Chapter 24: A Light Brush

Not many students knew how to fish, so only a few people accompanied them.

The lakeside was spacious and quiet, with lush green trees growing densely on both sides. Their branches and leaves intertwined overhead, and occasionally, shards of sunlight would filter through the gaps in the foliage, falling onto the emerald-like, clean, and deep lake surface, casting shimmering ripples as the water gently flowed.

You Chong found a spot with a gentle slope by the shore, set up his folding chair, and sat down. He then prepared his fishing rod by baiting the hook. Zhou Xuan, wanting to compete with him, chose a spot several meters away to sit.

After placing the fishing net by You Chong’s feet, Lin Hexi squatted down where he was, biting on a long, slender green leaf he had plucked from the roadside. He pulled the ends of the leaf taut, and his cheeks puffing slightly as he blew air through his lips.

A short, melodious yet tuneless sound suddenly filled the air.

You Chong, holding his fishing rod that dangled into the lake, turned his face toward Lin Hexi.

Lin Hexi, in high spirits, lifted the corners of his lips. “How was it? Sounded good, right?”

You Chong looked away, his expression completely unruffled as he said, “If you scare away the fish in the lake, you won’t be eating anything tonight.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Hexi chuckled again. “But if you catch a lot of fish, shouldn’t I get the credit?”

You Chong responded with a faint mockery, “It’s not even dark yet, and you’re already daydreaming.”

Finding him somewhat boring, Lin Hexi didn’t say anything further. He raised his hand to rest against the side of his face, and he looked out at the mirror-like surface of the lake with a relaxed gaze.

Soon enough, the first fish bit the hook.

As the ripples gradually spread across the lake from the center of the fishing line, You Chong subtly adjusted his grip on the rod. Timing it just right, he pulled the line from the water, lifting a lively fish that flicked in a slight arc. In the dry air, crystal-clear droplets scattered, and the golden sunlight pierced through them, refracting a faint, dazzling glow in the view.

Even though it was a fleeting moment of beauty, Lin Hexi continued to rest his face on his hand, watching with keen interest.

You Chong remained seated in his chair, unmoving. He turned his head, intending to ask Lin Hexi to use the net to catch the fish. But when he caught a glimpse of Lin Hexi’s long, thick eyelashes lifting slightly, and his bright, focused gaze fixed ahead, he subconsciously hesitated. In that brief second, he almost forgot what he was about to say.

Fortunately, Lin Hexi quickly snapped out of it and seemed to realize something. He picked up the net that had been lying by You Chong’s feet and took two steps down the slope, removed the fish and placed it into the net. After helping You Chong catch and store four or five fish, Lin Hexi’s interest in watching the fishing began to wane.

Squatting for an extended period made his legs numb, so Lin Hexi squinted slightly and yawned before standing up and walking off to the side. By then, more people had gathered by the lakeside than when they first arrived. Lin Hexi slowly strolled along the edge of the lake, and after walking several dozen meters, he passed by an unattended easel set up by the water.

The easel held a clean, blank sheet of paper, with brushes and a palette placed nearby. In front of the easel was even a folding chair, but the artist was nowhere to be seen. Lin Hexi unconsciously paused and stood beside the easel, lifting his gaze to look around, and then his eyes settled.

From his position and angle, he could clearly and completely see You Chong sitting by the lake. After waiting for a moment and noticing that the easel’s owner still hadn’t returned, he couldn’t resist sitting down in the chair in front of the easel.

He picked up a well-sharpened pencil from the palette, and glanced up toward where You Chong was sitting, with a faint smile slowly emerging in his eyes.

It was already an hour later when he returned to find You Chong.

You Chong was still sitting in the same spot, with nearly ten more fish added to the net by the lakeside. After catching a glimpse of Lin Hexi approaching from the corner of his eye, You Chong turned his face towards him, and he remarked with an indifferent expression, “Weren’t you supposed to be helping?”

Lin Hexi stopped beside him, casually smiling as he asked, “I only said I’d help carry things, not that I’d stay and watch you fish. Did you need something from me?”

You Chong stood up, holding the fishing rod. “Watch this for me for two minutes, I’m going over to Zhou Xuan.”

Lin Hexi was momentarily taken aback. “But I don’t know how to fish.”

You Chong replied, “If a fish bites, you don’t need to do anything. Just sit there.”

Only then did Lin Hexi take the fishing rod from him and sit down in the chair to take his place.

