The morning sun filtered through the half-drawn curtains, casting warm golden lines across the bed.
Wu Suo Wei stirred first.
Wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, he blinked slowly, adjusting to the soft light. It took a few seconds before everything came rushing back, Wang Shuo, the fear, Chi Cheng's fists, the way they had finally... finally let go of all the years of restraint.
And now...
He was in Chi Cheng's arms.
Chest to chest, legs tangled, bare skin pressed together beneath the sheets.
Chi Cheng's breathing was slow and even, his lips parted slightly in sleep, one arm protectively around Suo Wei's waist. His other hand was still laced with Suo Wei's fingers, as if even in sleep he was afraid to let go.
Suo Wei's heart thudded quietly. He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from Chi Cheng's forehead.
"You're real," he whispered.
Chi Cheng stirred. His eyes fluttered open sleepy, a little puffy, but still the warmest brown Suo Wei had ever known.
"...Da Bao?" he murmured.
Suo Wei smiled. "Mm."
A small silence.
Then Chi Cheng pulled him closer, resting his chin on top of Suo Wei's head. "I didn't hurt you last night, did I?"
Suo Wei flushed. "No. You were... perfect."
Chi Cheng exhaled deeply. "Good."
They lay like that for a while quiet, hearts pressed together, no words needed.
But outside, the world was not as still.
The campus was buzzing.
The rival of the century. A love triangle gone violent. Chi Cheng's punch heard across the university.
Students were whispering in classrooms, in corridors, online.
Someone had filmed part of the fight.
By breakfast, the video had already gone viral in the university group chats. The clip showed Chi Cheng knocking Wang Shuo to the ground while Suo Wei stood frozen nearby.
Some rumors went wild:
"Wang Shuo tried to steal Wu Suo Wei from Chi Cheng!"
"I thought Chi Cheng didn't even date anyone!"
"Wait, so... Suo Wei's the fiancé??"
Most didn't know the full story, but they knew one thing for sure:
Chi Cheng had a rival, and it wasn't a basketball match.
By afternoon, an email came through: a summons from the Office of Student Affairs.
Suo Wei's hands trembled as he showed it to Chi Cheng.
Chi Cheng read it quietly, then looked up. "It's okay. They already know about us, remember?"
"But... what if they—"
"They just don't want us to do anything inappropriate in public. We didn't. He did." Chi Cheng gently took Suo Wei's hand. "Let's go together."
The meeting was brief.
The Dean sat across from them with a measured expression, hands folded over a copy of the university handbook.
"We've reviewed the incident. The footage is clear," she said. "Mr. Wang Shuo has been suspended pending further investigation."
Chi Cheng remained silent, jaw tight.
The Dean sighed. "As for the two of you... We are not concerned with who you love, Mr. Chi, Mr. Wu. What you do in your private lives is your business. But I'll remind you again: keep it private."
Suo Wei nodded meekly. "Yes, Dean."
"Do not engage in violence on campus again, Mr. Chi," she added sharply.
Chi Cheng gave a curt nod. "Understood."
As they stepped out of the office, Suo Wei leaned into him. "That wasn't so bad..."
Chi Cheng gave a half-smile. "You thought we'd get expelled?"
"I was ready to run away to the mountains," Suo Wei mumbled.
Chi Cheng laughed. "You'd get sunburned by noon, Da Bao."
That evening, they walked hand-in-hand across campus for the first time. Not hiding. Not flinching.
Some students stared. Others smiled.
And when someone from the literature department whistled and shouted, "Protect that baby face, Chi Cheng!" they both laughed.
Suo Wei squeezed his hand.
"I'm glad I'm yours."
Chi Cheng leaned down and whispered, "You've always been mine."