LDMDS Chapter 19


When Gu Xiuyi returned home, Ji Ruan was video chatting with Han Xiaolin. A laptop was on the table, and the large red text on the screen caught Gu Xiuyi's eye instantly—


"Essential Items List for Boarding School!"


The text was too large, too red, and too glaring, making Gu Xiuyi feel a bit dizzy.


Meanwhile, Ji Ruan, the culprit, was sitting in a chair wearing pajamas, his hair a mess, and his big eyes blinking in confusion.


"Why are you back?"


Ji Ruan stood up and walked over to Gu Xiuyi, even poking his arm with a finger as if to confirm that the person in front of him was real.


Wow, his muscles are so hard, such a great physique.


Gu Xiuyi grabbed the soft finger of the soon-to-be college student and removed it. "Are you going to live on campus?"


His tone and expression were as usual, so Ji Ruan didn't notice anything special. He just smiled brightly, "Yeah."


"…"


He didn't know what was so uniquely appealing about campus life that even the dimples on the little one's face were overflowing with sweetness.


Gu Xiuyi opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it, momentarily at a loss for words.


Ji Ruan's messy hair was particularly noticeable. Gu Xiuyi glanced at it several times but couldn't entirely ignore it. "You haven't combed your hair?"


He reached out to press down the few tufts that were sticking up, but the soft hair stubbornly refused to be tamed.


"I washed up right after I got up," Ji Ruan said, feeling a bit offended by the implied criticism as he stepped back. "But if my hair sticks up after sleeping, there's nothing I can do about it…"


Gu Xiuyi: "..."


Forget it, the hair isn't the main issue right now.


He studied Ji Ruan's complexion, noticing his lips were pale—a sure sign that he was hungry again.


But instead of eating breakfast, he was video chatting with a classmate?


Gu Xiuyi tapped on the table, his chin pointing towards the phone. "What’s so important that you had to discuss it now?"


Ji Ruan looked over and saw Han Xiaolin's large face on the screen, sneakily watching their conversation. He quickly turned the phone around. "Han Xiaolin has a lot of experience living on campus, so I was getting some advice from him. But he’s still in military training, with tight schedules and heavy tasks, so it makes sense to work around his time, right?"


"…"


Great, the conversation is back on track.


Gu Xiuyi leaned on the table with one hand and turned the phone back around, giving the energetic Han Xiaolin a brief instruction: "Han Xiaolin, I'm going to take Ji Ruan away now. You should get back to your training."


Without waiting for a response from the stunned Han Xiaolin, Gu Xiuyi ended the video call. As he looked down, his eyes unintentionally caught a glimpse of some details on Ji Ruan's boarding checklist.


This guy had even specified the color of his washbasin!


Without saying a word, Gu Xiuyi dragged Ji Ruan downstairs, holding his small hand to prevent him from getting dizzy halfway down the stairs.


Ji Ruan followed behind, utterly confused. "Do you have something to say?"


Gu Xiuyi spoke in a low voice, "We need to talk."


Two minutes later, at the dining table.


Gu Xiuyi and Ji Ruan sat across from each other. Gu Xiuyi hadn't had time to take off his suit, and with his legs crossed and leaning against the back of his chair, he turned the beautiful marble table into a negotiation table with the strength of his years of meeting experience and powerful aura.


Meanwhile, his negotiation partner, a certain messy-haired soon-to-be college student surnamed Ji, had round eyes focused only on the large meat bun and soy milk in front of him—that was his breakfast.


Ji Ruan swallowed his saliva and reached out for the bun, but as soon as he touched the skin, he was burned and withdrew his hand because it was still too hot. The buns were just out of the steamer.


He blew on his fingertips and looked at Gu Xiuyi. "Why don’t you go ahead and talk?"


Preferably finish within a minute before I start eating.


Gu Xiuyi sat up straight, his fingers interlaced on the table, and began exuding his aura. "Why do you want to live on campus?"


Ji Ruan found his serious demeanor a bit baffling and momentarily thought this person was here to negotiate a contract.


He blinked. "Everyone does that. Didn't you live on campus in your freshman year?"


"That was different." Gu Xiuyi's face was expressionless as he dismissed the first reason.


Ji Ruan didn’t understand and tilted his head with a smile. "How was it different?"


Gu Xiuyi took the coffee offered by Aunt Zhao and gently placed it on the table. "You’re not in good health. Living on campus is not safe."


Ji Ruan frowned, disagreeing. "How is it unsafe?"


