Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
Ji Su looked up while flustered, and tried to back out. "Gu Zhao, can I—"
"No." Gu Zhao cut him off mercilessly. "Do you need me to help you put it on?"
"No!" Ji Su refused without hesitation and gave up the struggle. "Where's the bathroom?"
Gu Zhao tilted his chin slightly, indicating. "Inside."
Ji Su took the dress into the bathroom. He closed the door, and spent a while to mentally preparing himself before starting to change.
The red strapless dress wasn't complicated to put on, but after wearing it, he lingered in the bathroom and was reluctant to go out.
After what felt like an eternity, the person outside seemed to have run out of patience as a series of knocks sounded like a death knell.
Ji Su jumped in fright and turned toward the bathroom door.
Gu Zhao pushed the door open and abruptly stopped breathing.
Ji Su stood in the red strapless dress with the thin straps hanging on his delicate shoulders. His collarbone was beautifully defined, and his flat chest left a lot of skin exposed, smooth and fair.
The silk dress clung tightly to his figure and outlining his slender waist.
The slightly tight skirt only reached the top of his thighs and left a faint indentation in the flesh. Below that were a pair of long, straight legs, pale and dazzling.
Black hair, red dress, and snow-white skin—the extreme contrast of red and black highlighted the pure white. He looked like a flawless piece of jade while glowing with a soft, captivating light.
Ji Su grew nervous under the intense gaze and instinctively crossed his arms over his chest. "This dress is a bit short..."
Gu Zhao suddenly moved and walked toward him.
Ji Su instinctively backed away until his body hit the edge of the sink, leaving him no room to retreat.
Gu Zhao stopped in front of him with his large hand gripping Ji Su's waist and turning him around.
"Mmm..." Ji Su let out a soft sound as he was pressed against the cold sink and his round, full buttocks forced to arch upward.
Gu Zhao's gaze was heavy and fierce, as if a wild beast was lurking within and ready to break free at any moment.
His long, strong fingers slid down the beautiful curve of Ji Su's waist then lingering on his thigh for a brief moment before pulling away with great restraint. Finally, they reached his shoulders and back.
His fingers traced a pair of beautiful shoulder blades before hooking onto the left strap that was about to fall and slowly pulling it back.
The slightly rough fingertips brushed against his skin, feeling smoother and softer than silk, warm and tempting, making one want to press harder, to leave marks.
Ji Su shivered. "Gu... Gu Zhao..."
"What did you call me?" Gu Zhao looked at the person in the mirror with his eyes so dark they seemed to drip with ink.
"Brother Gu Zhao..." Ji Su closed his eyes while suppressing his shame as he called out. "Is this... okay?"
A scorching hand gripped his chin to force him to look up. "Take a good look at yourself."
Ji Su tilted his face in his palm as his dark lashes trembled violently and refused to look directly at his reflection in the mirror.
As long as he didn't look, he could pretend that ths person in the dress wasn't him.
Gu Zhao's voice was completely hoarse as he asked word by word, "Do you know what I was thinking when I saw those photos you sent me?"
Ji Su shook his head with difficulty as his eyes shimmering with a layer of tears due to overwhelming shame. "I don't know..."
Gu Zhao chuckled softly in his ear, "Do you really not know?"
"Stop it..." Ji Su lifted his trembling long lashes with his eyes misty with moisture and almost pleading, "I'm really sorry, Gu Zhao... Please don't treat me like this, okay?"
His pitiful appearance would soften anyone's heart.
But for Gu Zhao at this moment, it could easily ignite the terrifying things buried deep beneath the glacier.
Gu Zhao suddenly let go then turned around, and hurried out of the bathroom with his steps more rushed and disheveled than ever before.
Ji Su relaxed all over and even though he still did not catch his breath, he quickly took off the dress to change back into his own clothes.
He stood in the bathroom while calming his heartbeat, then walked out only to find the bedroom empty.
Ji Su had to continue walking out, just in time to bump into Gu Zhao coming out of the living room bathroom.
Gu Zhao's handsome face was wet with cold water and droplets rolling down from his high brow bone with his eyes darker and deeper.
"Um..." Ji Su asked softly, "Are we going back to school now?"
Gu Zhao walked past him, his voice still somewhat hoarse, "I'm hungry."
Ji Su thought for a moment and replied, "Then I'll make you something to eat."
He walked towards the open kitchen. He opened the double-door refrigerator to see what ingredients were available.
Just then, a deep voice sounded from behind, "I'll do it."
Ji Su instinctively turned around and almost bumped into a warm embrace but he quickly leaned back.
