Chapter 11: A Burning Hand

You want to know about love? Your love life is about to die right here in my hands.

As angry as Gu Shiying was, after hearing Fu Huan’s inner thoughts countless times over the past days, he could quickly calm himself down. He persuaded himself not to care too much.

Besides, Fu Huan was now in his grasp. He had him right where he wanted him.

Fu Huan got the card he drew, glanced at it, and lazily held it out to Gu Shiying between his slender index and middle fingers.

“Here, tell me what this means.”

Gu Shiying met his gaze. Fu Huan’s face lacked its usual indifference, showing a bit more emotion. The corners of his mouth were turned up.

What are you smiling about!

You won’t be smiling soon.

Fu Huan had drawn the Wheel of Fortune.

Gu Shiying had done his research today and knew what this card represented.

It actually signified a very smooth love journey. It definitely couldn’t be referring to him, Gu Shiying.

But right now, Fu Huan’s mind was interested in every inch of him, inside and out. He had to crush this notion. Even if the card was good, he would spin it as bad.

Gu Shiying feigned that the card was unfavorable, shaking his head and sighing. “This card means the person you currently have feelings for is not your fated true love. Your true love will appear in the future. That person will be the one to bring happiness into your life. In other words, if you have someone you like right now, that person definitely doesn’t bring you good fortune. They might even bring you bad luck, cause you to lose money, or, more seriously, make you extremely unfortunate. Only when your fated match appears will you find a sincere and lasting love.”

What Chinese person could resist the words “bad luck”?

Gu Shiying couldn’t confidently say he’d completely discouraged Fu Huan, but the guy must have been somewhat affected. He’d seen even the usually very optimistic Yang Shuheng get depressed after hearing his card interpretation; Yang Shuheng wasn’t normally this gloomy.

He guessed Fu Huan wouldn’t escape it either. His feelings for him would surely waver. Right now, it was just a crush. After this reading, the intensity would definitely decrease. His feelings were bound to be a fleeting infatuation.

Inwardly, Gu Shiying gave his own cleverness a “V” for victory. The dawn of victory was on the horizon! In the future, when he inadvertently heard Fu Huan’s inner thoughts, he wouldn’t have a heart attack anymore!

The almost imperceptible smile on Fu Huan’s lips did indeed gradually fade, and his eyelids drooped.

He clearly didn’t believe it. “Is that so?”

“That’s exactly what it is. If you think my reading isn’t accurate, just pretend I said nothing.” Gu Shiying was using reverse psychology. He didn’t believe Fu Huan would actually go find someone else to recalculate. Fu Huan hadn’t looked like someone who believed in this stuff from the start.

Fu Huan crossed his arms and stared at Gu Shiying for two seconds. He tossed out four words: “Oh. I don’t believe it.”

Gu Shiying nearly jumped up. Damn it, what do you mean you don’t believe it!

The person you like is me, and I don’t like you. This is a karmic entanglement between us, absolutely doomed to fail.

He’d heard there was a temple incredibly effective at severing ill-fated bonds. Maybe he should find time to go pay a visit and cut this karmic entanglement.

At that moment, Yang Shuheng, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up. “I think Ying’er’s reading actually seems a bit accurate.”

Gu Shiying immediately tried to prove his point. “Right? Did you realize someone is working against you?”

Yang Shuheng shook his head. “Not exactly that. My friends are all pretty good to me. But recently, someone online has been subtly dissing me.”

Gu Shiying diligently dropped hints. “Online, huh? Could it be someone among your friends?”

Yang Shuheng: “But I’m not even famous. Why would they want to diss me?”

Gu Shiying wheeled his chair over again. “How are they dissing you?”

Yang Shuheng showed him his account. “Look at this. They keep saying I’m intentionally trying to ride the coattails of a guitarist from a pretty popular band. They’re also saying I’m copying his style and deliberately marketing the same persona. Damn, so there really is a petty person.”

Gu Shiying steered the conversation back. “Who do you think would do this?”

Yang Shuheng stated confidently, “Definitely someone who doesn’t like me. Could be an anti-fan, or maybe an extreme fan of that guitarist. There are always lots of extreme people online.”

Gu Shiying: “…”

How could Yang Shuheng be this optimistic? The process was correct, but the conclusion was all wrong.

