We’ll see.
This answer was uncertain, yet Luo Jingshu felt as if he had been pardoned, and he couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief.
At least, compared to what Xiao Cheng had said a few days earlier — “Don’t ever see me again” — the words still lingered in his mind whenever he closed his eyes, especially the expression Xiao Cheng had while saying them.
“I originally only hated you a little, but seeing you completes it.”
Luo Jingshu instinctively didn’t want to believe it. He didn’t know if it was Xiao Cheng’s desire to never see him or his hatred that he didn’t want to accept, or maybe both.
Either way, each possibility was unbearable to Luo Jingshu.
He didn’t want to admit he had feelings for Xiao Cheng, yet even he hadn’t realized how his every move, his joys and sorrows, were all affected by him.
Feelings were too complex, and Luo Jingshu didn’t want to dwell on it. All he knew was that the outcome was what he wanted: Xiao Cheng was willing to give him another chance to make amends.
“Then I…” There was a touch of expectation in Luo Jingshu’s words.
Xiao Cheng interrupted, “So, can you let go?”
“Is this really how you show regret?”
Luo Jingshu paused for a moment but ultimately released his hold obediently.
Xiao Cheng immediately turned to face him, stepping back two paces, “This is the second time already.”
“Luo Jingshu, this is the second time you’ve forced me.”
Xiao Cheng’s gaze fell on Luo Jingshu’s slightly reddened eyes, and his voice held a subtle pause before firmly continuing, “I admit I’m not as skilled, but I really hate being forced.”
Especially the feeling of being completely subdued, without the ability to fight back, which stirred a strong sense of helplessness and frustration in Xiao Cheng’s heart.
Luo Jingshu moved his lips, as if to explain. If he hadn’t acted this way, Xiao Cheng wouldn’t have spoken to him, and would likely have turned away at the first sight of him.
But in the end, he didn’t explain. He just nodded and softly replied, “I understand.”
“It won’t happen again.”
Xiao Cheng rubbed his wrist, which still held the warmth of another’s touch. He couldn’t help but shake his hand, trying to force himself to forget the sensation.
Luo Jingshu misunderstood, his gaze falling on Xiao Cheng’s wrist, “Did I hurt you just now?”
“No.” Xiao Cheng’s tone held a hint of impatience.
Being overpowered was already embarrassing enough, and he wasn’t fragile enough to be injured from just a wrist grab.
Xiao Cheng glanced around and finally spotted Jiang Zihe in the distance, releasing a sigh of relief and turning to walk toward him without hesitation.
“Xiao Cheng…”
Instinctively, Luo Jingshu wanted to follow him.
Xiao Cheng looked back at him, his eyes still faintly tinged with red at the corners but now cold and distant, his gaze carrying detachment: “Don’t follow me.”
Luo Jingshu’s steps froze, rooted to the spot, his expression darkening as he watched Xiao Cheng walk farther and farther away.
Jiang Zihe was swaying, clearly intoxicated, and he was tall enough that Xu An couldn’t manage to support him alone.
As Xiao Cheng helped Jiang Zihe, he took a deep breath, tempted to just leave him on the ground.
He and Xu An each took one of Jiang Zihe’s arms, and as they passed Luo Jingshu, Luo shot a cold glance at Jiang Zihe.
Xiao Cheng didn’t stop, remembering his earlier words, “Don’t follow me,” as though his legs were glued to the ground. It wasn’t until the others reached the door that he snapped out of it and quickly caught up.
Fu Ju watched from a distance, somehow finding Luo Jingshu a bit like a puppy left behind by its owner, wanting to catch up but afraid of being abandoned again.
There was a certain pitiful energy to him.
Fu Ju shook his head, thinking he deserved it.
He shouldn’t have gotten attached since he’d decided to treat it as a game from the start.
He should’ve confessed and sought forgiveness if he had, but he stubbornly refused to admit it.
Now, he had truly lost him.
Xiao Cheng was nearly at the door with Jiang Zihe when two tall men appeared, one of whom greeted Jiang Zihe with “Young Master.”
Xiao Cheng gave Jiang Zihe a hard shake, almost making him throw up.
