Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Xu Yan’s eyes flew open, and his whole side went numb. His heart seemed to have stopped for two seconds. Mixed with the coffee scent, there was also a faint scent of sandalwood.

By the time he regained his senses, the person before him had already straightened up and casually moved away, kindly giving him room to breathe.

His heartbeat, after hitting its peak, began to race wildly in his narrow chest. Blood finally rushed to his brain, and Xu Yan opened his mouth, letting out a dumbfounded noise.

"Ah..."

Wen Sinian asked, "Have you had lunch?"

Xu Yan wondered if he'd heard wrong. He was sure he hadn’t heard that just now. But the man before him seemed unfazed—would he really have said something scary like "I'll eat you"?

Maybe he had misheard because he was too nervous...

Xu Yan shook his head. "Not yet."

They had to swap shifts with coworkers for lunch, so they ate later.

The coffee cup had been taken from his cheek and placed in his hand, while his other hand received a delicate little pink bag.

"Eating here or to-go?" Wen Sinian said. "The cake has ice cream filling—it melts easily."

Xu Yan glanced at the items in his hands and blurted out a dumb question. "Is this for me to eat?"

"Mm," Wen Sinian reached out and straightened the slightly crooked dragon horn on his helmet. "Who else would it be for?"

Xu Yan gazed up hopefully. "Then... you're still not reporting me?"

Wen Sinian quirked his lips slightly and tapped his helmet with two fingers.

"Finish it all, and I won’t report you."

There was actually such a good thing in the world.

Xu Yan’s eyes sparkled as he nodded eagerly, promising, "Okay! I’ll eat it all when I get back—I won’t waste a single bit!"

Clutching his treats, he carried the coffee and cake out of the villa, thoughtfully making sure to shut the door behind him.

On the way back, Xu Yan finished the coffee. When he entered the shop, Yang Yang noticed he'd come back from the delivery with souvenirs and curiously asked, "Why did you take so long? Was the place far? Did you buy cake on the way back?"

"Not far. I just accidentally spilled some coffee, so it took a little longer," Xu Yan explained. "The cake wasn’t bought by me—it was... given to me."

Yang Yang glanced at the packaging. "Damn, this place is super pricey. Who gave it to you? They hitting on you?"

Xu Yan immediately replied, "No, definitely not."

Seeing his denial, Yang Yang didn’t press further. "Did the customer say anything about the spilled coffee? They didn’t hassle you, did they? Should we make another cup to send over, or just refund them?"

Xu Yan stared at the pretty pink ice cream cake. "No need for either."

As long as he finished this cake, everything would be fine.

The creamy ice cream melted smoothly in his mouth, its coolness balancing the sweetness of the milk, leaving just pure sweetness.

Inside the bag, aside from the small cake, were a few pieces of Patchi filled chocolates.

As he ate the cake, Xu Yan thought to himself—turns out Senior Wen was pretty decent too.

While eating, his phone screen kept lighting up as WeChat messages continuously popped up.

He startled, like he'd forgotten something else.

Quickly switching to his alt account, he checked—just as he feared, "year" had been sending him messages nonstop since half an hour ago, after saying he wanted to meet.

"year": Don’t you want to see me, baby?

"year": Aren’t you curious about me?

"year": Not seeing you these days has been agony.

"year": I'm falling for you. What do we do, baby?

"year": No updates during the break—didn’t let anyone else see you.

"year": Such a good girl.

"year": Don’t let anyone else see you in skirts in the future either.

"year": Just for my eyes only.

"year": I really like you so much. Let’s meet, okay?

Xu Yan went rigid. He hadn’t expected year to suddenly say these things. He remembered year saying he was straight—so how could he like him? It set him on edge.

Was it because he had seen too many photos of him in skirts and started imagining him as a girl?

Gnawing his spoon, he pondered how to turn him down without sounding too harsh.

After all, he had never considered meeting his top supporter.

"Yan Yan": What's with wanting to meet all of a sudden, gege?

"Yan Yan": We barely know each other, and we don’t really understand each other yet. Maybe all this chatting's giving you the wrong idea. If we really met, you'd see I'm not who you imagine.

The moment he sent the message, a video call request flashed up from the other side.

Xu Yan fumbled his phone in panic, and he quickly declined.

"year": No.

"year": I'd just want you more.

"year": Why'd you reject it? Didn’t you say you wanted to get to know each other better?

Xu Yan’s fingers flew across the screen.

