Chapter 10

Chapter 10

This family farce came to an end when Shen Yan nearly fainted due to exhaustion.

For two consecutive days, the Shen family was shrouded in a tense atmosphere.

On the third day, Shen Lin left for school with his suitcase, and Shen Shubai, claiming he had to attend a school meeting, was leaving early and returning late each day.

As for Shu Qianfei, as a company director, she rarely stayed at home.

This left Shen Yan at home in peace and quiet.

The day Shen Yan was to start school, the weather was overcast, with the sound of thunder rumbling.

On such days, Shen Yan usually felt a bit suffocated.

Shu Qianfei had gone on a business trip out of province the day before and had specifically instructed Shen Shubai to drive Shen Yan to school.

But as expected, Shen Shubai would use the excuse of being busy with school matters and ask Wang Shu to take him instead.

It didn’t really matter whether Shen Shubai came or not, as he wouldn’t have helped Shen Yan with his luggage anyway.

As Shen Yan sat in the car, Wang Shu kept checking the time, looking visibly anxious.

"Wang Shu, do you have something to take care of later?"

Wang Shu sighed, "Ah, it's my little granddaughter. She's sick, and her parents aren't in Jing City, only her grandmother is here.

"Your aunt isn't much of a conversationalist, and as you young people say, she’s socially anxious. I’m just worried.

"But don’t worry, young master, I drive steadily; nothing will go wrong."

Shen Yan glanced at the entrance of A University, where students and parents were bustling about, making it quite crowded.

"Wang Shu, just drop me off up ahead. I can go in on my own."

"How can that be all right? I need to take you to your dormitory, or I won’t be able to explain it to the boss."

Shen Yan said, "If Mom asks, just tell her it was my idea. Wang Shu, stop the car."

Wang Shu, genuinely worried about his little granddaughter, decided to follow Shen Yan's suggestion since they had already arrived at the school.

He took Shen Yan's suitcase out of the trunk and kept giving instructions, "Young master, be careful when you go in, and watch out for the stairs. If the suitcase is too heavy, ask a classmate for help..."

Shen Yan said, "Alright, Wang Shu, I got it. Go now, and be careful on the road."

Wang Shu sat in the car, watching Shen Yan’s back as he sighed softly.

He knew that Shu Qianfei had instructed Shen Shubai to send Shen Yan to school, but Shen Shubai had used his busyness as an excuse again.

What the young master needed wasn’t someone to help him carry his suitcase, but rather a father figure.

Every family has its own troubles.

Shen Yan, seeing the energetic students around him, felt his mood lighten considerably, except for a slight stuffiness in his chest due to the weather, with no other discomfort.

However, it was premature to assume. Although Shen Yan had attended A University in his previous life, he had rarely been on campus. One reason was his health, and another was that after the family incident, he had taken a leave of absence.

Shen Yan checked the dormitory building number on his phone and realized he was lost.

Fortunately, the campus was bustling with people. After asking for directions, Shen Yan realized he had been heading in the wrong direction.

Shen Yan was so engrossed in the signs that he failed to notice his surroundings. When he turned, he collided with a large figure.

His phone fell to the ground.

Shen Yan ignored the phone and first checked on the person he had collided with. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, sorry,” the other person’s voice was warm, like the spring sun.

His voice alone made people feel happy.

Shen Yan reached out to help, but when the other person lifted his face, Shen Yan felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cellar.

Xie Shiyu!

Shen Yan hadn’t anticipated meeting him in such a situation.

Had he encountered Xie Shiyu on the first day of school in his previous life?

Shen Yan was certain he hadn’t.

Xie Shiyu had a handsome face. Seeing such a face, one could only think of sunshine, liveliness, and cheerfulness. If he had met him during enrollment, he would never have forgotten him.

“Classmate? Are you okay? Your hands are freezing.”

Although it was unusual to describe someone’s hand temperature as 'cold' in September, the handsome boy in front of him indeed had very cold hands.

Shen Yan snapped back to reality and quickly replied, “N-no, I’m fine. Let me help you gather your things.”

“Thank you. You're not only good-looking but also kind-hearted. Are you a freshman as well?” Xie Shiyu asked.

Shen Yan didn’t want to engage in conversation, but his upbringing wouldn’t allow him to ignore someone being kind.

“Yes, I’m a freshman.”

“My name is Xie Shiyu. What’s your name, classmate?”

