Chapter 13
A month later.
Today marked the last day of the end-of-term exams at Nanjiang City High School. The freshman and sophomore years took their exams first, while the seniors were scheduled last, leaving the school practically teeming with only the senior students after the exams.
The school bell rang, signifying the end of the last exam, and Gu Juncheng promptly put down his pen and began packing up his belongings.
A few days ago, Gu Juncheng had made plans with a few of his close classmates. They agreed to head to a barbecue restaurant located near their school to enjoy a well-deserved feast upon the conclusion of their term exams. The goal was to cheer up for the upcoming winter vacation, while also rejoicing over Gu Juncheng's significant academic progress.
As soon as Gu Juncheng returned to the classroom, Chen Tianqi instantly came over and draped an arm over his shoulder, inquiring, "So, how did it go? Are we likely to surpass that kid, Feng Linjie?"
To that, Gu Juncheng merely smirked without uttering a word.
"You did manage to solve that last complex Physics problem, right?" Chen Tianqi further questioned.
Casually nodding his affirmation, Gu Juncheng wrapped up clearing his desk and headed out of the classroom with Chen Tianqi, their destination being the barbecue restaurant.
The said barbecue place enjoyed some fame throughout Nanjiang City, and they had reserved seats a few days prior. By the time Gu Juncheng and Chen Tianqi entered the restaurant, there were already people waiting for them.
After exchanging simple greetings, they started ordering food as if starved, their zeal resembling that of people who had just escaped a refugee camp.
Cheng Xuyuan cried and said to the system: "I also want to eat barbecue, ah..."
"You're so f*ck*ng disgusting."
"My goodness, did the system just swear?" Cheng Xuyuan exclaimed in shock, "Can you actually curse? I'm going to file a complaint!"
The system quickly switched its tone, responding, "They’re a group of familiar classmates. Isn't it embarrassing for the main character if a stranger like you insists on joining them?"
Cheng Xuyuan let out an unconvincing sigh, "I was just saying..."
Despite his comment, as the meat was placed on the grill, the inviting aroma once again stirred up a frenzied craving within Cheng Xuyuan.
It seemed as though Gu Juncheng knew this. Deliberately placing his pen in his jacket pocket, he allowed the tantalizing aroma to drift towards the Pen God uninterrupted.
"Gu Juncheng, this b*st*rd." Cheng Xuyuan ground his teeth in frustration.
Teenage boys often like to order some low-alcohol beverages during gatherings, showcasing a spirit of bravery and ambition. Chen Tianqi, well-versed in this practice, started to feign drunkenness after a few beers.
"I can't go on, my head's spinning," stated Chen Tianqi, his face flushing due to alcohol, portraying himself as a lightweight. "I'm not having any more drinks. If I get sick, the person toasting will have to cover the medical expenses."
In contrast, Gu Juncheng seemed to have a substantially higher tolerance. Moreover, being the talk of the school recently, everyone raised their glasses to congratulate him amidst the cheers. They hoped to rub off a bit of his academic brilliance. In the scramble, Gu Juncheng unknowingly consumed several bottles of beer.
Under the warm light, his face looked slightly flushed but exhibited normalcy juxtaposed with Chen Tianqi. He continued to receive the toasts calmly, showing no signs of intoxication.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the barbecue restaurant, the senior year boys from another class were also holding a gathering.
Observing the expressionless Gu Juncheng, Feng Linjie smiled as he took a gulp from a glass of juice. Then, picking up a beer, he made a beeline for Gu Juncheng's table.
"Juncheng," he proposed a toast, "I offer this drink to you, hoping that your end-of-term exam results will surpass mine."
Clearly, everyone did not expect such an uninvited guest, and all stared blankly at Feng Linjie. Despite the gazes, he remained calm and unflustered, his face adorned with a perpetual smile.
Gu Juncheng was the first to react. Without a word, he filled a glass of alcohol, raised it to clink with Feng Linjie, and then drank it all in one go, showing no hesitation.
Feng Linjie also finished his drink and returned to his seat.
