Despite his timidity, Yu Zao had an extraordinary talent for doing bad things. While feeling scared, his mind worked quickly, thinking of ways to handle the situation. When 0926 reminded him that Jiang Cai might be coming, he acted immediately and tugged at Yuan Jin’s sleeve.

“I’m a little scared,” Yu Zao said, looking up with a pitiful expression. “I want to go to the bathroom first.”

Yuan Jin comforted him, “Then let’s not watch the movie. Let’s go shopping instead. You won’t be scared shopping, right?”

It had to be said, Yuan Jin was very accommodating.

In the dim light, Yu Zao’s eyes sparkled like stars. Hearing the mention of shopping, he momentarily forgot the issue at hand. His long, curled lashes fluttered as he leaned in with excitement. “Really?”

Yuan Jin, wanting to touch Yu Zao’s hair again, restrained himself. Instead, he curled his fingers and lightly brushed Yu Zao’s hair tips with his knuckles. “Of course, it’s real.”

Then he asked softly, “You didn’t contact Jiang Cai, did you?”

Yu Zao replied honestly, “I did.”

“How honest.”

Yuan Jin was pleasantly surprised that Yu Zao didn’t lie or try to deceive him. Feeling warm inside, he asked, “What did he say to you?”

Yu Zao selectively shared, “He sent me some money.”

“How much?” Yuan Jin pressed.

Yu Zao remained silent.

Damn, must have been a lot. Could it be more than what I gave him? Yuan Jin’s competitive side kicked in. “Later, we’ll go to a different mall with more luxury brands. I’ll take you shopping there, how about that?”

“Okay!” Yu Zao suppressed his excitement, his voice soft. “But can you stay here a bit longer?”

“Huh?” Yuan Jin was puzzled.

“You’ve already bought the movie tickets. If you watch a bit more, at least it’s not a total waste. Otherwise, we’ll both leave without seeing anything, and that’ll be a waste of money,” Yu Zao reasoned. “After I finish in the bathroom, I’ll message you, and then we can leave together.”

Yuan Jin chuckled at Yu Zao’s logic. “Alright, whatever you say. You go ahead. I’ll stay and watch a bit more, and later I’ll tell you what happens in the movie.”

Yu Zao’s word was law. Yuan Jin, though slightly confused, followed his lead without questioning.

Yu Zao figured that if they left together, Jiang Cai would definitely follow them outside. But if only one of them left, Jiang Cai might hesitate and stay behind to observe. Still, he wasn’t entirely sure. His mind was a chaotic mess as he grabbed his phone and headed to the restroom, ready to escape at any moment.

Just then, Yu Zao noticed another message from Quan Lushen.

Quan Lushen: [Where’s the photo of you in the skirt?]

Inside the restroom stall, Yu Zao’s face turned red.

He didn’t have a skirt! Why did Quan Lushen, who had been so cold and distant, suddenly become so persistent the moment he mentioned a skirt?

Maybe he could find a picture online? But what if Quan Lushen found out? Or should he Photoshop something? But he wasn’t good at that either.

Yu Zao was torn.

With one ticking time bomb in the cinema and another on his phone, he grew increasingly frustrated and irritated. Finally, he grabbed his phone and sent an angry voice message to Chi Xingge, immediately feeling better.

Chi Xingge had been waiting all day for a reply from Yu Zao. When he finally received one, it was a barrage of insults. Completely bewildered, Chi Xingge called him.

“Who pissed you off? And why are you taking it out on me?”

Yu Zao responded bluntly, “Because I feel like it.”

Chi Xingge could hear music in the background and suspiciously asked, “Where are you?”

He narrowed his eyes, his tone a bit dangerous. “Are you up to something behind my back, Yu Zao? Where are you?”

Chi Xingge didn’t even realize his tone sounded like a jealous husband suspecting his wife of cheating.

Feeling guilty, Yu Zao boldly lied, “Of course, I’m at the library.”

