Chapter 72: Are You Happy?
The first day of the new semester was one of the few truly chaotic days for He Siming and Jiang Rong.
During the month-plus they’d stayed at home, He Shenglin slept in the nursery and was cared for by a nanny. But after they moved back, it wasn’t convenient for the two aunts to live with them, so at night the baby slept in the same room as them.
Their original intention had been not to leave everything to the nanny—after all, they wanted to take care of the child themselves too.
Jiang Rong had been recuperating for two months; his wound had long since healed. He’d lived a life of being thoroughly pampered at home, never expecting that on the very first night they’d nearly fail to hold out.
The two of them took turns getting up in the middle of the night to feed He Shenglin. He Siming got up twice; Jiang Rong once, and he also changed the baby’s diaper. Luckily, he was fairly skilled by now, and He Shenglin wasn’t too fussy. At least they managed to get some sleep.
At eight in the morning, Aunt Yang came to take over. The aunt who cooked had already brought their breakfast over from next door.
Seeing Jiang Rong yawning nonstop while eating, Aunt Yang said, “You didn’t sleep well last night, did you?”
Jiang Rong nodded. “Yeah. Fed him three times.”
Aunt Yang said, “That’s how it is. Once the baby can eat complementary foods, the number of times you need to get up at night will go down.”
The moment He Siming heard that, his drowsiness lessened a bit—so there was hope for these days after all. “When can He Shenglin start eating complementary foods?”
Aunt Yang replied, “Around six months.”
He Siming: “……”
In other words, they’d have to live like this for the entire semester. Moving became an urgent matter.
Jiang Rong, on the other hand, felt it was fine. He was more easygoing and had infinite tolerance for his own child. In his eyes, He Shenglin was already very well-behaved—he didn’t cry or make a fuss at night, only making sounds to remind his dads when he was hungry or had soiled himself. The rest of the time, he was exceptionally good.
Before heading out, Jiang Rong kissed the little baby. He Siming, wearing his usual cool expression, also leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against his son’s cheek.
Seeing Jiang Rong lingering and turning back again and again to look at their son, He Siming said, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Rong could only steel his heart and follow him out. “Okay.”
In the past two months at home, he’d hardly been separated from the baby at all—of course he felt reluctant.
During the two days when he went out for fresh air after finishing his confinement, Xu Mingqin had been at home, with people watching over things, so he’d felt at ease. But now, with only the aunt at home, all sorts of messy news kept flashing through his mind.
He Siming knew Jiang Rong’s worries—everything was written plainly on his face, easy to read.
As soon as they got in the car, He Siming handed him his phone. “Here—blue app. If you’re worried, just check the surveillance yourself.”
Jiang Rong knew He Siming’s phone password. He opened the unfamiliar blue app and really did see the nanny on the home cameras.
He said in surprise, “Is it the whole house?”
“Yeah, everywhere,” He Siming replied.
“You’re so thoughtful. When did you install them? I didn’t even know,” Jiang Rong said.
“When you were learning to play mahjong with Yao Shule,” He Siming answered.
Jiang Rong felt a bit ashamed. “Wasn’t that during my confinement? You didn’t even let me go out.”
He really wasn’t as experienced as He Siming, who protected both him and the baby in every possible way, never letting them suffer the slightest grievance.
“I’m not blaming you,” He Siming said.
He wanted Jiang Rong to recuperate properly and not worry—everything was done willingly.
On the first day of the semester, there was no need to arrive too early.
Jiang Rong also looked forward to the new term—finally, he could see other classmates again. Life might become livelier.
As soon as they entered the campus, he noticed a different atmosphere from usual.
Red banners were hung everywhere; the school seemed to have taken on a completely new look.
“Are there new students enrolling?” he asked.
As the car drove farther in, they could see rows of freshmen in camouflage uniforms, full of spirit and vitality, shouting “one-two-one” under their instructors’ lead.
Jiang Rong had never seen a scene like this and leaned against the car window, watching curiously.
When he’d become a university freshman, there’d been military training too—but it hadn’t been on campus. They’d gone directly to a military base for a month of intensive training, which had been especially grueling. People came out of it feeling like they’d shed a layer of skin. Moreover, training was divided by the three genders—Alpha, Beta, and Omega trained separately.
