An Empty Seat

That day, Xu Shuche showered for nearly an hour.

Jian Yixun lasted far too long.

By the middle of it, Xu Shuche’s hand was so sore that he pitifully begged to stop.

But Jian Yixun held his wrist and made him continue.

His palm was rubbed red.

The steam in the bathroom made his head dizzy.

His usual rationality was tossed aside.

Leaning against Jian Yixun, he let himself be guided, feeling exhausted from head to toe.

Only after the two teammates outside finally left did it end.

He stumbled out of the stall.

He hurriedly dried himself and pulled on his clothes.

Only after putting his glasses back on did his sense of security return.

His eyes were red as he pressed his lips together and looked at Jian Yixun.

The earlier heat had faded from Jian Yixun’s head.

Now he felt guilty and didn’t dare meet Xu Shuche’s gaze.

He changed into a fresh tank top.

Just as he was about to put on his shirt, he heard a soft sniff behind him.

“Senior?”

He turned around.

Xu Shuche had turned his face away, clearly unwilling to look at him.

Jian Yixun quickly finished dressing and crouched down in front of him, softening his voice.

“Senior, what’s wrong?”

Xu Shuche wiped his eyes.

His voice carried a sob.

“You’re awful. Why are you like this again?”

“But senior felt good too, didn’t you?”

Jian Yixun scratched his head.

“It was just helping each other out. As long as it feels good, isn’t that enough?”

Xu Shuche’s eyes were red from crying.

He shot him a glare through misty lashes.

“What do you know?”

“Okay, okay, I don’t know.”

Jian Yixun coaxed him like soothing a bristling cat.

“Don’t cry, alright? I was wrong.”

Xu Shuche choked out, “What were you wrong about?”

“I was wrong, wrong…”

The foolish straight guy couldn’t figure out where he’d gone wrong.

He only knew that if Xu Shuche cried, he had to apologize.

After stammering uselessly, he scratched his head anxiously.

“Senior, I’m wrong, but I don’t know where. Tell me, okay?”

Xu Shuche bit his lip.

Tears pooled in his eyes.

After a while, he opened his palm for him to see.

“My hand hurts. It’s all red.”

His voice was aggrieved.

“I said I couldn’t take it anymore and didn’t want to continue, but you forced me. It hurts so much. You bullied me again.”

Jian Yixun coughed heavily, his face burning.

He had thought everything was fine after release.

But Xu Shuche’s soft accusation shook the fragile rationality he had rebuilt.

This time, in that cramped stall, he had seen everything clearly.

How he made his senior cry.

How his senior curled his toes against him when he felt good.

How soft his earlobes were.

How sensitive he became afterward.

Jian Yixun had always disliked delicate boys.

Especially those who cried easily.

But when Xu Shuche cried, only two thoughts remained in his mind.

Senior looks beautiful when he cries.

And…

What if he cried a little harder?

The thought startled him.

He clumsily wiped away Xu Shuche’s tears.

“I’m sorry, senior. Forgive me, okay? I swear I won’t force you again. Don’t ignore me.”

Xu Shuche looked at him, voice trembling.

“You promise.”

“I promise.”

Jian Yixun felt like something must have been wrong with his brain earlier.

How could he want Xu Shuche to cry more?

Seeing him cry now only made his chest ache.

“Then pinky swear.”

Xu Shuche extended his little finger.

“If you break it, I’ll really, really never talk to you again.”

Jian Yixun immediately hooked his finger with Xu Shuche’s slender one and shook it gently.

“I promise I won’t bully you again.”

“That’s better.”

Xu Shuche frowned at his palm.

“My wrist is still so sore.”

“I’ll massage it?”

“No.”

Xu Shuche dodged him and stood up.

“I’m leaving. Reflect on yourself. I’m not having lunch with you.”

Jian Yixun sighed in frustration.

“What about the basketball game this weekend? You’ll come, right?”

Xu Shuche paused.

“I don’t know. Depends on your performance.”

Perhaps out of guilt, Jian Yixun didn’t pester him all week.

He focused on research and writing.

Xu Shuche enjoyed rare peace and finally submitted a long-delayed paper.

Their research group also progressed smoothly.

Working on “quantum decoherence,” they had translated foreign literature and moved ahead of other groups.

After Friday’s meeting, Xu Shuche packed his laptop.

He thought he was alone.

But Guan Jingshan, who had approached him before, was still there.

“Senior, are you free this weekend?”

Guan Jingshan leaned on the podium with a smile.

“You owe me a meal. If you’re free, let’s settle it.”

Weekend.

Xu Shuche adjusted his glasses.

He had promised Jian Yixun he would watch the game.

But after what happened, he hesitated.

Maybe he should distance himself.

Their relationship felt like a buried landmine.

He took a breath.

“This weekend, I…”

“He already has plans.”

Jian Yixun’s voice came from the doorway, tinged with displeasure.

“Senior, didn’t you promise to watch my game?”

Guan Jingshan’s polite expression twisted briefly.

“Unlucky timing then. I’ll ask senior next time.”

He left after saying goodbye.

Jian Yixun leaned forward, hands on the desk.

“You’re not really going to eat with him, right? You promised me.”

“I said it depends on your performance.”

“I know you don’t like people clinging to you. I stayed away all week to give you space. Are you satisfied?”

Xu Shuche’s fingers tightened on the edge of his book.

“Don’t do this. It makes me feel pressured.”

Jian Yixun straightened, disappointment flickering in his voice.

“Alright. I won’t ask.”

On Saturday morning, Xu Shuche woke at seven-thirty despite being able to sleep in.

The game started at ten.

He still had time to decide.

He cleared a dungeon in “Jianghu Dream,” revised his paper.

Time crawled.

Even if he arrived late, he could still watch.

He paced the dorm restlessly.

He couldn’t focus.

It wasn’t for Jian Yixun, he told himself.

The other teammates invited him too.

That’s why he would go.

On the court, Jian Yixun didn’t know about the internal struggle.

He only knew the seat he reserved remained empty.

“Brother Xun, warm up.”

“…Yeah.”

He walked slowly.

If he hadn’t come by now, he probably wouldn’t.

He deliberately avoided looking at the empty seat.

B University’s team was strong.

They weren’t nervous.

When Xu Shuche finally arrived, the game had started.

The home crowd roared.

A sports department girl greeted him warmly when he said he was Jian Yixun’s friend.

“You’re the friend? No wonder he saved you a seat!”

Saved him a seat.

Xu Shuche’s heart stirred.

He searched the court and found Jian Yixun in an orange jersey, tall and radiant in the sunlight.

After scoring, Jian Yixun glanced toward the stands—

—and froze.

The empty seat was no longer empty.

Joy flooded him.

He slapped Lin Xiu in excitement.

The rest of the half, he played like a wound spring.

He scored two brilliant three-pointers.

The crowd erupted.

After the second one, he ran toward the stands and waved at Xu Shuche.

Some people shine brightest in what they love.

Xu Shuche sighed softly and waved back with a shy smile.

Jian Yixun returned to the court energized, earning a scolding from Lin Xiu.

“You’re like a peacock showing off!”

“I’m in a good mood today.”

By halftime, the opponent had nearly given up.

After the game, the team would go celebrate.

He would bring Xu Shuche along.

Then everything would be fine.

Thinking this, Jian Yixun glanced up—

—and saw the seat empty again.