Are You Playing Me Again?

When Su Ran woke up in the morning, he rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. He sleepily headed to the bathroom, only to see Qin Yue washing his underwear at the sink, his eyes faintly glowing. Startled, Su Ran almost peed himself and wondered why Qin Yue was looking at him like that. He couldn’t be holding a grudge and looking for an excuse to beat him up, could he?

After returning to his bed, Su Ran waited for Qin Yue to leave the bathroom before he hurried in to wash up and then quickly left the dorm. Just as he stepped out, he saw Pei Zhiyang standing at the doorway, staring blankly as if he had been there for a while, his eyes shadowed with dark circles and bloodshot from apparent sleeplessness.

However, upon seeing Su Ran, Pei Zhiyang immediately smiled, “Morning, Baby Ran.”

“Morning,” Su Ran replied.

The two of them headed downstairs together. Pei Zhiyang kept smiling, but Su Ran felt something odd about it. Just then, Pei Zhiyang slung an arm around Su Ran’s shoulders, only to awkwardly remove it moments later as if he had suddenly realized something.

Su Ran sighed, realizing that Pei Zhiyang still couldn’t fully accept that he was gay and couldn’t interact like before without feeling awkward.

Pei Zhiyang, observing Su Ran’s expression, asked, “Does your boyfriend know about me? Aren’t you guys close enough for him to be jealous?”

Su Ran tried to change Pei Zhiyang’s perception of his boyfriend, “He’s very open-minded, it’s not a problem.”

Pei Zhiyang clicked his tongue, “No problem, huh? I think he doesn’t love you enough. If my partner had a friend as close as us, I’d be super jealous.”

Su Ran thought about it and indeed it made sense, but he had never mentioned his school life to Fu Qian’an. However, saying that might upset Pei Zhiyang and imply that their relationship wasn’t that close anymore.

“He’s not the jealous type. Look, you even hit him, and he didn’t say anything,” Su Ran pointed out.

Pei Zhiyang pouted, “Either he’s a fool, or he’s feeling guilty.”

“Don’t talk about him like that,” Su Ran feigned anger, understanding Pei Zhiyang’s difficulty in accepting a best friend suddenly having a boyfriend, but he didn’t want him picking on Fu Qian’an anymore.

Pei Zhiyang became even more irritated, but seeing Su Ran’s expression, he forcibly swallowed his anger. Letting a small matter destroy their friendship wasn’t worth it.

Su Ran had planned to slip away after class and go directly to his streaming job, but as soon as he left the classroom, he saw Pei Zhiyang blocking the door.

He tried to sneak past unnoticed, but Pei Zhiyang grabbed his arm, his eyebrows furrowing, “Trying to run? No way, you have to take me to your part-time job today.”

Knowing he couldn’t escape, Su Ran hesitated for a moment before agreeing, “Alright…”

With a smile, Pei Zhiyang said, “Let’s go.”

On the way, Su Ran bought three cups of milk tea—one for Pei Zhiyang, one for Fu Qian’an, and one for himself.

Pei Zhiyang eyed the milk tea Su Ran was carrying, and after gulping down his cup, he coughed from the rush, the ice making it too cold. Su Ran quickly patted his back, “Why drink so fast?”

After calming down a bit, Pei Zhiyang, seeing Su Ran distracted, snatched the other cup, “I’m thirsty, let me have this one too.”

Su Ran reluctantly agreed, “Alright, but take it slow this time.”

It was five in the afternoon, the streets were bustling with snack vendors, and soon Pei Zhiyang was holding a variety of snacks.

“Baby Ran, try this,” he said, offering Su Ran some grilled squid. After Su Ran took a bite, Pei Zhiyang finished the rest.

As they walked, Pei Zhiyang naturally slung his arm around Su Ran’s shoulders. When he realized it, Su Ran didn’t seem to mind and was enjoying his skewers, so Pei Zhiyang kept his arm there, his smile growing.

“Baby Ran, let me have a sip of your juice,” Pei Zhiyang said.

Su Ran knew his quirk was acting up again and handed over the juice, “Here, I’m trying it for the first time too; it’s quite sour, but I like it.”

