FSGOR Ch21

For Chu Xuyu, getting deleted by his online boyfriend was more shocking than infuriating.

Afterward, a tangle of emotions consumed his daily life, making him feel like a stranger even to himself.

The young CEO, who had never been much of a drinker—only occasionally indulging for the sake of mood—was now using alcohol as a form of retaliation. Even when invited to drinking parties by friends, something he used to routinely turn down, he now accepted and even showed up on time—an almost unthinkable thing in the past.

The rich second-generation heirs in his social circle found this strange and surprising. No matter how they speculated, none of them could have imagined that the elusive head of the Chu family would be heartbroken over a failed online romance.

Late at night.

In a luxury villa on the outskirts of the city.

A gathering of rich second-gens and some A-list celebrities, dressed to impress and drenched in expensive perfume, looked like a dazzling flock of peacocks showing off.

Only Chu Xuyu, dressed in everyday casual wear, clearly not dressed for socializing, stood out like a sore thumb.

Yet, he was still the center of everyone’s attention. Even while quietly sitting in a corner, his deep, dark eyes held the force of a devouring black hole.

He exuded a composed yet dangerous aura. Though people approached him with politeness, no one dared to get too close.

Shen Yan, a film emperor and the host of the party, casually sat next to him. “What’s with you lately?”

It was a rhetorical question. Shen Yan’s acting was masterful—he just wanted to know what kind of trick that “little scammer” had used to make a high-ranking CEO fall apart like this.

Half of Chu Xuyu’s face was shrouded in shadow. He curled his lips with mockery. “He deleted me.”

“…What?”

Even the usually composed movie star was stunned for two seconds before asking in disbelief, “He scammed you and ran after taking the money?”

If that were true, Chu Xuyu wouldn’t have been so depressed—he’d have been angry enough to hunt the guy down immediately.

“Quite the opposite,” Chu Xuyu sneered. “Before he ran, he paid everything back—with interest.”

Shen Yan: “???”

The moment he heard the oddly specific sum, he fell silent.

For people like them, a few hundred thousand wasn’t much. But that exact amount—825 with change—wasn’t just hurtful, it was downright insulting.

Now he finally understood why his friend had turned into this mess.

Thinking of those frustrating memories, Chu Xuyu lost all interest in drinking. Even Shen Yan’s company couldn’t cheer him up.

Surrounded by fake social smiles and empty chatter, he felt nothing but bored and irritable, slumping deeper into the corner of the sofa, staring at the once-sweet chat history on his phone screen.

Now, the chat window displayed only one cruel line: “You have been deleted by the user.” Harsh and mocking.

Chu Xuyu already felt humiliated enough. That brat wasn’t some divine being. Even after trying to reach out so many times, he couldn’t possibly bring himself to send another friend request.

Instead of helping him move on, this party made him feel even worse. In one irrational moment, he almost tapped the screen to re-add the boy.

And then—

He clicked on the profile. Before the screen could refresh, the cute Border Collie avatar had already changed to the default gray icon. The ID was now nothing but a cold string of text: “This user has deactivated their account.”

“….”

Chu Xuyu froze. Cold dread seeped through him, followed by bitter self-mockery.

He couldn’t understand how afraid the boy must have been—for him to go as far as deleting his entire account just to avoid being contacted.

Having lost all patience, the CEO stood up, cigarette between his lips, and walked to the empty balcony for a moment of silence.

The night wind brushed his face. Nicotine spread across his tongue, bitter and sharp, and though his head ached, he finally felt a bit clearer.

He would eventually drag that little liar out of hiding.

And when he did—no matter how pitifully he begged—he wouldn’t let him off easy. That brat would taste what it felt like to be toyed with.

***

Meanwhile.

Jiang Tian was doing quite well. The whole mess had finally come to a close. Even though the ending wasn’t perfect, the weight on his heart had lifted.

He returned to his school life, attending classes on time. As a direct admission student, he felt no pressure about college entrance exams and spent most of his time playing soccer and previewing university courses.

There was a friendly school soccer match over the weekend, meant as a stress reliever for the students.

