Online Dating Fiasco with the Campus Heartthrob (DATING)
As soon as he entered the house, Ji Su walked back to the bedroom, unzipped the suitcase, and hung the clothes back in the closet.
Gu Zhao leaned against the doorframe and watched him organize his clothes.
After a while, when Ji Su was almost done, he suddenly noticed that the pajamas that had been on the bedside seemed to be missing.
Those pajamas were prepared by Gu Zhao for him, so he hadn't planned to take them away.
Gu Zhao asked: "What are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for that pajamas." Ji Su turned around. "I remember putting them on the bedside yesterday. How come they're gone..."
Gu Zhao replied without changing his expression: "I took them to wash."
Ji Su was puzzled: "When did that happen?"
"Last night, I washed them for you." Gu Zhao straightened up. "What do you want to eat for lunch today?"
Ji Su's attention was diverted, and he forgot to pursue the matter of the pajamas: "Anything is fine. I like whatever you make."
Gu Zhao: "Really?"
Ji Su nodded: "Yes."
Gu Zhao turned and walked out: "Play for a while. I'll call you when lunch is ready."
After lunch, Ji Su sat on the sofa and thought about what he should do during this summer vacation.
He could definitely continue taking online orders, but he still had a lot of free time, and he didn't want to be idle.
After much thought, Ji Su decided to look for part-time tutoring jobs online.
Gu Zhao brought a cup of warm water and handed it to him: "What are you looking at?"
"Thank you." Ji Su took the cup. "I'm checking if there are any part-time tutoring jobs for college students online."
Students from University A were still very popular in the tutoring market.
Gu Zhao sat down beside him and casually asked: "Short on money?"
"No, I just feel like it's a waste to be idle during the summer." Ji Su paused and his voice softened a bit. "Well, actually, I want to save money."
Gu Zhao asked again: "What are you saving money for?"
Ji Su replied a bit shyly: "I want to buy a house in the future."
Gu Zhao's brow twitched: "You want to buy a house?"
"Right, I can design the interior decoration myself when the time comes." Ji Su replied with a smile. "It doesn't need to be too big, but it will be completely my own home."
Gu Zhao narrowed his dark eyes slightly and pondered, "I see."
Ji Su didn't catch that, "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Gu Zhao said and crossed his long legs. "If you want to tutor, why not teach me?"
"Ah?" Ji Su leaned back tactically, "What could I possibly teach you?"
"There's a lot you could teach me." Gu Zhao chuckled. "For example, how to catch up with you."
Ji Su averted his gaze, "I'm being serious here."
Gu Zhao replied, "So am I."
Ji Su fell silent as he lowered his eyelashes and just continued to scroll through his phone screen.
Gu Zhao suggested, "How about teaching me to play the piano?"
"That's not possible, I can't teach you that." Ji Su shook his head. "I'm not a music student, I can't mislead others."
Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds before abruptly changing the topic, "Is there any place you particularly want to go?"
Ji Su paused his finger, "Yes, I've always wanted to see the sea."
"Alright." Gu Zhao responded before opening his phone screen.
Ji Su didn't wait for a follow-up and went back to looking at his part-time jobs.
After a while, Gu Zhao spoke again, "I've booked the tickets for tomorrow morning, we'll go see the sea tomorrow."
Several seconds later, Ji Su finally reacted as he repeated in disbelief, "We're going to see the sea tomorrow?"
"Mm," Gu Zhao opened his eyes. "Summer vacation has just started. It's not too late to find a part-time job after we come back from seeing the sea."
Ji Su's emotions were mixed.
On one hand, he didn't want to dampen the other's enthusiasm, but on the other hand, he genuinely wanted to see the real sea.
After weighing his options, he silently opened WeChat: "How much is the plane ticket? I'll transfer the money to you."
"You're being so clear with me?" Gu Zhao reached out and pinched his cheek.
