Are All You Straight Men Like This? - Chapter 4

7:40 AM.

The sky was a dull gray, with dark clouds swirling and rolling; it looked like a heavy downpour was imminent.

Gegu Building.

“So you’re saying you had a fever in the middle of the night last week?”

On the way up the stairs, surrounded by classmates who still looked sleepy, Xiao Pang was the only one exceptionally energetic. Today was Wednesday, and the first period was Chinese. The three of them had chosen the same teacher. The large classroom was packed, with only a few scattered seats left.

“Yeah, I was fine after the IV drip,” Ye Ran said.

“Did the two of us really sleep that soundly? We didn’t know anything from start to finish,” Shu-ge muttered.

Ye Ran thought for a moment. “You did sleep very deeply.” Their snoring was loud enough to shake the heavens, yet they hadn’t even woken themselves up.

Xiao Pang and Shu-ge both looked like they were questioning their lives. Ye Ran, holding his book, stood by the back door searching for seats.

“Ye Ran!”

Amidst the noisy chatter of the classroom, a pretty female voice drifted over. Ye Ran followed the sound and saw a familiar girl waving at him with a smile; there happened to be three empty seats behind her.

As he recognized her face, Ye Ran’s scalp slowly began to tingle.

“Whoa,” Xiao Pang also saw this and started squealing with jealousy. “Ye Ran, when did you hook up with this girl! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

“Don’t talk nonsense, she’s a senior in my department.”

Since the senior had already saved seats, Ye Ran had to walk over. The three empty seats were next to the aisle. Ye Ran sat on the outside, and as he looked up, a figure in the front row caught his eye.

It was Shen Shi.

He had actually chosen Professor Chen’s Chinese class as well. The Financial Management students were spread out around Shen Shi. There was an empty seat next to him, likely reserved for someone.

Shen Shi’s classmates were very enthusiastic; in just a few minutes, five or six people had already greeted him. Some boys even stopped in the aisle next to him, leaning on the desk to chat.

“Ye Ran,” the senior called him.

Ye Ran retracted his gaze. “Ah, what is it?”

Cheng Xinxin was wearing a white floral dress today, with “no-makeup” style makeup carefully applied. With her long hair and gentle aura, she made many freshmen stare. She was turned around, sitting in a very “boss-like” posture, propping her chin on her hand as she smiled. “So, are you getting used to staying at Peking University?”

Cheng Xinxin wasn’t just Ye Ran’s direct senior; they had known each other since high school. That was why she was the one who hosted him on his first day of registration.

He nodded. “I’m used to it. The cafeteria is quite good.”

“That’s true, much better than the one at No. 1 High School,” Cheng Xinxin complained. “Your military training was tiring this year. When we did it, it rained intermittently for almost a month… But you haven’t tanned at all, have you?”

She raised her eyebrows, staring at Ye Ran. Ye Ran’s skin was very fair—a delicate, flawless cool white. Outside, the wind howled and clouds rolled, but the indoor fluorescent lights were on. Sitting under the spilling light, he looked up and blinked in confusion.

Ugh. Cheng Xinxin was instantly “electrocuted” by his look.

…Damn, he’s really good-looking. Compared to Shen Shi, whom most girls in the University City admired, she preferred Ye Ran’s looks.

Ye Ran had a clean and elegant face. His phoenix eyes were narrow but not small, with thin “inner-double” eyelids, yet the corners of his eyes curved into two upward-slanting folds, full of spirit when he opened and closed them. A face like this might not seem especially stunning at first glance, but after knowing him for a long time and seeing the way those eyes curved when he smiled, one would only like him more and more, unable to look away.

It had only been a month since school started. Most freshmen hadn’t recovered from military training, and the older students were more curious about Shen Shi, the new “Campus Grass” of the University City. But it wasn’t hard to imagine how many people would be drawn to the mild-tempered and easygoing Ye Ran in a while.

“I wore sunscreen,” Ye Ran explained.

Cheng Xinxin: “Oh, I see…” As if sunscreen does anything for military training!

“Then you probably won’t tan if you go hiking either?”

“Huh?” Ye Ran hadn’t expected this angle. He thought for a bit before saying, “I’m not sure, it probably depends on the weather.”

“Then I suggest you join a club like that. You can see the scenery and not worry about tanning. It’s perfect. Like our school’s Hiking Club. They say it’s hiking, but it’s actually just eating and drinking on the school’s budget while walking around. It’s very relaxed.”

Ye Ran: “Mm, I’ll consider it…” He suddenly grew alert and looked at the smiling Cheng Xinxin. “Senior, I forgot to ask, which club are you in?”

“The Hiking Club,” Cheng Xinxin blinked innocently.

Ye Ran: “…” Of course. That marvelous sales pitch.

Seeing her goal exposed, Cheng Xinxin stopped hiding. “Really not joining? Our club welcomes handsome guys like you. With you there, the younger members can walk an extra ten kilometers.”

