NH chapter 018

Chapter 18: Hard to Comfort

Behind the finish line platform, under everyone’s gaze, the notorious bully at school was pinned to the wall, his hands restrained, appearing so obedient, small, and helpless.

Huo Ye did not struggle at all, his body relaxed. When he looked up at others with his eyes, the outer corners of his eyes had a soft curve, appearing completely devoid of sharpness, his expression serious and focused.

Such a gaze made Shen Tingyu have an illusion that in this moment, the one who had subdued the bully actually resembled the bully himself more than the bully did.

Huo Ye glanced at his restrained hands. Shen Tingyu’s fingers were long enough to grip his wrist bones — and despite Huo Ye’s larger physique, Shen Tingyu could actually pull off this difficult move using just one hand. It was truly incredible.

Looking up again, Shen Tingyu’s other hand pressed aggressively against his ear, and Huo Ye thought that if he were a little shorter, this hand would probably rest on top of his head.

So, following that question, “Did you do it on purpose?” Huo Ye did not let Shen Tingyu off the hook, saying, “Excuse me, is this wall slam?”

Shen Tingyu: “…”

“Have you watched too many idol dramas?” After saying that, Huo Ye realized something was off. “No, wait, you’re a guy, why are you watching idol dramas?”

Huo Ye let out a soft “Ah,” “My mom watches them.”

“—Well, according to the script, the female lead should be feeling shy right now.” After speaking, he lowered his eyes as if he was truly contemplating. Seconds later, Huo Ye seemed to have gathered his thoughts and raised his eyes with a soft voice, “Young Master, you just got my clothes wet, was it on purpose, or were you clumsily doing it on purpose?”

Not only was Huo Ye’s character completely unrelated to that of a thug, but there was also a stark contrast between his voice and appearance. Although his tone was deep, it was not the type commonly found among boys.

His enunciation was slow, his voice not too low, and it was actually quite suitable for ASMR-type sleep audio.

With this kind of voice…

It’s easy to make someone blush and their heart race.

Suddenly feeling warm in his nose, Shen Tingyu quickly withdrew his hand, covering his nose and taking a big step back, stunned and even a bit flustered.

Huo Ye’s mouth was too powerful.

Shen Tingyu couldn’t stand half a word; he would get riled up in an instant.

Finally released, Huo Ye, who usually employed a soft approach, felt no guilt about his underhanded method of teasing a teenage boy. After all, he was already a mature nineteen-year-old man; men should be a little underhanded.

Huo Ye lifted the hem of his shirt without minding. It’s sunny today, perfectly fine to enjoy the sun. He got up, saying, “Shall we go? I have no projects today, so I can go home early.”

After taking a few steps outside, he found Shen Tingyu hadn’t followed. Huo Ye stopped and turned around to see him still standing there as if he had ripened.

Huo Ye couldn’t help but laugh softly, “Does covering your face actually work?” He paused meaningfully, “Young Master, even your ears are red.”

“……Get lost, it’s hot, I’m irritated.”

Having grumpily shoved past him, Shen Tingyu walked against the crowd of excited people on the playground back to the classroom. Huo Ye fell back a short distance behind him, like a little tail that couldn’t be shaken off.

Back in the classroom, Huo Ye had just sat down next to Shen Tingyu when Shen Tingyu stood up again. Huo Ye asked, “Where to?”

“To the restroom, I’ll be right back.” Shen Tingyu spoke impatiently.

Huo Ye responded with an “Oh.”

His phone vibrated — a message from the pinned group chat. Huo Ye hadn’t checked it for half a day, and now there were over 99 new messages.

One after another, they were trivial things, as if every mundane detail needed to be shared, as if everyone was expected to award them for it.

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

#sending image#

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

#sending image#

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

#sending image#

…

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

Look at my boss’s shining moment; when others run 100 meters, their flesh shakes everywhere, their features flying around, torn straight from a mountain and sea classic. Only my boss can look this handsome.

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

Check out this composition, this lighting, professional enough, right?

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

Damn, the more I look, the handsomer he gets!

…

【Pull Your Bunny Tail_Xia Zhiyao】:

Hey, not bad, saved it!

【Pull Your Bunny Tail_Xia Zhiyao】:

Wait, Huo Qi, have you been getting beauty treatment without us? I go at least three times a month, but my skin isn’t as tight as yours, what the heck.

【Gugu_Bai Feiyu】:

Huo Qi? What is that? Hahahaha!

【Woohoo_Wen Shiyi】:

Looks like another failed name change.

…

【007_Huo Ye】:

Spreading rumors about me again?

【007_Huo Ye】:

Can the group leader just give her a plane ticket and kick her out?

…

Scrolling up through the group chat, there were many photos taken in various corners of Lanjing Private High School #2; friends are like another pair of eyes seeing the world, they’re everywhere.

Almost every project’s competition situation was captured, and as Huo Ye scrolled down, it started as a casual glance but suddenly felt wrong.

Perhaps in every grade, in every school, there are a few eye-catching individuals who thrive on attention, able to catch eyes wherever they go. Xiong Ying was one, Liao Zheng also fit into this category.

