Chapter 18: You finally found it, brother, then you can’t leave

After the afternoon psychology class, just as Fu Xingran was about to go find Su Lixu, he was stopped by Professor He.

“Come to my office.” Professor He closed his book, looking at Fu Xingran, who was standing up at the back of the classroom, with indifference. “It’s you, Fu Xingran.” He walked out of the classroom before saying anything more.

“Teacher, I have something to attend to later,” Fu Xingran responded.

Professor He paused, glancing sideways at Fu Xingran. Seeing his nonchalant attitude towards the class, Professor He remarked, “You can skip it. You don’t have to attend my class next time. You can drop this course, and you won’t need this degree. It saves you from taking time out of your busy schedule to attend my class.”

After saying this, Professor He left the classroom.

Fu Xingran watched Professor He’s departing figure, his expression deepening.

This man had been to Su Lixu’s house.

Had encounters with Su Lixu.

Professor He’s office—

“Speak up. If you’re not attending my class, why did you choose it? If you have no interest in learning, I advise you not to take it and leave the spot for someone else. Many students want me as their undergraduate advisor, but it had to be you. If you were passionate about it, fine, but you’re not.” Professor He, now serious, leaned against his desk, looking at Fu Xingran expressionlessly. “I’m not a teacher for compulsory education.”

“I chose it because of Su Lixu,” Fu Xingran admitted straightforwardly.

“What?” Professor He chuckled.

Fu Xingran continued, “I like him, so I wanted to study psychology to have something in common with him. But, in reality, I don’t like psychology. I’m learning it because of him. I didn’t expect to have Professor He as my mentor, and I’m sincerely sorry for that.”

Professor He, hearing the arrogance in Fu Xingran’s tone, wondered how Su Lixu tolerated him. “Fu Xingran, love is blind, but your attitude shouldn’t be.”

“If the professor feels my attitude is bad, you can reject me, but I will still study,” Fu Xingran declared. “I want to learn so that I can get closer to the person I like.”

The frequent mention of Fu Xingran by Su Lixu in recent times sounded grating to Professor He. The presence of this person, especially in Su Lixu’s conversations, had become too frequent.

“So, Professor, whether you think my attitude towards studying is bad or you dislike me because I like Su Lixu, it doesn’t matter. I won’t deny the fact that I like Su Lixu, and I won’t deny anything he does,” Fu Xingran expressed, not wanting to waste time. He knew what he was doing. After speaking, he bowed to Professor He. “Thank you for your concern. I have an appointment with Professor Su later, so I’ll leave now.”

With that, he turned and left, just like when Professor He had called his name in the classroom earlier, walking out without hesitation.

Professor He: *sighs* Irritated.

What does it mean to target him just because he likes Su Lixu? This guy is really too distinctive, but also very perceptive. This is the boy who Su Lixu can’t let go of, indeed quite similar in personality to Su Lixu.

Fu Xingran went to Su Lixu’s counseling room first, only to find it empty. He immediately took out his phone and messaged Su Lixu, asking where he was. Tonight, he had to make sure Su Lixu came to his place; he couldn’t wait.

Leaning against the wall outside the counseling room, he anxiously waited for Su Lixu’s reply. A few minutes later, he received a response from Su Lixu.

[ I’m at Sam’s buying ingredients to make a cake for you. Do you want doughnuts too? ]

Upon receiving the reply, joy painted his face, and he quickly responded:

[ Yes! I’m coming to find you right now. ]

He then hurried to the parking lot.Over at Sam’s supermarket, Su Lixu, in the process of checking out, hadn’t seen the message from Fu Xingran. When he finally noticed it, ten minutes had passed, and Fu Xingran might already be on his way.

As he was about to sit on the escalator to go down to the basement, he suddenly heard a shout from behind.

“Brother!”

He halted, surprised, and turned around.Sam’s supermarket is quite large, and it’s crowded at this time. Amidst the crowd, Fu Xingran stands not far away—tall, handsome, with a radiant smile, beckoning towards Su Lixu. He’s a dazzling presence that catches everyone’s attention.

Su Lixu has a moment of bewilderment, but he quickly regains his composure. Fu Xingran runs over to Su Lixu and casually takes the shopping cart from his hands.

“How did you find me?” Su Lixu is somewhat surprised. They had just exchanged messages not long ago, and yet Fu Xingran came so quickly and even found him. Seeing him taking the cart, Su Lixu couldn’t help but feel touched.

He has indeed made a lot of progress.

Fu Xingran’s gaze doesn’t leave Su Lixu. “Anyway, I will always find you.”

Hearing Fu Xingran’s confident words, Su Lixu laughs, “Is that so?”

He is more confident than before, the change is evident.

“Of course,” Fu Xingran responds, and seeing Su Lixu smile, the bad mood caused by the encounter with Professor He is instantly swept away. “Because in my eyes, I only see you.”

Su Lixu is momentarily speechless, looking at him with suspicion.But Fu Xingran smiles very calmly.

Su Lixu: “…”

Returning to the romantic atmosphere, Su Lixu invites Fu Xingran to his home.

“Since it’s your birthday today, I’ll cook something delicious for you. Can you help me out?” Su Lixu puts the car keys on the shoe cabinet and bends down to take off his shoes.

