Chapter 20: Disguise

Inside the dressing room, the two were positioned extremely close—one sitting, one kneeling.

Yu Xi’s hand was pressed firmly over Gu Chuanzhou’s mouth, feeling the dampness of the man’s exhaled breath against his palm. Meanwhile, Gu Chuanzhou’s hand remained squeezed between the youth’s thighs, absorbing the fragrance of his skin and his rising body temperature.

Yu Xi’s gaze was fixed elsewhere, his focus entirely on Zhang Xingkuo’s movements outside. He didn’t see the dark, scorching gaze Gu Chuanzhou was leveling at him.

Inch by inch, the man’s eyes swept over the fair thighs bulging slightly from the pressure, then moved to the roots of his legs partially hidden by the hem of his shirt, and finally to the chest heaving with nervous breaths… before settling on a face flushed with a vivid rose hue.

Beyond the visual impact, the scent of the youth alone was enough to make one’s head spin. As his body temperature rose, a fragrance that was hard to define became more intense than usual, slowly permeating the dressing room and tyrannically colonizing Gu Chuanzhou’s senses.

It was too fragrant… and too tempting. It clawed at Gu Chuanzhou’s nerves, systematically dismantling his logic.

Gulp. Gu Chuanzhou swallowed hard, suppressing the primal urge to lick the palm of the youth’s hand so close to his lips.

Unaware of Gu Chuanzhou’s inner torment, Yu Xi kept his ears pricked for outside noises. The equipment room wasn’t that large; Zhang Xingkuo’s footsteps soon circled back and approached the innermost dressing room. The sound of riding boots on the carpet was faint, requiring total concentration to track.

The closer the footsteps came, the faster Yu Xi’s heart hammered. Just as the sound reached the only closed door—his door—a ringtone suddenly went off.

The abrupt noise made Yu Xi jump in fright, his nerves already taut. Fortunately, the ringtone came from Zhang Xingkuo’s phone. The other man answered it and finally left the equipment room.

Hearing the heavy outer door close, Yu Xi let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. He relaxed instantly and whispered, “He’s gone.”

When he finally met Gu Chuanzhou’s deep, unreadable eyes, his heart gave a sudden, heavy throb. Realizing what he had been doing, he scrambled to pull his hand away from the man’s mouth and unclasped his legs, shrinking back against the wall.

“I’m sorry, I just got nervous and…”

Gu Chuanzhou didn’t change his posture. He remained kneeling, looking up at him. “Why was Xi Xi nervous?”

“I…” Yu Xi was caught off guard, his mind a chaotic mess.

Gu Chuanzhou continued to press: “We weren’t doing anything wrong. Why hide from Zhang Xingkuo?”

Yu Xi twisted his hands together, racking his brain for a vague answer. “It just… felt inappropriate.”

“In what way was it inappropriate? Enough to make you so afraid of him seeing?”

Yu Xi licked his dry lips. “He might… misunderstand.”

Gu Chuanzhou’s brow arched slightly. He leaned one hand on the stool, rising slightly to close the distance. This shift in height instantly changed the power dynamic. He trapped Yu Xi in the corner, his tall frame casting a shadow that completely enveloped the smaller youth.

“Misunderstand? Misunderstand what?”

Faced with this relentless questioning, Yu Xi found it hard to breathe. His heart was beating even faster than before. He looked at the Gu Chuanzhou before him—someone who seemed a bit like a stranger. He didn’t understand why this man, who usually couldn’t bear to trouble him, was “closing in” so aggressively, demanding a concrete answer.

With his brain turned to mush, Yu Xi chose another path out of desperation. He grabbed Gu Chuanzhou’s hand, pressed it back against the sore spot on his inner thigh, and pleaded softly, “Chuanzhou-gege, it still hurts. Keep massaging it for me, okay?”

Gu Chuanzhou’s breath hitched. His pupils dilated imperceptibly.

The youth before him looked so pitifully cornered, his eyes brimming with moisture. Not only had he pulled the man’s hand back to such a private place, but he had also used the childhood honorific.

To Gu Chuanzhou’s ears, there was a world of difference between “Chuanzhou-ge” and “Chuanzhou-gege.”

