CFHE Chapter 50

Fu Yuhan was stunned.

 

He was a professional at skipping classes—cutting class was more casual for him than eating—but Wen Yu wasn’t like that.

 

“Wouldn’t have guessed,” Fu Yuhan looked him over, “you also have times when you want to skip evening self-study?”

 

Wen Yu stared at him, his gaze heavy: “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

 

Who wants to live in shackles—

 

Not knowing where the courage came from, or rather, some kind of impulse just took over.

 

Wen Yu thought, even if just for tonight.

 

He wanted to indulge once.

 

“Is that not okay?” His voice was very soft.

 

Fu Yuhan thought for a moment: “But my bag is still at school. I only brought the classroom key.”

 

“I can call Ge Ran and have her get the spare key from the office to open the door.” Wen Yu said.

 

“…” Fu Yuhan found it a bit amusing, “I mean I can’t review without homework, textbooks, or notes.”

 

After hearing this, Wen Yu’s eyes rolled halfway, he pointed to his temple with his finger, raised his eyebrows and questioned: “Am I fake?”

 

Fu Yuhan was stunned.

 

He indeed didn’t have the habit of seeking help from peers. Except for seeking out Yang Fan when he was homeless as a child, later when he encountered problems, his first reaction was always to solve them himself.

 

Even calculating carefully, Wen Yu had helped him quite a bit.

 

But he still wouldn’t list him as his “first person to turn to for help.”

 

Because how to put it… doing so felt like taking himself too seriously.

 

Fu Yuhan was dazed for a moment, his expression relaxed, and he waved his hand: “Stop joking around. Using you as study material would delay your own progress. I should still go back…”

 

The “sch” in “school” hadn’t even made its first sound.

 

Wen Yu suddenly stepped forward, walked to the door, and put the security lock on.

 

Fu Yuhan: “…”

 

Actually, even with the security lock, the door could still be opened from inside, but…

 

“This is very childish of you.” Fu Yuhan was speechless.

 

“After knowing each other for so long,” Wen Yu leaned against the door, looking at him lazily, “this is the first time you realize I’m childish?”

 

That wasn’t true—Fu Yuhan had said many times that Wen Yu was childish.

 

Oh right, back then Wen Yu would answer him “there’s nothing else to play with.”

 

Thinking of this, Fu Yuhan’s heart suddenly softened. He lowered his eyelids and sighed resignedly: “Fine, then stop blocking the door and let’s prepare to eat.”

 

Without realizing it, the fragrant aroma of turtle soup had already drifted into the living room.

 

Only then did Wen Yu give a wicked smile and let go of the door handle.

 

Fu Yuhan went to the kitchen to turn off the heat and serve the soup, bringing the last dish to the table. The young master stood with his hands in his pockets. Fu Yuhan, unable to stand watching, lifted his leg and bumped his knee: “Can’t you help serve the rice?”

 

“…Oh.” Wen Yu really hadn’t thought of it. He went to the cupboard to get bowls and added, “I’ve never done these things at home.”

 

“Worthy of a young master.” Fu Yuhan shook his head, took chopsticks and walked past him to sit at the table.

 

“Do you often do these things?”

 

“Ah, my dad used to say people who just eat without contributing should work, so he had me help serve rice and get bowls and chopsticks.” Fu Yuhan picked up his bowl to eat, “Later I discovered that helping with work before meals could avoid conversations with parents…’life wisdom.'”

 

“How pitiful.” Wen Yu said.

 

“Same to you.” Fu Yuhan replied.

 

The room fell silent for a moment, then Wen Yu turned his head and gradually began to smile.

 

Fu Yuhan kept his eyes down, the corners of his mouth also carrying a hint of a smile.

–

 

Just like people who shout about going to the library to study end up scrolling on their phones all afternoon, after the two finished eating and cleaned up the table under Fu Yuhan’s direction, they sat back on the sofa.

 

Under the experienced player’s hands, reconnecting the gaming console was just a matter of ten minutes or so—

 

Wen Yu turned off the lights with a “snap”: “You’re not afraid of the dark, right?”

