Chapter 5 Shut Up

Chapter 5: Zip It

Gu Shiying had nothing against pink and white; he liked white clothes too and even owned a light pink T-shirt. He just thought that people who liked pink and white were usually cute girls.

Since he had already agreed to go out with Fu Huan, he wasn't about to back out now. Besides, he had his own little plan. Biting the bullet, he sat on the back of the scooter.

The seat wasn’t big, and with two tall guys sitting on it, it was cramped. Not only were their clothes pressed together, but Gu Shiying could also feel the warm body heat radiating from Fu Huan through the fabric.

Gu Shiying faced the rushing wind and fanned his face. It was really hot.

He asked Fu Huan, "Who'd you borrow this scooter from? It’s pretty cute."

Fu Huan replied, "Our class monitor."

Gu Shiying asked, "Your class monitor is a girl?"

Fu Huan said, "A guy."

Gu Shiying muttered, "Didn't get it, but whatever."

The campus sprawled, and sometimes the classrooms were far from the dormitory buildings. Although the school had campus shuttles, they ran on a fixed schedule, and missing one meant being late. So, the school allowed students to ride bicycles and scooters.

Gu Shiying remarked, "I didn't expect you to ride a scooter on campus."

Fu Huan countered, "Why not?"

Gu Shiying was taken aback by the question. He wanted to say that aside from Fu Huan’s resting bored face, there was nothing to criticize. Fu Huan was good-looking, had a decent sense of style, and carried himself like a high-fashion model.

"Because you’re tall. Your legs must be cramped up on this scooter, right?"

"Not too bad."

Fu Huan stayed quiet as usual, driving steadily all the way to the police station.

A young officer greeted them, who looked about their age, surnamed Cheng, with two shallow dimples when he smiled.

Officer Cheng, who looked quite young, asked Gu Shiying, "You’re Gu Shiying, right? How’s the injury?"

Gu Shiying replied, "Not too bad. No stitches were needed. The doctor said it'll be fine once it scabs over."

Officer Cheng said, "That’s good."

He asked if the two knew the assailant and took their statements as routine.

When Officer Cheng walked them to the door, he happily told them, "By the way, our station is going to hold an award ceremony for acts of courage. Both of you are on the list. We'll notify you when it’s time to come and receive your awards."

Gu Shiying had always thought of himself as an ordinary student and never imagined he’d have such a moment in the spotlight.

His eyes widened: "Wow, is the award for courage a commendation plaque?"

Officer Cheng said, "There’s also a 10,000 yuan cash reward. Add me on WeChat so it’s easier for me to contact you later."

Gu Shiying replied, "Okay, thank you, Officer Cheng."

However, after the two exchanged WeChat, Fu Huan said, "Officer Cheng, you don't need to include me for this award. I didn’t do anything."

Officer Cheng insisted, "This was decided by our bureau chief and your university president. Student Fu Huan, you also saved someone. Don’t be modest."

Gu Shiying was surprised that Fu Huan would refuse. Remembering that Fu Huan had saved his life, he persuaded him, "You saved my life too. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been a victim of that knife."

Officer Cheng waved goodbye: "Wait for my notification, both of you."

This meant Fu Huan’s refusal was ineffective.

Seeing the pink scooter parked next to the police car again, Gu Shiying was riding high from the news. Even the little pink scooter looked much more pleasing to the eye.

The "Act of Courage" award sounded awesome.

He asked Fu Huan, "Hey, Fu Huan, why did you refuse the award?"

Fu Huan replied, "I didn’t perform an act of courage."

Gu Shiying clicked his tongue at him: "You don’t want 10,000 yuan?" He had a new understanding of Fu Huan—apparently, money didn't matter to him.

Fu Huan looked back at him, his eyelids lifting slightly, with less of his usual laziness: "Do you want it?"

Gu Shiying answered truthfully: "10,000 yuan—what student would say no to that, right? Anyway, I’m a practical guy. When it comes to money, you can never have too much." Otherwise, he wouldn’t have squeezed in time for part-time jobs despite his busy schedule. His life motto was "Make money! Make money! Make money!"

Fu Huan said, "Alright, I’ll attend the award ceremony."

