After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

The weather was getting colder, and Jiang Hua entered winter early this year. As December approached, the temperature had already dropped below ten degrees. Shen Li drove a Ford Mustang out of the garage today, taking Jiang Shiyu to and from school every day. With the sudden drop in temperature, he was worried about Jiang Shiyu’s health and followed him closely, acting like a mother, constantly nagging him.

“There’s hot water in the thermos, so be careful when you drink it. Even though the classroom has heating, don’t take off your clothes right away after you sit down. If you feel cold, I’ve put a hand warmer in your backpack. Stick it to yourself…”

As he spoke, he adjusted the bag on his shoulder to hang on Jiang Shiyu, turning what looked like a clumsy sack on someone else into a stylish accessory on Jiang Shiyu.

He was about to give more instructions when there were still fifteen minutes left before the first class started. He needed to go to another campus to teach, and Jiang Shiyu, feeling nagged, was getting annoyed.

“Don’t worry about me. It’s almost time for class. Hurry up and go, or you’ll be late.”

He pushed Shen Li gently, urging him to leave. Shen Li, feeling helpless, reminded him to come back for lunch and told him to wait.

Jiang Shiyu walked into the classroom with a smile. From a distance, Li Muzi clicked his tongue.

“The smell of romance is giving me a headache.”

Jiang Shiyu took out the sandwich and egg Shen Li had prepared and shared one with Li Muzi.

Li Muzi’s attitude changed immediately, becoming all smiles and eager. “I knew you wouldn’t forget your friends after getting a boyfriend.”

Jiang Shiyu pointed out that these things were all prepared by Shen Li. Li Muzi pretended not to hear, turning his back to happily eat the egg.

As the end of the term approached, the school’s course schedule became increasingly sparse. With the cold weather, the number of students in the class dwindled day by day. Li Muzi occupied seats further back to make it easier to slack off. With more students arriving late or skipping classes, the seats in front were getting emptier, forcing him to move further back. Jiang Shiyu didn’t mind where he sat, as he was a good student and would listen attentively to the lectures, whether from the front of the classroom or outside.

Li Muzi ate his breakfast slowly, then flipped through his book for ten minutes before taking out his phone to browse. Finally, bored, he began to bother Jiang Shiyu.

“Shiyu, what are you planning to do during the winter break?”

Jiang Shiyu, distracted, continued taking notes while answering, “I’m not sure yet. In previous years, Aunt Bai Yun would take Shen Li and me abroad during the winter break. But I heard her art gallery might open soon, so she might not have time this year.”

Li Muzi’s eyes lit up. “How about we go to the beach during the break? The temperature there is warmer and the climate is pleasant.”

Jiang Shiyu, intrigued, considered the idea. He had never been to the beach—where the sky and sea blend seamlessly, escaping Jiang Hua’s cold, damp air for a warm, dry beach with sunbathing under coconut trees.

Li Muzi handed him a travel guide for a less-known beach destination. “Look at this, it’s a beautiful, less crowded spot with clean air. The winter temperature is around twenty degrees, perfect for a winter vacation.”

Jiang Shiyu, enchanted by the photos and descriptions, asked Li Muzi to forward the post to him, which he then sent to Shen Li.

Shen Li didn’t reply immediately. Li Muzi chatted with Jiang Shiyu for a while until the teacher reminded them to pay attention. They both focused on the class.

After the morning class, Jiang Shiyu stayed in the classroom, waiting for Shen Li. His messages about the beach post remained unanswered. Feeling uneasy, he called Shen Li several times with no answer.

Worried, he packed up and headed to Shen Li’s campus. Shen Li had downloaded their class schedules to make picking up easier. Jiang Shiyu found the Economics and Management class building, but the classroom was empty, and there were few people in the building.

Growing more anxious, he tried calling him again but got no response. Then his phone vibrated with an incoming call from a number.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Jiang Shiyu?” It was Chen Xu’s voice, loud and chaotic.

“Chen Xu, is Shen Li with you?”

