Gu Fei gave Jiang Cheng a smile. When there were outsiders around, Gu Fei's smiles were never very obvious, but every time Jiang Cheng still felt that even just a slight upturn of his lips was enough to entrance him.

However, the smile he had now seemed a little different from usual. Someone else definitely wouldn't have noticed, since Gu Fei still kept up his image as the young overlord of the steel factory, and very few people had seen him really smile.

"What's up?" Jiang Cheng walked over and asked.

"Hm?" Gu Fei lowered his head to put a lens on his camera. "What?"

"Nothing," Jiang Cheng caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye. He thought it was the makeup artist/photography assistant from last time, but when he turned to look, it was a man. Even though he could only see his back, he still recognized it as Brother Lin, the one he had seen during the lipstick photoshoot. He quickly withdrew his gaze. "Let's get started."

It wasn't strange to run into Brother Lin here. It was normal for him to bring models here for photoshoots. It was also normal for him to come over and greet Gu Fei when he saw him.

What wasn't normal was Gu Fei's mood. Every time they ran into this person, he could feel Gu Fei's mood change. It wasn't very obvious, he couldn't quite say if it was anger, gloominess, irritation or something else... Anyway, it seemed like he was very averse to this person, just like now, even his smile seemed forced.

Of course he could also see that Gu Fei didn't want to talk about this person further. He wasn't so annoying that he had to keep asking about it, especially since they were working now.

But he still felt a little disappointed. Even with their current relationship, even though Gu Fei had said he could tell him everything about his past, there were still people and events he refused to mention.

The photoshoot today was quite simple. For someone like Jiang Cheng who had always played basketball, even though he didn't know how to play tennis, imitating the poses was still very easy.

"There are two shots we need to redo," Gu Fei said as he flipped through the photos on his camera. "The forehand stroke one, your arm cast a shadow over your face."

"Okay." Jiang Cheng acknowledged and picked up a racket next to him.

"I think that one looks pretty good though," Nini said. "The shadow doesn't really affect it, right?"

"You underestimate how handsome he is," Gu Fei raised his camera towards Jiang Cheng. "When you see it later, you'll know. Besides, shadows can be there, just not like that."

"Got it, I'll learn humbly." Nini said with a smile.

After re-shooting those photos, they were done for the day. Nini came over to look at the photos, then back at Jiang Cheng, "Hey, seriously, have you ever thought about modeling in the future? You're so photogenic, your features and everything are just..."

"No way," Gu Fei cut her off. "Do you know his grades?"

"Really good?" Nini asked, surprised.

"More than just really good." Gu Fei said.

Feeling Nini's shocked gaze on him, Jiang Cheng didn't really know how to respond. He just smiled without saying anything.

As a top student, he would normally do his utmost best just to show off and look down on others. But when someone praised him, he didn't feel like it was a big deal.

You're supposed to praise me!

But it was different when the praise came from Gu Fei's mouth. Hearing Gu Fei's praise made him feel extremely smug and pleased with himself.

Zhan Fei paid in cash upfront, so after signing some paperwork in the office, they could leave with the money.

"Little Gu," Luo Yi Yang sat in the office watching the finance person settle their payment. He looked extremely bored. "Do you play tennis?"

"No." Gu Fei said.

"Does little Jiang play?" Luo Yi Yang looked at Jiang Cheng.

"No." Jiang Cheng answered.

"Such a waste for young people like you to not play tennis. You both totally look like you'd be good at it," Luo Yi Yang fished out two business cards from his pocket and handed them over. "If you want to play, just come over and give my name for a discount."

Jiang Cheng took the card and glanced at it: "Bian Nan?"

"Sorry, wrong one," Luo Yi Yang quickly took out another card, checked it, and handed it over again when he confirmed it was his own. "Luo Yi Yang."

"Yue Yi?" Gu Fei looked at him.

"Ah!" Luo Yi Yang continued digging through his pockets, finally finding his own business card. "I've got so much going on these days, everything's piled onto me alone. I've got at least 5 people's cards here... Come play when you're free!"

After getting back to the steel factory side and eating, they walked to Jiang Cheng's rented apartment building. There was no time to rest, it was time to take Gu Miao to therapy.

"Playing tennis," Gu Fei looked at his phone. "How would we have time for that."

"Let's go?" Jiang Cheng also checked the time, it was just right to bring Gu Miao over now.

"Don't go," Gu Fei scanned their surroundings, then reached out to lightly squeeze his waist. "Take a nap this afternoon. You still have to go pick up Pan Zhi later, right?"

