Chapter 5: Who Exactly Is Harassing Whom?

Seeker of Excellence Men’s Athletic Academy?

 

You can actually say something that made-up just to chase a girlfriend?

 

Shen Yinan and Shen Yibei both turned their heads.

 

Sure enough, this was a man who had somehow turned gay.

That kind of niche school, oozing with homoerotic undertones, wasn’t even on their straight-guy radar.

 

Lin Chuji returned the compliment: “You… really do look like you belong in a sports academy.”

 

Xie Yan was also extremely pleased with his own spur-of-the-moment brilliance.

 

“He really does.

Dark skin, tall, broad shoulders, narrow waist, abs, V-lines, iliac furrows, Apollo’s belt—our Boss Xie has it all,” Shen Yinan said, patting each body part as he listed it, dutifully praising him.

 

Xie Yan shook his paw off and comforted the little classmate who had supposedly bombed his exams: “So don’t be discouraged.

Every path has a bright future.”

 

He paused, then sincerely suggested, “But you look pretty soft and delicate.

You might consider a job that isn’t too physically demanding.”

 

“Yeah, I’m considering hair-cutting and blow-drying,” Lin Chuji went along.

 

The three high-scoring students across from him were careful and sweating profusely, nodding repeatedly, afraid of hurting their new friend’s self-esteem.

 

Shen Yinan quickly chimed in: “We two brothers are also going to sports academies.

The three of us used to be together.

I do weightlifting, my brother does long jump, and Boss Xie… runs really fast.

Not even a thief could catch him!”

 

Xie Yan nodded.

 

Shen Yibei added flatteringly: “Right.

His nickname in high school was ‘Firebolt of Affiliated High.’

Go ask around… actually, don’t bother asking…

Anyway, his coach said his genes are practically like Bolt’s illegitimate child!”

 

Xie Yan looked sincerely at him.

“Do you want me to give you a live demonstration of a shuttle run?”

 

“No.

Absolutely not,” Lin Chuji said, afraid of his sudden bouts of madness, and quickly refused.

 

He did feel relieved, though.

He had been worried this guy might have good grades…

 

Good.

At least when this trip is over, we really won’t see each other again.

 

The waves lapped at the shore.

Silence fell.

 

“Well, um… how about we go back to the room first?

We haven’t put our stuff away yet,” Shen Yinan said, pointing at his nearby suitcase lying on its back with its wheels in the air.

 

Lin Chuji could finally have some peace.

He quickly said, “I want to go swimming in the sea.”

 

Meaning he wanted to go their separate ways.

 

Xie Yan looked at him a few more times to confirm he didn’t have any intention of jumping into the sea because of his bad exam results, then turned and left.

 

Shen Yinan watched his gaze and gossiped, “How come after just a few days, your sexual orientation has changed?

That look is so gooey.

Stop staring.

You can’t see him anymore and you’re still staring.

You’re like a wife waiting on a rock.”

 

“How many times do I have to say it?

I’m straight,” Xie Yan said flatly.

 

“Mmhm, straight, straight.

Straight guys act intimately.

Straight guys gaze with affection.

Straight guys also do things with him in the middle of the night… ah, I’m embarrassed to even say it,” Shen Yibei clicked his tongue.

 

Xie Yan looked suspicious.

“How do you know about last night?”

 

Shen Yinan said seriously, “He came and asked me.

He’s pretty thin-skinned.

Didn’t give details.

You can’t do that again next time.

Bullying people—what kind of behavior is that?”

 

Xie Yan was incredulous.

“I bullied him?!”

 

He’s the one who climbed into my bed and took advantage of me, an innocent young man.

 

“So what did you do last night?”

Shen Yibei dug for details.

 

“He…

I…”

Xie Yan started, then thought exposing someone’s privacy wasn’t appropriate, so he changed course.

“Never mind.

Nothing.”

 

The ever-judgmental Shen Yibei promptly closed the case: “Alright.

It’s that you, you lecher, couldn’t resist the temptation and went crazy.

Case closed.

Don’t let it happen again.”

 

Xie Yan found it impossible to defend himself.

“Seriously, this is not what you think.”

 

“Then shall we swap roommates tonight?”

Shen Yinan looked at him.

 

Xie Yan was resolute.

“No.”

 

What if Lin Chuji mistakes someone else for his ex-boyfriend in the middle of the night and harasses my brothers?

He’s already hugged me.

Won’t hurt to add a couple more nights.

 

The twins simultaneously revealed mocking smiles.

“Caught you.”

 

Xie Yan: “…………”

 

The innocent need not explain themselves.

