Chapter 58: College Entrance Examination Results Released
Chu Yan drove to Gu Xu's apartment, located on a high floor in the city center with a superb view. They were silent all the way, the car filled with silence, only Gu Xu's occasional, subtly suppressed gasps proving that the silent collapse just now was not an illusion.
After parking the car and entering the private elevator, Gu Xu was practically half-carried and half-supported by Chu Yan as he entered the house. The heavy security door closed behind him, isolating him from all the noise and prying eyes from the outside world. The familiar atmosphere of their private space enveloped them, and Gu Xu's nerves, which had been stretched to the limit, finally seemed to have found a safe haven and completely relaxed. Following this, he was overwhelmed with fatigue and exhaustion. He leaned against the cold wall of the entrance hall, his body slumping slightly.
Chu Yan didn't turn on the main lights, only a warm yellow wall lamp in the entrance hall. The dim light softly outlined Gu Xu's pale and haggard face. The dark circles under his eyes seemed even darker in the shadows, and the red eye sockets and the remaining tear marks were glaring.
"Let's take a hot bath first, okay?" Chu Yan's voice was very soft, with a soothing magic. He reached out to help Gu Xu take off his coat.
However, just as Chu Yan's fingers were about to touch his suit jacket, Gu Xu suddenly turned around, like a beast pouncing on its prey. With a resolute force, he pressed Chu Yan against the wall on the other side of the entrance. The cold wall sent a chill through his thin shirt, but Gu Xu's body pressed against him was as hot as a branding iron.
"Gu Xu..." Chu Yan was a little stunned. Just as he opened his mouth, his voice was blocked by Gu Xu's lips.
Gu Xu's kiss was no longer as effortless as before, but became particularly urgent and rough. His arm was like an iron hoop, tightly tightening around Chu Yan's waist, while his other hand was impatiently ripping at the buttons of Chu Yan's shirt, as if he wanted to tear through all obstacles and directly touch the real body temperature that could prove his existence!
"Hmm..." Chu Yan groaned, sensing the panic and possessiveness radiating from Gu Xu. This wasn't lust, but rather the desperate need for reassurance and release from a soul on the brink of collapse, grasping at a lifeline. He understood Gu Xu's current state. Words of comfort and rest seemed pale and powerless in the face of such surging emotions. He needed the most primitive, direct means to dispel the vast emptiness and fear deep within his heart.
He sighed silently. Those eyes, always brimming with a carefree smile, now held a deep, almost indulgent calm. He raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing against Gu Xu's furrowed brow, gliding across the lingering tear marks on his pale cheeks, before finally cupping his face.
He hugged Gu Xu's tense back with his backhand and stroked it again and again, as if he was comforting a wounded trapped animal.
Chu Yan's response seemed to have lit the final fuse. Gu Xu was no longer satisfied with the kiss, but was eager for more. The entrance was too small, and clothing became the biggest obstacle. His expensive suit was roughly torn to the ground, and his shirt buttons broke and scattered all over the floor.
Chu Yan also completely indulged him. The curtains were not drawn tightly, and the neon lights of the city shone through the gaps, flickering on the entangled figures.
His fingertips traced Gu Xu's tense back, soothing yet applying pressure where it mattered, controlling the rhythm. When Gu Xu lost control due to extreme emotion, Chu Yan would whisper his name in his ear, offering unquestionable guidance, pulling him back on track. His panting, amplified in Gu Xu's ears, was hoarse with emotion and had a strange, reassuring power, like an anchor to steady Gu Xu's shattered nerves.
"Look at me, Gu Xu." Chu Yan's voice sounded intermittently in the chaotic breathing, with the power of controlling the overall situation.
Gu Xu's eyes were focused on Chu Yan's face. His crazy look was clearly reflected in his deep eyes. There was no disgust, no escape, only bottomless indulgence and a kind of understanding as if he knew everything.
"I'm here." These four simple words seemed to carry magic, instantly shattering the last bit of Gu Xu's sanity.
Complete indulgence.
As if they wanted to burn each other to ashes. As if they wanted to carve the deepest mark in each other's body and soul, proving their existence and possession at this moment.
Gu Xu's demands were tireless, as if he was doubling down on the sense of security he'd lost the previous night. Chu Yan, unusually unreserved, matched his every rhythm and demand. Sweat soaked the sheets, and their panting mingled, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.
Until the sky outside the window changed from dark blue to grayish white, and then the faint morning light appeared.
By the end, Gu Xu's tense body was pressed heavily against Chu Yan, and he fell into a deep sleep, almost comatose. Even in his sleep, his arms were still tightly wrapped around Chu Yan's waist, his forehead resting on Chu Yan's sweaty neck, and his breathing was heavy and even.
Chu Yan looked at Gu Xu, who slept soundly in his arms. His haggard face, even in his sleep, still held a hint of anxiety and dependence. He sighed helplessly and gently brushed the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead. The consequence of their indulgence was that they were both completely exhausted. He moved his body, trying to adjust his position slightly, but Gu Xu held him tighter, mumbling discontentedly.