Xiao Pang, having listened to their exchange for a while, finally found a chance to interrupt. “What about me, senior? Look at me!” He mimicked Ye Ran’s blinking, his round face breaking into a smile as he tilted his head at a 45-degree angle, looking very eager.

Cheng Xinxin looked at him for a few seconds. “Mm… your voice is quite good.”

Xiao Pang: “…”

“Hahahahaha!” Shu-ge immediately burst into mocking laughter. “That’s hilarious. You have ‘voice’ instead of ‘looks’… Senior, look at me?”

Cheng Xinxin looked at him. “Your voice is also good.”

Shu-ge: “…” Smile suddenly disappears.jpg.

This time it was Ye Ran’s turn to clutch his water cup and laugh. “Hahaha.”

The hot water had been filled before class, and steam drifted up. When Cheng Xinxin called him, the smile hadn’t faded from his eyes. He didn’t notice the students nearby looking his way. “Ah? Senior, what’s wrong?”

“Join our Hiking Club,” Cheng Xinxin said.

Ye Ran: “…” He silently pulled back his smile and put down his cup. “Senior, I want to look around a bit more.”

“Our Hiking Club is definitely the best in the school. You won’t regret it!” Cheng Xinxin lobbied desperately.

Xiao Pang opened his mouth, still struggling. “Senior, actually, if Ye Ran doesn’t want to go, I can…”

“Membership is ten yuan,” Cheng Xinxin said.

Xiao Pang: “…” He silently wept. “Pardon the interruption.”

Ye Ran laughed again. Cheng Xinxin also smiled. “Little Fatty, do you really want to come?”

In just ten minutes, Xiao Pang’s heart had been hit by three arrows. “I…” He swallowed his frustration and asked tearfully, “What do you think?”

“I think,” Cheng Xinxin said, “you can bundle your roommate and come together.”

Xiao Pang immediately turned to Shu-ge. “Shu-ge, let’s go together.”

Cheng Xinxin: “Bundle one more.”

Xiao Pang: “Ye Ran…”

“Ye Ran.”

A clear, low male voice suddenly entered his ears. Ye Ran blanked and looked around in confusion. “I think I heard someone call me.”

Before he could retract his gaze, he realized Shen Shi in the front row was looking at him. Shen Shi was dressed in all black today; he preferred black. His forearms beneath the short sleeves were lean and long, resting loosely on the back of the chair, his fingers pale and well-defined.

He had his head turned, his gaze resting quietly on Ye Ran’s face. He didn’t intentionally raise his voice, yet he could be heard clearly. “Come here for a second.”

“Oh.”

Ye Ran stood up, wondering what Shen Shi wanted. Cheng Xinxin was already squealing softly while holding her face. “Crap, the best of both worlds!”

Ye Ran looked at her. “?”

“Nothing, go ahead,” Cheng Xinxin shut up instantly. “…By the way, ask Shen Shi if he wants to join our Hiking Club! We really need handsome guys!”

Class was about to start, and the old professor was preparing the PPT on the podium. The classroom was noisy, with late students standing at the back door looking for seats. There was no one in the seat next to Shen Shi. Ye Ran couldn’t hear him clearly and leaned down slightly. “What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t bring a notebook.”

Ye Ran: “A notebook…?”

“Mm,” Shen Shi said succinctly. “For taking notes.”

Ye Ran was silent for a few seconds, suddenly filled with respect. God knows that for a general elective like College Chinese, most students just coasted through. He hadn’t expected Shen Shi to take even an elective so seriously. As expected of the top scholar of Province A. His standards were different.

“I didn’t bring one either,” Ye Ran said hesitantly. “I’ll ask the others for you.”

Shen Shi paused upon hearing this and said, “No need. I’ll write in the book.”

On the podium, the professor adjusted the loudspeaker. With three minutes until class, the room was full. Latecomers had to stand at the back, their eyes searching for any vacancy.

Ye Ran returned to his seat. Cheng Xinxin asked expectantly, “So? Is Shen Shi interested in our club?”

“I haven’t asked yet,” Ye Ran said.

“Ah?” Cheng Xinxin was disappointed but didn’t mind. “Then what did you guys talk about?”

“Shen Shi asked if I had a notebook. He wants to take notes.”

Cheng Xinxin blanked. “…” A few seconds later, she said with sincere emotion, “Damn, that’s impressive!”

The clock struck eight, and the Chinese class officially began. The professor’s voice was gentle: “Students, this is our third meeting. Everyone quiet down. Today we are discussing ancient poetry. Please open your books…”

Ye Ran turned to the page. The loudspeaker amplified the professor’s voice greatly, with occasional static. Outside, the rain gathered and the light gradually dimmed. Thunder erupted from the clouds.

The classroom quieted down. The curtains ruffled in the fierce wind. Xiao Pang and Shu-ge were gaming, their fingers sliding nimbly over their screens, various game effects dazzling to the eye.

Ye Ran listened for a while and then started to space out. His gaze accidentally drifted to the empty seat next to Shen Shi.

…Huh? He was startled. No one was sitting there?

