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Join the ServerXie Yan walked many laps around the room holding Lin Chuji, but didn’t find it very strenuous.
For Lin Chuji’s height, he was still a bit too light—easily and casually liftable.
He looked down at the deeply furrowed brow in his arms, such a helpless look, and inexplicably thought of Xie Wan when she was little.
Back then, their parents were very busy at work—both were criminal police officers who often worked overtime and didn’t come home.
His little sister was almost entirely raised by Xie Yan alone.
A five-year gap—not small, not large either.
Boys roughhouse as kids anyway, but he happened to be looking after a little girl.
On thunderous nights when the noise was loud, Xie Wan would cry and refuse to sleep, and Xie Yan would hold and soothe her just like this.
It always worked.
Back then, he took on all the housework, cooked, and even taught himself to sew.
He made her a fairly large doll, but his handiwork was a bit rough and it wasn’t very good-looking.
Xie Wan didn’t like it.
One time when he went to the police station to find his parents, he saw a little boy sitting there crying, non-stop, looking very pitiful.
So he went home, took out that doll, and gave it to him.
His thoughts drifted too far—that was a very long time ago, and even the little boy’s face had become blurry.
Xie Yan slowed the motion of patting his back and asked softly, “Feeling better?”
He knew Lin Chuji wouldn’t answer.
Like Xie Wan back then, he would only go from crying to quiet.
Now, the person in his arms finally slowly loosened his grip on the clothes, and the jacket fell to the floor.
The bad dream seemed to have been calmed considerably.
Xie Yan held him for a full hour, and it was already three in the morning when he put him back in bed.
At six in the morning, Lin Chuji’s alarm went off.
He slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed.
Staring at the ceiling with sleepy eyes, he felt he had slept exceptionally well last night.
He rolled over onto his stomach and reached his fingers under the mattress, trying to pull out the label.
Xie Yan had also woken up, not having slept much, yawning tiredly.
He turned sideways and watched his sneaky movements.
“What are you doing?”
When he spoke, he noticed his voice was a bit hoarse—he didn’t know if it was from climbing stairs last night and then being in the wind.
Lin Chuji turned his head to look at him and muttered, “I want to see what brand this hotel’s mattress is.
It’s so comfortable to sleep on.
I thought I’d buy the same one for the dorm.”
Xie Yan raised an eyebrow and said slowly, “Very comfortable?”
“Yeah, I think I had a nightmare last night, but because the bed was so soft, I recovered quickly.
It was comfortable.
I really like it,” Lin Chuji said quietly, still taking photos of the label with his phone, trying to find the same model.
Xie Yan found this amusing, recalling how he had walked around holding him last night.
He feels comfortable sleeping while being held, doesn’t he?
Like a three- or four-year-old child.
But Xie Yan would never tell him that he had actively soothed him.
What if, after knowing, Lin Chuji’s liking for him grew deeper and deeper?
Having a roommate who had feelings for him would be really hard to deal with for the next few years.
Xie Yan chose a reason and analyzed, “You slept well because you were exhausted.
What does it have to do with the mattress?”
Lin Chuji thought for a moment.
“Maybe.
But come to think of it, I also slept very well on the cruise ship.”
Xie Yan was stunned.
He stared at him thoughtfully.
Is this a hint?
Is he saying that on nights when I’m around, he can sleep peacefully?
“Is it because you were there?”
Lin Chuji thought for a moment, not realizing there was anything wrong with his words.
“The scent on you is really good.”
Xie Yan thought to himself, It’s over.
This isn’t even a hint anymore—it’s an outright statement.
Isn’t it obvious enough?
Liking his scent means liking him.
Liking having him around means he can’t do without him, can’t sleep, can’t have anyone else.
This logic is completely sound.
Reasonable.
Coherent.
He cleared his throat softly, feeling that his head, now hit by a sudden chill, was also starting to ache.
Seeing Lin Chuji still staring at him with those eyes, he didn’t know what to say for a moment, interrupting this strange early-morning conversation.
“It’s 6:10.
We have to assemble at eight.
I still need to go back to the dorm to change into my training uniform.”
“Okay, then let’s hurry while no one’s around.”
Lin Chuji flipped over and sat up, showing none of the fragile vulnerability from his nightmare last night.
