Qi Fang’s experience in facing love rivals began at the age of five, accumulating through practical encounters. He had overcome numerous adversaries, from the six-year-old snot-nosed Ah Niu from the neighboring street to the student council president who frequently appeared on the confession wall in university. He remained undefeated, without a single worthy opponent.
To deal with six-year-old Ah Niu, Qi Fang directly used his sturdy physique to overpower him physically. He beat Ah Niu until he ran away with his head covered, face full of snot bubbles, never daring to appear before Shen Yu again.
For the shy girl in middle school who gave Shen Yu small cookies, Qi Fang secretly launched psychological attacks. He subtly informed her that Shen Yu liked neither males nor females, that he was only interested in studying. He warned that if she continued pursuing and disturbing Shen Yu’s studies, she would surely be disliked.
The cookie girl was heartbroken but redirected her energy into studying and solving problems diligently, vowing to make her grades noticed by Shen Yu. She eventually got into the top university in the province.
To counter the pretentious and difficult student council president in university, Qi Fang adopted an all-out attack strategy. He displayed his handsomeness and wealth more ostentatiously and became even more persistent in following Shen Yu to classes, the library, and the lab.
He woke up at five in the morning, hired people to film him running laps on the track, and posted twenty messages on the confession wall. As soon as night fell, he appeared before Shen Yu with carefully prepared three dishes and a soup, casually belittling the takeout food sent by the other person as unhygienic and greasy.
Three months later, the student council president retreated in defeat, even giving Qi Fang a thumbs up and remarking, “You’re still the best.”
In comparison, Zhao Minqing was nothing more than a low-level green tea bitch.
After Shen Yu asked Zhao Minqing to leave the office, Qi Fang’s breathing steadied, and his heart no longer ached. He spun his wheelchair smoothly and said to Shen Yu:
“Oh, Shen Yuyu, after that Zhao whatever left, my heart doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Shen Yu, who was about to call the hospital, lowered his eyelashes upon hearing this. “It doesn’t hurt anymore?”
“Not at all,” Qi Fang said frankly. “Let’s go home.”
Still worried, Shen Yu took a taxi home but stopped midway to buy several bottles of quick-acting heart-saving pills at the pharmacy.
“Your illness came on so suddenly,” Shen Yu said, giving one bottle to Qi Fang and keeping one for himself. “I haven’t had time to read the literature on heart disease treatment.”
Qi Fang felt both touched and amused, comforting him, “It’s okay, I’m in good health. It’s just… occasionally a bit uncomfortable. Don’t worry too much.”
Shen Yu remained silent for a moment, not responding to him, and turned his face to look out the window.
Qi Fang slowly lost his smile. “Hey, I really am fine.”
“Don’t keep such a straight face, Shen Yuyu.” Qi Fang gently hooked Shen Yu’s fingers hanging at his side and said softly, “Talk to me more.”
“When you talk to me, I’m happy. When I’m happy, my mood improves, and then my heart isn’t sick anymore. Don’t you agree?”
Shen Yu allowed Qi Fang to hook his fingers, staying quiet for a few seconds before finally saying, “…Okay.”
*
The next day on the plane, Shen Yu pulled up the sun visor, glanced at the flawlessly blue sky outside, then lowered his head to continue writing an application letter on his laptop.
Qi Fang was half-reclining in the first-class leather seat, looking at company documents on his tablet. Seeing Shen Yu’s concentrated expression, he couldn’t help but lean over and ask, “Still writing your paper?”
Shen Yu shook his head. Initially, he didn’t want to explain much, but after a moment’s hesitation, he said, “It’s an application letter to the institute.”
“Zhao Minqing, as a master’s student, doesn’t fit my style and research direction. I’m sending an email to the institute today to have them assign Zhao Minqing a different advisor.”
Last night, Zhao Minqing had sent Shen Yu many WeChat messages and made several phone calls. At first, Shen Yu replied, but later, finding it annoying, he simply blocked him.
