"You bought a house, and you even took your sister there once?"

Su Muzhi lay half-reclined on the hospital bed, flipping through a book, not bothering to look up as she asked.

Jiang Linyuan held a glass vase, filled it with water, and inserted the flowers one by one:

"That's right, I picked these flowers right from the community flowerbed."

"Then are these home flowers or wild roadside ones?"

Su Muzhi closed her book and turned to Jiang Linyuan with a sweet smile.

"Doesn't matter, all these flowers are yours."

Jiang Linyuan set the vase down on a small table nearby, pulled up a stool, and sat down.

Su Muzhi let out a light laugh:

"There are cherries on the table. Wash them and feed me."

Jiang Linyuan went to the bathroom, washed them clean, popped a plump cherry into his mouth, and spat out the pit:

"So sweet, cloyingly sweet. I wonder who bought these?"

"I did."

A middle-aged man walked in through the doorway, his voice flat—flatter than even a monotone:

"Sorry it's not to your taste, I suppose."

Oh wow, if it isn't the Vice Principal?

"I was just reminding Xiao Su that, actually, I think they're fine to eat."

As he spoke, Jiang Linyuan popped another cherry into his mouth.

When it came to sneaking bites of Xiao Su's consolation gift...

"Hmph..."

The Vice Principal couldn't be bothered to look at him; this face only irritated him more the longer he saw it. He found a seat and looked at Su Muzhi:

"Feeling any better?"

"I wasn't really feeling bad in the first place."

With that, Su Muzhi turned her head toward Jiang Linyuan, opened her mouth slightly:

"Feed me."

Jiang Linyuan pinched a cherry between his fingers.

Su Muzhi closed her eyes, showing an expression of pure bliss as she took the cherry.

"It's not that sweet. Actually, it's fine. Give me another one."

Jiang Linyuan pinched another.

Su Muzhi snatched it from his hand, smiling teasingly at him:

"Say 'ahhh.'"

Xiao Su wanted to play the feeding game, huh? Jiang Linyuan opened his mouth.

Her soft little hand sent the cherry into his mouth. Delicious.

When it came to sneaking bites of Xiao Su's comfort supplies...

There was the bitter frustration of having his daughter stolen away, mixed with the warmth of seeing her so happy.

He let out a sigh, feeling like he was intruding, and walked out.

The two chatted for an hour before Jiang Linyuan took his leave.

Just as he stepped out, he saw the Vice Principal sitting off to the side, who waved him over:

"Let's talk."

"Vice Principal, you haven't left yet?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

"Are you really that eager to see me go?!"

The Vice Principal glared at him.

Without his daughter around, looking at this kid alone only made his blood boil!

"Haha, mainly because it's getting late. I was worried you might be worn out."

"My stamina isn't any worse than you young folks."

The Vice Principal first defended the honor of middle-aged people, then continued:

"You've worked hard these past few days, coming to see Muzhi every day."

"It's only right."

Jiang Linyuan waved his hand grandly.

What was with the Vice Principal getting all polite? We're family here—no need for two different ways of talking!

Seeing his attitude, the Vice Principal nodded and said:

"Xiao Su has a bit of a strange personality. I hope you can learn to adapt to it."

Xiao Su's personality strange? To him, it was absolutely awesome!

"I actually really like Xiao Su the way she is."

"You don't understand. Women are different before and after marriage."

How did we jump to before and after marriage? Vice Principal, which "future" are you even talking about?

The Vice Principal let out a long, weary sigh:

"Muzhi's mother was the same. Before marriage, she held back a bit. After marriage, she stopped holding back altogether, and got a lot fiercer."

"But I changed a lot too. As a husband, the first time my wife slapped me, I felt angry and helpless. Later, when she slapped me the second time, I remembered the moment we fell in love at first sight. The third time, my face was already leaning in toward her hand. By the fourth time, I was already well-practiced at burrowing into her arms to act cute and apologize."

As he spoke, he touched his own cheek, a faintly nostalgic look on his face.

"Vice Principal, there are some things you don't need to tell me."

Jiang Linyuan silently shifted a bit farther away.

Looks like Auntie Shaqima and the Vice Principal had some pretty wild times when they were young, huh.

"Ahem..."

The Vice Principal's face reddened with embarrassment as he said:

"This is the wisdom of life experience. You should learn from it well."

Learn my ass! Xiao Su is so good to me, there's no way she'd slap me.

At most, she'd eat me alive.

"By the way, the school anniversary is coming up. If you can, show your face in the anniversary promotional video."

The Vice Principal suddenly changed the subject.

"It's mainly to give you some exposure. On the day of the anniversary, a lot of alumni will be coming, along with some of my old classmates—mostly people within the system. I'll introduce you to them."

Touching, Vice Principal.

Was he already starting to plan for my future?

"Got it, Vice Principal."

Jiang Linyuan nodded.

"Mm. Don't worry too much about Muzhi's condition."

The Vice Principal patted Jiang Linyuan on the shoulder.

"There's a lot going on for the evening of this year's anniversary. A light show, a drone performance, and a gala. But well, those are things for you young people. Enjoy your youth while you can."

"Will Xiao Su be able to leave the hospital that day?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

The Vice Principal smiled at him:

"You didn't ask for my opinion the last time you took her out, and you don't need to this time either. It's up to Muzhi herself."

"The hospitalization is just for routine checkups. Muzhi has sneaked out on her own before. If you want to take her out to have fun, go ahead."

Vice Principal, the king of chivalry.

Going up against the pressure from Auntie Shaqima all by himself. The legendary champion of henpecked husbands and stress-bearer!

---

The next day, back at school, the Student Union gathered once again to discuss preparations for the school anniversary.

Aside from arranging the manpower for the anniversary gala, the Student Union also planned to make a short film for the occasion.

Inside the meeting room, at the External Liaison Department's seat, Shen Wanyu sat quietly. Her black hair swayed gently. Even though it was already early spring, she still radiated a faint chill.

Department Head, haven't you thawed out yet!

"Department Head, any thoughts on the theme for the short film?"

Jiang Linyuan sat beside her and asked.

Shen Wanyu glanced at him:

"No particular thoughts."

"What if we had the protagonist travel through time and space to browse through Xingnan University's history?"

Lin Yilin, who had been listening to their conversation, suggested.

"That sounds like an idea Xiao Yilin would come up with."

Jiang Linyuan said.

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

Lin Yilin bared her teeth and secretly pinched his hand.

Xiao Yilin was expressing her emotions more directly now. Cute.

Jiang Linyuan pinched her pinky finger back, and Lin Yilin's face instantly flushed red as she quickly pulled her hand away.

"Of course it's a compliment to Xiao Yilin. When would I ever insult her?"

Lin Yilin ignored him.

Jiang Linyuan turned back to Shen Wanyu:

"Department Head, what do you think of Xiao Yilin's idea?"

"Not bad."

Shen Wanyu looked at the two of them, first furrowing her brows slightly, then quickly returning to her usual expressionless face.

Not my business.

"How about campus romance? Since it's our own self-made campus short film, there's no need to be so serious."

A familiar voice rang out by his ear. He turned around and saw the Thief Saint, whom he felt like he hadn't seen in ages.

She wore a black jacket embroidered with orchids over a white shirt, her small face looking pure and adorable.

She sat behind them, squeezing her head between Lin Yilin and Jiang Linyuan:

"Senior? What do you think of this theme? You can be the male lead, and I'll be the female lead!"

"No way!"

Lin Yilin turned her head, puffed up with anger.

Senior Su isn't feeling well right now and isn't by Senior's side. I need to keep an eye on him for her!

Yeah, that's right!