Liang Tian was enlightened by Su Cimu's scolding and looked at him with sudden understanding:
"Mumu! You're so right!"
Su Cimu practically rolled his eyes to the heavens. Had this guy only just figured it out?
"So, now that you've realized, what are you going to do? Break up with him right away?"
"Huh? I promised to give it three months with him. If I break up with him now, wouldn't that make me a scumbag?"
"I give up. Did studying turn your brain to mush? You couldn't even spot such an obvious ploy? And you call yourself a top student? More like a bottom student!"
Su Cimu looked at Liang Tian, exasperated by his failure to do better.
Liang Tian scratched his head guiltily and said nothing.
Fang Youwei watched the two of them out in the hallway anxiously. He had only just landed his boyfriend; the relationship was still fresh! Young Master Su had better not talk his boyfriend into breaking up with him!
About ten minutes later, Su Cimu returned with Liang Tian, and Fang Youwei hurriedly caught Liang Tian's hand.
"What were you talking about? You're not planning to break up with me, are you?"
"Huh? How did you know Mumu was telling me to break up with you?"
Liang Tian looked at Fang Youwei suspiciously, even wondering whether he had eavesdropped on their conversation.
"I knew it! You can't listen to Young Master Su and break up with me. That would make you a scumbag who breaks his promises."
Fang Youwei continued manipulating Liang Tian, making him too embarrassed to break up with him.
"Don't worry. I promised to give it three months with you. I won't break up with you now."
Only then did Fang Youwei's anxious heart settle.
"That's good. Do you know what Young Master Su likes? How about I give him some gifts?"
"Hm? Why would you give him gifts? It's not his birthday yet."
"If I give him gifts, he'll be too embarrassed to tell us to break up again. He'll be sitting at the main table when we get married." Fang Youwei spouted his nonsense to Liang Tian with a straight face.
Liang Tian laughed at Fang Youwei's words, then advised him:
"Save it. Mumu doesn't lack anything. He's the family darling, and everyone dotes on him. He gets anything he wants. Besides, now he has Second Master Shen too. How would it ever be your turn to give him gifts?"
Fang Youwei shrugged helplessly. "Then I'll think of another way to get on Young Master Su's good side. I just can't let him keep telling you to break up with me."
Liang Tian made no comment on Fang Youwei's words. He could fuss around however he liked. Right now, the most important thing for him and Mumu was finishing their research project.
Su Cimu and Liang Tian soon got into the zone, ignoring every distraction around them and immersing themselves in their own little world.
Bored out of his mind, Fang Youwei took out his phone to pester his good friend Shen Yannian.
Fang Youwei: Guess who I'm with right now?
Shen Yannian: 1
Fang Youwei: [image.jpg]
The moment Shen Yannian saw the photo Fang Youwei sent, he called. Fortunately, Fang Youwei had already silenced his phone, or it would have disturbed the cousins.
He waved his phone at Liang Tian to indicate he was going to take a call. Without even looking up, Liang Tian told him to go do whatever he needed to.
Fang Youwei laughed in exasperation, answering the call as he walked outside.
"Hello? How does Second Master Shen have time to call me?"
"Why are you with them?"
Shen Yannian skipped the pleasantries and asked him directly.
"Isn't it perfectly normal for me to be with my boyfriend? What, is Second Master Shen jealous that I get to spend time being lovey-dovey with my boyfriend?"
The smugness in Fang Youwei's voice could not have been more obvious.
"Boyfriend? You? And Liang Tian?"
Shen Yannian was a little surprised. Yesterday, Fang Youwei and Liang Tian had still been determined never to see each other again, and today they were boyfriends?
Fang Youwei really moved fast.
"Yep. Me and Liang Tian."
"Are they in the library now? How did you get in with them?"
"University A doesn't have a rule against outsiders entering campus. Don't I have every right to keep my boyfriend company?" Fang Youwei said matter-of-factly.
Shen Yannian understood. Suddenly, he wanted to drop everything at the company and go to the library to see his young boyfriend.
"Take good care of my sweetheart. Call me when they're finished, and I'll pick him up."
"Seriously, Second Master Shen? You keep such a close eye on him?"
"Not as close as you. You went along in person," Shen Yannian retorted without mercy.
Fang Youwei shrugged and said nothing more, choosing to hang up and preserve their friendship for the time being.