"Yan Yan": That came out wrong...

"year": Then what did you mean, baby?

"Yan Yan": Can't we just not meet? [Tearful cat emoji]

"year": Why?

"year": You seeing someone?

Xu Yan worried his lower lip. year was coming on too strong—he was at a loss.

Why ask if he has a boyfriend? Shouldn't it be whether he has a girlfriend instead?

"Yan Yan": No...

"year": So you don’t have one?

"Yan Yan": Mm...

"year": You're so well-behaved. Do you want to date me, baby?

Xu Yan was so flustered he bolted up from his chair, pacing around the break room with his phone in hand. How had the conversation gotten so out of his control?

"Yan Yan": I'm not into guys, and... please stop calling me that.

"Baby" this, "baby" that—it made his face burn just reading it.

"year": Why not?

"Yan Yan": ...Just don’t.

"Yan Yan": We’re not in a relationship.

Using such pet names felt way too strange and awkward. Xu Yan didn’t even dare to look closely—just reading the messages made his ears burn.

Apart from his grandmother calling him "sweetheart," no one had ever called him that before.

year didn’t reply immediately, and Xu Yan breathed a small sigh of relief, thinking he had made himself clear. But then, the next second, another message appeared.

"year": Then let’s become a couple.

*

Xu Yan never dared to respond to that message.

After returning to the dorm that evening, his thoughts were still a tangled mess from the day’s events.

He hadn’t eaten dinner, and lunch had only been that small slice of cake. Though he wasn’t hungry now, he felt a bit lightheaded, so he unwrapped some chocolate and popped it in his mouth.

The smooth, rich flavor instantly filled his mouth, and the nut filling was so delicious it made him squint with pleasure.

But what if year still insisted on meeting him? Propping his cheeks in his hands, he sat at the desk, lost in thought.

He absolutely didn’t want to reveal his real identity, but year was too sharp—already knowing his school and even suggesting they date, becoming some kind of couple.

Absolutely not.

Xu Yan’s face twisted in distress as he slumped at the desk, unsure what to do.

Zhao Qingji and Li Huaiche had said they’d return a day later, so tonight, he was alone in the dorm again.

Too down to do anything, he got ready for bed early, locked the door, and climbed into bed.

Before even 10 p.m., another message came through on his alt account.

Xu Yan resisted, pulling his rabbit ears over his eyes as if playing asleep.

But ignoring it wouldn't help. After a while, he finally tapped in to check.

"year": Sleeping, baby?

"year": Did I scare you?

"year": Let’s take it slow, okay?

"year": If you don’t want to meet, we won’t.

Xu Yan felt a flicker of hope, and he quickly replied.

"Yan Yan": Okay.

"Yan Yan": I really don’t want to meet up.

Seeing how fast he responded, the other side seemed to pause before showing the typing bubbles.

"year": Mm.

Relieved that year had relented, the weight on Xu Yan’s chest all afternoon finally eased. Thankfully, he had agreed—the immediate crisis was over. But then, another message came through.

"year": I thought you at least had some feelings for me too.

"year": Turns out you really dislike me.

Xu Yan’s heart, which had just calmed, suddenly jumped back up. The words sounded like an accusation, putting all the blame on him.

He had never said he disliked year. In fact, when year hadn’t replied during the break, he'd even felt an undeniable pang of loss.

He sat bolt upright, quickly typing a rebuttal.

"Yan Yan": No, no!

"Yan Yan": I absolutely don’t dislike you!

"year": Really?

Xu Yan panicked, afraid year had truly misunderstood him.

"Yan Yan": Yes, yes, it’s just that I never thought about meeting offline. When you suddenly brought it up today, it just caught me off guard...

"year": Because I haven’t seen you these past few days.

"year": That’s when I realized how much I missed you.

There it was again.

Xu Yan couldn’t tell if year was being sincere. But how could this "like" be real when he hadn’t even seen his real appearance? He was skeptical.

"year": Let me see you, baby.

"Yan Yan": I don’t want to be on camera.

"Yan Yan": And I don’t want to video call.

"year": No video calls. Just send me some photos, okay?

"year": Wear the dress I gave you.

Xu Yan hesitated.

"Yan Yan": If I send photos, we don't have to meet?

"year": Deal.

Sending some pics is way better than meeting up, and all these dresses were his buys anyway.

"Yan Yan": 'Kay, gimme a sec.

