The dorm leader had rented a three-story standalone villa with a private courtyard, and the barbecue grill was already set up in the backyard. Huo Youqing was sitting, helping pour drinks, while another university friend was passing out cups and asking what everyone wanted to drink.
“Qiu Wenfei, what will you have?”
The person in question was skillfully preparing the food but turned around when asked.
His gaze first landed on Huo Youqing.
Since it was a casual gathering and not a formal event, Huo Youqing was dressed comfortably. The outline of his shoulder blades showed through his clothes—slender, almost as if they would burst through the delicate skin beneath.
Why describe it as delicate?
It was obvious from the exposed skin around his ankles. Qiu Wenfei, now a second-year graduate student, spent most of his time in hospitals, rotating through various departments, and he had seen many patients. But he had never seen a man with skin as flawless as Huo Youqing’s.
“Is there alcohol?” Qiu Wenfei responded.
“Of course! You know how to enjoy yourself!” Another friend laughed, then leaned over to Huo Youqing. “Come on, Little Huo, have a drink. We’re here to have fun—why stick to soda?”
Huo Youqing shook his head. “I drove here.”
“The dorm leader didn’t tell you? We’re not going home tonight. There are rooms upstairs where we can stay.”
Just as his friend finished speaking, the dorm leader returned, saying he had forgotten to buy a few things. He brought two more people along with him.
Gong Lang and Dai Yixin.
As soon as the dorm leader walked in, he shouted, “You won’t believe this! I went out to buy stuff and ran into Gong Lang and his friend!”
While saying this, he looked at Huo Youqing, assuming he and Gong Lang were still close, so he even told Gong Lang, “Hey, Gong, your family’s Youyou is right here.”
Before Gong Lang could speak, Dai Yixin spoke first, “Your family’s Youyou?”
The dorm leader froze for a moment. For some reason, he didn’t quite dare to speak to the friend standing beside Gong Lang. He scratched his head, thinking it was probably because the guy was just too good-looking.
Huo Youqing was also good-looking, but in a way that made people feel approachable.
The dorm leader tried to cover his earlier awkwardness with a smile. “Just kidding.” His gaze shifted to Huo Youqing, hoping he’d say something to ease the atmosphere. But to his surprise, Huo Youqing wasn’t even looking in their direction, and from the side of his face, you could tell he was frowning.
After a brief pause, the dorm leader awkwardly turned back, only to realize that both of his invited guests were still staring at Huo Youqing.
What’s going on?
Before he could figure it out, the same voice as before spoke again, “Gong Lang, we can’t just eat for free. Let’s help out too.” The tone was calm.
Gong Lang agreed with a nod.
Meanwhile, Huo Youqing was hesitating whether to leave early. When he had arrived earlier, he asked the dorm leader who else had been invited. Dai Yixin and Gong Lang hadn’t been on that list, but here they were now.
Was it really just a coincidence?
The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. Just as he was about to find an excuse to leave, he realized Dai Yixin was already casually chatting with his college roommates.
Dai Yixin was completely different from how Huo Youqing remembered him. The current Dai Yixin was sociable and eloquent, traits the old Dai Yixin would never have displayed.
Huo Youqing couldn’t help but let his gaze linger on Dai Yixin for a moment. The man sat on the outdoor sofa, unlike the others who lazily stretched out their legs, though his posture was still relaxed. His amber eyes sparkled with laughter, as if genuinely interested in what others were saying.
But his expression showed a certain nonchalance, though no one else seemed to notice anything odd.
The dorm leader, who had been initially hesitant to speak to Dai Yixin, was now addressing him like an old friend.
After watching for a while, Huo Youqing waited for the dorm leader to go to the restroom, then followed him.
“Hey? Little Huo, you going to the restroom too?” the dorm leader asked.
“No, I’m not feeling well. I think I’ll head out early.” As soon as Huo Youqing said this, the dorm leader grabbed his arm.
“Please don’t go, Little Huo. I actually need your help with something today.”
Huo Youqing looked puzzled.
The dorm leader continued, “Well… you see, I invited a few girls today, right? Did you notice the red-haired one?”
