For actual students, student life always felt long and dragging. The hour hand seemed to be pushed along as they eagerly counted down the days until holidays.
Wei Chen, on the other hand, didn’t feel much of a difference. He simply watched Gu Liang count down the days by tearing off calendar pages one by one, while spending his own free time pondering the countdown until adulthood.
He could understand it, though six years of strict discipline in elementary school had suffocated Gu Liang, making this his first real chance to go out and have fun.
What he hadn’t expected, however, was that Chen Youming would be tagging along with them.
On the day before departure, right after their final exams, where the two happened to sit in the same exam room in consecutive seats the bodyguards arrived in the afternoon to pick them up after school. Gu Liang frantically pulled at Wei Chen, refusing to let him leave.
“What do you want this time?”
Students flooded out like a river outside the doorway. Blocking the door, the two tall, handsome boys were exceptionally conspicuous.
Wei Chen leaned against the doorframe, carrying two backpacks effortlessly in his right hand hanging by his side. His other wrist was held tight by Gu Liang. He didn’t struggle, merely wearing a helpless expression.
“Chen Youming organized a celebration gathering, and I promised him I’d go. Come with me, won’t you?”
Wei Chen raised an eyebrow. “If you want to go, just go. Why drag me along? What are you, a young lady needing a chaperone?”
This was the first time Gu Liang acted first and reported later. Wei Chen couldn’t help thinking that the kid was indeed growing up.
A sense of bitter old-father nostalgia surged in his heart as he watched his boy mature.
“Cut the crap.” Gu Liang softened for only a brief moment before turning firm again. “I don’t care. I promised him I’d bring you along too. Today, you’re coming whether you want to or not.”
With that, he yanked Wei Chen outward, leaving no room for refusal.
“Tugging and pulling in broad daylight where are your manners? If those girls who admire you found out their Young Master Gu was such a rogue, their hearts would probably shatter.”
Gu Liang sneered, flinging the words right back at him: “What, did you go to Thailand behind my back for sex reassignment surgery and turn into a young lady who can’t be touched?”
“That’s right, so Young Master Gu better take responsibility for me.” Wei Chen handed the backpacks forward. “Here, hold these two backpacks for the young lady.”
Gu Liang glanced back at him, grabbed the backpacks, and jabbed back: “Even if you had sex reassignment surgery or were born a girl. I still wouldn’t care for you. With a face that attracts trouble everywhere, whoever ends up with you is bound to wear a mountain of green hats.”
“Don’t be like that. If I were with you, I definitely wouldn’t cheat on you.” Teased by his words, Wei Chen leaped onto Gu Liang’s back in one bound, simply giving up on walking altogether.
Besides, he hadn’t planned on skipping out in the first place, he wasn’t about to leave Gu Liang to mess around with Chen Youming alone.
“Young Master Gu is so handsome, so I’m actually the one gaining.”
The cold wind felt less intense than the breath against his ear; the biting cold was dispersed by warm moisture, leaving behind a sensation like steam clinging to his fine facial hair, tickling him.
Gu Liang couldn’t help scratching at his neck, but fearing Wei Chen might slip, he hoisted him up slightly higher and strode forward.
“Cut the nonsense, you’re heavy as hell. Were you raised on pig feed?”
Wei Chen rested his chin on Gu Liang’s shoulder, drawling lazily, “Yep. Since childhood, I’ve been eating the exact same pig feed as you.”
Unable to win the argument, Gu Liang simply shut his mouth.
Stepping out of the school gates, they saw Chen Youming standing among seven or eight students wearing the same school uniform, interacting with them with ease. Some were from their class, while others belonged to different classes most of them girls.
Wei Chen patted Gu Liang’s hand and hopped down from his back, retrieving the two backpacks before walking over alongside Gu Liang.
“Excuse me, move aside.” Chen Youming’s eyes lit up upon seeing them, and he parted the crowd to greet them.
“Mingzi, where to?”
Noticing the admiring glances from the group of girls, Gu Liang unconsciously frowned and looked toward Wei Chen.
Only to find that the guy had vanished.
“Just follow me, don’t worry about the rest. I guarantee you’ll have a blast.”
Chen Youming called out, “Hey, where are you going?”
Wei Chen was currently speaking with the bodyguards so these working folks wouldn’t get in trouble back home. The moment he turned around, he saw Gu Liang standing behind him with a dark expression, followed by a large entourage.
“What’s wrong? Don’t want to go anymore?”
“No.”
“Oh, I’ve sorted things out on my end. Have you guys decided where to go?”
“Yeah.” Gu Liang nodded.
“Then let’s go.” Wei Chen handed the backpacks to the bodyguard to take home, slipping both hands into his uniform pockets, looking full of energy.
“Mm.”
Chen Youming brought them to a private club named Baizhuo (Boiled/Pure).
Though the name sounded understated and refined, it was actually a high-end nightlife establishment.
Wei Chen remembered this venue it had appeared numerous times in the book where Gu Liang was the protagonist.
At age sixteen, the female lead had worked here part-time, leading to a series of emotional and physical conflicts with Gu Liang.
It was still two or three years away from that timeline, so the female lead was nowhere to be seen. Wei Chen simply hadn’t expected Gu Liang to come into contact with a place like this so early on.
After Chen Youming spoke to the front desk, a manager-like figure stepped out and led the group of middle schoolers in uniforms inside, taking them all the way to a private room labeled Tian-27 before bidding farewell.
Chen Youming excitedly pushed the door open and invited everyone inside.
The girls, likely having never been to a venue like this, appeared somewhat timid, whereas the two boys accompanying Chen Youming marched right in swaggeringly.
Wei Chen sat down behind Gu Liang and surveyed the surroundings.
