Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Unlike the previous kiss through their masks, Pei Ran could distinctly feel Yan Zhun gently yet insistently nibbling on him. Only when he started to feel a slight pain did Yan Zhun release his lips.

Assuming it was over, Pei Ran's tensed shoulders began to relax. However, the large hand around his neck showed no sign of letting go. Yan Zhun softly massaged the back of his neck and then deepened the kiss tenderly and reassuringly.

Pei Ran could no longer hear the sound of rain. Dizzy from the kiss, he felt slightly oxygen-deprived. Clutching tightly onto Yan Zhun's clothes, he instinctively responded as Yan Zhun parted his lips.

Pei Ran licked Yan Zhun's tongue lightly.

Yan Zhun felt his heart being tugged.

The streets were sparsely populated, with hurried pedestrians rushing by under their umbrellas, none of them noticing the two of them.

Their breaths were warm, intertwining in the rainy night.

On the other side of the convenience store's glass window, clutter blocked the view inside and out, with only light seeping through the gaps. By the time Yan Zhun released Pei Ran, the latter's face and ears were flushed red.

Even swallowing made Pei Ran feel bashful. He released Yan Zhun's clothes, blinked rapidly several times, and was about to speak when Yan Zhun lifted his hand to wipe his lips clean.

Yan Zhun lowered his gaze and asked in a hoarse voice, "What do you mean by kissing me, Teacher Pei?"

Pei Ran suddenly recalled that he had been the one to initiate the kiss.

His face grew even warmer, and after a long while, he said, "I just... wanted to kiss you. I'm sorry."

His tone was no different from usual, and Yan Zhun nearly couldn't hold back. Swallowing visibly, he finally murmured, "If you want to kiss, then kiss. Do as you please."

Yan Zhun lowered his head and casually brushed at his wrinkled clothes. "Is this fabric comfortable to grab? If not, I'll change to another one next time."

Pei Ran closed his eyes, his words bordering on self-destruction. "It's quite... comfortable."

The rain had started to lessen, and many people were now braving the downpour. Shop owners had also set up umbrellas outside their establishments.

Yan Zhun had straightened up, their thighs pressed together through their clothing, neither of them moving away.

Suddenly, a sound came from Pei Ran's phone. He instinctively reached for his pocket, but accidentally bumped his elbow against the table, causing the phone to slide to the ground with a dull thud.

Just as Pei Ran was about to pick it up, Yan Zhun leaned forward first.

"Filthy, wait." Yan Zhun picked up his phone and grabbed a tissue to wipe the screen clean.

Another message arrived just then. Yan Zhun glanced at the preview on the screen and quickly looked away, handing the phone to Pei Ran.

"Luo Qingshan: I heard from Xiao Yang and the others that they met you at an internet cafe. I didn't get the chance to tell them, sorry."

"Luo Qingshan: I was playing basketball just now, so I had no idea about what happened in the group chat."

"Luo Qingshan: Sorry."

"Luo Qingshan: Can we still be friends in the future?"

As Pei Ran finished reading the messages, the person beside him suddenly stood up.

"I'll go buy an umbrella."

By the time Pei Ran regained his senses, he found himself gripping Yan Zhun's hand.

Yan Zhun paused in his tracks and looked down at him. "Do you need anything?"

Pei Ran gazed at Yan Zhun's hand, which carried a faint scent of medicine. After a long while, he lifted his head to ask, "Am I allowed to be friends with him?"

Yan Zhun was unusually taken aback. He looked into Pei Ran's eyes, as if sensing something. "It's up to me?"

Pei Ran nodded. "Mm."

"Why?"

Pei Ran struggled to keep his emotions in check, his face flushed crimson.

Just as Yan Zhun was about to speak, Pei Ran softly replied, "You can... take care of me."

The person in front of him fell silent.

The moment Pei Ran finished speaking, he regretted it. He had never said anything like that before. Embarrassment and bashfulness threatened to overwhelm him.

As he was about to release Yan Zhun's hand, the latter held on tightly instead.

"Pei Ran," Yan Zhun said, "I don't want you to be friends with him, or have any contact with him, because I like you."

"You're asking for my opinion, wanting me to take care of you..."

Pei Ran said, "Because I am one too."

Yan Zhun pressed his lips together. His heart silently exploded with the sound of Pei Ran's voice.

He released Pei Ran's hand and began to tousle his hair. "Teacher Pei."

Pei Ran: "...Hmm?"

"Will you date me?"

Pei Ran's eyelashes fluttered slightly. He initially responded with a soft "mm-hmm," then after a few seconds, he added, "Okay."

Yan Zhun twirled a strand of his hair, holding back repeatedly before finally giving in. "Raise your head a bit, let's be discreet."

Pei Ran seemed to anticipate what was coming. Ever since they entered this convenience store, his heartbeat had never settled.

Pei Ran lifted his head and received his second kiss of the night.

