Chapter 5: Just Shut Up

Gu Shiying had nothing against pink and white. He liked white clothes himself and even owned a light pink T-shirt. It was just that he associated the color combo with cute girls.

Since he’d already agreed to go with Fu Huan, there was no going back on it. Besides, he had his own little plan. He gritted his teeth and got on the back seat.

The seat wasn’t big. Two tall guys squeezed together meant they were pressed close. Not only were their clothes touching, but Gu Shiying could also feel the scalding body heat radiating from Fu Huan through the fabric.

Gu Shiying faced the rushing wind and fanned his own face. It was really hot.

He asked Fu Huan: “Whose cute little scooter did you borrow?”

Fu Huan: “Our class monitor.”

Gu Shiying: “Your monitor is a girl?”

Fu Huan: “He’s a guy.”

Gu Shiying: “…” Didn’t get it, but respected it.

The campus was huge. Sometimes the lecture halls were far from the dorms. Although there were campus buses, they ran on strict schedules, and missing one meant being late. So, the school allowed students to ride bicycles and e-scooters.

Gu Shiying: “Didn’t expect you’d ride a scooter on campus.”

Fu Huan: “Why couldn’t I?”

The question caught Gu Shiying off guard. He wanted to say, besides that ‘bored-with-the-entire-world’ expression, there was nothing to pick on. Fu Huan was good-looking, dressed well. Just standing there, he was comparable to a top-tier model.

“Because you’re tall. Your legs probably don’t even fit properly on this little scooter.”

“They’re fine.”

Fu Huan maintained his usual terse manner and drove steadily all the way to the police station.

They were received by a young police officer who didn’t seem much older than them. His surname was Cheng, and two faint dimples appeared when he smiled.

Officer Cheng, who looked quite young, asked Gu Shiying: “Gu Shiying, right? How are your injuries?”

Gu Shiying: “Okay, I guess. No stitches needed. The doctor said it’s fine once the scab forms.”

Officer Cheng: “That’s good.”

He asked them both about whether they knew the perpetrator and took their statements as a matter of routine.

As Officer Cheng was seeing them to the door, he cheerfully informed them: “Oh, right. Our station will be holding an award ceremony for ‘Courageous Acts for Justice.’ Your names are on the list. We’ll notify you to come receive the award when the time comes.”

Gu Shiying had always thought of himself as an ordinary student. He’d never imagined he’d have such a shining moment.

His eyes went round: “Wow, is the ‘Courageous Acts for Justice’ award a banner of commendation?”

Officer Cheng: “There’s also a ten-thousand-yuan cash prize. Add me on WeChat, so it’s easier for me to contact you later.”

Gu Shiying: “Sure, thanks, Officer Cheng.”

Fu Huan, however, spoke up after they’d exchanged WeChat contacts: “Officer Cheng, there’s no need to give me this award. I didn’t really do anything.”

Officer Cheng: “This is a decision confirmed by our chief and your university president. Student Fu Huan also saved someone. Don’t be modest.”

Gu Shiying was surprised Fu Huan would actually refuse. He remembered Fu Huan had saved his life, too, and tried to persuade him: “You saved my life as well. If not for you, I’d be a dead soul under that knife right now.”

Officer Cheng waved goodbye to them: “You two just wait for my notification.”

This meant Fu Huan’s refusal was invalid.

Seeing the adorably pink scooter parked next to the police car again, Gu Shiying felt a surge of joy at their good fortune, and even the little pink-and-white scooter looked much more pleasing.

He asked Fu Huan: “Hey, Fu Huan, why would you want to refuse this award?”

Fu Huan: “My act wasn’t brave or just.”

Gu Shiying clicked his tongue: “You don’t want ten thousand bucks?” He had a newfound perspective on Fu Huan—Fu Huan actually wasn’t interested in money.

Fu Huan looked back at him, eyelids lifting and shedding their usual lazy look: “You want it?”

Gu Shiying answered honestly: “Ten thousand bucks. What college student could possibly refuse that? I’m totally a mundane person, anyway. When it comes to money, the more the better.” Otherwise, why would he squeeze out spare time for part-time jobs to earn money during his busy course schedule? His life motto was “Make money! Make money! Make money!”

Fu Huan: “Fine. I’ll participate in the award ceremony.”

Gu Shiying: “You changed your mind pretty fast.”

Fu Huan didn’t explain. He maneuvered the scooter out of the tight parking space, put on his helmet, and patted the rear seat, his eyes meeting Gu Shiying’s.

