In Love with an Idiot (你却爱着一个他)

Chapter 1 

Jian Suiying first met Li Yu in his own living room.

 

As he entered, a cigarette dangling from his lips, he saw Jian Suilin and a boy sitting on the sofa, chatting and laughing. The boy had his back to him, his Feyenoord football shirt soaked with sweat, clinging to his back, revealing glimpses of his broad, athletic physique. Their clothes and trouser legs were still covered in mud, yet they sat unceremoniously on the off-white leather sofa. An empty Coke can and two pieces of cake lay on the coffee table, and a dirty football sat at their feet.

 

Hearing the door open, the two chatting on the sofa looked up and turned to face the doorway. The instant Jian Suiying's eyes met the boy's, he suddenly found himself unable to move. The feeling at that moment, to put it elegantly, was love at first sight; to put it bluntly, it was "I got an erection the moment I saw him." But looking back later, it was all a damn mess.

 

In short, he felt his heart race, his breathing quicken, and the veins on his forehead throb. The boy—how to describe him? His features were so well-proportioned, so handsome—in Jian Suiying's words, he was "just my type."

 

Jian Suiying, the young master, preferred this type of athletic, handsome, fair-skinned boy. And this boy was far more attractive than any he had ever seen. He had always thought his foolish younger brother was among the most handsome and refined boys, but this boy possessed a completely different, calm, and dashing air.

 

His gaze travelled from the boy's crimson lips and fair neck to his long, muscular legs beneath his shorts. He had met countless people in his life, but never before had he felt such an urgent desire to get close to someone. And this person happened to be Jian Suilin's friend.

 

He suppressed his desire and gave them a casual, indifferent glance. Seeing his displeased expression, Jian Suilin quickly called out, "Brother, you're back." Jian Suiying grunted in response, as indifferent as ever.

 

"Brother, this is my classmate, Li Yu, the old commander's grandson."

 

"Oh? Why haven’t I seen him before?"

 

"Didn’t Uncle Li transfer to another province before? He just came back this year. We've known each other since we were kids, but it's been a long time since we last saw each other."

 

Jian Suiying remembered that his father had mentioned some time ago that Old Li's son had just been promoted and recently transferred back to Beijing. He hadn't taken it seriously; the Jian and Li families were only close, visiting each other during holidays. But if he had known Old Li had such a beautiful and precious grandson, he would definitely have gone over to try to get closer.

 

He nodded, suppressing his slightly fluttering heart, trying to maintain a calm expression, and walked over. Jian Suilin stood up, and Li Yu stood up as well.

 

Li Yu was very well developed and already almost as tall as him. He was tall and athletic, with a handsome face that still held a trace of youth, somewhere between boyhood and manhood. The young man looked incredibly attractive, making one's heart flutter.

 

Jian Suiying felt even more aroused; he had always enjoyed playing with men of such strong physiques and long limbs—a man with such a body was truly beautiful and sexy. Jian Suiying extended his hand and smiled, "Old Li's grandson? Then you'll have to call me brother."

 

Li Yu's expression was calm, but not impolite. He shook hands lightly and nodded, "Brother Jian." Jian Suiying's fondness for him grew even more. It was rare to see such a mature and composed manner in an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old boy.

 

He deliberately patted Li Yu's back, "Just finished playing football? Don't turn the air conditioning up so high; your clothes aren't dry yet, you'll catch a cold." The supple yet firm muscles sent a shiver down his spine.

 

It was rare for Jian Suilin to see his brother so kind to him, and he couldn't hide his joy. He quickly grabbed the air conditioner remote, "I'll turn the temperature up a bit."

 

Jian Suiying glanced at the cake on the table, "Have you eaten?"

 

Jian Suilin replied, "No."

 

"You're tired after playing ball; why are you eating this sweet stuff instead of eating? Where's Aunt Wu?"

 

"Aunt Wu had something to do at home; she left this morning."

 

"Then no one's home."

 

"Dad's not coming back, and Mum... I, my mum, she went out too." Jian Suilin realised he'd said the wrong thing and immediately became nervous.

 

Normally, Jian Suiying would have seized the opportunity to ridicule him, but today he seemed unusually cheerful and didn't argue. Instead, he said, "Order takeaway? I'm hungry too."

 

Jian Suilin responded, "Hey, brother, what do you want to eat?"

 

"I want to eat that..." Jian Suiying's eyes darted around, glancing at his flattered younger brother, then at Li Yu, who seemed lost in thought, before changing his mind, "Alright, I don't want to eat out anymore, it's not clean. Your classmate rarely comes over, why don't you cook next time? The eggplant you made last time was pretty good."

 

Jian Suilin hesitated for a moment, "Oh, okay... Brother, you want to eat eggplant? I'll go check the kitchen." He turned and walked towards the kitchen.

 

Once he left, Li Yu and Jian Suiying stared at each other, Li Yu feeling somewhat awkward. Jian Suiying patted his shoulder warmly and laughed, "Why are you standing there? Sit down."

 

Li Yu smiled politely and sat down.

 

Jian Suiying sat down beside him, admiring his smooth skin and well-defined features, growing more and more fond of him. He really wanted to pin him down on the sofa right now, rip off his sports uniform, and do whatever he wanted to him. Come to think of it, he'd never played with a boy in a sports uniform before; once he got his hands on him, he'd definitely want to try something different.

 

Jian Suiying tried to keep a normal expression on his face, asking with an older brother's liking, "You guys are about to take the university entrance exam, changing schools now, are you able to adapt?"

 

"It's alright, it's all the same no matter where you are," Li Yu replied casually, his eyes involuntarily drifting towards the kitchen.

 

Jian Suiying lit a cigarette, and just as he was about to put it in his mouth, he glanced at Li Yu and smiled, "Want one?"