Gu Shiying remarked, "You changed your tune fast."

Fu Huan didn’t explain. He pushed the scooter out from the gap, put on his helmet, and patted the back seat, his eyes meeting Gu Shiying’s.

"Get on. I’ll take you back."

Gu Shiying wasn’t short either. With one lift of his leg, he swung his leg over onto the seat.

After a while, Gu Shiying noticed the scooter slowing down. People walking past them were moving faster than they were.

Gu Shiying felt something was off: "Why are you going so slow?"

Fu Huan put his long legs on the ground, bringing the scooter to a complete stop: "Must be out of battery."

Gu Shiying: "..."

Fu Huan searched on his phone for nearby scooter charging spots. However, the closest one was near their school.

Fu Huan said, "We’ll have to push it back."

It was less than two kilometers to get there, but pushing the scooter back would take at least ten minutes or so just to reach the school gate.

Gu Shiying didn’t want to spend that much time alone with Fu Huan. He considered leaving first, but it wouldn't be right to abandon someone midway.

"Let’s just walk back then."

Fu Huan suggested, "Take a taxi back. The sun on that wound could cause inflammation."

Gu Shiying, having his own reasons, refused: "It'll be fine. It’s not as hot today as it was yesterday."

Fu Huan nodded and pushed the scooter forward.

They walked a few hundred meters without saying a word.

Fu Huan was just as quiet as back in the dorm, while Gu Shiying was thinking about how to work into conversation that he "had a girlfriend" or liked a girl.

After working up his courage for a while, Gu Shiying sneaked a glance at Fu Huan and found him looking ahead, his face unreadable.

"Fu Huan, um..."

At that moment, a gentle and sweet voice suddenly called his name.

"Gu Shiying?"

Gu Shiying turned and saw Liu Wenqing hurrying toward him on the sidewalk.

His internal alarm bells went off.

Crap, this is bad!

The girl his friend likes is right in front of him, and standing next to him is the person Liu Wenqing wants to pursue!

What should I do? What should I do?

I can’t let them exchange WeChat. Liu Wenqing’s so pretty...

Huh? Was I just channeling Zhang Zhi’s perspective? If Fu Huan likes Liu Wenqing, wouldn’t that mean he wouldn’t like me anymore? No, that’s not right—Fu Huan is gay. They say gay people are born that way and can’t be "converted" to straight. It’s unfair to girls and a total disservice to my friend.

While his mind raced, Liu Wenqing was already in front of them.

Liu Wenqing asked with concern, "I heard you got injured. How are you? Is it serious?"

Within one night and one morning, almost everyone who knew Gu Shiying had heard about his injury.

Gu Shiying deliberately lifted his arm and smiled. "It’s nothing serious. I can still jump around. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be seeing me right now."

Liu Wenqing glanced toward Fu Huan, who had also stopped and was waiting for Gu Shiying.

"You do look pretty okay. When I heard about it last night, I thought it might not be true." Then she looked openly at Fu Huan and gave Gu Shiying a meaningful glance. "And who is this?"

Gu Shiying nervously glanced at Fu Huan. If it weren’t for helping Zhang Zhi, he wouldn’t have heard Fu Huan’s inner thoughts. Zhang Zhi really is a troublemaker.

"He’s my roommate, Fu Huan."

Fu Huan nodded. Usually not one to initiate conversation, he suddenly spoke up: "Hello."

Liu Wenqing’s eyes lit up. "I’m Liu Wenqing, majoring in less common languages."

Fu Huan: "Cool."

Liu Wenqing: "Nah, it’s pretty average. What’s your major?"

Fu Huan: "Finance."

Gu Shiying, seeing they were hitting it off, grew anxious. Could Fu Huan actually be bisexual? His usually cool expression seemed to soften while talking to a girl. Gu Shiying panicked—if they kept chatting, his buddy would really have no chance.

Gu Shiying quickly jumped in: "Fu Huan, we still need to charge the scooter. Should we go?"

Fu Huan: "Yeah."

Liu Wenqing’s next words were interrupted again by Gu Shiying: "We should get going. I’ll treat you to bubble tea another time."

Liu Wenqing smiled but remained somewhat reserved in front of Fu Huan. She didn’t directly ask for his WeChat but winked at Gu Shiying.