Ji Su's cheek was pinched, and his plump, rosy lips pouted slightly, as if asking for a kiss.
Gu Zhao's eyes darkened: "What kind of pursuit is it if you don't put in any effort?"
Ji Su pushed his hand away and muttered softly, "Can you stop always saying that word?"
Gu Zhao smiled ambiguously: "Which one?"
Ji Su's ears turned red: "That one..."
"You mean 'pursuit'?" Gu Zhao leaned in closer. "If you agree to my pursuit, I won't say it anymore."
Ji Su dodged and stood up from the sofa: "I'm going back to my room for a nap."
Gu Zhao watched his retreating figure and chuckled meaningfully.
………
The next morning, Ji Su packed a couple of changes of clothes into his backpack.
Before leaving, Gu Zhao had already prepared breakfast. After they finished eating, they took a taxi to the airport.
Ji Su hadn't slept well the night before, so he put on an eye mask and leaned back in his seat to catch up on sleep.
Gu Zhao sat in the adjacent seat and casually read a book.
His appearance and demeanor were particularly striking, and people around the cabin kept stealing glances at him.
Finally, a beautiful woman with long black hair couldn't resist and boldly walked over before asking softly, "Hi, are you also going to—"
Gu Zhao looked up and made a silent gesture with a straight face.
Only then did the woman notice that there was someone sleeping beside him. Even with half his face covered by the eye mask, the exposed jawline and lips revealed a strikingly handsome young man.
The woman smiled awkwardly and mouthed, "Sorry for disturbing."
After she left, Gu Zhao reached out and gently held Ji Su's hand resting on his abdomen.
Until they were about to land, no one else came to strike up a conversation.
When Ji Su woke up and tried to remove his eye mask, he realized one of his hands was being held.
Gu Zhao reached over and took off the eye mask for him: "Did you sleep well?"
Ji Su looked dazedly at the handsome face so close to him, then glanced down at their intertwined hands.
Gu Zhao nonchalantly let go: "You woke up just in time. The plane is about to land."
Ji Su: "..."
After arriving at their destination, they took a taxi to the hotel they had booked in advance.
The hotel was located not far from the beach. It was a standalone two-story villa with spacious rooms and high privacy.
After dropping off their luggage, they had a quick meal, and Ji Su changed into shorts before eagerly running towards the beach.
The azure sea stretched endlessly until it merged with the sky.
There were many tourists on the beach—couples, families with children, and people lying on the sand, enjoying the sun.
Ji Su was like a curious child. He was barefoot on the fine, warm sand and letting the waves wash over his jade-like feet.
Gu Zhao followed behind him and called out, "Ji Su, come here."
Ji Su turned around: "What's up?"
"Wear these sunglasses to avoid the glare." Gu Zhao said while lifting his hand to place the sunglasses on Ji Su's pale face.
"Thank you." Ji Su replied with a smile and his eyes curving into crescents, before he dashed off to chase the waves.
Gu Zhao had never seen him so playful before.
The corners of his usually stern lips unconsciously lifted as his gaze followed the slender, upright figure.
As he watched, his eyes drifted down to Ji Su's straight, slender calves.
Ji Su spent most of the afternoon playing on the beach and only returned to the hotel as evening approached.
After a shower and a change of clothes, the two prepared to go out for dinner.
Ji Su had assumed they would go to a regular restaurant, but to his surprise, Gu Zhao took him to an open-air restaurant on the beach.
Just a few steps from the sea, the table was adorned with a white lace tablecloth, with candlesticks and fresh flowers at both ends. The flickering candlelight against the dusky sky created a romantic and warm atmosphere.
Ji Su was slightly taken aback. "Isn't this a bit too formal?"
"Not at all," Gu Zhao replied before pulling out a white chair for him. "Sit down."
Although seafood is a must when at the beach, Ji Su is allergic, so they ordered other dishes instead.
