In April, another wonderful thing happened for Yan and the others.
Thanks to Brother Xiao and Sui Sui's persistent, hands-on care, the little cat Pengpeng's recovery was progressing remarkably well.
Pengpeng's two front legs had regained mobility, and with support for its hind legs, it was now undergoing quadrupedal rehabilitation training!
On Saturday, a rare weekend when Gu Jiasui wasn’t away filming, the little cat Pengpeng beca the center of attention for four people in the Bin University Campus Pet Association office.
Yan crouched on the floor, cupping her face in her hands, with her and Jue Jue keeping a slight distance, while Brother Xiao and Sui Sui stayed closer.
The now exceptionally beautiful calico cat was carefully learning to walk again, its two small hind legs dragging slightly as it relied on its front legs to propel itself forward, eventually dashing right up to Brother Xiao and Sui Sui.
Pengpeng’s big, round eyes darted between Yan and Zhu Jue’s direction.
"This is wonderful," Yan murmured, her eyes sparkling.
"It’ll be fully recovered soon."
They had witnessed Pengpeng’s gradual recovery step by step. Counting from last year until now, half a year had passed, and already two of its legs had regained function.
According to Brother Xiao, Pengpeng’s hind legs were showing increasing responsiveness to stimuli. For this little cat, who had never been able to walk or run properly since birth, the day when all four legs would carry it freely might not be far off.
Watching Pengpeng nuzzle affectionately against the two, Yan and Jue Jue quietly slipped away, feeling it was better to leave them alone for now.
"Us ordinary folks are really happy today," Yan humd cheerfully, unable to resist singing a little tune.
She had just shared a video of Pengpeng in their group chat, and everyone was thrilled.
After Yan and Zhu Jue left the Campus Pet Association office, only Gu Jiasui and Xiao Qingnang remained inside.
Despite only having full use of its front legs, Pengpeng still managed to wiggle excitedly around the two.
Gu Jiasui crouched down as the little cat licked her fingers repeatedly. Xiao Qingnang stood up, glanced around, and fetched two seat cushions from the chairs, stacking them to make it more comfortable for her to sit.
Gu Jiasui looked up, observing his actions.
"One for each of us," she said.
"I don’t need it," Xiao Qingnang replied softly, gently stroking Pengpeng’s head.
She sat while he half-knelt, both leaning forward with their heads close enough to hear each other’s quiet breaths, their fingertips occasionally brushing.
Pengpeng reveled in the affection from both sides, its eyes half-closed as it glanced between them.
Suddenly, Pengpeng scooted backward, surprising them both.
The little cat then made its way toward its bed, dragging its hind legs as it scrambled forward with all its might.
Xiao Qingnang and Gu Jiasui stood up just in ti to see Pengpeng gripping the edge of its square bed with its teeth, using every ounce of strength to tug it forward.
With its front legs and head working in tandem, the little cat clumsily pushed its bed closer and closer to them.
Until… Pengpeng finally managed to drag its bed right in front of them.
Instead of settling in, it nudged the bed toward Xiao Qingnang with its nose and mouth.
The big, round eyes of the little cat gazed up at him, and the tall young man felt his heart lt instantly.
"Pengpeng," he murmured, his usually clear voice now thick with emotion.
"Daddy’s pants are dirty, no need for your bed."
"You’re the best little cat in the whole world."
Gu Jiasui listened as his voice softened into a cooing tone, her eyes warm with amusent.
Truly, how could there be such an incredible little cat?
Xiao Qingnang picked Pengpeng up and placed it back in its bed. After both of them showered it with pets, the little cat finally closed its eyes contentedly.
Once it fell asleep, other association mbers arrived to take over, freeing the two to head to the cafeteria.
Their eating habits aligned perfectly—light, health-conscious, and avoiding cold foods.
At the cafeteria table, Xiao Qingnang first wiped the table with a disinfectant wipe, then dried it with a tissue before sanitizing his hands again.
Sitting across from each other, he glanced at the stead yam with skin still on her plate and asked softly,
"Should I peel the yam for you?"
Gu Jiasui had just taken a sip of soup. She shook her head dismissively.
"No need."
"I’m not so delicate noble."
