TMWTGD CH23

Lu Li’s gaze darkened abruptly. “Make love?”

After uttering those words, Xie Jianwei froze obediently, not daring to move a muscle. He was so bashful that the tips of his ears were flushed completely red.

Lu Li had no idea how he managed to cling to his remaining shred of sanity. “Do you… want to make love with me?”

Xie Jianwei nodded.

Lu Li asked, “Do you know what this means?”

Xie Jianwei’s voice trembled slightly. “O-Of course I know. Only people who like each other can… can…” In the end, he was too embarrassed to say the words aloud.

Staring at his graceful neck, Lu Li said in a low voice, “It is not just liking.”

Puzzled, Xie Jianwei looked up at him. “Hm?”

Lu Li met his gaze, his dark eyes deep enough to obscure whatever stirred within them. “This is something only people who love each other can do.”

Xie Jianwei’s heart pounded furiously. Though flustered and completely at a loss, he stubbornly held Lu Li’s gaze as he said, “Doctor Lu, I love you.”

Lu Li made no sound.

Thinking he had not heard, Xie Jianwei repeated it in a louder voice, “Doctor Lu, I love you!”

After a long silence, Lu Li smiled faintly, gathered him into his embrace, and sighed softly. “You are still too young.”

Xie Jianwei muttered in a muffled voice, “I am already seventeen!”

“Yes, you are only seventeen.”

Xie Jianwei was speechless.

Lu Li said, “Be good. When you come of age, we can discuss this again.”

Xie Jianwei wanted to argue further, but Lu Li pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, standing up as he said, “I still have some work to finish. Go to sleep on your own first.”

Seeing that he was leaving, Xie Jianwei forgot all about their previous topic and tugged anxiously at his hem. “Doctor Lu!”

Lu Li offered a gentle smile that seemed just like usual, yet somehow felt quite different. He said to Xie Jianwei, “Good night.”

Xie Jianwei hated to see him go, yet did not want to make things difficult for Lu Li with childish petulance.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Lu Li had already departed.

Stunned for a second, Xie Jianwei burrowed into the quilt with a face full of disappointment.

Knowing there were surveillance cameras in the room, Xie Jianwei put on a one-man show for a while.

Dejection, inner turmoil, grief, and confusion were all played out thoroughly.

Performing away, Best Actor Xie eventually drifted off to sleep.

Everything was well within expectations.

Lu Li held very firm boundaries, refusing to touch him before he was of age, which was truly something.

The next day proceeded as usual.

Lu Li prepared an exquisite breakfast, and after sitting down at the dining table, Xie Jianwei could not help stealing glances at him.

His worries were written plain across his face, making it impossible for Lu Li to miss them.

Xie Jianwei did not look up, continuously stirring the millet congee with his spoon.

Lu Li asked him, “Does it not taste good?”

Xie Jianwei said, “It smells wonderful.”

Lu Li asked again, “Are you not hungry, then?”

Xie Jianwei paused, finally setting down his spoon and looking up at Lu Li. “Where did you go last night?”

Lu Li said, “I slept in the guest room.”

Somewhat hurt, Xie Jianwei asked, “Why didn’t you sleep in our room?”

Lu Li said, “It was too late by the time I finished working, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

Xie Jianwei replied immediately, “I sleep late, I’m not afraid of being disturbed!”

Lu Li smiled faintly and shook his head. “Alright, eat up, or it will get cold.”

Since he had no wish to continue the conversation, Xie Jianwei had to swallow his words, chewing mechanically through the breakfast as though it were completely tasteless.

Since they first met, this was the stiffest the atmosphere between them had ever been.

Neither spoke a word, leaving only the clinking of porcelain bowls and plates breaking the silence.

After the meal, Lu Li prepared to leave.

Xie Jianwei sulked and refused to look at him.

Dressed and heading downstairs, Lu Li finally called softly to him, “Come here.”

After a brief hesitation, Xie Jianwei walked over anyway.

Leaning down, Lu Li met his eyes. “Are you angry?”

