Chapter 24

Jiang Mian had assumed Chen Gu would use his condition as an excuse to call him every day, but clearly, he had been judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.

That, however, was a relief.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see Chen Gu or felt any kind of aversion. He simply didn’t know how to navigate their relationship or how to interact with him going forward.

A buffer period to sort out his thoughts was for the best.

Especially since…

Jiang Mian felt his questions that night had been far too pointed. He suspected Chen Gu had understood his true intent, and that was why he had answered the way he did.

If that were the case, he was even more clueless about how to face Chen Gu.

The entire way home, Jiang Mian wondered if Chen Gu had already guessed something.

After all, Chen Gu was just as perceptive as him in certain ways.

But Chen Gu hadn’t said anything more at the time. Even when Jiang Mian said he didn’t need to be walked out because of traffic, Chen Gu hadn’t insisted.

It’s so hard.

Jiang Mian slumped on the sofa, sighing countless times.

He couldn’t focus on his videos or calmly memorize legal statutes, so he eventually picked up his tablet and searched for “Touch Starvation.”

His recent search history was filled entirely with topics related to this condition—”causes,” “how to treat it,” “can it be cured,” “what are the symptoms.” He had read through everything, practically turning himself into a new psychologist.

As he read, his mind wandered, unbidden, to the look in Chen Gu’s eyes when he had said those things.

Chen Gu’s eyes were beautiful.

The way he had looked at him then… it was as if his eyes could hold no one else but him.

What finally snapped Jiang Mian out of this tangled mess of thoughts was a notification in his class group chat.

He had failed his Physical Fitness Test last semester. There was no makeup exam, but he had a summer assignment: a 50-kilometer Health Run.

And now, Jiang Mian still had 50 kilometers left.

The counselor directly tagged everyone who had failed the fitness test, reminding them that there were only ten days until school started. If the 50-kilometer Health Run wasn’t completed, they would lose credits.

Credits were crucial—they determined whether one could graduate.

And the counselor, who could see the backend data, specifically tagged Jiang Mian: 【@Jiang Mian, Study God Jiang, you still have 50 kilometers left oh :)】

Jiang Mian: “…”

That message instantly drew out many lurking classmates, including Chen Yishen.

He joked: “Professor, our Lawyer Jiang’s brain has run way more than fifty kilometers. Can’t we count mental exercise too?”

【Counselor: (knife emoji) (knife emoji) What do you think?】

【Chen Yishen: @Jiang Mian, bro, I can’t help you. May the odds be ever in your favor.】

What else could Jiang Mian do? He could only reply “1” to the counselor to indicate he’d received the message, then resignedly check the opening hours of the nearest indoor gymnasium to his home.

In this weather, running the Health Run outside under the blazing sun wouldn’t just take effort—it would burn through a whole box of medicine for heatstroke in no time.

“Brother!”

Chen Gu opened the door, glanced at Chen Yishen, turned around to go inside, and motioned for him to put on shoe covers. “What are you doing here?”

Chen Yishen set the thermal flask he was carrying on the cabinet. “Mom asked me to bring you some Silkie chicken soup. The chicken is fresh, and she added deer velvet mushrooms. It’s really fragrant.”

Chen Gu glanced at it but said nothing.

As Chen Yishen put on his shoe covers, he added, “She also wanted me to ask you—she ordered a box of really good crabs for tonight, wants to know if you’ll come for dinner.”

“No need.” Chen Gu gathered all the papers scattered on the coffee table and tucked them into a kraft envelope. “I don’t like them.”

Chen Yishen wasn’t low on IQ, just EQ. He knew Chen Gu wasn’t refusing because he disliked crabs. He was refusing something else. What exactly, he had to guess.

So he made a sound of acknowledgment. “Brother, my stepdad is a good guy. You don’t have to worry.”

Chen Gu looked at him calmly, saying nothing.

He had never quite understood. They had been separated at a very young age. How could Chen Yishen still call him “Brother” so naturally?

And not just naturally—Chen Yishen acted as if they had grown up together, without the slightest awkwardness or distance.

Chen Gu lowered his eyes. In the end, he didn’t respond to that. He just turned on the TV.

