FIMA Ch16: Rose

Xie Qingxiao’s steps paused, and a vague sense of irritation and displeasure rose in his heart.

“Hmph.” He stood by the door, looking at the figure in the corner of the room.

Actually, it was just that his legs were a bit longer, his face a bit handsomer, his demeanor a bit better, his mind a bit sharper, his basketball skills a bit better… and maybe his singing a bit better too… that’s all…

Gu Siyuan, always keenly perceptive, suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting Xie Qingxiao’s focused stare.

For some reason, a slight blush crept up behind Xie Qingxiao’s ears, and he instinctively took a step back.

Gu Siyuan chuckled softly, raised four fingers still holding a disposable paper cup, and beckoned, “Come here.”

The Alpha’s voice, still low but now moistened by hot water, carried an undeniable command.

Xie Qingxiao instinctively stepped forward.

“What are you doing here?” Gu Siyuan asked as he put away his phone, raised his hand to loosen his school tie, and casually unbuttoned the first button of his shirt, his demeanor instantly shifting from cold to unruly.

Xie Qingxiao only became more clear-headed after standing in front of him.

Looking at Gu Siyuan’s neat yet unruly slicked-back hair, he suddenly remembered that afternoon when Gu was playing basketball against Dan Kai. After the game, at the school gate, Gu had the same school uniform and slicked-back hair, seemingly unchanged from start to finish.

But he himself had changed a lot, in many aspects, including his taste.

“Just came to see how you’re preparing.”

Gu Siyuan hummed and lazily smiled, “Thanks for the concern, deskmate.”

“Oh… no need.”

Xie Qingxiao thought he might be the type to wish for the well-being of those he liked. Once he found someone pleasing, everything about them seemed good. At this moment, just looking at Gu Siyuan’s dark, smiling eyes, he felt like he could be sucked into their depths.

The class president and the literature committee member came over, “Xie Qingxiao, you came to see the study god too?”

Xie Qingxiao quickly snapped back to reality, “Yeah, just taking a look.”

The class president continued, “The study god’s performance is the second one. The host is opening now, and the first performers are already waiting backstage. It’ll be the study god’s turn soon.”

Xie Qingxiao smiled, “Ah, then I should hurry back to my seat.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, “Go ahead, I’m leaving too.”

When Xie Qingxiao returned to the auditorium, he hadn’t even sat down properly when Huo Yi grabbed him.

Huo Yi glared at him, “How can you take so long just to go to the bathroom?”

Xie Qingxiao felt guilty, “Hmm.”

Huo Yi frowned, “Hmph, tell the truth, did you sneak backstage to see the male god?”

Xie Qingxiao firmly denied, “Am I that kind of person?”

Huo Yi snorted, “You are.”

Xie Qingxiao remained silent, admitting to himself that he had indeed been somewhat captivated by Gu Siyuan’s good looks.

At this moment, the opening song and dance performance on stage came to an end.

“Thank you all for your hard work. Now, let’s welcome Gu Siyuan from Class 3-1 to sing a solo song.”

As the voices of the handsome male and female hosts sounded, the stage lights changed, and the curtains slowly pulled back. First, a pair of long legs wrapped in school trousers appeared, followed by an upper body clad only in a white shirt, and finally, a strikingly handsome face.

He seemed completely out of place with the lively atmosphere, giving the illusion that he wasn’t here for a high school performance but to give a speech at some international conference.

However, the moment the music started and he began to sing, everyone realized that was indeed an illusion.

Unbelievable…

How could someone be so good at everything they did?

The sounds of phones and cameras constantly filled the air, everyone wanting to capture the moment.

And when the high notes of the chorus hit, the audience couldn’t help but erupt in applause and exclamations.

“Amazing, my goodness…”

“Incredible, I’ve tried this song many times and could never hit that note!”

“This must be the study god, the one on the big red banner at our school, right? How can he even sing so well? How are we supposed to live?”

These were the thoughts of ordinary students.

“Ah, so handsome and amazing. Mom, I want him!”

“Is this the study god? So incredible. Is there anything in the world he can’t do, besides marry me…”

“From now on, he’s my new husband. I’m going up to give him flowers!”

These were the thoughts of his fanboys and fangirls.

