Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
Seeing Ji Su remain silent, Qiao Jin finally reacted and quickly try to remedy the situation, "Indeed, indeed, actually Susu plays the piano terribly. It's better to just torture my ears, so you guys shouldn't listen!"
"I don't believe it," Wang Mingzhe said while leaning on his crutches, squeezed in from behind, "Ji Su is so good-looking, how could he play the piano badly?"
Ji Su: "..."
What kind of logic is this?
What does his good looks have to do with his piano skills?
But at this point, he was like a duck forced onto the stage. If he insisted on not playing the piano, it would only raise more suspicions.
Especially Gu Zhao, because his intuition was too sharp.
Qiao Jin still wanted to find some excuse for him, "Actually, Ji Su—"
"Okay," Ji Su agreed, "Then I'll make a fool of myself."
He walked to the piano then lifted the white dust cover on the piano.
The others eagerly gathered around and only Qiao Jin's face was full of tension.
The sound of "ding ding dong dong" piano music started.
The melody was pleasant while the rhythm was light and cheerful.
Gu Zhao leaned forward to stare at the hands jumping on the black and white keys with his slightly narrowing eyes.
After the piece ended, Ji Su put down his hands while looking a bit embarrassed, "It's been too long since I played the piano, so I've forgotten all the sheet music, I only remember 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'."
He couldn't bring himself to play randomly on the piano, especially since Gu Zhao's appreciation level would definitely tell if he was playing randomly.
So he could only choose the simplest 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. A beginner's piece and it was hard to judge the player's piano skills.
"Oh! That's why the melody sounded so familiar!" He Yiming belatedly clapped, "It sounds great, really great!"
The others also clapped, even Wang Mingzhe praised, "Ji Su, you're so talented, so don't be modest in the future!"
Ji Su smiled then pretended to casually glance towards the sofa.
Gu Zhao, sitting on the sofa, happened to stand up with his dark eyes as inscrutable as ever but said nothing before turning to go upstairs.
Ji Su couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as his tense back relaxed.
Gu Zhao's reaction was normal and it didn't seem like he suspected anything.
………
Back in the room, Ji Su went to take a shower first.
When he came out of the bathroom, Qiao Jin was already lying on the big bed playing with his phone and seeing what he was wearing, he laughed, "Susu, why are you still dressed so formally after showering?"
Ji Su didn't wear the bathrobe provided by the villa, but changed into his own shirt and long pants.
He dried his hair with a towel while replying, "Just in case."
While showering, he carefully went over everything from head to toe.
The only evidence Meng Meng left was the leg photos, especially the red mole on his thigh that was uncommon.
So he decided to always wear long pants in front of Gu Zhao from now on to never give him a chance to discover it.
"Ah, even coming out to play is nerve-wracking," Qiao Jin clicked his tongue, "If Gu Zhao wasn't homophobic, I'd think it would be better to just confess to him directly."
Ji Su hesitated, "You also think... it would be better for me to confess to him?"
"It's not about Susu, I'm saying this with a premise, okay?" Qiao Jin got up from the bed. "The premise is that Gu Zhao isn't homophobic and doesn't have a strong sense of revenge. Besides, you've been hiding it from him for so long. Now, I can only pray that he doesn't find out."
Ji Su: "Got it..."
"Don't overthink it." Qiao Jin patted his shoulder. "I'm going to take a shower too."
Ji Su stood still for a moment then turned and walked toward the balcony.
Opening the balcony door, a cool breeze hit his face.
Ji Su walked to the railing then tilted his head up to gaze at the bright moon hanging in the deep blue sky.
The ancients said, "May we live long and share the beauty of the moon, even if we are thousands of miles apart." Among those who were looking at the same moon with him, was there someone who missed him even a little?
After a while, Ji Su turned and leaned against the railing.
His gaze caught a figure, and he suddenly froze.
The balconies of the two rooms in the villa were connected.
On the neighboring balcony, there was a rattan lounge chair where Gu Zhao was lying with his eyes closed.
It was unclear whether he was asleep or just resting.
Ji Su instinctively wanted to go back to his room, but after taking two steps, he couldn't help but glance back.
He pursed his lips before he went inside to grab a thin blanket, and returned to the balcony.
Ji Su tiptoed to the rattan lounge chair and carefully draped the blanket over Gu Zhao.
He thought his movements were careful enough, but Gu Zhao opened his eyes the moment he touched him with his large hand gripping Ji Su's wrist.
"Ah..." Ji Su inhaled sharply and softly explained, "Sorry, the night wind is strong, and I was afraid you'd catch a cold."
Gu Zhao stared at the face so close to his and scrutinized it.
His eyes were dark and heavy, seemingly darker than the night behind him. Ji Su couldn't bear such a gaze and averted his eyes. "Can... can you let go of me?"
