Finally, someone was actually doing something meaningful!
The protagonist, the “top dog,” had arrived! He was here to drive the story forward, to push Bai Zhou closer to completing his task!
Bai Zhou, almost forgetting he still had a mission to accomplish, replied to Fu Licheng with a sense of relief, telling him that he had plenty of free time, more than enough to spare.
On the other end, Fu Licheng responded almost instantly.
“Looks like you went to bed early yesterday.”
“Alright, I’ll forgive you this time. I’ll pick you up from school next weekend.”
Bai Zhou sent a short “received” GIF.
“Zhouzhou, who are you talking to?”
Chi Shuyi’s voice rang out unexpectedly, startling Bai Zhou so much that he instinctively flipped his phone screen down, heart thumping.
Then, just as he realized, he felt a strange twinge of guilt. Why was he embarrassed when it was exactly what the protagonist was waiting for, to catch him in the act, to see his true intentions?
Taking a deep breath, Bai Zhou boldly flipped the screen back up, determined to act confidently.
Chi Shuyi’s expression darkened slightly. “Zhouzhou, next weekend you’re going out with Mr. Fu? Weren’t you supposed to come back to check on the display cases?”
“I’ll come back on Saturday to check them. Then I’ll go out with him over the weekend.” Bai Zhou explained his plans earnestly.
Chi Shuyi let out a soft, ambiguous chuckle. “Zhouzhou, you’re really busy.”
Bai Zhou also felt a little busy, but it was all for his mission. Every bit of effort was purposeful!
Chi Shuyi didn’t comment further. In fact, he even thoughtfully packed Bai Zhou’s backpack for him.
By the time Bai Zhou returned to the dormitory, it was nearly noon. Since training was canceled that day, most of the residents were in their rooms. As soon as Bai Zhou opened the door, all eyes in the dormitory seemed to land on him.
Fu Linyi, in particular, darted toward the doorway, grabbing Bai Zhou’s backpack. He opened his mouth to say something, then suddenly frowned and fell silent.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Zhou asked, puzzled.
“Did you change your cologne?”
“I didn’t spray any. Is there… a smell?”
Fu Linyi’s expression darkened, his face slightly unpleasant. “Yes. It smells… bad.”
Bai Zhou lifted his arm and sniffed, baffled. “It doesn’t smell at all! What are you talking about?”
Fu Linyi’s face remained sour. He reached out and, almost aggressively, tugged at the hem of Bai Zhou’s clothing. “I’m telling you, there is. Go take a shower.”
Bai Zhou, exasperated, lifted the hem of his top to sniff again. Still nothing. Frowning, he demanded, “There’s absolutely nothing. Why are you picking a fight with me?”
He had always been meticulous about hygiene. No one had ever complained that he smelled bad, not once. Even Chi Shuyi had complimented him this morning, saying he smelled good.
Fu Linyi, noticing Bai Zhou’s exposed soft, tender belky, quickly yanked the hem from his hands and smoothed it down. “Wear your clothes properly.”
Bai Zhou didn’t want to argue with the inexplicably stubborn Fu Linyi. He tugged his backpack back over his shoulders and adjusted his clothes, marching toward Chen Feng and Tang Mingyuan.
“Smell it for yourself,” Bai Zhou challenged, lifting his hem. “Where exactly do I smell bad?”
Tang Mingyuan swallowed nervously, catching a whiff from the raised hem, and his nose started bleeding uncontrollably. “S-smells… good… really good.” He stammered, grabbing tissues from the table without daring to look up.
Chen Feng, his expression neutral, simply nodded. “Hmm… doesn’t smell bad.”
Satisfied with their fair judgment, Bai Zhou turned back to Fu Linyi, frowning seriously. “You’re just picking a fight.”
Chen Feng casually lowered the hem Bai Zhou had held up and remarked, “Fu Ge’s joke really was a bit much.”
Bai Zhou felt even more certain that it was Fu Linyi’s fault and snorted, turning his head away in disdain.
Fu Linyi’s face was sour enough to compete with the bitterness of a melon.
“No, I… Bai Zhou, listen to me…” he started, stepping closer to grab Bai Zhou’s hand, only for Bai Zhou to dodge.
Tang Mingyuan quickly intervened. “Fu Ge and I were planning to eat in the cafeteria. Bai Zhou, want to come?”
Before Bai Zhou could answer, Chen Feng, who rarely interacted with anyone, spoke first.
“Bai Zhou, have lunch with me.”
Bai Zhou looked at him in surprise, only to see Chen Feng avert his gaze, his earlobes slightly pink. “I never let anyone miss out. You treated me yesterday, so today I’ll treat you.”
“Okay.” Bai Zhou was glad, this way, he could avoid seeing Fu Linyi for now.
Chen Feng usually relied on meals delivered by the family’s staff, so Bai Zhou assumed “having lunch together” meant sitting with two separate insulated lunch boxes. But to his astonishment, Chen Feng led him straight to a restaurant at the school gate.
