Chapter 112: Extra

Xi Huai, who had decided to ignore Chi Muyao completely, broke his resolve just two days after cutting off contact with him.

Xi Huai wasn’t stupid. He realized something was off with himself and knew that if he continued interacting with Chi Muyao, it wouldn’t take long before he’d completely fall for him.

What was worse, after all these years of being straight, he wasn’t even afraid of the idea of falling for someone of the same gender. This only made things more awkward.

He really didn’t want to admit it… but he had been swayed.

And he certainly didn’t want to admit that Chi Muyao hadn’t even tried that hard, yet here he was, falling on his own.

What triggered Xi Huai to break his resolve was something that happened in the gym.

At the time, Xi Huai and his teammates were training in the gym when they encountered students from the “Rocket Class” coming in for their P.E. lesson.

Had it not been for Lu Tao noticing the girl he was pursuing, Xi Huai wouldn’t have paid attention to the fact that Chi Muyao was among the group. After all, Xi Huai rarely bothered to look at crowds.

When the Rocket Class students entered, Xi Huai and his teammates had just finished a training session and were resting in the stands on the second floor.

Xi Huai sat by the railing, and after Lu Tao greeted the girl, he glanced toward the crowd, spotting Chi Muyao instantly.

Without a doubt, even though Chi Muyao was casually standing in the crowd, he still stood out like a shining star. His pale skin and striking looks made him a presence that couldn’t be ignored. Though he wore the same school gym uniform as everyone else, he somehow made it look entirely different.

And then Xi Huai saw Chi Muyao playing basketball with Yu Yanshu!

Chi Muyao said he was only pursuing him, but now he was playing basketball with another handsome guy?

Xi Huai had really underestimated this top student. Playing with several guys at once — clearly a master of the game.

His teammates were still chatting around him, but Xi Huai paid them no mind. His gaze remained fixed, fierce, on the basketball court.

His brows furrowed, locking in all his displeasure.

On the court, Yu Yanshu was teaching Chi Muyao how to play basketball, starting with the basics like dribbling.

When Xi Huai saw Chi Muyao successfully make a basket and smile at Yu Yanshu, he crushed the water bottle in his hand in fury. The bottle cap shot off like a bullet, hit the wall, and then fell to the ground, making a noise that caught the attention of many nearby.

The noise also caught Chi Muyao’s attention. He looked over at the stands, and upon seeing Xi Huai, he waved excitedly, grinning as brightly as possible, even bouncing a couple of times to make sure Xi Huai saw him.

Already looking soft and fluffy, Chi Muyao seemed like a little bunny when he jumped.

Xi Huai turned his gaze away, pretending not to see him. He felt even more suffocated with anger. Chi Muyao had been caught flirting with another guy but didn’t seem the least bit nervous. In fact, he was so calm and collected — definitely a pro.

Yes, definitely a heartbreaker, Xi Huai thought. How else could he have gotten under his skin so easily after only a few days?

Yu Yanshu also glanced over at Xi Huai but appeared just as unconcerned. He continued dribbling and made a perfect three-pointer.

To be fair, Yu Yanshu, with his refined, delicate appearance, was indeed more of a “prince” type. The image of him with Chi Muyao was almost like a scene out of a movie.

Xi Huai was handsome too, but his sharp, aggressive features made him seem difficult to approach. If he stood in a crowd, the police might single him out for an ID check.

If one had to choose a romantic partner, someone like Yu Yanshu would probably be the first choice.

Xi Huai only took one glance before feeling as if he’d already lost.

Wait…

Lost? What was he talking about?

Chi Muyao was the one chasing him! It wasn’t like he and Yu Yanshu were competing for Chi Muyao’s affection!

Xi Huai’s anger muddled his thoughts.

That night, Xi Huai paced back and forth in his dorm room.

Zong Sicheng was messaging a girl, purposefully speaking in a sultry tone on voice messages. Meanwhile, Song Weiyue was yelling at someone from another dorm, trying to start a fight.