“Get on. I’ll take you back.”

Gu Shiying wasn’t short either. He swung a leg over and mounted the back seat.

After driving for a bit, Gu Shiying noticed the scooter slowing down. Pedestrians on the sidewalk were walking faster than them.

Gu Shiying sensed something off: “Why are you driving so slowly?”

Fu Huan put his long legs down to steady the scooter as it came to a complete stop: “The battery’s probably dead.”

Gu Shiying: “…”

Fu Huan used his phone to search for nearby e-scooter charging stations. However, the closest one was a charging point near their school.

Fu Huan: “We’ll just have to push it back.”

It was less than two kilometers to ride here, but walking back while pushing a scooter—it would take at least fifteen minutes just to reach the campus gate.

Gu Shiying really didn’t want to spend this much time alone with Fu Huan. He considered heading off on his own, but his conscience wouldn’t allow him to abandon someone halfway.

“Then let’s just walk back.”

Fu Huan: “You should just grab a cab back. The sun on your wound could cause inflammation.”

Gu Shiying, clinging to his own secret agenda, refused: “What could happen? It’s not even as hot as yesterday.”

Fu Huan nodded and started pushing the scooter forward.

They walked several hundred meters without exchanging a single word.

Fu Huan, as in the dorm, was a man of few words. Gu Shiying, meanwhile, was racking his brain for a way to casually convey to Fu Huan that he “had a girlfriend,” or at least a girl he liked.

After building up his courage for a while, Gu Shiying snuck a glance at Fu Huan and saw he was simply looking straight ahead, his face devoid of expression.

“Fu Huan, that thing is…”

Just at that moment, a gentle, sweet voice suddenly called out his name.

“Gu Shiying?”

Gu Shiying turned and saw Liu Wenqing walking quickly toward him on the sidewalk.

Alarm bells blared in his head.

Oh, crap, no!

The girl his buddy liked was right up ahead, and next to him was the very guy Liu Wenqing wanted to pursue!

What to do? What to do?!

He couldn’t let them exchange WeChat. Liu Wenqing was so pretty…

Huh? Wait. He’d just been subconsciously thinking from Zhang Zhi’s perspective. If Fu Huan liked Liu Wenqing, wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t like Gu Shiying anymore? No, wait. Fu Huan was gay. They said gayness was innate, impossible to ‘straighten’ out. It wouldn’t be fair to the girl, and it would be way too much of a betrayal to his own buddy.

As these tangled thoughts rapidly cycled through his head, Liu Wenqing had already reached them.

Liu Wenqing asked with concern: “I heard you were injured. How is it? Is it serious?”

Over the course of one night and one morning, practically any student who knew Gu Shiying was aware he’d been hurt.

Gu Shiying deliberately moved his arm a bit, smiling: “It’s no big deal. I’m still up and about, obviously. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be seeing me here.”

Liu Wenqing glanced toward Fu Huan, who had also stopped, waiting for Gu Shiying.

“Looking at you, it does seem like you’re fine. When I heard about it last night, I thought it was a rumor.” Then she unabashedly looked at Fu Huan and gave Gu Shiying a meaningful look. “And this is…?”

Gu Shiying looked nervously at Fu Huan. If it weren’t for helping Zhang Zhi, he wouldn’t have even been in a position to hear Fu Huan’s inner thoughts. Zhang Zhi truly had a lot to answer for.

“He’s my roommate, Fu Huan.”

Fu Huan nodded. This person, who rarely initiated conversation, suddenly spoke up: “Hello.”

Liu Wenqing’s eyes practically sparkled: “I’m Liu Wenqing, from the minor languages department.”

Fu Huan: “Sounds good.”

Liu Wenqing: “Not really, I think it’s just average. What’s your major?”

Fu Huan: “Finance.”

Gu Shiying, seeing they were about to slip into a full conversation, grew anxious. Fu Huan couldn’t actually be bisexual, could he? His normally cool expression seemed to melt a little while talking to a girl. Gu Shiying was fretting inwardly. If this kept up, his bro really wouldn’t stand a chance.

Gu Shiying hastily interrupted: “Fu Huan, we still need to charge the scooter. Should we go?”

Fu Huan: “Mm.”

Liu Wenqing’s words were cut short again by Gu Shiying: “We’ve gotta run. I’ll treat you to milk tea some other time.”

Liu Wenqing smiled but, maintaining some reserve in front of Fu Huan, didn’t directly ask for his WeChat. Instead, she winked at Gu Shiying.

