Lu Xingci was absent from school for quite a few days.

For the first day, Duan Jiayan did not think much about it. It was the same for the second day, he went about his day as per normal. It was only on the third day that he could no longer resist glancing a few times at the empty seat behind him. 

During the night self-study session, Chen Yue looked as he dangled a fruit pop in his mouth and lazily sat about playing a mobile game. He casually said, “You’re not bored now that Lu-gou’s gone?”

Duan Jiayan turned around.

It seemed as though what Chen Yue said was true. His expression was a little unnatural but his tone still sounded casual as he said, “Me? Bored? I’m never bored.”

Chen Yue never expected that reaction from him and after his slight surprise wore off, laughed, “He seems to be pretty bored though. I looked at my friend’s list last night and I saw that he was gaming till the early morning, it seemed he couldn’t sleep.” 

Hearing this, Duan Jiayan frowned, “It’s that bad during a rut? You guys can’t even fall asleep?”

“It’s terrible. I feel like a sociopath whenever my rut is here,” Chen Yue said. He suddenly recalled something, “During Lu-gou’s last rut, he got into a fight with someone in a bar and in the end, fractured the guy’s bones.”

Song Yu overheard this and leaned over curiously, “The class monitor’s so wild?”

Chen Yue nodded, “His self-control is too good usually. So he goes out of control during his ruts, you know what I mean?”

As he spoke, he turned towards Duan Jiayan, “Regardless, the moment he enters his rut, it’s best that you leave him alone. I think he’ll probably commit a crime if he sees you.”

Duan Jiayan fell silent.

Chen Yue was not aware that during Lu Xingci’s rut, not only did he look for the other person, he even let Lu Xingci hug him.

Song Yi had heard about what happened during Lu Xingci’s rut from Shen Chilie. He turned to Duan Jiayan and whispered, “Actually I felt that class monitor hugging you for that little while… was a little perverted.” 

Duan Jiayan, “????”

Duan Jiayan sincerely asked, “Then what did you think he should have done?”

Song Yi, “You weren’t paying attention during sex ed classes, you don’t understand.”

Song Yi, “Getting f*cked is normal, not putting it in and marking someone is already not bad.” 

Duan Jiayan, “……”

Duan Jiayan’s ears started to warm at Song Yi’s straightforward and vulgar mention of ‘putting it in’. He could not resist replying in a low voice, “F*ck, what are you thinking about all the time?”

Song Yi looked at him for a moment before suddenly sighing.

That sigh sounded quite annoyed. Before Duan Jiayan could ask what he meant with the sigh, Song Yi looked at him in loving amusement and said, “Say, how long do you think it’ll take for you to grow up?” 

Duan Jiayan had goosebumps from Song Yi’s tone and stared at him threateningly. He didn’t know what medicine the latter took as he started laughing instead.

The day Lu Xingci came back to school, Duan Jiayan overslept and by the time he arrived in class, it was already mid-way into their self-study period.

On habit, he glanced towards the chair behind him and saw the boy sitting there solving questions. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Duan Jiayan sat down and took out a box of chocolate cake from beneath his table. He bent his head down and slowly ate it. 

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“You didn’t eat any breakfast?”

Duan Jiayan nodded with his back facing him.

Duan Jiayan leaned back, his chair leaning on the top of Lu Xingci’s table, and said, “You’ve been playing lots of games these few days?” 

“En, I couldn’t sleep,” Lu Xingci said. “Chen Yue told you that?”

Duan Jiayan nodded, “He saw you on his friends’ list.”

With the teacher sitting behind his table, Lu Xingci spoke in a hushed tone.

“Then how were you these past few days?” He asked. “Did you think of me?” 

Duan Jiayan immediately retorted, “Why would I be thinking of you?”

Lu Xingci continued playing with him, “Can I take it that you thought of me?”

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“Welcome back,” Duan Jiayan said. “From Summoner’s Rift back to this blood-filled second year.”

The boy saw him placing the sweet before turning back and chuckled as he ripped the wrapper apart. 

The afternoon their school holiday started, Zhao Minjun brought the class out to watch a movie.

The day before, she got the students in her class to write down the name of a movie on a slip of paper anonymously, she then collated the slips and chose the movie with the most votes. In the end, it was decided that they will be watching a suspense thriller film.

This movie was a recent big hit so it was not a surprise that it got the most votes. Duan Jiayan saw the result of the vote and turned towards Lu Xingci, “Are you able to watch it? It’s a little scary.”

He remembered Lu Xingci’s tragic appearance back in the haunted house. According to the movie’s trailer, it does seem to be pretty shocking. 

As class had just ended, Zhou Xingchen came over to find Chen Yue to borrow a portable charger. He did not think of much as he curiously asked, “What’s there that he can’t see? He’s not scared of stuff like this, we once watched Dead Silence at midnight, Lu-ge even laughed while watching it— Oi! Chen Yue, why are you kicking me?”

