FSGOR Ch40

Jiang Tian finally pierced the paper-thin layer of ambiguity between them.
Chu Xuyu had originally planned to take three months to figure out his feelings for Jiang Tian—whether they were just a fleeting impulse or something sincere.
Now, though his tone seemed casual, it was clear this was a decision he had thought through carefully.
“No need to give me an answer right away.”
Chu Xuyu held the boy’s face, gently caressing it, not pushing too hard. “You can take your time to think about it.”
“…Okay.”
Jiang Tian lowered his eyes and responded, but it was obvious he was still dazed and confused.
Chu Xuyu withdrew his deep gaze, let go of him, and calmly walked out of the bedroom. He paused briefly before saying, “Good night.”
Jiang Tian stood frozen. After a long while, he quietly murmured back, “Good night.”
It was destined to be a sleepless night.
An unexpected possibility had blindsided him, feeling almost unreal. Jiang Tian didn’t fall asleep until nearly dawn—and he had a nightmare where a big bad wolf barged into a good dog’s home, holding a whip.
In the dream, he was tied to a chair and couldn’t move, forced to watch as the wolf smirked in triumph and repeated eerily familiar threats—
“Did you really think deleting me would make me go away?”
“Baby.”
“You’re too naive.”
“I’ll make sure you know what it feels like to be toyed with.”
“…!”
Sunlight poured in through the windows. Jiang Tian jolted upright, shocked awake. He didn’t dare go back to sleep for fear of having that terrifying dream again.
He quickly got up and freshened up. Since he’d invited Chu Xuyu to tour Peking University, he didn’t want to keep him waiting. In just ten minutes, he brushed his teeth, washed his face, got dressed, and looked presentable.
When he stepped out, he heard some movement from the study—probably Chu Xuyu handling some work.
Jiang Tian quietly approached and saw him seated at the desk, leaning back in his chair, conducting a video meeting on his laptop.
Even in homewear, the man appeared composed and unapproachable, exuding a strict and refined aura like an icy mountain.
Jiang Tian felt a bit dazed. He couldn’t connect this version of Chu Xuyu with the one who had just gently asked if he wanted to be in a relationship.
He stood there without moving, and at that moment, Chu Xuyu seemed to sense something. He lowered the hand propping up his face, turned around, and the cold look in his eyes softened.
Their gazes met. Chu Xuyu tapped the spacebar, pausing the meeting, and said, “Go eat lunch first.”
“I still have one more meeting to finish.”
“…Alright.”
Jiang Tian suppressed a strange feeling, nodded obediently, and didn’t make a sound so as not to disturb his work.
Though they hadn’t set a specific time to leave, Jiang Tian had overslept and hated inconveniencing others. He couldn’t help feeling embarrassed.
Yet Chu Xuyu’s attitude hadn’t shown a hint of annoyance—in fact, it gave Jiang Tian a dangerous illusion of being treated like family.
When that thought crept into his mind…
Jiang Tian took a deep breath, sat at the dining area, scrolled through his shows, and started eating brunch while waiting for Chu Xuyu to finish his meeting before they headed out.
It was a hot summer noon. By around 4 PM, they finally opened the windows a crack to let in some air. Though still a bit stuffy, it wasn’t unbearable, and they got ready to leave.
Chu Xuyu wore sunglasses, his black hair neatly parted 3:7, a blue and white striped shirt tucked into jeans. Broad shoulders, long legs—he looked effortlessly cool.
Compared to him, Jiang Tian was more casually dressed. His phone rang a few times—it was a message from his sister Jiang Jing with a screenshot showing high UV levels and a voice message reminding him to wear sunscreen.
Jiang Tian obediently opened his luggage, found a small bottle of sunscreen, squeezed some out, and began applying it on his pale skin.
Then, Chu Xuyu silently stepped in front of him like a wall, clearly hinting without saying a word.
“…”
Jiang Tian tentatively asked, “Do you want some too?”
Chu Xuyu raised a brow and extended his arm without a word.
Jiang Tian got the message immediately. He squeezed out more sunscreen and gently pressed his palm to Chu Xuyu’s muscular forearm, spreading it evenly—much more carefully than when he did it for himself.
His face lowered in concentration as he patiently rubbed it in, while Chu Xuyu, watching his serious and obedient expression, couldn’t help but smile.
Once they were ready, they left the hotel and walked toward Peking University. After entering the campus, they each scanned a rental bike and began a leisurely tour.
