Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Dream

Qi Yuan was stunned by You Qinghe’s words. Could a sane person actually say something like that?

You’re a lunatic! he cursed inwardly, shoving You Qinghe away with all his strength. Caught off guard, You Qinghe was easily shoved aside.

Qi Yuan sat up, scooting backward until his buttocks reached the edge of the bed. Another careless move and he’d tumble off.

“You Qinghe, are you insane?!” he spat out, disbelief laced in his voice.

Forced by life’s harsh realities, Qi Yuan had never even been in a relationship in either of his two lifetimes. He was fundamentally naive when it came to matters of the heart.

Now, suddenly confronted with such an ethically charged situation in a dream, how could he remain calm? How could he possibly go along with this nightmare?

“Is Baby scared?” You Qinghe lay on his side, propped up on one arm, a taunting smirk playing on his lips as he gazed at Qi Yuan.

Only then did Qi Yuan notice that You Qinghe wasn’t wearing a shirt!

His upper body was completely bare, revealing an exceptionally sculpted physique. Eight-pack abs and a V-line threatened to blind Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan immediately squeezed his eyes shut, sighing wearily as he pressed a hand to his forehead.

“You Qinghe, if you don’t want me to kick you out, put your clothes on right now.”

He warned, his patience wearing thin.

“Alright, I’ll listen to Baby.” You Qinghe rose, first deliberately pressing close to Qi Yuan as if reluctant, then stepped off the bed, picked up the clothes he’d shed upon entering the room, and slipped them on.

“There, I’m being such a good boy. Does Baby have a reward for me?” He leaned in again.

Hearing that You Qinghe was dressed, Qi Yuan opened his eyes only to find a large face looming before him. Startled, his body instinctively recoiled backward.

His eyes widened involuntarily, and his hands groped wildly, seizing the front of You Qinghe’s shirt.

You Qinghe remained still, but a knowing smile spread across his face.

With the shirt as leverage, Qi Yuan braced his back and straightened, pulling himself back into his original position, falling into You Qinghe’s arms as if he’d thrown himself into the embrace.

Qi Yuan’s body trembled slightly from the shock. His heart pounded furiously, and he gasped for breath.

You Qinghe gently patted Qi Yuan’s back, soothing him softly. “Sorry,” he murmured, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

Qi Yuan was utterly exhausted, with no energy left for arguing. Normally, he would have shoved You Qinghe away and thrown a punch, but now he was too drained. He could only rest his head on You Qinghe’s shoulder, silent and lost in thought.

This dream was utterly bizarre. He couldn’t figure out the key to escaping it.

Perhaps the dream hadn’t yet provided any clues, and he needed to delve deeper to uncover them.

Based on You Qinghe’s first words—You Yuanxiu leaving, then returning to the room to touch him, and this being labeled as infidelity—it seemed obvious that You Yuanxiu was his boyfriend in this dream.

Of course, it could also be an ambiguous relationship, though that seemed less likely.

“I want to rest, You Qinghe.”

Qi Yuan pulled away from You Qinghe’s embrace, lifted his head, and stared into his eyes. “I want to rest alone,” he repeated earnestly.

He slid off the bed, his bare feet landing on the smooth floor. The dim light from the bedside lamp cast a pale glow on his face.

As expected, I still can’t bring myself to trouble Baby.

You Qinghe smiled bitterly.

Even after being abruptly abandoned, even after watching Qi Yuan immediately embrace his Big Brother, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt him. Even the slightest discomfort on Qi Yuan’s face was unbearable.

You Qinghe had always considered himself a man of principle, not one to cling shamelessly. Yet since meeting Qi Yuan, he had become less and less like himself, his moral boundaries steadily eroding.

Now, he told himself, what did it matter if he was abandoned? At least Qi Yuan was always within sight, wasn’t he?

So what if he was Qi Yuan’s secret lover? At least he still had the chance to get close, to embrace him, to kiss him…

“Of course you can.”

“Baby, call me if you need anything. I’ll always be here.”

He smiled easily, concealing the turmoil within.

What good was being the You Family’s Young Master? He still couldn’t compete with his Big Brother, still couldn’t have the lover he desired.

Realizing his own powerlessness, You Qinghe could only resort to petty schemes behind the scenes, too afraid to openly express his resentment and jealousy.

“Mmm.”

Qi Yuan’s expression softened slightly. Seeing You Qinghe’s docile obedience, he rewarded him with a sweet gesture.

“Good night, You Qinghe. Sweet dreams.”

“Good night,” You Qinghe said. “I hope I’m in your dreams. See you tomorrow.”

As the door opened and closed, all emotions were concealed.

The curtains were drawn open, revealing a balcony.

The sky was studded with stars, a crescent moon nestled among them, casting a silvery glow.

Qi Yuan slid open the glass door and stepped onto the balcony. Dressed only in his thin pajamas, he shivered in the cool night breeze.

He wrapped his arms around himself, the cold air clearing his muddled thoughts.

Scanning his surroundings, Qi Yuan realized he was staying in a villa. Under the moonlight, he could see a beautifully manicured garden beside it.

I told You Qinghe and You Qing I needed to rest…

Yet, compelled by some inexplicable urge, Qi Yuan found a coat in the closet, slipped it on, and crept quietly out of his third-floor room and down the stairs.

The villa was eerily silent at night, as if he were the only one awake.

In his slippers, he padded into the garden.

It was a riot of vibrant, dew-kissed flowers. Though Qi Yuan couldn’t identify their species, he could recognize their striking beauty.

The academy had flowerbeds and cultivated patches, but none could compare to the splendor of this garden.

Exploring this place is good for me, Qi Yuan thought. After all, dreams can shatter at any moment. I might never have another chance to see such beauty.

He wandered around for an unknown length of time, eventually deciding to return to his room to rest. But a voice from behind stopped him in his tracks. He turned around.

“Baby, can’t sleep?”

A tall, slender man in a suit jacket and black overcoat strode up to Qi Yuan with long strides.

It was You Yuanxiu.

He gently touched Qi Yuan’s wind-chilled face with his warm hand and said disapprovingly, “Why didn’t you wear more layers?” Then he cupped Qi Yuan’s face in both hands.

“I’m not cold,” Qi Yuan replied, grasping You Yuanxiu’s hand with his own, still warm from being tucked in his coat pocket, demonstrating with the warmth that he truly wasn’t cold.

“Good, as long as you’re not cold,” You Yuanxiu said. “Shall we keep walking around?”

He withdrew his hands from Qi Yuan’s face and instead intertwined their fingers, holding his hand.

“No need. I was just about to head back anyway,” Qi Yuan replied, shaking his head.

You Yuanxiu’s tone softened. “Alright, let’s go home and sleep.”

“Mm-hmm,” Qi Yuan murmured in agreement.

Hand in hand, they slowly walked into the villa. Throughout their walk, Qi Yuan remained oblivious to the shifting emotions in the eyes of the man beside him.

On the third floor, a figure stood on a balcony directly overlooking them, their gaze fixed intently on the pair.

Sensing the scrutiny, You Yuanxiu glanced up and saw his younger brother. Without caring whether the other could see him, he smirked defiantly.

You Qinghe’s face remained impassive, his excellent vision allowing him to take in every detail.

The hand gripping the balcony railing tightened, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

So, saying he was tired and wanted to sleep was a lie?

His real reason was to come downstairs and wait for his Big Brother? To escape from me?

His eyes grew increasingly bloodshot as fury devoured his reason.