HSS CH36

Chapter 36: Just a Little Cold

The warm breath seemed to turn scorching. They were so close that He Congshan’s heavy breathing filled Yu Jinwan’s ears, tinting the tips of his ears red.

He stood there dazed for a moment, forgetting about the phone in his hand that was still buzzing, with only the pounding heartbeat in his chest echoing loudly.

He Congshan’s gaze was fixed on his face, and he rolled his throat, “Teacher Yu…”

The front door suddenly burst open with a loud bang.

Both of them started and turned their heads toward the entrance.

Outside, a middle-aged man leaning on a cane walked in, followed by several tall and burly men who looked like bodyguards.

His hair was slightly grizzled, and the wrinkles on his forehead were deep. When he looked up, his face was expressionless, yet exuded an air of authority that made one’s heart involuntarily race.

Yu Jinwan’s lips parted slightly as he softly called out, “Dad…”

Yu Maode glanced coldly at their clasped hands.

Yu Jinwan quickly pulled away from He Congshan.

Upon hearing him call “Dad,” He Congshan’s expression changed instantly. He forced a smile and said, “It’s Uncle! Please, have a seat!”

Yu Maode didn’t even look at him. He simply looked at Yu Jinwan and said, “Let’s go.”

Yu Jinwan lowered his head slightly and slowly walked to his side.

He Congshan tried to follow with a smile, “Uncle rarely comes by. I should entertain you properly…”

Suddenly, the bodyguards lunged forward and pinned him down tightly.

He Congshan: “……”

Yu Maode turned around, leaning on his cane, and began walking step by step toward the door.

Yu Jinwan followed behind him and heard He Congshan call out to him, “Yu Jinwan!”

Yu Jinwan turned his head and looked at him, his gaze hesitant. After a moment, he nearly whispered, “Goodbye.”

He Congshan stood there, stunned, watching him disappear through the door as if he had never been there at all.

Huo Yuchuan was surprised to see no signs of a struggle in his house. “Aren’t you the type to fight back?”

He Congshan replied helplessly, “What, should I take down those bodyguards and then beat his dad to the ground?”

Huo Yuchuan: “Sounds like something you’d do.”

“Get lost,” He Congshan said irritably. “You’re just good at making sarcastic remarks. Why don’t you come up with some real advice?”

Huo Yuchuan looked at him, who seemed determined. “Are you really going to pursue him?”

“No choice,” He Congshan said, like a bandit. “So what if it’s the Yu Group? Even if he’s a god reincarnated, he won’t escape me!”

Huo Yuchuan: “……Then you’re really something.”

Lin Miao got off work, took a shower, and climbed into bed, about to call Huo Yuchuan on video. Then he remembered the answer from earlier: “You just think about him, and when you can’t see him, you miss him all the time. When you see him, you feel happy.”

Lin Miao frowned—why was he calling Huo Yuchuan on video? Did he feel a bit happy?

No, no, he shook his head—I don’t miss him at all. Not one bit.

He put down his phone, pretending to forget about it, and began counting sheep to fall asleep.

His roommate Jiang Leming, who was in the next bed, seemed to be playing a game. Seeing that Lin Miao had lain down, he asked, “Lin Miao, are you going to sleep?”

Lin Miao wasn’t really sleepy yet. Thinking he was being invited to play, he quickly sat up and said, “Shall we start?”

“No,” Jiang Leming seemed a bit embarrassed all of a sudden and forced a dry laugh. “I… I haven’t finished my homework yet. I’m going downstairs to do it.”

Then he got out of bed to borrow homework from He Yu.

Why is he acting so strangely? Lin Miao was still puzzled when he heard his phone chime. It was a message from Huo Yuchuan.

“Why didn’t you call me on video?”

Lin Miao felt a pang of guilt and had to say, “My roommates are all asleep. I don’t want to disturb them.”

Huo Yuchuan: “Is that so?”

Lin Miao felt even more guilty. How did Huo Yuchuan seem to know he was lying?

“Yep,” Lin Miao continued, “The lights are off. It’s pitch black. Even if we turned on the video, you wouldn’t be able to see me.”

Huo Yuchuan didn’t seem convinced but said, “Then make it up tomorrow.”

Why did he have to make it up? Lin Miao felt like he owed a debt and was a bit reluctant. “No [shaking head].”

Huo Yuchuan: “Then do it now.”

Lin Miao, like a parrot, repeated, “No [shaking head].”

Fortunately, Huo Yuchuan didn’t insist. “Then say goodnight to me.”

