Chapter 18: Jealousy
The destination of this trip was a forest park near City A, about three and a half hours from the school.
Bai Qi, remembering that Bo Yan was a big star, was afraid he would be photographed on the road. He carefully extended his arm to lower the window shade, his body leaning towards Bo Yan in the process.
However, Bo Yan seemed not to notice his movements and didn’t move aside, causing Bai Qi’s soft body to be trapped between Bo Yan and the seat back. His right side was practically pressed against Bo Yan.
In the close proximity, Bo Yan’s impeccably neat clothes were slightly rumpled, and the rise and fall of his chest was a little erratic.
His gaze dropped; Bai Qi’s slightly indented fabric at his lower back was very close, and a sweet fragrance constantly entered his nostrils.
Bai Qi managed to lower the window shade and turned to see Bo Yan’s slightly flushed cheeks.
Thinking about how tired he had been this week and the journey ahead, Bai Qi took a plush neck pillow from his backpack and placed it behind Bo Yan’s head.
Bo Yan’s handsome face held a hint of a smile. He softly thanked him, lowering his head, almost allowing Bai Qi to do as he pleased.
The neck pillow was shaped like a white rabbit, soft and fluffy. The rabbit now nestled gently at the back of Bo Yan’s neck, its fluffy little head against his neck.
It should have been a harmonious scene, but the little rabbit, instead of softening Bo Yan’s demeanor, was like a clean offering, tempting him to take a bite.
Soon, the school bus started.
Everyone was in a good mood for the outing, and with the school’s most popular boy and girl on the bus, the atmosphere was lively and noisy.
The class monitor carried a case of mineral water to distribute. As soon as he stood up, many people came to help, but Li Mu Cheng, who was sitting beside him, took over the water.
“Let me do it.”
“Thank you.”
The class monitor sat back down, relieved. He knew many people wanted to get close to Bai Qi and Bo Yan, but Li Mu Cheng was his best bet; this trip was perfect for fostering relationships.
Unfortunately, Bai Qi and Bo Yan were together…
He looked at their backs with some helplessness. Bai Qi’s small figure dominated that area; as soon as they got on the bus, he had been busy arranging Bo Yan’s neck pillow, opening water bottles, attentive like a little sun.
And Bo Yan, the big star… was condescendingly propping his chin up, almost enjoying himself as he stared at Bai Qi.
The class monitor was speechless. Although he had long guessed that Bo Yan was using Bai Qi as an assistant, he never imagined he would do it so openly.
It was ridiculous. If you wanted an assistant, wouldn’t a taller, stronger person be better? Bai Qi’s small frame was almost bent over just pulling down the shade.
Unable to bear watching any longer, he placed his hopes on Li Mu Cheng.
Soon, Li Mu Cheng started handing out water and snacks from the front. He was handsome and had a gentle and generous personality. Before Bo Yan returned, he was also a popular figure in the mathematics department.
Thanks and chatter filled the bus. Soon, Li Mu Cheng reached Bai Qi.
Bai Qi accepted two bottles of water, thanking him, and then naturally opened one and handed it to Bo Yan.
His fingers were so slender; he clearly didn’t have much strength. His arms strained as he opened the bottle. Such a delicate person should be protected, yet he was taking such good care of the tall man beside him.
Li Mu Cheng paused, softly asking, “Do you get carsick? I have motion sickness patches.”
His voice was soft, his tone gentle, like a breeze, a stark contrast to Bo Yan’s coldness.
Bai Qi, always at ease with gentle people, smiled gratefully and accepted, “Thank you so much.”
Li Mu Cheng couldn’t help but smile.
A motion sickness patch was passed between their hands, their sleeves accidentally overlapping, almost touching Bai Qi’s soft fingertips.
The foil reflected the light slightly, the scene strikingly eye-catching.
Pulling his hand back, Li Mu Cheng coughed, smelling the sweet fragrance on his sleeve.
Just as he was about to turn away, he heard Bo Yan’s cold voice: “My head is a little dizzy.”
Li Mu Cheng subconsciously frowned. The bus had only been running for a few minutes. Bo Yan, such a big star, constantly traveling, shouldn’t get carsick so quickly.
However, Bai Qi’s expression immediately panicked.
He clumsily tore open a piece of the motion sickness patch Li Mu Cheng had prepared for him and carefully placed it behind Bo Yan’s ear.
His porcelain-white, slender fingertips lightly pressed against Bo Yan’s skin, gently finding the right spot to apply it. His upturned nose was very close to Bo Yan’s side face, the scene unusually intimate and eye-catching.
Bo Yan’s cold expression gradually relaxed. He lowered his head, quietly cooperating, but his eyelids lifted, his dark gaze fixed on Li Mu Cheng.
People around kept whispering how well-suited they were, some envious, some jealous.
Li Mu Cheng’s brow furrowed even deeper, exhaling a sigh and turning away.
There was nothing well-suited about it; Bo Yan is straight.
…
Ten minutes after the bus departed, news of Bo Yan joining the tour spread quickly, causing quite a stir.
Bo Yan actually went.
Paparazzi and sasaeng fans, initially disappointed at not catching him, immediately started finding out the location of the trip.
Fans hoped Bo Yan would have fun and enjoy his college life, collectively boycotting sasaengs and refusing to buy photos, but many were still curious about his college life, resulting in high online discussion.
