Shoutout to Kari for the commission!
Le Cheng froze for a moment, completely not expecting Zhou Shirui to ask that.
His heart softened, and he shook his head. “No. Xiaobai was just standing up for me. I’ve already dealt with it.”
Zhou Shirui lowered his eyes and stared at him, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly not quite believing him. Le Cheng looked rather dazed, with a soft personality. Perhaps he had been bullied without even realizing it.
So he asked, “Really?”
“Ah, yes. Really!” Le Cheng’s brows curved as he smiled. “I’ve already taken care of it. Besides, Xiaobai and I are in the same dorm. No one is going to bully me.”
Only then did Zhou Shirui look at Tan Xiaobai. Not knowing what he had thought of, he gave a rather cold “Mm.”
“Let’s go.” Le Cheng beckoned. “Let’s head back.”
The fresh poses had already been produced, and he couldn’t wait to return to the dorm and refine them.
The three of them strolled back to the dorm together. When they arrived in front of the dormitory building, Tan Xiaobai went upstairs first. Le Cheng was also preparing to say goodbye, but Zhou Shirui suddenly called out to him.
“Le Cheng.”
“Mm?” Le Cheng slightly widened his eyes.
“If anything happens, call me.” Zhou Shirui said this.
Le Cheng immediately broke into a smile. He couldn’t help joking, “What’s wrong, Senior Zhou? Are you afraid someone will bully me?”
It was meant as a joke, but Zhou Shirui lowered his dark eyes and answered seriously, “Mm.”
Keeping his distance did not mean he had to stand by and watch Le Cheng get bullied.
Besides……this had nothing to do with feelings. It was his duty as a boyfriend.
Le Cheng froze slightly and said softly, “They won’t.” He smiled. “Actually, I’m very formidable!”
Formidable? Zhou Shirui looked at Le Cheng’s harmless, innocent face, skeptical of that claim.
After saying goodbye to Zhou Shirui, Le Cheng returned to the dorm. Qin Yu was playing games as if venting his frustration, pounding on the mechanical keyboard extremely loudly.
It was a little noisy. Le Cheng frowned but said nothing. He put on his headphones and prepared to refine the scenes he had collected today.
He first drew his favorite one, Zhou Shirui’s slam dunk, then did some editing and uploaded it to Douyin.
His fans were highly active. Taking advantage of the fact that there weren’t many people around yet, Le Cheng picked a few comments to reply to.
Someone said: [Lao Si, although I heard that you’re going to break up, your art still loves him (bushi)]
[Stealing Hearts, Runaway Guoli Orange: Yes, my art still loves him!!]
Someone said: [Lao Si, I can’t bear for you two to break up. I definitely don’t mean I can’t bear to lose our exclusive male model. Boss, can you not break up and keep drawing for us?]
[Stealing Hearts, Runaway Guoli Orange: Hugs, but that might be difficult, because the circumstances under which we got together were pretty hasty. But even after we break up, I can still draw!]
Someone said: [Boss, you’re eating so well!! This body!! Even without the details, I already know!!]
[Stealing Hearts, Runaway Guoli Orange: Hehehehehehehe]
Le Cheng was having so much fun talking big. Although……although his real relationship with Zhou Shirui was more like being meal buddies……
But what was wrong with talking big online!
Judging by his eyes, he was indeed eating very well!
After replying to the comments, Le Cheng went to draw the next picture. Once he finished the next one, he glanced at the comments section again. Because of all his shameless flirting, the people who came later were all losing their underwear in the comments section, frantically shipping them.
Le Cheng couldn’t help turning red with embarrassment.
No, the internet isn’t a lawless place.
You guys, stop it!
Le Cheng drew two pictures in one go. When he took off his headphones, he finally realized that the dorm had gotten even noisier.
Qin Yu was not only playing his game forcefully, but had also turned on music through the speakers, making all sorts of clattering noises.
Le Cheng frowned and turned around to go out to get some water.
He thought Qin Yu was really strange, inexplicably so.
There were quite a few people in the water room. While waiting to get water, Le Cheng sent Zhou Shirui a few stickers.
[Orange: Line-drawing puppy rolling around.jpg]
[Orange: Line-drawing puppy angry.jpg]
[Orange: Line-drawing puppy woof woof woof.jpg]
Three snow-white puppies made cute gestures on the screen. Le Cheng couldn’t help smiling.
[Big Brother: ?]
Le Cheng typed an explanation: It’s nothing, I was just bored……
But before he could send it, a voice call “ring-ring” popped up.
He quickly answered. “Hello? What’s wrong?”
Zhou Shirui: “That’s what I should be asking you.”
The person in front finished filling their water, so Le Cheng quickly carried his kettle over. The sound of rushing water rang beside his ears.
There was a pause on the other end of the phone. Zhou Shirui asked, “What are you doing?”
“Getting water.” Le Cheng answered, then explained, “Actually, it’s nothing. I was just bored……”
Zhou Shirui didn’t say anything after that. Le Cheng chatted with him about meaningless things here and there as he walked back after getting his water.
“Bang!”
A loud noise suddenly exploded beside his ears. Nearing the dormitory door, Le Cheng was startled and stopped in confusion.
Zhou Shirui naturally heard it. “What was that sound?”
“Something’s wrong!” Le Cheng had no time to explain and hurried into the dormitory. As soon as he entered, he saw Tan Xiaobai frowning, while Qin Yu’s expression was extremely impatient.
