Several days had passed since that night, and Liang Zhixia felt utterly despondent as he sensed the vibration of his phone in his pocket.
Ninety-nine percent chance it was a message from L. One percent it was a photo from L.
【L】: Zhizhi, I’m going out to eat with friends today. Two guys.
【L】: (photo) (photo) (photo)
He’d guessed right, of course.
Ever since that day when L promised a reward, the guy had been sharing every tiny detail of his daily life without holding back.
He even told Liang Zhixia what color underwear he was wearing.
Liang Zhixia really didn’t want to know any of that.
Couldn’t people respect each other’s boundaries just a little?
Clearly, L had no concept of personal space.
The photos showed only a pair of elegant hands with prominent knuckles, their pale skin glowing like jade under the light. The table was laid with dishes Liang Zhixia couldn’t afford.
L’s friend had been dragged into the shot from the waist up.
Liang Zhixia felt an inexplicable wave of shame. Did L’s friend know what L was doing? Did he think Liang Zhixia was some kind of creep?
Suddenly, it felt like L was carrying out a task Liang Zhixia himself had assigned.
His face drained to a sickly pallor.
Staring woodenly at his screen, he typed back.
【Zhizhi】: Be a good boy and eat your dinner.
It came out sounding like he was talking to a child.
“Why is your face so red?”
Jiang Ling eyed him suspiciously.
Liang Zhixia blinked rapidly and said dryly, “Is it? Maybe I’m just hot. I’ve always hated the heat.”
Jiang Ling narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Liang Zhixia’s expression.
Fan Li, grinning mischievously from the side, fanned the flames. “Xia Xia, it’s overcast today, though.”
Liang Zhixia stammered out something completely off-topic.
“Do you guys want coffee? My treat.”
The words had barely left his mouth before he wanted to crawl into a hole.
Jiang Ling grinned and pinched his cheek. “Does Xia Xia have a crush?”
Liang Zhixia’s eyes widened. He paused for a beat, then shook his head vigorously.
“No.”
Jiang Ling brushed back the hair by his ear and winked playfully. “Be bold about it. Go after them. You could just stand in front of them without saying a word, and they’d say yes.”
He blinked in confusion. “?”
Fan Li gaped at his puzzled look. “Xia Xia, you don’t know? Tons of people at school are into you—guys and girls alike.”
Liang Zhixia figured his friends were just messing with him.
“No way. No one would like me.”
Jiang Ling couldn’t stand seeing him so lacking in confidence. He grabbed Fan Li’s phone, pulled up a forum post, and shoved it in Liang Zhixia’s face.
“See for yourself.”
The post title was blunt and to the point.
—Pretty Guy from the Freshman Normal Education Program.
Pretty guy?
Was that about him?
Curiosity piqued, he tapped into the thread and read it all. One thought echoed in his mind.
Were they seriously talking about him?
Once he’d finished, Fan Li snatched the phone back and fully backed Jiang Ling up.
“He’s right. If you like someone, go for it. Worst case, it doesn’t work out, you break up, and the next one’s even better!”
Liang Zhixia stared at him in surprise. Fan Li seemed so shy— he hadn’t expected such progressive ideas.
His two friends grilled him for a good while longer, but mercifully, military training time rolled around, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
After seeing them off, he headed back to the dorm, finished his illustration draft, and took a nap.
He didn’t sluggishly head out until four o’clock.
Today was his last day at the café part-time gig. The boss had messaged him privately, asking if he’d considered sticking around long-term.
With military training ongoing and schedules not out yet, he’d been upfront with the boss.
The boss was understanding and happy to wait, telling him to think it over.
Back at the front counter, a coworker sidled up. “What did the boss want with you?”
Everyone at the café was nice to him, so there was no reason to hide it. He murmured, “He wants me to go full-time.”
Realization dawned on their faces.
“I figured as much. The boss was bound to keep you.”
