Part 2
Wen Rong’s taste had always been strange; he liked sweet things. Eating sweets improved his mood.
“What are you doing standing here?”
Shi Ye had just finished a cold shower. His hair hadn’t been dried yet, blocking his eyes in strands.
In his unclear vision, Wen Rong stood in a daze holding a glass of water. The bathrobe was a bit long for him, making his figure look extremely thin.
But Shi Ye had felt it when he pulled him just now; Wen Rong just had a slender frame, not lack of flesh. A thin layer covered the bones—very slender, and also very soft.
Wen Rong, like him, must have just come out of a shower. His skin, soaked in hot water, flushed an abnormal red, looking cooked.
Realizing he was being impolite, Shi Ye quickly looked away. “The people I helped didn’t thank me; what are you thanking me for?”
Then he couldn’t help reminding, “Pull your collar tighter; your chest is all exposed.”
“We’re all boys—”
“Can you be so casual just because we’re men?”
“Huh? Can’t we?”
“Of course not.”
Shi Ye really wanted to pry open Wen Rong’s head to see what was inside.
“But when I was at the welfare institute before, boys played cards shirtless.”
“Then you—”
Because Shi Ye hadn’t finished, Wen Rong didn’t notice he had spoken and continued, “We all showered together too.”
Shi Ye: “???”
You showered with them!
Did the welfare institute not have single showers? Why shower with others?
Click.
Lin Qizheng came out of the adjacent door, followed by Zhang Lin and Zhang Jincheng.
The four met eyes.
Lin Qizheng waved. “Youngest, you’re done washing? The three of us just played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would scrub your back. The President lost.”
Wen Rong was delighted. “We can do it now too—”
Shi Ye: “Do what now?”
“?”
“Big boys scrubbing each other’s backs?”
Lin Qizheng asked strangely, “What’s wrong with that? The three of us were totally open with each other inside just now.”
Shi Ye glared hard at Lin Qizheng, thinking if this brat dared say “the club needs to be neat and complete” to trick Wen Rong into a communal shower, he’d kick him out immediately.
Zhang Lin’s eyes darted between Shi Ye and Wen Rong. He quickly slapped the back of Lin Qizheng’s head and said meaningfully, “Ah, so hungry after jumping in the lake and showering. Does Brother Shi have anything to eat?”
Shi Ye wanted to say no, but remembering Wen Rong hadn’t eaten since morning, he waved for the butler to get food.
“Can we choose? I heard your chef is better than our cafeteria’s.”
Shi Ye turned back to ask Wen Rong, “What do you want to eat?”
Wen Rong hesitated. “How about going to the cafeteria…”
Shi Ye: “Wearing a bathrobe?”
Wen Rong shrank his neck. “Then listen to Senior Lin Qizheng.”
Shi Ye turned back and gritted his teeth at Lin Qizheng. “What do you want to eat?”
…
Half an Hour Later, the five gathered around the dining table.
Dishes were served one after another. Wen Rong ate small bites of the food in front of him, lost in thought: Am I troubling Shi Ye too much tonight? How should I return this favor later?
As he thought, a large plate of something bright red landed in front of him.
Lin Qizheng howled again, “Brother Shi is awesome! Does your Tennis Club still recruit trash? I want to live this life of being fed and clothed here every day too much.”
Zhang Lin looked at Wen Rong with a beaming smile. “Count me in.”
Shi Ye: “…”
“Even crayfish! This is too cool.”
“Yeah, so cool.”
Infected by their emotions, Wen Rong moved his gaze over and felt strange seeing the fiery red crayfish. “Senior, the cafeteria has this lobster too.”
Lin Qizheng: “The cafeteria has big lobsters. You little pauper, you don’t understand the joy of crayfish. Brother Shi! I want to watch the soccer match too.”
Shi Ye: “…”
“Please, please. Help all the way to the end.”
Shi Ye summoned the butler and said a few words. Servants wheeled over a large mobile screen.
Watching the other three put on gloves and watch TV naturally, Wen Rong suspected he was being too reserved.
The next second, Shi Ye handed him two gloves.
Wen Rong accepted them silently and learned from Lin Qizheng to peel crayfish.
It was a very small piece of meat. Wen Rong didn’t understand why Lin Qizheng liked it. He tried putting one in his mouth.
A stimulating taste instantly filled his mouth.
Wen Rong pursed his lips and sucked in a breath sharply, accidentally making a whistling sound.
The three turned to look at him. Wen Rong opened his mouth wide, sticking his tongue out. “So spicy, so spicy!”
“Open your mouth, turn around.”