After three and a half hours, the much-anticipated school bus finally arrived slowly at the foot of the scenic area.
The students on the bus were all feeling a bit nauseous from the bumpy ride, but finally able to get off. Everyone rushed out, exhausted but excited.
“Everyone must be hungry, let’s go to the guesthouse for lunch!”
“Okay!”
As soon as they got off the bus, the fresh air and greenery of the scenic area refreshed everyone, instantly relieving much of the fatigue of the journey.
Bai Qi had slept on the bus and was still a little groggy as he followed everyone to get his suitcase. When he bent down, he found it empty, only to realize that Bo Yan had casually picked it up.
The heavy suitcase felt weightless in his hands. Bo Yan carried Bai Qi’s white suitcase in one hand and his own black suitcase in the other, his tall figure seemingly effortless.
“Thank you,” Bai Qi gratefully thanked him, reaching out to take it.
But Bo Yan shook his head, his gaze ahead. “Let’s go.”
Bai Qi wanted to take care of Bo Yan and didn’t want him to carry his luggage, but Bo Yan had long legs and walked quickly, without consulting him.
Bai Qi couldn’t argue, again thanking him awkwardly.
Now, Bai Qi was the most comfortable among everyone, carrying only his small backpack, easily following Bo Yan.
At the foot of the mountain was a large area of exquisite villas, each uniquely designed, with gardens and paved roads between them, and majestic mountains ahead. The scenery was beautiful.
There were many tourists during the National Day holiday, the road bustling with people, mostly elderly tour groups.
Passers-by constantly turned to look at the group of students. Bo Yan, wearing a mask and hat, had such a strong aura that not many people stared at him.
Bai Qi, however, continuously attracted attention, eventually putting on a mask as well.
Behind them, the class monitor looked at their backs suspiciously.
It was absurd. When did a star need to help their assistant carry luggage?
He was a little confused. He suddenly realized that Bai Qi was doing all the small tasks, while Bo Yan was doing the really tiring work.
Could they really be friends? But they rarely talked or chatted.
He didn’t understand their relationship, and even wanted to grab Bai Qi by the collar and ask him, but with Bai Qi’s personality, he would probably only say that they were good friends.
Feeling a bit helpless, he’d always liked to “meddle in other people’s business,” especially liked to guess people’s intentions, hating to see good people wronged.
Of all the people he had observed, he couldn’t figure out Bo Yan at all, worthy of being a top-tier celebrity.
His curiosity grew, and he dragged his heavy suitcase, continuing to walk slowly behind, maintaining order.
The group soon arrived at the innermost villa, a three-story building near the mountains, a considerable distance from other villas, with a beautiful and quiet environment.
The students were away from other tour groups, and the silence was immediately noticeable. As soon as everyone excitedly entered the courtyard, they saw two large tables laden with steaming dishes, mostly local mountain specialties.
After a tiring morning, the delicious aroma brought smiles to everyone’s faces. There was an immediate cheer as they rushed to grab seats.
“The class president is amazing!”
“The class president is so thoughtful!”
The class monitor was happy to be praised, but didn’t sit with his friends; instead, he looked towards Bai Qi.
The table was rectangular, with hard dishes in the middle; it looked the most delicious, and many people wanted to sit there.
Bai Qi didn’t squeeze in with everyone but led Bo Yan to the edge.
The bamboo shoots stir-fried with cured meat and braised pork ribs looked delicious, both of their favorites. Besides, Bo Yan was a clean freak and probably wouldn’t like to eat with everyone crowded together.
Sure enough, Bo Yan had no objection to Bai Qi’s arrangement. They put down their suitcases and went to the faucet to wash their hands.
They thought this was a haven, but when they returned after washing their hands, the seats around them were already full, almost no one left on the opposite side of the long table.
Bo Yan subtly frowned, but Bai Qi didn’t notice anything. He guessed everyone loved the dishes on this side and happily sat down.
Although he didn’t like crowded places, he felt happy to be away from the city on this trip and wasn’t as depressed as before.
Coincidentally, those around him were all people he knew: Bo Yan on his left, Li Mu Cheng on his right, and the class monitor’s sneaky gaze across the long table.
The class monitor was too late to squeeze in with everyone else, but this side had few people, giving him plenty of space.
Bai Qi was starving after the three-hour journey. As everyone eagerly started eating, he quickly picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of stir-fried cured meat.
It was oily and fragrant, with the crispness of the bamboo shoots, the rich aroma satisfying. A blush appeared on Bai Qi’s beautiful face, and his lips were slightly oily.
The noisy dining table seemed to quiet for a second.
Then, countless pairs of chopsticks reached for the bamboo shoots and cured meat. If the class monitor wasn’t too far away, even he would have tried it; Bai Qi would be a successful food blogger.
Bo Yan’s face was extremely dark.
He didn’t move his chopsticks until Bai Qi looked over concernedly, then he lowered his eyelashes and asked, “Could you get me some?”
The two were extremely close, Bo Yan’s shoulder half-covering Bai Qi’s thin back.
His voice was soft, as if he could only rely on Bai Qi, but his actions were the opposite, like a possessive leopard, wanting to tear apart anyone who coveted him.