Just from hearing that voice, seeing those hands, and feeling the touch of skin against his, Qin Shu went completely weak.
The person behind him should also be wearing a suit. His jacket wasn’t buttoned, and the dark red tie slipped onto Qin Shu’s shoulder as he leaned forward.
Qin Shu slowly raised his head. What came into view were the lowered long lashes, the crease of double eyelids, and those deep eyes—how could anyone be this good-looking? This was cheating! He was going to lose it again, ahhhhh!
On the game screen, the display lit up again—Qin Shu’s Han Xin was standing still at the fountain, not moving. At this moment, all he could see and think about was Xie Lanzhi, only Xie Lanzhi. How could he still care about the game?
Xie Lanzhi reminded him: “You’ve respawned.”
Qin Shu was still dazed from the surprise of seeing him, and absentmindedly gave an “oh.”
Xie Lanzhi chuckled lightly. “Do you really want me to help? Then let’s go.”
His hands were much bigger than Qin Shu’s, palm covering the back of his hand, guiding his fingers together, pressing the joystick on the screen—as if teaching a child to use chopsticks.
Qin Shu’s fingertips and his face flushed red in an instant. He was being controlled by Xie Lanzhi, and Han Xin was being controlled by him, moving into their jungle. Just then, they caught sight of the half-HP enemy mage taking blue buff. Han Xin unleashed a seamless combo of skills and swiftly took the opponent down.
Qin Shu let out a breath, finally recovering. “Brother, doesn’t it tire you to bend over like this?”
“It’s fine.”
“Then your waist must be really good.”
Xie Lanzhi’s smile was subtle. “Can you not say that in this context?”
Qin Shu blinked blankly. “What context?”
Xie Lanzhi replied instead: “If you don’t want me to be tired, we could play in another way.”
“How would we play?”
Xie Lanzhi’s voice dropped: “You give me your seat.”
“Ah? Then where do I sit?”
“You sit on my lap.”
“!!!” Xie Lanzhi’s tone was light and unreadable—whether he was serious or joking didn’t matter. Either way, Qin Shu couldn’t handle it.
He pictured it: himself sitting on Xie Lanzhi’s lap, Xie Lanzhi teaching him hand-in-hand like now…
Oxygen tank, heart meds, energy drink—somebody bring them all over, ahhh!
He suddenly thought of Hehe from the photography club. If she were here, she would probably have already fainted from the sugar overdose, with people trying to revive her by pinching her philtrum. “Lan-Shu” was just too shippable. He wanted to ship it too! But Xie Lanzhi already had that player he liked, wuwuwu…
Qin Shu was slow to respond, so Xie Lanzhi pressed: “You don’t want to?”
Qin Shu’s lips were dry, and he licked them unconsciously. “No, it’s not that, I do. But… there are a lot of people here.” Not wanting to lose this chance, he quickly added: “Next time, okay?”
Sh*t.
Xie Lanzhi actually cursed in his heart for once. He had only meant to tease Qin Shu, but unexpectedly, the boy’s words had stirred him up so much he almost lost control.
This little flirt really had skills. Next time… what next time? When they’re alone? Wouldn’t it be too much of a waste if all they did was play games?
“Brother?”
Xie Lanzhi released his hand, straightened up, and moved his hand to the collar of Qin Shu’s shirt. “Is anyone sitting across from you?”
“No,” Qin Shu rushed to say, afraid Xie Lanzhi wouldn’t sit there. “I came by myself.”
“Mm.” Xie Lanzhi’s breath and touch finally left Qin Shu, whose tense body relaxed, though he felt a faint sense of loss.
“Go on playing,” Xie Lanzhi said, sitting down opposite him. His gaze traveled slowly from Qin Shu’s brows, down the bridge of his nose, lips, to his waist wrapped in a fitted suit.
His pulse stirred.
