A Confession and an Unexpected Invitation Home

Some people really have the talent for bringing up exactly the topic they shouldn’t.

Xu Shuche looked at Jian Yixun’s completely innocent expression and sighed softly.

“What’s wrong, senior? Are you unhappy?”

Jian Yixun casually wiped his hair and sat down beside him.

“You were fine before I went to shower.”

“I’m fine.”

Xu Shuche subconsciously avoided his gaze and lied.

“I’m not unhappy.”

Jian Yixun stared at him quietly for a moment, then carefully reached out and poked his cheek.

Xu Shuche jumped back in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re frowning and still saying you’re not unhappy?” Jian Yixun said.

“You’re always lying to me.”

Xu Shuche had never talked about his family with anyone.

During his undergraduate years, when his roommates stayed up late chatting about their families, he never participated.

Before winter or summer breaks, when someone kindly offered to accompany him to the station, he would politely refuse.

To him, family was not a harbor for shelter.

It was another place that made him suffer.

So he instinctively tried to hide and avoid it.

As long as he never talked about his family, it was as if that shameful home didn’t exist.

But looking into Jian Yixun’s eyes, he suddenly felt the urge to tell him everything.

Xu Shuche pressed his lips together.

After struggling for a moment, he said with difficulty,

“Actually… I am a little unhappy.”

Jian Yixun had already prepared himself for Xu Shuche to brush him off again.

He had even thought that if Xu Shuche didn’t want to talk, he would simply stop asking.

But he never expected Xu Shuche to actually be willing to open up.

“Why are you unhappy?” Jian Yixun asked.

“Is it about your research project or something else?”

After asking, his eyes widened.

He suddenly jumped up.

“Wait—don’t tell me that idiot across the hall is bothering you again?!”

Xu Shuche had been struggling with his thoughts.

Hearing Jian Yixun say this, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you talking about? That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“You asked me earlier when I would go home for the winter break.”

“I didn’t tell you the truth.”

Xu Shuche’s gaze fell on the table behind Jian Yixun.

He didn’t quite dare look at his reaction.

“I’m not going home.”

“My relationship with my family isn’t good.”

“When Wang Shimei exposed that I liked boys and the whole school found out, the teachers thought it would affect the school’s reputation.”

“So they called my father.”

“When my father found out, he was furious.”

“He was drunk.”

“He came to the school carrying a beer bottle and beat me in the teacher’s office.”

Xu Shuche subconsciously touched his right shoulder.

As if the old injury there still ached faintly.

Jian Yixun suddenly remembered the scene he had seen in the basketball team’s shower room that day.

His heart skipped a beat.

He remembered that Xu Shuche indeed had a scar on his right shoulder.

At the time he hadn’t thought much about it.

But now that he thought back…

It might have been caused by that bottle.

It must have hurt a lot.

“My father is an alcoholic and abusive.”

“When I was six, my mother finally broke down after years of being beaten.”

“She asked for a divorce.”

“The police who handled the case were very kind.”

“They didn’t say it was just a family matter.”

“They seriously opened a case for her.”

“She wanted to take me with her.”

“But my father refused no matter what.”

Xu Shuche’s voice remained calm.

As if this terrifying story hadn’t happened to him personally.

“She had no choice but to leave alone.”

“She couldn’t take me with her.”

“After she left, my father had no job and no money.”

“So he had to find work.”

“His drinking improved a little.”

“He’s very old-fashioned.”

“He believes children exist to carry on the family line.”

“So when he found out I was gay, he was furious.”

“He thought our family bloodline had been cut off.”

Jian Yixun had grown up in B City.

Stories like this were rare for him to hear.

Especially the “continuing the bloodline” part.

He almost laughed from anger.

“What the hell?”

“Continuing the bloodline?”

Jian Yixun ground his teeth.

“Does he think he’s the emperor or something?”

“Is there some throne waiting to be inherited?”

Xu Shuche had been feeling depressed.

But hearing Jian Yixun say that made him smile slightly.

“I don’t know.”

“Anyway, I won’t go back.”

“Then where will you stay during the holiday?” Jian Yixun asked.

“If you don’t go home, the school staff will leave before the New Year.”

“What if they force you to leave?”

Xu Shuche shrugged casually.

“Then I’ll find some cheap hotel.”

“I’ll stay there until two weeks before school starts in February.”

“By then the teachers will be back and the school will reopen.”

“That’s not okay!”

Jian Yixun slammed the table and stood up.

His voice was full of anxiety.

“Haven’t you heard?”

“Those hotels aren’t safe.”

“People break into rooms at night.”

“And there might even be hidden cameras filming you.”

“They upload it online to make money!”

“I know, but—”

“There’s no ‘but.’”

