Fishing-Type Beauties Will Never Love Crematorium - Chapter 16

Shen He continued to watch him.

Wei Yan took two steps back and raised his hands in surrender. “My bad, I will not mess around anymore.”

Shen He retracted his gaze and looked at Chen Qingtang. “Are you alright?”

Chen Qingtang was laughing so hard that tears had welled up in his eyes. He blinked, and as he looked up, his gaze was like glistening spring water, shimmering with a fragile, tearful light. He looked as though he had been severely bullied.

Wei Yan’s eyes went wide. “Damn, you are just too…”

Too alluring, too erotic. He did not dare say the second half of the sentence, fearing it would make him sound like he was gay.

This was the first time Shen He realized that words like “charming” and “pitiful” could also be used to describe a boy. He reached into his pocket, took out a tissue, and handed it to Chen Qingtang to wipe his eyes.

Wei Yan scratched his head. “I was just playing around. Little Chen, you are not mad, right?”

Chen Qingtang recovered slightly. “I am fine.”

Shen He said to Wei Yan in a low voice, “Even when joking, you need to know your limits.”

Wei Yan was confused. “We are both guys. What is the big deal about grabbing someone’s neck? Little Chen is not that delicate, is he?”

Shen He remained silent for two seconds. “He is different from us.”

Wei Yan and Chen Qingtang looked at Shen He simultaneously.

Wei Yan asked, “How is he different? Do we not all have two eyes, a nose, and a mouth? Are we not all boys?”

A hidden smile flickered in the depths of Chen Qingtang’s eyes. He also wanted to know exactly how he was different from Wei Yan.

Shen He merely replied with a cold expression, “He just is.”

Wei Yan grumbled, “Fine. Little Chen, sorry about that. I am just used to being wild.”

Chen Qingtang smiled. “It is alright.”

It was good that Shen He had stepped in to stop him; he did not like the rough physical play between boys, such as patting each other’s backsides, hooking arms, or the neck-grabbing that had happened today. Everyone had sensitive spots; some people’s were their ears, others’ were their waists. Chen Qingtang’s sensitive spot was his neck; even the slightest touch would make him tremble with itching. It was no exaggeration to say it was like a secondary sex organ. He only wanted Shen He to touch it; he was only willing to let Shen He brush against it. Wei Yan’s actions had been somewhat offensive, but since Wei Yan was a straight man with no ulterior motives, just wanting to play, Chen Qingtang did not mind too much.

There were no classes in the afternoon, so the group finished dinner at the cafeteria and returned to the dorm. After a brief period of quiet, Wei Yan suddenly held up his phone, eyes shining, and whispered for Luo Xin and Shen He to come over.

Wei Yan said, “I just found a new batch of films.”

Shen He turned to walk away.

Wei Yan hurriedly grabbed him. “Wait, do not leave yet. This batch is special.”

Luo Xin looked at him curiously. “What is special about it?”

Wei Yan lowered his voice. “This time, it is two men.”

Shen He’s expression turned strange for a moment. Luo Xin’s gaze was also difficult to describe.

Wei Yan widened his eyes. “I am not like that! I am absolutely, one hundred percent straight!”

Luo Xin said in a small voice, “Then why are you watching that? Is it not disgusting?”

Wei Yan replied, “Little Chen asked me the other day if I had any male-male content, and it made me curious. I wanted to see what it was actually like. I just happened to find some, but I did not dare watch it alone, so I called you guys.”

Shen He suddenly realized something: “So, watching male-male content does not necessarily mean one is gay?”

Wei Yan, eager to prove his innocence, insisted, “Of course not! Some people watch it just out of curiosity.”

Shen He pursed his lips, thoughtful.

Wei Yan continued, “Look at Luo Xin. He even reads male-male novels, and he is still perfectly straight.”

Shen He looked at Luo Xin. Luo Xin’s pupils dilated, and his ears turned deep red instantly. “H-how do you know I read those?”

Wei Yan pointed at the bookshelf. “They are right there on your shelf. It is so obvious; I am not blind.”

Luo Xin was nervous and stuttered, “I… I thought…”

He thought no one would recognize those as male-male novels. After all, boys rarely read novels, and danmei belonged to the female-oriented genre; aside from gay men, straight men would never look at them. However, he had not anticipated that Wei Yan was a trend-following internet user who spent time on Douyin and knew about popular danmei novels through marketing accounts.

Wei Yan chuckled. “Just tell me, Xinzi, are you straight or not?”

Luo Xin stared at his toes, his voice quieter than a mosquito’s. “I… I am straight…”

Wei Yan slapped his shoulder hard. “Speak up! Do not be like this, Xinzi. Have some confidence. You are scaring me.”

Luo Xin shivered in fright. “I am straight!”

Wei Yan eyed him up and down, feeling a bit uneasy. “Swear you are straight, or I will not be able to rest easy.”

Luo Xin closed his eyes. “I swear, I am straight!”

Wei Yan finally let him go. “Alright, let us watch. I will turn the video sound off so we do not disturb Little Chen. If we are brothers, we watch together.”

Shen He held down the hand Wei Yan was using to hold the tablet, his expression serious. “If reading novels or watching videos about men does not necessarily mean someone is gay, then how does one judge if the other person is?”

Wei Yan shrugged. “I do not know. I am not gay.”

Luo Xin spoke up cautiously, “You could ask if they know what Xiao Lan is.”

Shen He asked, “Xiao Lan?”

Luo Xin nodded. “Yes. It is a dating app for gay men. If someone is in that circle, they would know about it, even if they do not use it.”

Wei Yan suddenly hit on a point: “Then how do you know that?”

