Gu Shiying never would have guessed that Fu Huan’s dramatic mood swing was the result of his own wild, spiraling thoughts making himself depressed. He didn’t even have a romantic partner right now—who the hell was he supposed to marry?
Besides, whether he’d even get married in the future was still up in the air.
Right then, a server arrived with two fruit platters.
Gu Shiying still had no clue why Fu Huan had suddenly gone so emo.
But he remembered Fu Huan bringing him milk tea with that little cake. He couldn’t exactly harden his heart and ignore him.
Gu Shiying: “Want some watermelon? I’ll go grab some.”
Before Fu Huan could answer, Gu Shiying was already up and fetching two slices. Fu Huan stopped nursing the beer bottle and just watched Gu Shiying get the watermelon and then bring it over to him.
Standing there, Gu Shiying happened to block the garish, multicolored ceiling lights. In that moment, Fu Huan’s world narrowed to only him. The ear-splitting screeching from the karaoke seemed to pause.
“Aren’t you going to eat it?”
“I’ll eat.”
One bite-sized piece of watermelon was enough to cure two days of Fu Huan’s gloom. He nibbled it slowly, almost delicately, until the small, thin triangle was gone.
Fu Huan thought: Did Gu Shiying notice his mood? Could he push his luck a little? Ask a small favor?
He ventured tentatively, “I think I’m a bit drunk. Could you grab me another slice?”
Gu Shiying: “Sure.”
He got up again and brought back two slices—one for Fu Huan, one for himself.
Then Fu Huan asked for a third.
Gu Shiying turned and glared at him. “Can you just say it all at once? How many do you actually want? This up, down, up, down is tiring.”
Fu Huan’s earlier melancholy had been entirely cured by Gu Shiying. The corners of his mouth weren’t quite smiling, but his eyes were much clearer than before.
He proactively stood up. “I’ll go get it then.”
Gu Shiying, no longer as polite with him as before, said, “Grab me some boiled peanuts. I tried one earlier—they’re pretty good.”
Fu Huan: “Mm.”
Gu Shiying watched him walk away, perfectly steady. That was “drunk”? What a lame excuse! He didn’t even need to hear his inner thoughts to know what Fu Huan was thinking right now. But hey, he’d managed to cheer him up a little.
How could a person be this easy to soothe? Did he really like him to this extreme degree?
The more Gu Shiying realized the pure, simple depth of Fu Huan’s feelings, the tighter his brow furrowed. This couldn’t continue.
Fu Huan returned with the watermelon and settled back beside him, intentionally closing the distance between them until their arms were a hair’s breadth apart.
But Gu Shiying’s next words were a lethal strike to Fu Huan.
Curiously, he asked, “What about that Fine Arts heartthrob who came looking for you the other day? Why isn’t he here? Isn’t he your friend?”
Fu Huan’s expression froze. “I’m not close with him.”
Gu Shiying: “But he treated you to a meal.”
Fu Huan: “I didn’t go eat with him.”
Gu Shiying: “Huh?”
Fu Huan: “Not everyone who invites me to a meal gets one.”
Gu Shiying felt a surge of… something. He wasn’t sure what. His heart should feel cold and discouraged, but that particular emotion wasn’t surfacing.
He blinked at Fu Huan. “Why wouldn’t you go? He’s the department heartthrob, you know.”
Fu Huan didn’t deny that Lin Zijing held that title. He just stared straight into Gu Shiying’s eyes, like he was trying to see into his very soul.
“So what? I don’t like him.”
Gu Shiying: “You don’t even like the heartthrob? What kind of person do you like then?”
Fu Huan suddenly turned the question on him. “You’re not surprised I like men?”
His reaction was quick. Only someone who knew he was gay would ask that question. And Gu Shiying had completely skipped past the “liking men” part—meaning he already knew about his orientation.
Gu Shiying was caught off guard. He’d known Fu Huan was gay for a while now; his brain automatically defaulted to that fact. He’d forgotten to feign ignorance, exposing himself entirely.
He cleared his throat. “It was… it was A-Heng. He’s met a lot of people; he guessed it.”
Fu Huan leaned in slightly, his head tilting toward Gu Shiying, a strange, intense light in his eyes. “Then do you mind that your roommate is gay?”
Gu Shiying felt the pressure radiating from Fu Huan, but he was also a guy—why should he be cowed? He held his ground, refusing to lean back.
Caught in Fu Huan’s aura, he looked up and met his gaze head-on. “I don’t discriminate against gay men or lesbians.”
Fu Huan: “So… do you dislike me?”
