Font Size:
After Xu Xing confiscated the candy, he ignored Lu Che’s pouting and whining for attention.
Lu Che felt terribly wronged.
During the break in the next class, Xu Xing stood by the window, and that was when Lu Che reached over, circling Xu Xing with his arm. Caught by the gentle pull, Xu Xing half-sat on the desk behind him, his back pressed against Lu Che’s chest.
Lu Che buried his face in Xu Xing’s neck, nuzzling with a soft, slightly nasal voice, a perfect mix of pleading and warmth: “Class monitor, are you tired of me? Don’t ignore me, please?”
Xu Xing’s neck tickled from the warm brush of Lu Che’s nose, which replaced the soft press of his lips against Xu Xing’s skin.
Holding a thermos he hadn’t yet opened, Xu Xing reflected on his earlier reaction: Lu Che hadn’t done anything outrageous, so why was he annoyed? Lu Che was just being himself, teasing him, asking to unwrap candy or to be fed. It was simply Lu Che’s way of getting attention.
With newfound clarity, Xu Xing decided to go easier on him but kept a firm tone: “Let go, I’m going to get some warm water.”
Lu Che released him immediately, good-naturedly saying, “Alright, but let me hold you again when you get back.”
Just then, Fu Dai got up with his own thermos and took Xiong Huan’s with him.
Seeing this, Xu Xing’s unexplainable frustration flared up again, and he muttered, “Move. Don’t touch me.”
Xu Xing felt an irritation he couldn’t quite understand: the same red string tied them together, yet Fu Dai cared for Xiong Huan in every way, while all Lu Che did was stick close, asking for hugs and kisses without lifting a finger to help.
Tang Mian walked over to return an assignment to Xu Xing. Noticing Fu Dai filling Xiong Huan’s thermos, she grinned, “Wow, someone’s boyfriend is really setting the standard here! Wake up, Xu Xing, it’s time to get yourself a date!”
“…”
Xu Xing shot her an annoyed look, choosing not to respond.
When Tang Mian walked away, Lu Che said, “Hey, class monitor, I wish others could see it, too.”
Xu Xing, exasperated, asked, “See what?”
Lu Che wrapped an arm around Xu Xing’s shoulder, pulling him closer, and whispered, “I also want others to be envious, you know? After all, I’ve got an amazing boyfriend, too.”
Xu Xing: “…”
Lu Che’s voice was low and teasing, his breath warm like a breeze.
Xu Xing’s ears tingled, and his heart itched as he embarrassedly tried to push Lu Che away. Yet, the familiar “leave” he usually muttered was stuck in his throat.
Every day, he’d tell Lu Che to “leave” with a scowl, barely ever giving him a kind word, yet Lu Che still saw him as something to be proud of?
Xu Xing felt a strange pang of emotion.
He didn’t think he was amazing.
He’d just been comparing Lu Che to Fu Dai, thinking about how Lu Che could be more considerate. But Xiong Huan, though reserved, never gave Fu Dai a hard time.
Xu Xing sighed.
Lu Che’s arm remained around his shoulders, his chin resting on Xu Xing’s shoulder. Xu Xing turned his head, and in that close space, all he could see was Lu Che’s face.
Their eyes met, Xu Xing staring into Lu Che’s dark, luminous eyes that held a glint like polished glass.
Xu Xing’s gaze faltered, feeling burned by the brightness in Lu Che’s eyes.
Because.
Only when Lu Che looked at him did he see that light.
Xu Xing lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembling as he closed them slowly and leaned forward, drawing close to Lu Che—
Forehead to forehead, just a light touch.
Lu Che froze, not daring to breathe, his eyelashes fluttering gently.
The classroom buzzed with chatter and laughter, but Lu Che couldn’t hear any of it.
Xu Xing quickly pulled back, peeling Lu Che’s arm from his chest, and looked down, muttering, “I’m not…”
“You are.”
Three soft words, barely audible, but they sent waves crashing through Lu Che’s heart.
Xu Xing left with his thermos.
Lu Che stood there, hand over his chest in a daze. Xu Xing hadn’t denied him but had answered with actions.
– After all, I also have an amazing boyfriend~
– I’m not…
– You are.
Fu Dai returned from the water fountain and, seeing Lu Che standing there absentmindedly, asked, “What are you doing, Lu Che?”
Lu Che snapped out of it and turned to Fu Dai, suddenly saying seriously, “You wouldn’t understand. Just when you think you’re completely in love with someone, you find yourself falling even more, like you’re spellbound, in love with them beyond saving.”
Fu Dai: “…”
Fu Dai couldn’t help but wonder if he had been a bit too smug about his relationship talk the day before.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Che leaned against the window, pinching his flushed earlobe. His gaze followed Xu Xing, watching him fill his cup, chat briefly with someone, then turn to walk back, taking the front row aisle.
Xu Xing avoided Lu Che’s gaze entirely as he walked back and sat with his back to him.
Soon the bell rang, signaling the start of physics.
The teacher up front overturned a basin on the blackboard, drawing two circles along its edge.
Students were giggling, saying they’d record the teacher’s circle-drawing technique and upload it online to make her a viral “physics teacher influencer.”
