Fishing-Type Beauties Will Never Love Crematorium - Chapter 2

Chen Qingtang turned his head at the sound.

The first thing Shen He saw upon entering the room was a pair of black eyes that possessed an indescribable charm. They were filled with a gentle, lingering allure that seemed to hook into the soul without appearing lewd or ambiguous. It felt like watching flowers bloom in the early morning in a water town, viewed through a layer of hazy mist.

The boy was thinner than he had appeared in his photos, with delicate and striking features. Yet, his temperament was like a begonia branch dusted with light frost under the moonlight, elegant, aloof, and clear as the moon. This demeanor perfectly balanced the aggression in his features, making him appear more rounded and gentle. The person in front of him was far more striking than the photos, and Shen He’s gaze unconsciously stalled.

Chen Qingtang let him look freely while he stared back at Shen He. Their lines of sight collided silently, tangled together, and a subtle atmosphere spread through the dorm like creeping vines. They did not come back to their senses until Wei Yan coughed.

Shen He took out his campus card and returned it to Chen Qingtang. Chen Qingtang reached out to take it, but his gaze did not shift from Shen He. “Thank you.”

His voice was clear and cool like a mountain spring. It was a perfectly ordinary phrase, yet it threw a stone into a still corner of Shen He’s heart, sending ripples outward. This subtle, strange feeling was entirely foreign, and Shen He subconsciously looked up, meeting those smiling, amorous eyes again.

The boy’s gaze was calm, yet it held a dangerous, magnetic pull. It was as if he were hiding a bottomless abyss, ready to swallow Shen He’s soul whole. Shen He felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart.

After the lights were turned off that night, Chen Qingtang curled up comfortably on his bed and drew the curtains. Just as he was about to watch a debate competition, a message from Chu Xi arrived.

Chu Xi: How is it going, my dear Tang? You have moved into their dorm; any progress with Shen He?

Chu Xi had only learned that Shen He lived in the same room when he helped Chen Qingtang move that afternoon. His childhood friend had clearly been planning this for a long time.

Chen Qingtang: No. Shen He does not stay in the dorm.

Chu Xi: [Cat Shocked] Then why did you move in?

Chen Qingtang yawned: To go fishing, of course.

Chu Xi quickly understood: Oh, I get it. Integrating into his life and social circle to gain presence.

Chen Qingtang: [Smile]

The core of any human relationship is built on three things: establishing contact, building on that contact, and then establishing a deeper connection. Building a connection requires a link, and if none exists, one must be created. A link might seem insignificant, but it is essential for the story to unfold naturally. The identity of a roommate was the first link Chen Qingtang had forged with Shen He. As the saying goes, those close to the water see the moon first.

Chu Xi: Did you add him on WeChat?

Chen Qingtang: I said it before; he has to be the one to add me.

Chu Xi: ?? With Shen He’s personality? You know he is cold, arrogant, and aloof; he does not care about maintaining classmate relationships. So if you think being his roommate means he will add you, you are wrong. It would be more realistic if you asked him.

Chen Qingtang replied with ease: He will.

Chu Xi: Want to bet?

Chen Qingtang: Sure.

Chu Xi: Fine, I will bet a week. If Shen He adds you within a week, you treat me to a meal.

After a week, roommates usually get to know each other, so adding WeChat would be acceptable. Chen Qingtang curled his toes, his fair ankles swaying slightly: I bet within one day.

Chu Xi: Wow, okay. Ends tomorrow at midnight?

Chen Qingtang: Agreed.

Chu Xi: Adding someone on WeChat is just a trivial matter. You are so dawdling; when will you ever chase him down?

Chen Qingtang: Let me ask you, from freshman year until now, have there been few people who tried to add Shen He on WeChat?

Chu Xi: That is true.

If they were to line up, the queue would probably stretch from the North gate to the South gate of the school, wrapping all the way around. Aside from his stunning appearance, Shen He was brilliant; he had entered the university with the top score in the college entrance exam. His family was in business, and he was a legitimate rich second-generation young master; he certainly did not lack money. His character was impeccable as well; he had once made local news for bravely fighting off a robber.

