Pei Xu was speechless, his palm gently stroking his back as he wiped away the tears on his cheek.
“If you don’t want to go, then don’t go.”
Qiao Nan avoided his kiss at first, but after a moment, he couldn’t help but turn back, their lips and tongues intertwining.
At first, it was tender comfort; then it became a raging storm.
Qiao Nan clung to him like a beautiful yet fragile flower.
Pei Xu’s arms wrapped tightly around him, forcibly restraining him in his embrace as he kissed him passionately.
With his eyes closed, Qiao Nan felt as if the air around them was being stolen away, his breathing completely controlled by Pei Xu’s rhythm.
He tried to resist.
But he didn’t pull away—instead, he hooked his arms around Pei Xu’s neck and pressed himself deeper into his embrace.
When they finally parted, Qiao Nan’s eyes were misty with tears.
He gasped for breath, a flush spreading from the corner of his eye down his neck before being hidden by his clothes.
It had been half a month since they last saw each other, and both were stirred by emotion.
Pei Xu placed him on the office desk, unable to resist leaning down to bite a mark into the side of his neck, his voice hoarse with heat as he whispered his name, “Nan Nan…”
Qiao Nan raised his slender neck obediently, more submissive than a little prey offering itself to the hunter.
The burning breath moved down his neck, but just as Pei Xu was about to go further, Qiao Nan unexpectedly pushed him away.
He glanced at the man’s suit pants, puffed out his cheeks, and said angrily, “I’m still mad at you. We’re not making up yet.”
Pei Xu looked helpless, but his strong body blocking the way did not budge.
Qiao Nan raised a hand to rub his slightly swollen lips and glared at him.
“Move aside, I’m going home!”
Pei Xu could only smooth out the wrinkles in his clothes carefully and then stepped aside.
Qiao Nan stormed out.
At the door, he turned back and emphasized, “I don’t want to go abroad. You’re not allowed to make decisions for me anymore.”
Pei Xu nodded helplessly.
After leaving Xunan Technology, Qiao Nan returned to school.
He sat outside the office building for a long time, as if he had finally made a decision.
After scrolling through group messages, he made a call.
“Senior, can I still sign up for the teaching volunteer program?”
“Yes, I want to participate.”
“Can I come get the application form from you now? I’m right by the office building.”
After coordinating with the senior in charge of registration, Qiao Nan headed toward the office building.
***
South Jiang Academy of Fine Arts holds similar volunteer teaching activities every year.
Besides the “Three Supports and One Assistance” program for fresh graduates, many school clubs organize short-term volunteer teaching programs.
While not many apply, the numbers aren’t too few either.
Qiao Nan had accidentally seen the registration notice sent by the senior before.
Because of his experience in Guibei, he paid more attention to these remote areas, so he had taken a closer look and left a deep impression.
To send him abroad, his parents had apparently pulled some strings to create this exchange student program in such a roundabout way.
Rather than being sent overseas by them, it was better if he chose for himself.
After collecting the application form from the senior, Qiao Nan carefully filled it out and submitted it.
Seeing the time he filled in, the senior confirmed, “Aren’t you waiting for summer break? The volunteer group has several batches, with the largest during the summer. You still have classes now, right?”
Qiao Nan shook his head.
“No more classes in the second semester of junior year. There’s just a big assignment, which also serves as a field visit for inspiration.”
On the form, he listed his major.
Obviously, he wasn’t the only oil painting student doing this, so the senior didn’t question him further.
The paperwork was quickly completed, and they exchanged contact info.
“Wait for notification. The first group will probably leave in early April, headed to Pingshiba in Jinjiang City, Dongzhao. The trip lasts three months. Except for transportation to and from, everything else is self-funded. You’ll receive a notice and instructions three days before departure.”
After thanking her, Qiao Nan turned and left.
He then went to Old Li’s office and returned the application form.
Seeing Old Li’s disappointed expression, Qiao Nan spoke quietly, “Sorry, but I don’t want to be forced overseas. I want to walk my own path.”
Old Li seemed to understand something.
His expression shifted slightly at Qiao Nan’s words but didn’t try to persuade him further.
He took back the form and waved his hand disdainfully, “Get out of here quickly, you’re driving me crazy.”
Only then did Qiao Nan leave.
This time, he didn’t linger but went straight back to the Binjiang villa.
Seeing him come back, Zhou Ruo greeted him with a gentle expression, “You didn’t have class this afternoon, so why are you only coming home now?”
Qiao Nan looked up and met her gaze.
After a moment, he said, “I signed up for the teaching volunteer program. I’ll leave for Dongzhao in ten days. You don’t need to worry about sending me abroad anymore.”
Zhou Ruo was stunned.
“You…”
Qiao Nan stared at her, many words lingering in his mind.
A surge of frustration had been bottled up inside him, tempting him to lash out with the sharpest words to question and rebel.
But Pei Xu’s gentle voice echoed in his ears.
His chest heaved for a moment, and he swallowed those sharp, hurtful words back, lowering his eyes to say softly, “You’ve all treated me like a child, never once asking for my opinion on anything. But I’ll graduate next year. I can decide what kind of life I want to live and who I want to be with.”