"University dorms have bunk beds with desks underneath, and you’ll have to climb stairs. What if you get dizzy and fall?" Gu Xiuyi reasoned with him logically and emotionally. "Moreover, your blood type is rare. If you get injured and bleed, it could be very serious."


"Hmm…" Ji Ruan lowered his eyes, seemingly starting to consider Gu Xiuyi’s words seriously.


The bun was no longer too hot, so he slowly nibbled on it, the large meat bun almost covering half his face.


"But I&¥%..." Ji Ruan's words were muffled and unclear, and he stopped as soon as he started.


His upbringing had always taught him not to speak with food in his mouth, so he covered his mouth with his fingers, lowered his eyes, and slowly chewed, his cheeks puffed up like a little bun.


Gu Xiuyi couldn't take his eyes off Ji Ruan's face—such a refined way of eating.


He pushed the soy milk closer to Ji Ruan. "Swallow it before you speak."


But what he didn't expect was that Ji Ruan chewed his bite of bun for a long time, and by the time he swallowed and licked his shiny lips, Gu Xiuyi was almost ready to reach enlightenment.


"But I haven’t been dizzy in the past couple of days," Ji Ruan said, wiping his lips with a napkin. "And didn’t you buy me some candies?"


Gu Xiuyi was unmoved. "Dizziness isn’t only caused by low blood sugar; anemia can cause it too, and your anemia hasn't improved."


Reason two was dismissed.


"Is it really that serious..." Ji Ruan mumbled, biting his straw. "But doesn’t our school require freshmen to live on campus?"


Gu Xiuyi took a sip of black coffee. "If there’s a legitimate reason, you can apply for day school."


Ji Ruan hugged his soy milk cup and thought for a long time, pondering over all the reasons Gu Xiuyi had given, and finally asked a soul-searching question:


"But I’m going to school, not joining the army."


School wasn’t some kind of dangerous place, so why couldn’t he go?


Gu Xiuyi paused, his fingers hesitating as he faced Ji Ruan’s big, confused eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t come up with a rebuttal for reason three.


He hesitated for a moment and then turned his head, his eyes landing on Aunt Zhao, who was humming a tune by the sink. "Aunt Zhao, what do you think?"


He was confident Aunt Zhao would be on his side, helping him convince Ji Ruan.


"Huh? You’re asking me?" Aunt Zhao laughed as she wiped the counter. "What are you asking me for?"


Ji Ruan also turned to Aunt Zhao, speaking seriously. "We really need your opinion."


Aunt Zhao’s status suddenly elevated, making her the main negotiator, leaving her a bit flustered.


"Uh… well," she thought for a moment and then smiled at Ji Ruan. "Ruan Ruan, do you really want to live on campus?"


Ji Ruan sat very upright, like a schoolchild being questioned, with a slight hint of melancholy in his tone. "I do, a little. Mostly because I’ve never lived in a dorm, and I want to experience it…"


Aunt Zhao couldn’t resist such an expression. Her motherly instincts kicked in as she waved her cloth. "Oh, Xiao Gu, Ruan Ruan said he wants to go. College life is so important; it will be a beautiful memory in the future. Just let him go."


"…"


Suddenly, Gu Xiuyi found himself isolated. Aunt Zhao, who had been with him for twenty years, had directly sided with Ji Ruan, whom she had only taken care of for two months, simply because that child could exude an aura of helplessness at any time.


Gu Xiuyi’s expression remained unchanged; he neither agreed nor disagreed. He just tapped the table in front of Ji Ruan. "Eat another bite of the bun."


Ji Ruan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. "I can’t eat anymore."


He was sulking again, as he always did when things didn’t go his way. He would slouch and find a place to lean against, and even his lips would lose their color.


Gu Xiuyi felt frustrated. He couldn't reason with him, couldn't scold him, and he couldn’t tell Ji Ruan about his plan to move back.


If he mentioned it now and didn’t let Ji Ruan go, wouldn’t that mean forcing him to live with him?


Gu Xiuyi couldn’t do that. He felt as if there was a heavy stone weighing down on his heart.


The longer he didn’t agree, the longer Ji Ruan would continue to slump in his chair, as if they were competing to see who could last longer.


He had really brought back a living ancestor.


"Fine, fine..." After a long while, Gu Xiuyi finally compromised. "Go ahead, move in."


He had never won against Ji Ruan in a standoff.


"Really?" Ji Ruan's eyes lit up, and he instantly perked up.


He immediately grabbed the bun and started eating again. It was still warm and tasted delicious, and Ji Ruan squinted happily. "Thank you, Boss Gu."


