Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
The water in the pool churned with layers of splashes.
Under the surface, Ji Su's pale, long legs were tightly wrapped around Gu Zhao's slightly darker waist that create an indescribably suggestive scene.
Gu Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed and his voice hoarse. "Let go of me first."
"I don't want to." Ji Su was afraid of choking on water again, so he clung to him like an octopus and refused to let go.
"Be good." Gu Zhao loosened his grip on Ji Su's slender waist. "I can't teach you like this."
Ji Su's thighs slid down slightly and inevitably brushed against the hard muscles.
He froze as he belatedly realized the position they were in, and his mind went blank for a few seconds.
Gu Zhao's hand slid down along his waistline before resting on his thigh.
Ji Su snapped back to reality as his ears instantly turned crimson.
He hastily released his hands and legs, and nearly sank back into the pool in his panic.
Fortunately, Gu Zhao reacted quickly as his large hand gripped Ji Su's waist and lifted him safely back to the surface.
"Cough, cough..." Ji Su coughed and complained, "This isn't fun... I don't want to learn anymore..."
"Alright, we'll stop for now." Gu Zhao didn't force him. "I'll teach you again when you're ready."
Next time, he would take him to a private pool—it would be more convenient for teaching.
The pool wasn't particularly deep, so Gu Zhao stood up in the water while holding Ji Su by the waist and carrying him back to the edge.
As his bottom touched the ground, Ji Su finally felt at ease. He brushed his bangs back and looked at the man in the water. "Do you want to swim a bit more?"
"Yeah." Gu Zhao glanced at him before diving back into the water.
That glance somehow felt intense, leaving Ji Su puzzled, but he obediently sat by the edge to wait for Gu Zhao to finish.
Several minutes later, Gu Zhao finally emerged from the water.
Drenched and large droplets rolled down his well-defined muscles that exuded a wet, sensual aura.
Ji Su's gaze inadvertently landed on a certain area before his eyes widening as he quickly looked away.
He remembered that in the water, he had accidentally touched...
But in that situation, it was probably normal for the other person to have a reaction, right?
"Get up." Gu Zhao leaned down slightly as he extended a hand toward him. "Let's go change."
"Huh? Okay..." Ji Su immediately ordered himself to stop overthinking and pushed himself up from the floor with one hand.
Gu Zhao lowered his hand and took the lead as he walked ahead.
The swimming pool had separate changing rooms and showers for VIP clients.
Ji Su took a quick shower, put on his clothes, and walked out.
But Gu Zhao moved faster than him. Seeing him come out, he called softly, "Come here."
Ji Su walked over, "What's up?"
Gu Zhao covered his head with the towel in his hand to dry his dripping hair.
Ji Su tilted his face up and was only able to see the other's sharply defined jawline through the gaps in the towel.
The lines looked cold and hard, but the large hand drying his hair was surprisingly gentle, creating a strange contrast.
Gu Zhao asked, "If I hadn't stopped you earlier, were you really planning to add that girl on WeChat?"
Ji Su explained softly, "I just thought it wouldn't be good to embarrass a girl in public."
Gu Zhao paused before using the towel to lift his face, "So many people want to add you on WeChat. Do you give it to everyone?"
Ji Su shook his head, "Not really. I only add them when it's hard to refuse."
Gu Zhao's eyes darkened, "And after adding them on WeChat?"
Ji Su replied, "Then nothing much happens. I'll make things clear with them on WeChat."
Gu Zhao said, "If that's the case, why bother with the extra step?"
"Well..." Ji Su hesitated, "I just feel like this way might not hurt others too much."
Gu Zhao continued, "They're just strangers to you. Why do you need to consider so much?"
Ji Su frowned slightly, "I don't know either."
This was just his personality - he couldn't refuse others and habitually tried to please people, as if...
As if this way everyone would like him.
"People who don't like you, no matter how much you try to please them, it's useless." Gu Zhao looked into his eyes while speaking each word clearly, "And people who like you won't stop liking you just because you refuse them."
Ji Su was momentarily stunned, not knowing what to say.
"Ji Su, you need to learn to refuse unreasonable requests." Gu Zhao's voice was deep and serious, "Don't exhaust yourself trying to please unimportant people and don't force yourself to do things you don't like."
"I..." Ji Su only managed one word before hurriedly lowering his lashes, not wanting the other to see the moisture in his eyes.
Gu Zhao released his hand before adding lightly, "Next time someone asks for your WeChat, just refuse directly."
Ji Su replied, "Okay..."
The two left the swimming pool and took a taxi back to school.
As usual, Gu Zhao walked him to the dormitory building and stopped, "Go on in."
Ji Su also stopped and asked, "Do you want to come up to our dorm for a bit?"
Gu Zhao's brow twitched, "Are you inviting me?"
