Chapter 57

Chapter 57

"Don’t jump," Qi Yanyu feared that the happiness he had just grasped would vanish in an instant. His heart pounded violently—those who have never known happiness are always as timid as a mouse.

"Huh?" Gu Jinglan didn’t quite catch it. The cave was littered with brittle yellow leaves, and the azure Luodian Lake was also dotted with scattered foliage.

"Don’t jump," okay? Qi Yanyu was still too shy to voice his feelings. "If you jump and drown, I..." What would I do? His chest tightened with dread.

Caught between terror and doubt, Qi Yanyu wondered if this was Gu Jinglan’s scheme to pressure him into accepting his pursuit and being with him.

If that were the case, he’d rather just agree to it.

Seeming to read his thoughts, Gu Jinglan said, "I jumped once when I was twelve."

Qi Yanyu was stunned. "Ah, then... did it grant your wish?"

"The wish I made back then did," Gu Jinglan replied calmly, smiling.

"Are... are you lying to me?" Qi Yanyu was afraid. Happiness had never favored him before. Terrified, he feared all this was just a fleeting fantasy.

"We relocated to Kanbei when I was very young. During a fall field trip, our class came here. Back then, this place was developed, with some tourists, though most didn’t jump. Later, I came back alone once and jumped," Gu Jinglan recalled.

"Gu Jinglan, are you threatening me? Agree to your pursuit, or else you’ll jump?" Qi Yanyu accused.

"Of course not. I’ll earn you properly."

"..." You already have. Just don’t jump.

Qi Yanyu kept his guard up. How could he lower his defenses and let someone break past his walls so easily?

His heart had long been guarded. Unless it was someone he truly favored, he would never open its doors to anyone.

Yet, at this moment, his resolve cracked. "Don’t jump. I’ll ag—"

But Gu Jinglan took his hand and asked, "Do you have a wish? I’ll make the leap for you."

"No, don’t..."

"The pool’s deepest point is only four or five meters."

"It’s six or seven meters from here. You could slam into the rocks!"

"It’s not my first time jumping."

"You’re not a kid anymore..."

"Qi Yanyu, you’re scared of your own shadow."

Yes, the closer I get to happiness, the more I second-guess myself. With nothing left to lose, I can’t let happiness slip away now.

"Don’t jump, Gu Jinglan." I’m scared. Qi Yanyu didn’t say the latter half, afraid of revealing too much of his heart.

He was a coward.

He feared that the happiness crashing down on him would turn out to be a dud care package, its contents long spilled and lost.

"Qi Yanyu is basically my boyfriend already. How could I dare let anything happen?"

He already is. Qi Yanyu added silently. But what came out was an ultimatum: "Gu Jinglan, if you jump, it’s over."

Gu Jinglan looked at him; Qi Yanyu spoke with absolute resolve.

He was never someone blessed with good luck.

Maybe he’d pissed off fate, which had bestowed all his fortune upon his family background instead.

Beyond that, he lived like a rat—scurrying in shadows, sobbing his heart out, until he had no tears left.

Gu Jinglan wanted to know why Qi Yanyu wouldn’t let him jump.

But Qi Yanyu’s face was icy, drained of color, his eyes lowered to conceal the fear of loss that gripped him.

He was this close to begging.

Yet he couldn’t utter a single word of entreaty, couldn’t voice his worries and fears.

He was afraid that if he revealed how deeply he liked Gu Jinglan, how terrified he was of losing him, this person would exploit his vulnerability, using it to attack and trample upon his already fragile, glass-like emotions.

"My future boyfriend told me not to jump."

Qi Yanyu stared at him, equal parts shocked and afraid, as Gu Jinglan gazed at the shimmering lake. "Gotta obey my future man. I won’t jump."

God, are you actually listening this time?

If you grant them, then don’t let me lose this too.

Qi Yanyu’s left hand trembled slightly, his eyelashes fluttering like moth wings. His eyes stung, but he forced his hands steady and put on a calm act while fishing out his phone.

"Want to take a photo?" Gu Jinglan figured he wanted a photo for keepsakes.