His attitude was clear enough. Even Chen Yishen understood.

So Chen Yishen could only deflate and lower his head.

But not two seconds later, he immediately lifted his head again, sat down on the single-seater sofa, and said to Chen Gu, “Oh right, Brother, let me tell you, Jiang Mian is really miserable.”

Chen Gu lifted his eyelids. “What happened to him?”

Completely oblivious to the instantaneous shift in Chen Gu’s demeanor, Chen Yishen cheerfully recounted how Jiang Mian had failed his Physical Fitness Test and was now stuck with a summer Health Run of 50 kilometers—and how Jiang Mian still had all 50 left.

Chen Gu raised an eyebrow. Didn’t that mean Jiang Mian had to run five kilometers a day for the next ten days?

He pictured Jiang Mian’s slender arms and legs, and quietly pulled out his phone to search for indoor gyms near Jiang Mian’s home.

But aloud, he asked, “How did he fail the fitness test?”

“We have a basic test and a skill test. The only part Jiang Mian passed was the skill test—and that was tennis.” Chen Yishen explained. “For tennis, you just need to serve over the net, hit, and control the ball. He managed that.”

“Don’t you have makeup exams?”

“We do. Problem is, there are only two chances. Jiang Mian failed the first one, and the second one was this summer assignment.”

Failing even the makeup exam was truly a bit unusual.

Chen Gu said nothing. Chen Yishen continued on his own. “But Brother, don’t think Jiang Mian is bad at sports and that’s it. His brain is seriously amazing. Do you know how he studies law?”

Chen Gu tilted his head slightly. “You said it was his father’s influence?”

“I’m not talking about why he chose law. I’m talking about how he passed the exams.” Chen Yishen recalled Jiang Mian’s glorious achievements and couldn’t help but click his tongue in wonder. “In his second year of high school, he joined a competition class and won a national first prize. Then he represented the country in a global competition and won a gold medal.”

“It was already senior year, around April, just two months before the College Entrance Exam. Countless universities threw offers at him, giving him guaranteed admission spots. Especially the Institute of Technology at our school—they offered Jiang Mian a scholarship close to a million. And what did Jiang Mian do? He said he wanted to take the exam.”

Taking the exam wasn’t even the issue. The professors, thinking a “genius” like Jiang Mian must have his own quirks, told him not to feel pressured, that even if he didn’t do well, they’d still be happy to accept him.

Then Jiang Mian said he wanted to apply for the Law School.

That stirred up a hornet’s nest. The professors, and the teachers who had guided Jiang Mian in competitions, all thought Jiang Liaoyi was forcing him. For a while, Jiang Liaoyi was getting calls every day.

It wasn’t until Jiang Liaoyi repeatedly emphasized that he supported all of Jiang Mian’s decisions, that every choice Jiang Mian made was of his own free will, that the professors reluctantly believed him. Even then, they kept working on Jiang Liaoyi, saying it was a waste of talent for Jiang Mian not to go into science and engineering.

Finally, Jiang Liaoyi brought Jiang Mian to have a talk with all the demon-like professors eyeing his son like a piece of prized Tang Monk meat. Only then did they reluctantly give up.

Because Jiang Mian truly wanted to study law. He genuinely wanted to work in this field.

But they still harbored a sliver of hope.

To participate in the competitions, Jiang Mian had practically skipped normal classes for his entire second and third years of high school. The Law School at South Boundary University had very high admission scores—it was a top-tier program, minimum 650. If Jiang Mian didn’t pass, he would be theirs.

Then, two months later, the College Entrance Exam ended. About half a month after that, the Institute of Technology professors wailed in despair.

Jiang Mian hadn’t just passed. He had entered as the Liberal Arts Top Scorer of the entire South Boundary region.

Chen Yishen marveled, “Brother, tell me, is that brain even human? Being a math competition god is one thing, but then coming back to ace the liberal arts exams as the top scorer? He only had two months! Two months!”

Chen Gu’s grades weren’t bad, but they weren’t at Jiang Mian’s heaven-defying level. “He’s very impressive.”

He also found it a little hard to imagine how Jiang Mian had pulled it off. Yet, thinking that these honors belonged to Jiang Mian, it somehow felt only natural.

