Can't Get Away

Both of them were still wearing their riding clothes. Jimo took off his helmet as they walked. "Let's go to the changing room and get changed first."

Jiang Wangshu nodded. "Is something urgent?"

Jimo didn't explain. "Yeah."

When they reached the changing room, they found it empty. Jiang Wangshu could tell that Jimo had breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's get changed." Jimo took their clothes out of the locker.

Just then, voices came from the doorway.

"My rhythm was off last time, and Wave Treader got his front legs tangled up. That's why I finished a few seconds behind you. This time I'll remind him to keep his momentum up half a lap earlier. I don't believe I still can't beat you..."

"Sure, let's race again."

Host, that's F4. They're coming over.

Jimo said calmly, I know.

Jimo recognized Ke Yueyi's voice as soon as he spoke.

There was no time.

Jimo could only grab Jiang Wangshu, who still had no idea what was happening, push him into a cubicle, and hide inside with him.

He pointed toward the door and gestured for Jiang Wangshu to keep quiet.

Jiang Wangshu blinked and nodded.

The two were walking toward the changing room, their voices drawing closer...

Jimo leaned toward the locker door and pressed his eye to the crack, waiting quietly. Before long, he saw Ke Yueyi walk in.

Ke Yueyi's expression was as cold as ever. He went straight to his locker and, with his back to Jimo, opened it and took out his riding clothes.

Then he began taking off his royal-blue sweater, revealing the smooth lines of his muscles.

Jimo raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of pure appreciation. He instinctively compared himself to Ke Yueyi. Once the semester ended and his coursework eased up, he really should make time to work out.

Jiang Wangshu noticed the change in Jimo's expression and was just about to reach out and touch him.

"Squeak, squeak."

A faint sound came from inside the locker. Jimo's eyes widened slightly as he found himself staring straight at a mouse.

The mouse was even more frightened than he was. It scurried around and fell straight through the crack with a thud.

"Who's there!"

Ke Yueyi quickly pulled on his riding clothes and turned around warily.

Jimo clapped a hand firmly over his mouth. The two huddled inside the locker, not daring to move.

The room fell silent again, as though the noise just now had been an illusion. But Ke Yueyi wasn't so easily fooled. His gaze fixed on the locker door diagonally behind him, and he walked over.

Jimo barely dared breathe. His heart raced, and he was already making up all sorts of excuses to fool him.

Just as Ke Yueyi's hand was about to touch the locker, He Zhenglin burst in. Fully dressed in his gear, he leaned lazily against the doorway. "Yi, what are you doing? I've been waiting for you forever."

Ke Yueyi paused and withdrew his hand. "Nothing. Let's go."

The door opened and closed, and they were gone.

Jimo and Jiang Wangshu exchanged a look and breathed a sigh of relief.

He could see the question in Jiang Wangshu's eyes, as if he were asking how Jimo had known they were coming.

Jimo said, "I'll explain when we get back."

This place was too unsafe. The two quickly changed out of their clothes and headed out.

Jiang Wangshu pushed open the changing-room door and asked, "Brother, will you come to the riding grounds again?"

"We'll see. If I have time later..."

Jimo stopped mid-sentence, staring outside the door.

Jiang Wangshu turned his head.

Two tall figures stood on either side of the doorway, both in riding clothes, blocking out the sunlight outside completely.

They were none other than Ke Yueyi and He Zhenglin, who had left a good while ago.

Jimo's scalp instantly went numb.

It had happened last time too. Why couldn't he shake this guy?

After the two exchanged contact information that day, Ke Yueyi hadn't contacted him again. He hadn't even mentioned the punishment copying he'd said Jimo should make up when he had time. Jimo had secretly been relieved, sure that the man had acted on a passing whim. He hadn't expected to run into him again today.

The four exchanged looks, and He Zhenglin was the first to speak.

His gaze passed straight over the plainly dressed Jimo and settled on Jiang Wangshu in some surprise. "Yi, is this the person you were waiting for?"

After they had left the room, Ke Yueyi had said he wasn't in a hurry and wanted to wait for someone there, so He Zhenglin had stayed too.

Ke Yueyi didn't speak, his gaze dark.

For no apparent reason, Jimo had the feeling Ke Yueyi was waiting for him to explain.

