[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 3:
DaoHong High School Class 3-4 witnessed a century anomaly today.
The super, super, super exemplary student who had won the full attendance scholarship for two consecutive years and was on the full attendance list every month was late today!
“Am I hallucinating, or is it really the end of the world?”
Fang Zian withdrew his gaze from the electronic watch and looked at the classmate sitting behind him.
“Eight o'clock, am I seeing things, eight o'clock! Are you really Bai Zongyi?”
Bai Zongyi glanced at his classmate indifferently, not wanting to engage with him.
He could have been on time if it wasn't for that thing...
As soon as he thought of what happened after opening his eyes, a faint invisible blush appeared on Bai Zongyi's handsome and indifferent face.
It really was a “bird” thing.
Waking up in a hot sweat, Bai Zongyi opened his eyes to see a fair-skinned wall of flesh, startling him into instant clarity, skipping the snooze stage.
Seeing that Fan Zherui was still asleep, Bai Zongyi sighed, planning to discreetly get out of bed and sneak out to avoid the awkwardness of them waking up together, but as soon as he moved, he was held tightly, unable to move.
“Don't move... baby...”
What kind of nonsense was this baby? Bai Zongyi's expression twisted, eager to get out of bed and away from this undoubtedly debauched person in his private life.
But he chose the wrong way and went in the wrong direction.
You know, many times in life, taking the wrong path is like a regret for eternity, just like now--
Bai Zongyi pushed himself up, one foot stepping over the man's body to get off the bed, his toe not yet touching the ground, the annoyed Fan Zherui scooped up the troublemaker, keeping him pinned to his body, palms pressed together without leaving a gap.
Because there was no gap, Bai Zongyi could clearly feel Fan Zherui's body temperature and something pressing against his crotch.
With a perfect score in health education, he wouldn't pretend not to know what that was.
A morning wood is a basic skill for every normal man, and he knew that, but crossing swords (crotch rubbing), using this position, is a first in his seventeen-year virgin life.
Bai Zongyi hurriedly pressed his hands on the bed to try to free himself from the clutches, the man who had stayed up until midnight was still in a deep sleep, thinking he was fooling around with someone from a one-night stand in a motel, all purely instinctive reactions, turning over and pressing the person under him, his big palm casually rubbing the other's crotch.
His sensitive parts were held in the man's hand, and Bai Zongyi exclaimed in shock.
“Don't...”
The man sealed his protest with a kiss, devouring the unfinished protest from the boy, stepping up the invasion with his hand on the sensitive area, teasing and stimulating up and down to create wave after wave of trembling pleasure, weakening the boy's resistance.
The hand on Fan Zherui's shoulder was still forceful but no longer pushing away, after the initial panicked resistance, the man skillfully aroused the boy's desire with instinctive teasing.
Words like kissing, masturbation, and sex were just terms from health education or gossip among male classmates about who would lose their virginity first, but his overly busy and fulfilling life didn't leave room for such thoughts until now.
Bai Zongyi felt like all the blood and nerves in his body were focused on his lower body, his spine losing its ability to support him, collapsing under Fan Zherui's skillful kneading, while being tormented by the man's mouth on his skin, seeking release in moans and gasps:
“Ha... let go... I want...”
The climax hit hard, the man's hot palm welcoming Bai Zongyi's first ejaculation in life.
The overwhelming sense of release left Bai Zongyi feeling like mud, apart from instinctual gasps, he had no energy to do anything else, the only thing he could feel was the weight of Fan Zherui on him.
At that moment, he somewhat understood why some people would enjoy this forbidden intimacy.
Bai Zongyi turned his head, only able to see Fan Zherui's side profile outside the pillow, "Fan Zherui...”
“Give me another ten minutes, Eddie...”
Bai Zongyi widened his eyes, his body solidifying again in the face of the mention of Eddie.
Eddie! Who is Eddie!
…
“Hey, wake up! You'll be late if you don't leave.” A snap of the fingers brought Bai Zongyi back to reality, finding Fang Zian staring at him.
“What?”
“Chemistry class, did you forget we have an experiment today? It's just the two of us left.” Bai Zongyi glanced around the classroom and realised it was just him and Fang Zian left.
“Thank you.”
“No problem, I'll give you a discount on the English notes, let's say eighty percent.” Bai Zongyi's movement with the textbook paused, looking at his new customer with suspicion, “You haven't bought notes from me before, why do you suddenly want to buy now?”
Fang Zian grinned awkwardly and scratched his head, saying, “I promised my grandma I would get an eighty in the English test this time for a Mother's Day gift.”
“Mother's Day...” Bai Zongyi paused, remembering that this classmate was very close to his grandmother.
Like him, it's not easy for anyone.
“Can I get a 20% discount?” Fang Zian blinked his pleading cat-like eyes at him.
“It's free for you.” Bai Zongyi said generously, “As long as you keep it a secret.”
“No problem!” Fang Zian closed his lips tightly, raised his hand in front of his mouth, mimicking the action of zipping it shut, making several mm sounds.
Bai Zongyi was amused and exasperated, “You can speak now.” The classmate in front of him was a riot.
Fang Zian unzipped the “zipper” and said, “I promise! I'll keep the secret, bro!” Closing the distance between them, Fang Zian instantly acknowledged their brotherhood, becoming familiar as if they had known each other for a long time. Even Bai Zongyi didn't feel any awkwardness or discomfort, unexpectedly gaining a new friend.
“Let's go." Bai Zongyi smiled, picking up his textbooks and pencil case and walking out of the classroom.
He had only taken a few steps when the fellow student following him caught his arm.
“You're injured!” Fang Zian grabbed his right hand, pointing to the blood on his finger bones, “Look.”
That's when Bai Zongyi noticed the blood on his right finger.
“Were you late because you got into a fight?”
Oh my goodness, couldn't tell he's a model student who fights…
“Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, it's a secret!” Fang Zian zipped his lips shut again.
Bai Zongyi chuckled, wiping away the blood to find no injury.
The person who hit someone was uninjured, so why was there blood? There was only one answer left...
…
“Ouch!” a cry of pain escaped from Fan Zherui's mouth, triggering the wound on the corner of his mouth, another cry of pain.
