Jiang Cheng is on a train for almost three hours, with a stranger—a girl—sleeping on his shoulder.

He repeatedly tries to nudge her away, but she keeps leaning back.

His phone vibrates multiple times with messages from Yu Xin, his girlfriend, asking why he left without telling her.

Yu Xin threatens to break up if he doesn't respond; Jiang Cheng turns off his phone, unconcerned.

The train reaches his stop, and the girl wakes up, realizing she left an imprint on her forehead from sleeping against his shoulder.

Jiang Cheng silently mocks her by twirling a red marker, making her run to the bathroom.

He gets off the train and checks his phone—no messages from anyone else, including the person who was supposed to pick him up.

He observes the bleak, run-down cityscape and recalls his mother telling him, “Go back there, then—that’s your real home.”

Sitting outside the station, he delays calling the number or heading to the address he was given.

He smokes a cigarette, reflecting on how his past life and old school don’t matter anymore.

As he stands to hail a cab, a skateboard hits his ankle, followed by a small, dirty girl falling at his feet.

At first, he hesitates, wondering if she’s a beggar or scam artist, but then sees she’s a young girl with large, expressive eyes.

Before he can react, a group of other girls arrive, bullying her, kicking her, and dragging her away.

Initially, he tries to ignore it, but the laughter and the girl’s helplessness make him turn back.

He confronts the bullies, forcing their leader to let the girl go by intimidating them with a sarcastic comment about giving them a bad haircut with a knife.

The leader threatens to get her brother involved, but Jiang Cheng dares her to do it.

The bullies leave, and Jiang Cheng asks the girl if she’s okay.

The girl silently retrieves her skateboard and watches him.

Jiang Cheng tells her to go home and starts walking away.

She follows him, skating behind him in silence.

He asks if she’s afraid the bullies will come back—she shakes her head.

He grows irritated, asking if she’s mute—she keeps shaking her head.

He tries to warn her that he’s in a terrible mood, cutting off mid-sentence.

Jiang Cheng reflects on his complicated relationship with his family and his difficulty accepting his new circumstances.

He recalls how his mother, Shen Yiqing, told him the truth, leading to months of silence and paperwork.

Now, he is forced to live with Li Baoguo, a man who claims to be his biological father.

Li Baoguo is loud, rough, and unrefined, coughing and slapping Jiang Cheng on the back, much to his annoyance.

Li Baoguo's home is in a run-down area, filled with clutter and tangled wires overhead.

Jiang Cheng follows him into a cramped apartment, feeling a mix of emotions.

Li Baoguo insists they are father and son and treats Jiang Cheng as if they have a close bond, despite having been absent for years.

Jiang Cheng dislikes being touched and firmly tells Li Baoguo not to slap his back.

The apartment is small, dusty, and filled with old furniture, including a bunk bed where he will sleep.

Li Baoguo suggests drinking to celebrate their reunion, but Jiang Cheng refuses and just wants to sleep.

Li Baoguo reacts with visible frustration but eventually leaves Jiang Cheng alone.

Jiang Cheng inspects his new room, overwhelmed by its cramped and unfamiliar state.

He organizes some of his belongings, sprays fragrance to mask the musty smell, and sits on the bed.

His mother calls, checking if he has arrived and warning him about the poor living conditions.

Jiang Cheng replies indifferently, showing no desire to engage in conversation.

His mother reminds him that he was never treated unfairly and that they never let him know he was adopted.

Jiang Cheng bitterly points out that he knows now and was cast out because of it.

His mother blames him for his adoptive father’s hospitalization, though Jiang Cheng mentally shuts her out.

He disengages from the conversation, barely registering her words.

After the call ends, he feels drained and disconnected, craving a shower.

He steps out of his room and checks the living room, finding it empty.

He clears his throat and coughs, signaling his presence in the unfamiliar space.

Jiang Cheng enters a convenience store that appears more like a small supermarket.

He notices Gu Miao’s shaved head and barely recognizes her.

Gu Fei, holding an electric shaver and smoking a cigarette, is also present.

Gu Fei appears strikingly different from the thuggish group by the door, exuding confidence and authority.

Jiang Cheng, despite feeling unwell, ignores the stares from the people in the store and grabs a bottle of water.

He realizes Gu Fei owns the store after exchanging a few words.

At the counter, Jiang Cheng meets Li Yan, a young man with delicate features.

Li Yan questions if Jiang Cheng is Gu Fei’s friend, but Jiang Cheng denies it.

Jiang Cheng takes cold medicine and drinks some water but throws the half-full bottle away.

As he steps outside, dizziness overtakes him, and he collapses on the sidewalk.

Gu Miao comes to the door, signaling to Gu Fei about something outside.

Gu Fei finds Jiang Cheng unconscious on the ground and checks his fevered face.

Li Yan and the others gather, debating whether to call an ambulance.

They worry about police involvement since some of them have prior records.

Gu Fei orders them to bring Jiang Cheng inside to avoid drawing attention.

They carry Jiang Cheng to a spare room in the store where Gu Fei usually naps.

Li Yan grumbles about Jiang Cheng taking over the bed.

He notes that Jiang Cheng denied being Gu Fei’s friend.

Gu Fei confirms Jiang Cheng is the one who found Gu Miao the previous day.

Li Yan remarks that Jiang Cheng is handsome.

Gu Fei dismisses the comment and focuses on his phone.

Gu Miao asks Gu Fei for money, which he gives her while teasing her about her weight.

She takes the money and leaves with her skateboard.

Gu Fei brought the motorcycle around, and Gu Miao climbed onto the backseat, holding onto him.

Gu Fei checked Gu Miao's face for tears and told her to wipe them off.

He commented that even if she were a boy, she’d be rough-and-tumble.

They rode downtown to an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant, Gu Miao’s favorite.

The restaurant was packed, and Gu Fei checked for digital coupons while instructing Gu Miao to find a table.

Gu Miao tried to skateboard inside but was stopped by Gu Fei and instead carried the board.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng was also at the barbecue restaurant, talking to Pan Zhi on the phone.

Pan Zhi lamented about missing their New Year’s barbecue plan, and Jiang Cheng told him to book his own hotel.

Pan Zhi suspected Jiang Cheng had a bad relationship with his biological father, which Jiang Cheng neither confirmed nor denied.

As Jiang Cheng returned to his table, he found Gu Miao sitting there with her skateboard and green knit cap with pink flowers.

Jiang Cheng was shocked to see her and asked who she was with.

Gu Miao silently pointed toward the door, where Gu Fei stood, equally surprised.

Gu Fei suggested they find another table, but Gu Miao refused to move.

Gu Fei hesitated, then asked Jiang Cheng if they could sit together.

Jiang Cheng initially wanted to refuse but, seeing Gu Miao’s expectant eyes, agreed.

