After the college entrance exams, Zhao Chenxing’s class held a class reunion. On the same day, Jiang Liyue’s class also had a reunion, but since he wasn’t familiar with his classmates, he tagged along with Zhao Chenxing to his class’s gathering.
They attended a well-known private high school in the city, where their classmates were either rich or influential. What was rare was that unlike many second-generation rich kids who were arrogant, these classmates were well-mannered and humble. Before meeting Zhao Chenxing, they might have had some pride, but after meeting their “Star Brother,” they had to believe the saying: “There’s always someone better.”
Effort alone is nothing compared to talent! When talent isn’t enough, you can only work harder than others. Hard work always pays off!
*
“Star Brother! You didn’t come to school much in the second half of senior year. Where did you get a guaranteed admission to?”
A few high school boys who were close to Zhao Chenxing surrounded him, pressing for answers. While they were still struggling with mock exam papers, their homeroom teacher had announced that someone wouldn’t be returning for the second half of senior year because he had secured a spot through competitions. This made them envious.
They thought Zhao Chenxing would at least show up at school to share the good news, but he didn’t appear for the entire semester. Finally catching him at the reunion, they were determined to get answers.
“Yeah! And why didn’t you come to school after winter break to hang out with us? Huh? Do you not consider us brothers?”
“We were all hoping you’d come and help us with the questions!”
“Abandoning us! Do you even care about us?”
The group of boys, used to joking around, teased him relentlessly. Their voices were like a 4D surround sound system around Zhao Chenxing’s ears, louder than any KTV speakers.
Zhao Chenxing gestured for them to stop, lazily sat down on the sofa, and then waved Jiang Liyue over to sit next to him.
“Wow! Star Brother, you really never forget to bring your little brother along,” one of the guys remarked, feeling that Zhao Chenxing’s gesture was like calling a dog, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.
Over the past two years, everyone in high school knew that the genius Zhao Chenxing had a non-blood-related brother, and their bond was closer than real siblings, like conjoined twins. However, this brother had a bad reputation at school, and they didn’t dare mention it in front of Star Brother, or they’d get beaten up!
It was said that Star Brother’s brother was not only afraid of boys but also extremely reclusive, never speaking a word in class, ignoring people, and exuding a chilling aura. His eyes were like those of the Grim Reaper, filled with a deathly stillness, quite terrifying. Yet, with his looks, many girls still flocked to him.
The guys quickly made space for Jiang Liyue, afraid of even brushing against his clothes.
In front of Zhao Chenxing, Jiang Liyue always maintained a gentle demeanor. He obediently followed Zhao Chenxing, sitting closely beside him on the sofa.
Once Zhao Chenxing settled Jiang Liyue, he had time to answer their chaotic questions.
“Guaranteed admission? Of course, it’s Qing University. Do you have a better option?”
“Hahaha! I knew Star Brother would go to Qing University! With such good science skills, it’s a given.”
“Is there a better university than Qing University in the country? Star Brother, don’t tease us.”
“Star Brother, I’m going to Qing University too! Woohoo, it’s great to be classmates with you and cling to your leg!”
“What major are you in? Maybe we’re in the same department,” Zhao Chenxing asked, taking a sip of his drink.
“I’m in the ‘Ji Yuan’ (Computer Science Academy), what about you?” (Note: ‘Ji Yuan’ is a play on words for ‘Computer Science Academy’)
Zhao Chenxing chuckled, “Then we’ll only have one big class together. I’m in the AI Academy.” (AI Academy = Artificial Intelligence Academy)
During high school, Zhao Chenxing was undoubtedly carefree and vibrant in front of others, and no one could overshadow his brilliance. It seemed like some people were born with a stage and spotlight, destined to be the star everyone admired.
Jiang Liyue wanted to advise Zhao Chenxing not to drink, but seeing the boys chattering around him, he felt like an outsider who couldn’t fit in. He thought that if he interrupted, it might ruin their fun, so he didn’t say anything. Being an art student, he couldn’t join in their discussions.
The classmates from the innovation class were mostly familiar with Jiang Liyue, as Zhao Chenxing often brought him to their class for self-study. The two were usually together at school, and Zhao Chenxing was fiercely protective. Initially, when they tried to tease the “big beauty,” they got beaten up.
After the college entrance exams, the studious girls in the class also let loose, dyeing their hair and putting on makeup, transforming themselves.
Two bold girls handed Jiang Liyue a drink, softly saying, “Little brother, don’t just sit there, have a drink.”
Normally, Jiang Liyue wouldn’t drink, but that day, he felt particularly uncomfortable, his heart aching with a tightness.
Why was that?
Because he realized the distance between them was too great? Realized they were from different worlds? Realized they would drift further apart until…
He took the drink and drank it.
The girl who handed him the drink was delicate, and as long as it wasn’t a guy, he could accept it.
While Zhao Chenxing was joking with his friends, he occasionally glanced at Jiang Liyue, noticing him chatting happily with two girls from their class. His expression was momentarily inexplicable.
Those two girls were nice, without any ulterior motives, purely liking Jiang Liyue, so there was nothing to worry about.
Zhao Chenxing frowned, recalling a previous conversation with Jiang Liyue about dating.
Jiang Liyue had said that only after he found someone would Zhao Chenxing consider dating.
Seeing the current scene, was Jiang Liyue finally opening up?
Zhao Chenxing moved slightly away, giving Jiang Liyue some space, and continued discussing this year’s college entrance exam questions with his friends.
They called it a discussion, but it was more like one-sided bullying. The others had just finished the exams, and while they still remembered the questions, they quickly sought the standard answers.