Already irritated, Xi Huai grew even more annoyed listening to their noises. Finally, he stormed out of the dorm and headed straight for Chi Muyao’s room.

Before he even knocked, Chi Muyao opened the door and peeked out, as if he’d been expecting him. Their eyes met.

Chi Muyao beamed. “I came out to check if you’d show up, and here you are! We’re so in sync!”

“Are you sure you were waiting for me and not someone else?”

“Who else would I be waiting for?”

“The guy you were playing basketball with.”

“He doesn’t need tutoring from me. He’s ranked second in the grade.”

“…Alright, fair enough.”

As Xi Huai stood awkwardly at the door, radiating hostility like a grim reaper, Chi Muyao nonchalantly pulled him inside, making him sit down. “I made some easy-to-understand notes for you these past two days.”

“I told you I wasn’t going to come.”

“But you’re here now, aren’t you?” Chi Muyao responded confidently, as if he’d known all along.

“…Yeah, I came.”

Chi Muyao pushed the notes in front of him. “Take a look. Ask me if anything’s unclear.”

Xi Huai picked up the notes and started reading.

Chi Muyao’s handwriting was neat and tidy — the standard “exam handwriting.” Easy to read, with clean margins that could earn bonus points.

The notes were also summarized in a way that made everything easy to understand. Even the difficult parts had clear annotations, leaving Xi Huai with no questions to ask. If he did ask, he’d feel like an idiot.

After a while, Xi Huai looked up to find Chi Muyao staring at him.

In an instant, Xi Huai felt uncomfortable, like a puppet whose strings had rotted, making his movements sluggish.

Frowning, Xi Huai asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be busy? Shouldn’t a student like you be studying without rest?”

“Actually, it’s time for me to sleep now.”

“Oh, then I’ll… leave.” Xi Huai said, getting ready to stand up.

“Wait.” Chi Muyao quickly stopped him, pressing his hands on Xi Huai’s legs in his haste, leaning in closer. Their faces were suddenly very close.

The distance between them shrank.

The unexpected closeness was like a match striking phosphorous — an instant spark.

The heat in the air, the charged atmosphere, everything was igniting.

Xi Huai looked at him in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“I know you’re upset. Don’t be jealous. There’s nothing between me and Yu Yanshu.”

“Ha!” Xi Huai let out a cold laugh. “Jealous?”

“Yeah. I was afraid you’d think I’m too stupid, so I asked someone else to teach me how to play basketball, so you wouldn’t dislike me next time we play together.”

“This is all just you talking. How do I know you aren’t seeing multiple people at once?”

“There’s only you!” Chi Muyao knew how easily Xi Huai got jealous, so he hurried to explain. “You saw us playing basketball, right? There was nothing intimate between us.”

“You smiled at him!”

“He was teaching me! What was I supposed to do, cry?”

“Why did you have to ask him? Why not someone else?”

“If I asked someone else, you’d get jealous of them too!”

“Bullshit! I wasn’t jealous!”

“Okay, during the time we’ve been together, have I messaged anyone else? But whenever we’re apart, I’ve been messaging you nonstop.”

“……” That much is true.

Just as Xi Huai fell into thought, wondering if Chi Muyao was a playboy, Chi Muyao suddenly leaned in closer and asked, “Xi Huai, are you still straight today?”

“Uh… yes.” Xi Huai hesitated for a moment.

“Yeah… but it’s okay. I’m still very happy that you’re starting to feel jealous.”

Xi Huai denied it again: “I’m not jealous!”

Xi Huai’s jealousy usually has a wide range; sometimes, he gets jealous of individuals, and at other times, he even gets jealous of flowers and plants. He has been jealous of fish bait and even the female pet pigs of his friends.

Chi Muyao once suspected that Xi Huai was the reincarnation of sweet and sour pork.

However, at this moment, Xi Huai refused to admit it. He thought he wasn’t jealous, just a bit unhappy.

After stubbornly denying it, he looked at the face so close to him, with its fair cheeks, enchanting peach blossom eyes, and slightly red lips, glistening like strawberry pudding under the dormitory lights.

