After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

The mermaid stared at Jiang Shiyu for a while, then turned to Alin and gave her two thumbs up.

Wow, Alin really knows how to stir things up. Now that they have this little match-seller boy at their stall, there’s no way they won’t sell out of matches; people would buy them even with their lives.

Everyone packed up their things and left the classroom for the carnival stalls. The free activities lasted for three days, and on the first day, everyone was very enthusiastic. By the time they arrived, the two tree-lined avenues were filled with carts, each decorated like fan support trucks, all varied and colorful.

Their performance club primarily focused on charity sales, with items donated both by club members and other students from the school. All proceeds were donated to charitable organizations.

Jiang Shiyu helped set up the items on their cart, which was decorated like a pumpkin carriage. It had a pointed top with four arched pillars supporting the inside of the cart, adorned with pumpkin vines and leaves, looking both luxurious and vintage.

Next to them was the calligraphy club, where everyone wore ancient costumes, looking elegant and otherworldly. Half of their stall displayed their regular calligraphy works, while the other half was used for business, writing custom couplets.

Although it was still morning, the two avenues were already crowded, with students gathering to enjoy the festivities. There were so many interesting things to see and do that it was impossible to take it all in.

Their club was situated in an average spot, toward the back of the main road. The front was packed with people, but the crowd thinned out toward the back. Occasionally, someone would pass by, and Alin stood at the stall, calling out to sell their items.

Jiang Shiyu, feeling socially anxious, stood behind the stall, using the pumpkin carriage to hide half his body.

Suddenly, a few girls with cameras approached, saying they were from the photography club at the opposite stall and wanted to take some pictures of them.

Alin readily agreed, figuring that if no one was buying anything, they might as well have some fun.

The mermaid dragged Jiang Shiyu out from behind the carriage, and they posed as characters from fairy tales for the camera.

The girl holding the camera first noticed Jiang Shiyu. Despite his ragged clothes, his delicate features, which looked like a doll’s, stood out even more with the painted scars on his face, evoking a sense of pity.

He wanted to hide in the back, but Alin pulled him to the front. Although he thought his smile looked fake, the photographer said it was perfect and wanted to take some solo shots of him to promote their stall on the forum.

Seeing their pitiful stall and Alin’s pleading eyes, Jiang Shiyu had no choice but to go along with it. He was guided by the girl to stand next to the carriage, then squat on the ground holding his oversized match prop, and the photo session lasted nearly an hour. The girl, pleased with the results, said she would send the photos to him once edited.

Jiang Shiyu scratched his face and said, “Thank you.”

By the end of the day, their stall’s earnings were quite dismal, worse than the neighboring calligraphy stall. Alin, however, remained undeterred and invited everyone to eat hotpot after packing up.

The day’s fatigue gradually faded in the lively atmosphere and spicy aroma of the hotpot restaurant. They sat in their whimsical costumes near the entrance, attracting the attention of every passerby, some even taking photos. They didn’t mind, and some even posed for pictures.

Jiang Shiyu sat at the innermost part, enviously watching his outgoing and lively friends. He had spent the whole day by the carriage and hadn’t dared to solicit customers, fearing he would mess things up every time he tried to help.

Usually, people would glance at him or even take photos when he walked down the street, which made him instinctively avoid them. His personality made it hard for him to face such situations comfortably.

His beef ball was already punctured, with the juices oozing out. He felt like that beef ball, deflated and miserable.

“Shiyu, look here, say cheese!”

He looked up at the call, Alin was taking a group photo with her phone. Afterward, she raised her glass for a toast.

“Although our earnings today were meager, it’s okay. Participating in the activity itself is more meaningful than selling items. If business is slow tomorrow, I suggest leaving two people to watch the stall while the rest go out and enjoy the carnival.”

Everyone agreed with her suggestion, and they raised their glasses together. Jiang Shiyu lifted his glass, clinking it with the others, just about to put it down when someone clinked it again.

Alin, holding her glass, smiled at him from across the table.

“Thanks to our little match-seller boy for holding the fort today. Most of the people came because of you. Your face was even rubbed red; I felt so bad for you.”

Jiang Shiyu felt embarrassed, still feeling guilty, “Alin, I’m sorry I didn’t help much today.”

The mermaid overheard and was the first to disagree, “What are you talking about? You were a great help. Without you as our mascot, we wouldn’t have had any customers, and you even provided face-rubbing and head-patting services. Your sacrifice was huge.”

Everyone chimed in, agreeing that he had contributed the most, and they toasted him.

He was bewildered, not understanding how he suddenly became the center of attention for a toast.

After dinner, everyone agreed on the schedule for the next day and then returned to their dormitories. When Jiang Shiyu opened the dorm door, Shen Li was at the desk doing homework. Hearing the door, Shen Li didn’t turn around but spoke first, “Why didn’t you reply to my messages?”

