I Only Want You chapter 10

Yan Lan slept from morning until sunset, not even bothering to turn over. Yang Xiaole sneaked up to his bed several times, using his fingers to check his breathing, confirming that he was just asleep and not dead.

After the sunset, the sky quickly darkened. When Yan Lan opened his eyes, he heard the rhythmic sound of a keyboard, not loud but audible.

Sitting up, he saw Yang Xiaole playing a game, surrounded by the splendid light effects on the computer screen.

Having slept through the day, his hungry stomach made him dizzy upon waking up. The first thing he did after getting out of bed was to find water to drink.

Yang Xiaole, hearing his movement, took off his headphones, turned around, and looked at him. “Momo, when did you come back?”

Yan Lan put down the water cup, pointed at him, then folded his hands and tilted his head to mimic a sleeping posture, indicating that he was asleep.

Yang Xiaole pursed his lips, was about to put on his headphones and continue gaming when, with his naked vision of 5.0, he saw the collarbone exposed by Yan Lan’s sleepwear, marked with faint red traces. His brain suddenly sounded like a big clock, and the computer screen turned black and white as he stared blankly.

Yan Lan was contemplating doing laundry and fixing the buttons that were pulled off when a gust of wind suddenly swept in front of him. The person who came had a murderous look in his eyes, and the hand grabbing Yan Lan’s shoulder exerted force, making the knuckles turn white.

With a cold voice, Yang Xiaole said, “Were you bullied?”

Yan Lan stared at him, subconsciously shaking his head.

Yang Xiaole narrowed his eyes, extended a finger, and slowly pulled open Yan Lan’s sleepwear collar. The bite marks and hickeys on his collarbone were exposed. “What’s going on here?”

Blushing, Yan Lan hurriedly raised his hand to cover the collar.

This reaction shocked Yang Xiaole, who, in a dramatic manner, took two steps back, pointing his slender fingers at Yan Lan, his voice trembling, “I’m such a beautiful cabbage…”

Yan Lan, looking down, couldn’t help but smile but dared not laugh.

Suddenly, Yang Xiaole erupted, pounding the table, “Speak! Confess honestly! Who bullied you?”

Yan Lan, feeling a bit overwhelmed by this unusual situation, could only roughly explain what happened last night, including the moment when Xie Yun Zhi said he wasn’t gay in the morning.

Yang Xiaole, after hearing the story, had a complex expression. “So, he got drunk and took advantage of you, and because you secretly admired him, you went along with it?”

Yan Lan felt a bit embarrassed by his words, biting his lower lip and not saying anything.

Frustrated, Yang Xiaole banged on the table again. “I have to talk to Xie Yun Zhi properly. If nothing else, at least get some material compensation.”

Yan Lan shook his head.

Frustrated, Yang Xiaole stood up, walked to Yan Lan, and hugged him. “My Momo, my cabbage, don’t shake your head! As long as you nod, I’ll go to Venus headquarters immediately to demand an explanation for you.”

Yan Lan patted Yang Xiaole’s back with a smile but still shook his head.

Yang Xiaole sighed heavily. “Xie Yun Zhi got off easy.”

Yan Lan remained expressionless, leaving his thoughts unclear.

The next day at noon, Yan Lan’s bank card received payment for the part-time job, the payment for all the teaching hours. Yan Lan sent back the payment for the last class, then went out with Yang Xiaole to eat the Japanese dish they used to avoid. He also bought a new lipstick and a new dress for Yang Xiaole, as well as two sets of new clothes for himself.

As the new semester approached, the once quiet campus of the art institute gradually became lively, with students returning to school dragging their suitcases.

Both graduate and undergraduate students at the art institute started the new semester at around the same time. Those from out of town were accustomed to returning early, while local students tended to come back the day before the start of classes.

For the past few days, Yan Lan had been immersed in reading, avoiding going out as much as possible. As the holiday came to an end, Yang Xiaole also followed suit, staying in the dormitory to play games and refraining from cross-dressing for outings.

However, their lack of interest in the outside world didn’t mean the campus was quiet. For example, every year around this time, there would be the freshmen orientation, with volunteers present at various entrances of the art institute.

