After Becoming Arch-Enemies with My Best Bro - Chapter 10

Wen Huihan scrolled through the notifications and realized He Chenshuang had practically commented on every single post he’d made recently.

Given that Wen Huihan had posted dozens of times in the last few days, it was clear that He Chenshuang was an incredibly bored individual bored to the point of borderline cyberbullying. What made it even more frustrating was that he intentionally commented in the middle of the night, meaning Wen Huihan couldn’t even snap back immediately. Talk about a raw deal.

Not one to back down, Wen Huihan went through and replied to every single comment with a stinging retort of his own. Only then did he feel refreshed enough to start his day.

Vincent replied soon after, saying he was free and that Wen Huihan could come by whenever he wanted. Wen Huihan sent a quick “OK,” rolled out of bed, and headed to the washroom.

By the time he finished washing up and changing, He Chenshuang still hadn’t spoken to him. It wasn’t until Wen Huihan was about to walk out the door that the other finally opened his mouth.

“What time will you be back?”

“Probably not that early. Don’t wait up for lunch.” Wen Huihan thought for a second and added, “Want me to bring you anything back when I return?”

He Chenshuang raised an eyebrow. “Just bring yourself back in one piece.”

The way he said it made it sound like Wen Huihan was heading off to commit some illicit crime.

“I’m not three years old,” Wen Huihan grumbled.

He Chenshuang said flatly, “Right. You look at least three and a half.”

“Could you be any more childish?” Wen Huihan snapped. “If you don’t want anything, fine. Starve for all I care.”

With that, he bolted from the dorm, not sticking around to see the expression on He Chenshuang’s face. As long as he didn’t hear a sarcastic comeback, he could count this as a win.

*****

When Wen Huihan arrived at TT Fitness, Vincent greeted him personally. He enthusiastically led him inside while detailing the “Double-Door Refrigerator Plan” he’d spent the last two days customizing specifically for him.

Unfortunately, every time Wen Huihan heard the phrase “Double-Door,” he was reminded of the text he’d accidentally sent He Chenshuang. He gave a weak wave of his hand. “Let’s just focus on the basics for now, Brother Wen.”

Maybe the refrigerator build was a bit far off. He should just focus on surviving these first few classes.

Vincent, being a pro, didn’t push the sales pitch further and began the session. Wen Huihan was becoming more familiar with the equipment; he was currently positioned on a Roman chair, working on glute and core strengthening under Vincent’s guidance.

“So, that guy who was with you last time why didn’t he come along?” Vincent was still thinking about He Chenshuang’s mention of getting a membership.

Wen Huihan spoke between breaths, “He’s  too busy.”

In reality, He Chenshuang was likely “guarding the empty nest” back at the dorm. Wen Huihan wondered what he was doing. Given how much attention the guy attracted, he usually avoided the library, so he was probably studying in the room. Or, considering his late-night “cyberbullying” spree, he might be sleeping it off.

Thinking about He Chenshuang made his focus slip, so he quickly adjusted his breathing.

“I see,” Vincent said with a sly, comical wink. “You two seem pretty close. I figured he’d want to keep you company.”

Wen Huihan: “?”

What was that supposed to mean? Sure, they were tight, but they weren’t exactly joined at the hip or so codependent that they needed to do everything together. He didn’t dwell on it, assuming Vincent just recognized how close they were.

He stayed at the gym until late afternoon, even grabbing a delivery lunch to eat on-site. This kind of immersive self-improvement made time fly. However, when he finally finished his session and reached the mall’s ground floor, he found it was absolutely pouring outside.

It had been sunny when he left. South City’s weather was notoriously fickle, and naturally, he hadn’t brought an umbrella.

The ground floor was packed with people waiting for taxis. Wen Huihan could have hailed one, but cars weren’t allowed inside the campus gates, and the walk from the entrance to the dorms was quite long. If he ran for it, he’d be soaked to the bone.

He thought about it for a moment. He had to shower anyway when he got back. A real man could handle a little rain.

Because it was a rainy day, it took nearly half an hour of waiting before he finally caught a cab. Once inside, he pulled out his phone and decided to harass He Chenshuang.

Blackened: Doing?

He waited a bit, but there was no response. He sent a flurry of follow-up messages.

Blackened: Hellooo? 

Blackened: Acting cool now, are we? 

Blackened: Image: A cartoon kicking you away

Blackened: Fine, be that way. Whoever doesn’t reply in three seconds is gay.

He Chenshuang remained silent. Wen Huihan didn’t mind and started scrolling through his Moments instead. As he swiped down, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Is the sun rising in the west? He Chenshuang had actually posted something?

It was from half an hour ago. The content was simple: just a photo with no caption.

Naturally, it was a photo Wen Huihan had taken. It was as if He Chenshuang’s phone was missing its camera lens entirely he never used it. Wen Huihan remembered this one; it was from earlier in the year when they were studying in the library. He’d snapped it secretly while the other was reading.

The guy’s face was undeniably photogenic. Even though Wen Huihan had intended to take a “bad” photo, the result featured sharp features and a moody, star-quality atmosphere.

Curse him. Did he pay the photography fee before using my masterpiece?

Wen Huihan’s mischievous side flared up, and he commented immediately.

Blackened: No offense, but I feel like you probably stand on all fours when no one is looking. Blackened: I get you, bro. You didn’t post a full-body shot because your physique is embarrassing, right? No daily life shots because your life is boring? No food shots because you’re afraid of attracting people with Pica? No relationship shots because you’re single?

He tapped away, leaving a string of “straight-to-the-heart” burns.

Satisfying.