"Careful." Gu Zhao swiftly reached out a large hand to steady the back of his head while his own hand hit the refrigerator door with a thud.
Ji Su was stunned for a few seconds before coming to his senses, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, is your hand okay?"
Gu Zhao withdrew his hand, "It's fine."
Ji Su silently bent down and slipped out to stand aside.
Gu Zhao took out ingredients from the refrigerator and placed them on the counter.
He was only wearing a black shirt and slowly rolling up his sleeves to reveal a section of his firm and smooth forearm.
Ji Su asked softly, "Are you going to cook?"
Gu Zhao: "Why?"
"Nothing." Ji Su pursed his lips and suggested, "Let's cook together."
Gu Zhao paused his actions to look up at him with his eyes holding an indescribable meaning.
Ji Su didn't notice the ambiguity in his words and walked to his side, ready to help.
Gu Zhao silently allowed his behavior, and the two prepared the ingredients together, cooperating quite harmoniously.
After the ingredients were ready, Ji Su stepped back a bit and secretly observed the situation.
Gu Zhao still had an expressionless face while stir-frying with his hand holding the spatula with distinct knuckles, veins bulging on his arm when exerting force, exuding a cold yet sexy aura.
Soon, three dishes and a soup were served on the table.
Sweet and sour pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, cucumber with sliced pork, and tomato meatball soup.
Ji Su tasted the dishes and sincerely praised, "It's delicious, much better than the cafeteria food."
Although the dishes on the table were all home-style, home-style dishes are the most challenging to cook, and being able to make such delicious food with the simplest ingredients shows some skill.
A fleeting smile appeared on Gu Zhao's lips, "Then eat more."
Ji Su couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why did you learn to cook?"
He could cook too, but only simple things like noodles and sandwiches were just enough to keep himself from starving.
But Gu Zhao, who came from a prominent family and lived a privileged life since childhood, shouldn't need to cook for himself, right?
Gu Zhao lowered his eyes and his tone lightened, "No special reason, I just wanted to learn."
Ji Su nodded and didn't pursue the question further.
The two ate face to face, and for a moment, the atmosphere was unusually calm.
In this calm, Ji Su's courage gradually grew, and he tentatively asked, "That matter... is it over now?"
Gu Zhao had hurriedly escaped from the bathroom earlier, clearly disgusted by him wearing a dress, so his obsession with Meng Meng should have dissipated, right?
Gu Zhao responded, "Yes."
Ji Su was overjoyed, "So we're even now?"
"Even?" Gu Zhao lifted his eyelids and coldly retorted, "You want to be even with me?"
Ji Su instantly realized his mistake and seriously corrected, "We're not even, I still owe you."
Whether it was saving him at the equestrian field or helping the senior uncover the true information of the scumbag, he still hadn't repaid Gu Zhao.
Gu Zhao's expression softened slightly, "You understand."
"Then..." Ji Su tentatively extended his feelers again, "Can we be friends?"
Gu Zhao slightly narrowed his dark eyes, "Friends?"
Ji Su lowered his eyelashes, "Of course, you can refuse, after all, I've caused you so much distress."
Gu Zhao let out an ambiguous hum, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Ji Su couldn't quite grasp his meaning and was about to ask for clarification when his phone in his pocket rang.
He got up from his seat, "Excuse me, I need to take this call."
Ji Su opened the balcony door before walking out and answered the phone, "Hello, Xiao Qiao."
"Susu, where are you? Why haven't you come back yet?" Qiao Jin's anxious voice came through the phone, "Did Gu Zhao call you to do something again?"
Ji Su replied softly, "I'm with Gu Zhao, but he didn't do anything to me."
"That's good..." Qiao Jin immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Then when are you coming back?"
"Should be soon." Ji Su glanced at the time on his phone screen, "We'll go back to school after dinner."
After hanging up the phone, Ji Su returned to the dining table.
.........
After dinner, the two cleaned up the dishes together and put them in the dishwasher.
Ji Su wiped the water off his hands and asked, "Are we going back to school now?"
"Stay here tonight." Gu Zhao leaned against the table, his voice calm, "We'll go back tomorrow."
"Ah?" Ji Su slightly widened his eyes, "Stay here?"
Gu Zhao: "Is there a problem?"
"This..." Ji Su hesitated for a moment, "No, no problem."
Gu Zhao gestured, "You go take a shower first."
Ji Su finally found an excuse not to stay, "But I didn't bring any change of clothes."
Gu Zhao sneered, "There are so many dresses on the bed, not enough for you to wear?"
