On Monday morning, Ning Guiqu wasn’t the first to leave the dormitory for early classes. He waited until Lu Yuan got up before getting up himself and only left after Lu Yuan left. Shi Wen, who was the last to wake up, even rubbed his eyes in disbelief when he saw Ning Guiqu still there.
“Xiao Qu, am I seeing things?”
Ning Guiqu laced up his shoes and shouldered his backpack. “Xiao Shi, I can still save you a seat.”
As he pushed open the dorm room door, Ning Guiqu noticed through the window at the end of the hallway that Lu Yuan had already reached the ground floor. By the time he got downstairs, there would be a safe distance between them – just enough that Lu Yuan wouldn’t notice him.
Sure enough, when Ning Guiqu went downstairs, he spotted Lu Yuan’s retreating figure turning right and disappearing from view. He only needed to run over to catch up. While maintaining a safe distance, he watched Lu Yuan enter the cafeteria without being detected.
Ning Guiqu calmly followed Lu Yuan to the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was crowded, but Lu Yuan had a particular fondness for millet porridge. As expected, Ning Guiqu saw him queuing at the millet porridge counter.
Perfect stalking!
Xiao Qu was a genius, talented at everything!
Ning Guiqu joined the shorter line for steamed buns. By the time he got his food, Lu Yuan had also received his porridge.
Ning Guiqu continued trailing behind Lu Yuan, taking bites of his bun while tapping at his phone screen with one hand.
[Crowded at breakfast. Got bumped, but no aggressive behavior. Won’t hit me.]
Lu Yuan only saw Ning Guiqu’s message after reaching the classroom. Shortly after he took his seat, Ning Guiqu arrived. There was an empty spot next to Lu Yuan, but Ning Guiqu chose the last seat instead.
It was more convenient for surveillance.
Jiang Xu sat with Lu Yuan, while Shi Wen took the seat in front of Ning Guiqu, who preferred to sit alone.
Shi Wen turned around. “Xiao Qu, I find you oddly strange today.”
Ning Guiqu flashed his standard smile, his voice gentle and calm. “Xiao Shi, it’s just your imagination.”
Seeing that Ning Guiqu seemed no different than usual, Shi Wen concluded it must have been his misconception.
During class, Lu Yuan’s phone occasionally lit up.
Undoubtedly, it was Ning Guiqu.
[Xiao Jiang bumped his elbow. No reaction. Emotions stable, won’t hit me.]
[Checked phone multiple times. Professor warned with a glare. Despite warning, answered questions attentively. Not only no aggressive behavior, but also excellent! What a catch.]
[Only girl in class tried to chat. Ignored her. Couldn’t see expression, possibly aggressive behavior. Genius Xiao Qu might be in danger in the future.]
[You big idiot, I caught you this time! Class monitor, you fucking stepped on my white shoes! My last pair of white shoes, damn it!!]
Lu Yuan: “……”
Lu Yuan sighed softly. To stop Ning Guiqu from stalking him, he’d have to expose him once more.
After class, Lu Yuan messaged Ning Guiqu using his college account: [Ning Guiqu, stop spying on me. I know.]
Lu Yuan wasn’t worried about Ning Guiqu discovering that he knew about the complaints. Ning Guiqu wouldn’t figure it out anyway.
After receiving the message, Ning Guiqu trembled all over.
He nervously replied to Lu Yuan: [You’re overthinking it, I’m not doing anything (>ω<)]
Then, he immediately messaged his alt account: [! How can Lu Yuan be so smart? How did he find out? But he shouldn’t have any proof! Genius Xiao Qu, believe in yourself. You’re a genius!]
Ning Guiqu cheered himself on.
As for Lu Yuan…
He indeed had no proof because he hadn’t caught Ning Guiqu red-handed! He couldn’t just show Ning Guiqu the cutesy yet annoying messages sent to his account.
Lu Yuan: [You know whether I’m overthinking or not. Ning Guiqu, if you do something, you’ll get caught. Even geniuses are no exception.]
Ning Guiqu’s heart tightened.
He encouraged himself again: [Genius Xiao Qu is the exception!]
So, during class, Lu Yuan’s phone still lit up occasionally. Ning Guiqu really had no intention of paying attention in class!
Did he really think he could work at Lu Yuan’s yet-to-be-established company?
Lu Yuan was now too lazy to check his phone. He was almost moved by Ning Guiqu’s persistent spirit to the point of wanting to start a company.
At lunch, Lu Yuan ate alone, planning to catch Ning Guiqu in the act. Before leaving the teaching building, he was sure Ning Guiqu was following him. Lu Yuan didn’t go to the cafeteria; he went to a restaurant outside the school. If Ning Guiqu followed him all the way there, he would confront him directly!
At the school gate, Lu Yuan turned around and saw the suspiciously acting Ning Guiqu wearing yesterday’s baseball cap. He didn’t react yet. However, when he reached the restaurant, Ning Guiqu didn’t follow.
