Married to My Bro 23-24

Chapter 23

Lu Xun’s feelings for Liang Xusheng had evolved over the years. He had always been possessive of him. Liang Xusheng had many friends, but Lu Xun felt like he only had Liang Xusheng. He had started resenting Liang Xusheng’s other friendships, wanting him all to himself. He had agreed to the fake marriage without hesitation because he couldn’t bear the thought of Liang Xusheng marrying someone else, even if it were fake. He even harbored a dark wish that Liang Xusheng would never find true love, so they would never have to part ways.

Now, realizing his physical attraction to Liang Xusheng, he didn’t find it surprising. He just had to keep it hidden.

He started spending over an hour in the bathroom every night, followed by a cigarette on the balcony.

Liang Xusheng noticed the smoking habit a week later. He walked into Lu Xun’s room and found him on the balcony, a half-smoked cigarette between his lips.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned. “Is something happening at the company?”

Lu Xun looked at him through the haze of smoke, his emotions hidden.

Liang Xusheng took the cigarette from his mouth. “Stop smoking.” He threw it away and sat down beside Lu Xun. “Something’s bothering you? Tell me about it. I’ll help you figure it out.”

Lu Xun smiled faintly. “It’s nothing.”

“Then why are you smoking?”

“Just playing around,” Lu Xun said casually.

“I don’t believe you.”

Lu Xun turned to look at him, their gazes meeting, but not connecting. Lu Xun’s expression was carefully blank, while Liang Xusheng waited for an explanation.

“Really, it’s nothing,” Lu Xun said, looking away. “Just enjoying the breeze.”

Liang Xusheng didn’t believe him. He knew Lu Xun too well. But if Lu Xun didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t push him. “At least you don’t seem depressed,” he said.

“Mm,” Lu Xun replied.

“Is the breeze nice?” Liang Xusheng asked, feeling the air. “I don’t feel anything.”

They sat in silence for a moment.

“Really, nothing’s wrong?” Liang Xusheng asked, placing his hand on Lu Xun’s leg. “You can tell me anything. Even if I can’t help you, I can at least listen.”

Lu Xun looked down at his hand, then placed his own hand on Liang Xusheng’s leg, squeezing gently. “Really, it’s nothing. Smoking doesn’t always mean something’s wrong.” He looked into Liang Xusheng’s eyes, a flicker of guilt crossing his mind. It was a post-coital cigarette. He had just been in the shower, pleasuring himself while thinking about Liang Xusheng.

“What?” Liang Xusheng asked, noticing his intense gaze.

“Nothing,” Lu Xun said, a subtle smile playing on his lips. He had suddenly remembered kissing Liang Xusheng on their wedding night. He had been drunk, carrying Liang Xusheng back to their room, and had kissed him without thinking. He glanced at Liang Xusheng’s lips, wondering how much he had craved that soft touch to have done such a thing.

“What are you smiling about?” Liang Xusheng asked, confused.

Was I smiling?, Lu Xun wondered. Probably. The memory of his desire for Liang Xusheng, the drunken kisses, made him feel strangely lightheaded.

Liang Xusheng, still concerned about the smoking, messaged Liu Mo later: [How are things at the company? How’s Lu Xun’s mood?]

Liu Mo replied a few minutes later: [Thanks to your wedding, the company is doing great. Lu Xun? He seems happy. Leaves work on time every day.]

Is that so?, Liang Xusheng wondered, stroking his chin. He was still worried, so the next day, he cancelled his plans with Lulu and went to Xunsheng.

Lu Xun, reviewing character models in his office, was surprised to see him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Liang Xusheng said, waving his hand from the doorway. “Just came for a visit. Don’t mind me.”

He walked around the office, greeting everyone and subtly inquiring about any potential problems. He found nothing. Then why the smoking?, he wondered.

He saw Zhao Bin and grinned. “Still here?”

Zhao Bin: “?”

Liu Mo, catching up to him, said, “Only you and Lu Xun can talk to him like that. He’s usually so arrogant.” He added, “He’s been pestering Lu Xun about the new card storyline, but Lu Xun keeps ignoring him.”

