"We can eat some garlic," Jiang Cheng said.

"With garlic breath for the exam?" Gu Fei glanced at him. "Let's just get the dumplings and nothing else."

"...That's inhumane," Jiang Cheng glared at him.

"If you're not satisfied, keep it to yourself," Gu Fei looked away.

"Don't copy how I talk," Jiang Cheng nudged him.

"Well I'm copying it, you got a problem with that?" Gu Fei turned back with a fierce look and repeated, "If you're not satisfied, keep it to yourself."

Jiang Cheng didn't respond, just stared back at him. After a moment, he couldn't help cracking up, "Damn."

"Come here, come on," Gu Fei opened his arms. "Quick, oh..."

"Shut up," Jiang Cheng looked around and saw everyone else was either looking solemn or frowning. Meanwhile it was just the two of them giggling like the exam was over. "Have some decency, alright?"

"Decency is overrated. I just need you, that's it," Gu Fei said.

"Oh boy," Jiang Cheng sighed. "Fine, dumplings it is."

The dumpling shop was quite crowded, with many exam takers. As soon as they sat down, the owner came over, "You two just finished an exam, right?"

"Yes," Gu Fei nodded.

"Order whatever you'd like," the owner put menus down for them. "These few days, all exam takers eat for half price here."

"Thank you," Jiang Cheng smiled.

But Gu Fei still insisted against any cold dishes. Probably because he saw Jiang Cheng was craving meat, he ended up ordering a plate of fried beef for him in the end.

Halfway through the meal, Jiang Cheng got a call from Pan Zhi, "Hey champ! How'd it go? Are you flying high already?"

"Yup, start pulling my legs for me," Jiang Cheng joked. "What about you? Taken off yet?"

"Flying crap, I gotta stay grounded and pull your legs right," Pan Zhi seemed to be in decent spirits. His strongest trait was keeping upbeat even after scoring 17 points. "I'm alright, just need a miracle to take flight."

"Had lunch yet? Your mom made you a feast right?" Jiang Cheng asked with a smile.

"Eating soon. I just wanted to check on you, and report back to Old Yuan," Pan Zhi said. "He's probably wondering but doesn't want to affect your mood by asking."

"Let him know I'm good. Performed normally, emotions are stable," Jiang Cheng said.  

"Got it," Pan Zhi acknowledged. "Keep flying this afternoon."

"Mm-hmm," Jiang Cheng smiled and stuffed a dumpling in his mouth.

The shops near the exam site were very thoughtful. After eating, they strolled down the street and saw a cafe providing free resting space for exam takers and parents.

They found a booth inside and the server even brought over a pot of freshly squeezed juice, free of charge. When Gu Fei asked if they could switch it for something warm, the server happily brought them hot fruit tea instead.

"Such a mom," Jiang Cheng teased.

"Shush, less nonsense," Gu Fei poured him a cup. "Drink up and rest properly."

Jiang Cheng smiled and sipped it, leaning back in his seat, gazing out at the street growing steadily quieter.

There were fewer pedestrians and cars now, as exam takers and parents had left, whether to eat, nap, or go home. The bustling street had calmed down in an instant.

The sunlight felt a little irritable, like the mood after finishing an exam−somewhat relaxed yet still vaguely anxious about tests still to come.

Only when he turned to see Gu Fei's eyes closed as he hugged himself, resting, did Jiang Cheng feel his heart settle.

The noon break had gone well, and Jiang Cheng felt full of energy. Having already taken one exam subject, he was familiar with the initially nerve-wracking test environment. Sitting in the exam hall again, he felt very relaxed.

Especially since math was his strength compared to Chinese. He didn't need to consciously restrain his handwriting.

Doing math questions, it was easier for Jiang Cheng to enter a fully immersed state, to the point where he couldn't even hear the sound of his pencil moving across the paper.

The only sound he could hear was his inner voice walking through the questions.

Jiang Cheng, contestant.....

Jiang Cheng is such a perfect math solver. Though he chose liberal arts, his excellent science skills still shine through.

As always during exams, Jiang Cheng first sped through the questions he could solve right away, then went back for ones he was less sure on, and did a third pass to double check uncertain ones.

In the final minutes, his mind was racing fast enough to whip up a gale, barely registering the teacher's time warnings−as if heard in a dream.

When he walked out of the exam hall, he still felt a little dazed. By the school gate, he finally said to Gu Fei: "I think the math exam went pretty well too."

"Damn," Gu Fei whispered, clearly relieved. "You're finally talking. I was freaking scared to death."

"Oh," Jiang Cheng turned and laughed. "I was still in a trance."

"You looked like you hadn't even done the last few questions," Gu Fei let out a long breath. "I didn't dare say anything."

"My bad," Jiang Cheng smiled, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Later let's find somewhere private for a good kiss or two."

"....Let's just do it at home," Gu Fei glanced at him. "Think you can hold out?"

"I can." Jiang Cheng snapped his fingers confidently.

Old Xu was still waiting for them outside, but Jiang Cheng noticed his expression was clearly less cheerful than in the morning, and he spoke differently too.

"Stay relaxed, don't pressure yourself," Old Xu looked at him. "Treat it like any other exam. Go home, eat well, rest early. Relax, relax!"

"Mm," Jiang Cheng didn't know why Old Xu kept emphasizing relaxing, when he actually felt quite relaxed at the moment. Tomorrow's liberal arts comprehensive exam would be a bit difficult with so much to memorize, but his cramming had reached the point of reducing ghosts and gods to tears. The English exam in the afternoon was a strong suit for him, so no big issues.

Near the exam site, there were many free shuttle buses and taxis for transporting exam takers. They took an empty cab.

The driver chatted so much he practically filled up the car, encouraging them and lamenting his own lack of diligence back in the day.

Only when Gu Fei's phone rang did he stop talking.

"Da Fei!" It was Wang Xu's tearful voice.

"What's wrong?" Gu Fei was startled, immediately anxious. "You're not hurt are you? What happened?"

"Yi Jing is done for! She's finished with the gaokao this time!" Wang Xu started sobbing loudly.

"What are you talking about? Don't spout nonsense," Gu Fei said. "Why would she be done for? You're not done yet, why would she be?"

"She fainted again during the math exam!" Wang Xu cried. "They took her away to the hospital halfway through!"

Wang Xu had shouted this, so Jiang Cheng heard it very clearly. He turned to Gu Fei in shock: "Yi Jing?"

Gu Fei nodded, asked a few more questions, then hung up.

"Why didn't you comfort Wang Xu?" Jiang Cheng said. "He was bawling."

"...I don't know how to comfort people," Gu Fei sighed.

That was honest−Gu Fei could hardly manage a neutral face with people, let alone comfort them. Jiang Cheng frowned, "What's going on with Yi Jing? No wonder Old Xu looked so upset earlier."

"His biggest hopes are you and Yi Jing," Gu Fei put his phone away and glanced at him. "But don't think about this, don't let it affect you..."

"Don't worry," Jiang Cheng smirked. "It won't affect me. I just feel bad for Yi Jing."

"The pressure must have been too much," Gu Fei said. "She's always wanted to get into a good university after all..."

"And leave this place, right," Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile. "So she went all out, poured everything she had into it, took on all the stress."

"Mm," Gu Fei nodded.

"Don't worry I won't do the same as her," Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, then looked over at him solemnly. "After all, I've got dependents. I have to stand steady, no missteps allowed."