He remembered holding Qin Shu’s waist back at the hotel. They had slept in one big bed, far apart, but when Qin Shu nearly fell off, he had caught him in time and pulled him into his arms.
Recalling that sensation, Xie Lanzhi tugged lightly at his tie. Meeting Qin Shu’s eyes, he smiled and said, “Don’t look at me—look at the screen.”
Qin Shu ducked his head in panic, halfheartedly controlling Han Xin in the jungle. Could he say that he had almost been KO’d just by that tie-pulling gesture?
Xie Lanzhi was wearing a suit similar to his: black, with a white shirt, but with the addition of a plain dark red tie. He had to admit, the pairing was clever—the suit made him look even more cold and restrained than usual, but that streak of dark red added a hint of allure.
With a god like that sitting opposite him, how could he possibly still play his game?
Qin Shu typed furiously in chat:
【Han Xin: Bros, my god just came to see me, I’m gonna AFK. (whispers)】
【Daji: ?】
【Galo: What did I do wrong to get force-fed dog food in a game?】
【Cai Wenji: So Han Xin’s a girl? No wonder it took her 45 seconds to clear blue buff.】
【Han Xin: No, I’m a guy ==】
【Cai Wenji: 0.0！】
【Cai Wenji: Everyone surrender! Don’t waste their date time with their god!!!】
Qin Shu pressed surrender—unanimously passed.
“I’m done.”
Xie Lanzhi was a little surprised. “So fast?”
“I’m too trash, my teammates tilted and just FF’d.” Qin Shu said. “Brother, why are you here?”
“My mom’s friend’s daughter is getting married today. And you?”
“The groom’s my brother’s college classmate. My brother couldn’t make it, but sent money, so I came in his place.” Qin Shu’s good mood overflowed, his brows and eyes full of smiles. “Didn’t expect to run into you—this is great.”
“What’s great about it?”
“Just seeing you is great.” Qin Shu silently added in his heart: And you got to see me in a suit too—that’s also great.
Xie Lanzhi laughed. “Finished your milk tea yet?”
“No,” Qin Shu said sheepishly, “I didn’t dare drink while driving. Both cups are in the car. Do you want one?”
Xie Lanzhi glanced at his watch. “The wedding’s about to start. Drink it later.”
Qin Shu smiled. “Later I won’t be able to drink anyway. My brother told me to eat more and ‘get back’ the seventy thousand yuan we gave as a wedding gift.”
Xie Lanzhi: “…”
“Brother,” Qin Shu pointed at Xie Lanzhi’s tie, “your tie looks really good.”
Xie Lanzhi looked down. “My mom picked it.”
“Auntie has great taste.”
Xie Lanzhi glanced at Qin Shu’s collar. “Since it’s rare for you to wear formal clothes, why no tie?”
Qin Shu spoke honestly. “Because I don’t know how. Chu Cheng and Brother Yun don’t know either.”
Xie Lanzhi realized something. “You meant asking me for help before… was this it?”
Qin Shu nodded. “Yes, I want you to help me tie it.”
Xie Lanzhi felt his chest flutter. “Did you bring the tie?”
“It’s in the car. It’s okay if we don’t tie it, right?” Qin Shu looked around. “I see a lot of people didn’t tie theirs either.”
Xie Lanzhi felt like he’d missed out on a billion. “Or… next time?”
Qin Shu’s smile bloomed like a flower. “Sure.”
Next time… there would be a lot they could do together.
Following the directions, they arrived at the outdoor lawn where the wedding was held. Guests had to show invitations at the entrance and register their names.
The person registering Qin Shu was a slightly plump man with glasses. Seeing Qin Shu’s invitation, he exclaimed with surprise, “Oh! You’re Qin Hua’s younger brother, right?”
“Yes, that’s me!”
“I was his college roommate. Just call me Brother Wei.”
Qin Shu’s smile froze. “Brother Wei.”
