Chapter 41: The Evolution of a Class Flower

Chapter 41: The Evolution of a Class Flower

Pu Yu walked with Ning Song to the fork in the road.

Ning Song said, "Good night, Brother Yu."

"Hold on," Pu Yu said. "I'll see you to the building."

"No need, I can run back."

"Didn't your Brother Yan tell you not to go alone?"

Ning Song smiled. "Alright then."

Pu Yu no longer had his arm around Ning Song's shoulder and said, "You listen to him."

"I listen to you too."

Pu Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Not enough."

He took the empty milk carton from Ning Song's hand and tossed it into the nearby trash bin.

Ning Song suddenly turned his head to look behind him.

Pu Yu looked back as well, catching a glimpse of someone in the distance.

Though they couldn't be sure if the person was following them, both became more alert.

Pu Yu escorted Ning Song to Building 4.

Ning Song asked, "Want to come up for a bit?"

"No, I need to go back and shower."

He watched Ning Song enter the dormitory and stood there for a while.

He ran into Chen Mo returning with a bag and greeted him.

"Looking for Ning Song?"

Pu Yu said, "No."

He turned and left.

Chen Mo watched Pu Yu's back as he walked away, then saw Li You approaching.

He wasn't familiar with Li You and tried to avoid interacting with such guys, so he pretended not to see him and went upstairs.

Pu Yu walked a few steps, raised his arm, and sniffed it, still smelling the fragrance of Ning Song's neck.

From that night on, his feelings for Ning Song evolved from purely spiritual love to something more physical.

The latter seemed to awaken, igniting his affection, which burned fiercely until a sudden bolt of lightning struck.

On Friday afternoon, right after the rehearsal ended, Ning Song went to Xingyue with Sheng Yan.

Pu Yu had previously agreed with Ning Song to visit Xingyue on Friday to see where he worked.

This was Ning Song's invitation, mainly to reassure Pu Yu.

Pu Yu certainly wanted to go.

He felt this was a sign of their close relationship and wanted Sheng Yan to see it.

So after dinner, Pu Yu went with Qiao Qiao.

As soon as they entered, they saw Sheng Yan, dressed in his waiter's uniform, looking handsome and tall, chatting amiably with a few girls, making them laugh with his smooth talk.

When Sheng Yan saw Pu Yu, his smile faded.

Qiao Qiao greeted him, and Sheng Yan walked over, glanced at Pu Yu, and asked, "Did the two young masters make a reservation?"

"We did," Qiao Qiao replied with a smile.

Sheng Yan led them to the front desk to confirm the reservation and then to a private room.

Qiao Qiao asked, "Where's Aning?"

"He's busy," Sheng Yan said. "Isn't my service enough?"

"Can we request specific servers?" Pu Yu asked.

Before Sheng Yan could answer, Qiao Qiao said, "We know some, of course. We can also ask them to bring us a fruit platter."

Sheng Yan said, "You'd have to tip them."

Sheng Yan led them into the private room and asked, "Just the two of you? Will you have fun?"

Qiao Qiao said, "Of course not. Deng Xun and his friends will be here later, along with Dodo and Feng Xiang."

Sheng Yan smiled meaningfully. "That should work."

"Where's Aning? Call him over," Qiao Qiao said. "Tell him Brother Yu is here."

Sheng Yan said, "Brother Yu has quite the influence."

Pu Yu didn't respond, and Sheng Yan smiled, pulling the door shut as he left.

For someone like Pu Yu to chase all the way to the karaoke bar, it seems he's really smitten.

Indeed, they were putting in a real effort.

Before Ning Song arrived, Fan Duoduo and the others had already shown up. Soon after, Deng Xun and the rest arrived as well, immediately livening up the private room.

When Ning Song came in, Qiao Qiao and Fan Duoduo were already having a great time, while Deng Xun and Pu Yu were chatting. Pu Yu was holding a can of beer, which he set down when he saw Ning Song enter, straightening himself up.

Ning Song placed the fruit platter on the table. "Brother Xun."

Deng Xun smiled. "Are you working here?"

Ning Song nodded, then looked at Pu Yu. "Call me when it's your turn to sing; I want to hear what you're singing."

Pu Yu asked, "Can you be called?"

Ning Song pointed to his name tag. "Call the front desk and ask for my number. If I'm not busy, I'll come over."

As soon as he finished speaking, his earpiece buzzed, and Ning Song hurried out. It was peak hour for customers.