Xu Yan got off the bed, turned the light back on, and grabbed a random dress from the closet.

It was a pink tulle puffball dress. Xu Yan didn’t realize until he put it on how little fabric there was on the upper half—just a thin layer of pink gauze wrapped around the chest, with open cutouts along the waist and a butterfly design perched at the small of his back, its wings seemingly ready to take flight. The sleeves were also made of pink tulle, and the skirt was short, showing off his smooth, bare legs, with a sheer train fluttering behind him.

He checked himself in the mirror. The dress hugged his frame snugly, with lightweight, airy tulle above and below, accentuating his tiny waist perfectly in the middle.

Like it was made just for him.

He took a few photos in front of the mirror, trying out the best angles before finally selecting two to send.

A reply pinged back instantly, as if the other person had been waiting by their phone the whole time.

"Year": Gorgeous, babe.

"Year": Mind snapping a few more?

"Yan Yan": Ugh, what now?

"Year": There are two accessories that go with this dress.

Xu Yan rummaged through the packaging and found a white ribbon tie and some silver chain.

"Yan Yan": Found them, but I don’t know how to wear these.

"Year": Hop on the bed first.

Clutching the accessories and his phone, Xu Yan obediently climbed onto the bed.

"Yan Yan": I’m up.

"Year": Same kneeling pose as before.

Xu Yan complied. This dress wasn’t as tight as the qipao, but when he sat down, the skirt still hitched up on its own, the pink tulle barely covering the pale dip of his thighs.

"Yan Yan": Should I take it from the same angle again?

"Year": Put on the accessories first.

"Year": Tie the bow around your left thigh, and the anklet on your right foot.

Glancing at the items in his hand, Xu Yan finally understood their purpose—though he hadn’t expected Year to know these dresses so well, down to exactly how the accessories should be worn.

He followed Year’s instructions, clasping the anklet around his slender, delicate ankle, making his fragile bones look even more delicate. Tiny butterfly bells chimed softly with every movement.

Next, he tied the bow, securing the thin ribbons around his bare thigh. Once the skirt fell back into place, just the ribbon tails peeked through between the snowy white and soft pink.

"Yan Yan": Done.

"Year": Let me check if you put them on right.

"Yan Yan": Huh… how?

"Year": Send me a photo.

The anklet part was simple. Xu Yan took a picture of his right ankle and hit send.

But the area around the thighs was a bit too private. Xu Yan had to mentally prepare himself for a while, but no matter the angle he took the photo from, it still looked... indecent.

Looking at the photos on his phone—innocent but tempting—his face flushed red, and he couldn’t bring himself to press send.

year: Don’t know how to put it on, baby?

year: I’ll teach you when we meet, okay?

The word "meet" made Xu Yan’s heart sink. He bit his lip and sent the photo in a panic.

There was no reply. Xu Yan stared nervously at the chat interface before hesitantly typing out a question.

Yan Yan: Did I wear it wrong?

The reply came quickly.

year: No.

Yan Yan: How else should I take the photo?

year: Get on your stomach.

His doe eyes widened. Xu Yan wasn’t entirely sure what kind of pose this was. He propped himself up on the bed, clamping his thighs together to stay covered.

Just as he was wondering how to take a photo like this, another message arrived.

year: Put your phone behind you, angle it upward from below.

Xu Yan tried to follow the instructions, raising one hand high behind his back, tilting the camera slightly, and taking a few blind shots.

The photos showed a slender figure in a soft pink chiffon dress, capturing only from the shoulders down. The butterfly resting on the small of his back looked lifelike, accentuating the soft, flawless skin on either side like a pristine canvas. The dress cinched tightly at the waist before billowing over the gentle swell of his hips.

Further down were two slender, pale legs pressed tightly together, the delicate hollows of his knees. On the left thigh, half of a white bow peeked out, slightly loose from movement, barely clinging to the soft curve of his thigh. On his right ankle, a silver bell anklet sat obediently.

An odd pose, yet strikingly beautiful.

year: All done?

Xu Yan took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and sent it before pressing his face into the pillow.

*Just pretend it wasn’t me.*

After a while, once the flush in his ears faded, he dared to check the messages again.

There were two.

year: Baby, you’re so beautiful.

year: Don’t let anyone else see.

*

Fortunately, after Xu Yan refused to meet, year actually held back and never mentioned it again.

But the texts grew even more frequent, now it was the other person saying good morning and good night.

year: Good morning, baby.

year: Got class today?

