Chapter 1: He Must Have Misheard

The First Canteen was buzzing with noise. Gu Shiying finished his portion of lunch and prepared to clear his tray and head back to the dorm.

There were simply too many people. The weather this year was bizarrely hot; it was only mid-May and already sweltering enough to make people sweat profusely.

The school’s First Canteen was beloved by students for its cheap prices and decent food. The only downside was the heavy foot traffic—going in or out meant squeezing past others, inevitably bumping arms.

Gu Shiying had switched to short sleeves today. He tried his best to avoid contact, but he still got touched, a chaotic jumble of voices drilling into his head.

【Holy shit, isn’t that my goddess crush?】

【Dammit, the CP I ship had a Bad Ending again today!】

【Who the hell added me on WeChat last night and then didn’t say a word? So annoying.】

【Which slob didn’t change his clothes? This stench of sweat is about to suffocate this old lady to death.】

【Red braised pork! I have to get the red braised pork today!】

Gu Shiying quickly squeezed his way out of the crowd. These voices were giving him a headache.

One night about a month ago, after a rainfall, he’d taken a shortcut back to the dorm. His foot slipped, and he smacked his head against a tree, feeling dizzy for a bit. The next day, he discovered he’d gained the ability to hear other people’s inner thoughts—mind reading.

At first, he thought he might be experiencing auditory hallucinations. He even went to a hospital to consult a psychologist, but the problem didn’t go away. The mind-reading persisted. He even tested it several times with his good buddy, and sure enough, he heard inner thoughts that matched exactly what his buddy later expressed.

Thankfully, the mind-reading didn’t cause any major impact on his body or daily life, so long as he avoided skin-to-skin contact.

But once summer arrived, getting bumped in a crowd was unavoidable. It was practically impossible to guard against.

Maybe he should just wear long sleeves again tomorrow.

Once Gu Shiying was away from the crowd and no longer forced to pry into others’ messy inner thoughts, the air he breathed felt several times fresher.

His phone rang right on cue.

His good buddy, Zhang Zhi, was calling him via voice message, clearly in a bit of a hurry.

Gu Shiying barely had time to answer before the other party urgently started: “Ying’er, help me out, help me out!”

Gu Shiying: “What’s up?”

Zhang Zhi: “Can you buy two milk teas and deliver them to the Girls’ Dormitory for me? I’m out having a meal with a friend right now and can’t get away.”

Gu Shiying knew exactly what he was up to. His good buddy was trying to pursue a girl from the Foreign Languages Department, recently unleashing all sorts of wooing tactics on her. So far, there didn’t seem to be any major progress.

Gu Shiying looked up at the sun overhead: “Sending Liu Wenqing milk tea again? Can’t you deliver it yourself? Do you have any idea how hot it is outside? It’s thirty-five degrees today. Riding a bike from the Milk Tea Shop to the Girls’ Dormitory takes ten minutes.”

Zhang Zhi hummed and hawed on the other end, launching into a macho-man act of pleading: “Pleeease help me out? I just promised her. Please, this is the first time she’s ever made a request of me. She’s definitely starting to have feelings for me. I’ll cover your breakfasts for the whole month! How about it, how about it!”

Gu Shiying rubbed the goosebumps on his arm: “Fine, but stop grossing me out.”

Zhang Zhi: “Okay, baby! Remember, one with thirty percent sugar, the other is for her roommate, fifty percent sugar.”

Gu Shiying rolled his eyes at the azure sky: “Do you know what you’re acting like right now?”

Zhang Zhi: “Like what?”

Gu Shiying: “A desperate simp.”

Zhang Zhi: “That little mouth of yours is practically dipped in poison.”

Gu Shiying: “Good that you know.”

The Milk Tea Shop was right next to the canteen. There were quite a few people—cold drink shops in the summer were always crowded. He placed an order for three cups: two to deliver to the girls’ dorm, one to keep for himself.