Brother Wei patted his shoulder. “You’re way cuter than your brother was in college.” He glanced at Xie Lanzhi beside Qin Shu. “Wow, so handsome! Who is this…?”
Qin Shu: “He’s a guest on the bride’s side.”
Xie Lanzhi withdrew the look he had placed on Qin Shu’s shoulder, giving Brother Wei a faint nod in greeting.
“Ah, hello handsome, the bride’s guests register up front.” Brother Wei couldn’t help stealing a few more glances at Xie Lanzhi before turning back to Qin Shu. “Your brother told us—drink them under the table! Maotai, Fenjiu, Erguotou—never bow in front of the King of H*ll!”
Qin Shu had a bad premonition. “No, I’m a bit more cautious. I’ll bow.”
Xie Lanzhi slightly frowned.
Brother Wei laughed heartily. “Don’t chicken out, little brother! Show the spirit your brother had back then!”
After saying goodbye to Brother Wei, Qin Shu chuckled wryly. “I’ve seen people screw over their older brother, but never the younger one.”
“If you can’t drink, don’t,” Xie Lanzhi said. “Find some excuse. They shouldn’t make it too hard on you.”
Qin Shu sighed. “I’ll try.”
The lawn was neatly trimmed, the early spring green of the new grass very pleasant to look at. White chairs were lined up on both sides, each with a balloon tied to it. Flowers and white drapes were everywhere. Guests in formalwear came and went, and a band played romantic background music.
All guest seats were preassigned. Qin Shu went to find the chair marked with Qin Hua’s name.
“Brother, I’ll—”
“Lanzhi!”
Qin Shu looked up. A stunning beauty in a pale blue long dress was walking toward them, the flowing skirt glittering in the sunlight.
She reached Xie Lanzhi’s side and coquettishly said, “My friends are waiting to see you. Where did you run off to just now? You didn’t even reply on WeChat.”
This time, Qin Shu didn’t make a fool of himself. Even Chu Cheng could have guessed who this beauty was. “…Mom?”
Xie Lanzhi’s mother’s eyes widened in surprise, her colored contacts almost popping out. “L-Lanzhi, I think I just heard…”
Xie Lanzhi couldn’t help chuckling. “That’s my mom.”
Qin Shu realized late. Blood rushed to his head, his features burning in embarrassment. He had no face to face this situation. He would give all his pocket money to do a teleport-rewind.
Xie Lanzhi’s mom asked, “Is this your junior?”
“Mm.”
Unable to teleport, Qin Shu had to face cruel reality. “Auntie, hello. I’ve heard about you from my senior. I spoke too quickly just now…” Qin Shu bowed, mortified. “I’m sorry.”
She smiled gently. “It’s fine, really. You’re too polite. You just startled me a bit. If you were a girl, I’d think you were Lanzhi’s girlfriend.”
Qin Shu forced a smile. “You look even younger and prettier than in photos.”
She laughed, “Everyone says that.” “By the way, what’s your name?”
“Qin Shu.”
“Wow, ‘Qin Shu’—so romantic a name.”
Qin Shu scratched his head. “Haha, everyone says that.”
She was amused. “The wedding’s about to start. Are you a guest on the groom’s side?”
“Yes, Auntie. The groom is my brother’s college classmate.”
“Then your seat should be on the left.”
“Okay, thank you, Auntie.” Qin Shu looked at Xie Lanzhi. “Brother, should I go first?”
Xie Lanzhi nodded. “I’ll come find you later.”
Mother and son watched Qin Shu leave. She asked, “Are all your juniors this cute?”
Xie Lanzhi thought of the others. “No, only him.”
She thought she misheard—no way! Her son actually called someone else cute? No way!
Guests gradually took their seats, and at the appointed time, the wedding began. Even the most luxurious wedding followed the same flow: the host’s speech, the groom’s first appearance, thanking guests, expressing his excitement, and then sharing how he met and fell in love with the bride. He even mentioned Qin Hua, saying that if it weren’t for Qin Hua’s encouragement, he wouldn’t have had the courage to confess.
