There’s a psycho who has a crush on me

Chapter 40

When students asked about homework during their school days, there were generally two possible reasons: first, they genuinely needed help with their assignments, or second, they used homework as an excuse to get closer to someone they liked.

Everyone tacitly understood this unspoken rule.

The girl who approached Luo Changzhou about homework now clearly fell into the second category.

During breaks, Luo Changzhou either worked on assignments or read books.

Occasionally, when he went to the cafeteria to buy snacks, he always went with Yu Pei and Gu Zheng.

Therefore, other students found no opportunity to approach him, nor could they gradually cultivate any emotional connection with him.

Why didn’t anyone confess directly?

Because Luo Changzhou’s classic rejection of Zhu Yueming still echoed in everyone’s memory—he had called it “drinking poison to quench thirst.” Nobody wanted to become the second person to drink that poison, so they could only resort to this roundabout approach of asking about homework.

“Ahem, ahem, ahem.”

Before Luo Changzhou could respond, Gu Zheng grew restless in his seat behind them. He cleared his throat loudly, then stared at Luo Changzhou, waiting to see how he would answer.

Luo Changzhou raised his eyebrows slightly, then pulled his homework out directly. He handed it to the girl, saying, “I’ve written detailed solution processes for the problems you’re asking about. You can take a look at them.”

All of Luo Changzhou’s homework contained very detailed problem-solving steps, which he had prepared specifically for Yu Pei’s benefit.

After the girl received the test paper and glanced at it, she discovered this was indeed true.

However, she felt reluctant to leave just like that, so she said, “But there are still some steps I don’t quite understand.”

Even Yu Pei, whose foundation was so poor, could understand these solutions. This girl’s academic performance in class wasn’t bad at all, so how could she possibly not understand?

Nevertheless, since they were classmates, refusing too harshly wouldn’t be appropriate.

Therefore, Luo Changzhou said directly, “Then you should ask the teacher. I probably won’t be convenient to teach classmates homework at close range anymore. My boyfriend would be upset if he found out.”

Hearing this, Gu Zheng finally smiled, propping his chin on his hand as he leaned against the wall. He thought Luo Changzhou’s response was perfect. By revealing that he had a boyfriend, no more girls would approach him.

When Luo Changzhou made this statement, all the surrounding classmates erupted into chaos.

After all, he had even rejected Zhu Yueming, so everyone assumed he was the type of person who wouldn’t date anyone. How could he suddenly have a boyfriend after just a few weeks?

The girl who had come to ask questions stood there stunned. She asked in bewilderment, “But didn’t you say… drinking poison to quench thirst?”

Luo Changzhou raised his eyebrows and replied, “Because she wasn’t my boyfriend. For my boyfriend, I’m not poison.”

“Then what are you?” The girl asked blankly.

With a completely serious expression and without blushing or showing any embarrassment, Luo Changzhou said, “I’m honey.”

Yu Pei couldn’t help but laugh when he heard Luo Changzhou’s words.

Seeing Yu Pei’s laughter, Luo Changzhou deliberately nudged him gently with his elbow and asked, “Don’t you think so, Ah Pei?”

Although everyone found it somewhat strange that this question was directed at Yu Pei, they figured it made sense since he was Luo Changzhou’s good friend.

Yu Pei naturally went along with Luo Changzhou’s words, nodding repeatedly, “Mm-hmm, yes, that’s right.”

The girl had no choice but to take the borrowed homework and leave.

Having witnessed the entire performance, Gu Zheng felt that his worries had been unnecessary. And as he watched Yu Pei and Luo Changzhou exchange smiles, he felt completely satisfied, having consumed a full serving of this sweet display.

Luo Changzhou protected his privacy very well. Not many people knew his contact information. Setting aside others, Tan Qiming had added him on QQ, yet he hadn’t noticed any signs of when Luo Changzhou had started dating.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, “Changzhou, when did you and your boyfriend get together?”

“Just yesterday.” Luo Changzhou answered.

Tan Qiming asked again, “Is he from our school?”

Luo Changzhou didn’t answer this question directly. Instead, he said, “Regardless of university or the future, we’ll be together.”

“You’re planning to take university entrance exams for the same university?” Hearing this, Tan Qiming assumed Luo Changzhou and his boyfriend were in a long-distance relationship.

Luo Changzhou replied, “Yes.”

Tan Qiming thought that anyone who could test into the same university as Luo Changzhou must also be an academic genius like him.

However, only Yu Pei knew that given his own grades, it would be very difficult for him to test into the same university as Luo Changzhou.

After Tan Qiming turned his head back around, he called out to Luo Changzhou quietly, “Changzhou…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Which university do you want to apply to in the future?” He decided to ask first, so he could have some idea in his heart.

Luo Changzhou asked him in return, “Which university do you want to apply to?”

Yu Pei had actually never seriously considered this question before. His previous academic performance had been so poor that he had simply thought he would go wherever he could get accepted.

However, after getting together with Luo Changzhou, he began wanting to apply to schools near Luo Changzhou, so they could continue being together. Therefore, he said, “My studies are very poor. I probably won’t be able to attend the same university as you.”

“How could there be no way?” Luo Changzhou said to him gently, “You’re an art student, so the cultural score requirements are lower than ours. Besides, it’s only the first semester of senior year now. Your studies aren’t beyond improvement.”

