After Becoming Arch-Enemies with My Best Bro - Chapter 3

The first test ended in total failure. Wen Huihan was beginning to realize that He Chenshuang was a man of deep calculation; his facial expressions were so well-managed that it was impossible to tell where his breaking point lay.

But Wen Huihan wasn’t giving up. He’d find it sooner or later.

Just you wait, he thought. One of these days, you’ll regret ever letting me dance on the line of your patience. Heh heh heh.

After two months apart, the residents of Dorm 909 decided to celebrate their reunion. Ying Xunchun booked a table at a private local restaurant nearby for a proper dorm feast.

Since it was the start of the semester, the place was packed. Because they’d booked late, only a private booth was available.

Zhao Zhao was all for it. “A booth is great! I love the privacy.”

Ying Xunchun nodded. “Yeah, but there’s a minimum spend. Still, for four grown men, I doubt we’ll have any trouble clearing the plates.” As the dorm monitor, he turned to ask Wen Huihan and He Chenshuang for their thoughts.

Wen Huihan had no objections. He had used up far too many brain cells today and desperately needed good food to soothe his soul.

As for He Chenshuang, he rarely voiced an opinion. If Wen Huihan said “yes,” then it was “yes.” You could call it being a cool, detached “God,” or you could call it a spoiled young master’s temperament too arrogant to bother arguing with mortals.

Wen Huihan had to admit, he was finding He Chenshuang a bit grating lately. This was a good sign; it meant he was truly settling into his role as a villain.

I really am a piece of work, he thought.

At dinner time, the four of them headed out. The restaurant was only a ten-minute walk away, a short enough stroll to catch up on things.

Wen Huihan walked between Ying Xunchun and Zhao Zhao, listening to them continue their conversation from the afternoon. Their university was elite the kind of place where every student was a top-tier scholar. Ying Xunchun and Zhao Zhao had taken academic competition to a new level; they’d been preparing for grad school since freshman year. Even on the way to dinner, they were busy sharing study tips.

Unable to listen to the “Scholastic Overachiever Daily” any longer, Wen Huihan’s gaze drifted to He Chenshuang.

It was a hot summer evening. The water Wen Huihan had splashed on him earlier had long since dried, so He Chenshuang hadn’t bothered to change.

Even though Wen Huihan considered him a future arch-enemy, he had to admit the guy had a great build. He didn’t know how He Chenshuang did it; back in high school, they were the same height, but now He Chenshuang had somehow pulled five centimeters ahead of him.

Is it genetics? Wen Huihan had never met He Chenshuang’s father, so he had no way of knowing.

Sensing a gaze, He Chenshuang looked over and mouthed, “What?”

“Do you. Is that right?” Wen Huihan mouthed back, using the slang for “Wanna fight?”

He Chenshuang let out another smirk mocking, as usual. “Sure.”

Wen Huihan’s teeth felt itchy again. He couldn’t actually “do” him right now. He Chenshuang had the height advantage. He’d seen him shirtless at the pool before the abs, the chest, the biceps everything was more defined than his own. If they ever actually fought, Wen Huihan would likely be the one pinned down.

I need to sign up for a gym membership, he vowed. I refuse to lose to He Chenshuang.

Actually, knowing he was a villain wasn’t all bad. At least it had ignited his competitive spirit. He swore he’d eventually grind the “Protagonist” into the dirt.

The “Fitness” Video

“What are you thinking about?”

At some point, Wen Huihan had drifted from the middle of the group to He Chenshuang’s side. They weren’t walking close, but their shoulders would occasionally brush against each other. Body heat radiated through their thin clothes, along with a faint, clean scent that Wen Huihan had grown accustomed to.

He didn’t hide his thoughts. “I’m thinking about starting a fitness program.”

He Chenshuang raised an eyebrow, quickly connecting the dots to their earlier exchange. “Worried you can’t ‘do’ me?”

There was a hint of a laugh in his voice the kind that made you want to punch him.

“In your dreams. I just want to stay in shape.” Wen Huihan couldn’t admit his real motive; that would be like admitting he was weak. He thought fast. “I saw a fitness influencer recently. His muscles are perfect. I want to look like that. I’ll send you the video later.”

He Chenshuang turned his head and looked at him for a moment before giving a neutral “Mhm.”

They reached the restaurant quickly. The place was indeed bustling. A server led them to their booth, and before they could even settle in, He Chenshuang spoke.

“Send it to me.”

Wen Huihan blinked, then remembered. He’d just said that to be annoying; he didn’t think He Chenshuang would actually want to see it.

Fine.

While Ying Xunchun and Zhao Zhao were busy arguing over the menu, Wen Huihan pulled out his phone and opened TikTok. He didn’t actually follow any fitness influencers; his feed was all gaming clips and comedy videos.

He planned to just search for a random one to shut He Chenshuang up, but fate had other plans. The very first video on his feed was a fitness clip.

