Chapter 9: Youth Campus Romance (VIII)

Previous Chapter ∇ Table of Content ∇ Next Chapter

Chapter 9: Youth Campus Romance (VIII)

Lin Moxi never imagined he could sleep so soundly in an unfamiliar place, especially not on a simple wooden bed with a spring mattress. Aside from the piano, the cabin resembled an ordinary person’s room, with its plain and simple furnishings.

He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight, but immediately sat up when a thought struck him. He glanced around, but the familiar figure he hoped to see was nowhere to be found, and disappointment filled his heart. Although the other person had no obligation to stay with him while he slept, someone who had only just realized his feelings would naturally still hold onto a little hope.

He looked down and realized that he was covered with Miao Lichen’s coat. The black coat carried its owner’s faint, cool scent, a contrast to his usual gloomy aura. The coat was elegantly simple, and he could credit it with his peaceful sleep.

Lin Moxi blushed. He carefully folded the garment and set it aside before standing up, feeling a slight ache in his waist. Although he had managed to sleep soundly on the wooden bed due to his relaxed state of mind, it was still somewhat taxing for his pampered body.

“Awake?” Miao Lichen walked into the room carrying two lunch boxes and lifted one toward him. “Good thing you’re awake. Otherwise, I’d have to become the villain who interrupts your sweet dreams.”

Without his coat, the gloomy aura surrounding Miao Lichen diminished significantly as he stood there wearing only his white shirt. Though he still carried a faint sense of coldness, he now had the demeanor of an aloof teenager rather than someone shrouded in gloom. This aloofness wasn’t the kind that pushed people away; instead, it was the type that naturally attracted girls. Lin Moxi felt a pang of discomfort, and the joy he had felt upon seeing the coat on himself faded. He didn’t want anyone else’s eyes on Miao Lichen. Even if they could never be together, he still wanted to keep him for himself.

“I didn’t expect our Student President to be slacking off here. Is this what they call stealing a little leisure time from a busy life?” A certain arrogant yet idle young master followed behind Miao Lichen. He unceremoniously sat down on the chair in front of the piano and fiddled with the lunchbox in his hands, which was identical to Miao Lichen’s. When his eyes landed on the black coat beside Lin Moxi, a trace of displeasure flashed in them.

“Why are you here, Dongfang? Why not take advantage of this rare opportunity to show your girlfriend your considerate and gentle side?” Lin Moxi asked as he carefully placed Miao Lichen’s coat back on the bed. He then walked over, picked up the two lunch boxes, opened one, and handed it to Miao Lichen before opening his own. The contents of the lunch boxes, a meat and vegetable dish, were incredibly simple compared to his usual meals.

“Qingxin isn’t my girlfriend yet. She hasn’t agreed.” Dongfang Yi rummaged through his lunchbox. “I already ordered my chauffeur to send something over, so I’ve already shown my thoughtfulness as a future boyfriend.”

Lin Moxi nodded. Whatever answer Dongfang Yi received from Song Qingxin had nothing to do with him. He took the meat from his own lunchbox and placed it into Miao Lichen’s. Seeing Miao Lichen’s questioning gaze, he smiled with satisfaction. “It’s fine if I eat less. You, on the other hand, don’t look well. You need to eat more. This meal is too simple. I’ll prepare our lunches from now on.”

Miao Lichen nodded. Preparing lunch wasn’t a big deal for any of them, and he wasn’t particularly picky about food. Whether it was him or the original Miao Lichen, both had refined palates. However, he had lived in a desert for half a year before, and surviving there had taught him not to be picky.

“A’chen really needs to eat more. Your skin is whiter than most girls’, and you don’t even look like a boy. Having a love rival like you makes defeating you feel completely unsatisfying.” Dongfang Yi said as he moved the meat from his lunchbox into Miao Lichen’s. Since he had given him too much, he transferred Miao Lichen’s vegetables into his own lunchbox.

He picked up some vegetables, placed them into his mouth, and chewed carefully. He frowned slightly but swallowed them anyway. It was his first time eating cafeteria food, and he was unimpressed.

‘However…’ He licked his lips and glanced at Miao Lichen’s lunchbox. It wasn’t as difficult to accept as he had expected.

Lin Moxi watched him, his brows furrowing as he stirred through his rice. Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks appeared at his lips, carrying the aroma of meat. Looking up, he saw the glistening piece of chicken. He didn’t particularly like it, but at that moment, it tasted exceptionally delicious.

He opened his mouth and ate the chicken, the fullness in his heart almost making him want to cheer aloud. He could barely suppress the smile on his lips. At that moment, he was grateful for his smiling mask; even if he smiled, it wouldn’t arouse any suspicion.

“A’chen, you can’t pick favorites. Feed me too.” Dongfang Yi raised an eyebrow and pressed down on Miao Lichen’s withdrawing hand, his eyes filled with determination. If he didn’t get his way, he had no intention of letting go.

