Chapter 28: Holding Tight

Li Ran was extremely skilled at his “homophobia”—he only feared male homosexuality, not female homosexuality, nor bisexuality.

These sexual orientations were what Li Ran fantasized about when he was so bored he couldn’t even fart.

He didn’t like to meddle in others’ affairs. Whatever others wanted to do was fine, as long as they didn’t drag him into their twisted preferences.

Though Li Ran appeared quiet and composed on the surface, he often harbored little monsters inside that weren’t entirely normal. Occasionally, when he thought about marrying a girl in the future, he shuddered more than at the idea of being with a man.

He felt sorry for that unknown girl, who would have to spend her life with someone as unromantic and dull as him. Later, he wanted to remain single forever, but he wasn’t sure if he could get past his mom.

If he even said it out loud, he’d probably be roared to death by Bai Qingqing’s lioness bellow from Hedong.

Then they’d erect a little tombstone—Name: Li Ran, Age: Only 17.

Ever since learning that Qi Zhi was bisexual, Li Ran did feel a bit awkward, but he wasn’t truly repulsed. He couldn’t just ask the homeroom teacher to switch seats because of that; it would hurt feelings too much.

Qi Zhi truly lived up to his reputation as the model who captured the hearts of men, women, young, and old. After coming out, he was so frank it was like he wanted to strip naked.

Having been desk mates for two years, he naturally understood Li Ran’s mental journey. Before Li Ran could even think about switching seats, Qi Zhi said, “I just like both men and women. If someone’s good-looking and we get along, I might want to try dating them. It’s not illegal. You wouldn’t abandon me and go solo just because of this, right desk mate? You’re good-looking too, but you’re a straight steel man. I really won’t offend you.”

Throughout the entire evening self-study, Qi Zhi turned into a chatty parrot, repeating himself over and over, jumbling his words. Li Ran listened with growing curiosity.

He finally asked, “You’ve never been with a guy before. So if you were… what would you even do?”

Qi Zhi replied smoothly, “Just like with a girl—go on dates, hold hands, and then… that…”

His fluent explanation stalled for a moment as Qi Zhi probed Li Ran’s curiosity.

A light bulb suddenly flashed in his mind, flickering as it revealed that Li Ran knew nothing.

Li Ran only understood the biology textbook stuff about making babies with the opposite sex. Swap the gender, and his single-threaded logic jammed, refusing to diverge—otherwise, how could he have scored a whopping 380 on the high school sophomore finals?

“It’s just dating and holding hands.”

Qi Zhi said it like a fool, drawing a firm conclusion. He couldn’t bear to shatter Li Ran’s innocence. How interesting.

Li Ran suddenly lost interest. “Oh.”

At that moment, Qi Zhi was poking his textbook with a black oil pen, playing connect-the-dots in the blank spaces, leaving black dots everywhere.

Qi Zhi’s head chased Li Ran’s head. The more Li Ran dodged, the more aggressively he pursued, ignoring Li Ran’s quiet pleas to back off.

He didn’t want to ruin Li Ran’s purity, yet he wanted to talk more.

What if Li Ran got curious and started taking an interest in men?

There were friendship-style gay bars like Qing Bar.

Full of men.

For Li Ran, refusing would be hard; he’d definitely agree.

—But Li Ran refused.

“It’s getting dark; after school, I need to hurry home. I didn’t ride my mountain bike this morning… someone’s coming to pick me up.” Li Ran almost said “my bro,” but caught himself just as it slipped out. His desk mate was cousins with Chi Mo, so that would sound like stealing someone else’s brother. He smartly swallowed the word.

“I’ve got homework to do. Qi Zhi, don’t talk to me anymore; the homeroom teacher’s always watching me.” Li Ran sat up straight, tidying his books and pretending to work on practice problems from the textbook with his pen. His eyes occasionally flicked up to sneak peeks at Ban Wei on the podium, who was drawing all the hate for him. It made his teeth itch with annoyance.

He wanted to bite the homeroom teacher.

His eyes scanned the problems, but his mind wandered to Chi Mo. Li Ran had never seen his bro truly angry, but going to that kind of place Qi Zhi mentioned without telling him… Just thinking about it purely, his instincts warned him not to test Chi Mo’s bottom line.

Otherwise, he’d die miserably.

After sharing his lofty evening self-study insights, Ban Wei felt satisfied. He paraded around with Li Ran’s summer homework in hand, inspecting it smugly—he knew too well how students got restless and lost motivation after three minutes. No matter why Li Ran had secretly crammed over the summer, the comfort it brought Ban Wei was genuine. He had to show it off properly.

Once Li Ran got beaten back to his true form by the high school demon-revealing mirror of studies, Ban Wei would scold him then.

One thing at a time.

After Ban Wei finished showing off and slipped away first—he had zero desire to stay in this lousy class—the entire High School Class 3-10 erupted in “rebellion.”

“Good for you, Li Ran, you traitor!”

“A’Dai, you copied from me on the sly—do you even remember which class you’re in? This isn’t dumb at all!”

“You actually dared to do homework!”

“And did it so well?!”