Pu Yu went to select songs. After choosing one, Qiao Qiao asked him, "Do you need me to go first?"

Pu Yu replied, "No need."

The private room was lively, with Fan Duoduo and Qiao Qiao creating more excitement than an entire class. Especially Qiao Qiao—he was a natural at setting the mood. When Deng Xun said he was getting a headache from the noise, Qiao Qiao leaned against him, whispering into his ear.

In public, Qiao Qiao and Deng Xun seemed more like friends who loved bickering. Sometimes Pu Yu felt that Ning Song and Sheng Yan's relationship resembled theirs, just without the tension.

But the tension between Deng Xun and Qiao Qiao felt more like sparks, with their verbal sparring being emotional touchpoints. As one of the few people aware of their secret, Pu Yu always found himself watching them, feeling envious of Deng Xun.

If he could have such a relationship with Ning Song, he couldn't even imagine how happy he would be.

He wanted that special connection, something unique and different from everyone else.

To be the only one, the most unique.

"Yu Ge, it's your turn to sing," Fan Duoduo shouted.

Pu Yu called the front desk to summon Ning Song, but the receptionist apologized sweetly, "I'm sorry, sir, 0028 is currently busy. Can I relay the message later?"

Pu Yu switched to the next song.

Qiao Qiao asked, "Aren't you going to sing?"

"You guys go ahead."

Saying this, he left the private room.

He didn't actually enjoy singing and wasn't good at it, but if Ning Song wanted to listen, he would.

The corridor was bathed in a reddish light, and the carpet had a velvety texture. Standing there, he suddenly saw Ning Song coming out of another room, followed by a familiar face from their class—Jin Yang.

Ning Song was also surprised to see Jin Yang.

Their interactions were minimal because Jin Yang disliked him and never spoke to him. Jin Yang was part of the student council and rarely stayed in the classroom.

Although Qiao Qiao told him that Jin Yang liked Pu Yu, Jin Yang rarely spoke to Pu Yu either. His affection mainly manifested through preferential treatment. He was arrogant and had a temper, often talking down to others, but whenever Pu Yu was around, he became quiet and gentle like a lamb.

Ning Song once briefly shipped them as a couple because he knew that differential treatment was a common trope in romance novels—a proud and domineering beauty becoming a silent admirer in love. This dynamic was quite compelling.

But Pu Yu and Jin Yang had no significant interaction.

And even less with him.

However, when he was summoned to the private room and saw Jin Yang's familiar face, he sensed something was about to happen.

Sure enough, Jin Yang called him out alone, saying he wanted to talk.

Xingyue's layout was intricate, with two bathrooms per floor connected by a long circular corridor. Both sides of the bathrooms had large washbasins, and outside each, there was a lounge area with sofas and beverages, including a small balcony for smoking.

They walked through the lounge to the small balcony.

The balcony was tiny, barely fitting two people besides a small coffee table.

Jin Yang got straight to the point, asking, "Are you dating Pu Yu?"

"No, no," Ning Song explained, "We're just very good friends."

"Do you like him?"

"Yes," Ning Song teased, looking at Jin Yang's domineering demeanor.

Jin Yang's brows furrowed immediately.

"But not in the way you think," Ning Song clarified. "I don't like guys."

Jin Yang didn't seem to believe him, squinting in the dim light of the balcony. "Are you really not in that kind of relationship? Why wouldn't you like him?"

It seemed to him that anyone liking Pu Yu was perfectly normal.

Seeing how much Jin Yang valued Pu Yu, Ning Song genuinely felt happy for Pu Yu. "Do you like him a lot?"

Jin Yang asked, "What do you think? He's mine!"

Ning Song said, "I've noticed you two don't interact much. If you like him, you should take the initiative. He won't pursue anyone unless they make the first move."

Pu Yu, being the unapproachable type, would never chase someone. Only a persistent and bright personality could win his heart.

"Do you know what happens to those who try to pursue him? Are you trying to sabotage me?" Jin Yang looked at him and said, "Forget it. He doesn't even like me, so why would he like you? I must be crazy for talking to you."

With that, Young Master Jin left.

Ning Song: "…"

He really couldn’t help but say something.

He tidied up the ashtray on the small balcony before coming out.

When he reached downstairs, the receptionist called out to him, "Ning Song, the guest in room 306 is looking for you."

