Chapter 33: Breakfast Part 2

“Too far to buy from, so he eats here.”

As Fu Zheng’s little lackey, Tao Zhi had run plenty of errands for him before and knew his preferences inside out.

Fu Si Heng listened, feeling irritated.

He cracked his knuckles and sneered, “Not much money, but picky taste.”

“Can’t eat the school cafeteria, has to come out here.”

“Huh?” Tao Zhi looked at him.

“Nothing.” Fu Si Heng passed him a cup of corn juice.

Fu Zheng just had too much money—no drop in living standards, and even cash to make Tao Zhi run errands.

Tsk.

Why?

Fu Si Heng had no excuse yet to get Tao Zhi to spend his money; Tao Zhi didn’t even have time to meet him, let alone bring it up. Yet Fu Zheng got so lucky.

Fu Si Heng decided next time home, he’d lock up all of Fu Zheng’s junk that could be sold.

Cut off his funding completely.

“By the way, Fu… sir.” The sudden shift in tone felt unnatural to Tao Zhi.

After building intimacy, pretending to be strangers tested his acting skills.

Tao Zhi tried to act distant and polite, using honorifics like they were free: “What did you want to ask me?”

Fu Si Heng: “.”

“Just call me Brother Fu. I’m not that much older; ‘sir’ makes me sound old.” Fu Si Heng corrected him.

Tao Zhi: “?”

Huh?

“Nothing much, just wanted to ask about Fu Zheng’s behavior at school.” Meeting his little boyfriend’s strange look, Fu Si Heng’s expression didn’t change: “Like if he’s gotten into fights, bullied anyone, harassed dormmates, that sort of thing.”

He emphasized “bullied dormmates,” making Tao Zhi’s expression go blank.

“I care about that.” Fu Si Heng added timely, “He changed dorms before because he didn’t get along with his roommates, argued, nearly fought.”

Tao Zhi: “Oh…”

He had heard about it.

“No.” Tao Zhi answered truthfully, “Fu Zheng’s been fine in the new dorm. Aside from me, he gets along with the other two seniors—no arguments, no fights.”

He just ignored them mostly.

So much so that the seniors relayed messages through him to Fu Zheng.

Everyone else too…

Those afraid to approach Fu Zheng all came to him.

Tao Zhi was like Fu Zheng’s little messenger.

“Is that so.” Fu Si Heng’s voice was flat.

How could he not adapt well?

Having a “big sister-in-law” more caring than a mom, practically feeding him by hand.

So jealous.

“Mm-hmm.” Tao Zhi nodded vigorously: “Yes.”

Fu Si Heng: “Good then.”

“Mm!” Tao Zhi nodded again.

After nodding, they stared at each other for a while.

Tao Zhi sat very straight, waiting for Fu Si Heng for half a minute.

Half a minute later.

Fu Si Heng: “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I was waiting for your questions.” Tao Zhi said, “…Why’d you stop asking?”

“That’s all.” Fu Si Heng’s lips curved slightly: “Knowing he hasn’t caused trouble at school puts me at ease.”

Tao Zhi: “?”

Uh.

That was it?

So weird.

Just a question or two that could’ve been asked on the roadside, yet he treated him to a whole breakfast… Tao Zhi looked at Fu Si Heng, puzzled.

“Eat before it gets cold.” Fu Si Heng interrupted his thoughts and put a piece of bacon on his plate for him.

“Oh.”

Fine.

Tao Zhi figured Fu Si Heng was just bored and stopped overthinking, focusing on his meal.

…

Fu Si Heng liked watching Tao Zhi eat.

His movements were slow, each bite taken seriously, immersed in the food, eyelashes fluttering slightly with each chew, cheeks puffing out.

Fu Si Heng thought Tao Zhi must have been the type as a kid who wore a bib, sat obediently in a high chair, and ate nicely.

Obedient and cute.

After a busy half-month, with little weekend time, Fu Si Heng watched his boyfriend eat with his head down, feeling his heart wrapped in soft feathers—warm, with a sweet ache.

A wondrous feeling.

The more he watched, the more obedient Tao Zhi seemed.

He really wanted to kiss him.

Fu Si Heng’s throat went dry; he suddenly craved a smoke.

But it was a public place, so he drank coffee instead.

The hot Americano eased the urge a bit.

Setting the cup down, his phone buzzed—an assistant’s message reminding him it was time to go.

Fu Si Heng had a flight to catch.

But leaving like this felt unsatisfying.

Watching Tao Zhi so cute and obedient, with zero longing for him, Fu Si Heng wanted to tease him.

The older man appeared proper on the surface but was a beast inside—a canine one.

He stared at Tao Zhi for half a minute—

Fu Si Heng picked up his phone and sent Tao Zhi a message.

As soon as he hit send, Tao Zhi’s pocket dinged.

Tao Zhi looked down to check.

Fu Si Heng: 【Baby, do you have a brother?】

Tao Zhi: “…?”

What?

Such a random message.

Tao Zhi looked baffled at his screen, then glanced up at Fu Si Heng.

Fu Si Heng met his eyes.

Tao Zhi immediately looked down.

After thinking, he typed: 【No.】

Little Cute Bunny: 【I told you before, I only have one little sister.】

Fu Si Heng: 【Oh.】

Fu Si Heng: 【That’s strange then.】

Fu Si Heng: 【Today on the road, I met a little guy who looks just like you.】

Tao Zhi: “…”

Huh???

How, how did it suddenly…

Tao Zhi’s mouth opened.

His eyelashes trembled lightly, heartbeat quickening.

What unnerved him more: his phone kept dinging in perfect sync with Fu Si Heng messaging his “girlfriend,” and Fu Si Heng’s gaze was back on him!

Tao Zhi hurriedly muted it.

In a fluster, he sent an emoji and dared not reply in front of him anymore.

He couldn’t stay with Fu Si Heng any longer.

The risk of exposure was everywhere.

Tao Zhi panicked, speeding through his croissant, cheeks bulging as he mumbled to Fu Si Heng, “I’m done, Brother Fu.”

“I need to head back to school.”

Fu Si Heng: “…”

“Alright.” Fu Si Heng agreed, calling the server for the bill and to-go boxes. Tao Zhi helped.

With the boxes sealed, Fu Si Heng scanned to pay and left his phone on the table. The lit screen caught Tao Zhi’s eye.

Fu Si Heng’s lock screen was his photo in drag.

The one from Rong Huai’s shop last time, holding the Labubu doll in a short skirt.

Tao Zhi stared at his photo as the wallpaper, stunned.

“This is my girlfriend.” Fu Si Heng spoke.

Tao Zhi looked up blankly.

Fu Si Heng: “Pretty, right?”

Tao Zhi: “…”

Fu Si Heng: “Mm?”

“Y-Yeah…” Tao Zhi’s toes curled.

Every time with Fu Si Heng, his toes suffered.

“Mm.” Fu Si Heng repeated, as if reminding: “He‘s pretty.”

Tao Zhi: “…”

“No, correct.” Tao Zhi got it. His tone strained, eyes drifting as he echoed, “Your girlfriend is pretty.”

Fu Si Heng: “Yes, he‘s also very cute.”

Tao Zhi: “…”

“Hm? Not cute?” Fu Si Heng asked.

“Cute, very cute.” Tao Zhi hung his head, toes gripping madly, ears flushing red behind.

…Someone save him.