The boy in the photo grinned with wild abandon, his chin tilted up slightly as his left index finger hooked into his collar and tugged it diagonally downward. The taut line of his jaw flowed into his neck, forming a graceful arc that dipped toward his collarbone, which peeked out from the widened neckline—sharp, pale, and perfectly proportioned.
Qin Han’s throat bobbed, his gaze darkening instantly to something heavier than the night beyond the car window.
Xie Ling waited ages for a reply, then couldn’t resist tapping on Qin Han’s avatar.
Free: Aren’t you gonna say anything about my stunning good looks? [Angry cat.jpg]
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: Don’t let anyone else see this photo, okay?
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: Especially not any Alphas.
Free: Why?
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: It’s too good-looking.
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: It’ll make them hard.
Xie Ling: ?????
Free: …Bro, your way of complimenting people is refreshingly unique.
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: I’m serious.
Xie Ling stared at that message, his ears heating up in an instant.
He’d traded dirty jokes with Xiao Yanfei and the others plenty of times, even turning them on himself without a second thought—everyone knew it was just banter. But Qin Han had followed up so solemnly with “I’m serious.”
Xie Ling shook his head.
Get it together, Xie Ling. Think about it—no way he means it. Back down here and you’ll lose!
Free: So, you hard yet? [Cat propping chin.jpg]
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: Hard.
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: Want me to snap a pic for you?
Xie Ling: …
His forehead burned. Before he could respond, messages flew in from Qin Han—
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: Just kidding -0-
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: You mad?
Xie Ling let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Free: Do I look like the type to get mad at my bro?
Free: You’ve changed a lot these past few years. How many more surprises does Zhen not know about?
Universe’s Second Hottest Guy: Plenty. I’ll let Your Majesty discover them slowly.
~~~
Qin Han’s abrupt exit midway through his Student Council President debate had been the hot topic on the school forum all weekend.
Even at Monday lunch, Zhang Chengrui was still gleefully dissecting it with Xiao Yanfei and the others. “Those forum clowns are full of it. I saw Qin God bolt with my own eyes. That look on his face? Wasn’t like he felt sick or putting on a show. More like he’d lost his wife and had to chase after her…”
He was in the middle of his spiel, utterly at ease, when someone ruffled the back of his head from behind.
He whipped around to find Xie Ling standing there.
Zhang Chengrui blinked at the tray in Xie Ling’s hands. “Ling Bro, you’re carrying your own tray today?”
Xie Ling just smiled without answering and slung an arm over Zhang Chengrui’s shoulder, leaning in to whisper, “Look behind you.”
Zhang Chengrui glanced back and spotted Qin Han standing just a few steps away.
Xie Ling’s teasing voice cut in right on cue. “Spreading wild stories about your Qin God losing his wife—got a death wish figured out yet?”
Zhang Chengrui snapped to attention. “Ling Bro, save me!”
He lunged to hug Xie Ling’s waist, but the man behind him stepped up and smoothly wedged between them.
“No worries. Don’t scare him.” Qin Han slid into the seat across from Zhang Chengrui, right next to Xie Ling. “He does make sense sometimes.”
Xie Ling arched a brow. “What sense? Did you really lose your wife?”
“Not yet…” Qin Han’s lips curved up. “But the reason I ran? Just as important as that.”
Something stirred in Xie Ling’s chest. Ever since they’d cleared the air, Qin Han looked better and better to him no matter the angle.
Losing your wife was serious business. Qin Han was putting his rush to soothe Xie Ling’s heat period on the same level. A bro like that was one in a million.
Moved, Xie Ling speared a crab-powder lion’s head from his own plate and dropped it onto Qin Han’s, then clapped his shoulder. “Eat up. You eat too plain usually. Not good for growing strong.”
The two chatted away as if no one else existed. The other three at the table were dumbfounded, even the thick-headed Zhang Chengrui sensing something off.
Xia Yu and Xiao Yanfei exchanged a glance. Xia Yu ventured, “Uh, Little Lingling, you two…”
Xie Ling didn’t beat around the bush. He announced grandly, “Something came up. Qin Han and I talked it out. From now on, we’re all bros.”
Qin Han: “Dead bros?”
“Oh, right.” Xie Ling didn’t dwell on Qin Han’s addition. “And due to some stuff, Qin God’s status is a tad special. But don’t worry—no favoritism here.”
Everyone: ?????
This progression felt abrupt.
Xiao Yanfei sank into thought.
Zhang Chengrui gaped.
Xia Yu recovered first. He didn’t care about bros or dead bros—just that they’d reconciled and things were good. Little Lingling had always been big-hearted with friends!
“Awesome! Awesome! So me and the girls in the group chat can openly stan Qin God now!!”
Xie Ling chuckled. “You can even date him if you want.”
“No way.” Two voices overlapped.
Qin Han and Xiao Yanfei.
Xie Ling looked puzzled.
Qin Han smiled. “Good students don’t date early. Studies first.”
