CHAPTER 67

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The two boys’ words were sharp and laced with mockery.

Xu Xing pursed his lips tightly and suddenly stood up, blocking their path. “Please watch your words,” he said in a firm tone.

The two boys were caught off guard, each slightly shorter than Xu Xing and somewhat lacking in presence, though their confidence came from being two against one. After a brief stunned silence, one of them frowned and impatiently retorted, “And who do you think you are?”

Just then, Wang Zicong came over, holding a tray of utensils. He looked at Xu Xing in confusion, then glanced at the two strangers nearby, nervously withdrawing his gaze when he saw their unfriendly faces.

“Xing Xing…”

Wang Zicong hadn’t yet understood what was going on but was concerned for Xu Xing. The two boys, upon seeing Wang Zicong, pieced the situation together and exchanged a mocking glance. One of them sneered, while the other tugged his friend, turning away to leave, letting the matter drop.

Meanwhile, Lu Che was delayed because he had gone to rinse the utensils, and by the time he sat down opposite Xu Xing, he immediately sensed something was off. “What happened?” he asked, placing the utensils in front of Xu Xing.

“Just eat,” Xu Xing said, casually brushing off the incident.

Though Wang Zicong wanted to explain, he stayed quiet, sensing the tense atmosphere. Xu Xing let the cafeteria encounter slide, but later, Lu Che learned bits and pieces from Wang Zicong: “Xing Xing just had a little conflict with two guys, though I didn’t catch the details…”

Lu Che raised an eyebrow, a bit puzzled but not overly concerned. After all, he was practically glued to Xu Xing every day; whoever dared to mess with Xu Xing would face his wrath.

---

The following day during the lunch break, instead of napping, Lu Che followed Xu Xing and the others back to the classroom. He still wasn’t used to his new seat by the corridor, which had been moved three days ago. Now, he sat in the last row, with no desk behind him to lean on.

Lu Che lay on his desk, blinking at the sight of Xu Xing’s back in front of him. Xu Xing casually opened a class log and filled in a few fields, adding “None” in the special notes section. Tang Mian, who sat beside Xu Xing, was thrilled, having moved her chair close to share his desk. After a few minutes of pretending to be a diligent student, her usual chatty and snack-loving nature emerged.

She stretched out her hand to take some chips from Wang Zicong’s desk, munching away as she teased, “Wuli little Zong Zong~ have you given out your first kiss yet?”

Blushing, Wang Zicong shot back, “You’re so improper!”

“Improper?” Tang Mian laughed, crunching on chips, and cheerfully asked the others to weigh in, “Since when is a kiss improper? It’s not like he’s dating a saint. What do you say, Xing Xing?”

Before Xu Xing could answer, Lu Che, seated behind, chuckled.

Tang Mian looked over at Lu Che, eyes sparkling with curiosity, clearly hoping he would join the conversation. Not letting her down, he smiled and said, “I think kissing is the purest kind of love. Being intimate is natural; not doing so shows restraint for love.”

Both Wang Zicong and Tang Mian turned red, Wang Zicong out of embarrassment and Tang Mian out of delight, itching to dig deeper into Lu Che’s love life.

Xu Xing turned around and firmly said, “Stop leading my desk mate astray.”

Lu Che blinked innocently. “I’m just interested in your opinion.”

Xu Xing scoffed, “Not encouraged, not excused. Now, stop.”

Xu Xing knew that if he relented even a bit, it would mean agreeing to get closer with Lu Che. Just that moment, Xu Xing’s thoughts drifted to a hypothetical scenario where he and Lu Che were that close, and an image flashed in his mind — Lu Che above him, himself below.

His face heated as he quickly shook away the mental image, embarrassed and worried anyone could read his thoughts. His only choice was to bury his nose in his textbook, pretending to study intently.

---

In the afternoon, after answering some exercises in the books, Wang Zicong sat by the window as usual, pulling a Snickers from his desk and taking a satisfied bite. Xu Xing was about to scold him for snacking when he caught sight of someone by the window. It was Wang Zicong’s girlfriend, tapping on the glass.

Wang Zicong looked up at her with a grin and called out sweetly, “Jiejie~”

As the red string linking their hearts shortened with the distance, it gleamed a vibrant red, tethered just beyond the few inches between them at the windowsill. Wang Zicong’s girlfriend leaned against the window, tapping his chin playfully. “Hungry again, little guy?” she asked with a laugh.

