Lin Xinyuan’s slender arm was firmly gripped by that strong, powerful hand.
Even through the thick coat, the pressure was unmistakable.
He tried to break free, but couldn’t budge at all; instead, the grip tightened.
Just as he was about to speak, a familiar, low male voice rang out: “Don’t want to see me that badly?”
The young man’s tone carried a teasing edge, causing Lin Xinyuan’s whole body to stiffen.
He immediately realized who the person was and panicked, struggling again, but it was the same result.
In the end, he had no choice but to give up struggling…
Yeah… not to mention that back when he was a boy, his strength was already much less than this guy’s, now his physical condition had declined sharply—just running a lap left him gasping for breath…
Thinking of this, Lin Xinyuan’s small face showed a faint bitter smile.
He didn’t respond to the topic but whispered hoarsely, “Let me go.”
“What’s the rush? Can’t I just ask you something?”
Qin Nanfeng chuckled, looking at the small figure with their head lowered in front of him.
Without waiting for an answer, he teased, “At least raise your head when you’re talking to someone, right? Lin Xinyuan? Or should I say… Lin Xinyuan?”
At the end, his tone turned playful.
Hearing this, Lin Xinyuan swallowed the words he had just wanted to say, falling silent for a long while.
No one knew what he was thinking, but Qin Nanfeng could feel his unease through the trembling body.
So it was true…
His outrageous guess was right…
Qin Nanfeng didn’t rush either, just quietly waiting while idly tapping the wall with one hand, producing a dull “clang clang” sound…
After a long time, Lin Xinyuan finally lifted his head slowly.
The first thing that met the young man’s eyes was a pair of autumn-colored eyes, shimmering like jewels in the light streaming from outside.
His gaze dropped slightly.
On the pale, delicate face were two tear tracks, eyes red-rimmed, giving the owner a sense of weakness but also a fragile air.
The softness hidden beneath his usual pretentious tone was completely revealed at this moment, echoing through the stairwell as he spoke, his voice filled with surprise and suspicion: “You… how do you know?”
Lin Xinyuan was not surprised. He knew he had been exposed a long time ago.
This was just a reflexive question.
“That thing—your face—and the scent.” Qin Nanfeng’s tone was firm as he looked at the somewhat familiar face before him.
Although the features weren’t delicate enough, it was enough to recognize.
At first, he wasn’t sure, but he happened to notice the jade bracelet placed in the corner of Lin Xinyuan’s bed and remembered she had one too…
Though he still didn’t believe it, thinking it was just a coincidence, he had retained a trace of doubt.
Connecting Lin Xinyuan’s constant evasions when contacting Lin Xinyuan, combined with Lin Xinyuan’s changes—especially that increasingly obvious familiar fragrance—gave Qin Nanfeng a bold guess…
Only now, seeing the face that Lin Xinyuan had long hidden from others, and his tacit acceptance, the young man confirmed his suspicions completely.
It was surreal, wasn’t it?
Yet it really happened right beside him…
Lin Xinyuan hesitated and nodded slightly.
Such an obvious flaw was bound to be noticed by someone as perceptive as Qin Nanfeng.
If he hadn’t discovered it, he’d have suspected the guy was a total idiot…
So he didn’t refute it.
There was no need anymore…
His changes had become more obvious lately.
Even wearing this coat barely hid his gradually developing figure.
Besides his roommate, he hardly knew anyone.
Yet, students from the two adjacent dorms had met him a few times.
Naturally, some had noticed his changes and privately made it a topic of discussion…
A few days ago, the dorm Auntie even stopped him, mistaking him for a girl, almost refusing him entry, which caused quite a scene…
From then on, a small group in this dormitory knew about her existence…
Though it hadn’t spread much yet, it was only a matter of time—eventually, it would explode…
That’s why Lin Xinyuan had been especially upset these past few days.
Chen Ze’s teasing earlier was just a trigger, not the real cause.
Perhaps because the noise wasn’t loud, the roommates hadn’t noticed, but he himself was aware that many had whispered about him secretly during class.
Fortunately, the weather was getting colder, allowing him to bundle himself tightly in clothes to minimize his presence, which kept most from continuing to pay attention to this “oddity.”
Not wanting others’ gossip to affect his roommates, he preferred to act alone recently and was even considering moving out…
“Yes, I am Lin Xinyuan, a… disgusting person… so? Are you here to settle accounts with me?”
Lin Xinyuan’s lips were a little dry. Without the helplessness of the biggest secret being revealed, he appeared calm on the outside.
Qin Nanfeng didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he reached out to take off Lin Xinyuan’s coat hood. Lin Xinyuan didn’t resist, remaining as calm as before.
After removing the hood, the young man carefully examined the person in front of him.
A clear, delicate beauty with a touch of toughness still lingering, paired with messy hair—a face that overall looked like a slightly heroic girl.
The feminine figure, though concealed by the coat, was still somewhat evident, likely quite good, but still quite different from “her.”
After scrutinizing for a while, even Lin Xinyuan was growing impatient, Qin Nanfeng finally said, “Not exactly settling accounts.”
He paused, then continued:
“I’m just curious—how did you become ‘Lin Xinyuan’? And how did you end up like this? Surgery can’t do this; the bone structure doesn’t change… If I’m right, it must be some kind of mysterious power… maybe that jade bracelet…”
Lin Xinyuan was a little surprised that this guy guessed so accurately and so ridiculously…
After all, this kind of thing seemed unbelievable to others!
Seeing Lin Xinyuan’s slightly parted lips, Qin Nanfeng was sure his guess wasn’t far off.
“Mm…” Lin Xinyuan lowered his head, speaking in a pleading tone, “Now that you know… can you just let me be? Please don’t tell anyone… okay?”
Though he couldn’t see Lin Xinyuan’s expression, Qin Nanfeng could feel the tension in the muscles beneath his grip on the arm.
He didn’t answer immediately but pulled Lin Xinyuan’s arm, making him sit down with him on the steps, not minding the dirt.
“What do you want to do from now on?” Qin Nanfeng asked, not directly responding to Lin Xinyuan’s request.
Lin Xinyuan turned his head, legs bent, curling up, burying his face in his arms: “I don’t know… I really don’t know…”
“What should I do…”
“What should I do… I’ll become like that sooner or later…”
The person beside him spoke incoherently, his voice gradually breaking with sobs.
Qin Nanfeng listened quietly.
After a while, looking at the floor by Lin Xinyuan’s feet, a small wet patch had formed…
“Do you feel disgusted? Actually, I feel even more disgusted… about that thing with Xiaoxue… disgusting… you brought it on yourself…”
Hearing this, Qin Nanfeng understood the general situation.
As for his own scheming against Lin Xinyuan—
At first, Qin Nanfeng was only interested because of her personality, wanting to figure out her motives.
But in the end, it was just for fun.
He never imagined Lin Xinyuan was actually Lin Xinyuan…
When he first found out, he felt physically disgusted… because yes, he disliked girls, but his orientation was normal.
Yet… seeing Lin Xinyuan silently crying in the stairwell somehow made him feel relieved, maybe pity…
In short, even Qin Nanfeng himself couldn’t explain it clearly now…
Heh…
What a pathetic fool…