For Zhao Chenxing, just hearing the questions, he could identify the key points, and with his strong mental math skills, he could provide answers almost immediately after hearing the questions.
The guys all expressed that this feeling was truly nostalgic, familiar enough to make them hug themselves tightly.
*
In the end, Zhao Chenxing didn’t know how much he drank, only that he drank a lot despite the alcohol tasting terrible.
“Little brother, Zhao Chenxing is dead drunk. We’ve booked a room for you upstairs. You can stay there for the night,” a few guys who took turns getting Zhao Chenxing drunk finally got their revenge!
Knowing that Zhao Chenxing had a brother to take care of him, they, being single for nearly three years, had no one to complain to!
Jiang Liyue had also drunk quite a bit, but he didn’t show it on his face, and he had good alcohol tolerance, appearing quite sober.
He didn’t like the taste of alcohol, as it numbed his nerves, giving him a sense of losing control, which he disliked.
Seeing Jiang Liyue looking normal, they felt relieved and called for a car to leave.
Other classmates gradually left the private room until the last person was gone.
*
The large private room was left with only him and Zhao Chenxing.
The dim red, blue, and yellow lights intertwined, casting a desolate and silent atmosphere in the unlit areas. The last song played, and the room echoed with fragments of “Our Times.”
Promises? No strings attached?
For some reason, Jiang Liyue felt an overwhelming, unbearable sadness engulfing him, making him unable to control himself. He slowly slid from his seat onto the cold marble floor.
Though Zhao Chenxing was drunk, he heard some noise. He struggled to open his eyes, clouded with a watery haze, and looked towards the source of the sound—
Jiang Liyue was curled up on the floor, clutching his chest tightly, his brows furrowed, lips bitten until tiny droplets of blood appeared, making his lips look even more vividly red.
Zhao Chenxing propped up his heavy body and moved towards Jiang Liyue.
The moment Zhao Chenxing touched Jiang Liyue’s shoulder, the palpitations in Jiang Liyue’s heart receded like a tide.
Covered in sweat, he hoarsely asked Zhao Chenxing, “Brother, are you awake?”
After speaking, he realized his voice sounded like it had been scraped by sand, so he turned his head to clear his throat quietly.
“Mm—” Zhao Chenxing’s reaction was slower than usual. He pressed his temples, his head aching, “Are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s nothing now,” Jiang Liyue casually brushed off the pain that had pierced his bones earlier, “Do you need me to help you?”
Zhao Chenxing tried to stand, but it seemed difficult for him. He leaned on Jiang Liyue and slowly got up, asking, “Should we not go back…”
“Mm, they booked a room upstairs,” Jiang Liyue replied.
“It’s so late, and with the smell of alcohol, going back would mean getting nagged by Ms. Yuan for ages. I don’t want to hear it…” Zhao Chenxing mumbled, reeking of alcohol.
Jiang Liyue carefully supported him into the elevator, responding in a low voice, “Mm, be careful…”
Once in the room, Zhao Chenxing collapsed onto the large bed. The soft mattress had great rebound, pushing Zhao Chenxing towards the center of the bed.
Jiang Liyue sighed, resigned to fetch a warm towel to wipe someone’s face.
When he returned to the bedside, the person who had drunk too much and was feeling hot had already stripped down quite a bit under the covers.
Jiang Liyue had washed his face in the bathroom, rinsed his short hair, trying to sober up a bit.
But seeing the scene before him, he felt like he had washed in vain, his face slowly heating up, and his mind turning into mush.
He had seen him undressed before, but it never felt like this.
The dim yellow hotel lights seemed incredibly captivating at this moment, the ivory sheets highlighting the pale skin and dark hair of the person on the bed.
“Jiang Liyue…” Zhao Chenxing groaned uncomfortably on the bed, “Face… not washed…”
Jiang Liyue snapped back to reality, gripping the now cold towel in his hand, hurriedly saying, “Wait a moment, I’m coming.”
Jiang Liyue hurriedly returned to the bathroom, clutching the damp towel tightly, both hands braced against the sink.
The large mirror in front of him clearly reflected his flushed face and panicked eyes. The damp strands of hair on his forehead gradually gathered into a transparent droplet at the tips.
“Plop!”
The droplet fell onto the back of Jiang Liyue’s hand, sending a chill through him.
Jiang Liyue re-wet the towel with hot water, not daring to look at himself in the mirror again, as if one more glance would confirm something.
Returning to the bedside, Jiang Liyue held the towel in his left hand and helped the half-naked Zhao Chenxing sit up with his right. Feeling the scorching body temperature under his hand, Jiang Liyue initially recoiled as if burned, then hesitated before touching Zhao Chenxing’s shoulder again through the thin sheet.
Though Zhao Chenxing looked thin, he didn’t exercise much, spending most of his life in bed, so he didn’t have the same build as Jiang Liyue. He had a thin layer of muscle, suitable for his small frame, exuding a youthful vibe.
Unconsciously, Jiang Liyue rubbed the skin under his hand, then, realizing what he was doing, his face reddened further, and his hand grew hot.
“Mm…” Zhao Chenxing groaned uncomfortably, feeling as if a hot iron was burning his skin.
“It’ll be done soon,” Jiang Liyue said, wiping Zhao Chenxing’s face with the warm towel.
Then he fled from the bed, as if it were a bottomless abyss, a cage luring him in.
After tossing the towel into the sink, Jiang Liyue sat down slowly, back against the sink. The previous actions had drained him of energy, leaving him unable to stand steadily in the bathroom.
Jiang Liyue stared at his right hand with a strange expression, then closed his eyes, covering them with his hand…