Yan Zimi took a shortcut back to his apartment.

After exiting the alley, his heart finally stopped racing as much, but the sunlight was still beating down on him, making him feel a bit hot.

After a few more steps, he remembered that he had a bottle of water in his hand.

He quickly opened it and drank about half of it.

His phone vibrated slightly—Xiao Gang had sent him a message.

“Lin Sheng said to remember to hand in the registration form for Sunday night’s class meeting.”

“Seriously, couldn’t they just announce it in the group chat? Keeping everyone back for something so trivial, no wonder no one likes him.”

Yan Zimi replied, “Thanks, got it.”

Xiao Gang was Yan Zimi’s former roommate.

Why “former roommate”? Because when Yan Zimi first arrived last year, he stayed in the dormitory, but he moved out after just a month. Now, he rents a studio apartment off-campus by himself.

In fact, Lin Sheng was also one of his former roommates.

Thinking of this, Yan Zimi couldn’t help but feel a wave of nausea.

Their former four-person dorm also included a senior from the same major.

According to Xiao Gang, Lin Sheng was later kicked out by that senior, and someone from another major moved in.

As for Yan Zimi’s bed, it remained empty. For one thing, the dorm fees he paid were never refunded, and for another, both the senior and Xiao Gang hoped Yan Zimi would come back.

So his bed remained clean, with no one placing any clutter on it.

Back at his apartment, Yan Zimi tossed his bag aside, ordered some takeout, and began working on the drawing he needed for the next day.

However, as he started to draw, the tip of his pen hesitated on the paper.

“Do we know each other?”

A voice suddenly echoed in his ears.

The cold sensation on his arm seemed to return once more.

Yan Zimi started feeling a bit hot again.

Stop thinking about it.

Focus on the drawing.

What Yan Zimi didn’t know was that, elsewhere, his name was frequently being mentioned by another guy.

“Yeah, that Yan Zimi—apparently, he won first place in some competition and got featured in some section of Lancun. When he first arrived at the school, the scene of him getting picked up was absolutely over the top.”

“The moment he got out of his dad’s car was passed around in so many versions, each more exaggerated than the last—it’s just ridiculous.”

Zhao Di asked, “You haven’t heard anything about it?”

Pei Huan, looking indifferent, glanced at his phone and might not have even been listening: “Nope.”

Zhao Di: “…”

The math department and the art academy have little in common, with hardly any overlap between them, but Zhao Di has an insatiable appetite for gossip. He knows almost everything happening on and off-campus, no matter how big or small.

However, anything that comes out of his mouth is usually exaggerated tenfold. So, people rarely take the rumors he spreads in the dorm seriously.

After gossiping a bit more about Yan Zimi and noticing that Pei Huan wasn’t responding, Zhao Di stopped talking.

Pei Huan was never interested in stories about handsome guys.

Then Zhao Di switched topics to how great today’s game was, suggesting that Pei Huan should show the arrogant chemistry students a thing or two for their provocations.

It wasn’t long before the two reached their dorm room. As they opened the door, they saw three people sitting in a row, each engrossed in their phones.

“He’s such a flirt. Don’t be fooled by his cold, aloof demeanor; he ignores everyone, but who knows what kind of shady things he’s up to outside?”

“On the bed, he’s wild as hell. Anyone would be shocked watching him.”

As the guy in the green shirt finished speaking, a synchronized chorus of “defeat” sounded from the game on their phones.

The roommates sighed in relief and finally noticed Pei Huan.

“Oh, you guys are back.”

Pei Huan and Zhao Di each put a bag of food on the table.

Lin Chang put away his phone and immediately came over. “Hey, is there something for me?”

Pei Huan: “No.”

Lin Chang didn’t seem to mind. “No worries, I can just have a bit of yours.”

Pei Huan replied impatiently, “I said no. Don’t you understand?”

Lin Chang swallowed hard, then Pei Huan added, “We’re going to eat now.”

Under normal circumstances, this would be a casual statement, but here, it was clearly a sign for them to leave.

No one dared to make another sound, and Lin Chang awkwardly stood up.

Pei Huan continued, “Don’t talk about others behind their backs in my dorm room again.”

Lin Chang replied, “Oh.”

After the door closed, Zhao Di complained, “Why is he here again?”