Chen Yishen added, “And do you know what they call him in our Law School?”

Chen Gu raised his eyebrows, gesturing for him to continue.

So Chen Yishen said, “The Walking Law Code.”

“Less than two months into his first year, he could recite every single legal statute without opening a book or searching anything.” Chen Yishen then remembered something else, rambling disjointedly, “Oh, and another funny thing. When we first started, our main professor said that as soon as the College Entrance Exam results came out, the professors from the Institute of Technology next door severed all ties with them. They even deleted their contact on DingDong, hahaha. They think our law professors stole their prized disciple.”

After Chen Yishen finished, he glanced at Chen Gu.

The reason he was telling Chen Gu all this was that among all his friends, he’d noticed Chen Gu was only interested in Jiang Mian. They had even become friends. He wanted them to get closer, from friends to good brothers. It would be good for Chen Gu, good for Jiang Mian.

These two—one was his brother, the other his best friend—but both were the type who disliked socializing. What would they do once they entered society?

Chen Yishen worried himself sick.

But then he saw Chen Gu lounging lazily on the sofa, picking up his phone every few seconds, as if he hadn’t been listening at all. Chen Yishen grew even more worried.

He was about to say something else when Chen Gu suddenly put his phone away and looked at him. “Do you have other business?”

“Huh?”

“I have things to do. I need to go out.”

Chen Yishen let out an “Oh.” “Then… I’ll head out.”

He waved. “Brother, just call me if you need anything.”

Chen Gu was noncommittal.

He wasn’t making an excuse to chase Chen Yishen away. He really did intend to go out.

Because he had just seen Jiang Mian’s step count on DingDong change. It had increased significantly. He definitely wasn’t walking around at home—he had gone out.

Jiang Mian had indeed gone out.

He wore a loose tracksuit and stepped into an indoor gym with a comfortably cool air conditioner running.

Today was a weekday, so the place was very empty. Jiang Mian didn’t rush to start his task. Instead, he slowly warmed up.

He hated exercise.

Walking was okay, but running truly made him feel like life was meaningless from start to finish.

After just one lap around the perimeter, Jiang Mian didn’t want to move anymore.

He stared at his Health Run app showing “Completed: 302 meters, Remaining: 49,698 meters” and just wanted to lie flat.

Jiang Mian leaned against the wall, regulating his breath. He was just about to continue when the side door opened.

A person he hadn’t seen for two or three days walked in, carrying a bag.

Jiang Mian froze.

“Jiang Mian?” Chen Gu also looked surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Mian’s lips moved. Maybe it was because Chen Gu’s attitude was so natural and easygoing. The issue that had been troubling him for days was suddenly, easily set aside. “School makeup exam. I have to log a Health Run.”

He told the truth, showing Chen Gu his phone screen.

Chen Gu glanced at it and let out a laugh. “When do you have to submit this by? Isn’t this remaining distance… a bit much?”

Jiang Mian felt a bit hopeless. “Counting today, ten days.”

“Can you finish it?”

“I don’t know.”

Jiang Mian was practical. “I can only try my best first.”

“I’ll keep you company.” Chen Gu put down his bag, placing it next to Jiang Mian’s. Before Jiang Mian could refuse, he added, “Ever heard of the companion effect? Maybe with someone else here, you can finish faster.”

Jiang Mian hesitated, but ultimately nodded.

Running alone was indeed very boring.

Even though he wouldn’t talk while running, having someone there made the feeling different.

What’s more, Chen Gu even taught him how to breathe. “Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. You’ll feel more comfortable.”

Jiang Mian thought it felt awkward, but after glancing at Chen Gu’s muscles, he figured he could give it a try.

So after adjusting for a while, he discovered that although he was still tired, at least the dull ache in his chest was gone.

Jiang Mian jogged three laps with Chen Gu, with Chen Gu matching his pace the whole time. Aside from teaching him and guiding his breathing, he didn’t say much else to make Jiang Mian waste his energy talking.

But Jiang Mian’s stamina was truly just at this level.

Chen Gu’s body had only just warmed up when Jiang Mian braced his hands on his knees and said he really couldn’t go on.

