Chapter 5: The Secret Packages and a Risky Gambit

Afternoon sunlight filtered through the dormitory window.

Curled on his upper bunk, Su Mian stared restlessly at his phone screen. Two hours had passed since he sent the carefully taken photo of his legs, yet Xiao Moyuan remained silent.

Just then, the dormitory door was forcefully pushed open.

“Mian, you’ve been getting a lot of packages lately!”

Lu Yang’s booming voice made Su Mian tremble, his phone nearly slipping from his grasp. He frantically peeked over, seeing Lu Yang enter, laden with over a dozen packages of all sizes, sweat beading on his tanned face.

“What’s all this?” Lu Yang piled the packages onto the table, picked up his own, and Qin Xuan’s two small boxes. Then, he gestured at the remaining mound.

“I only have one, Qin Xuan only two, but you? You have over a dozen! It’s not even Double Eleven or Double Twelve yet!”

At the mention of ‘packages,’ Su Mian’s heart leaped into his throat. Like a startled rabbit, he sprang from his bed, rushing to the table before he could even put on his slippers.

“Ah, these, these are all mine!” he stammered incoherently, haphazardly sweeping all the parcels into his arms. “They’re just everyday clothes and socks, and some skincare products…”

With too many packages to carry at once, he scooped up the majority, shoving them into the bottom of his wardrobe before turning for the rest. In his haste, a long, slender package slipped from his grasp, clearly labeled ‘Premium Silk Stockings’.

Quick as a flash, Lu Yang bent down to retrieve it.

Su Mian’s heart nearly stopped at that moment.

“Give it to me!” He practically pounced, snatching the package back.

Lu Yang was taken aback by Su Mian’s extreme reaction. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Alright, alright, take it. Why so nervous? You haven’t bought anything illicit, have you?”

Su Mian shoved the last package into the wardrobe, slamming the door shut with a ‘bang.’ Only then did he exhale, forcing himself to appear composed as he turned around.

“Boss Lu, don’t talk nonsense. They’re just personal items… Next time, you don’t have to bother bringing my packages. I can pick them up myself.”

Lu Yang scrutinized Su Mian’s flushed cheeks and slightly trembling hands, then grinned.

“We’re dorm mates, it’s no big deal to help with packages. But Mian, you’re acting like a little sister. It’s one thing to smell fragrant every day, but to buy so much online at once…”

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “And why do I feel like you’re acting strange? Could it be that you secretly got a girlfriend?”

“Is, is that so?” Su Mian instinctively recoiled, his back pressing against the cold wardrobe door.

Inside lay his secrets: a complete JK uniform, various silk stockings, wigs, and cosmetics—all purchased for his absurd ‘online dating scheme.’

If his roommates ever discovered them, he would suffer complete social death at N University.

Just then, Qin Xuan pushed open the door, arriving precisely as Lu Yang finished his last question. He adjusted the golden-rimmed spectacles on his nose, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

“Lu Yang, Mian has been glued to his phone messages all day, completely distracted. Perhaps he really is in love.”

Lu Yang’s eyes lit up. He clapped Su Mian’s slender shoulder. “Good for you, kid! You figured it out so quickly? Have you finally given up on Campus Belle Shen?”

The slap wasn’t light; Su Mian winced in pain but forced a smile. “Don’t talk nonsense! I’m just following Brother Xuan’s previous advice, helping that scoundrel Xiao Moyuan find an online dating partner…”

The mere mention of Xiao Moyuan’s name made his resentment almost palpable. How could he not be resentful?

For days, he had been clinging to the other person online like a sycophant, sending over a dozen messages only to receive a single ‘Mm’ or ‘Oh’ in return.

Just moments ago, he had even gone so far as to send a photo of his legs, only for it to vanish without a trace. This feeling of losing both the battle and the spoils made him want to weep with frustration.

“Alright, alright, look at that resentful face.” Lu Yang finally released him, turning to retrieve his iconic pink dumbbells from under the bed and begin his workout.

“But seriously, what’s been going on with you lately? You’ve been hiding in the dorm all day after class. While Campus Belle Shen certainly has grown closer to Xiao Moyuan, you shouldn’t be so self-deprecating.”

Su Mian mumbled a vague response, seizing the opportunity to climb back into his upper bunk and draw the curtain.

In the cramped privacy of his space, he could finally drop his pretense, allowing anxiety and grievance to spread across his face.

He lit up his phone screen once more; the chat interface still displayed the photo of his legs. It was already nine in the evening, and Xiao Moyuan had yet to reply.

A humiliating sense of being disregarded welled up within him. He bit his lower lip, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: Gege, whine, are my legs not pretty? Does Gege not like me anymore?–

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: Gege, why aren’t you replying to me?–

His messages vanished without a trace, like stones sinking into the sea. After a long ten-minute wait, Su Mian’s last shred of patience evaporated.

The accumulated grievance, anxiety, and anger of recent days erupted in that moment, and he began sending messages with a vengeful fury—

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: Aren’t you a leg-lover? Where are you?–

The moment the ‘sent successfully’ notification appeared, Su Mian’s reason returned with a jolt. He gasped, quickly retracting the message.

His heart pounded wildly in his chest as he held his breath, waiting. Yet, the chat interface remained utterly silent.

‘It seems they didn’t see it…’ This realization emboldened him. The grievances he dared not voice in reality finally found an outlet.

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: Scumbag, using me and then discarding me.–

—Retracted.

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: You didn’t recover from last time, did you, you heartless man?–

—Retracted.

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: Pfft, a heartless man like you will never find a partner.–

—Retracted.

Sending and immediately retracting each message, this dance on the edge of danger was incredibly stimulating.

After this series of actions, Su Mian felt the stifling pressure in his chest ease considerably; he even found himself stifling a giggle behind his hand.

However, just then, his phone vibrated three times in quick succession—

–Yuan: ???–

Three question marks. They were like three icy daggers plunging into Su Mian’s heart. Instantly, his limbs turned cold, and his entire body froze on the bed.

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: Gege, you’re finally replying to me!–

–Yuan: ???–

Still three question marks, but the oppressive feeling they conveyed was even stronger.

–Sweetheart Marshmallow: The message I just retracted was a mistake, did you see it?–

He cautiously probed, but the other party fell silent once more.

This state of agonizing uncertainty was the most tormenting.

Su Mian curled up on his bed, staring at his phone screen as countless terrifying conjectures flashed through his mind: ‘Did he see everything? Is he angry? Will this plan be exposed because of this?’

The thought made Su Mian’s head ache; his earlier drowsiness had completely vanished.

‘Why did I have to act out today? After being a sycophant for so many days, if I really messed it up, where would I even go to cry?’

‘Now, all I can do is pray they didn’t see it…’