Chapter 53: Hard to Turn a Straight Man

By the end of the two elective classes, the elective teacher released the details for the upcoming outdoor practical activity.

The theme for the second outdoor practical activity was a night hike up Chengnan Mountain, a relatively low mountain located near the university town, with the entire campus nestled at the mountain’s base.

Although Chengnan Mountain is a nationally renowned scenic area, it has been open to all visitors for free throughout the year. There is a tall tower at the summit, and climbing to the top provides a panoramic view of the city’s beautiful nightscape, making it a popular spot for night hikes.

The activity was scheduled for this Saturday evening, and the elective class for the following week would be canceled to give everyone a break.

Even though many students had been to Chengnan Mountain numerous times, they were still quite excited about such a group activity.

Someone raised a hand and asked, “Can we bring friends along?”

The elective teacher thought for a couple of seconds before finally agreeing, “You can, but don’t bring too many people. Since I’m taking you all out, I need to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The night hike would be timed to return to campus before the dormitory buildings closed, so there wasn’t much the students needed to prepare, which saved them from having to meet up in advance to rent outdoor gear off-campus.

After class, You Chong and the other three from the dormitory left first, possibly for some other activity. Lin Hexi squeezed through the crowd in the stairwell and walked out of the academic building on his own.

He then ran into Fang Qingning, who had also just finished class, by the roadside.

Fang Qingning called out his name loudly over the moving crowd, turned around to have her friends take her books and leave first, then struggled through the dense crowd to reach him. “Do third-year students have to attend classes in the evening too?”

Lin Hexi smiled and said, “If you haven’t earned enough elective credits, even fourth-year students have to attend classes.”

Fang Qingning nodded in understanding. “We haven’t started our elective courses yet.”

Lin Hexi led her to a less crowded spot. “Did you come to class alone?”

Fang Qingning replied, “I asked my roommates to go back first.”

Lin Hexi thought for a moment and then asked her, “Do you want to get some milk tea?”

Fang Qingning’s eyes lit up, and she responded quickly, “I’d love to.”

Amused by her reaction, Lin Hexi lazily curled his lips, “How about I treat you to some milk tea?”

Fang Qingning smiled as well. “Sure!”

The two didn’t leave the campus; instead, they headed straight to the back street within the school.

The back street was located behind the dormitory area, just past the small basketball court within the dormitories.

By this time, all the students had finished their classes, and the small back street was bustling and noisy. Groups of young university students walked together through the street, and the popular snack shops were packed with people.

Since there were no available seats at the milk tea shop, Fang Qingning took him to her usual dessert shop. After sitting down, they ordered two bowls of mango sticky rice ice dessert.

Fang Qingning asked him if there were any interesting courses in the elective system.

Among the courses Lin Hexi had chosen, there weren’t many he could recommend to her, so he briefly described the class from that evening.

Fang Qingning listened eagerly, taking out her phone to open the notes app. “I’ll write it down now and choose it later.”

Lin Hexi quietly watched her type on her phone, and his thoughts drifted to the guy he saw in the art supply store last week.

At that time, Lin Hexi had pretended to be Fang Qingning’s boyfriend, and from the guy’s expression, it didn’t seem like he was entirely indifferent to Fang Qingning.

He asked, “That guy from last time, the one who rejected you?”

Fang Qingning was taken aback and hesitantly replied, “He seems to know that friend of yours.”

Lin Hexi was also a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected the circles at school to be so small. “It’s not surprising if they know each other. He doesn’t seem to come from a poor family.”

Unlike Lin Hexi, Fang Qingning was more interested in his friend who knew Xia Chengfeng. “Is your friend named You Chong?”

Lin Hexi raised his eyebrow slightly. “You know him?”

Fang Qingning looked a bit embarrassed. “Our dorm often talks about the good-looking guys at school after lights-out.”

Lin Hexi’s expression showed understanding.

Fang Qingning hesitated again, “You and him are… what kind of relationship?”

Lin Hexi, with a lazy expression, glanced up, “Can’t you tell what kind of relationship we have?”

Carefully considering her words, Fang Qingning thought for a moment and asked, “Are you two in that kind of relationship?”

“What kind of relationship?” Lin Hexi looked intrigued. “Can’t you see that we’re just friends?”

“Friends?” Fang Qingning tried hard not to look too surprised and quickly corrected herself, “I was also thinking if you two were just friends.”

At that moment, the server came over to deliver their desserts, interrupting their conversation. Lin Hexi picked up his spoon and started scooping up the mango from his bowl to eat.

Fang Qingning glanced at him several times discreetly before finally giving in to her curiosity, “Do you like girls or boys?”

After swallowing the cold, sweet mango in his mouth, Lin Hexi looked up with a hint of amusement. “So, girls really can’t resist gossip, regardless of their personality?”

Fang Qingning’s face flushed slightly, and she decided not to probe further.

Noticing the change in her expression, Lin Hexi took the initiative to answer, “I don’t plan on getting a girlfriend now, and I won’t in the future either.”

Fang Qingning had an epiphany, “So, will you find a boyfriend then?”

“That’s hard to say,” Lin Hexi replied with a lazy smile.

Avoiding the more sensitive topic of “someone you like,” Fang Qingning asked quietly, “Do you have a type you like?”

The hand holding the spoon paused, and Lin Hexi furrowed his brow in thought.

Noticing his contemplative look, Fang Qingning murmured, “You don’t have one?”

