Once Lin Chang left, the atmosphere here lightened significantly.

Zhao Di joked about Lin Chang for a bit and quickly put the earlier incident behind them.

Now, with the cue stick Pei Huan had given him, Yan Zimi mimicked Pei Huan’s earlier stance, leaning over the table and poking at the balls.

“Ugh…”

“Whoosh…”

Pei Huan was the first to burst into laughter.

Yan Zimi sent the cue ball flying off the table, missing everything entirely.

Straightening up, he looked at Pei Huan and admitted, “I can’t do this.”

Pei Huan walked over, asking, “You’ve never played before?”

Yan Zimi shook his head. “Nope.”

Pei Huan retrieved the cue ball and nodded at Zhao Di, saying, “Give him some space.”

Zhao Di replied confidently, “Sure thing.”

Pei Huan placed the ball back in its original position, standing next to Yan Zimi and pressing down on his shoulder. “Lower your stance a bit more.”

He tapped Yan Zimi’s leg. “Spread your legs.”

Then he took Yan Zimi’s wrist and guided it. “Hold it from the back.”

Lastly, he pointed at Yan Zimi’s head. “Lower your head, aim the cue at the center of the ball, and focus on it.”

Yan Zimi did his best to follow all the instructions without getting distracted, but Pei Huan only stopped there.

“And then what?” Yan Zimi asked.

Pei Huan smiled. “Then just hit it however you like.”

Yan Zimi looked at Pei Huan with a faint expression, and Pei Huan laughed. “Alright, let me teach you.”

He walked over and pointed at a spot on the cue ball and then at the blue ball.

Yan Zimi understood but still shot Pei Huan a glance with that same expression.

Pei Huan chuckled again.

As Pei Huan stepped back, Yan Zimi prepared to take his shot. Zhao Di was standing directly across from him, observing as Yan Zimi bent down and lowered his head, fully aware of the scene unfolding.

Especially when Yan Zimi lifted his gaze to focus on the ball, Zhao Di felt a nerve in him trigger, suddenly recalling a description he had come across about Yan Zimi long ago.

Cold, reticent, humorless, with eyes that could kill.

It was true.

In front of Zhao Di, as Yan Zimi was about to take his shot, someone unexpectedly barged into his line of sight.

Zhao Di froze for a moment.

Pei Huan asked, “What are you staring at him for?”

Zhao Di chuckled, not bothering to hide it. “Just admiring a handsome guy; is that a problem?”

Pei Huan turned his head just as Yan Zimi made his shot.

“Nice,” Pei Huan nodded at Yan Zimi. “So close to sinking it.”

Zhao Di wanted to take a look too, but did Pei Huan have eyes in the back of his head?

Zhao Di felt speechless—how was that considered nice for him?

As Yan Zimi took over for Pei Huan, Zhao Di gradually caught up to the balls.

When they were tied, Yan Zimi turned to Pei Huan and asked, “What should I do?”

Pei Huan replied, “It’s fine; he’s just too embarrassed to win against you.”

Zhao Di could only think, “…”

He cursed Pei Huan inwardly while missing the shot completely.

Damn, maybe it was a bit embarrassing after all.

However, Yan Zimi decided to stop playing and returned the cue to Pei Huan.

Zhao Di was taken aback. “Don’t! Don’t give it to him!”

But Yan Zimi still handed it over. “I’m a bit thirsty; I’ll go buy a drink,” he said to everyone. “What do you want to drink?”

Pei Huan pushed the stick toward Yan Zimi and said, “I’ll go; you can play with him.”

There were only a few balls left on the table, and Pei Huan added, “If he wins against you, let me know.”

Zhao Di: “…”

Oh my god.

Zhao Di said, “Go buy your drink.”

Pei Huan asked Zhao Di, “How about your jasmine tea?”

Zhao Di was taken aback; how did it turn into a bribe?

Zhao Di replied, “Thank you, Huan Ge!”

Pei Huan smiled and asked, “What about Yu Nan’s water?”

Yu Nan: “Water.”

Once Pei Huan left, Yan Zimi asked him, “Do you like jasmine tea?”

Zhao Di chuckled awkwardly and replied, “I guess so.”

Yu Nan ruthlessly chimed in, “His ex-girlfriend liked it, so he just followed suit.” He continued his ruthless commentary, “What kind of man drinks jasmine tea?”

Zhao Di retorted, “Is it just you who can talk? Can’t a man drink jasmine tea?”

Yu Nan replied, “Sure, sure, a sentimental man can definitely drink it.”

Zhao Di shot back, “Get lost; you and Lin Chang can roll away together.”

Speaking of Lin Chang, Zhao Di’s gossip skills suddenly kicked in. He glanced at the door and asked Yan Zimi, “Aren’t you curious why Lin Chang pushed you onto Pei Huan?”

Yan Zimi asked, “Why?”

He also looked at the door and inquired, “Where’s Pei Huan?”

Zhao Di shrugged, “I don’t know. Doesn’t the front desk have any jasmine tea?”

It didn’t matter.

