After learning that Xu Chi's confession had been successful, Yu Yang finished the handover work and returned to school to teach physical education.
Seeing Yan Shu on the playground during class, Yu Yang smiled and greeted him, "Teacher Yan."
Not seeing the person he wanted to see, Yan Shu was a bit surprised, "Did Xu Chi take a leave of absence?"
Yu Yang was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted, "Has Xu Chi not told you yet?"
Yan Shu asked, "What is it?"
"He's not a teacher at our school. At the beginning of the semester, I hurt my leg playing basketball, so I asked him to substitute for me for a while."
Yu Yang thought for a moment and explained, "He's a friend of mine. One day he told me he's liked you for a long time, and knowing that we were colleagues, he asked me to help. I thought it was an opportunity."
"So that's how it is. It's okay, I'll go first."
"Alright."
After hearing that Xu Chi wasn't a teacher at the school, Yan Shu felt relieved. After all, dating and being gay at the same school wouldn't have a good influence.
He had been considering changing schools for work these past few days.
Returning home, he saw a sticky note on the door.
"I have something to do today and will be back later. Come to my place. There's some food I made in the fridge. Remember to heat it up."
They had previously given each other their keys.
Xu Chi didn't keep Yan Shu waiting long. Yan Shu had finished eating by the time he returned.
The room was lit up, and Yan Shu was sitting on the couch playing with his phone. Everything was so peaceful and beautiful.
Xu Chi's eyes curved into a smile. "I'm back. Have you eaten?"
Yan Shu looked up at him. "I've finished."
"That's good," Xu Chi walked into the kitchen, seeing that the dishes had already been washed. He said with a hint of regret, "I forgot to write and tell you not to wash the dishes."
Yan Shu found this a bit amusing and his gaze swept over the sticky note on the coffee table. Curious, he asked, "Why do you like using sticky notes so much?"
Xu Chi hesitated for a moment, looking at Yan Shu expectantly. He whispered, "Because I used to write to you like this in college. Do you remember?"
Yan Shu thought carefully and recalled similar sticky notes from his college days. Surprised, he asked, "Are you the underclassman who helped me finish the campus run?"
Xu Chi was overjoyed that he remembered and nodded vigorously, "Yeah."
"Then why didn't you come and get to know me back then?"
"That's just how it is with a crush. I didn't have the courage."
Yan Shu started to feel a little heartache. He had been secretly liking him for so many years.
But if Xu Chi had confessed to Yan Shu in college, Yan Shu probably wouldn't have agreed. Because he wouldn't have been interested in a younger student. He had a stereotype that college students, especially underclassmen, were naive.
Yan Shu took a deep breath and smiled at Xu Chi, "Well, that's all in the past. It's not too late now."
"Yeah."
"By the way, Yu Yang said you weren't a teacher at our school, so what's your real job?"
"Gym owner."
"The newly opened one near our school?"
"Yes."
Thinking back on all the coincidences, Yan Shu couldn't help but laugh, "You really planned this all along."
Xu Chi admitted with a smile, "Yes."
Half a month after Yan Shu and Xu Chi got together, Song Yu found out.
It wasn't that Yan Shu was intentionally hiding it from him. He just had a feeling, for some reason, that Song Yu… knew.
How did Song Yu find out? Well, Yan Shu had been going to the gym, and quite frequently at that. That was odd, very odd.
After asking around, he found out that the gym owner was Xu Chi. Then, one time he went over to Yan Shu's place and saw a pair of couple's slippers and a pair of couple's mugs. That's when he was certain Yan Shu was in a relationship. And when he asked, Yan Shu said it was with Xu Chi.
That day, Xu Chi invited him over for a home-cooked meal.
Song Yu said, "Well done, you didn't even tell me?"
Yan Shu awkwardly explained, "I forgot. I always thought you knew."
Having seen the scene he wanted to see play out, Song Yu was in a good mood and didn't mind. "Alright, alright. Actually, you two are pretty good together. You should have him help you exercise, go for a run every day or something."
Yan Shu laughed, "That's impossible."
Xu Chi interjected, "It's okay, I'll take good care of Yan Shu. And I've been studying health and wellness."
Song Yu glanced at Yan Shu, "Look at Xu Chi, then look at you."
Yan Shu didn't feel anything was wrong at all, and confidently replied, "Look if you want, he's my partner."
"Fine, so what if you have a boyfriend? I'll leave, I won't disturb you anymore."
After Song Yu left, Xu Chi looked at Yan Shu with a complex expression.
Yan Shu turned to look at him, "What's wrong?"
Xu Chi pursed his lips and said shyly, "Can you stay tonight?"
Yan Shu looked at him with a slightly evasive gaze and said, "Are you thinking..."
Xu Chi's eyes darted around, his face flushed, and his voice was low and unclear, "If you don't want to, it's fine."
Unexpectedly, Yan Shu smiled, "Are you ready?"
"I'm ready," Xu Chi nodded and then took a folder from the bedroom and handed it to Yan Shu.
Yan Shu took it and opened it. Inside were a bank card, a property certificate, and even a medical examination report.
"You've had this idea for a long time?"
Xu Chi buried his head, nervously asking, "So... stay?"
"Okay."
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