After Becoming Arch-Enemies with My Best Bro - Chapter 7

Unbelievable, Wen Huihan thought.

He had actually bothered to give He Chenshuang a cool, imposing nickname in his contacts, but He Chenshuang had gone even further. The man was exploiting their brotherhood to the absolute limit.

For a moment, he wasn’t sure which of them was the real villain. How had he not thought of such a wicked idea himself?

It was true what they said: brothers were just stepping stones on the path to greatness. He lamented his past blindness he had been so clouded by “friendship” that he failed to see the man’s true colors. What a tragedy!

As Wen Huihan sat there wallowing in self-pity, he felt a light flick on his forehead. It didn’t hurt, but it was certainly a wake-up call.

“What’s with the scowl? Did he really block you?”

He Chenshuang was leaning on his hand, lazily watching Wen Huihan’s expressions shift like a kaleidoscope.

Wen Huihan stiffened his face and shoved the phone back at him. “As if. Zhao Zhao and I are tighter than ever.”

One look and he knew He Chenshuang hadn’t bothered to actually read Zhao Zhao’s feed, otherwise he would have seen Wen Huihan’s comments right there at the top.

He Chenshuang didn’t move. He studied Wen Huihan for a moment before finally putting his phone away.

Even after the bell rang for the start of the lecture, he didn’t leave. He simply sat there next to Wen Huihan and began listening to the class.

This was a common sight. Since freshman year, they had often sat in on each other’s classes, mostly so they could grab lunch together the second one of them finished. On the rare occasions they didn’t eat together, Wen Huihan usually found he didn’t even have an appetite.

But today, Wen Huihan noticed that He Chenshuang, with his “top-tier scholar” face, was listening more intently than the students actually majoring in the subject. His focus was so intense that even the professor couldn’t help but glance their way a few times.

Wen Huihan was genuinely worried the professor would call on He Chenshuang to answer a question. If he couldn’t answer, it would be embarrassing for both of them. He nudged his arm.

“Stop overacting. Are you actually trying to learn this?”

“Mm. If I don’t learn it, how am I supposed to tutor you?”

“Get lost. Like I need your help?”

Wen Huihan nearly laughed in frustration. His grades weren’t exactly bad, thank you very much.

He couldn’t fathom why a Math major was so invested in a Law lecture. The guy was even “pretending” to take notes. Can he even understand it?

He stole a glance at He Chenshuang’s open notebook. Crap. He really did understand it. His notes were even more concise and accurate than Wen Huihan’s own.

Wen Huihan was momentarily stunned.

But then he remembered every time He Chenshuang accompanied him to class, he was always this serious. Looking back, Wen Huihan realized the guy wasn’t just waiting for lunch; he was genuinely there to audit the class for free.

Sometimes Wen Huihan would sit in on Math lectures with him and try to follow along if he felt like it. But Math was a different beast; when you didn’t get it, you really didn’t get it. It was like reading an alien language. He’d nearly died of boredom.

Paying for one tuition but learning two majors.  He Chenshuang was a calculating genius.

The protagonist was the protagonist for a reason. Could I please get just two episodes of that effortless life?

Watching He Chenshuang’s focused profile, a plan suddenly sparked in Wen Huihan’s mind.

So, He Chenshuang liked to focus in class? Based on Wen Huihan’s recent deep dive into villain tropes, a proper antagonist should disrupt the protagonist’s thoughts when he’s trying to concentrate.

This class wouldn’t do, though. Distracting him here would be a “lose-lose” situation—He Chenshuang wasn’t even being graded on this. He had to wait for the man’s actual major course.

So, after the Law lecture ended, Wen Huihan naturally followed He Chenshuang to his classroom. It was their usual routine, so He Chenshuang didn’t find it odd. They took a seat in the back row.

“What do you want for lunch?” He Chenshuang asked casually. “The cafeteria?”

Wen Huihan: “Cafeteria.”

With the club recruitment later that afternoon, they wouldn’t have time to go off-campus. Besides, their school food was decent; the beef noodles in Cafeteria No. 3 were particularly authentic. He had his heart set on them.