Xie Jianwei lowered his head.

Lu Li cupped his cheeks in his hands, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead. “In just a few months, you will turn eighteen. When that time comes, I will yield to your every wish.”

Xie Jianwei’s eyes brightened. “Doctor Lu…”

Lu Li sealed his lips in a kiss that was gentle and restrained, yet carried a meaning sweet enough to make one’s head spin.

He said to Xie Jianwei, “I love you, so please grow up quickly.”

The corners of Xie Jianwei’s mouth lifted uncontrollably, overjoyed as if he had embraced the entire universe.

Lu Li went off to work, and Xie Jianwei was in splendid spirits. Although he knew Lu Li still carried an unresolved knot in his heart, such wonderful sweet words were impossible to hear too many times.

He loved him, and he loved him in return.

Could anything be more wonderful than this?

Xie Jianwei could not imagine it.

A few hours later, Number Two Lu Li arrived right on time.

In a delightful mood, Xie Jianwei found him increasingly pleasing to the eye, even knowing the fellow was here solely to stir up trouble.

Seeing him beaming with joy, Lu Yan asked with a wicked grin, “Did you do it?”

Xie Jianwei scoffed coldly, “Doctor Lu is nothing like you, with a head full of messy nonsense!”

Lu Yan was not surprised. “So you didn’t do it?”

With sweetness bubbling in his heart, Xie Jianwei’s lips stayed curved as he spoke, “Doctor Lu said I am still young, and he wants to wait until I am of age.”

Lu Yan let out an “oh” and said nothing more, merely watching Xie Jianwei with that amused smile.

Made uncomfortable by his stare, Xie Jianwei glared at him. “What wicked scheme are you plotting now?”

Lu Yan feigned innocence, “What bad scheme could I possibly plot? I am simply worrying myself sick over a foolish kid like you!”

Displeased, Xie Jianwei said, “I am not foolish, and I am not a child.”

Lu Yan said, “Setting aside whether you are foolish, as for being a child… was I wrong? Even your Doctor Lu treats you like a child.”

Xie Jianwei knitted his brows. “I will grow up sooner or later!”

Shaking his head, Lu Yan brushed through his soft hair with apparent helplessness.

Xie Jianwei dodged his hand. “Don’t touch me!”

Lu Yan did not press further, taking out today’s little gift to change the subject.

Still, Xie Jianwei felt he was acting rather strange today.

Lu Yan was playing hard to get. Had he been dealing with anyone other than Military Advisor Xie, little Xie would have been led around by the nose.

Leaving words unsaid, smiling with hidden meaning, and occasionally wearing an expression that seemed to say, “You really are so naive…”

These ploys were devastating to an adolescent youth. They were custom-tailored bait whose fragrance permeated the lake, making it almost impossible for a little fish not to bite.

Unfortunately, Xie Jianwei was no fish, he was the hunter.

Naturally, he had to take the bait first before leaping out of the water to tame this rascal properly.

Lu Yan appeared cynical and playful, but in truth he was remarkably patient.

For several days in a row, he accompanied Xie Jianwei in watching Doctor Lu’s daily routines, never once bringing up the previous topic.

Yet he constantly cast sympathetic glances toward Xie Jianwei.

When Xie Jianwei questioned him, he avoided the subject entirely.

This deliberate withholding only piqued Xie Jianwei’s curiosity to the maximum.

A week later, Lu Yan began pulling in the net.

Xie Jianwei could bear it no longer. “Just what are you trying to say?”

Lu Yan said, “You are still young. It is better not to know certain things.”

The more he spoke like that, the more curious Xie Jianwei became. He stopped watching Doctor Lu’s routines entirely, staring at Lu Yan as he demanded, “Can’t you speak plainly?”

Looking troubled, Lu Yan asked, “What if I do say it? You won’t believe me anyway.”

Xie Jianwei said, “If what you say is true, why wouldn’t I believe you?”

Lu Yan said meaningfully, “What I say might not be agreeable, but it is certainly true.”

