AS CH 14

Chapter 14

No? No?

Why couldn’t he find it? Where could it be?

No matter how much Lü Chenyue searched, he just couldn’t find his math homework for today. He had checked his drawer and his backpack several times already, but the homework he had definitely completed was nowhere to be found. He clearly remembered putting everything he needed for the day into his bag last night—so how could it just vanish?

Could it be that he accidentally packed the wrong assignment yesterday and forgot to bring the math one to school?

The homework was due today. How was he supposed to explain that it was done, but he just forgot to bring it? Would anyone even believe him?

Sure enough, after math class ended, Lü Chenyue watched the rest of the class walk up one by one to hand in their homework on Xu Wenhao’s desk. He bit his lower lip, unsure what to do.

Xu Wenhao was counting the assignments. At the end of the pile, noticing one missing, he stood up and walked over to Lü Chenyue.

“Lü Chenyue, where’s your math homework?”

“I forgot to bring it…” Lü Chenyue said anxiously. “I really finished it, I’m not lying… please believe me…” Would Xu Wenhao believe him?

Xu Wenhao assumed Lü Chenyue was just making an excuse, fabricating a lie to cover up for not doing it. With his lazy gaze and the authority of a “class monitor,” he finally had a justifiable reason to keep Lü Chenyue after class.

“Stay after school. You’re not going home until you finish it,” Xu Wenhao said with a wicked grin, then walked back to his seat.

Watching Xu Wenhao’s back as he walked away, Lü Chenyue lowered his eyes in silence. A feeling of hurt welled up inside him. Why didn’t he believe him?

He thought Xu Wenhao might trust what he said. Turns out, he was just being naïve.

But why should Xu Wenhao believe him anyway?

A mistake was a mistake. What was there to explain? What right did he even have to explain?

He had always been the one who didn’t fit in—it was no wonder Xu Wenhao wouldn’t believe him.

Besides, hadn’t he already sworn he didn’t want to have anything more to do with Xu Wenhao? Yet here he was, harboring this faint sense of hope… Thinking about it, he felt utterly ridiculous.

***

After school, he watched as his classmates packed up and left the room one after another. Xiao Yuqi glanced at Lü Chenyue with sympathetic eyes, said goodbye, and left the classroom as well.

Now, the only two people left in the room were Lü Chenyue and Xu Wenhao.

As Xu Wenhao approached him, the air in the room felt strangely oppressive, making it hard for Lü Chenyue to breathe. He began to breathe carefully, shoulders slightly tensing—subtle movements that didn’t escape Xu Wenhao’s eyes.

Lü Chenyue stood up, head lowered, trying to slip out of the classroom.

Xu Wenhao: “Where do you think you’re going?”

Lü Chenyue stammered, “I… I can go home now and bring the homework back. I really just forgot to bring it…”

Xu Wenhao stepped forward. “Are you that afraid to be alone with me?”

Lü Chenyue took a step back. “I-I’m not afraid…” he bit his lower lip, telling himself not to be affected by Xu Wenhao’s overbearing presence.

Xu Wenhao let out a soft chuckle, pulled out a blank notebook, and dropped it on Lü Chenyue’s desk. Then he pulled out a chair and sat down next to him. “Hurry up and write. Once you’re done, you can go home.”

Feeling completely cornered, Lü Chenyue had no choice but to sit back down. His hand gripped the pen so tightly his knuckles turned white. He felt both angry and frustrated—especially with those eyes that never stopped watching him, making him feel entirely out of place.

“You’re really nervous, huh?” Xu Wenhao teased.

“I-I’m not nervous…” Lü Chenyue insisted, trying to be tough.

But he was starting to feel less and less like himself.

Ever since he’d really started getting to know Xu Wenhao, any moment spent with him made him inexplicably tense. It was Xu Wenhao’s presence—throwing him completely off balance and scrambling his thoughts.

He should’ve been able to avoid Xu Wenhao altogether, yet every time they crossed paths, he found himself at a loss.

“I believe you did the homework,” Xu Wenhao suddenly said.

Lü Chenyue froze mid-sentence, staring in surprise at Xu Wenhao beside him. “Really? You… you really believe me?”

“Yes. I believe you,” Xu Wenhao nodded. “I already told the teacher and got permission for you to hand it in tomorrow.”

