TLDMDTBS Chapter 19

Chapter 19

When Gu Xiuyi returned home, Ji Ruan was on a video call with Han Xiaolin. On the table was a notebook, and the large red letters of the title struck Gu Xiuyi’s eyes directly—

Essential Items List for Living on Campus!

This line was too big, too red, and too glaring, causing Gu Xiuyi to feel dizzy for a moment.

The culprit, Ji Ruan, was sitting in a chair, dressed in pajamas, with messy hair and blinking his big eyes in confusion.

“Why are you back?”

Ji Ruan stood up and walked over to Gu Xiuyi, poking his arm with a finger, as if confirming that the person before him was real.

Wow, such hard muscles, what a great figure.

Gu Xiuyi caught hold of Ji Ruan’s soft finger and pushed it away: “Are you going to live on campus?”

His expression and tone were the same as usual, and Ji Ruan didn’t sense anything special. He beamed a bright smile: “Yeah.”

“……”

He wondered what unique charm campus life held that made the young boy’s dimples drenched in honey.

Gu Xiuyi’s lips moved a couple of times, momentarily at a loss for words.

Ji Ruan’s disheveled hair was very noticeable, and Gu Xiuyi glanced at him several times, unable to ignore it completely: “Haven’t you combed your hair?”

Saying this, he reached out to press down on a few of the rebellious strands, but the soft hair would not stay down at all.

“I washed up as soon as I got up,” Ji Ruan felt slightly rejected and took a step back: “But there’s nothing I can do if my hair is messy after sleeping…”

Gu Xiuyi: “……”

Whatever, hair is not the focus right now.

He assessed Ji Ruan’s complexion—his lips were pale, clearly a sign that he was hungry again.

But how could he be having a video call with classmates without eating breakfast?

Gu Xiuyi tapped on the table and tilted his chin toward the phone: “Is there something important that needs to be said right now?”

Ji Ruan looked over, and the screen reflected Han Xiaolin’s big face peeking at their conversation. He hurriedly turned the phone around: “Han Xiaolin has a lot of experience living on campus. I’m just asking for his advice. But he’s still in military training; he’s busy, so it’s reasonable for me to cooperate.”

“……”

Good, the topic has returned.

Gu Xiuyi leaned on the table with one hand, turned the phone back, and said to Han Xiaolin, who was dressed in camouflage like a spirited young man: “Classmate Han Xiaolin, I’m going to take Ji Ruan away now; you can return to military training.”

Without waiting for the dazed Han Xiaolin to react, he directly cut off the video call and unintentionally glanced at some details of Ji Ruan’s campus essentials list.

This guy had even specified which color of wash basin to choose!

Gu Xiuyi said nothing as he took Ji Ruan downstairs, worried that he might get dizzy halfway down the stairs, so he held onto his small hand.

Ji Ruan followed behind, looking puzzled: “Do you have something to say?”

Gu Xiuyi said seriously: “We need to talk.”

Two minutes later, at the dining table.

Gu Xiuyi and Ji Ruan sat on either side, Gu Xiuyi still in his suit without time to change, legs crossed and leaning against the back of his chair. He established the dining table as a negotiation table with years of experience in meetings and a powerful aura.

His negotiation opponent was a certain, soon-to-be college student with messy hair, whose round, glimmering eyes were solely focused on the large meat bun and soybean milk in front of him, which was his breakfast.

Ji Ruan swallowed hard and reached for the bun, but when he barely touched the skin, he retracted his hand, having been burned—the buns had just come out of the steamer.

He blew on his fingertips and looked at Gu Xiuyi: “Why don’t you go ahead and say it?”

It’s best to finish this in a minute before I dig in.

Gu Xiuyi straightened up, clasping his fingers on the table, exuding an aura: “Why do you want to live on campus?”

Ji Ruan found his serious demeanor somewhat perplexing, for a second thinking that this person had come to negotiate a contract with him.

He blinked: “Everyone is like that; didn’t you live on campus during your freshman year?”

“That’s different.” Gu Xiuyi expressionlessly rejected Reason One.

Ji Ruan didn’t understand and tilted his head with a smile: “What’s different about it?”

Gu Xiuyi received the coffee Zhao Ayi had passed over, gently placing it on the table: “Your health is not good; living on campus is very unsafe.”

Ji Ruan frowned, disagreeing: “How is it unsafe?”

