Chapter 43
After those words, the air fell silent for a while. Only the background music from the game remained in the living room.
Lu Zhiyue blinked. “You found out?”
Chi Suinian clamped his mouth shut. “…”
Damn it.
Spoke too soon.
“How did you find out?” Lu Zhiyue leaned in closer and asked.
Chi Suinian said, “…None of your business.”
Lu Zhiyue glanced at his slowly reddening earlobes and subtly curled his lips. “I’m just curious.”
“Oh.” Chi Suinian scoffed, “Then go ahead and be curious.”
Not telling.
Let the bastard scratch his head over it.
Chi Suinian stopped responding and resumed playing the game.
“You’re not a violent maniac,” Lu Zhiyue suddenly said.
Chi Suinian froze for a second and replied stiffly, “…That’s because you don’t know me well enough.”
“I do know you.”
No one knew Chi Suinian better than he did.
Chi Suinian was stunned for a moment before snapping out of it. “You know shit.”
Lu Zhiyue smiled. “I know everything about you.”
“Including the time during the first semester of our first year in high school when you argued with a dog behind the school.”
Chi Suinian instantly turned red with anger. “You’re the one who argued with a dog! Your whole damn family argued with dogs!”
After yelling, a few vague images flashed through his mind.
Wait—did something like that actually happen?
That day, he’d gotten soaked by someone pouring water on him at school. His whole body was drenched. It was spring, and the weather wasn’t that warm yet, so a gust of wind made him shiver.
During lunch break, Chi Suinian slipped out the back gate of school to buy a change of clothes.
But just as he rounded a corner, he bumped into a scruffy little dog.
Both he and the dog were startled.
The dog was spooked and growled low at him, even baring its teeth.
“Shut up.”
“Woof woof woof.”
Chi Suinian was already full of frustration, and now this dirty little mutt had the nerve to bark at him? Completely out of line.
“If you bark one more time, I’ll cut your tail off and cook it into soup.”
The little mutt had probably never heard such a twisted idea before. It whimpered, clenched its butt, and ran away.
“…”
It was just a passing grumble, how the hell did it turn into “arguing with a dog” when it came from Lu Zhiyue’s mouth?
Chi Suinian was about to explode. “I did not argue with a damn—”
He suddenly stopped, staring at Lu Zhiyue in disbelief. “Were you following me?!”
“I liked you back then but couldn’t get close, so I just watched from afar. If that counts,” Lu Zhiyue said, “then yeah, I guess I was stalking you.”
“…”
Is there anyone more shameless than this guy?
And that was back in high school—what were they, like, thirteen or fourteen?
At that age, Lu Zhiyue was already stalking people?
Truly, perverts have no age limit.
“Freak!” Chi Suinian cursed through clenched teeth.
“I just liked you.”
Chi Suinian’s forehead twitched with visible veins. “Could you not say those two damn words all the time?!”
Could Lu Zhiyue not act like a normal person pursuing someone?
Shouldn’t a pursuer be nervous and cautious, afraid of rejection?
Why was Lu Zhiyue acting like he was on a damn mission to piss him off?
“Okay, then I’ll say it again tomorrow.”
“…I dare you! I’ll rip your mouth off!”
Lu Zhiyue, suddenly serious, said, “You’ve got to give me a chance to express my feelings.”
“…”
Love your ass.
Chi Suinian clenched his fists. “I really will hit you.”
“I know.” Lu Zhiyue nodded, loosening his tie casually as he sat beside him.
Chi Suinian instinctively straightened his back, thinking of turning off the stupid game.
The soft sofa dipped under their weight. Their legs brushed against each other, and Chi Suinian caught a whiff of Lu Zhiyue’s fresh scent.
“This game’s over a decade old. The level designs are different from modern ones,” Lu Zhiyue said, noticing Chi Suinian’s awkward movements. He connected another controller, ready to join in.
“What are you doing?” Chi Suinian glared at the controller in his hands, eyes blazing.
“Playing with you,” Lu Zhiyue raised an eyebrow.
“Get lost, I can do it myself.”
“I can’t. I can’t get through the level alone,” Lu Zhiyue said. “Play with me?”
“…” Chi Suinian was fuming at how shameless he was and turned his face away.
The living room was brightly lit. The curtains were open, and outside the window, the night was deep and still. The game screen showed characters constantly in motion, accompanied by dramatic background music and effects.
“Jump.”
“Use your skill to the side.”
“Dash and combo attack.”
“Don’t rush, clear the mobs first.”
…
“Shut up!” Chi Suinian snapped, annoyed. “Lu Zhiyue, can you stop being so damn noisy?”
“We’re almost through,” Lu Zhiyue innocently pointed at the screen.
With Lu Zhiyue’s coaching, despite all the irritation, Chi Suinian kept up flawlessly and finally made it to the end of the first level. They just had to defeat the boss to pass.
Chi Suinian had died to this boss over a dozen times. His character circled around as he hesitated on where to attack. He instinctively turned to the side. “Then—”
Damn.
Chi Suinian clamped his mouth shut.
Why was he asking Lu Zhiyue for help? He could beat it himself.
But Lu Zhiyue had already heard him, and their eyes met. Chi Suinian instinctively clenched the controller. For a moment, he wanted to beat Lu Zhiyue so hard he’d forget his own name.
“Start with freeze,” Lu Zhiyue said calmly. “Immobilize the boss, then hit its neck with Skill 3.”
“…”
Screw it.
It’s just a game. Asking for help isn’t shameful.
Besides, he didn’t even buy the damn cartridge. God knows how many times Lu Zhiyue has played it—he clearly knows it better. No need to feel embarrassed.
Thinking this, Chi Suinian pursed his lips and tilted his head. “…Then what?”
