Two months later, Lin Shiyu could finally walk without crutches and manage the stairs on his own. Lin Hui visited him whenever she could, massaging his calves, washing clothes, and cooking. Sometimes, she brought Lin Wanyue along because Wanyue missed her brother.

Lin Hui often sent videos of Wanyue playing guitar to Lin Shiyu. The girl played quite well and sounded lovely.

Lin Shiyu watched the videos on his phone and asked Zhong Qi, “Is her teacher your friend?”

Zhong Qi, sitting nearby and doing his work, replied, “No, the studio found one. I just put in a word.”

Since Zhong Qi’s shoulder injury prevented him from engaging in vigorous activities, he spent his time studying and taking care of Lin Shiyu. Lin Shiyu even saw him buy a set of past math exams and finish them in under a week. After catching up with the current curriculum, Zhong Qi started self-studying the next lessons.

Consequently, Lin Shiyu would feel somewhat inadequate, especially since Zhong Qi would help him with problems that seemed easy to him, sometimes explaining them multiple times.

Lin Shiyu would also feel somewhat dim-witted.

After pre-studying a chapter, Zhong Qi closed his book and reached for Lin Shiyu’s homework. “Finished? Let me see.”

“No, it’s fine” Lin Shiyu pressed his notebook down. “You study yours, don’t worry about me.”

“If not you, then who?” Zhong Qi took his homework and examined it. Lin Shiyu, feeling guilty like a child being inspected by a parent, watched his face.

Seizing a moment when Zhong Qi wasn’t fully focused, Lin Shiyu asked a question that had been bothering him. “Why are you suddenly so serious about studying?”

Zhong Qi casually replied, “Leveling up to fight monsters.”

“What monsters?” Lin Shiyu was confused. “Did something happen to your parents?”

Zhong Qi laughed, pinching his cheek. “Fighting your monsters, silly.”

Lin Shiyu was baffled, but Zhong Qi didn’t elaborate. Lin Shiyu looked at his profile and thought that Zhong Qi seemed more composed and mature than before. Usually reserved and seemingly indifferent, Zhong Qi now showed a hint of an affectionate smile only when he looked at Lin Shiyu.

Before the final exams in the second year of high school, Zhong Qi ranked first in the grade in the last monthly test. After that brief flash of brilliance, he had been hovering around the top ten in the class, but this time he unexpectedly surged ahead again, becoming a dark horse that left the teachers wondering if he was just messing around or genuinely studying hard.

As soon as Teacher Li got the report card, he called Zhong Qi into the office.

“Give me a straight answer,” Teacher Li said, shaking the report card in front of him. “Do you plan on occasionally topping the grade for fun, or what?”

Zhong Qi replied, “I’ll try to keep it up.”

Teacher Li was skeptical. “Really? Have you turned over a new leaf?”

Zhong Qi felt misunderstood. “Mr. Li, I’m not usually naughty, am I?”

“It’s not that you’re naughty; you’re just lazy and don’t like to study,” Teacher Li said. “You rely on your smarts and never do your homework properly. When I tell you to spend more time studying, you hide and play on your phone all day. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. Last time, you somehow managed to get first place, and I thought you’d finally wised up, but then you went back to your old ways, which really pissed me off.”

Zhong Qi wanted to explain that his previous first place wasn’t a fluke but the result of serious studying, but Teacher Li didn’t give him the chance and continued, “But since you said so, I’ll trust you this time. I’ve seen you studying more seriously lately, much better than before. Keep it up and don’t just play around all the time.”

Zhong Qi nodded obediently and was about to leave when Teacher Li called him back.

“There’s one more thing.” Teacher Li pulled over a chair and gestured for him to sit.

It was clear that a serious conversation was about to happen. Zhong Qi sat down, and Teacher Li, sitting across from him, looked unusually stern.

“Are you still living with Lin Shiyu?” he asked directly, catching Zhong Qi off guard. He nodded. “Yes.”

“You two are really close?”

“He had trouble walking before, and his house is far from the school, so I let him stay with me.”

“But you were injured too. Why go out of your way to care for him? I’ve never seen you so concerned about anyone before.”

They stared at each other for a moment, and Zhong Qi realized that Mr. Li had figured it out. So, he remained silent, adopting a “scold me if you want” attitude.

