On his way back to the apartment, Yan Zimi was stopped by Lin Jie, who returned his game account and said he was done playing it.

He also mentioned that this would be the last time he used Yan Zimi’s account; in the future, his boyfriend would create a new account, and they would start fresh together.

Lin Jie teased Yan Zimi, saying it felt off using an account that had someone else’s couple name attached to it. “Anyone can come up with a couple name,” he joked.

Then he added, “Your idol is also playing games.”

Yan Zimi froze for a moment and immediately opened the game.

Sure enough, Pei Huan was online, playing alongside Xiao Dong and Yu Nan.

Counting the time since he heard the news that Pei Huan was almost at school, it had already been over ten minutes. At this moment, it seemed reasonable for him to be anywhere—he could be at school, he could have already arrived at the dormitory; anywhere seemed plausible.

Anyway, he just hadn’t told Yan Zimi.

Yan Zimi felt a significant sense of disappointment in his heart; he thought he must not be very important in Pei Huan’s mind.

But he still tried to comfort himself, thinking this was perfectly normal.

Pei Huan’s behavior was normal; it was he who was not.

Yan Zimi sighed internally, switched to WeChat, and sent a message to Lin Jie.

Yan Zimi: “I’m done for.”

Then he logged into the game and opened the spectator mode.

They had already been playing for several minutes, and how coincidental it was that when Yan Zimi entered, it was just in time for Pei Huan’s cool moment—he achieved a pentakill in under ten seconds.

“Awesome, Huan Ge.”

In the dormitory on the other side, Xiao Dong, who had already been eliminated by the enemy, shouted, “Awesome! I thought you were done for. Why did you charge in without saying a word?”

“Just charge in and do it,” Yu Nan replied, having just finished his maneuver, as he leaned back in his chair. “What’s up with Huan Ge? He’s playing so aggressively this game.”

Xiao Dong said, “Yeah, he started by looking for someone to kill.”

Pei Huan didn’t say a word.

As expected, Pei Huan led the game with his wild plays, and the opposing team couldn’t handle it; they surrendered in just eight minutes.

After the game ended, Pei Huan logged out immediately.

Yu Nan asked in confusion, “Is that it for one game?”

Pei Huan put down his phone and picked up his bag. “I haven’t packed my things yet.”

Yu Nan clicked his tongue. “You must be feeling pressured. What’s wrong? Was this event not successful?”

Just as he finished speaking, Yu Nan saw Pei Huan pull out a trophy box from his backpack.

Yu Nan: “…”

Pei Huan: “It went pretty smoothly.”

Zhao Di leaned in closer. “What prize is it?”

Pei Huan: “Gold award.”

“Haha,” Zhao Di laughed, “Does that mean you’ll have to treat us to dinner tonight?”

Pei Huan didn’t take out the trophy; instead, he placed the entire box into the cabinet. “Maybe tomorrow; tonight doesn’t work.”

Yu Nan: “Is there something going on tonight?”

Pei Huan: “I’m looking for Yan Zimi.”

Zhao Di chuckled, “You’ll look for him as soon as you get back.”

Pei Huan: “I bought him something.”

Zhao Di wanted to say something more, but he felt that Pei Huan’s mood was a bit off.

Clearly, everything he mentioned was something to be happy about—look at how they dominated the game and won easily, and look, he even received a gold award, not to mention he bought a gift for someone.

Yet, this person seemed so glum.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Zimi,” Zhao Di said. “Where are you going to find him? Bring me along.”

Pei Huan took out some clothes from the cabinet. “I’m going to his studio,” he said, tossing the clothes over his shoulder. “It’s not convenient.”

Before Zhao Di could ask what was inconvenient about going to the studio, Pei Huan went to take a shower.

When he came out, the atmosphere in the dorm had changed. The three people, aside from Pei Huan, were gathered around Xiao Dong’s computer, laughing together.

It wasn’t the kind of laughter that was loud and boisterous; it was a sweet, blissful kind of laughter that graced their faces.

