Chapter Twenty-Four

Long Jiu Mo has been classified as gay.

He's not one to take the blame, but he can't get rid of it now.

However, Long was no pushover. Seeing that the rumors still wouldn't subside, he decided to add fuel to the fire. They said, "You say I, Long Jiu Mo, am gay? Fine, we can't find the boy in the photo, so let's use a real person to fill the gap!" Thus, a new version began circulating on campus: former president Long Jiu Mo and Cheng Xiang Bei, the most popular freshman at No. 1 High School, were a couple!

Oh? A pair? Is it fake?

Pshaw, someone from the class next door told me that. You know that person, right? His brother is at No. 1 High School! I've seen them holding hands while shopping!

Really? These days, guys, don't get too close to someone!

Oh dear, your information is outdated! They both met each other's parents during winter break!

Hey! How did you know?

My aunt's second aunt's sister's daughter lives near Cheng Xiangbei's house...

The rumors grew more and more outrageous, until even the parties involved were bewildered. The narrative had shifted from the "Long-Cheng romance" to the history of homosexuality in ancient China, the history of European morals, and even to the claim that Leslie Cheung didn't commit suicide due to a relationship breakdown but rather time-traveled… Long Jiu Mo watched his classmates idly discussing the matter, a smile playing on his lips.

Damn it, if I'm having a hard time, nobody's getting away with it. Homosexuality is great, huh? Okay, everyone come gay!

Sure enough, one person was having a tough time.

There's no need to guess who it is; it's none other than Lu Nan, the legendary enchanter. The person she likes is constantly being talked about by her classmates, even with everyone else involved. Some are even betting on who's on top between Long Jiu Mo and Cheng Xiang Bei! Seriously?! Does he think Lu Nan is dead?! How can they make such tasteless jokes?! Cheng Xiang Bei being pinned down by Long Jiu Mo?! What a ridiculous joke! If anyone's on top, it should be Lu Nan! Who gave that scheming Long Jiu Mo a chance?!

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated and resentful he became. But there was nothing he could do. Even when his classmates discussed it, he had to occasionally grumble in response; the first requirement for fitting into a group was learning to say one thing and mean another. Whenever the chattering behind him about who Cheng Xiangbei was, he felt an urge to bang his head against the wall. He grabbed Yun Shao and asked, "What's going on?! How come suddenly the whole school thinks Long Jiu Mo and Cheng Xiangbei are a couple? Hasn't anyone done any research?"

Yun Shao laughed awkwardly, comforting him that it would be fine in a couple of days. Lu Nan couldn't calm down and made up an excuse about having a headache to go back to her dorm to sleep. Yun Shao frowned, picked up a workbook, said she was going to ask the teacher for help, and also slipped away.

A few minutes later, a complaint came from the previously quiet teacher's office—

Didn't you say you'd take care of it? Look what you've done to my friend!

Which friend? That potato? ...Ah! Don't be angry, don't be angry, I'll never call him a potato again. Baby, sit down, standing is tiring!

Stop trying to evade the question! How did things get to this point?

It's not so bad that things have come to this! Look, he said homosexuality is disgusting, so we made him disgusting too! He'll probably be carrying that label until graduation! How great is that!

But... how did this get involved with the person my friend likes...?

Baby, it's enough that you only like me! Who cares about everyone else!

You selfish bastard! You big pervert! Ugh...

The scandalous rumors surrounding former Chairman Long have gradually subsided.

However, thanks to the watchful eyes of some, new material has already surfaced, just waiting to be revealed after the start of the semester! Yay!

The matter involved another person, Cheng Xiangbei. Rumors about him and Long Jiumo being a couple had been circulating among the students of No. 1 High School, but Cheng Xiangbei simply laughed it off. His only concern was Lu Nan; he would check on her every few days through Zhou Pu, and hearing that Lu Nan's expression was growing increasingly gloomy actually made him feel relieved.

A response is good news!