Unlike this world, where boys and girls trained together with little difference.
This, perhaps, was what equality truly meant.
“Did you do military training too?” Jiang Rong asked.
Seeing how curious he was, He Siming said, “I did. Want to go take a look? Most of them should be training on the field.”
Jiang Rong nodded eagerly. “Sure.”
It felt like he was visiting the school for the first time—everything seemed new.
They’d gone out fairly early on the first day of the semester, so they had time to stroll around campus.
After parking the car, they didn’t head straight to the classroom, but walked toward the sports field.
By the time Jiang Rong came to this university, it was already autumn. Only freshmen had mandatory PE classes; sophomores’ PE was elective. “Jiang Rong” hadn’t chosen any, so he’d never really come to exercise on the field.
Qin University had three large gymnasiums, one large football field, three smaller football fields, and numerous venues for different sports—enough to accommodate tens of thousands of students.
The spring days of orioles flying and grass growing were long past, but the blazing summer sun still lingered. The lawn looked a little wilted from the heat, in stark contrast to the students training energetically on the field.
Several class groups occupied different areas, training. The shouted slogans rose and fell, deafening.
Standing on the slanted steps of the stands and looking down, Jiang Rong felt his blood stir.
“It’s spectacular,” he couldn’t help but say.
“It really is,” He Siming agreed.
Glancing at the time and seeing there was still a while before class, Jiang Rong sat down on the steps.
“Can we sit for a bit?”
“Sure.” He Siming placed the bucket hat he’d picked up earlier onto Jiang Rong’s head. “Don’t get sunburned.”
“It’s just morning—it won’t,” Jiang Rong said. As the temperature rose, he felt a bit warm. After the surgery, he’d focused on recuperation and had lost some muscle. He thought that after a while, he’d need to train to get it back—he’d once had four-pack abs.
As they were talking, someone approached.
It turned out to be someone from the student union, who came over to greet He Siming.
“President, what brings you here!” the person exclaimed.
“Don’t call me that. I’m not the president—I already left the student union,” He Siming replied.
The newcomer was the president of their faculty’s student union.
He Siming had previously been the vice president of the entire university. Later, because Jiang Rong was pregnant and he needed to take care of him, he’d resigned outright. He could barely remember now why he’d joined the student union in the first place, doing thankless work.
The faculty president said, “You’re still the number one choice for president in my heart. Has the opening ceremony’s senior representative speech been set for you this year?”
“Yeah,” He Siming said.
“They’re doing final rehearsals now. Tomorrow’s the joint drill performance and opening ceremony—don’t be late,” the faculty president reminded him.
“Mm,” He Siming replied.
After saying just that, the student union president was called away to handle other matters.
When He Siming turned back, he saw Jiang Rong resting his chin in his hand, looking at him with eyes sparkling like stars. “What is it?”
Jiang Rong couldn’t help praising him. “You’re amazing—you’re the senior representative! Are you going to encourage the freshmen? How long will you speak? What time does it start? Can I come watch you tomorrow? I want to see.”
“Sure,” He Siming said. He hadn’t thought much of it—he didn’t think it was a big deal. He’d been the freshman representative back then; now as a senior representative, they’d arranged for him again. He hadn’t really wanted to go, but the counselor allowed him to speak for just three minutes, so he reluctantly agreed.
As the sun grew hotter, Jiang Rong didn’t want He Siming baking in it. The two of them hurried toward the teaching building.
Not having seen Yao Shule for several days, Jiang Rong missed him a lot.
After Jiang Rong finished his confinement, Yao Shule had gone surfing by the sea with Li Yizhou, who’d earned some pocket money from a month of part-time work.
As soon as Jiang Rong entered the classroom, he spotted Yao Shule with his face tightly covered by a mask and sunglasses.
“Lele, what’s wrong? Are you sick? Why are you wearing a mask and sunglasses even in class?” Jiang Rong asked.
“Don’t mention it, don’t mention it—Rongrong, my face is ruined!” Yao Shule wailed, covering his face.
Jiang Rong really thought something serious had happened. “Disfigured? Is it bad?”
