Heartbeat Command - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Are you “Luo C”?

The weekend subway wasn’t as crowded as it was on weekdays. Jiang Luo, sporting a wig of silver-white hair, followed the flow of people into the carriage.

There were still plenty of empty seats, so Jiang Luo chose one in the corner. His wig didn’t look exaggerated; at a glance, it even looked like natural hair—very realistic, just a striking color.

Of course, the face underneath that hair was just as striking, to the point where several people around him were sneaking glances.

Jiang Luo wasn’t unaware of the attention from passersby. With twenty minutes left to his destination, he nonchalantly pulled out his phone, deciding to play a game to kill time.

He hadn’t been playing for long when a message popped up at the top of his screen—

Qi Xueying: “Luoluo, have you set off?”

Jiang Luo exited the game to reply: “I’ve set off, what’s up?”

He had accepted a cosplay commission today, and the person messaging him was the client, who was also his friend.

Qi Xueying: “Are you already on the subway?”

Jiang Luo: “Yeah.”

On days he accepted commissions, Jiang Luo usually left half an hour early. When Qi Xueying asked where he was, he said he had about ten minutes left.

Jiang Luo figured she must have something going on. Before he could finish typing his reply in the dialogue box, Qi Xueying sent a voice message.

The carriage was a bit noisy, so Jiang Luo switched his phone to earpiece mode and held it to his ear. “Sorry, Luoluo. A situation came up with the art exhibition I’m in charge of at school, and I need to go check on it right away. I won’t be able to make it today.”

Ding. Qi Xueying sent another voice message: “Wait for me, I’m going to find someone to ask if they can go in my place.”

It wouldn’t have mattered if Jiang Luo hadn’t left yet; canceling the commission today and rescheduling for another time would have been fine. But at this point, he was almost there, and Qi Xueying had items for him, so it was best not to let his trip go to waste.

Qi Xueying was a year older than Jiang Luo and studied fine arts. They had met during their freshman year, though they were at different universities.

Jiang Luo typed back: “No worries, go take care of your business. I came here on the subway anyway, so riding back isn’t a hassle; it’s just a matter of changing cars.”

Qi Xueying: “I still have your cosplay costume to give you, forgot?”

Jiang Luo: “Can just give it to me next time.”

Qi Xueying: “You’re already almost there. Let’s not let your trip go to waste if we don’t have to. You wait for me while I make a call.”

Jiang Luo: “Okay.”

Gu Shiyue had just finished hiking with some friends and was on his way back. The group was in a commercial van, and he was sitting in the back, resting with his eyes closed. The phone in his jacket pocket began to buzz.

Gu Shiyue felt for his phone with his eyes still shut, cracked one eyelid open to scan the screen, swiped to answer the call, and closed his eyes again.

“Hello?” Qi Xueying asked on the other end. “Brother, are you home?”

The boy sitting next to Gu Shiyue leaned his head over toward him. Gu Shiyue’s phone was right by his ear, and he heard a girl’s voice come through, though he didn’t catch her calling him “brother.”

Gu Shiyue kept his eyes closed and said to the person on the other end, “I’m not.”

“Are you busy?”

“Something up?”

“I wanted to ask you for a favor, but if you’re busy, never mind.”

“What is it?”

“Are you free?”

“I’m in the car, almost home. What do you need?”

“Help me go see someone,” Qi Xueying smiled. “And help me bring something over to them.”

Qi Xueying explained the situation to Gu Shiyue. Halfway through, Gu Shiyue caught the key point: “A commission?” He wasn’t involved in the ACG (Anime, Comic, Games) world, so he misunderstood the term. “What kind of commission? Like a lawyer?”

Qi Xueying chuckled. “No, it’s a cosplay commission. I pay money, and the other person cosplays a character I specify to accompany me while I do something I need to do. A side note: something proper. Does that make sense?”

Qi Xueying loved ACG culture; Gu Shiyue knew this. He glanced out the window and said blandly, “Just messing around.”

Both Gu Shiyue and Qi Xueying were in university in the same city, and their homes were there too. It was the weekend, and Qi Xueying had come home. She had planned to cosplay with Jiang Luo today to take a set of photos, but before she could even leave the house, she received a call from her professor saying something had happened at the exhibition she was helping to organize, and she needed to be there ASAP.

Qi Xueying had originally planned to call a courier to send the cosplay costume to Gu Shiyue’s place, but Gu Shiyue said that wasn’t necessary.

“I’m passing by your place now,” Gu Shiyue said. “Leave the stuff at home, I’ll go pick it up.”

“Alright, thanks, Bodhisattva! I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

Qi Xueying was in a rush to head to school and didn’t chat with Gu Shiyue much longer. Her brother was a cold, handsome guy who seemed unapproachable, but helping her out wasn’t really a problem for him. This time, however, Qi Xueying specifically asked Gu Shiyue because he attended the same university as Jiang Luo. Gu Shiyue didn’t live in the dorms; he had an apartment near the school, which wasn’t far from where she and Jiang Luo were supposed to meet.

Plus, Qi Xueying also wanted Gu Shiyue to help take a few photos for her; otherwise, she would have just sent a courier to bring the items to Jiang Luo.

Gu Shiyue hung up. The boy next to him suddenly leaned in, squinting. “I think I heard a girl’s voice.”

Gu Shiyue gave him an expressionless glance. “What do you want to say?”

The guy raised an eyebrow. “Girlfriend?”

The people in the front seats turned around at the mention of this, their eyes landing on Gu Shiyue.