“So noisy, if you're afraid of pain, don't eat other people's tofu.” Eddie put a band-aid on the corner of his mouth, looking exasperated at the man in front of him, "Yesterday you left halfway through our drinking session, I thought you were off doing something important, but turns out... Why didn't you just go die somewhere! Didn't even inform me you spent the night outside, I thought something happened to you by the Long family's people.” [1] Long means Dragon so mostly likely talking about the Dragon Gang aka Long family
He spent the night worrying, not sleeping a wink until dawn when he received the report from Chen Yi's men, only then did he find out the person who was presumed dead from last night's drunken stupor had been taken away by his saviour from before.
Finally able to rest, this bastard showed up at his door asking for help with dressing his wounds!
How did he get injured? The answer he received from Fan Zherui was even more infuriating.
In his sleep, he accidentally stole the first drop of essence from a certain virgin chicken, the chicken, embarrassed and angry, unleashed his chicken claw technique, hitting him.
He heard they were the same age, just seventeen.
Underage but could still kick like this, this barbaric act was inhumane and should be condemned by the heavens and earth!
“I thought it was you—”
“Go to hell!” Eddie kicked the man in front of him, angry, “You better have a connection with me, if you dare touch me, I'll make you understand what it's like to reincarnate.”
Fan Zherui raised his hands in surrender, “Just kidding, don't take it so seriously.”
“You can't joke about shit like that!” Eddie just couldn't understand; the Yi Yun Alliance had many talented individuals, any random person from the main hall could outmatch ten Fan Zheruis, why did Chen Ye assign him to follow Chen Yi, just the thought made Chen Yi feel wronged, his men were all problematic fellows.
Except for him, of course.
“That person must have punched you in the face until you went to meet your ancestors.”
That way, Chen Yi would have one less burden.
The man with skin as thick as a wall smirked, “If I really died, you'd probably cry the loudest.”
“The person who sets off the longest firecracker is always me.”
“Don't act like a forty-year-old when you're only seventeen.”
An empty-headed little firecracker, devoid of substance, didn't understand old jokes and fell into the pit, responding dumbly, “What?”
“You're all mouth and no substance.”
Eddie rolled his eyes, he really should teach the person who picked up Fan Zherui's corpse twice how to kill with one blow.
Speaking of that person… Eddie suddenly realised, “Who exactly is your saviour? Finding you after two incidents, he must have some ulterior motive.”
One coincidence could be called an accident, but two… even he, with his thick skin, knew that two coincidences usually meant a plan.
“It's really just a coincidence." Fan Zherui said, not wanting to reveal any information about Bai Zongyi.
Whether it was superstition or not, he couldn't shake the feeling that people in his world knew, and that would drag the youth into a criminal world that didn't belong to him.
“Are you sure?”
“Are you questioning me?” Fan Zherui countered, the playful expression on his face disappearing, revealing the coldness hidden beneath his smile.
The relaxed atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point, despite the casual tone, it inexplicably sent shivers down one's spine.
Even with a rough nerve like Eddie, facing life and death in an instant would also make him suddenly vigilant, restraining his youthful recklessness, focusing on the opponent's movements, and keeping his nerves on guard.
Eddie had to admit that after nearly half a year of being together, he still couldn't figure this person out. One moment he could joke around with people, not caring about what jokes he made; the next moment he would suddenly change his demeanour, exuding a solemn aura, an inexplicable two-faced person!
“Tell Chen Yi that not many guests at yesterday's banquet had good intentions." Fan Zherui said, pulling out a list.
“The only ones who truly decided to leave the Dragon Gang and join the Yiyun Alliance are these people, so let him put in more effort to win them over.” Eddie took the list, just finished criticising this person for lacking capability, and immediately felt frustrated and embarrassed by the reality.
How did a careless person like him have such a well-informed intelligence network?
Reading Eddie's dissatisfaction, Fan Zherui chuckled, "Don't rush, be calm, these matters will all be handed over to you when you grow up.”
“What do you mean?”
Fan Zherui smiled but didn't reply, pinching Eddie's round cheeks, dodging the fiery and aggressive attacks from the beautiful teenager, and calmly left.
Rather than focusing on the development and distribution of power within the Yiyun Alliance, he was more concerned about how to face another seventeen-year-old.
The thought of Bai Zongyi made his head ache.
He owed him an... explanation? Apology?
Fan Zherui still hadn't figured out which one it was, looking at his right hand that had suffered the consequences of messing with the younger generation, he wanted to know what these five brothers were thinking, how they had the itch to take advantage of him when he was knocked out!
Indeed, the dimensions of the teenager made him filled with a “subtle” sense of sorrow... he really wanted to be reincarnated.
Fan Zherui shook his head, refusing to recall his evil deeds of harming the country's young seedlings.
Bai Zongyi shouldn't demand underworld-style retribution, right? Making him cut off his hand to atone for his sins?
Just as Fan Zherui was pondering how to appease the teenager's anger, his phone rang with an unfamiliar number.
Fan Zherui picked up, hearing a formal and rigid voice: “Excuse me, is this Bai Zongyi's cousin?”
Cousin? Fan Zherui was stunned.
…
Outside the school affairs office of Dao Hong High School, there was a crowd of people... well, calling it a crowd was a bit of an exaggeration, but there were twenty-something heads squeezed in front of the door, each one eager to eavesdrop on the details inside.
There was no way around it, the model student who had accumulated all the scholarships and notes that everyone in the school competed to buy and abided by the rules without daring to commit any plagiarism or piracy was called into the school affairs office due to injuring a fellow student, this was a earth-shattering event.
And the one who was injured was a female student, a female student!
Outside the human wall, a clear voice sounded, “Excuse me, classmates, could you make way?”
Who was being so rude as to push ahead?
“I don't want to! I finally squeezed my way here...”
Fan Zherui lost his smile, how was it possible that there were three walls of people between him and the door?
Is Bai Zongyi's incident so popular?
Fan Zherui chuckled, cupped his hands around his mouth and cheerfully shouted to the people in front of him who were constantly moving around.
