Chapter 33: Breakfast Part 1

He was utterly dumbfounded.

Tao Zhi was stunned for a moment, lost in thought as he stared blankly up at Fu Si Heng standing before him.

Fu Si Heng was tall, with pitch-black pupils, and his face showed no expression as he looked down at him.

The shadow cast by his body almost completely enveloped Tao Zhi.

This wordless, intensely oppressive scene made Tao Zhi swallow involuntarily, instinctively lowering his head to avoid eye contact.

It was terrifying.

He never imagined their reunion would unfold like this.

He was dressed in men’s clothing, yet he had almost used the pet name he often called out in women’s attire, nearly blowing his cover.

Tao Zhi pressed his lips together, his eyelashes trembling slightly as he desperately tried to gather his thoughts. He could clearly sense the scrutiny, probing, and faint doubt in Fu Si Heng’s gaze.

He must have noticed something off, which was why he stared like that.

T.T

How unlucky.

How could one person be this unlucky?

Tao Zhi felt like crying without tears.

“Mm?”

After a long silence, Fu Si Heng’s voice came from above. Tao Zhi finally had to face the situation head-on.

Luckily.

He wasn’t a complete idiot.

Tao Zhi quickly came up with a response.

He lifted his head and opened his mouth: “I…”

The moment their gazes met, Tao Zhi instinctively shrank back, stuffing the exposed half of his face into his scarf, leaving only a pair of beautiful, slightly timid eyes visible. In a soft voice, he said to him, “We’ve met before.”

“A few months ago, in the dorm, I was there when you beat up Fu Zheng.” Tao Zhi tried to keep his voice steady as he explained, “After you left, Fu Zheng told me you were his brother.”

“Oh.” Fu Si Heng responded indifferently, unclear if he recalled it, replying ambiguously, “Is that so.”

“Mm-hmm…” Tao Zhi nodded eagerly, feeling his excuse held up.

He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed Fu Si Heng’s scrutinizing, probing gaze hadn’t faded.

Why?

Tao Zhi was puzzled.

His excuse was solid. What had aroused Fu Si Heng’s suspicion?

Tao Zhi furrowed his brows, burying his face even deeper, wishing he could hide his eyes too—

Wait.

He realized what was wrong.

During the New Year’s trip, on the first day when he encountered Fu Si Heng at the villa room door, it had been just like now.

Without makeup, afraid of being recognized, he had only dared to show his eyes.

And now, he had only exposed his eyes again.

…No wonder Fu Si Heng kept staring!

He must have thought the eyes looked familiar.

Tao Zhi finally caught on, pausing his breath before quickly lifting his chin to pull his entire face out from the scarf.

Phew.

As he breathed normally again, the scrutiny in Fu Si Heng’s eyes finally vanished.

As expected, the difference between long hair and short hair was huge.

“Why are you heading out so early?” With his doubts gone, Fu Si Heng returned to normal.

He stopped staring and even changed the subject proactively.

Hearing this, with no suspicion left, Tao Zhi relaxed completely.

He didn’t realize at all that, as just a dormmate with only “one encounter” and the brother of that dormmate, Fu Si Heng was being overly nosy.

Tao Zhi now only felt he had dodged a bullet—smart and lucky. Even his voice grew louder as he honestly told Fu Si Heng, “I’m buying breakfast for Fu Zheng. That shop he often eats at is off-campus.”

“Three hundred meters past the intersection up ahead.” He even pointed it out.

Fu Si Heng: “.”

His little boyfriend said this without finding anything wrong, his expression honest and tone obedient—adorable and endearing, the complete opposite of Fu Zheng.

In comparison, Fu Si Heng’s urge to beat Fu Zheng peaked.

“You often bring breakfast for Fu Zheng?” Fu Si Heng suppressed his temper and asked.

Tao Zhi didn’t think anything was off at first and answered naturally, “Mm… ah.”

He slammed on the brakes, his expression turning hesitant, unsure if he should admit it. After a moment, he said nothing, only flashing a smile.

Dimples appeared on his cheeks, revealing sharp little tiger teeth.

…Even more endearing.

Though Fu Si Heng had long known Fu Zheng lorded it over the dorm, bullying and bribing Tao Zhi with money to do things for him, serve him, and care for him.

But imagining was one thing; seeing it firsthand was another.

Especially in the dead of winter, on a Saturday morning.

On a Saturday morning, which college student didn’t sleep in, cozy under the heater in the dorm, maybe heading to the library after waking to cram for finals?

Yet Fu Zheng had Tao Zhi up at seven, braving the snow for breakfast.

In Fu Si Heng’s eyes now, Tao Zhi was the pitiful victim of bullying.

And the culprit was his own brother.

Fu Si Heng made a mental note.

He would settle this with Fu Zheng.

“Fu… sir.” Though he knew he hadn’t been exposed, Tao Zhi still didn’t dare use his usual familiar tone.

He changed it on the fly and asked, “Can I go now?”

Fu Si Heng snapped back.

“I’ll go with you.” He had planned this, saying casually and naturally, “I have something I want to ask you anyway.”

Tao Zhi: “Huh?”

“Ask me?” Tao Zhi pointed at himself, looking puzzled.

–

The breakfast shop on a winter weekend wasn’t as crowded as on weekdays.

At the usual time, Tao Zhi would queue for half an hour to order and leave, but today there were plenty of empty tables, allowing them to sit right away.

After being seated by the server, Fu Si Heng ordered a ton of food.

Corn juice, meat and toast platter, blanched lettuce, millet porridge, croissants, fried spring rolls, crab roe soup dumplings, egg tarts, salad, mashed potatoes, waffles… The server brought dish after dish, leaving Tao Zhi dumbfounded: “Isn’t that too much?”

The table was piled high—he couldn’t finish it in two days!

“No.” Fu Si Heng took a sip of his coffee. “Whatever’s left, pack it up for Fu Zheng.”

“Didn’t you say you were buying breakfast for him?”

“Yeah…” Tao Zhi was a bit dazed.

But…

Having Fu Zheng eat their leftovers? That didn’t seem right.

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Fu Si Heng said, “Someone who sleeps in and isn’t up yet, waiting for others to bring him breakfast, has no right to complain.”

Uh.

He had accidentally voiced his inner thoughts, and Fu Si Heng had responded. Tao Zhi felt awkward.

“Eat.” Fu Si Heng set down his coffee cup and lifted his chin slightly.

Alright.

Tao Zhi nodded and took a croissant onto his plate.

He took a bite and heard Fu Si Heng ask, “Fu Zheng likes this place?”

“Mm, sort of. He eats here more often.” Tao Zhi told him, “This is the shop near school that suits his taste best. But his absolute favorite is three kilometers away, in a hotel breakfast buffet.”