The school has a two-day weekend break once a month, so generally no one stays on campus.
At this moment, the sound of waves splashing could be heard from the school swimming pool. A slender, fish-like figure swam rapidly through the pool, its speed incredibly fast, fierce and fierce, completely different from its usual pace.
Ordinarily, it resembled an innocent, naive lamb, but in the water, it was like a ferocious shark, the overlord of the ocean.
The swimmer, so focused on the situation, didn’t notice the figure squatting on the shore.
Until he reached the shore, his upper body emerging from the water, and just as he raised his hand to wipe his face, his gaze met a pair of smiling eyes.
Yan Lu abruptly stopped wiping his face, his pupils dilated as he stared at Chu Gu Zhi, who had suddenly appeared before him. He froze for a moment, blinking as if in a dream. He raised his hands and wiped his face again, trying to clear his head a little, only to discover that it was indeed Chu Gu Zhi.
“Good afternoon ya.” Chu Gu Zhi placed his hand in front of Yan Lu and gave him a small wave.
His gaze followed the water droplets sliding down Yan Lu’s cheeks.
Yan Lu was handsome, with striking features and a bright gaze. Though still only 16, his physique surpassed that of his peers. Perhaps it was because he had been training in swimming since he was a child.
He watched the water droplets trace the curves of his muscular body. Perhaps his breathing was still a little rapid after swimming, and the rise and fall of his chest only served to highlight his enviable figure.
He truly deserved to be a swimmer.
Even so, this guy exuded an indescribable innocence, a pure purity.
Especially when he looked at him, his eyes would sparkle.
Yan Lu had never expected to see Chu Gu Zhi at school this Saturday. He reached out and grasped Chu Gu Zhi’s waving hand. When he felt the warmth and felt the real thing, he immediately let go, in disbelief.
“Senior, why are you here?”
“To see you.”
Yan Lu still had the possibility of recovering from this, staring blankly at Chu Gu Zhi: “……I, how can I deserve this.”
Chu Gu Zhi couldn’t help but burst out laughing: “Little fool.”
The Omega before him smiled, and with that “little fool”, Yan Lu felt the fatigue from a whole morning’s training instantly vanish. His gaze fell on the slightly sunken corners of Chu Gu Zhi’s lips, and his heart seemed to soften with that beautiful curve.
His heartbeat was so fast, even faster than when he was swimming.
He hadn’t felt any difficulty breathing underwater, but now that he saw Chu Gu Zhi, he felt it was.
So nervous, so nervous, so nervous, so nervous.
He hadn’t been nervous on the podium with so many people below him, but when it came to Chu Gu Zhi, he was absolutely terrified, so nervous he didn’t know what he was doing.
He didn’t know what to do with his hands. He put them in the water, then took them out and placed them on the shore. Then, deciding that this position wasn’t pretty, he silently took them away. Finally, with his mind in a trance, he chose to place his hands on the shore.
Like a puppy.
“Am I that fierce?” Chu Gu Zhi sensed Yan Lu’s nervousness, his ears reddening, and he dared not look at him. The more he felt this way, the more he felt Yan Lu was truly a completely different boy than he appeared.
“……I, I’m shy.” Yan Lu placed his hands on the shore, lowered his head, and repeatedly tugged at his right hand with his left: “Don’t smile at me casually. I can’t stand it.”
He couldn’t stand it at all.
He couldn’t explain why Chu Gu Zhi held such a fatal attraction, haunting him day and night. Could a temporary mark be so powerful?
—I’m not afraid of pain, bite me.
The trembling, tearful plea from that day echoed in his ears again, a voice he couldn’t forget even in his dreams.
“I smile at you because I like you.”
Yan Lu suddenly raised his head.
Chu Gu Zhi reached out to him, pretending to pull him up. He curled his lips in a smile and said: “I’m not someone who smiles at anyone casually. I only smile at people I like. Come up.”
Yan Lu looked at the hand stretched out before him. It was white and beautiful, a hand that was an artist’s, and it looked like a work of art, inviting him to touch it, to grasp it.
He reached out and took Chu Gu Zhi’s hand.
But it felt like a trap. The person on the shore didn’t have the strength to pull someone out of the water.
Water splashed everywhere, and there were continuous coughs from choking on the water.
Yan Lu quickly grabbed Chu Gu Zhi, but he still choked. As he hugged Chu Gu Zhi, a thought flashed through his mind: Was he stupid? How could Chu Gu Zhi possibly pull him up?
And didn’t Chu Gu Zhi know he couldn’t pull him up?
Just like that day in the music room.
Was it just his wishful thinking?
His soaked clothes clung to their scorching chests, their heartbeats palpable through the distance of skin, even their breaths felt close.