Jiang Shiyu closed the door and replied, “My phone died, I didn’t see them.”

Shen Li paused, then turned to look at him, initially thinking he was seeing things. On closer inspection, he saw the scars on his face and neck.

The next second, he stood up, his eyes dark and terrifying, “Who bullied you?”

Jiang Shiyu, exhausted from the day, looked up at him, blinking slowly, “No one bullied me.”

Shen Li pinched his chin, inspecting him closely, “Then what’s with the scars on your face?”

Jiang Shiyu obediently let him inspect, “Oh, they’re painted on. I’m supposed to be a little match-seller boy, so I had to look dirty and grimy.”

Shen Li took a closer look, realizing the scars were indeed makeup. The terrifying emotion in his dark eyes gradually faded. Now, seeing Jiang Shiyu’s face with the makeup, he noticed how attractive he looked, making the fake scars evoke even more pity.

“Was it fun? The event?”

Shen Li knew Jiang Shiyu was participating in the club’s carnival event, though he had no interest in it himself, thinking it was just childish fun suitable for someone with Jiang Shiyu’s childlike nature.

Jiang Shiyu’s long eyelashes drooped, covering his dejected eyes, “It was okay, I guess.”

His sensitivity to emotions often made it easy to miss his true feelings. Shen Li had learned this about him over their time together.

So, instead of asking directly what was wrong, he asked what he did that day and how the carnival went.

Jiang Shiyu sat down and recounted the day to him, his voice becoming increasingly aggrieved. The emotions that hadn’t surfaced with his clubmates now overflowed with him, revealing his unrestrained sense of grievance.

He explained how he felt useless, too afraid to solicit customers or help for fear of making mistakes, so he stayed by the cart all day. Yet, at dinner, no one blamed him; instead, they praised him, saying their business would have been worse without him. He felt his friends were too kind, and he was too timid. If he were more like Alin, maybe his good looks could have helped the club more.

By the time he finished, his eyes were red, his downcast eyes and red nose making him look pitiful.

Shen Li pulled him into a hug, Jiang Shiyu resting his face in his usual spot, Shen Li’s neck, like a ship finding its harbor.

His voice was muffled as he continued to complain, forgetting that this Shen Li was not the one he used to know.

Shen Li gently patted his back, soothing him as he listened quietly.

He had never seen him like this before. He had seen his mischievous, happy, sad, vulnerable, proud, and wronged sides but never this defeated and dejected.

Jiang Shiyu eventually grew quiet, and Shen Li thought he had fallen asleep. Just as he was about to look down, he suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, “Shen Li, I’m just a failure, aren’t I?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“But I can’t do anything right, and my personality is bad.”

“You’re not useless. Look at all the awards and honors in your drawer, all the piano trophies at home. Many people envy your achievements. No one says you’re bad. Don’t fall into the trap of self-doubt. Everyone has different personalities; some are outgoing, some are reserved. If everyone were the same, the world would be so dull.”

“If you don’t like something, don’t do it. Just be yourself. No one is forcing you to be outgoing. Didn’t Alin say that just sitting by the cart, you attracted many girls who wanted to take pictures with you? That shows people like you.”

Jiang Shiyu remained sullen, “They just like my face.”

Shen Li smiled, “Your face is part of you too.”

“Stop denying yourself. You’re excellent. Others’ admiration for you shouldn’t be a burden. Accept it naturally. If you don’t like something, don’t force yourself. No one is asking you to change.”

When Shen Li finished speaking, Jiang Shiyu didn’t respond. After a while, Shen Li gently shook his shoulder, but there was still no reaction.

Looking down, he found him asleep, his face buried in Shen Li’s neck, looking pitiful even in sleep.

Today had truly exhausted him. Despite his bad mood when he got back, he felt a strange relief after venting his grievances to Shen Li. Sleepiness then overtook him, and he hadn’t slept in a familiar embrace for a long time. Breathing in Shen Li’s scent, his eyelids grew heavier.

Shen Li carried him to the bed, but he clung to him, mumbling in his sleep and on the verge of tears whenever Shen Li tried to move.

Having no other choice, he lay down with him, pulling out wet wipes to clean Jiang Shiyu’s face and neck, changed his clothes, and tucked him in.

This was the first time since his amnesia that he had slept in the same bed with Jiang Shiyu. Jiang Shiyu seemed very used to it, immediately putting his leg over his and hugging his neck, his face buried in his neck.

But Shen Li wasn’t used to it at all. Having someone so close, Jiang Shiyu’s soft body pressed against his, he didn’t know where to put his hands, let alone how to deal with their proximity.

Jiang Shiyu didn’t sleep quietly, constantly moving around. He wrapped around Shen Li like an unsettled snake, making his muscles tense. It was the most challenging night’s sleep he ever had.

