Secretly retaliating against Fu Si Heng was the only proactive bad thing Tao Zhi had ever done in his life before turning 19.
He was genuinely a bit angry and felt that Fu Si Heng had gone too far.
Even though he knew full well that he had deceived Fu Si Heng too, and Fu Si Heng hadn’t held it against him and had even forgiven him. Out of reciprocity, he shouldn’t hold a grudge either.
But…
Even knowing that…
Tao Zhi tried to convince himself rationally.
Yet as soon as he looked up and saw Fu Si Heng’s face, his mind uncontrollably replayed the scenes of him being bullied, frame by frame, crystal clear.
Several times, out of fear of being exposed, he had taken the initiative to grab the man’s hand and place it on his behind.
There were just too many such scenes; Tao Zhi couldn’t even count them. As soon as he recalled them, shame overwhelmed him, curling up his hands and feet—he nearly clawed a double-level penthouse right there on the spot.
It was mortifying.
Moreover, he remembered how terrified and anxious he had been back then, while Fu Si Heng’s emotions were the complete opposite—he had been enjoying it.
Tao Zhi felt that Fu Si Heng was deliberately bullying him.
He hated it.
He must have thought it was fun.
He hadn’t even considered how frightened Tao Zhi had been, afraid of being discovered, afraid of getting beaten.
How could he do that?
And Fu Si Heng particularly loved teasing him by calling him a pure college girl.
He knew full well that Tao Zhi was a guy, yet he kept calling him a pure college girl, forcing him to blurt out nonsense like being a virgin and that they couldn’t do this or that… Aaaah.
Tallying up these offenses one by one, even the usually good-tempered Tao Zhi couldn’t hold it together anymore.
At first, he hadn’t even thought about revenge.
But he had noticed that every time he mentioned “straight guy,” Fu Si Heng’s usual calm and composed expression would flicker for a moment.
It was a complex change—stunned, helpless, defenses broken, panicked, all mixed together.
Tao Zhi had picked up on it, so afterward… he kept repeating the word.
Later, after leaving Fu Si Heng’s place and returning to his dorm, once his emotions had calmed a bit, he lay on his desk and reflected.
He probably shouldn’t have been so mean.
But Fu Si Heng was mean too; he deliberately bullied people.
But he had deceived Fu Si Heng as well.
Whatever, call it even.
They had already talked about it— no more of that from now on.
No one would find out.
That was what Tao Zhi had decided at the time, but when he saw Fu Si Heng again, he still couldn’t help it.
He wasn’t even angry anymore, but upon seeing Fu Si Heng, the words “straight guy” slipped out naturally, as if they had a memory of their own.
It was like throwing a little tantrum or voicing a grievance.
In his life, this was probably the only bad thing Tao Zhi had done on purpose: repeatedly emphasizing that he was a straight guy.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even really bad.
He wasn’t lying; he just said it a bit too often, hurting the feelings of certain old men, that’s all.
It was his little secret.
But now, it had been discovered by the person involved.
Upon hearing Fu Si Heng’s words, Tao Zhi was first shocked, then his eyelashes fluttered rapidly several times as his gaze darted away evasively. He stubbornly denied it: “No, Brother Fu, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He refused to admit it, and he was a little scared too.
Fu Si Heng looked at him. He had originally wanted to say he wasn’t a fool like Fu Zheng and could obviously see through it, and also ask how his little cute rabbit had learned to be naughty.
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but seeing Tao Zhi’s anxious and uneasy expression, he thought better of it and swallowed them all back down.
“Then you’re still mad,” Fu Si Heng said.
“No, I’m not.” Tao Zhi still wouldn’t admit it, stubbornly playing tough: “Brother Fu, I wasn’t retaliating, and I’m not mad.”
Fu Si Heng: “What’s so bad about admitting you’re mad? I wouldn’t hold it against you.”
“…” Would he really not?
Tao Zhi didn’t quite believe it, because Fu Si Heng was a bad guy. Just two days ago, Tao Zhi had truly gotten to know him and seen his wicked side. He felt like Fu Si Heng had come to make trouble for him today.
“You don’t believe me?” Fu Si Heng saw right through it again and asked: “Why not?”
“Because you always bully me.” This time, Tao Zhi didn’t play tough. He fell quiet for a moment, then lifted his face and quietly told Fu Si Heng.
Always.
That was a serious charge.
But thinking it over carefully, Tao Zhi’s accusation wasn’t wrong.
He had indeed bullied him a bit too much.
Fu Si Heng had reflected on it.
On the day Tao Zhi left, and again after he got home from the bar and showered off the alcohol smell.
“Then you can bully me back,” Fu Si Heng said. “You can do anything you want to me; I won’t resist.”
“Or, you can bully me first before I bully you.”
“You can give it a try.”
“…)?”
What? It was so convoluted; he couldn’t understand it, and he wouldn’t know how anyway.
Tao Zhi was inherently a kind, obedient, polite, and civilized college student.
He wouldn’t do embarrassing, shameful things on purpose like Fu Si Heng.
Tao Zhi fell silent again, head lowered, lost in thought.
Fu Si Heng stared at him for a while before taking the initiative to change the subject: “What are you photographing the cat for?”
“Making a stray cat archive.” Tao Zhi told him honestly, pursing his lips: “I’m still missing a photo of that big orange tabby. It’s rare to spot it. I just happened to run into it and was about to take a picture when you scared it off.”
“I see.” Fu Si Heng was surprised.
It seemed his resentment was real.
Tao Zhi usually appeared so obedient and understanding, looking compliant with no temper. If pushed too far, he’d at most sulk by himself for a bit before getting over it quickly.
Fu Si Heng had thought that’s what he liked about him—his cuteness and obedience, different from the young kids he’d seen before. But now, seeing him petty and refusing to be honest, Fu Si Heng discovered he liked this side too.
Guessing his feelings, coaxing him—it was equally interesting.
He liked it a lot.
And the more he looked, the more he liked it.
Though there was nothing off about Tao Zhi’s behavior, he actually looked like he’d puffed up into a blowfish, cheeks bulging on both sides—adorably so.
Fu Si Heng felt his unchanging life had been injected with vitality and vigor because of Tao Zhi’s presence.
