Swimming class at S University was a compulsory course; students had to complete it to earn the credits unless there were special circumstances. However, Gu Cha, due to The Sickly’s condition, was exempt from entering the water and only needed to listen to the teacher’s theoretical explanations.
In the swimming hall, Teacher Li was lecturing the students. Coincidentally, this class was shared between Fine Arts Department students and Economics students. Not far to Gu Cha’s right was Lu Chenyu.
Lu Chenyu wore only black swim briefs, revealing his eight-pack abs on top and the elegant lines of his legs below. This striking physique, combined with his 1.9-meter height, made him stand out among the crowded students.
For some reason, his hair was slightly wet, and he brushed back the slightly long strands on his forehead, exposing his brow.
Gu Cha froze as he looked at him. He glanced from Lu Chenyu back to his own small frame, pouting unhappily.
【Cha Cha, why are you unhappy? Isn’t swimming class fun?】
Tong Tong, noticing Gu Cha’s mood, asked with some concern.
Gu Cha looked at Lu Chenyu again. “Why… Cha Cha is so skinny… I want muscles too, I want to grow taller…”
Tong Tong scanned Gu Cha’s body from head to toe. Though he didn’t have Lu Chenyu’s physique or height, Gu Cha still stood out among the crowd.
After all, among a group of sun-darkened boys, Gu Cha practically glowed with his pale skin.
Tong Tong compared Gu Cha’s thighs to the arms of the boy next to him and realized that Gu Cha’s thighs were thinner than the other boy’s arms.
He sincerely thought that Gu Cha’s wish was impossible. Tong Tong hummed for a while, unable to find words to comfort him.
Teacher Li walked back and forth with his hands behind his back, explaining precautions: “Always warm up before exercise! No slacking! Some students… are just too eager. They come to the pool and immediately strip and jump in—that’s wrong!”
“When swimming, avoid cramps. If something feels off, immediately call out to the teacher or classmates—louder! If your voice sounds like a mosquito buzzing, who will hear you?”
Lu Chenyu noticed Gu Cha occasionally glancing at him with a slightly resentful expression. Soon, Gu Cha’s small mouth pouted again, as if suddenly feeling down, and a trace of playful curiosity appeared in his eyes.
Lu Chenyu turned around and happened to meet Gu Cha’s gaze. Gu Cha hadn’t reacted yet. They stared at each other for a moment; Lu Chenyu didn’t look away. Eventually, Gu Cha felt uncomfortable first, blushing as he averted his eyes and fidgeted with his fingers.
His buttocks… really perky.
Lu Chenyu examined Gu Cha and swallowed, feeling an inexplicable dryness in his throat.
“Enough! Let’s get in the water.”
Teacher Li finally finished and waved his hand to signal the students could enter the pool.
The boys, eager to try, jumped in immediately. They hadn’t mastered many techniques yet, so their entry splashed water everywhere, causing Gu Cha to back away in alarm.
Gu Cha found a small chair and sat down, staring blankly as the energetic boys played freely in the water.
【Cha Cha, swimming is really fun. Tong Tong has practiced it at the system school too. If Tong Tong had a physical form, he would definitely join in.】
Being a system without a physical form in the human world, Tong Tong could only watch enviously.
Gu Cha stared for a moment, his eyes fixed somewhere. Then he asked softly, “Is it really fun?”
【Mm-hmm.】
At eighteen, Gu Cha had never experienced swimming. He was afraid to enter the water. Whenever he saw a river, his first reaction was always fear.
He knew water could easily take a human life.
Lu Chenyu swam several easy laps underwater. When he reached the shore, he saw Gu Cha sitting obediently on the small chair and smirked.
“Gu Cha, come over,” he said.
Gu Cha paused his mental conversation with Tong Tong. Lu Chenyu was calling him over.
The ground was wet. Gu Cha shook his head, refusing: “No… too much water.”
He wouldn’t obey.
Lu Chenyu squinted, propped himself up, and pretended to reach for him.
Gu Cha was startled and jumped to his feet.
“Don’t… don’t come over! Can’t I go myself?”
He tried to avoid the water, taking small, reluctant steps toward Lu Chenyu.
Seeing Gu Cha move, Lu Chenyu stayed in place, waiting.
Only when Gu Cha reached in front of him did Lu Chenyu jump back into the water, satisfied.
With a splash, even though Gu Cha had stepped back, his calves were soaked. He pouted unhappily.
“So delicate,” Lu Chenyu chuckled.
Gu Cha ignored him and wanted to retreat from this “dangerous” area. “Do you need something? If not, I’m going back…”
“Want to try getting in? Young Master,” Lu Chenyu said, a sly smile on his lips.
【Fortune +5, total current fortune 30】
Gu Cha felt a force at his wrist pulling him toward the pool. His pupils shrank. With strength he didn’t know he had, he shook off Lu Chenyu’s hand: “No!”
Gu Cha stepped back several paces, away from the pool and Lu Chenyu, then ran off without looking back.
Lu Chenyu’s expression darkened.
Gu Cha’s repeated refusals had exhausted Lu Chenyu’s patience. He stared at Gu Cha sitting back in the chair and let out an ambiguous chuckle.
In a corner unnoticed by both, Wen Xuqian watched Lu Chenyu sharply.
Beside him, Wu Ze also observed the scene. He rested his head, idly playing with water. “Brother Xu, do you see Young Master Lu? He doesn’t seem to like Gu Cha. I’ve seen him bully Gu Cha a few times. Honestly, it’s kind of fun.”
Wen Xuqian didn’t respond. His gaze rested on Gu Cha’s obviously frightened, pale face.
He remembered that although Gu Cha never went into the pool at school before, the Gu Family had professional instructors, and Gu Cha could swim and wasn’t afraid of water.
“Brother Xu, my old man keeps telling me to get along with Lu Chenyu. You think since he dislikes Gu Cha so much, maybe we should mess with Gu Cha. If Young Master Lu is happy, he might get along with me. Right?”
Wu Ze’s words received no response. Puzzled, he called out again: “Brother Xu? Brother Xu?”
Wen Xuqian seemed to come back to his senses. He had been too absorbed in his thoughts to hear Wu Ze, but he didn’t bother asking. He merely replied dismissively, “Do whatever you want. It’s none of my business.”
Wu Ze said, “Alright then.”