Could it be because of Zhao Bin?, Liang Xusheng wondered. It didn’t seem likely. “Call me if you can’t handle him,” he said to Liu Mo.

“It’s not that we can’t handle him,” Liu Mo replied. “Lu Xun’s keeping him on a tight leash.”

“Let me know if anything happens,” Liang Xusheng said.

“Will do, Boss’s wife,” Liu Mo assured him.

Back in Lu Xun’s office, Lu Xun, realizing why Liang Xusheng had come, smiled. “So you came to check on me.”

Liang Xusheng closed the door. “And you’re still smiling? I cancelled my plans with Lulu, worried about the company, and there’s nothing wrong?”

“I never said nothing was wrong. You just didn’t believe me,” Lu Xun said.

“How could I believe you? You were smoking! And you wouldn’t tell me what was bothering you. Of course, I had to come check,” Liang Xusheng said, glaring at him.

Lu Xun was pleased that he had come, regardless of the reason. “Have a seat,” he said, getting up from his desk.

Liang Xusheng sat down on the sofa. “Do you have a meeting?” he asked, seeing Lu Xun heading towards the door.

“Getting you a drink,” Lu Xun replied, opening the door.

Lu Xun returned with a Sprite. As he reached for the doorknob, a sudden realization hit him like a lightning bolt. His immediate agreement to the fake marriage, his nervousness at the Civil Affairs Bureau, his trembling hand during the ceremony, the kiss under the fireworks, the warm atmosphere of their new home, Liang Xusheng’s welcoming smile, his legs, his possessive and physical attraction to him…

Could it be that he was in love with Liang Xusheng?

Chapter 24

The thought – I like Xusheng – flashed through Lu Xun’s mind, momentarily stunning him. He quickly regained his composure and entered the room, holding up the Sprite.

“Don’t shake it, it’ll fizz up,” Liang Xusheng said, looking at his computer screen. He was sitting at Lu Xun’s desk. “Is this a new character?”

“Mm,” Lu Xun replied, walking over.

“He’s handsome,” Liang Xusheng commented.

Lu Xun placed the Sprite beside him, leaned over, and looked at the screen. “Handsome? He looks a bit stiff.”

“The model needs more adjustments,” Liang Xusheng agreed, moving the mouse to view the character from different angles. “Remember Liang Yu? The initial model went through at least a thousand iterations.” He leaned back in the chair, took a sip of Sprite, and looked at Lu Xun. “The company seems fine, and you’re working on new characters. I guess I was worried for nothing.” He finished his drink and stood up. “I’ll leave you to it.”

“Not staying?” Lu Xun asked, straightening up.

“Nope, nothing for me to do here,” Liang Xusheng said cheerfully. “By the way, do you have any of the new merchandise? I want some.” He raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll get you some,” Lu Xun offered.

Liang Xusheng’s eyes lit up as he rummaged through the merchandise room, exclaiming like a child over each item. Lu Xun watched him, amused.

After Liang Xusheng left, Lu Xun sat back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. I like Xusheng? Like him?

His mind raced. He wasn’t gay. He had no interest in men. So why had he suddenly thought he liked Liang Xusheng? The thought itself was strange. He did like Xusheng’s legs, but physical attraction wasn’t the same as liking someone.

Do I like Liang Xusheng?, he wondered, replaying recent events in his mind: the post-coital cigarettes, the shower fantasies, the lingering sensation of Liang Xusheng’s skin on his hand, staring at his legs, coming home early with flowers, the warm feeling of their home, the drunken kisses, the kiss under the fireworks, his trembling hands during the ring exchange…

None of this was typical straight-guy behavior. Had these experiences triggered this strange notion of liking Liang Xusheng?

What does it mean to like someone?, he wondered. He had never been in love, but he wasn’t completely clueless. He knew how to craft romantic storylines for Rewind without crossing the line into explicit territory.

Is my relationship with Xusheng intimate?, he asked himself. The answer was a definite no.

