“Yunjue, stop scowling like that. You’ve already scared off several people who wanted to ask for your WeChat on the way here,” Li Xun sighed, patting Gu Yunjue’s shoulder. “Your father was just angry. Why don’t you go apologize properly? Then you wouldn’t have to live in the dorms.”
Gu Yunjue frowned deeply, his voice cold and heavy. “It’s fine. Living in the dorms is more convenient anyway.”
“Does that expression look ‘fine’ to you?” Li Xun shook his head, finding it somewhat amusing. “The four-person dorms here are quite nice, I heard they’re spacious. By the way, lots of people seemed interested in you. Are you sure you don’t want to give your contact to any of them?”
Gu Yunjue’s expression remained sour. He didn’t bother answering Li Xun’s pointless question, and his face was still dark even as they entered the dorm.
The two tall young men squeezed into the room, and the “spacious” space instantly felt much smaller.
“Uh, why isn’t the AC on? Oh, you just arrived too?” Li Xun asked a student near the door. “Is everyone here already?”
The student hesitated, glancing at the two of them before answering, “Everyone’s here except for one person. Are you seniors?”
Li Xun burst out laughing and threw an arm around Gu Yunjue’s shoulders. “This guy here is your missing roommate. This is my buddy Gu Yunjue. Please take care of him! You haven’t eaten yet, right? Let’s go, I’ll treat you!”
“Stop touching me,” Gu Yunjue irritably shoved Li Xun’s hand away. “It’s too hot!”
The guy, who had been speechless at the idea of having to “take care” of this tall roommate, now smiled at the mention of a free meal. “Sure, thanks, handsome.”
Just then, the other two roommates returned. Hearing about the free meal, they eagerly headed out in their slippers.
“Yunjue, stop looking so fierce,” Li Xun couldn’t help but sigh. “Look, your roommates don’t even dare walk with us.”
Gu Yunjue and Li Xun trailed behind the three roommates, and Gu Yunjue shrugged indifferently. “So what? They still came for the free meal, didn’t they?”
Li Xun clicked his tongue helplessly. “With your temper, I’m probably the only one who can put up with you.”
“Nobody asked you to…” Gu Yunjue cursed under his breath. “That crappy dorm is so small, and they squeeze four people in?”
Looking at Gu Yunjue’s stormy face, Li Xun couldn’t help but laugh. When the other glared at him, he coughed lightly. “It’s part of college life. It wouldn’t be complete without living in dorms. Your three roommates seem pretty easy to get along with, but don’t bully them, okay?”
Li Xun was talking too much, and Gu Yunjue couldn’t be bothered to listen. His attention was drawn to a male student by the road.
The student wore a white shirt. Due to the heat, he had unbuttoned the top three buttons, revealing delicate collarbones and a glimpse of fair skin.
After staring for a few seconds, Gu Yunjue moved his gaze upward. This glance made him stop dead in his tracks.
Sunlight filtered through tree branches, falling scattered across the other’s face like a glossy oil painting.
As if sensing someone watching him, the guy looked up and met Gu Yunjue’s gaze.
Gu Yunjue suddenly stumbled backward, bumping into Li Xun’s shoulder and hurriedly lowering his head.
“Yunjue, what’s wrong?”
Li Xun’s question brought Gu Yunjue back to his senses. He looked at the student again, but the other was no longer watching him. Instead, he walked toward a female student.
Gu Yunjue lowered his head, feeling a pang of disappointment. “It’s nothing.”
Li Xun frowned and followed Gu Yunjue’s previous line of sight, just in time to see the girl hand the male student a flower and a letter, only to be rejected.
“Yunjue, did you take a liking to that guy just now?”
“What are you saying?”
“It’s not a big deal,” Li Xun said lightly. “You don’t even know how wild people in our circle can get. I just didn’t know you were into guys too.”
If Gu Yunjue had listened carefully, he would have noticed the slight tremor in Li Xun’s voice.
“I just thought he looked nice,” Gu Yunjue said impatiently. “Li Xun, why do you talk so much every day?”
Li Xun’s lips twitched. “Too much? You’re the one who barely talks. If you’re really interested in that guy, I can look into him for you. After all, this is the first time someone caught your eye.”
“Is it that big of a deal?”
Gu Yunjue’s expression remained cold and distant, his sharp features making him look intimidating.
“Yes,” Li Xun emphasized. “After all, you dislike everyone. But since you’re living in the dorms now, you should try to control that temper of yours.”
Gu Yunjue fell silent for a moment, then looked back again. They had walked quite far, and the male student from earlier was long gone.
Feeling a bit empty inside, Gu Yunjue thought for a moment before asking, “Can you really find that person?”
Li Xun’s heart skipped a beat, but he smiled. “What, you’re really interested in him? Alright, I’ll tell you which school he’s in later, but that’s all I’m looking up for you.”
“Mm.” Gu Yunjue nodded indifferently, his steps noticeably lighter. “Let’s go, we’re almost there.”
