YMW CH 50

Baby

Xie Guilan didn’t lean on Cen Wu’s shoulder for long before sitting up again, worried he might get tired. But instead, Cen Wu started to feel sleepy. He had his school jacket draped over him and couldn’t fight off the drowsiness—he ended up falling asleep next to Xie Guilan.

He’d been working on a script lately, staying up late every night. It would probably take him another month to finish it.

After leaving the Cen family, he could no longer be a director—but he could still write. Screenwriting was purely behind-the-scenes work, making it easier to keep a low profile… unless Xie Guilan was dead set on exposing him.

The bus filled with noisy chatter and laughter, but Cen Wu slept soundly through it all. His long, curled lashes fluttered slightly as he slept. Even when Xie Guilan gently pinched his cheek a few times, he didn’t stir.

Cen Wu had very fair skin. Half his face tucked under his jacket, leaving only the tip of his nose exposed.

He always slept with his face covered, like even in his dreams he was still battling social anxiety. Xie Guilan tugged the jacket down a little and saw that his cheeks and ears had gone a bit red from the stuffiness.

Lowering his gaze, Xie Guilan lightly shook the soft flesh of Cen Wu’s cheeks. Still no reaction.

From behind, He Yao watched the whole thing with clenched teeth, so irritated he couldn’t even focus on his game. He had never seen anyone as shameless as Xie Guilan. That’s not even your boyfriend—what are you pinching him for?

And if we’re being real, doesn’t that mean he should be allowed to pinch him too?

But judging by Xie Guilan’s possessiveness, if he so much as tried, Xie Guilan would probably snap his wrist in two.

“Classmate He,” Xie Guilan still had his pale fingers on Cen Wu’s cheeks when he lifted his head. His eyes were dark and unreadable as he looked straight at He Yao. “Something wrong?”

He Yao: “…”

What could be wrong.

Just pissed off from watching this whole scene, that’s all.

And the worst part? He couldn’t even go tattling to Cen Wu. With the way Cen Wu doted on Xie Guilan, it wasn’t just about getting his face pinched. Even if Xie Guilan stole a kiss, Cen Wu probably wouldn’t have the heart to scold him.

After two and a half hours on the road, the bus finally stopped at the foot of a mountain near a resort. When Xie Guilan woke Cen Wu, the guy was still half-asleep, eyes hazy. But once Xie Guilan took his hand, he rubbed his eyes and obediently followed him off the bus.

“Is everyone off?” Meng Liangping turned his head to check.

Lu Wang also glanced back—and the moment he saw Xie Guilan and Cen Wu holding hands, he instinctively tensed up and stepped sideways, subtly blocking Meng Liangping’s line of sight.

Meng Liangping: “…”

Why did it feel like everyone in this class was kind of nuts?

Still, he was glad Xie Guilan had joined the field trip. Even if the kid called him an old geezer, he was one of the more “normal” ones in this chaotic class.

The resort was famous for its hot springs—and Lu Wang’s family owned it. They would stay in the attached hotel for the next few days, and Meng Liangping let the students pick their own roommates.

As the eldest young master of the Lu family, Lu Wang had a private suite on the top floor, and he even invited Meng Liangping to stay with him.

“Will the young master allow me to stay with him?” Xie Guilan asked softly while carrying Cen Wu’s bag.

Cen Wu: “…”

Seriously? After all the times they’ve slept together, he still had to ask? If he wasn’t staying with Xie Guilan, then who?

He Yao followed behind them, stone-faced. He’d never met a rival this tough before. From the moment they got off the bus, he hadn’t even gotten close enough to speak to Cen Wu.

Xie Guilan always managed to block him effortlessly—without even making it look intentional.

Even if Cen Wu did catch on, Xie Guilan clearly didn’t care.

His deep black eyes lowered slightly as he stepped forward, pretending to make room for He Yao. The group was walking in a loose crowd, but somehow Xie Guilan always ended up ahead—alone.

And even when Cen Wu was standing right there, if Xie Guilan walked off, Cen Wu would immediately follow. It was like Xie Guilan was the center of his universe, and no matter how turbulent things got, Cen Wu would always, without hesitation, go after him.

