Chapter 75: Were You Out Fooling Around with He Yuan?
The boy was a head taller than him, with a very healthy wheat-colored complexion and defined muscle lines.
He looked simple and honest, with bright black eyes. Wearing a faded grey short-sleeved shirt, he rubbed his hands together nervously.
“Are you… looking for someone to fetch water for you?”
It really was a case of “someone handing you a pillow just as you’re falling asleep.”
The boy introduced himself. His name was Lin Zhengyang, a freshman in the Mechanical Engineering department. He even showed Yu Deng his student ID.
Lin Zhengyang actively promoted himself. “Could you hire me? I’m quite quick, and I’ll definitely be able to snatch hot water for you in the winter.”
“If I can’t snatch any, I’ll go to the cafeteria and boil it for you!”
Yu Deng was already wavering because of Zhou Yuejun’s earlier suggestion; he just didn’t know where to find someone.
But here was a person appearing right in front of him.
Yu Deng felt that System 107’s choice to let him be “Yu Deng” was truly wise.
Because he really was fond of eating and lazy to work. He didn’t want to suffer; he only wanted to live a good life.
Yu Deng and Lin Zhengyang hit it off immediately.
He would give Lin Zhengyang ten yuan a month, and Lin Zhengyang would fetch hot water for him every day. Lin Zhengyang even mentioned that if he had time, he could bring him meals.
When winter came and he needed two thermoses of hot water a day, the price would be fifteen yuan a month.
Neither side felt they were losing out. The deal was struck just like that.
Yu Deng planned to tell Zhou Yuejun about this tomorrow. Regardless, it was Zhou Yuejun who told him to find a helper.
Zhou Yuejun was willing to spend money on him.
Yu Deng returned to the dorm in a pleasant mood. Jian Ling was already lying in bed. As Yu Deng kicked off his slippers and stepped onto the iron frame to climb up, he heard a remark.
Unexpectedly, Jian Ling said, “Your legs are so white. They’re fleshy yet slender.”
It was spoken in an envious tone, without any vulgarity, but Yu Deng was instantly on guard.
This wasn’t right. What normal boy would tell another boy that his legs were white?
He was so spooked that he scrambled up and quickly covered his legs with the blanket.
“You…”
Yu Deng didn’t want to cover himself at all, but he remembered Zhou Yuejun’s instruction to keep his navel covered so he wouldn’t catch a cold.
Jian Ling, down below, let out a low chuckle.
He really did think Yu Deng was delicate. Not only was his face beautiful—a mix of innocence and allure—but he also had a slender waist and perky buttocks.
Standing next to Zhou Yuejun, one looked like coal dust while the other was a lustrous pearl.
A light rub would likely leave a mark.
He was so squeamish, and he smelled like he was coated in fragrant balm. No wonder everyone loved circling around him.
A little butterfly.
Yu Deng didn’t have early classes, but he had to attend military training.
He woke up in a frantic hurry because, at home, he always slept until he woke up naturally—the earliest being 8:30 AM.
If Jian Ling hadn’t kept pestering him to get up, he definitely would have overslept.
The young boy got dressed and was halfway down the stairs when he realized he had forgotten his water bottle.
Jian Ling dragged the still-dazed Yu Deng along. “Don’t go back for it, there’s no time! If you’re late, the first thing they’ll do is make you run ten laps around the field!”
Yu Deng was intimidated. He forgot all about the water as the last of his sleepiness vanished.
Just as they ran out of the dormitory building, they saw Ning Qian standing at the entrance holding meat pies.
Ning Qian was wearing a white shirt and black knee-length shorts with a bag over his shoulder. His handsome face was youthful and vibrant. When it came to Yu Deng, he was practically a worrying mother hen.
“Take a couple of bites first to pad your stomach, or you’ll faint from low blood sugar later.”
“Did you bring tissues? If sweat gets in your eyes, it’ll hurt.”
The meat pie was shoved right to Yu Deng’s lips. It smelled quite good, so Yu Deng took two big bites.