In an instant, all his dark intentions vanished. His heart felt as though it had melted into a pool of warm water; he couldn’t bring himself to tease the boy any further.

When Yu Xi finally walked out of the equipment room, twenty minutes had passed.

Gu Chuanzhou had massaged his legs for so long that the pain was gone, but the process had been an indescribable ordeal. He had said “It’s enough,” “No more,” and “It doesn’t hurt” several times, but Gu Chuanzhou insisted it wasn’t thorough enough, repeatedly pushing Yu Xi’s closing knees apart and telling him to “be good.”

Even now, having changed back into his original trousers, Yu Xi felt as though those two hands were still gripping his thighs. He walked with a slight, awkward stiffness.

“Still uncomfortable?” Gu Chuanzhou asked from his side.

Yu Xi shook his head frantically, terrified that the man would pin him in a corner and strip his pants off to continue the massage. He pulled Gu Chuanzhou along. “Let’s go find Yunshu and the others.”

They hadn’t gone far when they ran into the group at a hallway corner.

Zhang Xingkuo’s brow furrowed as his gaze swept over Yu Xi. “Xiao Xi, where were you? I couldn’t find you.”

Yu Xi wasn’t a good liar. He stammered, “I…”

“I took him for a stroll, and then he changed. Is there a problem?” Gu Chuanzhou answered for him.

“You’re one to talk,” Zhang Xingkuo said unpleasantly. “Taking people off on random detours while I’m looking everywhere.”

Yu Xi quickly changed the subject. “Are you all finished? Where’s A-Shen?”

“Restroom,” Sheng Yunshu replied, briefly looking up from her manga. “He’s been gone a while; he should be back soon.”

“I’ll go look for him then,” Yu Xi said hurriedly. “I’ll come back with him.” He dashed off toward the restrooms before anyone could offer to accompany him.

“Exactly. Isn’t it hilarious? He acts so righteous and serious usually, but who knows what schemes he’s pulling in the dark. It makes me want to vomit just looking at him.”

At the restroom sinks, Meng Liang was on a call via wireless earbuds, washing his hands. Whatever the person on the other end said made him let out a mocking sneer. As he reached for a paper towel, he caught sight of a tall figure emerging from a stall. The smile vanished from his face instantly.

“I’ll hang up. Talk later.” He tapped his earbud, crumpled the paper towel into a ball, and threw it. It hit the toe of Meng Shen’s shoe.

Meng Shen’s eyes, hidden beneath his bangs, landed flatly on the paper ball. He stepped over it without a ripple of emotion, ignoring Meng Liang completely as he walked to the nearest sink.

“Tch.” Meng Liang’s face darkened at being ignored. “Are you blind? Can’t you see a person standing here?”

Meng Shen remained silent, like a block of ice that would never give a response. He focused on washing his hands meticulously.

Meng Liang continued: “Feeling pretty proud lately, aren’t you? Now that Yu Xi is back, you’re rushing to follow him around every day like his dog.”

Meng Liang had said things like this many times during their childhood. Meng Shen had heard much worse. He didn’t care; he treated Meng Liang like thin air. He finished washing and turned to leave.

“Yu Xi is so stupid, getting tricked by someone like you…”

The stepping leg stopped. Meng Shen turned, his dark, sinister eyes locking onto Meng Liang.

“What? Did I say something wrong? He is stupid and slow, that’s why—” Meng Liang’s remaining words were cut off as his collar was suddenly jerked tight. His face contorted in pain as he stared up at the youth who was a head taller than him. He choked out two words: “Meng… Shen!”

Meng Shen’s face remained expressionless, except for his pitch-black eyes where a cold, violent undercurrent swirled. A terrifying, freezing aura radiated from him.

“You are not fit to speak his name.”

Lifted nearly off the ground and flushing red from lack of oxygen, Meng Liang managed a sneer. “What if I do? What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t fight for the family inheritance because I’m not interested, not because I’m afraid of you,” Meng Shen’s fingers tightened further. “But if you dare go near Xiao Xi again, don’t blame me for being ruthless. After all, I’m a dog protecting his master. For him, I’ll bite anyone I see.”

Meng Liang coughed, refusing to back down. “Finally stopped pretending? If Yu Xi knew you were like this, do you think he’d still want to be with you!”

