Chapter 24: Be More Proactive Part 1

Chen Xingwen marveled that Ji Zhi even knew about something like that, then promptly set his mind at ease.

Ordering takeout came with fewer restrictions than eating in the dining hall, so the two of them selected dishes from several different restaurants. They ate slowly while chatting.

Thanks to their earlier workout, when Ji Zhi mentioned that Rank Three on the leaderboard was Jiang Yaolin’s temporary account, Chen Xingwen couldn’t help but freeze for a moment. But he quickly caught on. “It’s him?!”

Though Chen Xingwen wasn’t a fan who chased celebrities, he was familiar with Jiang Yaolin’s name and face. After all, that countenance was unavoidable, whether on screens or the billboards in shopping malls.

Ji Zhi felt a surge of relief that Chen Xingwen’s tolerance had finally improved.

Chen Xingwen sighed wistfully. “His mom was my goddess when I was a kid…”

Ji Zhi recalled it too.

Back in the day, he had often gone over to Chen Xingwen’s place to play. The two of them would huddle in front of the TV at each other’s homes, and Chen Xingwen’s favorite on-screen character had always been the one played by Jiang Yaolin’s mother.

Of course, as they grew older, Chen Xingwen’s tastes had shifted to 2D girls.

The conversation naturally led them into reminiscing about the past.

Chen Xingwen remembered something else. “The girl you liked as a kid had curly hair, right…? Oh yeah, speaking of which, my roommate’s organizing a mixer in a few days. I hear it’s with girls from the normal school. You going?”

Ji Zhi felt tempted.

In high school, he’d been too buried in studies to think about dating. He’d figured college would finally give him time for romance, but even though his major had plenty of girls, he rarely interacted with them.

Considering his current predicament, though, he wasn’t exactly in a position to start dating girls. With a regretful shake of his head, Ji Zhi declined.

With Ji Zhi out, Chen Xingwen lost interest in going too. After all, he still preferred 2D characters. But thinking of Ji Zhi’s plight, he couldn’t help piping up. “This can’t go on forever. What if they keep clinging to you even at eighty? You planning to stay single that long?”

Ji Zhi’s eyes widened in shock. “How did our cozy trip down memory lane suddenly veer into horror movie territory?”

Not dating at eighteen was one thing, but at eighty?

Chen Xingwen said, “I don’t know the deal with Duan Zhao and Jiang Yaolin, but I actually dug up some dirt on Fu Huixu’s dislikes.”

Ji Zhi asked eagerly, “Dislikes? What’s that?”

Chen Xingwen replied, “The opposite of likes.”

“Don’t you remember when Fu Huixu first moved in? I helped you ask around about his preferences through that new member of the anime club. We didn’t get any likes, but we did learn what he hates.”

“Now that I think about it, doesn’t that perfectly suit making him hate that alt account of yours?”

It hadn’t been useful back then, but now it was perfect.

Ji Zhi’s eyes lit up!

He had no time to poke fun at Chen Xingwen’s habit of coining new words like Cangjie. Instead, he leaned in with an expression of rapt attention, even offering up the chicken drumstick from his own takeout as a tribute.

Chen Xingwen smiled in satisfaction and continued, “That classmate told me about a bunch of people—guys and girls alike—who confessed to Fu Huixu and ended up annoying him. She pointed out a few common traits among them—”

“Clingy, chatty, overly proactive.”

Ji Zhi: !!!

Holy crap, that made so much sense!

He hurriedly called a timeout, whipping out his phone to jot it down in his notes app.

On reflection, when he’d interacted with Top One, it had always been the other guy taking the initiative. Ji Zhi was straight, after all, and it was hard for him to be too forward with another man.

Did Fu Huixu prefer someone more passive like him?

Ji Zhi pondered deeply, growing more convinced it was possible.

No wonder keeping his distance from Fu Huixu hadn’t worked—maybe the guy actually liked that type. He needed to act clingy and proactive to make Fu Huixu sick of him.

Ji Zhi put thought into action.

Fu Huixu had said he was busy earlier, so Ji Zhi hadn’t messaged him.

