I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 18

Ji Wan reached up to touch the bite mark on the back of his neck. His long, fair fingers rested against the reddened wound, creating a strange, almost aesthetic contrast of fragile beauty under duress.

A vein throbbed at Feng Jin’s temple. Subconsciously, he caught Ji Wan’s hand. “Don’t touch it.”

Ji Wan’s palm carried a slight chill, but Feng Jin let go instantly as if he had been scalded by fire.

“Wait here for me. Don’t touch the wound,” Feng Jin said before hurrying out. His retreating back looked almost frantic. Within two steps, he returned briefly just to shut the dormitory door for Ji Wan.

Sitting in his chair, Ji Wan listened to the sound of Feng Jin’s rapid footsteps fading away.

According to his usual routine, he should go wash the bitten area to remove the lingering scent of pheromones. But given the current level of pain, he doubted the back of his neck could handle being wiped down again. It was probably better to let the scent dissipate on its own.

…Kong Liyan better not come back right now, Ji Wan thought. Otherwise, this will be impossible to explain. This scene looks problematic no matter how you view it.

Kong Liyan didn’t return, but Feng Jin reappeared quickly. He was carrying a small bag, which he emptied onto the table. Ji Wan realized they were various ointments for treating wounds.

Feng Jin picked one up, opened it, and moved behind Ji Wan.

“Lower your head,” Feng Jin’s voice was still somewhat low and heavy.

Ji Wan: “…?”

Not only had Feng Jin bought him medicine, but he also intended to apply it himself?

This treatment felt a bit too grand. According to the gossip Kong Liyan had shared, if Feng Jin ever got injured in a fight no matter the severity he absolutely refused to let anyone else handle his wounds.

By the same token, he never treated anyone else’s injuries. In Feng Jin’s own words, such an act was too intimate and made him uncomfortable.

Ji Wan tried to dodge slightly. “I’ll do it myself.”

“You can’t see it; how are you going to do it yourself?” Feng Jin firmly yet carefully pressed down on one of Ji Wan’s shoulders. “Don’t move. I’ll be gentle.”

Unable to break free, Ji Wan simply relaxed and enjoyed Feng Jin’s service. The cool ointment was applied gently to the wound, instantly dulling the pain. Ji Wan let out a satisfied sigh.

The movement of Feng Jin applying the cream paused for a fraction of a second. Then, Ji Wan heard Feng Jin speak in a suppressed voice: “…Sorry.”

In all his years, Feng Jin had almost never said those words so solemnly. To him, the word “sorry” was usually reserved for sarcasm or provocation.

Feng Jin waited for Ji Wan’s reaction perhaps a reprimand or anger, but Ji Wan only smiled. “You were in a bad mood. I understand.”

Feng Jin found it hard to describe what he was feeling. He continued applying the ointment, his movements becoming increasingly cautious.

“…I asked the doctor,” Feng Jin said sullenly. “He said your injury needs a week to fully heal.”

“Oh, I see.” Ji Wan paused, remembering something.

Previously at the hospital, the doctor had suggested that Feng Jin needed to release his pheromones every two to three days. If he had to nurse this wound for a week, didn’t that mean they would need to…

As if knowing what he was thinking, Feng Jin spoke gloomily: “I’ll use the injections myself for the next few days until your injury is completely healed.”

Ji Wan wanted to turn around to see Feng Jin’s expression, but his current posture and injury made it impossible.

While they could forcedly view the “biting” as something clinical like artificial respiration, it was ultimately an intimate act. Neither he nor Feng Jin were masters of romance; overcoming that psychological barrier wasn’t easy for either of them.

Ji Wan didn’t overthink it and simply nodded.

Late at night, the lights in the dormitory building were out. The room was bathed in darkness, save for the moonlight filtering through the window, providing a faint glow.

Feng Jin couldn’t sleep. He shifted from lying on his back to lying on his side facing the wall, and finally turned to face the direction of Ji Wan’s bed.

Ji Wan was sleeping directly across from him. Feng Jin could only see a blurry silhouette lying there properly. All was quiet, but Ji Wan’s breathing was so light that Feng Jin couldn’t hear a thing; he could only hear Kong Liyan’s intermittent snoring.

Why does Kong Liyan’s breathing sound so close to Ji Wan?

The moment that thought surfaced, Feng Jin frowned. He looked up, shifting his gaze from Ji Wan to the position of Kong Liyan’s upper bunk.

The distance between Ji Wan and Kong Liyan was very short. While the headboard partition blocked them, if one of them just reached out an arm, they could touch the other’s face.

Feng Jin’s frown deepened.

This distance was far too close. Did Ji Wan not suffer from poor sleep due to Kong Liyan’s “demonic sounds” right in his ear? Wouldn’t that affect his studies?

Feng Jin didn’t know how he eventually fell asleep. He slept fitfully all night, snapping his eyes open at the slightest noise.

As dawn broke, Kong Liyan sat up looking half-asleep, his eyes barely open. He didn’t get out of bed immediately; instead, he scratched his hair and stared fixedly at the still-sleeping Ji Wan for several seconds. Only after feeling his mind clear did he start to climb down.

Just as Kong Liyan was about to step off the ladder, he heard a cold interrogation from Feng Jin: “What are you doing?”

Kong Liyan was scared out of his wits, nearly missing a step. Once he recovered, he patted his chest and let out a sigh of relief.

“You scared me to death! Feng-ge, why did you suddenly speak?” Kong Liyan said. “After the parent-teacher meeting yesterday, my mom told me to work harder, so I’m trying to get up early.”

Feng Jin’s brow remained furrowed. “If you’re getting up, then get up. Why do you have to look at Ji Wan?”

