52: Can You Be My Boyfriend?
Qian Kun really did take Shen Jin’s physics notes from last period and started reading them.
When the teacher’s voice gradually drifted farther away, Qian Kun’s thoughts returned to the stairwell corner where he and Ke Minghuai had parted.
Before they separated, Ke Minghuai had said something with a pointed edge. “Do you know how Snowball and Beika came to be?”
Words that brushed up against an ex-engaged couple’s private history could easily break someone’s mental defenses. Ke Minghuai had deliberately built an atmosphere that belonged only to him and Shen Jin, a territory Qian Kun couldn’t step into.
Ke Minghuai assumed that with Qian Kun’s arrogance, he wouldn’t ask about another person’s romance in detail.
That vague sentence though, could plant a seed of suspicion in Qian Kun’s heart and bury a fuse for the relationship between the two of them.
In warfare, deception was never taboo. Ke Minghuai knew ordinary methods wouldn’t make Qian Kun back off. If he wanted to dismantle things from the inside, he had to work within Qian Kun’s blind spot.
However, Ke Minghuai didn’t know that Qian Kun had someone else he could ask.
Xie Hanzhu, before she was kicked out of the group chat, had said something similar before.
Qian Kun remembered that. He took out his phone and opened Shen Xie’an’s WeChat. [Is there a story behind your brother’s WeChat avatar?]
Because Brother CAT had helped find Shen Jin twice before, Shen Xie’an was very grateful. The junior high division had also been running basketball games recently, and Qian Kun had given him a few pointers that led to considerable progress.
Deep down, Shen Xie’an had a quiet suspicion that Brother CAT was solid as a person and ridiculously handsome. More importantly, he truly cared about his older brother. The problem was that neither of them seemed to have those feelings, and Shen Xie’an kept thinking about whether there was some way to nudge them together and help his brother step out of the broken-engagement shadow.
Daily conversation made it look like neither side had any spark. What a pity.
Disappointed.
As for Qian Kun’s question, it wasn’t exactly a secret. Plenty of people in the extended family could say a thing or two, and that group still envied his brother like crazy to this day.
Shen Xie’an felt certain of that because they kept bringing up that brand over and over.
If they truly didn’t care, why would they keep mentioning it?
Typing it out felt too messy, so during the break he found a quiet corner and replied with a voice message. [You asked the right person. If you hear the origin of that profile picture from someone else, you’ll get a different version. This one has a beginning and an end. One year on my brother’s birthday, he taught himself how to bake a cake. Let me add this, don’t let how effortless he looks now fool you. People ignore how hard he works in private. He says he isn’t the gifted type. He can only work harder than everyone else. Ahem. I went off topic. Back to the point.]
Shen Xie’an’s voice sank into memory. [At first none of the cakes even held their shape, and he’s the type who can’t bear to throw things away. He must’ve eaten so many failed batches before he finally made one he liked. He was so happy that he ran to our parents’ company, wanting them to taste it too. That day there was a huge order at the company, and they were running around like their heads were on fire.]
Back then Shen Xie’an had been a little tail, stubbornly dragging Ke Minghuai along to follow behind Shen Jin in secret.
They watched as his brother sat quietly on a chair and waited for nearly ten hours. At last, when their father had a moment, his brother stood up and walked over. He’d been sitting too long, and he stumbled, bumping into an employee.
The employee wasn’t paying attention and stepped right onto the cake, crushing it into a mess.
His brother got back to his feet, only to face their father’s scolding.
“Why are you so thoughtless? I’m this busy, who has time for you? What did you even come here for?”
“Who brought cake into the company anyway? If it falls on the floor and some important guest slips, what then? Hurry up and sweep it away!”
The cleaning aunt quickly carried it off.
Later, their father probably realized his tone had been too harsh. He wasn’t good at apologizing, so he simply had someone send his brother home.
Afterward, his brother never blamed their parents. Their parents had only forgotten.
From that point on, his brother never celebrated his birthday at home again. That night, Huai-ge went back and drew a design overnight. It was a pink Omega rabbit called [Beika].
He also had it custom-made into a plush at the same scale. Shen Xie’an still remembered that day. His brother didn’t want to go inside the house and just sat on the curb in a daze.
Ke Minghuai walked up to Shen Jin, pulled out Beika, and said, “Birthday gift.”
His brother said he didn’t want to be an Omega. So he drew himself a white Alpha rabbit, [Snowball].
“Only Alphas have freedom. I want to become an Alpha. Beta is fine too.”
Shen Jin took [Snowball]. Ke Minghuai kept using [Beika], even though it didn’t match his own image at all.
Rather than calling them couple rabbits, this was brother’s resistance against fate.
[This is how that brand was born. If you hear it from someone else, you’ll probably get the version where Huai-ge used it to coax his fiance. He even took the pink Omega image for himself, and then people will sigh about how spoiled and happy my brother was, or something like that.]
No matter what, Shen Xie’an believed that for a period of time, Ke Minghuai had been someone different in his brother’s heart.
