PID Extra 1

When the system left, it had said that it would return to Xiao Mo if it had time. One day it came back and gave Xiao Mo an interesting item.

 

A small square box, called the Phantom Device, containing miniature reflections of many worlds the system had visited. When Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan placed their spiritual consciousness inside, they could experience the scenery of these worlds.

 

However, this was just one of the magical device’s functions.

 

The miniatures were world illusions where the spiritual consciousness placed inside could assume any identity, experience the world’s stories, and even temporarily seal off the memory of that strand of spiritual consciousness for a more immersive experience.

 

Xiao Mo immediately chose a modern world, and split a strand of spiritual consciousness with Chu Jinglan. They entered the world as ordinary tourists, allowing Chu Jinglan to experience scenery he had seen before. Then, they tried splitting their spiritual consciousness, it was an immersive experience.

 

The Phantom Device belongs to a consciousness space that doesn’t affect external time. For fun, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan sealed the memories of their spiritual consciousness.

 

Inside the Phantom Device, in a modern world, at University A, in student dormitory room 502 of Yuehu Building 1–

 

Xiao Mo pushed open the dormitory door with breakfast in hand. His starving roommates, Old Huang and Old Lao jumped up: “Thanks, Brother Xiao, for saving my dog life!”

 

In the dormitory, age doesn’t matter; whoever brings food is considered a brother. The other roommates didn’t have class for the first period this morning. After delivering the food, Xiao Mo grabbed his books and was about to head to class.

 

Old Huang and Old Lao divided the breakfast. Xiao Mo put down another bag: “When Chu Jinglan comes back from his morning run, tell him the food was brought by Old Huang.”

 

Old Huang had just opened his breakfast box and said in confusion: “Why?”

 

Xiao Mo coughed lightly: “We’re having an argument.”

 

Old Lao felt a steamed bun stuck in his throat, neither going up nor down. He took a big gulp of soy milk. Old Huang stared blankly and nodded hesitantly: “Oh……”

 

Facing their gazes, Xiao Mo also felt a bit awkward, but maintained his composure: “I’m leaving. Enjoy your meal.”

 

After he left with his books and closed the door, Old Huang and Old Lao exchanged glances. Old Lao munched on his meat bun and sighed: “Have you ever seen anyone argue like that?”

 

Old Huang started eating his porridge: “Never.”

 

Old Lao patted Old Huang’s shoulder: “If we argued, we’d definitely be like father and son strangling each other. Unlike those two, arguing like a sticky couple.”

 

“We don’t argue, and we’re still like father and son strangling each other,” Old Huang pointed out precisely. “Those two don’t argue, and they’re still like a couple.”

 

Old Lao chewed on the food Brother Xiao brought and said: “I heard they had a good relationship back in high school.”

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan graduated from the same high school and class, which their roommates knew. Although they hadn’t participated in the high school life of the two, they could still guess something about the relationship between them from its shadows.

 

“I’m not homophobic. If they announced they were a couple someday, I wouldn’t be surprised at all,” Old Huang declared first.

 

Old Lao said: “I’m more surprised that they aren’t together yet.”

 

Just as they were talking, the dormitory door opened. Chu Jinglan returned from his morning run, wearing sportswear, clean and refreshed. Old Huang gestured, “Come and have breakfast.”

 

After drinking water and wiping his face, Chu Jinglan opened the bag: fish slice porridge with fresh green onions; cold appetizers with crisp, tasty vegetables; and a box of shumai dumplings.

 

Chu Jinglan picked at the shumai skin with chopsticks, revealing shrimp inside.

 

All were things he loved to eat, perfectly matching his taste.

 

Chu Jinglan was silent for a moment before asking: “…What did Xiao Mo say?”

 

The side dishes were selected so meticulously that it could only have been Xiao Mo, who knew his preferences like the back of his hand.

 

Old Huang thought to himself, Xiao Mo, don’t blame brother for not keeping his mouth shut, but Chu Jinglan could immediately guess who brought the breakfast.

 

Old Huang told him plainly: “He said you two were arguing, and not to tell you that he bought the breakfast.”

 

Old Lao had already finished his portion: “What are you two arguing about? Do you need our advice?”

 

Chu Jinglan shook his head: “Nothing.”

 

Old Huang and Old Lao exchanged meaningful glances but didn’t say anything. Judging by the way they acted, the issue probably wasn’t serious.

 

Xiao Mo had the first class, so for the next two classes that everyone attended together, he saved seats. When Chu Jinglan arrived, he naturally sat down in the empty seat beside Xiao Mo.

 

There was a soft tap on the desk, and a bottle of soda water was placed on the surface.

