Chapter 88
Two days later, the heating started, and the dorm was no longer cold. However, Chi Aibei still squeezed into the same bed with Lin Xiu. Chi Aibei didn’t leave, and Lin Xiu didn’t drive him away.
After the heating started, Chi Aibei was full of naughty thoughts before falling asleep every day. But once he fell asleep, he was eager to get away from the heat source and no longer burrowed into Lin Xiu’s arms as he’d done for the first two days.
For three consecutive days, Chi Aibei woke up with his back to Lin Xiu, being embraced by him. Lin Xiu’s arm was draped over his waist, and his hanging palm was close to his lower abdomen.
Chi Aibei thought: How great would it be if this position were reversed? Then I could take some advantage!
Chi Aibei tried to turn over. But as soon as he turned his head, Lin Xiu suddenly tightened his arm, pulling him closer into his embrace, and crooned hoarsely, “Be good, don’t move.”
That voice traveled from his ear all the way down to his spine. Plus, as Lin Xiu tightened his arm, the hand on his lower abdomen also applied some pressure. Chi Aibei nearly exploded on the spot.
He suddenly curled his legs, and his back arched, accidentally poking backward. Lin Xiu let out a muffled groan and opened his eyes. “Need to go to the bathroom?”
Chi Aibei shook his head. This time, it wasn’t as simple as going to the bathroom…
Hearing Lin Xiu let out a laugh, Chi Aibei looked back and said guiltily, “This is a normal phenomenon. Everyone has it in the morning.”
He’d had it before, but that time it really was a normal phenomenon. This time was different, and Chi Aibei sounded a bit lacking in confidence.
Lin Xiu didn’t let him off this time. “Since everyone has it, then what are you so awkward about?”
Chi Aibei: “I…”
Looking at Lin Xiu’s face—half-awake with squinted eyes but wearing a smile—Chi Aibei gritted his teeth.
No. As a “1,” how could he be so cowardly over such a small matter? How could he achieve great things in the future if he stayed like this?!
Chi Aibei turned over and reached out to touch Lin Xiu. “Gege, do you have it?”
Lin Xiu grabbed his hand. “Are you crazy? This is the dorm.”
Plus, his bed didn’t even have a curtain. This little fool was really going to heaven!
Chi Aibei had thought that if his sneak attack succeeded, neither of them would be able to laugh at the other. But he hadn’t succeeded.
Lin Xiu pulled him into his embrace and whispered in his ear, “Do you feel it?”
Chi Aibei’s throat tightened… This… does this count as him taking advantage?
…
Chi Aibei didn’t have early classes today. He went to the canteen to get some food and saw Wu Yue reading in the dorm when he returned.
Chi Aibei: “No class today?”
Wu Yue pushed his glasses. “I have one in the afternoon.”
Chi Aibei held the scallion pancake he’d bought. “Want some?”
Wu Yue: “I already ate.”
Chi Aibei sat on Lin Xiu’s bed eating the pancake, his mind still stuck on the morning’s events. Wu Yue glanced at him. “Are you and Lin Xiu together?”
Since Wu Yue had come to apologize last time, the two had an open and honest talk. Although they didn’t come to an agreement, he was no longer so bothered by the fact that Chi Aibei liked boys. Perhaps he didn’t want to be isolated; after all, among the three, only Chi Aibei didn’t have an icy face and wasn’t annoying.
With his mouth full of pancake, Chi Aibei shook his head while eating. “Not yet. I’m pursuing him.”
Wu Yue wasn’t a block of wood. Seeing how attentive he was to Lin Xiu every day, even a fool could see he was pursuing him.
Wu Yue: “If you aren’t together, why do you sleep in the same bed every day?”
Wu Yue was rarely curious about anything other than studying, especially something regarding homosexuality. But Lin Xiu’s bed was right across from his own; he couldn’t pretend not to see it even if he wanted to.
Chi Aibei stuffed a piece of scallion pancake into his mouth and said righteously, “That’s because I’m taking advantage of him.”
Wu Yue looked at Chi Aibei. The more he looked, the more he felt that him getting the top score in the Liberal Arts exam must have been an accident. “Why do I feel like he’s the one taking advantage of you?”
Chi Aibei said with certainty, “Impossible. He’s not that kind of person.”
Wu Yue: “…” He even did things like threatening to have me expelled—what kind of person do you think he isn’t?
Wu Yue gave a kind reminder: “I think it’s better for you to be careful. Lin Xiu looks much more shrewd than you.”
Chi Aibei paused. “…Do you know why you don’t have any friends?”
Wu Yue didn’t accept the blow. “Because I don’t need friends.”
Chi Aibei shook his greasy index finger. “No, it’s not that you don’t need them, but that you can’t make them. It’s because you really have a foul mouth. Your entire vocabulary is concentrated on offending people, you know? What do you mean he’s more shrewd than me? Doesn’t that just mean I look stupid?”
Wu Yue was confused. “That’s what it means. I thought I said it quite tactfully. Why do you still think it sounds bad?”