Ke Di and Fu Dai joined the fun.
No one noticed the unusual tension between Lu Che and Xu Xing. Both had red ears. Xu Xing was staring at his book; Lu Che held his ears with his hands, coughing and looking out the window.
At lunch, Xu Xing, unable to stand Lu Che’s intense, gentle gaze across the table, finally snapped, “What are you staring at?! Don’t look at me! Just eat!” That broke the awkwardness.
Things returned to normal: Lu Che asking for hugs, Xu Xing pretending to be annoyed but not really resisting.
Except—
Now, whenever Lu Che hugged him, he’d persistently ask, “Class monitor, when can I kiss you?”
“…”
Xu Xing thought to himself, Haven’t you kissed me enough? Lu Che would do it regardless of his answer.
The question was too embarrassing, and Xu Xing would never be able to say, Just kiss me whenever you want.
So, he continued to reply firmly, “Leave.”
Lu Che didn’t press further, just chuckling, “Alright, I’ll ask again tomorrow.”
Xu Xing: “Shut up.”
It was lunch break.
Xu Xing sent Lu Che back to the dormitory and returned to the classroom with Wang Zicong. Wang Zicong went to the back board to copy the daily physics question, while Xu Xing stood alone in the hallway, staring blankly at the blue sky and white clouds. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice Tang Mian approach.
Tang Mian patted Xu Xing on the shoulder. Her short, shoulder-length hair was now long enough for a little ponytail, and she smiled, “What are you thinking about?”
Xu Xing shook his head.
He couldn’t think about anything clearly; his mind was a mess. The only two clear words in his head were: Lu Che and red string.
In the past, he only thought about breaking the red string, but now a new idea had crept into his mind: maybe… he shouldn’t break it?
This thought only lasted a second before Xu Xing forced it down.
Back in the classroom.
Wang Zicong borrowed Xu Xing’s phone to download an app, but the screen displayed a prompt for an ID password.
Wang Zicong handed the phone back to Xu Xing: “It needs the password!”
Xu Xing frowned. He could never remember his ID password.
Frustrated, Xu Xing opened a webpage to reset his password. Just then, Lu Che returned with a cup of milk tea, leaned over the desk, reached out, and pinched Xu Xing’s earlobe. “What are you doing?”
Wang Zicong answered, “Xu Xing forgot his ID password again.”
After resetting the password, Xu Xing handed the phone back to Wang Zicong, then heard Lu Che calling him.
“Class monitor~”
Xu Xing turned to see Lu Che bending down, closing the distance between them, and said, “How about I remember your ID password for you? Give me a reason to reach out to you.”
“…”
Lu Che gave him a playful wink.
The way he said it, it sounded as though Lu Che was the one benefiting.
Xu Xing didn’t respond, so Lu Che offered the milk tea in front of him. “Want some?”
The sweet scent hit Xu Xing immediately – it was the same overly sweet milk tea from before. He frowned slightly but, after a brief hesitation, leaned in and took a small sip through the straw. The sweetness exploded in his mouth, and his frown deepened.
Lu Che poked his brow in amusement, chewing on his own straw. A moment later, he received a long string of uppercase letters and numbers in a message from Xu Xing.
Watching Xu Xing’s retreating figure, Lu Che smirked and added a new contact note: Will Xu Xing wake up today? Almost there!
During the fourth period in the afternoon, Fu Dai raised his hand to answer a call outside, and Xu Xing didn’t notice. Later that evening, during self-study, the homeroom teacher came by and told Xu Xing, “Fu Dai is taking a personal leave. His mother called to inform us. Just take note of it, and he’ll submit a leave form when he returns.”
Xiong Huan looked up as well.
Xu Xing responded, “Got it.”
Turning around, he noticed that the two desks behind him were empty. Fu Dai was on leave, Ke Di and Zhou Mang had gone for special athletics training, leaving Lu Che alone.
Lu Che was flipping through his textbook, twirling a pen between his long fingers.
Catching sight of Xu Xing turning around, Lu Che looked up, and Xu Xing, holding a notebook and pen, turned fully to face him and set his notebook down. “Move over. I need some space.”
Lu Che, smiling, swept the clutter on his desk to Fu Dai’s side, clearing a spot for Xu Xing.
Xu Xing focused on the physics problem of the day and had just started writing the first sentence when Wang Zicong turned around and said, “Xu Xing, I still have the teacher’s notes. You can copy from those!” He handed the notebook to him.
Xu Xing paused: “…”
Wang Zicong had already put the teacher’s notes in front of him.
Lu Che flashed his teeth in a mock snarl, looking at Wang Zicong as if he wanted to take him outside for a serious talk.
Xu Xing took the teacher’s notes, spread them open on Lu Che’s desk, and continued copying the problem while sitting across from Lu Che.
Author’s Note: Let’s do a quick recap!
Xu Xing’s stages of wanting to break the red string:
Lhaozi[Translator]
To all my lock translations, 1 chapter will be unlocked every sunday. Weekly update for all my ongoing translations. Support me in Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/lhaozi_23 If you have concerned in all my translations, DM me in Discord: Lhaozi(I'm a member in Shanghai Fantasy discord)