Chapter 61: Rivals Meet 1

Chapter 61: Rivals Meet 1

Traffic was heavy on the road, so Gu Jiabei drove at a slow pace.

"Teacher Yun, that brother is so handsome. Is he your friend?" Little Meng asked from the back seat.

Yun He glanced at Gu Jiabei and hesitated before answering, "He's... a friend..."

Gu Jiabei remained expressionless.

"Thank you, brother, for sending me back," Little Meng said happily to Gu Jiabei.

"You're welcome."

"But Teacher Yun, where's your car? Didn't we come here in a car—"

"Cough, cough, cough... Little Meng, send your mom a message and tell her we'll be there soon," Yun He interrupted hastily, not wanting Little Meng to be too naive.

"Oh," Little Meng replied obediently.

Gu Jiabei glanced at Yun He sideways, his peach blossom eyes devoid of any warmth. Yun He forced a smile, trying not to feel too guilty.

When they arrived at the school gates, Yun He said to Gu Jiabei before getting out, "I'll send Little Meng back. Can you wait here for me?"

Gu Jiabei frowned at Yun He. "Do you really think I'm your chauffeur?"

"No, no, but the rain is getting heavier. I definitely won't be able to hail a taxi. You've been so kind already, could you just wait here for me?" Yun He's tone was soft, almost bordering on coquettish.

"You—"

"Wait for me!" Yun He didn't let Gu Jiabei finish and grabbed the umbrella that Gu Jiabei had prepared in the car. With Little Meng, he dashed into the school in a sprint.

Watching Yun He run in the rainy night, Gu Jiabei felt a surge of emotion. He looked over at the passenger seat and noticed Yun He's phone had been left behind. He turned off the engine, cracked open the window, and lit a cigarette.

When Yun He emerged from the school, he saw the G-Class still parked by the roadside with its hazard lights flashing brightly in the dark. His heart pounded wildly amidst the downpour.

Yun He put away the umbrella and got into the passenger seat where Gu Jiabei's cigarette was still burning.

"Just a moment, let me finish this cigarette," Gu Jiabei said with the cigarette between his teeth.

"Um-hum." Yun He nodded, taking in Gu Jiabei's profile under the streetlight. His face was still as handsome as ever, and with the passing years, Gu Jiabei had developed a mature charm that was accentuated by the cigarette at his lips. Yun He found him incredibly alluring.

"When did you start smoking?" Yun He asked.

"I knew how to smoke before I met you," Gu Jiabei replied, exhaling a ring of smoke. The tendrils of smoke curled around like an unbreakable connection to their past.

"Why have I never seen you do it before?"

"I didn't want to set a bad example for you," Gu Jiabei said, extinguishing the cigarette and discarding it in the ashtray. "You intentionally left your phone in the car, didn't you?"

"Did I leave my phone in the car?" Yun He asked with wide, innocent eyes. "Where could it be?"

Gu Jiabei suddenly leaned closer to Yun He, their proximity intensifying abruptly. Yun He caught the scent emanating from Gu Jiabei's body – that scent he had reminisced about countless times. However, it was slightly different from his memory, tinged with the aroma of cigarette smoke and masculine cologne.

Even though its taste has altered, it still effortlessly evokes past memories and sensations. Those moments of fervent kisses hidden in the dim corridors of our youth surge forth like successive waves of a turbulent river.

The car was dimly lit, and Yun He felt a subtle electric tingle spreading through his body, an indescribable intimacy and impulse stirring within him.

"Rise up," Gu Jiabei breathed, the warmth of his breath brushing against Yun He's cheek, igniting a trail of heat wherever it touched. Obediently, Yun He did as he was told and lifted his hips.

Gu Jiabei reached beneath Yun He's buttocks to retrieve the phone. "Isn't it uncomfortable for your bottom?"

Yun He felt like he could barely sit still anymore; it was as if there was a fire beneath the leather seat, scorching his bottom.

"You touched my butt..." Yun He murmured softly.

Gu Jiabei couldn't help but recall that time on the bus when they encountered a pervert. Yun He had looked exactly the same, blushing and asking if Gu Jiabei had touched him.

Memories seemed to be everywhere. Looking at Yun He, Gu Jiabei found his actions clumsy and amusing. "So why did you deliberately leave your phone behind?"

Yun He didn't explain. Instead, he stared unblinkingly at Gu Jiabei. That fleeting smile hadn't escaped Yun He's notice, and the sound of his pounding heart echoed in his ears. For so many years, he had dreamed of seeing Gu Jiabei smile at him again.

"I was afraid you wouldn't wait for me, that you'd drive away..." Yun He gazed fixedly at Gu Jiabei.

"Where were you going?" Gu Jiabei didn't continue their conversation. He sat up straight, placed the phone on Yun He's lap, and tapped the steering wheel with his long fingers.

"Just a moment, I need to make a call." Yun He didn't directly answer Gu Jiabei's question. Instead, he dialed Cai Mingzhi's number.

"Hi, Mom, I won't be home for dinner tonight. I ran into an... old classmate, so I won't be coming back."

"Leave the cake in the fridge if you can't finish it, or share some with the neighbors."

"Let's end it here. Talk to you later."

Yun He hung up and told Gu Jiabei, "I had planned to have dinner with my mom tonight, but now I'm not going back, so I won't have any food."

"So what?" Gu Jiabei asked.

"Well, either you treat me to dinner, or I can treat you," Yun He said, shamelessly asking for a favor.

"I have plans tonight—"

"Today is my birthday," Yun He revealed.

The fingers tapping on the steering wheel stilled, and after a brief silence, Gu Jiabei didn't respond. Yun He waited patiently for his decision.

"So, you want me to celebrate your birthday?" Gu Jiabei quipped.

