SDVPP Chapter 60

The summer vacation flew by in the blink of an eye. A corner of the blackboard in the classroom had been specially cleared to display a countdown.

Chi Han’s grades continued to steadily improve. He now firmly holds the top spot in the grade.

Second place was Rong Xu.

In the beginning, during the first few monthly exams, Chi Han’s performance was still a bit unstable. He would occasionally drop to third place. But Fang Jingluo never managed to reach first again.

Because there was always Rong Xu above him.

After it happened enough times, everyone started to realize that Rong Xu wasn’t losing to Chi Han at all. He was clearly doing it on purpose… just to slap Fang Jingluo in the face!

Only the homeroom teacher of Class 1 grinned so widely his teeth showed.

The students in the class kept scoring higher and higher. Maybe they’d even take both first and second place in the entire province for the college entrance exam!

Even the director of teaching would smile and greet him whenever they crossed paths. The homeroom teacher squinted and rubbed his belly, increasingly proud of himself.

Aside from Chi Han and Rong Xu, everyone else in Class 1 was also giving it their all, pushing themselves to climb higher.

Especially Geng Xue. Her fighting power skyrocketed from fangirling every day. She could finish a whole set of practice papers in just a few days.

For some reason, Chi Han had recently been feeling a sudden, inexplicable anxiety. Even though everything was just as stable and secure as he had imagined it would be.

“What are you spacing out for?”

Rong Xu held the little dog up with one hand under its belly and used the other hand to wipe its paws with a wet tissue.

In less than two months, the puppy they had picked up had already grown noticeably. It had chubbed up from all the food and loved running around the yard so much that its four paws were always dirty.

But it still looked like a silly little thing, always sticking out its tongue and panting “haha” at people.

When it came time to name it, Chi Han even asked for Rong Xu’s opinion. Rong Xu didn’t even lift his head and replied indifferently, “Just call it Dumb Dog.”

Chi Han: “……”

In the end, Chi Han made the final decision and gave the puppy the name Duo Fu.

“What’s wrong? Tired from studying?”

Rong Xu didn’t hear a reply. He placed Duo Fu on the floor and waved a hand in front of Chi Han.

Chi Han snapped out of it, scooped up Duo Fu, who was shaking out its fur on the floor, and gave it a few affectionate rubs. He then let out a gloomy sigh. “There’s no end to learning… There’s always something I don’t know.”

The corners of Rong Xu’s mouth curled slightly. He couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Then I’ll give you a chance right now.”

He laid out a blank sheet of paper and picked up a pen. His face is expressionless, just like a tutor coming over to give lessons at home, serious and detached. Only his dark eyes gave him away, scattered with a few hints of amusement.

Chi Han dropped Duo Fu back to the floor, looked back at him with the same deadpan face, and said in a low voice, “Then thank you, Teacher Rong. Teacher Rong, considering the relationship between the two of us, could you maybe give me a discount?”

Rong Xu looked at him for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t laugh and change the subject. I’m asking you seriously. Can’t it be a little cheaper?” Chi Han tugged at his sleeve while trying to hold in his own laughter, but in the end, he couldn’t resist either. He laughed and slumped over the table, leaving just one eye peeking up at Rong Xu.

Rong Xu propped up his head with one hand, turned slightly to look at him, a faint smile on his lips, as if gazing at his entire world.

Time seemed to freeze.

Neither of them moved.

Chi Han’s smile slowly faded. He felt as if he could reach out and touch something right then.

But Rong Xu stayed where he was, and Chi Han didn’t dare step forward recklessly either.

It felt like all the blood in his body surged to the surface in an instant. He suddenly held his breath, and before he could stop himself, his mouth opened—

“Rong Xu, I…”

“Woof!”

Just as he got a few words out, something warm and soft suddenly pressed against his calf. Chi Han looked down. Duo Fu was wagging its tail, clinging to his leg, its two little black bean-like eyes sparkling.

Chi Han deflated like a punctured ball, all his courage gone.

He pressed his forehead hard against his arm a few times, then looked back up at the practice paper, saying nothing.

He thought, Then I’ll just keep pretending to be clueless a little longer.

What Chi Han didn’t expect was how fast that “little longer” would pass.

…….

That day was Chi Han’s birthday—a rare, sunny, beautiful day.

Rong Xu requested a day off for both of them. The homeroom teacher turned a blind eye and approved it without fuss.

From the morning on, Chi Han had been receiving gift after gift. First was the giant plush toy leaning against the door to his room, then the tea snacks and mini cakes that filled the dining table.

Chi Han looked at the pile of gift boxes stacked in the first-floor living room and was speechless for a long time.

“Do you like it?”

Rong Xu rested one hand casually on the armrest. He appeared calm and unbothered, but his eyes never left Chi Han, watching his every reaction.

Chi Han swallowed hard, then picked up Duo Fu, who had been rubbing its head against him on the floor.

“This bow—did you put it on him?”

Rong Xu glanced coldly at Duo Fu, who had already messed up the bow on his head, and said coolly, “Not me.”

That dumb dog had been charging around since early morning, making a racket and nearly waking Chi Han up. He should’ve tied its legs together with the bow while he was at it.

Chi Han gave a slightly doubtful smile and casually re-tied the bow. His gaze slowly swept across the living room and landed on the butler, who was trapped in a corner with no place to stand. Chi Han’s voice was gentle as he said:

“Rong Xu, you know… usually, for a birthday, just one gift is enough.”

Rong Xu pressed his lips together. His pale skin looked even more cold and fragile in the daylight. He lifted his eyes slightly and said softly, “Mm, I know.”

Chi Han couldn’t help but laugh. “Then why did you still—”

“The rest are to make up for all the ones you missed over the past ten-plus years.” Rong Xu’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly let out a breath.

And maybe also for the years still to come.

Chi Han was instantly speechless. It felt like something had slammed into his chest—sour and sweet all at once.

The feelings swirled together, and in the end, turned bitter.

Chi Han’s lips trembled slightly. All of a sudden, he stepped forward a few paces, his eyes burning:

“Rong Xu, be honest with me—are you planning to leave here?!”

“Shhh…” Rong Xu raised a hand and pressed it lightly to his lips. He took a deep breath, forcing down the moisture in his eyes. He had known all along—Chi Han must have already sensed it.

Rong Xu didn’t want to bring this long-avoided topic to the surface just yet. He steadied his emotions, looked up at Chi Han with a smile, and said, “Let’s not talk about that for now. Today is your birthday. Let me take you out to have some fun, okay?”

Chi Han bit down on the tip of his tongue. After a long pause, he nodded. But the moment he turned away, he couldn’t stop his eyes from turning red.

It was the first birthday Rong Xu had ever celebrated for him. He had received more gifts today than in all his past lives combined.
And in the end, he was going to lose the person who gave them.

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