WCHM Chapter 33

Lu Chi maintained a calm expression the whole way back to the private room. When he sat down, he seemed to think of something and sent Liang Jiashu a message.

 

Eat, Sleep, Dance: [Do you know anything about the Lin family?]

 

However, there was no reply. Even with a wooden fish instead of a brain, Lu Chi could guess exactly what Gong No.1 was doing, so he gave a small smile and tucked his phone away. The room was quiet, and Lu Chi turned his head, propped his chin on his hand, and casually looked around.

 

He hadn’t paid attention when he arrived, but now he realized the entire décor had been changed.

 

The chandelier overhead had become a crystal butterfly design, the carpet was the same soft material he once mentioned liking, and even the chairs and matching dining table were the exact brand he preferred using when he wrote his lesson plans. Even the water glass at his elbow had butterfly patterns on it.

 

Lu Chi reached out and flicked the rim of the cup, finding it a bit amusing. Liang Jiashu was truly strange.

 

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind him, stopping at the door. Someone seemed to adjust their posture, and before long, Gu Yanyan came in, face full of apology and dejection, still carrying that orange, luxury shopping bag from earlier.

 

“Teacher, I’m sorry! I’m late.”

 

He wore new clothes, and the styled fringe on his forehead held the subtle scent of hair gel. Maybe because he’d been in a better mood and eating more lately, his cheeks had filled out a little, and there was a kind of youthful strength and resilience to his posture.

 

Lu Chi thought of Liang Jiashu’s “useless chicken of a boy” comment and couldn’t help laughing silently. What slander, he thought, pulling a tissue and handing it over, amusement lingering in his eyes. His voice was gentle and pleasant: “Road closures are normal. Wipe your sweat.”

 

How did Lu Chi know the road was closed?!

 

Gu Yanyan froze for a moment, then was dazzled by that beautiful smile. He reflexively took the tissue to wipe his sweat, murmuring a shy ‘thank you’. After he sat down, he nervously ordered some food, then suddenly stopped.

 

Something flashed through his mind.

 

He remembered the inexplicable road closure when he left, the bizarre way the detour suddenly opened, and earlier… those rich young masters in the group chat making snide, mocking comments about some “ wacko bastard”…

 

Gu Yanyan lowered his eyes. His heart tightened with a slow, faint, but suffocating weight.

 

Light shifted around them.

 

After the waiter served the appetizer and left, Gu Yanyan ate awkwardly, momentarily forgetting to rack his brain for topics. Lu Chi also remained silent, his eyelashes half-lowered and leaving a small shadow on his face, looking like the wings of a butterfly about to open.

 

The table was quiet, save for the clinking of utensils.

 

After a moment, Lu Chi suddenly heard Gu Yanyan ask calmly, “Teacher… was the road closed by Liang Jiashu?”

 

Under the warm light, the boy’s lips were pressed tight. The question came out of nowhere, but Lu Chi still nodded. With his fingertip, he tapped his own temple twice, joking: “He has issues here. Frequently goes off the deep end.”

 

So it really was him.

 

Gu Yanyan gripped his chopsticks, forcing down the urge to lash out, though his voice trembled faintly under the façade of calm: “He could’ve found someone else to lash out at… he could’ve gone out to the street to do it. Why me?”

 

Why ruin his time with Lu Chi?! It was Gu Yanyan’s birthday gift to himself! Why should Liang Jiashu be able to block the road on a whim?! Why should he get to decide when it opens?!

 

Just because he had money and power, he could casually trample someone else’s expectations?!

 

Liang Jiashu was just like those other pampered young masters, arrogant to the point of being damnable!

 

A trace of hatred and cruelty flashed across Gu Yanyan’s face. Then, accidentally meeting Lu Chi’s gaze, he ducked his head as though scalded. After a long moment, he lifted the water glass to hide it.

 

“Sorry, Teacher…” he mumbled, “I got a little emotional just now.”

 

Lu Chi hummed in acknowledgment, but without offering another comment. Instead, he picked up a piece of lobster and chewed. Then he summoned the waiter and, without hesitation, ordered several very expensive signature dishes, adding: “Bring the most expensive wine too. You know the drill.”

 

The waiter happened to be one of Lu Chi’s former coworkers and Gu Yanyan’s current colleague. Hearing that, he clicked his tongue internally, thinking that “Little Chi was really planning to drain Gu Yanyan dry…” But his face remained professional. “Don’t worry, Mr. Lu. We’ll follow your instructions exactly.”

 

If someone dared invite such a beautiful piece of Heaven out for a meal, then… of course, they should bleed for it!

 

He retreated elegantly.

 

As for Lu Chi, he turned back and met Gu Yanyan’s dazed gaze, giving him a wink.

 

“You hate Liang Jiashu, right? Tonight, FOM is completely on his tab. Order more wine, let’s try to bankrupt him.”

 

FOM was the most notorious money-burning pit in City A, occupying five underground levels in the middle of the city. Each level had its own price bracket, but booking the entire venue for one night was still enough to buy an apartment in the city center outright!

