Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Night had fallen outside, and a cold wind howled.

Xu Yan’s skirt billowed wildly, his slender legs trembling beneath.

He pulled Wen Sinian’s coat tighter, burying most of his face in it, then hailed a cab and returned to Shang Jia’s small studio.

As the door swung open, the fragrant aroma of food wafted out.

Shang Jia and Shen Nanli were having dinner and looked astonished to see him.

"Yan Yan, why are you back so soon?"

"We thought you’d be having dinner with Brother Year. You didn’t reply to any of our messages."

Xu Yan shivered from the cold, his face pale, making his lips stand out, vivid as fresh blood.

"My phone... it broke."

Shang Jia quickly handed him his clothes. "Go change first. It’s my fault—I forgot to give you long johns when you left. It’s so cold; your legs must be freezing."

Xu Yan first shed the coat, then carried his clothes to the bathroom to change. When he emerged, he saw Shang Jia and Shen Nanli staring intently at the coat and the brand-new phone on the table.

He walked over and explained, "Since my phone broke, he let me use his for now."

Shang Jia countered, "Then where’s your phone?"

Xu Yan answered honestly, "With him."

Shen Nanli immediately panicked. "If he finds out about your main account, won’t you be totally screwed?!"

Xu Yan remained completely unperturbed. "He doesn’t know my unlock password, and I’ve set up app locks. No one can open them."

Only then did the two relax, pressing him for details.

Shang Jia: "So, how was the meeting today? What does Brother Year look like? Is he handsome?"

Shen Nanli: "This coat is his too, right? Louis Vuitton—so expensive. Brother Year is really generous."

Shang Jia: "What did you two do all that time? Just watch a movie? You said you were going to talk about breaking up—how did it go? Did you break up?"

Shen Nanli: "Yan Yan, your lips are so red, and a little swollen. Did you eat something spicy again?"

Shang Jia took a closer look, then smacked Shen Nanli on the head. "‘Spicy’? You don’t know anything."

Shen Nanli rubbed his head innocently. He truly didn’t understand, so he watched as Shang Jia grinned at Xu Yan and said, "You didn’t break up, did you?"

Xu Yan sat down in a chair. Shen Nanli handed him a bowl and chopsticks, while Shang Jia served him some rice.

He sniffled, feeling even more wronged. "Mm..."

Not only had they not broken up, but he’d also been terribly bullied.

Shen Nanli immediately bristled with indignation, slamming his hand on the table. "No way, what’s wrong with Brother Year? He won’t let you break up? Come on, Yan Yan, I’ve got your back. Take me to him!"

Shang Jia rolled her eyes, pushing Shen Nanli back down. "Just calm down, will you?"

Then Shang Jia went into the other room and soon returned with a tube, handing it to Xu Yan.

Xu Yan took it and realized it was a brand-new lip balm.

"It’s really good. It’s yours now," Shang Jia said, giving him a knowing wink. "So, is Brother Year really handsome?"

It was obvious from the moment Xu Yan walked in—his face still flushed with lingering shyness, like a blushing bride.

"He’s... alright..."

He was very handsome, but Xu Yan didn’t dare admit it.

Shang Jia pressed further. "What about his body?"

Xu Yan recalled the hard, unyielding muscles pressing him down on the bed, solid as a branding iron, almost baking him through.

His voice grew even softer. "Also... alright..."

Shang Jia understood.

That meant he had looks, a great body, money, and—most importantly—he was Xu Yan’s devoted admirer.

She could see it now: Xu Yan, though seemingly innocent and harmless, could, with every gesture, train people into loyal dogs.

Like her and Shen Nanli—both doted on him, sometimes wishing they could tuck him into their pockets and carry him everywhere, terrified he’d be led astray.

But in truth, his face was the most dangerously enchanting thing of all.

That Brother Year was probably completely hooked.

Shang Jia turned to them. "Come on, let’s eat before the food gets cold."

Shen Nanli didn’t understand why Shang Jia wasn’t pressing Xu Yan further. He was still worried and even whispered to Xu Yan, asking why part of his makeup had rubbed off.

Xu Yan flinched and immediately covered his cheek, rushing to the bathroom.

Sure enough, the foundation on his face had smudged slightly, revealing the smooth, pale skin beneath. If one looked closely, they might even notice what looked like bite marks.

Like he’d been chewed on.

Xu Yan’s face flushed hot, and in a huff, he washed off all his makeup.

Thankfully, the other two hadn’t turned on their phone lights earlier—otherwise, they would’ve seen his lock screen.

After scrubbing his face clean, Xu Yan returned to eat.

After dinner, he and Shen Nanli walked back to school together.

After much hesitation, Xu Yan finally unlocked Wen Sinian’s phone.

Just looking at the lock screen made his cheeks burn. Flustered, he tapped into WeChat and discovered that Wen Sinian indeed had two WeChat accounts—both openly online, neither signed out.

