Chapter 44

He poured it in.

Shen Zhao immediately exploded. "Is this how you eat hot pot? How is this any different from throwing everything into a stew?" Yue Feng was getting ready to dump in the meat too, an entire plate at a time.

Yue Feng silently put the plate back.

He Qinghuan had little interest in food; not being hungry was enough. He spent the whole time cooking food for Gu Wang, timing it after putting it in and fishing it out before anyone else even caught a glimpse.

Everyone: "..."

Those two should have had a table of their own.

Gu Wang ate attentively and didn't notice any of this. He was listening to Shen Zhao and Song Zhiyan talk. He liked this lively atmosphere.

Yue Feng asked Shen Zhao which university he wanted to get into. Shen Zhao said he would go wherever Wangwang went.

They all turned to Gu Wang at once. He Qinghuan's movements paused. He wanted to know which university Gu Wang wanted to attend too.

Gu Wang had previously wanted to get into A University, but A University didn't offer directing. S University, a dedicated Film Academy, had an admission cutoff on par with A University's.

He thought for a moment, then said slowly, "A University or S University, probably."

Shen Zhao said, "Then I can't get in. I think that dodgy second-tier college across from A University would suit me."

Song Zhiyan said, "I'll probably apply to the Sports Institute."

Gu Wang looked at him. "The Sports Institute?"

Song Zhiyan scratched his head. "Meng Ou said he likes boys who study sports."

Gu Wang: "..."

He Qinghuan placed a piece of baby napa cabbage in Gu Wang's bowl and asked mildly, "You like acting?"

Gu Wang shook his head. "Making films. From a script to a story on the screen-I like that process."

This was the first time Gu Wang had talked about something he liked in front of He Qinghuan.

He Qinghuan smiled. "That's good."

Why couldn't Gu Wang just stay by his side?

Apparently full, the boy put down his chopsticks and sipped his sour plum juice, looking a little troubled. "But the admission cutoff is too high."

Out of a total of 750 points, these two universities required 700. They might as well have written "We only want the elite" over their gates.

Yue Feng searched the pot for beef tripe as he said, "He Qinghuan gets good grades. Get him to tutor you, and you'll definitely be fine. I only passed the exams I needed to take to study abroad in high school because he tutored me."

Gu Wang had only said that in passing. He should be able to get in on his own; he was merely reinforcing his image as a poor student. His grades had been so bad before that, if he suddenly announced he wanted to get into A University or S University, he had to put himself down a little.

They could just take it as a poor student shooting his mouth off without knowing his limits.

But asking He Qinghuan for help had never crossed Gu Wang's mind. He could do it himself.

He Qinghuan said nothing. Yue Feng put the tripe into Shen Zhao's bowl, glanced at He Qinghuan, and prompted, "Right, He Qinghuan? If you help him prepare, Gu Wang will have a better chance of getting in."

Only then did He Qinghuan give a perfunctory hum, as though responding impatiently.

Yue Feng's sudden mention of it had made He Qinghuan realize that Gu Wang would leave him one day. He would go to another university and meet other friends...

The light above the table was bright, an incandescent bulb. He Qinghuan's long lashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes. After that, he barely spoke, either humming in acknowledgment or not responding at all.

A new group of customers, also young people, arrived at the next table. A server passed them in the aisle carrying a basin of freshly ladled clear hot pot broth.

The floor was slippery. Several customers had nearly fallen earlier, and after they reported it to the front desk, it had been mopped again. It hadn't dried yet, and with so many people walking back and forth, it remained just as slippery.

The server was a young man. Just as he reached Gu Wang, his left foot slipped out and he toppled backward. In his fluster, he lurched forward, sending the entire basin of broth straight toward Gu Wang.

The seating was a fixed sofa, leaving Gu Wang nowhere to dodge. He Qinghuan was sitting on the inside. He reacted quickly; he had been listening to their conversation with half-closed eyes, and noticed the instant the server slipped.

He leaned over from beside him, shielding Gu Wang with his entire body.

The whole basin of broth splashed over He Qinghuan's back. Only a few stray drops landed on Gu Wang's face and the others.

Steam rose from He Qinghuan, but no one could laugh.

Except He Qinghuan himself.

