Chapter 30: Learn to swim

The next morning, before Ji Su was fully conscious, a dull, indescribable pain shot through his nerve endings, causing him to whimper.

What's going on? Did he get beat up by someone?

Ji Su struggled to open her eyes, and it took her a few moments to realize that she wasn't sleeping in the dormitory.

He sat up quickly, looked around, and dropped back down.

He's been here before, it's Gu Zhao's house.

Ji Su lifted the thin blanket off his body, got up and out of bed, and walked outside with his bare feet on the floor.

Opening the bedroom door, the familiar aroma of food wafted from the direction of the kitchen, where a tall figure was standing in front of the kitchen counter.

Ji Su called out, "Gu Zhao."

Gu Zhao turned around, his eyes darkening.

Ji Su was wearing his black T-shirt, with a loose neckline revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin, and a hemline that reached the base of his thighs, revealing two long, straight legs that looked as if they had nothing on underneath.

The line of sight continued to move down, landing on two white jade-like feet.

Gu Gu frowned, "Why did you come out barefoot?"

Ji Su followed by looking down, "Ah, I just forgot ......"

When he looked down, he realized that he was not wearing his own clothes.

Ji Su lifted her face, "Did you help me change last night?"

"Uh-huh." Gu Zhao answered, stating in a calm tone, "You took off the clothes you were wearing on your own, so I had to help you find a new one to put on."

"I ......" Ji Su's ears were inexplicably hot and she changed the subject, "I want to take a shower first ......"

Gu Zhao withdrew his eyes, "Come and eat something after you wash."

Ji Su went back to the bedroom, took a shower, and put on the clothes she had left here last time, finally feeling fresh and new, except for the headache from the hangover.

He shoved his change of clothes into the washing machine and tried to find the dirty clothes he wore yesterday, but couldn't find them in the bathroom.

Ji Su walked out of the bathroom and saw that her clothes had already been washed and were drying on the balcony along with Gu Zhao's clothes.

Looks like he really smelled bad after his drink yesterday. Gu Zhao can't stand him.

Ji Su returned to the living room with a somewhat embarrassed tone, "Gu Zhao, I'm clean."

"Well, take the medicine." Gu Zhao poured a glass of warm water and handed him another pill, "Take it and your head will stop hurting."

Ji Su sat down and swallowed the medicine obediently, and tilted his face up again, "I didn ...... t give you too much trouble last night, did I?"

He had never been drunk before, so he had no way of knowing what he looked like when he was drunk.

Fresh out of the shower, his hair hadn't been dried yet, and beads of water rolled down his tresses, leaving a wet trail on his cheeks.

Zhao Gu lifted his hand and wiped away the water mark with his fingertips, "You don't remember any of this?"

Ji Su's brow furrowed slightly as she tried to remember the events of last night, "All I remember is that we left the bar together, and when we got back to your house I was lying on the couch, and then ......"

Gu Zhao looked down at him, "And then what?"

Ji Su shook her head, "And then I don't remember."

Gu Zhao let out a low chuckle, "And then what happened was the real kicker."

When he said that, Ji Su immediately tensed up, "I ...... I didn't get drunk and do anything to you, did I?"

Gu Zhao turned and headed to the other end of the table, "Did a lot."

Ji Su : "e.g. ......"

Gu Zhao pulls back his chair and settles in, "You're so hot that you not only took off your own clothes, but you want to come and take off mine."

Ji Su: "!"

"That can't be right ......" he denied in a whisper, his eyes not daring to look across the room, "I shouldn't be able to do something like that to take advantage of someone ...... "

"What?" Zhao Gu smirked, "You think I'm lying to you?"

"No." Ji Su pursed her lips and reddened her ears in a solemn apology, "I'm sorry, I swear I'll never get drunk in front of you again."

Gu Zhao's voice was slightly cold, "And who do you want to get drunk in front of?"

Ji Su explains, "What I mean is that I won't even get drunk in the future so I won't get anyone in trouble."

Gu Zhao hummed imploringly, "You really shouldn't drink on future occasions when I'm not around."

Ji Su didn't grasp the deeper meaning in those words and apologized again, "I'm really sorry for sleeping in your bed without showering last night, I'll help you clean the sheets later."

"No need." Gu Zhao faded, "I'll wash it myself."

Ji Su was about to say something else when he was interrupted again.

