As the exam month arrived amidst the scorching heat, Su Yuhe managed to balance both studying and pursuing Huo Fu’an. Although his attempts at pursuing Huo Fu’an were unsuccessful, his academic achievements were impressive.
However, Huo Fu’an was in a tough spot. Despite the school significantly easing up on cultural courses for sports talents like him, he was simply not cut out for studying. He continued to struggle with advanced mathematics, staring blankly at his textbook.
During his freshman year, Huo Fu’an had a competition just before exams. He arrogantly went into the exam room without reviewing and ended up failing one of the calculus exams. Even the makeup exam didn’t turn out well for him. While his roommates sailed through with a minimum passing grade, Huo Fu’an found himself needing to retake the course.
The experience of retaking the course was miserable. While his roommates played games, he was stuck revising. Even when he asked them simple questions about math, they could only give him blank stares.
“You should give up; we don’t remember anything related to calculus except the name,” Old Zhang mocked mercilessly while typing away on his keyboard.
Dejected, Huo Fu’an sat back at his desk to study, planning to create an anonymous account to ask for tutoring help in an online group chat.
He was determined not to let Su Yuhe know about his retaking the course. After all, where would his boyfriend’s pride go if he found out?
Meanwhile, Su Yuhe was eavesdropping outside the male dormitory room. He listened attentively to Huo Fu’an’s distress.
His eyes lit up. Su Yuhe excelled in academics, and he realized he could help Huo Fu’an with his studies. Huo Fu’an always wanted to go on dates, and Su Yuhe was running out of ideas. From their first library date, where Huo Fu’an warned him not to disturb others, to today, when Su Yuhe wanted to take Huo Fu’an to the zoo, Su Yuhe had been struggling. But academics? That was his forte.
He knocked on the door with confidence.
Huo Fu’an, flustered, hastily stuffed all the calculus papers that shouldn’t have been there for this semester’s exam into the drawer. He looked down at Su Yuhe from his seat, feeling pressured by his gaze, reminiscent of his high school headmaster’s, that seemed to say, “I hate to see talent go to waste; I’m desperate for you to study.”
“Where are we going today?” Huo Fu’an asked, trying to divert Su Yuhe’s attention.
Yes, Huo Fu’an, the rich kid, was willing to sacrifice anything for Su Yuhe. Whenever Su Yuhe made a suggestion, calculus didn’t matter anymore.
“We’re studying today,” Su Yuhe said, pulling out a stack of papers from the half-open drawer.
Huo Fu’an felt Su Yuhe’s gaze on him was akin to that of his high school principal, wishing he would study harder. The pressure was palpable.
“Aren’t we going on a date today?” Huo Fu’an persisted. He was willing to fail again if it meant spending time with Su Yuhe.
“The most important task for youth is studying,” Su Yuhe advised sternly.
A thought crossed Huo Fu’an’s mind. “The study environment is also important.” Without further ado, he put his arm around Su Yuhe’s shoulder and grabbed his wallet, ready to study in a hotel off-campus.
Initially, Su Yuhe was touched by Huo Fu’an’s attitude, thinking he had the self-awareness not to disturb their roommates with late-night study sessions. However, he soon realized that wasn’t the case.
“Can we change positions?” Su Yuhe sat awkwardly on Huo Fu’an’s thigh, feeling like he was being treated like a child. What was worse, his legs were too short to touch the ground comfortably.
Huo Fu’an explained, “I strained my neck swimming yesterday and can’t turn my head. Sitting like this, I can easily read what you write when I lower my head.”
“Do people really strain their necks from swimming?” Su Yuhe muttered under his breath, but he focused on the calculus problems. He was soon drawn into them, forgetting about Huo Fu’an’s odd behavior.
Su Yuhe noticed everything about Huo Fu’an—the way he held the pen, the curve of his neck when he nodded, even his clean earlobes. His attention to detail made Huo Fu’an feel uneasy.
“Don’t move; I’m writing formulas,” Su Yuhe said, pressing his hand against Huo Fu’an’s thigh. “You have to memorize each one. Start reciting them now.”
Ten minutes later, Su Yuhe paused and asked, “Recite the first formula; let me hear.”
