Chapter 18

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After leaving the treasure-hunting hall, Xi Shi’s mood had completely lifted. Only then did he realize the mall looked somewhat familiar.

“Hey, bro, isn’t this the mall next to Yuying Middle School?”

Jing Chen gave a brief “Mm.”

“That’s my old high school. I haven’t been back since graduation. Wonder if it’s changed much.”

“Want to check it out? It’s Saturday, so probably no one’s around.”

Xi Shi chuckled, “Getting in wouldn’t be impossible. Bro, did you ever sneak over the wall when you were in school?”

Jing Chen: “...No.”

“How can you call your school life perfect if you never climbed over a wall? Come on, I’ll show you how to make up for that.”

Xi Shi eagerly pulled Jing Chen toward the elevator. “We’ll drive to the north gate. I know the perfect spot to climb over.”

Jing Chen: “...”

Could he refuse? But seeing Xi Shi so eager, Jing Chen finally gave in.

Next to the north gate of Yuying Middle School was a construction site. At night, it was deserted—a perfect place for such a covert operation.

“Bro, over here.”

Xi Shi shone his phone’s flashlight while standing beneath a brick wall, beckoning Jing Chen.

The wire fence meant to keep students out was broken, so they could get in by climbing over the wall.

“Bro, hold the light for me. I’ll show you my cat-like wall climb.”

Handing his phone to Jing Chen, Xi Shi rubbed his hands together seriously and jumped in place to warm up.

Then he sprinted, leapt at the wall, grabbed the top edge with both hands, pushed off with his feet swiftly, and hoisted himself up with his arms.

Perched on the wall with feet dangling, Xi Shi grinned proudly at Jing Chen. “Not bad, huh?”

Jing Chen: “Clearly an expert at ditching class.”

Xi Shi laughed at the tease and held out his hand. “Come on, let me pull you up.”

Jing Chen stepped to the wall, reached out his hand—but instead of grabbing Xi Shi’s, he placed two phones in his palm.

Xi Shi was about to set the phones on the wall and grab Jing Chen’s hand when Jing Chen suddenly grabbed the top of the wall with both hands, vaulted up halfway, then pushed off with his feet and landed on top.

Wow.

Xi Shi was dumbfounded. This was like some martial arts move!

“Bro, have you trained before?” Xi Shi finally found his voice.

Jing Chen replied casually, “Picked up a bit of basic boxing and kicking from someone.”

With Jing Chen’s background, some self-defense skills were necessary; otherwise, he’d be helpless against kidnappers or attackers.

Xi Shi: QAQ

He wished he had even a little of that boxing skill.

Inside the wall was the school playground, almost unchanged since Xi Shi’s high school days.

—the familiar smell of the rubber track, the nearly ornamental soccer field, the basketball courts that were never empty, and the girls’ favorite badminton courts—all exactly the same.

“That basketball court hasn’t been expanded. Back then, we used every trick imaginable just to grab a court,” Xi Shi said nostalgically, looking at the hoop.

High school was probably the most carefree and joyful time in a student’s life.

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“You still play basketball?” Jing Chen asked.

“Hmph, don’t underestimate me. If I hadn’t spent most of my time studying, I would’ve been captain of our team.”

Xi Shi went to the basketball hoop, clapped his hands twice as if bouncing an invisible ball, then crouched and jumped, striking a perfect shooting pose.

Jing Chen watched his energetic back with a smile.

Suddenly, Xi Shi’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Jing Chen. “Bro, they didn’t change this hoop!”

“So?”

“I hid something under it back in high school. Wonder if it’s still there.”

Excited, Xi Shi bent down, sliding his hand into the gap beneath the hoop’s base—just wide enough for his palm—and probed upward.

“Got it!”

He said happily, pushing hard until a small rusty metal box fell to the ground. He pulled it out smoothly.

Jing Chen was surprised that the hidden item from high school was still there. He crouched down to help hold the flashlight and saw a palm-sized flat metal box covered in rust.

“Bro,” Xi Shi held up the box and offered it to Jing Chen, “I’m giving you the most important thing I left from high school!”

Jing Chen hesitated, then took it.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course! Open it and see.”

Xi Shi took back the phone and illuminated the box.

Under Xi Shi’s expectant gaze, Jing Chen pried open the rusty lid. Inside, unlike the corroded exterior, the metal gleamed like new.

Inside was a cardboard sword, with a paper scroll beneath it.

Jing Chen picked up the scroll and read: “Chosen son, seeing this sword is like seeing your father. May you inherit my will, wield this sword to slay demons, and walk the path for your father.”