"Also, there's no need to say sorry to me in the future." Gu Zhao looked him in the eyes, "No matter what happens, there's no need to apologize to me."

The expression in his dark eyes was very serious, and Ji Su's heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat when he was staring deeply into these eyes.

Baffled, he asked, "Why?"

"Because you haven't done me any wrong." Gu Zhao said slowly, "And even if there was, it doesn't matter."

He'll take matters into his own hands and double down on getting it back from somewhere else.

Ji Su came back to her senses and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you Gu Zhao, thank you for being willing to forgive me."

To him, this statement represented that Gu Zhao truly understood his deception and that they could get along as normal friends from now on.

After a delicious brunch, Ji Su was ready to take a taxi back to school.

Gu Zhao asked absently, "It's Saturday, what's the rush to get back to school?"

Ji Su thought for a moment and returned, "It's nothing important really, just that I haven't finished my homework."

Gu Zhao signaled, "I have a computer here."

"I can't use your computer." Ji Su patiently explained, "We have to use specialized software to draw pictures, and that one is a bit tricky to install."

Gu Zhao : "Then take a day off."

Ji Su is puzzled, "I can rest even if I go back to the dormitory."

Zhao Gu raised his eyes, "What, use it up and I'll throw it away?"

He purposely emphasized the word "use" in a meaningful way.

Ji Su 莫名心虚起来："I哪有......"

Gu Zhao asked rhetorically, "You didn't?"

"So what do you want to do today?" Ji Su gritted his teeth, "Whatever you want to do, I'll be with you okay?"

"Oh yeah?" Gu Zhao seemed to come to a point of interest, "Doing anything?"

Ji Su said cautiously, "You say what it is first."

Gu Zhao was silent for a few seconds and asked, "What do you want to do today?"

"Me?" Ji Su was slightly stunned and thought hard for a moment, "I don't seem to have anything in particular I want to do."

Gu Zhao put down the rack of long legs, "I remember you said you liked to go out shopping on the weekends."

Ji Su: "......"

Gu Zhao really remembers everything Mengmeng said.

Gu Zhao laughs at me, "Is that a lie too?"

"No." Ji Su hurriedly denied, "Qiao Jin likes to go out shopping, I sometimes very him together."

Gu Zhao asked again, "You don't like it yourself?"

"It's not like I don't like ......" Ji Su Brain raced and came up with a great idea, "Why don't we go to the movies today, I'll treat you."

And after the movie, you can buy Gu Zhao dinner alone, just to make up for the trouble you caused last night.

Gu Zhao responded, "Good."

*

In the afternoon, the two went to a downtown movie theater.

"Gu Zhao, which movie would you like to watch?" Ji Su slid her fingertips across the electronic screen, "The ones that have been in theaters recently are-"

"This one." Gu Zhao raised his hand and pointed to a random movie.

Ji Su took a close look at the movie poster and stiffly responded, "Okay, then we'll watch this one."

The movie theater wasn't very crowded for a Saturday afternoon showing, with only a few small couples and families sparsely scattered throughout the screening room.

Ji Su was used to watching movies with Qiao Jin and didn't find it strange to watch a movie with two boys, so he took his seat naturally.

The lights went out and the movie officially opened.

It's a thriller, and while there aren't any particularly gory or scary scenes, there are an extraordinary number of startling sound effects and shots, and the movie theater erupts with a shriek every now and then.

In order to maintain his image, Ji Su tried to remain calm and collected.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the big screen, and he was so shocked that his heart skipped a beat, and subconsciously reached out to grab the armrest next to him, but his fingertips touched something warm.

Ji Su was electrocuted and tried to retract his hand, but the big hand held it back.

Gu Zhao leaned into his ear and said in an airy voice, "Hold on to me and you won't be afraid."

Ji Su's ears went numb, a strange electric current leaped in all directions down his spine, and his body shivered uncontrollably.

Gu Zhao sat up straight and wrapped the entirety of that soft hand in his broad palm.

In the darkness, the hint of a curve at the corner of his lips was barely visible.

Ji Su missed the best time to pull out his hand, and it was not good to force it out again, so he had to let the other party hold it.

Soon, though, he was back into the tense, exciting drama.

Until the end of the movie, Ji Su relaxed his body and leaned back in his chair.

Gu Zhao held his hand, rubbing his fingertips over the back of the warm, soft, slippery hand, "Does it look good?"

Their hands had been interlocked for so long that they had long since been drenched in sweat, sticking together in a clammy, you-in-me, I-in-you fashion.