“Yes, yes, you need to come quickly. Shen Li is fighting at the boxing gym.”

Chen Xu seemed to be in a hurry and hung up. Jiang Shiyu’s mind went blank for a moment before he ran out of the classroom, braving the biting cold wind. Despite being heavily dressed, the cold seemed to penetrate his clothes.

He sprinted to the boxing gym, arriving at the door breathless and pale. Ignoring his discomfort, he pushed open the door and went inside. The gym was filled with people gathered around the ring, shouting and cheering.

He squeezed through the crowd, pushing people aside, and reached the front despite their complaints.

On the ring, two people fought without any protective gear, only boxing gloves. They had clearly been fighting for a while, both covered in sweat and bruises.

His eyes were locked on Shen Li, who was drenched in sweat and blood. His face was swollen and cut, with bruises forming on his jaw. His opponent looked worse, nearly unrecognizable with blood and sweat, his fists trembling and his body almost exhausted, with a dislocated arm.

Jiang Shiyu’s heart raced as he watched the scene. Chen Xu noticed him and quickly walked over.

“Hey, you’re here! You need to get him to stop fighting. If this keeps up, someone’s going to die.”

Jiang Shiyu’s lips trembled, but his voice was steady. “What happened?”

Chen Xu explained, “The guy fighting Shen Li used to be on the swim team with him. After being reported for falsifying competition results, he was transferred to another department and ended up in the same class as him. This morning, he made nasty comments about Shen Li in the bathroom, and during class, he bad-mouthed him and even talked about you in a derogatory way.”

Jiang Shiyu was confused. “How did it involve me?”

Chen Xu looked uncomfortable. The boy had insulted Shen Li, and then went on to make vile comments about Jiang Shiyu, calling him pretty and insinuating he’d be submissive, even mocking his family situation. Shen Li heard it all and, infuriated, challenged him to a fight at the gym.

As the fight progressed, his rage was apparent, every punch fueled by his anger and frustration. He was clearly holding back, not wanting to kill his opponent, but the boy’s suffering was palpable.

“Get to the edge of the ring and try to get him to stop. It’s really getting out of hand.”

Chen Xu led Jiang Shiyu to the edge of the ring. He stood there, his face tense, watching the match closely.

During a brief pause in the fight, Shen Li approached the edge of the ring. Jiang Shiyu called out softly, “Shen Li, Shen Li.”

Sure, here’s the translation:

He was like a bloodthirsty lion, completely stirred up, his eyes turning red with rage. His blood felt like it was flowing backward. Despite the cheers and gasps from the crowd, he suddenly stopped, his gaze scanning the left side of the railing, where he saw Jiang Shiyu, who was leaning against the side of the stage with a face full of worry and panic.

When Jiang Shiyu saw Shen Li looking at him, his eyes immediately welled up with tears. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted towards Shen Li amidst the noisy atmosphere, “Shen Li, stop fighting, please stop!”

Shen Li saw the shape of his lips, and his fingers, which had been clenched into fists for too long and had become as rigid as steel, twitched painfully.

His opponent was already in no condition to continue, swaying like a kite on the stage.

He glanced back, his eyes inscrutable. He then took off his gloves and tossed them casually onto the ground, his demeanor relaxed as he left the ring, his back exuding a nonchalant and unruly aura. The black gloves left on the boxing platform carried a humiliating implication.

He walked down the stage and, amidst the gazes of the crowd, approached Jiang Shiyu. His fingers, which had been aching from the fight, gently wiped away his tears. The injuries on his face, far from diminishing his looks, made him look even more handsome, and he smirked with a hint of mischief as he lowered his head and asked the boy in front of him.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you out to eat.”

Eat? What was there to eat? Jiang Shiyu was so frightened he wanted to cry. As soon as they left the boxing gym, he broke free from Shen Li’s grasp, maintaining a stern expression as he walked off to the side alone.