Pretending not to catch the hidden nuance, Xie Jianwei pressed anxiously, “Just what do you want to say!”

Seeing that the timing was ripe and that teasing further might scare the fish away, Lu Yan said, “Do you truly think Lu Li refuses to sleep with you simply because you are young?”

Broaching this topic so abruptly caught Xie Jianwei off guard, since quite some time had passed since that night.

“What other reason could there be? Doctor Lu even said he loves me!”

Lu Yan smiled. “Which is why I say you truly are just a child.”

Xie Jianwei argued stubbornly, “I am not small!”

Lu Yan said, “When someone coaxes you with casual honeyed words, you take it as gospel. And you still claim you aren’t a child?”

Xie Jianwei caught his underlying meaning. “Doctor Lu would never deceive me.”

“Little Jianwei,” Lu Yan flicked his forehead, “grow some sense.”

Xie Jianwei grew angry. “If you speak ill of Doctor Lu again, get out of here. You aren’t welcome!”

Lu Yan promptly threw his hands up in surrender. “You were the one who asked me to speak, and now you are angry.”

Xie Jianwei said, “I didn’t ask you to spout nonsense!”

Lu Yan glanced at him, his expression suddenly turning serious. “Believe it or not, I will lay the truth right here today.”

Xie Jianwei had known him for a while now. Though Lu Yan looked identical to Lu Li, one was reserved and disciplined while the other loved playing pranks, making them easy to tell apart. Yet now that Lu Yan had turned solemn, a startling wave of familiarity washed over him, causing his heart to skip a beat.

Lu Yan said to him, “Seventeen is not young at all. If Lu Li truly loved you, he wouldn’t turn a blind eye to your advances. He has cared for you for so long that he probably treats you like a younger brother. He doesn’t want to make you sad, so he flatters you with sweet words while quietly planning to distance himself. Given enough time, you will never see him again.”

Xie Jianwei knitted his brows tightly.

Lu Yan added, “Think back yourself. Over this past week, has Lu Li not been keeping his distance from you?”

That question left Xie Jianwei speechless.

Lu Yan was quite calculating, asking this with absolute confidence.

Xie Jianwei had taken the initiative to make advances. Lu Li might hold back once, but he certainly could not endure a second time. With months left until eighteen, Lu Li had to keep his distance quietly to preserve his principles, otherwise he would never survive those months.

Successfully falling into the trap, Xie Jianwei feigned defiance, “He is not distancing himself at all.”

Lu Yan smiled at him. “Whether he is or not, you know best in your heart.”

Xie Jianwei pursed his lips uncomfortably, clearly in flustered disarray.

Lu Yan continued twisting the knife. “You don’t need to fret either. In a few months, you will discover…”

“Impossible!” Xie Jianwei cut him off sharply.

Lu Yan placated, “Don’t be angry.”

With his chest heaving and his complexion pale, Xie Jianwei said, “I… I am tired. Please leave.”

Lu Yan asked, “Not watching Doctor Lu anymore?”

Xie Jianwei glanced at the screen, sadness creeping into his eyes. “I am heading back to my room.”

Lu Yan left.

After moping around for an appropriate amount of time, Xie Jianwei went to inspect the cherry trees in the backyard.

What was the point of cherry trees that bore no fruit? He went to ponder how to cultivate the breed so the trees in the yard would ripen early and produce clusters of cherries, ideally each as large as a pigeon egg, sweeter than store-bought fruit, and bursting with juice.

The mere thought made his mouth water. Right after performing the role of an angsty, lovesick youth, Military Advisor Xie dove straight into agricultural pursuits.

The transition was remarkably fast and thoroughly natural.

After a short while of puttering about, Lu Li returned.

He immediately threw himself into the drama again. Lu Yan had laid such wonderful groundwork, so failing to drop a few hints would be doing a disservice to all that effort.

That evening, after tutoring him in his lessons, Lu Li rose to leave.

Xie Jianwei caught his clothes. “Stay.”

