Chapter 34: I don’t want to be your Doctor

Su Lixu had never skied before, so he hadn’t even considered buying skiing gear. When he saw Fu Xingran open the car hood and reveal a pile of things, it dawned on him that Fu Xingran had thought of everything he hadn’t.

A cute and pink skiing suit caught his attention.

“Ski suits, goggles, gloves, hat, face mask, sunscreen… I’ve got it all prepared, brother, no need to rent,” Fu Xingran patted the carefully chosen pink skiing suit, looking at Su Lixu with a subtle and radiant smile. “Matching outfits.”

Su Lixu silently looked away, muttering, “We’re not even officially a couple, why wear matching outfits?”

Fu Xingran picked up a fluffy hat and placed it on Su Lixu’s head, adjusting it carefully. He chuckled softly, “It’s just a matter of time, isn’t it?” He then affectionately touched his head, “Today’s Dr. Su is really adorable.”

The head-patting gesture felt a bit ambiguous, and Su Lixu felt a warmth spreading, surprised to realize he was gradually getting used to Fu Xingran’s natural affection.

Lifting his gaze, he met Fu Xingran’s eyes on him, unconsciously swallowing nervously.

“Do you know how to ski?”

Fu Xingran had planned his response last night, thinking that if Su Lixu invited him to ski, it meant Su Lixu could ski. To have a more intimate interaction, he needed to pretend not to know.

Sitting on the edge of his car’s front trunk with his long legs casually draped, conveniently placed on either side of Su Lixu, he smiled, using his knee to lightly touch Su Lixu’s leg, “Nope, that’s why I need my brother to teach me. You have to protect me, alright?”

Su Lixu felt a bit weak at the waist from the touch. He took a small step aside, creating distance from Fu Xingran’s legs. Just then, Fu Xingran said something that made his expression subtly change.”You don’t know how to ski?”

“Really don’t,” Fu Xingran earnestly shook his head.

Su Lixu: “…”

“No worries, I’ll learn.” At that moment, a lime silver Mercedes slowly pulled up. He Shi, leaning with one hand on the car window, watched the two of them, saying, “Hi, good morning.”

Fu Xingran was considering teasing Su Lixu further when his expression suddenly changed upon seeing He Shi’s arrival. “Professor He? What are you doing here?”

Wasn’t today his date with Su Lixu?

He Shi got out of the car, looking innocent. “Your Dr. Su invited me. I didn’t know you had plans for a date today.” He smiled at Su Lixu.

Su Lixu: “…”

Don’t play like this; Fu Xingran will explode.

Just as he thought that, he felt his coat pocket being tugged. He lowered his head to meet Fu Xingran’s gaze, full of grievances, as if he had suffered great injustice but didn’t dare to be harsh on himself.

“Brother, it’s not like that, right?” Fu Xingran reached into Su Lixu’s down jacket pocket, exerting a bit of force and pulling him into his arms, “Why invite Professor He when you invited me?”

As the words fell, there was a sudden press on the top of his head, and he looked at Su Lixu in surprise.

Caught off guard, Su Lixu was pulled closer by Fu Xingran. Instinctively, he pressed down on Fu Xingran’s head, only to see Fu Xingran’s more aggrieved expression, lips slightly downturned.

Seeing Su Lixu pressing his head and still smiling, Fu Xingran suddenly felt a bit gloomy. What was this supposed to mean?

“No other meaning, just wanted my good friend to meet you.” Su Lixu pinched the side of Fu Xingran’s ear, rubbed it, then looked at He Shi, “Neither of us knows how to ski, so He Shi, you have to teach us.”

The moment Fu Xingran felt his ear being pinched, his lower back softened. He lowered his head toward Su Lixu’s waist, hoping for more rubbing. The smile on his lips couldn’t be restrained upon hearing Su Lixu’s words.

—Just wanted my good friend to meet you.

So, that’s what he meant by that, right?

He Shi couldn’t bear to look when he saw the guy in front of Su Lixu wanting to be pinched and rubbed, finding it difficult to face directly.

Even as a bystander, he felt like the atmosphere of love was about to overflow. It could only be said that his old classmate was overly cautious, indirectly indicating that Su Lixu was taking things seriously.

The ski resort was crowded on weekends, and beginners typically practiced on the lower slopes before moving on to more challenging ones.

They found a relatively empty spot to practice.

Su Lixu considered himself reasonably athletic. With He Shi’s guidance, he could stand and slide without much trouble, although braking was still a bit of a challenge.

But that wasn’t a significant issue, given that he had just started learning.

He Shi, on the other hand, needed no words. As a skiing enthusiast, a few simple demonstrations left the girls passing by them in awe.

As for Fu Xingran, he seriously doubted it was unintentional. This guy, with his well-defined muscles, couldn’t possibly have such poor motor skills.

Just as Su Lixu wobbled down, trying to brake with a shaky snowplow, he heard Fu Xingran’s cries from behind.

“…Brother, brother, quickly move aside, I’m going to fall!”

Su Lixu had just stabilized and turned around when he was tackled by Fu Xingran. The board beneath his feet took a hit, and he fell backward.

The cold snow splashed on his face, making him shiver a few times, but the back of his head was protected by a hand.

Fu Xingran knelt in Su Lixu’s moon retreat, almost hugging him closely. One hand supported himself at Su Lixu’s side, while the other protected the back of his head.

