Chapter 25

Though Gu Zhao's tone was still relatively calm, Ji Su caught the threat coiled inside those words, and dared not loosen the legs clamped tight around that hand.

'Let go.' Gu Zhao commanded again. 'I need to check your legs.'

Ji Su shook his head: 'There's no need to check. It's really me.'

Gu Zhao was in no hurry to withdraw his hand. 'Were all those photos of you in a skirt — were they really you?'

Ji Su lowered his lashes and admitted, barely audible: 'It was me.'

Gu Zhao pressed further: 'Aren't you a boy? Why do you like wearing skirts?'

'I...' The shame in Ji Su deepened, his cheeks burning hotter. 'I don't like wearing skirts...'

'Oh, is that so?' A thread of almost imperceptible pleasure entered Gu Zhao's glacial voice. 'Then you wore those skirts just for me?'

'Yes.' Ji Su answered, then felt that wasn't quite right. 'No — that's not what I meant.'

The large hand trapped between his legs shifted: 'Then what did you mean?'

Ji Su lifted his lashes, his tone almost pleading: 'Gu Zhao, can you give me a little time? Let me explain?'

From where Gu Zhao stood above him, he sat upon the piano with eyes round and innocent, the corners faintly reddened, his expression so pitiful it ached to look at.

Gu Zhao at last relented, granting him the chance: 'Go on.'

'The whole thing started because a senior got scammed — money and feelings both — by some online romance scumbag, and she wanted me to help her get revenge and recover what she'd lost.' Ji Su tried to lay out the whole story in the fewest words possible. 'But the WeChat ID she gave me was wrong, and I accidentally added your account instead, and then—'

'Then you pretended to be a girl and scammed me into an online romance.' Gu Zhao cut him off, continuing on his own. 'But not long ago, you realized you'd scammed the wrong person, so you blocked me and pretended nothing had ever happened.'

'Right... no!' Ji Su hurried to explain. 'I didn't want to pretend nothing happened. I wanted to make it up to you.'

Gu Zhao's brow stirred, as though some interest had been piqued: 'How do you plan to make it up to me?'

'I don't know.' Ji Su looked at him, at a loss. 'But whatever you need me to do, I'll agree to it.'

Gu Zhao confirmed: 'Really?'

Ji Su's reason was slowly returning. He added: 'Except — except for anything too much.'

'What's too much?' Gu Zhao's dark eyes narrowed a fraction. 'Wasn't it too much — helping someone scam me into an online romance?'

Ji Su argued: 'That was all a misunderstanding. I was supposed to be scamming the real scumbag.'

Gu Zhao laughed coldly: 'I don't care what misunderstandings were involved. Was it you who tricked me into sending abs photos?'

Ji Su's guilty conscience stirred again: 'Yes...'

Gu Zhao: 'Was it you who tricked my feelings?'

Ji Su: 'Yes...'

Gu Zhao laughed once — a sound that chilled to the marrow: 'Very good.'

Ji Su bit his lower lip: 'Then tell me — what do I have to do for you to stop being angry?'

Gu Zhao's gaze dropped to those long, slender legs: 'Release your legs first.'

Ji Su tensed up again at once: 'Wh-what are you going to do?'

Gu Zhao's eyes were dark: 'If you don't let go, are you planning to keep me pinned here?'

Only then did Ji Su react, his face flushing as he loosened his pressed-together thighs.

The muscles of his thighs, held taut for so long, suddenly gave way — and trembled, just slightly.

The tremor was quick and slight, but Gu Zhao's eyes caught it all the same.

The large, bony-knuckled hand gained room to move. Gu Zhao withdrew it, and as he pulled away, his thumb brushed past — almost, but not quite, by accident.

'Can I get off the piano now?' Ji Su negotiated. 'I'm afraid I'll break it.'

'If it breaks, buy a new one.' Gu Zhao's face was expressionless. 'Didn't you transfer me ten thousand yuan before you blocked me?'

