Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
Gu Zhao froze and his expression turned blank for a few seconds before he slowly turned his face back.
A storm brewed in the depths of his dark eyes and his grip on Ji Su's waist tightening as his voice grew hoarse. "You kissed me?"
Ji Su's face flushed crimson, his voice barely a whisper. "Please, let me go first, okay?"
On the other side of the door, Qiao Jin continued to bang relentlessly. "Someone, open the door!"
Gu Zhao clenched his jaw until the veins at his temples throbbing and his gaze inscrutable.
Ji Su, both anxious and scared, rubbed his hand against the back of Gu Zhao's neck in a placating gesture. "Brother Gu Zhao..."
Gu Zhao pinched Ji Su's soft cheek with one hand and his tone was fierce. "Fine, I'll let it go for now."
Ji Su relaxed and did not even bother to think about the deeper meaning behind those words.
Gu Zhao held his waist and effortlessly lifted him back onto the table to sit, then turned around to open the door.
"Are you really—" Qiao Jin outside suddenly slapped the air as the door opened.
The dormitory door swung open, revealing a handsome yet cold face.
"Holy shit!" Qiao Jin looked up at the dormitory number plate, "Wait, I didn't go to the wrong dorm!"
"You didn't." Gu Zhao replied coldly.
Qiao Jin quickly walked into the dormitory, exchanged a glance with Ji Su who was leaning against the table, and then felt relieved: "I really didn't go wrong!"
Ji Su, having regained his composure, was eager to see him off: "Gu Zhao, let me walk you downstairs."
"No need." Gu Zhao looked at him, "Rest well, I'm leaving."
Qiao Jin watched the tall figure leave, closed the dormitory door, and then belatedly sensed something fishy: "Wait—what were you two doing in the dorm just now?"
The blush that had just faded from Ji Su's face returned, and he replied vaguely, "Nothing, Gu Zhao just came up to our dorm to take a look."
"No, no!" Qiao Jin walked over while staring at him with sharp eyes, "I knocked on the door for at least two or three minutes, you two must have been up to something!"
Ji Su: "No..."
"You don't love me anymore, Su Su, my darling," Qiao Jin held his heart with both hands while looking utterly heartbroken, "You're keeping things from me!"
Ji Su had no choice but to confess, "Alright, there are some things you don't know."
"I knew it!" Qiao Jin slapped the table, "Spill it, quick!"
Ji Su thought for a moment and summarized, "Gu Zhao said he likes me."
"Holy shit, holy shit! What did I say?" Qiao Jin, with a look of having anticipated this, began a rapid-fire questioning, "When did this happen? Are you two together? How far has it gone?"
Ji Su selectively answered the first two questions, "It happened not long ago and we're not together yet."
Qiao Jin was heartbroken again, "Such a big thing, and you didn't even tell me!"
"Sorry, Xiao Qiao, I didn't mean to hide it from you." Ji Su explained, "At first, I wasn't sure if he was serious, and I didn't want to complicate things, so I didn't tell anyone."
Qiao Jin pressed further, "Now you're sure he's serious?"
Ji Su nodded, "Yes."
Qiao Jin walked around the dormitory and then asked, "So what do you think, do you like him?"
Ji Su was silent for a moment, then his voice lowered, "I don't know, Xiao Qiao."
"How can you not know?" Qiao Jin was surprised, "Whether you like someone or not, you should know best."
"You know, I've never liked anyone before," Ji Su replied softly.
He had never met someone like Gu Zhao, who had so forcefully entered his life and with every move leaving him unable to resist.
But he knew he was starved for affection, so he was afraid that he was just clinging to Gu Zhao's kindness, just accustomed to his meticulous care, and not truly in love.
That would be too unfair to Gu Zhao.
"Alright, let me tell you my experience of liking someone." Qiao Jin pulled over a chair and sat down, "Liking someone means thinking about them all the time, wanting to see them, and being very happy when you do."
Ji Su thought for a moment, "But I feel that way about you too."
"How could it be the same?" Qiao Jin shook his finger. "The most important thing is, when you like someone, you want to get close to them. Do you feel that way?"
Ji Su didn't answer, but his ears turned red.
"Look at you, look at you!" Qiao Jin got excited again. "Be honest, were you two getting close just now?"
"I'm not talking to you anymore." Ji Su's mind was in turmoil as he turned toward the bathroom. "I need to take a shower first."
"Alright, I think it's good for you to think it over some more." Qiao Jin called after him. "The way Gu Zhao looks at you is downright predatory, and he definitely seems like the type who knows how to make things intense. Be careful, babe!"
Ji Su stumbled and nearly tripped over nothing.
Qiao Jin added, "If you have any questions about that kind of stuff, feel free to ask me!"
Ji Su didn't look back. "I don't!"
………
The next evening, Ji Su and Qiao Jin went to the cafeteria for dinner.
As soon as they walked in, they saw Gu Zhao sitting by the window and waiting for him.
Ji Su whispered a reminder, "Xiao Qiao, don't say anything weird to Gu Zhao later."