“Ah,” he gasped, his heartbeat momentarily stopping before resuming at a rapid pace.

Jiang Shiyu, like a stranded mermaid, kept moving, his restless body seeking comfort. He instinctively reached out, trying to find a more comfortable position, his hand brushing against Shen Li.

Shen Li felt like his heart was being squeezed, each beat amplified, making him break out in a sweat. He held Jiang Shiyu close, trying to remain calm, though every movement heightened his senses.

Jiang Shiyu’s habit of moving in his sleep, combined with their closeness, left him struggling to maintain control.

Jiang Shiyu, like a stranded mermaid, kept moving, feeling uncomfortable being pressed against him. He habitually moved his hand, pushing the uncomfortable sensation away. Once he found a more comfortable position, he didn’t let go.

Shen Li felt as if his heart was being squeezed. Each heartbeat felt like it was swelling and throbbing, his slightly sweaty palm like a bridge to another world.

Sweat dripped from his forehead. His hand, holding Jiang Shiyu tightly, showed bulging veins, while the unaware sleeper breathed through his slightly open mouth.

After an unknown period, he lowered his head, captured Jiang Shiyu’s slightly open lips, and…with a sound, a sigh dissipated between their lips.

When Jiang Shiyu woke up the next day, the dormitory was empty. There was a cake and milk on the table.

He habitually spaced out for a while, then took out his phone to ask Shen Li where he was, but got no reply. He sluggishly lifted the quilt, shuffled around the dorm in his slippers.

Walking past the mirror, he stopped and turned back.

He stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes swollen like walnuts, hair a mess, clothes rumpled like pickled vegetables, his whole being exuding a vibe of dejection.

Huh?

He stared at the person in the mirror, trying hard to remember. He recalled coming back to the dorm feeling down, venting his grievances to Shen Li, being comforted in his arms, and then feeling so sleepy that he couldn’t keep his eyes open, finally losing consciousness.

A suspicious blush slowly crept up from his neck. He squatted down, holding his head, his fingers tangled in his hair.

“Ugh!”

He had actually fallen asleep while being comforted in Shen Li’s arms yesterday.

His dejected and pitiful state had all been seen by him, and he had even confessed all his shortcomings.

So annoying.

Despite feeling so down yesterday, he had the most restful sleep in months, as if he had gone back to the time when he used to sleep with Shen Li, that familiar and warm feeling.

The sensation of being held by him seemed to linger, as if he had been held all night. He shook his head, trying to dispel these unrealistic thoughts.

After washing up and eating breakfast, he put on his tattered costume and set off for the carnival site. He arrived fairly early, but Alin and another classmate were already there, with everything set up.

He went over to greet them.

Alin reached out to pinch his face, “Did you eat, baby?”

He wasn’t used to being called “baby” by Alin, but was too embarrassed to refute, so he nodded to indicate he had eaten, then turned to help display the items for sale.

“Business will probably be the same as yesterday. Once everything is set up, you guys can go play. I’ll watch the stall. If anything happens, I’ll message you.”

While she was talking, a few girls whispered to each other as they approached. Seeing potential customers, Alin quickly stepped out to greet them.

“Come take a look! We’re the performing arts club running a charity sale. All proceeds will be donated to charity. We have a variety of cheap items.”

One girl peeked around her and spotted Jiang Shiyu arranging things. She walked over excitedly and quietly asked Alin, “Hi, is the guy in the photo from your stall?” She pointed to Jiang Shiyu’s location.

Alin curiously glanced at the photo on the girl’s phone. It was indeed a few photos the photography club had taken of him yesterday.

In the photos, his innocent eyes blinked, long and soft eyelashes, wearing tattered clothes, squatting in the sunlight. The injuries on his mouth and the bruises on his neck added a bit of a tormented look. On the forum, a group of BL (Boys’ Love) fans had already created dozens of R-rated stories inspired by these photos, catapulting the post to the top of the forum. The comments were filled with fans screaming, imagining him as a pitiful beauty with huge debts being taken by a rich man.

Alin didn’t understand why the girls were so excited, but she nodded and said it was the boy from their stall, the one playing the little match boy.

Upon hearing this, the girls became even more excited.

“If we buy something, can we take a picture with him?”

She was taken aback.

“Sorry, you’ll have to ask him.” she tried to keep her expression normal.

The girls didn’t push it. They picked a few items and paid. Jiang Shiyu packed their purchases. After paying, one of the girls asked if they could take a photo with him.

He was stunned. He would have instinctively refused before, but now these were customers who had just supported their business. The customer is always right, and their requests should be met. Moreover, Shen Li had told him to accept others’ admiration naturally without feeling burdened.

He agreed to the photo. They stood in front of the pumpkin carriage for the picture. The girls were very polite, just standing close to him and making peace signs. After the photo, they thanked him repeatedly and left satisfied.