But Qi Yanyu kept his eyes downcast, his lashes hiding whatever storm was brewing inside. "No, I’m making a call."

Gu Jinglan didn’t know who he was calling, only hearing Qi Yanyu dial and wait briefly before finally speaking: "Senior."

He was calling Wen Ruxu. Why was he calling Wen Ruxu?

Gu Jinglan’s chest tightened. Something sharp twisted in his gut—even hearts could feel pain.

"What’s wrong? I don’t see you at the shooting range. Where are you?" Wen Ruxu’s voice was as gentle as ever, like Gu Jinglan didn’t even factor in. Hearing the tremor in Qi Yanyu’s voice, he added, "You want me to come get you?"

"Senior, I won’t be going to the shooting range. You all go ahead. I’m heading back first." Qi Yanyu forced the words out.

Gu Jinglan’s heart lurched like a boat in a storm.

Wen Ruxu fell silent for a moment, concern laced with urgency in his tone. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Where are you? I’ll come get you now."

"No, I’m going back with a classmate." Qi Yanyu lied through his teeth, soft as it was. "We have another class later." In truth, their next class wasn’t until evening, and it was not even noon yet.

Wen Ruxu heard the word "classmate," and his stomach dropped at the word. "...Alright, get back safe."

The call ended, and Qi Yanyu lifted his gaze to Gu Jinglan. "You *did* say you were gonna chase me, right? Wanna make it official right now?"

Gu Jinglan smiled. "Deal."

They caught a ride back to school, but as soon as they reached the cafeteria entrance, they saw Jiang Tiyan standing under the sun, his face thunderous.

The star planted himself across from them, eyes boring into their every bite.

The situation was extremely toxic.

Jiang Tiyan had him give a campus tour, saying he was on vacation.

His agent called, but he kept hitting ‘ignore.’

Gu Jinglan stayed patient, not in any rush for the moment.

Seeing no gauze on Qi Yanyu’s hand, Jiang Tiyan took a spoon and fed him.

This time, Qi Yanyu glanced at Gu Jinglan, who only watched Jiang Tiyan’s movements.

“Eat. Don’t your maids feed you at home?”

“If you don’t know, then shut it,” Qi Yanyu said.

Jiang Tiyan looked at Gu Jinglan. “A classmate of yours?”

Gu Jinglan admitted he was chasing him, but Qi Yanyu hadn’t said yes yet, so they weren’t officially a couple.

Qi Yanyu stayed silent, giving a slight nod.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Jiang Tiyan, with his stunningly beautiful face, asked in confusion.

Passing students glanced their way, mainly recognizing Gu Jinglan—the school’s longtime poster boy featured on the admissions page.

But their gazes stuck on the person beside Gu Jinglan… Hold up—was that Jiang Tiyan?

Gu Jinglan managed a faint smile. “Let me do it. He might not be used to… others feeding him.”

Was he implying that Gu Jinglan had fed him more often than others?

Jiang Tiyan scoffed. “Your boyfriend, Qi Yanyu?”

Since he hadn’t said yes to Gu Jinglan yet, Qi Yanyu denied it.

He wanted to savor being chased by Gu Jinglan for a few more days—just a few would be enough. He wasn’t greedy.

But he added, “My friend.”

Jiang Tiyan only smiled, mixing the tomato soup with a silver spoon before offering it to Qi Yanyu.

Qi Yanyu snapped. “What’s your deal? Get lost.”

Jiang Tiyan stiffened. He thought his considerate gesture should have moved Qi Yanyu.

Bristling, he slowly raised his metallic silver eyes. “Do you have class tonight?” If not, he planned to take Qi Yanyu out for dinner.

Guilt gnawed at him—he’d sent Qi Yanyu, who had been away from home for a year, back into Qi Muyao’s hands.

The second time Qi Muyao ‘broke his limbs’ was partly his fault.

“Yeah,” Qi Yanyu confirmed he had class that night.

“What time does it end?” Not backing down, Jiang Tiyan pushed further.

“I’m done eating.” Qi Yanyu stood up to dump his tray at the recycling station.

Jiang Tiyan rose as well, but Qi Yanyu walked off anyway.

