeas blooming on the desk. In the frame, the boy in the photo smiled brightly, while the boy next to him pursed his lips, his eyes slightly dull.

A certain lizard, adept at reading people's expressions, had become accustomed to skirting the sensitive areas designated by its owner. The books on the bookshelf grew increasingly sophisticated, and soon, the hydrangeas were about to enter their second bloom.

"Hey, why are these two little hydrangeas looking a little dejected?"

Walking into the room, Gu Ci came in as usual to water the hydrangeas that had just begun to bud, but suddenly found that the nearest flower seemed to be a little abnormal.

He carefully reached out to support the flower head, then tilted his head to carefully examine the roots, without even noticing when Huo Wenyuan approached.

"Brother Wenyuan, you didn't do anything to them, did you?"

He was only away for three days to participate in the city's biology competition finals. These flowers were fine before he left, so why did they become like this when he came back?

Huo Wenyuan stared at the white skin behind Gu Ci's ear, his expression unchanged, "Maybe they are not used to you being away."

Gu Ci looked at Huo Wenyuan in the same posture as before, with obvious suspicion in his eyes.

"They don't know who's watering them, so how could they not be used to it?"

Thinking of this, Gu Ci stood up straight, as if he was going to interrogate Huo Wenyuan: "Did you water them?"

Huo Wenyuan answered every question: "Yes."

Gu Ci: "Then did you move them to a place where they can get some sun?"

Huo Wenyuan: "Yes."

Gu Ci frowned: "That shouldn't be the case..."

"Okay." He was about to check again, "Then you go ahead and do your work, Brother Wenyuan, I'll take a look."

After saying this, Huo Wenyuan showed no intention of moving.

Gu Ci placed one hand on the leaf that showed signs of yellowing. Seeing that Huo Wenyuan still didn't move, he asked in confusion: "Brother Wenyuan, what are you looking at?"

Huo Wenyuan replied without blinking: "You."

"Huh?" Gu Ci obviously didn't realize that this would be the answer. He put down the leaf awkwardly and said, "What's there to see about me? Besides... didn't we have a video call?"

Huo Wenyuan's tone was strangely resentful: "You only called me on the first day you arrived, and you haven't replied since then."

And, if he remembered correctly, that idiot from the Qu family was there too.

"Ah!" Gu Ci reacted instantly, apologetically saying, "Sorry, the teacher asked for my phone, so..." He

hadn't replied for three days.

But, as soon as he got his phone back today, he immediately replied to all the messages!

Huo Wenyuan's lips pressed together in a straight line, and after a long pause, he snorted.

Gu Ci knew this was a sign of him sulking.

It was strange, but since they'd met, no matter what, Huo Wenyuan had never lost his temper with him. But he had the temper of a young master after all, and when things didn't go his way, he would only snort coldly.

He lowered his head and apologized softly, "I'm sorry, Brother Wenyuan, I know I was wrong."

Huo Wenyuan remained unmoved.

It seemed he was truly angry.

Gu Ci took a step forward, tentatively opening his arms to embrace Huo Wenyuan: "How about... a hug?"

Based on his past experience, no matter how angry Huo Wenyuan had been, a hug would melt away all his temper.

It worked every time.

Sure enough, as soon as he approached, Huo Wenyuan lowered his eyes, and with a deft, powerful hand, he expertly scooped him up and pulled him into a hug.

The scent of vetiver mingled with oakmoss filled his face, and Gu Ci burrowed obediently into Huo Wenyuan's embrace. The tight embrace left him unable to do anything but flutter his eyelashes.

...It was always like this, a little too tight.

A year later, sixteen-year-old Huo Wenyuan had grown not only in height and strength compared to fifteen, but also in an unyielding spirit.

In short, he was even more unreasonable.

He bit his lip softly, thinking, "He should be calming down by now, right?" He

held on for who knows how long, until Gu Ci's legs gave out, and Huo Wenyuan reluctantly released him.