Wang Zicong nodded shyly.

It was only the end of the first class in the After noon, and if you didn’t know better, you’d think Wang Zicong missed lunch. Only Xu Xing knew that Zicong had eaten a four-combo meal earlier—a mix of roast meats that others usually get with just two types, like chicken and pork. Zicong had chosen chicken, duck, goose, and pork, then asked the server for two extra scoops of rice.

Xu Xing, both amused and slightly concerned, remembered the rumors he overheard at lunch. Zicong’s girlfriend was incredibly striking—tall, beautiful, and very popular. She had picked Zicong, a chubby guy from a well-off family in City C’s affluent District A, and it was she who pursued him. With someone as radiant as her, it wasn’t surprising that people speculated. Even Tang Mian, Zicong’s best friend, wondered at first if some crafty girl was just using him.

Zicong was slightly shorter than his girlfriend. Xu Xing had once joked to Tang Mian that when they wore casual clothes, they looked like a beauty out with her chubby child.

Lost in thought, Xu Xing felt a tap on his back. He turned to find Lu Che with a sorrowful expression saying, “Class leader, I need some reassurance.”

Xu Xing was taken aback.

Lu Che rested his chin on his desk, pouting. “Every time she’s here, your gaze stays on her for ages.”

“Her” referred to Zicong’s girlfriend.

Xu Xing had no words for a moment.

Lu Che’s confidence in Xu Xing’s feelings came from the fact that Xu Xing liked guys, but the idea of Xu Xing being bisexual unsettled Lu Che—especially the thought of Xu Xing being interested in someone like Zicong’s girlfriend, someone he couldn’t even compete with.

Xu Xing turned to face Lu Che. “How long did I look at her?”

“Twelve seconds,” Lu Che said with a sigh.

Xu Xing wasn’t sure if Lu Che counted or just made it up, but he felt a pang of guilt. If it were him watching Lu Che stare at a girl, he might feel the same. He’d probably even undo their ‘red thread’ connection just to annoy him.

Xu Xing held Lu Che’s gaze and then looked down. Lu Che had asked for reassurance, and words weren’t enough. Xu Xing took off his watch, handed it to Lu Che, and said, “Here. You time me.”

“Uh?” Lu Che blinked in confusion.

Xu Xing didn’t answer, just held his gaze.

He’d never looked at Lu Che this intently. Usually, if he admired Lu Che’s face while pretending to study in bed, he’d look away quickly, embarrassed. Now, he let himself really look at him—at Lu Che’s strong brows, high nose bridge, and playful smirk.

Lu Che leaned closer, watching Xu Xing, his eyes bright with a hint of triumph. The only thing that mattered was that Xu Xing kept looking.

Xu Xing softly asked, “Has it been two minutes?”

Lu Che glanced down, “Two minutes, five seconds.”

“Ten times longer.”

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CHAPTER 68

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Ten times the twelve seconds, Xu Xing thought. If Lu Che needed assurance, then two minutes—120 seconds—would provide plenty.

Xu Xing wasn’t one for romantic gestures, and he felt his cheeks warm as he turned back to his desk. His fingers curled in embarrassment as he flipped through his book.

Meanwhile, Lu Che had his face hidden in his arms on the desk, his eyes glinting from behind his folded arms, ears red. He had entered their little staring contest determined to make Xu Xing fall for him.

He hadn’t expected Xu Xing to win him over with a simple phrase: ten times longer.

Lu Che, flustered, hid his face, thinking: If I can’t outdo him with words, then I’ll just have to work harder physically.

The next day, Xu Xing tried to send Lu Che back to his dorm after lunch, but Lu Che insisted on staying close. Back in class, Lu Che soon nodded off at his desk, so Xu Xing tossed him a jacket.

Lu Che looked up and chuckled, “Did you bring this just for me?”

Xu Xing feigned indifference. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s just getting cold.”

Lu Che smiled and wrapped himself in the jacket. Xu Xing’s tough yet caring personality, his resilience and gentleness… he really liked him.

After Xu Xing finished his worksheet, he went outside to get some air and bumped into Tang Mian, who looked unhappy. Xu Xing casually asked, “What’s up? Got into a fight with your lunch?”

