The hallway was as quiet as a sealed glass bottle, the thin air making every sound seem unnaturally loud. Through the gap in the door, Lin Jing’s voice could be heard, respectful yet tinged with a barely perceptible frustration. She repeatedly assured the discipline officer that she would handle the situation. However, the man seemed unwilling to let the matter drop. Usually composed and well-dressed, he now spoke with a twisted expression, using sharp and venomous words.
Chi Yu’s frown deepened, his jaw clenched tightly, and the veins on his neck bulged. He felt a growing sense of agitation, as if a ticking time bomb was lodged in his chest, ready to explode at any moment.
The cool touch on his wrist startled Chi Yu out of his thoughts. He looked down at the slender, pale fingers resting on his skin, and for some reason, the contact brought a sense of calm.
Fu Zhi’an leaned against the railing, tilting his head slightly to look at him, the corners of his eyes lifted in a gentle smile.
At that moment, Chi Yu thought Fu Zhi’an’s eyes were beautiful—each time they looked at him, they seemed to carry a steadfast intensity that made Chi Yu feel like maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t beyond saving.
A few minutes before the end of class, Lin Jing finally emerged from the discipline officer’s office. She seemed surprised to find them both waiting just outside the door, her eyes slightly red as she met Chi Yu’s gaze.
“Let’s go to my office,” she said.
The laughter and chatter from the hallways were still audible through the walls.
“Take the test papers home to work on,” Lin Jing said with a small smile, holding a cup in her hands but not taking a sip. “And go straight home after this. It’ll be quieter there.” Fu Zhi’an nodded. Lin Jing’s gaze shifted to Chi Yu, her tone light. “I won’t nag you about it—you never stay for evening self-study anyway.”
Chi Yu responded with a nonchalant “hmph” as he stood up and patted Fu Zhi’an on the shoulder, preparing to leave.
“Chi Yu, you go ahead,” Lin Jing suddenly said, taking a small sip of water. She caught Chi Yu’s puzzled expression and explained, “Fu Zhi’an’s parents are on their way.”
Lin Jing couldn’t help but glance at Fu Zhi’an, who remained calm, his clean, handsome face showing no sign of distress, as if this had nothing to do with him. Fu Zhi’an had spent two years at this school, consistently ranking first in every exam, effortlessly winning various competitions. The teachers and school administrators practically worshiped him, expecting him to be the top scorer in the upcoming college entrance exams.
But now, for the first time, Fu Zhi’an’s parents had been called in because of a relationship scandal.
And it was because he was dating a boy.
Chi Yu’s legs felt as if they were filled with lead as he stood by the door, his grip tightening on the doorknob. He didn’t want to leave Fu Zhi’an to face this alone, but he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready to face Fu Zhi’an’s parents, to witness their expressions crumbling into disappointment and disbelief.
“There’s some bread in my bag for you,” Fu Zhi’an said softly, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. “See you tomorrow.”
Fu Zhi’an was telling him this separation was only temporary. No matter what happened tonight, it would be like an avalanche—overwhelming, but ultimately, everything would be buried and forgotten.
Chi Yu’s brow relaxed, and he managed a dismissive smirk at Fu Zhi’an, his tone mocking as he pushed open the door. “That bread tastes awful. Keep it for yourself.” Once the door clicked shut behind him, Chi Yu leaned against it, his eyes downcast, his face expressionless save for the slight rise and fall of his chest.
Because at that moment, there was no one to hold his hand, no one to feel the trembling coldness of his fingertips.
A rustling sound caught Chi Yu’s attention. He looked up to see a figure lurking in the shadows at the corner of the hallway, craning their neck to peer in his direction. The dry kindling in Chi Yu’s chest caught fire, igniting in an instant, consuming all his anxiety and frustration in a flash. Before he knew it, he had grabbed the person by the collar, shoving them against the wall.
“It was you,” Chi Yu growled, his voice low and cold enough to send shivers down the spine.
Wang Yi, clutching the fabric of his crumpled shirt, swallowed hard, staring into Chi Yu’s red, blazing eyes.
“What do you mean…?” Wang Yi stammered.
“You better hope Fu Zhi’an stays in this school,” Chi Yu said, his intense gaze never wavering. Wang Yi could feel the heat of his breath.
“Or I’ll fucking kill you.”
Meanwhile, inside the office, Fu Zhi’an set down his cup. The faint sound of cars passing by filtered in through the window. Lin Jing had just stepped out to greet his parents, leaving him alone. He walked to the window, instinctively reaching into his pocket, only to find a single lollipop wrapped in plastic. It was peach-flavored, the one Chi Yu had given him the night before—actually, he had snatched it from Chi Yu’s warm, dry palm. He hadn’t had the chance to eat it yet.
As the scent of cigarette smoke wafted through the air, Fu Zhi’an turned around to meet his mother’s complicated gaze—the most complex expression he had ever seen on her face. His father, on the other hand, hadn’t looked at him once since entering the room, his eyes fixed on the floor.
Lin Jing hadn’t entered with them; she had tactfully closed the door, leaving the three of them alone.
“Ms. Lin said you scored first in this latest test,” Chen Yifang finally spoke, setting her bag on the table without sitting down.
“The teachers have high expectations for you. They say if you perform as usual, getting into A University won’t be a problem.”
Fu Zhi’an smiled faintly. Even after standing for so long, his back remained straight, like a white pine that wouldn’t bend. This was one of the few demands his father, Fu Jianguo, had ever made of him: to stand tall and straight, because that’s what a man should do. In this, Fu Zhi’an excelled. Chen Yifang bit her lip, wondering how her son, who seemed so normal—excelling in both academics and character—could be so different.
So abnormal.
“If there was some misunderstanding with the teachers, you should just clear it up,” Chen Yifang said, her tone suddenly lightening as she searched for something in her bag. “I understand that you’re under a lot of pressure, and it’s normal for teenagers to act out. When we get home, I’ll talk to your teachers…”
“There’s no misunderstanding.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet room, each word was sharp and clear. Chen Yifang’s hand froze mid-search, her lips pressing together, but she didn’t look up.
“I like Chi Yu,” Fu Zhi’an said, his voice steady. “I like him a lot.”
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