Chapter 21: I Like You
Friday.
The alarm rang promptly at eight in the morning.
There was an early class today, and it was a major course taught by a strict and stern professor. Xie Yang dared not be late.
But he had had a sleepless night and hadn’t rested well, making it hard for him to open his eyes now.
His head felt heavy, a dull ache from sleep deprivation.
Last night, Xie Yang couldn’t stop thinking about Qi Xu, tossing and turning until he finally fell asleep out of exhaustion around three in the morning, only to be plagued by nightmares all night.
Maybe it was because of his constant thoughts, but he dreamt that Qi Xu, after finding out his online lover was Xie Yang, despised him even more, causing everyone around him to start avoiding him.
Trapped in this nightmare, he was anxious, unable to explain or wake up.
Until the alarm rang.
Xie Yang turned off the alarm, noticing it was still early, and decided to sleep a bit longer.
Ding—
The vibration and notification sound from his phone woke him up again.
Half-asleep, Xie Yang glanced at the status bar.
[System: You have a new friend request.]
Xie Yang’s heart skipped a beat, jolting him awake.
He had a strong feeling of unease.
Seeing the new red dot in his WeChat contacts, Xie Yang hesitated to tap on it.
He didn’t have many WeChat friends, just over thirty, mostly former classmates.
Even as a freshman now, he had few classmates, so who would be adding him?
Feeling nervous, Xie Yang clicked on it.
The familiar cat avatar appeared before him.
[The application message was simple: I am CX330.]
This was the default system message.
It’s over.
The tight string in Xie Yang’s mind snapped.
Qi Xu had found him.
Qi Xu knew he was Caramel Pudding.
And he seemed very angry.
Xie Yang didn’t dare accept the friend request. He exited WeChat, clutching his chest as his heart raced, his mind filled with negative thoughts.
Was Qi Xu coming to settle scores with him?
He’s such a gentle person, he wouldn’t beat him up, right?
No, wait.
CX330 was gentle with him, not Qi Xu.
Xie Yang couldn’t even feel sad now; he was just worried that Qi Xu might come looking for him in the classroom tomorrow.
He had taken four days off, and today was Friday with an early class. He regretted not taking one more day off.
The School of Management wasn’t close to the Computer Science Department, so Qi Xu probably wouldn’t bother blocking him.
With a personality like his, Qi Xu would probably disdain such actions.
Xie Yang tried to comfort himself.
Actually, he had made everything clear in that letter. Why would Qi Xu still want to find him?
Since they were able to find his WeChat account, they should be able to find other information about him, including his photos.
They should be able to recognize him then. It’s not like they’ve never seen each other.
With a little investigation, he would know that he and the other person attended the same high school.
Xie Yang sat on the bed, looking very pale due to a poor night’s sleep. After being scared by Qi Xu early in the morning, his complexion worsened.
Su Huai noticed his unhealthy appearance and asked worriedly, “Xiao Xie, didn’t you sleep well last night?”
Xie Yang nodded.
Su Huai had stayed up late last night chatting with Qi Xu and then reading some adult books, falling asleep only around four.
His own complexion wasn’t great either.
Thinking about how he had “accidentally” betrayed Xie Yang last night, Su Huai felt a pang of guilt.
Judging by Qi Xu’s behavior, it wouldn’t be long before he came looking for Xie Yang.
Su Huai glanced at Xie Yang with sympathy.
When your online ex-boyfriend shows up in person, it can only end…
At that moment, Xi Rui, who had been playing with his phone on the bed, suddenly exclaimed, “What the hell!” attracting the attention of the other three.
Song Xingyu: “What’s up?”
Xi Rui: “Old Qi messaged me early in the morning. Why is he suddenly coming back from the dead?”
Song Xingyu: “He’s looking for you?”
Xi Rui: “He suddenly asked me for today’s class schedule.”
Song Xingyu: “Why does he need your class schedule?”
Xi Rui: “I have no idea.”
Hearing this, Xie Yang stiffened, his mind a mess, looking as if his soul had left his body. He almost tripped and fell off the bunk ladder.
Fortunately, Su Huai caught him in time.
Su Huai: “Are you okay?”
Look at how scared the kid is.
If Xie Yang knew he had been betrayed, he might be planning his escape right now.
Xie Yang shook his head, “I’m fine, thanks.”
Su Huai thought: Poor guy, is Qi Xu really that scary?
Xie Yang, distracted, didn’t notice the strange look Su Huai gave him.
As the end of the year approached, the weather grew colder.
Snowflakes were falling outside.
As soon as Xie Yang stepped out of the dormitory, a gust of cold wind hit his face, making him retreat quickly to close the door. He put on his hat and scarf before heading out again.
He usually didn’t like wearing a scarf outside.
But he suddenly realized that a large scarf could cover his face. Wrapped up tightly like a ball, maybe Qi Xu wouldn’t recognize him.
