—

Despite every fiber of his being protesting, Ji Su didn't flee at the last moment.

A silver six-seat SUV was parked at the school gate. Zhou Yang pulled the door open: "Get in, everyone."

Gu Zhao was the first to swing his long legs up and in, settling into a seat in the third row.

He Yi Ming followed right behind, cheerfully dropping into the inside seat of the second row.

Ji Su stood beside the car, his gaze drifting toward the passenger seat — only for Wang Mingzhe, the next second, to hobble up on his crutches and claim it.

"Susu, where do you want to sit?" Qiao Jin whispered in his ear. "Honestly, I don't really dare sit in the same row as the campus heartthrob Gu either."

Ji Su: "..."

If he had any say in the matter, he'd rather sit in the trunk.

Zhou Yang, leaning against the doorframe, called out: "Qiao Jin, Ji Su, get in too."

Ji Su was bracing himself to climb in when Qiao Jin suddenly spoke up: "He Yi Ming, I want to sit in the same row as Susu. Could you move back a row?"

He Yi Ming blinked. "Huh?"

Qiao Jin improvised on the spot: "Susu and I have something to discuss. It's easier to talk sitting in the same row."

"Sure, no problem at all." He Yi Ming agreed, getting up and switching from the second row to the third.

Ji Su covertly gave a thumbs-up behind Qiao Jin's back, then stopped dawdling and climbed into the car with brisk efficiency.

Their destination was a neighboring city — a three-or-four-hour drive, arriving just in time for lunch.

Along the way, Ji Su kept feeling as though some gaze was fixed on the back of his head, pinning him in place like a needle on a cushion; never had a stretch of road felt so long.

Fortunately, Wang Mingzhe in the passenger seat kept up a steady stream of chatter, so the atmosphere inside wasn't too stifling.

For the second half of the trip, Ji Su simply leaned against the window and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

They reached their destination smoothly, just before noon.

The SUV drove straight into the resort villa, continued on for quite a stretch, and finally stopped in front of a villa complex.

The row of two-story villas was built against the mountains and beside the water, commanding an excellent view, each with its own spacious terrace and private swimming pool.

"Everyone head upstairs to pick your rooms and put your things down first." Zhou Yang walked toward the spiral staircase as he spoke. "There are three bedrooms upstairs — two to a room, perfect."

Qiao Jin jumped in immediately: "Ji Su and I are sharing a room!"

"Mm, I'm with Xiao Qiao." Ji Su echoed, casting Qiao Jin a grateful look.

"Alright, then I'm with Gu-ge." Zhou Yang continued arranging. "He Yi Ming, Lao Wang is in your hands."

At that, He Yi Ming thumped his chest in assurance: "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Old Wang next door!"

Wang Mingzhe snapped: "Get lost — you're the Old Wang next door!"

They picked their rooms and went inside to put down their luggage.

Ji Su closed the bedroom door and only then finally let out a breath.

"I'm sorry, Susu." Qiao Jin looked at him, his tone full of guilt. "I really thought Gu Zhao wasn't coming today. Who knew Zhou Yang would pull something so unreliable!"

Ji Su shook his head. "We can't blame Zhou Yang for this. Gu Zhao decided to come on a whim."

"Fair point." Qiao Jin muttered, "Then we won't blame him — let's blame the campus heartthrob Gu instead."

Ji Su walked into the bedroom. "Nobody's to blame. The person most at fault is me."

If he hadn't caused this ridiculous mix-up in the first place, he wouldn't now be unable to face Gu Zhao.

"Aiya, Susu, there you go again." Qiao Jin couldn't help sighing too. "What's wrong with wanting to help someone? If anyone's to blame, blame the meddling of fate."

Ji Su didn't answer, set his backpack on the table, and took out his laptop.

"Holy crap, Susu, you actually brought your laptop?" Qiao Jin leaned over. "We're here to have fun, you know. You're not planning to hole up in the room drawing the whole time, are you?"

"A senior introduced me to a project earlier. I'm just getting ready for it." Ji Su smiled. "Don't worry, I'll work on it in the evenings."

"Alright then." Qiao Jin paused, then asked, "What did the senior say about you adding the wrong person?"

Ji Su's tone dropped. "I was trying to help her get back at that scumbag, but it was all for nothing — I didn't help at all. She told me to stop meddling with it."

"How can you say you didn't help at all?" Qiao Jin protested again. "If the senior hadn't mixed up the WeChat ID, the plan would've worked perfectly."

Ji Su turned and leaned against the edge of the table: "I suggested she take the transfer records straight to the police. I don't know if she can recover the loss."

