After the car accident, my boyfriend got straight

The meteorological bureau predicted that the country would experience a once-in-a-century blizzard this year, prompting Jiang Shiyu’s university to end the semester early.

Due to the compressed schedule, the holiday would start more than a month earlier, and the courses were consequently packed tightly.

When Jiang Shiyu left the dormitory in the morning, the cold wind that hit him made him shiver. He quickly went back to grab his hat and scarf. Walking through the campus, everyone hurried along, the cold wind making it difficult to lift their heads.

Today was the last class of Western Music History. Half of the class was absent, and the rest looked dispirited. He found an empty seat and sat down, taking out his notebook. By the end of the class, it seemed he was the only one left with the heart to pay attention.

Once the class ended, everyone shuffled out, wailing from the cold in the hallway. He saw an email from his French teacher, asking him to come to the office after class.

After the morning classes, Jiang Shiyu went to the office with his backpack. He knocked on the door and entered, finding his French teacher at the desk, wearing glasses and reading documents. Upon seeing him, the teacher handed him a piece of paper.

He took the document, looking down in confusion as his expression gradually turned to one of astonishment.

“Teacher, this…”

“If I remember correctly, your exchange student period is less than a month away.”

Jiang Shiyu nodded absently, acknowledging that he had more than two months left originally, but the early holiday meant his exchange would end sooner.

“This year, you’ve participated in many competitions, and you’ve grown a lot compared to when you first arrived here. As your teacher, I believe this graduation exam should be the best assessment of your year-long exchange experience.”

The application form in his hand read in black and white: Vivace International Piano Competition, to be held at the world-renowned Paris Cortot Hall.

Jiang Shiyu knew better than anyone the significance of this competition. The weight of this application form was far beyond what the teacher’s few casual words suggested.

The music department had many students who were more talented, hardworking, and suitable for the competition than him. However…

The words “International Piano Competition” were prominently displayed. His eyes showed doubt, panic, and fear, but eventually, his dark eyes grew resolute.

He looked steadily at his French teacher and said earnestly, “Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Teacher. I will definitely not disappoint your expectations.”

The teacher looked at the student before him. Despite his youthful appearance, the expression was one of unprecedented seriousness and determination. He sighed inwardly, relieved that his judgment had not been in vain.

“Go ahead and prepare well. The school only has this one spot for the competition. Make it a perfect conclusion to your exchange journey.”

Back in the dormitory, the first thing Jiang Shiyu did after removing his scarf was to make a video call. After waiting for a while, the call was answered, and a sleepy boy appeared on the screen.

He was stunned for a moment, then remembered that it was only 6 a.m. for Jiang Hua.

He puffed out his cheeks and said, “Did I wake you up?”

Shen Li was sitting up in bed, his short hair tousled, looking lazy as he squinted at the camera with a naturally sexy gaze.

“It’s almost time to get up anyway.”

Although he no longer needed to wake up early for sports training after leaving the Physical Education Academy, he still got up an hour earlier to exercise on the field.

Noticing the bright eyes of the little cat, which seemed like they had something to say, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s up? Is there something you want to talk about?”

Jiang Shiyu didn’t hide it. He took out the application form from his backpack, which had been sandwiched between his textbooks, and held it up to the camera.

Shen Li squinted at it for a moment and then said quietly, “International Piano Competition?”

Jiang Shiyu moved the application form slightly, allowing his eyes to show through from above, his joy barely contained. “Yes, yes! This competition is extremely prestigious. Only very skilled people can participate. Our department has only one spot this time, and my teacher managed to get it for me. I hope I can end my exchange with no regrets.”

Shen Li nodded, understanding now.

“Ah, Shen Li, do you know? When the teacher gave me this application form, I couldn’t believe it. There are many students in the school who are more outstanding than me. Such a precious spot was given to me. I almost refused it instinctively, but a voice inside me said, ‘Jiang Shiyu, how do you know you can’t do it if you haven’t tried? Can you really give up such a rare opportunity? Don’t you want to make your teacher proud? Don’t you want to end your exchange beautifully?’ So, I gritted my teeth and took the form.”

