Are All You Straight Men Like This? - Chapter 20

Bright lights filled the room, forming a sharp contrast with the pitch-black, mysterious forest on the back of the mountain.

Ye Ran’s gaze was fixed. Through Shen Shi’s shoulder, he could see the wind and rain raging outside. Sinuous water marks trailed down the floor-to-ceiling windows; the torrential rain showed no signs of letting up.

He eventually broke the silence in the room. His gaze flickered uneasily as he said with embarrassment, “Um… didn’t we try this last night?”

The image of Shen Shi being so angry his face was flushed and his neck turned red still lingered in his mind. We shouldn’t need to test it again… a simple logical deduction should give us the result.

“Did we?” Shen Shi seemed to be reminiscing. A moment later, he asked casually, “What happened last night?”

Ye Ran: “?”

Ye Ran looked at him in confusion. “Last night in the back garden—” His voice cut off as he suddenly had a bad premonition. “You don’t remember?”

Shen Shi nodded. “Mm. I drank too much last night.”

Shen Shi indeed had a lot to drink last night. He’d had three drinks before the game started under the cheers of others, and another five shots during the game. Ye Ran had left after that and wasn’t sure if Shen Shi had continued drinking, but for Ye Ran, if he had consumed that much… he would have been out for the count immediately.

No way. His heart was in his mouth, filled with waves of unease. Could Shen Shi really remember nothing at all?

The next second, Shen Shi looked up at him and asked again, “What happened last night, Ye Ran?”

“…” Ye Ran was uncharacteristically speechless. He parted his lips, his mind in chaos. Only after a long while, under Shen Shi’s calm gaze, did he manage to struggle out an answer: “I kissed you last night. Your reaction… didn’t seem like that of a gay person.”

“Mm,” Shen Shi’s tone remained unchanged, as if he didn’t care that he had been kissed. Half of his body—lean and upright—was outlined by the warm orange light. He simply asked a calm question in return: “Are you sure?”

Being stared at like that, Ye Ran’s certain words could no longer be uttered. “…Not… not entirely sure.”

But Shen Shi’s reaction last night definitely didn’t seem gay. It was a very normal straight-man reaction: getting very angry after being kissed, yet suppressing it.

Having understood the general situation, Shen Shi went silent for a few seconds before saying, “Then let’s try again.”

Ye Ran: “?”

Ye Ran could hardly believe his ears. “What did you say?”

Shen Shi slowly lowered his eyelids, his calm gaze falling on Ye Ran’s face. He spoke clearly: “I said, then let’s try again.”

The bedroom somehow began to feel hot. The air conditioner was quickly adjusted downward. With a beep, it was set to 28°C.

Ye Ran was wearing comfortable, light loungewear. The light grey set complemented his skin tone well. He stood upright in front of Shen Shi, his soft black hair pressing against his glasses. Beneath the glasses, his narrow phoenix eyes were thin and refined. Right now, the area around his eyes was slightly red as he looked at Shen Shi with tension and unease.

A few seconds later, as if having made a decision, he leaned down stiffly, gradually approaching Shen Shi, who sat on the edge of the bed.

A silent kiss landed, as light as a dragonfly skimming the water. Only a soft, warm, and cool touch could be felt.

“…It was just like that yesterday,” Ye Ran said, immediately straightening up after the kiss, his heart thumping in his chest. “I just kissed you like that once.”

In the silence, the motionless Shen Shi lifted his eyes. His gaze was dark as he stared at him and spoke: “Once?”

Ye Ran endured his guilt. “Yes. And then you told me to leave.”

“Oh,” Shen Shi nodded, his expression unreadable as if he were thinking about something. A few seconds later, he followed Ye Ran’s lead: “I truly don’t have much of an impression.”

Of course you don’t, because you never said that.

Ye Ran was too guilty to look at him. “A person’s reactions after getting drunk are subconscious. Your reaction shows that you really aren’t gay.”

Shen Shi said nothing.

Ye Ran’s sentences became smoother: “It’s not too late to face the truth. You’re still a straight man.”

