Director Wu: “……”
Director Xu: “?”
The principal and teachers, who had always believed they were successfully carrying out moral education by breaking up countless fights: “……”
Teacher Song, who had caught the two of them in the little woods on Wutong Road: “……”
The new test report from City Central Hospital was now displayed clearly on the screen. The date the results had been obtained was the very same day the Gaokao scores were released.
“When did this happen?” one of the directors asked. “At the beginning, you really were fighting! I didn’t see it wrong. Luo Zhiyu was so fierce that he sprayed soda all over you.”
“At first, we really were fighting. Usually, I was the one who provoked him. As for when we started dating in secret… It was quite a while ago, I suppose. Back then, Luo Zhiyu was still wearing the red school uniform, while I was already in the blue uniform for second-year students.” University student Xiao Yan added, “I was the one who pursued him.”
“……”
The teachers were practically grinding their teeth in frustration, but there was nothing they could do. These two students had already graduated from No. 1 High School. The school no longer had any authority over them.
And Xiao Yan wasn’t wrong, either. The school really did owe them both a public disciplinary notice.
“So, that time when you went out for the competition…”
“I made him angry. Luo Zhiyu was giving me the silent treatment that day, though it was only one-sided.” Xiao Yan thanked them sincerely. “Fortunately, all the teachers accompanying us gave us an opportunity to make up. Thank you.”
Director Wu: “……”
So Xiao Yan and Luo Zhiyu hadn’t needed anyone to break up their fight in the woods that night at all. And Luo Zhiyu, who was always running upstairs after class, hadn’t been going up there to cause trouble, either.
Xiao Yan waiting outside the Omega dormitory every morning hadn’t been there to pick a fight. He had been waiting for Luo Zhiyu so they could go to class together.
The occasional friendliness they displayed toward each other had been secret dating. Their occasional peaceful behavior had been the little quarrels of a couple dating in secret.
And after graduation, Xiao Yan had kept climbing over the school walls and coming back to visit, not to fight Luo Zhiyu, but to see him.
“I’ve been worrying about the wrong thing all this time…” Director Wu sighed.
“It’s all right.” Xiao Yan said. “We’re the ones who had it worse. We interacted normally and didn’t hide anything at all, yet aside from our classmates at U University, nobody believed we were actually together.”
“That’s all I wanted to say.” Luo Zhiyu continued. “Everyone has heard enough about studying hard. I think this result is much more interesting to you all.”
“In any case, may all your efforts and hopes bear fruit, and may tomorrow turn out exactly as you wish.”
Those were the words Xiao Yan had left here at the same time last year. Luo Zhiyu had caught that blessing and was now passing it on to those who would come after him.
After finishing his speech, Luo Zhiyu closed his laptop and offered his best wishes to the students who would be taking the Gaokao over the next two years. Then he left with his computer, paying no attention to the commotion his words had caused.
No. 1 High School had always been extremely strict about students dating in secret. Yet here were two fish that had slipped through the net.
They had been jumping around right under the teachers’ noses all along, practically shouting, Come and catch us!
And the teachers had still chosen to turn a blind eye.
You couldn’t blame the fish for being clever. The problem was that there were holes in the net.
“What was going on with the previous results?” the teachers asked, stopping the two of them to find out more.
“The earlier result wasn’t exactly a false reading,” Xiao Yan explained. “The problem was with us. We’re a little unusual.”
“I think they said we both have high-level pheromones. Unless the test is conducted during a special stage, the conventional testing methods can’t detect our compatibility.” Luo Zhiyu sat down in the empty seat beside Xiao Yan. “By the way, thank you, Director, for covering for us over the past two years.”
Director Wu was halfway through drinking his tea to calm his nerves when Luo Zhiyu’s words nearly choked him. He coughed for ages without managing to produce a complete sentence.
The principle behind it was correct, but this kid was far too blunt. He hadn’t even left the older man a way to save face.
