Can’t Hook You With This?

After the afternoon classes, Su Ran headed to Fu Qian’an’s place to work on a project, which lasted until past nine in the evening.

“Baby, come and take a look,” Fu Qian’an called out to him.

Munching on a piece of bread, Su Ran hadn’t expected streaming work to be this tough. After hours of non-stop shooting, he was both exhausted and famished. They managed to produce several pieces of content, enough to post for several days. Some were videos, others photo collections. To his surprise, he turned out quite expressive in front of the camera. Fu Qian’an, playing the role of the photographer, had only needed to give minimal guidance for Su Ran to significantly improve his camera presence.

Bending over to peer at the computer screen, Su Ran saw that the photos hadn’t been much touched up; the lighting had been adjusted to enhance the atmosphere. Staring at the photos, he almost fell in love with the beautiful and pure girl he saw depicted.

“So beautiful,” Su Ran remarked.

“You’ve always been very beautiful,” Fu Qian’an replied, looking at Su Ran, still dressed as a woman. Though he knew underneath the attire was a man, the experience was still pleasantly odd.

Feeling a bit shy from the praise, Su Ran couldn’t help but admit to himself that Fu Qian’an had a good eye. His control over the photos and videos was spot-on. Each of Su Ran’s movements and expressions came off as natural and unforced, sensual yet pure—a true portrayal of innocent desire.

Some of the photos showed a stark contrast between his delicate, pale skin and the rundown backgrounds—rusty bed frames and mottled walls, creating a sense of decay and a distinct rental room aesthetic.

“Baby, how about we start streaming tomorrow?” Fu Qian’an suggested.

Hesitating for a moment, Su Ran replied, “Isn’t that a bit too soon?”

Touching his head reassuringly, Fu Qian’an comforted him, “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. Didn’t I ask you to casually add a guy yesterday? To see his reaction? Have you added him?”

“Not yet…” Su Ran admitted, feeling a bit strange. Would a normal lover ask their partner to add someone else? But he didn’t dwell on it, assuming Fu Qian’an was just trying to boost his confidence.

“It’s okay if you haven’t. Just start streaming tomorrow, you’ll find your confidence with the audience,” Fu Qian’an assured him, his faith in Su Ran unshaken.

After all, Su Ran’s online presence was as compelling as any top streamer’s. Fu Qian’an had thought of this angle the moment he saw Su Ran’s photos. Now, having already cut ties with all his gay friends—while easy money from entertaining drinks was good, the job was dirty and morally unsettling—he now had such a treasure in Su Ran, worried about money no more, pure and easy to deceive.

Convinced, Su Ran agreed. He returned to his room, now his designated workspace. Fu Qian’an had given him a key, allowing him free access anytime.

The deal was split fifty-fifty with Fu Qian’an, who would handle the shooting, production, and backend operations. It felt like a fair arrangement—typical of a streaming agency—and he could earn money while experiencing love, a perfect scenario.

Climbing into his single bed, Su Ran switched to a secondary WeChat account, still intent on adding a guy—his roommate Qin Yue. Partly because he held a grudge, wanting to see if Qin Yue was cold to everyone, and partly as practice—since he would need to handle ‘Big Brother’ in the future, and Qin Yue, with his difficult personality, was perfect for a trial run.

Su Ran had plenty of reasons, but truly, he intended to stir things up with Qin Yue, or else the plot wouldn’t progress.

After checking his profile photo and social media settings—his avatar now a sweet, innocent-looking picture of him in drag, visible only for the last three days—he took a deep breath and added Qin Yue. “Hello senior, I need to discuss something with you, please accept.”

Mimicking a young girl’s tone, Su Ran nervously stared at his screen, expecting Qin Yue to be studying in his dorm and to see the message soon.

Within seconds, the friend request was accepted, and Su Ran’s heart skipped a beat, surprised at how easy that was. However, Qin Yue’s response was chillingly cold: “What do you want?”

“Hello senior, my name is Su Ranran. I heard you’re really good at gaming. Could you perhaps help me improve my ranking? [puppy eyes emoji]” Su Ran messaged, adding a cute emoticon that looked irresistibly sweet.

“Who told you that?” Qin Yue replied.