“University dormitories have high beds with desks underneath; you have to climb stairs. What if you get dizzy and fall?” Gu Xiuyi argued emotionally: “And your blood type is special; if you get hurt and bleed, it would be very serious.”

“Um…” Ji Ruan lowered his eyes, seeming to seriously consider Gu Xiuyi’s words.

The bun was no longer hot, and he slowly nibbled it, a big meat bun as large as half his face.

“But I&￥%…” Ji Ruan spoke incompletely, stopping as he started.

His upbringing taught him not to speak with food in his mouth, so he slightly covered his mouth with his fingertips, lowered his eyelids, and chewed slowly, his cheeks puffing like a small bun.

Gu Xiuyi couldn’t take his eyes off Ji Ruan’s face, truly a well-mannered way of eating.

He pushed the soybean milk closer to Ji Ruan: “Swallow it down first.”

But what he didn’t expect was that Ji Ruan took a long time to chew one bun, and by the time he finished swallowing and licked his shiny lips, Gu Xiuyi was almost ready to become a monk.

“But I haven’t felt dizzy for the past two days,” Ji Ruan pressed a tissue to his lips, “And you bought me candy, remember?”

Gu Xiuyi remained unmoved: “Dizziness isn’t just caused by low blood sugar, anemia can cause it too, and your anemia hasn’t improved.”

Rejecting Reason Two.

“Is it that exaggerated…?” Ji Ruan bit his straw: “Isn’t it mandatory for freshmen to live on campus?”

Gu Xiuyi took a sip of black coffee: “If there are valid reasons, you can apply to live off-campus.”

Ji Ruan pondered for a while, weighing Gu Xiuyi’s various reasons, and finally posed a soul-searching question:

“But I’m going to school, not joining the army.”

The school isn’t a battleground; why can’t I go?

Gu Xiuyi paused, facing Ji Ruan’s bewildered big eyes, momentarily unable to counter Reason Three.

He hesitated for a moment and turned his head to focus on Zhao Ayi, who was humming a tune by the sink: “Zhao Ayi, what do you think?”

He believed Zhao Ayi would definitely align with him, helping persuade Ji Ruan.

“Huh? You’re asking me?” Zhao Ayi grinned, holding a rag, “Why are you asking me?”

Ji Ruan also turned towards Zhao Ayi, earnestly saying: “I really need your opinion.”

Zhao Ayi’s status suddenly elevated, becoming the leading party of the negotiation, momentarily taken aback.

“Uh… well,” she thought for a moment and smiled at Ji Ruan: “Does Ruan Ruan really want to live on campus?”

Ji Ruan sat up straight, like a student being questioned, with a slightly melancholic tone: “A little bit; mainly I’ve never lived in a dormitory before, and I want to experience it…”

Zhao Ayi couldn’t resist such an expression, and her motherly instincts surged again, waving the rag: “Oh dear, Xiao Gu, see? Ruan Ruan himself said he wants to go! College life is so important, and it will become a beautiful memory in life, just let him go.”

“……”

Gu Xiuyi suddenly felt isolated, the old auntie he had lived with for twenty years directly side-stepping to care for Ji Ruan, only because that kid could unleash his pitiful charm at any moment.

Gu Xiuyi did not show anything on his face, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, he just gestured to Ji Ruan: “Have another bite of the bun.”

Ji Ruan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach: “I can’t eat anymore.”

He slumped again, just like every time, he would wilt at the slightest disagreement, and his lips were no longer as rosy as before!

Gu Xiuyi felt distressed; logic wouldn’t work, and he couldn’t be harsh, he couldn’t even tell Ji Ruan that he intended to move back.

Saying so now meant forcing Ji Ruan to live together with him.

Gu Xiuyi couldn’t do that; his heart felt like it trapped a large stone.

As long as he didn’t agree, Ji Ruan would continue to wilt in his chair, almost as if competing for endurance.

Really brought home a live ancestor.

“Okay, okay…” After a long while, Gu Xiuyi compromised: “Fine, go ahead, move.”

He had never won in a standoff against Ji Ruan.

“Really?” Ji Ruan’s eyes lit up and instantly perked up.

Immediately, he pinched the bun and started nibbling again; it was still warm, and the taste was still delicious. Ji Ruan squinted his eyes in happiness: “Thank you, Boss Gu.”

“……”

Although Gu Xiuyi knew Ji Ruan’s earlier weakness was not genuine, seeing him recover so quickly still left him feeling somewhat unacceptable, and the stone in his heart felt heavier.