When Fang Youwei returned, Liang Tian and Su Cimu were nowhere to be seen. He immediately panicked, looking all around without catching sight of either of them.
"Excuse me, did you see the two cute boys who were sitting here?"
"Oh, they asked me to tell you they went to the lab. They said to wait for them at the campus café, since they can't take anyone unrelated to the project into the lab."
"All right, thank you."
Knowing the two of them were not missing was enough for Fang Youwei. He obediently went to the café to wait for them to come find him.
And so the ever-busy President Fang ordered a cheap cup of coffee and waited for them in the café for several hours without a single complaint.
Only when the sun was about to set did Liang Tian and Su Cimu appear before him. Fang Youwei sent Shen Yannian a message, then went over to meet them.
"Have you two young masters finally remembered I exist?"
"Sorry. We lose track of time as soon as we enter the lab. You must have been waiting ages."
Liang Tian looked at Fang Youwei apologetically.
"It's fine. Waiting for my boyfriend is only right, however long it takes. Are you hungry? Shall I take you out for dinner?"
Fang Youwei asked for their opinions.
"You two go ahead. I'll wait for Shen Yannian to pick me up and eat at home."
Compared with a lavish meal out, Su Cimu thought the chef at Shen Yannian's home cooked better food that suited his tastes more.
"All right, then. Shen Yannian is already on his way to pick you up. As for Liang Tian, I'm taking him with me. I'll treat you to a meal sometime, Young Master Su."
Fang Youwei draped an arm around Liang Tian's shoulders and led him away.
Su Cimu rolled his eyes hard right in front of him, then waited at the campus entrance for Shen Yannian to pick him up.
Su Cimu could actually have driven himself to campus and back, but Shen Yannian had refused, insisting on personally dropping him off and picking him up.
The sunset's lingering glow fell over half of Su Cimu's face, making him look wonderfully peaceful. This was the heartwarming sight that greeted Shen Yannian when he arrived to pick him up.
But Young Master Su soon shattered that heartwarming scene himself.
"Shen Yannian! Why are you so late? I've been waiting fifteen minutes! Do you know how valuable fifteen minutes of my time is?"
Like a little firecracker, Su Cimu exploded right in front of Shen Yannian. With his cheeks puffed up in anger like a pufferfish, he was utterly adorable.
But Shen Yannian knew perfectly well that if he dared call him adorable now, Su Cimu would unsheathe his claws and scratch his face!
"Sorry. It's my fault. I should have left earlier. There was some traffic today, so I got held up. Will you forgive me, sweetheart?"
Whatever the case, apologizing first could never hurt.
"Hmph. Hurry up and drive. I want to go home for dinner. Butler Shen said we're having my favorite braised fish tonight!"
After getting into the car and fastening his seat belt, Su Cimu ordered Shen Yannian's driver to get moving.
Shen Yannian glanced at the driver, signaling him to hurry. He could not let his sweetheart go hungry.
Once they returned to Huaishan Manor, Su Cimu tossed his bag onto the sofa and headed straight for the dining room.
The table was already covered with dishes, all of them Su Cimu's favorites. Shen Yannian had no particular preferences, so Butler Shen had the chef cook according to Su Cimu's tastes.
"Wow, what a feast! I'm definitely having three bowls of rice tonight!"
"No. Two at most. Eating too much at night is hard to digest. It'll sit in your stomach and give you a stomachache."
Hearing Su Cimu's "bold declaration," Shen Yannian immediately stopped him.
"Oh."
I'm having three bowls anyway! What can you do about it?
After Su Cimu finished two large bowls of rice and went to get a third, Shen Yannian stopped him, taking his bowl and chopsticks from his hands to prevent him from sneaking another helping.
But Su Cimu clung tightly to his bowl and chopsticks, refusing to let him take them.
The two faced off in silence, neither giving way. Sensing the delicate atmosphere between them, Butler Shen promptly made himself scarce to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
"Sweetheart, I'm doing this for your own good. If you get hungry tonight, we'll have the kitchen make you a late-night snack, all right?"
Shen Yannian reasoned with Su Cimu gently. Once Su Cimu heard he could have a late-night snack, he let go and allowed him to take away his bowl and chopsticks.
After dinner, Shen Yannian also took Su Cimu out for a walk in the courtyard.
