Chapter 20: Look At Me More

By the time Gu Shiying recovered his wits, the man was already lowering his head to leave. In his desperation, Gu Shiying wanted to rush forward and grab the man.

But he was in Fu Huan’s arms. He wanted to shout for the man not to run, but the words changed as they reached his lips. “Fu Huan, grab that guy in the gray T-shirt!”

Fu Huan released Gu Shiying and strode forward, seizing the man. He didn’t even raise a hand—just kicked the back of the man’s knee, dropping him instantly to the ground. The entire takedown took maybe two seconds. The onlookers had barely blinked.

The pinned-down man’s face changed color. “Let go of me! What do you think you’re doing!”

Fu Huan held him down firmly, then hauled the man up and shoved him in front of Gu Shiying.

Gu Shiying asked the fried rice vendor, “Boss, do you know this guy?”

The vendor had an impression of him. “Isn’t this Boss Sun from the fried rice shop down the street?”

Zhang Zhi had just been worried about whether Gu Shiying had touched the hot stove. How had the situation suddenly taken this turn?

“What’s going on? What happened?”

The middle-aged man had done something underhanded, but as long as no one said anything, no one would know. He squared his shoulders and shouted at Gu Shiying righteously.

“What do you want? Are you trying to extort money from me just because there are more of you?”

Gu Shiying couldn’t worry about too much right now. What if a student from their school died over this?

Gu Shiying: “Boss Sun, did you do something shady to Boss Wang’s food? Why else were you sneaking around back there?”

He couldn’t outright say the man had drugged the food, but he could hint at it. He needed to alert the vendor.

The middle-aged man: “Are you sick? Go see a doctor! What shady business? Who says I can’t walk through here?”

Zhang Zhi believed Gu Shiying unconditionally. “Boss Wang, check if anything’s wrong with your ingredients today.”

The vendor immediately turned back to his cart. He told his wife to check the seasonings while he scooped up a spoonful of rice and sniffed it.

“There seems to be a smell in the rice.”

His wife added, “I was just about to say the color of the fried rice looks off. It’s darker than before. I thought you put too much soy sauce.”

The husband shone his phone flashlight on it, examining it closely. “Why is this rice yellow? It was perfectly fine before we left!”

Gu Shiying was sharp. The Wang couple had been there when they arrived. Boss Sun couldn’t have found an opportunity to tamper with the food on-site. But maybe on the way over?

“Did anything unusual happen on your way here?”

The wife suddenly remembered. “Yes, yes, yes! On our way here, we accidentally bumped into a pickup truck. Several people got out. But there was no real scratch on either vehicle, so it ended there. Could it be you… “

Boss Sun struggled to break free from Fu Huan’s grip. “Don’t make baseless accusations! You need evidence! You’re slandering me!”

Boss Wang looked at his discolored rice, his face full of heartache. Being in the same trade, he could tell at a glance. He said angrily, “Boss Sun, I have never offended you. Why would you do this to me!”

Zhang Zhi held up his phone. “I’m calling the police. An investigation will show if you did anything or not.”

This area bordered several schools, and the student foot traffic was enormous. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that pie? Hearing that the police would be called, Boss Sun became even more agitated.

Liang Qi added weight to the consequences. “Call the police, definitely. If any students who bought the fried rice get seriously ill, the first person they’ll look for is Boss Wang.”

That was precisely what Boss Sun had been counting on. If Boss Wang’s fried rice caused problems, the man would have to pack up and leave.

“Let me go! How dare you slander people! Just because you got into a good university, you think you’re so great?” Boss Sun began to make a scene, shouting loudly. “Help! Help! Come look! Prestigious university students bullying an honest citizen! Framing a good man for no reason!”

Students were already lining up for food. Aside from those at the very back of the line, the ones near the front had heard the whole story. Everyone chose to wait and see the outcome.

