The college entrance examination is underway.

At seven in the morning, Fan Qiuming was jolted awake by his alarm clock. He had exercised last night until his body simply refused to move, so now, rising early, he felt sore and aching all over.

He walked to Fan Qiulin’s room and knocked on her door. “Fan Qiulin, are you up? There’s still an exam today!”

A lazy voice responded from inside, “Yeah!” Fan Qiulin shook her head helplessly.

In the kitchen, Fan Qiuming opened the refrigerator with practiced ease.

“Huh? There’s nothing at all?” He couldn’t help but worry about the kind of life these siblings had been living.

With no other option, he had to go out to buy breakfast.

After Fan Qiuming left, Fan Qiulin peeked out stealthily, confused by his unusual behavior.

He would never usually help her buy breakfast, but today…

“This isn’t right, not at all. Did something possess him?” She shook her head, trying to dismiss these thoughts. Today was the most important exam of her life.

“Forget it, it doesn’t matter! The college entrance exam is what counts!”

Still, if he really could change and start caring about her, that wouldn’t be so bad. She was touched, recalling his actions that morning.

Then, the sound of rain began outside—heavy, by the sound of it.

“He didn’t take an umbrella when he went out, did he?” Fan Qiulin felt a twinge of concern.

“I’m back!”

After she finished washing up, Fan Qiuming’s voice came from outside. When he entered, he was drenched through.

“What the hell? It started pouring as soon as I left. Hurry up and eat, or it’ll get cold.”

Fan Qiulin looked at the steaming hot breakfast on the table. There was no rainwater on it.

“I, once the mightiest on the Xuanxiao Continent, can’t believe I’ve reduced myself to buying breakfast for a girl!” he thought. “But now that it’s come to this, I’ll just have to see things through, one step at a time.”

He fixed his gaze on Fan Qiulin, contemplating, while she nibbled at her breakfast, as if afraid to anger him.

Though he had never hit her, she could remember his harsh words and cold indifference.

“At this rate, the dinosaurs will be extinct before you finish. Are you planning to miss your exam?” Fan Qiuming commented.

Startled, Fan Qiulin hurriedly shoved a bun into her mouth, nearly choking.

Fan Qiuming couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Didn’t expect you to be a bit cute,” he murmured.

Though he spoke softly, Fan Qiulin heard every word, blushing as her cheeks puffed out with the bun—she looked like a hamster.

“I’m done,” Fan Qiulin said after swallowing the last mouthful of porridge.

Fan Qiuming helped pack her stationery, found an umbrella, and pushed her towards the exam site.

It always seemed to rain on the day of the college entrance exam—almost a tradition. Fan Qiuming pushed the wheelchair from behind, while Fan Qiulin held the umbrella, but she tilted it backward.

Fan Qiuming watched raindrops fall on her.

“If you’re holding an umbrella, do it properly. Don’t protect your head and leave the rest exposed. What if you catch a cold and mess up your performance? Don’t tell me you’re grown up and still can’t handle an umbrella.”

Though his tone was scolding, Fan Qiulin could tell he was telling her to take care of herself, not to worry about him.

“You…” She wanted to ask what had happened to him.

Why had he changed so suddenly? He wasn’t exactly caring now, but he was much better than before.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“N-nothing…” Fan Qiulin never managed to ask.

“Don’t overthink it. Focus on your exam. After it’s over, I’ll answer whatever you want to know.” Fan Qiuming seemed to see through her thoughts.

Indeed, anyone would find this strange, like a stranger on the street suddenly being inexplicably nice to you or giving you food.

Not even children would fall for it!

“All right, this is as far as I go,” Fan Qiuming said at the exam entrance. “Read the questions carefully and take your time.”

“I’m sure you’ll do well. Wait for me at the school gate after you’re done.”

“Got it!” Fan Qiulin wheeled herself into the exam room, and Fan Qiuming left once the bell rang.

“So, where to now?” Fan Qiuming muttered, his head aching—quite literally, as the bruises from yesterday’s beating hadn’t healed.

“I’d better buy some medicine. I don’t want any lingering issues.”

He glanced at his thinning wallet and sighed.

