Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
Ji Su sat straddling Gu Zhao's sturdy thighs and facing him, appearing slightly taller than Gu Zhao.
Seemingly intrigued by this novel, top-down perspective, he reached up and cupped that handsome face.
High brows, deep-set eyes and a straight nose that looked like it could double as a slide—truly handsome, yet utterly infuriating.
"How about this?" Gu Zhao looked up at him with his voice, a devilish whisper of temptation. "I kiss you once, you kiss me once. Fair and square."
Ji Su stared at those thin, parting lips with his head spinning and only thinking that he couldn't afford to lose out, so he leaned down and kissed him.
Gu Zhao's breath hitched, and the hand gripping his slender waist tightened abruptly.
Ji Su had been completely overwhelmed during his first kiss, and now, addled by alcohol, he had no idea what he was doing. He simply pressed his lips against Gu Zhao's.
Their breaths mingled intimately, with one carrying the scent of alcohol, the other hot and urgent.
After a few seconds, Ji Su suddenly opened his mouth and bit down hard on Gu Zhao's lower lip.
Gu Zhao let out a muffled groan but still forced himself to stay still.
Satisfied, Ji Su was about to pull away when a large hand gripped the back of his neck and pushed him back down.
Gu Zhao easily pried open his lips before his hot tongue delving inside to explore and stir. The beads of blood that seeped from their lips mixed with saliva, only heightening the excitement.
Ji Su's mouth was completely sealed, leaving him only able to let out a faint, pitiful protest through his nose.
Gu Zhao's kiss was as fierce as the last time as he swept over every corner of the warm, wet mouth before giving a firm lick to the sensitive roof.
"Mmm..." Ji Su's waist instantly went weak and he nearly slid off Gu Zhao's lap.
Gu Zhao tightened his grip on that slender waist and pulled him back up to continue the kiss.
Ji Su's lungs were emptied of air, and he hadn't yet learned how to breathe during a kiss, so he was almost drowning in it.
Just as he was about to completely run out of breath, Gu Zhao finally released him with his large hand kneading the back of Ji Su's neck as he reminded him hoarsely, "Breathe."
Ji Su's body went limp before collapsing into Gu Zhao's arms as he gasped for air and dazed.
Gu Zhao leaned down to peck at the reddened earlobe before his lips wandered to the wet corner of Ji Su's mouth.
Ji Su instinctively tried to move away with his body squirming slightly as he sat on the firm abs.
Gu Zhao's muscles tensed instantly, his voice hoarse as he asked, "What are you fidgeting for?"
Ji Su belatedly realized what was happening, causing his ears to turn bright red before the flush quickly spread to his neck and chest. He looked like a ripe cherry that was ready to burst with juice at the slightest touch—tempting and delicious.
He struggled to get out of Gu Zhao's embrace and kept squirming a couple of times, only to be firmly pressed back down.
Gu Zhao took the thin, tender earlobe into his mouth with his hot breath seeping into Ji Su's ear. "You think you can just run off after kissing me?"
Ji Su was genuinely scared as he shrank in Gu Zhao’s arms and his voice trembled slightly. "No... let me go..."
The veins on Gu Zhao's temples bulged and throbbing several times.
"Ji Su—" he gritted his teeth as he enunciated each word clearly, "What you owe me, you'll have to pay back in full someday."
Ji Su was in no state to grasp the deeper meaning of his words and only desperately wanted to escape. He babbled, "We've had dinner... I need to go back to the dorm..."
Gu Zhao took a deep breath. And while maintaining his position, he lifted Ji Su up and carried him in his arms.
Ji Su was startled before instinctively tightening his legs around the sturdy waist because he was afraid he might fall.
Gu Zhao let out a muffled grunt as his large hand gave Ji Su's buttocks a firm but not too heavy slap.
Ji Su trembled from the slap and pouted as he complained, "You hit my butt again."
"Don't squeeze your legs so tight." Gu Zhao's voice was hoarse. "Relax a bit."
