Zhang Yu felt his heart tremble and his skin prickle at that one glance from Guan Xingchen. Is this really that legendary Highness? He’s terrifying.
Enduring his weak legs, Zhang Yu hurriedly shoved the two bottles of water he was holding into Si Nuo’s arms. “Y-you guys talk, I have something else to do, I’m leaving!”
He didn’t even wait for Si Nuo to react before turning on his heel. He moved with such speed, as if a wild beast were chasing him, and disappeared from sight in moments.
Si Nuo looked at Zhang Yu, who had suddenly rushed off, in bewilderment. “He… he must really have had an urgent matter. Here, have some water.”
Si Nuo handed a water bottle to Guan Xingchen. “I didn’t expect you to arrive so early. Look, there isn’t even a place for you to sit…”
He truly hadn’t anticipated that Guan Xingchen would come to watch him paint, let alone arrive so early. As the Empire’s only Highness and future Emperor, shouldn’t he be incredibly busy?
Guan Xingchen took the water, twisted it open, and handed it back to Si Nuo. “I’m not tired. Why don’t I help you paint?”
Si Nuo looked at the bottle in his hand, blinking. “You’ll get your clothes dirty.” Guan Xingchen’s shirt was so pristine and white; it would be a shame to stain it.
However, the man walked over on his own, picked up the brush Zhang Yu had been using, and squatted down, taking Zhang Yu’s place. “I should paint like this, right?”
Si Nuo nodded. As he watched the man crouched there, his eyes drifted to a section of white wrist exposed by the shirt cuff. On the protruding bone, there was a tiny pink mole.
Guan Xingchen’s hands were exceptionally beautiful, fair, slender, and finely articulated without being overly bony. His fingertips had a healthy, attractive pink hue, and there was a near-transparent fragility to them. It was a beauty so exquisite it felt almost possessive. If someone were to photograph those hands and post them online, they would surely be hailed as a piece of digital art.
Realizing what he was thinking, Si Nuo felt his cheeks heat up. He turned away and picked up his own brush to continue tracing the unfinished lines.
Guan Xingchen’s sudden appearance naturally caught the attention of others. Through the classroom window, a student nicknamed “Fatty” looked out in surprise. “Is that Si Nuo’s matching partner?”
Ren Ju stood right next to him and saw it too. He didn’t speak, but his eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the tall, handsome figure outside. Even just from the back, that silhouette was leagues ahead of his own matching partner.
“Wow,” someone else commented, “Si Nuo’s partner looks pretty good! Look at those long legs!”
“I don’t know what his face looks like, but that physique is beyond words!”
“Hey, Zhang Yu is back! Let’s ask him!”
As soon as Zhang Yu stepped into the classroom, he was pulled over by the others. Noting that everyone was still looking out the window, Zhang Yu immediately guessed what they had been observing.
Seeing Ren Ju’s gaze, he didn’t want to say anything at first. But then he remembered how Ren Ju had been bragging about his own A-level esper match. Zhang Yu cleared his throat. “Can’t you guys see for yourselves? Just looking at his back, he’s clearly a handsome man, and his face is undoubtedly flawless. His mental power is just so-so about S-level. Oh well, our Si Nuo has always been low-key; he wouldn’t just brag about these things…
“And you might not know this, but when they first got their matching notification, Si Nuo actually rejected him. But not only did he refuse to give up, he even asked Si Nuo to give him a chance to try after their first meeting. Obviously, he is very satisfied with our Si Nuo.”
As he finished, Zhang Yu lifted his chin, looking like a proud parent.
Fatty scoffed, “Zhang Yu, I didn’t know you could brag like that! Rejected him and he still wouldn’t take no for an answer? Si Nuo is just a ‘useless person’ with a genetic disease—how did he become a treasure in your mouth? Which fool would fall for that? I bet he just hid his actual condition!”
Zhang Yu sneered, “You think Si Nuo is like you? I didn’t mention this earlier, but when they met, Si Nuo told him about his condition immediately and rejected him to his face. The other party didn’t just refuse to accept it; he asked to try things out, sent him cake afterward, and today, he even came here specifically to help Si Nuo paint. You can choose not to believe me, but the truth is right outside the window. Can’t you see it for yourselves?”
It was true. Even if Zhang Yu were lying, the fact remained that the matching partner had come over to help Si Nuo paint. And he was still out there right now!
Fatty wanted to retort fiercely, but he opened his mouth and couldn’t find a single word to say. What could he say?
Zhang Yu rolled his eyes and turned to Ren Ju with a smile. “I wonder when we’ll be able to meet your partner, Ren Ju? You’ve been going on about how good he is to you, haven’t you?”
Hearing this, others nodded. “Yeah, Ren Ju! You’ve been talking about your match for so long let us see who’s better: your match or Si Nuo’s!”
Ren Ju’s face turned a shade of sickly green and red. After seeing Si Nuo’s partner, he wouldn’t let these people see his own match if his life depended on it.
Fatty tried to stand up for him. “Si Nuo wants to compete with Ren Ju? That’s simply…”
“Alright, everyone. Si Nuo and I are classmates, there’s no need to compete over these things. I’m actually happy that Si Nuo found such a good match!” Ren Ju turned and glared at Fatty, then smiled at Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu matched his smile. “Then you had better be sincere.” As if anyone here doesn’t know how to act hypocritically.
As noon approached, Si Nuo looked at the mural they had completed with Guan Xingchen’s help. “Thank you so much for your help today. Let me treat you to a meal. What would you like to eat?”
Guan Xingchen met the youth’s clear, gentle dark eyes and felt a sense of peace. “Let me try your school canteen.”
“Our canteen food isn’t very good. Let me treat you to something outside.” Their school’s cafeteria couldn’t compare to the First Military Academy’s, and he didn’t think Guan Xingchen would enjoy it.
“No, let’s just go to your canteen and see. What do you usually eat?”
Seeing that Guan Xingchen was determined, Si Nuo had to lead him toward the cafeteria. “I usually eat light meals, but feel free to choose whatever you like.”
Guan Xingchen glanced back at him. “Is it because of your health?”
Si Nuo didn’t expect him to pick up on that from a single sentence. He nodded. “Yes. My body is a bit problematic, which is why I…”
“We’ll have a doctor give you a thorough check-up later. Genetic diseases aren’t a big deal nowadays. Let’s go.”
Guan Xingchen cut him off before he could finish, immediately providing a solution.
Si Nuo felt a small stir in his heart. He felt that this man was gentle even in his assertiveness, soaking into his life like a gentle spring rain.
They arrived just in time for the lunch rush, and the canteen was packed. Si Nuo wanted Guan Xingchen to sit and wait while he fetched the food, but the man insisted on going with him. Furthermore, he even chose the same light dishes that Si Nuo picked, which made Si Nuo feel a bit guilty.
Guan Xingchen seemed to notice. He said warmly, “I prefer light meals anyway. Since our tastes happen to align, we won’t end up fighting over food in the future.”