Lu Yuxing completely failed to grasp how twisted the thoughts of the person sitting next to him were at this moment.
He said, βAfter this period, it will get better on its own.β After a pause, he added, βYou donβt need to worry.β
Shang Jue: βMm-mm.β
He thought, Haha, how could I possibly worry about you?
βLetβs study.β After saying this, Lu Yuxing turned back to his book.
Shang Jue casually completed a couple of problems, and suddenly remembered how they often stayed behind in the classroom after everyone else had left in high school, doing problems together. In the stillness, he could hear the sound of pencils scratching against paper coming from the front desk.
But this time, that sound was coming from his right side.
He lowered his eyelashes and turned his gaze, spotting Lu Yuxing's hand, veins prominent, gripping a black pencil that looked a bit heavy, its sturdy metal casing actually being the same one from high school.
Shang Jue couldn't help but smile.
He glanced at the sheet of paper beneath Lu Yuxing's hand, frowning at the long black lines that had been crossed out.
β...β
βHey...β Shang Jue nudged Lu Yuxingβs shoe with the tip of his foot.
Lu Yuxing stopped writing, turning his head to look at him.
Shang Jue asked, βAre you going to finish?β
Lu Yuxing replied calmly, βI think so.β
βThink so?β Shang Jue raised his eyebrows, βBut baby, with your current pace your midterm scores are going to be pretty disappointing.β
He stared into Lu Yuxingβs eyes, a bit expectantly: if Lu Yuxing was willing to humbly plead with him, he might just be generous enough to let this foolish dog pass the exam.
Lu Yuxing maintained his usual calm expression. βMm.β
Shang Jue: βYouβll fail.β
Lu Yuxing: βIt doesnβt matter.β
Shang Jue: β....β
"Honestly, which brand of plastic bag are you?"
If he truly didnβt care, he wouldnβt have tortured himself into such a state.
Shang Jue couldnβt help but recall that every time Lu Yuxing came in first in exams, his face wore an expression devoid of emotion. He had always assumed that the otherβs mental state matched his expression: completely unfazed.
But now, seeing Lu Yuxing's reaction, it was clear he wasnβt as indifferent as he appeared.
Shang Jue suspiciously thought: When this guy stood on the podium to receive awards in high school, he must have felt really proud inside, right?
As soon as this thought emerged, Shang Jue dismissed it.
It shouldnβt be, right...
He raised his gaze slightly and met Lu Yuxingβs straight, pale lips and his eyes, which didnβt seem as bright as usual.
β...β
Why should I care? What does it matter to me?
Shang Jue turned away expressionlessly, staring at the pages of his book.
After reading for two minutes, he grit his teeth and turned back:
βGive me the book.β
Lu Yuxing didnβt say anything, but there was a hint of confusion in his cold gaze directed at Shang Jue.
Shang Jue forced a gentle fake smile, βBaby, give me the book.β
Iβll help you pass.
β
Shang Jue was a very good teacher, and Lu Yuxing was the easiest student to teach; with just a little prompt, he could grasp concepts immediately.
Even though Shang Jue found him annoying, he had to admit that Lu Yuxingβs comprehension skills were astonishing.
The two were completely in sync, to the point of having a tacit understanding. Shang Jue felt uncomfortable with this harmony, yet he found a bit of enjoyment in it, likening it to the joy of parent-child teaching.
If all parent-child teaching could be this smooth, there wouldnβt be any parents driven to despair.
During their session, while Lu Yuxing was solving problems, Shang Jue remarked, βI hope my kid can be this easy to raise.β
This thought interrupted Lu Yuxingβs flow. He paused his pen and looked at Shang Jue. βWe wonβt have kids.β
β...β
Who said anything about your kid?
βYou like kids?β
Shang Jue replied, βIβm indifferent.β
βMm.β
Lu Yuxing resumed writing but slowed down significantly.
After a while, he looked up. βWe canβt get married, so we probably canβt adopt either.β
Shang Jue thought: What does this have to do with anything?
Lu Yuxing replied calmly, βThereβs no way around it. You might consider getting a dog.β
Shang Jue said, β...Focus on the problems.β
The two stayed until the library closed before leaving.
