In the small space of the dorm, Ge Zhicheng and Lin Xuying’s loud discussions echoed randomly. It was a bit of vindication for Lu Yuxing, and such a juicy piece of gossip was explosive on a campus where life followed a routine of study, dorm, and the cafeteria, providing endless fodder for discussion.
By the next day, the rumor had spread even further. Someone from Tian Miao’s dorm revealed that he hadn’t returned for two consecutive nights, which all but confirmed the news of his arrest. The other guys in his dorm started recalling details of their interactions with him, realizing how unsettling some of them were. They were so disgusted that they spent an entire day and night ranting in every group chat they could find.
The arrest of an A University top student for soliciting prostitution even briefly made it to the local trending news, though the school’s public relations team quickly suppressed it.
Given how things had unfolded, it was impossible for Tian Miao to continue his studies. Aside from Lu Yuxing, probably no one would have guessed that Tian Miao’s arrest had anything to do with Shang Jue, not even Tian Miao himself. All Shang Jue had done was give him a large sum of hush money a week prior, and on the night Tian Miao was arrested, he made a phone call to a private investigator from the He family.
The official notice of Tian Miao’s expulsion was posted half a month later, written in black and white on a sheet of paper. It was displayed below the boys’ dorm as a warning to others.
After one of his exams, Shang Jue returned to Dorm 7 with a few people from Room 323 and saw the notice. Students passing by would stop to take a look, and soon a small crowd gathered around.
Ge Zhicheng and Lin Xuying ran over to watch the scene, but Shang Jue only gave it a glance before heading back to the dorm.
Lu Yuxing followed him inside.
Even with his back turned, Shang Jue could feel Lu Yuxing’s gaze fixed on him.
Unable to resist, he turned around and saw Lu Yuxing frowning at him.
Shang Jue, who was like a firecracker, was easily ignited by just one look from Lu Yuxing. He smiled, threw his backpack onto the table, leaned back, and sat on the desk, with his long legs resting on his own chair. "What is it? Want to say something? Think I went too far? You should know what kind of person I am by now."
Lu Yuxing responded, "…Did I say anything?"
"…"
Lu Yuxing slowly walked over, stopping in front of Shang Jue’s chair, and asked, "What kind of person are you? I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?"
He was a little curious whether Shang Jue had a clear sense of self-awareness.
Shang Jue looked up and said, "I’m just a jerk. I’m bad."
Lu Yuxing couldn’t help but let the corner of his mouth lift slightly.
Seeing that smile, Shang Jue was momentarily dazed and quickly looked away, not daring to stare too long.
Lu Yuxing studied Shang Jue’s dejected expression for a moment, unsure of what his current mood was.
It shouldn’t have reached the level of guilt—Shang Jue wouldn’t feel guilty about taking down a scumbag.
But feeling upset was inevitable, especially considering how delicate and sensitive his personality was.
Lu Yuxing didn’t know how to comfort him. Given his current relationship with Shang Jue... maybe not arguing was already a form of comfort.
"Hey, let me take a look at the scar on your head?"
"Who's 'hey'? Do I not have a name?"
Shang Jue was speechless. "Didn't I call you that all through high school? How about calling you 'classmate Lu' instead? Would that make you happy? Alright, classmate Lu."
Lu Yuxing: "Can't you call me by my name?"
"Lu Yuxing, Lu Yuxing."
Suddenly, Lu Yuxing fell silent.
Hearing no response from him, Shang Jue asked, "Do you want me to say it more intimately? Yuxing?"
Still no reaction. Shang Jue impatiently raised his leg and bumped it against Lu Yuxing's arm. Mimicking Ge Zhicheng and the others, he called, "Lu Ge."
Lu Yuxing suddenly moved. His hand gripped Shang Jue’s knee, slowly sliding down to his ankle, and wrapped around it.
Shang Jue frowned and tried to pull his leg back, feeling a bit tickled by his touch.
Lu Yuxing held on for a few seconds before letting go, tossing his leg back onto the chair, and asked, "Why are you looking at it?"
Shang Jue: "I want to. Seeing it makes me happy."
"..."
Looking at my scar makes you happy?
Lu Yuxing was displeased and didn't want to spoil Shang Jue. In the end, he didn't agree to show him the scar.
When the other two came back from the notice board downstairs, Lu Yuxing asked, "Wanna go out tonight? My treat."
They had just finished several professional exams. The upcoming tests were a bit easier and more spread out, so it seemed like a good idea to relax a bit.
Lin Xuying: "Lu Ge, you’re treating us? Why?"
"Obviously because Tian Miao got his comeuppance," Ge Zhicheng replied.
Lu Yuxing just glanced at the last person, who still looked sluggish with droopy eyes, and asked, "Are you coming?"
Shang Jue casually said, "Sure, thanks Lu Ge"
Lu Yuxing gave him a look, feeling a bit itchy in his palms again.
It was freezing cold outside, making hotpot the best option. But Lu Yuxing didn’t eat spicy food. The last few times they went out, they all ate hotpot, and every restaurant’s clear broth was pretty half-hearted. Since it was his treat this time, Ge Zhicheng suggested trying a different local restaurant. To everyone's surprise, Lu Yuxing still chose a place with spicy food.
