Ning Shuang let out an “oh no,” suddenly remembering how exhausted he was after dealing with all that mess. He just wanted to collapse on the sofa and rest; he’d completely forgotten about Ji Huaizhi’s sleeping situation for the night.
He thought for a moment, then asked tentatively, “Um, you don’t mind me, right?”
Ji Huaizhi shook his head, a hint of pleasure flickering in his eyes.
Ning Shuang pressed on. “So you don’t mind my bed either?”
Ji Huaizhi shook his head again, looking like he was quietly anticipating something.
Ning Shuang snapped his fingers excitedly. “So until the mattress dries out over the next few days, you can sleep in my room, and I’ll take the sofa!”
Ji Huaizhi: …………
His expression visibly darkened.
Ning Shuang blinked. Ji Huaizhi was actually pretty easy to read—at least his unhappiness showed plainly on his face.
“You… don’t want to sleep in my bed?” Ning Shuang had no idea what had upset him and simply assumed Ji Huaizhi just didn’t want to use his room.
Ji Huaizhi let out a light sigh, neither confirming nor denying it. Fine, what was the point of getting upset with Ning Shuang?
“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” Ji Huaizhi said.
“How could we do that? Ning Dundun soaked your bed—it’s an innocent disaster for you,” Ning Shuang protested quickly.
Ji Huaizhi: “It’s Ning Dundun’s fault.”
“True enough,” Ning Shuang agreed wholeheartedly. He continued, “But it’s also my fault for not training it properly. Anyway, you should sleep in my bed tonight. I’ll take the sofa.”
“It’s its fault, not yours. You don’t need to sleep on the sofa either.” There was a guiding lilt to Ji Huaizhi’s words, and before Ning Shuang knew it, he blurted out, “You can’t sleep on the sofa, and I don’t need to either. Does that mean we’re both squeezing into the same bed?”
“We can,” Ji Huaizhi replied. The moment the words left Ning Shuang’s mouth, Ji Huaizhi looked up at him and nodded.
All the words Ning Shuang had been about to say caught in his throat.
What? What did Ji Huaizhi just say?
Ning Shuang wondered if he’d misheard. “Ah… huh?”
“We can sleep together,” Ji Huaizhi said calmly.
Ning Shuang waved his hands frantically. “No, no, no—we can’t sleep together.”
Ji Huaizhi: “Why not?”
How was he supposed to explain that? That he was gay and it wasn’t appropriate to share a bed with a guy? But he’d already shared a bed with Lu Yuyang before.
That he wasn’t just gay, but gay for Ji Huaizhi specifically? Would Ji Huaizhi pack up and move out by morning?
“Never mind. I get it. After all, our relationship isn’t as close as yours with that friend of yours,” Ji Huaizhi said. His long, feather-like lashes drooped, and a shadow of gloom in his eyes made him look almost melancholic.
Ning Shuang’s heart skipped a beat. He rushed to reassure him. “No, no—it’s not like that. You and I… we’re different from him and me.”
“Lu Yuyang and I are great friends, but you and I… um.” Ning Shuang had no idea how to describe the subtle dynamic between him and Ji Huaizhi.
He paused for a moment.
“Fine, sleep—let’s sleep together tonight.” Ning Shuang couldn’t bear seeing that expression on Ji Huaizhi’s face and nodded in agreement right away.
Ji Huaizhi reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind his ear. The corner of his mouth curved up by half a degree, a faint smile touching his brow. “Good.”
Ah… it was obvious. Ji Huaizhi was in a good mood now.
Ning Shuang felt like he’d shot himself in the foot.
That evening, they ordered takeout. Ever since the conversation, Ning Shuang’s heart had been pounding nonstop. While they ate, Ji Huaizhi noticed and asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Ning Shuang looked puzzled. “No, why?”
Ji Huaizhi pulled a wet wipe from his pocket and handed it over. “Your face and ears have been red the whole time. I thought you might be sick.”
Ning Shuang gave a strained smile as he accepted the wipe and dabbed at his feverish face and ears.
“I’m just a bit hot. It’s fine, really.” As if. Ning Shuang seriously doubted he’d get any sleep tonight.
Ji Huaizhi’s lips curved in amusement. “Good.”
After dinner, they tidied up downstairs together and took out the trash.
Once they got back home, Ning Shuang declared it was getting late and headed for the bathroom first. “You go to my room. If you’re bored, feel free to grab some extracurricular books off my shelf.”
Ji Huaizhi nodded. “I’ll go get my pajamas from my room first.”
“Go ahead.” Ning Shuang grabbed his change of clothes and headed to the bathroom.
Once he heard the bathroom door lock, Ji Huaizhi finally made his way back to his own room.
He glanced at the empty bed frame first, then turned to close the door and approached the wardrobe.
The mirror on the wardrobe reflected Ji Huaizhi’s face—a cold, brooding expression.
He opened the wardrobe door, and a fresh woody scent wafted out.
Pushing aside the hanging clothes revealed the inner wall plastered with photos.
Every single one featured Ning Shuang—from ones taken when he was five or six years old to more recent shots—all meticulously arranged. Ji Huaizhi stared at them for a moment before pulling today’s two selfies from his pocket.
He rubbed his thumb gently over Ning Shuang’s face in the photos, then carefully stuck them onto the wall.
Once he slid the clothes back into place, no one would notice the secret scene inside unless they looked on purpose.
~~~
Ning Shuang finished his shower quickly, wrapped in his pajamas. He gave his hair a quick blow-dry and returned to the room.