Gu Shiying thought this question was maybe crossing a line, leaning into overly intimate territory. He knew exactly why Fu Huan was asking. And he knew deep down the appropriate answer.
“You’re my roommate. Why would I dislike you?” He deliberately emphasized the word “roommate.” “This question is basically the same as the last one.”
“It’s not the same,” Fu Huan said, pulling back slightly. The first question targeted the group; the second was about him, specifically. “Though we are indeed roommates.” There was a note of self-deprecation in his voice.
Gu Shiying’s heart was in chaos under that gaze. Now that the knowledge of his orientation was out in the open, Fu Huan’s looks were even more blatant. Saying it wasn’t intimidating would be a lie. He had zero experience handling a situation like this.
Truth be told, Gu Shiying had never lacked female admirers, in high school or university. But even the boldest girl maintained a certain demureness. He’d always been able to reject them gently and without making things awkward.
But Fu Huan was different. He was a man.
In the dim light, Fu Huan was like a coiled, predatory lion, fixing Gu Shiying in his sights with the focus of a hunter stalking prey. No matter where he fled, escape seemed impossible.
Gu Shiying deeply regretted letting on that he knew about Fu Huan’s orientation. His answer just now—hopefully, it hadn’t given Fu Huan the wrong idea. It was just the standard “roommate” response.
He made a cowardly escape, citing a need for the restroom after too many drinks.
The bathroom in the private room was occupied. He went looking for one outside. Following the server’s directions, it took a few twists and turns to find it.
On the way, he updated the other two roommates in their “Steel Straight Man” group chat.
Welcoming the God of Wealth: Brother Huan admitted he’s gay!
Little Lamb: OMG, so is Brother Huan a 1 or a 0?
Gulangyu: Isn’t this a bit too private?
Little Lamb: Ha, I got this. With that aura, Brother Huan has GOT to be the top.
Welcoming the God of Wealth: You seriously know a lot.
Little Lamb: Your bro here, I’m gonna be in the entertainment industry someday. Gotta be in the know.
Gu Shiying finished his bulletin and went into the bathroom.
When he came back out, he’d completely forgotten the way he’d come.
The KTV had incredibly dark lighting. Even the walls were black. The corridors snaked in every direction, and it was so dark he could only make out the room numbers on the doors. He had no idea what the numbering pattern was. This seemed to be the small and medium room area, and there wasn’t a single server in sight.
A bit creepy.
Gu Shiying only vaguely remembered the direction he’d come from, but there were multiple intersections. He was utterly lost. After wandering for a bit, he heard sounds ahead and followed them.
Just as he’d taken a couple of steps, a man wearing a dark-colored shirt—reeking of alcohol and swaying heavily—came stumbling out of a side corridor.
The man crashed right into Gu Shiying, nearly his full weight falling onto him. Gu Shiying barely managed to stay upright.
Gu Shiying steadied him, assuming he was just a drunk. He was about to push him away when the man’s frantic inner thoughts flooded his mind.
Absolutely terrifying.
[Someone drugged my drink. Help me. Help me. Help me!]
Gu Shiying was in such close proximity that he could hear the man’s labored, strangely heavy breathing. The unnatural flush on his face was a glaring red flag.
The man was practically boneless, clinging to Gu Shiying.
“Hey, are you okay?”
All that came from the man were incoherent groans. He couldn’t even form a clear response.
“Go… quick…”
Gu Shiying decided to help him leave first. Being drugged—this was a first for a college student still navigating the world.
Last time, someone had spiked the fried rice. That could be written off as malicious business competition. But someone being drugged like this? It definitely wasn’t any kind of “proper” medication.
What was wrong with society? People were terrible!
“Should I call the police for you?”
The man didn’t respond, just leaned heavily and miserably against Gu Shiying.
Calling the police was definitely necessary, but Gu Shiying had just put his phone in his pocket. Both hands were occupied holding the man up—he couldn’t get it out.
First, get back to their private room. Having classmates around to figure things out would give him more security.
Just as he was about to move the man away, two men came charging from the end of the corridor.
“There he is!”
“Quick, don’t let him get away!”
The two rushed up to Gu Shiying and the young man. Without even a greeting, they moved to snatch the man away.
Gu Shiying: “Who are you?”
The pair looked like business professionals: one in a basic white dress shirt and slacks, the other in a full three-piece suit. Neat on the outside, but they couldn’t mask the stench of inner rot and filth.
“We’re his friends. He’s drunk. Thanks for your trouble. Just hand him over to us.”
Gu Shiying wasn’t born yesterday. There was absolutely no way he was handing over a person calling for help to these two. Who knew what they’d do.
“How do you prove you’re his friends?”
