Chapter 65: And Who Decides This Deadline?

The young girl had no interest in listening to his jokes. She reached out and pushed the arm he had placed in front of her, with surprising force, wanting to leave.

Bian Yang wouldn’t let her go. He braced himself against the wall, leaning in even closer.

His handsome face was right before hers, and he continued talking to himself, “On the road outside Qingyuan School, there was a little duckling standing in line. It wanted to line up perfectly with the duckling in front, but no matter what it did, it just couldn’t line up. So it got anxious. Guess what it said?”

Tang Yu’s expression didn’t change; she refused to look at his cheerful face.

Bian Yang freed one hand to gently pinch her puffed-up cheek. “It muttered, ‘Why can’t I line up right, I’m sorry, duck, I can’t line up right, I’m sorry!’”

Hearing his drawn-out, exaggerated tone, Tang Yu couldn’t help but let a small smile slip, though she quickly pressed her lips flat again.

Don’t think you can just gloss things over like this.

But Bian Yang saw her smile, and he felt his little trick hadn’t been wasted.

He curved his lips, his voice softening, coaxing, as if afraid to scare her away. “Tell me, what are you really upset about? You won’t even eat with me anymore. What kind of little brother acts like this, giving his big brother the cold shoulder? You’re so mean, Tang Xiaoyu.”

His standing as her “big brother” seemed to be diminishing day by day.

Tang Yu was quiet for a moment, then let out a gentle breath. She lifted her head to look at him, her expression serious. “Bian Yang, what kind of work do you want to do in the future? What kind of person do you want to become?”

“Hm?”

Tang Yu’s lashes trembled slightly. “You teach me English, tirelessly listening to the lyrics with me over and over, helping me improve my grades. You clean up the apartment before I get there, so I don’t have to do chores and have more time to review and work through practice papers. When I say I’ll choose whatever major leads to the best paying job, you tell me that any field, done to the utmost, can bring success, and that you’ll help me find what I truly like… You keep encouraging me, helping me discover the things I’m good at, so I can keep moving forward with more confidence.”

She took a soft breath, her voice muffled. “All along, you’ve been helping me. You know all about my family, everything about me, but I hardly know anything about you.”

Bian Yang lowered his head, watching her quietly.

Her hands were clenched, refusing to relax.

“Bian Yang, what about you? Is there something you want, a path you want to follow?”

Tang Yu’s lashes fluttered, and she bit her lip hard, gazing up at him. “The college entrance exams are coming soon. Opportunities like this to change our lives don’t come twice. I want you to do well, to have more choices in the future. So, can you stop cheating on your tests? Can you stop sleeping in class? Can you study seriously… Can we get into university together, keep moving forward together?”

In the closed space, only their breathing broke the silence.

She stared at him, unmoving, her eyes growing red.

Under the gaze of her dark, almond-shaped eyes, Bian Yang felt his heart soften.

He reached out and gently brushed her eyes, cupping her cheeks, his fingertips softly caressing her skin.

He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Tang Xiaoyu, so this is what’s got you upset.”

She wants the best for him, wants him to have more choices, wants to move forward side by side…

But did she realize her words held another meaning?

“Tell me, why do you want to take me with you, why did you choose me and no one else?”

He curled his lips and asked, “If we’re moving forward together, how far are we supposed to go, how long will it last, and who decides when it ends…”

Tang Yu stared into his deep eyes, dazed.

His questions threaded through her mind like strands of silk.

She hadn’t thought about any of this. She just didn’t want to see Bian Yang waste any more time.

He was so good at teaching her, so why couldn’t he apply it to himself?

So she said, “Don’t think so far ahead. Let’s just keep moving forward. No one can predict the future, but we shouldn’t waste the present.”

Bian Yang shook his head. “But every step I take has to be for the future.” He tapped her nose with a finger, blinking at her. “So if you want to bring me along, you have to plan my future for me.”

She squirmed at his touch, feeling ticklish.

