Chapter 32: Don’t Misunderstand

A University had several sports complexes, including multiple swimming pools.

The pool they normally used for class was the closest to the dorms. Students flocked there, so in the evenings, it was packed like a dumpling pot.

Gu Shiying chose the pool farthest from the dorms. Fewer people there.

This was the first time Gu Shiying had actively sought out Fu Huan since hearing his inner thoughts.

Honestly, if he ignored Fu Huan’s internal monologue, he didn’t actually mind his company. Strip away those thoughts, and Fu Huan was a really decent guy.

But for some reason, seeing that video of Fu Huan and Lin Zijing sitting together today—that strong urge he’d previously felt for Fu Huan to find a new boyfriend had seemed to fade.

Had he unconsciously started to see Fu Huan as a friend?

Not wanting a friend to recklessly get involved in some ambiguous thing was pretty normal.

Yeah, that must be it. Fu Huan had helped him so many times; they’d gone back and forth, and they were roommates, seeing each other every day. Naturally, he’d feel some kind of friendly concern for Fu Huan.

Having rationalized it to himself, Gu Shiying viewed his proactive invitation to Fu Huan for swimming lessons under a completely new light.

From this point on, he and Fu Huan were friends.

Fu Huan handed the swim trunks over to Gu Shiying.

The moment he’d mentally cemented the “we are friends now” concept, he saw his swim trunks delivered in a pristinely folded package inside a high-end brand’s paper bag.

Gu Shiying, always blunt with friends, didn’t hold back: “Was it really necessary to wrap them like that? They cost, like, maybe sixty kuai, and I got them on sale.”

Fu Huan realized he might have gone slightly overboard. He had a justification ready.

Fu Huan: “I’m just used to wrapping things properly.”

Gu Shiying saw right through him. “You don’t fold your own underwear into perfect tofu blocks.”

A flush crept onto Fu Huan’s ears. Gu Shiying knew Fu Huan had thoughts about him, but he hadn’t expected his swim trunks to be treated with such… reverence.

It wasn’t bad, exactly. Just too much. Did Fu Huan treasure his belongings that excessively?

The reddening ears didn’t stop Fu Huan from maintaining his cool facade and changing the subject.

He quickly turned and stripped off his shirt and pants.

Back in the dorm, before his last class, he’d had to take several deep breaths just to dare open Gu Shiying’s closet.

Even though his mind had long entertained thoughts about Gu Shiying, without explicit permission, he had never—like some creep—touched his personal belongings.

His thoughts might run wild like unbridled horses, but his actual actions had been strictly zero.

He just wanted to pursue Gu Shiying step-by-step, properly.

“Hurry up and change,” he said, and then he was off to the shower area to wet himself down before entering the pool, water droplets clinging to his body.

Gu Shiying stood in front of his locker, brows and eyes curving into a smile.

He’d finally found Fu Huan’s weakness.

Was Fu Huan… shy?

So Fu Huan was actually this amusing. He’d always assumed Fu Huan was unfazed by anything—after all, his inner thoughts were so wildly complex, yet he’d never shown a flicker of it outwardly.

Without him even realizing, he seemed to have gotten closer to Fu Huan.

Gu Shiying changed into his trunks and went out to find Fu Huan.

Fu Huan was already waiting, seated at the pool’s edge. Gu Shiying did a quick warm-up before slipping into the water.

He’d gone from resisting the pool a hundred different ways to this: seeing Fu Huan standing in the water, all his previous fear and resistance just… vanished.

Following Fu Huan’s previous instructions, Gu Shiying swam meticulously.

Fu Huan stayed right beside him the whole time, escorting him like a lifeguard. He didn’t slack off and climb out just because Gu Shiying “knew the basics” now. He was utterly dedicated.

After nearly an hour of practice, with body heat dissipating and muscles cooling, they both got out.

Gu Shiying’s usual exercise routine was laughable. During P.E., he’d sneak in a bit of slacking here and there. Nothing like today’s session—so many laps, swam so earnestly.

Climbing out, he felt like his arms were on the verge of detaching from his body.

Fu Huan had been remarkably restrained today. Not a single bit of skin contact. Gu Shiying hadn’t heard any inner thoughts, which was a relief.

This was how they could safely be friends instead. Wasn’t this so much more comfortable?

During practice, whenever Gu Shiying paused to rest, Fu Huan would stop too.