Su Ran was puzzled—not the point, dude! The focus should be on the beautiful girl asking for help!

With this thought, Su Ran could almost imagine Qin Yue’s indifferent expression. Of course, there was no such person; he had seen a screenshot of impressive gaming stats in his social media feed, but Qin Yue rarely gamed in the dorm.

“Just a friend, you’re not upset, are you? [pitiful face emoji]”

“Who gave you my WeChat?”

“Sorry, senior, I don’t want to betray a friend.”

Su Ran frowned, puzzled. His avatar was cute—was Fu Qian’an’s confidence in his photos misplaced? Had Qin Yue even looked at his profile picture?

After waiting a while, Qin Yue stopped responding. Cautiously, Su Ran sent a “?”, only to see a red exclamation mark appear.

Su Ran, “…”

Frustrated, he flopped back on his bed, questioning his life choices. What went wrong?

He sent his avatar to Fu Qian’an, “Is this photo okay for an avatar, or is it too bland?”

Fu Qian’an immediately replied, “Oh my god, baby, if this is bland then there are no beautiful girls left in the world.”

Reinvigorated by the encouragement, Fu Qian’an knocked on his door shortly after, peeking through a crack, “Baby, you’re truly stunning!”

“Okay!” Buoyed by newfound confidence, Su Ran sat up again, sure that Qin Yue hadn’t looked at his profile photo…

Indeed, people usually check profile photos as soon as they add someone. Guys might not click on other guys, but they’d definitely check out a pretty girl, then browse her social media.

Taking a deep breath, Su Ran added Qin Yue again, “Senior, let’s try this again, please accept.”

Qin Yue continued to ask who had given out his WeChat, clearly aiming to confront the person.

Qin Yue accepted again but only sent a terse, “Who?”

This time, Su Ran went straight to the point: “Senior, my self-esteem is really taking a hit here. That’s my real photo. Looks okay, doesn’t it?”

Qin Yue didn’t respond immediately, leaving Su Ran anxious that he might get deleted again.

A second later, Qin Yue messaged, “Okay.”

Elated, Su Ran realized that Qin Yue had likely not seen his photo before and had just checked his social media.

With his appearance validated and his confidence in his conversational skills untouched—after all, he had plenty of experience with online interactions, even though some were embarrassingly naive—he recalled being deceived in an online romance.

The girl had sweet-talked him, later claiming her grandfather was ill and needed money for treatment. A naive first-year student then, Su Ran had transferred his entire savings of two thousand yuan to her. When he couldn’t meet her continuing hints for more money, she had blocked him.

Crushed, he had believed himself at fault for not being able to help with her grandfather’s treatment. It took days of depression and his roommate’s intervention, revealing that he had been dumped by his online girlfriend, for Su Ran to learn his lesson.

Now, he was applying these lessons to Qin Yue—not for money, but for a dynamic explosion of roommates-turned-lovers.

Unfortunately, his gaming skills might not help his cause; despite his beautiful appearance, his clumsy gameplay couldn’t save him. He acknowledged his ineptitude: bad at gaming but loved playing, even considering a future as a game-streaming host. This game was popular, not lacking skilled hosts, but he could be the most beautiful among them—a sure way to gather fans.

The first game ended, and Su Ran immediately apologized, “I’m so sorry, senior! I’ll do better next time!”

Qin Yue replied, “It’s fine, just be more careful next time.”

After the second game, Su Ran apologized again, “I’m sorry, senior! I’ll try harder next time!”

Qin Yue replied, “Okay.”

After the third game, Su Ran apologized once more, “I’m really sorry, senior!”

This time, Qin Yue didn’t respond. Su Ran stared at the chat window, watching the typing indicator flicker as Qin Yue typed, deleted, and retyped his message.

Finally, Qin Yue sent, “Maybe you should find someone else to help you.”

Su Ran felt a heavy blow; his poor skills couldn’t even be saved by his looks.

“Don’t, senior, I only want you to help me, QAQ,” Su Ran pleaded.

