Found Him! My 'Glass-Hearted' Ex is a Pop-Up Star - Chapter 14

At the library, Ying Ruo finished catching up on his missed Jurisprudence lessons in one go. He leaned back against the chair and stretched his shoulders. He was now well-adjusted to the teaching format in the United Kingdom and could understand most of what was being said in class.

The difficulty of the courses was actually better than he had expected. Since the term had only started a few weeks ago, there was not a vast amount of content to cover, so catching up was not too exhausting. The legal system in the United Kingdom is a typical common law system, which differs from the system in China. His other elective was Tort Law, which had only started last week. Most of its content did not require a background in civil law, so he did not need to supplement any knowledge missed from back home for the time being. He probably just needed to put more effort into researching essay writing, as it was quite different from the style used in China.

He felt as if he could survive after all. Next, it was time to start working. Ying Ruo took out his phone and found a post he had searched for earlier titled, “How to Rapidly Recover Memories After Amnesia: Non-Drug Intervention, Cherish Your Life Edition.”

His previous plan had been rejected by Duan Zhuyan, so Ying Ruo intended to be more cautious this time. Although he felt that searching for any kind of memory was essentially the same, he had to satisfy his creditor’s specific requirements.

Ying Ruo looked at the post, which suggested trying to have a deep conversation with someone who remembers you even if you do not remember them. The post advised not to ask directly what was forgotten but to get to know each other again, reminisce deeply, and listen to stories or look through old photos and videos together.

Someone who remembers him but whom he does not remember described Duan Zhuyan perfectly. Ying Ruo thought about it. He had not been in the United Kingdom for very long, and no close friends from his undergraduate university had come over on the same exchange program. The person he was most familiar with and had spent the most time with during this period was, in fact, Duan Zhuyan. They were even close enough to have kissed. Logically speaking, if Ying Ruo wanted to recover his memories quickly, he should communicate more with Duan Zhuyan. After all, the memories he needed to find were about him.

With a preliminary plan in mind, Ying Ruo decided to put it into practice. First, he had to find Duan Zhuyan. Yesterday, Ying Ruo seemed to have accidentally upset him again. The entire dinner had been incredibly silent. Duan Zhuyan had maintained a dark expression while feeding him various foods, seemingly trying to use the food to shut him up. Ying Ruo had tried to speak several times, but whenever he looked up, he would meet those gloomy, displeased eyes, which scared the words right back down his throat.

Ying Ruo stared at his phone for a moment. To be honest, he did not quite dare to contact Duan Zhuyan right now. After Duan Zhuyan dropped him off at the library last night, Ying Ruo saw him standing outside for a long time. He saw the man light a cigarette, his face cold. The sparks flickered in the dark, and the smoke drifted around the prominent veins on the back of his hand. He was clearly suppressing a great deal of frustration. If Ying Ruo bothered him now, he felt he might be swallowed whole.

But he did not know when the man would feel better. Would treating him to a meal appease him? After all, he was his primary creditor. Ying Ruo packed his things and pondered as he walked.

The university library has a dedicated silent study area. There are many floors, and one can study efficiently by choosing a suitable seat. As Ying Ruo walked out of the study room, he was still debating whether to send Duan Zhuyan a message on WeChat. When he opened the door, Duan Zhuyan happened to walk out from the study room on the opposite side. The old library door creaked loudly, sounding particularly sharp in the empty corridor.

Seeing Duan Zhuyan, Ying Ruo froze for an instant. Their eyes met, and the air turned silent. Duan Zhuyan also seemed surprised. He stared at Ying Ruo for a few seconds before instinctively furrowing his brows. After a brief moment of eye contact, his frown deepened. He pursed his thin lips aloofly and turned his head away sharply, pretending not to see Ying Ruo as he turned to leave. He was clearly still sulking.

However, Duan Zhuyan had not taken more than two steps when a hand suddenly grabbed his bag. Duan Zhuyan turned around and saw Ying Ruo’s slender, pale hand clutching the strap of his bag. The person behind him had watery eyes, and his skin was pale with a hint of pink. Holding the strap with his delicate hand, he tilted his head up to look at him.

Duan Zhuyan remained silent for a moment before turning around. The tall man stood directly in front of Ying Ruo. The space, which was originally quite spacious, suddenly felt much more cramped. The overhead light was blocked by his broad shoulders, and the light cast shadows across his prominent brow and eyes, like heavy strokes in an oil painting.

Duan Zhuyan’s eyebrows drooped slightly, and his eyelids were lowered as he stared at Ying Ruo for a few seconds. His handsome face looked both arrogant and striking. After a moment, he spoke in a low, flat voice that was cold and devoid of emotion. “Is something the matter?”

His gaze was cold and oppressive. Ying Ruo swallowed hard and gathered his courage to ask, “Have you had dinner yet?”