Chen Qingtang: Of those people, how many actually got close to Shen He, and who ended up catching him?

Chu Xi: None.

None at all. Chu Xi knew two girls in his debate club who had asked for Shen He’s WeChat, but he simply did not give it to them. There was even a boy who tried to add him under the guise of discussing the debate competition. A good start, right? But after only a few messages, Shen He saw through his intentions and issued a cold refusal:

“Sorry, I have no plans for a relationship. If you are here for that purpose, please do not waste any more of your time or energy on me. It is unfair to you and extremely intrusive to me.”

“Can we not just be friends?”

“I do not lack friends.”

Look, he was guarding every angle, blocking every path.

Chu Xi: He is truly hard to chase, tsk.

Chen Qingtang cut straight to the core: If your intentions are too obvious, the prey will be scared off. I will let him approach me, step by step, on his own.

Like a fish being fished, even if it senses a trap behind the bait, it will be willing to bite the hook.

Chu Xi: You talk a big game. I will see if Shen He comes to add you within a day.

Chen Qingtang: By the way, I need your help with something.

The next day, it was a large general class where several departments attended together. Of course, that did not matter; the important thing was that Shen He would be there too. Before entering, Chen Qingtang stopped, smoothed his wind-blown hair, ensured he looked fresh and handsome, put his mask back on, and pushed the door open with two books in hand.

He saw Wei Yan in the last row and Shen He, who was sitting straight with such pleasing posture. There happened to be an empty seat next to Shen He. Chen Qingtang walked toward the back, looking for a seat. However, he had arrived quite late, and there were virtually no seats left.

Chu Xi stood up from the crowd and waved at him. Chen Qingtang ignored him and sent a WeChat message: Do not call me.

Chu Xi: ?? You have no seat, I saved one for you, hurry up!

Chen Qingtang: No need. Do not save seats for me in the future; pretend we do not know each other.

Chu Xi: ?? Are you human? Do you not fear breaking my heart?

Chen Qingtang: The organization will remember your sacrifice. [Smile]

Chu Xi: [Rolls eyes] Then what will you do this period? Where will you sit?

Chu Xi looked behind him and immediately fixed his eyes on the empty seat next to Shen He.

Chu Xi: Ah, you do not mean to sit with him, do you? That seat is saved for Luo Xin. There is another guy named Luo Xin in your dorm who has not arrived.

Chen Qingtang did not reply and put his phone away. He had walked through the aisle once, so he turned around and walked from front to back again. The advantage of being reborn was that Chen Qingtang knew everything about Shen He and everyone around him. Whether his initial scheme would succeed depended on Wei Yan, who was cheerful, a bit naive, and helpful.

Just then, Wei Yan, who had finished a game, looked up and saw Chen Qingtang searching for a seat. He called out to Shen He. Shen He’s concentration was freakishly high; he could automatically filter out surrounding noise and hear nothing. Wei Yan poked Shen He with his elbow: “Shen Ge, Chen Qingtang seems to be late and has no seat.”

Shen He did not look up, but his gaze stalled for two seconds. Upon hearing that name, he remembered the eyes that had stared at him the previous night, eyes filled with fine smiles, conveying peaceful and friendly signals, like a gorgeous and brilliant flower growing by a swamp. A flower that used its beauty and innocence to lure travelers near, only to prey upon them when they least expected it.

Shen He’s gaze continued to scan the computer screen: “It has nothing to do with us.” His tone was cold and unfeeling.

Wei Yan: “But he is quite nice. I was busy yesterday, and he cleaned the dorm by himself.”

“Besides, we are roommates; it would not look good to see him without a seat. He looks quite pathetic standing there.”

Shen He’s fingers paused: “Luo Xin has not arrived yet.” That seat was reserved for Luo Xin.

Wei Yan scratched his head: “But Xinzi’s train is delayed; he definitely will not arrive this morning. Since the seat is empty anyway, why not give it to Chen Qingtang?”

Wei Yan observed Shen He’s expression; if Shen He disagreed, he would have to drop it. That was how their dorm worked, everything revolved around Shen He.