Gu Fei told Gu Miao to wait while he went to get food.

Jiang Cheng asked Gu Miao if she liked pork belly or sliced beef, and she chose beef.

Jiang Cheng noticed a long scar on the back of Gu Miao’s head, which shocked him.

Gu Fei returned with only three plates, much less than Jiang Cheng would’ve gotten.

Gu Fei sat next to Jiang Cheng but then quickly switched seats across from him.

Gu Fei told Gu Miao to go get drinks, then commented on Jiang Cheng eating greasy food despite his fever.

Jiang Cheng was surprised Gu Fei knew about his fever.

Gu Fei reminded him that he was burning hot when he dragged him inside earlier.

Jiang Cheng imagined being dragged by the hair, and Gu Fei joked about carrying him bridal style.

They grilled food together in an unspoken truce while waiting for Gu Miao to return.

Jiang Cheng is deeply asleep when Pan Zhi calls him at 3:30 PM, waking him up groggy and disoriented.

He realizes he has been sleeping since the previous afternoon and feels unsteady on his feet.

Li Baoguo is not home, and Jiang Cheng reflects on how lifeless the apartment feels.

He finds it strange that Li Baoguo had been eager to take him back but now barely interacts with him.

Jiang Cheng meets Pan Zhi at the station, where Pan Zhi immediately complains about the city.

They greet each other with sarcastic banter and a hug.

Pan Zhi calls himself Jiang Cheng’s only real friend, as others from their old city were unreliable.

They take a cab to Pan Zhi’s hotel, which is the best in town, and Pan Zhi proudly announces he picked the most expensive room.

Pan Zhi gifts Jiang Cheng a sleek, minimalist lighter engraved with "J.C." and a black tin whistle, identical to Jiang Cheng’s old one.

Jiang Cheng accepts the gifts and thanks Pan Zhi, who reminds him not to break the whistle again.

Jiang Cheng debates whether to inform Li Baoguo that he won’t be coming home, eventually calling him.

Li Baoguo, busy playing mahjong, barely acknowledges the call and hangs up after Jiang Cheng informs him.

Pan Zhi tries to analyze Li Baoguo’s personality, but Jiang Cheng cuts him off.

They head out to eat barbecue, with Pan Zhi excited despite the food not being particularly special.

Jiang Cheng watches a basketball game, feeling superior at first but later insecure when Gu Fei and his friends show impressive skills.

He doesn't necessarily dislike Gu Fei but also doesn’t like him, feeling conflicted about his talent.

Pan Zhi, Jiang Cheng’s friend, is impressed by Gu Fei and asks how Jiang Cheng knows him.

Jiang Cheng downplays Gu Fei’s skill, saying he’s only "average" compared to his former team.

Li Yan, one of Gu Fei’s friends, taunts Jiang Cheng, assuming he would accept a basketball challenge, but Jiang Cheng declines.

Jiang Cheng and Pan Zhi leave the gym; Pan Zhi teases Jiang Cheng about his attitude and asks about his relationship with Gu Fei.

Jiang Cheng explains that Gu Fei is a neighbor from a nearby street.

Pan Zhi suggests going hiking to see the snowy mountains, making Jiang Cheng laugh and agree.

Gu Fei finishes playing basketball, feeling more energized.

His teammates joke about playing at a better court, but Gu Fei brushes them off, teasing them about their skill levels.

Gu Fei refuses to join them for food, saying he has to take Er-Miao to the hospital for a follow-up appointment.

His friends joke about him acting unusually sentimental, but Gu Fei ignores them and leaves.

Pan Zhi’s visit ends, and he prepares to leave by train.

Jiang Cheng watches departure times at the station, and Pan Zhi offers him snacks he brought.

Jiang Cheng refuses, saying he won’t return home for the May holiday.

Pan Zhi suggests bringing their old classmates to visit instead.

The two joke around before Pan Zhi suddenly asks for a hug.

Jiang Cheng protests but ultimately hugs him, and Pan Zhi tells him not to forget him.

In the days before school starts, Li Baoguo only cooks for Jiang Cheng once and spends most of his time gambling.

Jiang Cheng attempts to cook but is disgusted by the kitchen’s filth, so he survives on food delivery.

The day before school starts, Jiang Cheng receives a call from his new homeroom teacher.

The teacher says he has been trying to contact Li Baoguo but hasn't been able to reach him.

Gu Fei observes Jiang Cheng’s prickly nature and notes that Zhou Jing is an easy target for his sharp attitude.

Lao-Xu interrupts the class, scolding Gu Fei for being distracted, leading to laughter from the students.

Lao-Xu praises Jiang Cheng’s academic performance, which isolates him from his classmates.

Jiang Cheng is annoyed by the attention but decides to ignore it, slumping over his desk and pulling out his phone.

Comparing his old school’s strictness, he notices how relaxed Fourth High is about phone usage.

Jiang Cheng messages his friend Pan Zhi, who is struggling with an English pop quiz and sends him photos of the questions.

Jiang Cheng quickly writes down the answers and sends them to Pan Zhi while observing the chaotic classroom.

Lao-Xu tolerates the disorder, in contrast to teachers Jiang Cheng knew before.

Jiang Cheng scrolls through WeChat and sees a photo of his mother, father, and younger brother looking like a happy family. He feels sick and mutes their accounts.

Suddenly, pieces of plaster fall onto Jiang Cheng’s head and desk.

He looks at Gu Fei, who is also covered in dust and appears irritated.

Jiang Cheng realizes this was no accident when he spots a black rock on his desk.

The bell rings, and Lao-Xu dismisses class, barely acknowledging the ceiling collapse.

The class erupts into excitement, indicating they expected this incident.

Jiang Cheng calmly cleans his desk, controlling his temper in the absence of a direct enemy.

Gu Fei stands up, shakes off his jacket, and glares at Wang Xu.

Wang Xu, the likely culprit, pretends to apologize and offers to buy Gu Fei a drink.

Gu Fei shrugs off Wang Xu’s arm and leaves the classroom, with Wang Xu quickly following him.

Jiang Cheng had never picked candies before, as his family never allowed sweets or junk food.

Gu Fei placed a handful of candies on Jiang Cheng’s desk for him to choose from.

Jiang Cheng picked a milk candy, but Gu Fei took the rest back, only leaving him two more milk candies.

Jiang Cheng found Gu Fei's behavior strange but ate the candies anyway.

Their English teacher, Mr. Lu, was strict and kept the class in line with his loud voice.

During class, Gu Fei was looking at his phone but dropped it when Mr. Lu suddenly called out.

Mr. Lu summoned Jiang Cheng outside, surprising him as he expected Gu Fei to be the one in trouble.

