After Transmigrating, I Saved the Saintly Male Lead
o0o
The morning light was hazy.
Today, City A was shrouded in heavy smog.
A drizzle still fell from the sky.
Pedestrians on the roadside tightened their coats and hurried home.
Gu Hanzhou walked into the alley.
The brick walls surrounding the alley were corroded and about to fall off, and the cement ground was covered with puddles of murky water, with a damp and musty smell filling the air.
At the end of the alley, Liu Lifei sat on an oil drum with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and a steel pipe clutched in his hand. Behind him stood five or six hoodlums with non-mainstream hair dyed in various colors and black and purple wolf tattoos on their arms, looking menacing.
Most people would probably turn around and leave immediately upon seeing such a gathering of thugs.
Gu Hanzhou's expression was indifferent as he walked unhurriedly towards the depths of the alley. There was not a trace of fear in his dark pupils, but rather a faint hint of pleasure.
Having played the good boy for too long, he had almost forgotten his true self.
Vicious, willful, and violent.
The thrill that overflowed from his bones after the blade pierced flesh and his fingertips touched the scalding blood.
How beautiful. What a wonderful taste.
Gu Hanzhou's tongue pressed against his upper palate, and a smile couldn't help but spread across his eyes and brows, his cold white skin tinged with an eerie light red.
In front of him, Liu Lifei sat on an oil drum, surrounded by five or six small-time thugs holding baseball bats.
When those people saw Gu Hanzhou, they whistled.
"Whoa—isn't this our top student?"
"Yo, today we finally meet the famous number one of the foreign language department."
"Oh dear, the top student has finally graced us with his presence. Truly rare."
Seeing the person who had come, Liu Lifei threw away the cigarette from his mouth, hefted the steel pipe in his hand, and sneered at Gu Hanzhou, "Hahaha Gu Hanzhou, you coward, you actually dared to come."
"Tsk tsk tsk, I underestimated you."
Liu Lifei and Gu Hanzhou were fellow villagers, both from the poorest and most dilapidated part of City A.
Liu Lifei had managed to get into this school by relying on his connection with Ouyang Wei. Gu Hanzhou, however, had gotten in entirely on his own merit.
Since childhood, Gu Hanzhou had been the model child in everyone's eyes.
They were clearly both stuck in the mud. Gu Hanzhou had a mentally ill mother, lived in a dark and damp basement, and was so poor that he even had to pick up trash.
His family's conditions were much better than Gu Hanzhou's.
Why could Gu Hanzhou eventually have a bright future filled with praise? Why could Gu Hanzhou stand radiantly under the sun giving speeches? Why didn't Gu Hanzhou need to curry favor with others? Why could Gu Hanzhou live with dignity, making him look like a useless piece of trash?!
Liu Lifei took a hard puff of his cigarette, his eyes revealing resentment.
In contrast, he could only survive in the cracks like a dark cockroach, fawning like a dog to curry favor with those powerful students.
After experiencing the prosperity of the big city, he would eventually have to return to that dilapidated small town, rot in that backward place for the rest of his life, and never be able to get out.
He didn't want to fawn over those people like a dog either.
But he had no choice.
If he didn't curry favor with the rich and powerful students, he would be isolated, bullied, and even thrown back into his original run-down school.
Liu Lifei didn't want to go back no matter what.
Having enjoyed this extravagant and decadent life, he could never go back.
Liu Lifei knew that with Gu Hanzhou's academic performance, he would definitely be able to get into the best university and have a bright future. Gu Hanzhou's future was clearly a broad and smooth road.
This realization almost made his eyes red with jealousy and his heart ache with hatred.
Gu Hanzhou wanted to make a name for himself and rise from poverty to wealth and status.
But he just wouldn't let him; he was determined to ruin Gu Hanzhou.
What he couldn't achieve, no one else could either.
Since ancient times, people born from the mud should have remained in the mire.
The intense jealousy at play made Liu Lifei's already ugly face even more distorted.
If only he could frame Gu Hanzhou for stealing the phone, then Gu Hanzhou's life would definitely be completely ruined. Gu Hanzhou wouldn't be able to go to university anymore, and not going to jail would already be considered extremely lucky for him.