Then he remembered the kiss under the fireworks. It wasn’t exactly intimate; it had been a spontaneous, innocent gesture. But it wasn’t something normal male friends did either.

Why did I kiss him? Because he kissed me first? Because of the atmosphere? Because we were drunk?

Would I have kissed any other male friend in that situation?, he asked himself.

The answer was a firm no.

Then why did I kiss him? And why did I kiss him again later that night?

What do I feel for Liang Xusheng?

He thought about his possessive feelings. Was he just crazy? Or was he actually in love with Liang Xusheng?

Reading online discussions about the romantic storylines in Rewind, he thought about how players, especially female players, formed emotional attachments to the characters, even though the game wasn’t romance-focused. Have I formed an emotional attachment to Xusheng because of the wedding and our married life? Is that why I think I like him?

Buying flowers on his way home, he realized he had never bought flowers for his mother. Is this just a misguided expression of affection?

But as he stepped into their warm, welcoming apartment and saw Liang Xusheng, his heart swelled. Do I like the apartment, or do I like Liang Xusheng?

He went to the balcony for a cigarette, trying to sort out his feelings. He couldn’t find an answer.

“Why are you smoking again?” Liang Xusheng asked, frowning.

Lu Xun put out his cigarette and walked over to him, their gazes meeting.

“What?” Liang Xusheng asked, confused.

Lu Xun searched his face for answers, but found none. “Remember the wedding?” he asked quietly.

“What about it?”

“The fireworks…”

“Stop!” Liang Xusheng interrupted, his expression exasperated. “Are we really going to talk about that? Should we also talk about that time when we were teenagers and, you know…?” He implied that some things were better left in the past.

Lu Xun, after a moment of confusion, realized what he meant. “We can talk about that too,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

Liang Xusheng: “…” He put the cigarette back in Lu Xun’s mouth. “Just keep smoking. I’m leaving.”

“I remember you kissed me first,” Lu Xun said, as Liang Xusheng turned to leave.

Liang Xusheng covered his ears and ran.

Lu Xun: “…”

“Why is he bringing that up?” Liang Xusheng muttered, stepping out of the room. “Can’t we just forget about it?”

That night, as he was about to sleep, he received a message from Lu Xun: [But I want to talk about it. Why did you kiss me?]

Liang Xusheng: “…” Seriously?

Liang Xusheng: [I didn’t kiss you. I had my finger between our lips.]

Lu Xun: [I kissed you. I remember. I didn’t use my finger.]

Liang Xusheng: “…” Why is he so fixated on this?

Lu Xun: [I’m just wondering why I kissed you. And later that night, when we came back to the room, you were drunk, and I was too, and I kissed you again. You were asleep, so you don’t remember.]

Liang Xusheng: ??????????

Lu Xun watched as “typing…” appeared on the screen, then disappeared without a message being sent. He was about to type something when the door burst open. Liang Xusheng stormed in, hitting him with a pillow. “I thought we were best friends! I married you for convenience, and you took advantage of me while I was drunk?!”

Lu Xun, startled, blocked the pillow and laughed.

“You’re laughing?!” Liang Xusheng exclaimed.

Lu Xun threw the pillow aside, still chuckling. “Shouldn’t you be embarrassed? You’re not even shy, you’re angry.”

“Why would I be shy? Do you think I’m an innocent teenager? Of course, I’m angry!”

“I was drunk,” Lu Xun explained.

“Then why are you bringing it up? You said you were drunk!”

Lu Xun looked at him, silent.

“Say something!” Liang Xusheng demanded.

“I’ve been very happy lately,” Lu Xun said softly.

Liang Xusheng: “…” What?

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m happy, but I’ve been having… unexpected thoughts.”

“Like what?” Liang Xusheng asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed, ready for a serious conversation.

Lu Xun looked at him for a moment. “We never discussed what would happen if one of us fell in love, did we?”

Liang Xusheng was surprised. They hadn’t. It was something they should have discussed, but their familiarity had made them assume they were on the same page.