"…"


Although Gu Xiuyi knew that Ji Ruan’s earlier weakness wasn’t genuine, seeing him recover so quickly still made him feel a bit uneasy, as if the stone in his heart was getting heavier.


He stared at Ji Ruan’s lips for a moment and coldly said, "Blue."


"Hmm?" Ji Ruan looked up, bun in mouth, not wanting to speak, and made a questioning sound.


Gu Xiuyi absentmindedly rubbed the ring on his ring finger. "Your washbasin, choose the blue one."


Ji Ruan froze, then quickly realized that Gu Xiuyi must have seen his checklist.


In this house, Gu Xiuyi still needed to have some say in matters, even if it was just about the color of a washbasin. Ji Ruan understood this very well.


"No problem," Ji Ruan said with a generous smile. "I’ll listen to you on this one."


His smile was exceptionally bright, like the roses that bloomed in the courtyard in early summer, or like the sweet and sour glutinous rice balls that Gu Xiuyi had eaten as a child, the dimples filled with a sweet and sour flavor.


Gu Xiuyi's troubled mood was suddenly soothed by that smile. He felt like he was becoming more and more like a chameleon, with all his emotions changing in an instant.


And this instant change, ninety percent of the time, was because of Ji Ruan.


This clear realization made Gu Xiuyi’s heart skip a beat.


·


A few days later, on a sunny weekend, the freshmen at Beijing University finished their military training.


Ji Ruan went to check out the dormitory first with empty hands, while Gu Xiuyi and Song Ling carried all his luggage.


"Ding—"


The elevator doors opened to reveal a spacious dormitory corridor. Although it was a boys' dormitory, it was much cleaner and fresher than expected.


"Not bad," Song Ling said as he stood next to Gu Xiuyi. "They even installed an elevator. Back when we were in school, we had to rely on our legs."


Gu Xiuyi’s face remained somber, showing little enthusiasm as he knocked on the door of room 601. "What’s the point? With so many students on one floor, there are only two elevators. It’ll definitely be crowded during peak hours."


If Ji Ruan could squeeze in, he’d let Ji Ruan take his surname.


Song Ling noticed Gu Xiuyi’s drooping lips and shook his head. His boss had had this expression for days, and his presence at the company was enough to scare everyone on the top floor into worrying if they were about to go bankrupt.


Song Ling had been cornered by countless people, all subtly inquiring about the company’s recent financial status.


Who would have thought that the boss’s stern face was simply because his little husband was moving into the dorm? This kind of family matter was not something Song Ling could gossip about, so he had to pretend to be mysterious and evasive, which only made the employees more nervous.


Song Ling sighed inwardly, fully embracing his professionalism. "Boss, you’re right."


Footsteps approached from behind the door, and in the next second, it opened with a click.


Room 601 was at the corner of the corridor, slightly larger than the other dorms, and with better lighting. Ji Ruan’s face appeared in the bright natural light, bringing with it a small gust of wind.


His skin was pale, his eyes curved, his hair fluffy, and a soft halo surrounded him like a little angel fluttering over. Even Song Ling found the sight pleasing, let alone the boss.


Gu Xiuyi’s earlier gloom had completely dissipated, and the prior somberness? It no longer existed.


Song Ling pushed the luggage inside, where all the roommates were present. They were gathered around a small table, a deck of shuffled cards in front of them, seemingly in the middle of a game.


"Let me introduce you," Ji Ruan said with a smile, tugging on Gu Xiuyi’s sleeve. "These are my roommates: Li Yu, Qin Shan, and Han Xiaolin, whom you already know."


Li Yu from the Art Department and Qin Shan from the Finance Department, one with small glasses and the other a bit chubby, were both a little stunned by the presence of someone so imposing.


Ji Ruan continued to smile warmly and naturally introduced, "This is my husband, Gu Xiuyi. And the handsome guy next to him is his good friend and assistant, Song Ling."


Song Ling greeted everyone with a friendly smile.


Gu Xiuyi was greatly pleased by Ji Ruan’s use of the word "husband," and his smile flowed naturally as he placed several exquisite gift bags on the small table.


"Hello, everyone. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I wasn’t sure what you all liked, so I brought some snacks. Ji Ruan isn’t in the best of health, so I’d appreciate it if you could take good care of him."


After all, he was a well-known figure and a legendary alumnus of the school, so the two new roommates were quite reserved, feeling uneasy.


"Hello, Mr. Gu!"