The police station was nearby. Within minutes, two officers arrived—one of them being Officer Cheng, whom they’d met once before.

After Officer Cheng and his colleague heard the full account, they had Boss Wang temporarily shut down his stall.

Officer Cheng spotted Gu Shiying and Fu Huan, finding them familiar. “Didn’t recognize you at first. It’s Student Gu and Student Fu.”

Gu Shiying: “Officer Cheng, good evening.”

Boss Sun was still yelling over there. “Officers, you have to get justice for me! These student punks are bullying me, slandering my good name!”

Though Officer Cheng was young, he dealt with all sorts of bizarre reports daily. He was long accustomed to blustering characters like Boss Sun.

Officer Cheng put him into the police car. “We were just about to award these two a Good Samaritan award, you know.”

Boss Sun: “Huh?”

Officer Cheng: “No joke, it’s true. See the injury on that kid’s hand? From saving someone. Not even fully healed yet.”

Boss Sun: “…”

This time, Gu Shiying and Fu Huan didn’t need to go give statements. Boss Wang and his wife took their stall to the police station.

This incident had disrupted Gu Shiying’s group’s plans entirely.

Liang Qi was starting to think Gu Shiying’s constitution was something special; he always ran into the weirdest situations.

“Gu Shiying, you’ve got sharp eyes. How did you even spot that guy was trouble?”

Gu Shiying embellished a bit about Boss Sun. “I just noticed him acting all shifty, staring at the stall.”

Zhang Zhi, a true bro, unintentionally changed the subject. “Our Ying’er has a keen eye. So, what brings you guys here?”

Liang Qi gestured toward Fu Huan. “He was hungry, dragged me out for a late-night snack. What are you guys up to? Let’s eat together.”

Zhang Zhi was a natural social butterfly. After a whole evening of filming, he was tired and just had a run-in with something unsavory.

He clutched his chest dramatically. “Yes, yes, yes. Our pure, innocent student world has been tainted. We need a late-night snack to purify our souls.”

Gu Shiying saw Fu Huan’s questioning look and explained. “Collecting some material for an assignment. You saw the rest.”

Fu Huan: “Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Gu Shiying remembered the only girl in their group. “Zhihan, are you coming?”

Du Zhihan smiled. “Sure.”

Only then did Fu Huan notice the girl who’d been standing to the side the whole time. His eyes darkened slightly. He remembered this girl. She’d been in the same swimming class with Gu Shiying that week.

The BBQ stall was blazing hot, tables spilling out onto the sidewalk. They chose to sit outside.

Liang Qi: “Eating BBQ outside is the only way it tastes right.”

He deliberately left the seat next to Gu Shiying for Fu Huan, creating an opportunity for his buddy.

Zhang Zhi, completely clueless, happily ordered skewers.

The table was square. Five people meant sitting close together, on plastic stools at that.

The food arrived quickly. To make room for the dishes, Liang Qi said to Fu Huan, “Scoot over toward Gu Shiying a bit.”

Gu Shiying was forced to sit practically pressed against Fu Huan. The weather was hot, and he was wearing shorts that ended at the knee. Sitting down, the hem rode up automatically.

Fu Huan had probably just come from playing basketball. His bent knee touched Gu Shiying’s bare knee without any warning.

Amid the noisy chatter, Gu Shiying’s mind clearly registered Fu Huan’s current state of mind.

There it was again.

【Gu Shiying, Gu Shiying, Gu Shiying.】

【Don’t look at other girls. Look at me more.】

Gu Shiying hurriedly shifted his knee away. “…”

The inner voice was less explicit this time, almost polite, but did it have to chant his name over and over? It felt like a constant, undying confession.

Fu Huan really knew how to give him a headache.

Fu Huan asked Gu Shiying, “Do you want some of this?”

