I’m Face-Blind, But I Devoted Myself To Three Guys - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Too Close, He Thought.

After passing through the hallway and entering the study room, the person who had been chirping incessantly was forced to go silent.

Jiang Yingshen found a corner with fewer people and sat down. Qi Xu, with thick skin, sat directly across from him.

“I’m here to study.”

The sheer confidence in that statement caused Jiang Yingshen’s rejection to catch in his throat.

As finals week approached, the library became crowded. In the massive space, the only sound was the rustling of turning pages.

Qi Xu pulled out a textbook for his major and stared at it for about ten minutes.

With his mind preoccupied with “Simp Points,” he didn’t retain a single piece of information. Unable to settle down, Qi Xu quietly looked up, stealing glances at the person opposite him.

The weather was pleasant today. Gentle sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling diagonally across their table, looking like a boundary line drawn between them.

Jiang Yingshen sat on the other side of the light, flipping through a thick stack of materials.

His exposed wrist bore a black watch. The strap covered most of his wrist bone, but the prominence of the bone was still visible, shifting slightly with the motion of his writing.

His pen-holding posture was textbook-perfect. Paired with his slender, powerful fingers, it was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

Propping his chin on his hand, Qi Xu’s gaze slowly moved upward, grazing inch by inch over that well-defined face. Su Hang’s description of a “super hunk” automatically surfaced in his mind.

He was tall, handsome, and an academic ace—no wonder people were chasing him for contact info after just one lecture. He truly fit the setting of a novel’s male lead.

Although three worlds had fused together for some mysterious reason, Qi Xu hadn’t felt much of a change in this combined world. However, the system had once mentioned that Jiang Yingshen was the “Child of Destiny” of the world he originally belonged to.

Perhaps because they shared the same roots, Qi Xu felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward Jiang Yingshen.

He stared so intently that his originally subtle gaze gradually became blatant.

No matter how focused one was on a book, it was impossible to ignore the burning sensation from above. After his train of thought was interrupted for the third time, Jiang Yingshen frowned, set his pen on the table, and looked up to meet the eyes of the person in front of him.

His gaze moved from Qi Xu’s clean face to Qi Xu’s equally clean textbook. His voice was somewhat cool: “Here to study?”

Qi Xu hadn’t expected to be caught red-handed. He lowered his eyes sheepishly, his peripheral vision catching the pen Jiang Yingshen had set aside. Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration.

“…I forgot to bring a pen,” Qi Xu leaned forward across the table, whispering, “Senior, could you lend me one?”

The table wasn’t large; they were only separated by about a meter. As Qi Xu leaned in, a warm, soft fragrance wafted toward Jiang Yingshen.

Jiang Yingshen didn’t speak. He stared at the top of Qi Xu’s head, where a few stray hairs were sticking up, seemingly judging the truth of his words.

Receiving no response, Qi Xu tilted his head: “Hmm?”

The stray hairs on his head swayed along with the movement.

Jiang Yingshen retracted his gaze, took a new pen from his bag, and handed it over.

Seeing the plan succeed, Qi Xu immediately took it and obediently ducked his head, pretending to study hard.

Jiang Yingshen crossed his arms and watched him for a few more minutes. Only after confirming the boy wouldn’t cause any more trouble did he pick up his pen again.

However, after less than half an hour of peace, a certain someone started getting restless again.

Because Qi Xu discovered that the borrowed pen was only worth 0.5 points.

“Um, Senior, your pen is very nice to use…”

“Two yuan each at the East District convenience store.” Jiang Yingshen didn’t even lift his head, cutting off his blatant hint.

“…”

With no reasonable excuse left to ask for more, Qi Xu was silenced. Somewhat discouraged, he slumped over his book, resting his head on his arm while staring sideways at Jiang Yingshen.

He wanted to take back his earlier thought.

It was an illusion. Jiang Yingshen wasn’t “close” at all; he was a very tough piece of ice to crack.

As he was grumbling internally, the person opposite suddenly reached out to the side but grabbed nothing.

Qi Xu instantly realized it was the motion of reaching for a cup. Jiang Yingshen likely had the habit of drinking water while studying, but unfortunately, he hadn’t brought water today.

Jiang Yingshen also realized this. Just as he was about to retract his hand, the back of his hand was touched by something soft.

It was a fleeting touch, yet very cool.

He followed the hand that had quickly withdrawn and saw a bottle of mineral water pushed to his side.

The air conditioning in the study room was running full blast. Most people had taken off their coats. Even Jiang Yingshen, who wasn’t wearing much, had his jacket open.

Only the person opposite was bundled up tightly, yet his exposed fingers were still ice-cold.

Just like that day at the hospital.

“I’ll trade the water for this pen, Senior.” Qi Xu didn’t realize the accidental touch just now. He stared straight at the man, lightly licking his lips.

His originally dry and pale lips were moistened. Jiang Yingshen subconsciously stared for a moment before quickly looking away.

In the end, whether it was Qi Xu’s “death stare” that worked or because Jiang Yingshen was truly thirsty, he didn’t refuse this time.

After completing the transaction, Qi Xu finally quieted down, burying his head in his textbook.

To an outsider, he looked focused on studying, but in reality, he was looking at the data updates in the system pop-up.

From the “falling into his arms” incident to the current item exchange, he had earned a total of 9.5 Simp Points. More than half of that came from the earlier physical contact.

