Xiao Cheng spent a week at home and, after the holiday, returned to his dorm at school.
Their dorm was a standard four-person room, and besides him and Jiang Zihe, there were two other roommates: Fang Hui and Du Yunshen.
Recently, Xiao Cheng had maintained the habit of talking to Nian Nian every night, a routine that Nian Nian had initiated.
Xiao Cheng wasn’t aware that Nian Nian might find his stickers overwhelming; he only felt that the two had grown closer over time. Unfortunately, they couldn’t meet in person.
Every day, Xiao Cheng shared his daily life with Nian Nian, who told him about interesting things he encountered. They didn’t have many opportunities to meet since they were in different schools—one in college and the other in high school.
However, Xiao Cheng was satisfied with the frequency of their communication.
One evening, as Xiao Cheng lay in bed playing with his phone, Nian Nian initiated a video call. It was the first time, so Xiao Cheng sat up, subconsciously ruffled his hair, and adjusted his loose shirt before answering the call.
His movements weren’t subtle, and the other guys in the dorm noticed. Jiang Zihe was the first to laugh:
“Who’s calling you? Why are you so nervous? Have you started dating?”
Xiao Cheng covered his phone’s speaker, hoping Nian Nian wouldn’t hear the comment.
Though the atmosphere between them had always been somewhat ambiguous, neither had openly acknowledged it.
He shot Jiang Zihe a sideways glance, his light-colored eyes still bearing traces of redness. He pressed his finger to his lips, silently silencing him.
Jiang Zihe had only been joking, but seeing Xiao Cheng’s reaction, he began to think there might be some truth to it.
“Seriously?”
He became excited and ready to ask more, but Xiao Cheng had already refocused on his phone screen, not giving him another glance.
Jiang Zihe had no choice but to keep quiet.
His gaze swept over the other two roommates. Du Yunshen had no noticeable expression, but Fang Hui looked somewhat sullen.
Jiang Zihe tried to recall if Fang Hui was unusually attached to Xiao Cheng, always calling him “Brother Cheng,” and teased:
“Xiao Hui, are you worried Brother Cheng might forget about his friends because of someone?”
Fang Hui, who had been looking at Xiao Cheng with a gloomy expression, was immediately hit by the comment, and gave Jiang Zihe a sharp glare.
Jiang Zihe was puzzled. Had he said something wrong?
Du Yunshen glanced at the group, realizing that Jiang Zihe’s direct approach missed Fang Hui’s underlying discomfort.
Xiao Cheng hadn’t noticed any of this. He was busy talking to Nian Nian through his headphones, oblivious to the small commotion in the dorm.
Nian Nian’s video call was about the blooming flower on his windowsill. Xiao Cheng had watched it grow and felt a sense of pride, like a parent seeing their child grow up.
After the initial joy, Xiao Cheng’s attention was drawn to Nian Nian’s face in the corner of the video. Nian Nian’s face was half illuminated by light and half hidden in shadow, accentuating his straight nose and upward-slanting eyes, which were especially gentle. Even his soft smile was upturned.
His entire face was full of warmth and affection as he gazed at the flower on the windowsill, seemingly unaware of Xiao Cheng’s gaze.
Xiao Cheng’s heart calmed, and a warm feeling spread from his chest to his limbs, softening his expression.
He wanted to capture this moment of Nian Nian, not just on his phone but in his heart as well.
Xiao Cheng had never met someone so gentle. Every gesture and glance from Nian Nian filled him with warmth. He thought he finally understood why, from the very first moment he saw Nian Nian, he felt so strongly that he was a good person.
Because it was hard not to fall for someone as gentle and pure as Nian Nian.
Xiao Cheng suddenly felt a strong desire to meet Nian Nian. His hand fumbled on the desk, accidentally knocking over his water cup and startling the boy on the other side of the video.
Fortunately, the cup was empty.
Xiao Cheng, uncharacteristically flustered, set the cup back in place. Nian Nian’s face switched from a profile view to facing him directly. “Brother Cheng, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Xiao Cheng took a deep breath. “The flower is blooming beautifully. You’ve taken good care of it.”