Mr. Lu explained that he had heard Jiang Cheng was a "Real overachiever" and advised him to continue studying hard.

He warned Jiang Cheng to avoid students like Wang Xu and Gu Fei, who were only at school to kill time.

Mr. Lu prevented a potential fight by calling Jiang Cheng away before Wang Xu could confront him.

He offered Jiang Cheng the position of student rep for English, but Jiang Cheng refused.

When asked why, Jiang Cheng bluntly stated that he had previously fought and skipped class, shocking Mr. Lu.

Mr. Lu instead asked Jiang Cheng to help with course materials, and Jiang Cheng reluctantly agreed.

Back in class, Wang Xu was growing impatient, convinced Jiang Cheng was avoiding him.

Gu Fei, playing on his phone, told Wang Xu not to cause trouble near him.

Zhou Jing suggested letting the conflict go since both sides had hit each other once.

Wang Xu refused, still wanting to settle the score.

Jiang Cheng returned to class and immediately confronted Wang Xu.

He listed three things: 1. Wang Xu needed to get off his desk. 2. The one who started the fight was the real jackass. 3. He was willing to resolve things however Wang Xu wanted, but if all Wang Xu did was talk, Jiang Cheng would just concede.

The class fell silent, waiting for Wang Xu’s response.

Gu Fei, amused, let out a low whistle, recognizing that Jiang Cheng's attitude had put Wang Xu’s status as class boss at risk.

Wang Xu’s expression shifted, and he subtly glanced at Gu Fei, uncertain about his next move.

Jiang Cheng throws away his cigarette and walks toward the alley entrance.

Wang Xu warns him not to leave, fearing Monkey and his gang.

Jiang Cheng questions why it's fine for Gu Fei to deal with them but not him.

Wang Xu insists Gu Fei is different, having grown up in this environment.

Remembering rumors about Gu Fei, Jiang Cheng laughs, which angers Wang Xu.

Wang Xu suddenly grabs Jiang Cheng from behind, then awkwardly releases him, insisting he meant nothing by it.

He calls Gu Fei in a hushed voice, updating him about the situation.

Jiang Cheng lights another cigarette, drawing in the snow with a twig.

Wang Xu tells Gu Fei that Monkey is searching for them with a bloody face.

Wang Xu worries about Monkey finding them first and scavenges for makeshift weapons.

Jiang Cheng nonchalantly hands him an unused knife from his bag.

Wang Xu is shocked that a top student carries a knife.

Wang Xu declares their dispute over and suggests they stay in their own lanes.

They sit in silence before Wang Xu advises Jiang Cheng to surrender if Monkey finds them first.

Gu Fei arrives on his bike, towing Gu Miao on her skateboard.

Gu Miao greets Jiang Cheng before retreating to Gu Fei's side.

Gu Fei asks who initiated the fight; Jiang Cheng admits it was him.

Gu Fei confirms Monkey is approaching.

He gives Jiang Cheng two options: 1. Let Monkey get even and settle the matter. 2. Escape now but risk being targeted later.

Jiang Cheng agrees to get even but warns he will fight back if it's excessive.

Monkey arrives with seven or eight people, his nose still stuffed with cotton.

Gu Fei sends Gu Miao away. Jiang Cheng tells Wang Xu to leave as well.

As Gu Fei passes Monkey, he abruptly grabs his wrist, revealing a brass knuckle.

Gu Fei throws it aside, warning that the "rules still apply."

He leaves without looking back.

Wang Xu watches Gu Miao playing outside and asks if Jiang Cheng will be okay.

Gu Fei reminds him that if he's afraid of trouble, he shouldn't look for it.

Jiang Cheng angrily swears at Gu Fei for taking his photos without permission.

Gu Fei ignores his anger and continues taking pictures of him.

Jiang Cheng tries to grab the camera, but Gu Fei pulls it away and randomly says, “Two hundred and sixty-seven years.”

Jiang Cheng, confused, asks what that number means, and Gu Fei responds with “Xiao-Ming’s grandfather.”

Jiang Cheng stares at Gu Fei for thirty seconds, trying not to laugh.

Jiang Cheng demands Gu Fei delete the photos, but Gu Fei suggests he look at them first.

Gu Fei hands over the camera, and Jiang Cheng struggles to navigate it.

Gu Fei helps him bring up the photos, and Jiang Cheng is surprised by how good they look.

He realizes the photos capture his essence well and that he actually likes them.

Jiang Cheng hesitates to delete them despite initially demanding it.

Gu Fei asks if he can keep the photos since he takes pictures of all his classmates.

Jiang Cheng agrees, and Gu Fei offers to send him the edited versions.

Jiang Cheng unexpectedly agrees to share contact info with Gu Fei.

Holding the camera awkwardly, Jiang Cheng asks to see Gu Fei’s other photos.

Gu Fei allows him to browse through the pictures, which include scenic shots of the bridge and sunset.

Jiang Cheng is impressed by the professional quality of Gu Fei’s photography.

He notices that Gu Fei’s photos capture ordinary things in a warm, artistic way.

Jiang Cheng finds a striking photo of Gu Miao skateboarding mid-air.

He praises the photo, and Gu Fei admits it was a lucky shot after many attempts.

Jiang Cheng observes how Gu Fei becomes noticeably softer when talking about Gu Miao.

This reminds Jiang Cheng of Gu Miao’s woolen hat and Gu Fei’s care for her.

A random inappropriate song lyric pops into Jiang Cheng’s mind.

Jiang Cheng’s phone rings, and his birth father, Li Baoguo, calls him "Chengcheng," which horrifies him.

Gu Fei overhears and suppresses laughter.

Li Baoguo tells Jiang Cheng to come home for dinner since his brother and sister are waiting.

Jiang Cheng becomes reluctant to return home, realizing his dumpling plans are ruined.

Gu Fei asks if Jiang Cheng is heading home, and they decide to walk together.

Jiang Cheng is surprised that Gu Fei walked instead of biking.

They walk home in the freezing cold, with Jiang Cheng struggling against the wind.

Jiang Cheng asks Gu Fei if he knows Li Baoguo.

Gu Fei says that in their neighborhood, everyone knows each other.

Jiang Cheng asks what kind of person Li Baoguo is.

Gu Fei counters by asking Jiang Cheng who Li Baoguo is to him.

Jiang Cheng hesitantly reveals that Li Baoguo is his birth father.

Gu Fei is genuinely surprised and comments that Jiang Cheng looks a bit like Li Hui.

Jiang Cheng, uncomfortable, asks Gu Fei again what kind of person Li Baoguo is.

Gu Fei bluntly describes Li Baoguo as a seasoned gambler and professional alcoholic.

Jiang Cheng pauses in his steps.

Gu Fei then adds that Li Baoguo is also an abuser who beat his wife until she ran away.

