The next morning, just as the weather forecast predicted, the rain began to ease.
Though it was already past nine, the sky still looked like dawn.
The heavens were heavy and gray; the Lianwu Mountains lay veiled in drizzle, their jagged peaks faintly visible through the mist.
“What did we even come here for? Haven’t seen a single star—are we the astronomy club or on vacation?”
“But it was fun, dude. The game area was awesome. Those effects—d*mn—”
Voices drifted down the hall.
Ye Ran finished packing. The backpack that had been full when they came was now half empty, with just a few clothes inside. He sat at the edge of the bed, staring dazedly at his reflection—sleepy-eyed and blank.
He didn’t know how long he sat like that before the corridor grew quiet. Then—
Knock.
He blinked awake, quickly slinging his bag over his shoulders and running to open the door.
Sure enough, Shen Shi was standing outside.
He wore a black baseball cap, the brim casting a shadow from the bridge of his nose down to his neck.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Today was the first day of pretending to be boyfriends.
Ye Ran drew a deep breath. “Okay.”
The two of them went downstairs one after another. The bus was waiting at the door, already almost full.
As the drizzle blurred the world outside, Ye Ran suddenly felt awkward. Maybe it was his imagination but it seemed like everyone on the bus was looking at them.
He quickened his pace until Shen Shi called softly behind him:
“Ye Ran.”
Ye Ran turned his head—
A patch of shadow gently fell over him.
The black baseball cap shielded him from most of those curious gazes.
There was a trace of weariness in Shen Shi’s expression. He lifted his hand to press down the brim of Ye Ran’s hat, not too hard or too light, and said, “Alright.”
Ye Ran stood there quietly for a few seconds before answering, “Oh.”
This time, he didn’t walk too fast. Side by side with Shen Shi, their shoulders nearly touching, they joined the very end of the boarding line.
In front of them stood a few girls—stiff as boards, not moving an inch, standing even more rigidly than he did.
The line moved quickly. Ye Ran boarded first. The hat on his head was a little loose, pressing down his black hair. His skin was fair, making his whole demeanor appear even gentler.
Inside the bus, the chatter mysteriously quieted down.
Ye Ran stood in the aisle and noticed everyone’s gaze flicking toward the space behind him.
He had a vague feeling and sure enough, the next second, a faint cool breath brushed the top of his head.
Shen Shi said, “Let’s sit in the back.”
The two of them started toward the rear seats. Yu Ting, already sitting there, waved at them enthusiastically. “Hey hey hey! Saved you guys a spot!”
The back row was quiet, with few people around.
When Shen Shi went to stow his backpack in the luggage rack, Ye Ran was just about to get up to help but Shen Shi took his bag naturally, placing it up there in one smooth motion.
Sensing something, Shen Shi lowered his head slightly and looked at him. “I got it.”
Yu Ting, wearing a meaningful expression, chimed in, “Exactly. Ye Ran, just sit.”
Ye Ran sat down silently, the tips of his ears faintly red.
The bus was filled with the soft murmur of conversation, yet every now and then, subtle glances still drifted toward the back seats.
Everyone was sitting right on the front line of gossip. Last night, Shen Shi’s new WeChat status had just been updated and within a minute, it shot to the top of the campus forum.
Some people were guessing who it referred to, others were crying that they’d missed their chance, and still others said they didn’t mind and would keep trying anyway.
The Astronomy Club members had also only found out last night. Each small chat group had exploded in waves of discussion, and everyone had their suspicions. Now, seeing Ye Ran and Shen Shi interact like that—
“I knew it,” one girl whispered to her friend. “I just knew… those two.”
“When did it happen?”
“Not sure, but thinking back now, there were definitely signs that night during truth or dare.”
“D*mn, that’s so cute! I always thought there was something off about them—no straight guys stick together that much.”
“Enough,” the girls in the third row interrupted awkwardly, changing the subject as they looked toward the vice president. “Um… Ranran, once we’re back at school, let’s go out for a meal, yeah?”
The vice president was staring out the window. The rain had grown heavier, blurring the glass into a soft wash of gray. She turned back, nodded lightly. “Sure.”
The girls exhaled in unison.
The vice president turned her head again. Sitting in the fourth row, she could clearly see diagonally across the aisle where Shen Shi and Ye Ran sat.
Both tall, both seated loosely.
Shen Shi was wearing a high-collared outdoor jacket with a thick lining, good enough even for winter. The zipper was pulled up to his chin; he leaned back lazily, looking both drowsy and distant.
Ye Ran was in a similar-colored padded coat. Compared to Shen Shi, he drew more attention once he’d removed his hat—fair skin, gentle brows, eyes that seemed to carry a natural smile. The two sat side by side, not speaking, yet their presence felt perfectly in tune like they simply belonged that way.