He raised a hand to wipe the broth off Gu Wang's face and said softly, "I told you to sit on the inside."

Yue Feng reacted first. He stood, took a large bottle of mineral water from the bottom of the nearby refrigerator, twisted it open, and poured it over He Qinghuan.

He said nothing, his face grim.

The hot pot broth was boiling hot. It was only early autumn, and they were all wearing thin clothes. Having it spilled over someone could very well leave scars.

This was the second time He Qinghuan had shielded Gu Wang.

Gu Wang looked up, shock and panic in his eyes. "Are you okay?" he murmured.

How could he possibly be okay? He Qinghuan's face had gone as white as paper.

Fortunately, it was clear broth. With little oil on the surface, it lost heat easily. If it had been chili oil broth, the oil would have trapped the heat.

Gu Wang picked up the school uniform he had left beside him and handed it to He Qinghuan. "Change into my clothes first. I'll pay the bill, then we'll go to the hospital."

He hadn't panicked either; his voice just trembled a little.

Shen Zhao and Song Zhiyan belatedly came to their senses. Shen Zhao looked at the server. "God, what were you doing?"

Shen Zhao was simply stunned and incredulous, not blaming him. The broth was so hot-how could anyone stand having it spilled on them? And now it had already happened.

None of them had expected He Qinghuan to shield Gu Wang. They hadn't even had time to react.

The young man was on the verge of tears. He stood beside them, apologizing nonstop and offering to pay the medical bills.

Song Zhiyan's expression was complicated. If they really sought compensation, even selling this restaurant wouldn't cover it.

Yue Feng glanced at He Qinghuan, all his usual flippancy gone. He said flatly, "You can't afford it. Go back to work."

He Qinghuan held Gu Wang's jacket. "I'm going to the restroom. Wait for me at the entrance on the first floor."

Gu Wang paid the bill, not forgetting to grab a handful of candy for the others. The manager hurried after them, followed by the server from earlier.

"We'll cover all the medical expenses. This was negligence on our part. We'll take responsibility for all follow-up treatment and anything else. It's entirely our fault. Whenever you come to eat here in the future, it'll be free." The manager was extremely deferential. Every year, there were news reports of hot pot restaurants spilling broth on customers. Gu Wang hadn't expected to experience it himself today.

If He Qinghuan really wanted to pursue the matter, this restaurant could forget about staying open.

With the person concerned absent, they couldn't forgive them on his behalf. The manager waited with them for He Qinghuan, taking the opportunity to scold the server beside him to ease the atmosphere.

When He Qinghuan came out of the elevator, Gu Wang went up to him. "Does it still hurt?"

Gu Wang knew he was asking a pointless question. Of course it hurt, but he still wanted to ask.

He Qinghuan rarely wore colors as bright as red. Gu Wang had thought red would make him look less cold, but hadn't expected him to suppress even that warmth.

It was completely different from Gu Wang's boldness.

He Qinghuan's features were cool and aloof. The red added a certain vivid beauty to his face, but his bearing remained cold. No one would think him approachable simply because he wore a pretty color.

That air of distance and distinction was in his bones.

The manager froze for several seconds upon seeing him, then stepped forward and repeated everything he had said to Gu Wang and the others.

He didn't respond to the manager. Instead, he looked at Gu Wang, lowering his brows to appear soft and harmless. "Wangwang, it hurts. I want to go to the hospital."

Shen Zhao fell for it first. He pulled the manager aside. "Stop apologizing. We need to go to the hospital. Contact him about compensation, and contact me about the free meals."

He pulled Yue Feng forward, indicating that they should discuss compensation with him.

Unable to watch any longer, Song Zhiyan dragged Shen Zhao toward the entrance by his collar.

Gu Wang tugged at He Qinghuan's arm. "Come on. Let's go to the hospital first."

Only Yue Feng remained. He smiled and said, "You should be glad it was him who got hurt, not the person beside him."

He Qinghuan never listened to explanations or considered how things happened. If that basin of broth had landed on Gu Wang today because he hadn't reacted in time, he would have punished himself and made sure to take this hot pot restaurant down with him.

He Qinghuan wasn't reasonable.

"You don't need to compensate us. Just be more careful from now on. Tsk, you're lucky we're nice..." As he spoke, he pushed open the mall doors and walked out.