“I give up. You two are incredible.” Sitting in the second row, Jing Ximing spoke almost to himself. “A long-distance relationship separated by a floor and a few streets. How did I never figure it out?”
“Oh my god, does Ah Cao remember Xiao Yan’s birthday? That game of Truth or Dare?” Yan Zihan was practically on the verge of tears. “Luo Zhiyu was telling the truth! Why did nobody believe him?”
“You were the first one who refused to believe me. I’ll remember that, Little Spicy Strip.” Luo Zhiyu turned around. “You even looked down on me by giving me that cheap, watered-down dare.”
Yan Zihan: “……”
Moments on WeChat—
[Fence-Sitter]: Today is our high school graduation ceremony. Let me give my friends from No. 1 High School a little surprise! [Photo of test report]
[Fan Yue] commented: Holy shit! How did they end up with an ideal compatibility rate? I can still picture Xiao Yan saying he’d show pheromones no respect whatsoever. Turns out hard work really does make up for deficiencies! QAQ
[Tangyuan Plays Hide-and-Seek] commented: ……I might not be fully awake yet. Let me go back to sleep and check again when I wake up.
[Zhang Shu Isn’t a Mochi] commented: ??? Is this real? Send it to Director Wu, hahaha! He’s going to lose his mind!
[Director Wu] replied to [Zhang Shu Isn’t a Mochi]: Smiling.jpg
The news about the two’s latest pheromone compatibility results quickly spread throughout the entire school. Teachers began discussing it in their group chats.
[Teacher Zhang, Mathematics]: I remember Luo Zhiyu very clearly. On my first day teaching Class Three, he wore Xiao Yan’s uniform and told me he was Xiao Yan. Later, when I heard about their pheromone compatibility rate, I genuinely thought they had a terrible relationship. Who could have guessed?
[Teacher Xu, Physiology]: Did something happen?
[Teacher Xu, Physiology]: Let me take a look…
[Teacher Xu, Physiology]: …Oh my god.
[Teacher Li]: We were breaking up their fights as though our lives depended on it…
The graduation ceremony ended, but the people in the auditorium lingered for a long time. Xiao Yan and Luo Zhiyu were surrounded by a group of teachers, all asking about their pheromone compatibility rate.
[Fence-Sitter]: Come over here.
[Knowing Cicada]: Coming.
Xiao Yan continued answering every question the teachers asked. Luo Zhiyu, meanwhile, went to find Jing Ximing.
Jing Ximing mysteriously pulled Luo Zhiyu into an empty corner beside the auditorium, looking as though he had something confidential to discuss.
“I could tell this morning that your pheromone scent was different,” Jing Ximing said. Having been Luo Zhiyu’s roommate for all three years of high school, he knew Luo Zhiyu’s pheromones better than most people. “What did you two do?”
Jing Ximing added, “Don’t tell me you didn’t do anything. I won’t believe you. I’m no longer the fence-sitter I used to be.”
“Ah.” Luo Zhiyu patted his roommate on the shoulder. “You people who let pheromones cloud your judgment! Back then, you never believed anything I said. And now? What do you think?”
“I deeply regret my past mistakes,” Jing Ximing replied. “How far have you two gone?”
“What do you think?” Luo Zhiyu spread his hands. “The raw rice has already been cooked into a whole pot of congee.”
Jing Ximing: “……”
“Congee… So what are you two going to do next?” Jing Ximing paced back and forth twice, analyzing the situation. “I remember the relationship between your two families isn’t good. It’s pretty famous in your industry.”
“I don’t know.” Luo Zhiyu was also troubled by this long-standing issue. “We’ll take it one step at a time. First, I need to get my hands on the household registration booklet.”
Jing Ximing: “……”
For three whole years, while everyone had deliberately turned a deaf ear and a blind eye, the two of them had relied entirely on their own determination to get this far. They were practically on the verge of getting engaged.
It was downright inspirational.
Luo Zhiyu had been thinking about the household registration booklet for a long time. Unfortunately, there always seemed to be someone at home lately, leaving him no suitable opportunity to sneak in and get it.
