SBS chapter 33

When Zheng Yang stormed over, Ye Xi was still completely confused. He had just been bumped by another student and fallen into Bai Yue’s arms. His heart was pounding as he took the chance to snuggle a bit—any chance to take advantage was a good one.

But before he could decide whether to “accidentally” nuzzle against Bai Yue’s neck—

He was yanked out of Bai Yue’s embrace with great force.

Who the hell was so rude?!

Ye Xi cursed internally.

He turned around with a scowl—then, not entirely surprised, saw Zheng Yang’s face.

…He knew it.

Ye Xi thought, Who else would be this much of a jerk—specifically out to ruin things at a romantic, buddy-photo-taking bonfire party like this?

He crossed his arms. The tender, lovestruck look he had just worn in front of Bai Yue vanished without a trace.

That fluttering heart, those rapid beats—

Gone, the moment he saw Zheng Yang’s face.

“You got a problem?” he asked Zheng Yang.

Zheng Yang couldn’t even explain what he was doing.

He just knew he’d charged over on pure instinct. If he’d let Bai Yue and Ye Xi keep hugging, something bad was definitely going to happen.

But of course, that wasn’t a reason he could say out loud.

He glanced at Bai Yue beside them.

Bai Yue wasn’t thrilled about being shoved, but he still kept his composure under Zheng Yang’s gaze. Calmly, he stood next to Ye Xi and even gave Zheng Yang a small smile.

That only made Zheng Yang even more pissed.

“Two guys hugging like that—what does that even look like?” His voice was low, not angry or explosive, just gloomy and restrained.

Like he was picking a fight just because he happened to be passing by.

He looked at Ye Xi. “In front of everyone, try to watch yourself.”

Ye Xi honestly wanted to smash a lantern over his head.

If Zheng Yang kept this up, Ye Xi would start suspecting he had a crush on Bai Yue.

But their bad relationship was a long-standing issue.

And as much as he hated to admit it, Zheng Yang wasn’t wrong—making a scene in public would be messy.

So he took a deep breath and resisted the urge to punch his brother in the face.

“Mind your own business.”

He said, “What’s wrong with two boys hugging? The whole place is full of hugs. What are you, stuck in the dark ages?”

He tilted his chin, intending to show Zheng Yang the playful chaos of all the rowdy high school boys around them.

But his eyes just so happened to land on—

Li Rui clinging hard to Sheng Yuhe.

Those two were pretty conspicuous in the crowd.

Sheng Yuhe was tall and being force-hugged by Li Rui, who looked like he wanted to kiss him. Sheng Yuhe, clearly annoyed, furrowed his brows and tried to back away.

Li Rui, on the other hand, looked smug. He even tiptoed up and made a kissing motion, scaring Sheng Yuhe into stumbling backward.

Ye Xi: “……”

Suddenly, his example had completely lost credibility.

He quickly looked away, coughed awkwardly, and pretended he hadn’t seen anything.

Zheng Yang, meanwhile, glanced between Li Rui, Sheng Yuhe, and Bai Yue, falling into deep confusion.

He looked conflicted—almost on the verge of a breakdown.

No way, he thought. There’s no way the world has this many gay guys, right?

Is this just how boys express affection these days?

Zheng Yang was utterly lost.

….

Ye Xi didn’t want to deal with Zheng Yang anymore, but Zheng Yang stuck to him like a shadow, stubbornly staying by his and Bai Yue’s side.

No choice—Ye Xi dragged both of them along to meet up with Li Rui.

By then, they had all already placed their lanterns, and the event was wrapping up.

The dean was giving a passionate speech from the stage.

Students gathered around the bonfire, clutching cups of hot tea and small buns just handed out by the school.

“Our school’s actually pretty humane,” Li Rui said, standing beside Ye Xi, his face rosy and glowing in the firelight.

Sheng Yuhe had left earlier, so Li Rui had latched onto Ye Xi instead.

Ye Xi nodded.

He heard the dean say, “No matter what others expect from you, at the very least, stay true to your own efforts…”

Ye Xi subtly glanced back toward Bai Yue.

