PTCQT Chapter 5

“I didn’t expect President Xie to return early. Sorry, it won’t happen next time,” Shen Chun’s gaze swept over Xie Baiyuan’s slightly shifting eyes.

Anyone who could be swayed isn’t purely straight, sexual orientation is innate. Perhaps some individuals were influenced by certain ideas during childhood, leading to a different sexual orientation from the general public, but true straights don’t bend.

Regardless of whether Xie Baiyuan in the original timeline accepted Xu Ze due to being moved or for other reasons, it’s enough to prove he’s bent.

If the original judgment wasn’t sufficient to prove it, the scene before us now is ample evidence.

Among straight guys, not only do they run around the hallway wearing only boxers, but sometimes they even take off their shirts when playing basketball, leaning on each other’s shoulders without any embarrassment. But feeling awkward because the other person bares their chest? That’s even more bent than a safety pin.

In the original timeline, even when Xie Baiyuan was with Xu Ze, they seemed to live a life akin to ascetics. The only intimate gestures seemed to extend to holding hands; he was naturally aloof, and Xu Ze didn’t dare to easily offend him.

Perhaps this was also the reason Xu Ze once had no sense of security, but looking at the current situation…

Appetite knows no bounds; even President Xie hasn’t escaped this trait.

It’s just an unexpected innocence.

Shen Chun wouldn’t assume that Xie Baiyuan liked him just because of this. The current situation is probably just like the reaction of a straight guy seeing a beautiful woman – though there’s a hint of interest, ultimately it’s just a passing glance.

Xie Baiyuan’s peripheral vision caught his movements, and he unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief when Shen Chun put on the short T-shirt. “No need.”

Bending down to pick up the keys, he sat in his usual spot when he closed the door, with his back to Shen Chun, his posture still naturally straight.

He turned on the computer; the proposals and meetings to prepare for were all there. Normally, Xie Baiyuan would handle them swiftly, but now, with his hand resting on the keyboard, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

It’s widely known that Shen Chun is very good-looking, but Xie Baiyuan is aware and indifferent to it.

He has seen quite a few handsome guys, although none compare to Shen Chun. However, almost all of them, despite their good looks, are interested in women.

In this relatively open society, although same-sex relationships are increasingly supported and affirmed, the younger generation is more responsive to the progress and development of social culture, offering more understanding. However, those who genuinely like the same sex still remain in the minority.

And Xie Baiyuan himself belongs to this minority; he likes men.

There have been occasions when men have confessed their feelings to him, and his reason for rejecting them isn’t because he’s afraid of exposure, but because emotions cannot be forced. Just because someone likes men doesn’t mean they can be with just any man.

Xie Baiyuan’s indifference towards Shen Chun isn’t a lack of appreciation for him. Shen Chun’s appearance surpasses Xie Baiyuan’s expectations for a future partner. He’s exceptionally good-looking, to say he’s flawless wouldn’t be an exaggeration. But he should be interested in women.

In this circle, turning a straight man isn’t ethical.

Even though there’s a saying that true straights don’t bend, part of it implies that there are those who could swing either way but aren’t consciously attracted to the same sex. Without any prompting, they could go their whole lives without realizing it. They could have lived a conventional life with a spouse and children, but they’re forcibly drawn into this potentially controversial circle. For Xie Baiyuan, this is also unethical.

Shen Chun’s appearance is aesthetically pleasing, but he’s a straight man. That’s why Xie Baiyuan chooses to keep his interactions with Shen Chun distant.

However, he truly underestimated Shen Chun’s allure. Even as his gaze remained fixed on the computer desktop, Xie Baiyuan couldn’t shake the memory of that astonishing glance. The water droplets from the jet-black hair falling onto those beautifully sculpted collarbones, meandering along the hollows, flowing smoothly…

The sound of his heartbeat was somewhat loud, and even his throat felt slightly dry.

He had been content with having a satisfactory roommate, but now he was starting to feel dissatisfied again.

Xie Baiyuan’s fingers moved unconsciously, his thoughts slightly muddled, until a warm and humid presence enveloped him from behind. In that instant, his mind seemed to go blank, and his heart began to race.

“President, do you not need this document?” Shen Chun leaned over, resting his hands on the table beside Xie Baiyuan, and asked as he glanced at the document on Xie Baiyuan’s computer.

Xie Baiyuan snapped back to reality, and there was a momentary dilation of his pupils as he looked at the unconscious deletions on his computer screen.

This was the proposal submitted by the organization department, the final version. Of course, it needed to be used. It detailed various expenditures, and he had inadvertently deleted several lines. Luckily, he hadn’t saved it, so it could still be recovered.

The warm breath near his ear seemed to gently stir the hairs on his earlobe. Xie Baiyuan’s ear twitched slightly, and he tightened his grip on the mouse. “Hmm, this document needs to be revised. What’s up?”

“Nothing, I just saw President deleting something, so I came over to take a look,” Shen Chun’s gaze swept over his earlobe, and he stood up, casually picking up the towel to continue drying his hair.

The scene faded, leaving Xie Baiyuan alone, his lips pursed as he reached up to wipe away the slight chill that had inexplicably left him feeling somewhat guilty just now.

“Oh, President…” Shen Chun seemed to remember something and spoke up.

This made Xie Baiyuan subconsciously relax his lightly flicking fingers and sit up straight. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to ask, what should I pay attention to during the student council interviews?” Shen Chun hung the towel back, casually running his fingers through his semi-dried hair. “It’s my first time joining this kind of organization, and I’m a bit nervous. I wanted to seek some advice from someone experienced.”

In this state, Xie Baiyuan couldn’t see any signs of nervousness from Shen Chun. But himself… calm down. No matter how you look at it, someone like Shen Chun isn’t suitable for a long-term relationship, not just in terms of sexual orientation but also in other aspects.

