By the time everyone had finished eating, Fang Shucheng and Wei Jie finally returned to the restaurant, with one holding his mouth and the other wearing a stiff expression. Neither spoke, and both ignored each other.
“I’m leaving,” Fang Shucheng mumbled, still covering his mouth with one hand and holding his backpack with the other. He didn’t even look at Wei Jie as he awkwardly walked away.
Surprisingly, Wei Jie didn’t chase after him.
Zhuang Yi exchanged looks with the class monitor and vice class monitor. “Are they fighting?”
Zhuang Yi asked, “Jie Bao, what’s going on? Not going to chase after him?”
The class monitor added, “Xiao Cheng’s so skinny—what if his backpack crushes him?”
Wei Jie replied coldly, “Let him go. I’ll take care of the bill.”
The restaurant was busy at the time, so the servers were occupied. While waiting to pay, Wei Jie noticed that Fang Shucheng had already disappeared into the darkness outside.
Zhuang Yi, growing anxious, nudged the class monitor, who sighed and pushed the vice class monitor.
The vice class monitor adjusted his glasses and, in a deadpan tone, said, “Haven’t you heard? There’s been a group of robbers around here lately, targeting lone students. If they resist, they get thrown into a sack and taken away.”
The class monitor gasped, “Why would they take the person too?”
The vice class monitor calmly replied, “Don’t you know that people can be sold for money as well?”
Wei Jie: “…”
The class monitor rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Those robbers must be after small girls, right? Fang Shucheng’s a boy, he should be fine, right?”
The vice class monitor shook his head. “They won’t go after tall guys, but Fang Shucheng isn’t exactly short. He is, however, really skinny, and he looks pretty frail…”
Wei Jie: “…”
The class monitor said, “No need to worry, he’s still a boy. Besides, isn’t he taller than you?”
The vice class monitor: “…”
Wei Jie: “…”
Without saying a word, Wei Jie grabbed his bag and stormed out.
Zhuang Yi folded his arms, feeling satisfied.
The vice class monitor, ever calm, said, “Class monitor, let’s head home too.”
Zhuang Yi suddenly remembered, “Wait a second! Who’s going to pay?!”
The vice class monitor: “…”
The class monitor: “…”
In the blink of an eye, the table was empty.
The class monitor led the charge, and everyone ran out together.
Zhuang Yi wailed, “Hey, don’t act like you didn’t hear me! And how are you guys running so fast? I didn’t even bring any money!”
Meanwhile, Fang Shucheng was walking alone through the night, feeling both angry and in pain, his lips still throbbing. On top of that, he felt a bit lonely.
It had been a long time since he’d gone home by himself.
Bored, he kicked pebbles along the way, not paying attention as he wandered into a section without streetlights.
The wind picked up, making the summer night feel eerily cold. Even though it was still warm, the sudden breeze sent a chill through his skin, giving him goosebumps.
His anger from earlier had faded, and now, walking through the darkened streets, Fang Shucheng couldn’t help but feel a bit scared.
Rubbing his arms to ward off the chill, he looked around, his eyes wide open. The pitch-black surroundings looked like the perfect place for a crime.
Suddenly, he heard rapid footsteps behind him.
Fang Shucheng’s heart leapt into his throat. The person behind him was getting closer, not giving him any time to react!
In the blink of an eye, the footsteps were right behind him!
He spun around and swung his backpack, shouting, “Who’s there?!”
Thud!
The backpack was caught mid-swing by a strong hand. Fang Shucheng’s heart raced, but then he heard a familiar voice, sounding a bit disgruntled:
“It’s me.”
It was Wei Jie.
Fang Shucheng deflated, letting go of his backpack instinctively, and Wei Jie, out of habit, slung it over his own shoulder.
Seeing how naturally Wei Jie took over his backpack, Fang Shucheng felt a pang of frustration. “Why did you come back?”
Wei Jie, sounding gruff, replied, “I’m heading home too.”
Fang Shucheng responded with a simple, “Oh.”
An awkward silence fell between them.
Wei Jie drooped his head, glancing at Fang Shucheng like a dejected puppy, but stubbornly refused to apologize or say anything soft.
All this fuss because Fang Shucheng hadn’t followed his “relationship plan” exactly. Who waits five weeks for a French kiss?
Wei Jie felt hurt, thinking Fang Shucheng didn’t love him enough.
Fang Shucheng, meanwhile, was studying Wei Jie.
He knew Wei Jie had a short temper, but this was the first time he’d been on the receiving end of it, and he wasn’t sure how to handle it.
After a long silence, Fang Shucheng gave a light kick to Wei Jie’s knee.
Wei Jie glanced over. “Not mad anymore?”
Fang Shucheng sighed, “Who’d dare stay mad at you?”
Wei Jie got defensive, “It was just a kiss. How long are you going to be upset about it? Your relationship plan needs an update.”
Fang Shucheng shot back, “You call that ‘just a kiss’? My lip is busted!”
The issue stemmed from Wei Jie being unhappy about the five-week wait for a French kiss. Since Fang Shucheng wouldn’t kiss him first, Wei Jie had forced one on him, accidentally biting his lip in the process.
Wei Jie, sounding a bit guilty, said, “I didn’t know it was that bad. Let me see.”
Fang Shucheng turned away. “No, I’m heading home.”
Wei Jie grabbed him, causing Fang Shucheng to stumble into his chest. Hesitantly, Wei Jie cupped his face and lightly touched his lips, feeling the dampness there.
Fang Shucheng hissed in pain.
Wei Jie sighed. “So that’s why you were upset. I didn’t know… If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to figure it out?”
Fang Shucheng replied, “Well, from now on, don’t kiss me without permission.”
Wei Jie grumbled, “What if you never give me permission?”
“You’re always kissing me. Don’t you get tired of it?”
Wei Jie’s eyes lit up like a lightbulb, “You’re right! We should take things further—just kissing is boring.”
Even though Fang Shucheng couldn’t see Wei Jie’s expression, he could tell from his tone what was going through his mind. He sighed in exasperation. “We’re still in high school! We can’t get lost in desires. We’ll stick to kissing until we graduate.”
Wei Jie went silent.
Fang Shucheng warned, “Don’t get any funny ideas!”
Wei Jie reluctantly agreed, “Fine.”
Feeling reassured, Fang Shucheng thought for a moment and then offered, “Didn’t you say you’d start working hard? If you do well on your next test, we can French kiss.”
Wei Jie did a quick mental calculation. The next math test was in two weeks. It was earlier than Fang Shucheng’s plan, but still felt too far off.
“Two weeks is too long! I’ll be dead by then,” Wei Jie groaned, feeling frustrated.
Fang Shucheng said, “I’m already compromising. Can’t you give a little too?”
Wei Jie protested, “But every time I see you, I just want to kiss you!”
Fang Shucheng spat, “You pervert!”
Wei Jie, in a quiet voice, asked, “You don’t like it when I kiss you?”
Fang Shucheng glanced at Wei Jie’s bright, earnest eyes and, without thinking, blurted out, “I like it, but…”
Before he could finish, Wei Jie was already satisfied with the first half of his response. Leaning down, he said in a serious tone, “I hurt you earlier, so I’ll make it up to you.”
This time, Fang Shucheng didn’t resist, and Wei Jie kissed him for a long while.
By the time they were done, not only was Fang Shucheng’s lip still busted, but now it was swollen too.
Wei Jie sighed, “It’s all my fault. Does it hurt?”
Fang Shucheng quietly muttered, “No, saliva helps with the pain.”
A passing night owl twitched its ears, puzzled. I’ve heard of saliva disinfecting wounds, but helping with pain? That’s new.
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