Tang Mian looked through the classroom windows and sighed, “Where’s Zicong?”

“He went to see his girlfriend,” Xu Xing replied.

Tang Mian sighed, pulling Xu Xing aside. “To be honest, I don’t think Zicong’s girlfriend is reliable…”

Xu Xing raised a brow, “Didn’t you say you liked her last time?”

Tang Mian frowned, “That’s different! Her face, her figure… top-tier. But think about it—she’s a knockout who can drive guys crazy and make girls envious. So, why would she pick a rich, chubby short guy?”

Xu Xing sighed, “Rumors are hard to trust. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Tang Mian leaned against the railing, sighing as she asked in frustration, “Do you think I should give Zhongzhong a heads-up?”

Xu Xing hesitated, unsure of what advice to offer. Outsiders often think they see the situation clearly, but in reality, those involved aren’t always as unaware as others assume. Sometimes, knowing something and choosing not to bring it up can be just as loyal as giving a warning. There are things that, once spoken, add an unnecessary burden.

Before he could respond, Tang Mian waved, “Hey, wuli Zhongzhong is back! Come here~”

Xu Xing looked over and saw Wang Zicong walking towards them, carrying a cup of milk tea with a smile, sipping through the straw. He looked sweet and adorable with dimples on his cheeks.

“What are you guys talking about?” he asked.

Since they met, Xu Xing and Tang Mian had known Wang Zicong as a chubby “Zhongzhong,” who fluctuated between XXL and XXXL sizes.

Although he was round, Wang Zicong had a face that invited hope — “hope” meaning his features were delicate enough that, if he slimmed down, they’d stand out. Plus, his mother was an ageless beauty, so he was definitely a promising candidate in the looks department. Unfortunately, he remained comfortably plump.

Once Wang Zicong approached, Tang Mian took his arm, smiling. “It’s almost the weekend; have any date plans for Sunday?”

He nodded, “Yep, I found a great restaurant and want to take her there!”

Tang Mian sighed, feeling helpless. Trying a different approach, she asked, “Have you ever been to a bar?”

She had hoped to approach the topic subtly, not expecting his reply to go in a different direction.

“I have,” Wang Zicong blinked.

“Huh?” Tang Mian was taken aback.

“My girlfriend took me there.”

Tang Mian was speechless.

She had been imagining Wang Zicong’s girlfriend sneaking off to nightclubs, hiding her nightlife from him. But instead, Wang Zicong casually mentioned, “Yeah, my girlfriend took me.”

Xu Xing had to stifle a laugh at Tang Mian’s bewildered expression and continued the conversation, asking, “Did you enjoy it?”

Wang Zicong shook his head, glancing downward. “There wasn’t much to eat there.”

Both Xu Xing and Tang Mian thought this answer was perfectly in character, so they didn’t notice anything unusual.

Wang Zicong knew that his girlfriend enjoyed bars, music festivals, and lots of things that seemed out of place for him. He often wondered why she liked him.

One summer break in sophomore year, Wang Zicong was on vacation with his mom. By the time he saw his girlfriend’s message saying “I miss you,” a whole day had passed.

It was his girlfriend who confessed to him, and he’d been too shy to say no. In his nervousness, he had agreed, and suddenly, he had a goddess-level girlfriend.

When he finally saw her message, he replied carefully, “Shijie, I’m back from my trip~ Just saw your message, sorry for the late reply!”

He added a cute emoji for good measure.

His girlfriend liked to call him “little friend” from the beginning, and Wang Zicong once earnestly corrected her, saying, “I’m not little; I’m a big friend now.”

To Wang Zicong, both his age and build had nothing to do with the word “little.”

She chuckled and replied, “Okay then, call me Jiejie^[1]Sis.”

So, he did.

The next evening, Wang Zicong went to her birthday celebration at a bar. She introduced him to her friends, and it was there that he overheard whispers:

“I really don’t get her. How does she stand being with that chubby guy?”

“Well, he’s rich, isn’t he? Who cares if he’s big?”

“Oh, come on, she must be faking it, acting sweet while probably feeling sick.”

“Look at the cheap snacks he brought as a gift—what a joke!”