As if he had nothing to hide, waiting for Xu Yan to inspect them.

But Xu Yan had no intention of prying into his privacy. Still, he logged out of both accounts for him, then signed into his own.

Then, with a twinge of guilt, he tapped into Wen Sinian’s photo album.

He’d gotten a quick glance in the car last time—this was his chance to confirm.

He hadn’t been mistaken.

There wasn’t much else in Wen Sinian’s photo album, just two categorized folders.

One was labeled "Work," containing some meeting and product photos.

The other, called "Baby," was packed full of photos of Xu Yan in dresses, interspersed with a few photos and videos of Wen Sinian—all of which Xu Yan had seen before.

Scrolling further, there were even screenshots of their chat logs, carefully saved.

After just a few swipes, Xu Yan’s face turned crimson, too flustered to keep looking. He locked the phone, feeling heat radiating from the top of his head.

This person... he was like some kind of pervert.

An album full of his own photos—what exactly was he trying to do?

Xu Yan thought about it. Well, the phone was in his hands now, and he had said he wanted to swap. So, for the time being, this was his phone.

So he long-pressed the album and tapped delete.

Finally, his eyes were spared.

Just then, a few messages popped up on the second account.

【year】: Are you back yet, baby?

【year】: I miss you so much already.

【year】: Shall we meet tomorrow?

Xu Yan licked his lips, which still felt a little sore.

He applied some lip balm, his face drawn, and replied with cold indifference.

【Yan Yan】: No.

【year】: Are you busy, baby?

【Yan Yan】: I have class.

【year】: I’ll come with you to class, okay?

【Yan Yan】: No. No.

【Yan Yan】: Don’t come looking for me.

【year】: What if I miss you too much?

【year】: Switched phones, don’t have your pics anymore.

Xu Yan couldn’t help but smile. Wen Sinian didn't know he’d already deleted all the photos on this phone too.

Hmph.

That’s what he gets for bullying me.

【Yan Yan】: Then where’s my phone?

A photo came through—his beat-up old phone lying quietly on a mahogany desk, surrounded by scattered tools.

【year】: Your hubby’s fixing it for you, baby.

Xu Yan’s temper flared again. Why did he always say such ridiculous things?

【Yan Yan】: I’m not talking to you anymore.

He locked the screen after sending it, ignoring any further messages.

The next day in class, Xu Yan still felt unaccustomed to the phone in his hand.

The professor lectured on while he mindlessly fiddled with it, prompting Shen Nanli to whisper, "We get it, you got a new phone. Stop showing off."

Embarrassed, Xu Yan tucked it away. "I’m not!"

He wasn’t showing off—he just liked the way it felt and wanted to hold it a little longer. Once they swapped back, he wouldn’t get to anymore.

The professor announced the final project requirements: each student had to form a team of three and submit a complete video assignment, minimum ten minutes long.

The class groaned, but no one dared to refuse.

Naturally, Xu Yan and Shen Nanli teamed up, inviting Zhao Qingji along since they’d already collaborated once before and had some chemistry.

After class, the professor pulled Xu Yan and Zhao Qingji aside, emphasizing that this wasn’t just a regular assignment—each group’s work would be submitted to a national university competition. Based on their past work, the professor had especially high expectations for them.

Even without the reminder, Xu Yan was determined to do his best.

Back in the dorm, he started coming up with ideas, dismissing several concepts. Zhao Qingji joined him to discuss, both deep in thought when Shen Nanli burst in with big news.

"I heard Song Ning’s group is pulling out all the stops to win the university competition—they even recruited art students as actors. Other groups are scouting for good-looking people too. The attractive students at our school are limited—shouldn’t we act fast?"

Zhao Qingji: "Is that necessary?"

Xu Yan agreed. "I think the script and filming are more important, right?"

Shen Nanli sighed. "Don’t you know the first round is public voting? If they get popular faces, we’re finished."

Zhao Qingji pounded the table. "We need to find someone now!"

Xu Yan’s eyes shone with determination. "The actors are the most important!"

Shen Nanli had a mischievous idea, grabbing Xu Yan’s hand and shaking it. "Yan Yan, I think you can make this happen."

Xu Yan said, "I can’t be in it—I’m directing."

Shen Nanli: "Not you. Isn’t there someone else in your dorm?"

He glanced toward Wen Sinian’s empty bed.

Xu Yan quickly pulled his hand away, his face screaming, "Are you crazy?"

"One must have dreams! What if Senior Wen agrees?" Shen Nanli encouraged. "You have to be brave enough to ask. If you beg him, he might not refuse you."

"Besides, you two have a pretty good relationship."

Xu Yan’s lips tingled at the thought, his eyelashes fluttering nervously.

Yes, their relationship was pretty good.

After all, his lips were still swollen from it.