As a top university, Peking University had rich cultural heritage and stunning natural scenery—comparable to any top-rated tourist spot.
They biked past classical architecture, stopped at an ink-painting-like lakeside, listened to birds, enjoyed the breeze, and occasionally snapped some photos. The whole thing felt exactly like a date during the early stages of romance.
Since Jiang Tian was about to attend this university, he wanted to take some photos of himself with the scenery to send to his sister. But before he could, Chu Xuyu helped take a few shots—then quickly flipped the phone around and took a selfie with Jiang Tian.
The sudden movement made Jiang Tian’s heart skip a beat.
In the photo, Chu Xuyu had his sunglasses resting on his head, looking aloof and cool, his head tilted slightly toward Jiang Tian. Meanwhile, Jiang Tian was visibly unprepared, a bit tense but still radiating that youthful, handsome aura.
Despite their contrasting styles, the photo turned out surprisingly harmonious.
Jiang Tian was still in shock when Chu Xuyu sent the photo to his sister using Jiang Tian’s phone.
“?!!!”
He hurriedly snatched the phone back and unsent the message, his face flushing to his neck. If his sister saw it, she’d definitely think he was completely head-over-heels.
Chu Xuyu, the culprit, showed zero remorse. Instead, he said confidently, “Is it so embarrassing to be seen on campus with your boss?”
Jiang Tian had no idea how to respond.
He pretended to be mute, sent his sister some campus scenery instead, and pushed his bike forward. After ignoring him for two seconds, he turned back with a smile: “Ge.”
“What do you want for dinner?”
Chu Xuyu looked relaxed, basked in the sunlight, lips curved slightly. “You decide.”
The sunlight danced on him, magnifying his mature charm. Jiang Tian paused, swallowed hard, and asked, “Can we eat at the university cafeteria?”
“Of course.”
Chu Xuyu pushed his bike with one hand, slowed down as he passed Jiang Tian, and teasingly lifted his chin like petting a puppy. “Don’t ask for permission next time.”
“I’ll eat anything with you.”
“…”
Jiang Tian felt like his head was going to swell up like a balloon.
He thought Chu Xuyu was playing way too unfair—either teasing or blatantly flirting, showing absolutely no signs of being someone who had been single for years.
Then again, maybe the reason he’d never dated was because his standards were too high.
This made Jiang Tian feel like he was floating in the clouds—everything felt surreal. In his heart, he couldn’t figure out why someone like Chu Xuyu would ever notice someone like him.
Whether it was family background or personal charm, Jiang Tian didn’t think he was good enough. Compared to Chu Xuyu’s looks and credentials, it felt like the difference between mud and clouds.
Of course…
If Chu Xuyu ever heard such a humble thought, the domineering CEO would definitely be full of question marks, wondering if Jiang Tian had heatstroke-induced hallucinations.
As the sky dimmed, the evening at Peking University seemed wrapped in a soft filter of warmth. After dinner at the campus cafeteria, neither of them returned to the hotel. Instead, they wandered aimlessly.
Crossing the street after leaving the campus, they accidentally stumbled into a row of old hutong pubs where university students often gathered.
Each bar had its own unique vibe, signs flashing with light. One even had a live singer, a woman tuning her guitar on a small stage, about to start singing.
As the intro played, she sang a classic English song—“Say You Love Me.” Paired with the summer evening breeze, the atmosphere was dreamy and relaxed.
Jiang Tian stood frozen. Suddenly, Chu Xuyu grabbed his wrist and, without saying a word, pulled him into the bar.
Boom.
His heartbeat picked up.
Chu Xuyu ordered two glasses of plum wine, appropriately named “First Love.” Paired with the singer’s delicate voice, Jiang Tian couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild. Even though they hadn’t officially agreed to date—
Still, wasn’t this already what a relationship looked like?
The boy sat at the bar, pretending to savor the sweet-tart wine seriously, but kept sneaking glances at the man beside him. Under the gentle glow of the lights, Chu Xuyu’s face looked exceptionally alluring.
Thump, thump.
His heart was completely out of control.
The live band played smooth jazz soaked in love. Immersed in the lyrics, Jiang Tian felt as if he were bewitched, imagining Chu Xuyu’s low, seductive voice whispering about his longing and possessiveness.
“Don’t you know I love you.”
“Don’t you know I need you.”
