TPPCGEM Chapter 23

Xia Zhinian: “???”

The people around: “!!!”

Xia Zhinian’s expression froze, and the gazes attracted by Yan Ci around him also solidified.

What?

What did he mean by waking up early, rushing out, and wearing the wrong clothes?

What was going on?!

Xia Zhinian’s head was in a daze, his eyes wide open, scanning the equally shocked and wide-eyed crowd around him. His temples throbbed madly as he suddenly lowered his head to look at his school uniform.

The sleeves were indeed longer, covering his hands.

This, this—

The boy’s expression froze, his amber eyes filled with shock, making him look particularly cute.

Yan Ci raised the corners of his lips.

He had suffered from insomnia half the night, and the sharp headache caused by the unbearable itching and craving seemed to fade significantly at this moment. He smiled understandingly and said, “Maybe I grabbed the wrong one from the corner of the bed. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Xia Zhinian: “…?”

“But only my school uniform was placed at the corner of the bed, yours was—” draped over you.

“Xia Zhinian, what are you saying?!”

Chu Qingjian turned around unexpectedly, his expression shocked and complicated. The game character on his phone lost its head with a click.

“Did you two… sleep together last night?”

“!!!”

Xia Zhinian felt like his head had also been chopped off.

“How could it be, Brother Chu!”

Why does the protagonist gong show up randomly when he’s not needed?

It concerns the protagonist shou innocence!

Xia Zhinian’s head felt twice its size as he stared firmly at Chu Qingjian, speaking earnestly, “I only like you, Brother Chu. I have nothing to do with Yan Ci, how could I sleep with him.”

“Heh.”

The little rice cake (XZ) desperately tried to distance himself, Yan Ci felt a surge of displeasure spreading inside him. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and raised his bandaged hand to touch his dull aching head, smiling faintly.

“Classmate Xia is right. Sleeping in different beds in the same room doesn’t count as sleeping together.”

Zou Ziqian’s mouth dropped open in shock, turning his head to add fuel to the fire, “I remember! I saw you two entering the dormitory building together last night. I thought I was seeing things.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Useless comments are not needed!

“Brother Chu.” He called.

Chu Qingjian looked at him and Yan Ci with disapproval then turned back to his game. During the cooldown period, he pondered for a moment before raising his noble head.

“What you do is none of my business, but Xia Zhinian, you just returned to the Xia family not long ago, and you’re barely an adult. Dating is fine, but other things… there’s no need to rush.”

Chu Qingjian clicked his tongue, frowning, “Aunt Jiang asked me to take care of you, if you go too far, I won’t be able to explain.”

“…”

“…??”

Xia Zhinian lost his expression.

Chu Qingjian shook his head and sighed, turning back to his game.

“…………”

The boy looked despondent, while Yan Ci chuckled. His head still ached, as if something was stirring inside. He lightly pressed his temples, his expression unchanged.

“Speaking of which, this uniform is the one Classmate Xia bought for me. I’ll wear it for now and return it tomorrow.”

The surrounding onlookers whispered in low voices.

Chu Qingjian turned back and clicked his tongue deeply.

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Tired.

Sigh.jpg

Yan Ci returned to his seat, and Meng Chen whispered something.

Xia Zhinian glanced over.

The emotional thread between the protagonist gong and shou was collapsing repeatedly, they were cold towards each other, and the protagonist shou show more interest in him instead.

Could it be because he knew Yan Ci’s secret?

Fear of the dark.

And the strange illness last night.

Xia Zhinian looked at the medicine bottle as Yan Ci took his medication. It was a sedative, typically used to calm nerves, reduce agitation, and decrease sensitivity to external stimuli.

Sometimes, to increase the concentration, it could be administered via injection.

Xia Zhinian once again thought of the mysterious young man who covered his eyes in the hospital.

And the person holding the needle beside him… seemed to resemble Meng Chen.

Xia Zhinian’s almond-shaped eyes scanned back and forth between the two of them, his lips pressed tight.

The next day, before physical education class, the entire second-year Class One received terrible news—

A full-class physical fitness test.

Under the glaring sun, the tall, burly young physical education teacher stood with his hands on his hips.

“This fitness test, if you’re not feeling well, you can excuse yourself, but unless you have a hospital certificate, you’ll still have to make it up later. No one can escape.”

Xia Zhinian stood in the lineup on the field, intending to walk to the side but suddenly realized he had no excuse to avoid it now.

…This wasn’t his original body.

But he had never done a fitness test before.

Damn it.

The class was filled with groans and complaints, the PE teacher laughed, “Serves you right for not exercising, now you’re in my hands.”

He grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, his voice loud, “Alright, boys will do push-ups, pair up separately, one person does the test, and the other lies underneath, make sure to do the movements correctly!”

“Huh?!”

The class erupted.

Yuan Lang whistled, “Then we should pair boys and girls, teacher.”

The PE teacher laughed and scoffed, “To plant the seeds of early romance? The director would kill me.”

