Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Mmm… mmm…”

Xiao Bojun was in a hazy sleep when he heard a strange sound reaching his ears. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. The dorm room was pitch black, except for a light coming from Zuo Qiu’s computer desk diagonally across the room. He looked towards the light.

At this moment, Zuo Qiu was wearing headphones, a T-shirt on his upper body. His lower body was obscured by the angle, but his right hand was moving up and down.

Xiao Bojun felt a bit awkward. It was normal for a guy to watch a small movie, but catching someone else in the act… that was a bit strange. Xiao Bojun decided to pretend he saw nothing, heard nothing, and go back to sleep. However, when his eyes unintentionally landed on Zuo Qiu’s computer screen, he froze.

The people doing the deed on Zuo Qiu’s screen were two men!

Xiao Bojun was so shocked he nearly made a sound. Zuo Qiu watches this? Is he gay? They had lived together in the same dorm for two and a half years, and Xiao Bojun never knew Zuo Qiu… was this Zuo Qiu!

Xiao Bojun looked at Zuo Qiu again. His face was flushed. After a few seconds, Zuo Qiu let out a long “Ah,” and leaned back on the chair, panting heavily.

Xiao Bojun guessed Zuo Qiu would probably get up immediately to tidy up the aftermath, so he didn’t dare delay. He quickly lay back down, closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

Sure enough, Zuo Qiu got up and went to the bathroom. He came out shortly after, turned off his computer, and climbed into bed.

Xiao Bojun listened to Zuo Qiu’s even breathing, but he couldn’t fall asleep. He tossed and turned, his mind filled with Zuo Qiu’s voice.

…

The morning sun shone into the room through the curtain gap. Xiao Bojun pulled back the thin blanket, lightly cursed, “Shit,” took off his underwear, and calmly headed to the bathroom.

Xiao Bojun was now very calm about dreaming of that night; he wasn’t as restless as before. Of course, during this period of turmoil, he had slowly come to know his true self.

By the time Xiao Bojun finished showering and came out, it was 8:30 AM. He pushed the door open and saw Zuo Qiu setting breakfast on the dining table.

“You’re up just in time. Breakfast is ready,” Zuo Qiu said.

Zuo Qiu’s voice was quite clear and bright. Xiao Bojun thought that in certain specific situations, it could be quite seductive… ahem.

“Great, thanks,” Xiao Bojun sat down, ready to eat.

“You’re too kind. If you hadn’t taken me in, I’d have to rent a place for my internship. Just making some food is a good deal,” Zuo Qiu said, and then went back into the kitchen to fetch more food.

Xiao Bojun glanced at Zuo Qiu’s back. He did more than just cook; he also handled the cleaning, tidied the house, and washed his clothes, directly saving him the cost of hiring an hourly maid.

Sometimes, watching him busying himself around, Xiao Bojun had the illusion that Zuo Qiu was a little wife managing the household.

The breakfast was congee and youtiao (fried dough sticks), which Xiao Bojun loved. Zuo Qiu had woken up early to make the congee, and he had made a special trip to buy the youtiao from the specific stall on the opposite street corner, as Xiao Bojun was picky and only ate youtiao from that place.

After eating, Xiao Bojun sat on the sofa watching TV with his legs crossed. Zuo Qiu finished cleaning the kitchen, then grabbed a canvas bag, looking like he was about to go out.

“Sister Xinyi is coming today. What kind of dishes does she like? I’ll go buy some ingredients.”

Zeng Xinyi was Xiao Bojun’s girlfriend. They had only been dating for two months, but she was already a regular guest here. However, she had never eaten a meal cooked here. Before, Xiao Bojun thought cooking at home was troublesome and feared Zuo Qiu would be too tired from cooking, so the three of them usually ate out.

Yesterday, for some unknown reason, she made a fuss and insisted on trying Zuo Qiu’s cooking. At the time, Zuo Qiu saw Xiao Bojun was quite reluctant, but Zeng Xinyi was very insistent. Fearing they might argue, he agreed to cook lunch today.

Xiao Bojun lifted his eyelids. He wasn’t a mind reader; how would he know what she liked? “Just buy anything.”

After all, this was their last meal together. Whether it tasted good or not, it would probably be the same to her.

Zuo Qiu acknowledged him and was about to leave. Xiao Bojun looked at the large canvas bag on his shoulder and sighed, “I’ll go with you.”

Since Zuo Qiu had to work from Monday to Friday, he usually stocked up on groceries for several days on the weekend. With Zeng Xinyi coming over today, he would probably have to buy even more.

Xiao Bojun frowned thinking about Zeng Xinyi. They used to eat out together. He didn’t know what kind of tantrum she was throwing this time, insisting on troubling Zuo Qiu to cook. Xiao Bojun originally felt a little guilty towards her, but the increasingly difficult behavior of Zeng Xinyi recently made him somewhat unbearable.

Zuo Qiu was a little surprised to hear Xiao Bojun wanted to go with him. He had tried to invite him to the market before, but Xiao Bojun had refused, saying it was dirty and smelly and he didn’t like it. Was he willing to go today because of Zeng Xinyi? Did he want to personally select the ingredients?

Thinking this, Zuo Qiu pursed his lips and secretly hid the little bit of jealousy in his heart.

Ever since the third day of their freshman year, after a group of boys finished playing ball, Xiao Bojun walked beside him drenched in sweat, rubbed his hair with that not-so-clean hand, and said, “Little Curly-top, you’re really cute.” From that moment, he had fallen hopelessly in love with him.

Zuo Qiu had understood his orientation in high school, and since then, he had consciously kept his distance from all boys. But just one warm head-rub sparked an eternal longing in him.

He was obsessed with Xiao Bojun’s scent, loved the hand that had touched him, and the name “Little Curly-top” on his lips.

For the first two and a half years, neither of them had dated. They went to the cafeteria together, attended classes together. Classmates joked they were Siamese twins. Back then, even if Xiao Bojun wasn’t his, he wasn’t anyone else’s either, and Zuo Qiu was content.

But for the past six months, Xiao Bojun belonged to someone else—a girl. Initially, he dated a girl with a full bust and curvy hips. At that time, Zuo Qiu stood in front of the bathroom mirror looking at his own chest—flat. Although his hips were also curvy, they couldn’t compare to hers. The comparison left Zuo Qiu feeling quite defeated.

Later, they finally broke up, but before Zuo Qiu could be happy for a few days, Xiao Bojun found his current girlfriend.

Zuo Qiu was actually very clear: a man who liked men and a man who liked women could never have a future. He had considered leaving him, but in the end, he lost to himself.

When they graduate from college, Xiao Bojun will stay in City B, and he will return to his small hometown, thus severing all ties.

Zuo Qiu gave himself this reason to indulge in the present.