WAYCAV Chapter 03

Su Zhiyan returned to his dorm room and opened his textbook out of habit, but after reading just two key points, he couldn’t focus anymore.

He irritably scratched his pen across the page a few times before putting it down and getting up to grab a bottle of cold milk.

Only after the sweet, cool milk had refreshed his body and mind did he feel slightly better.

Earlier at the basketball court, he had been just five or six meters away from Shen Nianjing at the closest. He almost went up to ask if Shen Nianjing had ever had similar dreams, if he knew anything about these dreams, how to get rid of this damn dream…

But now it seemed he was the only one troubled by this.

Was heaven being a bit too unfair to him?

Frustrated, Su Zhiyan pushed aside the book in front of him and opened his computer to log onto a forum. He searched using the keywords “dreams,” “stranger,” and “recurring.”

Hundreds of results popped up.

Apparently many people had similar problems.

Su Zhiyan felt slightly relieved and clicked through them one by one.

Each post was quite long, with the original posters sharing their own little stories, whether dreaming of strangers, deceased relatives, or even small animals.

No one seemed to have a situation similar to his.

Su Zhiyan chewed on his straw, intently browsing a post titled “Dreamed of the Same Stranger Five Times.” The poster often dreamed of a girl – sometimes they would climb mountains together, sometimes go boating, and sometimes they would even barbecue on the balcony at home. Although he didn’t know who the girl was, he was certain it was always the same person.

Su Zhiyan read it with mixed feelings. Why were other people’s dreams so normal while his were so weird?

The thread had been ongoing for a year, with many replies.

[1L[mfn]In Chinese online forums, particularly those structured like bulletin boards, comments are often referred to as “floors” (楼, lóu). Each comment or reply is considered a “floor,” with the first comment being the “1st floor,” the second the “2nd floor,” and so on. This terminology is commonly used in discussions to reference specific comments, as seen in the text where users refer to “1st floor,” “2nd floor,” etc. The original post or thread starter is often referred to as “楼主” (lóu zhǔ), which literally means “building owner” or “floor owner.” This is equivalent to “OP” (Original Poster).[/mfn]: Maybe she was your lover in a past life.]

[5L: OP might be getting into a relationship soon, following!]

[10L: Ahhh so romantic, OP please update!]

The following comments were all about how sweet it was and asking the original poster to update quickly.

Su Zhiyan read this with growing unease.

Were they all this unscientific?

He scrolled down dubiously, his eyes stopping on the original poster’s reply from last year –

[OP (233L): We’re together now /excited]

[OP (234L): It was magical. The moment I saw her while hiking, I knew it was her.]

[OP (236L): More importantly, we have so much to talk about, and our personalities and interests match perfectly.]

The OP’s revelation was like a bolt from the blue, and the thread “exploded.” Looking down, it was filled with comments like “so sweet so sweet so sweet,” “it’s like a novel coming true,” “following for updates,” “wishing you a lifetime of happiness.”

Su Zhiyan: “…”

He almost threw his mouse across the room.

Damn it, sweet my ass, this was straight out of a horror story!

Su Zhiyan’s face darkened. He thought the forum was full of all sorts of nonsense. Forget finding answers, he’d consider it a win if he didn’t get led astray by their ideas.

Finding a partner just because of a dream? Then did his dream mean his sexual orientation had changed too? What did that make him – a 20-year-old educated adult male with independent thinking and solid values?

Su Zhiyan casually tossed the empty milk bottle into the trash, twisted his neck that had grown stiff from looking at the computer, and stretched.

When he opened his eyes and looked back at the screen, his gaze was clear and sharp, carrying a hint of contempt.

He was someone who could maintain his position in the top three of his grade even while taking exams with a fever. How could a mere nightmare hold him back?

They say it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. He refused to believe he couldn’t overcome this stupid dream.

That night, Su Zhiyan got ready for bed early.

“You don’t even have an 8 AM class tomorrow, why are you sleeping so early?” Wen Bei asked without turning away from his game.

“To torture myself,” Su Zhiyan replied calmly, closing his eyes. “If I keep torturing myself, I’ll get used to it.”

“…Shit.” Wen Bei’s right hand jerked in surprise, almost losing his grip on the mouse.

Was this guy even human anymore, treating sleep like torture?

“I’ve got earplugs and an eye mask on, don’t worry about me,” Su Zhiyan said, putting on his eye mask and placing his hands neatly in front of him like a martyr going to his execution.

