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Psst! We're moving!
Jiang Beibei followed Chu Yao to a neighboring city, where the streets were lined with blooming magnolia trees. Her heart blossomed along with the clusters of white flowers.
Now, she was no longer like before, struggling to find the right words when alone with Chu Yao.
She reminisced, “When I was in university in X City, there was a path just like this, lined with many magnolia trees. In the second semester of my freshman year, just after school had started, I was walking down that path and received a text from you saying the retest list was out and you’d been accepted... Although I knew it was a mass text, I was still very happy. That’s when I suddenly noticed the magnolia trees were in bloom, so beautiful... just like now. Later, every time I passed that path, whenever I saw the magnolia trees, I thought of you.”
Chu Yao said, “That wasn’t a mass text.”
“Huh?”
Chu Yao continued, “The day the acceptance list came out, the first person I thought of was you. I didn’t dare call you because I was afraid you’d discover my feelings and distance yourself from me. So I sent you a text and waited for your reply. You were the first and the only one.”
Jiang Beibei was momentarily stunned, her heart filled with both sweetness and bitterness. “But I… but I also didn’t dare… didn’t dare reply too quickly.”
Her hesitation mirrored his. When she received the text, she didn’t dare reply immediately, fearing that being the first to respond would reveal her feelings. So she waited a long time before finally sending the congratulatory message she had already prepared for Chu Yao.
—Just checked the school’s acceptance list. Passed the retest and got accepted. —That’s great! Congratulations, Brother Yao!
That reply took Chu Yao half an hour to receive. Only after receiving Jiang Beibei’s reply did he remember to notify others, so he quickly typed “Got accepted” and sent it as a mass text.
“There’s a magnolia tree under the anatomy building at my school,” Chu Yao suddenly said. “I remember the magnolia path at your school was famous. That year, when I came out of the anatomy building and saw that magnolia tree, it reminded me of you.”
“Chu Yao, are you speaking sweet words to me?”
“Yes.” Chu Yao gazed at the magnolias outside the car window and smiled.
She would never know how he felt when he thought of her that day.
He wasn’t born fearless of those corpses. That day, a body was delivered to the anatomy building—a rather ordinary one—but it reminded him of many dark stories behind it.
It was as if all the ugliness in the world was placed before his eyes. At that moment, repeatedly telling himself to stay calm didn’t solve the problem. Over five years, all the cruelty and darkness of human nature, everything tied to death, threw his heart into chaos and disorder.
Exhausted, with nowhere to rest.
But when he looked up and saw the magnolia tree, Chu Yao thought of the distant girl.
Her face always carried a smile. Now, her familiar and comforting smile magically lit up his heart. Like a spring bringing clear, gentle morning sunlight into the depths of an abyss, it illuminated the darkness within him.
Jiang Beibei meant more to him than anyone else could understand.
She was the only force in his life that could heal and comfort him. As long as she remained vibrant, his heart could continue to beat.
So he watched over her, tenderly cared for her, and carefully drew strength from her smile to keep moving forward. In the end, he fulfilled his wish by dedicating his life to her.
Protecting her, protecting everything about her.
“I’m very lucky,” Chu Yao softly laughed. “I’ve thought about it countless times—what if you fell in love with someone else, giving your smiles to him, and I could never have them again… I was afraid of that. But even more, I feared that when I told you I wanted to monopolize your smile, you’d seal it away forever and never give it to me again…”
So, I’m very lucky that you like me.
The learning exchange meeting was essentially more like a small seminar, held in a lecture hall at a university.
Jiang Beibei originally planned to stroll around the campus while waiting for Chu Yao to finish.
However, a white-haired professor saw her standing outside and asked what she was doing. She replied that she was waiting for someone.
Professor: “Family member?” Jiang Beibei: “...Yes.”
The professor then said, “Then come in and wait. It’s fine, come in.”
There weren’t many participants—only about a hundred people filling half of the tiered lecture hall.
Chu Yao’s appearance and demeanor made him stand out no matter where he sat. Jiang Beibei quickly spotted him but was startled by the glasses he was wearing.
My Brother Yao… is nearsighted?
Chu Yao hadn’t expected Jiang Beibei to come in. He pointed to the empty seat beside him and lowered his head to organize his lecture materials.
Jiang Beibei hurried over, sat down, and her eyes remained glued to Chu Yao, never leaving his face.
She had always thought that among the brothers, only Qin Yuan wore glasses.
Chu Yao smiled, turned his head to look at her, his eyelashes trembling slightly with the smile, thick and black.
Yao Lan once said that Chu Yao perfectly fit genetic expectations, clearly showing that his parents’ relationship was good and free of betrayal.
Chu Yao’s eyes and chin resembled his mother’s, while his facial features and aura were like his father’s. Compared to his father, known as the cold-faced beauty, Chu Yao’s appearance was more likable, especially when he smiled—it was infectious, just like his mother’s.
“Never seen this before?” he whispered.
Jiang Beibei nodded vigorously. “You’re nearsighted?”
“I thought I could hide it until after marriage.” Chu Yao chuckled secretly. “The prescription isn’t strong. Does it look bad?”
“It looks good!”
“Mm, then I can relax.” Chu Yao withdrew his gaze, smiling faintly, and added, “Don’t compare me to others. I’ll get jealous.”
Jiang Beibei swallowed the words she was about to say—that he looked better than Qin Yuan—and almost burst out laughing.