He’d felt a tiny thrill at the brief contact with Gu Shiying’s leg. The more he interacted with Gu Shiying, the more his desire deepened. He wanted to have Gu Shiying, the person. His obsession was expanding boundlessly. Maybe Liang Qi was right. He needed to let Gu Shiying know he liked him. He had to make a move. Or perhaps he shouldn’t have indulged himself in getting close to Gu Shiying at all. He was torn—longing for Gu Shiying on one hand, yet unwilling to shatter their current balance.

Wasn’t it enough just being roommates? He could see him every day.

Gu Shiying looked at the freshly grilled, aromatic eggplant. “Yes.”

He could pretend Fu Huan’s inner voice didn’t exist, but good food was non-negotiable.

He ate with such enjoyment that his eyes squinted shut.

Fu Huan asked him periodically if he wanted something. “Lamb skewers?”

Gu Shiying: “Yeah, these are great too. This place’s lamb skewers are their signature.”

Fu Huan: “Let’s add another ten skewers, then. And some more veggies, for nutritional balance.”

Zhang Zhi: “Yeah, yeah, yeah! I want chives!”

Liang Qi suddenly laughed and looked at Fu Huan. “Let’s go with green beans instead.” He was worried some people wouldn’t handle the potency of chives.

Fu Huan caught Liang Qi’s implication. “…”

Gu Shiying, remembering his previous acute gastroenteritis ordeal, watched as Fu Huan proactively ordered this time, ensuring half the BBQ only had a touch of spice, using the excuse of being considerate toward the girl.

Du Zhihan was too embarrassed to tell them she was actually a heavy-spice enthusiast.

These guys all looked tall and handsome, but they were completely unable to match her palate. So weak.

The late-night snack lasted over an hour. It was close to 10 PM by the time they headed back to campus. Zhang Zhi once again played the gallant escort, walking Du Zhihan back to her dorm.

Liang Qi made an excuse about needing something from the 24-hour campus convenience store, which happened to be in the opposite direction from the male dorms.

Thus, only Fu Huan and Gu Shiying remained on the path back to the dorm.

Gu Shiying felt inexplicably awkward, uncomfortable all over. His pace quickened. The moment he thought about the countless thoughts probably running through Fu Huan’s head right now, he felt even more at a loss.

But Fu Huan had long legs. No matter how fast Gu Shiying walked, he kept up. Only when Gu Shiying was practically about to break into a jog did Fu Huan notice something was wrong.

Fu Huan: “Is your stomach acting up again?”

Gu Shiying’s mind was on a completely different track. “Huh?”

Fu Huan: “Why else are you running so fast? Isn’t it to get back to the bathroom?”

Gu Shiying scratched his arm. This excuse was perfect. “Yeah, my stomach is a bit upset. Probably ate something too spicy.”

Fu Huan’s gaze lazily flicked to his stomach. “Then don’t order spicy or iced stuff next time. Your stomach is too easily upset.”

Gu Shiying retorted, “My stomach just hasn’t fully recovered yet. Once it is, I could handle ghost-pepper level spice.”

Fu Huan: “Mm.” He didn’t believe him.

Gu Shiying: “…” Like I’m eating with you next time either.

Once they got back to the dorm, Gu Shiying had to follow through on the act and spent a few minutes in the bathroom.

Yang Shuheng was very busy lately, taking private dance lessons off campus. Guan Yu was still at the library preparing for the bar exam.

Gu Shiying thought about the gift he still hadn’t given.

Remembering Fu Huan’s inner voice, he didn’t really want to give it. But Fu Huan had helped him out again tonight.

Gu Shiying wrestled with his thoughts, and finally steeled his heart. He decided he had to give it. One thing at a time.

Fu Huan was leaning back in his chair, long legs stretched out, replying to messages.

Gu Shiying took the gift out of the pink box and walked over to him.

“Fu Huan, I keep troubling you lately. Here’s a little gift.”

Fu Huan’s hand holding the phone stopped. The look he directed at Gu Shiying lost its focus.

He froze.