Translator: Vivi from dummytranslations
Editor: Chubby Dragon
Proofreader: SleepyMango123
Scheming white lotus(4.15) - Who did you say you like? (1)

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It would have been better if there weren't any comparisons. However, after being harrassed by Chang Yu Chi for close to an entire term, Shen Ze reluctantly realised that despite being chased by both of them, that cheap brother of his with his little schemes was much cuter.

The only fly in the ointment was that recently, his cheap brother no longer seemed to be interested in harassing him and was instead, often staring at Chang Yu Chi.

Shen Ze felt very uncomfortable. Every time he saw this, it was like a needle to his eyes and he would directly call Chang Yu Chi away. Nowadays, Chang Yu Chi was more like his lackey, hanging onto every word he spoke and obediently following him to leave whenever he called.

Xiang Han was utterly dumbfounded by this situation and was somewhat unable to understand what was going on. From Shen Ze’s attitude, he could clearly see that he didn’t hold any feelings for Chang Yu Chi. But once he appeared, Shen Ze would frown and leave with Chang Yu Chi.

On the other hand, Chang Yu Chi would try to get closer to Shen Ze physically. If out of ten times, he was ignored nine times, the last time would definitely be when Xiang Han was around.

Xiang Han couldn’t help himself from blindly guessing. Could it be that Shen Ze was too proud? So, despite his words, his heart had actually been already moved?

And if that was not the case, why would Shen Ze’s expression turn cold every time he appeared? Wasn’t it because he constantly stared at Chang Yu Chi, causing the other person to misunderstand?

This wasn’t good. Xiang Han was worried and quickly instructed his system to monitor Chang Yu Chi’s recent actions.

This person wasn’t a vegetarian. Don’t simply look at his young age, his night life was plentiful. Although he had been honest lately, which cat would be able to resist raw meat? Moreover, this was his period of adolescence, a time difficult to hold back his urges.

In the blink of an eye, the first semester ended. Their form teacher handed them a book containing information on course streaming and stood on the podium, “After one semester, most of you should know by now what you are good at or what interests you. Discuss it with your family and bring this form back. You will all be split into different classes next semester. No matter if it's arts or science, you must be careful when choosing.”

After class, Chang Yu Chi hurried over to where Shen Ze sat and asked, “Ah Ze, are you planning to choose arts or science?”

“Anything.” Shen Ze didn’t bother about him, picking up his bag and leaving.

When he reached home, everyone was enthusiastically discussing vacation plans over dinner. Shen Ze suddenly asked, “Are you planning to choose arts or science?”

This question was too abrupt, leaving Xiang Han speechless for a moment. “Anything, I guess.”

“You’re changing classes?” Shen Zheng Duo looked at him in surprise before adding, “How can you say anything, you need to think carefully.”

“That’s right.” Zhu Jing Yi patted Xiang Han and nagged, “Take your exam papers out later, mom will help you analyse.”

“No need, I’ll study arts.” Xiang Han broke out into cold sweat. The paper was all done by the system, what was there to analyse?

Before he entered high school, he had already decided to study humanities. With the system around, he could memorise anything. If it was science, the formulas alone were too troublesome.

Shen Zheng Duo heard this and didn’t want to back down. He turned to ask Shen Ze, “What about you? Tell me, I’ll help you analyse…”

“No need, I’m studying arts.” Shen Ze interrupted him.

Shen Zheng Duo choked on his words while Xiang Han was taken aback. He asked, “Elder brother, aren’t you better at science?”

Shen Ze’s actions paused for a moment before he continued as if nothing was wrong, “Humanities subjects are more interesting.”

Shen Zheng Duo was somewhat unable to bear it and finally advised him, “Little Ze, it’s not like I haven’t seen your humanities paper before. Out of the 60 marks for composition, you only got 30 to 40 marks. How are you going to study arts? Nowadays, many professionals are looking for both, just like managerial positions. Even if you studied science, you can still…”

After persuading him for half a day, Shen Zheng Duo saw Shen Ze had fallen silent, seemingly deep in thought and felt that he must have taken his words to heart.

However, only Shen Ze knew that he simply hadn’t been thinking about his future or career at all. Instead, he was trying to figure out something.

The moment Xiang Han had said he would study arts, Shen Ze hadn’t hesitated at all before replying with the same option. Moreover, his heart held a faint trace of anticipation, they would both be placed in the same class, and eventually the same university, same profession...

When they first entered high school, he had clearly been avoiding the other person and even specially instructed the teacher to split them into different classes. Why had this suddenly changed?

But thinking back on it, in the last half-year, things had already become different whenever he was with Xiang Han.

The more he thought about it, the more stunned he felt. He secretly wondered, could it be, at some point in time, he had become bent and fell for him?

His hands trembled as he looked up, turning to Xiang Han with disbelief.

Xiang Han got goosebumps from his gaze and asked nervously, “W-What is it?”

“Nothing.” Shen Ze suddenly dropped his head, using the excuse of eating his food to hide his expression.

Laying in bed that night, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep no matter what. In his mind, Xiang Han’s seemingly innocent face appeared, but in reality, it was extremely cheeky.

Actually, after discovering he may have fallen for the other person, he suddenly had another realisation. Xiang Han’s mischievous expression was pretty interesting even though he clearly hated the other person’s little schemes just a year back.