Gu Zhao released his hand and asked in a low voice, "Why are you apologizing?"
Ji Su straightened up. "Huh?"
Gu Zhao's tone was emotionless as if merely stating a fact: "You're very used to apologizing to others."
Ji Su was slightly taken aback. "Am I?"
He hadn't noticed his habit of apologizing to others, but now that he thought about it, he did often say things like "sorry," "my bad," or "excuse me."
Gu Zhao reached out and grabbed the blanket that kept slipping down.
"I apologized because I accidentally woke you up," Ji Su explained when he come back to his senses. "I just wanted to cover you with the blanket, but it seems like I messed up."
Though he did owe Gu Zhao a proper apology, but not for something like this.
Gu Zhao looked at him. "I wasn't asleep."
"Oh..." Ji Su blinked and was unsure on how to continue the conversation. "Then... I'll go back to my room?"
Gu Zhao closed his eyes again. "Mm."
Ji Su turned and walked inside before closing the balcony door.
After a moment's thought, he carefully locked it.
Qiao Jin saw his action and casually asked, "Susu, why did you lock the balcony door?"
Ji Su: "Gu Zhao is on the neighboring balcony."
"Good call!" Qiao Jin immediately agreed, then asked, "Should I move a table over to block it?"
Ji Su chuckled. "No need to be so dramatic."
........
The next morning, after waking up and freshening up, Ji Su went downstairs.
The others were still asleep, and the villa was quiet.
Ji Su walked into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of warm water and after drinking it, decided to make a simple breakfast since he had nothing else to do.
The kitchen was fully equipped.
He took an apron from the wall to put it on, and opened the fridge to get the ingredients.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind him.
Ji Su turned around and greeted, "Good morning."
Gu Zhao's brow twitched and his steps abruptly halted.
Ji Su was wearing a black apron with the tie cinching his slender waist.
The apron reached his knees that made it look like he was wearing a pinafore dress.
"What's wrong?" Ji Su asked when he noticed Gu Zhao staring at him without speaking. He touched his cheek. "Is there something on my face?"
Gu Zhao looked away. "No."
Ji Su vaguely sensed something was off but didn't dwell on it and just continued to prepare breakfast.
Gu Zhao walked to the table to pour himself a glass of water, and held the glass with his large, well-defined hand. His gaze fell heavily on the slim yet curvaceous figure in front of him.
Meng Meng had sent him many photos of herself in dresses, but the background was always in the dorm, and at most, she had only shown her waist and legs, and never revealing any other gender-specific features.
Had he...
Made a preconceived mistake?
Ji Su turned around. "I'm making sandwiches. Is there anything you don't eat?"
Gu Zhao's train of thought was interrupted. "What?"
Ji Su patiently repeated, "I'm planning to make some sandwiches for breakfast. Is there anything you don't eat?"
Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds before asking, "Why are you making breakfast for everyone?"
"Huh?" Ji Su was caught off guard. "Just... casually."
Gu Zhao said coldly, "Whoever wants to eat should make it themselves."
The other's icy demeanor seemed ungrateful, but Ji Su's feelings were complicated.
He already knew Gu Zhao was G and the one who had been teaching him not to go out of his way to please others.
Ji Su also knew he wasn't intentionally trying to please others; these were just habits ingrained in him over the years.
As the two were at a standstill, Zhou Yang's surprised voice rang out. "Brother Gu, Ji Su, why are you two up so early?"
"I don't like sleeping in," Ji Su shifted his gaze to him. "You're up early too."
"Hey, we law students have to get up early during finals to cram!" Zhou Yang walked over in a few strides. "Are you making breakfast?"
Ji Su hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes."
"Great, let's make it together," Zhou Yang picked up a tomato from the table and took a bite. "But fair warning, my cooking skills are terrible, haha!"
Ji Su smiled faintly. "Mine aren't great either."
With Zhou Yang's arrival, the atmosphere in the kitchen returned to normal, and Gu Zhao silently joined the breakfast-making team.
After breakfast, everyone except Wang Mingzhe prepared to go hiking.
Throughout the day, Ji Su kept feeling as if there was a gaze lingering on him, but whenever he tried to find it, there was no trace. He could only assume he was overthinking it.
However, during the hike, he finally witnessed how good Gu Zhao's stamina was. He didn't break a sweat or pant and was even walking as if he were strolling in a garden.
On the way down, Qiao Jin whispered in his ear, "Susu, with Brother Gu's stamina, you definitely wouldn't survive his beatings."
Ji Su was also a bit worried but could only comfort himself, "I think Gu Zhao isn't the type to solve problems with his fists... right?"
After all, the other had just risked his life to save him from the horse yesterday, which showed Gu Zhao wasn't as cold-hearted as he seemed.
"See, even you're not sure," Qiao Jin rolled his eyes. "But it's fine, just keep hiding."