Listening to the various remarks from all directions, Xie Qingxiao’s eyes suddenly flashed, and a certain seed, already firmly planted, took root and sprouted in his heart.

His heart filled with both nervousness and joy, so much so that he could barely pay attention to the rest of the show.

Happy times always pass quickly.

The three-hour long literary performance was over before anyone realized it.

However, even until the end, Gu Siyuan remained one of the most memorable performers.

But now, the Gu Siyuan who was on the minds of many Beichuan High School students was facing a major life decision.

Looking at the red rose held out before him, he casually asked, “Is this your way of praising my hard work in performing today?”

Xie Qingxiao looked at him calmly, “That’s part of it, but it also has a more original meaning.”

Gu Siyuan raised his eyelids slightly, “Hmm?”

Xie Qingxiao smiled and said, “My hand is tired.”

Gu Siyuan looked at his smile and suddenly fell silent.

An instant feeling of unease arose from the depths of Xie Qingxiao’s heart, more overwhelming than any time he’d faced the impatient Shen Ting. This silence made him feel as if his senses were being torn apart a hundredfold.

Xie Qingxiao slowly lowered his hand, trying to keep his voice calm: “Is there anything you want to ask or say?”

Gu Siyuan took a step forward, grasping the hand holding the rose. He spoke seriously, word by word: “The rose is beautiful. Just looking at it makes one want to cherish and protect it. But I’ve never received or owned a rose before, and I’ve never imagined it would appear in my life in the future either. I…”

Talking with a smart person, a hint is enough to be understood.

Listening to his words and feeling the warmth from his wrist, Xie Qingxiao suddenly felt a bit speechless towards himself.

He once thought that Shen Ting giving him a gift on Qixi Festival meant he liked him, leading him to fall head over heels. But in reality, he was just a diversion in Shen Ting’s love life.

Now, because of Gu Siyuan’s help, he again thought the other had feelings for him. But how could he forget that it was only recently that Gu Siyuan had started interacting with him? They had been deskmates for almost a year, and Gu Siyuan had never shown any special interest in him before.

Was he really so starved for love?

Xie Qingxiao withdrew his hand, wrinkled his nose, blinked, and even managed a slight smile. His tone devoid of any emotion, he said, “Yes, I… I misunderstood, it’s nothing, sorry.”

After saying that, he turned and walked away. After a few steps, he suddenly started running, his back looking extremely flustered.

Gu Siyuan stood there for a long moment without moving.

“He likes you, he’s confessing to you.”

A familiar yet strange cold mechanical voice suddenly sounded, it was the personal system that hadn’t appeared in a long time since he came to this world.

Gu Siyuan looked down and said, “I know that now.”

“Then why don’t you go after him?” the system asked.

Gu Siyuan said expressionlessly, “I… I’m not sure if I really love him and if I’m ready to spend my life with him.”

When he returned to this world, he originally just wanted to complete his mission smoothly, without getting involved in anything else.

He liked having everything under control, hating unexpected occurrences, especially emotions.

He disliked how people were changed by emotions. He might indeed have a strong liking for the current lively, cute, and sly Xie Qingxiao, but he was even more reluctant to recall the disfigured Xie Qingxiao at the end of his previous life as shown by the system. He was also unwilling to touch such emotions that could change a person so drastically.

Moreover, his initial feelings towards Xie Qingxiao were compassion, and now he found him more adorable. But is this love?

Clearly, in the previous life, they were deskmates as well, and nothing happened. Now, because he knows about Xie Qingxiao’s unfortunate love life in the past, things have changed… is this normal?

If he doesn’t even understand his own feelings, starting rashly might cause Xie Qingxiao even greater harm. His mission in this world was to make Xie Qingxiao happy…

System: “…”

Your mind, always thinking about Xie Qingxiao, finding him cute, worrying about his happiness? Even considering the future? And that’s not love?

Don’t think just because you’re human you can fool this electronic dog…

The system coldly said, “Host, if you don’t accept him, aren’t you afraid Xie Qingxiao might meet another person like Shen Ting in the future? He’s not like you, willing to spend a lifetime with just academics and money.”

Hearing this, Gu Siyuan’s expression instantly turned cold.

Could there really be…

So many scumbags in this society?

Must people be in relationships? Then… can he regret it?