 

Li Yu frowned almost imperceptibly, "Thanks, I don't smoke." Jian Suiying looked at his jade-like face and his indifferent, aloof attitude, and liked him even more.

 

He wasn't blind; he could tell Li Yu didn't really care about him. That's understandable. He's Jian Suilin's friend, and who knows what that kid says about him behind his back. It's a wonder his friend would even like him.

 

But isn't that what makes it more challenging? Men have a natural instinct to conquer, and Jian Suiying just loves this indifferent attitude—it had a certain appeal. He seemed oblivious to the embarrassment in Li Yu's eyes and continued chatting, "Your name is Li Yu? Which 'Yu'?"

 

"The 'Yu' in jade."

 

"Oh, isn’t that a girl’s name?"

 

Li Yu lowered his eyes slightly, not replying.

 

"It's a nice name. If it were on another man, it would definitely feel awkward, but on you, it just gets better." In the last sentence, Jian Suiying's tone...

 

There was a hint of ambiguity in his tone. Li Yu, seemingly oblivious, lowered his eyelids and gave a dry laugh in response.

 

"Hey, did I see you when I was little? How old were you when you left Beijing?"

 

A sharp glint flashed in Li Yu's lowered eyes as he said in a low voice, "I don't think so."

 

"Maybe not, I don't really remember. How old was Jian Suilin when he came to my house? I've forgotten… You were just a kid back then. If you were as handsome as you are now, I definitely wouldn't forget you, hahaha."

 

A hint of impatience was already showing on Li Yu's face, but out of politeness, he couldn't get up and leave.

 

Jian Suiying asked, "How are your grades? Which school are you planning to apply to?"

 

"They're alright, I'll apply to a local one."

 

Jian Suiying was shameless; the more the other person ignored him, the more enthusiastic he became, continuing to chat, "Yeah, Beijing is great, why go to some unfamiliar place? You must be pretty tired right now. Xiao Lin often stays up until two or three in the morning. Actually, that's not good. The closer it gets to the exam, the more you need to rest. If you have any health problems, it will only delay things, don't you think?"

 

"Yes."

 

"It's good for you guys to exercise more. Health is the most important thing." As he spoke, he took the opportunity to pat Li Yu's back, feeling the vigorous, youthful muscles, and his heart fluttered.

 

Li Yu nodded awkwardly, "I'll go help out in the kitchen."

 

"Hey, no, if he can't even do this little thing well, he's useless. You're a guest, just sit down... By the way, brother, do you have a girlfriend?"

 

Li Yu shook his head, "No."

 

"No? He must be quite popular with girls at school, right? I was a student once too. Dating at your age isn't a big deal, but it's not good to waste time at this stage. If you do, you have to tell me. I'm doing this for his own good."

 

"Brother Jian, really no."

 

"Oh. Do you have one?" Actually, this was what Jian Suiying really wanted to ask. Whether Jian Suilin had a girlfriend or not was none of his business.

 

Li Yu was getting restless, but he couldn't just get up and leave, so he said helplessly, "I don't either."

 

Jian Suiying was quite happy. He saw that it was about time, so he stopped dragging Li Yu along. The impatience in Li Yu's eyes was impossible to hide.

 

In truth, Jian Suiying was a generous, straightforward, and manly man with a large circle of friends and excellent interpersonal skills. He wouldn't be so annoying as to annoy someone upon first meeting. For a boy like Li Yu, a few words of flattery were enough to make the naive child admire him. Unfortunately, as Jian Suilin's friend, Li Yu disliked him from the start. Jian Suiying knew when to stop, leaving only an impression was enough; further annoyance would backfire.

 

"Then you sit down first, I'll go check on the kitchen," he said, getting up and heading towards the kitchen.

 

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as Jian Suiying entered the kitchen, he saw his younger brother wearing an apron and cooking, his expression very focused. Jian Suiying leaned against the doorframe. "How's it going?"

 

"Ah, brother, almost done. Go back and sit down, it's too smoky in here."

 

"It's alright."

 

Jian Suiying walked over to him, looking at the bright green peppers in the pot. "It smells pretty good."

 

Jian Suilin had been teased by his older brother since childhood, and it was rare for him to be so kind to him. Jian Suilin was quite taken aback and didn't know how to respond. Jian Suiying pretended to be casual and said, "Why is Old Li's grandson back now? Will he be able to keep up with his studies?"

 

"He's very smart."

 

"With him suddenly appearing like this, the girls at your school must be going crazy."

 

Jian Suilin laughed, "Yeah, the day he arrived, the girls who came to our classroom to see him filled the corridor, no exaggeration." For some reason, Jian Suiying felt a little proud, probably because he thought he had good taste.

Chapter 2

Jian Suilin was quite efficient, preparing three dishes and a soup in about forty minutes, which were then steaming hot and placed on the table. Li Yu sat down with Jian Suilin, and his expression relaxed a bit.

 

Jian Suiying took a bottle of low-alcohol fruit wine from the family liquor cabinet; the label was all in foreign languages. He didn't know who had given it to him; his father was from Northeast China and only drank baijiu (a strong Chinese liquor) at the table, so he couldn't stand this sweet stuff. His father would have considered it little better than mouthwash, and even Jian Suiying had no desire to drink it. Now, it was perfect for the kid to have a couple of sips to liven things up.

 

Jian Suiying poured three glasses of wine. "Come on, have a couple of sips, whet your appetite."

 

Jian Suilin didn't react much; drinking a little at home was common. Li Yu glanced at the glass and said calmly, "Brother Jian, I don't drink."

 

A man saying he doesn't drink either means he'll get into trouble, or he's just pretending and not giving face; the former is less likely. Jian Suiying wasn't too happy. He thought to himself, "You don't smoke or drink, you're such a model youth! Even middle schoolers aren't this pretentious these days." He pushed his glass towards Li Yu and laughed, "What's wrong with not knowing how to drink? If you really can't, you'll have to learn. What man doesn't know how to drink? Don't worry, this is very low alcohol content, even my dog ​​can drink it without any problems."

