Zhan Jingrui soon went to the small conference room where He Yao was being punished.
The door was closed, and she was standing alone in the unlit room.
Zhan Jingrui entered, and before he could ask why she was being punished, He Yao spoke first.
"Zhan Jingrui, if you take one more step towards me, and provoke me today, don't even think about getting rid of me later. Think carefully."
He Yao seemed to know how to manipulate people.
The more she said this, the less Zhan Jingrui could control himself.
He had been hesitating, conflicted, thinking about many things, unsure of his next move.
Upon hearing her words, he suddenly made up his mind.
Zhan Jingrui stared into her eyes and took another step forward.
"I'm leaving, then what?"
He Yao met his gaze, one second, two seconds, three seconds…
Their hearts pounded in unison.
After three seconds, she walked towards him step by step until there was no space between them.
He Yao grabbed his clothes, moved forward, smiled into his eyes as she had yesterday, and slowly tiptoed.
Zhan Jingrui lowered his head and kissed her. He Yao had an unforgettable birthday.
This day not only marked her growth and independence but also her complete transition into a new identity.
They lost themselves in each other in the house Zhan Jingrui had bought. Later, He Yao asked him.
"Will you regret it?"
Zhan Jingrui didn't answer, instead asking, "And you?"
He Yao's eyes sparkled, and she whispered in his ear, "I'm too proud to regret it."
Everything was going well, and Zhan Jingrui's life seemed more complete than before.
The only thing that worried him was He Yao's academic performance.
Her foundation was too weak, and she had been at the bottom of her class in the last mock exam.
If she continued like this, let alone attending the same university, it would be a fantasy for her to get into a regular undergraduate program.
Zhan Jingrui decided to help her improve her grades.
He began to go out frequently, making excuses to his Uncle Tang and Aunt Tang that he was studying with classmates, and spending weekends at He Yao's place.
He Yao was quite intelligent, and with Zhan Jingrui's system of rewards and punishments, her grades improved rapidly.
After studying for an afternoon, Zhan Jingrui wanted to order takeout in the evening, but He Yao disagreed.
"Let me cook for you. My uncle and aunt often work night shifts, and when I lived with them, I often cooked for the whole family. My cooking is excellent."
They went grocery shopping together, pretending not to be very familiar with each other, walking separately.
Back home, He Yao meticulously washed and chopped vegetables in the kitchen, while Zhan Jingrui watched her from the doorway.
He discovered that He Yao suited him in every way.
She was beautiful, intelligent, and quiet.
And she was the kind of quiet that knew when to speak and when not to.
This was a high emotional intelligence driven by high intelligence, and Zhan Jingrui could feel her keen observational skills.
He even felt that He Yao sometimes reflected the strengths of his mother, Jiang Nan Fang.
Except for not being as capable as his mother, in all other aspects, she was a miniature version of Jiang Nan Fang.
With Zhan Jingrui's efforts, after another mock exam, He Yao's grades improved by more than thirty places.
Not only her classmates but even her teachers suspected she had cheated.
Seeing her ranking, Zhan Jingrui was also happy. Uncharacteristically, he sent He Yao a WeChat message during class time.
He asked her what reward she wanted.
He Yao said she didn't want anything. "Can you save it? When I become as excellent as Chu Xi, then settle it all for me."
Zhan Jingrui's grades had always been first in their year, and Chu Xi, whom He Yao admired, was always second.
They were not in the same class, but rumors about Chu Xi had always circulated in their school.
Chu Xi's grandfather had made his fortune in the automotive industry, and by his father's generation, not only had the family business flourished, but the company was already listed, with a market value of hundreds of billions.
Chu Xi was a true "Bai Fumei" (rich, beautiful, and from a good family), and what's more, she was very low-key. Everyone who had interacted with her said she was humble, gentle, and like a noble white lily.
Not only did male classmates not dare to disturb her easily, but she was also considered sacred and inviolable by female classmates.
It was easy for a beautiful girl to gain favor with the opposite sex, but difficult to earn a good reputation among her own gender.
Chu Xi was not only a goddess in the eyes of boys but also in the eyes of girls, which showed how successful she was as a person.
It was not without reason that He Yao admired her; she had heard rumors about her from across schools when she was at No. 12 Middle School.
However, in Zhan Jingrui's eyes, Chu Xi didn't have that much of an advantage.
His only knowledge of her was seeing her name after his own after every exam.
He had no desire to know her better and was not interested in people with personalities similar to his own.
He simply liked He Yao; he had been captivated by her the first time he saw her.
It wasn't just her beauty; He Yao had a quiet stubbornness in her eyes, a silent, all-seeing indifference that he could feel.
Crucially, He Yao dared to be herself, regardless of whether people liked her or not. This was very consistent with the Zhan family's traditions and his two sisters' demeanor.
While he verbally criticized his sisters for their willful ways, Zhan Jingrui actually approved of this approach to life.
Laugh when happy, retort when unhappy, or even fight back. If you treat me badly, I won't let you feel comfortable either. This was something many girls from the "Bai Fumei" class couldn't do.
He Yao was strong, brave, dark, yet also sunny.
In short, in Zhan Jingrui's heart, his first love was flawless.
The two young lovers worked hard together, joyfully heading towards the future.
Little did they know that fate had already drawn a turning point in the dark.
As the holiday approached, Zhan Jingrui was particularly reluctant to part with He Yao.
They had only been together for one or two months, in the honeymoon phase, and now a winter break of nearly a month was coming.
Although they could call and video chat, it still felt like a separation.
What worried him most was that with him gone, He Yao would be alone, and he didn't want her to be lonely.
However, he couldn't bring He Yao home yet.
When they had free time and wanted to relax, they would snuggle on the living room sofa and watch television.
They watched quiet, long documentaries, any topic would do.
Zhan Jingrui lay on He Yao's lap, and He Yao liked to stroke his short hair and pinch his ears.
Her hands were small and soft, yet slender and delicate. Zhan Jingrui liked her hands and was happy to be pinched by her.
"He Yao."
"Hmm?"
"Tell me about your winter break plans."
"Submit assignments for you to correct on time, eat and sleep on time. Does that count as a plan?"
"What about the No. 7 Mansion?"
"I won't go back there."
"What about your aunt?"
"I'm not going. Don't worry, I won't expose myself."
"Will you call me if something happens?"
"Yes."
"And when nothing happens?"
"I will."
Zhan Jingrui was satisfied and closed his eyes. "Kiss me."