Chapter 60: The Hypocritical Senior 02 Part 2

“Heh.” Yu Sui chuckled lightly.

They took the elevator up. Yu Sui took the tea from the young man, glanced at it, then looked toward the door.

Li Xia set the umbrella by the entrance and changed into slippers. The two of them went inside.

It was Li Xia’s first time in Yu Sui’s home, and he felt a little awkward. He didn’t dare look around. After washing his hands, he sat obediently on the sofa.

Yu Sui headed to the kitchen to brew tea.

He observed the young man through the window.

Seeing no sneaky behavior, he relaxed a fraction.

He came out and poured Li Xia a cup. “Not sure if you’ll like the taste.”

“I’m not picky about this stuff, but if it’s something Senior likes, it has to be good.” Li Xia cradled the cup reverently.

But the more pious Li Xia acted, the more wary Yu Sui grew. Tsk.

Yu Sui made small talk. “By the way, I don’t think I follow you on the platform.”

His gaze fixed on Li Xia’s phone.

The young man’s eyes lit up. He naturally unlocked it with his passcode and opened the app. “This is my username.”

Yu Sui leaned in close.

Strands of slightly long hair brushed Li Xia’s cheek. His breath caught. His body tensed as the faint, clean scent of the man filled his senses.

“My assistant’s been handling the account lately. So you’ve already followed me?”

Hot breath ghosted over the back of Li Xia’s hand. Pitifully, he swallowed hard.

Yu Sui straightened up and followed him back.

Li Xia’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’m so happy.”

You’re celebrating too soon, Yu Sui thought.

He started pouring water for the young man nonstop, and Li Xia didn’t refuse, downing glass after glass.

“I… I need to use the bathroom.” He stood up.

Yu Sui nodded. Hearing the door lock click, he glanced sidelong at the phone on the table.

He picked it up, entered the passcode, and opened the app.

He knew this one—it was a gay dating app.

Clicking into it, he saw the profile picture was just a default number, no posts, though there were still private messages asking about him. No replies from Li Xia.

Yu Sui quickly logged into his other accounts, checking for any secret alt accounts badmouthing people. But everything was spotless.

What about contacts?

Yu Sui wasn’t convinced.

No sign of a sugar daddy in WeChat or texts.

He’d known all this from the plot already, but he still made a disappointed face.

He set the phone back down, utterly composed.

Li Xia emerged, a bit embarrassed. “I drank too much. Sorry.”

“No problem.” Yu Sui shook his head, then asked casually, “Why’d you choose this drama?”

“The director approached me,” Li Xia said, sitting beside him. He glanced at his phone. “His respect for the work really moved me.”

Yu Sui nodded. “Right, about what I overheard at the hotel…”

At that, Li Xia ducked his head sheepishly. “That was a prank from a friend. He knows about my orientation and loves pulling stuff like that…”

“Good thing you don’t mind, Senior, or else I…”

I mind like hell, Yu Sui thought. He shook his head. “You’ll blow up big time someday, so be careful. It could affect your image a bit.”

“I get it,” Li Xia said, nodding.

“Mm. You’re just starting out, so don’t go messing around with relationships,” Yu Sui added, his words probing as he watched the young man intently for any tells.

Li Xia’s heart pounded.

What did Yu Sui mean by that? Was he against him dating? Or giving him a warning?

“Got it.”

That evening, Yu Sui had no choice but to keep him for dinner, but he couldn’t cook, so he ordered takeout.

After they ate, Li Xia got up to leave.

Yu Sui cleared the trash and went to scrub his hands vigorously.

[What’s this about?]

“No idea. Just being around him makes me sick,” Yu Sui said with a frown. “Is it the plot’s influence?”

[Maybe.]

Li Xia didn’t leave right away. He wandered the complex once before departing, satisfied.

Back home, he fired up his computer and pulled up the surveillance footage.

Propping his chin on his hand, he watched Yu Sui’s actions in his apartment. Li Xia’s lips pressed into a thin line.

The man seemed to be searching for something, heading straight for the bedroom.

When Yu Sui typed in his birthday to try unlocking the computer, Li Xia’s cheeks flushed red.

He knows my birthday?

His lips curved up involuntarily.

In the end, the man left disappointed.

Li Xia pondered. What was Yu Sui looking for?

So desperate to check his computer?

The next day was still the weekend. Li Xia called Yu Sui, claiming he was sick and asking him to buy medicine.

“Wouldn’t delivery be easier?” Yu Sui couldn’t help saying.

There was an eerie silence on the other end.

“Wait for me.” He went anyway.

Under the guise of caretaking, maybe he could uncover something.

Li Xia turned off his phone. A faint smile touched his pale cheeks as he sneezed.

He was committed to the act—he’d taken a cold shower.

Yu Sui bought the medicine and hurried over.

He knocked. After a long moment, the young man opened the door, swaying and nearly collapsing.

Surprised, Yu Sui steadied him.

Li Xia caught the man’s scent and swallowed hard, his ears burning.

Yu Sui didn’t notice. “How’d you get this sick?”

“Caught a chill,” the young man said weakly.

Yu Sui helped him to the sofa. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Li Xia frowned.

“What about your family?” Yu Sui asked.