Pei Huan curiously walked over and saw that the computer screen was playing a popular idol drama. At that moment, the scene featured the main couple, with cheerful music in the background and bright colors on the screen—it was clear something was about to happen.

Sure enough, he hadn’t even stood there for two seconds when the main couple kissed.

“Oh, oh, oh, oh!”

“Oh, oh, oh!”

“Damn, damn, damn!”

The three roommates exclaimed in unison.

Pei Huan was drying his hair and was about to leave when Yu Nan grabbed his shirt. “Don’t go! The best part is yet to come.”

Sure enough, right after that, the male lead gently carried the female lead onto the bed.

The three roommates let out even more excited sounds.

Yu Nan said, “See? I told you something would definitely happen when that guy went over!”

Xiao Dong chimed in, “Damn, this is way too sweet. Who wouldn’t want to be in a relationship after watching this?”

Zhao Di turned to Pei Huan and asked, “Aren’t you going to watch?”

Pei Huan was already packing his bag. “You all go ahead and watch.”

Yu Nan laughed, “Why don’t you watch stuff like this? Don’t be so pure and detached.”

Pei Huan smiled, “I actually want to ask you all, why do you love watching this?”

Xiao Dong chuckled, “It’s fun to watch others fall in love.”

Yu Nan added, “Watching others fall in love makes you want to be in a relationship too.”

Zhao Di chimed in, “Seeing others kiss makes you want to kiss.”

Xiao Dong laughed, “Watching others… Hahaha.”

Everyone who understood shared a knowing look, and after Xiao Dong finished speaking, the three of them exchanged mischievous expressions.

Pei Huan casually said, “You old perverts.”

This line triggered their collective outrage, and the three immediately united against him.

“I don’t believe you’ve never thought about this.”

“Haven’t you ever had a crush on someone?”

“Seeing others like that, haven’t you ever thought about finding someone to kiss?”

Pei Huan replied emphatically, “Never.”

After saying that, he slung his bag over his shoulder. “You all enjoy yourselves; I’m leaving.”

Pei Huan hadn’t told Yan Zimi about this trip; he just wanted to sneak over and surprise him.

As for why he wanted to do this, he hadn’t questioned himself. He simply decided to go for it once the thought crossed his mind.

Timing it perfectly, he had a meal at the cafeteria and then took a taxi, quickly arriving at Yan Zimi’s studio.

Yan Zimi didn’t have classes tonight, and Pei Huan thought as he sat in the car: If he doesn’t have classes, what would Yan Zimi be doing there tonight?

Just spacing out?

He had seen Yan Zimi zoning out before; that expression could indeed be described as aloof from the perspective of others.

After more than half an hour, Pei Huan arrived at his destination and skillfully found the studio. However, there was only one girl sitting in the entire hall.

The girl was momentarily stunned when she saw Pei Huan.

Pei Huan asked, “Where’s Yan Zimi?”

The girl pointed inward with her pencil. “He’s in the restroom.”

Pei Huan nodded and set down his bag, preparing to wait for him to come out.

But the girl added, “After Teacher Yan went in, a guy followed him in.” She said quietly, “It’s a bit suspicious.”

Pei Huan frowned slightly and strode toward the restroom.

The restroom door was closed, and Pei Huan was about to knock when he heard a familiar voice from inside say, “You think I’m afraid of you?”

Pei Huan knocked on the door once, and when he found he couldn’t turn the doorknob, he kicked the door open.

Yan Zimi was standing next to the sink, and beside him was a boy with dyed blonde hair.

When Pei Huan entered, both of them turned to look at the door.

Pei Huan didn’t think twice; he walked straight over, pushed the blonde boy aside, and pulled Yan Zimi behind him. “What are you doing?”

The blonde boy scoffed, “Alright, you called someone.”

As he spoke, the blonde boy turned to look at Pei Huan, but Yan Zimi suddenly stepped forward. “Can you leave? I’ve said everything I needed to.”

The blonde boy no longer looked at Pei Huan and pointed a finger at Yan Zimi. “Just remember what you said.”

After saying that, he shot a glance at Pei Huan and turned to leave.

