Looks Like You Don't Dare

Yu An carefully corrected Song Yuechi. "He Li'an and I were never inseparable, so there's no question of making a clean break."

"Is that the point?!" Song Yuechi anxiously grabbed at his blond hair. "You've taken things this far—are you seriously not planning to keep living?"

Yu An nodded without hesitation. "Yeah."

He did not want to discuss this issue with Song Yuechi any further and quickened his pace.

"Ugh!" Song Yuechi could not quite follow Yu An's train of thought. He sighed and hurried after him.

Over the next few days, Yu An and He Li'an did not contact each other.

The person he used to see every day at school truly never appeared again after they had "made a clean break."

On Friday, Song Yuechi loudly declared that he wanted to go out for a nice meal and asked Yu An if he wanted to come along.

Yu An thought of the snacks and alcohol Song Yuechi had delivered to his home before. "Sure. Afterward, come hang out at my place."

Song Yuechi nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

Yu An was going to the library that afternoon. Song Yuechi's mind always went wild as soon as Friday came around, and he could not study at all, so he said he was going to work out and told Yu An to contact him when he was ready to leave.

As the sky began to darken, Yu An sent Song Yuechi a message.

[Yu An]: Getting ready to leave.

[Song Yuechi]: I just got to the pool. I want to swim for a while before leaving. Come wait for me.

[Yu An]: Okay.

On Friday evening, many students had gone home, so there were not many people in the pool. The moment Yu An arrived, he spotted Song Yuechi.

Because he was making a huge commotion while swimming.

His arms and legs thrashed with all his strength, making him look like both a dog and a frog, sending water splashing everywhere.

Song Yuechi even shouted across the pool at him, "Yu An, do I look cool swimming like this—glug!"

He had gotten distracted talking and forgotten to breathe, swallowing a huge mouthful of water.

Yu An stood calmly at the edge of the pool. "Like a frog."

Song Yuechi pretended not to hear him. "I knew I looked cool."

Yu An said, "..."

"Well, if it isn't the Song family kid?"

A man's booming voice came from the entrance.

Yu An usually paid no attention to strangers. Just as Song Yuechi swam up to him, Yu An noticed that his expression had turned a little grim. Thinking of the surname "Song" in that remark, he looked up toward the entrance.

Several boys in swim trunks were walking over.

They were called boys, but their builds were as sturdy as those of professional athletes.

Song Yuechi's voice came from beside him. "Go wait for me outside."

Yu An turned back and saw a rare seriousness on Song Yuechi's face.

"You know them?"

"Yeah. They're friends. We might talk for a bit, so hurry up and go."

Song Yuechi smiled at him and urged him to leave.

Yu An turned around and slowly walked some distance away before stopping. He looked back in Song Yuechi's direction.

That group had already reached Song Yuechi.

"Long time no see you at the pool. Didn't expect to run into you the moment you came back. You weren't waiting until we weren't around to come, were you? That's not very nice. What, you don't like us?"

"No."

Song Yuechi was surrounded by them, so Yu An could not see his face. He could only hear his voice.

It was quiet, and nothing like his usual lively self.

Something was wrong.

But there were too many of them, and every one of them was powerfully built and clearly strong.

Yu An could not beat even half of one of them, let alone a whole person, but he still walked over.

He thought that Song Yuechi might really have lowered his IQ.

"Song Yuechi, it's time to go."

His voice drew everyone's attention.

The people surrounding Song Yuechi opened up a gap. Yu An saw someone in the center patting Song Yuechi on the head as he said, "You've got a friend too? Why don't you introduce him to us..."

When that person looked at Yu An, the malicious expression on his face froze for a moment.

Then he let go and walked toward Yu An, sizing him up inch by inch from head to toe. "Which family are you from? How come I've never seen you before?"

"Sheng Yilin!" Song Yuechi hurried over and stepped in front of Yu An. In a low voice, he said, "Didn't I tell you to leave?"

Yu An lowered his gaze to Song Yuechi's pale face. "We're leaving together."

Song Yuechi's expression froze, and tears shimmered in his eyes.

Sheng Yilin walked over and shoved Song Yuechi aside, staring straight at Yu An. "What's your name?"

"Yu An." Yu An met his gaze without backing down, his voice clear and calm.

Sheng Yilin's eyes grew brighter. "What a nice name. Are you free tonight? This senior can take you out and have some fun."

Yu An said, "No."

Sheng Yilin's face darkened slightly. "Don't be such a killjoy. Otherwise, this senior will be put in a difficult position."

As he spoke, he reached out to touch Yu An's face. Yu An tilted his head aside to avoid him, and Sheng Yilin's expression completely turned cold.

"Even less tactful than the Song family kid. What should I do about that?"

Song Yuechi's face went white. "Sheng Yilin, if you've got a problem, take it out on me!"

With a wave of Sheng Yilin's hand, someone dragged Song Yuechi aside.

Yu An spoke blandly. "You can kill me."

Sheng Yilin blanked for a moment, then gave a cold snort. "Provoking me?"

"Looks like you don't dare." Yu An curved his lips slightly, his smile bright and innocent.

Sheng Yilin stared at him in a daze, taking a moment to process it.

Yu An took off his backpack and shrugged out of his coat. He gave Sheng Yilin a calm look. "I dare."

Then, with a splash, he jumped into the pool.

Sheng Yilin was stunned at first, then sneered disdainfully. "What the hell? Playing chicken with me? Let's see how long you can keep up the act."

"Yu An, he... he can't... can't swim..." Song Yuechi stared at the still surface of the pool, his voice shaking in terror.

Sheng Yilin shot him a vicious glare. "He can't swim, but he dared to jump in? Do I look like a three-year-old to you?"

Unable to break free from the people restraining him, Song Yuechi roared, "You think he's as cowardly as you are? If you don't save him now, he'll really die! He's He Li'an's direct junior. If he really dies here, do you think you'll still graduate smoothly?"

He Li'an was an influential figure even on the school's board of directors. If he made up his mind to make things difficult for someone, that person might truly be unable to graduate.

And failing to graduate would not just mean losing face for Sheng Yilin alone.

Sheng Yilin gestured to the people behind him, signaling them to go in and pull Yu An out.

They were all competitive swimmers, and they quickly hauled Yu An out.

Yu An's face was pale, and he had already fallen unconscious.

The person who pulled him out changed expression too. "Fuck! Brother Lin, this guy was really risking his life!"

Sheng Yilin irritably kicked him. "What are you looking at me for? Perform CPR!"

"Move aside, I'll do it!" Song Yuechi ran over and shoved Sheng Yilin's man away.

Trembling, Song Yuechi pressed on Yu An's chest while shouting, "Yu An, don't die! What am I supposed to do if you die...?"

He was kneeling in front of Yu An. While everyone was not paying attention, Yu An, who was pretending to be unconscious, quietly poked his knee.

Song Yuechi froze for a moment, then, in a rare flash of cleverness, quickly understood. He shifted position to block everyone's view and continued howling while performing CPR on Yu An.

"Yu An, if you die, I won't live either! Awooo..."

"..."

Song Yuechi's wailing was so awful that Yu An almost wanted to actually die.