The close proximity made the exhaled warmth melt the snow on their cheeks.

He gazed into Fu Xingran’s eyes, where the abyssal black seemed pure, deep, and filled with focused yet concerned radiance.In those eyes, there was only him.

Heartbeat accelerated.

“Brother, are you okay?” Fu Xingran apologized and expressed concern, wiping the snow off Su Lixu’s cheek. “Ah, it’s all my fault for being clumsy. How can I never learn it, unlike you, brother, who learned it so quickly? Did I hurt you with the fall?”

Su Lixu looked at Fu Xingran in silence. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

“No way, how could I intentionally knock you down?” Fu Xingran struggled to get up, then offered a hand to Su Lixu. “Get up.”

Su Lixu eyed him skeptically but eventually reached out for support.

Just as he gained some footing, Fu Xingran, not fully stable, stumbled backward. Su Lixu was innocently pulled along, falling onto Fu Xingran’s chest, and their lips accidentally brushed past each other’s chin.

Fu Xingran held Su Lixu firmly, feeling the inadvertent kiss on his chin and suppressing the stolen joy in his heart. “I’m really clumsy. I managed to fall like this. Brother, you’re not hurt, are you?”

Su Lixu caught the subtle downturn of Fu Xingran’s lips and immediately understood. He scooped up the snow beside him and directly threw it at Fu Xingran’s chest. “You did it on purpose,” he said, propping himself up and slowly standing.

Fu Xingran took a direct hit from the snow on his chest, and though his cheek got sprinkled with snow, he casually wiped it off. Then, he looked up at Su Lixu and said, “If I did it on purpose, how could you see through me? Professor He looks so cool skiing; you should be watching him.”

“He skis well. It’s normal to watch him a couple of times.” Su Lixu nudged forward with his ski poles, and in his peripheral vision, he saw He Shi sliding down towards them, executing a very handsome brake, creating a spray of snow as the board met the ground. He stopped not far from them, displaying an admiring look. “He skis really well.”

Fu Xingran’s expression darkened, feeling quite uncomfortable.

It was a miscalculation. He thought Su Lixu could ski, thinking that claiming not to know would prompt Su Lixu to teach him personally. Unexpectedly, Su Lixu revealed he couldn’t ski. He had unintentionally given this opportunity to He Shi!

“You two are really…” He Shi slid over to them, amused by Fu Xingran sitting on the snowy ground, looking like he was about to devour someone. “Fu, your learning ability needs improvement. Professor Su has already mastered it, and you’re still falling.”

He extended his hand towards Fu Xingran.Fu Xingran stared at He Shi’s outstretched hand, restraining the internal frustration. He looked at Su Lixu, eyes carrying a plea. “Brother, it seems like I hurt my butt; I can’t stand up properly. Can you help me up?”

Anxiety and unease entwined his emotions, as if wrapping his mood tightly, closing off the airflow in his chest, desperately needing release.

Even though Su Lixu emphasized that He Shi was just a classmate, a friend, a brother, he couldn’t help but think, “What if?” What if He Shi understood Su Lixu better, knew more about his preferences, and what if he took him away?

He feared that “what if.”

He Shi nonchalantly withdrew his hand, smiling as he looked at Su Lixu beside him. “Professor Su, our student is quite unique, isn’t he?”

“Our student?”

The term “our student” stabbed sharply at Fu Xingran’s heart.

Perhaps stability in emotions for too long, when Su Lixu was around, he felt comfortable. It had been a while since anything stirred his emotions, yet the presence of He Shi alone could make his emotions fluctuate. Although Su Lixu had emphasized their relationship, it still instilled a fear of losing him in Fu Xingran.

Uncontrollable, unable to be restrained.

Sensing that something was amiss with Fu Xingran’s expression, Su Lixu glanced at He Shi, asking if they should continue.

He Shi smiled and shook his head, indicating that it was okay to stop.

“Come on, let me see where you fell.” Su Lixu reached out a hand towards Fu Xingran.

Fu Xingran didn’t take Su Lixu’s hand. Instead, he stood up using his ski poles. Finally, he glanced at Su Lixu and said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Having said that, he turned and slid down the slope, the pink figure fading away in the low pressure.

He Shi’s gaze focused on Fu Xingran’s stable descent, completely different from the novice moments ago. He squinted, smiling, “Quite tsundere, really distinctive.”

“He’s probably going to cry.” Su Lixu watched Fu Xingran’s departing figure, chuckling helplessly.

This guy had been emotionally stable for a long time without shedding tears.

“He’s not that bad because he knows that you care for him. He knows that even if he gets upset or uncomfortable, you’ll comfort him. His current behavior is clearly due to my presence. He still perceives it as a threat, hence his insecurity and jealousy,” He Shi observed Su Lixu, then turned to him. “You should be well aware of his current state, which is vastly different from the past. Now, it’s considered good, not bad.”

Su Lixu naturally knew that Fu Xingran had improved a lot compared to the past.

“And you care about him, more than usual. More accurately, you really care for him,” He Shi stated.

Su Lixu seemed as if his innermost thoughts were exposed but couldn’t deny it, “Is it that obvious?”

“Very obvious.” He Shi recalled their interactions in the parking lot at the foot of the skiing slope earlier in the morning. “You’ve grown accustomed to his proximity, accustomed to his affection. You’ve grown used to him.”

“Lixu, you just like him.”