The chill in Meng Shen’s eyes nearly overflowed. His jaw set so hard his teeth ground together; his forearm tensed for a strike.

Meng Liang felt it—first disbelief, then fury. “Try hitting me and see what happens!”

He finally panicked, beginning to struggle, but the hand on his collar was like forged iron. The strength of the grip intensified his suffocation. Just as he thought Meng Shen’s fist was about to fly, the other man suddenly let go.

Oxygen flooded his throat. It felt like a narrow escape from death. Meng Liang stood on shaking legs, teeth grit. Once the panic receded, it was replaced by a doubled sense of humiliation and rage.

He shoved Meng Shen hard. Despite his height, Meng Shen actually stumbled back from the push. Enraged, Meng Liang didn’t think twice and spat out: “What the hell is wrong with you, you idiot? Try being arrogant with me again and see if I don’t—”

“A-Shen!”

The youth’s voice from behind acted like a pause button. Meng Liang froze, his half-finished curse stuck in his throat, making his face turn even redder. He didn’t dare turn around, but the person he least wanted to see appeared anyway.

Yu Xi rushed between them. First, he grabbed Meng Shen’s arm to check for injuries, then he turned and glared fiercely at Meng Liang.

“Why are you bullying him!”

Meng Liang felt like he had swallowed a fly. He was silent for a long moment before finding his voice: “I didn’t! Look at the size of him, how could I bully him?? You should be worrying about me!”

Yu Xi’s gaze became even more disapproving. “I saw it. You pushed him. And now you’re lying to my face.”

“?!” Meng Liang finally realized what was happening. He turned and caught the flash of contempt in Meng Shen’s eyes behind Yu Xi. He felt like he was “eating bitter lotus but unable to speak of its taste”—completely stifled. “It’s not what you think, okay? This bastard is faking it. Don’t let him trick you!”

Yu Xi got even angrier. “And you’re calling him names!”

He turned back to comfort Meng Shen. Meng Shen shook his head, looking like a man enduring hardship to avoid making things difficult for Yu Xi. “Let’s go.”

“But…” Yu Xi felt indignant on Meng Shen’s behalf. He didn’t want to let it go, but Meng Shen gripped his hand with a pleading look.

Yu Xi calmed down. In the end, he said nothing more, but he didn’t forget to give Meng Liang a huffy glare before leaving.

Meng Liang was stunned by Meng Shen’s “playing the victim” routine. Watching the two of them walk away hand-in-hand, he could still hear Yu Xi’s soft, gentle voice comforting the other. He felt like being punched would have been better than this. He spat out a curse: “F*ck!”

The curse echoed in the hallway, reaching Yu Xi’s ears.

“He has no manners,” Yu Xi said, frowning. “Don’t take what he said to heart. He’s just mean.”

Listening to Yu Xi’s denouncement of Meng Liang, Meng Shen secretly curled his lips into a smile.

As they walked, Yu Xi became angry at himself, his red lips pouting slightly. “I’m sorry. I’m so useless, I couldn’t even stand up for you properly.”

In the end, he had only made Meng Shen endure it. Yu Xi felt powerless. He couldn’t be like he was as a child, ignoring everything for a moment of satisfaction. If he scolded Meng Liang, it might not hurt him, but it would certainly get back to the Meng family, making Meng Shen’s life even harder.

Meng Shen shook his head. “You are always protecting me.”

Whether as a child or now, Yu Xi was always the one pulling him out of dark corners into the sunlight, always standing in front of him when the Meng family bullied him. Even though Yu Xi was now smaller and more delicate than him, he was just as brave and kind as he had been back then.

Yu Xi was his hero.

The two tacitly hid the incident from the others. On the way back, Yu Xi didn’t choose to ride in Gu Chuanzhou’s car. Whenever he saw the man, he remembered the dressing room, and his face would burn. He sat in Zhang Xingkuo’s car instead.

Zhang Xingkuo gave Gu Chuanzhou a smug look, but his smile collapsed a second later when he saw Yu Xi pull Meng Shen into the backseat with him. “Doesn’t he usually take the Sheng family’s car?”

Yu Xi looked at Zhang Xingkuo pleadingly. “I want to be with him. Please?”