“Hot water coming! Everyone, make way, be careful not to get scalded!” With these words, the twenty-something heads immediately parted like the Red Sea, opening up a wide path.
Fan Zherui smiled as he walked towards the school affairs office, and before opening the door, he looked back at the crowd, not forgetting to make a graceful wave, showing elegance and politeness, and saying, “Thank you, classmates, for your cooperation.”
He knocked on the door, entered, and closed it behind him.
Three seconds after the door closed, a stunning exclamation from a female student brought everyone back to their senses.
“Who was that? He is so handsome!”
“Is he Bai Zongyi's cousin? The teacher said they were looking for his cousin to come to the school.”
“His cousin is so handsome, could it be that their whole family is full of handsome men and beautiful women?”
“He's even wearing a Patek Philippe watch!”
“What is that?”
“It's a luxury watch! It's even more prestigious than a Rolex...”
The students began to chatter.
“Could it be that Bai Zongyi comes from a wealthy family? The rumoured aristocracy?”
“Why would the aristocracy sell notes and compete for scholarships?” The bespectacled student sneered at the truth, but his perennial position as the school's second best made him the target of ridicule from the crowd.
“It's a skill to be able to snatch the first position and sell, if you're jealous just say it, no one will laugh at you.”
“Exactly... wealthy people train their children differently, this is called... elite education!”
That's right, that's right!
The classmates nodded in agreement, as if they had personally seen Bai Zongyi's mansion, or even been a guest at his house, adding a legendary touch to the tales.
The bespectacled young man wanted to cough up blood, do these people have no common sense, have they never watched “The Poor Noble Son”?
The office was silent, even Bai Zongyi, whom they had seen with Fan Zherui, was the same.
There was no way, having picked up two corpses, his impression of Fan Zherui was synonymous with a slob representation. Apart from the clothes he wore when picking up corpses, he always wore Bai Zongyi's clothes at home, even his underwear was almost snatched by others.
Not to mention the times he had to borrow clothes and ended up wrapping himself in a quilt at his house because he had nothing else to wear.
Therefore, seeing him in a neat suit, black shiny shoes, styled hair, looking elegant and sophisticated, like a nobleman walking out of a top model magazine, the reaction was almost like seeing a ghost in July.
That was the effect he wanted. Fan Zherui, becoming the centre of attention, took control of the situation with the snap of his fingers.
“Excuse me...” With a smile in his peach-blossom eyes, he glanced at the young man who had suddenly become his cousin. The latter's embarrassed expression was so cute that he almost burst out laughing.
“My dear cousin, what did you do to make your school bother me in the midst of my busy schedule?” A few words filled with the intimidation of the wealthy.
Principal and the head of the PTA shivered a few times, sweating coldly on the back.
Have they offended some hidden big shot?
Handsome, with a pleasing voice... the female classmate's eyes sparkled, approaching Bai Zongyi and whispering, “Bai Zongyi, your cousin is so handsome... if you ask him to be my boyfriend, I will tell my dad I forgive you.”
Bai Zongyi looked foolishly at his classmate, regretting the fake date with her for five hundred yuan.
Yes, this female classmate was the one who shouted 'Rainbow' before.
They intersected again while doing experiments in the chemistry classroom. While everyone was focused on the experiment, she suddenly ran to him asking to go to KTV to sing. After he refused, she got angry and pushed him, he dodged and she fell, scratching her leg on the chair, then started to cry and knocked over the just opened sodium hydroxide.
“I didn't do anything.” He even got chemical burns trying to save her from the sodium hydroxide.
He looked down at his right arm, even though it had been thoroughly treated, the lingering burning sensation still made him frown.
“How could my cousin push a girl, let alone injure her.” Fan Zherui waved his hand like shooing away a fly, “It's absolutely impossible. Our Zongyi would never do such a thing.” With firm words, he shifted Bai Zongyi's attention away from the pain, looking at him in astonishment.
Did he believe he hadn't done anything wrong? Without questioning anything, he believed him?
“Are you saying my daughter is lying?” The PTA head said angrily, pulling his daughter over and pointing at the bandage on her leg.
“This is the evidence!”
Fan Zherui glanced at it and immediately stood up to offer his seat, “How can a girl with the so-called foot injury stand, please sit down.” He said as he helped the female classmate to sit.
“Thank you...” The female classmate blushed, whispering her thanks, shyly.
Bai Zongyi's face turned pale. What did he mean by saying that?
Fan Zherui knelt in front of the female classmate, looking down at her leg with pity, “Does it hurt?”
“Um...” The female classmate blushed at being looked at, her cheeks flush, feeling ecstatic. The prince-like posture he was in made her feel like a princess of a certain kingdom.
The PTA head was not happy, how could this person look at his daughter like that, it was rude! “Hey, you--”
“Shh!” Fan Zherui raised his palm to signal the PTA head to be quiet.
Perhaps it was his imposing demeanour, or maybe the PTA head hadn't been treated in such a way for a long time, he took three seconds to react.
“Let go of my daugh--”
“Dad!” The female classmate interrupted the PTA head, “Let him speak.”
In a joking manner, with a handsome guy kneeling in front of her, her dad became a stranger, how could she let him ruin her budding romance!
The PTA head was dumbfounded, looking at his daughter who had run away, twirling her index finger around her ponytail, looking shy, she said, “What do you want to tell me?”
Fan Zherui smiled kindly, “You said our Zongyi pushed you.”
The female classmate looked at the handsome face in front of her, her heart beating faster, “...Yes.”
“I didn't!” Bai Zongyi argued, explaining that at the time of the incident, everyone was focused on the experiment, and they only noticed the classmate falling to the ground afterwards. Plus, this female classmate had a very good relationship with everyone in the class, making it difficult for him to defend himself.
“Quiet, you are not allowed to interrupt when girl’s speak, I have taught you that before.”
You better have! Bai Zongyi couldn't believe the man in front of him who was speaking with such authority.
Bai Zongyi regretted deeply when even Fan Zherui stood with the other side. He shouldn't have lied about Fan Zherui's phone number to avoid worrying his family, claiming it was his cousin.