After the two freshened up, they just opened the door when they heard voices coming from three doors down.
“Babe, why did you have to wake me up for your military training…
I’m so tired…”
It was Zhao Heng complaining.
“Sharing hardships,” the other person answered with a laugh.
Lin Chuji looked at Xie Yan speechlessly.
Xie Yan was also a bit exasperated, hands in his pockets, very silent.
Dude, we have to run into each other face-to-face at six in the morning too?
Your stamina is really something, not like a sophomore.
“What do we do…”
Lin Chuji asked him quietly.
“How about we do the same thing as before?”
Xie Yan waved the jacket in his hand and teased, “I can carry you downstairs too.
It’s early, no one’s awake anyway.”
Lin Chuji was a bit conflicted about doing it twice.
“I’m a guy after all.
Carrying me around is heavy…”
Besides, Xie Yan’s sexual orientation was unclear; doing such intimate actions repeatedly was really inappropriate.
He needed to keep some distance.
Xie Yan saw his troubled expression and laughed again.
“I’m kidding.
But if you really want me to help, you’re not heavy.
Carrying you for an hour wasn’t that bad.”
Lin Chuji looked confused.
“Huh?
An hour?
How do you know?”
The wind blew the unclosed door, making it rattle.
Xie Yan felt inexplicably guilty.
“I estimated.
Guessed.”
Lin Chuji, not understanding, nodded cooperatively.
As they were talking, Zhao Heng walked toward them.
In just a few steps, he came face to face with them.
“You’re up early too.
Let’s head back together.”
Xie Yan glanced at Lin Chuji, who had rapidly dashed into the bathroom, and chose his words carefully.
“I…
I’m waiting for my partner.”
“Then we’ll wait together.
It’s fine.
I don’t have training anyway,” Zhao Heng said lazily.
Lin Chuji: “……..”
Does he really have to make me show my face?
Annoyed, he didn’t want to pretend anymore.
He steeled himself and was about to walk out, thinking he’d just expose it and be done with it, when he heard Xie Yan speak first.
“Our relationship isn’t stable yet.
He doesn’t want others to know.
Why are you so gossipy?
If you scare him away, are you going to take responsibility?”
His tone was calm, but Lin Chuji inexplicably sensed a hint of displeasure—a warning to stop.
“That’s a heavy accusation… fine, fine, I won’t look,” Zhao Heng said, raising his hands in surrender.
“I’ll go first.
You two take your time.”
Lin Chuji heard their footsteps gradually fade.
He stared at the back of Xie Yan’s head, marveling at how fast his mind worked—making up excuses on the spot came so naturally.
He was envious.
Xie Yan turned to look at him and reminded him, “Hurry up and leave.
I can’t guarantee we won’t run into any more alumni.”
To be safe, Lin Chuji covered his head with his jacket again and then pinched the hem of Xie Yan’s clothes with his fingertips.
Looking down at the ground, he said quietly, “Lead the way.”
Xie Yan saw his little movement, said nothing, but his footsteps cooperatively slowed down a bit.
When the two checked out, the receptionist looked at their getup like they were a pair of lunatics.
Xie Yan looked at her and joked, “Very normal.
Physical sunscreen.”
Lin Chuji: “…….”
When they finally snuck back to the dorm entrance, it was already 6:20, exactly when the main gate opened.
At 6:30, the dorm manager would do random room checks.
Xie Yan swaggered inside, but Lin Chuji grabbed his hem and forced him to brake.
“What?”
“You’re too conspicuous.
What if the dorm manager sees you?
Then last night’s hiding would have been for nothing.”
Xie Yan glanced at the auntie dozing by the small window and thought for a moment.
“Half-squat and run in?”
Lin Chuji nodded, crouching to gauge the distance.
“I think that’ll work.”
Xie Yan saw how unskilled he looked and wanted to laugh.
Keeping an eye on the window, the two bent their waists and suddenly rushed inside—only to run headfirst into a security guard.
They had no idea where he’d come from.
It hurt.
“Caught another two.
Go on, go apologize to the auntie.”
The man calmly patted both their shoulders, clearly a veteran at this pincer-and-wait routine.
When the two were forced to sit in the dorm manager’s office, their heads were still spinning.
The auntie looked down at them and lectured: “Two offenses in two days of school.