"Thank you, Mr. Gu!"


"Please have a seat, Mr. Gu!"


Gu Xiuyi smiled. "No need. I’ll help Ji Ruan settle in and then leave. I don’t want to make you all uncomfortable."


He found Ji Ruan’s vacant bed, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and together with Song Ling, wiped down both the bed and desk. They also neatly arranged his bedding, including the bed curtains.


Ji Ruan only needed to organize his desk, arranging a lucky cat and a candy jar, which he then shared with his roommates, even feeding one candy to both Gu Xiuyi and Song Ling.


Of course, the candy for Song Ling wasn’t delivered successfully, as Gu Xiuyi intercepted it halfway by grabbing Ji Ruan’s wrist, so Song Ling had to take it himself.


After tidying up, Gu Xiuyi took Ji Ruan out to the corridor for a brief chat. Once the room was empty, the roommates finally breathed a sigh of relief.


Li Yu adjusted his glasses and peeked into one of the snack bags. "Wow, all of these are super expensive imported brands. These few bags must cost several thousand…"


Qin Shan, leaning on Han Xiaolin’s shoulder, looked dazed. "Han Ge, was that really Boss Gu? The same Boss Gu I see on financial news every day?"


Han Xiaolin, who had seen him a few more times, suddenly turned into "Han Ge," adopting a more dignified demeanor. "What’s the big deal? Boss Gu is still just a man. And a man needs to get married. You’ll get used to it after hanging out with me."


They opened a snack bag and started sharing the food. Li Yu sighed. "But I think Mr. Gu treats Ji Ruan quite well. It’s a bit different from what I imagined."


Qin Shan agreed, "Yeah, right? I went to Mr. Gu’s lecture before, and he was always so serious. I didn’t expect him to be so down-to-earth in private."


"It probably depends on the person. If it weren’t for Ji Ruan, we wouldn’t have seen him like this."


"That’s true."


Han Xiaolin, one of the few who knew about Ji Ruan’s arranged marriage, thought that if they kept talking about it in private, Ji Ruan might feel uncomfortable. After some consideration, he said half-jokingly, "But let’s not talk too much about Mr. Gu from now on. You guys don’t know, but Ji Ruan is pretty shy and difficult to handle when he gets embarrassed. Let’s just treat him normally."


"Of course," Li Yu agreed. "We won’t gossip outside."


Qin Shan nodded in agreement, "We’ll listen to Han Ge."


"Good brothers," Han Xiaolin smiled contentedly, raising his snack bag as if it were a glass. "Cheers!"


·


The sunlight in the corridor was scorching, and Ji Ruan squinted as he lowered his head, only to have his wrist pulled by Gu Xiuyi into the shade.


Gu Xiuyi crossed his arms and, after a moment of silence, couldn’t help but offer some reminders. "Be sure to stay safe while living on campus, okay?"


Ji Ruan nodded.


"If you feel dizzy when you wake up in the morning, don’t rush to get out of bed. Eat some candy and wait until you’re fully awake."


Ji Ruan smiled and nodded.


"If you’re unwell or sick, go to the campus clinic. If you can’t walk, ask your roommates for help. Don’t be afraid to trouble others; I’ll thank them for you. And walk slower—"


"—Mr. Gu."


Gu Xiuyi’s train of thought was interrupted, and he paused for a moment. "What is it?"


Ji Ruan leaned against the wall, half-smiling. "Did Aunt Zhao teach you to say all this?"


Gu Xiuyi slipped his hands into his pockets. "I came up with it myself."


Ji Ruan’s eyes curved into a smile, dimples appearing again, but he remained silent.


Only then did Gu Xiuyi realize that this child was annoyed by his long-windedness.


"…" Gu Xiuyi calmly lowered his sleeves and buttoned the cuffs. "Alright then, I’ll be off."


Ji Ruan called out to him, "Aren’t we going to have dinner together?"


Gu Xiuyi stopped halfway and turned back. "No, I have a meeting. You should eat with your roommates and bond with them. Go back inside; it’s too hot out here."


Ji Ruan pursed his lips. "Alright then."


He waved to Gu Xiuyi with a bright smile. "Goodbye."


Gu Xiuyi just nodded slightly and entered the elevator with Song Ling.


·


That evening, Ji Ruan and his roommates went out for hotpot.


Including his previous life before transmigrating into the book, Ji Ruan had had hotpot only a few times.


They went to a particularly famous old restaurant just outside the school gate, which had supposedly been there for years. It was said that every freshman had to visit this place at least once; only after eating there could one truly consider themselves a Beijing University student.