Seeing the youthful, student-like innocence in Gu Shiying’s face, they maintained a veneer of false politeness.
The one in the full suit offered a slick smile. “Little handsome, I’m his boyfriend. He always gets like this when he’s drunk—spouting nonsense. Please, just hand him over.”
Gu Shiying was still holding the man’s arm. The guy couldn’t speak, but that didn’t stop Gu Shiying from catching exactly what he wanted to convey. He was still conscious.
[I don’t know them. I was tricked. Please… save me…]
Gu Shiying stood firm. “I don’t believe you. Take one step closer and I’m calling the police.”
The two men exchanged glances. Seeing Gu Shiying so resolute, they scanned the area. No one was around. The suit moved to simply grab the man.
“He came to the KTV with us. There’s security footage to prove it. Hey, little handsome, why don’t you come join us for a drink or two?”
Gu Shiying’s expression was icy. “Move. He’s my friend. Don’t think I don’t know what you did.”
Another look passed between them.
The suit: “Little handsome, you can say whatever you want with food in your mouth, but some words shouldn’t be spoken carelessly.”
The white-shirt guy directly tried to snatch the man by force.
Gu Shiying, of course, held on tight. In this situation, as a university student, his only option was to shout!
“What are you doing?!”
“Help! Help!”
“Perverts!”
But KTV rooms weren’t exactly soundproof. With music blasting inside, it was loud enough outside too.
To make matters worse, no server had come down this corridor. The KTV security hadn’t done anything either. No one was coming to stop them.
Shirt-guy snarled, “Screaming’s useless. No one’s gonna hear. Hand him over!”
The suit barked, “Quit wasting time with him. Just grab He Zexuan!”
The suit lunged, grabbing Gu Shiying, while the shirt-guy hooked his arms under the drugged man’s armpits, ready to drag him away.
Gu Shiying aimed a fierce kick right at the suit’s shin. “Let go! I’m warning you, a dozen of my friends are in our private room. You lay a finger on me and you’ll regret it!”
The suit winced in pain but still managed a sneer. “Cut the bullshit, you little punk.”
The shirt-guy’s thoughts were even more vile. “Brother Xia, this kid’s not bad looking. Let’s take him too. Could fetch a decent price. The cameras here have been busted for ages—no one will know.”
The suit: “Fine. That settles it. Buy one, get one free.”
Alarm bells blared in Gu Shiying’s head. He let go of the man and snatched his phone. Right on cue, he saw Fu Huan’s incoming voice call flash on the screen.
In his panic, he swiped to answer just as the suit was about to knock the phone away. With all the force he could muster, Gu Shiying shouted: “Fu Huan! Some guys are trying to take me! Get people and catch them!”
Fu Huan’s icy voice came through from the other end: “They’re dead.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Fu Huan’s tall, sharp silhouette rounded the corner. Zhang Zhi and Liang Qi were right behind him.
The three advanced with intimidating purpose. Panic flickered across the faces of the suit and the shirt-guy.
The shirt-guy immediately dropped He Zexuan to the floor, ready to bolt.
Zhang Zhi and Liang Qi took off after him instantly. The suit, of course, tried to run too, but Gu Shiying’s earlier kick had been brutal, slowing him down. Gu Shiying landed another kick—this time to his rear—sending the suit stumbling into the door handle of a nearby room.
Fu Huan strode forward. With one hand, he grabbed the suit by his crooked, askew tie, hoisting him up like a chicken.
His eyes glittered with shards of ice. “You were going to take someone who’s mine?”
The suit hadn’t been scared when Gu Shiying threatened him; he’d even had twisted ideas. But the young man before him now made his legs go weak with just a single look.
“I… I didn’t!”
Fu Huan slammed a brutal punch right into the man’s polished, wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing face.
The entire corridor was filled with the suit’s agonized screams.
Gu Shiying, afraid Fu Huan would beat him to death, grabbed his arm. “I already kicked him twice. Take it easy.”
Fu Huan threw the man to the floor, then, out of habit, pressed the sole of his shoe against the man’s face. The suit whimpered in pain, curled into a fetal position.
When Fu Huan turned to Gu Shiying, the change was instantaneous. One hand pressed gently on his shoulder, the other clasped his wrist, his eyes scanning him up and down with infinite tenderness.
“Are you okay?”
[If only I could lock Gu Shiying away at home. Then he’d never be in danger.]
After a split-second delay, Gu Shiying shook his head, biting his cheek. “…I’m fine.”
Fu Huan’s concern was truly overwhelming.
But somehow… he was getting almost used to it. He couldn’t even muster much anger anymore.
Damn it!