Regardless of whether the tarot card reading was accurate or not, Yang Shuheng was still affected. Gu Shiying couldn’t tell if Fu Huan believed it or not. His facial expressions were rarely plentiful, making him hard to figure out, and he didn’t want any skin contact with him. If he were to hear thoughts that made his blood boil again, he’d spit blood.

Anyway, did he believe it or not?

“Ying’er, I gotta say, that jacket you brought was really useful,” Zhang Zhi said. “This damn weather, a bit of rain and the temperature drops ten degrees. Freezing my butt off. Lend it to me for one class.”

Just Sunday, the daytime had been sunny, hot enough to make people crazy. Monday morning, the rain started, cold enough to make people numb. Many students hadn’t brought jackets. Only Gu Shiying had worn one to avoid the crowd’s inner thoughts, which made him seem prescient.

In the classroom, Gu Shiying didn’t feel cold, so he took off his jacket and gave it to Zhang Zhi.

However, Zhang Zhi wore it for three straight classes without returning it. Gu Shiying didn’t really mind, but when he went to the restroom, the rain-laden wind cutting right through him made him shiver uncontrollably. His nose itched incessantly, and he sneezed several times coming out of the restroom.

Sneezing made his head a bit dizzy. As he walked, head down, rubbing his itchy nose, he inadvertently bumped into someone around a corner.

That person was quite tall. His nose hit their chest. The other person grabbed his arm to steady him.

Just as Gu Shiying was about to apologize, the other person spoke first. “Don’t you watch where you’re going?”

This familiar voice…

Gu Shiying quickly stepped back. “How is it you?” It was Fu Huan.

Damn it all. Fu Huan had touched his skin again!

Inner thoughts he hadn’t heard in two days surged into his mind like a tidal wave.

【How can he be so dopey.】

【Good thing it was me he ran into. This idiot.】

Gu Shiying’s retort followed instantly. You’re the idiot!

Fu Huan: “Who were you hoping to run into? Isn’t bumping into me better than bumping into someone else?”

How can you even compare that? A stranger wouldn’t have these messy thoughts about me! And I’d have dodged them, okay!

Gu Shiying glanced at him, his voice thick with a nasal tone. “I didn’t want to bump into anyone.”

Fu Huan’s eyes and ears were both sharp. He picked up on the unusual sound in his voice. “Where’s your jacket?”

He knew Gu Shiying had been wearing a jacket when he left that morning.

“Gave it to Zhang Zhi.” Gu Shiying sounded nasal, as if he’d been wronged.

Just as Gu Shiying was about to step around Fu Huan and return to the classroom, Fu Huan took off his own jacket and tossed it into his arms. “Wear this.”

Then, without another word of explanation, he turned and left.

Gu Shiying stood there for a moment, hugging the jacket still carrying Fu Huan’s residual warmth.

For the sake of this jacket, he decided to temporarily forgive Fu Huan for calling him an idiot… for one second. No point in fighting against his own health.

Fu Huan returned to his classroom. Liang Qi noticed he’d left with a jacket and come back without one.

He teased with amusement, “You go out and come back, and your jacket’s gone? Who’d you give it to?”

“No one.” Fu Huan crossed his arms, inwardly savoring the image of Gu Shiying dumbly stumbling into his chest.

Liang Qi: “Tsk tsk tsk. Something’s going on.”

Fu Huan’s mind drifted to the tarot card reading Gu Shiying had done for him. His eyes darkened. “Do you believe in tarot cards?”

Liang Qi: “Metaphysical stuff? Believing makes it real, not believing makes it nothing.”

Fu Huan: “Mm.”

Liang Qi: “Wait, you actually believed it? What did you ask about?”

Fu Huan paused for a second, his gaze drifting slightly. “Nothing.”

Liang Qi caught the key detail and laughed. “No way. You definitely got a reading and believed it.”

Fu Huan lowered his head to flip through a book. “Think what you want.”

Liang Qi didn’t have the spirit to interrogate Fu Huan to the very end. If Fu Huan didn’t want him to know, asking a hundred times was useless.

Liang Qi: “Go out for lunch? A new private kitchen restaurant opened at the East Gate. I heard the food is pretty good.”

Fu Huan: “Fine.” He remembered there was a pharmacy at the East Gate.

Compared to Fu Huan, who could look forward to a big lunch, Gu Shiying could only eat at the canteen.

He seemed to have caught a cold and had no appetite at noon. Even his usually favorite braised spare ribs tasted bland.