At this point, He Yao was starting to feel like giving up. But he wasn’t ready to let go—not when those eyes, filled with something deeper than love, had never once looked at him.

It was maddening.

The school had scheduled the whole trip. On the first day, they’d be hiking up the mountain. There was a self-service barbecue spot at the top, and after eating, they’d head back down. If they timed it right, they’d catch the sunset on the way.

Cen Wu had originally planned to hole up in the hotel, but since Xie Guilan was going, he followed along too.

Climbing to the summit took about an hour, but scenic spots along the way stretched it out to three. They had walked for half an hour when they reached one and were allowed to split up and explore.

Lu Wang and the others went to check out the temple. Xie Guilan wasn’t interested—he had no gods to worship and nothing to ask of them.

The temple was crowded, making Cen Wu anxious. So, Xie Guilan took him to get some takoyaki instead.

Cen Wu ate five and started to feel full. He picked up the last one with a skewer, hesitating—he couldn’t finish it, but it felt wasteful to toss. Then Xie Guilan leaned down, wrapped his hand around Cen Wu’s wrist, and ate it straight off the stick.

Cen Wu: “…”

Xie Guilan was ridiculously picky. Even living in a slum, he carried himself like a spoiled rich kid. Years of being trampled on had given him a serious cleanliness obsession. The last time they went out for hotpot with the class, Xie Guilan barely touched his food because he couldn’t stand the people sitting nearby.

And yet now, he was eating off Cen Wu’s hand.

Cen Wu tried to rationalize it—maybe Xie Guilan just didn’t want to waste food. After all, if Guan Yu left something behind, Zhang Fei might not mind eating it. It only meant Xie Guilan was really starting to see him as a brother.

Yeah. That had to be it.

Lu Wang and the rest spent ages in the temple and came out with little shovels. Cen Wu was totally confused—until he saw them squatting under trees, digging up wild herbs.

He Yao explained, “The monk just now said the wild veggies around here are really good. We can pick some for hotpot tonight.”

After he said that, he even blocked Cen Wu with an arm. “You don’t need to dig, I’ll do it.”

Cen Wu: “…”

He actually meant it. He was really digging for veggies.

Since they’d be eating together that night, Cen Wu didn’t want to just sit around. He squatted down and started helping—but had only dug up one tiny plant when he suddenly got a message from Cen Xiao.

He probably figured Cen Wu had already arrived and wanted to check in.

The Cen family had spoiled the original host to an outrageous degree. No matter how late it was or where he was, if he ever called home, Father Cen or Mother Cen would drop everything and drive over to pick him up.

Even now, with them gone, Cen Xiao would still do the same.

Cen Junshan and Guan Xingxue had both messaged him earlier too, but Cen Xiao still didn’t feel reassured. He sent another message just to confirm Cen Wu was safe.

Cen Wu didn’t know if the original host of this body ever felt guilty—but after staying with the Cen family for a while, he felt like a thief. He’d stolen Xie Guilan’s life… and also stolen the love of someone else’s parents.

He looked down and replied to Cen Xiao’s message.

【Cen Xiao: Have you arrived? What are you doing?】
【Cen Wu: Yeah, I’m here, bro. Digging for wild veggies.】

Cen Xiao: ???

After digging for a while, they grabbed the wild vegetables and went to meet up with the rest of the class to continue hiking up the mountain.

They reached the summit around 2 p.m., took a short break, and then started heading back down to eat at a self-service barbecue spot they passed on the way up.

It was also He Yao’s first time foraging for wild veggies, and he eagerly grilled a few. Paired with marinated meat, it surprisingly tasted pretty good.

Given the limited setup, Cen Wu was concerned about Xie Guilan’s picky palate—after all, the guy had the tastes of a spoiled rich kid. So he washed the wild veggies several times, let them soak to remove the earthy bitterness, and only then grilled them for him.

Most of the second-year classes were out on fall trips too. The students from Xie Shangjing’s class were also eating at this barbecue place. Cen Wu glanced over and noticed that Xie Shangjing kept frowning and subtly dodging when people brushed past his back or shoulders.