Huo Fu’an was at a loss. His mind had been preoccupied with writing some inappropriate stories for the past ten minutes. He couldn’t remember a single formula.
Su Yuhe calmly put down his pen and jumped off Huo Fu’an’s lap. He retrieved a whip from under the bed—a remnant of a previous guest’s visit. He folded it in half and tapped it on the table. “If you don’t finish these five past papers today, we won’t sleep.”
Su Yuhe yawned. He had spent the previous night planning their zoo date, writing down detailed itineraries for every five-minute interval. It felt less like a date and more like a kindergarten field trip.
Huo Fu’an felt sorry for Su Yuhe and suggested, “You should go to sleep first, and I’ll continue studying.”
“No,” Su Yuhe replied, hands behind his back. A student who daydreamed in class needed constant attention.
Su Yuhe’s old-fashioned and restrained demeanor frustrated Huo Fu’an. How could he not be distracted by the dessert placed in front of a hungry ghost? It was unbearable.
“I swear, I’ll finish studying by the time you wake up,” Huo Fu’an pleaded.
Su Yuhe couldn’t figure out why he was the source of the distraction. He was more concerned about whether Huo Fu’an was planning to slack off while he slept.
Both held their ground. Huo Fu’an thought, “Should I admit that I’m distracted by him even though he hasn’t officially pursued me yet?”
Huo Fu’an, the straight-laced guy, refused to expose his feelings proactively.
He picked up Su Yuhe and threw him onto the bed. “How many times do I have to tell you? Stop making detailed schedules for our dates.”
Detailing every five minutes of the day’s activities—was that even considered a date? It felt more like a guided tour.
Su Yuhe pouted. “What else can I do? I’ve never been on a date with anyone before.”
Seeing Su Yuhe like this, Huo Fu’an couldn’t help but find him adorable. But now wasn’t the time for affection. It was too hard to endure.
Huo Fu’an thought, “Maybe I should find an opportunity to agree to this little trickster’s pursuit?”
“Pursuing someone requires not only action but also the right words,” Huo Fu’an advised. “You can’t just report to him every day and keep your mouth shut. You’ve never even told him you like him.”
“Language?” Su Yuhe exclaimed. “Do I have to stand downstairs with a megaphone and confess my love?”
“Just say it in private,” Huo Fu’an replied with a smile, covering Su Yuhe with a blanket as the air conditioning in the hotel room was turned down low. He was filled with anticipation. “I’ll go back to memorizing formulas.”
Su Yuhe bit his finger, lost in thought.
Chasing after Huo Fu’an wasn’t difficult for him, but there were some words that were hard to say. Just thinking about it made Su Yuhe’s cheeks flush. Confessing should be solemn, a once-in-a-lifetime event, reserved for when you’re sure about someone.
But with Huo Fu’an’s request… was he asking to waste such an opportunity?
Forget it, Su Yuhe thought. When he meets someone he wants to marry in the future, he’ll opt for a written confession instead.
This time, he would give it to Huo Fu’an.
It was the price he paid for his past immature behavior.
Would Huo Fu’an accept his confession? Su Yuhe mused hazily. If he did, it would mean he had redeemed himself, and he wouldn’t owe Huo Fu’an anything in the future.
Su Yuhe glanced at Huo Fu’an, who was busy memorizing formulas, then slowly snuggled into the blanket. This was nice.
Lately, he had felt as if he were wholeheartedly pursuing someone he liked—caring about Huo Fu’an’s daily life, worrying if he would be satisfied with the planned dates, rushing to the swimming pool after class… Occasionally, when he calmed down, Su Yuhe felt a little crazy.
While Su Yuhe was falling asleep, Huo Fu’an, still holding onto the formulas, sat at the head of the bed. He glanced at Su Yuhe, recited a formula, rewarded himself for memorizing one, and stole a kiss from Su Yuhe.
In kindergarten, if a child recited a Tang poem, the teacher might reward them with a kiss.
Huo Fu’an felt justified. After all, Su Yuhe was just sleeping; otherwise, he would be even happier.
With a carrot dangling in front of him, Huo Fu’an diligently recited the formulas, stealing kisses from Su Yuhe’s cheek, which were now flushed with embarrassment.