If He Chenshuang wanted to leave random comments on his posts, Wen Huihan was just returning the favor to his “unfilial son.” However, moments after he posted, He Chenshuang’s reply popped up.

He Aotian: Is that so? 

He Aotian: It’s pouring. Call me “Dad” and I’ll come pick you up.

Wen Huihan clutched his phone, laughing in disbelief.

He Chenshuang had high hopes. He’d rather swim back through the rain than call He Chenshuang “Dad.”

Blackened: Dearest Godfather.

The rain showed no signs of stopping. Wen Huihan traded his dignity for a dry ride home. A wise man knows when to yield dignity wasn’t worth much when you were shivering. It was just a word; it’s not like it would kill him. With his skills, he’d have plenty of chances to make He Chenshuang pay it back in the future.

He planned to have the driver drop him off at the bookstore near the campus gate and wait for He Chenshuang there. But as the car drew closer, he spotted a familiar figure in the distance.

He Chenshuang stood there in a simple shirt and black trousers. Through the misty rain, everything else looked like a blurred ink painting, but he remained sharp and upright impossible to miss.

The world was noisy, yet he seemed to exist in a space all his own.

Wen Huihan was stunned. It had only been a few minutes since he sent the “Godfather” text. Even if He Chenshuang had wings, he couldn’t have arrived that fast.

Unless… he was already on his way to pick him up.

He Chenshuang had indeed planned to pick him up.

He’d known it was going to rain, but he intentionally hadn’t reminded Wen Huihan. He knew the guy didn’t have the habit of checking the weather report; he’d run out of the dorm happily after their morning bickering.

A total idiot, he thought. Smiling all day for no reason.

Since Wen Huihan hadn’t taken an umbrella, He Chenshuang was prepared to go get him. Estimating the time was right, he grabbed an umbrella and left the dorm.

Not wanting to ask Wen Huihan exactly when he was coming back which might make him seem “clingy” he’d opted for a middle-ground approach: the Moments post. He knew Wen Huihan’s personality; as soon as the guy touched his phone after his session, he’d be all over that post.

Sure enough, half an hour later, Wen Huihan went into “battle mode” in the comments. Little did he know, the post was bait designed specifically for him.

By the time Wen Huihan sent the first “Doing?” text, He Chenshuang had already canceled his own ride-share request to the mall; he’d initially intended to go pick him up directly.

Now, he was already at the bookstore, looking down at his phone. Seeing the clear “Dearest Godfather” message, his lips tilted upward. But just as he was about to reply, a notification appeared.

This comment has been deleted.

He Chenshuang: 

He exited Moments and opened their chat. The latest message was still Wen Huihan’s “Whoever doesn’t reply is gay” text. Wen Huihan had called him childish that morning, but it seemed the guy was no better.

As he was about to type back, a hand slapped down on his screen, covering it completely.

“Hey, handsome. You alone?”

He Chenshuang looked up with a blank face. Wen Huihan was standing there with a sunny smile that outshone the gloomy weather behind him.

“What do you think? Am I half a person?”

“Wow, telling ghost stories now, are we?”

Wen Huihan was in a good mood and decided not to hold He Chenshuang’s attitude against him. The guy had braved the rain to meet him, after all he deserved a little kindness. Valid for one day only, of course.

He looked at the umbrella in He Chenshuang’s hand. “Wait, did you only bring one?”

He Chenshuang said casually, “I was just out to buy some study materials on the way.”

Oh. So he wasn’t specifically here for me.

Wen Huihan blinked. “Fine. One umbrella it is. Squeeze in.”

“Mm.”

Wen Huihan stepped close to He Chenshuang, shoulder to shoulder, arm against arm, ducking under the canopy. Sharing an umbrella between two grown men was a tight fit. Some parts of them were bound to get wet especially since the umbrella felt unusually small.

As they walked, Wen Huihan felt the intense heat radiating from the other man as they bumped into each other. After a while, he had an idea.

“How about this? I’ll give you a piggyback ride, and you hold the umbrella from my back.”

He Chenshuang shot him a cold look. “No.”

“Fine.”

The rejection didn’t bother him. The “Cold God” clearly cared about his image. Wen Huihan, on the other hand, didn’t mind; he’d been ready to bolt through the rain like a monkey. It was raining anyway, and everyone was in a hurry; who would notice them?

Besides, isn’t that how it goes in the movies? The villain stands in the rain with a black umbrella, then tosses it aside to let the cold drops beat against his face. He’d have to try that sometime.

“Hey, then you carry me?” Wen Huihan suggested. “That works, right?”

If He Chenshuang cared about his image, Wen Huihan didn’t. Instead of both of them getting half-soaked, one carrying the other would keep them both dry.

He thought it was a brilliant plan until He Chenshuang gave the same answer: “No.”

Wen Huihan couldn’t see the problem. He didn’t mind, so why was He Chenshuang being such a stickler? Showing off for no reason, he thought.

“Why not?” he demanded, ready to argue.

“Walking through campus carrying a ‘Double-Door Refrigerator’ on my back would look weird.”

Wen Huihan:

At that moment, Wen Huihan finally let out a resigned laugh.

No wonder He Chenshuang hadn’t mentioned the accidental text all day—he’d been saving it for this exact moment. He knew He Chenshuang would never miss an opportunity to mock him.

Good. Fine. Great. Now this was an opponent worth fighting.

He’d briefly considered pausing his “Villainous Masterplan” as a thank-you for the ride home, but since He Chenshuang wanted to be like that, it was time to go back to being a menace.

As Wen Huihan plotted his next move in his head, he didn’t even notice that the umbrella was tilting further and further over his head, leaving He Chenshuang’s own shoulder exposed to the rain.

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