After The Beautiful Woman Moves Into The Jock's Dorm Room - Chapter 75

Chapter 75: I can… disappear from your world.

Shen Qingyu sat for a long time under the warm yellow lights of the cafeteria. His dorm was just across the road, not far away, but he was hesitant to go in. He felt he couldn’t face Song Yu anymore.

The dorm should have been a warm place, but now, besides his boyfriend, it housed two “hungry wolves” eyeing him covetously.

Everything had gone awry since he moved into this dorm.

Shen Qingyu painfully pinched the bridge of his nose.

The sky outside the window grew dim. The streetlights flickered on simultaneously, illuminating the campus as if it were daytime.

Shen Qingyu unconsciously clenched his hands, the coldness from his fingertips bringing him slightly back to his senses. Fear, anger, and a sense of shame from being thoroughly fooled surged and spread unchecked in his heart.

He regretted it. He regretted why, the moment he discovered the truth, he hadn’t mustered the courage to punch Song Yu hard. Even if he couldn’t win, he could have at least vented the fear and anger of the past year. Why did he only passively accept Song Yu’s chilling affection like a startled rabbit?

“Because I love you.”

“We’ve known each other for a long time. You’re the one who forgot me.”

“You clearly promised to be my wife.”

These words echoed repeatedly in Shen Qingyu’s mind. Careless childhood jokes, polite online interactions—they had been twisted into obsessive affection, nurturing a year-long, suffocating surveillance and harassment.

This was too absurd, and too terrifying.

His phone vibrated, displaying Cheng Che’s name. Shen Qingyu took a deep breath, knowing he had to go back to the dorm no matter what. He answered the call, trying to make his voice sound normal.

“Hello?”

“Xiao Yu, why aren’t you back yet? Do you need me to come pick you up at the library?” Cheng Che’s voice was as gentle as ever.

Shen Qingyu felt a warmth wash over him.

“I… I’m a little tired and want to go home for two days,” Shen Qingyu said softly. It was the weekend, and he desperately needed a space to breathe, away from everything related to Song Yu.

“Go home? What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Cheng Che couldn’t see his expression but keenly sensed that his mood was off.

“Nothing, I’ve just been a little bothered lately and want some peace and quiet.” He paused, then added, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back on Monday.”

Cheng Che always respected his wishes and decisions and didn’t press further, only asking in an even gentler tone, “How about I go back with you?” He was afraid Shen Qingyu would be lonely alone at home.

“No need!” Shen Qingyu refused a little too quickly. Realizing his slip, he slowed his tone, “Seriously, no need. I just want to be alone for a bit. Then I’ll spend a day with my aunt.”

Cheng Che was silent for a moment, eventually compromising, “Alright, but be careful. Call me anytime if anything happens.”

Hanging up the phone, a pang of guilt rushed through Shen Qingyu. This matter was simply too difficult to talk about; he couldn’t tell Cheng Che. Should he tell him… I’ve been harassed by a pervert via text for almost a year, and it turns out that pervert is my roommate Song Yu? Or should he mention posting suggestive videos online?

Shen Qingyu clutched his chest. He could feel that besides the irritation and depression, there was a trace of… no, not sympathy, but simply shock and incomprehension at Song Yu’s crazy behavior. Shen Qingyu told himself this.

Back at the dorm, with Cheng Che’s help, Shen Qingyu packed his luggage and headed to the subway to go home.

The subway on a Friday night was crowded and noisy. The hustle and bustle ironically gave him a strange sense of security. He huddled in the corner by the carriage connection, wearing headphones, trying to use music to block out the world and his own cluttered thoughts.

The train stopped at a large transfer station, and a crowd rushed in. Shen Qingyu subconsciously looked up, his gaze cutting through the moving heads, and spotted a familiar figure in the same carriage.

It was Song Yu. How could he be here? When did he get on the train? Why didn’t I notice?

Countless questions flashed through Shen Qingyu’s mind, but no one could answer him.

Shen Qingyu’s heart abruptly constricted, almost leaping out of his chest. He abruptly lowered his head, wishing he could shrink even smaller and become completely invisible. He prayed that Song Yu hadn’t seen him, praying that he would move to another carriage.

However, the sound of footsteps grew closer, finally stopping right in front of him. A shadow fell over him, bringing with it a familiar, heart-pounding presence.

Shen Qingyu stiffly raised his head, meeting Song Yu’s bottomless eyes. There was no longer the obsession and madness from outside the library, nor the sadness and determination from their final separation, only a silent, almost stagnant calm.

“Are you going home?” Song Yu spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

Shen Qingyu turned his head away, unwilling to look at him, and sharply threw out a phrase: “None of your business.”

Song Yu was silent for a moment. Just as Shen Qingyu thought he would say something even more shocking, he quietly said, “If you don’t want to see me, I can move out.”

Shen Qingyu was taken aback, turning his head back in disbelief.

Song Yu lowered his eyelids, looking at the ground, and continued, “The procedure for changing dorms is complicated, but I can apply to commute from home. I can… disappear from your world.” He looked up, his gaze holding a careful probe. “If that’s what you want.”

Shen Qingyu was completely baffled. What was this act? A retreat to advance? Playing pitiful to gain sympathy? He couldn’t understand Song Yu anymore. He had been like a life-claiming devil from hell that afternoon, but now he suddenly said he would completely disappear for his sake?

“You…” Shen Qingyu opened his mouth but didn’t know how to respond. Should he say “yes”? Wasn’t this the outcome he wanted most? But why did his heart feel even more confused?

Song Yu saw the struggle and doubt on his face, the corners of his mouth curving into a tiny, bitter arc.

“I know I was incredibly wrong. Harassing you, scaring you… sometimes, I can’t control myself.” His voice dropped even lower, carrying a near-broken fragility. “So, perhaps staying away from you is the best solution for both of us. It’s just… I need a little time.”