The roommate who had just finished the game sounded frustrated. “Who knows? He came in as soon as the door was open, kept pestering us to play, and he’s terrible at it.”

Another roommate chimed in, “We only won one game all afternoon because of him. It’s so annoying.”

“Yeah, really annoying. Can’t we just kick him out?”

“How could we? You all know how hard it is to get rid of him.”

“He’s only afraid of Pei Huan.”

“Always talking too much and making noise.”

“Forget it, let’s eat. We can make up the lost ranks tonight when we play with Pei Huan again.”

Pei Huan chuckled, “Do you think I have that much free time?”

The two of them chimed in together, “Our brother Huan is the best.”

The four of them unpacked the food and divided it up. Once they sat down, Zhao Di asked, “Who was Lin Chang talking about? Something about being wild?”

Yu Nan replied, “He was talking about Yan Zimi.”

“Snap.”

Pei Huan, who was opening a pair of disposable chopsticks, also looked up slightly.

“It’s definitely about his younger brother getting into something with Yan Zimi again,” Zhao Di scoffed. “Always stirring up trouble about other people.”

Xiao Dong agreed, “Yeah, he’s always talking about these shady things, and no one even believes him.”

Hearing Yan Zimi’s name, Zhao Di said, “Speaking of Yan Zimi, today Huan and I ran into him at the convenience store.”

Both of their roommates immediately turned to Pei Huan and asked in unison, “Is he handsome?”

Zhao Di laughed at their expressions, “Brother Huan said, ‘He’s just okay.'”

Yu Nan: “…”

Xiao Dong: “…”

Pei Huan is just Pei Huan.

Our brother Huan is such a straight guy.

In the eyes of these three roommates—or rather, in the eyes of many—no one could be cooler than Pei Huan.

Even though he was actually the youngest in the dorm, everyone liked to call him “brother.”

At first, they were all captivated by his looks. As they got to know him, they found out he was not only highly capable but also had excellent grades. He was laid-back and didn’t like to meddle in others’ affairs, yet he was decisive and carried himself with a cool confidence.

The best part? With him on any group project, they never had to worry.

He was tough, and not much of a talker. After living together for two years, they hadn’t found a single flaw in him—what’s not to love?

Of course, in their eyes, there was no one straighter than Pei Huan.

He wasn’t the kind of guy who needed to explain, “I’m a straight man.” He was the kind of guy who, at first glance, seemed like a straight man, and the more you got to know him, the more you realized just how straight he was.

There was no need for further explanation—he had the pure mindset of a science student, with the straightforward thinking that came with it.

Besides, something like that had happened before.

Everyone in the dorm went back to doing their own thing. But after just a few minutes of eating, Zhao Di’s curiosity got the better of him again. “By the way, Pei Huan, didn’t you talk to Yan Zimi at the store? What did you guys talk about?”

Pei Huan unscrewed the cap of the water he brought back. “Nothing much.”

…

The noon sun was less intense the next day.

Yan Zimi took his painting to the booth, where everything was mostly set up.

When the people at the booth saw him coming, one of the senior students immediately smiled. “You finally made it!”

The senior quickly placed Yan Zimi’s painting right in the center and told him, “Thank you so much. Don’t run away, okay?”

Yan Zimi replied, “I won’t.”

With that, he just stood by the side.

Today was the promotion for their event called “Discover the Artistic Cells Around You,” which aimed to show that art has no boundaries and encouraged everyone to participate enthusiastically.

This event wasn’t really related to Yan Zimi. It was just that the senior who had helped him during his freshman year needed a favor, and today, he was repaying it.

So Yan Zimi’s task was very simple.

Just stand there.

Their booth was set up at the busiest entrance of the cafeteria, and with Yan Zimi standing there, more people began to inquire.

But Yan Zimi…

How should I put this…

The senior watched him talking with his head down and couldn’t help but shake her head and click her tongue.

Although he answered every question succinctly and politely, his expressionless face gave off the impression that he was thinking, “Isn’t everything clearly written right here on the paper?”

She noticed that several girls who came to ask questions were extremely cautious, afraid of saying too much.

After another girl left with a flyer, the senior couldn’t hold back any longer.

Since she had finished her tasks, she walked over.

“Zimi.”

Yan Zimi turned his head.

The senior put on a smile and asked, “Can you smile a little?”

Yan Zimi responded, “Why?”

The senior said, “… Never mind, just keep standing there.”

