Pei Huan and Yan Zimi were surrounded by a crowd of people.

The two who had just taught Yan Zimi how to play and accidentally bumped into him now stood nearby, tall and equally clueless, wearing the same expression.

Anyone could sense that Pei Huan was not happy.

Someone handed over paper and hydrogen peroxide, and Pei Huan was currently tending to Yan Zimi’s injury.

As the hydrogen peroxide was poured, bubbles instantly formed in the palm of Yan Zimi’s hand, a large area of it looking alarming.

Yan Zimi gritted his teeth and remained silent, but the surrounding girls gasped in concern.

It looked painful.

Though Pei Huan was careful, he kept his head down, focused on treating Yan Zimi’s wound without saying a word.

After quickly tending to the injury, Pei Huan asked, “Is there anything else?”

Yan Zimi shook his head. “No, just this one.”

Pei Huan replied with a quiet “Mm.”

At that moment, someone behind them spoke up. “I’m really sorry! I thought he was bored, so I let him shoot some hoops.”

Another voice chimed in, “It’s my fault! I didn’t see anyone behind and bumped into him. Sorry!”

Pei Huan didn’t look at them; he simply said, “This is a hand for drawing.”

Pei Huan took Yan Zimi to the medical room, got some medicine, and then brought it back to their dorm.

Yu Nan and Xiao Dong were also there. When they saw the injury on Yan Zimi’s hand, they both exclaimed in surprise.

“What happened?”

Yan Zimi replied, “I just tripped and fell. It’s nothing serious.”

Xiao Dong responded with an “Oh,” and picked up a cigarette from the table, ready to light it.

But just as the lighter clicked, Pei Huan turned to look at him.

Xiao Dong quickly put the cigarette back down.

Pei Huan followed the doctor’s instructions to properly treat and bandage Yan Zimi’s wound. He then asked, “Will this affect your drawing?”

Yan Zimi flexed his hand and said, “No, it’s just a minor injury.” He smiled at Pei Huan. “Didn’t the doctor say it would heal quickly?”

Pei Huan remarked, “You’re still able to smile through this.”

Yan Zimi gently placed the back of his hand against Pei Huan’s hand. “It’s not their fault. I wanted to play and didn’t notice anyone coming by.”

Pei Huan replied with a quiet “Mm.”

Yan Zimi continued, “And they all apologized.”

Pei Huan said, “Shouldn’t you be more concerned about yourself?”

Yan Zimi responded, “But you should keep playing with them in the future.”

Pei Huan replied, “Not necessarily.”

Yan Zimi tilted his head, looking into Pei Huan’s eyes. “Just smile for me.”

And Pei Huan actually smiled.

It wasn’t because Yan Zimi asked him to; he just… he just smiled.

Pei Huan turned and handed his phone to Yan Zimi.

“What is it?” Yan Zimi asked.

He looked down and saw that Pei Huan was showing him a chat record from about half an hour ago with someone named Wang Yue.

Wang Yue: “I’m really sorry! How is he doing?”

Wang Yue: “I’ll go buy some medicine with Sun Xin and bring it to your dorm.”

Fire: “It’s nothing, I’ve already got some.”

Wang Yue: “It looked pretty serious. Let us know if there’s anything you need.”

Fire: “It’s fine.”

Wang Yue: “Really, we’re all very sorry.”

Fire: “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine in a few days.”

Fire: “I was a bit rude when I spoke just now.”

Wang Yue: “What does that matter? As long as he’s okay.”

Yan Zimi finished reading and smiled with satisfaction.

Pei Huan asked, “Are you still up for playing?”

Yan Zimi replied confidently, “Of course,” and pointed at Pei Huan. “I’ll only play with you.”

Pei Huan teased with a hint of irritation, “I might bump into you, too.”

Yan Zimi played along with the joke, saying, “Then be gentle.”

As soon as he said that, Zhao Di suddenly spat out a mouthful of water.

Pei Huan and Yan Zimi turned their heads to look at Zhao Di, who waved his hand at them, clearly trying to suppress a laugh.

They turned back to each other.

Pei Huan lifted Yan Zimi’s hand, unsure if he was admiring his own work or something else entirely. He inspected the front and back, examining each hand closely.

“Zhao Di called me over, and when I turned around to see so many people surrounding you,” Pei Huan suddenly spoke in a light tone, “I thought something had happened to you. I got really worried.”

Yan Zimi glanced at his own hand, his heart racing cautiously. “What’s there to be nervous about? I just fell.”

Pei Huan shot him a disapproving look. “When I got there, I saw your hands covered in blood.” He gently touched the bandage on Yan Zimi’s injury, a small smile escaping him. “I suddenly didn’t know what to do.”

