YPWW Chapter 4

Gu Zhifei dragged Jiang Yang to the arcade, and the two of them went wild playing games. By the time they were racing cars, they’d completely lost it, driving recklessly and crashing into each other. The moment their cars collided, they both felt a sense of freedom and burst into loud laughter.

By the time they left the arcade, night had already fallen. Jiang Yang, looking at the equally sweaty Gu Zhifei, gave a shy smile. “I didn’t expect you to be this wild.”

Gu Zhifei ran his fingers through his damp hair. “What kind of person did you think I was?”

“Very serious.” Jiang Yang answered without hesitation, still a bit nervous. “When I bumped into you yesterday, I thought I was going to get in trouble. It felt like running into a disciplinarian, scared me half to death.”

They strolled along the street, walking by the railing as they talked.

Gu Zhifei turned his head to look at Jiang Yang. “And now?”

Jiang Yang glanced back at him, their eyes meeting under the bright lights, though even the lights couldn’t outshine Gu Zhifei’s eyes.

“N-now?” Jiang Yang stammered, “You’re great.”

Oh.

Gu Zhifei made a mental note: always wear colored contacts when going out.

He glanced at a nearby couple holding hands tightly, licked his lips, and asked, “What do you mean by ‘great’?”

Jiang Yang replied earnestly, “You’re a good person.”

Gu Zhifei: “…”

Jiang Yang, sensing something was off, grew anxious. “I’m serious! I’ve never met someone as nice as you. We’ve only known each other for a day, and you’ve already taken such good care of me, noticed I wasn’t feeling well, and brought me out to have fun.” He added even more sincerely, “You really are a good person.”

Gu Zhifei: “…”

Jiang Yang, now visibly deflated, lowered his head and asked cautiously, “Did I say something wrong again?”

Gu Zhifei calmly nodded and said, “I’m not a good person. I’m only being nice because I want to sleep with you.”

Jiang Yang: “…”

Gu Zhifei smirked, his smile not reaching his eyes. “What, feeling like running away?”

Jiang Yang suddenly burst into laughter.

Gu Zhifei: “…”

Jiang Yang couldn’t stop laughing!

Irritated, Gu Zhifei asked, “What’s so funny?”

Jiang Yang draped an arm over Gu Zhifei’s shoulder. “Don’t joke like that.”

Gu Zhifei felt a twinge of disappointment and feigned indifference. “I get it, you’re straight.”

“That’s not the point.” Jiang Yang leaned in close, his breath warm against Gu Zhifei’s ear as if afraid someone might overhear. “With our height difference, wouldn’t it be me sleeping with you?”

For a rare moment, Gu Zhifei was stunned, completely caught off guard. By the time Jiang Yang straightened up with a bright grin and said, “Let’s go eat dinner, my treat this time.” Gu Zhifei could only think that this fool had no idea what he’d just said!

In a sort of petty revenge, Gu Zhifei ate a lot at dinner—after all, it wasn’t his money.

On their way back to campus, Gu Zhifei spotted a familiar figure in the distance and turned to take a closer look.

“What’s up?” Jiang Yang asked.

“I saw someone who looked familiar.” Gu Zhifei replied. “But I must be mistaken. He wouldn’t be here.”

“Why not?” Jiang Yang asked.

Gu Zhifei scoffed, “He’s just a little high school kid.”

Seeing Gu Zhifei’s expression, Jiang Yang smiled softly.

“What’s with that creepy smile?” Gu Zhifei asked, puzzled.

Jiang Yang said, “You have a sharp tongue, but you’re actually really kind. Anyone who knows you is lucky.”

“Don’t forget, I tricked you earlier. Why are you being so sweet? Do you want something from me? Just so you know, I’m an electrical engineering major, not computer science.”

Jiang Yang blinked. “But didn’t you say earlier…”

“That was to scare them. Anyone who believed it is an idiot.” Gu Zhifei replied smugly.

Jiang Yang blinked again, the realization hitting him. “Wait, were you just calling me an idiot?”

Gu Zhifei gave a fake smile. “Haha, of course not.”

Jiang Yang stared at Gu Zhifei intently, while Gu Zhifei remained unbothered under his gaze. Suddenly, Jiang Yang stepped forward, picked Gu Zhifei up in one swift motion, and took off running!

Gu Zhifei: “!!!”

By the time Jiang Yang finally set him down on the grass of the school field, Gu Zhifei was dizzy and ready to throw up. He was absolutely livid.

“You… fool…” But he didn’t have the strength to finish his sentence.

Jiang Yang, smiling brightly, asked, “So you were cursing me after all?”

Gu Zhifei: “Idiot.”

Jiang Yang chuckled, then gently pushed him down onto the grass, laying him flat. “Stay here with me for a bit, okay?”

Gu Zhifei lay on his back, too exhausted to argue, letting Jiang Yang do as he pleased. Seeing Jiang Yang lay down beside him, he couldn’t help but flip him off. “Screw you.”

Jiang Yang tried not to laugh.

There were no streetlights around the field, and the moon was hidden behind the clouds. Only a few faint stars dotted the sky. Now that neither of them was speaking, the only sound was the gentle rustle of leaves in the wind.

In the distance, the faint sounds of laughter drifted over, only serving to emphasize the quiet stillness of the moment.

Lying side by side, staring up at the stars, neither of them spoke, nor did they exchange any glances.

Yet Jiang Yang felt that, in this ordinary but beautiful moment, his heart and Gu Zhifei’s were somehow growing closer. He was filled with an inexplicable joy, though he couldn’t quite understand why.

Suddenly, Gu Zhifei broke the silence. “What are you thinking about?”

Before Jiang Yang could answer, Gu Zhifei continued in a quiet voice, “Xin Xin?”

Jiang Yang froze, and then realized something strange—three days ago, when Xin Xin had shouted, “Jiang Yang, you’re so handsome.” he had been flustered. Yesterday, he had been upset after learning he’d been tricked. And today, after being mocked in front of everyone, he’d been angry. But now, all of those feelings were gone.

The name “Xin Xin” felt distant to him now, so much so that he chuckled and said, “Why would you think that? I barely know her.”

Before Gu Zhifei could ask further, Jiang Yang launched into a long-winded recount of everything that had happened over the past few days, venting his frustrations. “…Yesterday, I messaged her on WeChat, not to confess, just to clear things up. I don’t understand why everyone assumed otherwise. Was I wrong to ask for clarification?”

Gu Zhifei stayed silent. Even though he had already heard the story from the others earlier, hearing it from Jiang Yang directly, he could detect emotions that others hadn’t picked up on—when Xin Xin had stood up and shouted, “Jiang Yang, you’re so handsome.” Jiang Yang had indeed been moved, if only for a moment.

What a painfully straight guy, Gu Zhifei thought, now thoroughly bored.

Not getting a response from Gu Zhifei, Jiang Yang closed his mouth, feeling dejected.

As they parted ways before curfew, Jiang Yang summoned the courage to ask Gu Zhifei to join him for morning runs.

Gu Zhifei, with a straight face, replied, “No.”

Jiang Yang, looking like a puppy denied a treat, gazed at Gu Zhifei and stubbornly asked, “Why not?”

Gu Zhifei answered seriously, “Because every time I see you, I want to sleep with you.”

Jiang Yang: “…”

On the way back to his dorm, Yao Qing excitedly messaged Gu Zhifei, asking how the date had gone.

Gu Zhifei replied, “Completely hopeless straight guy. Ugh.”

The next morning at six, Jiang the Straight knocked on Gu Zhifei’s dorm door.