BAS CH 4
by LinnaceSummary: You Actually Buried Your Face in Fang Ye’s Chest!
Fang Ye ignored Shi Heng’s “advice,” snorted coldly, and turned to walk towards the stadium entrance.
He’d only eaten one European-style bread roll last night. Now, after training, he was so hungry his stomach felt glued to his backbone. He really had no patience to listen to anyone’s nagging.
But Shi Heng didn’t know when to stop. He followed beside Fang Ye, continuing to emphasize the main point: “Fang Ye, you absolutely mustn’t let your guard down. If he latches onto you, it’s over! That guy has a thick skin and big guts. He might just throw himself at you—”
“Like how he twisted your joint?” Fang Ye retorted sarcastically.
Shi Heng: “…”
He hadn’t expected Fang Ye to have seen that video too. Did this fierce, thick-browed, big-eyed robot actually watch such gossipy stuff?
Of course, Fang Ye hadn’t sought it out; Ying Han had shown it to him as a joke while brushing his teeth this morning.
He hadn’t expected Qu Ci, with those slender arms and legs, to have such skills.
But he hadn’t paid it much mind at all.
If Shi Heng’s incessant chattering wasn’t so irritating, he wouldn’t have brought it up.
Seeing the other about to speak again, he added another mocking remark: “An art student can still break your arm? I think you should pack up and quit the team sooner rather than later.” Having said that, he turned and called out not far away, “Ying Han, did your legs break?”
“Coming, coming!” Ying Han jogged over and left side-by-side with Fang Ye.
Shi Heng, having been snubbed, stood there looking somewhat dejected. Just then, two people walked over to him — Yin Xu and Mao Yanming, finished with their stretches.
“Why did you provoke Qu Ci yesterday? Nothing better to do?” Yin Xu had witnessed his absurd behavior and couldn’t understand which part of his brain had malfunctioned. “And today you come spouting nonsense in front of Fang Ye? Got something on your mind?”
“What nonsense? What nonsense did I spout? Qu Ci does wear makeup, he is a cross-dresser! I came with good intentions to warn Fang Ye. If he doesn’t appreciate it, fine. Don’t come crying to me later when some little gay guy starts stalking him!” Shi Heng ran off indignantly.
The cafeteria before 8 AM was very lively, especially Cafeteria #2 near the stadium. It offered various snacks from all over the country, a benefit for early risers and a placebo for the 8 AM class crowd.
Qu Ci had a burst of inspiration last night, revised the effect images overnight, and sent them to the doll owner. Coincidentally, the doll owner was also a night owl and quickly gave him feedback, saying she was very satisfied with this revision and was already looking forward to the finished product.
Only after receiving the reply did he sleep peacefully. Now, just four short hours later, he appeared in Cafeteria #2 with sleepy eyes.
He felt a bit nostalgic for his old dorm; at least if he couldn’t get up, someone would bring him food. Now, he couldn’t count on those three basketball scholarship students. When they got up for morning training, the clattering and banging was already something to be thankful for if it didn’t wake him up.
“Ah, I’m so tired,” Qu Ci covered his mouth and yawned.
The walk from the dorm to here had already made him so sleepy his eyes were teary.
Ruan Lin looked at the coin-operated coffee machine at the cafeteria entrance: “Want me to get you a coffee?”
“No, drinking coffee on an empty stomach raises cortisol. I need to stay calm right now, to beautifully finish this great work in my hands.” No sooner had he finished speaking than Qu Ci yawned again.
Ruan Lin was speechless: “I think your body is awake, but your brain is still asleep. You’re in the cafeteria now, Ci. Just eat something first then drink it, problem solved.”
“Makes sense.” Qu Ci wiped the tears that had welled in the corners of his eyes. “Go on, Lin. What do you want to eat? I’ll go queue up.”
“Don’t bother. I’m dieting. I’ll just grab a corn cob to munch on later.” Ruan Lin turned and ran towards the coffee machine; that thing was in high demand, and a queue would form in no time.
All the tears made his nose run. Qu Ci sniffled, turned, and went to queue at his favorite stall.
He didn’t understand why Ruan Lin, who was already very thin, needed to diet. Do gay guys have such high standards for their appearance? Anyway, he himself wasn’t into that. Youth is when your metabolism is at its best, of course you should eat heartily!
On this slightly cool morning, let’s awaken the sleeping soul with a bowl of warm, spicy Chongqing noodles!
Later, he’d buy a portion of rice noodle rolls to fill the gaps. That way, during the first class, the carbs could perform their rightful duty, ushering in a beautiful dream.
After waking up, the coffee should have kicked in, and then he’d be Energized Little Ci, able to use the remaining time to draft the pattern for the doll clothes!
Simply perfect!
There was a long queue at the noodle stall. Qu Ci stood in the crowd, almost falling asleep, sleepwalking as he followed the line forward. After swiping his card and getting his number tag, he turned to wait nearby.
Since everyone had number tags, those waiting to pick up their food weren’t in a line; they were chaotically crowded together. Dazed, he tried to join the throng, but accidentally stepped on someone’s foot.
“Ah, sorr—”
Before the word “sorry” was fully out, the person whose foot he stepped on promptly pulled their foot back. Qu Ci, not yet stable on his feet, stumbled forward.
Almost everyone in front of him was holding their breakfast. Protective of their food, they all seemed to master the Lightness Water Treading skill, flashing out of his way with lightning speed.
Qu Ci, already so tired his soul felt detached, now stumbled unsteadily, “catapulting” out of the crowd. His head pitched forward and thudded solidly against a firm yet resilient “wall,” the bridge of his nose getting jabbed by something hard and cool.
“Ouch!” he cried out instinctively.
Suddenly, it was quiet around him.