Jiang Tian thought the whole “catfishing scandal” was behind him, but that day, after soccer practice, some teammates horsing around in the locker room accidentally bumped into him.

His phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a loud smack.

It was awkward. The teammate who knocked into him bent down apologetically. “Sorry! I’ll fix your screen, I swear! I didn’t mean to—”

But they all went silent when they picked up the phone.

It wasn’t just a cracked screen—the phone was completely broken in two. The body had snapped, wires barely holding it together, screen and battery totally separated.

And it was an old model—the kind that didn’t seem worth repairing anymore.

“It’s fine,” Jiang Tian said quietly, taking the broken phone. His eyes lowered. No one knew what he was thinking. “I guess… it’s time for a new one.”

His voice was calm, but he looked like he was falling apart. His teammates panicked, asking if there was anything important on the phone.

“No.” His gaze flicked to the full-length mirror and he remembered the first full-body photo he’d taken with that phone. For some reason, his hand clenched around the broken device, and he whispered, “There was nothing.”

The others: “…”

But you look like your soul just left your body.

Luckily, someone had a spare phone he could borrow. After changing into his regular clothes, Jiang Tian slung his bag over his shoulder and walked back to the academic building for evening self-study.

Along the way, the school paths were still lined with blooming crabapple flowers, though they were near the end of their season.

He walked slowly, gripping the broken phone. The deeper he thought about it, the worse he felt.

It was hard to describe—like the final piece of evidence of his mistake had been destroyed, but instead of feeling relieved, all he felt was emptiness.

Back in the classroom, Jiang Tian sat in his seat. Half the class was empty.

Most of the top students had already secured direct admission and were preparing for overseas studies or university preview classes.

Jiang Tian was popular and often helped others with science competition problems. He was happy to talk with classmates.

“Jiang Tian.”

A familiar female voice called out. He looked up to see class president Zhang Wenxuan sitting across from him.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” he nodded out of habit. “Is it about that physics problem from last time?”

Zhang Wenxuan paused for a second, then laughed, “What kind of wild rumors are those underclassmen spreading? You’re still that emotionless problem-solving machine.”

“…?”

Jiang Tian didn’t get what she meant.

Wearing the third-year uniform, Zhang Wenxuan could easily pass as the lead in a school drama with her looks and presence. Yet in front of Jiang Tian, despite being one of the most popular girls in school, she always felt just like any other ordinary girl.

For instance, since she didn’t bring any problems with her today, Jiang Tian looked completely uninterested—as if nothing could spark his attention anymore.

Still, something about him felt different lately, like he was hiding something. But no one could step into his world easily to find out what it was.

“Aren’t you curious what I wanted to talk to you about?” Zhang Wenxuan asked.

Jiang Tian responded like a machine running a program. Only when she asked did he shake his head slightly. “I’m fine.”

“…” Zhang Wenxuan rested her face on her palm, clearly exasperated. “Why did you suddenly delete your account?”

Jiang Tian fell silent.

She pressed again, “Sorry, I’m just a bit curious—did it have something to do with those rumors the underclassmen were spreading?”

Jiang Tian answered directly, “That’s part of the reason.”

Zhang Wenxuan was visibly surprised—she hadn’t expected him to be so candid, especially since the gossip mostly revolved around his sexual orientation.

As one of the most popular students in class, he’d been constantly pursued since their third year began. As class president, Zhang Wenxuan had seen it all and, with graduation approaching, she no longer wanted to keep her feelings bottled up. She used the opportunity to speak honestly.

“I used to like you too,” she admitted, “but I got over it a long time ago.”

“…Really.” Jiang Tian paused in surprise.

Her tone was light and calm—clearly, she had already moved on. Maybe it was because they were heading to different universities through separate guaranteed admissions, and they had little chance of crossing paths again. It no longer mattered.

“You were always so good. I used to wonder what kind of girl could ever win your heart.”

“I even thought… maybe you just didn’t like anyone.”

“So when I heard people saying you might be gay, I was honestly surprised—and curious.”

Jiang Tian felt his thoughts grow chaotic. He didn’t know how to respond, so he feigned indifference. “I’m not sure either.”

Zhang Wenxuan asked cautiously, “Did you… meet someone?”