He looked back again. There were seven or eight boys standing in the last row. They were discreetly playing with their phones; some knew each other, some didn’t. Even so, no one was willing to sit next to Shen Shi.

There was only one period of Chinese. After class ended, everyone swarmed out to catch their respective major classes. As a freshman, Ye Ran had few classes. Xiao Pang and Shu-ge hurriedly said goodbye and rushed to other teaching buildings.

“Ah, see you.”

Waving to the two, Ye Ran packed his books and looked up. Shen Shi was already gone from the classroom. The crowd was dense. The professor stood on the podium waiting for the second-period students. A large group soon entered to find seats. Ye Ran didn’t stay long and left the classroom as well.

It was raining very hard. The first-floor lobby was full of stranded students, all shivering in the cold wind and complaining about the weather. Ye Ran looked at the pouring rain with some helplessness. He had reminded Xiao Pang to bring an umbrella this morning, and now Xiao Pang had one while he himself had forgotten.

The dark clouds on the horizon rolled in, thunder roared, and lightning darted through the clouds like swimming dragons. The rain came down in torrents, hitting the ground with a rhythmic pitter-patter.

With twenty minutes until the next class, another group of students came down the stairs. The lobby instantly became cramped. Ye Ran was pushed into a corner and shook his head at a girl who apologized for bumping him. “It’s fine.”

“I’m really sorry, I stepped on your shoe…” The girl turned around with difficulty. Her gaze landed on his face, and her tone changed. “Why don’t we exchange WeChat? I’ll send your shoes to the dry cleaners.”

Ye Ran’s shoes were a new autumn style; the leather shouldn’t get wet. “It’s okay. I’ll just wipe them with a tissue when I get back.”

The girl didn’t give up. “Better safe than sorry. Let’s add WeChat, Junior.”

Ye Ran hesitated. “Really, there’s no need…”

The girl was about to speak more when her eyes suddenly brightened. She stared straight behind Ye Ran and excitedly tapped the arm of the girl next to her. “Over there, over there!”

Ye Ran turned his head curiously. Not far away, a familiar figure was walking toward them.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Shi walked closer and asked him, looking down. He was holding an umbrella, his voice cold and calm.

“Nothing,” Ye Ran hadn’t expected him to walk over. “I just got stepped on.”

Shen Shi glanced at his shoe—a visible gray footprint. He then looked at Ye Ran’s empty hands. “Did you bring an umbrella?”

Ye Ran paused. “…No.”

“Let’s go,” Shen Shi said. “The rain looks like it’ll last a long time.”

He finished speaking and took the lead, ignoring all the gazes around them. Ye Ran heard a few whispers, both male and female. Shen Shi still held the title of “Campus Grass,” and public curiosity usually lasted a while before new gossip appeared.

He stood still for a few seconds and then quickly caught up.

Snap.

The umbrella was opened. The dormitory was a distance from the teaching building. As soon as Ye Ran stepped into the wind and rain, the slanting droplets instantly soaked his pant legs. Shen Shi’s umbrella was for a single person and wasn’t large.

Ye Ran squinted in the wind. He didn’t dare get too close to Shen Shi, fearing he’d take up too much space. In the next second, his shoulder was suddenly pulled in. Shen Shi’s palm was broad and warm, pulling him closer under the umbrella. A voice came from above, still cold: “Let’s move.”

For the rest of the walk, Ye Ran only felt Shen Shi’s palm getting hotter and hotter. He wondered if it was because he was too cold, or if it was just an illusion.

A walk that usually took twenty minutes actually took only ten today. The moment they stepped into the dorm lobby, the warm air from the central AC greeted them. Ye Ran felt reborn.

His clothes were mostly wet, and the footprint on his shoe had vanished, replaced by rainwater. Shen Shi’s clothes were dark and clung slightly to his body, outlining his tall and upright frame. He casually brushed back his messy bangs, his dark, narrow phoenix eyes showing no emotion as he watched Ye Ran open the door.

Ye Ran was shivering from the cold. After entering, he went to the bathroom to check for hot water. “Great, there’s hot water,” he turned and asked. “Shen Shi, are you showering?”

Shen Shi took off his soaked shirt, revealing a section of his pale, lean waist. “You go first.”

Ye Ran awkwardly averted his gaze. “Okay, give me seven or eight minutes.”

He quickly found clean clothes and entered the bathroom. The water temperature was perfect. Thinking of Shen Shi waiting outside, Ye Ran didn’t dare delay. After washing his hair and rinsing off, he stepped out.

“I’m done,” he pushed the door open, drying his hair. “Shen Shi, you…”

He stopped. He looked around the room and didn’t see Shen Shi. A phone on the desk lit up. It was a message sent a few minutes ago.

Shen Shi: [I’m going to class.]

Looking at the message, Ye Ran’s hand drying his hair stopped unconsciously. A few seconds later, he let out a sigh. For some reason, he thought of Shen Shi’s solitary figure in class today.

Next time, he thought. Next time in class, I must sit with Shen Shi.