Xiao Shuai's POV
The editing lab on campus was usually a quiet escape.
Jiang Xiao Shuai liked the soft hum of machines, the darkened windows, and the rhythm of film timelines clicking beneath his fingers. It was one of the few places where his thoughts could settle without racing.
He didn't expect anyone else to be there that evening—not at this hour.
Which is why the sound of the door opening made him tense.
Footsteps.
Slow. Familiar.
He turned, fingers hovering above his keyboard, and saw him.
Meng Tao.
His heart dropped.
"Tao... What are you doing here?" Xiao Shuai asked, forcing calm into his voice.
Meng Tao swayed slightly. His breath reeked of something sour. His eyes were glazed, but far too focused for someone fully drunk.
"I saw you walking in," he slurred, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind him. "Thought we could catch up."
Xiao Shuai stood, quickly. "It's late. I have work to finish."
"You always say that," Meng Tao murmured, staggering closer. "Always running away from me, from us."
"There was never an 'us,'" Xiao Shuai snapped, taking a step back.
Meng Tao's smile twisted. "You didn't say that when you begged me not to tell anyone. You think that Cheng Yu will love you if he finds out what kind of person you were?"
"I already told him." Xiao Shuai's voice trembled, but not from fear. From rage. "And he still stayed."
That made Meng Tao pause.
Just for a second.
Then something snapped.
He reached out, fast–too fast—and grabbed Xiao Shuai's wrist.
The force of it made Xiao Shuai stagger backward into the desk.
"I said—let go!" he cried, trying to pull free, but Meng Tao's grip only tightened.
"You don't get to walk away from me like I didn't matter," Meng Tao hissed. "I protected you. I could've ruined you, you know that? One word and they would've eaten you alive."
"I don't owe you anything—" Xiao Shuai's voice cracked, panic rising.
The door slammed open.
"Get your fucking hands off him."
The voice was low, dangerous, and entirely unfamiliar.
Guo Cheng Yu.
He crossed the room in three strides and punched Meng Tao square in the jaw.
The impact sent Tao stumbling backward, crashing into the desk, knocking over a chair.
Jiang Xiao Shuai gasped, stumbling toward the wall, clutching his wrist.
But Cheng Yu wasn't done.
He moved toward Meng Tao again, fists clenched, eyes burning.
"You think you can come near him?" Cheng Yu seethed, grabbing Meng Tao by the collar. "You even touch him again and I swear—"
"Stop! Cheng Yu, stop—!" Xiao Shuai cried, rushing forward, grabbing Cheng Yu's arm before he could land another blow.
Cheng Yu froze.
His chest heaved. His hands were trembling.
But he stopped.
Meng Tao slumped to the floor, dazed and groaning.
Security had already been called, someone down the hall must've heard the noise. Xiao Shuai could hear the footsteps approaching.
"Come on," Cheng Yu said tightly, pulling Xiao Shuai toward the exit. "We're leaving."
Outside...
The air hit like ice.
Xiao Shuai didn't speak as they walked, barely keeping up with Cheng Yu's long, angry strides.
They stopped at the edge of the quad. Cheng Yu finally let go.
For a moment, they stood in silence, only the distant city hum between them.
Then Cheng Yu turned to him, face drawn, still breathing hard.
"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. "I lost it."
"No," Xiao Shuai whispered. "Thank you."
Cheng Yu looked at him. "Are you okay?"
Xiao Shuai nodded shakily. "I just didn't expect... I thought he was gone."
"I should've done something earlier. I saw how you froze every time he showed up. I knew something was wrong."
"You were trying to give me space."
"That's no excuse," Cheng Yu said, voice breaking slightly. "No one should touch you like that. No one should ever make you feel afraid again."
Xiao Shuai blinked quickly, trying to hold back the tears stinging his eyes.
Cheng Yu stepped closer, brushing his fingers gently against Xiao Shuai's wrist where the bruise was forming.
Then he leaned in.
Their foreheads touched.
"You're safe now," Cheng Yu murmured. "I promise you, Xiao Shuai... This time, I won't let go."