Yu Pei was stunned, but still lacked confidence, “But…”

Luo Changzhou asked him, “Do you like Nancheng?”

Yu Pei nodded. Nancheng was his hometown, how could he not like it here?

“Then let’s attend university in Nancheng, okay?” Luo Changzhou spoke to Yu Pei in a consulting tone, “It won’t be too far from your home. If you don’t want to live on campus, we can also commute. During holidays, it would be more convenient for you to go home and visit your big brother.”

Yu Pei had thought about all these issues that Luo Changzhou mentioned. In fact, long ago, he had planned exactly this, and that was to find an ordinary university in Nancheng, study there quietly, then open his own art studio or become a teacher at Teacher Bai’s studio, living out a plain and quiet life.

He had no grand ambitions or dreams. Like a liter of water without shape, he would take on whatever form the container held.

But that was all in the past.

Now that Luo Changzhou had appeared, he had to consider Luo Changzhou’s future.

Luo Changzhou’s academic performance was so excellent that he might be able to test into a top university in the imperial capital. Although Nancheng also had first-tier universities and national key universities, they still couldn’t compare to those in the imperial capital.

In the end, he could only lower his eyes and say softly, “But the universities here in Nancheng aren’t good enough.”

Seeing Yu Pei lower his head, Luo Changzhou smiled. He leaned on the desk and looked into his eyes, saying, “But I’m not planning to become some kind of academic research scientist. My family still has mountains waiting for me to inherit. I need to stay here.”

Yu Pei was amused by his words. He looked up at Luo Changzhou, whose face was half-pressed against his arm, but his deep and gentle blue eyes were filled entirely with his reflection.

He hesitated for a moment, remembering how others had always made decisions for him since childhood. No one had ever asked for his opinion. This was probably the first time in his life that he would make a decision about his own future path.

He asked Luo Changzhou, “Then Changzhou, do you really want to apply to universities here?”

“Yes. Our whole family has moved to Nancheng. Why would I want to test back there? And—” Luo Changzhou paused, then reached under the desk with his other hand to gently hook Yu Pei’s pinky finger, holding it tightly, “I want to attend the same university as you. Wherever you want to go to university, I’ll accompany you.”

Yu Pei felt the warmth coming from his pinky finger. His eyes felt somewhat sore and stinging. Looking into Luo Changzhou’s eyes, he said in a slightly hoarse voice, “Alright, then let’s take the entrance exam for Nancheng University together.”

Nancheng University was the best university in Nancheng, but it also had art programs and recruited a group of art students every year. He decided that no matter how difficult it would be, he would test into this place together with Luo Changzhou.

However, to test into this university, he would have to pick up his paintbrush again.

That evening after returning home, Yu Pei got up from the dinner table after finishing his food and walked toward the art studio with considerable solemnity.

And seeing his dazed expression, Gu Zheng asked him, “Ah Pei, what are you going to do?”

Yu Pei: “I’m going to the art studio.”

“Oh, you’re going to paint. Speaking of which, in the few days I’ve been here, I haven’t seen you go to the art studio to paint—” Gu Zheng initially didn’t react, but halfway through his sentence, he realized that Yu Pei had only said he was going to the art studio, not that he was going to paint.

Previously, whenever he came to play at Yu Pei’s house, except for the days when Yu Pei would accompany him and wouldn’t paint, Yu Pei would unfailingly go to the art studio to paint for long periods every day.

He swallowed the rest of his words and looked at Yu Pei carefully, “Um… Ah Pei, do you want me to come with you?”

“I’m just going to the art studio, not doing anything special.” Yu Pei said with a helpless smile, “I don’t need anyone to accompany me.”

“I’m just bored.” Gu Zheng said with a playful grin as he moved closer to Yu Pei, “I’ll just go in and take a look. I promise not to touch your paintbrushes or paints, and I won’t make a sound.”

Yu Pei smiled and said, “You’ll be even more bored watching me paint.”

Gu Zheng stared into his eyes for a while, confirmed that there was really no trace of reluctance on his face, then said, “Do you really not need me to accompany you?”

“I really don’t need it.” Yu Pei told him.

“Oh my, Ah Pei actually doesn’t want me to accompany him. I’m so sad. Then I’ll go chat with my junior schoolmate online.” Gu Zheng pouted, covered his heart with a pained expression, walked a few steps, then turned back to look at Yu Pei, “If you need anything, Ah Pei, remember to call me.”

Yu Pei nodded and replied, “Mm.”

Only then did Gu Zheng return to his room with reluctant backward glances.

As soon as he got back to his room, he immediately sent a message to Luo Changzhou on QQ: [Changzhou, are you there? I want to ask you something.]

Gu Zheng had gotten Luo Changzhou’s QQ number after school today, originally just planning to have it as a contact method. He hadn’t expected it would come in handy so soon.

After two or three minutes, Luo Changzhou replied: [I’m here. What’s the matter?]

Gu Zheng sent: [I want to ask you, have you ever seen Ah Pei paint?]

[Yes, he draws when he’s daydreaming and not paying attention in class, but it’s not common. However, he drew me a portrait sketch. Do you want to see it?]

Wow, Ah Pei had never drawn him. Gu Zheng suppressed his heartache and typed: [Oh, I don’t want to see it, but if he’s painted, then it’s fine.]

Luo Changzhou asked him: [Why are you suddenly asking about this? What is Ah Pei doing now? I just sent him a message and he didn’t reply immediately.]