In the following days, Bai Yang didn’t go to the parking lot to wait for Shao Cheng anymore. He vaguely felt that Shao Cheng deliberately made sure he wouldn’t be able to find him there.
One day, he had met a senior from the same department in the parking lot who mentioned that a publishing house was recruiting interns. Intrigued by the offer, Bai Yang agreed to the internship opportunity. The pay wasn’t too low, and he only had to work three days a week. He eagerly accepted and awaited the interview notice.
While he certainly liked Shao Cheng a lot, he couldn’t dedicate all his time and energy to love. After all, he didn’t even have enough to eat, so how could he hope for love? Reality still compelled him to strive relentlessly.
Fortunately, he didn’t completely lose sight of Shao Cheng.
S University’s annual campus celebration was approaching, and each department was preparing performances. Rehearsal rooms of all sizes were almost fully occupied. The Law Department, where Shao Cheng belonged, happened to rehearse next to Bai Yang’s Chinese Literature Department. As the two most outstanding males in their respective departments, they were naturally pulled into the performances by their department leaders. Bai Yang saw Shao Cheng several times as he came and went, attempting to smile and greet him, but Shao Cheng didn’t spare him an extra glance.
It felt like they had regressed to the beginning, or even worse.
He tried his best not to dwell on those disheartening thoughts and threw himself wholeheartedly into the rehearsals. Their department had more female students, and they had prepared an enthusiastic and lively dance routine, with the male students as supporting cast. There were also students from two other departments sharing the same rehearsal space, and sometimes they would come to watch their dance routines during breaks.
Bai Yang noticed that a particular male student’s gaze was fixed on him, making him uncomfortable. He warned the guy with a fierce stare, only to be met with a smile in response.
He had to pretend he hadn’t noticed and turn a blind eye.
Days of intense training left many students exhausted, but Bai Yang, who was used to hard physical work due to his part-time jobs, managed to endure without collapsing. However, the rehearsal room’s air conditioning was barely effective, and after each session of dancing, he was drenched in sweat. He lifted his T-shirt to wipe the sweat off his forehead, inadvertently revealing his abdominal muscles and the faint outline of his hip muscles. Someone even whistled at the sight, but he paid it no mind.
After rehearsal, they had to return the equipment to its proper place. Several guys took turns doing this, and it was Bai Yang’s turn that day. When the others had left, he realized that the male student who had been staring at him was also staying behind to organize the equipment.
Bai Yang kept his head down and focused on moving things, treating the person as if he didn’t exist. But as he bent down to place a prop in a container, he suddenly felt someone behind him.
He immediately turned around, taking a step back cautiously, his gaze fixed warily on the person who had gotten too close.
The male student was about his height, his blatant gaze sweeping over Bai Yang’s body. He even whistled, “Nice body. How much for a round?”
Bai Yang suppressed the urge to punch him and forcefully spat out a word, “Get lost.”
The guy raised an eyebrow, “I heard you’re short on money?”
“I might be short on money, but I don’t need to earn it this way.” Bai Yang clenched his fist.
The guy smirked, “What’s the big deal? We’re both men. Just once won’t hurt, and I’ll pay you for it.” He even moved closer as if to touch Bai Yang’s waist.
Bai Yang couldn’t take it anymore and was about to throw a punch—
“Whoosh—” The rehearsal room’s door swung open.
Almost simultaneously frozen in place, the two turned to look, only to see Shao Cheng standing at the doorway, his expression icy.
The guy seemed a bit afraid when he saw Shao Cheng and stepped back, refraining from making any further moves.
As if he hadn’t seen anything, Shao Cheng walked straight to a nearby table and tossed something inside. “Borrowed these from you guys a couple of days ago, returning them now.”
Bai Yang and the other guy still stood rooted to the spot. Shao Cheng turned to face them.
“Why stop? Keep going.”
Bai Yang’s eyes widened, staring at Shao Cheng in a daze, not understanding what he was saying.
The guy’s tone softened suddenly, and he tried to sound conciliatory, “Cheng… we were just joking around…”
“Joking around?” Shao Cheng raised an eyebrow mockingly. “Okay, well go on. I want to see what you guys will do”
Just as Bai Yang seemed to be grasping the situation, his eyes turned towards Shao Cheng, who had just spoken. Bai Yang’s face went suddenly pale, and he seemed utterly incredulous.
The other guy didn’t know whether Shao Cheng was serious or not, but he knew he couldn’t afford to offend Shao Cheng, so he followed his orders. As for Bai Yang, who had previously resisted, he now stood as if his soul had been drained out, motionless. Even when the guy unzipped his pants, Bai Yang barely reacted.