Lin Hexi replied frankly, “Someone like You Chong, I guess.”

Upon hearing this answer, Fang Qingning wasn’t surprised at all. “Have you thought about considering You Chong? There are quite a few people in our major who want to pursue him.”

Lin Hexi looked puzzled at her words. “You think I should consider him?”

Recalling the day at the art supply store, where You Chong had been furious upon hearing that Lin Hexi was her boyfriend, Fang Qingning returned the puzzled look. “Isn’t that what you should do?”

As if he had heard something incredibly amusing, Lin Hexi burst into laughter. “He’s straight.”

Fang Qingning didn’t quite understand. “Can’t a straight guy be turned?”

Lin Hexi said, “The odds of turning a straight guy are like a pie falling from the sky.”

Fang Qingning replied, “What if it happens?”

Perhaps it was the unwavering look in her eyes, but Lin Hexi found himself genuinely taken aback for a moment.

After coming back to his senses, Lin Hexi shook his head and waved his hand dismissively. “Impossible.” It was as if he was telling Fang Qingning, yet also reminding himself, as he casually curled his lips, “Trying to turn a straight guy is simply impossible.”

Fang Qingning wisely kept quiet, not saying anything further, but in her mind, she kept replaying that brief moment when Lin Hexi had been stunned.

Lin Hexi’s distracted expression reminded her of the way You Chong had looked at Lin Hexi in the art supply store that day.

Is it really impossible? Fang Qingning bit her spoon, sinking into a prolonged silence.

Unaware that she was lost in thought, Lin Hexi tasted the black sticky rice from the dessert and finally commented, “This is pretty good.”

Abruptly pulled back to reality by his voice, Fang Qingning nodded in agreement. “I’ve had it many times before.”

She was about to say something when she noticed that Lin Hexi had already picked up his phone and started dialing.

Sitting across from him, Fang Qingning had no idea who he was calling; all she could see was Lin Hexi repeatedly tapping his fingertips on the table while waiting for the call to connect.

After about two or three seconds, the call was finally answered.

Lin Hexi’s tapping abruptly stopped, and a bright smile immediately spread across his face.

Fang Qingning heard him ask the person on the other end, “Want me to treat you to some dessert?”

The person on the other end probably said they were busy, and Lin Hexi quickly responded, “I can bring it back for you.”

The person on the other end said something, and Lin Hexi replied, “I’m on the back street next to the dormitory basketball court.”

Fang Qingning averted her gaze, no longer paying attention to the content of the call.

Lin Hexi exchanged a few more words with the person before hanging up with a bright smile.

He got up and went to the counter to order a third dessert.

Fang Qingning took the opportunity to ask, “Are you getting that for your friend?”

Lin Hexi replied, “He’s coming over to get it himself.”

Fang Qingning nodded and then changed the subject.

The two of them sat in the shop for a while longer, and eventually, the glass door of the dessert shop was pulled open from the outside, and someone walked in to the sound of the door’s crisp chime.

Sitting directly facing the door, Fang Qingning looked up at the sound and froze.

The person who walked in was You Chong.

Across from her, Lin Hexi had already stood up from the table and turned to walk toward him.

Without even blinking, Fang Qingning watched as Lin Hexi took the packaged dessert from the shop attendant and handed it to You Chong.

Fang Qingning slowly blinked, confirming that the person standing in front of Lin Hexi was indeed You Chong.

She hadn’t expected that the question in her heart would be answered so quickly.

It wasn’t impossible after all, Fang Qingning thought with conviction as she watched the two of them standing by the door.

After hanging up the phone and confirming the dessert shop’s location from his friends, You Chong had come straight over to find him.

Not having anticipated that the person eating dessert with Lin Hexi would be Fang Qingning, You Chong felt a slight twinge of displeasure, even though he knew they were just friends.

He took the dessert and asked Lin Hexi, “Are you going back?”

Lin Hexi asked in surprise, “Now?”

You Chong’s displeasure grew, his tone inscrutable. “You still don’t want to go back?”

Lin Hexi looked at him oddly. “Weren’t you the one who said you were having a late-night snack with friends?”

After a slight pause, You Chong lied without changing his expression, “I’ve already finished.”

Lin Hexi nodded, then as if remembering something, he turned back to look at Fang Qingning, who was still seated inside the shop. “I need to walk her back first.”

You Chong furrowed his brows in irritation.

After setting the dessert he was holding down on the edge of the table, he turned and walked out of the shop.

Mistaking You Chong’s actions for anger, Lin Hexi forgot to take the dessert and quickly followed him out.

After taking a couple of steps, he remembered Fang Qingning’s presence and gradually slowed down.

Fortunately, You Chong didn’t seem to be leaving in anger; he had just stepped outside to make a phone call.

After finishing the call, You Chong pulled the door open and returned to the shop, sitting down at an empty table. He looked at Lin Hexi and said, “We’ll leave in two minutes.”

Lin Hexi was puzzled, not quite understanding what was going on.

Two minutes later, Xia Chengfeng pushed open the glass door and walked in, bypassing You Chong, who was seated by the entrance. With a cold expression, he stopped in front of Fang Qingning. “What do you want from me?”

Fang Qingning looked up, completely bewildered. “I didn’t ask for you.”

At the same time, You Chong stood up from the table, glancing at Lin Hexi across from him with a slight curl of his lips. “Can we leave now?”