She rubbed her nose, dissatisfied. “You have to walk your own path. Why should I plan for you?”

Bian Yang replied matter-of-factly, “Is it so hard to include me in your plans for the future?”

Then he clicked his tongue. “Tang Xiaoyu, you’re so fickle. Just now you said you’d take me with you, and now you want to go your own way. I see, girls’ promises are all just lies to trick me.”

“Bian Yang.” She was still holding back her annoyance, but his careless attitude made her angrier. “I’m being serious. Can’t you be serious for once?”

A smile flickered in Bian Yang’s eyes. “Fine, fine, I’ll be serious. At your command, President Tang.”

Tang Yu’s expression was earnest. “Let’s not talk about anything else for now. The next two exams are science and English. You’re good at English, so you need to do your best on the paper. As for science, you have to try your best, too. No more copying from me.” She paused, fuming, “And I won’t let you copy anymore!”

Bian Yang laughed. “Really?”

Tang Yu pressed her lips into a line and glared at him, the message clear—absolutely not.

Even she could throw a tantrum now.

“Tang Xiaoyu, you’re terrifying,” he sighed. “Fine, I won’t copy.”

Tang Yu reminded him, “You need to take the exams seriously. After the tests, I’ll check your mistakes and we’ll go over them together.”

Bian Yang straightened up a little, crossed his arms behind his head as he leaned against the wall, and sighed, “I have no authority left as the ‘boss’ anymore.”

Seeing he was still so nonchalant, clearly not taking her words to heart, Tang Yu couldn’t help kicking him, landing a blow on his calf.

Bian Yang was stunned for a second, then bent over clutching his leg, his brows twisted in pain. He shouted, “Tang Xiaoyu, you’re ruthless! Look at what you’ve done, it’s definitely swollen now!”

Tang Yu knew she hadn’t used much force, and he seemed to be pretending. “Oh, come on! I’m not falling for your tricks again!”

“It hurts! It really hurts!”

He couldn’t straighten up, and squatted down on the spot.

Tang Yu watched him for a while, noticing the fine layer of sweat on his forehead. He didn’t look like he was faking it at all.

She grew anxious and tentatively reached out to touch his hand. “Bian Yang? Are you okay?”

“I didn’t use much strength. I’ll take you to the infirmary!”

Her delicate, fair hand had just touched his muscular arm when the boy hooked his arm around her neck, half draping himself over her.

“What infirmary? Let’s go eat. I skipped lunch because you were mad at me. I’m starving.”

Being half-dragged along by his arm around her neck, Tang Yu realized she’d been tricked again.

She was about to get angry when Bian Yang whispered in her ear, “I promise I’ll do my best on the last two exams.”

His warm breath tickled her ear, and she looked up at him.

Unable to resist, Bian Yang pinched her soft cheek. “But remember, you have to include me in your future plans. We can’t go our separate ways, all right?”

Though he leaned on her, Tang Yu didn’t feel any real weight.

She snorted, “Well, you’ll have to get into Qingbei University first.”

Then, after a pause, she quickly added in a small voice, “But it’s okay if you don’t.”

“Hm?” Bian Yang looked down at her, smiling.

Tang Yu pulled his arm off and dashed ahead.

Bian Yang stuck his hands in his pockets and followed slowly behind.

The sunlight mingled with the shadows of the camphor trees along the road, falling across her slender figure—her school uniform in blue and white, her smooth hair lifting slightly as she ran.

When she noticed he hadn’t caught up, she slowed down and looked back at him. Her face was bare of makeup, clean and pure, her eyes equally bright and clear.

“Bian Yang, hurry up!”

He loved the way she called his name, as if those syllables were filled with boundless vitality.

Bian Yang lowered his gaze, the corners of his mouth quirking downward.

So, it looks like he’d have to eat his words…

He’d once sworn never to return to that wretched place, but now—he was going back.

The little girl was determined to get into Qingbei University. What else could he do, but follow wherever she led?