After taking a sip, Pei Zhiyang grimaced in familiar discomfort, “It’s too sour, not tasty.”

Su Ran knew his habit and ignored him, focusing on the nearing destination. He decided to prepare Pei Zhiyang a bit, “Zhiyang, my part-time job is a bit special…”

“It’s just streaming, what’s so special about that?” Pei Zhiyang said nonchalantly.

“It’s a bit special…” Su Ran said guiltily.

Just as Pei Zhiyang was about to dismiss any special aspects, it seemed like he suddenly remembered something, his face turning red, “You’re not doing something… inappropriate online, are you?”

Thinking about it, the image of the two of them in the bathroom came to his mind, Su Ran’s body…

Just the thought made his skin burn, but he couldn’t bear the idea of Su Ran exposing himself to a camera for everyone to see, the thought alone made him want to destroy whoever dared to watch.

Su Ran hit him lightly, “What are you thinking? You’ll find out when you get there.”

Pei Zhiyang took a deep breath, the shock had really hit him hard. When they reached the apartment building, he threw away all the snacks they were carrying.

Su Ran was startled, “Fu Qian’an hasn’t eaten yet.”

“He can come out and pick it up himself,” Pei Zhiyang retorted.

Seeing Pei Zhiyang’s mood swing, Su Ran grabbed his arm and warned, “Don’t be like that when you go in. You hit him last night, no throwing fits, or I won’t let you come again.”

Pei Zhiyang’s face twisted for a moment, then he forced a smile, “Is this better?”

Su Ran sighed, “Good, just keep it like that.”

He took out his keys and opened the door. Inside, Fu Qian’an was lying on the couch, half-asleep. Hearing the noise, he slowly sat up.

Pei Zhiyang entered and frowned immediately, “What kind of place is this?”

Su Ran slapped him lightly, then shushed him.

Su Ran brought Pei Zhiyang in, but upon seeing Fu Qian’an, he almost couldn’t hold back. Su Ran gave Pei Zhiyang a sidelong glance; he had hit too hard, and now Fu Qian’an’s face was swollen like a pig’s head.

Fu Qian’an also saw the person following Su Ran, and instinctively stood up to dodge, “You… why did you bring him here!”

Su Ran quickly reassured, “It’s okay, it was all a misunderstanding yesterday, don’t be scared. I talked to him, he just came to see you today.”

When Fu Qian’an’s gaze fell on Pei Zhiyang, he saw the hostility on his face, his lips curled in a cold sneer, as if he was about to attack.

But when Su Ran looked at him, Pei Zhiyang immediately changed his expression to a forced, unsmiling smile, “Sorry bro, it was all a misunderstanding yesterday.”

Fu Qian’an warily watched him, the events of yesterday having left a psychological shadow, but he still sensed Pei Zhiyang’s hostility.

“You two are just not acquainted without a fight, huh? One is my best friend, the other is my partner, shake hands and make peace for me,” Su Ran said.

The two nodded superficially, but their eyes were still full of enmity, a hostility that didn’t need to be openly acknowledged or deliberately created. Fortunately, Su Ran didn’t feel it, thinking they seemed to have eased a bit, he silently breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sit down,” Su Ran guided Pei Zhiyang to the couch, but Pei Zhiyang, looking at the peeling sofa then at Fu Qian’an, regarded him like trash.

Fu Qian’an felt it, glanced at the sofa, and then looked around the apartment, his feet unconsciously sliding back inside his slippers.

Pei Zhiyang stepped forward and affectionately wrapped his arms around Su Ran’s neck, “Baby Ran, how can you work in a place like this? It’s so shabby. Tell me, and I’ll rent you a nicer place, I’m really heartbroken seeing you work here.”

Su Ran, wary of Fu Qian’an overthinking, quickly said, “It’s okay, this place is good, and it’s great for filming.”

“If you want to film, I can take you to any high-end place, but this place smells like dirt as soon as you walk in. If anyone dated me, I wouldn’t bear letting my partner stay in such a place. Look, even the corner of the wall is moldy, I’m worried you might get sick staying here too long,” Pei Zhiyang said.