“What of it?” Duan Zhuyan arched an eyebrow. His expression remained unchanged, stern and indifferent. He asked tepidly, “Are you inviting me?”

“Yes,” Ying Ruo said obediently. “If you have not eaten, would you like to have dinner with me?”

Duan Zhuyan did not say anything; he just kept staring at Ying Ruo.

Ying Ruo smiled and said, “We really seem to share a lot of fate. I was just thinking about you, and then I ran into you.” His voice was pleasant and clear, with the soft gentleness of someone from the south. He sounded completely mild-tempered and even a bit eager to please.

Duan Zhuyan certainly knew how to focus on the key point. His gaze moved from the bright eyes to the soft, red lips. “Thinking about me?”

“Yes,” Ying Ruo nodded candidly.

Duan Zhuyan asked, “Wanting to eat dinner with me?”

“Yes, definitely.”

Hearing this, Duan Zhuyan was clearly satisfied. His features relaxed a bit, and his hostility was not as heavy as before. “It is not impossible. You are in luck; I happen to have time.”

Seeing that he had agreed, Ying Ruo assumed he was no longer angry. However, he had not actually decided what to eat. If they ate together, he would definitely have to treat him. Since Duan Zhuyan had taken him out for such delicious food yesterday, it was only right to reciprocate. But eating out in London was too expensive; a single meal would probably cost a lot.

So, Ying Ruo thought for a moment and said, “Do you want to come to my place?”

Duan Zhuyan had not expected Ying Ruo to invite him directly to his home. He wondered if this guy had suddenly had an epiphany. Duan Zhuyan sized Ying Ruo up, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked down at him and asked pretentiously, “What for?”

“I will cook for you,” Ying Ruo said. “I have some groceries at home, and I can cook a meal for you.”

He was actually going to cook for him personally. Even when they were dating, Duan Zhuyan had never been to Ying Ruo’s place to eat a meal he had cooked himself. He wondered what was going on. Why was Ying Ruo thinking about him while studying and now wanting to make him dinner?

He wondered if Ying Ruo had finally realized how good he was. As expected, this guy must still like him very much subconsciously. Duan Zhuyan was almost finished coaxing himself back into a good mood.

Then, he heard Ying Ruo say earnestly, “Mainly, I want to have a deep discussion with you. Regarding the memory recovery, I have a new plan I want to talk to you about.”

Duan Zhuyan was disappointed. It was just for the memory recovery. He wondered why Ying Ruo was so work-oriented. Duan Zhuyan had originally intended only to remind him, but he did not expect Ying Ruo to actually treat this as a job. He really wanted to trade memory recovery for money.

Thinking about this, Duan Zhuyan became annoyed again. He did not respond to Ying Ruo. He did not want to hear a proposal report. He wondered if Ying Ruo only had the task in his mind and no feelings for him as a person. He also wondered if the invitation to his house was just because home-cooking was cheaper. He was annoyed.

Duan Zhuyan’s face was grim. Without a word, he turned to leave. Ying Ruo could not understand it. He wondered why the man had suddenly acted like this again. He had not said anything wrong this time.

But before he could think further, he saw the man take a few steps forward, then turn around and walk straight back. Duan Zhuyan stood before him, tall and imposing. His features were beautiful yet sharp. With his hands in his pockets and a slight frown, he looked like a temperamental young master. After a long silence, he asked awkwardly, “You are cooking it personally for me?”

Ying Ruo blinked and nodded. “Yes.” He added, “But my place is very small and a bit messy. This is also my first time cooking for someone else, so I hope you do not mind.”

Duan Zhuyan stood there, his lips tightening slightly. Ying Ruo noticed the tips of his ears turning a bit red, which was especially obvious under the light.

“The first time?” Duan Zhuyan asked.

The wording sounded a bit strange, but it was not wrong, so Ying Ruo nodded. Duan Zhuyan asked, “Except for me, you have never cooked for anyone else, and no one else has ever been to your place?”

“I suppose so,” Ying Ruo said. He thought for a moment. His social circle was small and his room was tiny, so he probably would not invite anyone over. As for what happened when they were dating, he did not know. “I think if anyone has ever been there, that person must have been you.”

In the silent environment, a thread of sentimentality quietly intertwined in the stillness, drifting through the air.

“Fine, I will reluctantly accept,” Duan Zhuyan said after a while, averting his gaze while his ears remained red.

Ying Ruo did not care about the process. As long as Duan Zhuyan agreed, he was happy. “Then let us go.” Carrying his backpack, he led Duan Zhuyan out of the library to head home.

Duan Zhuyan drove the car to the bottom of Ying Ruo’s student apartment building. He had been here many times, but he had never gone up. Even though he really wanted to, he felt too embarrassed to ask his boyfriend, fearing his intentions would seem impure. He had not expected to be invited to his place after they had broken up. He wondered what it would be like. He felt like the room would be filled with Ying Ruo’s scent.

