Chapter 5: A Quiet Shift in the Heart

Unlike Gu Qiuhang, He Ting was completely absorbed in his exercises at the moment.

Although the difficulty level in this world was about the same as in his original world, He Ting had been a humanities student, while Tang Xi was a science student.

Even with Tang Xi’s memories and emotions, He Ting still found it quite challenging.

He worked carefully, flipping through textbooks to check example problems, frowning slightly as he wrote slowly and earnestly.

Whenever he really couldn’t figure something out, he would ask the system to explain it to him.

Only when his performance reached about Tang Xi’s usual level did he finally relax his brows and let out a soft sigh of relief.

As soon as he arrived at school that day, Du An mysteriously leaned in and told him he had already arranged to meet a senior after school to discuss the transfer.

While praising Du An for his efficiency, He Ting also called a well-known private restaurant near the school to reserve a private room.

The senior’s surname was Su, his name was Su He.

It wasn’t until they met that evening that He Ting realized Su He was in the same class as Su Bei and was even closely related to him.

He Ting grew a little nervous, afraid Su Bei might find out about this.

He had deliberately avoided Su Bei because their relationship was already somewhat awkward.

He wanted to gradually build a genuine friendship with Su Bei, one where they could help each other, not give the impression that he was being opportunistic.

He worried that if Su Bei found out, he might think approaching Su He had been deliberate.

He also worried that Su Bei might feel hurt, thinking he wasn’t being treated as a friend since He Ting had gone to someone else for help instead.

His thoughts became tangled, and He Ting couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

But the arrow was already on the string. There was no turning back.

He could only hope Su Bei wouldn’t find out.

And, realistically speaking, he didn’t have much choice anyway, so overthinking it was pointless.

After sorting out his thoughts, He Ting relaxed.

He explained Meng Ling’s situation and made his request, hoping the process could be expedited, even if it meant paying more.

Su He agreed without issue and listed all the required documents and fees for him.

The atmosphere at the table was lively. He Ting diligently toasted the senior, hoping he would put in extra effort to complete Meng Ling’s transfer as soon as possible.

However, he overestimated his alcohol tolerance. Before long, the alcohol hit him, his cheeks grew warm, and even his vision blurred slightly.

Du An found it amusing, pinching his cheek and saying he looked like a little girl, flushed and adorable.

He Ting smiled sweetly on the surface but secretly pinched Du An’s thigh, making him yelp.

At one point, Su He went to the restroom and returned with someone else.

When the door opened, He Ting looked up, and accidentally locked eyes with that person.

He shivered slightly and immediately lowered his head, hoping he hadn’t been noticed.

Su Bei had just come from sports practice and was still in his athletic wear. Their team had won a match that afternoon and was celebrating at the same restaurant.

His eyes were bright, his hair damp with sweat, and his handsome face was full of youthful energy and vitality, with a hint of sharpness.

He seemed like a gust of fresh wind, refreshing and invigorating, lighting up the entire room.

He Ting was still stunned when he heard Su Bei call out, “Tang Tang?”

‘What the hell is Tang Tang’, He Ting complained inwardly.

As everyone turned to look, Du An was especially shocked, muttering indignantly, “You actually know Su Bei?”

He pinched He Ting’s thigh again. “Damn it, you know people and still made me find connections? Do you even know Su He is relying on Su Bei’s connections?”

“Are you stupid?” Du An looked like he wanted to flick his forehead.

Unable to play dead anymore, He Ting smiled obediently. “Senior.”

Then, in an overly polite tone, he added, “Good afternoon, senior.”

Su Bei burst out laughing and sat beside him. “It’s already evening.”

Su He also laughed. “What a coincidence, like a flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple. Family doesn’t recognize family.”

Su Bei casually ruffled Su He’s hair and then looked at He Ting. “So you’re the one asking Xiao He for help? Tang Tang?”

He Ting lowered his head, feeling strangely like a kid caught doing something wrong by a parent.

Before he could respond, Su He chuckled. “Yeah. If I’d known you two knew each other, there wouldn’t have been all this trouble. Just one word would’ve done it.”

Su Bei immediately said, “Don’t bother anymore. I’ll handle it for him.”

Su He nodded. “That’s even better.”

He Ting felt extremely awkward and especially apologetic to Su He. “Is that really okay?”

Su Bei smiled. “Why wouldn’t it be? You don’t want my help?”

He Ting quickly shook his head. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

Su Bei glanced at Su He and said, “He earns a little pocket money from this, but he’s not short of it. But you—why didn’t you come to me for help?”

He Ting thought, Here it comes.

He pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Su Bei didn’t press further. Seeing He Ting’s flushed cheeks, he smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair. “Stop drinking. I’ll take you home later.”

He Ting obediently hummed in agreement. When you’ve made a mistake, acting well-behaved is always the safest option.

After spending a little more time with his team, Su Bei said goodbye and took He Ting with him.