Su Ran felt awkward, and Fu Qian’an took a deep breath, clearly seeing Pei Zhiyang’s intention to provoke.

Pei Zhiyang held Su Ran tighter, his body pressing close, his voice much softer than before, “Baby Ran, if no one else can help, I’ll pay for a better apartment for you, okay?”

Fu Qian’an, seeing Pei Zhiyang’s hand on Su Ran’s waist, found it increasingly annoying. He quickly said, “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve already been looking for a new place. I’ve actually wanted to move for a while now.”

“Oh, wanted to move for a while?” Pei Zhiyang’s voice turned icy, letting out a mocking laugh, “Wanted to move for a while but only now doing it? What, waiting until Baby Ran earned money?”

Fu Qian’an was momentarily speechless, his face flushing red. Su Ran felt the awkward tension and quickly added, “We’re earning together, making a lot of money, so don’t worry. We’ll move soon.”

“Baby Ran, whoever dates you is so lucky. They don’t have to do anything, just live comfortably as a kept man,” Pei Zhiyang said, his tone light but his chest heaving, growing angrier as he spoke, wishing he could make Fu Qian’an and Su Ran break up immediately.

“Don’t say that…” Su Ran was at a loss, unable to scold Pei Zhiyang too harshly but also struggling to find a way to protect Fu Qian’an’s pride.

By now, Fu Qian’an’s face had turned ashen. Though his swollen face made him look comical, the combination of his appearance and his anger was terrifying. Yet he didn’t lash out. Instead, he looked at Pei Zhiyang clinging to Su Ran, a new understanding dawning on him.

Softening his tone, Fu Qian’an moved to sit next to Su Ran, pulling his hand over, “Baby, I’ve been looking at new apartments these past two days. Once we move, you can leave your dorm and live with me.”

Hearing this, Su Ran started considering the feasibility, while Pei Zhiyang’s face contorted with rage. His reaction was extreme, “You call him ‘baby’?”

Before Su Ran could respond, Fu Qian’an answered with a smile, “Yes, we both call each other ‘baby.’”

In an instant, Pei Zhiyang’s fists clenched, cracking audibly. He wanted to punch Fu Qian’an’s face in. “Baby Ran, you can’t move in with him, do you hear me?”

Fu Qian’an chuckled, “He’s my boyfriend, of course he listens to me.”

“Boyfriend, huh? Then he’s your dad. Call him ‘Dad,’” Pei Zhiyang spat, standing up, ready to fight. Su Ran quickly held him back.

“What did I tell you before we came in?” Su Ran said sternly, stopping Pei Zhiyang in his tracks. He hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.

Pei Zhiyang’s muscular body froze, his bloodshot eyes and reddened eye corners making him look deeply wronged. Su Ran didn’t know how to resolve the situation, so he simply said, “Let’s take it step by step, and no more arguing.”

“Baby, I’ll listen to you,” Fu Qian’an said with a smile.

“Disgusting!” Pei Zhiyang snapped, dropping the pretense entirely. “You call him ‘baby’ too?”

“And calling him ‘Baby Ran’ isn’t gross? We’re lovers; we’re closer than you are.”

“We’ve known each other for years. That doesn’t count for anything? Look at yourself in the mirror…”

Su Ran took a deep breath, just as he was about to shout at the two of them to stop arguing, his phone rang, breaking the tension. He glanced at the caller ID—it was Fu Linxuan.

He immediately answered, “Hello, Gege.”

“Mm-hmm, the stream is starting soon. Do you miss me?” Su Ran said sweetly, heading into the bedroom and closing the door, leaving the two men sitting on the couch in an awkward silence. Time seemed to freeze.

Pei Zhiyang stared blankly at Su Ran’s retreating figure, then at the closed door. He could vaguely hear the sweet voice drifting out.

“Gege, why are you like this? Do you miss me that much?”

“Didn’t we agree that when the time is right, I’ll go straight to your place? Didn’t you say you have a big double bathtub at home? I really want to see it.”

Pei Zhiyang was stunned. Slowly, he turned his stiff neck to look at Fu Qian’an. “Who’s he talking to?”

