UI Chapter 55

“You’ve been stepping out for a smoke all night. Something on your mind?”

Huang Qianxu walked over to Zhao Jiyu and pulled out a cigarette pack from his pocket as well.

Staring at the brightly lit Twin Towers in the distance, Zhao Jiyu took a couple of drags before responding,
“It’s nothing.”

He had been absent-minded the whole night. Even when chatting with Qiao Xu, he seemed perfunctory. Luckily, Qiao Xu was too focused on his drinking contest with Wei Qi to notice. The two childish men were having a great time competing, while Wen Lin and Tang Jiayi’s girlfriend were huddled together, chatting about Bulgari’s latest handbag collection.

Thinking of the warm and lively atmosphere at the table, Huang Qianxu commented,
“You and Xuetong are really good at keeping things separate. You avoid getting involved in these personal gatherings whenever possible.”

Flicking the ash off his cigarette, Zhao Jiyu replied, “There’s nothing worth getting involved in.”

“Fair enough.” Huang Qianxu responded dryly. From the way Zhao Jiyu was acting tonight, it was obvious he had someone else on his mind.

“You still haven’t been able to reach Shen Ran?” Huang Qianxu asked.

Zhao Jiyu took another deep drag, exhaling smoke before shaking his head. It was rare for him to display his emotions so openly. Seeing this, Huang Qianxu couldn’t help but warn him,
“Tone it down. If you keep acting like this, your grandfather will find out sooner or later.”

Zhao Jiyu said nothing.

Huang Qianxu then asked, “Did he agree to be with you?”

“If you ask me, you should reconsider.”
Looking around to make sure no one was around, Huang Qianxu lowered his voice,
“The gap between you two is too big. With his family situation, even if you can negotiate something with your grandfather, there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to adjust.”

The conversation seemed to wear Zhao Jiyu out. He finished his cigarette, not wanting to discuss it further. Stuffing the half-empty pack back into his pocket, he said,
“He’s not that fragile.”

Leaving those words behind, Zhao Jiyu turned and walked away. As he passed by the private dining room without entering, Huang Qianxu called after him,
“Where are you going?”

There was no response. Instead of heading downstairs, Zhao Jiyu entered the restroom on the other side.

The private room had its own restroom, yet he deliberately went out of his way. Huang Qianxu didn’t even need to think—he knew Zhao Jiyu was probably going to make another phone call.

Indeed, Zhao Jiyu had gone to the restroom to make a call. He couldn’t remember how many times he had tried that night, but Shen Ran’s number was still unreachable.

When he returned to the private room and sat down, Wei Qi noticed his gloomy expression. Holding his glass, he came over to chat for a bit. Seeing that Zhao Jiyu didn’t seem angry, Wei Qi clinked glasses with him, and they both downed their drinks in one go.

Everyone was in high spirits that night—except for Zhao Jiyu, who had something weighing on his mind. Eventually, even Qiao Xu noticed and came over to ask what was going on.

Since his relationship with Shen Ran wasn’t public, Qiao Xu had no idea what was going on. Feeling frustrated, Zhao Jiyu simply drank to drown his troubles. Qiao Xu had already had a lot to drink. After losing to Wei Qi earlier, he had shifted his drinking competition to Zhao Jiyu, but no matter how much he drank, Zhao Jiyu remained composed.

When it was time to leave, Huang Qianxu approached him and noticed that although his gait was steady, his eyes were unfocused, and his gaze wandered aimlessly. Worried, Huang Qianxu wanted to send him home, but Zhao Jiyu got into a taxi by himself and told the driver to head to Xiamen University.

Concerned that he might cause trouble looking for Shen Ran in this state, Huang Qianxu insisted on going with him. Along the way, he tried twice to convince Zhao Jiyu to go home and rest first, but he refused both times.

When they arrived at the university, Zhao Jiyu pulled out his phone again to call Shen Ran. This time, instead of the cold “phone is turned off” message, Shen Ran actually picked up. Hearing the slight intoxication in Zhao Jiyu’s voice, he asked, “Where are you?”

“I’m coming to your dorm to find you.”

Zhao Jiyu’s mood shifted instantly, his voice even carrying a hint of excitement. Huang Qianxu, walking beside him and watching him closely, noticed the change immediately and frowned.

It was already late, and the dormitory was about to turn off the lights. Shen Ran suggested they meet at Shangxian Plaza instead.

That was still quite a walk from here. Frustrated, Huang Qianxu complained,
“Couldn’t he have picked somewhere closer?”

Zhao Jiyu pulled his arm away. “You don’t understand. He likes being there.”