The restroom fell silent again. Pei Huan turned to look at Yan Zimi. “Are you okay?”

Yan Zimi shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Pei Huan asked, “What happened? Who is this guy?”

Yan Zimi replied, “He’s my cousin.”

Pei Huan was puzzled. “Your cousin?”

Yan Zimi seemed reluctant to admit it. “He’s my uncle’s son.”

Pei Huan asked, “What does he want from you?”

Yan Zimi washed his hands awkwardly.

It was still because he had leverage over him.

This was troublesome.

Yan Zimi said, “It’s nothing; he’s just a really annoying person. I can deal with him.”

Pei Huan responded, “Is this not the first time?”

Yan Zimi insisted, “It’s fine.” After a pause, he added, “He doesn’t dare to do anything to me.”

He took two pieces of tissue to dry his hands and looked up at Pei Huan. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Pei Huan asked, “Are you really okay?”

Yan Zimi gave Pei Huan a reassuring smile. “I’m really fine.”

Pei Huan didn’t say whether he believed it or not; instead, he lowered his head to seriously observe Yan Zimi’s expression.

Yan Zimi didn’t flinch at all. If Pei Huan wanted to look, he could—no matter how long.

In the end, Pei Huan let him be and said, “The door is broken.”

Yan Zimi laughed. “Our Huan Ge is just so cool.”

Pei Huan replied, “Is this the time to praise me?”

Yan Zimi waved his hand. “It’s fine. I’ll have someone come to fix it later; it’s just a minor issue.” Then he added, “I really am okay.”

As they spoke, they walked into the hall. When the girl saw Yan Zimi come out looking fine, she sighed in relief and continued painting.

Just now, while he was in the bathroom, it didn’t feel quite real. But now that he was out, Yan Zimi gradually felt a surge of happiness at Pei Huan’s unexpected visit.

He asked Pei Huan, “What brings you to find me?” Then he added, “Did you ride your motorcycle here?”

As he asked, he made a gesture with his right hand, mimicking twisting the throttle of a motorcycle, his eyes curving into crescent shapes with laughter.

Now Pei Huan was certain that Yan Zimi was okay. He asked, “Why do you ask that?”

Yan Zimi replied, “Just wondering!”

Pei Huan inquired, “Do you like it when I ride a motorcycle?”

Yan Zimi’s eyes sparkled. “It’s super cool!”

Pei Huan responded, “Not today, but if you like it, I’ll ride over to pick you up next time.”

Yan Zimi’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Pei Huan teased, “Have I ever lied to you?”

He was just joking, but as soon as he said it, he suddenly remembered something and pinched Yan Zimi’s cheek. “But you, you little liar, how many times have you tricked me?”

Yan Zimi smiled and shrank his neck, saying defensively, “It’s normal for men to have little secrets.”

Pei Huan looked into Yan Zimi’s eyes and said, “Say that again.”

Yan Zimi quickly added, “Of course, except in front of Huan Ge.”

Only then did Pei Huan feel satisfied.

Next, he handed over something from his bag. “Here.”

When Yan Zimi saw the box in Pei Huan’s hand, he exclaimed, “I thought you forgot!”

“I didn’t forget; I took a long time to pick it out,” Pei Huan replied, handing it over. “Here, little liar.”

Yan Zimi’s voice dropped to a whisper, “Don’t call me little liar.”

He eagerly opened the box.

He didn’t actually care much about the keychain itself, but he cherished Pei Huan’s little gift.

That familiar, tingly sensation returned, and he instantly forgot the earlier annoyance about Pei Huan not telling him he had arrived at school.

Yan Zimi had heard a bit about the carving from City A, and today he finally got to see it.

He opened the box and took out a small bead.

Through the studio’s lighting, he could see a tiny convenience store carved inside the bead.

As he looked at it, Yan Zimi suddenly turned to Pei Huan.

Pei Huan asked, “Does it look like it?”

Yan Zimi smiled slightly, “Not at all.”

Pei Huan chuckled, “If it doesn’t look like it, why are you laughing?”

Yan Zimi replied, “I’m just laughing.”