They dropped Du An off first, then headed to the Gu residence.

With the driver present, Su Bei didn’t say much.

Only after they got out of the car and stood at the gate did he grin. “Didn’t expect it, huh? After going in circles, you still ended up in my hands.”

He Ting glared at him. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Under the influence of alcohol, his eyes were slightly watery, his cheeks flushed. When he widened his eyes, he looked especially adorable.

Su Bei couldn’t resist pinching his cheeks. “You look so well-behaved, but you’re actually not obedient at all.”

He Ting pursed his lips and turned his head away, sincerely saying, “Thank you, senior.”

Su Bei ruffled his hair, then leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “It’s fine. After all, you’re my boyfriend.”

He Ting’s face turned even redder. “Senior!” he protested in embarrassment.

He truly had no way of dealing with Su Bei’s teasing mouth and could only glare at him with wide eyes.

Amused, Su Bei laughed. “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. There’s a basketball game next Friday, you come.”

He frowned slightly, recalling something annoying. “Ren Yang showed up today. Took a lot of effort to get rid of him. Annoying.”

Seeing him frustrated, He Ting finally felt a bit pleased. He chuckled but still agreed readily, “Okay.”

Su Bei ruffled his hair again. “Go inside.”

He Ting nodded but waited until Su Bei got into the car before entering the gate.

The spring night breeze was usually refreshing, but today it made his head spin, the alcohol rising in waves.

Although Su Bei had told him to stop drinking, He Ting still toasted Su He twice to apologize.

And Du An had forced two more drinks on him out of spite.

As he walked inside, his coat billowed in the wind, his unsteady steps faltering slightly on the stone path.

Just as He Ting was about to complain to the system about Tang Xi’s poor alcohol tolerance, he felt someone support his arm.

He turned his head and saw Gu Qiuhang’s bright eyes in the darkness.

He immediately straightened. “Young master.”

Gu Qiuhang responded with a soft “Mm.”

Rubbing his aching temples, He Ting asked, “It’s so late, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Came out for a walk,” Gu Qiuhang said. “What about you? Why so late? And smelling of alcohol?”

He Ting smiled. “Went out for dinner with classmates.”

“Classmates?” Gu Qiuhang said lightly. “Since when did Su Bei become your classmate?”

He Ting pressed his lips together. “You saw that?”

“Saw what?” Gu Qiuhang asked, looking at him directly, a faint smile in his eyes.

Feeling awkward, He Ting gently pulled his arm away and explained, “Su Bei… senior. We just ran into each other by chance.”

Gu Qiuhang looked at him for a moment without speaking, but his expression grew colder.

He Ting was used to that look.

Those small traces of sadness and disappointment had long since numbed.

What he didn’t know was that Gu Qiuhang had been waiting for him.

When he heard the car outside, he had come out immediately.

He had watched from inside as He Ting and Su Bei talked at the gate, every little intimate gesture between them had been seen clearly.

They walked forward in silence.

Inside the hall, He Ting greeted him briefly and went upstairs.

Gu Qiuhang, however, knocked on Aunt Zhou’s door and asked her to prepare some sobering soup.

He Ting tossed his bag aside, filled the bathtub, and sank into the hot water with a satisfied sigh.

The bath relaxed him completely, easing his fatigue.

And with Meng Ling’s matter progressing smoothly, he felt lighter both physically and mentally.

With his worries gone, the rising steam and lingering alcohol made his eyelids grow heavy.

He sat up, wrapped a towel around his waist, and walked out while drying his hair.

At that moment, Gu Qiuhang had just placed the sobering soup on the table.

Hearing the door, he turned, and saw the boy emerging from the bathroom, half-naked.

A towel loosely wrapped around his waist, half-covering, half-revealing.

His upper body bare, skin pale like jade, still damp and glowing under the light.

Water droplets dripped from his dark hair, his cheeks flushed from the heat, his eyes misty as if holding a pool of water.

Gu Qiuhang’s gaze flared like fire, traveling from the boy’s delicate jawline downward, his slender neck, small Adam’s apple, fine collarbones, chest…

He closed his eyes, not daring to look further, lowering his gaze.

But that slim waist, those long, lean legs, those pale feet with soft pink toes, everything made his lips press tighter.

He Ting also noticed him and froze for a moment before turning to find clothes.

Opening the wardrobe, he asked, “Young master… why didn’t you knock before coming in?”

“I did. You didn’t hear,” Gu Qiuhang’s voice was slightly hoarse. “The soup’s on the table. Drink it.”

At the small of He Ting’s back were two shallow dimples, delicate, yet undeniably alluring.

Gu Qiuhang couldn’t help but want to reach out and touch them.

A droplet slid down from his hair, tracing his neck, passing over his shoulder blades, along the line of his spine, down his narrow waist, and disappearing beneath the towel…

Gu Qiuhang felt heat surge through his body, his throat dry.

He wanted to turn away, but his gaze seemed glued in place, unable to move.

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