Duan Zhao was still simmering with anger, and Fu Huixu’s words only poured oil on the fire, making him even more furious. The tone that slipped from his lips carried a chill. “Mr. Fu, I can let the matter of your child throwing the first punch slide. But neither I nor my lover want anything like this to happen a second time and disrupt our lives.”
Fu Zhen had known Duan Zhao for quite some time. Though their acquaintance stemmed from business dealings, they had always gotten along well. This was the first time he had heard such a distant tone from the other man.
Though Fu Zhen still wanted to say something, his thoughts were a chaotic mess at the moment. He could only respond perfunctorily while preparing to hang up and deal with the situation in front of him first. What Fu Zhen hadn’t expected, however, was that just as he was about to end the call, he heard Fu Huixu’s voice from nearby. “I want to talk to Duan Zhao…”
Fu Zhen looked over in astonishment.
Even though Fu Huixu’s voice was much calmer than before, from Fu Zhen’s perspective, he could still see the tightly furrowed brows that seemed to brew endless fury. Clearly, this calm was just a facade Fu Huixu was forcing himself to maintain.
Seeing Fu Huixu in this state, Fu Zhen truly couldn’t hand over the phone without worry.
What Fu Zhen hadn’t anticipated, though, was that Duan Zhao on the other end of the line had overheard Fu Huixu’s words. “Sure.”
Duan Zhao did have some questions he wanted to ask Fu Huixu, but the man had been too agitated earlier. He had thought there would be no chance to probe, but now Fu Huixu was proactively suggesting they talk.
Fu Zhen hesitated for a moment, but upon seeing Fu Huixu’s uncharacteristic demeanor, the faint bond of blood relation finally prevailed. He handed the phone over.
Now that Fu Huixu had the phone in hand, his condition had improved somewhat. The bodyguard only dared to loosen his grip slightly, just enough to let him pick it up.
Just as Fu Huixu was about to speak, Duan Zhao’s voice came first from the other end. “What did you and Ji Zhi do?”
“Have you two slept together?”
Duan Zhao had mostly calmed down by now. He knew the truth could only come from the two people involved. He could no longer fully trust Ji Zhi’s words, so he hoped to get answers from Fu Huixu.
From his past interactions with Fu Huixu, the man was usually taciturn but never lied. And right now, Fu Huixu wasn’t being taciturn at all—he would be much easier to question.
Fu Huixu hadn’t expected such a question. His thoughts stalled for a moment, but he quickly replied, “No.”
“Could it be that you… Ji Zhi…”
Why was Duan Zhao suddenly asking this?
What had he done to Ji Zhi?
Doubts immediately surfaced in Fu Huixu’s mind. His anger faltered, and he subconsciously pressed further.
Duan Zhao, however, offered no reciprocity by answering Fu Huixu’s question. Having gotten the answer he wanted, he simply hung up. He had no intention of wasting more time on Fu Huixu.
After ending the call, Duan Zhao sent a message to Fu Zhen, reminding him to keep a close eye on Fu Huixu. Then he pocketed his phone and turned back toward the room.
After Duan Zhao left the room, Ji Zhi had no interest in pondering why he had suddenly stepped out to take a call. Instead, he was frantically racking his brain for a way to untie the bonds around his wrists.
He had no idea what kind of knot Duan Zhao had used—it refused to come loose no matter how he tugged at it. After struggling for what felt like ages, all he had accomplished was exhausting his last reserves of strength, with no progress whatsoever.
When he heard the door being pushed open once more, Ji Zhi froze. His heart felt like it had stopped beating.
He looked up and confirmed it: Duan Zhao had returned and was walking straight toward the bed.
Ji Zhi’s heart leaped into his throat. He wanted to say something, but he had already exhausted every plea he could think of earlier.
However, as he got a clear look at Duan Zhao’s expression, Ji Zhi couldn’t help but pause. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but Duan Zhao’s countenance seemed much improved from before—almost like the calm, familiar Duan Zhao of old.
If Ji Zhi hadn’t overheard the voice on the other end of that phone call, he might have thought a psychologist had rung up to produce such a miraculous effect.
Ji Zhi’s intuition was spot on.
After receiving confirmation from Fu Huixu, the heavy shadow that had loomed over Duan Zhao’s heart finally lifted considerably. Another person’s involvement still lingered in his mind, but to Duan Zhao, Fu Huixu—who had shared a dorm room with Ji Zhi—posed the far greater threat.
Upon returning to the room, Duan Zhao noticed Ji Zhi’s panicked gaze.
He had registered it earlier, but anger had taken precedence.
