HRMCF Chapter 2
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When it comes to Shen Yan's friendship with Zhao Linsu, it dates back to third grade in elementary school.
Back then, Shen Yan was the model student — top marks in moral, intellectual, physical, artistic, and labor education — a classic five-star pupil. He was also the class’s vice monitor. The class monitor was a girl, very cute, and Shen Yan had a good relationship with her.
In the second semester of third grade, a transfer student joined the class — Zhao Linsu.
Zhao Linsu’s parents were both scholars: one studied geology, the other botany. They were constantly flying around the world and loved to take their son with them. Schooling was never much of a consideration.
Eventually, the grandparents, who could no longer stand it, wrestled the child back from the two unreliable academics and enrolled him in a proper school to pursue an elementary education.
By the age of ten, Zhao Linsu had barely attended school. He’d spent most of his time playing survival games in the wild with his parents, sleeping rough and dealing with snakes, bugs, rats, and all kinds of creatures. He was basically half a wild child, and it didn’t take long for the teachers to mark him as one to keep an eye on.
The head teacher specially arranged for Zhao Linsu to sit next to the class monitor, hoping the quiet little girl could help civilize this undisciplined wildling.
But just a few days later, the little girl came to the teacher in tears, begging to be moved.
The head teacher gently encouraged her, “We shouldn’t give up just because we face challenges. I know Zhao Linsu can be a bit unruly, but as the class monitor, shouldn’t you be helping him?”
The little girl sobbed and nodded, “Yes.”
“Good. Then tell me, what exactly is the problem?”
Still crying hard, she said, “Zhao Linsu plays with bugs in his desk drawer during class. Teacher, I’m scared.”
The teacher: “…”
Say no more — he was afraid of bugs too.
At that moment, Shen Yan happened to be handing in his homework to the math teacher and overheard the conversation. He immediately volunteered, “Teacher, I’m not afraid of bugs. I can sit with Zhao Linsu.”
And just like that, the task of civilizing the wild child fell to Vice Monitor Shen Yan.
From that moment on, Shen Yan embarked on a ten-year journey of friendship with Zhao Linsu. From elementary to university, there were fights and laughter, but they were never apart. What’s the definition of ride-or-die? This was it.
When Shen Yan noticed something strange happening to his body, the first person he thought of talking to was, of course, his brother Shen Shen.
Unfortunately, his brother was so deep into the 2D world that Shen Yan was sure he’d go full-on chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) if he found out. Who knew what crazy things he might do?
Besides, his brother always acted like a worldly elite. If Shen Yan told him he’d seen through his otaku side, he might just hang himself out of shame.
The second person he could confide in? That had to be Zhao Linsu.
Shen Yan could already imagine the look on Zhao Linsu’s face as he tried to hold back laughter — probably to the point of bursting. Honestly, if this had happened to Zhao Linsu, Shen Yan would’ve laughed too.
Laughing aside, teasing aside, Zhao Linsu was dependable.
Besides his own brother, Shen Yan figured only Zhao Linsu would actually believe something this weird could happen to him. Anyone else would probably recommend a trip to the psych ward before he even finished explaining.
And Shen Yan was pretty sure he wasn’t crazy.
Mutation — if you could call it that — wasn’t exactly a disease.
When he woke up, Shen Yan reached for his phone.
The screen looked like it had been bombarded — notifications everywhere.
Over a dozen WeChat messages and ten missed calls, all from Zhao Linsu around 3 a.m.
Shen Yan thought something must’ve happened after Zhao Linsu landed and bolted upright. But when he opened the phone, all the messages said the same thing.
[Arrived. Wake up. Pick me up.]
[Arrived. Wake up. Pick me up.]
[Arrived. Wake up. Pick me up.]
…
After the spam, Zhao Linsu sent five or six voice messages, and when that wasn’t enough, followed up with ten or so phone calls.
Shen Yan: “…”
If not for the fact that he always kept his phone on silent with no vibrations, Zhao Linsu’s death-spam alone would’ve dug him up from the grave.