After seeing Zhou Mu off from his graduating class, summer vacation began. He stood guard downstairs at Lu Nan's house for two days, cheerfully trying to talk to her. But Lu Nan was in a bad mood, only giving half-hearted replies, hoping Cheng Xiangbei would notice his bad mood and offer some comfort. Instead, Cheng Xiangbei, for some reason, kept rambling on and on about trivial matters, omitting anything Lu Nan wanted to hear. Finally, Lu Nan, unable to contain her anger, kicked him and went upstairs.

Cheng Xiangbei looked at the shoe print on his pants and grinned foolishly.

Cheng's father asked him what he was laughing at, and Cheng Xiangbei quickly shook his head, blushing as he went upstairs. Cheng's father said curiously, "Why are you so happy even when you're doing hard labor?"

The head of the Long family, who was visiting in the living room, perked up his ears and asked, "What kind of hard labor?"

Cheng's father snapped out of his reverie and started talking about how the Cheng family children had to work in factories during every long holiday. Long Tiangang listened, his heart itching with envy! Look at the Cheng family, both young masters know their place and are responsible. It turns out they've been trained with a purpose. The Long family, who always followed the Cheng family's lead, naturally wanted to emulate them.

Long Tiangang explained his thoughts, and Cheng's father hesitated. He explained frankly: their own child was tough and wouldn't mind being bullied, but your son…

Long understood immediately upon hearing this and quickly said it was no problem, the Long family would take responsibility for any problems that arose! He even offered to write a guarantee right now! Cheng's father couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he reluctantly agreed.

And so, Cheng's journey to work in the north gained three more companions.

Long Sanjiang, Long Sihai, and Long Jiumo. The three young masters of the Long family are a major problem for Cheng Xiangbei.

Cheng Xiangbei had long heard about the fierce infighting within the Long family. Indeed, with four sons of different families, how could they rise to power without fighting? Although he was quite reluctant to travel with the Long family, he still mustered his spirits and put on a smile. Even as the three young masters of the Long family were exchanging menacing glances and verbal sparring, he watched without uttering a word.

Long Jiu Mo understood his obvious inaction; anyone with a brain would know to avoid this family's mess. Fortunately, they arrived at the factory before the three young masters escalated from verbal to physical gestures.

Cheng Xiangbei secretly wiped away a cold sweat and led the three distinguished guests into the factory.

Unlike the three young masters of the Long family, Cheng Xiangbei had already gained work experience here last year. Originally, Cheng's father wanted to send him elsewhere, but for the safety of the Long family, he had no choice but to return to the old place, where at least Cheng Xiangbei was familiar with the environment. The four of them lived together, ate the same food, slept in the same bed, and did the same work.

On the first day, Long San and Long Si complained about their training. Although they were illegitimate children, they had grown up in luxury and had never suffered such humiliation. But that annoying Xiao Jiu was also there. Despite their complaints, they didn't want to lose, as competition was everywhere. Long Jiu Mo secretly groaned. While work required thinking, that was something to be learned after becoming familiar with the job. Now, completely clueless, they wanted to slack off? Fine, they'd have to learn slowly!

Cheng Xiangbei could only chuckle inwardly at this situation. The three Long brothers were constantly vying for power during the day, and Long San even talked in his sleep with a murderous tone. He couldn't help but sigh; what kind of family environment had driven these seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys to this point? Too dark, too precocious. Fortunately, the simple physical activity had expended a lot of their energy. For the first week, their muscles were constantly sore, and Long Si had already cursed the nineteenth generation of the work group leader.

However, they could only persevere. Teenagers of this age, though arrogant and conceited, possessed an indomitable spirit deep down. The three members of the Long family, though constantly bickering and disliking each other, didn't mean they were willing to lose to an outsider, especially Cheng Xiangbei, an outsider highly regarded by their father. The four of them maintained a delicate balance in their silent competition. Unwilling to admit defeat, unwilling to give up—that was the nature of youth.

When the day of their release arrived, the group was reluctant to leave.