Jing Chen: “…………”

Xi Shi laughed so hard he pounded the floor. “Son, do you like the great sword your dad gave you?”

Jing Chen knew it was a prank. Xi Shi probably stashed the box there for some student to find someday—unexpectedly, it took two years, and now it was him.

“Cringy,” Jing Chen shook his head but carefully returned the cardboard sword and closed the box.

Confiscated.

At that moment, a strong beam of flashlight suddenly shone on them, followed by an angry shout nearby.

“Who are you two? How did you get in here? What are you sneaking around at this hour?”

Xi Shi and Jing Chen were startled, especially Xi Shi, who had been happily pounding the ground but now sat down abruptly.

“Run!”

Jing Chen stood, grabbed Xi Shi’s hand, and they bolted back the way they came.

The person with the flashlight was likely a school security guard on patrol. Seeing them run, he pursued, shouting, “Stop! You two little brats, stop right there!”

Stopping would be foolish!

Xi Shi muttered as they ran, wanting to shout back, “Maybe you should save your breath; you’ll have a better chance catching us if you don’t waste energy yelling.”

They quickly reached the wall. Jing Chen, as usual, leapt up effortlessly.

But Xi Shi’s foot slipped on the slick wall while climbing. He failed to get up. The guard was less than five meters away. Xi Shi wanted to try again when Jing Chen calmly said, “Give me your hand.”

Xi Shi immediately reached out. Jing Chen’s grip was strong and reassuring. Using Jing Chen’s pull, Xi Shi climbed up in a few moves.

Just as he landed, the guard arrived, panting, “Stop! Don’t run!”

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So close, Xi Shi recognized the guard—he was the principal’s henchman, who had caught him sneaking over the wall several times in high school.

“Just try and catch us, ha!” Xi Shi made a face at the guard and, with Jing Chen, jumped down on the other side.

The guard probably couldn’t climb over, but just to be safe, the two ran as fast as they could until they reached their car.

Leaning against the car, Xi Shi gasped for breath. After a moment, he looked at Jing Chen, who was looking back at him.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled.

Tonight had been incredibly thrilling.

After laughing for a while, neither knew who initiated it, but they found themselves kissing.

Under the serene moonlight, they embraced, their breaths mingling. Their once calm breathing soon became erratic and rapid.

They hadn’t been intimate for a week, and both were new to this; the simple kiss quickly deepened uncontrollably.

In their passionate confusion, Xi Shi was pushed onto the sports car seat. Jing Chen’s tall frame tried to squeeze in but froze.

The car was too cramped to hold both.

“Ahem.”

Xi Shi awkwardly cleared his throat, acting as if nothing had happened and tidied his rumpled clothes.

Jing Chen looked at him with dark eyes, then bent down for a long kiss before standing, closing the car door.

On the way back, Jing Chen drove unusually fast. The thirty-minute drive was shortened to twenty-five minutes despite some traffic.

But the speed didn’t faze Xi Shi, who felt dizzy under Jing Chen’s wild driving—like being on cloud nine and plunging off a cliff simultaneously.

...

Huo Siyi stopped replying to Huo Siyuan after retracting the message about beating him up.

He was frustrated and decided to confront Huo Siyuan at his place, suspecting that Huo Siyuan had said something bad about him to Xi Shi.

Huo Siyuan was about to enjoy the beautiful spring day when Huo Siyi cornered him. Upon hearing his purpose, he was at a loss.

Should he hint to his young cousin that Xi Shi’s silence wasn’t because of anything he said or did, nor because anyone tattled, but perhaps because Xi Shi was busy with their uncle in bed?

But he dared not reveal his uncle and Xi Shi’s secret; who knew what kind of antics those two were up to?

Sigh, life is hard, but being the filling of a sandwich cookie is even harder.

After some thought, Huo Siyuan came up with a bad idea. “If you really like him, just be brave and chase him. Confess your feelings.”

If Xi Shi accepted the confession despite having an uncle, then the uncle would surely deal with him.

If Xi Shi rejected him, Huo Siyi could give up and stop agonizing.

Either way, he could vanish perfectly.

Just don’t drag him into it; he didn’t want to die without knowing how his uncle got him.

Hearing the words “like” made Huo Siyi blush. “But…”

“No buts!” Huo Siyuan interrupted, hyping him up. “Hesitation leads to defeat. Indecision leads to loss.”

“You’re the heir of a wealthy family! You have looks and education—you don’t need to beg anyone.”

“Be brave, young man! Believe in yourself!”

Fueled by Huo Siyuan’s encouragement, Huo Siyi’s expression grew firm. Clenching his fist, he said, “Alright, I’ll confess at school on Monday!”