Ji Su nodded, "Our dorm is quite clean, and my roommates are easy to get along with."
Gu Zhao looked at him for a few seconds, then reached up to smooth down a few stray strands of hair on his head, "I won't go up. I prefer spending time alone with you."
Ji Su said, "Oh..."
Gu Zhao withdrew his hand, "Go on."
Ji Su turned towards the dormitory entrance, then suddenly looked back to wave, "Goodnight, see you tomorrow."
Gu Zhao stood under the streetlamp as a faint smile appearing on his handsome face, "Mm, see you tomorrow."
By early June, the weather was gradually getting hotter.
Ji Su's studies and life were proceeding in an orderly manner, except now there was one more person by his side.
Without realizing it, he had become very close with Gu Zhao and often appeared in the same places together.
Gu Zhao, the campus heartthrob, was famously aloof and icy, with an aura that screamed "keep your distance."
But soon, everyone noticed that whenever Ji Su was around, that intimidating aura of the heartthrob would soften.
This intimate atmosphere wasn't something Ji Su himself noticed, but Qiao Jin was the first to voice his dissatisfaction.
After class one day, Ji Su casually asked, "Qiao Jin, do you want to come to the gym with me?"
Qiao Jin, who was packing up his books, turned his head and asked, "Are you going to see Gu Zhao again?"
"There's a basketball game coming up, and he's been training hard lately." Ji Su said before slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "I'm just going to bring him some water."
"You're bringing him water?" Qiao Jin exaggeratedly gestured. "Come on, the line of people wanting to bring the campus heartthrob water could circle the field seven or eight times!"
Ji Su chuckled. "You're not wrong, but he asked me to come, so I can't really refuse."
Gu Zhao had always been very considerate towards him, and it would be unfriendly to keep making excuses about bringing him water.
Qiao Jin rubbed his chin. "Ji Su, haven't you noticed that you've been spending a lot of time with Gu Zhao lately?"
Ji Su paused. "Have I?"
"Yes!" Qiao Jin unconsciously raised his voice. "You've been spending way less time with me!"
"Not really." Ji Su laughed. "We still share the same dorm room and sleep in the same place."
"That's not the point. You've been ditching me to hang out with Gu Zhao alone!" Qiao Jin felt more and more uneasy. "Ji Su, tell me, am I still your best friend?"
"Of course you are." Ji Su tried to change the subject. "Zhou Yang is also playing. Do you want to come with me to see him?"
Qiao Jin: "Yes!"
As they walked to the gym, they could hear cheers and screams before even entering.
Qiao Jin looked knowingly. "It must be Gu Zhao, the campus heartthrob, unleashing his damn charm again."
Ji Su: "..."
Once inside, he immediately spotted Gu Zhao on the court.
The tall, nearly two-meter-tall guy was wearing a black basketball jersey, broad-shouldered with long legs, and his deep, chiseled features were unmistakable even from a distance.
Gu Zhao's usual cold demeanor was even more pronounced on the court as he moved with the agility of a hunting leopard, yet exuding a calm elegance.
Even though it was just a regular practice session, there were quite a few spectators.
"Qiao Jin, Ji Su!" Wang Mingzhe's voice rang out as he waved vigorously at them. "Come over here, we saved the best seats for you!"
Ji Su walked over and sat down in the front row as his eyes kept searching for that familiar figure on the court.
Gu Zhao saw him too as he smiled at him from halfway across the court.
"Ahhh! Gu Zhao just smiled!"
"What? Who did he smile at?"
"It looks like he was looking in our direction!"
...
Ji Su tuned out the chatter behind him before responding with a gentle smile.
He couldn't help but recall that time in the gym when he mustered the courage to smile at Gu Zhao, only to be completely ignored.
Who would have thought that in just a few months, they would become such good friends.
With a "clang," Gu Zhao casually sank a three-pointer.
"Gu, you're awesome!" Wang Mingzhe cheered, then turned to ask, "The basketball club is having dinner tonight. Do you guys want to join us?"
Ji Su politely declined, "I think I'll pass. I'm not really familiar with the others."
"What does that matter? You're familiar with me, Wang Mingzhe, and that's enough!" Wang Mingzhe waved his hand grandly. "Right, Qiao Jin?"
Qiao Jin laughed heartily, "Absolutely! Who could possibly have more influence than Brother Wang?"
Ji Su also smiled, "Let's talk about it later."
During the intermission, Gu Zhao walked over to the rest area.
Ji Su stood up while holding a bottle of mineral water, and had only taken a couple of steps when a male voice called out from behind, "Ji Su!"
He turned around and responded politely, "Hello."
A young man with a delicate appearance introduced himself, "I'm He Yun, also a member of the music club. Do you remember me?"
Ji Su nodded slightly, "Yes, I remember. You once lent me an umbrella."
