HCILH Ch. 114

Chapter 114: Opening Ceremony

After school started, Sui Houyu and Hou Mo finally felt the consequences of being too high-profile.

However, Ran Shu and Sang Xian faced no such issues.

Following the start of school, Ouyang Ge was busy preparing for the opening ceremony but still made time to check in on Hou Mo and Sui Houyu. 

The two of them were still seated as desk mates. When Ouyang Ge entered the classroom, he stood there with his arms crossed, observing the two for a long time, seemingly questioning reality while watching them.

Putting aside the fact that it was two boys dating, these two had apparently gone from bickering under his watch to being a couple. He still remembered the tense atmosphere when they almost got into a fight during their introductions. And now? They had turned into a loving pair, with him as one of the unwitting witnesses.

Should he intervene? Both of them seemed capable of handling their academics and sports without his involvement, even helping each other out.

But if he didn’t intervene, would that set a bad example?

Ouyang Ge was truly at his wit’s end with these two.

Under Ouyang Ge’s intense gaze, Sui Houyu and Hou Mo could only bury their heads in their books like obedient quails.

Finally, Ouyang Ge said: “Hou Mo, come with me.”

Hou Mo asked a bit nervously: “What’s wrong?”

“Just come!” Ouyang Ge said, leading Hou Mo out of the classroom.

Sui Houyu watched them leave, his heart pounding with anxiety and his eyes glued to the doorway.

Ran Shu, now daring to turn around, asked nervously: “Is Gege going to break them up?”

“Seems like it…” Sui Houyu regretted not blocking Ouyang Ge from his social media feed.

“Do you think Gege will threaten Hou Mo with the scholarship?”

“…” Sui Houyu’s fists clenched instantly.

Worried out of his mind, he planned to follow them. If something serious was happening, they should face it together; it was unfair to single one out.

No matter what happened next, he would never separate from Hou Mo. No outside force could drive them apart.

Just as Sui Houyu steeled himself for whatever confrontation lay ahead, Hou Mo returned.

Hou Mo came back into the classroom holding two boxes of hair dye: “Gege told me I need to dye my hair. I can’t go on stage at the opening ceremony with this hair color.”

Everyone around them let out a collective sigh of relief.

Sui Houyu exhaled deeply, finally easing up.

He reached out for the hair dye and offered: “Want me to do it for you?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust your patience, but… I’m afraid halfway through, you’d lose your temper and smack me. If I go on stage with a handprint on my face that won’t wash off, I’d rather stick with this flaxen hair.”

Ran Shu turned around, laughing: “If it’s my Brother Yu giving a speech, should we straighten his hair too?”

Hou Mo nodded repeatedly: “Exactly. Gege said they’re aware of the hair issue, but explaining it to each student individually isn’t feasible. We need to set a positive example.”

Hou Mo signaled to Deng Yiheng with a nod, and Deng caught on immediately: “Want me to go with you to the staff restroom to dye it?”

“Is the school barbershop still not open?”

“Nope.”

Sui Houyu was surprised: “The school has a barbershop?”

Hou Mo nodded: “Yeah, back when we started military training, they’d round up the boys and give them buzz cuts if their hair was even a bit long. I was buzzed once, and when my hair grew back, it kept this color. Gege didn’t bother me after that. The barber there only knew how to give buzz cuts; no one else wanted to go, so it shut down.”

“What… did you look like with a buzz cut?” Sui Houyu was a bit curious.

Deng Yiheng pulled out his phone and showed a group photo taken after their military training: “Here, this was our group photo after training.”

Sui Houyu took the phone and looked at it. Just one glance made him laugh.

In a group of tanned boys, Hou Mo was the only one who looked pale, as if he hadn’t gone through training at all. But that buzz cut… it actually looked quite cool?

He looked for a bit longer, then quickly hid his smile.

It reminded him of Hou Mo’s father, who had the same haircut back in the day. Seeing Hou Mo like that evoked a familiar sense of nostalgia.

He handed the phone back.

During the self-study period, Hou Mo and Deng Yiheng were given permission to leave and went to the staff restroom to dye his hair.

Ouyang Ge had specifically borrowed a key from another teacher for them.

After two class periods, Deng Yiheng returned, but Hou Mo went to Ouyang Ge’s office, where he was reportedly being coerced into revising his speech draft. Apparently, the initial version was a mess.

Deng Yiheng laughed as he spoke to Sui Houyu: “On the way back, Senior Brother was hissed at by girls from Qingyu. He’s probably traumatized now.”

Sui Houyu felt helpless as well.

Ran Shu joked: “If it’s destiny, there’s no escaping it.”

The opening ceremony took place after the second class in the afternoon. As always, it was up to Class Seventeen of the second year to lead the way, something they were already well-practiced at.

However, Hou Mo was not participating this time; Ouyang Ge was giving him special training. He had even returned to the dorm to change into a formal suit. His black tracksuit was out of the question.

