13

Gu Zhao across the way seemed to sense something; without warning, he lifted his dark, cold eyes.

Their gazes met. Ji Su's heart gave a small jump, but he pretended nothing was amiss, lowered his lashes, and went on playing with his phone.

Gu Zhao glanced at him, his gaze sliding downward, landing as if by chance on the legs crossed before him.

Ji Su was wearing straight-cut casual trousers today, the black fabric falling in long, clean lines, making his legs look even longer and straighter.

Gu Zhao's gaze lingered there for a few seconds, then withdrew without a trace.

As the music swelled, the private room grew livelier and livelier.

Ji Su had meant to sit quietly until the party ended, but unluckily for him, he'd landed in a prime melon-eating seat.

He'd heard from others about the campus heartthrob's staggering popularity, but seeing it firsthand tonight, he realized it hadn't been exaggerated in the slightest.

Gu Zhao was like a magnet with his own field — sitting in the shadows, face pulled into an expression that suggested the world owed him eight million, and still drawing girl after girl over to ask for his WeChat.

At first Gu Zhao would refuse with a word or two; later he didn't even open his mouth, just swept the girl a cold look, and they fled.

Ji Su also noticed that he kept his phone in hand, glancing at the screen every so often — as though waiting for someone's message.

As time went on, Gu Zhao's handsome brows drew together, and the temperature around him dropped several more degrees.

Ji Su, not wanting to be caught in the fallout, quietly got up to find Qiao Jin.

Over there, Qiao Jin was sitting beside Zhou Yang, grinning, already mixing smoothly with the rest of the group.

Ji Su threaded through the crowd and called softly: 'Xiao Qiao.'

'Eh?' Qiao Jin stood up. 'Su Su, where did you go just now? I didn't see you at all!'

'I was sitting over there.' Ji Su gestured vaguely in a direction, then added, 'I need to head back to the Dormitory first. Will you be alright on your own?'

Qiao Jin reached out and caught his arm: 'It's still early — what's the rush?'

'Ji Su, you're leaving?' Zhou Yang had heard and stood up too, urging him warmly. 'There's a second round later — stay and hang out!'

'Sorry, I really do have something on.' Ji Su's face held apology. 'Happy birthday again — have fun, all of you.'

Zhou Yang didn't press him: 'Alright, then — want me to call you a cab?'

'No need.' Ji Su smiled slightly. 'I saw taxis right at the door — it'll be easy to grab one outside.'

Qiao Jin picked up the thread: 'Su Su, I'll walk you out.'

The two of them left the private room one after the other and stepped out into the quiet corridor.

Qiao Jin touched the box in his pocket and dropped his voice low: 'Su Su, I haven't given him his gift yet.'

'It's fine — give it to him alone when the party breaks up.' Ji Su soothed him. 'Don't worry, Zhou Yang will like it.'

'I think so too.' Qiao Jin felt a little easier, his tone lifting with excitement. 'Zhou Yang just introduced me to his friends — does that count as successfully infiltrating the inner circle?'

'I suppose so.' Ji Su was happy for him, though a little worried. 'Just don't get drunk, though — you'd scare Zhou Yang off.'

'Relax, relax, I won't get drunk.' Qiao Jin had an excellent grasp of his own limits and conduct. 'Be careful going back, alright?'

'Okay.' Ji Su nudged his shoulder lightly with his own. 'Good luck.'

Qiao Jin clenched his fist: 'I will!'

Ji Su started down the stairs. Just as he stepped through the revolving door and was about to descend, a bright, clear male voice rose behind him: 'Ji Su!'

He paused mid-step and turned to look at the newcomer.

He Yi Ming caught his breath and strode up: 'Ji Su, I have something I want to say to you.'

Ji Su answered politely: 'What is it? Go ahead.'

'Um…' He Yi Ming raked a hand through his hair and asked in one breath, 'Could I add you on WeChat?'

Ji Su: '……'

Why was it that everyone wanting to add Gu Zhao tonight was a girl, but the one coming to add him was a guy?

And he was clearly a perfectly straight man himself…

'I don't mean anything by it — I just feel like we really click.' He Yi Ming's tone was utterly sincere. 'We could hang out together sometime, right?'

Ji Su fell silent, the refusal sitting unspoken on his tongue.

The other was Zhou Yang's friend, his manner entirely friendly, no hint of pursuit — would a flat refusal be too rude?

He Yi Ming had already pulled up his WeChat QR code, watching him with eager eyes: 'Should I scan you, or do you scan me?'

Ji Su sighed inwardly. He was just reaching into his pocket for his phone when, unbidden, a handsome and cold face surfaced in his mind.

His fingers closed around the phone in his pocket but didn't draw it out. His tone was apologetic: 'Sorry, I played on my phone too long earlier — it's dead.'

'Huh? Dead?' He Yi Ming hadn't expected this and stood there dumbfounded for a moment.

'Yes.' Ji Su's lashes dipped slightly, avoiding his gaze. 'Next time we have the chance, can we add each other then?'

Luckily He Yi Ming wasn't the type to press; though a little disappointed, he said: 'No problem — we'll add each other next time, then.'

