Lin Linya and Ji Wensheng were both staying at the hotel arranged by the Wolf Fang platform tonight. The convenience of being in the same city meant Lin Linya could have his suitcase delivered in a day and get his room key early.
He sat on the sofa in the hotel lobby, playing on his phone while waiting for Ji Wensheng to verify his identity.
After a while, Ji Wensheng came back dragging his luggage, holding a room key and a welcome gift prepared for them by Wolf Fang. “I’m in 1402.”
Lin Linya nodded. “That’s close then, just next door. I’m in 1404. The even-numbered rooms are right next to each other.”
Ji Wensheng, however, seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He smiled and asked, “Do you know who your roommate is? If you’re not very familiar with them, maybe I could ask to switch with them. We could stay in the same room.”
Wolf Fang had booked standard twin rooms for them, two people per room.
Lin Linya shook his head. “I got here too early. The other person in my room hasn’t arrived yet, so I don’t know who it is. But there’s no need to go through so much trouble, is there? What if they have a bad temper?”
Switching rooms was indeed not as convenient as switching seats. Though a bit regretful, Ji Wensheng could only say, “Alright.”
The two took the elevator up to the fourteenth floor. The transparent elevator allowed them to see the clock in the lobby; it was already nearly eleven when they reached their floor.
Lin Linya was already sleepy. He yawned and waved to Ji Wensheng. “See you tomorrow then!”
Ji Wensheng nodded to him. “Good night. Breakfast together tomorrow morning? I’ll message you.”
They agreed on a time and went to their respective rooms. As soon as Lin Linya swiped open his door, he knew his roommate had already arrived. One keycard was already in the card slot, the air conditioning was on, and the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom.
A few items of clothing were scattered on the other bed, a suitcase lay open at the foot of the bed, its contents messy and the style rather wild.
It seemed his roommate was currently taking a shower. Lin Linya placed his bouquet next to the TV and his shopping bag on the nightstand, then collapsed exhaustedly onto the sofa.
Weibo was very lively today. The Wolf Fang Super Topic was mostly about the offline meetup.
– I’m so happy living in the new urban area of Sea City. I just casually step out and have a chance encounter with an internet celebrity. Little Sweet Joy from the Beauty Section is super pretty and gentle in person. Her legs are longer than my entire lifespan.
– Little Sweet Joy is the host for tomorrow’s offline meetup!
– Eh, I don’t think she’s that pretty. She’s quite plain in person. Her fans always write such heartfelt little essays though.
– Male streamers get fat, their faces swollen like steamed buns, the air full of yeast smell, and you call them handsome guys. But a female streamer is just “plain”? I want to laugh. Don’t love men too much.
– So envious. Reposted with three accounts and still didn’t win, I hate this. Can only watch the livestream at home.
– This year’s Wolf Fang offline meetup is really large-scale. My friend lives in Cloud Top Light and says all the streamers are staying there. It’s all familiar faces.
Lin Linya was currently lying on a bed on the fourteenth floor of Cloud Top Light.
He was happily browsing online when the frosted glass door of the bathroom behind him suddenly opened. A large cloud of mist, carrying the unique scent of the hotel’s toiletries, billowed out.
The man, with only a towel wrapped around his lower body, hadn’t yet noticed the extra person in the room. He was drying his wet hair with a dry towel, humming an off-key tune.
As he walked out, his slippers left wet marks on the floor. His broad shoulders were still un-dried, and the water droplets on his chest trickled down the clear lines of his abs and Adonis belt into deeper regions. His robust upper body glistened.
He kept his head down, completely oblivious to Lin Linya curled up on the sofa. He walked right past him and picked up his charging phone from in front of the TV.
After the call connected, a string of complaints followed.
“Hey, has your roommate arrived yet? Mine hasn’t come. No idea who it is. Just left their stuff here and the person isn’t here either. So annoying. If only I could have a room to myself.”
“Yeah, I hate sharing a room with strangers the most. Maybe I’ll come over to your place to play cards tonight. I don’t know what kind of person my roommate is. If he grinds his teeth or snores in the middle of the night, I’ll really lose it.”
Lin Linya quickly retracted his hand, which he’d raised to wave. He stared blankly at the man’s back.
Actually, the moment the other man came out, Lin Linya had recognized him.
But this Qiao Yu seemed a little different from the one he knew. His tone was very cold, even a bit impatient. Lin Linya had previously thought he was a naturally sociable, easy-going type.
“I’m right here,” Lin Linya spoke weakly after he finished the call.
“Fck!” The young man jumped up like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, his phone dropping to the floor with a loud thud. He whipped his head around as if he’d seen a ghost.
Lin Linya hadn’t expected such a strong reaction and quickly apologized. “Sorry! Is your phone okay?”
Seeing him, Qiao Yu forgot all about the phone on the floor. His voice was full of surprise. “Little Doll? You’re my roommate?”
Lin Linya replied, “Huh? Yeah…”
He was just about to explain that he slept very quietly and didn’t grind his teeth or snore, so he didn’t need to worry.
“Hey, hey there.”
A sunny smile spread across the handsome young man’s face, like a completely different person from moments ago.
He pinched Lin Linya’s cheek, marveling as he looked him over from side to side. “You really didn’t use a beauty filter?”
Lin Linya’s mouth was squished into a pout by his pinch.
This was the first time he was observing him up close. Usually, it was through a screen, but now, from this proximity, he realized: his Little Doll was exquisitely beautiful, practically unreal. Lying on the sofa, he looked like a curious little cat.
