TT Chapter 27. No Way

“Look, look! It’s Pei Yiyao!”

“Judging by the direction he’s headed… is he going to duel Chen Ting?!”

“Ooooh, is sexy guy about to fall out with sweety boy?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“It’s what those girls were saying…”

Pei Yiyao strode down the tree-lined path, cutting through the chatter like wind. He paid no attention to anything around him. Neither sexy guy nor sweety boy could stir even the slightest ripple in his mind. The only thing he felt was that the people who came up with those names had far too much time on their hands.

But there was one thing he did care about—his photo had been on Chen Ting’s laptop. It did not matter who had taken it. The fact that Chen Ting had kept it was undeniable.

Facts were facts. There was no arguing them.

Pei Yiyao: Where are you?

Halfway there, Pei Yiyao sent a message. But Chen Ting did not reply right away. It was a long wait before anything finally came through.

Donghu Crab King: I’m not in the dorm. Don’t come.

But by that time, Pei Yiyao was already standing in front of the dorm building. He stopped in his tracks and called directly. The phone rang for ages with no answer. Just when he was about to give up, he finally heard Chen Ting’s voice on the other end.

“Hello?”

“It’s me.”

“Cough… uh, did you hear what happened in class today? Sorry about that. It was Yang Shulin who took the photo and sent it to me. We were up late working on the PowerPoint, and I accidentally left it in the folder, so…”

Chen Ting was explaining with clear embarrassment, but Pei Yiyao was only half listening. His focus had shifted entirely to the noisy background coming through the phone. He frowned slightly and asked, “Where are you? Why is it so loud?”

Chen Ting paused. “Huh? I’m in the music room.”

“The music room?”

“Yeah. A junior from before invited me to join her band. I ran into her again today, so I came along to check it out.”

Chen Ting had run into Ren Yao again after class, just as he was stressing over how to face Pei Yiyao. She invited him to come along, and it felt like a pillow arriving the moment he started dozing off. So Chen Ting did not hesitate and followed her.

He figured that if word got out, Pei Yiyao would definitely come looking for him. And sure enough, he did. Chen Ting was not exactly avoiding him. He just felt like he needed a bit of time to sort through his thoughts.

At that very moment, Ren Yao and her bandmates were passionately performing the world-famous classic, The Most Dazzling Folk Style.

Chen Ting liked to think of himself as clever. But Pei Yiyao, perceptive as always, caught onto one word in particular from his explanation: junior. He might not care much for gossip, but he knew about the girl from the band who had confessed to Chen Ting and invited him to join.

And that gave him a distinct sense of unease. Just like at the dance, when he saw Chen Ting on stage, glowing with charisma. If Chen Ting wanted to, he could always shine and draw everyone’s attention.

That version of Chen Ting did not belong to him alone.

“I want to see you,” Pei Yiyao said directly.

“They’re in the middle of practice. It’s not really a good time,” Chen Ting replied.

“I really want to see you,” Pei Yiyao said again. It was just one sentence, but it carried quiet certainty.

Chen Ting heard it, and in his mind he could almost picture that familiar look in Pei Yiyao’s eyes—focused, sincere, and impossible to ignore. The words he had planned to say slipped away. He scratched his head in frustration and sighed, sounding far older than his years, while The Most Dazzling Folk Style played cheerfully in the background.

He was going to kill Yang Shulin for this someday.

Once he had made up his mind, Chen Ting no longer hesitated. He quietly gave Pei Yiyao his location.

As the song came to an end, Ren Yao turned to him with curiosity. “Senior, who were you on the phone with just now?”

The others immediately joined in with lively banter. “Was it Pei Yiyao? Honestly, I still haven’t seen our new campus heartthrob. And we’re both freshmen.”

“He’s in physics. What’s your major?”

“Astronomy!”

“What do you guys study every day? Horoscopes?”

“Get lost! Get lost, all of you!”

“I feel like Pei Yiyao has to be a Sagittarius. What about you, Senior? What’s your sign?”

The conversation circled back to Chen Ting. He paused for a moment, then replied, “Aquarius.”

That same student nodded thoughtfully. “Oh, weird little Aquarius. Actually, Sagittarius and Aquarius kinda match and kinda don’t. You know, the arrow hits the bottle, it shatters with a crack, and then the water spills everywhere…”

Ren Yao looked disturbed. “Why does that sound so dirty the way you said it?”

“What? No way!” the guy laughed. “Should we play Take Me for a Ride, Old Driver next?”

The astronomy department’s bassist frowned. “How’s that going to work? Do you even have the sheet music?”