Lu Yuan couldn’t quite believe it.
Since when had Ning Guiqu become so clever??
[Waited 120s for the red light, showed no impatience. No aggressive behavior.]
This was Ning Guiqu’s last message.
Wasn’t Ning Guiqu curious about whether he’d display any aggressive behavior at the restaurant?
Lu Yuan finished half his meal and even stepped out of the restaurant midway to look around. He didn’t see Ning Guiqu. Standing at the restaurant entrance, Lu Yuan silently went back inside. He felt like a real idiot himself.
Yet Lu Yuan still felt something was off.
He tried messaging Ning Guiqu using his current account but couldn’t think of what to say. He wasn’t close to Ning Guiqu and had nothing to talk about.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Lu Yuan sent a question mark.
He waited a while but got no reply from Ning Guiqu. He then sent an exclamation mark, still no response.
Lu Yuan: [Where are you?]
Lu Yuan finally asked directly but still got no reply.
Lu Yuan frowned slightly. Could something have really happened?
He opened their dormitory group chat. The others were chatting, but Lu Yuan didn’t pay attention to the content and directly asked: [Has anyone seen Ning Guiqu?]
After sending the message, Lu Yuan absent-mindedly took a bite of his food.
Soon, the group chat was buzzing with replies. Lu Yuan opened it, his brows furrowing.
Shi Wen: !
Jiang Xu: !
Shi Wen: !!!
Jiang Xu: !!!!
Ning Guiqu: !!!!!!!
??
What was this about?
Wait, Ning Guiqu was there. So he just wasn’t replying to his messages?
He was worried for nothing.
A moment later, Ning Guiqu finally replied to him: [I just dealt with a really persistent person, so I didn’t check my phone. It’s resolved now. Lu Yuan, why did you suddenly ask about me in the group chat?]
???
Only then did Lu Yuan scroll up in the group chat to see what he’d missed.
[Jiang Xu: Bros, I’m in love! I won’t treat you to a meal this time, though. My wallet can’t handle it]
[Shi Wen: No worries, I’m so envious of you. You just broke up, and now you’re dating again. How do you chase girls? Share some tips?]
[Jiang Xu: There’s not really any special technique. Maybe it’s just that handsome guys have it easy in love. Just crook your finger a little, and they come running.]
[Shi Wen: How do I hook up?]
[Jiang Xu: For example, ask her where she is. If she tells you, then ask if she wants to grab a meal together.]
At this point, Lu Yuan’s message came through.
[Lu Yuan: Have you guys seen Ning Guiqu?]
Lu Yuan: “…….”
Damn it, he really didn’t see him!
Lu Yuan first replied to Ning Guiqu: [I wasn’t paying attention to the group chat. I saw you following me, then lost sight of you halfway through. Of course, I had to ask about you. But it seems you’re fine.]
He then wanted to explain in the group chat, but they had already moved on to a different topic. Shi Wen was discussing game equipment with Jiang Xu. Lu Yuan decided to let it go, figuring no one but those involved cared anyway.
After Lu Yuan sent his message, Ning Guiqu’s reply came: [I didn’t!]
He was even trying to act cute. Lu Yuan couldn’t even get angry.
Lu Yuan responded: [Stop pretending. I caught you. You thought you were well-disguised with that baseball cap, but I spotted you since this morning. Ning Guiqu, I’m very emotionally stable. Even if I start a company in the future, I absolutely won’t hit you. If I ever do, you can seek legal action and get compensation.]
There was no reply for a long time.
Lu Yuan finished his meal, paid, and left the restaurant before Ning Guiqu’s message finally arrived.
[I’m sorry, I did follow you. But I promise I won’t do it again after this! Please believe me one more time!]
Lu Yuan didn’t quite believe him; Ning Guiqu had said the same thing yesterday.
Coincidentally, he received a message on his high school WeChat account.
[Lu Yuan makes sense! If he hits me, I can apply for compensation. I checked, and the compensation is quite a lot. Lu Yuan won’t change his personality just because I stalked him. That being said, I don’t need to follow him anymore!]
[But I still hope he doesn’t hit me. Genius Xiao Qu is good in every way, except he’s afraid of pain.]
Lu Yuan was completely exasperated.
He really wouldn’t hit Genius Xiao Qu!
Lu Yuan switched back to his current WeChat account to reply to Ning Guiqu: [I believe you.]
Ning Guiqu: [I won’t betray your trust!]
Soon after, Lu Yuan’s high school WeChat account lit up.
[I’m so touched! How can Lu Yuan trust me so much? I’ll feel guilty!]
[Hahaha, Genius Xiao Qu is naturally cold-hearted and ruthless, without a conscience!]
Lu Yuan truly admired Ning Guiqu’s ability to maintain two personalities even in his own venting space.
The next moment—
[Kitty, you’re not allowed to die!]
Kitty not allowed to die?
What was Ning Guiqu doing??
