Zhuang Ze liked Zhou Yuncheng—he was captivated from the very first meeting.
The science and engineering courses were dull and tedious, but Zhou Yuncheng was the only ray of light in the entire classroom. He shone so brightly that Zhuang Ze forgot about his spring lethargy.
Zhuang Ze secretly watched Zhou Yuncheng: the way his forearm rested on the desk, the way his
fingers twirled his pen, his focused expression. He fantasized that Zhou Yuncheng’s gaze would fall on him.
But it never did.
Zhuang Ze never dared to get close to him, either.
He learned his name, his phone number, his dorm room, his club, and even about his girlfriend.
She was a beautiful girl, like a summer breeze, with golden hair that could easily capture a man’s heart. Zhuang Ze watched quietly, silently, unable to leave but also unable to offer his blessing.
One day, at the vending machine, Zhou Yuncheng stopped Zhuang Ze.
Zhuang Ze was startled. His heart was pounding, but he didn’t even have the courage to look up at him.
Zhou Yuncheng asked, “Do you like Luo Huiyan?” Luo Huiyan? Oh, that was Zhou Yuncheng’s beautiful blonde girlfriend.
Zhuang Ze replied, “Yes.”
Zhou Yuncheng’s voice was cold. “She’s my girlfriend.”
Zhuang Ze lowered his eyes. “I know.”
Zhou Yuncheng moved closer, threatening, “Stay away from her.”
Zhuang Ze hesitated, then mustered up all the courage he had: “I won’t go near her, but I like her.”
On that chilly spring night, when Zhuang Ze looked up, he was like the blazing noon sun—his intense love burning so fiercely it could scorch the heart.
Zhou Yuncheng was infuriated.
Zhuang Ze thought he was about to get punched, but Zhou Yuncheng just leaned in and said in a low voice, “She could never like you.”
Zhuang Ze breathed in his clean scent and smiled. “I know.”
Zhou Yuncheng found him unbearably dazzling. He repeated, “She absolutely won’t like you.”
Zhuang Ze nodded. “That’s okay.”
Zhou Yuncheng punched the vending machine, staring hard at him. “Even if she doesn’t like you, you still like her?”
This time, Zhuang Ze didn’t look at him. He just lowered his head, staring at their shoes almost touching, and said softly, “Liking her is my business. It has nothing to do with anything else.”
“You—” Zhou Yuncheng didn’t end up hitting him. Instead, he vented his frustration by throwing his drink into a distant trash can, just as precise and stylish as when he shot hoops, even if it was full of anger.
Zhuang Ze watched Zhou Yuncheng’s retreating figure and thought, It’s nice to have said everything I wanted to say.
Chapter 01
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