That evening, after Shang Jue returned home, he received a friend request.
The note only contained a single sentence: "We broke up; you promised to keep it a secret."
Shang Jue had given Tian Miao a deadline of tomorrow morning, but he hadn’t expected that Tian Miao had just finished class and promptly broke up with Lin Yihan.
Shang Jue scoffed at the friend request, expressionless as he clicked “Reject.”
Breaking up with a girlfriend after a year of dating took less than half a day—what an impressive efficiency.
Tian Miao had followed Shang Jue's advice and kept his distance, no longer trying to get close to Lu Yuxing.
When it came to momentary affection versus future prospects, Tian Miao clearly knew how to weigh his options.
A few days later, Lu Yuxing had another check-up at a hospital in City A, but the results were not promising. That day, he returned to school and requested a long leave from his advisor to seek new treatment options at a hospital in another province.
The other two roommates in dorm 323 couldn’t help but worry about his situation.
As Lu Yuxing packed his things, Ge Zhicheng and Lin Xuying stood by, wanting to help but not knowing how.
He Yang often referred to Lu Yuxing as a “bookworm” in front of Shang Jue, but that term didn’t suit Lu Yuxing at all.
Besides his studies, Lu Yuxing had talents in other areas as well. He had only studied the cello for a few years during childhood but had already performed publicly. If it hadn’t been for his parents’ untimely deaths, he would have had choices beyond mathematics.
When his parents passed away, Lu Yuxing was still very young and in a state of confusion, spending a long time shuttling between various relatives' homes with Lu Yunsheng. It wasn’t until Lu Yunsheng turned eighteen that they ended their days of living off others.
Just after being admitted to university, Lu Yunsheng had to juggle her studies while also taking care of her younger brother, who was six years her junior. She was overwhelmed with work and study. During that time, to lighten Lu Yunsheng’s burden, Lu Yuxing learned many life skills, such as household chores and cooking. While other kids were still rebelling in middle school, Lu Yuxing had already maxed out his independence skills.
In their freshman year, the dormitory friends called him “Dad Lu,” and there was a reason for it.
Lu Yuxing zipped up his suitcase and locked it neatly. He was going to his brother's place tonight and leaving for the airport early the next morning.
Ge Zhicheng asked, “Lu Ge, how long will you be gone this time?”
“Two or three weeks, I guess.”
Ge Zhicheng looked worried. “What if you go to the best neurology hospital and they still can’t cure you?”
Lin Xuying replied, “Ge Zhicheng, can you please stop being such a jinx?”
He was truly afraid of this guy’s mouth—good things didn’t work, but bad things did.
Thinking of how Lu Yuxing had gotten into an accident right after Ge Zhicheng had jinxed him last time, Ge Zhicheng immediately covered his mouth and fell silent.
But Lu Yuxing didn’t seem to mind. “If it can’t be cured, I’ll just come back and catch up on what I’ve forgotten.”
Ge Zhicheng’s eyes suddenly showed admiration.
Lu Ge was still Lu Ge, so calm even after amnesia! If it were him, forgetting three years’ worth of memories, he would be crying his eyes out.
“And besides,” Lu Yuxing said thoughtfully, “someone will stick by me no matter what.”
“?” Lin Xuying was puzzled.
Ge Zhicheng misinterpreted and thought Lu Yuxing was hinting at himself and Lin Xuying.
He was deeply moved, never expecting his image in Lu Yuxing’s heart to be so great!
His eyes turned misty, and he immediately patted his chest, promising, “Lu Ge, Xuying and I will definitely stand by you!”
Lin Xuying thought: Wait… why do I feel like Lu Ge wasn’t talking about us?
He looked at Lu Yuxing’s expression, still unable to understand what that “no matter what” meant.
After packing his things, Lu Yuxing picked up the phone on the table and opened WeChat. He would be gone for at least half a month, so he needed to inform his so-called boyfriend.
With that thought, he clicked on the chat with the fox avatar and typed a few words.
【Lu Yuxing】: I’m leaving tonight.
A few minutes later, he received a reply.
【Shang Jue】: Now?
【Lu Yuxing】: Yeah.
【Shang Jue】: Do you want me to take you to the school gate, babe?
Lu Yuxing frowned; it was Sunday, and Shang Jue didn’t have classes, so he shouldn’t be at school.
【Lu Yuxing】: You’re at school?
【Shang Jue】: I’m at the library, just about to head back, passing by the seventh dorm.
Lu Yuxing had planned to say no need for him to come, but seeing this message, he found it hard to refuse. After all, they were a couple; there was no reason to decline even a simple gesture like this.
【Lu Yuxing】: Okay, thanks.
【Shang Jue】: No need to be polite with your boyfriend!