His Adam’s apple rolled instinctively, his body leaned back, pressing against the chair’s backrest.

Chi Muyao watched him, gradually leaning closer. Seeing that he didn’t dodge or shy away but looked a bit conflicted, he quickly pecked at Xi Huai’s lips.

Very light, very fast, just a fleeting touch.

Xi Huai’s breath hitched, and soon his entire breathing became irregular, somewhat hurried and panicked, yet he still didn’t shy away, just kept looking at him.

Chi Muyao was immensely pleased by the sight, a smile forming on his lips.

But with that smile, Xi Huai grew even more flustered, his ears turning red.

Chi Muyao leaned in again, rubbing his nose against Xi Huai’s. When he saw that Xi Huai still didn’t pull away, he finally kissed those thin lips.

It was tentative, gradually claiming the other’s breath and swallowing it into his own chest.

In the quiet dormitory, the ticking of the clock on the table felt especially jarring, occasionally interrupted by the rustling of clothes.

Xi Huai was flustered by the kiss, his whole body stiff as he pressed tightly against the chair’s back, not moving at all.

He didn’t pull away.

If Xi Huai wanted to dodge or reject him, how could Chi Muyao possibly succeed?

Clearly, Xi Huai didn’t want to reject him.

Well, he hadn’t bent, but his body was not rejecting it.

When Chi Muyao pulled away from Xi Huai, Xi Huai instinctively leaned forward a bit. When he saw that Chi Muyao didn’t seem prepared to continue the kiss, Xi Huai abruptly snapped back to reality.

Chi Muyao raised a hand to wipe the moisture from Xi Huai’s lips and asked, “So, are you coming tomorrow?”

“Let’s see.” Xi Huai pretended to be calm as he stood up and walked outside. After a while, he turned back to grab his notebook.

Chi Muyao said goodbye: “Bye-bye.”

“Oh.” Xi Huai pretended to be indifferent as he left Chi Muyao’s dormitory, quickly walking away. When he reached the stairwell, he looked back at Chi Muyao’s dorm door, seeing Chi Muyao still leaning against the door, watching him leave, which made his heart flutter again.

Once he was out of sight of Chi Muyao, he raised his hand to touch his lips.

It’s rare for a fierce-looking person to become innocent, and he awkwardly tried to figure out which foot to step down first on the slow stairs to get downstairs smoothly.

His heart pounded like a drum, ringing in his ears, and his temples pulsed rhythmically.

His first kiss…

Was it Chi Muyao’s first kiss too?

Why did it feel like he was quite experienced?

Damn, now his heart felt sour again.

—

Xi Huai had changed.

He could always spot that person in school, whether in the cafeteria, on the playground, or in the hallways.

Perhaps it was because that person was so fair-skinned, or maybe it was because he was afraid that when that person saw him smile, he wouldn’t see it back. The thought of that person being disappointed made him actively seek him out, wanting to find him before he could be found.

In short, it had become Xi Huai’s habit to look for opportunities where he might run into that person.

During dinner time, the gym was relatively close to the cafeteria, so Xi Huai always arrived early.

Chi Muyao hurried over and quickly spotted Xi Huai in the line, walking over to stand behind him.

Once he arrived, he helped Song Weiyue, who was saving a spot, to go to the back of the line. He had sacrificed too much for this couple.

Chi Muyao whispered thanks to Song Weiyue and then pulled out snacks from his school uniform pocket, shoving bag after bag into Xi Huai’s pockets.

Xi Huai looked down and said, “The coach will scold us if he sees us eating snacks.”

“Then let’s eat secretly.” Chi Muyao was like Doraemon, pulling out all sorts of snacks from his pocket—candy, crab-flavored seeds, and so on. Before long, Xi Huai’s pockets were stuffed to the brim.

Standing behind them, Song Weiyue poked his head out and shouted, “I want it too!”

Xi Huai turned around and replied kindly, “Get lost.”

“Hmph!”

