After Becoming Arch-Enemies with My Best Bro - Chapter 31

Wen Huihan was suffering from insomnia again, and the culprit was blindingly obvious.

He lay in bed with his eyes squeezed shut, forcing himself to sleep, but the things He Chenshuang had said tonight kept playing on a loop in his mind. He couldn’t shake the memory of his serious expression and solemn tone; they flashed before his eyes like a slideshow.

It felt like a confession, yet it also didn’t, because He Chenshuang hadn’t asked for an answer, nor had he given him room to think.

It was as if He Chenshuang was simply notifying him of a fact, one that didn’t require a response.

It wasn’t that Wen Huihan had never been confessed to before. On the contrary, for various reasons, he often received interest from others, but none of them had ever kept him awake like this.

Was it just because He Chenshuang was a guy?

Wen Huihan rolled over, thinking back to the junior who had confessed to him during their senior year of high school.

At the time, he had been genuinely shocked. He couldn’t believe a boy was pursuing him. Having never dealt with such a thing, he had been at a total loss, frantically running to He Chenshuang for help.

Back then, He Chenshuang had listened silently to his nervous, incoherent rambling before asking just one question: “Do you like him?”

“Of course not! How could I like a guy?”

Wen Huihan had even said he wanted to reject the boy on the spot, but he’d heard the junior suffered from depression. Fearing a direct rejection might trigger him, Wen Huihan had tentatively accepted the love letter.

However, he had no idea how to let the boy down gently without hurting him, which was why he’d gone to He Chenshuang for a solution.

It was a long time ago. Even with Wen Huihan’s great memory, he shouldn’t have been able to recall He Chenshuang’s exact expression, yet as he thought back now, he realized he remembered it with startling clarity.

Having been “brothers” for nearly three years, He Chenshuang had long since dropped his aloof guard, and his expressions were much more animated than when they first met.

But that was the first time Wen Huihan had ever seen him knit his brows so deeply. His expression had been dark and unreadable, though only for a fleeting second before he said, “If you don’t know how to reject him, I’ll do it for you.”

“Ah? No, no need.” Wen Huihan had been terrified that He Chenshuang would approach the junior with that exact attitude and scare the poor kid to death.

Later, Wen Huihan found an opportunity to clarify things with the junior, but He Chenshuang had somehow lost his mind and barely spoke to him for an entire week.

Remembering this old story, Wen Huihan suddenly had a revelation: Could He Chenshuang have been pining for me even back then?

So, when he accepted the junior’s love letter, He Chenshuang must have been devastated.

Yes, devastated.

Wen Huihan finally understood. He Chenshuang wasn’t angry back then, he was hurting.

Hearing Wen Huihan say he would never like a boy must have made him feel like he was breaking into pieces.

This theory was confirmed a few mornings later.

Wen Huihan had pulled an all-nighter the night before and didn’t wake up until nearly ten o’clock. Fortunately, he didn’t have any morning classes, or he would have slept right through them.

Of course, if there had been a class, He Chenshuang likely would have woken him up. He knew Wen Huihan’s schedule better than Wen Huihan did.

He was the only one left in the dorm. The other three were either in class or at the library.

Wen Huihan washed up with bleary eyes and returned to his desk to find the textbook he needed for his next class.

Just as he pulled out a book, a purple envelope fell from the loose pages.

He didn’t see it clearly at first and thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, until he saw the signature in the bottom right corner. He snapped awake instantly.

Beyond just being awake, a thought crossed his mind: I knew it.

It was a love letter from He Chenshuang.

Wen Huihan: “…”

What is He Chenshuang even doing? He had just announced he was going from “secret crush” to “open pursuit,” and only a few days later, he was stuffing love letters into things.

How childish. How could he have ever thought He Chenshuang was the more mature one? Sending a love letter? He Chenshuang was clearly regressing to his childhood.

His first instinct was to shove the letter back in. After a few minutes of cooling down and bracing himself, he pulled it out again, though he didn’t dare open it.