As Sui Houyu arranged the seating chart, he saw Hou Mo walking over with a tie in hand.

His freshly dyed hair was pitch black, like freshly ground ink on a pristine sheet of paper, creating a stark contrast.

With fair skin and jet-black hair, his mixed-race appearance was less prominent, making him look even younger.

The formal suit fit him perfectly, taming his usual rebellious demeanor and enclosing it within the crisp white shirt. Yet, the collar remained open, and the buttons weren’t fully fastened.

There was always a hint of mischief in his smile, something that softened the light of the moon and silenced the noise of crowds.

There he was, the most striking figure in the room.

How to put it…?

Sui Houyu thought the black hair felt out of place and that suits didn’t quite suit Hou Mo, making him look even more like a refined rogue.

But seeing Hou Mo approach, his heart fluttered—it was the unmistakable feeling of attraction.

Hou Mo handed him the tie and said: “I don’t know how to tie this.”

“Come here.” Sui Houyu handed off the seating chart to another student and led Hou Mo to the restroom.

The restroom was empty as people were still taking their seats. Rarely used, it had been cleaned up specifically for the opening ceremony and smelled faintly of incense.

Sui Houyu took the tie, raised Hou Mo’s collar, and draped the tie around his neck, pulling him down by it and lifting his head for a kiss.

Hou Mo didn’t resist; the breath he exhaled carried a hint of a smile.

Sui Houyu tugged the tie to keep him close, kissing him more earnestly.

This strikingly handsome boy was his boyfriend.

He could kiss and touch him freely; they could even sleep side by side.

He was his.

Only his.

When the kiss ended, and Sui Houyu started tying the tie properly, Hou Mo mentioned: “The first-year student representative is our little sister.”

“Xu Youyi?”

“Yeah, she’s pretty impressive.”

“Yeah, aside from being too soft-hearted, she’s got no flaws.”

“It’s fine. She has two brothers to protect her now.”

Sui Houyu helped Hou Mo adjust his tie and straightened the collar of his white shirt, saying: “Thanks, I mean it.”

“We’re all family.” Hou Mo replied with a cheerful smile. “Alright, I’m heading to give my speech now, and you’ll be going up for your scholarship later.”

“Yeah, I know.”

After they parted, Sui Houyu continued leading the group.

As he led, he could still catch snippets of hushed conversations: “He’s with Hou Mo now.”

“Really?”

“They’re both so handsome…”

Sui Houyu pretended not to hear.

Their seats were in the same spot as last time, in the back of the second floor—very secluded.

Despite being in Class Seventeen, four of them had earned scholarships.

Hou Mo received a first-class scholarship, while Sui Houyu and Sang Xian got second-class scholarships, and Sang Xian received bonus points for sports.

Su Anyi received a third-class scholarship.

“Not bad, Little Sang.” Ran Shu teased Sang Xian. “Even though you’re a cold CEO type, you’re still a diligent, top-notch student.”

“I’ll use the scholarship money to buy you snacks.” Sang Xian replied.

Ran Shu raised his eyebrows, pleased: “Keep it up then.”

“Sure.”

Sui Houyu’s gaze remained fixed on the stage, watching as Xu Youyi stepped down and his man stepped up.

With his usual confident strides, it looked like Hou Mo was ready to take on a fight, exuding a powerful presence.

He stepped up to the stage, adjusted the microphone upward by about thirty centimeters, and finally seemed satisfied.

This simple action even drew some cheers.

“Hello, everyone; I’m Hou Mo from Class Seventeen of Year Two and the vice-captain of the tennis team.” Hou Mo began his introduction.

Upon hearing this, the people around Sui Houyu reacted with exclamations of “Wow,” and Deng Yiheng even leaned forward to find Sui Houyu: “Is he showing off your relationship? Is he even human?”

“That’s showing off?” Sui Houyu asked dismissively.

“Who doesn’t know?! Huh? Who doesn’t know?!” Deng Yiheng retorted and then fell silent.

Ran Shu added a few “tsk tsk tsk” sounds.

Sui Houyu sat watching with an uncontrollable smile, observing how Hou Mo delivered his speech smoothly and confidently, without a single pause.

Hearing that familiar voice, now amplified through the speakers, he felt an overwhelming fondness.

Yes, he truly liked this person.

During the award presentation, Sui Houyu and the others took turns going up.

For the second-class scholarship, it was tradition for the first-class recipient to present it, an honor in itself.

The moment Hou Mo handed Sui Houyu the certificate, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Both tried to maintain their composure, but the brief eye contact between them felt electrifying.

Although it was meant to be a group photo for the three second-class recipients, Hou Mo unexpectedly moved closer, sneaking into the shot with a goofy peace sign and a bright smile.

After the photo, they went offstage together. Hou Mo loosened his tie, taking a deep breath as he looked at Sui Houyu: “Were you nervous?”

“Nervous for what?”

“Us being onstage together.”

“Oh, it was fine.”

Just then, someone called out: “Brother!”

