Versatile Talent

Chapter 56: 

Li Ting needed to use a computer. Now that he had Fang Huaining, he no longer had to work hard to exchange labor for access to a Hyacinth computer.

After finishing their part-time jobs that day, the two agreed to go back to Fang Huaining's home together. They hadn't had dinner, and as soon as Li Ting entered, he kicked off his shoes and headed straight for the kitchen.

Fang Huaining worried that Li Ting had worked hard all day and might find cooking too tiring, so he followed behind and suggested ordering takeout.

Li Ting opened the refrigerator, did a quick scan, and then pointed at the fresh ingredients that had clearly just been bought that day, looking at Fang Huaining with a half-smile that clearly inquired what this meant.

Fang Huaining replied earnestly, "Fresh produce was on sale online."

After saying this, he lowered his head to avoid Li Ting's gaze, his eyes drifting to Li Ting's bare feet, and quickly turned to leave. After a while, he returned.

"It's chilly; wear this."

Li Ting looked down and saw that Fang Huaining was holding a pair of fluffy slippers. He glanced at the slippers and then back at Fang Huaining.

Fang Huaining adjusted the upright big ears on the little gray cat slippers, pushed the shoes toward Li Ting's feet, and said calmly, "The supermarket at the door is having a sale."

Noticing that Li Ting said nothing and his expression wasn't particularly rejecting, Fang Huaining couldn't help but squat down and held Li Ting's ankle to put the slippers on him.

Li Ting shot a glance at Fang Huaining's slightly flushed face, skimmed over the foreign label on the slippers, and ultimately refrained from kicking them off, continuing with the task at hand. Fang Huaining didn't leave; he stood behind Li Ting, focused on watching him and occasionally wanting to lend a hand. However, Li Ting's knife skills and craftsmanship were so deft that he didn't need any assistance. After observing for a while, Fang Huaining curiously asked, "How did you learn that?" Li Ting seemed to recall, "One night, I was walking home from school and accidentally got knocked out; when I woke up, I could do it." Fang Huaining was taken aback and squinted his eyes, "By what kind of person? Aliens?" Li Ting nodded, "Chips were implanted, with various skills and talents to choose from." Fang Huaining reached out and touched the back of Li Ting's neck, his fingertip gliding over the fine, white skin. "The implantation seems quite successful; there are no scars left." Li Ting drew back his neck from the touch, and when he turned to grab the chili, the soft little cat slippers accidentally stepped over Fang Huaining's feet. Fang Huaining suppressed a muffled groan. Indeed, teasing a little cat can easily lead to being scratched. Just as Fang Huaining was reflecting on this, he suddenly heard Li Ting softly say, "Being able to cook is something I learned on my own, and the delicacies I picked up by watching others cook in restaurants." Fang Huaining focused, "At university?"

"High school?" Li Ting paused. "Middle school." Fang Huaining was taken aback, then recalled the remote boarding school Li Ting had attended; did he have to manage everything on his own back then? He wanted to say something, but Li Ting had already placed the chopped ingredients into the hot oil, and the sound from the range hood drowned out whatever Fang Huaining was about to say. Soon, a simple meal of four dishes and soup was ready. The two of them sat around the table, picked up their chopsticks, and began to eat. Fang Huaining's parents often left home during his childhood, and later, in high school, his grandparents passed away one after another. Apart from occasionally dining at Qian Kun's house, he hadn't enjoyed home-cooked meals like these for a long time. He had grown accustomed to independence; he used to think that eating out or ordering takeout was perfectly fine, but now, looking at the ordinary meal in front of him, he felt deeply moved. It felt like he had a new home, shared with his partner—warm and sweet, like they were newlyweds… In contrast to the delicate thoughts of a top performer, Li Ting had long developed a heart of steel, finishing half a bowl of rice while those around him were still absorbed in their emotions. Looking up, he noticed Fang Huaining biting into a strip of potato, his face slightly flushed. Li Ting curiously asked, "Is it very spicy?" He remembered he had only added one chili.

Fang Huaining hurriedly swallowed his food and said, "Not spicy." After savoring it, he couldn't help but softly add, "Very sweet..." Li Ting paused with his chopsticks, finally changing his expression. He let out a soft snort, likely attempting to sound aloof, but it came across as gentle instead. ... After dinner, Li Ting borrowed Fang Huaining's desk. Fang Huaining introduced him to a foreign library website. Of course, his "lemon tree" would continue to provide Li Ting with learning materials, but if Li Ting wanted to explore other resources in the future, he could check them out there, or if he preferred physical books, he could go directly to A Library. "Use my library card," Fang Huaining emphasized, insisting that Li Ting stop using Liu Lei's. In contrast to Li Ting's strengths in other areas, Fang Huaining once again realized how outdated Li Ting's understanding of digital technology was. He recalled how much effort it had taken him to successfully install the first-generation small farm game on his phone. Every time they encountered unfamiliar knowledge, it was also when Li Ting was the most attentive. Fang Huaining would explain, and Li Ting would listen, appearing especially serious. Noticing Li Ting moving the mouse for a long time without locating the entrance to the library, Fang Huaining couldn't help but place his hand over Li Ting's, taking control of the mouse himself. "These are Flash mini-programs; you can ignore them. Just go in from here..."

