Chapter 32
Editor: Princess
Luo Changzhou had never heard Yu Pei mention having a childhood friend before. However, whenever they were together, Yu Pei rarely brought up matters from his past. It seemed as though old memories weren’t worth revisiting for Yu Pei, so he was always careful never to ask about his past when they were together.
He thought they had plenty of time ahead, that he could wait patiently until Yu Pei was willing to tell him. Yet surprisingly, while he waited, a childhood friend suddenly appeared.
Naturally, Luo Changzhou would never express these thoughts to Yu Pei. Instead, he replied casually: [Okay, Ah Pei. See you tomorrow. Good night.] However the emotions that churned within him after he sent this text remained his secret alone.
Luo Changzhou put his phone down, glanced at the few scattered stars and crescent moon hanging in the night sky outside his window, then sighed softly.
The next morning, he habitually tucked a small hot water bag in his pocket and stood beneath the red flame tree, looking toward the parking lot. Unlike usual, his face lacked its customary smile. Almost everyone who passed by could sense the unhappy aura surrounding him.
Three minutes later, he saw the person he was waiting for among the crowded students, along with an unfamiliar face beside him.
He was a tall, handsome young man who looked more mature than the average high school senior. His lips were curved upward at the corners, easily stirring the tender hearts of girls who passed by.
Seeing this, Luo Changzhou put on a smile as well. “Ah Pei.”
“Changzhou!” Yu Pei’s eyes brightened the moment he saw Luo Changzhou. And even though he had already seen him, he couldn’t help but quicken his pace, walking up to him and saying, “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Luo Changzhou replied with a soft laugh, his deep blue eyes filled with tenderness.
However, when he raised his gaze toward Gu Zheng standing beside Yu Pei, that tenderness quickly vanished, although his voice remained gentle: “Is this your childhood friend Gu Zheng you mentioned to me last night?”
While Luo Changzhou was studying Gu Zheng, Gu Zheng was likewise observing him. Being straightforward by nature, even though he found Luo Changzhou’s words slightly odd, he smiled since Luo Changzhou was smiling. “You must be Luo Changzhou. Ah Pei mentions you to me frequently.”
Yu Pei lowered his head slightly when he heard this, a rosy blush spreading across his ears. He hadn’t yet told Gu Zheng about his feelings for Luo Changzhou, but he had previously mentioned Luo Changzhou to Gu Zheng. He had mentioned that there was a new transfer student in their class who was kind to him and had become a good friend.
When Luo Changzhou heard Gu Zheng’s comment, the smile in his eyes finally became genuine, and consequently his attitude toward Gu Zheng improved slightly.
“Really?” He asked mildly.
“Yes, indeed.” Gu Zheng affirmed, completely unaware of Luo Changzhou’s thoughts, foolishly adding, “Let’s go to the classroom now.”
“Mm.” Luo Changzhou acknowledged, then moved beside Yu Pei, gently placing the hot water bag from his pocket into Yu Pei’s hands.
The three walked side by side with Yu Pei in the middle.
They had performed this gesture countless times before, but this time it happened in front of Gu Zheng. Yu Pei inexplicably felt an indescribable shyness, as if Luo Changzhou were doing something incredibly intimate with him.
Nevertheless, Gu Zheng’s attention wasn’t on them at all. Instead, he maintained a roguish smile, grinning at the pretty girls passing by.
Yu Pei could foresee that within days, Gu Zheng would undoubtedly become popular at their school.
“Wow, I didn’t expect Nan Hua to have so many pretty girls.” Gu Zheng finally retracted his gaze as they approached the classroom, saying to Yu Pei who was walking between them. “Southern soil really nurtures softer girls.”
“Huh?” Yu Pei questioned. “Isn’t Hua Cheng nice?”
Gu Zheng’s expression immediately changed. “Not nice at all. You saw what happened yesterday. It was simply terrible.”
“Did you argue with your girlfriend last night?”
“We did more than argue. We broke up.” Gu Zheng shrugged nonchalantly. “She went completely crazy, demanding I pay for her to transfer schools to Nancheng. Damn, if I had that kind of ability, why would I still be in my senior year? I had to practically coat my mouth with honey several times just to persuade my father to agree to my own transfer.”
Although Gu Zheng appeared somewhat like a spoiled rich kid, he was self-aware about his capabilities. While he disliked studying, he admired academic achievers. At school, besides skipping classes, napping, and flirting with girls, he didn’t engage in particularly offensive behavior. Even after being scolded by teachers, he would behave for a few days, attending classes and completing assignments, albeit by copying them. When reprimanded, he never talked back to teachers but would laugh and joke around instead.
Luo Changzhou listened to their conversation silently, and when he heard what Gu Zheng said, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking this Gu Zheng was quite a character.
Yu Pei thought so too. Although he knew Gu Zheng had an extensive dating history, he hadn’t expected him to end relationships so decisively, moreover without appearing upset at all.
He asked him, “But after breaking up… aren’t you sad?”
