Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Upon returning to his dormitory, Pei Ran's first task was to take a shower.

The restaurant had served light dishes, but its aroma lingered strongly. He now felt as if the sourness of that pickled potato dish was even embedded in his hair strands.

After showering, he stood by his bed, casually toweling off his hair with one hand while scrolling through Su Nian's Moments on his phone once more.

He had added Su Nian as a WeChat friend during their first encounter, but they had never conversed.

He skipped the first post and continued scrolling down.

"This restaurant's chili is out of this world. [Photo]"

Luo Qingshan had mentioned it earlier today. He had discovered a restaurant with an intensely spicy flavor and regretted that Pei Ran didn't enjoy spicy food, or else he would have taken him there to try it.

"Today's Exercise (11) [Photo]"

The photo captured a basketball court, and Pei Ran could spot Luo Qingshan's jersey in the picture.

"A Day at the Library."

...

In the past two months, most of Su Nian's posts on social media were related to Luo Qingshan.

Pei Ran faintly furrowed his brows before quickly relaxing them.

He couldn't explain why he had suddenly decided to look through Su Nian's social media feed. He had indeed come across these pictures before, but in the past, he had never paid attention to them, not even bothering to click on them.

No, or perhaps Pei Ran was aware of the reason.

It was just that his thoughts were impolite, bordering on malice. He shouldn't jump to conclusions based on a few posts and images.

His gaze lingered on the photos for a few seconds before he closed WeChat.

A week later, an alert from Pei Ran's calendar popped up, reminding him that tomorrow was Luo Qingshan's birthday.

While selecting a gift at the store, he received a call from Luo Qingshan.

Luo Qingshan said, "So, uh... darling, I have something to discuss with you."

"What?"

"I want to celebrate my birthday at a karaoke place this time. Would that be okay?"

Pei Ran replied, "It's your birthday, so of course, you get to decide."

"But you have to come too," Luo Qingshan said. "You know how much you dislike those places... This time, it was those idiots who convinced me, saying they have connections and can get us a discount package. It'll be quite affordable. But if you're not willing to come, I'll change the venue."

Pei Ran responded, "As long as you're happy."

And so, the plan was set.

The following evening, Pei Ran looked at the mask on the table with some hesitation.

Indeed, Pei Ran didn't like going to karaoke bars – they were noisy, chaotic, and dirty. The mixed scents of everyone there made him nauseous, especially the smell of smoke, which lingered in the small enclosed rooms. Just thinking about it made his face crinkle.

Perhaps wearing a mask would help, but it might feel a bit stuffy.

The phone rang, it was Luo Qingshan's call. Luo Qingshan had gone home earlier that day and then directly to the KTV, so they hadn't had a chance to meet.

"I've got the karaoke room sorted. Do you know the way? Should I come pick you up?"

"No need," Pei Ran picked up his mask and stuffed it into the cabinet. People at the bar usually let loose, so someone wearing a mask might dampen others' moods. He said, "I'll use GPS navigation."

-

"Why are you here too?"

Yan Zhun looked up to see a classmate from the same major sitting beside him, Lin Kang. Lin Kang had been in the same high school class as him, though they weren't particularly close, they were still friends.

Lin Kang took off his light jacket and threw it onto the sofa. "Luo Qingshan actually managed to get you here."

"I just happened to be free," Yan Zhun said.

"What are you talking about, Lin Kang? Yan Zhun and I are good buddies, what's so strange about him coming to celebrate my birthday?" Luo Qingshan, holding the microphone, overheard their conversation and spoke directly into it. "We even play PUBG together in a squad of four."

"Watch your words, Yan Zhun is the one who carries you in PUBG!" Lin Kang immediately retorted.

"Bullshit."

The two of them engaged in a lively banter, but Yan Zhun lost interest after only listening for a moment and returned his attention to his phone.

Su Nian lifted his head from the song selection console and said with a smile, "Yeah, we're just chicken loungers."

Qingshan Luo: "Only you are lounging. I'm not."

"Stop it…" Lin Kang asked, "Didn't you say you were playing in a four-person team? Who else is there besides the three of you?"

Qingshan Luo chuckled. "Who else could it be? My wife."

Lin Kang: "Pei Ran also plays PUBG?"

Qingshan Luo: "Not that often. He's just here to accompany me. Do you understand the concept of 'husband and husband supporting each other'?"

Yan Zhun paused in his game, choosing not to be the landlord despite having a good hand.

He then quit the game altogether.

Within half an hour, the large private room that Luo Qingshan had booked was filled with people.

Luo Qingshan was also known as a wealthy second-generation in school, with an array of fine wines on the table.

"Generous of Luo Qingshan," Lin Kang sat down beside Yan Zhun and took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, offering one to Yan Zhun. "Here you go."

Yan Zhun replied, "No thanks, I don't smoke."

Lin Kang was slightly surprised. He twirled the cigarette in his hand before putting it in his mouth. "Why? Quitting?"