Fang Huaining bent down, resting his head against Li Ting's side, and his breath brushed over Li Ting's ear, causing Li Ting to tense against the back of the chair and slightly turn his head. Fang Huaining also turned his face, and their noses almost touched. Fang Huaining didn't pull back, gazing at Li Ting's rosy lips, and softly asked, "Do you understand?" Li Ting did not pull back either, staring into Fang Huaining's deep eyes, "Half and half..." Fang Huaining's throat moved slightly, as if mesmerized. He slowly leaned down, saying, "Then you should come over often in the future to learn more..." However, just as their lips were about to meet, Li Ting suddenly turned his face away, sitting up straight and saying seriously, "The timing is uncertain in the future; let's start learning right now." Fang Huaining: "..." Li Ting was indeed focused on serious business; he hadn't even considered how to handle things if they got carried away, so he opted to organize his scattered thoughts, sitting down at another desk without disturbing Li Ting. He originally intended to read, but after flipping through a few pages and realizing he couldn't concentrate, he ended up turning off the speaker and playing a game. After a few rounds, Fat Bo and Wang Dashu came online, and the three of them formed a small team to chat. [A Lemon]: Where's Qian Kun? [Da She Wang 010]: I just asked him in the group; he said he's not feeling well and won't be playing. [A Lemon]: What's wrong?

[Da She Wang 010]: He said he was suffering from both physical and mental distress and needed bed rest for a week. [A Lemon]: ... [Da She Wang 010]: By the way, Lemon, I just heard a joke circulating in the department, hahahaha, it's too funny; they actually said you're in love. As brothers, we didn't know when our top performer was redeemed; how would they know? [Da She Wang 010]: Not to mention, what kind of conditions would the customers need to meet to redeem our top performer?

[Fat Bo]: Ugh... Genius? Captivating the nation and city? Omnipotent?

[Big Snake King 010]: Intelligent, talented, looks good...

[Fat Bo] summarized: A well-rounded, technical talent.

Weng Xianling ignored their chattering and turned to look at Li Tingshi, who was curiously staring at his computer screen.

"Want to play?" Weng Xianling opened a chat window with a small emoji.

Li Tingshi shook his head; he rarely had spare time to play games like this, and his skills weren't great either.

Weng Xianling seemed to understand and encouraged him: "I can be your guide."

Li Tingshi remained silent, appearing hesitant.

Weng Xianling made a decision, got up, opened the game on Li Tingshi's computer, registered an account for him, and guided him through it step by step.

This game was quite time-consuming and effort-intensive; Weng Xianling, who focused mostly on his studies, didn't play it often. However, he was willing to spend money on it, and his gaming skills were not bad.

So, it wasn't too difficult for him to create a secondary account.

As for the other two teammates, one of them, Yī zhī néngmēng (One Lemon), suddenly dropped out of the team, saying he had other commitments, and immediately joined a new team with another player named Xiǎo huī rén (Little Grey Person). They even provided him with support throughout the entire novice quest, shielding him from damage; this level of consideration left the members of their guild astonished, and they frequently inquired about it.

Li Tingshi rarely enjoyed such a carefree time, and combined with the novelty of the experience, several hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Weng Xianling noticed Li Tingshi glancing at the time and asked, "Shall we leave now?"

Li Tingshi didn't respond immediately; he only got up when Weng Xianling did.

Having finally spent time together, Weng Xianling felt a strong desire to see Li Tingshi every moment. However, he also understood that even in a relationship, one shouldn't rush things. A solid foundation must be built first. He feared that even if they were to get together, there might still be some minor disagreements.

This was a treasured bond he had worked hard to cultivate; he wanted to cherish it carefully.

Weng Xianling accompanied Li Tingshi to the gate of their dorm building, where they said their goodbyes. In the end, he couldn't resist and hugged him tightly.

Li Tingshi's slender frame was enveloped in Weng Xianling's arms, his soft head resting against Weng Xianling's chest.

Their height and physique were almost perfectly matched; they indeed made a perfect pair.

　　Weng Xianling thought to himself while speaking: "I want to have a meal with all of them together in a few days."

　　The phrase "all of them" wasn't too hard to understand.

　　Li Tingshi looked up.

　　Weng Xianling asked hesitantly, "Do you think that's okay?"

　　Weng Xianling didn't like secretive relationships; he might not be able to openly declare his love for Li Tingshi, but he longed for an open and free relationship, with their close friends aware that he liked Li Tingshi.

　　This wasn't something to be hidden; it was his pride.

　　It of course all depended on Li Tingshi's willingness.

　　Weng Xianling was on the verge of speaking again, but then he couldn't hear Li Tingshi's response. Weng Xianling couldn't help but feel anxious; he was aware that Li Tingshi wasn't fond of social interactions, and Weng Xianling also didn't want him to have to do things he wasn't comfortable with.

　　As expected, Li Tingshi remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Not okay."

　　Weng Xianling let out a sigh of relief, just as he was about to give up. He looked down and was about to say it was okay when Li Tingshi added a sentence.

　　"Not okay for now."

　　Weng Xianling's heart skipped a beat. "So...," he tried to continue.

　　Li Tingshi hesitated for a moment before saying: "But next week might be okay."

　　Weng Xianling looked at his partner, who was looking rather reluctant but also a bit endearing.

He didn't resist; he leaned down and gently kissed the center of Li Tingshi's eyebrows.

"Okay."

He understood that Li Tingshi was doing this for him, willing to compromise for Weng Xianling's sake. Weng Xianling felt his heart melt.

After sending Li Tingshi off, Weng Xianling took out his phone, which had been vibrating nonstop in his pocket; it was their roommates' group chat.

[Fat Bo]: The all-rounder.

Chapter 57: So, he did it.

Weng Xianling had to rush to complete an experiment at noon and couldn't meet Li Tingshi at the canteen. However, he promised to catch up with him early in the afternoon.

At 11:30, when it was time for the wind sign rice bowl, Li Tingshi's phone rang in his pocket. It was the small farm's automatic chat window.

Fjun: Have you eaten?

Li Tingshi glanced at it and stuffed the phone back into his pocket, continuing to wash his dishes.

Ten minutes later.

Fjun: Have you eaten?

Li Tingshi hadn't responded yet.

Ten minutes later, the message came again, unchanged.

Fjun: Have you eaten?