So spicy he stopped thinking completely, he turned and obediently opened his mouth.
His pink lips were as red as the shrimp shell. Like a frightened cat, he stuck his tongue out to pant. Due to the unbearable stimulation, the tip of his tongue waggled.
Shi Ye froze. Hearing Wen Rong’s pained groan, he blushed, unscrewed a milk bottle, and held it to his lips.
His hand shook inexplicably, fingertips trembling against the bottle.
Hearing Wen Rong grunt, Shi Ye hurriedly withdrew his hand, seeing a drop of white liquid flow down the corner of the fiery red mouth.
It only stayed for a split second before Wen Rong quickly wiped it away with his sleeve.
Shi Ye thought, Wen Rong really is like a cat.
When the tip of his tongue waggles, it makes one really want to reach out and touch it. Wonder if it’s as wet and soft as my cat’s…
A rush of heat surged up, his cheeks burning hot.
Shi Ye looked up to see three pairs of ambiguous eyes and hastily got up to leave his seat.
Still feeling stared at, he stumbled as he walked away, nearly tripping on flat ground.
Wen Rong, who wanted another sip of milk: “……”
“?”
Lin Qizheng rubbed his gloves to attract Wen Rong’s attention. “Youngest, actually I wanted to ask just now.”
“?”
“You aren’t really dating Shi Ye, are you?”
“How is that possible?”
After instinctively refuting, Wen Rong shook his head quickly. “No, no, really no. He should dislike me quite a bit.”
Zhang Lin: “But we can sit here definitely thanks to you.”
“Definitely not dating. When so many people were fantasizing about me before, he didn’t say anything.”
Wen Rong thought about it seriously. Senior Lin Qizheng wasn’t wrong; Shi Ye was indeed much nicer to everyone tonight.
Fortunately, his brain was working fast now, and he got the answer at once. “I know.”
Lin Qizheng: “?”
“He wants…”
Wen Rong stopped himself. Guessing Shi Ye didn’t say anything because he didn’t want others to know, he corrected himself, “He just wants to thank me, I guess. The Zhao Zeryang thing… anyway, definitely not dating.”
Lin Qizheng wanted to say more but was stopped by a knife-like glare from Zhang Jincheng.
Shi Ye didn’t return until they finished eating. The four’s clothes were dried by servants. After changing, they got into the car arranged by the butler and returned to the dorms.
Actually, Zhang Jincheng’s matter should have been the priority tonight, but everyone tacitly kept silent.
Back in the dorm, seeing no messages in the News Club group, Wen Rong tapped on Shi Ye’s avatar.
[Thank you for today.]
[May I ask, were you apologizing to me today?]
Outside the French windows, Shi Ye saw the message and paused slightly.
The image of Wen Rong opening his mouth surfaced before his eyes. He couldn’t help licking his lips, then rubbed his hair irritably.
This scene was too familiar. Last time was the same, and the final conclusion was “unforgiven.”
Shi Ye felt he would really go crazy if Wen Rong said those words again.
He isn’t dating Leon! Is there anything more exciting than this?
The opportunity had fallen. If Wen Rong extinguished this chance, Shi Ye thought… thought…
He…
Wen Rong: [I accept your apology.]
Shi Ye’s heart thumped heavily.
[You didn’t want me to drop out, and you argued with Qi Yuan for that.]
[Later, regarding Zhao Zeryang’s expulsion, you reminded me to perfect the plan. The cooperation was very successful and pleasant.]
[Also that day in the cafeteria, you took a Yellow Card because of me.]
[On the forum, you stood on my side too, supporting the forum reform.]
[Although you have some shortcomings, bullied me at the start of school, and spread rumors about my relationship with Senior Leon today… strangely, I don’t dislike talking to you now.]
[Thank you very much for helping me and the seniors today. I felt your intentions and am very grateful.]
[I think, this should be forgiveness.]
Shi Ye’s shocked expression was reflected in the mirror. His fingers trembled, mistyping several times on the keyboard, deleting, retyping.
His heartbeat was violent, exploding in his ears.
Shi Ye bumped his head against the glass, forcing himself to calm down.
Then he deleted the words in the input field and pressed the voice message button. “Then can I be your friend?”
There was more he wanted to say, like the kind of friend where you don’t get angry even if I drag you into trouble, who smiles when looking at me, who worries hearing I’m not doing well.
Shi Ye pressed the voice button again, thinking of a healthier way to convey what kind of friend he wanted to be.
Wen Rong: [Senior Leon said friends should be like-minded. I don’t know how to play tennis, sorry.]
Shi Ye: ?
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