After finishing their meal, Chi Muyao followed Xi Huai to a corner table, holding his tray, and tugged at Xi Huai’s sleeve to explain, “It’s not that I’m ignoring your messages; my phone was taken by the director.”

“That director from your year group? Seems tough to deal with.”

“Isn’t that right? That’s Xian Yue…”

“Hmm?”

“Forget it; you don’t know this code name. It’s just Director Liu. Sigh, I still have to ask my parents to come.”

“How did the director even see your phone?”

“I’m not good at hiding my phone, and I really do check it too frequently.”

Xi Huai understood that Chi Muyao checked his phone often while waiting for his replies, so he asked, “Don’t your parents say anything about it? If it comes to it, I can buy you a new phone, and you can get a new SIM card.”

“No, if they knew I was playing on my phone during class, they might even be happy. After all, I finally seem like a normal person.”

“…” Why does that sound so weird?

Chi Muyao suddenly said in a low voice, “If my parents come, they might sneak a look at you. Don’t be scared; they aren’t weirdos, just curious about what kind of person I like.”

Xi Huai’s eyes widened in surprise. He had vaguely heard that coming out seemed difficult; how could Chi Muyao be so smooth about it?

“They know you like… boys? And they accept it?!” Xi Huai was so shocked he forgot to eat.

“Yeah, I told them, and they accepted it. They didn’t make it difficult for me. They understood how much I must like someone to give up studying for them.”

Xi Huai took a few more bites and looked at Chi Muyao in confusion, starting to wonder, is this also the play of a sea king?

Are his family members all helping with the act?

So advanced?

Or is it that… Chi Muyao isn’t a sea king, just naturally flirty? Am I just too easy to tease, making Chi Muyao’s casual actions seem like a ploy?

After finishing his meal, Chi Muyao hurried back to class, saying the accelerated class started half an hour earlier than others.

Xi Huai wandered to the supermarket alone, quickly bought some things, and came out.

After waiting for the sports team to disperse, Xi Huai went back to his dorm to pack his things and then headed to Chi Muyao’s dorm.

Song Weiyue was doing pull-ups on the bed while asking, “Why is Brother Huai acting so sneaky?”

Zong Sicheng had already seen through everything: “Hehe… secretly bought a bottle of breath freshener. He hasn’t used it all afternoon, and now that it’s time for self-study, he sprays it eight times in one minute. Who knows what he’s planning to do!”

“Right, what’s he planning to do?” Song Weiyue really couldn’t guess.

Zong Sicheng looked at Song Weiyue for a long time: “You’re just an idiot.”

“Damn, why are you suddenly cursing? Want to fight?!”

*

At Xi Huai’s dorm entrance, he surprisingly didn’t feel anxious and waited for a while before knocking on the door.

Chi Muyao quickly opened the door and welcomed Xi Huai inside: “Let’s do some practice questions today; I need to study too.”

“Oh, okay.”

After Xi Huai entered the dorm, he started working on problems. By the time he was about to return to his own dorm, Chi Muyao still hadn’t come to kiss him.

He looked at Chi Muyao several times, but Chi Muyao was seriously studying and seemed too busy to pay him any attention.

Is the book that interesting?!

I’m sitting right here, and Chi Muyao keeps reading?

Isn’t that a bit too much?!

Feeling a bit miffed, he got up and said, “I’m going back to my dorm.”

“Hmm.”

Xi Huai grabbed his books and walked to the door. Chi Muyao was still reading, so he could only push the door open and leave.

At that moment, Chi Muyao finally called out to him, making his heart leap with joy, but he heard Chi Muyao ask, “Do you want some candy?”

Xi Huai let out a breath, closed the door again, and stepped back inside.

Chi Muyao thought he still wanted some and stood up to grab some candy from the cabinet, but Xi Huai held his arm and placed it on the table. Then Xi Huai unhesitatingly leaned in to kiss him.

The heavy kiss made him feel like he was back in the book, where that hot-bodied person could always burn him.

This time was no different.