Li Tingshi felt compelled to respond.

Ljun: Eat already.

The next few days passed without any news, but then the small farm suddenly updated its program. Li Tingshi was puzzled and decided to check it out. He discovered that the account system had been modified. On the account screen, the accounts were divided into L and F. The L section had a wide variety and detailed options, while the F section only contained one item, which was the newly added "dining hall details."

Ljun: ???

Fjun: I just ran into an older student downstairs and found out that the school's IC card query system belongs to them. I copied it for you and pasted it into the small farm app, so you can check your balance anytime. Is that convenient?

Ljun: ...

Fjun: [Smile]

Li Tingshi stared at the face for a few seconds before grudgingly taking off his gloves, pulling Weng Xianling's lunch card from his pocket, and walking towards the dining hall at A University.

Just as the meal came to an end, a new expense record appeared in the accounts section, complete with an emoji. Noticing the quickly added [heart] next to it, the cold gray tones that always lingered in Li Ting's eyes flickered and then slowly dissipated, revealing a few warmer shades underneath. He felt as if his feelings were being washed away, yet he remained unwilling to fully let go. Just as he was about to roll his eyes in response, he suddenly looked up to see a familiar figure standing in front of him. Li Ting paused in his steps. The other person also saw him, looking a bit surprised, hesitating momentarily before carefully walking over. "Ge..." When Li Han spoke this word, his expression shifted several times, displaying awkwardness and entanglement, and in the end, he managed to force a smile. Li Ting responded expressionlessly with an "mm." Li Han felt that this response was no different from before and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He stepped forward a few more paces, and his smile became a bit more genuine. "Are you... working here?" Li Ting remained silent.

Li Han hurriedly added, "I just came to the shopping street for lunch with some classmates..." This was indeed true; it was purely a coincidence that they ran into each other today. Li Ting nodded and brushed past him to leave, but Li Han grabbed his arm. "Ge..." Li Han switched to a sorrowful expression. "Are you really not going to talk to me anymore?" "What do you want to say?" Li Ting turned back. "I... I want to say..." Overcome with grievances, Li Han struggled to find the words. After a long moment, he finally blurted out, "We bought a new house, and we're moving in a few days." Li Ting acted as though he hadn't heard. Li Han grew anxious. "If you're still upset about that... Well, I'll listen to you, alright? I don't like Fang Huaining anymore; I can like someone else." Li Ting was taken aback, observing Li Han's serious expression. Instead of softening, the coldness in his eyes intensified as he slowly pulled his hand away. Feeling bewildered, Li Han finally got angry. "What do you want from me? This is wrong, that is also wrong; I don't understand!" Without looking back, Li Ting walked away. "You'll understand when you have nothing left..." ... Fang Huaining was stopped by Ni Weinian after exiting the laboratory. Soon, visiting scholars from a sister school in Germany would be arriving, and Old Ni wanted Fang Huaining to help with the reception so that they could get to know each other better.

"I don't have high hopes for Miao Miao, and Wu Yi has other tasks. Only you can help out, as several collaborative projects over there involve multiple countries. You could try interacting with their teachers and students, learn a bit, and it might become a viable option in the future." Seeing Fang Huaining's surprised expression, Ni Weinian patted his shoulder and smiled, "Actually, it's still early, but there's never too much opportunity. Future choices will change over time, but we must always be prepared, right, Huaining? Alright, go take a break." After Ni Weinian left, Fang Huaining continued to ponder until he was brought back to reality by news from the farm. Upon checking, he discovered that Li Ting, who had originally made an appointment to meet him, had other plans. Fang Huaining was taken aback. ... The weather was somewhat gloomy today. Li Ting, wearing a straw hat, worked diligently turning the soil. After two or three hours of hard work, he finally remembered to take a break, looking up to see Fang Huaining watching him from a distance, not realizing when he had arrived. Li Ting dropped the hoe and removed his straw hat. Fang Huaining stepped forward to ask, "What brings you here today?" Li Ting took a large gulp from the water he had brought: "The weather is bad, so I came to take a look."

Fang Huaining looked around; unlike last time, the land was now divided into several sections, each small area growing different crops, although Fang Huaining still didn't recognize them. "What are you planting?" He asked, staring at Li Ting's flushed face as he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his nose. Li Ting stood there obediently, allowing Fang Huaining to attend to him, and answered, "Garlic, onions, leeks, scallions." Fang Huaining: "..." Li Ting innocently asked, "Are you here to help?" Fang Huaining hesitated, "What... what can I help with?" Li Ting gestured to the side with his lips, brushing against Fang Huaining's hand in the process. "Fertilizing." The mention of those two words instantly extinguished Fang Huaining's agitation. Li Ting took the handkerchief from Fang Huaining's hand, wiped his face and hands, and asked sincerely, "By the way, since your system is so comprehensive, do you have an irrigation system that can also be synced with a phone? That way, you'd know exactly when to fertilize." Fang Huaining: "..." "None? Then forget it." Li Ting handed the handkerchief back to Fang Huaining with regret, then comforted him, "Actually, you don't have to help; I've already done the fertilizing myself." Fang Huaining held the handkerchief that Li Ting had just touched, and his previously relaxed breath froze again, feeling as if he were holding a ticking bomb...

It wasn't until Fang Huaining's CPU finally caught up that he realized there was no strange odor in the air, making him understand he had been tricked once again. With his cold demeanor, is there anyone worse than this little farmer before him who can't stand to lose? And he was probably going to annoy him even more. An itch in his teeth accompanied by a longing in his heart. Sighing, Fang Huaining genuinely felt an impulse to bite him. Resignedly putting away his handkerchief, Li Ting finished tidying up the tools, put his straw hat back on, and planned to wrap things up. However, he showed no intention of leaving; instead, he lifted his leg and slowly walked in another direction. Fang Huaining found it strange but silently followed. Li Ting strolled leisurely, meandering as if enjoying a relaxed walk. Ahead was a large orchard, and they passed through it, with Fang Huaining gazing at the scenery on either side. In December, with the growing season far off, many fruit trees stood barren, further emphasizing the desolation of the area. Li Ting said, "When spring comes, A Chang will probably buy a new dog again." This statement came so suddenly that Fang Huaining quickly recalled it and asked, "What happened to the two dogs before?"