“The library? With music playing?” Chi Xingge was about to question him further when Yu Zao quickly retorted, “What’s that weird noise I hear on your end? Are you at the bar again, surrounded by hostesses? And you dare ask where I am? I’m at the library, studying hard with a clear conscience. What about you? You’re out partying!”

“I’m at home, taking a bath! I’m not out messing around!”

“Swear it!”

“Fine, I swear!”

“I don’t believe you! You’re lying to me again!”

Since they were on the phone and Chi Xingge couldn’t come over to hit him, Yu Zao vented all his frustrations on him. It wasn’t the first time, and when it came to tormenting Chi Xingge, Yu Zao was an expert.

Chi Xingge, whose temper was already short, found himself on the receiving end of Yu Zao’s precise verbal jabs, leaving him fuming.

He genuinely had thoughts of tying Yu Zao up and teaching him a lesson, but as he continued listening, Yu Zao’s voice softened, sounding as if he were about to cry. Even though Yu Zao was clearly the one being unreasonable, he somehow made it seem like he was the one being wronged.

What frustrated Chi Xingge the most was Yu Zao’s wild accusations. How did he get such a bad image of him? Just because he once went to a club with his father to resolve a conflict with Quan Lushen? And now Yu Zao was accusing him of being surrounded by hostesses?

And why was Yu Zao the one yelling at him, when it was Yu Zao who once dressed provocatively, wearing those tight student clothes, with shorts so short he could almost see his underwear?

Chi Xingge bit his lip, barely containing his anger. “I’m taking a bath at home!”

“I don’t believe you!”

Chi Xingge hung up the phone.

Yu Zao, about to throw a fit for being hung up on, was suddenly interrupted by a video call. He answered it, ready to yell, but froze in shock.

He really was in the bath…

In the image, Chi Xingge sits in a bathtub, revealing part of his damp chest. His broad shoulders, solid and muscular, along with his tall frame, are slightly hunched as he looks down at the camera. His deep-set eyes, high nose, and tightly pressed thin lips give his features a strikingly sharp definition.

Chi Xingge doesn’t use much bath gel, and there’s no foam on the surface of the water. Beneath the gentle ripples, Yu Zao can clearly see his well-defined V-line and the faint silhouette of something submerged beneath the water.

Yu Zao was furious and embarrassed, about to start cursing when Chi Xingge leaned in closer to look. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the library? What’s that behind you?”

“The bathroom at Beijing University Library is this nice?”

Yu Zao jolted.

Oh no, he had forgotten to cover his phone’s camera.

When it’s just a phone call, it’s fine, but the moment it turns into a video call, Yu Zao can’t control his expressions. His guilty look resembled that of a cheating wife caught in the act, avoiding eye contact.

“I’m warning you, you better not be out sneaking around with someone behind my back.”

By the end, Chi Xingge was gritting his teeth.

Yu Zao didn’t even know why he was feeling guilty. Yes, he was secretly making some side money behind Chi Xingge’s back, but so what?

That doesn’t mean Chi Xingge can just scold him like that!

“All you do is yell at me! Why don’t you think about your own problems? If you were good to me, would I be out looking for someone else? It’s all because you don’t treat me well! Don’t blame others for treating me better than you do!”

Chi Xingge fell silent for a moment.

Strangely enough, he thought Yu Zao made a lot of sense.

Chi Xingge moved closer to the screen, and Yu Zao saw something he shouldn’t have, causing his face to turn red. “Are you crazy?! Taking a bath and video calling? You pervert, exhibitionist!”

With that, he hung up the call.

Chi Xingge stared at the phone, his mind replaying the sight of Yu Zao’s flushed face, brimming with arrogance. And that last moment…

Damn. Somehow, getting cursed at actually felt good.

After dealing with Chi Xingge, Yu Zao was still uneasy. He’d been out for too long, and Yuan Jin had already been asking about him.

Jiang Cai was also wondering what he was up to.