And, of course, Nian Nian was beautiful too.
But Xiao Cheng only said that in his heart, keeping it a secret from Nian Nian.
He was troubled by what Nian Nian might think of him—perhaps just a kind older brother?
This is the downside of not meeting in person; he couldn’t see the subtle expressions of the boy he cared for through the screen.
His feelings were sudden and intense, and once he understood his own heart, he wished for Nian Nian to feel the same way.
However, Xiao Cheng knew that his feelings had developed too quickly. It felt a bit unbelievable, not just for Nian Nian, but even for himself. If he confessed now, would Nian Nian think he was a superficial man who only cared about appearances?
Xiao Cheng remained silent, though the difference wasn’t significant.
Initially, he was attracted to Nian Nian’s looks, but as time passed, he found himself more drawn to Nian Nian’s personality.
He gazed intently at Nian Nian on the screen, his eyes burning with warmth.
Luo Jingshu smiled, having not missed the expression. His effort to find the right angle paid off; he knew Xiao Cheng couldn’t possibly be indifferent to his allure.
“It’s also thanks to Brother Cheng.”
Xiao Cheng’s fingers slightly curled as he touched his nose, lowering his gaze to hide his restlessness. “The flowers are all cared for by you. What could I have done?”
“Thank you, Brother Cheng, for chatting with me every day. When I’m in a good mood, I naturally take better care of the flowers.”
Luo Jingshu smiled gently at the camera, his peach blossom eyes sparkling. He deliberately leaned closer to the camera, positioning it to focus on his lips.
“Brother Cheng is so nice~”
His pink, soft lips suddenly pressed closer to the screen, making Xiao Cheng instinctively lean back, almost thinking the other was about to kiss him.
Although his movement seemed like he was avoiding it, Xiao Cheng’s eyes grew darker, his gaze heatedly scanning the screen.
Luo Jingshu’s lips curled up. “Brother Cheng, why are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding.”
Xiao Cheng clenched his teeth, utterly defeated. When it came to flirting, the young man far outmatched him; a few words from him stirred his emotions, leaving him unsure how to respond.
Xiao Cheng cleared his throat softly, trying to cover up his discomfort. His voice was slightly hoarse. “Nian Nian, it’s getting late. You should go to sleep.”
Luo Jingshu wasn’t about to let him off so easily. After finally getting a reaction, he didn’t know when the next chance would come.
“Does Brother Cheng think I talk too much?”
Xiao Cheng exhaled, “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you have classes in the morning.”
He didn’t have class the next morning, so staying up wasn’t an issue for him, but Nian Nian was in his senior year of high school and had a busy schedule. He couldn’t keep Nian Nian up all night.
“But I want to hear Brother Cheng’s voice.”
Luo Jingshu’s voice was soft, and despite not being a traditionally soft tone, it carried a hint of coquettishness.
Xiao Cheng couldn’t refuse.
“Then… I’ll read you a bedtime story.”
He remembered the other three roommates were present, so he spoke in a low, husky tone, not entirely mature but still pleasant enough for a “voice-controlled” listener.
Unfortunately, Luo Jingshu was unaware of the nuances and simply found the voice bearable.
Xiao Cheng told a story that Luo Jingshu found somewhat silly. Yet, he still tried to angle the camera at his side, closed his eyes, and smiled slightly, as if he had fallen asleep.
As Xiao Cheng’s voice grew softer, he eventually called out to Nian Nian a couple of times, his voice hoarse. When there was no response, he assumed Nian Nian had fallen asleep.
“Good night, Nian Nian.”
Xiao Cheng sighed softly, gazing tenderly at the sleeping face on the screen before ending the call.
As soon as the phone beeped, Luo Jingshu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and indifferent, without a hint of sleepiness.
On the other side, Xiao Cheng put away his phone, and Jiang Zihe, who had been quietly observing, finally seized the opportunity to speak.