“…What makes you say that?”

She replied, “Everyone’s saying you were ‘turned.’ And you even used a rainbow flag as your background. I’ve been wondering for days—who could possibly be that attractive to turn someone like you?”

Jiang Tian had no answer. He just repeated something he’d heard before: “I think being gay is something you’re born with.”

“So…” Zhang Wenxuan pressed, “Did this person make you realize you were born that way?”

“…………”

Surrounded by academic elites, Jiang Tian now found his biggest problem was someone being too good at getting straight to the point.

He had only just managed to return to a peaceful routine over the past few days, but her question shattered that calm like glass. And the worst part? He had no idea how to refute her.

The bell for evening self-study rang. After Zhang Wenxuan returned to her seat, Jiang Tian sat there in a daze.

He had to admit—what she said wasn’t entirely wrong. He really had started to question his own orientation.

And it all started with that video.

Even though he hadn’t watched it in full, the shock it delivered was indescribable. It completely overturned Jiang Tian’s self-perception of the past 18 years.

He chose to deactivate his chat account, not only because classmates had started gossiping based on his social media, but also out of a strong urge to escape.

Deep down, he instinctively rejected the truth about his orientation. It felt like deleting the account was the only way to return his life to its previous, ripple-free state.

But now, several days had passed. And ever since his phone had broken, those unsettling emotions had crept back in.

With no other choice, Jiang Tian buried himself in problem-solving, trying to calm his nerves.

Even though he’d already won guaranteed admission to a top university through physics and chemistry Olympiads—and had even landed a spot in a competitive major—his sense of unease remained.

Buzz—

His phone vibrated in the pocket of his school uniform.

He had developed a habit during those chats with the catfish: respond to messages right away. Even using his teammate’s spare phone now, he’d instinctively set up the same habits.

Of course, that person could no longer message him. His new account had the same avatar and ID, but only ten people in the friend list.

Hao: Ah-Tian.

Hao: Wanna hang out tonight?

The message came from Zhao Yuanhao. After scoring over 50 points above the threshold in the mock exams, he’d basically secured a spot at the Capital Sports University. With the big match coming up, he probably just wanted to blow off steam beforehand.

From those two lines, Jiang Tian could already guess what was going on.

KIRA: Bar?

Hao: Haha.

Hao: You guessed it.

Hao: There’s a new bar with great drinks. If you sign up for a membership, they’re giving out limited-edition anime figurines. You in?

KIRA: Sure.

Hao: ???

Hao: You actually agreed?!

Clearly surprised, since Jiang Tian had only ever gone to a bar once—and that had nearly given him trauma, thanks to the catfishing incident.

Hao: I thought you’d say no.

Hao: Honestly, Lu Qiao asked me to check with you. He wants to go but is scared his celebrity sister will find out and scold him.

Hao: He figured if you came along, you guys could sip drinks while you helped him with some competition problems too.

KIRA: Okay.

KIRA: See you after class.

Evening study passed quickly. Since he was in uniform, Jiang Tian brought a lightweight athletic jacket with him.

When they met up after school, he was already wearing it—thinking it might help him avoid looking too much like a high schooler in the bar. But when he arrived at the school gate, he found the other three… were still in full school uniforms.

Jiang Tian was stunned.

Lu Qiao slung an arm over his shoulder and laughed, “Relax. That bar’s anime-themed. A bunch of students from nearby schools go there. No big deal.”

Jiang Tian nodded and hopped on his bike with the group. Together, they rode off toward K.R. Bar Street.

***

Southern side of the city.

K.R. Bar Street.

 

This cultural street in the old town district was lined with creative shops, food stalls in container booths, and as you went deeper inside, the sounds of live singers performing in the bars could be heard. Not every bar followed a chaotic or wild style.

The group was heading to a manga-themed gay bar that day. The bar had three floors with mixed-use areas, and both straight men and women were welcome.

They served drinks suitable for students, like soft drinks and low-alcohol fruit wines. The bar was still in its soft-opening phase, so it didn’t enforce weekend restrictions on student patrons—though there were still a few hard rules in place.