“I’m not fully awake in the morning, right? A few peeks at him wakes me right up.” Kong Liyan couldn’t help but gush. “A ‘beauty critical hit’ he looks good even while sleeping. One look in the morning is more refreshing than coffee. This is the happiness of sleeping next to Wan-wan.”

Kong Liyan continued, “Though there are ‘happy troubles’ too. Sometimes I want to read some… harmonious [adult] novels before bed, but I’m afraid Wan-wan might look up at my phone. It would be a sin if I corrupted him.”

After finishing, Kong Liyan noticed Feng Jin’s face didn’t look right. “What’s wrong with you? Did you not get enough sleep either?”

Feng Jin: “…”

Feng Jin said expressionlessly, “Studying isn’t about those few extra minutes. If getting up early makes you lethargic for the rest of the day, you won’t be able to learn anything. Stick to your previous schedule.”

If an average person had said this, Kong Liyan would have treated it like hot air. But since Feng Jin was a top student, Kong Liyan immediately felt it was profoundly logical. He thought about it, then climbed back into bed and lay down.

Once the dorm was quiet again, Feng Jin looked down at the remaining empty bed next to him and pursed his lips.

Ji Wan was completely unaware of this exchange. He woke up at his usual time and went to the classroom. After the day’s lessons ended, he returned to the dorm with Feng Jin, who had rejected basketball invitations from others.

Ji Wan was still “enjoying” Feng Jin’s ointment service. If he hadn’t been able to adapt the first time Feng Jin applied it, he was now comfortable enough to read a book while letting Feng Jin tinker with his neck.

As Feng Jin applied the medicine, he suddenly spoke out of the blue: “Sleeping over there… don’t you find it hard to fall asleep at night?”

Ji Wan: “?”

Ji Wan didn’t understand what he meant, so he spoke truthfully: “It’s fine. My sleep quality is pretty good.”

Feng Jin was silent for a while before continuing, “The bed you’re in now has a bad orientation. Whenever the window is open, the wind hits that spot directly. It’s easy to catch a cold.”

Ji Wan found this baffling. “…Thanks for the concern? I’ll make sure to keep warm.”

Feng Jin: “…”

Usually, Feng Jin hated it when people tried to take advantage of the slightest kindness, but now he had practically handed the olive branch to Ji Wan, and yet Ji Wan just wouldn’t grasp it!

“Do you even know how to arrange things?” Feng Jin’s hand movements were gentle, but his tone was fierce as he said, “Move over to the empty bed. Stop sleeping over there.”

Ji Wan: “??”

Did I hallucinate? Feng Jin wants me to sleep in the other bed?

Surprised, Ji Wan wanted to turn around to see what kind of expression Feng Jin had while saying those words, but he was held down by Feng Jin, preventing him from turning.

Kong Liyan’s warning from when they first moved in still rang in his ears. Kong Liyan had told him with a serious face that the more powerful an Alpha was, the stronger their sense of territory. Sleeping next to Feng Jin might result in being thrown off the bed in the middle of the night like a territorial intruder.

But now… what had triggered Feng Jin?

Feng Jin’s grip on his shoulder tightened, then quickly loosened. He said lazily, “I’m worried that if I feel unwell in the middle of the night and need to find you, it’ll be more convenient if you’re right next to me. Otherwise, moving across the room is too loud and might wake others up.”

Ji Wan understood. No wonder Feng Jin suddenly wanted him to move. He wasn’t particularly attached to where he slept, so he said, “Alright then. I’ll move in a few days when I have time.”

“A few days?” Feng Jin frowned. “Move today. I’ll help you.”

Feng Jin was a man of action. He didn’t even let Ji Wan lift a finger; he moved Ji Wan’s beddings over in a few swift motions. Ji Wan tried to help, only to be shooed away by Feng Jin on the grounds that he was “getting in the way.”

When Kong Liyan returned, the first thing he saw was a dazed Ji Wan standing in the middle of the room and an empty bed frame next to his own.

Kong Liyan panicked immediately: “Wan! Where’s your bed? Did you move out ”

He strode into the room, and only then did he see the full picture. The empty spot next to Feng Jin’s bed was now occupied, and Feng Jin was briskly making the bed.

Feng Jin was… making a bed?

Kong Liyan: “…???”

He must have entered the room the wrong way.

Kong Liyan backed out like he’d seen a ghost, slammed the door shut, and reopened it two seconds later.

Good heavens, Feng Jin is making a bed! And it’s someone else’s!

Kong Liyan felt like he had stumbled upon a world-shattering secret. He was just one step away from passing away on the spot! He clutched his heart tremblingly, looked closer, and realized Feng Jin was holding… Ji Wan’s quilt.

For some reason, Kong Liyan’s heart settled slightly. He sensed Feng Jin’s gaze land on him, so he tremblingly looked up to meet Feng Jin’s eyes.

Feng Jin’s gaze was heavy. “He’s not sleeping on your side anymore.”

“Oh, oh,” Kong Liyan’s survival instinct took over his brain, and he blurted out, “Sleeping with Feng-ge—that’s great! It’s a perfect match!”

The sentence sounded highly ambiguous, but Feng Jin didn’t get angry; instead, his expression softened.

Late at night.

Feng Jin still couldn’t sleep. As a high-grade Alpha, his five senses were excellent. With Ji Wan less than an arm’s length away, in the silence of the night, Ji Wan’s breathing felt as if it were brushing against his ear.

There was no irritability from having his territory invaded. Instead, there was only peaceful tranquility.

Feng Jin turned over and fell asleep, utterly satisfied.