The restaurant's décor wasn’t anything special—simple and lively. It had expanded a few storefronts, connecting them into one large area.


Ji Ruan and Li Yu from the Art Department both couldn’t handle spicy food, so they ordered a half-and-half pot and sat together chatting.


The other three had arrived more than half a month earlier and were already familiar with the school.


Qin Shan pointed to the street outside, his fingers chubby. "That’s the snack street back there. There’s a place with really good snail noodles. How about we go next time, Xiao Ruan?"


Li Yu frowned as soon as he heard that and pushed up his glasses. "Are you still eating that? You’ve had it every day for a week, aren’t you tired of it?"


Han Xiaolin, with an air of having seen it all, rested his chin on his hand. "Before inviting you, he had already made us eat it to the point of nausea. If it weren’t for your ability to survive on just water, do you think he’d have invited you?"


Ji Ruan took a sip of watermelon juice. "Then I won’t go."


He pretended to suddenly realize, "So I’m just a backup plan."


"No way!" Qin Shan was anxious. "I’m not that kind of person. Xiao Ruan, don’t listen to their nonsense. I’m absolutely sincere in inviting you… Hey, it’s Senior Sister Zi Zhang!"


The chubby guy abruptly changed the subject, his eyes nearly falling out as he followed a beautiful figure ahead. "She’s so pretty… Do fairies eat hotpot too…"


Ji Ruan followed his gaze and found the girl somewhat familiar.


"Why wouldn’t they?" Li Yu said. "Even the Jade Emperor would surrender to hotpot, let alone a fairy."


Han Xiaolin leaned closer to Ji Ruan. "That’s Cheng Zi Zhang, our campus belle. She’s your direct senior in the Chinese Department."


With Han Xiaolin’s hint, Ji Ruan suddenly remembered. "Oh, it’s her."


Qin Shan, the absolute fanboy of the goddess Cheng, was instantly excited. "Xiao Ruan, do you know Senior Sister Zi Zhang?"


"Not exactly…" Ji Ruan scratched his nose and smiled. "I checked in with her on the day of the orientation. We added each other on WeChat, but we haven’t talked."


"Damn," Qin Shan was shocked, mumbling, "As expected, beauties like to hang out with handsome guys. You got the goddess’s WeChat as soon as you enrolled…"


Although Qin Shan was envious, he knew his limits and didn’t ask Ji Ruan for the goddess’s WeChat.


The pot was boiling, and Ji Ruan casually picked up a piece of lotus root to eat, his tone light and joking. "I don’t mind. I’m male, attracted to men, and married, so it doesn’t affect your pursuit of the goddess."


Qin Shan immediately laughed, "That’s right, that’s right. With looks like yours, it’s a good thing you like men. Otherwise, what chance would we have?"


The other two were also amused and started piling food into his dipping sauce.


"Shut up, you weirdo."


"Hurry up and eat."


After eating a few pieces of tripe, Li Yu said, "But I heard that Senior Sister Zi Zhang already has a boyfriend, that senior in the School of Computer Science, surnamed Bai?"


Qin Shan was about to eat some duck intestines when he raised an eyebrow. "Bai Ange?"


Li Yu nodded. "Yeah."


"Come on," Qin Shan scoffed. "He’s not even as good-looking as our Xiao Ruan."


He then added for Ji Ruan’s benefit, "He’s our current campus heartthrob. Lots of girls say he’s handsome, but honestly, he’s not as good-looking as you."


"I think they’re different styles," Li Yu analyzed rationally. "Xiao Ruan has a delicate, quiet look, while Bai Ange is the typical straight-girl favorite."


"But that might change," Li Yu glanced at Ji Ruan. "Now Xiao Ruan is probably more popular than Bai Ange, right?"


Qin Shan nodded in agreement. "I think so. There’s a gap even among famous people."


The conversation suddenly turned back to him, and Ji Ruan smiled. "Am I really that popular?"


"You’re the most popular." Li Yu sighed.


Qin Shan added, "You’re the school’s top celebrity!"


"Ahem!" Han Xiaolin, who had been silent, poured himself a beer, looking like he had something important to say. "I’ve got some inside info."


Recently, Han Xiaolin had been dubbed the "inside info guru" among the freshmen, claiming to have eyes and ears everywhere, knowing everything that happened at Beijing University.


Li Yu and Qin Shan immediately leaned in.


Han Xiaolin raised his hand, covering half his mouth as he whispered, "I heard that Bai Ange also likes men."