“Actually, even now as I’m talking to you, I’m still a bit uneasy. I don’t know if I can do it. Ah, Shen Li, what if I end up in last place in the competition?”

He started to worry about the competition results, imagining returning to school with the teacher’s disappointed expression and the mocking glances of his classmates.

He rested his chin on his hands, looking troubled.

Shen Li listened to the little cat’s excitement turn into dejection and then comforted him gently, “Little treasure, it’s just a piano competition. No matter the ranking, the fact that you can perform is already impressive. I believe your teacher didn’t expect you to achieve an outstanding ranking but rather hoped you would experience a broader stage and see the endless possibilities of the future.”

“Your efforts and dedication this year don’t need to be judged by a single competition. Don’t think of it as just a competition; enjoy every performance on the stage. This exam has been ongoing since the moment you went abroad, and as for the score, it will have its own evaluation.”

Shen Li’s comforting words helped Jiang Shiyu calm his anxious heart. Through the screen, the boy on the other end had a stern expression, seemingly always calm and unperturbed regardless of the situation.

The boy on the other side was his anchor. Whenever his emotions were unstable, even hearing Shen Li’s voice through the camera would help him find peace.

He leaned close to the phone, his face nearly touching the screen.

He suddenly wanted to ask Shen Li if he would come to the competition.

But the question turned around in his chest and remained unspoken.

“Shen Li, I miss you so much,” he murmured, and Shen Li felt a pang in his chest, a mix of sweetness and ache.

“Good little one, it’s almost over. After that, you’ll never have to leave my side again.”

Jiang Shiyu nodded, “Okay, we won’t be apart.”

Before the meteorological bureau’s predicted time frame, the temperature had already dropped sharply. This year’s winter in France was peculiar, with temperatures approaching freezing by the end of December. Everyone was wrapped up thickly when going out, and Jiang Shiyu was no exception. His health had always been poor, and even in summer, his limbs felt cold. Winter usually brought him a severe illness.

As the competition approached, he was extra cautious, fearing that getting sick like he did before the competition would cause problems. He wrapped himself up tightly, leaving only his eyes exposed when going to classes.

One morning, he left a bit late and forgot to wear a hat. By the time he returned to the dormitory after class, his head started to ache.

“Little treasure, don’t sleep yet. First, set up the electric blanket, then stick heating pads to your warm clothes, fill a thermos with hot water and place it by the bed, and remember to wear socks.”

Shen Li’s worried instructions came through the phone. He had just started the call and noticed the little cat’s pale face. When asked, Jiang Shiyu mentioned that he had forgotten his hat in the morning and now had a headache.

Jiang Shiyu, feeling too weak to move, listened to the long list of instructions, which seemed a bit noisy and troublesome. He didn’t feel like moving at all.

What he really wanted was for someone to help him out of his clothes, change into comfortable pajamas, and tuck him into a warm bed, letting him sleep peacefully.

Seeing the little cat’s exhausted and disheartened appearance, Shen Li’s heart ached deeply.

Separated by thousands of miles, if only he could be by the little cat’s side now, he would shield him from the cold wind, help him with hot water, apply heating pads, and then hold him close to warm his limbs, letting him sleep peacefully and perhaps wake up feeling better.

Unfortunately, he could do nothing but feel heartache.

Eventually, Jiang Shiyu forced himself through the headache to follow Shen Li’s instructions, then collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep shortly after.

The video call was left on, and he lay on his side with the phone in his hand, while Shen Li watched his sleeping figure through the camera.

He looked well-behaved and endearing.

In the corridor, someone walked past Shen Li and called out to him, causing him to look up with a displeased expression.

The person quickly fell silent.

He then turned and walked away from the crowd, gradually distancing himself from the noise. He looked at the little cat’s peaceful sleeping face on the phone screen, his breathing shallow and soft, like a layer of cotton candy, sweetly flowing out.

He looked up at the sky. At noon in Jiang Hua, the sky was clear and blue, with no trace except for the occasional bird flying by.

Suddenly, a plane flew across the tranquil sky, leaving a trail in the azure expanse.