Yu Zao sent a picture of the library that he had gotten from Chu Xi.

Jiang Cai: [I saw someone at the cinema who looks just like you.]

Yu Zao: [Huh? What do you mean?]

Jiang Cai: [Typing…]

Yu Zao: [Oh, I get it. You think everyone looks like me, huh? So what you’re really saying is I have a common face, right? Fine, I get it. I’m just another ordinary face in the crowd, easily replaceable. Why don’t you go watch the movie with that person, since they look like me? I’m so average anyone could take my place!]

For the first time, Yu Zao’s fingers moved at lightning speed.

Jiang Cai, as expected, panicked and tried to appease him, sending a flood of messages: [No, of course not. That’s not what I meant.]

Jiang Cai: [Maybe I just miss you too much.]

Jiang Cai: [Besides, how could you have a common face? You’re so beautiful. No one in the world is more beautiful than you.]

Jiang Cai: [Zao Zao, you’re truly stunning. That’s not what I meant at all…]

Jiang Cai: [I’ll buy you a gift to make up for it, okay? [Transfer: 50,000.00]]

Jiang Cai: [Tell me what you want, and I’ll buy it for you. Please don’t be mad. Zao Zao, I’ve hit my transfer limit for now. Can you send me your bank details?]

Yu Zao almost sent his account number.

But he held back—after all, Jiang Cai was still at the cinema. It was enough to calm things down for now; there was no need to get carried away.

Yu Zao: “Is Jiang Cai still in the cinema?”

0926: [He’s getting up and looks anxious, constantly calling and messaging you.]

Perfect!

Yu Zao replied to Yuan Jin with a casual excuse, saying he had gone to borrow a power bank.

As the timing seemed right, he opened the stall door, only to hear familiar voices outside. It sounded like Jiang Cai was passing by the restroom, talking with friends.

He immediately switched from opening the door to closing it. Just as he was about to pull his hand back, a large hand wedged itself in the door crack, preventing him from shutting it.

Yu Zao froze for a moment.

It was in that brief moment of distraction that the person forced their way in. Before he could see who it was, a hand covered most of his face.

His bangs fell over his forehead as his whole body tensed up. His small face was nearly hidden by the large hand, leaving only a pair of wide, panicked eyes visible.

“Mm?”

Yu Zao tried to pull the stranger’s hand away, but no matter how hard he struggled, it didn’t budge. Instead, his face turned red from the effort.

He watched helplessly as the person closed and locked the door.

Footsteps echoed outside. Yuan Jin, having waited too long for Yu Zao, had come looking for him: “Zao Zao?”

Yu Zao wanted to respond, but the hand over his face kept him from speaking.

His back was pressed against a broad chest, the tiny stall now feeling even more cramped.

His body trembled slightly, and his dark eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“Scared now, huh?”

The voice above him was calm and low.

“Why didn’t you wait for me before?”

“And why did you pretend not to know me just now?”

Yu Zao: ??

Dude, who the hell are you??

He tried to turn his head to get a better look at the man’s face: “Mmm…”

The footsteps stopped right outside the stall. Yuan Jin knocked gently on the door, asking, “Zao Zao, are you in there?”

Yu Zao struggled harder, turning his head slightly. Through the reflection in the wall’s hanging ornament, he saw his current appearance.

The slender figure of Yu Zao was held tightly in the embrace of a man wearing glasses with thin frames. His legs trembled slightly as he stood on tiptoes, his long, slender legs pale and smooth, contrasting starkly with the man’s perfectly pressed suit pants.

Most of his small face was hidden behind the man’s large hand, the contrast in their skin tones clear.

Through the reflection in the ornament, Yu Zao’s tearful and helpless gaze met the man’s indirectly.

“Stop moving.”

The man behind him leaned in, his tone calm but warning. His voice dropped to a whisper near Yu Zao’s ear: “You wouldn’t want him to see you like this, would you?”