“I don’t, but I’ve got a license.”

“Whoa, you already got it? That early?”

Ren Yao could not take it anymore. She shot him a sharp glare. “You’re taking it way too far. Cut the dirty talk. The senior’s still sitting right there.”

Chen Ting: Feel free to pretend I’m not.

“Hey, Senior,” Ren Yao said, her eyes lighting up, “we’ve got a drum set here. Why don’t you play a song with us? We’ll pick one you already know. If you don’t feel like joining afterward, that’s totally fine!”

She was visibly excited. To be honest, she had been shocked when Chen Ting actually agreed to come with her earlier.

Chen Ting figured he was already here, and it would feel a little dramatic to refuse now. So he nodded and agreed to play. Ren Yao’s eyes lit up. She grabbed a stack of sheet music and started flipping through it for him.

The “old driver” chimed in again, saxophone in hand, and pulled out a page. “Ting Ting, let’s do this one. It’s really cool, just like Cool Guy!”

Chen Ting glanced at it. “I Can’t Be Without You,” a classic theme from Detective Conan. Coincidentally, he had learned this piece before. Every time it played, he felt like the truth was just about to come to light and the criminal was about to be caught. As a fan of all things suspense and mystery, it was one of his favorites.

The group was instantly on the same page. After a few quick sound checks, they launched into their first run.

Many people say that this piece was made for the saxophone, and it really did feel that way. Under the “old driver’s” skilled playing, even Chen Ting and the rest of the band became little more than backup.

But music was never about who stood out or who didn’t. Playing was meant to be enjoyed, and Chen Ting was fully immersed. He struck the drums with focus, eyes sweeping the entrance as if any second now, the door would burst open just like in the anime. A flash of white light would cut through the frame, and the famous detective would make his entrance.

And the very next second, the door really did open.

Pei Yiyao strode in, the music swelling around him. The glow of the setting sun stretched his silhouette, casting a faint halo across his entire figure.

The music came to an abrupt stop.

Thump, thump…
Chen Ting could hear his own heartbeat in his ears.

“Sorry. Please carry on.”

The moment Pei Yiyao saw him, the chill around him seemed to fade. He quietly stepped to the side so he would not disturb the performance.

“Pei… Pei Yiyao?”

The band members glanced at one another, then turned their eyes in unison toward Chen Ting.

Chen Ting rubbed his nose. “Ahem. Let’s keep going. We haven’t finished the piece yet.”

As he spoke, he could not help sneaking a glare at Pei Yiyao, only to be met with a deep, unwavering gaze in return.

Ren Yao looked from Chen Ting to Pei Yiyao, then exchanged a glance with the “old driver.” The knowing look they shared was almost identical. A second later, the sound of the saxophone started up again, pulling everyone’s attention back to the music.

Chen Ting had no time to worry about Pei Yiyao. The moment the drumsticks hit, he let it all go. Tall, handsome guy standing in the corner? Not his problem. He was going to play his heart out.

He would not look at him.
He would not acknowledge him.

Bang bang bang bang!

His curls bounced with every strike of the drumhead. It felt like he was back at the dance, letting all that restless energy surge through him. But this piece was too smooth, too controlled. The saxophone carried the melody, leaving all his momentum coiled inside, unresolved and itching for release.

When the song ended, they had hit a few bumps along the way, but overall, it felt great. Ren Yao grinned and raised her eyebrows. “One more?”

The “old driver” answered with a playful sax riff, then raised his brow at Chen Ting with a sly smile. “Ting Ting, want to show us what you’ve got?”

Ting Ting still had energy to burn. Why not?

His mind shifted, and his hands followed. A rapid, relentless rhythm flowed from his drumsticks, striking out Caravan, the iconic solo from Whiplash.

Chen Ting’s speed was not as fast as in the film, and his technique was not quite there either. But he had been playing drums since elementary school and had practiced this piece countless times. What he lacked in flash, he made up for in familiarity.

His mom had always supported his love for music. She had even set aside a room on the boat just for his drum kit. In that lakeside houseboat, set apart from the nearby homes, the bursts of sound, whether explosive or playful, drifted freely with the wind. The water rippled, and the fish and ducks swam about in delight.

The wind was free.

The rhythm was free.

And Chen Ting, more than anything, was free.

A free Chen Ting was dazzling to behold.

“Cool!” Ren Yao had turned into a fangirl again, completely forgetting that Pei Yiyao was even in the room. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Chen Ting. The “old driver” and the astronomy department’s bassist, along with the rest, were focused on him as well, all of them naturally drawn in.

