That evening, Shen Shi and the others didn’t come back at all. It wasn’t until the very last period of evening self-study that Ye Ran finally saw the three of them arrive late.
Shen Shi was walking at the back, and he’d even changed clothes.
His pants pocket bulged conspicuously, stretched into a square shape.
Jiang Yun was animatedly chatting with Yu Ting, his brows flying with excitement. In his hand was a small bag printed with the Huating Jewelry logo.
Compared to other chain stores, Huating Jewelry, only operating within Haicheng, had the best reputation and the heaviest foot traffic. Many out-of-town customers would even place reservations before a new season began. Seeing that bag now, some people in the class had already started whispering among themselves.
But those whispers didn’t affect Shen Shi and his group at all.
Back at their seats, Shen Shi pulled out his chair and plopped the pearl milk tea he was carrying onto Ye Ran’s desk.
The surrounding noise seemed to quiet for a split second.
In a class with people like Shen Shi and Jiang Yun from wealthy families, there were naturally also ordinary students.
Everyone usually kept to themselves, but once an anomaly appeared among the ordinary crowd, it created an unmistakable sense of disparity.
Now, that anomaly had appeared.
Ye Ran was momentarily taken aback and looked up. Shen Shi tipped his chin at him, signaling that he could drink it if he wanted; if not, he could just toss it.
That was very much Student Shen’s usual domineering style.
Jiang Yun and Yu Ting were also drinking milk tea. Between the two of them, they gulped down half a cup in just a few sips, frowning from how cloying it was.
“So sweet. If I’d known, I would’ve gone with thirty percent sugar too,” Jiang Yun complained.
“Seriously,” Yu Ting said, sucking up the pearls at the bottom and yawning. “But the hotpot there was pretty good. If Shen Shi hadn’t been in such a rush to come back, I could’ve taken down another plate of fatty beef.”
A chair was kicked, not too hard, not too light.
Yu Ting staggered a step and bared his teeth, glaring at Shen Shi, who was lazily playing with his phone beside him.
Ignoring the looks being thrown his way, Ye Ran unwrapped the straw and took a sip of the milk tea.
The milk tea was smooth and velvety, rich with milky fragrance, made with fresh milk. The pearls were springy and chewy. After a few sips, when he looked again at the thick stack of test papers piled up, he felt noticeably less irritated.
…Student Shen is being so well-behaved today. Maybe I can assign him a few fewer papers.
He thought contentedly.
The bell for the end of evening self-study rang soon enough.
Jiang Yun shot out like an arrow released from a bow, slipping out in one smooth motion, still enthusiastically carrying the gift bag in his hand.
The classroom buzzed with noise. The students who stayed behind were all boarders who wouldn’t be going home until the next morning.
Ye Ran packed up his backpack, slowly sipping his milk tea as he headed back to the dorm.
Just like yesterday, Shen Shi only returned today right before lights-out.
The hallway had already quieted down, the lighting dim.
But the washroom was crowded.
Each floor had one laundry room with six washing machines, but they were always in high demand. Ye Ran hugged his dirty bedsheets and duvet cover, bored as he lined up to wait for an empty machine.
Before long, an unfamiliar boy suddenly walked over to him, smiling warmly. “Ye Ran, I don’t have many clothes. If you don’t mind, why don’t we wash together?”
Ye Ran looked at him and felt he looked somewhat familiar.
“My name’s Li Shaoqian. I sit two rows in front of you. Tomorrow’s a holiday, why aren’t you taking these big items home to wash?” the boy asked, seemingly casually.
Ye Ran smiled, as if he hadn’t picked up on the probing tone. “Oh, I’m not going home tomorrow.”
Li Shaoqian said, “You applied to stay on campus over the weekend?”
“Yeah.” Ye Ran nodded, straightforwardly satisfying his curiosity. “My family’s in the capital. I can’t go back.”
There was a hint of suspicion in Li Shaoqian’s eyes. After a few seconds, he said, “I thought your family lived over in the Nancheng area too. I was thinking if we were on the same route, we could head back together… here, give me your clothes.”
Li Shaoqian was only washing a single set of school uniform. It was obvious his family was well-off, his pajamas were printed with the logo of a luxury brand.
Nancheng in Haishi was a well-known wealthy district. If Li Shaoqian lived there, he should have known Shen Shi and the others long ago.
Ye Ran refused his goodwill. “No need, I’ll just wait for a bit.”