“I, my name is Shen Yan.”

“My dorm is just ahead. Shen Yan, thank you. I hope we'll meet again.” Xie Shiyu, carrying a burlap bag, headed towards the dorm entrance.

Shen Yan leaned helplessly against a nearby stone bridge.

Xie Shiyu had come to report alone. It wasn’t that he didn’t need parents, but that he had none.

Xie Shiyu grew up in an orphanage.

Coincidentally, Xie Shiyu was a child sponsored by the Hu family.

Xie Shiyu and Hu Chengyu were truly a perfect pair.

One was cold and kept people at a distance, while the other was sunny and kind.

Shen Yan chuckled softly to himself. Giving up on Hu Chengyu was definitely the right decision he made.

Lost in his own world, Shen Yan didn’t notice that not far away, Xie Shiyu looked back at him quietly. His face was expressionless, and his eyes were filled with a dark, gloomy look, with none of the previous sunshine and cheerfulness.

“So this is the precious one Hu Chengyu has been protecting? He’s really beautiful…”

*

Fortunately, Shen Yan’s dorm wasn’t far from here. He was almost out of energy.

Compared to other dorms, this one was unusually quiet, with hardly anyone around, let alone freshmen.

Had he gone to the wrong place?

But after checking several times, it was indeed Building 22.

He climbed to the second floor, found Dorm 202, and sat on his suitcase, one hand propped against the wall. He was exhausted.

He could feel the sweat trickling down his back, causing a slight itch.

All he wanted now was to take a shower and lie in bed.

"Shen Yan?"

Due to extreme fatigue, his ears were ringing, and the sounds he heard seemed distant.

Was someone calling him?

"Is it really you? Are you okay?" Lu Zhao was startled when he saw Shen Yan’s pale face, labored breathing, and sweat streaming down his cheeks.

"Bro, bro, come out quick! Shen Yan is in trouble!"

In a daze, Shen Yan saw a tall figure approaching.

Then everything went black.

Hu Chengyu took the keys from his hand and let him rest his head on his shoulder.

Seeing this, Lu Zhao quickly said, "Bro, let me help Yan Yan."

Hu Chengyu glanced at him, his expression somewhat frightening.

Lu Zhao pulled his hand back.

Hu Chengyu said, "Go downstairs and buy some iced water. He’s having a heatstroke."

Hu Chengyu looked around the dorm room; it hadn’t been cleaned, let alone the mattress or bedding.

He simply scooped Shen Yan up and carried him to his own dorm.

In his haze, Shen Yan caught the faint scent of fresh grass, subtle and refreshing.

He seemed to see Hu Chengyu.

"Bro, why... won’t you see me..."

Hu Chengyu wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck with a damp towel. Hearing his soft muttering, he leaned in closer, catching only these fragmented words.

When had he ever avoided him?

It was Shen Yan who had been hiding and avoiding him, and now he was blaming him in his dream?

Hu Chengyu could barely suppress a laugh of exasperation.

After buying the ice water, Lu Zhao hurried back. Seeing that the door to room 202 was closed, he banged on the door, worried that Shen Yan might be in danger if he didn’t act fast.

"Over here." Hu Chengyu emerged from room 201.

Lu Zhao was momentarily stunned. "Bro, you locked Yan Yan in there alone?"

Hu Chengyu gave him a look as if he were an idiot, took the ice water from his hand, and went back into the room.

Lu Zhao wanted to say something more, but then he saw Shen Yan lying on his brother's bed.

His brother didn’t show obvious signs of being a neat freak, but he never let clothes that had been worn outside touch the bed, especially when they were covered in sweat.

And his brother's bed—he had never even slept in it himself.

Lu Zhao’s suspicions began to form in his mind again.

Hu Chengyu wrapped the ice water in a wet towel and placed it on Shen Yan's forehead.

The next second, Lu Zhao saw his brother unzip Shen Yan's sun protection jacket. That wasn’t even the strangest part; his brother actually pulled off Shen Yan's upper clothing.

In the blink of an eye, his brother had started to pull down Shen Yan's pants.

"Bro-bro-bro... What are you doing, bro?" Lu Zhao covered his eyes with his hand, but his dark pupils peeked through the gaps between his fingers, watching Hu Chengyu.

