Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Shen Nanli sat beside him and leaned over curiously. "What's wrong with rooming with Wen Sinian? You're already roommates anyway."

Xu Yan stuttered incoherently, barely maintaining his composure.

He offered his room slip to Shen Nanli and asked pleadingly, "Nanli, would you trade rooms with me?"

Shen Nanli didn’t even think about it. "Absolutely not!"

Xu Yan's eyes welled up, his lips pressed tightly together, shooting him a pitiful look.

Shen Nanli softened at the sight but still pushed his hand away. "Yan Yan, it's not that I don’t want to switch. I don’t care who your roommate is, but Wen Sinian..."

He shuddered. "Give me a break, please. I’m scared of him. Sharing a room with him would probably have me lying awake all night."

Xu Yan couldn't bring himself to say the truth—that he was the one who should be most afraid of Wen Sinian right now...

He just wanted to stay as far away from Wen Sinian as possible, with no chance of running into him again. Since Shen Nanli refused to switch, he had to quickly find someone else.

Soon, everyone else had picked their room assignments. With sleeping arrangements settled, the nighttime activities kicked off.

Unlike the competitive atmosphere of the day, the nighttime vibe was more laid-back. Students from different colleges and classes mixed and mingled freely, eating, drinking, and partying around the fire.

Some had even brought alcohol, distributing it among the groups. The teachers pretended not to notice, only reminding everyone to stay safe and avoid the beach if they’d been drinking.

Xu Yan’s group merged with others, sitting together drinking and chatting.

Across the bonfire sat Li Huaiche’s group. Xu Yan half-listened to conversations while secretly stealing glances their way.

Wen Sinian had left after speaking to him in the afternoon, seemingly returning only in the evening. Now, he was sitting near Li Huaiche’s group, holding a glass and nursing his drink when people came by.

His dark gaze suddenly locked onto Xu Yan through the flickering flames, catching him red-handed.

Xu Yan’s eyes widened, and he whipped his head away, silently praying he hadn’t been noticed.

Wen Sinian finished his drink, his eyes still fixed on Xu Yan's fluffy head.

Like a kitten—all soft edges, looking utterly touchable.

Zheng Yao plopped down next to him with a drink and poured him more wine. "Bro Wen, where’d you go this afternoon? Didn’t see you around."

Wen Sinian didn’t look at him, his voice cool. "Something came up."

Zheng Yao followed his gaze, growing suspicious. It really looked like he was staring at Xu Yan’s group.

"What kind of business? Checking someone’s IP? Does it have to do with your partner?" Zheng Yao’s curiosity was plain, though he was a little worried Wen Sinian might get angry.

To his surprise, Wen Sinian’s lips curled slightly, as if lost in thought. He didn’t deny it.

"Yeah."

Zheng Yao: "?!"

"No way, bro. You—you actually have a girlfriend?!"

Zheng Yao was utterly shocked by this bombshell. Everyone in their studio had privately joked that Wen Sinian seemed to have severed all earthly desires—they’d never seen him show interest in anyone, male or female.

Yet here he was, admitting he had a girlfriend, and one he’d kept so well-hidden that no one had ever seen her!

"Surprised?" Wen Sinian finally glanced at him, his expression indifferent.

Zheng Yao’s expression said it all: "?!"

Who wouldn’t be?!

"Bro, who is she? Is she from here or another school? When can you introduce her to us? What does she look like? Is she pretty?"

"Very pretty," Wen Sinian murmured, taking a sip while watching a slender figure in the distance. "And very cute."

Zheng Yao was thrown by this uncharacteristic softness, getting chills.

Noticing Wen Sinian’s gaze still fixed across the fire, he added, "We just drew lots for room assignments earlier. Xu Yan got Room 1—same as you. What a coincidence."

Wen Sinian smiled faintly. "Quite the coincidence."

Before coming, he’d already arranged with the sports department president. Fixing the draw wasn’t hard.

Zheng Yao continued, "But it seems the kid's trying to get out of sharing a room with you. He’s been asking around to switch, even came to me..."

Before he could finish, a cold, almost distorted voice cut him off.

Wen Sinian’s smile froze. "Is that so?"

Zheng Yao smelled trouble and quickly hurried to explain. "But I didn’t switch with him! I snore, didn’t want to bother you. No idea if he found someone else, though..."

The glass hit the table with a sharp *clink*, and Wen Sinian stood.

Zheng Yao: "Wh-what’s wrong?"

Wen Sinian strode away from the crowd. "I need some air."

Xu Yan had asked around to everyone he could. Even though his room was a double, no one was willing to switch.

Giving up, he slumped back into his seat, growing more frustrated. He knocked back his drink in one go.

Shen Nanli warned him, "Slow down. You're a lightweight—one glass is enough to get you drunk."

Xu Yan paid him no mind and drank another.

If he blacked out, maybe he’d wake up the next day without having to face anything.

But while he knew his limits, he hadn’t expected this liquor to hit him so fast. Soon, he was burning up all over, his cheeks burning.

His vision swam, the bonfire blurring before his eyes.

"Nanli..." Xu Yan feebly tugged at his sleeve. "I feel... dizzy..."

Nanli exhaled heavily. "Because you’re drunk."

"Drunk..."

Xu Yan thumped his own forehead, almost tipping over.

Shen Nanli yanked him back up. Xu Yan shook his head. "I’m not drunk. Just dizzy."

Shen Nanli helped him stand. "Yeah, yeah. You’re not drunk. C'mon, let's get you back to your room. No telling when they'll call it a night."

After greeting Xu Wenwen and the other group members, Shen Nanli began leading the wobbly Xu Yan toward the villa.

They hadn’t gone far when hurried footsteps approached from behind.

