Chapter 41: Fu Xingran, come in

The plea softly echoed in the parking lot but landed heavily on his heart.

Su Lixu looked at the lazy figure of Fu Xingran leaning on the car window, smiling as if requesting him to yield. The plea sounded indifferent to him.

He had let this wolf in sheep’s clothing have his way for too long, but he didn’t find it wrong because he enjoyed it. Love requires a mutual balance to continuously brew freshness.

Appropriate assertiveness and vulnerability can create something different, providing a sense of security for Fu Xingran.

“Show me.” Su Lixu withdrew his gaze, indifferent: “The car keys are with you. I’ll go to the office to get some documents. Don’t be late for my class.”

As he turned, a faint smile played on his lips. He knew what atmosphere Fu Xingran liked to play with.

The more ambiguous and uncertain, the more adrenaline it felt, the more exciting it became.

So, he played along.

Fu Xingran stared at Su Lixu’s departing figure, recalling the faint gaze that seemed to assess his qualifications, far from the gentle and indulgent Dr. Su who used to pamper him unconditionally.

If Dr. Su, in a white coat, looked at him like that, the cool and reserved Dr. Su…

His expression changed from surprise to intense, and then it gained a playful interest. The curve of his upturned lips deepened:

“You’ve learned the bad stuff.”

But he loved it.Just the thought of it drove him crazy.

Fu Xingran locked the car, put the symbolic car keys in his pocket, and happily walked to the dormitory to get books, pondering how to persuade Su Lixu to visit his art studio.

Now that he had permission to be the driver, he wasn’t afraid Su Lixu would resist.

Approaching the end of the month and entering the revision stage.

“This psychology class is a closed-book exam. I’ve listed all the key points in this PowerPoint. Please make good use of your time to review and strive for a high score.”

Upon hearing it’s a closed-book exam, the students’ expressions turned slightly grim. Exams nowadays are getting more challenging. Are there any open-book exams left?

A collective groan echoed in the room.

Su Lixu leaned on the sides of the podium, observing the students below who were groaning continuously. “This semester, our course is one of the easiest for you to score well in. Class monitor, come get the PowerPoint later, and there should be no problem for you to get a high score with thorough revision.”

“Professor Su.”

Su Lixu glanced at Fu Xingran, who had surprisingly taken a seat at the back. Seeing his raised hand, Su Lixu raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. “Any questions, Mr. Fu?”

Fu Xingran stood up, smiling as he asked, “If I score a hundred, is there any reward?”

Three knowledgeable roommates silently watched, thinking, “Here we go again, Fu Xingran is about to show off his affection.” Just now, they witnessed some lovey-dovey moments in the dorm, and now here comes another round.

Being in a relationship is nothing special. Well, if Fu Xingran can find a boyfriend like Dr. Su, that’s quite impressive!

Su Lixu looked at Fu Xingran with a smile that held a hint of amusement and countered, “Can you actually score that high?”

Meeting Su Lixu’s gaze, Fu Xingran replied, “What if I can?”

Su Lixu lowered his head to organize books, chuckled lightly, and said, “Mr. Fu, you underestimate me. But as a teacher, I do hope you can. If it were another context, don’t think you can gain any special treatment from me. Fair treatment for all, study well.”

Fu Xingran raised an eyebrow at the mention of “fair treatment.” Oh, what a noble principle!

As the bell rang, students gradually left the classroom. Just as Fu Xingran was about to approach the podium to help Su Lixu with his books, he saw his three roommates holding books and pens, appearing as if they intended to ask Su Lixu questions for over half an hour. Fu Xingran’s steps halted, his brows furrowing involuntarily, and a deepening darkness in his eyes.

“Professor Su, the three of us have some areas that we don’t quite understand. Could you spend some time explaining to us?” Zhuo Yi was straightforward, and this dubious idea was his doing. Mainly, it was because Fu Xingran, always returning to the dorm to tease them three single dogs, prompted them to seize the opportunity to occupy Professor Su’s time. The questions were genuine, but they also wanted to see Fu Xingran’s reaction, which was equally genuine.

Sure enough, Zhuo Yi glanced at Fu Xingran standing not far away, and his face turned dark as if he wanted to devour them alive.

With such possessiveness, even as students asking questions, Fu Xingran couldn’t stand it.

Su Lixu took the students’ books, casually glimpsed Fu Xingran standing nearby, and coincidentally met his resentful gaze. It seemed as if Fu Xingran was questioning why he was getting so close to someone else.

“Come to my office for the questions.”

The presence of He Shi always makes this guy uncertain, but even simple interpersonal relationships can sometimes leave Fu Xingran feeling resentful. It seems like it’s really time to spend some time with Fu Xingran.