Ji Su: "..."
There were indeed many dresses, but none of them were clothes a normal guy should wear!
"Follow me." Gu Zhao took a step towards the bedroom, "I'll find you some clothes."
Stepping into the bedroom again, Ji Su saw the bed full of dresses and couldn't help but shiver.
Fortunately, Gu Zhao wasn't strict enough to make him wear every single dress, otherwise, how long would that take?
Gu Zhao walked into the inner walk-in closet to rummage through the wardrobe for a while, and pulled out a black shirt and a pair of shorts.
Ji Su took the clothes, "This is..."
"The shirt I've worn but the shorts are new." Gu Zhao stared into his eyes, "You mind?"
"Not at all." Ji Su shook his head, "Then I'll go take a shower."
Gu Zhao reminded, "There are new towels in the bathroom cabinet."
Ji Su walked into the bathroom but the image of him being pressed against the sink by Gu Zhao in a strapless dress flashed before his eyes, and the tips of his ears quietly turned red.
He shook his head to forcibly turn the image away, and started to focus on showering.
After showering, he put on the shirt and shorts that Gu Zhao gave him then opened the bathroom door, and walked out while drying his hair.
Gu Zhao was sitting on the sofa with his long legs stretched out, and upon hearing the sound, he looked up.
Ji Su walked out in the black shirt and due to the difference in their body sizes, the shirt hung loosely on him like a shirt dress with the collar wide open. His fair skin turned a smoky pink from the steam, all looking particularly tempting.
Looking down, the hem of the shirt covered the shorts and just reached the root of his thighs with his long and straight legs exposed, exquisitely without a trace of excess fat. The hem of the shirt swayed slightly as he walked, as if gently caressing those white jade-like legs.
Gu Zhao's throat tightened and his eyes instantly darkened.
"I'm done showering." Ji Su was completely unaware of his abnormality, "Are you going to shower?"
Gu Zhao adjusted his posture while forcing himself to focus on that rosy face, and squeezed out a short response from his throat, "Yes."
Ji Su glanced at the big bed and somewhat surprised, "Where did all the dresses on the bed go?"
Gu Zhao replied in a low voice, "Put away."
"Oh." Ji Su nodded, "When you have a girlfriend in the future, these dresses might fit her perfectly."
"Yes." Gu Zhao suddenly laughed but his tone was inexplicably meaningful, "These dresses, 'he' will definitely fit well."
Ji Su put down the towel, "By the way, which guest room am I sleeping in tonight?"
Gu Zhao: "Only this room has a bed."
"What?" Ji Su couldn't believe his ears, "Your house has four rooms, but only this one has a bed?"
"Yes." Gu Zhao subtly changed his posture again, "If you don't believe me, you can go check yourself."
Ji Su: "I don't understand..."
"Initially, I didn't plan to bring anyone here." Gu Zhao tapped his knee with his finger, "So there was no need for guest rooms."
Ji Su: "..."
What a lone wolf, so why didn't he just buy a one-bedroom apartment?
Gu Zhao saw through his thoughts at a glance, "A one-bedroom apartment is too small."
Ji Su had nothing to say as his gaze fell on the sofa, and he decisively said, "Then I'll sleep on the sofa tonight."
Although both he and Gu Zhao were straight and sleeping in the same bed wouldn't be a big deal, they weren't familiar enough to share a bed yet, so it was better for him to sleep on the sofa.
Gu Zhao didn't say anything as he got up, and walked towards the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom.
Ji Su picked up his phone from the table before he sat on the sofa, and sent a message to Qiao Jin.
Ji Su: [Xiao Qiao, I'm not coming back to the dorm tonight.]
Qiao Jin: [Ah? Why?]
Qiao Jin: [Didn't you say you were coming back soon?]
Ji Su: [Actually, I came to Gu Zhao's house...]
Qiao Jin: [???]
Qiao Jin: [Where are you?]
Ji Su: [Gu Zhao's place near the school.]
Ji Su: [But don't worry, he didn't do anything excessive to me.]
Qiao Jin: [Wait... So you're alone with him now?]
Ji Su: [Yes.]
Ji Su: [We've cleared things up, so it's fine.]
Although Gu Zhao didn't explicitly agree to be friends, his attitude had clearly softened.
Perhaps in the near future, he could completely let go of past grievances and become real friends with him.
Qiao Jin: [Even so, Susu, you still need to pay attention to your personal safety!]
Ji Su: [Yes, yes, don't worry.]
After ending the chat, Ji Su opened a website to watch video lessons.