One time drunk and late back, I let it slide.
Now you’re staying out all night, are you?
You two are really the poster children for rule-breaking.
If this is just one year of boarding, will you be out fooling around for 360 days?
If you’re so capable, why live on campus at all?”
Lin Chuji lowered his head.
“Auntie, I’m sorry.”
Xie Yan apologized cooperatively.
“There were extenuating circumstances.”
“Don’t explain.
Just write a self-criticism.
Eight hundred words.
Don’t leave until you’re done.”
The auntie slapped a blank sheet of paper in front of each of them.
Xie Yan: ……
Lin Chuji: ????????
Eight hundred words?
You might as well just yell at us.
Seeing their reluctant faces, the auntie said flatly, “Write the self-criticism, or have points deducted and your parents notified.
Choose.”
Lin Chuji quickly grabbed the paper, looking utterly obedient.
“I’ll write.”
If Zhan Wanqiu found out about this, he’d probably have to commute from home every day.
Xie Yan checked the time—one hour until military training assembly, more than enough.
He began to scribble confidently.
Lin Chuji leaned back in his chair, still staring blankly at the blank paper.
He saw the auntie step out, then asked quietly, “How do I write this?
I’ve never written one before.”
“Then I’m an expert.
I’ll teach you.”
Xie Yan spoke with the experience of a seasoned veteran.
“Start by stating the facts, make up some details in the middle, and end by swearing you’ll never do it again.
Simple, right?”
Lin Chuji was stunned by his skilled theory.
“You’ve written a lot of these before?”
Xie Yan nodded nonchalantly.
“Yeah, I was a frequent visitor to the dean’s office.
Often skipped class.
Even skipped exams.”
Lin Chuji didn’t know what to say.
This guy still scored 717—it was almost insulting.
As he spoke, Xie Yan’s pen never stopped.
In a few quick strokes, he was already at nearly two hundred words, while Lin Chuji’s paper was still blank.
With no other choice, Lin Chuji quoted classics to pad the word count.
He wrote slowly for nearly an hour, barely scraping together enough to submit.
He was mentally and physically exhausted.
“Oh no, I think I’m going to be late for training.”
He looked at the time on the wall, a bit anxious.
“Auntie, we’re done writing.
Can we go now?”
Xie Yan called out.
The auntie had only meant to intimidate them in the first place.
She said casually, “Leave them there.
Don’t let it happen again.”
Lin Chuji breathed a sigh of relief.
Jing University really is a humane institution.
Seems strict, but in reality, it’s full of empathy and reason.
He accompanied Xie Yan back to Room 404 to change clothes.
While waiting, afraid that not eating breakfast would cause low blood sugar during training, he put two pieces of candy in his pocket.
Then, in a fluster, he left the dorm again and ran in large strides toward the assembly point.
He went as fast as he could, but the moment he reached his class, he was still one minute late.
“Lin, you again?”
The instructor had a very deep impression of him—the handsome guy who had stood out front for his excellent posture yesterday.
He glanced at the neighboring class and said with a smile, “What, today you want to coordinate with the next class?
Do a joint stand for the two of you?”
Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Chuji waved his hands in a panic.
“No…
I don’t want to…”
The instructor of Medical Class One also looked over, then turned back to Xie Yan.
“You’re both late.
There have to be consequences.
The usual ‘kill the chicken to scare the monkey.’
How about this: you two step forward and perform a set of military boxing for everyone.”
Jing University really is a humane institution.
Way too humane.
Lin Chuji was horrified.
“No.”
Xie Yan said calmly, “I can do it.
He’d better not.”
“Oooooooh~”
Medical Class One collectively dragged out their voices in a tease.
“What, you’re going to take it all on yourself?”
The instructor smiled at him.
“What’s your relationship?”
“Roommates,” Xie Yan said, not feeling embarrassed at all.
Watched by everyone, his expression remained relaxed and lazy.
“The thing is, Lin Chuji has poor motor coordination.
Not like me—I’m a little model of military boxing demonstration.”
Everyone on the scene couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.
“All this sloppiness—what kind of example is that?”
The instructor glanced at him and warned, “Don’t be so cheeky.”
Lin Chuji had already been standing under the watchful eyes of the crowd for three minutes, feeling needles on his back.
“Um… maybe we could write self-criticisms instead and not perform?”
