Chapter 50 The Evolution of a Class Flower

Chapter 50 The Evolution of a Class Flower

Sheng Yan's anxiety turned into determination once again.

Right now, he was eager to know if Ning Song liked boys or if he might like boys in the future.

Boys liking boys is different from boys liking girls. The latter can directly confess their feelings, but the former rarely do so straightforwardly.

After all, heterosexuality is the majority. Most boys who like other boys are very cautious when they first experience these feelings, especially if they have feelings for their friends. They won't reveal their feelings unless absolutely necessary or the situation is clear.

Moreover, Sheng Yan had no dating experience, and Li Qingyuan, being straight, couldn't help him much. He could only create more opportunities.

It was time to slowly reveal his feelings.

On Friday, while working at Xingyue, he enthusiastically planned a camping trip with Ning Song.

Since they were going to watch a rugby match on Sunday, they couldn't go this week, so they planned for the next week.

The weather was getting warmer, making it perfect for camping. Since they had already been discussing it, Ning Song naturally agreed, though he wondered how Pu Yu would feel upon hearing about it.

And it seemed he was once again caught up in the love story between athletes and artists.

Because today, when he came to work, Xiao Zhang told him that a new waiter had been hired, also a student from Upper East School, and incredibly handsome.

Then he saw Fu Huisheng.

Sheng Yan was taken aback when he saw Fu Huisheng. Brother Xing brought him over and said, "You're from the same school; you should show him around."

Sheng Yan looked at Fu Huisheng and asked, "Why are you here?"

Fu Huisheng timidly replied, "I'm here to work."

"Does Gao Hongxuan let you come?" Sheng Yan asked.

Upon hearing this, Fu Huisheng's eyes welled up, and he said, "This has nothing to do with him."

Ning Song imagined the plot: probably another lovers' quarrel where the main character, the bottom, runs off to work at a KTV, likely encountering some inappropriate customers, leading the top to get jealous, beat up the customer, and then take the bottom away for a passionate kiss, making up after a short separation.

Because Gao Hongxuan was extremely possessive and had previously been jealous of Sheng Yan, now that Fu Huisheng was working alongside Sheng Yan, he would definitely be even more jealous.

Ning Song wasn't sure what role Sheng Yan played in this story—whether he was the real top or just there to make Gao Hongxuan jealous.

But after the incident with Pu Yu, he was less certain about these plots.

Seeing that Sheng Yan didn't seem to like Fu Huisheng, he offered, "Let me show him around."

Fu Huisheng looked at him gratefully.

He took Fu Huisheng to familiarize himself with the layout of Xingyue and explained the duties of a waiter.

Fu Huisheng put on the Xingyue uniform, looking exceptionally handsome due to his tall and well-proportioned build. Even with his hair tied up in a bun, he didn't appear feminine but rather had a unique gentleness.

He was just too pretty.

Sheng Yan was prettier, but he looked intimidating. Fu Huisheng, with his soft demeanor, had already been teased by some customers.

Ning Song noticed that Fu Huisheng had red eyes in the break room.

"If you encounter customers who get handsy, don't tolerate it. Tell the supervisor or manager, or any colleague. They won't ignore it."

Xingyue was generally quite formal. Of course, in such high-end entertainment venues, if a waiter is willing to use their looks to please customers and get them to order more drinks, or leave with them after work, Brother Xing and the others would turn a blind eye.

Fu Huisheng said, "Thank you. You're really kind."

This reminded Ning Song of Pu Yu.

Pu Yu had said something similar.

He immediately became wary and said lightly, "We're from the same school, so it's natural. Are you and Senior Gao broken up, or just fighting? Does he know you're here?"

Upon mentioning Gao Hongxuan, Fu Huisheng's eyes welled up even more, and he bit his lip, saying, "Who cares if he knows."

Well, it seems they won't be breaking up anytime soon.

Sure enough, near the end of the shift, Ning Song heard that a customer was causing trouble. When he went to check, he found Gao Hongxuan there.

He insisted on having Fu Huisheng serve him, but Fu Huisheng refused, leading to an argument in the hallway. Fu Huisheng was almost sobbing uncontrollably.