Gossip was human nature, especially given Gu Shiyue’s usual “don’t come near me” aura—he didn’t look like the type to have a girlfriend. Being on the phone with a girl for so long was a rare sight for him.

Xiang Qin, who was sitting in the passenger seat, laughed at this. He didn’t even turn his head back. “Keep dreaming.”

Xiang Qin was Gu Shiyue’s university classmate; the two were together all the time, so if Gu Shiyue had a girlfriend, he would definitely know.

The other guy clicked his tongue. “I’m just making a reasonable guess. So, is my guess reasonable?” He turned to look at Gu Shiyue. “I’d like a statement from the person involved.”

The person involved tapped his map app and replied, “My cousin.”

“What? You have a sister?”

“My cousin (on my aunt’s side).”

Qi Xueying’s mother was Gu Shiyue’s aunt, and there wasn’t a huge age gap between them; Qi Xueying was only a year younger than Gu Shiyue.

Gu Shiyue stopped by Qi Xueying’s place to pick up the bag and then had his friend drive him to the address Qi Xueying had given. It was a boutique dessert shop with a chic interior. A few tables were occupied near the window. A white-clad youth with a head of silver hair was particularly eye-catching. Before the van even came to a stop, Gu Shiyue had already spotted that silhouette.

The van pulled up slowly to the shop entrance. Someone in the van noticed Jiang Luo sitting by the window. Sunlight passed through the glass and landed on his hair, and the silver-white strands gave off a faint silvery glow—it was impossible not to notice him.

“That’s a cosplayer, right?” someone remarked while looking outside. “He’s actually pretty handsome.”

Everyone followed his gaze. The boy next to Gu Shiyue leaned over his shoulder to look out the window and couldn’t help but say, “Damn, he is.”

Jiang Luo caught a glimpse of the van stopping outside and turned his head to look over casually. Gu Shiyue was sitting in the car, looking out the window. The car window was open, and Jiang Luo met his gaze. Their eyes locked for a second.

Gu Shiyue pulled his gaze back and picked up the bag, preparing to get out. His friend driving asked, “Ah Yue, is the person you’re meeting here yet?”

Based on the physical description provided by Qi Xueying, Gu Shiyue said, “He should be.”

“OK, we’ll wait for you then.”

Gu Shiyue opened the door and stepped out. “No need to wait. Everyone just head home; I’ll take the subway back later.”

“It’s no trouble, we’ll just drop you off. Aren’t you just delivering something?”

“I have other things to do.” Gu Shiyue closed the door and tilted his chin slightly toward him. “Go on.”

As they were talking, Xiang Qin also got out, intending to go back with Gu Shiyue. “I’m on the same route, I’m taking the subway too, might as well save you some walking.”

The other guy scoffed, “So thoughtful, I’m so touched.”

Xiang Qin raised an eyebrow. “You’re welcome.”

“Don’t take the subway, you guys,” someone said. “Just take a taxi.”

It was the weekend, and it was dinner time; the roads would definitely be blocked. It would be faster to take the subway.

Xiang Qin laughed, “The subway takes twenty minutes, a taxi takes forty. Which one do you think is more convenient?”

“Fine, fine,” the person waved his hand. “See you later then.”

Xiang Qin asked Gu Shiyue, “How long will you be?”

“Not long.” Gu Shiyue walked into the shop.

Xiang Qin followed him in. “Alright, I’ll order something and wait at the entrance.”

Gu Shiyue replied with an “Mn,” and Xiang Qin headed to the counter to order a coffee. When he turned back, he saw Gu Shiyue walking straight toward the silver-haired boy. He was stunned, and by the time he snapped out of it, Gu Shiyue had already stopped at the boy’s table.

The guys outside hadn’t left yet. As they were turning the car around, they saw Gu Shiyue reach the handsome silver-haired youth. They sat in the van, watching the two with curiosity, almost tempted to knock on the window.

Jiang Luo had arrived half an hour early, and he had been waiting here for about that long. He rested his chin on one hand, staring blankly at his phone. The van outside had been parked for a long time without moving. Jiang Luo turned his head to look out the window and suddenly realized the people in the car were watching him.

One of the boys was even smiling and waving at him.

Jiang Luo was a bit confused.

“Luo C?” A low voice sounded in front of him. Jiang Luo spun his head around and looked up at the person who had arrived.

Across the table, Gu Shiyue saw the other person’s face clearly at close range. He was wearing makeup, but it wasn’t heavy; his features were exceptionally defined. Red pupils, silver-white hair at a medium length, the ends of the hair styled and slightly flipped out—messy but layered. The bangs on his forehead were long, with a strand obscuring his brow.

To call this face “handsome” was an understatement; “beautiful” would be more accurate.

The other person looked at him and blinked slowly.

Jiang Luo met Gu Shiyue’s eyes and almost didn’t react.

The boy in front of him was wearing a black windbreaker and carrying a hiking bag over one shoulder. He was very tall, his gaze sweeping over him from top to bottom—emotionless, but carrying a faint, intangible sense of pressure.

The first thing Jiang Luo noticed was that Qi Xueying’s words hadn’t been an exaggeration—before the person arrived, she had mentioned that her brother would be easy to spot: “The tallest and most handsome one in the crowd, that’s definitely him.”

It was no exaggeration, indeed.

He watched as the other person glanced out the window, tilted his chin at the van, and then the car drove away.

Jiang Luo was still stunned, and Gu Shiyue looked at him to confirm again: “Luo C?”

“Luo C” was Jiang Luo’s circle name (screen name). Jiang Luo stood up, smiled, and nodded. “Yes, that’s me. Hello.”