Shen Shi glanced at him.

Ye Ran felt a weight lift from his shoulders. “Alright, then I’ll head back.”

Tonight’s ordeal was finally over. As he reached for the tablet, Ye Ran felt a sense of accomplishment no less than getting into Jingda. By getting into Jingda, he had changed his own life; by persuading Shen Shi to face himself, he was changing Shen Shi’s life.

He finally managed to straighten out Shen Shi’s strange sexual orientation.

He was sighing with emotion in his heart. Just as his hand touched the tablet, he heard Shen Shi speak thoughtfully: “Have you ever thought that this might not prove anything?”

Ye Ran: “?”

Ye Ran’s heart, which had just settled, started thumping rapidly again. “Does this still not prove anything?”

How can you, a straight man, be so suspicious!

Shen Shi looked at him with a hint of confusion. “Of course. Because until now, I haven’t felt anything.”

No feeling? Last night after you were kissed, you clearly—

Ye Ran’s fixed gaze fell on his ears—not red. It fell on the side of his neck—also not red.

Something is wrong with you. You weren’t like this last night.

Shen Shi: “It seems you’re the same.”

A strike straight to the soul. Ye Ran’s pupils trembled. He swallowed hard. “Because… because I kissed you tw—cough, once yesterday. Kissing you again today, there’s no novelty, so this… this…”

He racked his brain for excuses, trying his best to prove Shen Shi was straight while simultaneously proving he was gay.

It’s so hard. Why is it so hard to prove a straight man is straight!

Shen Shi slightly raised an eyebrow, understanding his meaning. “You mean, let me kiss you?”

Ye Ran: “?” Ye Ran: “…Is that what I meant?”

Shen Shi: “Mm. You kissing me is something we’ve both grown immune to. As for me kissing you—” He looked at Ye Ran thoughtfully and straightened up. His tall, upright frame cast a shadow, deeply enveloping Ye Ran, making Ye Ran’s heart flutter for some reason.

“Perhaps it would be more convenient for me to feel something,” Shen Shi said.

Ye Ran went silent. He thought about it and felt there was some logic to it. After all, Shen Shi was homophobic; perhaps before even kissing him, he would feel disgusted, thereby forcing him to face his true orientation. At the very least, just like last night, he would only realize his repulsion after the kiss.

There was indeed a difference between him being proactive and Shen Shi being proactive. Had he been going about this the wrong way since last night?

Ye Ran took a deep breath. “Alright.”

He sat upright, his eyelids lowered, looking very serious. When viewed from above, his gentle features and refined, soft lips were clearly visible.

“Come on then,” he said with a stiff face, not noticing the gaze Shen Shi cast down upon him.

From the first day of school registration, Shen Shi knew this roommate of his was a soft-natured person.

On the day they arrived, Ye Ran had clearly chosen the bed by the window, but because Fatty hadn’t seen the backpack he used to claim the spot, Ye Ran had silently packed his things and moved peacefully to the bed by the door.

Shen Shi had never encountered someone with such a personality. His classmates back at the provincial experimental school were like moths to a flame around him; everyone’s personality had a side of arrogance, coldness, or stubbornness. Even he was the same—indifferent to everything, only seeing what he wanted to see.

But Ye Ran was different. He was mild-mannered, lazy, and almost temperless. In the dorm, he was usually lying on his bed wearing loose loungewear. Even if they weren’t close, Ye Ran would still look down and smile when he saw him enter the room, his eyes bright as he asked, “You’re back?”

Fatty loved hanging around him, asking him to bring food for no reason and then throwing himself at him to act spoiled, saying things like “Ye Ran, you’re truly my good brother.”

Whenever Ye Ran heard that, his eyes would light up, looking very happy. A person who lacks friends and is clumsy at maintaining them, Shen Shi thought as he watched coldly.

That was why, when Ye Ran stood up and slammed that door to block out all the prying eyes for him, Shen Shi’s mind went blank for the first time. He went silent for a long time before saying thank you.

