Chi Wang had lost all of his usual casual demeanor. His entire body was stiff as he stammered incoherently: "No, why would a top student like you need to look at review materials? Your grades are already so good, why are you competing for resources with us poor students?"
"I just want to check if the difficulty level of the summarized knowledge is suitable for you," Su Lian said, his hand still suspended in mid-air.
"No need to check, top students are amazing."
"Just a quick look, why are you being so protective of it?"
Chi Wang felt his scalp tingling. If Su Lian really saw it - a Taro Pudding avatar along with an extremely steamy erotic story - he couldn't even imagine the consequences.
He pressed down on his phone with a look of tragic resolve: "I lied to you. This isn't actually study material."
Su Lian: "?"
"It's... it's some adult videos they sent me." Chi Wang tilted his chin up slightly, blinking suggestively. "You know what I mean, right? The kind all guys watch."
In the face of death, they were just red-blooded high school boys. What's wrong with watching a bit of porn in their free time?
With Su Lian's cold, aloof expression, he probably wouldn't pursue the matter further after hearing this much.
Su Lian: "...I just went to take a shower and you're already up to so much mischief?"
Following along with the lie, Chi Wang's thoughts flowed naturally: "Yeah, it's a long night, a good evening. Isn't it normal? Haven't you ever watched any?"
Su Lian was taken aback, looking embarrassed: "I have watched some before. But why did you lie to me about it?"
One thing led to another, and it felt like he had tied himself in a knot.
"I just didn't want to be a bad influence on you," Chi Wang's brow twitched as this guy wasn't following the usual script. "Anyway, there's nothing worth watching. We might as well study."
Showing some self-awareness at least, Su Lian grunted in agreement: "Then you should do your homework. I'm confiscating your phone."
Chi Wang quickly deleted the image, closed the photo album, and locked the screen in one smooth motion.
Then he held out his hand: "Alright, for the rest of the time, I'll be completely focused."
It sounded good, but Su Lian just placed the phone on the small table beside him and picked up his milk tea to take a few sips.
It really was 30% sugar, not too sweet, just the right taste.
But speaking of study materials, Su Lian lowered his gaze. With the next monthly exam approaching, many people would be looking to buy key point notes from top students. It could be a way to make some money.
He'd organize things a bit over the next couple days, give the paper version to Chi Wang, and sell the electronic version for money - killing two birds with one stone.
He grabbed his schoolbag, casually put on his headphones, took out a set of practice problems, and picked up a pen to start working through them.
Having gone through all the college entrance exam questions he could in his previous life, picking it up again recently wasn't too difficult.
Half an hour passed, and Chi Wang lifted his head from a pile of practice problems, slowly stretching: "All done. Would you mind checking it, Teacher Su?"
He turned his head to find that a certain someone had already drunk most of that cup of milk tea. He curved his eyes: "Tasty?"
Su Lian had his head slightly bowed, immersed in music and a sea of problems, not hearing a word.
Chi Wang walked over and knocked on his head: "I'm talking to you, you know?"
"Huh?" Su Lian took off his headphones and looked up in confusion. "What did you say?"
"I said I finished writing and asked you to check it."
"Bring it over then."
"Hey, you drank so much. Aren't you worried about having to run to the bathroom at night?"
Su Lian rolled his eyes, his eyelids drooping coldly: "Mind your own business."
He quickly flipped through the problems, marginally satisfied: "Not bad, you got half right. That's progress. It's too late tonight, I'll go over the wrong answers with you tomorrow."
"Finally, this painful day is over." Chi Wang lazily sat in the recliner across from him, enjoying the cool breeze and savoring the hard-earned post-study bliss.
But as his mind emptied, the earlier erotic story came flooding back. His body heated up and he felt an itch in his throat, making him want to smoke.
He reached out to touch the cigarette pack, his fingertips just lifting the lid when he remembered the other was still sick, and withdrew his hand.
Unfortunately, Su Lian caught him in the act: "No smoking. Quit it already."
"It's not that easy to quit all at once," Chi Wang paused, trying to negotiate. "How about I go downstairs and smoke half a cigarette?"