He felt a bit relieved.
Since Qi Xu asked Xi Rui about the class schedule, maybe they just wanted to arrange a game session.
Asking for a class schedule didn’t necessarily mean anything.
This was the only way Xie Yang could console himself.
He didn’t dare log into WeChat, nor did he dare add Qi Xu as a friend. Instead, he turned off his phone and focused on his classes.
He couldn’t tell if it was his imagination, but he felt like someone was watching him.
Xie Yang didn’t dare look up, keeping his face hidden under his hat and watching his steps carefully.
Finally, noon classes ended, and Su Huai sensed that a storm was brewing. Since Qi Xu asked for their class schedule, it meant he would definitely come looking for Xie Yang today. Su Huai decided to slip away quickly and leave space for them to sort things out.
He asked Xia Heng to pick him up for lunch, telling Xie Yang that he had no afternoon classes and was going on a date with Xia Heng.
Xie Yang nodded.
He had come to class with a nervous heart, but as he focused on the lessons, he gradually became immersed in the teacher’s knowledge, forgetting about his worries.
It was peak time at the cafeteria, with long lines, so he decided to stay in the classroom and do his homework, avoiding the crowd.
When the classroom was finally empty, Xie Yang stretched, picked up a few books, and left through the back door.
As he reached the stairwell, someone suddenly pulled him into the shadows of the stairway.
The grip was strong, and Xie Yang looked at the person in confusion.
“Got you.”
When he saw the face in the shadows, Xie Yang’s heart skipped a beat.
His eyes widened, pupils dilated, and his expression was one of complete shock.
“Qi… Qi Xu.”
Qi Xu placed his hands against the wall, trapping him between his arms.
They were very close now. Qi Xu lowered his head, his gaze fixed on Xie Yang’s face as if he wanted to etch every detail of his features into his memory.
His little assistant.
He looked almost exactly as he had imagined.
Qi Xu had once thought that his little assistant might be like a small bakery employee, looking so innocent.
He never expected that they were the same person.
Only today, his little assistant wasn’t wearing glasses, making him look even cuter.
Xie Yang’s eyes were round and bright, like a frightened little deer. He clutched the books in his arms tightly, nervously looking at Qi Xu.
So obedient.
Qi Xu glanced at his outfit today and was very satisfied.
But his little assistant’s complexion was poor, still pale from a recent illness.
Xie Yang was intimidated by Qi Xu’s intense gaze, his heart racing. He couldn’t help but speak again, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”
He looked at Qi Xu’s arms, trying to slip underneath them to escape.
Before he could succeed, Qi Xu stopped him, trapping him back between his arms.
Xie Yang pressed his lips together, not daring to look up at him.
Qi Xu stared at his pale lips, suppressing the surge of emotions in his eyes. His voice was calm and steady, “Why did you want to break up?”
Xie Yang swallowed. He had never been scrutinized by Qi Xu like this. More than fear, he felt nervous.
He spoke anxiously, his voice trembling, “Classmate, maybe you’ve got the wrong person?”
Instinctively, he wanted to evade and conceal the truth.
Qi Xu sighed softly.
“Xie Yang.”
“I didn’t agree to break up, so we’re not broken up.”
Xie Yang looked up at Qi Xu abruptly, his expression shocked. Then he lowered his head again. As he looked down, his eyes reddened.
He opened his mouth slightly, not knowing what to say.
He couldn’t understand why Qi Xu would come looking for him instead of accepting his suggestion to part ways amicably.
Qi Xu’s gaze fell on the top of his head, his eyes dark with unreadable emotions. “Why do you think that if I knew it was you, we would definitely break up?”
He didn’t even give him a chance.
Why did he get sentenced so arbitrarily?
Tears welled up in Xie Yang’s eyes as he fought to control his emotions, striving to keep his voice steady. “I know you don’t like me. I’m sorry if this situation embarrassed you. I won’t tell anyone, and I won’t appear in front of you again. You can pretend this never happened.”
Hearing this again, Qi Xu spoke helplessly, “When did you hear that I don’t like you?”
All this time, he had been expressing his feelings for his little assistant.
Why did Xie Yang choose to forget all that as soon as he learned Qi Xu’s identity?
Xie Yang pressed his lips together, not wanting to continue the conversation.
Unhappy with Xie Yang’s lowered head, Qi Xu gently lifted his chin, feeling the wetness on his fingertips.
He saw Xie Yang’s red, tear-streaked face.
His pale face, seemingly frightened by Qi Xu’s sudden touch, showed a look of surprise.
It felt like countless needles pricking his heart. Qi Xu, feeling distressed, leaned closer and wiped away Xie Yang’s tears.
“Why are you crying?”
“When did I ever say I didn’t like you?”
Under Xie Yang’s astonished gaze, Qi Xu held his chin and kissed his thin lips with a reverent tenderness.
“Xie Yang.”
“This isn’t fair to me.”