Eventually, they entered the convenience store together. The female cashier looked at them with an odd gaze, perhaps having caught a glimpse of something.

Despite purchasing two umbrellas, they shared one until Pei Ran got into the car.

"I'll be heading back to school tomorrow," Yan Zhun told him before getting in.

Without thinking, Pei Ran responded, "Tomorrow's the weekend, there won't be any classes."

Yan Zhun replied, "Mm, I'm going back to see my boyfriend."

As the car door closed, Pei Ran gave their school address and leaned his head out the window.

It was late at night, and there weren't many cars on the road. The driver kept the speedometer hovering above the speed limit, and streetlights flickered past the window one by one.

Pei Ran watched silently for a while before lifting his hand to cover his face. His palm pressed against his cheek, blurring the distinction between which held more warmth.

Back in his dorm, Pei Ran took a shower. As he dried himself with a towel, he couldn't help but recall the gentle touch and strength with which Yan Zhun had wiped his hair with a tissue.

He dried his hair slowly and picked up his phone to check his unread messages. After his few comments in the group chat, he received numerous private messages and even some friend requests, which he hadn't opened yet.

Pei Ran had a commendable habit of responding to messages he received. After finally clearing his unread notifications, a new message promptly popped up at the top.

"Yan Zhun: Forgot to mention, thanks for the new gift, Teacher Pei."

-

Pei Ran had spent the entire night in a dream, one that featured rain, a convenience store, and Yan Zhun.

Awakening, he was still a bit dazed, gazing blankly at the ceiling for a long while.

After getting out of bed and freshening up, he brewed himself a cup of coffee, pairing it with biscuits for breakfast.

It wasn't until Luo Qingshan sent another WeChat message that Pei Ran recalled having read and then closed the app last night without replying.

He had removed Luo Qingshan from his blacklist on the night at the hospital. One reason was due to the matter concerning Yan Zhun, and the other was because he remembered he still owed something.

Pei Ran no longer recalled the prices of their high school uniforms and textbooks. Without hesitation, he transferred a thousand yuan to Luo Qingshan.

"Luo Qingshan: ?"

"Pei Ran: Payment for the high school uniform and textbooks. Thanks in advance from back then."

"Luo Qingshan: ?"

"Luo Qingshan: What school uniform and textbooks?"

"Pei Ran: The ones you put in my drawer."

"Luo Qingshan: ...Did you mix me up with someone else?"

"Luo Qingshan: I didn't put any school uniform or textbooks in your drawer."

"Luo Qingshan: I don't even know where to buy those things."

"Luo Qingshan: There's no class today, why did you wake up so early?"

Pei Ran held his phone, slightly lost in thought.

Upon closer reflection, he had never verified this matter because Luo Qingshan was the only classmate who had shown him obvious kindness back then. Subconsciously, he had attributed this act to Luo Qingshan.

The continuous messages from Luo Qingshan vibrated in his palm, numbing it slightly. Pei Ran took a while to come out of his daze before looking down at the messages.

Seemingly sensing something, Luo Qingshan probed further with more questions.

"Pei Ran: It's fine now. And no, not anymore."

"Luo Qingshan: What do you mean, not anymore?"

As Pei Ran tidied up the remnants and packaging, throwing them into the trash, he typed his response.

"Pei Ran: We won't be friends anymore."

Luo Qingshan didn't send any more messages.

On weekends when Pei Ran had nothing to do, he usually went to the art studio. Today, a classmate had tagged him in a group chat, inviting him to join them at the studio. He swiftly declined and casually started a movie to pass the time.

After listening to just a couple of lines from the film, he lowered his head to look at his phone.

The avatar of a White Rabbit candy lay silently in the contact list, with the latest message sent at two in the morning.

He lingered a bit longer on that avatar before scrolling down, discovering the chat group for their high school class.

The group had long since turned inactive, with conversations occurring only once every ten days or half a month. Pei Ran tapped on the list of members and scrolled down, hoping to identify the person who had secretly placed items in his drawer years ago.

After flipping through numerous names, he found no matches and eventually gave up.

The ninety-minute film concluded, but Pei Ran had no recollection of the plot. He didn't bother rewatching it and instead, lackadaisically scrolled through his phone for a new movie.

His phone vibrated, catching his attention. He lowered his head to read the message.

"Yan Zhun: Are you awake?"

"Pei Ran: Yes, I am."

"Yan Zhun: I'm at the school entrance."

Pei Ran quickly put on his coat and headed out.

Yan Zhun was tall and slender, with his cap pulled low. When he bowed his head, the brim obscured his eyes, making him stand out prominently by the school gate.

As Pei Ran approached, Yan Zhun was on the phone with his back turned.

"I'm occupied today," Yan Zhun stated.

On the other end of the line was his coach, whose voice boomed, "Just two practice matches, it won't take up much time... What could you possibly have going on during the weekend?"

Finding the coach intrusive, Yan Zhun bluntly replied, "I'm courting someone."