Lu Li said, “I still have work to attend to. Go to sleep first.”

Xie Jianwei watched him unblinkingly. “I will keep you company.”

Lu Li said, “It is all very dry material, and you will find it boring to watch.”

Yet Xie Jianwei insisted stubbornly, “I want to stay with you.”

Lu Li was very familiar with this side of Xie Jianwei, acting like this whenever he felt anxious, nervous, or terrified of losing something.

In the past, Lu Li would have indulged him, but today he hesitated before saying, “Get some rest early, alright?”

Xie Jianwei said no more, yet when Lu Li stepped out, he trailed behind him like a little shadow.

That night, Lu Li worked until the early hours of the morning. Xie Jianwei did nothing at all, simply watching him by his side without blinking, as if Doctor Lu might vanish the moment he looked away.

Lu Li could not describe the sensation in his heart, feeling both exceedingly sweet and deeply bitter.

Drowsiness weighed on Xie Jianwei’s eyelids, yet he refused to leave, his little head nodding rhythmically as the stray hairs on his forehead swayed like young willow twigs in early spring, radiating youthful innocence.

Feeling heartache for him in the end, Lu Li ceased their standoff. “Alright, let us go to sleep.”

Xie Jianwei scrambled to his feet at once, clasping his hand as he said, “Sleep together.”

Lu Li knew he had waited all this time precisely for this.

“Alright.”

Xie Jianwei broke into a bright smile, every trace of exhaustion swept from his delicate features, leaving only the pure contentment of getting his wish.

Words that had risen to Lu Li’s lips were swallowed right back down.

Having slept so late, Xie Jianwei remained in bed until midday the next morning, and Lu Li had not woken him.

Drifting awake in a daze, a teasing voice sounded beside his ear, “‘Helped up by maids, languid and weak, when first receiving royal favor.'”

Xie Jianwei thought, what kind of ridiculous nonsense is that!

Lu Yan stepped to the bedside, leaning over to look at him. “Though the emperor in the poem neglected morning court from then on, your Doctor Lu seems to have departed rather early.”

Lu Yan possessed a pleasant voice, rich with warmth and lingering with flirtatious intimacy, simply put, exceptionally provocative, sounding especially sensual when heard early in the morning.

The sound made Xie Jianwei’s waist feel weak, making him even less inclined to leave bed.

Ceasing his teasing, Lu Yan asked with a smile, “Got your wish fulfilled?”

Xie Jianwei let out a huff, declaring in high spirits, “We slept together last night!”

Lu Yan let out an elongated, knowing oh. “So you two weren’t sleeping together before?”

Struck where it hurt, Xie Jianwei’s expression darkened slightly.

Lu Yan offered feigned comfort, “Alright, I was mistaken before. Your Doctor Lu loves you, hasn’t he shared intimacy with you now?”

Xie Jianwei knitted his brow and stayed silent.

Lu Yan gasped with theatrical surprise, “You didn’t do it?”

Xie Jianwei was silent.

Lu Yan was asking what he already knew. “Then why are you so exhausted?”

Xie Jianwei had no desire to speak with him.

Lu Yan continued on his own, “Sleeping with your beloved Doctor Lu without engaging in tiring activities, how could you be this exhausted? Could it be you were apart for so long that you are no longer used to sharing a bed?”

Xie Jianwei retorted at once, “Not at all! We are very used to it!”

Leading him on, Lu Yan asked, “Then what happened?”

Xie Jianwei admitted in the end, “We merely slept a little late.”

Lu Yan pondered for a moment, asking with careful curiosity, “Little Jianwei, you didn’t pester and beg Lu Li relentlessly just to make him sleep beside you, did you?”

Xie Jianwei’s lips trembled, wanting to refute the claim, but stopped himself.

Lu Yan looked at him with exasperated pity. “Why must you do this? Forced melon is never sweet. Lu Li might indulge you once or twice, but if it happens too often, won’t he grow even more tired of you?”