Jiang Cheng absorbs this information, hesitating before asking if it’s true.

Gu Fei laughs and asks if Jiang Cheng doesn’t believe him.

Jiang Cheng doubts neighborhood rumors but doesn’t finish his sentence.

Jiang Cheng jumps out of a window, feeling relieved despite the freezing winter air.

He lands on shattered glass but initially doesn’t feel any pain.

Walking through the snow in the dark, he realizes he has no destination.

Checks his phone and notices a smudge, which turns out to be blood.

Examines his hand and finds a deep cut, still bleeding heavily.

Searches his pockets but finds nothing to stop the bleeding, so he presses his sweater against the wound.

Suddenly feels the freezing temperature, realizing he left without a jacket or money.

Remembers a clinic nearby and decides to go there to get treated and warm up.

Runs toward the clinic, but the extreme cold forces him to switch to a skipping gait.

Finds the clinic, but the lights are off, and a sign states the doctor has gone home for dinner.

Knocks on the door with no response and decides not to call the listed phone number.

Notices Gu Fei’s store nearby, brightly lit.

Hesitates but, due to the cold, decides to go in despite not wanting to appear pathetic in front of Gu Fei.

Enters the store and is hit by warmth, feeling immediate relief but also awkwardness.

Sees Gu Fei with a woman and Gu Miao, looking like a family.

Gu Fei is surprised by Jiang Cheng’s state and immediately asks what happened.

Jiang Cheng brushes it off, saying he was just passing by.

The woman asks Gu Fei if Jiang Cheng is a friend, and Gu Fei confirms.

Gu Fei tells the woman to get the first aid kit.

Gu Miao watches them nervously, and Gu Fei subtly blocks her view.

Gu Fei tells Jiang Cheng to go inside.

Jiang Cheng enters a smaller room where the woman retrieves the first aid kit.

She offers to help clean and disinfect his wound.

Jiang Cheng initially refuses but realizes it’s difficult to do with one hand.

Gu Fei asks if it’s a knife wound, and Jiang Cheng clarifies it isn’t.

Jiang Cheng sees the large bloodstain on his sweater and realizes the cut is worse than he thought.

Gu Fei wants to treat it, but the woman insists she can handle it.

Gu Fei hesitates but leaves to check on Gu Miao.

Gu Fei introduces the woman as Ding Zhuxin, his "big sister."

Ding Zhuxin tells Jiang Cheng to call her "Xin-jie."

Jiang Cheng internally questions her name, noting "Zhuxin" means "bamboo heart" and that bamboo is hollow.

She rinses the wound with saline before applying iodine.

The warmth in the room makes Jiang Cheng feel the pain more.

Ding Zhuxin notes it was a careless glass cut.

Jiang Cheng wonders why she has a different surname from Gu Fei.

She explains she’s not Gu Fei’s biological sister but grew up with him.

Mentions that Gu Fei used to follow her around as a child.

She wraps the wound and advises him to see the doctor later.

Jiang Cheng thanks her, but she brushes it off, saying Gu Fei never thanks her when she treats his wounds.

Jiang Cheng internally notes how rude that is but realizes their bond is likely too close for formalities.

He senses their strong relationship, despite them barely speaking.

Jiang Cheng reflects on his delinquent nature but notes he’s never left someone unconscious in the snow while eating.

He follows Gu Fei into the store and hints at his concern for the unconscious man outside.

Gu Fei downplays the situation, saying the man will leave on his own and might only need a nose job.

Jiang Cheng is baffled by Gu Fei’s attitude and questions the difference in their environments and morals.

The unconscious man wakes up outside, cursing loudly despite his injuries.

He insults Gu Fei by saying, “So I fucked your mother, so what?!”

Jiang Cheng is stunned, and Gu Fei casually clarifies that the man is one of his mother’s boyfriends.

Gu Fei shifts the topic back to food, offering Jiang Cheng more meat.

After eating, Gu Fei instructs Gu Miao to clean up, which irritates Jiang Cheng, who assumes it’s due to sexism.

Gu Fei clarifies that he cooks while Gu Miao washes dishes, making Jiang Cheng embarrassed by his assumption.

Gu Fei moves to the cash register, smoking, while Jiang Cheng awkwardly stays seated.

Left alone, Jiang Cheng texts Pan Zhi and laughs at his friend’s voice message about getting scolded by his mother.

He decides to check on Gu Fei and Gu Miao and finds them in the back courtyard, where Gu Miao is washing dishes.

He notices Gu Fei watching Gu Miao intently while she works and wonders why.

Jiang Cheng asks to borrow a jacket, and Gu Fei directs him to his closet.

Before he leaves, Gu Fei asks Jiang Cheng to stay until Gu Miao finishes washing dishes so he can say goodbye.

Jiang Cheng agrees and bums a cigarette from Gu Fei, lighting it while observing the siblings.

He wonders if Gu Miao isn’t like other children, as Gu Fei watches her closely yet lets her skateboard alone.

He finds the people in this place mysterious, almost surreal, like a different world.

Gu Fei tells him he should’ve stayed inside, but Jiang Cheng ignores him.

Gu Miao finishes the dishes, putting them away before walking past Jiang Cheng without acknowledgment.

Jiang Cheng follows her into the store, and she finally looks at him.

He compliments her efficiency, making her bashfully rub her nose.

He bends down to say goodbye, and she glances at Gu Fei before nodding in response.

Jiang Cheng wakes up late and realizes school is about to start.

He rushes to the bathroom, using a stiff hotel toothbrush that causes his gums to bleed.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he jokes about being poisoned and laughs at himself.

He recalls attempting to check into a HomeInn but was denied entry due to a lack of ID.

He finds and stays at a small inn named "Zhou Inn" instead.

He buys breakfast but doesn’t have time to eat it, stuffing it in his pocket before sprinting to school.

The warning bell rings as he arrives, but the students don’t seem to care.

He notices Fourth High’s large, spiked gate and wonders if Gu Fei had to climb it when he was late.

Wang Xu sees Jiang Cheng and mistakes him for Gu Fei because of the clothes he is wearing.

Wang Xu asks if Monkey hurt his hand and if he stayed at Gu Fei’s place, but Jiang Cheng denies it.

Wang Xu pats his shoulder in a brotherly manner, but Jiang Cheng tells him to stop touching him.

Gu Fei doesn’t show up for the morning self-study period, and Jiang Cheng doesn’t know if he’ll come at all.

Jiang Cheng eats breakfast in class while hiding behind Zhou Jing.

He notes how casually everyone else eats pungent food, even beef noodles, in class.

English class starts with Lao-Lu yelling and confiscating a student’s unfinished food.

Zhou Jing keeps calling Jiang Cheng’s name repeatedly before finally asking if he’s wearing Gu Fei’s clothes.