"I..." Jiang Cheng was quite tired. He had stayed up late messing around last night and slept late too. The photoshoot today had also taken several hours. Standing there for another hour or two this afternoon... If he slept late again tonight, tomorrow after the photoshoot he might just keel over in front of his grandson. But if he didn't go now, he also felt a bit reluctant. "I don't know, I want to go."

"You still have to shoot clothes tomorrow morning," Gu Fei smiled. "That'll be another few hours. What if you can't handle it? How are you going to fuck me properly after Pan Zhi leaves if you're exhausted?"

"Damn," Jiang Cheng laughed. "Pervert."

"If you're really bored this afternoon, go buy a pillow instead." Gu Fei said.

"Buy buy buy, always buying. How many times have you told me to buy a pillow already?" Jiang Cheng laughed. "It's just one pillow, so much back and forth."

"A double one," Gu Fei gestured with his hands. "Nice and long like this."

"Got it!" Jiang Cheng helplessly replied.

Jiang Cheng didn't nap for very long when he got back home, just about an hour or so before he woke up again and couldn't fall back asleep. But just dozing for a bit made him feel much more refreshed.

He got up, washed his face, and sat down at his desk.

Although summer vacation had been cut short, he still had summer homework to do. He would normally write a set amount of homework every day no matter how late it was, and then read for a while. These past two days he had been addicted to fooling around instead and hadn't gotten anything done.

Time to focus, he told himself as he opened his books and spun his pen. Everything that needed to be done should be done properly and steadily. Focus on studying.

Speaking of steady, he had barely written two pages of homework when Brother Lin's back flashed through his mind, and he frowned. Tsk, what was the deal between him and Gu Fei?

Gu Fei obviously didn't want to talk to this person, yet he would persist in exchanging a few words with Gu Fei every time they met.

If he didn't owe Gu Fei money or do something to wrong him, then he must be Gu Fei's suitor.

Tsk tsk tsk damn.

A rival!

Jiang Cheng quickly wrote down three "tsk" on his draft paper, then took a deep breath to calm himself before starting on his homework again.

With a clear mind, he speedily finished today's homework. Only then did he head to the marketplace to buy a double pillow as Gu Fei had asked.

After looking around for a long time, he could only find one double pillow at the same stall he had bought pillows last time, and it was expensively priced.

"Latex!" The boss lady patted the pillow. "Let me tell you young man, this isn't just any ordinary pillow. It doesn't deform, it's breathable and durable!"  

"Too expensive. Do you have any that deform, aren't breathable and not durable?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"No!" The boss lady looked him up and down. "A big young man like you, don't be so stingy. Last time I told you to get two pillows but you refused to spend the money. And now you're here buying them again? And you're saying the double one is expensive? Let me tell you, even if you buy a deforming, non-breathable, non-durable one, you'll still be back here changing it out in a couple months! You've got a pattern going on here!"

"...You sure have a good memory." Jiang Cheng really hadn't expected this boss lady to still remember him after such a long time. He instantly felt it had been the right decision to come buy the pillow alone today.

"Get this one, I'm telling you, latex ones like this, you can search the whole city and I'm the only one with double ones. Everywhere else just has small individual ones! And not even these loaf style ones..." The boss lady said very surely. "Don't believe me? Go look around, you might find some online but not at this price!"

Jiang Cheng sighed. He wasn't very good at haggling. After being bombarded by the boss lady, he didn't even know what else to say. And most importantly, aside from this expensive one, this was the only double pillow he could find.

In order not to disappoint and trouble his boyfriend, he paid for the pillow.

"How about one of these small thin blankets? I've got big ones, two meter doubles..." The boss lady seized the opportunity to continue her sales pitch.

Jiang Cheng didn't dare continue the conversation. He hugged the pillow and escaped as if he was being chased.

But the pillow didn't get to fulfill its purpose the first night home. Gu Fei came over after dinner with Gu Miao, and laid down to accompany him reading for an hour before Gu Miao's message came.

- Come back

"Ah..." Jiang Cheng flopped down on the table. "I really don't want to compete with Gu Miao for her brother, but... he's my boyfriend!"

After Gu Fei replied to Gu Miao's message, he looked over at him, "I told her half an hour. Is there anything you want to do, Brother Cheng?"

Jiang Cheng tossed his book aside and pounced towards the bed.

But he had just knelt at the edge of the bed and hadn't even touched Gu Fei yet when he let out a yelp and flopped down, face planting into Gu Fei's stomach.

"I..." Gu Fei held his breath to keep from getting knocked back. "Is your head made of iron? Such force?"

"The brains of us top students are thick," Jiang Cheng mumbled into the bed, face still smushed against his stomach. "Higher density, heavier than dumb people's brains."

