Lin Yu’s eyes snapped open, and he turned to his left.
Lu Ziqing was lying on his side at the head of the bed, looking down at him.
He was shirtless. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, firm and well-defined chest muscles.
Like a compressed spring, Lin Yu instantly shot upright.
He clutched the blanket to his chest and instinctively backed away. “You… Why are you in my room?”
“Look, if anyone should be covering their chest, I think it’s me,” Lu Ziqing said slowly. “You were grabbing and feeling me first thing in the morning. Why do you look like the victim here?”
Lin Yu: “I was reaching for my phone to check the time…”
“Great excuse,” Lu Ziqing nodded. “But what’s done is done. Even if you don’t want to take responsibility, it’s too late now.”
He lazily sat up and glanced down at the marks on his chest muscles.
His eyes held a hint of appreciation.
Lin Yu’s face burned. “…You still haven’t answered me. How did you get in?”
Lu Ziqing replied, “Your parents went to work, and your sister went to school. When I arrived, I happened to run into them on their way out, and they let me in.”
Lin Yu: “Second question—why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
“Good question,” Lu Ziqing said. “Probably because it was too hot.”
Lin Yu: “…The temperature these days is barely ten degrees.”
“I’m kidding,” Lu Ziqing said. “I was going to make you a bowl of noodles, but your soy sauce bottle was uncooperative. The moment I opened it, it sprayed all over me, so I took off my shirt.”
“I came in to borrow a clean one, but before I could say anything, you suddenly reached out and touched me.”
Lin Yu: “I didn’t do it on purpose… Wait here, I’ll find you something to wear.”
He got up and opened the closet, catching a faint scent of soy sauce in the air. “Go take a shower. I’ll find you some clothes after.”
He spoke without looking back, his movements hurried—partly to distract himself from the awkwardness.
Behind him, Lu Ziqing said, “Are you sure you don’t want to take another look?”
Lin Yu: “?”
Lu Ziqing: “At my chest muscles. I’ve been working on them for months.”
Lin Yu: “…”
After a pause, Lin Yu said, “Exercise is for maintaining health, not for showing off.”
“That’s one way to look at it,” Lu Ziqing agreed. “But in my opinion, a peacock spreads its feathers to attract a mate.”
Lin Yu: “…”
Afraid his flushed face would be noticed, Lin Yu refused to turn around. “…Go take your damn shower.”
Lin Yu had rarely ever sworn in his life. The few times he had, it was always during moments of extreme emotional turmoil.
Behind him, there was a moment of silence.
Then Lu Ziqing chuckled softly.
“You’re so adorable when you curse,” he said in a low voice. “Say a few more for me, I love hearing them.”
….
After showering, Lu Ziqing stepped out of the bathroom, only to have a white shirt tossed at his face.
“My clothes are mostly too small for you, so I found a loose T-shirt I wear to sleep. Just make do,” Lin Yu said. “Once you’re dressed, we’ll head out. I’ll take you to breakfast.”
Lin Yu had returned to his usual serious, unreadable expression, standing by the table as if nothing had happened.
Lu Ziqing smiled but didn’t call him out on it.
Teasing a cat had its limits—push too far, and it might scratch. That wouldn’t be fun.
He put on the shirt without complaint and followed Lin Yu out the door.
Lin Yu led him through a maze of alleys before arriving at a small noodle shop in the neighborhood.
The place was old and worn. Its sign was just a few red plastic letters stuck to the door, most of which had already fallen off, leaving behind faint, unrecognizable traces.
“I’ve been eating here since I was a kid. Back in high school, I’d get up early, and if my parents weren’t awake yet, I’d come downstairs, have a bowl of fish soup noodles, and then head to school,” Lin Yu said, taking a seat in the corner. “What do you want?”
Lu Ziqing glanced around.
The shop was narrow, with outdated decor. The walls were stained from years of cooking fumes. The deep-red wooden tables were greasy, reflecting light in a way that suggested they could never be completely wiped clean.
But the rich aroma of fish soup filled the air, and steaming baskets of dumplings were carried out from the kitchen, with white mist lingering in the air.
“The environment isn’t great, but the noodles taste good,” Lin Yu sat calmly at the table, his expression relaxed and open. “Of course, if you think it’s too dirty, I can take you to the fast-food chain in the county center. There’s a KFC there. A decade ago, it was the most high-end restaurant in our county.”
How could Lu Ziqing not understand what he meant?
He pulled out a chair and sat down boldly across from Lin Yu. “I’ll have a bowl of fish soup noodles too, along with a basket of soup dumplings and a bowl of soy milk.”
Lin Yu was silent for a moment. “To be honest, it might not taste that good.”
“Well, whether it’s a mule or a horse, you have to take it out for a walk to know,” Lu Ziqing smiled. “And whether it’s fine wine or poison, you can only tell by tasting it yourself.”
Lin Yu: “…Suit yourself.”
Lu Ziqing pulled out two pairs of chopsticks from the container and handed one to Lin Yu. “But if I do get poisoned, make sure to rush me to the hospital. I haven’t even kissed the person I like yet—I’d die with regrets.”
A faint blush crept up Lin Yu’s face again.
He pretended not to hear and turned his head away.
After a moment, he scoffed lightly. “…Might as well let you die, a service to the public.”
…
After finishing their meal, they stepped out of the steamy noodle shop.
Sweat beaded on their foreheads, and the rich scent of sesame oil lingered on their clothes.
“Didn’t die. That’s a relief,” Lu Ziqing whistled. “Where to next?”
“Up to you,” Lin Yu said. “I came back just to relax, so anywhere is fine.”
Lu Ziqing: “Where do tourists usually go?”
Lin Yu thought for a moment. “Historical residences, museums, old-style streets.”
L County was a remote little town with no major tourist attractions or scenic spots, so visitors were rare.
The local tourism board had racked their brains to create a few faux-antique streets, but they lacked distinct features—lined with the same grilled squid, stinky tofu, rice cakes, and fried potatoes found everywhere else.
“Sounds boring,” Lu Ziqing said. “I’d rather visit your high school.”
Lin Yu was taken aback. “My high school?”
“Last night at dinner, your dad said you were quite the legend in school—famous top student, student council president, even won first place in a math competition.”
Lin Yu choked slightly. “…It wasn’t that impressive, just some minor competitions.”
His parents had never been shy about praising him.
His mother was a bit more restrained, but his father was completely unfiltered—every time his grades came out, he’d go around bragging to the neighbors.
“So humble,” Lu Ziqing said. “Give me a chance to witness Director Lin’s youthful glory.”
Lin Yu: “Even if you want to go, it’s Tuesday. Schools don’t let outsiders in on weekdays.”
Lu Ziqing: “L County No. 1 High School is celebrating its 60th anniversary this week. It’s an open-house week. Didn’t you know?”
Lin Yu: “…How do you know that?”
Lu Ziqing waved his phone. “Your school’s official account posted about it. I saw it while browsing old posts last night.”
Lin Yu: “…Don’t you have anything better to do?”
He hadn’t expected Lu Ziqing to be so free—staying up late at night scrolling through his old school’s social media.
Lu Ziqing muttered under his breath, “I do, but I can’t do it right now…”
Lin Yu didn’t catch that. “What did you say?”
“Nothing,” Lu Ziqing said casually. “Let’s go. Your school is just two kilometers away on Huimin Road. A taxi will get us there in ten minutes.”