Xu Yan had told him not to call him that. He’d said yes verbally, but it never stuck.

"Yan Yan": In class

"Yan Yan": Classes all day

Hint taken—he was busy, so stop messaging him so much. Yet, to his surprise, a reply came shortly after.

"year": You liar

Xu Yan’s heart skipped a beat, his fingers tapping nervously against the back of his phone.

He was so easily flustered—why did one text make his heart pound like this, his fingertips tightening with tension?

"Yan Yan": I’m not lying

"year": No class this afternoon

"Yan Yan": How do you know my schedule?

"year": Asked you about your classes every day last week, I memorized it

Xu Yan bit his lip silently. Why would he bother memorizing his schedule?

"Yan Yan": This class is only on odd weeks. Your memory’s off.

"year": Then send me the right one, baby

"year": What if I miss you too much?

"year": Can’t I text you in class?

"Yan Yan": No, I have to pay attention

"year": Send me a new pic tonight, then. I won’t bother you this afternoon.

Xu Yan thought to himself—this guy had already gotten so many photos from him. He was totally shameless.

"year": Or I could come to campus and crash your class?

The moment Xu Yan read this, he panicked.

"Yan Yan": No

"Yan Yan": Stay away

"Yan Yan": I’ll take one tonight when I get back

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, the other person’s mood appeared to lift.

"year": Alright, that’s my good boy

Xu Yan checked his account—his recent posting frequency had dropped even lower than before. Year wouldn’t let him post many of his photos.

Annoyed, he tapped the screen and checked his wallet balance, only to find that year had just sent him another big payment. The accumulated total was nearly 100,000. Seeing those digits eased some of his frustration.

He couldn’t wait for next month—then he could withdraw all the money.

Xu Yan actually had no class that afternoon. He had lied to year on purpose—served him right for being so clingy lately, leaving him no space to breathe.

He was meeting up with Shen Nanli and Zhao Qingji to visit Ares that afternoon while he was free, to film some extra B-roll. The promotional video was basically done, but Xu Yan still wasn’t happy with it no matter how many times he reviewed it.

He's a bit obsessive about perfection, always striving to do his best.

Before heading out in the afternoon, Year (a nickname) sent another message.

"Year": Have a good class, babe.

Xu Yan locked his phone screen, deciding he wouldn’t reply to Year’s messages for the rest of the afternoon.

Shen Nanli came to Room 318 to meet them, and Zhao Qingji had already borrowed the equipment from the school in advance. Just as the three were about to leave, Zhou Zhengyi suddenly knocked on the door. Seeing them carrying large bags, he asked curiously, "Are you guys heading out?"

Shen Nanli replied, "Going out to film some footage."

Xu Yan had thought Zhou Zhengyi hadn’t come looking for him lately because he’d finally moved on. The basketball tickets were still untouched in his backpack—the game had ended long ago, and Xu Yan hadn’t gone. He didn’t know how else to spell it out for him.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhengyi seemed to be acting like it was nothing and said enthusiastically, "Where are you guys shooting?"

Zhao Qingji answered, "Off-campus."

He and Shen Nanli exchanged a glance, checking Xu Yan’s reaction.

Zhou Zhengyi also looked at Xu Yan and asked, "Is three of you enough? I’ve got nothing to do—why don’t I come with? I can help carry stuff."

As he spoke, he took the lens case from Xu Yan’s hands and carried it himself.

Xu Yan quickly said, "Thanks, but we really don’t need help. We’ve got it covered—we did it last time too."

"Then why didn’t you call me last time?" Zhou Zhengyi said. "No dating, but can’t we still be friends?"

Hearing this, Shen Nanli quickly made an excuse and pulled Zhao Qingji out first.

The dorm room was suddenly left with just the two of them, the atmosphere so awkward that Xu Yan’s gaze kept darting around the room, refusing to meet the eyes of the person standing in front of him.

Zhou Zhengyi said earnestly, "Xu Yan, can you stop avoiding me?"

Xu Yan felt a little guilty. "I’m not avoiding you."

Zhou Zhengyi seemed to think of something and suddenly laughed. "Do you still think I’m trying to chase you? I got over it a while back. You spelled it out for me before, and when you didn’t show up for the basketball game, I finally got it—there’s no chance between us. I haven’t thought about it since then. Besides, I’ve actually met someone I really like recently—a girl."