Looks like he really did get whipped after that night at the school celebration. Even so, he didn’t want anyone to see him in a sorry state. He’d rather tough it out and show up for the outing like nothing happened.

Xie Shangjing was prideful—very much like Xie Mingcheng in that way. Cen Wu knew that he would still secretly study late at night.

At school, Xie Shangjing always kept up this effortless façade. Despite being the student council president, he was often caught flirting or skipping class to play basketball.

It seemed like he didn’t try at all and still managed to stay at the top academically. But the truth was, once night fell, he would hit the books like a madman, grinding through problem sets until 2 or 3 a.m., trying desperately to outscore Xie Guilan.

His grades weren’t bad—in fact, he was often in the top three of their grade. With results like that at Huai Jing No. 1 High, he could get into any top university, domestic or abroad. He was the perfect heir to the Xie family and would never embarrass them.

But Xie Guilan was still better.

Xie Guilan was like his lifelong nightmare. He resented him, envied him, but couldn’t let anyone see how obsessed he was.

As Xie Shangjing passed the front counter, he happened to cross paths with Xie Guilan, who was returning with a cold drink for Cen Wu. Their eyes met. The sharp pain in his back flared up again from the whipping he got that night, along with the shame. He sneered and muttered under his breath, “Don’t block the way like some stray dog.”

Xie Guilan just pressed his lips into a thin line and stepped aside.

Xie Shangjing walked past with a cold face. He had planned to go talk to Cen Wu, but couldn’t bring himself to lower his pride. Eventually, he just stopped and turned back to his class’s private room, face dark as night.

By the time they finished dinner and headed back down the mountain, it was already around five in the evening. After resting in their rooms for a bit, many students went off to the hot springs.

Cen Wu didn’t go. The hot spring pools were crowded, and just the thought made his knees feel weak. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. So instead, he stayed with Xie Guilan and the dozen or so classmates who stayed behind and played cards.

The hot spring resort had massive floor-to-ceiling windows. They sat on the plush carpet in Lu Wang’s luxury suite, lights twinkling outside like stars. You could see the whole resort from up there.

Xie Guilan had never played cards before. He Yao hyped him up and pulled him in. He lost the first round, but from then on, unless he had a terrible hand, he kept winning.

“Bro, what the hell!” a guy from their class groaned. “You’re basically cheating with your brain. That’s not fair—you’re out!”

He Yao received a bunch of dirty looks—who thought it was a good idea to challenge the top student to a card game?

Once Xie Guilan had to sit out, Cen Wu picked up his cards and kept playing. Back when he was trying to be a director with no connections, Cen Wu had to schmooze nonstop, and he had long since grown tired of poker and mahjong. Despite his social anxiety, he wiped the floor with everyone.

Xie Guilan played with logic. Cen Wu played like a seasoned hustler. If he wanted, he could mentally crush everyone at the table.

“Seriously?!” the same guy nearly screamed. “What did I ever do to deserve this kind of bullying?!”

Within thirty minutes, Cen Wu was banned from playing too.

“Ugh, forget it,” Zhang Yuanzhou tossed his cards aside. “Cards are boring anyway. Let’s play something else. How about Truth or Dare?”

Their teacher, Meng Liangping, was exhausted from the hike. His back couldn’t take it anymore, so he stayed in the hotel to rest. Class rep Zhou Wenqing was helping take care of him, so they weren’t around either.

He Yao brought in some beers and cocktails. Once a new group of students left for the hot springs, the rest started playing Truth or Dare. They spun an empty bottle—whoever it landed on had to answer.

Cen Wu wanted to dip out, but forced himself to stay. If he left, Xie Guilan would follow, and that would ruin the mood. Cen Wu hated that kind of awkward silence—it would haunt him all night.

The first spin landed on a girl. The questions were pretty tame. He Yao asked, “When was the last time you lied?”

“Tonight,” she answered, blushing.

She had wanted to go to the hot springs, but told her desk mate she didn’t. Truth was, her crush from another class was there, and she was too embarrassed to show up.

A few more light questions went by before the bottle landed on He Yao.

Xu Lingling, who had been falling asleep five minutes ago, suddenly perked up, slapped her leg, and grinned. “Let’s make this interesting! He Yao, do you still have your first kiss?”