But now things were different. Ji Zhi resolved to take the initiative.

【What are you up to right now?】

【Has the banquet ended yet?】

Chen Xingwen remarked, “See? You’re pretty good at striking up a conversation proactively.”

Ji Zhi replied, “I’m just imitating Fu Huixu.”

He had no idea how to be proactive with a guy, so he could only mimic how Fu Huixu acted toward him.

Ji Zhi had described Top One’s clinginess before, and now he knew Top One was Fu Huixu, but Chen Xingwen still struggled to picture Fu Huixu typing messages like that.

Fu Huixu didn’t reply right away. It wasn’t until evening that a response finally came—

【Top One: Baby, I’ve just wrapped up here and am heading back.】

Seeing that Fu Huixu was on his way back, Chen Xingwen hurriedly started clearing the takeout trash while shooting Ji Zhi a meaningful look. He signaled not to end it after one or two curt replies like before—being aloof would just play right into Fu Huixu’s tastes.

Ji Zhi’s focus snapped back to his phone screen. Gritting his teeth, he fired off several messages in a row: 【Hard day? How was the banquet?】

【What are you wearing today?】

【What food did they serve at the banquet?】

【Did lots of people hit on you? Did you respond?】

These were all riffs on things Fu Huixu had messaged him before, tweaked just enough to avoid detection.

Chen Xingwen nodded approvingly. “Good. Now nitpick even more.”

Ji Zhi hesitated. “……I’m scared he’ll hit me.”

He just wanted to push Fu Huixu away, not rile him up that badly.

Chen Xingwen conceded, “Fair point. Know your limits.”

Fu Huixu replied quickly on the other end—

【Top One: The banquet was fine. Daytime was with the company’s executives, evening with family.】

【Top One: Wearing a suit today. Didn’t realize Baby was into that.】

【Top One: [Picture]】

【Top One: The banquet food was decent.】

【Top One: No one hit on me. I’m Baby’s.】

Ji Zhi stared. “…..This doesn’t seem to be working. I sent three messages, he sent four, and the tone feels the same as usual.”

Chen Xingwen said, “Even if you slipped him something, it wouldn’t kick in that fast.”

“You’ve gotta keep being proactive.”

Ji Zhi figured he was right and could only scroll back through his old chats with Fu Huixu for inspiration.

Just then, another message from Fu Huixu popped up.

【Top One: Baby, my off-campus living approval comes through next week. Then we can call whenever we want.】

Ji Zhi: !!!

For him, this was absolutely great news. He’d finally held out until Fu Huixu left.

It didn’t mean he’d shaken Fu Huixu completely, but at least he wouldn’t have to tiptoe around the dorm anymore, terrified of his identity being exposed!

Ji Zhi shared the news with Chen Xingwen. The two exchanged a glance and grinned excitedly.

The banquet had ended, and most guests had left the main residence. Fu Huixu’s grandfather and parents had stayed and turned in early.

Fu Huixu sat on the sofa for a brief rest.

His off-campus approval wouldn’t come until next week, so he still had to return to the dorm for now.

But with time before curfew, he wasn’t in a rush. Instead, he planned to reply to Zhi Zhi’s messages first.

These past few days, he’d been run ragged preparing for his grandfather’s birthday banquet. Now that it was finally over, he could relax completely.

Fatigue washed over him like a tide. Fu Huixu pressed the slender fingers of his left hand to his temple, rubbing slowly, while his right hand had already unlocked his phone. The cuff of his custom suit shifted slightly with the motion, revealing the distinct bones of his wrist.

Sunk into the leather armchair, Fu Huixu exuded an air of weary intimidation that kept others at bay.

That was why no one from the Fu Family dared approach him for small talk.

Fu Huixu had meant to message Zhi Zhi that the banquet was over, but as soon as he opened his phone, a flurry of messages from Zhi Zhi came into view.

Reading them, Fu Huixu’s lips curved upward unconsciously. He found Zhi Zhi utterly adorable.

Zhi Zhi was clearly interested in the banquet—he’d never asked so many questions before. And he was jealous too.

He really did care about him.