When Yang Xiaole was a sophomore, he would be curious about whether there were handsome guys among the new students and whether there were contenders for the title of campus beauty. By the time he reached his junior year, he lost interest because the art institute was not short of good-looking people. There was even a stunner in his dormitory, and his aesthetic standards had been raised to the point where encountering a face that could be a star would only elicit a slight furrow of his brow.

But this year was a bit different.

In the increasingly bustling campus, a name repeatedly mentioned on the art institute’s forum caught everyone’s attention—Lin Jianxing, along with a candid photo taken in the cafeteria.

Squatting in front of the computer, Yang Xiaole, with a contemplative expression, stared at the screen, repeatedly enlarging the picture. “Momo, come and see.”

Yan Lan put down his paintbrush and walked over to him.

“Look at this guy, named Lin Jianxing, the most handsome among this year’s freshmen, majoring in animation.”

Yan Lan looked at the person on the screen, whose temperament was somewhere between a man and a boy, with handsome features. He was indeed very good-looking. After looking at him, Yan Lan used his fingers to draw a question mark on Yang Xiaole’s back in confusion.

Yang Xiaole looked up at him. “Have you considered finding someone else to like?”

Yan Lan, looking puzzled, tilted his head.

Yang Xiaole turned around to face him. “It doesn’t have to be him. I’m just using him as an example. You’re in a good position. You can find someone as outstanding as you are. On my behalf, I strongly disagree with you hanging on Xie Yun Zhi. As the saying goes, the best way to get over a breakup is to start a new relationship.”

Yan Lan listened without nodding or shaking his head, showing no reaction. His expression was so indifferent that it was hard to discern any emotion.

A few days later, the freshmen began their two-week military training. The once quiet campus of the art institute was now filled with students wearing camouflage uniforms and lining up in formation. Yan Lan’s new semester courses also began.

Everything seemed to be proceeding according to the established rhythm, as if certain events and people had never happened, as if they had never existed. The wind left no trace.

Yan Lan moved to a new classroom for the new semester. When he went downstairs, he could see several basketball courts within a hundred meters. Often, he would see students in camouflage being led by instructors to practice in formation.

Yan Lan and Yang Xiaole would pass by the basketball court twice every day. Yang Xiaole, like a handsome guy radar, discovered that the newly appointed campus idol, Lin Jianxing, was also in the lineup.

“Indeed, a handsome guy.”

Yan Lan didn’t pay much attention, not even bothering to turn his head. However, Yang Xiaole, who enjoyed watching the excitement, couldn’t resist and dragged Yan Lan to join the crowd to watch.

Lin Jianxing, with his outstanding looks, had garnered attention from the moment he entered the school. The handsome youth sweating on the basketball court became a campus spectacle, and many sophomore and junior students couldn’t help but stop and watch.

The area around the basketball court was surrounded by at least two circles of people, making those on the court seem as if they had taken chicken blood, their beautiful three-pointers and blocks eliciting continuous cheers from the spectators.

Yan Lan wasn’t interested in sports competitions, and he just wanted to go eat. However, since Yang Xiaole held onto him, he had no choice but to follow along and watch.

As he watched, Yan Lan realized that many eyes on the court were frequently falling on him—a mix of curiosity and scrutiny. It seemed people might have learned who he was from the forum. Unexpectedly, he made eye contact with Lin Jianxing.

The young man in a camouflage T-shirt, sweating with a bottle of water in hand, looked towards Yan Lan’s direction while at his position. It was an unabashed gaze, as if he didn’t mind being caught looking at Yan Lan.

Soon, those who had been paying attention to him followed his gaze and noticed Yan Lan standing by the basketball court. This included the students who were watching, and greetings from various senior students started echoing.

Over the years, Yan Lan had become something like a mascot for the art institute, even a symbol. He had been the art institute’s campus beauty for five consecutive years. In the art institute, renowned for its beautiful students, he held a position akin to Mount Tai.

However, he personally despised this title and found it boring. Unfortunately, some people found it interesting and constantly used his well-known ID photo for comparisons and polls against the most outstanding faces among the new students, causing him trouble.

No one would be pleased to have their face compared to others. So, when he made eye contact with Lin Jianxing, he instinctively felt that the other person might not like him. He gently pulled Yang Xiaole, signaling him to stop looking and move on.