For the sake of his late-night snack, Su Cimu reluctantly went along.
"How many more days until classes start, sweetheart?"
"Seven or eight. Soon," Su Cimu answered after counting.
"Then once classes start, let's move into an apartment closer to your university. It'll make getting to class easier."
"No need. I have my own apartment. I can just stay there. You can keep living at Huaishan Manor."
Su Cimu said it matter-of-factly, not noticing anything wrong.
Hearing this, Shen Yannian stopped in his tracks and looked at him in confusion.
"Are you planning to live separately from me, sweetheart?"
"I have classes. Isn't it normal not to live with you? My apartment is small. You wouldn't be used to it."
Su Cimu frowned at Shen Yannian, refuting what he had just said.
"Then I'll buy a bigger apartment, and you can move in too."
Shen Yannian had never imagined Su Cimu was actually thinking of living separately from him! That idea was far too dangerous. He had to nip it in the bud!
Su Cimu immediately grew unhappy when Shen Yannian said he wanted him to move in with him.
"I don't want to live with you. I need my own personal space. We aren't even married yet..."
"Su Cimu, I'm giving you one more chance. Take back what you just said."
Shen Yannian's expression darkened. He did not want to hear those words from Su Cimu at all.
"I won't! I'm serious, Shen Yannian. I can live with you during winter and summer breaks, but during the semester, I need to live alone."
Su Cimu also looked at Shen Yannian with a dark expression. Neither gave an inch, and the tension was explosive!
"Give me a valid reason, or this isn't up for discussion."
"If you insist on a reason, then it's that we're incompatible in bed. You wear me out too much. My coursework is usually heavy, and I can't handle how much sex you want."
That was indeed why Su Cimu wanted to live separately from him.
Although Shen Yannian always indulged him and took care of his daily needs, his word was law in bed. No matter what Su Cimu said, he could not fight back.
Since that was the case, he chose to run away. Running away was shameful, but it worked!
Shen Yannian froze. He had never expected his sweetheart to want to live separately from him for such a reason.
At that, Shen Yannian began seriously considering the problem.
His sweetheart said he had a high sex drive, and he admitted that. But with a sweet-smelling, soft boyfriend lying beside them, who could resist? Not even a ninja could!
Although his sweetheart said "no" every time, he could feel that his sweetheart enjoyed it too. That was why he kept finding new ways to have his way with him. He had thought he wanted it too.
"Then how about this? I'll move into your little apartment. Just the two of us. I won't wear you out from Monday through Thursday."
"Your words have no credibility at all..."
Shen Yannian: ...
After a long while, Shen Yannian sighed, then turned Su Cimu to face him and look up into his eyes.
"Sweetheart, if you have classes during the day, I couldn't bear to put you through hardship at night. I like you even more than you imagine, so trust me one more time. If I can't keep my word, you can throw me out. How does that sound?"
Since Shen Yannian had even offered to let him "throw him out," Su Cimu would seem unreasonable if he still refused.
"All right, then. But you're not allowed to go back on your word this time. If you can't do it, I'll kick you out. And I'll go tell my dad and my uncle that you're bullying me."
Su Cimu had even brought out Shen Yannian's father-in-law and uncle. How could Shen Yannian dare refuse?
"All right. I'll keep my word."
The negotiations ended there, with both parties agreeing that Shen Yannian would move into Su Cimu's little apartment.
Then, before the semester began, Shen Yannian found all sorts of ways to collect both principal and interest from Su Cimu in advance. After all, once classes started, he would have to begin abstaining. If he did not collect some benefits now, he would be losing out terribly.
And thinking that Shen Yannian would no longer be able to wear him out like this once classes started, Su Cimu let him have his way.
The consequence of seven days of indulgence was that Su Cimu had quietly begun searching online for restorative medicinal prescriptions. At this rate, his body would be depleted sooner or later!
Catching sight of the page on Su Cimu's phone, Shen Yannian laughed.
"Sweetheart, if you need to nourish your body, you don't have to look up these prescriptions online. Just tell Butler Shen and have him prepare something."
Su Cimu gave Shen Yannian a deeply resentful look.
"You may have no shame, but I do! I can just take the medicine in secret. Do I have to make a big announcement to everyone that I can't keep up?!!!!"
With that, Su Cimu slapped Shen Yannian's chest, signaling him to stay away!