Next time the Fu Family held a banquet, he could bring Zhi Zhi along…

Fu Huixu replied to each message patiently, one by one.

Seeing Ji Zhi’s messages also stirred excitement in him, along with even greater longing.

Until footsteps approached, and Fu Huixu instinctively looked up.

He quickly recognized the person before him—

Fu Qingyang, his cousin.

Fu Qingyang wasn’t the Fu Family heir, so he didn’t need to study at the company. He’d been sent abroad years ago. But with summer break approaching at his overseas school—and his grandfather’s birthday—Fu Huixu had heard from his grandfather that Fu Qingyang was back.

Fu Qingyang looked tense.

These past days, he’d been stewing over a major clue about Zhi Zhi’s identity. But he was the only one who knew the secret; his other siblings didn’t even know Zhi Zhi existed, let alone discuss it with him. So Fu Qingyang had kept it bottled up until the birthday banquet arrived.

His grandfather’s birthdays were always grand affairs. Morning was for guests and executives, which Fu Qingyang couldn’t attend.

Evening was the family banquet, where the main branch and collaterals gathered to celebrate. As the heir, Fu Huixu had to stay by his grandfather’s side the whole time, leaving Fu Qingyang without a chance to talk.

At last, with the banquet over, Fu Qingyang seized his opportunity to approach. Fu Huixu was staring down at his phone, the light illuminating the smile tugging at his lips.

No need to guess—it had to be for Zhi Zhi.

Fu Huixu’s family ties were thin; Fu Qingyang had only ever seen that expression when he was messaging Zhi Zhi.

But the moment Fu Qingyang drew near, Fu Huixu sensed it and looked up.

Knowing Fu Huixu had no patience for pleasantries, Fu Qingyang cut straight to the chase. “I saw Zhi Zhi that day!”

He’d planned to mention it at the banquet, but Fu Huixu had been glued to their grandfather, so this was his first real shot.

The words instantly hooked Fu Huixu’s attention.

His dark eyes deepened as he regarded Fu Qingyang. “You remember what he looks like?”

Fu Qingyang could feel Fu Huixu’s gaze settling on him, heavy with an oppressive weight. However, the other’s tone remained unhurried, clearly unconvinced by his words and only pausing because the matter involved Zhi Zhi.

But why was the other’s focus still on why he remembered Zhi Zhi?

Fu Qingyang felt a twinge of guilt. “I have some impression…”

“But back then, I called his name, and he reacted to it. That’s what confirmed it for me.”

At Fu Qingyang’s words, Fu Huixu’s attention shifted away from the perfunctory first half of the response and landed on the latter part.

Fu Qingyang’s brows furrowed slightly. “When?”

“Where?”

This was the first time Fu Qingyang had heard Fu Huixu’s usual low, indifferent voice so taut. He hurriedly recounted everything that had happened that day.

As soon as his words trailed off, Fu Huixu’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed. “You’re sure it was him?”

“He hasn’t been to A City.”

Fu Huixu remembered everything concerning Zhi Zhi, especially those few days when Zhi Zhi’s throat had been sore—that memory was still fresh.

Fu Qingyang had no time to marvel at Fu Huixu speaking so many words to him for the first time. Instead, he froze in surprise.

After all, he knew little about Zhi Zhi and had no clue where he was.

If that Zhi Zhi had never come to A City at all, did that mean he had gotten the wrong person?

He glanced at Fu Huixu’s phone screen. There was a photo of Zhi Zhi, strikingly similar to the person he had seen that day—or rather, differing only in hair length and subtle details around the eyes.

Fu Qingyang said, “But the person I saw that day really looked just like Zhi Zhi. Has she been to A City?”

“Didn’t you two chat that day? Did she send you any photos? Let me check if it’s A City…”

Fu Qingyang was certain he couldn’t have mistaken such a striking beauty, let alone Zhi Zhi’s unforgettable features.

In the past, Fu Huixu would have stood up and left in the face of Fu Qingyang’s endless pestering. But this involved Zhi Zhi on one hand, and on the other, Zhi Zhi’s recent message had put Fu Huixu in a good mood. In the end, he pulled out his phone and opened the password-protected album.