Chapter 42: This is Really Jealousy.

On the last day of the National Day holiday, Yao Wenjing finished his part-time job and came to invite Lin Zhi to dinner with his daily earnings.

Since the start of the school year, they had both been busy with new student affairs, and it had been a while since they last met. They began chatting about old times as soon as they sat down, and the hot pot, with its boiling ingredients, couldn’t stop the two of them from talking nonstop.

“I want to give a gift to my senior to thank him for introducing me to the part-time job opportunity,” Yao Wenjing said, sipping some cool tea to soothe the spiciness. He habitually asked Lin Zhi, “What do you think would be a good gift?”

After thinking for a moment, Yao Wenjing added, “Nothing too expensive, though. I can’t afford that.”

Lin Zhi bit into a slice of luncheon meat, glanced up at him, and then smiled meaningfully. “From just now until now, you’ve mentioned that senior five times already.”

Every pot on the table was emitting white steam, and Yao Wenjing, flushed from the heat inside the restaurant, said, “You’re counting so carefully?”

“…I was just making an example,” Lin Zhi mumbled, chewing on the meat slice. “But you’ve mentioned him a lot.”

Yao Wenjing blinked at him for a moment before lowering his voice to ask, “Xiao Zhi, are you jealous?”

Lin Zhi: “…”

What kind of IQ is that, coming to that conclusion after thinking for so long?

“Don’t be jealous,” Yao Wenjing, completely unaware of what Lin Zhi was thinking, comforted him. “Actually, when I was eating with my senior, I mentioned you even more…”

Lin Zhi seized on the key point: “You’re still eating with him?”

“…Well, I have to eat lunch when I’m working part-time, right? I’m not familiar with the place, and my senior always takes me there.” Yao Wenjing explained innocently, continuing from where he had been interrupted. “Because I often mention you, my senior also said similar things about you and even asked what our relationship is.”

“And what did you say?”

“I said you’re my brother,” Yao Wenjing replied, looking at Lin Zhi like it was an obvious question. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, very right,” Lin Zhi nodded with a smile. “Call me ‘brother’ now. You’ve never done that.”

Yao Wenjing immediately refused. “A few days ago, my godfather called me and said I’m more sensible than you and that I should visit you more often when I have time.”

“My dad called you?” Lin Zhi really felt a bit sour now. “He hasn’t called me.”

“Mm…” Yao Wenjing couldn’t respond, so he silently continued eating his meat.

Lin Zhi poked the bottom of his bowl with his chopsticks, and his phone conveniently vibrated.

【Lu Liu: What are you doing?】

Lin Zhi’s attention was still on the conversation with Yao Wenjing, and he didn’t think much before honestly replying to Lu Liu.

【Lin Zhi: Eating hot pot with Yao Wenjing.】

Lu Liu sent three consecutive expressions showing he was wronged.

【Lin Zhi: What’s wrong?】

Is he looking for comfort after being upset?

【Lu Liu: You promised to tell me when you wanted hot pot last time.】

【Lu Liu: Now you’re eating with another man.】

【Lu Liu: Silently crying.jpg】

Lin Zhi: “…”

Alright, now this one is truly jealous.

【Lin Zhi: Then come over now, and we can eat together.】

【Lu Liu: By the time I get there, the broth will have dried out.】

【Lin Zhi: It won’t. You can get free refills.】

Lu Liu, “angry,” directly skipped over the topic.

【Lu Liu: Finish eating and go back to school early.】

【Lin Zhi: I’m afraid not. After eating, I’ll go for a walk.】

【Lu Liu: Where to?】

Lin Zhi mentioned the location, and after Lu Liu responded with an “Okay,” Lin Zhi didn’t reply further.

This had been their routine these days. He and Lu Liu contacted each other every few hours, chatted about whatever came to mind, and didn’t force conversations. Unlike before, when Lin Zhi had racked his brain to find interesting things to talk about with “Zhi” to build their connection, now it felt more natural.

After refilling the broth twice, Lin Zhi and Yao Wenjing ate until they were nearly sick of the sight of the words “hot pot.” Supporting each other, they wobbled out of the restaurant and headed toward the university district’s backstreet that Lin Zhi had sent to Lu Liu earlier.

This street was a favorite among students from several nearby universities, especially female students. It offered affordable prices and a wide range of goods: clothes, accessories, stationery—basically everything a student might need or want. A one-stop shop guaranteed to make shopping enjoyable and satisfying.

Yao Wenjing, who couldn’t afford an expensive gift for his senior, found this the ideal place to pick something out.

“What kind of gift do you have in mind?” Lin Zhi asked.

As they stepped onto the street, a sign overhead displayed its name: Indulgence Street.

Yao Wenjing pretended to think seriously for a moment before decisively answering, “None.”

“…” Lin Zhi was speechless. “Does he have any hobbies? Like sports or music?”

Yao Wenjing rubbed his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I don’t know.”

“You’re really clueless, huh,” Lin Zhi said through gritted teeth, frustrated at his lack of effort. “Looks like we’ll have to check every store one by one.”

As Lin Zhi spoke, he turned to the right side of the street. “Let’s start with this one—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

The first store on the right displayed an array of delicate handicrafts in its glass cabinet, but Lin Zhi’s attention was drawn to the person standing in front of the store.

Dressed in a white shirt and black pants, Lu Liu stood there with a straight posture.

Black and white, a timeless color combination, and Lu Liu wore it effortlessly. The white shirt highlighted his complexion, making it appear as flawless as the white jade in the glass window behind him, while the black jeans outlined his long, straight legs.

For a moment, Lin Zhi thought he was hallucinating. Once he snapped back to reality, he immediately strode toward Lu Liu, whose gaze had already met his.

“What are you doing here?” Lin Zhi asked, though it was more like a pointless question.

Lu Liu didn’t answer. Instead, he lowered his gaze with a pretense of grievance and said softly, “It took you so long to notice me.”

“I didn’t expect you to come,” Lin Zhi instinctively explained, “So I just…”

Lu Liu let out a faint, ambiguous hum.

He had arrived early after receiving the location Lin Zhi sent. This spot was the main entrance, no matter whether you came from Lin Zhi’s school or Yao Wenjing’s. He had been standing there, watching attentively for a long time, to the point where he started doubting whether he had missed Lin Zhi. Just as he was about to call, he saw Lin Zhi and Yao Wenjing walking side by side toward him.

Lu Liu had straightened his clothes, endured the growing soreness in his legs, and adjusted his posture, waiting for Lin Zhi to notice him. But who would have thought that Lin Zhi and Yao Wenjing would stop at the street corner, talking back and forth for ages without sparing him a glance?

The more Lu Liu thought about it, the more a small sense of grievance welled up in him. He let out another huff, this time deliberately loud enough for Lin Zhi to hear clearly.

Lin Zhi, feeling a mix of surprise and guilt, wanted to soften his voice to coax Lu Liu. However, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Yao Wenjing walking over and decided against it. Straightening his neck, he shifted the blame: “This is all your fault. You didn’t tell me ahead of time that you were coming. You saw me but didn’t call out! If I hadn’t looked this way, I would’ve walked right past you!”

Lu Liu raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback, and then laughed out of sheer exasperation. “Fine, fine, it’s all my fault, all my fault.”