After finishing his exam, Shen Leyuan habitually pulled out his phone.
When he saw a message from Huo Tingfeng among them, his gaze flickered evasively as he quickly shoved it back into his pocket. His earlobes quietly turned red.
He couldn’t tap it open right now…
“Teacher!”
Lin Yao spotted him right away and handed over a bottle of mineral water he’d already unscrewed. He told Shen Leyuan that his roommates would be over soon and wanted to treat him to a meal.
Shen Leyuan sized him up and down with a smile. “Made friends with them already? Not bad, not bad. Did you apologize for what happened before?”
It wasn’t about making friends—it was just that money had bridged a bit of distance.
Lin Yao didn’t dare tell the truth and mumbled vaguely, “Our relationship’s okay now…”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than someone waved from afar: “Shen—”
It was Glasses Guy.
Glasses Guy had only managed to shout out the surname when Cold Face Guy elbowed him hard.
The guy had clearly been trained up by now—he instantly knew not to say it and obediently shut his mouth.
Only when they drew closer did he complain, “Why haven’t you replied to messages these past couple days?”
Shen Leyuan said, “Haven’t checked my phone.”
He didn’t explain why, and the roommates wouldn’t pry.
Only Lin Yao frowned, swallowing the displeasure in his heart.
He had a hunch this had something to do with Huo Tingfeng.
Glasses Guy hadn’t seen this enigmatic roommate in a while and curiously asked what had happened to Di Junya—the gentle psychologist had suddenly quit, and everyone was worried.
The most popular rumor so far: Doctor Di had been heartbroken and gone traveling to heal.
Shen Leyuan cut it short: “Don’t ask.”
That was Glasses Guy’s strong suit—tons of curiosity but knew when to zip it. He fell silent at those words and never brought it up again.
He mentioned a related tidbit: “A few days ago, there was this rumor that he got sent away because he offended some big shot behind you. It was told with such vivid detail, even down to the police station address.”
The rumor was so ridiculous that Glasses Guy cracked up recounting it.
Shen Leyuan pondered. “They even named the station? Which one?”
Glasses Guy hadn’t memorized it, but luckily Cold Face Guy had heard him mention it before and supplied the name. Glasses Guy nodded vigorously: “Yeah, yeah, that’s the one. Some people actually bought it, but luckily someone swooped in to dig up the details and clear your name of the false accusation.”
Shen Leyuan: …
Actually, he wasn’t all that innocent.
But… swooped in?
Shen Leyuan glanced at Lin Yao, who was burying his head in his food beside him. His gaze lingered on the boy’s reddened ear tips before he chuckled. “Sounds like a good guy. Thank him for me.”
Glasses Guy stifled a laugh. “Is this a nice guy card?”
Lin Yao jerked his head up and glared at him.
At the same time, Cold Face Guy stomped hard on his foot.
Glasses Guy went totally quiet, not daring to keep yapping.
Shen Leyuan had things on his mind—one, the message from Huo Tingfeng still unread; two, Di Junya really had been to that police station, something ordinary folks shouldn’t know. He ate absentmindedly.
After the meal, Glasses Guy sighed wistfully. “You came in a rush and you’re leaving in a rush. Who knows when we’ll hang out next.”
Shen Leyuan laughed. “Not that dramatic. I don’t start my internship until after winter break, but I’ve still got papers to write and exams to take in between. I’ll be stuck on campus for a good long while.”
Lin Yao lit up in surprise. “Really?”
Pretending it was offhand, he added, “Why don’t you move into my dorm? Save time on the commute—you could study a few extra minutes every day.”
No idea where he’d picked up that tactic, always steering persuasion toward studying.
Noticing Shen Leyuan about to refuse, he added with a troubled look, “Plus, I want you to tutor me. I can’t take in what the others say, and they don’t dare rein me in.”
Shen Leyuan wavered.
Yesterday, Lin Yao had confessed to liking a classmate, describing the guy like some unattainable god. Uneasy, he’d @’d Glasses Guy in the group chat, but the guy hemmed and hawed without answering.
Was there really someone that special, even influencing the roommates?
Lin Yao pressed his advantage: “Mine’s a two-bedroom with kitchen and bath. We can sleep separately—I won’t bother you.”
Glasses Guy’s eyes widened in shock: A dorm like that on campus?
He held back the urge to roast it and whispered to Shen Leyuan, “Why not give it a shot? Once you’re in, you’ll figure out who that heartthrob is.”
It was practically blatant—he hoped his roommate would wise up soon.
He’d seen Lin Yao’s efforts; the guy could be a jerk sometimes, but he was genuine when pursuing someone.
Young Master Lin had thrown money and effort at it, limiting Shen Leyuan’s legendary exploits to a small circle. He was usually well-behaved too, even apologizing on his phone just now—blaming it on the teacher’s teachings.
The bodyguards weren’t as smooth; Glasses Guy had caught them multiple times making awkward small talk with Shen Leyuan, coming off noisy.
Actually, Lin Yuan was the silent guardian, unknown to all—no fanfic even. Bodyguards weren’t as bubbly as college kids; they never thought to write that stuff.
Shen Leyuan thought the roommates’ idea was solid.