Ji Su obediently relaxed his legs, but his arms around Gu Zhao's neck still clung tightly.
Gu Zhao walked into the guest room, glanced at the packed luggage, and placed Ji Su on the bed.
Ji Su rolled over on the bed before pulling the thin blanket over himself and leaving only his drunken, hazy eyes to peek at Gu Zhao.
Gu Zhao was both annoyed and amused as he reached out to pinch the flushed cheek. "Sleep first."
Ji Su immediately closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep, but the slight tremble of his eyelashes betrayed his act.
Gu Zhao stood by the bed and gave him a deep look before turning to leave the room and casually taking the pajamas draped over the bedhead.
…..
The next morning, Ji Su woke up and stared at the familiar ceiling for a while.
As his consciousness gradually returned, he sat up before covering his face with his hands in frustration.
Yesterday, he had planned to grab his things and return to the dorm, but somehow things had spiraled out of control...
After a while, Ji Su got out of bed, rummaged through his suitcase for clothes, and decided to take a shower first.
He twisted the doorknob and tiptoed towards the bathroom like a thief, trying not to disturb Gu Zhao, who was making breakfast in the kitchen.
After showering, Ji Su changed into clean clothes. As soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, he met Gu Zhao's deep, dark eyes.
Gu Zhao was holding his phone. "Your phone has been ringing non-stop."
Ji Su lowered his gaze as he reached out to take the phone. His fingertips accidentally brushed against Gu Zhao's, causing him to flinch as if shocked.
"Breakfast is ready." Gu Zhao reminded him. "Come eat after you finish your call."
"Okay," Ji Su replied but not daring to look at him again, and quickly returned to the bedroom.
Closing the door, Ji Su leaned against it while calming his racing heart before opening his phone.
As soon as he opened WeChat, a chat window with Qiao Jin popped up.
Since last night, Qiao Jin had sent him over a dozen messages, along with several voice and video call requests.
Ji Su: [Sorry, Xiao Qiao, I didn't see your messages last night.]
Qiao Jin: [Oh my god, Su Su, you finally replied!]
Qiao Jin: [I almost thought Senior Gu had kidnapped you and done all sorts of things to you!]
Ji Su: [No...]
Qiao Jin: [What did I say when we parted yesterday?]
Qiao Jin: [This is what you call 'going and never returning'!]
Ji Su: [Actually, I planned to return to the dorm after dinner, but I accidentally drank too much.]
Qiao Jin: [What? You drank too much?]
Qiao Jin: [Did you two get drunk and do something crazy?]
Ji Su looked at the messages as his mind involuntarily replayed the scene of being pressed against Gu Zhao's lap and kissed.
He had been drunk last night, but not to the point of blacking out. He remembered every little detail, even the hard and hot...
Qiao Jin: [Holy crap! Did you really do something crazy?]
Ji Su snapped out of it and quickly typed a reply.
Ji Su: [No!]
Qiao Jin: [Really?]
Qiao Jin: [I don't believe it.]
Ji Su: [Well, we did kiss a little...]
Qiao Jin: [Ahhhhhhh I knew it!]
Qiao Jin: [How did it feel? Is Senior Gu's kissing skills top-notch? Quickly describe it in detail with a thousand words!]
Ji Su: [I don’t remember it too clearly…]
Qiao Jin: [No way!]
Qiao Jin: [This was your first kiss, how could you not remember it clearly?]
Ji Su: [It was a very strange feeling and I don’t know how to describe it…]
Qiao Jin: [Then let me ask you a question, when Gu Zhao kissed you, did you feel disgusted?]
Ji Su was slightly stunned and unconsciously licked his upper lip.
Disgusted?
Last night, when he was drunk, he didn’t seem to dislike kissing Gu Zhao. The only reason he pushed away was because he couldn’t catch his breath.
Gu Zhao's kiss was too fierce, as if he wanted to devour him with his lips and tongue...
Thinking about it, the heat in his ears spread again.
Qiao Jin: [You're done for, Su Su, my darling.]
Qiao Jin: [You've fallen for Gu Zhao too.]