Jiang Cheng realizes the whole class probably knows, which frustrates him.

Zhou Jing also asks if Jiang Cheng stayed at Gu Fei’s place, but Jiang Cheng ignores him.

Jiang Cheng tries to sleep, but Zhou Jing continues talking, asking why Gu Fei isn’t in class.

Jiang Cheng threatens to hit Zhou Jing if he doesn’t shut up, and Zhou Jing finally stops.

The classroom is warm, but Jiang Cheng keeps Gu Fei’s sweater on since he isn’t wearing anything underneath.

He finds it odd that Gu Fei is quiet and distant at school, yet everyone remembers his clothes.

During Chinese class, Lao-Xu calls Jiang Cheng outside and asks about Gu Fei’s absence.

Jiang Cheng insists he doesn’t know, but Lao-Xu doesn’t believe him.

Lao-Xu points out that Jiang Cheng is wearing Gu Fei’s clothes, hinting that he suspects they spent time together.

Gu Fei takes the bus home from the cemetery and falls asleep.

He wakes up near his stop and checks his phone, finding no messages from Jiang Cheng and a short message from Gu Miao saying she ate.

Gu Miao had dinner at their neighbor's catering business, which she does when Gu Fei is late.

Gu Fei notices Gu Miao has been speaking less and wonders if she’s becoming more distant.

The streets in the old city are empty and quiet as he walks to his store.

Gu Fei sees Jiang Cheng waiting outside the store, jumping around to stay warm.

Jiang Cheng is freezing and complains that Gu Fei took too long.

Gu Fei explains the store was supposed to be open in the afternoon, but his mother must have left.

Jiang Cheng arrived at 7:50 PM and had been waiting in the cold for a long time.

He complains that his phone shut off from the cold, preventing him from texting.

Gu Fei offers him a heater and hot water with lemon.

Jiang Cheng left his bloody clothes with Gu Fei, who washed them.

Jiang Cheng thanks him, and Gu Fei teases that he washed them because they were too disgusting to leave unwashed.

They sit in silence; Gu Fei plays on his phone while Jiang Cheng spaces out.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t want to go home because Li Baoguo invited people over for mahjong.

At home earlier, Li Baoguo had repaired the window he broke but then invited people who interrogated Jiang Cheng about his past.

They made insensitive comments about him being raised in the city and looking exactly like Li Baoguo.

Jiang Cheng snapped, yelled at them, and locked himself in his room.

The guests ate all the dumplings Li Baoguo had made, including Jiang Cheng’s unfinished portion.

Feeling like he doesn’t belong anywhere, Jiang Cheng avoids home and goes to a dumpling restaurant, finishing his homework there.

He feels a deep sense of loneliness, caught between his old and new lives without a real place to belong.

He eventually leaves and ends up at Gu Fei’s store, sitting in silence for half an hour.

Jiang Cheng asks if Gu Fei is waiting to lock up, but Gu Fei ignores him.

Jiang Cheng leans over and sees Gu Fei playing Aixiaochu, a matching game, intensely focused.

Gu Fei has been stuck on a difficult level for a long time, trying to figure out the last three moves.

Jiang Cheng watches him struggle and realizes Gu Fei might not be as intelligent as Lao Xu said.

Unable to hold back, Jiang Cheng reaches out to help.

Jiang Cheng reflects on how embarrassment always repeats itself in front of the same person, just like getting stuck in red lights.

Gu Fei, in a foul mood after confronting his mother, happens to witness Jiang Cheng embarrass himself.

Jiang Cheng falls forward, calculating midair that he will collide with Gu Fei and knock him down.

He crashes into Gu Fei, who topples over and becomes his cushion.

Their bodies hit the ground with force, and Jiang Cheng accidentally bites down on Gu Fei’s zipper slider, breaking it.

Gu Fei angrily curses at Jiang Cheng, who tries to get up but accidentally presses on Gu Fei’s ribs, causing more pain.

Gu Fei pushes Jiang Cheng off, calling him an "overachiever," which infuriates Jiang Cheng.

They start a physical fight, with Gu Fei kicking Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Cheng retaliating with his own kick.

Gu Fei dodges, but Jiang Cheng lands a kick on his back, leading to more scuffling.

Gu Fei pins Jiang Cheng down, but Jiang Cheng counters by shoving his chin up and attempting to elbow his ribs.

Gu Fei presses into Jiang Cheng’s wounded palm, causing him to scream in pain.

Jiang Cheng retaliates by kneeing Gu Fei in the back and biting his wrist, refusing to let go.

Gu Fei pinches Jiang Cheng’s cheek in response, making Jiang Cheng realize his front teeth are still intact.

Their absurd fight continues until their teacher, Lao-Xu, arrives and yells at them to stop.

Lao-Xu physically separates them, scolding Gu Fei for fighting his own deskmate and Jiang Cheng for getting into trouble.

Jiang Cheng sarcastically tells Lao-Xu not to judge him based on his grades, as no teacher has ever called him a good kid.

Lao-Xu points out that Gu Fei’s little sister, Gu Miao, has been watching the entire fight from across the street.

Jiang Cheng is surprised by Gu Miao’s lack of reaction—she is sitting calmly, seemingly indifferent to their fight.

Gu Fei comments that Gu Miao is not afraid of fights.

Jiang Cheng follows Gu Fei out of the school gate but doesn’t get a chance to say he’s doing it for Gu Miao’s sake, not Gu Fei’s.

Gu Miao is waiting for them, sitting on a railing with her skateboard.

She takes candy from Gu Fei’s pocket, only picking the fruit-flavored ones.

Jiang Cheng realizes the candy Gu Fei always carries is for Gu Miao.

Gu Miao rides her skateboard ahead of them, staying near the sidewalk to avoid people.

Jiang Cheng keeps an eye on her while Gu Fei retrieves his bike.

Gu Miao stops and signals for Jiang Cheng to get on the skateboard.

Despite feeling sore from yesterday’s fight, Jiang Cheng agrees.

They play a game where Gu Miao runs, claps, and takes turns with Jiang Cheng riding the skateboard.

Gu Fei follows on his bike, distractedly looking at his phone while moving.

Jiang Cheng watches, hoping Gu Fei will fall into a manhole, but the roads are well-kept.

When they reach their street, Jiang Cheng says goodbye.

Gu Miao whistles, and Gu Fei immediately speeds up.

Gu Miao grabs onto the back of the bike, letting Gu Fei pull her along like a water-skier.

Jiang Cheng watches and reflects that Gu Fei probably raised Gu Miao himself.

He compares it to how his mother would react if she saw an older brother raising his sister like that.

At Li Baoguo’s house, the mahjong players are gone, leaving a disgusting mess.