Duan Zhuyan followed Ying Ruo into the studio. “This is it,” Ying Ruo said as he opened the door with his key card. “Welcome.”

Duan Zhuyan walked in and was immediately met with a piercing chill. The room was freezing, like an ice cellar. It was only about ten square meters, which was tiny. The kitchen stove was right next to the bed, and the wardrobe and desk were all squeezed together. There were still things Ying Ruo had not tidied up on the floor. With two adult men standing in it, it felt even smaller.

“You have not turned on the heating?” Duan Zhuyan asked with a frown, looking at Ying Ruo’s thin clothing.

“My heater is broken. I reported it for repair, but no one has come over yet,” Ying Ruo replied. “Are you cold? I will find a jacket for you, but it might be a bit small. I am not sure if it will fit you.” As he spoke, Ying Ruo took a piece of clothing from the wardrobe and stuffed it into Duan Zhuyan’s hands.

Duan Zhuyan stood there holding Ying Ruo’s small garment. He wondered how people could really live in such a small place. Just as Duan Zhuyan was about to say something, music started blaring from upstairs. Then, he heard the cheers of many people and the rhythmic thumping of feet on the floor.

“Why did it start so early today?” Ying Ruo asked, sounding a bit puzzled.

Duan Zhuyan’s frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

Seemingly completely used to it, Ying Ruo took groceries out of the fridge and explained patiently, “The neighbors upstairs are having a party. The soundproofing here is a bit poor, but all student apartments seem to be like this.”

Duan Zhuyan thought about what a terrible environment this was. Moreover, the only food in the house was cheap bread, discounted milk, and some unhealthy instant food. It was far too careless. He thought it would be a miracle if Ying Ruo did not end up with a stomach ailment.

Ying Ruo quickly stir-fried a dish and placed it in front of Duan Zhuyan. “Why do you not give it a try?”

Duan Zhuyan picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. The air seemed to turn still. This silence lasted for nearly a minute before Duan Zhuyan spoke slowly. “Did the salt in your house save your life?”

Ying Ruo asked, “?”

“Is it not good?” Ying Ruo tried it too. “I think it is okay. It is edible.”

Duan Zhuyan pressed a hand to his forehead. He wondered if there was something wrong with Ying Ruo’s sense of taste. He thought it was a miracle Ying Ruo had survived this long.

Ying Ruo stood before Duan Zhuyan, his head lowered and his fingers fidgeting. His eyelashes fluttered. “You said you would not mind,” he murmured softly.

This immediately caught Duan Zhuyan off guard. “I do not,” he said, lowering his head and turning his face to look at Ying Ruo’s expression. How could he possibly mind? “I was just wondering, do you not find it too small to live here?”

“I actually think it is okay,” Ying Ruo said, looking Duan Zhuyan up and down. “It is just that you are too big.”

Duan Zhuyan felt a headache coming on. When they were dating, Duan Zhuyan was always the one cooking for him and taking care of him. He really had not expected that the Ying Ruo who had lost a year of memory could be so careless about his body.

Seeing Duan Zhuyan’s stern expression, Ying Ruo walked to the cabinet to pour him a glass of water. “Are you thirsty? I will pour you a glass of water.”

But suddenly, a force pulled him back. A hand reached out from behind him, covering the back of his hand and completely enveloping it, pressing down on the water bottle he was picking up. Ying Ruo felt a burning temperature. He was sandwiched between the table and the man’s chest. The firm chest muscles were pressed against his back, only millimeters away, as if he were being held in someone’s arms.

His body instinctively tensed up. Ying Ruo felt a bit timid and, for some reason, flustered. He wanted to withdraw his hand and instinctively took a step back, but his backside bumped straight into Duan Zhuyan’s thigh. The studio was tiny to begin with, and with the two of them standing one in front of the other, there was nowhere to retreat.

Duan Zhuyan used his leg to brace between Ying Ruo’s knees, supporting him slightly so he would not fall. From this angle, he could clearly see the youth’s elongated nape as he bowed his head. The skin was thin, fair, and delicate, tempting one to leave a mark.

Duan Zhuyan’s gaze suddenly deepened. It was perhaps a bit too quiet. The atmosphere in the small environment became increasingly oppressive. Right behind them was the bed. Ying Ruo was much smaller than him. As he looked back up at him, his eyes were clear and bright, like an at-a-loss cat that had been caught. The hollow of his collarbone was flushed pink. His waist was very slender.

Duan Zhuyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly, but he let go first and pulled away. He did not look at him again, but simply picked up the jacket Ying Ruo had given him and said indifferently, “Let us go.”

Ying Ruo touched his neck, his eyes wide with confusion. “Where are we going?”

Duan Zhuyan’s expression remained unchanged, cold and arrogant. His sharp eyes were lowered, hidden in the shadows to conceal his emotions. However, his voice was slightly raspy, and the veins on his neck were unusually prominent.

“My house,” he said.