Futile Devices Scans

“Looks like the same kind of experience can produce completely different kinds of people.” Ke Bu rubbed his chin and muttered to himself.

“Your parents too?” Xia Jia Zuo asked in surprise. But Ke Bu had no intention of digging deeper into the subject. He wasn’t the kind of person who casually exposed his own misery to others. “Nope. My parents have an amazing relationship.”

“I’m jealous of you.”

For some reason, hearing that compliment after telling a lie made Ke Bu’s ears sting.

“I really enjoy talking with you.”

“R-Really?” It was the first time someone had ever said something like that to him. But Ke Bu wasn’t the type to blush just because he’d been praised. Deep down, he held an extremely traditional belief—if you liked someone, you could only blush for that one person. So the shy, embarrassed side of Ke Bu belonged only to Zhi Li.

Xia Jia Zuo quickly noticed Su You Yan sitting silently behind Zhi Li with her hair tied back. He picked up another slice of cake and walked over to her, looking worried. “You should eat something.”

Su You Yan had no intention of responding and continued reading her book. Xia Jia Zuo awkwardly placed the cake in front of her, then glanced at the scar on her face. “Your face…” Touching on such a sensitive subject made Su You Yan look up directly at him with an expression that clearly said get lostbefore lowering her head again.

“You misunderstood me,” Xia Jia Zuo hurriedly explained. “If you don’t mind, my father runs a cosmetic surgery clinic. There’s a good chance your scar could be healed. Do you want me to introduce you?” So he was actually some rich young master too.

That made Su You Yan raise her head again. “What’s your purpose?” The question was so direct that even Xia Jia Zuo stared blankly for a second. “I just want to help you. A girl would feel uncomfortable carrying a scar like that on her face, right? Since my family has the means to help, it’s only natural to help a friend.”

Su You Yan fell silent again. She simply stared at Xia Jia Zuo for a long while, then reached up and touched the faint scar on her face before lowering her head, ending the conversation.

Ke Bu picked up the cake Xia Jia Zuo had given him earlier and sat across from Zhi Li, nudging the plate toward him. “Want some?”

Zhi Li swept his arm across the table, knocking the cake onto the floor. “I don’t like sweets.” The bright, beautiful cake splattered across the ground in an ugly mess.

Everyone froze. The atmosphere instantly became awkward. Right now, Zhi Li looked like a sulking child throwing a tantrum. Nobody spoke. All eyes rested on Zhi Li. Ke Bu furrowed his brows. He didn’t like this. He didn’t like Zhi Li acting this way. In fact, it even frightened him a little. What he feared was…

Xia Jia Zuo scratched his cheek awkwardly. “I think I should leave. Zhi Li really doesn’t seem to like me. If I stay here, it’ll only make things worse. I’ll just come visit everyone when Zhi Li isn’t around in the future. Don’t worry about me—I’m not angry. My tolerance isn’t that small.”

Zhi Li stopped moving his pencil and let out a faint laugh so cold it pierced to the bone. Rising from his seat, he walked over to Xia Jia Zuo and tilted his head while examining him. Xia Jia Zuo closed his eyes. “I’m not going to fight you. I won’t hurt anyone. Zhi Li, are you worried I’ll steal your friends away? If I made you feel that way, then I’m sorry. I just wanted to join you guys too. I envy the bond between all of you. You all look like you’re having so much fun at university. Was I being too self-righteous? If they can only be your friends, then… then I won’t bother you anymore.”

Zhi Li’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. It was impossible to tell whether he was angry or not. He merely curled one corner of his mouth slightly. “I really hate you.” Just like always, Zhi Li said it directly and bluntly. Then he picked up his sketchbook, waved casually at the others, and left.

“Zhi Li!” Everyone called out after him, but he acted as though he didn’t hear them.

Ke Bu clenched his fists tightly and chased after him, grabbing onto the corner of Zhi Li’s clothes before he could get far.

“What?”

“Can you not do this?”

Zhi Li turned around. “Do what? You mean stop treating that Xia guy like that? Didn’t realize you cared about him that much.” His tone dripped with sarcasm, instantly angering Ke Bu. “Why are you dragging him into this? What exactly do you dislike about him? Everyone was just talking to him a little. How is he such an eyesore to you?”

“Say that again, Ke Bu.”