The female classmate felt relieved and happy that Fan Zherui was speaking up for her. She thought that this man must have feelings for her too, “I'm not trying to argue with Bai Zongyi, but he pushed me without apologising. My dad is very angry.”
“I understand. He pushed you like this in front of you, right?” Fan Zherui said, demonstrating the pushing motion.
The female classmate nodded as if pounding garlic, “Yes, he suddenly ran up to me and pushed me, causing me to fall and get hurt... It hurts so much.”
“I see.” Fan Zherui handed a handkerchief to the female classmate. As she took it to wipe away her imaginary tears, he casually asked, “Since you were pushed down by Zongyi face to face, you should be falling on your back and sitting on the ground. Why is your knee injured at the front?” The female classmate froze her actions of wiping tears, surprising Bai Zongyi.
The PTA president and the principal were speechless, as the situation took an unexpected turn, going in a direction they didn't anticipate.
Fan Zherui approached Bai Zongyi, gently lifted his right arm, and with a slightly displeased tone, asked, “What happened?”
Bai Zongyi hesitated for a second before replying, “She got angry and swept my textbook to the ground, causing a can of sodium hydroxide to fall over...”
“Is it taken care of?”
“Yeah, the chemistry teacher and the nurse in the health centre helped me.”
“Good job.” Fan Zherui rubbed the boy's head and turned to the other three people present.
“Now, can any of you explain to me what happened?” Fan Zherui pulled a chair over, making Bai Zongyi sit down. He then embraced the boy from behind, rested his chin on the boy's head, showing care and concern in his casual demeanour. Then, with narrowed eyes and a low tone, he issued a specific threat: “Let's make it clear, no one leaves until I'm satisfied.”
A simple sentence made the three people across from him tremble all over.
…
On the campus avenue shaded by green trees, a gentle breeze rustled through the branches, creating a whispering sound, as the twilight glow shone on the two figures walking one after the other.
The man's shadow suddenly hastened its steps, catching up with the shadow of the young man ahead.
“So, how was my performance as your cousin?” Fan Zherui asked, trying to please, then smugly added, “I've devoted all my sincerity to this.”
“Your sincerity is too little.” Bai Zongyi couldn't help but remark. Fan Zherui's smug expression of “praise me” and “admire me” made it difficult for him to say a simple “thanks.”
“Tsk. Young people nowadays don't know how to repay kindness. My heart as your cousin hurts!”
“Shall we also consider this morning--”
“Stop!” The cousin hurriedly interrupted, “I'm at fault for one thing, and you're at fault for one thing, so let's call it even, OK?”
Bai Zongyi didn't answer but just looked at him silently, finding it hard to express his feelings at that moment.
The time spent at the office was like undergoing a sauna, going from the hidden joy of being unconditionally trusted, to the anger and frustration of being suspected, until he discovered it was a trap set by Fan Zherui to help him clear his name...
It wasn't until today that he realised, the man who always stayed at his house, ordering him around and making him do all the work, was actually very handsome, very intelligent, very much like an adult, and...someone unattainable.
After tousling the boy's hair, Fan Zherui withdrew his hand, smiled, and asked, “Why are you so quiet? Feeling down?”
The boy, snapping out of his thoughts, looked at the shadows of the two men walking side by side ahead, “Do you really believe I didn't bully that girl?”
“Of course, if not you, then who?”
Plomp!
Fan Zherui's seemingly light-hearted remark hit the boy's heart like a heavy blow, causing a momentary shock. The boy stopped in his tracks, watching the man who was walking ahead, muttering to himself and moving forward.
“You're so busy every day, barely even have time to sleep, and you're still picking on people?” Fan Zherui laughed and added, “More importantly, you're not that kind of person. If you really wanted to teach someone a lesson, you wouldn't use such a clumsy and easily caught method.”
The level of tactics used by the other party was too low, inadvertently clearing Bai Zongyi of suspicion.
Fan Zherui's voice drifted further away as the distance between them increased.
Bai Zongyi watched as Fan Zherui gradually walked away.
What kind of person did he pick up after all? Why could this person suddenly become like a rogue and at the same time be so unattainable?
The suit made his back straighter like a pine tree, and the shoulder with the embroidered school name badge from the sea elephant novel website looked hilarious and incompatible, completely two different worlds.
Just like him and him... feeling once again the gap between the two, Bai Zongyi felt frustrated.
What should he do to be like Fan Zherui in front of him at this moment, upright, composed, sharp-witted, like a real adult?
Although he still didn't know who Fan Zherui was or what he did, his work experience taught him to judge people.
The boss of the franchise store where he worked also dealt in fine clothing, teaching him what really makes a person stand out in attire.
Not everyone looks extraordinary in branded clothes; some people are controlled by their attire, with designer clothing highlighting their humble background, while others control their attire, even if it's street stall goods, they can exude a designer aura, not to mention genuine designer brands.
Bai Zongyi watched the man stepping into the slanting sun ahead, the sunlight blurring the lines, making Fan Zherui look even more elusive, as if he was about to blend into the sunlight.
Will there be such a day? He put on the same suit as Fan Zherui, embodying the maturity the suit represents, making it impossible for people to ignore his presence? Bai Zongyi asked himself.
What if it didn't work? In an instant, a sense of defeat made him timid, stripping Bai Zongyi of his confidence.
Just then, a call came:
“Bai Zongyi!”
The young man looked up and saw the man bathed in the oblique sunshine beckoning towards him, “Why are you standing there? Aren't you coming with me?”
Follow him... the young man inexplicably felt a warmth in his chest, the man's sudden urging awakening the courage deep inside him, dispelling the timidity that arose in his heart, restoring his usual confidence.
Yes! Definitely! The boy told himself in his heart like this.
Only five years apart, if the person in front of him is the true appearance of 22-year-old Fan Zherui, then five years later he will definitely be able to, even better than him! No! He must be better than him!
The boy rushed to the man, stepping into the slanting sun that enveloped him, his eyes looking at him eagerly, even he himself didn't understand.
“Fan Zherui!”
The man who was called was taken aback, "Call me Hun.” Why did he run up to him and call him?
“Thank you!” The boy's straightforward gratitude shocked him.
