QTEBS Chapter 5

“Did we win in the end?”

“We did. And the scene was quite brutal.”

All the students in Senior Year Class 1 were in a daze. That Zhang Zhi’liang, their class’s top student who always smiled but carried an air of superiority—was he really this weak?

He couldn’t run, couldn’t jump, couldn’t even shoot.

He just couldn’t let go.

Zong Yuan lost his energy halfway through the game and ended it with a three-pointer. “Let’s go,” he said.

He glanced at Zhang Zhi’liang, who was panting heavily in a disheveled state, glaring at Zong Yuan with eyes full of unmasked malice and jealousy.

Zong Yuan smirked, feeling quite pleased, and walked off. Along the way, an unknown number of water bottles were thrust into his hands by admirers. Ignoring them, he shoved his hands into his pockets, casually strolling over to Fu Xin, and asked, “Fu Xin, where’s the water?”

Fu Xin was bewildered. “I didn’t buy any.”

“Ahh,” Zong Yuan sighed dramatically, throwing an arm around Fu Xin’s shoulder. Behind them, the four guys who had played basketball with him stood awkwardly at a distance, unsure whether they should approach.

Fu Xin handed him his clothes and Zong Yuan draped them over his shoulder. When Fu Xin tried to slip away, Zong Yuan quickly grabbed him by the collar, smiling. “Where are you off to?”

Fu Xin pointed towards the school store, “To get you some water.”

No need for that, Zong Yuan thought, looking around at the crowd eagerly watching him. He decisively shook his head, “No need, let’s just head out.”

After gym class, it was lunchtime. There were two hours of free time, not to mention that gym class had ended half an hour early.

Zong Yuan signaled to the four guys. Yang Fan was the first to come over. The other three exchanged glances and followed suit.

With one hand in his pocket and the other arm draped over Fu Xin, Zong Yuan leaned half his weight onto him. “Pick whatever you want to eat.”

Zong Yuan had money.

They all knew this well, so even though they figured they’d end up eating with Fu Xin, they were still excited, already thinking about places they’d wanted to try but couldn’t afford before.

Zong Yuan checked his watch, squinting, “Get a taxi first. You have five minutes to decide where to eat. Is that enough?”

Everyone nodded enthusiastically, frantically searching for places on their phones.

Fu Xin stood as straight as he could, trying to support Zong Yuan’s weight, hesitating, “Maybe I should head back to class.”

Zong Yuan flicked his forehead, “Stick with me. I’ll treat you to something good.”

Fu Xin, clutching his head, looked at him, “Why are you the older one?”

Zong Yuan smiled slyly, “Short people have no right to question the age of tall people.”

With no right to object, Fu Xin obediently followed along.

Once they were seated in a private room, the group of teenagers satisfied their curiosity before Zong Yuan finally spoke. He called the waiter over for the menu and asked Fu Xin, “Is there anything you can’t eat?”

Fu Xin shook his head.

As they browsed the menu, Yang Fan and the others felt the weight of it in their hands. The dishes looked similar to what you’d find elsewhere, but the prices were easily ten times higher.

A few minutes later, the dishes were ordered. The group briefly introduced themselves: Fatty, Wang Gou, and Dong Zi. They told Zong Yuan to just call them by their nicknames—it was easier to remember.

Zong Yuan pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and grinned, “Who wants one?”

Four hands shot up in unison.

Zong Yuan exhaled a puff of smoke. “You’re all adults, right?”

Dong Zi quietly lowered his hand.

Fu Xin coughed a few times from the smoke, making Zong Yuan laugh. “Go open a window and wait over there.”

Yang Fan, who had taken a puff of the cigarette, grinned. “Good cigarettes are really different. I haven’t been to this restaurant many times either.”

Zong Yuan flicked the ash from his cigarette carelessly, “You guys are all my kind of people. How about we become friends?”

“That sounds great!”

Zong Yuan smiled, “I don’t have many strengths. My personality isn’t great either, but I can treat you guys to food and drinks and help you see the world. For the rest, I’ll need you all to guide me.”

Wang Gou, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, “We’re the ones who need you to lead us.”

The others nodded eagerly.

Zong Yuan glanced over at Fu Xin, who was leaning out the window, listening attentively to the conversation. “I just have one small favor to ask of you guys.”

Yang Fan immediately responded, “You said we’re brothers now. If it’s something we can do, we’ll do it.”

“Everyone knows about Fu Xin’s situation,” Zong Yuan said, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray and sighing. “My little brother here doesn’t always think things through. He was envious of Zhang Zhi’liang’s good grades and wrote a few words that got twisted into rumors about him liking guys. If he really liked guys, do you think he’d like that coward Zhang Zhi’liang?”

Fu Xin, who had been retreating from the window, froze for a second, then steadily leaned back out.

Zong Yuan’s expression remained calm, showing no signs of anger or frustration. These guys might not have directly bullied Fu Xin, but they’d at least joined in the taunting. Sensing the situation, Yang Fan quickly spoke up, “We were all misled back then. Fu Xin, we’re really sorry for what we said.”

He raised his voice, calling out to Fu Xin. Fu Xin peeked back inside, glancing at Zong Yuan who looked completely unfazed. Lowering his eyes, he replied, “It’s fine.”

The group excitedly apologized to Fu Xin, as if they were celebrating rather than apologizing. Zong Yuan rested his chin on his hand, watching Fu Xin intently, then cheekily winked at him.

Fu Xin’s heart suddenly started racing.

The lunch break was just the right length and they didn’t waste time. After eating their fill, it was time to head back to class. They watched as Zong Yuan signed something on a slip of paper before nonchalantly strolling out.