“That guy is still following us,” Zhao Yihuan said.

“Hiss, I think he wants to kill the three of us,” Mo Zhe glanced back, immediately turned his head back, patting his chest in fright. “Class monitor, we’re doomed.”

While discussing with students, Su Lixu overheard the conversation of the two boys behind him. He turned slightly and asked, “Are you guys close to Fu Xingran?”

His peripheral vision caught Fu Xingran following them.

“We were his roommates, but he moved out now. He’s living with his boyfriend,” class monitor Zhao Ziyi casually explained.

“When did he say that?” Su Lixu was somewhat surprised.

“He mentioned it a long time ago, saying he has been with his boyfriend for four years,” Mo Zhe walked to Su Lixu’s side, grinning, “Professor Su, we saw you on Fu Xingran’s phone screen, so we knew about you before you came. So, Professor Su, are you his boyfriend of four years, becoming a teacher for him?”

Su Lixu: “…” Boyfriend, together for four years, cohabiting – indeed, those sounded like words Fu Xingran would say. After a moment’s thought, was Fu Xingran’s approach for these four years based on this mindset?

“Is what Fu Xingran said not true?” Zhuo Yi caught Su Lixu’s expression and questioned.

Su Lixu stopped in front of his office, hands on the door handle, silent for a moment before speaking, “It’s true, but I’ve been abroad for the past few years and quite busy. I don’t know much about his situation at school. Can you guys tell me what he’s like normally?”

The three of them exchanged glances, and in their minds, a multitude of “What on earth” might be running. They were collectively thinking, unbelievably, it’s true – Fu Xingran, who seemed to have the temperament of a lone wolf, actually has such a gentle boyfriend like Professor Su.

The office door slowly closed.

Fu Xingran watched his roommates enter Su Lixu’s office, standing against the wall, leaning on it, and remaining silent. If he had big ears, they might have drooped in disappointment by now.

He didn’t like Su Lixu being surrounded by so many people.

“Oh, isn’t this my student Fu?” He Shi had just finished class, holding a textbook and a cup of coffee. Passing by Su Lixu’s office, he saw Fu Xingran looking dejected at the door. Only his old classmate could make such a defiant guy feel low. “What happened? Did Professor Su criticize you?”

Fu Xingran looked up at He Shi, then quietly lowered his eyelids, showing no intention of acknowledging him.

He Shi stood next to Fu Xingran, casually sipping his coffee with a relaxed posture, and casually asked, “Do you consider yourself a master of emotional manipulation?”

“What?” Fu Xingran frowned at He Shi.

“Do you think you have a unique advantage in Lixu’s heart, understanding when to show vulnerability, having the ability to capitalize on success, being shameless, and at the same time being aware of Lixu’s almost indulgent attitude towards you? I’m surprised Lixu is with you. You do have skills, as no matter how you look at it, you wouldn’t be Lixu’s choice, yet you succeeded. But you must feel unreal, understanding how you got Lixu, thus fearing losing him, right?”

Fu Xingran met He Shi’s profound gaze beneath the golden-rimmed glasses, as if he could sense being seen through. He looked away. “…None of your business.”

Seeing Fu Xingran avoiding his gaze, He Shi chuckled lightly. “Well, that’s it. So, your performance is beyond my expectations.”

“What performance?”

“If you have borderline personality, I can roughly judge that you’re now a very stable borderline personality.” He Shi leaned against the wall, fingered the coffee cup, and looked at Fu Xingran with a smile. “Do you know why?”

The term ‘borderline personality’ undoubtedly hit Fu Xingran’s sore spot. He hated himself for having this issue, but he couldn’t refute He Shi’s words. He knew very well why he was stable.

“I know,” Fu Xingran stared at Su Lixu’s office door. “Because of him, I’m clear that as long as he’s there, I won’t have any problems. I’ve known this since four years ago.”

“So, when you have conflicts with him, you choose to stand outside the door, silent and calm, rather than losing control of your emotions and questioning him. This alone indicates that you clearly recognize that Lixu is your ‘sense of security,’ and you’re also firm in not hurting or destroying your ‘sense of security.’ Although I don’t know what happened between you, your behavior seems stable to me; it’s just a small quarrel.” He Shi thought Fu Xingran had a quarrel with Su Lixu, raised his hand, and patted Fu Xingran’s shoulder. “Be strong, it’s just being scolded a few times. A real man can bend and stretch; what’s wrong with being scolded a few times?”

“Professor He, may I ask you a question?”

“Ask away.” He Shi rarely heard this arrogant guy asking him a question, finding it quite refreshing, so he was willing to help.

