—

The next morning, Ji Su's consciousness had not yet fully surfaced when a dull, indescribable ache reached his nerve endings, sharp enough to draw a low groan from him.

What on earth had happened — had someone beaten him up?

Ji Su forced his eyes open, took a long moment to gather himself, and only then realized he was not in the Dormitory.

He sat up quickly, glanced around the room, and his heart settled.

He had been here before — this was Gu Zhao's home.

Ji Su threw back the thin blanket, got out of bed, and padded barefoot across the floor toward the door.

He opened the bedroom door; from the direction of the Kitchen came the familiar scent of cooking, and a tall figure stood at the counter.

Ji Su called out, 'Gu Zhao.'

Gu Zhao turned around, and something in his gaze dimmed.

Ji Su was wearing Gu Zhao's black T-shirt — the loose neckline bared a sweep of pale skin, and the hem fell just to the upper thigh, revealing two long, straight legs that looked, beneath it, as though he wore nothing at all.

His gaze traveled further down, settling on two feet white as jade.

Gu Zhao's brow furrowed. 'Why did you come out barefoot?'

Ji Su glanced down after him. 'Ah — I forgot just now...'

That downward glance revealed, too, that the clothes on his body were not his own.

Ji Su lifted his face. 'Did you change my clothes for me last night?'

'Mm.' Gu Zhao answered, his tone level as he stated it. 'You took your own clothes off yourself. I had no choice but to find you something else to wear.'

'I...' A sudden heat crept up the back of Ji Su's ears, and he changed the subject. 'I think I'll go take a shower first...'

Gu Zhao drew his gaze back. 'Come eat something after you've washed up.'

Ji Su returned to the bedroom, showered, and put on the clothes he had left here last time — at last feeling clean and refreshed, though his head still ached from the night before.

He stuffed the clothes he had just taken off into the washing machine, went looking for yesterday's dirty clothes, and could not find them anywhere in the bathroom.

Ji Su stepped out of the bathroom and saw that his clothes had already been washed — they were hanging out on the Balcony alongside Gu Zhao's.

It seemed he had smelled truly terrible after drinking last night, so much so that even Gu Zhao couldn't stand him.

Ji Su returned to the living room, his tone a little sheepish. 'Gu Zhao, I'm clean now.'

'Mm. Take this medicine.' Gu Zhao poured a cup of warm water and handed him a pill. 'Once you take it, your head won't hurt anymore.'

Ji Su sat down and obediently swallowed the pill, then tilted his face up. 'Last night... I didn't cause you too much trouble, did I?'

He had never been drunk before, so he had no way of knowing what he was like afterward.

Having just showered, his hair was still not dried; beads of water rolled down the ends, leaving a damp trail along his cheek.

Gu Zhao raised a hand and used the pad of his thumb to wipe away that wet trace. 'You don't remember any of it?'

Ji Su's brow creased slightly as he tried to recall. 'I only remember us leaving the bar together, and after we got back to your place I lay down on the sofa, and then...'

Gu Zhao looked down at him. 'And then?'

Ji Su shook his head. 'And then I don't remember anything.'

Gu Zhao gave a low laugh. 'What happened after that — that was the real highlight.'

The moment he said it, Ji Su tensed at once. 'I... I didn't get drunk and act crazy, did I? I didn't do anything to you?'

Gu Zhao turned and walked toward the other end of the dining table. 'You did plenty.'

Ji Su: 'Like what...'

Gu Zhao pulled out a chair and sat down. 'You said you were hot, and not only did you take off your own clothes — you tried to take off mine.'

Ji Su: '!'

'That can't be right...' he denied in a small voice, not daring to look across at him. 'I wouldn't do something like that, taking advantage of someone...'

'What?' Gu Zhao said, half-smiling. 'You think I'm lying to you?'

'No.' Ji Su pressed his lips together, his ears red as he offered a solemn apology. 'I'm sorry. I swear I'll never get drunk in front of you again.'

Gu Zhao's voice cooled a fraction. 'Then in front of whom would you like to get drunk?'

Ji Su explained, 'What I mean is I won't get drunk at all from now on, so I won't cause trouble for anyone.'

Gu Zhao gave a noncommittal hum. 'When I'm not around, you really shouldn't drink.'

Ji Su, not catching the deeper meaning beneath those words, apologized again. 'I'm really sorry — sleeping in your bed last night without showering. I'll wash your sheets for you in a bit.'

'No need.' Gu Zhao said lightly. 'I'll wash them myself.'

Ji Su tried to say something more, but was interrupted again.

'And from now on, you don't need to say sorry to me.' Gu Zhao looked into his eyes. 'No matter what happens, you don't have to apologize to me.'

