Chapter 26 Part 2

His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, and he let out a low chuckle. Zhizhi was protecting him. He really, really liked Zhizhi.

Wang Bai touched his slapped cheek, a sharp sting radiating across half his face. The force of it had his ears ringing, a flood of grievance and fury crashing over him like a tidal wave, nearly suffocating him.

He clenched his fists, his body shaking violently, even his teeth chattering.

“You dare hit me?! Do you know who my dad is? I’m telling you, you’re fired!”

Liang Zhixia had anticipated this outcome the moment he’d swung. He wasn’t unafraid—he just didn’t want to drag Lu Quan into it.

He lifted his striking face, his expression deadly serious. “You were the one who spoke out of line first. I can find another job, but you have to apologize to him today.”

Xu Cheng, who had just finished a phone call and walked in, had no idea what was going on. He leaned against the wall, watching the drama unfold.

He saw his good bro standing behind the underclassman, head bowed like a bashful little wife.

Xu Cheng watched with great amusement until his gaze drifted downward—and caught sight of their intertwined hands.

What the hell?

They’d barely known each other a couple days ago, and now they were holding hands?

Boys this age couldn’t stand anyone bossing them around. Veins bulging on his neck, Wang Bai snarled viciously, “Fine, you’ve got balls. Just you wait.”

Lu Quan lifted his eyes with a profound gaze, as if he’d savored enough of his partner’s defense. He turned lazily toward the still-digging-his-own-grave Wang Bai.

Reaching out, he wrapped an arm around the young man shielding him. The body in his palm was still tense; he soothed it gently. “It’s okay. I’ll handle the rest.”

“You’re Wang Zhi’s son?”

Wang Bai hadn’t expected the guy to know his dad. He sneered mockingly. “Hmph, scared now, huh? Have him kowtow to me, and maybe I’ll let you off.”

Lu Quan let out a light laugh, though there was no warmth in his smile. “Even your dad wouldn’t dare talk to me like that. You kowtow to him now, and maybe I’ll consider letting you go.”

Wang Bai burst into laughter, ready to spit more threats, when his pocket buzzed wildly. He pulled out his phone—it was his dad.

“Dad—”

“You little shit! Apologize to them right now! Do whatever Young Master Lu says! If not, don’t bother coming home—I’ll pretend I never had a son like you!”

The man’s thunderous roar was loud enough for everyone to hear. By now, the coffee shop had emptied out completely.

Liang Zhixia turned and spotted Xu Cheng standing guard at the door. Noticing his gaze, Xu Cheng flashed him a grin.

Lu Quan gave his hand a squeeze and said to Wang Bai, “Kneel, or not?”

Wang Bai didn’t want to lose face in front of his friends, and he knew he’d kicked a steel plate this time. Fists still clenched, he looked pleadingly at Liang Zhixia, hoping for mercy.

“Sorry.”

Liang Zhixia saw no hint of genuine remorse on his face. Coldly, he said, “Not to me—to him.”

Lu Quan didn’t care about Wang Bai’s apology, but seeing Zhizhi stand up for him like this made him thrilled.

Wang Bai’s face burned red as he turned sideways to Lu Quan and muttered, “Sorry, Young Master Lu.”

Lu Quan lifted an eyelid, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “Don’t wanna kneel? Here, let me help.”

He lashed out with his leg, kicking Wang Bai’s shin hard. Caught off guard, Wang Bai’s legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees—right in front of Liang Zhixia.

Wang Bai tried to stand, but the pressure on his knee kept him pinned down, too afraid to move.

Liang Zhixia pressed his lips together in silence. He wasn’t some saint; he couldn’t just forgive someone who’d insulted him so vilely.

It was just that no one had ever stood up for him before. This time, someone had.

He stared down at his toes, then noticed a hand extending from the side—Lu Quan’s hand.

Puzzled, he looked at the other man, unsure of his intent.

Lu Quan simply smiled at him. Then that broad hand suddenly gripped his calf.

“!!!”

What was Lu Quan doing?

He found out the next second.

Lu Quan wanted him to step on Wang Bai’s knee.

His long lashes fluttered in panic, his face flushing crimson, even the corners of his eyes tinged pink.

“No, Lu Quan. I don’t want to.”

But the man’s grip was firm; he couldn’t pull away.

Once his foot was forced onto Wang Bai’s knee, that hand slid slowly downward, settling on his ankle and gripping it tightly.

Warm fingertips rubbed against his ankle bone, tickling slightly. He tried to draw back, but it held fast.

Wang Bai’s face was a patchwork of green and white, humiliation burning through him. He dared not resist, forced to endure being trampled underfoot as apologies hissed through his gritted teeth.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

Lu Quan didn’t even glance at him. Instead, he turned to Liang Zhixia.

“Does Xia Xia forgive him?”

Liang Zhixia felt the taut muscles tense beneath his foot. Looking down imperiously at Wang Bai’s head, he said, “I accept your apology, but I never want to see you again.”

Before Wang Bai could respond, Lu Quan replied for him. “Got it. Xia Xia will never have to see him again.”

Once the hand released his ankle, Liang Zhixia quickly pulled his foot back and stamped it on the floor a couple times.