Now, bolstered by Fu Huixu’s words, reason had reclaimed the high ground. Duan Zhao looked at Ji Zhi. His tone wasn’t as leisurely as usual, but it lacked the earlier agitation. “I already know nothing happened between you and Fu Huixu.”
In the past, Ji Zhi would have blushed furiously at such words. But in this moment, he had no room for embarrassment—he nodded frantically instead.
He had no clue where Duan Zhao had gotten the information from, but it looked like he could finally clear his name.
Duan Zhao continued, “I won’t pursue the matter between you and Fu Huixu any further. But from now on, you’ll live in the house under my name. I’ll handle things with the school regarding your dorm.”
Ji Zhi nodded.
Right now, all he wanted was for Duan Zhao to untie the rope around his wrists as quickly as possible. He agreed to every demand, hoping to put this chapter behind him.
Sure enough, seeing Ji Zhi’s obedient nod, Duan Zhao bent down and swiftly untied the tie binding him. When Ji Zhi merely sat up on the bed after regaining his freedom, showing no sign of bolting, a rare glint of approval appeared in Duan Zhao’s eyes. “Good.”
“If you’d tried to run again just now…”
Then what he told the school wouldn’t have been limited to Ji Zhi not returning to the dorm at night.
Ji Zhi: “…”
A brief silence settled over the room. Though Duan Zhao hadn’t finished his sentence, Ji Zhi could guess it wasn’t anything pleasant.
The truth was, Ji Zhi hadn’t refrained from fleeing out of pure obedience. He knew he could run from the monk, but not the temple. Recalling the sleepless nights he had endured to get into A University, he simply couldn’t bear to abandon his enrollment and bolt.
It was only belatedly that Ji Zhi realized Duan Zhao had only promised not to pursue the issue with Fu Huixu. He hadn’t breathed a word about Jiang Yaolin.
Yet even after Duan Zhao instructed him to wash up and get ready for bed, Ji Zhi heard nothing more on the subject. It seemed Duan Zhao wasn’t ready to settle that score just yet.
Since Duan Zhao didn’t bring it up, Ji Zhi wasn’t foolish enough to broach it himself. He acted as if nothing had happened, washed up, and climbed into bed.
When he saw Duan Zhao finish his own evening routine and approach, Ji Zhi’s heart clenched.
They had known each other for so long, but it was almost always Ji Zhi who bared more of his body.
In Ji Zhi’s mind, Duan Zhao was perpetually suited up. He had never imagined a day when he would watch the man unbutton his shirt, one fastening at a time.
Once the shirt came off, Ji Zhi realized Duan Zhao’s physique wasn’t the bulging, bulky kind. It was more like a slender blade sheathed in its scabbard—elegant and lethally precise.
The outlines of Duan Zhao’s muscles weren’t exaggerated. They traced clean, sharp lines across his pale skin: defined shoulders, prominent collarbones, and a narrow waist. It was like a sculpture crafted with mathematical precision, hinting at the formidable control coiled within that frame.
Having taken it all in, Ji Zhi felt relief that Duan Zhao hadn’t laid a hand on him. At the same time, he thought that if the fight with Fu Huixu had dragged on, Fu Huixu might not have held the advantage.
When Duan Zhao’s body pressed against his, Ji Zhi’s heart trembled violently.
He told himself not to drop his guard, but the day’s events had drained him completely. His nerves, stretched taut for so long, finally hit their breaking point. Even as he fought to keep his eyelids up, exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Ji Zhi could no longer hold out. He fell asleep.
When Ji Zhi opened his eyes again, wakefulness brought with it a wave of lingering dread.
The events of the previous night were etched too vividly in his memory. Before even opening his eyes, he had prayed it was all a dream. But the sight of the bedroom dashed that hope.
He bolted upright and glanced at the other side of the bed. No Duan Zhao. The lingering warmth on the sheets suggested the man had been up for some time.
Ji Zhi instinctively checked his own body, confirming no marks or traces before he let out a sigh of relief.
The room had no clock, and his phone was nowhere in sight. From the sunlight filtering through the window cracks, he gathered it was already daytime.
Just as Ji Zhi prepared to get out of bed, the door opened again. Duan Zhao stood in the doorway. “Xiao Zhi, lunch is ready. Come out and eat.”
Ji Zhi: “…”
It was already noon?!
Remembering he had no classes that morning, Ji Zhi calmed down a fraction.
It was only then that he registered Duan Zhao calling him “Xiao Zhi” again. Though barely a day had passed, the nickname now felt like it belonged to another lifetime.
After dressing, Ji Zhi stepped out of the room and sat down at the dining table with Duan Zhao.
