Chapter 50: Baby

Chapter 50: Baby

Xie Guiluan didn’t lean on Cen Wu’s shoulder for long before sitting up, worried he might be tired. Instead, Cen Wu was a bit sleepy and ended up falling asleep leaning against Xie Guiluan, covered by his school uniform.

Cen Wu had been working on a script these past few nights and estimated it would take another month to finish.

If he left the Cen family, he couldn’t work as a director anymore, but he could still write scripts. This kind of purely behind-the-scenes work wouldn’t easily expose his identity, unless Xie Guiluan was deliberately unwilling to let him go.

The bus was noisy, with everyone laughing and chatting, but Cen Wu slept deeply. His long, curly lashes fluttered slightly, and he didn’t even notice when Xie Guiluan pinched his cheeks a few times.

Cen Wu’s skin was very fair, with only a small part of his face exposed from under his coat, revealing his slightly upturned nose tip.

He always covered his face while sleeping, as if social anxiety haunted him even in his dreams. Xie Guiluan pulled the coat down a bit and noticed Cen Wu’s cheeks and ears were flushed from the heat.

Xie Guiluan lowered his gaze and gently pinched Cen Wu’s cheeks, but Cen Wu didn’t stir.

He Yao, sitting behind them, felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and not even playing games could lift his mood. He had never seen someone as shameless as Xie Guiluan. It’s not like you’re his boyfriend, so why are you touching him?

In the most extreme case, shouldn’t he be able to touch him too?

But knowing Xie Guiluan, if He Yao tried anything, he’d probably end up with a broken wrist.

"He Yao," Xie Guiluan, still pinching Cen Wu's cheek with his pale, bony fingers, looked up with deep, dark eyes and asked He Yao, as if genuinely puzzled, "Is there something wrong?"

He Yao: "..."

What could possibly be wrong?

He was just annoyed by the disturbance.

And he couldn’t even complain to Cen Wu. Given how much Cen Wu doted on Xie Guiluan, even if Xie Guiluan secretly pinched his face, or stole a kiss, Cen Wu wouldn’t have the heart to scold him.

After driving for two and a half hours, the bus finally stopped at a resort at the foot of the mountain. Cen Wu was still groggy when Xie Guiluan woke him up, barely awake. But when Xie Guiluan held his hand, he simply rubbed his eyes and followed Xie Guiluan off the bus.

"Has everyone gotten off?" Meng Liangping turned around.

Lu Wang also turned and caught sight of Xie Guiluan holding Cen Wu’s hand. He immediately tensed up and stepped forward to block Meng Liangping’s line of sight.

Meng Liangping: "..."

Why did it always feel like the students in his class were a bit weird?

Still, it was reassuring that Xie Guiluan was willing to come on this autumn outing. Although Xie Guiluan treated him like an old fool, Meng Liangping always felt that Xie Guiluan was the most normal person in the class, relatively speaking.

The resort had a famous hot spring hotel, run by the Lu family. They would be staying at this hotel for the next few days, with the Lu family arranging double rooms. Meng Liangping told them to divide the rooms among themselves.

Lu Wang, the eldest young master of the Lu family, had his own luxurious suite on the top floor and invited Meng Liangping to stay with him.

"Young master, would you like to stay with me?" Xie Guiluan, carrying Cen Wu’s backpack, asked softly.

Cen Wu: "..."

They’d already shared a bed so many times; why was he even asking?

He Yao followed behind them with a numb expression. He had never encountered such a formidable rival in pursuing someone. From the moment they got off the bus until now, not only had he not been able to talk to Cen Wu, he hadn’t even been able to get close to him.

Xie Guiluan always managed to block him effortlessly.

Even if Cen Wu saw, Xie Guiluan didn’t care.

Xie Guiluan's dark eyes lowered as he took a few steps forward, pretending to make way for He Yao. The entire class was bustling and noisy, with several people walking together, but Xie Guiluan was walking alone.

Even if he followed Cen Wu, Cen Wu wouldn't hear a word he said and would immediately chase after Xie Guiluan, as if Xie Guiluan was the center of his universe. No matter how many storms stirred, Cen Wu would still follow him without hesitation.

