Half a month later, Zhuang Ze and Zhou Yunchen took part in a math competition together.
Zhuang Ze found it absurd—Zhou Yunchen had good grades, so it made sense for him to participate. But what was he doing there?
Oh, ever since he started liking Zhou Yunchen, he had also started to like everything that Zhou Yunchen liked—including the tedium of math.
Math wasn’t like love. If you devoted yourself to it wholeheartedly, it would reward you with beautiful results.
After the competition, the team leader took them out for dinner. For the first time, Zhuang Ze sat next to Zhou Yunchen.
He had learned to control himself by now and could manage not to look at him at all. But being so close, his heart still raced a little. That indescribable happiness made even the food in front of him taste especially delicious.
He couldn’t recall what anyone else at the table said, but he remembered every word Zhou Yunchen spoke.
They discussed the test questions together.
Zhuang Ze was grateful for his memory—he recalled every detail and explained everything clearly. When he saw Zhou Yunchen smile at the corner of his mouth, he felt as if the distance between them had grown smaller. That was wonderful.
Everyone drank. Zhuang Ze could hold his liquor well, and surprisingly, Zhou Yunchen could too.
By the end of the meal, everyone else was drunk—except for the two of them. Or maybe he wasn’t sober either, because he felt as if Zhou Yunchen kept looking at him, as if Zhou Yunchen’s gaze was glued to him, as if Zhou Yunchen wanted to talk to him.
He must be drunk; otherwise, how could he be having such a beautiful dream?
As they left the hotel, a flash of gold in the night stabbed at Zhuang Ze like a thorn.
Luo Huiyan ran over, her cheeks flushed and her eyes brimming with tears. “I don’t love him. I just wanted to make you jealous. Let’s get back together, okay? Please, let’s get back together.”
Zhuang Ze felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Any trace of tipsiness vanished instantly. The dream was over, and the pain of reality left him utterly disheveled.
Zhou Yunchen looked at him and immediately saw his pale face and trembling lips. He saw all the pain and resentment in Zhuang Ze’s eyes.
Zhou Yunchen pressed his lips together tightly, not even noticing as the girl threw herself into his arms.
Luo Huiyan buried her face in his chest, her sweet smile turning into poison that corroded Zhuang Ze’s heart.
Zhuang Ze forced a smile. “I… I’ll take them back.”
Zhou Yunchen said expressionlessly, “Yeah.”
Zhuang Ze turned and walked away, genuinely envious of those who were drunk. It must be nice to be drunk—even if disaster strikes, you wouldn’t be afraid
Chapter 03
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