The vice president recalled the scene from yesterday noon: Shen Shi, standing in the rain, gazing at Ye Ran with full attention.
She smiled faintly, finally letting that thought go.
Forget it.
She couldn’t compare.
***
As soon as Yu Ting sat down, his mouth didn’t stop moving—talking about midterms one minute, then bragging about chatting up a pretty girl at the cafeteria the next.
Ye Ran’s head was spinning, and thankfully, the club president called him over, rescuing him from the ordeal.
The moment Ye Ran left, Yu Ting’s chatter stopped cold. A few seconds later, he asked in a pained whisper, “Sh*t. So it happened?”
Ye Ran, you fool!
You couldn’t even hold out one night?!
That WeChat guide I sent you—you didn’t even click it, did you?!
Shen Shi couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Yeah.”
“That’s it??” Yu Ting felt like his worldview had been shattered. Just a single post on the forum, and the guy actually caught a boyfriend?
He couldn’t even find a date faster than a freshly-turned gay guy could!
Was there no justice left in this world?!
The more Yu Ting thought about it, the more sour he felt. No matter how he looked, Shen Shi’s face just screamed smug satisfaction like a peacock showing off its feathers.
After some reflection, Yu Ting decided Shen Shi must have some hidden skill.
“You should open a class, Shen Shi,” he said sincerely. “I’ll kneel and take notes.”
For once, Shen Shi seemed a little amused. He glanced lazily over. “First…”
Yu Ting leaned in, listening closely.
“You need to have a face like mine,” Shen Shi said.
Yu Ting: “…”
Yu Ting: “…………”
“Knew it,” he said flatly. “So it was seduction after all.”
He scoffed. “Figures. With your cr*p personality, if Ye Ran really knew what you’re like, would he still be with you?”
Shen Shi slowly lifted his gaze. “My kind of personality?”
“Yeah,” Yu Ting said, oblivious. “You’re always pretending to be all cool and detached—boring as h*ll. What’s Ye Ran see in you… oh wait, right—it’s you who’s been chasing him, huh?”
He burst out laughing. “You better watch out. Now that everyone knows you two are dating, there’ll be plenty of people trying to steal Ye Ran away. Compared to you, he’s way more likable, hahaha—”
Thud!
A dull sound echoed through the bus.
Everyone jumped, turning to look—just in time to see Yu Ting sprawled across the aisle in an impossible position, body on the floor, one leg still tangled on the seat.
Shen Shi was standing beside him, as if about to help him up.
What a harmonious and friendly scene.
“Ye Ran?”
The club president’s voice pulled Ye Ran’s attention back.
“Oh,” Ye Ran nodded. “I’m listening.”
“That’s how it is.” The smile faded from the president’s face, replaced by a troubled look. “That night, I did tell everyone not to spread the news. But our club has twenty people—some I’m not that familiar with… This situation is my fault. I owe you and Shen Shi an apology.”
“No, no,” Ye Ran laughed softly. There was no way to blame the president for this. Others had no obligation to keep his secrets. The fact that the president even cared was already more than enough. “Really, it’s fine.”
The president nodded, seeing that he truly didn’t mind. A faint smile returned, and he looked at Ye Ran with teasing curiosity. “Then you and Shen Shi…?”
Ye Ran’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
Right now was actually the perfect moment to “make it official.” With so many people in the bus, by the time they reached school, anyone still suspicious would likely hear the “confirmed” news.
“Mm,” he nodded, pretending calm. “Shen Shi and I are dating.”
For a moment, the air around the front seats went dead silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
A girl couldn’t help herself; she inhaled sharply.
From the corner of his eye, Ye Ran caught sight of a few girls already unlocking their phones, fingers flying over the screen. He knew the first stage of the plan was complete. After exchanging a few more words with the president, he quickly returned to his seat.
His pace was quick, and when he sat down, his heart was still pounding.
A shadow fell over him. Turning his head, he met Shen Shi’s frowning gaze, his eyes quietly studying Ye Ran’s expression. “What’s wrong?”
The bus had already started moving, gliding through the cold, misty rain.
Thinking of what he’d just done, Ye Ran couldn’t suppress his excitement. In a low voice, he told him, “I told the president that we’re dating.”
Shen Shi paused and looked at him.
Ye Ran took a deep breath, unable to calm his racing heartbeat. “By the time we get to school, those who were doubting you faked it should have heard by then.”
Shen Shi finally made a soft sound in acknowledgment. His eyes remained lowered, gaze still fixed on Ye Ran’s face.
As a “teammate” in this act, Ye Ran thought he’d done quite well, he even felt a bit more confident about this whole fake-boyfriend plan.
After a moment, Shen Shi seemed to recall something. He said, “The school’s a complicated place. Even if word gets around, there’ll still be people who won’t believe it.”