 

Gu Yanyan’s throat tightened. “…But I said I’d treat Teacher. And I do have money…”

 

Lu Chi caught the self-loathing in his tone. He propped his chin on his hand, looking at him with quiet, soft brown eyes.

 

“Gu Yanyan, you don’t need to compare yourself to him in that way,” he said gently.

 

Then what could he compare himself to?!

 

His family background?! Intelligence?!

 

Looks?!

 

He seemed to lose in every category, ah!

 

“…”

 

No wonder Lu Chi didn’t like him!

 

Gu Yanyan stayed silent for a long time. Then he saw Lu Chi slide a small box across the table, perfectly packaged.

 

“Happy early birthday. Open it?”

 

Gu Yanyan took it, carefully unwrapped it, and found one of those exquisite, beautiful pens inside. His eyes lit with genuine joy, exclaiming: “I… I like it! I like it a lot!”

 

“You’re welcome.” Lu Chi nodded, continuing to eat. The faint pink of his hair caught the light, and something about him made Gu Yanyan feel like he was losing control.

 

Because of that night’s road-blocking incident.

 

And because of Lu Chi’s attitude that he couldn’t read at all.

 

In the end, he lowered his eyes, staring at the butterfly pattern on the cup before him. After a long moment, Gu Yanyan reached into his pocket and asked in a very soft voice: “Teacher… are you in a relationship with Liang Jiashu?”

 

The lighting in the private room was warm.

 

Lu Chi took a sip of water and raised a brow, asking: “Trying to get something out of me?” With that, he lifted his gaze, turned his head slightly, and lazily flicked the rim of his cup. His voice and expression didn’t shift at all as he continued:

 

“Turn off the recording.”

 

“……”

 

Gu Yanyan’s mind went blank for a moment. A heartbeat later, he fumbled to turn off his phone, then stood up in a panic, hastily explaining: “I… I didn’t mean anything else, I just… I just wanted Liang Jiashu to hear it, to let him know… Teacher, you’re being forced, you definitely didn’t agree to it willingly…!”

 

That was why he had secretly recorded their conversation.

 

Lu Chi quietly let him finish, looking at his trembling, pale face and tense posture. Then he asked mildly: “Even if I were being forced… what exactly do you think you could do?”

 

The Liang Group was enormous, and Liang Jiashu was strong-willed and cold by nature. To be frank, if he really wanted to force something, there was no way someone like Gu Yanyan could stop him.

 

Gu Yanyan’s hands were still shaking violently as he forced out: “I… I can go to the Lin family. Teacher, I can find someone who can help you!”

 

Hearing that, Lu Chi paused, his eyes narrowing slightly.

 

So the little Shou already had ties to the Lin family at this stage in the story?

 

But Gu Yanyan’s state was truly terrible right now. Someone who relied on little tricks, once exposed, he wouldn’t matter much for those who were using him. And the person exposing him happened to be the Lu Chi he liked.

 

And the trick he played was also aimed at Lu Chi.

 

It felt like being stripped bare by force, his every shameful, lowly thought laid out for all to see.

 

Lu Chi said nothing more, standing up shortly after. Before leaving, he handed Gu Yanyan a tissue, his fingertips soft and cold.

 

“I’m not angry. And I wasn’t forced,” he said. “The hour is up. Gu Yanyan, happy nineteenth birthday.”

 

The wooden door shut without hesitation.

 

Behind it, Gu Yanyan remained standing where he was. After a long moment, he suddenly crouched down, teeth clenched as he stared at the luxury shopping bag he had failed to give. His eyes were red, with a thin sheen of tears gathering.

 

Lu Chi was so open and sincere, so gentle yet distant… like the unreachable moon… but he didn’t get angry…

 

Because he didn’t care.

 

After a long time, the boy picked up the fountain pen he had been gifted and pressed it hard into the wrist of the hand that had dared to open the recording app. The tip sliced through skin, and blood welled and spread instantly. Cold sweat gathered on his forehead from the pain.

 

It was his punishment for himself.

 

He needed to stand higher, climb further… Never again would he reach the point where a single whim from someone else decided whether he could see the person he liked or not. Never again would Lu Chi look at him calmly and say: “Even if that’s the case, it doesn’t seem like you can do anything anyway.”

 

Even while treating someone to a meal, he still had to rely on someone else’s mercy, not even deserving a simple heads-up.

 

He would… absolutely would…

 

Crush Liang Jiashu under his feet.

 

With that, Gu Yanyan let out a breath and stood up, his expression blank.

…………………

The cursed Liang Jiashu had vented twice already, still busy kneeling in the restroom. By the time he changed clothes and went downstairs, the atmosphere on the first-floor dance floor was already wilting.

 

The university’s welcome party was a yearly tradition, with upperclassmen leading freshmen to mingle. But even so, the groups were clear: people clustered in small circles, arranged, implicitly, by family background, the sense of hierarchy especially sharp.

 

Tonight, because of his presence, FOM didn’t dare prepare any outrageous acts. Manager Zhao knew Liang Jiashu had an old-fashioned personality and hated noisy crowds, so they only played sentimental songs, with even the DJ yawning on stage.