Ji Su replied softly, "You should stop blabbing in front of him, and I'll hide better."
Mentioning last night's piano incident, Qiao Jin couldn't help but feel guilty. "I just slipped up. I really wanted to protect your piano reputation..."
"Qiao Jin, Ji Su, what are you two doing back there?" Zhou Yang, who was walking ahead, turned and called out. "The sun's almost down."
Qiao Jin responded, "Coming, coming!"
He Yiming stopped and waited for Ji Su to catch up then struck up a conversation. "Ji Su, do you usually not like hiking?"
"I'm okay with it. I go hiking when I have time," Ji Su replied. "But my physical fitness isn't as good as yours, so it's a bit tough for me."
"It doesn't look like you're struggling," He Yiming enthusiastically invited. "If you like outdoor activities, we can hang out more often!"
Ji Su smiled faintly. "We'll see."
At that moment, Gu Zhao also stopped and turned around to see the two chatting and laughing side by side.
Ji Su suddenly met a pair of icy black eyes that caused his heart to skip a beat and almost miss a step.
Gu Zhao frowned and instinctively took a step forward.
Luckily, He Yimig grabbed Ji Su's arm and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Ji Su withdrew his arm and moved aside. "Thanks."
When he looked up again, Gu Zhao had already continued down the mountain.
........
After a day of hiking, everyone was a bit tired.
In the evening, Zhou Yang ordered a feast to be delivered to the villa, and they had dinner on the large terrace again.
After dinner, Ji Su went upstairs to do some work. When he came back down, he found the terrace empty.
He searched around the villa and finally followed the sound to the pool at the back.
"Susu!" Qiao Jin was sitting by the pool drinking and waved excitedly when he saw him. "Come join us!"
Ji Su walked over and saw Zhou Yang swimming a lap. He complimented, "Zhou Yang, you're really good at swimming."
"I'm alright, but Brother Gu is the real pro," Zhou Yang leaned against the poolside. "He's on the school swim team and has won a lot of medals for our school."
Qiao Jin sighed. "Brother Gu really lives up to being the all-around campus heartthrob. Is there anything he can't do?"
Zhou Yang thought seriously for a few seconds before replying, "He can't get along with people."
"And he can't date!" Wang Mingzhe chimed in. "Otherwise, our poor Brother Gu wouldn't have been tricked by his online crush."
Ji Su's knees took another hit, and he awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Hey, let's not talk about that," Qiao Jin interrupted. "If Brother Gu hears, he might dunk you in the pool and make you drink a bellyful of water."
"Hahaha!" Zhou Yang laughed. "Is Brother Gu that ruthless?"
Qiao Jin shrank his shoulders. "I think so."
"By the way, where is Gu Zhao?" Ji Su looked around. "I don't see—ah!"
He turned and almost bumped into a human wall.
"Were you looking for me?" A deep, magnetic voice sounded above his head.
Ji Su took two steps back. "Sorry..."
Gu Zhao glanced at him before walking to the poolside.
He untied the belt of his robe and took it off, revealing only a loose black swimsuit underneath.
Qiao Jin, sitting across from him, instantly widened his eyes and was unable to hold back a "Holy crap!"
The next second, Gu Zhao leaped into the water.
He swam back and forth like a dragon while leaving only white waves in his wake.
With a splash, Gu Zhao emerged from the water while facing Ji Su.
His black hair was wet and clinging to his handsome face.
He casually brushed his bangs back to fully reveal his high, sharp brow bone that made him look even more intense and aggressive than usual.
For the first time, Ji Su saw an almost predatory emotion in those dark eyes. He wanted to turn and leave, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot.
"Brother Gu, didn't you say you didn't want to swim earlier?" Zhou Yang broke the silence. "Why did you suddenly jump in?"
Gu Zhao didn't answer.
He swam to the poolside and hoisted himself up with his hands.
He bent down to pick up his robe then casually wiped the water off his body with his gaze still locked on Ji Su's face.
In front of him were well-defined abs while water droplets rolling down the grooves, and the loose black swimsuit was completely wet...
Ji Su couldn't help but recall the photos of abs Gu Zhao had sent him and his ears heating up as he averted his eyes.
Gu Zhao finally spoke. "Aren't you getting in the water?"
"I..." Ji Su's eyes didn't know where to look, so they landed on his toes. "I can't swim."
"Right, right, Susu can't swim!" Qiao Jin's brain finally worked for once, and he laughed awkwardly. "I'd be scared he'd drown if he got in, haha!"
"If you can't swim, then Brother Gu can teach you!" Wang Mingzhe enthusiastically suggested. "With Brother Gu here, you'll learn in no time!"
Zhou Yang chimed in, "Yeah, learning to swim might come in handy someday. It could even save your life!"
Ji Su: "..."
Right now, he just wanted to scream for help...
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