Ji Su thought for a moment: 'I remember that even after blocking someone on WeChat, you can still receive transfers.'

Gu Zhao said coldly: 'You think I'm angry because I didn't get the money?'

'Of course not.' Ji Su denied at once, and turned the searchlight inward. 'All of this started because of me. I've cast such a shadow over you — I'm truly sorry.'

Gu Zhao: 'A shadow?'

'I know you're straight, and a little homophobic...' Ji Su quietly shifted his bottom off the piano. 'I'm not making excuses for myself, but I was afraid of leaving you with a bad psychological shadow, so I didn't dare admit that I was Mengmeng.'

Think about it — which homophobic straight man could accept that his online romance partner was a man? Now Gu Zhao, recalling that every photo he'd seen was of Ji Su's legs, would probably feel sick.

Gu Zhao countered: 'Who told you I'm a homophobic straight man?'

Ji Su didn't think twice: 'Zhou Yang said so.'

Gu Zhao offered no opinion on the matter, and the subject turned back: 'Remember what you said just now.'

Ji Su blinked, startled: 'Which part?'

Gu Zhao lifted a hand and braced it against the piano, leaning in slightly — his long, sturdy arms forming a cage, trapping the boy between his own body and the instrument.

Ji Su was caught between advance and retreat, and could only lower his head, his gaze falling to his own chest: 'Um, I think I said a lot just now...'

'Compensate me.' The deep, magnetic voice sounded unhurried from above. 'Whatever I want you to do, you'll agree to it.'

Ji Su: 'Oh...'

Gu Zhao withdrew his hand and straightened: 'Just remember that.'

Ji Su exhaled a quiet breath of relief, and lifted his eyes: 'Then... you're not going to hit me?'

Gu Zhao scoffed: 'How many hits could you even take?'

Ji Su glanced at the large hand hanging at his side, and answered honestly: 'Two or three should be fine.'

Gu Zhao gave him a look whose meaning was impossible to read: 'Go back.'

*

Even by the time he reached the Dormitory, Ji Su still couldn't quite believe that Gu Zhao had simply let him go.

'Ji Su!' Seeing him come in, Qiao Jin hastily set down his phone and rose to meet him. 'How did it go? Are you okay?'

Li You, who had been reading, also looked up with concern: 'What happened? Did something happen to you, Ji Su?'

'I'm fine.' Ji Su gave a small smile, and gestured for Qiao Jin to follow him to the Balcony to talk.

The two of them stepped out onto the Balcony, and Qiao Jin pulled the balcony door shut behind him, asking at speed: 'Susu — did Gu Zhao suspect you?'

'Not suspect.' Ji Su exhaled softly. 'He'd already figured out I was Mengmeng, so I told him everything that happened.'

'Holy shit!' Qiao Jin's eyes nearly popped from his head. 'This — this —'

He suddenly started pawing at Ji Su, spinning him around to inspect him closely: 'Where did he hit you? Are you hurt inside?'

Ji Su nearly laughed: 'No, he didn't lay a hand on me.'

Qiao Jin's face was a picture of disbelief: 'He really didn't hit you? He just let you off that easily?'

'It doesn't feel real to me either.' Ji Su's brow furrowed slightly. 'But he did say he wanted me to compensate him.'

Qiao Jin: 'How?'

Ji Su summarized: 'He made me promise to do whatever he asks me to do.'

'You agreed to that?' Qiao Jin's voice shot up at once. 'What if he wants you to commit murder and arson, break the law?'

Ji Su felt he was overthinking it: 'Gu Zhao is a law student himself — how could he possibly ask me to do something like that?'

'That's not necessarily true!' Qiao Jin's face was full of worry. 'You can never really know a person. Maybe Gu Zhao is a pervert in private.'

'Don't worry — if he really asks me to do something illegal, I'll refuse.' Ji Su's tone was serious. 'Even though I owe him this, I still have my own bottom line.'