Those final words set Xie Jianwei off. “Doctor Lu would never be tired of me!”

Lu Yan shook his head. “If you don’t believe me, go ahead and pester him again tonight.”

Xie Jianwei said stubbornly, “You only know how to talk nonsense, I don’t believe a word you say!”

Looking helpless, Lu Yan said, “Consider it my meddling.”

Refusing to entertain him further, Xie Jianwei burrowed back under the covers to resume sleeping.

Lu Yan asked him, “Not watching Doctor Lu today?”

Xie Jianwei snapped peevishly, “No.”

Lu Yan chuckled, yet did not leave, strolling around the room instead.

The bedroom held unmistakable traces of another occupant, with plenty of new additions alongside countless old possessions.

Looking at the vase that had been forcibly pieced back together, Lu Yan asked curiously, “Even in this state, you haven’t thrown it away?”

Xie Jianwei sat up instantly. “Don’t touch my things.”

Pulling his outstretched hand back, Lu Yan asked, “Is this vase very important?”

Giving him the cold shoulder, Xie Jianwei said, “Important or not, you are not allowed to touch anything that belongs to me.”

Lu Yan paused, amusement suddenly dancing in his eyes as he grasped more of Lu Li’s inner thoughts, finding the situation all the more entertaining.

Keeping casual, Lu Yan asked, “Can Lu Li touch it?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Doctor Lu never touches my things carelessly!”

Lu Yan understood. “I see.”

In a foul mood, Xie Jianwei began driving him out, “Go back. I want to sleep this morning and study this afternoon; I have no time to play with you.”

Lu Yan did not force the matter. “See you tomorrow then.”

Xie Jianwei retorted, “Nobody wants to see you.”

Lowering his voice, Lu Yan said tenderly, “It is I who want to see you.”

Xie Jianwei remained silent.

Ruffling his hair gently, Lu Yan said, “Rest well, I’m heading out.”

Xie Jianwei felt his face flush for some inexplicable reason, lowering his head as he said, “Just leave already.”

Lu Yan turned to leave, but right as he reached the door, as if recalling something, he circled back to caution him, “Whatever you do, don’t let Doctor Lu touch the little box I gave you.”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Why?”

Lu Yan said, “He and I are blood brothers, and that device works through blood recognition. If Lu Li handles it, it will open for him too, and when that happens…”

Xie Jianwei thought to himself, Keep spouting your nonsense, blood recognition? What era do you think this is?

Still, playing along with his act, Xie Jianwei said, “Doctor Lu would never touch it.”

Lu Yan said, “That would be for the best.”

After Lu Yan left, Xie Jianwei placed the little box he had previously kept hidden right on top of the desk.

When Lu Li returned, his eyes caught sight of the small box immediately.

He asked, “What is this?” reaching out to touch it as he spoke.

Xie Jianwei cried out in a hurry, “Don’t touch it!”

Lu Li’s hand froze abruptly in midair.

Xie Jianwei rushed forward to pull it into his arms, repeating anxiously, “Don’t touch it.”

Lu Li’s expression did not change, but his voice cooled slightly, “Don’t panic, I didn’t touch it.”

Xie Jianwei let out a visible sigh of relief.

Lu Li added, “Rest assured, I won’t meddle with your belongings.”

Looking as if lingering fear still gripped him, Xie Jianwei said, “Just please don’t touch it.”

Lu Li knitted his brows slightly, and shifting his gaze away, he happened to catch sight of that vase that had been shattered a year ago.

He stared at it for a moment, then looked away stiffly, saying, “I’ll go cook dinner.”

Xie Jianwei answered, “Mm.”

That night, Xie Jianwei didn’t pester Lu Li any further, and Lu Li slept in the guest room.

The following day, Lu Yan visited Xie Jianwei again, but today he seemed heavily preoccupied, hesitating as if words failed him.

Knowing a good show was brewing, Xie Jianwei cooperated by asking, “What’s wrong with you now?”