【Shang Jue】: Wait for me; I’ll be there soon.
【Shang Jue】: [wink.gif]
The emoji was of a flamboyant anime character winking, but Lu Yuxing couldn’t help but picture Shang Jue making the same expression on the other end.
He turned off his phone, grabbed his suitcase, and prepared to head downstairs.
“Lu Ge, we’ll walk you out.”
“No need, someone’s coming with me.”
“Ah?” Ge Zhicheng was taken aback.
How did he not know that Lu Yuxing had such a close friend at A University?
Lu Yuxing had a good reputation, but it seemed he didn’t have any particularly close brothers at A University.
Moreover, wasn’t Lu Ge supposed to have amnesia? Could it be that a friend from before high school was also at A University?
He hadn’t heard Lu Ge mention it before…
He exchanged puzzled glances with Lin Xuying, both of them clearly confused.
As they were just about to head to the cafeteria for dinner, they decided to follow Lu Yuxing downstairs.
The sky had darkened, and a few couples stood outside the dorm, hugging and being overly affectionate.
In contrast, Lu Yuxing stood out among the couples, looking particularly solitary. He held his phone, seemingly replying to messages, and the glow from the screen cast a cooler expression on his face than usual.
The sound of his suitcase wheels rolling across the ground grew louder as he approached.
“Hey, Shang Jue, what are you doing here?” Ge Zhicheng called out.
Shang Jue looked up, put his phone away, and smiled at him.
“Waiting for someone.”
“Oh…”
Ge Zhi Cheng didn't ask for details. Shang Jue had a wide circle of friends, and most of the people he met at school were unfamiliar to Ge. Even if he asked who Shang was waiting for, chances were he wouldn't know them.
Shang Jue's gaze shifted to the person carrying the suitcase.
Lu Yuxing asked, "From the library to the dorms that fast?"
He had barely finished replying to Shang's message before coming downstairs, and it only took about two minutes.
"The seventh dorm building is just across the street from the library. Haven't you been there since your amnesia?"
Lu Yuxing replied, "No."
The two of them chatted as if no one else was around, ignoring the stunned looks from the two people behind them.
Shang Jue took two steps forward and lightly tapped Lu Yuxing's arm, asking the two behind them, "Shall I take him with me?"
Ge Zhi Cheng: …
Lin Xuying: …
Lu Yuxing turned around and said, "You two go to the cafeteria, I'll go with him."
Ge Zhi Cheng and Lin Xuying: ………
What the hell! Has Lu gone crazy!?
"You two…" Ge Zhi Cheng hesitated.
Lu Yuxing asked, "What?"
"Didn't you two…?" Ge Zhi Cheng gestured wildly in the air, his hands moving so fast they were almost a blur, but Lu Yuxing didn't understand what he was trying to say.
At this moment, Shang Jue smiled and said, "Ah, we've made up."
After speaking, he shrugged, acting very casual. In reality, Shang Jue wasn't feeling particularly nervous—at worst, his lie would be exposed early, making the prank a bit less effective.
Ge Zhi Cheng, still stunned, replied, "Oh, oh."
Weren't they just at each other's throats a few days ago? How did they make up so quickly?
Lu Yuxing remained calm and didn't suspect anything. He had already guessed that he and Shang Jue might have had a fight, deleted each other from their contacts, and then made up by sending a red envelope.
Only Lin Xuying's expression remained odd, his brow furrowing and relaxing, again and again.
After exchanging a few words, Shang Jue and Lu Yuxing walked off together.
"Yingzi, am I seeing things?" After the two had walked away, Ge Zhi Cheng rubbed his eyes. "Weren't those two on bad terms? How did they make up in just a few days?"
Lin Xuying hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "Zhi Cheng, I'm wondering… could it be that our brother Lu is being played?"
Ge Zhi Cheng thought for a moment, "You mean, being played by Shang Jue?"
Lin Xuying remained silent, which was as good as a confirmation.
"Impossible, right?" Ge Zhi Cheng scratched his head. "You're overthinking it. Even if Shang Jue wanted to mess with Lu, why would he pretend to be on good terms with him? What's the point of faking brotherhood?"
Lin Xuying thought for a moment, then shook his head, "I can't figure that out either."
The two straight guys in Dorm 323 weren't even considering the possibility of romantic tension; their minds were stuck in the shallow realm of "just bros."
"Well, there you have it." Ge Zhi Cheng said wisely, "Yingzi, you've been playing too many games lately. It's time to step back and return to the real world."
"..."
You watch anime all day and call fictional characters your wife. Where do you get the nerve to lecture me?
Lin Xuying still felt like something was off.
He glanced in the direction Shang Jue and Lu Yuxing had left, pushing down the uneasy feeling inside.