Silence. A very long silence.

Chen Qingtang had walked the aisle for the second time. Wei Yan had almost given up hope and began praying for Chen Qingtang. Suddenly, Shen He spoke: “Let him come over.”

The low, magnetic male voice was like a glass of mellow wine, deep, thick, and clear. Shen He’s voice was intoxicatingly beautiful. Wei Yan immediately beamed: “Alrighty!”

When Chen Qingtang intended to walk the aisle for a third time, he finally heard Wei Yan’s beautiful call: “Chen Qingtang! Over here, over here!”

Chen Qingtang adjusted his mask and walked toward Wei Yan. Wei Yan thought for a moment, tidied his desk, stood up, and sat next to Shen He, giving his seat to Chen Qingtang. Mostly, Shen He did not like sitting next to strangers. Chen Qingtang waited quietly for Wei Yan to switch seats. This was exactly what he wanted. Shen He was a person with a strong sense of personal space; sitting too close physically at the very beginning would only lead to rejection. Just brushing past him like this was enough to build presence.

The bell rang, and the teacher stepped in right on time. He slammed his book on the podium and began explaining the rules for the new semester. Shen He pulled out his book to read, but before he could finish a couple of lines, a hand reached out from the row in front, holding a note between its index and middle fingers. But the note was not for him; it was for Wei Yan. Shen He acted as if he did not see it and continued reading. That hand kept going back and forth right in front of him.

Until one time, when Chen Qingtang misjudged the distance and extended his hand toward Shen He’s side. Wei Yan was engrossed in his game and did not notice. Shen He looked past his book, which was blocking the words, at that hand. The boy’s hand had well-proportioned, slender knuckles and neatly trimmed nails. He did not know if it was hand cream, but even at this distance, he could smell a fragrance, like damp osmanthus flowers with dew in October. It was a faint, sweet, and pleasant scent.

Shen He looked for two seconds before using his pen to push the hand aside toward Wei Yan. Only then did Wei Yan notice and hurriedly took the note, lowering his voice: “I am discussing something with Xiao Chen.”

Shen He did not react. After a while, Wei Yan pushed the note back: “Shen Ge, take a look. Chen Qingtang plans to add some things to the dorm. I have discussed it with him, and if you think it is okay, we will finalize it.”

Although Shen He rarely stayed in the dorm, he returned often and used the shared items, so he had to participate in decisions about what to buy. Shen He took the note. On it were two drastically different handwritings. One was messy and hasty, clearly written by Wei Yan. The other was neat and beautiful, yet revealed a sharp vigor; every stroke and dash was filled with aggression. This person had a gentle and cool temperament, yet his handwriting was fiercely wild.

After reading it, Shen He picked up a pen to add something, but Wei Yan’s handwriting was such an eyesore that he wrote right next to Chen Qingtang’s words. After finishing, he handed it to Wei Yan, and within two seconds, Wei Yan passed it to Chen Qingtang. Chen Qingtang rested his chin on one hand and held the pen in the other, circling Shen He’s words again and again.

He could even imagine Shen He’s slender, clean hands holding the pen, gliding across the paper. The veins on the back of his hand pulsed with the movement, appearing and disappearing, and his arm strained into a sexy line. The hand that wrote such upright and decent characters was the same hand that had teased and pleased him in private. He had not forgotten what kind of soul-shattering pleasure those hands had brought him.

Chen Qingtang narrowed his eyes slightly. Really, even writing is so sexy.

There was only one class in the morning, and the two classes were separated in the afternoon, so Chen Qingtang and Shen He did not even meet. Time flew until evening. Around nine o’clock, Wei Yan started gaming. Listening to him call “Shen Ge” every other sentence, Chen Qingtang knew who he was playing with.

Chu Xi’s message came again: A day has passed, has Shen He added your WeChat?

Chen Qingtang leaned back in his chair, swinging his legs leisurely. A fluffy slipper hung off the foot that was swinging.

Chen Qingtang: Not yet. But what about the favor I asked of you?