Qi Xu rubbed the pen in his hand, his eyes half-closed, seemingly casually glancing at the mineral water by Jiang Yingshen’s hand.

If all went well, he could get 10 points today.

Jiang Yingshen drank water very elegantly. His fingers lightly pinched the bottle, his head tilted back slightly, and his jawline tightened, presenting a sharp and clear silhouette. His Adam’s apple slid up and down with each swallow.

Qi Xu stared at that rising and falling “little hill” and subconsciously mimicked the swallowing motion.

He felt a bit of regret. If he had known, he would have bought another bottle; he hadn’t had water for half the day either.

Qi Xu pursed his dry mouth. Amidst his regret, his gaze moved to the water that was gradually disappearing.

He would leave as soon as Jiang Yingshen finished and he got the bottle back. Then he’d go to that drink shop he frequented and buy a lemonade.

Qi Xu made plans in his head, his lips curling up happily as he watched the water dwindle to less than half.

However, his gaze and delight took on a different meaning to the observer.

“…”

Jiang Yingshen silently set the water down.

Qi Xu was still waiting to recycle the empty bottle. Seeing him stop, he looked up in confusion.

Their eyes met. Jiang Yingshen wore that inscrutable expression again, looking at him with an “indescribable” gaze.

Qi Xu blinked twice in a daze, his eyes dropping to the few sips of water left. He asked in a low voice, “Is Senior not drinking anymore?”

Jiang Yingshen didn’t answer, but he noticed Qi Xu’s gaze and realized the focus seemed to be on the bottle in his hand.

His grip on the bottle tightened, the plastic deforming slightly. After a long silence, with a trial-like thought, Jiang Yingshen raised the bottle again and finished the last sip.

Sure enough, just as he screwed the cap back on, Qi Xu gracefully reached out his hand: “Senior, give me the bottle.”

To make the request more reasonable, Qi Xu added: “I happen to be leaving, I can throw it away for you.”

Jiang Yingshen looked at Qi Xu, then glanced at the nearby trash can, rendered speechless.

So, staring at him for so long was just to help throw away trash?

Jiang Yingshen remained silent.

He didn’t agree, but he didn’t refuse either.

Seeing this, Qi Xu simply reached out and took the empty bottle.

Fearing that Jiang Yingshen might change his mind, Qi Xu didn’t linger. He grabbed his backpack and left immediately.

Although he didn’t know the boy’s purpose, seeing him finally leave, Jiang Yingshen couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and stopped overthinking it.

However, when Qi Xu passed the trash can at the door, he didn’t throw the bottle away. Instead, he quietly stuffed it into his backpack.

Jiang Yingshen, who accidentally saw this scene: “…”

After leaving the study room, Qi Xu didn’t walk away. Instead, he hung around the doorway, peeking at Jiang Yingshen’s back. He picked at the edge of his phone, another greedy thought forming.

Who knows when the next time they’d meet would be…

Jiang Yingshen, who was organizing his materials, felt a slight chill on his back. Before he could turn around, his peripheral vision caught a dark shadow.

The shadow crossed the side of his neck, and a head peeked over, whispering in his ear: “Senior, could I possibly…”

“No.” Jiang Yingshen tilted his head away, glancing sideways at the phone Qi Xu was clutching. Knowing what he wanted, he refused directly.

Qi Xu hadn’t finished his sentence. He bit his lip, unwilling to give up: “Just…”

“If you’re not leaving, give me the bottle back,” Jiang Yingshen said coolly.

Qi Xu was startled. He hadn’t expected the other party to know he had kept the bottle.

He originally wanted to ask Jiang Yingshen to take him off the blacklist, but if that was impossible and he lost the bottle too, it would be a net loss.

Qi Xu’s little brain worked fast. After weighing the options, he decisively took a step back.

“Goodbye, Senior.”

This time, after a few minutes passed and the figure didn’t reappear, Jiang Yingshen was certain he had truly left.

He subconsciously raised his hand and lightly touched the side of his ear.

There seemed to be a lingering itch from the warm breath that had brushed against it.

Too close, he thought.

…

With the bottle he “conveniently” asked for, Qi Xu earned a total of 10 Simp Points that day.

HP +10

Over the next few days, due to exam schedules for some courses, Qi Xu became busy, and his opportunities to harass Jiang Yingshen became fewer.

Seeing the life points earned from Jiang Yingshen about to run out, the post-exam Qi Xu finally couldn’t hold back and went to find him.

“Su Yue gave me two tickets,” Su Hang sat on a dorm chair, pulling back the person who was hurriedly trying to head out. “Accompany me.”

Qi Xu was about to head to the Graduate Research Building and asked distractedly, “What tickets?”

“Su Yue said it’s a celebrity fan meeting happening in our city. She has an exam that day and can’t go, so she insisted I go and record videos for her.”

Qi Xu had met Su Yue; she was Su Hang’s younger sister, a freshman at a college in the neighboring city.

“She’s been absolutely obsessed with that guy called Chi Hui lately. She’s never been this nice to me, her own brother.” Su Hang rocked back and forth in his chair, sighing.

Qi Xu, who was packing his bag, froze.

“Whose fan meeting did you say this was?”

Su Hang thought he hadn’t heard and repeated: “Chi Hui. Are you going?”

Qi Xu put down his backpack and blinked.

“I’m going.”