After watching one, he noticed Gu Zhao hadn't finished showering yet.
After a while, the bathroom door finally opened.
Gu Zhao walked out while wearing only a pair of sports shorts with his upper body wet and water droplets rolling down the grooves of his abs.
Although Ji Su only glanced and quickly averted his gaze, it was hard not to notice the prominent bulge in a certain area.
It was too conspicuous, too superior...
Just as Gu Zhao walked up to him and asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"
Ji Su didn’t know where to direct his eyes and instead deflected, "Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?"
Gu Zhao seemed to smile faintly, "We’re both guys, what’s there to be afraid of?"
Hearing this, Ji Su thought it made sense and boldly looked up, only for his gaze to land right on the defined v-line disappearing into the waistband of Gu Zhao’s pants.
He quickly grabbed the towel draped over the sofa and slipped away, "I’m going to do the laundry."
Gu Zhao glanced back at him and a faint smile lingering in his dark eyes.
Ji Su walked into the bathroom while wrinkling his nose slightly as he sniffed the air.
A cold, bitter scent mixed with a faint fishy smell, reminiscent of salty seawater or a forest after a heavy rain.
It was only then that Ji Su belatedly realized why Gu Zhao had stayed in the bathroom for so long earlier.
But if that state was after he had already relieved himself, then once...
Ji Su suddenly realized what he was thinking as his ears heated up, and his cheeks flushing.
Really, as a straight guy, why was he imagining another guy...
Ji Su stopped his wandering thoughts and bent down to pick up the clothes from the laundry basket to stuff them into the washing machine.
Just as he was about to press the start button, he remembered the red spaghetti strap dress he had changed out of and turned to look for it.
Gu Zhao had already put on a T-shirt and was sitting on the edge of the bed while watching him, "What are you looking for?
"My dress that I changed out of," Ji Su glanced around, "That’s strange, I remember putting it—"
"Don’t bother looking," Gu Zhao said coldly, "I threw it away."
Ji Su: "Oh..."
Sure enough, Gu Zhao really hated seeing him in a spaghetti strap dress, so he had even thrown away the innocent dress.
At 10:30 PM, Ji Su lay down on the sofa while trying to fall asleep but his gaze inadvertently drifted toward the bed.
Gu Zhao was leaning against the headboard and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge that added a touch of scholarly restraint to his handsome, cold face.
For some reason, four words abruptly popped into Ji Su’s mind: "A wolf in sheep’s clothing."
"What are you looking at?" The "wolf in sheep’s clothing" asked without looking up.
Ji Su casually averted his gaze, "Nothing, I just wanted to say goodnight."
Gu Zhao took off his glasses, "Tired?"
Ji Su pulled the thin blanket over himself, "Yeah, a little."
"Then sleep," Gu Zhao placed the book on the nightstand, "I’m going to sleep too."
Ji Su closed his eyes, "Goodnight."
Gu Zhao replied softly, "Goodnight."
A moment later, Ji Su opened his eyes, "Aren’t you going to turn off the light?"
Gu Zhao frowned imperceptibly, "I’m used to sleeping with the light on."
"Oh," Ji Su closed his eyes then opened them again a few seconds later, "Gu Zhao, are you afraid of the dark?"
"No," Gu Zhao denied flatly with his voice cold, "Sleep and don’t ask such pointless questions."
"Oh," Ji Su obediently replied, but secretly curved the corners of his lips.
So even the great campus heartthrob Gu Zhao had something he was afraid of. It made him seem a bit more human.
.........
In the dead of night, Ji Su turned over in his sleep and was completely enveloped by the tall shadow standing in front of the sofa.
Gu Zhao stood there silently with his eyes lowered to gaze at the person sleeping defenselessly on the sofa.
The thin blanket that had been neatly tucked over him earlier had slipped off.
Ji Su was lying on his side on the sofa with the hem of his black shirt rolled up several times and revealed a slender, pale waist.
Such a thin waist, such narrow hips that even if the flat belly swelled and bulged, and struggled fiercely in his grasp, he could still firmly control them with one hand.
Two long, straight legs were casually crossed and because the black shorts were too short, it revealed a bit of tender thigh flesh that was pressed into a mound of snow-white on the sofa.
Just by tracing the lines with his gaze, he could fully imagine the sensation of gripping those legs tightly in his hands.
Ji Su murmured in his sleep while unconsciously curling his slender limbs.
Gu Zhao slowly leaned down, like a demon whispering silently in his ear, "Whether you’re Meng Meng or Ji Su—"
"You’re mine."
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