It was just that so many years of affection also had a day when it would slowly wear away to nothing.
Shen Xie’an thought his brother had already given more than enough over the years anyway. Leaving the past behind and embracing a new future was better, wasn’t it?
Qian Kun had assumed it was just an ordinary matching profile picture. He hadn’t expected it to belong to Shen Jin and Ke Minghuai’s past.
No wonder Ke Minghuai had been so confident.
After learning the story of Beika and Snowball, Qian Kun thought he would be consumed by jealousy.
Reality was different. The moment he imagined Shen Jin waiting with all his heart for his parents to finish work, only to be swept away like that ruined cake in the end, the pain tore through him.
The heaviness was so deep that it completely smothered jealousy.
A child’s understanding of the world came from their parents first, then from everyone else.
That suffocating pressure in his chest was something Qian Kun hadn’t felt in all these years. He went straight up to the rooftop.
Before this, Qian Kun’s feelings toward Ke Minghuai had been simple dislike. He held a treasure and didn’t care. Now it had escalated into outright disgust.
That memory mattered to Shen Jin, yet it had been turned into a raft to push back a rival.
If Qian Kun misunderstood Shen Jin because of it, then even if they ended up together in the future, it would leave a knot in their hearts.
If Shen Jin explained it honestly, he would be forced to endure the whip of that memory all over again.
“As long as I’m here, don’t even think about making Shen Jin look back at you again.”
The person I want to hold in my palms every second, the person I’m afraid to touch because it might be too forward, what gives you the right? Just because you’ve known him a few years longer?
Qian Kun couldn’t even remember how many times he’d asked, “What gives you the right?” Every time, it carried the same unwilling bitterness.
He irritably rummaged through his pockets. The window on the opposite rooftop opened, and the principal, the very one who had just spoken to him, appeared at the window and stared right back at him.
Qian Kun’s hand paused as he reached for a cigarette. He forced it back into his pocket.
Next time, he should pick somewhere more hidden.
Shen Jin kept thinking that if the first attempt failed, he could try another approach. Qian Kun couldn’t possibly be flawless from head to toe.
Shen Jin wasn’t discouraged. His deskmate had vanished for an entire period though, and the teacher only asked once before continuing the lesson.
Shen Jin lowered his head and sent a message. [Not coming to class?]
Qian Kun replied just as quickly. [Acting up. I’ll be fine in a bit. They usually won’t bother me.]
Shen Jin knew Qian Kun had a certain level of privilege, so he didn’t press it.
He remembered Qian Kun saying that marking went both ways. If he let Qian Kun take a sip and then brought up the fake boyfriend idea, the success rate would shoot up to ninety percent, wouldn’t it?
Shen Jin typed, then sent it anyway. [Do you need me to help?]
Qian Kun replied with patient instruction. [Focus on class. Stop thinking you have to keep everything even. You’re young. Think about something positive.]
He talked like he was so much older.
Shen Jin felt that this time really wasn’t about that. He had a secret he couldn’t say out loud.
He could only phrase it differently. [That person was brought to justice. Want to celebrate? Lunch is on me. Second cafeteria?]
The second cafeteria was the teachers’ cafeteria, pricier than usual. It was suitable for treating a pampered young master, getting closer first, and then talking.
When someone ate your food, their mouth went soft. The more Shen Jin thought about it, the more reasonable it felt.
Qian Kun replied. [Sure, though what do you want to eat?]
Shen Jin’s eyes lit up, and his fingers flew. [Can you handle spicy food? If you can, we can order maoxuewang, bo bo ji, mapo tofu...]
Qian Kun gave a cold snort. [Since you’re treating me, I’ll list what I want. Baby bok choy soup, braised pork with radish, celery with lily bulbs.] Your stomach is a mess. How do you even dare to order something that spicy? You want to rebel?
Shen Jin: ...
So why did you ask what I wanted to eat? Were you messing with me?
After this period ended, it was the Omega embroidery class, one of the “bride courses” for Omegas.
Shen Jin used to attend too. Thinking back to how many times he’d pricked his fingers just to embroider a screen, he felt relieved to be free of it now.
A few Omegas in the class asked Liu Qimai whether Kun-ge would accept embroidery works.
Liu Qimai was sure it would be a miracle if he did. “He won’t accept them, but I will!”
The Omegas immediately started roasting him. Liu Qimai dragged it out on purpose. “Do you know what lines Kun-ge used to say to Omegas the most?”
Everyone leaned in. “What? What?”
Liu Qimai grinned. “Get lost. Stop bothering me. You’re so loud, why don’t you go perform stand-up? Can you be quiet?”
The Omegas: “...”
Shen Jin, who overheard it: “...”
“No way. Kun-ge is such a gentleman. How could he say something that harsh?”
“Exactly. That ugly jealous face of yours, we see you now!”
Liu Qimai spread his hands and shook his head. “How is it that no one believes the truth these days? He really was that dog-tempered back then. He’s said worse. You just never saw it. Anyone who provoked him paid a price, Omega or not.”