Lu Yan said nothing of substance, only asking, “Want some cherries?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Doctor Lu said cherries right now are artificially ripened and unhealthy, so I won’t eat them.”

Lu Yan offered several other treats, but Xie Jianwei showed little interest.

Seeing clearly that he was trying to dodge the subject, Xie Jianwei cut straight to the chase, “I want to watch Doctor Lu.”

Instead of opening the little box as usual, Lu Yan continued rambling about other things.

Pouting with displeasure, Xie Jianwei said, “I don’t want to eat anything, I only want to see Doctor Lu.”

Looking troubled, Lu Yan asked, “Can we skip watching today?”

Xie Jianwei asked, “Why?”

Lu Yan said, “I’m afraid you’ll be angry if you see it.”

Xie Jianwei said, “As long as I can see Doctor Lu, I’ll never be angry.”

Lu Yan sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness.

Xie Jianwei urged, “Hurry and open it, I want to see Doctor Lu!”

Lu Yan said, “Alright, just make sure you don’t cry.”

Xie Jianwei declared, “I won’t cry.”

Lu Yan tapped open the box, and a video feed immediately appeared on the screen.

With just a single glance, Xie Jianwei froze as if turned to ice, his face rapidly draining of color.

Lu Yan swiftly clicked the screen off.

Xie Jianwei stared blankly at the darkened display, as though the two figures smiling in each other’s embrace were still reflected there.

One was Lu Li, and the other was Doctor Lu’s student.

Xie Jianwei’s voice came out airy and faint, “What is going on here?”

Lu Yan said, “Yesterday, Ji Sen confessed his feelings to Lu Li.”

Ji Sen was that student.

His complexion blanching further, Xie Jianwei looked at Lu Yan, “What do you mean?”

His eyes brimmed with heartache, but Lu Yan told him nonetheless, “Lu Li didn’t accept him, but he didn’t reject him either.”

Xie Jianwei seemed unable to process the words.

Lu Yan had to spell it out more plainly, “Lu Li gave Ji Sen a chance to pursue him.”

With a soft drop, a fat tear spilled from Xie Jianwei’s eye.

Seeing this unfold, Lu Yan’s heart felt struck by a heavy sledgehammer, aching so violently that he nearly confessed the whole truth on the spot.

“Don’t cry,” Lu Yan managed to hold back after all, though the tone he used to coax him was completely flustered.

Xie Jianwei said nothing, weeping silently with tears rolling down thick and fast, impossible to wipe away.

In a frantic rush, Lu Yan coaxed, “Alright, alright, little Jianwei, don’t cry. Lu Li doesn’t like Ji Sen, he likes you.”

Xie Jianwei’s voice trembled, “If he doesn’t like him, why didn’t he reject him?”

Lu Yan was already forcing himself to recite his prepared lines through gritted teeth, “They’ve known each other for so long, so there’s bound to be some fond impression. But you are definitely more important. Think about it, as long as you go out to school, get into medical university, and become Lu Li’s student, Ji Sen won’t stand a chance. Your Doctor Lu will surely love you deeply.”

He was so thrown into chaos by Xie Jianwei’s tears that he completely forgot how to guide him step by step. He was supposed to say something along the lines of how little Jianwei needed to step out into the world, learn independence, mature, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Doctor Lu so Lu Li would look only at him without being swayed by others. Instead, he dangled the hook straight in front of his face, ridiculously blatant.

Xie Jianwei thought to himself, Look at how spineless you are. Since you wanted to direct such a drama, you should have hardened your heart. Softening up over a few plain teardrops?

Yet Military Advisor Xie still had to play along, “Really?”

Right now, Lu Yan only wanted Xie Jianwei to stop crying, pouring out a river of sweet assurances, on the verge of confessing that the video was fake, that he made it to deceive him, and that Lu Li and Ji Sen were completely innocent.

Xie Jianwei genuinely worried that a slip of the tongue would ruin everything, and what would be left for him to act out then?

So he said, “I want to be alone.”

Anxious as a cat on hot bricks, Lu Yan failed completely to grasp Xie Jianwei’s painstaking intentions.