Bai Yue stood next to Zheng Yang. When he saw him look over, he smiled.

Ye Xi quickly turned back, but couldn’t help smiling too.

….

After the speech ended, the students gradually dispersed.

Winter break started the next day. Some students went straight home with their parents.

Ye Xi and Li Rui, who lived in the dorms, still had to pack and would leave the next day.

Bai Yue asked with concern, “Want me to help you pack?”

Ye Xi quickly shook his head.

“It’s pretty much done,” he replied. “Just need to grab my stuff tomorrow. The driver will help.”

Zheng Yang stood nearby with his arms crossed, listening to their syrupy sweet exchange and barely holding back his commentary.

“Enough,” he said to Bai Yue. “If you don’t sleep, Ye Xi won’t either? I’m sending three maids from home tomorrow to help Ye Xi carry his bags. No need for your concern.”

Ye Xi looked at his watch—just 9 p.m. Who the hell sleeps this early?

But Bai Yue could tell Zheng Yang was at his limit, so he didn’t argue.

He said, “You’re right. It’s getting late—you should get some rest.”

He looked at Ye Xi. “It’s cold out. Go back to your dorm. And call me during the break.”

Only then did Ye Xi reluctantly start walking away.

He looked back every few steps, waving to Bai Yue at the dorm entrance before finally slipping inside under the puzzled gaze of the dorm matron.

And as soon as Ye Xi disappeared from view, Bai Yue’s smile vanished.

He turned and faced Zheng Yang. Both were tall, lean, dressed in long black coats, standing under the streetlights in the winter night. To a passerby, they could have easily looked like real brothers.

“So,” Bai Yue asked, “where are you going? Home?”

Home, my ass.

Zheng Yang stared at him darkly, his mind a chaotic mess.

He knew Bai Yue too well. Back on the lantern event, he’d been watching Bai Yue the entire time—and Bai Yue’s gaze had been fixed almost exclusively on Ye Xi.

When a boy from another class came up to talk to Ye Xi, others might not have noticed, but he immediately saw the subtle shift in Bai Yue’s expression—cooling ever so slightly.

And yet, when Ye Xi turned to look at him, Bai Yue instantly put on that warm, gentle demeanor.

This was not normal…

Zheng Yang thought.

It had never been normal.

At that moment, all the scattered fragments from the past finally connected in his mind.

Actually, he had noticed for a long time that Bai Yue paid too much attention to Ye Xi.

Others might not know, but he was the closest link between Bai Yue and Ye Xi, so he had always faintly felt that something was off—he just couldn’t pinpoint why.

But just now, he finally realized what was wrong.

Bai Yue’s protectiveness toward Ye Xi was excessive. And beyond that… there was also a strong sense of possessiveness.

That wasn’t how one should feel toward someone else’s little brother.

And yet, looking at Bai Yue now—considering their years of friendship and how well he knew him—he couldn’t bring himself to speak easily.

He could only stare at Bai Yue, face like still water.

Bai Yue, on the other hand, had already taken in every bit of Zheng Yang’s conflicted silence.

He chuckled lightly.

“Looks like you’re not planning to go home.”

He gestured for Zheng Yang to walk out with him. Zheng Yang resisted briefly, but ultimately followed.

Bai Yue’s car was parked outside.

Once they left the school gate, Bai Yue pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket and took one out.

Click.

A flame flickered orange in the dark, illuminating his long lashes, black as crow feathers, and his deep, cold eyes like a frozen lake.

The nicotine filled his lungs, somehow more biting than usual in the cold winter night.

Bai Yue held the cigarette between his fingers and exhaled a thin trail of white smoke.

“I quit smoking the past six months so I wouldn’t bother Ye Xi,” he said to Zheng Yang with a smile, waving the cigarette a little. His tone was calm, his gaze unshaken. “This is the first one I’ve had since then.”

“I know you have a lot of questions right now.”

Bai Yue opened the car door and looked at Zheng Yang. “Get in. I’ll spare a little time to talk with you.”

Talk with you.

Those three words weighed heavily on Zheng Yang’s heart.

He would’ve preferred Bai Yue evade or hide from the topic, rather than be so candid.