Are All You Straight Men Like This? - Chapter 21

The next day at nine o’clock, the sky remained gloomy. Dark clouds rolled in the distance and the wind howled; across the leaden sky, thunder and lightning occasionally branched out. The rain grew heavier, raging as it draped a veil of mist over the world.

The villa complex was located halfway up the mountain, providing the clearest view of the flashes of light in the pitch-black sky—piercing and terrifying, as if they were about to strike down from the heavens.

Ye Ran was startled awake by a clap of thunder. He squinted his eyes, grabbed his phone, and checked the time. 9:30 AM. Still early. Putting down his phone, he drifted back into a heavy sleep.

He was woken up again by a steady, unhurried knocking on the door. Emerging from a muddled dream, his thoughts were thick and tangled. After a long while, he opened his eyes and waited a few seconds before getting out of bed to open the door.

Creak—

The door opened. The light in the corridor was dim, and there was no sound. The central air conditioning blew a warm breeze. Ye Ran looked up, the area around his eyes slightly red from sleep and his lashes messy. He looked at the person behind the door with confusion: “Hmm? Shen Shi? Is something…”

The word “wrong” hadn’t even left his mouth.

A shadow descended silently. The distance between them vanished instantly—so close that Ye Ran could smell the cold moisture. His pupils shrank. Within his line of sight was Shen Shi’s magnified face.

Shen Shi’s features were handsome, sharp, and flawless. His dark, narrow phoenix eyes were like deep ink, quiet and cold; currently lowered, they held no extra emotion.

The next moment, a damp kiss landed on his lips. Their breaths entwined.

Ye Ran’s teeth were naturally pried open, and his tongue—which had been obediently resting against his lower jaw—was caught and sucked lightly. The breath forced into his mouth was scorching and hot, carrying the refreshing taste of the other boy’s mouth.

Soon, as Shen Shi withdrew, he licked Ye Ran’s lips as if by accident. He straightened his back, his black windbreaker looking sharp and crisp. His body was wrapped in the cold moisture from outside. His expression was flat and casual, as if he didn’t feel there was anything wrong with his behavior.

“Go back to sleep,” Shen Shi said.

With that, he turned and returned to his own room. With a thud, the bedroom door next door closed.

Ye Ran stared at Shen Shi’s back, his mouth hanging open blankly, a trace of crystalline moisture still on his lips. A few seconds later, his hand gripping the doorframe tightened suddenly. He struggled to support his weak, limp legs, and took a sharp breath of cold air in hindsight: “This… I… ah…”

He had lost the ability to speak, completely dazed.

What does this mean? Is Shen Shi sleepwalking? Or am I dreaming?

With a look like his soul had left his body, he closed the door and wobbled back to bed. The bed was soft and large, like a patch of marshmallow that offered no solid ground. Ye Ran kept a wooden face and closed his eyes.

Sleep, sleep. This must be a dream.

The next second, his phone vibrated. Ye Ran lifted an eyelid and sluggishly grabbed the phone. After seeing who the message was from, he froze for a few seconds and then rolled over to sit up.

Shen Shi: [I don’t seem to have any feeling today.]

Ye Ran: “…”

Aaaaah, it really wasn’t a dream!

Was this what Shen Shi meant by “we’ll see tomorrow”?

He instantly became cautious, his breathing a bit erratic. The faint glow of the phone illuminated his face; a thin flush covered his ears. He pursed his lips, sitting rigidly, not knowing how to reply.

It’s right that you have no feeling. It proves you’re still straight.

But for a straight man, why is he always so… so… when he kisses? Even if it’s just a test, it’s too much…

The thought made Ye Ran feel a bit like he was breaking down. The sensation of his tongue being sucked hadn’t faded; it was itchy and numb, spreading to every corner of his body. His waist felt soft again, and he couldn’t straighten his legs. If he hadn’t been holding the doorknob just now, he probably would have fallen over the moment Shen Shi licked his lips.

Perhaps because he hadn’t replied for a long time, Shen Shi asked again: [What about you?]

The vibration called back Ye Ran’s attention. He became even more rigid.

How should he reply? Saying he had no feeling would prove he wasn’t gay; saying he had a feeling would mean he had improper thoughts about his brother. After enduring for a while, the need to prove his innocence won out. Ye Ran kept a stiff face and replied seriously: [Me too.]

Absolutely zero inner fluctuation, and zero improper thoughts.

Shen Shi: [Mm.] Ye Ran (emphasizing): [Mm.]

Looking at Shen Shi’s flat reply, Ye Ran took a deep breath, tossed his phone aside, and lay back down. His body was enveloped by the sinking mattress and quilt. His heart was still beating a bit fast; only after a long while did it slowly steady. Not daring to recall any details from just now, he forced himself to go back to sleep.

The rain outside was torrential, the dark clouds hadn’t scattered, and the light remained gloomy.