He continued eating and staying at Xiao Yan’s place for free. Occasionally, he accompanied Xiao Yan to class and ended up meeting practically everyone in Xiao Yan’s class.
[Luo Sixue]: There’s a banquet tonight. Are you coming home? You can meet some people while you’re here.
[Knowing Cicada]: Sure.
[Luo Sixue]: Should I invite your university boyfriend too? We could meet him.
[Knowing Cicada]: Probably not necessary. He’s busy studying.
[Luo Sixue]: Xiao Yan seems to be going, too. You two aren’t allowed to fight.
[Knowing Cicada]: ……
[Knowing Cicada]: We really don’t fight. We’re too old for that.
“You’re going too?” Luo Zhiyu pushed his phone toward Xiao Yan, letting him see the messages.
“Probably. I haven’t received the notice yet.” Xiao Yan lowered his head and continued taking notes. “I’ll drive after class. We’ll go together.”
“We’ll leave early.” Luo Zhiyu came up with a plan. “Nobody will be home tonight. Leave it to me.”
Xiao Yan and Luo Zhiyu took the elevator up from the hotel’s underground parking garage. They ran into Luo Sixue, who had just arrived. Luo Zhiyu’s older sister was wearing a little evening dress and high heels, and she froze in front of the elevator doors.
“Why did you two come together?” Sister Luo asked, confused.
“It’s on the way,” both of them answered simultaneously.
Sister Luo: “?” How exactly was it on the way? She couldn’t figure it out.
This time, Luo Zhiyu, who had already graduated, hadn’t brought homework to work on. Instead, he’d brought his headphones and teamed up with Xiao Yan to play games. Whenever someone came over, the two of them would stand up together to greet them.
“They’re unusually harmonious today,” Luo Sixue remarked absentmindedly.
“Maybe telling them to get along properly last time actually helped,” Luo Zhiyu’s father said. “There’s no need to burden the younger generation with the problems between their elders.”
“Mm.” Luo Sixue was a little distracted.
A university senior of hers had become a teacher at No. 1 High School after graduating. They hadn’t been in touch for a long time, but today, the senior had suddenly invited her to share some gossip.
[Ling Weiqian]: Xuexue, is Luo Zhiyu your younger brother? I vaguely remember you mentioning him once before.
[Luo Sixue]: ? Yes!
[Luo Sixue]: What has my brother done now?!
[Ling Weiqian]: Nothing much! It was just the graduation ceremony today, and I happened to see a pheromone compatibility test report.
[Ling Weiqian]: [Photo of test report]
[Ling Weiqian]: A theoretically perfect compatibility rate! Your little brother Luo is far too outstanding!
[Luo Sixue]: Who???
[Luo Sixue]: Xiao Yan?!
[Luo Sixue]: Wait, weren’t their compatibility rates supposed to be zero?
[Luo Sixue]: No, wait…
“Excuse me, but I’d like to ask something. What does Xiao Yan’s pheromone smell like?” Luo Sixue blurted out.
Asking about someone’s pheromones wasn’t considered very polite, so Luo Yi hurriedly shook his head, signaling with his eyes for his daughter to stop asking such a sudden question.
“It’s fine! If you want to ask, just ask. What era are we living in? What’s so impolite about asking about someone’s pheromones?” Xiao Yan’s father said proudly. “Our Xiao Yan’s pheromones smell like oranges. Fresh, pleasant, and even nutritious!”
“Oranges???” The Luo family members reacted rather strongly. “It’s actually oranges!”
“It’s nothing special, really. Just an ordinary fruity pheromone.” Boss Xiao was clearly pleased to have gotten the reaction he wanted.
What he meant, of course, was that Xiao Yan was even more outstanding.
“Uncle,” Luo Sixue interjected. “Please forgive me for asking, but… do you still have your household registration booklet?”
Not far away, Luo Zhiyu and Xiao Yan, who had just been sitting obediently on the sofa playing games, had already disappeared without a trace.