His words were clear, but his expression made it obvious he was drunk. Holding onto his phone, he even poked Huang Qianxu’s shoulder twice. Seeing how ridiculously smitten he was with Shen Ran, Huang Qianxu was speechless.

He asked sarcastically,
“How do you even know he likes it? Did he tell you?”

“He never said it,”
Zhao Jiyu replied while walking, shaking his head.
“I just saw it. More than once.”

Outside the vast lawn of Shangxian Plaza, a red circular running track encircled the area. Behind the stands stood the solemn and majestic Jianan Auditorium, with its white walls and red roof. Whether bathed in the morning sun or immersed in the evening glow, the place always carried a sense of time slowly passing.

The stands here were also a great spot to watch the sun set and the moon rise.

Zhao Jiyu had seen Shen Ran sitting in the stands more than once—sometimes wearing headphones, listening to music, sometimes hunched over a laptop rushing to finish assignments. At times, he sat side by side with Zheng Mingjin, chatting and laughing, and other times, he jogged around the track in his sneakers.

That figure, moving against the sunlight, had walked through clear skies and snowy days, from winter to summer. Whether bundled up in a thick coat or dressed in a breezy T-shirt, nothing could hide the vibrant, youthful smile on his face.

In truth, compared to Shangxian Plaza, the History Department’s teaching building was a much easier place to run into Shen Ran. But every time they crossed paths there, Shen Ran never seemed to notice him.

Although he had such an advantage in appearance, he was always overshadowed by the crowd. Shen Ran had noticed Li Ting and chased after him, but only because of Li Ting’s gender.

In the end, it turned out that not only was Li Ting’s sexual orientation incompatible with Shen Ran, but even his gender was wrong for him.

“I didn’t know you were such a creep that you even had stalking skills?”

Huang Qianxu had supported his friend for quite a long stretch of the walk. The alcohol had fully hit Zhao Jiyu by now, making his steps wobbly and causing most of his weight to lean on Huang Qianxu. He couldn’t just let go and leave him, so he grumbled impatiently.

They walked under a row of flamboyant trees, with bright red flowers scattered all over the ground. Zhao Jiyu kicked a few petals as he walked, then suddenly stopped and stared up at the canopy above.

“What now?” Huang Qianxu asked, still sounding annoyed.

Zhao Jiyu pointed upward.
“Get me a flower.”

Huang Qianxu gave him a look that screamed Are you messing with me? But when Zhao Jiyu couldn’t get him to comply and instead reached up himself, he failed twice and even bumped into the tree trunk. Worried that he’d fall, Huang Qianxu finally gave in and steadied him before reaching up to pluck a flower from the lowest branch.

Zhao Jiyu took it, grinned like a fool, and continued walking.

Huang Qianxu rolled his eyes so hard they nearly reached the back of his head, but after sweating through the journey, he finally got Zhao Jiyu to Shangxian Plaza.

By now, the dorm lights had gone out, and the field was dimly lit. Aside from the occasional couple sneaking around in the corners for some romance, the place was nearly deserted.

Shen Ran was sitting in a corner of the west-side stands, his figure half-hidden by tree shadows. When Zhao Jiyu approached, Shen Ran had his headphones in, lost in music, and didn’t notice anyone coming—until he felt a kiss on the back of his neck.

Startled, he turned sharply, only to find a face right up close.

Zhao Jiyu’s chin was resting on his forehead. He kissed Shen Ran’s cheek before finally lifting his left hand and offering him a fiery red flower from his palm.

Huang Qianxu was standing nearby and naturally didn’t miss this whole interaction.

Although it wasn’t his first time seeing them get affectionate, he still found it hard to watch. He turned away on his own, facing the other direction.

“For you.” Zhao Jiyu’s smile was as bright and vivid as the flamboyant flower in his hand. He hooked an arm around Shen Ran’s waist.
“Picked it on the way here. Do you like it?”

Shen Ran’s expression was complicated. He stared at the flower for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the person standing beside Zhao Jiyu.

Noticing the look, Zhao Jiyu turned his head too and nudged Huang Qianxu.
“Why are you still standing there? Leave already.”

Huang Qianxu was speechless—he really wanted to punch Zhao Jiyu for using him and tossing him aside like this. But considering how drunk the guy was, he simply sighed and gave Shen Ran a warning.

“This guy drank a lot. Watch what you say—don’t bring up anything that’ll upset him.”

The message was clear. Shen Ran’s expression remained cold as he silently withdrew his gaze.

Once Huang Qianxu left, Zhao Jiyu pulled out one of Shen Ran’s earbuds and put it into his own ear. A smile spread across his face again as he leaned in.

“You really love this song, huh?”

