My Romance With The Cold-Blooded Heartthrob - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Yo, you two are finally back.” Xia Yang and Lin Fei were inside reciting from a notebook. They put it down when they saw the two figures appear. The next brainstorming session is already over. You’re cutting it pretty close.

Alright, quit the chatter. Pei Xian, you head out first. We have things to discuss, Lin Fei beckoned.

Pei Xian shrugged. His fingers brushed against Wen Shu’s fingertips as he passed, and he gave a quick wink, silently saying: See you tomorrow.

Wen Shu pulled his hand back, involuntarily curling his fingers into his palm. He nodded, looking a bit dazed as he responded, Okay.

Seeing him like this, Pei Xian wanted to stay even more, but it looked like they were going to discuss serious business, so he didn’t insist on staying.

Wen Shu sat down and pulled out his notebook, rubbing his eyes before asking, “Do we want to discuss a rough shortlist of candidates?

Yes. Their performance today was actually quite good. Once we standardize the etiquette and hold an official intra-team match, we can pretty much finalize the roster. Xia Yang keenly noticed Wen Shu’s red and swollen eyes but didn’t bring it up; instead, he exchanged a knowing look with Lin Fei.

Lin Fei nodded in response. Right. Actually, Su Yang and Song Shiyu were within my expectations. But Pei Xian—he was on fire today. From the opening statement to the free debate, his participation was off the charts. It’s just…

The three of them said in unison: He’s too much of a lone wolf.

Wen Shu burst into laughter, his eyes curving into crescents. What strange synergy we have. Seeing him laugh, Lin Fei finally let out a sigh of relief.

Even though Pei Xian catches the points well, he’s such a ‘lone wolf’ that it’s easy to cause friction with teammates. A team competition ended up looking like a one-vs-many match. Xia Yang added, “Is it because he looks so ‘thug-ish’? With the smoking and the tattoos, people find him hard to approach?

He’s actually quite easy to get along with, Wen Shu blurted out. For some reason, he didn’t want to hear such labels applied to Pei Xian. After all, Pei Xian could cook and knew how to comfort him; he just looked a bit unapproachable.

Then the task of integrating Pei Xian into the collective is yours, Lin Fei declared decisively. Since you’re already friends, it’ll be easier for you to talk to him.

Wait! Why me? Wen Shu was about to decline, but then he remembered how Pei Xian had comforted him. He didn’t want others to keep misunderstanding him; it was his turn to help Pei Xian. Wen Shu hesitated for a moment but finally agreed. Alright then.

Aren’t you two leaving? Wen Shu checked the time and wanted to head out, but Lin Fei and Xia Yang didn’t move. It’s already very late.

I’ll stay a bit. I have an assignment to finish before I go, Lin Fei lied clumsily.

Xia Yang?

Xia Yang was so guilty he almost stuttered. I need to go to the bathroom. Wen Shu, you go ahead.

See you tomorrow then. Though Wen Shu found it strange, he wanted to go home and process his emotions, so he didn’t push further.

Not long after Wen Shu left, there was a knock at the door. Xia Yang looked up to see Pei Xian standing there with his arms crossed—he hadn’t left. He entered with a questioning tone: Why choose that topic, and why insist that I tear the arguments down without mercy?

Wait, Pei Xian, what are you talking about?” Xia Yang was confused.

Because Captain Wu told me everything.” Lin Fei pulled at Xia Yang. I’ll explain to you in a bit.

She turned back to Pei Xian. “He felt this was an opportunity to help Wen Shu recover completely. Plus, since he told you, why shouldn’t we know?” Lin Fei looked Pei Xian in the eye, not backing down. “Our desire to help Wen Shu isn’t any less than yours. Whether he admits it or not, Xia Yang and I have always considered him a friend. If this topic could serve as a catalyst to give Wen Shu even a slight urge to step out of his shell, it’s worth it.”

Pei Xian paused, then discussed it calmly. “It was indeed useful. At least Wen Shu let it out. So, what do you plan to do next?”

“Nothing. Tonight was enough. Doing anything more would make it too obvious,” Lin Fei analyzed. “Wen Shu isn’t a fool. All we need to do is be there for him when he needs us. Pei Xian, sometimes you shouldn’t chase too hard—it’ll give him pressure. But I’ll leave taking care of Wen Shu to you.”

“I will.” Pei Xian waved his hand. He was now very curious about what Wen Shu was like in high school. Thinking about how Wen Shu used to laugh like that compared to his current cold demeanor, he wished he had transferred to Wen Shu’s high school back then. If he had been there, distance wouldn’t have separated them. He would have stuck to Wen Shu’s side from the very beginning. They definitely would have been friends long ago—maybe even best friends by now.

After returning home, Wen Shu started considering how to help Pei Xian fit in better. He thought perhaps he should ask Song Shiyu. He remembered they had some interaction during the brainstorming session; maybe Song Shiyu knew the reason.

Meanwhile, Song Shiyu was eating with his teammates when he received a message from Wen Shu. “Little Song, watch out, you almost hit the pillar in front of you.”

Song Shiyu looked up, confused. “Snack? What snack? Aren’t we going to eat dinner? I don’t like sweets.” (Translator’s Note: A pun on “Little Song/Xiao Song” and “Xiao Dianxin/Little Snack” in Chinese).

Su Yang twitched his lip, accustomed to the nonsense. “You really are a master of mishearing things.”