But eating greasy food without water made Yu Deng feel both choked and nauseous.
He chewed the food in his mouth, his speech muffled. “I forgot my water bottle. I’m thirsty.”
Whether it was because he hadn’t fully woken up or because he felt aggrieved, his eyelids were drooping listlessly. He looked quite pitiful with his sullen face and soft whimpers.
Ning Qian immediately handed him soy milk. “Drink some of this first. I’ll go buy you water in a bit.”
He was incredibly attentive, serving Yu Deng like a young master and looking after every little detail.
Yu Deng ran to the assembly point.
Nanda didn’t provide military uniforms; except for the instructors, everyone wore their own clothes.
Yu Deng stood under the scorching sun. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and his clothes were soaked. He felt completely lightheaded from the heat.
He wished he could just lie on the ground and die.
Ning Qian had a class later. He gestured toward the water he had bought and placed it on a nearby flowerbed.
Finally, they were given the order to rest. Yu Deng immediately ran to the shade to gulp down water, sticking his tongue out to dissipate heat like a little dog.
“Tired to death~”
Fortunately, the instructor wasn’t training them to death. It was mostly standing at attention, marching, and lifting legs. They had frequent breaks.
Yu Deng was hungry. His stomach let out a gulu sound, and several side-glances immediately shifted toward him.
Yu Deng was embarrassed, his face and neck turning red. He wished he could just press down on his empty stomach.
He didn’t know if he was hallucinating from hunger and exhaustion, but he thought he saw Zhou Yuejun.
Yu Deng’s pupils constricted instantly as he stared wide-eyed at the man.
Zhou Yuejun was standing at the edge of the field, wearing a loose tank top that exposed his arms—thick, dark, and full of raw power.
Even though there was shade nearby, he insisted on standing right under the sun. Since he was so tall, he looked like a total idiot.
The moment the instructor said, “Dismissed,” Yu Deng instantly recovered from his half-dead state.
Like a wilting flower receiving water, he was completely revitalized.
Yu Deng charged over like a little cannonball.
Ning Qian was prepared. He stepped forward with his lunchbox, but before he could even call out, the boy brushed right past him.
“Yu—”
Turning around, the smile froze on his face. His surprise had fallen flat.
“Zhou Yuejun!”
His voice was crisp and sweet, carrying a hooked tail at the end, as sticky as a sweet cake.
As Yu Deng ran toward him, Zhou Yuejun’s heart hammered against his ribs.
He had wanted to pick the boy up and hold him, but since they were at school, too much intimacy wasn’t good. He reluctantly pulled his hands back.
“Why are you here?”
“Did you come to see me?”
“Didn’t you go to sell clothes today?”
A moment ago, he was a dejected puppy; now he was a haughty kitten.
Zhou Yuejun stared at the person before him. His eyes were curved like crescents, and his smile was radiant. When he grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, he looked like a rabbit.
But he was drenched in sweat, his skin looking supple and snowy. His hair was damp at the tips as if he had just been fished out of the water.
Zhou Yuejun quickly pulled him into the shade, fanning Yu Deng and wiping his sweat, his heart aching.
“Mhm, came to see you.”
The truth was, he missed Yu Deng.
When he went to sell goods with He Yuan this morning, he was completely distracted. Not only did he fail to attract customers, but he even gave the wrong change.
He hadn’t slept well last night either. Smelling Yu Deng’s scent on the pillow, he had stared at the ceiling all night.
He was so worried he could only come to the school to check on him.
The moment he arrived, he saw the boy suffering.
“Why are your eyes so dark and bloodshot? Don’t tell me…”
“Were you out fooling around with He Yuan last night?!”
The little villain was suddenly indignant, making a show of accusing the man of infidelity.
“Wow, Zhou Yuejun, how could you!”
The hand he raised to point at the man was caught by Zhou Yuejun. The man pressed close, and Yu Deng could clearly feel the heat radiating from him.
He lowered his gravelly voice, whispering words of affection.
“No. I spent the whole night thinking of you.”
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