This private room was roughly a third of the size of their living room at home, split into several zones: karaoke, bar counter, card table, and pool table, equipped with top-tier facilities.
It was hardly any different from the places he frequented in his past life. Each private room was even furnished with three service tablets.
Wei Chen was already starting to feel bored, sitting beside Gu Liang and playing an offline game on his phone.
Meanwhile, Chen Youming began pestering Gu Liang to sing.
It had to be said that this guy was quite sharp knowing Wei Chen didn’t like him, he avoided acting annoying in front of him since childhood. Even when trying to act obedient, he targeted the easier-to-gull Gu Liang instead.
Wei Chen didn’t mind his minor schemes, but if he ever crossed lines he couldn’t tolerate, Wei Chen wouldn’t go easy on him either.
“I once lingered in memories, reluctant to leave.”
“Time intertwined, leaving chaotic traces.”
“Looking at you and me.”
“Sighing over the past.”
“Perhaps the story isn’t over yet.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Wei Chen looked up, his gaze locking right into Gu Liang’s.
The youth’s voice was approaching its voice-changing phase slightly deep and raspy as he sang the melodious love lyrics, blending into a low, melancholic atmosphere beneath the dim lighting.
This was the first time since entering middle school that he had heard Gu Liang sing seriously. He put away his phone, intending to listen attentively, when someone suddenly leaned in next to him, bringing a sharp scent of perfume.
Wei Chen held his breath and turned his head, seeing a girl from another class. She was dressed overly maturely for her age, with trendy air bangs and permed ends, wearing eyebrow pencil and faint eyeshadow.
“Wei Chen, can we add each other on WeChat?”
The girl shuffled closer, almost pressing against him. Wei Chen didn’t dodge, leaning back against the sofa with a cool, indifferent expression. “I don’t have WeChat.”
In his mind, he thought: How are kids these days so mature? They haven’t even grown up yet and are already seeking the bitterness of love.
Seeing that she was just a young girl, his refraining from getting up and walking away immediately was already giving her immense face.
“QQ works too, then.” The girl persisted, reaching out to grab Wei Chen’s sleeve.
“QQ, WeChat, phone number none of them.”
“You were just playing on your phone.” The girl felt a bit displeased, her tone growing cold.
“No SIM card, so I was playing offline games. Did you observe me for so long without realizing that?” Wei Chen put on a fake sigh. “That won’t do. I like girls who play games, ones who can tell at a glance what I’m playing and how well I’m playing.”
Before the girl could respond, Gu Liang who had walked down at some point interrupted them.
“Move aside, you’re in my seat.”
Gu Liang had grown fast, standing over 1.75 meters tall. This imposed heavy psychological pressure on the girl, who was barely 1.6 meters tall and still sitting down.
Trembling as she sat, looking as though the two of them had bullied her, she walked away with tears brimming in her eyes.
Looking at him, Wei Chen instinctively broke into a smile. “Why did you come down so soon?”
“If I didn’t, someone would be secretly getting into a puppy love behind my back.” Gu Liang sat down, sniffing forcefully with a look of revulsion. “What’s that pungent smell?”
He leaned closer toward Wei Chen, tsking: “Disgusting. You have it on you too.”
Wei Chen covered his mouth. “She can hear you. Say any more and she’ll really cry.”
Gu Liang pulled his hand away, uncaring: “I’m just telling the truth. Mm, at least your hands don’t smell like it.”
“How come I never see you acting this honest at home?” Wei Chen pinched his cheek.
“Because I feel like it.”
“Sure thing, Young Master. Go have fun then, since you felt like coming.”
The doorbell suddenly rang, and eight glamorous, attractive women walked in carrying drinks and snacks.
Seeing this spectacle, Wei Chen was amused. Chen Youming’s stunt was far more damaging than Gu Liang complaining about a classmate’s perfume.
“Young Master Gu, Cousin, you guys pick first.”
Chen Youming suddenly leaned over, smiling with hidden motives. “They’re all clean, no need to be shy.”
“You sure know how to play, kid.” Wei Chen patted his face. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Auntie?”
Chen Youming’s face froze, his head dropping as he dared not move.
If his father found out, he’d be skinned alive. But Wei Chen was different even if this got back home, Uncle Wei might just say his son inherited his own youthful flair.
Wei Chen ignored him, messing up Gu Liang’s hair beside him, and called out: “Let’s go, home time.”
Chen Youming didn’t dare stop them. Gu Liang stood up following him, but didn’t say a word.
Perplexed, Wei Chen looked back, only to find Gu Liang looking upset, pursing his lips in a daze.
Wei Chen found it somewhat amusing. How did this guy’s current demeanor look anything like the future corporate titan who handled nightlife venues with ease?
“What’s wrong? Scared by that setup?”
Gu Liang shook his head and asked, “What… what were they going to do later?”
Wei Chen hadn’t expected him to ask that. Hooking an arm around his shoulders, he teased softly: “Puppy love, of course.”
“Liar.”
“Not lying, really.” Wei Chen tilted his head against him, dragging his feet like he had no bones. “Do you want to get into a puppy love right now?”
Gu Liang thought for a moment and answered honestly: “No.”
“Good that you don’t. Keep it that way.”
Wei Chen had never intended to forcefully change anything about Gu Liang, but he never held back from sharing his genuine thoughts either.
Teens at this age already knew quite a lot , understanding admiring glances from the opposite sex, catching glimpses of society’s inner workings, and hearing various life lessons amidst social circles.
Yet they remained green and pure capable of laughing wildly and fooling around loudly. The only thing they lacked was the ability to discern right from wrong without guidance.
And right now, as Wei Chen casually nudged the hands of Gu Liang’s clock, the latter stepped onto a brand new fork in the road.