Qiao Jin threw an arm around his shoulders and shook him back and forth: "Aiya, don't overthink it. Since we're here, let's relax and have some fun!"

Ji Su was a little helpless: "With Gu Zhao around, I can't relax..."

"Honestly, I think it's just your own guilt eating at you." Qiao Jin analyzed. "Think about it — Mengmeng has always appeared in front of Gu Zhao as a girl, and you never let any slip show. No matter how smart he is, he wouldn't just randomly connect you to her!"

Ji Su: "Seems like it..."

Qiao Jin: "So come on, loosen up!"

Just as they were talking, someone knocked on the door: "Ji Su, Qiao Jin, are you done settling in?"

"Coming!" Qiao Jin called back and went to open the door.

He Yi Ming stood at the door: "Let's go. We're having lunch together."

Lunch was at a private restaurant in the resort villa. Zhou Yang had booked a private room in advance — lake on three sides, the scenery breathtaking.

"Let me look at the menu." He Yi Ming opened it, then turned to ask first: "Ji Su, any food you can't eat?"

"I can't eat seafood. Nothing else." Ji Su replied casually, then added: "But you all go ahead and order whatever — don't worry about me. I'll just eat the other dishes."

He didn't notice that the moment he mentioned seafood, Gu Zhao — who had been looking at his phone — suddenly looked up at him.

But the glance was so brief that no one caught it.

"How about this — we take turns ordering. Whoever wants something just orders it." Zhou Yang suggested.

Wang Mingzhe tapped his bowl with his chopsticks: "Everyone don't be shy — lunch today is on Gu-ge!"

"For real?" Qiao Jin's tone went theatrical. "Gu-ge is that generous?"

Zhou Yang: "Qiao Jin, since when do you call him Gu-ge too?"

"What, I can't?" Qiao Jin grinned. "I'm just following your lead and calling him Gu-ge."

"Hahaha!" Zhou Yang burst out laughing. "Whether you can or not, you'd have to ask Gu-ge himself."

Qiao Jin, testing the very edge of self-destruction: "Gu-ge, do you think I can call you that?"

Gu Zhao only glanced at him and said nothing.

Qiao Jin couldn't help shrinking his neck and shut his mouth to order.

*

After lunch, Wang Mingzhe — his leg still bothering him — asked He Yi Ming to keep him company fishing by the lake. The others wandered around the resort villa for a while and finally ended up at the equestrian center to try horseback riding.

Ji Su changed into his riding gear in the locker room and walked straight into Gu Zhao on his way out.

Gu Zhao's steps faltered. His gaze drifted downward, settling on those legs.

The black shirt was tucked in by a belt, cinching a slim, narrow waist; the white riding breeches clung tight to long, straight legs, the lines of them impossibly smooth, the calves a touch longer in proportion than most people's. Knee-high black boots completed the picture — striking and clean.

To wear riding breeches so well, with hardly a flaw to be found, it wasn't hard to imagine just how perfect the legs hidden beneath the fabric truly were.

Ji Su felt the weight of that appraising gaze and stepped back, ill at ease.

"What's wrong, Susu?" Qiao Jin came out from inside. "Why are you standing here?"

The words were barely out when he spotted Gu Zhao across the way. Instinctively he stepped forward, putting his body between Ji Su and the other man: "Gu-ge, why aren't you riding?"

Gu Zhao withdrew his gaze and walked out the door without a word.

"Xiao Qiao, something feels off." Ji Su looked down at his own legs. "He was staring at my legs just now."

"What's so strange about that? Your legs are nice." Qiao Jin replied. "All the photos you sent him were of legs in skirts. He doesn't have X-ray vision — he can't see through your breeches to your legs, can he?"

Ji Su's brow creased slightly: "But..."

"Relax, the campus heartthrob Gu doesn't have that rich an imagination." Qiao Jin dismissed it. "Besides, you're not wearing shorts, and he wouldn't dare strip your pants off in broad daylight to look at your legs. What are you afraid of?"

Ji Su: "..."

Qiao Jin grabbed his arm and pulled him outside: "Come on, come on, let's go ride!"

The equestrian center was vast. Across the endless stretch of green grass, plenty of people were already riding.

Neither Ji Su nor Qiao Jin had ever ridden a horse before, so each picked out a gentle-tempered white one.

Qiao Jin skipped the professional instructor and made Zhou Yang his personal one, using the lessons as an excuse to interact with him.

Zhou Yang had the patience of a saint, teaching him again and again without the slightest sign of weariness. In the end he simply mounted up himself and took Qiao Jin along to feel the joy of galloping across the grass.

