Ji Huaizhi hesitated for a moment before asking again, “Won’t it be inconvenient?”
Ning Shuang figured that Ji Huaizhi was just worried about accidentally stumbling upon something private, which was why he seemed so hesitant. He quickly reassured him. “Not at all! Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing in my room that I need to hide, and you’re not exactly a stranger anyway.”
Everything that needed to be put away had already been tidied up, and Ji Huaizhi wasn’t the type to go rummaging through drawers and cabinets. Of course Ning Shuang had no reason to feel uneasy.
Ji Huaizhi stood behind Ning Shuang, his gaze sweeping over the butterfly-shaped birthmark on the back of his neck. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he softly replied, “Alright.”
With that, he turned and headed upstairs.
The wooden stairs creaked softly underfoot as Ji Huaizhi ascended step by step.
He pushed open the door to Ning Shuang’s room, and a fresh scent of laundry detergent greeted him. The space was impeccably neat and clean. There were quite a few items around, but each one was in its proper place, with no hint of disorder.
Ji Huaizhi closed the door behind him and walked over to the bed. The bedding was neatly folded, and on the bedside table sat a few books arranged in perfect order, along with a desk lamp.
Glancing toward the window, he saw two desks. One was spotless, its books aligned precisely, a computer perched on top, and the wall adorned with numerous photos—mostly solo shots of Ning Shuang, though a few were group pictures with friends.
They were just casual snapshots. Nothing to worry about. After all, Ning Shuang simply had a lot of friends—that was all.
The other desk was clearly a gaming setup, complete with two ergonomic gaming chairs in front. On the desk sat a desktop computer, two gaming keyboards, two controllers… everything came in pairs.
Ning Shuang certainly wouldn’t have bought duplicates just for himself.
Ji Huaizhi’s thoughts drifted back to that first night he’d moved in, and the boy who’d shared a bed with Ning Shuang.
He lifted his gaze and picked up the controller guidebook that Ning Shuang had left on the desk.
He had no real interest in these things, but Ning Shuang clearly enjoyed them. If he made an effort to engage and learn, then in time, whenever Ning Shuang wanted a gaming partner, the first person he’d think of would surely be him.
Ji Huaizhi moved to the window and pulled back the curtains, stepping out onto the balcony.
Their laundry was hung out to dry on the large second-floor balcony, though more personal items were kept on the smaller ones outside their individual rooms. Ji Huaizhi glanced over quickly before averting his eyes.
He retreated back into the room, picked up the controller guidebook again, and sat down at Ning Shuang’s study desk. After composing himself, he began poring over the tutorials.
Last night, he’d watched Ning Shuang leave with his own eyes—an unexpected turn. Ning Shuang must have rushed off to investigate because of his friend Zhao Wei Liang.
Ning Shuang had arrived just ahead of him, and he’d followed right after. He hadn’t planned to reveal his identity so soon, so he’d been forced to use a gu on Ning Shuang to deal with the mess. Even if Ning Shuang hadn’t asked about it later, Ji Huaizhi knew he’d planted seeds of doubt.
But that was fine. It was just suspicion for now. In time, Ning Shuang would let it go.
Ji Huaizhi skimmed through the guidebook, committing its contents to memory with some effort.
~~~
Outside, the light drizzle gradually intensified into a downpour, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rolling thunder. Fat raindrops pelted the windows with sharp cracks.
After dinner, Ning Shuang couldn’t wait to drag Ji Huaizhi up to his room to check on his self-study progress.
Watching Ji Huaizhi expertly handle the controller and clear the first two levels without taking a single hit, Ning Shuang shook his head in disbelief. “Are you sure this is your first time using a controller?”
Ji Huaizhi turned to him. “What’s wrong… Did I do badly?”
“No, it was great! Amazing!” Ning Shuang couldn’t help giving him a thumbs-up. “Perfect. Let’s jump to level sixteen. Lu Yuyang and I tried that one a bunch of times and never made it past. Maybe you’ll help me beat it today.”
He set the game to the latest checkpoint and added, “They say newbies have beginner’s luck. Let’s see if that’s true.”
The game was a classic side-scrolling shooter where players dodged enemy attacks with jumps, shots, and crawls, blasting foes and evading traps along the way. With only three lives total, clearing the final boss with at least one left meant victory.