Those pitch-dark eyes held an unusually serious expression, and under that deep gaze, Ji Su's heart skipped a beat.

He asked, dazed, 'Why?'

'Because there's nothing you need to apologize to me for.' Gu Zhao said, unhurried. 'Even if there were, it wouldn't matter.'

He would take matters into his own hands and collect, twofold, from somewhere else entirely.

Ji Su came back to himself and thanked him with genuine feeling. 'Thank you, Gu Zhao. Thank you for being willing to forgive me.'

In his view, those words meant Gu Zhao had truly forgiven his deception — and that from now on, they could get along like normal friends.

After finishing a fragrant late breakfast, Ji Su prepared to take a cab back to School.

Gu Zhao asked, seemingly offhand, 'It's Saturday. What's the rush to get back to School?'

Ji Su thought for a moment, then answered, 'It's nothing important, really — I just haven't finished my assignment.'

Gu Zhao gestured. 'I have a computer here.'

'I can't use your computer.' Ji Su explained patiently. 'We need professional software for our drawings, and it's a hassle to install.'

Gu Zhao: 'Then take a day off.'

Ji Su, puzzled: 'I can rest back at the Dormitory too.'

Gu Zhao lifted his eyes. 'What — once you've used me, you toss me aside?'

He deliberately laid heavy stress on the word 'used,' giving it a particular shade of meaning.

Ji Su felt inexplicably guilty. 'I didn't...'

Gu Zhao countered, 'Didn't you?'

'Then what do you want to do today?' Ji Su clenched his teeth. 'Whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you — okay?'

'Oh, is that so?' Gu Zhao seemed to grow a little interested. 'Anything at all?'

Ji Su said cautiously, 'You tell me what it is first.'

Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds, then asked, 'What do you want to do today?'

'Me?' Ji Su blinked, then thought it over seriously. 'I don't think there's anything I particularly want to do.'

Gu Zhao uncrossed his long legs. 'I remember you saying you liked going out shopping on weekends.'

Ji Su: '...'

Everything Mengmeng had said — Gu Zhao really did remember every word of it.

Gu Zhao gave a cold laugh. 'That was a lie too?'

'No.' Ji Su denied quickly. 'Qiao Jin likes going out shopping; sometimes I go with him.'

Gu Zhao asked again, 'You don't like it yourself?'

'It's not that I don't like it either...' Ji Su's brain spun at top speed, and he came up with a good idea. 'How about we go see a movie today? My treat.'

After the movie he could also treat Gu Zhao to a meal on his own — just the thing to make up for the trouble he'd caused last night.

Gu Zhao agreed. 'Fine.'

*

In the afternoon, the two of them arrived at a cinema downtown.

'Gu Zhao, which film do you want to see?' Ji Su's fingertip slid across the electronic display. 'The ones currently showing are —'

'This one.' Gu Zhao raised a hand and casually pointed at one.

Ji Su studied the movie poster carefully, then braced himself and agreed, 'Okay, then let's watch this one.'

For a Saturday afternoon showing, the cinema was not crowded — only a few couples and one family of three, scattered sparsely throughout the auditorium.

Ji Su was used to watching movies with Qiao Jin, and saw nothing strange about two boys going to a film together; he sat down with an easy, natural expression.

The lights went out, and the film officially began.

It was a thriller — though there were no particularly gory or terrifying scenes, the startle effects and sudden sounds came thick and fast, and the auditorium rang out with screams every now and then.

To preserve his dignity, Ji Su struggled to maintain an air of composure.

Suddenly a hand reached out from the big screen; his heart lurched, and he instinctively reached for the armrest beside him — only for his fingertips to brush against something warm.

Ji Su recoiled as if he'd touched a live wire, but that large hand caught his in return and held it fast.

Gu Zhao leaned close to his ear and murmured, breath warm, 'Hold onto me and you won't be afraid.'

The base of Ji Su's ear went numb; a strange current shot down his spine, and his body trembled of its own accord.

Gu Zhao straightened up, his broad palm wrapping the whole of that soft hand.

In the darkness, the faintest curve at the corner of his lips was almost imperceptible.

Ji Su had missed the best moment to pull his hand free, and it would have been awkward to force it now — so he let himself be held.

But before long, he was drawn back into the tense, thrilling plot.

Only when the film ended did Ji Su let his body relax, still not quite satisfied, and lean back against his seat.

Gu Zhao held his hand, the pad of his thumb stroking the warm, silken skin of his hand's back in idle, unhurried passes. 'Was it good?'

Their hands had been clasped so long that they were soaked through with sweat, sticking together in a sticky tangle — you in me, me in you.