“Thank you…” Lü Chenyue felt genuinely happy that someone actually believed in him.

“You’re always afraid that if the classmates see me getting close to you, it’ll cause unnecessary gossip and judgment. But there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while now. I just haven’t had the chance… and you keep avoiding me. So today, since you ‘forgot’ your homework, I used the excuse to keep you after class—this way, no one else would see.”

He remembered the sad look he’d accidentally caught in Lü Chenyue’s eyes that morning. It made his chest tighten strangely. He hadn’t been able to think of a reason to keep Lü Chenyue behind, so this homework excuse was all he had.

Lü Chenyue didn’t say anything. He just listened quietly.

“I want to show you something,” Xu Wenhao said, grabbing Lü Chenyue’s hand and pulling him out of the classroom.

“Wait, where are you taking me?” Lü Chenyue asked, confused by Xu Wenhao’s sudden mysterious behavior.

They ended up at the back of the school. Xu Wenhao walked a few steps ahead, then bent down to lift a container off the ground and returned to Lü Chenyue with it.

From inside the container came soft mewling noises the moment it sensed people approaching.

“Guess what this is?” Xu Wenhao smiled.

Lü Chenyue looked at the pet carrier in Xu Wenhao’s hands—inside was the same abandoned kitten from a few days ago.

“So you were the one who took it in?” For some reason, Lü Chenyue felt relieved. He was really glad it had been Xu Wenhao and not someone else who’d taken the kitten.

“I picked it up, yeah,” Xu Wenhao nodded. “But I haven’t been able to find anyone suitable to adopt it yet. What do you think I should do?” he asked while casually stepping to the side.

Lü Chenyue instinctively followed, eyes fixed on the pet carrier.

“My parents don’t allow pets at home, so I’ve been secretly keeping it behind the school and feeding it at scheduled times.” Actually, Xu Wenhao had brought the kitten home that first day and took care of it with his sister. He’d been planning to surprise Lü Chenyue later. “But this can’t go on forever…” he mumbled.

Xu Wenhao sneaked a glance at Lü Chenyue—only to find that he wasn’t even listening. So he shut his mouth in disappointment.

The quiet evening breeze drifted by. Their shadows stretched out across the pavement.
Neither of them spoke. But Xu Wenhao found himself thoroughly enjoying this short, peaceful moment.

He thought: Let’s just stay like this a little longer.

Unknowingly, the two of them had walked all the way to Lü Chenyue’s place. Once they entered, Xu Wenhao set the pet carrier down on a low table nearby. Lü Chenyue, heart fluttering with excitement, reached out to open the carrier door—only to realize someone else was still there. His hand paused midair—Xu Wenhao let out a small laugh and shook his head.

“I think, until we find a new owner, it’s best to leave him with you for now. I’ll come by every day to check on him.”

“Really? That’s okay? Has he eaten yet?” Lü Chenyue’s eyes lit up with joy as he stared into the carrier at the little kitten. But as he turned to ask Xu Wenhao, he completely forgot what he was about to say.

Lü Chenyue realized… this was the first time he’d looked at Xu Wenhao from such a close distance.

Xu Wenhao really was very good-looking—especially when he smiled. There was a charm and elegance to it that was hard to ignore. Add that to his academic excellence and top athletic performance… it was no wonder so many girls liked him.

And then—while Lü Chenyue was still distracted—Xu Wenhao suddenly leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips.

Startled, Lü Chenyue quickly pulled away, cheeks burning red. The living room fell into a brief silence, filled instead with an ambiguous tension.

Why did he kiss him again?

This couldn’t keep happening. Xu Wenhao seemed just as shocked by his own impulsiveness. He turned away awkwardly, scratching his head.

“He hasn’t eaten yet…”

Then, in the next breath, he gave Lü Chenyue a pitiful look.

“I haven’t eaten either. Why don’t you care about me, huh?” His tone was almost childishly whiny.

Seeing Xu Wenhao complain like a kid left Lü Chenyue completely speechless. Then he suddenly remembered—he still owed Xu Wenhao two favors.

So he hesitantly said, “Let’s go eat… okay? I did say I’d repay those favors I owe you.”

Xu Wenhao smiled, got up, and pulled Lü Chenyue to his feet. The two of them walked out together.

(To be continued…)