What a damn menace.
Shen Yan immediately retaliated.
[Idiot. Crowing at dawn.]
He sent ten or so messages in return. Of course, there was no reply. Landing at 3 a.m., Zhao Linsu was probably sleeping like a log now.
Shen Yan originally wanted to go to Zhao Linsu’s house for revenge, but thought better of it — what good would tit-for-tat do? He still needed Zhao Linsu’s help with some psychological support, so he let it slide.
Hmph. Once he got some dirt on Zhao Linsu, he’d pay him back tenfold.
Having barely enjoyed the summer, Shen Yan crammed all his fun into the final two days. And just like that, the last day of vacation arrived.
On the way back from the basketball court, his eyes got burned again — not literally, but metaphorically — though Shen Yan was getting more used to it. He barely blinked now. No more initial shock or awkwardness.
Sex and desire were part of human nature. Fantasies were normal.
When he got home, Shen Shen was still working overtime. Shen Yan reheated the lunch leftovers and ate while playing on his phone. He scrolled to Zhao Linsu’s chat and sent a message.
[sy: Sleeping Beauty, done with your jet lag?]
Before long, Zhao Linsu replied.
[son: 1]
What the hell was that? Shen Yan bit his chopsticks and replied:
[sy: You don’t even report in when your jet lag’s done? Unfilial child.]
[son: Spit it out.]
[sy: Give me a ride tomorrow.]
[son: What time?]
[sy: 8:30. Class starts at 9, that should be good.]
[son: 8.]
[son: Too late and traffic will suck.]
Shen Yan thought, If you already had a time in mind, why ask me? But since he was the one asking for a favor, he let it go. He could take the bus or subway, but not just yet — too many people, too risky for his newly sensitive eyes.
[sy: Ok, thanks. See you at the gate at 8 then.]
[sy: I’ll bring breakfast. What do you want?]
[son: Whatever.]
[sy: Want some poop?]
[son: A gentleman doesn’t steal others’ favorites. I’ll pass.]
Shen Yan and Zhao Linsu spent the next ten minutes debating who loved eating poop more, with the chat full of poop emojis. Shen Yan almost let his food go cold before remembering he was still eating and quickly wrapped up the conversation.
As he washed the dishes, Shen Yan wondered how the hell their friendship had lasted ten years.
When they first sat together, they hated each other.
Shen Yan hated that Zhao Linsu played with bugs, ignored rules, didn’t do homework, rolled his eyes, stared rudely, and had zero manners.
Zhao Linsu thought Shen Yan was a nag who meddled too much.
Shen Yan was a good student, but not some docile nerd. When the teacher told him to “help” Zhao Linsu, he took it seriously — and clashed with the wild boy constantly.
The only time they didn’t argue was during class — Shen Yan focused on learning, Zhao Linsu on bugs. That’s how they managed a temporary peace.
They stayed desk mates for over a month, and things didn’t ease up — until a certain drama aired and changed everything.
That day after class, Zhao Linsu was digging for bugs in the flower bed.
Shen Yan walked over.
Zhao Linsu noticed him but ignored him. He figured Shen Yan was just coming over to preach about class rules again and kept his head down, fingers digging in the dirt to gross him out.
But instead of leaving, Shen Yan squatted beside him and chirped, “Zhao Linsu, are you raising gu worms?”
Zhao Linsu had no idea what he was talking about.
“Are you like Ding Chunqiu, raising gu worms with bugs?”
Zhao Linsu turned his head and, with a face that screamed sarcasm, asked, “Who’s Ding Chunqiu?”
Zhao Linsu was introduced to a new world — a world called television.
Having grown up with barely any contact with modern civilization, Zhao Linsu had never watched TV, even after moving to the city with his grandparents, who were desperate to put him back on the “child prodigy” track. Their house didn’t even have a radio.
