13

 The room lights were warm-toned, and the air was filled with the smell of alcohol and desserts.

Everyone had drunk some alcohol, and at first they teased and joked, but gradually no one spoke.

It fell silent in an instant.

Song Yu had his back to them and couldn't see anything.

The quieter the boy was, the more they wanted to tease him. Some curious boys stood up to look from the side, but were scared back by a cold look from Lu Xing.

Lu Xing was sitting next to Zhou Yanming. He didn't want to admit how much he was looking forward to seeing Song Yu walk over.

But the boy chose Zhou Yanming.

All of this proved that Song Yu and Zhou Yanming were the closest, whether they considered each other friends or not.

At this moment, Song Yu was pressing his hand against Zhou Yanming's face, his expression like a coquettish rejection.

His fingers were rubbed red.

Everything happened too suddenly, in just a moment.

Lu Xing stared blankly until Xie Zhiyan, his face grim, forcefully lifted Song Yu off Zhou Yanming's lap, finally snapping him out of his daze.

"Time's up," Xie Zhiyan's voice was deep and menacing. He completely shielded Song Yu with his body and walked towards the door. "You can continue."

Everyone paused, and after a long while, someone finally responded with an "Oh." From beginning to end, they hadn't even seen Song Yu's face, let alone whether Zhou Yanming and Song Yu had kissed.

*

When his mind returned to normal, Song Yu realized he was already in the hallway outside the room.

His hand was being held by Xie Zhiyan, who was half-turned, his gaze fixed on his face.

Recalling everything that had just happened, Song Yu was incredibly embarrassed and immediately pulled his hand away.

Xie Zhiyan's hand went empty. He froze for a moment, then stared intently at Song Yu's lips: "They're red."

W-what?

Song Yu looked up, feeling a burning pain in his cheek and chin.

Just how much force had Zhou Yanming used?

Xie Zhiyan suppressed his possessiveness and urge to abuse, repeating, "Your face is red, and your chin is red too."

Song Yu's eyelashes trembled awkwardly.

His mind was probably too chaotic; he didn't even realize Xie Zhiyan's tone was completely different from usual.

"I...I'm going to wash my face..." A wave of heat washed over him; Song Yu's body temperature was much higher than usual. He finished speaking and walked alone towards the restroom at the end of the corridor.

His legs were weak, and his mind wasn't very clear, so he didn't notice the footsteps behind him.

It wasn't until the other person walked beside him that Song Yu turned and looked up.

Zhou Yanming...this was the last person Song Yu wanted to see at that moment. He tried to hide his embarrassment and greet Zhou Yanming casually as usual, but the other person broke down first.

"I didn't mean to!" The boy's hair was disheveled, and his voice was much louder than usual. He was probably drunk; his speech was incoherent, rambling incoherently, just a constant explanation.

"I...I didn't mean to kiss you, it was all a dare...I can't be a sore loser." Zhou Yanming seemed very concerned about this, staring intently at Song Yu, his voice trembling. "But you were so beautiful just now."

"You're so beautiful, Xiao Yu."

Song Yu was about to comfort Zhou Yanming in return, but these strange words made his cheeks burn even hotter. He stopped, tilted his head back, and glared at him with slight annoyance.

—But then he felt a weight on his shoulder.

Zhou Yanming's shadow loomed over him.

"You're really beautiful." "

Your eyes are so big."

"Your face looks so soft."

He looked like a porcelain doll.

Zhou Yanming's voice was a little awkward, as if he was trying to convince himself of his unusual behavior.

They played basketball together, so they inevitably had various kinds of contact, but he had never had such thoughts about anyone before.

Song Yu ignored these strange words and tried to push him away, but Zhou Yanming was like a clingy, large dog.

The boy, at his wit's end, could only plead in a soft voice, "Get up first... I want to wash my face."

Zhou Yanming then got up, but didn't leave, instead following him into the bathroom.

Song Yu bent over, the heat on his face fading with the cool water, and his mind cleared. He had just pulled out a tissue to wipe away the water when a voice suddenly rang in his ears: "Does your chin still hurt?"

Song Yu jolted and looked at Zhou Yanming.

He saw another familiar figure at the door.

"I think I pinched you—" Zhou Yanming stopped when he noticed Song Yu's change in expression, turned around following the other's gaze, and saw the man who had come to pick Song Yu up that day.

The expensive, well-fitting shirt made the man appear noble and aloof.

Song Yu felt incredibly guilty.

He didn't even know how much of what Zhou Yanming had said that Song Xu had overheard.

Hoping for a lucky break, he called out in a low, ingratiating voice, "Brother."

Before Song Xu could respond, a young man walked to the door. "So that's why you suddenly called me to a place like this."

His slightly mocking gaze swept between Song Yu and Zhou Yanming. "So it's for your little brother."

Song Yu glanced at the man; he was handsome with striking almond-shaped eyes, his hair tied back, partially obscuring his forehead.

He must be his brother's friend.

Song Xu ignored him, his face cold as he strode over to Song Yu. When he saw his brother's rosy lips, his expression darkened even more.

*

Xie Zhiyan and Lu Xing waited in the corridor for a while, but Song Yu didn't appear. They only saw Zhou Yanming return alone.

Although he didn't want to talk to him, Xie Zhiyan asked anyway, wanting to know where Song Yu had gone.

Zhou Yanming, slightly dazed from sobering up, leaned against the wall: "His brother took him away."

Lu Xing paused, "The one who came to pick him up last time?"

Zhou Yanming hummed in agreement, then suddenly squatted down, ran his fingers through his hair haphazardly: "Dating at twenty shouldn't be considered puppy love, right? Even if our parents find out, it's not a big deal, is it?"

Lu Xing: "..."

Xie Zhiyan was too lazy to pay attention.

He glanced at Zhou Yanming.

Just by looking at his expression, he knew this idiot was definitely reminiscing about something.

*

Song Yu was completely sober when he was brought home.

Song Xu kept a low profile and didn't say a word the whole way, nor did he ask him what happened between him and Zhou Yanming.

Probably afraid of embarrassing him, Song Xu sent that friend home before taking him into the study.

"Have you been drinking?" In the darkness, the man's voice was lower than usual.

Song Yu lowered his head, like a child being scolded by his parents, standing there staring at his toes, before reluctantly humming in agreement after a moment.

"What did you tell me before you left?"

"I don't drink, I don't go out at night, I'll call you if there's an emergency, take good care of yourself." Song Yu thought for a moment, then slowly defended himself, "That was fruit wine, very low alcohol content. I didn't go out at night either, I was with my classmates."

Hearing the word "classmates," Song Xu thought of Zhou Yanming, his brows furrowing. His gaze fell on the finger marks on the boy's chin, a surge of anger rising within him.

He knew Song Yu was surrounded by many people, like a pack of wild dogs smelling meat, eager to devour him.

Song Xu had received little love from his family growing up, and he knew Song Yu had too.

A little rebellion was acceptable, but he still hoped the other could grow up properly.

Thinking of how he had recently reconciled with Song Yu, Song Xu gradually calmed down.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze meeting the top of the boy's head, a tuft sticking up at the back.

His heart softened, and Song Xu wanted to smooth the boy's hair.

However, as soon as he reached out, the other dodged.

Song Xu's hand froze in mid-air, the usually mature and composed CEO unable to remain calm.

"Afraid of me?" His voice was icy. He leaned down, his fingers accidentally brushing against Song Yu's burning cheek.

The boy trembled slightly.

"Why weren't you afraid when a stranger touched you?"

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