They were at the same School, both knew Zhou Yang — there'd surely be plenty of chances to meet again, right?

'Alright.' Ji Su smiled. 'I have to head back to School — you go on back to the private room and keep having fun.'

'Okay, bye!' He Yi Ming waved at him and walked back inside, glancing over his shoulder every few steps.

Ji Su smiled and watched him go, then turned and walked on.

Lifting his eyes, a tall, upright figure appeared in his field of vision.

Gu Zhao stood at the curb, head lowered, looking at his phone; the screen's faint glow reflected on his face. When he'd arrived or how much he'd heard, Ji Su had no idea.

Having just borrowed Gu Zhao's own refusal trick, Ji Su felt oddly guilty and quietly turned his face the other way.

Just then, the phone in his pocket buzzed.

Ji Su pulled it out with some embarrassment and looked at the screen.

The caller ID had no name attached. He picked up: 'Hello?'

His clear, clean voice drifted into the night. Ji Su listened patiently to the salesperson on the other end before answering softly: 'Sorry, I don't have any plans to buy a house right now.'

He hung up, tucked the phone back into his pocket, and went on waiting for a car.

Luckily, it wasn't long before a taxi pulled up in front of him.

Ji Su hesitated, glanced at the boy standing nearby, and asked: 'Do you want to get in first?'

He'd been talking to He Yi Ming just now, so Gu Zhao must have come here first to wait — by rights, he should let the other go first.

'College kids — you two both college kids, right?' The driver leaned his head out the window. 'If you're together, just hop in!'

Ji Su declined instinctively: 'No, we're not together.'

He wasn't wearing much today; sitting in a car with an iceberg might give him frostbite.

Gu Zhao's brow creased almost imperceptibly, and he finally opened his mouth to say the first words he had ever addressed to him: 'No need.'

Ji Su stopped demurring, pulled the door open, and got in: 'Driver, A University.'

'You got it!' The driver answered, pressed the gas, and the taxi eased onto the main road.

Ji Su sat in the back seat, watching the night scenery flash past the window, and the memory of what had just happened curved his lips of its own accord.

So refusing someone in real life wasn't actually that hard after all.

*

When Ji Su got back to the Dormitory, his two roommates were still gaming.

'Huh? Ji Su, back this early?' Zhao Ziyun asked in a spare moment. 'How was the birthday party?'

'It was fun.' Ji Su replied. 'Just a bit too lively — I left early.'

'Haha! I knew you didn't like the rowdy stuff!' Zhao Ziyun laughed. 'Should've just eaten with us instead, should've known!'

'Don't worry, I remember.' Ji Su walked to the desk. 'Shall we go out to eat together tomorrow at noon?'

Zhao Ziyun agreed crisply: 'Sure!'

Ji Su asked again: 'What do you guys want to eat?'

'I'm not picky — I'll eat anything.' Zhao Ziyun answered while still playing. 'Especially since it's a free lunch — you decide.'

Li You chimed in: 'I'm OK with anything too.'

Ji Su took off his jacket: 'Alright, let me see what's good.'

'Oh, right — where's Qiao Jin?' Zhao Ziyun suddenly remembered their other roommate. 'Didn't he come back with you?'

'No, he's still at the party.' Ji Su pulled out his phone from his pocket and only then noticed an unread message.

Ji Chen: [Ge, are you going home for the May Day holiday?]

Ji Su's brows knit slightly; he considered ignoring the message on purpose, but in the end tapped it open.

Ji Su: [Not sure yet.]

A few seconds later, Ji Chen's reply came back quick.

Ji Chen: [Is Ge going out to play with classmates?]

Ji Su: [No, I might have other things.]

Ji Su: [If nothing comes up, I'll go back.]

Ji Chen: [Then I hope Ge has nothing else hehe…]

Ji Chen: [If Ge comes home, you have to tell me in advance, okay!]

Ji Su: [Mm, study hard.]

Ji Chen: [Yes, sir!]

Ji Su shook his head, almost imperceptibly, set down the phone, and prepared to take a shower first.

Half an hour later, he came out of the bathroom, sat in the chair toweling his hair, picked up his phone, switched to his WeChat alt account, and wondered whether the scumbag Senior had looked for him.

The moment he logged in, messages started popping up one after another.

G: [Have you eaten dinner?]

G: [Still practicing piano?]

G: [Went out to play?]

The last message was from half an hour ago—

G: [It's getting late — be careful on your way back.]

Ji Su looked at this string of messages and lifted a brow slightly.

It was just one evening without a reply — so many questions. Had the scumbag already slipped into his online-boyfriend role?

Ji Su set down the towel and was about to reply when a picture suddenly popped up in the chat window.

He didn't look closely and, out of habit, tapped the image open.

The boy in the photo was bare from the waist up, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist — a perfect inverted triangle of golden proportions.

His bulging arms were sheathed in firm, not overdone muscle; his chest looked supple and taut; eight abdominals flowed into a clean, graceful adonis belt, which, together with the sexily raised blue veins, disappeared into the waistband of grey sweatpants — leaving infinite room for the imagination.

Ji Su's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped his phone again.