“…” Wen Bei was speechless.

On the first day, Su Zhiyan woke up thinking it wasn’t so bad. He was slowly getting used to the dreams.

On the second day, he woke up even earlier, feeling somewhat refreshed and proud of his perseverance.

On the third day, Su Zhiyan opened his eyes before dawn, unable to stand the repetitive content of his dreams anymore.

On the fourth day, Su Zhiyan went to bed later than a dog and woke earlier than a rooster.

On the fifth day, Su Zhiyan couldn’t sleep at all.

The faint sound of Wen Bei’s gaming seeped through his earplugs. Su Zhiyan yanked off his eye mask and glared at Wen Bei, who was thoroughly enjoying his weekend gaming session.

“Do you have Shen Nianjing’s WeChat? Can you share it with me?” he asked, his voice somewhat weak.

Su Zhiyan worried that at this rate, he might not even make it to the end of the month before meeting his demise.

The doctor told him to rest well, and he did, but it was useless! He’d be better off studying.

“Huh? Yeah, I have it.” Wen Bei’s fingers moved lightning-fast on his game, too busy to grab his phone. “Wait a bit, I’ll give it to you.”

“Okay.” Su Zhiyan felt relieved, rubbed his eyes, and lay back down to sleep.

That day when he saw Shen Nianjing looking so energetic and full of life, his first thought was that the other definitely wasn’t troubled by nightmares, so he decided to deal with this scientifically inexplicable thing by himself.

But in reality, even someone with the strongest willpower couldn’t control their dreams. Neither reviewing study materials before bed nor exhausting his mind and body during the day could stop the dreams.

So he was very dissatisfied with Shen Nianjing’s bright and energetic state.

Why did he have to suffer this torment?

“Wait, can’t you just ask him yourself tomorrow?”

“?” Su Zhiyan sat up in bed, not understanding Wen Bei’s meaning.

“Shen Nianjing is in our department. He just took a year off and came back this semester.” Wen Bei’s words matched the rapid pace of his gaming, speaking faster and faster. “His schedule is similar to ours, but the classes are different, so we haven’t run into him.”

“But next Monday, we have the same elective lecture.”

Su Zhiyan sat frozen on his bed for a full three minutes before his brain fully processed this information.

Same department? Who? Shen Nianjing?

“…”

Well, well, walking right into his hands.

He had a belly full of frustration to vent. Where should he even begin with the half month of ruined sleep schedule?

Heh. Su Zhiyan’s lips curled into a cold smile.

He got out of bed and took some melatonin, forcing himself into standby mode.

Early Monday morning, Su Zhiyan put on a face mask and stormed out of the dorm room.

Wen Bei opened his eyes and vaguely saw someone in a white T-shirt dash out the door, surrounded by what seemed to be a layer of flames.

Flames?

Wen Bei jolted upright, eyes wide as he scanned the surroundings, only to find everything peaceful with no safety hazards.

Then what was that glow he just saw…

When Su Zhiyan arrived at the classroom, there weren’t many people. He glanced briefly at the scattered few students, but didn’t find his target, so he sat down in his usual spot.

There were still twelve minutes before class started. Could it be that this guy, who was late for basketball practice, would be late for class too?

Students gradually trickled in, then a familiar figure with messy bed-head hair rushed through the door clutching two books. He peered around at the seats like a goose, then jogged over to sit next to Su Zhiyan.

“My god, Xiao Zhiyan, you left way too early,” Wen Bei complained while trying to fix his hair.

“Special situation calls for special treatment.” Su Zhiyan glanced at him. “When’s that friend of yours coming?”

“Shen Nianjing? How would I know? I think he lives off campus.”

Just as he finished speaking, a hurried figure walked through the front door wearing a fresh T-shirt and shorts, looking for a seat.

The lecture hall in this building was a bit small for an elective course, and three classes could fill it to the brim.

Su Zhiyan elbowed Wen Bei, gesturing him to look ahead.

The latter looked up confused, then started waving frantically at Shen Nianjing.

Shen Nianjing’s wandering gaze found its target immediately. He waved back with his right hand and made his way over, weaving between people on the steps.

That familiar figure from every night and that conspicuous mole on his right hand came straight at Su Zhiyan, practically wearing a sign that said “I’m the one ruining your sleep.”

Su Zhiyan only looked away after watching him walk over quickly in a few steps.

“Xiao Zhiyan, move in one seat,” Wen Bei said quietly.