“I’ll keep you company.”

Xie Jianwei thought, If you keep staying, your whole act will fall apart, you foolish kid!

Xie Jianwei said, “I don’t want to see you!”

Lu Yan was at a loss for words.

Xie Jianwei had to rein in his tears, adding, “I don’t want to look at this face of yours.”

The Military Advisor stopping his golden tears finally allowed Lu Yan to recover his reason, and once he calmed down, he felt rather bewildered.

What had come over him?

Though he admitted he liked Xie Jianwei, did it make sense to abandon all principles and focus solely on cheering him up just because the boy shed a few tears?

How could he be so foolish?

Yet those lingering feelings hadn’t faded. Lu Yan was convinced that if Xie Jianwei cried a moment longer, he would break down and confess everything, and the mad thought had even crossed his mind that as long as the boy loved Lu Li, he would gladly tie Lu Li up and bring him before him.

No, he couldn’t stay any longer. He had schemed for so long, and he couldn’t let it all collapse at the finish line!

Once Lu Yan left, far from crying, Xie Jianwei could barely suppress the upward curve of his lips.

How could his Lu Li be this adorable?

Every single one of him was charming beyond words.

Xie Jianwei felt thoroughly sweet inside, packed to the brim with sweet candies named Lu Li.

Unfortunately, once Doctor Lu returned, he would have to stage another melodrama.

How was he supposed to switch moods so quickly?

Pondering a bit, Xie Jianwei opened the little box again, where the display remained paused on the image of Lu Li and Ji Sen embracing.

It was glaringly fake, the digital manipulation obvious, and a single glance had been enough for Xie Jianwei to tell truth from fiction.

Still, fake as it was, it might serve to summon the right mood.

Staring at it for a while, Xie Jianwei still felt out of character.

Setting aside that Lu Li would never cheat, even if he did, Xie Jianwei wouldn’t indulge in self-pity.

Speaking of which, Xie Jianwei paused abruptly. What would he actually do?

If Lu Li truly fell in love with someone else, what would he do?

The sudden chill rising in his chest left Xie Jianwei stunned.

From very long ago, he knew he could discard everything as long as he had Lu Li.

If Lu Li left him…

Xie Jianwei realized he had never contemplated this question.

Not out of certainty, but out of sheer terror.

When Lu Li returned, he saw Xie Jianwei sitting in the bedroom, staring blankly.

Approaching him, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

At merely a touch, Xie Jianwei jolted to his feet as though stung.

Lu Li froze.

Xie Jianwei didn’t look at him, murmuring softly, “Doctor Lu.”

Lu Li offered a faint smile, “Did something upset you?”

Xie Jianwei said nothing.

Lu Li constantly felt that Xie Jianwei had been distancing himself lately. Though growing into adulthood inevitably brought such phases, facing it directly still stirred deep unease.

Lu Li said, “Is there something you cannot tell me?”

Hesitating for a moment, Xie Jianwei asked, “Doctor Lu, is there any problem with my health now?”

Lu Li said, “Of course not, you are very healthy now.”

Xie Jianwei looked up at him, “Then can I go to school?”

Lu Li’s back stiffened abruptly.

Xie Jianwei said, “There are only a few months left before the college entrance examinations. If I miss this chance, I’ll have to wait another year.”

Lu Li asked him, “Do you want to attend school that badly?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Yes.”

Lu Li paused, taking a long moment before saying slowly, “Alright, I will arrange it tomorrow.”

He agreed, expecting Xie Jianwei’s eyes to sparkle with delight, yet hearing his words, Xie Jianwei merely nodded, astonishingly quiet.

They ate dinner in silence, barely speaking during their study session, and at bedtime, Xie Jianwei obediently returned to his room, pulling the door shut behind him.

Lu Li stood outside the door, lingering almost the entire night.

What had happened to Xie Jianwei?

In the days that followed, everything seemed normal on the surface, yet felt entirely different beneath.

