WCHM Chapter 18

For some reason, when Liang Jiashu read Lu Chi’s reply, a trace of laughter flickered in his dark eyes, and he couldn’t help but make a voice call.

 

After just two rings, the other side picked up. Lu Chi was probably lazing in bed, his voice light and airy, like a squirrel about to hibernate for the winter:

 

“What is it?”

 

The pleasant lilt at the end of his sentence scratched at Liang Jiashu’s nerves. He paused for two seconds before reminding him: “Lu Chi, you’re a teaching assistant.”

 

You don’t really have students of your own, ah…

 

Lu Chi raised his brows, asking, “So you look down on teaching assistants? Liang Jiashu, I’ve realized you have a serious class-complex.” Then, imitating the forum posts from earlier, he even mocked in a sarcastic tone: “Heh, damn rich people!”

 

Liang Jiashu laughed again, but without denying it. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he lowered his voice to ask: “Have you eaten dinner yet? Applied the medicine? If you don’t have an appetite, I can have someone prepare something and send it over.”

 

It was as if he’d switched out his script, from brooding male lead to nagging nanny. Lu Chi, lazy to the bone, buried his head under the blanket and yawned. “I ate,” he finally answered. “Didn’t put the medicine on.”

 

“It’ll be fine in a few days, don’t make a fuss.”

 

At that, Liang Jiashu set down his ice water and straight up turned to leave his apartment.

 

“Give me half an hour.”

 

“For what?”

 

“I’ll come apply it for you. Then I’ll leave.”

 

“…”

 

Yeah right!

 

If he actually left as simply as that, Lu Chi would eat his socks! Smiling wordlessly, he only spoke when he heard the sound of a door opening on the other end.

 

“Don’t come.”

 

Just two words, and Liang Jiashu froze. A surge of oppressive black aura radiated off him. Hand gripping the doorknob, he frowned.

 

“Lu Chi.”

 

Lu Chi sighed, and after a few seconds, simply hung up.

 

Liang Jiashu’s heart sank, a chill spreading instantly through his limbs, like being dragged underwater by a ghost. He instinctively recalled that awful week when Lu Chi had cut him off completely.

 

…What had he said wrong?! How had he angered him?!

 

How to fix it? Go to him? Apologize?

 

Beg for forgiveness?!

 

But less than two seconds later, his buzzing phone dragged him back from hell.

 

On the screen, the cat avatar was flashing, showing it was a video call.

 

Still stiff-faced, Liang Jiashu picked up. The man’s dark hair filled the camera, messy strands curling at the ends. Lu Chi’s eyes were lazy, his brows lifting as soon as he saw him.

 

“What’s wrong with you? Your face is so dark it looks like you’re mourning at a grave.”

 

Liang Jiashu exhaled slowly, his expression flat. Then, he said it was nothing, closed the door, and returned to the living room to cool down with another sip of ice water.

 

In the end, he didn’t dare bring up the “going public” issue again. Instead, he shifted the topic, saying: “That ointment is a new formula of mine. I just got the patent approved, and it’s very effective for external injuries. Use it for two days, and you’ll basically be healed.”

 

However, Lu Chi, finding it troublesome, buried his head in the pillow, only exposing his messy hair. Liang Jiashu frowned and tried to persuade him until Lu Chi glared back, fully annoyed. After a pause, the camera shook and, without ceremony, Lu Chi lifted his shirt and showed him the scatter of kiss marks and bite marks covering his skin.

 

“Whose fault is this? If it weren’t for you, would I even need medicine?”

 

He then stuck out his tongue, showing the slightly swollen, red tip. His lips glistened, soft like soaked petals.

 

Liang Jiashu’s throat felt tight. He stared at that beautiful body littered with traces of his desire, and suddenly, even his head felt parched.

 

“…Sorry.”

 

Lu Chi caught the rasp in his voice, arched a brow, and couldn’t help but chuckle: “You really are something… Liang Jiashu, do you enjoy being my dog this much?”

 

Liang Jiashu answered calmly: “Very much.”

