WAYCAV Chapter 29

Shen Nianjing opened the door and stepped inside, closing it gently behind him.

Su Zhiyan’s room was neat and tidy. By the window, there was a large desk with middle school textbooks and some books for leisure reading. A stack of specialized books sat nearby, and several plump little succulents lined the windowsill, looking fresh and adorable.

Shen Nianjing let out a soft breath and calmed himself down.

This was his first time entering Su Zhiyan’s personal space.

Growing up, he had been invited to many friends’ homes and could even stay overnight in their rooms doing homework or playing games. Maybe it was because teenage thoughts were simpler back then, but he didn’t feel even half the nervousness he felt now.

This feeling of intruding someone else’s private space felt entirely unfamiliar to him.

Just now, he didn’t even dare to look around Su Zhiyan’s room too much. A person’s bedroom held too many traces of their growth, their hobbies, their habits, their most ordinary daily life.

Maybe Su Zhiyan didn’t think it was a big deal, but Shen Nianjing’s heart kept racing and couldn’t settle down.

“…What are you doing?” Su Zhiyan curled up under the covers with his eyes half-closed.

Shen Nianjing pressed his lips together, adjusted his breathing, and tried to slow his pounding heart.

Su Zhiyan lay on his side against the soft pillow, exposing half his face.

Maybe because of the fever, the corners of his eyes were very red, which was especially noticeable against his pale skin. His bangs swept softly across his face, making him seem much less distant than usual.

Shen Nianjing suddenly remembered that day when Su Zhiyan video called him. Su Zhiyan’s eyes had been red too, looking like someone had just scolded him. It was quite pitiful.

But Su Zhiyan would never be the one getting scolded, he was always the one doing the scolding.

Shen Nianjing sat cross-legged on the floor, twisted his body to face Su Zhiyan directly. They were only half a meter apart.

Su Zhiyan slowly opened his eyes and blinked lightly.

“If you have something to say, say it quickly,” he said.

Maybe because he was sick, his tone was much softer than usual. With half his face buried in the pillow, he looked like a little cat.

Shen Nianjing looked at him and unconsciously lowered his voice. “Okay, here goes.” He leaned forward slightly, uneasy. “Don’t interrupt me. And no mocking or sarcasm.”

“Mhm.” Su Zhiyan’s eyelids drooped.

Shen Nianjing’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I’m sorry,” he began.

Su Zhiyan’s lashes fluttered slightly.

“About that TV drama, I lied to you.” Shen Nianjing’s hands opened and closed, finally resting lightly on the edge of the bed. “I made it up, and everything after was just more lies to cover the first one.”

“I know you really want to know the reason.”

“But I’m really sorry, I can’t tell you right now.”

“I know you’re angry because I deceived you. That shows no respect for you and doesn’t value our friendship.”

He paused, giving a small laugh. “For this, I really need to apologize properly.”

“Until recently, I didn’t really consider you a true friend.” He stopped smiling and faced Su Zhiyan with a serious expression. “I won’t do that anymore.”

“I knew this was your home since the first day of my tutoring on the holiday, but I didn’t know how to tell you. And back then I still hadn’t considered you my…” Shen Nianjing’s heart tightened with nervousness, “friend. Having you find out passively before I explained must have made you angrier.” He lowered his head, not having the courage to keep looking at Su Zhiyan.

Su Zhiyan turned his face and opened his eyes to look at the dejected Shen Nianjing.

He looked like a deflated golden retriever. Su Zhiyan’s lips curved up.

To be honest, he hadn’t expected Shen Nianjing to come apologize to him.

When he first got home, his mind was still foggy. Although he wasn’t very clear-headed now either, at least he knew who was in front of him and what he said.

Back then he had his head down, and when he suddenly heard Shen Nianjing’s voice, for a moment he thought he was still at school or still in the hospital emergency room, and that Shen Nianjing had come with him to see the doctor.

Was it because habits were hard to change?

He actually wanted Shen Nianjing to accompany him even when seeing a doctor.

But when he walked out of the hospital, he really felt regretful. He regretted having a one-sided fight with Shen Nianjing the day before. At least if he had not asked about that plot, he could have called Shen Nianjing to come along. Shen Nianjing would probably make excuses, but in the end he would have agreed.

That way he could not only sleep well at night, but also chat with him about whether they had any ideas for the upcoming project competition.

Was it because being sick made him more emotionally sensitive than usual?

Su Zhiyan listened to Shen Nianjing’s explanations one after another, as if he wanted to clear up all the previous misunderstandings.

To lay bare all his thoughts.

“So I really didn’t mean to lie to you. I have reasons I can’t share.” Shen Nianjing looked up at Su Zhiyan again.

Su Zhiyan was also looking at him.

His light-colored eyes held a hint of amusement.

“…” He suddenly forgot what he wanted to say.

The two looked into each other’s eyes. Shen Nianjing’s breath hitched before he abruptly looked away.

He suddenly felt the room was a bit hot. Had they already started the heating in mid-October?

“Later… when the time is right, I’ll… I’ll definitely tell you.” He stammered through the last sentence.

Like the closing words of a speech, though not formal at all.

Su Zhiyan turned his face away, his voice muffled. “Who wants to hear your reasons.”

“Go away, I need to rest.”

His ears were a bit red, probably from the heat too.

Shen Nianjing quietly looked at his ear tips and couldn’t help reaching out to touch them.

Su Zhiyan startled, pulling the covers up defensively as he glanced over.

“Mm, your fever still hasn’t gone down.” Shen Nianjing suddenly pulled his hand back and lightly rubbed his fingertips.

“I’ll go now, get some rest.” He tried to stand up, but with a thud he grabbed the headboard and almost fell back to the floor.

