Chapter 10: I want to touch him

The basketball court is a vibrant place for college boys, a scene filled with youthful energy on the university campus. Regardless of appearance, boys who love sports release a sunny and likable aura, creating a hormonal atmosphere.

If good-looking guys engage in sports, they become even more likable.

“Wow, Fu Xingran looks so handsome.”

“Indeed, good looks rule. Just looking at his face makes me not hungry. How could I, a professional foodie, not stop to appreciate it?”

“Do you want to ask for his contact information?”

“I dare not. Fu Xingran is not easy to approach. He’s the type to be admired from a distance, not to be trifled with.”

“I heard Fu Xingran gets along well with his roommates, but they often play basketball together. Isn’t that strange?”

“Haha, strange? Yeah, there’s a peculiar vibe in their dorm. The aloof Fu Xingran, the hot-tempered Zhuo Yi, the academic genius Zhao Ziyi, and the academically challenged Mo Zhe – in one word, unique.”

Su Lixu descended from the teaching building, heading to his counseling office. Passing by the basketball court, he casually noticed a familiar figure – Fu Xingran – causing his steps to involuntarily slow down.

Fu Xingran, playing basketball, was dazzlingly handsome. A simple white T-shirt and black shorts didn’t hesitate to radiate the charm of youth and adolescence.

Despite the sweat-soaked hair on his forehead, it didn’t affect his attractiveness; instead, it added to the allure of this boy soaked in sweat during exercise.

And his milky-white skin stood out among the group of boys.

His athletic state gave no indication that he had borderline personality disorder; one could only say that Fu Xingran had made progress, especially in social interactions, not displaying the previous aversion to group environments.

It seemed they could continue their lives without contacting Fu Xingran, and they weren’t as delicate as they appeared in his presence.

A week had passed, and this guy hadn’t appeared in front of him as he usually did.

Su Lixu thought seriously about it; it was expected. After all, his relationship with Fu Xingran was once doctor-patient. Now, the only connection they had was that former relationship; currently, they were just a regular substitute teacher and student.

Fu Xingran was a kid with a strong sense of pride. After criticizing him that night, Su Lixu hadn’t approached him again. It seemed there was resentment in this guy’s heart.

Really sensitive.

Withdrawing his gaze, he walked towards his consultation room with a book in hand.

Fu Xingran, who was playing basketball, caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Originally intending a fake move to dribble past and shoot, he ended up distracted and directly smacked the ball onto his roommate Zhuo Yi’s butt.

“Damn it! Fu Xingran, are you an actor?” Caught off guard, Zhuo Yi was hit on the butt and looked angrily towards the abruptly stopped Fu Xingran. Bending down, he picked up the basketball and threw it back at Fu Xingran, saying, “What are you doing, messing around when everything was fine!”

Fu Xingran stared at the gradually retreating figure, hit unexpectedly in the abdomen by the basketball. Although it stung a bit, he couldn’t spare the attention because he hadn’t contacted Su Lixu in a week.

It was intentional.

After leaving Su Lixu’s house that day, he didn’t actively reach out. Although he accepted Su Lixu’s criticism that day, he still felt a bit wronged. Despite waking up the next day to find breakfast left by Su Lixu, feeling somewhat sweet, he still felt it wasn’t enough.

So, he came up with a plan to ignore Su Lixu.

Moreover, with no classes from Su Lixu these past few days, he couldn’t see him and felt embarrassed to sneak a peek at Su Lixu’s class. He had been vacillating in this emotional state for the past few days, feeling he was wrong but also thinking he wasn’t. He thought he wasn’t upset but also felt a bit aggrieved.

After countless self-directed performances in his mind, a week passed, and he never expected Su Lixu never had the intention to contact him. Those methods were useless; it turned out that suddenly not clinging to someone who had been bothered all the time made them uncomfortable.

It made his agony even worse, coupled with the day-and-night thinking, tossing and turning, the torment of embracing Su Lixu and the bittersweet taste of their lips.

He thought he could endure it for a while, but after catching sight of Su Lixu’s figure, he realized he couldn’t bear it anymore.

He was going to find Su Lixu now.

“Zhuo Yi, do you hate me?” Fu Xingran bent down to pick up the ball, turning to look at Zhuo Yi.

Zhuo Yi scoffed, “You’re deliberately asking, aren’t you?”

“Hit me.” Fu Xingran walked towards Zhuo Yi, handing him the ball with a serious expression. “Hit me hard, go ahead.”

Zhuo Yi said, “…You’re really insane.” After speaking, he took back his ball and turned to leave. “I’m not playing anymore. Let’s go eat.”

Fu Xingran pressed his abdomen where he was hit a moment ago, lifting his shirt and looking down, paying no attention to the gasps from some girls. He saw the reddened spot on his abdomen.

It was just a bit red, not blue or purple, not injured enough to last.

“Fu Xingran, what are you doing?”

Mo Zhe wiped sweat from his collar and walked over to Fu Xingran, asking in confusion, “Suddenly acting strange, but you’ve been acting strange these past few days. What are you daydreaming about while playing basketball?”

“Do you think I’m seriously injured?” Fu Xingran pointed to the red spot on his abdomen and asked.

Mo Zhe said, “…I really can’t follow your train of thought.” Awkwardly and politely, he smiled, “The injury seems minor.”

“Right.” Fu Xingran thought it was indeed minor; otherwise, how could he make his brother worry? “Can you hit me a few times then?”