Chi Muyao raised his hands to hold onto Xi Huai’s shoulders, breathless from the kiss.

It seemed like Xi Huai had been holding back a lot, hence the urgency.

Once they were done, it took Chi Muyao a long time to catch his breath and ask, “Xi Huai, are you still straight?”

“What do you think?”

Chi Muyao laughed and happily exclaimed, “I can’t believe I’m in a puppy love! This feels so human! I feel more like a person now.”

“What do you mean?”

“My family always says I’ve become so dumb from studying that I don’t seem like a person anymore.”

“You… really haven’t been in a relationship?”

“Well, how to put it… does spending hundreds of years in a book count? But in reality, no, I haven’t.”

This statement made Xi Huai unhappy, and he released Chi Muyao to look at him.

Chi Muyao could only explain, “Do you know love simulation games? I’m really good at pursuing your type in games.”

“What nonsense?”

“Basically, I’ve only dated you,” Chi Muyao said with a brilliant smile.

“…” Xi Huai couldn’t stand his smile; whenever he smiled, it made him feel flustered. So he decisively kissed him to swallow that smile.

*

When Chi Muyao’s sister came to school, it caused a minor sensation.

She was a beauty without being overly aggressive, and her impact was even stronger—soft and flawless features, elegant and gentle temperament, resembling Chi Muyao’s eyes, with a touch of femininity.

With long hair flowing and dressed in light colors, wearing high heels, standing beside Chi Muyao, they created a stunning visual feast.

Looking at this pair of siblings, bystanders couldn’t help but think… their parents should have had more kids!

After helping Chi Muyao retrieve his phone, Chi Muyao’s sister was very curious to meet Xi Huai. She was eager to see what kind of person her brother liked.

Surprisingly, Xi Huai took the initiative to greet her, saying, “Hello, I’m Xi Huai.”

Chi Muyao’s sister was a bit surprised to see Xi Huai but was very happy nonetheless.

Having a brother was great, but suddenly having such a handsome brother-in-law was an unexpected delight.

“He’s dating a guy; doesn’t your family mind?” Xi Huai asked tentatively.

Chi Muyao’s sister shook her head: “As long as he can date, I’m okay with it. I’m really afraid one day he’ll become a lifelong bachelor scientist, showing up at fifty with a bald head, telling me he finally doesn’t want to study anymore and wants to become a monk, living a life without desires, forgetting the mortal world…”

Xi Huai couldn’t help but chuckle: “Is he really that kind of person?”

“Yeah, those first years were like he had no feelings at all, completely devoid of human warmth.”

Xi Huai was somewhat surprised and looked at Chi Muyao for a long time.

They hadn’t spent much time together, but to him, Chi Muyao seemed gentle. How could he be devoid of warmth?

He didn’t know that this realization came after Chi Muyao had spent many years in the book.

Before leaving, Chi Muyao’s sister called Chi Muyao for a private chat and sighed, “Sigh, turns out you’re a zero…”

Standing next to Chi Muyao, the distinction between zero and one was stark.

“Do you think I… can be a one?”

“Sisters always have many fantasies about their brothers.”

Chi Muyao’s sister looked at Chi Muyao for a long time and finally reminded him earnestly: “Make sure to exercise more.”

“Okay…”

Chi Muyao’s sister could also tell that Xi Huai had a strong physique, and just by looking at his figure, it was obvious he would… be hard to accommodate.

Meanwhile, Zong Sicheng had been lurking nearby for a long time. Finally, he waited for Xi Huai to return and quickly approached him, exclaiming, “Is the school hunk’s sister a fairy? She looks unreal!”

“Not bad.” He thought Chi Muyao looked better.

“What did you say to his sister?”

“I just greeted my boyfriend’s sister.”

“Your… your… boyfriend?!” Zong Sicheng was stunned and then looked at him in exasperation. “Brother Huai, the school hunk chased you for sixteen days, sixteen days… couldn’t you be a little more reserved? It would have been fine to wait until a full month… but you got caught in sixteen days?!”