“But Xusheng,” Lu Xun continued, “I never considered divorcing you.”

Liang Xusheng stared at him, stunned.

The next day, at lunch with Lulu, Liang Xusheng recounted the conversation.

“And then?” Lulu asked, her chopsticks hovering over her bowl. “What did you say when he said he didn’t want a divorce?”

“I ran back to my room and went to sleep,” Liang Xusheng admitted.

Lulu: “…”

Liang Xusheng sighed dramatically. “Of course, we’ll get divorced! What if I find someone I love, or he does? Am I supposed to live with him and his lover, or is he supposed to live with me and mine?”

“I don’t know about Lu Xun,” Lulu said, “but you don’t seem like the type to find true love. I think Lu Xun is your true love.”

“You might as well say my anime merchandise is my true love,” Liang Xusheng retorted.

“You didn’t kiss your merchandise under the fireworks,” Lulu said quickly. “You kissed Lu Xun.”

Liang Xusheng: “…” Are you ever going to let that go?

“At least he’s being honest with you,” Lulu said, shrugging. “You proposed a fake marriage, he agreed, he gave you an anime-themed wedding, he told you he’s happy and doesn’t want a divorce.”

“I’m honest too. I told him from the start it was a fake marriage,” Liang Xusheng said.

“But you gave him a real sense of happiness,” Lulu pointed out, looking at him.

“I didn’t do anything! What’s making him so happy?” Liang Xusheng asked, confused.

“Ask him,” Lulu said, shrugging again. “You ran away.”

“I’ll talk to him tonight,” Liang Xusheng said.

However, Lu Xun worked late that night. Liang Xusheng was already in bed when he got home.

“You’re back? It’s late,” Liang Xusheng said, getting out of bed and walking towards him. He was wearing a tight white tank top, white boxer briefs, and nothing else, his long, pale legs on full display. Lu Xun almost choked.

He quickly looked away as Liang Xusheng approached.

“What? Not looking at me?” Liang Xusheng asked, walking around the kitchen island.

“We didn’t finish our conversation yesterday. Let’s continue,” he said, standing beside Lu Xun.

“Didn’t you run away because you didn’t want to talk?” Lu Xun asked, washing his hands.

“I ran away, but I still want to talk,” Liang Xusheng replied. “You said you don’t want a divorce. But that’s not realistic. What if you find true love? You’ll want to be with them, and we’ll have to…”

Lu Xun, unable to focus on anything but Liang Xusheng’s legs, which were practically inches from his face, felt his body reacting. He brushed past Liang Xusheng and headed to the bedroom.

“Hey!” Liang Xusheng called out. “We’re not done talking! Lu Xun!”

Lu Xun closed the door behind him and exhaled. He was losing control. It wasn’t just Liang Xusheng’s legs anymore; his entire body, his arms, his shoulders, his collarbone, everything about him was alluring.

That night, they resolved the “divorce if we find true love” issue without any disagreement.

What truly bothered Lu Xun was his heightened awareness of Liang Xusheng’s physical presence. He noticed a small, light brown mole on his collarbone, a drop of water sliding down his neck and disappearing into his tank top, the intensified scent of his body wash.

He was losing control. He agreed to everything Liang Xusheng said, just to end the conversation and escape to his room.

That night, he didn’t go to the bathroom; he stayed in bed, his mind racing with uncontrollable fantasies. As he reached his peak, a wicked thought crossed his mind: We’re already married. Why not just keep him with me forever?

The thought horrified him. He had always considered Liang Xusheng his best friend.

The next morning, Lu Xun woke up late and had brunch with Liang Xusheng.

“The company is cleaning out the merchandise warehouse. Want to go check it out?” he asked casually.

“Of course!” Liang Xusheng replied instantly.

“I’ll take you after we eat. I need to check on the new merchandise samples anyway,” Lu Xun said.

“Great!”

Lu Xun looked at him. He still wasn’t sure if he was in love with Liang Xusheng, but he knew seeing him happy, especially because of something he had said or done, made him happy too.

