This wasn't funny

Bai Chen stopped paying much attention to the rest of their conversation. None of it had anything to do with the plot, so there was no need to listen.

Besides, eavesdropping on other people really didn't feel right.

Phone in hand, Bai Chen walked to the counter, paid, then turned and left.

On his way back, he was a little distracted.

He was thinking that if that young man really was the second male lead, the plot ahead could become much more complicated.

If Gu Cheng ever met that young man, Gu Cheng would lose, one hundred percent. That was the law of webnovels.

There was another possibility Bai Chen least wanted to see, and it was also the most common outcome: the two of them would end up...

Bai Chen felt that a guy like that shouldn't have such an ending. If he were the author of this book, he would definitely put the two childhood friends together.

Within those few short minutes, Bai Chen had made his decision. He wouldn't exclusively help Gu Cheng or Gu Yun. He wouldn't help either of them; the final choice would be Gu Yun's own.

In truth, Bai Chen's sympathies had already begun to shift. For now, he thought this was the best solution.

At the stadium, more and more students were jogging around the track. All of them wore sportswear, and the rising sun on their faces made them look even more energetic.

There was half an hour left before the ceremony. Bai Chen stopped dawdling and quickened his pace toward the south district hall.

When he arrived, there were only a few minutes left before it began. The hall was already packed, with upperclassmen standing along the aisles to keep things orderly.

Bai Chen looked around after entering but couldn't find an empty seat, so he went inside to search row by row.

As he reached the fourth row, someone suddenly grabbed his arm. His momentum nearly sent him pitching forward, but a pair of warm hands caught him.

Those hands were broad and solid, giving him a reassuring sense of security.

He immediately let out a relieved breath and turned to see who had steadied him.

The moment he turned, he met a pair of bright, clear eyes. They shone with his reflection, gazing at him with a smile.

"Bai Chen, did you finish what you needed to do?" Gu Yun asked gently. "I was worried you'd be late, so I saved you a seat."

Bai Chen was still a little dazed, and the people behind him were urging him to move faster.

He nodded vaguely, murmured an "Mm," and stepped into the row to sit in the seat Gu Yun had saved.

He scratched his head and gave an awkward smile. "I'm really sorry. Thanks for saving me a seat, but you don't need to do it again. I'll come earlier next time."

He didn't want too much contact with the protagonist, either, but Gu Yun had gone out of his way to save him a seat. Refusing the gesture would be hurtful.

"It's all right. If something comes up and you can't get here, I can always save you a seat, no matter how many times," Gu Yun said. He didn't seem bothered at all. He looked pleased, and his voice was light.

Oh my god... he's such a good person. These gestures left Bai Chen feeling a little guilty.

He leaned his head slightly toward Gu Yun and waved a hand. "No, it's fine. I'll get here earlier next time, so I won't have to trouble you. I'm not used to bothering people, and you aren't obligated to do all this for me."

Gu Yun didn't answer, but the atmosphere between them immediately grew a little awkward.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds...

"I want to," Gu Yun said with a faint smile.

What do I do?! I've already tried turning him down politely. Now things feel weird. I really want to leave... Bai Chen was anxious and couldn't sit still.

His eyes darted left and right, never settling on Gu Yun.

"Which floor do you want to eat on at lunch? I checked today's dishes on every floor this morning, and they all looked pretty good. What do you like to eat?" Gu Yun suddenly asked, his voice just as gentle as before, as though nothing had happened.

Hearing that, Bai Chen felt increasingly ashamed of himself. Gu Yun hadn't gotten angry over what he'd said; instead, he had even given him a way out of the awkwardness.

His heart sank. Oh no. How am I supposed to turn him down now? Should I say I have something to do again?

After thinking about it, he decided that wouldn't work. How could a first-year student have so much crap to deal with every single day?

Besides, Gu Yun would definitely get suspicious.

Just as he was at a loss, someone stopped beside him, casting a shadow over him.

He dipped his head slightly and saw that "that guy" from the dorm had arrived. Gu Cheng was staring at him with a dark expression, looking as though he might come over and beat him up at any moment.

Yet he was wearing a smile. It was attractive, sure, but Bai Chen found it more unsettling than anything.

Like a ghost smiling at you in the middle of the night-creepy, terrifying, enough to make your hair stand on end.

At that moment, Bai Chen noticed everyone around them watching. Some looked excited, while others looked ready to enjoy the drama and gossip.

Bai Chen felt helpless. What does this guy want now?

Gu Cheng looked down at Bai Chen with contempt and said coldly, "Do you remember what you said today, or were you just humoring me?"

"And don't you know I posted something on the confession wall an hour ago?"

What? What post? I'm not even on the confession wall.

Some girls sitting behind them suddenly spoke up. "Isn't that Young Master Gu? He's the one who confessed to that guy in the white shirt on the confession wall today, right?"

"Yes, yes, that's him. He even warned everyone not to get any ideas about that guy, and he posted his picture."

"He's so cool!" one girl said, a little lovestruck.

"But that guy really is gorgeous. He's even prettier than Tingting. As a girl, I feel kind of ashamed."

"Right, right, right..." the people beside her agreed.

Bai Chen was speechless.

Fuck, he actually confessed outright. That's fucking fast. But this domineering CEO declaration is seriously embarrassing...

No wonder. He's jealous again. Was this guy a vat of vinegar in his past life?

The corner of his mouth twitched. He nodded and answered, "Of course I know."

"If you know, why aren't you..." He had meant to finish with "getting up."

But Gu Yun, sitting beside Bai Chen, cut him off. His tone was equally hostile, his earlier gentleness replaced by an icy, disgusted stare at Gu Cheng. "Who I make friends with is none of your business. Who do you think you are?"

