My Roommate is a Gloomy, Sensitive Guy Who Cries Over Everything - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Can Baby belong only to me…?

A week after school started, the military training organized by the university began.

The school was agonizingly stingy and poor; students even had to scramble in lines just to get their camouflage uniforms. Sizes L and XL were the most popular, and once they were gone, they were gone. The counselor said it was only for half a month anyway, so they should just make do.

If the clothes were too big, tighten the belt; if the shoes were too big, stuff them with insoles.

Since Lin Zhiyu lived off-campus, he couldn’t compete with the swarm of dorm students. The set he was wearing was one the Senior had asked another classmate to help snag for him.

The start of military training brought several consecutive days of scorching sun. Sweat poured down as the freshmen in several companies practiced standing at attention, sitting, crouching, and lying down…

They were like salted fish being dried, scorched at a 360-degree angle with no blind spots. After half a month, they’d be about ready to be served.

Finally, the instructor announced a break. The crowd scrambled for the shade beneath the trees. As soon as the girls sat down, they began playing with their phones and reapplying sunscreen, while some boys hovered nearby to borrow a bit.

Lin Zhiyu took off his hat to fan himself, revealing a sun-reddened face, a sweat-soaked forehead, and messy, stray hairs. He looked like he’d been hit by a cannon—completely disheveled.

The training squads were divided by major, so Yu Hechang was training at a distant basketball court. Here, Lin Zhiyu had become semi-acquainted with dozens of his classmates.

After some filtering, he had about a dozen or so classmates he got along well with. They happened to live in the same dorm—a sixteen-person communal room.

Tao Fengyi remarked that every time he entered the dorm, the waft of air was comparable to a stench-filled gas bomb. When it was crowded, they even had to line up just to wash their feet.

Lin Zhiyu secretly felt lucky.

Everyone was too tired to talk, either drinking water and spacing out or lying on the ground like dead fish.

Tao Fengyi stealthily pulled out his phone: “Your photo was taken by the publicity department for promotion again. Damn, do they have a grudge against me? Why didn’t they add a filter for me? I look like a black egg next to you.”

In the photo, Lin Zhiyu stood tall among a group of students in camouflage. His features were delicate and beautiful; he wasn’t the tallest, but his proportions were lean and elegant. With his fair skin and bright eyes, he stood out like a crane among chickens.

Lin Zhiyu thought the photo looked good. He downloaded it, added a filter for Tao Fengyi, and sent it to Xue Rong.

Xue Rong sent back a lively emoji and a thumbs up.

After thinking it over, he also sent it to the Senior.

【Senior: Who is that next to you?】 【Little Fish: A classmate.】 【Senior: It ruins the aesthetic.】 【Senior: I only want to see Baby.】

“See? They’re all here to see you.” Tao Fengyi suddenly nudged him. Lin Zhiyu locked his phone and looked over.

The area where they trained was a basketball court. Next to it was the girls’ dormitory area, and in front was the cafeteria. Consequently, seniors frequently passed by.

Whenever someone passed, they would instinctively glance over, then lower their heads to whisper and laugh.

Seeing the instructor coming on patrol, Tao Fengyi hid his phone: “The risk of hanging out with a handsome guy is just too high.”

Lin Zhiyu said cheekily, “Everyone I hang out with is handsome.”

Tao Fengyi was about to say something when he saw a group of people ahead repeatedly turning their heads. He followed their gaze and couldn’t help but remark: “But a real handsome guy is on another level.”

Lin Zhiyu was biting a straw and didn’t hear clearly: “What?”

“Your Senior Lin is here to see you again.”

Lin Zhiyu finally saw Lin Rangchuan standing not far away, holding an umbrella. His face suddenly flushed: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Lin Rangchuan held the umbrella handle, looking cold and crisp, like a cool breeze in summer. Although he had only transferred to this campus as a sophomore, he was already a celebrity on the school forums since his freshman year, having made a name for himself through his looks and skills.

“Meal card and keys.”

Lin Zhiyu took them with both hands: “Thank you.”

He had been in such a rush this morning that he forgot them.

Lin Rangchuan also handed him a bottle of electrolyte water. When Lin Zhiyu took it, it was still icy cold. At this moment, it was no less than finding an oasis in the desert. He was moved to tears.

“Did the Senior ask you to help buy this?”

Lin Zhiyu hadn’t asked Brother Lin for this.

Lin Rangchuan gave a faint “un.”