Li Yizhou couldn’t stand Yao Shule playing the victim again. “What disfigured? He just got a bit tanned. He cried about it for days. What’s wrong with a guy getting a little tan!”
Hearing that it wasn’t serious, Jiang Rong let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, getting a little tan is fine, right?”
Yao Shule exploded. “Li Yizhou, you don’t know shit! You’re already dark—whether you tan or not, you look the same! I had delicate, fair skin, and now I look like this—I can’t be seen! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have listened to you and gone surfing!”
Li Yizhou laughed. “Who told you not to use sunscreen mud? If you’d listened to me and put it on, nothing would’ve happened.”
Jiang Rong was curious what Yao Shule looked like now. “Take off the mask and let me see?”
“No,” Yao Shule said.
Jiang Rong didn’t force him, though he really was curious.
But then Yao Shule changed his mind. “Actually… maybe I’ll let you take a look.”
“Okay, okay,” Jiang Rong said eagerly.
Yao Shule quickly pulled off the mask—then immediately put it back on.
Jiang Rong burst out laughing. Yao Shule had actually gotten panda eyes from the sunburn!
“See? I knew I shouldn’t have shown you!” Yao Shule said indignantly.
And so, the new semester began in laughter and cheer.
After class, when they went to the restroom together, Yao Shule quietly asked Jiang Rong, “How’s little Shenglin now? Do you keep him with you?”
He hadn’t seen He Shenglin in a long time.
Jiang Rong said proudly, “Of course. He’s with us, and he’s growing really fast.”
Yao Shule made plans to visit He Shenglin once the skin around his eyes recovered a bit—so the baby wouldn’t think Uncle Lele just naturally looked like a panda.
Jiang Rong thought to himself that the baby probably wouldn’t remember that fast anyway.
At noon, He Siming and Jiang Rong went home to eat lunch, rest, and check on He Shenglin.
The little guy ate when it was time to eat and slept when it was time to sleep—nothing out of the ordinary.
The next morning, He Siming was to give a speech at the freshmen’s opening ceremony.
Jiang Rong couldn’t bear to miss it. Halfway through class, he wanted to leave. Seeing him restless and constantly glancing outside, Yao Shule whispered behind his book, “What are you looking at? He Siming’s not out there.”
“He’s giving a speech at the freshmen ceremony. I want to go watch,” Jiang Rong said.
“Are you two seriously this clingy?” Yao Shule teased.
Jiang Rong hesitated. The teacher was lecturing up front, and he’d always been a good student—leaving halfway through felt disrespectful.
Yao Shule laughed. “Come on, I’ll go with you. The teacher won’t care.”
Yao Shule suddenly realized that after giving birth, Jiang Rong seemed lighter in spirit, more cheerful. His expressions were more animated when he spoke. Before, it was like a huge mountain weighed on him; now he seemed relaxed, in the state a college student should be in.
The two of them slipped out quietly.
Li Yizhou, who hadn’t slept well the night before and was dozing off, blinked—and the two beside him were gone. He stared blankly.
Damn it—skipping class without even calling me?!
Under the ten o’clock morning sun, the two jogged to the edge of the sports field.
It was the freshmen speeches now—He Siming would be up soon. They weren’t late.
When He Siming stepped onto the stage, gasps rose from the freshmen below.
Today, he wore only a light-colored, laid-back T-shirt and black casual pants, but paired with his cool aura, even casual clothes looked like a dress shirt and slacks on him.
Jiang Rong’s eyes lit up the moment he saw him. “He Siming is so handsome.”
Yao Shule said sourly, “I’m still standing right here, you know—gushing over your husband.”
Jiang Rong’s face warmed slightly. “Okay, okay.”
He Siming began his speech into the microphone. His voice was deep, warm, and powerful—like a resilient summer breeze that passed through without lingering.
Until he lifted his gaze and saw Jiang Rong standing not far away; a ripple entered his voice.
He’d agreed with the counselor on a three-minute speech, timed it perfectly, and once he finished, he walked straight toward Jiang Rong.
Only after being informed by the seniors nearby did the freshmen realize—this was their university’s campus heartthrob.
“Wow, he’s so handsome!” the freshmen exclaimed.
The seniors added, “He’s the campus heartthrob, but he has a partner. Don’t dig too deep, or you’ll get a lawyer’s letter.”