Lu Xingci glared at Zhou Xingchen, his expression growing colder.

For a second, he also wanted to do what Chen Yue did and give that brainless fellow a kick.

Duan Jiayan finally reacted, “He laughed while watching, and then?” 

Zhou Xingchen belatedly realised something was not right. A scene suddenly flashed across his mind, he remembered his experience back in the theme park. Realising that he might have accidentally revealed something, Zhou Xingchen abruptly stopped talking, a look of fear on his face.

Duan Jiayan totally understood what was going on. He looked at Lu Xingci and could not resist glaring at him, “Are you an actor?”

Just then the bell rang, Duan Jiayan did not hesitate to turn back around.

He thought back to that day in the haunted house. The female ghost scratching the closet door unceasingly, him kneeling in said closet with Lu Xingci for ten minutes. 

He recalled the obvious look of want that was on the other’s expression, as if he could not wait to devour him.

It turned out the reason Lu Xingci tricked him into thinking he was afraid of ghosts, was because of that.

Duan Jiayan’s feelings became more complex the more he thought about it. He was not angry, just amazed that someone was actually capable of doing something like this.

Furthermore, he felt an indescribable sense of awkwardness in his heart. 

Seeing Duan Jiayan turn around, Lu Xingci initially wanted to explain himself but in the end, kept his hand back.

He propped his chin up and sighed.

Lu Xingci swept his gaze towards Zhou Xingchen who was rooted to the ground and raised an eyebrow.

Even though he said nothing, the expression on his face was clear: “Still not leaving?” 

Zhou Xingchen was so scared that he turned pale and immediately returned to his seat.

After returning to his seat, Zhou Xingchen got more anxious the more he thought about what he did. Not wanting to anger Lu Xingci more, he could only ask Chen Yue, [Yue! Yue ah! Am I in trouble?]

Chen Yue, [Yes, you are already dead.]

Zhou Xingchen, [……] 

Chen Yue, [One sincere suggestion, you best not show your face in front of him.]

Zhou Xingchen was scared but also felt that something was not right, [Why does Lu-ge need to coax Duan Jiayan? He’s not even Lu-ge’s partner.]

Chen Yue could not be bothered with him and only sent a full stop back.

There was a cinema close to Yi Zhong. For convenience’s sake, Zhao Minjun booked a suitably sized theatre hall. 

After entering the hall, Duan Jiayan and Song Yi were spotted by Zhou Xingchen who waved to them, “Over here! Over here!”

Duan Jiayan knew Lu Xingci was also over there. He decided to look at the seats first so as to not sit beside Lu Xingci.

Just as he was thinking about this, Song Yi sat down. He naturally skipped the seat right beside Lu Xingci, leaving it empty for Duan Jiayan.

Around them, this was the only seat available. 

Duan Jiayan,  “……”

Duan Jiayan thought about it. Lu Xingci was the one who tricked him, he didn’t do anything against his conscience. So sitting beside Lu Xingci should not be a big deal.

After thinking it through, Duan Jiayan smoothly sat down.

After he sat down, the person beside him offered his bucket of popcorn over, “Want to eat some?” 

Duan Jiayan shook his head, “Not eating.”

Lu Xingci did not force it and took the bucket of popcorn back.

The movie started.

This was an imported film and told the tale of an intricate murder case.  To Duan Jiayan, even though the film was exciting and he got engrossed watching it, he could not quite understand what he was watching. He felt like he was missing a lot of small important details. 

Duan Jiayan nudged Song Yi and whispered, “That frame from just now, was there blood on the lady’s face?”

Song Yi was even more lost than him, “What are you talking about?”

Duan Jiayan, “……”

“The girl is the ex-wife of the first victim. She was also the journalist who interviewed the police officer. She should have accidentally taken a photo of the murderer,” as if afraid of disturbing those around him, Lu Xingci’s voice was very soft. “The blood is a hint left behind by the murderer.” 

Duan Jiayan suddenly heard the person beside him explaining what happened and though it felt great finally understanding what was going on, he was still a little unwilling to give in.

Duan Jiayanc self-righteously asked, “You think I can’t understand what’s going on?”

Lu Xingci, “No, I just—”

Before he could finish muttering his sentence, Duan Jiayan added, “I really can’t understand what I’m watching.” 

Lu Xingci, “……”

Duan Jiayan, “How are you this smart? Not only are you able to understand everything you see, you even have a quick reaction time. You have a lot of courage and are also attentive, being able to do something that seems impossible.”

Lu Xingci, “……”

Even though he was praising him profusely, Lu Xingci could faintly hear the other person gnashing their teeth in anger. 