After a night had passed, Qi Fang had almost forgotten about Zhao Minqing. He didn’t expect Shen Yu to still remember and want to get rid of him.
Qi Fang slowly opened the small nuts the flight attendant had brought, placed them in a dish, and pushed it towards Shen Yu. He casually asked, “Why are you so angry? Just because of what happened yesterday?”
“Actually, I don’t mind that much…” Qi Fang’s tone was sour and a bit awkward as he continued, “It’s just that he likes you, right? I’ve dealt with kids like this before… Isn’t his studies more important? Do you really need to kick him out? Won’t it affect his studies?”
Unlike Shen Yu, Qi Fang had inherited old man Qi’s company after completing his undergraduate degree. While working, he had also obtained two part-time master’s degrees, graduating smoothly without incident. He had never experienced being kicked out of a research group by an advisor.
“It’s not just about yesterday,” Shen Yu said.
He finished writing the application letter, clicked send, closed the email page, and said flatly, “Zhao Minqing doesn’t adapt well to my teaching methods. He lacks interest and perseverance in experimental research. He won’t learn much more from me.”
“Besides,” Shen Yu paused before continuing, “he might not even be able to graduate.”
Qi Fang laughed, “Professor Shen, that’s so ruthless. Not even letting him graduate with a master’s degree?”
Shen Yu replied seriously, “That would be his own fault.”
“Also…” Shen Yu ate a few nuts, thought for a moment, and added, “I don’t like his attitude towards you.”
Qi Fang was about to make a witty remark but was taken aback by this. He murmured, “Shen Yu, you’re even saying sweet things now.”
Shen Yu’s expression froze, seemingly not understanding Qi Fang’s words. He turned to look at him, about to speak, when they both heard another familiar voice:
“What sweet things?”
Behind them, a man wearing sunglasses leaned his arm on the back of Qi Fang’s recliner, bending forward. He pushed his sunglasses up and said with a smile, “Let me hear too?”
With the sunglasses pushed up, Qin Xiaosa’s bright fox-like eyes were revealed. He leaned in closer, very interested, “I was sitting behind just now and heard Fang-zi say Professor Shen can even say sweet things?”
Shen Yu: “…”
Qi Fang: “???”
“You heard wrong,” Qi Fang said, shocked as he sat up straight, looking at Qin Xiaosa. “Wait, where did you come from?”
Shen Yu’s gaze moved back and forth between Qi Fang and Qin Xiaosa, his eyes showing both confusion and suspicion.
“Wait–” Qi Fang raised his hand to show his innocence. “Shen Yu, I really didn’t call him here this time. Although this kind of thing has happened many times before, this time it was supposed to be just the two of us. How could I possibly invite a third wheel…”
Qin Xiaosa, holding a cup of coffee, listened to Qi Fang’s explanation with an ambiguous smile. After a while, he drawled, “Alright, I’ll testify that our meeting on the same plane is indeed a coincidence.”
“I’m going to Country N to discuss a procurement project,” Qin Xiaosa said. “I boarded the plane early and slept with an eye mask on. I just woke up and heard something about sweet talk, so I got up to see which couple it was.”
“Didn’t expect it to be old friends.”
Qin Xiaosa was one of Shen Yu and Qi Fang’s childhood friends. Unlike the oblivious Li Congming, Qin Xiaosa had noticed Qi Fang’s feelings for Shen Yu even earlier than Qi Fang himself.
Back then, Qi Fang still thought his feelings for Shen Yu were purely protective, immersing himself daily in the role of a caring neighbor. It wasn’t until Qin Xiaosa, who had been observing for a long time, pointed it out bluntly.
“Do you like Shen Yu?”
The middle school bully Qi Fang was shocked and immediately denied it without thinking, “How is that possible? I see Shen Yu as a brother.”
“Oh,” Qin Xiaosa asked, “Then why do you secretly throw away the love letters for Shen Yu into the trash?”
“Shen Yu needs to focus on his studies without distractions,” Qi Fang stubbornly replied. “Besides, I throw away the ones I receive too, don’t I?”