“Isn’t this supposed to be food delivery?” Bai Zhou asked.
“Yes, just delivered here,” Chen Feng said matter of factly.
The restaurant owner greeted them warmly, ushering them into a large private room. “Mr. Chen, please come in. Aunt Wang will be here shortly.”
The private room was huge. Bai Zhou’s mind, still operating under the “lunch box” logic, couldn’t understand why such a big table was needed.
Soon, Aunt Wang arrived, followed by a large group of chefs in perfect formation, all wearing their hats and uniforms, lining up neatly in the room.
Bai Zhou blinked. Where was the food?
Aunt Wang stepped forward, bending slightly to hand a menu to Chen Feng. “Young master, what would you like to eat today?”
Chen Feng passed the menu to Bai Zhou. “You order.”
Bai Zhou’s jaw dropped slightly. “Wasn’t the food delivered?”
“Yes. I don’t like eating outside, so every day I have Aunt Wang send a chef to cook here.” Chen Feng said as if it were completely natural.
So, rich people’s “delivered food” was basically a personal chef? Bai Zhou silently clenched his fists, itching to go head to head with these rich kids. But in the end, he ordered several dishes in one breath.
The professional chefs worked quickly, barely keeping them waiting. Not only did they serve Bai Zhou’s choices, but a variety of other dishes appeared on the table as well. The entire spread was almost overwhelming.
While Bai Zhou buried his head in his meal, the person across from him suddenly spoke.
“I don’t actually like Fu Linyi. My father just wants me to be close to him.”
Chen Feng’s hand tightened slightly around his chopsticks. His cheeks flushed, and his gaze wavered nervously.
Bai Zhou lifted his eyes in confusion. Why was he telling him this? Did he really seem like someone trustworthy enough to confide in?
“Bai Zhou…”
Chen Feng took a deep breath, as if summoning all his courage. His face burned red, but his eyes were steadfast. “I… I can be trusted completely.”
He lowered his head in embarrassment immediately afterward.
Bai Zhou was stunned. For the first time, someone had entrusted him with their heart. He paused, considering carefully what response would honor that trust.
After a moment, he put down his chopsticks, his expression serious, and grasped Chen Feng’s hand. “I understand you.”
Chen Feng’s face instantly turned crimson, his heart hammering so hard he felt it might burst from his chest. He leapt to his feet, yanking his hand away.
“I-I’m full! I have things to do! Just… please, think carefully!” He stammered, running off so quickly he even bumped into the doorframe in his haste.
Bai Zhou blinked in confusion, stunned, and then continued eating, topping up his bowl once more.
By the time Bai Zhou returned to the dormitory, Chen Feng was gone, presumably tending to his affairs. Bai Zhou stored the leftover dishes in the fridge and turned, only to meet Fu Linyi’s lingering, resentful gaze.
Bai Zhou averted his face, ignoring him completely.
He couldn’t quite understand it. He even wondered if his “social radar” had malfunctioned. Normally, he was highly sensitive to others’ negative emotions, yet earlier, Fu Linyi had clearly been trying to provoke him, but there was no negativity directed at him. Someone trying to pick a fight, yet no negative emotion aimed at him? Strange.
“What did you two talk about? Why did he suddenly want to treat you?” Fu Linyi asked, unable to bear being ignored.
Bai Zhou, committed to keeping Chen Feng’s trust, simply said vaguely, “It’s nothing.”
Hearing that, Fu Linyi’s heart sank.
“I’m sorry, Zhouzhou. I shouldn’t have said that earlier. I really wasn’t trying to… You smell good, especially good. It’s my problem. Please don’t be mad.” Fu Linyi hurriedly explained.
Bai Zhou, having already eaten and calmed down, accepted the apology gracefully. “Alright, just be careful next time.”
“Yes, yes! I swear!” Fu Linyi raised his hand in earnest pledge.
Bai Zhou nodded, intending to head back to bed for a little rest, but was blocked by the tall frame in front of him.
“Bai Zhou, are you still mad at me?”
What was this? A relationship question? Bai Zhou exhaled and responded half-heartedly, “Alright, alright.”
Feeling the boy’s clear indifference, Fu Linyi desperately wanted to do something, anything, to get Bai Zhou’s attention.
But with others in the dormitory, he could only tug at the hem of Bai Zhou’s clothing, heart aching with frustration.
No matter how mature he usually seemed, in front of Bai Zhou, he was just a nineteen year old experiencing his first crush, clumsy, flustered, and completely smitten.
His thoughts revolved entirely around Bai Zhou, yet Bai Zhou’s popularity with everyone else, a perfect neighborly boy outside, with Fu Licheng always lurking like a predator, was enough to keep him in constant anxiety.
Now, back in the dormitory, on top of the ever opportunistic Tang Mingyuan, another unexpected factor had appeared: Chen Feng.