 

Liang Jiashu heard someone complaining.

 

“Seriously, what’s wrong with him?! Why is he here at our arts department event?! Doesn’t he have anything better to do?!”

 

“He probably went crazy doing experiments… he camps in Teacher Lu’s class every day, watching him. Hates the teacher yet comes over to be an eyesore? Actual wacko.”

 

“Third-year grad student with nothing to do… well, he’s the Liang family’s young master. He’s got patents; why would he ever worry about work after graduation?!”

 

The complaints stopped abruptly when Liang Jiashu returned, but he didn’t care. Instead, he sat in a corner, put on his Bluetooth earphones, and expressionlessly played…

 

…his favourite, extremely explicit clip.

 

A WeChat notification popped up, and Liang Jiashu lowered his gaze and opened it.

 

Eat, Sleep, Dance: [Do you know anything about the Lin family?]

 

LJS: [The Lin family that beat you?]

 

Liang Jiashu paused, thoughtful, recalling something he had once looked into. Back then, he had no experience pursuing someone, so he directly dug up everything about Lu Chi. After Lu Chi ignored him for a week because of that, he retaliated against those stupid thugs and sent the video to Lu Chi.

 

Thinking of that, Liang Jiashu understood.

 

LJS: [Was the apology not good enough?]

 

No reply.

 

Liang Jiashu considered asking what kind of apology he wanted next, but suddenly and without warning, a burst of heavy drumbeats exploded beside his ears, two booming strikes that made everyone’s hearts jolt.

 

People looked up in confusion. Liang Jiashu too frowned lightly and lifted his gaze, then suddenly froze.

 

Under the dazzling neon lights, a pink-winged butterfly appeared on the dance floor.

 

At some point, Lu Chi had already come downstairs. He’d changed into his familiar performance outfit, tilting his head with a bright smile as he said to the DJ: “Why so lifeless? Play the one I usually dance to.” Behind him, Manager Zhao secretly flashed an OK gesture, and the DJ immediately grinned, put on his headset, and signalled to Lu Chi.

 

The intense beat dropped at once, and the man wandered lazily into the center of the dance floor. Under countless stunned stares, he effortlessly drew every eye, heating the atmosphere to its peak.

 

“Holy… am I hallucinating?! Is that Teacher Lu? Pin… Teacher Lu in pink… AAAAA!”

 

The instinct to chase beauty was carved into human bones.

 

They were like moths spotting fireworks, standing up and swarming toward that dazzling figure without thinking. The previously empty dance floor became crowded in an instant. With the pounding music behind him, Lu Chi lifted an arm, and his features glowed under the lights, his soft pink hair fluttering and shimmering like butterfly wings.

 

The crowd grew rowdy. Screaming, breathless.

 

Electrified.

 

Lu Chi’s outfit had many layers for entertainment purposes. He raised a brow, smiling as he peeled them off one by one while dancing, and FOM seemed to return to its glory from two months prior. Champagne towers raised one after another, and A University students screamed like they’d taken something illicit, their heads buzzing.

 

“Teacher’s body is unreal!”

 

“He’s glowing… oh my god…”

 

“LU CHI, I LOVE YOU! I’LL ROB THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE TO GIFT YOU A CHAMPAGNE TOWER!”

 

But in the crowd, still wearing his earphones, Liang Jiashu stood on the packed floor below, staring up at him without blinking, just like everyone else.

 

Lu Chi seemed completely swept up in the fun. He ran his tongue lightly across his lips, sweat slipping down his pale-pink bangs. People around him screamed themselves hoarse, unaware they were doing it, as though they might drop dead the next second, the noise loud enough to spill all the way out into the street.

 

A dazzling fever dream.

 

Then, at a certain moment, the pink butterfly’s gaze finally collided with Liang Jiashu’s.

 

Their eyes locked.

 

Lu Chi saw the earphones on him and suddenly laughed, raising a hand and snapping his fingers at the DJ. The next second, all the neon lights overhead shut off, and the entire first floor plunged into darkness. Deprived of his beauty, the crowd erupted in noisy confusion.

 

In the chaotic dark, Liang Jiashu suddenly reached out and caught Lu Chi, who leapt down at him from above. His heart pounded violently at the reckless move, but his arms still wrapped around Lu Chi tightly, breath unsteady.

 

“You…”

 

Are you trying to die?!

 

The next second, the butterfly in his arms lifted his clothes, revealing the faintly visible writing on his lower abdomen.

 

Dedicated to Brother Liang. 

 

Lu Chi dragged Liang Jiashu’s hand there, pressing it over the warm, damp skin. Liang Jiashu felt the heat cling to his palm, and then heard Lu Chi’s breath at his ear. A low, provocative whisper overlapped perfectly with the seductive voice still playing in Liang Jiashu’s earphones.

 

“Brother Liang… mmm… I feel so good.”

 

Boom. Boom.

 

Liang Jiashu could hear the sound of his own heart, completely breaking past any control he had left.

 

……………….

Enjoyed this chapter of WCHM? You can support me and read up to Chapter 42 here, with 5 new chapters coming next month! Happy Reading!