There was no response from the other side, so Su Ran took a bold step and recorded a video without any beauty filters or enhancements, showcasing his genuine beauty. That day, he had coincidentally cosplayed as Nana, a popular female character from the game. Though the makeup and accessories were extravagant, Su Ran appeared shy, tugging slightly at his neckline, which made him look alluring and compelling.

He sent the video to Qin Yue, “Senior, you see, I really like this game. Today, I even cosplayed Nana.”

The video showed a gorgeous girl with elaborate makeup and a bashful demeanor. Though only her upper body was visible, the pale pink of her shoulders and collarbone, along with the slightly open neckline, made her irresistibly captivating.

After a moment, Qin Yue replied, “Why me?”

Seeing that reply, Su Ran thought, “Heh, men.”

“Actually, when I was at A University, I saw you once during a lecture. A friend took me to watch, and I was so impressed by your talent and charisma. Who wouldn’t admire someone like you?” Su Ran had crafted this narrative perfectly the night before.

Who could resist flattery from a beautiful girl? Not Su Ran, at least not back then when he had fallen for someone who was really just after his wallet.

Adding more weight to his story, Su Ran said, “Besides, other guys who offer to play with me always ask for inappropriate photos in return, but I’d never send them anything. If I were to share something, it would only be with someone as outstanding and handsome as you.”

If this doesn’t hook you, what will? Sure enough, Qin Yue quickly replied, “Hmm, don’t share with them.”

Internally, Su Ran laughed, “Yeah, just share it with you, huh?” and doubled down on his flirtation: “Then, senior, play with me, and I can meet any request you have.”

The other side fell silent. Was Qin Yue hesitating about agreeing? Su Ran pressed on, “Senior, any request is okay. No one else can, but it’s fine for you.”

Finally, Qin Yue replied, “Anything?”

“Senior’s exclusive privilege,” Su Ran confirmed.

Qin Yue replied with, “Alright,” followed by, “Show me your legs.”

Su Ran stared at the screen in shock. “!!!”

This Qin Yue, always looking so aloof and reserved, had finally revealed his true colors! Back when Su Ran had faced such a situation, he’d bashfully asked to see someone’s neck instead, too embarrassed to ask for more.

Men—they’re all the same, Su Ran thought. It wasn’t that he was too naive back then, just that the other person was too cunning. When they didn’t get hooked, it just meant the bait wasn’t tasty enough.

Sitting on the bed, Su Ran dangled his legs and snapped a photo. His legs looked flawlessly smooth, long, and alluring, even capturing his dainty, pretty feet with perfectly rounded toes painted pink.

Satisfied that nothing masculine was revealed in the photo, Su Ran sent it over. After a while, Qin Yue still hadn’t replied.

“Senior, do you like it?” Su Ran asked.

Eventually, Qin Yue replied, “I like it.”

Seeing the response, Su Ran felt triumphant. Of course he liked it. If he didn’t know better, even he would have fallen for his own legs! Long, pale, and just tight enough at the thigh—irresistible.

Before Su Ran could reply, Qin Yue sent another message: “Which school are you from? I’m also a freshman, so you don’t need to call me senior.”

Perfect. Su Ran had prepared for this question.

“Well, I was also at A University, but I got sick shortly after enrolling, so I had to take a year off to stay at my grandmother’s house in City A to recover. But I’m getting better now and should be back next year. So calling you senior is still appropriate,” Su Ran explained smoothly.

Recycling the exact scam tactics he had once fallen victim to, Su Ran added just enough intrigue, a touch of vulnerability, and hope for the future to reel him in. Same city, reachable, with an inspiring backstory—who wouldn’t be moved?

“Alright, I hope you recover soon,” Qin Yue replied.

“Senior, can I call you for games in the future?” Su Ran asked.

“Mm-hmm, sure.”

The repeated “mm-hmm” was delightful. Su Ran said, “Great! I’ll go take a bath now.”

Suddenly introducing such a pretty “girl” into Qin Yue’s life, Su Ran knew he needed to give him time to digest and savor the moment.

“Go ahead,” Qin Yue replied.

Turning off his phone, Su Ran tilted his head confidently. Nailed it. This was the most exciting thing to happen since starting college. Qin Yue had always been cold and harsh to him, almost unbearably hostile for a roommate. Now, it was time for revenge.

