When he was sure there was no one there, Wei Hong Yi stepped out from behind the tree. He was having a hard time processing everything he had just heard. He wasn't stupid and could connect the dots.
And from the conclusion he came to, Wen Ting isn't innocent at all. Wei Hong Yi would never have thought that Luo Xing Jie was responsible for Fu Ling's accident and from her silent attitude, Wen Ting was also aware of it. Wei Hong Yi felt like his whole cognition of life itself had been overturned. Why would she say this things to Fu Ling when she already has a boyfriend? Isn't that deliberately leading him on?
Wei Hong Yi felt like his mind was a jumbled mess but one thing was for sure. He had began to disgust the only girl he ever admired.
After that day, Wen Ting didn't bother Fu Ling again but he knew that with her vengeful and petty nature, she wouldn't let it go that easily. His guess was confirmed a few days later.
Ever since that day, Fu Ling felt like Gu Lian had become more indifferent towards him. He couldn't think of any reason why and just attributed it to Gu Lian's usual temper. They were supposed to stay after school to study but Gu Lian went home without saying anything. He didn't know Gu Lian's house but he could try to trace the route so he walked to that area and called Gu Lian.
A group of societal vices were smoking in a corner when one of them noticed Fu Ling and alerted the leader.
"Boss, isn't this the person we were just paid to deal with?"
The boss narrowed his eyes and peered at Fu Ling then showed a yellow tooth smile.
"It's really him. And I was thinking of how we were going to access him yet he sent himself to the door."
The boss beckoned his lackeys and they walked towards Fu Ling in a condensing manner.
When Fu Ling noticed Gu Lian picked up the phone, he sighed in relief.
"Why didn't you wait for me?"
"I thought you'd have some other secret appointment again today"
Fu Ling was confused. Why did Gu Lian's words sound so..deliberate?
"I'm on my way to your house."
Gu Lian panicked
"What?"
Fu Ling repeated himself
"I said I'm on my way to your house. I'm at the alley where you passed the last time"
"What are you —Why are you—just wait for me there okay don't move"
Before Fu Ling could answer, a voice cut him off from behind
"Well, well, well. Boss it looks like someone stepped into our territory without paying the fee. What do we do?"
"We'll have to teach him a good lesson. One that will stick"
Someone snatched the cell phone from his hand and ended the call. He twirled the phone around and whistled
"Boss this is the latest version of smartphones. It can sell for several thousand at a second hand store."
The boss took a whiff of his cigarette and blew the smoke into the air
"Then you can keep it."
He turned to Fu Ling
"This little brother won't mind. Am I right?"
He didn't care for Fu Ling's answer, this was just provocation. Unexpectedly he actually replied.
"Of course not. I do mind in fact. Give me my phone back"
When Fu Ling's words fell, the boss narrowed his eyes and a few of the lackeys let out a collective oooooohhhh.
The boss spit out the cigarette in his mouth and walked towards Fu Ling trying to oppress him. Turns out Fu Ling was a whole head taller than the boss. The atmosphere became a bit delicate.
The boss acted like his inverse scale had been touched and immediately ordered his boys to crowd Fu Ling.
Fu Ling's eyes turned cold and he prepared to give these grandsons a good lesson when an anxious yet slightly intimidating voice sounded.
"What are you doing?"
The boss turned over in anger and when he saw the person, he habitually put on a fawning smile.
"Brother Gu, it's so nice to see you"
The boss said this with gritted teeth. God knows they would do anything to stay away from this devil. Saying it's nice to see him is absolute bullshit.
He still remembered how they wanted to take advantage of Gu Lian seeing his delicate and thin figure but they were beaten by him instead, his face hurt. But he still put on a smiling expression so as not to offend.
Gu Lian ignored the person and walked straight to Fu Ling and held his shoulder turning him around worriedly.
"Are you okay? Did they do anything to you?"
After he said that Gu Lian turned towards the gangsters with a murderousness expression which made them take a few steps back.
Fu Ling smiled
"No. You came right on time."
"Why did you hand up so suddenly? I thought something happened."
Fu Ling shrugged
"One of them took away my phone and ended the call. I remember that person saying they would sell it at a second hand store"
The younger brother who had arrogantly declared Fu Ling's phone would fetch a few thousand trembled and stepped forward with an ingratiating smile and carefully handed over the phone.