When did he slip this in? Was it this morning while I was sleeping? Did Ying Xunchun or Zhao Zhao see it? If they did, how am I supposed to explain this?

Wen Huihan glared at the envelope, but he didn’t move to touch it.

Damn that He Chenshuang, he even chose a “gay purple” envelope. He’s really embracing his role as a devious gay man.

He pulled out his phone and started bombarding He Chenshuang, who was in class, with messages.

[whh: Image] [whh: What the hell is this supposed to mean!] [whh: Did I ever agree to accept this!!] [He Chenshuang: Have you finished reading it?] [whh: I’m not reading it!] [He Chenshuang: It’s not for you. I just wanted your professional opinion ^^]

Wen Huihan: “…”

Scheming gay man. Don’t think for a second that I’ll fall for that trick.

Five minutes later, Wen Huihan opened the purple envelope.

He really wanted to see who this letter was meant for, if not for him, especially since He Chenshuang had stuffed it into his textbook.

As soon as he unfolded it, Wen Huihan was startled by the wall of text. He had actually written this much?

He Chenshuang’s handwriting was easy to recognize. Back when they handed back test papers, Wen Huihan didn’t even have to look at the names to accurately slap He Chenshuang’s paper onto his desk. He’d never made a mistake.

They say handwriting reflects the person, and Wen Huihan felt that was true. Even the font was stylishly cool, radiating a sort of “aloof” vibe.

Wen Huihan squinted at the page, wanting to read it but also afraid to, looking to see what the first line said.

[Love Letter]

Wen Huihan: “…”

Giving it a title like an essay? What, are you entering a competition? Are points going to be deducted if you don’t include a header?

He grumbled internally but continued reading patiently.

[Hello, 18-year-old Wen Huihan. This is a love letter written to you by the 18-year-old He Chenshuang.]

Wen Huihan’s hand holding the paper trembled slightly. Seriously, bro? With the high-pressure atmosphere of senior year, you actually had the heart to foster a secret crush?

His hunch had been right. He Chenshuang’s motives were impure from the start. He’d been pining early on, maybe even since their third year of high school?

He closed his eyes, suddenly afraid to keep reading. He felt that this perverted gay man, He Chenshuang, had definitely written something even more explosive further down.

Despite his thoughts, curiosity eventually won out. Plus, he had never seen a love letter written by He Chenshuang, so he continued reading with a mix of dread and fascination.

[When we first entered high school, you became the person sitting in front of me. At that time, my only impression of you was that of a “young primate who often slept with the back of his hair sticking up.” Later, gradually, I found myself watching you for longer and longer. I realized you were naturally optimistic, friendly to others, and physically agile. You made people unconsciously fixate on you.]

[You seemed to notice me as well. That day, you proactively asked if we could walk together. I was very happy. During the monthly exam the next day, I thought about that moment and misread a question. Fortunately, it didn’t stop me from taking first place in the grade. That time, you were second. Chinese: 134, Math: 146, English: 119… English is your weak point, I can help you tutor.]

[Later, we became very close friends. I was happy every day, but the more I spent time with you, the more I discovered beautiful qualities in you that far exceed the average person. I’ve never seen anyone laugh so hard at their own jokes that they nearly passed out. You are truly optimistic and bright, your mood infectious to everyone around you. I like that very much.]

[When I realized my feelings for you, I didn’t sleep for a week. You heard I had insomnia and bought me a bottle of melatonin. I couldn’t bear to eat them, so they expired. Can you buy me another bottle if I transfer you the money?]

***

After reading the entire thing, Wen Huihan remained silent for a full ten minutes.

It was a terrible love letter. Terrible descriptive skills. Terrible gay man.

That damn He Chenshuang was provoking him throughout the entire letter!

No wonder he could only keep it a secret. If he had sent this letter back then, Wen Huihan would have died of anger immediately after reading it. There would have been no need for an “open pursuit” application.