Hearing this, Xu Yan’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Zhou Zhengyi nodded. "Of course. Why would I lie? I meant it when I said I wanted to be friends. I might’ve misunderstood my feelings for you before, thinking it was something more, but after meeting this girl, I realized—I’m 100% straight. And everyone in my class knows I’m chasing her. Seriously, ask anyone in the sports department."

He’d put it all out there so plainly that Xu Yan wasn’t vain enough to think anyone could be head over heels for him.

"That’s great. I was really worried you’d keep hung up on me," Xu Yan said with a relieved smile. "Fingers crossed for you!"

Zhou Zhengyi paused, then grinned. "Yeah, if it does, I’ll take you out to eat. But seriously, I’ve got nothing to do today—let me come along. I’m curious about how you guys usually shoot stuff anyway."

Without suspicion, Xu Yan agreed. Though Zhou Zhengyi wasn’t a professional, he was tall and strong, making him quite efficient at lugging gear back and forth.

Xu Yan already had a shot list planned out for each scene. Luckily, the gym was dead that day, so they wrapped up fast.

Before leaving, they went to the gym manager to record a few extra audio clips.

After finishing, the manager asked, "Did everything go smoothly?"

Xu Yan nodded. "Yeah, we nailed all our shots."

Shen Nanli added, "The gym was so empty today—perfect for shooting those establishing shots."

Zhao Qingji said, "Indeed, not a single wasted shot."

The venue manager smiled. "The place is empty today for a special reason. I wasn't even going to allow you all to come, but the boss said you could come film anytime."

Zhou Zhengyi, clearly curious, asked excitedly, "What special reason?"

The owner looked at him. "Are you their classmate too? I haven’t seen you before when they came to film."

Xu Yan jumped in to explain, "No, he’s not. He’s just here to help today."

The owner glanced between the two but didn’t question further. "There’s a match tonight, taking place in the central octagon cage. It’s VIP-only, not open to the public. So if you’re done filming, you’ll need to leave soon. Crew will start arriving to prepare."

As he spoke, a fighter transport bus pulled up outside, and the owner didn’t detain them any longer.

The four walked toward the exit, Zhou Zhengyi relieving Xu Yan of his load again. Seeing this, Xu Yan went to help Shen Nanli shoulder his equipment. Once outside, they headed for the bus stop together.

After the students boarded the bus and left, an all-black Aston Martin appeared outside the venue.

Wen Sinian emerged from the driver’s side, while Chen Xun exited the passenger side. The two walked into the gym side by side.

The owner, who had been overseeing staff to arrange the fighters’ rooms, hurried over when he saw them.

"Boss," he greeted them separately, "Brother Wen is here too!"

Despite being older than both, he’d grown used to addressing them this way.

Wen Sinian acknowledged him with a slight nod.

The owner turned to Chen Xun. "Boss, the Thai team just asked if their match could be moved later in the lineup. Seems like they’re having some issues with their fighter."

Chen Xun replied, "Use your discretion. We’re just here to watch tonight."

As the two headed toward the better-viewed second level, the owner suddenly remembered something and added as they walked away, "Oh, one more thing—those students came by earlier to film, said they were just getting some final shots. The finished edit will be ready next week."

Chen Xun glanced at Wen Sinian, who showed no reaction, and simply said, "Noted."

"By the way, it wasn’t just those three kids today. There was an additional person," the owner added.

Wen Sinian paused on the stairs and looked down. "An extra one?"

The owner nodded. "Yeah, pretty tall. Said he was there to help. Clearly inexperienced, but he was eager—attending to their group leader, wouldn’t even let him lift a finger."

Chuckling, as if recalling the youthful, charming sight of them leaving together, he added, "Honestly, the more I think about it, the more those two look like an item."

Wen Sinian smiled faintly, his voice even but gaze frosty.

"Is that so."

Meant. To. Be. A. Couple.

*

Back in the dorm that night, with his roommates all around, Xu Yan couldn’t take any photos. He sent a message to "year," saying he’d find time to take them tomorrow, then threw himself into editing.

He worked until nearly curfew before rushing to freshen up. Checking his phone afterward, he saw an unread message on his secondary account.

"year": Were you attentive in class this afternoon?

"Yan Yan": Yes~

After replying, he climbed into bed just as the dorm lights turned off at 11 sharp.

His phone screen lit up faintly with another message.

"year": That's good.

"year": So it’s not that you don’t like guys.

"year": You just don’t like me.

