The motorhome drove smoothly toward the school.
In the back seat, two high school “beasts” preparing for class were eating their respective breakfasts—the standard routine for students racing against the clock, eating on the go.
“How did you hurt your arm?”
“I bumped it by accident while moving some things.”
Song Qie couldn’t finish the bread in his hand and gave up. He glanced sideways at Lu Beihuai, who had finished his own in just two or three bites. Song Qie looked silently at his own leftovers.
No wonder I’m so scrawny; I’m truly useless.
His gaze then landed on Lu Beihuai’s arm. The bandage had just been changed this morning, so it looked fairly clean, but remembering the blood-stained gauze from earlier, he wondered what could have hit him to cause such an injury.
He also noticed a slight bruise at the corner of Lu Beihuai’s mouth. What on earth has he been doing?
“Full?” Lu Beihuai noticed Song Qie had stopped chewing and was looking at him.
“Full.” Song Qie pointed at the bandage on Lu Beihuai’s arm and couldn’t help but ask, “What hit you?”
Lu Beihuai saw that Song Qie hadn’t even finished half of his bread and thought to himself, Stomach like a cat. He reached out: “Just a bump while moving stuff. Give it to me if you’re done.”
“…?” Song Qie was confused. “What for? I’ve already eaten from it.”
Lu Beihuai looked at him. “You used to throw your leftovers to me before.”
Song Qie was momentarily speechless. What was wrong with the original “Song Qie”? That’s so disrespectful. Are you two even that close? Making someone eat your leftovers. He put the unfinished bread back on the tray in front of him.
“You don’t have to do that anymore.”
As soon as he spoke, he saw Lu Beihuai reach out, take the bread he had bitten, and stuff it into his mouth.
“…”
The tall teenager sat beside him with his hands on his knees, broad shoulders slightly hunched, expressionlessly chewing the bread someone else had started. It was impossible to tell if he was happy or not, but he certainly seemed hungry.
Song Qie silently swallowed his words. Forget it, this guy is way too much to handle. If he wants to eat it, let him. If I say too much, he’ll just be in a bad mood again.
He made a mental note that one piece of bread was definitely not enough for Lu Beihuai. This guy probably needs three big ones!! I’ll ask the auntie to make more tomorrow.
He opened his schoolbag, preparing to give Lu Beihuai the key study notes he had organized last night.
“Young Master, do you hate me now?”
“Hmm?”
“Last night…” Lu Beihuai waited until he swallowed the bread to speak. He stayed in that position, not looking at Song Qie but keeping his head lowered. “You didn’t ask what time I got back.”
The early morning sunlight was dim, flickering through the car window. The light fell on Lu Beihuai. For such a tall person to suddenly act so “emo” and aggrieved made him look strangely like a big dog.
“But it doesn’t matter. You have so many friends, Young Master; it’s normal to forget. You must have seen the message and just accidentally forgot to reply.”
Song Qie: “?”
Another “green tea” move? Better learn this quickly.
Feeling helpless, he handed over his tablet. “Here, take this.”
“What is it?” Lu Beihuai looked at the tablet placed on his lap.
“Key points for next week’s monthly exam.” Song Qie had put a lot of effort into this over the last few days. “If you trust me, take a look at it over the next few days.”
“I trust you,” Lu Beihuai said without hesitation. “I trust anything you say, Young Master. So, you forgot to reply because you were busy preparing these notes for me?”
“…I guess so.” Song Qie heard Lu Beihuai provide the excuse for him.
In reality, he was just too tired and genuinely forgot.
“I knew it.” Lu Beihuai finally smiled.
In his mind, Song Qie gave a big thumbs-up. Look at that—didn’t even need a script. With that mental fortitude and reaction speed, a big boss is truly a big boss. Anyone who doesn’t know better wouldn’t know what hit them.
“After the monthly exam, do you want to go out and have some fun?” he asked.
Lu Beihuai scanned the content on the tablet and was a bit surprised by the question. “Are you taking me out to play, Young Master?”
“Yeah. Don’t want to go?”
“Just the two of us?”
Song Qie glanced at him. What’s with that hint of excitement in his voice? Is he planning how to pinch me again? It definitely couldn’t be just the two of them. “The other three are coming too.”
“I see.” Lu Beihuai’s tone suddenly turned dejected. “Of course. In your heart, they must be more important.”
“You’re very important too. I invited you first; they don’t even know where we’re going yet.”
Lu Beihuai froze.
Song Qie rested his face in his hand and looked out the window, avoiding his gaze. Using the skill he had just mimic-learned was making him nervous; his heart was pounding.
“Don’t look down on yourself.”
The flickering light from the window fell on the teenager. As he looked out, he revealed a delicate jawline. The hand propping up his face tapped lightly against his cheek—soft and bouncy. The redness at the tip of his ear seemed to reveal something.
Lu Beihuai felt a tingling in his fingertips. He could only press them against the seam of his trousers to ease the sudden, inexplicable numbness.
His mind couldn’t help but recall the sensation of touching him late at night.
Those slender ankles were so thin they could barely be held, feeling slightly cool like beautiful warm jade. It was easy to leave marks with just a bit of force, though they vanished by the next day.
A guy this bad should be pinched harder.
One person actually wants to take so many men out to play.
If he grows up and goes abroad, won’t he be even more wild? Can such a fair, thin, and weak body handle it?
Song Qie clearly felt the gaze glued to him. He pretended to be calm, didn’t turn back, and quietly began reciting English vocabulary starting from “abandon.”
They arrived at the classroom before morning self-study had started.
“Song-Song.”
