My Romance With The Cold-Blooded Heartthrob - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Something about Wen Shu? Pei Xian’s interest was piqued, but he asked warily, Why is it your place to talk about Wen Shu’s business?

I have to see what kind of person my dear Wen Shu has finally managed to make friends with, Wu Yue replied expressionlessly. This way.

What do you mean your Wen Shu! Pei Xian flared up at those words. He had gone through so much trouble just to trick the guy into coming over for a meal and hadn’t even claimed ownership yet how did this guy manage to beat him to the punch?

Pei Xian, what exactly is your goal in befriending Wen Shu?

Pei Xian laughed out of sheer frustration at Wu Yue’s tone. What could I possibly be after? I wanted to make a friend, so I did. There’s no hidden reason. This tone of Wu Yue’s made him feel like a son-in-law facing a father-in-law’s interrogation, being scolded like a pig trying to steal the family’s prize cabbage.

But how did you get Wen Shu to accept you? This past year, Lin Fei, Xia Yang, Jiang Jue, and I—his high school friends—it’s not like we didn’t try to find him. But every time, he avoided us. Wu Yue truly wanted to know: was a year’s worth of deep friendship really inferior to Pei Xian, someone he’d only known for a few days?

Losing his patience, Pei Xian blurted out some nonsense: I’m thick-skinned!

Is that so? Wu Yue took him seriously. Over the past year, they had indeed tried many things, but they had never pestered Wen Shu, wanting to give him space.

Wait, you actually believed that? Pei Xian recalled seriously. I made him a meal. Wen Shu looked very happy when he saw it, but the next day he kept his distance again, so I went looking for him. But what does any of this have to do with you?

Even though Wen Shu probably doesn’t want you to know too much, I think you might be the key. Wu Yue let out a deep sigh. Pei Xian, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Wen Shu hates gathering with people. But he wasn’t like this before. He used to be someone who loved everyone getting together for a meal.

Of course we have to eat together! In the memory, Wen Shu tilted his head and waved at everyone. Hurry up! It took me forever to organize this get-together.

Wen Shu? Pei Xian found it hard to believe. That was Wen Shu? If Wen Shu used to be like that, why had he become like this now? What on earth had changed him? What exactly happened?

Wen Shu was raised by his maternal grandparents, Wu Yue said after a long silence. He’s an orphan. When Grandpa Wen adopted him, he must have been ten years old. At that age, he already realized he was an orphan, but Grandpa Wen and Grandma Zhou took great care of him. If he hadn’t brought it up himself, we might never have known.

He brought it up himself?” Pei Xian’s voice was hauntingly hoarse. He forced himself to keep listening, struggling to control his emotions.

Yes. Back then, Wen Shu was truly carefree; he never took anything to heart. Sometimes, he’d frustrate you to death.

In his eyes, even though he called them ‘Grandpa’ and ‘Grandma,’ they were effectively his mother and father. He would always bring a bunch of friends home to eat the Coke Chicken Wings Grandpa Wen made. The love they gave him was no less than any traditional family.

Wu Yue couldn’t bear to continue; he took a few deep breaths before saying, But they were already quite old when they adopted him. Grandma Zhou held on until Wen Shu finished his Gaokao (college entrance exam) before she finally let go. During the summer after graduation, I wondered why there was no news from Wen Shu. It wasn’t until later that I found out Grandma Zhou had passed away that summer.

But at least Grandpa Wen was still there, so Wen Shu could keep going. However, perhaps because their bond was too strong, Grandpa Wen fell into a deep depression after Grandma Zhou died. He passed away in November.

Since then, he became very closed off. He looks the same on the surface, but you feel like he’s miles away from everyone.Wu Yue looked up at the silent Pei Xian, who stood there like a statue. So, Pei Xian, you don’t realize what it means for Wen Shu to be friends with you. I know my actions today might be high-pressure, but I’m sorry, I.

Don’t be. Pei Xian interrupted him. He endured the stinging pain spreading from every part of his body to his heart. It’s not ‘pressure.’ What can I do?

You don’t need to do anything special. Just interact with him as a friend. Wen Shu will change on his own; he’ll get better. Wu Yue stood up. I believe in him.

Okay. I’m leaving now. Pei Xian turned and walked away.

Wu Yue watched his back and raised an eyebrow. Pei Xian’s reaction was much better than he had imagined. He had feared that Pei Xian might overreact out of pity for Wen Shu’s past, which would only drive Wen Shu further away. This kind of steady composure was actually for the best.

Wen Shu leaned his chin on his hand, staring blankly out the window at the foggy weather. He had agreed to Pei Xian’s request yesterday on an impulse. He was actually someone who feared partings, but that plate of Coke Chicken Wings had reminded him of his grandfather. Was Pei Xian perhaps a reminder sent by his grandfather? If that old man saw him like this, he’d probably whack him with a rolling pin. Wen Shu smiled self-deprecatingly, realizing it had been a long time since he had allowed himself to think of them.