"No," Yan Zhun said casually, "Not today."

With the cigarette in his mouth, Lin Kang walked up to the karaoke console and nudged Luo Qingshan's leg, gesturing for him to move aside. "If you're not singing, make way. I'll pick a song. Who sits at the console playing drinking games, huh?"

Luo Qingshan chuckled and cursed playfully. "Can't you be nice to the birthday boy? Fine, fine, you can have the spot."

After Lin Kang sat down, he asked, "Where's your wife? Why didn't you go pick her up?"

"What's there to pick up? It's a grown man," Su Nian interjected with a smile. "Brother Pei Ran shouldn't get lost, right?"

"She's almost here," Luo Qingshan said, taking out his phone. "I offered to fetch him, but he refused. I'll send a message to check…"

The door to the private room opened, and Luo Qingshan recognized the visitor, immediately discarding the dice cup as he strode over.

Pei Ran was dressed as usual, his dark jeans accentuating the length of his legs. Luo Qingshan wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed the corner of his mouth. "Why are you so slow? I was about to come fetch you."

Luo Qingshan's breath carried the scent of cigarettes, and Pei Ran instinctively wanted to retreat. However, remembering it was Luo Qingshan's birthday, he held back.

He wasn't accustomed to being affectionate in public, so he pursed his lips and said, "I thought it was close, so I walked instead of taking a car."

"Sergeant Pei, you're not that frugal, are you?" Su Nian smiled, "Walking must have taken more than ten minutes. You could've asked Qingshan to reimburse your fare."

Before Su Nian could say more, Pei Ran suddenly glanced over.

Pei Ran had thick eyelashes and narrow eyes that gave him an appearance of warmth and gentleness. However, there was no emotion in this particular gaze, causing Su Nian to subconsciously fall silent.

Once Pei Ran settled onto the sofa, Su Nian regained his composure.

"Happy birthday," Pei Ran didn't look at Su Nian, who was seated to his right. Instead, he handed the gift to Luo Qingshan, "I saw your phone screen was cracked, so I got you a new one."

Luo Qingshan paused before taking the gift from him, unable to resist giving him another kiss. "You're so sweet, darling."

"Damn, are you all this wealthy?" Lin Kang, sitting nearby, wondered aloud. "Everyone's giving out phones? Qingshan, can you handle all of them? Maybe I could help you out?"

Pei Ran looked at Luo Qingshan with a puzzled expression.

"Aha, right, I also gave a phone," Su Nian said with a casual smile. The dim light in the karaoke room occasionally illuminated his face, highlighting his dark eyes. "Same model too, ha ha, what a coincidence."

Before Pei Ran could react, Luo Qingshan's expression shifted slightly.

"I'll return it to you later, Su Nian," Luo Qingshan said. "I'll just use the one from Pei Ran. It's too heavy carrying two, and I won't be able to manage them both anyway."

Su Nian picked up the bottle of alcohol on the table and chugged it down in a large gulp before shrugging. "Up to you."

"Darling, what song do you want to sing? I'll let Lin Kang help you choose," Luo Qingshan asked, looking down.

Pei Ran shook his head. "No singing, and drink less."

Luo Qingshan replied, "Don't worry, I wouldn't dare make you carry me back home."

Their conversation was interrupted by people around them.

"Lin Kang, let's switch seats," Su Nian suggested. "I want to smoke, and I'm afraid Brother Pei Ran won't tolerate the smell."

Lin Kang replied, "Hold on, I'm choosing a song..."

"I'll switch with you."

Su Nian instinctively turned his head and found Yan Zhun standing beside him, gazing down at him.

Yan Zhun's face was so captivating that Su Nian's heart raced for a moment before returning to its normal pace. Unlike the recently converted Luo Qingshan, Su Nian had been born gay and had been on this path much longer. He was skilled at reading the atmosphere and adjusting accordingly. A guy like Yan Zhun was best admired from afar – someone he couldn't touch, nor would he dare to.

It wasn't until Su Nian had taken Yan Zhun's former seat that he suddenly remembered – didn't Yan Zhun also smoke?

Luo Qingshan, being restless, couldn't sit still and soon moved to the front to grab the microphone and sing after chatting briefly with Pei Ran.

Pei Ran, engrossed in his phone, wasn't really entertained. He had already completed all the single-player games downloaded on it. He simply wanted to avoid conversation. Although he knew everyone in the karaoke room, most of them were only acquaintances through Luo Qingshan.

After losing all his game tokens, Pei Ran finally lifted his head slowly. His throat felt dry, and he looked for a drink, only to realize that there was only alcohol on the table, no juice, and certainly no plain water.

Pei Ran hesitated for a moment before reaching out to grab the full glass of wine, only to have his sleeve tugged.

Yan Zhun was seated beside him, silent but with an undeniable presence. Pei Ran could even detect the scent emanating from him – a subtle, cold pine aroma that dispersed some of the surrounding muddled odors.