As Song Qie walked in, he saw that Shen Tingsi was already there. Sitting in his seat, Shen Tingsi waved a bottle of fresh milk at him, a gentle smile behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
Sunlight poured in from the window, scattered light falling on Shen Tingsi’s shoulders. Every gesture exuded the spirited air of a noble young master.
Song Qie stared for a moment until he felt a nudge on his shoulder. Lu Beihuai walked past him expressionlessly, carrying two schoolbags. As they brushed shoulders, he said:
“Don’t eat too much. You’ll throw up later.”
Song Qie: “?”
“What’s this about throwing up?”
Song Qie heard a voice from above and behind him. Before he could react, an arm wrapped around his shoulders. He instinctively tried to dodge, only to see a wildly smiling Xie Jingchu behind him.
His white shirt was worn carelessly, giving him a rebellious, dashing look.
“Morning, Song-Song.” Xie Jingchu pressed his hand onto Song Qie’s head. Seeing him standing there dazed and silent, he reached out and pinched his chin. “Why are you standing here daydreaming? Didn’t sleep well last night?”
Song Qie: “Morning. I slept okay.”
He then pro-actively brushed the hand away and sat down in his seat. He saw Lu Beihuai already with his head down doing problems, not even looking at him. What’s wrong with him now? he wondered.
Then, a bottle of fresh milk was placed on his desk.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
Song Qie looked at Shen Tingsi and smiled. “Yeah, I ate.”
Suddenly, the sharp sound of a chair dragging rang out beside him. Startled, he saw Lu Beihuai stand up and lean over toward him, reaching into the drawer on the other side. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
A firm arm wrapped in gauze brushed against his own, causing a slight shiver. Perhaps because the distance was so sudden and close, it made him a bit nervous.
“I’ll get you some water.” Lu Beihuai took the water bottle from Song Qie’s bag. His gaze flickered toward Shen Tingsi across the aisle before looking back at Song Qie. Seeing him like a startled fawn, looking up with watery eyes and red-tipped ears, Lu Beihuai sneered inwardly.
With that, he picked up two water bottles and walked toward the back of the classroom.
Smile, keep on smiling at people.
“Making such a fuss just to get water.”
Xie Jingchu walked into the classroom with his hands in his pockets. Watching Lu Beihuai go for water, he complained wordlessly, then walked to Song Qie’s desk and leaned against Shen Tingsi’s. With his long legs slightly bent, he leaned down with a smile:
“Hey, Song-Song, I looked it up last night. The hot springs there are pretty good. Want to go?”
Song Qie: “…” Hey, wait! Don’t bring that up yet!!!
—You’re very important too. I invited you first; they don’t even know where we’re going yet.
I’m dead. Of all the things to mention… He had just tricked Lu Beihuai into thinking he hadn’t told the other three yet. He was suddenly filled with regret.
“Excuse me, thanks.”
Lu Beihuai stood with two thermoses in front of Xie Jingchu’s legs, which were blocking the aisle.
Xie Jingchu crossed his arms and scanned Lu Beihuai. He gave a light laugh and tilted his chin. “What, can’t walk on your side? You have to come through Song Qie’s side?”
“I need to put the water bottle back for my young master.” Lu Beihuai had no intention of switching sides.
The aisle on his own side was indeed empty; he could have easily used it.
Xie Jingchu bent his long legs, intentionally stepping on the crossbar under Song Qie’s chair. He looked sideways at Lu Beihuai with a smile. “Sorry, no passing.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he cried out in pain. He yanked his foot back, seeing a dirty smudge on the toe of his new AJs. He looked at Song Qie in shock.
“Oh, sorry. I stepped on you.” Song Qie lowered his eyes and looked apologetically at Xie Jingchu. “I didn’t know your foot was under my chair. Did I hurt you?”
Meeting Song Qie’s innocent and pitiful look, the curse Xie Jingchu was about to spit out died in his throat.
“And you’re wearing new AJs.” Song Qie looked surprised and even more apologetic. “Should I wipe them clean for you?”
Lu Beihuai stepped directly into the middle of the aisle, separating Xie Jingchu and Song Qie. He placed the water bottle on the desk. “It’s fine, Young Master. I’ll wipe it.”
Xie Jingchu laughed from anger. He nodded and looked at Shen Tingsi. “See that? Your Song Qie is already taking sides. He’s throwing a tantrum at me for Lu Beihuai’s sake! Wipe my shoes? Would I even dare let him wipe my shoes?”
Song Qie muttered quietly, “…You’re so mean, what wouldn’t you dare do?”
Xie Jingchu’s eyes widened at the remark. “Me? Mean?!”
He reached out to pinch Song Qie again.
Lu Beihuai turned his body, subtly blocking the unruly hand. Standing in the middle of the aisle between them, he opened Song Qie’s schoolbag:
“It’s time for your medicine, Young Master. The doctor said your emotions shouldn’t fluctuate too much. If you find it too noisy, would you like to rest at home?”
“I’m noisy?!” Xie Jingchu pointed at himself in shock. He tapped Shen Tingsi’s desk. “Hey, am I noisy?”
Shen Tingsi leaned against the wall. He didn’t look away, mesmerized by the sight of Song Qie sitting obediently and holding his water bottle to take his medicine. “You are noisy. Song-Song already said not to mess with Lu Beihuai. You’re bringing this on yourself. Go wipe your AJs.”
With that, he pushed Xie Jingchu aside so he wouldn’t block his view of Song Qie.
Just as he was about to look at Song Qie, he was blocked by Lu Beihuai’s back. Seeing him hand the medicine to Song Qie and speak so gently, Shen Tingsi’s face instantly darkened.
What a show-off!!