Shang Jue silently turned his head back, vaguely sensing something but unsure of it…
Jealousy…?
Over something so trivial… He really thought it was trivial! Could it be?
Moreover, Lu Yuxing hadn’t said anything particularly pointed, so Shang Jue slightly frowned, choosing to believe that it was just his own illusion for now.
The two finished their last class without incident. After school, Wen Jiayue came to thank Shang Jue at the front row. Shortly after, Ge Zhicheng and Lin Xuying also came over to greet them, and the group exchanged pleasantries, quickly setting a time for their offline discussion.
Wen Jiayue left with her roommate, leaving Shang Jue and the others to walk together.
When they arrived at the entrance of Building Seven, Shang Jue said he was going home, while Ge Zhicheng and Lin Xuying planned to head back to their dorms. Lu Yuxing then stated, “I’m going to the library.” Shang Jue raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything in response.
Thus, the four split into two groups. Lu Yuxing walked beside Shang Jue but didn’t even glance towards the library when they reached its entrance. At this moment, Shang Jue turned around and huffed, “If you’re going to the library, why are you following me?” Lu Yuxing's eyes sparkled with amusement as he leaned against Shang Jue's shoulder. Shang Jue replied, “Running back and forth to my place, aren’t you cold?” This guy had been getting increasingly familiar with his home lately.
Even so, having someone to accompany him on the way home felt pretty nice.
Once they reached the seventh floor of the apartment building, Lu Yuxing suddenly hugged Shang Jue from behind. Their thick outer coats acted as a barrier, making Lu Yuxing feel as if he was embracing a cozy blanket. He found himself missing the times when Shang Jue wore just his pajamas… Their warm breaths mingled together, and he felt Shang Jue’s soft waist.
Upon entering the door, Lu Yuxing first planted a kiss on Shang Jue's lips. Although their frozen lips didn’t register much feeling, Lu Yuxing still enjoyed it. Shang Jue only fidgeted a bit during the kiss, occasionally moving his head, before feeling a bit frustrated and stopping. Lu Yuxing didn’t understand; lacking experience, he thought his boyfriend's lazy attitude during kisses was normal, just as he imagined couples should be. Unlike him, who felt parched while swallowing his partner's saliva.
After a while, Shang Jue's hand groped along the wall, and with a “click,” he turned on the light. The sudden brightness made Lu Yuxing squint, pausing for a moment while hugging Shang Jue. They stayed like that for a few minutes before stepping back.
Shang Jue placed his bag down. The warmth from the heater in the room was sufficient, so he took off his thick coat and hung it on the rack by the door. With a well-proportioned figure influenced by Chen Xuerong since childhood, even his inner layers, although not visible, were stylishly chosen. Thus, whenever he took off his outer coat, revealing his slender form, it was always striking.
Neither of them was very hungry. Lu Yuxing skillfully entered Shang Jue's bedroom to get water and make tea, while Shang Jue heated some steamed dishes in the kitchen for dinner.
After a simple meal, they each busied themselves at the desk.
At eight o'clock, the teacher reposted the assessment requirements in the group chat for their last class. Shang Jue glanced at it and remembered Lu Yuxing's ambiguous comment during class.
Wen Jiayue was in their group, and they would be discussing the topic together for the next month. Without clarifying, he felt a knot in his heart.
He paused his writing, tapped Lu Yuxing's left hand with his pen, and when the other turned to look at him, he said, "You weren't jealous earlier, were you?"
Lu Yuxing: "......"
His lack of denial was tantamount to admission.
Why would he be jealous? Was he worried that I would cheat?
Shang Jue frowned slightly, studying Lu Yuxing's warm profile under the desk lamp, and asked, "Is it just because I brought Wen Jiayue into the group?"
Oh no, does this guy have such a suspicious personality?
Is the trust between them a bit too fragile? Shang Jue felt anxious.
But then again, it seemed like there had never been any real trust between them... A relationship built on lies was inherently fragile, like a mirage that could collapse at any moment.
Thinking this way made Shang Jue feel even more unsettled.
However, Lu Yuxing shook his head and said, "No."
He asked Shang Jue, "That girl who gave you a birthday gift before?"
"Yeah, right. She gave me a small ornament," Shang Jue replied, puzzled. "How did you know?"
"Ge Zhicheng saw it and mentioned it in the dorm," Lu Yuxing's expression softened a bit. "He said you two were both single, and with your looks, you might have a chance."
And he was holding the cake and gifts, treated like a straightforward friendship.
"......"
Lu Yuxing continued, "I don’t like it when others associate your name with other girls."