At noon, Ye Ran went to the buffet restaurant for a casual meal. On his way back to the villa, he saw the President with a few club members taking photos in the small garden. The girls wore delicate makeup and bright smiles.

“Although our club didn’t successfully see the stars, everyone, please look at this rain, this mountain, this lightning… how full of mountain charm.”

Ye Ran couldn’t help but laugh, but he was keenly spotted by the President.

“Hey,” the President waved with a smile, “Ye Ran? Come here, come here.”

Several girls looked toward him simultaneously. This was the first time Ye Ran had been face-to-face with the club members since the night of Truth or Dare. He felt a bit awkward, but he walked over anyway.

The President, wearing a blue raincoat, showed him the photographic results, looking very troubled. “No matter how I take these, they look strange. Do you think there’s a problem with the composition?”

All art students share common ground. Ye Ran had also enjoyed photography during his spare time in high school, though he had gradually set it aside as academic pressure grew. Looking at the President’s disastrous photography skills, his eyelid twitched. He took the camera: “The light is softer on rainy days. If you’re shooting against the light, it’s best to meter for the person’s face, and pay special attention to the flash…”

He tilted his head to talk to the President, his expression very serious. His thin, refined phoenix eyes were stained with a pale red due to the moisture in the air. His skin was very white and his hair was jet black. Wearing a casual down jacket, he exuded a soft and clean aura.

Several girls discussed in low voices: “Ye Ran is actually really good-looking…” “Yeah, and he has a great personality. I used to think art students were all aloof, but Ye Ran has the kind of personality that makes people feel very comfortable.”

The Vice President smiled. “Ye Ran does have a good personality, indeed.”

“Ran-ran, don’t you like this kind of ‘junior’ personality? Plus, your names are very—”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” the Vice President interrupted, with a helpless smile. “He’s gay. Don’t make those kinds of jokes anymore.”

“Fine, fine. All the handsome guys aren’t for us.”

As they spoke, the Vice President suddenly felt another gaze on her. She turned her head and saw Shen Shi, who had been standing on the other side for who knows how long.

The fine rain sizzled, and the veil of rain was hazy. In her ears was the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting puddles. The rainwater under the eaves formed threads, making this corner of the world even quieter.

Shen Shi was wearing a black windbreaker, his frame lean and upright. The stand-up collar covered his jaw. His expression was casual and flat. He lazily lifted his eyelids to look over, his pupils a pure black. In this dim light, he looked increasingly cold.

“…Uh, Shen Shi?” she spoke hesitantly. “You’re here too?”

The girls immediately shut their mouths. Compared to Ye Ran, who was already confirmed as “gay,” Shen Shi’s silence during the Truth or Dare session made them hesitant to draw a conclusion. Generally, handsome guys like him were bi; especially for someone as exceptionally handsome as Shen Shi, it wasn’t impossible for him to accept both men and women. Discussing someone’s friend behind their back was awkward enough; being caught in the act was even worse.

The President also spotted Shen Shi and immediately waved. “Come here, Shen Shi! You come here too!”

Shen Shi walked toward the President. The three boys stood together, seemingly discussing composition.

A girl breathed a small sigh of relief. “Shen Shi didn’t hear what we were saying, did he?” “Probably not. We were being quite quiet.”

The Vice President said, “Don’t think about that. Do you want to go play after we’re done with the photos?” “Sure! Ran-ran, where do you want to go?” “Let’s go sing.” The girls looked at each other, knowing exactly what was going on. As expected, she still has her eye on the junior.

While discussing camera settings with the President, Ye Ran suddenly noticed that Shen Shi seemed a bit distracted. He had his head down, and although his gaze was on the lens, his expression was extremely flat.

Ye Ran didn’t know what to make of it. He told the President which poses and settings would look good. He was about to leave, but the President suddenly called out to both of them: “As the male representatives of our club, you two should join in too!”

Ye Ran: “…Male representatives?” The President said sagely: “We’ll use this picture for recruitment next year. I believe our club will definitely restore its former glory!”

With those words, Ye Ran couldn’t say no. He glanced at Shen Shi, thinking of the morning’s events, and suppressed his inexplicable discomfort. “Are we shooting?”

Shen Shi asked him, “Do you want to?” “It’s okay.” “Then let’s shoot,” Shen Shi said.

Both of them were taller than the girls next to them, so they couldn’t stand staggered. The Vice President began adjusting the positions, putting Ye Ran and Shen Shi in the middle. Behind them was the large stone monument of the garden, with red characters carved into it. The colorful flowers were blooming brilliantly, making it hard to tell it was winter.

The President kept muttering: “Hey, Wang Ting, squeeze toward the middle. Right, right. Chen Yanyan, smile more brightly. Right, right…”

Ye Ran had Shen Shi on his left and the Vice President on his right. Before the photo was taken, the lineup was adjusted into a mess, and the Vice President was pushed closer. She was quite tall, nearly only a bit shorter than Ye Ran. She said to him helplessly, “Sorry.”