Everyone burst out laughing—they all knew He Yao was a serial flirt. Add a little alcohol to the mix, and the room erupted in cheers.

“Come on, He Yao!”

“Dude, that’s not even a hard question!”

Cen Wu had a bit to drink too. He Yao handed him a cocktail—a pretty blue one that tasted like lychee, with a few fresh lychees floating inside. Sweet, refreshing, easy to drink.

He held his liquor well, but it still brought a flush to his face. His long-lashed eyes curved like little sparrows when he smiled, misty and glazed, eyelids tinged red. He looked tipsy even if he wasn’t. When everyone laughed, he laughed too.

He nestled up next to Xie Guilan, leaning against his shoulder.

With his usual cheeky grin, He Yao paused before raising an eyebrow. “And if I don’t? What’re you gonna do?”

As he finished speaking, he glanced at Cen Wu from the corner of his eye.

Cen Wu didn’t respond much; he just scooped a lychee with his spoon and ate it, his pale cheeks puffing up with the soft fruit.

He raised his eyes, looking away.

Every time the bottle was spun, Cen Wu grew tense. He even considered hiding behind Xie Guilan so it wouldn’t land on him, but after He Yao finished answering his question, he turned the bottle, and it pointed straight at Cen Wu.

All eyes turned toward him.

Cen Wu’s calves trembled slightly.

“Second Young Master,” He Yao didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “Do you have someone you like?”

Cen Wu’s lips moved as if he was going to say no, but something made him hesitate. His ears turned pink, and after a pause, he nodded slightly and whispered, “Yes.”

The class erupted into more teasing.

He Yao felt a bit disappointed, thinking that the person Cen Wu liked was probably Xie Guilan, or maybe even Xie Shangjing.

But Cen Wu had slapped Xie Shangjing in front of the whole school, and rumors said they had broken up. He Yao imagined a dramatic story, wondering if Cen Wu had fallen for Xie Guilan and that’s why he had a falling out with Xie Shangjing.

Xie Guilan clenched a few of Cen Wu’s fingers, his heart stirred as if a cat’s tail had gently tugged at it. He hadn’t expected Cen Wu to admit it.

But he also knew that Cen Wu had always been brave with him.

When it was Xie Guilan’s turn, He Yao asked the same question with a teasing tone. Xie Guilan’s voice was calm as he answered, “Yes.”

If anyone else in the class had said they liked someone, it would’ve just been a light tease, but when Xie Guilan said it, it sent a shockwave through the room.

There were plenty of girls in the class who admired Xie Guilan’s face, but no one dared to actually date him. Just the thought was terrifying.

Being loved by Xie Guilan wasn’t necessarily a good thing either.

The atmosphere almost turned cold and silent, but Zhang Yuanzhou suddenly spoke up, “Is it Old Meng?!”

They had left the door open, but since the room for the young master of the He family was far from the other rooms, it wouldn’t disturb anyone. Zhang Yuanzhou suddenly stared at the door with a horrified shout.

Everyone jumped, quickly hiding their alcohol, waiting in silence. But after several seconds, nothing happened.

“Damn, that scared me!”

“You idiot, what are you yelling about?!”

Zhang Yuanzhou was quickly restrained and given a few playful smacks, but whether on purpose or not, everyone ignored the earlier question and kept playing.

Xie Guilan didn’t seem to care, but Cen Wu felt a tightness in his chest and ended up drinking a few more cups of alcohol.

Xie Guilan liked someone, so what?

Why was everyone making such a big deal out of it?

Who said Xie Guilan couldn’t like someone else?

But the classmates didn’t mean any harm, so Cen Wu couldn’t say anything. He took Xie Guilan’s cocktail and drank it, then grabbed Xie Guilan’s hand, pulling him outside, saying he wanted to go to the hot springs.

But they didn’t actually go in. Instead, they took a cable car down, then rode a motorcycle for another half hour to the beach on the other side of the mountain. There was a bonfire music festival there.

They arrived too late and were pushed to the outer edges of the crowd, unable to see the performers’ faces, with many people standing on stones behind them.