Zhou Zhengyi approached Xu Yan from the other side. "What’s wrong with Yan Yan? Is he drunk? I have some hangover medicine—should I get him some?"

Shen Nanli pulled Xu Yan tighter, keeping Zhou Zhengyi from touching him.

"No need, I brought some too. I’ll get it for him later, so don’t worry about it."

Zhou Zhengyi persisted, trying to reach for Xu Yan again, only to be swatted away by the dazed man.

Xu Yan’s brows furrowed slightly. Though his reactions were sluggish and his mind far from clear, his body instinctively acted for him.

He didn’t like this person touching him.

"G-Go away…"

Frowning in resistance, Xu Yan shied away.

Shen Nanli struggled to support his weight, and the two almost collapsed onto the sand together.

A pair of arms reached out from the shadows at just the right moment, catching the unsteady figure. A palm pressed against his back, giving a gentle tug that effortlessly drew him into an embrace.

Once Shen Nanli regained his balance, he saw Wen Sinian’s face lit by the firelight.

His attention seemed entirely focused on the person in his arms, his gaze lowered, one hand supporting the slender waist while the other gripped a slender wrist.

Xu Yan had accidentally twisted his foot earlier, and now, warm and limp against the man’s chest, he winced as his left foot barely touched the ground. He let out a soft whimper, and the chest before him stiffened slightly.

"Did I hurt you?" Wen Sinian’s voice was low, his hold easing slightly.

Xu Yan still frowned. "Mmm…"

His eyes lifted, glistening with unshed tears.

The familiar scent of sandalwood mixed with the lingering alcohol in his breath, filling his lungs as he inhaled deeply.

Blinking slowly, he recognized the person before him, and an instinctive sense of trust welled up inside him. His lips puckered in a pout as he murmured faintly.

"Year…"

The murmur was so faint it dissolved into the wind, heard by no one but Wen Sinian.

Wen Sinian’s hand on his back tightened slightly, pulling him even closer.

A finger pressed lightly against his flushed lips. "Shh," Wen Sinian murmured.

Xu Yan understood he was being told to stay quiet, but he looked up confused, lips parting as if to speak again—until Wen Sinian pressed a hand to the back of his head, pressing his flushed face against a firm chest.

Xu Yan’s eyes widened, his body stiffening. His oxygen-deprived brain froze, leaving him utterly clueless about how to react. Any sound he might have made was stifled in his throat.

Wen Sinian’s large hand cradled the back of his head, long fingers combing through soft strands, stroking gently.

So soft. So round. So satisfying to touch.

In the darkness, the subtle movement went unnoticed—only appearing as though he were kindly shielding Xu Yan from the firelight.

Finally turning his attention to the other two present, Wen Sinian spoke calmly. "I’ll take him back."

Shen Nanli would have had trouble handling Xu Yan alone, and since they shared a room anyway, he nodded. "I still need to find hangover medicine for Yan Yan."

"No need," Wen Sinian said. "There’s some in the room."

Shen Nanli hesitated. "Then I’ll help you carry him back."

Wen Sinian didn’t refuse this time. "Fine."

Supporting Xu Yan between them, Wen Sinian noticed his limping steps and steadied him with a steadying hand on his back as they headed toward the villa.

Zhou Zhengyi stood frozen in place, shock rooting him to the spot.

He’d already sensed Wen Sinian’s special interest in Xu Yan—but did Xu Yan feel the same?

If not, why would he curl up so willingly in the man’s arms like a kitten?

Room One was tucked at the far end of the second-floor hallway, secluded and quiet.

Once placed on the bed, Xu Yan’s head lolled to the side, and he drifted into drunken sleep.

Shen Nanli removed his shoes, tucked him in, and started looking around for the hangover medicine when Wen Sinian spoke from the doorway.

"I’ll find it later. Someone was calling for you outside just now."

Shen Nanli nodded. "Alright. I’ll head back then. Yan Yan’s quiet when drunk—just give him the medicine later, and he’ll sleep soundly till morning. Don't worry about him."

Wen Sinian’s face remained impassive. "Got it."

After tucking Xu Yan in one last time, Shen Nanli hurried downstairs.

Wen Sinian glanced down the empty, darkened hallway before slowly closing the door.

He turned off the main light, leaving only the soft glow of a bedside lamp.

Two beds—one near the window, where a slender figure lay barely visible under the snow-white covers, his flawless face just as pure, now tinged with a faint blush. His cheeks flushed an unnatural red, the faint scent of alcohol drifting from him, intoxicatingly sweet.

A tall shadow approached the bed, its dark silhouette looming like a dark mountain against the wall, ready to envelop its helpless prey beneath its oppressive weight.

Wen Sinian leaned down, one hand braced beside Xu Yan’s head, the other stroking slowly, deliberately along his cheek—gentle yet unmistakably dominant.

The smooth skin he’d fantasized about countless times felt even softer than he'd imagined beneath his fingertips, impossibly yielding.

He couldn’t resist. Couldn’t pull away.

Pinching a bit of the soft cheek between his fingers, he toyed with it lightly, drawing out sleepy whimpers from the sleeping man.

As if sensing discomfort, Xu Yan cracked his eyes open slightly, his arm swatting weakly in protest.

A sharp slap rang out—Wen Sinian’s face jerked to the side from the impact.

His breathing grew heavier. He touched his cheek, his eyes narrowing.

The force hadn’t been strong, but the sensation was unmistakable.

A faint sting, accompanied by an inexplicable thrill, surged through him.

Gazing down at the dazed figure on the bed, he didn’t react with anger—instead, a faint smile curled his lips as he leaned in, his hot breath brushing against a flushed ear.

A soft sigh escaped him.

"Baby."

"Daring to hit me?"