It didn’t matter if it was winter break or summer break, University A always started vacation the earliest. Accordingly, final exams were also very early. 

Students could rarely be seen playing with their friends on the campus road. For the most part, they either carried their books to the library and spent the whole day there or dumped themselves in the dormitory and buried their heads in books. 

In time, the PE Department’s final exams arrived. Compared to the normal exams of most undergraduates, Jiang Chenming’s final was slightly more extensive. In addition to physical fitness tests and other outdoor exams, he would also have to submit a study report about the major. 

Jiang Chenming was busy these days doing his final exam study report, so he spent most of his time in the library. Whenever the library would occasionally run out of space, he ran to spend time in Mo Lingqiu’s office. 

That was the case today. Perhaps because several colleges would have exams for popular subjects the next day, the library was fully occupied rather early. Jiang Chenming walked around and couldn’t find a suitable empty seat, so he ran over to the milk tea store to buy two cups of milk tea. He made his appearance in Mo Lingqiu’s office carrying them. 

Mo Lingqiu was reading some literature with his glasses on, holding a pen in his hands. The writing in his notebook from when he made notes was neat and beautiful. 

Jiang Chenming worked on his report for a while before going over to see what Mo Lingqiu was reading. 

He raised his head and gently pushed up his glasses that had fallen to the tip of his nose. “You’ve finished writing?”

“No, I wanna look at what you’re reading.” Jiang Chenming laughed. 

Mo Lingqiu knew that Jiang Chenming probably wouldn’t understand if he gave too many details, so he explained it in an easy to understand statement. “A thesis.” 

“How come your two doctoral students haven’t come by lately?” Jiang Chenming was spending basically all his time in Mo Lingqiu’s office, but he hadn’t seen the two Alpha PhD students that Mo Lingqiu supervised. 

“They know that you’re here, so they didn’t come.” Mo Lingqiu had a rare change in expression and, half-jokingly, he asked, “Do you want to make room for them?” 

“No,” Jiang Chenming refused decisively. “If they come, they can only sit over there.”

Mo Lingqiu followed where his finger was pointing with his eyes and gazed at the quite miserable and pitiful looking corner with the two small round stools. 

He didn’t know if it was because of Jiang Chenming’s bold words expelling the two doctoral students to sit on the small bench, but the two of them really didn’t show up that day, and they resolved their questions through WeChat. 

In the evening, Jiang Chenming and Mo Lingqiu returned home together, ate a simple dinner, and then went back to their rooms to continue their work.

This busy life lasted for a week. The weather became colder and colder, and Jiang Chenming’s exams officially began.

When Mo Lingqiu occasionally passed by the North Campus, he would see the physical education students taking their exams bare-backed in the winter field. He was cold just looking at them. 

In early January, Jiang Chenming finished his exams and received a high score on his study report, so he was finally free to start his winter vacation.

“Teacher Mo, I’m going home tomorrow.” Jiang Chenming hadn’t packed his bags yet; he wanted to clearly notify Mo Lingqiu first.

“En.” It was almost the New Year, so it was only natural to go home. Mo Lingqiu didn’t feel like anything was wrong.

“Teacher Mo, won’t you miss me if you don’t see me for a short time?” Jiang Chenming gently smiled as he walked behind Mo Lingqiu and encircled him in his arms.

“You’ve said that it’s only a short time.” Mo Lingqiu looked back at him.

“En,” Jiang Chenming said, giving him a kiss. “But I definitely can’t go out for the winter holidays, so we’ll probably see each other again in a month.”

“So strict?” Other than strict parental control, Mo Lingqiu couldn’t think of any other reason an adult man couldn’t freely leave or enter his own house. 

“You could say that.” Jiang Chenming thought about it and felt that what he said was reasonable. 

Even though Mo Lingqiu wanted to know more, he restrained himself from asking. “Tend to things at home properly.”

“En. Teacher Mo, you have to answer my video call in the evening.”

“Got it.” Seeing Jiang Chenming’s pitiful look, Mo Lingqiu sighed and gently patted his head.

Immediately, Jiang Chenming seemed encouraged; he leaned down and pressed him into a kiss.

The next day, Jiang Chenming dragged his luggage out of the house. Mo Lingqiu stood by the window and saw the driver who had shown up several times standing straight. When he noticed Jiang Chenming coming down, he went up to open the door and help him move the luggage.

Not long after, the black Land Rover disappeared from Mo Lingqiu’s sight. The large room was quiet with one less person in it.

At first, Mo Lingqiu didn’t feel anything; he did what he was supposed to do. But, at night, he felt emotional while facing the empty living room.

The video call Jiang Chenming had promised hadn’t come yet. For the first time, Mo Lingqiu was bored, so he called Fan Nian.

He answered quickly; apparently he was also bored on his winter vacation.

“Yo, it’s rare for Teacher Mo to take the initiative to call me, huh?”

“It’s a little noisy at your place.” Other than the voice coming out from the phone by his ears, there were also various kinds of ear-splitting background noise. 

“I’m doing Karaoke. You wanna come?” Fan Nian glanced at a few of his excited high school classmates, and walked out of the booth to temporarily shut out the overly noisy sound. “Today is my high school classmates’ gathering.”

“I won’t go to your classmates’ gathering.” Mo Lingqiu didn’t know Fan Nian’s classmates, and it was already very late.

“Why not? You have time to call me. Is Xiao Jiang not there?” Fan Nian astutely asked, sensing that something was wrong.