“Just approach it the way you did during the freshman speech, no need to be nervous,” Xie Baiyuan said coldly.

“The freshman speech was about being able to prepare a script in advance, but the interview requires improvisation. President, since we’re roommates, could you please give me a hint in advance?” Shen Chun said with a smile.

Despite being two years younger than Xie Baiyuan, Shen Chun always spoke with a hint of playfulness. When he spoke softly, it seemed like he was even coquettish, making it hard for those who interacted with him to refuse his requests.

Advance preparation isn’t out of the question. Each year, the questions are more or less the same. It mainly depends on individual abilities and performance on the spot. After Shen Chun’s freshman speech, both the Literary and Art Department and the External Relations Department had their eyes on him, just waiting for him to submit an application to pull him in. The result could be described as having no suspense.

“Which department do you want to join?” Xie Baiyuan asked.

“The Organization Department,” Shen Chun replied.

Shen Chun joined the Organization Department, not to keep tabs on others, but because organizing and planning were relatively relaxed tasks.

Xie Baiyuan: “…Why do you want to join this department?”

“I prefer working quietly,” Shen Chun smiled.

The Organization Department did seem less quiet. This person’s temperament was indeed different from what he had imagined. Xie Baiyuan pondered for a moment, his tone growing colder. “Just prepare well. If I give you hints, it wouldn’t be fair to others.”

It sounded extremely cold-hearted, without any consideration for kindness.

However, Shen Chun didn’t seem embarrassed by the rejection. “I see. The president has his concerns too. Then I’ll just prepare well.”

“Yeah,” Xie Baiyuan didn’t detect any signs of anger or dissatisfaction on his face, but he couldn’t shake off a sense of guilt. “Are you really not considering the Literary and Art Department?”

“Does the president want me to join the Literary and Art Department?” Shen Chun asked.

“No,” Xie Baiyuan denied.

As Xie Baiyuan had anticipated, Shen Chun effortlessly joined the Student Council. His ability to respond on the spot and his organizational skills impressed the senior students conducting the interview, and he was immediately accepted.

“Welcome to the Organization Department,” the department head smiled and extended his hand to Shen Chun.

“Thank you, Director.” Shen Chun stood up and shook his hand.

With the interview results confirmed, Shen Chun emerged from the interview room. Nearby, a senior student was still calling out, “Number 75, please come in for the interview…”

Shen Chun walked through the crowd, naturally stepping aside to make way for someone walking towards him from the opposite direction.

“Thank you,” Xu Ze nodded slightly in gratitude, but when he lifted his head and recognized who it was, he froze for a moment.

Shen Chun, the rising star among the freshmen, was a name even Xu Ze, who usually paid no attention to outside matters, had heard about everywhere.

As the freshman representative, he had good looks, came from a prestigious family, had impeccable manners, and was kind to others.

In the praise of many, this freshman could almost rival Xie Baiyuan in reputation.

During the freshman speech, Xu Ze had seen Shen Chun sitting in the back row. The tall and handsome figure of the young man truly belonged in the spotlight. As many people said, he was no less attractive than Xie Baiyuan.

Later, Xu Ze had seen him again during class, when their classes merged. Shen Chun was always surrounded by people—admiring ones, friendly ones. It seemed like he was born to be above others.

He was the pride among the proud, and Xu Ze thought he would never have the chance to talk to someone like him. Even though they attended the same university, there was a world of difference between someone who got in through top scores and someone who barely made the cut. Faced with Shen Chun, he felt an indescribable sense of inferiority.

He hadn’t expected someone like Shen Chun to make way for him when they met, dispelling the imagined disdain.

“Thank you,” Xu Ze whispered again.

“No problem, hurry in,” Shen Chun gestured.

Xu Ze nodded, nervously adjusting the collar of his shirt. After greeting the senior student calling out numbers, he stepped into the interview room.

Shen Chun’s gaze returned from Xu Ze, then he left the building with a smile.

University is indeed a small society, although many people may not realize it yet. Xu Ze’s academic performance upon entering the campus wasn’t outstanding, but even when facing campus recruitment, he dressed appropriately in a shirt and trousers. It might have seemed a bit too formal, but interviewers generally appreciated this level of formality.

Being formal shows attention to detail and indicates seriousness, and formal attire often leaves a good first impression.

Shen Chun had also wondered how someone like Xu Ze, with his personality and grades, managed to join the Student Council. Now he understood. Compared to other students in casual wear, Xu Ze seemed to genuinely value this interview opportunity.

“Opportunities favor the prepared,” that saying is absolutely true.

But even on scorching days like this, wearing a long-sleeved shirt can be quite hot.

Shen Chun loosened his collar, unbuttoning the top two buttons and letting some air in. He then heard the sound of a camera shutter nearby.

Turning to look, Shen Chun saw a girl who had been sneakily taking photos. She hurriedly and sheepishly put her phone away, saying, “Sorry…”

“Give me your phones,” Shen Chun walked over, towering over the two nervous girls.

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to…” The girl handed over her phone awkwardly. “We’ll delete them right away.”

Forgetting to turn off the shutter sound while sneaking photos was truly embarrassing. How did she forget to turn off the flash as well?

Shen Chun took the phone and glanced at the photos. They were blurry, as they were taken from behind, and even his profile was hardly recognizable. Only a vague outline indicated that it was him.

“Why delete them? If you want to take pictures, why not just ask me directly?” Shen Chun crouched slightly, positioned himself in front of the girl, and pressed the capture button. With the screen frozen, he returned the phone. “Here you go. Next time, if someone asks for your phone, just give it to them without hesitation.”

 

 

 

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