A malicious light flickered in Liu Lifei's eyes. Coincidentally, the homeroom teacher had recently begun to suspect him, so this critical moment was perfect for pinning the blame on Gu Hanzhou.
After all, the phone could no longer be found.
Liu Lifei had once thought about redeeming the phone he had already sold and quickly returning it to the homeroom teacher. But the buyer who bought the phone online had disappeared as if into thin air, and he couldn't be contacted no matter what. He had tried calling the buyer, only to find that the phone number was non-existent.
Something was definitely wrong!
Liu Lifei crushed the scarlet cigarette butt on the oil drum and impatiently ordered.
"You better hurry up and go to the homeroom teacher and admit that you stole the phone."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
A malicious smile appeared on Liu Lifei's face as he threatened with a grin, "Your family lives at No. 102 Xifeng Street, right? Your mom is so beautiful, she must be very lonely at home alone."
He sneered mockingly, pushing his luck further, "Or, top student Gu, kneel down on the ground right now and kowtow to me three times. If I'm in a good mood, maybe you won't have to suffer this beating today."
Unpleasant jeers erupted from the surrounding thugs.
Being able to trample a proud person like the top student underfoot gave them a vile and twisted pleasure.
Gu Hanzhou still didn't speak, his dark eyes fixed on them in silence, his back straight and slender.
The boy stood there in his simple blue and white school uniform, like a bright and dazzling landscape painting, making everyone around him look unsightly.
The surrounding mockery and humiliation seemed to have no connection to him, and nothing could hurt him.
Liu Lifei's face darkened, his gaze as gloomy as a rat in a gutter.
He had known Gu Hanzhou for so many years and knew that Gu Hanzhou was just a weak and easily bullied pushover who would never fight back no matter how much he was bullied.
He was the best outlet for venting!
At this moment, Liu Lifei raised his eyes and happened to meet Gu Hanzhou's dark and obscure gaze.
That kind of gaze was like looking at a dead person.
A chill spread along Liu Lifei's veins, seeping into the depths of his bone marrow, and even his bones seemed to be faintly cold.
A physiological tingling pain came from his fingertips, the same stress response he had when he encountered a python as thick as a bucket in the woods last time.
Liu Lifei suddenly sobered up.
He was really crazy!
He had actually been intimidated by Gu Hanzhou's expression just now!
Liu Lifei's eyes were bloodshot as he gritted his teeth.
"What are you laughing at?! Idiot!!!"
He stood up angrily and rushed over to grab Gu Hanzhou's collar.
Even with his collar being tightly grabbed, a faint smile spread across Gu Hanzhou's lips, his hands casually in his pockets, still looking smiling.
This smiling appearance inexplicably made Liu Lifei's scalp tingle.
Liu Lifei couldn't help but feel a tightness in his throat, cold sweat seeping from his palms, sensing that something had completely slipped out of his control.
He hurriedly let go of Gu Hanzhou, took a few steps back in fear, turned his head, and loudly commanded the thugs behind him, "Brothers, get him! Kill him!!!"
The thugs swarmed towards Gu Hanzhou.
A gentle smile hung on Gu Hanzhou's lips, and the cold light of a blade reflected from his cuff.
Lonely raindrops pattered down onto the soil.
Evil thoughts sprouted and grew from the soil.
Gu Hanzhou grasped the hilt of the knife in his hand, and a hint of a smile finally appeared on his indifferent face.
Against the dim and cold background, it seemed somewhat gentle and lingering.
Behind him was a cracked wall, with damp moss growing in the moist crevices.
The cement ground was stained with foul-smelling water.
Trash cans were piled up haphazardly in the corner.
Moldy bread, dirty clothes, and杂乱 items were scattered on the ground, and a foul and rotten smell permeated the air.
This world was corrupt and decadent, with bloody malice rampant in the shadows.
Gu Hanzhou didn't exert much effort to deal with everyone.
The thugs let out painful wails and screams, scattering and fleeing in terror.
Only Liu Lifei remained.
The corners of Gu Hanzhou's mouth slightly lifted, the smile on his lips eerie and bizarre, as he walked towards Liu Lifei unhurriedly.