The only empty seat left in their row was on Su Zhiyan’s right, and the easiest solution would be for him to move in one spot.

“No,” Su Zhiyan stared straight at the podium ahead, not sparing a glance. “This is the prime spot. It’s convenient for listening to the lecture.”

Seriously, competing over seats too? Wen Bei was shocked, then turned to make way for Shen Nianjing to pass.

The professor had already entered and was setting up the computer, and the class gradually quieted down.

Su Zhiyan pulled in his legs, only returning to his normal sitting position after Shen Nianjing sat down on his right.

Half the class went by, and he had no idea what the professor was teaching.

The presence of the person on his right was too obvious.

Whether it was his soft breathing or occasional brush of arms, everything constantly reminded him of Shen Nianjing’s presence.

Then his mind was invaded by scenes from the nightmare again, becoming a tangled mess.

Actually, in his dreams he felt nothing beyond fatigue and heat, but he couldn’t help being shocked by the content.

Su Zhiyan had never dated anyone, let alone had intimate contact.

When the dreams first started, he spent two whole days processing their content. Later, after several fruitless hospital visits, he even suspected he was “possessed.” Otherwise, how could he suddenly have such dreams, and why did they jump straight to a relationship he’d never experienced before?

And why did he have to be the bottom?

Although he had gotten used to the dream’s content by now and gradually adapted to the terrible sleep quality, when Shen Nianjing actually appeared in reality, right beside him, that intense sense of dissonance instantly wrapped around his entire body – a hundred times stronger than his initial discomfort from the dreams.

Su Zhiyan pulled his mask up higher, using the motion to secretly glance at the person on his right.

Did this person know he was violating someone in dreams every night?

When class ended, people started filing out. Wen Bei, always the most eager to leave, had already disappeared.

Su Zhiyan remained perfectly still like a pole in flowing water, taking notes.

“Excuse me, may I get through? Thanks.” The person on his right packed up his things and stood, greeting him.

Su Zhiyan slammed down his pen with a “snap” and looked up at him.

Shen Nianjing’s breath hitched.

The person before him wore a white mask, casual bangs covering his forehead, revealing only a pair of clear, bright eyes.

Su Zhiyan’s eyes were light-colored, clear like tea. Because of this, even when he looked at people without emotion, they would feel he was approachable.

“Classmate, mind if we get to know each other?”

Before Shen Nianjing could react, Su Zhiyan had already thrust his QR code forward, his pale, slender fingers gripping the phone, leaving no room for refusal.

“…Sure.” Shen Nianjing nodded.

Su Zhiyan just sat there waiting for him to take out his phone and scan the code, his eyes traveling up to Shen Nianjing’s face.

“What’s your name?” Shen Nianjing met his gaze.

“Su Zhiyan,” he said softly.

“…”

The air froze for a moment and became very quiet.

Su Zhiyan raised an eyebrow. He saw a flash of shock and panic in Shen Nianjing’s eyes, but it disappeared so quickly he thought he might have imagined it.

Shen Nianjing quickly added him as a friend, grabbed his books, and moved to leave.

Su Zhiyan stepped aside to let him pass after achieving his goal, but called out to him again.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, then what’s your name?”

Su Zhiyan stared at him steadily, his bright eyes showing endless patience.

“Shen… Nianjing.”

“Alright, Classmate Shen.”

Su Zhiyan watched as the other person walked out with his head down, thinking how different he was from that confident person from the other day.

Could it be as Wen Bei said, that attending classes drain people’s willpower and torture their minds?

Su Zhiyan lowered his head to accept the friend request, clicking to edit the contact’s nickname.

“Dream Thief.”

After editing the name, he leisurely returned to his dorm room.

That night, Su Zhiyan stared silently for a long time at the message “You have accepted Nian Nian You Jing’s friend request, say hello~” but didn’t send a single word in the end.

Even if he wanted to ask, how should he phrase it?

Going straight in with “Did you sleep with me in a dream?” would make anyone think he was an idiot or mentally ill.

But asking indirectly, he worried the other person might play dumb despite knowing something, leaving them both speaking in riddles.

Lost in thought, Su Zhiyan fell asleep like that, face down on his pillow, his phone screen dark and tilted quietly beside him.

Early the next morning, the alarm went off.

Su Zhiyan reached out from under the covers to swipe at his phone screen, but after failing several times, just as he was about to press the volume button, his finger suddenly froze.

“?” He sat up in bed, eyes wide open.

Last night, he hadn’t dreamed.

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