He felt he was already proficient and confident, having just written one that morning.
“No negotiation.
Military boxing.
You two, step forward.
Attention.
At ease.”
The instructor suddenly raised his voice, leaving no choice.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Chuji saw Xie Yan standing next to him.
As the commands were shouted, they spread their arms.
Lin Chuji sighed deeply inside.
He suddenly understood: he wasn’t incompatible with Jing University; the two of them were incompatible with each other.
Every time he and Xie Yan got together, they both ended up in trouble.
From a metaphysical perspective, they should never have met.
Keep their distance.
Three minutes.
Just three minutes.
Bear with it, and it’ll pass, Lin Chuji thought.
***
When the morning training ended, Lin Chuji was so exhausted he didn’t want to speak.
He unwrapped a transparent candy wrapper, popped a piece of candy in his mouth, and slowly followed Xie Yan to meet the Shen brothers and head to the cafeteria.
Xie Yan, on the other hand, looked completely relaxed, aside from a hoarse voice from his cold.
“Why the long face?”
Lin Chuji said weakly, his tongue pressing against the citrus-flavored hard candy, mumbling, “Annoyed.
I want to drop out.”
Xie Yan laughed hard.
“That’s a bit extreme.
Where would you go if you dropped out?”
Without much thought, Lin Chuji answered casually, “Anywhere but Jing University.
Qinghua next door is pretty good too.
Both are top universities.”
“To find Qin Yi?”
Xie Yan glanced at him slowly.
“After last night’s scene, you still have a favorable impression of him?”
Lin Chuji choked and quietly protested, “I didn’t even remember he was there… okay?”
“Oh right, you have a short memory,” Xie Yan commented.
“Congratulations, you two have made it into the top three of Jing University’s most-watched CPs.”
Zhao Heng appeared out of nowhere, slinging an arm around each of them, grinning.
Lin Chuji had been feeling pretty relaxed, but now his whole body tensed.
“What CP?”
Hearing this kind of fanciful forced pairing made him nervous.
Weren’t they both publicly in relationships with other people?
How could anyone ship this?
“Yeah, a tragic CP.
Don’t believe me?
Look.”
Zhao Heng handed over his phone.
Lin Chuji rolled the candy on his tongue, looked down, tapped the screen, and nearly choked.
[I’ve started a poll for Jing University’s male-male CPs.
Please vote for your favorite classmates.]
First place: Chi Wang x Su Lian (1983 votes)
Top comment: They’ve been together since high school, openly affectionate since freshman year.
Now they’re in their first year of grad school, an old married couple.
Nothing much to say, except Chi Wang is too damn good at showing off.
Who can out-shameless him? (721 likes)
Second place: Jiang An x Wen Sui (1833 votes)
Top comment: Originally thought they were just brothers and felt guilty for shipping them, but the thesis acknowledgment at graduation directly came out, making them famous in one stroke.
Unprecedented, unlikely to be repeated. (666 likes)
Third place: Xie Yan x Lin Chuji (1277 votes)
Top comment: Although currently both seem straight and have their own dating partners, he stayed out all night for him, he clarified for him on the forum, and this morning they were both late just to perform military boxing together as a duo.
The beauty of a tragic CP, aaaah. (432 likes)
Lin Chuji: “…….”
I understand the logic, but the other two couples are actually together.
Why are we two getting caught up in this mess!
Zhao Heng switched to another post, laughing gleefully.
“Wait, there’s more.
There are detail treats.”
[I’ve read the self-criticisms of the two who stayed out all night twice.
The details are way too suspicious!]
Lin Chuji: “…….”
Lin Chuji was truly speechless, left with only silent resignation.
He looked up at the sky helplessly.
Xie Yan immediately caught the key point and asked flatly, “Wait, how did they see our self-criticisms?”
Zhao Heng let out an “ah” and mercilessly revealed the truth.
“Because your self-criticisms were too excellent.
Neat handwriting, substantial content, sincere apologies, genuine emotion.
The auntie has posted them on the bulletin board in front of the dorm building.
Quite a few people have seen them.”
Lin Chuji’s eyes widened as if he’d just heard the best joke of the year.
He asked uncertainly, “Where did you say they’re posted?”
Zhao Heng repeated, “The bulletin board.