Li Ting replied, "They went to heaven a long time ago." He reluctantly explained, "It wasn't my doing. By the time I was ready to act, they had already gone to heaven on their own."

Fang Huaining smiled, "I know." However, after her smile faded, she felt an inexplicable sadness wash over her. Li Ting stepped out of the orchard and paused, suddenly pointing into the distance. "Over there used to be a large field of morning glories. From the big house here, it was a breathtaking sight when the flowers bloomed, all blue and purple." Fang Huaining looked in the direction he indicated but saw only barren land. "The owner of the big house really loved that flower field. Unfortunately, the morning glories only bloom in the morning; by afternoon, they wilt completely. And the owner always wakes up in the afternoon, so she never got to see the flowers in full bloom." Fang Huaining's heart tightened. Li Ting's expression remained calm; his eyes squinted slightly as if he were lost in thought. "When I visited her in the afternoons as a child, she would always be very sad. When she was sad, she would grab me and tell me stories nonstop. Those stories were noisy and clichéd. Would you like to hear them?" Fang Huaining looked at Li Ting and nodded seriously. Li Ting lifted his leg, pressed down on the yellow earth, then suddenly squatted and picked up a twig, beginning to draw. Soon, a simple sketch took form in front of Fang Huaining's eyes. The little farmer can draw too? Fang Huaining was surprised once more. Long hair, beautiful features, a slender figure.

Li Ting pointed at the drawing and said, "This is a princess." Fang Huaining could see it. Li Ting's drawing style, much like his handwriting, was not focused on aesthetics but rather on a rough and bold expression. Although the lines appeared careless, one could certainly sense some skill behind them. "The princess originally lived in a castle," Li Ting continued, adding a man and a woman beside the princess, resembling a king and queen. "Many people loved her—her parents, relatives, and friends—because she was beautiful and also because she had been unwell since childhood and needed love and care." Li Ting framed the drawing, reminiscent of a page from a fairy tale book. "The princess was very kind, but unfortunately, she was also quite willful. She could have enjoyed a richer and more colorful life, but she cherished and relied on this love, and gradually, all the compliments and praises unknowingly became the greatest meaning of her existence in this world." On the second page, Li Ting drew a tall man beside the princess, wearing a crown. "She met a prince when she was living in the castle, a…" "But she gave up," Li Ting turned his wrist and erased the prince. He drew another. "Two…" he turned his wrist and erased it again. He drew three or four princes, all of them eventually erased to the point of being unrecognizable.

"She always craved something better, but never grasped the concept of contentment, until one day…" Li Ting stopped erasing the princes, paused with the twig, and suddenly went back to the first drawing, striking out the king. Fang Huaining's expression turned quizzical. "After her father passed away, the princess lost not only a great deal of love but also much of her family's wealth. Her sorrow deepened, and what left her even more perplexed was the loss of many princes who had once surrounded her." Li Ting's voice was soft, yet his expression was laced with irony. "She was consumed by melancholy, often longing to return to the past, but reality unfolded in the opposite manner." Fang Huaining observed that the princess drawn by Li Ting began to distort, losing her long hair, oval face, and slender figure. "The illness caused the princess's beauty to wane, and she gradually transformed into an ordinary person. Although there were no princes around her, one or two knights had secretly admired her for many years. They may not have been as handsome or wealthy, but they could offer her protection and happiness. However, the princess failed to see that; her heart remained set on the prince." "Did she eventually meet him?" Fang Huaining couldn't help but ask. Li Ting's face broke into a smile as he drew another figure.

Fang Huaining looked at him, sensing that this man resembled the prince, yet she also knew he wasn't; he had evil horns on his head… this was a monster, or perhaps, from the perspective of an extraterrestrial youth, it should be called a beast. "The monster was far inferior to the previous prince; he was poor and weak. However, compared to the knights, he was gentle and talented. He even told the princess that he had turned down the advances of a beautiful witch and chose the princess, who had lost her looks and status. He arrived at the moment when the princess was at her saddest and most helpless, and naturally, she thought she had finally found true love. Thus, she refused to heed her mother's advice and unhesitatingly united with this monster." "What a touching love story," Li Ting commented. Yet when he looked up and saw Fang Huaining's serious expression, he playfully asked, "Did you guess what happens next? This story really is clichéd." "Is it... after the child is born?" Fang Huaining inquired, unable to contain herself, and also bending down to pick up a twig, as if to steady her thoughts. "It's not that far off," Li Ting calculated carefully. "About half a year… no, probably five months into the pregnancy, the princess discovered that the monster had actually been in contact with that beautiful witch. To be exact, they had never truly parted from the very beginning."

"Upon learning the truth, the princess was heartbroken. However, naïve as she was, she still tried to salvage the situation, lingering for a long time and even thinking that after having the child, everything could start anew. But when the witch's child was born, she finally lost hope and had no choice but to leave the castle with her own child and her mother, moving to a distant large house to recuperate."

Just as Li Ting finished speaking, there was a snap, and the twig in Fang Huaining's hand broke.

Li Ting watched, and to his surprise, his eyes curved into a smile.

Fang Huaining looked at him in surprise as well. He knew Li Ting was calm; he was one of the strongest-willed individuals Fang Huaining had ever met. Sometimes, he felt he couldn't quite grasp Li Ting's thoughts, like now—why did Li Ting still seem so indifferent?

