FSGOR Ch55

The Last Month Before School Starts

Compared to his anticipation for college life, Jiang Tian cherished his days in Ningcheng even more. This city held his family, friends, and a special, irreplaceable lover.

Although he appeared aloof, the boy was soft-hearted inside. Just last year on his birthday, he had been secretly moved to tears when his sister and teammates threw him a surprise celebration.

Outsiders didn’t know this, but among his friends, Jiang Tian was known to be particularly sentimental.

As the day of his departure for Beijing approached, everyone could see he was becoming quieter, as if he was hiding something on his mind.

That day, Jiang Tian and Lu Qiao had just finished playing soccer and were sitting in a bubble tea shop near the field, sipping cold drinks under the air conditioning, seemingly relaxed.

Lu Qiao stole glances at him, feeling rather proud—he hadn’t let his buddy down. Despite cramming before the college entrance exam, he didn’t make it into a Beijing school but was accepted into a popular program at a good university in neighboring Jin City.

Suddenly—

Lu Qiao patted his shoulder. “Aiya, I know what you’re worried about. But isn’t President Chu around? That scumbag’s already in deep trouble himself!”

“…” Jiang Tian nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

That really was his biggest concern—worrying that once he left Ningcheng, his sister would be alone and possibly face trouble, and he wouldn’t be there to protect her.

Fortunately, after the Ghostfire Gang incident, the two siblings knew all too well: neither Zeng Jiaxiang nor that other scumbag surnamed Yang came out unscathed. They had clearly messed with someone they never should’ve.

“Zeng Jiaxiang even lost his shot at going abroad,” Lu Qiao said with increasing satisfaction. “Bet he never thought his dad’s embezzlement would get exposed like that.”

Jiang Tian lowered his gaze, clearly distracted. But he still heard Lu Qiao cheerfully say, “Tian-Ge, I’m just in the neighboring city, it’s not like we’re ten thousand miles apart! We can still meet up on weekends, no problem!”

“If I’m free and bored, I’ll come find you for soccer, or if you’ve got time, come visit me for some jianbing guozi. We can hang out by the Haihe River and watch the uncles do diving stunts!”

[t/n: Jianbing guozi, also known as jianbing, is a popular Chinese street food, originating in Tianjin]

Jiang Tian chuckled lightly. It wasn’t as exaggerated as he described, but he still said, “Sure.”

“We’ll definitely see each other often.”

Maybe he just wasn’t used to saying goodbye.

Looking at his academically gifted, athletic friend, Lu Qiao—who knew him better than anyone—could see the darkness that lingered beneath Jiang Tian’s composed exterior. It was a residual scar from his childhood.

Unlike Jiang Tian, Lu Qiao had a happy, loving family. Even when he acted silly, every time he saw Jiang Tian like this, he felt worse than anyone.

There were many things he had never said to Jiang Tian.

At first, when he found out his buddy was dating a CEO, he was so shocked he nearly lost his eyeballs. But more than anything, he worried Jiang Tian would be mistreated in the relationship.

He was an internet-savvy guy—even though he didn’t read BL novels, he’d seen enough dramatic plotlines to know them inside-out.

Back then, he had frequent nightmares of his handsome childhood friend being cruelly forced into love by a domineering CEO turned werewolf—locked up in a basement, starved and deprived of showers unless he did the thing, reduced to an XP exchange partner!

A straight guy like Lu Qiao would wake up drenched in sweat, gulping down water to calm himself.

“…”

In the end!

He never imagined that Jiang Tian and the CEO’s relationship would turn out to be actual, pure romance!

Especially on the day they escaped from that abandoned badminton gym, their faces covered in dust—Chu Xuyu had arrived with his bodyguards, gently picking up the heat-exhausted Jiang Tian…

It was just like a highlight scene from a romance drama—way too on point!

In short—

As Jiang Tian’s childhood friend, Lu Qiao’s mindset made a wild turn. He flipped faster than a pancake and now wanted Chu-Ge and Tian-Ge to be sweet and happy forever!

***

Nighttime.

The moon hung in a star-sparse sky.

Jiang Tian finished his shower and, dressed in loose homewear, was packing his suitcase, checking if he’d missed anything needed for Beijing.

A phone notification chimed. He glanced at his sister’s door before quickly replying to a message.

KIRA: Jie is on a call with a friend. She probably won’t leave her room.

KIRA: I’ll sneak you in later.

This romance was practically an undercover mission. He was secretly sneaking Chu Xuyu into their house—definitely a bold move.

Thinking about it—

Jiang Tian got up, rubbed the bridge of his nose with one finger, and tiptoed toward the door like he was in some covert operation, timing it perfectly to open the door as Chu Xuyu’s message came in.

As soon as he opened the door—

Chu Xuyu, freshly showered, wore casual clothes and carried a faint scent of body wash—subtle, clean, with a touch of coconut.

Before they even spoke, that familiar scent filled Jiang Tian’s senses—somehow more intimate than a kiss.

Holding his car keys, Chu Xuyu looked remarkably energetic despite the late hour.