Gu Fei laughed and patted his head, "What's wrong?"

"My legs are sore," Jiang Cheng grimaced and tilted his head. "I didn't feel it earlier after moving around today, but they got sore again sitting so long."

"Looks like we won't be doing anything then," Gu Fei said. "How about I do something instead?"

"Fuck?" Jiang Cheng's eyes went round.

"Can you be a bit purer? I'll give you a leg massage," Gu Fei looked at him. "Want it or not?"

"Come on then." Jiang Cheng flipped over and laid flat, propping his legs up on him.

Gu Fei didn't really have any massage techniques, but the pressure was appropriate, and he had a good sense of where needed massaging. It still felt pretty nice.

Jiang Cheng closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

Comfortable.

"Say something," Jiang Cheng said.

"Say what?" Gu Fei asked.

"Anything," Jiang Cheng's mouth quirked up. "I like listening to your voice."

"Alright, I'll say something random then, let me think..." Gu Fei massaged his leg as he thought for a bit, then cleared his throat. "An old chap owes me two pennies, I said to pay back in three days, he said four..."

Jiang Cheng smiled with his eyes closed.

"It's raining, bubbles are foaming, the turtle's wearing a straw hat..." Gu Fei stroked his leg. "Actually, I should get Li Yan for this, he heard these all the time as a kid when his mom held him. Open her mouth and out comes a string of them."

Jiang Cheng kept his mouth quirked up without speaking. He didn't want to say anything, just wanted to listen like this. No matter what Gu Fei said, he felt extremely content just hearing his voice.

Gu Fei continued reciting many children's rhymes, and there were quite a few cursing ones too, interspersed with his laughing explanations. Jiang Cheng gradually couldn't make out the words clearly anymore.  

Gu Fei's voice floated over from very far away, softly brushing past his ear.

When he opened his eyes again, Jiang Cheng felt a little muddleheaded staring up at the ceiling for a long time before realizing he was still lying in bed, pillow under his head.

"Gu Fei?" He propped himself up to look around, but there was no one else in the room.

He got out of bed to check the living room and bathroom, but didn't see Gu Fei anywhere either. He ran back to the bedroom about to grab his phone and call when he saw a note under his phone.

You were sleeping too deeply I couldn't wake you up, went back first to accompany Er Miao. Message me when you wake up, muah.

It was signed: Gu Fei whose writing is at least 80 times better than yours

Jiang Cheng held the note laughing for a long time. But Gu Fei's handwriting was pretty decent, completely mismatched with his failing student status.

After a long nap, it was nearly eleven when Jiang Cheng texted Gu Fei.

- I'm awake now.

Two minutes later, Gu Fei texted back.

- Alright, go back to sleep.

- What are you up to?

- Sleeping.

- Did I wake you?

- No, I kept a thread of consciousness just for you.

Jiang Cheng smiled and sat at his desk, planning to study for another couple hours.

- Then relax that thread of consciousness and goodnight.

- Goodnight.

Because they didn't sleep together, the next day both the photographer and model arrived on time. After eating breakfast together, they arrived at the studio on schedule.

There were a lot of people today. It was Jiang Cheng's first time needing to coordinate photos with another female model.

The female model was young and very pretty, with an extremely lively personality that Jiang Cheng noticed as soon as she came over to greet him.

"Just call me Little Zhen, my name is a bit old-fashioned but I like it," Little Zhen stretched out a hand. "Hope we can have a pleasant collaboration."  

"Jiang Cheng," Jiang Cheng hesitated briefly before shaking her hand. "Pleased to work with you."

"You're the most handsome male model I've come across in half a year," Little Zhen said. "Need a girlfriend? We can exchange contact info if you want one?"

"...I don't need one." Jiang Cheng said.  

"No problem," Little Zhen smiled. "We probably won't just collaborate this one time. You can still contact me in the future if you end up needing one."

Jiang Cheng didn't reply.

After Little Zhen left to get her makeup done, he let out a breath of relief and glanced over at Gu Fei who had already escaped far away to fiddle with his camera. Gu Fei looked up and quirked his mouth at him.

He was about to head over when Nini clapped her hands at him, "Jiang Cheng, come get your makeup done. Let's hurry up!"

"Okay." He could only go sit down.

Little Zhen had arrived earlier, so after Jiang Cheng had sat down for a bit, she started shooting her solo photos first.

This was Jiang Cheng's first time seeing how Gu Fei interacted with others during photoshoots. It was... cold. Although he didn't have a stone face, there was no expression. Occasionally he would give a prompt or two, voice also very flat.