Wen Huihan pulled out his phone and changed He Chenshuang’s contact name to Beef Noodles.

If that idiot He Chenshuang was going to use him as a reminder note, he’d return the favor. He wasn’t letting He Chenshuang get one over on him.

Looking at the new nickname, he chuckled. He glanced at He Chenshuang; the more he looked, the more the guy reminded him of a stubborn ox. He couldn’t help but snort with laughter.

Hearing the sudden outburst, He Chenshuang turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. It was becoming impossible to ignore his friend’s erratic behavior.

After all, Wen Huihan had spent the day alternating between fuming at his phone and giggling to himself. Anyone would think he’d finally lost it.

He Chenshuang chose a diplomatic approach. “Who upset you this time?”

“No one.”

Wen Huihan regained his composure and shoved his phone into his pocket.

Once the lecture officially began, He Chenshuang shifted his attention back to the professor. But it wasn’t long before he felt a poke on his arm.

Before he could turn around, a folded slip of paper was pushed in front of him. He Chenshuang opened it to find Wen Huihan’s handwriting.

I don’t get any of this. It’s so boring. Talk to me?

He Chenshuang caught a glimpse of Wen Huihan out of the corner of his eye. The boy had a pen balanced precariously on his upper lip, pouting to keep it from falling.

He picked up his pen and wrote back: You can play on your phone.

Wen Huihan unfolded the paper and fumed.

His strategy was to make He Chenshuang lose focus. Everyone knew that in high-level Math, if you miss one minute of the lecture, you might as well give up on the rest of the semester. That was exactly what he wanted.

How could a protagonist who fails his finals possibly defeat a villain with perfect grades? The answer was obvious. This would be his first victory.

And He Chenshuang was completely oblivious. That was a second victory.

Currently: Wen Huihan 2, He Chenshuang 0. Make that 3-0 for the sheer genius of the plan.

Wen Huihan: No. My phone is boring.

He Chenshuang: Then play with mine.

Wen Huihan: 

Who wanted to play with He Chenshuang’s phone? It had practically zero games and was filled with nothing but basic utility apps.

Wen Huihan: Your phone is even more boring.

He followed the text with a row of dots and a drawing of a little fire-breathing figure. The drawing was remarkably vivid mostly because Wen Huihan had drawn it to look like himself.

He saw He Chenshuang’s lips curve into a smile after reading it, but the guy didn’t write back. Instead, he just tucked the note into his textbook.

Wen Huihan raised an eyebrow. Ignoring me?

It seemed he needed to find a topic He Chenshuang actually cared about to get him talking. He thought for a second, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and began writing furiously.

Wen Huihan: Hey, I just saw Chen Zhiyan. I think she was looking our way just now.

He Chenshuang: Who?

Wen Huihan was speechless. The guy was a genius when it came to auditing classes, but as soon as the topic turned to girls, he played the fool.

Wen Huihan: The Math Department’s “belle”! The one who’s as famous as you are.

He Chenshuang: Oh. Don’t know her.

Wen Huihan couldn’t hold it in. He leaned in and whispered, “I saw you two talking at the classroom door last semester. Keep pretending.”

“When?”

“The last final exam of last semester. I was waiting for you at the door so we could go celebrate, and I saw you.”

He Chenshuang let out a low chuckle, though his tone was unreadable. “You remember it that clearly?”

Of course he did. Zhao Zhao had forwarded a hot thread from the school forum to Wen Huihan once a ranking of the most attractive students in each department. He’d seen He Chenshuang and Chen Zhiyan’s names there. The post had even put their photos side-by-side; they were a strikingly good-looking match, so Wen Huihan had recognized her instantly.

Wen Huihan chewed on the end of his pen. “Was she asking for your WeChat back then?”

“No.”

He Chenshuang seemed to have lost interest in the conversation, his eyes fixed on the front of the room.

Wen Huihan wasn’t giving up. Fearing he’d draw the professor’s attention if he kept whispering, he went back to the notes.

