He only said goodbye in that warm voice when Qiu Sui turned around. Sensing his slightly quickened heartbeat, Qiu Sui gripped the door handle but didn’t close the door right away. Instead, he leaned against the doorframe and peeked out at the alpha’s retreating back.
When he sensed that Shen Zhixiao might turn around, Qiu Sui’s eyelids twitched. He instantly retreated into the dorm and slammed the door shut with a click—a smooth, seamless motion.
Leaning against the door, he steadied his chaotic breathing. Then he suddenly moved to the small window by the door and peered out through the non-frosted upper glass for a few seconds.
Soon, the alpha’s figure came into clear view. He was looking down at his phone, walking unhurriedly toward the opposite dorm.
Only when Shen Zhixiao’s figure vanished from sight did Qiu Sui snap back to reality and step back half a pace. It hit him belatedly that his actions just now had been a bit like a peeping tom.
He was a little startled and quickly shoved the thought aside, nestling back at his desk.
His phone screen lit up from a message notification. Qiu Sui glanced at Shen Zhixiao’s WeChat profile picture and licked his lips, his breathing gradually calming as he tapped it open. It was a message the other had sent on his way back, reminding him to eat the fruit platter.
Qiu Sui sprawled over the desk, hugging his phone, and unconsciously curved his lips into a smile as he typed back an “Okay.”
He stared at the uniquely shaped fruit platter, fiddling with the packaging box by turning it this way and that. Unable to resist, he snapped a few photos.
He scrolled through his contacts for a while, too embarrassed to post it on his Moments—felt too weird. In the end, he sent it to their little group chat.
Qiao Keren thought he’d bought it on the way back to the dorm and bombarded him with a bunch of emojis, asking which shop it was from.
Qiu Sui stole a few of the other’s cute emojis—needed them for chatting with Shen Zhixiao. A mix of excitement and awkwardness washed over him as he replied that Shen Zhixiao had made it.
The response came instantly: “Damn,” followed by a feeling of being shown off to. Qiao Keren sighed that Shen Zhixiao’s moves were next-level.
Qiu Sui bit into a strawberry inside, feeling a bit impulsive as he chatted in the group. He dawdled until the last piece of fruit was gone before switching to Shen Zhixiao’s chat. He snapped a photo of the half-eaten snowman and the empty box behind it, then sent it over.
Shen Zhixiao was probably on his way to evening class by now. A few minutes later, he replied with a voice message laced with laughter.
Listening to that voice, Qiu Sui couldn’t help but want to smile too. He pressed his cheek against the desk as he typed back, the heat from his face warming the cool wooden surface.
…
Compared to that barbecue place last time, the Cantonese restaurant Shen Zhixiao chose this time was not far from school—just over ten minutes’ walk. They finished eating and left the restaurant right around eight.
They didn’t rush back to campus. Instead, they strolled slowly along the streets in the faint autumn breeze, shoulders occasionally brushing as they chatted idly.
Whenever some unimportant little joke came up, Qiu Sui would uncontrollably reach out to grab Shen Zhixiao’s shoulder. Realizing it was a bit too intimate, he’d awkwardly pull away and hug his phone, pretending to behave. But Shen Zhixiao would tease him with a laugh, and the habit would quickly relapse.
Qiu Sui spotted quite a few gyms nearby. Not far from school—maybe he could get a membership and work out on off days.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Shen Zhixiao’s solid build under the trench coat and quietly felt his own arm muscles.
Catching Qiu Sui’s sneaky gaze, Shen Zhixiao’s eyes filled with thick amusement. He lightly bumped Qiu Sui’s shoulder and asked softly, “What are you looking at?”
Caught red-handed, Qiu Sui tensed up for a second, but then thought his intentions were pure. His expression turned frank: “I was just wondering where you usually work out.”