Usually Jian Yixun was easygoing and listened to Xu Shuche about everything.

But when it came to this, he was stubbornly firm.

Xu Shuche blinked in confusion.

Jian Yixun looked into those beautiful eyes and suddenly said,

“Then come to my house.”

Xu Shuche’s first reaction was to refuse.

First, it was the Lunar New Year.

Going to someone else’s house during such a time felt inappropriate.

Second, he liked men.

What if someone in Jian Yixun’s family noticed?

But Jian Yixun never gave up.

For an entire week he clung to Xu Shuche and kept persuading him.

Xu Shuche explained all his concerns.

But Jian Yixun repeatedly promised it wouldn’t cause trouble.

He said that in previous winter breaks, many friends had stayed at his house.

In the end, Xu Shuche was convinced.

On the last day before leaving school, he followed Jian Yixun home.

He had already guessed that Jian Yixun’s family was wealthy.

But he hadn’t expected him to be this rich.

The car that came to pick them up looked simple and understated.

Yet it carried an unmistakable aura of luxury.

The driver was extremely professional.

Even when he saw Xu Shuche, a stranger, beside Jian Yixun, he asked no questions.

The car stopped in front of a siheyuan courtyard house.

Jian Yixun got out first and helped Xu Shuche take out his luggage.

“Don’t be nervous.”

“Just treat this like your own home.”

He led Xu Shuche inside.

“We live on this side.”

“My parents live over there.”

“And those rooms across the yard are guest rooms.”

“Shouldn’t I stay in the guest room?” Xu Shuche asked.

“Should I go greet your parents first?”

“There aren’t that many rules.”

Jian Yixun wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

Xu Shuche was practically pulled into his embrace as they walked.

“You’ll stay in my room.”

“It’s fine.”

“My parents probably aren’t home yet.”

“We’ll greet them when they come back.”

They had just entered the room and put down the luggage when someone knocked on the door.

“Xiao Jian.”

The housekeeper’s voice came from outside.

“A child from the Xing family said he’s coming to see you later.”

“Don’t forget.”

“He specifically called this morning.”

Jian Yixun responded.

But he felt puzzled.

Xing Bai usually preferred bars and nightclubs.

Why would he come here during such a great holiday?

Jian Yixun took out his phone.

Just as he was about to message Xing Bai, the other person called first.

“Hey, Jian Yixun.”

The background on Xing Bai’s side sounded noisy.

Like a train station.

“I’ve already left.”

“I’ll be at your place in about ten minutes.”

Jian Yixun glanced at Xu Shuche, who was busy unpacking.

He covered the phone and stepped out into the hallway.

“What are you coming here for?”

“What, your house isn’t open to visitors?” Xing Bai replied.

“I’ve gone there plenty of times before.”

“Why are you suddenly so nervous today?”

“It’s not that.”

Jian Yixun clicked his tongue.

“I have a guest here.”

“A guest?”

Xing Bai’s voice stretched teasingly.

“Oh—your senior, right?”

“Be honest, Jian Yixun.”

“Do you actually like him?”

“Otherwise why invite him all the way to your house during New Year?”

“Isn’t he going home?”

“Ask so many questions and you’ll die,” Jian Yixun said coldly.

“Watch your mouth.”

“You’re so unfriendly.”

Xing Bai pretended to sound hurt.

“You’ll never find a wife like this.”

“Whether I find a wife or not has nothing to do with you.”

Jian Yixun had spent four months carefully building a good image in front of Xu Shuche.

He couldn’t let Xing Bai ruin it.

“Don’t come.”

“Or I’ll beat you up.”

“Are you afraid I’ll interrupt your private time with your senior?”

Xing Bai laughed.

“Too late.”

“I’m already at your gate.”

Then he hung up.

Not giving Jian Yixun a chance to curse him.

When Jian Yixun returned, Xu Shuche glanced sideways at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… one of my friends is coming.”

“His name is Xing Bai.”

Jian Yixun coughed awkwardly.

“He’s a bit frivolous.”

“If he offends you, I apologize in advance.”

Xu Shuche opened his mouth to reassure him.

But before he could speak, the doorbell rang.

Standing outside was a young man in a casual suit.

His hair was styled carefully with gel.

He clearly looked like a wealthy young master.

Xu Shuche followed Jian Yixun out of the room.

At first glance, he assumed this must be the friend Jian Yixun mentioned.

Just as he was about to greet him—

Another person stepped out from behind that young master.

The boy smiled shyly.

His expression was gentle and youthful.

Wasn’t there supposed to be only one friend?

Why was there another one?

Before anyone else could speak, the shy boy spoke first.

His eyes stuck to Jian Yixun as if glued there.

“Brother Xun.”

“We haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

His voice was soft and gentle.

“Did you miss me?”