“Say that you love me too.”
“……”
That night—
Chu Xuyu had seen plenty of people who got tipsy easily, but Jiang Tian’s flushed face after drinking stood out. After finishing their drinks and leaving the bar, the two strolled again without a clear destination.
Under the streetlights, the boy walked along worn cobblestones, steps slower than usual, looking like he wanted to speak but kept hesitating.
Chu Xuyu matched his pace, patient as ever. The whole day, he hadn’t pushed for an answer.
Just as they were about to exit the hutong, the sound of splashing water came from behind a fence, followed by a faint whimper.
They stopped and instinctively turned toward the sound.
The lighting was dim, but they could still make out the figure of a small stray dog struggling in the water.
It was clearly just a pup, likely born not long ago, and hadn’t yet learned to swim. It was about to sink.
They didn’t have time to talk. The two of them searched the ground for anything they could use—sticks, poles—something the puppy could latch onto. But there wasn’t even a single tree branch nearby.
The area was empty. No signs of residents, no sound—just the two of them and the poor little stray dog.
Just as Jiang Tian was about to jump in—
Chu Xuyu took off his outer shirt, revealing a plain white T-shirt underneath. He squatted down and twisted the shirt into a makeshift rope. Splash. The murky water sprayed up as he threw one end out—he didn’t move from his spot.
“Bite the shirt.”
Jiang Tian, almost like a dog whisperer, squatted down too. Somehow, the frightened pup heard him and, incredibly, bit down on the sleeve.
Then—
With barely any effort, Chu Xuyu pulled the dog back toward the edge of the pond.
Jiang Tian reached out and quickly grabbed the wet little guy, carefully setting it on the ground with incredible gentleness to avoid frightening it again.
But the puppy, clearly terrified, instinctively shook its paws—splattering dirty water all over them both.
“He’s got attitude, huh.”
Chu Xuyu laughed in exasperation but showed no signs of annoyance. Using the clean end of his shirt, he gently wiped the trembling little mutt dry.
His movements weren’t heavy, yet they carried an undeniable tenderness that made Jiang Tian freeze, his heartbeat accelerating once again.
The little dog, perhaps realizing it had done something wrong and that the humans didn’t blame it—instead even helping to clean it—became remarkably well-behaved, staying perfectly still and occasionally letting out soft, pitiful whimpers.
“Don’t be scared.”
Jiang Tian gave it a gentle smile, reaching out to softly pat its forehead, reassuring it with a warm voice, “Gege will help you dry off.”
The “gege” in question, that domineering CEO, wasn’t pretending to be kind to animals just to impress the handsome boy beside him. Long before this, he had already established a wildlife conservation fund. His actions now were purely instinctive—an extension of his nature.
After a while—
That expensive dress shirt was completely ruined, but at least the puppy didn’t catch a cold. In the end, it was worth the tens of thousands it cost.
Once the puppy was dry and perky again, it happily scampered off. The two of them stood up as well—looking a bit disheveled, but sharing a quiet and hard-to-describe sense of satisfaction.
Something subtle was brewing between them.
Chu Xuyu walked over to the trash bin to throw away the ruined shirt. When he turned around, Jiang Tian was already stepping toward him, standing just slightly too close—his expression unreadable, a subtle air of ambiguity settling between them.
“What is it?”
Chu Xuyu couldn’t help but laugh a little, teasing, “What, are you about to give me a ‘nice guy’ card?”
Jiang Tian hesitated for a moment. “…No.”
Chu Xuyu raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh?”
“I’ve made up my mind.”
There was no hint of uncertainty in his voice. Jiang Tian looked straight at him and stepped closer, the warmth of his breath mixing with the lingering humidity in the air.
“Mm,” the boy said softly, “I’ve already thought it through.”
Chu Xuyu held his breath, waiting for him to go on—but instead, Jiang Tian pulled a small packet of tissues from somewhere, gently took his hand, and began to carefully wipe away the dirty water on his fingers.
Chu Xuyu froze. “…?”
He didn’t know what that meant. Just as he was about to ask, stomach tied in a knot with anticipation—
Suddenly—
Jiang Tian, clearly having planned this, grasped his hand, sending a shiver of electricity up his arm. Chu Xuyu’s breath hitched.
“…Ge.”
Jiang Tian looked him in the eyes, their fingers tightly entwined, and breathed out softly with flirtatious warmth, “Let’s give it a try.”