Without a moment of hesitation, Huo Youqing pulled his suitcase and walked right past him.
“Youyou.”
His arm was grabbed.
His brow furrowed slightly as he turned to look at the person holding him. Gong Lang had an apologetic, almost pleading expression on his face. “Can I give you a ride back? You must be tired after such a long flight.”
There was no response after the words were spoken.
After a brief pause, Gong Lang continued, “That night, I really acted impulsively. Youyou, I promise I’ll never do anything to hurt you again.”
As he spoke, he kept his gaze fixed on Huo Youqing’s eyes, hoping to find the familiar emotions in those almond-shaped eyes.
He knew that his Youyou was always soft-hearted. All he had to do was lower his stance a little more, even further. After all, he didn’t think what he did that night had been too much.
He had only briefly let his pent-up desire slip, unintentionally scaring the other person. After all, he liked Huo Youqing, and Little Huo had been spoiled by those around him since childhood. Whenever something went wrong, people would lower themselves and coax him.
Just as Gong Lang hoped to see a familiar emotion, the young man in front of him slowly but steadily tried to withdraw his hand. Realizing Huo Youqing’s intention, Gong Lang tightened his grip.
But this action only made the person in front of him frown more deeply.
“Although this isn’t the best place to talk, I don’t want to go elsewhere to continue this conversation either. Gong Lang, you don’t need to apologize to me anymore, nor make any promises. We’re no longer friends.” Huo Youqing’s words were clear—so clear that even if Gong Lang wanted to pretend he didn’t hear, he couldn’t.
Huo Youqing glanced at his arm, which was still being held. “Let go of me.”
Gong Lang’s lips trembled slightly. His expression shifted from shock and hurt to stubbornness. “I won’t!” He spoke in a low voice, as if telling himself rather than Huo Youqing, “I can’t let go!”
He stared intensely at Huo Youqing. “I only made one mistake. Give me another chance, Youyou. We’re best friends, aren’t we? Please forgive me this once.”
Gong Lang thought he had already lowered himself enough. Who else would do what he did? After kissing the person he liked, he had apologized for ten consecutive days. When the other person returned from abroad, he even arrived at the airport two hours early.
But the person he liked merely smiled—a smile filled with mockery. “Fine, I’ll give you a chance if you kneel right here.”
Gong Lang’s face changed instantly, but he tried to maintain some dignity by joking, “Are you asking me to propose?”
“No, I’m asking you to kneel on both knees and apologize.” Huo Youqing successfully withdrew his hand this time. He glanced at Gong Lang for a few seconds, then smiled again and walked away.
After walking about ten steps, he spotted his cousin, who had come to pick him up. It was clear that his cousin had been there for a while. When he caught Huo Youqing’s gaze, he awkwardly averted his eyes. As Huo Youqing approached, his cousin smiled and said, “Youyou, you’re here.”
“Yeah.”
Seeing that Huo Youqing didn’t want to linger at the airport, his cousin walked alongside him for a while but couldn’t hold back his curiosity. “What happened between you and Gong Lang?”
“You’ve been here for a while, haven’t you?” Huo Youqing asked instead of answering.
His cousin hesitated, then said, “Well, he asked me for help. He said he made you mad and wanted to apologize, so I gave him some space.”
Huo Youqing remembered that his cousin, back when they were 18, had always had a good impression of Gong Lang. Looking at him now, he still had that naïve, sweet expression.
Their uncle and aunt usually respected both of them, allowing them to pursue what they wanted to do. So, even though his cousin had graduated several years ago, he never really learned the ropes of the family business. That’s why, when their uncle and aunt passed away, his cousin struggled to support the company. At the time, Huo Youqing hadn’t been able to help.
Now that he had regained his memory, not only did he want to save their uncle and aunt, but he also wanted to help his cousin rise to the occasion earlier, even if his methods might seem a bit harsh.
“He kissed me. Bit me.” Huo Youqing pointed to his neck. “Left a lot of marks here.”
His cousin was stunned for a moment. When he snapped out of it, he cursed and turned around, rolling up his sleeves, furious, heading toward Gong Lang. Huo Youqing quickly stopped him. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to beat that b*stard to death!” His cousin was so angry that Huo Youqing almost couldn’t hold him back. He had to raise his voice to block his cousin’s path. “Cousin! I know you care about me and want to avenge me, but if you go hit him now, are you trying to get yourself arrested? Besides, I really hate people who only solve problems with violence.”
A few short sentences made his cousin pause, though he was still fuming and grew more frustrated because he had no outlet for his anger.
“Let’s just go home.” Huo held his cousin’s hand and walked forward, step by step.
Before getting in the car, he looked back. More and more travelers were streaming out of the airport, but Gong Lang, who had been calling and texting him non-stop, had not chased after him. This result was expected.
Perhaps treating Gong Lang this way in this timeline wasn’t entirely fair, but what about his own fairness? No one had ever given him any.
He had once explained to Gong Lang and Qiu Wenfei that he hadn’t done those things to hurt Dai Yixin, but none of them believed him.
