Ji Zhi: !!!
Why did their school have so many matters requiring Duan Zhao’s attention?
No, it was probably like last time—Duan Zhao had come deliberately just to see him…
A twinge of guilt stirred in Ji Zhi’s heart. Clinging to a faint hope, he sent a message: 【But I already have plans on Saturday. I’m going out to play with some classmates.】
Duan Zhao replied almost immediately: 【That’s fine. I can join you all. I’ll cover all the travel expenses.】
Ji Zhi: 【He doesn’t like hanging out with strangers.】
Duan Zhao: 【It sounds like you two are close. You never mentioned him last time.】
【But you should be careful when making friends. I can help you vet him.】
Realizing his excuse was useless—and that continuing would only make things worse—Ji Zhi didn’t dare respond further. He simply typed out: 【Then I’ll ask him.】
Just then, the bathroom door swung open. Fu Huixu emerged, a faint mist of steam clinging to him.
Harboring that sliver of hope, Ji Zhi ventured, “Do you have any plans for Saturday?”
“Is it something with the company?”
Fu Huixu turned to him, his voice gentle. “Nothing like that.”
“What’s wrong, Baby? Where do you want to go?”
Ji Zhi: “…..I-I’m fine. I was just asking casually.”
Fu Huixu: “Then how about we go out this weekend?”
Ji Zhi hurriedly refused. After all, he still had Duan Zhao to deal with.
He forced himself not to show any sign of distress, though inside, he was screaming—
What was he supposed to do now?!
Ji Zhi racked his brains but couldn’t come up with a suitable solution.
He even began hoping that either Duan Zhao or Fu Huixu would have something come up at the last minute. Yet even by Friday evening, nothing of the sort had happened.
With Saturday looming and his hopes dashed, Ji Zhi finally scraped together an idea.
He turned to Fu Huixu. “Tomorrow, I have a relative coming to campus to see me, so I’ll be heading out with him for a bit…”
Fu Huixu: “A relative?”
“When did they message you?”
Fu Huixu had spent so much time with Ji Zhi lately that he knew Ji Zhi’s parents had passed away and that Chen Xingwen was the person he contacted most often. But after hearing Ji Zhi describe Chen Xingwen’s orientation as “non-human,” Fu Huixu had set his mind at ease.
Hearing Ji Zhi suddenly mention a relative now stirred a flicker of doubt in Fu Huixu’s heart.
Ji Zhi quickly added, “It’s a distant uncle. We used to talk more before I started university, but he’s been busy lately, so we’ve drifted a bit.”
“He messaged me during class, saying he’s just passing by and wants to check how I’m settling into university life. I’ll be back in a few hours—no need to come along…”
But Fu Huixu still wanted to join. “Baby, your expression looks a little off.”
“Is it really your uncle?”
Ji Zhi realized his tension had given him away.
But it was hard not to be nervous.
Meeting Fu Huixu’s dark eyes, Ji Zhi could only insist, “It really is.”
Fu Huixu: “Then why can’t I come along?”
Ji Zhi: “Because…”
“My uncle doesn’t know about my cross-dressing streams, and he has prejudices against gay people. I’m worried you two might clash, or that he might end up hating me because of the streaming…”
His words were half true, half fabricated.
Fu Huixu frowned in thought, then slowly relaxed.
Ji Zhi realized he had been believed and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
But the next second, Fu Huixu said, “I’ll go with you.”
“I won’t bring it up.”
Ji Zhi: “……”
Though he hadn’t managed to dissuade Fu Huixu, the exchange sparked an idea. Seizing the moment when Fu Huixu wasn’t around, Ji Zhi messaged Duan Zhao: 【My classmate agreed to have a meal together.】
【But he doesn’t know about my streaming, and he’s a bit homophobic. I’m afraid if he finds out about our relationship, he’ll look down on me or tell the other classmates. So I told him you’re my uncle. Sorry TAT】
Duan Zhao: 【Don’t worry. I’ll keep it confidential for you.】
Ji Zhi hadn’t specified what Duan Zhao should do, but clearly, Duan Zhao got the hint.
Feeling he had done all he could, Ji Zhi pondered how to keep the meeting between Duan Zhao and Fu Huixu to just one meal.
Fu Huixu was taciturn, and Duan Zhao wouldn’t easily pry useful information from him…
With that in mind, Ji Zhi brimmed with renewed hope.
Saturday arrived as scheduled.
Perhaps because he had been so anxious beforehand, now that the day had truly come, Ji Zhi fell into an eerie calm.
Even so, before heading out, he didn’t forget to remind Fu Huixu not to slip up and call him “Baby”—just use his name instead.
After all, Duan Zhao already knew his real name from last time, so it wouldn’t matter if Fu Huixu used it.
Since Duan Zhao had business at the school this time, they had agreed to meet around eleven at the south gate parking lot—the same spot where Duan Zhao had dropped him off before—to avoid drawing too much attention.
Ji Zhi had once thought the south gate parking lot was too far from the dorms, but now he realized the walk was far too short.
If he could, he would have walked forever.