"Come on, don't you trust me?" Qiao Jin agreed readily. "I promise I won't say anything out of line."
Ji Su walked over and greeted Gu Zhao.
"Sit down first." Gu Zhao gestured. "I've already ordered food for you."
"Ooh la la!" Qiao Jin started with his usual sarcasm. "Who knew Senior Gu could be so thoughtful?"
Gu Zhao raised his eyes. "Do you have a problem with that?"
Qiao Jin forced a laugh. "No problem at all."
Ji Su: "..."
Well, he'd worried for nothing.
Just as he was about to sit down, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Ji Su pulled it out and glanced at the screen. "I need to take this call."
Qiao Jin sat down across from Gu Zhao and racked his brain for how to probe for information, but Gu Zhao spoke first. "How has Ji Su celebrated his birthday in previous years?"
"Birthday?" Qiao Jin was caught off guard. "Why are you asking?"
Gu Zhao looked at him expressionlessly. "Because I want to know."
"Oh right, Su Su's birthday is coming up!" Qiao Jin finally realized. "You want to celebrate Su Su's birthday?"
Gu Zhao replied tersely, "Yes."
Qiao Jin's eyes lit up, and he boldly challenged, "Senior Gu, this isn't exactly the attitude of someone asking for a favor."
Gu Zhao didn't respond to that. Instead, he asked abruptly, "Do you like Zhou Yang?"
Qiao Jin blurted out, "How do you know that?"
As soon as he said it, he realized he'd given himself away and quickly tried to cover it up. "No, don't talk nonsense!"
"I'm not interested in what's going on between you two." Gu Zhao raised his hand and tapped the table with his knuckles. "I just want to know about Ji Su."
Qiao Jin was still nervous. "Can you not tell Zhou Yang about this?"
Gu Zhao sneered. "Now you're the one asking for a favor."
"Fine, I'll tell you, okay?" Knowing he couldn't win against Gu Zhao, Qiao Jin had no choice but to explain honestly. "Su Su doesn't like celebrating his birthday, so every year I just give him a gift. There's nothing special about it."
Gu Zhao frowned. "Why doesn't he like celebrating his birthday?"
"Because..." Qiao Jin hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and replied, "Because his family never remembered his birthday, so he never developed the habit of celebrating it since he was a child."
His birth mother was abroad, and sometimes she would send him money when she remembered, but other times she would simply forget when she was busy.
The father who raised him was completely devoted to his stepmother and younger son, and had no intention of celebrating his birthday.
"Got it," Gu Zhao responded. "I won't interfere with your and Zhou Yang's matters."
Qiao Jin immediately felt relieved and couldn't help but express his gratitude, "Thank you."
Just then, Ji Su returned after finishing a phone call and casually asked, "What were you guys talking about?"
"Nothing much." Gu Zhao said, his gaze resting on Ji Su's face. "Whose call was it?"
Ji Su sat down next to Qiao Jin, "It was a previous client asking if I would take on a new order."
"It's the end of the semester, how do you have time to take on orders?" Qiao Jin chimed in. "Just decline it, Su Su."
"It's fine," Ji Su smiled. "The order isn't urgent, I can find some time to work on it."
Gu Zhao wanted to say something, but after a moment of hesitation, he swallowed his words, "Make sure to rest and don't overwork yourself."
After dinner, the three of them went to the library to study.
Gu Zhao had already secured seats in the study room, but Qiao Jin couldn't find a seat and had to find a spot in the lobby downstairs to read.
Around nine o'clock, Ji Su closed his textbook and prepared to return to the dormitory.
The two of them left the library and walked side by side through the quiet campus.
As they walked, Gu Zhao suddenly asked, "Starting tomorrow, you won't have any classes, right?"
Ji Su nodded, "Yes, all the courses for this semester are over."
He wasn't surprised at all that Gu Zhao knew this so well, after all, he had memorized his schedule.
"Would you like to stay at my place for a few days to prepare for the exams?" Gu Zhao suggested in a casual tone, "No one will disturb your studies, and you won't have to run to the library every day."
For a moment, Ji Su was shamelessly tempted.
Since his roommates were cramming at the last minute, they had been studying in the dorm until late at night these past few days and often coming over to ask him this and that, interrupting his drawing rhythm.
If he went out to study, there wouldn't be so many disturbances.
Gu Zhao seemed to notice his temptation and added, "I can also cook for you, so you won't have to eat at the cafeteria."
Ji Su hesitated for a few seconds before firmly declining, "No, it's quite convenient for me in the dorm."
He already spent enough time with Gu Zhao every day. Once the two of them were alone in a room together, what might happen could be beyond his control...
"What are you worried about?" Gu Zhao glanced sideways, "Afraid I might take advantage of the situation?"
Ji Su: "..."
Could he admit it? Of course not.
"How could that be?" His long, thick eyelashes fluttered guiltily as Ji Su softly denied, "I'm just afraid of troubling you too much."
Gu Zhao: "I don't mind the trouble."
Ji Su insisted, "The exams are just a few days away, it's better not to move around."