Curious, Gu Shiying asked, “How many strokes do you actually know?”

Fu Huan: “All of them. Want to see?”

Gu Shiying: “Show me. I’ve only seen you do breaststroke and freestyle.”

Fu Huan: “Alright. Which one first? I’ll swim a lap.”

Gu Shiying: “Butterfly? Butterfly’s supposed to be hard to learn, right? And looks exhausting.”

Looking at him, Fu Huan said, “Not tired.”

He climbed onto the side, then dove in from above. His tall frame sliced into the water with a silken entry, as smooth as a fish. In that moment, Gu Shiying’s heart skipped a beat: Fu Huan was genuinely, devastatingly handsome. It wasn’t just pure appreciation—there was a strange, unidentifiable quickening of his pulse.

So damn handsome.

Fu Huan swam a lap of breaststroke, then switched to backstroke for another, then breaststroke again, and finally finished with a swift freestyle glide right back to Gu Shiying.

Splash.

He surfaced abruptly right in front of Gu Shiying. Even wearing a swim cap did nothing to diminish his looks.

He was very close. Water splashed all over Gu Shiying’s face.

Gu Shiying wiped his face. “You did that on purpose.”

Fu Huan laughed outright. “Yeah. I did. What other stroke do you want to see?”

Gu Shiying thought for a moment. “Doggy paddle?”

Fu Huan: “Don’t know it.” That would utterly destroy the image he’d curated in front of Gu Shiying. “You’ve been swimming a while; you’re probably getting cold. Let’s head back.”

Gu Shiying: “You’re changing the subject.”

With a laugh, Fu Huan pushed himself up and out of the pool. “Really don’t know it.”

Gu Shiying muttered under his breath, “One day I’ll make you do it.”

They both emerged from the water.

Gu Shiying was genuinely pleased with his practice progress.

In high spirits, he asked the dripping Fu Huan beside him, “The canteen’s probably out of anything decent by now. Wanna grab food outside? My treat.”

Fu Huan nodded. “Sure.”

Just as they were heading toward the changing rooms, a group of male students came walking out.

Gu Shiying was about to pass through their midst when a voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Fu Huan, you swim too?”

Gu Shiying looked up and recognized the speaker immediately.

Lin Zijing?

Weren’t he and Fu Huan in some ambiguous phase?

Was it bad that he and Fu Huan were seen coming out together?

He turned to look at Fu Huan, expecting him to be looking at Lin Zijing. Instead, his own gaze met Fu Huan’s.

Fu Huan merely nodded casually at Lin Zijing, then grasped Gu Shiying’s arm and pulled him closer, guiding him past the oncoming group.

“Watch your step.”

With only swim trunks between them, Fu Huan’s grip meant direct skin contact.

He’d thought he would get through today safely, without hearing any of Fu Huan’s inner thoughts.

Clearly, that was wishful thinking. How could a last-minute encounter like this not trigger something?

[If only I could undress him myself.]

Gu Shiying couldn’t even register what Lin Zijing was saying to Fu Huan. His brain was filled with buzzing static.

Undress what?

Fu Huan, explain yourself! What do you mean “undress”!

His face flushed slightly. How could he not know what Fu Huan’s inner thought was implying? Connecting the before and after made it all too clear.

Could this friendship even work?

No, wait. Fu Huan had never planned on just being friends. His mind was on that track, constantly, non-stop.

When Gu Shiying snapped back to reality, he only caught Lin Zijing telling Fu Huan they should swim together sometime.

Without a word, Gu Shiying went in to shower.

He still had to go out to dinner with Fu Huan afterward. He regretted it now. Fu Huan wouldn’t be cured by a hundred bowls of herbal “straightening” medicine!

Fu Huan could sense the shift in Gu Shiying’s mood from the pool to the changing room.

In the pool, he’d been joking around with him. Out here, he’d suddenly gone quiet, not a single word.

Fu Huan: “Why’re you unhappy?”

Gu Shiying: “I’m not unhappy. Just a bit tired.”

Fu Huan could see his emotions written all over his face. He ventured carefully, “I’m not going to go swimming with Lin Zijing.”

Gu Shiying: “What?”

Fu Huan: “I’m only your swimming partner. I won’t go with anyone else. Don’t be mad.”

Gu Shiying: “I’m not mad.”

Wait. Was this even different from a confession?

Forget it. Whether Fu Huan confessed or not didn’t matter anymore. Could those words ever shock him more than the things he’d already heard in his mind?