“What do you mean? What’s wrong with me playing a game?” Qin Yu said loudly.
There was also a rare look of anger on Tan Xiaobai’s usually gentle face. “I want to sleep. Didn’t I tell you? I just wanted you not to play the game out loud. Qin Yu, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
Tan Xiaobai’s tongue was sharp. “You don’t like me, and you don’t like Le Cheng either. What exactly have we done to you? Explain it clearly.”
The sound of the door opening startled the two of them. Qin Yu turned his head and looked at Le Cheng, suddenly letting out a mocking laugh. “I just don’t like people like you. Your conduct is problematic.”
Le Cheng understood. Qin Yu was referring to what happened the last time he put on makeup.
Tan Xiaobai: “Conduct is problematic? Explain yourself. Who exactly has problematic conduct?”
Qin Yu shouted, “The two of you! Don’t think I don’t know. I just normally can’t be bothered to say anything!”
Qin Yu kicked the desk. Deep down, he had always thought Le Cheng was strange. He hadn’t felt this way before, but ever since the last time he saw Le Cheng wearing makeup, dressed so nicely and made up to look like a girl, he had felt extremely uncomfortable. He was a man, why did he have to dress like that?
This strange feeling reached its peak when he saw Le Cheng’s boyfriend.
Before Le Cheng and Tan Xiaobai could say anything, Qin Yu sneered. “Anyway, I don’t want to stay in this dorm anymore either. I’m going to tell our counselor that you two go out and mess around every day!”
With that, Qin Yu rushed out.
Le Cheng stood there. He was still at the stage where he hadn’t fully heard or processed what had happened. He widened his eyes and asked, “Xiaobai, he, where did he go?”
Before Tan Xiaobai could speak, Zhou Shirui’s low voice came from the other end. “Le Cheng.”
Only then did Le Cheng realize he hadn’t hung up the phone. “Mm?”
Zhou Shirui: “Don’t move. I’ll be there soon.”
His tone was steady. Although he didn’t know why, Le Cheng was still somewhat reassured by it. The call ended.
Le Cheng had a bit of a good-student mentality. This matter was actually nothing at all, and normally he wasn’t afraid of other people, but hearing Qin Yu say that he was going to tell the counselor still made him a little scared. His big eyes blinked repeatedly, and Tan Xiaobai comforted him. “It’s fine. We don’t even have the same counselor. Don’t listen to his nonsense.”
“Mm.” Le Cheng nodded.
Zhou Shirui arrived very quickly. Le Cheng went downstairs to meet him. After being comforted by Tan Xiaobai, Le Cheng had already calmed down. He looked at Zhou Shirui, and before he could speak, Zhou Shirui said, “Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid.” Le Cheng’s heart warmed. He blinked. “What do we do now?”
“It’s fine. Nothing will happen at all.” Zhou Shirui was very calm. “Wait until he comes back.”
Zhou Shirui’s guess was correct. Qin Yu returned an hour after leaving. His expression was ugly, and when he saw Zhou Shirui, there was an even more indescribable look on his face.
Zhou Shirui was expressionless as he looked at Qin Yu, his tone very indifferent. “Talk?”
Qin Yu went out with him.
As soon as they stepped outside, Qin Yu spoke. “You came here to speak up for Le Cheng? I’m telling you, I’m still going to tell the coun—”
“Stop with the nonsense.” Zhou Shirui interrupted him coldly. “And don’t try to fool me with such a f*cking stupid excuse.”
Qin Yu froze. “What do you mean?”
Zhou Shirui was taller than him. He lowered his eyes and looked down at him. “You know what I mean. You can even say something as lame as that.”
Qin Yu opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but Zhou Shirui frowned and informed him concisely, “If you can’t stay here, leave on your own. Do you need me to help you move?”
The last three words seemed to be bitten out between his lips, with slightly more force.
Zhou Shirui had always been a man of few words, and his temper was also quite good. Qin Yu hadn’t expected him to be so direct. His neck turned red with anger. “I……I can move myself! I don’t need you!”
Back in the dorm, Le Cheng was boredly picking at his fingers. He was actually a little nervous, his big eyes blinking nonstop. As soon as he heard the sound of the door opening, he immediately stood up and saw that it was Zhou Shirui.
Le Cheng’s cheeks were flushed as he asked with concern, “How did it go?”
Zhou Shirui lowered his head to look at him and stared for two seconds before finally saying simply, “It’s resolved.”
“Resolved?”
Le Cheng immediately broke into a smile, his brows and eyes curving. He was genuinely happy, so happy that he excitedly stepped forward and hugged Zhou Shirui.
Zhou Shirui was momentarily stunned by his smile, and then he heard Le Cheng say in a very cheerful and adorable tone, “Zhou Shirui! You really are amazing!”
Zhou Shirui lowered his lashes and looked at Le Cheng’s smooth, fair face. His eyes seemed to be filled with extreme dependence, and his arms were wrapped around Zhou Shirui’s waist in a very intimate posture. The tip of his nose was filled with Le Cheng’s scent and warmth, and an inexplicable feeling suddenly arose in his heart, making his throat tighten uncontrollably.
This feeling made him realize that something was wrong.
He quickly turned his eyes away and pulled Le Cheng’s hands away, wanting him to move farther from him. “It’s nothing.”
“How is it nothing?” Le Cheng happily tugged at him. “You helped me out. How am I supposed to repay you?”