Zhao Di wanted to continue but first asked Yan Zimi, “When did your relationship with Pei Huan get so good?”

Yan Zimi didn’t dare to admit it was good, nor did he want to say it was bad. He countered, “What’s it to you?”

Zhao Di replied, “Pei Huan talks about those English problems in the dorm every day. It’s for you, right?”

He didn’t say anything particularly impressive, but Yan Zimi couldn’t help but smile, responding, “Yeah.”

At that smile, Zhao Di recalled the compliments he had heard about Yan Zimi.

There was definitely something about how he looked especially good when he smiled.

Indeed.

Zhao Di said, “Tsk, he treats you really well.”

Yan Zimi replied, “Is that so?”

Zhao Di added, “Today was the first time I saw him get physical with Lin Chang.”

Speaking of Lin Chang again.

“Well,” Zhao Di said, no longer avoiding the subject, “I don’t know if you’ve heard…” His voice gradually lowered, “about Pei Huan being confessed to last year.”

Yan Zimi blinked. “He should get confessed to often, right?”

Zhao Di hesitated, “It’s different.”

Yan Zimi was curious, so he decided not to beat around the bush and directly asked, “By a guy?”

Zhao Di nodded three times. “Yes, yes! You know about it.”

Yan Zimi replied, “From our department.”

Zhao Di nodded again, three times this time. “Right, right, right! This news spread pretty widely.”

Yan Zimi asked, “What’s wrong?”

“The versions out there are actually quite ridiculous,” Zhao Di said. “To make a long story short, I was there at the time. That guy brought flowers and confessed his feelings for Pei Huan, saying he wanted to be together. Pei Huan rejected him, but unexpectedly, after being turned down, the guy just lunged at Pei Huan, hugging him tightly and even leaning down to kiss him.”

Yan Zimi was shocked. “He kissed him?”

Zhao Di shook his head. “No, he didn’t get to. Pei Huan pushed him away with all his strength, and he fell to the ground. Pei Huan even scolded him, calling him disgusting or something.”

Zhao Di sighed. “Pei Huan was really angry that time. The guy must have sprayed some overpowering cologne because it was really pungent; I could smell it from quite a distance.”

“Afterward, Pei Huan went back to the dorm and took a shower, washing multiple times. When he came out, he asked if he still smelled, and we told him he didn’t, but he still felt something was off and went back in to wash again.”

“During that time, Pei Huan’s germophobia flared up. He didn’t play any games and was really resistant to physical contact; that guy probably really disgusted him.”

“It took a long time for Pei Huan to get over that incident,” Zhao Di said with a click of his tongue. “It was so scary.”

Yan Zimi furrowed his brow, listening to all of it, unsure of what to say.

Zhao Di said, “I think Pei Huan might have some homophobic tendencies, so we don’t really talk about these things in front of him. Lin Chang just pushed you because of that, probably trying to get Pei Huan to react to you. I don’t know what that jerk is thinking; luckily, Pei Huan is quite protective of you.”

Zhao Di laughed, “Haha, just thinking about Lin Chang’s face earlier makes me feel good. He’s asking for trouble by provoking Pei Huan.”

After that, whatever Zhao Di said, Yan Zimi only half-listened.

He was a bit distracted.

“Yo, Pei Huan’s back,” Zhao Di suddenly exclaimed.

Yan Zimi couldn’t help but turn to look; Pei Huan was almost there.

Zhao Di quickly shut his gossiping mouth and patted Yan Zimi’s shoulder. “Go on, it’s your turn.”

Yan Zimi replied, “Mm.”

Pei Huan came back carrying a bag. After handing out the items to everyone, he glanced at the table and asked, “Why is it still not over?”

Zhao Di picked up the stick and said, “We chatted for a bit.”

Pei Huan handed water to Yan Zimi and suddenly asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Yan Zimi replied, “What do you mean, what’s wrong with me?”

Pei Huan turned to Zhao Di and asked, “Did you bully him?”

Zhao Di was shocked. “No way! I wouldn’t dare.”

Pei Huan then asked Yan Zimi, “What did you talk about?”

Yan Zimi didn’t want to say much. He subtly twisted the bottle and handed it to Pei Huan, saying, “I can’t open it.”

Pei Huan chuckled. “You can’t open this?”

Still, he took the bottle, twisted it open, and handed it back to Yan Zimi.

Yan Zimi replied, “We didn’t talk about much.”

There were only a few balls left, and after some dragging and delays, they were finally finished.

Zhao Di barely won a round and contentedly started drinking his jasmine tea.

In the next round, Zhao Di and Yu Nan teamed up.

Yan Zimi placed the stick on the rack and returned to Pei Huan’s side.

Just as he stood still, Pei Huan suddenly reached into his pocket.

Pei Huan said, “Here.”

Yan Zimi looked down at the lollipops in Pei Huan’s hand and asked, “What?”

Pei Huan replied, “You’ve been doing well these past few days, so here’s a lollipop as a reward for each day.”

At that moment, all of Yan Zimi’s earlier frustration vanished.

He looked up at Pei Huan and smiled, “What’s this?”

