Spiced Red

After evening self-study, Duan Xu returned with Shen Yanlang. The moment they entered the dorm, they heard Zhou Zhou shouting, "Holy shit! That was way too fast!"

"What was too fast?" Duan Xu could not help asking.

Zhou Zhou looked up at them and waggled his brows. "Go check the school forum. Especially you, Brother Yan. Someone took a picture of you and dug up all your information."

Shen Yanlang immediately understood. He gave a noncommittal hum.

Seeing how calm he looked, as though it had nothing to do with him, Duan Xu could not help admiring him.

Then, the next moment.

It was only a matter of time before someone photographed me. Can't help it—I'm too handsome.

Duan Xu: "..."

Who would have thought Shen Yanlang was such a narcissist?

Still, Shen Yanlang had refined, handsome features, a steady demeanor, and a good temper. Anyone who saw him would think he was strikingly handsome. He had the right to be narcissistic.

Duan Xu remembered that Shen Yanlang was also the campus heartthrob.

After putting away his books, Duan Xu took out his phone and opened the forum. The first post had a "Hot" tag after it.

#The peak of freshman attractiveness, a candidate for campus heartthrob!#

When he clicked into it, the first thing he saw was a candid photo of Shen Yanlang and him eating in the cafeteria.

The angle was excellent, from Shen Yanlang's front side. He happened to be sitting by the window, and the noon sunlight filtered through the trees onto him, as though coating him in a layer of light.

[This shot is way too beautiful!]

[Waaah! With a face like that, I could drool over him for the rest of my life!!!]

[I thought the title was just clickbait, but after coming in, I realized the poster was an honest person!]

[One minute! I need every bit of information on this junior!]

[He's obviously an alpha. Junior, I'm available!]

Upperclassmen girls were truly terrifying.

Duan Xu closed the forum after reading it. Fortunately, the person taking the candid shot had not captured him. Of course, even if they had, he would have been ignored.

Their candid photography skills aren't bad.

Duan Xu: "..."

"Brother Yan, I guarantee you'll be the new campus heartthrob. No doubt about it." Zhou Zhou read the post with great interest.

Shen Yanlang looked indifferent. "Whatever."

I haven't met anyone better-looking than me yet.

Duan Xu: "..."

This was not ordinary narcissism!

Xiao Xu dug out his pajamas, ready to take a shower. But after glancing at Zhou Zhou, he said in a less-than-pleasant tone, "Why are you, a guy, paying attention to another guy's looks?"

"Why can't I?" Zhou Zhou looked utterly baffled. "I like it!"

Xiao Xu choked on his words. He glanced at Shen Yanlang, seeming to want to say something, but in the end said nothing and headed to the bathroom.

Zhou Zhou was speechless. "What's his problem?"

Duan Xu looked at Zhou Zhou. Once Xiao Xu had gone inside, he smiled and said, "Maybe he's jealous?"

"Fuck off!" Zhou Zhou laughed as he cursed, but did not say anything more.

Shen Yanlang looked thoughtful. Jealous?

Hearing that, Duan Xu gave a light cough. He wanted to explain it to Shen Yanlang, but felt it was not very appropriate, so he eventually gave up.

There were not many classes in freshman year, but they were spread out. There were two to four classes every day, and before they knew it, a week had passed.

Shen Yanlang noticed that Duan Xu had become more talkative than before, so he attributed the initial oddness to having scared him.

Since their class schedules overlapped heavily, they spent more time together than they did with Zhou Zhou and the others, and naturally became closer.

On Friday night, no one in the dorm went home. They arranged to have mala tang together.

The four of them chatted as they ate.

"You know about the freshman welcome gala, right? Is anyone performing?" Zhou Zhou asked after taking a bite of luncheon meat.

Xiao Xu looked up at him. "You're performing?"

"Yep!" Zhou Zhou nodded and smiled with narrowed eyes. "I'm dancing. You all have to come support me when the time comes."

"No problem." Duan Xu nodded, then asked, "What kind of dance?"

"Classical dance." Zhou Zhou took another bite of kelp.

Duan Xu's eyes lit up. "You must have started learning classical dance when you were little, right?"

Zhou Zhou said, "Yeah, I started when I was five."

Xiao Xu's eyes lit up as well, and he immediately said, "I'll definitely go!"

"I'll go too," Duan Xu added.

He remembered thinking Zhou Zhou had an unusual temperament the first time he saw him. So that was because he had studied classical dance.

Shen Yanlang gave a hum without speaking, glancing at Duan Xu beside him.

Although it was late September, the heat had not faded. It was still sweltering at night, and they were eating mala tang. A fine layer of sweat appeared on Duan Xu's nose, while his lips had turned bright red from the spicy broth.

His lips are red from the spice, like someone kissed him hard.

"Cough, cough..." Duan Xu choked on Shen Yanlang's words.

Seeing this, Shen Yanlang poured him a glass of water. "Don't rush. Eat slowly."

Duan Xu glanced at him and drank the water as he complained inwardly, And whose fault is that?

"Brother Yan, you still haven't said whether you're performing," Zhou Zhou said. He felt that teachers would not let Shen Yanlang's looks go to waste.

Sure enough, Shen Yanlang put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said, "A violin performance."

"Damn!" Zhou Zhou gave him a thumbs-up. "Awesome!"

Xiao Xu gave him a thumbs-up too. "Impressive!"

Shen Yanlang looked at Duan Xu, whose face was full of confusion.

Why isn't he praising me?

Duan Xu: "..."

"I'll go watch," Duan Xu said, lowering his head to eat the last bite of vegetables.

Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu said they would go as well. It just so happened that their two colleges' galas were held at different times.

Shen Yanlang nodded and smiled faintly. "I'll save you seats near the front."

"Tickets for the front seats won't be easy to get, will they?" Zhou Zhou had finished eating and wiped his mouth as well.

Xiao Xu had finished long ago. He kept his eyes on Zhou Zhou and said, "Brother Yan definitely has connections!"

Shen Yanlang merely smiled without saying anything.

Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu immediately understood and smiled as well.

Seeing every one of them smiling, Duan Xu could not help curling up the corners of his lips too.

He really looks good when he smiles, though his lips are so red.

Duan Xu's smile froze on his face. Seeing Shen Yanlang still looking at him, he said, "We're done eating. Let's go."

"Let's go, let's go! Back to the dorm!" Zhou Zhou was eager to get back and play games.

Xiao Xu followed after him. "You're playing games again? Are they really that fun?"

"You'll know whether they're fun if you try them!" Zhou Zhou even urged Xiao Xu, "Why don't you play too? We can team up."

Xiao Xu hesitated for only a second. "Okay."

Shen Yanlang and Duan Xu followed behind them, crossed the road, and entered the school gates.

Shen Yanlang tilted his head slightly and asked Duan Xu, "Does Xiao Xu like Zhou Zhou?"

Duan Xu looked at him too. The sky was at that in-between stage before nightfall, and Shen Yanlang's handsome features seemed much blurrier. "You noticed too? I found out during military training."

Shen Yanlang understood. "But it seems he hasn't realized it himself."

"Exactly." Duan Xu shrugged. "I don't know what he's thinking."

Shen Yanlang suddenly chuckled. "He'll figure it out eventually."

"True." Duan Xu nodded in agreement.