 

“You’re only thinking to ask now?” Fu Yuhan didn’t even lift his eyelids as he inserted Heavy Rain. “Want me to demonstrate playing horror games in pitch darkness? There’s an HD version of Silent Hill here.”

 

“No thanks, I want to finish the one from earlier. I haven’t seen the later plot yet.” Wen Yu walked to the window. “If you’re not afraid of the dark, I’ll draw the curtains.”

 

“Why draw curtains at night…”

 

“There’s still light.” Wen Yu walked back and sat down. “Street lights, too glaring.”

 

“…” Fu Yuhan couldn’t understand him.

 

The room became completely dark.

 

Although the blackout curtains worked very well, drawing curtains during the day versus at night felt psychologically different.

 

Perhaps because it was nighttime, even the gaps where the curtains were blown open by the wind showed no daylight, Wen Yu completely immersed himself, quietly playing the game.

 

Fu Yuhan grabbed a cushion, took off his slippers, and curled up entirely in the sofa.

 

The place where he lived now didn’t have such a comfortable sofa. Curling up in the darkness gave him a childhood feeling.

 

Even the display in front of him was showing a game he had played many years ago.

 

“Actually…” At this moment, Wen Yu suddenly spoke. “This might sound ridiculous, but I haven’t even watched many movies.”

 

He had bought a projector and found many movies, but for some reason had no interest in watching them.

 

After that time had passed, the joy he had longed for didn’t seem so joyful anymore.

 

“Just arrange to go to the cinema together after the college entrance exam,” Fu Yuhan said casually. “There are always movies to watch during summer vacation.”

 

“Together with them?” Wen Yu’s hand paused, the joystick almost went in the wrong direction. He turned to glance at him. “Aren’t you afraid of being stimulated by Yang Fan hugging his goddess and being lovey-dovey in front of you?”

 

“…”

 

Fu Yuhan threw the cushion at his shoulder.

 

Wen Yu dodged, and the poor cushion rolled off the edge of the sofa, disappearing into the darkness. When Wen Yu looked over again, he saw Fu Yuhan staring at the display with no expression, picking at his fingers as if spacing out.

 

“…You really like him that much.” Wen Yu muttered and turned his head back.

 

He strongly suspected that if he kept watching, Fu Yuhan would start crying.

 

Men’s tears were something that couldn’t be seen by others. Wen Yu restrained his mischievous impulses and chose not to look.

 

The game continued progressing, and he was still somewhat distracted.

 

But there was no movement from behind.

 

After ten, twenty minutes, maybe half an hour later, Wen Yu finished this level and entered the next chapter when he suddenly heard Fu Yuhan speak.

 

That voice was different from what he usually heard.

 

It wasn’t deep—the tone was similar to usual, but the mood was very empty, as if the speaker’s mind was still floating somewhere unknown and hadn’t returned.

 

“Wen Yu, I…” he said softly, “I have nowhere left to hide.”

 

Wen Yu’s hand paused, his back instinctively stiffening.

 

He didn’t turn around. After coming to his senses, he nonchalantly loaded into the new level, and while looking down at the controller buttons, he said: “Based on what Yang Fan said before… you two have been meeting much less since high school than before, right?”

 

“I was afraid of disturbing his studies… after all, I’m like this.”

 

“Tell me about it?”

 

“What’s to tell? The reason for declining is simple—I didn’t want to study,” Fu Yuhan paused. “Besides, the coursework was a bit difficult, and at that time… I had no interest in spending time on studying.”

 

“No,” Wen Yu hesitated and pressed pause, “I mean, why did you test into Third High?”

 

He turned to look back and saw Fu Yuhan with his head half-lowered, long eyelashes drooping down, casting a shadow on his face.

 

He looked emotionally stable, and Wen Yu inexplicably felt relieved.

 

“I didn’t want to test in. I filled in First High.”

 

“Then…”

 

“My mom secretly took my account password and changed my high school entrance exam application the day before the deadline.” Fu Yuhan looked up at him. “Would you still want to study if you were in my position?”

 

Wen Yu was stunned.

 

“I don’t know,” he thought and said, “My dad doesn’t make demands in this area, as long as I can get a prestigious-sounding score at a prestigious-sounding school.”