Qiao Jin grew even more worried: 'Your bottom line is for his sake, not your own.'

Ji Su didn't catch on for a moment: 'Huh?'

'Forget it, forget it — this is probably for the best, at least you don't have to carry that guilt around every day, and you can breathe easier.' Qiao Jin paused, then added: 'But if Gu Zhao makes any excessive demands, you have to tell me right away, and we'll work out a plan together, okay?'

'Okay.' Ji Su answered, looking at him with some emotion. 'Xiao Qiao, you're so good to me.'

Qiao Jin was uncharacteristically solemn: 'I'm good to you because you were good to me first.'

A few years ago, his grandmother had been gravely ill in the hospital, and they'd needed a large sum for the surgery. Relatives and neighbors had all steered clear — but only Ji Su, without a moment's hesitation, had scraped together every penny he had and lent it to him, even selling the one keepsake his mother had left him, and eating instant noodles and steamed buns with him for a month.

Though his grandmother ultimately couldn't be saved, that kindness — he would carry it in his heart forever.

Ji Su knew he was thinking of that old wound, and was about to comfort him, when the phone in his pocket buzzed.

Gu Zhao: [Have you arrived at the Dormitory?]

'It's Gu Zhao.' Ji Su said as he typed. 'He's asking if I've gotten back to the Dormitory.'

Qiao Jin was amused: 'Oh? The great campus heartthrob Gu actually cares about people?'

Ji Su's typing fingers paused for a beat, and a faint, strange emotion rose in his chest.

What kind of caring was this? Gu Zhao had been a true warm-hearted boyfriend to Mengmeng — checking in on her daily, transferring money without a second thought, and at the very least never forcibly prying open Mengmeng's legs to examine them...

Ji Su shook his head, trying to fling out the images from the music classroom.

Ji Su: [Arrived at the Dormitory. You?]

Gu Zhao: [Arrived.]

Gu Zhao: [Come to our Dormitory to find me tomorrow evening.]

Qiao Jin leaned in: 'What did he say?'

Ji Su stared at the screen: 'He wants me to come to their Dormitory to find him tomorrow.'

Qiao Jin said at once: 'Then I'll go with you!'

The next second, a new message popped up in the WeChat chat.

Gu Zhao: [Come alone.]

'Holy shit!' Qiao Jin said, incredulous. 'Is the great campus heartthrob Gu really that godly? He actually predicted my move!'

Ji Su: '...'

Qiao Jin stroked his chin: 'But Zhou Yang and Wang Mingzhe are still in their Dormitory — he probably wouldn't do anything to you in front of his roommates.'

Ji Su nodded: 'Yes, don't worry.'

Ji Su: [Okay.]

Get Gu Zhao to cool off as soon as possible, so he himself could be free of it sooner.

*

The next day, after his class ended, Ji Su slung his backpack over his shoulder and went straight to the Law Department's Dormitory to find Gu Zhao.

He'd been there once before and still had some impression of it, so he found the place without difficulty.

Ji Su stood at the Dormitory door, listened for sounds inside, but heard nothing.

He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock.

'Come in.' A low, cold voice sounded.

Ji Su pushed the door open and, at first glance, saw Gu Zhao sitting in a chair, waiting for him with an unhurried, composed air.

The Dormitory was silent; the other two were nowhere to be seen.

Ji Su was a little nervous and, reaching for something to say: 'Where are Zhou Yang and Wang Mingzhe?'

'What?' Gu Zhao said, neither warm nor cold. 'You care about them?'

'No.' Ji Su lowered his lashes, hiding his unease. 'I was just asking casually.'

Gu Zhao's gaze fell on the backpack behind him. 'Have you eaten dinner?'

Ji Su answered honestly: 'Not yet.'

He only wanted to complete the task Gu Zhao had given him as soon as possible; there was no time to think about eating.

Gu Zhao stood up. 'Let's go.'

Ji Su was somewhat at a loss. 'Where?'