He still preferred the feel of solid ground.

The coffee shop was deserted. Wang Bai limped out, two mismatched shoe prints stark on his black pants.

Xu Cheng grinned at him from the doorway, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. “Take care now.”

Xu Cheng strolled over to the pair, eyebrow arched. “How long are you two planning to hold hands?”

Only then did Liang Zhixia realize their hands were still linked. He let go in a hurry.

Thinking back to how Lu Quan had stood up for him, he curved his lips in a genuine smile. “Thank you, Lu Quan.”

His voice was soft and clear, like a babbling brook in the woods—pure, clean, with just a hint of sweetness.

Lu Quan reached out and pinched his cheek, his own voice low and husky. “Don’t mention it.”

Zhizhi was so cute.

That cheek was so soft. He wanted to bite it.

Standing off to the side, Xu Cheng got that outsider feeling again.

Liang Zhixia glanced around, his eyes widening in sudden worry. “What do we do? Is the boss gonna fire us?”

Lu Quan soothed him in a low voice. “It’s fine. He won’t fire us.”

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Liang Zhixia got a message from the boss in the group chat.

【Taking the afternoon off for everyone today. I just heard what happened in the shop. Little Xia, you did the right thing—protected our coffee shop’s reputation. I’ll send you five hundred yuan from my personal account as mental distress compensation later.】

Liang Zhixia’s gaze lingered on that five hundred yuan. Smiling, he looked at Lu Quan.

“I’ll treat Senior and Bro Lu to dinner.”

Xu Cheng jumped right in. “Sounds good. You still owe me a meal anyway, underclassman.”

He remembered getting lost on the first day of school—it was Xu Cheng who’d pointed him to the right building.

He curved his lips. “Then I’ll treat you again next time, Senior.”

Lu Quan gripped the back of his neck, his breath warm against the skin there. “What about me?”

“Of course I’ll treat Bro Lu again too.”

Liang Zhixia knew how to play fair.

With no more work to do, they changed out of their uniforms and clocked out.

After dinner at a clean little diner, Liang Zhixia headed back to the dorm with Lu Quan.

On the way, he kicked a pebble by his foot and looked up earnestly. “Bro Lu, thank you for today.”

Aside from making him step on the guy, that was.

Lu Quan looked down at him. The young man’s eyes were stunning in the night, sparkling like they held entire galaxies of stars.

He teased, “In A City, just drop my name, and you can strut around like you own the place.”

Liang Zhixia burst out laughing. See? Lu Quan was actually super easy to get along with.

Back in the dorm, after a shower and slipping into bed, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t messaged his online boyfriend all afternoon.

He grabbed his phone in a rush and saw a bunch of messages from L.

The latest one was just two minutes ago.

【L】: Baby, why aren’t you replying to me?

【L】: Does Baby even remember he has a boyfriend?

[L]: Baby, are you regretting it already? I have proof, you know.

[L]: Baby, pay some attention to me, okay?

[L]: Pitiful Kitten.jpg

He hurriedly typed a reply.

[Zhizhi]: I was too busy today…

[Zhizhi]: I didn’t mean to!

Almost as soon as he sent the messages, L replied.

[L]: Has Zhizhi stopped cherishing me now that you’ve got me?

[L]: The old Zhizhi was so good to me, but now you’re ignoring me completely?

Liang Zhixia was at a loss for words. He couldn’t tell L about what had happened that afternoon.

If L found out that he’d agreed to be his online boyfriend that morning, only to pick up another fake boyfriend in the afternoon, L would definitely seize the chance to tease him mercilessly.

[Zhizhi]: No, I really was very busy today!

[L]: Alright then. I’ll believe you, Baby.

L’s words sounded reluctant.

[L]: Then Baby has to make it up to me.

[Zhizhi]: ?

He wouldn’t want another video call, would he?

Lu Quan had already showered that night. He couldn’t turn on the camera even for a second.

But to his surprise, L didn’t suggest a video call. Instead, he wanted to make a phone call.

[L]: Let’s call, okay?

[L]: I’ll tell you a story and lull you to sleep.

[L]: I really like Zhizhi Baby. I want to hear Baby’s voice.

[L]: Baby wouldn’t refuse such a simple request, right?

[Zhizhi]: …Okay.

He had just lifted the bed curtain to check if Lu Quan was asleep when he saw the other man take his phone and head out to the balcony.

Perfect!

He relaxed and answered L’s incoming call.

The man’s low, magnetic voice filled his earphones, amplified as if he were whispering right next to his ear.

“Baby, I missed you so much today.”

L’s opening line hit him like a devastating blow straight to the heart. He rubbed his ear and whispered, “Be serious.”

L chuckled softly. “Okay, whatever Baby wants.”

The warm blankets made Liang Zhixia drowsy. He let out a small yawn.

L paused on the other end of the line, his voice dropping even lower and deeper. “Then let’s start the story.”

“Once upon a time, there was a baby named Zhizhi. He lived in a happy, loving family…”

Ten minutes later, the phone line carried only the sound of faint, even breathing.

Lu Quan stood tall on the balcony, his posture straight as he gazed back into the dorm room.

“Goodnight, Baby.”