"That's right, that's right!" He Yun nodded repeatedly, "That's great! I didn't expect you to remember me!"
Ji Su asked, "Is there something on your mind?"
He Yun looked hesitant, then finally spoke up, "Um... are you close with Gu Zhao?"
A sense of foreboding washed over Ji Su, and he responded vaguely, "Hmm."
"I've liked Gu Zhao for a long time, but I've never dared to talk to him..." He Yun's expression was a mix of shyness and anticipation, "Could you give me his WeChat ID?"
Ji Su: "..."
He wasn't a matchmaker, so why did people keep coming to him to play Cupid?
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you gave me his WeChat ID," He Yun pleaded, "Considering we're both members of the music club and I've helped you before, could you do me this favor?"
Normally, Ji Su would have wavered at this point.
But at this moment, Gu Zhao's words echoed in his mind.
"Ji Su, you need to learn to refuse unreasonable requests."
Ji Su pursed his lips before his gaze firming up, "I'm sorry, but I can't give you Gu Zhao's WeChat ID."
"Why not?" He Yun still didn't give up, "It's just a WeChat ID. Whether he adds me or not, I won't put you in a difficult position."
"Because it's a matter of principle. I can't give you his WeChat ID without his consent," Ji Su said calmly, "If you really want to add Gu Zhao on WeChat, you can ask him yourself. He's right over—"
As he turned his head, he unexpectedly met a pair of deep, dark eyes.
Gu Zhao stood there holding a towel, and it was unclear how much he had heard.
He Yun saw him too and was about to speak, but when he met that icy gaze, he ran off without saying a word.
Ji Su: "..."
So after all that talking, Gu Zhao's single glance had more impact?
Gu Zhao strode over with his long legs.
Ji Su twisted open the cap of the mineral water bottle in his hand and handed it over, "You must be tired."
Gu Zhao took the water and drank half the bottle in one go.
He drank so quickly that the water he couldn't swallow in time dripped down his chin and onto his collar, soaking his basketball jersey and making it cling tightly to his body that accentuated the contours of his well-defined chest muscles.
Ji Su glanced at it, then stole another look while feeling a bit envious.
Could he really never develop such perfect muscles in his lifetime?
Gu Zhao looked down, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," Ji Su quickly raised his face, "By the way, about what happened earlier..."
As he was trying to figure out how to phrase it, he heard Gu Zhao whisper in his ear, "You did well."
Ji Su: "Huh?"
"I said—" Gu Zhao used his damp fingers to brush Ji Su's cheek, "You did well."
Ji Su blinked and his ears inexplicably heated up.
Whenever Gu Zhao spoke to him in that tone, he felt like a child being praised.
Gu Zhao's throat moved slightly, and his fingertips played with Ji Su's reddened earlobe.
"Oh, Wang Mingzhe mentioned that you guys have a dinner gathering tonight," Ji Su remembered, "He invited me and Xiao Qiao to join."
Gu Zhao withdrew his hand, "Do you want to go?"
Ji Su hesitated, "I..."
Gu Zhao said lightly, "Go if you want to, don't go if you don't."
Ji Su smiled, "Then I'll go."
Since Gu Zhao was there and he knew everyone else, there was no need to be too reserved.
Gu Zhao responded, "Alright."
After training, everyone went to a nearby restaurant for a meal.
The basketball club had many members, so they split into two tables.
As usual, Ji Su obediently sat next to Gu Zhao.
Everyone chatted and drank merrily, and soon someone turned their attention to Ji Su and wanted to drink with him.
Since the last time he got drunk, Ji Su hadn't touched alcohol, but in such a gathering, not drinking at all would seem too dull.
Just as he was about to pick up his glass, a large hand pressed it down.
Gu Zhao switched hands to pick up his own glass, and poured the wine into his mouth.
"Nice! Brother Gu is so bold!"
"Wait, whose drink is this?"
"Who wants to drink?" Gu Zhao's tone was casual. "Come drink with me."
"Forget it, forget it! We don't dare!"
"Who dares to drink with Brother Gu! Are you asking for trouble!"
...
Everyone chattered away, and someone shouted, "Brother Gu, what's your relationship with Ji Su? Why are you so protective of him?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere at the table became eerily quiet.
Ji Su's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively looked at the person beside him.
In the silence, Gu Zhao asked expressionlessly, "Is it any of your business?"
"Hahahahaha!" The style of this remark was so typical of Gu Zhao that everyone burst into laughter.
Ji Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief and silently picked up his juice to take a sip.
"You guys, really, have no sense at all!" Wang Mingzhe slammed the table. "Look at what Ji Su looks like, and then look at yourselves!"
Zhou Yang chimed in with a laugh, "Exactly."
The topic was dropped, and the table returned to its lively state.
By the time the gathering ended, it was already past nine.