He Yao was actually considering giving up, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Who wouldn't want those eyes to fall on them, carrying something more profound than love?

Really.

It was quite jealousy-inducing.

The school had arranged the itinerary, and on the first day, they were going to climb a mountain. There was a self-service barbecue on the mountain, and they would come back down after eating, roughly in the evening, when they could see the sunset from the mountain’s midpoint.

Cen Wu had originally planned to stay hidden in the hotel and not go out, but since Xie Guiluan was going, he decided to accompany him for fun.

It would take at most an hour to reach the mountaintop, but with stops at scenic spots along the way, the total climb would take three hours.

They climbed for half an hour first, and when they reached the scenic spot, they were free to disperse. Lu Wang and the others went to visit the temple, but Xie Guiluan had no interest. What deity could he possibly pay respects to? It was akin to asking a wave for guidance.

The temple was so crowded it triggered Cen Wu's claustrophobia, so he didn’t want to go either. Xie Guiluan took him to buy some takoyaki instead.

Cen Wu ate five and became a bit tired of them. He used a skewer to pick up the last one, unsure whether to eat it or throw it away. Xie Guiluan grabbed his wrist and lowered his head to eat it.

Cen Wu: “……”

Xie Guiluan was very particular, maintaining his demeanor as an eldest young master even in the slums, where constant mistreatment exacerbated his germaphobia. Previously, when he went to eat hotpot with his classmates, he barely touched the chopsticks because he disliked the people next to him.

But now he was eating something from Cen Wu's hand.

Cen Wu could only convince himself that maybe Xie Guiluan didn’t want to waste food. What Zhang Fei might be willing to eat could be leftovers from Guan Yu, which only showed that Xie Guiluan increasingly saw him as a brother.

That's right.

It was just that.

Lu Wang and the others took a long time to come out, carrying a few small hoes with them. Cen Wu was puzzled, and then he saw Lu Wang and the others start digging for wild vegetables at the roots of the trees.

He Yao explained to him, “The abbot mentioned that the wild vegetables here are delicious. We can dig some to add to our hotpot tonight.”

After saying that, he didn’t forget to remind Cen Wu, blocking him, “Don’t dig. I’ll do the digging.”

Cen Wu: “……”

They really were digging wild vegetables, bro.

Since they were going to eat together that night, Cen Wu couldn’t just do nothing. He squatted down and started digging a little too, but just as he had dug up one wild vegetable, he suddenly received a message from Cen Xiao.

Cen Xiao had estimated that he had arrived and sent a message to check in.

The Cen family doted on the original owner to such an extent that no matter how late it was or where they were, if the original owner called home, Father Cen and Mother Cen would drive to pick him up.

Even if they weren’t around, Cen Xiao would go.

Both Cen Junshan and Guan Xingxue had already sent messages to Cen Wu, but Cen Xiao still wasn’t reassured and sent another message, wanting to know if he was safe now.

Cen Wu wasn’t sure if the original owner would struggle, but spending so much time with the Cen family made him feel like an imposter, as if he had taken Xie Guiluan's life and his parents' love.

Cen Wu looked down to reply to Cen Xiao.

"Cen Xiao: Have you arrived? What are you doing?" "Cen Wu: I've arrived, brother. I'm digging wild vegetables."

Cen Xiao: ???

Cen Wu and the others dug for a while, then gathered the wild vegetables and met up with their classmates to continue climbing the mountain.

They reached the summit at around 2 PM. After a short break, they headed back down and stopped at the self-service barbecue restaurant along the way for a meal.

This was also He Yao’s first time digging for wild vegetables. Excitedly, he grilled a few, and surprisingly, they tasted great with the marinated meat.

Given the limited conditions, Cen Wu was mindful of Xie Guiluan’s refined tastes as the eldest young master. He washed the wild vegetables several times to remove the earthy smell and bitterness before grilling them for Xie Guiluan.

Most of the sophomore classes came out for the autumn outing, except for a few that completely bombed. Xie Shangjing’s class was also dining at the same restaurant. Cen Wu glanced over and noticed that Xie Shangjing frowned occasionally, dodging people to avoid bumping his shoulders and back.