Chen Gu looked at him. “Need a hand up?”

Jiang Mian waved dismissively, taking several deep breaths. “So tired.”

As he spoke, he was about to sit down, but Chen Gu grabbed the back of his collar and hauled him upright. “If you’re this exhausted, don’t sit down yet. Stand for a while, catch your breath.”

Jiang Mian looked up at him, feeling like a cat that had been grabbed by the scruff of its neck.

Because he could very clearly feel Chen Gu exerting force in his hand. His entire body was truly using that strength to stay standing.

Perhaps because their relationship had grown much closer recently, Jiang Mian found himself involuntarily complaining under Chen Gu’s gentle yet helpless tone. “I hate PE.”

Chen Gu raised an eyebrow slightly, letting out a soft laugh. “That’s how I felt studying chemistry.”

But for Jiang Mian, chemistry was probably also very easy.

Chen Gu thought for a moment, then extended his hand towards Jiang Mian.

Jiang Mian paused, forgetting how tired he was after four laps. “You’re uncomfortable again?”

Chen Gu stopped. “I was going to ask you to give me your phone. I’ll log the run for you.”

“That’s not very good.”

“Nothing bad about it. You haven’t exercised in a long time. Don’t push yourself too hard all at once, or you won’t be able to run at all tomorrow. You still won’t finish.”

Chen Gu hooked his lips into a smile. “Besides, I’m keeping a tab. You’ll have to complete these fifty kilometers under my supervision later.”

Jiang Mian: “?”

Are you a devil?

“Jiang Mian.” As Chen Gu took a sports drink from his bag and handed it to him, he spoke seriously. “Even though I like you, it doesn’t mean I’ll spoil you endlessly. Making you run is for your health. But exercise has to be gradual…”

Jiang Mian couldn’t quite hear what Chen Gu said after that.

Because his mind was filled entirely with those four words he had managed to forget over the past few days—

“I like you.”

Was it because Chen Gu grew up abroad?

How could he…

How could he say those four words so naturally?!

Jiang Mian pressed his lips together. An indescribable feeling spread through his heart, as if a soft piece of it had been scooped out by Chen Gu, and he couldn’t even fill it back in.

In the end, Jiang Mian handed his phone to Chen Gu.

Back in the day, when the school used the Health Run as an assignment, Chen Yishen had also logged runs for him. But back then, Chen Yishen had him help with marking key points and some handwritten homework. They were mutually helping each other.

Thinking carefully about it, he and Chen Gu were now also helping each other. And Chen Gu had said he’d supervise him later to finish the 50 kilometers. He’d just consider it a different kind of loan.

So Jiang Mian didn’t feel too burdened.

It was just that, watching Chen Gu run lap after lap without any change in expression, he silently squeezed his own slender wrist.

He figured Chen Gu was right.

He really should exercise more.

Knowing Jiang Mian’s situation and worried that logging too much at once would arouse the teacher’s suspicion, Chen Gu only ran fifteen laps with Jiang Mian’s phone. Adding the four laps Jiang Mian had run earlier, that made nineteen laps for the day. At three hundred meters per lap, they’d need to run a total of about 167 laps. Ten days would be enough.

Only, after Chen Gu finished running and returned to Jiang Mian’s side, Jiang Mian’s phone rang.

Their phones were the same brand and model, so they were easily mixed up.

Especially since both used the default ringtone. When the phone rang, Jiang Mian didn’t even immediately realize it was his own phone ringing.

Chen Gu glanced at the phone screen, a hint of confusion in his brow.

Only a string of numbers was displayed. He didn’t recognize this number, and besides, he always added contact names.

Jiang Mian glanced at it casually. He paused, then belatedly realized.

But by then, Chen Gu had already answered the call.

Both spoke almost simultaneously, but Chen Gu was still a beat faster.

“Hello?”

“Chen Gu…”

On the other end of the line, Jiang Liaoyi, who had been about to warmly tell his son he would be home in a couple of days, unexpectedly heard a slightly low, husky, and slightly breathless male voice. In the background, there was even the sound of his own son’s flustered voice.

Jiang Liaoyi: “…”