127: Can you accept this kind of relationship?

Yu Heng only stayed home for three days before returning to classes.

The issue wasn't major to begin with, and he recovered quickly, aside from a slight discomfort when walking too fast.

During his leave, Ning Yutong said she and Shen Yueling wanted to visit him, but he politely declined.

Qin Lu brought him lunch at noon; it wouldn't be good if they bumped into each other.

Moreover, sometimes she didn't just take care of him, she'd also take care of 'Little Yu'.

Though the process was always a bit complicated, as Qin Lu was always quite reluctant.

Ning Yutong asked a few times on WeChat and even called once. When she heard Yu Heng say they didn't need to come over, Shen Yueling interjected coldly from the side: "Just leave him alone, he has someone waiting on him!"

Sitting in the classroom, Yu Heng thought of this and couldn't help but grin. This girl really loved being jealous, yet it seemed she didn't actually get angry.

After thinking it over, he wondered if she simply enjoyed the feeling of being jealous?

That would be quite interesting.

"What are you pondering?" Hao Junran, sitting next to him, poked his arm.

"Nothing," Yu Heng turned his head to look at him. "What's up?"

"Could you analyze something for your brother?" Hao Junran was a bit hesitant. "I've been thinking about it for days and can't figure it out."

"What is it?" Yu Heng asked.

"Let's get this straight first: you can't laugh at me, and you can't tell anyone else," Hao Junran whispered, "otherwise we're not friends anymore."

"Fine, go ahead," Yu Heng narrowed his eyes and asked, "What's the matter?"

"I think Wang Shuo..." Hao Junran frowned, continuing with great internal conflict, "...might like me."

Hearing this, Yu Heng couldn't help but grin, thinking to himself: 'My friend, did you just realize that?'

He turned his head and looked at Hao Junran: "What makes you say that?"

"It's just... just a feeling." Hao Junran scratched his hair. "Back during basketball training, he was always looking at me. When I scored, he was even happier than I was. Lately, he's always looking for me to eat together after class."

"What's so strange about that?" Yu Heng said. "Aren't brothers always like that?"

"There's more," Hao Junran lowered his voice. "Didn't I have a cold last week? He ran to the pharmacy to buy me medicine and even fucking bought porridge and delivered it to the dorm. I said thanks, and his face turned as red as anything."

Yu Heng suppressed a laugh. So you're not stupid after all; you knew something was off!

"How do you feel about it?" Yu Heng asked.

"Me?" Hao Junran was stunned for a moment. "What could I feel? It's just... quite awkward."

"Disgusted?"

"I wouldn't go that far," Hao Junran said immediately. "Wang Shuo is a good guy; I just never thought of it that way before."

"Then why did you suddenly start thinking that way?" Yu Heng raised an eyebrow.

"Today I was scrolling through TikTok and saw a pair of male-male bloggers. After watching their video, it finally clicked," Hao Junran said.

"So what do you plan to do?" Yu Heng asked.

"I don't know," Hao Junran gave a bitter smile. "That's why I'm asking you. God, I don't even know if Wang Shuo is gay."

Yu Heng also smiled: "He hasn't said anything explicitly, so what can you do? If it bothers you, just keep your distance. If he looks for you again, just ignore him."

"That's a bit much, isn't it? It would make me look like I'm being weird for no reason. Wang Shuo is still a good guy." Hao Junran clicked his tongue. "How about I test him?"

"How?"

"For example..." Hao Junran's eyes drifted. "Invite him out for a drink or something, and try to get the truth out of him while he's drunk?"

Yu Heng almost burst out laughing: "If you guys get drunk, it's hard to say who will be getting the truth out of whom."

'Don't get drunk and end up going straight for each other's throats—or worse!'

"Then what do you think I should do?"

Yu Heng thought for a moment. An outsider couldn't really interfere in this kind of thing, but since Hao Junran had asked, he had to give some practical advice.

"First, figure out what you think," Yu Heng said. "If you really can't accept it, then slowly distance yourself. Don't give him hope. If you feel like... it's not impossible, then it's up to you."

"That's the fucking problem, I don't know!" Hao Junran was frantic. "I've never even been in a relationship in my life."

"Then just leave it for now. Time can test everything." Yu Heng stood up and saw him still dazed. "Ponder it yourself. I have things to do this afternoon."

"Where are you going?" Hao Junran looked up and asked.

"To the club activity room," Yu Heng said. "There's an activity this weekend."

"What activity?" Hao Junran asked.

"Filming a video for Zhou Mengqi and the others," Yu Heng looked at him and said. "If you're interested, you can come too."

"We'll see." Hao Junran curled his lip. He wasn't in the mood right now.

Yu Heng walked to the classroom door and saw Wang Shuo coming from the other end of the hallway. The two of them met face-to-face.

"Yu Heng." Wang Shuo nodded to him, his eyes drifting toward the classroom. "Where's Hao Junran?"

"He's inside." Yu Heng stepped aside to let him through.

He didn't leave immediately, leaning against the doorframe to watch Wang Shuo enter the classroom. When Hao Junran saw Wang Shuo coming over, he clearly stiffened.

Hao Junran sat up straight: "Something up?"

"Want to eat lunch together?" Wang Shuo said. "A new window opened in the cafeteria."

"I..." Hao Junran opened his mouth. "I already have plans with someone."

"With who?" Wang Shuo asked, then felt it was inappropriate and added, "It's fine, you go ahead then."

"Just... Yu Heng." Hao Junran turned to look at the door.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow.

This kid was using him as a shield?

Wang Shuo also looked over, a bit of doubt in his eyes.

"I still have things to do," Yu Heng clicked his tongue. "You two go ahead. I'm leaving!"

'Rat, it's not that your brother isn't loyal, it's just that for matters of the heart, you have to handle it yourself!'

—

Wang Shuo and Hao Junran were eating face-to-face. Hao Junran was weighing things in his mind and decided to test the waters.

"Today I saw a video on TikTok made by two guys. They were talking about the differences before and after roommates live together. At first, I didn't understand what 'roommates living together' meant, but after reading the comments, I realized." Hao Junran looked at him and asked, "Guess what it was?"

Wang Shuo pursed his lips and gave the obvious answer: "They were a couple?"

"Right!" Hao Junran gave a dry laugh. "I didn't expect that men could date each other too."

Hearing Hao Junran bring up this topic, and with the conversation flowing that way, he also summoned a bit of courage: "Can you accept this kind of love?"

Hao Junran was stunned. He hadn't expected Wang Shuo to ask him back like that, but in his heart, he considered this a confirmation of his orientation.

"I..." Hao Junran frowned. "I don't really feel anything about it. It's okay, I guess?"

Boys always turned pale at the mention of male homosexuality; people always held prejudices against minority groups.

He used to be the same, but mostly just followed the crowd because not conforming would make him look special, and being special meant not fitting in, which would lead to being labeled as gay and lumped in with the prejudiced group.

But now he was telling the truth: he didn't dislike Wang Shuo. Even knowing his intentions, he didn't feel repulsed.

It was just that for something regarding sexual orientation, he couldn't give him an absolute answer immediately.

"This fish is actually really good," Wang Shuo saw Hao Junran's expression and changed the subject. He picked up a piece with his chopsticks and gave it to Hao Junran.

"Try it!"

Hao Junran didn't say he couldn't accept it, so there was hope!