Ji Huaizhi was sitting at his desk, reading one of his textbooks.
“Ji Huaizhi, I’m done. Want to go shower?” Ning Shuang stood in the doorway, toweling off the water from his neck as he called out.
“Good.” Ji Huaizhi set the book down, picked up the pajamas from the bed, and walked over to Ning Shuang. Suddenly, he gave him a warm smile.
It was rare to see that smile, and Ning Shuang blinked, struck by an ominous premonition.
After Ji Huaizhi headed to the bathroom, Ning Shuang dashed to the desk and spotted the book he’d left there.
A textbook?
What could be…
Curiosity piqued, Ning Shuang picked it up and flipped through. On the last few blank pages, his expression froze.
These were the stick-figure doodles he’d drawn in class, starring himself!
From an ordinary student to humanity’s ultimate hero.
The stick figures were embarrassing enough, but on the page with extra details, he’d devoted half a page to describing “himself”—handsome features, superhuman stamina…
It was from his cringy freshman chuunibyou phase…
Of all books, why did Ji Huaizhi have to pick that one?
Ning Shuang set the book down and dropped to his knees with a thud, clutching his head in silent agony.
A few minutes later, he forgave himself. He shoved the book into a drawer and climbed into bed.
The bed at home was a double, big enough for two. But sharing a blanket and just chatting while sleeping with the guy he’d fallen for at first sight? That was way too much for Ning Shuang.
He dragged his pillow over and quietly scooted toward the inner side of the bed.
Then he pulled out his phone and messaged Lu Yuyang: 【I’m going to sleep with Ji Huaizhi.】
Seconds later, Lu Yuyang replied: 【You finally wised up and decided to cook the rice before it matures?】
Ning Shuang was speechless: 【What are you talking about! No…】
He recounted the entire afternoon’s events to Lu Yuyang.
Lu Yuyang’s verdict: 【Ning Dundun good boy [thumbs up]】
Ning Shuang had nothing to say to that.
Then Lu Yuyang messaged again: 【I get why you’re sharing a bed with him. You’re just scared to tell him you’re gay, right? But you can’t hide that forever—especially if you want to pursue him.】
Lu Yuyang’s analysis made sense; Ning Shuang had thought about it too.
【Ning Shuang: Got it. I’ll handle it. If he rejects me, please take me in for a few days.】
【Lu Yuyang: Come on, it’s your place. He’s not embarrassed enough to move out—why are you volunteering?】
【Ning Shuang: He pays rent, and besides… I can’t bear the thought of him out on the streets.】
Damn his weakness for good looks. Lu Yuyang was fed up: 【Fine, fine, I’ll take you in.】
Ning Shuang replied cheerfully: 【Thanks!】
Lu Yuyang didn’t respond. Ning Shuang had just set his phone down when the door opened. Ji Huaizhi walked in wearing his pajamas. His skin was naturally pale, now flushed pink from the hot water. His long hair was half-dry, draped over one shoulder.
Ning Shuang’s heart skipped another beat.
He was too damn good-looking.
Like a boneless jellyfish, Ning Shuang slowly retreated into the covers, wrapping himself up until only his head poked out.
Ji Huaizhi set down his towel and stood by the window. He looked down at Ning Shuang, who was staring dazedly up at him, and a faint smile touched his brow. He lifted the quilt and sat down on the bed.
“Ning Shuang, are you not used to sleeping with others?” Ji Huaizhi asked in a gentle, understanding tone.
Ning Shuang clutched the blanket with both hands and nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! I’m just not used to it. Maybe I should go sleep on the sofa instead?”
Ji Huaizhi gazed at him with a touch of resentment and went on, “But you and that friend of yours seem perfectly fine sharing a bed. Does that mean you’re not used to sleeping with me?”
Here it came again—that same hurt, pitiful expression.
“No, it’s not like that!” Ning Shuang threw back the covers and patted the empty space beside him. “There are reasons for it, anyway. Lie down first, and I’ll explain later.”
“Alright.” Ji Huaizhi slipped under the blankets and propped himself up on one elbow to switch off the bedside lamp.
“Goodnight, Ji Huaizhi,” Ning Shuang said.
In the pitch-black darkness, he couldn’t see a thing and had no idea that Ji Huaizhi was staring right at him. “Goodnight, Ning Shuang.”
Gradually, everything fell silent.
The room was so quiet that they could hear each other’s breathing.
Ning Shuang’s ears rang with the powerful thump of his own heartbeat.
The air around his nose was filled with Ji Huaizhi’s scent—a faint, pleasant sandalwood fragrance, as if it had been dipped in freshly melted snow. It was incredibly soothing, yet Ning Shuang simply couldn’t drift off to sleep. He carefully rolled over.
He noticed a wide gap between himself and Ji Huaizhi, large enough to fit another person, with cold air seeping into it.
Remembering his mother’s warning that exposing your back to drafts while sleeping would bring nightmares, he rolled over again and quietly inched closer to Ji Huaizhi. Unfortunately, the back of his neck bumped right into the other’s hand.
Ning Shuang froze solid on the spot. He held his breath, not daring to exhale.
Terrified of waking Ji Huaizhi, he wriggled toward the edge of the bed like a fuzzy caterpillar.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to summon some drowsiness—though none came. Suddenly, he sensed that the breathing behind him had grown heavier.
Ning Shuang cracked his eyes open, rolled over, and whispered, “Ji—Huai—Zhi, are you asleep?”