'It was good.' Ji Su turned his face, his eyes bright. 'A little scary, but really good.'

The big lights in the cinema came on, and a cleaning lady walked in.

Ji Su was about to get up, and only then noticed his hand was still clasped in Gu Zhao's. 'Um...'

This time, Gu Zhao loosened his fingers and let him draw his hand away.

After the movie, they picked out an authentic Italian restaurant for dinner.

Ji Su was well taken care of throughout — even his steak was cut into small pieces and placed in front of him in advance.

Seeing him set down his utensils, Gu Zhao asked, 'Are you full?'

'Full.' Ji Su nodded and called the waiter over to settle the bill.

The two of them walked out of the restaurant; the city lights had just come on, and the streets were at their liveliest.

'Do we take a cab straight back to School?' Ji Su tilted his face up slightly. 'Or are you going home to stay another night?'

Gu Zhao answered a question that hadn't been asked: 'Come with me somewhere.'

Ji Su: 'Where?'

Gu Zhao: 'The Aquatic Center.'

Ji Su hesitated. 'But I can't swim.'

'I went to the movies with you; you come with me to the Aquatic Center.' Gu Zhao reached out and pinched his cheek. 'Fair?'

'Fair.' Ji Su didn't dodge that large hand; the flesh of his cheek bunched up under the pinch, making his words come out a little air-leaked. 'So we go now?'

Gu Zhao released his hand with restraint. 'Mm.'

*

Inside the Aquatic Center, Ji Su sat on a chair by the Swimming Pool, waiting for the other to change, when the phone in his pocket buzzed suddenly.

He took out his phone, unlocked the screen, and opened WeChat.

Qiao Jin: [Susu baby, it's already eight — when are you coming back?]

Ji Su: [Still have to wait a bit.]

Ji Su: [I came swimming with Gu Zhao.]

Qiao Jin: [Swimming?]

Qiao Jin: [Didn't you say you can't swim?]

Ji Su: [It's fine, I'm not going in the water.]

Ji Su: [I'll just sit on the edge and watch him swim.]

Qiao Jin: [Then remember to take some videos or photos of School Hunk Gu swimming.]

Qiao Jin: [I'll sell them for a high price later, hahaha!]

Ji Su: [...]

Qiao Jin: [But honestly, last night at the bar, Gu Zhao was protecting you like a mother cow shielding her calf.]

Qiao Jin: [I'm starting to wonder if School Hunk Gu has some kind of... feelings for you...]

Ji Su: [What?]

Qiao Jin: [Has feelings for you in that way...]

Ji Su: '?'

Ji Su: [Gu Zhao is straight — straighter than me.]

Ji Su: [And don't you remember he's homophobic? Don't make jokes like that anymore, Xiao Qiao.]

Qiao Jin: [I know, I know...]

Qiao Jin: [Then come back early, okay? I miss you!]

Ji Su: [Okay, I'll be as quick as I can.]

No sooner had he sent that message than he heard, at his ear, a familiar sound of indrawn breath.

Ji Su turned his head, glanced once, and quickly turned back.

Gu Zhao walked out in a pair of loose black swim trunks — broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, every line of muscle on his body as perfect as a sculpture displayed in an art gallery.

This was the Aquatic Center's VIP pool; there weren't many people inside, but nearly every eye was drawn to him.

Gu Zhao, accustomed to ignoring all gazes, walked straight to Ji Su and bent down to ask, 'Are you sure you don't want to get in the water?'

Ji Su stared straight ahead. 'Definitely not getting in.'

Gu Zhao gave a short laugh. 'Last time at the Villa, you didn't want me to see your legs. What is it this time?'

Heat rose to Ji Su's cheeks, and he muttered under his breath, 'So back then you were testing me on purpose...'

Gu Zhao neither confirmed nor denied; he did a couple of simple warm-up movements and dove into the water.

White spray churned as that long, athletic body cut swiftly through the water for two lengths.

A moment later, Gu Zhao swam to the edge of the Swimming Pool, raised a hand to push back his fringe, revealing his handsome, sculpted features — his eyes darker and deeper than ever, handsome enough to make one's heart race and cheeks flush.

He looked at Ji Su, who had sat himself far away, and called softly, 'Come here.'

Ji Su walked over and crouched down. 'What is it?'

Gu Zhao propped his dripping arm on the pool's edge. 'Really not getting in?'

Ji Su looked a little troubled. 'I really can't swim at all.'

'It's fine.' Gu Zhao fixed his gaze on his face. 'I can teach you.'

Ji Su's brow furrowed, as if wrestling with himself.