“There are so many people lining up. Once the lights go out, you won’t be able to wash anymore,” Li Shaoqian said, still enthusiastic, looking like he was one step away from grabbing the basin out of Ye Ran’s hands.
Ye Ran dodged him and took a step back. “Really, no need. Thanks.”
Li Shaoqian said, “If you think my clothes are dirty, we can switch. You wash first, I’ll line up a bit longer.”
Ye Ran’s head was starting to ache.
He stared at the hand Li Shaoqian had casually placed on the rim of his basin, took a breath, and said evenly, “I can line up by myself. I’m not in a rush. You should go wash your own clothes first.”
“I can hand-wash mine. Yours are all big items, you can only use a washing machine for those. Otherwise, give me your clothes. I’ll take them home tomorrow and bring them back clean for you on Monday,” Li Shaoqian said.
Ye Ran: “……”
He was exhausted. He really didn’t want to keep tug-of-warring with him in the washroom. Just as he was about to pick up the basin and leave, from afar, a familiar voice came over.
“Ye Ran.”
The crowd went quiet for a moment, then immediately stirred.
Shen Shi had no idea when he’d appeared at the entrance of the washroom. With an indifferent expression, he walked over. Under a chorus of surprised looks, he took the basin from Ye Ran’s hands, glanced at it casually, and said, “What are you dawdling for? Let’s go.”
Ye Ran hurried to follow him. “Why are you…?”
Shen Shi usually hid until lights-out before showing up. Today, he’d come so openly, wasn’t he afraid other students would report him?
Shen Shi seemed to know what he was thinking and said nothing, his face cold.
Ye Ran’s dorm was at the very end of the corridor.
After entering, the light dimmed another notch. Lights-out was imminent.
Shen Shi set the washbasin by the door. Ye Ran bent down, about to carry it to the balcony, when Shen Shi suddenly snapped for no apparent reason, asking irritably, “Why are you still washing that?”
Ye Ran: “?”
Ye Ran: “It’s dirty, shouldn’t it be washed?”
Shen Shi pressed his thin lips together. “Leave it there. I’ll take it away tomorrow.”
Ye Ran suddenly understood what he was angry about. He found it a bit funny and obediently set the basin down. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
Shen Shi’s expression eased slightly.
The next second, he heard Ye Ran say lazily, “But it really should be you washing it. It’s all your sweat.”
Shen Shi: “……”
Shen Shi: “…………”
In the second before lights-out, Ye Ran caught sight of a faint flush rising along Shen Shi’s ears.
Satisfied, he’d completed his task of teasing the stinky little brother.
He climbed onto the bed and began tidying it.
After waiting a bit without Shen Shi coming over, he turned his head and only saw a figure still standing motionless by the door.
Ye Ran called softly, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Shi didn’t move.
Footsteps could be faintly heard from the end of the corridor. Ye Ran lowered his voice. “Shen Shi?”
Shen Shi still didn’t speak, lifting his eyes and waiting quietly in the darkness.
A few seconds later, he got what he wanted. He heard the soft rustling sounds, Ye Ran got out of bed, wearing slippers, carrying a gentle floral scent. He rose onto his toes, hooked an arm around Shen Shi’s neck, and kissed him.
His voice was helpless and amused as well, very light by Shen Shi’s ear. “You’re angry?”
Eyes lowered, Shen Shi let Ye Ran take his hand and climb onto the bed with him. The wide, soft thin blanket was just enough to hide the two of them.
The dorm supervisor had already reached the room next door.
When the beam of a flashlight swept in, he was under the covers kissing Ye Ran. The hem of the little bear pajama top had been lifted, and broken, faint breaths spilled from Ye Ran’s lips. His body was soft like a puddle of water, mouth parted, his rosy tongue being greedily, obsessively lapped at by the sticky, clingy little wolf cub.
Like overripe fruit, swollen and sweet juice seeping out with every suck.
Before it could spill, it was all greedily swallowed clean by the insatiable boy.
Ye Ran was starting to hurt. Knowing Shen Shi was stubborn to the bone, he didn’t dare coax him in a lecturing tone anymore, only said hoarsely, “Shen Shi… d-don’t bite, okay?”
The boy who was kissing him so blissfully seemed not to hear. He was clumsy and inexperienced, with no sense of restraint, yet his body was lean and solid, full of strength. His fingers looked long and well-defined, but were actually large, the joints thick. When he got too carried away, he would grip Ye Ran’s waist and lift him, rubbing against him relentlessly, forcing him to open his mouth wider.
