SBS chapter 14

Ye Xi returned to the dorm in a daze. Since it had started to drizzle, Bai Yue insisted on driving him back.

So once again, he got out of Bai Yue’s Maserati.

As he stepped out of the car, Bai Yue held his hand and confirmed, “Sunday afternoon at 1:30, right?”

Ye Xi’s mind was a total blur. He just nodded.

Even after riding the elevator to the third floor, he still hadn’t snapped out of it. He floated into the dorm room and collapsed into his chair, staring blankly at the gift box in his hand.

Li Rui had been lying on his bed scrolling through his phone. The moment he heard movement, he sprang out.

He wasn’t clueless. When Ye Xi abruptly hung up on him earlier, he had already figured out what was going on.

Ye Xi was probably face-to-face with Bai Yue just then.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reacted like that.

So now, Li Rui leaned over gleefully, hopping down from the bed.

“Well? Did Bai Yue agree to tutor you?” he asked as he walked over—only to find Ye Xi looking completely out of it.

“What’s with that look?” Li Rui exclaimed in alarm. “Don’t tell me he turned you down…”

That wouldn’t make sense. Wasn’t Bai Yue supposed to be kind, handsome, and easy to talk to?

But Ye Xi didn’t respond. His mind was still filled with the image of Bai Yue smiling at him just now.

His soul seemed to still be stuck back there. He blinked slowly, eyes fixed on the white dorm wall across from him, completely unfocused.

He murmured unconsciously, almost in a whisper: “…What do I do? I really like him.”

Really, really like him.

So much that he could barely contain it.

He stared at the little clay figure in his hand, thinking of how Bai Yue said it looked like him—cute. The thought made Ye Xi feel flushed all over.

Sometimes, he genuinely wondered: how could someone as perfect as Bai Yue exist in this world?

When Nuwa created humanity, she clearly didn’t leave a single ounce of skill for the rest.

Li Rui: “…?”

He was completely lost. No idea what kind of lovesick fantasy Ye Xi had just wandered into.

But judging by Ye Xi’s expression, it definitely wasn’t the face of someone who’d failed to secure a tutor.

The guy looked positively dumbstruck.

Li Rui crossed his arms and gave up trying to reason with him. Even if Ye Xi and Bai Yue weren’t official yet, this scene made him feel like he’d just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food.

He shook his head and commented sincerely, “Pathetic.”

A few minutes later, Ye Xi finally came back to himself, as if breaking free from Bai Yue’s charm spell.

Holding the little clay doll Bai Yue gave him, Ye Xi put on his usual blank expression and began recounting everything that happened—down to the tiniest detail—with a faint air of smugness.

Li Rui listened intently at first… then slowly grew numb.

Alright, alright. He got it.

Bai Yue was warm, considerate, handsome, thoughtful, intelligent, had perfect archery form, and was basically a one-in-a-billion dream guy.

Really, no need to say more.

Still, as he watched Ye Xi’s deadpan face light up when talking about Bai Yue, with eyes sparkling like stars, Li Rui couldn’t help thinking:

Could Bai Yue really not like someone like Ye Xi?

It didn’t seem possible.

The way Ye Xi loved was so sincere, it could melt even the coldest heart.

“I get it, I get it. Bai Yue is the definition of kind and gentle, and yes, he’s going to tutor you this Sunday,” Li Rui finally raised a hand to stop Ye Xi’s TED Talk on “Bai Yue’s 100 Perfect Traits.” He chuckled and said, “But seriously—shouldn’t you prepare a little for your first date?”

“W-What date?” Ye Xi was caught off guard. Once he processed what Li Rui meant, he froze.

He clearly didn’t get it. Still looking confused, he asked, “I’m just going to Bai Yue’s place for tutoring. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Come on.”

Li Rui was exasperated.

He looked at Ye Xi like he was a lost cause. “Seriously? You think he’s really just tutoring you? You’re clearly using it as an excuse to get close to him. Get your priorities straight.”

Oh.

That… actually made sense.

Ye Xi suddenly sat up straight, remembering the seduction tips guide he’d tossed in a corner ages ago.

Li Rui gently coaxed him, “Think about it. You’re going to be alone with him for hours. How’s that not a date? You need to prepare. Dress a hundred times better than usual. Ideally, make sure he dreams about you at night.”

Ye Xi: “……”

He couldn’t help imagining it. His face flushed bright red.

Eager to learn, he turned to Li Rui and asked, “What should I do?”