Ye Ran clearly hadn’t reacted either, dazing for a bit before shaking his head nonchalantly. He seemed to be like this with everyone—with Fatty, with Brother Shu, and with him. Everyone was equal in his heart; he would help anyone he could. He was clearly very gentle, yet he kept a deliberate distance.

Ye Ran had helped him once, and in his view, any favor owed must be repaid. That was why he approached him, joined the club with him, sent him back to the dorm on rainy days, accompanied him to the hospital, and helped him deal with Liang Feng and Lin Ziqian. Along the way, he pushed away Fatty, who was always clinging to him, to return his peace. A boisterous person like Lin Feipeng didn’t deserve so much of Ye Ran’s effort.

Shen Shi leaned down. In his vision, Ye Ran’s face became clearer and clearer: the fine, dense lashes, the thin phoenix eyes, the beautiful mole hanging at the corner of his eye, and those soft lips that always held a hint of a smile.

He slowly lowered his eyes, his black hair hiding the emotions within. With a very light touch, his lips met an even softer sensation.

Ye Ran was completely stunned.

A few seconds later, he reacted violently, leaning back sharply. A flush instantly spread over his cheeks. His pupils trembled as he asked blankly and in shock, “Did… did you kiss the wrong spot?”

The warm sensation on his lips wouldn’t go away. If he weren’t sitting in a chair, his legs would have surely given out. The blood in his body was racing restlessly, burning hot. A layer of sweat had already formed on his back, sticking to his clothes and trembling slightly with his breathing.

Shen Shi slowly straightened up. The cold air from the air conditioner was blowing directly against his back. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said, “No.”

Ye Ran’s voice was unsteady. “N-no? But…” Why kiss the mouth! Despite this, his voice was still soft and gentle, devoid of any interrogation or anger.

“Friends can also kiss the cheek, but I didn’t think that would be effective,” Shen Shi said succinctly. “To prove if there’s a feeling, it’s best to be more intimate.”

Ye Ran was instantly speechless. After a long while, he asked in a confused voice, “Then… do you have a feeling?”

“I do,” Shen Shi answered.

Ye Ran: “…”

He felt completely restless. His breathing was slightly rapid, and his eyes were shimmering with a bit of moisture. His pupils reflected the warm orange glow of the lamp. He asked in bewilderment, “How can there be a feeling?”

Logically speaking, a straight man should have naturally zero feeling for a gay person.

Shen Shi said, “Maybe because it’s the first time.”

Ye Ran shut his mouth sheepishly.

Shen Shi glanced at him and suddenly asked, “You too?”

Why ask such an embarrassing question!

Ye Ran was incredibly embarrassed. “Yes.” Soon, he reacted: “Then that means it’s canceled out?” Before Shen Shi could speak, he sighed in relief. “That’s good. As long as it’s still there.”

Shen Shi looked down at him, his gaze falling on his slightly red lips. A few seconds later, he spoke calmly: “Let’s try once more.”

Ye Ran froze instantly.

Shen Shi said, “If I have no feeling this time, then I am not gay.”

“Okay,” Ye Ran finally relaxed and gave a dry response. Success or failure depended on this; he felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavier.

The bedroom was very quiet. Even though the air conditioner was set to 28°C, it was still very hot. The sound of the drizzling rain outside echoed in his ears. Ye Ran heard Shen Shi’s voice.

“Part your legs a bit.” “Lift your head higher. Mm, no need to hide.”

Ye Ran instinctively followed his instructions. The next second, someone squeezed between his legs, forcing them further apart. He leaned back against the chair uncontrollably, his head held higher. Following that was the sound of warm, slow breathing.

His upturned chin was held, and his lips felt the same sensation as before. Immediately following was another extremely hot breath, which casually pried open his teeth, explored inside, found his tongue-tip which was obediently resting against his lower jaw, and gave it a light touch.

Ye Ran’s shoulders immediately arched, and his pupils dilated uncontrollably. His mind fell completely blank. A strange electric current traveled from his tongue-tip throughout his entire body; even his breathing was stagnant. He had no strength to move his limbs.

