Fu Si Heng’s sudden appearance startled Tao Zhi.
His heart pounded rapidly. After being stunned for two seconds, Tao Zhi snapped back to his senses and immediately crumpled the note in his palm, feigning nonchalance as he lowered his eyes and replied to Fu Si Heng, “It’s just an ordinary little note…”
Worried that Fu Si Heng might not understand, Tao Zhi added, “You know, the kind you often get in the library.”
Fu Si Heng: “?”
Fu Si Heng didn’t know.
Although he had gone through his student days and visited the library during that time too,
No one in the library had ever dared to pass him a note.
Fu Si Heng had never received one.
But he understood what Tao Zhi meant to convey.
He was probably saying that the note contained something like “please be quiet.”
Tch.
This excuse was quite reasonable and fitting for the surroundings.
Unfortunately, Fu Si Heng didn’t buy it.
Tao Zhi’s fingers gripped the note tightly, clearly nervous. When he spoke, his eyelashes fluttered frequently, and his gaze darted away.
The flaws were all too obvious.
Tao Zhi was utterly incapable of lying.
Whenever he did something sneaky or tried to hide something, he exposed himself completely before anyone could catch him.
Silly.
Just like at the club that time.
Afraid others wouldn’t notice he had never worn a skirt before, he kept tugging it down, his eyes full of nervous tension.
So adorably clumsy.
It had always been like this.
Fu Si Heng had seen through what he wanted to hide back then, and he could do the same now.
He could even guess what the note really said.
Because the girl sitting across from Tao Zhi had been watching them.
No, watching Tao Zhi.
Her puzzled gaze mostly fell on him.
With such obvious oddity, Fu Si Heng had no reason not to notice. But he didn’t call Tao Zhi out on it.
Rationally, he didn’t think Tao Zhi was straight.
But emotionally, he didn’t want any potential accidents to happen.
Tao Zhi was currently in a phase of confusion and uncertainty, unsure if he liked men or women. His first reaction upon receiving what seemed like a love note—hiding it from him— at least showed he wanted to conceal it.
And concealment meant he cared.
If he were truly straight, he would have shared it with him right then.
“Hey, I actually got a note!”
Or perhaps felt surprised and asked what to do, seeking advice from his elder.
But he showed no such reaction.
So he had his own way of handling it.
Most likely, rejection.
Less likely, adding her secretly while hiding it from him—but that made no sense.
So the former was more logical.
Fu Si Heng thought.
In that case, better to pretend he didn’t know.
No need for extra actions.
In those brief dozen seconds, Fu Si Heng had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind and decided on the optimal response.
He responded indifferently, acting as if nothing was amiss—his performance far superior to Tao Zhi’s.
“Shall we go? It’s almost six.” Fu Si Heng’s fingers twirled a strand of Tao Zhi’s soft hair, suppressing the displeasure bubbling inside.
He understood, but it didn’t stop the jealousy.
How come he has romantic rivals of both genders?
“Mhm, mhm.” Tao Zhi nodded hurriedly, crumpling the note even tighter in his palm into a ball and tucking it away as he shoved his books and notebook into his bag.
Fu Si Heng helped him, then picked up his backpack.
Tao Zhi stood up as well.
While Fu Si Heng wasn’t looking, as he passed the girl, Tao Zhi quickly whispered an apology to her before hurriedly following Fu Si Heng out of the library.
“Sigh, so he already has a husband.” The girl, who had witnessed the whole scene, propped her cheeks on her hands while staring at their retreating backs.
What a letdown.
–
Tao Zhi had a cute type of appearance.
Slender and pure, dressed simply and cleanly, with a faint scent of laundry detergent on him.
His personality was great—patient, kind-hearted, with a beautiful smile that felt healing and gentle.
He was the very picture of a refreshing first love.
Boys like this were actually far more popular than tall, imposing, cold men like Fu Si Heng.
Fu Si Heng knew this well.
So, in school, receiving notes from girls was completely normal for him.
He hadn’t added her and even rejected her—job done, right?
…
But why was he still keeping the note?
Fu Si Heng glanced sideways at Tao Zhi.
Ever since he appeared in the library, Tao Zhi had kept the note clutched in his fist.
There were trash cans right outside the library, but he didn’t throw it away. He gripped it tightly, fist clenched, without loosening even now.
Fu Si Heng couldn’t understand why.
Tao Zhi himself was oblivious, walking quietly beside Fu Si Heng as if nothing had happened.
Relieved at not being discovered, Tao Zhi let out a breath.
But his mind couldn’t help circling back to the earlier nagging thought.
Why?
Do I really have no type I like?
That can’t be right.
Even without dating experience, one should have some vague idea in their heart.
Fu Si Heng did.
He had even said aloud before that he had strict preferences regarding age.
He didn’t, but just now in the library, while pondering, the image that popped into his mind was…
Thinking of it made Tao Zhi’s face flush with embarrassment.
He mentally chanted straight guy a few times, then subconsciously lifted his eyes.
Fu Si Heng was looking right at him.
Their gazes met suddenly—
Ding dong.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Tao Zhi snapped out of it, his eyelashes fluttering rapidly as he averted his eyes and pulled out his phone.
It was a message from Tao Tao asking if he was there.
Tao Zhi typed back quickly: 【Here, what’s up?】
He typed fast, head down.
His usually soft profile and eyes now furrowed slightly in concentration.
He looked… extremely busy.
As if he had some major matter to handle, too occupied to pay attention to Fu Si Heng.