As they stared at each other, their faces reflected in each other’s eyes.
Yan Lu’s gaze inevitably drifted downward, landing on Chu Guzhi’s lips. How could someone have such beautiful lips? No, everything about him was beautiful.
It perfectly matched his aesthetic.
“Cough cough……”
Yan Lu saw Chu Gu Zhi coughing again, perhaps from choking on the water. He wanted to pat him, but seeing Chu Gu Zhi’s eyes wet and his face flushed from coughing, his breathing quickened as if a thought occurred to him.
But he quickly shook off the inappropriate image in his mind. He reached under the water, lifted Chu Gu Zhi up horizontally, and then brought him to shore. He then jumped out with one arm and reached for a large towel nearby, covering Chu Gu Zhi’s soaking wet body with it.
He squatted in front of Chu Gu Zhi, wiping the dripping water off him, then went around to help wipe Chu Gu Zhi’s hair.
Chu Gu Zhi stared at Yan Lu in silence, coughing occasionally, but the guy obediently wiped the water off him and made no move to pay him any attention.
“Yan Lu, I’m going abroad next semester.”
Yan Lu’s hand wiping his hair paused in surprise. He lowered his eyes, wanting to say something, but stopped himself. Finally, he uttered only three words: “……I know.”
His grip on the towel tightened, his eyes filled with disappointment.
“Don’t you have anything you want to tell me or ask me?” Chu Gu Zhi didn’t turn around.
Yan Lu looked at Chu Gu Zhi’s back, wrapped in the large towel. He was right there in his arms, so close, so close he could touch him. If he took another step forward, he could completely embrace him.
But……he didn’t deserve it ah.
Ever since Jian Wen Xing hurriedly dragged him to the gym that day and asked for a favor, he’d asked what it was, and Jian Wen Xing said it was to temporarily mark Chu Gu Zhi. He’d been completely bewildered.
Who was Chu Gu Zhi? Everyone in the school knew him. He was a true prodigy, like a star in the sky, the kind you could only admire from afar. He was also a musical prodigy, the youngest violinist to perform at Vienna’s Golden Hall, and he’d won numerous world-class competitions.
And he’d only ever won a gold medal at a provincial level.
He wanted a gold medal at a national level, and even an Olympic gold medal.
But he hadn’t had the chance yet.
“……Yes.” he stared at his towel-wrapped head.
“I’ll give you a chance to speak.” Chu Gu Zhi said.
Yan Lu opened his mouth, wanting to say what was on the verge of spilling out, but then he closed it again. He didn’t know how to say it. What if he was just being overly sentimental?
This is strange. Didn’t the doctor say that temporary marking wouldn’t have any effects?
But why?
After that incident, he could never forget Chu Gu Zhi. Not only that, he longed to see him day and night, even in his dreams. He longed to see him all the time, even after the scent had faded.
He was infatuated with Chu Gu Zhi.
That’s why he tried every possible way to run into him.
“Senior, I—”
“You can call me by my name.”
Yan Lu’s eyes flickered, a hopeful glint filling his gaze as he gazed at the figure beneath the towel: “Chu Gu Zhi.”
“En, I’m here.”
“I think I……”
Chu Gu Zhi held his breath, clasping his hands nervously, begging for strength.
“I’m not worthy of you.”
Chu Gu Zhi’s hands froze in shock, the anticipation in his eyes dimming in an instant. Something seemed to be choking his throat: “……What?”
What?
“You’re the eldest son of the Galaxy Group, a child of destiny, and a musical artist. But I’m just a swimmer. I’ve only won a gold medal at the Provincial Games.” Yan Lu gently wiped his hair and whispered: “I’m not worthy of you.”
He didn’t dare openly express his love.
At least he had to become a world champion.
Chu Gu Zhi found it unbelievable. He didn’t even know what to say. His lips pursed tightly, and his eyes instantly reddened. From childhood to adulthood, it seemed as if he had never experienced any setbacks. He had so much, so much so that he thought everything was within his reach.
Including people.
It wasn’t a big deal, actually.
But his heart felt so tight and uncomfortable.
It was as if he was being overly sentimental, trying to give Yan Lu a chance to shine.
Yan Lu noticed Chu Gu Zhi shivering and wrapped him tightly in a large towel: “Are you cold? I have clean clothes in my locker room. I’ll get you some.”
“No need.” Chu Gu Zhi pulled off the towel and stood up. Without even looking at Yan Lu, he said indifferently: “I still have violin practice. I’ll go back first.”
