Chapter 17 A-17

Chapter 17

Eating wasn't an issue, sleeping wasn't an issue, and studying wasn't an issue either.

Yun Xiu never expected that using the restroom would become a major problem!

Jiang Tinghan looked at the dilapidated public restroom, reluctant to enter, feeling he'd be soiled just by stepping inside.

Yun Xiu, frustrated, patiently explained, "This is the only concrete building in the village. The marks on the white walls aren't dirt—they're moss. And the flush valve isn't hand-operated; it's the foot-pedal type."

Jiang Tinghan pursed his lips, his thin lips forming a tight line, his expression resistant. "That door—"

The nights in the mountains weren't hot, but the days were scorching.

In the time they'd spent talking, Yun Xiu could have taken two naps. Hearing Jiang Tinghan's concern, he immediately volunteered: "I'll be your door!"

Jiang Tinghan: "…"

That really wasn’t necessary.

Yun Xiu, his mind foggy from the heat, belatedly corrected himself: "No, I mean I'll close the door for you."

Only then did Jiang Tinghan condescend to use the restroom.

Afterward.

Yun Xiu washed his hands and began worrying about how to manage bathing.

He could help close the door, but he couldn’t help with bathing!

It wasn’t that Jiang Tinghan’s companionship was useless—in fact, it was quite helpful. With him around, Yun Xiu wasn’t afraid of bugs anymore, though he was constantly worried about his roommate’s survival.

As noon approached, the students who had been sketching the morning scenery returned one after another, all taken aback upon seeing Jiang Tinghan.

Xu Dong was about to strike up a conversation with Yun Xiu when he noticed the unfamiliar face and paused, "…Who’s this?"

Jiang Tinghan turned, revealing his full face. "Hello, I’m Yun Xiu’s roommate. Thank you for looking after him."

Though he said "thank you," he made no move to shake hands, coming across as extremely arrogant.

Seeing his face clearly, Xu Dong’s lips moved slightly, and he murmured, "Hello."

Jiang Tinghan didn’t know Xu Dong, but Xu Dong knew him.

Or rather, anyone who had visited Z University’s campus forum would recognize Jiang Tinghan.

In this era of rapid information development, Z University students still maintained the habit of using forums. The anonymous posting feature, though seemingly redundant to some, was just right for college students.

On the forum’s homepage, there were voting results for the school’s most popular male and female students, and Jiang Tinghan had topped the list that year.

Xu Dong had once marveled at how the icy campus heartthrob never went out of style—the school heartthrob’s face was indeed striking, capable of making countless young men and women swoon even without expression.

But for some reason, seeing Yun Xiu and his roommate so close made Xu Dong’s chest feel tight.

Even when Yun Xiu invited him to eat together, Xu Dong couldn’t muster any interest. He forced himself to chat for a bit before turning and leaving.

Yun Xiu was perplexed, sensing that the other wasn’t in a good mood, but he couldn’t figure out why. It couldn’t be because of sketching, could it?

They’d been sketching for four days—if it were going to depress them, they’d have been hospitalized by now.

"Maybe he’s not feeling well," Jiang Tinghan said, withdrawing his gaze. He didn’t see Xu Dong as a romantic rival and asked, "Can I hold your hand?"

Yun Xiu was distracted and replied blankly, "Why hold hands?"

It was so hot during the day—wouldn’t it make their hands sweaty?

Jiang Tinghan leaned in close, his voice low and cool, sounding somewhat dejected, restrained yet aggrieved: "I feel like this place is so dirty. I don’t want to touch anything. I know it’s my perception, since everyone else finds it normal, but I can’t help it. It’s a bit uncomfortable."

To be fair, Jiang Tinghan wasn’t entirely lying—he had always been picky about his surroundings.

Back at the beginning of the semester, even after Yun Xiu washed and dried his feet before getting into bed, Jiang Tinghan would disinfect the ladder. Before studying, he’d disinfect the desk at least three times, to the point where the metal bunk bed desk was nearly worn out from scrubbing!