Sheng Yan pulled Ning Song back and said, "Ignore those crazy lovers."

Ning Song said, "It's just part of young couples' dynamics. Sometimes a little argument might actually strengthen their relationship."

Sheng Yan said, "You seem to know a lot. How many times have you dated?"

Ning Song laughed, "Even if I haven't eaten pork, I've seen pigs run."

That's how TV dramas portray it.

Sheng Yan said, "Looks like you haven't dated either."

His heart pounded as he spoke.

He had asked with a hint of curiosity.

Ning Song countered, "Have you?"

"No!" Sheng Yan quickly replied, "I'm completely innocent, single since birth, only held a girl's hand in kindergarten."

After saying this, he felt a flutter in his heart, finding such ordinary conversation surprisingly sweet. He hadn't dated anyone, and neither had Ning Song. This simple fact seemed strangely sweet. He leaned against the wall in the hallway and looked at Ning Song, who asked, "Haven't you met any boys you liked?"

Sheng Yan was taken aback, almost instantly feeling a tingling sensation in his body: "How did you know I like guys?"

Ning Song was also taken aback and blurted out: "I heard it from Brother Yuan..."

He vaguely remembered hearing something like that.

In any case, he assumed by default that all the handsome guys around him were protagonists of BL novels.

However, he wasn't narcissistic enough to think these protagonists would be interested in him. Even after what happened with Pu Yu, he didn’t think everyone would like him. Pu Yu was an exception due to his unique personality and circumstances.

The supervisor rushed over upon hearing the commotion, calming Gao Hongxuan while scolding them: "What are you all gawking at? Are you too idle?"

Ning Song turned back and hurriedly pulled Sheng Yan's arm: "Gao Hongxuan is going to get jealous seeing you!"

Sheng Yan turned around and saw Gao Hongxuan looking at him in shock, then suddenly burst into anger, saying to Fu Huisheng: "No wonder you came here to work."

Fu Huisheng was dragged away by Xiao Zhang and others but suddenly rushed back and kicked Gao Hongxuan.

Ning Song paused, drawn to the kick, no longer pulling Sheng Yan along.

Gao Hongxuan, suddenly kicked, was stunned for a moment before becoming both furious and heartbroken: "You kicked me?!"

Despite the commotion in the hallway, Sheng Yan was lost in thought, still pondering how Ning Song knew he liked boys. His gaze drifted to Ning Song, who was staring at Gao Hongxuan. The corridor was dimly lit with red light, and when Ning Song turned his head, his face seemed flushed as he said: "Truly a mad one."

Sheng Yan wasn’t quite sure what happened next, only feeling his heart pounding, very nervous. The supervisor dispersed them, and Ning Song was called away by a customer. Sheng Yan leaned against the wall, and the supervisor, somewhat gently, shouted: "What are you standing there for? Get to work."

Sheng Yan was restless all night, neither nervous nor excited, just unable to calm down. An impulse surged within him, making him feel dazed. When changing clothes in the locker room, he felt oddly shy, pretending to go to the bathroom until Ning Song had finished changing.

After changing, Ning Song sat on a soft bench waiting for him. As he took off his uniform, Xiao Zhang, who usually made lewd jokes, glanced at his shorts and suddenly said: "Look at how you’ve grown."

A more mischievous Liu Ge nearby commented: "These days, little Sheng makes the older brothers too embarrassed to undress."

When it came to lewd jokes, these straight guys could be disgustingly crude. Sheng Yan was used to their lack of restraint, but today he felt awkward, his cheeks heating up in front of Ning Song, only managing to say: "Get lost."

Turning to Ning Song, he saw Ning Song seemingly smiling, making his cheeks even hotter.

He put on his pants, grabbed a jacket, and said to Ning Song: "Let’s go."

Ning Song went out with him. Seeing Ning Song still smiling, his heart raced, suddenly grabbing Ning Song’s hand and leaning against the wall, tilting his head to look at him.

With such stunning beauty, few could resist his gaze. Even Ning Song, accustomed to his looks, felt slightly uncomfortable: "What is it?"

Sheng Yan smiled, his smile dazzling, evoking the same feeling Ning Song had when Sheng Yan sang "Jasmine" that day.