Fu Linyi’s sense of security felt like delicate rice paper windows, fragile and easily torn. As soon as Bai Zhou’s attention wavered, it was as if the cold wind tore through, chilling him to the bone.
He longed to ask Bai Zhou to love only him, to allow him to do better than anyone else, but feared rejection. The thought of losing even the chance to compete made him anxious.
The idea of Bai Zhou returning to the dormitory after a night away, carrying Chi Shuyi’s scent… Fu Linyi felt blacked out inside.
Despite telling himself not to overthink, not to be jealous, he couldn’t help the bitter twinge bubbling inside. He wanted nothing more than to gather Bai Zhou into his arms and keep him safe, where only he could see and touch him.
But he knew if he did, Bai Zhou would only get angry, and he couldn’t bear that either.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Green Tea Bun (1)Chapter 2 · Green Tea Bun (2)Chapter 3 · Green Tea Bun (3)Chapter 4 · Green Tea Bun (4)Chapter 5 · Green Tea Bun (5)Chapter 6 · Green Tea Bun (6)Chapter 7 · Green Tea Bun (7)Chapter 8 · Green Tea Bun (8)Chapter 9 · Green Tea Bun (9)Chapter 10 · Green Tea Bun (10)Chapter 11 · Green Tea Bun (11)Chapter 12 · Green Tea Bun (12)Chapter 13 · Green Tea Bun (13)Chapter 14 · Green Tea Bun (14)Chapter 15 · Green Tea Bun (15)Chapter 16 · Green Tea Bun (16)Chapter 17 · Green Tea Bun (17)Chapter 18 · Green Tea Bun (18)Chapter 19 · Green Tea Bun (19)Chapter 20 · Green Tea Bun (20)Chapter 21 · Green Tea Bun (21)Chapter 22 · Green Tea Bun (22)Chapter 23 · Green Tea Bun (23)Chapter 24 Part 1 · Green Tea Bun (24)Chapter 24 Part 2 · Green Tea Bun (24)Chapter 25 · Green Tea Bun (25)Chapter 26 · Green Tea Bun (26)Chapter 27 · Green Tea Bun (27)Chapter 28 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (1)Chapter 29 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (2)Chapter 30 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (3)Chapter 32 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (5)Chapter 33 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (6)Chapter 34 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (7)Chapter 35 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (8)Chapter 36 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (9)Chapter 37 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (10)Chapter 38 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (11)Chapter 39 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (12)Chapter 40 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (13)Chapter 41 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (14)Chapter 42 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (15)Chapter 43 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (16)Chapter 44 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (17)Chapter 45 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (18)Chapter 46 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (19)Chapter 47 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (20)Chapter 48 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (21)Chapter 49 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (22)Chapter 50 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (23)Chapter 51 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (24)Chapter 52 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (25)Chapter 53 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (26)Chapter 54 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (1)Chapter 55 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (2)Chapter 56 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (3)Chapter 57 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (4)Chapter 58 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (5)Chapter 59 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (6)Chapter 60 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (7)Chapter 61 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (8)Chapter 62 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (9)Chapter 63 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (10)Chapter 64 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (11)Chapter 65 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (12)Chapter 66 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (13)Chapter 67 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (14)Chapter 68 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (15)Chapter 69 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (16)Chapter 70 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (17)Chapter 71 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (18)Chapter 72 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (19)Chapter 73 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (20)Chapter 74 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (21)Chapter 75 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (22)Chapter 76 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (23)Chapter 77 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (24)Chapter 78 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (25)Chapter 79 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (26)Chapter 80 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (27)Chapter 81 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (28)Chapter 82 · Apocalyptic Lord (1)Chapter 83 · Apocalyptic Lord (2)Chapter 84 · Apocalyptic Lord (3)Chapter 85 · Apocalyptic Lord (4)Chapter 86 · Apocalyptic Lord (5)Chapter 87 · Apocalyptic Lord (6)Chapter 88 · Apocalyptic Lord (7)Chapter 89 · Apocalyptic Lord (8)Chapter 90 · Apocalyptic Lord (9)Chapter 91 · Apocalyptic Lord (10)Chapter 92 · Apocalyptic Lord (11)Chapter 93 · Apocalyptic Lord (12)Chapter 94 · Apocalyptic Lord (13)Chapter 96 · Apocalyptic Lord (15)Chapter 97 · Apocalyptic Lord (16)Chapter 98 · Apocalyptic Lord (17)Chapter 99 · Apocalyptic Lord (18)Chapter 100 · Apocalyptic Lord (19)Chapter 101 · Apocalyptic Lord (20)Chapter 102 · Apocalyptic Lord (21)Chapter 103 · Apocalyptic Lord (22)Chapter 104 · Apocalyptic Lord (22)Chapter 105 · Apocalyptic Lord (24)Chapter 106 · The Real World (1)Chapter 107 · The Real World (2)Chapter 108 · Extra 1