Jiang Cheng goes into the kitchen, finding it in a horrible state after Li Baoguo left everything from yesterday’s dumplings untouched.

He lifts a pot and freezes upon seeing a drowned cockroach inside.

Overwhelmed with disgust, he empties the pot into the toilet and scrubs it obsessively with dish detergent.

He boils the pot for a long time, making sure all traces of the cockroach are gone.

Opening the fridge, he finds only old chili peppers, no meat or eggs.

He realizes Li Baoguo bought just enough dumpling filling with no leftovers.

Unable to make a proper meal, he debates whether to go out, order takeout, or buy groceries.

He decides to buy groceries, as he has no allowance and needs to save money.

Despite living in the area for a while, he has never seen a local market.

Since the streets are empty at this hour, he considers going to Gu Fei’s store.

He hopes they have groceries like sausage or canned fish since he is starving.

Feeling awkward, he enters the store and is startled to find Gu Fei, Gu Miao, Li Yan, and the Fresh Out of Jail gang staring at him.

Gu Miao waves at him, and he smiles back.

Jiang Cheng says he’s there to buy stuff, and Gu Fei tells him to go ahead.

Li Yan directs him to the sausages.

Jiang Cheng stocks up on various sausages, canned pork belly, and tinned fish.

He also grabs condiments like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, wary of using anything in Li Baoguo’s disgusting kitchen.

Li Yan comments on Jiang Cheng’s large haul and asks if he’s cooking.

Gu Fei watches Li Baoguo, who has a history of stealing and buying things on credit, as he shops in the store.

Li Baoguo tries to sneak a bottle of alcohol into his pocket, but Gu Fei catches him and adds it to his tab.

Li Baoguo boasts about his youngest son, Jiang Cheng, being a straight-A student, unlike his older son, Li Hui.

He says Jiang Cheng will come by to pay off his tab in a few days.

After Li Baoguo leaves, Gu Fei thinks about how terrible Jiang Cheng’s handwriting actually is.

Gu Fei’s mother brings him red braised pork belly and complains about him beating up her boyfriends.

She tells him to visit the place where his father died and burn offerings, believing it’s necessary for his father’s peace.

Gu Fei is reluctant but agrees to go in the afternoon.

He arrives at the abandoned lake where his father drowned years ago, reflecting that if the water had been frozen differently, his father wouldn’t have died.

He admits to himself that he once wished for his father’s death and, even now, wouldn’t change that feeling.

As he walks to the lake, he notices another set of footprints in the snow, meaning someone else is there.

He doesn’t want anyone to see him burning offerings, as he doesn’t want them to think he feels remorse.

The footprints vanish near the icy lakebed, but there’s no sign of anyone nearby.

He looks around cautiously but doesn’t see anyone in the water or on land.

Jiang Cheng is assembling a bookshelf in his room, struggling with the parts and sweating from the effort.

Li Baoguo barges into his room without knocking, startling Jiang Cheng, who hits his own thumb with a hammer.

Li Baoguo laughs off Jiang Cheng's request to knock, saying it's his son's room and he doesn’t need permission.

He makes an inappropriate joke about Jiang Cheng being his biological son, then brushes it off as a joke.

Jiang Cheng, annoyed but resigned, continues working on the bookshelf.

Li Baoguo offers to help and easily assembles the bookshelf without instructions, showcasing his skill.

He then criticizes Jiang Cheng for wasting money on a store-bought shelf when he could have built one himself.

Li Baoguo complains about money problems and casually asks Jiang Cheng for cash to pay off a debt.

Jiang Cheng, despite being frustrated, agrees to pay but demands to know how much is owed and to whom.

Li Baoguo reveals he owes money to the local supermarket—Gu Fei’s family store.

Jiang Cheng is mortified that his father owes money to Gu Fei, his deskmate and recent rival.

He storms out, furious and humiliated, debating whether he should personally go pay the debt.

As he leaves, he overhears Li Baoguo bragging to a neighbor that his “new son” is responsible and paying off his debts.

The neighbor warns Li Baoguo that if he keeps drinking, even Jiang Cheng will abandon him.

Jiang Cheng, deeply frustrated, leans against the building, debating his next move.

Eventually, he forces himself to go to Gu Fei’s store, mentally justifying that he’s only paying a debt, not creating one.

He sees Gu Fei standing outside the store smoking and playing on his phone.

As soon as Jiang Cheng lays eyes on him, all his confidence vanishes, and he feels even more humiliated.

Lao-Xu is thrilled after Gu Fei agrees to join the basketball tournament and immediately gathers the five chosen players.

The team consists of Gu Fei, Wang Xu, Guo Xu, Lu Xiaobin, and Jiang Cheng, with no reserves initially.

Lao-Xu suggests they find benchwarmers from their class, leading to a selection process where taller students are recruited.

Gu Fei chooses Wang Xu as the team captain, though Wang Xu acts reluctant.

Lao-Xu provides them with a brand-new basketball for practice.

Wang Xu wants to assess everyone's skill level and starts with Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng effortlessly bypasses Wang Xu and scores, first with a layup and then with a three-pointer.

Gu Fei casually acknowledges Jiang Cheng’s skill, impressing the rest of the team.

They decide to split into two teams for a practice game, with Gu Fei and Jiang Cheng on opposite sides to balance the teams.

Wang Xu devises a strategy: his team will pass to Jiang Cheng for scoring while avoiding Gu Fei's ball-stealing ability.

Lao-Xu takes on the role of referee and starts the game with a jump ball between Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei.

Jiang Cheng jumps, thinking he has the ball, but Gu Fei outmaneuvers him and wins the tip-off.

Guo Xu takes the ball and rushes toward the basket, with Wang Xu chasing after him.

Jiang Cheng quickly realizes his teammates aren’t sticking to the agreed-upon defense strategy.

Lu Xiaobin closely guards Jiang Cheng, making it difficult for him to move freely.

Jiang Cheng sees Gu Fei positioning himself for a pass, so he rushes in and intercepts the ball from Guo Xu.

Wang Xu yells for everyone to retreat, but Jiang Cheng faces heavy defense from Lu Xiaobin.

He tries to pass to Wang Xu, but Wang Xu is too distracted by running to notice the ball.

Gu Fei dislikes trouble but is used to it in his rough neighborhood.

He often observes the daily conflicts and even writes song lyrics inspired by them.

He witnesses a group of men beating up Li Baoguo, Jiang Cheng’s father.

Normally, Gu Fei wouldn’t interfere, but Jiang Cheng’s reaction is different—quiet but determined.

Jiang Cheng throws his bag aside and attacks one of the men, Big Dick, using a powerful elbow strike.

He follows up by smashing Big Dick’s head against his nose and shoving him into his companions.

The gang turns on Jiang Cheng, who doesn’t back down and lands a punch on one of them.