Chi Aibei’s lips twitched. “…Because that’s something you just shouldn’t say!”
…
This afternoon, as soon as Chi Aibei finished class, he was blocked by Di Zuo at the classroom door. Di Zuo rested his hand on the door frame, preventing him from leaving. “Why didn’t you reply to the message I sent you?”
Several days had passed since the school anniversary, and Di Zuo hadn’t looked for him until last night when he sent a message. The content of the message was the same as usual—some far-fetched nonsense.
Looking at the somewhat listless Di Zuo, Chi Aibei said, “I didn’t see it.”
Di Zuo: “Liar.”
Chi Aibei pouted, not denying the lie.
Just as Di Zuo was about to say something, He Chenjiang’s voice suddenly came from behind—
“What are you doing here?”
Di Zuo looked back and frowned as if he’d seen something disgusting. “What business is it of yours? What are you doing here?” As he spoke, Di Zuo suddenly looked at Chi Aibei. “The person you like couldn’t be him, could it? Little brat, it’s fine if you don’t like me, but if you like him, I won’t accept it.”
He Chenjiang also wanted to say those words. Chi Aibei could be friends with anyone, except for Di Zuo. His character was terrible!
He Chenjiang: “What business is it of yours who he likes? He’s already rejected you, yet you’re still here pestering him. Have you no shame?”
Di Zuo snorted coldly. “As if you have any shame. You’re someone who’s dreaming of eating old grass—how do you have the face to talk about me?”
The two of them were rivals in the novel. Lin Xiu was caught between them and ended up dying a miserable death in prison. Seeing them arguing incessantly, Chi Aibei suddenly shuddered… For some reason, both of these people had set their sights on him. Could it be that he would end up as miserable as Lin Xiu was in the novel?
Chi Aibei leaned against the wall and silently moved toward the exit. He didn’t want to die; he hadn’t even confessed to Lin Xiu yet!
Usually, Chi Aibei would go to the door of Lin Xiu’s classroom at the exact same time every day. Seeing that he didn’t come today, Lin Xiu came over to take a look. Upon arriving, he saw He Chenjiang and Di Zuo grabbing each other’s collars while Chi Aibei was pressed against the wall, as if trying to survive in a crack.
“Gege!” Seeing Lin Xiu was like seeing a savior, Chi Aibei quickly ran toward him. “Gege, help!”
He Chenjiang and Di Zuo turned to look at Lin Xiu. Seeing Chi Aibei hiding behind Lin Xiu, neither of them stepped forward.
Lin Xiu rarely saw Chi Aibei afraid of anything; he usually faced things head-on and couldn’t be held back. He looked at Chi Aibei. “What’s wrong?”
Chi Aibei didn’t know how to put it. “Th-they… they’re fighting. I’m afraid I’ll become cannon fodder.”
Di Zuo didn’t understand what Chi Aibei was talking about. “Don’t worry. Our fight won’t involve you.”
Chi Aibei mumbled, “That’s not for sure.”
Lin Xiu looked at the whispering Chi Aibei and then at Di Zuo and He Chenjiang, who were just fighting over him. He took Chi Aibei’s bag. “Put your clothes on properly.”
Di Zuo looked at Lin Xiu, who was meticulously caring for Chi Aibei. He’d probably already guessed who the person Chi Aibei liked was. But did Lin Xiu like him? This guy was constantly expressionless; one couldn’t tell at all. If the little brat he’d been pining over ended up having his feelings unrequited, he would really be angry!
Di Zuo called out to Lin Xiu: “Everyone’s saying you two are together. Aren’t you going to clarify?”
Chi Aibei suddenly looked at Di Zuo—This guy is here to cause trouble! It wasn’t easy for me to create this situation; wouldn’t it be for nothing if we clarify?!
Chi Aibei grabbed Lin Xiu’s hand. “Gege, don’t talk to him.”
Di Zuo was speechless. “What, is talking to me not allowed now?”
Chi Aibei pulled Lin Xiu forcefully, glaring at Di Zuo. “Clarify what? What rumors? I don’t know anything. Don’t talk nonsense.”
Seeing him protect Lin Xiu like this, Di Zuo was even more certain.
He walked up to Lin Xiu. Seeing this, Chi Aibei instinctively took a step forward to block the space between them.
Di Zuo looked down at Chi Aibei, who was acting like a protective cub, and let out a sigh. He then said to Lin Xiu, “I’ve got this brat’s back. You’d better not let his hard work go to waste. Otherwise, even if you’re Xiao Shu’s son, I’ll still teach you a lesson.”
Seeing Di Zuo leave just like that, Chi Aibei turned to Lin Xiu and said, “Don’t be afraid of him. He wouldn’t dare. He can’t afford to offend the Meng family.”
Lin Xiu looked at Chi Aibei, who hadn’t understood at all why Di Zuo had made that declaration. He pressed a hand on the boy’s head helplessly. “Mhm. I’m not afraid. I have you.”
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