“It doesn’t count. It was just our first meeting.”
“And… don’t look at me like that.” Tao Zhi added shyly.
Any more and he’d cover Fu Si Heng’s eyes.
Big bad guy.
“Oh, alright.” Fu Si Heng didn’t argue, just latched onto the loophole in Tao Zhi’s words: “Then mid-November. That’s only a month and a half from our anniversary.”
Tao Zhi: “?”
Huh?
Now it was November?
Tao Zhi was confused again: “Why…”
“Because that night in mid-November, you were trying to seduce me,” Fu Si Heng said with his own logic. “No matter the reason, you were seducing me, right?”
“If you were seducing me, that means you liked me too. We can count it from then.”
Tao Zhi: “………………”
Tao Zhi’s silence was deafening.
Fu Si Heng: “Hm?”
“That didn’t happen. Don’t make stuff up,” Tao Zhi denied Fu Si Heng’s claim again.
Fu Si Heng raised a brow.
He looked like he was thinking—
“New Year’s doesn’t count either.” This time, before Fu Si Heng could speak, Tao Zhi preempted him.
Fu Si Heng chuckled: “So bossy. Why not?”
“…It just doesn’t.” Tao Zhi played stubborn.
“Hm?” His little expression was amusing, so Fu Si Heng deliberately said, “Why doesn’t it? I remember we confirmed our relationship then, right?”
“When you left the AV room, you admitted you were my girlfriend.”
The words “girlfriend” made Tao Zhi’s toes curl: “That was just pretending. It doesn’t count for real.”
“So bossy.” Despite saying it was bossy, Fu Si Heng looked quite pleased.
No matter what Tao Zhi did, he had a cuteness filter in Fu Si Heng’s eyes.
Being stubborn and unreasonable was too.
Fu Si Heng smiled: “Baby, you’re getting bossier.”
“…I am bossy.” Tao Zhi said softly.
Then he suddenly raised his voice: “It can only count from May Day.”
From May Day, that night in the little park, which meant…
“Six months.” Tao Zhi told him seriously. “We’ve been together for half a year.”
“No couple moves in together after half a year.”
“Tsk.” His scheme was ruthlessly seen through.
How had he gotten so smart?
Fu Si Heng felt both satisfied and frustrated, so he simply stood up.
But Tao Zhi anticipated Fu Si Heng’s intentions.
The moment he moved, Tao Zhi bolted.
He even took his blocks with him.
Under Fu Si Heng’s stunned gaze, he vanished in a flash, leaving Fu Si Heng shut out of the guest room.
Fu Si Heng: “…”
Really.
He had gotten so much smarter.
–
But being young meant less experience.
Fu Si Heng coaxed him for an hour until he came out.
They bickered the entire afternoon after that.
Though he didn’t secure cohabitation, there was another gain.
Tao Zhi no longer restricted Fu Si Heng from visiting during the week.
It was a slight loosening.
However, Tao Zhi didn’t want Fu Si Heng running to his school every few days—occasionally was fine, but not frequently.
He was mainly worried about the hassle of back-and-forth for Fu Si Heng, and secondarily, he didn’t have that much time to always be together.
After resolving his financial crisis, Tao Zhi’s life had become relatively idle.
But only compared to the start of university.
In reality, he had many things of his own to do: classes, homework, research group, clubs, and part-time jobs.
During the week, it was mainly DMing for murder mystery games.
He had stumbled into the gig completely by accident.
During summer break, Fu Si Heng took him on a beach vacation with Wei Yu and a few of his friends. They wanted to play murder mystery but couldn’t find a DM.
Tao Zhi was a bit eager to try.
Shen Xinyuan saw his interest and taught him for a bit. Tao Zhi picked it up quickly and played with Wei Yu and the others for days, handling everything from murder mysteries to turtle soup with ease.
After the vacation, Tao Zhi’s money-making instincts kicked in, and he started looking for part-time DM gigs.
DMing plus occasional NPC roles paid about 200 yuan per group, and he could book in advance—perfect for a university student like him.
Plus, Tao Zhi was skilled and had a friendly, cute face, so many people preferred him. Once he got experienced, some even waited specifically for his availability.
Tao Zhi was thrilled and stuck with the part-time job.
Today’s group were regulars.
After over four hours of play, he got a message from Fu Si Heng midway.
Fu Si Heng knew he was at the shop. He happened to be out in the afternoon and, on his way back, passed by and asked if he should pick Tao Zhi up to school and grab dinner together.
Tao Zhi thought about it.
A new grilled fish place had opened near school and was supposed to be great. Perfect to go with Fu Si Heng.
He agreed, quickly replied okay, and continued working.
The session ended after over four hours, around eight at night. The college students were discussing where to eat.
Tao Zhi packed up the table to leave when a guy on the sofa suddenly called his name.
Tao Zhi turned: “Yeah?”
“Wanna grab food together?” the guy invited him.
Tao Zhi remembered him well.
A guy from the environmental science department at the neighboring school, a year ahead, a regular customer since summer. He’d booked several times, always requesting him.
They were familiar.
He looked prim and proper.
But Tao Zhi hadn’t memorized his name.
“Thanks, but I have plans tonight. Sorry. You guys go ahead.” Tao Zhi refused, notebook in hand, and left the room.
After packing everything, he went to the bathroom, washed his hands, then checked his phone.
Fu Si Heng had arrived an hour ago and had been waiting outside.
Tao Zhi hurried out and bumped into the guy from earlier in the hallway.
“Tao Zhi.” He seemed to have been waiting specifically.
When he appeared, the guy straightened up to greet him, looking a bit nervous.
“What’s up?” Tao Zhi glanced around. No sign of his group in the hallway; their room was open, front desk cleaning, empty inside.
Tao Zhi was puzzled and asked, “Anything else?”
“Nothing major. Just wondering if you need a ride back to school. I booked a car with space, and it’s on the way.”