“He’s on vacation.” Mo Lingqiu’s tone was flat.

“Oho, why do I sense loneliness and isolation, huh?” Fan Nian giddily smiled. He sat down on the lobby sofa outside the karaoke room so that he could have a good chat with Mo Lingqiu.

“You heard wrong,” Mo Lingqiu shot back.

“Seriously, though, are you not coming? There’s nothing to do at home alone anyway, so why not come over and have some fun.” Fan Nian sincerely invited him.

“No,” Mo Lingqiu firmly refused.

“Well then, I’ll talk to you,” Fan Nian said, losing interest.

“All right. I’m just making a casual call.” Mo Lingqiu exited the call interface and glanced at WeChat. Jiang Chenming still hadn’t sent a message.

“Why do I feel like you’re getting aggravated? Xiao Jiang hasn’t sent you a message?” Fan Nian was familiar with Mo Lingqiu’s personality; he wasn’t the kind of person who would make phone calls when he had nothing to do. 

“He’s probably a little busy.”

“He’s just going home right? What can he be busy with?” Fan Nian was puzzled. “Or you could take the initiative to ask him.”

“No need.” Mo Lingqiu glanced at the wall clock. Only five minutes had passed since he’d made the call; he thought that was too long. “You have fun. I’m going to bed.”

“All right. Call me if you still have any problems. I’m always here to talk.” Fan Nian could only say goodbye.

After putting away his phone, Fan Nian hummed a song and walked towards the booth. He bumped into a man on the way, feeling like he’d hit a piece of iron where his arm had started to hurt. 

He rubbed his arm, looked up, and saw a man staring at him with a gloomy face. He intuitively got the impression that this person wouldn’t be easy to mess with. Moreover, his scent announced that he was a high-grade Alpha. Fan Nian very consciously moved to the side and gave way, swallowing the loss silently.

When Mo Lingqiu returned to his room and laid on the big double bed, he tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep at all. While thinking about being all alone in the house, some things that he would normally be too embarrassed to do appeared in his mind. 

A few minutes later, Mo Lingqiu was hugging a pillow as he slept on the bed in Jiang Chenming’s room. He wrapped up in a blanket soaked in the scent of both their pheromones, slowly sinking into sleep. 

This situation lasted for almost a week. He didn’t hear anything from Jiang Chenming at all, let alone receive the promised video call. Mo Lingqiu sulked at first but became worried later, especially when none of his calls were returned after he had called him for a few days. He was very worried that something had happened to him.

Mo Lingqiu thought it over and then decided to go to Shi Hao Garden during the day to take a look. He might even be able to meet Jiang Chenming if he were lucky.

The next morning, Mo Lingqiu was woken up by the endless ringing of the doorbell. He picked up his phone from the bedside table and gave it a glance—it was only seven o’clock.

Mo Lingqiu rubbed his hair, slightly irritated. He straightened up the clothes he was wearing and walked over to open the door.

“…Can I ask who you’re looking for?” Outside the door stood someone Mo Lingqiu didn’t know, but who gave off an invisible sense of familiarity.

“Mo Lingqiu?” The man outside the door was very tall, almost the same height as Jiang Chenming, with an excessively tough and handsome appearance—a high-grade Alpha. But compared to Jiang Chenming, the temperament was extremely different. The man outside the door looked too gloomy, even a bit intimidating.

“…That’s me. Who are you looking for?” Mo Lingqiu confirmed with himself that he didn’t recognize this person.

“Looking for you,” The visitor said, turning sideways, freeing space in the empty walkway behind him. “Pack up and come with me.”

“…No. Who are you?” He was almost thirty; he wasn’t a child who could be cheated easily. Especially not by this man who didn’t look easy to mess with. It wasn’t necessary, so he couldn’t go away with a strange Alpha. 

“Jiang Chenming’s brother, Jiang Junshen. My younger brother asked me to come and pick you up.” Jiang Junshen’s face was expressionless, and unknown emotions were harboured in those dark, ink-like eyes.

Mo Lingqiu froze. No wonder he felt that this person was somewhat familiar at first glance. Other than the impression he was giving off, this person was indeed a little like Jiang Chenming.

“What… What happened to him?” Mo Lingqiu blinked. He couldn’t have encountered any “family disputes”, could he?

“Nothing. He’s just too busy, so he didn’t have time to contact you,” Jiang Junshen said, patient enough to explain, “so he asked me to pick you up. Are you coming?”

“Yes,” Mo Lingqiu agreed without hesitation, not bothering to ask where they were going. “Please wait a moment. I’ll tidy up a little.”

“En.” With his hands in his pockets, Jiang Junshen was guarding the door like a pillar.

Mo Lingqiu had unnoticeably been put under tremendous pressure; he could only hurry to wash and change his clothes. Five minutes later, he appeared in front of Jiang Junshen with an overcoat.

Jiang Junshen saw that he was ready, so he took the lead and turned towards the elevator. “Let’s go.” 

Mo Lingqiu looked at his fully charged phone. He took a deep breath and followed him.

During the whole ride over, the atmosphere inside the spacious car was silent. Mo Lingqiu kept staring out of the window in a daze. He originally thought they were going to Shi Hao Garden, but after looking at the route, he realised that wasn’t correct.

“…May I ask where we’re going?”

Jiang Junshen didn’t raise his head, eyes locked on his work tablet. “Our house.”