It seemed he had really been whipped after the evening event. Even so, he didn’t want to appear disheveled and insisted on coming for the outing, putting on a brave face.

Xie Shangjing was obsessed with maintaining his image, much like Xie Mingcheng. Cen Wu knew that at night, Xie Shangjing would secretly study.

At school, Xie Shangjing always projected an image of effortless excellence. Although he was the student council president, he was often seen dating and even skipped class to play basketball.

It was as if he didn’t need to do anything to maintain excellent grades, but at night, he would frantically solve problems, staying up until 2 or 3 AM, trying to surpass Xie Guiluan.

In fact, Xie Shangjing's grades were not bad. He often ranked in the top three in the grade. At Huai Jing No.1 High School, with such achievements, he could easily get into prestigious schools both domestically and abroad. It was very much in line with his status as the eldest young master of the Xie family and certainly didn’t embarrass the Xie family.

The problem was that Xie Guiluan’s grades were better than his.

Xie Guiluan was his lifelong nightmare. He was unwilling to accept this, yet he couldn’t let others see how much he cared about Xie Guiluan.

As Xie Shangjing passed by the front desk, Xie Guiluan happened to be getting iced drinks for Cen Wu. Their eyes met, and the pain from the whip on Xie Shangjing’s back flared up. Recalling the humiliation from the school anniversary night, he muttered coldly, "Get out of the way, you dog."

Xie Guiluan pressed his thin lips together and stepped aside to let him pass.

Xie Shangjing walked past with a cold expression. He had intended to find Cen Wu but couldn’t bring himself to lower his pride and coax him. Finally, with a gloomy expression, he returned to his class's private room.

The setting sun bathed everything in a golden glow.

After finishing the meal and heading down the mountain, it was already past 5 PM. They rested in their rooms for a while. Many of their classmates headed to the hot springs.

Cen Wu didn’t go. The hot spring was too crowded, and his knees felt weak. He couldn’t bring himself to soak in the pool. Instead, he played cards with Xie Guiluan and the remaining dozen or so classmates.

The hot spring hotel had floor-to-ceiling windows. They sat on the plush carpet of Lu Wang’s luxurious suite, and outside, the night view of the entire resort was almost visible under the bright lights.

Xie Guiluan had never played cards before. He Yao encouraged him to join in. Xie Guiluan lost the first round but, unless his hand was utterly hopeless, won every round after that.

“Damn it!” a male classmate couldn’t take it anymore. “Bro Xie, you’re like a cheat code. You can’t keep playing!”

He Yao received several fierce glares. What kind of mood was he in, wanting to play cards with the top student in the grade?

Xie Guiluan was forced to leave the table. Cen Wu then picked up his cards and continued playing. But Cen Wu, having been a director, had no resources at hand initially and had to mingle in circles, attending too many social events. These card games had long bored him, but his social anxiety didn’t stop him from playing.

Xie Guiluan relied purely on his intelligence, while Cen Wu was a seasoned player. If he wanted to, he could easily outplay his opponents.

“Damn it!!!” the male classmate was even more distressed. “What did I do to deserve this kind of torture?!”

In less than half an hour, Cen Wu was also kicked out.

“Forget it,” Zhang Yuanzhou threw down his cards and said with a lack of interest, “Playing cards is boring. How about Truth or Dare?”

Meng Liangping, with his bad back, couldn’t handle the hike. He went to rest early at the hotel, knowing nothing would happen that night. Class monitor Zhou Wenqing went to take care of him and wasn’t around either.

He Yao went to get some beer and cocktails. Some of them switched to the hot springs, while the rest stayed behind to play Truth or Dare. The empty bottle was spun, and whoever it pointed to had to answer the questions.

Cen Wu wanted to bolt, but he held back. If he left, Xie Guiluan would follow suit, and a sudden departure would make things awkward, something he couldn't handle. He would likely stay up until midnight, unable to stop pondering it.

The bottle spun and landed on a girl. The initial questions were gentle. He Yao asked, “When’s the last time you lied?”

“This evening,” the girl replied, her face turning red.

She really wanted to go to the hot springs, but when her classmate called her, she said she didn’t want to go because she had a crush on a boy from the neighboring class who was at the hot springs. She felt too shy to approach him.

