Chapter 24

"I saw it. You went to watch TZG's match together." Luo Qingshan suppressed his emotions. "A streamer was filming celebrities and caught you two in the shot."

Yan Zhun opened the game to update it, ignoring him.

The sound of a lighter came from behind him, and the smell of smoke slowly filled the dorm room. Luo Qingshan asked, "Are you two together? ...When did it happen? Recently... or before you broke up with me?"

"We're not together." Yan Zhun's voice was flat.

Luo Qingshan's clenched fists had only just loosened a little.

Yan Zhun said, "I'm pursuing him. It's one-sided."

Luo Qingshan pressed his tongue against his cheek and ground his half-finished cigarette out on a piece of paper, burning a hole with blackened edges.

"Yan Zhun, this isn't how you fucking treat a brother," Luo Qingshan said through gritted teeth.

Yan Zhun raised an eyebrow. "You and me? Since when were we brothers?"

Luo Qingshan spat out a "Fuck" and turned to stare hard at the back of Yan Zhun's head. "Who do you think you are? You think you can win Pei Ran over? You seriously think he'll fall for you just because you carry him through a few games?"

"Let me tell you, Yan Zhun. When Pei Ran and I argue now and then, that's our way of keeping things fun. I can play along with him, but if anyone else wants to butt in, not a chance."

Every word Luo Qingshan said was barbed, and his voice was loud. Only he knew how panicked he was right now.

His words were half true and half false. Pei Ran did have plenty of admirers, both men and women, but Luo Qingshan had always felt secure about that-Pei Ran never gave anyone hope. His rejections were always straightforward and left no room for doubt.

But this time was different.

Pei Ran treated Yan Zhun differently from everyone else.

That was also why Luo Qingshan was furious.

Yan Zhun said, "Finished? Can you shut your mouth?"

Luo Qingshan was already seething, and the indifference and contempt in Yan Zhun's words wiped out all his reason.

As if something had occurred to him, Luo Qingshan sneered. "You're really something. You only held his hand, and you think you can challenge me? When he was fucking lying in my bed..."

The chair legs scraped across the floor with an ear-piercing screech.

Before Luo Qingshan could finish, someone seized his collar and yanked him forward so hard that his body pitched uncontrollably, nearly sending him to the floor.

Yan Zhun looked down at him from above. His lowered eyes were as cold as ever, with a vicious edge.

Normally, Luo Qingshan wouldn't have been afraid of him, but somehow, right now, his body seemed beyond his control. He couldn't move.

"If I ever hear that again," Yan Zhun warned, enunciating each word, his voice seeming laced with ice, "you can kiss that mouth of yours goodbye."

Only when the dorm room door slammed shut with a dull thud did Luo Qingshan seem to return to himself, panting in shock and anger.

It was November, and the weather had already turned cold. After going downstairs, Yan Zhun turned the corner into the convenience store, bought a pack of cigarettes, and sat on an empty bench.

The lighter's flame flickered for a moment in the darkness. Yan Zhun tossed the lighter aside and rested his hand casually, holding the cigarette between his teeth with neither much nor little pressure.

After a long while, he took out his phone and made a call.

The call connected, and Pei Ran gave a very soft "Hello?"

Yan Zhun held the phone to his ear and listened to his faint breathing without speaking.

After a long time, Pei Ran put down his pen. "Yan Zhun, what's wrong?"

Yan Zhun said, "We left in such a rush today that I forgot to pick up the match merchandise."

He kept his voice under control, letting none of his emotions show.

Pei Ran paused, then asked, "There was merchandise?"

"Yeah," Yan Zhun said. "Keyboards, models, team-logo charms, things like that. Want some? I'll ask Lin Xuhuan for a set."

Pei Ran shook his head. "No, I don't need a keyboard, and charms... I have one already."

Yan Zhun let out a soft breath.

Pei Ran paused. "Are you smoking?"

"One now and then." Yan Zhun said without thinking, "I won't smoke anymore."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yan Zhun closed his eyes briefly.

They weren't anything to each other. Pei Ran didn't want to police whether he smoked.

Sure enough, the other end of the line fell silent.

Yan Zhun ground out his jealousy along with the cigarette.

"Okay."

Yan Zhun's hand paused slightly, his lowered lashes trembling. "What?"