Lu Yuan messaged Ning Guiqu again: [Where are you now?]
Ning Guiqu: [I’m heading off campus. I found a listless little cat and plan to take him to the hospital. It seems to be the one you fed yesterday.]
Lu Yuan: [I’m near the school gate, too. Wait for me, I’ll come with you.]
Ning Guiqu replied with an “Okay, hurry over then.”
When Lu Yuan reached the school gate, he already spotted Ning Guiqu not far away, holding a cardboard box with a tiny cat head peeking out. Upon noticing him, Ning Guiqu walked over quickly. When their eyes met, Ning Guiqu’s face instantly turned bright red.
Lu Yuan: ?
Ning Guiqu lowered his head and mumbled, “I c-called a car. It’ll be here soon.”
Stuttering again??
Yesterday’s stutter was a lie. Today’s stutter was… Lu Yuan understood. He was afraid Lu Yuan would bring up the stalking incident?
“Ning Guiqu, as long as you—”
“Lu Yuan, l-look at the kitty!”
Lu Yuan’s words were cut off as a small cat was shoved in his face. The cat’s eyes were open, but it wasn’t moving at all. It was entirely orange, indeed very similar to the one he encountered yesterday. But it wasn’t the same one. The cat from yesterday was fatter; this one was thinner.
“What’s wrong with him?” Lu Yuan asked.
Ning Guiqu cradled the cat again and explained, “I don’t know. Seems like he ate something bad.”
Ning Guiqu’s face was full of sincerity.
Lu Yuan’s temple twitched with annoyance. “This isn’t the one I fed yesterday. Even if it was, I bought the cat food from the pet store. It couldn’t possibly be my fault.”
Ning Guiqu continued earnestly, “Lu Yuan, I didn’t say it was you.”
Lu Yuan: “…….”
But your eyes are saying it!
Lu Yuan didn’t bother arguing with Ning Guiqu. Soon, the car Ning Guiqu had called arrived. The two got in and headed to the pet hospital.
On the way, Ning Guiqu kept a close eye on the little cat. Seeing its eyes close, he anxiously asked Lu Yuan, “It won’t die, will it?”
Lu Yuan glanced over; its belly was still rising and falling.
“No. But it might if you keep jinxing it.”
Ning Guiqu immediately pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze to the cat without another word.
Lu Yuan glanced at the cat, then at Ning Guiqu. The midday sun shining through the window fell on Ning Guiqu, making his fair face appear even paler.
His face reddened quickly, but it faded just as fast. Still, it was quite attractive.
Realizing what he was thinking, Lu Yuan: “…….”
It was a day of self-exasperation.
The next moment, Ning Guiqu looked at him again.
Lu Yuan calmly averted his gaze.
Ning Guiqu: “Can you grab my black jacket for me?”
Ning Guiqu’s backpack was between them. Lu Yuan instantly guessed what Ning Guiqu intended. “Give it to me. There’s no sun on my side.”
The cat’s head in the box disappeared.
Ning Guiqu hesitated, “It’s a bit dirty, you—”
Lu Yuan directly moved the box onto his lap. Without the sunlight, the cat timidly poked its head out.
Lu Yuan showed no signs of disgust, which reassured Ning Guiqu.
The driver in front chimed in with a smile, “You two make quite a kind-hearted couple.”
Lu Yuan: “…We’re not.”
Ning Guiqu echoed: “…We’re not.”
The driver ignored their denials. “Hide it if you want, but you can’t hide the love in your eyes.”
Lu Yuan was skeptical. He turned to look at Ning Guiqu, wondering if it was Ning Guiqu’s eyes that could not hide the love.
Ning Guiqu looked innocent.
After they got out of the car, Lu Yuan was still holding the box.
Ning Guiqu immediately explained earnestly to Lu Yuan, “People nowadays just like to assume things when they see two handsome guys together. Don’t take it to heart. I only want to join your company!”
Lu Yuan pondered.
Did this explanation mean Ning Guiqu was telling him he no longer liked him?
Lu Yuan looked at Ning Guiqu.
Ning Guiqu’s expression was serious.
“Your feelings for me—”
Forget it, he couldn’t bring himself to ask. He would delete his high school account when he got back. Ning Guiqu’s current words clearly indicated he didn’t like him anymore. He didn’t want to keep prying into Ning Guiqu’s venting space either.
“What about my feelings for you?” Ning Guiqu pressed when Lu Yuan didn’t finish his sentence.
“Nothing,” Lu Yuan said calmly.
Ning Guiqu narrowed his eyes. Walking beside Lu Yuan, he took out his phone! He typed out “idiot” but then deleted it; Lu Yuan wasn’t really an idiot.
[I hate people who leave sentences half-finished! What about my feelings for you? How are my feelings for you so good? That doesn’t seem right. So annoying! I advise you to speak up quickly. My penguin army is coming! If you don’t talk, prepare to be kidnapped to Antarctica!]
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