After Transmigrating, I Saved the Saintly Male Lead
o0o
The night was aglow with neon lights.
The summer night breeze carried a slight chill, brushing against the edges of the boy’s shirt.
Ji Anche was pinned against the corner of the wall, yet he felt no cold—his entire body was burning up.
Heat traveled from his toes, spreading through every nerve, a strange sensation rising and churning along his spine.
He stared at the person in front of him.
The dim light cast a soft orange glow over Gu Hanzhou’s brows and eyes, his phoenix eyes slightly upturned, pupils filled with a tenderness as vast as the starry sky.
It looked like a heartwarming scene of familial harmony.
If only he could ignore the fact that Gu Hanzhou had him pressed against the wall, leaning in closer and closer.
Ji Anche’s eyes were half-lidded, gazing at the swaying stars in the night sky, the dazzling silver river of the Milky Way stretching endlessly.
His back pressed against the cold brick wall.
The chill seeped through his clothes, dispelling that strange, restless heat.
But the warmth radiating from the person before him was scalding—enough to burn him.
He hunched his shoulders, trying to resist the overwhelming presence.
This side of Gu Hanzhou felt unfamiliar, yet unexpectedly, he didn’t dislike it. It was just… new.
Like a usually docile ragdoll cat suddenly baring its claws, sinking its teeth into his wrist in warning.
But in the end, a kitten was still just a kitten.
It couldn’t possibly cause any real trouble.
For some reason, he had a feeling Gu Hanzhou wouldn’t actually kiss him.
Maybe this was all just a joke.
With that thought, Ji Anche completely relaxed.
His lips had been forced open for so long that his jaw was starting to ache.
With a strawberry still in his mouth, Ji Anche mumbled incoherently.
"Mmmph?"
What the hell are you trying to do? Hurry up.
"Ge."
Confusion flickered in Ji Anche’s eyes.
"Mmm?"
Gu Hanzhou’s gaze darkened, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I want to eat the strawberry."
Ji Anche’s amber pupils contracted slightly.
Why did the male lead’s eyes look less like he wanted the strawberry and more like he wanted to devour him instead?
Ji Anche’s lashes trembled, his cheeks stuffed with two strawberries like a little hamster clutching nuts.
He tried to convey his displeasure through his eyes, his amber irises glistening with a soft, watery light. His lips, forced open, could only let out pitiful muffled noises.
Dark desire swirled in Gu Hanzhou’s pitch-black eyes as he leaned in, closing the distance between them and those plump, red lips.
When Ji Anche realized what Gu Hanzhou was doing, his ears buzzed, turning redder by the second.
Gu Hanzhou… actually…
…licked the strawberry.
Ji Anche’s heart pounded violently, threatening to burst out of his chest.
Outside, the streets were alive with noise—the hoarse honking of cars, the screech of tires against asphalt, the splashing of puddles, the dull thuds of cargo being moved.
But all those chaotic sounds gradually faded into the background.
The only thing he could hear now was—
The crisp, unmistakable sound of hardened strawberry syrup cracking apart.
A sharp, delicate snap.
The tender fruit flesh split open, its sweet juice seeping through the crevices of the strawberry’s skin, flooding his taste buds.
Ji Anche thought dazedly: …So sweet.
The strawberry juice trickled down the corner of his lips, trailing over his jawline, dripping onto his pale collarbone, and finally disappearing beneath his shirt.
The burst of sugary sweetness in his mouth sent a shiver down his spine.
Then, suddenly, it hit him—
The strawberry Gu Hanzhou had just bitten into was his.
Meaning… his strawberry had just been stolen?!
As rationality slowly returned, Ji Anche’s eyes widened in disbelief, fury blazing in his pupils.
As the saying goes, some things are just unforgivable.
Kissing him? Fine.
It’s not like he’d lose a piece of flesh over it.
But!!
You dared steal my strawberry?!?!?!