Yang Xiaole also noticed Lin Jianxing’s gaze and felt puzzled. Even when they were far away, he still wondered, “why is he looking at you like that? Does he want to fight?”

This question got an answer later in the evening.

Because Yang Xiaole was called away by his mentor, Yan Lan had dinner alone. To avoid the new students undergoing military training, he deliberately went to the cafeteria half an hour after the usual dinner time, casually picking a window to order a bowl of beef noodles.

He had just sat down and was about to eat when suddenly a figure sat in front of him—it was Lin Jianxing.

Yan Lan frowned slightly, not understanding why, with so many empty seats in the cafeteria, this person chose to sit in front of him.

Lin Jianxing took a quick glance at him, then awkwardly scratched his head, “Um… Senior, I came to ask if you know Guo Yifan? He’s a junior majoring in wrestling in the sports institute next door.”

Yan Lan shook his head slowly, not having heard of him.

Lin Jianxing looked even more awkward, “He’s my cousin. You might not know his name, but he’s the guy you kicked during the summer. “

Yan Lan was taken aback at his words.

Lin Jianxing hastily waved his hands, “Senior, don’t get me wrong! I’m not here to avenge him. It’s just that during the summer, he kept cursing you, so I was really curious about what kind of person you are.”

Yan Lan lowered his eyes, suddenly feeling that Lin Jianxing seemed a bit naive.

Lin Jianxing took a can of honey tea from his pocket and handed it to Yan Lan, “Actually, I didn’t intend to talk to you. It’s just that you seem to have misunderstood me on the basketball court today. I don’t want to be misunderstood. I have no ill will towards you. Senior, please don’t be afraid.”

Yan Lan looked at the can of honey tea, then at the person in front of him, and gently nodded.

Lin Jianxing visibly relaxed, stood up, and said, “Well, I’ll leave now. I won’t disturb your meal.”

Yan Lan didn’t pay much attention, but there was someone who cared—Yang Xiaole.

The scene of Lin Jianxing talking to him in the cafeteria became a hot topic on the forum. The moment Yang Xiaole saw it, he grabbed Yan Lan and asked what’s going on.

Yan Lan wrote down everything for him to read.

After reading it, Yang Xiaole chuckled, his eyes suddenly brightening. Just as he was about to say something, Yan Lan’s phone on the table suddenly dinged.

Yan Lan gently pushed away the person in front of him and picked up the phone to check. It was a text message from Xie Yun Zhi’s personal number.

[Teacher Yan, excuse the intrusion. Would it be convenient to chat tomorrow afternoon at three about Tiantian?]

Yan Lan stared at the message for a long time before replying, [I have class tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be available after four.] [How about Forest Coffee at four thirty?] [Sure.]

The next day, Yan Lan didn’t inform Yang Xiaole about meeting Xie Yun Zhi. He made up an excuse, left the school gate alone, and when he arrived at Forest Coffee, he saw a Bentley parked by the roadside. That was evidently Xie Yun Zhi’s car—he was already here.

Upon entering, he subconsciously looked towards the seat they had sat in last time and saw Xie Yun Zhi looking at him.

Yan Lan hesitated for a moment and felt a bit uneasy, but he quickly walked towards Xie Yun Zhi and sat in the seat opposite him.

This was their first meeting since that day, and an indescribable awkwardness lingered between them. Yan Lan kept his eyes lowered and didn’t look at Xie Yun Zhi, while Xie Yun Zhi remained silent, as if competing to see who would break the silence first.

After a few minutes, Xie Yun Zhi sighed lightly, “Tiantian misses you a lot. He’s not satisfied with the new art teacher I found for him. He insists on having you teach him.”

A faint shadow crossed Yan Lan’s eyes. After a while, he gestured in sign language: He’s still a child; he might not adapt at first, but he’ll be fine after some time.

Xie Yun Zhi frowned, his gaze falling on Yan Lan’s full lips, “Since the old contract has ended, we can sign a new one. We can renegotiate the time and compensation.”

Yan Lan’s expression remained unchanged, his eyelids slightly lifted. Finally, he made eye contact with Xie Yun Zhi: Compensation?