Under the riding instructor's guidance, Ji Su gripped the reins with his left hand and smoothly swung into the saddle.

"Don't grip the saddle with your knees — just relax and rest them against the horse's sides." The instructor led the white horse from the front, offering gentle guidance. "Yes, let your body loosen up, find your balance and the rhythm of rising and sitting... Yes, very good, you're a fast learner..."

After half an hour or so, Ji Su had basically mastered the essentials and could ride at a slow walk across the grass on his own, without the instructor.

Ji Su leaned forward and stroked the white horse's neck, murmuring softly: "Little White Dragon, once my riding improves, I'll come find you again."

Just then, a sudden cry of panic rang out from ahead, accompanied by the thunder of hoofbeats.

Ji Su straightened up and saw, to his alarm, a runaway horse charging straight toward him.

He pulled the reins tight at once: "Little White Dragon, get out of the way!"

But the white horse took fright, threw its head up sharply, reared on its hind legs, and then broke into a wild gallop of its own.

"Susu!" Qiao Jin, not far off, caught sight of it and screamed in fright. "Zhou Yang! Something's gone wrong over by Susu!"

Zhou Yang turned his head, his face changing. He was about to ride over and help when he saw a tall black horse streak past like lightning.

"It's okay, Gu-ge's on it." He quickly reassured Qiao Jin. "Gu-ge's a much better rider than me. Ji Su will be fine!"

At the same moment, Ji Su could only cling desperately to the white horse's neck, doing everything he could not to be thrown from the saddle.

Then, suddenly, a familiar voice sounded at his ear: "Ji Su."

Ji Su didn't dare open his eyes. He heard the other man say again: "Let go."

At such a critical moment, his mind wandered off on its own tangent.

So G's voice in person was lower and more magnetic than over voice messages. He should have picked up on it that time at the birthday party...

Gu Zhao brought the two horses steadily closer and repeated in a low voice: "Let go."

Ji Su bit his lip and decisively released his grip on the horse's neck.

The next instant, a warm large hand closed around his waist and lifted him in one motion from the galloping white horse onto the other one.

Ji Su slowly opened his eyes. Reflected in them was a handsome, austere face.

His own heartbeat thundered in his ears; he felt as if the heart in his chest might leap right out.

Gu Zhao met his gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Susu!" Qiao Jin and the others had caught up by then. "Are you okay?"

Ji Su came back to himself with a start: "No... I'm fine."

Gu Zhao released his hand without a flicker of expression, dismounted, and held out a hand to him.

Borrowing the support of that large hand, Ji Su swung his leg over and slid down from the horse.

But the fright had drained him; the moment his foot touched the ground, his legs buckled, and he nearly fell.

Fortunately, Gu Zhao caught him by the waist in time and steadied him upright.

'Sorry...' The heat rose to the tips of Ji Su's ears, and he couldn't quite bring himself to meet that handsome face. 'Thank you for saving me.'

'It's nothing.' Gu Zhao, sparing with words as ever, turned and led the horse off to one side.

After a few steps, he lowered his gaze to the hand that had just held Ji Su's waist.

How could a boy's waist be so slim, and so soft?

For no reason he could name, the pale, slender waist from the photograph rose up before his eyes.

Gu Zhao frowned and tightened his grip on the reins.

*

After what had happened, Ji Su didn't dare get back on a horse for the time being.

He'd originally wanted to slip back alone to rest and let the others keep playing, but Zhou Yang, noting the sky darkening, suggested they all return to the Villa together and prepare for the evening's open-air grill party.

When they got back to the Villa, Wang Mingzhe and He Yi Ming had just happened to return with two big fish they'd caught.

After some busy work, the group set up the Grill Rack on the large terrace.

He Yi Ming worked as he spoke, fishing for conversation: 'Ji Su, was the horseback riding fun?'

'Don't even mention it.' Qiao Jin picked up the thread. 'There was an accident at the Equestrian Center just now — Ji Su nearly got thrown off the horse. It was terrifying.'

'Huh?' He Yi Ming started, asking anxiously, 'Did you get hurt anywhere?'

'I'm not hurt.' Ji Su replied softly. 'Thanks to Gu Zhao — he's the one who saved me.'

'Damn, sounds intense!' Wang Mingzhe said, excited. 'What exactly happened? Can someone give me a vivid play-by-play?'

Gu Zhao said coldly, 'Want to try it yourself?'

'No, no, no...' Wang Mingzhe waved his hands quickly. 'My foot's still not healed — I don't want to try!'

Amid the roughhousing and laughter, night fell, and the lights on the terrace came on.

