The Taste of Strawberry

Jian Yixun had prepared the gift with great effort.

He couldn’t even wait for the event to end.

After asking around the student union, he quickly found out where Xu Shuche was.

When he pushed the door open, Xu Shuche was standing with his back to him, still wearing that fitted black suit.

He hadn’t been mistaken earlier on stage.

Xu Shuche looked exceptionally good in black.

The tailored cut outlined a flawless waist-to-leg ratio, making Jian Yixun involuntarily recall that fleeting glimpse in the bathroom that day.

His body moved faster than his mind.

Before he fully registered what he was doing, he had already stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Xu Shuche’s narrow waist.

Xu Shuche’s frame was slim.

Curled up in his embrace, he felt unexpectedly soft.

“Jian Yixun.”

Xu Shuche’s voice was muffled.

“Let go.”

Reluctantly, Jian Yixun loosened his arms.

Lowering his head, he noticed that Xu Shuche’s meticulously styled hair had been ruffled into a mess.

The distant, icy aura from the stage vanished instantly.

It was as if Xu Shuche had transformed from everyone’s “Senior Xu” back into his own slightly petulant senior.

The thought gave Jian Yixun a strange, secret sense of pride.

Others couldn’t see this side of him.

But he could.

Xu Shuche fixed his crooked glasses and shot him a glare.

“What are you doing?”

“Came to see you.”

Jian Yixun showed no remorse.

“Aren’t you touched?”

“Not at all.”

Xu Shuche turned away, biting his lip.

“Really?”

Jian Yixun leaned closer, hands behind his back.

“What about this?”

He presented the pink Aifulai paper bag like a treasure.

“Want some, Senior?”

Xu Shuche’s stomach had been aching with hunger.

The moment he saw the bag, his eyes lit up uncontrollably.

“You bought Aifulai?”

“Queued for it.”

Jian Yixun felt smug seeing that expression.

“Like it?”

Inside were his favorite strawberry cake and a box of cream puffs.

“Aifulai is hard to line up for.”

Xu Shuche murmured.

“You must’ve waited a long time.

Last time they told me it’d be two hours.”

“It wasn’t that long.”

The word “yes” lingered at Jian Yixun’s lips before he swallowed it.

There was no point mentioning how long he’d waited.

A gift wasn’t meant to come with a receipt of effort.

Xu Shuche carefully tied the bag closed again.

“How much was it?

I’ll transfer you the money.”

“Transfer me money for what?”

Jian Yixun pulled over a chair and waved grandly.

“It’s a gift.

Didn’t I say I’d coax you?”

He looked up.

“When are you leaving?

I’ll walk you back.”

“You go outside first.”

Xu Shuche hesitated.

“I… need to change.”

“We’re both guys.”

Jian Yixun leaned back and resumed his game.

“Change.

I won’t look.”

Xu Shuche glanced at him.

He clearly had no intention of leaving.

The heat in Xu Shuche’s chest hadn’t settled yet.

Jian Yixun’s aftershave lingered in the air.

Strong and undeniable.

It reminded him vaguely of something.

Like the “Alpha pheromones” described in a BL novel he once read.

The thought flustered him.

His movements grew clumsy until he realized the tie had become hopelessly tangled.

It wasn’t tied by him but by Dai Zhen, in a complicated knot.

Now it was a mess.

After struggling uselessly, he closed his eyes briefly.

“Jian Yixun.”

Game sounds blared from the speaker.

“Jian Yixun!”

He raised his voice.

“What?”

“My tie…

I can’t untie it.”

Xu Shuche avoided his gaze.

“Can you help me?”

His white shirt was half unbuttoned.

A pale collarbone peeked through, faint red marks where the knot had scraped.

The shirt was thin enough to hint at the smooth lines beneath.

His gold-rimmed glasses slid slightly down his nose, adding a restrained contrast to the half-undone attire.

Jian Yixun stared.

Until Xu Shuche, flushed and annoyed, called his name again.

He snapped back and tossed his phone aside.

“How do I help?”

“The tie.”

Xu Shuche lowered his head.

“Help me untie it.”

Jian Yixun stepped closer and grasped the knot.

Xu Shuche held his breath.

He could feel Jian Yixun’s gaze drifting across his collarbone.

His breath was warm against his skin.

“Hurry.”

Xu Shuche urged softly.

“That tickles… Don’t touch there…”

A breathy sound slipped out.

Jian Yixun’s fingers brushed hard against his collarbone.

“You did that on purpose.”

“I didn’t!”

Jian Yixun protested.

“How am I supposed to know you’re that sensitive?”

“I’m not sensitive.”

Xu Shuche tried to grab the tie, but Jian Yixun caught his wrist.

“Don’t move.

Almost done.”

His hair brushed against Xu Shuche’s chin.

Finally, the knot loosened.

Jian Yixun looked up.

Xu Shuche’s neck was fully exposed.

He swallowed.

Without thinking, he reached out and brushed his thumb over Xu Shuche’s Adam’s apple.

“Your skin is really good.”

Xu Shuche felt like he was drowning.

A thousand drums beating in his chest.

“Who told you to touch me?”

He shoved Jian Yixun away, cheeks flushed.

“I’ll get mad.”

His voice was soft and slightly hoarse.

It sounded more like an invitation than a warning.

Jian Yixun was baffled.

Between brothers, wasn’t roughhousing normal?

Why react like that?

Almost like…

A shy girl.

The thought amused him.

If Xu Shuche were a girl, he’d be a very pretty one.

Xu Shuche didn’t know what ridiculous thought had crossed his mind.

He only saw Jian Yixun grinning.

Embarrassed and annoyed, he grabbed his jacket and threw it at him.

“Go out.”

“You only bully me.”

He pushed Jian Yixun toward the door.

The push was soft.

More stubborn than strong.

Jian Yixun let himself be pushed to the hallway.

Before the door shut, he caught the frame.

“Dinner together later?”

“No!”

Xu Shuche slammed the door.

Jian Yixun wasn’t upset at all.

He whistled lightly.

“I’ll wait outside, Senior.”

He wandered down the corridor, hands in pockets.

Then he spotted Qu Chao approaching.

Bad luck.

Jian Yixun considered slipping into the stairwell.

But Qu Chao called brightly.

“Junior!

You came?”

Jian Yixun turned reluctantly.

Qu Chao’s eyes shone.

And suddenly Jian Yixun remembered Xu Shuche’s eyes lighting up at the sight of the Aifulai bag.

Clear and bright like spring water.

Much prettier.

“You said you wouldn’t come.”

Qu Chao fidgeted.

“Is this a surprise for me?”

His gaze fell on the empty Aifulai bag.

“You know I love their strawberry cake?

I waited three hours last time—”

“You’re overthinking.”

Jian Yixun cut him off.

“It’s not for you.”

He glanced toward the closed makeup room door.

“I bought it for my senior.

And I came to see Xu Shuche.

What does that have to do with you?

Don’t flatter yourself.”