It was an older title; Ning Shuang had only discovered it this year.
They teamed up for the first couple of runs, but Ji Huaizhi was the first to burn through all three lives each time. By the end of the third attempt, he set down the controller and looked at Ning Shuang with apologetic eyes. “Ning Shuang, was I not coordinating well with you?”
“You’re really good,” he added.
Ning Shuang’s ears twitched. He’d only caught the second part. Tilting his head, he pressed, “I’m good? For real?”
“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi nodded.
Ning Shuang lit up with excitement and started a new round. “I really am good at this?! Lu Yuyang’s always saying I hold him back, but guess it’s not me after all!”
Ji Huaizhi picked up the controller again, his long lashes lowered as he murmured, “Why bring him up? Is he that great?”
Ning Shuang missed the subtle edge in his tone. “He’s okay, I guess. Nothing special—definitely not as good as me.”
He quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, forget him. Let’s do a couple more. We might clear it yet.”
They played three more rounds. On the final one, as they reached the boss fight, Ning Shuang pushed through with half a health bar remaining.
“We did it!” Ning Shuang tossed the controller aside and stretched lazily, as if a huge weight had been lifted. “Finally.”
“And it was your first time—you coordinated with me perfectly. You’re awesome,” he added, praising Ji Huaizhi.
Ji Huaizhi didn’t respond, just turned his head to gaze at Ning Shuang.
His expression was as cool and detached as ever, but Ning Shuang could tell he was happy too.
After a moment’s thought, Ning Shuang kicked off his slippers, drew his legs up onto the chair, hugged his knees, and rested his chin on them. He tilted his head and looked at Ji Huaizhi. “We should play together whenever we have time from now on, yeah?”
“Sure.” Ji Huaizhi nodded.
Ning Shuang chuckled happily, then pulled a fruit candy from his drawer and pressed it into Ji Huaizhi’s hand. “Here, have a candy. It’ll recharge your energy.”
Ji Huaizhi opened his palm, looked down at the candy, then closed his fingers around it and lifted his gaze to Ning Shuang. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Ning Shuang grinned. Suddenly, he remembered something. “Oh, right—I’ll probably be out tomorrow. I was gonna head to the nearby park with you to finish our elective project, but doesn’t your class start military training next week? No electives for the whole month, then. The project’s not urgent, so I’m heading to school to help out with some Student Union stuff instead.”
“Got it.” Ji Huaizhi stood. “Then I won’t keep you. Get some early…”
Before he could finish, a thunderclap like a collapsing mountain roared outside. Lightning tore a jagged gash through the night sky, flooding the room with blinding light.
The sudden crash made Ning Shuang jump. He dropped his feet from the chair, shoved on his slippers, and bolted to the balcony. “Oh no, my clothes!”
Less than a minute later, he returned with soaked hair and clothes, clutching two or three pairs of shorts. He sneezed three times in a row.
He flung the garments onto the bed, grabbed a towel from the closet, and started rubbing his hair dry. “Man, it’s been forever since we got rain this heavy.”
Ji Huaizhi’s gaze flicked briefly from the bed back to Ning Shuang. The downpour had plastered a few strands of his bangs to his forehead, and as he toweled them, they curled up messily, giving him a disheveled, refined charm. Ji Huaizhi stared at his face, momentarily lost in thought.
Seeing it was getting late, Ning Shuang said to him, “You should head back and sleep. Turn on the AC—it’s gonna be chilly tonight.”
“Mm.” Ji Huaizhi followed him out.
Ning Shuang walked him all the way to his room. Leaning on the doorframe with one hand, cheek pressed against it, he fixed Ji Huaizhi with his clear, almond-shaped eyes and called out, “Ji Huaizhi.”
Ji Huaizhi: “Hm?”
Ning Shuang’s smile deepened, dimples flashing. He waved and chirped cheerfully, “Good night!”
Ji Huaizhi’s lowered lashes suddenly lifted, a spark of brightness in his eyes. After a long moment, he replied, “Good night.”
Only then did Ning Shuang turn and head back to his own room.
Once he was gone, the faint, fresh fragrance he left behind lingered for a good while before fading. Ji Huaizhi opened his hand and gazed at the candy nestled in his palm. His eyes softened, and the corners of his lips curved upward.