He glanced at Ji Ruan’s lips for a moment and said coldly: “Blue.”

“Huh?” Ji Ruan looked up while nibbling on the bun, his mouth full and unwilling to speak, ending with a tone trailing off.

Gu Xiuyi absentmindedly rubbed the ring on his ring finger: “Your wash basin, choose blue.”

Ji Ruan paused, then realized that Gu Xiuyi must have seen his essentials list.

In this house, Gu Xiuyi still needed to have a little authority, even if it was just a basin; Ji Ruan understood this very well.

“No problem,” Ji Ruan responded generously, smiling: “I can listen to you on this.”

His smile was exceptionally bright, like the roses blooming in the courtyard in early summer, or like the sweet and sour taste that Gu Xiuyi had in his mouth when he was young.

Gu Xiuyi’s gloom lifted suddenly because of that smile; he felt he was becoming more like a chameleon lately, with every change in emotion occurring within an instant.

And this moment, ninety percent was due to Ji Ruan.

This clear realization made Gu Xiuyi’s heart skip a beat.

·

A few days later, on a sunny weekend, the freshmen at Jing Da finished their military training.

Ji Ruan went to the dorm first to check it out with empty hands, while Gu Xiuyi carried a variety of bags and boxes to help him move.

“Ding——”

The elevator doors opened, revealing a spacious dormitory hallway. Although it was a male dormitory, it was much cleaner and fresher than he had imagined.

“Not bad,” Song Ling said beside Gu Xiuyi: “They even have elevators; back when we went to school, we relied entirely on our own two legs.”

Gu Xiuyi’s expression darkened, looking rather uninterested, as he knocked on the door of Room 601: “What use is that? With so many students on one floor, why only two elevators? It’s sure to be crowded at peak hours.”

If Ji Ruan’s small frame could squeeze in, let Ji Ruan have his last name.

Song Ling glanced at Gu Xiuyi’s drooping lips and shook his head. In the past few days, the boss had worn this frown all day; a trip around the company could scare the entire top floor half to death, causing everyone to fret whether he was going bankrupt.

Countless people had approached Song Ling inquiring about the company’s recent financial status.

Who would have thought that the boss’s stern expression was merely due to his little wife wanting to live on campus? Such personal matters were not something Song Ling could talk about openly; he could only play it cool, but the employees seemed even more scared.

Song Ling sighed internally and fully displayed his professionalism: “You’re right, boss.”

Footsteps echoed from behind the door, and the next moment it opened with a “click.”

Room 601 was at the corner of the hallway, slightly larger than other dorms, with good lighting. Ji Ruan’s face appeared as bright natural light descended, accompanied by a gentle breeze.

He had fair skin, crescent-shaped eyes, fluffy hair, and was surrounded by a soft glow as if a little angel had fluttered over, making it pleasing to even Song Ling’s eyes, let alone Gu Xiuyi’s.

Gu Xiuyi had long been swept away by this spring breeze; the previous gloom was gone.

Song Ling pushed the luggage inside, where all of Ji Ruan’s roommates were present, gathered around a small table playing a scrambled deck of cards.

“I’ll introduce you,” Ji Ruan said, pulling on Gu Xiuyi’s sleeve with a smile: “These are my roommates, Li Yu, Qin Shan, and Han Xiaolin, who you already know.”

Li Yu from the art department and Qin Shan from the finance department, one with glasses and the other chubby, stared wide-eyed at the scene in front of them.

Ji Ruan was still smiling gently and naturally added: “This is my husband; his name is Gu Xiuyi, and the handsome guy next to him is his good friend and assistant, Song Ling.”

Song Ling greeted everyone warmly.

Gu Xiuyi was greatly pleased by Ji Ruan’s introduction of him as “husband,” and a natural smile broke out on his face. He placed several elegantly wrapped snacks on the small table:

“Hello, nice to meet you all. I didn’t know what you all liked, so I brought some snacks. Ji Ruan’s health isn’t great, so I hope you’ll take special care of him.”

After all, he was a well-known figure and a legendary alumnus of their school, so both new roommates felt quite intimidated and restless.

“Hello, Mr. Gu!”

“Mr. Gu, you’re too polite!”

“Please sit, Mr. Gu!”

Gu Xiuyi smiled: “No need; I’ll help Ji Ruan settle in and then leave. You all will feel uncomfortable with me here.”

He found Ji Ruan’s empty bed, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and together with Song Ling, cleaned the bed and desk, arranging all the bedding, including the curtains, neatly.