Lu Yuxing had a thorough approach to studying; rather than using ready-made formulas, he insisted on deriving everything step by step, a method more suited for academic research. Shang Jue, on the other hand, preferred not to delve too deeply, adept at spotting test-taking strategies, and even with only a vague understanding of the principles, he could score very well, making it useful for cramming.
With him teaching, Lu Yuxingβs progress had certainly improved.
As they left the library, Lu Yuxing walked quietly beside Shang Jue, his thoughts unreadable.
Only as they were about to part did he speak: βI can review by myself tomorrow.β
Shang Jue teased with a smirk, βWhatβs wrong, baby? Donβt look down on my quick-fix study methods?β
Lu Yuxing didnβt think highly of him, and Shang Jue knew it. He himself had little passion for math; he had chosen the math department only because it was the least resistant option among a bunch of majors he didnβt like, which was entirely different from Lu Yuxingβs genuine enthusiasm.
βItβs not that. It would waste your time.β
Shang Jue paused, turning to look at Lu Yuxing's face. The latter had his eyes half-closed, seriously gazing at him, clearly believing this sincerely.
Lu Yuxing said, βYou helping me will slow down your progress.β
βI donβt mind.β
βYou donβt care? Why?β
Shang Jue looked at him, thinking: My goal is you. Since youβre in such a bad state, whatβs the point of me reviewing? I can just take the exam casually and get around ninety points; thatβs good enough.
But he pretended to be nonchalant, saying, βWhat reason do I need?β
Just as they reached the fork beside the seventh dormitory and were about to part ways, Shang Jue's cold and clear voice rang in Lu Yuxingβs ear.
βIβm your boyfriend; thatβs enough.β
β
At the end of the month, after Shang Jue finished his last exam and submitted his paper, he walked out of the exam hall.
Outside the corridor, students who had just finished were chattering excitedly, discussing how to relax after surviving the midterm week.
As Shang Jue exited the exam hall, he spotted someone leaning against the wall waiting for him. Due to his height, he stood out among the crowd.
Seeing Lu Yuxing, Shang Jue felt a bit surprised.
They had finished the exams and didnβt need to go to the library anymore. Why was he still looking for him?
Just as he was about to walk over, a shadow suddenly darted past him from behind. Shang Jue felt a weight on the back of his neck as someone yanked at it. Turning around, he found He Yangβs precious head.
Shang Jue ruthlessly pushed away the arm that was hooked around his neck.
He Yang, laughing, was about to put his arm back when his eyes darted, unexpectedly meeting Lu Yuxingβs gaze not far away.
ββCough cough!β
He hurriedly leaned in closer to Shang Jueβs ear, lowering his voice to ask, βWhy is he here... Youβre not done playing yet?β
Shang Jue smiled, βNot enough playing.β
Besides, he had spent time helping Lu Yuxing review, so he needed to make up for it.
He Yang: ...
Lu Yuxing watched the two whispering, his long eyelashes lazily half-closed, revealing no emotion.
He Yang quickly glanced at Lu Yuxing.
Compared to a month ago, the person standing quietly beside Shang Jue now seemed to carry a more complex aura.
The aura of someoneβs boyfriend!
He Yang was startled.
No way, straight men arenβt that easy to bend...
As he pondered this, he heard his friend say, βBaby, you should go back to the dorm.β
Lu Yuxing slowly replied, βItβs fine; Iβll wait.β
He Yang: ...
βDid you need something?β Shang Jue asked.
βOhβ¦β He Yang came back to his senses. βI wanted to ask if you wanted to go out and relax this afternoon. I also invited Mi Feng; she finished her exams too.β
This time, he didnβt lower his voice, and Lu Yuxing heard him clearly.
Although he had only seen Mi Feng twice, he had a deep impression of He Yang, the one who took Shang Jue to the gay bar before.
Going out... to a place with a bunch of guys dancing?
They were all acquaintances. Shang Jue thought for a moment and said, βSure.β
Lu Yuxing's jaw tightened slightly.
