Chapter 34 Part 1

Lin Jie read his lips and frowned deeply. In terms of strength and looks, he really wasn’t a match for Lu Quan. But Lu Quan was far too arrogant—Xia Xia would never go for someone like that. He was too aggressive.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Lin Jie’s mouth, utterly different from the goofy grin he’d flashed in front of Liang Zhixia moments ago. He looked straight at Lu Quan and mouthed the words: Xia Xia doesn’t like you.

The statement stabbed right at Lu Quan’s heart. He clenched his fist, a cold smile playing on his lips as endless malice flickered in his eyes. But then he turned his head toward Zhizhi.

Liang Zhixia was idly scrolling through his phone out of boredom when he suddenly heard Lu Quan call his name.

“Xia Xia, last night I really didn’t mean to. Did I hurt you?”

Liang Zhixia glanced at Lu Quan in confusion. Why was he circling back to that topic?

But then he remembered the ugly purple bruises on his lower back that he’d spotted in the mirror that morning. They looked so bad that anyone unfamiliar with the story might think he’d been beaten in his sleep. It had hurt when he’d pressed on them.

Truth be told, ever since overhearing those words in the bathroom, a spark of anger had been simmering inside him. He met Lu Quan’s eyes and said seriously, “It hurt. It really hurt.”

Lu Quan froze for a moment. Last night, jealousy had overwhelmed him, and he probably hadn’t controlled his strength properly.

No wonder Zhizhi had been ignoring him all day.

It was his fault.

“Sorry, Xia Xia. Next time, I’ll go easier.”

Liang Zhixia: “…”

To Lin Jie, who had no idea what was really going on, the exchange sounded all kinds of wrong.

Fortunately, reason won out over emotion. Xia Xia clearly didn’t have those kinds of feelings for Lu Quan, and Lu Quan was just trying to mislead him on purpose.

He absolutely couldn’t let Xia Xia end up with a guy like that.

Lin Jie cleared his throat with exaggerated coughs, successfully drawing Xia Xia’s attention over.

“Xia Xia, want some iced coconut juice? It’s my uncle’s signature drink—we never do takeout.”

Liang Zhixia glanced at the boss, who lay at the cash register with his eyes closed, and said softly, “Your uncle’s sleeping. No need.”

Lin Jie bared a set of dazzling white teeth in a grin. “Nah, he’s not sleeping. He’s just eavesdropping on us.”

The boss snapped his eyes open and barked, “You little punk! You gonna call out your own uncle like that? Doesn’t he deserve any dignity?”

Liang Zhixia stood there with his big eyes wide open, frozen in shock.

When the boss turned to him, though, his face softened into a kindly smile. “Uncle’ll whip you up some coconut juice. Just wait here, okay?”

Lin Jie pulled a face and whispered, “See? Total double standard. He calls me a little bastard every single day.”

Liang Zhixia curved his eyes into a smile. “I think your uncle’s pretty fun.”

“He totally is.” Lin Jie said enthusiastically. “My uncle didn’t used to run a rice noodle shop, you know. Back in the day, he was a bar singer.”

Who would have guessed that this utterly ordinary rice noodle shop owner had once lived such a wild and free life?

Liang Zhixia asked curiously, “So why’d he end up opening a rice noodle shop?”

Lin Jie shot a glance back at his uncle and lowered his voice. “He met the love of his life. This girl chased after him, and since my aunt’s a huge rice noodle fan, he apprenticed at her favorite shop. Eventually, he opened his own place.”

Liang Zhixia loved hearing these simple, everyday love stories. They might head in a totally different direction from the themes in his comics, but at their core, they were the same—all centered on love.

One took its time building from meeting to knowing to loving. The other dove straight into the passion.

Either way, they both ended happily ever after.

Seeing how into it Liang Zhixia was, Lin Jie reached under the cash register and pulled out a photo album. He pointed to a picture of a young man rocking that classic rockstar vibe. “Check this out—that’s my uncle back in the day. Wild, right?”

Liang Zhixia: “Whoa, for real.”

Lin Jie set the album in the middle of the table for easier viewing and leaned in to explain, bringing their heads close together.

Meanwhile, Lu Quan sat ignored on the other side of the table, his gaze dark and brooding, a chill radiating from him.

He cleared his throat lightly, but Zhizhi didn’t even glance his way. Instead, he kept laughing and chatting with Lin Jie about the photos, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Things hadn’t been like this before.

Lu Quan pressed his lips together, pulled out his phone from his pocket, switched to WeChat, and opened his chat with Zhizhi. With a blank expression, he started typing.

【L】: Miss Zhizhi so much (kitty flipping belly.jpg)

【L】: Pay attention to me, Zhizhi~

【L】: What’s Zhizhi up to?

【L】: Kitty poke poke.jpg

Liang Zhixia’s phone on the table dinged nonstop. Lin Jie glanced at it. “Go ahead and reply to your messages.”

Just then, the boss finished making the coconut juice and set glasses down in front of all three of them. He swiped the photo album away and lightly smacked Lin Jie’s head.

“Showing off your uncle’s pictures to strangers again.”

Lin Jie shot back confidently, “Auntie said it’s fine.”

The boss rolled his eyes silently, gave Lin Jie’s head another smack with the album, and retreated back under the cash register to lounge.

Ding—

【L】: Zhizhi, be good, little darling. Talk to me, pretty please?

Liang Zhixia took a sip of the fresh coconut juice without a flicker of expression on his face, then typed a reply.

【Zhizhi】: There, I talked to you.

The next second, a message from L popped up.

【L】: What’s Zhizhi doing right now? You didn’t chat with me all morning (whimpering)

【Zhizhi】: I was in class. Wasn’t ignoring you on purpose—you know that. You’re the only one I like.