Yan Zimi counted and found there were indeed six lollipops, each with a different flavor.

Yan Zimi said, “I’m not a little kid.”

Even so, he still accepted them.

Pei Huan replied, “Zhao Di said you take your assignments so seriously that you need a reward.”

Zhao Di, who was nearby, chimed in, “I didn’t say it should be lollipops!”

Pei Huan responded matter-of-factly, “Why not?”

Yan Zimi laughed, “But it can’t be lollipops every day.”

Pei Huan then asked, “What do you like?”

Yan Zimi looked up at Pei Huan, his eyes sparkling, and said, “That’s something the teacher should figure out on their own; you can’t ask the student.”

Pei Huan smiled and replied, “Alright.”

Pei Huan lowered his head and said, “Give me your hand.”

Yan Zimi extended his hand.

Pei Huan instructed, “The back of your hand.”

Yan Zimi obediently turned his hand over for Pei Huan.

Pei Huan held something in his hand and brushed it briefly against the back of Yan Zimi’s hand before pulling it back.

Then, he suddenly tilted his head, looking at Yan Zimi’s forehead.

They were very close, and Yan Zimi couldn’t help but blink.

He saw Pei Huan smile at him and then lift his hand to tap once on his forehead.

A strange sensation traveled from the nerves in his forehead, and Yan Zimi exclaimed, “What was that?” as he raised his hand to touch his forehead.

Was it a sticker?

“Here’s a little bee as a reward for you.”

Yan Zimi touched it again and then used his phone as a mirror to take a look.

It was a cartoonish little bee, flapping its tiny wings.

Yan Zimi asked, “Where did it come from?”

Pei Huan replied, “The daughter of the shopkeeper upstairs gave it to me.”

Yan Zimi placed his hand over the sticker. “I’m not a little kid.”

Pei Huan laughed, “This is a reward for winning, given by the teacher. You can’t rip it off.”

Yan Zimi pressed his lips together and said, “Got it.”

He definitely wouldn’t rip it off.

Yu Nan and Zhao Di were evenly matched in their game; both were chasing each other throughout the match, and in the end, Yu Nan narrowly won.

After that, Yu Nan played a game against Pei Huan and then another against Yan Zimi.

Later, Yan Zimi faced Pei Huan in a match.

Surprisingly, Yan Zimi won against everyone, standing at the top of the billiards chain.

Even though a lot of water had spilled, everyone felt happy.

Yan Zimi even thought to himself that he was glad Pei Huan only gave him one bee; otherwise, having three on his forehead would look too ridiculous.

When they finished, it was completely dark outside.

As they exited the cafeteria, there were two paths: one leading to the apartments and the other to the boys’ dormitory, so at this point, Yan Zimi had to part ways with them.

Pei Huan seemed to be prepared for the separation too. As soon as they reached the road, he turned to look at Yan Zimi.

But before he could say anything, he just smiled.

He stared at Yan Zimi’s little bee and smiled, “How are you so cute?”

Yan Zimi adjusted his bangs a bit. “Isn’t it because you put it on me?”

Pei Huan replied, “I thought you would rip it off.”

Yan Zimi fiddled with his bangs, feeling a bit warm. “You told me not to.”

“Why are you so obedient?” Pei Huan reached out his hand. “You can rip it off.”

But Yan Zimi dodged, saying, “I’ll do it myself.”

After saying that, Yan Zimi took a step back and firmly said “goodbye” to Pei Huan, then turned to the other two with a softer “goodbye, seniors,” before turning to leave.

Pei Huan smiled as he watched Yan Zimi’s retreating figure. After walking a few steps, he turned to Zhao Di and asked, “Have you ever seen Yan Zimi blush?”

Zhao Di replied, somewhat surprised, “He can blush?”

Pei Huan smirked slightly, “No, he can’t.”

After walking a few more steps, Pei Huan took out his phone and found Yan Zimi’s WeChat, sending a message.

fire: “What are you doing, student Yan Zimi?”

Yan Zimi saw it quickly and replied just as fast: “Getting ready to eat the lollipop that Teacher Pei rewarded me with.”

Yan Zimi added: “What flavor do you like?”

fire: “If I have to choose one, it would be cola flavor.”

Yan Zimi replied: “Okay, then I’ll have the cola flavor.”

Before Yan Zimi could open the lollipop, his phone suddenly switched to another screen.

Pei Huan was calling him with a voice message.

Yan Zimi decided not to open it and answered the call instead.

Yan Zimi asked, “What’s up?”

Pei Huan inquired, “Is it good?”

Yan Zimi smiled, “I haven’t opened it yet.”

Pei Huan said, “Go ahead and open it.”

Yan Zimi put on his earphones and continued to unwrap the lollipop, asking Pei Huan, “Is that why you called?”

“Not really,” Pei Huan replied. “Who needs someone to walk with them?”

Yan Zimi’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Maybe it’s me.”

Pei Huan said, “I’ll walk back with you.”

At that moment, Yan Zimi was putting the lollipop into his mouth.

The cola flavor and sweetness immediately hit his taste buds.

Yan Zimi replied, “Sounds good.”