Shen Ze had a feeling he had fallen sick. Having stayed up till 1 a.m., he couldn’t hold back anymore and abruptly got up from bed to turn on his laptop and search for information. In the end, the more he read, the surer he was of his feelings.

Going onto Discuz, he posted a message: Looking for help! My friend...asking if my friend is gay?

In the middle of the night, there weren’t many people on the platform. Laying back on his bed, Shen Ze refreshed the page several times until a reply finally came in.

1st floor: F*ck! Incest?

Incest? Shen Ze frowned. After looking through the internet, he finally found a page titled: What is incest?

Clicking on it, before he had even finished reading, his face became dark. He hurriedly replied: It’s a step-brother from another mother, there isn’t any blood relation.

3rd floor: Ah, pseudo-incest? It’s not that I want to say it, but this friend of yours… is actually yourself, right?

Shen Ze’s hands shook. He hurriedly replied: You’re wrong!

In the adjacent room, Xiang Han was currently unable to fall asleep after having napped too much in the afternoon. Holding his phone, he refreshed and was delighted to see a new reply. He muttered to himself, “Covering up only makes it more obvious.”

Afterwards, he replied: Bro, this matter is simple. Tell your friend to push his little brother down and kiss him. See if his face turns red, breath speeds up or if his heart thumps wildly. Then, you’ll know if he’s bent.

After replying, he threw his phone aside and sighed emotionally, “Once upon a time, I was so pure and innocent. Now, I’m just an old driver.”

The system was as silent as a chicken. It felt extremely tempted to tell him the truth.

Reading the message, Shen Ze unconsciously imagined such a situation and his ears indeed, turned red and his heartbeat also sped up.

He hurriedly forced himself to memorise his textbook in order to calm his chaotic mind. Only after he managed to regain some peace, did he thank the other poster and fall asleep.

Xiang Han refreshed the page several more times but didn’t see any other reply. So, he no longer checked.

Because it was an online platform, the post was soon buried under many other new posts before it was revived by a good samaritan.

11th floor: I was bored and decided to check the IP and guess what? I actually found that the IP of both OP and 6th floor are the same. If it isn’t a small account...I really want to ask OP, how are things between you and your little brother?

12th floor: F*ck!

13th floor: F*ck!

...

28th floor: F*ck! Lighting a candle for the little brother.

29th floor: F*ck! The one upstairs broke the chain!

30th floor: F*ck! I also broke another one, what’s the point of lighting a candle? We should be congratulating them. Doesn’t the little brother like OP too?

31st floor: F*ck! But didn’t his little brother fall for another after being unable to attain his love?

32nd floor: F*ck! How dramatic. Can I ask, what’s the situation now? Begging for an update, OP!

...

Neither Xiang Han nor Shen Ze knew of the matters that occurred after. They both slept soundly and woke up late the next day. Xiang Han was woken by a call from Zhu Jing Yi and after knowing that their helper had taken the day off, she helped them call for takeout from a hotel.

He got out of bed groggily, going to knock on Shen Ze’s door while yawning, “Brother, wake up. Mom called takeout, it seems to be dumplings and soup. Hurry up and eat while it's hot.”

Opening his door, Shen Ze instantly saw how the buttons on Xiang Han’s shirt were messily done in the wrong order and with the addition to the chicken’s coop-like hair on his head, he appeared extremely comical.

Therefore, he couldn’t hold back his laughter. The frustration from his lack of sleep instantly evaporated into thin air.

Xiang Han finally sobered up. He opened his eyes and on realising his buttons were all over the place, he hurriedly rebuttoned them before muttering, “What’s so funny?”

After dealing with his buttons, he looked up and nagged him, “Hurry up, brush your teeth and wash your face, the food is almost here.”

The light in Shen Ze’s eyes flickered as he suddenly recalled the message from last night. Gazing at the other person for a long time, he abruptly lowered his head.

However, Xiang Han had turned around after speaking, leaving him with only the view of the back of his head. Shen Ze had undergone severe mental preparations before he finally lowered his head, but never expected this result at all. He was instantly defeated and could only glare angrily at his hair whorl.

“Oh, right…”

Seeming to have remembered something, Xiang Han turned around once more. Shen Ze was still standing in his original position and as a result, both their faces brushed across each other and coincidentally, their lips touched.

Both of them froze, two pairs of eyes clashed. After a moment, Shen Ze’s lips moved and felt a soft feeling on them. His heart jumped and he seemed to be able to hear the blood rushing through his head.

Xiang Han finally regained his wits, and hurriedly stepped back with a flushed expression. His voice carried a trace of anger, “What did you come so close for?”

It was Shen Ze’s turn to straighten up, his expression recovering quickly and he coughed as if nothing was wrong, “You...have a strand of white hair. I wanted to help you pluck it out.”

“Is that so?” He was still somewhat suspicious. If it was just a strand of white hair, why didn’t he say anything but leaned forward? Instead of his hands, was he trying to use his mouth?

“En.” Shen Ze nodded quickly before changing the topic, “Oh, what were you saying earlier?”

“Oh, it’s...it’s…” Wrecking his brains for half a day, he finally replied in frustration, “I forgot when you interrupted me.”

“Ah, then I’ll go take a bath.” When Shen Ze left, his steps were a little unsteady.

Looking at his retreating figure, Xiang Han couldn’t suppress his uncertainty. All along, Shen Ze never liked coming into contact with others. But, just now...he actually didn’t lose his temper?

The system who knew about the online platform stayed silent.