Transmigrated as the Campus Heartthrob’s Cannon Fodder Ex-Boyfriend Chapter 12

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For a few seconds, a rare occurrence, Zhou Shirui felt a sense of disarray.

Those overly sincere words felt as if something had struck his heart.

He was usually extremely rational, but at that moment, a stir of emotion welled up inside him as he stared at Le Cheng: “Do you know what that means?”

His voice was slightly cold.

Le Cheng didn’t notice; after a moment’s pause, he smiled and said, “Of course I do. I just want to dance with you, is that not okay?”

Wow, is he really that petty? Is he actually going to say no?

Le Cheng wasn’t quite sure what he meant. After thinking for a moment, he widened his eyes and asked, “You don’t happen to have another dance partner, do you?”

Although the odds were slim, it wasn’t impossible.

Zhou Shirui didn’t say a word; instead, he looked at Le Cheng. He couldn’t tell if he was playing dumb or something else.

Le Cheng stared at him with wide eyes, his thick eyelashes curling slightly. He looked adorable and full of life, like some kind of fluffy little animal.

Zhou Shirui felt a slight flutter of unease.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Le Cheng assumed he’d agreed: “Really? You’re not going to wait for me? You’re actually not going to wait for me?”

He’d originally assumed Zhou Shirui would most likely reject him, but he hadn’t expected Zhou Shirui’s reason for rejecting him to be that he’d already agreed to be with someone else.

Le Cheng couldn’t quite put his finger on why, but perhaps because Zhou Shirui was currently his boyfriend, he’d slipped into that role, and now he really was a little upset.

Silence fell between them. Zhou Shirui furrowed his brow and was about to speak when he heard Le Cheng say in a slightly dejected voice, “Fine, all right, I’m hurt. I’m not going to talk to you right now.”

After saying that, Le Cheng looked up at Zhou Shirui with a glistening gaze.

That glisten might have been Zhou Shirui’s imagination, but he was still moved for a moment. He pursed his lips: “No.”

Le Cheng blinked.

“No one else,” Zhou Shirui explained, half in exasperation. “I haven’t promised anyone else.”

Le Cheng immediately lit up. “Really? Then will you promise me?”

Zhou Shirui shook his head. “I didn’t say that.”

Le Cheng asked, “Then who are you going to promise?”

Zhou Shirui: “No one.”

Le Cheng was stubborn: “There’s definitely someone!”

The question had come full circle. Zhou Shirui paused for a moment, then agreed: “I’ll dance with you.”

Le Cheng’s eyes lit up: “Really? You can’t go back on your word, right?”

As if he didn’t feel it was secure enough, he held out his little finger: “Then let’s make a promise!”

The gesture was childish, but coming from Le Cheng, it made perfect sense.

It wasn’t holding hands; there was nothing suggestive about it, so there was no harm in doing it. Zhou Shirui gazed at his somewhat childlike face, reached out, and said, “Promise.”

After they’d made the promise, Le Cheng beamed, his eyes crinkling with a natural innocence, just like a child who’d just been given candy.

Le Cheng probably didn’t know about that rumor, Zhou Shirui thought.

But did he really not know?

Did he not know, or was he pretending not to know?

Zhou Shirui thought he might know, but he didn’t believe it.

In just a few seconds, he came up with several excuses for Le Cheng.

But he hadn’t fully convinced himself.

Le Cheng was unaware of the twists and turns in Zhou Shirui’s mind; he simply wanted to carry out the plan as intended, and he also harbored a little personal motive, he wanted to see Zhou Shirui in a suit.

The second reason actually carried more weight.

After all, if he just wanted a hug, there were simpler ways, it was just that Le Cheng didn’t want to use them right now.

Because he’d changed his mind.

During the time he’d spent with Zhou Shirui, he’d found him to be level-headed and generous, someone who’d probably make a great friend. He didn’t want to break up with Zhou Shirui in a brutal way.

At least before Zhou Shirui could no longer stand being with him, he didn’t want Zhou Shirui to hate him too much. After all, there’s no benefit in falling out with someone; that way, once they broke up, they could still nod to each other and remain half-friends.

So he didn’t want to use overly aggressive tactics to force Zhou Shirui into a breakup. He could start by trying a hug, taking it step by step, and then find the right moment to suggest a kiss. A homophobic straight guy would naturally find such intimate contact with another man unbearable and would be afraid to bring it up again, leading him to initiate the breakup on his own.

The logic made sense, and Le Cheng thought the plan was perfect.

His mood lifted; he narrowed his eyes and even began humming a tune.

Zhou Shirui recognized it as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

He turned his head to look at Le Cheng, his feelings quite mixed.

Had Le Cheng really fallen for him? Or was Le Cheng truly serious about him? But that wasn’t exactly a solid reasoning, after all, the majority of people didn’t believe the rumors.

