Returning the Dormitory Key

The dormitory key lay quietly in Jian Yixun’s hand, like a burning hot potato.

This was even harder for him to accept than being blocked by Xu Shuche on WeChat.

“You’re giving the key back to me—then where are you going to live?”

Jian Yixun almost ground his teeth to pieces, barely maintaining the last shred of rationality he had.

“You’re going back to live with that idiot? Don’t joke around. Take the key and go back to my dorm.”

“I’ve already found a place.”

Xu Shuche seemed not to notice his irritation and spoke softly.

“The place is very close to school. Going to and from classes will be convenient. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Jian Yixun’s eyes widened suddenly.

He had always believed that no one would truly reject him.

Even if someone refused him, it was usually just a show.

As long as he coaxed them a little, how could they possibly not come back?

But now he had met Xu Shuche.

A person who didn’t treat him as important at all.

Jian Yixun swallowed the anger boiling in his chest.

He couldn’t vent it at Xu Shuche, so he had to endure it silently, following Xu Shuche into the classroom where their group meeting was about to begin, his face dark with irritation.

Feng Zhou and the others had already arrived.

When they saw Xu Shuche, they looked up and greeted him.

“Morning, senior.”

Xu Shuche nodded.

Before he could say anything, a junior from the physics department burst out excitedly.

“Senior, senior! Did you know? Our first draft was praised by the professor!”

“Brother Guan secretly showed the professor the first draft yesterday.”

The other students chimed in one after another.

“The professor said the translation in our draft is very accurate.”

“And the foreign references we cited are also very appropriate.”

“This is all thanks to senior’s help.”

Xu Shuche’s face flushed slightly.

He looked a little embarrassed by the praise.

“It’s not really just my credit.”

“It’s because everyone worked hard. I couldn’t have done it alone.”

“Senior is being too modest.”

At that moment Guan Jingshan appeared at the door.

Hearing this, he slowly walked over and stood beside Xu Shuche with deliberate closeness.

“Senior’s academic level is recognized throughout the entire department.”

“It’s our honor that senior joined our group.”

Xu Shuche coughed lightly and avoided the somewhat intense gaze directed at him.

Jian Yixun slowly ran his tongue over the back of his teeth.

A heavy gloom pressed down between his brows.

“Brother Xun?”

Only then did Guan Jingshan seem to notice Jian Yixun.

He pretended to look surprised.

“Why are you standing here instead of finding a seat?”

Jian Yixun sneered.

“I was chatting with senior on the way here just now.”

“We arrived halfway through the conversation, so I was waiting to finish the rest of it.”

“I didn’t expect him to want to talk with you first.”

Guan Jingshan seemed not to notice the displeasure hidden in his words and continued smiling politely.

“Is that so?”

“Then I’m really sorry, Brother Xun.”

“How about you finish chatting with senior after the meeting ends?”

“Sure.”

The two words were practically squeezed out from between Jian Yixun’s teeth.

He stared darkly at Xu Shuche and Guan Jingshan.

“After the meeting, let’s have a proper talk.”

After saying that, he did not make things difficult for Xu Shuche.

He carried his bag and walked to the last row of the meeting room.

The backpack landed on the desk with a loud bang.

The noise made the surrounding group members glance over nervously before quietly moving their seats farther away.

Everyone knew Jian Yixun had a bad temper.

No one dared provoke him when he was in such a foul mood.

Xu Shuche glanced at him briefly before lowering his head again to adjust his PowerPoint slides.

Sometimes Jian Yixun seemed like a child.

At other times he resembled a young master who had never experienced hardship.

Even such a small matter could break his composure.

Xu Shuche’s lips curved slightly in a self-mocking smile.

If Jian Yixun had suffered a little more in life, perhaps he wouldn’t be so fragile.

Xu Shuche raised his head and spoke gently.

“Today’s meeting is mainly to refine one of the issues in our project…”

The meeting went smoothly.

Jian Yixun didn’t cause trouble.

Yet even without looking at him, Xu Shuche could feel a burning gaze following him persistently.

There was stubbornness in it.

And grievance.

It made Xu Shuche uneasy.

He couldn’t understand why this young master was behaving like this.

Didn’t he have many friends already?

Losing one friend shouldn’t be such a big deal.

Why did he look as if he couldn’t live without it?

Xu Shuche didn’t understand.

And he didn’t care to understand.

Near the end of the meeting, he answered a few questions from group members.

Just as he was about to eject the USB drive from the computer, someone stepped onto the podium and lightly tapped the desk.

Xu Shuche looked up and met Guan Jingshan’s smiling face.

“I wonder if senior remembers,” Guan Jingshan said warmly, “last time you owed me a meal.”

“If you’re free today at noon, would you like to have lunch together?”

Xu Shuche had just begun to nod when a loud cough sounded nearby.

Guan Jingshan’s gentle smile remained, but now carried a hint of teasing.

“Oh? Brother Xun, do you have something to discuss with senior?”

“Yes.”

Jian Yixun spoke in a low voice.

“After the meeting ends, we’ll talk.”

Xu Shuche removed the USB drive from the computer and replied calmly.

“You’re the one who wants to talk to me. I never agreed.”

Jian Yixun widened his eyes but had no way to refute it.

