“Let’s go.” Fu Zheng tossed the bagel aside and said expressionlessly to Tao Zhi.
“Oh!” Tao Zhi swallowed the sandwich with effort.
Seemed Fu Zheng wanted him in his car.
Maybe something to discuss later.
Realizing this, Tao Zhi hurried after Fu Zheng, not forgetting to bid Fu Si Heng goodbye. “See you later, Brother Fu.”
Fu Si Heng hummed.
…
So damn annoying.
Fu Zheng quickened his pace, slamming the car door loudly when boarding.
Tao Zhi puzzled over his behavior but didn’t ask.
He had no time for Fu Zheng now.
He’d eaten too fast and choked. After Fu Zheng opened the door, he got in the passenger seat, grabbed a water bottle from the car, and washed it down.
Finally alive.
Tao Zhi exhaled long, leaned back, and obediently buckled up.
They left first.
As the car hit the road, Tao Zhi saw Wei Yu and the others through the window.
He turned back and glanced at Fu Zheng.
Fu Zheng’s mood was low. Tao Zhi didn’t want to provoke him and stayed silent.
After nearly five minutes of silence, Fu Zheng cracked first.
He spoke stiffly. “Where were you yesterday?”
“Huh?” Tao Zhi looked up.
“Last night? You told me to find Fu Si Heng; I was with him the whole time.”
“…”
Fu Zheng’s grip on the wheel tightened, face blank. “I’m asking where you two went.”
After Tao Zhi left last night, Fu Zheng grew more irritated the more he thought. He finally convinced himself to check if Tao Zhi was obediently slacking, but couldn’t find him anywhere.
Fine, couldn’t find him. But he couldn’t find Fu Si Heng either.
What were those two doing?
Fu Zheng fumed all night sleepless, felt lame hunting for Tao Zhi, and held it in until now.
His fingers gripped the wheel like he wanted to rip it off.
“You’re slacking, aren’t you?” What came out differed from what he thought. “Saying you’ll obey me, but hiding in your room doing nothing, pretending not to hear the knocks.”
“No!”
Such a big accusation!
Tao Zhi couldn’t take it and denied quickly. “I’m not that kind of person! I worked hard. I went to the hot springs with Fu Si Heng.”
“?!”
“What!?” Fu Zheng shocked, turning to look!
“You—!”
“Watch the road!” Tao Zhi nearly died of fright.
“Explain properly.” Fu Zheng gritted his teeth, about to explode.
“Don’t get worked up. Hear me out slowly. I didn’t expose myself,” Tao Zhi explained the key point first. “Yesterday, Fu Si Heng did take me to the hot springs, but we didn’t soak together. He waited outside while I soaked inside. Don’t worry, I wasn’t exposed.”
Tao Zhi emphasized the last part to bolster himself.
Fu Zheng wasn’t entirely wrong.
He hadn’t been with Fu Si Heng long yesterday, let alone seduced him. Strictly, alone time was just the walks, under half an hour. Suspicion of slacking… was fair.
“I’ll work hard today!” Tao Zhi pledged loyalty immediately after.
Fu Zheng: “…”
Fu Zheng soothed his nearly exploding heart.
Nearly scared to death by Tao Zhi.
“Why not tell me if you wanted hot springs?” Calmer, he was even more annoyed. “So playful?”
Couldn’t wait one night?
“Not playful; your brother suggested it.” Tao Zhi defended. “Fu Zheng, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad,” Fu Zheng denied.
“Oh.” Tao Zhi nodded obediently.
“Besides hot springs, what else?” Fu Zheng continued interrogating.
Tao Zhi thought.
…Thought.
Drew a blank.
He felt guilty for a second.
Wracked his brains. “We chatted.”
No lie; they talked a bit.
“Then we agreed to… oh right, Fu Zheng, don’t I need ski clothes?”
Tao Zhi wasn’t the pure freshman anymore.
After months sparring with Fu Zheng, he had his little tricks.
Casually shift topics, dodge tough questions.
Not sophisticated.
Fu Zheng just didn’t bother nitpicking.
“Do I need to tell you? I prepared them ages ago,” Fu Zheng snorted, feeling belittled by the fool.
He tried steering back, but Tao Zhi cut him off.
“Wow.” Tao Zhi latched on.
Eyes wide and sparkling. “Fu Zheng, you’re so nice.”
“You’re the world’s best roommate, thinking of everything. Thanks so much.”
Fu Zheng: “…”
“Quit bootlicking.” Fu Zheng wasn’t buying it.
Especially that tone; it felt off, irritating.
Who knew if he acted this way with Fu Si Heng?
Annoying as hell.
“Oh.” Tao Zhi behaved again.
Fu Zheng glanced at him.
“Change into the ski clothes before getting out.” Ultimately, Fu Zheng let it go, following Tao Zhi’s lead, dropping last night.
“Okay.” Tao Zhi looked back. “In the car?”
“Or the hotel ladies’ changing room?” Fu Zheng deadpanned.
Ha, haha.
Right.
Forgot.
Tao Zhi sheepishly touched his ear. “Got it.”
Fu Zheng scoffed coldly.
Couldn’t stand this idiot.
Done talking, Fu Zheng drove silently to the ski resort.
Upon arrival, he got out, telling Tao Zhi to change in the car.
Purple-pink ski suit plus quick-dry layers. Tao Zhi changed, pressing his wig under the hat before exiting.
Ensured all good, he opened the door.
Fu Zheng stood nearby with skis, waiting. Tao Zhi joined.
About ten minutes later, the others arrived.
Gathering, he greeted most politely: Brother Wei Yu, Sister Xinyuan, Brother Gu, Brother Xie, Sister Shao, Sister Shu, finally Brother Fu.
Calling Fu Si Heng, he pitched his voice soft and sweet, like little sweet cake.
Fu Zheng turned away.
“The clothes suit you,” Fu Si Heng said, eyes down on Tao Zhi.
Tao Zhi smiled at him.
Brightly, eyes crescent moons.
Fu Si Heng wore ski gear too.
Deep blue jacket sharpened his shoulders, tall and straight. Unlike usual suits, it made him seem younger, more approachable.