With a sudden surge of strength, Ji Anche broke free from Gu Hanzhou’s iron grip, shoving him away and delivering a solid kick for good measure.
Gu Hanzhou staggered back a few steps before steadying himself.
Under the warm, dim orange light, Gu Hanzhou’s lips were stained red, glistening with strawberry juice, his cheeks faintly flushed. He licked the pink nectar from the corner of his mouth, looking like a seductive spirit straight out of a fairy tale.
Ji Anche’s throat moved as he swallowed hard.
He had been ready to punch the male lead, but now… he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Mentally, he recited Amitabha and the Great Compassion Mantra five times each before finally suppressing that strange feeling in his chest.
Who the hell is this temptress?!
Where did my pure, innocent, kind-hearted male lead go?!
He’s really grown up—now he’s even using seduction tactics.
Gu Hanzhou chuckled softly.
"Ge, it’s sweet."
Sweet?
Of course he knew strawberries were sweet!
If they weren’t, would he have eaten so many?!
Just thinking about the strawberry incident made Ji Anche’s blood boil.
He could let the other offenses slide—the wall pinning, the forced restraint, the almost-kiss—he was magnanimous like that.
But the most infuriating thing was—
Gu Hanzhou stole his strawberry!
And not just a small bite—no, he’d taken a huge chunk, leaving barely half of it behind.
That strawberry was the last one from the street vendor!
Priceless!
Impossible to replace!!!
Ji Anche was so furious he could barely think straight. He didn’t want to see the male lead for even a second longer. Turning on his heel, he strode forward.
"Ge, I’m sorry."
Gu Hanzhou quickly caught up, grabbing the boy’s wrist.
"Don’t be angry, Ge…"
"Ge, don’t misunderstand. I absolutely wasn’t trying to kiss you. I don’t have those kinds of thoughts about you." Gu Hanzhou’s voice was hoarse and strained.
He liked him to the point of desperation, so much that even voicing that affection felt like a humiliating pipe dream.
Gu Hanzhou’s brows furrowed with melancholy, bitterness spreading through his chest. Lowering his gaze, he murmured, "I just wanted to eat the strawberry. I lost my senses for a moment and accidentally treated you like that…"
Ji Anche halted in his tracks, his face dark with rage as he gritted out,
"Say that again?"
Gu Hanzhou paled slightly.
The excuse was indeed too flimsy and no reasonable person would believe it.
A thin layer of moisture glossed over his eyes as he floundered in panic. "Ge, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kiss you on purpose. Don’t misunderstand, I really didn’t mean it like that."
"Of course I know you didn’t mean it like that. You just wanted to steal a bite of my strawberry, right?"
Ji Anche’s anger flared even hotter, his expression indignant.
"I’ve never seen someone brazen enough to admit they were stealing strawberries so shamelessly. Do you feel even a shred of guilt?"
By the end, his words were practically dripping with venom.
Gu Hanzhou blinked, momentarily stunned.
…The issue was the strawberry?
He exhaled in relief and went along with it. "Sorry, Ge. I was wrong."
Ji Anche scoffed. "What good is an apology?"
"No matter how much you apologize, you can’t undo what you did. The damage is permanent!"
"I’ll never forgive you."
Gu Hanzhou continued apologetically, "Ge, I’m truly sorry. How about I buy you five crates of strawberries to make it up to you?"
Ji Anche’s expression softened slightly.
Gu Hanzhou upped the offer.
"Ge, what about twenty crates?"
A visible struggle played out on Ji Anche’s face.
Gu Hanzhou coaxed gently, "Ge, how about this? From now on, I’ll supply all the strawberries you eat."
At that, Ji Anche’s eyes finally curved into a smile. "Fine. I’m magnanimous, I’ll forgive you."
It wasn’t that his willpower was weak.
The male lead was just offering too much.
"Also, next time you want some, just ask me directly."
Ji Anche’s throat bobbed as he muttered under his breath, "Don’t suddenly get so close. You scared me."