Living together meant coming and going at the same times—if Lin Yao acted out, he could intervene right away.
He nodded.
Lin Yao forced his mouth into a steady curve, feigning shyness. “Great, but my place is kinda messy—don’t laugh. And we’ll need to buy bedding on the spot…”
His acting was flawless, not a hint of premeditation.
While they chatted, Glasses Guy slipped off to pay and learned Lin Yao had prepaid a membership. Another eye-widening shock: “Your family does memberships?”
Server: “Just for your two friends.”
In short, Lin Yao had loaded up a meal card ahead of time—Teacher could eat anytime, charged straight to him.
Glasses Guy turned; Lin Yao was already dragging the teacher away.
“I’ve paid—hurry up, or they’ll make me split the bill!” Young Master Lin called.
Maybe he’d kept Huo Tingfeng waiting too long; more messages had come in.
Shen Leyuan excused himself to the bathroom.
Lin Yao watched him go, then whipped out his phone and fired off messages.
Orphan: 【What’d that Huo guy send the teacher?】
Orphan: 【You definitely know】
Orphan: 【Send it to me—I’ll get the teacher to be your daughter-in-law】
Orphan: 【He won’t go for you anyway. If you wanna be family with him, your only shot’s through me. Seize the chance.】
Orphan: 【Why no reply? Blind?】
Staring hard, he let out a loud “Fuck,” yanked back the messages in a panic, then resent them privately.
Far away, A Si tapped out a period, saw the recall, and silently deleted it.
Lin Yuan saw the messages too.
But he didn’t want to reply.
Only after Lin Yao spammed him and sent a few photos of the teacher did he finally type two words: 【I know】
Lin Yao: 【Send it】
After half a minute, worried the teacher might return, he tossed over some blurry shots as bait: 【If you’re too slow and doddering, make your will now—give me the basement and the teacher’s old tapes】
Lin Yuan ignored the snark and typed steadily: 【He gave me permission to monitor him】
Lin Yao: 【Send it】
He cherry-picked and sent a few clear photos.
Lin Yuan: 【This permission’s only for me.】
Implying: Not you.
Lin Yao: 【???】
Lin Yuan: 【Also, don’t sneak photos. He doesn’t like it】
Lin Yao stared at the line like red rain was falling from the sky, finally grinding out a sour “Tch” through clenched teeth.
Didn’t teach him jack as a kid, now schooling him on wife-chasing?
Fine.
Two or three minutes later, Shen Leyuan soothed the guy who looked like he had separation anxiety, splashed cold water on his burning face, and hurried back.
To head off questions from Lin Yao, he spoke first: “What good news got you grinning?”
Lin Yao froze.
Shen Leyuan traced an arc by his own mouth: “You were smiling pretty wide.”
Me? Smiling wide?
Lin Yao’s face darkened instantly. He snapped, tight-lipped: “No!”
But his ear tips betrayed him.
Oh ho, embarrassed and lashing out?
Now Shen Leyuan was fully convinced Lin Yao had a crush—and dead certain he’d just been chatting with them. Otherwise, why grin like an idiot?
Before, Lin Yao had only grinned like that at him.
He wasn’t thrilled—afraid the kid had fallen for a bad apple.
But if Lin Yao really liked them, and they weren’t trouble…
Ugh, why am I even worrying?
That’s for his dad to handle—let Lin Yuan deal!
Shen Leyuan set aside his worries and went with Lin Yao to buy bedding, having it delivered.
Lin Yao dragged him into a rushed cab: “Crap, my clothes are still drying!”
Shen Leyuan teased, “What’s the rush?”
Lin Yao said guiltily, “My room’s a real mess—don’t wanna embarrass myself…”
The space was newly carved out in the dorm building—adjacent rooms knocked together and renovated into an elevator apartment hack: two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bath.
Seeing Lin Yao so flustered, Shen Leyuan braced for a pigsty.
But the living room was just cluttered—broom propped against the table, orange peels uncleared, a few clothes tossed on the sofa like they’d just been taken down dry.
A glance to the balcony: a pair of underwear flapping in the breeze.
Lin Yao flushed crimson, snatched the underwear, stuffed it in his palm, and dashed back to grab the sofa clothes. His eyes flicked to the peels, and he froze like a game character interrupted mid-load, dithering which to tackle first.
Shen Leyuan picked up the sofa clothes: “Fold ’em or hang straight in the closet?”
Lin Yao: “E-either…”
Shen Leyuan smiled. “Alright, tidy the rest. I’ll teach you how to fold.”
Lin Yao dazedly agreed, his mouth corners shooting skyward.
Feels just like home…
Heh heh.
As Shen Leyuan folded, he reminisced: “Knew you wouldn’t know how. First time we met, you couldn’t even set up a mat.”
He could—he’d faked it to trick the teacher out of bed.
Lin Yao felt guilty.
Shen Leyuan went on: “That day I had a high fever—thanks to you calling the doctor.”
Lin Yao felt more than guilt now; bitterness welled in his mouth.
“I can set up a mat…”
He mumbled, picking up the earlier thread.
As for the fever… he didn’t even dare touch that one.