Shao Cheng’s pupils suddenly contracted.
Before his mind could process this inexplicable surge of anger, his body lunged forward and forcefully pushed the guy to the ground.
“Get lost before I smash your head.”
The low, harsh, and oppressive voice shook both the two in front of him. The guy hurriedly scrambled up and fled.
The rehearsal room, now empty, only had two silent figures left.
“Turn around,” Shao Cheng commanded.
Bai Yang’s pants were already partially unzipped, and he quickly pulled them up, then turned to face Shao Cheng.
Shao Cheng was close, his breath brushing against Bai Yang’s face. Bai Yang felt a bit uncomfortable and took a step back, but he ended up against a table. Shao Cheng moved forward, leaned on the table, and trapped Bai Yang against it.
Bai Yang lowered his head, unable to read Shao Cheng’s emotions from his expression. Unlike his usually smiling mouth, it wasn’t curved upward, and his dimples were nowhere in sight.
“Do you still think I’m gentle?” Shao Cheng’s low voice sounded almost cruel. “This is the kind of person I am. Do you still like me?”
“I do.”
Bai Yang didn’t hesitate. “You’re not like that, I just know.”
Shao Cheng sneered, “A moment ago you were about to do it with someone else, and now you say you like me. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Bai Yang looked at him, his eyes slightly red. “I didn’t.”
But he had no evidence to prove his words except his own sincerity. He could only present his genuine feelings to Shao Cheng over and over again.
“I really didn’t. I like you, I like you a lot.” His voice even trembled a little, and he raised his head to face Shao Cheng with determination. His clear eyes, usually so profound and genuine when they looked at Shao Cheng, were now dimmed and exhausted.
“You can dislike me or even hate me, and that’s okay. But I don’t want you to doubt my feelings for you. I really, truly like you.”
Shao Cheng’s expression remained cold and disdainful, as if he was waiting to see how far Bai Yang would take this act. Bai Yang had no other choice. Summoning his courage, he grabbed onto the edge of Shao Cheng’s clothes and pleaded earnestly, “Give me a chance to prove myself, please? I’m willing to do anything.”
“Anything? Are you so desperate for money that you’re willing to climb into bed with me?” Shao Cheng finally spoke, his tone cold and mocking. “Alright then, I’ll give you money, and you can sleep with me.”
Bai Yang’s eyes widened in shock. “…What?”
Shao Cheng laughed without any warmth, “It’s too troublesome to deal with women, and you’re much easier to deal with. As long as I pay you, anything goes, right?”
Bai Yang was stunned, unable to process Shao Cheng’s words.
Shao Cheng was actually proposing that Bai Yang become his sexual partner?
Bai Yang didn’t want to be misunderstood as someone who was promiscuous and willing to sleep with anyone for money. But Shao Cheng seemed to have a certain desire for him, one that Bai Yang couldn’t even imagine. If he explained the misunderstanding now, saying that he had no experience and wasn’t what Shao Cheng thought, Shao Cheng would likely turn to someone else immediately.
Perhaps this was his only opportunity to get closer to Shao Cheng.
“If you’re not willing, just forget it.” Shao Cheng’s voice was cold.
Bai Yang instinctively held onto Shao Cheng’s arm.
“I’m willing.”
Shao Cheng’s movement faltered, his expression showing a mix of complex emotions. He seemed somewhat satisfied and somewhat more disdainful.
“You almost tricked me again.”
Bai Yang didn’t understand. He made a puzzled sound, but suddenly his lower jaw was captured by Shao Cheng’s hand.
“I’ll give you this one chance to get close to me. Before I get tired of you. If I find out you’ve been hiding things from me and playing me for a fool—”
Shao Cheng’s eyes were sharp and intense, and he lowered his head to Bai Yang’s neck. His warm breath brushed over Bai Yang’s skin, causing him to shiver, nervous and ticklish.
Like a wild animal about to bite into its prey’s throat.
“Hiss—”
Shao Cheng actually bit him, not too forcefully, but hard enough to leave a mark.
Shao Cheng held onto his chin, exerting pressure, his pitch-black eyes bottomless and brooding as he said, “Understand the consequences, don’t you?”
Bai Yang, in pain, struggled to nod. Yet, his eyes were smiling and clear. He gently extended his arm and embraced Shao Cheng, who was close by:
“I’m not afraid because I could never betray you. I only like you.”
Shao Cheng’s body stiffened. He seemed to understand something, but he was still reluctant, frustrated. He forcefully pushed him away, then turned and walked out of the rehearsal hall without looking back.
Bai Yang looked at his own empty embrace and only embraced the remnants of the setting sun’s rays. Everything that had just happened seemed like a dream.