The kind everyone passing by can see.”
Lin Chuji, no longer caring about food, ran quickly back toward the dorm.
Xie Yan exchanged a glance with Zhao Heng and chased after him.
Indeed, there was a large, bustling crowd. Great.
Another social death, the who-knows-how-manieth time today.
Two nights of staying out, publicly flogged, and once again placed at the center of gossip.
Lin Chuji looked at the sea of heads, feeling dizzy.
Annoying.
He hated being watched like this, being speculated about, but he couldn’t explain himself.
Because everything on the forum was true except for the part about him and Xie Yan being purely platonic classmates.
How could he explain that?
What he had said on the forum the other day was all out there.
“Hey, you two are really something.
Your self-criticisms are becoming model essays.”
Shen Yinan walked over quickly from a distance with a group of people to meet them.
“That’s how excellent we are.
No choice,” Xie Yan responded casually, his gaze falling on Lin Chuji beside him.
He looked very nervous, wanting to speak up for himself, but faced with the dense crowd, he didn’t know who to explain to.
So he could only look at Xie Yan, his eyes pleading.
Xie Yan tilted his head toward the Shen brothers, signaling with his eyes.
Years of friendship made them instantly understand.
They chimed in together.
Shen Yinan went all in on the details.
“Boss Xie, you’re really pathetic.
You get caught on a date with your 1.77-meter, dark-skinned, small-eyed, monolid partner?
Are you even capable?”
The onlookers looked at him.
Huh?
Dark-skinned, small eyes?
Completely opposite from Lin Chuji.
Shen Yibei, playing both sides, scolded, “Exactly.
When you’re inept, the whole nest is inept.
Lin Chuji, didn’t you ever date in high school?
First time in love and you can’t even keep track of curfew?
Way too rookie!”
The onlookers turned to the other side. Ah, the aloof handsome guy is also lovesick.
So this CP really can’t be shipped.
Lin Chuji’s expression slowly relaxed.
Xie Yan found this clarification a bit forced.
Well, it’ll have to do.
He spoke slowly, smiling. “Just bad luck.”
Many ears were silently eavesdropping, not willing to move a step.
Zhao Heng was also a bit shocked.
He looked at the Shen brothers.
“You two know so many details?
And you were still pretending in the group last night.
Not cool.
But two people on separate dates running into each other in the morning—that’s way too coincidental, right?”
No one answered.
The Shen brothers’ CPUs were about to fry.
This was harder than the college entrance exam.
Lin Chuji silently inched closer to Xie Yan.
He took a round hard candy from his pocket and carefully slipped it into Xie Yan’s hand, silently asking him to help a little more.
Xie Yan found this kindergarten-style bribe adorable.
He straightened his fingers, brushed against Lin Chuji’s palm, and slowly hooked the candy back.
At the same time, he multitasked to continue clarifying.
“Of course it wasn’t a coincidence.
My 1.77-meter, dark-skinned, small-eyed, monolid partner was curious about what Lin Chuji’s other half looked like, so she sneaked over to stake out the place and caught him.”
“So he really does have a partner.
Let’s disperse, let’s disperse.”
“Tragic CP, lol.
Shipping two straight guys is really sick.”
“But to be fair, the handwriting of these two students is really good.”
Amid the chatter of the crowd, the candy was hooked back in a corner no one noticed.
It carried a bit of the warmth from their fingers, like today’s sunshine—slightly warm.
The corner of Xie Yan’s lips lifted.
He looked at Lin Chuji, who was crunching on the candy in his mouth, visibly unable to hide his happiness.
“What are you eating?
I want some too,” Shen Yinan asked.
“Fruit candy.
Last piece.
I don’t have any more.
I’ll bring some for you next time,” Lin Chuji said sheepishly.
“Bro!
When did you secretly find me a 1.77-meter, dark-skinned, small-eyed, monolid sister-in-law?!”
An angry female voice sounded behind them.
Xie Yan turned around and met Xie Wan’s face.
She had her schoolbag on her back, was holding her luggage, and looked like she wanted to kill someone with an eighty-meter-long blade.
His finger slipped.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes.
The citrus-flavored hard candy in his palm fell to the ground with a plop and rolled away.
“Last piece?”
Shen Yinan said slowly.
Lin Chuji: “…….”
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