Pei Yiyao, of course, was even more captivated. Slowly, everything around him faded from view until only Chen Ting and the sound of his drumming remained. Every beat landed in his chest, echoing deep within.

Suddenly, the rhythm broke.

“Ah.”
Chen Ting raised his two drumsticks with a helpless look and a small, wry smile tugging at his lips. It had been a while since he last practiced. Playing the entire piece straight through was still a bit of a stretch. In the end, he slipped up.

Ren Yao and the others burst into applause. The cheers were so warm and lively, it felt like Chen Ting had just taken a bow after a grand finale.

Chen Ting was swept up by their enthusiasm and placed one hand over his chest in a gentlemanly show of thanks. But from the corner of his eye, he glanced at someone standing stiffly against the wall like he was bracing for battle. Not a single reaction. Not even a nod. When Pei Yiyao had played basketball, Chen Ting had clapped for him.

Pei Yiyao had no idea what Chen Ting was thinking. All he could think about was taking him away.

And that was exactly what he did.

He strode forward, tossed out a quick “Sorry,” grabbed Chen Ting by the wrist, and pulled him away from the drum kit. They left the room, dashed out of the building, and ran as if headed straight for the edge of the world.

Chen Ting’s eyes were fixed on the broad back right in front of him. Wind rushed past his ears, and the heat of Pei Yiyao’s grip burned against his wrist. Suddenly, one word surfaced in his mind. Eloping.

His face flushed red in an instant.

They “eloped” all the way to the rock garden pavilion. Just as Chen Ting opened his mouth to speak, Pei Yiyao pulled him into a hug. The warmth of the sudden embrace made Chen Ting’s body go stiff. He was smaller than Pei Yiyao, so being pulled in like this left him completely enclosed in his arms.

“You… you…” Chen Ting started stammering.

“Don’t be scared. I just wanted to hug you. There were too many people around earlier,” Pei Yiyao explained.

Who asked you to explain that?!

Chen Ting blushed furiously and tried to push him away, but he could not budge him.

“How long are you planning to keep hugging me?” he muttered.

“A little longer.”

Pei Yiyao ran his fingers through Chen Ting’s hair, taking in the soft warmth in his arms and the clean, fresh scent that lingered on him. There was no way he was letting go any time soon.

Chen Ting knew struggling was pointless, but he still refused to lift his head. Who knew how red his face was by now? He had always had this problem since he was little. His face flushed too easily, and no matter what he did, there was just no changing it.

“Are you done yet?”

“No.”

“It’s been fifteen minutes!”

“It’s actually only been five.”

“Liar!”

“It’s not my fault. Einstein says time’s relative.”

Better be careful, or Master Einstein himself might kick you out of the physics world.

Another five minutes passed. Chen Ting finally ran out of patience. “If you don’t let go, I’m going to get mad.”

Pei Yiyao finally loosened up a little. “Then let me kiss you.”

“No way.”

Chen Ting rejected him without mercy, which only made Pei Yiyao even less willing to let go. But he was not angry. Instead, he let out a quiet laugh right beside Chen Ting’s ear, clearly in a very good mood.

Chen Ting really did not understand him. He shifted around in Pei Yiyao’s arms, struggling like a steamed bun that was about to be overcooked. He badly needed a breath of fresh air.

But the moment he looked up, his flushed face met Pei Yiyao’s deep, steady gaze.

“You can’t just do this,” Chen Ting said.

“What am I doing wrong?” Pei Yiyao slid his arms down to wrap around Chen Ting’s waist and lowered his head to look at him. The more Chen Ting tried to avoid him, the closer he leaned in.

Chen Ting had no idea how to explain what was “wrong” about it. The heat of Pei Yiyao’s breath made it nearly impossible to think straight.

“Then do you think this is right?” he shot back.

Pei Yiyao stayed silent. He knew he could not win an argument against Chen Ting, so he chose not to argue at all. After several rounds of back and forth, he had come to a conclusion. Action would always speak louder than words.

He leaned in and kissed him.

“Mmph!” Chen Ting had not seen it coming. His eyes flew wide open, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. The sensation was unfamiliar. He was vividly, unmistakably aware that he was kissing Pei Yiyao. He knew he should push him away. But his body would not move.

Was it that he truly could not move?
Or that, deep down, he did not want to?

His thoughts were a chaotic mess. Those wide, glassy eyes of his only spurred Pei Yiyao on, urging him to deepen the kiss. Everything had gone far beyond what he expected. The soft lips and the delicate flicker of his tongue carried a kind of beauty that made a person tremble.

It was more than he ever imagined. And completely impossible to resist.