Clenching his fist, Su Lian's threatening tone still carried a nasal quality: "Are you asking to be beaten up?"
Unable to win this one, but able to escape.
Chi Wang darted off quickly, getting up and rushing to the bathroom: "You sleep first, I'm going to take a shower."
Su Lian let out a light snort, hearing Chi Wang's phone ding with a message.
He instinctively glanced at the screen and saw a message: I really like it too, sob sob sob.
The sender was saved as Taro Pudding Bobo #2.
So late at night, and there were still girls confessing to him? Could it be that showy class beauty from today?
But what was with the "#2"? Don't tell me there are also 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8?
Well done, Chi Wang. A whole harem, numbered one by one.
His hand clenched the milk tea cup harder, the plastic deforming slightly as Su Lian's expression frosted over.
He didn't know when Chi Wang had started liking boys. At first, they were just friends, with Chi Wang taking care of him more unilaterally.
As they spent more time together, Chi Wang suggested moving in together to save money. Living together day and night, things became somewhat ambiguous, with just a thin veil between them.
On New Year's Eve, Chi Wang closed a big deal, and a group of people clamored to go celebrate. In the chaos, they drank too much.
Su Lian's alcohol tolerance was average. With all the noise around, two bottles in and he was starting to feel dizzy.
When it was about time, everyone moved to the square, stupidly waiting for the countdown in the center. Su Lian was freezing, the wind making his foggy mind even hazier.
During the countdown, colorful lights played across Chi Wang's face, highlighting his sharp features. Su Lian found himself mesmerized.
Sensing the gaze, Chi Wang turned his head and asked, "Are you cold?"
Su Lian nodded, then felt an arm wrap around his shoulders, pulling him close amidst the crowded throng.
Perhaps it was the alcohol's doing, but as if possessed, he tilted his head up slightly and kissed the corner of Chi Wang's upturned mouth.
Their skin touched, warm and soft. Su Lian only then realized what he'd done and hurriedly tried to explain: "I accidentally bumped—"
As he spoke, he stiffly tried to back away, but after just a few futile struggles, the back of his neck was gently grasped and suddenly pulled back.
The background screen flashed "Happy New Year," cheers and excitement all around as people welcomed the new year with wishes and blessings. No one noticed this ambiguous moment in the corner.
Chi Wang lowered his head to kiss him back, murmuring, "But I didn't do it by accident. I'm serious."
Su Lian's heart pounded louder than the surrounding clamor. In that second, he knew he had fallen.
Su Lian lowered his eyes. It had been a long time since he'd reminisced about the past. To think he had once been so impulsive.
Back then, he loved everything about Chi Wang. Every little detail suited him perfectly, so flawless he couldn't find fault anywhere.
Thinking about it now, what had Chi Wang liked about him then?
He'd never asked, and there didn't seem to be anything worth liking. The answer remained unknown.
Perhaps if he hadn't appeared, Chi Wang might have truly liked girls, found a pretty wife and had children.
His fingers dug into his palm. Su Lian felt some pain and slowly relaxed his grip.
He knew the current Chi Wang was very different from his memories. Every moment of interaction still felt somewhat uncomfortable. At times he seemed quite foolish, and the intense love from before seemed to have vanished along with all the differences.
But if this person were to date someone else, he still couldn't get past that hurdle in his heart.
He only hoped Chi Wang could live well and healthily. Since travelling back in time until now, he still hadn't found the reason for such drastic changes in this person.
It was like a time bomb with unknown destructive power, making it impossible to think too much about other things.
But now it seemed the seventeen-year-old Chi Wang was clearly even more attractive than he had imagined.
"What are you thinking about?" Chi Wang came out toweling his wet hair to find the person sitting dazed on the sofa, looking quite lost in thought.
Snapped out of his reminiscence, Su Lian glanced up slightly: "Thinking about how you're such a flirt, attracting bees and butterflies. Just this short while and your phone keeps going off."
Chi Wang's hand paused. He picked up his phone to check and sure enough, it was that fan group again.