Ning Song acknowledged it and brought a small fruit platter. This was an unspoken rule in their KTV; when they encountered acquaintances, they would send some food and drinks, with the receptionist pretending not to notice.

Ning Song carried the fruit platter to room 306, pushed the door open, and saw Qiao Qiao and Fan Duoduo screaming and howling as they sang "Mount Everest."

Qiao Qiao deliberately chose this song; it was his standard repertoire, meant to disrupt others. Sure enough, Deng Xun covered his ears with both hands.

Today, he was clearly targeting Deng Xun.

Pu Yu, on the other hand, sat quietly on a small sofa near the entrance. He wore a rather youthful blue hoodie today, which didn’t quite match his usual style, making him look very pale and well-behaved.

Ning Song, holding the fruit platter, feigned surprise, "You’re singing so beautifully!"

Qiao Qiao and the others burst into laughter. Fan Duoduo took the fruit platter from him and pulled him over, handing him a microphone.

Ning Song joined in and sang a couple of lines. Sheng Yan appeared at some point, leaning against the door with a smile, watching them go wild.

It was the kind of carefree joy that boys should have, unrestrained.

After the song ended, Qiao Qiao handed him a small piece of watermelon. Ning Song said, "I’ll eat outside. Why eat here? I went through the trouble of bringing this in."

As Ning Song moved past Deng Xun and the others, he asked Pu Yu, "Yu Ge, did you sing?"

Pu Yu looked up at him. The main lights in the room were off, leaving only the rotating mood lights, making faces hard to see. With the loud music, Ning Song couldn’t hear what Pu Yu said. Then he heard Sheng Yan call out, "The supervisor is here."

Hearing this, Ning Song immediately got up and left.

Sheng Yan laughed and put his arm around Ning Song’s shoulder, whispering something in his ear. The bright light from the doorway illuminated their youthful faces, then the door closed, and the light vanished.

Ning Song didn’t come back after that. When he passed by this floor later, he briefly peeked in but was called away again. Sheng Yan came several times and noticed Pu Yu sitting quietly on the sofa, occasionally taking a sip of beer without singing. He thought Pu Yu was trying to stand out, acting like a pretentious person.

They decided to move on to a late-night snack around ten o’clock. Since Ning Song had specifically mentioned it, Qiao Qiao was very considerate towards Pu Yu, "Yu Ge, join us."

"I won’t go," Pu Yu said.

He looked a bit tired and wasn’t in high spirits.

Qiao Qiao felt a little embarrassed. He thought maybe he and Fan Duoduo were too noisy tonight, and Master Pu might not be used to such a raucous environment.

"Just grab a bite. Aning specifically told me to invite you along."

As he spoke, Ning Song ran down.

He still held a tray, rushing over to ask, "Are you leaving?"

"Thought we’d let you know before we go," Qiao Qiao said. "I invited Yu Ge to dinner, but he doesn’t want to come."

Ning Song turned to Pu Yu, "Come on, if I’m off work by the time you finish, I’ll join you. Let’s go to Hengyuanji. Sheng Yan and I have eaten there a few times. Their barbecue is amazing, and the atmosphere is great. It’s right at the intersection of Huaihai Road and Binjiang Road, not far."

"I’m going back to rest," Pu Yu said.

"Maybe we were too noisy," Qiao Qiao laughed.

Ning Song smiled, "Really not coming?"

He wanted Pu Yu to get to know Deng Xun and the others better, including Sheng Yan.

To make more friends.

Pu Yu nodded. The hall lights were very bright, perhaps too glaring, so he didn’t look at Ning Song’s face.

Then Sheng Yan added another jab, hearing they were going to Hengyuanji, saying, "Oh no, our secret spot has been discovered!"

Pu Yu walked straight out.

Ning Song said to Sheng Yan, "Yan Ge, watch the supervisor for me. I’ll go out and see them off."

Saying this, he rushed after them, walking beside Pu Yu.

Sheng Yan couldn’t stand Pu Yu’s aloofness. He thought Pu Yu was doing it on purpose to gain sympathy.

Ning Song fell for it. Although Ning Song seemed like someone who needed care, he was actually a big-hearted man who loved organizing and taking care of others.

Ning Song and Sheng Yan finished work a bit earlier today, around eleven forty. They rode Sheng Yan’s electric scooter to Hengyuanji.