Qin Shu didn’t know the couple, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying the wedding. Especially since the groom and bride were from his university, his seniors. He even recorded several short videos to send to Qin Hua.
As the wedding march BGM started, the bride, dressed in an off-shoulder gown with a long train, holding onto her father’s arm, slowly walked toward the groom. Afterwards, the two exchanged rings, kissed amid the crowd’s cheers, poured champagne together, cut the cake, and finally came the part every single person was waiting for—the throwing of the bouquet.
“Friends who want to get out of being single, where are you—let me see your hands!”
Young men and women cheered and gathered in a circle in front of the stage. Qin Shu looked through the crowd for Xie Lanzhi. He was sitting with his mother in the front row on the right, with no intention of going after the bouquet.
Xie Lanzhi indeed didn’t want to join that kind of excitement. His mother urged him, “Lanzhi, you’re single too, go and grab one.”
Xie Lanzhi said indifferently, “Even if I grab it, it’s useless.”
His mother thought he’d say something like “I don’t want to date,” but when she heard this reply, her eyes lit up. “Then how would it be useful?”
Xie Lanzhi didn’t answer. He looked toward Qin Shu’s direction, but the junior had disappeared—his seat was empty.
At that moment, there was a burst of exclamations from the front. The bride must have thrown the bouquet. Xie Lanzhi didn’t pay attention. He stood up, walked around, still didn’t see Qin Shu. Finding a quiet spot, he sent him a message: [Where are you.]
[Qin Shu (lit. “Love Letter”): Brother, turn around.]
Xie Lanzhi turned. Qin Shu’s face, like the bouquet in his hand, was flushed with red against pale.
Qin Shu smiled and asked, “Brother, do you want to date?”
Xie Lanzhi’s heart pounded violently. “I do.”
“Then, this is for you.” Qin Shu said. “I worked really hard to snatch it.”
Xie Lanzhi looked at him. “Then what about you?”
“Ah?”
“If you give me the bouquet, how will you get out of being single?”
Qin Shu thought for a moment, then said softly, “I… I’m not in a hurry.”
Xie Lanzhi’s Adam’s apple rolled. He was just about to say something when suddenly someone called Qin Shu’s name.
“There you are!” Brother Wei shouted, pulling Qin Shu toward the banquet hall. “Come on, everyone’s waiting for you to fight in your brother’s stead!”
Qin Shu stumbled a step forward, but his other hand was caught by Xie Lanzhi. He looked stunned. “Brother?”
Xie Lanzhi’s voice was slightly cold. “He can walk on his own.”
Brother Wei was dumbfounded. “Huh?”
Realizing his loss of composure, Xie Lanzhi reined himself in a little. “Qin Shu can’t handle alcohol well. Please don’t force him.”
Brother Wei laughed, “Hahaha don’t worry, don’t worry. How could we dare force Qin Hua’s little brother? He’d kill us.”
Inside the banquet hall, guests from the groom’s and bride’s sides still sat separately. Xie Lanzhi absentmindedly dealt with his mother’s group of friends. An aunt struck up a conversation: “Lanzhi, my daughter is a senior in high school this year, she wants to apply to your university. Could you tell her a bit about it?” Without waiting for him to reply, she called her daughter over. “Mengmeng, come, add Brother Lanzhi on WeChat, then you can ask him questions anytime.”
The girl walked over, blushing. She glanced at Xie Lanzhi, and her face got even redder. “Th-this is my WeChat.”
Xie Lanzhi politely said, “I didn’t take the college entrance exam. The bride and groom both went to our university, you’d be better off asking them.”
The girl looked helplessly at her mother. The aunt said awkwardly, “Well… apart from exams, you could chat about other things too.”
Xie Lanzhi stood up. “Sorry, I have something to do. Mom, I’m going first. Hold onto the bouquet for me.”