Zhou Shirui closed his eyes briefly: “It’s late. Let’s head back.”

Le Cheng: “Okay, but let’s stop by the supermarket first. I want to buy something to eat.”

Zhou Shirui agreed.

After they finished shopping, they arrived at the dorm building. Le Cheng waved goodbye to Zhou Shirui, not forgetting to remind him: “Remember, you promised me!”

Zhou Shirui gave a flat “Mm-hmm” without showing any expression.

By the time Halloween rolled around, a week later, Le Cheng’s application as an artist had been approved. He opened a new shop window, posted some sample artwork, and quickly received his first commission.

After working nonstop for two and a half days, Le Cheng earned 760. He was currently charging much lower rates than before he time-traveled, all to attract traffic. His order backlog quickly stretched into December, and fearing he wouldn’t be able to finish everything, he raised his rates.

Douyin has consistently been producing a hit every other video, so Le Cheng no longer has to worry about making money, he’s now starting to worry about how long he’ll have to keep drawing.

This meant he had absolutely no interest in getting ready for the Halloween party.

When Halloween finally arrived, Tan Xiaobai asked a senior he knew to come help Le Cheng with his makeup.

The senior was very kind and couldn’t stop praising Le Cheng’s fair, delicate features: “I won’t be doing heavy makeup on you today… Hmm, something a little more subtle.”

Le Cheng let her work her magic while feeling a bit dazed. Two hours later, he stood in front of the full-length mirror, tugged at his cape, and looked completely confused: “Senior, what character is this?”

“An original character,” the senior said with a mysterious smile. “I’ve named him the Rose Magician or the Love Scammer.”

She filled him in on the backstory: “The Rose Magician specializes in making love potions. Anyone who sees his face can’t help but fall in love with him, but he flits through a sea of flowers without ever getting his hands dirty.”

“A love con artist,” the senior patted him on the shoulder. “Junior, with a face like yours, you’re perfect for the part!”

Le Cheng felt a bit of a chuckle coming on: “Thanks, senior!”

***

Admission to the gala required a flyer, and once Le Cheng entered, he began searching the venue for someone.

Weaving through the crowd, he soon spotted the person he wanted to see in a corner.

Zhou Shirui was very tall, his head tilted to the side as he spoke to someone with a cool expression. He wore a black suit vest, a white shirt, and a red tie. His hair was styled, and silver-rimmed glasses rested on his high, straight nose. With broad shoulders and long legs, his proportions were on par with a model’s, he was strikingly handsome.

Le Cheng was spellbound for a second, his heart pounding.

This… this was definitely his type.

It was worth the effort he’d gone through to come all this way.

He blinked, an idea forming in his mind, and quietly made his way to the other side.

“Ugh, I didn’t want to come, but they dragged me here to be a laborer…” the guy complained with a wry smile. “Plus, I can’t pull off this outfit! It’s such an embarrassment… Hey, Brother Rui, behind…”

“Hm?” Zhou Shirui lifted his eyelids. Realizing something, he suddenly turned around and, with one hand, precisely grabbed the wrist of the person behind him.

The touch was warm and smooth, like a piece of jade. Zhou Shirui furrowed his brow, let go, and looked slightly startled: “…Le Cheng?”

“Why did you turn around? ” Le Cheng smiled mischievously. “I was just trying to give you a scare.”

As the lips, painted with bright lipstick, moved up and down, Zhou Shirui raised his hand and gently pinched Le Cheng’s chin: “What’s this?”

The sudden touch made Le Cheng pause slightly. Once he caught on, he bared his teeth in a feigned menacing manner: “They’re false teeth! Don’t they look like a vampire’s?”

Zhou Shirui’s gaze drifted downward: jet-black hair, red eye makeup on a fair face, bright red lipstick, and beneath the dark red cape, his waist was outlined so slender it looked as if it could be encircled by a single hand.

Le Cheng looked completely different from his usual self, it was captivating… so… beautiful.

Zhou Shirui pursed his lips, deliberately avoiding eye contact: “Hmm… yeah, you do. What role are you playing?”

“Take a guess,” Le Cheng said eagerly.

Zhou Shirui replied in a flat tone: “A magician?”

“Right! You’re so smart!” Le Cheng nodded. “But I’m playing the Rose Magician, the Love Scammer.”

Zhou Shirui: “The Love Scammer?”

“Mm-hmm.” Le Cheng looked smug. “Love scammer, big bad guy, I’ll trick anyone.”

He looked so adorable and a little silly which was completely at odds with the character he’d summoned. This made Zhou Shirui curve his lips slightly: “Anyone?”

Le Cheng nodded: “Yep.”

His eyes crinkled with a smile. “So, Senior Zhou, do you want to let me trick you?”