Shen Ran was listening to Mermaid by Jay Chou. Zhao Jiyu had no idea why he liked it so much, but for the past two days, it had been playing on repeat in his music app.

One particular lyric stood out to him. As he sat in the vast, empty field under the hazy moonlight, he quietly sang along with Jay Chou’s voice in his earphones:

“The coastline begins to show, it seems like the perfect season for parting. As the mist fades, I see only your long hair appearing at the shore.”

Zhao Jiyu rested his head on Shen Ran’s shoulder, listened for a few lines, and then joined in:

“A mermaid’s tears belong to a world where even sorrow is transparent. At the far end of the horizon, a full moon rises. Like a fairy tale, it makes me fall in love with the night that has you in it.”

Under the influence of alcohol, Zhao Jiyu’s singing was slightly off-key, but his deep, rich voice was pleasant to the ear, each note brushing against Shen Ran’s eardrums like a firm yet gentle caress.

By the time the song ended, Shen Ran suddenly realized that at some point, their hands had intertwined—ten fingers laced together. Strangely, it didn’t feel the least bit out of place.

He couldn’t recall exactly when it started. They hadn’t known each other for long, yet he had already grown used to the physical contact between them. Just like how Zhao Jiyu was now resting his head on his shoulder—when Li Ting had done the same in the past, he had felt tense and uneasy. But with Zhao Jiyu, it was effortless, natural.

Unaware of his inner turmoil, Zhao Jiyu lifted his head after the song ended and looked at him.
“Why was your phone off all day? I’ve been looking for you for so long.”

Shen Ran lowered his gaze. “Battery died. I didn’t bring a power bank.”

“Aren’t there rental stations everywhere?”
Zhao Jiyu countered.
“Don’t do that again. If I can’t find you, I’ll worry a lot.”

“Again?” Shen Ran repeated the word.

Zhao Jiyu turned his face toward him, his palm gently stroking his cheek.
“Mhm. If you don’t want me running around campus searching for you, then move back home.”

The way Zhao Jiyu phrased it—move back home—made Shen Ran freeze for a moment. He realized, somewhat dazedly, that he had developed a habit of picking apart Zhao Jiyu’s words, extracting the meaning he wanted to hear.

Zhao Jiyu wanted him to move back in.

Yet, Shen Ran’s mind was occupied with something completely different.

His gaze lingered on Zhao Jiyu’s sharp brows and deep eyes, eventually falling to his lips.

His lips looked dry—probably from the alcohol. Shen Ran suddenly realized that he himself hadn’t had any water since dinner either, and he subconsciously swallowed. But just as he turned his head away, a hand caught his chin and guided him back.

A kiss landed on his lips.

Zhao Jiyu’s tongue invaded without hesitation, prying his teeth apart and pulling him into a deep entanglement.

The thought of resistance surfaced briefly—just a ripple on the water’s surface—before vanishing entirely.

Above them, tree shadows swayed gently, and the dimly lit surroundings wrapped them in a secluded, undisturbed world.

As the kiss deepened, Shen Ran’s breathing grew heavier. Zhao Jiyu held him tightly, the heat and intensity between them pushing the little air left in their lungs further away. His right hand caressed the back of Shen Ran’s neck, his lips parting slightly before capturing him once again.

The heat of rising hormones surged along with their body temperatures, releasing rapidly. Shen Ran felt a tingling sensation run down his spine as Zhao Jiyu’s hand somehow found its way to his lower back. The weight pressing against him made it difficult to sit steadily. His hand, which had been resting on Zhao Jiyu’s head, slowly reached back, instinctively wanting to wrap around his neck.

Just then, a sudden cat’s meow pierced the quiet atmosphere, startling Shen Ran into opening his eyes. His hand, which had just touched Zhao Jiyu’s back, quickly withdrew, and he pushed him away forcefully.

Zhao Jiyu didn’t insist on pressing forward. Instead, he grasped Shen Ran’s wrist, breathing heavily as he said, “Don’t stay at the dorm tonight. Come back with me.”

With the proximity and temptation suddenly gone, Shen Ran’s mind cleared up fast.

He felt ashamed of his own reaction just moments ago. He had come out tonight intending to talk things through with Zhao Jiyu, yet with just one kiss, he had nearly lost himself again.

The white cat that had meowed walked past the lower steps, its deep blue eyes glowing faintly in the night. Being watched by those piercing eyes made Shen Ran even more sober. He pulled his hand away and said in a low voice,
“I won’t be staying at your place anymore.”

Zhao Jiyu was still waiting for his answer and asked, “Why?”

“No reason.” Shen Ran took a step back, then pushed against Zhao Jiyu’s chest as he pressed forward again.
“And I could never be with you.”