"Damn, really?" Li Yu was shocked, covering his mouth.


Qin Shan was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing. "It must be true, hahaha—"


He filled his beer glass. "I’m one step closer to the goddess. Feels great."


"Get lost."


"Get lost."


Ji Ruan quietly chuckled.


The whole hotpot restaurant was bustling with noise. University students had plenty to talk about, and no table was ever quiet. The topics ranged from gossip to games, but no one talked about studying. This was a common trait across all schools nationwide.


After the meal, Li Yu and Qin Shan each went to meet their friends, while Han Xiaolin, feeling overstuffed, dragged Ji Ruan along for a half-hour walk around the track before they slowly made their way back to the dorm.


Beijing University dorms all had private bathrooms, and there was no limit on hot water. By the time Ji Ruan finished his shower and got into bed, the other two had just made it back in time for curfew.


Ji Ruan’s bedspread, duvet cover, and curtains were all in shades of blue, even the little lamp by his bedside. The various blues created a look reminiscent of a receding tide.


All of this had been chosen by Gu Xiuyi.


Ji Ruan had a bit of a decision-making problem and could never make up his mind about the small items needed for moving into the dorm.


While he sat on the sofa worrying, Gu Xiuyi was right next to him, neither watching TV nor playing on his phone. He clearly seemed eager to help but restrained himself from speaking up.


Ji Ruan didn’t want to stress about it, so he decided to indulge Gu Xiuyi’s desire to make decisions and handed over the responsibility to him.


That night, Gu Xiuyi personally chose the details of Ji Ruan’s bedding, and even the next morning, his smile lingered.


Ji Ruan pulled the covers up and nestled into bed. The mattress, also selected by Boss Gu, was soft and comfortable, making Ji Ruan squint with satisfaction as he lay there. He took a picture of the dark blue canopy and sent it to Boss Gu.


Almost instantly, a video call came in.


Ji Ruan hurriedly found his earphones and plugged them in before answering the call.


Gu Xiuyi was likely sitting in front of his computer. The room was unlit, with half his face illuminated by the blue screen light. He was wearing pajamas, with half-rim glasses perched on his nose. Although his features looked sharper, his overall demeanor was inexplicably softer, different from his usual charm.


In the faint light, Ji Ruan tried to guess the background behind him. "Are you at your regular apartment?"


"Mm."


After agreeing to let Ji Ruan live on campus, Gu Xiuyi’s plan to move back to the villa had been shelved, becoming a once-hotly pursued but abruptly halted, and now forgotten, plan.


Gu Xiuyi didn’t continue discussing the apartment. Instead, he adjusted his glasses and asked, "Is the bed comfortable?"


"Very comfortable," Ji Ruan smiled. "The duvet smells nice too. Thank you."


His chin was hidden under the duvet, revealing only a bit of pink lips, with black hair scattered on the pillow. His eyelashes were long and thick under the bedside lamp, and his eyes were bright and shiny.


He was truly someone who suited the color blue; the bed was like the ocean, and he was like a little mermaid in it.


Looking at Ji Ruan on the screen, Gu Xiuyi’s gaze softened unconsciously. "What did you have for dinner?"


"Hotpot," Ji Ruan replied. "From that old Li Ji Hotpot place just outside the main gate. It’s supposed to have been there for many years. You’ve heard of it, right?"


Gu Xiuyi thought for a moment, recalling the place. "Is that the one that’s a must-visit for Beijing University freshmen?"


"Exactly," Ji Ruan said, surprised. "So that saying has been around since your time too?"


"Not just that," Gu Xiuyi nodded, recalling. "It was around even before my seniors, many years ahead of me. The exact origin of the tradition is unclear. How did you like it?"


Ji Ruan turned over, hugging the duvet as he smacked his lips to savor the taste. "It was good, but I didn’t think it was as legendary as people say. Maybe it’s because I’m not a hotpot fanatic?"


"Mm," Gu Xiuyi nodded. "Probably half genuine word-of-mouth, half hype."


"But Han Xiaolin thought it was amazing," Ji Ruan said, adjusting his earphones. "He ate so much he nearly overdid it. I had to give him some digestive tablets."


His voice was slightly hoarse, soft, and slow. Chatting with him on the phone was a very enjoyable experience.


Gu Xiuyi also slowed his pace. "What about you? Are you feeling okay?"


Ji Ruan smiled, his eyes curved. "I’m fine. I was very restrained, and we ordered a half-and-half pot, so I only ate from the clear broth side."