The Rewind merchandise warehouse was located near the printing factory in the suburbs. Lu Xun drove Liang Xusheng there. The workers were organizing the warehouse and had piled up a lot of old merchandise in a corner.

Liang Xusheng immediately went to the pile, happily rummaging through it. For a while, he had refused to accept free merchandise from Lu Xun, preferring to compete with other players in the online store. As a result, his collection wasn’t complete. He had tried asking Lu Xun later, but the warehouse and the company had claimed they were out of stock. Now, seeing so many old items, he was ecstatic.

He grabbed a large plastic bag and started filling it with merchandise, filming the process for his Douyin account. Lu Xun, seeing him struggling to hold both the bag and his phone, took the phone and filmed him.

“This badge is a limited edition from over a year ago. It’s no longer available,” Liang Xusheng explained to the camera, holding up a badge. “See? The quality is much better than other badges. Of course, the materials are more expensive.” He then picked up a bookmark. “This bookmark was also a limited edition. It’s sold out now.”

Lu Xun, filming him, found him endearing, his eyes full of affection.

Later, at the printing factory, Liang Xusheng meticulously examined the samples of the new merchandise, discussing details with the factory manager. “This calendar’s paper is too thin. It feels cheap. What’s the weight of the coated paper? Okay, use a heavier one. This won’t do.”

Lu Xun, unable to discern such subtle details, was glad he had brought Liang Xusheng along. He stood there, hands in his pockets, watching Liang Xusheng work his magic. He spent almost two hours discussing the samples with the factory manager, his patience and attention to detail impressing Lu Xun.

“Thank you for your hard work,” Lu Xun said, handing him a bottle of water as they left the office.

“Don’t mention it,” Liang Xusheng said, waving his hand. “I don’t really care about the merchandise itself. Whether it’s good or bad doesn’t matter to me. I’ve bought all kinds of merchandise, even the crappy ones. If it’s bad, I’ll just complain online.” He paused, then added, “But it’s your company, your career. I just want to help, make sure everything is perfect, so you and the company don’t get criticized by the players.” He shrugged. “I can’t help you with other aspects of your business, but I know about this stuff, and I’m happy to help.”

Lu Xun had always known this, but hearing Liang Xusheng say it out loud made his heart swell. He looked at him, that familiar feeling of warmth spreading through him. He didn’t say thank you; he didn’t need to. He just looked at Liang Xusheng, letting the feeling wash over him.

“What?” Liang Xusheng asked, noticing his gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lu Xun didn’t reply, but he finally understood why he had kissed Liang Xusheng under the fireworks. It wasn’t just the atmosphere; it was because, faced with Liang Xusheng’s kindness and generosity, he couldn’t find other words to express his affection. A kiss was the only way.

“I kind of want to kiss you right now,” he said calmly.

Liang Xusheng’s eyes widened, and he jumped back, covering his mouth. “Don’t you dare!”

Lu Xun chuckled.

“You’re messing with me!” Liang Xusheng exclaimed, chasing after him. “I came here to help you, and you’re teasing me?”

Lu Xun turned, his gaze intense.

Liang Xusheng stopped, covering his mouth again.

“So you know I’m not just talking,” Lu Xun said softly.

“I’m scared of you now,” Liang Xusheng said, still covering his mouth. “Let’s go. Don’t look at me.”

Lu Xun turned away, a wide smile on his face.

That evening, at Fu Shu’s house for dinner, a large pot of oysters was served, one portion for Liang Xusheng, one for Lu Xun.

“Where’s Dad’s portion?” Liang Xusheng asked, sitting down at the table.

Fu Shu smiled, placing a large bowl of dipping sauce in front of them. “You two eat. He doesn’t need it. A 50-year-old man doesn’t need oysters.”

Liang Jing nodded in agreement. “You two eat.”

Liang Xusheng, initially assuming it was just a seafood special, gradually realized the implications. What are oysters good for again?, he wondered, then remembered: Kidney function. He groaned inwardly and looked at Lu Xun, who seemed unfazed. “They’re delicious,” Lu Xun commented.