The camouflage uniform was form-fitting, and the belt was tightened, pulling the T-shirt collar downward. Sweat beaded on his snow-white collarbones, glistening like crystals in the sunlight. Because Lin Zhiyu had jogged over, his chest heaved slightly as he caught his breath.

Lin Rangchuan tilted the umbrella to block the gossiping gazes of the crowd behind them.

Lin Zhiyu took out his phone to transfer money: “How much was this water? I’ll pay you.”

When settling the food expenses the last two weeks, those amounts of 100 or 50 yuan had shocked Lin Zhiyu. Lin Rangchuan had explained there were deductions because not all the money spent was his.

But 50 yuan? Did he take him for a fool? Was this poverty relief? If so, it was very kind.

Lin Zhiyu was a bit unhappy: “I have money.”

The rent was already very cheap; there was no need to cut corners on food expenses. He wasn’t the type of person who liked taking small advantages.

Lin Rangchuan: “Thirty.”

Lin Zhiyu transferred 100 yuan without a second thought.

This time, regarding the water, Lin Zhiyu insisted on transferring the money in person.

Lin Rangchuan: “Fifty cents.”

Lin Zhiyu’s expression went blank: “…?”

Lin Rangchuan: “Used a coupon.”

Lin Zhiyu barely accepted this explanation. He really wanted to ask what coupon it was—show me, maybe I can use it too…

Lin Rangchuan: “Had to be snatched. No more left.”

Lin Zhiyu helplessly transferred fifty cents to him.

Lin Rangchuan accepted it in front of him: “Thank you, boss.”

Lin Zhiyu was stunned by the title. Just as he was about to speak, the instructor called for them to assemble. There was no time to say anything; he hurriedly unscrewed the cap, took a few gulps of the cold water, and ran off.

Lin Rangchuan didn’t leave. He stayed not far away under his umbrella, watching him—looking like he was waiting for someone, yet also not.

When Lin Zhiyu practiced goose-stepping, he was there. When he did frog jumps, he was there. After running laps, he was still there.

Only when the session was nearly over did he finally leave.

There was no training tonight. Lin Zhiyu ate a bit, changed clothes, and headed straight to the milk tea shop. Now that school has started, it is packed every day.

Seeing him drenched in sweat, Jiang Xinran prepared a towel soaked in ice water for him to use as a cold compress.

Lin Zhiyu leaned back in a chair, his face covered by the cold towel to dissipate the heat.

Qin Rui wiped his hands and made him a cup of hand-smashed lemon tea: “Are you that short on money?”

Lin Zhiyu didn’t want to share his family situation. He shook his head, his voice muffled beneath the towel: “I just love money.”

OK, no counter-argument for that.

…

Meanwhile, Lin Rangchuan was making supper.

His phone was on speaker nearby, and Lou Chen’s voice came through.

“Are you free next Monday? Jinran Studio wants to discuss requirements with us. I told them you don’t meet offline, so they can change it to an online voice meeting. How about it? Depends on your schedule.”

Lin Rangchuan was skimming the foam off the soup: “Anything is fine.”

Lou Chen thought he was being remarkably easy to talk to, so he mentioned a few more upcoming plans. The more orders they took, the more money he could make too. Why not?

Lin Rangchuan: “Take fewer recently. My hand is tired.”

Lou Chen was baffled: “You haven’t had much of a workload lately. How is your hand so tired?”

He expected Lin Rangchuan to snort in disdain and ignore him, but instead, a lazy response came through the phone.

“It is a bit.”

Lou Chen couldn’t help but curse: “Holy crap, you’re not wanking every day, are you?!”

A creaking sound came from the door. Lin Rangchuan hung up on the frantic Lou Chen, set the phone aside, and lifted the lid. The aroma wafted through the air.

Shortly after, Lin Zhiyu appeared at the kitchen door like a sleepwalker: “Smells so good. I want some.”

Lin Rangchuan: “Come wash your hands.”

Lin Zhiyu obeyed with zero independent thought. Wash hands, drink soup—all in one smooth motion.

“Thank you. How much for this pot?” Lin Zhiyu was likely dazed from exhaustion; his mind was foggy, and he didn’t realize how formal and distant his words sounded.

Lin Rangchuan paused. It took a long moment before he moved again: “No need.”

Lin Zhiyu: “Ah?”

“Consider it his treat,” Lin Rangchuan said, his throat dry.

He meant the Senior.

Lin Zhiyu was stunned. He felt like Brother Lin was a bit angry, so he could only nod in confusion and say meekly: “Well, okay then.”