Strings of crystal lights glittered overhead, their sparkle answering the scattered stars in the sky — the whole scene had atmosphere.

They brought the grilled food to the table, cracked open cans of beer, and the six of them split into two rows, sitting down to dig in.

Ji Su wasn't much of a talker; most of the time he listened to the others. When he saw the food on the table was nearly gone, he quietly got up and went over to the Grill Rack to keep cooking more.

Gu Zhao held a can of beer in one hand; his gaze, as if by accident, settled on that beautiful face.

'Gu-ge, don't just hold the beer without drinking it!' Wang Mingzhe started slapping the table. 'Not talking, not drinking — what are you doing?'

Gu Zhao drew his gaze back without a trace, tipped his chin up, and took a sip of beer.

'No, no! That's way too half-hearted!' Wang Mingzhe boldly made his demand. 'If you're a real man, down it in one!'

Gu Zhao looked over. 'What did you say?'

'No, no, no, I didn't say anything.' Wang Mingzhe instantly backed down, then turned to egg on He Yi Ming. 'Old He, you do one!'

He Yi Ming didn't refuse either — he drained the rest of his beer in one go, then stood up. 'I'll go help Ji Su grill.'

He walked over to Ji Su's side. 'Let me grill. You go eat something too.'

'It's fine.' Ji Su turned his face slightly and gave a small smile. 'I've eaten about enough.'

He Yi Ming was momentarily dazzled by his smile. 'You eat so little — no wonder you look so thin.'

Ji Su's hands paused mid-motion; for no clear reason, he recalled how G had told him before that he was too thin and should eat more.

Lost in that thought, he unconsciously lifted his lashes — and looked straight into a pair of dark, fathomless eyes.

Gu Zhao sat there, whether watching him or merely looking in his direction by chance, Ji Su couldn't tell.

Ji Su gave a small start, then quickly lowered his lashes, avoiding the other's gaze.

After the barbecue, everyone sat on the terrace, watching the scenery and chatting.

Gu Zhao, apparently finding them too noisy, went back to the living room alone and sat on the sofa by himself, looking at his phone.

Wang Mingzhe happened to notice he was gone and asked loudly, 'Hey? Has anyone seen Gu-ge?'

Ji Su replied, 'He went into the living room.'

'Sigh...' Zhou Yang, frowning as something occurred to him, said, 'I thought getting out to play might cheer Gu-ge up a bit.'

'What's wrong?' He Yi Ming was the only one present who didn't know. 'Gu Zhao's unhappy? Isn't he always like this?'

'It's all because of his—' Wang Mingzhe had just begun when Zhou Yang elbowed him, cutting him off. He quickly changed tack: 'Nothing, nothing — Gu-ge really has always been like this, haha...'

Ji Su and Qiao Jin exchanged a glance; both knew perfectly well what was going on.

Qiao Jin tried to change the subject: 'Hey, I just remembered something...'

The group fell into lively talk again. Ji Su sat quietly for a while, then privately made up his mind, stood up, and headed inside.

Gu Zhao sat on the sofa, eyes lowered to his phone screen, but his fingers didn't move at all — clearly he wasn't actually using it.

Ji Su walked over, stopped a few paces from him, and called out, 'Gu Zhao.'

Hearing his voice, Gu Zhao lifted his eyelids.

'I really want to thank you for today — if it weren't for you, I definitely would have fallen off the horse.' Ji Su said it all in one breath. 'If there's anything you need help with in the future, I'll do my best to help you.'

He'd owed Gu Zhao once because of Mengmeng, and now he owed him again — he truly didn't know what he could do to truly make it up to him.

Gu Zhao's thin lips parted; the words on the tip of his tongue turned, and in the end became a single word: 'Okay.'

Having said what he'd come to say, Ji Su prepared to leave. 'Then I'll head upstairs first.'

He turned around, not noticing that the gaze behind him had once again fallen to his legs.

'Ji Su.' Gu Zhao asked, out of nowhere, 'Do you have any siblings?'

'Huh?' Ji Su turned back, bewildered. 'I have a younger brother. Why?'

Gu Zhao stared into his eyes. 'No older sister or younger sister?'

'There's also a little sister, but...' Ji Su hesitated, his voice dropping. 'My sister settled abroad with my mom, and I haven't seen them in a long time.'

To be precise, the last time he'd seen his mom and sister was six years ago; since then, they'd only seen each other in the occasional video call.

Gu Zhao leaned forward and pressed, 'How old is your sister?'

Ji Su replied, 'Eight.'

Gu Zhao leaned back against the sofa, his thin lips pressed tightly together — he looked to be in a foul mood.