“Why should I be sad?” Gu Zheng countered. “After breaking up, just move on to the next one, right?”
Perhaps Yu Pei’s question triggered Gu Zheng’s talkative switch because he simply couldn’t stop. He continued rambling: “Look, Ah Pei, what position are we in? Even if we’re poor students, at least we’re handsome. There’s no need to hang yourself on one tree. When you bring this up, I want to punch your head. What kind of person is Qi Weiqiang? If she doesn’t like you, just find someone else to like. There’s no need to dwell on her for so long. Come on, point her out to me. I want to see if she has two extra eyes or another mouth that has made her bewitch you so completely.”
Yu Pei: “…”
For the first time, he felt an urge to stuff a cloth into his childhood friend’s mouth. He deeply regretted pushing Gu Zheng out of the room yesterday. How much better would it have been if he had told him then that he didn’t like Qi Weiqiang but Luo Changzhou instead?
Now, he absolutely didn’t dare look up to see Luo Changzhou’s expression.
Gu Zheng reached the classroom door, peered inside and noticed many female students whom he didn’t recognize. Since Luo Changzhou and Yu Pei lagged several steps behind and hadn’t caught up, he turned to look at them both.
Then he found the two of them staring at him expressionlessly with obviously grim faces, so he began to reconsider whether he had said something wrong: “Um… did I say something wrong? Why are you both looking at me like I’m an idiot?”
Yu Pei remained silent.
While Luo Changzhou took a deep breath so his words wouldn’t sound too clenched when he spoke: “Qi. Wei. Qiang?”
He enunciated slowly, pronouncing each syllable of Qi Weiqiang’s name separately.
“Yes.” Gu Zheng still hadn’t realized what significant revelation he had made. “Changzhou, since you transferred here before me, who exactly is she? Point her out to me.”
Luo Changzhou ignored Gu Zheng’s question, asking Yu Pei who was beside him softly: “Ah Pei, it turns out you like Qi Weiqiang?”
“No—”
Just as Yu Pei opened his mouth to refute, Gu Zheng immediately interjected: “Yes, yes! Ah Pei previously told me he liked this girl called Qi Weiqiang. What’s wrong? Didn’t Ah Pei tell you?”
Both Gu Zheng and Luo Changzhou looked at Yu Pei, waiting for his response.
Yu Pei felt suffocated. He told them, “No! I stopped liking her long ago.”
“Really?” Gu Zheng looked at Yu Pei skeptically. “Why haven’t I heard you mention this before?”
Yu Pei: “…”
“Let’s go into the classroom.” Luo Changzhou didn’t want to hear Qi Weiqiang’s name anymore.
Gu Zheng clearly agreed with Luo Changzhou. As he walked into the classroom, he said, “Hey, I need to find the homeroom teacher first. I want to sit with Ah Pei. Can the teacher arrange for us to switch seats? Ah Pei, who’s your current desk mate?”
Gu Zheng turned to look at Yu Pei.
Subsequently, Luo Changzhou who was standing beside Yu Pei raised his eyebrows slightly and replied emphatically: “It’s me.”
Gu Zheng was stunned by this response for a moment, realizing the situation had become awkward. He thought Luo Changzhou was also Ah Pei’s good friend, they were already sitting together comfortably, so his sudden intrusion might not be appropriate. So he asked Yu Pei: “So Ah Pei, who would you prefer to sit with?”
Yu Pei felt he must have missed checking his fortune calendar before leaving home today because every question from Gu Zheng seemed deadly. After all this chaos, how was he supposed to confess to Luo Changzhou now?
“Changzhou…” Yu Pei answered Gu Zheng wearily.
“Oh, alright then, you two continue sitting together.” Gu Zheng wasn’t upset about not being chosen by his childhood friend. He took it rather well, viewing this as an opportunity for Yu Pei to maintain friendships. Thinking that with his presence, no one would dare bully Yu Pei, he cheerfully added, “Besides, we’re already living together.”
Yu Pei: “…”
Yu Pei was so dazed he didn’t even realize how he managed to sit down.
He also couldn’t understand why he felt so guilty. Nevertheless, he completely avoided facing Luo Changzhou now.
Meanwhile, Luo Changzhou behaved as if he hadn’t heard anything unusual. And like always, he first took their homework to submit, then prepared tea in their white porcelain cups before placing one in front of Yu Pei.
The soft sound of the cup touching the desk brought Yu Pei back to reality. He glanced up at Luo Changzhou and said softly, “Changzhou…”
“Yes?” Luo Changzhou responded, his voice as gentle as usual. “What is it?”
Yu Pei started to speak but didn’t know what to say next. After contemplating, he said: “Changzhou, don’t listen to what Gu Zheng said. I don’t like Qi Weiqiang anymore.”
Oh, so he did like her before. Luo Changzhou thought in his heart.
Nevertheless, he smiled faintly and said, “Mm, I know.”
Now Yu Pei was the one bewildered. He asked Luo Changzhou, “You know?”
“Yes.” Luo Changzhou nodded. “Of course I know.”