The teacher calmed the class down and had the class monitor take the roll call for grouping.
Xia Zhinian suddenly had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, Yan Ci stood beside the teacher, his clear, gentle voice calling out the first group—

“First group, Xia Zhinian and Yan Ci.”

Xia Zhinian: “!!!”

No!!

Why?!

Xia Zhinian’s eyes widened as he stared at Yan Ci as if trying to bore a hole into him.

The protagonist gong and shou should be together, why drag him, the cannon fodder, into this?!

Yan Ci continued reading the names, sensing the shocked, resentful gaze piercing him, the corners of his lips slightly curled. When he finished, he closed the roll and looked at his little partner.

“Classmate Xia.” Yan Ci smiled gently, “Is there any objection to you staring at me?”

“Of course!” Xia Zhinian’s round almond eyes looked at him, a tuft of hair sticking up, full of disbelief, “The list is arranged by grades, how could I be grouped with the top student?”

Yan Ci’s expression remained unchanged, smiling politely, “Classmate Xia transferred in this term, your name was added by hand.”

“Then it should be at the end of the list.”

“This is the teacher’s writing, I don’t know.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Damn it.

Yan Ci smiled kindly, “Classmate Xia, will you lie down first or should I?”

Not far away, Zou Ziqian was already lying on the mat, Yuan Lang propping himself above him, and the surrounding students erupted in playful jeers.

Zou Ziqian covered his face with his hands, pretending to be shy, “Oh no, Brother Lang, don’t crush me.”

Yuan Lang laughed heartily, “Relax, darling, Brother Lang’s arm strength is unmatched!”
The class burst into laughter.

Xia Zhinian looked at Yan Ci with difficulty.

“…”

Help.

Suffocating.jpg

Could he still be rescued if he fainted now and was sent to the hospital?

Yan Ci’s lips curved, a hint of amusement in his eyes, “Classmate Xia, have you decided? Will you lie down first, or shall I?”

“Forget it, Classmate Xia, you lie down first. I’m afraid you’ll accidentally faint.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

The teacher was already holding the timer, urging them on. Xia Zhinian, stiff as a board, was led by Yan Ci, who held his arm through his sleeve, to the nearest mat, right beside Zou Ziqian and Yuan Lang.

Zou Ziqian, in a falsetto voice, “Brother Lang, your arm muscles are so strong.”

Yuan Lang laughed mightily, “Haha, I am a descendant of the Yuan dynasty! On our Mongolian grasslands, only someone as strong as me can marry a beauty like Sister Zou!”

Almost everyone was in position. Xia Zhinian, stiff and rigid, slowly lay down on the mat. Immediately, a shadow loomed over him, two arms braced beside his ears.

The sunlight was blocked, and he felt completely covered by a dense shadow. The proximity was so close that he could smell the faint scent of body wash from the person above him.

Xia Zhinian tensed up immediately, clutching the hem of his clothes. His ears gradually turned red, his almond-shaped eyes wide and watery, staring at the tiny scar at the corner of Yan Ci’s eye, maintaining a serious expression with great effort.

Yan Ci looked down at him gently, his voice soft and slow, “Classmate Xia, your ears are red.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

The little rice cake exploded instantly, glaring at him fiercely and lowering his voice to snap, “Nonsense, they are not! Shut up.”

Yan Ci chuckled lightly.

The teacher counted down from three, pressing the timer and shouting, “Start!”

Yan Ci exerted strength in his arms, his toes pressing against the ground, his waist straightening as he executed a perfect push-up.

Xia Zhinian could almost feel the slight weight brushing over his clothes, accompanied by the clearer scent of body wash.

Nearby, Zou Ziqian and Yuan Lang were still making strange noises, their voices seeming both near and far.

The shadow covering him came closer, warm breath brushing his cheeks. The figure above him stared unblinkingly, the small scar at the corner of his eye clear, with sharp lines.

Only now that they were this close did Xia Zhinian realize how striking Yan Ci’s appearance was, carrying a heavy impact.

Xia Zhinian’s ears reddened even more. He couldn’t help wanting to turn his head, but turning it made his cheek move closer, brushing against Yan Ci’s breath, causing waves of itchiness.

“Classmate Xia”

Yan Ci’s voice was steady, his movements rhythmic, and he chuckled in surprise, “Your earlobes are red too.”

Xia Zhinian bristled instantly, “What does that have to do with you? Do your push-ups and stop talking!”

Yan Ci noticed the spreading blush with slight surprise and smiled.

“Who knew you could blush in so many places.”

“…”

Ahhh!

Why does this feel so long!

Xia Zhinian gritted his teeth, but the redness of his ears was uncontrollable. His almond eyes shone with amber light, his cheeks burning, the blush on his ears spreading continuously. He glared at Yan Ci, trying to look fierce.

But instead of looking fierce, he seemed both soft and cute, becoming more and more like a little rice cake.

Yan Ci chuckled, unable to control his laughter, dipping lower, almost pressing against Xia Zhinian. Through the thin fabric, he could faintly feel a bit of warmth.

Xia Zhinian’s face burned, like an angry little beast, his voice muffled from his throat, eyes wide open.

“Yan Ci!”