He Yang said, βAlright, Mi Feng needs to go back to the dorm to do her makeup. Itβll take half an hour for her to arrive.β
Half an hour wasnβt enough for Shang Jue to go home, so he decided to wait at the small pavilion near the cafeteria.
He said to Lu Yuxing, βBabe, Iβm going with He Yang to the small pavilion to wait; youββ
Lu Yuxing interrupted, βIβm going to the cafeteria. Itβs on the way; letβs go together.β
Alright then.
Shang Jue didnβt think much of it and followed Lu Yuxing.
On the way, He Yang didnβt dare to glance at Lu Yuxing. Just thinking about how Lu Yuxing was being played around by Shang Jue made him feel guilty.
Shang Jue, however, keenly sensed that the pressure around Lu Yuxing seemed a bit low. He stole a glance at Lu Yuxingβs expressionless face, feeling a bit gloating as he speculated: He probably didnβt do well on the exam.
It shouldn't be so bad as to fail, right? Shang Jue certainly didnβt want his teaching ability to be doubted as well.
Aβs small pavilion is actually not small; itβs a replica of an ancient pavilion corridor, surrounded by small food stalls built specifically for students looking to buy snacks nearby.
When they arrived, Lu Yuxing didnβt rush to the cafeteria and suddenly changed his mind, saying he wasnβt hungry yet and would wait a few more minutes.
So the three of them sat together in the pavilion, waiting for someone.
After a few minutes, Shang Jue stood up to buy drinks.
He Yang was left alone with Lu Yuxing. Despite the lack of conversation, He Yang felt a subtle sense of suffocation.
The person sitting across from him didnβt even think to acknowledge him, staring down lost in thought. Occasionally, he would suddenly lift his eyelashes and glance at He Yang with a cold stare.
He Yang felt as if that gaze wanted to rip him apart.
He stiffened, trying to hold his neck up straight.
What are you looking at? It was Shang Jue who tricked you, not me!
If you want to kill someone, kill my brother!
He Yang gritted his teeth and faced the gaze, unable to hold it any longer, he quickly messaged Shang Jue for help.
Shang Jue had just arrived at the shop and was about to pay for his drink when he saw a barrage of messages from He Yang.
γHe Yangγ: Help me, help me!
γHe Yangγ: How much longer will you be?
γHe Yangγ: Can you hurry up? [crying]
γHe Yangγ: Damn it, your boyfriendβs expression is too scary, I really canβt handle it!
Shang Jue read the messages without changing his expression, skipped them, and paid first, then slowly replied.
γShang Jueγ: What do you mean, my boyfriend?
γShang Jueγ: Iβm not even in character, and youβre already playing along.
γHe Yangγ: Fine... Sorry.
γHe Yangγ: That bookworm's gaze is terrifying.
γHe Yangγ: Whatβs wrong with him? Did he forget something during the exam and hand in a blank paper?
Lu Yuxing was lost in thought.
His boyfriend might go meet some unsavory people in unsavory places later; he felt he had the right to demand that the other not go.
βAs my boyfriend, you canβt restrict me from doing βwhat things I canβt do.ββ
The image of Shang Jue saying that with a smile flashed through his mind, lowering Lu Yuxingβs mood even further.
He Yang typed quickly!
γHe Yangγ: Iβm about to freeze to death from your boyfriendβs glare!
Shang Jue couldnβt be bothered to correct him again.
The milk tea shop that Shang Jue entered was not far from the small pavilion. He could see the two people sitting inside from a distance. They had similar builds, and the one facing him had a cold demeanor, clearly looking unhappy with his head down.
Shang Jue sneered in his heart: This silly dog, is it really that serious over one exam?
βStudent, your fruit tea is ready.β The staff handed him a cup of the packed drink.
βThank you.β
After taking it, Shang Jue took a few steps before awkwardly turning back.
βDo you have anything with a nut flavor?β
He regretted asking as soon as he said it.
Damn it, why do I have to coax him?
The staff paused for a moment. βHow about our pecan milk tea?β
Shang Jue grimaced slightly.
βSure. Please make it hot and not too sweet.β