~~~
By the time Ning Shuang finished his shower and returned, it was already eleven at night. He tidied up a bit and climbed into bed.
Now he finally had a moment to ask why they’d summoned him to help with Student Union business tomorrow.
【Discipline Department – Minister – Chu Yu: One of the seniors from Publicity Department called in sick, and they’ve got to hand out club flyers at school tomorrow. They’re short-staffed, so they asked you to fill in.】
Ning Shuang didn’t mind them dumping these chores on him, but Publicity Department was always fully staffed as far as he knew. All the seniors he was acquainted with were super dedicated, so a senior taking leave piqued his curiosity.
【Ning Shuang: Sick? What’s wrong with her?】
【Discipline Department – Minister – Chu Yu: Something about extreme dieting? She’s anemic now and stuck in the hospital.】
Ning Shuang blinked in surprise. Extreme dieting? That had to be Senior Ming Qingning.
It wasn’t because Ming Qingning was actually overweight. She had simply always considered herself fat, constantly nagging Ning Shuang about it in his ear and asking everyone she met for weight loss tips. Now she had overdone it and landed herself in the hospital, which gave Ning Shuang a real scare.
【Ning Shuang: Is she okay?】
【Discipline Department – Minister – Chu Yu: Not sure】
【Ning Shuang: Alright then… I’ll come help tomorrow】
【Ning Shuang: Is someone at the hospital with her?】
【Discipline Department – Minister – Chu Yu: Probably. Not sure】
【Ning Shuang: Okay, got it】
Ning Shuang ended his chat with Chu Yu. He scrolled through his contacts, found senior Ming Qingning’s WeChat, and sent her a greeting.
But even when he woke up the next morning, Ning Shuang still hadn’t heard back from Ming Qingning.
He assumed she was too busy recovering in the hospital to check her phone, so he didn’t worry too much.
Ning Shuang rose early that day. He made breakfast before heading out and left a note for Ji Huaizhi on the table.
He changed into his shoes at the entryway, glanced back at Ji Huaizhi’s closed bedroom door one last time, then grabbed his crossbody bag from the coat rack and left.
At that moment, the curtains in Ji Huaizhi’s room parted slowly. Dressed neatly, Ji Huaizhi stood by the window. Through the clear glass, he watched from above as Ning Shuang stepped out the door and jogged toward the bus stop.
A white bird on the windowsill tilted its head and cooed twice. Ji Huaizhi glanced at it, and the white bird flapped its wings before flying off in the direction Ning Shuang had gone.
~~~
The Publicity Department’s tasks weren’t overwhelming if you didn’t let them be, but Ning Shuang didn’t wrap everything up until after three in the afternoon.
The Publicity Department minister treated everyone to coffee, so Ning Shuang joined the group at a nearby café.
He ended up at a table with several senior sisters.
“Ning Shuang, thank you so much,” one long-haired girl said to him. “If it weren’t for you today, we’d still be running around like headless chickens.”
Ning Shuang grinned. “No problem at all. It was just a little thing. If you senior sisters need any help in the future, feel free to come find me.”
Ning Shuang was handsome and had a way with words that charmed everyone. The group burst into laughter at his reply.
“Hey, speaking of which,” senior Gu Ting said suddenly from the seat beside him. “Ning Shuang, we’re heading to the hospital after coffee to visit Qingning. You coming?”
After all, everyone knew how close Ning Shuang and Ming Qingning were.
Ning Shuang paused to think. He had messaged her that morning, but she still hadn’t replied. He was starting to get worried.
“Sure, I’ll tag along and check on her.”
“But how on earth did she overdo the weight loss?” Ning Shuang asked. Just a few days earlier, she had looked perfectly fine to him.
Gu Ting shook her head. “We don’t have the full story. Apparently, she bought some weight loss pills with someone and started taking them. They worked like a charm at first, but then she started having issues. We’ll find out more when we get to the hospital.”
As Ning Shuang recalled, Ming Qingning was around five foot five, weighing no more than 140 pounds at most. To him, she wasn’t fat in the slightest. He had no idea who had convinced her otherwise.
“Alright then,” Ning Shuang said with a nod, concern clear in his eyes. “Let’s go see what’s really going on.”