Shen Qingyu was suddenly struck by a chill toward this “deep devotion,” but in a corner of his heart, that ill-timed, damnable softness seemed to be touched. He saw Song Yu’s bloodshot eyes and the pervasive weariness on his body.

“Whatever,” Shen Qingyu abruptly cut off his impulse to soften, his tone turning cold and hard again. “Don’t talk to me anymore.”

Song Yu, as expected, said nothing more. He quietly stepped back, increasing the distance between himself and Shen Qingyu. The train arrived at the station. The two exited, one after the other, heading for the same exit.

Their homes were close, so Shen Qingyu had guessed this moment would come since he saw Song Yu on the subway. So, he had been trying to figure out how to put distance between them the whole way.

Shen Qingyu deliberately slowed his pace, but Song Yu seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, also slowing down accordingly, always maintaining a moderate distance, ensuring his back remained within Shen Qingyu’s line of sight, as if this could provide Shen Qingyu with a tiny, insignificant “sense of security.”

He consistently walked ahead, his back straight but imbued with a desolate air.

He didn’t look back, didn’t attempt to speak again, but silently led the way until they reached the gate of the residential area. Song Yu then stopped, stepped aside to clear the path, signaling for Shen Qingyu to go first.

Shen Qingyu pursed his lips and quickened his pace, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

He and Song Yu entered the community one after the other. Shen Qingyu’s building was slightly further away. He cautiously looked back and saw Song Yu standing beneath another building, which made him sigh in relief. He hesitated for a moment, still wanting to wait until Song Yu was completely inside before heading home.

Just before Song Yu was about to enter his own building’s hallway, a figure suddenly darted out from the side, carrying an arrogant gust of air, and violently collided with his shoulder.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my ‘good brother’? What, didn’t get beaten enough last time? Still daring to run tales to my dad? I think you have a death wish!”

Shen Qingyu was startled by the sudden disturbance and took two steps forward to observe. He saw a trendy-looking young boy, whose eyes were full of malice, blocking Song Yu’s path. His posture was domineering. This was Song Yu’s half-brother, Song Zhangcheng, whom Shen Qingyu had briefly seen in the community before.

Song Yu stumbled from the collision, his brow slightly furrowed, but he didn’t speak, only looking at the other party with a cold gaze.

“Cat got your tongue?” Song Zhangcheng pushed his luck, forcefully shoving Song Yu. “Don’t you dare put on that dead face! I’m telling you, Song Yu, it’s either you or me in this house. If you dare to say one more word to my dad, I swear I’ll have your mom cripple your legs!”

I’ll have your mom… cripple… your legs?

“Your mom is willing to do anything to please me now,” Song Zhangcheng sneered menacingly. “Last time, I just mentioned it casually, and she actually hit you with a belt. Tsk, tsk, she really hits hard.”

Shen Qingyu’s mind went blank. Details he had previously overlooked instantly flooded back. Not long ago, he did seem to notice Song Yu walking a little unnaturally, slightly stiff and slow. He had dismissed it as his imagination or that Song Yu had just sprained something…

Could it be… could Song Yu’s leg injury have been inflicted by his own mother?

Shen Qingyu was deeply shocked. He couldn’t imagine a mother beating her own son for the sake of a child she had no blood relation to.

Even though Shen Qingyu didn’t want to praise Song Yu, he had to honestly admit that in terms of academics, Song Yu had a very strong talent and worked hard for it.

Song Yu remained silent. Facing Song Zhangcheng’s provocation, he merely tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly inadvertently sweeping over Shen Qingyu, who was frozen in place. A fleeting, hard-to-catch flash of success-in-a-scheme flickered in his calm eyes, but outwardly, he maintained that suppressed, victimized appearance.

“My business is none of yours,” Song Yu finally spoke, his voice low and suppressed. “You’d better know when to stop.”

“Know when to stop?” Song Zhangcheng laughed as if he’d heard the biggest joke. “You’re the one who needs to stop! An illegitimate child who should be kept hidden. Do you really think you’re important just because my dad looks at you twice? I’m telling you…”

Shen Qingyu couldn’t hear the subsequent profanities.

He watched Song Yu’s jawline tighten slightly under his brother’s insults, and watched the fist hanging at his side subtly clench. Shen Qingyu’s gaze lingered on Song Yu’s tall figure, and a complex, churning emotion surged through him.

His fear and anger toward Song Yu still existed, but at this moment, personally witnessing the potential violence and injustice he suffered at home, a subtle resonance as a fellow “victim,” and the instinctive human pity for the disadvantaged party, wrapped around him like vines.

What kind of environment did Song Yu… truly live in? Could his twisted “love” and obsessive behavior be related to his terrible broken family?

As this thought emerged, Shen Qingyu immediately shivered. He instantly warned himself that no matter what difficulties Song Yu faced, they were not a reason for him to hurt and harass me! I am the victim! Don’t be fooled by his pathetic appearance!

But his gaze couldn’t move away from Song Yu’s somewhat lonely and enduring back.

Song Zhangcheng cursed a few more times. Seeing that Song Yu remained unresponsive, like punching cotton, he felt bored. After fiercely warning him, “You wait for me,” he turned and walked away dejectedly.

Song Yu slowly turned around, looking in Shen Qingyu’s direction. There was no expression on his face, neither the humiliation of being insulted nor the grievance of playing victim. He just watched Shen Qingyu deeply and calmly, a gaze so complex it made Shen Qingyu’s heart palpitate.

The night wind blew, carrying a biting chill. Shen Qingyu fled into the building’s hallway as if his life depended on it, completely failing to notice that Song Yu’s deep gaze was shamelessly scrutinizing his retreating figure.