Shen Li tried to close the distance, but Jiang Shiyu immediately moved away, pretending not to hear him and quickening his pace. Shen Li, unable to do anything else, pulled him into a corner.

Jiang Shiyu struggled violently, kicking and hitting. “Let go of me, let go, don’t touch me!”

Afraid of hurting him with force, Shen Li hesitated, but Jiang Shiyu’s struggles were intense. When Jiang Shiyu’s hand struck his shoulder, Shen Li let out a cry of pain.

Jiang Shiyu’s hand froze in mid-air, his eyes widening with anxiety.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice trembling.

Shen Li clutched his chest, pretending to be in great pain. “It hurts.”

Jiang Shiyu’s face went pale. He hurriedly moved to pull his clothes apart to check his wounds, but was immediately hugged by him.

“What are you doing? Let go, you’ll hurt yourself.”

Shen Li breathed in the pleasant scent from him, the bloody smell from the boxing match dissipating as he finally found a moment of comfort and tranquility.

“Don’t move, let me hold you for a while.”

Jiang Shiyu didn’t dare to move, fearing he might touch his wounds, and allowed himself to be held.

After a while, Shen Li released him and ruffled his hair, praising him. “You’re really good.”

Jiang Shiyu was on the verge of tears, seeing him acting so nonchalant. He couldn’t hold back anymore and let a tear drop.

“Oh no, oh no, what’s this? Dropping little pearls?” Shen Li quickly raised his hand to wipe them away, but Jiang Shiyu swatted it away and turned his head, his nose twitching.

Shen Li, who had been fierce and intimidating on the stage, now seemed unusually gentle in front of Jiang Shiyu, coaxing the teary-eyed boy.

“Okay, don’t cry, don’t cry. If I hurt myself, I shouldn’t make you feel wronged. Be good, stop crying.”

Jiang Shiyu wiped his eyes, glaring at him with red, rabbit-like eyes.

Shen Li raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, showing a demeanor of being at his mercy.

Half an hour later, at the school infirmary.

The nurse frowned disapprovingly as she applied medicine. “How did you end up like this? Were you in a fight?”

Shen Li was making up excuses, rambling, “No, I was just helping someone, and a car hit me.”

Jiang Shiyu, hearing this, frowned deeply, disapprovingly glaring at him. The term ‘car accident’ was very sensitive.

Shen Li paused for a second, realizing the insensitivity of his words, and stopped joking. The nurse continued speaking, “This injury doesn’t look like it’s from a car accident. Look at the bruise on your chin, it’s already black.”

“School rules clearly state that fighting is strictly prohibited. If the situation is serious, it could lead to expulsion. You shouldn’t let impulsiveness guide you. Always sit down and talk things out, never resort to violence.”

Shen Li kept answering with vague responses, while his hand, unnoticed by the nurse, discreetly reached down to take Jiang Shiyu’s hand.

Jiang Shiyu was fully focused on the nurse treating Shen Li and suddenly felt his wrist being touched. Shen Li’s fingers circled around his wrist, with his index finger right on his pulse.

“Teacher, we’re all good students. We don’t date in high school, we don’t fight in college, and when we enter society, we’ll be model citizens.”

Shen Li, with his handsome yet slightly cheeky demeanor, was so relaxed and carefree that even the nurse found him likable, smiling as she continued with the bandages.

Jiang Shiyu tried to pull his hand away, signaling Shen Li to let go. Was it necessary to hold hands in front of the nurse?

Shen Li, like he was teasing a little kitten, rubbed his wrist gently, feeling the delicate skin and the rhythmic pulse.

“That’s right, I’m so handsome, it’s a pity I didn’t date anyone in high school.”

Jiang Shiyu stopped struggling, listening to him regret his high school years.

“There were quite a few people who pursued me back then, both boys and girls. I remember one boy, quite good-looking, with fair skin, tall, liked playing basketball, and was a top student. He said he wanted to go to A University with me.”

The nurse asked, “And then?”

Shen Li glanced at the person beside him, his eyelashes drooping as he answered, “What happened then? I turned him down.”