Miao Lichen paused for a moment, but ultimately gave in and fed Dongfang Yi a piece of chicken. He deliberately made sure it was almost the same size as the previous piece. Dongfang Yi happily ate the chicken, then seemed to think of something and licked his chopsticks. The arrogant expression in his eyes remained unchanged despite the childish gesture.

Miao Lichen continued eating without noticing anything, while the phrase “indirect kiss” flashed through both Dongfang Yi and Lin Moxi’s minds at the same time.

Dongfang Yi’s movements remained as graceful as ever, but they were noticeably faster. When he finished eating and left, his ears were visibly red in the sunlight. The childish person from earlier couldn’t possibly have been him, and the term “indirect kiss” shouldn’t apply to boys. Otherwise, sharing water bottles would mean he had unknowingly kissed countless people. He deliberately ignored the fact that everything he used practically carried an invisible “Private Item, Do Not Touch” label and finally managed to calm himself down.

∇ Capture Target Dongfang Yi Favorability: 90. You’re almost there, Challenger. Keep working hard!!

Lin Moxi lost some of his appetite, but he couldn’t show it in front of Miao Lichen. In the end, he forced himself to finish all the rice in the box. He stared absentmindedly at Miao Lichen, who was still eating leisurely. Miao Lichen’s eyelashes were longer than those of the average boy and slightly curled. He appeared more delicate than some girls, yet he did not possess their fragile aura. Instead, he gave off a sense of masculine strength. He had full lips, and the slight sheen of grease made them appear even more alluring. Realizing his thoughts were becoming increasingly strange, Lin Moxi quickly looked away toward the window.

The sun was already high in the sky, casting its bright light over the weeds and creating a completely different view. The weeds he had once considered an eyesore had now become a beautiful sight. They were no worse than the delicately cared-for flowers, and perhaps even better. Although the flowers in the flowerbeds were gorgeous, they lacked the vitality of weeds.

Suddenly, he understood why Miao Lichen liked this place, just as he liked Song Qingxin. She possessed a lively energy and vigor that those noble girls lacked. He couldn’t help wondering whether he liked Song Qingxin because of this place, or whether he liked this place because of Song Qingxin. Regardless of which came first, he knew he could not be like them. The education and manners of nobility had been ingrained in him since childhood, and they had become an inseparable part of who he was.

“Moxi, what are you looking at?” Miao Lichen closed his lunchbox and glanced at Lin Moxi, who was staring blankly out the window. The expression of loss on his face made Miao Lichen feel displeased. It was rare for him to find a young man he liked in this world, and it would be a pity if he lost himself because of a hopeless love. Those who were mentally strong could continue living even after losing the person they loved.

No matter how much theoretical knowledge he possessed, Miao Lichen had never truly experienced love before. For him, love was merely a spice of life. Having it was wonderful, but lacking it was not a problem either. Even if he obtained it, he believed he could still let go and return to his original self. If love could truly be as rational as he believed, there would not be so many infatuated men and women in the world.

“I’m looking at the scenery outside. I just realized how beautiful this place is.” Lin Moxi said with a smile as he wrapped an arm around Miao Lichen’s shoulders. “This is the first time I’ve seen scenery like this.”

“Everything seems special when you see it for the first time. But the more you see it, the more that feeling fades.” Miao Lichen said as he shielded his eyes from the glaring sunlight and gazed into the distance. “For farmers who have seen countless weeds, the flowers in the flowerbeds become the beautiful scenery instead.”

“What kind of scenery do you like?” Lin Moxi tightened his grip on Miao Lichen’s shoulder as he stared intently at his face. Watching those full lips move, he felt his heart begin to race.

“The old Miao Lichen liked the vibrant weeds that grew in the wild, but the current Miao Lichen prefers the carefully cultivated flowers in the flowerbed.” Miao Lichen casually draped his coat over one shoulder, took Lin Moxi’s hand, and led him into the weeds. Naturally, the weeds were full of insects. Though beautiful from afar, they repelled the pampered teenagers when viewed up close. “So these worthless weeds can only be appreciated from a distance,” he remarked.

“Miao Lichen… I…” ‘ like you.’ Lin Moxi looked at the insect-ridden weeds at his feet. Weeds were always crawling with insects, while only flowers meticulously cared for in greenhouses could be considered perfect.

‘So… could I ask for more?’

“Come on, let’s get out of here. If we stay too long, we’ll probably end up with rashes.” Miao Lichen unknowingly interrupted his confession. With a hint of warmth in his eyes, he took Lin Moxi’s hand and gently pulled him out of the weeds.

Lin Moxi tightened his grip, feeling the courage he had painstakingly gathered slowly melt away as cold sweat dampened his palms.

‘Fortunately…’

After taking a few more steps, they broke into a light jog, hand in hand, a smile spreading across Lin Moxi’s face.

‘A’chen seems to be in a good mood. He isn’t gloomy like usual at all. Surely, letting go of Song Qingxin will bring him true happiness.’

Previous Chapter ∇ Table of Content ∇ Next Chapter