Jiang Cheng felt that if Gu Fei always shot him like this, the pressure would be tremendous. It would feel like the photographer had to force himself through gritted teeth to keep working hard because Jiang Cheng was so ugly yet he pitifully needed the money.

But Little Zhen obviously didn't feel any pressure. She smiled and posed appropriately, even joking around with Nini occasionally.

Nini laughed delightedly while Gu Fei maintained his "pretend I'm deaf" expression.

Actually, Gu Fei like this had a kind of bizarre sexiness. It was exactly this serious, cold, completely ignoring you manner that made Jiang Cheng desperately want to go over, grab him with an arm and shove him down to fuck passionately.

Jiang Cheng squeezed his own leg.

Tsk.

Tsk tsk.

"Brother Lin." Someone greeted towards the entrance.

Damn!

As soon as Jiang Cheng heard the name, he was instantly speechless. When he turned to look, Brother Lin was indeed there bringing a girl in.  

Brother Lin nodded and introduced the girl he brought to the other person. She was the model for the photoshoot later.

Jiang Cheng glanced back at Gu Fei. He was suddenly a bit worried. Gu Fei still hadn't noticed them yet. Jiang Cheng really didn't want to see Gu Fei's mood suddenly change again.

Leave already!

You're done with the introduction right?

You don't need to stick around with the model right?

So leave!

This kind of prayer was as useless as failing students praying to pass an exam. Jiang Cheng didn't even have time to repeat these words to himself before Brother Lin dragged over a chair and plopped down right next to him.

What the f*ck?

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but glance over at him.

"You're called Jiang Cheng right?" Brother Lin smiled.

"Yes." Jiang Cheng was a bit surprised he even knew his name.

"My name is Tan Lin. I'm Gu Fei's...friend," he stretched out his hand, "They all call me Brother Lin."  

Tan Lin? Brother Lin's surname isn't actually Lin?

Then why not call him Brother Tan?!

Probably because Brother Tan doesn't sound as good.  

Just like if Gu Fei called him 'Brother Cheng', he'd want to go over and punch him.

Jiang Cheng glanced at his outstretched hand but didn't shake it, only nodding his head, "Brother Lin."

Tan Lin retracted his hand, leaning back in his chair and looking over at Gu Fei, "Do you only work with Gu Fei? I don't think I've seen you before."

"Mm," Jiang Cheng murmured in agreement.  

"You're his classmate?" Tan Lin asked again.

"Mm," Jiang Cheng continued murmuring.

"I didn't know he had such a close classmate," Tan Lin said, "That's pretty unexpected."

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything.  

"I know pretty much all his friends," Tan Lin was quite talkative, "I've never seen him come out to play with a classmate before."

Jiang Cheng wanted to correct him that they weren't out playing now, but he realized he was focusing on the wrong thing. The key point of that sentence should have been - Gu Fei said he didn't have much interaction with this person, only running into him during photoshoots, but this person said he knew pretty much all of Gu Fei's friends!

Jiang Cheng felt extremely annoyed.  

What was going on here?

He went over Gu Fei's words again in his head. Maybe they knew each other from when Gu Fei was in a band, and then he met Gu Fei's other friends?  

But why would Gu Fei say "we're not really friends"?

Jiang Cheng experienced what it meant to be filled with jealousy for the first time.  

This feeling was completely, utterly devoid of any pleasure at all, completely devoid of any sense of "I like him so I'm jealous".  

Rather, it was an extreme irritation at not having his questions answered.

Gu Fei didn't want to talk about it.  

He didn't want to pester him like a nagging old lady.

But clearly what Gu Fei said didn't match up with what this person was saying.

If he really confronted Gu Fei with this person's words though, he'd be a complete idiot.

If Gu Fei didn't want to say, then he couldn't ask.

So it circled back - Gu Fei didn't want to talk about it.

"You two really are just classmates?" Tan Lin suddenly asked again.

"Mm," Jiang Cheng answered somewhat irritably, grabbing a bottle of water from a nearby box and twisting it open, pouring two mouthfuls down his throat.

"Just classmates?" Tan Lin asked again.

Jiang Cheng paused, staying silent, and turned to look at Tan Lin.

"What I mean is, are you neighbors or something?" Tan Lin said with a smile, glancing over at Gu Fei and then smiling and nodding in that direction.

Jiang Cheng turned back around to see Gu Fei's face as dark as if it had weathered a full season of torrential thunderstorms.

Author's note: Resting tomorrow, continuing on Friday!

Right, the Lantern Riddle Poetry Event is ending tomorrow, so hurry up if you're interested in writing a little poem! The satisfied author said while happily looking at the row of five small black fur spirits drying outside the window, taking a sip of coffee and smiling contentedly.