Fu Qian’an sneered, “Who else? His number one supporter.”

“He said… he wants to go to his place, soak in the double bathtub, and do… things.” Pei Zhiyang was still reeling, his expression blank with shock.

Even though hearing such words made Fu Qian’an uncomfortable too, seeing the young man in front of him look like his soul had been drained brought him a strange sense of satisfaction. “Yeah, and? That’s just part of being a streamer. Haven’t you seen…”

Before he could finish, Pei Zhiyang exploded. He lunged at Fu Qian’an, straddling him and grabbing his neck. The overwhelming sorrow and anger in his chest were unstoppable. It was all his fault—he was the one who made Baby Ran like this!

His bloodshot eyes burned with hatred, and he looked at Fu Qian’an as if he were his mortal enemy. Fu Qian’an, on the other hand, was utterly terrified, unable to utter a single word.

At that moment, the bedroom door opened, and Su Ran peeked out, “Can you two behave yourselves?”

Pei Zhiyang reluctantly let go but remained in his aggressive stance. Turning his head toward Su Ran, he said, “It’s fine. We were just sparring.”

Su Ran glared at them, “Keep it down. I’m getting ready to stream.”

“Alright, you go ahead,” Pei Zhiyang said, not even caring how strange Su Ran’s words were. All he wanted now was to pummel Fu Qian’an and vent his frustration.

Su Ran shut the door, and Pei Zhiyang immediately resumed hitting Fu Qian’an. The already swollen face was further bruised, but Fu Qian’an wasn’t the type to take a beating lying down. The two began a silent brawl.

When Su Ran emerged from his room, makeup done, he saw the two men sitting quietly on the couch, panting heavily and ignoring each other. Su Ran called out, “Zhiyang.”

Pei Zhiyang turned and froze. Su Ran was now wearing a long, black straight wig, a cropped tank top, and a body-hugging mini skirt. He looked playful yet pure, completely like a girl.

Pei Zhiyang was stunned, his mouth opening and closing. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say, “This…”

“This is the ‘special’ thing I mentioned,” Su Ran said. “How do I look?”

Pei Zhiyang was about to speak when Su Ran quickly added, “Wait! Don’t say something like ‘looking this good, wouldn’t mind hooking up with a bro.’ Otherwise, I’ll punch you!”

Su Ran was joking, but Pei Zhiyang was genuinely dumbfounded.

“You look… good,” Pei Zhiyang said, unable to take his eyes off Su Ran’s slim waist and long legs, glowing pale in the light.

“I’m off to stream,” Su Ran said, closing the door again.

Pei Zhiyang sat there in silence, not even bothering to antagonize Fu Qian’an anymore. Instead, he pulled out his phone and searched for Su Ran’s livestream. When he found it, he froze, staring at the screen, watching Su Ran interact with his audience, showing a side of himself Pei Zhiyang had never seen before.

Even when he returned to his dorm that night, Pei Zhiyang felt like he was in a dream—nothing felt real.

“Zhiyang,” Su Ran said, patting his shoulder, “it’s late. Go back to your dorm and rest. I need to sleep too.”

Snapping back to reality, Pei Zhiyang quickly said, “Why don’t you come stay at my place…”

He trailed off, realizing something didn’t feel right. Su Ran waved it off, “I’m going back to my dorm to sleep. You should rest early too, don’t stay up.”

With that, Su Ran returned to his dorm. The air conditioning was on, cooling the room instantly. He sighed in comfort and glanced at Qin Yue’s bed. He was already lying down, seemingly about to sleep.

Su Ran was about to undress but hesitated, wondering if Pei Zhiyang might still be awake. The shock he experienced tonight was no small matter—what if he stayed up again?

Pulling his clothes back down, Su Ran headed to the door and asked Qin Yue, “Should I turn off the light?”

Qin Yue, his eyes already closed, murmured, “Mm.”

Turning off the light, Su Ran stepped out of the dorm, deciding to give Pei Zhiyang a pep talk to help him sleep better tonight.

