My Boyfriend is the Heartthrob, and I'm Just a Passerby. - Chapter 7

No one would take this kind of confession seriously.

Anyone who knew about such a ridiculous experience would probably think it was nothing more than a joke.

If someone tried to take the relationship seriously, they would likely be laughed at by everyone. People would say things like, “Does this even count as being together?” After all, Yan Mei had easily accepted the confession, as if he were simply saying, “The weather’s nice today.”

But that confession—

From that day on, the two of them became a couple.

Ye Jishu thought the relationship would last, at most, a week.

But now, by the end of the semester, it has been four whole months.

He hadn’t even realized how quickly time had passed.

If Yan Mei hadn’t brought up the confession today, he might have almost forgotten that their beginning wasn’t something to be taken seriously.

That night, Ye Jishu had a dream.

In the dream, he was the official boyfriend of a wildly heartthrob protagonist shou, but he was nothing more than a background character, a tool to heighten the protagonist shou’s romantic drama.

That’s why he could accept the relationship so calmly.

It was just because of some plot setup, right? The protagonist shou, who had never accepted anyone’s confession, had said yes to him.

Now that he thought about it, earlier today, he had even acted and spoken like a “boyfriend”—do those things, said those words.

How presumptuous.

…

Ye Jishu pushed open the door.

There was no one in the restroom of the clubroom.

Dim lighting from overhead reflected in the mirror, casting half of his face in sharp relief. With just a glance, he could see that his earlobes and the skin down to his neck were flushed with a noticeable warmth.

But his expression was the complete opposite of the heat those marks revealed.

Even though his cheeks were unusually warm, his usual blank expression diluted any tension in the air.

Despite the redness spreading across his skin, the calm look on his face made his pounding heart settle.

Ye Jishu raised a hand, covering his neck.

The feeling of lips on his skin from a few minutes ago still lingered in his memory.

“……”

Even though there had been plenty of subtle touches between them over the past four months—

This was the first time they had kissed.

Before it even started, Yan Mei asked him, “Is this okay?” With that face so close, refusing had been impossible. He had let Yan Mei do as he pleased, up until the moment his clothes had been undone, when he finally remembered what he was doing.

His body had been pressed down, and he couldn’t escape the embrace.

All he could do was push Yan Mei away with all his strength, stopping things, and then leave the storage room.

As for Yan Mei now—

He was probably back in the clubroom by now.

That senior who had a crush on Yan Mei would probably act out of jealousy, too.

Ye Jishu suddenly reached out and turned on the faucet, splashing some water onto his face.

Then he looked up again, staring at himself in the mirror. His wet hair clung to his face.

Why did Yan Mei keep saying he liked him?

He didn’t even know him. Yan Mei had just gone along with it at the time…

It felt like a painfully forced setup even if this were just part of a story.

Suddenly, there was a sound behind him.

It seemed someone had placed a hand on the door handle, the loose metal making a soft creaking noise as someone tried to open it.

Ye Jishu’s fingers twitched.

Before he knew it, he had quickly slipped into one of the toilet stalls before the door opened.

His heart was pounding.

The sound of footsteps echoed, slow and scattered, as several people entered. It didn’t seem like just one person.

…So it wasn’t Yan Mei.

He should’ve felt relieved, right?

After all, the last person he wanted to see right now was him.

And yet, for some reason, a heavy, lingering feeling of unease clung to his chest, like a knot in his stomach.

But soon enough, he felt nothing at all.

Hadn’t he known from the start?

He had just forgotten because too much time had passed.

He’d been gone long enough; it was time to return.

Ye Jishu’s hand had just touched the door when he overheard voices from the sink.

“I still don’t get why those two left alone.”

“That guy might have a good face, but he’s so full of himself when he talks. He doesn’t even show any expression! I’ve never heard of him before either—he’s not some campus celebrity. Where did he even come from? It pisses me off!”

Ye Jishu froze.

It wasn’t for any particular reason.

He just felt like stepping out now would be more trouble than it was worth.

“If I have to accept it, it’s only if the senior ends up with him.”

“Yeah? Same here.”

“Yeah, only the senior is good enough! His family’s wealthy, his parents are doctors, and his grades are excellent.”

The group, frustrated, echoed each other’s complaints, but then fell silent, perhaps realizing that the person they were trying to incite wasn’t responding.

After a few moments of quiet, one of them suddenly raised their voice, furious: “Senior Wen, why haven’t you said anything? Are you upset about this? At this point, if you don’t fight back, it’s just too frustrating! As long as you’re willing, we’re all ready to help you—”

“No need. I don’t need that.”

The heated words were cut off.

In the confined space, a calm voice sounded, starkly contrasting the others’ agitated emotions.

“And stop saying things that belittle others. Who someone chooses to be with is their personal choice. I don’t want to do something that crosses the line, and I hope you understand. I can’t accept that, and I won’t do it now or in the future. I’m sorry, but don’t use me as a shield.”

His words fell, and the room plunged into silence.

No one had expected him to speak so plainly, so gently, yet so uncompromisingly.

Ye Jishu understood.

This was the gentle and restrained supporting character found in every novel.

He didn’t feel particularly upset about being talked about behind his back, but the senior’s approach did catch him off guard.

A few seconds later—

“I-I…”

“I’m sorry.”

“We won’t say anything like that again.”

Ye Jishu couldn’t see their expressions.

But he could easily imagine their pale and stiff faces from the tone of their voices.

It wasn’t until a few minutes later that the senior’s gentle voice spoke again.