Liang Xusheng gave him a look. Delicious? These are for our kidneys! You understand?

Lu Xun: I understand now.

Liang Xusheng: And you’re still eating?

Lu Xun: Why not? It would be a waste.

Liang Xusheng turned to his mother. Mom! What are you doing?!

Fu Shu winked at him. Eat up, I know what you need.

Liang Xusheng: “…?” What do you mean you know?

“There’s more if you want,” Fu Shu said, winking again. “Eat more. It’s good for you.” She turned to Lu Xun. “Lu Xun, have some more.”

Liang Xusheng: “…”

As they left the dining room, Liang Xusheng muttered to Lu Xun, “Seriously?”

Good for us? What for?, he thought. We don’t need that.

“You ate your share,” Lu Xun said calmly.

“Why wouldn’t I? The dipping sauce is delicious, and the oysters are fresh,” Liang Xusheng retorted.

In his old room, Liang Xusheng looked around. “My mom really cleaned this place out,” he commented. He had moved most of his belongings to the new apartment, but some childhood items, like awards and trophies, were still here. Now, everything was neatly stored away in cabinets. Even his bed was stripped bare, only the mattress remaining.

He sat down at his desk, pulled open a drawer, and randomly took out an old phone. It still had battery power. He showed it to Lu Xun. “Remember this? You threw it in the pond.”

Lu Xun, walking over, remembered the incident clearly. Liang Xusheng, a sophomore in college, had been spending a lot of time with a freshman girl. Lu Xun, ignored for two weeks, had confronted him at the campus pond. Liang Xusheng had then received a call from the girl, and Lu Xun, enraged, had snatched the phone and thrown it into the pond.

“Throwing your phone was wrong,” he said, his voice cold, “but you seemed to enjoy arguing with me over that girl.”

“Dude, I’ve always been popular with girls. You know that,” Liang Xusheng said, feeling wronged. “I’m still close with Lulu. Why didn’t you throw her in the river on our wedding day?”

“Your mom wanted you to marry Lulu,” Lu Xun said, picking up a book and flipping through it.

Liang Xusheng raised his hands in surrender. “Can we not bring up the past?” He then decided to bring up Lu Xun’s past instead. “You were so grumpy in college. I felt like I was constantly being scolded.”

“Were you?” Lu Xun asked, not quite remembering. He did recall the girl’s name was An An, and Liang Xusheng had called her “An An” affectionately.

“Why didn’t you invite your An An to the wedding?” he asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“I did,” Liang Xusheng replied, rolling his eyes. “She emigrated with her family. We weren’t that close anyway.”

“Wasn’t she heartbroken when she heard you got married?” Lu Xun continued, his voice still cold.

“Why are you acting like this?” Liang Xusheng asked, exasperated. “Are you jealous?” His attention was drawn to the old phone, which had lit up. “So many novel apps. I used to read a lot of novels.”

“Mm,” Lu Xun said, looking at the phone. “You’d stay up all night reading, then I’d bring you breakfast and attend your classes for you.”

“That’s what bros do,” Liang Xusheng said, smiling. He opened the photo album. “I took a lot of photos back then. College life was fun. Not like now, stuck at home all the time.” He turned the phone to show Lu Xun a photo. “Look, it’s you. See? Grumpy face.”

Lu Xun looked at the photo of himself, scowling at the camera. His memory was jogged. The photo had been taken in the library. It was autumn, and he was wearing his usual black t-shirt and gray jacket. He had been angry because Liang Xusheng had promised to study with him but was late.

Lu Xun: [?]

Liang Xusheng: [Helping An An fix her bike.]

An An again, he had thought, throwing his phone into his bag, ignoring Liang Xusheng when he finally arrived.

“I’m documenting all your grumpy faces,” Liang Xusheng had said, taking the photo.