 

There was no denying it, since being with Lu Chi under whatever form was extremely enjoyable.

 

He was beautiful, and his actions carried an unintentional allure, as if born with a trace of dominance in his bones. But in the midst of intimacy, his reactions carried a surprising hint of innocence and straightforwardness.

 

When Liang Jiashu kissed him, he would pause for a second, then mimic him, leaning forward to bite back. When his hand pressed against the nape of Lu Chi’s neck to keep him still, Lu Chi would stubbornly tangle his tongue with his. When Liang Jiashu went down on him, Lu Chi would clutch his hair tight, gasping for air. His heaving chest was blindingly pale, the taut line of his waist accentuating the slender muscles Liang Jiashu gripped and kneaded at will.

 

“Kissing you feels great. Having you choke me feels great. Hearing you moan feels great. Licking you feels great too…”

 

“Alright, enough!”

 

Lu Chi cut off the Gong No.1 before he could start going into heat at a distance, his expression dead serious: “Shut up. I’m putting on the medicine.”

 

Liang Jiashu stifled a laugh.

 

“Okay,” then added: “Sorry. Next time, I’ll have everything prepared.”

 

Today really had been too rushed, but since it was consensual, Lu Chi waved lazily, magnanimous: “It’s fine.”

 

He set his phone on the nightstand, pulled the medicine box from the drawer, and dragged a full-length mirror to the bedside. Then, without hesitation, he stripped completely and began applying the ointment in front of the mirror.

 

“…”

 

Through the camera, Liang Jiashu watched Lu Chi bite open the tube of ointment, tilt his head against his shoulder with effort, and awkwardly try to see the marks as he applied medicine. Now and then, when he got tired of it, he would grab the frog-shaped water bottle on his nightstand and gulp down mouthfuls of water. His messy hair stuck up in several tufts, but his expression was completely serious.

 

To Liang Jiashu, he looked exactly like that mixed-breed little cat at A University that had licked him once. At first glance, it was noble and beautiful. But once you got close, it had that kind of oblivious, slightly neurotic, comedic charm.

 

Of course, still noble and beautiful, but also…

 

Kind of cute.

 

Super cute.

 

Light spilled down over the cool, gray living room. The mirrored liquor cabinet reflected Liang Jiashu’s tall, upright figure, and on the screen of his mobile phone, his “little cat” diligently applied medicine.

 

Liang Jiashu lowered his dark eyes. On his usually cold face appeared a smile, but it was an unfamiliar and unconscious one. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the traffic and neon lights merged. That faint smile blended into the light, and for a moment, silently became part of the city’s countless glittering stars.

 

So gentle.

 

……………………….

 

A University only assigned the new teaching assistants one elective course each, so Lu Chi’s schedule wasn’t crowded. After a full day, he usually had the next day off. That night, after finishing with the medicine, he was exhausted. He wrapped himself in the blanket and fell asleep instantly, completely forgetting his phone was still on video call.

 

However, when he woke the next morning, he found the phone had shut off on its own after running out of power.

 

Lu Chi plugged in the charger, yawning as he went to wash up. Still half-asleep, he smeared his cheap face cream messily across his cheeks when the system piped up slyly:

 

[Baby, that Gong No.1 didn’t sleep a wink last night! He just sat outside the camera, staring at you… Tsk tsk, delightful, delightful!]

 

However, Lu Chi wasn’t in the mood to say anything. It wasn’t until he was heading downstairs to eat that he asked lazily: [What kind of novels have you been reading again?]

 

The system’s tone was offbeat, sounding like a particularly annoying eunuch serving an emperor!

 

The system coughed: [Well, I did read a few historical romance novels… This humble maiden dares to ask, has the Gong No.1 fallen completely in love with my Lord?]

 

Lu Chi paused, his expression suddenly strange.

 

[…“Maiden”?]

 

So, electronic data streams had genders now?!

 

The system answered righteously: [Of course. The protagonists in those books all refer to themselves this way! But if my Baby Lord isn’t used to it, I can call myself “this humble slave” instead.]