"Good looking." Ji Su turned her face, her eyes bright, "It's a little scary, but it's pretty."

The big lights in the movie theater came on and the cleaning aunt walked in.

Ji Su was about to get up, when he realized that his hand was still holding Gu Zhao's hand, "That ......"

This time Gu Zhao loosened his fingers and let him draw his hand out.

After the movie, they picked an authentic Italian restaurant for dinner.

Ji Su was so well taken care of that even the steak was cut into small pieces and brought to him in advance.

Seeing him put down his cutlery, Gu Zhao asked, "Had enough?"

"Full." Ji Su nods and calls the waiter for the check.

The two walked out of the restaurant, the lights were on and it was a lively time.

"Shall we just take a cab back to school?" Ji Su tilted her face slightly, "Or do you want to go home for another night?"

Gu Zhao answered in the negative: "Go with me somewhere."

Ji Su: "Where to?"

Gu Zhao: "Swimming pool."

Ji Su hesitated, "But I can't swim."

"I'll watch a movie with you, and you go to the swimming pool with me." Zhao Gu reached out and pinched his cheek, "Fair or not?"

"Fair." Ji Su didn't dodge the big hand, the flesh of her cheeks pinched up and her words leaked a little, "So we're going now?"

Gu Zhao refrained from letting go of his hand, "Uh-huh."

*

Inside the swimming pool, Ji Su is sitting on a chair by the pool waiting for someone to change when the cell phone in her pocket suddenly vibrates.

He pulled out his phone to unlock the screen and tapped into WeChat.

Qiao Jin: [Susu baby, it's already eight o'clock, when are you coming back?]

Ji Su: [It's going to take a while.]

Ji Su: [I came to swim with Gu Zhao.]

Qiao Jin: [Swimming?]

Qiao Jin: [I thought you couldn't swim?]

Ji Su: [It's okay, I'm not going into the water.]

Ji Su: [I just sat on the shore and watched him swim.]

Qiao Jin: [Then you remember to take some videos of the Gu Da schoolmaster swimming, photos, and so on.]

Qiao Jin: [I'll sell it at a high price later hahaha!]

Ji Su: [......]

Qiao Jin: [But seriously, last night at the bar, Gu Zhao was really protective of you.]

Qiao Jin: [I'm starting to wonder if Mr. Gu Da is having a little thing for you ......]

Ji Su: [What?]

Qiao Jin ：[To you in that way ......]

Ji Su: "?"

Ji Su: [Gu Zhao is straight, straighter than me.]

Ji Su : [And you remember he's also homophobic? Don't make those jokes in the future Xiao Qiao.]

Qiao Jin: [I know, I know, I know ......]

Qiao Jin: [Then you have to come back early, I miss you!]

Ji Su: [Okay, I'll do it as soon as I can.]

Just after typing this message, he heard a familiar intake of breath ringing in his ears.

Ji Su looked back, only glancing at it before quickly turning her face back.

Gu Zhao came out wearing a pair of loose black swimming trunks, broad shoulders and narrow waist, tall and long legs, his body muscle lines perfect like a sculpture on display in an art museum.

This was the VIP pool of the swimming pool, and there weren't many people in the pavilion, and almost everyone had their eyes on him.

Gu Zhao, habitually ignoring all the stares, walked straight to Ji Su, leaned down and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to get in the water?"

Ji Su looked straight ahead, "Make sure you don't."

Gu Zhao gave a short laugh, "Last time at the villa, you didn't want me to see your legs, what is it about this time?"

Ji Su's cheeks heated up and she muttered in a small voice, "So you were deliberately testing me at that time ......"

Gu Zhao, noncommittal, does two simple warm-ups and leaps into the water.

White splashes churned as the slender, athletic body swam swiftly through the water for two round trips.

A few moments later, Gu Zhao swims to the edge of the pool and runs his hand through his frontal hair, revealing handsome, three-dimensional features and dark, deep eyes that make you blush.

He looked at Ji Su, who was sitting far away, and called in a low voice, "Come here."

Ji Su walked over and crouched down, "What's wrong?"

Gu Zhao rested his wet arm on the bank, "Really not going in the water?"

Ji Su was a little embarrassed, "I really don't know how to swim at all."

"It's okay." Gu Zhao stared into his face, "I can teach you."

Ji Su frowned and seemed to be torn.

