After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

Shen Li’s perfect final match had the swim team urging him to treat them to a meal. With a generous wave of his hand, he decided to take them to Xuhua for an all-you-can-eat buffet, which cost 600 yuan per person. The entire team cheered for his generosity and left in groups of three or five.

In the stands, Li Muzi received a message from Chen Xu about the buffet and tugged at Jiang Shiyu, who was walking ahead.

“Chen Xu said Shen Li is treating us to a seafood buffet. Let’s go together.”

Jiang Shiyu looked at his phone, feeling down because he hadn’t received any messages. He was about to decline when his phone buzzed with a message from Shen Li, “Don’t leave, wait for me at the entrance. I’ll take you to eat.”

Holding his phone, he and Li Muzi walked to the entrance of the swimming pool. Jiang Shiyu hesitated and pulled Li Muzi aside, feeling a bit embarrassed, “Muzi, why don’t you go ahead?”

Li Muzi was puzzled, “Huh? You’re not coming?”

“Shen Li said he’s coming to get me.”

Li Muzi’s expression immediately changed to a mischievous grin, “Ooh…”

Jiang Shiyu’s face turned slightly red, and he told him to stop teasing.

“Alright, I’ll go ahead then.”

After sending him off, he stood at the entrance of the swimming pool. His good looks attracted the attention of passersby, both male and female. He kept his head down, pretending not to notice. When Shen Li finally came out, he saw Jiang Shiyu from a distance, surrounded by two girls holding their phones, trying to get his contact information. Jiang Shiyu tightly gripped his crossbody bag, looking as if he wanted to refuse but didn’t know how.

“Shiyu.”

Hearing someone call his name, Jiang Shiyu, who was trying to figure out how to turn down the girls, looked over and saw Shen Li approaching. Shen Li familiarly squeezed his shoulder and apologized, “Did you wait long? I was talking to the coach. He shook his head dumbly, “Not long.”

The girls, still holding out their phones, looked confused, glancing back and forth between the two.

Shen Li’s hand naturally moved from Jiang Shiyu’s shoulder to grasp his hand, which was clutching the bag, and pulled him closer. Smiling at the girls, he said, “Is there something you need? I need to take him to eat. He has a sensitive stomach and can’t stay hungry for too long.”

Recognizing Shen Li as the champion who had just stood on the highest podium, the girls were stunned by his possessive demeanor.

Before the girls could respond, he led Jiang Shiyu away. As they walked past the girls, Jiang Shiyu softly said, “Thank you for liking me, but I’m not interested.”

The girls watched in shock as the two walked away, feeling like they had just been fed a big piece of gossip.

After the competition, many Jiang Hua students were leaving the venue. Jiang Shiyu noticed Shen Li still holding his hand. His ears turned red, and he lowered his head even more.

Walking beside him, Shen Li seemed unhappy. He remembered how someone had given Jiang Shiyu flowers at the piano competition backstage and how girls had talked to him during and after the swim meet. He felt a twinge of jealousy and frustration.

As they walked, Jiang Shiyu noticed they were heading towards the back gate of the school.

“Where are we going?”

Shen Li teased, “To sell you off. You’re so popular, you’d fetch a good price.”

Jiang Shiyu seriously replied, “You don’t even like me.”

His words made him freeze in panic. He regretted his impulsive comment, worried it would damage their slowly improving relationship.

Shen Li let go of his hand, making Jiang Shiyu’s face turn pale. He feared Shen Li was angry and didn’t want to hold his hand anymore.

Shen Li lifted his face, which had red eyes and trembling lashes. Shen Li felt the need to comfort him, realizing how sensitive and prone to overthinking he was.

Pretending to be confused, Shen Li brushed a leaf from Jiang Shiyu’s head and asked, “Hmm? What did you say just now?”

Jiang Shiyu, who had been feeling down, perked up immediately, “You didn’t hear?”

“Say it again.”

He quickly said, “Nothing, nothing. Let’s go quickly. Don’t let your friends wait.”

Shen Li grabbed his hand again, “We’re not going there.”

Jiang Shiyu blinked, looking at him.

“I’m taking you to a new dessert shop in the back street.”

Jiang Shiyu was allergic to seafood and couldn’t eat much at the buffet. Shen Li led him to the back street, where the new dessert shop had just opened, with flower baskets and a sign advertising a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.

At the counter, Jiang Shiyu’s eyes were wide with excitement, unable to choose from all the options.

Shen Li found his indecision amusing and took a photo of him.

“What are you doing?” He asked, slightly open-mouthed.

Shen Li quickly put his phone away and joined him in looking at the menu, “Nothing. Have you decided what you want to eat?”

Jiang Shiyu traced his finger over the menu, “Not yet, there are so many I want to try.”

“Choose the one you want most this time. I’ll bring you back next time to try the others.”

Jiang Shiyu smiled and agreed.

Thanks to the promotion, he chose red bean osmanthus dumplings and coconut taro balls. Shen Li told him to wait in the shop while he went out to buy something.

He found a window seat and left the more spacious side for Shen Li.

The desserts arrived quickly, served by a beautiful woman with curly chestnut hair. She placed the bowls on the table with a smile, “Enjoy. Let me know if you need anything, handsome.”

Jiang Shiyu, a bit shy around strangers, nodded. The owner found him adorable, having noticed him since he entered with another handsome guy who only had eyes for him.

“Was that your boyfriend?”

With business slow, the owner sat across from him, who stammered, “N-not now.”

The owner understood, “So you’re in the ambiguous stage, almost there. Is he chasing you?”

“There’s no ambiguity. He’s my ex.”

The owner, overwhelmed by this information, found it hard to believe anyone would let go of such a charming boy. From their interactions, they didn’t seem like exes at all, having walked in holding hands.

“You young people sure play games.”

Jiang Shiyu, feeling overwhelmed by her questions and gaze, kept glancing outside. Finally, he saw Shen Li at the door. He walked in, his gentle eyes turning sharp as he looked at the owner.

The owner stood up with a smile, “Your ex-boyfriend is here.”

She left as Shen Li sat opposite Jiang Shiyu.

“What did she say?”

Embarrassed by the owner’s questions, Jiang Shiyu avoided answering directly.

Shen Li didn’t press further and placed a rice roll on the table.

Jiang Shiyu’s eyes lit up, “A rice roll! Is there a youtiao inside?”

“Yes, eat some before the dessert, or your stomach will hurt.”

Jiang Shiyu carefully unwrapped the rice roll, revealing the fragrant purple sticky rice. He offered it to Shen Li, like a cat seeking favor.

Shen Li watched him.

“Take a bite first.”

He didn’t move, his eyes fixed on Jiang Shiyu’s face, which was bathed in the golden sunlight streaming through the window, highlighting his delicate skin and soft features.

Jiang Shiyu, seeing no response, tore off a piece to reveal the filling and offered it again.

“Quick, Shen Li, it’s falling apart.” Jiang Shiyu, anxious, held the rice roll with both hands.

Shen Li covered Jiang Shiyu’s hands with his own, leaning down to take a bite.

Jiang Shiyu felt a shiver down his spine, as if Shen Li’s gaze was devouring him, not the rice roll.

His face turned red, matching the strawberries inside the sticky rice. He continued eating, filling his mouth like a hamster.

Autumn had set in, and the midday sun was warm but not scorching. The gentle sunlight filled the dessert shop, mingling with the sweet aromas. The wind chime at the door tinkled pleasantly as customers came and went, filling the air with welcoming sounds.

Jiang Shiyu thought, this moment could last forever.