Wednesday evening.
Tan Jing emerged from his family’s study with two photo albums in hand. He spotted Jiang He in the living room, measuring Great Handsome for a collar to make clothes for it. He walked over, sat on the sofa on the other side of the little dog, and helped her hold the naughty, uncooperative Golden Retriever Puppy steady.
Jiang He often did handicrafts in her free time and had a habit of keeping records. She had taken plenty of photos of Tan Jing and Tan Wan from childhood to now, and she regularly printed them out and bound them into albums.
Seeing the photo albums Tan Jing had brought out, Jiang He asked curiously, “What are you suddenly digging these out for?”
Tan Jing replied, “Just reminiscing about the old days.”
Jiang He glanced at him and asked meaningfully, “A Jing, are you dating someone lately?”
“Hm?”
“Don’t play dumb,” Jiang He said. She had experience with this. “You’ve been glued to your phone these past few days, just like your sister back in high school when she was in an online romance.”
Tan Jing smiled. “Not yet.”
Jiang He caught the implication in his words. “So it’s about to happen? Is it that Omega you mentioned liking last time? When are you bringing them home to meet us?”
Her enthusiasm even infected Great Handsome, who was being measured. The little dog’s tail wagged like a propeller.
Tan Jing patted the dog’s head to make it stand still obediently. “It’s still early.”
Seeing his unhurried demeanor, Jiang He started worrying for him first. “It’s not early. The New Year is coming up soon, and after that, it’ll be spring again. You…”
“Mom,” Tan Jing interrupted her, “I want to be with him not just so he can help me through my Susceptible Period.”
Jiang He fell silent for a moment.
Due to his poor health growing up, Tan Jing had matured earlier than his peers and become sensible sooner. Even as a child, he had his own ideas and could handle basic things independently. Once he made a decision, no amount of persuasion from others would change his mind.
Since he put it that way, he must really like that kid a lot. Even if they got together before the next spring, he probably wouldn’t bear to let them take the risk of accompanying him through his Susceptibility Period.
Jiang He understood and respected his decision, but she still felt heartbroken for him.
She sighed. “Everyone else thinks being S-Rank is so great, but I wish you weren’t. At least then you wouldn’t have to suffer like this every year. Last Susceptible Period, you lost ten pounds in less than a week.”
“It’s fine,” Tan Jing smiled. “I’ve gotten used to it.”
After helping Jiang He finish measuring the little dog’s dimensions, Tan Jing took the photo albums back to his room. He selected a suitable one, scanned it into a digital version, and uploaded it to the Fan Support Group.
The group immediately exploded.
-Little Strawberry! You’re my god!
-Ahhh, the president in this photo looks so youthful!
-Little Strawberry, what was your relationship with the president in middle school? How do you have so many of his photos!
-More more more!
Tan Jing ignored the group’s praises and questions. After uploading the photo, he set his phone aside, grabbed some clothes, and went to take a shower. After showering, he leisurely blow-dried his hair, sat down at his desk, and only then picked up his phone to check.
From Monday to Wednesday, he had used the Little Strawberry account to post one or two photos every night. Today, there was finally some movement.
He Siheng: Bro, you’ve got quite the stockpile.
The words carried a soft barb. He Siheng was less patient than Tan Jing had thought.
Tan Jing curved his lips and replied in a tone completely different from his own: I like him so much, so I took a lot (≧v≦)
The other side took a moment to respond: What do you like about him?
Little Strawberry: Everything (／v＼)
Little Strawberry: He’s handsome, warm-hearted, and used to teach me problems every day back then ovo
After sending the messages, Tan Jing unconsciously touched his nose. Praising himself did feel a bit embarrassing. He had to delete this account after using it.
On the other side, He Siheng saw Little Strawberry’s replies and couldn’t help but inwardly complain. Was this the same Tan Jing he knew? Wasn’t the filter Little Strawberry put on Tan Jing a bit too thick? And he could actually say it out loud.
Little Strawberry sent another message: I’m pursuing Tan Jing, you’re not mad, right? _(：з”∠)_
An inexplicable question.
He Siheng: Why would I be mad?
After a pause, he added: There are so many people in the group who like him. If I got mad at each one, I’d explode from anger?
Seeing his reply, Tan Jing tugged at the corner of his mouth.
You’re pretty open-minded.
He used to get all jealous over Tan Wan’s boyfriend, but when it came to him, his heart was suddenly so broad?
Tan Jing tapped his index finger idly on the desk as he thought. Since the fire hadn’t caught, he’d add more fuel.
Little Strawberry: Good you’re not bothered ╮(￣▽￣)╭
Little Strawberry: Then can you give me advice on how to chase him? (#^.^#)
He Siheng: ?
He Siheng: Bro, aren’t you getting too familiar? We haven’t even chatted much.
Little Strawberry: I’ve messaged a bunch of people, but you’re the only one responding to me T^T
…So you’re really just casting a wide net to fish.
He Siheng looked at Little Strawberry’s reply speechlessly and rejected without hesitation: Can’t help you with that.
Little Strawberry: Do you want payment? I can give it! (T~T)
Before He Siheng could refuse again, the other side sent a photo of Tan Jing.
He Siheng coughed violently. Was Tan Jing’s photo some kind of transaction currency?!
And this photo was different from the one posted in the group—it was a pool photo of Tan Jing. It seemed recent, closer to his current age.
Most importantly, Tan Jing in the photo was… half-naked.
He Siheng couldn’t help but look a few more times. This guy really had a great physique—broad shoulders and back, lean waist and abs, every muscle perfectly proportioned. It wasn’t overly bulky and menacing, nor skinny and flat. His abs were like neat, uniform blocks of white chocolate, full and powerful.
Realizing he’d stared too long, He Siheng quickly looked away, his ear roots burning. Why would I want that?
Little Strawberry: Don’t you like his body? If it’s not enough, I have more=v=
He Siheng: ……
This guy was really generous. Others would hide the person they liked away, but he shared half-naked photos so freely.