He stood behind a partition, twisting his fingers to keep from crying. Afterward, he acted normal, letting her hold his hand, though he didn’t dare to hold hers back.

Later that night, he messaged his cousin, asking her to buy a luxurious gift he could give his “friend,” which she ordered without asking questions. When school resumed, he gave his girlfriend an expensive necklace, but she barely glanced at it, more focused on him.

Meanwhile, Wang Zicong kept his head down, avoiding her gaze.

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CHAPTER 69

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Tang Mian, seeing that Wang Zicong knew his girlfriend liked clubbing, felt reassured. She brushed off her worries, jokingly asking Xu Xing and Wang Zicong about their Double Eleven shopping plans.

On cue, the school’s afternoon chime rang. Xu Xing knew Lu Che would be waking up soon, so he headed back into the classroom. As he entered, he saw Lu Che awake, chatting with Ke Di beside him.

Xu Xing walked over and saw Ke Di pleading with Lu Che, “Come on, let’s go~.”

Lu Che, resting his forehead on his hands at the table, looked up as soon as the person in front of him sat down.

Turning around, Xu Xing asked, “Where to?”

With a grin, Ke Di invited him, “It’s my birthday next week! Let’s hit the bar on Saturday night to celebrate early. You should come too, class leader!”

Ke Di chose Saturday night, hoping everyone could party without worries, knowing they’d have all of Sunday to rest.

Lu Che hesitated because Saturday night was special for him. The memory of a recent kiss with Xu Xing was still fresh, and he’d been eagerly awaiting Saturday to spend time with him, not wanting to miss out.

As Ke Di asked Xu Xing, Lu Che added, “If the class leader goes, I’ll go.”

Xu Xing glanced at Lu Che, who smiled back. Originally a casual invitee, Xu Xing was now Ke Di’s prime target thanks to Lu Che’s comment.

Ke Di said, “Class leader, come on! It’ll be fun, and Wuli^[2]chinese internet slang that means ‘Our’ Mang Mang will be there too—you know everyone.”

Xu Xing replied, “So… around what time will it end?”

Ke Di said, “We’ll be there until around one or two, but you can leave early if you want~.”

Having invited the two, Ke Di returned to his seat.

Lu Che leaned closer, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “Class leader, I’ll go if you say so. Are we going?”

The bar, Evening Show, was near Xu Xing’s home, so he thought it over. While he wasn’t that close to Ke Di, he knew Lu Che would feel obliged to go if he did.

Xu Xing finally agreed, “Alright, we’ll go but leave early.”

Lu Che looked at him, lowered his voice, and said, “Or maybe…,” letting his words linger enticingly. He smiled and suggested, “How about we don’t go home this weekend? After the bar, we could get a room—”

Before he could finish, Xu Xing interrupted with a sharp, “Get lost.”

Lu Che laughed, teasing him, “Class leader, what are you thinking? I meant we could get a room so we don’t wake up your dad waiting for us in the middle of the night.”

Whether Xu Xing or his mother came home late, his father always stayed up, waiting until everyone was back before he could sleep peacefully.

Xu Xing smirked, giving Lu Che a look. “We’ll be back by midnight.”

Turning away, Xu Xing propped his head on his hand, staring blankly at his book, his mind lingering on Lu Che’s “get a room” suggestion. Recently, Lu Che had been dropping hints, hoping to take things further after seven shared kisses.

In truth, Xu Xing felt a similar attraction, but his thoughts ran deeper and more complicated than Lu Che’s.

The class bell rang, and Wang Zicong returned to his seat, the invisible red string from his heart brushing past Xu Xing as he walked by.

Xu Xing rubbed his brow, trying to soothe the thoughts troubling him.

The more Xu Xing tried to ignore the red thread binding him to Lu Che, the more it haunted him. The tighter Lu Che clung to him, the more afraid Xu Xing felt of what might happen if things didn’t work out.

He felt like a child who had secretly taken candy, enjoying its sweetness yet constantly worrying that someone would catch him. Lu Che’s love was his forbidden treat.

Xu Xing was preoccupied with this dilemma all afternoon. Back in the dorm that night, still restless, he anonymously asked two questions online:

1. If a straight man accidentally sleeps with a male friend after drinking, what would he do?
2. If a straight man accidentally realizes a male friend slept with him after drinking, what would he do?