Wen Huihan: Then what did she want? Come on, tell me. My lips are sealed.

He’d been in such a hurry to celebrate back then that he’d forgotten to ask, but the memory had stuck with him. Now that he’d seen her again, the curiosity was eating him alive.

On the surface, He Chenshuang seemed to be ignoring him, but in reality, he opened and read every single note Wen Huihan tossed his way. This time, however, he stared at the paper for a long time without picking up his pen.

Finally, under Wen Huihan’s expectant gaze, he slowly wrote a single line.

He Chenshuang: I think she was just checking her answers with me.

A reply that was both unexpected and entirely predictable.

Wen Huihan: And you didn’t even add her on WeChat?

He Chenshuang: If there’s something important, she can find me on the “Study-Pass” app.

Wen Huihan: 

Idiot He Chenshuang. Is he really making a joke about a school-only messaging app?

He figured they should just communicate through “Study-Pass” from now on too.

But looking at He Chenshuang, it was clear he viewed the campus beauty as just another classmate. In a college environment where romance was everywhere, it seemed impossible for someone to turn down a “sweet campus love” especially when the girl initiated the conversation. A normal person would have added her immediately.

Unless He Chenshuang wasn’t into her type, or he already liked someone else. Wen Huihan felt there had to be more to it, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Since that topic was a dead end, he switched gears. He needed a topic that would shake He Chenshuang’s composure and ruin his concentration for good.

He chewed his pen for a long while before an idea hit him.

Wen Huihan: So, what’s your type? I’ll keep an eye out for you next time. 

They had never talked about this. Mostly because He Chenshuang always had that indifferent, “ascetic scholar” face on, and Wen Huihan never felt like he could ask him directly. This was the perfect chance to scout out the enemy know yourself, know your foe, right?

This time, He Chenshuang held the note even longer. He was silent for so long that Wen Huihan thought the man had been entranced by a math formula again, until finally, the paper was tossed back.

Here we go.

Wen Huihan rubbed his hands together, his curiosity peaking. He Chenshuang was usually such a stubborn, aloof jerk; he couldn’t imagine what kind of person he’d be into. To handle He Chenshuang’s “dog” personality, they’d probably have to be someone incredibly gentle and sweet.

He unfolded the paper with high expectations.

He Chenshuang: An idiot.

The handwriting was sharp and forceful, nearly tearing through the paper.

Wen Huihan:

What does that mean? He likes the “cute and ditsy” type? Surprisingly specific taste.

Wait!

Wen Huihan suddenly realized He Chenshuang wasn’t answering the question. He was taking the opportunity to call him an idiot!

If he didn’t want to answer, fine, but why the name-calling? He was so annoyed his hand shook as he began writing a long, furious rebuttal.

Before he could shove it at He Chenshuang, the professor suddenly spoke up: “He Chenshuang, come up and solve this problem.”

Wen Huihan’s heart skipped a beat. Yes! He Chenshuang must have been so distracted by the notes that he hadn’t been listening. This was his moment!

He smirked and twirled his pen, watching He Chenshuang walk to the front. The man glanced at the problem for a split second, picked up the chalk, and began writing.

His movements were fluid and effortless. The professor nodded approvingly. “Correct. That is exactly how you solve this partial differential equation.”

Clack.

The pen Wen Huihan was twirling fell onto the desk. His eyes went wide.

Villainous scheme Epic failure!

The old professor clearly adored the department’s top student. After a few words of praise, he added in a low, kindly voice: “You solved it, but you should still pay attention in class. Don’t spend the whole time passing notes to your significant other.”

The professor had seen the note-passing clearly. Although he hadn’t seen who the recipient was, he assumed a handsome young man like He Chenshuang was busy exchanging love letters.

He Chenshuang dusted the chalk off his fingers and gave a noncommittal “Mm.” He then turned his cool gaze toward the back of the room.

Wen Huihan was resting his face in his hands, looking utterly dejected. The moment their eyes met, he covertly flipped He Chenshuang the bird.

He Chenshuang: 

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