Even though they were so good to him, he was selfishly unwilling to let himself be sad, so he constantly controlled himself to avoid remembering.

Before long, the pitter-patter of rain broke Wen Shu’s train of thought. He checked his phone with concern. Pei Xian wouldn’t be that stupid, would he? He wouldn’t be waiting outside in this? But there were no messages from the other side.

As soon as class ended, Wen Shu headed to their usual spot from yesterday. Upon arrival, he found Pei Xian sitting on the ground, soaked to the bone. His flamboyant blonde hair was plastered to his face, and he leaned listlessly against the wall. Beside his long legs were a pile of cigarette butts scattered by the rain. His muscular frame was fully visible through the white T-shirt clinging to his skin. Little Black was hiding in its small shelter, uncharacteristically meowing softly at Pei Xian, but he didn’t react. Just as Wen Shu approached, he smelled the scent of smoke. Pei Xian?

Pei Xian looked up mechanically. The moment he did, Wen Shu was startled by his appearance. His eyes were frighteningly red, and his eyelashes were heavy with raindrops that looked like crystals. When he saw Wen Shu, he blinked, and the water fell away. His voice was thick and raspy: Wen Shu, I feel a bit miserable.

Frightened, Wen Shu crouched down, tilting the umbrella toward Pei Xian. He asked helplessly, Is your wound hurting? He never expected to see such an expression on Pei Xian’s face—like a golden retriever that had been abandoned, left to lick its wounds in the wet wild.

No, but it just hurts. Pei Xian thought he could stay calm, but the moment he saw Wen Shu, he couldn’t hold it back. He couldn’t imagine how Wen Shu had survived that summer. After his own graduation, Pei Xian had gone wild—getting tattoos just to see what they were like, drinking with Chang Xu, or driving aimlessly. But what about Wen Shu? How did he manage to handle the funerals of the two most important people in his life all by himself? What was he feeling? Did he cry himself to sleep at night? Was there anyone to wipe his tears, or did he just have to wake up and force himself to face it all again?

Wen Shu frowned, his hand hesitating in mid-air. He made a cautious guess: Did you get dumped? How else could he look this pathetic?

No! Pei Xian retorted. He finally understood what Wu Yue meant by carefree (or rather, oblivious).

Then come home with me. Change out of those clothes first. Why do you have to stand out here in the rain? Trying to look cool?” Wen Shu pulled Pei Xian up, intending to let him lean on him, but Pei Xian flinched away. I’m wet.

Oh, now you know you’re wet? Wen Shu replied crossly. Then why stay in the rain? Come on, get home and change. This kind of rain makes you sick the easiest.

Inside the apartment, Wen Shu held a magazine, silently wondering how to comfort Pei Xian. Looking at him, it didn’t seem like something simple. Hearing the bathroom door open, he looked up. Pei Xian walked out drying his hair, his upper body still dotted with droplets that traced down his mermaid line and disappeared into the waistband of his grey sweatpants. Wen Shu’s face flushed. He grabbed a nearby shirt and threw it at him. Put some clothes on!

Pei Xian sheepishly put on the shirt. The shower had calmed him down; he knew Wen Shu wouldn’t confess his past right now, and his own behavior today was quite strange.

Wen Shu patted the chair in front of him, signaling, Come here, I’ll dry your hair for you.

Flattered and surprised, Pei Xian pointed at himself and asked, Me?

Who else? Is there anyone else here? Wen Shu turned on the hairdryer to test the temperature, and Pei Xian immediately scrambled into the chair.

Wen Shu’s fingers ran through the blonde strands, guided by the warmth of the air. In this atmosphere, Pei Xian even felt a bit drowsy.

Wen Shu turned off the dryer and hesitantly stroked the golden retriever in front of him. It’s okay. Everything will be fine. He didn’t know what Pei Xian had gone through, but all he could do was try his best to comfort him.

Pei Xian almost couldn’t hold back his emotions. He didn’t expect Wen Shu to comfort him. He leaned his head back, his hair brushing against Wen Shu’s hand as he rested against Wen Shu’s chest. He pouted slightly, and seeing this, Wen Shu immediately pinched his cheeks into a goldfish mouth. No crying. A big guy like you, acting like a child.”

Wen Shu reached out and covered Pei Xian’s eyes, feeling the faint brush of eyelashes against his palm. “Get some rest. Everything will pass. Wen Shu lowered his head, his own hair obscuring the thoughts in his eyes. It will all pass.

Pei Xian’s voice came muffled through the small gap. He couldn’t see Wen Shu’s expression, only his pink hair, which looked soft and fluffy. Okay. In that moment, Pei Xian decided: he would make it so that Wen Shu would tell him everything of his own accord.