A young, shirtless man with massive muscles and beads of sweat on his forehead was doing push-ups. Veins bulged on his arms and neck with every powerful rep. And with every movement came heavy, rhythmic, and suspiciously breathless gasps. If you weren’t looking at the screen, it sounded. highly suggestive.

He Chenshuang pulled out a chair and sat right next to him just as the audio started.

Wen Huihan scrambled to turn down the volume, but He Chenshuang was already looking at the screen with an unreadable expression.

“This is your ‘type’?” He Chenshuang asked, his lips curving slightly.

Anyone who spends time on TikTok knows these “thirst trap” videos are half-performance. It was just a push-up; there was no reason to be breathing that hard.

But Wen Huihan couldn’t back down now. He doubled down. “It’s fine. His muscle lines are great and he has good explosive power. The breathing is just a personal habit. No big deal.”

To prove he had nothing to hide, he shared the video with He Chenshuang. They were already mutuals on the app. Wen Huihan occasionally posted silly low-IQ videos that got a surprising amount of likes; He Chenshuang’s account, meanwhile, was a complete blank it looked like a “stalker” alt-account.

Wen Huihan shared the video with the account named “Haha” He Chenshuang’s surprisingly lazy username.

“Mhm.”

He Chenshuang’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, but Wen Huihan noticed he didn’t even open TikTok. Instead, he started a game of Candy Crush.

He was just asking to be a jerk, Wen Huihan thought, relieved. He quickly swiped the video away.

The Dinner Battle

Ying Xunchun was a thoughtful dorm monitor. He knew everyone’s tastes: Wen Huihan liked light flavors, Zhao Zhao liked savory and spicy. but he realized he didn’t actually know what He Chenshuang liked.

“Brother He, do you want to see the menu?” Ying Xunchun asked.

He Chenshuang laid his phone face-down on the table. Before he could answer, Wen Huihan still glued to a gaming stream spoke up.

“Get him something sweet and sour. Lemon chicken wings or sweet and sour pork, something like that.”

“Oh, okay. We’ve got both on the menu.” Ying Xunchun didn’t think twice about it and went back to ordering.

Suddenly, Wen Huihan realized the seat next to him had gone silent. Even the Candy Crush sound effects had stopped. He looked up, only to see He Chenshuang turning his head away.

Zhao Zhao joked, “Brother He, you like sweet and sour? I never knew.”

The four of them rarely ate out together as a group. Usually, it was just Wen Huihan and He Chenshuang hanging out separately, so the other two weren’t as familiar with their specific habits.

He Chenshuang’s voice was flat. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

Stop acting, Wen Huihan thought.

Back in senior year, He Chenshuang’s dad was too busy to look after him. He lived alone and had to cook for himself. When Wen Huihan’s mom found out, she felt sorry for the boy and often told Wen Huihan to bring him home for dinner.

One weekend, when his mom was working late at the hospital, Wen Huihan had to cook for his little sister and He Chenshuang. With his limited skills, he’d followed a recipe for lemon chicken and sweet and sour pork. His sister had taken one bite, turned green, and ordered takeout. He Chenshuang, however, seemed to love it—he finished every bit.

Later, Wen Huihan realized He Chenshuang actually had a sweet tooth. He’d just happened to hit his favorite flavor by accident, and he’d remembered it ever since.

****

The food arrived quickly. Wen Huihan set his phone down, ready to feast. But as he looked at the spread a “brilliant” idea hit him.

How can I let the Protagonist eat in peace? I’m the Great Villain! I need to find his bottom line.

He decided to focus all his attention on sabotaging He Chenshuang’s meal.

While the other two chatted about their summer break, Wen Huihan watched He Chenshuang like a hawk. Every time He Chenshuang reached for a dish with the serving chopsticks, Wen Huihan would “casually” spin the lazy susan away.

He Chenshuang’s chopsticks froze in mid-air. He looked over. 

The culprit acted completely oblivious. He was busy laughing at one of Zhao Zhao’s jokes, never once looking back.

Thinking it was a coincidence, He Chenshuang looked away. When the table stopped spinning, a cold appetizer was in front of him.

Whatever, he thought, and took a bite.

But when he reached out again, the table spun again.

This happened several times. The dishes in front of He Chenshuang were constantly rotating between the cold appetizer sweet and sour pork cold appetizer lemon chicken.

Even Zhao Zhao noticed. “Brother He, you really do love sweet and sour. I haven’t seen you touch anything else.”

Wen Huihan smirked to himself, the silent hero of his own story.

Clack.

He heard He Chenshuang set his chopsticks down.

Had enough already? Wen Huihan smiled. He hadn’t even used his full power yet.

But then, he heard He Chenshuang’s voice, calm and low.

“Yeah. Some people are getting quite possessive. They only ‘allow’ me to eat these.”

Wen Huihan: 

He noticed. And what was that about “possessive”? Possessive over food?

Wen Huihan realized He Chenshuang was accusing him of being a “food-protector” like a dog protecting its bowl.

That damn He Chenshuang.

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