Thousands of jasmine blossoms swayed in his heart.

Sheng Yan simply smiled, turned around, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked coolly, saying: "Don’t learn bad habits from Liu Ge."

Outside, he rode his electric scooter and saw a luxury car parked nearby, with Gao Hongxuan squatting on the steps beside it.

Sheng Yan’s fiery spirit cooled considerably, ignoring Gao Hongxuan, straddled his yellow scooter, turned the key, and honked twice, driving past him toward Ning Song: "Get on."

Ning Song climbed onto the scooter and saw Fu Huisheng coming out of the store with a backpack.

As they drove away, he looked back and saw Fu Huisheng approaching Gao Hongxuan, who was looking up at him.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Pu Yu again.

Pu Yu and Gao Hongxuan were nothing alike; a thousand Gao Hongxuans couldn’t compare to half of Pu Yu. Although Pu Yu was also possessive and jealous, he handled it elegantly, never making others feel uncomfortable. He seemed to bear it all himself, only secretly pouting and pleading softly, asking if Ning Song could play exclusively with him, saying he got angry seeing Ning Song close to others.

Thinking about Gao Hongxuan, who was so temperamental and openly emotional, crouching on the ground like a beaten dog, looking up at Fu Huisheng, didn’t seem as repulsive. What about Pu Yu?

Was there something he couldn’t see that was even more bitter and desolate?

Pu Yu was truly infuriating, haunting his thoughts.

Lost in these thoughts, he stared at their shadows, gripping Sheng Yan’s clothes tightly. Sheng Yan was unusually silent today, thinking it wouldn’t be bad if they could continue this way. Life was just a series of moments, and this one was theirs.

Arriving at the Pu family’s gate, they coincidentally saw Mrs. Pu and others standing outside. Many cars were parked there. Sheng Yan stopped the scooter, and as Ning Song was about to get off, a clear child’s voice called out: "Xiao Song gege!"

Pu Ying’s shout drew everyone’s attention.

The tallest was Pu Yu, slightly taller than Pu Guanting, dressed in a black suit, looking starkly contrasted. He pursed his lips, watching them, then his expression darkened, turning away.

Sheng Yan stood on both feet, looked at the Pus, and told Ning Song: "I’ll leave first."

Ning Song nodded, watching Sheng Yan slowly ride through the traffic. His yellow scooter stood out among the luxury cars. From afar, Mrs. Pu smiled and asked Ning Song: "Is he your friend? So late, still sending you back?"

Ning Song nodded, greeted Mrs. Pu, and didn’t dare disturb Pu Guanting, who was talking to someone else. A guest asked Mrs. Pu who he was, and she smiled: "The housekeeper’s son."

Pu Ying pulled him inside, saying: "I got lots of new toys!"

Inside, Liu Fen and others were busy tidying the yard. Besides the regular household helpers, there were young people in uniforms. Pu Ying led him in, and they heard Pu Yu’s voice from behind: "It’s too late, time to sleep."

Pu Ying immediately stopped, and Ning Song turned back, seeing Pu Yu sternly say: "We can talk tomorrow."

Pu Yu, being the elder brother, was too authoritative. Pu Ying, who was usually afraid of him even when he wasn’t serious, immediately became obedient, saying to Ning Song: "Then, Xiao Song gege, wait for me tomorrow. I don’t have class."

Ning Song smiled and nodded. Pu Yu beckoned, and Pu Ying walked over.

Pu Yu called over the nanny taking care of Pu Ying: "Take him to bed."

"He should have been asleep already, but he refused." The nanny quickly carried Pu Ying away.

Seeing Liu Fen moving chairs, Ning Song ran over to help. Liu Fen noticed him and said: "You’re back."

Ning Song carried the chair and asked: "Where should we move it?"

"To the small warehouse next door."

Ning Song carried a chair forward and asked Liu Fen, "A banquet?"

"Pu Lao came and stayed here for the night before leaving this morning," Liu Fen said, somewhat excited. "It was my first time seeing him in person. He looks much younger than on TV, though he's not as approachable as he appears on screen."

After finishing, she turned around and saw Pu Yu carrying a chair over, feeling awkward. She quickly said, "Put it down, put it down. We can handle it."