Fu Xingran’s gaze falls on Su Lixu’s slender waist outlined by casual trousers, the curves enveloped by the suit pants, and then he sees Su Lixu hooking off his shoes with one hand, revealing the fair ankles. All of it combines to be a sniper targeting his preferences.

His Adam’s apple rolls, and uncontrollable images flood his mind.

“Sure.” He can help Su Lixu put on an apron.

Then he notices that Su Lixu is preparing to go barefoot.

Su Lixu is accustomed to walking barefoot on the floor. Just as he’s about to enter the house, his ankles are grabbed by a pair of hands. He freezes, lowers his head, and meets Fu Xingran’s inky gaze squatting in front of him.

Why is this guy again—

“I told you, don’t walk barefoot. You might catch a cold.” Fu Xingran takes the shoes from the cabinet and puts them on Su Lixu. Then he takes out another pair exactly like the one Su Lixu is wearing and puts them on himself. Finally, with satisfaction, he stands up. “Now it’s good.”

Su Lixu is left amused and bewildered. “Okay, thank you.”

After saying that, he tries to pick up the shopping bags but is preempted by Fu Xingran.

“I’ll handle this.” Fu Xingran stands up faster than anyone else, carrying all the bags into the kitchen.

Su Lixu watches the silhouette of Fu Xingran walking into the kitchen and can’t help but marvel at the visible progress, even though his borderline personality disorder is challenging to cure. Even if Fu Xingran hasn’t seen a doctor in these years, for someone with borderline personality disorder, companionship can sometimes be more effective than medication and psychotherapy. Or perhaps it’s the person Fu Xingran likes who has been instrumental in his improvement. The best psychologist in the world is undoubtedly a patient and gentle lover. That person must be treating Fu Xingran very well. Su Lixu lowers his gaze, putting away all his thoughts.

In this open kitchen, Fu Xingran feels that many of his fantasies have already been fulfilled tonight. He once again puts an apron on Su Lixu and watches his beloved make desserts he loves to celebrate his birthday. When Su Lixu bends over, carefully drawing patterns on his cake, the charming and serene profile makes his heart beat faster.

Unable to resist, he lowers his head.

“Could you help me with that water—” Su Lixu, squeezing cream, looks up, intending to ask Fu Xingran to fetch some fruits. Unexpectedly, he faces Fu Xingran, who is just within reach. His heart skips a beat, and the cream in his hand squirts onto Fu Xingran’s face.

Fu Xingran, caught off guard, also gets cream on his face, even on his lips. Obviously surprised by Su Lixu’s move, he subconsciously licks his lips, tasting the sweetness.

Looking at Su Lixu while licking his lips is undeniably suggestive, especially when Fu Xingran eats the cream from his lips.

“Sorry, it wasn’t intentional.” Su Lixu pauses for a few seconds, then suddenly snaps back to reality. He quickly attempts to wipe the cream off Fu Xingran’s face with the cream still in his hand.

Fu Xingran presses his hand down, “It’s okay. I’ll go take a shower and come back later.”

“Oh, okay.” Su Lixu tries to retract his hand but unexpectedly fails to do so, looking puzzled at Fu Xingran.

Fu Xingran dismissively smiles, releasing his hand, “See you later.”

With that, he walks back to his own home.

Turning around, out of Su Lixu’s sight, he wipes the cream off his face with his fingertips and eats it.

Ready to eat.Su Lixu: “…”

What is this indescribable subtle feeling again?

This apartment floor has two elevators for one household each, and leaving the doors open doesn’t matter since there are no key cards, and no one can access them.

“Bro! Can you help me get my clothes? I forgot to bring them!”After Su Lixu finishes decorating the cake, he hears Fu Xingran’s voice from next door. Although it’s not very clear, he can still hear it. This guy didn’t bother to close his door.

He sighs helplessly. How can someone forget to bring clothes for a shower?

Walking into Fu Xingran’s adjacent apartment, the interior is spacious and bright, with the same layout as his own.

“Where are your clothes?” Su Lixu asks as he approaches the bathroom door.

“In the walk-in closet.”

Su Lixu goes towards the partially open door next to him, thinking it’s the walk-in closet because the layout on his side is the same.

But as he opens this partially open door, for a moment, his mind goes blank.

The walls inside are covered with his photos, from medical appointments, class times, shopping moments—all recent.

And there’s that oil painting.

The painting depicts a man seated in a chair, hands restrained by a stethoscope, a white coat half slipping off his arms. The details are remarkably precise, even capturing the thin sweat on the man’s scapula.It’s him.

His heart pounds loudly, resonating in his eardrums.

“Ah, caught red-handed, huh?”

A playful and amused voice comes from behind.

He turns slowly.

Fu Xingran, now putting on a bathrobe, stands behind him. Wet strands of hair drip water droplets, sliding down his chest. The milky-white skin reveals well-defined muscular lines, and the tattoo on his left chest is clearly visible.

In glaring, open view.

—SLX

Su Lixu’s pupils contract. In that moment, he finally understands everything.

Fu Xingran leisurely ties his bathrobe, smiling brightly. The gleam in his eyes doesn’t resemble condemnation for being caught in a secret, but rather the excitement of a long-planned discovery.

“So, you finally found out, brother. Now, there’s no escaping.”