Startled by the kiss, Xie Yang let go, and the books he was holding fell, landing on his feet.
Did they just kiss?!
His mind was filled with the image of Qi Xu kissing him just now.
The thought made his legs weak, and he started to slide down the wall. Qi Xu caught him by the waist just in time.
Qi Xu doesn’t dislike boys, does he?
Could he really kiss such an ordinary face?
Wouldn’t he feel disgusted?
Xie Yang’s mind was in turmoil, and he stammered, “I’m gay. Don’t you hate gay people? Don’t you find me disgusting?”
Hearing this, Qi Xu frowned, looking at Xie Yang’s pale, nervous fingers. He leaned in and whispered in his ear, “What if I said I wanted more than just to kiss you?”
Xie Yang froze, instantly understanding Qi Xu’s implication. His face flushed red, even his ears turning crimson.
Like a ripe persimmon, sweet and soft.
Qi Xu hadn’t expected him to be so easily teased. He smirked, his eyes dark with emotion, and chuckled softly, “I like you, so that makes me gay too.”
The heat on Xie Yang’s face continued to rise, and he didn’t have time to say anything.
Footsteps and playful voices echoed from the stairwell, heading in their direction.
Xie Yang, like a startled kitten, struggled to escape his embrace.
Qi Xu tightened his hold around his waist, pulling him close, and adjusted his hat to cover his face completely.
Xie Yang’s strength was too weak to break free, so he had no choice but to stay in Qi Xu’s arms.
Standing in the shadowy stairwell, their faces obscured, they appeared to be an affectionate couple to passersby.
Several students glanced at them, exchanged whispers, and moved on.
The interruption helped Xie Yang regain his composure.
He pushed away from Qi Xu, took a deep breath, and mustered the courage to say, “We’re not suitable for each other. I don’t want to waste your time or your feelings. There’s no future for us. There’s a huge gap between us.”
Qi Xu came from a prestigious family, with an excellent background and outstanding qualities.
Xie Yang was just an ordinary person from the lower rungs of society.
The social gap between them was insurmountable for him.
If they were destined to part, he would rather this relationship never begin.
He feared he would become too greedy, leading to an unmanageable situation.
Xie Yang looked up at him and said softly, “The gap between us is too wide. We can’t be together.”
Qi Xu raised an eyebrow, smiling, “Baby, are you thinking about our future?”
Xie Yang’s face burned again.
That’s not what he meant.
Qi Xu stroked his soft hair and laughed, “When did we ever have a big gap? In high school, I was first, and you were second. What gap is there between us?”
Xie Yang pressed his lips together and said quietly, “You know that’s not what I meant.”
Qi Xu: “Sign a designated guardianship agreement with me, or we can get a certificate abroad. Which one do you want?”
Whether it was guardianship or a certificate abroad, the weight of these words overwhelmed Xie Yang.
Xie Yang: “What did you say?”
Qi Xu: “My parents are open-minded and support my freedom in relationships. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, they won’t object.”
His parents wouldn’t interfere with his life choices.
Xie Yang lowered his eyes, still feeling like he was in a dream.
He had followed Qi Xu for two and a half years, over eight hundred days.
He never thought Qi Xu would look back.
He didn’t even dare to dream of being in a relationship with Qi Xu.
When Qi Xu said he liked him, it felt unreal.
Xie Yang: “I know you might be influenced by our online relationship, or maybe because Caramel Pudding dumped CX330 and you couldn’t get over it. We’re both impulsive about this. Maybe you like Caramel Pudding who played games with you online. Once you calm down, you might be disappointed with the real Xie Yang.”
The little assistant was just one of his identities, just a part of him.
He hadn’t shown CX330 his whole self.
Once he calmed down, he might feel disappointed.
He might feel disappointed with Xie Yang.
He might feel fed up with this relationship.
That was not an outcome Xie Yang could bear.
Qi Xu laughed in exasperation at his reasoning, “I like you, the person behind the little assistant, not just some online game data.”
At least for now, from what he knew of both the little assistant and Xie Yang, he liked them both.
Xie Yang lacked confidence in himself.
Even that kiss just now wasn’t enough to make Xie Yang believe Qi Xu truly liked him.
He had liked Qi Xu for so long.
And he had faced too many setbacks.
It was hard for him to believe that such a radiant person would like someone as ordinary and unremarkable as him.
In his heart, he still felt that Qi Xu was just struggling to accept the fact that they had broken up.
Xie Yang: “I’m sorry.”
His eyes filled with tears, and they slid down his cheeks.
Qi Xu frowned in distress.
Did he not realize that even with his face full of grievance, he couldn’t hide the love he felt for him?
Qi Xu licked his lips, cupping Xie Yang’s face, gently wiping away his tears.
How could he bear to let go of Xie Yang’s hand?
So obedient.
Even when crying, so obedient and beautiful.
need tye next chap 😭💔