With that thought, Huo Youqing withdrew his gaze.
In the car, his cousin couldn’t wait to ask, “Did you go to my parents’ place because of this?”
Huo Youqing didn’t deny it.
His cousin slammed the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If I’d known, if I’d known, that b*stard wouldn’t have dared show his face in front of you today.”
“Cousin,” Huo Youqing called out softly, “hitting people won’t solve the problem. Gong Lang’s family is more powerful than ours.”
His cousin frowned. “So what? He’s the one who bullied you. What else could he do?”
“First, hitting people doesn’t solve the problem. Second, cousin, if someone were to bully Uncle, Aunt, or me, would you be able to protect us in a way other than violence?”
“I…” His cousin fell silent. He had always thought that if someone bullied Huo Youqing, he could at least tell his father. But if someone dared to bully even his father, what could he do then?
Huo Youqing stared at the road ahead and muttered softly, “So, in the end, you still need to become stronger. Only by being capable can you protect the people you care about.”
***
After returning to the country, Huo Youqing went back to school for classes, as he had already missed more than ten days. Inevitably, returning to school meant running into Qiu Wenfei.
Qiu Wenfei had always been a strange person in Huo Youqing’s memory. Sometimes, he would notice Qiu Wenfei’s excessive enthusiasm or feel the weight of Qiu Wenfei’s prolonged gaze on him. But he never quite understood Qiu Wenfei, not even after Qiu Wenfei became Dai Yixin’s lackey and his attitude abruptly shifted.
“Youqing, you’re back!”
Unfortunately, Huo Youqing returned to his dorm at the same time as Qiu Wenfei, and it was just the two of them there. Huo Youqing gave him a cold glance and walked to his own bed, having already decided to apply for a dorm change.
As soon as he placed his luggage down, Qiu Wenfei spoke again.
“I couldn’t reach you for a while. Are you okay?”
Huo Youqing, with his back to Qiu Wenfei, made a sound that could be interpreted as a response, though it was more indifferent than engaged. His cold demeanor didn’t deter Qiu Wenfei, who stepped closer—though not too close, showing some restraint compared to Gong Lang.
Qiu Wenfei first scanned Huo Youqing’s face, seemingly checking his state, then clenched his phone tightly before finally speaking, “I have something important to tell you. Some time ago, I received a private message on the school forum. The person knew I was your roommate and wanted to buy information about you with money.”
Qiu Wenfei expected Huo Youqing to be startled or at least surprised. But to his shock, Huo Youqing only paused for a moment before continuing what he was doing, without any significant reaction.
Feeling anxious, Qiu Wenfei thought Huo Youqing, this sheltered young master, wasn’t fully grasping the gravity of the situation. “At first, I thought that person might just be one of your admirers, like others at school, interested in your hobbies or something. But that wasn’t the case. The person somehow managed to take photos of us when we went to the hotel. Youqing, I think you’re being stalked by some kind of creep.”
Only then did Huo Youqing finally turn to look at him.
“Did you make any deals with this so-called creep?”
Qiu Wenfei’s expression changed slightly. He didn’t dare admit it, but he couldn’t outright deny it either. Huo Youqing’s sharp gaze left no room for misunderstanding. Unlike Qiu Wenfei, who was almost collapsing under pressure, Huo Youqing remained calm, his voice flat. “I have no interest in what deals you may have made, but don’t do anything like that again.”
Qiu Wenfei nodded awkwardly, eager to explain himself. “I never told him anything significant. There was just that one time when the power went out in the dorm and you and Gong Lang went out. I told him you were staying at a hotel.”
That statement suddenly connected a lot of things for Huo Youqing.
No wonder he had received Dai Yixin’s letter at the hotel.
Perhaps Dai Yixin wasn’t only getting information from Qiu Wenfei but from others as well. A question popped into Huo’s mind: He had always assumed that Dai Yixin fell for him at first sight, or at least only became infatuated after he went to M Country during winter break when he was eighteen.
But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Dai Yixin had been studying abroad, yet had his eye on Huo Youqing, who spent most of his time in China. He went out of his way to send letters and kept close tabs on Huo Youqing’s whereabouts through other people.
When exactly did Dai Yixin first notice him?
The answer to this question soon arrived. Just a few days after Huo Youqing returned to the country, Dai Yixin sent him a text, saying he was coming to visit and was getting ready to board a plane.
Upon receiving the message, Huo Youqing immediately called back, only to hear that the phone was turned off.
Dai Yixin’s intentions were obvious—he was avoiding Huo Youqing’s potential rejection by informing him just before boarding. He was good at playing with words. Huo Youqing had told him that if he wanted to visit, he had to inform him first. So, Dai Yixin sent the message right before taking off.
Since the call didn’t go through, Huo Youqing let the matter drop until he received a second message from Dai Yixin that evening.
[Dai Yixin: Youqing, I’m outside your school. Can I come see you?]
It was the only message he sent, with no follow-ups.
Huo Youqing waited in the dorm for a full hour before finally getting up to head outside. As he left, one of his roommates asked, “Where are you going this late?”
