Chapter 36 Part 1

The corridor instantly erupted into chaos. Jing Hua’s expression changed slightly, revealing a mix of shock and embarrassment.

Chen Qixuan stared in astonishment, exchanging wide-eyed glances with Wu Ming, frantically winking as if asking whether Wu Ming knew this incredibly handsome stranger.

Wu Ming shook his head. His gaze was drawn to Gu Yuan’s overtly hostile stare, and his mind had already conjured up a full 180 episodes of dramatic wealthy family melodrama.

An engagement?

The word sounded straight out of a novel.

“Sorry, excuse us.” Gu Yuan’s eyelids drooped slightly as the simple words slid coldly from his lips, carrying undisguised indifference and rejection.

Jing Hua panicked and let out an “mm” sound, hurriedly stepping aside. The look he shot toward Zhou Chiyu carried a hint of scrutiny.

Zhou Chiyu hadn’t even reacted yet when Gu Yuan pulled him away.

Jing Hua’s friends buzzed with chatter. “Jing Hua? Didn’t you say he was single?”

“Yeah, and he has an engagement?”

“That guy wouldn’t be Zhou Chiyu’s fiancé, would he?”

“He seems like that exchange student from the Math Department.”

In the autumn afternoon, sunlight filtered through the dappled ginkgo trees and fell onto Gu Yuan’s inky black trench coat. Zhou Chiyu quietly gazed at Gu Yuan’s profile, feeling as if he had stepped into a dream.

“Brother.”

He called out hesitantly, and Gu Yuan stopped in his tracks.

Only then did he truly take a good look at the person before him.

Though they video called often, and Gu Yuan’s adult features—his voice, appearance, and smile—were deeply etched in his mind, seeing him in person brought a sense of unfamiliarity that made his heart race anxiously.

“How did you get so tall?”

Zhou Chiyu’s round eyes tried to evade Gu Yuan’s direct stare, landing squarely on Gu Yuan’s tall, slender waist.

The autumn wind rustled. Gu Yuan’s trench coat collar was slightly open, revealing a dark brown shirt underneath that matched the season perfectly. The ginkgo trees lining the campus seemed coated in gold leaf, delicate and warm.

Zhou Chiyu lowered his gaze to their clasped hands. That warm touch pulled him out of the illusory dream, making everything before him feel real.

His brother had truly returned.

“How did you get so thin?”

Gu Yuan raised his hand, gently tucking Zhou Chiyu’s wind-tousled curls behind his ear. Then, his long fingers slid down, lightly cradling the delicate, small chin.

His other hand remained firmly holding Zhou Chiyu’s, without moving an inch.

“I just naturally got thinner… I didn’t diet on purpose.”

Zhou Chiyu nervously lowered his eyelashes, his nostrils flaring slightly.

He could sense the passing students eyeing them. He didn’t dare meet Gu Yuan’s gaze at all.

“You still need to eat more.”

Compared to the pure, gentle voice of his youth, Gu Yuan’s timbre had changed dramatically. Though his tone was soft, the deep, chilling quality still left Zhou Chiyu unable to adapt.

These years felt like a long dream. When he woke, Gu Yuan had become an adult.

“Mm-hmm.”

Zhou Chiyu sneaked a glance at Gu Yuan and noticed his hairstyle seemed different from last week’s video—a sleek, jet-black short cut that accentuated his handsome, heroic features even more.

His childhood taste had been spot on. Gu Yuan was even prettier than Sleeping Beauty.

Gu Yuan took Zhou Chiyu’s schoolbag and slung it over his own shoulder. “My parents are back in the country too. They miss you a lot.”

“Me too.” Zhou Chiyu quickly glanced at Gu Yuan, his movements a bit stiff. “Brother, let me have the schoolbag.”

Out of instinctive concern, he always worried about Gu Yuan’s illness, afraid he’d tire himself out.

“No need.” Gu Yuan’s slightly upturned eyes fixed on Zhou Chiyu’s features, as if he could never get enough, scrutinizing him closely. “Did you forget? I told you when I was little that when I grew up, I’d take care of you.”

Childhood memories drifted into Zhou Chiyu’s mind along with the ginkgo leaves scattered by the wind. He curved his lips, his bright eyes crinkling. “I knew it—Brother would definitely return healthy.”

“Golden words from your mouth.” Gu Yuan paused for a moment before lifting his palm to ruffle Zhou Chiyu’s curls. “I’ve always believed what you say.”

Zhou Chiyu’s eyelashes drooped slightly, then lifted again as he secretly admired Gu Yuan’s profile. His mood felt like it had installed a propeller, steadily rising. Everything happening before him felt too unreal.

“How many classes do you have today?”

Gu Yuan checked his watch. “I’ll go with you.”

“I have two.” Zhou Chiyu suddenly remembered his unfinished breakfast and grew tense. “Class starts in five minutes.”

“Mm, let’s hurry.” Gu Yuan wasted no more time, pulling Zhou Chiyu’s wrist as they quickened their pace toward the lecture hall.

“Brother.” Zhou Chiyu hesitated. “Why did you say I have an engagement?”

A few days ago, at a gathering with Grandpa, Uncle Liu had joked about arranging a marriage with his granddaughter.

He’d been terrified at the time. He wanted no part of a business alliance.

“Don’t you?” Gu Yuan looked at him with a half-smile and sped up. “Come on, or we’ll be late.”

They entered the tiered classroom just as the class bell rang.

This was a department-wide lecture, with about two hundred people in the room.

Every gaze inevitably fell on Zhou Chiyu and Gu Yuan. Gu Yuan remained composed, released Zhou Chiyu’s hand, and guided him by the shoulder to their seats.

Chen Qixuan and the others quietly observed their interactions.

Zhou Chiyu hadn’t finished his breakfast and sneaked bites when he could, afraid the professor would notice.

In fact, the professor didn’t care about such sneaky eating.

Gu Yuan’s attention was entirely on Zhou Chiyu. When his gaze landed on the breadcrumb-covered corner of Zhou Chiyu’s mouth, he reached out and gently brushed it away with his finger. “Thirsty?”

Zhou Chiyu nodded, eyeing the cappuccino on the desk. Gu Yuan understood, inserted the straw, and personally held it up for him to take a sip.

Chen Qixuan was stunned by the scene.

They had no mind for the lecture, too curious about the pair’s relationship.