…
Ye Ran felt like he was about to die.
Late at night, while sprawled on the bed, his finger accidentally lit up his phone screen, nearly 5 a.m., and Shen Shi was still awake.
His mouth was open, eyes red at the corners. Moisture misted his lashes. He bit the pillow weakly as drool dampened the pillowcase. After a while, he was picked up again and sat in Shen Shi’s arms. His two sweaty and soft arms clung to him weakly, and Shen Shi tilted his head back and pried open his lips for a deep kiss.
His tongue was red and wet, soft and swollen, as if it were filled with honey, sweet juices constantly overflowing.
Shen Shi’s eyes were deep and dark. He swept his long, pale hand up his sweaty short hair, revealing sharp and cold features. His expression was indifferent and detached, showing no signs of being tainted by the world. Only his half-closed black eyes occasionally flashed with a sense of satiated satisfaction.
The dormitory was quiet, except for the low breathing.
The bed curtains were tightly closed, and Shen Shi was still wearing loose gray pajama pants. He had simply pulled off the elastic band of the pajama pants and put it to another use.
Finally, Ye Ran’s fingers, gripping the bed sheet, turned red.
His finger bones were distinct and slender, and her petal-like fingertips were so tight they turned white. It took a full five minutes before another large hand gently but firmly grasped hers, and their fingers intertwined.
…
For two days in a row, Ye Ran slept in a daze during the day, and at night he was coaxed into his bed by Shen Shi, who tossed and turned him over and over.
It was almost 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.
The tightly closed bed curtains seemed to create a small world for them. Ye Ran leaned against Shen Shi’s chest, still in a daze, tears streaming down his face. His voice trembled as he said, “…This can’t go on.”
It was very dark inside the bed curtains.
Shen Shi wrapped his arms around Ye Ran’s waist with satisfaction, his hands touching the snow-white skin still damp with sweat. He lowered his head, his high, straight nose gently brushing against Ye Ran’s cheek, his breath hot and even, his voice even more gentle: “I was wrong.”
“What did you do wrong?” Ye Ran asked him listlessly.
“I shouldn’t have done this in the dorm,” Shen Shi said.
So he did know.
Ye Ran only had to think about everything that had happened on this bed behind the curtains, and he no longer knew how he was supposed to face Little Fatty and Brother Shu.
“From now on you’re not allowed to do that again.” He was still a little out of breath, not daring to move at all. The flush on his cheeks hadn’t faded, a few strands of dark hair sticking to his skin. He was just about to continue speaking when he suddenly inhaled sharply, his voice trembling even harder: “Shen Shi…”
Shen Shi had already pressed him back down, his deep, dark eyes fixed on him, not too forceful, but not gentle either. What he said still sounded tender, yet carried a faint, restrained intensity underneath.
“Baby,” he murmured, brushing light kisses across Ye Ran’s eyelids as they flushed a thin red, “not allowed to do what anymore?”
A suppressed sound escaped Ye Ran’s lips. “Not allowed… in the dorm…”
“Not allowed in the dorm?” Shen Shi let out a soft laugh. Seeing Ye Ran’s gaze growing more unfocused, he leaned close to his ear and asked in a warm voice, “Then what am I supposed to do?”
His tone suddenly turned firm, almost cold, his gaze sweeping across Ye Ran’s face. “Hm? Baby, what am I supposed to do?”
“I’m sorry…” Ye Ran was trembling so much he could barely speak. The corners of his eyes were wet and red, making him look fragile and obedient as he clung to Shen Shi like a young bird seeking support. “I don’t know… I’m sorry…”
Shen Shi stared at him for a moment, then slowly pulled him into a tight embrace. In the darkness, his eyes were pitch-black and unreadable, but when they fell on Ye Ran’s face, they slowly filled with helpless, gentle emotion.
“Let’s move out,” he whispered beside Ye Ran’s ear. No longer willing to pressure him in this way, he only kissed him lightly and asked, “Baby.”
“Spend more time with me, okay?”
***
Sunday morning.
Ye Ran slept straight until eleven.
When he woke, daylight was bright. His body felt sore and light. The curtains were open. The whole dorm smelled like air freshener, the balcony door was propped open, and the bed had fresh sheets and a clean duvet cover.
Shen Shi was already awake, leaning against the headboard and looking down at his phone.
He had changed into new pants, the two white elastic straps hanging loosely. The area that had bulged slightly the night before was calm now but the sight still made Ye Ran’s heart skip.
“You’re awake?” Shen Shi sensed movement and turned his head toward him.
Ye Ran didn’t bother responding, only squinted his eyes sleepily.
Shen Shi gave a low laugh and leaned closer. “Still sulking?”
Ye Ran pressed his lips together. Just thinking of how different Shen Shi became the moment he was on a bed made him even less willing to talk.
Normally, Shen Shi accommodated him in everything, he would do anything for him, even kneel in the bathroom just to make Ye Ran comfortable. That kind of posture carried a strong sense of submission; any man would feel a rush of satisfaction from it.
And Ye Ran, once he felt too good, would agree to things, only to regret them the next day after fully sobering up.
This time was no different. He vaguely remembered agreeing to some condition last night and began quietly sulking at himself again.
Shen Shi soothed him gently, “This time it’s nothing major.”
Only then did Ye Ran lift his eyelids. “Really?”
Being tormented half the night, Ye Ran’s long phoenix-shaped eyes were tinted red and had become obviously double-lidded, narrow and beautiful like folded peach petals.
