Chapter 31 Part 2: Denial

Xie Yan had just sent the message when Su Lian, organizing the anatomy model in front of him, spoke without looking up.

“Smiling so much over a message.

Your partner?”

“No, it’s my roommate Lin Chuji.

I’m inviting him to come tonight,” Xie Yan said, putting down his phone and explaining.

“He’s not good at making friends, and his family is worried about him.

I’m trying to introduce him to some reliable people.

You don’t mind, do you?”

The medical school had started a new project today, with a graduate student leading each group.

Xie Yan had directly found his fellow townsman Su Lian, who became his team leader.

Su Lian’s face was expressionless.

“I don’t mind.

But you said he’s socially anxious.

I’m not much of a talker either.”

Xie Yan laughed.

“It’s fine.

Your boyfriend talks a lot.

He can liven things up.”

“True,” Su Lian couldn’t argue.

Xie Yan thought of Lin Chuji’s request just now and turned to go out.

“I’ll go book a private room.

My roommate is afraid of crowds, in case the place gets too packed tonight.”

Su Lian turned his head, watching his back, wanting to say something.

He’s this considerate to just an ordinary roommate?

That’s a bit too meticulous.

After the lab session, they met Chi Wang at the management school gate and went to the reserved room together.

Lin Chuji would be a bit late since his class ran late.

Xie Yan was hosting, so he let them order while he leaned back in his chair, silently observing their interactions.

They didn’t look any different from ordinary brothers.

There wasn’t a hint of romance between them.

How were they together?

Chi Wang scanned the QR code and handed his phone to Su Lian.

When he looked up, he caught Xie Yan staring intently.

His expression immediately turned serious.

“What’s with that look?

You’re not checking out Su Su, are you?

You two are in the same group now, together every day.

Dude, you’re this handsome.

I’m worried.”

“You’re crazy,” Su Lian glanced at him.

Xie Yan: “……”

Okay, now I see the romance.

You gay guys really have some issues.

He gritted his teeth.

“No.

You don’t need to be so sensitive.”

Chi Wang looked at this handsome guy warily.

“Are you straight or gay?

You don’t seem very straight.”

Beside him, Su Lian couldn’t help kicking him.

“Can you be more polite?”

“Tell me, what part of me doesn’t seem straight?”

Xie Yan touched his face.

Before this, he would have pounded his chest and said he was straighter than a steel pipe.

But after last night’s reaction, he felt a subtle guilt.

Chi Wang just smiled at him without speaking.

Xie Yan felt even more creeped out by that probing stare.

He cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“Hey, you two have been together since high school, right?

How did you realize you liked him?”

“I don’t know.

It’s a feeling.”

Chi Wang changed his sitting position, draping his arm over the back of the chair next to him, speaking slowly.

“But if I think back, the first sign was probably when we shared a bed and I had a physical reaction.”

Xie Yan was drinking tea and nearly spat it out.

“Don’t say that,” Su Lian said, covering his face with a sigh.

Have some shame, dude.

Can you not go into details?

Chi Wang saw their reactions and said regretfully, “Can’t say that?

Fine.

A more innocent reaction would be thinking he’s cute, wanting to cherish him, protect him, take care of him.

Something like that.”

Xie Yan’s expression was very subtle.

He began to recall his recent interactions with Lin Chuji, feeling vaguely like it all fit.

It was strange, as if he was following along with their experience.

He chose his words carefully and argued, “What you’re describing is how good friends feel too.

It’s just friendship.

According to your logic, all brothers in the world would end up together.”

Chi Wang was quite perceptive.

He looked at him suspiciously.

“I think, when you say that, you’re definitely thinking about your roommate.”

Xie Yan was stumped, unable to answer.

The private room fell into a long silence.

Chi Wang smiled and gave him an out.

“It’s fine.

Good brothers.

Got it.”

Xie Yan felt he was implying something.

Just as he was about to argue, the door opened, and he saw Lin Chuji walk in, so he fell silent.

The other, because it was his first time meeting them, looked very nervous, almost bowing at a ninety-degree angle.

“Hello, seniors.

I’m Lin Chuji, Xie…

Xie Yan’s roommate.

Freshman in architecture.”