Gu Hanzhou nodded obediently. "Mn, I’ll be more careful."
Seeing him so docile, Ji Anche’s paternal instincts surged, making it impossible to stay mad.
As they walked down the empty street, Ji Anche pinched his burning earlobes and took a casual bite of his strawberry candy.
The flavor started with a faint tartness before giving way to an overwhelming sweetness, the tangy-sugar blend melting on his tongue.
It perfectly satisfied his sweet tooth.
For some reason, when Gu Hanzhou had leaned in earlier, his heart had reacted the same way—first a crisp sourness, then an uncontrollable flood of sweetness, seeping into every fiber of his being.
Even though Gu Hanzhou had stolen his strawberry… why did it still feel so sweet?
How strange.
Just recalling that moment made his heartbeat stutter.
A normal heart rate was around 60 to 100 beats per minute. Right now, his was probably pushing 150, double the usual speed.
Ji Anche hurriedly took another bite of strawberry to calm himself.
Then it hit him.
In TV dramas, a racing heart usually meant…!!!
…A serious medical condition!!!
No way. Was he on the verge of death?
That would be too tragic.
He needed to get his heart checked at the hospital ASAP.
Now he not only had to test for auditory/visual hallucinations and psychological issues—but also his heart. And the root cause of all these symptoms seemed to trace back to Gu Hanzhou.
Gu Hanzhou!
How exactly do you plan to repay me for this?!
o0o
The next day, in the classroom.
Ji Anche happily drowned himself in a sea of physics problems, pen gliding across paper.
Li Xiangwen sidled up with a grin. "The sports meet’s coming up. What event are you signing up for, Che Ge? How about the 3000-meter run? A high school experience isn’t complete without it."
"You do it" "My heart belongs to studying."
Tan Ruizhe, who’d grown familiar with him by now, teased, "Che Ge, don’t tell me you can’t handle it?"
"Come on, be a man. It’s just 3000 meters—don’t chicken out."
Remembering the KTV incident, Ji Anche smiled. "Do you find life too peaceful lately?"
"Uh… yeah?" Li Xiangwen blinked. "Why?"
Ji Anche cracked his knuckles, eyes glinting with menace. "Need me to spice it up for you?"
"N-No thanks! Hahaha! I’m good!" Li Xiangwen scrambled away in terror.
Ji Anche turned to his desk mate, tapping his pen lightly against the table.
"Hey, wanna sign up for the 3000 meters?"
He gave Gu Hanzhou a once-over, deliberately provoking him. "You look kinda weak—think you can handle it?"
Gu Hanzhou lifted his gaze, eyes lingering on him.
"Ge, do you want to find out?"
"Cough..!" Ji Anche choked mid-breath.
Recovering quickly, he arched a brow and leaned closer. "I do. Wanna test it out tonight?"
"Ge, I was joking." Gu Hanzhou ducked his head, ears tinged pink. "…I’ll sign up."
o0o
The school sports meet commenced as scheduled.
After an agonizingly long speech from the principal and a student representative’s thank-you address, the events finally began.
The starting pistol fired.
Ji Anche shot forward, sprinting down the rubber track.
The scorching sun beat down, threatening to melt his skin.
The pungent smell of synthetic rubber filled the air.
Hot wind whipped against his face.
His chest heaved violently, heart pounding as if trying to break free from his ribs.
Twenty minutes in, the metallic tang of blood crept up his throat.
Ji Anche was regretting signing up for the 3000-meter race.
The original host’s physique was pathetically weak.
Back in his own body, 3000 meters would’ve been a breeze—hell, even a marathon would’ve been easy.
God, how he missed his six-pack abs.
Ji Anche sucked in a sharp breath, his throat burning.
Sweat dripped into his eyes, lashes sticking together. Squinting, he could barely see the track ahead.
Suddenly, a male student edged uncomfortably close to him.
Ji Anche frowned, trying to sidestep, but the guy only crowded him further.