Now, looking at the photo, remembering the reason for his anger, Lu Xun felt like college was just yesterday. He could remember the book he was reading, the practice questions he was doing, even the message he had sent Liang Xusheng. He remembered the paths they had walked together on campus, the brightly lit basketball court, the affordable cafeteria, Liang Xusheng waiting for him under the sycamore tree…

His mind drifted back to another memory:

Lu Xun, go check on Liang Xusheng! He’s about to get into a fight at the north gate!, someone had yelled, interrupting their basketball game.

Lu Xun had grabbed his jacket, his face dark, and rushed to the north gate, calling Liang Xusheng repeatedly. When he arrived, Liang Xusheng was confronting a group of thugs, a fight about to break out. Lu Xun, followed by campus security, intervened.

“Are you students here? What do you think you’re doing?” the security guards demanded.

The thugs spat at Liang Xusheng and left.

Lu Xun, his face still dark, glared at the girl standing behind Liang Xusheng.

“You called security?” Liang Xusheng asked, trying to defuse the situation, especially with An An present. He put his arm around Lu Xun’s shoulder. “Don’t be like that. Those guys were harassing An An. I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.”

“Whatever,” Lu Xun said, turning to leave.

“Lu Xun, what’s wrong?” Liang Xusheng called out, then stopped, glancing at An An.

Lu Xun walked away, his heart heavy. He hated An An. His friends had said Liang Xusheng liked her. He couldn’t tell if it was true, but he hated seeing them together. He avoided Liang Xusheng for the next few days because An An was always with him. He would leave as soon as he saw her, ignoring Liang Xusheng’s questions.

Then came the phone-throwing incident. But what surprised Liang Xusheng was that Lu Xun had immediately jumped into the pond to retrieve the phone, then rushed to a repair shop, soaking wet, to get it fixed. Liang Xusheng’s anger dissipated, replaced by concern.

“It’s okay,” he said to Lu Xun. “I know you don’t like An An. I won’t mention her again. Go back to your dorm and change. You’re soaked.”

Lu Xun’s face remained cold and impassive.

As they walked back, Lu Xun dripping wet, Liang Xusheng explained, “An An is my friend. Her ex-boyfriend was harassing her, and she asked for my help. I couldn’t just ignore her. It’s not about being a hero. You know I always help my friends.”

“Doesn’t she have any female friends? Any other male friends? A counselor? Parents? Relatives? Does she have to ask you for help? Are you some kind of superhero?” Lu Xun exploded, unable to take it anymore. “Go find your An An! Leave me alone!” He turned and stormed off.

Liang Xusheng stood there, stunned.

Lu Xun, after walking a few steps, stopped, took a deep breath, and walked back, his voice calmer now. “Xusheng, I didn’t mean to yell at you. I’m sorry, I…”

Liang Xusheng, also angry now, glared at him and walked away.

They didn’t speak for a week. Lu Xun spent all his free time playing basketball, his frustration evident in his aggressive plays.

“He’s acting like he just got dumped,” his friends commented.

“With him and Liang Xusheng, it’s practically the same thing,” another friend said.

Liang Xusheng stayed in his dorm, watching anime, ignoring everyone, including An An.

“Just apologize to Lu Xun,” Lao Zhang advised him.

“Why should I? Did I do anything wrong?” Liang Xusheng retorted.

“He’s the one attending your classes, bringing you breakfast, cleaning up your messes,” Lao Zhang said. “Have some conscience. Lu Xun is so aloof, he doesn’t care about anyone, but he treats you like a brother. He threw your phone, but he also jumped in the pond to get it back. He’s angry about An An, but he still helped her get into the student council.”

Liang Xusheng fell silent.

Finally, he went to wait for Lu Xun under the sycamore tree.

Lu Xun, walking out of the building, saw him and paused…

Lu Xun, remembering this moment, also paused, his heart clenching. He hadn’t understood his feelings back then, the sudden surge of emotion upon seeing Liang Xusheng, the way his anger dissipated instantly. He had walked towards him…

Now, he understood. His anger, his harsh words, the ache in his chest… it was all because…

He looked at Liang Xusheng, who was still looking through the old phone, his eyes dark and intense.

…because he loved him.