“Listen to what Ban Wei said: Li Ran can get into Tsinghua or Peking University, while us mortals are stuck at community college, haha, hahaha…”

“Qi Zhi, didn’t you never tutor Li Ran? You betrayed us too?!”

“No, wait—wasn’t it A’Dai who refused to study? Who led this traitor astray?”

“Don’t you know you’re not one of us anymore?! A’Dai, give your life!!”

“…”

Zhang Si and Zhang Youde, sitting closest up front, were the first to leap up. As the left and right forwards, they pinned Li Ran to his seat, then pressed him toward the desk.

Then all the boys rushed over, laughing and clamoring, piling on Li Ran layer by layer like human pyramids. Qi Zhi had been watching the fun at first, saying not to bully his good desk mate, but he got squeezed out like a wolf dog among the crowd and could only lunge forward.

It was as if Li Ran were a white, enticing, fragrant meat bone that everyone wanted to pounce on and lick.

Amid the jokes, some sneaked in real feelings. Through the layers of bodies, Li Ran sensed someone pinching his finger!

Drenched in sweat from the “outrage,” amid the chaotic din of the group assault, he weakly protested, “I’m not a traitor, not betraying anyone… Bro, save me!”

No one heard his plea.

These boys and girls were at the carefree age, untouched by society’s beatings, unskilled at hiding emotions. They could be bros and flop together as useless students, but if one “traitor” emerged and studied hard, out of control.

Li Ran was a minority with overly shy emotions; most were shrewd “rabble” types. Once one or two led, the whole pack joined.

Even the shy girls who couldn’t join excitedly watched from the sidelines.

They openly snapped photos with their phones.

One girl cupped her face and said, “Li Ran is the most fragrant Omega.”

Li Ran wasn’t unfamiliar with this scene. Back in first year high school, when Qi Zhi first topped the school midterms among sixty slackers, standing out inhumanly, but they weren’t close then, so everyone feigned restraint.

They barely held back.

Second midterm, Qi Zhi first again; midterms, still first. The now-familiar class family instantly boiled over, no more friendliness.

They pinned Qi Zhi to the desk, yelling why he had to ace it, if making them look like invincible idiots made him happy.

Just like today’s Qi Zhi, Li Ran had been cornered then, unable to escape, jostled by countless hands. His left hand even clumsily slapped Qi Zhi.

He secretly resented good students too. His mom always compared him to his desk mate.

This mob-like class camaraderie was manic and not worth promoting, but as the sudden protagonist, Li Ran finally felt integrated into the class.

A wondrous feeling.

“Really not… a traitor… not betraying…” Li Ran squeezed out words with difficulty as the evening self-study bell rang. But High School Class 3-10 didn’t retreat; it even drew crowds from the next class to watch.

Some even wanted to join.

Zhang Si shouted in time, “This is our class mascot—only we get to play! No coming over, or we’ll bite!”

“Woof!” Someone started barking.

Dozens piled on Li Ran; outsiders couldn’t see him.

Hearing that vigorous “woof,” Li Ran got inspired and bit down from below. Whoever gripped his hand let go with a yelp.

He bit the other side.

That side seemed to woof, voice cracking, and quickly released.

Hunching and squeezing a gap, Li Ran shed his school uniform like a cicada’s shell, yanking free his trapped short-sleeve undershirt—pure cotton, now deformed.

Ignoring it, he finally escaped and bolted out the back door, twisting away to run.

“He ran!!!”

Li Ran blasted off on the spot, wishing he could teleport to the gate.

High School Class 3-10 hadn’t seen him run this fast in two years. Ban Wei had just ridden out on his scooter when a gust whooshed by, nearly toppling his wheels.

Spotting the distinctive curly hair under the streetlight, Ban Wei was stunned and furious. “Li Ran! You hid your real speed even in PE class! Running this fast for puppy love?!”

“No puppy love…” Li Ran’s reply faded into the distance; he didn’t look back.

The evening self-study breeze carried a chill; campus lights flickered bright and dim. Li Ran sprinted to the gate in one breath. Across the street, in a rarely parked dark spot under a streetlamp, sat a low-key black car.

After confirming high school evening self-study started, Chi Mo said he’d pick him up from now on—not the Cullinan, but a company car.

To avoid busybodies gossiping.

Before dismissal, Chi Mo messaged that Shen Shu needed the car, so after dropping them home, he’d take the company vehicle away. Thus, he was driving.

Seeing the new car before its owner felt like spotting a heaven-sent lifeline. Li Ran dashed over and yanked open the back door.

“Bro—”

Seeing his disheveled state, Chi Mo’s face darkened instantly.

Hair a mess, clothes wrinkled, school uniform gone leaving only the short sleeve, cheeks and nose tip flushed from running, breathing ragged and panting—utterly chaotic…

“Bro!” Li Ran couldn’t stop, body lunging forward to crash into Chi Mo’s arms. He even hugged him. “Bro, I pissed off the whole class; they’re terrifying, all because of that summer homework…”

Looking so adorably trusting, seeking his protection.

Chi Mo froze in place, gaze dropping to Li Ran’s lips. He knew he was talking but didn’t catch the words. His eyes darkened profoundly, freezing the moment like a camera shutter.