“Gu Shiying, check WeChat in a bit. I need to ask you something.”

Gu Shiying nodded: “Will do.”

And then they parted ways.

Gu Shiying figured this was the perfect moment. He could use this opportunity to subtly make it clear to Fu Huan that he had someone he liked!

Looking at Fu Huan’s profile, he asked, in the casual tone of one guy chatting to another: “Fu Huan, do you know how to pursue a girl?”

He waited a while but got no response from Fu Huan.

Gu Shiying thought the street noise was too loud and asked again, leaning closer and moving to Fu Huan’s left side.

“Fu Huan, you don’t have any experience chasing girls, do you?”

Fu Huan gave him a deep look: “I do.”

Gu Shiying suddenly choked on his words… Wait. That wasn’t how this was supposed to go. Fu Huan was gay. How could he have experience chasing girls? Could he really be bisexual, going both ways? What a scumbag!

Cursing inwardly but keeping his tone light and casual, he asked: “So how would you go about pursuing a girl who’s especially hard to get? Teach me a few tricks?”

He was circling back to his original plan: not explicitly saying he had a girlfriend, but making it clear he liked a girl. After a couple of days, Fu Huan would hopefully stop having these thoughts about him. Otherwise, seeing each other every day while living in the same dorm—how awkward would that be?

“Teaching you how to chase that Liu Wenqing just now?”

Gu Shiying’s mind froze for a split second. “?”

Fu Huan thought he liked Liu Wenqing?

This was an avenue he hadn’t even considered.

This could seriously work for killing Fu Huan’s interest!

Gu Shiying immediately nodded like a pecking chicken, reciting Zhang Zhi’s past praises of Liu Wenqing: “Yeah, exactly. She’s so pretty, great grades, talented in so many things, good temper, confident, and outgoing. Lots of people like her, so she’s pretty hard to chase.”

Fu Huan’s lips pressed into a thin line. His enunciation became a bit less clear: “You hold her in very high esteem.”

Gu Shiying grinned, even deliberately scratching his head in feigned shyness: “It’s okay. Main thing is I’ve got a bit of a crush on her.” Sorry for throwing you under the bus for now, bro.

As they chatted, they soon arrived at the school gate.

Fu Huan needed to return the scooter and told Gu Shiying to head back to the dorm himself.

Gu Shiying, in a rather good mood, turned and walked back onto campus, inwardly rejoicing. He’d made it clear he had a girl he liked! Surely Fu Huan would gradually lose interest in him now.

Fu Huan’s interest probably stemmed from Gu Shiying not having a girlfriend and mistakenly thinking Gu Shiying might be open to liking guys. Now that he’d clarified his stance, Fu Huan would definitely shift his attention elsewhere!

Just as he’d predicted, after Fu Huan went to return the scooter, he didn’t come back to the dorm all afternoon.

That evening, Gu Shiying, in excellent spirits, was lounging with his legs crossed, waiting for Zhang Zhi to come back and help him reapply his ointment.

But to his dismay, at seven o’clock, Zhang Zhi only sent a message.

Zhang Zhi: Ying’er, my friends and I decided to go on a nighttime hike tonight, so I won’t be back on campus!

Gu Shiying: Crap.

He could have mentioned this earlier! Why wait until after the school clinic doctors had gone home for the day to tell him?!

Zhang Zhi, that unreliable piece of work! He’d just do it himself!

Gritting his teeth, Gu Shiying braced against the pain and began unwinding the gauze.

Gu Shiying: “Argh, argh, argh! Hurts like hell!”

Just then, Fu Huan pushed the door open and walked in, seeing Gu Shiying nearly doubled over in agony.

He stepped forward and grabbed the left hand that was about to clumsily apply ointment to the wound: “Don’t move.”

Gu Shiying felt Fu Huan was basically his pain reliever, because Fu Huan’s inner thoughts were always so mortifying they made him forget his injury!

【These fair, long legs would look perfect wrapped around a waist.】

Gu Shiying’s eyes widened as he stared at him: Aaarrrggghhh!

He was just wearing a pair of athletic shorts in the dorm because of the hot weather! What guy in college didn’t dress like this in their own dorm room?!

Fu Huan, however, looked as if his inner thoughts had absolutely nothing to do with him and asked Gu Shiying, his expression cool: “That painful?”

Gu Shiying was so angry the tip of his heart was practically trembling: “…”

If not for hearing Fu Huan’s inner thoughts, he’d actually believe the guy was genuinely concerned about him!

Please, just shut up, you pervert.