SBS chapter 27

Although yesterday’s Christmas date was incredibly romantic—enough to make one forget all the troubles of the world—

Unfortunately, Ye Xi was still an unlucky third-year high school student.

So after lunch, he still had to reluctantly pull out his weekend homework and do his assignments right under Bai Yue’s nose.

After Chinese came English.

Then after English, math.

One exam paper after another was spread across the table, white and endless, like they would never end.

Ye Xi’s face turned green from writing so much.

To be fair, after months of strict study sessions with Bai Yue, he didn’t hate homework as much as he used to.

Sometimes, he even felt fired up with ambition to try getting into a good university.

But last night had been too perfect. He had sipped eggnog and sneakily watched Bai Yue’s side profile while he drove—sharp, handsome, with a straight nose that could steal anyone’s breath. Every time they stopped at a red light, Bai Yue would glance at him and chat about something trivial, and even now Ye Xi’s heart was still racing.

It gave him an illusion. He even felt like he had already graduated.

Like he and Bai Yue were just a regular couple from college, walking home hand in hand.

But now, cold reality—and cold math—hit him in the face.

No pink bubbles.

No romantic night for lovers.

He was still that miserable third-year high school student preparing for college entrance exams.

Strictly speaking, even being in a relationship now would count as puppy love.

Ye Xi heavily marked a “D” on his test paper, then continued tackling the convoluted math questions, his little face clouded over.

The only comfort was that while he wrestled with math, Bai Yue was also beside him working on research.

Even college students couldn’t escape academic torture.

Bai Yue was wearing glasses and reading from a test bank, surrounded by books and papers. Every now and then he would flip through them while writing notes.

Ye Xi peeked at Bai Yue’s computer and saw a bunch of unreadable curve graphs and complex English labels.

He didn’t understand a word.

He scrunched his face in awe at Bai Yue’s studies.

Then, taking a short break from his own homework, he glanced at the calendar on the table—and suddenly remembered something.

He asked, “Bai-ge, don’t you guys have finals coming up?”

It was already almost January.

Most universities would be heading into finals week—the time when students frantically cram and write papers.

That guy Li Rui liked, Sheng Yuhe, had used finals week as an excuse to reject him eighteen times—too busy, had to study, worried about failing.

Eighteen different excuses just to avoid seeing him.

Not that it stopped Li Rui. He’d drag Ye Xi to the university gate just to deliver a cup of bubble tea to Sheng Yuhe.

So the memory stuck clearly with Ye Xi.

When Ye Xi asked, Bai Yue finally shifted his focus from his thesis.

“Yes,” he replied.

He pushed his glasses up his nose, hesitating for a moment…

Ye Xi’s question actually reminded him.

His university had always kept him quite busy, and the fact that he’d been able to tutor Ye Xi all this time was because he had deliberately carved out time for it.

But in the upcoming weeks, not only did he have to prepare for exams, he also had to assist a professor next week.

For the next two weeks, he likely wouldn’t have any time to tutor Ye Xi.

But when he looked at Ye Xi sitting across from him—quietly perched on a tall stool, exam papers spread out across the table, seriously working through problems—he hesitated again.

His winter break schedule was already packed. At the start of the semester, he had applied to join an overseas academic research program during the holiday. Once that ended, his family was dragging him to the Netherlands to spend the Lunar New Year with his second uncle’s family.

In other words, for the entire winter break, he’d have very little chance to see Ye Xi.

He lightly tapped the end of his pen on the desk, going over his winter schedule in his mind, wondering if he could somehow squeeze out a bit of free time.

But before he could say anything, Ye Xi spoke first.

“Then I won’t come to your place for tutoring these next two weeks,” Ye Xi said softly. “Your school must be really busy these days too. We also have finals coming up soon. Don’t worry, Bai-ge. Even if I don’t come, I’ll still study hard in class. You should focus on your own stuff.”

Ye Xi’s words were sincere.

Bai Yue couldn’t help but laugh silently.

He thought, Ye Xi really is… just too well-behaved.

Even though the two of them had grown closer these past few months, and Bai Yue could clearly feel Ye Xi becoming more attached to him, Ye Xi still maintained proper boundaries and never made unreasonable demands.

Bai Yue didn’t reject Ye Xi’s kind gesture. Truthfully, he was far too busy, and if Ye Xi came looking for him now, it would only waste both their time.

He said, “Alright then. I’ll send you the practice tests I prepared. I’ve selected some questions that might show up on your finals—go over them when you have time.”

They had both attended the same high school.

Back then, Bai Yue had become very familiar with how the school designed its exams.

He wasn’t sure whether they had changed their style in the past year.

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Once I get through this busy period, you can come over again.”

Ye Xi nodded seriously, not thinking too much of it.

In fact, he felt that Bai Yue had already done more than enough by tutoring him this long—it had far exceeded his expectations.