As the lead fan, he kept getting tagged now and then. It was quite troublesome.
He irritably logged out of his alt account, randomly changing the subject: "There really are a lot of people confessing to me. What can I say, I'm just that handsome and charming."
Staring at that incredibly smug expression, Su Lian sneered: "Shameless."
Chi Wang: "I'm just stating facts."
Su Lian: "Shut up, will you."
He lowered his head to open the phone's music player, casually pressing play. A few chants emerged, sounding rather detached and dispassionate.
"Icy cold for a thousand years, all things still, the heart should be calm, I gaze alone divine, heart and spirit united as one..."
Chi Wang's expression cracked. "...What on earth is this?"
"A calming mantra, to help you settle your restless mood and study properly," Su Lian explained expressionlessly.
Chi Wang thought to himself that he did indeed need to calm down, but not quite like this.
"I have no plans to date at the moment," he said, pulling the other up from the sofa and leading him towards the stairs. "Stop messing around, let's go to sleep."
Su Lian pursed his lips. That would be for the best.
Having shared a bed several times already, both had become more at ease. With the lights off and blankets pulled up, only soft breathing remained in the narrow bed.
Su Lian's back pressed against the wall as he slowly closed his eyes. His slightly feverish body temperature made him feel irritable, his mind a jumbled mess.
He tossed and turned, trying several positions, but sleep eluded him. His whole being felt restless and agitated.
Hearing the commotion, Chi Wang spoke softly, "Can't sleep?"
"Mm, maybe I slept too much during the day. Don't worry about me, just sleep yourself," Su Lian closed his eyes and began slowly counting sheep.
Just as he reached the fifth sheep, he felt himself being embraced, blanket and all, with a hand gently patting his back.
Su Lian mumbled, "You're treating me like a little kid again."
"This is how I used to comfort Chi Qing when we were young. That girl was so noisy, always running into my room, causing a ruckus," Chi Wang said softly. "Patting her like this would help her fall asleep. It worked pretty well."
Su Lian's eyelids grew heavy. He thought to himself that it was indeed quite effective as he slowly closed his eyes.
Within minutes, even breathing could be heard from beside him. Chi Wang chuckled softly – he really was just like a child.
He allowed his arm to rest on the other's body, took two deep breaths, and drifted off to sleep.
In a hazy dream, Chi Wang saw a large expanse of white. He reached out to touch it gently, feeling the texture of skin.
Moving downward along that pale expanse, he encountered slender shoulders, sharp collarbones, a slim waist, all carrying a faint, clean scent.
What was it called again? Ah yes, the scent of green peach pheromones.
Chi Wang turned slightly, his gaze moving upward, suddenly meeting Su Lian's face clearly.
His eyes were tightly shut, brows furrowed. His eyelashes hung low, like butterflies about to take flight, trembling slightly.
His usually cool voice now carried a hint of restraint as he pleaded, "Bite me."
Startled awake, Chi Wang's eyes flew open. Daylight flooded the room, and he found himself drenched in sweat, his pajamas damp.
He turned his head to look at the person lying beside him, who appeared not much different from the dream. Only, due to his illness, a faint blush tinged his usual pallor.
Chi Wang felt disoriented. This Su Daji had truly become a demon, not only bewitching the masses but also attempting to corrupt an innocent high school boy through his dreams.
He recalled the fragmented scenes from his dream, feeling a sense of déjà vu. After a brief comparison, he realized they matched the descriptions from the short story he had read the night before.
Indeed, he should never have scanned that cursed QR code in the first place.
Chi Wang closed his eyes in frustration, slightly bending his knees. His body felt swollen and uncomfortable, everything reminding him of how absurd the situation was.
Su Lian was a friend he had just met. How could he appear in his dreams and be the object of such desires?
Damn, he was truly despicable, inhuman.
His mind in a foggy haze, he saw the alluring Su Daji open his eyes, gazing at him sleepily. His breath caught in his throat.
Under the thin summer blanket, due to the narrow bed, their arms touched, skin against skin.
As their eyes met, both froze, not daring to move.