Qin Xiaosa shrugged, unconvinced. “Then why do you secretly memorize the words from those letters? Don’t you want to write them to Shen Yu yourself?”
“…” The little tyrant Qi Fang stuttered, his face turning red, “I just think the poems in them are particularly artistic and moving. Is it wrong to copy down good phrases? I suddenly want to become an artistic poet when I grow up…”
Qin Xiaosa said, “Sure you do.”
That night, the artistic poet Tyrant Qi reflected behind closed doors, had a great realization, and from then on understood his feelings for Shen Yu.
Qin Xiaosa played a crucial role and, due to his emotional intelligence, was revered by Qi Fang as a strategist. In the past, Qi Fang often dragged Qin Xiaosa along to plan romantic activities.
To the extent that now when Shen Yu saw Qin Xiaosa and Qi Fang appear together, he felt that something troublesome was about to happen.
“What are you two doing in Country N? Sightseeing?” Qin Xiaosa casually asked as he took off his sunglasses. “Isn’t the winter break not here yet? Does Professor Shen have time?”
Shen Yu was quiet for a moment before saying, “Qi Fang doesn’t have much time left.”
Qin Xiaosa: “Hm?”
Three minutes later, after updating his understanding of the situation, Qin Xiaosa’s gaze moved from Qi Fang’s legs to his heart. He remained silent for a while, then spoke:
“Well, I suppose it’s good to travel while the body can still move. That wheelchair beside you…”
“It’s the one you gave,” Shen Yu added. “Thank you, it’s very useful.”
Qin Xiaosa glanced at the wheelchair and couldn’t help but rub his forehead.
After all this time… it actually came in handy.
How absurd.
*
After arriving in Country N, Qin Xiaosa and Shen Yu went their separate ways.
“My procurement negotiations won’t take long,” Qin Xiaosa said, putting his sunglasses back on and waving to Shen Yu and Qi Fang. “I was planning to stay here for a couple of days anyway. It’s perfect, we can keep each other company.”
Qi Fang wanted to refuse. “That’s not convenient, Shen Yuyu and I were planning a romantic getaway…”
Before he could finish, Shen Yu said, “That’s fine.”
Qi Fang: “Eh—”
Shen Yu turned to look at him, slightly pursing his lips, and said softly, “Your health isn’t good. You might have an emergency at any time. It’s better to have one more person around to help.”
“…” Qi Fang was at a loss for words.
Country N was a nation with numerous small islands. Shen Yu had booked a hotel near the beach a day in advance. They arrived just as evening was falling.
When the hotel receptionist saw Shen Yu pushing someone in a wheelchair, he immediately rattled off in the local dialect, then switched to heavily accented English when he realized his mistake.
“Are you two gentlemen staying at our hotel? All our rooms are equipped with disabled-friendly facilities, and we can arrange for special assistance with bathing for an additional fee~” the receptionist said cheerfully as he ran over to push the wheelchair.
Their hotel wasn’t cheap per night, and as a result, they didn’t have many guests. Seeing two distinguished-looking individuals arrive suddenly made him very happy.
Shen Yu said, “We have a reservation.”
The receptionist tapped away at the computer, pulling up the booking record. “Are you Mr. Qi and Mr. Shen from China? Please register your identity information here and confirm your check-in and check-out times.”
“If I may ask, what is your relationship? If you’re colleagues, I recommend our business suite with three beds, a living room, two bathrooms, and two studies. It’s fully equipped with smart home technology to meet all your business needs. If you’re friends, then I recommend…”
Shen Yu thought for a moment, then interrupted him, using a very precise term: “Legal spouses.”
“Oh~” the receptionist had a moment of realization and became even more enthusiastic in his recommendations. “Then you’ll want one room, right? We have Paris Hot Island style, Glacier—”
“Two rooms,” Qi Fang said.
Receptionist: “Huh~”
Shen Yu suddenly spoke up, calmly saying, “One room, thank you.”
Receptionist: “Oh?”
Qi Fang: “?”
Eh?
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