You Chong walked past him towards Zhou Xuan, who was a dozen meters away. Lin Hexi sat in the chair, bored, resting his chin on one hand as he turned to watch You Chong’s figure grow more distant.

After standing by Zhou Xuan for a moment, You Chong turned to head back, but his path was blocked by a girl with a delicate, unfamiliar face.

From the distance, Lin Hexi could only vaguely make out the girl’s profile and the familiar white piece of paper she handed over.

Just five minutes earlier, his hand had touched that very paper. It didn’t take much thought to understand what was happening. He tilted his head, narrowing his beautiful eyes as he watched You Chong’s distant figure.

He couldn’t hear what was being said, nor could he see You Chong’s expression. All he saw was You Chong taking the paper from the girl and looking down at the drawing.

Feeling a slight sense of displeasure, Lin Hexi thought it was unfair that while he was stuck doing something as boring as this, You Chong was leisurely standing by the lake, chatting with someone who was offering him a gift.

Lin Hexi stood up from the chair and raised his voice, shouting toward where You Chong was standing, without any sign of guilt, “There’s a fish on the line!”

After speaking, he even lightly shook his wrist holding the fishing rod, creating the illusion of ripples on the lake’s surface.

As expected, You Chong turned his head in response, looking over with a slightly furrowed brow when he saw the subtle disturbance on the water. Despite his suspicion, he handed the drawing back to the girl beside him and quickly started walking toward Lin Hexi.

The nervous girl, caught off guard, failed to catch the drawing in time. It slipped from You Chong’s fingers, falling onto the dirt-covered ground, just about to become something trampled underfoot.

Feeling a sudden pang of regret, Lin Hexi couldn’t help but loudly remind You Chong, “The drawing fell!”

In a hurry, You Chong bent down to pick up the drawing, then quickly walked toward Lin Hexi, still holding it.

Lin Hexi stood in place, quietly letting out a breath of relief. He already had an excuse ready in his mind for why the fish might have escaped, but suddenly, the fishing rod in his hand jerked unexpectedly.

His expression faltered slightly, thinking it might just be his imagination. Confused, he looked toward the spot where the fishing line entered the water.

As if to confirm his suspicions, the rod shook even more violently. For once, a rare look of uncertainty appeared on his face, and he froze in place, his eyes seeking help as he locked gazes with the approaching You Chong.

It was the first time You Chong had seen him like this, and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow with a hint of amusement as he reached out to take the fishing rod from Lin Hexi.

However, Lin Hexi’s gaze drifted over to the drawing in You Chong’s hand. Although the act of the easel’s owner passing off the drawing to someone else had annoyed him, he couldn’t deny that using someone else’s things without permission was wrong, so he felt somewhat guilty.

In that brief moment of distraction, the fishing rod in his hand suddenly dipped sharply again. Caught off guard, Lin Hexi lost his grip and, following the momentum, he was pulled down the slope by the rod.

You Chong quickly reached out and grabbed Lin Hexi’s wrist, pulling him back forcefully.

Lin Hexi’s body suddenly leaned backward, and his back collided into You Chong’s chest. Through the thin fabric of his T-shirt, his shoulder blades pressed firmly against You Chong’s solid torso.

Even someone as usually carefree and sharp-tongued as Lin Hexi was momentarily stunned, instinctively holding his breath for a second.

You Chong didn’t immediately step back. Instead, he maintained his hold from behind, slipping the drawing into Lin Hexi’s hand while simultaneously taking the fishing rod and pulling it upward with both arms.

As he felt the slight tension in You Chong’s chest behind him, Lin Hexi snapped back to his senses, and gradually calmed down. He turned his head slightly, casting a glance at You Chong’s profile, which was now very close.

You Chong’s sharp jawline was slightly tense, his lips pressed into a hard, cold line, and his deep, dark eyes focused sharply on the task ahead.

Of course, this momentary posture didn’t last long.

In the next second, the fishing rod suddenly went slack—the fish had slipped off the hook and swam back into the lake. You Chong barely frowned, then, as if finally realizing something, he unconsciously turned his face.

He clearly hadn’t anticipated that the person in his arms had also turned to observe him. Their faces suddenly met head-on, and his lips unavoidably brushed lightly against Lin Hexi’s cheek.

You Chong’s expression froze instantly.

Slowly pulling away from his embrace and putting some distance between them, Lin Hexi lifted a finger to gently wipe his cheek, blinking innocently. “This time, you can’t blame me.”

And with a furrowed brow, he sighed softly, “I’m the victim here.”