Gu Zhao also opened a bottle of red wine, but Ji Su, having learned from his previous experiences, was cautious and only took small sips.
As they were finishing their meal, Ji Su glanced up and noticed a waiter pushing a beautifully decorated three-tiered cake towards them.
He quickly looked away as he assumed it was for someone else's birthday.
But the waiter stopped beside him while smiling broadly. "Mr. Ji Su, happy birthday!"
Ji Su's mind went blank for a few seconds, and he instinctively turned to look at Gu Zhao across the table.
"Do you not remember what today is?" Gu Zhao asked.
Only then did Ji Su realize that today was his birthday.
He looked back at the cake, which was topped with a crystal figurine and a small villa architectural model.
Gu Zhao stood up to walk over to the cake, and placed the figurine and model on the table. He then lit the candles with a lighter.
There were twenty candles in total, and he patiently lit each one.
When Gu Zhao looked up again, the flickering candlelight reflected in his deep, dark eyes, like scattered stars across the sky. "Ji Su, happy 20th birthday."
Ji Su suddenly felt his eyes and nose sting, so he quickly lowered his head to hide the sudden surge of emotions.
"Make a wish, birthday boy." Gu Zhao said in a deep, magnetic voice that carried a gentle tenderness in the sea breeze.
"Okay..." Ji Su closed his eyes and clasped his hands together in front of his chest.
But his mind was too chaotic, and he wasn't familiar with this ritual, so he didn't know what to wish for.
In the end, he thought to himself, "I hope both Gu Zhao and I can become the people we want to be and do the things we love."
Regardless of whether they would stay together in the future.
Ji Su opened his eyes and blew out all the candles in one breath.
Gu Zhao handed him the cake cutter. "Here, cut the cake."
Ji Su cut a large slice and handed it to Gu Zhao. "The first piece is for you."
Gu Zhao didn't refuse and took a bite of the cake.
Ji Su cut a slice for himself as well.
The cream was sweet and soft, like a cloud of sweetness in his mouth.
"Ji Su." Gu Zhao's voice sounded in his ear.
Ji Su lifted his face, and the tip of his nose felt a cool touch as a dab of white cream was smeared on it.
Gu Zhao looked at him with a smile while sticking out his tongue to lick off the remaining cream from his fingertip.
Ji Su's face inexplicably flushed, and he lowered his lashes, not daring to meet Gu Zhao's gaze.
Gu Zhao turned his head slightly and said to the waiter, "Please share the rest of the cake with the other tables."
The waiter acknowledged and pushed the cake cart to other tables to offer slices.
The guests all gladly accepted the birthday cake, and from afar, they wished Ji Su a happy birthday.
Ji Su responded with a smile.
This was the first time he had received so many birthday wishes on his special day, even though, apart from Gu Zhao, they were all strangers he had never met before.
He felt as if his heart had been drenched in hot syrup—sweet, warm, and soft, pulling at him with a sticky sweetness.
Gu Zhao sat back down across from him and pushed the villa model toward him.
Ji Su snapped out of his thoughts and picked up the architectural model to examine it closely.
Gu Zhao promised, "Whenever you're ready, you can exchange this model for the real thing."
"Really?" Ji Su joked, "Are you going to give me a villa?"
Gu Zhao stared at him. "Ji Su, you know what I mean."
Ji Su's fingers tightened around the model, and his dark lashes fluttered slightly.
Fortunately, Gu Zhao didn't press further. Instead, he poured Ji Su another glass of red wine and clinked their glasses together. "Happy birthday. I hope I can spend every one of your birthdays with you from now on."
Ji Su pursed his lips. "Thank you so much, Gu Zhao."
He tilted his head back and downed the glass of red wine in one go.
……..
After dinner, Ji Su walked back to the hotel while cradling the architectural model in his arms as if it were his most treasured possession.
Once back in the hotel, he carefully placed the model on display and headed to the bathroom to shower.