 

Li Yu frowned slightly. "Brother Jian, we have class this afternoon."

 

"No big deal, come on, give me some face."

 

Li Yu glanced at Jian Suilin, who gave him a helpless look before lowering his eyes. A hint of displeasure flashed in Li Yu's eyes, but he didn't say anything, picked up his glass and took a sip.

 

Jian Suiying laughed loudly, "You little girl, men should drink in big gulps! Little Lin, come on, show him!"

 

Jian Suilin grabbed his glass and downed half the glass in one gulp, but he drank too fast and choked, coughing, his face flushed. Li Yu quickly patted his back, "Slow down, want some water?"

 

Jian Suilin waved his hand, "No, it's okay..."

 

Jian Suiying raised his glass and brought it close to Li Yu's face, "Come on, have a drink with me." Li Yu reluctantly raised his glass, clinked it with Jian Suiying's, and then tilted his head back to take a decent sip. Jian Suiying looked at Li Yu's reluctant little eyes and felt a perverse pleasure welling up inside him.

 

After putting down his glass, Li Yu stopped looking at Jian Suiying and ate his meal in silence. Young Master Jian crossed his legs and began to pick up food with satisfaction, tapping the plate of shrimp with his chopsticks, "Little Lin, peel a few shrimp for me."

 

"Yes, sir." Jian Suilin put down his chopsticks and obediently peeled shrimp for his brother.

 

Li Yu's hand holding the chopsticks paused, his eyes falling on Jian Suilin's hand, a hint of displeasure rising in his eyes. Jian Suilin had beautiful hands, the kind that were delicate and fair, like a girl's. His fingers were long, but the knuckles were small. It was remarkable that someone so tall could have such elegant hands.

 

*Such beautiful hands. There were better things they could be doing,* Li Yu thought. However, he couldn't interfere in other people's family affairs, so he could only endure it in silence.

 

The two Jian brothers were already used to this. Jian Suilin peeled the shrimp cleanly and placed it in his brother's bowl before picking up his own chopsticks. At the dinner table, Jian Suiying acted like an older brother, asking about their studies and what university they planned to apply to—all trivial questions he would forget as soon as he finished speaking.

 

Jian Suiying, mindful of Jian Suilin's presence, didn't dare to be too attentive to Li Yu. His attraction to men was common knowledge in his family; though his father felt guilty towards him, his mother felt sorry for him, and he held the family's financial reins. Even his own father pretended not to know, and couldn't really interfere.

 

He just didn't want Jian Suilin to know he was interested in his classmate; it felt awkward. Besides, what if the kid realised his intentions and spoke ill of him to Li Yu? He'd be out of luck.

 

After dinner, it was almost time for Li Yu and the others to go to school.

 

Jian Suiying had come back to pick up some things; he rarely lived there, only coming back once a week at most. The family of three was happy and harmonious, and he had no business with them. He had no desire to stay there, trading resentful looks with that woman.

 

Jian Suiying picked up his things. "Let's go, I'll take you to school."

 

Jian Suilin said, "No need, brother, Uncle Ma will take us."

 

"Let's go, Uncle Ma is getting old, let him take a nap. Change your clothes and let's go."

 

Jian Suilin looked at Li Yu with some difficulty and hesitated, "Brother, we want to take a shower first; we're too dirty after playing ball."

 

"Then go ahead, I'm not in a hurry."

 

Jian Suiying had never been so patient with Jian Suilin before, which made Jian Suilin quite uncomfortable. He looked at his brother uncertainly, "Then, then I'll go shower. Li Yu, come up and wait for me; I'll be right there."

 

Jian Suiying said to Li Yu, "Go to the bathroom in my room to shower; it'll save you some time, there's a bit of traffic."

 

Li Yu was very unwilling, "No need, I'll wait for him."

 

"Come on, we're about the same size, you can wear my clothes."

 

Li Yu couldn't find a reason to refuse, so he followed Jian Suiying upstairs and into his room. Jian Suiying pointed to the bathroom, "Go wash up, I'll find you some clothes." Li Yu quickly went into the bathroom, and soon the sound of running water could be heard.

 

Jian Suiying stared at the thin door, his mind filled with a number of obscene fantasies. This was too much of a test of willpower. Just a door away was the fresh meat he craved, yet he could only hear it, and as he pounded his chest in frustration, his anticipation of the moment he could finally enjoy it grew stronger.

 

Li Yu washed quickly, in about five or six minutes, and poked his head out of the bathroom, "Brother Jian, clothes." Jian Suiying took the prepared clothes and went over, handing them to him while he couldn't help but peek at Li Yu's chest through the crack in the door.

 

That long neck, that firm chest, those light brown nipples—Jian Suiying was completely aroused. He really wanted to push open the door, pin Li Yu against the wall, and lick all the water droplets off his body. Unfortunately, no matter how aroused he was, he didn't dare to move. This was really making the young master Jian feel incredibly frustrated.

 

Li Yu was so busy grabbing clothes that he luckily missed Jian Suiying's lecherous gaze. Li Yu and Jian Suilin came down two staircases and arrived in the living room around the same time.

 

Jian Suiying waved the garage key, "Let's go."

 

Li Yu's expression changed as soon as they entered the garage, and Jian Suiying was secretly delighted.

 

Every man loves cars. Back when he was Li Yu's age, he wasn't even old enough to get a driver's licence and could only secretly drive his father's car for fun. With Li Yu's family all holding official positions, even with a licence, he couldn't drive anything too flashy. He completely understood how Li Yu felt looking at this garage full of luxury cars.