Ji Ruan only needed to tidy up his desk, taking out the lucky cat and candy jar, sharing some candy with his roommates and even giving one piece each to Gu Xiuyi and Song Ling.

Of course, Song Ling’s piece didn’t get fed to him directly as Gu Xiuyi intercepted Ji Ruan’s wrist before he could get it into his mouth. Song Ling took the piece himself and popped it into his mouth.

After tidying up most things, Gu Xiuyi took Ji Ruan out to the hallway for a chat, and once the room was empty, the roommates finally relaxed.

Li Yu nudged his glasses and peered into the snack bags: “Wow, these are all extremely expensive imported brands; these few bags must cost thousands…”

Qin Shan leaned on Han Xiaolin’s shoulder, looking dazed: “Han Ge, is that really Boss Gu… the one I see every day in the financial news?”

Having seen him more times than the other two, Han Xiaolin quickly took on the role of Han Ge, putting on a serious demeanor: “Look at you all; it’s like you’ve never seen the world. What’s the big deal about Boss Gu? He’s just a man, and men must get married. You all should learn to be calm from him; come to terms with it.”

The group chose a bag of snacks to open and share, with Li Yu exclaiming: “But I think Boss Gu treats Ji Ruan really well, much different from my expectations.”

Qin Shan nodded in agreement: “Yeah, I attended a lecture by Boss Gu before; he was always serious. I didn’t expect him to be so approachable in private.”

“Maybe it depends on the person. If it weren’t for Ji Ruan, we wouldn’t be able to witness his private side.”

“True.”

Han Xiaolin was one of the few who knew about Ji Ruan’s contractual marriage, and after thinking it through, he felt it might not be convenient for Ji Ruan to be discussed constantly, so he cautiously said in a half-joking tone:

“But let’s refrain from mentioning Boss Gu in the future; you wouldn’t know, Ji Ruan is a bit shy, and talking about it would make him embarrassed; let’s just interact normally.”

“Of course,” Li Yu assured, “We won’t gossip outside.”

Qin Shan echoed: “Listening to Han Ge.”

“Good bros,” Han Xiaolin said happily, raising a snack like a toast. “Cheers!”

·

The sun scorched the corridor, and Ji Ruan squinted, lowered his head, and was pulled to the shaded area by Gu Xiuyi.

Gu Xiuyi crossed his arms, and after some silence, couldn’t help but remind him: “Make sure you pay attention to safety living on campus, understand?”

Ji Ruan nodded.

“In the mornings, if you feel dizzy, don’t rush down—eat some candy first to ease it. Wait until you’re fully alert before coming down.”

Ji Ruan smiled and nodded.

“If you feel unwell or sick, go to the school clinic. If you can’t walk, ask your roommates for help. Don’t worry about troubling others; I will thank them for you. And walk a little slower—”

“—Gu Xiuyi.”

Gu Xiuyi was interrupted, pausing for a moment: “What?”

Ji Ruan leaned against the wall, a smile that looked both genuine and teasing: “Did Zhao Ayi tell you to say all this?”

Gu Xiuyi put his hands in his pockets: “I thought of it myself.”

Ji Ruan’s eyes curved, revealing his dimples, and he smiled without saying anything.

Only then did Gu Xiuyi realize that this kid found him overly talkative.

“……” Gu Xiuyi calmly rolled down his sleeves and buttoned his cuffs: “Alright then, I’ll take my leave.”

Ji Ruan called out to him: “Aren’t we eating together?”

Halfway through turning around, Gu Xiuyi turned back: “No, I have a meeting. You should eat with your roommates; it’s good for bonding. Hurry inside; it’s too hot outside.”

Ji Ruan pressed his lips together: “Alright then.”

He waved at Gu Xiuyi, beaming: “Goodbye!”

Gu Xiuyi merely nodded slightly and entered the elevator with Song Ling.

·

That evening, Ji Ruan and his roommates went out for hotpot together.

Counting the life he had lived before entering the story, Ji Ruan had only eaten hotpot a handful of times.

They went to a well-known old restaurant just outside the school gate, said to be a must-visit for every new student; eating here was considered the real entry into Jing Da.

The restaurant had no special decorations; it was simple and lively, expanding across several storefronts connected to each other, and was quite large overall.

Ji Ruan and Li Yu from the art department were not good with spicy food, so they ordered a half-and-half hotpot and chatted together.