It was only a few seconds, but it felt like half a lifetime.

“Sorry.”

Shen Shi let him go. His eyebrows were slightly lifted, and his dark pupils showed no extra emotion. He said in a hoarse voice, “This time it should be gone.”

Ye Ran: “…N-no problem.” He hadn’t snapped out of it yet. His eyes were dazed, and any words he spoke were purely reflex.

Shen Shi had already released him and stood up, decorously stepping back from between his legs. He watched as Ye Ran slumped in the chair, his body soft, his lips slightly parted with a trace of moisture that didn’t belong to him. After taking a few more unhurried looks, Shen Shi withdrew his gaze and said, “Sorry, I don’t seem to have much feeling this time.”

Ye Ran’s soul finally returned with those words. He struggled to prop himself up, his ears red enough to drip blood. The bright room lights shone behind Shen Shi; Shen Shi stood against the light, head down casually, his black hair messy. His expression was hidden, and he only flatly lifted his eyelids to look at him. “What about you?”

Ye Ran sat upright with a blank face, his scattered logic slowly returning to his body. His fingertips curled; they were still a bit numb. His ears were burning hotter and hotter. “I…” His voice trembled slightly, but he tried his best to steady it. “I don’t have much feeling either.”

How would I dare to have a feeling!

“Oh,” Shen Shi narrowed his eyes. His gaze slid over Ye Ran’s deep red earlobes and gave a heavy yet light glance at his sluggish face. “You have no feeling either?”

“Yes.” Ye Ran secretly clenched his fists. He really wanted to ask Shen Shi why he used his tongue, but just thinking about the topic made him so embarrassed he felt like he would ascend to heaven.

Shen Shi said, “Then you probably aren’t gay.”

The courage Ye Ran had managed to build up was instantly shattered by this heavy blow. “I’m not gay?” He was stunned.

“Mm,” Shen Shi said with reason. “A normal gay person would have some reaction to a same-sex kiss.”

Ye Ran was even more confused. “I’m not normal?”

“We probably both aren’t normal.” After saying that, Shen Shi leaned down again, squeezing into the gap between Ye Ran’s legs. His handsome, cold features were infinitely magnified in Ye Ran’s vision. Those narrow, dark phoenix eyes held emotions he couldn’t see through, hidden in a patch of shadow, deep and unreadable. “Open your mouth. Let’s try one last time.”

…One last time.

Ye Ran opened his mouth blankly. The soft sensation that hadn’t yet vanished from his tongue-tip returned.

This time, Shen Shi took his tongue into his own mouth and gave it a very light suck. The hot breath of the person in front of him immediately traveled through their entwined lips into his mouth.

Ye Ran suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe. His body trembled slightly, as if his territory had been invaded. He arched his shoulders, his head forced high. His hands couldn’t even steady themselves on the chair, constantly curling and shivering.

A few seconds later, Shen Shi naturally let him go. He also seemed to have unsteady breathing. After a moment’s pause, he looked at him. There was some moisture on his lips—it wasn’t clear whose it was, but the mark was extremely ambiguous.

“What about this time?” Shen Shi’s voice was low and slightly hoarse. “Still no feeling?”

Ye Ran shook his head almost in terror. His breathing was even more chaotic than Shen Shi’s. He looked like his soul had been snatched; the rims of his eyes were a moist, tidal red, and his lashes were wet. He shook his head repeatedly and said, “…I… I have one now.”

Only then did Shen Shi straighten up. “Mm.” He glanced at the clock on the wall, then at Ye Ran slumped in the chair.

Ye Ran’s hair was damp with sweat, making it look even blacker, while his cheeks were so fair they seemed to glow. He was breathing lightly, his gaze scattered and confused, his lips covered in a deep layer of moisture. He clearly hadn’t reacted yet. It was obvious that if he were asked to open his mouth again right now, he would.

Shen Shi withdrew his gaze. His fingers tightened inside his pocket. He said, “I seem to have a bit of a feeling too.”