…..

The next morning, Ye Xi was dragged off by Li Rui for a full-body grooming session.

When he saw the fancy beauty salon in the middle of the busy city center, Ye Xi’s first instinct was to turn and run.

Unfortunately, as soon as he turned around, Li Rui grabbed him by the hood of his sweatshirt.

“Where are you going?”

Li Rui, like a tyrant king, unleashed an uncharacteristically strong grip and dragged Ye Xi inside.

Inside, a young lady in a gray uniform greeted them with a smile, welcoming both of them warmly.

Faced with others, Ye Xi was too embarrassed to struggle and was quickly led inside.

Though the salon was in a prime location, its decor was low-key.

With a sophisticated mix of charcoal gray and white, lush greenery visible outside the windows, and tasteful oil paintings reflecting shimmering water scenes, it was serene and refined. The spacious VIP rooms were quiet and only served guests by appointment.

Li Rui was clearly a regular. He had his own private room, where he sat like a boss—sipping tea and munching on little cakes—while giving serious instructions:

“Make him look good. He’s got a date tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Ye Xi sat in a massage chair looking completely lost.

This was his first time in a place like this. His appearance had always relied on natural good looks.

Watching Li Rui swipe his membership card and consult with staff about skincare routines and haircuts, Ye Xi’s eyes nearly popped out.

Wait a minute. What kind of secret life was his friend living behind his back?

He tried to get up, only to be firmly pinned down by several beauticians.

Li Rui sat beside him, cupping his chin and watching fondly: “Alright, stop squealing like a pig being slaughtered. People might think I’m selling you off or something. It’s just a basic facial and hair treatment. What’s the big deal?”

Li Rui said righteously, “You don’t want to go meet Bai Yue looking all dusty and disheveled, do you? Like those clueless straight guys in our class who don’t even bother to change out of their gym clothes for a date. No wonder they get dumped.”

Ye Xi thought about it and realized… he might actually have a point. So he stopped struggling.

But then he mumbled in protest, “I’m not that bad, right? I do take care of my appearance.”

Li Rui let out a cold snort.

He had to admit Ye Xi was indeed clean-cut and took care of himself, maybe even borderline obsessive—he’d gladly shower eight times a day if he could—but how could he take seriously someone who used 3-in-1 shampoo?

The only skincare product on Ye Xi’s desk was a basic toner—and that was a gift from Li Rui.

This bastard was just blessed with good genes!

Li Rui clapped Ye Xi’s shoulder hard. “Just sit still and behave. We’re gonna make sure even a single strand of your hair shines tomorrow. Then I’ll help you pick an outfit for the date. I guarantee Bai Yue won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

Ye Xi looked skeptical.

He really wanted to say, If it were that easy, how come you still haven’t won over your crush, Sheng Yuhe?

But that was too savage, and to avoid getting punched by Li Rui, Ye Xi wisely swallowed his words.

To keep Ye Xi company, Li Rui got a basic moisturizing treatment himself.

His was done in no time, but Ye Xi was still getting a hand treatment.

A few girls were applying a thick white clay-like cream to his hands, and it had to stay on for twenty minutes before being rinsed off.

Ye Xi held up his hands to show Li Rui, deadpan: “I feel like a roast duck being marinated in spices.”

The girls around them burst into laughter.

A girl with pink hair said, “This is a hand mask specially made by our salon. It’s really effective—your hands will be glowing afterward.”

She handed Ye Xi a bunch of face masks and body lotions and said enthusiastically, “Li Rui is one of our platinum members! These are little gifts for you to try.”

Ye Xi looked down and studied them, but the packaging was full of words he didn’t understand.

Things like “caviar extract” and “Bosein.” He’d never even heard of them.

He looked up at Li Rui, who winked at him.

Ye Xi couldn’t help but laugh.

Looking in the mirror, he honestly couldn’t see much difference in himself.

But even if Bai Yue didn’t fall in love with him at first sight because of all this, he wouldn’t be too disappointed.

Li Rui had accompanied him and helped him carefully prepare for a one-sided “date.” They’d chatted and laughed, both full of anticipation for tomorrow’s meeting with Bai Yue. The salon girls, who had clearly guessed the person he was meeting might be a guy, didn’t expose it. Instead, they offered advice enthusiastically.

That alone made him happy.

Because he liked that person so much.

So even the seconds leading up to seeing Bai Yue seemed to shimmer pink in the air.