Chapter 40
Xie Ning looked a little stunned and did not answer right away, but Pei Zhi was not in a hurry for an answer.
When it came to pursuing someone, the other person’s permission was not exactly required. The reason he had deliberately brought this up with Xie Ning was not to force an answer out of him, but to remind him once again that the relationship between them was no longer that of friends.
So from now on, all the intimacy between them—holding hands, hugging, kissing, giving gifts—would no longer come from the position of a close friend, but from that of a pursuer trying to win his favor.
Friends did not kiss.
Compared to the dizzy spell that had lasted so long after their first kiss, Xie Ning no longer stayed dazed for quite that long. Maybe Pei Zhi was not wrong either—if they kissed more often, perhaps he really would gradually get used to the pleasure that kissing brought.
Pei Zhi reached out and played with Xie Ning’s ear. His earlobe was round and soft, already tinted a vivid red; after being rubbed and pinched by Pei Zhi, it looked red enough to drip blood. Pei Zhi rubbed it back and forth with his fingertips. “Alright, let’s go to class. We can’t let our baby fail to get a seat in the front row.”
Although Xie Ning did not say anything, Pei Zhi was certain he had taken it to heart. Otherwise, he would not be showing such an embarrassed expression.
So cute.
Xie Ning let out a soft “Mm.” Then he was picked up and set on the chair. Acting as though Xie Ning’s wardrobe were his own, Pei Zhi opened a drawer, took out a pair of socks and the shoes from the shoe cabinet, and crouched right in front of Xie Ning’s legs, putting on his socks and shoes for him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
When Xie Ning attended class, he usually chose the very first row. If there were no seats left there, he would still sit as close to the front as possible.
In university classes, usually, if the course was a bit easygoing and the professor had not explicitly said the front row got bonus points, everyone preferred to sit farther back. It was more convenient for zoning out in class, or for using class time to work on assignments for other courses.
As expected, not many people fought over the first row, so Xie Ning got to sit there as he wished.
This was a large lecture class, and the room was crowded. With so many people there, the professor would not notice one extra person like Pei Zhi. It was just that Pei Zhi was handsome enough that many people knew who he was, so a lot of them looked surprised to see him there.
Their seats were on the aisle side near the door. This spot was relatively far from the heater. To avoid making the room too warm and causing students to get sleepy, the professor had not turned the heating up much—just enough to make it a little warmer than outside.
Afraid that Xie Ning might get cold, Pei Zhi took off his coat as soon as he entered the classroom and draped it over Xie Ning’s lap. Only after checking again and again that Xie Ning’s hands were warm did he lower his voice and say, “If you’re cold, you have to tell me.”
If even this was not enough, then Pei Zhi would have to think of some way to negotiate with the students sitting closer to the heater and switch seats with them. If it came down to it, he could always pay them a bit—they would definitely agree.
Xie Ning said, “I’m fine. I’m not cold. Even if it’s a little cold, that’s actually pretty good. It keeps me from getting sleepy and helps me stay alert. You should put your clothes back on…”
Pei Zhi said, “I’m not cold either. When I’m training, it’s much colder than this.”
Xie Ning frowned slightly. That was not the same thing at all.
Even if they trained outdoors on the field, they would not just start practicing in freezing weather right away. They would definitely stretch and warm up first.
Xie Ning reached out and touched Pei Zhi’s wrist and the back of his hand. They were hot. Pei Zhi said, “I really’m not cold. Your classroom is very warm.”
He was not lying either. To him, this temperature really was comfortable. He simply was not the kind of person who got cold easily. Only after Pei Zhi promised several times did Xie Ning finally say, “Alright, then.”
A student sitting in the back had originally assumed Pei Zhi was the cold and distant type, but now that he was looking at him, he seemed pretty warm and approachable. Summoning some courage, the student called out, “Classmate, can I get your contact info?”
No one responded.
It was unclear whether Pei Zhi had not heard him or whether he was just pretending not to.
The student, still unwilling to give up, tried again. “Classmate? Hello, can I add you on WeChat? We can hang out sometime.”
Xie Ning suddenly realized the student might be talking to Pei Zhi. He turned his head to glance at the other person, then leaned closer to Pei Zhi and said softly, “He’s talking to you.”
A trace of irritation appeared on Pei Zhi’s face, but when he looked at Xie Ning, his voice stayed gentle. “Ignore him. Wait a second. I’ll deal with it.”
He could not let this person disturb Xie Ning.
Pei Zhi turned around. Under the classroom lights, his sharply defined features carried an almost aggressive edge. He looked coldly at the student in the back row, his voice flat and emotionless. “Please be quiet.”
The student was startled and immediately went quiet. Only then did he understand that Pei Zhi really was exactly what his first impression had suggested—cold, aloof, and not easy to approach.