Luo Xin coughed. “Just… just saw it online by accident.”

Wei Yan was skeptical and narrowed his eyes at him.

Luo Xin turned his back. “I am tired. I am going to sleep.”

Wei Yan immediately said, “Do not! We have not watched the films yet. Keep me company.”

He turned back to find Shen He, only to realize that Shen He had already returned to his desk, put on his headphones, and started reading. Wei Yan shrugged. Fine. If they were not watching, then he would not either. He could not be the only one whose eyes were pained by this.

—

The next day, during the lecture, Chen Qingtang continued to observe Shen He. Shen He still showed no reaction and treated him the same as usual. Chen Qingtang could not figure out what Shen He was thinking.

After class, the four of them remained in the lecture hall because Wei Yan had one more ranked match to finish in his game. Shen He and the others decided to wait.

While playing, Wei Yan chatted idly. “When I was playing basketball yesterday, a guy actually came up and asked for my WeChat.”

Luo Xin asked, “Did you give it to him?”

Wei Yan spat. “Give it? No way. I am hardcore straight.”

“I thought he was impressed by my majestic basketball skills and wanted to schedule a match. Turns out, he was interested in my body.”

“Ugh, disgusting. It is bad luck when a gay guy tries to turn a straight one.”

Shen He stopped writing and asked, uncharacteristically gossipy, “How did you find out he was gay?”

Chen Qingtang also looked at him.

Wei Yan said, “He seemed normal at first, complimenting my jersey, saying I ran like a fierce leopard, and saying I must be very strong with solid abs.”

Luo Xin: “…”

Chen Qingtang: “…”

…How was any of that normal? It was as good as writing “I am interested in your body” on his forehead.

Wei Yan laughed. “I was actually quite flattered at the time, thinking, Heh, he has good taste; my handsomeness can even make a person of the same sex swoon.”

Luo Xin: “…”

Chen Qingtang: “…”

This person is beyond saving. He would probably still be smiling even if someone were drooling over him.

Wei Yan’s smile suddenly dropped as he spat, “But then, he kept complimenting me before asking: ‘Do you use Xiao Lan? Do you have an account?'”

“I immediately remembered what Xinzi said. My god! My radar went off! I was so scared I covered my rear and sprinted five meters away, forgetting my basketball and running for my life.”

Luo Xin found it amusing. “You were just wanting to watch those kinds of films, but the moment you meet a gay man in real life, you behave yourself.”

Wei Yan sighed. “I am behaving now. I am truly behaving; leave me out of this.”

Chen Qingtang looked at Luo Xin with an unreadable expression. He seemed to understand something. The number of gay men in their dorm was quite high; it seemed Wei Yan was in for a rough time ahead.

At that moment, the usually oblivious Wei Yan had a flash of insight. “Hey, Little Chen, how come you did not ask what Xiao Lan is? Do you know what it is?”

Chen Qingtang had not even been there when they talked about it yesterday. Shen He’s pen tip paused as he also looked at Chen Qingtang.

Chen Qingtang did not look at Wei Yan. Instead, he stared at Shen He, raised an eyebrow, and said with a faint smile, “You guess.”

Shen He’s gaze seemed to be burned, and he quickly looked away, his pen flying across the paper.

Seeing his reaction, Chen Qingtang realized that Shen He already knew he was gay. However, whether Shen He felt disgusted, repulsed, or what he thought of him remained unclear.

Wei Yan pressed, “I am not guessing, just tell me—”

Just as he was about to continue questioning, Luo Xin interrupted: “Your hero is about to die.”

Wei Yan cursed and immediately focused entirely on his game. Once the match was over, he had already forgotten everything. That was the simplicity of a single-celled life.

When the four of them took the elevator down, the car was crowded. Chen Qingtang entered first and stood in a corner. Shen He followed behind him out of habit, shielding him between his chest and the wall. In the past, whenever he did this, Chen Qingtang’s nose would not feel uncomfortable even in a crowd. But today, Chen Qingtang was tense, his beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Shen He thought he was uncomfortable, so he moved a little closer to shield him better. To his surprise, every time he moved an inch closer, Chen Qingtang would shrink back an inch, his brow furrowing deeper.

It was as if… it was as if he was resisting him, pushing him away.

An indistinct emotion pulled at Shen He’s heart, making it sink. He finally asked, “What is wrong?”

Chen Qingtang looked away. “The scent. The scent is wrong.”

Shen He: “What?”

Chen Qingtang lifted his eyelids and looked at him, sounding a bit aggrieved: “The scent on you is wrong. It is different from before; it is very pungent, and it makes me feel uncomfortable.”

Shen He’s pupils trembled; he remained frozen in place. It took a long time for him to process the sentence before he awkwardly stepped back two paces to create distance between them.

Chen Qingtang saw the word “shattered” clearly on the boy’s handsome face.

He is so pitiful; I feel a little sorry for him. But at the same time, Chen Qingtang felt excited, his heart filled with uncontrollable joy.

Shen He’s voice dropped. “I ran out of my laundry detergent, so I switched to a new brand.”

Chen Qingtang: “Oh… so that is it.”

Shen He’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “You… do you not like the scent of this detergent?”

Chen Qingtang pursed his lips and slowly shook his head. “The perfume is too strong… it is pungent.”

Shen He lowered his eyes and nodded.

Chen Qingtang could not figure it out. What was the meaning of the nod?

Throughout the rest of the trip, Shen He kept a safe distance from Chen Qingtang. Chen Qingtang was even more confused. This person—how can he get so moody just because I teased him a little?

It was not until the afternoon, when Shen He came to class, that Chen Qingtang realized—he had changed his clothes.