Pu Yu replied, "It's fine."

Ning Song placed the chair in the storage room, then turned back to take the chair Pu Yu handed him without looking at him.

Liu Fen didn't let Ning Song help with moving anymore and told them both to go upstairs.

Ning Song went upstairs with Pu Yu. When they reached the second floor, he looked back and saw Pu Yu heading towards his room. Pu Yu turned at the door to look at him, and Ning Song hurriedly returned to his own room.

Ning Song deeply missed the relationship he used to have with Pu Yu. Now, given the strained relations between their families and the professional entanglements, things were complicated. He decided that starting from next week, he would find an excuse to avoid going to the Pu residence as much as possible.

On Saturday morning, Pu Yu went to the competition venue and returned at noon. He didn't see Ning Song during lunch. In the afternoon, while resting at home, he learned from Liu Fen that Ning Song had gone back to school in the morning, citing school matters.

Mrs. Pu asked Pu Yu, "Are you too tired from training lately? You look so worn out."

Pu Yu responded with a "Hmm" and said, "I caught a cold."

Later that evening, Rong Jiahe called him, saying he would come to watch the game the next day. Noticing Pu Yu's low spirits, he asked, "Why so cold even when I'm coming?"

Pu Yu replied, "How do you want me to be enthusiastic?"

"I'll arrive early tomorrow. Your little friend will be there, right? Introduce us, so I can meet this big shot."

Pu Yu, guarded, had no intention of sharing his heartbreak with Rong Jiahe. He chatted briefly and said dejectedly, "He might not come."

"Did you have a fight?" Rong Jiahe asked. "Didn't you say he has a great personality, very tolerant of you, and treats you incredibly well?"

Pu Yu never used the word "incredibly," but he didn't argue. Instead, his friend's words reminded him of how good and understanding Ning Song was, and how well he treated him.

How worthy of his love.

Yes, he didn't just like him; he loved him deeply. These past few days, living in an emotional ice cave, his love had only grown stronger, intense and self-punishing, eroding him entirely.

"It's my problem," he said.

On Sunday, Upper East School was even busier than usual. Early in the morning, Ning Song saw several buses parked in the large square in front of buildings two and three. From Qiao Qiao, he learned these were school-arranged buses to transport students to the competition venue.

He knew the school took the match seriously, but not to this extent.

"Of course, the whole school is mobilized. Even the principal is going," Qiao Qiao said.

Ning Song also noticed banners hanging around the school, all cheering for the rugby match.

Such a grand affair made Ning Song feel the pressure on Pu Yu.

They counted the number of attendees by class. Some students who lived closer to the venue chose to go on their own. About half of their class came to school, including Tang Zhenzhen, who brought along a slim, pale boy. The boy seemed only a few years older than them, and he was very close to Tang Zhenzhen, holding his hand and speaking gently.

This was the second time Ning Song had seen this boy. The first time was during his first week at the school, when he spotted them at the school gate on a weekend.

He sensed they were a couple, unlike Fu Huisheng's fiery relationship. This pair was gentle and quiet, and even Tang Zhenzhen, usually silent in class, showed a rare smile, exuding a sweet innocence and complete dependence.

Sitting behind them, Ning Song watched them throughout the journey. This was a type of couple he hadn't seen before, and by the time they arrived, his heart felt warm. He had never been against same-sex couples, whether dramatic or passionate, but this was the first time he felt that a relationship between two men could be this beautiful.

The subtle emotions were soon dispelled by the excitement at the venue.

Sheng Yan and Qiao Qiao had already arrived and were seated. Deng Xun was there too, and Ning Song saw Li You and Zheng Xiaobo. Qiao Qiao waved at him, "Over here!"

He waved back but first ran over to Li You. Li You was engrossed in a game, and when he looked up and saw Ning Song, he smiled, showing his white teeth. "Thought you weren't coming."

Ning Song blushed, "With everyone here, how could I not come?"

Zheng Xiaobo said, "Where are you sitting? Can we share?"

"I'm sitting over there; Qiao Qiao saved me a seat. I'll head there now."

As he walked through the aisle, Li You glanced at him, his tongue pressing against his cheek.