They carried out their daily routine step by step, the sole difference being that Xie Jianwei no longer clung to Lu Li.

On Monday, Lu Li drove Xie Jianwei to school.

Because the school was a private academy for expatriate children with many transfer students, and arrangements had been made in advance, Xie Jianwei integrated with ease.

After all, his desk partner was a British boy clutching a first-grade Chinese textbook, making Xie Jianwei vastly superior by comparison.

Campus life proved calmer than expected.

Lu Li had likely racked his brains to select this school. The classroom was filled with eccentric students from distinct nationalities with wildly varying aesthetic standards, so Xie Jianwei’s remarkably striking looks didn’t draw excessive attention.

Naturally, Xie Jianwei suspected eighty percent of this was the will of God at work.

If Lu Li wanted people to fall for him, crowds would flock forward, head over heels in love, just like the assistants from earlier.

And if he didn’t want anyone interested in him, the classroom ended up populated by straight guys and lesbian girls with bizarre aesthetic tastes. Quite something.

As for the mistreatment Xie Jianwei suffered in the Xie household before entering the dream, that portion probably followed genuine logic, since God Lu hadn’t had the leisure to meddle with that much.

Xie Jianwei spent a thoroughly boring day in class. Frankly speaking, to him, the curriculum was as dull as someone droning on that one plus one equals two.

Repeating it hundreds of times over, it was better to let him go back to planting trees, where he might cultivate a brand new cherry tree species unfamiliar to Earth.

School finally let out. Carrying his bag as he walked out, Xie Jianwei was just thinking of Lu Li when Lu Li appeared right before him.

Oh, not Number One Lu Li, but Number Two Lu Li.

Walking straight over, Xie Jianwei began, “Doctor Lu…”

Before the final word slipped out, Lu Yan smiled, and Xie Jianwei stopped immediately.

Lu Yan said, “What, upset because it’s not your Doctor Lu?”

Xie Jianwei said, “Doctor Lu will pick me up in a little while, I’m waiting for him here.”

Lu Yan said, “He probably has business and won’t make it anytime soon, so let me drive you home first.”

Xie Jianwei said, “We have an agreement!”

Lu Yan said, “Then I’ll wait with you.”

Xie Jianwei said, “I don’t need your company, leave quickly.”

Lu Yan coaxed, “Don’t be like that, I took quite a detour to buy you coconut milk pudding.”

He shook the small box in his hand. Xie Jianwei had eaten it once before and knew this bakery’s pudding tasted superb, practically top tier.

He hesitated visibly.

Lu Yan offered, “Eat it in the car? By the time you finish, Lu Li will definitely be here.”

Xie Jianwei insisted, “I won’t eat it, and I won’t get in your car.”

Lu Yan asked, “Could I really kidnap you in broad daylight?”

Xie Jianwei looked at him with clear suspicion, evidently thinking exactly that.

Lu Yan chuckled helplessly, “Fine, we won’t eat in the car, I’ll stay here with you.”

Xie Jianwei ignored him, scanning around for Lu Li.

Right at that moment, Lu Li arrived as well.

He had left early, but received a call from his father on the road, had to return home briefly, and hit heavy traffic on his way out, causing a delay.

Worried that Xie Jianwei would grow anxious from waiting and fearful that standing there alone wasn’t safe, he had rushed frantically the entire drive, wishing he could fly.

Yet when he arrived, he saw Xie Jianwei was not alone.

Spotting that face identical to his own, Lu Li’s heart lurched.

Lu Yan was on bad terms with him, engaged in constant overt and covert rivalry.

Lu Li instinctively assumed Lu Yan had disguised himself as Doctor Lu to deceive Xie Jianwei.

Yet as he drew a bit closer, he heard Xie Jianwei say, “Lu Yan, take it away. I said I don’t want to eat it.”

Smiling, Lu Yan asked, “What’s wrong? Last time you said it tasted great and ate two of them.”

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Author’s Note:

Drama General, On the path of self-sabotage, I am invincible.