But that was just wishful thinking.
In the end, he and Fu Huixu reached the south gate parking lot.
Ji Zhi didn’t remember what car Duan Zhao had driven last time, only that it was black. He was just scanning around tentatively when footsteps approached from the side, accompanied by that familiar male voice: “Xiao Zhi.”
Ji Zhi turned toward the sound.
Sure enough, Duan Zhao was emerging unhurriedly from the interplay of light and shadow.
His figure was tall and upright. The well-fitted deep gray suit jacket accentuated his sharp shoulder lines with each step. The buttons were neatly fastened, save for the hem, which swayed gently with his steady gait, tracing a graceful arc. The thin gold frame of his glasses caught the light with a soft sheen, and behind the lenses, his upturned eyes—with their naturally aloof slant—now held a relaxed elegance.
Ji Zhi opened his mouth to greet him, but Duan Zhao’s gaze had already shifted to the person beside Ji Zhi. He sized Fu Huixu up carefully before smiling at Ji Zhi. “So your classmate is Fu Huixu.”
Ji Zhi’s heart jolted.
Did these two know each other?
He instinctively glanced at Fu Huixu, whose expression remained calm—no trace of excitement at seeing an acquaintance.
Noticing Ji Zhi’s gaze, Fu Huixu met his eyes and explained, “We’ve crossed paths a few times at banquets before.”
He had almost called Ji Zhi “Baby,” but remembering Ji Zhi’s warning, he stopped himself.
As the designated heir, Fu Huixu often attended various banquets with his father or grandfather, so he had encountered Duan Zhao.
Their interactions had been minimal—just nods of greeting at events. Fu Huixu’s father had more contact with Duan Zhao.
He hadn’t expected to run into him again here, and certainly not with Duan Zhao posing as Ji Zhi’s distant uncle.
Duan Zhao smiled and picked up the thread. “That’s right. I remember your father mentioning you were at A University. I didn’t realize you were Xiao Zhi’s classmate.”
“And that you two get along so well…”
He slowed on the last words, his trailing tone light as if it might dissipate into the air.
Though Duan Zhao addressed Fu Huixu, Ji Zhi could feel the man’s gaze lingering on him.
Guilt flooded Ji Zhi instantly. Duan Zhao’s smile hadn’t changed much, so Ji Zhi couldn’t tell if he had seen through the ruse or was just commenting casually. He hurriedly changed the subject. “We should head to lunch now.”
“Uncle, which restaurant did you have in mind?”
Duan Zhao smiled. “We’ll go together.”
“Let’s go, Xiao Zhi.”
Ji Zhi had thought he successfully shifted the topic, but as soon as they were in the car, he realized the real ordeal was just beginning.
Knowing Ji Zhi didn’t want to be seen by too many people, Duan Zhao had switched to a low-key vehicle this time.
He had also called a driver.
Eyeing the rear seat, Ji Zhi sensed trouble and quickly moved toward the front passenger seat. “Then I’ll sit up front…”
But Duan Zhao spoke up right after. “Sit in the back.”
“Xiao Zhi, it’s been a while since we last met. I have some things I’d like to ask you.”
Fu Huixu added calmly, “I want to sit with you.”
Ji Zhi: “……”
His heart sank. Afraid Fu Huixu might say more, he gave up on the front seat and retreated to the back.
The rear seat was spacious enough for three.
Ji Zhi sat in the middle, Duan Zhao on his left, Fu Huixu on his right.
Duan Zhao got in first. As Ji Zhi settled in, he noticed Duan Zhao pulling out his phone, as if sending a message.
But before Ji Zhi could glimpse the screen, Duan Zhao put it away.
Duan Zhao was the first to break the silence in the car.
As the partition rose between front and back, he spoke slowly. “You’ve seemed busy lately. Are you having any troubles with school or life?”
“Or have you started dating someone?”
Ji Zhi had braced for Duan Zhao to bring up his streaming at the first half of the sentence.
Hearing the second part eased his mind, and he lied without hesitation. “No.”
In truth, his troubles sat on either side of him.
And dating was even less possible now—his reputation at school was already tied to Fu Huixu.
Duan Zhao smiled unhurriedly. “That’s good. Still, I didn’t expect your classmate to be Fu Huixu.”
“How did you two meet? Why haven’t I heard you mention him before?”
Ji Zhi had anticipated this question yesterday and answered fluently. “We’re roommates in the dorm—just the two of us—so we naturally got to know each other and became friends.”
“Back then, I didn’t know you knew Fu Huixu too, so I didn’t bring it up…”
He was glad now that they really were roommates. Even if Duan Zhao checked with the school, the story would hold.
Ji Zhi spoke while looking at Fu Huixu, prompting him to corroborate his answer.
Fu Huixu wasn’t familiar with Duan Zhao to begin with and had no intention of responding, but upon noticing Ji Zhi’s gaze directed at him, he nodded anyway.
Duan Zhao: “So that’s how it is.”
He looked at Fu Huixu: “Your father was worried before that you hadn’t been at school long and didn’t have many friends, but now it seems that was unnecessary.”