What the hell?
The track was huge. Why was this dude pressing against him?
He was getting shoved so close to the inner line he might step on it.
Something felt off.
Ji Anche tried to speed up and shake him off.
But he was too late.
As he swung his right leg forward, the other boy stuck out his foot—
—and tripped him.
Ji Anche’s body lurched violently, momentum sending him crashing face-first onto the track.
His knee slammed into the rubber surface, skin scraping raw as he skidded forward from the force.
Fabric tore. Blood welled.
The pain was blinding.
From the spectator stands, someone shrieked...
"SHIT! CHE GE’S HURT!!!"
Before Li Xiangwen’s voice even faded, a figure launched past him like a missile.
Gu Hanzhou sprinted to the railing. Gripping the bar, he vaulted over in one fluid motion—
Li Xiangwen’s jaw dropped.
Holy shit.
They were on the second-floor balcony—
Three meters high—
And he just JUMPED?!
Is Gu Shen actually using some legendary martial arts technique?
Watching a student leap straight from the viewing platform, the school officials nearly had a heart attack.
"A student jumped off the building!!!" someone shrieked hysterically.
The moment those words were uttered, chaos erupted among the crowd. People panicked, shouting:
"Huh? Where? Who jumped???"
"Holy shit, someone jumped?!"
"Ahhh, call an ambulance!!"
Li Xiangwen bellowed, "NOBODY JUMPED! Gu Ge went to save Che Ge!"
Tong Xiaotao, who had seen everything clearly, quickly clarified, "Everyone, relax! It's fine! Gu Ge just went to rescue his—"
She froze mid-sentence.
The crowd fell dead silent.
Students looked like they'd been struck by lightning.
The school officials' faces turned a spectacular array of colors.
Tong Xiaotao: "..."
Damn it.
Too much time spent shitposting on forums—my filter malfunctioned.
But if she ran fast enough, the embarrassment couldn't catch her. "Gotta go check on Che Ge! Bye!!"
She and Li Xiangwen fought their way through the dense crowd.
Now Li Xiangwen finally understood why Gu Ge had "jumped"—there was no way to get through normally. It was way too packed!
To get from the stands to the field, they'd normally have to take the stairs. But their class was seated right in the middle, and with everyone packed like sardines, brute strength was the only way out.
o0o
Gu Hanzhou reached Ji Anche in seconds, helping him up from the track.
Then he saw the crimson staining the boy's waist.
Bright red soaked through the white shirt, a glaring contrast against the pristine fabric.
It felt like a sledgehammer had slammed into his eardrums. His eyes burned.
Hands trembling, Gu Hanzhou's voice cracked. "Ge, what happened? Are you okay?"
"Don't scare me like this, Ge..."
"Ge, I'll take you to the infirmary. We need a doctor. Wake up..."
Dizzy, Ji Anche forced his eyes open, his vision swimming with stars.
Gu Hanzhou's eyes were bloodshot, his expression shattered with grief.
Then Ji Anche looked down at the massive red stain on his shirt—and realized the misunderstanding.
He weakly grabbed Gu Hanzhou's wrist. "Stop crying. It's ketchup. I'm not dead!"
Gu Hanzhou froze.
Looking closer, the red on the shirt was unnaturally bright—nothing like real blood.
Logically, how could he have gotten cut during a race? But the sight of Ji Anche's pale face against that crimson had short-circuited his brain.
He should've realized sooner.
Gu Hanzhou's fingers trembled as he touched the stain.
He brought it to his nose—tomato.
Just to be sure, he tasted it.
Definitely ketchup.
His heart finally settled back into his chest.
Only then did he notice his own shirt was drenched in cold sweat.
Human life had never mattered to him. Not even his own.
Yet here he was—terrified for someone else.
Kneeling before Ji Anche, Gu Hanzhou leaned over, pressing frantic kisses to the boy's face.