Huo Youqing thought for a moment, then nodded.
He remembered greeting everyone when he arrived, and the girl had fair skin and a delicate appearance.
“I… I like her. I was planning to confess to her today and treat her well.” The dorm leader’s face reddened. “But she liked you back in college. A few days ago, when I mentioned you’d returned to the country, she spaced out for a while. I’m not sure if she still likes you, so I invited you to give her a chance to reject me.”
Huo Youqing thought back to earlier when they greeted each other. The girl did seem to have looked at him a little longer than usual, and the dorm leader’s expression had changed slightly—something he had initially thought he imagined.
“It’s been so long. I doubt she still likes me. Besides, I never even received…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the dorm leader interrupted, “Back then, Gong Lang treated you like a precious gem. Who would have dared confess to you easily, especially the girls? They’re shy. Do you remember your military training? On the first evening, someone confessed to you. Man, Gong Lang looked like his mother had died, and his expression alone scared the girl into tears.”
Huo Youqing vaguely remembered that incident. He had felt terribly guilty at the time, sent Gong Lang away, and clumsily comforted the girl for a long time. But he also clearly rejected her feelings.
“You don’t even know me. After all, this is the first time we’ve talked, and we’ve never exchanged words before. What if I’m actually a bad person?”
The girl, with tears in her eyes, softly replied, “You don’t seem like a bad person.”
Huo Youqing had smiled faintly at that. “You never know, though. People can’t be judged by appearances.”
The dorm leader pulled him back from his memories, clasping his hands together in a pleading gesture. “Please, I’m begging you. Help me out here. I may not have much to offer, but I really want to be with someone who truly likes me. I don’t want to be someone’s second choice.”
After some persuading, Huo Youqing finally agreed to stay. He realized avoiding everything wouldn’t help, and with so many people around, it didn’t seem likely that Dai Yixin would try anything.
***
The dorm leader must have really liked that girl. Not long after the barbecue started, he began drinking heavily, probably to gather courage. Seeing this, the others started egging him on, and soon everyone was drinking. Even Huo Youqing, despite trying to decline, ended up being pressured into drinking a few glasses.
When the dorm leader confessed, Huo Youqing discreetly moved to the corner, not wanting to draw attention. He didn’t want to cause any trouble. When he heard the cheers, he rejoined the group and genuinely congratulated the newly formed couple.
Before long, a very tipsy dorm leader came over to Huo Youqing with two glasses of alcohol, his face flushed. He slurred, “Little Huo, I’m so grateful to you today. You really are a true friend. Let me toast you!”
“I can’t…” drink anymore.
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but seeing the joy in the dorm leader’s eyes, he accepted the glass.
As the alcohol burned its way down, Huo Youqing felt the heat travel from his throat to his stomach. He had to eat something to settle his stomach, but the only food available was spicy barbecue. The spice added another layer of heat.
He searched the yard for water or soda, but all he could find was alcohol, so he reluctantly took a few more sips to quench the heat.
Huo Youqing wasn’t completely off guard. Before the confession, he had noticed that Dai Yixin and Gong Lang had left, which made him feel safe enough to drink.
But what he hadn’t anticipated was that they had only left temporarily.
***
Huo Youqing, now completely drunk, vaguely sensed someone helping him upstairs to a room. He had no idea who it was and struggled to keep his eyes open, but no matter how hard he tried to focus, it felt like the person’s face was veiled in mist.
He stared for a long time. “Who are you?”
Because he had been drinking, his voice was slurred, and combined with his natural tone, it somehow sounded like he was whining.
The person supporting him remained silent.
Huo Youqing furrowed his brows and began to struggle. Since this person wasn’t answering his question, they were probably up to no good. However, after barely a couple of attempts, he was scooped up as the person lifted him with ease.
The way they carried him was effortless, without even a hint of labored breathing. Huo Youqing froze for a moment, still trying to resist, but then the other person bit down hard on his earlobe with their canines.
The bite was intense.
Huo Youqing winced from the pain, instinctively reaching to cover his ear, but before he could, his earlobe was licked and sucked by a wet, slippery tongue.
The sounds of a door opening and closing followed closely.