After a few more tame questions, the bottle suddenly landed on He Yao.

Xu Lingling, who had been nodding off, suddenly perked up, slapped her thigh, and asked excitedly, “Since we’re playing this, let’s ask something spicy. He Yao, do you still have your first kiss?”

Everyone knew He Yao was a frequent dater, and the class burst into laughter, some even howling, half-drunk, urging him to answer quickly.

“Bro He! Come on!”

“What's the big deal?!”

Cen Wu had also drunk a little. He Yao had given him a beautiful blue cocktail, lychee-flavored, with fresh lychees floating in the sweet and refreshing drink.

He could hold his liquor well, but he blushed easily. After just one drink, his pretty eyes, like tiny finches, curved with a misty, watery glint, his eyelids flushed red, making him look as if he were drunk. He laughed along with everyone else.

He hid beside Xie Guiluan, leaning on his shoulder.

He Yao paused, looked up, and resumed his usual playful expression, raising an eyebrow. “So what if it’s gone?” he said with a smirk.

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Cen Wu.

Cen Wu didn’t react much. He scooped out a lychee with a spoon, his snow-white cheek puffing up into a soft little mound.

He Yao looked away.

Every time the bottle spun, Cen Wu grew tense. He even considered hiding behind Xie Guiluan to avoid being chosen, but after He Yao answered his question, he gave the bottle a spin, and it landed on Cen Wu.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Cen Wu’s calves began to tremble.

“The second young master,” He Yao asked directly, “Do you have someone you like?”

Cen Wu’s lips moved. He almost said no but hesitated, his ears turning red. He nodded slightly and whispered, “Yes.”

The class erupted in teasing whistles.

He Yao felt a little disappointed. He had guessed that Cen Wu might like Xie Guiluan, or maybe Xie Shangjing.

But Cen Wu had slapped Xie Shangjing in the past, and the incident had spread throughout the school, with rumors that they had broken up. He Yao imagined a dramatic story where Cen Wu had fallen for Xie Guiluan and that’s why he had fallen out with Xie Shangjing.

Xie Guiluan gripped a few of Cen Wu’s fingers, feeling as if a cat’s tail had hooked his heart. He hadn’t expected Cen Wu to admit it so willingly.

But he also knew that Cen Wu was always brave when it came to him.

When it was Xie Guiluan’s turn, He Yao asked the question again with a sarcastic tone. Xie Guiluan answered calmly, “Yes.”

When others admitted to having someone they liked, the class might tease them a little, but when Xie Guiluan said it, they were nearly scared to death.

There were girls in the class who lusted after Xie Guiluan’s looks, but none of them dared to actually date him.

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

Being in love with Xie Guiluan isn't exactly a walk in the park.

The atmosphere was about to turn cold and quiet, but Zhang Yuanzhou suddenly spoke up, "Holy crap, is that Old Meng?!"

It was stuffy, so they left the door open. Besides, the suite of the eldest young master of the Lu family was quite far from the other rooms in the hotel, so it wouldn't disturb anyone. Zhang Yuanzhou stared at the door and yelled in shock.

Everyone jumped in fright and quickly hid their alcohol, but after several seconds, nothing happened.

"Scared the hell out of me!"

"Why the hell are you yelling?!"

Zhang Yuanzhou was pinned down and beaten up. Whether intentional or not, everyone pretended to forget the previous question and continued playing.

Xie Guiluan didn’t care, but Cen Wu felt a heavy weight in his chest and downed a few more drinks.

Who cares if Xie Guiluan has someone he likes?

What's the big deal?

Who says Xie Guiluan can't like someone else?

But since the classmates weren’t being mean, Cen Wu couldn’t really complain. He took Xie Guiluan's cocktail and drank it too, then grabbed Xie Guiluan to go out, saying they should go for a hot spring.

Actually, they skipped the hot spring. He and Xie Guiluan took the cable car down, rode a motorcycle for half an hour, and went to the seaside on the other side of the mountain. There was a bonfire music festival by the sea that night.

Cen Wu grabbed Xie Guiluan and pushed their way through the crowd. They arrived too late and were stuck at the outermost edge, unable to see the singer's face, with many people behind them standing on stones.