“You’re interviewing or something?

Relax.

Have a seat,” Chi Wang said with a smile.

Xie Yan pulled out the chair next to him for Lin Chuji, unable to help but think his reaction was so f*cking cute.

No wonder social butterflies loved to tease socially anxious people.

That nervous, reserved look, like a rabbit that would jump at a touch, and he’d blush too.

“Chi Wang, Su Lian.

Senior Su is also in the medical school, my direct senior,” Xie Yan introduced them one by one.

“Nice to meet you.

What were you just talking about?”

Lin Chuji was at a loss for words, looking at the person next to him for help, almost tugging at his sleeve to speak for him.

The usually helpful Xie Yan was unusually silent.

Lin Chuji was very nervous and asked quietly, “Did I say something wrong?

Why aren’t you talking?”

Xie Yan thought, I was just shot down.

I don’t want to say another word. But Chi Wang generously shared.

“We were talking about how I fell for Su Su.

Junior Xie wanted to hear it.”

Lin Chuji looked at Xie Yan, confused.

“Why were you curious about that?

You’re so nosy.”

“Just curious.

After all, they’re the number one CP on the forum,” Xie Yan said flatly.

“Aren’t you curious?”

You’re a gay guy who’s always trying to turn a straight guy.

Wouldn’t you want to find some details and inspiration?

Liar.

Lin Chuji found it absurd.

“What?

You’re jealous that they have more votes than us?

But we’re fake.

They’re real.

It’s normal for them to have more.

Don’t compare.”

Xie Yan: “…….”

Talking to him is like talking to a wall.

He took his phone and continued ordering, looking at the menu while informing the couple across from him.

“I took the meatballs off.

Lin Chuji doesn’t eat them.

He gets nauseous just seeing them.”

Lin Chuji paused, then naturally showed a grateful smile.

He hadn’t expected Xie Yan to be so thoughtful, to still remember.

He said softly, “Thank you.”

“No need to be so polite.”

Xie Yan casually ordered a few more things he liked.

Chi Wang immediately understood and nodded.

“Yeah, take them off.

No problem.”

After a few seconds, he decided to be nice and asked with a smile, “Junior Lin, what kind of person do you like?

The partner you mentioned on the forum was fake, right?

Tell us.

If I know someone suitable, I’ll introduce you.”

The topic shifted to him.

Lin Chuji was stumped.

Since it was their first meeting, he felt he had to answer, so he made things up based on his imagination.

“Someone fairer, shorter, cute, and…”

With every word, Xie Yan’s expression sank further.

He submitted the order, looked up at Lin Chuji’s moving lips, and his mind flashed to last night when his thumb had pressed against those red lips.

Liar, Lin Chuji.

Wasn’t he head over heels for him?

He had come to him last night, all lovey-dovey, wanting to take things further.

Now he was telling other people the complete opposite, not even close to describing him.

Xie Yan clicked his tongue, a half-smile on his face.

“I didn’t know your ideal type was like that.

You…”

Chi Wang, loving the drama, gestured for him to shut up.

“You be quiet.

Anything else?

More specific details?”

Lin Chuji racked his brain and, based on his own situation, made up more details.

“Just… someone quieter.

Since I don’t talk much, I’m afraid I can’t keep up.

And someone more introverted, because I’m socially anxious and afraid of loud, lively places…”

Every description was the complete opposite.

He must be retaliating for when I casually said I liked someone 1.77 meters, dark-skinned, with small eyes.

So petty, Xie Yan thought.

Lin Chuji continued making things up.

“Preferably someone in the same major, so we have common…”

Xie Yan suddenly stood up.

His chair scraped against the floor, making a loud grating sound.

Lin Chuji paused and looked up at him.

“What’s wrong?”

The light fell from above, casting heavy shadows on his face.

Because he was backlit, his expression was hidden.

But for some reason, Lin Chuji keenly sensed that he seemed angry.

Xie Yan placed his own bowl and chopsticks in front of him, saying quietly, “Missing a set.

Here, use mine.

I’ll go get a new one.”

As he spoke, he strode toward the door.

Even if it was fake, he didn’t want to hear it.

Not one more word.

Lin Chuji’s playing hard to get—he didn’t like it.

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