“What, are you threatening me now? He was right, wasn’t he? You’re worried the friends around you will get stolen away. What do you want everyone to do? Can’t you see how uncomfortable everyone is because of you?”

Ke Bu’s words came out against his true feelings, hurting the person he loved most—and hurting himself too. This wasn’t right. He only wanted Zhi Li to stop treating him so coldly. It had nothing to do with Xia Jia Zuo, nothing to do with anyone else.

Zhi Li’s gaze became aggressive. He was angry. Clenching his teeth, he forced the words out between them, making Ke Bu tremble uncontrollably. Ke Bu avoided Zhi Li’s eyes and stepped backward, but Zhi Li pressed closer step by step. “So now I’m making things difficult for you too? Answer me already, damn it.”

Zhi Li’s shout only made Ke Bu more unable to speak. He could only stare wide-eyed. Zhi Li reached out a hand, and Ke Bu instinctively turned his head away. Zhi Li froze slightly, then asked quietly, “Are you afraid of me?”

“I…” Was he afraid of Zhi Li? Not exactly. Then what was it? Yes, he was afraid—but not entirely. How was he supposed to explain feelings that even he himself couldn’t sort out clearly?

“Ke Bu,” Zhi Li said slowly, his coldness wrapping around the sound of Ke Bu’s name. “Do you want me to hurt?”

It was such a simple question, yet pain instantly spread through Ke Bu’s chest like thorns digging deeper and deeper. Something in Zhi Li’s eyes threw him into a panic. Watching Zhi Li turn and walk away, Ke Bu suddenly wanted desperately to stop him. He needed him that badly, wanted him that much. Yet instead of abandoning his pride and begging him to stay, he chose cruelty instead. He wanted to provoke Zhi Li. He wanted Zhi Li to notice him, to remain by his side.

“Then go! Just go! Do you think I chased after you because I wanted to argue? If you could just—just be a little gentler… Why are you angry anyway? I’m the one who should be angry! I kindly offered you cake and you threw it on the ground. Then I came after you only to get mocked by you. The second I say a few words, you yell at me. Just because I like you, does that mean I deserve to act pathetic for you? What the hell is this? At least Xia Jia Zuo tells me I look cute in my clothes. At least he gently hands me cake. At least he shares what’s in his heart with me and makes me happy. He’s so kind.”

What was he even saying anymore? Even Ke Bu himself couldn’t hear his own words clearly. He wanted Zhi Li to rush over, grab him by the collar, and punch him hard. He wanted Zhi Li to tell him things weren’t the way he claimed they were. More than anything, he wanted Zhi Li to deny him.

Zhi Li stopped walking. He didn’t turn around, only stood there motionless. His voice struck like sulfuric acid, corroding Ke Bu until he felt riddled with holes. “If he’s really that good… then why don’t you try being with him?”

Then, this time, he truly left.

Zhi Li, you won again. Once again, Ke Bu had tried to force him with cruel words, only to receive even crueler ones in return. This outcome was something Ke Bu couldn’t bear. So this was pain. It tore through him physically, roaring and shattering apart inside his body.

How had things ended up like this? It had been so long since he and Zhi Li had fought. This kind of pain was something he could never get used to. Zhi Li existed in his life so naturally that Ke Bu had never once imagined even a single second of a future without him. If there were no Zhi Li in this world, then Ke Bu wouldn’t be Ke Bu anymore.

Clearly, Zhi Li had been the one in the wrong first. What Ke Bu should’ve received was an apology. But he got nothing. No words passed between them anymore. Aside from class, they barely even crossed paths. Zhi Li ignored him as though it were the most natural thing in the world—ignored his existence, ignored his waiting, ignored his suffering. If he could hurt Ke Bu so easily, then he ought to take responsibility for it!

At the base, while one person had disappeared, another had joined. The atmosphere was changing. Even though everyone still joked and laughed on the surface, Ke Bu felt an oppressive heaviness hanging in the air. Sitting in Zhi Li’s usual seat and staring out the window blankly, he wondered if this was what Zhi Li watched every day while drawing.

Xia Jia Zuo sat down beside him. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

“You argued with Zhi Li, didn’t you?”

Ke Bu stayed silent. Xia Jia Zuo continued, “Ke Bu, what do you think of me compared to Zhi Li?”

Ke Bu shook his head honestly. “I don’t know.”

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