On the way back to the dorm, his head felt heavy and muddled.

Zhang Zhi saw how utterly listless he was. “I should’ve just gone back to get my own jacket earlier. Yingbao, I’ll go to the school clinic and get you some medicine!”

Gu Shiying: “It’s fine. I should be okay after lying down for a while. You go back and take your afternoon nap.”

Zhang Zhi was still worried. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Gu Shiying: “I should have some cold medicine. I’ll just brew some isatis root later.”

Zhang Zhi: “Alright then. Don’t forget to take it!”

Leaving the room, Zhang Zhi bumped right into Fu Huan, who was standing at the doorway, medicine in hand, about to enter.

Zhang Zhi called back one more reminder to Gu Shiying. “Don’t forget the medicine!”

Gu Shiying waved dismissively. “Alright, alright.”

Drowsiness washed over him. Gu Shiying took a sip of water and then climbed into bed to sleep, his whole body starting to feel weak.

Fu Huan boiled some water, got the cold medicine out, and woke Gu Shiying up just as he was about to fall asleep.

“Gu Shiying, get up and take your medicine before you sleep.”

Gu Shiying’s brain wasn’t quite spinning. “Oh, okay.”

It wasn’t until he had drunk the brewed cold medicine Fu Huan handed him and swallowed several pale yellow pills that he realized what Fu Huan had done.

“Thanks.”

Fu Huan took the cup he’d finished from. Their fingers brushed.

【Sick and he turns into a total dummy. So silly.】

Gu Shiying’s gratitude lasted for exactly zero-point-zero-one seconds.

He snorted sullenly and wrapped himself tightly in his blanket. You’re the dummy! You’re the silly one!

Still, the state before and after taking medicine were two different things. Gu Shiying fell asleep very quickly.

Fu Huan went to the balcony to wash the cup. Turning around, he found Yang Shuheng behind him, hesitating to speak. “You…”

Fu Huan’s eyes were indifferent as he asked, “What is it?”

Yang Shuheng shook his head. “Nothing, nothing. Just need the bathroom.”

Fu Huan stepped aside to let him pass.

Actually, Yang Shuheng had wanted to ask how Fu Huan suddenly became so close with Gu Shiying.

Never mind, I don’t dare. He’d always thought Fu Huan looked quite intimidating. How exactly did Gu Shiying manage to get along so well with him?

Gu Shiying’s cold lingered for several days. He carried tissues to every class, utterly miserable.

But by the weekend, he was lively again.

Waking up Saturday morning, no more stuffy nose, no more coughing. Finally comfortable!

After breakfast, he went to Dorm 701 to hang out with Zhang Zhi. He and Zhang Zhi, along with a couple others, had planned a ranked match day for today.

After playing all day, his shoulders were quite stiff.

Just as the few of them were about to head out for barbecue, Gu Shiying received a message from Yang Shuheng.

Yang Shuheng: Our band just finished a performance at a bar near the school today. Brother Stone is asking if you want to come.

Gu Shiying’s mind went again to this Brother Stone with his ill intentions towards Yang Shuheng.

Gu Shiying: Sure. Send me the address.

Remembering his cold had just gotten better, he went back to the dorm to grab a jacket. As he was leaving, he collided again with Fu Huan, who was coming back, a basketball tucked under his arm.

Why is this guy’s chest so hard? He doesn’t have pectoral muscles, does he!

Fu Huan pressed a hand against his forehead, pushing him back slightly. “Why are you running?”

【How does Gu Shiying always smell so good? I just want to hug him and smell him.】

Gu Shiying pushed away Fu Huan’s hand, whose temperature was practically burning. “Wasn’t running. Gotta go.”

Smell my ass. I’ll seal your nose shut with cement when I get back.

Fu Huan still felt the lingering sensation on his hand where Gu Shiying had slapped it, pretty hard too. He watched Gu Shiying rushing off urgently, his brow furrowing slightly as he fixed his gaze on him.

“It’s so late, who are you going out with?”

Gu Shiying tilted his head up to look at him. “Yang Shuheng asked me to grab barbecue. Anyway, gotta run, bye!”

With that, he slipped past Fu Huan’s side, his figure disappearing from Fu Huan’s line of sight in an instant.

Fu Huan stared at his own palm for a few seconds, then gently pressed it against his own forehead.