All of them were over 18, so despite wearing school uniforms, they were allowed in. The staff simply reminded them they were only allowed to stay on the first floor and couldn’t order anything with a high alcohol content.

They agreed with no problem. Lu Qiao even waved his test paper jokingly and said, “A top student like me only comes to bars to change the study environment!”

The staff member didn’t comment. If he hadn’t seen Lu Qiao’s barely-passing test score, he might’ve believed that nonsense.

The atmosphere inside the bar was rich and stylish, very different from the last bar they’d visited. The smell of alcohol blended perfectly with the faint scent of aromatherapy—pleasant and not overwhelming.

Once seated, Jiang Tian felt a little warm, so he took off his athletic jacket. Still in his school uniform, he ordered a drink and got ready to explain problems to Lu Qiao. He even took out scratch paper from his backpack.

They were sitting in a booth deeper inside the bar, so they didn’t notice a strikingly handsome man entering through the door—his appearance catching the eyes of many passersby.

He was tall, impeccably dressed, and sharp-featured. The shimmering bar lights cast a dramatic glow on his face.

Just two minutes ago, the server, who had been casually helping a few handsome college students, now had a flushed face and pounding heart, barely able to respond to the man’s presence.

“G-Good evening, sir,” the staff stammered, “Are you alone, or with friends? Would you like a private booth on the third floor?”

Chu Xuyu responded flatly, “A regular seat is fine.”

His voice was low and magnetic—almost sinful. The staff quickly guided him to a seat by the window near the entrance and smiled nervously. “Is this okay? If I’m not mistaken, this must be your first time in this kind of themed bar?”

Chu Xuyu nodded. “It’s fine.”

It really was his first time, but sitting near the door and window made the experience more bearable.

The staff gave a polite smile but was clearly reluctant to leave. He hesitated before asking, “Um, would you mind helping with our opening survey? I can offer you a complimentary drink—just need to add me as a friend and fill out a short form…”

Chu Xuyu glanced at his watch and replied coolly, “I don’t have a habit of adding people at bars.”

After all, he had already capsized in the gutter once, and he was still simmering with unresolved rage. He’d come here like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Realizing his own selfish intent had been exposed, the staff member awkwardly stepped away and just reminded him, “Feel free to scan the QR code to order.”

Chu Xuyu thanked him, ordered a glass of sparkling water, casually loosened his collar, and leaned back in the solo booth, observing the space.

To be honest, he hadn’t come here intentionally. He’d just dropped off a friend at the airport earlier that evening. On his way home, he passed by the old town area and saw that the bar street appeared on his map.

He hadn’t even thought before steering in this direction.

The street was noisy, with variously themed bars. He didn’t even know which one the little brat had visited.

But when passing this newly opened one, he noticed a promotional banner offering plush toy gifts based on an avatar the brat had once used. That was the only reason he stepped inside.

The moment he did, he regretted it. The place was absurdly noisy and packed with younger crowds.

As he waited for his drink, Shen Yan messaged him from the plane, suggesting they meet next time he returned to the country.

Afternoon Tea: We’ll see.

Afternoon Tea: I have private plans lately.

SHEN: ?

SHEN: Going to drag that little liar out and give him a beating?

Afternoon Tea: You guessed it.

Chu Xuyu’s narrow eyes squinted slightly. He tapped his long fingers on the table twice, as if silently counting down.

It was only a matter of time before he found that brat. He’d let him breathe for now.

***

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bar—

Jiang Tian started to feel a little uneasy.

He didn’t know if it was the air-conditioning or something else, but for some reason, this otherwise cute-themed bar gave him a strange sense of looming danger.

He was receiving a tutoring session from Lu Qiao, who was enthusiastically sipping his drink and chatting beside him. “Tian-Ge, your explanation just now was amazing.”

“Ever since you deleted that guy, you’ve been super jumpy.”

“I mean, it’s not like President Chu’s gonna walk into a bar and catch you or something.”

“…”

Jiang Tian choked violently on his juice, coughing hard. “Can you not say such terrifying things?”

Lu Qiao quickly handed him tissues. “Ack! Bad omen! I take it back—I won’t say stuff like that again!”