Then he added: “If I said something wrong, don’t be unhappy.”

Lin Rangchuan lowered his eyelids. His gaze focused for a moment, and a hint of red spread in his eyes, but he said nothing.

…

Military training by day, part-time work by night—he was truly exhausted. Yet, after showering and lying in bed, he couldn’t bring himself to put down his phone and sleep. Mostly because it wasn’t his usual bedtime yet.

【Little Fish: I actually can’t take it anymore. My high-energy, prime-of-youth body actually can’t take it!!】 【Shitting Smooth: …「Rabbit holding a sign saying speechless.jpg」】 【Shitting Smoothly: Training by day, working by night, waking up at 5 AM the next day, and you don’t take naps. Who the hell could handle that!】 【Little Fish: No time once classes start… and the overtime pay is really high. But since I didn’t work during the day, I only make 200 yuan a day now.】

Lin Zhiyu planned to save up for next semester’s tuition so Xue Rong wouldn’t have to use her life savings to put him through school.

【Shitting Smoothly: Switch to something easier for a while. You can’t earn all the money in the world.】

Yu Hechang rarely spoke the truth, but Lin Zhiyu actually took it to heart.

【Little Fish: Fine. Health is most important. I’ll put it aside for now.】 【Little Fish: I wish you smooth shitting ヽ(^^)ノ】

Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but curl his lips. His eyelids grew heavy. Just as he was about to drift off, he suddenly jerked awake.

【Little Fish: Senior, goodnight.】 【Senior: Baby worked hard today. Goodnight.】

…

The last few days of military training were very relaxed and leisurely. Their company didn’t qualify for the formation performance, so they spent almost every day sitting in the shade chatting with the instructor.

Lin Zhiyu wasn’t very interested; he felt it was better to use this time for part-time work.

He propped up his chin and took out his phone. Most of the others were also silently playing on theirs. The instructor saw them but said nothing.

Lin Zhiyu was thinking about part-time jobs. He was in three part-time job groups: one the Senior had invited him to, and two others introduced by classmates.

The best among them was tutoring, but spots were rare and had to be fought for. By the time Lin Zhiyu noticed them, they were always gone. The others were all shop work. Honestly, compared to the milk tea shop, the pay was too low—not cost-effective.

On second thought, Lin Zhiyu felt he shouldn’t be so picky, but… even a worker bee has dreams, right?

【Senior: I have something relatively easy here.】 【Little Fish: What?】 【Senior: Chatting and playing companion.】 【Little Fish: Companion for whom?】 【Senior: Me.】 【Senior: I’m currently very short on inspiration, so I need your help.】 【Senior: Didn’t you say you could do anything?】

But Lin Zhiyu wasn’t familiar with this business. Was chatting just regular talking? What was “playing”—playing games?

【Senior: Inspiration is very important to me.】 【Senior: I can offer a satisfying price.】

Lin Zhiyu was tempted.

【Little Fish: How much will Senior give?】 【Little Fish: I can give a discount!】

As long as the price was OK, he was OK too. He was very easy to coax!!! If he didn’t know how to be a companion, he’d just learn; how hard could it be? Even if he had to be a model for the Senior to draw, that was fine!

【Senior: Base pay of 1,500, rewards are uncapped, settled at the end of the month.】

Lin Zhiyu gasped. He wondered if the Senior was rich—1,500 just like that. It seemed drawing really did pay well.

He was so happy he was practically emitting pink bubbles, his eyes shining. Tao Fengyi glanced over, saw him amusing himself, and went back to his game.

【Little Fish: Sure, no problem. If you lack inspiration, you can ask me to do anything.】

After he sent that, there was no reply for a long time… Lin Zhiyu didn’t overthink it; he just waited quietly.

The longer it took, the more he wondered—could the Senior have regretted it?

Just as he was feeling anxious, his phone vibrated.

【Senior: Anything?】 【Senior: I will want Baby’s photos, videos, voice—I want everything about Baby.】

Lin Zhiyu breathed a sigh of relief. Wasn’t that quite simple? And he didn’t have to show his face or anything.

【Senior: Will this request make Baby think I’m a pervert?】 【Little Fish: It’s fine. We’re both guys.】 【Senior: Even if we’re both guys, don’t let your guard down. You can only send them to me. No one else allowed.】

For a moment, he couldn’t tell if this was the possessiveness of a friend or an artist’s inspiration. Lin Zhiyu’s lips curled up, his eyes curving into smiles.

【Not even Brother Lin?】 【Senior: No.】