Jiang Zihe frowned in discomfort, “Did… did an earthquake just happen?”
Xiao Cheng asked quietly, “Do you know these two?”
Jiang Zihe was too disoriented to see clearly. “Earthquake… run!”
He startled the two newcomers, who hesitantly asked, “Wait, an earthquake?”
Xiao Cheng quickly apologized, “No, he’s just talking nonsense.”
Not knowing if these two were indeed Jiang Family’s people, Xiao Cheng hesitated to hand Jiang Zihe over.
“They’re from Jiang Ying’s side.”
Suddenly, Luo Jingshu’s voice sounded behind them. No one knew when he had caught up.
“Mr. Luo.”
Xiao Cheng’s expression cooled immediately. He handed Jiang Zihe to the two men, who thanked him and greeted Luo Jingshu before leaving with Jiang Zihe.
Xu An rubbed his hands together, shivering in the cold air outside. “Xiao Cheng, should I head off too?”
“I’ll go back with you,” Xiao Cheng replied.
At this point, He An was probably already asleep, and Xiao Cheng thought it might be best to return to school.
Xu An hadn’t even responded when Luo Jingshu’s dark, piercing gaze suddenly startled him. He stood right behind Xiao Cheng, guarding him possessively and glaring at Xu An with a look as cold as a snake’s.
Xu An stepped back, “N-no need, I’ll just call a cab.”
Xiao Cheng frowned, catching Xu An’s arm, “Be careful.”
One more step and he’d be at the stairs.
Without even looking back, Xiao Cheng could guess what was going on, feeling a wave of irritation as he said, firmly, “I’ll go back with you.”
Luo Jingshu stared intensely at Xiao Cheng’s hand resting on Xu An’s arm, struggling to control himself from pulling Xiao Cheng back.
“Brother Cheng,” he called softly. “How about I give you a ride back to school?”
Xiao Cheng told Xu An to get a cab and then turned to face Luo Jingshu. “You’re not even of age. Do you even have a license?”
Luo Jingshu was about to speak, but Xiao Cheng continued, “I’m begging you, can you please stay away from me?”
“Every time I see you, I feel annoyed, even a little nauseous, and I almost want to hit you.”
In the past, Luo Jingshu’s possessiveness made Xiao Cheng feel cared for as a boyfriend would. But now that he knew Luo didn’t actually like him, these actions only seemed absurd.
“So, do you really think of me as your possession?”
“Or do you think I’m just a toy that doesn’t deserve any autonomy?”
Luo Jingshu’s face turned pale; his fingers trembled, and then he clenched them into a fist, working hard to control his emotions.
“You said…” Luo Jingshu’s hoarse voice held a barely noticeable tremor, “You said you’d give me another chance.”
Xiao Cheng had never spoken to him so harshly before.
“So, you know very well you’re the one who’s upset me now.”
Xiao Cheng closed his eyes briefly, looking down to avoid Luo Jingshu’s gaze, forcing himself not to look at those red, tearful eyes.
“If you can’t learn how to apologize properly, think back to how I used to make it up to you.”
At least, after upsetting Luo Jingshu, he would never have dared to interfere in Luo Jingshu’s life like this.
Luo Jingshu let out a low hum. He thought Xiao Cheng had indeed treated him well, whether or not it started with genuine feelings; at least in the end, Xiao Cheng had truly liked him.
A trace of regret finally rose in Luo Jingshu’s heart. He rarely regretted anything he’d done, but now he truly did.
Xu An, listening to their conversation, barely dared to breathe. He’d been scared stiff by Luo Jingshu’s gaze earlier, thinking that only Xiao Cheng would dare speak to him this way.
When Xiao Cheng mentioned feeling disgusted, Xu An feared Luo Jingshu might lose his temper.
“Xiao Cheng, the car’s here.”
Xiao Cheng nodded, gesturing for Xu An to get in first. Then he glanced at Luo Jingshu, “Unless it’s really important, let’s not contact each other for a while.”
Luo Jingshu’s fingers tensed, and there was a hint of nervousness in his tone, “Can I still text you?”
Without looking back, Xiao Cheng got into the car. Once the window rolled up, Luo Jingshu could no longer see his face, and he watched as the vehicle drove away.