The fight escalates; Jiang Cheng gets surrounded but holds his own, knocking one guy down with a kick.

Big Dick recovers and kicks Jiang Cheng, making him stumble.

Jiang Cheng regains balance and waits for Big Dick to attack again, then ducks and elbows him in the groin.

Big Dick collapses in agony, making the others hesitate.

Taking advantage, Jiang Cheng rams into another attacker, knocking him down.

He gets surrounded again and takes several hits.

Gu Fei finally decides to intervene, crossing the street.

Jiang Cheng struggles but manages to pin one attacker and nearly forces another into a painful split.

One of the attackers prepares to kick Jiang Cheng in the head.

Gu Fei throws an English-Chinese dictionary at the man’s face, stopping the fight.

Gu Fei dislikes trouble but is used to it in his rough neighborhood.

He often observes the daily conflicts and even writes song lyrics inspired by them.

He witnesses a group of men beating up Li Baoguo, Jiang Cheng’s father.

Normally, Gu Fei wouldn’t interfere, but Jiang Cheng’s reaction is different—quiet but determined.

Jiang Cheng throws his bag aside and attacks one of the men, Big Dick, using a powerful elbow strike.

He follows up by smashing Big Dick’s head against his nose and shoving him into his companions.

The gang turns on Jiang Cheng, who doesn’t back down and lands a punch on one of them.

The fight escalates; Jiang Cheng gets surrounded but holds his own, knocking one guy down with a kick.

Big Dick recovers and kicks Jiang Cheng, making him stumble.

Jiang Cheng regains balance and waits for Big Dick to attack again, then ducks and elbows him in the groin.

Big Dick collapses in agony, making the others hesitate.

Taking advantage, Jiang Cheng rams into another attacker, knocking him down.

He gets surrounded again and takes several hits.

Gu Fei finally decides to intervene, crossing the street.

Jiang Cheng struggles but manages to pin one attacker and nearly forces another into a painful split.

One of the attackers prepares to kick Jiang Cheng in the head.

Gu Fei throws an English-Chinese dictionary at the man’s face, stopping the fight.

Jiang Cheng makes a skillful shot, but his team is outmatched by Fresh Out of Jail and Li Yan’s teamwork.

By halftime, the score is 28-15, with Jiang Cheng's team trailing.

Jiang Cheng, Gu Fei, and Wang Xu are the primary scorers, with Wang Xu making an unusual but successful penalty shot.

Despite the pain from his wound, Jiang Cheng refuses to swap out, not wanting Wang Xu to find out about his injury.

Gu Fei asks if Jiang Cheng wants to rest, but Jiang Cheng declines.

Gu Fei strategizes for the second half, taking the ball from the sidelines to the basket while relying on Jiang Cheng for assists.

Gu Fei shifts his playstyle, moving with intense speed and unpredictability, overwhelming his opponents.

Jiang Cheng struggles to keep up with Gu Fei’s no-look passes and complains about it.

Gu Fei acknowledges Jiang Cheng’s complaint but continues passing instinctively, only slightly adjusting by glancing at him first.

The game gets rougher as reserve players pick up multiple fouls.

Jiang Cheng warns them to be careful, but Guo Xu finds the aggressive play fun.

Wang Xu steals the ball and, in his excitement, forgets to pass, requiring Jiang Cheng to remind him.

Wang Xu makes a poor pass to Gu Fei despite Liu Fan closely guarding him.

Gu Fei reacts quickly, hitting the ball away before Liu Fan can intercept.

The deflected ball flies toward Jiang Cheng’s face, but he catches it just in time.

Frustrated, Jiang Cheng aggressively charges toward the basket but finds himself completely blocked.

With no other choice, Jiang Cheng blindly passes backward, trusting Gu Fei to be there.

Gu Fei catches the ball and makes a beautiful three-point shot.

Wang Xu celebrates despite their 11-point loss.

Jiang Cheng comments on their lack of teamwork and the need to focus on teammates rather than just the ball.

Fresh Out of Jail leaves, and the rest of the team continues discussing the game until Lao-Xu arrives.

Lao-Xu tells them to clean up and change quickly as he secured ten extra minutes from their Political Science teacher.

Gu Fei suddenly leaves school in the middle of Political Science class without taking his bag, angering the teacher.

The teacher storms to the office and scolds Lao-Xu.

Lao-Xu approaches Jiang Cheng at the end of the morning classes, asking if he knows what happened to Gu Fei.

Jiang Cheng pretends not to know, despite seeing Gu Fei pick up a call and say he was going home.

Zhou Jing immediately spills the information to Lao-Xu, confirming that Gu Fei left after receiving a phone call.

Lao-Xu pressures Jiang Cheng, who remains evasive and refuses to bring Gu Fei’s bag home for him.

Jiang Cheng argues that not everyone likes their belongings being handled by others.

He notes that Lao-Xu cares too much and that his relationship with Gu Fei is strained.

Jiang Cheng decides against eating at Wang Jiuri’s meat pie place to avoid talking to the captain and instead eats noodles at a corner shop.

Returning to Li Baoguo’s house, Jiang Cheng finds Li Baoguo home, sitting in dim lighting and smoking while looking at a piece of paper.

Jiang Cheng turns on the light and notices that Li Baoguo’s face is bruised and swollen from yesterday’s beating.

Li Baoguo brushes it off, boasting about his past strength, but Jiang Cheng cuts him off.

Li Baoguo asks if Jiang Cheng was okay after the incident, showing rare concern.

Jiang Cheng realizes Li Baoguo refers to himself as “your dad,” which briefly throws him off.

Li Baoguo claims that if anything happens to him, he won’t drag Jiang Cheng down.

Jiang Cheng dismisses him, wanting to take a nap, but Li Baoguo leaves the door open, forcing Jiang Cheng to close it himself.

Jiang Cheng considers locking it but decides against it to avoid awkwardness.

He feels physically and mentally exhausted, possibly due to his basketball injury or poor sleep.

Li Baoguo stays home instead of going to play mahjong, coughing persistently in the living room.

Jiang Cheng debates telling him to see a doctor, as the cough has lasted since winter break.

Upstairs, a different family beats their child, highlighting the neighborhood’s harsh environment.

Eventually, Li Baoguo leaves, and Jiang Cheng rests briefly before returning to school.

Gu Fei does not return for the afternoon classes.

His absences are common, and while most classmates and teachers don’t care, Lao-Xu remains concerned.

After school, Lao-Xu, who smells of alcohol, confronts Jiang Cheng again about Gu Fei.

Jiang Cheng asks if Lao-Xu has been drinking, and Lao-Xu admits he had some at lunch.

Lao-Xu notes Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei’s basketball coordination and assumes they are close.