Chu Yan gave up, closed his eyes, let the fatigue overwhelm him like a tide, and fell into a deep sleep.
Time has lost its meaning.
Chu Yan was abruptly awakened by the system's reminder in his mind.
The system's voice, still electronic after repair but now clearly in an agitated state, frantically flashed across his mind. "Gaokao results are out today. Host, wake up!"
Chu Yan opened his eyes, a hangover-like headache instantly hitting him, causing him to frown. Before him was the familiar ceiling, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the undrawn curtains, casting a blinding streak across the floor. In his arms, Gu Xu was still clinging to him like an octopus, sound asleep, his breaths drawn out, clearly exhausted.
The phone screen on the bedside table was blinking.
Chu Yan stretched out an arm with difficulty, reached over Gu Ye's head, and groped for the phone. A familiar name popped up on the screen - Gu Ye.
He rubbed his brows hard, trying to dispel the heavy sleepiness and fatigue after indulgence that almost dragged him back into the abyss, and then pressed the answer button.
"Hello?" The voice startled even himself as it came out. It was low and hoarse, with a strong sense of sleepiness and an indescribable lazy sexiness.
There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the phone, and then Gu Ye's voice came, which was obviously excited but somewhat cautious: "Chu Yan? You just woke up?" He seemed to have heard the strangeness in Chu Yan's voice, and his tone became a little hesitant and uncomfortable.
The college entrance exam results, Chu Yan's chaotic mind was finally brought back to reality by the system prompt and Gu Ye's voice. He remembered that today was the day when the dust settled after the thousands of troops crossed the single-plank bridge. While answering the phone, he tried to free one hand from Gu Ye's restraint: "Yeah, just woke up. What's wrong?"
"Chu Yan, have you found out?" Gu Ye's voice on the other end of the phone was so excited that it almost broke. Even through the receiver, one could feel the ecstasy and nervousness that was about to burst out. "I just found out! I... I..."
Gu Ye seemed to be so excited that he was incoherent, and the rest of his words were stuck in his throat.
Chu Yan finally reached for his laptop, discarded at the foot of the bed. He half-sat up and leaned against the headboard. Gu Xu, seemingly disturbed by his movement, grumbled in dissatisfaction, but her arm remained stubbornly wrapped around his waist. She nuzzled her head against his side before falling back into sleep. Chu Yan opened the laptop with one hand, smoothly booting it up and logging into the score-checking website. His fingers glided across the touchpad as he typed in his information, his movements neither hurried nor slow.
Total score: 725.
A number that is enough to open the doors of any institution of higher learning.
Chu Yan's face showed no surprise or joy. He was as calm as if he had just confirmed a known result. He casually entered Gu Ye's name and test number into the search box.
The page refreshes again.
Total score: 683.
Chu Yan's eyebrows finally twitched slightly, a flicker of genuine approval in his eyes. This score far exceeded Gu Ye's average score on his usual mock exams, even surpassing his highest score on his last mock exam by nearly twenty points. This kid truly outperformed. He truly was the mission target, or rather, a rough gem he had personally carved.
"I checked." Chu Yan's eyes shifted from the screen to refocus on the phone call. A gentle smile naturally curled up at the corner of his mouth. The smile was transmitted through his hoarse voice, with a unique, reassuring magnetism. "Gu Ye," he called out his name clearly, his voice full of sincere congratulations, "Congratulations. 683 points, an excellent result."
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds. Gu Ye seemed a little overwhelmed by Chu Yan's hoarse yet gentle voice. He uttered a flustered "hmm," his voice stuttering for a moment. He cleared his throat uncomfortably, his voice lowering a few notches. "...Um, Teacher Li asked a few of us who did well on the exam to go to school this afternoon to discuss choosing a school and major. Are you free this afternoon?"
Chu Yan glanced down at Gu Xu, who was still wrapped tightly around his waist, sleeping defenselessly. This guy had been through a whirlwind of emotions last night, and after spending most of the night indulging himself, he was practically unconscious now, and he probably wouldn't wake up until the afternoon. He thought for a moment, thinking there weren't any important plans for the afternoon, so he said, "Okay, I'll be there at 2 p.m."
"Okay! See you this afternoon!" Gu Ye finished speaking quickly, as if he had completed some important task. Then, as if he was afraid that Chu Yan would say something that would make him blush and his heart beat faster, he quickly hung up the phone.
Chu Yan shook his head with a chuckle as he listened to the busy tone. He pulled the phone away from his ear. The screen was still lit, and the densely packed notification bar icons and unread message notifications on the lock screen were like the scene after an explosion, instantly impacting his vision.
Missed calls: 27.
WeChat unread messages: 99+.
Text messages: more than a dozen.
Besides the call Gu Ye had just made, there were countless missed calls from classmates, teachers, and even some friends he or she had a decent relationship with. WeChat groups were abuzz with messages—class groups, grade groups, and friend groups—so fast it was hard to read.
Chu Yan's eyes swept across the call records, and his fingertips paused slightly.
During that chaotic and dissolute night last night, when he was being dragged along by Gu Xu and had no time to think about anything else, Chu Yu had called him. The time displayed was around 11 o'clock last night, when he and Gu Xu were "fighting fiercely."