"And let me tell you one more time." Gu Yun's eyes darkened. "Even if I fucking fell in love with a dog, I wouldn't fall for you. Also, I think you're disgusting. If you ever come near me like you did today again..."

"A slap in the face won't be all you get." As he spoke, his gaze shifted below Gu Cheng's waist, a smile playing at his lips.

Bai Chen followed his gaze.

...That fierce? Dude, I never thought even this little angel would be driven to swear. I guess only "CEO Gu" could pull that off.

What on earth had happened between them during the few hours he'd been out?

Sitting between them, Bai Chen felt both excited and awkward.

What a melodramatic rich-CEO romance. Reading could never be as thrilling as watching it unfold in person.

He finally understood why his deskmate had loved these plots, too. She would often hide a book in her desk and ask him to warn her when the teacher came, though she still got caught sometimes.

He'd told her to stop reading, but she'd refused to give in and brought another book the very next day.

Now he could see that these books really were cheesy and addictive.

Provided you weren't stuck between the characters and caught in the crossfire.

At those words, Gu Cheng's expression darkened several shades further. He looked ready to charge forward and hit someone.

His hand at his side clenched tighter and tighter, before he took a deep breath.

He said sharply to Gu Yun, "Fine. Very good, Gu Yun. You've successfully caught my attention."

"From now on, you'll never escape my grasp. Understand?" With that, he gave a wickedly charming smile and strode toward the hall entrance without looking back. From behind, he looked utterly "badass," with one person following him.

...Just one? That can't be right. Shouldn't he have a whole pack of lackeys? Why is there only one? Not very imposing.

Hahahahaha... I can't take it. How can his lines be so "cool"? Such a classic domineering CEO.

Are we going to get this next?

The butler: "Sob, sob... the young master hasn't brought anyone home in so long..."

The doctor friend: "You called me over in the middle of the night for a tiny injury..."

CEO Gu: "Be good. Let me hear you call me hubby..."

Ugh... Just thinking about the coming plot gave Bai Chen goosebumps all over.

After Gu Cheng left, the hall grew noisier and noisier.

Everyone around them was chattering about what had happened.

Gu Yun didn't say another word before the ceremony began. He seemed distracted, his thoughts somewhere unknown.

Bai Chen stole a glance at him, then looked away without saying anything either.

He neither asked questions nor offered concern.

Being pestered by someone like that had to be irritating.

The two hours in between dragged on unbearably.

After the ceremony ended, the people around them left one after another, until only a handful remained.

Gu Yun was still sitting in the same place. Bai Chen looked at him; he showed no sign of getting up, and there was no telling what he was thinking.

Bai Chen summoned his resolve, pulled Gu Yun to his feet, and said, "Come on. Let's go eat."

Without giving him a chance to answer, he walked straight out.

Gu Yun snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Bai Chen, who was waiting for him outside.

Warmth instantly welled up in his heart, and he followed him out almost without realizing it.

Two young men walked slowly past a row of small olive pines.

One was cool and delicate-looking, the other warm and sunny.

Neither spoke. It was quiet enough to hear the cicadas in the trees. A light breeze brushed their faces, and Bai Chen narrowed his eyes slightly in comfort.

Suddenly, a remark broke the silence. "Bai Chen, I'm really sorry about today. If it weren't for me, Gu Cheng wouldn't have targeted you." His voice was cool and clear.

Bai Chen hadn't expected an apology and hurried to explain, "I'm fine. He wouldn't pick on a pushover like me. I'd flatten with one squeeze, so where's the fun in that? Hahaha..." He hoped this would make the atmosphere less stiff.

At that, Gu Yun's lips finally curved slightly. "Thank you."

Then he sighed softly and pointed at his face with a slender, pale index finger. "Ever since I was little, this face has brought me a lot of trouble. Men and women alike, especially men-the way they look at me is disgusting." They never said it aloud, but Gu Yun knew.

Bai Chen could understand. After all, this was a sweet Mary Sue romance. It was only normal for both the top and the bottom to have an irresistible charm.

"When I was little, a friend of my uncle's stayed over at our house. He bought me lots of presents, and I thought he was really nice."

"There wasn't a spare room, so my uncle was going to book him a hotel for the night. He said there was no need to go to the trouble and suggested sharing my room."

At this point, Gu Yun's eyes suddenly darkened. Through gritted teeth, he said, "I didn't think much of it then. I thought he was a nice man, so I agreed. Who knew he'd wait until my uncle and aunt were asleep and try to molest me?"

His voice trembled more and more as he spoke. "I fought back as hard as I could, but I couldn't match his size or strength. He covered my mouth with his hand and said all sorts of filthy things to me."

"I kicked him. Guess where I kicked him?" He grew more animated as he spoke and laughed outright.

"I ruined him. You know, I wanted to kill him right then, but his screams woke my uncle and aunt. That was the only reason he barely escaped with his life."

"Isn't that funny?" Gu Yun turned to look at Bai Chen.

Hearing this, Bai Chen broke out in a cold sweat.

...No, this wasn't funny at all.

It only filled Bai Chen with sorrow and anger. He found nothing amusing about it.

Even if that man had been permanently disabled, he had only gotten what he deserved.

"Things will get better." That was all he said, and he said nothing more. In a situation like this, any words of comfort would be hollow and useless.

Bai Chen was the only person Gu Yun had ever told about this. He didn't know why; he had simply wanted to tell him.

He'd thought Bai Chen would give him a long, comforting speech, but instead, he had said only that one sentence.

It really was just like him. Brief as it was, it worked better than any lengthy words of comfort.

"Mm. I hope so."