Jiang Cheng denies knowing Gu Fei well but reluctantly agrees to check on him at his shop.

Lao-Xu expresses regret for not looking out for Gu Fei more.

The police resolved the matter after nearly two hours.

The boy who was injured did not admit to provoking Gu Miao, claiming she attacked him without reason.

Gu Miao remained silent the entire time, lying on Gu Fei’s shoulder with her eyes closed.

Jiang Cheng did not believe the boy, suspecting Gu Miao had been bullied.

Since Gu Miao injured the boy, leading to stitches, the police focused on that rather than any possible bullying.

The boy’s parents demanded excessive compensation, but Ding Zhuxin shut them down with threats, leading to police warnings about her attitude.

Gu Fei remained quiet, focused on Gu Miao.

Li Yan and their friends projected a menacing presence to discourage further trouble.

After an agreement was reached, they were sent away.

Jiang Cheng felt relieved but lost his appetite.

They left the station and stepped into the cold wind.

Gu Fei thanked the others and suggested taking a taxi home with Wang Xu.

In the taxi, no one spoke; the mood was heavy.

Wang Xu invited Jiang Cheng for meat pies, but Jiang Cheng declined.

Gu Fei carried Gu Miao out of the taxi while Jiang Cheng held her skateboard.

Jiang Cheng suggested keeping Gu Miao out of school for a few days to avoid retaliation.

Gu Fei speculated she might not be allowed back at all.

Gu Fei asked Jiang Cheng to tell Lao-Xu he had a fever and couldn’t attend class in the morning.

Jiang Cheng agreed, laughing at Gu Fei’s exaggerated way of describing his fake illness.

Watching Gu Fei carry Gu Miao home, Jiang Cheng realized Gu Fei’s life was far from carefree.

He reflected on how no one could truly do whatever they wanted, including himself.

Jiang Cheng lay awake all night in Li Baoguo’s noisy house, disturbed by his coughing, snoring, and sleep-talking.

Li Baoguo ignored Jiang Cheng’s suggestion to see a doctor and instead hurried out to play mahjong.

On his way to school, Jiang Cheng bought American ginseng tablets to stay awake.

As expected, Gu Fei was absent from morning classes.

Jiang Cheng told Lao-Xu Gu Fei had a fever but would recover by lunchtime.

Lao-Xu was pleased that Gu Fei had informed someone about his absence.

Unexpectedly, Gu Fei arrived during the last morning class.

Lao-Xu was concerned but didn’t press the issue.

Gu Fei noticed Jiang Cheng’s exhaustion and teased him about looking worse than someone with a fever.

Jiang Cheng blamed Li Baoguo’s coughing for his lack of sleep.

Gu Fei offered Jiang Cheng a box of milk candies, assuming he liked them.

Jiang Cheng clarified that he had only eaten them out of hunger.

Gu Fei jokingly tried to take the candies back.

Jiang Cheng asked for a mint candy instead, but Gu Fei was out of them.

Gu Fei handed him a tangerine-flavored candy, insisting it would wake him up.

Jiang Cheng accepted it.

The setting is an abandoned reception room in an old steelworks factory, where Gu Fei brings Jiang Cheng for a meal. Despite its desolation, the place still has running water, which made Li Yan claim it as a hangout spot.

Jiang Cheng complains about the cold. Gu Fei jokingly tells him to light a fire himself and hands him a lighter.

Jiang Cheng goes outside to find rags and returns, shocked, after discovering a dead rat under the one he picked up.

Gu Fei teases him about still holding the rag despite his disgust, and Jiang Cheng throws it into the fire.

They discuss the poor conditions at Li Baoguo’s home, with Jiang Cheng mentioning cockroaches in the pots and Gu Fei explaining that Li Baoguo mostly eats at the mahjong house.

Gu Fei starts making chicken soup, asking Jiang Cheng whether he prefers the soup or the meat, which confuses Jiang Cheng. Gu Fei explains the different cooking techniques for making flavorful broth or tender meat.

Jiang Cheng, curious, looks up the information on his phone and reads it out loud, prompting Gu Fei to tease him about taking notes.

Gu Fei sets up a grill and starts barbecuing skewers, while Jiang Cheng sits by the fire, warming himself and feeling a rare sense of comfort.

They joke about the shelf life of seasonings, with Gu Fei admitting he only checks for bad smells instead of expiration dates.

The warm atmosphere contrasts with the dark and uncertain world outside, making Jiang Cheng appreciate the sense of security he feels in that moment.

Gu Fei hands Jiang Cheng some grilled meat, mentioning he prefers it a little charred, which Jiang Cheng agrees with.

Gu Fei keeps teasing Jiang Cheng about being an "overachiever," amused by having a top student in his life.

Jiang Cheng gets fed up with the teasing but chooses to ignore it and enjoy the meal.

Gu Fei offers alcohol, specifically baijiu, arguing that beer isn’t suited for the cold.

Jiang Cheng hesitates but agrees to drink a little, setting up the next part of their interaction.

Jiang Cheng plays the tin whistle, producing a bright yet slightly lonely tune, impressing Gu Fei.

Gu Fei teases Jiang Cheng about his musical talent, calling him an overachiever.

Jiang Cheng offers Gu Fei the whistle to try; Gu Fei hesitates, joking about germs.

Gu Fei struggles to produce a good sound, making a high-pitched screech instead.

Jiang Cheng helps adjust Gu Fei’s fingers and instructs him to relax.

Gu Fei jokingly pokes Jiang Cheng’s cheek while asking about relaxation.

Jiang Cheng instinctively smacks Gu Fei’s hand with the whistle, feeling embarrassed afterward.

Jiang Cheng reflects internally on his discomfort with physical touch, especially from men, due to his sexuality.

Gu Fei points out that Jiang Cheng doesn’t like being touched, referencing what Wang Xu had said.

They engage in a prolonged stare-down until Jiang Cheng suddenly feels the urge to laugh.

Jiang Cheng erupts into uncontrollable laughter, realizing alcohol has impaired his judgment.

Gu Fei warns Jiang Cheng that if he were a girl, he’d end up alone, which makes Jiang Cheng laugh even harder.

Jiang Cheng collapses onto the sofa, apologizing for drinking too much.

Gu Fei sits down beside him, bouncing the old sofa and making Jiang Cheng feel like he’s flying.

They start bouncing on the sofa like children, egging each other on.

Jiang Cheng loses balance and rolls onto Gu Fei, ending up pressed against him in the small space.

Their hands touch, and Jiang Cheng becomes hyper-aware of Gu Fei’s warmth and proximity.

Jiang Cheng freezes instead of pulling away, as Gu Fei's breath brushes his ear.

Overcome by the moment, Jiang Cheng impulsively kisses Gu Fei on the cheek.

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