He really wanted to say something bold, like how he was sure he’d rise another 20 or 30 places in this final exam.

But just as the words reached his lips, he stopped himself.

He’d already made great progress last time. He didn’t know if that was because of his own effort or just a stroke of luck. If he boasted now and failed to live up to it, he’d lose face.

And at his teen age, saving face still mattered a lot.

After a short silence—

The living room once again filled with the sound of scribbling pens and clacking keyboards.

Ye Xi continued wrestling with his multiple-choice questions.

But a moment later, his phone buzzed.

He picked it up and saw it was Li Rui, asking if he was going back to the dorm that night.

“I am,” Ye Xi replied simply.

Li Rui was clearly disappointed: “Why are you coming back already? Things were going so well yesterday—I thought you’d stay another night at Bai Yue’s place while the momentum was hot.”

Ye Xi’s fingers paused on the keyboard, and he glanced over at Bai Yue on the couch.

“But I don’t really have anything left to do here. Plus, he has an online meeting tonight and needs to work on assignments. I don’t want to bother him.”

Bai Yue had offered to let him stay another night, but after the embarrassment he’d caused the day before, Ye Xi really didn’t have the face to accept.

So earlier, he had taken the initiative to say he had schoolwork and had to return to the dorm.

“Fine, fine. You’re really his sweet little darling,” Li Rui sighed. “Such a thoughtful little Cinderella.”

Ye Xi couldn’t accept such praise.

If anything, Bai Yue was more like Cinderella. Every time he came over, it was Bai Yue who cooked and made snacks.

But Li Rui didn’t dwell on the topic and asked Ye Xi, “By the way, we’ve got that cultural festival after finals, right? The class just confirmed—we’re doing a coffee stall. We’ll have a planning meeting tomorrow night.”

Ye Xi never had strong opinions about group activities.

“Whatever you guys decide is fine. I’m just a filler.”

“Knew you’d say that,” Li Rui muttered.

But it reminded Ye Xi of something.

His pen stopped on the exam paper. He stared at Bai Yue, lost in thought.

Li Rui had just mentioned the cultural festival—a traditional event at their school.

It had started over ten years ago with a group of senior girls organizing a charity sale, booking the school auditorium and gym, and donating all proceeds to children in impoverished areas.

The event was passed down year after year. They added club performances, grew the scale, and eventually it became a staple of the school calendar—an opportunity to showcase the school to parents and outsiders alike.

This year marked the twelfth edition.

Naturally, Ye Xi wouldn’t be performing. He and Li Rui had signed up to help run the class stall.

His plan was simple: stand at the booth with Li Rui, smile for the crowd, and try to sell as many little pastries as possible. That would count as success.

But thinking of Bai Yue reminded him of last year’s cultural festival.

Back then, Ye Xi was in second year, and Bai Yue was a senior. Bai Yue had to perform with the drama club and also got roped into promoting his class’s stall. He was so busy he barely had time to breathe.

Ye Xi had followed him everywhere.

When Bai Yue was performing on stage, Ye Xi was in the audience clapping.

When Bai Yue went to the archery booth, Ye Xi squeezed into the crowd with Li Rui, whispering cheers.

When Bai Yue helped sell painted fans at his class booth, Ye Xi hesitated forever—until Li Rui shoved him forward. He finally walked up, held out the payment QR code, and said he wanted to buy one too.

“That’s great. This is the last one. Once it’s sold, we’re done for the day.”

In Ye Xi’s memory, Bai Yue had been wearing their school uniform. He looked livelier than he did now. Smiling, he had handed him the last fan and asked, “Want to take a photo together?”

Bai Yue’s class monitor had come up with the idea. Knowing Bai Yue’s popularity, she used it to boost sales—anyone who bought something got a photo with Bai Yue.

Totally selling his looks.

But it worked. Their stall sold out fast.

Ye Xi had stared at Bai Yue at the time, thinking that if he had any restraint, he should refuse.

After all those years of knowing Bai Yue, lining up to take a photo like a fangirl felt a bit ridiculous.

But Bai Yue’s face was so gentle, his smile brighter than the winter sun. Ye Xi just couldn’t say no.

“Yes,” he had murmured.

And that’s how he got the eighth official photo of just the two of them.

Bai Yue, about to graduate, stood behind him, arms around him, lifting the phone and switching to selfie mode. “Smile, Ye Xi.”

That photo still sat in Ye Xi’s dorm room.

Right inside the bedside cabinet.

And now, nearly twenty-year-old Bai Yue was sitting on the sofa tapping on his keyboard, frowning in frustration over assignments and research, casually nibbling on a biscuit stick.

Ye Xi could reach out and touch him.

He smiled unconsciously and tapped his dimple with the end of his pen.

Truthfully, he really didn’t want to be apart from Bai Yue during this exam period.

So after much hesitation, he softly asked, “Bai-ge, will you come to our school’s cultural festival this year?”