Jimo steeled himself and smiled. "Bro, you came riding too? What a coincidence."

He Zhenglin was about to say that Yi wasn't like him and hated it most when people casually claimed a relationship with him. Calling him bro was asking for death.

To his surprise, before he could say it, Ke Yueyi answered.

He asked, "Isn't equestrianism a second-year course?"

Slightly surprised, He Zhenglin finally turned his gaze to Jimo and studied him closely.

Jimo just wanted to end the conversation quickly. He shifted to stand slightly in front of Jiang Wangshu. "I was a little interested, so I came over. Bro, you two go have fun. We've been here all afternoon, so we'll head off first."

Jimo's small movement didn't escape Ke Yueyi's notice. Those emerald-green eyes watched him quietly.

"Why leave?"

The moment He Zhenglin laid eyes on Jiang Wangshu, he had no intention of letting him go. He still remembered what had happened that day.

Since he'd come right to his door, there was no reason not to play with him.

A hint of malicious amusement appeared in He Zhenglin's eyes. "We're all here to ride horses. Let's do it together. The more people, the more fun."

Jimo found him incredibly annoying. He knew perfectly well whether He Zhenglin wanted to play with horses or with people.

Having two members of F4 appear in front of the protagonist at once set alarm bells ringing in his head. He wanted nothing more than to drag Jiang Wangshu away immediately.

He smiled politely at He Zhenglin, but spoke to Ke Yueyi. "I'd love to hang out with you, bro, but I really do have something to do today. Let's get together another time."

Ke Yueyi's gaze passed over the hand Jimo had wrapped around someone else's, and his lips curved. "All right."

He Zhenglin frowned and was about to object.

Then he heard Ke Yueyi add, "He stays."

He Zhenglin could see it now: Yi didn't want this person to leave.

That suited him just fine. He wanted the special scholarship student to stay too.

He folded his arms and silently watched the show.

Jiang Wangshu froze. Ke Yueyi had specifically told him to stay, yet hadn't looked at him once the entire time.

Jiang Wangshu knew the other party had bad intentions, so he said to Jimo, "Brother, you go first."

But how could Jimo leave first? He'd have to have a screw loose to leave the protagonist alone with two members of F4.

Jimo signaled for him not to worry. It looked like they weren't getting away today.

He could simply drag Jiang Wangshu away without caring about anything else, but the consequences of defying F4 would probably be far worse than staying here.

The situation looked a little tense, but Jimo seemed not to notice.

Like a slippery, nimble loach, he wriggled out of the wet sand and mud. "Oh, I wasn't thinking straight just now. What could be more important than my bro? Let's all go together. It's just that I'm slow. I've been learning all afternoon and still haven't got it."

Normally, when the two sides didn't know each other, a mutual friend or intermediary would at least introduce them. Jimo, however, deliberately ignored that.

The Jimo he knew was back. Ke Yueyi's gaze darkened.

The look in Jimo's eyes when he pushed open the door and saw him standing behind it hadn't actually been well concealed.

What kind of look had it been?

Guardedness, wariness, and annoyance.

Surprise and delight alone had been absent.

Ke Yueyi said mildly, "It's fine. I'll teach you."

With that, he led the way out.

Seeing Jimo still standing there in a daze, He Zhenglin urged him on. "What are you standing around for? Follow your bro."

"Sure, right away."

But Jimo's actions weren't nearly as enthusiastic as his words. He stood still and turned sideways, gesturing for Jiang Wangshu to come with him.

Jiang Wangshu got the signal and started to follow.

He Zhenglin's lips curved as he raised an arm to block him. "They're having a one-on-one lesson. What are you following them for?"

Jiang Wangshu frowned and ignored him. He reached out to push his arm aside, but couldn't budge it.

"Move."

He Zhenglin smiled amiably. "What can you do to me if I don't?"

Jiang Wangshu raised his eyes and stared at him coldly.

Jimo was afraid Jiang Wangshu would be too impulsive and clash with He Zhenglin. He was also afraid Jiang Wangshu would truly pique He Zhenglin's interest.

He immediately started over to play peacemaker, but had barely taken a step when Ke Yueyi, who had stopped at some point, called to him from behind.

"Come here."

Those beautiful dark-green eyes revealed just how little patience their owner had left.