His tongue had been kissed until it was swollen and sore. Ye Ran squinted his eyes, mist welling up and dampening his lashes. He hooked an arm around Shen Shi’s neck and leaned against him weakly. The next second, the hem of his pajama top was stuffed into his mouth.
Such a familiar action made Ye Ran instinctively bite down on it in submission.
The low, hoarse breathing by his ear grew clearer. The little wolf cub lowered his head, eyes black and frightening. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he pressed Ye Ran harder against the wall, tightening his grip to lock away all resistance.
The fabric hem was soaked.
Ye Ran frowned and reached up to touch Shen Shi’s cheek and the back of his neck. His eyes seemed to hold a lake warmed by spring light, the corners flushed red. His swollen lips parted and closed, so enticing Shen Shi couldn’t look away, he could only stare blankly, his mind a complete mess.
“What we did at noon isn’t healed yet… can we do it again tomorrow, okay?”
“Tomorrow’s Saturday…” Afraid he wouldn’t listen, Ye Ran’s voice grew even softer. His dark hair was damp with sweat against his face, inky strands making his pale cheeks look even more delicate, the faint blush like evening clouds. He lowered his lashes, unaware of how easy to bully he looked. “I’ll go out with you.”
Shen Shi forced himself to tear his gaze away from Ye Ran’s lips, his voice hoarse. “…Really?”
“Really.” Ye Ran took the initiative to kiss him, his tone gentle and full of temptation. “When the time comes, I’ll teach you some other things…”
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Shen Shi’s gray sweatpants. The waistband had been impatiently loosened, the two ties hanging loosely, making everything all the more obvious.
Shen Shi didn’t speak.
“…What’s wrong?” Ye Ran tilted his head to kiss him. Sitting in Shen Shi’s arms, his cheeks were flushed by the scorching heat of his body. He was soft all over, especially his lips, his eyes full of gentle, indulgent affection.
Shen Shi lowered his lids and let him kiss him. After a few seconds, he snorted and said in a strange tone, “You really have a lot of tricks.”
Ye Ran looked up blankly. When he saw the gloom and sour jealousy in Shen Shi’s eyes, his eyelid twitched, bad feeling. He hurried to explain, “I learned it all online.”
Shen Shi stared at him darkly, his burning-hot hand slowly grinding against Ye Ran’s waist, little by little rubbing that soft flesh until it flushed red. Only then did he ask flatly, “What’s that person’s name?”
Resting against Shen Shi’s shoulder, Ye Ran was so weak he had no strength left. He tried to pry his hand away. “…There’s no one else, Shen Shi. Only you.”
“You think I believe that?” Shen Shi said coldly.
Ye Ran said, “It really is only you. I… ah— I swear.”
The hem of his clothes was stuffed back into his mouth.
Ye Ran was at his wits’ end, his voice muffled as he finished speaking.
Shen Shi neither said he believed it nor that he didn’t. He shoved Ye Ran onto the bed, pressed down on him, and bared his teeth to bite him viciously: “……All you know how to do is coax me.”
Ye Ran struggled to press down on his shoulders to stop him from moving around. Shen Shi looked furious, yet his movements were very gentle. Even when Ye Ran grabbed his hair, he only clicked his tongue and lifted his eyelids to glare at him impatiently.
“Let go.”
Ye Ran coaxed him: “……If you let go of me, I’ll let go.”
Shen Shi stared at him, his eyes thick and dark like ink that couldn’t be dissolved. After a moment, he ground his teeth, dropped his gaze indifferently, and said in a hoarse, cold voice: “Then pull.”
He said it word by word, ruthless: “I’m definitely going to make you cry tonight.”
……
Sure enough, no matter the age, Shen Shi was never someone to mess with.
Ye Ran had thoroughly learned his lesson.
He really was ground down until his pupils lost focus and tears fell.
Tomorrow was Saturday, no classes.
On the narrow single bed in dorm room 230, Ye Ran was curled up in Shen Shi’s arms, leaning against his chest. The moisture at the corners of his eyes hadn’t faded yet, flushed all over.
Shen Shi held him, burying his face in the hollow of his neck and lazily rubbing against him.