Shen Zhixiao let out a puzzled little “Hm?” His gaze drifted to Qiu Sui’s shoulders and waist. Qiu Sui bristled sensitively, his body going rigid as if to flex his arms and prove something—but then he heard the alpha’s voice.
“You’re perfect like this. No need to train more.”
Qiu Sui’s tongue tied itself in knots; no sound came out. Heat bloomed red across his neck. He stared straight ahead, trying to act natural. It took a good while before he managed a dry “Oh.” The ears beneath his hair glowed a hazy crimson under the streetlights.
Shen Zhixiao stared at that patch of skin, lightly licking his lips as he edged a bit closer. Their arms brushed now and then from their walking pace, sensations sharp in the cool autumn night.
Qiu Sui’s attention was drawn there too. He knew they were walking too close, but he didn’t pull away. He just lightly pursed his lips, pretending to scroll Moments.
The next second, he swiped onto a photo of himself and Shen Zhixiao. His hand slipped, tapping it open. His heart skipped half a beat. He frantically swiped to exit back to the home screen, then furtively glanced at Shen Zhixiao.
The other was looking straight ahead, walking seriously. Qiu Sui let out a small breath of relief.
Ever since Qiao Keren mentioned yesterday that he’d seen a post about him and Shen Zhixiao on Campus Wall, Qiu Sui had added it to his Moments feed. That morning, he’d scrolled past a submission about them leaving school together. It didn’t bother him much, but he wondered if Shen Zhixiao knew—and if it troubled him.
From the corner of his eye, Qiu Sui sensed the alpha’s presence and hesitated, pursing his lips. Finally, while waiting at a crosswalk, he lightly tugged Shen Zhixiao’s trench coat sleeve.
Shen Zhixiao leaned in caringly, looking down at him. “What’s wrong?” he asked warmly.
Seeing the serious expression, Qiu Sui felt embarrassed about what he’d meant to say. He made a short “Um” and lifted his phone, reopening Moments to the spot he’d seen.
Shen Zhixiao leaned in, peering at the screen over his hand. Qiu Sui felt that gaze and said with difficulty, “I was just scrolling Moments and saw Campus Wall posted our photos. Do you know about this…”
Before Qiu Sui could embarrassedly close it, the alpha beside him hummed lowly. “Wen Heng saw it.”
“?!” Qiu Sui’s retreating motion froze. He whipped his head around in shock, blurting an uncontrolled “Ah?”
“But I didn’t pay it any mind at the time.” Shen Zhixiao met his eyes seriously, no trace of guilt as he explained. Then, earnestly, he added: “Though I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”
Qiu Sui blinked, not understanding. “Why?”
Shen Zhixiao explained seriously: “This way, that person knows you’re being watched by lots of people. They probably won’t dare risk approaching you again.”
But as he spoke, the alpha’s brows drooped apologetically, guilt flickering in his eyes. In a low voice, he said sorry: “When Wen Heng mentioned it, I didn’t think much of it… I should’ve told you right away.”
Hearing Shen Zhixiao’s tone grow softer, Qiu Sui felt his own nerves tugged along. He wasn’t bothered by the posts anyway and cut in: “It’s fine.”
Feeling that gaze, his fingers fidgeted on the screen. Pretending casualness, he said: “I think it’s not a bad thing either. They’re just entertaining themselves. Let them post if they want.”
This made Shen Zhixiao across from him worry instead: “Really okay…?”
Qiu Sui shifted his gaze away to the crosswalk timer ahead, clearing his throat uncontrollably. With innocent frankness: “Of course.”
Plus, some of those photos turned out pretty good…
He evaluated silently in his mind, sensing Shen Zhixiao’s expression less pitiful. Only then did his own nerves relax.
When the light turned green, he tugged Shen Zhixiao’s sleeve as a reminder and stepped toward the crosswalk.
Shen Zhixiao lagged half a step behind, following closely.
Out of Qiu Sui’s line of sight, he stared at the beta’s profile. That meek, obedient look didn’t last long before it was replaced by undisguised slyness.