“Why do I feel annoyed when I see students approaching him to ask questions?” Fu Xingran asked seriously.

He Shi: “…” He thought it was some significant issue, but it turns out it’s just because students are asking Su Lixu questions, and Fu Xingran stands by the door like a disgruntled person. He couldn’t help but feel a bit amused.

“Why? Is there something wrong with me?” Fu Xingran asked again.

He Shi, seeing Fu Xingran urgently trying to prove he had no issues, couldn’t help but laugh. To conceal his amusement, he took a sip of coffee. “Cough, no, I think it’s normal.”

“So, can I be angry?”

He Shi suddenly understood what exactly attracted Su Lixu to this guy. It might be a moment when he seemed like a simpleton, shrewd yet carrying a childlike innocence, creating a contrasting charm.

“You can certainly get angry appropriately and express your thoughts, but you must respect Lixu because he is a teacher, and it’s his duty to answer students’ questions. Moreover, he is also the school counselor, dealing with hundreds of students. For him, this is the most normal interpersonal relationship. Can you overcome your anger?” Fu Xingran fell into contemplation, realizing he couldn’t really overcome his anger.

“Lixu is a stubborn person. Do you remember the skiing trip? He arranged it to find an opportunity to commit himself to liking you. Once he decides something, he won’t turn back.”

“He is also a rule-abiding person. To make you happy, he asked me if I knew any recommended tattoo artists. He’s willing to do unconventional things for you, even though he’s afraid of pain.”

“Because he likes you and cares about you, he constantly asks me to help you.”

“I’ve known him for so many years, and I’ve never seen him live so seriously. He’s not someone who needs love very much; he’s indifferent to such things. But you, the shameless little boy, I feel like it’s you who gave him a lively breath, allowing him to completely let go of the sorrow brought by his family and be willing to accept and enjoy a new life.”

Fu Xingran looked at He Shi in astonishment, his eyes shimmering as if he couldn’t believe that Su Lixu had done so much for him.

“So, you have nothing to worry about. You don’t need to worry. He really likes you, and once he decides on someone, he won’t turn back.” Seeing Fu Xingran looking like he was about to cry, He Shi patted his shoulder with a smile. “Please continue to use your thick-skinned traits to melt him, surround him with love, and he will give you even more enthusiastic feedback.”

“Thanks,” Fu Xingran said in a low voice.

He Shi smiled. “Feel free to come and ask me questions anytime.” After saying that, he walked to the other end of the corridor.

Fu Xingran continued to stare at Su Lixu’s office. Before long, he saw the door open, and his three roommates walked out one after another.

But he found the three of them looking at him with a kind of ‘caring’ expression.

“Bro, I misunderstood you before.” Zhuo Yi walked up to Fu Xingran. “Forgive me for any offenses in the past. Here, have a candy.” After speaking, he stuffed a candy into Fu Xingran’s hand.

Zhuo Yi and Zhao Yihuan behind him did the same.

Fu Xingran: “?” Looking at the three candies in his hand, he realized they were his favorite brand of candy. What’s going on?

At that moment, a cold call came from the office.

“Fu Xingran, come in.”

Hearing Su Lixu’s voice, Fu Xingran forgot about the mysterious candies and happily entered the office, leaving all his worries behind.

As the office door closed, the three roommates, thinking about what Professor Su had instructed them, couldn’t help but sigh in unison:

“Fu Xingran is really something.”

Meeting such a gentle Professor Su is truly fortunate.

【Author’s Note:】Su Lixu with the three students inside his office.

“Is Fu Xingran always in a bad mood?” In the office, Su Lixu listened to the three roommates’ description of Fu Xingran, and it was somewhat unexpected for him.

Nodding beside Fu Xingran, Mo Zhe said, “He rarely smiles, giving the impression that he is always in a bad mood. He also doesn’t like to talk to people, stands out, and is somewhat aloof. But as long as you don’t provoke him, there won’t be any big problems. However, few people provoke him because he doesn’t like to socialize. So, when we found out he had a boyfriend, it was really shocking. We thought someone like Fu Xingran, how could he—”

Mo Zhe felt a pinch on his lower back, and he yelled in pain. He looked surprised at Zhao Yihuan, who pinched him. Seeing Zhao Yihuan subtly shaking her head, he suddenly realized what he was saying and awkwardly laughed.

This seemed like a complaint about Su Lixu’s little boyfriend.

Su Lixu frowned. If Fu Xingran’s social skills were as his roommates described, it seemed that he had some social issues. However, in front of him, Fu Xingran seemed quite normal.

“But he’s willing to play basketball with you, isn’t he?” Su Lixu asked.

