Ji Yuenian looked at Jiang Chi and suddenly laughed, “Do you think there’ll ever come a day when you’ll be crying your eyes out over a woman?”
“Rumor has it that our aloof campus heartthrob is a pure romantic-the type who believes in one love for life, even willing to die together, hic!”
Jiang Chi watched Ji Yuenian’s dazed expression, wondering if he was still needling him over the whole Chen Jiajia incident.
“I won’t,” he shook his head.
He hadn’t met someone he liked, hadn’t experienced that heart-fluttering feeling, hadn’t tasted the bittersweet flavors of love described in literature.
He didn’t know what kind of person he was-maybe someone who’d try it once and then forget about it, or maybe someone who’d hold on tight until death.
“That’s good, that’s good. In that case, I…”
Ji Yuenian’s voice trailed off, so quiet that Jiang Chi couldn’t even hear the rest.
Ji Yuenian shook his head, clearly drunk.
He grabbed a piece of lamb and stuffed it into his mouth, ignoring the grease, then slapped Jiang Chi on the shoulder.
“Never mind, just pretend you didn’t hear that. Let’s keep eating! Later, I’ll treat you to a 699-yuan foot massage!”
Jiang Chi’s body stiffened instantly.
Ji Yuenian didn’t notice at all. He even reached out and patted Jiang Chi’s fair cheek, teasing with a grin, “Jiang, our campus heartthrob, how do you keep your skin so smooth? Teach me~ You’re even softer than a woman…”
Before he could finish, the drunken Ji Yuenian saw a rash rapidly spread across Jiang Chi’s skin.
His face turned deathly pale, his breathing became labored, as if an invisible hand were choking him.
His body trembled, and then-without warning-he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Nighttime, Zhang’s Clinic.
“Meow meow meow, Teacher, I’m hungry again,” Yan Qing whined, stuffing the last fish cracker into his mouth with a pitiful look.
Zhang Junfang was tidying up when he heard this.
He glanced up and scolded with a laugh, “Eat, eat, all you ever think about is eating. If you keep this up, I’ll turn you into cat hotpot to save on groceries.”
“Nooo, Teacher! I just have a big appetite, and you promised to take care of Yan Qing forever,” Yan Qing cooed, running over to hug him, rubbing his little head against Zhang Junfang’s waist.
Looking down at the little boy clinging to his waist and nuzzling him like a spoiled kitten, Zhang Junfang’s lips twitched.
He’d adopted a pet, a little brother, a cute companion-not a rebellious cat constantly scheming to seduce his teacher!
BANG!
Suddenly, the door slammed open. A young man rushed in, carrying another on his back.
“Senior! Senior Zhang! Are you here? Help me check on him… Huh? What are you two—?”
The moment Ji Yuenian barged in, he saw Yan Qing hugging Zhang Junfang, his little face buried deep against his waist, those big amber eyes brimming with bliss as he rubbed against him like a spoiled child.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Zhang Junfang was the first to break the silence.
Expressionless, he pushed the little boy off his waist, then turned to face Ji Yuenian, his demeanor calm, showing no trace of embarrassment at being caught.
He cleared his throat and said to Ji Yuenian, “Don’t just stand there. Put him down.”
Ji Yuenian finally snapped out of his daze and carefully placed Jiang Chi, who had been on his shoulder, onto a nearby chair.
The young boy named Yan Qing pouted in dissatisfaction upon seeing this.
He stood to the side, looking aggrievedly at Zhang Junfang before turning his angry gaze toward Ji Yuenian, resembling a cat with its fur puffed up.
Before long, Zhang Junfang lifted his head and looked at Ji Yuenian, speaking calmly, “It’s nothing serious, don’t worry too much. It’s just a psychogenic allergic reaction. A little rest will do.”
“When will he wake up?” Ji Yuenian asked.
“Anytime now.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the pair of deep blue eyes on the chair abruptly flew open-filled with panic and emptiness.
Seeing Jiang Chi awaken, Ji Yuenian felt a surge of relief and quickly stepped forward, asking with concern, “Jiang Chi, are you okay? Are you allergic to lamb or broccoli?”
But Jiang Chi seemed not to hear him at all. He stood up abruptly and shoved Ji Yuenian away with force.
Ji Yuenian staggered, nearly falling to the ground.
“Shower, shower, I need a shower,” Jiang Chi muttered repeatedly before bolting away like a gust of wind, vanishing in an instant.
Ji Yuenian immediately moved to chase after him, but a large, well-defined hand gripped him tightly. Turning his head, he saw Zhang Junfang’s smiling face.
“Junior Ji, settle the bill first.”
By the time Ji Yuenian paid and rushed outside, Jiang Chi was long gone-not a trace of him remained.
Standing on the street, Ji Yuenian looked around helplessly, his heart filled with confusion and worry. He had no idea what had gotten into Jiang Chi.
* * *
Another “wonderful” 8 a.m. class.
Awoken by the 7:30 alarm, Ji Yuenian climbed out of bed in his first secret base.
Last night had been another exhilarating livestream, thoroughly thrashing the opposing small-time streamer.
He poured himself a glass of cold water, rinsing his mouth first.
The icy sensation spread from his tongue to his entire body, jolting him awake, before he began brushing his teeth.
As he brushed rhythmically, his thoughts gradually drifted away.
A week had passed since the grilled lamb incident.
He had no idea what had happened to Jiang Chi afterward-the only thing he knew was that Jiang Chi hadn’t attended class all week.
After asking around, he heard that Jiang Chi had taken a short leave, seemingly staying home due to illness for a few days.
Finishing his brushing, Ji Yuenian pulled up his T-shirt and glanced down at his abs, then looked back at his reflection in the mirror, puzzled.
“Why are my four-pack abs slowly merging into one?”
Before, his abs had been neatly defined-four firm, taut blocks, exuding undeniable masculine appeal.
But now… He pinched the muscles on his abdomen.
They felt soft, lacking their former firmness, and seemed to be fusing into a single mass.
How strange. Why did it feel like he was turning into a pretty boy?
Had he been too weak lately?
But that couldn’t be lamb was highly nourishing, and during his foot massages, he hadn’t done anything with the flirty girls who batted their eyes at him.
Ji Yuenian’s expression grew even more perplexed.
Had his workouts been slacking off?
Thinking about it, he found the explanation somewhat reasonable.
After all, between livestreaming, dressing up early in the morning to wait for Jiang Chi to boost favorability, and occasionally going out drinking, his exercise time had naturally decreased.
Lost in thought, he took off his T-shirt and changed into a fresh one.
The high-quality fabric brushed against his skin, but when it touched his chest, a strange pain shot through him.
Ji Yuenian was puzzled for a moment, then quickly dismissed the matter from his mind.
Today was the Abbess’s class, and if he were late, she wouldn’t let him off easily.
With this thought, Ji Yuenian—still the epitome of masculinity today-quickly changed his clothes, grabbed his phone, and hurried out the door.