 

This garage was specially modified by him. It houses twenty-seven cars, including his and his father's. His current place doesn't have such good facilities, so most of his collection is kept at home. He'd finally found a place that would pique Li Yu's interest.

 

Li Yu glanced at it a few more times but didn't say anything. Old Master Li's grandson must have seen many grand occasions; this composure made Jian Suiying like him even more. Jian Suiying patted Li Yu, "Which one do you like?"

 

Li Yu was taken aback, "What?"

 

"Whichever one you like, I'll drive it today. You choose."

 

Li Yu slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Brother Jian, whatever's convenient for you."

 

"Don't be like that. I said you can choose. I haven't touched these cars in a long time; it's not good to just leave them sitting there. Today I'll pick one to exercise. Tell me, which one do you like?" He naturally put his hand on Li Yu's shoulder.

 

Jian Suiying's body stiffened; he pursed his lips and quickly looked away. Li Yu casually pointed to the Maserati closest to the garage door.

 

"Alright, this is it."

 

Jian Suiying drove off happily with the two kids in tow. He remembered visiting Jian Suilin's school only once, when his father forced him to attend Jian Suilin's parent-teacher conference at their place. He remembered Jian Suilin being very happy that day, telling him that many girls envied him for having such a handsome brother.

 

Jian Suiying didn't take it seriously; firstly, he knew Jian Suilin was handsome, and secondly, he wasn't interested in girls.

 

Because it was an evening parent-teacher conference at that time, there weren't many students present. This time it was broad daylight and during school hours, with crowds of students at the school gate. Jian Suiying noticed the occasional handsome young men with rosy lips and white teeth staring intently at his car, and suddenly thought the school was a nice place.

 

Jian Suiying was a rather showy gay man; after dropping the two off, he got out of the car himself, feeling a surge of joy at the screams around him. Li Yu’s expression, however, was far from pleasant. He hastily said "goodbye" to Jian Suiying, then quickly disappeared into the crowd of students with Jian Suilin in tow.

 

Jian Suiying watched Li Yu's retreating figure, licking his lips, his eyes filled with boundless lust.

Chapter 3

After seeing the two off, Jian Suiying returned to the company. Although he had felt an unbearable excitement, like discovering a new continent, during the few hours he spent with Li Yu, he was, after all, a man with important matters to attend to. He temporarily put Li Yu out of his mind and focused on his work.

 

After finishing his work, it was already dark. He invited Pipi to dinner, and that night at the hotel, he pinned the fair-skinned boy down and thoroughly satisfied himself.

 

After the sex, however, he didn't experience a feeling of complete gratification. Although his body was very tired, his heart was not satisfied. He wished that the one screaming beneath him was that indifferent, handsome young man.

 

However, no matter how beastly Jian Suiying was, he didn't intend to make a move on Li Yu right now. The college entrance examination was less than two months away. The boy had studied hard for more than ten years, and he couldn't delay him at this time. The Li family was a place where talented people emerged, and every generation of their descendants was outstanding. This kid, Li Yu, seemed to be no ordinary person either.

 

Moreover, after the intense impact of the beauty before him subsided, Jian Suiying's mind became much clearer. He hesitated a bit. Was it better not to leave the Li family alone?

 

He knew a little about Li Yu's family circumstances.

 

Back then, Li Yu's parents already had a healthy baby boy, but unexpectedly, his mother became pregnant with Li Yu, and his mother absolutely refused to have an abortion. Officials at their level were under constant scrutiny. In the 1980s, during the strictest period of the one-child policy, officials were expected to set an example, and few dared to break the rules; the higher the rank, the less likely they were to dare. It was said that his family forced his mother to have an abortion, but she refused, saying the child had appeared to her in a dream, that her child was destined for great wealth and honour, and that she had to keep the child no matter what; they would only allow her to abort if they killed her.

 

His family had no other choice but to secretly register Li Yu under his aunt's name. His aunt and uncle almost lost their jobs because of this, but at least they managed to protect his father.

 

Looking at Li Yu's household registration now, he is still his aunt's son, although in recent years the policy has been relaxed and regulations have loosened. Those with a good relationship with the Li family know about this, but it's too late to make a fuss about it now. First, the statute of limitations has long expired, and second, Li Yu's grandfather is practically untouchable.

 

This child, left behind by such a family at such great risk, is the apple of everyone's eye. Young Master Jian feels that if the Li family finds out he's been led astray like this, he'll be finished.

 

But looking at it another way, how many men haven't done something outrageous in their youth? What's wrong with him sleeping with Li Yu? They'll break up sooner or later, and he can go wherever he wants, while Li Yu can do whatever he wants. Enjoying life while it lasts isn't so bad, is it?

 

Jian Suiying thought it over and over. Rationally speaking, he should just fantasise about it and be done with it. After all, no matter how handsome Li Yu is, there are plenty of handsome boys in the world; why go against the grain? But Li Yu's looks, his demeanour—why is he so attracted to him? Why is he so drawn to him? The more impossible something seems, the more he wants to try it. When he realised he shouldn't touch Li Yu, he just wanted to even more. Even Jian Suiying sighed at his own personality.

 

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

 

To hell with it, he didn't want to think about it anymore. Maybe in a few days he'd even forget what Li Yu looked like. What was he agonising over?

 

He reached under the covers and pinched Pipi's soft, smooth buttocks. "Little slut, wake up." He pulled back the covers and began groping.

 

Pipi mumbled something and giggled, "Young Master Jian, you're hitting me! You're amazing! Are you coming again tonight?"

 

For three weeks straight, Jian Suiying didn't go home. He'd basically forgotten about Li Yu. But then, coincidentally, his father called, asking him to come home for dinner and pick up his brother on the way.