After his shower, the alcohol in his system began to take effect.
Wanting to clear his head, Ji Su opened the floor-to-ceiling window and lay on the sofa by the window, letting the sea breeze wash over him.
A moment later, Gu Zhao also finished his shower and emerged.
He walked to the window with his gaze falling on the figure on the sofa.
Whether it was from the shower or the alcohol, Ji Su's usually pale skin had taken on a faint pink hue, and the collar of his shirt revealed a large expanse of fair, rosy skin.
His long, pale legs were stretched out on the sofa, as the smooth fabric of his pajama pants rode up slightly and exposed a tender part of his thigh, where a faint red mole was barely visible.
Gu Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he lowered his voice. "Are you asleep?"
Ji Su opened his long lashes and his voice carrying a hint of the languor that came with drinking. "No, I'm just enjoying the breeze."
Gu Zhao sat down at the foot of the bed before leaning back on his hands. "Did you have a good time today?"
"I did, it was a really good time," Ji Su replied as he sat up straight and lowered his legs. "It's been... it's been the happiest birthday I've had since my parents divorced."
Back when his parents were still deeply in love, he had been a child who felt their affection. On his birthdays, he could have any gift he wanted, and his parents would throw him a birthday party.
But after he turned six, no one had ever made a special effort to celebrate his birthday again.
Gu Zhao smiled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Ji Su's gaze drifted to the window, and he asked softly, "Gu Zhao, do you know why I've always wanted to see the ocean?"
Gu Zhao responded, "Why?"
"Because the summer before my parents divorced, they had promised to take me to the beach." Ji Su gazed at the shimmering sea under the moonlight while lost in distant memories. "Later, my dad promised Aunt Qin that he would take us on a beach vacation, but unfortunately, I fell ill just then, so we didn’t go that time either."
People are often haunted for life by the things they couldn’t have in their youth.
He knew he was flawed, and this was something he had always feared the most.
Gu Zhao walked up to him and leaned down. "Does the sea you see today meet your expectations?"
"More than that," Ji Su looked up with his face lighting up with a radiant smile. "From now on, whenever I think of the sea, I won’t recall the regrets of my childhood. I’ll only remember everything that happened today."
Everything beautiful, touching, and full of longing.
The sea breeze was cool, and the sound of the waves was rhythmic.
Gu Zhao gazed at him deeply and asked softly, "Can I kiss you?"
Ji Su was already a bit dizzy, and the intensity in those dark eyes made his heart race and his face flush. Unconsciously, he licked his upper lip.
Gu Zhao leaned in and kissed his moist, rosy lips.
Ji Su’s spine tingled, and he instinctively parted his lips in submission.
Gu Zhao held his breath as he leaned forward and pressed him into the couch as they kissed.
After a few times, he seemed to have mastered the art of kissing, and his kisses became less fierce.
But when Ji Su, gasping for air, tried to push him away, Gu Zhao would only kiss him deeper and his tongue almost reaching his throat, before pulling back slightly to let him catch a breath.
But within seconds, he would kiss him again.
This tender yet tormenting kiss was too arousing. After several rounds of intermittent kissing, both of them were in a state of disarray.
Ji Su’s face was flushed, his eyes unfocused and his lips wet and red. He melted like a puddle in Gu Zhao’s arms, except for…
Gu Zhao licked the moisture from the corner of his lips with his breathing heavy and voice hoarse. "Happy birthday. There’s one more gift for you tonight."
Ji Su’s reaction was sluggish. "What…"
Gu Zhao chuckled softly and slowly lowered himself.
Ji Su’s mind, fogged by the kisses, suddenly cleared a bit. He was both shocked and embarrassed. "Gu Zhao… no…"
A scorching hand gripped his waist, while the other hand held his slightly plump thigh.
Through the thin fabric of his pajamas, Ji Su trembled from the heat of Gu Zhao’s palm.
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•
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!
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•