Fan Zherui was surprised, staring at him with wide eyes.
This kid actually thanked him... Fan Zherui tapped his nose and faced the boy's sincere gratitude, he felt shy!
He will catch up with him! The confident boy full of arrogance, just like now actively chasing, will definitely catch up with him, stand in the same place, and enjoy the same sunshine!
Bai Zongyi stared at the man in front of him intently, unaware that he had set the other person as a target for his efforts, with a mix of admiration for the hero and a competitive instinct of masculine nature.
Fan Zherui didn't know the wish the boy had made in his heart at that moment, but he was attracted by the boy's smile and couldn't look away.
The handsome face that had been stiffened by the pressure of life softened with a smile, under the setting sun, it exuded the brilliance of youth, full of confidence as if there was nothing difficult in the world.
In an instant, Fan Zherui was dazzled.
This boy... he looked forward to the day when he would soar high.
That night, Bai Zongyi had a fever due to a chemical burn.
Considering the crowded hospital and the need to wait in line for registration, Fan Zherui, who was worried about delaying the condition, directly called the exclusive doctor of North Branch to come, but unexpectedly, there was a little tail behind him.
Finally, the little tail Eddie knew what Fan Zherui's lifesaver looked like.
“This person is over 180cm tall, right?” Eddie stared at the big feet that were only five or six centimetres away from the bed.
There's no way around it, people will always pay attention to what they care about most.
“Quiet, don't disturb him.” Fan Zherui gently wiped Bai Zongyi's sweaty forehead with a towel, looking towards the doctor, “How is he?”
“He has a fever due to infection in the wound, causing a heat reaction...hydration and rest should help.” The doctor explained briefly, not daring to joke around.
Fan Zherui breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you.” After that, his eyes swept towards the door, clearly indicating the intention to see the guests off.
“Just that?” Two words, are they a roundabout way to dismiss someone?
“Get lost.” When their eyes couldn't read, he didn't mind speaking up.
“Hey, Fan Zherui——”
“Let's go.” The doctor stopped Eddie, to avoid provoking Fan Zherui, he will have to carry a wounded gangster back home.
It's better to be respectful in front of the head of the branch.
Fan Zherui had no idea when the two of them left. At this moment, his eyes were only on Bai Zongyi, who was flushed and breathing heavily due to the fever. He touched his hand, feeling a bit cold, subconsciously pulling Bai Zongyi's hand under the blanket, covering him up to his neck, gently stroking his feverish forehead.
He rarely took care of people, all the actions he took were based on memories from when he and his mother depended on each other...before he was ten years old.
He intended to wake him up to take his medicine, but seeing him sleeping so soundly, he couldn't bear to disturb him, so he let him continue sleeping.
At that moment, Bai Zongyi's phone rang, and Fan Zherui located it by the loud ringtone. It was an old-fashioned phone without a camera and with a large font and loud ringtone, almost making him burst out laughing.
Fan Zherui answered the call, it was from a part-time job at the franchise.
“Yes, I'm a friend of Zongyi. He's not feeling well...” Originally intending to help with requesting leave, but thinking of Bai Zongyi's personality, he quickly changed his mind, “Can he have a friend to cover his shift...no problem, yes experienced...will arrive in twenty minutes, thank you.” After ending the call, Fan Zherui looked at the sleeping Bai Zongyi.
…
Late at night, Chen Yi walked into the office, not seeing the usually chatty Eddie coming out to greet him.
“Where's Eddie?”
“Said he went to work.”
“Work?” Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, showing a rare expression of confusion.
When did North Branch make him feel so aggrieved that he had to go work to earn a living?
…
The piercing alarm on the old phone forced Bai Zongyi to wake up, reaching out instinctively to grab it, only to feel something warm, soft, and slightly elastic.
The alarm also stopped at that moment.
There's no reason for a phone to be soft. Bai Zongyi, puzzled, pinched the soft object and it was grabbed by him.
“Are you so jealous of my good looks that you want to disfigure me while I sleep?” Bai Zongyi was fully awake, turning his head to see Fan Zherui leaning over the bed, looking at him. The hand he had just pinched was caught in his palm.
“Did you sleep well? Darling...”
Stunned.
“Dar...Darling...”
“Cousin.” He continued the family relationship playfully, extending his hand to Bai Zongyi's forehead to check his temperature while asking, “Still feeling dizzy? Any body aches? Do you have any strength? Do you need to take a day off from school?” Bai Zongyi blinked as if in a dream, still not fully awake.
The sight of Fan Zherui was too familiar, too warm, too... unlike Fan Zherui.
A snap of his fingers brought him back to reality.
“Don't daydream, answer me.”
“Going to school.”
“I knew you would say that.” Fan Zherui tried to get up, but his feet, numb from sitting on the floor all night, couldn't bear the weight, causing him to stumble and fall to the bedside, completely ruining his handsome image.
“Fan Zherui!” Bai Zongyi was surprised, trying to help him up, but he shook his head to stop him.
“What's wrong with you?”
“My feet are numb from sitting too long. Your floor is too hard to sleep on.” Fan Zherui moved his ankles and toes, waiting for the blood to flow back and the tingling sensation to fade.
“I'm sorry, I made you sleep on the floor for so many days when I stayed over.”
“...” Bai Zongyi reached out to touch Fan Zherui's forehead.
“What are you doing?”
“I wonder if I infected you with my illness.”
This kid... Fan Zherui smirked and grabbed Bai Zongyi's hand.
“I mean it... Bai Zongyi, let's be friends, the kind who share everything.”
Bai Zongyi froze, stunned, looking down at the man sitting on the floor by the bed.
“That's settled then.” Once, he wanted to build a sanctuary with his own strength to protect himself and his mother, but his mother didn't need it, and wouldn't let him do it.
Bai Zongyi was different, he worked hard, carrying the expectations of his family, doing what he couldn't do. This kid surely could achieve it.
He wanted to see Bai Zongyi succeed, stand proudly and protect his family.
His numb feet finally regained feeling, Fan Zherui got up, tousled the young man's hair. He heard that the texture of one's hair reflects their personality, people with coarse hair tend to be firm and stubborn, "Don't disappoint me.” He said as he walked towards the kitchen.