But to appear carefree, they each picked up their luggage and strode out, their feigned cheerful tones and exaggerated laughter masking their sorrow at parting. Long San and Long Si walked ahead, while Cheng Xiangbei and Long Jiu Mo followed slowly behind. During this time, sharing joys and sorrows, a strange emotion had developed among them—a lot of scrutiny, a lot of doubt, a little appreciation, and a little bit of mutual understanding—truly only a little, and definitely no more.

Lu Nan stood at the gate, waiting for Cheng Xiangbei to come out. With only a few days left until the end of summer vacation, he was restless at home. He waited until Cheng's father informed him that the tiger was going to be released before he eagerly ran to Cheng's house to come with Uncle Li.

Two people approached from a distance, but Lu Nan was certain she didn't recognize them.

Immediately afterward, Cheng Xiangbei appeared, and Lu Nan was so happy he almost jumped up, waving vigorously. However, before he could fully smile, his face froze. Why was that annoying Long Jiu Mei with Cheng Xiangbei? He suddenly thought of the rumors at school, his hand gripping the iron bars of the door, unable to utter a single word.

Cheng Xiangbei also saw Lu Nan waiting outside the door. His eyes lit up, and his steps became lighter. Long Jiu Mo sensed his excitement and sneered inwardly. He really didn't know what was wrong with Cheng Xiangbei's head. How could he even be interested in someone like Lu Nan, whose head was full of tofu dregs? He thought this to himself, but didn't show it on his face. He even said in a low voice, "Master Lu is waiting for you, so hurry up and run!"

Cheng Xiangbei paused, suppressing his joyful mood, and gave Long Jiu Mo a half-smile.

"What's wrong?" Long Jiu Mo asked, a little uneasy.

"It's nothing..." Cheng Xiangbei smiled and said slowly, "He's just a childhood friend, how can he compare to a good brother who shares joys and sorrows!" After saying that, he put his hand on Long Jiumo's shoulder, and even slid it ambiguously as the other took a step forward.

Long Jiu Mo's face flushed red. Those two fingers seemed to possess some kind of magic, causing his back to tremble involuntarily, and a tingling sensation rose from his waist. To hide his unease, he hurriedly took two steps to catch up with the two "brothers" in front of him.

Cheng Xiangbei watched his flustered retreating figure, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. He walked unhurriedly, his face remaining calm and composed until he reached Lu Nan. Seeing his unperturbed demeanor, Lu Nan felt a surge of unease. What was wrong? How could Cheng Xiangbei have become such a stranger after just one summer vacation?

His panic was written all over his face, and the Long brothers, who were about to get into the car, saw it too. Long San and Long Si didn't know who he was, and after saying goodbye to Cheng Xiangbei, they climbed into the car. Only Long Jiu Mo, seeing Lu Nan's tearful appearance, felt a perverse pleasure inexplicably. He curled his lips into a wicked smile and got into the car.

Cheng Xiangbei had been nodding and smiling indifferently the whole time. But the moment the Long family's car disappeared around the corner, and he was absolutely certain they were gone… his expression changed drastically! His eyes lit up, his face beaming with enthusiasm. Before Lu Nan could react, his long arms and legs wrapped around her, his head burying itself in her neck and rubbing against her, all the while complaining in a pitiful voice, “Nan Nan, you haven’t come to see me for so long, you’re so heartless! Nan Nan, I’m so pitiful, I miss you every day…”

Before Long Jiu Mo got on the bus, Lu Nan looked very mournful. He felt that Tiger had changed, changed in just one summer vacation. His heart ached terribly, and as he watched Cheng Xiang Bei and Long Jiu Mo smile and say goodbye, he almost burst into tears. However, before his tears could fall, he was surrounded from head to toe by an enthusiastic big dog.

Cheng Xiangbei was acting cute and affectionate with him—well, was it cute and affectionate? Lu Nan used his last remaining brain cells to think. He was still a little confused. The coldness of Cheng Xiangbei had hurt him, but how was he supposed to deal with this enthusiastic, tail-wagging guy in front of him? Could someone tell him what was going on?