Cen Wu had drunk several types of alcohol, and even with a good tolerance, he was a bit tipsy. The firelight made his cheeks flush, his eyes glisten, and his head spin.

Xie Guiluan was afraid he would be jostled by others, so he wrapped his arm around Cen Wu's shoulders. Cen Wu stood on his tiptoes in Xie Guiluan's arms, like a curious cat that would hide if spotted.

"The second young master," Xie Guiluan lowered his head and asked softly into Cen Wu's ear, "Do you want to see the singer on stage?"

Cen Wu couldn't help but turn his head to rub against his ear. Xie Guiluan, unlike other boys whose voices were hoarse during puberty, had a low, rough voice that sent a soft numbness down his spine.

His butt clenched involuntarily.

Under normal circumstances, Cen Wu would never say it, but tonight, feeling dizzy, when Xie Guiluan asked him, he leaned a little into his arms and said somewhat aggrieved, "I do."

Cen Wu had intended to say he wanted to watch but decided against it. However, before he could finish, Xie Guiluan cupped his buttocks and lifted him up.

His field of vision suddenly rose, but he was too embarrassed to lift his head, and the alcohol sobered him up quite a bit. He whispered shakily, "Put me down!"

"What's wrong," Xie Guiluan's voice was cool, with a half-smile, "Didn't the young master want to see the male singer on stage?"

That night, a band was performing, and even though it was freezing, they were all in black tank tops. Especially the lead singer, who seemed quite handsome, with bulging pecs and strong, muscular arms.

Cen Wu: "..."

He just wanted to see the pecs, so what? He wasn't touching, so why couldn't he look?

Xie Guiluan's dark peach blossom eyes held a sinking smile, and Cen Wu didn't dare to say anything more, afraid Xie Guiluan would make him touch his abs again.

He could only smooth Xie Guiluan's back and soothe him, saying, "I... I don't like him at all."

"Since the young master likes it," Xie Guiluan, as if he hadn't heard, lowered his long lashes and said obediently, "I can train for it too."

Cen Wu: "..."

Cen Wu: !!!

Cen Wu was truly startled this time. The singer's chest muscles were huge, but a bit over-the-top. He feared that if Xie Guiluan ever looked like that, his fatherly affection would crumble.

Terrified, he stopped stuttering and quickly pulled Xie Guiluan close, trying to reassure him, "I really don't like it. What's so good about this? Let's not watch anymore. Let's go eat some pork intestines stew."

Xie Guiluan didn’t set him down, carrying him until they were out of the crowd.

Cen Wu felt like everyone was staring at them. He hugged Xie Guiluan's collar, lowered his head, and buried his face in Xie Guiluan's shoulder, only exposing the tips of his flushed ears.

Xie Guiluan finally set him down but kept holding his hand, as if worried he might wander off.

Cen Wu ate this and that, the alcohol making him drowsy. Xie Guiluan carried him on his back and took him back to the hotel.

The seaside was freezing at night. Xie Guiluan removed his jacket to drape it over Cen Wu, gently brushing his bangs aside, caressing his slightly red and hot cheeks before carrying him on his back.

"Mm..." Cen Wu murmured softly, hugging Xie Guiluan’s neck, his soft cheek resting against Xie Guiluan’s collar, his legs swinging lazily.

Xie Guiluan whispered softly, "Cen Wu."

"Mm?" Cen Wu responded vaguely.

Xie Guiluan called again, "Wu Wu."

Cen Wu was too drunk to notice what Xie Guiluan was calling him. No matter how he was called, he just hummed in response.

Xie Guiluan’s thin, crimson lips curved into a smile. He hoisted Cen Wu’s legs, bouncing him a little.

The beach bonfire illuminated the night sky. Xie Guiluan carried Cen Wu as he walked forward. Cen Wu fell asleep and seemed to be dreaming, suddenly muttering, "I want... I want to date Xie Guiluan."

Xie Guiluan's steps halted. The sound of the sea waves seemed to stop all at once. The night was silent, the lighthouse's distant light reflecting on the deep sea, only his uneven heartbeat remained.

Soon after, Cen Wu chuckled foolishly and continued, "And then... become the provincial top scholar."