Zhang Xingkuo: “…”

The result was Zhang Xingkuo grumpily driving the three of them. He glanced at Pei Wang in the passenger seat, then at the two sitting close together in the rearview mirror, and let out a heavy snort. It didn’t even catch the youth’s attention.

Yu Xi was focusing entirely on Meng Shen. He didn’t want Meng Shen to digest his “wronged” feelings alone.

“Do you want to have dinner with me and Pei Wang tonight? Aunt Pei isn’t home.”

Meng Shen looked up slightly at the person beside him. Yu Xi wasn’t sitting on the other side; he was in the middle, leaning toward him. Their sleeves brushed, but they weren’t quite touching, as Yu Xi remembered he didn’t like physical contact.

“A-Shen?” Yu Xi tilted his head, his yellow hat bobbing as he waited for a response.

Meng Shen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked away and said softly, “Mhm.”

“Then I’ll ask Aunt Wan to make an extra portion!” Yu Xi immediately called the house.

While he was on the phone, Meng Shen’s gaze quietly drifted to him again. Specifically, to his hand. It was such a small hand compared to his own, looking thin and bony, yet it had been incredibly soft when he gripped it. That small, soft hand had led him out of the restroom and held him all the way.

Meng Shen looked at his own palm, thinking of the dampness during their contact. He wasn’t sure if it was all his own sweat from a racing heart, or if some of it was Yu Xi’s.

…But it definitely carried a bit of Yu Xi’s scent. It was definitely fragrant.

Meng Shen swallowed his dry, itchy throat again. He wanted to smell it. He wanted to lick it.

“Thanks, Aunt Wan. Bye!” Yu Xi hung up. He turned and saw Meng Shen covering his nose and mouth with his hand, breathing heavily. He grew worried. “Are you unwell?”

Meng Shen lowered his hand. “I’m fine.”

He looked normal enough. Yu Xi smiled: “That’s good. we’re almost there.”

When they got out of the car, Zhang Xingkuo’s eyes followed the three of them with extreme resentment. Yu Xi finally realized he had ignored him. “Xingxing, do you want to join? Is your family waiting for you for dinner?”

Zhang Xingkuo’s brow furrowed. “Never mind. Next time.” He had promised his mother he’d be home on time tonight. Before leaving, he threw a cold line at Meng Shen: “Go home as soon as you’re done eating.”

Yu Xi told Meng Shen happily, “A-Shen, Xingxing really cares about you!”

Meng Shen: “…Mhm.”

Soon, the days leading up to the start of university arrived.

Pei Wang, being a high school senior, had already started school early. Without having to tutor him, Yu Xi had plenty of time to make enough grass-woven grasshoppers. Before he left the house, Aunt Wan packed some homemade snacks for him—individually wrapped, perfect as little gifts.

In the afternoon, Yu Xi put on a sun cap and headed out with his paper bag. The sun was a bit harsh; his skin stung under the heat, so he picked up his pace. By the time he reached the Sheng villa, he was covered in sweat. The sisters came out to greet him almost immediately.

“This is the first time you’ve visited our house since you got back!” Sheng Yunjuan was excited, ordering the housekeeper to bring out all the best snacks.

“I’m here to give you something.” Yu Xi took a grasshopper out of the bag and placed it in Yunjuan’s hand. “Like I promised.”

“Whoa!!!” Yunjuan held it up over her head, ecstatic. She hugged Yu Xi and rubbed against him. “I knew Xiao Xi was the best! I really am the first one to get one this time!”

Yu Xi rubbed the tip of his nose, feeling a bit guilty. “I’m glad you like it… Yunshu, this is yours. And here are the snacks Aunt Wan made. Try them; they’re sweet and delicious.”

Sheng Yunshu took them with a light smile. “Thank you, Xiao Xi.”

After chatting for a while, the sisters learned that Yu Xi intended to deliver gifts to everyone’s house. One abandoned her nap and the other her novel; they changed clothes to accompany him.

Sheng Yunshu held an umbrella, shielding Yu Xi from the sun. “There’s something I should tell you. Shuhuai-ge is coming back soon.”

Yu Xi’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Next week,” Yunjuan said, skipping ahead while playing with the grasshopper’s long tail. “His global tour starts and ends here. The last show is coming up.”