“Mm, now you’re being good kids. Go back to watch the movie—it’s not over yet. Or, are you too scared to continue?”

“……”

There was no verbal response.

But a few seconds later, the door creaked as it opened, signaling that they had left.

Ye Jishu waited a little longer.

Once he was sure no one was there, he stepped out of the stall.

But as soon as he lifted his head, he saw someone standing by the sink, freezing him in place.

“……”

He hadn’t left after all.

It was—

That senior.

He was wearing a white shirt, with both the collar and sleeves soaked.

The faucet was still running, water flowing endlessly from the metal pipe. The drain had been plugged, causing the basin to overflow, with water spilling over the edges, forming a small puddle on the floor.

Yet, despite all this, the senior showed no sign of turning off the tap.

His light brown eyes had been fixed on the mirror.

But when he heard movement behind him, his gaze shifted, locking onto Ye Jishu through the reflection.

Ye Jishu: “……”

What terrible timing.

It seemed he had stumbled upon the aftermath of the senior’s heartbreak.

He had been so sure no one was left.

But why was the senior standing alone in front of the mirror?

Or was this kind of drama something that required him, as the “boyfriend,” to be present, thus creating this awkward atmosphere of just the two of them?

“I’m sorry.”

In the sticky silence, the senior suddenly spoke.

Then, without moving his body, he reached out and turned off the faucet.

“Drip, drip.”

Even so, the overflow water continued to trickle from the basin’s edges, accumulating around his shoes in an ever-growing pool.

The lingering heat of summer made the small puddle even more unbearable, as the moisture seeped into the cracks of the tiled floor, adding to the clammy atmosphere.

“……”

“They shouldn’t have said that about you earlier,” the senior said calmly at first, then a smile suddenly spread across his face—a smile designed to make anyone lower their guard. “I’ve already told them not to say such things again. I’m really sorry you had to hear such cruel words.”

“……You don’t need to apologize for them.”

To be fair—

The senior seemed like a really nice person.

If other people who liked Yan Mei were as reasonable as this, he wouldn’t have found them nearly as bothersome.

“Even so, as the senior and the club president, it’s my responsibility,” the senior smiled again before continuing, “Regarding your relationship, I won’t interfere. Because…”

“It’s fine,” Ye Jishu interrupted.

“Hm?”

“Who you like is your own choice.”

“……Is that so?”

The senior was clearly taken aback.

He probably hadn’t expected Ye Jishu to be so straightforward.

But Ye Jishu was serious.

After all, he wasn’t really Yan Mei’s boyfriend. He had always known that there was no need to take it all so seriously.

The other person stared at him for a moment, realizing that Ye Jishu truly meant what he said, with no signs of holding back his feelings. Naturally, he shifted the conversation, saying, “By the way, I don’t think I’ve introduced myself yet. I’m Wen Yuhe… What’s your name?”

Behind them, the faucet continued its rhythmic “drip, drip.”

“Ye Jishu.”

Wen Yuhe smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

After his words fell, he lowered his eyes, and his hair fell over, obscuring his reflection in the mirror.

“Drip.”

“Drip.”

…

Ye Jishu’s steps toward the door halted.

[There’s still a sound.]

[The faucet probably wasn’t turned off tightly.]

Perhaps because he wasn’t used to wasting resources, the constant dripping made his arm prickle with goosebumps. A deep sense of discomfort seemed to emanate from the cramped space.

His sneakers felt sticky, the sensation of dampness creeping in.

It must have been the water seeping through the floor cracks, slowly pooling around his feet.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll turn it off,” Wen Yuhe continued smiling. “You should head back to watch the movie. It wouldn’t be good to keep people waiting.”

“…?”

Ye Jishu.

Had he said what he was thinking out loud?

But since the other had already mentioned it, there was no need to remind him again.

…After all, Ye Jishu wasn’t the talkative type.

Expressionless, he nodded and headed toward the door.

To leave, he would have to pass by Wen Yuhe.

The space was narrow, so at the moment they crossed paths, their bodies brushed against each other.

As Ye Jishu was about to pass, Wen Yuhe suddenly lifted his head and, without warning, reached out and grabbed his hand.

The movement happened so quickly that Ye Jishu had no time to react.

But the moment their fingers touched, it was as if Wen Yuhe had come into contact with something forbidden. He released his grip as quickly as if struck by lightning. At the same time, his light brown eyes widened, his pupils contracted sharply, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

“You—”

A murmur escaped his lips.

Ye Jishu: “What is it?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Wen Yuhe pressed his lips together, lowering his hand to his side. His eyes fell, and his expression was strained.

To an observer, it would appear as quiet sorrow.

“…”

Probably still upset about the breakup.

In any case, it was impressive that he could keep his feelings in check.

So, without further questioning, Ye Jishu turned and left.

Once Ye Jishu’s figure had completely disappeared and the door shut behind him, Wen Yuhe slowly raised his hand, staring intently at his fingers.

There, his skin had peeled back.

But undoubtedly, the disgusting patch of flesh, once covered in festering sores and lined with sharp teeth-like ridges that pulsed with every breath, had been replaced by fresh, tender skin.

He didn’t blink, his gaze fixated on the area that had made contact.

“…What the hell.”

His lips curled up uncontrollably.

The gentle curve of his previous smile faded, replaced by an expression of wild joy, barely restrained excitement, as though he was on the verge of dancing with elation.

[I was about to make my move.]

[But the rotting part… vanished after touching him.]

“…Ye Jishu, huh?”