Chu Yan didn't call back immediately. He opened WeChat first. The news had already exploded in the pinned group chats.
[Class A Elite Group (No Teacher)]
[Zhang Wei]: I found out that my score was 20 points higher than I estimated. I'm about to cry.
[Li Ting]: Congratulations! I performed reasonably well.
[Wang Ming]: Where are the two big guys, @Chu Yan and @Gu Ye? Come out and show off your scores! I'm so anxious!
[Zhao Min]: I just asked the squad leader, Gu Ye 683, my god, this is possessed by the god of study.
[Everyone]: !!!!!! Holy crap! Gu Ye is awesome! (Crackling)
[Zhang Wei]: What about Chu Yan? He can't be lower than Gu Ye, right?
[Li Ting]: I can’t get through to Chu Yan on the phone, it’s urgent.
[Wang Ming]: @Chu Yan Chu Shen! Stop lurking! Come out and receive worship!
Chu Yan casually glanced at them and opened a few private chat windows. They were all from classmates he was close to, asking about grades and congratulating them. He didn't reply for the time being, and his fingertips slid to find Chu Yu's chat box.
The last message was posted at 11:45 last night.
[Chu Yu]: Are you busy?
No follow-up questions.
Chu Yan thought about it and dialed Chu Yu's number directly.
The phone was connected after barely a single ring. Chu Yu's characteristically cold and steady voice spoke, devoid of any emotion: "Awake?" He seemed to understand why Chu Yan had only just called back.
"Yeah." Chu Yan responded, his voice still a little hoarse from just waking up, but better than when he was talking to Gu Ye just now. "I had something to do last night and didn't hear the call." He passed it off vaguely.
"College entrance exam results." Chu Yu did not ask about what happened last night. He went straight to the point and spoke concisely.
"725." Chu Yan reported the number, his tone as flat as if he was talking about today's weather.
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds. Even Chu Yu was slightly shocked by this number. He knew Chu Yan had good grades, but he hadn't expected them to be this good. This was beyond the realm of "excellent" and had reached a level that was admired by many.
"Yeah." Chu Yu's voice remained steady, without much emotion, but those who knew him well could hear the subtle approval. "Very good. Which school are you planning to choose? What major?"
Chu Yan looked out the window. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting warm patches of light on the wooden floor. He barely hesitated. "University A. Paleontology."
This answer was clearly a bit unexpected for Chu Yu. He paused, seemingly contemplating the implications of this extremely unpopular major, one that had nothing to do with business and finance. But unlike any other parent, he didn't raise questions or objections. He simply asked calmly, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Chu Yan answered straightforwardly.
"Okay." Chu Yu didn't say a single word to express his support or opposition, as if whatever Chu Yan chose was a matter of course. He changed the subject, his tone taking on the decisiveness of a decision-maker, "Then during this time, prepare for the relocation of Cloud Intelligent Control."
"Relocation?" Chu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly. "Not in S City anymore?"
"Yes." Chu Yu's voice came through the receiver, with an unquestionable tone, "Moving back to City A. Cloud Intelligent Control is already on track, and we need to be closer to the group headquarters. Resource integration and subsequent development will be more convenient. And," he paused, adding in a flat tone, as if stating a natural fact, "you also have to go to school in City A."
Chu Yan instantly understood Chu Yu's subtext. Moving back to City A was not only for the company's development, but also for proximity. Chu Yu was trying to move the "battlefield" directly under his nose.
"Got it." Chu Yan didn't show any surprise or resistance, just agreed calmly. The two chatted for a few more words about the company's recent arrangements and the approximate timeline for the relocation, then ended the call.
After hanging up, Chu Yan casually tossed the phone back onto the bedside table. The room fell silent again, the only sound being Gu Xu's even, deep breathing. The sun's warmth seemed even stronger, and the air still lingered with the ambiguous scent of last night's indulgence.
Chu Yan looked down at Gu Shi, who was still clinging to him, sound asleep. The man's handsome profile was buried in his waist, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath his eyelids. A faint blush from last night's frenzy still lingered in the corners of his eyes. Even in his sleep, his brows seemed to be slightly furrowed, as if he were subconsciously fighting something.
Chu Yan looked at Gu Xu's defenseless and even fragile sleeping face, and with a hint of indulgence that he himself had not noticed, he stretched out his arm and pulled Gu Xu into his arms, making him more comfortable.
Gu Xu seemed to feel this subtle adjustment and familiar body temperature in his sleep. He rubbed it unconsciously, let out a sigh of satisfaction, and tightened his arms around Chu Yan's waist. His whole body wrapped around him more tightly like a vine.
Chu Yan adjusted his position to make himself more comfortable. He pulled the thin blanket higher, covering their exposed shoulders. Outside the window, the hustle and bustle of the city had begun to awaken, and the sound of traffic could be heard faintly. But inside, there was only a warm silence.
Chu Yan closed his eyes, feeling the warm body temperature and heavy weight of the person in his arms, and allowed himself to fall into the lingering sleep again.
Go back to sleep, now is the time to get down to business.
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