Xiao Yanfei chimed in. “Exactly.”
Xia Yu didn’t dare snap at Qin Han, so he glared at Xiao Yanfei. “Think you’re hot stuff as class monitor? Who was skipping class and fighting with Little Lingling back in first year? If I date early, you… mmph mmph—”
Xiao Yanfei shoved a piece of sweet cake into Xia Yu’s mouth. “Eat. Maybe that’ll shut you up.”
Zhang Chengrui, inspired by Xiao Yanfei feeding Xia Yu, hurriedly scooped food from his overflowing double trays onto Xie Ling’s. “Ling Bro, Qin God… I don’t know what you like. Help yourself to anything. Uh, congrats on making up and rekindling old flames…”
Xie Ling, who’d been eyeing the sweet cake on Xia Yu’s plate, sighed. “This won’t do. I’ll get you a teacher from the elementary section to tutor you on idioms later.”
Qin Han held back a laugh. “I think his idioms are spot-on.”
Xie Ling opened his mouth to retort, only to see Zhang Chengrui still piling food onto his plate—like he was about to dump a whole tray over.
“Classmate Little Zhang Rui, you’re acting weird today,” Xie Ling pointed out sharply.
Zhang Chengrui grinned sheepishly. “Ling Bro, y’know, Sports Festival’s right after National Day, and then…”
Xie Ling got it instantly. Back in first year before classes split, their group’s sports level was solid overall. But now? Academics were at rock bottom year-wide, and sports were barely passable.
As sports rep, classmate Zhang Chengrui was balding from stress.
“That all? Just the Sports Festival?” Xie Ling waved it off grandly. “Whatever events need bodies, slap my name on ’em boldly. I’ll bring back championships blindfolded.”
Zhang Chengrui teared up. “Ling Bro, you’re the man!”
He turned hopefully to Qin Han, hesitating on how to ask, when Qin Han’s phone rang.
After the call, Qin Han stood. “Sorry, guys. Got something urgent. Eat without me.”
Xie Ling frowned. “What is it?”
Qin Han: “Grandma’s at school. Heading to the principal’s office.”
~~~
Since Qin Han had barely touched his lunch, Xie Ling packed it up after eating and took it back to the classroom.
It was the whole school’s afternoon nap time now. Bored, Xie Ling headed upstairs to hang with Gu Ran.
The senior year floor—and the principal’s office—were both on the fifth floor. As Xie Ling reached the top, a stern voice rang out. “I heard from your principal that you didn’t get Student Council President. You even ran out in the final debate round.”
Xie Ling halted.
In a nearby corner, Qin Han stood with a woman dressed impeccably and severely.
Xie Ling recognized her. She popped up in news feeds worldwide, including Huaguo’s broadcasts. He’d even seen her posing with national leaders a few times.
None other than Huaguo’s—or the world’s—famed businesswoman, Madam Ye Shuanghua. Qin Han’s grandmother.
Lady Ye was on in years, but her upkeep made her look like a spry fifty- or sixty-something. Her aura, though, was no joke.
Even from a distance, Xie Ling felt the weight of her commanding presence. Compared to her, the school’s strictest demon teachers seemed like kindly grandmas next door.
Qin Han, used to it, stood unfazed before Ye Shuanghua—elegant and calm as ever. His voice stayed even. “Sorry, Grandma. I had an emergency that day, so I left.”
“What emergency made you break school rules like that?” Ye Shuanghua eyed him. “What did I teach you? Qin family members either don’t do something, or they do it best. Your two older brothers were both Student Council Presidents. You? What was this emergency?”
Qin Han skirted the question. “I know I messed up, Grandma.”
Ye Shuanghua noticed Qin Han dodging the question and frowned slightly. “I’ve heard that you’ve written several self-reflections in just the past month here at school, and every single one seems to involve the same person?”
Qin Han hadn’t expected her to know so many details. “It has nothing to do with anyone else. It’s all my own fault.”
“Protecting someone that fiercely?” Ye Shuanghua arched an eyebrow. “Are you two dating?”
Qin Han’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists.
Ye Shuanghua was a bit surprised to see him fall silent.
She had only been probing casually at first, but judging from her grandson’s reaction, it seemed there really was something going on.
Remembering how Qin Han had defied her wishes to return from the United States, she said, “No response means you’re admitting it.”
“You know our family rules better than anyone. If I decide to punish you, you won’t have any complaints, will you?”
“Qin Han!” A clear voice rang out just before he could reply.
Xie Ling walked over. “There you are. Qianqian says there’s a pep rally for the Sports Festival at noon—we need to hurry back to class.”
With a cheerful grin, he greeted Ye Shuanghua. “Hello. I’m Xie Ling, Qin Han’s classmate. Those first two self-reflections were all my fault.”
As he spoke, he slung an arm around Qin Han’s shoulders in a buddy-buddy embrace. Right in front of Ye Shuanghua, he flashed a bright, fearless smile. “So, what do you think—do I look like your grandson’s wife?”