He leaned into Zhou You’s arm. “Right, A-You?”
Zhou You smiled without responding.
Noon arrived. Shen Jin went to the second cafeteria early and selected everything Qian Kun had listed, then added a few more dishes that looked decent.
Qian Kun showed up like he owned the place, despite skipping several classes. Shen Jin glanced around and realized that the group of classmates who usually stuck close to Qian Kun wasn’t there.
Qian Kun sat down and immediately noticed Shen Jin’s furrowed brow.
“You look like you’re trying to solve a once-in-a-century problem.”
“I thought they’d all come, so I ordered too much.”
Qian Kun thought of the guys who had just been pestering him to come along. He split Shen Jin’s chopsticks and handed them over, speaking calmly. “They wanted to eat off-campus today. Besides, how could they have the nerve to freeload?”
Giving them face? Even I rarely get to eat this.
Shen Jin stared at the spread. “What do we do with all of this?”
Qian Kun watched him struggle and said, “I’ll eat it. Don’t you know Alphas burn through a lot?”
More exercise would fix it.
Qian Kun had said it out loud without hesitation. Shen Jin stiffened and looked around.
“Isn’t it supposed to be kept secret?”
“The cafeteria is so loud. Who’s going to hear?”
Qian Kun watched how tense Shen Jin was, and the feeling that the person in front of him was too adorable finally broke through. He raised a hand and ruffled Shen Jin’s hair, his phoenix eyes lifting slightly. “It’s fine. Nobody will think of it. I’m almost an adult anyway.”
Shen Jin figured that was true. Most people wouldn’t think it could be hidden. If they did, he wouldn’t have suspected for so long back then.
Seeing how fearless Qian Kun looked, Shen Jin lowered his head and ate his lunch, bland enough to be water.
So bland.
His mouth felt bland.
What kind of elderly taste was this?
Not far away, Ke Minghuai arrived at the second cafeteria with the school secretary. In the noise, he spotted those two people immediately.
He took a few steps toward them and saw Qian Kun lift his hand. From that angle, it was clearly meant to touch Shen Jin.
Ke Minghuai had known Shen Jin for years. Shen Jin wouldn’t allow anyone to touch his hair.
Not just his hair, either. Any part of him.
He showed no special treatment even to Ke Minghuai. Shen Jin had always been averse to that.
Ke Minghuai froze in the next instant.
Shen Jin didn’t dodge.
Why?
*
During the afternoon break, the PE rep Hou Ruixing came to register sports meet sign-ups. “Sign up, everyone. Chances don’t come twice. This is our chance to show how united and friendly Class Nine is!”
“Why do you all look like that? Alphas, get moving. Our class is at the bottom every year. You’re not even embarrassed?”
Everyone discussed events. Most of the Omegas said they’d just write a few sports meet essays and call it a day.
The Alphas shoved the most terrifying events at each other. Shen Jin checked high jump and the 100 meters. He also noticed that Qian Kun had checked the 1500 and the 3000.
Shen Jin said, “You know those two events are usually scheduled together, right?”
Zhou You heard him and looked at Qian Kun’s choices. Qian Kun hadn’t joined the sports meet in years.
Zhou You gave a look. Qian Kun’s mouth curved as if in a smile. “I’ll try. Put A-You’s name behind mine too. As a substitute.”
Hou Ruixing was thrilled. Events no one ever signed up for had substitutes this year.
Zhou You, under Hou Ruixing’s savior stare: “...”
You can f*ck off.
It would be exhausting to death, truly exhausting to death. Only a beast could say such things.
After Shen Jin finished student council patrol, he returned to the classroom for evening study.
Qian Kun’s group didn’t show up. By dismissal, Shen Jin heard they were having a gathering that night.
Evening study ended, and classmates filed out one after another. Shen Jin went downstairs later than most. After a few steps, rain suddenly started falling from the dark sky.
Shen Jin was about to lift his backpack over his head when hurried footsteps approached. A moment later, an umbrella covered him.
Shen Jin looked up. The person in front of him had lowered eyes, his voice carrying a lazy rasp. “As expected, you didn’t bring an umbrella.”
Shen Jin felt his heart speeding up. Every time, the feeling was dazzling, that moment when he only wanted to fix something quickly on his own, and someone appeared anyway.
“Didn’t you go to the gathering?”
“It’s over.”
Qian Kun had seen the weather forecast. The chance of rain at this time was as high as ninety percent. He remembered that this little friend hadn’t brought an umbrella in the morning, so he came straight back.
“Going back to the dorm?”
“Yeah.”
Huge raindrops hammered against the umbrella. The campus at night was unusually quiet.
In Shen Jin’s ears, there was only the irregular sound of rain, like the tightness slowly gathering in his chest.
He had planned to bring it up when he was more certain. Impulse arrived without warning.
“Qian Kun, can you be my boyfriend?”
Author’s Note:
Qianqian: !
Qianqian: !!!
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