His hands felt the cool material of a tracksuit. Under his palms were raised muscle lines, hard enough for him to get a firm grip and steady himself. Then he slowly looked up, and Fang Ye’s expressionless yet fierce face filled his view.
How to put it? Seeing this face, which Ruan Lin called a “modeled face,” so close up for the first time was indeed a bit shocking.
Handsome, sure, but it felt like he wanted to eat someone.
Then he heard Fang Ye ask coldly, “Steady?”
“Oh, steady.” Qu Ci quickly let go and took a step back. “Sorry.”
From Fang Ye’s perspective, this guy’s nose tip was reddened from being jabbed by the zipper pull on his tracksuit. His upturned face held a blank expression, his eyes were unfocused, dazed. Clearly not intentional, and the apology was decent enough. No need to make a fuss.
So he gave a nod and continued on his way.
Qu Ci stood rooted for two seconds before snapping back to reality. He noticed a circle of people nearby holding their phones pointed at him. When they saw him look, they quickly put them away and left. Then he saw Ruan Lin running towards him, holding a coffee cup, face full of surprise.
“Ci! My Ci! Brother Ci! You’re really something!” Ruan Lin hissed in a low voice. “You actually buried your face in Fang Ye’s chest!”
Buried his face in his chest?!
“What nonsense!” Qu Ci was exasperated. “It was a headbutt, okay!”
Ruan Lin immediately took out his phone, looking down to scroll through group chats: “I didn’t have time to record it just now. Wait till someone posts the video in the group; I’ll save it and show you ASAP! It was burying your face! Otherwise, why is the tip of your nose red?!”
Qu Ci recalled the moment of impact. The tactile sensation on his face had indeed been both hard and springy. If you said it was a pectoral muscle, that could explain it.
But so what?! It was just an ordinary, mundane accident.
“Whatever. I’m starving. I need to get my noodles!” He pushed Ruan Lin aside and lunged for the pick-up window.
Ruan Lin watched his retreating back and sighed melancholically: “Why don’t I get such good fortune? Wasted on a straight guy, what a pity.”
“What’s this guy’s name? Qu Ci, right?” In a corner of the cafeteria, Ying Han said while staring at his phone, a smirk curling his lips. He showed the screen to Fang Ye opposite him. “They’re all saying he buried his face in your chest.”
Fang Ye was rapidly devouring the soup dumplings in front of him, cheeks stuffed full. He just glanced at the phone screen, showed no reaction, and buried his head to take a sip of tofu pudding.
He hadn’t noticed any ‘burying face in chest’ thing. It was just a minor bump, the whole incident lasted maybe three seconds. No idea how it got recorded.
He swallowed the food in his mouth, finally freeing up space to talk: “You’re really bored, aren’t you?”
“Not afraid of getting stalked by a little gay guy?” Ying Han said between large bites of his meat bun, managing to squeeze in the words. “This guy is somewhat famous in our year. The hottest topic is the debate about his sexuality. There’s a vote in some QQ group you’re not in; 90% of people think he’s not straight.”
Fang Ye felt this conversation was somewhat familiar, remembering Shi Heng’s earlier ramblings.
Hearing the annoying guy say it was one thing, but hearing his best friend say it too, coupled with his past unpleasant experience, made him consider it a bit.
After swallowing two more soup dumplings, he spoke: “You think he’s gay?”
“How should I know? But looking at him, I also don’t think he’s straight.” Ying Han said casually. “Good-looking, keeps long hair, looks like a boy metrosexual — and he just threw himself into your arms. Didn’t you feel anything?”
Fang Ye thought back, his mind replaying the pitiful face Qu Ci had when he looked down at him.
He couldn’t tell gay or not from that. But recalling it now, during the moment of impact, he had smelled a very fragrant scent.
It seemed like the smell of shampoo, coming from Qu Ci’s tied-up bun.
Rose scent. What straight guy uses that?
Finishing the tofu pudding, Fang Ye pulled a tissue to wipe his mouth: “What should I have felt? Whether he’s straight or not, I don’t know. But I am straight.”
“Give me a break. You dislike people so much, even if the school beauty pounced herself into your arms, you wouldn’t react. You shouldn’t even be measured by straight or bent.” Ying Han scoffed.
Fang Ye stood up, holding his tray: “Then why ask?”
“Just worried about you, man?” Ying Han also picked up his tray and followed. “Afraid of a repeat of that incident from last semester with that guy. This Qu Ci doesn’t look like an easy person either. What if he’s even harder to deal with than that guy?”
Hard to deal with?
Fang Ye placed his tray at the return area and inadvertently turned his head. He saw Qu Ci, chin propped on one hand, smiling and saying something to the boy in front of him. Then he remembered how Qu Ci had dealt with Shi Heng, and Shi Heng’s assessment of him.
They’d just had a conflict. How much of what Shi Heng said was exaggerated was unknown, but this “Little Pretty,” judging by his methods against Shi Heng, was indeed not a soft pushover.
Being stalked by a gay guy was really annoying. Had to be on guard.
Qu Ci looked up and noticed Fang Ye staring expressionlessly in his direction. Considering he had just bumped into the guy, he politely offered a smile and a slight nod.
Who would have thought the other would turn his head away coldly, without any reaction.
Seriously? Does this count as starting a feud now?
Qu Ci was stunned.
Recalling this person’s “hyper-masculine” performance yesterday, the fierce glare he shot him at the dorm door last night, and the man-eating expression when he looked down at him just now, he felt a bit speechless.
Since you’re not a friendly sort, then I’ll just have to heighten my vigilance too.
On the other side, Fang Ye and Ying Han walked out the main door of Cafeteria #2.
“If he dares to harass me,” Fang Ye said in a cold tone, “I’ll make him end up worse than that last guy.”