That was easier. Lin Miao obediently replied, “Goodnight.”

Huo Yuchuan also said, “Goodnight.”

Lin Miao stared at those two words, as if he could hear Huo Yuchuan whispering in his ear, his breath warm against his earlobe, sending a tingling sensation through him.

He rubbed his ear tips and grumbled, feeling like he had too much energy, always with a warm face and ears.

But the symptoms were especially noticeable when he saw Huo Yuchuan. When they were close, his entire body felt hot.

It’s all because Huo Yuchuan keeps kissing me! Lin Miao thought seriously. Ever since the last kiss, things have been even more off!

He wanted to calm down, but Huo Yuchuan kept their daily meeting promise. No matter how busy he was, he would come to see him and always knew where to find him.

The library, the study room, the classroom… as soon as he came out, he would see Huo Yuchuan waiting downstairs, wrapped in the cold of the gradually cooling weather.

He suddenly wanted to run over and hug him.

The thought popped into his head, and before he knew it, he had thrown himself into Huo Yuchuan’s arms.

Huo Yuchuan was taken aback for a moment before slowly raising his arms to hold him.

Lin Miao came to his senses and tried to pull away, stammering, “I… I just felt a little cold. Just wanted to warm up.”

“Mm,” Huo Yuchuan tightened his hold and didn’t let go. “Warm up.”

Lin Miao hesitated but didn’t struggle to break free.

It was getting late. After accompanying Lin Miao for dinner, Huo Yuchuan received a call from Little Zheng, saying there was something at the company that needed handling.

Huo Yuchuan had to head back to the company first.

Lin Miao returned to the dormitory, where He Yu and Zhou Zhuo hadn’t come back yet. Only Jiang Leming was there, holding his phone and looking as delighted as if he had found money.

The guys from the next dorm were having a hot pot and came over to invite them to join.

Jiang Leming put down his phone and ran over, saying, “Lin Miao, I’ll get you a few beef balls.”

Lin Miao and Huo Yuchuan had already eaten their fill and didn’t have time to stop him. Then he saw a message suddenly pop up on Jiang Leming’s unlocked phone, which was a red packet sent by Huo Yuchuan.

Lin Miao looked puzzled—why would Huo Yuchuan send a red packet to Jiang Leming?

On the phone screen was the chat history between Jiang Leming and Huo Yuchuan. Lin Miao glanced at it and froze.

Jiang Leming’s messages were all very brief, like reporting someone’s whereabouts.

“He went to the library.”

“He went to the study room.”

“He’s having class on the xx floor…”

“He’s still not asleep…”

“Ah, this beef ball is so big!” When Jiang Leming came back carrying a plastic bowl, he saw Lin Miao staring at his phone, motionless.

He was struck like by lightning.

“Lin Miao,” he tried to explain, “This thing, actually…”

Lin Miao turned his face, emotionless, and looked at Jiang Leming. “Why did you tell Huo Yuchuan about me?”

Jiang Leming scratched his head. “He said he was worried you might get bullied at school and wanted to know how you were doing. I thought he was just concerned about you…”

Lin Miao: “So you took Huo Yuchuan’s money and spied on me for him?”

“It’s not spying,” Jiang Leming quickly said. “Just keeping an eye on what you usually do at school…”

“Why does he need to know everything about me?” Lin Miao suddenly raised his voice. “Does he tell me everything about him?!”

Jiang Leming was at a loss. “I…”

Lin Miao clenched his fists. “So I’m just something to be traded, right?”

“No!” Jiang Leming was so anxious that he started sweating. “I’m sorry, I…”

Lin Miao lowered his eyes, silently bumped past him, and quickly walked out of the dormitory.

“Lin Miao!”

Lin Miao walked faster and faster until he started running.

Suddenly, his nose felt sour, and his chest felt tight and bitter.

No wonder Huo Yuchuan always knew where he was and lied to him, saying he just guessed.

He was so stupid and naive, believing everything he was told.

How many more things was Huo Yuchuan hiding from him? Why did even his good friend, his good brother, have to join Huo Yuchuan in deceiving him?

Lin Miao stood on the playground, tilted his face upward, and tried to keep his eyes wide open despite the soreness.

He took out his phone and dialed Huo Yuchuan’s number.

In a short while, Huo Yuchuan answered.

“Huo Yuchuan,” Lin Miao’s eyes were red with tears, his voice filled with grievance and anger. “Does a liar always keep lying?!”