Soon, the kitchen filled with the strong aroma of eggs, ham, and a hint of onion.
Fan Zherui didn't eat onions, but Bai Zongyi loved them...
Catching a whiff of the onion scent, Bai Zongyi confirmed that Fan Zherui was making breakfast for him.
And what he just said about sitting too long and his foot falling asleep...
“Fan Zherui.”
The man in the kitchen looked over distractedly, "What's up?”
“Have you been here all day yesterday?” Pointing to the spot where Fan Zherui had just been sitting, "Keeping me company?”
“The doctor said you might have a fever again, it's best to have someone watching over you.”
The eggs and onions sizzled, beautifully golden. Fan Zherui was very satisfied, being called the young master since he was ten was not a joke.
“All night?”
“Of course, I even helped you get up to pee at three-thirty, and helped you bathe, remember?”
Thinking back... he had no memory.
“You never left?”
He didn't know why he kept asking, even though Fan Zherui just answered, but the image of him sitting by his bed all night taking care of him without sleep was so warm and lovely, it was almost unbelievable.
Fan Zherui returned with breakfast, placing it on the low table. The young man sitting on the bed, either due to recovering from a serious illness or just waking up, looked a bit silly.
The words “cute” appeared in Fan Zherui's mind again.
“Didn't leave.” His fingers lightly pinched the slightly fleshy bridge of the young man's nose, still carrying the scent of food. The man laughed and said:
“How could I leave you alone.”
Bai Zongyi was startled, the touch on his nose suddenly felt hot at the man's touch, making him push away the man's teasing hand and rush into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
He had to escape! The unexpectedly fast and erratic heartbeat made the young man unsure of what to do, and the strange sensation of heat and pressure between his legs made him feel anxious.
What was happening to him? Why... Bai Zongyi covered his suddenly reacting little brother, recalling the stimulation Fan Zherui had given him yesterday morning, feeling a desire to rise, with a bit of pain from the pressure of his underwear.
Outside, Fan Zherui, completely unaware of the arousal he had unintentionally caused, sighed as he looked towards the bathroom.
“Young people surely recover quickly.”
Nothing like the person who had spiked a fever of 37.5 degrees last night.
He had no idea that his casual pinch this morning would change the fate of both of them, leading them towards an unexpected life.
Chapter 4:
The Yiyun Alliance, as the name suggests, is derived from the phrase “loyalty reaches the sky.”
No one dared to believe that this small gang named by two young men who had moved to the north twenty years ago for development, suddenly rose to become the third largest power in the north ten years ago, and more recently boldly confronted the oldest gang in the north, the Dragon Gang, with ambitions to replace them. This has stirred up the sensitive nerves of the underworld, with some watching from afar, some waiting for the benefits, and some worrying about becoming the next target of the Dragon Gang.
Because of the leader Chen Dongyang's ferocity on the front lines, combined with Zhou Minglei's cunning strategy, and the recruits with various skills gathered from unknown sources underneath, tempered by strict alliance rules to near perfection, the Yiyun Alliance was a force to be reckoned with.
Just by watching how the seventeen-year-old Chen Yi managed the most resources and enemies at the North Hall, one could see that within the Yiyun Alliance, strength outweighed age.
Although there is a saying that “fists fear the young, sticks fear the old” but if the old man has grey hair and wants to live a peaceful life, then the fate of being replaced by the young is inevitable.
Nothing is indestructible and irreplaceable, the intergenerational struggle between the young and the old exists in every organisation, even the Yiyun Alliance, which is entering its mature stage.
In the main office of the hall, today, due to the deadlock between the North Branch Master and the second-in-command, apart from Chen Yi, Chen Dongyang, and Zhou Minglei, everyone else is just keeping their company.
Fan Zherui is also one of them, looking at the three of them, there is a feeling of watching a palace drama.
The emperor, who is busy with state affairs, never sees the intrigues in the harem, and fortunately, the people in the harem have a common goal - to develop the power of the Yiyun Alliance to the extreme - in order to maintain the current balance.
“Alright, Minglei. A-Yi has already apologised for the incident of picking the Dragon Gang's two members without permission, so you don't need to scold him anymore.” Chen Dongyang's soothing tone clearly shows his bias towards the young man.
Yes, yes, stop scolding him. They spent over a month recruiting, although it's not finished yet, but seeing how tired they are, let's just turn a blind eye. Fan Zherui thought to himself.
Zhou Minglei, of course, could see Chen Dongyang's partiality towards the young man. His phoenix eyes swept coldly over Chen Yi, back to his 'big brother' from their younger days.
"Superficial victories are not true wins, with this commotion, the Dragon Gang is beginning to shift their assets, do you know that?”
Chen Dongyang placed his big hand on his brother's shoulder, "If you can catch the first move, you can definitely find the second move, I believe in you.”
The face of the forty-year-old man, with sharp edges, rough and masculine, lit up with a smile that combined “trust” and “playfulness”.
I believe in you - he has been deceived by these four words for over twenty years. Zhou Minglei lowered his eyes to disguise his displeasure, and when he raised them again, they were calm.
“This won't happen again.”
“I promise there won't be a next time.” The leader of the Yiyun Alliance raised his palm and swore.
Zhou Minglei glanced at him, and with the intention of leaving, but was stopped by Chen Dongyang, who put his arm around him, "Let's have a meal together, I'll cook, it's been a long time since the three of us had a meal together.” He then looked at the others, “You guys stay for dinner too, eat well before you hit the road.”
Eat well before hitting the road... Chen, are you sure this sentence doesn't have a typo? The cadres present felt their ears ache.
Zhou Minglei pushed his hand away, getting up with the intention to leave, and the others also found excuses to leave.
The longer you go hungry, the longer you'll live... Fan Zherui dared to say that this was the sentiment of everyone present at the moment.
But not Chen Yi.
“What are you cooking today?” Chen Yi asked, showing his support for Chen Dongyang as if he were a deity.
“Hotpot!” Chen Dongyang smiled and, putting his arm around Chen Yi's shoulder, led him inside, “A-Rui, you come too.”