Cen Wu had drunk several types of alcohol, and even though he had a good tolerance, he was still tipsy. His face flushed even more under the bonfire, and his eyes were glassy, his head spinning slightly.

Xie Guilan, worried he might get pushed around in the crowd, wrapped his arm around Cen Wu’s shoulder. Cen Wu stood on his tiptoes in Xie Guilan’s arms, like a curious cat, but if anyone noticed, he’d immediately retreat.

“Young Master,” Xie Guilan leaned down, his voice low and warm by Cen Wu’s ear, “Do you want to watch?”

Cen Wu couldn’t help but nuzzle against his ear, feeling the deep, slightly raspy tone of Xie Guilan’s voice, sending a shiver down his spine.

He felt a sudden tension in his lower body.

Normally, Cen Wu wouldn’t have said anything, but tonight, in his dazed state, he leaned a little more into Xie Guilan’s arms and, feeling a little wronged, murmured, “I do.”

He had intended to say, “I want to watch, but forget it,” but before he could finish, Xie Guilan lifted him effortlessly, holding him by the waist.

Cen Wu’s vision suddenly became much higher, but he felt too embarrassed to look up. The alcohol hit him harder, and he angrily punched Xie Guilan’s shoulder, muttering, “Put me down…”

“What’s wrong?” Xie Guilan’s voice was cool, almost teasing. “Didn’t the young master want to watch the singer on stage?”

A band was performing, and although it was cold, the singer was dressed in a tight black tank top, his chest muscles bulging, and his arms solid and muscular.

Cen Wu: “…”

So what if he wanted to look at his chest muscles? He wasn’t going to touch them, why shouldn’t he look?

Xie Guilan’s dark eyes lost their humor. Cen Wu was too scared to say anything more, afraid Xie Guilan would pull him closer to feel his abs.

He just gently stroked Xie Guilan’s back, trying to reassure him, “I… I really don’t like that kind of guy.”

“If the young master likes it,” Xie Guilan, as though he hadn’t heard him, lowered his long lashes and said obediently, “I can start working out.”

Cen Wu: “…”

Cen Wu: !!!

He was completely caught off guard. The singer’s muscles already looked exaggerated, but if Xie Guilan looked like that, he’d be in serious trouble.

He was so startled that he stopped stuttering. He quickly grabbed Xie Guilan’s arm. “I really don’t like it. It’s nothing, I won’t look anymore. Let’s go eat some stew!”

Xie Guilan didn’t let him down, carrying him until they left the crowd, before gently setting him down.

Cen Wu felt like everyone was staring at them. He clung to Xie Guilan’s neck and buried his face in his shoulder, his red ears peeking out.

Xie Guilan didn’t let go of his hand, holding onto it as if afraid he might wander off.

As Cen Wu snacked and got drunk, he became tired. Xie Guilan picked him up and carried him back to the hotel.

It was chilly by the beach, and Xie Guilan took off his coat to wrap it around Cen Wu, brushing aside the loose strands of hair from his face before gently touching his slightly flushed cheek. Then he carried him back to the hotel.

“Mm…” Cen Wu let out a small hum, holding onto Xie Guilan’s neck tightly. His soft cheek pressed against Xie Guilan’s collarbone, and his little legs swayed back and forth.

Xie Guilan called out softly, “Cen Wu.”

“Mm?” Cen Wu responded in a muffled voice.

Xie Guilan called again, “Wu Wu.”

Cen Wu was drunk, and didn’t fully understand what Xie Guilan was calling him. Regardless of how he was called, he simply hummed in response.

Xie Guilan’s lips curved up slightly as he supported Cen Wu’s legs, lifting him slightly.

The bonfire by the sea illuminated the night. Xie Guilan walked forward, carrying Cen Wu on his back. Cen Wu had fallen asleep, as if in a dream. He suddenly mumbled softly, “I want… I want to date Xie Guilan.”

Xie Guilan’s footsteps halted, and the sound of the waves seemed to stop in that instant. The night was quiet, with the distant lighthouse casting its light on the deep sea. All that was left was the tumultuous beating of his heart.