"I bought a bed and put it in the guest room." Gu Zhao spoke again, "You can stay in the guest room, and I'll stay in the master bedroom. We won't disturb each other."
Ji Su paused in his steps with his expression somewhat shocked.
He knew how difficult it was for someone to change their inherent notions but Gu Zhao had actually altered the original layout of the room just so he could stay during the exam week.
Gu Zhao's tone was indifferent, not pressing, "Think about it again."
……..
After considering it overnight, Ji Su decided the next day to stay at Gu Zhao's place for a few days.
Firstly, he was indeed tempted, and secondly, he didn't want to let down Gu Zhao's thoughtful gesture of buying a bed for him.
He packed a few changes of clothes, mainly bringing along his books and computer, and told his roommates he was going to stay at a relative's place for a few days.
This excuse might fool the other roommates, but it couldn't fool Qiao Jin.
Qiao Jin followed him downstairs, "Su Su, you're going to stay at Gu Zhao's place, aren't you?"
"Yes," Ji Su admitted, "But don't worry, I'll be staying in the guest room."
"You're really too naive, Su Su!" Qiao Jin stamped his foot, "Once you enter Gu Zhao's house, it's like a lamb entering the wolf's den. Sooner or later, you'll be eaten up without a trace!"
Ji Su: "It won't happen..."
Qiao Jin's expression was complicated, "Just wait and see if you don't believe me."
Ji Su stopped and said seriously, "Xiao Qiao, if I don't agree, he won't do anything excessive to me."
Just like the previous times, no matter how close they got, as long as he avoided it, Gu Zhao wouldn't really force him.
Although he would find ways to make up for it elsewhere…
"Alright, since you've vouched for him like that, I have nothing more to say." Qiao Jin clasped his hands together. "One last question, if I have any problems while reviewing, can I call you on WeChat?"
"Of course," Ji Su replied. "But as long as you memorize the key points I've outlined for you, passing won't be an issue."
"Got it!" Qiao Jin blew him a kiss. "Love you, love you!"
Ji Su walked out of the dormitory building and immediately saw a familiar tall figure waiting at the bottom of the steps.
Gu Zhao stepped forward before naturally taking his suitcase. "Let's go."
For convenience in commuting to and from school, Gu Zhao had driven a car but it was different from the one last time.
Ji Su sat in the passenger seat, opened the WeChat chatbox, and transferred two thousand yuan to him. "I've sent you some money, remember to accept it later."
Gu Zhao rested one hand on the steering wheel. "Why are you sending me money?"
"Rent." Ji Su replied.
Gu Zhao laughed in exasperation. "Rent?"
"Although it's not much, it's a token of my appreciation." Ji Su said earnestly. "Staying at your place will cause you a lot of trouble, so I can't stay for free."
Gu Zhao glanced at him and stepped on the gas.
Ji Su's heart skipped a beat, and he silently tightened his grip on the seatbelt.
Soon, the car entered the underground garage of the residential complex.
The two took the elevator upstairs, and Gu Zhao entered the password to open the door.
Ji Su walked in and changed into slippers. "Which one is the guest room?"
"The one next to the master bedroom." Gu Zhao replied.
Ji Su walked further in and opened the door to the guest room.
Inside was a large bed with sheets and covers in his favorite pattern, a desk, and a bookshelf—everything was well-equipped and no less than the master bedroom.
"Take a look and see if there's anything you don't like." Gu Zhao said as he stopped behind him. "If you don't like it, we can change it."
"There's nothing I don't like." Ji Su replied softly as he walked into the room. "I like everything."
"Good that you like it." Gu Zhao said before also walking in and placing the suitcase by the wall.
Ji Su put down his backpack and turned to thank him. "Thank you."
Gu Zhao walked towards him. "How are you going to thank me?"
Ji Su instinctively took a step back and leaned against the edge of the desk. "How do you want me to thank you?"
Gu Zhao stopped in front of him, lifted him, and placed him on the desk.
Ji Su immediately tensed up and hastily changed the subject. "I-I'm a bit hungry."
Gu Zhao chuckled. "I'm hungry too."
Ji Su pushed him. "Then I'll go cook something for you."
Gu Zhao held the soft hand against his chest and reminded him, "Did you forget something?"
Ji Su blinked. "What?"
"You owe me," Gu Zhao said slowly while raising Ji Su's hand and pressing his fingertips against his own cheek. "A kiss."
Ji Su pursed his lips, neither confident nor justified. "That... that was just a spur-of-the-moment thing."
He didn't know why he had made such a strange move at the time that as if subconsciously he knew that a kiss would calm Gu Zhao down.
"Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that you kissed me." Gu Zhao analyzed leisurely.
Ji Su's ears turned slightly red, and he asked softly, "So what do you want to do?"
"Paying debts is only natural." Gu Zhao raised his other hand to cupped Ji Su's cheek. "You owe me a kiss, so of course, you should repay it with a kiss."
Ji Su's ears turned even redder as he tried to negotiate, "Can't I repay it in some other way?"
Gu Zhao's gaze fixed intently on Ji Su's slightly parted red lips with his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "No."
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