“Xia Xia, didn’t you notice how packed it’s been these past three days?”
Liang Zhixia really hadn’t. He shook his head and asked, “Wasn’t it always like this?”
The coworker lowered her voice. “Not even close. Most of these people are here for you.”
“Me?” He was baffled, his face full of confusion. “Why?”
The coworker’s eyes went wide in shock. “Oh my god! Xia Xia, you have zero clue how gorgeous you are!”
Another was more direct. “They’re here for your face.”
A third chimed in. “And that handsome guy who always sits by the window. You two together? Total eye-candy overload for face-connoisseurs. It’s busier now than during break.”
Liang Zhixia knew he wasn’t bad-looking, but nothing extraordinary. Lu Quan’s face was the real stunner.
Sharp features, chiseled contours, superior bone structure with prominent brow bones like a Greek sculpture, plus perfect proportions.
Fine, he still wanted Lu Quan to model for him once.
Lu Quan was like a cat teaser wand, and Liang Zhixia was the cat on the line—dangling right in front of him every day, impossible to catch or sink claws into. It left him fidgeting restlessly, heart itching unbearably.
When would Lu Quan finally take the hint and volunteer as his model?
Whatever. He’d dream about it tonight.
After five, the café filled up. This time, he paid attention. While he spun like a top, his coworkers stood around idle.
He overheard one from the next table over—the customers requested him by name before she could even speak.
So that’s why he was run off his feet?
If it came to full-time, the boss had better give him a raise.
He clocked out right on time at seven-thirty, changed in the break room, and stepped out. L’s message arrived as expected.
【L】: Just got out of class. Not staying in the dorm tonight—heading home.
【L】: A leaf drifted onto my desk from the window during class. Looks just like the one you were gonna give me.
【L】: I’m pressing it in my book. We can swap later.
【L】: The sunset this evening was gorgeous. For you.
【L】: (sunset photo) (leaf photo)
That leaf pic featured one of L’s hands again.
Last time, he’d casually complimented how long and nice they looked, and now every photo included them.
He hadn’t told L to stop, though. Free reference material, after all.
He even had a secret folder full of sketches of L’s hands.
Big palms, long fingers, even knuckles, faint veins popping with raw sex appeal. Peak perfection!
Anyone who knew would be drooling.
The sunset photo was stunning too—soft pink like a giant cotton candy, fluffy and sweet.
He stopped in his tracks, raised his phone, and snapped the sky’s glow.
Then he typed.
【Zhizhi】: The sunset here’s pink too~
【L】: So pretty. So cute.
Liang Zhixia smiled faintly at the message, held down the voice key, and let his voice soften unconsciously.
“Are you saying the sunset I took is pretty?”
Unbeknownst to him, that coquettish tone froze someone in place. Cool brows arched slightly as long fingers hit record.
“The sunset is pretty, but Zhizhi is prettier.”
Amid the bustling crowd, Liang Zhixia held the phone to his ear, listened, then muttered with flushed ears, “Smooth-talking flirt.”
He pocketed his phone, eyes bright with pretty brows arched, and walked toward campus against the pink sunset.
Meanwhile.
Lu Quan stepped back from the person in front of him, dodging the contact.
“Don’t touch me. You’re filthy.”
“Wah! Mommy! Big brother is bullying me! Waaah!”
Lu Quan forced a smile and murmured darkly, “Cry again and I’ll chuck your Ultraman.”
The sobbing stopped instantly.
He turned and entered the villa, the little boy trailing after him like a persistent tagalong, sucking on his fingers.
A sharp-featured woman with short hair stood at the kitchen door, her eyes lighting up as she smiled. “Xiao Quan, you’re back.”
Lu Quan’s gaze lingered on her apron. “Yeah, Mom.”
The little brat darted past him to the woman, mumbling his complaint around his fingers. “Mommy, big brother bullied me again!”
Jiang Su ruffled his hair.