The freshmen gasped. “So cool. His partner must be really beautiful, right?”
“Sorry—we don’t know,” the seniors said.
“But the campus heartthrob just put his hat on that fair, clean-looking, pretty guy’s head. I ship it so hard!”
“That’s his classmate—and your senior too. He should be single, though,” the seniors replied.
“We really came to the right school—Qin University’s seniors are all so good-looking!”
Everyone at the university knew He Siming wasn’t single. After the opening ceremony speech, his surroundings were both quiet and not quiet at all.
Because he noticed that after the speech, as they walked around campus, there were always one or two freshmen coming up to ask Jiang Rong for his WeChat.
That day, as they were about to go home for lunch, two female freshmen stopped Jiang Rong.
At that age, freshmen were fearless. “Senior, you’re so handsome! I heard you’re single. I really want to get to know you—can I add your WeChat?”
He Siming: “……” Who told them Jiang Rong was single?
Jiang Rong politely but warmly declined. “Sorry, I’m not single.”
“That’s impossible,” the girl said. “Everyone says the campus heartthrob has a partner, but you must be single.”
Jiang Rong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I really do have a partner.”
The freshman clearly thought it was just an excuse.
That night, someone posted a help thread on the school forum.
[Help: How can I pursue the gentle senior who always smiles and stands next to the campus heartthrob?]
—Same question.
—He’s really gentle. When he smiles, it’s like a spring breeze. I declare him my male idol.
—Up close, he’s really beautiful—his skin is super fine. Not a feminine kind of beauty, but the most delicate-looking guy I’ve ever seen.
—So how can I pursue him?!
—He said he has a partner.
—That’s definitely fake. I used to see him in the library all the time.
—He does have a partner, he does have a partner, he does have a partner—important things must be said three times!
After dinner, Jiang Rong was holding He Shenglin and patting him to burp. He Siming, who usually never fought him for this task, was glaring at his phone with deep resentment.
Jiang Rong asked, “Did your phone offend you?”
He Siming looked at him. His wife really was beautiful and gentle. He wanted to tell the world that Jiang Rong was his partner—that his gentleness was something only he got to see.
He leaned in and kissed him. “Don’t be so gentle with other people in the future.”
Jiang Rong smiled. “Okay.”
After two weeks of adjustment, the two of them gradually adapted to life of studying while raising a baby.
At night—
After the baby fell asleep, He Siming clung to Jiang Rong, kissing him deeply. The peach scent that had faded during the confinement period slowly returned.
In the end, Jiang Rong’s hand was sore again. It lasted even longer than last time, and he passed out from exhaustion.
Two weeks into the semester, Jiang Rong made an appointment with Doctor Liu for a physical checkup—mainly to see whether his reproductive cavity was normal and whether there was any inflammation.
“You’ve recovered very well. Everything’s normal,” Doctor Liu said.
He Siming had gone to the restroom and didn’t come in.
Jiang Rong actually knew his condition; he just wanted a checkup to put He Siming at ease.
A bit embarrassed, he asked, “Doctor Liu… I feel like my heat cycle might be coming soon. Can I be intimate with him?”
Doctor Liu smiled. “Yes, you can.”
She knew about pheromones and heat cycles.
Jiang Rong let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
As he was about to leave, Doctor Liu added, “Oh, by the way—I heard Doctor Xu wants to help you develop medication to suppress your heat cycle. Do you want to try seeing Old Doctor Liu?”
“Is that feasible?” Jiang Rong asked.
“He’s been researching your case recently and showed me a few plans. I think there might be some effect,” Doctor Liu replied.
Jiang Rong’s eyes lit up. “That would be amazing—thank you so much. I’ll go ask Old Doctor Liu after I get back to school.”
“Don’t worry too much,” Doctor Liu said. “No matter how difficult the condition, there’s always a solution.”
Comforted by Doctor Liu, Jiang Rong went to find He Siming in a good mood and told him the good news.
The car keys slipped from He Siming’s hand and fell to the ground.
His emotions were mixed. “Old Doctor Liu might be able to cure your heat cycle?”
Jiang Rong smiled at him. “Yeah. Are you happy?”
He Siming: “……”