Warm breath brushed Ji Anche's skin, sweat dripping onto his cheeks. Struggling to focus, Ji Anche saw Gu Hanzhou's ashen face, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
His heart ached. "Xiao Zhou, Ge's fine. Just scraped my knee a little. Don't worry."
Gu Hanzhou buried his face in Ji Anche's shoulder, voice muffled. "Ge, you can't get hurt."
Ji Anche's heart melted. The pain in his knee even seemed to fade. He managed a weak joke. "I'm fine now, but I might not be soon. My knee does hurt. Mind carrying Ge to the infirmary?"
o0o
The rest of Class 1, lacking Gu Hanzhou's parkour skills, had to elbow through the crowd.
Li Xiangwen panted, "Che Ge, you alive?"
Ji Anche snorted. "Barely."
Tong Xiaotao spotted the dark red on his knee. "That looks bad. Let's get you to the infirmary."
Gu Hanzhou didn't wait. He scooped Ji Anche up bridal-style.
"Ge, sorry. This is faster."
"The hell—put me down!" Ji Anche hissed, mortified. "A man can bleed, but this? No way."
Gu Hanzhou, usually so obedient, tightened his grip. "No."
Ji Anche squirmed but couldn't break free. "I can walk!"
"Ge, I'm dizzy." Gu Hanzhou's face was pale. "If you keep moving, we'll both fall."
Ji Anche gave up. Stubborn as Gu Hanzhou was, he would crash them both.
Fine. If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me.
The infirmary was a twenty-minute walk.
Every curious glance from passersby made Ji Anche want to vanish.
This school is too damn big.
Finally, he gave up and hid his face in Gu Hanzhou's jacket.
The oversized fabric swallowed him whole.
...Though the position did look suspiciously like he was cuddling into Gu Hanzhou's chest.
Gu Hanzhou paused.
"Ge, are you... throwing yourself at me?"
"Shut up." Ji Anche gritted his teeth. "I just don't want people seeing my face."
A smirk tugged at Gu Hanzhou's lips. He loosened his hold slightly.
"Then hold on tighter, Ge."
Ji Anche wrapped his arms around Gu Hanzhou's neck, pressing closer.
"Just hurry up!!" His ears burned. In all his years, he'd never been carried like this.
Today had broken a decades-long record.
...Not that he was the one looking ridiculous here. Gu Hanzhou was the one doing the carrying.
That thought comforted him.
The summer uniform was thin. Ji Anche could feel the heat of Gu Hanzhou's chest against his cheek.
Curious, he started poking around.
"Ge." Gu Hanzhou's voice was strained. "Stop touching me."
"Why? You're not a girl."
A few days ago, Gu Hanzhou had said, "What's wrong with hugging? You're not a girl."
Now the tables had turned.
"Hey, Gu Xiao Zhou." Ji Anche grinned. "Didn't know you had abs. Take your shirt off later—let Ge inspect them."
It sounded incredibly pervy.
He'd never be this shameless with anyone else.
But Gu Hanzhou wasn't just anyone—he was his ride-or-die brother.
If they could trust each other with their lives, what was a little groping?
...Not that he had abs to offer in return. Yet.
Gu Hanzhou stayed silent, tightening his grip.
Bored, Ji Anche kept exploring with his right hand, counting the ridges.
"Holy shit, six?!"
"When did you sneak off to the gym?!"
"I didn't." Gu Hanzhou's voice was rough, laced with something unreadable.
Now he was the one suffering.
Ji Anche glanced up—and noticed Gu Hanzhou's flushed ears.
He pinched one, delighted. "You're blushing?"
Gu Hanzhou finally snapped, grabbing Ji Anche's wandering hand. His palm was just large enough to engulf Ji Anche's completely.
Ears burning, he muttered, "Ge, you're... molesting me."
"And?" Ji Anche smirked, freeing his left hand to continue the assault. "Got a problem with that?"
Gu Hanzhou's gaze darkened.
"Ge... are you seducing me?"
o0o