So when Shen Yan got permission to bring Zhao Linsu home, he introduced him to TV dramas and cartoons. The magic of modern tech won Zhao Linsu over completely, and their relationship began to change — they started becoming real friends.
By the time Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils aired again and Zhao Linsu learned Ding Chunqiu was a tragic villain, he blew up and fought with Shen Yan again.
Shen Yan chuckled at the memory — two kids falling out over a TV character. Silly, but kind of sweet.
Now he wondered: did Zhao Linsu have any fantasies? Any imaginary crushes?
Maybe not.
During middle school, when puberty hit, all the boys were curious about sex. Someone smuggled in a pirated porn DVD, and it circulated through the class.
Shen Yan was a goody-goody, but curious. After some fake resistance, he borrowed the disc.
Since he and Zhao Linsu were tight, he naturally invited him to watch together. His brother was working late anyway — perfect time.
It was Shen Yan’s first glimpse into the adult world. His face was red, his heart racing, nearly had a nosebleed.
Zhao Linsu, though? Zero interest. Looked bored out of his mind. Halfway through, he pulled out his workbook and started doing physics problems.
Shen Yan’s spark of excitement instantly died.
Who could keep watching with someone doing homework beside them?
They never brought it up again.
Later in college, Shen Yan had a crush on an older student named Tang Yi. He was ready to confess — letter in hand — only to find her kissing someone else under her dorm.
Dream crushed.
Zhao Linsu had mocked him to this day.
Meanwhile, Shen Yan had never seen Zhao Linsu interested in anyone.
Lying in bed, Shen Yan was super curious.
When Zhao Linsu came to pick him up tomorrow, would he see anyone’s name floating above his head?
Would he be like his brother — a secret otaku into 2D girls?
As a kid, Zhao Linsu did like watching shojo anime — mostly because that’s all Shen Yan’s brother bought on DVD.
If Zhao Linsu had some weird name floating above him tomorrow… well, Shen Yan would definitely hold back the laughter… maybe… eventually.
He drifted off thinking nonsense, dreamt a chaotic mess, and woke up unable to remember most of it. He yawned his way into the bathroom and bumped into his brother.
Seeing his brother’s clean forehead (no names above it), Shen Yan felt a little relieved. At least his brother took the hint.
“Morning. School today?” Shen Shen asked pleasantly.
Shen Yan nodded and patted him on the shoulder. “Bro.”
Shen Shen got a little suspicious, recalling their recent NSFW conversation. “What?”
He hadn’t watched any anime lately…
Was this brat eavesdropping? He did sneak into his room late one night…
Shen Yan gave him a meaningful look. “Work is tiring. It’s okay to relax sometimes.”
“…”
“…Get lost!”
Carrying two sandwiches, eggs, and milk, Shen Yan rolled out. At the gate, he sent Zhao Linsu a message.
[sy: I’m out. You here yet?]
[son: 1]
"1" your ass. Shen Yan shook his head, put away his phone, and quickened his pace.
He had, after all, played a role in Zhao Linsu’s social development. He’d let the man’s weird way of speaking slide.
As soon as he left the gate, he saw Zhao Linsu’s black SUV parked not far away. Zhao Linsu was leaning against the door, head down, playing on his phone.
Tall and lean in light blue jeans, legs crossed casually on the dark sidewalk bricks. Even with his head down, he drew looks from passersby.
Shen Yan muttered, Show-off, then called out, “Zhao Linsu—”
The next three seconds unfolded like a slow-motion scene in a movie.
First second — Zhao Linsu looked up.
Two months away in the U.S. hadn’t changed him. Same face Shen Yan knew well: handsome and punchable, sharp phoenix eyes, striking features.
Second second — their eyes met, and black letters started appearing.
Third second — stretched endlessly for Shen Yan.
Black letters climbed upward, forming two simple, clear characters.
【Shen Yan】
Bold, dark, ink-dripping font — floating defiantly over Zhao Linsu’s tousled hair.
Shen Yan: “…?”
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