"Good," Gu Xiuyi lightly supported his forehead with his hand. "Such a good boy."


Ji Ruan, with his poor hearing, usually texted or occasionally made phone calls. But this was his first time having a long chat with earphones on.


Gu Xiuyi’s voice was clearer and more pleasant than usual, transmitted through the phone line, and it felt like it warmed Ji Ruan’s ears.


Ji Ruan snuggled deeper into the duvet, smiling.


Gu Xiuyi saw Ji Ruan’s dimples suddenly appear but then quickly disappear into the duvet.


The little mermaid smiled and hid in the sea, but his eyes remained on the surface, curved with a smile, filled with countless stars.


The corners of Gu Xiuyi’s lips lifted slightly. "What’s so funny?"


"Hmm…" Ji Ruan blinked. "I don’t know."


He really didn’t know. He thought about it carefully but couldn’t explain why he was laughing. It just seemed amazing to him.


Ji Ruan’s hearing wasn’t good, so it wasn’t suitable for him to wear earphones for too long. After chatting for a while, Gu Xiuyi let him go to sleep, allowing the little mermaid to dive fully into the ocean.


·


The start of university is always busy. Ji Ruan had classes, hung out with friends, went out to eat, and had to consider elective courses and clubs. He had never felt so fulfilled in both his lives.


As for Gu Xiuyi, being busy was his norm.


They only occasionally texted, and even phone calls gradually became less frequent.


One day at noon, after class, Ji Ruan unexpectedly received a call from Gu Xiuyi—a time they usually didn’t communicate.


It was crowded after class, and the stairwell was packed. Ji Ruan carefully avoided the crowd, stopping in a corner of the corridor.


"Hello?"


Gu Xiuyi’s familiar voice came through the phone, saying something equally familiar. "You don’t have any classes this afternoon, right?"


"Right." Ji Ruan didn’t know when Gu Xiuyi had gotten his schedule, so he answered honestly, "Do you need something?"


"It’s nothing major," Gu Xiuyi’s voice was calm, with a slight hint of laziness. "A friend recommended a restaurant with a famous dish of French snails. If you’re free for dinner, would you like to go try it with me?"


Ji Ruan had been getting tired of the cafeteria food lately and was just thinking about trying something different. He didn’t mind Western food and agreed without much thought. "Sure, what time?"


"Five-thirty. I’ll pick you up at the main gate."


The class had just ended, and the stairwell was now clear. Ji Ruan held onto the railing and walked slowly. "Sounds good."


It seemed like Gu Xiuyi had become busy again. Someone was talking to him in the background. He covered the phone and gave a couple of instructions before saying to Ji Ruan, "Go have lunch now and rest in the dorm in the afternoon."


"Mm-hmm," Ji Ruan nodded. "You go ahead. Bye."


After lunch, Ji Ruan returned to the dorm, popped one of the candies that Gu Xiuyi had bought for him into his mouth, and started browsing various club posters.


The candy was grape-flavored, sweet and tangy on his tongue. After savoring it for a while, Ji Ruan looked over at the glass jar of candies on his desk. He suddenly wondered if there were any cherry-flavored ones left. He had only found one last time, so maybe there was another one hidden in there.


He cleared his desk and then poured out all the candies and chocolates, spreading them out on the desk to search slowly.


The dorm door opened as Han Xiaolin and Li Yu returned. Seeing Ji Ruan with a desk full of candies, they froze. "What are you doing?"


"Nothing," Ji Ruan smiled. "Come and get some candy."


The two didn’t hesitate, each picking one to unwrap and eat. "Thanks."


Han Xiaolin sat down at his desk, looking over at Ji Ruan. "A new chicken hotpot place just opened near the school gate. Want to go together tonight?"


Li Yu added, "Yeah, I heard it’s good and there’s a 40% discount. Let’s invite Qin Shan too."


Ji Ruan was still searching for a cherry-flavored candy, and upon hearing this, he pursed his lips. "I’m not going."


"Why not?" Han Xiaolin straightened up.


Ji Ruan casually said, "I’m going out to eat with Gu Xiuyi."


"Yoho~~~" Immediately, the room filled with two sour remarks of playful teasing.


Li Yu covered his ears. "Having a significant other is so scary."


Han Xiaolin walked over and draped an arm around Ji Ruan’s shoulders, dramatically sighing. "Is this the pride of a married boy?"


Ji Ruan pushed his hand away, unable to stop laughing. "Go away, you weirdo."