Jiang Shiyu thought this photo incident was a one-off, but after those girls left, more people kept coming to the stall, buying things, and asking to take photos with him. Business boomed.

By noon, he finished taking a photo with the last girl, rubbing his cheeks from smiling so much. Their stall had the highest foot traffic on the street, and he had indeed become Alin’s lucky charm. Almost all the customers were girls who bought items just to take a photo with him. Some even gave him gifts and snacks.

He was baffled by the turn of events.

Alin and Mermaid laughed uncontrollably at the stall, counting the morning’s earnings—a thick wad of cash. The teammates who had been sent off to play were called back to help. Although exhausted, everyone’s spirits were much higher than the previous day.

“My lucky charm baby, let me give you a kiss.” Alin stuffed the money into her bag and lunged at Jiang Shiyu.

Leaning against the pumpkin carriage, he was too tired to react.

But in the next second, Alin missed her target. He was pulled backward into someone’s arms.

She stood up straight and looked at the person behind Jiang Shiyu.

Shen Li held him in his arms, his cold gaze falling on her.

Unnoticed before, there were seven or eight tall male students behind him, obviously athletes by their builds.

The guys stepped forward to the charity stall, picking through the leftover items.

Leaning in Shen Li’s arms, Jiang Shiyu took a few seconds to realize what was happening. His eyes lit up with joy, “Why are you here?”

Shen Li wiped the sweat from Jiang Shiyu’s nose, “Looks like business was good this morning.”

Jiang Shiyu’s eyes curved into a happy smile, “How did you know?”

“You went viral on the school forum.”

“Huh? What?” he had been so busy taking photos all morning that he hadn’t even checked his phone.

“The photography club posted a set of your photos on the forum yesterday. They went viral, and people formed groups to come to your stall to buy things and take pictures. A lot of those photos are now on the forum.”

Jiang Shiyu’s eyes widened in surprise. People came to buy things just because of those photos? What was so special about his pictures?

Shen Li didn’t tell him that the real reason for the popularity was the BL fans’ R-rated stories.

Looking at his radiant face in the sunlight, Shen Li asked if he had eaten.

He had been too busy to eat.

“Tell Alin you need an hour off at noon.”

Jiang Shiyu asked, “For what?”

“To secretly take you to a feast.”

Jiang Shiyu smiled, squinting his eyes, and shyly turned around to ask Alin for an hour off. Under her knowing look, he mumbled his request.

Alin looked at the soft, sweet boy in front of her and the dangerous-looking Shen Li a few steps away. She suddenly felt like their lucky charm was being lured away by a bad man.

Feigning the sorrow of a mother, she said, “Go ahead, go. Once kids grow up, they don’t listen to their parents and get tricked by bad guys outside.”

Jiang Shiyu blushed deeply and whispered, “Sister Alin, I’ll be back in an hour.”

She ignored him and turned to the tall guys from the swimming team, making a tidy profit off them.

As Jiang Shiyu and Shen Li walked away, Jiang Shiyu kept looking back, “Aren’t your friends still there? Are you just going to leave them?”

Shen Li, with a look that seemed to say it was only natural to sell out his friends, replied, “If they weren’t there, how would Alin let you go?”

Jiang Shiyu…

He stopped talking.

The “feast” Shen Li mentioned turned out to be fish noodles from a street vendor behind the school, brought back to the dorm. With extra soft tofu, Jiang Shiyu ate until his belly was round, then slumped in his chair, completely relaxed.

Shen Li cleaned up the table and urged him to get on the bed to rest.

“You can sleep for half an hour. Take off your clothes and get into bed.”

He didn’t want to move. Once he relaxed, his whole body felt weak. Seeing this, Shen Li simply picked him up, startling him awake. He jumped off him, ears red.

“I can do it myself.” Hastily, he stripped off his clothes and shoes, climbed into bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and closed his eyes, though his fluttering lashes betrayed his nervousness.

Shen Li stood by the bed, watching him for a while. Then he turned off the dorm light, dimming the room.

From under the covers, a soft voice emerged, “Shen Li, thank you.”

Yesterday, he had brought the swimming team to boost the stall’s business and told him they’d go for a feast, knowing he needed rest more than food. He understood all this.

Shen Li, back at his desk, back to the bed, was silent for a moment before saying, “Sleep.”

On an autumn afternoon, the sun was warm and soothing, making it easy to drift off. Jiang Shiyu, already used to napping, fell asleep within minutes, exhausted. Outside, the ginkgo tree leaves had turned yellow like butterflies, fluttering in the wind, piling up into heart shapes by a romantic groundskeeper. Passing students took photos. One leaf, defying the expected path, drifted into the dorm window, landing on the washstand, floating gently on the water like a small boat.