Yan Lu saw Chu Gu Zhi, soaking wet, about to leave and immediately stood up to grab him. “How can you go out like this? You’re so wet that you could easily catch a cold. I have clean clothes in my locker room. I—”
Suddenly, he saw Chu Gu Zhi turn around and ran straight into his red, moist eyes, which were filled with anger.
Crying?
Yan Lu panicked: “What’s wrong?”
“Think about it yourself!” Chu Gu Zhi angrily shook off his hand and turned to leave.
Yan Lu stared blankly at his own hand, the warmth of Chu Gu Zhi’s body still lingering on his back, his figure gradually receding from view until it vanished.
It was as if he understood something.
He felt a hollowness in his heart, a deep pain.
It was over.
***
“Wu wu wu wu wu……”
The sound of sorrowful sobs echoed in the living room, accompanied by uncontrollable laughter of gloating.
Chu Gu Zhi’s eyes were red as he glared up at the laughing Luo Pan Zhi. “You’re still laughing! I’m so sad, and you’re still laughing!”
Luo Pan Zhi leaned against the sofa, sitting like a boss, his hands propped up to support his head. Then, looking down at Chu Gu Zhi, who had been crying for half an hour on his lap, he laughed unrestrainedly:
“Oh, Ge Ge, you’re so miserable. You’ve been heartbroken. What should I do? I’m also heartbroken, but I just want to laugh, sorry ah.”
Chu Gu Zhi, unable to bear it any longer, sat up, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at Luo Pan Zhi. He didn’t curse, but his face was puffed up with anger, and then, as if in a rage, he punched the sofa hard.
Luo Pan Zhi quickly grabbed the pillow. Then, watching Chu Gu Zhi tremble with anger, he sighed helplessly and could only move to his side, whispering soothingly:
“Okay, okay, I’m wrong. I shouldn’t have laughed at you, I’ll let you punch me a few times to calm you down.”
Chu Gu Zhi tilted his head to look at Luo Pan Zhi, his expression serious: “Am I not good-looking?”
Luo Pan Zhi was puzzled by this unfounded question, but he still cooperated, even taking out a tablet and placing it in front of Chu Gu Zhi: “Mirror, mirror, is Chu Gu Zhi the best-looking person in the world? Yes.”
Chu Gu Zhi slumped his shoulders listlessly, his brows downcast: “Isn’t it enough to be good-looking? Why do you have to think everything has to be equal to like someone? If you like someone, then you like them. Why worry about awards?”
“Did you confess to him?” Luo Pan Zhi asked.
“No, I gave him a chance to confess!” Chu Gu Zhi bristled at the thought. He glared at Luo Pan Zhi fiercely: “Making me seem like I’m being sentimental. I’m so angry!”
Luo Pan Zhi rarely saw Chu Gu Zhi’s face puffed up, and for a moment, he couldn’t help but laugh: “You’d better stop being angry. You don’t even look angry.”
Chu Gu Zhi: “?”
“It’s like you’re being coquettish.”
Chu Gu Zhi punched Luo Pan Zhi’s arm, but the pain from Luo Pan Zhi’s muscles hurt his hand. He felt like crying, but he couldn’t. He was even more angry.
“I’ll teach you a trick.” Luo Pan Zhi put his arm around Chu Gu Zhi’s shoulders and offered advice like a seasoned love expert: “As for you, just go abroad with peace of mind. I’ll keep an eye on Yan Lu for you. I’ll make sure he doesn’t have a chance to date during the years you’re away. You can also think about whether you really like him. Time will tell. Anyway, I’ll cover for you.”
Chu Gu Zhi glanced at him: “You Pan, I suddenly think you’ve become smarter.”
Luo Pan Zhi raised an eyebrow: “Of course, didn’t you see who I am? I’m Chu Gu Zhi’s younger brother.”
Chu Gu Zhi was immediately impressed by him. It was funny. Wasn’t this just a roundabout way of praising him? His mood brightened a little: “Okay, then I won’t be sad. Maybe I just had a passing crush.”
“That’s right.” Luo Pan Zhi held out his hand and opened it: “Expand your horizons.”
“Then I’ll go abroad and find someone else.”
Luo Pan Zhi silently put his hand away: “……Sometimes you don’t have to be too ambitious.”
Chu Gu Zhi leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. Maybe it really was just a passing fancy, maybe it was just the influence of pheromones. It’s only been a month. It’s not long enough. A year, two years, three years……
He’ll definitely forget it.
It was just a one-minute first love.
Luo Pan Zhi glanced at the silent Chu Gu Zhi beside him. Seeing his emotions slowly fading, his expression darkened and his eyes darkened.
Md[mfn]妈的 (mā de): mother’s, used to scold ppl.[/mfn] Yan Lu, you’re dead for making Zuo Gu cry.