What else could it look like? It reminded him of the convenience store they had encountered that time.

It was just a little bit like it, but Yan Zimi couldn’t help but associate it.

And Pei Huan picked up on his association.

An inexplicable tacit understanding—so annoying.

“I picked it out at a glance,” Pei Huan said to Yan Zimi, “I thought you’d like it since you painted that picture.”

Yan Zimi felt as if something had suddenly sparked inside him. He quickly cupped the bead in his palm and placed it back in the box.

“Who said that what I paint is necessarily something I like?” Yan Zimi said as he hurriedly packed the item away and closed the box.

Pei Huan let out a long “Ahhh.” “If you don’t like it, then give it back to me.”

Yan Zimi protested, “But it’s a gift for me, so it’s mine… Hey!”

Pei Huan unexpectedly seized the item back when Yan Zimi wasn’t paying attention.

Yan Zimi was taken aback and reached out to snatch it back, but he failed twice.

Pei Huan really had a firm grasp on Yan Zimi’s temper.

Yan Zimi could only say each word slowly: “I, especially, like, it, thank, you, teacher.”

Only then did Pei Huan give it back to Yan Zimi, while also educating him: “If you like it, just say you like it. Why be so stubborn?”

Yan Zimi huffed at Pei Huan.

Pei Huan laughed and suddenly leaned in closer, looking directly into Yan Zimi’s eyes: “Is blushing also part of my exclusive character design?”

Yan Zimi’s face hadn’t been very red to begin with, and it was almost back to normal, but with Pei Huan’s question, it suddenly flared up.

Yan Zimi replied, “Of course not.”

“Teacher Yan.”

At that moment, the girl suddenly raised her hand and called out.

Yan Zimi hurriedly bypassed Pei Huan and went over in that direction.

The girl didn’t have any major issues; she just had a patch of color that looked off no matter how she applied it, so she called Yan Zimi over for help.

As the painting was nearing completion, Yan Zimi simply watched her finish that section.

With Yan Zimi around, the girl’s progress accelerated significantly, and in less than five minutes, the painting was done.

She thanked Yan Zimi, said goodbye, and took her painting with her.

Now the studio was left with just Yan Zimi and Pei Huan.

Returning to Pei Huan’s side, Yan Zimi first heard Pei Huan call him: “Teacher Yan.”

Yan Zimi responded, “What is it?”

Pei Huan smiled and asked, “Aren’t you free tonight?”

Yan Zimi explained, “They’re not students. The studio offers DIY painting sessions where you can come in to paint. We provide the materials and space, and you can leave once you’re done.”

Pei Huan nodded and asked Yan Zimi, “Does she come often?”

Yan Zimi asked, puzzled, “How do you know?”

Pei Huan replied, “She kept watching you while you were painting.”

Yan Zimi said, “I didn’t notice.”

Pei Huan insisted, “She’s interested in you.”

Yan Zimi laughed, “Just because she kept looking at me?”

Pei Huan pressed, “Just answer yes or no.”

Yan Zimi responded, “She’s a customer.”

Pei Huan stated confidently, “I’m also your customer.”

Yan Zimi chuckled, “What kind of customer do you think you are?”

Pei Huan picked up his phone and showed it to Yan Zimi: “I just bought this. Am I operating it correctly?”

The screen displayed a very familiar page, and the operation was completely correct.

Yan Zimi asked, “What are you doing?”

Pei Huan replied, “I want to paint, Teacher Yan.”

Yan Zimi couldn’t help but laugh: “If you want to paint, just tell me. Why buy it?”

Pei Huan inquired, “How do I start?”

Yan Zimi took another look at Pei Huan’s phone: “You even bought the biggest frame. How long do you plan to paint?”

Pei Huan joked, “Can I paint all night?”

Yan Zimi said, “If you can’t finish, you can come back multiple times. No need to stay up all night.”

Pei Huan nodded: “That works too.”

Yan Zimi then asked, “So, what would this esteemed guest like to paint?”

Pei Huan thought for a moment: “How about a pig?”

Yan Zimi froze for a second: “Are you painting me?”