“Didn’t Mommy tell you? Your brother’s got classes all day. You need to go easy on him.”
Lu Manman pouted unhappily but shuffled obediently over to Lu Quan. His chubby hands twisted together as he piped up in a babyish voice, “Sorry, big brother. I shouldn’t have tattled to Mommy.”
Lu Quan kept his distance and said wickedly, “Oh, I bullied you on purpose.”
With foresight, Jiang Su clapped a hand over Lu Manman’s mouth and told Lu Quan, “Go rest in your room first. We’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
Lu Quan’s expression remained impassive. “Thanks.”
Jiang Su’s lips pressed thin, her smile strained. “…You’re welcome.”
Once Lu Quan was out of sight, Jiang Su released Lu Manman’s mouth and scolded with a frown, “What did Mommy tell you? Don’t make your brother mad.”
Lu Manman pouted, thoroughly displeased.
Mommy and Daddy seemed to love big brother more.
But something felt off about that.
His big eyes brimmed with confusion.
The next day.
Liang Zhixia woke before his seven o’clock alarm even went off.
His hazy eyes gradually cleared as he sat up in bed, casually brushing the hair from his forehead with a natural, lazy motion.
He lifted the bed curtain. The bunk across from him was spotless, as if no one had slept there all night.
Bright sunlight streamed across the floor. Still dressed in that expensive set of pajamas, he stood on the balcony doing his morning radio calisthenics.
“One-two-three-four, two-two-three-four, three-two-three-four, four-two-three-four.”
After washing up, he stood in front of the wardrobe, dithering over what to wear that day. He rummaged left and right until he came across Lu Quan’s black shirt.
It had fallen on the floor last time and hadn’t been washed since. He had no intention of washing it now—he’d just compensate Lu Quan with cash once he had enough saved up.
Twenty minutes later, dressed in his carefully chosen outfit and munching on a piece of bread, he slung his bag over his shoulder and headed out.
Today was the day he was meeting up with Zhuzi in person.
In his backpack was a gift he’d made by hand: a clay doll modeled after Zhuzi’s chibi self.
This time, he didn’t need to plan his route ahead—Zhuzi would guide him in real time.
He slipped on his Bluetooth earbuds and shared his location with Zhuzi.
Zhuzi: “Xia Xia, you’ve got seven more stops, then exit from C Exit.”
He glanced up at the route map overhead. “Got it.”
Zhuzi: “I’ll be waiting for you at C Exit ahead of time. I’m easy to spot—I’ve got dyed yellow hair and I’m wearing ripped jeans.”
Zhuzi’s description made him chuckle.
This was his first time meeting up with an online friend in person, and not just any friend—it was Zhuzi, whom he’d known for three years. He felt a thrill of excitement.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed.
It was L.
【L】: Good morning, Zhizhi. You up yet? I tried learning to make breakfast with the chef today, but it turned out kinda failed.
The attached photo showed something utterly disastrous—a black, gooey mess that was impossible to identify as food.
Just looking at the picture, he could almost smell the awful stench.
He typed back quietly.
【Zhizhi】: I don’t think cooking’s your thing. Did the chef yell at you?
【L】: Nah, he said I’ve got real talent o(‘^｀)o
【Zhizhi】: Is this chef blind or something? How can he say that with a straight face (O_o)
One thing did pique his curiosity, though.
【Zhizhi】: Why’d you suddenly decide to learn cooking?
【L】: You mentioned last time that the pancakes from that place nearby weren’t good.
Liang Zhixia remembered now. He’d bought a pancake near school and casually complained to L about how bad it was.
And L had actually remembered.
【Zhizhi】: You’re such a responsible guy!
No wonder he was the top seller at the shop.
Meanwhile.
Lu Quan gripped the steering wheel with one hand. After sending his reply, he turned a cold gaze on the young man in the passenger seat.
His eyes swept disdainfully over the dyed yellow hair and the ripped jeans.
“Get out.”