“Does it concern you?!” Xi Huai retorted angrily, unable to hold back.

Seeing Chi Muyao returning with his sister, Xi Huai immediately went to meet them.

*

Chi Muyao clung to the edge of the bedside table, struggling to get out of bed.

Xi Huai held onto his waist, refusing to let go, preventing him from leaving the bed.

With a fierce grip, Xi Huai asked, “Chi Muyao! You weren’t like this when you were pursuing me. You took the initiative to kiss me, almost unable to contain yourself, and now you always want to run away. What’s going on?! Haven’t we been dating for just four years? Have you changed your mind so quickly?”

Chi Muyao looked particularly aggrieved: “My legs are cramping up, and you’re ruining me. I really can’t take it anymore; I’m not coming back…”

“Our schools are so far apart. I only come three times a week, and you treat me like this?!”

“Three times a week, and each time you keep me occupied all night! Look at what time it is now, three in the morning! Can’t you let me take a shower and get some sleep?”

“Have you changed your mind?!”

“No! No! I just want to rest my legs!”

Xi Huai finally let go of him, allowing him to get up. He supported himself against the wall and went to the bathroom to wash up.

As expected of Xi Huai, both of them were equally stubborn; nine out of ten times they argued because Chi Muyao couldn’t withstand Xi Huai’s torment, while Xi Huai, like a little motor, just couldn’t stop.

Another time, they quarreled because Chi Muyao had read too much and slept too long, choosing to fold clothes instead of paying attention to Xi Huai.

Who did he offend by folding clothes? They wrinkled if not folded! He could fold clothes for less than five minutes and still want to argue!

Before long, Xi Huai followed him into the bathroom. Seeing him struggling to wash himself while holding onto the wall, Xi Huai went over and hugged him, allowing him to lean against him.

Leaning in Xi Huai’s embrace, Chi Muyao stole a moment of laziness, and Xi Huai supported him.

Warm water cascaded from the showerhead above, showering both of them. Xi Huai was tall, and the water flowed from his head down to Chi Muyao.

Xi Huai seemed to calm down, proactively apologizing: “I just miss you so much. I wish I hadn’t signed the university contract when we first met.”

“It would have been great if our schools were in the same city.”

“Only seeing each other three times a week makes me want to be with you all the time.”

“Mm, I understand.”

“Then can we… do it again…”

“……”

………………

When Xi Huai carried Chi Muyao out of the bathroom and placed him on the bed, Chi Muyao still felt a bit dizzy.

The bathroom environment left him feeling somewhat oxygen-deprived, gasping for breath and crying heavily, while Xi Huai’s torment only intensified.

He felt a bit weak and took a long time to recover.

After Xi Huai tidied up the room and lay beside him, Chi Muyao still snuggled into Xi Huai’s embrace, hugging him fiercely and saying, “If you keep being so excessive, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

“Mm, I’m sorry…” Although Xi Huai’s words didn’t seem very sincere, his kisses were particularly gentle, and he ultimately held him tightly, cherishing him deeply.

After Chi Muyao fell asleep, Xi Huai continued to play with his hair in the dark.

To him, the time they spent together was too short. He wished he could be with Chi Muyao every minute and every second.

Being together was rare; he couldn’t bear to sleep, only wanting to watch him for a while longer, to see him a little more, enjoying every glance.

*

What is love?

I can’t understand it; I can’t grasp it.

I can only be sure of one thing: no matter the time or the environment, as long as it’s that person, it’s easy to fall in love.

Once in love, one cannot part from it, entwining their lives together with silk threads, embracing, kissing, and cherishing each other.

*

I offer a peach blossom as a pledge of eternal affection; may I ask, would my lord like to share a drink?

I offer my tenderness in your embrace; may I ask, would my lord like to hold hands together?

I am willing to be drunk to the ends of the earth, I am willing to make a home in this chaotic world, I am willing to live this life without regrets, loving only one person for my entire life.

May I ask, is my lord willing?

I hear him say: I am willing.