Mid-October nights in Sea City were a bit chilly, but daytime sun kept the temps hot.
Qiu Sui had agreed to go to the basketball gym with Shen Zhixiao on Saturday. Waking from his nap that noon, he checked the outdoor temp from the balcony, dithering between shorts and long pants for minutes.
Shorts might be too cold come evening, but long pants for ball would be hot and inconvenient.
Shen Zhixiao had said the gym had changing rooms, so Qiu Sui packed both pairs, grabbed his bag, and left the dorm.
He shut the door but didn’t leave right away. Leaning against it, he pulled out his phone to message Shen Zhixiao that he was heading out.
As he typed and glanced across, before finishing “I’m heading out,” Shen Zhixiao emerged from the opposite dorm. The chat pinged first.
Shen Zhixiao: I’m heading out.
Qiu Sui smiled at the message, giving a thumbs-up to their synchronicity in his mind. He stayed put, snapped a photo across the way, and sent it. Then he deleted his draft, lips curving as he retyped.
Qiu Sui: I see you too lol.
He looked up after sending. The alpha, seeing the message, glanced over in surprise, a helpless grin on his face.
Remembering the guy was a bit nearsighted, Qiu Sui waved his phone, then walked briskly toward the elevators.
For comfort playing ball, he’d worn a brown tank top, shorts, and sneakers. Thin jacket and long pants stuffed in his bag.
With a baseball cap, his fair, toned limbs were on display—not the slender type.
Shen Zhixiao’s gaze lingered on the loose tank top, pausing almost imperceptibly at the wide armholes. His lip corner twitched faintly downward.
Qiu Sui slung his bag over one shoulder and eyed Shen Zhixiao’s short-sleeve shorts combo curiously. He’d never seen the other in shorts before.
His gaze swept over a long scar on Shen Zhixiao’s calf—striking.
The scar snaked up from the side of his calf, nearly to the knee. Even at a glance, it looked like it’d been a serious injury. How had he missed it at Shen Zhixiao’s place before…?
Shen Zhixiao pressed the elevator button and met Qiu Sui’s gaze, instinctively drawing back his knee. His expression turned uncharacteristically awkward: “Old injury from carelessness… Kinda scary, huh…”
Qiu Sui frowned slightly, looking up at the alpha disapprovingly, a bit unhappy: “Why talk about yourself like that?”
Shen Zhixiao showed a flicker of insecurity, giving a faint smile: “Just afraid it’d scare you…”
Qiu Sui had once skinned his knee and it took a week to heal. This looked like it’d need a month. His brows dipped; softly: “Did it hurt?”
Shen Zhixiao shook his head at him, voice gentle: “Looks worse than it was.”
Qiu Sui pursed his lips, not pressing further. No good at comfort, he bumped the other’s arm with his shoulder, awkward: “Looks good.”
Shen Zhixiao seemed not to get it, those dark eyes gazing caringly with faint light.
Qiu Sui’s eyelids fluttered embarrassedly. He repeated softer: “I said, the scar looks good on you. Not scary at all…”
Like a sleek little snake etched on his strong calf. Not ugly one bit.
The light in Shen Zhixiao’s eyes shimmered faintly, lips tugging as if pulled. Looking at the embarrassed beta after speaking, he badly wanted to pull him into his arms.
But he only reached up lightly, tugging Qiu Sui’s baseball cap to straighten the brim, then ruffled his hair through it.
Sensing the touch atop his head, Qiu Sui’s heart softened like it was gripped. His dangling fingers clenched unconsciously. Then he heard Shen Zhixiao’s low, sinking voice: “Thanks.”
His breath heated, he “Mm”-ed, staring at the opening elevator doors. Slowly, softly: “Not comforting you. It’s the truth…”
Shen Zhixiao’s palm brushed his head again, unable to resist, with a light laugh: “I know, Qiu Sui.”