Their reserved seat was between Sheng Yan and Qiao Qiao. Ning Song greeted Deng Xun and sat down. As soon as he did, he saw Shen Lingsi standing in the front row, looking at him. Ning Song waved, and Shen Lingsi smiled, but remained where he was, sitting next to Mr. Jiang.

With half an hour until the match, the arena was almost full, and people were already crowding the aisles. The noise was deafening, and the principal and others arrived last. Chen Mo distributed Upper East School flags.

Once the flags were handed out, the camps became clear. Students from Upper East School and Holy Grace School were seated opposite each other, with other schools and general spectators in between. Both being boys' schools and holding their respective school flags, they stood out prominently.

The atmosphere at a sports event is crucial. Even before the match began, Ning Song was already excited and oddly nervous.

Qiao Qiao was chatting in the group chat, and Ning Song overheard something about someone being sick. He asked, "Who's sick?"

"They said Brother Yu is sick."

Ning Song was stunned, "What?"

"Damn, what are we going to do? He's our rugby team's main player. He can't miss the game, can he?"

Ning Song asked, "Is it serious?"

Just the other night, he seemed fine while moving stuff.

"Shouldn't be serious," Qiao Qiao said.

"What if we lose to Holy Grace?"

"Stop jinxing us!"

"Even without Brother Yu, our school can still beat them to a pulp!"

Even though they said that, Fan Duoduo and the others started discussing whether Pu Yu would play or not. Qiao Qiao said to Ning Song, "Why don't you send him a message? Ask him."

Deng Xun said, "He probably won't see it at this point; the game is about to start."

Sheng Yan wasn't particularly happy upon hearing this news either. He would rather see Pu Yu lead the team to crush the opponents than watch Holy Grace School's students strut around and humiliate them. The cheerleaders were already entering the field, and since it was an all-boys school, the cheerleaders were also boys. The atmosphere was very lively, but Ning Song was nervous, rubbing his fingers and looking towards the entrance. Holy Grace School's team entered first, and the crowd erupted in cheers on their side. The provocative attitude of the opposing school was so strong that even Ning Song felt stimulated. So when their team entered, he joined the others in waving flags and cheering, determined to outdo the other side. Even before the match began, the tension was palpable, with students from other schools taking photos with their phones.

For the first time, Ning Song felt a sense of honor and unity as a student of Upper East School. He spotted Pu Yu in the blue team, walking at the back of the group. As soon as he appeared, the cheering immediately drowned out Holy Grace School's momentum.

Pu Yu was undoubtedly the star of the field, a true celebrity among male high school students.

From a relatively close distance, Pu Yu didn't look too sick. He stood tall and straight, wearing a football uniform with shoulder pads, showcasing his broad shoulders. If someone wasn't tall enough, they might look overly stocky, but Pu Yu's height made him appear the slimmest among the players. Despite being slim, he wasn't weak, with a small head, broad shoulders, and long legs, standing out among the players.

"Damn, Brother Yu is really handsome!" Qiao Qiao exclaimed while filming with his phone.

Ning Song took out his phone to record a video, zooming in on Pu Yu's face. Pu Yu had thick black hair, a fair and delicate face, and his bangs parted to reveal sharp eyes, which looked somewhat haggard in the close-up. In the magnified view, he pursed his lips, tilted his head to listen to his teammates, waved, or lowered his head, then suddenly turned away to cough twice.

This was just a regular preliminary match, and the outcome wouldn't significantly affect their advancement, but it was clearly a match they couldn't afford to lose. Both teams were strong contenders for the championship, and one had to lose. Now, both schools had mobilized fully, facing each other head-on. Ning Song grew increasingly anxious for Pu Yu. Suddenly, he saw Pu Yu looking towards their side of the stands. For some reason, he stood up without waving, then immediately sat down again, unsure why he stood up or if Pu Yu had seen him. He wondered if Pu Yu would be more nervous seeing him there. His mind was buzzing when the match began. He raised his phone again, and in the shaky footage, Pu Yu was already walking to the other side. After a few steps, he turned his head, seemingly looking into the lens, and suddenly raised his hand, making an OK gesture.