Returning to campus close to 10 PM, Su Ran had been dropped off by Fu Qian’an, who insisted on ensuring his safety in the complicated old district.

As they neared the university gate, Su Ran spotted Pei Zhiyang. With his tall frame and imposing aura, he stood out immediately.

Noticing him, Su Ran quickly said to Fu Qian’an, “I see a classmate. You can drop me off here and head back.”

Fu Qian’an didn’t ask further, waving him off. “Alright then, Baby. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Su Ran replied, turning to see Pei Zhiyang walking toward him.

Pei Zhiyang slung an arm over his shoulder casually. “Baby Ran, how was the side gig today?”

“Not bad, took some shots,” Su Ran replied.

Pei Zhiyang glanced back, catching sight of Fu Qian’an’s retreating figure. “Who’s that bleached-haired guy?”

Su Ran glared at him but felt guilty. “That’s my boss.”

“Your boss? He looked kind of shady. Is he really?” Pei Zhiyang pressed.

Su Ran shifted uncomfortably. “Yes.”

Pei Zhiyang let it drop and playfully nudged him. “So, what kind of shoots did you do? Let me see.”

Su Ran immediately refused. “No way. It’s embarrassing. Besides, they’re all on the computer, not on my phone.”

Pei Zhiyang pouted. “Keeping secrets from me now?”

“It’s not that…” Su Ran mumbled, growing more flustered. “It’s just too awkward.”

Pei Zhiyang sighed dramatically. “Fine.”

Then, leaning in close to his ear, he whispered, “Don’t forget to come to my place tonight for a bath.”

Already feeling guilty about his actions, Su Ran hastily agreed. “Okay.”

Back in the dorm, Su Ran hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Inside, Qin Yue was, as usual, hunched over his desk studying.

Hearing the door, Qin Yue looked up, his gaze settling on Su Ran’s face for longer than usual. Su Ran’s heart raced—had he been found out? That couldn’t be possible. His crossdressing and regular appearances were like two entirely different people.

The moment passed as Qin Yue returned to his studies, and Su Ran let out a breath of relief.

Settling onto his bed, Su Ran found his gaze drifting toward Qin Yue. The cold demeanor, the indifferent aura—it was hard to imagine this was the same person who had asked to “see legs.”

Internally, Su Ran scoffed, “Caught you, you hypocrite.” Then, switching to his alternate account, he messaged, “Senior, I’m done with my bath.”

Watching Qin Yue’s phone screen light up, Su Ran felt an exhilarating thrill. Chatting with him in person without his knowledge? This was too exciting.

“Why did it take so long?” Qin Yue replied.

Su Ran chuckled. “Well, I had to soak in the tub, lather up with body wash, rinse off the bubbles, blow-dry my hair, and apply body lotion. That’s how I keep my skin so smooth! But I admit, I overdid it today—my skin turned red.”

“Such a hassle,” Qin Yue replied.

Su Ran, “…”

“Well, it feels really nice. Though I did scrub a bit hard today, my skin turned red. Senior, want to see?” he teased.

From across the room, Su Ran watched Qin Yue stare at his phone for a moment, his fingers hovering over the screen before typing, “Can I?”

Su Ran smirked. “No way, senior! You’re such a perv! Big bad wolf!”

Sending the message, he glanced at Qin Yue again, just in time to catch a faint, fleeting smile on his lips.

Su Ran’s heart leaped—this was the first time he’d ever seen Qin Yue smile. Half a semester in, he’d thought the guy just didn’t like smiling.

“I’m going to Pei Zhiyang’s. Might not come back tonight,” Su Ran announced.

The faint smile on Qin Yue’s face instantly vanished. He simply replied, “Alright.”

Internally, Su Ran huffed. “Two-faced jerk. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

Pocketing his phone, Su Ran left for Pei Zhiyang’s dorm. His roommate rarely stayed there due to some special circumstance, which conveniently allowed Su Ran to crash there often.

Entering the room, Su Ran found Pei Zhiyang sitting up on his bed. “Finally! I was about to fall asleep waiting.”

“You? Asleep this early?” Su Ran retorted.

“I was too excited to see you!” Pei Zhiyang shot back unabashedly.