“We’ll all get together then,” Yunshu added.

Yu Xi was already looking forward to it. “Mhm.”

The closest house to the Sheng villa was the Meng residence. Although years had passed and most of the Meng siblings had moved out, and the father was rarely home, the mother preferred quiet. The three of them rarely interacted with the other Mengs and found it inconvenient to enter. So, Yu Xi called Meng Shen to meet them at the gate.

Meng Shen seemed busy when he answered; it took him a while to run out. “Did you wait long?”

Yu Xi shook his head. Seeing sweat on the other’s forehead, he handed him a tissue. Meng Shen took it but didn’t use it, clenching it in his palm.

Sheng Yunshu remembered something. “I was careless; it’s your livestreaming time right now.”

“Livestreaming?” Yu Xi heard this for the first time, his eyes bright with curiosity.

Meng Shen shielded his heating face. “Mhm. Gaming.”

Yu Xi had heard that Meng Shen supported himself through the internet in his spare time, but he hadn’t expected gaming. His mind flashed to some variety streamers he’d seen—it was hard to imagine the usually quiet Meng Shen interacting with an audience. “You never told me. That’s a surprise.”

Yunjuan cut in: “It’s normal he didn’t tell you. At the start, I went to his stream to give him gifts and support him. Guess what? He blocked me! He told me not to come! Even if he was embarrassed about being seen by acquaintances, blocking me was a bit much, don’t you think?”

Yu Xi thought it was natural for Meng Shen not to want to be seen. He patted Yunjuan’s back to calm her down. He decided to change the subject. “If you have work to do, go back. We’re heading to Xingxing’s house next.”

Meng Shen’s lips parted as if to speak, but he remained silent, nodded, and went back inside.

As Yu Xi watched him enter and prepared to leave with the sisters, he felt a gaze. He looked up at the second floor of the villa. Behind a curtain, a spying figure vanished—not very quickly. Yu Xi saw it was Meng Liang and looked away.

On the way to Zhang Xingkuo’s house, Yu Xi’s phone vibrated. He opened it and found a link to a livestream from Meng Shen.

Meng Shen: [Xiao Xi can know everything about me.]

Yu Xi couldn’t help but smile. It was normal for friends to have privacy, and he wouldn’t have minded if Meng Shen kept it hidden. He hadn’t expected Meng Shen to send it so quickly, as if afraid it would affect their friendship. Yu Xi wasn’t in a rush to check it. He typed a reply.

[Okay! When I have time, I’ll see how amazing A-Shen is! Good luck with your stream!] [Sticker: Puppy jumping and waving pom-poms]

At the Zhang house, Yunjuan acted right at home. Zhang’s mother was having tea in the backyard. She greeted them warmly and sent a servant to call Zhang Xingkuo from upstairs.

“Sorry, Auntie Zhang, I only brought a few snacks.” Yu Xi was shy, taking the last of the treats from his bag.

Auntie Zhang was all smiles. “They go perfectly with tea. I remember you liked these filled candies when you were little. Here.”

Yu Xi caught a small handful. “It’s a bit much…”

“If you can’t finish them, take them home.” She got up to leave them space, hearing her son’s hurried footsteps. “Xingxing is here.”

Yu Xi turned, but the first thing he noticed wasn’t Zhang Xingkuo—it was the smoky-grey giant dog trailing behind him.

“August!” Yunjuan bent down and clapped. The big dog immediately rushed into her arms with its tongue out.

“Okay, okay.” Yunjuan laughed, holding back the dog’s head as it tried to lick her face. She introduced him to Yu Xi. “You haven’t met him yet, have you? This is August. He was found in August.”

Yu Xi was full of wonder, looking at August’s fluffy fur and bright eyes. August noticed the stranger too, tilting his head to inspect him.

“You can shake hands with him,” Yunjuan said.

Yu Xi knelt down and reached out a hand. “Hello, I’m Yu Xi.”

August raised a paw and placed it in his palm. “Woof!”

With that, man and dog were acquainted. August was spirited and soon started nipping at Yu Xi’s shoes, wanting to play.

Zhang Xingkuo barked a low command: “August, behave!” The dog’s ears drooped instantly.

“Can I pet him?” Yu Xi’s hands were itching to touch that big, fluffy head.