Pei Ran opened the window beside him and reached out to feel the temperature outside. "Smoking is bad for you. Smoke less... Are you still outside?"

Yan Zhun hummed in agreement. "The dorm supervisor is strict at night, so I came out to smoke."

"Then... head back soon?"

"Okay."

After hanging up, Pei Ran stared at the screen for a long while, then closed the window, intending to continue drawing.

He absentmindedly worked on the line art for a while before his nose suddenly itched. He couldn't help turning his head and sneezing twice in succession.

When he looked back and saw his drawing clearly, Pei Ran's pen stopped. His eyes widened slightly, and he looked a little at a loss.

He had only drawn a rough sketch, thinking he would refine it further if the client was satisfied.

The gaming chair, computer, and TZG uniform in the sketch were all correct.

But the features and outline he had drawn with just a few strokes... belonged to Yan Zhun.

Yan Zhun wearing headphones and a TZG uniform, sitting onstage at a match.

The next day, Pei Ran wore a mask to class.

As soon as class ended, the teacher stopped him. "What's wrong? Caught a cold?"

"A little." Muffled by the mask, his voice sounded slightly thick.

The teacher had always liked him. Looking at the dark circles beneath his eyes, he asked, "Young man, you've been staying up late, haven't you?"

Pei Ran hummed in agreement. "Rushing to finish a drawing."

It was perfectly normal for university students to do some part-time work, but the teacher hadn't expected someone from a family like Pei Ran's to take art commissions too.

"There's no need to damage your health for a little money. Getting proper rest is what matters," the teacher said.

Pei Ran nodded. "Okay. Thank you, sir."

After the day's classes ended, Pei Ran returned to his dorm and popped two cold tablets into his mouth.

He had just swallowed them when the girl who had commissioned him sent a message.

[TZG Is the Best: Artist! Just poking you for a progress update QAQ (very carefully]

[Fei Yu Yi: Sorry, I haven't started drawing yet.]

[TZG Is the Best: Great!! I wanted to ask you to include this trophy too. Is that okay? I can pay extra!! [Image]]

[Fei Yu Yi: Sure. No need to pay extra.]

The girl excitedly sent countless cute stickers in a row.

Looking at the stickers, Pei Ran remembered the drawing he had taken off track and felt a little embarrassed.

After drawing for two hours, Pei Ran got up for a break. He had just made a cup of coffee when a WeChat notification sounded on his computer.

It was Lin Kang, sending him a video. The preview was blurry, making its contents impossible to see clearly.

The moment he opened the video, loud, chaotic music blared out. The scene was dim and suggestive, with only vague silhouettes visible.

After a burst of commotion, Pei Ran finally got a clear look at the person Lin Kang was filming.

It was Luo Qingshan. Holding a small glass, he was drinking away, draining it in one gulp. The people around him immediately cheered and clapped. A few seconds later, the video ended.

[Pei Ran: ?]

[Lin Kang: He's drinking spirits. Fucking terrifying.]

Luo Qingshan had loved partying since high school, going clubbing almost every night, and he could hold his liquor fairly well.

[Pei Ran: Oh. Have fun.]

When Lin Kang saw that, his head nearly exploded.

He glanced at the alcohol on the table. How was this drinking? This was fucking risking their lives.

Luo Qingshan's face was already flushed. He picked up the dice and said to the person beside him, "I drank it. Dare to keep going?"

Yan Zhun didn't even look at him. "Bring it."

A friend couldn't help nudging Lin Kang's shoulder. "These two... what are they doing?"

Lin Kang said, "I'd like to know too."

It was a friend's birthday tonight, and he had invited everyone out for drinks. As they drank, these two had somehow started going at each other.

By the time everyone realized what was happening, the server had already brought over the spirits.

Lin Kang watched them in puzzlement. Luo Qingshan liked having fun, so it wasn't strange for him to challenge someone to a drinking contest. What was strange was that Yan Zhun had actually joined in.

They went back and forth for another ten minutes. Luo Qingshan was already so drunk he couldn't tell one direction from another, and he started talking nonsense.

Yan Zhun leaned against the sofa, watching his drunken antics indifferently.

"My head hurts. Fuck... hiss." Luo Qingshan bumped Lin Kang's leg. "Help me... call Pei Ran for me."