Xu Yan stared at the words, completely bewildered. Hadn't they been discussing class? How did it shift to this?

"Yan Yan": That's not it - I don't dislike you.

"year": So you do?

Lying in bed, Xu Yan tugged at the long ears of his plush rabbit in his arms.

He didn’t dare say "no"—otherwise, the person on the other end would get upset again, and he’d have to talk him down.

But he also didn’t dare say "yes." He didn’t want to lie.

Can't it just be... complicated?

"year": Are you with some other guy right now? Too busy to reply?

"Yan Yan": No way...

"year": Not during the day either?

Xu Yan had wondered more than once if "year" was somehow watching him in real time. Why did every lie get caught?

It was as if he already knew who he was. Terrifying.

"Yan Yan": Nooo~

Pulling the covers over his head, Xu Yan decided to stick to his story.

A moment later, three words appeared on the screen.

"year": You’re being disobedient.

Xu Yan suddenly hugged the rabbit tighter, pressing his cheek against its soft fur, eyes locked on his phone, his breathing growing faint.

"year": Beishi University has two gates. Which one do you usually use?

"year": The north gate, right?

"year": I’ll come catch you tomorrow.

Xu Yan sucked in a sharp breath, nearly had a heart attack by those simple words.

If "year" really waited at the north gate to catch him, he’d have to skip his part-time job and barricade himself in his dorm.

But after calming down slightly, he reconsidered—his photos never revealed his face. How could "year" possibly identify him?

This had to be a bluff.

As if sensing his relief, the other man mercilessly shattered his remaining hope.

"year": Darling, I could pick you out just from your legs.

Xu Yan's fingers gave a little tremble, his lips quivered on the verge of tears.

"Yan Yan": No way!

"Yan Yan": You must not come!

"year": Will you be good for me?

"Yan Yan": I'll be good.

"year": Then you'll be mine, okay?

Was there any other option...?

Xu Yan tried to reassure himself—maybe he could just agree for now, to dissuade him from coming to find him. That was the most important thing. Later, he could find a chance to break up with him.

After all, it was just an online relationship. As long as he didn’t agree to meet in person, no one would know. That should be fine, right?

And surely, this was just a passing interest for him. Maybe in a few days, he’d find some other cute influencer and break up with him first.

Xu Yan sniffled, overwhelmed with humiliation.

"Yan Yan": Alright then.

"year": Do you really mean it, baby?

"Yan Yan": As long as you don’t come to my school, I’ll agree.

"year": That's my good boy. Can we FaceTime now?

"Yan Yan": No, my roommates are asleep.

"year": Then go to the bathroom and snap a pic in that skirt for me.

"year": I want to see you, okay baby?

"year": I’ll show you too, alright?

Xu Yan lay quietly in bed for a while, muffling a frustrated kick into the blankets before finally tiptoeing out of bed.

He gently opened the wardrobe, careful not to make a sound, pulled out some mysterious garment from the bottom, then carefully closed the door again. Holding the skirt in his arms, he slipped into the bathroom and swiftly locked the door.

Shaking out the small bundle of fabric, it turned out to be a black, tight-fitting minidress, paired with sheer black stockings.

When Xu Yan saw the dress clearly, his pale cheeks burned crimson.

This... was a little too sexy...

And it showed far too much. How was he supposed to take a picture in this?

He quickly wadded the dress back into a ball and opened the door, ready to swap it for something else from the wardrobe.

But before he could even step out of the bathroom, he heard a voice from the bed by the door.

"Xu Yan? Xu Yan?"

Li Huaiche called his name twice before he responded, scrambling back inside with the dress in his arms.

Li Huaiche asked, "Everything alright? Feeling sick?"

Xu Yan lowered his voice. "No, I just needed to use the bathroom."

"Oh, try to keep it down later, alright? I’ve got to get up early tomorrow."

"Okay."

Xu Yan obediently retreated into the bathroom. Well, this one it would have to be.

Standing in front of the mirror, he turned left and right, unsure whether to put it on over his head or step into it from the bottom.

After wavering in indecision for a while, he decided to just try it on. Maybe once it was on...

Well, it was even more scandalously revealing.

The top was a strapless bandeau top, baring broad expanses of his porcelain shoulders and neck. Below his flat chest was a wasp waist, and the hemline was dangerously short, barely covering anything. The slightest movement would risk exposure front and back.