His eyes held a joyful smile as he single-handedly choked Liu Lifei's neck.
Liu Lifei's feet left the ground, and he made a "hoarse" sound of pain, his face turning purplish-blue, his neck about to be snapped. But no matter how painful it was, he stiffened his body, not daring to move at all.
Because a short knife was lying across his eyes. The hilt was slender, and the sharp blade gleamed with a snow-white cold light.
The tip of the knife was less than a millimeter away from Liu Lifei's pupils, and it could pierce them at any time.
Just one more inch inward, and it would touch the soft eyeball.
Liu Lifei's face was deathly pale, and he finally realized that Gu Hanzhou looked simple and harmless on the surface, but his inside was coated with venom, and even a slight touch could corrode the flesh and blood on his body.
Tears rolled down Liu Lifei's face, and he begged in fear, "I'm sorry, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Can you please put down the knife first?"
"I swear I will never provoke you again."
"I'm sorry, it was all my fault before, please let me go, please..."
Gu Hanzhou's pupils were as black as ink, like a lightless hell.
The person who had broken his right leg in his previous life and flaunted his power was now wagging his tail and begging for mercy at his feet like a puddle of mud.
But he couldn't muster any interest and just wanted to go back to the dormitory to meet Ji Anche as soon as possible.
Gu Hanzhou disgustedly released his hand that was choking Liu Lifei's throat.
Liu Lifei was delirious, his body involuntarily slumped, sliding down the brick wall to the ground. At this time, Liu Lifei's eyes were rolling back, and he was about to faint, saliva uncontrollably dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Gu Hanzhou disgustedly took out a tissue and slowly and meticulously wiped the places where he had just touched Liu Lifei.
After wiping, Gu Hanzhou threw a stack of documents in front of Liu Lifei.
The documents contained detailed evidence of Liu Lifei stealing the phone, as well as transaction records and order numbers for Liu Lifei selling the phone online.
After reading the documents, Liu Lifei's face turned ashen.
Liu Lifei didn't know why Gu Hanzhou had these things. But he knew that if the school saw these things, he would definitely be expelled, and his life would be ruined.
Liu Lifei's lips trembled uncontrollably as he knelt on the cement ground and cried, "I was wrong, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Ge, please don't give these things to the school, the school will definitely expel me if they find out."
"Ge, you also know how dilapidated the school in our hometown is. I don't want to go back, please. We are fellow villagers after all, you definitely can't bear to see me end up in such a miserable state."
Liu Lifei sobbed with tears and snot streaming down his face, "That kind of backward place is simply not a place for humans to stay. Ge, please, I can do anything, please forgive me."
Gu Hanzhou's expression was cold as he picked up the steel pipe next to him and used it to lift Liu Lifei's chin.
He leaned down, his dark pupils carrying a cold smile.
"Break your own leg, and I'll forgive you."
Liu Lifei took the steel pipe with a trembling hand, his body shaking involuntarily due to extreme fear, and murmured.
"I can't do it..."
There was no trace of blood on Liu Lifei's face as he desperately shook his head and pleaded, "I really can't do it..."
He gripped the steel pipe tightly, his fingertips turning bluish-white from excessive force.
He tried to smash it down several times, but all attempts failed.
Finally, Liu Lifei completely broke down, crying and wailing with tears and snot, "No, I can't bring myself to do it."
Gu Hanzhou chuckled softly as he bent down to pick up the steel pipe, which made a harsh scratching sound as it rubbed against the ground.
"Then let me help you."
Gu Hanzhou's eyes curved, his smile warm and bright.
His smile was no different from the one he wore when enthusiastically helping classmates in the past, or the magnanimous smile he gave when innocently bullied and forgiving the other party.
With a premonition of danger, Liu Lifei retreated in panic.
Suddenly, his phone rang, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Gu Hanzhou took out his phone and pressed the answer button.
His expression suddenly softened, "Ge, what's wrong?"
"Why haven't you come back yet?"
Ji Anche's voice was soft and husky, as if he had just woken up.
Gu Hanzhou couldn't help but soften his voice.
"I'm jogging, I'll be back soon."
"Ge, is there any breakfast you want to eat?"