The other three had come a bit earlier and had their school routines down pat.

Qin Shan pointed at the street outside the window, his fingers pudgy: “That street behind there is the snack street; there’s a restaurant specializing in snail rice noodles that’s delicious. Next time we should go eat, okay, Ji Ruan?”

Li Yu frowned when he heard this and adjusted his glasses: “Are you still eating that? You’ve been eating it for a week; aren’t you tired of it?”

Han Xiaolin rested his chin on his hand, looking sagaciou: “He was already nauseated before inviting you; otherwise, given your ‘just drink water to survive’ look, you think he’d bother calling you?”

Ji Ruan sipped his watermelon juice and replied, “Then I won’t go.”

He pretended to suddenly realize: “So I’m just a backup.”

“Not at all!” Qin Shan became flustered, “I’m not that kind of person! Ji Ruan, don’t listen to what they say, I sincerely and warmly invite you… Hey, Cheng Zizhang!”

As he spoke, the chubby boy suddenly lost focus, his eyes on a beautiful figure coming into view: “She’s so pretty… Do fairies eat hotpot too?”

Ji Ruan turned to look in the same direction and felt that the girl seemed somewhat familiar.

“Why can’t she eat?” Li Yu said: “Even the Jade Emperor would surrender at the sight of hotpot, let alone a fairy.”

Han Xiaolin leaned closer to Ji Ruan: “Cheng Zizhang, our campus flower. By the way, she’s also from the Chinese department; she’s your direct senior.”

After Han Xiaolin pointed it out, Ji Ruan suddenly remembered: “Oh, it’s her.”

Qin Shan, being a die-hard fan of Cheng Zizhang, couldn’t contain himself: “Ji Ruan, do you know Senior Zizhang?”

“Not really…” Ji Ruan scratched his nose and smiled: “I just reported to her during the orientation assembly. I added her WeChat but we haven’t chatted yet.”

“Wow,” Qin Shan said, shocked, “The rumor is true; beautiful girls like to hang out with handsome guys. You got to add the goddess’ WeChat right after entering school!”

But Qin Shan was envious yet respectful and didn’t dare ask Ji Ruan for the goddess’ WeChat.

The pot boiled, and Ji Ruan casually picked up a piece of lotus to eat, speaking lightly in jest: “I have no issues with that; I’m male and my orientation is towards men, also married, so it won’t affect you chasing the goddess.”

Qin Shan immediately laughed: “That’s true, with your looks, it’s fortunate you like men; otherwise, what would we all have to do with your choice of partner?”

The other two laughed at his remark, mixing more greens into the dip for Ji Ruan.

“Shut it, you weirdo.”

“Eat quickly.”

Li Yu took a few bites of beef tripe and said: “But I’ve heard Cheng Zizhang already has a boyfriend; he’s that senior Bai from the neighboring Computer Science College?”

Qin Shan raised an eyebrow: “Bai An Ge?”

Li Yu nodded: “Yeah.”

“Give me a break,” Qin Shan scoffed, “He can’t hold a candle to our Ji Ruan.”

You could sense how much he cared for Ji Ruan, saying with that attitude, while glancing at Ji Ruan to assure him: “Our current campus heartthrob; many girls say he’s handsome, but honestly, you look better.”

“I think it’s a different style,” Li Yu analyzed rationally: “Ji Ruan is more on the pretty and gentle side, while Bai An Ge is more the typical straight girl magnet.”

“But it might not be the case in the future,” Li Yu glanced at Ji Ruan: “Now, Ji Ruan’s reputation probably exceeds Bai An Ge’s, right?”

Qin Shan nodded in agreement: “I think so; there’s a difference between a rising star and a rising star.”

Suddenly the subject swung back to him, and Ji Ruan chuckled: “I’m a rising star too?”

“You’re super rising!” Li Yu exclaimed.

Qin Shan chimed in with a jab: “You’re our school’s top star!”

“Cough!” Han Xiaolin, who had been silent, poured himself a glass of beer, seemingly ready to make a significant statement: “I’ve got some insider news.”

Han Xiaolin had recently claimed the title of the rumor mill among freshmen, supposedly having ears everywhere and eyes all around; he was the go-to for all the latest news in Jing Da.

Li Yu and Qin Shan immediately leaned in closer.

Han Xiaolin raised his palm to half-cover his mouth, whispering: “I heard that Bai An Ge also likes men.”

“Wow, really?” Li Yu gasped, covering his mouth in shock.