His mother knew her son hated this kind of thing. She and her husband had been through the same back in the day, so she understood him well. “Go, go. Just don’t go too far.”
Xie Lanzhi went to the groom’s section. At the liveliest table, he spotted Qin Shu. That table was all the groom’s classmates, noisy with drinks, some of them even standing up in excitement. Qin Shu sat quietly, smiling faintly, but his gaze was already hazy.
“Qin Shu.”
Qin Shu stared blankly for two seconds, then slowly turned his face. “Bro…Brother?”
Brother Wei leaned over. “Oh, the handsome guy’s here.”
Xie Lanzhi’s tone carried anger. “How much did you make him drink?”
“Not much, not much,” Brother Wei quickly explained. “One toast from the bride, one from the groom, and three from Qin Hua’s roommates. That’s it, and he’s like this.”
Xie Lanzhi said in a low voice, “He can’t hold his liquor. I’m taking him out.”
“Leaving already?” a girl said. “Let’s all drink one more together, it’s such a rare gathering.”
Brother Wei asked, “Qin Shu, can you still drink?”
Qin Shu opened his mouth, “I…”
“He can’t.” Xie Lanzhi said. “I’ll drink in his place.”
Qin Shu was more drunk than the last time they had barbecue. His mind felt like it was filled with smoke—sometimes clear, sometimes foggy. One moment he saw Xie Lanzhi drinking with his classmates using his cup, the next he was standing in front of Xie’s mother.
“Mom, I’ll take him back to school first.”
“You’ve had drinks too. Let the driver take you.”
“What about you then?”
She blinked and said sweetly, “I’m still going to karaoke with my friends, no hurry. And your dad said he’ll come pick me up, so I’ll wait for him.”
Qin Shu tried to stay sober, hiccuping as he said goodbye to her.
When his consciousness returned again, he was already sitting in the backseat of the car. Xie Lanzhi was right next to him, offering his shoulder. He heard Xie Lanzhi ask, “Feeling sick?”
Qin Shu shook his head. “Brother….”
“I’m here.”
“You still haven’t tied my tie for me.”
Xie Lanzhi laughed. “The wedding’s over, you still want a tie?”
“Yes.” Qin Shu struggled to sit up. “The tie’s… just in the back.”
Xie Lanzhi turned around, and sure enough, saw a black tie.
Qin Shu tugged lightly at Xie Lanzhi’s sleeve. “Brother, help me.”
Xie Lanzhi’s eyes darkened. He looped the tie around Qin Shu’s collar and pulled it across his chest.
Qin Shu lowered his eyes, watching those long, clean fingers cross the tie, loop it, fold it back, and finally pull it tight. He felt as though his own heart was being pulled tight too, leaving him unable to breathe.
He was watching Xie Lanzhi’s hands, but Xie Lanzhi was watching him.
The little junior, tipsy from wine, had eyes glistening with moisture, with a faint flush spreading across the rims and cheeks. His damp lips were red and glistening, like some sweet dessert waiting to be tasted.
In the enclosed space, they were so close—so close that Xie Lanzhi’s fingertips could feel Qin Shu’s scorching breath.
Suppressing the urge to act on his impulses, Xie Lanzhi said softly, “It’s done.”
Qin Shu stared at his tie for a while, then asked, “Why did Brother tie it for me?”
…Looks like he really is quite drunk.
“And why did you block the drinks for me?”
Xie Lanzhi replied, “Because you’re interesting and cute.”
Interesting. Cute.
Qin Shu silently repeated the two words, as though he had thought of something. Carefully, he asked: “Then… have you met someone more interesting and cuter than me?”
Xie Lanzhi froze.
A trace of grievance flashed through Qin Shu’s eyes: “If that’s the case, then what should I do?”
Author’s note:
Ah ah ah ah, it’s here, it’s here! Thank you so much for your support, I’ll keep working hard!
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