Sui Houyu turned to see Xu Youyi and stopped, asking: “Yeah, what’s wrong?”

“Are you… really with him?” Xu Youyi quickly glanced at Hou Mo.

“Yes.” Sui Houyu knew what she meant and confirmed it without hesitation.

“But didn’t you say you weren’t into this?”

“I just like him, that’s all.” His reply was simple and to the point.

“Oh…” Xu Youyi nodded.

Hou Mo was still smiling as he draped an arm around Sui Houyu’s shoulder, leaning down to tell her: “Like I said, you’re my sister too. Call me if you need anything.”

“Ah, okay.” Xu Youyi answered a bit awkwardly.

The two of them didn’t linger and went upstairs together.

She watched their tall figures disappear, feeling an emptiness inside.

*

That night, Sui Houyu and Hou Mo ended up bickering again.

It had started with Hou Mo being playful during their shower. Although nothing serious happened, Sui Houyu was somehow still upset.

Hou Mo had even rinsed his mouth afterward…

Confused, Hou Mo ended up crouching outside the dormitory, drawing circles on the ground with a stick, looking forlorn while waiting for Sui Houyu to soften and call him back up.

Suddenly, someone came to stand beside him. Looking at the unfamiliar pair of shoes, he glanced up to see Xu Youyi holding a bag.

He quickly stood up to greet her: “Sister, you’re here? Looking for Brother Yu?”

He beamed, thinking he finally had a reason to go back up.

“You’re fine too…” Xu Youyi’s voice was so soft that Hou Mo had to lean down to hear her properly.

“Oh, what’s up?”

“These are scarves, one for you and my brother and a small one for his stuffed toy.”

“I almost forgot.” Hou Mo took the bag in both hands and inspected it. “Thanks. I’ll treat you to bubble tea sometime.”

“I don’t drink it.”

“Oh… Then I’ll ask Brother Yu what you like.”

“Can I… talk to you about something?” Xu Youyi asked cautiously.

Hou Mo remained laid-back, smiling as he replied: “Sure! Go ahead.”

“My brother may have a bad temper, but he’s a really good person, so I hope… you’ll be good to him. If…”

Hou Mo nodded quickly, indicating that he was listening.

Xu Youyi spoke haltingly, making Hou Mo impatient from listening.

She raised her head to look at him briefly, then quickly lowered it, even more anxious.

“It’s okay!” Hou Mo reassured her. “Don’t be nervous. From now on, I’m your brother too. Don’t worry, just say it.”

“If you can’t handle his issues, or if you can’t stay together, please don’t hurt him. He’s actually very fragile.”

“Oh, I know about his condition, and I’m mentally prepared. Don’t worry, I’m patient and I won’t break up with him.”

“Okay, that’s good… Take care of each other.” Xu Youyi nodded.

“Alright! Thanks for your blessing.” Hou Mo smiled.

Xu Youyi hurriedly walked away, almost bumping into someone in her haste.

Ran Shu watched her with a tilted head, then glanced at Hou Mo, saying nothing as he led Xu Youyi to a corner.

Sang Xian wanted to follow, but Ran Shu’s warning look made him stop.

Left with no choice, Sang Xian approached Hou Mo: “What was she here for?”

“She brought scarves and gave her blessing to me and Brother Yu.”

“Oh…”

Ran Shu, seeing Xu Youyi about to cry, whispered: “S-Stop liking him. It’s impossible. They’re really close, trust me.”

“Okay!” Xu Youyi nodded, biting her lip as tears streamed down her face.

“I’ll walk you back.”

“No need!”

“Come on, or else people will think I made you cry.”

Ran Shu walked Xu Youyi back to the girls’ dorm. Afterward, as he returned, he saw Sang Xian waiting with a stern expression.

Ran Shu had to explain: “I-It was a sudden situation. She’s Brother Yu’s sister.”

Sang Xian said nothing, just walked alongside him. On the fourth floor, he suddenly dragged Ran Shu into an empty room, locked the door, and pinned him so he couldn’t escape.

“No crying, no leaving.” Sang Xian said in a low voice.

“Honey! Honey! I was wrong…”

*

Hou Mo returned to the dormitory and handed the bag to Sui Houyu.

Sui Houyu glanced at the bag and asked: “What’s this?”

“A scarf from my sister.”

“Oh…”

“Good brother…” Hou Mo sidled up to him and quietly asked, “Why were you mad this time?”

“Not really mad.”

“Then why did you leave in such a rush?”

“That feeling hasn’t passed yet.” Sui Houyu whispered in his ear. “I still get turned on when I see you…”

“Oh.”

Hou Mo sat on the bed, grinning like a fool, then wrapped his arms around Sui Houyu and refused to let go.

Fortunately, Hou Mo held onto Sui Houyu until he fell asleep. By the time Ran Shu, teary-eyed, returned to the dorm, Sui Houyu was already asleep, preventing what could have been a dorm-wide confrontation.