My Roommate is a Gloomy, Sensitive Guy Who Cries Over Everything - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Baby, You Didn’t Keep Your Promise…

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes flickered. His “gay-dar” gave a faint twitch, but he quickly suppressed it and typed back slowly.

[Xiao Yu: The photo is distorted; you’ve been scammed by my filters! ヾ(≧∪≦*)ノ〃]

[Senior: Then how do you know I haven’t peeked at you before?]

Lin Zhiyu froze for a second. He’d had his suspicions, but without evidence, he couldn’t say anything. He just hadn’t expected Senior to actually do it—preferring to “peek” rather than meet in person.

There are thousands of types of straight men in the world, and this type was somehow the most “perverted.”

[Xiao Yu: We’re both guys, it’s no big deal if you’ve seen me.]

[Senior: Having seen you makes me like you more.]

[Xiao Yu: Do you find more inspiration in the male body?]

[Senior: Beauty knows no gender.]

Fine, a perfect answer, Lin Zhiyu thought, his hanging heart slowly settling. Yet, for some reason, a small corner of his heart felt a faint sense of disappointment.

Because Senior’s inspiration had struck suddenly, their game voice chat was abruptly paused. Not wanting to disturb him, Lin Zhiyu obediently logged into both game accounts to grind their intimacy points.

Once he finished the daily tasks for both, he lay on his bed scrolling through his WeChat Moments and saw a post from “Brother Lin,” who was usually a ghost on social media.

The caption read: First day, cleaning the room. The photos showed several shots of a courtyard and a balcony. The composition was bright and sunny; as the light filtered in, the flowers and succulents looked neat and vibrant.

Does “first day” mean the first day of the National Day holiday? That’s not right, today is only the 30th. Lin Zhiyu didn’t think much of it and gave it a “like.”

Soon, a new message popped up.

[Brother Lin: I’m cleaning your room tomorrow.] [Brother Lin: Just letting you know.] [Xiao Yu: Okay, thanks Brother Lin!]

Lin Zhiyu scratched his cheek. He hadn’t cleaned once since moving in. The truth was simple: Brother Lin had OCD and was a neat freak. His logic was that no matter how clean Lin Zhiyu scrubbed, he would have to redo it himself anyway. Over time, he stopped letting Lin Zhiyu do the chores, except for his own bedroom—since that was a private space.

[Brother Lin: What day is your return ticket for?] [Xiao Yu: Haven’t booked it yet.] [Brother Lin: The forecast says rain on the 6th. Wash your sheets while the weather is good. Want me to help?] [Brother Lin: I have OCD.] [Brother Lin: If I wash mine, I have to wash yours too.]

Hearing that, Lin Zhiyu couldn’t possibly say yes. He could already imagine Brother Lin’s expressionless face through the screen.

[Xiao Yu: I’ll be back on the 5th, no need to trouble you, Brother Lin!] [Brother Lin: Oh.]

Just like that, his return date was hurried out of him by Brother Lin’s back-and-forth remarks.

He put down his phone, his heart thumping wildly. He didn’t know why his pulse was racing. He tossed and turned for a few seconds before accidentally switching to the chat with Senior and clicking a voice message.

The senior’s low, husky voice rang out again: “Very beautiful.”

Lin Zhiyu closed it in a panic, holding his phone with a face as red as a cherry tomato. He suddenly felt like… there were a lot of men around him lately…

…

After lazing around at home for a day, he got lonely on the 1st and couldn’t resist going to town with Yu Hechang.

Before he left, his mother, Xue Rong, transferred him some money, telling him to buy something good to eat and pick up a bottle of soy sauce and some salt on his way back—she was too lazy to go out.

Yu Hechang: “How much did she give you? Five hundred? Holy crap, that’s so much! My dad only gave me two hundred; that’ll be gone after one meal.”

Yu Hechang’s family was much better off than Lin Zhiyu’s. His mother was a teacher in the Ning County school system, and his father owned several valuable plots of land in the village for rent.

Lin Zhiyu quickly said, “I have to save this. Don’t even think about making me treat you to dinner.”

Yu Hechang slung an arm around his shoulder. “Am I that shameless?”

Lin Zhiyu patted his stomach. “And who do you think fed you all this fat?”

“…” Yu Hechang raised a fist. “Long live Auntie Rong!”

They had hot pot for lunch. Just then, a message popped up in their middle school group chat about a reunion. Lin Zhiyu was busy eating and didn’t check his phone.

Yu Hechang said while chewing meat, “Ning Xingzhou is going too. Haven’t seen him in forever. Did you know he’s at H-University with us? But he’s at the main campus, not out in the boonies like us.”