“Yes...” Fan Zherui responded with a sigh.
He didn't want to eat well before hitting the road, but he couldn't refuse.
…
“The Fan Family sent a message, they hope I can get rid of you.”
While Chen Yi was in the backyard training the two guard dogs, Chen Dongyang mentioned while washing vegetables and preparing ingredients.
“Can we talk about business matters while I'm playing the role of housewife?”
“You're not considered a member of the underworld yet, you can't even be called half of one.” Chen Dongyang reminded, "I didn't plan on exposing you, otherwise I wouldn't have sent you to be with A-Yi, I wanted you to keep an eye on him, to prevent him from being too impulsive, but I didn't expect -”
His stern gaze turned cold and sharp, the icy air and the previous kindness were like two different people, "Fan Zherui, I can kick you out just based on this matter alone.”
Fan Zherui felt helpless and sighed, “I am not allowed to compete with the future successor of the Fan Family's limelight, and you won't allow me to fall into decadence willingly, Chen, what should I do?”
“My Yiyun Alliance is not the place for you to willingly fall into decadence.”
Fan Zherui, you rascal, is there anyone more ambitious in the underworld than you?
He actually used “decadence” to describe him.
“Just accept your fate, go back to the Fan Family, follow their arrangements, and become a well-behaved member of the family business. Everyone else can live like that, and you can surely do it too.” Chen Dongyang sincerely advised the dignified leader of the Yiyun Alliance acting as a life mentor, but unfortunately, his underworld background destined him to be straightforward and harsh, every word piercingly blunt.
“A-Rui, if you have to be more ruthless than others in the underworld business, if you can't even achieve blind filial piety, if you're stuck in the middle with nothing to do, why can't you just be a puppet of the Fan Family?”
Fan Zherui put away his smile, "I may not know what I want to do yet, but that doesn't mean I should be resigned to having my life arranged for me, not every person surnamed Fan wants to live under the umbrella of the Fan Family and breathe their air.”
Chen Dongyang clicked his tongue, shook off the water stains from his hands, took out a lighter and lit a cigarette, inhaling and exhaling smoke.
Fan Zherui also obediently took over the cooking.
“Wait until you find something you want to do before you come back to argue with me." the leader of the Yiyun Alliance said.
Fan Zherui remained silent, at this moment, he could only choose to stay silent.
Having given up for too long, he had long forgotten what it means to be persistent.
…
Fan Zherui looked at the gate of Dao Hong High School, not knowing why he was standing here.
Even if he had just been challenged by Chen Dongyang and started to doubt life, thinking about the possibility of reincarnation, he wouldn't have come here for comfort, would he?
Finding comfort from a kid who hadn't even fully grown his hair at seventeen?
He must have been too overwhelmed and lost his mind.
Truly a gang leader, he didn't act unless necessary, and when he did, it was a big move, leaving him with just a sliver of health.
Fan Zherui looked at his watch - four forty-five, ten minutes before school ended, he still had time to leave without being noticed.
With this thought in mind, he turned around and bumped into a solid wall.
“Sorry.” Fan Zherui took a step back to go around, but the wall grabbed him.
“How did you come here?”
A slightly hoarse voice came from above, familiar yet unfamiliar, Fan Zherui had to look up to confirm.
“Bai Zongyi?”
Was it really him?
This voice…
"You haven't hit puberty yet?”
It had only been a short time since they last met, but his voice had dropped from the tenor range to the bass range, and his stocks hadn't dropped that quickly!
“It's still ongoing.” Bai Zongyi's laugh from his throat carried a husky tone between maturity and immaturity, "Haven't you forgotten that boys usually finish puberty by the age of eighteen? It's taught in health class.”
It seemed vaguely familiar, but there were too many changes in his voice, it was almost unrecognisable, and his height -
“Have you grown taller again?”
Bai Zongyi grinned, his smug look fading into mature contours, revealing the innocence of a young boy, "I am 184.5.”
Five thunders struck Fan Zherui's brain.
It seemed that the heavens thought that the blows he had received today weren't enough, so they sent a teenage boy to add more, leaving him with no health points left.
From looking down to looking up... Fan Zherui felt like he wanted to be reborn, but he couldn't give up.
How could this person change so much in such a short time, was he on steroids?
Perhaps Fan Zherui's frustration was too obvious, as Bai Zongyi gave an explanation.
“We haven't seen each other in a month.”
A month... just like that? Pigs and sheep changing colour?
“You use idioms so poorly." Bai Zongyi protested, refusing to be called a pig or sheep, "What have you been busy with this month?”
Someone who claimed to be open and a friend suddenly disappeared, didn't answer his phone calls, but at least replied to text messages. Otherwise, he wouldn't even know where to find him.
Fan Zherui finally snapped back, no matter how unwilling he was, he had to accept the fact that from now he will have to raise his face to look at Bai Zongyi.
“Working, what else?” His tone still sounded a bit resentful, "Why did you come out at this hour?”
“Since I can't achieve full attendance this semester, I made an agreement with the teacher not to attend the eighth class, so I leave early to work.”
“What about your college entrance exams? You only have a little over a month left... Are you that confident?”
“I've already been accepted into university, so I don't have to take the college entrance exams.”
Fan Zherui was extremely surprised, only now realising that the boy was in his third year of high school.
And...
He was an outrageously outstanding third-year high school student!
Fan Zherui looked at Bai Zongyi's report card and acceptance letter.
Who was going to tell him what it meant to be a fully-funded student at the National Taiwan University Medical School?
He looked at the busy teenager in the kitchen.
"Bai Zongyi, it's illegal to forge report cards.”
Finally realising why this person could sell notes without fear, and why so many students bought his notes, he had been so careless that he had only now realised that he was not superior like ordinary people.
Suddenly, he felt that he had been overly worried before, this person didn't need anyone's concern, blessings, or even help.
“It's about ability." Bai Zongyi said as he walked over with a box of strawberry cake, the transparent glass container showcasing the cake base, topped with white cream, caramel sauce, and fresh red strawberries layered and stacked on top with shiny strawberries covered in syrup, making one's mouth water.