Li Ting met his gaze and playfully asked, "Are you angry?"

Is it because of the story or because of himself?

Fang Huaining lost the branch and gently wiped his hands with a handkerchief, retorting, "Shouldn't I be angry?" Perhaps due to his monotonous upbringing, he struggled to accept scenarios like this, which he had only encountered in social news or melodramatic television dramas.

Li Ting shook his head seriously after hearing this. "You shouldn't be."

Fang Huaining looked at him in surprise.

Li Ting continued to leisurely sketch lines in the dirt with a stick. "Because that princess spent nearly the second half of her life consumed by this issue, day after day, filled with sadness, regret, pain, and anger in her thoughts and actions. She not only couldn't see the fields of morning glories; she couldn't even see her mother or the child she had given birth to."

"She was gravely ill, but what was more severely sick than her body was her heart."

As soon as these words were spoken, Fang Huaining jolted sharply. Suddenly, all the details he had previously disregarded rushed into his mind.

The little gray figure in the email ran around every day, eating whatever he wanted, playing whenever he pleased, soaring into the sky and burrowing into the earth, dominating everywhere he went. Fang Huaining had once thought this was a manifestation of a carefree life, but he failed to realize it was also a sign of his lack of boundaries. He had no elders to discipline him and no friends to share his experiences with. He recalled that his grandmother was preoccupied with taking care of his mother, which resulted in him having oranges for dinner, and it took almost a month for his grandmother to notice that his computer was broken. Apart from the occasional English lessons, the little gray figure dined alone, read alone, picked fruit alone, and learned to swim alone. The only company he had, apart from two dogs, was likely just himself—someone miles away whom he had never met in person, only contacting occasionally.

Such a small gray person, and he just blamed him for being too strong?

"Who knows whether it is fortunate or unfortunate that the princess suddenly woke up at the end, but the price was her mother's death."

Li Ting didn't erase the queen's figure like he did with the king; he simply extended his hand and gently touched the faint outline before turning back to continue his drawing.

"After being bedridden for so long, she had lost contact with all her relatives and friends. She feared that her child would be left helpless after she was gone and was even more afraid that he would be sent to an orphanage. After much contemplation, the helpless princess was forced to let go of the hatred she had accumulated over the years and actually sent the child back to the monster."

Fang Huaining looked at Li Ting and thought he understood what the price was.

Indeed, Li Ting explained: "The price was that she left only one piece of land here, selling off everything else and giving it to that pair of scoundrels, hoping they would treat the child better for the sake of the money. Of course, this was her condition for those two. But she had other expectations for that child, probably the only hope she had throughout all these years."

"She said, 'I hope you have your own life, I hope you are no longer disturbed by this past and these people, and definitely, definitely don't end up like me…'"

After writing the final words on the last drawing, Li Ting clapped his hands, stood up, and smiled at Fang Huaining.

"So, he did it."

Fang Huaining looked at the smiling face, feeling his heart tremble fiercely. He nodded, doing so earnestly.

The alien boy had grown up to be a person completely opposite to his mother. He might be reclusive and aloof, perhaps overly guarded, but he was independent, resilient, and strong. He might be petty and calculative, but he was also courageous, astute, and capable of anything.

He relied on no one and feared no one; he chased away the monster and built his own world.

Fang Huaining looked down at the last drawing Li Ting created: a small and lonely gray figure piloting a huge spaceship flying into the universe, with sharp lettering below reading— "Li Ting's World" Issue One. The End

Fang Huaining's heart surged with emotions. Unable to hold back, he reached out, tightly hugged the person in front of him, kissed his cheek, and leaned close to his ear, speaking word by word: "Yes, he did very well. Thank him for doing it. He is the bravest and most remarkable person I have ever seen…"

Chapter 58: Truly deserves daily swim practice. Wang Fuliang and Zhao Bang started surveying the hotpot restaurant's private room as soon as they sat down.

"Why did Huaining invite us here to eat? This place is much more expensive than the one we usually go to by the school gate, and it's also hard to book a table." "Something must be up," Zhao Bang speculated, glancing over at Qian Kun, who looked constipated, and the calm Wei Ping. "Do you two know something?" Qian Kun weakly rubbed his forehead: "Don't ask me, I'm feeling weak." Zhao Bang found this puzzling and turned to Wei Ping again: "Huaining's birthday has already passed; could it be that he won another scholarship? The formal setting makes me think maybe he received a special award? Or did he score exceptionally high on something? Perhaps he received a large sum of money?" Wei Ping nodded: "Yes, he won a huge prize, bigger than the special award. He also earned a significant amount, a truly precious treasure." "What does that mean?" Wang Fuliang inquired curiously. Wei Ping replied: "What's the hurry about? Wait for him to come and ask him yourself." Just as she finished speaking, Fang Huaining walked in, sweeping away his usual aloof demeanor. Although his face still bore no significant expression, his steps were brisk, suggesting he was in a good mood.

As Fang Huaining entered, Wei Ping asked: "Where are the others?" Fang Huaining replied: "There's something to take care of; he'll be here shortly." As he spoke, his phone rang, and Fang Huaining immediately picked up upon seeing the number.

"...Hello," he said.

Just as he got out a single word, the people beside him were startled. "What kind of tone was that?!"

The osmanthus sugar lotus and jujube honey, local specialties adorning the table, hadn't even been touched yet; how could the situation be so tense? "...The machines at the bus and subway stations are all tested and ready? Hmm, you can come over now; do you want me to go out and pick you up? Alright, got it, I'll wait for you; take your time, no rush..." After hanging up, he noticed two stunned faces. Fang Huaining calmly replied, "Sorry, there's a little issue unexpectedly; he'll be here soon. If you're hungry, we can order some snacks to fill our stomachs first." "She?!!" Zhao Bang felt puzzled but seemed to grasp something.