Ye Ran lifted his head sluggishly. A few seconds later, his lips trembled. “…Y-you have one too?”

“Mm,” Shen Shi said thoughtfully. “Although the feeling isn’t deep, it should confirm that I am gay.”

Ye Ran froze. “Could it be because the method this time was… a bit… aggressive?” Kissing like that, even someone who isn’t gay would feel something.

Shen Shi shook his head. “No, I’m very sure. I am gay.”

Ye Ran immediately mobilized all his mental energy to think about the problem. He thought this way and that, but his brain was still a mess. His nerves were still lingering on his tongue and lips; he could seemingly still feel that temperature and suction that didn’t belong to him.

Can’t think about it… can’t think about it anymore. His thoughts started to daze again.

“Or we can try again tomorrow,” Shen Shi suggested, turning his body. “Next time, we don’t need to be so… gradual.” He watched Ye Ran’s expression nonchalantly. “Today’s attempt was more like raising my tolerance threshold. Don’t you think so?”

“…I-is that so?” Ye Ran was successfully cornered by the question. He dazed for two seconds. “Try again tomorrow? How would we try tomorrow?”

Shen Shi said, “We’ll see tomorrow.”

Emerging from Shen Shi’s room, Ye Ran walked back to his own bedroom with unsteady steps. He was silent the whole way, his eyes shielded by the black-rimmed glasses. After closing his bedroom door, he instantly collapsed to the floor like a deflated balloon.

The bedroom floor didn’t have a carpet; it was ice-cold. He crouched down, his loungewear sliding down loosely. A flush spread over his neck. Propping himself up with one hand on the floor, he used the other to deeply cover his mouth, only revealing a pair of tidal, moist eyes as he breathed heavily and with difficulty.

Something… feels wrong.

His head was a mess. He suddenly wanted to just give up and stop caring if Shen Shi was straight or not. But thinking that Shen Shi needed to do such strange tests because of him, he overcame the urge to slacking off.

In the end, it was his fault for what happened to Shen Shi. He couldn’t blame Shen Shi; he could only blame that “Bisexual Encyclopedia.” That move clearly didn’t work.

However—his palms were sweating, and his eardrums were throbbing. What did ‘we’ll see tomorrow’ mean?

THUD—

A teammate’s interrogation rang in the headphones: “Crap, Yu Ting, what the hell are you playing?” “Why is your Marksman acting as the front line? Don’t you know how to stay back and deal damage!” “Hurry up and get ready. What are you dawdling for?”

Yu Ting sharply took off his headphones and listened carefully, confirming the sound of a door opening in the next bedroom.

“Shit, I have an emergency. You guys play first!” He sat up with a start and quit the game. He had been uneasy when he didn’t see Shen Shi and Ye Ran when he went to the restaurant for dinner earlier. Hearing the sound now, he ran out without a second thought while pulling on his trousers.

Ye Ran, don’t tell me you delivered yourself to his door?! Did you even read that article I sent you! This is really important to me!

With a CRASH, he pushed open the door next door. The bright lights were dazzling. Yu Ting instantly sighed in relief; under such bright light, he figured Shen Shi couldn’t do anything.

He strode aggressively through the entryway and turned the corner.

On the large bed in the center of the bedroom, Shen Shi was sitting quietly on the edge. The light spilled over his side, enveloping him in a layer of light and shadow. His head was slightly tilted back, his breathing was heavy. He had one hand over his eyes and the other propped behind him. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly—an extremely restrained and suppressed movement.

Seeming to hear the noise, he slowly lowered his hand and looked toward Yu Ting. Those phoenix eyes were dark, filled with an unhideable coldness. Ignoring the thin flush rising on his earlobes and the side of his neck, he looked quite dangerous.

In the silence, Shen Shi spoke: “Get lost.”

Yu Ting: “…” Yu Ting: “…Okay.”

He fled the scene at top speed, his face full of horror.

Damn, what’s more terrifying than a pervert? …A pervert who can blush! Help!

Actually, I should find a time to talk to Ye Ran tomorrow.