Chu Xi: Done! The club president said the debate competition originally scheduled for next weekend will be moved to this Wednesday, which is tomorrow.

Chu Xi: By the way, can you even debate? What exactly are you trying to do?

Chen Qingtang: To create an opportunity for Shen He to approach me first, of course.

Set the bait, then wait for the fish to bite.

Chu Xi: You are just bragging. You two have not even spoken yet, have you? If you do not even talk, how will he add your WeChat?

Chen Qingtang shook his fair ankles, and the slipper on his toe moved back and forth with his movement: Hmm.

Chen Qingtang: Naturally, he has to come to me and start the conversation himself.

Shen He must initiate the topic, release friendly information, and take the initiative to break the ice between the two. This step only has meaning if Shen He takes the initiative. People only have a profound impression of those they have proactively approached.

Chen Qingtang: Even if we do not say a word, he will still add my WeChat.

Chu Xi: I do not believe you. If you are so confident, win the bet first.

Chen Qingtang: I will win it for you to see right now. [Smile]

He switched his phone to Taobao and stood up to walk toward Wei Yan. Wei Yan had just finished a game and was about to say he would stop playing when his shoulder was tapped. He took off one earphone as he turned back: “What is up?”

Chen Qingtang showed him the shopping interface on his phone: “I have bought everything, the bill…”

Wei Yan slapped his forehead: “Ah, my bad. Here, let us add each other on WeChat; send me the bill, and I will pay you my share.”

Chen Qingtang: “Okay.”

A minute later, they had both finished scanning the QR code. Wei Yan looked at Chen Qingtang’s WeChat avatar on the screen, paused for a moment, scratched his head, but ultimately did not say anything, and skillfully added him as a friend: “Xinzi probably will not be able to get to school until tomorrow. After the calculations, I will send you his share along with mine.”

He then said to Shen He, who had not hung up the call yet: “Shen Ge, should I transfer your share too, or will you do it yourself?”

Shen He seemed to have said something, and Wei Yan raised his chin: “Oh, okay, then I will do Shen Ge’s too.”

Chen Qingtang’s fingertips moved slightly: “Great.”

He then changed the subject to something else: “By the way, could you send me your class schedule? I want to create a duty roster so we can take turns cleaning the dorm every day.”

Wei Yan was hesitant, scratching his head: “Uh, this, cleaning the dorm once a week should be enough, right?”

At that moment, a voice came through the headset: “Do as he says.”

There was no expression on Shen He’s face, but a coldness knit his brows. He wondered why the hygiene was always so poor and stinking every time he returned to the dorm, like a dead mouse was rotting somewhere. So it turned out these two kids were only cleaning once a week. Shen He was rarely this serious, and his voice deepened: “Give him the schedule. Clean the dorm every day from now on; I will be checking.”

Wei Yan was aggrieved: “Alright.”

Chen Qingtang added: “Some things in the dorm also need to be replaced, like the mops, and the toilet needs to be repaired. I will check tomorrow, and I will keep a detailed record of the money spent and organize it into a bill to send to you all.”

Chen Qingtang had always had high standards for his quality of life. Caring about these things was also to ensure he could live comfortably in this dorm in the future; hooking Shen He was just a bonus.

Wei Yan: “Done, you are so meticulous; we are all at ease leaving it to you.”

Shen He had just received the bill Wei Yan sent on WeChat when he heard Chen Qingtang say this. After a moment of silence, he said to Wei Yan: “Push his WeChat contact to me. I will transfer the money to him myself.”

Shen He had basically never lived in a dorm, and Wei Yan and the others were the type to just get by. It was his first time realizing there were so many things to discuss between roommates. There would definitely be frequent contact in the future. Adding him on WeChat would make things more convenient for communication.

The plug connecting Wei Yan’s headset to his phone had fallen out long ago, so Shen He’s clear and cold voice transmitted directly, echoing throughout the dorm.

Chen Qingtang curled his lips into a smile without changing his expression. He sat back in his seat and replied to Chu Xi: I won.

Easy. It did not even require any skill or hidden schemes.

Chu Xi replied instantly: Holy shit.