Ji Su couldn't quite read him, and asked softly, 'Is there anything else?'

Gu Zhao crossed his long legs. 'How did you know I got caught up in an online scam?'

Ji Su lowered his eyes, staring at the carpet pattern in front of him. 'I was just saying it offhand — there are a lot of online scams these days, after all.'

Gu Zhao's tone was unreadable. 'You've encountered one too?'

'No...' Ji Su paused, then tried to coax him into letting it go. 'There's too much that's fake online. The person on the other side of the screen might not be what you imagine.'

Mengmeng wasn't just not what he imagined — she wasn't even a girl.

Gu Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Are you lecturing me?'

'No, that's not what I meant.' Ji Su shook his head and apologized sincerely. 'I'm sorry — I overstepped.'

From Gu Zhao's perspective in real life, the two of them hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words total — saying all this was overstepping.

Gu Zhao looked back at his phone. 'You should go.'

Ji Su pressed his lips together and turned to go upstairs.

He returned to his bedroom, turned on the computer, and worked on his drawing for a while, but he just couldn't get into it — so he shut the computer and went back downstairs.

Gu Zhao was still in the same posture as before. Ji Su deliberately went around the sofa and out to the terrace.

'Ji Su!' He Yi Ming was the first to spot him, and stood up to ask, 'Where did you just go?'

Ji Su walked over. 'I went back to my room.'

Qiao Jin reached out and grabbed him. 'Susu, you didn't actually go back to draw, did you?'

'Just for a bit.' Ji Su gave a small smile. 'No inspiration tonight.'

'What kind of drawing?' Zhou Yang asked with interest. 'Do you guys still have homework over the May Day holiday?'

Ji Su explained briefly, 'It's not homework — it's a commission I took on.'

Wang Mingzhe was very supportive. 'Damn, that's impressive?'

He Yi Ming was also surprised. 'Ji Su, you're only a second-year — you can already take commissions on your own?'

'That's nothing — Susu has plenty of impressive things about him.' Qiao Jin looked proud, happier than if he'd been praised himself. 'Our Susu is a top student — he gets the highest scholarship every year.'

Ji Su nudged his hand. 'Little Qiao, don't kill me with praise.'

Qiao Jin disagreed. 'How is that killing with praise? That's clearly just stating facts.'

Zhou Yang chimed in, 'Exactly — Ji Su, stop being so modest.'

'Oh right, speaking of majors.' He Yi Ming changed the subject, curious. 'Why did you guys choose Architecture?'

Qiao Jin answered without thinking. 'I thought being an architect sounded cool, so when I was picking my major I got a hot head and chose the Architecture Department — looking back now, my brain must have been waterlogged.'

Zhou Yang laughed. 'Hahaha! That sounds exactly like something you'd do.'

He Yi Ming looked at Ji Su. 'Ji Su, what about you?'

'Me...' The smile at Ji Su's lips faded. After a few seconds of silence, he finally gave a throwaway answer. 'Because I'm pretty good at drawing.'

The real reason he'd chosen architecture wasn't that — but he was afraid that saying it would invite mockery or pity, so he kept it locked away.

It was an early May night, and the temperature in the mountains was a touch cool. After chatting a while longer, the group decided to head back to their rooms.

Zhou Yang walked into the living room, looked around, and suddenly pointed toward the floor-to-ceiling window. 'Huh? I just noticed there's a Piano here too.'

Everyone's gaze followed where he pointed. The floor-to-ceiling window was half open, and the white curtains drifted in the breeze over the black-and-white Piano — a quiet, lovely scene.

'This Villa is really well-equipped — there's even a Piano.' He Yi Ming walked over and ran his hand over the instrument. 'Too bad none of us can play.'

Qiao Jin blurted out, 'Who says no one can play the Piano? Susu is great at it!'

The words had barely left his mouth when Gu Zhao, sitting on the sofa, suddenly lifted his eyes.

Ji Su's heart gave a jolt, and he immediately distanced himself from the claim. 'No, I never learned Piano — I can only fiddle around a bit.'

'What do you mean fiddle?' Qiao Jin, thinking he was being modest again, said, 'Didn't you used to be in the music— ow!'

Ji Su, in his panic, stepped on his foot to stop him from finishing the sentence.

Over on the sofa, Gu Zhao lowered his long legs, and something probing crept into his dark, fathomless gaze.

'It's fine — even fiddling around is better than us not knowing anything at all.' He Yi Ming, completely oblivious to the undercurrents in the room, said enthusiastically, 'Ji Su, just play something for us.'

Ji Su: '...'

What was this? A forced talent show?