"Bro, I'm still here. Even if you have feelings for Yan Yan, can’t you wait until I’m gone?" He then quickly shook his head. "No, that’s not right. Yan Yan is still sick. What you’re doing is..."

Hu Chengyu looked up at him. "What exactly?"

Pervert.

Lu Zhao didn’t dare to say it.

Hu Chengyu: "He’s too weak and sweating a lot. His clothes are soaked; staying in them will make him catch a cold."

Lu Zhao's dark eyes suddenly lit up. "That makes sense. I thought you were being a pervert, bro..."

A towel was stuffed into Lu Zhao's mouth.

Lu Zhao: "Ew ew ew, you stuffed the towel you used to wipe Yan Yan's sweat into my mouth?"

Hu Chengyu completely ignored the flustered Lu Zhao. "Shh, be quiet."

Lu Zhao immediately sat quietly to the side, watching Hu Chengyu dress Shen Yan in clean clothes.

Lu Zhao stared at Shen Yan's sleeping face, lost in thought.

How can someone be as beautiful as Yan Yan?

Thinking back to when they were kids, little Yan Yan would follow him around, calling "Bro Lu Zhao, Bro Lu Zhao," making others incredibly jealous.

Even when Yan Yan got angry, he was like a soft, white rice cake—give him a strawberry candy, and he’d be cheered up.

"Wipe your drool, will you?"

Lu Zhao instinctively reached up to wipe his mouth. There was nothing there.

He had been fooled again.

Hu Chengyu: "If you have nothing to do, go clean the neighboring room."

"Why should I go?" Lu Zhao, who had been pampered at home like a young master, had never done any chores before.

"If you don't go, are you going to wait for your handsome brother to wake up and clean it himself?"

Lu Zhao glanced at Shen Yan, who was still lying on the bed, gritted his teeth, and went to clean the room.

However, the young master was not proficient at the task, and noises of clattering frequently came from the neighboring room.

Noticing Shen Yan frowning due to the noise from the neighboring room, Hu Chengyu got up and went next door.

When Shen Yan woke up, it was already evening.

"Yan Yan, you're finally awake! If you didn't wake up, I was going to kiss you!" Lu Zhao said something nonsensical.

"Brother Lu Zhao?" Shen Yan sat up and looked around. "Where are we?"

Just awake, Shen Yan's voice was especially soft, contrasting with his aloof and refined appearance. Lu Zhao suddenly thought of a term—pure yet alluring.

"This is my brother’s dorm. He went to get food and will be back soon," Lu Zhao said as he poured a cup of warm water and handed it to him.

This was something Hu Chengyu had specifically instructed him to do before leaving.

Having sweated a lot earlier on, Shen Yan was indeed very thirsty and finished the cup of water in a few swallows.

"Brother Lu Zhao, can I have another glass?"

When Hu Chengyu returned, he saw Lu Zhao sitting next to Shen Yan, listing how many bed panels he had cleaned and how large an area of the desk he had wiped.

"And I also mopped the floor!"

Shen Yan's mood was somewhat complicated now. He had already learned from Lu Zhao that his dormitory was next to Hu Chengyu's.

He had intended to stay away from Hu Chengyu, so why was the physical distance getting closer?

Especially after seeing Xie Shiyu today, the impact was quite significant.

His head was still dizzy.

"Are you feeling better?" Hu Chengyu suddenly asked.

Shen Yan couldn't deceive himself; when he heard Hu Chengyu's voice, his heart still raced involuntarily.

Except when he was sick, he rarely asked Shu Qianfei for help.

Unexpectedly, the first time he wanted Shu Qianfei's help was to change to a dormitory farther from Hu Chengyu.

He absolutely couldn't stay next to Hu Chengyu.

When it came to diminishing his feelings for Hu Chengyu, there was an easier way. Why choose the harder path?

Moreover, his body couldn't handle it!

In the future, if Hu Chengyu and Xie Shiyu were together and came back to this dormitory, he might faint from heart palpitations if he stayed next door.

Shen Yan wasn't one to drag things out. After eating a bit and taking his medicine, he first said to Lu Zhao, "Brother Lu Zhao, thank you for your help today. I'll treat you to a meal some other time."

Then he turned to Hu Chengyu, "Mr. Hu, thanks. I’ll transfer the money for the food and medicine to you online. Sorry for the inconvenience."

Lu Zhao: ...

Isn’t Yan Yan’s double standard a bit too obvious?