Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

Ten minutes later.

Jiang Ruyue turned around from the front desk and proudly raised her chin at Bai Li.

"It's all done!"

The receptionist, dressed in a black business suit, leaned out and handed one of the room cards to Bai Li with both hands.

"Mr. Kneading Machine, here is your room key."

The receptionist's cheeks were flushed, her gaze fixed on Bai Li's captivating eyes, her tone a mixture of strange respect and barely suppressed excitement.

Bai Li took the room key and felt a headache coming on.

He couldn't help but offer an explanation.

"She and I have a normal romantic relationship, not what you think."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Ruyue leaned closer.

She forcefully stretched out her small hand, spread her fingers, and squeezed them between Bai Li's fingers, interlocking them.

That wasn't all; she deliberately raised their clasped hands to her chest and waved them at the receptionist to assert her dominance.

The receptionist stared at the two clasped hands, then glanced at Jiang Ruyue's arrogant expression.

"Okay, Mr. Kneader, I understand."

The receptionist nodded vigorously, her imagination burning even brighter in her eyes.

Bai Li sighed and put the room key into his pocket.

It's all just making things worse.

He stopped explaining and turned to look at Jiang Ruyue beside him.

"Let's go get lunch before your parents show up."

The two found a nearby restaurant serving braised chicken with potatoes and ate a few bites.

Stepping out of the restaurant, the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling.

Jiang Ruyue grabbed Bai Li's trench coat hem and, like a little calf, pulled him towards the hotel.

"Hurry, hurry, let's get back to the hotel!" She walked with the wind, unable to wait.

Bai Li stood still, but was pulled so hard by her that he stumbled.

"Are you bored? Why are you walking so fast?"

Jiang Ruyue turned around, wrapped her arms around his right arm, and looked up at him with her innocent face:

"Let me give you a kiss and a hug when we get back."

She pressed Bai Li's arm against her chest, her big eyes blinking:

"Otherwise, when my parents arrive, I won't have a chance to touch you. Hurry up and leave!"

Bai Li took out his phone and glanced at the time:

"What's the rush? Your parents are driving all the way from Ping County, it will take them at least an hour."

"They're probably still drifting on the highway right now."

He pulled his arm out and flicked Jiang Ruyue's forehead.

"Don't forget what you came to Wenxian for this time. Go to the school and check out the exam venue first."

"Ouch!" Jiang Ruyue covered her forehead and began to wriggle and act coquettishly.

"Kissing and hugging doesn't take much time, five minutes is enough. Please~"

Normally, if she just whimpered a little, Bai Li would usually give in to her gentle tugging.

But not today.

This girl is definitely hiding something.

She kept saying she wanted kisses and hugs, but the glint in her big eyes clearly showed that she wanted to make up for the "punishment" she hadn't finished in bed before her parents arrived.

Having finally had this rare opportunity to be alone with someone free from supervision, she really didn't want to waste this precious chance.

"No." Bai Li's attitude was firm:

"I said I'd check the exam venue first, so I'll check the exam venue first."

"If you don't watch the exam room, you can forget about touching it today."

After saying that, he grabbed Jiang Ruyue's wrist without saying another word and dragged her across the street.

"Waaah... You're abusing the test takers."

Jiang Ruyue grumbled as he dragged her along reluctantly, the hem of her pleated skirt swaying in the wind.

It must be said that the hotel Jiang Ruyue booked was in a really good location.

It's only a ten-minute walk from the school where the exam is being held.

A red banner was strung outside the school gate, and a number of students who had come early to scout out the location had already gathered inside.

Men and women, in groups of three or five.

These youthful faces have clear eyes that have not been violated by society.

They discussed the upcoming exams or joked with each other, their laughter unrestrained and pure.

This smile is incredibly infectious.

People who have been through the harsh realities of society will never again be able to laugh heartily and easily for no reason.

They possess the most enviable things in the world.

Youth, vitality, and boundless life.

However, this harmonious campus scene was disrupted when Bai Li and Jiang Ruyue stepped in.

To be precise, it was Bai Li who unilaterally disrupted things.

As soon as the two stepped into the tree-lined path, all eyes around them seemed to be drawn to them like they were being attracted by a magnet.

Jiang Ruyue's outfit today—canvas shoes paired with a pleated skirt—combined with her flawless, innocent face, should have made her the most eye-catching person in the room.

But now.

For the first time, she experienced what it felt like to be ignored.

The girls and even the boys who passed by all had their eyes glued to Bai Li, unable to look away.

He is 1.87 meters tall with deep and defined features.

Especially his captivating eyes; a casual glance to the side was enough to make any female student who met his gaze blush and lower her head.

As they walked by, many girls stopped, tugging at each other's sleeves and whispering amongst themselves.

Hello, classmate.

Bai Li stopped and called out to a girl who was walking towards him.

The girl had her hair in a ponytail and was holding her exam admission ticket in her hand.

Upon hearing Bai Li's voice, she froze on the spot.

Being hit by both her stunning looks and the succubus's pheromones at close range, the young girl's mind went blank on the spot, and she didn't even notice that her exam admission ticket had fallen to the ground.

"Excuse me, which way is exam room 609?"

Bai Li tried her best to make her tone sound gentle and harmless.

The girl opened her mouth, her cheeks turning so red they looked like they were about to bleed, but she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

"cough!"

The boy wearing glasses standing next to the girl coughed loudly, his face full of displeasure.

He tugged hard at the girl's arm, glaring at Bai Li with hostility.

Only after being reminded by her boyfriend did the girl realize what was happening.

"Ah... that..."

She stammered and pointed in a direction, her eyes still lingering on Bai Li's face:

"Go southwest...it should be near Teaching Building No. 2..."

"Thank you, classmate."

Bai Li nodded politely in thanks, bent down to pick up the admission ticket for her and handed it over, then pulled Jiang Ruyue along and continued walking forward.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two of them.

Jiang Ruyue was led forward by Bai Li.

As he walked, he kept his head down, checking the school signs and muttering the route to himself.

This wealthy man, who likes to cause big trouble in Ping County and is sometimes like a silver devil and sometimes like a cunning villain, is now acting like a worried old father.

For her exam, she had to personally ask about and confirm the route, afraid of making even the slightest mistake.

Jiang Ruyue stared at his broad back, her steps slowing by half a beat.

She completely forgot about all those ridiculous ideas about dough kneading machines and mischievous behavior.

A genuine smile blossomed on her serene and otherworldly face.

Just being behind this person makes me feel incredibly safe.

She gripped Bai Li's hand tightly, their fingers interlocked, feeling the warmth emanating from his palm.

Behind this unseen man, Jiang Ruyue smiled gently, her voice so soft that only the wind could hear it:

"It's so good to have you here."

......

...