Yun He shook his head. "Just keep me company for a while. I want to talk to you..."

With a pitiful tone and big, expressive eyes that seemed to plead for sympathy, Yun He gazed at Gu Jiabei like a coquettish kitten awaiting its owner's embrace.

Feeling somewhat irritated, Gu Jiabei lowered the car window further. The raindrops carried by the wind splashed onto his face, slightly sobering him up.

"I do have plans tonight, but it's not a work event. I'm meeting up with some college friends for dinner. Do you want to come along?" This was the result of his newfound clarity.

"Yes!" Yun He replied promptly.

During the evening rush hour, the traffic was so congested that it took Gu Jiabei nearly half an hour to reach the designated meeting spot.

Yun He followed Gu Jiabei out of the car. By now, the rain had subsided significantly, to the point where they could get by without umbrellas. They both got out of the car and entered the restaurant.

It was a Cantonese cuisine restaurant.

After reporting their names to the front desk, Gu Jiabei was led to a private room. Yun He followed closely behind.

Upon entering the room, a figure suddenly lunged forward. Before Yun He could discern whether it was a man or a woman, the person wrapped their arms tightly around Gu Jiabei.

"Damn, I've missed you so much! You finally agreed to see me!" It was a guy, roughly 6 feet tall, with a nasal twang in his voice. He had a pleasant appearance, falling into the cute category.

"Do you want to strangle me?" Gu Jiabei pulled the boy's arm away forcefully and then said to Yun He behind him, "This is my college classmate, Ji You."

Turning back to Ji You, he continued, "This is my junior high school classmate, Yun He."

One was a college friend, and the other a junior high friend; it seemed unclear which relationship was closer.

Ji You extended his hand to Yun He warmly and expansively. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Yun He tried to appear as warm and friendly as Ji You, returning a bright smile.

Gu Jiabei observed Yun He's fake, overly enthusiastic grin with a cold eye.

"Sit down quickly. I've been waiting for ages, and I'm starving," Ji You said, looping his arm around Gu Jiabei's and tugging him toward a seat coquettishly.

"Yun He, come sit down too," Ji You offered, patting the seat next to him. He was quite sociable and uninhibited by nature.

"Sure." Yun He pretended not to notice Ji You's gesture and sat down on the other side of Gu Jiabei.

Ji You didn't seem bothered and just kept smiling at Gu Ji Bei's face. "I ordered some dishes before you arrived. I didn't know you were bringing a friend, so I picked all your favorites." Then, addressing Yun He, he asked, "Yun He, are there any foods you don't eat? I can ask the server to add a few more dishes."

"No need, I'm not picky. Thank you." Yun He smiled, though he found it slightly unsettling to see Ji You holding onto Gu Jiabei's hand persistently.

"But classmate Gu Jiabei, how come you're getting more handsome by the day?" Ji You said with a grin as he looked at Gu Jiabei.

"Stop smiling at me like that, it makes me uncomfortable," Gu Jiabei pulled his arm away.

The waiter began serving the dishes. Twelve courses were placed before the three of them, and Yun He couldn't help but think that Ji You was quite generous.

"What would you like to drink?" Ji You asked Yun He.

"I don't have a good tolerance for alcohol," Yun He replied.

"I don't either, but I'm in a celebratory mood today, so I'd like a glass," Ji You said, instructing the waiter to open a bottle of red wine. "Gu Jiabei, it's been over a year since we last met. You have to join me tonight."

"I'm driving," Gu Jiabei said.

"Hire a designated driver then. Yun He doesn't drink, right? He could drive as well," Ji You started to pout playfully, a display that didn't come across as irritating, almost as if it was an innate skill.

"I'll drink," Yun He suddenly spoke up.

Certainly not, how could he allow these two to engage in a drinking game right before his eyes, excluding him, and then expect him to be their designated driver later on?

Ji You was taken aback for a moment before he chuckled. "Sure, why don't we all drink together?"

In the end, Gu Jiabei didn't have a single sip, while Yun He and Ji You took turns drinking.

Yun He truly couldn't hold his liquor; after a few cups, his face started turning red. His cheeks flushed, and soon, he felt as if he were floating on clouds, swaying up and down.

"Hahaha... Look at Yun He's face, it's so adorable! It's as red as a doll's," Ji You began to slur his words after a few rounds of drinking.

"You and Gu Jiabei were college classmates? Which university? Cambridge?" Yun He, also quite tipsy, spoke with a slight slur but still managed to take another big gulp of alcohol.

"Pfft... Hahahaha..." Ji You burst into laughter at Yun He's question. "Cambridge?"

Yun He frowned, looking at Gu Jiabei. "Not Cambridge?"

"No," Gu Jiabei replied expressionlessly.

"Then where did you attend university?" Yun He asked again.

"Shanghai, huh," Ji You scoffed. "Are you and Gu Jiabei one of those classmates who haven't kept in touch for years? Hahaha, the distance between your lives is just too much!"

"Stop laughing!" Yun He was displeased, his speech slurring. "What's wrong with us not having contacted each other for years..."

"You've had too much to drink." Gu Jiabei attempted to take the glass from Yun He's hand, but Yun He clung onto it stubbornly.

"I'm not drunk, he is! Look at him laughing like that, making fun of me!" Yun He slammed the glass down on the table in a huff.

Ji You was also quite tipsy. He grabbed Gu Jiabei's arm and leaned his face against his shoulder. "Your classmate is quite amusing. But does he have feelings for you?"

Gu Jiabei gently straightened Ji You's head from his shoulder. "You shouldn't drink anymore either."

"No, I need to drink. I need courage for my third confession... Ugh, I'm a bit scared of being rejected again..." Ji You, with bleary eyes, burped while looking at Gu Jiabei.

Confession? Yun He struggled to lift his eyelids, observing the two men before him.