“Why didn’t you say you were coming back? I was about to ask one of you to bring me food. With this crappy weather, I really don’t want to go out.”
Yu Qing lay back on the chair, his neck resting on the top, head naturally drooping, the recently grown hair strands falling down, revealing his delicate and handsome face.
But after a while, his neck started to feel uncomfortable, so he moved, couldn’t find a comfortable position, and finally sat up again with a helpless sigh.
“Want someone to bring you food but can’t even call me dad? Dream on.”
Li Ming returned to his desk, couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the words, but then caught sight of Yu Qing’s entire exposed face.
How to put it, he really did look a lot better, but also a lot more… feminine.
His gaze landed on Yu Qing without a trace. Li Ming mulled it over in his mind and decided to start a roundabout attack.
“Sigh, even studying in the library isn’t easy these days. I don’t know what people are thinking—there are more and more couples, and they don’t just cling to each other, they have to come to the library. They think they’re being quiet, but they’re actually giving everyone a headache.”
He sighed, tone full of complaint, clearly sincere.
“Is that so? That’s pretty disgusting. Why not just hang them on the Market? A bit of scolding and they’d behave.”
Yu Qing didn’t know why Li Ming brought this up, but he had been disgusted by couples when he tried to study during finals week. Later, someone posted about them on the Market, and public outrage made things calm down for a while.
So, he could relate.
“Even if you hang them, it’s useless. Once someone grows thick skin, they fear nothing. You put them online, and they might even thank you for broadcasting their love to the world.”
Li Ming turned around, adjusted his seat to face Yu Qing, leaned on his desk, and looked at him helplessly.
“Like that couple beside me just now—clinging, hugging, head-patting, and even a little kissing when emotions ran high. I couldn’t concentrate at all.”
“You’re still better, Old Yu. You’ve already found a job, your family doesn’t force you to go to grad school, and you have peace in the Dormitory to do whatever you want.”
A hint of envy crept naturally into his voice.
Yu Qing became a bit wary, forced a couple of awkward laughs, and said, “Ahaha, peaceful or not, it’s whatever. Being alone in the Dormitory for too long gets lonely. Sometimes, I wish someone would keep me company.”
That was true, but that was before. If given the choice now, Yu Qing definitely wouldn’t want it.
“Then should I go back to the Dormitory to study with you? Keep you company?”
Li Ming had a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth. He clearly saw Yu Qing’s face stiffen slightly when he said this.
“Just kidding. If I stayed in the Dormitory all the time, how would you ever soar?”
“Yeah, yeah, staring at your picture every day and flying away—if you came back, I’d finally be free from longing.”
Realizing Li Ming was joking, Yu Qing relaxed and joined in.
Li Ming wanted to retort, but recalling Yu Qing’s recent behavior, he suddenly realized this might not be a joke and felt a bit awkward.
“Hey, what’s that expression?!”
Yu Qing frowned at his serious face.
Bro, I was joking with you, and you take me for Nan Tong Jiang Ge?
“Ahem, anyway—”
Li Ming coughed twice, bracing himself under Yu Qing’s annoyed gaze and changed the subject.
“Speaking of couples, Old Yu, you stay in the Dormitory every day and never go out on dates. Of the four of us, you’re the only one still a virgin—each of us has at least dated a bit.”
“Really nothing going on? I think that pretty girl in our department seemed interested in you? I remember you did a lab together once.”
Seeing the topic change, Yu Qing didn’t pursue it and casually replied, “No way. She just thanked me after I helped her get an easy win in the experiment.”
“Tsk tsk, you say that, but with us you slack off, and with a girl, you go all out—some boss, huh.”
Thinking of Yu Qing’s unexpectedly strong efforts, Li Ming couldn’t help but marvel.
“Come on, you know me. Even with unfamiliar guys, I’d feel bad slacking off.”
Yu Qing waved his hand indifferently.
That’s how he was—lazy around close friends, but unable to slack off with strangers.
“If that counts as good luck with girls, I’d have a harem by now.”
Thinking back on the past three years, his life was flat and uneventful.
“Love and stuff—I have no interest. At least, not now.”
“No way?”
Li Ming feigned surprise.
“Then wouldn’t your college youth be wasted? Everyone says that not dating in college means you haven’t lived. Should I introduce you to someone?”
“Oh, right.”
He suddenly slapped his head, as if recalling something.
“I remember Haoxuan is into 2D stuff and often goes to conventions. He knows several girls who do COS—they’re pretty and outgoing. Want to meet them?”
Girls who do COS?
Is this kid, Li, dumb? Isn’t it common knowledge that you shouldn’t date hardcore COS players?
Or…
Thinking of his own COS today, Yu Qing felt a warning siren in his head and refused without a change of expression.
“Forget it, I can’t vibe with them.”
“Don’t be like that.”
Li Ming watched Yu Qing’s reaction, saw his hesitation, and pressed harder.
“Give it a try? Maybe you’ll have something in common? You can draw too—maybe you could do portraits or something for them. Besides…”
He deliberately dragged out the words, his gaze meaningfully drifting over Yu Qing’s more refined hands.
“Seems like you’ve been dressing up more lately? Your vibe’s changed. Online, they’d call you a ‘creamy boy’ type. Maybe that’s just their thing?”
So he did notice.
Yu Qing felt a headache coming on. He knew changes in appearance were easy to spot.
Every word Li Ming said today felt loaded—maybe he’d realized something.
Was it just advice because he noticed a change?
Or did he actually see the livestream, recognize him, and was now probing?
The situation was too unclear. He couldn’t ask directly.
“That’s enough. Let’s not talk about it. If you’re bored, go ask for a lighter or something.”
Yu Qing turned away, no longer looking at Li Ming, focusing on his computer instead.
Seeing his distracted look, Li Ming became even more convinced of his suspicions, but knew he shouldn’t press any further, or he’d alert Yu Qing and make him retreat completely.
He decided to stop, but there was still one thing he needed to confirm.
“Alright, alright, stay single if you want. I just worry you’ll get bored cooped up in the Dormitory all day.”
He stood up from his seat, facing Yu Qing’s suspicious gaze, and walked over.
“Oh, right. I thought I heard a noise from your side at the door earlier—did you bump into something? You okay?”
Yu Qing’s body instantly tensed, scalp tingling.
He really did hear it!
“N-no problem!”
He blurted out, voice cracking, then forced himself to act calm.
“What’s there to worry about? A real man isn’t afraid of a little bump.”
Li Ming watched his panicked expression, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly before he suppressed it.
“Oh, as long as you’re okay.”
He nodded, opened the door.
“Then I’m off.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to study anymore?”
“I don’t, but I’m annoyed, so I’m going back to post that couple on Xiaohongshu.”
“I’ll title it, ‘Male student at a certain university openly sexually harasses his girlfriend in the library.’ Trust me, that guy is doomed.”
With a small joke, Li Ming waved, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and left the Dormitory, closing the door behind him.
The Dormitory door closed once more.
But the door in Yu Qing’s heart swung wide open, worry and doubt pouring out endlessly.