Now, being able to sit quietly at an old wooden desk and study, disinfecting only once, was a huge improvement!!

Yun Xiu thought it over for a moment, then extended his hand generously: "Go ahead. In Antong Village, you can hold my hand whenever you want!"

Jiang Tinghan smiled. "Xiu Xiu, you’re so kind."

His crush’s obliviousness had its advantages—it was perfect for the "slowly boiling a frog" approach. As long as he stayed by Yun Xiu’s side, he could ward off anyone with ill intentions.

No need to rush. Take it slow.

The September heat lingered, and though they wanted to go out and enjoy the mountain scenery, the sweltering heat forced them back.

Yun Xiu abandoned his plan to take his roommate out exploring. Earlier, he’d scouted a spot perfect for watching the sunset and stars, where the view of the valley below changed with the time of day.

Though it was near a cliff, they didn’t need to get too close to the edge to see the lights of the villages below.

It was close and not too dangerous. He’d take his roommate there another time.

It was naptime.

Yun Xiu lay down for a while before realizing how much hotter it was with another person beside him—sweating buckets wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Usually, when he slept alone, he’d take off his shirt and sleep in just shorts. With the mosquito net protecting him, no mosquitoes could bite.

But with his roommate there, he felt too embarrassed to undress.

He tossed and turned beside Jiang Tinghan, who of course hadn’t fallen asleep. When Yun Xiu shifted for the eighth time, Jiang Tinghan gently pinned him.

Yun Xiu sat up. "You’re awake?"

Jiang Tinghan sighed. "You’re making me wish I hadn’t come."

Yun Xiu was doing well here—sleeping soundly and eating heartily.

Because his appearance was the type that older folks found sweet and well-behaved, when he mentioned there were many things he couldn’t eat, the meals were prepared with his dietary restrictions in mind. Not every dish was suitable, but at least there was one dish per meal he could eat safely.

"It’s not that," Yun Xiu scratched his cheek. "…I’m a bit hot. I want to take my clothes off."

Jiang Tinghan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his tone lifting slightly. "In broad daylight? Isn’t that inappropriate?"

Yun Xiu gave him a strange look. "What’s inappropriate about it?"

The room had no air conditioning or fan, and he was unbearably hot. Unable to stand it any longer, he stripped off his shirt without another word.

The window was on Yun Xiu’s side. With no lights on during the day, all the light in the room gathered behind him, making his fair skin appear even whiter.

Jiang Tinghan didn’t move, but his gaze seemed locked, unable to look away—like a predator quietly eyeing its prey, his pupils dilating and contracting.

Yun Xiu: "There's a pack of wet wipes on the table. Can you wipe my back for me?"

If you didn't wipe off the sweat, it would stick to the sheets. He could reach the front himself, but he couldn't see his back, so he had to ask his roommate for help.

There was no movement behind him. Yun Xiu turned his head and urged, "Hurry up!"

Who knew that Jiang Tinghan, who usually seemed clever and sharp, could be so clumsy when half-asleep.

"Mhm." Jiang Tinghan responded softly.

Perhaps he was fully awake, as he moved quickly. The breeze he brought back to the bed made Yun Xiu shiver slightly, and then he felt cool and comfortable.

After the sound of the packaging being torn open, a cool, moist sensation touched his spine. The menthol took effect, making Yun Xiu hum softly.

"Tinghan, grab a few more packs. The wipes won’t stay cool for long. After you finish wiping me, I’ll help wipe you too."

Jiang Tinghan barely registered his words. Hearing Yun Xiu’s soft hum, he froze, and his body, which hadn’t been hot before, started heating up.

The skin under his hand was silky, his waist slender. With the one he liked lying before him, unaware, continuing to restrain himself would make him a saint.

Yun Xiu felt a sudden heat at his waist—a large, warm hand resting there. Without thinking, he swatted it away and muttered, "Your hand is too hot. Don’t touch me!"

Jiang Tinghan: "..."

Fine.

But he didn’t let Yun Xiu wipe him—partly because a calm mind naturally feels cool, and partly because he was worried about embarrassment.