Xiao Cheng didn’t answer his question.
Luo Jingshu let out a slow breath, feeling his body stiffen in the cold wind. He lowered his gaze, staring quietly at his fingers.
After a moment, a barely audible murmur slipped away in the chilly breeze.
“This is insane…”
He didn’t even recognize himself anymore.
Jiang Zihe returned to school the next afternoon. Xiao Cheng was in the middle of class when someone snuck in from the back and plopped down beside him.
“What brings you back now?” Xiao Cheng asked.
He turned to look at Jiang Zihe, who still had slightly messy hair and a flushed face, breathing heavily.
“I wasn’t planning to come, but then I remembered this class is Professor Lin’s.”
Jiang Zihe struggled to catch his breath, speaking a bit too loudly. A classmate in the front row glanced back at him sympathetically, “You’re late. The professor already took attendance.”
Jiang Zihe’s face fell, as if struck by lightning, and he nearly wanted to pound his chest in regret.
“He took attendance that quickly?”
Is that even fair?!
Professor Lin was famously strict. He showed no leniency and enforced his rule of three absences resulting in automatic failure. No amount of pleading would help.
This was Jiang Zihe’s second absence.
After brooding for a moment, he consoled himself, “It’s fine, I still have one more chance.”
Xiao Cheng suppressed a laugh, “When did you sober up?”
At the mention of it, Jiang Zihe’s expression turned a bit awkward.
“Just before noon.”
He hesitated before asking, “I didn’t say anything strange last night, did I?”
He had no memory of what happened last night and couldn’t recall exactly what he had said; he hoped he hadn’t said anything embarrassing in front of Xiao Cheng.
Xiao Cheng thought for a moment, “You said several times that I was lying to you.”
He looked at Jiang Zihe with a smile that was neither here nor there, “What exactly did I lie about?”
Cold sweat began to bead on Jiang Zihe’s forehead. How had he let that slip?
He hadn’t intended to drink at all last night, but he had been so shocked to learn that Xiao Cheng wasn’t straight that he felt compelled to find someone to talk to about it.
Since there were four people in their dorm, and he was the only straight guy, Jiang Zihe felt conflicted. He wasn’t even sure what he was conflicted about.
After hearing about Fang Hui and Du Yunshen’s not-so-innocent relationship, Jiang Zihe felt relieved that at least he had Xiao Cheng as a companion; he wasn’t the only straight guy anymore.
Now, that was no longer the case.
In his complicated state of mind, Xu An messaged Jiang Zihe, inviting him out for drinks, and Jiang Zihe impulsively agreed.
“You didn’t know that bar was a gay bar?”
Jiang Zihe shook his head vigorously. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone in.”
Last night, a tall, muscular guy approached him, scaring Jiang Zihe into hiding behind Xu An. Eventually, Xu An had to convince that guy to leave.
Jiang Zihe had been forced to step into a new world and, unable to help himself, ended up drinking a bit too much.
“I wasn’t planning on drinking that much.” He felt unsafe being intoxicated in that environment.
This wasn’t just him being narcissistic; the experience from last night was terrifying.
“I didn’t drink that much either, but somehow I still got drunk.”
He wasn’t sure which drink had such a high alcohol content, but Jiang Zihe usually handled his liquor well. After all, he was the second son of the Jiang family and had trained his tolerance by attending banquets with his older brother.
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng suddenly thought of Luo Jingshu.
Perhaps Jiang Zihe’s drunkenness had something to do with Luo Jingshu.
While jotting down notes quickly, Xiao Cheng didn’t lift his head and said to Jiang Zihe, “Maybe I dragged you down with me.”
Jiang Zihe snapped to attention, suddenly unable to focus on class as he leaned closer to Xiao Cheng. “I think I saw you being hugged by a guy last night.”
He couldn’t believe he had thought he was dreaming when he remembered that scene this morning.
Xiao Cheng’s hand paused while taking notes, the black pen leaving an extra mark on the paper.
He continued writing without changing his expression, “Yeah, that was my ex-boyfriend.”
Jiang Zihe scratched his head, looking as if he wanted to ask something but didn’t dare to.