Pei Huan continued, “You were clearly about to cry but pretended to be tough, saying you were fine.”

Yan Zimi was puzzled by Pei Huan’s sudden seriousness. He spoke as if he truly cared about Yan Zimi, as if he wanted to protect him with utmost care.

Clearly, Pei Huan was just recounting what had happened, perhaps feeling guilty because it was his responsibility to take Yan Zimi there.

But something felt off to Yan Zimi.

“I wasn’t about to cry,” he said, lowering his gaze to avoid Pei Huan’s eyes.

Pei Huan gently pinched Yan Zimi’s cheek. “Not yet?”

Yan Zimi insisted, “Nope.”

Pei Huan released his grip on Yan Zimi’s face. “Next time, when the court is empty, I’ll take you there again.”

“Sounds good,” Yan Zimi replied, a smile breaking through.

At that moment, Xiao Dong, sitting behind them, chimed in, “If the court is empty, it must be a dark and windy night.”

Yu Nan laughed and added, “On a dark and windy night, are you just going to play basketball?”

Xiao Dong smirked. “What else could they do?”

Zhao Di took a tactical sip of water.

Xiao Dong turned to ask, “Junior, want to play some games?”

Pei Huan replied, “What kind of joke is that?”

Xiao Dong chuckled, “Right, you’re injured.”

With all that had happened, they had wasted quite a bit of time.

Now that everything was fine, Yan Zimi had no reason to stay. He took the medicine Pei Huan had given him and headed back.

But as he reached the stairwell, he suddenly realized he had forgotten his jacket.

So, he turned back.

Pei Huan’s dorm room rarely had the door closed. As he approached, Yan Zimi could hear voices coming from inside.

It was Xiao Dong talking.

Yan Zimi took a few more steps and understood what Xiao Dong was saying.

He was talking about the boy who successfully confessed in the boys’ dorm a few days ago. They had broken up.

Yan Zimi had heard about it too—the breakup was initiated by the boy who confessed, claiming they weren’t compatible.

It felt like a childish game, absurd.

Inside, Xiao Dong seemed to ask something, but Yan Zimi couldn’t catch it.

The next sentence was spoken by Pei Huan.

He said, “Not interested; what does their homosexuality have to do with me?”

Though the entrance to Pei Huan’s dorm was only half a step away, Yan Zimi didn’t move forward. Instead, he turned and left.

Oh, Yan Zimi.

He had no idea that after his departure, the topic in the dorm shifted to him.

The cause was Zhao Di receiving a WeChat message. After glancing at its content, he chuckled, abandoning his homework, and turned to shout, “Pei Huan!”

Pei Huan replied, “Hmm?”

Zhao Di continued, “Someone wants Zimi’s WeChat. Are you going to give it?”

Pei Huan hit the enter key on his computer. “Who wants it?”

Zhao Di, ever the helpful friend, immediately went over to show Pei Huan the chat content. “Shan Shan wants it; she rarely asks for anyone’s WeChat.”

Pei Huan closed the document he was working on. “Yan Zimi doesn’t use his phone.”

Zhao Di laughed, “Huh?”

Pei Huan replied, “Just reply like that.”

Zhao Di protested, “How can you say that? You’re blocking your junior’s chances at love.”

Pei Huan shot back, “Don’t come to me for it.”

Zhao Di thought for a moment and said, “Actually, I have WeChat too.”

Pei Huan turned to look at Zhao Di.

Zhao Di laughed, “Oh, but I definitely won’t give it.”

Just as he finished speaking, Zhao Di noticed Pei Huan had called Yan Zimi.

On the other end, Yan Zimi quickly answered.

Pei Huan asked, “Where are you?”

Yan Zimi replied, “I just got on the school bus.”

Pei Huan reminded him, “You didn’t take your jacket.”

Zhao Di internally scoffed, thinking he’d expected Pei Huan to mention Shan Shan instead.

“Yeah,” Yan Zimi said, “I’ll get it next time.”

Pei Huan picked up Yan Zimi’s jacket and immediately noticed the bloodstains on the sleeve.

Pei Huan said, “Alright.”

After saying that, he put on his headphones and took Yan Zimi’s jacket to the balcony.

He then told Yan Zimi, “The courtyard just notified us that the competition time has been changed to next Tuesday.”

Yan Zimi replied with an “Oh,” and said, “Then good luck.”

Pei Huan chuckled, “I didn’t ask you to wish me luck.”

Yan Zimi quickly responded, “Oh, is that so? Then I’ll take that back. You do as you please; compete however you want.”

Pei Huan laughed even more, “Yan Zimi.”