 

His father firmly believed that the brothers needed more time together to improve their relationship. The more he let Jian Suiying and Jian Suilin spend time together, the more annoyed he became with Jian Suilin. Aside from Jian Suilin's shameless mother, Jian Suilin himself wasn't the younger brother Jian Suiying wanted.

 

He remembered when Jian Suilin first came to his house, he was timid and submissive, shrinking back at anyone who raised their voice, and looking like a little girl. Jian Suiying felt disgusted the moment he saw him.

 

But now they were both grown up, and Jian Suiying wasn't as tactless as he was when he was younger, so Jian Suilin's life was much easier, but their relationship remained precarious. Jian Suiying didn't want to go home, simply to avoid seeing him and the annoyance. But his father had spoken, so he had no choice but to leave work early and go to the school to pick up Jian Suilin.

 

When he arrived at the school, most of the students had left. He called Jian Suilin, but as soon as the call connected, a familiar ringtone sounded nearby. Jian Suiying turned his head and saw several groups of people playing basketball on the court not far from the school gate. He immediately spotted Jian Suilin and Li Yu next to him.

 

Jian Suiying felt his heart skip a beat. He hung up the phone and walked straight to the basketball court. Jian Suilin saw him from afar and quickly ran over, flashing a bright smile, "Brother, you're here."

 

"Yeah." Jian Suiying glanced at him casually, then his gaze drifted to Li Yu. Li Yu's school uniform shirt was soaked with sweat, and his trousers were rolled up to his knees, revealing his long, muscular legs. The sunlight shone on him, making him dazzling. No wonder the girls surrounding the basketball court were staring at him with adoration.

 

Li Yu made a beautiful three-step layup, and the girls screamed. He then dropped the ball, looked around as if looking for someone, and finally fixed his gaze on them. He paused, then ran over as well.

 

Jian Suiying's gaze was completely drawn to him, and he smiled as he watched him draw closer, each step seeming to tread on his heart. Jian Suiying never expected to feel such a flutter in his heart again, especially at the mere thought of a boy. The feeling was both fresh and wonderful, making him feel as if he had returned to his youth.

 

Li Yu's desire, which he had forgotten for some time, suddenly surged again the moment he saw him.

 

Li Yu nodded at him, "Brother Jian."

 

Jian Suiying smiled and said, "Li Yu." He uttered the name slowly, as if savouring it, "It's been a long time, two or three weeks, hasn't it?"

 

"Yeah, it has,"

 

Li Yu replied casually, then turned to Jian Suilin, "Shall we go now?"

 

Jian Suilin nodded, "Let's go."

 

Jian Suiying was overjoyed, trying hard not to show it, "Is he coming too?"

 

"Yes, he invited other classmates as well, but Li Yu is coming home with us for dinner first."

 

Jian Suiying was about to ask him why he had invited so many classmates. Li Yu seemed to sense his thoughts and said in a somewhat cold tone, "Today is Suilin's birthday."

 

Jian Suiying said, "Oh", and then fell silent. "Let's go."

 

A look of disappointment flashed across Jian Suilin's eyes, which Li Yu caught perfectly, making his expression even colder.

 

On the way, Li Yu answered almost every question Jian Suiying asked but said nothing more. Jian Suiying also found it boring and fell silent as well. The three of them were lost in their own thoughts, each looking out the window.

 

Back home, the main house was brightly lit, and several cars were parked outside. Jian Suiying knew his relatives had arrived. As soon as he entered, all eyes turned to him.

 

"Suiying's back!" his second aunt greeted him with a smile, her eyes filled with joy at his arrival.

 

"Second Aunt, Uncle," Jian Suiying greeted them one by one, his gaze finally settling on the person sitting in the corner of the sofa.

 

She was a very beautiful and elegant woman, no more than thirty years old, with a somewhat cold expression, clearly isolated, as if none of the relatives in the room noticed her. Only when Jian Suilin walked over, sat down beside her, and called her "Mum" did her expression soften.

 

Jian Suiying gave a mocking smile.

 

Today was Jian Suilin's eighteenth birthday, a rather significant day, and quite a few relatives were present, making the house lively. At the dinner table, the main topic of conversation focused on Jian Suilin's university entrance exams, with everyone analysing his grades and the schools he should apply to, the atmosphere resembling a typical family gathering.

 

Jian Suiying deliberately sat next to Li Yu, ignoring their conversation, only occasionally striking up a conversation with Li Yu. However, Li Yu was quite busy; the Li family's grandson had come, and Jian's relatives were all very polite to him. Whenever they inquired about Jian Suilin, they almost always mentioned Li Yu, since the two were classmates.

 

Jian Suiying found this extremely awkward. After the meal, the elders began giving Jian Suilin red envelopes. Seeing the red envelopes in Jian Suilin's hand, Jian Suiying took out his own chequebook from his pocket, filled in an amount, tore off a cheque, and handed it to him. "Here, take it and spend it."

 

Jian Suilin slowly took it, his face expressionless. "Thank you, brother."

 

His father, who happened to be standing next to them, glanced at the cheque and disapproved. "Suiying, you didn't even pick out a gift for your brother. He's just a ten-year-old student. What's the point of giving him so much money? It's irresponsible."

 

Jian Suiying said nonchalantly, "He's an adult now. He should know how to spend money."

 

Jian Dongyuan frowned and snorted, clearly dissatisfied. He then said to Jian Suilin, "You're an adult now. Don't just know how to spend money but not how to earn it. Learn from your brother in the future."

 

"Yes, Dad." Jian Suilin nodded, his glassy eyes looking at his brother.

 

"Alright, let Uncle Ma take you to your friends' gathering place. Have some fun tonight."

 

Jian Suiying interjected, "I'll take them."

 

Jian Dongyuan asked, "Aren't you going to stay and chat with us?"

 

Jian Suiying had wanted to leave for a while, thinking, what's the point of chatting with a bunch of old men and women? "No, I have something to do tonight, I'll just take them."