Moreover, Shang Jue had spoken in a course group with dozens of people right after a provocation from Geng Kaixuan, which could easily be interpreted as him standing up for Wen Jiayue.
Even if Shang Jue had no intention of flirting, how could Lu Yuxing not care about others potentially misunderstanding that he was interested in another girl?
Shang Jue opened his mouth, then rubbed his nose with his knuckle, understanding why Lu Yuxing had that reaction in class.
His social circle was broad; although he didn't have close female friends, just maintaining a normal social distance could lead to rumors. Maybe it was because of his looks.
It was quite annoying, but he couldn’t expect Lu Yuxing to silence everyone else. Besides...
Shang Jue said, "Baby, you're not much better than I am. There were plenty of rumors about you and other girls in high school..."
Lu Yuxing: "I don’t remember."
Shang Jue: ...
"Should I help you remember? I sat behind you and could see love letters and breakfast notes from girls in other classes stuffed into your desk."
Lu Yuxing had transferred from another school, excelling in grades and looking handsome. Even if his personality wasn’t great, he still attracted many admirers with that face as if everyone owed him money...
Of course, at that time, Shang Jue was purely there to watch the excitement.
After Lu Yuxing listened, he fell silent for a moment. "Otherwise..."
He started to say something but suddenly fell silent.
His hesitance piqued Shang Jue's curiosity. "Hmm? Otherwise what? Tell me, baby..."
His urging was effective, and Lu Yuxing had initially planned to swallow his words.
He looked steadily at Shang Jue: "Otherwise, let's go public."
Shang Jue: "………………"
Public... which public? What public?
He slowly withdrew his hand and wished he could take back his intrusive question from ten seconds ago.
Lu Yuxing saw his reaction and instantly realized he had misspoken.
But since he had started, he intended to finish what he had begun.
He said softly, "I’m not saying we need to do it right now; the decision is yours."
Shang Jue: ...
In my hands... where?
Lu Yuxing gently dropped a bomb: "I’ve mentioned my relationship with you to my brother."
"...... Huh?"
Lu Yuxing used a more straightforward term: "Came out."
Shang Jue: "………………"
Which came? Which out...?
Came out, came out!
He took a deep breath, jumped up from his chair, one hand pressed against his forehead and the other gripping his hair.
Lu Yuxing was taken aback; he hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Shang Jue, and quickly explained, "The reason I didn’t tell you is that I didn’t want to put any pressure on you; I didn’t mean to rush you..."
"How did you tell Yunsheng Ge?" Shang Jue interrupted him.
"I said I was dating a guy."
"Did he hit you? Or scold you?" Shang Jue stared at him intently.
"...... Neither."
Shang Jue seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, but his brows were still tightly knit.
He sat back down, his lips pressed tightly together, looking very anxious.
"When did you tell Yunsheng Ge?"
Lu Yuxing replied, "Two months ago."
Two months ago...
When Shang Jue heard that timeline, he looked at him deeply.
Damn, I really...
Shang Jue's reaction was too intense and very unusual.
Lu Yuxing felt a strange sensation sweep through him.
He had come out to Lu Yunsheng, and as his boyfriend, Shang Jue should have felt relieved.
Even if he worried about being scolded or beaten, he shouldn't be this anxious right now.
"Shang Jue."
Shang Jue was lost in thought and responded absentmindedly.
“...What was the reason for the first transfer message in our chat history?”
Shang Jue thought for a long time before he realized what Lu Yuxing was referring to. It was the rent that Lu Yuxing had sent him when they had just added each other. The amount was quite ambiguous, meant to tease him.
He paused for a moment, then countered with a question, “What do you think it was?”
“I thought it was because we had a fight before, and I was trying to make up…” Lu Yuxing trailed off halfway, realizing that this assumption didn’t align with their characters in the story.
If he wanted to apologize and make amends, he wouldn’t have used a red envelope, and with Shang Jue’s personality, he wouldn’t accept such a gesture. In fact, it might even make him angry.
He didn’t finish his thought, but Shang Jue understood his meaning, falling into a brief daze.
No wonder Lu Yuxing had seemed so unconcerned after hearing the lies he had spun; it turned out the transfer record was the reason. But why was he bringing it up now?
Shang Jue fiddled with the handle of his mug, absentmindedly tracing patterns with his fingertip as he gazed at the tea leaves settled at the bottom, hesitating to speak.
As Lu Yuxing grew increasingly uneasy in the silence, he realized that silence itself could be an answer—an answer he hadn’t expected.
After a long pause, he finally heard Shang Jue’s response, which was even worse than the previous one he had anticipated.
“That five hundred? It was your share of the rent.”
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