That so-called warmth and thoughtfulness were reserved for Xie Ning alone.
Soon, the class bell rang. The moment class started, Xie Ning stopped paying attention to anyone else and threw himself completely into the lecture.
Pei Zhi watched the focused look on Xie Ning’s face as he listened. He very much wanted to reach over and hold Xie Ning’s hand, but there were too many people in the classroom, and they were sitting in the front row. So he could only force himself to suppress the urge.
“Clothing is closely related to a person’s self-esteem and psychological state. People with high self-esteem tend to prefer more individualized clothing, and such people are usually more confident. Clothing is an important force in strengthening the self. Back in 1959, psychologists were already using clothing therapy to treat psychiatric patients…”
Pei Zhi could understand some parts of the lecture, but when it touched on more specialized content, he only half understood. He noticed that Xie Ning was holding a pen, sitting very straight, and so he tilted his head to see what notes Xie Ning was taking.
Well. None.
He was remembering it all in his head.
His baby was so smart.
This was the first time Xie Ning found himself getting distracted often during class.
Every now and then, he would glance over to see what Pei Zhi was doing. Sometimes Pei Zhi was looking at the PowerPoint slides, but most of the time he was looking at Xie Ning. As if trying to get Xie Ning’s attention, Pei Zhi would even “accidentally” brush his hand against the hem of Xie Ning’s clothes.
Only, those “accidents” were happening a little too often.
Still, after a whole class period, Pei Zhi seemed much more restrained than Xie Ning had expected. Xie Ning had assumed Pei Zhi would not be able to control himself and would sneakily hold his hand, or do something overly intimate.
But Pei Zhi did none of that.
Anyone looking at them would not suspect a thing, much less think there was anything ambiguous going on between them. Sitting side by side, they kept exactly the right amount of distance. No one would ever guess that not long ago, they had been kissing.
Since Pei Zhi was behaving well, well enough to satisfy him, should Xie Ning give him a little reward to encourage him to keep it up?
When he set his pen down, his fingers “accidentally” brushed against Pei Zhi’s fingertips. They felt a little cool. After thinking for a moment, he leaned slightly closer and asked in a low voice, “Are you cold?”
“I’m not cold.” Pei Zhi asked in return, “Are you cold?”
Xie Ning shook his head too.
The conversation ended quickly, and neither of them spoke again. Then suddenly, a soft warm sensation slipped into Pei Zhi’s palm. His whole body tensed. His back straightened, his eyes fixed forward, and his throat moved nervously.
Xie Ning was actually… taking the initiative to hold his hand?
Xie Ning’s hand was a size smaller than Pei Zhi’s. When he wrapped his fingers around Pei Zhi’s, it felt very much like he was stuffing his own hand into Pei Zhi’s palm. Today, Pei Zhi was wearing fewer layers, and their seats were far from the heater, so maybe because of that, even someone as warm-bodied as Pei Zhi had slightly cool hands.
Their hands hung at their sides. Xie Ning grasped Pei Zhi’s hand and pulled it toward himself. He could clearly feel the muscles in Pei Zhi’s hand tensing hard. Thinking that was because he was cold, Xie Ning tugged his hand a little farther over—
Then tucked it into his own coat pocket.
After putting Pei Zhi’s hand into his pocket, Xie Ning took his own hand back out, picked up his pen again, and lifted his eyes to continue looking at the PowerPoint.
Pei Zhi froze.
For a moment, he had thought… Xie Ning wanted to hold hands with him. He had even been surprised that Xie Ning had suddenly become this bold, willing to hold hands with him in front of so many people.
So it turned out that Xie Ning had only thought his hand was cold, and since Pei Zhi did not have his coat on, he simply tucked his hand into the pocket to warm it up.
Even though it was not hand-holding, that small instinctive gesture—wanting to warm him up, worrying that he would catch a chill—still made warmth spread through Pei Zhi’s chest in soft little threads.
That feeling of being held in someone’s thoughts was more touching than any direct or sweet words.
…
A class period lasted only forty-five minutes, and once the break came, Pei Zhi had to head to the gym for training.
Xie Ning walked him downstairs from the academic building. The whole way, Pei Zhi wore a dark expression, his handsome face filled with visible restlessness and irritation, as though someone had offended him.
“Let’s stop here,” Xie Ning said. “I still have to go back upstairs for class.”
The break between classes was only ten minutes. Xie Ning could not stay there for long, and he certainly could not walk Pei Zhi all the way to the gym.
The more Pei Zhi looked at Xie Ning’s face, the more reluctant he felt to leave. After being urged several times, he still could not resist and quietly reached out to hook his fingers with Xie Ning’s hand.