Wang Fuliang finally caught on: "Hua, Hua Ning, you can't be... you really... you're in a relationship, huh?" Last time during that gaming event, they all thought the others were joking, but they didn't expect that the top player from the School of Computing actually found love? "Who is it????" Fang Huaining didn't say anything, but the faint smile at the corners of her eyes instantly erased the cold demeanor she had maintained for years. Seeing this, Wang Fuliang's curiosity nearly spilled out, momentarily overcoming his stutter. "Are they from our school? Have we met? How do you know them?" Before Fang Huaining could respond to the flurry of questions, his phone buzzed again; this time it was a message from the little farm. Fang Huaining glanced at it, immediately stood up, and said, "He doesn't know which private room; I'll go out and check."

Watching Fang Huaining hurriedly leave, Zhao Bang asked in a daze, "Did you see his expression? Is this still Fang Huaining? What kind of beauty does a person need to be for him to turn into someone else?"

Wang Fuliang glared at him. "Shallow! Is Huaining the type to fall for looks right away? Can you try to act like a bro? He has always had his own taste. Just because you're excited doesn't mean we can't keep calm later when the person actually comes in; we can't judge them based on appearance. Huaining cares about his image..."

While speaking, he pushed the cup of water in front of him toward Zhao Bang to help him calm down.

"I was just joking," Zhao Bang said, taking the cup and quickly explaining, "I obviously trust his judgment. When the person really arrives, of course, I can keep calm..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the private room opened, and two people walked in together from outside.

Wang Fuliang and Zhao Bang were both stunned, initially thinking they had made a mistake, but when their gaze fell to the tightly interlocked hands of the two...

"—Pfft!"

"—Pfft!"

The two simultaneous sprays of water caused Wei Ping, who had been on guard, to immediately step aside, while the dazed Qian Kun unfortunately got splashed all over his face by the jets of water.

Qian Kun: "..." "Cough cough cough…" Zhao Bang and Wang Fuliang covered their mouths, their faces turning red from coughing. Ultimately, it was Wei Ping who couldn't bear it any longer and poured each of them another cup of water. "Bros' vibes?" she chuckled with a snort, then handed a tissue to the water-splattered young man beside her. Fang Huaining remained calm, as if he had long been prepared for this moment. He pulled the person he was holding closer and spoke seriously to everyone present, "You all should have met before, but I want to formally introduce him this time. This is Li Ting, and he is... my boyfriend. No matter what your impressions of him were before, from now on... I hope they will all be good, and nothing short of good." His last sentence was said gently, almost like a joke, but those familiar with Fang Huaining knew how much weight the top player's words carried. Just... who said Fang Huaining cared about his image? The people at the table exchanged glances, especially Zhao Bang and Wang Fuliang, who could hardly believe that the object of Fang Huaining's affection was Li Ting. But no matter their confusion and disbelief, they could only swallow their surprise for the moment. Li Ting next to him remained unfazed, as if he could accept whatever Fang Huaining said. After Fang Huaining finished speaking, Li Ting pulled out a chair and sat down, his usual self-assured demeanor unchanged.

Soon, the dishes were served, and Li Ting, without needing Fang Huaining's assistance, began skillfully picking up food and eating, completely unfazed by the scrutinizing gazes around him. In contrast, the group of engineering students were in shock, feeling dizzy, and the atmosphere at the table became quite peculiar.

Fang Huaining could foresee this outcome; after all, Li Ting was exceptionally different from others. It would likely be somewhat difficult for his good friends to accept him immediately, but Fang Huaining also understood his roommates well enough to know they were generally easy-going and would eventually come to terms with it. Additionally, when had his little cat ever needed him to worry?

So today, all they had to do was eat and drink well.

Moreover, with Wei Ping present, her demeanor was relaxed, her appetite hearty, and she could take care of her son, who couldn't manage on his own, which made the big men feel a bit awkward instead.

Fortunately, with delicious food in front of them, all discomfort melted away. As they watched the food gradually disappear, Zhao Bang and Wang Fuliang finally regained their lost spirits.

As time went on, their enthusiasm for eating grew, and at one point, Wei Ping called for a few bottles of beer and filled everyone's glasses.

Fang Huaining initially thought Li Ting wouldn't drink, but to his surprise, the little cat downed half a glass without changing expression, clearly possessing some alcohol tolerance. Meanwhile, Zhao Bang, Wang Fuliang, and the others needed alcohol to lift their spirits. Thus, amidst the clinking of glasses, all awkwardness and tension were temporarily forgotten, leaving only a sense of satisfaction.

After a hearty meal, Fang Huaining went to pay the bill and bumped into Wang Fuliang, who was returning from the restroom.

Wang Fuliang appeared to be lost in thought as he approached, patting Fang Huaining on the shoulder. With his now-chubby tongue, he mumbled, "Huai, Huai… Huaining! Don't… worry; whether they are fat or thin, beautiful or ugly, male or female, anyone who can redeem… redeem themselves is a good… good guest. Bros… how could we not support you? We truly… are happy for you, really happy… After all, since you've… turned over a new leaf, our business will be doing better… right? Good… good bro."

Fang Huaining: "...…"

After sending two drunken men off in a taxi and bidding farewell to Wei Ping and her son, Fang Huaining and Li Ting finally set off for home.

The top player hadn't drunk much tonight, but he naturally had a low alcohol tolerance. Coupled with his pleasant mood, although his eyes were clear, his thoughts were becoming increasingly light-headed, making him feel as if he were walking on clouds.