Outside Hengyuanji, a yellow McLaren was parked. Sheng Yan parked his scooter nearby and circled the car, saying, "Deng Xun looks so steady, yet he drives a car this color."

Ning Song thought to himself, this was the protagonist’s contrast.

It showed Deng Xun had a wild soul!

Praying for his good friend Qiao Qiao.

Inside, they picked their food. Ning Song made a phone call, asking, "Are you asleep?"

He still remembered to call Pu Yu and ask if he wanted anything.

Sheng Yan listened, amazed that Ning Song still cared about Pu Yu.

He felt that regardless of the type of relationship, to become Ning Song’s closest companion, he had to push Pu Yu away first.

Since there were many people, they ate until nearly one o’clock. Leaving Hengyuanji, Qiao Qiao asked, "How are you getting back?"

"Ride in my car." Sheng Yan said.

Since it was too late, Qiao Qiao looked around and only saw Deng Xun's McLaren: "Where's your car?"

Sheng Yan spread his hands, showing Qiao Qiao his small electric scooter.

Fan Duoduo and the others started laughing.

"You ride an electric scooter?" Qiao Qiao asked.

Sheng Yan pushed his electric scooter over and beckoned Ning Song to get on.

Qiao Qiao: "...Aning, we'll take you. Ride with Brother Dun."

"You take Duoduo and the others," Ning Song said. "I'm fine riding with Brother Yan; it's not the first time."

Fan Duoduo said, "I've already called for a car; it'll be here in two minutes."

"In that case, let Brother Xun take you back," Ning Song told Qiao Qiao. "It's out of the way for me, quite a detour."

"Just get on, let's go," Sheng Yan urged him.

Ning Song got on and grabbed Sheng Yan's waist: "Let's go."

Qiao Qiao watched as Sheng Yan rode off with Ning Song on the small electric scooter.

Ning Song didn't turn back but raised his arm, giving a casual wave, looking very cool.

Under the streetlights, they gradually disappeared into the distance.

Deng Xun asked Qiao Qiao, "Are they dating?"

Qiao Qiao looked at him: "Do you understand how straight guys interact?"

Deng Xun was speechless: "Get in the car; I'll see how straight you are."

Qiao Qiao lifted his leg to kick him, but just then, Fan Duoduo's car arrived, so he put his leg down.

Ning Song now enjoyed riding this kind of small electric scooter. In this season, with the breeze blowing, it felt very comfortable.

"I plan to buy one myself after I get paid," he told Sheng Yan.

Sheng Yan stiffened and said, "Is riding mine not good enough?"

"I can't even stretch my legs," Ning Song said. "I have nowhere to put these long legs of mine."

Sheng Yan said, "Spending money extravagantly right after earning it? Do you know you have to pay for registration?"

"Do you have to pay for registration?" Ning Song asked.

Sheng Yan said, "And it's very expensive. Just stick with riding mine and endure the inconvenience of your long legs."

He dropped Ning Song off outside the Pu family mansion: "What are you doing tomorrow? If you're free, come find me at my place."

Ning Song said, "Can't. I'm going to the New Bay Area with Brother Yu for a meeting."

Sheng Yan was taken aback and asked, "What meeting?"

"The GDC, a game developers conference," Ning Song said excitedly. "Many great developers will be there."

Sheng Yan pursed his lips, then smiled and said, "Sounds impressive."

"It's rare, and Brother Yu helped me get a spot. I might not make it to Xingyue tomorrow night. If I can't, please ask for leave on my behalf. I'll try to get back early." Ning Song said, "I'm off; drive carefully."

Sheng Yan watched Ning Song enter before heading home on his electric scooter.

He had no idea what GDC was.

But he did think Pu Yu wasn't as quiet as he seemed, knowing how to cater to Ning Song's interests.

During dinner today, they talked about games, and Ning Song mentioned that Pu Yu's dorm had many PC games. Ning Song praised Pu Yu, saying he was very skilled at gaming.

How skilled could a quiet person be?

Ning Song quietly went upstairs, pausing by Pu Yu's room to listen, but hearing nothing, he returned to his own room.

He was very tired today and went to bed without showering. The next morning, after freshening up and having breakfast, Pu Yu had already gone to training.

Pu Yu was also very busy, juggling company matters and self-study subjects.

He was particularly hardworking.

After breakfast, he went to the gym to watch Pu Yu train. Today, everyone was fully equipped with helmets and protective gear, but he still spotted Pu Yu immediately, cheering him on from the crowd.