Getting worked up at such an inconvenient time, he couldn’t even find an excuse to brush it off.

...

Smoke curled from chimneys, the setting sun slanted westward, and the quiet village came to life.

Focused days always passed quickly. Yun Xiu finished his color assignment ahead of schedule and asked the teacher for permission to look around nearby. Seeing that Yun Xiu and Jiang Tinghan were inseparable and had each other for company, the teacher didn’t restrict them, so the two enjoyed a few days of freedom.

They set out when mist enveloped the mountains to watch the sunrise from the peak, returned in time for breakfast, ate, and then retreated to their room to study in the shade.

Lunch and dinner were more substantial, and seeing them eat happily, the grandparents in Antong Village would smile fondly, like watching piglets eat.

In the evenings, they perched on little stools, admiring the brighter and clearer night scenery of the countryside compared to the city.

Jiang Tinghan refused to shower in the communal bathroom, so after dark, Yun Xiu would drag a rubber hose and act as a human showerhead for him.

Boys and girls stayed separately, and their location was remote, so girls rarely came over. The boys in their row went from curious to accepting in just a day, avoiding the line for the communal showers and instead showering by the drainage ditch in their shorts.

Jiang Tinghan also got used to it. When it was his turn to be Yun Xiu’s showerhead, he sometimes forgot to disinfect the hose.

After showering, the two sat at the doorstep as usual, chatting and playing games with other classmates.

Satellite internet was a great thing—the connection on the mountain was buttery smooth, with no lag during gaming.

Yun Xiu kept his eyes glued to the screen while Jiang Tinghan went inside to get a towel to dry his hair.

The screen suddenly went dark. Yun Xiu yelled angrily, "Xu Dong! You started a random team fight again!!"

Jiang Tinghan almost shoved the towel in his face, but Yun Xiu was too busy furiously tapping Xu Dong’s avatar.

Soon, a boy’s apology echoed from around the corner.

Jiang Tinghan said calmly, "Don’t rage. It’s not good for you. Want me to play for you?"

"You play?" Yun Xiu asked in surprise.

He thought students like his roommate, who excelled academically, didn’t usually game.

Not out of prejudice, but most people who excel in one area struggle to balance others.

Jiang Tinghan said modestly, "I’ve dabbled a few times. I know a little."

Hearing this, Yun Xiu, tired of his teammates’ fails, handed him the phone, not caring about winning or losing.

Then Yun Xiu watched as his Study God roommate went on a rampage in the game, making teammates call him "daddy."

Yun Xiu: "!!!"

Yun Xiu murmured, "If you’d said you could play, I wouldn’t have teamed up with Xu Dong and the others."

His classmates’ quick hands didn’t translate to gaming. After a few team matches, they threw in the weirdest ways, turning casual fun into a real-life command battle.

It pissed him off every time.

"You never asked me." Jiang Tinghan wrapped up the game with a flashy play. His goal wasn’t to play games, so he ignored his teammates’ frantic shouts in the group chat and quit directly.

He tilted his head slightly. "I’m good at a lot of things. Why not notice me more?"

To watch the game, Yun Xiu’s head was almost resting on Jiang Tinghan’s shoulder. When Jiang Tinghan turned unexpectedly, the distance between them closed infinitely.

As their eyes met, the tension built.

The laughter and noise of classmates faded away, as if happening in another dimension.

Uncertain who moved first, their noses touched, breaths mingled, and each saw only the other in their eyes.

Jiang Tinghan’s original plan was to take it slow, but Yun Xiu seemed to have feelings for him too—perhaps they could take a step further.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, as if afraid to disturb this beautiful dream, and he asked softly, "Is this okay?"

Yun Xiu didn’t answer, but his slowed breathing and lack of retreat made his stance clear.

A second later, Jiang Tinghan leaned in—

The touch of their lips was beautiful and dreamlike.

It was an utterly pure kiss, just like Jiang Tinghan’s treasured affection for Yun Xiu.