“I really need to find a way to make some money…”

Inside the exam hall, Fan Qiulin was writing furiously. Unable to move much, she had been immersed in books since childhood. The first Chinese exam was child’s play for her.

Meanwhile, Fan Qiuming was buying medicine at a pharmacy and, coincidentally, ran into Chen Xuemei again.

“Oh? You again? What a coincidence!” She was surprised to see him.

“Yeah, what a coincidence…”

“Why is she everywhere?” Fan Qiuming felt a bit exasperated. Though she had helped him yesterday, her enthusiastic nature was hard for him to get used to.

“What are you doing here?” Chen Xuemei asked curiously.

“I’m here to dance,” Fan Qiuming replied helplessly.

“To dance? Isn’t this a pharmacy?”

“If you already know, why ask?” Fan Qiuming was at a loss, and as if on cue, the rain outside began to subside—as if even the weather yielded to Chen Xuemei. “What about you? Are you here to buy medicine?”

“Not really. I work part-time here. The pharmacy hires some summer workers. Oh, did those guys from last night bother you again?”

“No… About last night, I owe you one. If you ever need anything, you can find me.” Fan Qiuming took out his phone and showed her his QR code.

Chen Xuemei smiled. “I thought you were heartless. You left last night without even looking back. Turns out you’re not so bad.”

She pulled out her phone and added him as a friend. “If you buy medicine from me in the future, I’ll give you a little discount. I have to get back to work or I’ll have my pay docked.”

“I’d rather not buy medicine often, or I’ll turn into a walking pharmacy.”

After buying his medicine, Fan Qiuming passed the artificial lake near the park in front of the school and sensed a faint trace of spiritual energy.

“Hm?”

He raised an eyebrow and walked toward it. The closer he got, the stronger the feeling became.

By the artificial lake, only a single old willow tree stood out. If something was there, it had to be at the willow.

Although Fan Qiuming’s body no longer contained spiritual power, his mental strength, linked to the soul, was unchanged.

He released his consciousness—his spiritual awareness—to probe his surroundings.

Sweeping past the willow, he discovered the trunk was hollow, with a box inside.

He approached and, finding a hole in the trunk, reached inside.

“There really is something…”

He stretched as far as he could, finally pulling out a wooden box secured with a small lock.

“The spiritual energy seems to come from inside. I’ll check it at home—no one’s around anyway. No point leaving something valuable lying here.”

He didn’t linger, quickly taking the box home, curiosity piqued.

“This box seems to block spiritual senses too. For me right now, that’s valuable.”

Back home, Fan Qiuming changed into dry clothes, took his medicine, and fiddled with the box for ages. No matter what method he used, it wouldn’t open; though wooden, it was as tough as iron.

The lock was just as stubborn—he couldn’t pry it open.

“What a useless thing—so hard to deal with?” Fan Qiuming finally gave up, slumped in a chair, head tilted back. “Eleven thirty-three… Damn, the first exam’s already over!”

He leapt up and rushed out the door.

The streets bustled with people—especially today, with the college entrance exam. Students everywhere confided in their parents about the difficulty.

Most wore worried expressions, proof enough that this year’s test was no easy feat.

At the school gate, Fan Qiulin waited anxiously, but as time passed and Fan Qiuming didn’t appear, disappointment grew.

“Qiulin, how could you be so foolish? People don’t just change overnight,” she muttered, bowing her head.

When she finally looked up, she saw a figure running towards her, faster and faster.

“Sorry I’m late—have you been waiting long?” Fan Qiuming offered a rueful smile, pushing her wheelchair as he spoke.

“I got held up. You’re not angry, are you?” His words carried a hint of pleading.

“No…” With that, Fan Qiuming let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good. As compensation, you can have whatever you want for lunch—I’ll cook it.”

“Anything’s fine…”

This girl was as unyielding as ever, Fan Qiuming thought, shaking his head. Still, change takes time; it’s not something that happens overnight.

He wasn’t disappointed—there was still a long road ahead. They had time.

To outsiders, their figures seemed to radiate a quiet warmth. This was good—far better than before.

At least, that was what Fan Qiulin thought…