During the daytime when he had no classes, Bai Yang liked to hang out at the library or visit the indoor botanical garden on campus to read.
The botanical garden wasn’t large, but it boasted a variety of flowers and plants. Most of them, once cultivated, would be placed in various corners of S University’s campus to decorate the surroundings. Since the garden was hidden away with twists and turns, it often became a spot for young couples to meet in secret during the evenings. During the daytime, it was a quiet place for Bai Yang to read and do his assignments.
The courses at S University were never easy, and many students already felt pressure just managing their studies. For someone like Bai Yang, who was juggling both work and coursework, his ability to keep up was a result of hard work, diligence, and a strong foundation.
As he was getting a bit tired from reading, he received a message from Ji Xiaoqian. She mentioned wanting to treat him to ice cream as a thank you for helping her fix her bicycle last time. Bai Yang chuckled at the cute and playful emojis in her message. Ji Xiaoqian was a classmate from high school who used to be somewhat distant, but ever since she learned about his family situation, her sympathy overflowed, and she was always looking for ways to help him.
He didn’t mind the goodwill that came with sympathy, and if it weren’t for his naturally different sexual orientation, he might have even fallen for Ji Xiaoqian’s kind and adorable personality.
Bai Yang tapped his fingers and replied with a “Next time, perhaps” along with a smiling emoji.
He closed the book and stretched lazily. He decided to return to the library. The end of summer still brought high temperatures, and the botanical garden was infested with insects, making it somewhat bothersome.
As he started to leave and pushed open the glass door of the botanical garden, he happened to see Shao Cheng and his group walking towards him on the main avenue.
Bai Yang’s steps halted, and it seemed like Shao Cheng’s gaze also faltered for a moment.
With various unrelated onlookers around, it wasn’t a good moment for a confession. Bai Yang lowered his head and pretended to walk past casually, hoping not to attract attention.
“Stop.”
Bai Yang heard the voice and turned around, surprised to find that Shao Cheng was addressing him.
His heart began to beat a bit faster, and he took a deep breath, straightening his posture to appear calm and composed.
“Is there something you need, classmate?”
Shao Cheng’s cold gaze locked onto him, and in the gaze of bystanders who were puzzled, he walked step by step towards Bai Yang, looking down on him from a higher position.
Bai Yang, at 1.8 meters tall, wasn’t short by any means, but in front of Shao Cheng, he appeared significantly smaller. Nonetheless, he maintained his calm and fearless gaze in the face of Shao Cheng’s cold eyes.
Silence persisted for a few seconds, and then Shao Cheng’s voice, cold as ever, broke it:
“Is pretending to coincidentally meet someone interesting to you?”
Bai Yang was momentarily puzzled and asked, “What do you mean by pretending to coincidentally meet someone?”
“I’ve seen you three times in a week—once by the sports field, once in the restaurant, and now. Don’t tell me it’s all a coincidence.”
It finally clicked for Bai Yang. Shao Cheng was suspecting him of orchestrating these encounters intentionally. He couldn’t help but find it amusing, “It really is just a coincidence.”
Shao Cheng clearly didn’t believe it, his tone carrying a hint of mockery, “You know me, and you’re clearly interested, yet just now, you pretended not to know me. Why?”
Bai Yang sighed inwardly that Shao Cheng’s sixth sense and deductive abilities weren’t used in detective work. He wasn’t afraid of being found out, but he feared being rejected first. So, he confessed, “Yes, I know you, and I’m interested in you. But those times you mentioned were genuinely coincidental. I didn’t expect to keep running into you these past few days. Maybe it’s fate.”
“Fate?” Shao Cheng raised an eyebrow, as if saying, “Keep making excuses.”
Summoning his courage, Bai Yang smiled and added, “I think fate wants me to confess to you, Shao Cheng. I really do like you.”
He finally said it.
Shao Cheng, somewhat caught off guard by the sudden confession, paused for a moment. “I don’t like men.”
“Yeah, I know. I just wanted to let you know,” Bai Yang said nonchalantly. “I know you’re wealthy and have many friends, and you’re not lacking in suitors. However, if there’s ever anything you need my help with, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do my best.”
He took a step back, distancing himself from Shao Cheng, and quickly retreated. “By the way, I’m Bai Yang. Bai Yang, like the poplar tree!” Then, with a smile directed at Shao Cheng, he turned and left before Shao Cheng could react, disappearing in a flash.
His heart was pounding intensely, making it hard to catch his breath, and a dull ache accompanied it.
It turned out that being rejected still hurt a little bit.
After opening up, Bai Yang no longer hesitated. He would greet Shao Cheng when he saw him around campus, even though it often only earned him a cold glance.
As he passed by the sports field one day and saw Shao Cheng and his group on the other side of the wire mesh fence, Bai Yang smiled at him again before leaving without disturbing them too much.
“This guy really likes you, huh?” Gu Wei Hao watched Bai Yang’s tall figure walking away and raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “I’ve never heard someone confess like that before. ‘If you ever need me for something, don’t hesitate to ask—why does that sound like something from a TV drama, as if you’re repaying a life-saving favor? Cheng Ge, have you ever done anything for him that he would need to repay a favor?”
Shao Cheng, with his typically stoic expression, finally responded with a glance, not saying anything.
Gu Wei Hao was familiar enough with him not to be afraid and even playfully bumped his shoulder, teasing, “Hey, he looks pretty good, even better than your ex-girlfriend. Why not consider it?”
Before Shao Cheng could reply, Zhang Hong Yi, who was on the other side, suddenly spoke up, “I remember this guy used to hang out with Song Chi quite a bit.”
Shao Cheng’s expression, typically devoid of emotion, finally shifted slightly at this piece of information. “You know him?”
“I can’t really say I know him… I’ve seen him a few times talking to Song Chi.” Zhang Hong Yi spoke cautiously. Everyone in the school knew that Shao Cheng and Song Chi didn’t see eye to eye. After all, both of their families operated nationally renowned pharmaceutical companies, and the Song family had been eagerly eyeing Shao’s position as the top company.
Gu Wei Hao chimed in, “I think I recognize him now that you mention it.
S University’s tuition wasn’t low, and the admission standards were high. While there weren’t many wealthy families like theirs, most students came from middle-class or regular backgrounds. However, students in dire financial situations were even rarer. Bai Yang was the only rare student in his third year, as fourth-year students weren’t eligible for such assistance.
Zhang Hong Yi continued, “I saw him using a phone that costs around five or six thousand yuan. It looks like he’s pretending to be poor. And he has some connection with Song Chi. His character is probably not great.”
“Really? He seemed quite innocent to me…” Gu Wei Hao was uncertain and turned to ask Shao Cheng, “Cheng Ge, what do you think? Could it be that Song Chi sent him to mess with you?”
Shao Cheng’s usually cold expression remained, and he gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
“We’ll know in the future. People with impure motives can’t hide their intentions for too long.”
