NH chapter 016

Chapter 16: Secret Love

The night had not fully descended, and the setting sun was as blood-red.

The orange-red glow poured through the gaps in the window, creating patches on the ground. Countless dust particles danced in the air, giving the afterglow a tangible quality visible to the eye.

With a “click,” Huo Ye lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips. In the shadowy corner of the equipment room, the sparks flickered with a ghostly light, illuminating his nonchalant gaze.

Shen Tingyu took it all in, a smirk curling at the corners of his lips, laced with a hint of cold mockery: “Fighting, smoking, dating… I thought I was just hearing rumors. I didn’t expect you to actually have such guts.”

“Hearing rumors?”

Huo Ye tilted his head to look at him. “So, you’ve been secretly inquiring about me.”

Shen Tingyu: “Who’s inquiring about you?”

“Were they saying I skip classes, cheat, toy with feelings, and have multiple relationships at once?” Huo Ye countered.

Shen Tingyu was taken aback, his pupils narrowing slightly. “You actually have multiple relationships?”

Huo Ye did not confirm or deny, merely blinking twice.

Shen Tingyu immediately realized he had been played again. Indignant, his expression soured as he reached out to grab the cigarette from Huo Ye.

However, Huo Ye had anticipated this, even managing to take another puff before lifting his hand high, while leaning back—

Shen Tingyu missed the grab, but due to inertia, he lost control and lunged at Huo Ye, the fabric rubbing against itself with a rustle. When he regained his senses, he found himself pinning Huo Ye’s hand that held the cigarette, pressing him down onto the sponge mat used for high jumps.

Huo Ye let out a muffled grunt from the weight, his brows furrowing briefly but quickly relaxing, as the burden made his lips lose some color. Yet, gazing into Shen Tingyu’s rebellious phoenix eyes, ripples of gentleness and teasing danced through them.

The two locked eyes.

Shen Tingyu seemed frozen, his body rigid above him.

“…You did it on purpose.” Shen Tingyu ground his teeth.

Despite being underneath and looking at a disadvantage, Huo Ye maintained a calm demeanor, appearing more at ease, almost as if he had the upper hand.

Suddenly, Huo Ye parted his thin lips, exhaling the last puff of smoke he had in his mouth slowly and deliberately onto Shen Tingyu’s face.

Huo Ye stared at his astonished eyes, “What’s it to you?”

The sound hit like a bell, bursting in an instant.

Shen Tingyu snapped back to reality, pushing him away violently, springing up as if encountering a pestilence, standing at a distance.

He didn’t smoke, and no one in his family did either, so he couldn’t stand even the slightest whiff of smoke. Shen Tingyu choked uncontrollably from the exhalation, staring at Huo Ye as if he were some ferocious beast, both frightened and furious, speechless: “You…”

“Huo Ye, why did you secretly inquire about me? I’m clearly right here, and we’ve been desk mates for two months.” Huo Ye half-sat up, his voice still gentle but slightly cold, like ice being tempered.

He had never addressed Shen Tingyu by his full name like this.

No matter how dense Shen Tingyu was, he could hear that Huo Ye seemed to be angry. Stunned, he didn’t have an immediate response. Huo Ye continued, “You still have to hear about me from others while sitting next to me. What is it? Are you secretly in love with me?”

“…”

“…”

Shen Tingyu: “?”

Shen Tingyu felt struck by lightning, the slightest hint of guilt vanished in an instant, the situation seemed utterly absurd, and he even stopped coughing, a mixture of anger and laughter creeping onto his face: “Where do you see…”

Huo Ye got up and tossed the cigarette butt underfoot to extinguish it, striding towards Shen Tingyu without saying a word. “…” His powerful aura was overwhelming, leaving the latter speechless, forced to lean against the wall.

This time, Huo Ye took the initiative to get closer, yet the control still didn’t fall into Shen Tingyu’s hands. He silently stared at Shen Tingyu, his gaze once again that enticing one.

After a moment, he seemed to grasp something substantial, his eyebrows raised with mischievous delight as he leaned closer, softly saying, “Young Master, your breathing is erratic.”

Shen Tingyu: “…”

“Now holding your breath won’t help.”

Shen Tingyu: “Damn.”

Huo Ye straightened up, calmly stating, “You see, based solely on your heart racing when facing me just now, I could easily spread rumors suggesting you’ve secretly loved me for a long time. And you can’t even explain your reaction just now; if I added fuel to the fire, there’s no way you could wash your hands clean even if you jumped into the Yellow River. From now on, you’ll be labeled as a homosexual by me—anything that doesn’t conform to mainstream values will be seen as a crime.”

“So, Shen Tingyu,” Huo Ye said blandly, “you should know, in other people’s eyes, there isn’t a single person who can remain untainted.”

Shen Tingyu was silent for a long time, used to being domineering. For the first time, he felt a significant blow to his body and mind from being so firmly held.

He hadn’t even realized he was being firmly controlled by Huo Ye, his expression twisted as he lowered his gaze, struggling for a moment before softly saying, “I’m wrong.”

Huo Ye instantly melted the previous grievances, able to smile as if nothing had happened, casually patting his shoulder, nodding, “Good! As long as you’re brave enough to admit your mistakes, you’re my good young master. I accept your apology; let’s go, it’s almost too late for training. Oh right, help me pick up the cigarette butt and throw it away, thank you, young master.”

Saying this, he lifted the mat and walked out, only to find Shen Tingyu still standing there at the door. Huo Ye said again, “Why are you just standing there?”

“…Oh.”

Shen Tingyu obediently bent down to pick up the cigarette butt to throw away.

As soon as he bent down, he felt something was off—everything felt wrong. Shen Tingyu shot his head up, his expression as if he wanted to say something.

Huo Ye, fearing he might catch on, quickly said, “Young Master, if you’re going to apologize, you need to have the attitude of making an apology, right? Am I right?”

Shen Tingyu’s mind was in a disarray, “…You’re right.” So he continued bending his treasured waist, dutifully picking up the cigarette butt to throw away.

Huo Ye silently sighed in relief.

Fortunately, he didn’t press further with questions.

As for Gao Xiaoyuan’s situation, it could not be shared with more people for now.