 

Lu Chi: […Delete that garbage. Now.]

 

[…Oh.]

 

The system wilted and went to wipe its cache.

 

Lu Chi shook his head, chomping into a meat bun. September in A City was still hot, so he wore a short-sleeved shirt. Lowering his head, he glanced at the inside of his arm and saw that in just one night, the bruised hickeys that had looked so alarming yesterday had already faded considerably.

 

Against his snow-white skin, they resembled translucent flower petals.

 

And this was only some casual product Liang Jiashu had put together.

 

His real research and income revolved around artificial intelligence, ranging from smart homes, cars, and machinery, to AI assistants… He had already secured countless patents. If not for being born into the Liang family, he would probably have been recruited directly into the state’s academy and placed under strict protection.

 

A glimpse through a tube, but enough to see: Liang Jiashu truly lived up to the “genius” label of the original novel.

 

A true genius. Quick-minded and adaptable, yet in some areas, obsessively stubborn.

 

Lu Chi pondered. After finishing his breakfast, he bought himself an ice cream cone, chewing away as he headed out. But just as he stopped at the intersection, his phone began to vibrate.

 

As expected, all the messages were from Liang Jiashu.

 

LJS: [Awake? Did the ointment work?]

 

LJS: [Image.JPG]

 

LJS: [My breakfast. Did you eat? You don’t have class today, want to go out to eat?]

 

LJS: [I haven’t asked anyone to follow or secretly photograph you anymore. Sorry about before, I was too extreme.]

 

Lu Chi looked at the word extreme on the screen and slowly arched a brow.

 

In the past, Liang Jiashu would never send messages like this.

Back then, all he did was transfer money and dig up dirt: every time he “unboxed” Lu Chi once, he’d wire money once. Especially during that week when Lu Chi cut contact, he never said a single nice word, only sent stalker photos and threats, like a high-IQ murderer foreshadowing his next crime.

 

But learning something is just like that. Ordinary people advance step by step. A genius, however, has his own way of thinking, as he could quickly grasp and accept something new, then imitate it frame by frame with precision.

 

Even the system muttered suspiciously: [Huh? Why does the Gong No.1 suddenly feel like a normal person again? Could this be…the power of love?]

 

Lu Chi chuckled faintly, but didn’t answer. Instead, he replied to Liang Jiashu’s messages:

 

EatSleepDanceAgain: [The ointment works. I ate.]

 

EatSleepDanceAgain:[Not going out, want to stay home.]

 

After replying, he didn’t look at his phone again. Instead, he went to a nearby music shop, browsed, and bought a guitar.

 

The next day, when the main professor for his class announced a three-month medical leave, teaching assistant Lu Chi sat in the classroom strumming a guitar for the students instead.

 

The classroom was packed as usual. And just as usual, front and center, and still dressed in depression grey, sat Liang Jiashu. But this time around, in the back corner was also Gu Yanyan. His bail had been paid by the Lin family as their final payment for a certain “deal,” and, on his first day out, Gu Yanyan had cleaned himself up and rushed to attend Lu Chi’s elective.

 

When Lu Chi appeared, everyone froze for several seconds before bursting into wave after wave of chatter. Because his hickeys hadn’t fully faded, Lu Chi dressed with a touch of “artistic flair.” A floaty, ethereal layered shirt with dark bamboo embroidery at the hem, matched with the same-toned trousers. His hair was sprayed with a temporary blue dye, a greenish-blue, mysterious and beautiful at first glance, completely different from the black-haired, white-shirt image he had when he’d first arrived.

 

The Arts Department adored beautiful muses. Students below, taking advantage of Lu Chi’s indifference, openly snapped photos of him. Occasionally, Lu Chi would tilt his head and flash a squinty smile, making a peace sign at the camera.

 

Because of the blue hair, his aura carried more coolness. Without expression, he looked distant, untouchable, still looking like a butterfly, but the ethereal kind.