 

Xie Yan followed them back to their room.

As luck would have it, it was right next door.

 

He stood on the balcony looking down and easily spotted Lin Chuji in the waves—impossible not to focus on him.

 

Lin Chuji had taken off his shirt, revealing his fair, beautiful body—slender but not frail.

 

Waves crashed against his back.

His face, rarely seen, wore that light, cool expression.

He looked very free.

 

“Spying on him again?”

In the past hour, Shen Yinan had already quickly digested the fact that his buddy had turned gay.

 

Xie Yan decided to just stop caring.

“I’m looking.

He’s very photogenic.”

 

As he spoke, he made a frame with his hands, framing him.

 

Lin Chuji lifted his head nimbly from the sea.

His slightly curly hair was swept back by the seawater, revealing clean, beautiful brows and eyes.

 

Xie Yan stared for a while, then looked away.

 

***

 

Lin Chuji swam along the shoreline for a bit, then remembered what the Shen brothers had said: sleepwalking.

 

He got out of the water and pulled out his phone to search for keywords.

[For patients with sleepwalking disorder, because the person is in deep sleep, forcibly waking them up or using violent measures can easily put them in a dangerous situation in their unconscious state.

Please proceed with caution.]

“So troublesome,” Lin Chuji muttered at the text.

 

They had said Xie Yan had suffered trauma and occasionally sleepwalked, but there was no guarantee he wouldn’t have another episode tonight and do something to him again.

 

He needed to strike first, but had no idea how.

 

He opened an online doctor consultation, carefully typed in a brief description of last night’s situation, and started asking.

 

After several attempts, the same mechanical response kept popping up.

[Online Doctor Zhang]: Please describe the specific symptoms of the illness.

 

Lin Chuji was tired.

He wrote succinctly: My roommate sleepwalks at night.

[Online Doctor Zhang]: Please describe the specific symptoms of the illness.

 

Lin Chuji refined it: When he sleepwalks, he tied my hands.

[Online Doctor Zhang]: Please describe the specific symptoms of the illness.

 

Lin Chuji had a headache: He sleepwalks at night and tied me up with a belt.

I’ve sent this five times now.

What more description do you want?

I was asleep too.

I don’t know more details!

I want a human agent.

[Online Doctor Zhang]: Sorry, I do not quite understand your description.

The following authoritative expert consultation has been provided for you.

Registration fee: 38.8 yuan.

Enable more consultation services.

 

Lin Chuji: “………..”

 

He exited the interface, switched strategies, searched for Jing University’s forum, registered an account, and posted anonymously.

[Visitor 7217]: Question: If my roommate sleepwalks and ties me up with a belt in the middle of the night, what should I do?

 

No one replied.

It sank like a stone.

 

Lin Chuji didn’t give up.

He posted again and attached a photo of the red marks on his wrist as evidence.

 

The picture plus text quickly attracted attention.

Comments soon multiplied.

[Was this you just getting pampered by your own Alpha?

Thanks, I feel shown off to.]

[Top-tier Omega aaaah!

Those fair wrists, those suggestive red marks!

Are your eyes also red-rimmed and your lower abdomen bulging?]

[May I ask if that roommate has dark skin, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist and is a sports student?]

[Good good good.

Those bookish types smelled this a mile away.]

[Not even broken skin.

Just a faint mark like that, revealing the gentleness of a rough man.

Who can relate?]

[Hey, you two, perform according to my kink.

Blindfold him, tie his hands, and do it three hundred more times.]

…

 

Lin Chuji was completely baffled.

 

What was an Alpha?

What was an Omega?

 

He looked down and replied: [I don’t understand.

Can anyone answer my question?]

[Got it.

You’ve had too much and can’t take it anymore.

I bet there are two slap marks on your ass.]

[@moderator, aren’t you going to deal with this show-off post?]

[I’ve been single since birth, and I’ll fight all you partnered queers to the death.]

[Snow-skinned beauty, I want to see your roommates’ dirty-chocolate self.]

[Post more details.

I’ll help you analyze what else he did besides tying you up.]

…

 

Soon, the post was deleted for violating pornography and obscenity regulations.

 

Lin Chuji: ??????

 

He tried three times to appeal, with no success.

He lay on the beach until seven o’clock, mentally exhausted.

 

When it was completely dark, he received a message from Xie Yan.

[Crab Boss]: The crabs are done.

I brought them back to the room.

Hurry back.

Eat while they’re hot.

 

Lin Chuji hesitated for a few minutes, then got up, slowly returned to the ship, and bought a large pack of coffee at the shop to stay awake at night.

 

As he passed Room 404, about to open the door and go in, the room next door opened first.