Ji Su's fingers hovered above the phone screen with his heart pounding so hard that his fingers felt numb.
Qiao Jin: [I should have seen it earlier, you're different with Gu Zhao.]
Qiao Jin: [You'd dodge three feet away if anyone else touched you, but you've always let Gu Zhao keep you close.]
Ji Su leaned the back of his head against the door, and in that moment, all the details he had deliberately ignored came flooding back.
Receiving no reply, Qiao Jin sent another message.
Qiao Jin: [So, are you still moving out?]
Ji Su: [I'll be back at the dorm soon.]
Qiao Jin: [That's more like it. Even if you're together, it's best not to move in together so quickly!]
Ji Su: [I'll talk to you later, Xiao Qiao. I'll be back after breakfast.]
Qiao Jin: [One last thing!]
Qiao Jin: [How's Senior Gu's kissing skills?]
Ji Su: [...]
Ji Su: [I have nothing to compare it to, so I don't know.]
Ji Su turned off his phone and walked out to the living room.
The dining table was already set with a fragrant breakfast, and Gu Zhao was pouring him a glass of milk.
Ji Su walked over, sat down, and took a sip of the milk.
Gu Zhao sat across from him: "Did you sleep well last night?"
Ji Su paused before he looked up at him, and noticed a small cut on his thin lips. He couldn't help but ask: "What happened to your lip?"
Gu Zhao touched the small cut on his lower lip with his finger and chuckled: "You don't know?"
Ji Su's heart skipped a beat as he vaguely recalled something.
"You bit me." Gu Zhao added leisurely.
Ji Su's ears turned red, and he guiltily lowered his eyelashes.
After breakfast, Ji Su cleared the table and turned to say: "I can take a taxi back to school. You don't need to drive me."
Gu Zhao sat on the sofa with his eyes dark as he stared at him: "Kiss me and then run away?"
"That... wasn't that you paying me back?" Ji Su replied softly, "We're even."
"We're not even," Gu Zhao said slowly, "I kissed you back later, so I still owe you one."
Ji Su: "Can't I just not want it?"
At this point, he couldn't tell who was at a disadvantage anymore.
Gu Zhao: "No."
Ji Su: “...”
"If you insist on staying at the dorm, I won't stop you," Gu Zhao stood up, "But at least let me drive you back to school."
Ji Su pursed his lips as a sense of guilt welling up in his heart.
…….
The black Audi stopped at the entrance of A University, and Gu Zhao rested one hand on the steering wheel and did not move for a while.
Ji Su waited for a moment, then silently unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
Gu Zhao also got out, took the luggage from the trunk, and silently carried it towards the school gate.
The architecture department's final exams were numerous and varied, making them one of the last to finish, so only a few students remained on campus.
The two walked side by side on the campus path with Ji Su's thoughts in turmoil, and neither spoke for a while.
Suddenly, a low voice sounded beside his ear: "Ji Su, do you hate me?"
Ji Su's heart trembled, and he blurted out: "Of course I don't hate you."
Gu Zhao turned his face: "Then do you hate it when I kiss you?"
Ji Su wanted to say he hated it, but the words wouldn't come out, and the tips of his ears turned red again.
Gu Zhao stopped in his tracks: "You don't dislike it?"
Ji Su's gaze fell to the ground, and he mumbled an indistinct "Hmm."
Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly: "If you don't dislike it, then do you like it?"
Ji Su sensed a trap and didn't want to answer the question, so he lowered his head and continued walking forward.
Gu Zhao reached out and grabbed his arm before turning him around, and pressed further: "Do you dislike it or like it?"
Ji Su avoided his gaze: "I don't know..."
Gu Zhao pinched his chin and lifted it then leaned down to kiss his red lips.
Ji Su looked up in a daze, feeling slightly dizzy.
This kiss was different from the previous two, which had been fierce and intense. This one was surprisingly tender, allowing him to feel the care and affection hidden within it.