Xu Shuche was right.

Jian Yixun wanted the conversation, but Xu Shuche had never agreed to it.

Guan Jingshan watched the changing expressions of his “love rival” for a while before finally speaking leisurely.

“Brother Xun, don’t learn to pester people like this.”

“It’s not very graceful.”

Jian Yixun’s hand at his side clenched tightly.

If they weren’t inside the teaching building, he might have already punched this guy surnamed Guan.

Xu Shuche looked at Jian Yixun’s expression and felt that he might explode from anger soon.

He sighed softly and tried to smooth things over.

“Xiao Guan, didn’t you say you wanted to treat me to lunch?”

“Let’s go.”

“Lunch?”

Jian Yixun immediately became alert, like a puppy raising its ears in case it missed something important.

“I haven’t eaten yet. I’m coming too.”

“Stop fooling around, Jian Yixun, you—”

Before Xu Shuche could finish speaking, Guan Jingshan said gently.

“Sure, Brother Xun. Let’s go together.”

Since the meal was meant to treat Guan Jingshan, he was the one who chose the restaurant.

He picked a fairly affordable spicy hotpot restaurant.

Like a gentleman, he pulled out a chair for Xu Shuche.

Just as he was about to sit beside Xu Shuche himself, Jian Yixun got there first.

For once, a hint of surprise appeared on Guan Jingshan’s usually calm face.

“Ah, sorry about that.”

Jian Yixun leaned lazily against the chair back.

He had finally won a round.

“I’ve always sat next to senior before, so I’m used to it.”

“Do you want me to move and give you the seat?”

“No need.”

Even someone as well-mannered as Guan Jingshan found it difficult not to curse.

Still, he maintained his polite expression.

“Sitting opposite is fine too.”

He sat across from Xu Shuche and opened the menu.

“How about ordering a combo spicy hotpot?”

“What do you think, senior?”

“You can choose.”

Xu Shuche tried hard to ignore the burning gaze from the person beside him.

“I’m fine with anything.”

Guan Jingshan nodded and was about to scan the code to order.

But a hand suddenly pressed down on the menu.

“Wait a moment.”

Jian Yixun slightly raised his head and raised an eyebrow at Guan Jingshan provocatively.

“Senior can’t eat spicy food. See if there’s an option without chili.”

He paused for a moment and continued in a tone that almost sounded like boasting.

“Oh right. Senior also doesn’t like mushrooms, green peppers, or cilantro.”

“When you order, remember that.”

Guan Jingshan narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Brother Xun seems to know senior’s tastes very well.”

“Of course.”

Finally, after so long, Guan Jingshan had said something Jian Yixun liked hearing.

“I often eat with senior.”

“I know exactly what he likes and what he doesn’t like.”

“If you’re unsure about anything, you can ask me anytime.”

“I guarantee I’ll tell you everything.”

The table in the restaurant was small.

Jian Yixun on one side.

Guan Jingshan on the other.

It felt as if World War III might break out across this tiny wooden table.

Xu Shuche had no interest in listening to their veiled verbal battle.

He stood up.

“I’ll go order at the counter.”

“Senior, want me to come with you?” Jian Yixun looked up eagerly.

“What if you don’t know what to order?”

“I often come here with the basketball team.”

“No need.”

Xu Shuche avoided his gaze.

“Just sit properly.”

After Xu Shuche walked away, the smile on Guan Jingshan’s face disappeared.

He spoke irritably in a low voice.

“Jian Yixun, what exactly are you jealous about?”

“I’m not jealous.”

Jian Yixun leaned back, balancing on the back legs of his chair.

“I’m just concerned about senior.”

“I’m worried he might get tricked by a scumbag.”

“Don’t be nervous.”

“Just concerned about senior?”

Guan Jingshan sneered.

Then he suddenly asked,

“Did you two have a fight?”

The legs of Jian Yixun’s chair slammed heavily back onto the floor.

“Stop asking so many questions.”

“Mind your own business. There’s nothing to be curious about.”

“I’m not just curious.”

Guan Jingshan looked at him thoughtfully.

“I’m just wondering why the famous straight guy Jian Yixun from our university is suddenly so nervous about another man.”

“Could it be that you…”

“…are already together with Senior Xu?”

Jian Yixun suddenly leaned forward like a dog whose tail had been stepped on.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Stop slandering our friendship.”

“Oh, friendship.”

The irritation on Guan Jingshan’s face disappeared.

The confident expression Jian Yixun hated returned.

“You scared me.”

“I thought Senior Xu must have terrible judgment to end up with a brainless straight guy like you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Jian Yixun narrowed his eyes.

“I’m warning you. If you go around spreading nonsense, I’ll—”

Guan Jingshan smiled slightly as he watched Jian Yixun’s helpless anger.

The frustration from having his date interrupted finally faded away.

“Why would I spread nonsense?”

“Since Brother Xun followed us here today, I might as well be honest.”

“I don’t like stealing someone else’s partner.”

“Before, I thought you and senior were a couple, so I didn’t act.”

“But now I know you two aren’t together.”

“So I won’t hold back anymore.”

Guan Jingshan rested his chin on his hand and said clearly, word by word.

“Brother Xun.”

“I like Senior Xu.”

“And I want to pursue him.”