As they walked along, Fang Huaining suddenly stopped in his tracks. He had been staring at the ground, but at first sight, he turned back to look at Fang Xuanling with a strange expression. When he saw that Fang Xuanling was gazing at him with a silly expression, Fang Huaining couldn't help but roll his eyes and gently pulled him over, urging him to continue on. Fang Xuanling followed silently, muttering to himself in a low voice. The wind blew, and Fang Huaining initially couldn't hear what he was saying, but as they reached the entrance of the Yu Yu community, the sound finally reached him. It was then that Fang Huaining hesitated whether to part ways or take him home.

It was then that the person in front of him suddenly reached out and pulled him into his arms. "Stacking... Tīng Tīng, my Tīng Tīng..." Fang Xuanling's low voice whispered in his ear, and Fang Huaining realized that he had been addressing him by his nickname all along. The daze and affection in his voice sent shivers down Fang Huaining's spine. He recalled that only his grandmother used to call him by this name.

It was already close to 10 pm, and the entrance of the community was quiet, with fewer people around. They were hidden behind a tree, and Fang Huaining gently extricated himself from Fang Xuanling's arms, allowing him to draw closer. "Are you drunk?" Fang Huaining asked softly. Fang Xuanling closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against him, "No, I'm just happy."

"What are you happy about?" Fang Huaining asked.

"Just happy," Fang Xuanling's smile deepened, and he suddenly grabbed the back of Stacking's head, kissing him hard on the lips. Stacking softened and returned the kiss, but Fang Xuanling's kiss was surprisingly passionate, leaving Stacking's lips numb after a while. He pushed Fang Xuanling away, holding his chest. "I'm leaving," Stacking said, gasping for breath, his face flushed under the dim light. As he turned to leave, he heard Fang Xuanling softly say behind him, "I'm happy to see you... I'm too happy." Stacking muttered to himself, "Idiot." He couldn't help but smile. Finally managing to escape the awkwardness, he went upstairs, where he found Tian Dian standing at the door with a hint of a smile on his face.

"Hey, Stack!" Tian Dian exclaimed, glancing at his watch and then at Stacking's red lips. "Wow, you've been gone for ten minutes! You're a real scientist! You must have excellent lung capacity from all that swimming…" Since learning about Stacking's relationship with the scientist across the way, Tian Dian had shifted from shock to excitement to curiosity, spending at least half a month wondering what was happening between them. He even wished he could install a camera to observe them in real-time. Only recently had he managed to calm down. "I'm glad you're happy for me," Tian Dian explained. "I'm happy because I'm afraid of being hurt by dogs! Seeing a handsome guy in love is a lifeline for someone like me who's emotionally empty."

" 'Empty?' " Stacking latched onto the key word, his intense gaze fixed on Tian Dian. Initially, Tian Dian appeared taken aback, but his expression gradually became distant. "Four months and three days," Stacking said, his voice steady. "When did you last feel empty?" Tian Dian lowered his head, replying, "I'm being careful." Stacking fell silent for a moment before asking, "You haven't been seeing anyone lately, have you? Is it someone from work?" Tian Dian looked puzzled. Stacking pressed on, "Is it someone older than you?" Tian Dian shook his head. Stacking continued, "Is it a chef?" Tian Dian's eyes widened in surprise. Stacking seemed to be aware of something Tian Dian was hesitant to admit. Tian Dian covered his mouth, realizing he had inadvertently revealed something. Seeing Stacking's serious expression, Tian Dian hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest. "Stacking, it's not that I didn't want to tell you; I've just been taking the time to think things through carefully before considering anything," Tian Dian said quietly. Stacking raised an eyebrow in surprise. Tian Dian continued, "I know I've been confusing in the past, but this time is different. I want to understand myself better before making any decisions." Stacking nodded silently before speaking up again. "Tian Dian," he said softly, "I'm glad you're thinking things through carefully." Tian Dian smiled. As he looked at Stacking, he suddenly said, "Stacking, I think I've finally figured out what real happiness is... just like how I can tell that the scientist really likes you very much."

The words made Stackling's heart skip a beat, reminding him of what Fang Xuanling had said earlier...

Fang Huaining slightly frowned, though it was hardly noticeable. The lab equipment in Courtyard A was very advanced and abundant, but it consisted of a mix of new and old, good and bad. Fang Huaining had applied for the slightly better lab and had arranged for it three days in advance, while this senior Kong had come two days later, arriving early in the morning to occupy the space without permission, cheerfully claiming he would be finished soon. However, it dragged on endlessly, likely delaying Fang Huaining's work.

The top student disliked socializing, but that didn't mean he was unaware of the intricacies involved. The fierce competition in academia was far worse than at school. Fang Huaining was only in his senior year and had followed a renowned director while taking on projects everywhere; his progress was not just marginally ahead of others—if he continued on this path for another two years, these people might not even be able to catch up to him.

To avoid envy is to be mediocre.

Clearly, this senior Kong understood that very well.

Fang Huaining observed the smile on Kong's face until he noticed the rigidity at the corners of his mouth and finally nodded.

Although he had the backing of a famous mentor, Fang Huaining was still inexperienced, having been in the lab for only half a year.

He had enough tolerance toward his senior and detested such scheming games; if word got out that the top student of the School of Computing was fighting someone for a lab space, it would be too embarrassing for him—he didn't want to stoop to such levels.

Thus, Fang Huaining remained silent and aloof, settling back into his seat, though the messages he sent were still warm.

F: Looks like I really don't have time for lunch, I'm sorry. F: Can you go by yourself? [Sad]

After sending that, he didn't receive a reply from Li Ting.

He thought the other party must have many things to do; he would probably see it when lunchtime rolled around. Fang Huaining, feeling disappointed, put down his phone. He had never felt that his life was too busy before, but now he longed for a mundane 24 hours, just to be with the little waiter.

All things considered, they weren't close enough. If they couldn't meet during the day, it would be nice if they could see each other at night as well. Living under the same roof, able to feel each other's presence without looking up, and being able to pull him into an embrace with just a lift of the hand while sleeping—such thoughts quickened his heartbeat…

Just as he was lost in thought, Fang Huaining suddenly brightened when a certain person appeared in front of him.