“The character you chose is a support type. Not good at clearing mobs. Just follow me and heal. Don’t worry about the boss.”
Chi Suinian had always charged ahead in games. That was more exciting. He’d never played a pure support character before. Now, it felt fresh and kind of fun.
He followed behind Lu Zhiyue and spammed healing items like crazy.
Until Lu Zhiyue suddenly cleared his throat. “…You just healed the boss.”
“…”
Chi Suinian scowled. “You didn’t catch it properly.”
Lu Zhiyue: “…”
He looked at the wildly off-target skill and opened his mouth to say something—then gave up.
Whatever. As long as the young master was having fun.
Thirty seconds later, they cleared the level. Chi Suinian blinked his tired eyes, starting to feel sleepy.
He was about to head upstairs when Lu Zhiyue called out, “Chi Suinian.”
It was rare for Lu Zhiyue to call him that seriously. Chi Suinian immediately sensed trouble and didn’t stop walking. “Whatever it is, say it tomorrow. I’m going to sleep.”
Lu Zhiyue watched his unsteady steps and chuckled. “What are you afraid of?”
“Me? Afraid?”
Chi Suinian let out a cold laugh and stopped mid-step on the stairs.
“You’d better say something useful. If not, I’ll make you pay.”
He was curious what other bullshit Lu Zhiyue could come up with.
As he turned around angrily, he bumped his forehead right into Lu Zhiyue’s chest.
“Jeez, don’t you know how to make some noise when you walk?”
Lu Zhiyue held his shoulders gently, eyes lowering slightly. Their gazes didn’t meet, but in Lu Zhiyue’s dark eyes, the light shimmered like stars.
“I’m not afraid of getting hit. Can you give me a chance?”
Chi Suinian froze on the spot.
It took him a long time to come back to his senses. “…Get lost.”
Chi Suinian closed the door behind him.
The room was dark, lit only by the faint moonlight seeping through the window. The entire space felt quiet and empty. In the darkness, Chi Suinian could hear the thudding of his own heartbeat.
He took two deep breaths and raised a hand to press against his brow.
His fingers paused.
He actually felt a faint warmth.
“…Shit.”
Chi Suinian’s chest was a chaotic mess. He leaned against the door and took a few more deep breaths before rushing into the bathroom and splashing cold water on his face.
He had to be losing his mind because of Lu Zhiyue.
His blood was boiling, which had to be why his skin felt so hot.
He looked up.
“…”
Sure enough, even his face was flushed from anger.
Chi Suinian stared at himself in the mirror for a moment, then simply took a cold shower.
Afterward, the heat eased slightly. Shivering, he stepped out of the bathroom—
Only to see Lu Zhiyue walk in, casually unbuttoning his shirt. Chi Suinian froze, the heat he’d just gotten rid of creeping back like a relapse.
“…”
Lu Zhiyue had to be toxic.
“Showered already?”
Chi Suinian didn’t answer. He quickly finished washing up and went to bed. Because he’d been too “angry,” he’d felt hot and kicked off the blanket before sleeping. But by the middle of the night, he was hit with alternating waves of hot and cold, and woke up feeling awful.
The first thing he saw was a blinding patch of white. As his vision cleared, a familiar face came into view.
Chi Suinian glared weakly at the person in front of him and growled, “…What the hell do you want now?”
His lips moved, but the words came out as a soft, hoarse breath.
Lu Zhiyue leaned over, propped himself on one arm, and felt his forehead with the back of his hand, frowning. “You have a fever.”
Chi Suinian’s head was spinning. His limbs felt heavy as he barked, “You have a f*cking fever!”
Like hell he could ever be as hot-blooded as Lu Zhiyue.
“…You’re delirious.”
“Get up,” Lu Zhiyue said, gently tapping his cheek. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Only now did Chi Suinian start noticing the chills alternating with heat all over his body. He buried himself under the covers and mumbled, “No. I’ll be fine after I sleep.”
He closed his eyes. He heard rustling near his ear and felt the bed shift. Assuming Lu Zhiyue had lain down again, he pulled the blanket tighter.
But just as he was starting to drift off—
Chi Suinian suddenly found himself being lifted, blanket and all.
“?”
Half a minute later, bundled up like a roll, he was carried in Lu Zhiyue’s arms.
Chi Suinian’s first reaction was to punch him in the face.
What did Lu Zhiyue think he was—sushi? A burrito?
But when he tried to raise his hand—
He couldn’t muster the strength.
“Put me down.”
“Don’t be difficult.” Lu Zhiyue carried him out and down the stairs. “Your body’s not in great shape. A fever like this isn’t something to take lightly.”
Wrapped up like a white caterpillar, Chi Suinian squirmed a few times in Lu Zhiyue’s arms. The blanket didn’t unravel, but he managed to work up a sweat from the struggle.
Exhausting.
Lu Zhiyue adjusted his hold with a little bounce, looking serious. “Stop moving. I’ll put you down once we get to the hospital.”
Since there was no escaping anyway, Chi Suinian gave up and went limp.
Lying there like a blanket burrito, he glared murderously at Lu Zhiyue’s side profile. “Lu Zhiyue, you’re dead.”
“Alright,” Lu Zhiyue said indulgently. “Once you’re better, you can beat me up however you like. I won’t fight back. Deal?”
Chi Suinian narrowed his eyes, still dissatisfied. “Are you talking to a child?”
Lu Zhiyue chuckled. “Isn’t someone who’s sick basically a child?”
Chi Suinian ground his teeth in frustration. He couldn’t hit him and was practically about to combust from holding it all in.
A thought flashed through his mind. Chi Suinian turned his head and pressed his fever-hot face against Lu Zhiyue’s shoulder—and bit him.
“…”
“Lu Zhiyue, you’re so dead.”
