Chapter 33: “Dad Vibes?” Is He Calling Him Old?

Chapter 33: "Dad Energy?" Is He Calling Me Old?

Gu Junhan suddenly reached out and grabbed Wen Yu's waist, leaving his vulnerable rear completely exposed.

"Don't hit me..." Wen Yu tried to struggle in panic, his hands instinctively moving to cover behind him, but the man easily restrained him.

The palm came down without mercy.

"Ah—"

Wen Yu cried out in pain, his body lurching forward, tears immediately spilling over.

"Mm... it hurts..." Wen Yu cried, barely able to breathe, his legs so weak he could barely stay on his knees, only able to clutch desperately at the carpet fibers, "Gu Junhan..."

His palm was broad and warm, and he gave the trembling muscles beneath it a slight squeeze.

Wen Yu's fair skin had already turned the color of autumn maple leaves.

Left behind. (6)

"How am I supposed to sit in a chair after this?"

Wen Yu sniffled, his voice carrying that familiar cute petulance, "I promise... from now on, whoever bullies me, I'll bury them in money..."

Gu Junhan looked at his pitiful state, reached down, and picked Wen Yu up off the ground.

Wen Yu's body was still trembling slightly, the redness and swelling visible even through his pants.

"Wen Yu, don't cry." Gu Junhan's tone was calm, as if everything was now settled.

Wen Yu stayed in his arms and answered softly.

"Don't hit there anymore, Gu Junhan. I'm not a little kid. Can we switch up the punishment next time?"

"I know I made you mad. I'll seriously learn all this. I won't let you down."

Wen Yu looked like he'd just been dragged out of the water—cold sweat mixed with tears soaking through his shirt and clinging stickily to his back.

Gu Junhan's fingers traced Wen Yu's earlobe, the gesture as intimate as a lover's, "Xiao Bao, I'm twenty-seven, and you're only eighteen."

"To me, you're still just a kid."

"Wen Yu, as a friend, I want you to learn a lesson. I don't want to see you get bullied and not say anything."

"If you don't change, I'll feel like I failed, like I can't teach you."

But one day, Wen Yu, if you still haven't learned, I'll have no choice but to lock you up.

To keep you safe.

"No, I'm just too stupid." Wen Yu shook his head, earlier tears sliding down his pale cheeks.

"I'm too stupid to learn... I'm just causing you trouble."

Wen Yu lowered his head, staring at his swollen red hand, shame and frustration twisting together, making him want to disappear.

"Don't call yourself stupid."

Gu Junhan's fingers massaged the nape of his neck, "Xiao Bao, you just never had anyone to show you."

The warmth of the man's palm came through the fabric, and Wen Yu's eyes welled up. Gu Junhan murmured softly to comfort him.

"I've got nine whole years of life on you."

"Experience, knowledge, even connections—I can give you all of it."

"It's only natural that I help you."

Right now, held in Gu Junhan's arms like this, Wen Yu felt a strange sense of security.

"Gu Junhan," Wen Yu pressed his cheek against Gu Junhan's chest, "you really are good to me."

Wen Yu's voice was still soft and sweet, "Even though you had a bit of a dad vibe just now."

Gu Junhan looked at Wen Yu's eyelids, puffy from crying so long, his skin going from pale to red, then starting to bruise purple.

The man frowned. "Dad vibe?"

Is he calling me old?

...

Silvermoon City University.

Lou Xuemeng had saved Wen Yu a seat. This class was a blow-off—University Psychology.

Wen Yu sat down, moving slowly.

Wen Yu's ears turned red. Only a sliver of his butt touched the seat at first.

Lou Xuemeng didn't look at him.

She stared at her phone screen, a barely noticeable smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

The lecturer, Mr. Fang, was in his early forties and wore frameless glasses. Today's topic was "Intimacy and Mental Health in College Students."

The PPT flipped to page three, which had big text: Attachment Styles in Romantic Relationships.

"Secure, anxious, avoidant—which type do you think you are?" Professor Fang's voice came through the microphone.

No one answered.

He didn't seem to care and just kept going.

Wen Yu kept his head down, slowly folding a corner of the page, smoothing it flat, then folding another.

Wen Yu shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

It was uncomfortable holding the pen in his palm too.

Lou Xuemeng set her phone face-down on the desk and turned to him. "Wen Yu, are you okay?"

Wen Yu nodded, barely moving.

Lou Xuemeng noticed Wen Yu's hand shaking slightly, his palm still red.

"What happened to your hand?"

Wen Yu put down the pen and tucked his hand under the desk.

"Who hit your hand?" Lou Xuemeng asked.

Wen Yu had applied some ointment earlier, but it still stung a bit. He stayed quiet.

Lou Xuemeng sensed something was wrong.

She grabbed her phone and texted Gu Junhan.

"Lou Xuemeng: Cousin, how did Wen Yu get picked on! Someone hit his hand! And today he could barely even sit still!"

"Lou Xuemeng: Cousin? Where are you? When am I getting my castle! And I want that pink diamond from the auction!"

"Lou Xuemeng: Didn't you say you were going to give it to me as a birthday gift?"

Wen Yu watched Lou Xuemeng typing away on her phone. "Xuemeng."

Lou Xuemeng turned to look at Wen Yu, who seemed a bit off. "Maybe you should ask for time off and skip class for a couple of days."

Before Wen Yu could respond, Lou Xuemeng put her phone down and raised her hand right away.

"Professor! My friend isn't feeling well."

Professor Fang suddenly stopped.

The classroom went quiet for a moment.

Over a hundred people looked up at once, following Professor Fang's gaze in the same direction.

"Lou Xuemeng, take him to rest if he's not feeling well," Professor Fang agreed immediately upon seeing her.

Everyone in the classroom understood—when Student Council President Lou spoke, even the professors had to show respect.

Wen Yu glanced over; this really didn't need such a fuss.

Lou Xuemeng pulled him out.

She suggested going to the nurse's office, but Wen Yu absolutely refused.

On the way back, Lou Xuemeng saw a reply on her phone.

"Gu Junhan: He didn't ask for time off?"

Lou Xuemeng stopped in her tracks.

"Lou Xuemeng: No, he's pretty serious about his studies. I even told him to go to the nurse's office, but he wouldn't go. I don't know where he got hit—what if there's internal damage?"

"Gu Junhan: No internal injuries."

"Lou Xuemeng: What if it's something serious?"

"Gu Junhan: It's not serious."

"Lou Xuemeng: How would you know?"

"Gu Junhan: ..."

"Lou Xuemeng: You must have been watching him. You know who hit him, right? Didn't you stick up for him?"

The other side went quiet.

Lou Xuemeng went quiet too. "Fine, don't tell me then."

"Lou Xuemeng: What about that pink diamond from the auction? Didn't you say you'd give it to me yesterday? Cousin?"

"Gu Junhan: Already sent it over to Wen Yu."

Oh great, so he went and dropped a fortune on the pretty boy.