He fidgeted nervously, causing Xiao Cheng to feel anxious for him. Finally, he set down his pen and turned to face him, “What do you want to ask?”
Jiang Zihe chuckled nervously, “If I’m not mistaken, that guy looked a bit like Luo Jingshu.”
He had forgotten everything else but remembered that particular scene clearly.
“Yeah, it was him.”
Xiao Cheng diverted his gaze, staring at the extra mark on the paper for a while, unsure what expression to wear.
Jiang Zihe had long realized that the man was Luo Jingshu. In fact, it was the first time Jiang Zihe had mentioned the boy that Xiao Cheng had mistakenly thought he was referring to Luo Yuan.
Thinking back, the coincidence was striking.
If only he had asked more questions back then or told Jiang Zihe the truth afterward, he wouldn’t have been deceived by Luo Jingshu for so long.
But alas, there was no remedy for regret in this world.
Perhaps it was all destined to happen.
“The person you liked and pursued for so long was actually Luo Jingshu?!” Jiang Zihe’s expression was somewhat forlorn. “Why did you make me think he was a girl back then?”
Xiao Cheng sighed softly, “I’m sorry.”
If it hadn’t been for his unilateral assumption that Jiang Zihe would spill the beans, and his impulsive decision to hide it from him, perhaps he wouldn’t have been fooled for so long.
This might just be karma for guessing others’ intentions with a petty mindset.
Jiang Zihe rubbed the back of his head cautiously and asked, “Did you break up with him?”
“Yeah.” Xiao Cheng stared blankly at the textbook, his mind drifting far away.
“Then you…”
Jiang Zihe initially wanted to offer him some comforting words, but then he remembered what Xiao Cheng had said in the dorm. He seemed to have already moved on.
Xiao Cheng snapped back to reality and rubbed his nose, “It’s fine, I’ve let it go.”
Now, he just wanted to wait until Luo Jingshu’s birthday to clarify everything between them.
After that, he would act as if he had never known the person.
But Jiang Zihe suddenly had a thought: dating a younger person was quite unreliable.
Especially if that younger person wasn’t even of age.
He suddenly recalled another person—Xie Zhao also liked Xiao Cheng, didn’t he? Did he know that Xiao Cheng was single now?
Jiang Zihe discreetly opened WeChat and found that Xie Zhao had sent him two messages at some point. He probably thought they were ads, as he hadn’t opened or replied to them.
[Xie Zhao: Classmate Jiang Zihe, how has Xiao Cheng been these past few days? How’s his mood?]
It seemed that he should know about Xiao Cheng’s breakup.
Jiang Zihe replied to him: [He’s doing okay, not crying over his ex-boyfriend.]
Xiao Cheng probably wouldn’t do something like that.
Xie Zhao quickly replied: [Thank you. Can I ask you to talk to him more?]
Jiang Zihe clicked his tongue; he wasn’t even Xiao Cheng’s boyfriend yet, but he was already talking to him as if he were!
[Don’t worry, I know.]
He then asked Xie Zhao: [Have you confessed to Xiao Cheng yet?]
Xie Zhao didn’t seem to expect Jiang Zihe to ask so directly, taking a long time to reply.
[No.]
Jiang Zihe clicked his tongue again. Xie Zhao was really something; shouldn’t he be showering Xiao Cheng with care while he was still heartbroken to gain his trust and affection?
Before Jiang Zihe could reply, Xie Zhao sent another message: [He doesn’t like me right now. Confessing would just get me rejected.]
[Junior Jiang, could you please tell him a few good things about me?]
Jiang Zihe huffed; did he seem like that kind of person?
After Xie Zhao sent that message, he immediately followed up with a photo containing two tickets.
They were tickets to a concert by Jiang Zihe’s favorite star.
Jiang Zihe: ??!!
Well, this could be negotiated.
He furtively glanced at Xiao Cheng, hesitated for a long time, and finally replied to Xie Zhao: [Deal.]
[Just so you know, when it comes to chasing someone, you have to rely on yourself; I won’t provide extra help.]
[Ok, thanks, Junior Jiang.]