“Ah?” Ye Ran blinked, surprised there were people that stubborn. “Then what should we do?”
He thought for a moment, then coughed lightly, embarrassed. “Should I make a post on my Moments?”
You know, something to declare ownership.
Shen Shi said, “No need.”
After speaking, he calmly reached over and took Ye Ran’s right hand, which was resting on his knee. His grip was steady, neither too light nor too tight.
That warm, broad hand covered Ye Ran’s; a moment later, it naturally slid down, their palms fitting together. Just like a real couple, they could feel the warmth of each other’s skin.
Ye Ran’s mind went blank. His breath caught for a second. After a while, he lifted his head dazedly and met Shen Shi’s eyes.
Shen Shi’s head was slightly bowed; under the dim light, his face was half-shadowed, his expression unreadable. His voice was low, almost like an explanation.
“Actions speak louder than words. Get used to it first.”
“From now on, we should hold hands whenever possible.”
Ye Ran’s lips parted. After a few seconds, he finally managed to respond, his voice hesitant and soft. “…O-okay.”
At that moment, a hazy thought crossed his mind—
He owed Shen Shi too much already. Holding hands wasn’t such a big deal.
…It was still better than kissing.
***
The bus arrived at school right at one in the afternoon.
Under the silent gaze of all their club members, Ye Ran and Shen Shi stepped off the bus, hand in hand.
Ye Ran was still wearing Shen Shi’s hat, the collar of his jacket pulled up to his jaw, hiding the faint blush on his neck. He took a deep breath, trying not to appear so stiff, quietly walking beside Shen Shi toward the dorms, their hands still clasped.
News of Shen Shi’s orientation and his “relationship” spread almost simultaneously.
Along the way, Ye Ran could feel countless glances cast in their direction.
Some curious, some astonished—and some not-so-secretly taking pictures, which were soon uploaded to the campus forum.
It wasn’t hard to imagine the explosion of discussion that would follow.
They’d only been away from campus four days, yet Ye Ran felt as if he’d been gone for a lifetime.
The bus could only stop at the main gate. The evergreen trees lining the road had already shed their leaves, their branches thin and bare.
Carrying his backpack, Ye Ran walked beside Shen Shi, the brim of the oversized baseball cap shadowing his hair. The cold wind cut through the air, leeching away his warmth.
Suddenly, Shen Shi tightened his grip slightly and turned toward him. “Cold?”
Ye Ran wasn’t dressed very thickly; under the dark high collar, his face looked even paler. His eyes half-lidded, the corners reddened by the chill. “A little.”
“Mm.” Shen Shi immediately quickened his pace. “Let’s walk faster.”
The path ahead was clear—until, just as they neared the dorm building, someone blocked their way.
A boy with delicate features stood there, wearing only a slim-fitting coat despite the winter chill. He held an umbrella, eyes sweeping over their joined hands.
“Shen Shi, right?” he said casually, as though he hadn’t seen anything at all. He took out his phone and waved it slightly. “Add me on WeChat?”
Shen Shi’s face remained expressionless. He didn’t even look at the boy. “Move.”
Rain had dampened his hair, dark strands clinging to his forehead. The sharp lines of his face stood out beneath the gray light, his eyes deep and dark as midnight.
Ye Ran finally caught on too. Praising Shen Shi’s foresight inwardly, he took a step forward, instinctively tightening his grip on Shen Shi’s hand and blocking him from the other boy’s view.
“He already has a boyfriend,” Ye Ran said.
“Huh?” The boy looked at him, then gave a short laugh. “No way. You look straight as h*ll.”
Ye Ran: “?”
Ye Ran froze for a second. “I’m not. I’m Shen Shi’s boyfriend.”
The boy snorted. “Yeah, right.”
Then he turned back to Shen Shi. “Even if you want to reject me, you don’t have to go this far, right?”
“Finding a straight guy to pretend to be your boyfriend?” He sneered. “You think we can’t tell?”
…What was that supposed to mean?
In just a few sentences, Ye Ran tasted what “beyond explanation” truly meant. Since when was he straight?
He opened his mouth, but Shen Shi’s low, icy voice came first—
“Get lost.”
Both Ye Ran and the boy froze.
They turned toward Shen Shi at the same time. It was rare to see such a clear expression on his face, his eyes were pitch-black, and the air around him sharp and cold with restrained anger.
Sensing danger, the boy immediately turned and ran off without looking back.
As he fled, Ye Ran could still feel that last hateful glance thrown in his direction, followed by a threat muttered under his breath:
“Fine, just you wait. I’ll post about this and expose you both.”
Ye Ran: “?”
Ye Ran: “???”
Expose what?
Me?
I swear, I’m not straight.