 

Xiao Mo watched as that bottle was pushed toward him by a slender, good-looking hand. Following the hand, he saw Chu Jinglan’s handsome face.

 

Xiao Mo placed his finger on the bottle cap and shook the bottle: “For me?”

 

Chu Jinglan: “Mm-hmm.”

 

Xiao Mo twisted the cap and took a sip. Both of their expressions remained unchanged, as if it were just an ordinary conversation. Sitting on Xiao Mo’s other side, Old Lao nudged him with his elbow and teased: “Not arguing anymore?”

 

Xiao Mo spread out his book nonchalantly: “Class is about to start. Let’s listen.”

 

Old Huang and Old Lao both giggled.

 

There was no tense atmosphere between Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, but throughout the day, they didn’t have much warm interaction either, leaving their other two roommates confused: had they made up or not?

 

After finishing all the day’s classes and having dinner, as darkness fell, Old Huang and Old Lao started up their computer games. Xiao Mo picked up a basketball from the corner, held it in his palm, and nodded at Chu Jinglan: “Coming?”

 

Chu Jinglan put down his phone: “Coming.”

 

The basketball court wasn’t too crowded or too empty. There was space available, and Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan only used half the court for a 1v1 game. As they played, spectators gradually gathered around the court.

 

Two handsome guys together are already a feast for the eyes, not to mention two handsome guys with excellent basketball skills, attractive to both men and women, making them impossible to resist.

 

Smooth dribbling, beautiful three-pointers, powerful dunks and blocks, especially the intense, evenly matched competition between the two, made spectators hold their breath, afraid to blink.

 

The collision of strong players inevitably creates sparks. The basketball bounced loudly on the ground, like rapidly pounding heartbeats. Xiao Mo retreated and leaped, flicking his wrist to send the ball in a beautiful arc through the hoop. Upon landing, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but clench his fist in excitement, raising his eyebrows at Chu Jinglan, showing a satisfied smile.

 

Though it was pride, his smile was especially attractive and moving. His features burned more brilliantly than the distant glow of sunset. Sweat droplets slid down his cheeks. The maturing youth seemed concentrated in that falling drop of water, landing right in someone’s heart.

 

Chu Jinglan’s eyes lit up with a fighting spirit and a deep flame he wasn’t even aware of, as he dribbled the basketball: “Let’s go.”

 

Though they were playing basketball, they only saw each other in their eyes. The sounds of people around seemed distant, unable to penetrate their perfectly coordinated competitive world.

 

The conversations of spectators varied around them.

 

“They’re so handsome, but dating either of them might be exhausting? They both seem like they never back down.”

 

“Not necessarily. A basketball game doesn’t show everything, and I find their competitive spirit interesting. Different strokes for different folks.”

 

“I know, I know! They’re quite famous!”

 

“Give me one minute, I want all their information!”

 

Until nightfall, when streetlights came on and people came and went, the noise went from bustling to gradually quiet. The sound of the basketball became more pronounced in the quiet atmosphere. After the last shot went in, Xiao Mo, panting, asked: “Do you remember how many baskets we each made?”

 

Chu Jinglan caught the ball as it bounced off the ground, shaking his head: “I forgot from the beginning.”

 

Xiao Mo laughed: “I forgot too.”

 

Both had good memories, and keeping score wouldn’t have been difficult. Today wasn’t about winning or losing, but about who they were playing with.

 

The two went to the sidelines to drink water, wiped their sweat with towels, packed up their things, and headed home. Xiao Mo carried the ball in a mesh bag, and Chu Jinglan wore a shoulder bag containing both of their belongings.

 

They took a slight detour, choosing a less crowded path, walking on a stone-paved path. Under the streetlights, flowers slept quietly, beautiful in their own way. Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan walked on opposite sides of the path. As they walked, Xiao Mo suddenly took the ball from the mesh bag and gently tossed it to Chu Jinglan on the other side.

 

Chu Jinglan easily caught the ball, his reaction clearly showing that he had been watching Xiao Mo from the corner of his eye.

 

He bounced the ball in his hand a few times, then threw it back to Xiao Mo: “Not angry anymore?”

 

“I stopped being angry long ago, I was just thinking.” Xiao Mo caught the ball and threw it back to Chu Jinglan, “What about you?”

 

Chu Jinglan: “I was thinking too.”

 

The ball returned to Xiao Mo’s hands: “What were you thinking about?”

 

“It’s not your fault,” Chu Jinglan said, “nor is it mine.”

 

“You’re right, we really don’t need to waste time dwelling on it.”

 

Xiao Mo tucked the ball under his arm, stepped across the stone path to Chu Jinglan’s side, and looked straight into his eyes: “After this little argument, I found that I like you even more. What should I do?”