Jiang Tian nodded, accepting the apology. He really couldn’t handle that joke. If Chu Xuyu really showed up… he doubted he’d survive the night.

They kept chatting and working on questions. The mood at their table contrasted sharply with the lovey-dovey couple across from them.

Over there, a fluffy-dog-type boyfriend was whispering into his partner’s ear, while Jiang Tian’s group somehow shifted into a discussion about scumbags, nearly rolling up sleeves and heading out for a fight.

“Your sister really confronted him already?!”

It was Lu Qiao’s first time hearing that news. He leaned forward. “That happened yesterday? Didn’t she ask you to come?”

Jiang Tian shook his head. “Ever since that misunderstanding, she told me to stay out of it. She said she regretted dragging me in.”

Lu Qiao scratched the back of his neck. “Still, I worry she’s not safe dealing with that jerk alone. Are you sure she doesn’t need us to tag along?”

Jiang Tian: “She said she’ll call us if she needs backup.”

In reality, the scumbag was easier to deal with than expected. After being confronted, he didn’t put up much resistance—mostly arguing over who should cover expenses. The engagement party that had been set for later this year was canceled under the excuse of “special circumstances.”

What worried Jiang Tian now was how the scumbag acted one way in public and another in private—throwing dirt on his sister’s name in front of mutual friends.

The man’s family was far more powerful than theirs. Since negotiations hadn’t concluded and nothing had been announced publicly, anything could still happen.

Even though his sister said she didn’t want to drag him into it again, Jiang Tian still helped her handle everything behind the scenes. He couldn’t allow the person closest to him to be hurt.

Perhaps because he wasn’t in the right state of mind, after finishing the tutoring session, Jiang Tian ordered a low-alcohol fruit drink and started sipping it alone—unaware that the bar’s promotional event had just begun.

A staff member in cosplay walked onto the stage, holding a random number selector and enthusiastically explained the game rules:
“Good evening, babies~”

“Thank you for all the love for ORANGE Bar! As a veteran otaku bar owner, I’ve decided to bring out my precious collection for this special event~”

“Dun-dun-duuun~”

A fellow staff member rolled out a cart, and under the stage lights, limited-edition figures and anime collectibles were unveiled—causing screams from over half the audience.

Especially the table of Jiang Tian and his friends—the high school boys’ eyes went wide. One of the items was a collaboration figure between a popular soccer anime and Chiikawa, and every one of them looked like they wanted to storm the stage and snatch it.

Lu Qiao hyped it up, “What kind of elite school team member are you if you don’t bring this home?!”

Zhao Yuanhao: “I support this.”

Jiang Tian: “I support it too.”

Meanwhile, in another corner of the bar, Chu Xuyu glanced at the stage but wasn’t interested. He returned to replying to messages.

SHEN: Still at the bar?

Afternoon Tea: Yeah.

Afternoon Tea: Nowhere else to go anyway.

SHEN: You never used to be like this.

Afternoon Tea: Really.

Afternoon Tea: Didn’t think I’d get catfished either.

SHEN: …

The actor on the other end was speechless for a moment. He asked if Chu Xuyu was just there to drink or if he was trying to chat people up.

Chu Xuyu replied that his resting face was too scary—no one dared approach him.

And that wasn’t an exaggeration. This newly opened, youth-friendly bar wasn’t exactly sketchy, but it did have some odd characters—one heavily made-up twink even tried to sit on his lap.

SHEN: ???

SHEN: And you didn’t kick him out?

Afternoon Tea: …

Afternoon Tea: Had to get close to confirm it wasn’t him.

SHEN: …I swear, you’re seriously sick.

Chu Xuyu didn’t reply, but even he thought: How is this not a sickness? That little scammer had completely wrecked his life.

The young CEO didn’t belong in places like this. The drinks were so cheap and sketchy, he half-suspected they’d require a stomach pump after. And even though he’d only had a little, he already felt tipsy—who knew what kind of chemicals were in it?

Another round of screams erupted—someone had won a prize.

Chu Xuyu narrowed his eyes, spotting a group of high school boys in uniform. Two had their backs to him.