His Romance Notes said that online crushes who lacked security needed reassuring sweet talk now and then to soothe their nerves.

【L】: Will Zhizhi really like only me forever?

【Zhizhi】: Of course. I’ll like you forever.

If Lu Quan hadn’t watched Zhizhi type those words with a straight face, he might have actually believed that Zhizhi liked him.

He lowered his gaze.

【L】: I’ll like Zhizhi forever too.

【L】: Oh, right—the stuff I sent Zhizhi should arrive next week. Remember to pick it up.

Lu Quan set his phone down and turned toward Zhizhi.

The other boy had just placed his coconut juice glass down, his lips glistening and plump from the drink. He pursed them slightly as he typed.

【Zhizhi】: Got it! ^-^

【Zhizhi】: I’ll go get it ^-^

Lu Quan leaned back in his chair, his long, distinct fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop. His eyes darkened.

His long lashes lowered slightly, hiding the complicated emotions in his gaze. His lips moved faintly.

Little liar.

After sending the last message, Liang Zhixia checked the time. Class was about to start.

He stood up and said to Lin Jie, “Lin Jie, let’s head back to school.”

Lu Quan sat steadily in his seat, blocking the way out. Liang Zhixia had no choice but to speak up. “Brother Lu, let’s go back to school.”

Only then did Lu Quan rise, casually grabbing Liang Zhixia’s bag with a natural air. In a low voice, he said, “Let’s go.”

As they stepped out of the rice noodle shop, Liang Zhixia reached for his bag. “I’ll take it myself. No need to trouble Brother Lu.”

Lu Quan slung the bag over his own shoulder with an indifferent expression, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “It’s no trouble.”

Lin Jie, standing on the other side, offered, “Let me get it.”

Lu Quan shot him a cold look. “No need. It’s Xia Xia’s bag—I’ll carry it.”

His slender fingers gripped the strap tightly, as if afraid someone might snatch it away.

Liang Zhixia: “…Thanks, Brother Lu.”

Back at school, the moment they passed through the gates, Liang Zhixia felt eyes boring into his back like needles. He yanked his bag from Lu Quan’s hand and bolted ahead while the other two weren’t paying attention.

As he ran, he called out, “I’m heading to class first! See ya!”

Lu Quan, caught off guard by the sneak attack, blinked in rare surprise. He watched Zhizhi scamper away like a little rabbit and chuckled helplessly.

Lin Jie, after his own moment of surprise, turned to face Lu Quan directly. With Liang Zhixia out of earshot, the two of them could finally speak plainly.

Lin Jie: “You’re not right for Xia Xia.”

Lu Quan rubbed the knuckle of his index finger and replied coolly, “I’m not? And you are?”

Lin Jie: “I’m a better fit than you.”

Sunlight fell across the man’s strikingly handsome face. He lowered his eyes and let out a low chuckle from deep in his throat. In a heavy voice, he said, “You? On what grounds?”

Lin Jie balled his fist. “We’ll see. Besides, what right do you have to warn me right now? What’s your position?”

Lu Quan watched his retreating back, the smile fading from his face bit by bit. A thread of unease stirred in his heart.

Zhizhi was starting to pull away from him. Had he been found out?

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the three of them, a new post had appeared on the school forum.

【Main Post: Did anyone catch that scene at the school gates just now?!?!?!?!?!】

【1st Floor: Front row~】

【2nd Floor: What happened??】

【3rd Floor: I saw it! So intense! They were totally at each other’s throats!】

【4th Floor: What what what?!?!?!?!】

【5th Floor: Ears perked.jpg】

【6th Floor: Total showdown back there—when has School Grass ever looked that frustrated lololol】

【7th Floor: I legit thought School Grass was gonna deck that other guy. His cold face was scary af.】

【8th Floor: Slipping away while School Grass wasn’t looking? Adorbs lololol】

【9th Floor: Duh, the underclassman clearly isn’t into School Grass.】

【10th Floor: What are y’all shipping? School Grass doesn’t even like that freshman—they just happen to know each other.】

【11th Floor: ?? When have you ever seen School Grass carry someone’s bag? Not even Xu Cheng gets that treatment.】

…

【219th Floor: Everyone shut up and vote—which pair are you shipping?】

【Voting Options: A. School Grass x Underclassman B. Lin Jie x Underclassman C. Neither is shippable】

In the classroom, Liang Zhixia arrived fairly early and snagged three good seats.

He sat in his chair, bored as he gazed out the window. Just then, two sparrows landed on the windowsill and huddled together, chattering away nonstop.

Liang Zhixia pulled out his phone, snapped a photo of the moment with the camera, and casually sent it to his pinned contact, L.

It was good to share bits of daily life with his online boyfriend from time to time.

【Zhizhi】: A cute pair of little sparrows~

L seemed to be glued to his phone at all hours. Liang Zhixia had barely hit send when the reply came back.

【L】: They really are cute. Is Zhizhi in a bad mood?

Just like always, L was the first to pick up on his emotions.

He sprawled over his desk, his fingertips idly tapping the phone screen with soft clicks.

【Zhizhi】: A little.

【L】: Can Zhizhi tell me about it?

【L】: Big hug.jpg

Liang Zhixia hesitated for a moment before typing out a gentle reply.

【Zhizhi】: I just thought he and I were really close, but turns out he never liked me and was just pretending the whole time. But I’m only a tiny bit upset, really just a tiny bit.

On the other end of the line, Lu Quan stared at the “he” on his phone screen, his gaze turning icy.

Who was the “he” that Zhizhi was talking about?

Why were there always so many irrelevant people around Zhizhi?

He furrowed his brow and typed.

【L】: Stay away from that guy, Zhizhi. He doesn’t deserve your affection.

【L】: Zhizhi is always in the right. That person doesn’t know how to cherish you at all.