Xie Yan tilted his head toward him.

“Over here.”

 

The next room was twice as big.

Besides the Shen brothers, there were a bunch of other guys and girls he didn’t know.

It was extremely lively.

 

Eating with more than ten strangers—how was that any different from streaking in public?

 

Lin Chuji lowered his voice.

“You didn’t say other people would be there!”

 

Xie Yan reached out and pulled back the would-be escapee, amused.

“I just met them two hours ago too.

Besides, what’s wrong with other people?

Everyone having fun together.”

 

Hearing the commotion, the people inside all turned their gazes to the door.

 

“Hey, come in!

Why are you two standing at the door?”

 

“New handsome guy, come come come, scan my QR code and add me on WeChat!”

 

“What’s your name?

Where are you from?

How old are you?

Are you single?”

…

 

In an instant, Lin Chuji felt like he was surrounded by ten Xie Yans at once.

The noisy greetings might as well have lifted the top of his head clean off.

 

Xie Yan turned to look at him.

“They’re asking you questions.”

 

Lin Chuji resisted.

“I’m not really hungry—”

Before he could finish, Xie Yan enthusiastically pushed him to the center seat.

“You’ve had a long face all afternoon.

Don’t bottle up your bad mood.

Chatting with everyone will make you feel better.”

 

Lin Chuji: …

 

It’s nothing else.

It’s just that your sleepwalking problem is bothering me.

 

The table was laden with delicious food, but he truly had no appetite.

 

Lin Chuji looked at the long list of new contacts on his phone.

He ate in silence, his mind entirely occupied with what excuse he could come up with to slip away.

 

Curious glances kept drifting his way.

Across the table, a boy asked warmly, “Handsome, I heard you just finished the college entrance exam.

Which school are you going to?”

 

Lin Chuji froze, then braced himself to continue the lie: “Tieling Excava—”

Xie Yan thoughtfully interrupted, “The admission letters haven’t come out yet.

That’s a bit intrusive to ask.”

 

“Do you have a girlfriend?

Or a boyfriend?

With looks this good, you must have someone, right?” another girl chimed in.

 

Lin Chuji’s throat bobbed.

“I don’t—”

Xie Yan leaned back in his chair and kindly redirected the topic again.

“Why don’t you ask me?

I’m this handsome and still single.

Double standard, huh?”

 

“You seem pretty quiet.

Are you uncomfortable?” a third person interjected.

 

Lin Chuji’s lips felt dry.

“No.

I just naturally don’t talk much.”

 

Xie Yan helped him out again.

“You don’t understand the vibe of a cool, aloof handsome guy, do you?

Never mind, you wouldn’t get it.

You could chat for three hours with the village elder.”

 

Everyone burst out laughing.

He always had the ability to easily command the room.

 

Lin Chuji was extremely grateful for his rescue.

At least the attention is off me.

 

Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, another person spoke up in shock: “Holy crap, someone on our school forum posted about his roommate tying his hands.

He even included a photo.

The wrists were all red.

I can’t tell if he was asking for help or showing off.”

 

Lin Chuji: ??? That post is back?

 

I’d better change my first-choice university overnight.

If I’d known you were all coming here, I wouldn’t have come.

 

Xie Yan turned his head curiously.

“There’s a post like that?”

 

“Yeah.

It’s almost today’s hot topic at our school,” the person said, laughing, turning the screen around.

“Look at this photo.”

 

Afraid that Xie Yan would recognize his hand, Lin Chuji could only reach out and forcefully press down on Xie Yan’s head, stammering, “Aren’t, aren’t you guys planning to go to the rooftop to keep drinking?

I’ll stay and clean up.

You go now.”

 

Xie Yan was confused.

“That’s too much trouble for you.

We can just call room service.”

 

“This hand of yours…”

The guy holding the phone looked down at the screen, then back at Lin Chuji’s hand, comparing.

Handsome guys’ hands all look this similar?

 

Lin Chuji quickly pulled his hand back again, mixing truth with lies: “No.

I like cleaning when I’m in a bad mood.

It’s not any trouble at all.

Besides, it’s so late, making them work overtime—that wouldn’t be right.”

 

Xie Yan hesitated.

“You really like cleaning?”

 

Lin Chuji nodded vigorously.

“Love it.

Super, extremely, unbelievably love it.”

Then, he reluctantly forced out a standard eight-tooth smile.

 

Xie Yan suspected he had been possessed.

 

The topic about the post had been interrupted, so no one pursued it.

Everyone gradually got up and moved to a new location.

Before leaving, they all praised him as a fairy maiden who did chores while hiding in the shadows.