The three-hour exchange seminar left Jiang Beibei understanding only the first three minutes. Determined not to lose points for Chu Yao as his family member, she managed to refrain from touching her phone for the entire three hours.
Midway through, Chu Yao went to the podium to discuss developments and applications of hydrolysis technology for cadavers. Having done some homework beforehand to learn more about his work, Jiang Beibei understood only the gist. Resting her chin on her hand, she gazed at the podium with a dazed smile.
During brief pauses, Chu Yao would glance at her and smile. Their eyes communicated silently.
After Chu Yao returned to his seat, an elderly professor from the research institute asked him, “The last few times I saw Chu Yao, he never smiled. I wondered why he kept smiling today—it turns out he brought his family.”
Embarrassed, Jiang Beibei blushed furiously.
“Little Chu, next time tell us how to find a girlfriend. That’s very practical, and everyone wants to hear it. What does your family member do? She doesn’t look like one of us.”
“Ah? Me?” Jiang Beibei stood up as if called upon by a teacher. “I’m a journalist at CCTV.”
Someone whispered, “From ‘The People Around Us.’”
Perhaps pretending to be hard of hearing, Professor Hu cupped his ear and asked, “Speak louder. Do you know her?”
“Professor Hu, do you watch ‘The People Around Us’?” The person raised their voice slightly. “Probably... She looked familiar the moment she walked in.”
“Is that so? A well-known journalist!” the professor exclaimed delightedly. “Having journalist friends is great. In the future, they can help publicize our professional status, research achievements, and personal stories.”
Though perhaps spoken in jest, Jiang Beibei straightened her expression and nodded solemnly. “Definitely.”
Ten years ago, Jiang Beibei thought Chu Yao was the most mature among her brothers.
Five years ago, seeing Chu Yao teasing Song Dami with a fish jerky, his cunning smile making the cat drool uncontrollably with human intelligence, Jiang Beibei decided that Yan Qingming was more mature. Chu Yao was quietly mischievous.
Now, Jiang Beibei believed that if there were a ranking of rogues, Chu Yao would undoubtedly top the list.
Brothers Two and Three couldn’t hold a candle to Chu Yao.
After the exchange meeting ended, Jiang Beibei and Chu Yao returned to the hotel. They booked a standard room, and Chu Yao spent the afternoon typing up a paper.
Jiang Beibei watched TV all afternoon. When night fell, they went downstairs for dinner. Upon returning, Jiang Beibei said she was tired and wanted to shower and sleep.
Chu Yao hummed in acknowledgment and continued reading.
When Jiang Beibei emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a bathrobe, she saw Chu Yao doing push-ups.
“Are you exercising?”
“I’m preparing,” Chu Yao answered.
Jiang Beibei immediately understood but didn’t know whether to walk away or ask.
Chu Yao: “Come here.”
“What are we doing...” Jiang Beibei nervously bit her nails, slowly shuffling over.
Suddenly, Chu Yao sprang up like a leopard, swiftly lifting Jiang Beibei and tossing her onto the bed. He jumped on as well, pinning her down.
Startled, Jiang Beibei blurted out, “Brother Yao!! No, no, no! You haven’t showered yet!”
Chu Yao chuckled, bracing himself above her with his hands, and began doing push-ups.
He was still wearing his glasses. Jiang Beibei stared blankly, her trembling hands reaching out to remove them.
Chu Yao closed his eyes and smiled, kissing her lips as sweat dripped onto her cheeks.
Jiang Beibei clutched his hot chest tightly, her wrist vibrating with his heartbeat.
Chu Yao got up, removed his shirt, hopped off the bed, and said, “Wait for me.”
The sound of running water filled the room. Jiang Beibei covered her face, rolling back and forth on the bed, whimpering.
Soon, the water stopped, and she heard the lock click.
Chu Yao switched on the “Do Not Disturb” sign. Jiang Beibei cautiously pulled the blanket down to peek at him. Chu Yao stood by the bed, drying his hair with a towel, his wet black locks dripping water down his chin. His eyes narrowed, his gaze deep and intense.
The towel hung loosely around his waist, revealing faint outlines of his muscles below.
Jiang Beibei swallowed hard.
“Here’s a gift for you.”
He raised his hand, placing something in hers. Jiang Beibei gasped in shock.
“Ah!” she cried out instinctively.
A condom!
“Tonight, you’re responsible for putting it on.”
Jiang Beibei turned crimson, melting under his gaze.
Chu Yao sat down, pulling her into his lap, nibbling her lips and whispering, “Say hello to Yao Yao.”
His laughter was wickedly charming.
“Brother Yao, Brother Yao… you…” How could you be so naughty!
Jiang Beibei stammered, “I don’t know how!”
“I’ll teach you,” Chu Yao said. “I’m very patient.”
He untied the towel around his waist, embracing her trembling body, and chuckled, “It’s already… eager to meet you.”
With trembling hands, Jiang Beibei tore open the package, hesitantly touching him. Chu Yao let out a low groan, opening his eyes and guiding her hand gently.
“Beibei… tell me you love me.”
“Brother Yao…”
“You’re wrong. Call me by my name.” He closed his eyes, softly pleading, “Call me by my name, Jiang Beibei.”
“…Chu Yao.”
“Chu Yao, I love you…”
Tonight, the flowers were in full bloom, and the moon was bright. Their love would endure.
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