Mo Zhe said, “…I’m hungry. I’ll go eat first.” After speaking, he turned to chase after Zhuo Yi. “Wait for me to eat together!!!”

Fu Xingran walked to the basket, picked up his bag, still thinking about how to come up with a more reasonable excuse to find Su Lixu. As he was about to leave, a voice next to him caught his attention.

“Is that Teacher Su on your phone screensaver?”

Fu Xingran paused, glanced at Zhao Ziyi, and said, “Class monitor, are you gossiping too?”

“It seems so.” Zhao Ziyi recalled Fu Xingran’s excited look when he pressed him to find Teacher Su that day. “So, Teacher Su is the boyfriend you mentioned, the one you’ve been dating for four years?”

Perhaps the term “boyfriend” was satisfying, coupled with wounded pride. Fu Xingran casually replied, “Yeah.”

“Why do you look like you’re heartbroken these days, as if you’ve been dumped?” Zhao Ziyi asked.

Fu Xingran’s expression suddenly darkened. He gazed at Zhao Ziyi and said, “How could I be dumped? He loves me so much.” After speaking, he turned and left; he couldn’t wait any longer; he had to find Su Lixu now.

Zhao Ziyi muttered, “This tsundere, who can handle it?”

The counseling room played tranquil classical music, and the subtle aroma of coffee wafted through the air. Su Lixu poured himself a cup of coffee, feeling relaxed after finishing his morning class. Standing by the window, he sipped his coffee and watched the hurried students heading to the cafeteria.

He indeed enjoyed the campus atmosphere and environment, simple yet filled with uncertainties in student interactions. Engaging with teenagers helped with his research, different from the hospital’s clinical work atmosphere.It didn’t mean clinical work wasn’t good; it was just different strokes for different folks.

Knock, knock, knock—

At that moment, the counseling room’s door was gently knocked. Su Lixu turned, a hint of a smile appearing as he hadn’t realized his posture had eased a bit. He picked up his coffee and said, “Please come in.”

The door was pushed open, and even before seeing the person, he heard a familiar voice.

“Teacher Su,”

With the door half-open, the distressed voice reached him, along with the hand gripping the door frame.

Su Lixu’s eyes reflected a subtle smile. Completely unaware of his own relaxed demeanor, he lifted his coffee and took a sip. “Why not come in?”

“Do you have time now?” Fu Xingran cautiously peeked his head in.

Meeting Fu Xingran, who looked sweaty from playing basketball, was obviously an impromptu visit. Su Lixu put down his coffee, sat on the chair, and said, “Yes, I’m ready for a lunch break.”

Fu Xingran apparently didn’t expect Su Lixu to give this response. He hesitated for a moment, forgetting the prepared words, “Then can I… Can I have lunch with you, Teacher Su?”

Su Lixu couldn’t help but suppress a laugh, “Are you sure?”

Seeing Su Lixu smile, Fu Xingran’s heart, which had been empty for a few days, instantly filled. He quickly walked in, closed the door behind him, and even locked it. “Actually, I have some issues I want to consult Dr. Su Lixu about.”

Su Lixu heard the door being locked, and this somewhat domineering counseling made him momentarily unsure of how to respond. “Then come and sit.”

If it was an active consultation, that would be a good thing.

Fu Xingran, hearing Su Lixu invite him to sit, felt joy in his eyes. The pain hidden in these few days seemed to dissipate.

“I’m feeling a bit distressed now.” After wiping his sweat, Fu Xingran sat down, staring at Su Lixu.

“Distressed? Did something happen?” Su Lixu pushed the tissue box on the table towards Fu Xingran. Seeing that his forehead was full of sweat, he said, “Wipe your sweat first.”

Fu Xingran didn’t take the tissue; instead, he habitually wiped his sweat with his collar, unintentionally revealing his well-defined, fair waist and abdomen.

Su Lixu’s silently averted his gaze.

Kids nowadays grow up so well.

“I feel a bit uncomfortable inside.” After wiping his sweat, Fu Xingran put his hands on the table, supporting his chin, and looked at Su Lixu, his tone a bit gloomy.

“Can you tell me what kind of discomfort it is?” Su Lixu momentarily froze, looking at Fu Xingran, who was so obediently supporting his chin, his voice muffled, and his eyes eagerly fixed on himself. He couldn’t help but show a faint smile.Too much like a pampered puppy.

“I’m a bit afraid to say.”

Su Lixu seemed to sense Fu Xingran’s cautiousness. He gently said, “Then calm down and think about it. I can wait for you.”

After some time.

Fu Xingran placed his hands on the table, fingertips rubbing the table’s edge. After brewing for a few seconds, he began, “Brother, I think I might be sick.”

Su Lixu was stunned.

“He lingers in my mind, his appearance, his tenderness, his warmth—all make me miss him incessantly. Yet, I don’t know his thoughts; it feels like he’s so close, within reach, yet this proximity only grants access to his person, not his heart.”

Su Lixu initially thought it was Fu Xingran realizing something on his own, but he didn’t expect Fu Xingran to come and ask him about emotional matters.

“I want to lock him away. I know it’s not right to think like this, but I can’t help but dwell on it.”

Su Lixu furrowed his brows upon hearing this risky answer. When he locked eyes with Fu Xingran, it felt as if he was about to be devoured by that excessively intense gaze.

“…What?”

“I want to dominate him.”