Ji Anche rolled over in the warm quilt, his eyes half-closed with sleepiness, and said drowsily, "Hmm... I don't think so. I'm still so sleepy, I should sleep a little longer."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Hanzhou's expression returned to its original suppressed coldness.
"How could the phone be with you???"
Liu Lifei stared wide-eyed in horror, his gaze fixed on the black phone in Gu Hanzhou's hand.
He recognized it at a glance; the phone Gu Hanzhou was holding was the one he had put up for sale online. It was also coincidentally the phone that the homeroom teacher had lost.
"I clearly already sold it!! Why is it in your hands?!"
Gu Hanzhou remained silent with a lazy expression, continuing to walk towards Liu Lifei.
He wanted to resolve things quickly so he could see his gege sooner.
A thought flashed through Liu Lifei's mind, and he quickly realized.
His teeth chattered in fear, and his face was as pale as a ghost.
It turned out that Gu Hanzhou had deliberately set a trap from the very beginning!
Liu Lifei's pupils shrank suddenly, his lips trembling uncontrollably, and he said in a chilling voice, "It was you! You were that buyer!!!"
But it was already too late.
Gu Hanzhou gripped the steel pipe and swung it down hard at Liu Lifei.
Blood splattered on his cheeks, and a joyful smile spread across Gu Hanzhou's lips.
Blood made him excited and thrilled.
The pattering raindrops beat against the eaves, showing no sign of weakening.
Raindrops streamed down Liu Lifei's cheeks, his pupils涣散 and unfocused as he lay on the cement ground like mud. Rainwater mixed with blood seeped into the soil.
Soaking the brownish-yellow soil into a dark red, blooming dark and willful flowers.
A thick smell of blood lingered in the alley, not dissipating for a long time.
o0o
Gu Hanzhou turned around and walked out of the dim alley.
The streets were bustling with noise.
Snack vendors enthusiastically hawked their wares.
The sounds of children playing and middle-aged women haggling filled the air.
The sky gradually cleared.
Passing by a cake shop.
Gu Hanzhou stopped and turned to walk into the cake shop.
Various freshly baked fruit cakes were displayed in the showcase.
"Hello, handsome, these are all freshly made cakes from our shop. Which one do you like?" the cake shop owner enthusiastically stepped forward to ask.
Gu Hanzhou asked softly, "Which cake is sweeter?"
His gege liked sweet things.
The cake shop owner enthusiastically recommended, "If you prefer sweet flavors, I recommend this strawberry cake. It has a lot of sweet cream and sugar in it, so it should suit your taste."
Gu Hanzhou: "It's not for me."
The cake shop owner smiled, "Your partner likes sweet things, right? Hahaha, I understand."
A hint of a smile appeared in Gu Hanzhou's eyes, "Yes."
"You two seem to have a very good relationship," the cake shop owner said with emotion, "As a single person, I'm really envious."
Gu Hanzhou chuckled softly, "Indeed, it's very good."
When paying, the cake shop owner accidentally glanced at the bright red stain on the cuff of Gu Hanzhou's white shirt. He was startled and asked in surprise.
"Handsome, what did you go do? Why is your cuff red?"
Gu Hanzhou held the packaged cake in his hand and casually explained, "I went painting just now and accidentally got some red paint on it."
"Oh, I see."
The cake shop owner carefully looked at the boy in front of him.
The young man had gentle and jade-like features, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, exuding a cool scholarly air. He looked like the kind of diligent student who studied hard at school.
The cake shop owner joked, teasingly.
"I thought it was blood, hahaha."
The corners of Gu Hanzhou's lips curved slightly, and he nodded, "You're really funny."
o0o
Back at the dormitory.
Gu Hanzhou placed the breakfast he had bought on the dining table.
He walked to Ji Anche's bed and saw that the boy was still asleep.
The young man's sleeping face was serene, and tiny particles of dust floated in the air. A halo of light moved across his fair cheeks.
A picture of peaceful tranquility.
Gu Hanzhou gently shook the young man awake."Ge, it's already ten o'clock. Wake up."
"Don't make trouble, let me sleep a little longer."
Ji Anche forced his sleepy eyes open, hugged the quilt, turned over, and didn't want to get up.
