Because of the Skill's rule against "harming each other," and because there were other people in the dorm room, Li Xian held back somewhat. He only meant it as a warning for Ji Xie to turn back into that little purple tentacle immediately.
But Ji Xie merely hissed in pain and did nothing else. Not only did he fail to turn back into a tentacle, he didn't even change the way he held Li Xian.
Li Xian narrowed his eyes in the dark. As his vision gradually adjusted, he discovered that Ji Xie's face was extraordinarily close to his own. His eyes, however, were shut, as though to say, "I'm asleep. I don't know anything."
He must think I won't dare make a scene with other people in the room. That's why he's being so...
Li Xian twisted a little. Thinking he was trying to wriggle free, Ji Xie tightened his arms around him.
Instead of struggling free, however, Li Xian put his own hand on Ji Xie's waist.
Ji Xie's muscles stiffened. In the end, he couldn't resist opening his eyes.
Li Xian smiled faintly at him. Ji Xie felt the fingers at his waist curl slightly and begin scratching gently at his skin.
Ji Xie froze. He stared at Li Xian for a long moment before his brain finally began to work:
What is he doing?
Ji Xie frantically searched his mind for the meaning of Li Xian's strange movements. At last, in some forgotten corner, he recalled the name of this behavior.
I think it's called...
Tickling?
At first, seeing Ji Xie's expressionless face, Li Xian thought he was simply holding it in. But even after a while, he still showed no reaction. Ji Xie's expression went from blank surprise to confusion, before a smile finally curled