Shen Shi stared at him with an unfocused intensity, then said leisurely, “Mm. Last night you agreed to move out and live together.”
“…What? Live together?” Ye Ran went blank for a moment, his body already beginning to tense. “Wait, live together?!”
“That’s right.” Shen Shi’s cold face melted into a pleased smile. Once he smiled, it was like winter ice thawing; the deep black of his eyes turned warm and soft, making one feel submerged in spring water. “I’ve already booked with three agents. We’ll go see apartments this afternoon. Baby, get up.”
Ye Ran: “…”
Ye Ran: “…………”
Ye Ran gave up, rolled over, and buried himself in the blanket. “Baby doesn’t want to get up.”
“Then sleep a little longer.” Shen Shi wrapped his arms around him from behind, resting his chin on Ye Ran’s shoulder. His voice was soft, his warm breath brushing Ye Ran’s sensitive ear as he spoke lightly, almost casually: “But you won’t be sleeping tonight.”
“…” Ye Ran stayed silent for two seconds, then threw off the blanket. “I’m getting up.”
He got up, but when he stepped down, his waist was sore and his foot slipped. Shen Shi reached out quickly to catch him.
Shen Shi’s expression darkened instantly. He crouched by the bed, gripping Ye Ran’s hand tightly, eyes heavy with worry. “Slow down. I’ll hold you.”
Ye Ran blinked. Under Shen Shi’s fingers on his wrist, he could feel how fast his heartbeat was.
He climbed down the ladder carefully—slow, steady.
Once Ye Ran reached the ground, Shen Shi also descended, his brows still faintly furrowed. Ye Ran leaned into him helplessly, wrapped his arms around Shen Shi’s waist, and reassured him, “It’s okay. I can hold the railing.”
This wasn’t the first time he had slipped. Last week, he got up at night to use the washroom and fell down two steps right in front of Shen Shi. Shen Shi’s expression had been terrible. Ye Ran still remembered the look on his face while kneeling to apply medicine to his knee.
And suddenly, Ye Ran realized why Shen Shi had “suddenly” suggested moving in together.
He had slipped a few times last semester too, though he didn’t fall. Even Little Fatty and Brother Shu often slipped after showering. All three of them never thought much of it but every single instance, Shen Shi had silently taken note.
His heart softened a little. He continued reassuring the man who still looked grim, “I’ll be careful next time.”
“Mm.” Shen Shi’s tone was gentle, though his face remained tense. “We should move out as soon as we can.”
Ye Ran couldn’t help laughing. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to coax Shen Shi out of his mood for now, he simply tilted his head up and kissed his chin. “Alright, I’m going to wash up. Which place are we checking out first?”
His cheeks were soft and warm, carrying a faint scent of chamomile. His gaze was gentle and pure, there was not the slightest hint of anxiety or panic about moving in together. Shen Shi couldn’t help leaning down, wrapping him in his arms and holding him a moment longer. “We’ll eat first.”
Ye Ran responded with a soft “oh,” slipped on his slippers, and yawned. “Then let’s finish viewing early and come back to sleep.”
Shen Shi still didn’t let go. His chin rested lazily on the top of Ye Ran’s head, and he walked with him toward the bathroom, following his steps. “We’ll look at three places today. If we don’t like any of them, we’ll find more.”
“Huh? How many did you pick out?”
“Not many,” Shen Shi replied, sounding very restrained. “Around a dozen.”
“…,” Ye Ran’s feet already hurt. “That’s not many?!”
Shen Shi answered slowly, completely certain of his logic. “This kind of thing can’t be rushed.”
Ye Ran sighed. “Fine.”
It really couldn’t be rushed. The location, property management, surrounding environment, everything needed to be considered.
After washing up quickly, Ye Ran and Shen Shi went to the porridge shop outside the school for breakfast. When they finished, Shen Shi somehow produced a car: a sleek black Mercedes, low-key and luxurious.
Ye Ran curled up comfortably in the passenger seat to nap while they headed to the first apartment.
The apartment was in a high-end complex. Entry required a keycard; unrelated visitors had to register in detail. Even the security guards were young and professional.
The complex wasn’t far from the school, ten minutes by car. The unit was on the twelfth floor: a single-level, three-bedroom, two-living-room layout, fully renovated and ready to move in.
But it didn’t face the sun, and the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows wasn’t great—a dried-up pond.
Ye Ran looked around without expressing an opinion and followed Shen Shi to the second place.
The second apartment was also in a high-end community, also single-level, but smaller, only two bedrooms and two living rooms. The floor-to-ceiling windows faced the sun, but it was farther from campus, around twenty minutes by car.
The third apartment had the best overall conditions. The master bedroom was large, with a bay window, almost big enough to be half a bed. A drawing easel and paints were placed there, making Ye Ran pause to look twice. The view outside was also nice, a koi pond in the complex.
Seeing he liked it, Shen Shi stayed with him there a while longer.
It was sunset. The western sky glowed orange, clouds spreading out like a beautiful painting.
Ye Ran was engrossed. Gradually, the sun sank behind the buildings. He withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and gave Shen Shi, who was holding him, a small kiss.
His eyes were quiet and clear like water, his lashes dark and thick, leaving a crescent-shaped shadow below them.
Shen Shi lowered his gaze at him, then suddenly smiled. “There’s one more. I think you’ll like it.”
“There’s more?” Ye Ran asked, surprised.
“Mm.” Shen Shi took his hand and led him out. “The sun hasn’t set yet. The scenery there should be even better.”