In his hurry, Su Ran didn’t knock. He opened the door to see Pei Zhiyang halfway through taking off his shirt. Seeing it was Su Ran, Pei Zhiyang froze, unsure whether to keep pulling it off or put it back on. He suddenly felt awkward, like he had developed a new awareness of gender.

But nothing had changed. Baby Ran was still his Baby Ran.

Su Ran, thinking Pei Zhiyang was uncomfortable about his identity as a gay man, felt a bit dejected but still sat on his bed, “No matter what, we’ll always be best friends.”

Pei Zhiyang replied without hesitation, “Yes, we’ll always be the best, no matter what. Nothing will change that—we’re the best in the world.”

It felt like exchanging wedding vows as they went back and forth affirming their bond.

Meanwhile, back in the dorm, Qin Yue couldn’t sleep. He knew Su Ran must have gone to see Pei Zhiyang. Every time he closed his eyes, he imagined the two of them laughing and playing on the bed, or even sleeping in each other’s arms.

His chest tightened, frustration boiling inside. Since when did these thoughts bother him so much?

Back in Pei Zhiyang’s room, Su Ran and Pei Zhiyang were chatting animatedly, swearing eternal friendship. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Pei Zhiyang frowned, “Who is it?”

From outside, Qin Yue’s voice came, “Su Ran, it’s time to go back to the dorm.”

Pei Zhiyang, about to snap, was stopped by Su Ran. Avoiding eye contact, Su Ran said, “I’m heading back. Rest early and don’t stay up late, okay?”

Pei Zhiyang found it strange. Since when did Su Ran listen to Qin Yue like this?

Something was off between the two of them…

On the way back, Qin Yue walked ahead while Su Ran trailed behind, occasionally glancing at his back, unsure of what Qin Yue was thinking. Even after they returned to the dorm, Qin Yue remained silent, leaving Su Ran in the dark about his intentions.

After washing up, Su Ran climbed into bed. The dorm went dark, and the atmosphere grew quiet.

Su Ran fell asleep quickly, but he vaguely heard the sound of someone turning over. Eventually, he drifted into a deep sleep.

Outside, the tree shadows swayed, accompanied by the occasional rustling of leaves. Qin Yue turned over again, his mind filled with images of Su Ran. In his dream, Su Ran’s eyes were moist, his lips slightly parted, softly calling him “Gege.” The sweet scent from his lips made Qin Yue’s blood boil.

His slender waist, long legs wrapped around him, and the soft curves pressing against him, grinding against his body…

Qin Yue suddenly took a sharp breath and opened his eyes. He sat up, sweat dripping down his forehead and body, his heart pounding. His skin was damp and sticky, but he felt unbearably hot inside.

Getting out of bed, Qin Yue walked to the bathroom. A moment later, the sound of water running could be heard.

Su Ran woke up in the middle of the night needing to pee. He got up, only to see the bathroom light on. Glancing at the opposite bed and finding it empty, he realized Qin Yue must be inside.

Sitting on his bed to wait, Su Ran watched as Qin Yue finally emerged. “Don’t turn off the light, I need to use the bathroom.”

As Su Ran spoke, Qin Yue turned to look at him. The light from the bathroom cast sharp shadows on his chiseled face. His expression was tense, his gaze deep and penetrating, making him look like a deranged killer.

Su Ran’s foot, already in his slipper, retracted in fear. As Qin Yue stepped closer, Su Ran’s voice trembled, “W-What are you doing…”

Qin Yue stopped in front of him, his voice low and calm, “Didn’t you say you liked me before? Then I’ll be your boyfriend now.”

It took Su Ran a moment to process, then he looked at Qin Yue, “Huh?”

What did he just say? Su Ran thought Qin Yue was about to kill him!

“I said, I’ll be your boyfriend,” Qin Yue repeated, staring straight at Su Ran.

The sudden shift left Su Ran dumbfounded. He had only lied about liking Qin Yue to buy time, not because he actually wanted to date him. Besides, he already had a boyfriend.

After thinking it over, Su Ran said, “I… I already have a boyfriend. We just started dating.”

Hearing this, Qin Yue’s face twisted in anger, “You’re playing me again!”