Lu Xingci fell silent and avoided the topic, “Later, if there’s anything you don’t understand, we can discuss it together?”

Duan Jiayan did not reply.

Just as the movie was reaching its climax, Duan Jiayan was once again lost.

He first turned to Song Yi who was just as lost as him and knew he could not get any help from him. He could not help but glance towards Lu Xingci before jerking his head back. 

Sensing movement beside him, Lu Xingci leaned in his direction.

The sound effects in the theatre were almost to the point of being piercing to the ear. In such a noisy environment, the boy’s hushed voice sounded especially nice to listen to.

“The murderer initially planned to kill the old police officer. He tacked the officer’s timetable on his wall but he later realised the forensic doctor fits his bill more and decided to change his target,” Lu Xingci explained. “The murderer is someone close to them, at the very least it’s someone that often sees the police officer.”

Duan Jiayan looked calm on the surface, but in actual fact, he could finally understand what was going on in the movie. Somehow he could better follow the logic of the film and his movie-watching experience greatly improved. 

Duan Jiayan nodded.

Lu Xingci saw his silent acknowledgement and could feel that Duan Jiayan’s slight awkwardness was dissipating a little.

Just like an angry cat with fluffed out fur slowly being comforted by him.

When he once again reached a point in the movie he did not understand, Duan Jiayan habitually turned to look at the person beside him. 

This time, the person did not speak.

Duan Jiayan could not resist asking, “Why aren’t you speaking, you don’t understand what’s going on?”

The light from the screen fell on Lu Xingci’s face. His eyelashes were drooping, his eyes looked crystal clear.

From this angle, his eyes that usually looked sharp and indifferent instead resembled the soft petals of a peach blossom. 

“I was thinking… I should not have lied to you,” Lu Xingci paused. “I didn’t mean to tease you.”

Duan Jiayan froze, “……I’m not angry.”

He gave him a side-eye and worried his lips, “I’m just a little disgruntled.”

Lu Xingci’s brows softened when he saw that the other intended to let things go. 

“En, I know you’re not angry,” His tone was mild, with hints of affection. “After all, you are Duan Jiayan.”

Duan Jiayan was caught off guard by Lu Xingci’s flattery and felt soothed in that moment.

He felt like it was really hard to find fault with someone like Lu Xingci. He could not refute him, but also did not want to ignore him.

After a beat, Duan Jiayan sincerely said, “Lu-ge, you should release a book. The name of the book should be called ‘How to be a man’, I’d definitely buy it.” 

After leaving the cinema, Duan Jiayan wanted to buy a cup of milk tea. Lu Xingci decided to follow him.

Zhou Xingchen saw the both of them walking together and excitedly ran forward, “Have the both of you made up—”

Chen Yue immediately went to pull the fool back and motioned for him to not touch their sore spot.

As he was ordering his cup of milk tea, Duan Jiayan ordered the shop’s signature flavour. 

Lu Xingci actually was not fond of drinking stuff like this, he had only wanted to spend more time with Duan Jiayan. He casually said, “I’ll get what he’s getting.”

Both of them were good looking and the shop’s staff could not resist looking at them more.

Before they left, the staff kindly reminded them, “Our shop’s milk tea tends to be made a little hotter. When drinking, do remember that and be careful not to scald yourself.”

Duan Jiayan said his thanks. 

However, after leaving the shop, he did not think twice about the staff’s advice and raised the straw to his mouth to take a sip.

In an instant, Duan Jiayan almost spat out his milk tea after burning his tongue.

Lu Xingci casually asked, “It is hot?”

Duan Jiayan bore the heat and swallowed his milk tea. He felt this was something Lu Xingci should experience together with him. Afraid that the other would not be tricked, Duan Jiayan gave his all into his act and nonchalantly bit out two words, “Not hot.” 

Lu Xingci did not think too much after that and also raised the straw and took a sip.

Immediately, his eyes widened in surprise.

Realising he’d been fooled, he turned to Duan Jiayan.

“Hahahahahahahaha!” Duan Jiayan saw his rarely seen look of astonishment and could not hold it in any longer, bursting out into laughter. 

Lu Xingci swallowed his milk tea, the tip of his tongue brushing across the inside of his mouth that was still feeling hot, “You did it on purpose?”

“I was burned to death just now,” he laughed without inhibition, a devious expression still on his face. “I was actually quite nervous, luckily I still managed to trick you.”

Hearing him say the words ‘luckily’, Lu Xingci looked at him in disbelief, not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry in response.

“Hey, Lu Xingci,” Duan Jiayan suddenly called out to him. 

He watched as Duan Jiayan shook the cup of milk tea in his hand.

“I’ve also tricked you once, now we’re even.”

The author has something to say: It’s Xiao-Duan’s turn to be gentle today.