 

“So why did you come to First High?” Fu Yuhan asked puzzledly.

 

“Because… it’s far from home,” Wen Yu said with a smile. He looked at the paused screen, thinking of past events. “He said he’d give me an apartment, so I specifically chose here… as long as it was far enough from them. Hey,” he called out, “if you have nowhere to go in the future, come to my place.”

 

Fu Yuhan looked at him.

 

“It’s fine,” Fu Yuhan said. “I’ve… grown up now.”

 

Maybe this was a good opportunity to help him quit Yang Fan—

 

“Mm, up to you.” Wen Yu was noncommittal and clicked to continue the game.

 

His sympathy was limited. Taking the initiative to invite was already overstepping boundaries; repeatedly emphasizing it was impossible.

 

If he hadn’t said to himself before dinner, “just indulge for this one night,” he wouldn’t have mentioned any of these words.

 

“But you’re really interesting,” Fu Yuhan grabbed a new cushion and slid his body down a bit, suddenly speaking. “You’re clearly a rebellious person, but you insist on wearing ‘inappropriate clothes.'”

 

Wen Yu paused.

 

“You seem to have asked me several times if I’m ‘tired,'” he chuckled lightly. “Tonight I’ll tell you the truth—I’m exhausted.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“But saying ‘I’m used to it’ is also true.”

 

“Mm.” Fu Yuhan responded softly. “I could guess.”

 

“If you’re so good at guessing, why guess about my affairs?” Wen Yu said. “Wouldn’t it be better to guess exam answers?”

 

Fu Yuhan was half-lying now, his hands weren’t long enough, but his legs were sufficient. He said: “Am I going to kick you?”

 

“Kick away, kick as you like.” Wen Yu snorted lightly. “Let’s see if I can catch it.”

 

“Oh right, I never asked you about this—have you practiced martial arts?”

 

“Mm, boxing, kickboxing… practiced both for a while.” Wen Yu didn’t turn his head. “Not professional, but enough to handle you.”

 

“…Damn, other people practice these things for fitness or self-defense, only you are so unconventional.” Fu Yuhan cursed, shifted position, and closed his eyes. “Shut up, I want to sleep for a bit.”

 

“Didn’t rest well?”

 

“I was memorizing formulas until 3 AM last night—”

 

“Then go sleep in the room, it’s cold here.”

 

“No need, I’ll just nap for a bit.”

 

Fu Yuhan tilted his head, leaned against the sofa back and closed his eyes.

 

Wen Yu couldn’t persuade him otherwise, shook his head, and continued playing the game.

 

Sleeping while sitting was extremely uncomfortable. His head would jolt and wake him up. Fu Yuhan woke up twice, so tired that he moved his head to the other side of the sofa, his two long legs uncomfortably curled up to avoid kicking Wen Yu.

 

After finishing another chapter, Wen Yu glanced to his side.

 

It was almost 10 PM. The weather had turned cool. Fu Yuhan had somehow taken off his jacket to use as a blanket, curled up on half the sofa sleeping soundly.

 

—He looked cold too.

 

The seed of sin was watered by the night, suddenly flourishing in his heart.

 

Wen Yu suddenly wanted to… touch him.

 

He had always felt he wasn’t someone with strong willpower. If he didn’t have to follow the rules and regulations set by Wen Ziming, he would definitely be a troublemaker now.

 

He decided to follow his fleeting thought.

 

Wen Yu pressed pause, put down the controller, stood up from the sofa, and walked toward Fu Yuhan.

 

“I already told you to sleep in the room…” he murmured, slipping one hand under the other’s body, then slowly lifting him up.

 

The school uniform jacket slipped down, body temperature transmitted through the thin summer school uniform. Fu Yuhan had long arms and legs with a slender build, but when lifted, he wasn’t as awkward as he looked.

 

Wen Yu lowered his gaze, one hand supporting his arm, the other half-embracing his waist.

 

That waist he had glimpsed in the afternoon.

 

“His waist is quite soft,” Wen Yu thought nonchalantly, slowly carrying him into the bedroom.

 

—His heart is quite soft too.

 

##

---

 

 (advanced chapters available on kofi)