Su Ran rolled his eyes. “Alright, let’s get to it.”

Without hesitation, he started pulling his shirt off, only to be stopped by Pei Zhiyang. “Wait… here?”

“Yeah, why not? Here or the bathroom, same thing. The bathroom’s too cramped; this is more convenient,” Su Ran replied casually. Having grown up accustomed to communal bathing, he didn’t think much of it. Plus, he needed to keep up his “straight guy” persona, which he’d apparently mastered better than Pei Zhiyang.

“Oh… oh, right.” Pei Zhiyang stammered, caught off guard. But seeing Su Ran begin to undress, he quickly followed suit.

In no time, Su Ran had stripped down, his fair skin glowing under the dim dorm lights. Pei Zhiyang’s gaze involuntarily swept over him, his chest swelling with a strange, inexplicable excitement. Su Ran stood before him, unguarded, every inch of him clear as day.

It felt… intimate. Like they were no longer just friends but something more.

Su Ran’s gaze flitted toward Pei Zhiyang and, startled, thought, Wow, the protagonist’s situation is even more… intense than I imagined.

Catching Pei Zhiyang’s gaze, Su Ran instinctively tightened his legs together, suddenly self-conscious.

But Pei Zhiyang reached over and slung an arm around his shoulder, guiding him toward the bathroom. Their skin brushed against each other, bare and warm, as they moved. The sensation was… odd. Though Su Ran was used to communal bathing, this level of proximity was new.

Pei Zhiyang’s gaze lingered a bit longer than necessary, prompting Su Ran to cover himself reflexively. He laughed, “You’re so cute, even the little things about you are adorable.”

“!” Su Ran’s face turned beet red. His masculinity had been insulted! He wanted to punch Pei Zhiyang on the spot.

Pei Zhiyang, however, continued with a grin, “Even… pink and pretty.”

“!!!” Su Ran elbowed him in the ribs and stormed into the bathroom, furious. “You’re just too much for anyone to handle!”

Pei Zhiyang chuckled but quickly followed to smooth things over. “You’re right, Baby Ran’s definitely the better one.”

Turning on the shower, Su Ran tried to ignore him, his confidence shaken. He turned away, refusing to face Pei Zhiyang.

Yet Pei Zhiyang’s gaze roamed unabashedly, taking in every detail of Su Ran’s figure. His thoughts raced, So adorable. I just want to… touch him.

After a while, Pei Zhiyang piped up eagerly, “Baby Ran, let me scrub your back.”

Having researched northern bathing culture, Pei Zhiyang knew that back-scrubbing was a common gesture between friends, especially if no professional bath attendants were around.

Reluctantly, Su Ran agreed, his fair skin quickly turning pink under Pei Zhiyang’s careful scrubbing. The latter took care to be gentle, using a soft cloth, but even so, Su Ran’s delicate skin reddened easily.

“You don’t have to move; let me handle everything,” Pei Zhiyang insisted. His attention and care were exclusively for Su Ran.

Finally, Pei Zhiyang lathered body wash into bubbles and began applying it to Su Ran’s back, reveling in the silky texture of his skin. But soon, he realized something unusual.

“Baby Ran, look at this…” Pei Zhiyang pointed out.

Su Ran turned around, curious about what had Pei Zhiyang so flustered. As someone who’d seen plenty in communal showers, he didn’t think much of it.

“That’s normal. It’ll go away soon,” Su Ran replied nonchalantly.

Pei Zhiyang took a deep breath. “But why don’t you have one? If we’re bathing together, it’s not fair if only I have this.”

Before Su Ran could react, Pei Zhiyang reached out. Su Ran tensed immediately. “What are you doing? I’ll hit you!”

Ignoring the protest, Pei Zhiyang moved his hand with the soap, sending Su Ran into a fit of laughter as the soap slid over his ribs. He had no strength to resist.

Resting his chin on Su Ran’s shoulder, Pei Zhiyang whispered, “How’s that?”

The glass walls of the shower were fogged over, the heat from the water making the air stifling. Su Ran felt overwhelmed, as if he might melt. He let out a soft hum in response.

“Help me out later, too,” Pei Zhiyang added.