Twenty minutes later, he was waiting downstairs at the Girls’ Dormitory, milk tea in hand.

Passing girls cast curious glances his way, but no one approached him for his contact info, probably assuming he was delivering milk tea to his girlfriend.

Before long, a girl wearing pink butterfly-knot slippers came running towards him with a smile.

Liu Wenqing was nearly 170 centimeters tall, with long, jet-black hair, wearing light makeup. She was very beautiful, her eyes sparkling charmingly. No wonder Zhang Zhi pursued her like a goddess.

Liu Wenqing’s voice was soft, gentle: “Gu Shiying?”

Gu Shiying: “This is the milk tea Zhang Zhi asked me to bring over.”

Liu Wenqing took the milk tea, smiling radiantly: “Thanks.”

Gu Shiying, his task complete, got ready to leave.

Just as he was about to swing his leg back over the bike seat, Liu Wenqing hesitated for a moment, then called out to him: “Wait, Gu Shiying. Are you in the same dorm as Fu Huan?”

Gu Shiying froze. Although this wasn’t his first time meeting Liu Wenqing, he didn’t recall ever mentioning which dorm he lived in. How did she know he roomed with Fu Huan?

Gu Shiying: “Yes.”

Liu Wenqing explained, looking a bit embarrassed: “Don’t take this the wrong way. It was Zhang Zhi who told me you’re in the same dorm as Fu Huan. Could you… maybe send me his WeChat contact?”

Gu Shiying: “…” So this girl’s real interest lay elsewhere. “Then… I’ll go back and ask him about it.”

Liu Wenqing couldn’t hide the delight on her face: “Then let me add you on WeChat. Sorry for the trouble.”

Gu Shiying didn’t ask about her motives. From her expression, it was clear the one she liked wasn’t his own buddy. Petals fall, water flows—love unrequited.

“No problem, but I can’t guarantee he’ll add you.”

Gu Shiying found it hard to refuse Liu Wenqing outright, since they were acquainted. But he couldn’t tell his buddy about this either. He’d just have to go to Fu Huan and explain everything, get him to stay out of it. What kind of girlfriend couldn’t Fu Huan find if he wanted one?

Gu Shiying lived in a four-person dorm, but his three roommates were all from different majors. Because of their different majors, their class schedules varied, too. His relationship with these three roommates was, basically, not close.

And Fu Huan was even more of a mystery. He didn’t speak much usually, so interactions with him were even fewer.

Gu Shiying rarely ran into Fu Huan in the dorm during the day. He also hadn’t really inquired about what Fu Huan did in his free time.

Back at the dorm, one roommate was already there, playing games with his headphones on. Gu Shiying didn’t disturb him. He sipped his gardenia-flavored iced milk tea, the summer heat and frustration he’d picked up outside all melting away. Soon, the cup was nearly empty, but there were a few tapioca pearls at the bottom he hadn’t managed to suck up.

Sluuurp. Sluuurp. Sluuurp.

Gurgle~

Gurgle~

Gurgle~

So annoying! They just wouldn’t come up!

Forget it.

He got up and tossed the cup into the trash bin behind the door. Just as he turned around, the dorm door swung open. A tall, slender silhouette nearly loomed over him. The moment he looked up, Gu Shiying felt the oppressive pressure of the other person’s height.

It was Fu Huan, back at the dorm.

His roommate.

Gu Shiying remembered his buddy’s matter and took the initiative to speak: “You’re back.”

Fu Huan’s brow lifted slightly, seemingly a bit surprised: “Yeah, didn’t notice you behind the door.”

Gu Shiying shook his head: “It’s fine, you didn’t bump me.”

Fu Huan nodded, walked past Gu Shiying towards his own chair, and then switched on the computer sitting on his desk.

Gu Shiying stayed where he was, pondering whether he should bring up Liu Wenqing wanting Fu Huan’s WeChat.

But he genuinely wasn’t close with Fu Huan. Bringing this up would be so weird.