Yam skin was perfectly edible—overly refined diets weren’t necessarily healthier, and in traditional dicine, yam skin even held significant dicinal value. His offer to peel it surprised her slightly.
"In my heart, you are delicate and noble," he said matter-of-factly.
Gu Jiasui choked on her soup, coughing lightly. eting his gaze as he instinctively reached out, she calmly shifted the topic.
"Has the date for the formal family recognition ceremony been set yet?"
At this, Xiao Qingnang’s brows furrowed slightly.
"There’s sothing I need to discuss with you about that."
Gu Jiasui’s pulse quickened for a mont before she relaxed upon hearing him ntion the gifts Yan and Zhu Jue had prepared.
"So, they’ve prepared a pair of identical peace locks—one for Lin Fan’s daughter and one for his cousin, Lin Anning?" she clarified.
Xiao Qingnang nodded. "I feel like there’s so unspoken significance behind it."
"Sounds like gifts ant for a pair of girls," Gu Jiasui mused.
"Originally, I hadn’t planned to prepare anything for Lin Anning—it felt sowhat inappropriate," Xiao Qingnang admitted, rubbing his temples.
"But Lin Fan’s cousin does seem to hold a unique place in his life."
Gu Jiasui considered this. Lin Anning had beco a frequent visitor to their dorm over the past two months, growing close to all of them.
She took a sip of warm floral tea. "Even if we don’t fully understand the reasoning, following their lead should be fine."
"Just prepare two identical gifts like Yan and Zhu Jue did."
Gu Jiasui’s eyes flickered thoughtfully. If the concern was rely Lin Anning feeling left out, Yan and Zhu Jue wouldn’t have gone so far as to prepare nearly identical gifts.
Moreover, the young couple was close in age to Lin Anning. Giving equally weighted gifts wasn’t typical among peers—it resembled more of an elder’s gesture toward a junior.
A faint suspicion ford in Gu Jiasui’s mind, though it seed almost too far-fetched.
"Either way, doing as they do won’t lead you wrong," she said firmly.
Xiao Qingnang gave a soft "Mm," sipping his tea before setting the cup down with a light clink. His gaze held hers as he replied, "I’ll listen to you."
Gu Jiasui couldn’t help but shoot him a glare. This man—lately, he’d beco increasingly bold and unrestrained. She wondered what had gotten into him today.
Since April began, the weather had grown steadily warr, though intermittent drizzles and overcast skies persisted. The humid "returning south" season left Yan and Jue Jue miserable.
In the north where they lived, spring didn’t arrive until April, and people might still be wearing their thermal underwear by then.
On this, local Chu Shen remarked, "Just wait till June or July when the rainy season hits. You two will see."
"I feel like my dry skin is turning neutral. It’s true what they say—different places nurture different people. I wonder if I’ll gradually adapt over these four years," Yan mused, touching her cheek.
When choosing universities, she and Jue Jue had considered the regional and climate differences, but that wasn’t enough reason to skip higher education altogether. With their grades, aside from Ning University, Bin University was their only other option.
For Yan and Zhu Jue, life in their second sester was much calr than the first. Perhaps it was because they’d grown more familiar with their roommates, and everyone’s routines had settled into a stable rhythm. People often disappeared to tend to their own affairs, which ant fewer unexpected encounters between the two of them.
Of course, Yan suspected that in places she and Jue Jue weren’t privy to—like Gu Jiasui’s filming sets or wherever Ding Ling vanished to for her missions—there were probably plenty of surprises. But those scenes didn’t include them as spectators.
Everyone had their own lives and stories, and they were no exception.
Lately, it had been drizzling nonstop. Though the rain was light, it was still annoying. On weekends, Yan and Jue Jue couldn’t be bothered to go out, afraid of getting caught in a downpour.
But today, despite staying on campus, the weather cleared up beautifully. After lunch, the two strolled around, soaking in the rare midday sunshine.
"I need to dry out this dampness. Hang on, let ask who’s in the dorm so I can take my quilt downstairs to air out," Yan said, sending a ssage in the group chat tagging everyone. Yi Zhi replied quickly, saying she was around and could help with the quilts.
Yan tilted her head back, gazing at the sky—a clear blue with only a few scattered clouds.