“They don’t live in the city,” Li Xia replied. “And I don’t want to worry them.”

So you bother me instead? Yu Sui grumbled inwardly. He straightened his clothes and ordered takeout.

After the fever medicine, the young man dozed off on the sofa.

Yu Sui sat nearby, silent.

When the food arrived, he woke him to eat.

Li Xia only managed a little.

Yu Sui helped him to the bedroom. “Get some proper rest.”

The computer was open—Li Xia must’ve been using it before. Yu Sui’s eyes sharpened.

Li Xia’s mind was foggy. Yu Sui chatted with him a bit until the young man fell soundly asleep.

Yu Sui picked up the computer, watching him as he checked it over.

Still no dirt.

Frustrated, he shut it down and left.

A while later, Li Xia forced his eyes open. His gaze was clear. What was Yu Sui after?

Yu Sui left the complex. “Finally done pretending to be nice to him.”

[You’re way too dedicated,] the System remarked.

“Of course,” Yu Sui said, lifting his chin.

Back home, he logged into a burner number and texted Li Xia.

[How dare you pair with Yu Sui? Go die!]

He’d shaped this account into a rabid solo fan and started harassing.

Let the games begin.

Yu Sui grinned.

Li Xia’s phone dinged repeatedly. Puzzled, he saw the unknown message and froze.

Had his number leaked?

Propping himself up in bed, he traced the account on his computer, but it was a special one.

Who was this?

Ding-dong—

Endless threats, and the person even knew his address.

Had he been doxxed?

Yu Sui went to bed in high spirits.

[You…] The System saw his lack of worry and lit a candle for him.

“What’s up?” Yu Sui asked, confused.

[What if they trace it?]

“Don’t worry. That account’s special.” He rolled over and slept.

On Monday, at the company, he spotted Li Xia looking dazed—clearly up all night from the threats.

Yu Sui feigned concern. “What happened to you?”

Li Xia shook his head. “I’m fine.”

After morning work, they went to eat nearby.

Yu Sui excused himself to the bathroom midway and snuck a photo of the young man’s back.

The angle was sneaky, giving off a voyeuristic vibe.

In the stall, Yu Sui calmly typed.

[Picture]

[How dare you eat with him?]

[I’m always watching. Be careful going home tonight.]

Li Xia was wondering who’d he’d offended when the unknown message came. He whipped his head around.

The spot was empty.

He sank into thought.

Yu Sui returned to see his serious expression. “What’s wrong?”

“I got a threatening text,” Li Xia said, handing over his phone. “This person…”

Yu Sui glanced and made an ugly face. “We should call the cops.”

“But there’s no real evidence, and it’s just insults—no other threats…” Li Xia shook his head.

“It’s my fault you’re dragged into this,” Yu Sui sighed. “Probably one of my extreme fans…”

“No, this isn’t your fault.” Li Xia gripped his hand.

Yu Sui’s body stiffened. He yanked his hand back. “You’re a promising junior in my eyes. How could I bear to watch you go through all this…”

These words left Li Xia too embarrassed to meet his gaze. “Senior…”

“So let’s keep our distance from now on. That way, I won’t cause you any trouble.” Yu Sui patted his shoulder.

Li Xia hesitated. “I…”

“Otherwise, I’d feel terrible about it.” Yu Sui added.

Li Xia’s eyes dimmed.

[Well played. This way, you can naturally pull away, have all the time in the world to stalk him, and avoid any suspicion.] The System remarked with admiration.

“Of course.” Yu Sui replied smugly.

Li Xia couldn’t swallow a single bite. He seethed with resentment toward this stranger who kept harassing him.

He stared at Yu Sui’s back as the man finished his meal and left, his grip tightening around his chopsticks.

Yu Sui was in high spirits.

Li Xia was out of sorts that day.

After a full day of work, exhaustion weighed on him. There was still some distance to walk home to his neighborhood. He headed in that direction, still mulling over the earlier incident, when footsteps sounded from behind.

Li Xia’s body went rigid. He whipped his head around and spotted a furtive shadow. He froze.

Even with the hunched posture, the tall frame and distinctive gait gave the figure away.

Why was Yu Sui following him?

Was it because he was worried—secretly protecting him?

Li Xia’s eyes lit up, a smile tugging at his lips.

It made sense. The man had said they wouldn’t interact on the surface, but that didn’t rule out things in private…

But why protect him like this?

Li Xia bit his lip, a flush of shyness creeping in.

He thought of how Yu Sui knew his preferences yet hadn’t pulled away. The man remained so gentle.

And he had secretly made a copy of his house key.

Li Xia’s hand clenched in his pocket. Suddenly, it all clicked: Yu Sui liked him too.

A sweet warmth filled his heart, and his steps grew light.

Watching Li Xia’s retreating back, Yu Sui frowned slightly. Hadn’t he noticed this suspicious figure?

Did he really think so little of a stalker like him?

With that thought, Yu Sui snapped a malicious photo of his back.

[Don’t walk alone at night, okay?]

The message carried a sinister edge. He was sure it would scare him.

Li Xia did stop in his tracks. He pulled out his phone to check.

His pupils contracted, his hands trembling.

His heart pounded wildly.

So it was the senior after all…