I Want to Confess Something to You

"Si Di?"

Seeing him standing there without moving, Huo Xiao set down what he was doing, turned to look at him, and asked, "Why aren't you coming over? What are you standing there for?"

His thoughts were pulled back.

Si Di blinked cautiously. Just as he was about to walk over, someone suddenly slammed into him from behind.

A dormitory housing a hundred people was a chaotic mess every day.

Boys around eighteen, nineteen, or in their early twenties were always full of energy.

Someone was playing chase. The person in front had twisted around to look behind him, failed to notice Si Di, and ran straight into him from the back.

He crashed into him at a run.

With tremendous force.

Si Di staggered sharply forward from the impact.

The next second, his wrist was firmly caught.

Huo Xiao stepped forward, steadily catching the stumbling Si Di with his body. His other hand naturally wrapped around Si Di's waist.

His loose casual top had been tugged up in wrinkled folds, and their skin pressed together without any barrier.

Huo Xiao's arm muscles were firm.

Si Di's waist was slender and soft.

Warm.

Smooth and supple.

It felt like a peeled egg—tender and soft.

Huo Xiao stared fixedly at the still-shaken Si Di in his arms, a dark glint suddenly rising in his deep eyes.

Gulp.

His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

Once Si Di had steadied himself, he looked up and met Huo Xiao's unreadable eyes.

They were both men.

The desire in his gaze was unmistakable.

At that moment, Yu Ning's words from the bathroom suddenly echoed in his ears.

—Huo Xiao likes you so obviously, yet you never noticed.

Huo Xiao...

"Watch where you're going! Good thing Si Di didn't fall. If he'd ruined that face, you'd be done for!"

Still shaken, Yu Ning cursed them out before walking over to ask, "Didi, are you okay?"

Si Di had already quickly stepped out of Huo Xiao's arms.

He tugged the hem of his hoodie back into place, responded to Yu Ning, then turned to look at Huo Xiao again.

Huo Xiao had an inherently cocky air about him.

With his unruly looks, he was proud and uninhibited.

Yet at that moment, his brows and eyes were slightly lowered, and there seemed to be a faint light flowing in the depths of his gaze.

Si Di was not the indecisive type.

Nor did he like leading people on with ambiguity.

Like was like, and dislike was dislike. If something like this was dragged out without being said, it would only waste someone else's time, energy, and feelings.

Without the slightest hesitation, Si Di said, "Huo Xiao, come out with me for a moment. I have something to tell you."

The air fell silent for two seconds.

Huo Xiao studied him for two seconds, then nodded readily and followed him out.

Yu Ning was left standing there alone. After pinching his chin and pondering for a moment, he shook his head and sighed.

Ah.

A budding romance was about to be strangled in the cradle.

There would be another heartbroken person in this world.

Love truly harmed people deeply.

As an observer, Yu Ning firmly decided that he had to hold fast to his heart, stay away from love, see through worldly affairs, sever his emotional ties, and cut off love entirely!

Yu Ning: Wise people do not enter the river of love. A lonely king goes straight through master's and doctorate programs. I, Abbess Miejue, will focus on my career, soar to fame, and become a top star!

--

At the end of the corridor.

Huo Xiao leaned lazily against the windowsill, his arms crossed over his chest.

"There's no one here now. Say whatever you want."

It was already completely dark outside.

The corridor lights reflected off the window glass behind Huo Xiao.

Si Di looked steadily at his face and said bluntly, "Huo Xiao, as a friend, I want to confess something to you."

"What is it?"

Huo Xiao's gaze was sharp, as though it could see through people's hearts.

Si Di said without fear, "Actually, I have a boyfriend. We've known each other for over three years, and we only made it official in the first half of this year."

The words came abruptly.

Huo Xiao's brow furrowed slightly, and his voice suddenly turned cold. "Why bring this up out of nowhere? Did Yu Ning say something to you?"

He had only gone out with Yu Ning once.

When he came back, he was like a different person.

Huo Xiao looked thoroughly displeased.

Si Di shook his head. "No. I just felt that I shouldn't keep this from you. To be honest, I have a spare phone. Yu Ning and I went to hide it just now. He knows I have a boyfriend, so I think you should know too."

He certainly knew how to phrase things tactfully.

Reasonable without offending anyone.

Huo Xiao lowered his sharp eyes and sneered. "Is that so? Aren't you afraid I'll expose you after telling me this so suddenly?"

An idol dating during the rise of his career—

The consequences would be severe.

Even if Si Di was very popular right now, if he angered his fans, his future could still be completely ruined.

Huo Xiao's tone was slightly cruel, carrying an inexplicable hint of threat.

Yet Si Di gave a dazzling smile. "You won't. Someone as proud as you wouldn't do that, and wouldn't stoop to something as vile as stabbing someone in the back. Besides, Huo Xiao, we're friends."

He said the word "friends" slowly and heavily.

His resolute expression made it seem as though he valued this relationship greatly.

Friendship was absolute affirmation when it came to being friends.

But for any position beyond that, it was also absolute rejection.

The teasing smile Huo Xiao had put on instantly vanished without a trace.

His gaze turned cold.

Suppressing a breath, he asked, "Is he in the industry?"

Si Di did not hesitate and answered honestly, "I don't know. V and I are in an online relationship, and we haven't properly discussed each other's identities yet."

"An online relationship?"

Huo Xiao enunciated each word.

His skeptical expression seemed to say: Are you fucking kidding me?

Si Di nodded. "Yes, an online relationship, but V and I are both serious about it. And we've already agreed that once the competition is over, we'll meet."

The more earnestly he spoke, the more decisively he rejected anyone pursuing him.

Huo Xiao stared at him for several full seconds.

As if they were locked in a stalemate.

Or as if they were facing off.

In the end, he suddenly reached out and reproachfully mussed Si Di's fluffy short hair into a complete mess.

"Si Di, you really have no heart. Flaunting your love in front of a single dog—are you deliberately trying to torture me? Don't you know there's a saying that those who flaunt their love die young?"

Si Di's hair stood on end after being ruffled.

The weather was cold and dry.

When he reached up to touch it, his hair zapped him with a snap, making him raise his voice. "Huo Xiao, don't push it too far."

"If you're heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless. I wish you an early failure at your offline meetup."

Huo Xiao looked arrogant and unruly, his gaze sharp and burning.

As if he were joking.

Yet also as if he meant it.

After saying that, he reached out and rubbed Si Di's head again.

The hair Si Di had just smoothed down stood up all over again.

This time, without even touching it, Si Di could clearly hear the crackle crackle of static in his hair.

Enough was enough.

Si Di cursed and reached out in retaliation to ruffle Huo Xiao's hair too.

Before he could touch him, Huo Xiao had already strode away.

He was tall with long legs, and in only a few steps, he had run far away.

Si Di took large strides after him.

The voice-activated corridor lights lit up one by one ahead of them as they chased each other.

In the distance.

Qin Wei was about to head up to the third floor. As he passed the stairwell on the second floor, he heard the noise and went over to take a look.

Just in time to see Si Di chasing Huo Xiao to the end of the corridor.

Huo Xiao made a sharp turn and successfully slipped past Si Di, not forgetting to rub his head twice as he did.

Qin Wei's gaze darkened.

His brow creased deeply.

He let out a cold snort, then turned and left.