The five young men occupied a private room, and by the time they finished eating and drinking, it was already ten in the evening.
Gu Yunjue didn’t return to the dorm with his roommates, choosing instead to stay at a hotel with Li Xun.
“Yunjue, why are you staring at me like that?” Li Xun joked. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me?”
Gu Yunjue’s face darkened. “That’s disgusting. Did you find the information about that person from earlier?”
“I did,” Li Xun’s tone cooled considerably. “But he’s not a freshman. He’s a junior. Wow, Yunjue, you sure know how to aim high. You don’t swing that way often, but when you do, you go for the big leagues.”
Gu Yunjue frowned. “I’m not gay.”
“Then why are you so desperate for Shen Qingyan’s information?”
“His name is Shen Qingyan?” Gu Yunjue mulled it over. “It matches well with my name.”
Li Xun: “…Still saying you’re not gay.”
“I’m not,” Gu Yunjue said firmly. “I’m just interested in him, that’s all. By the way, is he gay?”
Li Xun paused briefly, then suddenly smiled, handing a photo to Gu Yunjue. “Didn’t we see today? A girl confessed to Shen Qingyan. He’s straight.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Gu Yunjue took the photo. It was a portrait of Shen Qingyan, showing him smiling with crescent eyes and attractive lips that made Gu Yunjue want to kiss them.
“Actually, straight guys aren’t off-limits,” Li Xun said with a sly smile. “It’s your first crush. Wouldn’t it be a shame to give up so easily? Besides, college relationships are just for fun. It’s all casual. Boys, girls, it’s all the same. You might get bored after a month or two anyway.”
Gu Yunjue looked at Li Xun, puzzled. “Really?”
“Haven’t you seen it when we go out?” Li Xun winked suggestively. “See someone you like, take them home. If they refuse, offer money. If the money’s good enough, who’d say no? If that doesn’t work, threaten them. It’s not like you’re looking for something serious. As long as you compensate them well, no one will make a fuss.”
Gu Yunjue said coldly, “I thought you’d tell me to pursue him properly.”
“What? You want to court him?” Li Xun burst out laughing. “Young Master Gu, he’s a man, and a straight one at that. What if he gets attached to you? Wouldn’t that drive your father crazy? Besides, do you like him enough to come out for him?”
Seeing Gu Yunjue’s silence, Li Xun continued, “It’s better to just play around for a couple months. Being both men makes things convenient. If you lose interest, you can easily walk away.”
Gu Yunjue still hesitated. “What if he’s not willing?”
“It’s not like you’re going to hurt him,” Li Xun gestured vaguely at Gu Yunjue’s face. “You’re so handsome, he’s not losing out. Yunjue, since you went to an all-boys school, you might not know this, but lots of male college students are quite accepting of same-sex relationships nowadays.”
Gu Yunjue: “…Are you sure?”
“Just give it a try,” Li Xun persuaded. “Didn’t you say you liked the pure type? This Shen Qingyan certainly looks the part.”
“Alright, it’s late. Let’s sleep.”
Gu Yunjue glanced at Shen Qingyan’s photo again, unable to resist touching the face in the picture.
This gesture didn’t escape Li Xun’s notice, making him chuckle. “Yunjue, having someone to play with is normal. Everyone does it. That guy from the Ji family has three at once, two guys and a girl. The guys are even twins. You’re only going after one. That’s much better.”
Gu Yunjue: “…Young Master Ji isn’t afraid of getting sick!”
“Just try if you like him,” Li Xun yawned. “It’s not like Shen Qingyan can get pregnant. If he’s not willing, just threaten to withhold his degree!”
Gu Yunjue: “…Alright, go to sleep.”
“Shen Qingyan…” Gu Yunjue frowned, murmuring these three characters, still thinking how well they matched with his own name.
This university might be interesting after all.
Gu Yunjue carefully tucked away the photo and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, Gu Yunjue burst into Li Xun’s room. “Li Xun, you haven’t told me what major Shen Qingyan is in.”
Li Xun nearly cried. “Young Master, it’s only five-thirty in the morning!”
“You didn’t tell me last night. That’s your fault.”
“Alright, alright,” Li Xun struggled to open his eyes, saying numbly, “Shen Qingyan, male, 20 years old, from the College of Arts. Just go to the Art Building and ask around. Is that enough, Young Master? Let me get back to sleep.”
Gu Yunjue nodded. “Fine, go back to sleep.”
Although Gu Yunjue left as quickly as he came, Li Xun couldn’t fall back asleep.
Could it be that Yunjue was actually serious about this?
Meanwhile, Shen Qingyan’s roommate Mu Weiyun also couldn’t sleep.
It was all because of Shen Qingyan, who yesterday said he’d encountered the College of Physical Education’s new campus idol, Gu Yunjue. This person had caused quite a stir on the campus forum as soon as he enrolled.
In a certain circle, Gu Yunjue’s appearance had sent them into a frenzy.
What luck Shen Qingyan had. Not only did he see Gu Yunjue in person, he even managed to take a photo.
Leave a Reply