Shen Yi stared at the plump, round cactus, taking a moment to react before raising a handsome eyebrow.

Qin Jiao asked, "Don’t you like it? If you don’t, I can take it back."

"I love it!" As if afraid she might actually take it back, Shen Yi immediately cupped the flowerpot in his hands. He moved so quickly he nearly pricked himself on the needles.

Qin Jiao was suddenly struck by how much he seemed like an actual seventeen-year-old, full of boyishness.

She said, "You don’t need to water a cactus too often. You don’t have to pay much attention to it. They’re actually very easy to care for."

"Mm-hm." The thought that this was something they were essentially raising together sent a tingling warmth through Shen Yi’s chest.

Qin Jiao felt the atmosphere had become a little strange—far too intimate. She wasn’t a true seventeen-year-old. If she were really that young and naive, she could have remained completely oblivious.

She understood perfectly well that their current situation was like being surrounded by floating pink bubbles. The day those bubbles popped, she feared they would no longer be able to talk to each other so casually.

Qin Jiao had no intention of popping them; she just wanted to be good friends with Shen Yi. So, she said a quick goodbye, turned, and jogged away.

Yes, she jogged, and quickly. Fortunately, the snow in the courtyard had been cleared, or else she would have slipped and fallen.

Shen Yi felt a pang of disappointment. Every time he tried to get a little closer, Qin Jiao was like a startled bird, flapping her wings and flying away.

’Does she hate me?’

Shen Yi thought back carefully. Ever since he’d returned, he had been exceedingly cautious in every interaction with Qin Jiao. He’d kept the bad temper from his past life completely hidden and tried his best to see things from her perspective.

Their families got along well, so there were no external reasons for any conflict.

’So, where did the problem lie?’

Shen Yi ambled home, frowning as he mulled over this important question. As he looked up, he saw his mom drift out of the kitchen like a ghost. It was only when her eyes fell on her son that some life returned to Du Liya.

"Xiao Yi, you’re home from school."

"Yeah." Shen Yi had rarely spoken with his mother in his previous life, but now that he was living a second time, many of his actions went against his old ways.

For instance, he suddenly wanted to talk to his mother about his love life.

Besides, it was worrying to see his mother in this state. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Shen Yi called out to her before she went into her room. "Mom, can we talk?"

Shen Zhengfeng had come by today, but Mr. Du had chewed him out and sent him away. He probably hadn’t left Shiqiao Town yet; he might even be staying at Li Xiaomei’s place.

Shen Yi had noticed Chen Feng looking sullen today. He was distracted all through class, and when the teacher called on him to solve a problem, he got it wrong.

’Keep spacing out. The further your mind wanders, the better.’

Shen Yi despised Chen Feng. He had despised him in both lifetimes.

Meanwhile, hearing that her son had something to discuss, Du Liya forced herself to muster some energy. She sat down on the sofa and poured herself a glass of water.

"Xiao Yi, are you having some kind of trouble with school?"

Du Liya could be unobservant. All her energy was focused on her husband, Shen Zhengfeng, so she had no idea that her son’s grades were now excellent.

So now that she intended to focus more of her attention on her son, her first instinct was to ask about his schoolwork.

Shen Yi said, "It’s not about my studies. It’s about a relationship."

"You’re dating someone?!" Du Liya stared at her son in utter shock, her voice accidentally booming.

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how loud she’d been. She quickly covered her mouth, worried she might wake her father, who had managed to turn in early for once. Then, in a hushed, urgent whisper, she asked again, "Xiao Yi, you’re seeing someone?"