"Gu Shiying, remember to check your WeChat later. There’s something I need to talk to you about."

Gu Shiying nodded: "Sure."

They parted ways.

Gu Shiying thought this was a perfect opportunity to signal to Fu Huan that he had someone he liked!

He glanced at Fu Huan’s side and casually asked, as if making small talk between male classmates: "Fu Huan, do you know how to pursue a girl?"

After waiting a while, Gu Shiying heard nothing back from Fu Huan.

Thinking the street noise might have drowned out his question, he asked again, stepping closer to Fu Huan’s left side.

Gu Shiying: "Fu Huan, do you not have experience pursuing girls?"

Fu Huan shot him an intense look: "I do."

Gu Shiying was suddenly speechless. Wait, this wasn’t what he expected. Fu Huan is gay—how could he have experience pursuing girls? Could he actually be bisexual, interested in both? What a player!

He cursed inwardly but kept his tone light: "Then how do you pursue girls who are hard to get? Give me some tips?"

Returning to his original plan—without explicitly stating he had a girlfriend, but making it clear he liked a girl—he figured Fu Huan would probably lose interest in a couple of days. Otherwise, seeing each other every day and living in the same dorm would be way too awkward!

"Teach you how to pursue that Liu Wenqing from earlier?"

Gu Shiying was taken aback for a second: "?"

Did Fu Huan mistake him for liking Liu Wenqing?

This was a path he hadn’t anticipated.

But maybe this could work to dispel Fu Huan’s interest in him!

Gu Shiying immediately nodded eagerly and repeated Zhang Zhi’s earlier praise of Liu Wenqing: "Yeah, she’s so pretty, smart, talented, has a great personality, confident and outgoing. A lot of people like her, so she’s probably tough to get."

Fu Huan’s lips pressed into a thin line, mumbling a bit: "You think very highly of her."

Gu Shiying laughed and scratched his head, pretending to be shy: "Well, yeah. I kinda have a crush on her." Sorry, buddy, just for now.

As they walked, they soon reached the school gate.

Fu Huan had to return the scooter and told Gu Shiying to go back to the dorm alone.

Gu Shiying turned toward campus in a great mood, thrilled inside. Since he’d made it clear he liked a girl, Fu Huan would probably gradually lose interest.

Fu Huan’s interest in him must have been because he thought Gu Shiying might be into guys since he didn’t have a girlfriend. Now that he’d made his position clear, Fu Huan would surely move on!

Sure enough, after Fu Huan went to return the scooter, he didn’t come back to the dorm all afternoon.

That evening, in a great mood, Gu Shiying kicked back with his legs crossed, waiting for Zhang Zhi to come back and help him change the bandage.

But at 7 p.m., Zhang Zhi only sent one message.

Zhang Zhi: Ying Er, my friends and I decided to go night hiking tonight, so I won’t be back to school!

Gu Shiying: Dammit.

Couldn’t he have said something earlier? The school clinic staff were already off duty.

That unreliable jerk—he’d have to change the bandage himself.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Gu Shiying removed the bandage.

Gu Shiying: "Oww, oww, oww! This hurts like hell!"

At that moment, Fu Huan pushed the door open and saw Gu Shiying in so much pain he was about to pass out.

He stepped forward and grabbed Gu Shiying’s left hand, that was trying to apply medicine to the wound: "Don’t move."

Gu Shiying felt that Fu Huan was his painkiller, because Fu Huan’s thoughts always made him so embarrassed he forgot about the injury!

"These pale, toned legs would be perfect wrapped around my waist."

Gu Shiying stared at him wide-eyed: What the hell?!

He was just wearing a pair of sports shorts in the dorm because of the hot weather—what guy doesn't dress like that in his dorm?!

But Fu Huan acted as though his thoughts had nothing to do with him, asking Gu Shiying with a calm expression: "Does it hurt a lot?"

Gu Shiying was shaking with anger: "…"

If he hadn’t heard Fu Huan’s inner monologue, he would have literally thought the other was concerned about him.

Just shut up, you creep.

Author's note:

----------------------

Here I come [Calico cat emoji] [Calico cat emoji]