What a devious man. He’d waited until after he applied to pursue him openly before sending this letter, clearly knowing what the reaction would be.

[He Chenshuang: It’s been half an hour. Are you done?]

[whh: …]

[whh: Did you hire a ghostwriter for your previous thesis?]

[He Chenshuang: No ghostwriter. I wrote both the thesis and the love letter myself.]

[He Chenshuang: My 18-year-old self was a bit lacking in emotional intelligence.]

[whh: You’re quite the comedian, aren’t you? Honestly, you aren’t much better now!]

Using “18” as an excuse? Did the 18-year-old He Chenshuang agree to let you slander him like this?

Wen Huihan felt like his vision was going dark. Even copying a few song lyrics would have been better! At least songwriters went to college.

[He Chenshuang: It’s my first time writing a love letter. I have no experience. I’ll get better if I write a few more.] [whh: You’re turning this into a serialized series? Your only reader is about to drop dead from rage.]

[He Chenshuang: Sorry. Is it really that bad?]

[whh: Among gay men, you’re the worst of the worst students.]

Five minutes passed without a reply from He Chenshuang. Wen Huihan was about to fold the letter and put it away when his phone suddenly rang.

Startled by the incoming call, he nearly dropped his phone. When he finally answered, He Chenshuang’s deep voice came through the receiver. “I’m a bad student? Who’s the benchmark? Your junior?”

“You need a benchmark? Would you even dare to read your own letter a second time?” Wen Huihan paused, then added, “And what do you mean my junior? He’s our junior.”

He Chenshuang let out a very soft chuckle. “Right. Our junior.”

Wen Huihan rubbed his ear and decided to switch to speakerphone. Holding the phone to his ear felt like He Chenshuang was whispering directly into it, and it felt weird.

He Chenshuang: “Now that you’ve read it, do you have any constructive feedback? I’ll try to work on it for next time.”

Wen Huihan: “You want feedback? I’ve got one thing: when confessing to someone in a love letter, you don’t have to be so sharp-tongued. I thought the first sentence was a declaration of war.”

“Really? But those were the honest thoughts my 18-year-old self wanted to tell you.”

Even through the screen, Wen Huihan could practically see He Chenshuang raising an eyebrow with a look of feigned surprise.

He Chenshuang had likely just finished class and was on his way back to the dorm. His breathing was light and rhythmic. Occasionally, the distant voices of passersby could be heard, but they felt far away. Only his gentle, pleasant voice filled Wen Huihan’s ears.

Possessed by some unknown impulse, Wen Huihan turned off the speaker and put the phone back to his ear.

He Chenshuang lowered his voice, truly sounding as if he were whispering right beside him.

“It’s just that I didn’t know how to translate the feelings in my heart into common, easy-to-understand language. And back then, I figured you would never see it anyway, so I just wrote exactly what I was thinking.”

Wen Huihan was surprised. “You really wrote that when you were eighteen?”

He had thought He Chenshuang was just imitating his old self, thinking he was quite good at playing “innocent” and capturing that youthful, awkward feeling.

He hadn’t expected it to be genuine.

He Chenshuang said softly, “Mm. I knew it by heart, so I just wrote it down from memory.”

“You didn’t think to polish it a bit?”

“The writing style is too unique to me. Even I didn’t know how to edit it.”

Wen Huihan laughed. “That’s practically a cringey dark history then.”

“Yeah,” He Chenshuang’s voice carried a hint of a smile. “Now you know another one of my secrets.”

Wen Huihan thought to himself that he didn’t actually want to know, because knowing an evil gay man’s secrets never led to anything good.

Sure enough, He Chenshuang’s next sentence was: “As a bribe, I’ll take you to the movies this weekend. The new Perverted Chainsaw Man 3 is out.”

Wen Huihan: “Who wants to go see a movie about you at the cinema? You’ve got a lot of nerve. I’m hanging up!”

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