Gu Zhao nudged his knee with a finger, "I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you."

His tone was calm as always, nothing too emotional, but somehow Ji Su just believed it.

With Gu Zhao around, we won't let him get hurt.

"Good." Ji Su finally made up her mind, "I'll go change."

Gu Zhao dove back into the water, swam two laps and then surfaced again.

Ji Su returned just in time to change into her bathing suit and called softly, "Gu Zhao."

Gu Zhao turned around in the water, his gaze fixed on him, his eyes becoming a few shades deeper.

For her first swim, Ji Su chose a conservative swimsuit, but the black swimsuit hugged her body, completely outlining her superior waist and hip curves, and the length of her swim trunks just hid the red mole on the side of her leg, revealing her long, straight, and flawless legs.

Gu Zhao grinds his back teeth immovably, a little regretting bringing someone to a public swimming pool.

Ji Su walks to the shore and vainly asks, "Do I go straight into the water now?"

Gu Zhao swims back to the pool and instructs, "Sit down first and acclimatize your legs to the water temperature."

"Good." Ji Su answered, sitting on the bank and tentatively lowering both calves into the pool.

The white calves went into the water and gave off a jade-like warm luster.

Gu Zhao narrowed his dark eyes slightly, his voice a little lower, "Is the water temperature okay?"

Ji Su replied back, "I feel okay."

"Hello guys!" Just then, a sweet female voice suddenly came from behind them.

Ji Su looked back, realized it was a girl in a swimsuit, and responded politely, "Hello."

The girl approached, "Are you regulars here too?"

Ji Su points to the man in the water, "He's a regular, this is my first time."

The girl looked at Gu Zhao with some shyness in her eyes, and summoned up the courage to ask: "Handsome man, can you add WeChat?"

Gu Zhao wiped the water from his face and said nothing.

"I didn't mean anything else, I just watched you swim just now and felt that you were very skilled." The girl took two steps closer towards the pool, "I thought I could make an appointment with you ahead of time to come swimming together, and ask for your guidance along the way."

Gu Zhao turned his attention to Ji Su on the shore : "Ji Su, what do you think?"

"Huh?" Ji Su blinked her eyelashes, "What?"

Gu Zhao looked up at him, "Do you think, I'm going to tweet her?"

The man in the water was clearly in a supine stance, but the innate aura between his brows was not missing at all.

Ji Su was dumbfounded, "Why ask me?"

The person this girl wants to add is Gu Zhao. What's he got to do with it?

The girl, however, seemed to understand what was going on, and immediately turned her attention to Ji Su: "Handsome guy, is it convenient to add a WeChat?"

Ji Su: "......"

What's the deal, is this Gu Zhao's way of woe-is-me trying to deny someone a tweet?

The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Ji Su sighed in compromise, "I'll get my cell phone."

Gu Zhao, however, had a cold look on his face, and his large hands gripped his ankles hard in the water.

Ji Su was startled, "What's wrong?"

"None of us have cell phones." Gu Zhao shifted his gaze to the girl on the shore and said coldly, "Be my guest."

His eyes were so cold, like a million ice knives shooting over, the girl couldn't help but take a few steps back, "Sorry to interrupt ......"

Ji Su breathed a quiet sigh of relief, only to have the large hand gripping his slender ankle jerk and yank him out of the pool the next second.

"Plop," there was a splash.

Ji Su sinks into the pool and the warm, cool water scrambles to envelop him.

But before he could feel a hint of fear, a pair of large hands pinched his waist, and solid, strong arms lifted his entire body steadily.

"With a splash, Ji Su surfaces and takes a big gulp of fresh air.

The dark forehead hair dripped downward, and the wet face was like a lotus flower, looking more and more clear and gorgeous, and beautiful beyond compare.

Gu Zhao stared at the wet, full red lips, "How does it feel?"

Ji Su slowed down and clenched his fist and punched him hard, "Gu Zhao!"

He wanted to learn to swim, not to dive!

Gu Zhao gave a deep chuckle and reminded, "I'm going to let go."

"No!" Ji Su panicked, instinctively raising her hands to climb onto the back of the broad shoulders, and her two long legs under the water tightly twisted around the lean waist.

There was no barrier between the long, delicate, smooth legs and the hot body, and even the frequency of the leg flesh trembling could be clearly felt.

Gu Zhao stifled a grunt, and the muscles in his waist and abdomen instantly tensed up, a few points harder than the hardest diamond.