Fang Huaining blinked, and after confirming repeatedly, he realized it wasn't just his imagination—Li Ting had really come!

He stood up in surprise.

"What brought you here…"

Li Ting was dressed in a down jacket over a thin waiter's uniform. He held two beautifully packaged paper boxes, stepping up beside Fang Huaining and handing them over.

"Here, eat."

The little cat was succinct, his expression neutral, even a bit aloof. Yet Fang Huaining couldn't help but notice his red cheeks and nose from the cold, fighting an overwhelming urge to pull him into a tight embrace and kiss him.

"For me?" Fang Huaining asked, taking the box and opening it to reveal a row of exquisite hyacinth snowflake pastries, still warm to the touch. The temperature in A City had plummeted recently; how had the little cat managed to bring them to him still warm in such cold weather?

As Li Ting put down the food box and prepared to turn away, Fang Huaining quickly grabbed his hand, which felt as cold as a little snowball. He instinctively held it tightly in his palm to warm it.

"Have you eaten?"

Li Ting didn't respond, his big eyes scanning the surroundings, seemingly wanting to withdraw his hand.

But Fang Huaining wasn't deterred; he fixed his gaze on him. "Let's eat together."

Li Ting frowned. "I've eaten."

"Then just eat a little more," Fang Huaining said, ignoring his lie as he wrapped his arms around Li Ting's waist, pulling him to sit beside him.

The two finally settled close together when a soft voice suddenly interrupted.

"Huaining…"

At that moment, Fang Huaining's hand was still tightly around Li Ting's waist, their thighs pressed together; it looked nothing like a typical male-male relationship.

Then Fang Huaining's hand was forcefully shaken off.

Li Ting used considerable strength this time, causing Fang Huaining to flinch in pain; when he looked at Li Ting, he was surprised to see a fleeting look of nervousness on his usually expressionless face. Fang Huaining was taken aback and then turned to nod calmly at the person approaching from the hallway.

"Senior Sister," Fang Huaining called out, then lowered his voice to reassure Li Ting, "It's fine."

Indeed, Xu Miaomiao walked over slowly, oblivious to their intimacy as if she were blind. She only looked at Fang Huaining and weakly said, "Huaining, could I also use the lab? I need to process some data."

Fang Huaining glanced at the tightly closed lab door. "You'll have to wait; someone else is using it right now."

"Why?" Xu Miaomiao didn't understand. "Wu Yi said… today is your slot; who's inside?"

Before Fang Huaining could respond, she knocked directly on the door.

Facing Kong Qiang, who answered, Xu Miaomiao curiously asked, "Who are you? Why are you cutting in line?"

Kong Qiang had been quite impatient at first, but when he saw who it was, he immediately changed to a smile. "Miaomiao! Uh, I'm a student of Teacher Guo; don't you remember me?

We met last time during the special award defense; I was the one who presented your winning PPT. Ah, I'm just borrowing the lab for a bit, it'll be quick...

Xu Miaomiao, who was three years Fang Huaining's senior and in her third year of graduate studies, shook her head when she heard this. "It's exhausting to cut in line; you should wait in line like everyone else... you can't cut. Please come out."

After saying that, she stood there for a moment before turning to Fang Huaining and asking, "Huaining, did I cut in line too?"

Fang Huaining replied, "It's okay, you can use it with me."

"Eh, that's not good..." Xu Miaomiao contemplated for a long time, then asked, "Are you doing the experiment for the project in U City? If so, I can help you with it, even though it's a bit tiring. You go eat... I haven't had lunch yet."

Ignoring Kong Qiang, who had been left out, Fang Huaining quickly added, "Miaomiao, I can take you out to eat... or if you feel tired, I can help with the experiment too."

Xu Miaomiao continued to shake her head: "This experiment has an eighty percent chance of success for me, your words... probably have a ninety percent chance of failing. Thank you," she said with a smile.

Kong Qiang remained silent.

Seeing Xu Miaomiao walk into the lab, someone called out, "Wait."

Fang Huaining was surprised to see Li Ting, who had suddenly spoken up.

Li Ting walked up to Xu Miaomiao and handed her a box of snowflake pastries.

"Exchange," he said.

Fang Huaining was astonished by the generosity.

Xu Miaomiao paused, "Ah, this snack is so beautiful... I want to eat it, but the equation seems off again." Li Ting looked at her and asked, "So what should we do?" After a moment of thought, Xu Miaomiao turned to Fang Huaining, "In that case, I can only come to help you both tomorrow and the day after. Sigh…" With that, she finally took the gift box from Li Ting, looking satisfied. Fang Huaining could only stare, realizing, "..." How could she forget that the little cat never misses a chance to benefit?!

Meanwhile, as Xu Miaomiao and Fang Huaining discussed the experiment for the next day, Kang Qiang, who had been completely ignored, stubbornly approached Li Ting to ask, "Are you from the bookstore café? I'd like to order a few of those pastries. Can they be delivered?" Li Ting, clearly aware of Xu Miaomiao's earlier comments, didn't even glance at this interloper. "Not delivered." Kang Qiang felt displeased at her indifferent tone, "Hey, why does Fang Huaining get delivery? What kind of service attitude is this?" "He's a member," Li Ting replied, narrowing her eyes. "A bookstore café? Then I can sign up for that too," Kang Qiang protested. "No, you can't," Li Ting shot back. "Why not? What kind of member is he? Monthly membership or seasonal membership?" Fang Huaining had already sorted things out on his end, and as soon as they found the time, the two could go out to eat together. He waved from a distance to Li Ting, who noticed him and walked over, leaving behind a disdainful remark. "Lifetime member..."