Unaware that the two used to be classmates, everyone assumed an attraction between strong individuals, which caused Gu Juncheng to be perceived with even greater admiration.
That was Feng Linjie after all, who had remained at the top since the first year of high school without the distinction of arts and sciences!
With a respect for the stronger ones, everyone offered Gu Juncheng several more drinks.
As the barbecue ended and it was time to pay the bill, Chen Tianqi noticed Gu Juncheng's calm demeanor and thought he had an extraordinarily high alcohol tolerance. He made a gesture of admiration and then rode away as fast as he could on his bike, not wanting to be discovered for his pretending to be drunk.
Everyone said their goodbyes and went home.
When Gu Juncheng walked to the parking area and reached for his keys, he unsuccessfully attempted to insert the key five times.
The next moment, the cold and detached youth stumbled, falling onto the street next to the barbecue restaurant entrance. A pen flew out of his shirt pocket, hitting the ground with a clatter.
"Is this kid drunk?!" Cheng Xuyuan asked the system incredulously.
"The original setting for him is that he appears calm even when drunk. Feng Linjie knows this, so he deliberately proposed the toast," replied the system nonchalantly.
Without further thought, Cheng Xuyuan saw the street being scarcely populated and transformed back into Pen God from the state of a pen.
"You're so daring!" exclaimed the system in surprise.
With furrowed brows, Cheng Xuyuan helped Gu Juncheng up from the road, and while supporting him, he said to the system, "He could catch a cold from the chill on the ground, which will affect his studies."
"..." replied the system.
The entire scene was witnessed by Feng Linjie.
Their class gathering hadn't ended yet. He had noticed Gu Juncheng's unstable footsteps when he left and came out to see the entertainment but ended up witnessing an eerie sight of a pen transforming into a young boy.
Startled, Feng Linjie stepped backwards, his eyes brimming with deep shock.
Cheng Xuyuan unlocked the bicycle and helped Gu Juncheng onto the back seat, instructing, "Hold onto my waist and don't move around..."
"Uh..."
Even though Gu Juncheng's consciousness was blurred, he trusted Cheng Xuyuan immensely when he sensed his familiar smell. Wrapping his arms tightly around Cheng Xuyuan's waist, he made him wince.
"You don't need to hold me that tight!" exclaimed a mournful Cheng Xuyuan. "Loosen your grip a bit and don't move around, be a good boy..."
Like coaxing a large husky, Cheng Xuyuan finally managed to get him onto the bike, and then carefully started to pedal back home.
Watching the bicycle move away from the barbecue joint, Feng Linjie came back to his senses. Observing the skinny yet strong back of the young boy, a smile unwillingly crept to his lips, as he murmured to himself, "Interesting indeed..."
________________________
When they reached home, the front door was tightly shut. Gu Shuo and the others had gone out for dinner and no one was at home.
Cheng Xuyuan, with one hand supporting the towering Gu Juncheng and the other skillfully finding the keys, managed to open the door and swiftly escorted him to a room upstairs.
Gu Juncheng, who was now completely unaware of his surroundings, fell onto the soft bed, mumbling indistinctly. He resembled a giant plush bear.
Cheng Xuyuan went downstairs to the kitchen, filled a kettle with water, and relying on his memory, made some hangover tea. He then used his magical powers to cool the tea to the most appropriate temperature.
"Get up and drink the hangover tea, or you'll suffer a severe headache tomorrow," Cheng Xuyuan pulled Gu Juncheng up from the bed, allowing his head to lean weakly against his own neck.
Cheng Xuyuan gently patted his face, "Drink the tea quickly."
Gu Juncheng's pronounced nose rubbed slightly against Cheng Xuyuan's smooth neck, like a child who has sniffed a beloved scent, he took a few deep breaths, and said incoherently, "Like..."
"Like what?" Cheng Xuyuan was puzzled, "Just drink your tea."
At last, Gu Juncheng understood what Cheng Xuyuan was saying. He looked up at him and abruptly stated, "I'm not drunk."