In his dream, he tricked Xie Guiluan into giving him all his study materials, and Xie Guiluan even tutored him.

Xie Guiluan was speechless, almost laughing out loud from exasperation. He ground his teeth and carried Cen Wu back to the hotel.

Cen Wu was still asleep when he was placed on the hotel bed. He hugged the quilt and slept even more soundly.

"Baby," Xie Guiluan leaned down, pinching his cheeks, his dark peach blossom eyes lowering, coaxing him, "How about I be the boyfriend of the provincial top scholar?"

Cen Wu hummed softly, not hearing what Xie Guiluan said, only feeling uncomfortable from being pinched.

Xie Guiluan let go of his hand.

He diligently removed Cen Wu's shoes and fetched a damp towel to wipe his face. Cen Wu burrowed under the covers, half-asleep and tangled up.

Xie Guiluan propped his arm beside him, leaning down. Cen Wu struggled to keep his eyelids open.

Cen Wu had a very striking appearance. His skin was extremely fair, his long lashes outlined by a layer of moonlight. His drunk gaze was unfocused, but when it finally met Xie Guiluan's face, he suddenly froze.

Cen Wu reached out to touch Xie Guiluan's face. Xie Guiluan hesitated for a moment before grabbing Cen Wu's hand, resting it against his palm.

Cen Wu, drunk, thought someone was trying to climb into his bed again, likely for resources or a promotion. In the past, he would have just thrown them out, but why did this person look like this tonight?

It wouldn't be bad to just sleep.

Cen Wu, with his cold and arrogant demeanor and lack of principles, was likely full of vices.

He knew it himself but didn't want to change. Xie Guiluan placed his hand on Cen Wu's waist, trying to help him take off his coat. The boy's palm was hot and large, capable of fully grasping his waist.

Cen Wu tilted his snow-white neck back, letting out a low breath. Instinctively, he wanted to lift his knee and then close his legs, but Xie Guiluan was still leaning over him, so his bent knee ended up brushing against Xie Guiluan's waist.

Xie Guiluan stiffened all over. He grabbed Cen Wu's knee, his voice hoarse as he whispered, "What are you doing?"

This was no longer a hint; an adolescent boy couldn't withstand such provocation. Xie Guiluan felt an immediate reaction, his breathing becoming heavier, and his palms burning.

Cen Wu's thin, slightly red lips moved, though he did nothing, it carried a seductive allure. Xie Guiluan's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and he uncontrollably leaned down, while Cen Wu showed no intention of resisting.

His eyes were hazy, not quite awake but not asleep either, gazing at Xie Guiluan. He slightly raised his body, trying to meet Xie Guiluan's kiss, but before their lips could touch, Xie Guiluan suddenly covered his mouth.

Cen Wu: ?

Cen Wu's eyes widened in confusion.

A fierce jealousy burned in Xie Guiluan's heart. Cen Wu was so skilled, having been with countless people and kissed many, but he knew nothing about it.

He suddenly realized he had no idea what to do with another boy. He vaguely knew a little, but it wasn't enough to call it knowledge. If he were to do this with Cen Wu now, what if he did it terribly?

He couldn't be worse than those others.

Xie Guiluan's back broke into a light sweat, but he forcefully pulled the blanket over Cen Wu, preventing him from moving.

Cen Wu was already drunk and drowsy, not really insisting on anything. Once wrapped in the blanket, he became even more sleepy and drifted off into a hazy slumber.

Xie Guilan stared at his face. In such a pitch-black night, the ambiguity surged like a tide. The veins on his neck stood out prominently. Although they didn’t go all the way, there were other things they could do.

Cen Wu also liked him. What was wrong with a kiss? Was there anything that couldn’t be kissed?

Why couldn’t he kiss him?

Xie Guilan lowered his head again, their breaths mingling, almost feeling the soft warmth of Cen Wu’s lips. His fingers tightened, crumpling the sheets beneath Cen Wu.

Cen Wu let out a soft hum.

The moonlight filtered through faintly, and Xie Guilan gazed at him, his pale, slender fingers pinching Cen Wu’s cheek. Finally, he leaned down and kissed the soft flesh of his cheek.