'To eat dinner.' Gu Zhao walked toward the door. 'Aren't you hungry?'

Ji Su followed. 'I am.'

At this hour the Second Cafeteria wasn't crowded, but the moment the two of them walked in one after the other, they still drew every eye, and a buzz of whispered speculation rose at once.

'Who's that boy next to Gu Zhao? Isn't he a little too pretty?'

'It's Ji Su — Ji Su from the Architecture Department. You don't know him?'

'I know him, I know him! One of my girlfriends confessed to him — she got rejected, but afterward she couldn't stop talking about how gentle Ji Su was...'

'Hold on, I've just noticed we keep seeing them together lately — is there something going on?'

'Oh, don't say it, don't say it — they really do look perfect together like this...'

Ji Su silently followed behind Gu Zhao, walked up to a cafeteria window, and got himself a meal.

The two found a spot by the window and sat down to eat dinner.

Ji Su normally ate slowly, but the gaze hovering above him had a tangible weight to it, and all he wanted was to get it over with as fast as possible.

'Slow down.' Gu Zhao spoke. 'In a rush to go somewhere?'

'Cough, cough...' Ji Su choked a little, then looked up with a smile. 'I'm not in a rush — I'm just a bit hungry.'

Gu Zhao reached for the bottle of mineral water sitting to one side, unscrewed the cap, and handed it over.

Ji Su was a little surprised. 'For me?'

Gu Zhao gave a single syllable in reply. 'Mm.'

Ji Su took the water. 'Thanks.'

He tilted his face up and drank a few mouthfuls from the bottle.

His lips, moistened by the water, grew a shade redder — especially that little bead at the center of his upper lip, full and ripe as a drop about to fall.

Gu Zhao stared for a few seconds, then withdrew his gaze without a trace.

After dinner, the two walked back at an unhurried pace.

After what had just happened, Ji Su felt Gu Zhao wasn't quite as terrifying as he'd been back at the Music Society, and couldn't help asking: 'Can I ask you something?'

Gu Zhao let fall a single word: 'Ask.'

'How did you figure out I was Mengmeng?' Ji Su asked the question that had been gnawing at him most. 'Did I let something slip at the Resort Villa?'

He turned it over and over in his mind but couldn't work out how Gu Zhao had connected him with Mengmeng — unless, at the Resort Villa, he'd unknowingly given himself away in some way he wasn't aware of.

Gu Zhao's steps paused; he glanced back at him. 'You'll find out in a bit.'

Ji Su didn't understand. 'What do you mean?'

Gu Zhao gave him no further answer and walked on toward the Dormitory.

Back at the Dormitory, Ji Su found the other two still nowhere to be seen.

He was still quietly puzzling over what Gu Zhao wanted him to do when, in the quiet of the room, the other's voice rang out: 'Catch.'

Ji Su raised his hand and caught the thing flying toward him; the moment he looked at it closely, he froze.

What Gu Zhao had thrown him was — a sailor uniform.

'Why the surprised look?' Gu Zhao's cold tone carried a thread of mockery. 'You've already worn it — don't recognize it?'

'I recognize it, I just didn't expect—' Ji Su broke off abruptly. 'But why are you giving me a sailor uniform?'

Gu Zhao countered: 'What do you think?'

Ji Su: '...'

N-no, it couldn't be what he was thinking, could it?

'In my head I know it's you, but looking at you, I still can't make you and Mengmeng into the same person.' Gu Zhao pulled out a chair and sat down. 'So put it on in front of me, and let me get a proper look.'

The words escaped Ji Su before he could stop them: 'Can I refuse?'

'Heh.' Gu Zhao let out a cold laugh. 'Is asking you to wear a skirt in front of me once really such an outrageous request?'

Ji Su: 'No...'

Gu Zhao: 'Does it violate public order and morals, or any law?'

Ji Su: 'Neither...'

Gu Zhao crossed his long legs, folded his hands over his knee, and pronounced the verdict: 'Put it on.'