The nurse laughed, “If he was so outstanding and you turned him down, what kind of person do you like?”

Shen Li held Jiang Shiyu’s delicate wrist, feeling the pulse that matched his own heartbeat, and slowly said, “I like someone who looks like a little cat, with very bright and black eyes, who’s clingy and coquettish but also has a lot of little temper tantrums. Occasionally, they’ll scratch you, but just a little coaxing will make them soft and let you hold them.”

The nurse, having finished applying the medicine, was unable to imagine what a cat-like person would be like. Cats were so lovely; she thought no one could be more adorable than a cat.

After the treatment, the two left the infirmary. Jiang Shiyu remained very silent during the walk. When they were leaving, the hand they had been holding fell apart. Shen Li wanted to take him to eat outside since the school cafeteria was likely closed by then, but Jiang Shiyu said he wasn’t hungry and preferred to have some bread in his dormitory. Seeing his lack of interest, Shen Li said nothing and followed him back to the dorm.

As soon as they arrived at the dorm, he took off his clothes to take a shower. Jiang Shiyu, unable to ignore it, followed him to the bathroom door.

Shen Li leaned against the door frame, looking at him with a smile. “Want to join me?”

Jiang Shiyu hesitated for a long time before muttering, “The nurse said not to get your wounds wet in the next few days.”

“Worried about me? Just now you were acting like you’d never speak to me again.”

Jiang Shiyu looked up, his eyes full of emotion. After a while, he looked down and said, “Do whatever you want,” and turned to leave.

Shen Li realized he might have gone too far. Without even putting on his clothes, he rushed out to stop him. “Shiyu.”

Jiang Shiyu didn’t turn around or say anything.

“I’m sorry, I was just rambling in the infirmary. The type I actually like is…”

“Is that what you think I’m mad about?” Jiang Shiyu interrupted, his eyes icy. “Do you think I’m angry about your preferences?”

Shen Li looked back, puzzled, trying to figure out what went wrong.

“You went and fought without telling me, and you didn’t even wear protective gear. Do you know how dangerous that is? It’s been no time since the car accident. The doctor said brain injuries could have long-term effects. Have you thought about what could happen if you got hit in the head again? I could’ve lost you.”

His words were almost shouted in frustration. He had never been this angry before. After leaving the boxing gym, his fear grew as he realized the

gravity of the situation. At the infirmary, he had felt relieved only when he saw that the injuries were superficial.

He couldn’t bear to imagine how devastated he would be if Shen Li had suffered a more severe injury.

Shen Li watched his body shaking uncontrollably, realizing the depth of his fear. He immediately pulled him into a hug, finally understanding the extent of his distress.

He had always been extreme and rebellious. When not provoked, he could act civilized, but when pushed, he became uncontrollably reckless. Before going on stage, he just wanted to humiliate his opponent as much as possible, to make them feel the pain of every punch. He was confident he wouldn’t lose and would make his opponent look foolish. But Jiang Shiyu only saw the danger of him fighting without protection, a danger that triggered his past trauma from the car accident. 

“Okay, okay, don’t be afraid. It’s alright. I know the opponent’s strength. I could take him down, which is why I chose to fight without gear,” he comforted.

“Shen Li, why? Why are you always so self-righteous? It was the same before, and it’s still the same now. If I had been in the car accident, would you have just calmly watched me fight someone else? You never seem to be afraid, only thinking about how to show off.”

He pushed him away, his eyes bloodshot and his breathing rapid. He was emotionally and physically overwhelmed by the sight of blood and violence, his past trauma resurfacing. 

Seeing Jiang Shiyu’s breathing becoming erratic and his face turning pale, Shen Li felt a pang of fear. He saw his trembling body and realized the depth of his panic. He felt a sense of guilt and helplessness.

In the end, he saw Jiang Shiyu’s terrified, tear-filled eyes and heard him mumbling incoherently, unable to understand the words, as he collapsed.