"Hahaha. The young master is joking. How could I ever have such thoughts about your things?"
Fu Ling retrieved the phone from his hand without saying anything. When Gu Lian saw that there wasn't anything else to say, he dragged Fu Ling away leaving the gangsters behind.
The boss wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cursed the person who gave them the job in his heart.
"Return the money. Tell that person this young master isn't someone they can afford to touch"
Fu Ling looked at Gu Lian
"They seemed to be pretty scared of you."
Gu Lian paused slightly but then hummed. He had always had a slightly cruel temper but he presented a magnanimous and gentlemanly image at school. Just when he was thinking of how to explain, Fu Ling's voice sounded again.
"So cool"
He looked at Fu Ling and saw that both his hands were raised in a thumbs up and his lips were pulled up in a smile. He didn't seem bothered by his two faced character and this made Gu Lian relax. He still decided to explain so that Fu Ling wouldn't misunderstand in the future.
"Actually I just taught them a lesson and stood up for myself a few times, I didn't expect them to develop a psychological shadow"
Fu Ling once again expressed his satisfaction
"That's good. At least they won't bother you. And it's nice to know that I have Brother Gu's protection."
In a place that Fu Ling couldn't see, Gu Lian's ears turned slight red and he pursued his lips tightly.
The walk to Gu Lian's house wasn't as long as Fu Ling thought it would be. He lived about eight houses away from the intersection.
Gu Lian led him to the house with slight apprehension. He had never brought someone home before.
Fu Ling looked around the room curiously. The house was quite small. It seemed to be two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. Maybe a bathroom somewhere. But overall the place was clean and it didn't feel stuffy.
Gu Lian watched Fu Ling asses his house and even felt relieved when he didn't notice any disgust in the other man's eyes. This made him pause for a second. Since when did he care about other people's opinions? Fu Ling's question brought him back to reality.
"Do you live alone?"
"No.—with my mom"
"Ohhh"
Fu Ling nodded in understanding and gave another glance around the room.
Gu Lian twisted his lips in amusement
"She's at work right now."
"Ah. Okay"
"Do you want some noodles?"
Fu Ling answered with a wide smile
"Sure!"
Gu Lian looked at Fu Ling's handsome face but when he remembered his rendezvous with Bai Ting, he started feeling upset.
Fu Ling who noticed that Gu Lian's mood changed from sunny to cloudy in an instant
"...????"
Gu Lian felt a bit irritable and the dissatisfaction in his heart increased when he saw Fu Ling's blank look. He obviously said he had no feelings for that girl anymore but he didn't hesitate to follow her away.
Fu Ling looked at Gu Lian's increasing darkening face and asked tentatively
"Are you okay?"
Gu Lian pursed his lips and walked towards the door.
"It's getting late. Let's get you home"
Fu Ling was confused and couldn't understand how the topic changed so fast.
"Now? But you haven't made me noodles yet."
"I don't want to anymore."
Fu Ling didn't know why but he sensed that Gu Lian's mood was a bit off so he decided not to ask.
"Well. Okay then."
"Won't you even ask me why?"
Fu Ling was stunned again but patiently asked why.
"Are you particularly close to Bai Ting?"
Fu Ling frowned when he heard the heroine's name and his eyes became slightly colder.
"No"
Gu Lian searched his face and after determining he was telling the truth, he finally let him go. Although he didn't know why Fu Ling would indulge her like that, since he said he didn't like her then he would believe it.
He had already hastily sent the person to the door and it would be a bit embarrassing to invite him back inside now so Gu Lian took him to the bus stop and waited with him until he found a suitable bus.
Before Fu Ling got on the platform, Gu Lian said
"Next time, I'll make you noodles."
Fu Ling nodded happily and waved him goodbye.
Gu Lian stood at the stop until the bus disappeared from his sight. Although he wasn't well-versed in the affairs between men and women, he wasn't stupid either. His thoughts towards Fu Ling were different from what friends should have towards each other.
Gu Lian went to bed with a troubled heart and the white stains on his shorts after waking up further confirmed his conjecture. He put his hands on his face for a few moments and then got up to wash the stained pants with a blushing face.