 

"Okay then."

 

Jian Suiying felt like he'd been granted a pardon and quickly left with the two of them. Jian Suiying took the two to a karaoke bar, glanced at Li Yu reluctantly, and was about to leave. Jian Suilin hesitated and said to him, "Brother, you should go up too."

 

Jian Suiying said, "Why would I go up? Aren't they all your classmates?"

 

Jian Suilin pursed his lips and said softly, "Go up and sit for a bit…"

 

Jian Suiying glared at him, "You want me to sit with a bunch of kids? What good will that do?" He started the car. He didn't have time to play with a bunch of kids.

 

Li Yu suddenly spoke up, "Brother Jian, come upstairs and have a seat. It's Suilin's birthday today." Jian Suiying's hand paused as he started the car; the key hadn't been turned properly, and the engine screeched to a halt.

 

He glanced at Li Yu, his handsome face flickering in and out of the neon lights, giving him a unique charm. Li Yu was looking at him with expectant eyes. Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman.

 

Jian Suiying pulled out the key, "Alright, alright, I'll sacrifice myself today and play along."

Chapter 4

As soon as the door to the private room opened, a cacophony of music and laughter, accompanied by a gust of cold wind, rushed out, making Jian Suiying shiver. He looked up and saw at least twenty or thirty people sitting in the large private room, who immediately jeered as soon as he entered.

 

"Oh, the birthday boy is here!"

 

"The birthday boy looks so handsome today!"

 

Several people surrounded him, some putting their arms around Jian Suilin's shoulders, others shoving beer into his hands, while the others quickly turned down the TV volume. Jian Suilin's face was all smiles, his tone tinged with pride, "Let me introduce you all, this is my brother." Jian Suiying greeted the group of children with a smile.

 

A group of girls immediately screamed, "Brother is so handsome!" Jian Suiying's eyelids twitched, and he subconsciously moved closer to Li Yu. Li Yu, completely oblivious to him, put his arm around Jian Suilin's and smiled, "Have a seat first."

 

Jian Suilin quickly said to Jian Suiying, "Brother, you sit first. What would you like to drink?"

 

"Water, please." Jian Suiying frowned, glancing around at the people in the private room. The girls' eyes were too intimidating. Besides his brother and Li Yu, there weren't any good-looking young men. He really didn't know where to sit.

 

He glanced at Li Yu and decided to sit wherever Li Yu sat. He had only come up because of Li Yu, so it would be a waste not to take the opportunity to get closer to him. At this moment, a very cute little girl carried a large box and placed it on the large coffee table. When she opened it, it was a birthday cake.

 

Li Yu, who didn't seem like the usually lively person, was now busy lighting candles, arranging for everyone to sit down, ordering the lights to be turned off, and leading the singing of "Happy Birthday."

 

Jian Suiying discovered that Li Yu was a very capable leader. He didn't talk much, but when he did, everyone followed his instructions. The noisy KTV room immediately quieted down as they gathered around Jian Suilin to celebrate his birthday.

 

Jian Suilin's face appeared exceptionally gentle and handsome in the dim candlelight. Li Yu gazed at him quietly, finding himself unable to look away. Fortunately, the light was too dim, and no one noticed his unusual expression.

 

After making a wish and blowing out the candles, Jian Suilin gave Jian Suiying the first slice of cake. Jian Suiying never liked sweet things; he frowned and glanced at it, finally accepting it with reluctance. Jian Suilin then smiled and handed Li Yu the slice with a large strawberry, saying, "Here, brother."

 

Li Yu smiled warmly, this time making Jian Suiying's mouth water.

 

Out of consideration for his birthday, Jian Suiying forced himself to eat two bites of cake before putting it down. To be honest, being with a group of kids eight or nine years younger than him was incredibly awkward and embarrassing. He wasn't a kindergarten teacher, so he couldn't sit still and started to regret coming along.

 

After the kids finished their cake, they began presenting gifts, indicating that Jian Suilin was quite popular at school. Some bolder girls took the opportunity to sit next to Jian Suiying and strike up a conversation. Jian Suiying didn't pay them much attention, instead wanting to see what Li Yu had given Jian Suilin. He glanced at the box; judging by its size, it was probably a mobile phone.

 

When he opened Li Yu's gift, Jian Suiying looked closer and, sure enough, it was a mobile phone. Jian Suilin smiled at Li Yu, "Hey, it's not the same as yours."

 

Li Yu smiled back, "Didn't you say mine was good?"

 

Jian Suilin happily put it in his pocket, "Thanks." Jian Suiying had thought that a charming, beautiful girl like Li Yu would come up with something creative, and he was somewhat disappointed. Even the last thing that interested him here was gone; Jian Suiying didn't want to stay a second longer.

 

Coming up here was already a mistake, and staying would only compound it. So Jian Suiying stood up and walked over to Jian Suilin, who was singing. "Little Lin, I'm leaving now."

 

Jian Suilin was taken aback and quickly handed the microphone to the person next to him. "Brother, why are you leaving already? You've only been sitting here for ten minutes."

 

Jian Suiying was a little impatient. "What am I doing sitting here? Isn't this a waste of my time?"

 

A look of disappointment flashed in Jian Suilin's eyes. "Then, then I'll see you downstairs."

 

Jian Suiying waved his hand. "No need, you stay here."

 

Before Jian Suilin could say anything, Li Yu spoke up: "You stay here, I'll see your brother out."

 

Jian Suiying was more than happy to oblige and quickly said: "Yes, don't move. It wouldn't be right for you to leave after inviting so many people."

 

Li Yu gestured towards the door.

 

Jian Suiying casually said goodbye to the children and left without looking back. On the way to the parking lot, Jian Suiying said, "Xiao Linzi is quite popular at school, isn't he? He invited quite a few people over."

