11

Everyday moments alone weren’t enough to make the young handsome guy fall so deeply.

One time, a thief broke into their home.

The young handsome guy woke up in a panic, grabbed a baseball bat, and tried to catch the intruder.

But he couldn’t overpower the thief and ended up with a bleeding cut on his hand.

His roommate, disturbed by the noise in the living room, opened his door with an irritated expression, only to see a startling scene.

The young handsome guy was sitting on the floor in disarray, the thief advancing on him, knife in hand.

His roommate’s face darkened instantly.

He charged forward.

Oh, and by the way, his roommate is a boxer.

As you might expect, the thief was beaten nearly to a pulp.

It was only when the young handsome guy pulled him back that his roommate spared the thief’s hands from being completely ruined.

12

After the break-in, the young handsome guy have been left with some lingering fear.

For several nights, he kept having nightmares.

During the day, his dark circles looked almost like a panda’s.

His roommate, while chewing on ‘sweet noodles’ impatiently thought to himself, “This can’t go on.”

The young handsome guy mixed up sugar and salt.

In his mind, he thought, “How could I let one thief mess up my quality of life?”

He looked at his not-so-handsome ‘little snail,’ who was terrified and out of sorts.

He was already unattractive enough, but now he looked even worse.

Who would ever want his little snail in the future?

That night, the roommate moved the young handsome guy’s bedding over to his own bed.

With a commanding tone, he patted the bed and said, “Come on, come on. From now on, you’ll sleep with me. I’ll protect you.”

The young handsome guy stood there, his heart racing wildly once again.

13

The young handsome guy started sleeping with his roommate.

He was warm all over, making it perfectly cozy in the winter.

His roommate snuggled in tightly, wrapping around him completely.

With arms, legs, and even his face pressed close, it was almost comically innocent.

Because despite all the rubbing, there was no reaction at all.

The young handsome guy couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

Dark thoughts crossed his mind…maybe fate had given his roommate a great appearance but took away certain… functions.

Maybe he just couldn’t get it up. Couldn’t. Couldn’t.

14

But the sweetest moment, the one that made the young handsome guy truly fall for his roommate was when his roommate came looking for him.

Back in high school, the handsome guy was forced to come out.

His family told him he could return only if he changed.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t see him.

Though they still provided him with an allowance, they refused to let him come home.

He couldn’t change, so he obediently stayed away.

But one day, missing them terribly, he snuck back.

He didn’t even get to stay overnight.

His father asked him if he would change.

The young handsome guy, stunned, replied, “I can’t change. If I don’t, does that mean I’m not your son?”

His father exploded in anger.

The young handsome guy crouched on the curb outside his building, watching the Lantern Festival fireworks bloom one after another, beautifully.

But he couldn’t hold it in any longer, his eyes welling with tears.

15

As he sat there crying miserably, his nose red, his phone suddenly rang.

With swollen eyes, he answered, his voice hoarse as he mumbled a “hello.”

“Happy Lantern Festival!” his roommate’s voice was bright and cheerful.

The young handsome guy’s voice, however, was low and downcast.

“Yeah, same to you.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me, who bullied you?”

“…”

The young handsome guy sniffed, speaking in a low voice, “I… I can’t go home.”