 

Once the room returned to quiet, Lin Chuji quickly pulled out his phone to check.

That post had indeed been restored, and within half an hour it had become the most popular.

 

His appeal for deletion failed, so he quickly edited the original post, hid the photo, changed the title, and finally felt at ease.

[Why is the picture gone?

Seeing the top comments is driving me crazy with curiosity.]

[Those who saw it are blessed.

A true top-tier Omega.]

[Honestly, if the person really was tied up for no reason, that’s pretty terrifying.

OP should report it to their academic advisor.]

[Deleting the original post means it’s fake.

Scatter, everyone.]

[Why delete it?

Did his Alpha find him and drag him back for a fierce session?]

…

 

Lin Chuji stared at the screen, thinking: Tonight, I need to fall asleep after Xie Yan.

 

Observe the situation.

Worst case, after he’s asleep, I’ll tie him up to ensure my own safety.

 

It took him two hours to clean the room spotless.

As he had said, doing housework made him feel better.

 

Then he went back to his own room, showered, and lay down in bed.

It was already quite late.

He was tired.

 

So he got up and boiled some water.

 

After he finished his third cup of coffee, staying awake was useless.

His eyelids were fighting a losing battle, about to crash down like the apocalypse.

 

He opened WeChat and sent a rare proactive message to Xie Yan.

[lark]: When are you coming back?

 

Xie Yan, who had been unlucky tonight and was already slightly drunk, stared at the message for several seconds.

 

What does he want me to go back for?

To hug me in his sleep again like the first night?

So weird.

[Crab Boss]: You go to sleep first.

[lark]: I’ll wait for you.

[Crab Boss]: …You don’t need to wait for me.

Really.

[lark]: I’m not tired.

I’m not tired at all.

[Crab Boss]: …

 

Xie Yan thought, He’s so persistent.

Just remembering how Lin Chuji had hugged him the first night made him feel hot and restless.

 

He didn’t dare reply.

He dawdled, continuing to drink to kill time.

 

It was past two in the morning when he finally said goodbye to the group and went back to the room.

Lin Chuji was already fast asleep.

 

“I’m not tired.

I’m not tired at all,” Xie Yan said, standing by Lin Chuji’s bed, mimicking his tone in a smug, annoying voice.

“Good that you’re asleep.

At least you won’t come bother me tonight.”

 

Lin Chuji was sleeping very deeply.

 

Xie Yan smiled, went into the bathroom to take a quick shower, then lay down on his own bed, sleeping in his clothes.

 

In his sleep, Lin Chuji subconsciously activated a defense mechanism.

Even though he was in deep sleep, he naturally sat up, grabbed the belt from the bedside, and crawled onto the next bed.

 

He fumbled for Xie Yan’s wrists, brought them together and pulled them up, and tied them tightly to the bed’s headboard along with the railing.

 

“Now I’m safe,” Lin Chuji mumbled, satisfied.

He lay down on top of Xie Yan, found a comfortable position, and stopped moving.

 

Perhaps because he had drunk too much, as dawn approached, Xie Yan woke up needing to pee.

 

He opened his eyes and felt his hands tied firmly.

 

Lying in his arms was a soft, warm body, breathing lightly, rising and falling perfectly in sync with his own chest.

 

“What the f*ck?”

 

Xie Yan struggled hard.

Only the bed frame rattled.

He couldn’t move.

He could only tense his back and force some distance between them with difficulty.

 

“Lin Chuji, you’re pretending to be asleep.”

 

“Lin Chuji, let go of me.”

 

“Lin Chuji, are you going too far?”

 

He was sure the other was awake, just teasing him in different ways.

 

Lin Chuji didn’t answer.

He bent his legs and shifted position.

 

Xie Yan was bursting to pee, and with this narrow waist and abdomen pressed against him, it was too hot, too close, extremely uncomfortable.

 

“Lin Chuji, don’t f*cking move,” Xie Yan said, his temples throbbing.

 

But the boy in his arms was unmoved.

In his sleep, perhaps annoyed by the noise, he raised his hand and covered Xie Yan’s moving lips, muffling his protests.

 

“Don’t make noise,” Lin Chuji commanded softly.

 

Veins bulged on Xie Yan’s forehead as he restrained himself.

He stared straight at the ceiling, stubbornly resisting for half an hour, then finally closed his eyes in shame and frustration.

 

His ears burned red.

He bent his legs and tentatively nudged Lin Chuji’s narrow waist with his knee, again and again, pleading pitifully: “Lin Chuji, I really can’t hold it anymore.

Please help me.”

 

---