Su Yuhe’s eyelids twitched, not understanding what Huo Fu’an was doing. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he kept his eyes closed. But as Huo Fu’an recited a formula and leaned down to kiss him, Su Yuhe finally understood.
Su Yuhe was a little confused. Was this another way for him to get back at him? Using kisses as a form of retaliation, hoping to spark motivation for studying?
Smack.
Another kiss.
Willingness to study was always good. Pretending not to know, Su Yuhe’s other earlobe turned red secretly.
Today, Comrade Su was also dedicating himself to the youth’s educational cause.
As Huo Fu’an recited faster and faster, preparing to kiss him again, Su Yuhe couldn’t hold back any longer.
Wrong and still want to kiss?
In an instant, he opened his eyes and mechanically spouted a string of formulas. “You mixed up the numerator and denominator.”
Huo Fu’an was startled and leaned back, almost falling off the bed.
Close call. Huo Fu’an clenched his fist secretly: Su Yuhe was too cunning, pretending to sleep to trick him into kissing him!
He turned to look at the sleepy Su Yuhe, feeling a tightness in his lower abdomen again.
Although he hadn’t taken the initiative, this little trickster had finally been won over!
…
Swimming pool.
Su Yuhe received the confession command. After tutoring in advanced mathematics that day, he returned to the dormitory and searched a bunch of confession lines on Baidu, copying them all into a small notebook for future use. After memorizing them thoroughly, Su Yuhe, with a complex feeling at the last meeting with Huo Fu’an, went to the swimming pool.
He sat quietly on the bench as usual, holding Huo Fu’an’s towel, waiting for him to emerge from the water. When Huo Fu’an surfaced, Su Yuhe ran over, knelt down, and gently wiped the water off his hair.
The action was familiar, like an old couple.
Su Yuhe appeared calm and composed on the surface, but his heart was pounding rapidly. As Huo Fu’an leaned against him, he also felt the excitement. Suddenly, he realized that with Su Yuhe’s initiative, he was probably going to confess today.
Turning around and leaning on the edge of the pool, Huo Fu’an stared at Su Yuhe with shining eyes, like a large dog just out of the water, begging for a bone from its owner.
Su Yuhe licked his lips, feeling blank in his mind. He wanted to take out his notes and seek comfort in them. How did the books start again?
“Huo Fu’an, I, I…” Countless generic phrases from last night flashed through Su Yuhe’s mind. He boldly grabbed one and blurted out, “I, I like you. Would you like to join me in building socialism together?”
“…”
Su Yuhe stared nervously at Huo Fu’an, fearing rejection.
Huo Fu’an was stunned for a moment. Realizing that Su Yuhe’s highest ideal was communism, it meant including himself in a lifelong plan!
After understanding this, Huo Fu’an excitedly pushed himself up with both hands like a dolphin leaping out of the water, and, drenched, he pounced on Su Yuhe, embracing him and rolling around happily. He exclaimed, “I’m willing!”
Su Yuhe’s eyes curved with joy. He agreed! He no longer owed Huo Fu’an!
This inexplicable joy seemed not only to be because he had cleared his debts, but Su Yuhe temporarily couldn’t think of any other reason. Was every successful confession this joyful? But he didn’t really like Huo Fu’an, so why was he so happy?
Su Yuhe’s heart was in turmoil as he gently pushed Huo Fu’an away.
Su Yuhe, with his messy thoughts, asked softly, “Have I completed the task? Is the cross-dressing fishing incident cancelled?”
“What?” Huo Fu’an’s hot-blooded enthusiasm subsided, and he propped himself up on either side of Su Yuhe. “Sweetheart, what are you talking about?”
Su Yuhe repeated himself.
Huo Fu’an’s pupils shrank, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. He even felt like crushing Su Yuhe’s heart. He looked at Su Yuhe incredulously, “You took it as a task?”
“Isn’t that what you asked for?” Su Yuhe’s momentum weakened.
“If you’re not sincere, why did you agree to pursue me? Can love be joked about?” Huo Fu’an’s straightforward self-esteem was hurt. It was his first time in a relationship, and his partner was sometimes a girl, sometimes a boy. He couldn’t figure it out and often made a fool of himself.