 

The streetlight shone on their faces, their shadows intertwining on the ground. Chu Jinglan lowered his gaze, seeing the light in Xiao Mo’s eyes, and in the glow, he bent down and kissed Xiao Mo.

 

There was no one around, just the night breeze blowing. It was just a brief, fleeting kiss, but it made both their hearts pound incessantly, thunder roaring in their ears. Xiao Mo felt his face and heart burning hot.

 

When they first met in high school, neither of them probably imagined that they would develop a romantic relationship in the future.

 

Chu Jinglan was a transfer student with terrible family relationships, while Xiao Mo stayed in a welfare institute, his growing environment even more special.

 

They started talking because of a problem, and gradually became study partners. Both were very hardworking, experiencing for the first time the joy of studying hard together, practicing problems, solving questions, which was truly enjoyable.

 

Later, they began to share little things bit by bit, still guarding a line, encircling their own territory, not letting outsiders casually intrude. If there was a subtle change in their relationship, it was probably during a holiday.

 

With people coming and going all around, two individuals who didn’t fit in the hustle and bustle and had nowhere to go accidentally met on the street.

 

Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo looked at each other, both slightly startled, and then sensed in each other the same air of alienation.

 

It was Xiao Mo who first laughed softly, pointing to a shop by the road: “Want some milk tea? My treat.”

 

After that, the line they had been guarding loosened.

 

Chu Jinglan: “I’ll treat you.”

 

After that, their worlds began to converge and merge, setting no boundaries or defenses against each other. The two naturally came together, cuddling each other for warmth.

 

When their fingers accidentally touched, it was already unclear who flinched slightly, and who cautiously yet boldly, slowly reached over until they hooked the other’s finger, holding the entire hand in their palm.

 

Neither of them hid, neither of them ran away. In their most innocent moment, they naturally understood what it meant to like someone.

 

They were admitted to the same university, incorporated each other into their life plans, and regardless of how the secular world viewed them, they had already decided to spend their lives together.

 

Actions are the best sweet nothings.

 

Xiao Mo pulled down Chu Jinglan’s shoulder bag, put it on himself, then jumped onto Chu Jinglan’s back. Chu Jinglan smoothly hooked his arms under Xiao Mo’s knees, holding him steadily.

 

“Let’s find a time to tell Old Huang and Old Lao,” Xiao Mo said. “If they can’t accept it, we’ll move out. I’ve earned quite a bit from my part-time jobs and have been saving up, more than enough to rent a place.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s voice was also relaxed: “Use my card, the Chu family’s money, might as well use it.”

 

Chu Jinglan carried Xiao Mo on his back through a section of the path. At the intersection, Xiao Mo signaled to be put down. Streetlights lit their way forward, and Xiao Mo squeezed Chu Jinglan’s fingers: “We still have a long road ahead, we need to keep walking together.”

 

“Of course.” Chu Jinglan said, “I won’t leave you halfway.” With seriousness: “You can’t abandon me halfway either.”

 

The words were neither light nor heavy, but the possessiveness behind them made Xiao Mo’s heart flutter, not out of fear, but excitement.

 

The way Chu Jinglan’s gaze encircled his entire being at this moment was simply irresistible.

 

Xiao Mo looked around to confirm no one was there, then quickly kissed Chu Jinglan’s lips: “Whoever breaks their word is a puppy.”

 

“It’s a deal.”

 

The two pieces of spiritual consciousness with sealed memories spent a wonderful time in the modern world. When the consciousness returned, Chu Jinglan raised his hand to encircle Xiao Mo: “You once left me halfway.”

 

That Chu Jinglan could now use such a casual tone to speak of the once heart-wrenching fact was because the present Xiao Mo had made him feel extremely secure. The nightmare had passed, and he would never be alone again.

 

Xiao Mo moved to his ear and whispered, biting the words: “Then punish me, Immortal Lord.”

 

Chu Jinglan’s eyes darkened as he caught Xiao Mo’s hand and gently pushed him down. Xiao Mo followed the motion and lay down gently, smiling at Chu Jinglan without fear, only anticipation.

 

“Have you decided how to punish me?”

 

Chu Jinglan kneaded his fingertips, sliding down his wrist. In no time, layers of fine silken clothes fell away, blossoming like flowers.

 

Atop the ‘flowers’, the two embraced tightly.

 

“I’ll punish you by not allowing you to leave me for a lifetime.”

 

“But that’s a reward.”

 

“Then… I’ll punish you by not letting you sleep tonight.”

 

Xiao Mo smiled and wrapped his arms around him, thinking: Fine, it seems I won’t be able to sleep tonight, but isn’t that just perfect?

 

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