Zhuo Yi sneered, “When he’s in a bad mood, he plays basketball with us to vent. We’ve gotten used to it.”

Su Lixu looked concerned. “What about other times? Does he attend classes with you guys regularly?”

“He won’t specifically say it, but he follows behind us,” Zhao Yihuan answered.

“What about meals? Does he eat alone?” Su Lixu inquired.”

He won’t specifically say to eat together, but sometimes, during breaks, we eat together. He just sits at the next table alone and doesn’t like to sit with us. There’s no strong feeling that he dislikes us, just a simple unwillingness to socialize with us much,” Zhao Yihuan explained.

Adjusting his glasses, Zhao Yihuan looked at Su Lixu. “Teacher Su, please don’t think we’re too offensive, but we also don’t want to ruin our relationship with Fu Xingran, after all, we share a dormitory. In our view, you are the only one Fu Xingran cares about. At least when he sees you, he smiles. He never smiles at anyone else.”

Zhuo Yi added, “Yeah, Fu Xingran has opinions about me. Whatever I say, he gets upset. Only when he sees you, Teacher Su does he feel happy. I don’t know if I’m too ugly for him, causing him to be like this whenever he sees me, or what. He just glares at me as soon as he sees me.”

Hearing this, Mo Zhe couldn’t help but laugh. “Zhuo Yi, that’s arrogance, not that you’re ugly. Who asked you to provoke Fu Xingran for no reason? You know his temper.”

“Humph.” Zhuo Yi dismissed with a sneer.

Su Lixu’s brow furrowed even more. So, in front of him, Fu Xingran was trying hard to disguise himself? Thinking about how Fu Xingran treated him with a smiling face every day during this period, he suddenly felt a stifling sensation in his chest, an inexplicable heartache.

Was Fu Xingran truly happy?

Borderline personality tends to blur its own sense of existence, depending on what image the person cares about. It imitates to blur its true self, which is why some borderline personalities come with split personalities.

Leaning back in his chair, he fell into silent contemplation. This issue needed to be addressed. It wasn’t just about him; Su Lixu realized that Fu Xingran’s social circle at school was crucial. The school’s social atmosphere also influenced Fu Xingran.Looking at the three big boys sitting in front of him, each seemed like a good kid. At least, they chose this method to approach him, wanting to improve their relationship with Fu Xingran. It indicated that they genuinely cared about Fu Xingran.

“Thank you for caring about Xingran,” Su Lixu expressed his gratitude.

Zhuo Yi waved his hand dismissively, “No, no, we just wanted to tease him a bit. Because he cares a lot about you, seeing his reaction just now made me feel so good.”

Mo Zhe looked speechless, “Teacher Su, you see, Zhuo Yi is always like this. It was his idea. The class president and I absolutely didn’t mean to bully our classmate. We really want to have a good relationship with Fu Xingran. We just wanted to ask Teacher Su how to tame someone like Fu Xingran, who’s as proud as a Persian cat.”

Hearing the term “Persian cat,” Su Lixu couldn’t help but laugh. Then, he suddenly thought of a solution.

If Fu Xingran could live in a loving environment, his borderline personality would slowly recover. Even if it didn’t fully recover, at least it could be more normal without social barriers.

However, just getting his love wasn’t enough. Fu Xingran also needed the love of classmates, friends, and even his father.

“Can you guys help me with something?” Su Lixu turned to the side, opened the lowest drawer, and took out a storage box. Placing it on his lap, he opened it and handed it to the three big boys in front of him. “These are his favorite gummy candies. Give him one every day when you see him. He’ll be very happy.”

The three of them showed expressions of disbelief at the revelation that Fu Xingran loved candy.

“This guy, so cold, and he actually likes candy?”

“And it’s gummy candy.”

“He’ll be happy if you give him candy? Isn’t he easier to please than a girl?”

Su Lixu thought to himself, indeed, Fu Xingran was easy to please. He knew how easy it was to appease Fu Xingran, at least back in the psychiatric hospital. A piece of candy could easily pacify him. Now, as long as it was from him, Fu Xingran would be happy.

A child who grew up in a loveless original family was so easy to satisfy. He alone couldn’t fulfill Fu Xingran’s social circle because Fu Xingran would never know only one person in his life. What he could do was to bring Fu Xingran to feel the goodwill of the people around him, learn to open his heart, and accept it.

“Is it okay?” Su Lixu asked the boys in front of him.

“Of course, no problem. Don’t worry, Teacher Su,. We will be good friends with Fu Xingran.”

Su Lixu, hearing that he could get help from Fu Xingran’s three roommates, gratefully smiled, “Thank you very much.”