Xie Ning’s gaze moved from Pei Zhi’s face down to the hand curling around his own.
Pei Zhi said, “Do you smell something?”
“A smell?” Xie Ning paused, then shook his head. “No. Is it me? Is it a smell on me?”
“No, it’s on me.” Pei Zhi’s expression was very serious. “I think I smell weird. It smells bad.”
Did he?
Xie Ning had a sensitive nose, especially when it came to smells. He could not stand bad odors, especially something like socks left to stink for several days. Even if they were just tossed in a corner, that alone would make them unbearable to him.
Just now in class, with Pei Zhi sitting right next to him the whole time, he truly had not noticed any strange smell. The only odor he had picked up was the smell of boiled eggs drifting from behind them—someone was probably secretly eating breakfast in class.
Xie Ning leaned a little closer and, keeping himself very controlled, sniffed near Pei Zhi. Then he said honestly, “I don’t smell anything strange.”
“Maybe you’re too far away?” Pei Zhi suggested. “Maybe you need to get a little closer?”
Xie Ning looked at Pei Zhi, his gaze cool and level, as though trying to see through his thoughts.
Pei Zhi’s expression was very proper and serious. He did not look like he was lying.
So Xie Ning believed him.
He leaned in a little more, almost entering Pei Zhi’s embrace. Pei Zhi cooperatively opened his arms wider, making it easier for him to get even closer.
There really was no smell… Could it be around the collar?
Thinking that, Xie Ning lowered his head to smell near Pei Zhi’s collar.
And just then, his forehead warmed.
Pei Zhi had lowered his head and kissed him.
Pei Zhi was about a head taller than Xie Ning, and when they stood on level ground, the top of Xie Ning’s head came right about to Pei Zhi’s lips. Which also meant that Pei Zhi only needed to bow his head slightly to kiss Xie Ning’s forehead.
Just like now.
The kiss landed on his forehead and left right away. Xie Ning lifted his face and saw that Pei Zhi looked deeply satisfied.
“I kissed my fragrant Baby Ning,” Pei Zhi said. “So now I smell nice too.”
So there had never been any strange smell at all. It had only been a trick to lure Xie Ning closer and closer so that Pei Zhi could seize the chance to steal a kiss.
For a moment, Xie Ning did not know what to say.
“Pei Zhi, you really are…”
“Really am what?” Pei Zhi bent down and brushed the ends of Xie Ning’s hair with his fingers. Then, in an unhurried tone, he finished the sentence for him. “Especially romantic?”
“Childish brat.”
Pei Zhi did not deny it. “I am a childish brat.”
He lowered his head so that their faces drew very near, their noses almost brushing. The distance was too close. Just as Xie Ning was about to turn his head away, Pei Zhi followed him downward, his nose lightly rubbing against Xie Ning’s in the cool air, but the touch itself was warm. In a very serious voice, he said, “A childish brat who only likes Baby Ning.”
“…Go train first.” Xie Ning said. “My class is about to start again.”
His pale, cool face was slowly turning pink.
Xie Ning had thought he could ignore all these sweet words, but Pei Zhi was saying them far too often.
And besides, they were still near the academic building. Even though this was just a corner and probably no one would see them, it was still a public place. Talking in a way that was practically flirting in public really exceeded the limits of what Xie Ning could comfortably accept.
By now Pei Zhi had figured out that whenever Xie Ning got embarrassed, he liked to change the subject.
Pei Zhi hooked his finger around Xie Ning’s hand. That soft touch sat in his palm, making him feel profoundly content. Then, almost resentfully, he said, “Honestly, I really don’t want to go train at all.”
If he did not have classes today, he could have stayed and accompanied Xie Ning through them.
Pei Zhi finally understood why so many people turned into completely different people once they fell in love. In the past, he had always sneered at those love-brained idiots, with more than a little mockery in his heart.
Really. Too childish.
But if the other person was Xie Ning, then what did it matter if people laughed at him? What did it matter if he was childish?
He just wanted to cling to Xie Ning. He wanted to be good to him.
There was no happiness in the world greater than that.
Pei Zhi lingered for ages before finally making himself leave. But after taking only a couple of steps, he turned back around and wrapped Xie Ning into another hug. A man over six-foot-three, clinging to him like they were joined at the hip.
In a muffled voice, he said, “It’ll be another three hours before I get to see you again.”
“It’s more like two hours and a bit,” Xie Ning corrected.
“That’s still a long time.”
“Alright, be good.”
Xie Ning truly had no choice. If this went on any longer, both of them would be late.
So he reached out and hugged Pei Zhi around the waist in return, even patting his back a couple of times.
“Your class ends earlier than mine, right?”
