Kissing was supposed to be a simple act, but Chi Xingyu never anticipated his reaction would be so intense. He thought he had already composed himself during his shower.
He didn’t dare to get any closer to Tong Sui, afraid that his current emotions would be sensed. Tong Sui was not doing much better; after being kissed, his mouth felt far from his own—itchy and numb. With the unfamiliar environment around him, he couldn’t muster any sleepiness.
He tried to close his eyes to sleep for a while but eventually couldn’t withstand the urge to open them again. Wanting to ask if Chi Xingyu was asleep, he found Chi Xingyu wide awake, staring at the ceiling.
The person who once wanted nothing more than to cling to him was now behaving like a statue, maintaining a distance, looking lost deep in thought, a sight that felt peculiar.
“What are you thinking about?” Tong Sui suddenly spoke up.
Chi Xingyu fell silent, suspicious. He didn’t want to lie to Tong Sui but couldn’t possibly reveal the shameful and vulgar thoughts swirling in his mind. He didn’t even understand why he felt this way now, so easily stirred by Tong Sui, with no defenses left. Previously, he had no interest in such matters.
Even at his most energetic phase, he had a low demand for those things. Now it felt as though he had to repay all that previous indifference. However, Tong Sui didn’t ponder much and simply asked, “Can’t you sleep either?”
Chi Xingyu replied with a soft “Mm.”
He had considered taking another shower to shake off his feelings but was worried the noise might wake Tong Sui. He decided to wait until Tong Sui fell asleep first.
To his surprise, Tong Sui was wide awake, making it impossible for him to sneak away now.
This state was uncomfortable; Chi Xingyu was afraid that his rationality would snap, leading him to act recklessly on his desires. After Tong Sui explained those concepts to him, he had done some research to clarify them over the past few days, but he only had a vague understanding, never experiencing it firsthand.
He couldn’t comprehend the various strange descriptions from others to know which were real or accurate. While lost in his thoughts, a pair of soft hands suddenly wrapped around his arm.
Chi Xingyu’s breath hitched. Tong Sui leaned against Chi Xingyu’s shoulder, seeking some familiar sense of security.
Finally, nestled together, Tong Sui began to feel drowsy. He mumbled a sleepy goodnight to Chi Xingyu and promptly drifted off to sleep.
Relief washed over Chi Xingyu as he glanced at the person beside him. Tong Sui was actually quite well-behaved while sleeping, lying still with soft breaths, which should have made him inconspicuous.
Yet, Chi Xingyu couldn’t bring himself to move. He feared waking Tong Sui and found no outlet for his pent-up energy. Lying straight on the bed, he replayed all the disappointments and discomforts of his life, trying to counteract his current excitement with these memories.
But this approach proved futile. Chi Xingyu was unable to ignore Tong Sui’s presence—his breathing, body warmth, and the surrounding fragrance all tugged at his sensitive nerves.
Next to Tong Sui, he felt perpetually defeated.
In the early hours of the morning, Chi Xingyu finally mustered up the courage to carefully detach Tong Sui’s hand, stealthily getting out of bed and slipping into the bathroom to turn on the cold water.
The cold water poured down, and Chi Xingyu rested his forehead against the icy wall. He had held his feelings for too long, and now it was painful.
At only eighteen, even after brief exertions, he could quickly regain his energy, which usually lasted for a long time.
Tong Sui was unaware of his midnight escape. The next day, he woke up as usual to find that Chi Xingyu was already in the common room attending an online class.
When he saw Tong Sui emerge from his room, Chi Xingyu hurriedly paused and stood up.
Tong Sui yawned sleepily, “You’re up so early! Aren’t you tired?”
He seemed blissfully unaware of Chi Xingyu’s nocturnal adventures.
Chi Xingyu breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, replying, “I’m fine. Just used to it.”
Chi Xingyu usually slept less than the average person, a habit formed during late-night gaming sessions. Now, he appeared much more energized compared to Tong Sui.
“The fridge is still empty. I ordered takeout for breakfast,” he said as he opened a seemingly upscale insulated bag, revealing that each item of breakfast was still warm. “Last time, you said I was wasting food, so I kept it minimal this time.”
Although the quantities were small, the variety was abundant, making it a splendid breakfast by any simple standards.
After finishing breakfast, Chi Xingyu changed back into the clothes that had dried after washing the night before. He turned to Tong Sui, who was absentmindedly munching on a piece of bread, and said, “I’m going back to the base to grab some things.”
“Oh, okay,” Tong Sui replied. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Chi Xingyu imagined the faces of the idiots at the base and felt he would be like a lamb among wolves, devoured without a trace.
“No, it’s fine,” he replied.
Those guys weren’t worth it.
After Chi Xingyu left, Tong Sui slowly finished his breakfast and tidied up the leftover trash before changing out of his sleepwear to throw the garbage away.
Considering the short distance, Tong Sui thought he could make a quick trip and that no one would see him, so he dressed casually.
He wore a loose-fitting outfit, with a wide white sweatshirt covering his backside, and he opted for gray shorts and slip-on shoes that didn’t require tying.
He was genuinely lazy.
However, thankfully, good fashion is often elevated by good looks; Tong Sui’s face was the best fashion accessory, and his calves were slender and pale.
Who wouldn’t be captivated by such a sight?
While waiting for the elevator, Tong Sui took a moment to examine the floor plan.
It had a two-elevator, four-household layout.
The hallway was clean, and it was unclear if the other three households on the floor were inhabited.
Tong Sui strolled to the garbage bin, disposed of his trash, and was about to turn back when he heard someone calling him from behind.