Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: You Yuanxiu

Qi Yuan had already mentally sketched out his plan.

After telling You Yuanxiu to wait and hearing him say he’d be there soon, Qi Yuan felt a measure of relief. He returned the phone to the kind stranger, then ruffled his smooth hair to make it look messier.

He wasn’t sure if this would work or backfire, but in Qi Yuan’s mind, doing something was better than nothing.

The biting wind served as a sharp reminder to stay clear-headed.

Under the streetlights, the roads were deserted.

Snow seemed poised to fall again; the sky was a dull gray, dark clouds obscuring the sun.

Qi Yuan cupped his hands and breathed into them. He’d forgotten his gloves when he rushed out, and tucking his hands into his pockets hadn’t helped much. His hands were stiff with cold, their skin flushed red.

The white mist from his breath rose slowly into the air, dissipating into nothing.

“Qi Yuan…”

The man who had rushed over fixed his unwavering gaze on Qi Yuan.

He seemed to have so much he wanted to say, but the words caught in his throat.

You Yuanxiu looked noticeably thinner, the flesh having melted from his face. His once steady demeanor had sharpened into a fierce intensity, like a sheathed bayonet, its edge keen and threatening, carrying the risk of being plunged into you at any moment.

The two men locked eyes for what felt like an eternity.

“I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Thousands of thoughts swirled in his heart, yet they coalesced into this single sentence.

You Yuanxiu didn’t want to ask too many questions or engage in meaningless small talk. He simply wanted to savor this hard-won reunion with Qi Yuan.

On the way to the hotel, You Yuanxiu held Qi Yuan’s hand tightly.

The scalding heat transferred to Qi Yuan, gradually warming his ice-cold hand.

Two bodyguards followed behind them.

You Yuanxiu: “What are your plans now that you’re back?”

He didn’t ask why Qi Yuan had disappeared, preferring to let him reveal it himself. But if Qi Yuan remained silent, he wouldn’t press further. This would only prove he wasn’t as important in Qi Yuan’s heart as he hoped. In that case, he’d simply have to work harder to earn Qi Yuan’s acceptance.

Qi Yuan shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

A conflicted expression crossed his face, but it quickly gave way to determination.

“You Yuanxiu,” Qi Yuan called his name.

You Yuanxiu simply replied, “I’m here.”

Qi Yuan: “If I told you I traveled here from ten years ago, would you believe me?”

Without hesitation, You Yuanxiu replied, “I would.”

A smile spread across his face as their footsteps came to a halt. His free hand gently caressed Qi Yuan’s youthful face—a face unchanged since his disappearance, still so beautiful, young, and vibrant.

This vibrant Qi Yuan was no longer the untouchable figure from old photographs.

His eyes darkened slightly, and his hand paused momentarily, but he managed to control himself. His eyes curved into a softer crescent, and his smile deepened.

“I believe every word you say.”

“Besides, I can see it, and I can feel it too.”

“The aging me… and the still-young Qi Yuan.”

Qi Yuan disapproved of You Yuanxiu’s words, feeling he shouldn’t create age anxiety for himself.

“You Yuanxiu, don’t talk like that.”

“You’re not old at all! You look exactly the same as before, really!”

You Yuanxiu lowered his gaze, staring at Qi Yuan’s moving lips.

He appeared dejected, but in reality, he was coveting.

He chuckled bitterly.

“You don’t need to try and comfort me. I know my own age, but I’m still happy that you’re willing to humor me, Qi Yuan.”

With that, he averted his gaze, unwilling to continue the conversation.

“It’s cold outside. Let’s go back to the hotel first.”

Qi Yuan didn’t press further. “Alright.”

Stepping into the hotel, Qi Yuan felt as if spring had arrived.

You Yuanxiu led him straight to the presidential suite on the top floor.

Inside the room, Qi Yuan shed his heavy coat and scarf. The constant temperature maintained by the air conditioning gradually flushed his cheeks a rosy pink.

You Yuanxiu also took off his coat and went to pour a cup of hot water, handing it to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan accepted the cup with a smile. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” You Yuanxiu replied.

The room fell silent.

They sat on the sofa.

You Yuanxiu: “Qi Yuan, after you came back, was I the first person you sought out?”

His tone was calm, but Qi Yuan could sense the weight of the question for him. Yet Qi Yuan didn’t want You Yuanxiu to know he recognized the significance of this question.

Instead, Qi Yuan blew on the steaming cup.