Xiao Cheng endured for a while longer. Finally, when the professor at the front turned to write on the board, he reached out and slapped Jiang Zihe on the back of the head.
“What are you up to, you sneaky little rat?”
Jiang Zihe covered his head, chuckling nervously.
“Nothing, you saw wrong.”
He couldn’t exactly say that he was about to sell Xiao Cheng out for concert tickets.
A couple of days ago, Xiao Cheng had deleted Luo Jingshu from his friend list, but after meeting him again last night, Luo Jingshu sent a friend request, which Xiao Cheng accepted without hesitation.
Jiang Zihe, witnessing this, was utterly shocked, his face full of disbelief: “Didn’t you break up with him? Don’t tell me you’re already back together!”
Surely, he wouldn’t lose his concert tickets before they even arrived, right?
“His birthday is in two weeks.” After accepting the friend request, Xiao Cheng logged out of WeChat.
Jiang Zihe: …
The logic between you gay guys is something I really don’t understand.
He hesitated, struggling to find the words: “You’ve broken up; what does his birthday have to do with you?”
Xiao Cheng absentmindedly rubbed the phone case and casually replied, “Because I have a gift I want to give him.”
Jiang Zihe: I really don’t get it.
Xiao Cheng clearly didn’t want to elaborate. “You’ll find out later.”
Jiang Zihe immediately shared this news with his newly formed ally: [Xiao Cheng is planning to give his ex-boyfriend a gift on his birthday.]
Xie Zhao needed to step up his game!
When Xie Zhao received the message, he was momentarily taken aback, then wore a thoughtful expression.
When he last met Xiao Cheng, it seemed he was resolute about breaking up with Luo Jingshu; there’s no way he could reconcile so quickly, right?
That gift might not be anything good.
[Thanks, Junior Jiang. I get it now.]
Luo Jingshu had no idea that Xie Zhao was quietly scheming. After sending the friend request, he kept a close eye on his phone, and when Xiao Cheng’s chat box reappeared, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Jingshu wanted to say something to Xiao Cheng, but thinking about Xiao Cheng’s current rejection made him hesitant to trigger any sensitive spots.
It was during class, so there weren’t many people walking around the school. Luo Jingshu looked up and saw a circle of flowers blooming under the statue of Confucius.
He quickly walked over, crouching in front of the statue and carefully choosing the best angle, taking countless photos before selecting the one he liked most and sending it to Xiao Cheng.
[Brother Cheng, the flowers at school are blooming.]
He felt like a new lover, wanting to share everything he saw with his partner, meticulously considering his words for every message.
After sending the message, Luo Jingshu pretended to be calm as he put his phone back into his pocket and turned toward the teacher’s office.
The cold wind blew at the hem of his clothes, gradually cooling the warmth in his ears; the rosy blush took a long time to fade.
He had returned to school to handle some formalities, and after this, he wouldn’t need to come back for several months, just waiting to take the college entrance exam.
Luo Jingshu gazed at the distant teaching building, his peach blossom eyes slightly curved.
By the next time he returned, he would be an adult.
He wondered what Xiao Cheng would give him on his birthday.
Luo Jingshu thought to himself that he was just a little curious, not expecting anything.
Yeah, he definitely wasn’t expecting anything.
After class, Xiao Cheng finally saw his message. He hadn’t opened it yet, but he had already recognized the familiar potted plant—the flowers in the photo were cyclamens.
Sometimes, Xiao Cheng hated his good memory. When he saw the message, the first scene that came to mind was when Luo Jingshu had sent him photos of flowers in the past.
Back then, they would video call every night.
He couldn’t remember where all those words came from.
It was just a potted plant, yet it felt like they had both nurtured a child together. The night the flowers bloomed, Xiao Cheng was so happy, more than when he received a certificate of achievement.
Thinking back, it had all just been Luo Jingshu’s tactic.
Perhaps while he was delighting in that moment, Luo Jingshu had been mocking him for being naïve and easily fooled.
The boy he had liked was truly gone.
Xiao Cheng pressed his lips together, initially not wanting to reply to Luo Jingshu’s message, but he ultimately couldn’t resist and responded:
[With the same tactic being used twice, it’s lost its charm.]