Then, he heard Cen Wu chuckle foolishly and continue, “And then… then become the provincial champion.”

In his dream, he had stolen all of Xie Guilan’s study materials, and Xie Guilan had been tutoring him.

Xie Guilan: “………”

Xie Guilan was so shocked that he almost laughed. He ground his teeth and carried Cen Wu back to the hotel.

Cen Wu was placed on the hotel bed, still asleep. He held the blanket and slept even more deeply.

“Baby,” Xie Guilan leaned down, pinching Cen Wu’s cheek. His dark, almond-shaped eyes lowered as he coaxed, “You become the provincial champion, and I’ll be your boyfriend, okay?”

Cen Wu hummed quietly. He didn’t hear what Xie Guilan said and only felt uncomfortable with his cheek being pinched.

Xie Guilan let go.

He patiently took off Cen Wu’s shoes, then grabbed a damp towel to wipe his face. Cen Wu burrowed under the blanket, disheveled but still not fully asleep.

Xie Guilan rested his arm beside him and leaned down. Cen Wu barely managed to keep his eyelids up.

Cen Wu had a cold and alluring appearance. His skin was fair, and his long eyelashes framed his eyes, which were tinted with the light of the moon. He opened his eyes slightly, his vision a bit unfocused from the alcohol. When he finally saw Xie Guilan’s face, he froze.

Cen Wu reached out and touched Xie Guilan’s face. Xie Guilan hesitated for a moment, then gripped Cen Wu’s hand, resting it in his palm.

Cen Wu, still drunk, thought that someone must be trying to get into his bed, probably for resources or status. He usually kicked them out, but tonight, the person looked like this.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to sleep with them.

Cen Wu was a cold and arrogant person with few principles. He knew it himself but didn’t want to change. Xie Guilan placed his hand on Cen Wu’s waist, wanting to help him out of his coat. His palm was warm and large, able to completely grip Cen Wu’s waist.

Cen Wu tilted his head back, his pale neck exposed. He let out a soft sigh, instinctively wanting to lift his knee and press his legs together, but Xie Guilan was still leaning on him, so his raised knee brushed against Xie Guilan’s waist.

Xie Guilan stiffened, gripping Cen Wu’s knee. His voice was hoarse, and he whispered, “What are you doing?”

This was no longer just a suggestion. A seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy couldn’t withstand such teasing. Xie Guilan felt an immediate reaction, his breath quickening and his palm burning with heat.

Cen Wu’s pale lips moved slightly. He didn’t do anything but exuded an air of seduction. Xie Guilan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he lowered his head uncontrollably. Cen Wu didn’t resist.

His eyes were hazy, not fully awake but not fully asleep either. He looked at Xie Guilan, half-lifting himself, seemingly wanting to meet Xie Guilan’s kiss. But just before their lips met, Xie Guilan covered his mouth.

Cen Wu:?

Cen Wu blinked, confused.

Xie Guilan felt a surge of intense jealousy rising from his chest. Cen Wu was so familiar with this, he must have done it with countless others, kissed many people, but he hadn’t done anything himself.

He suddenly realized that he didn’t really know how to be with another man. He had some vague ideas but wasn’t sure. What if he did it badly? He couldn’t let himself be worse than those other people.

Xie Guilan’s back was slick with a thin layer of sweat, but he forced himself to wrap Cen Wu in the blanket, not letting him move.

Cen Wu, already drunk and tired, didn’t really want anything. When Xie Guilan wrapped him up, he just became even sleepier and fell into a dazed sleep.

Xie Guilan stared at his face. In the dark of night, the tension was like a tidal wave. The veins on his neck bulged. Though he wasn’t going to go all the way, that didn’t mean he couldn’t do other things.

Cen Wu liked him too. What was wrong with a kiss? Why couldn’t he kiss him?

Xie Guilan leaned down again. Their breaths mingled, and he could almost feel the soft warmth of Cen Wu’s lips. His fingers tightened, gripping the sheets beneath Cen Wu.

Cen Wu let out a quiet hum.

Moonlight filtered through the window, and Xie Guilan looked at him, his long, pale fingers pinching his face, before finally lowering his head to place a kiss on his soft cheek.