Excitedly, Qiao Yu spread his arms wide and enveloped Lin Linya in a full embrace. “This must be fate! I feel like I’m dreaming.”
Lin Linya was tightly trapped in his long arms, startled by his sudden enthusiasm.
He could only pat his shoulder, helplessly pushing the other man’s head away with his hand, his neck already dampened by Qiao Yu’s wet hair. “Let go of me!”
Qiao Yu released his hands, a bashful expression appearing on his face. “You’re so short… uh, I mean, you’re so slender, so light.”
Although Lin Linya wasn’t super tall, he was still over 1.7 meters. But for some reason, Qiao Yu was particularly tall, making Lin Linya seem petite in comparison.
Qiao Yu suddenly grasped his wrist and leaned in closer. His high nose bridge traced along Lin Linya’s slender, fair neck as he sniffed, asking in wonder, “You smell so good. What is that scent?”
Water droplets from his hair dripped onto Lin Linya’s collarbone, sending a slight shiver through him.
He felt a bit uncomfortable, but Qiao Yu had just showered and his body was scorching hot like a furnace. With his upper body still bare, Lin Linya simply couldn’t find anywhere to push against.
Like a small cat caught and forcibly sniffed, he could only stare at him with innocent, round eyes, trying to appeal to his conscience.
“You’re being so creepy, and I haven’t even showered yet.”
“It’s your fault for seducing me. What decent boy wears shorts and a T-shirt?” Qiao Yu said with mock seriousness.
Lin Linya was speechless. “…?!” What kind of nonsense is that?!
Distracted by this interruption, Lin Linya quickly forgot how Qiao Yu had just been complaining about not wanting to share a room. The two quickly became familiar with each other.
Lin Linya went to take a shower and came out changed into his pajamas. Qiao Yu was already lying on the bed, his long legs crossed, video chatting with someone, their voices audible.
The moment Lin Linya came out, Qiao Yu ended the video call and grinned at him foolishly. “Guess who I was just chatting with?”
Lin Linya shook his head blankly.
“It was Little Yang. He’s staying right next door to us,” Qiao Yu informed him. He’d just been complaining to Little Yang about not wanting a roommate, and now he’d called back to brag triumphantly.
Little Yang had been shouting that he wanted to see Yaya, but Qiao Yu had mercilessly hung up on him.
Remembering that Ji Wensheng was also next door, Lin Linya thought they might be in the same room and asked, “Is Little Yang in 1402 too?”
“Why, are you thinking of going over to play with him this late?” Qiao Yu suddenly looked alarmed. He scrambled up from his bed and looked at him pitifully.
“No, a friend of mine is also next door.”
Lin Linya snuggled into his own bed, his actions telling Qiao Yu plainly that he planned to sleep and wasn’t going out tonight.
With half his face buried in the blanket, his voice was muffled. “Why don’t you want me to go over? Are they already asleep?”
“Not yet,” Qiao Yu ran his hand through his hair, looking a bit dejected. “Alright, honestly, Little Yang is a bit more handsome than me. I was afraid you’d like him and then not want to hang out with me.”
Lin Linya was amused by him. “You’re such a little kid.”
“Don’t worry, in my heart, Bro Yu will always be the most handsome!”
Flattered into a daze, Qiao Yu mimicked his posture and lay back down. But he ran hot and didn’t need the hotel’s thick blanket. The two chatted face-to-face like that.
After talking for a while, Qiao Yu suddenly stared intently into his eyes. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
Lin Linya refused. “No! I grind my teeth and snore!”
Qiao Yu nodded seriously. “Alright then, let’s play a game. If I lose, I’ll come over and sleep with you. If you lose, you come sleep with me.”
Lin Linya: “…”
He pulled the blanket over his head, reached out a hand to find the light switch, and turned it off. “Good night!”
The next morning, Lin Linya and Qiao Yu had breakfast together at the hotel restaurant. Sure enough, they saw Ji Wensheng walk in with a young man. The two occasionally exchanged words, seeming like they already knew each other.
Little Yang provided the biggest contrast Lin Linya had seen so far.
He usually loved cursing and joking in-game, but in reality, he was tall and strikingly handsome, with an outstanding aura. However, the image of a cool, aloof handsome guy shattered the moment he opened his mouth within earshot.
He glanced at Lin Linya and nodded naturally as a greeting, then turned away in disgust to scold Qiao Yu. “Can you get the hell away from me? Seeing you makes me so sick I can’t eat.”
He was still holding a grudge about last night when Qiao Yu had cut off the video call and refused to let him see Lin Linya.
The two rascal friends started arguing the moment they met. Seizing the opportunity, Ji Wensheng sat down next to Lin Linya and offered him the little yogurt from his own tray. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Okay. I’m not too picky about beds,” Lin Linya said truthfully. It was just that Qiao Yu had kept him chatting all night.
In the end, he couldn’t stay awake any longer and fell asleep.
Most of the people eating breakfast on this floor were Wolf Fang streamers. Their table was the most eye-catching; four handsome guys sitting together, making anyone who didn’t know better think they were all from the Beauty Section.
Ji Wensheng, having been around longer, knew more people. As he ate, he pointed out some of the platform’s well-known streamers to Lin Linya, making his head spin.
He still hadn’t remembered many people by the time he finished his little yogurt. “My CPU is about to explode.”
Ji Wensheng laughed. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember. They’re from other sections anyway, nothing to do with us.”
After breakfast, they took a bus adorned with the Wolf Fang logo to the Haicheng Gymnasium. Some fans had already arrived at the venue long before. By the time they arrived at 8 AM, the sun was already scorching. Everything was ready for the offline meetup to begin.