“Just to take a walk on the track.”
Qiu Wenfei, sitting at his desk, glanced up. Since that day, Huo Youqing had completely ignored him, and Qiu Wenfei knew Huo Youqing had already applied for a dorm transfer, though it hadn’t been approved yet.
At the school gate, Huo Youqing scanned the surroundings until he spotted Dai Yixin standing under a tall camphor tree. When Dai Yixin saw him, he took a few steps forward but hesitated, stopping in place.
Seeing this, Huo Youqing decided to walk over himself. The school gate was crowded with students, but where they stood was dimly lit. It was dark enough that their conversation wouldn’t draw much attention.
“Why are you here all of a sudden?” Huo Youqing noted that Dai Yixin had even brought a suitcase with him.
Dai Yixin stared at Huo Youqing without blinking, making him frown slightly. Only then did Dai Yuan softly say, “I missed you.”
Huo Youqing was speechless for a moment. “I’ve only been back for a few days.”
“91 hours and 45 minutes,” Dai Yixin quickly interjected.
Huo Youqing fell silent for a few seconds, then glanced at his phone. “It’s getting late. I’ll take you to a hotel to check in.”
Because of Qiu Wenfei’s warning, Huo Youqing deliberately chose to take Dai Yixin to the same hotel he had stayed at the night before leaving for M Country. Dai Yixin followed closely behind, seemingly unfamiliar with the place.
Once they were in the room, Dai Yixin eagerly tried to hug Huo Youqing, but Huo Youqing, who had anticipated this, pushed him away.
“You don’t have permission to hug me,” Huo Youqing said, his gaze scrutinizing.
Dai Yuan’s expression dimmed, but when he heard Huo Youqing say he had something to ask, he quickly nodded in agreement.
“Have you been in contact with Qiu Wenfei?” Huo Youqing asked. He immediately noticed Dai Yixin’s hesitation and added, “You know I don’t like being lied to.”
Because of that, Dai Yixin let out a soft hum in response.
Even though Huo Youqing had already guessed it was Dai Yixin, the truth still disgusted him when it was laid bare. For a brief moment, he couldn’t help but look at Dai Yixin with intense disdain, though he didn’t realize it. But Dai Yixin did.
Dai Yuan’s long, thick eyelashes fluttered lightly, like the delicate wings of a butterfly, giving off a fragile beauty. He met Huo Youqing’s hateful gaze but didn’t move.
After about two minutes, Huo Youqing’s expression changed. He crooked his finger at Dai Yixin. That small gesture made Dai Yuan almost immediately step closer, as if he couldn’t control himself, eager to hug Huo Youqing.
This time, Huo Youqing didn’t refuse. He allowed Dai Yixin to embrace him. “Don’t do this kind of thing again. I don’t like being watched.”
The young man hugging him didn’t say anything, most likely unwilling to agree.
Ignoring that, Huo Youqing continued, “This isn’t how you pursue someone. What you’re doing just makes me feel scared. Think about it: if I liked you and tried to pursue you by bribing your roommates and classmates, watching your every move—would you be happy?”
“I’m very happy,” Dai Yixin suddenly pressed his forehead against Huo’s, and their noses bumped. Before Huo Youqing could push him away, Dai Yixin’s eyes sparkled as he repeated, “I’m very happy.”
Huo Youqing: “…”
How could he have forgotten that Dai Yixin was a lunatic?
Feeling slightly frustrated, Huo Youqing said, “What if it wasn’t me, but someone else?” He suddenly thought of Gong Lang and Qiu Wenfei, who had both grown fond of Dai Yixin later. “What if it was Gong Lang? You know who he is—don’t lie. If he pursued and spied on you, would you still be happy?”
Huo didn’t need to wait for Dai Yixin’s answer; he could already read it in his expression. A flash of murderous intent passed through Dai Yixin’s eyes. Seeing this, Huo Youqing patted Dai Yixin’s face. “So, now you understand how I feel?”
The murderous intent in Dai Yixin’s eyes faded, replaced by a sense of grievance. “I just want to know more about you.”
Huo Youqing managed to pull himself out of the tight embrace, gaining a bit of personal space. “There are many ways to get to know someone. One way is by asking me directly, not by buying information from others. Dai Yixin, if you really like me, you should pursue me in a way that I like, right?”
His tone was patient, almost coaxing.
It took Dai Yixin a long time to hum in agreement. Hearing this, Huo Youqing continued, “So, stop using those spies of yours. If I find out you’re still watching me, I’ll never speak to you again.”
Though it was just a threat, Dai Yixin seemed to take it seriously. He hugged Huo Youqing even tighter, and as if that wasn’t enough, he suddenly lifted him off the ground. Huo Youqing, now suspended in the air, immediately struggled. “Dai Yixin! I just told you—are you going crazy again?”
Ignoring him, Dai Yixin carried Huo Youqing to the bed and did something that instantly made Huo Youqing’s cheeks flush bright red.
He buried his face in Huo Youqing’s stomach, like someone snuggling a cat, his mouth and nose sinking into Huo Youqing’s soft skin.