“Cheng Zi, be honest. Are you in a relationship?”
Xiao Cheng’s mind immediately flashed to Nian Nian’s beautiful face. He leaned back against the wall, a faint smile on his lips.
The other two roommates, though silent, also watched him closely.
“I haven’t confessed to them yet,” Xiao Cheng said.
“Then you do like someone!”
Jiang Zihe grinned. “Which beauty could make our usually indifferent Xiao Cheng fall for her? Could it be from the Art Academy next door?”
Beauty?
Xiao Cheng almost said that Nian Nian wasn’t a girl, but since there was still no concrete development, whether or not he could win Nian Nian over was another matter.
He swallowed those words.
He decided to explain later, once he had truly won Nian Nian’s heart.
His attitude seemed to confirm Jiang Zihe’s words implicitly.
Fang Hui’s face immediately fell. Was Brother Cheng really straight?
Du Yunshen, deep in thought, found it hard to believe Xiao Cheng was straight. But Xiao Cheng had no reason to deceive them about such things.
Everyone was open-minded about same-sex relationships, so if Xiao Cheng admitted his interest in a boy, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
If he didn’t say anything, perhaps he really was straight.
Fang Hui had no chance now.
Jiang Zihe was the most excited. “Is it really someone from the Art Academy? Who is she?”
He guessed several names, all of which Xiao Cheng denied.
Eventually, frustrated by the constant guessing, Xiao Cheng said casually, “She’s not from our school.”
“So…”
Xiao Cheng, afraid Jiang Zihe would continue to guess wildly and potentially tarnish the girl’s reputation, said, “I’ll let you know once I’ve won her over.”
Jiang Zihe reluctantly curbed his curiosity and sighed heavily. “Well, it seems you really like her. I guess your other admirers will be heartbroken.”
He had no idea his words deeply wounded another person present. Fang Hui’s expression turned sour, though he forced a smile.
“Brother Cheng, don’t forget to bring her to see us.”
Xiao Cheng imagined such a scene, his eyes growing darker. “Okay.”
Fang Hui took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone casual. “By the way, Brother Cheng, when did you meet her?”
“On the day…”
Xiao Cheng initially intended to tell the truth but then reconsidered. Since Jiang Zihe had been with him that day, revealing the exact time might make Jiang Zihe guess too much.
“The day after the reception at the Luo family for Luo Jingshu.”
That should be safe, right?
Among the four of them, only Jiang Zihe and Xiao Cheng had attended that event. Fang Hui, from an average family, didn’t even know who Luo Jingshu was.
It must be someone from their circle.
Fang Hui clenched his fist silently.
“But wasn’t that day when we were playing games together?”
Jiang Zihe frowned. “Where did you meet this beauty?”
“Can’t I meet her while playing games?”
Xiao Cheng kept a straight face, realizing Jiang Zihe’s sharp memory of that day. It had been a while, yet Jiang Zihe still remembered what they did the following day.
Jiang Zihe certainly remembered because that was the only time Xiao Cheng had been distracted while playing games with him, resulting in a terrible defeat.
Thinking about it was infuriating.
“So you were ignoring me that day because you were playing with another sweet beauty?”
What a frustrating situation.
Xiao Cheng allowed Jiang Zihe’s misunderstanding. He didn’t want anyone else to know before he won Nian Nian over.
Jiang Zihe was like Xiao Ziyue, someone who couldn’t keep secrets. If he found out, the whole world would know.
Most importantly, he couldn’t tell if Nian Nian felt the same way about him. If Nian Nian knew, they might not even remain friends.
It was like slowly boiling a frog, ensuring it stayed in the water.
Xiao Cheng glanced around the dorm, seeking advice from those with more experience.
Jiang Zihe was a lifelong singleton, and Du Yunshen seemed focused solely on his studies, so he probably hadn’t been in a relationship either.
Xiao Cheng turned his hopeful gaze to Fang Hui.
“Fang Hui, have you ever been in a relationship?”