Apart from his allergy issue, Shang Jue wasn’t picky. Figuring there would be something he could eat among the dishes they ordered, he didn’t bother to look at the menu. He said, "You guys order. I don’t have any food restrictions."
After the menu made its rounds, Lu Yuxing handed it back to him and said, "Add two more dishes."
Shang Jue flipped through a few pages, hesitating for a moment before choosing a dish, and then added another one that was mild enough for Lu Yuxing to eat.
After they finished ordering the dishes, he glanced at the drinks menu.
Lu Yuxing said, "If you want to drink, just order."
Shang Jue felt like his thoughts had been seen through.
In fact, if Lu Yuxing hadn’t offered to treat them tonight, he would have been out drinking with He Yang.
"..."
Shang Jue flipped through the menu again. Looking at the dishes, all of which were his favorites, he hesitated and wondered, Is he trying to please me?
Unable to figure it out, Shang Jue lowered his head and ordered a bottle of white liquor.
Lu Yuxing opened his mouth, thinking Shang Jue would only have a couple of beers to unwind, and instantly regretted it. "Can you handle that?"
Shang Jue replied, "Better than you."
"..."
Lu Yuxing said, "If you get wasted, no one’s going to carry you home."
"Then I’ll crawl back."
Lu Yuxing: ...
Shang Jue quietly finished nearly an entire bottle. As he reached the bottom, Lu Yuxing's eye twitched, worried that something might happen, so he confiscated the bottle. The two others sitting across from them were dumbfounded, clapping in amazement.
But Shang Jue still seemed fairly clear-headed, though a slight flush had appeared on his face by the time he was done drinking.
However, when Lu Yuxing got up to pay the bill and came back, the previously composed Shang Jue was now hugging a teapot.
Lu Yuxing's heart nearly stopped. He quickly reached over and snatched the teapot from Shang Jue's arms. Thankfully, it was just warm, not hot.
Turning his head, Lu Yuxing saw a mischievous smile that Shang Jue could no longer suppress on his face.
"..."
"Did you really think I was drunk?"
Lu Yuxing stared at him expressionlessly.
Shang Jue continued smiling at him. "Baby, you’re so easy to fool."
Lu Yuxing: "..."
Baby.
He glanced at the two others, still dazed and confused, and calmly said, "He’s drunk. I'll take him downstairs. You guys go ahead and call a cab."
Ge Zhicheng said, "Brother Lu, can you handle this on your own? Should I stay back and help?"
"I’ve got it," Lu Yuxing replied, afraid that Shang Jue would say something even more outrageous.
Once the other two went downstairs, Lu Yuxing looked down at the troublesome drunk in front of him and sighed.
Shang Jue’s face was flushed pink from the alcohol, and his lips were moist, a bright crimson red.
His eyes, now shining brightly from the drink, looked slightly dazed. Lu Yuxing glanced at him and placed his hand on Shang Jue’s face. The warmth of his palm met the hotter skin of Shang Jue’s cheek.
Speaking to him, or perhaps to himself, Lu Yuxing murmured, "Should I find something to stuff your mouth with? Otherwise, you’ll say who-knows-what in the cab later."
Shang Jue smiled without saying a word, slightly tilting his head. His gaze dropped, and he pressed a kiss into the center of Lu Yuxing’s palm.
"......"
The wet sensation brushed across his hand, and Lu Yuxing’s face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He quickly moved his hand away from Shang Jue's face, slipped an arm around his waist, and half-dragged, half-carried him up.
Shang Jue tilted his head, lips nearly brushing Lu Yuxing’s ear. Lu Yuxing leaned back slightly, trying to distance himself, and said, "Baby, I can walk by myself."
Lu Yuxing’s ears burned, but his voice remained cold. "Baby? As if anyone believes you."
He supported Shang Jue to the stairwell, but just as they stepped down, he heard a soft chuckle next to his ear.
"Didn’t you say you wouldn’t take me home?" Shang Jue’s voice was like a swaying glass of sake—clear, but with a slight tremor.
Lu Yuxing’s steps faltered. He turned his head and locked eyes with Shang Jue, whose gaze was clear despite the alcohol, his eyes wet and bright.
"..."
Lu Yuxing instinctively wanted to let go, but with most of Shang Jue's weight leaning on him, he knew that if he did, the man would definitely fall.
Shang Jue grabbed the hand that Lu Yuxing had around his waist, his gaze uncertain as he looked at him.
Lu Yuxing inhaled through his nose and said, "You still want to mess with me, don’t you?"
Shang Jue pursed his lips. After a few seconds, he thickened his skin and replied, "And what if I say yes?"
"......"
Shang Jue quietly loosened Lu Yuxing’s hand and cautiously asked, “Are you planning to let go and throw me down from here?”
Lu Yuxing replied, “I don’t do illegal things.”
Shang Jue’s mischievous side surfaced. “Oh really? That’s not what you said when you beat up Tian Miao.”
“...”
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