Gu Shiying dawdled his way back to his own desk. There was a book open on it, but he wasn’t reading it at all. The corner of his eye strayed to Fu Huan’s profile.

Fu Huan was really good-looking, with clear, sharp, handsome features. It was just that he always wore an expression of disinterest towards the world.

His and Fu Huan’s beds were arranged in parallel; he could see the other person just by turning his head.

How exactly was he supposed to bring this up to a roommate he wasn’t close with? And he couldn’t even discuss this matter with his good buddy.

After dithering for a bit, Fu Huan had already gone back to his bed for his afternoon nap.

Gu Shiying had missed his best window of opportunity. He could only go back to his own bed and lie down. It wasn’t his business anyway; he might as well take a nap too.

Sleeping while hugging his body pillow was still the most comfortable.

An hour later, Gu Shiying woke from his nap, suddenly remembering his little task. He glanced at the adjacent bed—Fu Huan was no longer there.

When did he leave?

Forget it, he should just head to class.

Gu Shiying nimbly climbed down from his bed. Looking up, he saw Fu Huan walking in from the balcony.

Fu Huan casually pulled the curtain aside, letting a swath of bright daylight fall into the dim room. The handsome face hidden in the shadows became clear and distinct.

Gu Shiying met Fu Huan’s gaze, but the other’s face was just too cold, his eye sockets deep, making one want to speak but then hesitate. As Fu Huan looked his way, Gu Shiying busied his hand by scratching an arm that wasn’t remotely itchy, dodged around Fu Huan, and went into the washroom.

When he came out again, Fu Huan was putting a few books into his backpack, getting ready to leave the dorm.

Gu Shiying felt a pang of urgency. Today was Friday, and Fu Huan usually left campus on Friday nights, not returning until Monday morning.

He grabbed his own backpack and went after Fu Huan.

Fu Huan had long arms and legs. Gu Shiying only came out a few seconds later, but the guy was already at the stairwell.

“Fu Huan, wait up.”

Gu Shiying jogged a couple of steps to catch up with Fu Huan, who was already going down the stairs.

Fu Huan turned his head, raising an eyebrow: “What is it?”

Gu Shiying: “Uh, so, if a girl named Liu Wenqing wants to add you on WeChat, could you… not add her?”

Fu Huan: “Meaning?”

Gu Shiying: “I mean, she might want to pursue you, but I…”

Fu Huan glanced expressionlessly at Gu Shiying, didn’t respond, and just continued down the stairs without stopping. It seemed he wasn’t interested in entertaining this topic. Gu Shiying could only follow.

Gu Shiying looked up at him and asked: “I know my request might be a bit unreasonable, but… could you, please?”

He was really going all out for his buddy. Zhang Zhi better repay him handsomely for this later!

Fu Huan’s gaze swept downwards, casting a glance at Gu Shiying before shifting back to the steps ahead. He walked fast, and Gu Shiying had to move his legs quickly to keep up, trying to gauge the other’s reaction while going down the stairs.

Suddenly, with one careless step, he missed the next stair. His body pitched forward uncontrollably. In his panic, he could only reach for the nearest support—the person next to him and the stair railing.

A large hand firmly grabbed his arm, steadying him. A deep voice resonated beside his ear.

“Watch your step.”

Gu Shiying was just about to say thanks, but before he could even open his mouth, a voice, strange and unfamiliar yet distinct, appeared in his mind.

【I really want to tie Gu Shiying to the bed so he can’t like anyone else.】

Gu Shiying froze for a solid second. He thought he must have misheard.

By now, Fu Huan had already let go of his arm. Having confirmed Gu Shiying was okay, he strode off down the stairs with wide steps.

But Gu Shiying couldn’t bring himself to take another step for a long while.

Had he just heard Fu Huan’s inner voice?

There were other students on the stairs, but no one else had pulled him up just now. Only Fu Huan had touched his skin.

But that inner thought…

He must have misheard.