Song Shiyu pulled Su Yang aside. “Captain Wen is asking if I think Pei Xian is a bit of a social outcast. How should I reply?”

“Social outcast? Not really,” Su Yang replied with a mouthful of grilled sausage. “It’s just that Pei Xian looks like a bit of a ‘social brother’ (delinquent type), so we’re always a bit scared to talk to him. Plus, he makes you feel strangely stupid, so people don’t dare approach.”

‘Social’? ‘Scared’? Song Shiyu was a bit fuzzy on the details, but he sent it to Wen Shu exactly like that.

When Wen Shu received the message, he shouted out loud for the first time: “What?”

[Law 2101 Song Shiyu]: Pei Xian is a bit socially anxious (she-kong), he’s too scared to approach us.

Song Shiyu waved his phone. “Captain Wen seems to find it unbelievable. He sent a long string of question marks and asked me to ask the other teammates what they think.”

“Just say everyone happens to be together and we all think so, right?” The surrounding teammates all nodded in unison.

[Law 2101 Song Shiyu]: Everyone happens to be together, and we all feel the same way.

When Wen Shu saw this message, it felt like a bolt from the blue. He remembered the first time they met, Pei Xian had said he was socially anxious. Later, in the dance studio, Pei Xian had said several times that he had social anxiety and was afraid to talk to people. Pei Xian had mentioned this more than once! But what was his reaction? Every time, he thought Pei Xian was joking. He thought a guy that tall couldn’t possibly be socially anxious. It was his own damn stereotypes.

Wen Shu buried his face in his blanket, overwhelmed by guilt. He didn’t even know how to face Pei Xian tomorrow. Pei Xian had comforted him so much; was the initiative to become friends an act of immense courage for him? All that talk about a “transaction” must have just been an excuse Pei Xian made up.

Wen Shu opened his phone and went to his chat history with Pei Xian. He hesitated for a long time, not knowing what to send. Finally, he turned to the omnipotent internet. After searching for the definition of an apology for ages, Wen Shu realized he wasn’t in a debate match. Panicked, he didn’t know who to ask. Lin Fei and Xia Yang were training with him, so it was awkward to ask them. Finally, he sent a message to Wu Yue.

Wu Yue replied quickly: I remember you know how to cook, right? It’s awkward to apologize for this kind of thing; it might even make the other person feel embarrassed. Why not make a meal to express your apology? Just take more care of him in the future.

Wen Shu had no experience, but this made sense. Pei Xian was always the one cooking for him; he should cook something for Pei Xian to taste. It just so happened that tomorrow’s evening training would end early because the classroom needed disinfecting. He would take that opportunity to go to Pei Xian’s house and cook.

The next evening, as soon as Wen Shu saw Pei Xian walking toward him, he slipped into the crowd ahead. Just as he was about to escape, his hand was gripped tightly—only for a second before being released. Pei Xian frowned. “Avoiding me?”

“No.” Wen Shu didn’t know how to face Pei Xian yet. The moment he saw him, guilt surged uncontrollably. In his mind, Pei Xian was now a “poor little thing.” “I—I have things to do. I’m leaving first.” He just needed to hide from reality for a bit—at least until he found the right time to make it up to him.

Pei Xian tried to grab Wen Shu’s clothes, but Wen Shu slipped away too fast. His hand only brushed the corner of the fabric before Wen Shu vanished. Pei Xian wanted to chase after him, but he remembered Lin Fei’s words from last night: Don’t chase too hard.

Pei Xian clenched his fist in frustration. He pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket and smoked several by the trash can, but the gloom in his heart didn’t lift. He opened his phone. “Hey, Chang Xu, where are you guys?”

“Where else would we be? The bar. Old Zhang and I found a fun place right near your school. Coming for a drink? Old Pei, you haven’t had a drink in ages, and…”

“Cut the crap. Address.” Pei Xian took a deep drag and exhaled slowly. In the thick smoke, he finally felt a sliver of relaxation. His large, well-defined hand skillfully flicked the ash. After getting the location, he crushed the half-finished cigarette into the trash.

Inside the bar, Pei Xian didn’t even say hello. He just downed drink after drink. No matter what was served, he drank it in one go, then lay back on the sofa smoking listlessly. Chang Xu was a bit scared and nudged Zhang Xi. “What’s up with Old Pei? You ask him. This is creepy; he looks as crazy as he did after the Gaokao.”

“Why don’t you ask?”

“Me?” Before Chang Xu could finish, Pei Xian slammed his glass onto the table with a loud thud, making the table shake. Chang Xu couldn’t help but tremble along with it and whispered, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Zhang Xi had no choice but to ask tentatively, “Old Pei, what happened? You seem to be in a bad mood.”

“Old Zhang, why is Wen Shu hot and cold?” Pei Xian asked irritably, lighting a cigarette with one hand. “Yesterday, he was crying in my arms looking so pitiful, but today he won’t even look me in the eye. Did I do something wrong?”

Zhang Xi and Chang Xu exchanged a look. Chang Xu pouted and whispered, “I don’t think we can hide it anymore. Old Pei is already showing the early stages of ‘love brain.’ We might as well point it out. And look at him—he only dares to vent in front of us. There’s no way he’d actually try to force himself on anyone.”

“Fine,” Zhang Xi agreed hesitantly.

Chang Xu cleared his throat and sat next to Pei Xian. “Old Pei, have you ever considered the fact that you actually like Wen Shu?”