Ji Su closed his eyes for a moment, then took the skirt and walked toward the bathroom.

Everyone had to pay for the mistakes they'd made; by comparison, his price was already light enough.

Perhaps Gu Zhao still held some lingering fantasy about Mengmeng; once he walked out in a skirt and thoroughly shattered the image of Mengmeng as a pretty girl in G's mind, Gu Zhao's obsession would dissolve along with it.

That would be a good thing — for both him and for Gu Zhao.

Even as he kept bracing himself inside, once Ji Su had the sailor uniform on, he still hovered at the bathroom door, too hesitant to step out.

He'd never worn a skirt in front of anyone but Qiao Jin, and the photos he sent G had never shown his face — he could comfort himself that, anyway, the other person didn't know it was him.

After all, he was a straight man through and through — what was the meaning of wearing a skirt for another guy to look at...

'Are you done?' A voice from outside the door urged him on.

Ji Su clenched his teeth, turned the handle, and stepped out. 'Done.'

Gu Zhao turned his head, and his gaze froze in an instant.

Beneath the short blue sailor skirt stretched a pair of seemingly endless legs — slender, straight, fair and even, the lines flowing and flawless; seeing them in the flesh was far more striking than any photograph.

Gu Zhao's throat moved; with effort he drew his gaze upward, where a narrow, slender waist came dimly into view — equally white, dazzlingly so.

Further up, the collar of the top gaped slightly, revealing a small stretch of snow-white skin and a pair of straight, delicate collarbones; the chest, however, was flat.

Though the sailor uniform looked beautiful on him, no one would ever mistake him for a girl.

Standing before Gu Zhao in that sailor uniform, letting that gaze take its measure of him, Ji Su burned with embarrassment — the tips of his fair ears flushed so deep a red they seemed to bleed, like a piece of fine red jade, translucent and lovely.

Soon he felt Gu Zhao's gaze drop back to his legs.

Fingers pale as new scallions tugged hard at the hem of the skirt, trying to pull it down a little further, while the rounded toes pressed against the floor curled restlessly.

'Get on the bed.' Gu Zhao finally spoke, his voice low beyond reason.

Ji Su's brain had already melted into a paste. 'Huh?'

'I said—' Gu Zhao stood up and repeated it. 'Sit on the bed.'

A boy over a hundred and ninety centimeters tall — once he stood, the pressure was overwhelming.

Ji Su instinctively stepped back two paces and happened to drop onto the edge of the bed.

His slender wrists pressed against the blue-striped bedsheet, looking so fragile they seemed to snap at a touch.

Gu Zhao walked up to him and looked down from above: 'There's still one thing you haven't put on.'

Ji Su's eyes went blank. 'Wh-what...'

Gu Zhao bent down and picked up a pair of white knee-highs from the bed, then dropped to one knee, his large hand closing around one slender ankle.

The heat of his palm made Ji Su flinch; on reflex he tried to pull his foot back.

Gu Zhao said, low: 'Don't move.'

Ji Su's body went rigid; he didn't dare move.

Gu Zhao set his foot on his own knee; his bony-knuckled fingers stretched open the stocking and drew it over those toes, white as fine jade.

The ice-silk stocking was slick and cool, while the pads of the fingers brushing against his leg were rough and scalding — a perfect contradiction of ice and fire.

The large hand drew the stocking up to his knee and went on higher, leaving a faint red mark along the tender side of his thigh.

Ji Su, who had never endured anything like this, felt the muscles at the root of his thighs tremble beyond his control; on instinct he braced against the sheet and scooted backward.

Just then, that large hand stopped dead.

From the small struggle, the hem of his short skirt had ridden up a little — just enough to reveal a single crimson mole on the side of his thigh.

Gu Zhao's lashes dipped low, firmly veiling whatever stirred in those dark eyes, but the hand that had stopped — its fingers gave a single, nervous twitch.