Lin Kang said, "You've already broken up. Why are you still calling him?"

"I told you to call, so call." Luo Qingshan said, "He'll come. He'll come... he can't bear to let me go."

Annoyed beyond endurance, Lin Kang figured letting him keep drinking wasn't a solution either. He could only pick up his phone and make a video call to Pei Ran.

Luo Qingshan smiled. He turned his head, mockery in his eyes, and asked with a sneer, "Guess whether he'll come?"

Yan Zhun sat quietly without a word.

"I, I can call him when I'm drunk because... we have history. Even if we broke up, our feelings are, are still there..." Luo Qingshan asked, "What about you? If you got drunk, would you dare call him? What fucking... right do you have to make him come clean up your mess?"

Lin Kang raised his phone to show Pei Ran the scene. "Look, he keeps yelling for you. I really don't know what else to do... Could you come over?"

"Everyone in the world knows about our relationship." Luo Qingshan stared steadily at Yan Zhun. "You're fucking nothing."

Lin Kang ended the video call and moved their glasses out of reach. "Pei Ran said he's coming now. Stop acting crazy, Luo Qingshan."

Luo Qingshan closed his eyes and flashed a victorious smile.

Pei Ran rarely came to places like this.

He passed through the crowded booth area toward the private rooms, taking out his phone on the way to check the room number Lin Kang had sent him again.

Someone slammed into his shoulder, and a server hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you? I'm really sorry."

Pei Ran said, "It's all right. Could you tell me where room one-oh-three..."

When the guest before him suddenly fell silent, the server asked, "Room 103? Shall I take you there?"

Pei Ran snapped out of his daze and withdrew his gaze. "No, thanks. I see my friend."

After the server left, Pei Ran looked up again. Yan Zhun stood in the direction the server had come from. He had just washed his face, and his cheeks were covered in water, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Yan Zhun was looking at him too.

Pei Ran wore a gray sweater, his hair was a little messy, and he still had his mask on. It was clear he had come in a hurry. The mask made him look a little more sickly and frail, and he looked languid and warm.

As soon as Pei Ran approached Yan Zhun, he caught the smell of cigarettes and alcohol.

He frowned slightly and said, "Luo Qingshan, he..."

Before he could finish, someone seized his wrist. Yan Zhun's grip was so strong that it even hurt a little.

Caught off guard, Pei Ran was pulled into the empty private room beside them. Before he could react, he was pushed onto the sofa.

The door shut tightly on its own. The lights inside were off, with only a faint glow from the hallway filtering through the window in the door. He could barely make out Yan Zhun's face.

Alcohol made Yan Zhun's eyes gleam. He braced both hands on the sofa, trapping Pei Ran within the space he enclosed.

Pei Ran felt surrounded by Yan Zhun's presence, and once again his heart raced wildly beyond his control.

Yan Zhun looked down at him. After who knew how long, he asked, "Why did you come?"

Because he had been drinking, Yan Zhun's voice was terribly low and husky, making even Pei Ran's ears grow hot.

Pei Ran's Adam's apple bobbed. Just as he was about to answer, Yan Zhun suddenly bent down-

And bit his lip.

It really was a bite, though he used no force, and there was a layer of mask between them. Pei Ran didn't feel much pain. Slowly, very slowly, his eyes widened, and he was so shocked he couldn't speak.

Outside the door, deafening music played, mixed with the suggestive whispers of adult men and women.

Inside, there was no sound except their heartbeats and breathing.

Looking at his flustered expression, Yan Zhun wanted to bully him even more.

He wanted to go back to high school and snatch him away, never mind whether they loved each other or were happy. He wanted to lock him in his room and let no one else touch him. He wanted to kiss him.

Yan Zhun raised a hand and swept all the hair off his forehead, then lowered his head again.

Pei Ran used all his strength to raise his hand and press it against Yan Zhun's chin.

Pei Ran's palm was scorching, and his fingers still carried a fragrance. He had probably just used hand soap.

Pei Ran's voice was very soft and a little shaky. "The mask... is dirty."

Yan Zhun hummed, then lowered his head and took one of his fingers into his mouth.

Then he pulled off Pei Ran's mask, bent down, and kissed him again.