“Such a good child, always ready to make me strawberry cake.” Fan Zherui took the spoon and prepared to start.
“I'm not a child.” Bai Zongyi frowned, protesting, opening the lid to reveal the sweet and sour aroma of strawberries mixed with custard sauce.
“Let's eat!” Fan Zherui exclaimed excitedly, not waiting for Bai Zongyi's response, and dug in.
“Is it delicious?”
“Not bad! The sweet and sour balance is just right, the tartness of the strawberries enhances the sweetness.” A strawberry cake enthusiast like Fan Zherui gave a fair assessment, "The custard sauce is a bit disappointing, with a slightly heavy oily taste, but luckily the tartness of the strawberries covers it. Overall, it's pretty good, I'd give it a seventy.”
“Alright, I'll improve it next time.”
“Improve next time?” Fan Zherui paused, realising, shocked, "You made this?!”
“I've been working at a cake shop recently.” Bai Zongyi brought over some tea, urging him to eat more, "Learned it from the boss.”
Rolling his eyes, fan Zherui said, "Can you be any more amazing?”
“What?”
“Strong in body, smart in mind, handsome, good temper, and now you can make good desserts - can't you leave some good points for others?”
Bai Zongyi laughed happily, "I didn't know I was so good in your eyes.”
“Too good, I'd be bored if I couldn't find anything to criticise, you know?”
“I can't cook.”
He tried to cook, but found that he had no talent for it. It was either burnt or mistaking salt for sugar, vinegar for soy sauce, messing up seasoning or timing. But with cakes, from simple Taiwanese egg tarts to the current strawberry cake, he got it right every time.
Fan Zherui laughed at this revelation, "I'm the opposite. I can never get the hang of sugar versus vanilla essence, unsalted versus salted butter, etc... The cakes I make always end up like a landslide.”
“So we complement each other.” Bai Zongyi rested his chin on his hand, watching him enjoy the cake, finally understanding why some people say that cooking for someone you care about is a form of happiness.
Someone I care about?
Yes, that morning he woke up inexplicably stimulated by his desire, Bai Zongyi was very troubled. He didn't know what was happening to him, and because of the accelerated heartbeat, he couldn't properly enjoy the first breakfast Fan Zherui made for him. Just trying to conceal his embarrassing physiological reactions kept him busy.
So he purposely avoided contacting Fan Zherui, to calm himself down and find answers.
In the first week, Bai Zongyi focused on digesting his emotions, and Fan Zherui didn't come looking for him, which relieved him.
By the second week, Bai Zongyi started to worry, trying to call him but only reaching voicemail, with no replies to his messages. He realised that if Fan Zherui didn't contact him first, he wouldn't be able to find him.
He didn't know where he lived, what he did for a living, who his family or friends were.
You realise that you know nothing about Fan Zherui? Bai Zongyi panicked, at one point suspecting if Fan Zherui really existed.
Luckily, on the third day of the second week, Fan Zherui replied to his text, saying that he was very busy with work and wouldn't be free for some time, asking him to take care of himself and to be careful at his workplace.
Fan Zherui's text reassured his worried heart, and in this anxious period, he realised his feelings - he liked him! Liked this man who teased him, teased him, and threatened him with a smile in his eyes!
Is it self-torture? He didn't know, but the man who first threatened him into submission appeared when he needed him most, standing by his side with absolute trust to help him when he couldn't explain himself, and even staying up all night with him...
The last time he was taken care of was before he was ten. After his mother left him, his sister, and his father, he stopped being spoiled, no longer dependent, no longer weak. Even now, he still can't overcome the psychological shadow left by his mother's departure, Bai Zongyi chose to hide it from his family and face it alone because - no one can be strong for him.
He didn't have the chance to show weakness, but surprisingly found solace in Fan Zherui.
You've grown up, strong enough, brave enough, no one can bully you, and no one dares to bully you...
Fan Zherui's words are now his reliance when facing thunderstorms, diverting his attention through repeated recitation, and constantly recalling the hug he gave himself that night and the unexpected intimacy the next morning.
Ah…Bai Zongyi admits, he misses Fan Zherui's kiss and ahem, the other thing it's hard to say.
Bai Zongyi didn't struggle much, as long as he thought back to that morning, his body would react, he couldn't fool anyone.
One thought, one paradise, the change in mindset is enough to reverse an entire world.
Bai Zongyi previously wanted to grow up quickly, be better than others, more powerful than others... These thoughts based on competitive admiration suddenly transformed.
He wanted to keep pace with him, stand by his side, race alongside him, and at the most critical moments, not just unilaterally accept his protection, but to face them together.
He wanted... to become a man worthy of Fan Zherui.
“.... Really delicious, what else have you learned? List it.” The man possessed by a glutton couldn't feel the boy's thousand thoughts, sharpening his knife ready to order.
Fan Zherui's inquiry brought him back to reality, with only a third of the cake left, the man's mouth stained with the evidence of greed, the white cream adding a cute playfulness to his handsome face.
Men shouldn't be described as cute, but at this moment Bai Zongyi only wanted those two words, and accidentally let them slip out, causing the man opposite to furrowed his brows.
“Men don't become girls just because they like to eat cake, don't call me cute.” This was the reason why he rarely ate strawberry cake in front of people, once a childhood friend with no eyesight laughed at him like this, calling him Girl.
“Really cute.” Bai Zongyi reached out, his fingertips wiping away the cream from Fan Zherui's lips, and then into his own mouth... so sweet, "It's so sweet, I'm amazed you can handle it.”
Fan Zherui widened his eyes, watching in shock as the boy licked his fingers, his throat inexplicably tightened, as if something was blocking it, he grabbed the mug and gulped down the tea.
It was his adult mind being dirty, the kid being clueless, not knowing what he was doing.
Bai Zongyi truly didn't know that his actions were seen as flirtatious and suggestive in the adult world, but it didn't stop him from honestly saying the heartfelt words he had been brewing for a long time:
“Fan Zherui, I like you.”
Puff! The gushing red tea was Fan Zherui's immediate response.
Was this... a happy meaning?
The bewildered youth who was sprayed all over his face was very confused.