Zhang Xingkuo grabbed his hand and placed it on the dog’s head. “Don’t pet him too long, or he’ll start getting ideas.”

Yu Xi felt the incredibly soft fur. He carefully squeezed the springy ears. As he petted him, he looked up at Zhang Xingkuo’s hair and blurted out: “Your hair is just like his fur.” They felt about the same, too.

“Pfft—!” Yunjuan burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. “I told you the other day you dyed your hair like a dog, and you said I had no taste! See? Xiao Xi thinks so too!”

Even Sheng Yunshu’s lips quirked up.

Zhang Xingkuo’s face was dark. “I’m dyeing it in two days.”

Yu Xi froze, realizing he might have said something wrong. “I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I think your current color suits you; it looks cool.”

Zhang Xingkuo’s expression cleared instantly. He changed his mind in a second. “Then I’m not changing it.”

Yunjuan was speechless. “Xiao Xi, if you told him he looked best bald, he’d shave his head right now.”

Yu Xi: “Huh?”

Zhang Xingkuo pretended to kick her. “Can’t you say something nice for once?”

“Xiao Xi, look at him!” Yunjuan hid behind Yu Xi.

The group bickered. August didn’t understand, but he got excited and started jumping around, nearly tripping people until Zhang Xingkuo gave him a flick on the head. “Five years old and not steady at all.”

Yunjuan laughed. “He’s only steady in front of Gu Chuanzhou. He won’t even whimper then.”

Yu Xi asked, “Is he very afraid of Chuanzhou-ge?”

Yunjuan nodded. “Well, Gu Chuanzhou was the one who found him.”

Curious, Yu Xi listened as Yunjuan told August’s story. Five years ago, August was a puppy involved in a roadside accident. Gu Chuanzhou had passed by and sent him to a pet hospital. August was just a mixed-breed stray, but after being saved by Gu Chuanzhou, he recognized him as his master. Gu Chuanzhou, who hadn’t planned on getting a pet, saw the puppy begging at his feet and adopted him.

August was naturally mischievous. Gu Chuanzhou spent a lot of effort training him. Even though August destroyed furniture and turned the house upside down, making Yunjuan suggest he give the dog away, Gu Chuanzhou didn’t complain. He patiently cleaned up the messes and said, “Since he recognizes me as master, he is my dog.”

That was until Gu Chuanzhou discovered the dog had no “eye for people.” He was enthusiastic and fawning toward everyone. He’d rush up to strangers on walks to act spoiled and wouldn’t even listen to commands when he was having fun. After countless failed attempts to teach him, August once refused to leave Zhang Xingkuo’s house while playing. Gu Chuanzhou simply left him there. When Zhang Xingkuo tried to return the dog, Gu Chuanzhou refused: “Since he’s good to everyone, I don’t want him anymore.”

And so, August spent three months with Gu Chuanzhou and then became Zhang Xingkuo’s. But the reflexes ingrained in those three months remained. Whenever he saw Gu Chuanzhou’s cold face, August would instinctively be afraid.

Yunjuan complained while petting August: “Isn’t he weird? He tolerated all those other faults, but he couldn’t tolerate that. Most people want their dogs to be friendly.”

August let out a whine as if he understood.

“Oh, our August is sad. Come on, I’ll take you to get some jerky!” Yunjuan made Zhang Xingkuo lead the way. Hearing “jerky,” August perked up instantly, wagging his tail.

Zhang Xingkuo sighed and led them inside.

Yu Xi was still thinking about Gu Chuanzhou. Beside him, Sheng Yunshu, still reading, spoke up: “It’s a severe form of emotional perfectionism.” So severe that even pets were held to a standard of absolute loyalty.

Yu Xi froze. “…Emotional perfectionism?”

“Similarly, this kind of person is single-mindedly loyal to their chosen partner, but it comes with a terrifyingly strong possessiveness and desire for control.” Yunshu put down her novel and tilted her head at him. “Xiao Xi, if you’re targeted by someone like that, you must be careful. Understand?”

Yu Xi understood only partially.

Coincidentally, his phone rang. He looked down to see a message from Gu Chuanzhou.

[Xi Xi, are you with Zhang Xingkuo?] [Wait for me. I’m coming over now.]