Jiang Tian’s heart quickened. “Come in, Ge. Change your shoes first.”

He lowered his voice, nervous, glancing toward his sister’s room like a guilty puppy sneaking around at home.

Chu Xuyu chuckled. “I already told your sister I was coming.”

Jiang Tian: “… Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Clearly, his sister had intentionally stayed in her room to give them space. Though they used to be superior and subordinate, things were a bit awkward—but it wasn’t a real problem anymore.

Jiang Tian could tell that his sister no longer doubted or disapproved. She had accepted that they were genuinely in love.

The heat in Ningcheng hadn’t let up. Jiang Tian, thoughtful as ever, had already prepared chilled fruits and mung bean soup in advance. Once Chu Xuyu arrived, he brought them into the bedroom from the kitchen.

This level of care was no accident—it was the result of Chu Xuyu tricking him into thinking he was too busy to personally accompany him to Beijing.

Not that he felt guilty about it—and Jiang Tian didn’t suspect a thing. After closing the door, he said, “It’s okay if you don’t see me off.”

Jiang Tian leaned closer for once. “I know you’re really busy.”

His three-month internship had been scrapped. He was a free man again—all thanks to his CEO boyfriend granting him extra time to be with family and friends.

Now, alone together in the warmth of his own home, Chu Xuyu wasn’t about to waste the moment. As always, he pressed a hand behind the younger man’s neck and kissed him deeply, letting go only when their faces were flushed and eyes brimming with reluctant affection.

***

This was exactly what Jiang Tian wanted—the last time together before a long-distance relationship began, and he had decided to go along with whatever Chu Xuyu wanted.

Because he couldn’t fly and didn’t want to arrive in Beijing too late, he’d booked an 8 AM train. That meant he had to get up around 6 to head to the station.

As for Jiang Jing—she was supposed to accompany him to college registration. But due to a lumbar spine injury that needed follow-up treatment, she would only arrive in Beijing the day after.

Which meant—

Jiang Tian would be taking the 10-hour journey alone.

Even though Chu Xuyu insisted on personally seeing him off—and even stayed the night—both of them cherished that evening together. They talked a lot, but didn’t do anything to wear out the bed.

Early the next morning.

Because they had talked too late into the night, both of them left the house with slight dark circles under their eyes. They picked up breakfast at the convenience store near the neighborhood gate and drove toward the train station.

In the early morning of Ningcheng, the lush greenery sparkled in the sunlight filtering through the camphor trees, as if bathed in radiant brilliance.

After parking the car in the underground lot, Jiang Tian retrieved his suitcase from the back seat. Chu Xuyu got out, locked the car, and accompanied him to the ticket check—his demeanor full of mature and dependable “boyfriend seeing off his partner” vibes.

It wasn’t very crowded that early.

At the ticket checkpoint, right before parting, Jiang Tian—unlike his usual passive self—took the initiative to hug him, though he couldn’t find the words to say.

Chu Xuyu felt a warm stir in his chest, patted his back gently, and said in a low voice, “I’ll come visit you in a few days.”

Jiang Tian let go of him, curling his lips into a small smile. He figured Chu Xuyu must be busy: “Work is more important. It’s already a huge effort for you to send me to the station.”

The man’s long eyes were filled with emotion. He raised his wrist to glance at the time: “You should go.”

“Don’t be late.”

Jiang Tian nodded. “Okay.”

“…Goodbye.”

“Mm,” Chu Xuyu stroked his cheek, “Stay in touch.”

Then—

Jiang Tian parted ways with him, pulling his suitcase along toward the station. Before passing security, he turned and waved.

Chu Xuyu smiled, lips curved. Seeing him wave like a sweet, easily fooled puppy only made the affection in his eyes deepen.

Inside the station.

Jiang Tian stayed busy—after getting through security, he found a seat to rest, then queued for boarding once the train arrived. He took the escalator and located his assigned car.

His ticket was for seat F, by the window. After boarding, he first sent messages to Chu Xuyu, his sister, and his friends.

Then—

Without hurry, he put on his Bluetooth earphones and leaned on a headrest. Just as he received a message from Chu Xuyu, his music app began auto-playing a track from his playlist:

“Usavich Version of ‘Fly Freely'” – 537 Ultra God-tier Rap

Even if one was feeling emo, it was nearly impossible to stay sad listening to that.

Afternoon Tea: Baby.

Afternoon Tea: I already miss you.

Listening to “Oolaya-ha~”, Jiang Tian: “…”

Nope.

This vibe is not it.

He changed the song. Normally, he liked listening to niche R&B too, so the playlist shifted to a mellow love song with a rainy season vibe—much more fitting.

 KIRA: I miss you too.

After sending the message, Jiang Tian rested his cheek on his palm, elbow on the window ledge. Not good at expressing emotion, he blushed a little for no reason.

Afternoon Tea: Mm.

Afternoon Tea: I’m in the car now too.

Jiang Tian guessed he’d gone back to the garage and was about to drive. Normally, he wouldn’t disturb him too much.