He carefully placed the scattered candies back into the jar one by one. There really weren’t any left. The cherry flavor had only one piece, but he had already eaten it.


·


That afternoon, Ji Ruan left the dorm a little after five. He walked slowly. The meeting time at the main gate was five-thirty, so twenty minutes was just enough for him to walk over leisurely.


The sky seemed a bit darker than usual for five o’clock, and the wind was chilly. Ji Ruan, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, walked for a while, but instead of sweating, he felt a bit cold.


He looked up at the sky, where the clouds were piling up, covering the entire sky. They looked like… storm clouds?!


Ji Ruan felt a bad premonition. The next moment, a large raindrop splashed on his cheek, making him squint.


And then, the rain came down in torrents, with fierce raindrops and thunder and lightning.


Ji Ruan was still a short distance from the school gate, and there was no shelter nearby except for a large tree, but even a child knew not to stand under a tree during a thunderstorm.


In just a few seconds, the rain poured down, leaving Ji Ruan no time to think. He instinctively covered his ears and ran toward a security booth a few dozen meters away.


The distance wasn’t far, but in that short time, Ji Ruan was half-soaked by the time he reached the rain shelter outside the security booth.


His clothes clung to his back, sticky and uncomfortable. The wind made him shiver, and his heart was still pounding from the sudden sprint, leaving him feeling a bit dazed.


"Buzz buzz—!"


The phone suddenly vibrated, startling Ji Ruan.


The caller ID showed it was Gu Xiuyi.


Ji Ruan had been covering his ears while running, so although his external processor wasn’t completely soaked, it was still damp. The most sensible thing to do now would be to hang up and send a text to Gu Xiuyi, then quickly remove the processor and carefully dry it.


But the thunder was loud, the rain even louder, and Ji Ruan was a little scared. He looked at the flashing phone screen, hesitated for a moment, and then answered the call.


"Ji Ruan?" Gu Xiuyi’s voice sounded a bit urgent. "Did you bring an umbrella?"


"No…" Ji Ruan tried to steady his voice. "I’m under the rain shelter outside the security booth."


There was suddenly no sound from the other end, and Ji Ruan thought his ears had stopped working. He gripped his phone tightly, nervous. "Hello?"


"It’s okay," Gu Xiuyi sounded relieved. "I can see you. Don’t move."


Ji Ruan hadn’t seen him.


He looked up and scanned the surroundings, his heart beating wildly. After carefully looking around, he finally noticed a familiar license plate partially hidden by the large old tree near the gate.


That’s where Gu Xiuyi appeared.


He held a large black umbrella, avoiding the layers of tree branches as he walked toward Ji Ruan.


Ji Ruan couldn’t quite see his figure clearly; the rain was so dense it turned into a mist, like gray ink being splashed down, quickly rising up and fluttering high.


Ji Ruan tried to retreat further into the rain shelter, but the gusts of wind still made the raindrops sting his calves. Yet every step Gu Xiuyi took was steady.


With his long legs and large strides, the seemingly distant figure reached him in just a few moments. Only when he was close did Ji Ruan see his face, calm and unruffled, his collar immaculate.


As soon as Gu Xiuyi entered the rain shelter, he closed the umbrella, and the rainwater cascaded down the ribs, soaking his trouser legs.


Ji Ruan looked up at him, his delicate eyebrows furrowed, his hair wet, his eyelashes wet—his whole body wet, looking utterly pitiful.


Gu Xiuyi brushed aside Ji Ruan’s wet bangs, revealing his delicate brows and eyes. The skin under his palm was smooth and damp, but also slightly cool from the rain.


Ji Ruan’s body temperature was always low.


"It’s okay now, don’t be scared."


Gu Xiuyi patted Ji Ruan’s back.


He looked into Ji Ruan’s eyes, making sure Ji Ruan heard him, then reached up to remove his external processor and put it in his jacket pocket.


As the small black external processor was removed from behind his ear, all sound was simultaneously drained away, even the thunder and rain becoming muffled. It felt as if Ji Ruan himself had been pulled out of this world.


Ji Ruan’s heart tightened, and he instinctively stepped closer to Gu Xiuyi, tightly closing his eyes.


Gu Xiuyi opened the umbrella, wrapped an arm around Ji Ruan’s shoulder, and pulled him closer. He whispered in his left ear, "It’s okay. Let’s go home."


---

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The author has something to say:

Gu’s method for pursuing a spouse—provide them with a sense of security, but also teach them to rely on you.


T/N; This is the longest chapter I have ever translated!

Justmisty

Just translating the novels I love

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