When he was satisfied, he was like a big cat that had eaten and drunk its fill, no matter how Ye Ran tugged his ears or grabbed his hair, he didn’t get angry.
Ye Ran’s voice still carried a bit of a sob, soft and hoarse, like it had hooks in it. Hearing it, Shen Shi couldn’t help but press closer to him again. Ye Ran immediately hissed; with his waist pinned by Shen Shi, he couldn’t dodge and could only pat his shoulder: “……Shen Shi.”
Shen Shi didn’t lift his head. He reached down with one hand, took out a square box, and said dully: “If it was digging into you, then I’ll give it to you.”
The little box appeared suddenly.
Ye Ran took the box, tore open the wrapping, and opened it to take a look.
In an instant, golden light burst out, nearly blinding his eyes.
He went quiet for several full seconds before letting out a snort of laughter: “……What is this?”
“A chain?”
He stretched out his hand, slender and soft fingertips pinching the gold chain, uncoiling it circle by circle, finally seeing clearly what this anklet, made entirely of gold, looked like.
Fine fragments of gold chain hung with silver pendants, looping over and over like intertwining, winding vines.
Shen Shi’s ears were burning red. He responded impatiently with a grunt, though there was a bit of arrogant pride in his eyes. “So?”
No matter what, Ye Ran had never imagined that little Shen Shi would also buy him an anklet.
Or rather, it turned out that buying him anklets had already been etched into Shen Shi’s DNA.
If this chain had to be described in words, then it was gorgeous, grand, and expensive.
Ye Ran pushed Shen Shi away and examined it carefully under the moonlight.
Shen Shi sat behind him, arms around his waist, chin resting on his shoulder, saying in a deliberately calm tone: “If you like it, put it on. You probably don’t know what this is, this is—”
Under the moonlight, a smile spilled into Ye Ran’s eyes.
He quietly stared at the long anklet, his eyelashes dyed silver by the moonlight, each one distinct, his voice light and cheerful: “I know.”
He remembered that summer, the scene of twenty-year-old Shen Shi kneeling in front of him, helping him put on the anklet.
“This is an anklet, right?”
Ye Ran propped up his right leg, his chin resting on his knee, and by the soft moonlight, wound the gold chain around his right ankle, circle after circle. Snow-white, delicate skin set off the gold perfectly; the silver pendants were cool, dotted among it.
The gold chain was very long, wrapped a full four circles. After fastening the final clasp, Ye Ran tilted his head and kissed Shen Shi’s chin, his eyes curving into a soft arc: “Thank you, I really like it.”
The boy behind him didn’t speak.
After a long time, the arm around his waist tightened, veins standing out. Then, out of nowhere, Shen Shi said: “…He gave you one too, didn’t he?”
Ye Ran froze.
In the dim, quiet room, Shen Shi’s voice carried a cold edge like a gathering storm. “Who is he?”
Ye Ran came back to himself, a flash of helplessness and panic in his eyes.
He tried to turn around to hug Shen Shi, but Shen Shi held him in place, refusing to let him move. Like this, Ye Ran exhaled and said, “Shen Shi, there has never been anyone else. I absolutely—”
“Ye Ran!”
Shen Shi suddenly raised his voice. He lowered his head and bit Ye Ran’s neck viciously, like a beast marking its prey. His words were muffled and fierce: “You’re still protecting him!”
His chest rose and fell violently, fingers digging into Ye Ran’s waist as he heard Ye Ran gasp. “Do I look like him?”
The long-festering insecurity finally exploded when he saw that gentle expression on Ye Ran’s face.
“Say it. What’s his name.”
Hearing the tension in his voice, Ye Ran felt something. He tilted his head but only saw Shen Shi turning his face away in embarrassment.
The little wolf cub’s eyes were red, lips pressed into a thin line. He was so angry he wouldn’t even look at Ye Ran. Though he still held his waist, he was clearly hurt. No matter how Ye Ran coaxed, he refused to speak, stubbornly demanding a name.
Ye Ran was helpless. “Shen Shi.”
Shen Shi didn’t move.
Ye Ran softened his voice, wrapped his arms around Shen Shi’s neck, and said gently: “His name… is Shen Shi.”
Author’s Note: See, he’s already crying.
Little Shen: I’m doing this for myself.
Big Shen: I don’t even have anyone to do this for.
Bro Zhouzi: ABO is a life winner story, my darlings. ABO belongs to fantasy BL, it can’t appear in a modern BL side story.