“Does it matter to you?” he countered.

Their eyes met and held for a long moment.

Finally, You Yuanxiu retreated.

“It’s very important.”

“Qi Yuan.”

“This is very important to me.”

He repeated, emphasizing each word.

Qi Yuan set the water glass on the coffee table.

“Why is it so important, You Yuanxiu?”

Before the words had even left his lips, You Yuanxiu had pulled Qi Yuan into a tight embrace.

You Yuanxiu buried his face in Qi Yuan’s shoulder, murmuring resentfully, “You’re such a bastard.”

“Qi Yuan, you’re going to drive me insane one of these days.”

He longed to pour out his overwhelming affection, to kiss the mouth that was tormenting him.

But the memory of Qi Yuan’s heartless, unilateral breakup loomed over him.

To be honest, he was afraid—afraid of reading too much into things, afraid that his presumptuous actions would lead to yet another heartless abandonment. He couldn’t endure that again.

Love and hatred were tangled together, impossible to untangle or sever.

Qi Yuan gently patted You Yuanxiu’s back, sensing that his emotional state had reached its limit. He refrained from further provoking him with words.

The me in this Dreamscape must have done something to make You Yuanxiu’s emotions so unstable, he thought.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to apologize, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. After all, he was Qi Yuan.

A beat of silence. “I’m sorry.”

Hearing the apology, You Yuanxiu lifted his head and pressed his forehead against Qi Yuan’s.

They were so close their breaths mingled, the air thick with unspoken intimacy and a subtle, almost imperceptible allure.

“You don’t need to apologize,” You Yuanxiu said softly. “I’ve already forgiven you. As long as you’re alive, that’s all that matters.”

His demands were few; longing had already hollowed him out.

Hate had been vanquished by love. You Yuanxiu had to admit he adored Qi Yuan.

“Actually, back then I thought you didn’t like me at all,” he continued. “I just wanted to confirm… if you ever felt even a little bit of affection for me.”

“Ten years ago, I meant to ask you, but you disappeared. I searched for you for so long, but I never found you. I refused to give up, refused to believe you might be dead. I swore I would never stop searching for you, not even until the day I die.”

Qi Yuan listened in silence, realizing that perhaps the best response was simply to be a good listener.

It was hard to tell if You Yuanxiu had already been coming down with a cold, or if the chill wind he caught while searching for Qi Yuan had worsened it.

His body burned with fever.

Qi Yuan retrieved the medical kit. As You Yuanxiu’s personal room, and one he stayed in regularly, it was well-stocked.

He gave You Yuanxiu a fever-reducing pill and brought a basin of water to sponge him down. Alcohol would have cooled him faster, but this should help.

Qi Yuan had nearly died of fright when You Yuanxiu suddenly collapsed mid-conversation. It had taken all his strength to get the man onto the bed.

He couldn’t help but marvel at the absurdity of the situation.

“Cold…”

“Cold…”

Hearing the delirious murmurs from the bed, Qi Yuan turned up the thermostat. High fevers always ran this course—you either weathered them out or went to the hospital for an IV drip.

He would have liked to call for help, but You Yuanxiu refused. When Qi Yuan had first dragged him onto the bed, You Yuanxiu had briefly regained consciousness and insisted against going to the hospital.

“I’ll just take some medicine,” he had mumbled.

Qi Yuan couldn’t bring himself to leave the sick man alone, especially since he hadn’t yet achieved his objective. There was no way he would leave.

After keeping watch for a while, he took You Yuanxiu’s temperature again.

The reading on the thermometer had dropped slightly.

It was hard to tell if You Yuanxiu’s condition was improving or deteriorating.

He’d been about to leave to fetch fresh water and wipe You Yuanxiu’s body down—he was already sweating profusely—when You Yuanxiu’s eyes snapped open. He grabbed Qi Yuan’s wrist and yanked him down onto the bed.

Before Qi Yuan could react, he found himself lying on the mattress, You Yuanxiu’s arm wrapped around his waist.

Then, a series of kisses landed on his neck.

Still somewhat dazed, Qi Yuan had never heard that feverish patients could also become aroused.

He barely restrained himself from punching You Yuanxiu.

But when You Yuanxiu bit his shoulder, Qi Yuan couldn’t hold back any longer. He grabbed You Yuanxiu’s thick hair and yanked his head back with a sharp tug—not violently, but enough to break their hold.

“Are you a dog or something?” Qi Yuan snapped.