Reacting instinctively, Pei Ran leaned back and turned his head slightly. "What's wrong?"

Yan Zhun reached into a pocket beneath his shirt and pulled out a bottle of mineral water.

Pei Ran: "…"

"It was purchased on the way here. I forgot to drink it; it's unopened." Yan Zhun asked, "Do you want some?"

It was just a bottle of water, so Pei Ran didn't decline. He stretched out his hand, preparing to take it. "Thank you."

Yan Zhun twisted off the cap before passing it over.

Pei Ran took a gulp, feeling revived. Turning to express his gratitude again, he found Yan Zhun staring at him, motionless.

To be precise, Yan Zhun's gaze was fixed on the area below his nose.

Pei Ran blinked, instinctively reaching up to wipe his lips. "What's wrong... Did something get on me?"

Yan Zhun didn't respond. He glanced away indifferently and turned to join the nearby game of rock-paper-scissors.

Feeling a bit bewildered, Pei Ran didn't have time to ponder further before his neck was encircled.

Luo Qingshan, having finished his performance, returned to Pei Ran's side and joined Lin Kang and the others for a four-person game.

Lin Kang shook the dice. "Same rules as always, one drink per round, no cheating with water cups. Birthday boy doesn't get any special treatment! Pei Ran, do you want in?"

"He's not playing, he doesn't drink," Luo Qingshan interjected, then remembered something and quickly asked, "Honey, are you thirsty? Should I get you a juice?"

"No need, I have mineral water." Pei Ran subtly freed himself from Luo Qingshan's arm; this position was uncomfortable for him.

As the main guest of the party, Luo Qingshan was always targeted during the game. Regardless of what he called, everyone else would challenge him.

"F*ck, I only called once and you opened me up. Lin Kang, are you nuts? Trying for an all-or-nothing?" Luo Qingshan laughed in frustration, downing his drink as he spoke.

Lin Kang replied, "Remember how you treated me on my birthday? Now it's payback time..."

Pei Ran leaned back on the sofa, watching Luo Qingshan's face redden with each drink.

On the other hand, Yan Zhun had barely touched his alcohol. His legs were casually spread apart, with his elbows resting on his knees and his slender, clean hands grasping the dice cup. This gave him an air of confidence even in the simple act of shaking the dice.

"Maybe you should let Pei Ran play for you. Your skills are terrible; you won't last until midnight," Lin Kang taunted.

Luo Qingshan playfully scolded him but, at that moment, his phone on the table lit up, signaling a new message.

He picked up the phone and unlocked it, only to freeze as he read the content. Casually, he moved the screen closer to his face by a few centimeters.

After a few seconds, he put down the phone and replied to Lin Kang, "No one... It's nothing, let's keep playing."

Another round passed, and Luo Qingshan placed the dice cup upside down on the table.

"Wait a minute, I'll be back from the bathroom."

Lin Kang teased, "What? Are you scared? Trying to make a run for it?"

"Get lost, I need to relieve myself. And while I'm at it, I'll ask the server for some juice," he nudged Lin Kang with his foot. "Make room so I can get out."

Luo Qingshan hurriedly left the private room, and Lin Kang chuckled. "Look at how anxious he is, striding so quickly. He's definitely not just going to the bathroom; he's scared!"

No sooner had Lin Kang resettled in his seat than someone patted him on the shoulder again.

Pei Ran: "Excuse me, could you make way again? I need to step out for a call."

In the corridor of the karaoke place, Pei Ran walked with his head down, his steps slow.

After scrolling through Su Nian's Moments that day, Pei Ran had reflected on his behavior.

Firstly, he shouldn't have doubted his boyfriend over trivial matters. Secondly, he shouldn't have made any malicious assumptions about Su Nian just because they were close friends.

It was perfectly normal to have same-sex friends – women called them besties, men called them bros. He couldn't deny Luo Qingshan the right to have friends just because he was gay.

Besides, homosexuals weren't common.

However, after Luo Qingshan had hastily left, his first instinct was still to look for Su Nian, who had also somehow disappeared from the private room.

By the time Pei Ran realized what was happening, he was already near the restroom door.

He rubbed his temples and couldn't help but laugh at himself. Eventually, he decided to return. But as he lifted his head, the smile on his lips froze.

Not far away, he saw Luo Qingshan.

Luo Qingshan stood straight by the edge of the corridor, his hands hanging loosely by his sides, completely still.

Su Nian was hugging him.

It was an embrace between lovers, their bodies pressed closely together. Su Nian's head rested on Luo Qingshan's shoulder, seemingly whispering something.

After about ten seconds, Su Nian lifted his head and kissed Luo Qingshan's chin.

Pei Ran stood frozen, unsure how to react, when suddenly everything before his eyes turned pitch black.

A large hand covered his eyes, and the cool fragrance of pine wood invaded all his senses.

"Don't look, dirty eyes," Yan Zhun's voice said.