There was a long silence in the taxi. There were five of them: Shen Zhao and Yue Feng had taken one car, while Song Zhiyan rode with Gu Wang and He Qinghuan.

Song Zhiyan sat in the front passenger seat. Even now, remembering the scene left him shaken.

Gu Wang had been facing the aisle. If that whole basin of broth had splashed onto his face, Song Zhiyan didn't dare imagine the consequences.

At that thought, his view of He Qinghuan changed completely. He turned to ask Gu Wang, "Wangwang, check He Qinghuan's back. Is it serious?"

Gu Wang's clothes only just fit He Qinghuan, and the sleeves were a little short. Gu Wang lifted the back of his shirt, revealing a swath of red skin, with no blisters.

It probably wouldn't scar. Yue Feng had quickly poured ice water over it to cool it down, keeping the heat from being trapped.

But it hurt just to look at.

"It's not too bad." Gu Wang wasn't certain either. His former roommate had studied clinical medicine, and he had heard him say that scalds and burns weren't as serious if they were red. If they turned white, that meant the flesh had been cooked, the burn reaching deep inside.

Song Zhiyan breathed a sigh of relief, then asked the driver to go faster.

While the doctor treated He Qinghuan, Gu Wang and the others waited in the corridor.

The Emergency Department had several rows of chairs, and there weren't many people around. Shen Zhao sprawled bonelessly across two seats, leaning against Gu Wang as he marveled, "He Qinghuan was so gutsy. I was scared stiff!"

"That was hot pot!"

"Boiling hot!"

"Wasn't he scared?"

Gu Wang didn't join in. After all, He Qinghuan had been injured because of him.

When He Qinghuan came out of the dressing room, Gu Wang was the first to approach. "Are you all right?"

His eyes were a little red, probably from anxiety. He didn't look as though he had cried, but he looked lovely. He Qinghuan had planned to tease him with a lie, but gave up the idea when he saw him like this.

He looked at the person before him and said softly, "It's fine. A few days of ointment and it'll heal."

"Will it leave a scar?"

"No."

"That's good." Gu Wang felt relieved. He tugged at He Qinghuan's sleeve. "Let's go, then."

Song Zhiyan and Shen Zhao took taxis home on their own. As soon as Yue Feng left the hospital, his father called to invite him to dinner nearby. Yue Feng helplessly waved his phone. "You two will have to head back on your own."

He had expected to see reluctance on He Qinghuan's face, but the man might as well have stamped "Get lost" across it. "..."

Choosing romance over friendship.

He Qinghuan opened the car door and let Gu Wang get in first. "I'll take you home first."

Gu Wang held the door in place and tilted his face up toward He Qinghuan. "I'll take you home first."

He Qinghuan pushed the door, but it wouldn't budge.

A hint of a smile touched his eyes. "All right."

The two rarely spent time alone; usually, someone else was present. Gu Wang ruffled his hair, rested his head against the seat, and watched the buildings and crowds flash past the window like a revolving lantern.

He Qinghuan called his name.

Gu Wang turned to look at him. "Hm?"

He Qinghuan slowly leaned closer until barely a finger's width separated them. Gu Wang involuntarily held his breath.

The multicolored lights outside swept past, weaving light and shadow through the car. He Qinghuan's face was dim and indistinct, impossible to make out clearly, but Gu Wang could sense that he seemed to be in a good mood.

Only this close did Gu Wang notice how long He Qinghuan's eyelashes were. They didn't curl, so when he lowered his eyes, they looked closed, each lash distinct.

He Qinghuan had lowered his eyes again, hiding his gaze.

He said softly, "Wangwang, it hurts."

Gu Wang blinked and said awkwardly, "It won't hurt once it heals. I... there's nothing I can do right now."

He Qinghuan lifted his eyelids and looked at Gu Wang. "There is."

Gu Wang was puzzled. What could he do?

The faintest smile appeared in He Qinghuan's eyes. He lowered his voice, innocent and soft. "Blow on it for me, and it won't hurt anymore."

Author's note: Baby Wang: The dog's killing someone!

Chapter 48

Gu Wang froze. They were so close that he was afraid He Qinghuan would hear