Ye Ran smiled. “It’s fine.”

“By the way, Ye Ran, do you have time later to go si—”

As she was speaking, Ye Ran’s shoulder was suddenly pulled, and he leaned toward the other side. The hand on his shoulder was broad and powerful. He felt like he had squeezed into Shen Shi’s embrace. Shen Shi’s voice rang out above his head, neither heavy nor light: “There’s more room over here.”

“Oh… okay.” Ye Ran nodded half a beat late. A few seconds later, he turned back to ask the Vice President, “What were you saying?”

The Vice President looked at them and smiled. “Nothing. I was just telling you that we might be going back to campus tomorrow.”

“Going back tomorrow?” “Mm. The school is pressing us.”

The President’s voice came from afar: “Everyone look at the camera! Look at the camera! Come on—Cheese—”

Ye Ran looked at the lens and managed a smile. With a click of the flash, the moment was frozen. He suddenly felt something was wrong. The next second, the hand on his shoulder was naturally withdrawn, but Ye Ran could still feel the residual heat.

…Wait. He took a small breath of cold air. That wasn’t how we just took the photo, was it?!

“Leaving?” Just then, Shen Shi looked down and asked him.

Not far away, the girls were gathered around the President picking out photos. Ye Ran also wanted to see the final result, but the moment he met Shen Shi’s gaze, he inexplicably swallowed his refusal.

“…Let’s go,” he said.

In the villa’s living room, several boys were playing video games. The volume was set very high, with lots of thumping and crashing sounds. They were getting more excited under the watch of the surrounding club members.

Ye Ran and Shen Shi didn’t make a sound when they entered. They went upstairs. The second-floor corridor was covered in thick carpet. Ye Ran gave a yawn; it was just after one in the afternoon, prime time for a nap.

He felt sleepy, the area around his eyes flushed with red. Shen Shi’s room was next to his. Ye Ran opened his own door first, his voice carrying a bit of fatigue: “Then I’ll head in first.”

Click. The door unlocked.

The room was dim; the curtains weren’t drawn, and the gloomy light spilled onto the balcony. Ye Ran was about to insert his key card into the power slot when he suddenly heard Shen Shi call his name.

“Ye Ran.” “Hmm?” He turned around.

As if a scene were repeating, a shadow pressed toward him as Shen Shi leaned over. Shen Shi was against the light, his facial profile half-lit and half-shadowed. His messy black hair cast a layer of shadow over his face. Ye Ran could only see a pair of dark eyes with unreadable emotions.

A soft sensation came from his lips. They were pried open again, and his tongue was sucked once. The scorching temperature filled the space between their lips. This time, Shen Shi sucked for a long time without leaving his mouth.

Ye Ran instinctively reached out to the side but didn’t find any object to steady himself. His body leaned back involuntarily. The suction on his lips was heavy—so heavy that he finally lost his footing, his legs going soft as he knelt on the floor.

The floor was cold and flat. He sat on the ground with a blank mind, his breathing slightly rapid. The next second, the shadow in front of him lowered along with his movement.

(It was just a kiss, nothing below the neck.)

Shen Shi kept his head down, finding Ye Ran’s slightly parted lips in the darkness again. His gaze was dark and calm as he naturally drove straight in, entritching the tongue that was resting against Ye Ran’s lower jaw.

In his ears was the inexplicably clear sound of moisture.

Ye Ran’s shoulders arched, and his neck was covered in fine sweat from the heat. The red around his eyes spread to his ears. He was shivering and dazed throughout the entire kiss. He couldn’t speak, and he didn’t even have the strength to push back. His fingertips trembled again and again, enveloped by Shen Shi’s semi-kneeling silhouette, hidden in the shadow beneath him, being kissed on the lips one after another. The space in his mouth was entirely plundered.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Shi finally withdrew. Before leaving, he licked Ye Ran’s lips as if by accident, making Ye Ran shiver again, his fingertips curling as he gripped tightly unconsciously.

Shen Shi knelt half-way in front of him, his hair messy and his lips slightly red. He looked completely different from his usual cold, abstinent self. He asked nonchalantly:

“Did you have a feeling this time?”

His throat was slightly hoarse, but his voice remained low and cold.

Ye Ran was breathing lightly, his gaze scattered and blank as he stared at the floor. He was clearly kissed into a daze, unable to speak or even recover.

Shen Shi nodded and stood up. “I understand.” He added, “Sorry, I’ll be more mindful next time.”

Just like in the morning, he turned and went back to his own room, restoring his usual calm and self-restraint.

Click—

Ye Ran was startled awake by the sound of the door closing. He looked up belatedly, still slumped on the floor. Looking at the empty corridor in front of him, he suddenly had a very, very bad feeling in his heart.

Straight men… can they really kiss a person of the same sex like this?