“When I chose oil painting, it was my own decision. Now, being with Pei Xu is too.”
He looked seriously at Zhou Ruo.
On his still somewhat youthful face was a determination so unfamiliar it unsettled her: “I won’t give up on either.”
There was no argument, no hysteria.
He simply stated his thoughts seriously, then quietly went upstairs.
Zhou Ruo stood frozen, watching his retreating figure, suddenly remembering when he was very young.
Back then, he was a delicate, spoiled child.
Every time she came home, Qiao Nan clung to her like glue.
Even a small patch of redness on the back of his hand would have him tear up and beg for comfort.
But as her work got busier and she stayed longer in Yanjing, she increasingly couldn’t rush back even when Qiao Nan was sick.
Once, when Qiao Nan had a high fever, she had an important case to attend and couldn’t return immediately.
When she finally got back to Nanjiang, she found her delicate child obediently taking medicine and shots.
Seeing her return, he didn’t even cry.
Later, when Pei Xu was brought into the home, Qiao Nan got along well with him.
The spoiled side that had been hidden emerged again—but now he only acted spoiled with Pei Xu.
Zhou Ruo sank into a chair, thinking bitterly of the years she and Qiao Shi’an had neglected the child.
***
Qiao Nan didn’t tell Pei Xu about going to Dongzhao for teaching.
Until the day he boarded the train to leave Nanjiang, he traced Pei Xu’s name in his contacts but ultimately didn’t make the call.
He still felt a bit angry.
Putting away his phone, Qiao Nan looked out the window at the rapidly passing scenery and took out his sketchbook.
Dongzhao was in the south of the country.
From Nanjiang to Jinjiang City, the train ride took fourteen hours.
Since they were going for volunteer teaching, the travel conditions couldn’t be too comfortable.
The tickets were for hard seats.
The cramped carriage had passengers coming and going, with the air mixed with the smells of instant noodles and various foods, along with loud chatting and videos playing out loud—a noisy scene.
It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but it was Qiao Nan’s first time.
His pen moved on and off the page as he glanced around occasionally.
Among the travelers were three other students from South Jiang Academy of Fine Arts, all familiar with him.
They were puzzled and curious about why he’d join the volunteer teaching group.
Seeing him looking around, one of the girls said, “Are you not used to it? Trains can be pretty noisy.”
Qiao Nan hesitated but nodded.
“A bit, but it’s okay. I’ll get used to it.”
Another boy asked curiously, “Why are you joining the volunteer teaching? To experience life?”
His tone carried a faint sneer.
“Although this program is organized by school clubs, all major universities in Nanjiang participate. The process and system are very formal. The places are remote mountain areas, just to truly help the kids there. It’s tough and not for just ‘experiencing life.’”
Qiao Nan sensed his hostility but didn’t take it to heart. He explained seriously, “I want to find a place to clear my head. But don’t worry, I won’t hold anyone back.”
The boy clearly didn’t believe him and snorted.
“You’ll see once you get there.”
***
Their group had six people: four guys and two girls.
After arriving at Jinjiang City train station and meeting the reception staff, they took a bus to Pingshiba.
Pingshiba is under the jurisdiction of Jinjiang City, but it’s actually quite far.
It’s located at the intersection of three provinces, at high elevation, mountainous and forested, with poor transportation and a lagging economy.
It’s a poverty-stricken county embodying “old, border, mountain, and poor.”
The bus rattled for four hours before reaching their destination—a very old and dilapidated school.
The single-story brick and stone building had grayish-yellow walls, cracked cement floors, and heavily rusted fences.
The plaque above the gate was weathered and peeling, with barely legible characters: “Pingshiba Primary School.”
This was where they would stay for the next three months.
Qiao Nan looked up at the rundown school and walked inside with the others.
The school had prepared dormitories for them.
Although clearly cleaned with care, the building was too old, and the damp, musty smell hit them upon entry.
“Teachers will live here from now on. Later, Teacher Chen will bring you daily necessities and meal cards.”
The middle-aged man who showed them in gave some instructions and then left, leaving Qiao Nan and the others to unpack.
The teacher dormitories weren’t separated by gender.
Qiao Nan and his group stayed on the left side, the two girls on the right, with public toilets and showers in the middle.
“This place is worse than I imagined.”
The complaint came from another boy in the group, Luo Xinyang, from Nanjiang University of Technology.
Like Qiao Nan, it was his first time volunteering.
Their group of six included four guys and two girls.
The girls’ accommodations were better, with two per room; the boys had four per room with bunk beds.
“You, Big Young Master Qiao, didn’t complain, but now you are?”
You Shuhang, who had previously targeted Qiao Nan, mocked him.
Qiao Nan glanced at him but ignored the remark, lowering his head to continue making his bed.
The school environment was indeed poor, so Luo Xinyang’s complaints were understandable.
But Qiao Nan had slept in mountain caves before in Guibei, so these conditions were tolerable.
After tidying his things, he grabbed the plastic basin the school provided and went out to fetch water.
You Shuhang noticed Qiao Nan’s suitcase casually opened on the ground, and inside, every piece of clothing was from luxury brands ordinary people couldn’t afford.
His lips curled downward as he wondered what this rich young master was doing here.
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