After waiting half an hour, he checked the responses.

The answers to the first question were fairly calm, suggesting playing dumb was best. The second question, however, sparked an intense debate, with some even mentioning drastic solutions like “suicide.”

Xu Xing sighed, troubled, unconsciously rubbing his lip as he stared at his book, his expression grave. His seriousness, however, inspired his roommates to focus on their studies.

·

Xu Xing talked himself into going but couldn’t fully settle his nerves.

On Saturday afternoon, Xu Xing and Lu Che were picked up by Xu Xing’s dad after school. Over dinner, Xu Xing casually mentioned the birthday gathering to his parents, who approved with the usual reminder not to stay too late.

After dinner, Xu Xing and Lu Che took turns showering. It was only about 7:40, giving them plenty of time before the party.

Lu Che entered the room, hair still wet, and saw Xu Xing sitting idly at his desk. “Class leader, mind if I dry my hair here?”

Xu Xing glanced at him. “Go ahead.”

The sound of the hairdryer filled the room, and Xu Xing, half-heartedly cleaning his ear, kept an eye on Lu Che. Watching him blow-dry his bangs back, revealing his forehead, brought back memories of the National Day holiday when Lu Che had styled himself just for a date with him.

Xu Xing scoffed to himself, wondering why Lu Che was primping so much for a friend’s party—did he plan to steal the spotlight?

He glanced at his phone. Eight o’clock.

Looking at his faint reflection in the phone screen, he noticed his own messy, still-damp hair, with no styling at all.

Just then, the hum of the hairdryer stopped.

Lu Che was about to unplug it when Xu Xing asked, “Can you dry mine too?”

Surprised, Lu Che turned to see Xu Xing looking at him seriously, and he couldn’t help but smile.

He walked over, leaned down to gently brush Xu Xing’s bangs aside, and blew softly between his fingers. The warm air made Xu Xing’s lashes flutter, tickling his heart as much as his skin.

Lu Che whispered teasingly, “All done.”

Xu Xing glared at him.

Lu Che chuckled. “How would you like it styled?”

“Whatever looks good,” Xu Xing replied, shifting in his seat.

Lu Che’s lips curled into a grin. “Well, I think you look great however you are.”

Xu Xing started to retort, but Lu Che got the hint and began drying his hair, sparing the commentary.

Lu Che’s fingers gently combed through Xu Xing’s hair, slow and careful, as warm air from the hairdryer blew over him. Xu Xing closed his eyes in comfort.

A few minutes later, the hairdryer’s hum stopped. Xu Xing, feeling reluctant to let go of the tingling sensation Lu Che’s fingers had left on his scalp, lowered his gaze and checked himself in his phone camera. He realized Lu Che had only dried his hair—he hadn’t styled it at all.

“…”

Seeing Xu Xing’s blank expression, Lu Che chuckled, ruffled his hair, and said, “It’s just Ke Di’s birthday party. Why do you need to look so good?”

Xu Xing retorted, “It’s just Ke Di’s birthday party, so why do you need to look so good?”

With that, Xu Xing indirectly complimented Lu Che on his looks.

Lu Che winked at him, replying sincerely, “To make sure you look even more impressive.”

Meeting Lu Che’s gaze, Xu Xing forced himself to respond, “Well, I’m making you look good, too.”

Lu Che looked down at Xu Xing, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at him with a warmth that almost radiated.

The atmosphere between them grew intense. Xu Xing averted his gaze, feeling a moment of hesitation. He cleared his throat, stretched his legs, slipped into his indoor slippers, and stood up, saying, “It’s past eight. Let’s get going.”

He turned to leave but was held back by Lu Che.

Xu Xing frowned, “What?”

They were standing close now.

Lu Che said, “Class leader, let me redo your hair. Later, if someone asks, ‘Who’s this most handsome guy here?’ I’ll just say, ‘That’s my…’”

He paused, leaned in close to Xu Xing’s ear, and whispered, “Boyfriend.”

The warm breath against his ear made Xu Xing’s ear itch, and he scratched it, shooting Lu Che a half-amused glare. “Shut up!”

Xu Xing had shot down Lu Che’s idea of making it public, but he didn’t deny Lu Che’s three words.

With a quick shake, he slipped out of Lu Che’s hold and walked out the door.