"Heaven and earth, hear my plea—no rain today, or at least wait till we’ve brought the quilts back in," Zhu Jue chanted solemnly, hands pressed together as if performing a ritual. Yan burst out laughing.
"Great Sage Zhu works his magic, praying for the sun god to linger a little longer," Zhu Jue declared with mock gravity.
Yan mimicked a martial arts salute. "Ritual power activated—politely declining the rain god."
The two dissolved into giggles, but Yan’s phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed it was Lin Anran.
It was Saturday—shouldn’t their family of four be together? Why was she calling out of the blue?
As soon as Yan answered, Lin Anran’s excited voice spilled through the speaker.
"I heard a celebrity ca to our school today—Ling Hong!"
"Huh? A celebrity? I didn’t hear about that," Yan said, bewildered, though the na did ring a faint bell. Wasn’t he so male idol?
"They’re filming at the Foreign Languages Building this weekend. I saw leaked photos online. They’ll probably shoot in other spots too. I’m heading back now to try and get an autograph!" Lin Anran’s voice vibrated with excitent.
After hanging up, Yan tilted her head at Jue Jue. "Is Ling Hong so future A-lister? Lin Anran’s so hyped she’s rushing back."
Zhu Jue pondered. "By the ti she’s an adult, he’d be in his forties… maybe an award-winning actor by then?"
"Alright, let’s go scout a good spot for her. At least outsiders can’t just waltz onto campus."
Their aimless wandering instantly turned into a mission to the Foreign Languages Building to spectate.
The star’s pull was undeniable—even on a Saturday noon, students were flocking toward the building, so even breaking into a run.
One after another, Yan and Jue Jue exchanged a glance and reluctantly joined the jogging crowd.
The students on campus were orderly, crowding around just to catch a glimpse. Yan and Zhu Jue stood hand in hand for a while, straining to spot the celebrity.
"Where is he?"
"He’s coming out now!"
"What’s the show about? So campus drama?"
The curious onlookers tossed questions back and forth, but no one seed to know.
"Ahhh! Ling Hong is so handso!"
Yan listened to the squeals around her, expressionless. From this distance, all she could see was a tiny head—how could anyone tell he was "so handso" from that?
Their position happened to be along the path leading away from the building. Less than a minute later, Yan and Jue Jue finally got a clear view of the male star nad Ling Hong walking toward them. Students leaned out of the building’s windows, cheering and calling his na.
"Pretty fair-skinned," Yan remarked honestly. To avoid inciting fury, she kept to herself the thought: Wonder what foundation shade he’s wearing.
"He’s the pretty-boy type! During New Year’s, he played the imperial son-in-law in that cultural show—so dreamy!" a nearby student chid in.
The comnt made Yan and Jue Jue freeze.
"You an Treasures Through Ti?" Yan asked.
"Yeah, the one with Gu Jiasui from our school! She played the princess."
"I watched it! Honestly, the son-in-law didn’t quite match the princess."
"Are you kidding? They were everything!"
The chatter around them jogged Yan’s mory—Ling Hong had played Sui Sui’s on-screen husband in Treasures Through Ti. They’d even briefly ntioned him during a hotpot night at ho.
Ling Hong’s appearance matched the public consensus: a classic pretty boy—tall, slender, fair-skinned, with above-average features. But overall, his looks didn’t strike Yan as particularly breathtaking.
As Ling Hong and his entourage of assistants and security moved past, the cheers and waves intensified. So thrust out notebooks and pens for autographs, but Ling Hong waved them off.
"Thank you, everyone, but we’re still filming."
"Really feeling the love from the students here!"
Yan checked the ti. Lin Anran still hadn’t arrived, and Ling Hong was about to leave. She and Jue Jue prepared to go too.
"How’s your experience at Bin University so far?" soone in the crowd called out.
"Amazing—the kind of place I’d never get into," Ling Hong joked.
"Too bad we’re only here briefly for filming. I wish I could stay longer. And I didn’t even run into our beloved princess."
"The son-in-law longs for his princess, yet fate keeps them apart!"
Yan and Jue Jue in the crowd: !!!
Ohhh boy.
Seriously, dude, you don’t have a halo over your head—what kind of drama are you stirring up?
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