“Mm. Then I’ll wait for you outside your classroom and pick you up after class.” Pei Zhi said, “We’ll go eat at a restaurant nearby. I’ve already booked a private room.”
The cafeteria was full of people coming and going. He did not want anyone at all disturbing their date.
Pei Zhi dawdled for another minute, and this time he finally really did leave. Before going, though, he took Xie Ning’s hand, kissed his fingers when Xie Ning was not paying attention, and then slipped something into his hand.
He really did not have much time left now. The academic building was a fair distance from the gym, and he would have to hurry.
Watching Pei Zhi’s back as he left, Xie Ning opened his hand and found a mint candy lying in his palm.
It was for keeping him alert.
…
When Xie Ning returned to the classroom, the preparatory bell had just rung.
Qi Ning and Lin Xinqian were sitting together. Since they had spoken to Xie Ning a few times before, they summoned up their courage and came over to chat.
Qi Ning asked curiously, “Are you and Pei Zhi really close?”
She remembered that Xie Ning had always gone everywhere alone before. This was the first time she had ever seen him come to class with someone else, and it was even a student from another department accompanying him.
Lin Xinqian said, “I feel like you two have always been pretty close, haven’t you? At that mixer the other time, Pei Zhi was especially attentive to you—he even blocked drinks for you… But he was so weird. When I asked you for your contact info, I don’t know why, but he looked especially annoyed. His expression was so strange, like… I’d just stolen his wife or something?”
The comparison was so funny that Qi Ning burst out laughing.
Who didn’t know that Pei Zhi was famously straight as a steel rod—the least likely man in the entire sports department to ever turn gay?
As a joke, she asked, “So are you two together?”
“Not yet.”
The word yet was very suggestive.
Neither of them was stupid. In an instant, they seemed to understand something. Their mouths and eyes widened in surprise, and then they silently made an “OK” gesture and stopped asking further.
There were students coming and going all around them. If this had only been a joke, then chatting about it a little was one thing. But if there was really something going on, then it was better not to bring it up casually. After all, that kind of thing was personal.
Qi Ning changed the subject. “Xie Ning, where are you planning to go for Christmas? By then, our competition results should be coming out soon too, right?”
Lin Xinqian suggested, “There’s a huge Christmas tree at the mall this year, even bigger and prettier than last year’s. I wanted to go take photos, but I have to go home.”
Some time ago, they had just submitted their work to the competition. Judging by the timing, the results would probably come out right after Christmas ended.
“I’m going home too,” Xie Ning said.
That reminded him—he had forgotten to forward Pei Zhi’s information to Xie Yan. Yesterday he had been too busy kissing Pei Zhi and had not really paid attention to his messages…
Keeping his expression perfectly calm, he took out his phone and forwarded Pei Zhi’s ID details to Xie Yan.
[Ning: Is it still in time? Will tickets be hard to buy now? Christmas is almost here.]
[Sini: Still in time. Even if we can’t buy them, we can always charter a plane. Actually, should we just charter one directly? Then it’ll be quieter for you and your friend on the way.]
[Ning: That’s not necessary.]
Xie Ning did prefer quiet surroundings, but the first-class cabin on an international flight was not especially noisy, and the comfort was fine too.
Xie Yan sent him a screenshot of the ticket. The seats she bought were next to each other. Xie Ning forwarded the image to Pei Zhi, and just then the class bell rang.
He put his phone away. With no one sitting beside him now, he returned to being exactly as he had always been before—throwing himself completely into the lecture.
Time always seemed to pass quickly when he focused on one thing seriously. Xie Ning felt as though class had barely started, and yet the dismissal bell had already rung.
After class, Xie Ning spent a while speaking with the professor and asking about a question he had. Once the professor answered him, he politely thanked him and said goodbye.
Then he took his books and phone and stepped into the corridor.
The corridor was empty.
It was mealtime. Most students had rushed straight to the cafeteria after class. Because he had stayed behind to speak with the professor, Xie Ning was now the only one in the hall.
And Pei Zhi, who had promised he would wait for him after class, was nowhere to be seen.
Xie Ning took out his phone. About fifteen minutes earlier, Pei Zhi had sent him a message.
[Childish Brat: Sorry. Coach suddenly added extra training. I don’t know when we’ll finish, so I can’t come get you for now.]
[Childish Brat: Sorry. I broke my promise.]
[Ning: It’s okay.]
[Childish Brat is typing…]
[Childish Brat: Don’t sign for the receipt&……98 ]*
Xie Ning sent back a “?” and asked a few more questions, but Pei Zhi did not reply.
Pei Zhi’s unusual behavior made him uneasy. He decided to go to the gym and check on him.
Not long after, a message popped up in the dorm group chat.
[Rice Cake: Xi Zi, get back here quick! Brother Pei got into another fight again!]