Ever since Gu Ci arrived at the Huo family's home, they'd barely been apart, whether it was going to school, holiday gatherings, or vacation trips. These three days were probably the longest they'd ever been apart.

To say he didn't miss her would be a lie; he hadn't expected to miss her so much.

Eating, reading, sleeping... Gu Ci's presence was everywhere. The thought of Qu Zhi beside him only deepened his displeasure.

He began to regret turning down the finals for the Mathematical Olympiad.

"But congratulations," he said, his tone softening, unnoticed. "Congratulations to our Gu Ci on winning the finals."

Gu Ci's cheeks puffed slightly. "Thank you, Brother Wenyuan!"

Thinking the matter was over, Gu Ci was mulling over how to revitalize the hydrangeas when Huo Wenyuan pressed, "I heard Qu went too?"

The smile froze.

Gu Ci, sensing something was amiss, turned his head and cautiously admitted, "...That's right."

He'd almost forgotten that Huo Wenyuan didn't seem to like Qu Zhi very much.

As expected, Huo Wenyuan's face darkened. Afraid the young master would be angry again, Gu Ci quickly explained, "But he and I aren't in the same group!" "

You know, the competition schedule is very full, and he and I don't have much time to communicate."

As for Qu Zhi asking him to have dinner and practice together... Gu Ci thought about it and concealed it slightly.

This was to make Huo Wenyuan feel better, so it shouldn't be considered a lie, right?

Huo Wenyuan's face brightened slightly, but he still asked doubtfully, "Really?"

In his opinion, even if Gu Ci ignored Qu Zhi, the shameless one would still stick with him.

He had indeed been careless. What if he gave up the gold medal? He should have followed him.

Gu Ci's eyes were clear: "Really!"

Huo Wenyuan finally let him go.

There was a knock at the door.

They turned around and saw the auntie who usually watered the potted plants downstairs.

The aunt was holding a spray bottle in her hand and asked Huo Wenyuan politely: "Master, I have mixed another bottle of nutrient solution as you ordered. Should I bring it in for you?"

Gu Ci: "?"

After sending the aunt away, Gu Ci, holding the spray bottle, looked at Huo Wenyuan in disbelief.

"Brother Wenyuan, you didn't... feed them three meals of nutrient solution in three consecutive days?"

Huo Wenyuan coughed unnaturally.

Gu Ci: "..."

The case was solved, there was a traitor.

Huo Wenyuan felt the need to explain something, and said in a stiff tone: "I'm afraid they are not getting enough nutrition."

Gu Ci raised his face angrily, and even his usually good-tempered face couldn't help but complain: "But now they are overnourished."

"If you are worried about nutrition problems, there is no need to feed so much."

Huo Wenyuan stared at Gu Ci's soft cheeks. He should have apologized, but for some reason, he felt something in his heart and couldn't help but reached out and pinched it.

Gu Ci: "?"

Did you listen carefully?

Huo Wenyuan finally put down his hand: "I'm sorry."

Gu Ci's big black eyes widened, and he put his hands on his hips and accused: "You were the second in biology in the last monthly exam. I will never trust you again!"

He promised so well before leaving, but he immediately failed when he came back.

But Huo Wenyuan had a very good attitude: "You are right."

Gu Ci: "...Alas." He

accepted his fate.

While trimming the yellowed leaves with gardening shears, he muttered softly: "How can I trust you to take care of the flowers in the future..."

Huo Wenyuan asked back: "Don't we have the first in biology here?"

Gu Ci couldn't help but glare at him again: "Do you think I have to take care of all your flowers in the future?"

Huo Wenyuan shook his head, looked at Gu Ci's profile and said: "In my life, I probably only need to take care of one flower."

"Huh?" Gu Ci asked curiously when he heard Huo Wenyuan have such an idea for the first time, "What kind of flower needs to be taken care of for a lifetime?"

Huo Wenyuan: "You."

Gu Ci: "..."