Gu Zhao tapped his knee with a finger. 'With me here, nothing will happen to you.'

His tone was as calm as ever, with little emotion — but for some reason, Ji Su simply believed him.

With Gu Zhao there, he would not be hurt.

'Okay.' Ji Su finally made up his mind. 'I'll go change.'

Gu Zhao slipped back under the water, swam two more laps, and surfaced again.

Ji Su, having just finished changing into his swimsuit, returned and called softly, 'Gu Zhao.'

Gu Zhao turned in the water, his gaze fixed on him, and the color of his eyes deepened another shade.

For his first time swimming, Ji Su had chosen a relatively conservative style of swimsuit — but the black fabric clung to his body, fully tracing the elegant curve of his waist and hips; the length of the trunks just happened to hide the red mole on the side of his leg, while the two legs left bare were slender, straight, and flawless.

Gu Zhao, expression unchanged, ground his back molars — and regretted, just a little, bringing him to a public Aquatic Center.

Ji Su walked to the edge, eager to learn. 'Do I get straight into the water now?'

Gu Zhao swam back to the pool's edge and instructed, 'Sit down first, get your legs used to the temperature.'

'Okay.' Ji Su answered, sat at the edge, and tentatively lowered his two calves into the Swimming Pool.

Those pale calves entered the water, radiating the soft luster of jade.

Gu Zhao narrowed his dark eyes slightly, his voice dropping another note. 'Is the temperature alright?'

Ji Su answered, 'I think it's fine.'

'Hi there!' Just then, a sweet female voice rang out from behind them.

Ji Su turned around, saw a girl in a swimsuit, and politely replied, 'Hello.'

The girl walked over. 'Are you regulars here too?'

Ji Su pointed at the person in the water. 'He's a regular; this is my first time.'

The girl looked at Gu Zhao with a touch of shyness, and gathered her courage to ask, 'Handsome, could I add you on WeChat?'

Gu Zhao wiped the water from his face and said nothing.

'I don't mean anything by it — I just watched you swim earlier and felt like your technique is really good.' The girl took two steps closer to the pool's edge. 'I was thinking we could arrange to come swim together in advance, and you could give me some pointers.'

Gu Zhao turned his gaze toward Ji Su on the edge. 'Ji Su, what do you think?'

'Mm?' Ji Su blinked. 'What?'

Gu Zhao looked up at him. 'Do you think I should give her my WeChat?'

Though the man in the water was clearly looking up, the innate authority between his brows and eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

Ji Su was bewildered. 'Why are you asking me?'

The girl wanted to add Gu Zhao — what did it have to do with him?

But the girl seemed to understand something, and immediately shifted her target to Ji Su. 'Handsome, would it be convenient to add you on WeChat?'

Ji Su: '...'

What was going on — was Gu Zhao deflecting someone else's request for his WeChat by redirecting the trouble toward him?

The two of them looked at each other for a few seconds; Ji Su let out a compromising sigh. 'I'll go get my phone.'

But Gu Zhao's face cooled, and his large hand gripped the ankle in the water with force.

Ji Su was startled. 'What's wrong?'

'We didn't bring our phones.' Gu Zhao shifted his gaze to the girl on the edge and said coldly, 'Help yourself.'

His gaze was too cold — like countless ice knives shooting toward her — and the girl couldn't help taking a few steps back. 'I'm sorry to have bothered you...'

Ji Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief — but the next second, the large hand gripping his slender ankle yanked hard, pulling him down into the Swimming Pool.

With a 'splash', water flew everywhere.

Ji Su sank into the Swimming Pool; the cool water rushed to wrap itself around him.

But before he could feel even a trace of fear, two large hands gripped his waist, and a pair of strong, powerful arms lifted his whole body steadily up.

With a gurgling sound, Ji Su broke the surface, gulping in great breaths of fresh air.

His dark fringe streamed water; his wet face resembled a lotus just risen from the water, growing ever more ethereally beautiful — lovely beyond compare.

Gu Zhao fixed his gaze on those moist, full red lips. 'How does it feel?'

Ji Su came back to himself and punched him hard with a clenched fist. 'Gu Zhao!'

He wanted to learn swimming, not diving!

Gu Zhao gave a deep, low laugh and warned, 'I'm going to let go now.'

'Don't!' Ji Su panicked, instinctively raising his hands to grip those broad shoulders, while his two long legs beneath the water wound tightly around that powerful waist.

Between those fine, smooth long legs and that hot, hard body there was no barrier at all — one could even clearly feel the trembling frequency of the leg's flesh.

Gu Zhao gave a muffled groan, the muscles of his waist and abdomen tightening in an instant — harder by far than the hardest diamond.