One trip to campus had cost him thirty thousand. Hua Jian looked sour all morning: losing that money hurt.
Xue Pan wasn't an art student. The morning class had been a general course, and he and Hua Jian happened to share the same classroom.
After handing over the medicinal solution, Hua Jian hadn't seen him for the rest of the day.
Meanwhile, nosy students had long since spread word of what had happened in the classroom that morning.
In Imperial University's art department, Hua Jian had always been practically nonexistent.
People knew him as "Young Master Feng's simp" or "that guy with glasses behind Young Master Feng."
Today, his fellow students finally had a name for him.
What a cause for celebration.
The chubby boy he'd hoisted up was called Zhang Pinqiu. He studied oil painting, liked trailing after Feng Qian, and harbored feelings for him that went beyond friendship.
That was why, once he'd realized that "Hua Jian" liked Feng Qian, Zhang Pinqiu had never missed a chance to make snide remarks at him.
But he'd never gotten physical like he had today.
[Did HJ take the wrong meds? ZPQ and Young Master Feng are good friends. If HJ pisses him off, does that mean he's done simping for Young Master Feng?]
[ZPQ said Glasses got a hotel room. Is that actually true? With a man?]
[Waaah, I was there! I saw the veins on HJ's arms with my own eyes. My mind's in the gutter!]
[Ahem, is this what happens when a quiet guy gets angry? I only want to be his friend a little~]
[Stop thirsting, person above! Only an idiot would be friends with HJ!]
Hua Jian knew none of this. At noon, he went straight to Imperial University's Fifth Canteen, where the food was a little pricier, but also tastier.
Unfortunately, he'd barely gotten his food before more unwelcome guests appeared.
...These people really had nothing better to do.
"Hua Jian, mind if we get acquainted? We're in the same department. I'm Liu Yuze."
"Hi, Hua Jian. I'm Feng Zhekai. We took an elective together last week."
...Did a background character like him really need to know this many people?
Hua Jian paused and looked up at the group in front of him.
He didn't know a single one of them, but they'd all appeared far more often in the original novel than "Hua Jian."
Every one of them was a supporter of the fake young master, Shu Yan.
They'd contributed plenty of ideas when it came to making Hua Jian suffer.
Yet now they all looked friendly, like perfectly decent classmates. What a rare sight.
"Want to sit down and eat?" Hua Jian asked flatly.
Liu Yuze's gaze swept over Hua Jian's tray, a trace of distaste in his eyes.
"No, we're heading off campus. Oh, right, want to add me?"
He casually took out his phone and held the screen in front of Hua Jian.
Hua Jian didn't move. Feng Zhekai raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter, Hua Jian? Add him. There's a party tonight, too. Young Master Shu's organizing it, and Feng Qian will definitely be there. Add him, and we can hang out tonight."
"Yeah, didn't you always follow Feng Qian wherever he went? Even when he told you not to."
Another boy's tone was rather snide, with an undercurrent of mockery.
Hua Jian looked up at him. His gaze was perfectly calm, but for some reason, a chill ran down the boy's back.
How had he never noticed how frightening Hua Jian's eyes were? He couldn't get the rest of his taunt out.
Liu Yuze shot him a covert glare.
And this bastard Hua Jian really didn't know what was good for him. He'd been holding up his QR code all this time, and the guy still dared to play hard to get?
If Young Master Shu hadn't given him instructions, he would...
Hua Jian turned his gaze to Liu Yuze. "So you're here to invite me to tonight's party?"
Liu Yuze stared. "What?"
Hua Jian scoffed. "Didn't you just say there was a party tonight and that we could hang out?"
Liu Yuze's family had a little money, and he often hung around Shu Yan. He fancied himself a trendsetter, and his everyday clothes were both flashy and expensive.
Their group had already drawn plenty of attention in the canteen, especially with him holding out his QR code for Hua Jian to add him.
At that moment, the din of the canteen, the barely concealed looks directed at him, and the nauseating smell of cheap food mingling together all left him thoroughly irritated.
A vicious look flashed in Liu Yuze's eyes, and his voice turned noticeably colder. "Think of it that way if you want. Add me."
Instead, Hua Jian calmly lowered his head and picked up his chopsticks. "I'm not interested in your party. Get lost."
Feng Zhekai's expression changed. "Hua Jian! Don't be so ungrateful!"
"Are you screwing with me, Hua Jian?" Liu Yuze demanded through gritted teeth.
Hua Jian planted his hands on the table and abruptly stood up.
Liu Yuze and Feng Zhekai's expressions changed dramatically, and they involuntarily backed away.
Fuck, how had they never noticed this bastard was so tall?
They'd watched the video before coming. Zhang Pinqiu, lifted into the air with one hand by Hua Jian, was a warning of what awaited them.
If Hua Jian hoisted them up in front of everyone, they might as well die.
Liu Yuze recovered first, putting on a fierce front despite his fear. "With an attitude like that, don't even dream of getting into Young Master Shu's circle. Let's go!"
Just like that, the group fled in a panic, leaving the words Hua Jian had prepared stuck in his throat.
"What a bunch of lunatics."
The students in the canteen wore varied expressions. This tall guy, who'd always been as invisible as air, had suddenly developed an intensely forceful presence today.
At nine that evening, Hua Jian arrived at UP right on time.
Brother Shen wore his usual beaming smile. "You're here, Jian. I had someone rush a uniform for you."
He looked Hua Jian up and down, clicking his tongue in admiration. "Broad shoulders, narrow waist, legs a mile long. Couldn't find a ready-made uniform that fit, so they worked overtime to custom-make this one for you."
His scrutiny gave Hua Jian the creeps. Was Brother Shen gay too?
"I'll go change."
UP's patrons were all mindful of their status and rarely made a scene.
Today, however, the atmosphere was much livelier than usual.
The new bartender had a new look.
A spotlight overhead illuminated the man behind the bar, its light filtering through his hair to fall faintly across his face.
His head was lowered, his expression focused and serious, as he deftly worked the cocktail-making tools in his hands.
His white shirt hugged his upper body, emphasizing his slender frame.
It was buttoned all the way to the top, leaving his sexy Adam's apple fully exposed. As he moved, the smooth lines of his muscles became more pronounced.
His movements weren't flashy, but they were particularly pleasing to watch. For some reason, the lively atmosphere slowly quieted, free of surging desire or struggles over self-interest.
This new bartender really had something.
Clink.
The glass met the countertop.
"Your drink is ready."
The man's voice reached their ears along with the decadent music drifting through the air.
That strange, elusive feeling immediately vanished.
The men and women around the bar looked wistful.
Hua Jian had no idea how they felt. He shifted his shoulders almost imperceptibly.
The pain from last night lingered, and continuously mixing drinks was indeed a strain.
Fortunately, he'd told Brother Shen in advance that his shifts would end at eleven from now on. He was still a student, after all.
If my moral standards weren't so high, I'd sell my body for cash...
After that vicious inward complaint, he remained completely unaware that a man near the stairs, not far from the bar, had abruptly stopped in his tracks.
Lu Zexi asked in confusion, "Why'd you stop? What are you looking at?"
Bo Lin's eyes had been dazzled by that radiant man. He withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes, saying mildly, "Nothing. Just looking at the fallen boy in your bar."
There was a strange note in his voice that was difficult to detect. Others might have missed it, but Lu Zexi had grown up with him since they were toddlers and caught it immediately.
"What fallen boy? Hey, don't tell me you've taken a liking to one of the boys working here. Keller? Jialin? Or someone else?"
Before you continue