Chapter 12: The Phone Call Part 1

Tao Zhi received another message from Fu Si Heng while he was still in class.

It was 16:55, during the second afternoon class.

About an hour had passed since the last message.

The previous one had been Fu Si Heng telling him that the clothes had already been sent over and would arrive at the school in about half an hour, so Tao Zhi should pick them up from the gatekeeper when he had time.

Tao Zhi had been in class at that time too.

He replied with an “okay,” but then felt it seemed a bit curt, so he added a little bunny nodding emoji. Fu Si Heng quickly responded with a “mm.”

Unexpectedly, before class even ended, another message arrived.

Tao Zhi’s phone lay on the desk, pinned under one side of his book. When the screen lit up, he first glanced at the teacher on the podium before picking it up.

Fu Si Heng: [Did you get the clothes?]

Tao Zhi blinked.

Huh? So eager?

Tao Zhi felt a bit puzzled.

But then he thought, the clothes Fu Si Heng sent were probably all very expensive. To avoid losing them, it made sense to pick them up early.

Yeah, that must be it.

Good thing someone had already fetched them for him.

Otherwise, if something got lost, it would be a hassle.

Tao Zhi automatically filled in the logic and earnestly typed back: [Brother Fu, I had a classmate pick them up for me.]

Tao Zhi: [[Little bunny spinning.jpg]]

Tao Zhi had a ton of little bunny emojis, shared with him by his sister.

Whenever he felt his words sounded dry and perfunctory, adding an emoji made the tone completely different.

Very friendly.

But Fu Si Heng replied: […]

Tao Zhi: “?”

What did the ellipsis mean?

Just as Tao Zhi wanted to ask, Fu Si Heng withdrew it.

The next message followed: [Oh.]

Tao Zhi scratched his head.

He didn’t get it, but this probably meant the chat was over, right?

After all, how was he supposed to reply to an “oh”?

So Tao Zhi set his phone down and dove back into the ocean of knowledge, focusing on the lecture.

This time, it lasted ten minutes.

Ten minutes later, the phone pinned under his textbook lit up again. Tao Zhi startled slightly and glanced sideways.

On the locked screen, it clearly displayed [Message from Fu Si Heng.]

…Huh?

With puzzlement, Tao Zhi tapped it open again.

Fu Si Heng: [These skirts should look great on you.]

Ah.

Really?

Tao Zhi hadn’t really paid close attention to how he looked in women’s clothes.

The only time was in Rong Huai’s shop, after doing his makeup, when he glanced in the mirror.

He had just felt awkward and shy back then, without really looking properly.

But he was always an honest, straightforward guy.

Little Cute Bunny: [Not sure.]

Little Cute Bunny: [Hope they fit when I try them on.]

Little Cute Bunny: [Brother Fu, I’m in class right now. I’ll check the clothes when I get back.]

Fu Si Heng: [Oh.]

Fu Si Heng: [I have a meeting to go to.]

Little Cute Bunny: [Mm-hmm ^v^]

Little Cute Bunny: [I’ll message you after class, okay?]

Attached was a little bunny winking emoji.

Very cute.

–

In the end, he didn’t message after class.

Because it was the chaotic six o’clock rush, with everyone hurrying to the cafeteria.

Tao Zhi wasn’t in a rush, but he worried about getting bumped, so he moved slowly.

Like a snail, he dawdled packing his things, waiting until most people had left before hugging his backpack and exiting the teaching building.

The first thing he did outside was call Fu Zheng to ask what they were having for dinner, if the private restaurant had delivered, and where to pick it up.

Fu Zheng: “…”

Hit right in the face the moment he picked up—he could no longer afford that private restaurant.

Damn.

Fu Zheng felt like he’d been slapped.

And the culprit was completely oblivious, keep asking: “Fu Zheng, did you hear me? Did you order food?”

“Or did you get takeout?”

“Where’s the takeout?”

Fu Zheng: “…”

Fu Zheng started fuming with embarrassment.

When had he ever been this broke? Tao Zhi was even stepping all over him—it was infuriating.

To Fu Zheng, Tao Zhi wasn’t a proper lackey at all. He never read the room; the more someone didn’t want to hear something, the more he poked at it.

And afterward, he’d look all innocent and bewildered, eyes misty, seeming pitiful.

…Kinda cute too.

Damn it.

Even like this, Fu Zheng couldn’t get mad at him. He just felt embarrassed, stewing in his own frustration.

Thinking of this, Fu Zheng gritted his teeth.

He felt Tao Zhi was going too far—

“Huh? Why’d you go quiet again?” The puzzled male voice came from the phone: “Hello? Fu Zheng, you there?”

“Fu Zheng? Fu Zheng?”

The rising flame was suddenly doused.

Caught off guard.

“…Yeah.”

Then came another silence.

Tao Zhi thought Fu Zheng was really weird.

If he weren’t his boss, Tao Zhi absolutely wouldn’t befriend him—just stay as casual dorm acquaintances.

He was too hard to deal with. Asking about dinner took forever, and Tao Zhi was getting hungry.

He rubbed his stomach.

“…What are you eating tonight?”

After a while, Tao Zhi finally heard Fu Zheng’s response.

At first, he didn’t notice anything off and honestly told him: “Cafeteria food, the No. 2 Canteen combo is pretty good.”

Tasty and cheap—ten bucks for one meat and two veggies.

“Oh, then bring me one too.” Fu Zheng coughed lightly, his tone awkward: “Whatever you eat, I’ll eat.”

“Sure… huh?” Tao Zhi agreed right away, then realized something was wrong after a few stunned seconds: “You’re eating cafeteria food?”

Fu Zheng: “…”

Fu Zheng took a deep breath: “Yeah.”

If Tao Zhi kept pressing with that oblivious tone—

“Oh.” Tao Zhi wasn’t picking up on Fu Zheng’s embarrassed anger; he just habitually agreed.

After half a month rooming together, he knew Fu Zheng’s orders just needed obeying—no need for questions.

Maybe the young master suddenly wanted to try commoner food. Tao Zhi rationalized it, said “got it,” and swiftly hung up.