Realizing that he had once again misunderstood the situation, Huo Fu’an let go of Su Yuhe. “Okay, I got it.”
“Disappear from my sight immediately, and we’ll call it even.”
With that, Huo Fu’an dove into the pool, creating a sad little wave. As the fish cries out, the water knows. The king of the sports institute never sheds tears in front of others.
Su Yuhe sat dumbfounded in place. According to Huo Fu’an’s request, he should leave the swimming pool immediately. However, he remembered Huo Fu’an’s figure before he entered the water. A heavy stone seemed to be pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
Even if Huo Fu’an discovered that he was a man one day, he had never spoken to him so harshly before.
Just now, both of them were happy about the successful confession.
Su Yuhe stared at the calm water surface. Huo Fu’an despised the school’s swimming pool and always liked to take him to various swimming pools, eager to take him for a swim in each one and seize the opportunity to kiss him.
Su Yuhe felt hopeless after being kissed, but he was still a duck out of water.
The water surface was too calm, but Huo Fu’an was diving in the deep end, disappearing completely.
Su Yuhe started to worry. The water reflected too much light, and he was slightly nearsighted. He squinted and looked around but didn’t see Huo Fu’an. In his heart, the probability of Huo Fu’an drowning in the pool was equivalent to him being choked to death by air, but he couldn’t help but worry. What if Huo Fu’an was in a bad mood today and made a mistake?
There was something vague in the center of the pool. Su Yuhe called out to Huo Fu’an a few times, but no one responded. He stomped his foot, grabbed the handrail next to the pool, and wanted to go down and see what was going on. Holding onto the ladder with one hand and pinching his nose with the other, he opened his eyes underwater.
The underwater view was clear, and he immediately saw Huo Fu’an. Su Yuhe tried to call him, “Huo… cough, cough…”
He was driven silly by Huo Fu’an’s urgency.
Su Yuhe choked on several mouthfuls of water, unable to grip the ladder, and felt the imminent threat of death. He struggled violently.
Every time he went into the water, it was always with Huo Fu’an. Su Yuhe never approached the water alone and rationally. Today was his first time swimming, and it was indeed terrible.
Suddenly, he felt a force underneath him, and Su Yuhe was immediately lifted out of the water. He wiped his face uncomfortably and opened his eyes to see Huo Fu’an, eyes red with anger.
“Are you trying to kill yourself? Even without me, you dare to go into the water!” Huo Fu’an’s strong arms lifted Su Yuhe out of the water like holding a child, his chest heaving with anger.
Su Yuhe’s eyes reddened. “You didn’t come out, so I was worried.”
Huo Fu’an was annoyed. The sight of him, the king of the sports institute, in such a sorry state, was witnessed by this little trickster. “Didn’t I tell you to leave?”
Did he want to see him trapped by emotions, shedding tears of love? No way.
Su Yuhe evaded the question and didn’t explain why he didn’t leave. He coughed softly on Huo Fu’an’s shoulder. “You didn’t take me swimming today… sniff.”
Huo Fu’an pinched Su Yuhe’s buttocks underwater forcefully. “I don’t want to take you anymore.”
Su Yuhe grabbed Huo Fu’an’s hand. His mind was in a mess, but he only knew that he couldn’t just leave like this today.
Then what did he want to do?
Su Yuhe urgently searched through his vast store of knowledge, attempting to find a suitable theoretical template to fit this problem and thereby solve it.
A brief silence fell between them, neither wanting to let go, yet unsure how to take the initiative.
Huo Fu’an went from anger at the beginning to holding his beloved in his arms, wanting to press Su Yuhe against the wall and kiss him thoroughly as his reward.
After a while, Su Yuhe blurted out, “Truth and falsehood can transform under certain conditions.”
Huo Fu’an’s expression darkened. “What are you talking about?”
Su, the philosopher, continued fluently, “Truth can turn into falsehood when it exceeds certain conditions and boundaries. Similarly, falsehood, when placed within suitable conditions and boundaries, can become truth.”
“Today’s confession, regarding love, was a mistake.”
Huo Fu’an’s face turned black.
“But this confession, under the premise that I like you, becomes true.”
Su, the philosopher, lowered his head and kissed the petrified Huo Fu’an. “It becomes true.”
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