Qin Shan froze for a second and then burst into laughter: “That’s gotta be true, haha—”

He filled his glass with beer: “I’m one step closer to the goddess, how nice.”

“Get lost.”

“Get lost.”

Ji Ruan chuckled quietly.

The whole hotpot restaurant was alive with chatter; college students had a lot to talk about, and there wasn’t a moment of quiet at any table. The topics ranged from gossip to games, and no one discussed studies; this was common across all schools in the country.

After dinner, Li Yu and Qin Shan went out with friends, while Han Xiaolin, having eaten enough, dragged Ji Ruan to stroll around the playground for half an hour, before the two slowly returned to their dorm.

The dorms at Jing Da all had independent bathrooms, with unlimited hot water. When Ji Ruan finished showering and climbed into bed, the other two returned just as the curfew hit.

Ji Ruan’s sheets, comforter, and curtains were all in unified shades of blue, even the little lamp on the bedside table was coordinated in various shades, resembling a sea retreating from the shore.

These were all carefully selected by Gu Xiuyi.

Ji Ruan, having a bit of decision fatigue on the smaller items for the dorm decoration, would often second-guess himself.

Sitting on the couch and feeling troubled, he found Gu Xiuyi sitting beside him, neither watching TV nor playing on his phone; he appeared eager yet restrained.

Ji Ruan, not wanting to worry, decided to indulge Gu Xiuyi’s desire to take charge and handed over the decision-making authority to him.

That night, Gu Xiuyi personally set the details for Ji Ruan’s bedding, and by the next morning, Ji Ruan’s lips were still slightly raised.

Ji Ruan slid under the covers, which were also chosen by Boss Gu; they were soft and comfortable. He luxuriated with his eyes half-closed and snapped a deep blue photo of the canopy they just set up.

Almost the next second, a video call came through from the opposite side.

Ji Ruan scrambled to pull out his headphones and hit accept.

Gu Xiuyi must have been sitting in front of his computer. The lights were off, but half his face reflected the blue light from the screen. He wore pajamas, a half-frame pair of glasses perched on his nose. Although his facial features seemed sharper, there was an inexplicable softness in his charm tonight, different from his usual demeanor.

Ji Ruan tried to discern the unfamiliar background behind him in the dim light: “Are you at your apartment now?”

“Yeah.”

After agreeing for Ji Ruan to live on campus, Gu Xiuyi’s plans to move back to the villa were shelved, becoming a once fervently pursued yet abruptly halted, unknown plan.

Gu Xiuyi didn’t continue discussing the apartment; he adjusted his glasses and asked Ji Ruan: “Is your bed comfortable?”

“Very comfortable,” Ji Ruan smiled, “The quilt smells nice, thank you.”

He buried his chin in the quilt, only his pink lips peeking out, his black hair sprawled on the pillow, and the light from the small bedside lamp gave his long and thick eyelashes a glossy sheen, his eyes sparkling.

He really suited blue so well that the bed resembled the ocean, and he, like a little mermaid in the sea.

Gu Xiuyi gazed at Ji Ruan on the screen, his expression involuntarily softening: “What did you have for dinner?”

“Hotpot,” Ji Ruan replied, “From that famous Li Ji Old Hotpot right outside the front gate—apparently, it’s been open for many years; you should know about it?”

Gu Xiuyi thought for a moment. He seemed to have heard of it: “Is that the legendary must-eat place for new students entering Jing Da?”

“Exactly, exactly,” Ji Ruan was a bit surprised and chuckled: “So this saying existed back in your time too?”

“Not just that,” Gu Xiuyi stroked his chin in recollection, “Seniors several years ahead of me have been in on it since before; it’s uncertain when it started circulating. How did you find the taste?”

Ji Ruan turned over, hugging the blanket and pondering a bit: “It was good, but it didn’t feel as extraordinary as they say; maybe it’s because I’m not particularly enthusiastic about hotpot?”

“Mm,” Gu Xiuyi nodded: “It’s probably half genuine reputation and half promotional effect.”

“But Han Xiaolin thinks it’s absolutely delicious,” Ji Ruan adjusted his headphones and added: “He overindulged, almost got a stomachache. I gave him a box of digestive tablets.”

His voice was slightly hoarse, speaking softly and slowly, and it was truly enjoyable to have a phone chat like this.

Gu Xiuyi also slowed his speaking pace: “What about you? You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”

Ji Ruan’s eyes curved: “No, I was quite restrained, and we had a half-and-half pot; I only ate from the clear broth side.”