Pu Yu must have seen him, as he looked through his helmet at him and was knocked to the ground by someone.

The tackles in rugby were intense, which scared Ning Song. He stopped cheering and clenched his fists, silently cheering Pu Yu on.

Pu Yu's performance was still the best on the field.

Ning Song waited for their training to end and for Pu Yu to change clothes, meeting him at the same exit where they bought water last time.

He wasn't thirsty and bought only one bottle of water this time.

When Pu Yu came out, he tossed the bottle to him.

Pu Yu caught it, his hair drenched in sweat, and the smell was strong, as if he hadn't showered the previous day.

Ning Song said, "Are you okay after that fall?"

Pu Yu said, "It's nothing."

"That guy seemed to be deliberately targeting you. I saw him bump into you several times on purpose."

Pu Yu hummed in agreement and said, "There's a bit of a conflict."

"Aren't you on the same team? He still acts like that?" Ning Song said, "Good thing you crushed him badly. As an athlete, being weak is the most embarrassing thing!"

Pu Yu gave a light laugh, and his smile faded.

"I bought some sports drinks; have a sip." Ning Song said, looking at his face.

He thought Pu Yu looked a bit tired.

Pu Yu twisted open the bottle cap and took a couple of sips.

After tidying up a bit and returning home, Ning Song went to the New Bay Area with Pu Yu, filled with excitement.

Pu Yu had even tailored a set of casual suits for him.

They fit perfectly!

But when it came to wearing suits, Pu Yu was still the handsomest.

All the best words could be used to describe him.

He also met Xiao Bai and the others. When they chatted with him before, they assumed he was their age. Finding out he was still in high school shocked them, and seeing him in person made them even more incredulous.

Their boss already made them lament the unfairness of fate, but Ning Song looked even more promising at such a young age!

First, they attended a group exhibition and listened to a speech. At noon, Ning Song and Pu Yu entered a luncheon exclusive to certain industry insiders.

At this luncheon, Ning Song met Xie Qingting and had the privilege of seeing his latest masterpiece.

After watching it, he felt that his own "Black Rose Campus" was like a flawed product.

It was worlds apart.

On the big screen, Xie Qingting's game was breathtaking, with visuals and music akin to art.

No wonder his breakout work was collected by museums.

Ning Song watched with great excitement, leaning against Pu Yu's shoulder, saying, "Imagine if one day we could make a game this good..."

The music was grand, applause filled the hall, and the spotlight shone on the master as Ning Song envisioned their future.

Pu Yu thought, Ning Song hasn't done anything wrong, even though he was so upset.

He didn't know whether Ning Song liked guys or not.

And the fact that Ning Song didn't like him, he knew all along.

Unrequited lovers know everything; they just refuse to face it. The conversation he overheard merely forced him to confront reality sooner.

Ning Song said, "One day, if we could make a game like this."

"One day" means the future, and "we" refers to him and Ning Song.

Isn't that enough?

For an unrequited lover, it's tempting enough.

So he told Ning Song, "Definitely. I'll be there to witness it with you."

Ning Song seemed to see their possible future and turned to look at him with a smile.

He didn't see love in Ning Song's eyes, but he did see the glow of his aspirations.

He could continue loving him, more cautiously, until Ning Song fell in love with someone else. Until then, he could stay by his side.

Ning Song felt that Pu Yu's personality was a bit unpredictable.

Because in the morning, he sensed Pu Yu was listless, as if he hadn't rested well, but in the afternoon, he seemed to regain some energy, reverting to the familiar self of recent days.

Together, they attended seminars, met manufacturers, and viewed exhibitions. In the evening, he couldn't make it to Xingyue as planned.

So he called Sheng Yan and asked him to take leave for him.

Sheng Yan asked, "Do you have activities tonight?"

"Yeah, we're having dinner alone with Xie Qingting tonight!"

Ning Song was very excited.

Pu Yu listened from the side, thinking coldly, does Sheng Yan know Ning Song isn't interested in guys?

Would he feel hurt?

And what about Shen Lingsi, who has many tricks up his sleeve.

Thinking about it, the jealousy he felt towards them turned into a bittersweet satisfaction.

After all, no one else would be better off than him.

Feeling this way made him much more comfortable.

"Author's Note"

Those in unrequited love are adept at settling for less.

Pu Yu: As long as my rival in love doesn't fare better than me, that's the main thing.