Teacher Li got angry, pointing at him with a look of disappointment. “You’re not only neglecting your studies, but you’re also dragging Lin Shiyu down with you!”

Zhong Qi: “…”

“Lin Shiyu’s grades are already poor, and now you’re distracting him! You must be the one always seeking him out. He’s such a simple kid, and studying doesn’t come as easily to him as it does to you. You’re just holding him back.”

“Let me tell you, Zhong Qi, if Lin Shiyu’s grades drop in the final exams, you two will go back to your own homes. No more living together, got it?”

Teacher Li meant business. Fearing Zhong Qi would lead Lin Shiyu astray, he immediately changed their seating arrangements after the exams, pairing Lin Shiyu with Mao Silu and Zhong Qi with Ruan Zhikai.

That evening, after Lin Shiyu finished his shower and opened the bathroom door, he found Zhong Qi standing there with a serious expression, startling him. “What are you doing here?”

Zhong Qi stared at him intently, like a large dog fixated on its food. Puzzled, Lin Shiyu was about to ask what was wrong when Zhong Qi bent down and scooped him up, carrying him to the bedroom.

“What are you doing? I can walk on my own…”

Zhong Qi ignored him, carrying him like a child to his room, placing him on the bed, and then climbing in himself, pressing Lin Shiyu into the corner and hugging him with his arms and legs.

Lin Shiyu, unable to move, glanced at him, curious to see what he was up to.

“I haven’t asked you to play games lately.”

“…No, you haven’t.”

“I haven’t stayed up late playing on my phone either.”

“You fall asleep right after finishing your practice problems.”

“I help you with problems, read with you, and massage your legs.”

“Yes, so what?”

Zhong Qi flipped over, pressing Lin Shiyu beneath him. “So, do you think I’m leading you astray?”

“Leading me astray? Who said that?”

Zhong Qi stared at him for a long time, then buried his head in Lin Shiyu’s neck, speaking in a rare dejected tone, “Mr. Li said I’m dragging you down.”

“Did you mishear?”

Zhong Qi looked up, about to say something, but then he met Lin Shiyu’s clear, round amber eyes, filled with confusion and reassurance, gazing at him intently.

The words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat. Zhong Qi lowered his gaze, looking at the person beneath him, and after a moment, he leaned down and kissed him deeply.

He kissed with urgency, pressing Lin Shiyu into the bed. They hadn’t been intimate in a while, and the instant their skin touched, heat flared. Zhong Qi’s hands gripped Lin Shiyu’s waist with such force that Lin Shiyu couldn’t help but struggle slightly.

Breathless from the kiss, Lin Shiyu’s pale skin flushed with warmth. He lay beneath Zhong Qi, completely defenseless, his sharp edges and claws hidden away.

Suddenly, Zhong Qi pushed himself up, taking deep, restrained breaths.

He knew Lin Shiyu wouldn’t refuse him. Lin Shiyu never refused those he cared about deeply, even if he got hurt or felt sad. He would forgive that person again and again.

Zhong Qi didn’t know how to best treat Lin Shiyu. He wanted to possess every inch of him yet didn’t want to hurt him again.

He kissed Lin Shiyu continuously, massaging him with varying pressure, then leaned down to take him in his mouth. Lin Shiyu panted heavily, his limbs weakly trying to push him away, but all that came out were hot breaths. His sweat-drenched waist tensed and then sank, pinned firmly into the bed by Zhong Qi’s strong hands.

In the warm yellow light of the single lamp, Zhong Qi held Lin Shiyu, who was wrapped in a blanket, in his arms, touching his slender nape and the clean ends of his hair.

“Lin Shiyu, wait for me, okay?” Zhong Qi whispered in his ear, as if speaking to himself. “I know I have nothing now, but wait for me, don’t look at anyone else.”

He wanted to create a vast space for Lin Shiyu to roam freely. He didn’t mind if Lin Shiyu turned this little world upside down; Zhong Qi would just make another one for him.

He couldn’t let Lin Shiyu go anywhere else.

He never wanted to see Lin Shiyu covered in wounds, crying helplessly in his arms again.

 

Edited by: Jaisland

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