They had only ever seen moves like that on TV, usually at hotels owned by someone’s family.

By the time Fu Xin sat back down in his classroom chair, he finally processed what had happened over lunch. He happened to make eye contact with Yang Fan, who, to his tablemate’s surprise, gave Fu Xin a smile that could only be described as friendly.

Fu Xin hesitated for a moment, then slightly curled his lips into a smile.

Zong Yuan, feeling bored, wanted to take a nap. He pulled out a mint candy and peeled off the wrapper. He was just about to pop it into his mouth when Fu Xin’s hand quickly reached out, and with a serious expression, he shook his head. “You can’t eat that.”

Zong Yuan grabbed Fu Xin’s hand and sighed, “I want to.”

The way he said it, combined with the scene, would make anyone who didn’t know them think that what Zong Yuan wanted to eat was Fu Xin’s hand.

Fu Xin’s eyelid twitched, but before he could say anything, He Xiu’xiu walked over with a stack of notebooks. She flashed a bright smile, her gaze landing on Zong Yuan and Fu Xin’s interlocked hands. “Zong Yuan, these are your new notebooks.”

Zong Yuan accepted them with a straight face, “Thank you.”

He Xiu’xiu twirled her hair shyly, blushing. “Zong Yuan, you played so well today. You were really handsome.”

Yang Fan turned around and teased her, “Oh, the class monitor’s face is all red. What’s going on?”

He Xiu’xiu’s face turned an even deeper shade of red as she gazed at Zong Yuan with affection. Fu Xin’s expression suddenly grew cold.

He didn’t even realize how much his expression had changed, but it startled Yang Fan’s tablemate, who had turned to watch the commotion.

Fu—Fu Xin could also wear a cold expression.

Fu Xin pulled out last night’s math test and tapped Zong Yuan, “Zong Yuan, I don’t know how to do this question.”

He casually pointed to the last problem.

He Xiu’xiu’s smile stiffened. “Fu Xin, you could always ask Zhang Zhi’liang.”

Only then did Fu Xin remember Zhang Zhi’liang—he had actually forgotten about him just now.

0046 said suspiciously, “Why does it seem like she’s trying to push Fu Xin toward Zhang Zhi’liang? Doesn’t she like Zhang Zhi’liang? Could this be a trap?”

Zong Yuan agreed with 0046’s point of view. The smile that had been on his face moments before faded. “No need to ask Zhang Zhi’liang. The class rep is busy enough as it is. We should help lighten his load.”

He grabbed Fu Xin’s test, glanced at it, and with a serious expression said, “List these given conditions, and then…”

Fu Xin watched Zong Yuan’s profile, listening intently.

He Xiu’xiu was completely ignored. Fu Xin noticed her out of the corner of his eye. The corners of his lips lifted slightly into a small smile.

During the second period of evening self-study, Fu Xin went to the restroom and didn’t come back even after class resumed.

0046 was startled, “Could something have happened?”

Zong Yuan’s face darkened as he suddenly stood up. Old Jiang, who was sitting at the lectern preparing his lesson plan, jumped in surprise. “Zong Yuan, what’s wrong?”

“Teacher, I’m going to the restroom.”

His posture didn’t look like he was heading to the restroom; it looked more like he was going to start a fight.

Old Jiang replied, “Go ahead, go ahead.”

Zong Yuan walked to the men’s restroom on that floor, face still tense. “Fu Xin?”

No one responded.

He checked the stalls one by one. It was class time, so there were very few people in the restroom. Only one stall had its door closed.

Zong Yuan knocked on the door. “Hey, anyone in there?”

A weak voice replied from inside, “Yeah.”

It wasn’t Fu Xin’s voice.

Zong Yuan walked out of the restroom, his face dark. “Can’t you track Fu Xin’s location?”

0046 paused for a moment, then mumbled, “I didn’t install GPS on him. How would I know where he is?”

Zong Yuan took a deep breath, frustrated. “You didn’t think to check the school’s surveillance cameras?”

0046 fell silent.

Zong Yuan headed upstairs to check the restroom on the second floor. As soon as he walked in, he saw Fu Xin washing his hands. Fu Xin was surprised to see him, “Were there a lot of people on the first floor?”

Zong Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words. He calmly walked over to the urinal and unzipped his pants. “Yeah.”

Fu Xin’s hand-washing slowed, his face gradually turning red. He washed his hands even more slowly, sneaking glances at Zong Yuan through the mirror.

The sound of running water could still be heard in the background.

When Zong Yuan zipped up his pants and turned around, he saw Fu Xin, blushing and staring at the mirror, lost in thought.

Zong Yuan: “…”

He walked over and called out from behind him, raising his voice, “Hey.”

Fu Xin jumped in surprise, stumbling back two steps. Zong Yuan quickly caught him, amused. “What were you thinking about, spacing out while washing your hands?”

Fu Xin steadied himself, feeling guilty. “I wasn’t thinking about anything.”

It would’ve been fine if he’d admitted it confidently, but instead, he looked like a guilty thief. Zong Yuan snorted, “Let’s go, half the class is over already.”

Fu Xin couldn’t help but glance downward, turning into a statue on the spot. “Y-you, you…”

Zong Yuan was unfazed. “Me, me, me—what about me?”

“Your zipper is still undone.”

Zong Yuan: “…”

Embarrassed, Zong Yuan’s face darkened. With a swift motion, he zipped it up and strode out, his long legs carrying him away quickly.

Fu Xin followed behind, his expression odd.

Black underwear.

And it was tight-fitting.

Provocative.

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