“Mm,” Gu Xiuyi gently supported his forehead: “Such a good boy.”

Ji Ruan was hard of hearing and generally messaged others, occasionally calling; wearing headphones to have a long phone conversation like this was a first for him.

Gu Xiuyi’s voice was clearer and more pleasant than usual, flowing through the electricity like a warm touch against Ji Ruan’s ears.

Ji Ruan snuggled deeper into the blanket, laughing.

Gu Xiuyi saw Ji Ruan’s dimples pop up suddenly, only to disappear just as quickly back into the quilt.

The little mermaid giggled as she ducked underwater, but her eyes remained above the surface, twinkling with countless tiny stars.

Gu Xiuyi’s lips curled slightly: “What are you laughing at?”

“Um…” Ji Ruan blinked: “I don’t know either.”

He genuinely had no idea; after thinking it over, he still couldn’t specify why he found it so magical.

With Ji Ruan’s hearing impairment, wearing headphones for long periods wasn’t ideal, so after a couple more exchanges, Gu Xiuyi let him go to sleep, allowing the little mermaid to dive completely underwater.

·

The beginning of university was busy; Ji Ruan had classes to attend, friends to hang out with, food to eat, and considerations about elective courses and clubs, living a life he had never felt so fulfilled before.

As for Gu Xiuyi, being busy was the norm.

The two only occasionally exchanged messages, and their phone calls began to dwindle.

One day at noon after class, Ji Ruan received an unexpected call from Gu Xiuyi. It was unusual since noon was never in their communication timeframe.

With students everywhere in the hallway, Ji Ruan cautiously avoided the crowd, stopping in a corner.

“Hello?”

Gu Xiuyi’s voice was a welcome surprise to Ji Ruan’s ears, sounding somewhat familiar: “Do you not have class this afternoon?”

“Yeah,” Ji Ruan admitted honestly, not knowing when Gu Xiuyi got a hold of his schedule: “Is there something up?”

“Nothing major,” Gu Xiuyi’s voice was nonchalant with a slight laziness to it: “A friend recommended a restaurant that specializes in French escargot; if you don’t have dinner plans, would you like to join me to try it?”

Ji Ruan had grown tired of the cafeteria food and was looking for a change; he didn’t dislike Western cuisine, so without much thought, he agreed: “Sure, what time?”

“Five-thirty; I’ll pick you up at the main entrance?”

As the lunch rush subsided, the hallway empty, Ji Ruan grasped the handrail and began descending: “Sounds good.”

Gu Xiuyi seemed to have gotten busy again, as voices could be heard on the other end. After quickly instructing someone, he said to Ji Ruan: “You should head for lunch now; take a break in the dorm afterwards.”

“Mm-hmm,” Ji Ruan nodded: “You should get back to it, I’ll hang up.”

After finishing lunch, Ji Ruan returned to the dorm, popping a piece of candy Gu Xiuyi had bought him into his mouth while flipping through the promotional materials for various clubs.

The grape-flavored candy burst with sweet and sour flavor on his tongue. After savoring it a while, he looked up at the glass candy jar on the corner of the table, suddenly curious whether there were any cherry-flavored pieces left; he only found one last time, so perhaps there were some hidden treasures left.

He cleared the table and poured all the candy and chocolate out, slowly searching through them.

The dormitory door swung open, and Han Xiaolin and Li Yu returned, seeing Ji Ruan with a table full of candy and being taken aback: “What are you doing?”

“Nothing much,” Ji Ruan smiled: “Just coming to have some candy.”

The two made themselves at home and each picked a piece to unwrap and eat: “Thanks!”

Han Xiaolin sat down at his desk, turning to Ji Ruan: “There’s a new chicken pot place opened at the school gate; want to eat together tonight?”

Li Yu chimed in: “Yeah, I heard it tastes good and it’s 40% off. Let’s invite Qin Shan too!”

Ji Ruan was still busy searching for the cherry candies among his collection and pressed his lips: “I won’t go.”

“Why?” Han Xiaolin sat up a bit straighter.

Ji Ruan casually said: “I’m going out for dinner with Gu Xiuyi.”

“Oh~~~” The dorm immediately filled with playful teasing voices.

Li Yu covered his ears: “Having a partner is so daunting.”

Han Xiaolin leaned over to put his arm around Ji Ruan’s neck, dramatically sighing: “Is this your married young man’s pride?”