The servants had already laid out the meal. Ji Zhi had no appetite whatsoever—he just wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Seemingly oblivious to Ji Zhi’s tension, Duan Zhao spoke in his usual measured tone. “I’ve already spoken with your principal. The paperwork can be handled later. I’ll pick you up after your class ends at five this afternoon.”
Ji Zhi had long known that Duan Zhao had obtained his class schedule, so he wasn’t surprised the man knew his timetable.
Still, his words made Ji Zhi’s face fall. He ventured cautiously, “You’re so busy. You don’t need to come yourself—just send the driver…”
Duan Zhao smiled, though the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes behind his glasses. “It seems you have plans.”
Ji Zhi: “…I want to swing by the dorm after class.”
He knew the danger hadn’t fully passed, so Ji Zhi remained cautious in every way, no longer making excuses like he had before.
He had learned the hard way that even if he tried to come up with an excuse, Duan Zhao would see right through it.
“Your daily necessities—I’ll have them all prepared,” Duan Zhao said.
Seeing Duan Zhao’s expression start to turn stormy again, Ji Zhi quickly sped up his words. “Some of the books I need for class are still in the dorm, so I have to go back and get them.”
“There are my notes in them too. I don’t want to buy new ones…”
“I’ll go with you,” Duan Zhao replied.
Ji Zhi instinctively wanted to refuse, but then he thought better of it—refusing wouldn’t work anyway—so he swallowed the rest of his words.
Besides, the thought of facing Fu Huixu alone made him feel rather guilty.
With all those factors piling up, Ji Zhi ultimately chose to agree.
After lunch, Duan Zhao handed him a brand-new phone.
Feeling guilty, Ji Zhi didn’t dare ask where his old phone had gone. He simply took the new one and headed to school.
During class, Ji Zhi logged into his main WeChat account on the phone and contacted Chen Xingwen.
When Chen Xingwen received the message, he visibly let out a sigh of relief.
He hadn’t been able to reach Ji Zhi since the night before and had started wondering if something had happened to him. If Ji Zhi hadn’t messaged by afternoon, Chen Xingwen had been ready to call the police.
Looking at Chen Xingwen’s barrage of questions about what had happened, Ji Zhi could only let out a long sigh. He gave a simple rundown of events and mentioned that he was moving out.
After sending the messages to Chen Xingwen, Ji Zhi switched back to the main WeChat page.
Fu Huixu’s last message was from before the banquet the night before. Nothing new had come in since, and Ji Zhi wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.
He had no idea how to broach the subject with him either.
Afternoon classes ended quickly.
Ji Zhi dragged his weary body out of the classroom, only to hear a chorus of surprised gasps around him. Everyone’s gazes converged on a single point.
He already knew who it was, and his heart sank. Sure enough, following the crowd’s line of sight, there was Duan Zhao waiting downstairs from the teaching building.
Only then did Ji Zhi remember that he’d been on edge the whole way to school and had forgotten to ask Duan Zhao—as he usually did—to wait for him in some inconspicuous corner.
Duan Zhao didn’t care for casual clothes at the best of times, and fresh from a meeting, he was dressed in a sharp suit with gold-rimmed glasses, looking like he’d stepped straight out of a press conference. He made the other suited businessmen nearby look like runway models next to off-the-rack suits.
Duan Zhao had apparently been waiting in the school for a few minutes already, and a crowd of students had gathered around him. Perhaps because the principal was there, no one approached directly, but some lingered as if waiting for classmates to finish class, while others farther back had already pulled out their phones to snap covert photos.
Ji Zhi didn’t want to walk over. He was about to pull out his phone to message Duan Zhao secretly, saying he’d head to the dorm first.
But before he could, a shadow fell over him, accompanied by Duan Zhao’s voice. “Xiao Zhi.”
“……Yeah,” Ji Zhi replied.
Duan Zhao had spotted him—and greeted him in front of everyone. There was no ignoring it.
Duan Zhao’s familiar manner toward him drew even more eyes. Ji Zhi could feel the gazes shift onto him the moment Duan Zhao spoke.
He didn’t dare look up at anyone’s expressions. He just kept his head down and followed behind Duan Zhao, silently reassuring himself that while their school’s atmosphere was open-minded, the students probably wouldn’t jump to that conclusion.
The dorm had never seemed so far away before. Today, the path felt endlessly long.
With the principal trailing along, Duan Zhao spent most of the time chatting with him. Ji Zhi eavesdropped on a few snippets and gathered that Duan Zhao had introduced them as cousins, so the principal didn’t suspect their relationship.
It wasn’t until they were nearly at the dorm building that the principal finally left.
As they reached the door to his room, Ji Zhi grew tense again.
But then Duan Zhao spoke up slowly. “Don’t worry. The principal already told me—Fu Huixu has taken a long leave of absence.”