But—he was marinated in the flavor of romance now. Facing a long, boring journey ahead, his heart really did want to talk more.

KIRA: Got it.

KIRA: Are you going home or straight to the office?

He asked cautiously. If Chu Xuyu was too busy, he wouldn’t push to chat.

Afternoon Tea: Haven’t decided yet.

Afternoon Tea: Just sitting in the car, thinking of you.

KIRA: …

Some people send ellipses, but their faces only grow redder. Afraid the nearby passengers would notice, Jiang Tian angled his phone discreetly toward the window.

—Only to remember: he had no seatmate.

Afternoon Tea: Don’t use ellipses unless you mean it.

KIRA: …Okay.

Afternoon Tea: Anyone sitting next to you?

KIRA: Nope.

KIRA: Might get someone at the next stop.

Ningcheng was the starting station, and the train would pass through many cities. Right now, the car wasn’t full. He didn’t think too much about it.

They kept chatting.

Nothing particularly deep—just about the weather in Beijing, what to eat for dinner—mundane topics he normally wouldn’t waste time on.

But Chu Xuyu was different. Facing a mature, loving boyfriend, the teenage boy’s behavior felt like that of a well-behaved puppy on its first solo trip—sending postcards to the devoted keeper who had signed a lifelong contract to love him.

On the same train—

In the dining car, leisurely seated, Chu Xuyu held his phone, receiving a photo from Jiang Tian of the scenery outside his window.

KIRA: Ge.

KIRA: We stayed up too late last night.

KIRA: If you’re not going to the office, catch up on some sleep.

Chu Xuyu smiled at the message.

He had never been in a relationship before. From what he knew of how others acted when in love, his own behavior was dramatically different—revealing a childish side he couldn’t even recognize in himself.

For example—

He was actually planning a costume change to tease Jiang Tian.

Well, calling it a “costume change” was a bit much—Chu Xuyu simply switched up his style, throwing on a dark gray hoodie, fully armed with a mask and a cap, covering most of his face and hair. That was it.

It did look a bit odd, but luckily the air-conditioning in the train car was strong. Wearing a jacket didn’t feel hot at all. His plan was to stay in a random seat for now and switch to his ticketed one at the next station.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian knew nothing.

They had only chatted for a bit—ten minutes or so. After Jiang Tian suggested he catch up on sleep, Chu Xuyu said he was too tired and planned to drive home. So the conversation didn’t go any further.

The border collie—off on a solo journey—had barely slept the night before from all the talking, and now planned to close his eyes and take a short nap.

Half-asleep…

The train arrived at the next station, and new passengers boarded and settled into their seats. Someone sat beside him—quietly, without a word.

Jiang Tian continued resting. His breathing was calm and even, posture upright and legs neatly placed—he was the kind of considerate napper who wouldn’t bother his seatmate.

And so he slept… all the way till noon.

When the food trolley rolled past and the staff called out lunchbox options, he stirred slightly from sleep.

Still bleary-eyed, Jiang Tian felt a little parched. He opened his bottle of mineral water and took a couple sips, preoccupied with checking messages on his phone—he paid no attention to the person next to him.

In his group chat, the conversation was lively. His sister also messaged to ask what he was eating for lunch. Meanwhile, Chu Xuyu hadn’t sent anything since supposedly getting home.

“……”

Border collie confused.jpg

Jiang Tian wasn’t feeling very hungry. After replying to his sister and the group, he tapped on Chu Xuyu’s profile picture and sent a message, wondering if he was still napping.

KIRA: What are you having for lunch?

KIRA: Don’t forget to eat on time.

KIRA: I’ll grab a lunchbox in about half an hour.

KIRA: ^^

He figured Chu Xuyu would ask him what he was eating, so—still tired—he sent the message in advance to put his boyfriend’s mind at ease. With that done, he settled in to nap some more.

But—

Just after closing his eyes, someone suddenly touched his left thigh. It wasn’t accidental either—the touch was bold, practiced, like someone coped out to get handsy.

Jiang Tian jolted fully awake!

Was he… being harassed?

The boy was stunned—doubting reality.

He opened his eyes in alarm, not sure whether he might’ve misunderstood, so he didn’t react too loudly. Instead, he glanced sideways toward his neighbor, trying to sneak a look.

And then—

He noticed the man next to him was completely bundled up, wearing a cap and mask—looking very much like someone up to no good.

“……”

Oh no. This wasn’t innocent.

Jiang Tian instinctively leaned away, pressing himself against the window. His brain was racing: should he call the train staff? Should he confront this pervert directly?

Then—

The man beside him struck again, even more shamelessly this time. He reached over and, through the fabric of Jiang Tian’s T-shirt, dared to grope his abs—the abs only Chu Xuyu had ever touched!

“?!”

With lightning reflexes, Jiang Tian caught the pervert’s wrist and snapped angrily, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Suppressing his fury, he turned to glare—only to freeze when he recognized those familiar long, narrow eyes staring back at him.

……

Why did this damn pervert look so familiar?!