 

So, for that whole week, the system watched the butterfly constantly change outfits. Online, he kept in touch with the Protagonist Gong, but in person, he kept dangling him without truly meeting. Every time, he only let Liang Jiashu drive him to the doorstep, then smiled while refusing his request to come upstairs. At most, he’d allow him to hold his hand before strolling back home.

 

Each time, leaving Liang Jiashu standing there, staring at his back, his dark eyes betraying no emotion.

 

Until the weekend, when the marks on Lu Chi’s body had completely faded, and he wore short sleeves again.

 

The system watched him hail a cab to FOM, feeling inexplicably uneasy. It swallowed an electronic gulp, asking: [Host Baby, are… are you really going clubbing?]

 

Lu Chi couldn’t help but laugh: [What are you afraid of?]

 

The last time Lu Chi stepped into FOM, the system was nearly scared into pissing circuits by the increasingly unreadable look in Gong No.1’s eyes, shouting: [I’m not afraid! I… It’s just bladder urgency, that’s all!]

 

Lu Chi laughed again: [Where would you even get a bladder… Don’t you remember? Right now is another important plot point from the original novel.]

 

The system froze, only then recalling…

 

In the original story, after school started, Gu Yanyan, who secretly had a crush on Liang Jiashu, was mocked by his roommates for being a country bumpkin, out of touch with the world, and was ostracized and bullied. At the same time, his uncle continued to rack up huge gambling debts, so Gu Yanyan had no choice but to return to FOM to work and make money. There, he fell into a trap set by Liang Zhiyu, who resented him, and was ambushed by hired thugs.

 

But those thugs weren’t decent to begin with. At the sight of Gu Yanyan’s face, their thoughts turned crooked. Thankfully, in the chaos, Liang Jiashu suddenly appeared. He didn’t even need to do anything, as just his presence made the thugs guilty and panicked, fleeing in a hurry. Thus, Liang Jiashu saved Gu Yanyan for the second time.

 

And Gu Yanyan fell completely in love with him.

 

The system flipped through the plot and exploded, shrieking in fury: [What the hell! Who said he was allowed to fall in love?! You’re all supposed to be ATMs for my Baby, not one of you is allowed to fall in love, not a single one!!]

 

Lu Chi was startled by its outburst: […Calm down, my fair maiden.]

 

The system’s mechanical voice buzzed, grinding with cold anger: [All three of them clearly like you! How could he fall in love with someone else?! Not to mention, between themselves?! Impossible! The original novel must be wrong! Yes, that’s it, the original is wrong!!]

 

Like a jealous husband catching an affair, it went crazy rereading the plot, then suddenly noticed something off: [But Baby, isn’t Liang Zhiyu currently locked up at home, training with a Muay Thai coach?! He’s been sending you his daily schedule every day. Where would he find the time to set up thugs to beat Gu Yanyan?!]

 

And unlike the original, these two had already spent a week together in the detention center as roommates. If they had grudges, they’d have beaten each other a long time ago.

 

So where would they find the energy for a follow-up scheme?

 

The taxi stopped at the back entrance of FOM, and Lu Chi got out. At the mouth of the alley, he spotted that group of people in the shadows, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

 

………………………..

Enjoyed this chapter of WCHM? You can support me and read up to Chapter 27 here, with 5 new chapters coming next month! Happy Reading!

………………………..

 

Lines That Weren’t Written for Me

 

Two ex-friends. One stage. Zero chance of keeping things professional.

Li Zhen, a stoic Alpha sculptor, wanted a quiet return to his alma mater. No drama. No gossip. No ghosts.

Unfortunately, the faculty had other plans, plans that involved Xu Jinli, the flamboyant Omega, ex-actor turned drama teacher, and the only person who had ever accused Li Zhen of betrayal while wearing full mourning attire at a public event.

Now, with a fake dating scandal spiralling out of control, whispered campus gossip, and an end-of-year gala that forces them together, Li Zhen and Xu Jinli find themselves trapped on the same stage once more.

They were the right people at the wrong time. But maybe, with masks slipping and old wounds resurfacing, this second chance will finally stick… if they can survive each other first.