Pei Huan burst into laughter.

Yan Zimi: “…”

Yan Zimi: “No, that’s not…”

Speechless, why was he even sitting down?

Did he have some kind of problem?

Pei Huan said, “Yan Zimi, how can you be so cute?”

Yan Zimi didn’t want to respond to Pei Huan and went to the shelf to grab the biggest frame, placing it on the easel.

Yan Zimi asked, “Which pig should I paint?”

Pei Huan came over and showed Yan Zimi a photo on his phone.

Yan Zimi: “…”

He looked at Pei Huan with a blank expression.

Pei Huan laughed happily: “Is it okay?”

Yan Zimi asked, “How do you have my photo?”

Pei Huan replied, “If I want it, I can have it.”

Yan Zimi paused for a moment.

Today, he was acting a bit strange.

Yan Zimi told himself to rein in his emotions: “This one is a bit difficult.”

Pei Huan said, “Just paint it like the one you did of me; is it really that hard?”

Yan Zimi thought for a moment.

Pei Huan asked, “Still difficult?”

Yan Zimi shook his head: “It’s fine; I’m here.”

The two of them sat close together, with Yan Zimi slightly to the side and Pei Huan in the middle.

Yan Zimi handed a pencil to Pei Huan: “You start by drawing the outline.”

Pei Huan actually took the pen, but after measuring up, down, and sideways for quite a while, he said, “How do I draw this?”

Yan Zimi opened his mouth to speak, but Pei Huan directly stuffed the pen back into Yan Zimi’s hand: “You do it.”

Yan Zimi sighed: “Are you drawing or am I?”

Pei Huan held Yan Zimi’s hand and placed it on the paper: “You drawing is the same as me drawing.”

Yan Zimi gave Pei Huan a faint glance: “This step isn’t difficult; just look…”

Yan Zimi moved his hand slowly, explaining to Pei Huan step by step.

Gradually, Yan Zimi felt Pei Huan leaning slightly closer to him.

He knew it was unintentional, but he still discreetly leaned back a bit, feeling his heart race little by little.

He tried to focus his thoughts on the painting.

But behind him, Pei Huan’s attention drifted away from the explanations, his gaze unknowingly settling on Yan Zimi’s face.

He wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but he couldn’t pull his gaze away.

He watched Yan Zimi’s lips move as he spoke, the little mole at the tip of his nose, the way his eyes blinked occasionally, and the flutter of his eyelashes as his eyes shifted.

Before long, Yan Zimi finished his explanation and began to focus on the painting.

The studio fell into a peaceful silence, with only the sound of the pencil gliding across the paper breaking the stillness.

The soft sound of pencil strokes filled the air, “shasa shasa.”

Pei Huan’s gaze drifted back to Yan Zimi’s lips.

Yan Zimi’s slightly parted lips seemed to have a hint of color, drawing Pei Huan in closer.

Suddenly, Pei Huan’s mind was flooded with vague thoughts.

“Hmm?”

Yan Zimi tilted his head slightly, interrupting Pei Huan’s reverie with a question.

“Is it really supposed to be this complicated here?”

As Pei Huan watched, Yan Zimi pressed the end of his pencil against his chin and turned to face him.

A gentle breath brushed past as Yan Zimi turned, and Pei Huan suddenly realized just how close they were.

Yet, he didn’t pull away. He found himself captivated, watching Yan Zimi’s nose come within arm’s reach, and he met Yan Zimi’s gaze as he lifted his eyes.

In that moment, the world around them faded, leaving only the electric tension in the air, charged with unspoken words and shared breaths.

He noticed Yan Zimi lightly lick his lower lip.

The vague thoughts in Pei Huan’s mind sharpened.

At that moment, a clear voice asked him: “Have you ever thought about finding someone to kiss?”

The scene in the studio suddenly froze. Yan Zimi remained still, and so did Pei Huan.

They were left with nothing but their most instinctive breaths, filling the air between them with a heavy tension.

It felt as if all it would take was for Pei Huan to lower his head, and he could complete that unspoken desire lingering in the space between them.