Yan Zimi asked, “What?”

Pei Huan replied, “You’ve been quite cheeky lately.”

Yan Zimi said, “Really? Is that so? Will you?”

Pei Huan couldn’t help but laugh, “You dare to talk like that when I’m not around?”

Yan Zimi replied, “I would dare even if you were here.”

Pei Huan said, “Just you wait.”

Yan Zimi, feeling particularly bold, challenged, “Alright, hurry up and come deal with me.”

Pei Huan chuckled, “Student Yan Zimi.”

Yan Zimi didn’t expect Pei Huan to call him again, so he took the school bus today, thinking it would help him get there faster.

Now, he found himself complaining that the school bus was going too fast.

The breeze felt so nice.

“So, what is it?” Yan Zimi asked. “What were you originally planning to tell me?”

It sounded like there was water on Pei Huan’s end. “I’m going to the competition, so my phone might not be with me, but I’ll send you the tasks for those three days in advance.”

Yan Zimi looked at the trees outside the bus window and replied, “Okay, Teacher Pei.”

Pei Huan said, “I’ll bring you a carved ornament from City A when I get back. Would you like that?”

Yan Zimi smiled, “I’d love that.”

Pei Huan added, “If you come across anything you don’t understand, hold onto it for me.”

Yan Zimi nodded, “Sure,” and then said, “But if you’re busy, I can actually ask Senior Zhao Di. His English seems to be…”

Pei Huan interrupted, finishing Yan Zimi’s thought, “Very poor.”

Yan Zimi exclaimed, “Huh?”

Pei Huan insisted, “Don’t go asking him.”

Yan Zimi replied, “Alright.”

Pei Huan said again, “Wait for me; it’s not a matter of time.”

Yan Zimi propped his head up with his hand and replied, “Alright.”

The time spent on the school bus flew by, and it wasn’t long before Yan Zimi arrived at the dormitory.

Pei Huan then hung up the phone.

Afterward, he turned the faucet on a bit harder.

“Hey, Huan.”

Zhao Di appeared at some point, leaning against the door frame of the balcony, eating a pomegranate with a curious smile on his face.

Pei Huan replied, “Hmm?”

Zhao Di munched on some potato chips and said, “Are you washing Zimi’s clothes?”

Pei Huan poured out the water and responded, “It’s stained with blood.”

Zhao Di exclaimed, “Shan Shan came asking for Zimi’s WeChat again.”

Pei Huan replied bluntly, “Not giving it.”

After chatting with Pei Huan for a while, Zhao Di hadn’t received a single direct response from him.

Outside, the sky had darkened, relying on the lights from the dormitory to provide illumination. The man rolled up his sleeves, leaning over to wash clothes under the dim light.

No, it should be phrased differently.

Leaning over to wash Yan Zimi’s clothes.

So handsome.

Zhao Di raised an eyebrow and called out, “Hey, Huan.”

Pei Huan turned the water down a bit, saying, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Zhao Di chuckled as he munched on a couple of potato chips, “You and Zimi have a pretty good relationship, huh?”

Pei Huan asked, “Is that a problem?”

Zhao Di replied, “Of course not.”

Zhao Di continued, “I can’t help but notice that you care a lot about Zimi.”

Pei Huan countered, “Is there a problem with that?”

Zhao Di laughed, “No, no, not at all.”

Pei Huan said, “He lost a lot of blood.”

Zhao Di responded, “Well, it’s not like a man losing that much blood is…”

Before Zhao Di could finish, Pei Huan interrupted, “Why don’t you try falling and see how it feels?”

Zhao Di quickly changed his tune, “It definitely looks painful, for sure.”

Pei Huan resumed washing, and Zhao Di continued to watch.

Zhao Di suddenly felt a bit unsettled, so nervous that he stuffed five potato chips into his mouth at once, chewing like a hamster.

“Hey, Huan, look at all the stars in the sky tonight,” Zhao Di said as he popped a few more chips into his mouth.

Pei Huan finally turned his head, asking, “Do you have something to say?”

Zhao Di cleared his throat and continued, “That couple Xiao Dong mentioned today is quite ridiculous, huh?”

Pei Huan simply responded with an indifferent “Hmm.”

“Pei Huan,” Zhao Di forcibly swallowed the potato chips and spoke quickly, “You’re straight, right?”

Pei Huan didn’t even think about it, replying, “What do you think?”

His tone was flat, almost as if he were questioning Zhao Di about what kind of joke he was making.

Meanwhile, his hands were busy.

Pei Huan shook out Yan Zimi’s clothes, checked the cuffs, and then hung them up properly.

Straight… man?