"Do you like it when I kiss you?" Gu Zhao kissed him again as his lips kept brushing against Ji Su's as he asked in a low voice, "Do you like it?"
Ji Su closed his eyes, his voice strained: "Gu Zhao, I'm actually really scared too."
Gu Zhao leaned back a little: "Then tell me, what are you afraid of?"
Ji Su lowered his head to rest his forehead against Gu Zhao's broad shoulder.
After a moment, he replied softly: "I'm afraid I'm not worthy of being liked. I'm afraid you'll regret it one day. And I'm afraid everything will end up completely different from how it started."
His parents had been high school classmates. Ji Zheng Hai had fallen in love with Su Yue Lan at first sight in high school and pursued her all the way to the same university, eventually winning her heart.
After graduation, they got married with their love story transitioning from school uniforms to wedding gowns, earning admiration from everyone as a perfect match. Their first child was given a name that combined both of their surnames and symbolized the fruit of their love.
But who could have guessed that their marriage would last only six years before ending in a messy and bitter divorce?
He remembered the half-year before his parents' divorce, when they fought the most fiercely, accusing and attacking each other, and saying the most hurtful things they could think of. They didn't seem like a couple who had loved each other for years, but rather like enemies who despised each other deeply.
What was once an enviable love story became a joke, and he, the fruit of that love, became a burden.
People's hearts change so easily, yet they claim it's the other person who has changed.
Gu Zhao frowned and cupped Ji Su's face before lifting it: "Ji Su, you are worthy of being liked, and I won't regret it."
Ji Su shook his head: "You don't understand..."
Gu Zhao looked into his eyes with a calm and resolute: "I've told you before, once I, Gu Zhao, have decided on someone, it's for a lifetime."
Ji Su's eyes gradually welled up with tears, his voice choked: "But what if I..."
Gu Zhao smiled and used his thumb to gently rub the soft skin behind Ji Su's ear: "Do you think I'd give you that chance?"
Ji Su bit his lower lip as the tears moistened his long lashes and trembled like the fragile wings of a butterfly in the rain.
"Don't cry..." Gu Zhao sighed while pulling him back into his embrace. "It's okay. Give me time, and I'll prove it to you."
"I'm not like anyone else, and there will never be a second outcome for us."
Ji Su buried his face in Gu Zhao's shoulder with his tears quietly soaking into the black T-shirt and seeping into the skin beneath.
Gu Zhao's Adam's apple moved slightly as his large hand repeatedly stroked Ji Su's slender back, as if comforting a frightened kitten.
After a long while, Ji Su pulled away from his embrace and used his fingertips to wipe the redness from the corners of his eyes: "Let's go."
Gu Zhao pulled up the suitcase and strode forward with his long legs.
After just a few steps, Ji Su's phone, which was in his pocket, rang.
He took out the phone and answered the call: "Hello, Xiao Qiao."
"Su Su, don't come back." Qiao Jin's voice came through the phone. "I just remembered that the application for staying on campus closed yesterday. You can't apply now."
Ji Su: "..."
"Really, I seriously suspect that Gu Zhao planned this in advance!" Qiao Jin exclaimed loudly. "Otherwise, why did you just happen to get drunk last night?"
Ji Su turned around with some hesitation in his tone: "Probably not... right?"
Gu Zhao looked at him: "What's wrong?"
"I'll think of another way." Ji Su said to the person on the other end of the line. "Let's talk later, Xiao Qiao."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Zhao asked again: "Is something wrong?"
Ji Su frowned slightly: "The application for staying on campus has closed. I can't stay in the school dormitory during the summer vacation."
"Is that so." Gu Zhao's expression remained unchanged. "That's a pity."
Before Ji Su could speak again, he kindly suggested: "Why don't you go home then? You're used to living there anyway."
Ji Su looked hesitant: "But..."
"I'm going back to my hometown in a couple of days, so you'll be the only one at home." Gu Zhao added nonchalantly. "At that time, I'll have to trouble you to look after the house."
An hour later, Ji Su, who had briefly left, returned to Gu Zhao's house with his luggage.
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