Students passing by to get food spotted Jiang Tiyan and got excited: "Are you Jiang Tiyan?" "Oh my god, it's my first time seeing a celebrity in person!" "You're even more handsome than on TV!"

But the superstar was in a foul mood, his face as sour as a poker face. He brushed them off and marched over to the recycling station, seizing Qi Yanyu's hand.

Qi Yanyu was stunned, worried Jiang Tiyan might draw attention and reveal his relationship with Gu Jinglan to his brother, Qi Muyao.

Frantic, he hissed a warning: "Cut the crazy act here."

Jiang Tiyan glared at him, then shot a hateful look at Qi Yanyu's freeloader "boyfriend," Gu Jinglan. He hissed through gritted teeth: "No one can protect you except me."

Gu Jinglan wrenched Jiang Tiyan's hand off. Their glares locked like rival storms, emotions about to erupt when Jiang Tiyan's fans mobbed him again.

"Jiang Tiyan, can I get your autograph?"

"I really like you. I've been a fan for two years."

Seeing Qi Yanyu about to slip away, Jiang Tiyan, who didn't rely on fans, shoved past the crowd and chased him out of the cafeteria: "Walk away then! If you do, I'll tell Qi Muyao you're dating someone."

Jiang Tiyan might have realized this was Qi Yanyu's weak spot.

Sure enough, the person about to leave stopped dead.

Gu Jinglan's eyes darkened as he took a swing at Jiang Tiyan.

The two went at each other at the cafeteria entrance. Qi Yanyu desperately tried to break them up, while some kind-hearted students nearby stepped in to mediate. Both men ended up battered but still glaring daggers.

In the quiet, nearly empty school café...

Qi Yanyu looked at the two of them, afraid of Jiang Tiyan's earlier threat, so he said to Gu Jinglan: "Let me talk to him alone."

During the evening class, Qi Yanyu sat with Jiang Tiyan.

Jiang Tiyan dialed it back a notch, wearing black-framed glasses—though that was the bare minimum of subtlety. He kept talking to Qi Yanyu until the teacher called on him. Someone immediately recognized the superstar: "Hold up—is that Jiang Tiyan in class?"

Behind them, Gu Jinglan felt as though thousands of ants were eating him alive.

He told himself it was fine—he could wait for Qi Yanyu.

"Qi Yanyu, do you not know how to write the word 'help'?"

Qi Yanyu thought he was being ridiculous.

"Qi Yanyu, are you even listening to me?"

"Stop coming to see me. I'm very happy now." The word "happy" slipped out, surprising even Qi Yanyu at how easily he revealed his feelings now.

"Bullshit you're happy. Your bones just knit back together, and you think you're blissfully happy? Since when are you so damn easy to please?"

"Jiang Tiyan, if you keep bothering me, I'll out you to your parents and say you're corrupted."

Jiang Tiyan froze. If his parents found out, he'd get the same treatment Qi Muyao gave Qi Yanyu.

"Do it. They’ll know the truth. But your brother will find out you're dating a man."

Qi Yanyu was cornered.

"What do you want? Money? Here, take it." Qi Yanyu didn't have much to spare—just enough for his spoiled rich-kid habits. If Jiang Tiyan demanded too much, he might not be able to cough it up.

"I want you—just accept my help!" That's all! Why was Qi Yanyu being so stubborn?

"I told you, my injuries this time weren't from Qi Muyao."

"A year ago, your broken leg was the gossip of your whole crowd. You're seriously claiming Qi Muyao didn’t do it?"

"That time, yes. But not recently."

"Is there a difference?"

"There is." Qi Muyao's temper had stabilized somewhat compared to before, but Qi Yanyu couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. The so-called "stable" Qi Muyao had once beaten him so bad his heart stopped.

"What difference?"

"He rarely hits me now."

Jiang Tiyan let out a bitter laugh. "‘Rarely’? Meaning he still beats you?"

Author's Note: Everyone, let the mess begin. *Footnote: The word “徨” (huáng) may be intentional wordplay or a typo for “慌” (panic). Context is unclear.*