It was probably for the best.

Even with his lack of expression, many people still came to ask questions.

However, at one point, someone actually asked for Yan Zimi’s WeChat.

Yan Zimi had no intention of giving it out, so the senior took over that task.

Eventually, the senior decided to just stand next to Yan Zimi.

“You can just be the decoration; I’ll handle the rest.”

When Pei Huan came out of the cafeteria and saw Yan Zimi, he had already been standing there for over an hour.

Under the large umbrella, the booth was bustling with activity, surrounded by both men and women, but Pei Huan spotted him at once.

Dressed in a white jacket, black pants, and a pair of white shoes, it seemed like Yan Zimi had his own little area. No matter how much noise or conversation was going on around him, he stood there by himself, staring into space…

He looked like a lifeless, human-shaped standee.

As Pei Huan slowed his pace, his three roommates also glanced over.

Zhao Di was the first to get excited. “Hey, it’s Yan Zimi! Let’s go check it out.”

The four of them headed over.

As a group of people left with flyers, they naturally moved into place.

Perfectly, Pei Huan ended up right beside Yan Zimi.

“Mm?”

When Pei Huan suddenly appeared, Yan Zimi was clearly startled.

Hearing the sound, Pei Huan echoed, “Mm?”

Yan Zimi, who was already a bit strange, turned red even before he said anything.

The redness started from his ears and, Pei Huan watched, spread to his cheeks.

He himself gave a small, involuntary smile and looked down to pick up a flyer. “What’s this about?”

Yan Zimi, who had originally been facing the street, turned slightly to face Pei Huan. “It’s an event from our department.”

Pei Huan asked, “What kind of event?”

The senior standing nearby was about to explain, but Yan Zimi spoke up first.

“It’s an event for non-art majors,” Yan Zimi said as he also held up a flyer. “Besides the professionals, there are many people with strong painting skills, so they organized this to encourage everyone to participate.” Yan Zimi thought for a moment and added, “It’s basically a small competition.”

Pei Huan nodded.

As Yan Zimi was explaining, Pei Huan finished looking at the flyer.

But unfortunately, he said, “I can’t draw.”

Yan Zimi shook his head. “That’s okay.”

Pei Huan glanced at the paintings behind them and asked Yan Zimi, “Which one is yours?”

Yan Zimi replied, “The largest one.”

Pei Huan nodded. “In the center.”

Yan Zimi didn’t quite understand what Pei Huan meant by that. His heart seemed to race again, and he suddenly coughed.

He didn’t manage to stop the cough properly, and the wind seemed to irritate his throat. He covered his mouth, turned away, and coughed a few more times.

“Are you catching a cold?” Pei Huan asked as he turned back to Yan Zimi.

Yan Zimi thought for a moment before responding, “Mm.”

Pei Huan said, “Drinking cold water while you have a cold.”

Yan Zimi blinked and paused for a moment before replying, “Sorry.”

Pei Huan, with a hint of a smile, asked, “Are you apologizing to me?”

Yan Zimi answered, “Mm.”

Pei Huan said, “You should apologize to yourself.”

Yan Zimi’s face visibly reddened, though the overcast sky might have made it less noticeable to others.

Pei Huan then asked, “Why did you buy me water yesterday?”

Yan Zimi seemed a bit uncomfortable and looked down at the flyer.

He finally said, “It’s about doing a good deed.”

Pei Huan smiled again and asked, “What?”

Yan Zimi smiled as well.

It was somewhat amusing.

He shook his head and said, “It’s nothing.”

It was then that Pei Huan noticed the small mole on the tip of Yan Zimi’s nose, which only became visible when he smiled.

Perhaps it was a quirk of an art student, but Pei Huan didn’t dwell on it.

He nodded, put down the flyer, and prepared to leave.

But after turning away, he paused and looked back.

Yan Zimi asked, “What’s up?”

Pei Huan pulled out his phone, quickly operated it, and brought up his WeChat QR code.

He held the phone out to Yan Zimi and asked, “Is it convenient for you?”

Yan Zimi took out his phone from his pocket and said, “Convenient.”

“Beep.”

The soft sound echoed in the small space around them.

Yan Zimi put his phone away and said, “All done.”

Pei Huan also put his phone away and replied, “Thank you.”

Yan Zimi responded, “You’re welcome.”