Fu Huan: “But your cheeks are all puffed up. Angry like a pufferfish.”

Gu Shiying poked his own cheek, then glared at him. “You’re the pufferfish. And you can swim with whoever you want—they’re your friends too.”

Fu Huan clarified, “Lin Zijing is not a friend.”

Gu Shiying recalled that Lin Zijing was gay. “So, an ambiguous fling, then.”

Fu Huan looked at him with utter seriousness. “Absolutely not. I will not have any relationship with him. Not now, not ever. Gu Shiying, I have someone I like. I won’t like Lin Zijing.”

The focused intensity in Fu Huan’s expression made Gu Shiying’s heart beat a little faster. He really was tired from swimming today.

“Uh, about that. You don’t really have to tell me all this.”

Fu Huan countered, “I can tell you. Don’t misunderstand my relationship with Lin Zijing.”

Gu Shiying: “Oh. Then I won’t misunderstand.”

This added another layer to his understanding of Fu Huan: honest and direct. Whoever dated him would definitely be happy. He wouldn’t let his partner overthink—everything was laid out clear and plain.

“Tonight’s on me. What do you want to eat?” Gu Shiying tucked Fu Huan’s feelings for him back into a corner of his mind.

Fu Huan: “Up to you. I’m fine with anything.”

Gu Shiying: “But I’m treating—it should be what you want.”

Fu Huan: “Then Sichuan food.”

Gu Shiying: “…” Wasn’t that still catering to his taste?

Fine.

They went into a Sichuan restaurant. Gu Shiying handed the menu to Fu Huan. “You order.”

Fu Huan immediately picked two of Gu Shiying’s favorite spicy dishes. Gu Shiying was speechless, then proceeded to order a non-spicy dish for Fu Huan. When placing the order through the app, he simply noted “mild” for everything. They could both eat that.

Over the next several days, Gu Shiying and Fu Huan were practically inseparable. Fu Huan accompanied him for swimming practice. Gu Shiying’s progress was astonishing, and within days, he could swim multiple laps on his own. Fu Huan even taught him how to tread water. The only regret was that Gu Shiying still hadn’t managed to witness Fu Huan’s doggy paddle.

At this point, the man was shockingly principled.

Saturday rolled around, and Gu Shiying luxuriated in a glorious lie-in. Just as he woke, a message popped up from an unfamiliar contact on WeChat.

[Dear lifesaver, hello. I’m He Zexuan. Could I add you on WeChat?]

Gu Shiying thought for a moment—the man he’d saved at the KTV. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the friend request.

Some polite back-and-forth ensued. He Zexuan then expressed a wish to treat him to a meal as thanks for saving his life. He was exceptionally smooth with words, the kind of person who could deliver compliment after compliment without ever making you feel uncomfortable. He Zexuan was likely quite a talent.

Figuring he had nothing else scheduled on Saturday besides studying, Gu Shiying agreed.

He Zexuan asked if he liked Western food. Gu Shiying said that was fine. After several days of Fu Huan taking him to various delicious spots after swimming, a change of pace with something lighter would be nice.

Just as he was about to head out, Fu Huan walked into the dorm.

He saw Gu Shiying fully dressed, even carefully styling his hair in the mirror. His brows furrowed deeply.

His voice laced with jealousy, he asked, “Where are you going?”

Gu Shiying: “Remember that guy we saved at the KTV? He wants to treat me to a meal, to say thanks.”

Fu Huan: “He’s treating just you?”

Gu Shiying: “Yeah. Said he wants to thank me for saving his life.”

Fu Huan frowned. “Can you not go? You don’t even know him.”

Gu Shiying: “But I already said yes. Wouldn’t it be rude to cancel last-minute?”

Fu Huan paused, thinking. “Fine. Go, then. Be careful.”

Gu Shiying figured he could read the guy’s inner thoughts anyway. Shouldn’t be a problem.

“Got it. I’m off.”

Fu Huan watched him leave, utterly carefree, and felt a headache blooming.

He remembered the people in that private room. Some were in the same social circle as him and Liang Qi. And that man—Liang Qi had mentioned seeing him entangled with some guy at a banquet.

He Zexuan showing up in their private room probably wasn’t a coincidence. He Zexuan was, just like him, gay.

After Gu Shiying went downstairs, Fu Huan grabbed his car keys and followed.