 

Li Yu, seemingly lost in thought, casually replied, "He is." How long has it been since you two last saw each other? You two seem to be getting along so well; it's like you've been together for over ten years."

 

"I left when I was in elementary school, and it's been almost ten years since then, but we've kept in touch."

 

"Oh, you two used to be good friends?"

 

"Yeah, we used to play together a lot."

 

"Really? I don't remember you."

 

A hint of sarcasm flickered at the corner of Li Yu's mouth. "The age difference is too big, and you didn't play with Suilin."

 

"True..."

 

The two reached the parking lot. Seeing that no one was around, Jian Suiying felt a little itchy and became a bit more audacious, teasing, "Even if I've seen you before, you were just a kid back then. Who knew you'd grow into such a handsome young man? You really do change a lot as you grow up."

 

Li Yu smiled faintly, bent down to stub out a still-sparkling cigarette butt at his feet, and said softly, "Brother Jian, you didn't know it's Suilin's birthday today, did you?"

 

"Ah, I don't remember," Jian Suiying said casually.

 

Li Yu looked up, his bright black eyes fixed on Jian Suiying. "You didn't even say happy birthday to him today."

 

"Oh? Didn't I?" Jian Suiying couldn't remember whether he had said it or not, but he had come in person and given a red envelope, so what did it matter whether he said it or not?

 

Li Yu said calmly, "Suilin has admired you since he was little. You came in person today, saying happy birthday to him is better than giving him anything."

 

Jian Suiying wasn't used to this kind of sentimental story. He had given him 180,000 yuan as pocket money, wasn't that more practical than saying some meaningless, fleeting words? He felt he had overestimated Li Yu; these words really sounded like something a child would say.

 

Jian Suiying chuckled, "Admire? You... never mind, our relationship isn't like that."

 

Li Yu opened his mouth but swallowed back the accusation on the tip of his tongue, insisting, "Brother Jian, at least send him a text message to say happy birthday." Jian Suiying found this amusing; the two boys really had a good relationship. He couldn't even remember being this innocent and adorable when he was seventeen or eighteen.

 

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you, Brother Jian." Jian Suiying smiled and winked at Li Yu, then took out his phone and sent a text message to Jian Suilin.

 

"Happy birthday, Little Linzi—your brother."

 

Almost exactly ten seconds later, he received a reply: "Thank you, brother! I'm so glad you could come today."

 

Jian Suiying put his phone away, looked up at Li Yu with a half-smile, and said, "Satisfied now?"

 

Li Yu nodded, "Thank you."

 

Jian Suiying smiled and shook his head, opened the car door, but before stepping inside, he pulled his foot back, turned back to Li Yu, and said, "After you finish your exams, I'll take you out to play. You can't do that without giving Brother Jian face then."

 

"Okay, no problem." Li Yu looked at him without flinching.

 

Jian Suiying hummed a little tune and drove off.

Chapter 5

While driving, Jian Suiying sent a text message to his family driver, asking him to pick up Jian Suilin. Little Lin was the apple of his family's eye; the Jian family was counting on him to carry on the family line. Then he drove back to his flat and went to sleep.

 

Normally, he rarely went home unless summoned by his father, so for the next few weeks, he saw neither Jian Suilin nor Li Yu.

 

After their first meeting, he forgot about Li Yu in just two or three days, but this time it was different; the image of him with his rosy lips and white teeth kept flashing through his mind. Unusually, he paid close attention to the students' university entrance exam schedule, hoping that after their exams he could go out with Li Yu. Although he would inevitably have to bring Jian Suilin along, he felt that if he invited Li Yu alone, he probably wouldn't be happy to come.

 

Three days before the university entrance exam, Jian Suiying arranged to meet a real estate tycoon outside his company to discuss business. When they said goodbye, Jian Suiying realised he was near Li Yu's school. As he drove past Li Yu's school, he glanced inside and could see some students playing basketball on the court closest to the school gate. It was just a fleeting glance; he couldn't possibly make out who they were.

 

Jian Suiying smiled and shook his head.

 

He sped off for about a hundred meters, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, his mind seemingly left behind. Finally, he couldn't resist any longer. He turned the steering wheel; even though the camera was right in front of him, he changed lanes across a solid line and drove back.

 

Jian Suiying parked the car outside the school gate and strolled inside. The school was practically deserted; the vast campus felt particularly quiet. Only the shouts and dribbling sounds from the basketball court could be heard, but they were insignificant against the quiet backdrop.

 

He slowly walked over, stood on the edge of the basketball court, and looked at the three groups of people playing, one by one, but didn't recognise any of them. Jian Suiying chuckled self-deprecatingly, thinking, "What are the chances of such a coincidence? It's like watching a soap opera."

 

He didn't know what was wrong with him; perhaps it had been a long time since he'd encountered someone so to his liking. The one-sided release of desire had become tasteless. Under the intense pressure of his work, he longed for a companion who could truly relax and bring him joy. This companion should ideally be as beautiful as his ideal, someone he could never tire of looking at, and not so easy to pursue, allowing him to enjoy the thrill of the chase. Ideally, he should also possess outstanding charisma, a touch of otherworldly elegance. Just when he was desperately hoping to meet someone who could offer him such pleasures, he met Li Yu.

 

Not too early, not too late, he met Li Yu. Young, beautiful, a little arrogant—he fulfilled all his fantasies. This excited him more than landing a big project; he eagerly anticipated the process of conquering this young man and the moment of reaping the rewards.

 

So, doing something so foolish, standing on a middle school basketball court, hoping for a sentimental chance encounter, seemed somewhat understandable.

 

Unfortunately, it didn't happen.

 

Jian Suiying sighed and prepared to leave.

 

"Brother Jian?"

 

A hesitant voice called from behind, young, clear, and with a pleasant resonance, its sound penetrating and resonating deep within.