Ji Ruan brushed his hand away and couldn’t help but laugh: “Get off, you’re sick.”

He gathered the scattered candies back into the jar; indeed, there were none left—only one cherry candy which he had already eaten.

·

That afternoon, just after five o’clock, Ji Ruan left the dorm. He walked slowly, figuring twenty minutes would be enough to reach the main entrance for their five-thirty meeting without rushing.

The weather seemed a bit darker than usual for that time of day, with a chill in the wind. Ji Ruan, dressed in short sleeves and shorts, had walked for a while and found himself feeling a bit chilly rather than sweating.

Looking up at the sky, he saw clouds accumulating and blocking the sun—almost like… dark rain clouds?!

A bad premonition shot through Ji Ruan. The next second, the raindrops fell loudly on his cheek as he squinted at the sudden splash of rain.

What followed was heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning.

With just a little bit of distance left to the school gate and nothing around him to take cover under except a big tree—something every child knows not to stand under during a storm.

In mere seconds, the downpour hit like a curtain; there wasn’t even time for Ji Ruan to think. He instinctively covered his ears and sprinted towards the nearby security booth.

Running that short distance of a few dozen meters didn’t take long, but by the time he reached the rain shelter outside the booth, he was already half-soaked.

His clothes stuck to his back, clammy and chilly to the touch, the wind making him shiver, and his heart raced from the sudden sprint, leaving him a bit dazed.

“Vroom vroom——!”

The sudden vibration of his phone startled Ji Ruan.

The caller ID displayed Gu Xiuyi.

While in the rain, Ji Ruan had kept his ears covered, but his external device was slightly damp from the rain. Now, he shouldered the major risks of hanging up and sending a written message back, before hastily taking off his external device to dry it off.

But the thunder was loud, and the rain poured down; Ji Ruan felt scared. Glancing at the flashing screen, after a moment’s hesitation, he pressed the answer button.

“Ji Ruan?” Gu Xiuyi’s voice sounded urgent: “Did you bring an umbrella?”

“No…” Ji Ruan steadied his tone and replied: “I’m outside the security booth.”

There was a sudden silence on the other end. Ji Ruan thought his hearing had gone out again and held tightly onto the phone, growing anxious: “Hello?”

“Don’t worry,” Gu Xiuyi seemingly sighed in relief: “I see you; don’t move.”

Ji Ruan couldn’t see him.

He raised his head, glancing everywhere, his heart pounding erratically. It was only after carefully scanning the surroundings that he noticed a familiar license plate at an angle hidden by a large tree at the booth’s entrance.

Gu Xiuyi was coming from that direction.

He carried a wide black umbrella, assaulting the overlapping shadows under the trees as he walked toward Ji Ruan.

Ji Ruan could hardly make out his figure; the rain was falling so thickly, creating a misty barrier like a gray ink wash, cascading rapidly, lifting the edges of Gu Xiuyi’s clothes high.

Ji Ruan tried to retreat towards the center of the rain shelter, but the whirlwind and sheets of rain still beat against his calves painfully. Nevertheless, each step Gu Xiuyi took was steady and secure.

With long legs and big strides, the seemingly long distance was quickly crossed, and as he got closer, Ji Ruan could see his face—expression flawless, collar impeccably neat.

As Gu Xiuyi entered the booth’s rain shelter, he closed the umbrella, and raindrops cascaded from it, dampening the cuffs of his trousers.

Ji Ruan looked up at him, his delicate eyebrows furrowed, hair and eyelashes wet, appearing pitiful all over.

Gu Xiuyi brushed Ji Ruan’s damp hair from his forehead, taking in his refined features and the delicate skin beneath his palm, now slightly cool due to the rain.

Ji Ruan always had a low body temperature.

“You’re fine now; don’t be afraid.”

Gu Xiuyi gently patted Ji Ruan’s back.

He looked into Ji Ruan’s eyes, confirming he understood, and then reached up to take off his external device, sliding it into his shirt pocket.

As the device was removed from behind his ears, all sounds withdrew simultaneously, even the thunder fading into a blur, as if he was withdrawing from this world altogether.

Ji Ruan’s heart skipped a beat as he subconsciously stepped closer to Gu Xiuyi, tightly shutting his eyes.

Gu Xiuyi held the umbrella up, wrapping his arms around Ji Ruan’s shoulders and pulling him closer, whispering softly into his left ear: “It’s alright, let’s go home.”