"..." Cheng Xuyuan rolled his eyes.
"How could I be drunk," Gu Juncheng continued.
"Yes, indeed. You're not drunk..." Cheng Xuyuan didn't wish to argue with a drunk, "Then hurry up and drink this bowl of tea too, to prove you're not drunk."
Gu Juncheng glanced at the bowl and briskly took it. After consuming all of it, he told Cheng Xuyuan, "I'm not drunk."
Cheng Xuyuan, amused and exasperated, took the bowl away, made him lie back down on the bed, and struggled to help him remove his high-top shoes.
Suddenly, Gu Juncheng rolled over and one of his feet landed on Cheng Xuyuan's face.
Cheng Xuyuan was instantly outraged, he shouted, "What's wrong with you?!"
Gu Juncheng looked at him innocently, not understanding why Cheng Xuyuan was angry at him. His normally cold face was now filled with grievance.
"...Fine, I forgive you," Cheng Xuyuan glanced at his clean white socks, "Rejoice when you wake up that your feet don't smell, or else at this point, you would have met your end at the hands of Cheng Xuyuan."
Gu Juncheng suddenly said to Cheng Xuyuan, "Don't scold me."
"..."
Cheng Xuyuan glared at him, and after a long silence, he asked the system, "What will happen if I kill the protagonist?"
The system seriously replied, "In that case, this world will collapse, and you will be eternally lost in the pieces of space and time..."
"Fine." Cheng Xuyuan took off Gu Juncheng's other shoe and smiled, saying, "Little Jun, you're lucky."
Suddenly, Gu Juncheng looked at him seriously.
Cheng Xuyuan felt uneasy under his gaze. Could this guy have actually understood him?
Suddenly, Gu Juncheng said, "Come here."
"What are you trying to do?" Cheng Xuyuan asked warily.
"Just come here."
The pleading tone gave Cheng Xuyuan goosebumps. He slowly walked over, sat next to the bed, and asked gently, "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Gu Juncheng just looked at him.
"Speak!" Cheng Xuyuan found it increasingly difficult to keep his composure in front of this guy.
Gu Juncheng said pitifully, "I think something got into my eye. Can you have a look..."
Without suspecting anything, Cheng Xuyuan obediently leaned down and inspected the young man's eyes closely.
Gu Juncheng's eyes were very beautiful, with long eyelashes and slightly drooping eye corners, typical of the "boyfriend from a shoujo manga" look. His skin was exceptionally good too, so much so that Cheng Xuyuan was momentarily captivated by those eyes.
"Are they pretty?" Gu Juncheng suddenly asked.
Before Cheng Xuyuan could react, a strong hand grabbed the back of his head, forcing him to lean closer to the handsome face.
With his eyes wide open in shock, Cheng Xuyuan was about to protest when a domineering and passionate kiss sealed his lips.
The faint scent of soap on the young man, the sensual hormones, and the intense aroma of alcohol stimulated every nerve in Cheng Xuyuan. His stubble, slightly rough against the skin, reminded Cheng Xuyuan — this was a kiss from a grown boy.
As Cheng Xuyuan tried to struggle, the system's voice echoed in his brain.
"Rule no.3 of the plug-in: Meet the protagonist's needs unconditionally and without reason."
Gu Juncheng's hands were trembling a little. He stuck out his tongue unskillfully and tried to pry open the Pen God's lips. The strong taste made Cheng Xuyuan's scalp numb. While he was dazed, his mouth had been violently occupied.
Cheng Xuyuan's heart rate escalated to an unprecedented intensity. In the blink of an eye, the young man's other hand had lifted the hem of his sweater, his broad and hot palm coming to rest on his waist.
The only thought left in Cheng Xuyuan's mind was: I'm done for.
"Click."
At that moment, the bedroom door swung open.
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Author's Note:
Has the editor responded to my verification today? No.
Even if I were verified, I expect this piece would only hang around on the newcomers' list for a day and then disappear.
Such a pitiful author, I am. Do drop a bookmark, everyone, please! QAQ
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