“!”

Su Zhiyan rolled over to look at him, almost thinking he broke the bed.

“My leg fell asleep…” Shen Nianjing scrunched up his face and pounded his leg hard, trying to make it recover quickly.

“…” Su Zhiyan buried his face in the covers and started laughing.

Seeing him laugh, Shen Nianjing’s eyes also showed some amusement. After stomping his feet to adjust, he put his hand on the door handle. “I’m really leaving now.”

Su Zhiyan nodded. “Hurry up.”

Shen Nianjing stared unblinking at that half-visible, round head peeking from the blankets.

“Good night, Su Zhiyan.”

He said softly and gently closed the door.

–

“Didn’t your fever break ages ago? Why do you still look so pale?” Shen Nianjing picked up a piece of meat from the plate and put it in Su Zhiyan’s bowl.

Beside them, Wen Bei silently glanced over, then silently looked away.

Su Zhiyan had just gotten a haircut, revealing his gentle features completely. He looked fresher and more energetic than before, but his slightly pale complexion still couldn’t hide his sickly appearance.

Hearing Shen Nianjing ask this, he thought for a moment and said, “Probably from sleeping too much.”

Since school started in September, his body had been in a sub-healthy state due to lack of sleep and rest. Later, during competition training, he often pulled all-nighters and skipped meals, making him even weaker. That’s why he caught a fever as soon as the temperature dropped. Fortunately, it wasn’t serious.

“Eat more, build your strength.” Shen Nianjing frantically added food in Su Zhiyan’s bowl.

Su Zhiyan: “…” Was he feeding a pig?

“Just eat your own food,” he said.

“Hello there, you three!”

Someone patted his shoulder, and Su Zhiyan looked up.

Zhou Zhou carried his tray and sat down at the empty seat at their four-person table, greeting them with a smile. “How come you guys are eating in the cafeteria today? Don’t you usually order takeout back to the dorm every day?”

“Su Zhiyan was sick, so he needs to eat something healthier,” Shen Nianjing explained.

Wen Bei nodded too.

Zhou Zhou was surprised and looked carefully at Su Zhiyan’s complexion, looking a bit worried. “Tangtang, have you been pushing yourself too hard this semester? Getting sick twice in half a month, even young and healthy people can’t handle that kind of strain.”

“It’s not that serious,” Su Zhiyan said helplessly, lowering his head to eat. The spicy eggplant was so hot it made him spit it out and puff air frantically.

Shen Nianjing quickly stuck in a straw and handed over the milk.

“…” Zhou Zhou looked back and forth between the two of them, then meaningfully withdrew his gaze and suddenly made eye contact with Wen Bei who had the same look.

Zhou Zhou and Wen Bei: Yeah!

“Actually, I came to find you guys because I have something to ask.” Halfway through eating, Zhou Zhou put down his chopsticks.

“The student council is organizing a mixer this Friday, are you coming or not?” He looked eager to try.

“Not going,” Su Zhiyan took a sip of milk, answering directly.

Shen Nianjing glanced at him and followed suit. “Nope.”

Wen Bei: “…Uh, mm.” Actually he had wanted to go, but since the other two refused, it would be weird if he agreed.

Oh my god, mixers were meant for single dogs anyway! Wen Bei screamed internally.

“Ah~” Zhou Zhou looked at Su Zhiyan regretfully. “Why not, Tangtang? They all really want you to come.”

“You hold these every other day. It’s more frequent than gen-ed classes,” Su Zhiyan deadpanned.

Zhou Zhou: “…”

“Pfft—HAHAHAHA!” Shen Nianjing nearly fell off his seat laughing.

“The first two were from clubs, this one is from the student council.” Under Su Zhiyan’s core logic, Zhou Zhou’s explanation seemed very weak, with a kind of desperate beauty. “And this mixer isn’t like the previous ones for finding partners. This time it’s just pure team building, eating together and singing karaoke.”

“Not interesting, not interested, no time,” Su Zhiyan said concisely.

He refused too decisively. Zhou Zhou had no choice and turned to look at another person. “Shen-ge, you’re not coming either?”

Wen Bei smirked smugly, thinking this question was completely pointless.

If Su Zhiyan wasn’t going, would Shen Nianjing go?

Shen Nianjing shook his head.

Zhou Zhou sighed. “I’m telling you three, what’s the point of staying cooped up in the dorm and at home all the time?”

He looked at Su Zhiyan and Shen Nianjing. “It’s not like we’re trying to break you two up. A free date that doesn’t cost money, isn’t getting a free meal awesome?”

Wen Bei nodded seriously. “Awesome, totally awesome.”

Su Zhiyan: “…?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?” He instinctively looked at Shen Nianjing, who was strangely blushing.

Su Zhiyan: ?

“Come on, come on, come on!” Zhou Zhou put his hands together and begged frantically. “My club president told me I absolutely have to bring more handsome guys!”

Su Zhiyan: “…” What a simple and honest request.

In the end, unable to argue against them, the three were “forced” to agree to the mixer. Zhou Zhou happily carried his empty tray away to report back.

Su Zhiyan walked out of the cafeteria and glanced at Shen Nianjing who looked like he was basking in spring breeze. “You’re happy?”

“!” Shen Nianjing nodded, then quickly shook his head. “No!”

“Come on, a mixer won’t take that long anyway,” Wen Bei consoled. “You can just relax and have fun. When you’re tired, go back to the dorm to rest. What a smooth Friday plan.”

“Mm.” Shen Nianjing nodded again, showing his agreement.

Su Zhiyan shot him a look brimming with displeasure.

Wasn’t this guy on the same side as him at first? How come he was now trying to persuade him too!

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