Gu Hanzhou coaxed softly, "Ge, I brought you steaming hot buns. Get up and eat them quickly, or they'll get cold."
The scent of the buns reached his nose, and a hollow, acidic feeling came from his stomach. Ji Anche's stomach grumbled a few times.
Ji Anche frowned, finally unable to bear the hunger, and sat up, throwing off the quilt.
After washing up.
Ji Anche got dressed and stood in front of the dining table.
Suddenly, someone hugged him from behind.
"Ge."
Gu Hanzhou, carrying the dampness of a shower, hugged Ji Anche.
Ji Anche smelled the fresh scent of soap on him, "Did you take a shower?"
Gu Hanzhou rested his head on the young man's shoulder and gently rubbed against it, "Yes, I accidentally got something dirty on me just now."
Ji Anche casually asked, "What was it?"
"A disgusting rat."
Gu Hanzhou hugged the soft body of the young man in his arms, and the empty and dry part of his heart seemed to be completely filled.
"???"
Ji Anche was startled, goosebumps rising on his arms, "There's actually a rat in the dormitory???"
Gu Hanzhou comforted softly, "It's already dead."
"That's good." Ji Anche breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looks like we need to buy some insecticide when we have time. We've only just moved in for a day, and there are already bugs and rats in the dormitory. It's too scary."
Ji Anche couldn't imagine rats or cockroaches scurrying under his bed every night after he fell asleep.
He might go crazy.
Ji Anche sat at the dining table, with steaming breakfast laid out in front of him.
There were small teamed buns with thin skin and juicy filling, hot soy milk, and even a strawberry cake.
As expected of his thoughtful little padded jacket.
He really understood him.
Seeing the strawberry cake, a hint of hesitation appeared on Ji Anche's face.
Liking strawberry cake seemed to slightly contradict his tough guy persona.
He wanted to establish a tall and mighty father figure in the male lead's heart so that the male lead could rely on him with peace of mind.
Loving strawberry cake didn't seem to fit well with the "tall and mighty father figure" image no matter how he looked at it.
Ji Anche hesitantly picked up the strawberry cake and asked, "Do you also like strawberry cake?"
Gu Hanzhou: "The owner of the small笼包 stall happened to have a cake and gave it to me for free."
"Wow, the owner is so nice." Ji Anche looked at the beautifully made cake and said in surprise, "Buying small笼包 even comes with a cake?"
"Yes, the owner probably thought it was going to spoil if he kept it. So he simply gave it to me."
Gu Hanzhou sighed, "But I don't like eating it. I'm having a headache about how to deal with this cake right now. I can only throw it in the trash later."
Ji Anche cleared his throat in a concealing manner, his eyes sparkling, "Ahem... then let me help you solve this difficult problem."
A smile spread across Gu Hanzhou's eyes and brows, "Thank you, ge."
"No need to thank me."
Ji Anche took the strawberry cake. It was sprinkled with a layer of glittering powdered sugar and looked particularly delicious.
"Ge, what kind of person do you like?" Gu Hanzhou propped his chin up with his hand, his dark eyes gazing at him.
Hearing the male lead's question, Ji Anche choked unexpectedly, "Cough cough cough..."
He felt like he was back to the time when various relatives at home were urging him to get married.
Gu Hanzhou took the warm water and gently stroked his back to help him catch his breath.
"Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Ji Anche took a bite of the cake, the rich and mellow taste of the cream spreading in his mouth, "Ah, I don't know either."
"I've never thought about such things."
Gu Hanzhou still stubbornly insisted on asking, "Ge, can you think about it now?"
Pure white cream accidentally stuck to the corner of his lips, and Ji Anche said from the bottom of his heart, "Actually, I plan to stay single for the rest of my life and don't plan to get married."
"Isn't being single great? Why bother with romance?"
Gu Hanzhou reached out his fingertip and wiped away the cream for him, "If you had to find someone you liked, what would they be like?"
Ji Anche didn't know why he was so persistent about this matter and said casually, "Probably a kind-hearted girl."
"No other requirements, just pure and kind."
After saying this, Ji Anche noticed that Gu Hanzhou's face had changed, as if something was on the verge of shattering.