Although no one dared to mess with Gu Zhao too much, it was still a club gathering, so he ended up drinking a few glasses.
Gu Zhao leaned back in his chair as his long fingers pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Did you drink too much?" Ji Su looked at him with concern. "Let's take a taxi back."
"It's not far from my place," Gu Zhao said while looking at him. "Stay at my place tonight."
Ji Su didn't think much of it. "Alright, I'll take you back."
After saying goodbye to the others, Ji Su helped Gu Zhao up, and the two walked out together.
On the way home, Gu Zhao wrapped his arm around Ji Su's slender shoulders and appeared as if he was leaning entirely on Ji Su, though he didn't actually put any weight on him.
First time awkward, second time familiar—this was the third time.
Ji Su skillfully entered the password and pushed open the door.
He helped Gu Zhao to the sofa and intended to lay him down, but somehow tripped and ended up falling on top of him.
Gu Zhao, having drunk, was radiating an incredible amount of heat. Ji Su lay on his broad, solid chest with his nose filled with the rich yet sharp scent of alcohol and felt dizzy as if he was drunk too.
It wasn't until the bodies pressed together underwent an obvious change that Ji Su snapped out of it as he panicked and tried to get up.
But the more he panicked, the more he fumbled. Not only did he fail to get up, but his hand also pressed hard against the burning chest muscles.
Gu Zhao opened his eyes and a spark ignited in their depths.
Ji Su trembled all over as he quickly retreated and landed on the carpet.
Gu Zhao took a deep breath and sat up from the couch before extending a hand toward him.
"I'm fine..." Ji Su propped himself up on the coffee table, "I'll get you a glass of water."
Gu Zhao leaned back on the couch with his one hand resting on his forehead and his deep, unfathomable eyes following Ji Su's figure.
Ji Su poured a glass of warm water and returned to the couch while kneeling on one knee as he brought the glass to Gu Zhao's lips.
Suddenly, a similar scene flashed through his mind, but with their roles reversed.
The last time he was drunk, Gu Zhao had taken care of him in much the same way.
Though compared to him, Gu Zhao's tolerance for alcohol was far better...
Distracted, his hand trembled and spilled a bit of water.
"Sorry..." Ji Su instinctively apologized as he reached out to wipe the water from Gu Zhao's chest.
His cool fingers brushed against Gu Zhao's chest, soft and smooth, causing Gu Zhao to frown and grab his fingertips.
Ji Su paused before trying to pull his hand back but finding it firmly held.
Gu Zhao's voice was low and hoarse: "I've told you, you don't need to apologize to me."
"I forgot..." Ji Su felt inexplicably nervous as he grasped for something to say, "Actually, you didn't have to drink for me tonight. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten drunk."
Gu Zhao didn't respond as his large hand held Ji Su's, slowly moving downward until it rested over his heart.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
The strong, steady heartbeat reverberated through his palm and sent a tingling sensation.
Ji Su's fingers curled slightly with his own heartbeat now erratic as he stammered, "W-what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell..."
His voice trailed off into the air.
Gu Zhao was staring intently at him with his dark, inscrutable eyes filled with emotions Ji Su couldn't decipher, but they were enough to make his heart race.
"Ji Su," Gu Zhao said hoarsely, "You always ask me why I'm so good to you, don't you?"
Ji Su's heartbeat quickened and a vague sense of something terrifying was about to surface.
Gu Zhao gave him no chance to retreat as he answered his own question: "Because I like you."
With a "boom," Ji Su's mind went blank because it was completely overwhelmed.
Several seconds passed, or maybe longer, before his frozen brain rebooted.
Like?
Gu Zhao said... he liked him?
"Gu Zhao, don't joke around," Ji Su's first reaction was disbelief, "Are you drunk?"
He tried to pull his hand back again, but Gu Zhao held it even tighter.
"I'm completely sober," Gu Zhao's gaze never wavered, "And you know very well I'm not joking."
"I..." Ji Su wanted to say something, but his voice failed him.
"Of course, you can reject me. Once, twice, a hundred times, a thousand times," Gu Zhao's voice was low and gravelly, and his tone more serious than ever, "But I won't give up on you just because you reject me."
Ji Su's mind was in turmoil and his own deafening heartbeat mingled with the familiar voice he faintly heard.
"Someone who doesn't like you won't be swayed no matter how much you try to please them. And someone who likes you won't stop liking you just because you reject them."
Only now did he truly understand those words.
In the long, suffocating silence, Gu Zhao smiled slowly, "Ji Su, I'm that kind of person too."
"Even if I crash headfirst into a wall, I'll never take a step back."
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•
Advanced chapters are now available up to chapter 61 (End of Main Text) on my Ko-fi page!
If you appreciate what I do, please consider supporting me on kofi. Thank you!
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•