He sipped his sparkling water again while the emcee exaggeratedly called out from the stage:
“The prize winner must now pick one of two conditions to redeem your prize~”

“You can either pick a same-gender guest and give them a big ol’ hug—or you must randomly pay the bill for another table! Which will it be~?”

The emcee’s overly cutesy voice grated on Chu Xuyu’s nerves, but he tolerated it. After all, he’d chosen this place himself.

He was about to get up and leave when a strange curiosity took over—he wanted to see what those uniformed students would choose.

Maybe it was because of the video the scammer had once sent—his eyes kept drifting toward boys in school uniforms.

“…”

Just thinking of that brat made him feel hot all over. He rubbed his temple and turned toward the street outside the window, trying to cool down.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian and his friends were all fired up about the prize—the chance to win limited-edition figures had them giddy.

But hugging someone while wearing a school uniform was out of the question. If anyone filmed it and posted it online, their homeroom teacher might show up at their doorstep that same night.

On the other hand, paying the bill for a random table could be expensive—it was a gamble that might cost more than all the collectibles combined.

Everyone in the bar was watching them, waiting.

Jiang Tian remembered how last time they came to a bar, their coach chewed them out. He stepped up and said, “I’ll pay for it.”

The others felt guilty, but Jiang Tian insisted and reminded them he was about to receive another five-figure scholarship payout.

The “underachievers”: “!!!”

No one was even pretending not to be jealous—everyone just shouted, “Long live scholarship money!”

Jiang Tian: “…”

A bit too much, guys.

Lu Qiao, ever the extrovert, went on stage to receive the prize and draw the table number. It was tense—the whole bar was hanging on the announcement.

Jiang Tian pulled out his phone and got ready to pay.

When the emcee finally shouted “Table 16!,” the atmosphere exploded. Jiang Tian lowered his head and entered his payment password.

Payment successful. He exchanged a look with Lu Qiao, who grinned victoriously.

Holding his new soccer figure like a trophy, Lu Qiao bounced off the stage. “Was it expensive? If it was, we’ll split the bill!”

“Not at all.” Jiang Tian, in a great mood, shook his phone and smiled. “Just the cost of a sparkling water.”

Lu Qiao nearly lost it. “Damn! We really scored big tonight!!”

The group was genuinely thrilled. They’d opened a bar membership, joined the game, and walked away with two gifts. A total win.

As it got late, they split the gifts and got ready to head home.

While leaving, Jiang Tian didn’t notice the lone man staring blankly in the corner. But the man—Chu Xuyu—looked up just then, and for a brief second, their eyes met in the dim light.

Jiang Tian didn’t get a good look. He just vaguely noticed the man was well-dressed and seemed out of place in this bar. Then he walked out.

From that distant glance, Chu Xuyu couldn’t see the boy’s face clearly either. But it was like a ray of light broke through his daze and pulled him back to reality.

Right then, a staff member came over with the bill and told him the drink had already been paid for. For the first time in ages, Chu Xuyu’s cold expression faltered.

“…What just happened?”

His head was buzzing. He’d been zoning out and brooding over that runaway brat for so long, he hadn’t even noticed he was selected for the prize.

Then, a flash of memory surfaced—that glance. He quickly asked, “Did they already leave?”

“Yes,” the staff replied. “The boy who paid, along with his friends, already left.”

“He said not to worry about it. It was just the price of a sparkling water. He wished you a pleasant evening.”

Chu Xuyu: “…”

Well, this was a first. In all these years, no one had ever randomly treated him to a drink. And now, the one time he wandered into a bar, it actually happened.

Maybe this was fate—a decent memory in the part of town where that sweet-talking little devil had played him for a fool.

As he got up, Chu Xuyu casually picked up the receipt—just as another ray of light fell across the paper, landing squarely on the payer’s account name.

His entire body froze. The bar’s noise vanished from his ears.

He saw a word he recognized.

Payer: KIRA.

How could it be the same username as that little scammer?

He almost lost control. His chest heaved slightly as he growled, “What school uniform was he wearing?!”

The staff was startled by his sudden change in tone and nervously answered, “I-It was the Third High School uniform from Ning City.”