Gu Hanzhou's knuckles curled up tightly, and he asked with a dry voice, "Ge, if you have someone else in the future, will you not want me anymore?"
Ji Anche said in surprise, "How is that possible?"
"Don't think nonsense!"
Gu Hanzhou leaned over and hugged the young man tightly.
"Ge, you can't abandon me."
Ji Anche felt helpless and a little amused at the same time.
Why did the male lead have so little sense of security?
"Don't worry, I will definitely not abandon you."
After all, his love for the male lead was truly deep. Fatherly love was like a mountain.
"Besides, I plan to protect you for the rest of my life, how could I abandon you?" Ji Anche patted the male lead's shoulder and comforted him softly.
What Ji Anche didn't see was the fanatical possessiveness surging in Gu Hanzhou's scarlet pupils, a stark contrast to his usual pure and innocent appearance.
"Really?" Gu Hanzhou's eyes were eerie, the hidden bloodiness in his pupils almost devouring everything.
He hugged the young man in his arms tightly, and an uncontrollable delusion surged up again.
Canine teeth gnawed at the soft flesh of the back of his neck, a chaotic blush appearing on his fair cheeks as he murmured, "Ge, you can't abandon me."
You can only be mine.
Ji Anche was caught off guard and bitten. He wanted to push Gu Hanzhou away, but Gu Hanzhou's arms seemed like iron hoops, and he couldn't push them away no matter what.
"Hiss... that hurts!"
"Gu Xiaozhou, why did you bite someone again?!"
Ji Anche's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Let go of me!"
Gu Hanzhou hurriedly let go of him and apologized in a flustered manner, "Ge, I was wrong."
"I'm sorry."
Gu Hanzhou's eyes were red-rimmed, his pure black pupils moist and glistening, like obsidian soaked in cold water.
Gu Hanzhou's pale fingertips trembled sickly, tightly clutching the corner of his clothes, and said pitifully, "Ge, don't be angry, okay?"
"I didn't mean to."
"I'm sorry, I couldn't control myself."
His voice gradually weakened, seeming fragile and vulnerable, gently scratching at Ji Anche's heart, "Because I'm very scared."
"Really scared."
Ji Anche was originally full of anger, but seeing the poor male lead's miserable appearance, he instantly couldn't bring himself to be angry at all.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't care whether they were pitiful or not. He would have kicked them long ago, too lazy to indulge the other party's bad habit of biting people at every turn.
Damn it, did the male lead put a gu on him?
蛊 (gǔ) : magic, curse, or spell/chant/incantation that is to manipulate or control someone
Ji Anche covered his reddened and painful nape, turned his head, and asked in a stiff tone, "What exactly are you afraid of?"
Gu Hanzhou lowered his eyelashes, the corners of his eyes containing a thin layer of mist, trembling slightly.
The lonely moonlight outside the window shone in, and Gu Hanzhou's slightly hoarse voice traveled into Ji Anche's ears along with the evening breeze.
"I'm afraid of many things."
"I'm afraid you'll have someone you like more."
"I'm afraid you'll be with someone else."
"I'm afraid you won't want me anymore."
Ji Anche took a deep breath, "Gu Xiaozhou, don't think nonsense, okay?"
"Listen to me first."
Ji Anche clearly stated each point to him, "First of all, there's a high probability that I won't find a girlfriend. My heart is only focused on studying. So you don't need to worry about this at all."
"Second point is the same as the first. I won't be with anyone else at all."
Ji Anche hoped to make Gu Hanzhou realize that his feelings for Gu Hanzhou were no less than Gu Hanzhou's feelings for him.
He said seriously and earnestly, "Third, I won't not want you."
"The third point you raised has no reliable or reasonable evidence to support it."
"Do you think I'm not good to you? Is that why you think I'll abandon you?"
Gu Hanzhou stared at the young man's opening and closing rosy lips, his eyes swirling with darkness.
Ji Anche's skin was fair like milk, and even a slight red mark was very obvious.
On the snow-white skin of the back of his neck, a red and slightly swollen tooth mark was particularly conspicuous.
He had bitten it out.
o0o
On gege's body, there were now his marks.