The list of sports events was public; it was easy to see who participated in what. Huo Ye had issues with Liao Zheng, so while reading the list, he couldn’t help but pay attention.

It wasn’t a cliché encounter where they ended up in the same competition, but Huo Ye remembered Liao Zheng had registered fully. Logically, with so many pictures, it shouldn’t be possible for him to miss any, unless he had someone else take his place or skipped out on participating.

But after thinking back, he did see Liao Zheng at the opening ceremony today. He was at school but didn’t take part in the competition. Where could this guy have gone? This was increasingly suspicious.

At this moment, the time on Huo Ye’s phone flipped to four o’clock in the afternoon.

It had been ten minutes since Shen Tingyu left, and still no sign of him returning to the classroom.

Generally speaking, boys don’t take this long in restrooms.

Huo Ye stuffed his phone in his pocket, his expression serious as he stood up and headed towards the nearest restroom. After searching around without finding him, he suddenly had a spark of inspiration and went to the restroom closer to Class 2 of Year 2.

Just as he was about to enter, suddenly, a hand reached around the corner, covering his mouth and nose and dragging him into the shadows.

The hand was wide, warm, and extraordinarily strong, seemingly just washed, still carrying a hint of moisture — it was enough to control a tall person like Huo Ye, making one feel a rush of fear.

Huo Ye had fought countless times since he was little; his muscles had developed a memory of reflex. Before his brain could catch up, his body had reacted instinctively with an elbow strike. Upon hearing a familiar muffled grunt, he nearly sent the person flying over his shoulder.

At that moment, Huo Ye thought, oh no, now it was hard to comfort him.

Shen Tingyu was struck in the right abdomen, bending in pain. Even before bending all the way down, Huo Ye had grabbed his arm and executed half an over-the-shoulder throw.

Of course, he didn’t actually throw him; Shen Tingyu’s chest firmly slammed against Huo Ye’s back.

Seventeen, eighteen-year-old boys typically have high body temperatures, so even though Shen Tingyu always maintained an unfriendly and aloof beautiful face, his body remained sincere, pressing closely against Huo Ye’s back. Huo Ye could feel his fast heartbeat, each thump like a drum, so near, so clear.

In this position where their bodies were pressed together, from an outsider’s perspective, it looked like Shen Tingyu was embracing Huo Ye, but only Huo Ye knew he had gotten himself into big trouble, like a peasant fighting a landlord.

Shen Tingyu’s forehead collided with Huo Ye’s neck, and after a moment, he struggled to lift his gaze, gritting his teeth and whispering, “Did I trigger your reflex?”

Huo Ye chuckled awkwardly, allowing him to remain close without daring to move.

“Ugh, damn…” Shen Tingyu pushed him away, pressing down on his right abdomen where he was struck, unable to straighten up for half a day, his face pale as he shot a glare at Huo Ye, utterly furious.

Huo Ye wanted to help, but was shoved away. Shen Tingyu, clearly in pain, still insisted on maintaining a dignified posture.

With a cold smirk, Shen Tingyu said, “You’re quite impressive. Why not smoothly pull off a slick combo to take me away instead?”

Huo Ye chuckled twice, shaking his head, “That won’t do; you still have to pay me. I’ve got a family depending on me for food, Young Master, please don’t fire me.”

“What else aren’t you afraid of?”

“There is.” Huo Ye replied playfully, “I’m afraid of dying. My family is waiting to eat, Young Master, please don’t fire me.”

Shen Tingyu glared at him for several seconds, finally calming down and pulling Huo Ye back in front of him.

Without waiting for Huo Ye to ask, Shen Tingyu said in a low voice, “I wasn’t trying to mess with you back there, I wanted you to not startle the snake in the grass.”

“Startle the snake in the grass?”

Huo Ye’s eyelids twitched, falling silent. Sure enough, he heard commotion coming from the adjacent restroom, sounding like a conversation between a boy and a girl.

Whispers, not loud, but occasionally accompanied by slight sobbing. This immediately reminded Huo Ye of Gao Xiaoyuan that day — no, it didn’t seem to be Gao Xiaoyuan. Gao Xiaoyuan didn’t have such a delicate voice; it was another girl’s voice.

She was, of course, not Gao Xiaoyuan, but in someone’s eyes, wasn’t she another Gao Xiaoyuan?

The moment of Huo Ye’s surprise and contemplation was precisely captured by Shen Tingyu. He coldly said, “Huo Ye, you are indeed hiding something from me. What exactly happened that day in the equipment room?”

“…It was exactly what you heard.” Huo Ye took out his phone, opened the chat box with Xiong Ying, and began tapping away.

【007_Huo Ye】:

Do you know which class Gao Xiaoyuan is in?

【007_Huo Ye】:

She’s in our grade, probably in the west area. A girl.

…

His phone buzzed almost instantly with a reply.

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

What the hell???

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

Boss, you weren’t hacked, right? It’s surprising you have an interest in a girl these days?

…

【AAA Eagle-like Man_Xiong Ying】:

In three minutes, I’ll get you all the info on this girl!