 

Jian Suiying felt his breath catch in his throat, a strange, indescribable feeling welling up inside him—perhaps a touch of emotion? It was as if someone had unknowingly fulfilled a wish he had given up all hope of, bringing him an unexpected surprise, a lingering, heart-fluttering feeling. Even if the other person didn't know, he felt a surge of emotion.

 

He whirled around and saw the boy he admired standing behind him, soaking wet, his hair dripping, the front of his pure white shirt drenched and clinging to his chest, whether from sweat or water he couldn't tell. His face was flushed from exercise. That healthy, vibrant appearance was something Jian Suiying could still vividly recall many years later.

 

Li Yu noticed Jian Suiying looking at him and smiled slightly, a little embarrassed. He shook the front of his damp clothes and wiped the water from his face. "It's so hot."

 

Jian Suiying seemed to wake from a dream. "Ah, yes, it's really hot today... Why are you still at school?"

 

"I couldn't stand staying at home, so I came to play some ball. Suilin didn't come today." Li Yu wiped his face as he walked towards the court.

 

Jian Suiying unconsciously followed him. "Oh, I'm going that way. I wanted to see if he was there, so I could give him a ride home."

 

"Most people aren't there; they're resting at home."

 

"Yeah, there are only three days left until the exams. It's time to relax."

 

The two didn't interact much, so their conversation was naturally limited. Li Yu didn't know what to say. He took the ball his classmate tossed to him and glanced at Jian Suiying somewhat awkwardly.

 

Jian Suiying also felt that he was standing there unnecessarily, but he didn't want to leave just like that.

 

Just then, Li Yu's classmate ran over. "Hey? Aren't you Jian Suilin's brother? The one we went to the KTV the other day?"

 

"Yeah, that's me."

 

"Jian Suilin didn't come today."

 

"Oh, I was just passing by..."

 

"Big brother, do you want to play ball? We want to play three-on-three; we're short one person."

 

Jian Suiying said happily, "Sure, let's play a few rounds." He thought to himself that this kid really had a good eye. Jian Suiying loosened his tie, put his car keys, wallet, and other things on the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and came over.

 

Li Yu watched him with interest, "Brother Jian, are your shoes and pants even suitable for playing basketball?"

 

Jian Suiying glanced at his tailor-fitting suit pants and shiny leather shoes, "It's fine, I was on the school team back in school."

 

Jian Suiying bent over, striking a pose. A boy whistled, "Come on, give the ball to the big brother."

 

He was usually too busy and hadn't played basketball in a long time, so he was quite excited to touch the ball. He first tried a few fancy moves, feeling all his athletic cells were activated. Several boys gathered around and started playing in groups of three, with Li Yu on the other side.

 

Jian Suiying felt a little rusty at first, but he gradually became more skilled. Although he was sweating under the sun, he felt great. Playing with a group of kids made him feel younger, especially since he could occasionally bump into Li Yu and get close to him. Basketball was truly a satisfying sport.

 

Jian Suiying's clothes were somewhat cumbersome, and coupled with his distracted state, he was easily distracted. He shifted, and in the blink of an eye, Li Yu's face was right in front of him. He was momentarily stunned, his movements slowed, and he couldn't dodge. Li Yu crashed into him almost head-to-head.

 

Li Yu was a large man, weighing at least 160 pounds; just imagining him running at full speed and crashing into him was unpleasant.

 

Jian Suiying was knocked to the ground, immediately feeling dizzy. Then Li Yu landed on top of him, causing a sharp pain in his ankle. He cried out and immediately didn't want to move.

 

People nearby frantically tried to pull Li Yu up, shouting, "Are you alright? Are you alright?"

 

The scene became somewhat chaotic. When Li Yu got up, he lost his balance and stomped on Jian Suiying's legs several times. Jian Suiying was at his wit's end.

 

Li Yu asked anxiously, "Brother Jian, are you alright?"

 

Jian Suiying gasped in pain, "My foot, you stepped on my foot." Someone helped him up, and Li Yu grabbed his trouser leg and pulled it up, revealing his ankle was quickly swelling.

 

Jian Suiying was helped to a seat in the stands, and he couldn't help but laugh at himself, "Getting old is really no good, I get injured just from exercising." A boy laughed, "Brother, you're only in your twenties, why are you talking like that? Getting bumps and bruises while playing ball is common; Li Yu didn't do it on purpose."

 

Jian Suiying smiled bitterly, "Get me a bottle of water, I'm dying of thirst." Someone handed him a bottle of water, which he unscrewed and drank in a few gulps. Li Yu squatted down in front of him, took off his shoes and socks, and looked at his swollen ankle with concern.

 

Jian Suiying felt inexplicably nervous and tried to pull his foot back. "It's okay, just put me in the car; the swelling will go down in a few days."

 

Li Yu, however, held onto his foot and glanced at him. "How can you drive?"

 

Jian Suiying was speechless; his right foot was injured. Yes, how could he drive?

 

Li Yu instructed a classmate next to him, "Go ask the convenience store near the entrance for some ice." He then stood up and helped Jian Suiying up as well. "Brother Jian, I'll take you home."

 

Jian Suiying thought to himself that this was a blessing in disguise. Well, it was worth the twisted ankle. Several classmates helped Li Yu put Jian Suiying in the car. Li Yu took the ice and wrapped it around Jian Suiying's foot with Jian Suiying's tie.

 

Jian Suiying laughed after feeling the ice for a few moments. "So refreshing! This is a good method."

 

Li Yu looked at him helplessly. "Brother Jian, give me the keys, I'll take you home."

 

Jian Suiying tossed him the keys. "Can you drive?"

 

"Yes." Li Yu got into the driver's seat and started the car.

 

"Do you have a licence?"

 

Li Yu looked straight ahead, then kicked the car into gear. "No."