Chapter 41: Hurry Up Part 1

The teenager’s confession was honest and straightforward. The seed that had secretly sprouted now grew and bloomed without restraint, and the obscure feelings in his heart finally saw the light of day.

All speculation ended at that moment.

He Siheng was utterly stunned in place, his brain short-circuiting.

He stiffly held up his phone, dazed as he watched Tan Jing walk toward him step by step, stopping right in front of him.

Tan Jing hung up the call and considerately took the phone from his rigid grasp, slipping it back into the pocket of his coat. “Want to date me?”

Those three words—”date me”—hit like a depth charge, snapping He Siheng back to reality. He instinctively took half a step back. “I-I…”

He wasn’t a stranger to confessions, nor to turning people down. Someone he didn’t like should be rejected outright, leaving no room for false hope. But when he saw the boy in front of him lower his lashes, He Siheng hemmed and hawed for ages, unable to spit out a direct refusal.

“Why don’t you… think about it some more?” It was the most indirect thing He Siheng had ever said in his life.

“I’ve thought about it for years, and I still like you.”

Tan Jing’s straightforward strike that night was unrelenting.

He Siheng grew even more awkward, stumbling over his words. “Our families are sworn enemies…”

“I’ll handle the elders,” Tan Jing said. Seeing his unease, he softened his tone, coaxing patiently. “I can marry into your family. Uncle He would be thrilled.”

Thrilled my ass, He Siheng wanted to retort inappropriately. He hadn’t even agreed to date yet, and this guy was already jumping to marriage?

“That’s not…” He Siheng couldn’t wrap his head around it. “Why would you like me? We’ve always been at odds. Haven’t I provoked you plenty of times?”

“Provoked?” Tan Jing’s lips curved into a smile. “I took that as flirting.”

“…”

He Siheng’s eye twitched.

Was it something he’d done that caused the misunderstanding, or was this guy just shamelessly imagining things? Definitely the latter.

He Siheng cleared his throat, setting the record straight. “Don’t read into it. I’ve never flirted with you. I saw you as a real rival—I wanted to beat you for first place.”

“I know,” Tan Jing replied. “And I’ve genuinely seen you as my future boyfriend. I’ve been chasing you all along.”

He Siheng’s face heated up, and he reflexively shot back, “W-when did you chase me? I never noticed a thing.”

“My fault for not making it obvious.”

Tan Jing didn’t argue further, owning up to it candidly.

He Siheng thought he was finally backing off and breathed a sigh of relief.

But the boy in front of him suddenly stepped half a pace closer, his long lashes drooping softly.

Even softer was the gaze he directed at him.

With lowered eyes, Tan Jing made a gentle request. “Then give me a chance to pursue you properly. Can you do that?”

He Siheng’s mind buzzed. He nearly blurted out yes, but caught himself just in time. Nodding would basically mean not rejecting him, right?

He’d always seen Tan Jing as a rival, a friend. During his youthful crushes, he’d even fantasized about becoming his brother-in-law. There were no other feelings involved. Better to reject him cleanly and save everyone time on a lost cause.

Tan Jing noticed his conflicted reluctance. Though he’d expected it, a shadow dimmed his eyes.

Fingers clenched at his side, he asked softly, “Does my liking you disgust you?”

He Siheng was still mulling over how to let him down easy when this hurt-toned question caught him off guard. He scratched his head. “Not really disgusted…”

Shocked, yes—but not to the point of disgust.

“So you’re scared my charm is too much, and I’ll win you over too fast, making you seem not reserved enough if you give in?”

“…Huh?”

He Siheng was thrown for a loop. This guy didn’t play by the rules—one second sounding wounded, the next brimming with cocky confidence that begged for snark.

Though caught off guard, He Siheng zeroed in on the provocative edge in Tan Jing’s assured words.

Definitely not flirting. Pure provocation.

“What do you mean your charm is too much and you’ll win me over quick?” He Siheng bristled indignantly. “Do I look that easy?”

Tan Jing pondered for a moment, as if weighing his words. “Not too hard for me.”

He Siheng laughed—actually laughed from sheer annoyance at his certainty. A strange spark of competitive fire ignited. “Fine. I’ll give you a shot. Three months. If you can win me over, I’ll be your lackey for a month.”

Provocation was the perfect way to bait Young Master He—always worked like a charm.

Tan Jing’s lips curved subtly as he extended his pinky. “Deal.”

“Tch, pulling pinky promises at our age,” He Siheng grumbled, but he still hooked his pinky with Tan Jing’s. “I’m not gonna back—wait!”

He Siheng suddenly realized that after all the circling, he still hadn’t outright rejected the confession. He looked up into the amusement in Tan Jing’s eyes and knew he’d been played.

His eyes widened. “You provoked me on purpose?”

He tried to yank his hand back, but Tan Jing caught it smoothly.

Holding He Siheng’s ice-cold hand, Tan Jing smiled. “I’m pursuing you.”

“…”

He Siheng wrenched his hand free. “How are you like this? Always setting traps for me.”

“Sorry. I just wanted a chance to chase you.”

Tan Jing apologized quickly and explained bluntly, but there wasn’t a trace of regret in his tone—just short of wearing a “I’ll do it again” sign.

He Siheng was speechless, blocked by that follow-up straight ball. He didn’t know what to say.

His phone buzzed twice in his coat pocket—a perfect distraction. He Siheng pulled it out and checked.

It was a message from Zhou Yu, still nagging if he was coming to the escape room.

He Siheng glanced at Tan Jing and cleared his throat. “Zhou Yu wants me to go to an escape room with him. You?”

Tan Jing didn’t hesitate. “I want a two-person date with you.”

“…”

He Siheng didn’t hesitate either—he turned and walked off. “Go home then.”

He shot down the idea without mercy, but Tan Jing chuckled good-naturedly and followed close behind.