He lacked the curves to fill out the top, so the bandeau kept slipping. If he tugged it down to cover his thighs, the neckline would gape open.

He put on the sheer black stockings too, figuring every inch of coverage counted, then spent a long time adjusting himself.

His slender, shapely legs were tightly encased in the stockings, the ghostly pale skin faintly visible. The stockings bit into the tender flesh of his thighs, leaving a small gap between them and the hem of the dress. The soft flesh there was already chafing pink from the pressure, and the black fabric made his milk-white skin glow obscenely.

"year": Having trouble getting into it alone?

"year": Let me help you with that next time, okay?

Xu Yan glanced at his reflection—his cheeks and even the tips of his ears were completely red, his neck blooming with heat from sheer embarrassment, his heart pounding.

Despite wearing such a sexy, provocative outfit, his eyes shone with unshed tears, shimmering with humiliated distress.

He picked up his phone, one hand covering his chest, the other typing a reply.

"Yan Yan": I've got it.

"year": Okay, baby can.

"Yan Yan": It's on.

"year": In the bathroom?

"Yan Yan": Yeah...

"year": Prop your phone on the windowsill, set a timer.

The bathroom was small, with a windowsill right next to the shower—perfect for positioning the phone.

"Yan Yan": Done.

"Yan Yan": What about me?

He stood in front of the windowsill, standing frozen, staring blankly at the phone screen.

Two seconds later, the instructions came.

"year": Stand facing the wall.

Xu Yan blinked. That was it? So simple.

He set up a five-second delayed shot, edged toward the wall, and stood there, arms dangling helplessly at his sides, fingers desperately clutching at the hem to prevent a wardrobe malfunction from behind.

After taking the photo, he glanced at it—a properly posed figure from behind, like a model's portfolio shot—then clicked send.

"year": Baby, open your legs a little wider.

"year": Bend forward, hands on the wall.

Xu Yan obediently returned to the wall, following the instructions. He raised his hands and placed them against the wall at chest level. He couldn't bend over fully, so he just leaned his upper body slightly against the wall. Fortunately, he was flexible enough to hold that position.

Once the photo was taken, Xu Yan barely glanced at it before hitting send.

If the other person still wasn’t satisfied, he wouldn’t take any more pictures. Even a rabbit will bite when pushed too far—he had his limits too.

He took off the skirt and black stockings, revealing red indentations around his thighs from the tight fabric. Running his fingers over them, he felt a slight itch.

After changing back into his pajamas, he slipped quietly out of the bathroom. He didn’t dare open the wardrobe again, so he just got into bed still holding the skirt, tucking it on the far side to sneak it back the next morning after his roommates left.

Once everything was settled, he lay in bed and swiped open his phone.

"year": Baby.

"year": Would you really do whatever I ask?

"Yan Yan": No way.

Remembering the earlier messages, he took the initiative to type.

"Yan Yan": I want to see you as well.

To his surprise, the reply came instantly.

"year": Not a good time right now.

Xu Yan’s eyes widened slightly as he reread the message, stunned.

*Just as I thought! He really is lying to me!*

"Yan Yan": You said you’d show me.

"Yan Yan": You're breaking your promise.

"Yan Yan": You lied to me.

"Yan Yan": You're such a jerk.

"Yan Yan": I won’t send you anything in the future either.

After sending the messages, he locked his phone and stuffed it under the pillow, squeezing his eyes shut in frustration.

But restlessly turning, the unfairness gnawed at him. *He’s the one who said he liked me and wanted to be with me, but won't even share a single photo?*

The one time he did send one, he claimed it was a mistake and unsent it before Xu Yan could even get a proper look.

*Who even acts like this?*

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He dug his phone back out, squinting at the bright screen.

There were unread messages. He unlocked it.

Sent ten minutes ago:

"year": I’ll send you one, okay?

"year": Don’t be mad, baby.

"year": I’m outside, looking for somewhere private.

Xu Yan stared at the screen, waiting silently.

Soon enough, a photo came through.

He wasn’t sure where it was taken—the lighting was dim. The photo showed a shirtless torso, face not shown, with knife-sharp collarbones and a sculpted chest. His muscles seemed to surge, clearly showing signs of intense fitness. Faint side lighting highlighted the distinct contours of his abs, and only the edge of black pants was visible at the bottom.

Xu Yan hid half his face under the blanket, peeking out with just his wide, startled deer-eyes.

Even through the screen, he could feel the scorching intensity and raw dominance radiating from the image.