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes blinked rapidly. He wasn’t good at lying: “Really? Never heard about it. We don’t even have his WeChat.”

“True. After he transferred in 11th grade, he lost touch with everyone here. But he’s coming to the reunion this time. If you go, I’ll go.”

Lin Zhiyu was fine with it, so Yu Hechang followed his lead.

“He’s a junior, right? Two years older than us,” Lin Zhiyu said, resting his chin on his hand.

“Exactly! When you were in middle school, he was in the high school division. You guys got along great, remember?”

Lin Zhiyu shook his head. “Hard to forget.”

…

In town, the only places for a reunion were bars or KTVs. A group of students could only afford a private room. By the time Lin Zhiyu and Yu Hechang arrived, everyone was already there.

A few people were gathered around a guy in the center, laughing and chatting. When Lin Zhiyu walked in, he could only squeeze into a corner. As soon as he sat down, he heard the guy speak.

“Xiao Yu, you’re here? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Lin Zhiyu poked his head out and waved. “You’re too popular, I couldn’t get through the crowd.”

Ning Xingzhou was a senior two years ahead of them, but since his class often invited him to join their activities, everyone was familiar with him. Lin Zhiyu had been the class president back then, so they had communicated quite a bit.

Fortunately, Ning Xingzhou only looked at him for a moment and didn’t keep talking. Lin Zhiyu faded back into the crowd, sinking into thought.

Speaking of which, his “sexual orientation enlightenment teacher” was actually Ning Xingzhou.

Ning Xingzhou’s seat was near the back door of the classroom. Once, when Lin Zhiyu went to the high school division to find him, class wasn’t over yet. Through the open door, he saw Ning Xingzhou holding his male deskmate’s hand, stroking his fingers one by one with an ambiguously lingering touch.

At the time, Lin Zhiyu didn’t think much of it—he just thought they were really good friends who even held hands in class.

But during a sports meet later on, right after Lin Zhiyu finished the 3000-meter run, he was heading to the restroom and saw Ning Xingzhou and that same deskmate kissing around a corner—lip to lip, completely lost in the moment.

In that instant, Lin Zhiyu understood many things. So, a guy and a guy can kiss too.

The catch-up session ended and the karaoke began. Yu Hechang had already run off to belt out songs.

Ning Xingzhou sat down next to Lin Zhiyu to reminisce. He knew Lin Zhiyu’s family situation and figured paying for university must be a struggle.

Ning Xingzhou glanced at him. “If you’re short on money, you can tell me.”

Lin Zhiyu smiled. “Are you going to just give me money?”

“It’s not out of the question.”

Lin Zhiyu’s lips twitched. “No thanks. I have a part-time job, and we’re not even on the same campus.”

“A part-time job? Isn’t that too exhausting? Does your mom know?”

“She doesn’t.” Lin Zhiyu looked at him guardedly, afraid he’d blab to Xue Rong.

“Are you that desperate for money?”

Having not met for years, Lin Zhiyu felt an uncomfortable sense of distance. He felt Ning Xingzhou exuded an aura that was refined and gentlemanly, yet not quite sincere. Lin Zhiyu didn’t want to make an enemy, but he didn’t feel like pouring his heart out either. He just brushed it off: “I’m not desperate. I just take jobs when they’re available to build experience.”

“That sounds very hard,” Ning Xingzhou said in a teasing tone. “How about I sponsor your schooling instead?”

Lin Zhiyu couldn’t read him. He seemed concerned, yet he kept asking intrusive questions. “It’s not hard. It’s money I earned myself.”

Was earning money through labor something to be ashamed of? He had a plan for his life and didn’t need anyone’s pity or charity. Whether it was the milk tea shop or his “companion” services, he did his jobs well, the clients were satisfied, and the money was in his hand. It was that simple.

Ning Xingzhou gave him a meaningful look, took a sip of his drink, and didn’t push further.

Lin Zhiyu had heard some gossip today that Ning Xingzhou’s mother had remarried a big tech mogul; his family was now incredibly wealthy.

The atmosphere gradually cooled. Lin Zhiyu sat in the corner, the wall to his left and Ning Xingzhou to his right. He realized the other man was sitting very close to him.

Just then, his phone screen lit up. Lin Zhiyu stood up. “Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.”

Only then did Ning Xingzhou move his leg out of the way.

There was a long corridor outside the restroom. Lin Zhiyu leaned against the wall to reply to Senior’s messages.

[Senior: Not coming online today?] [Xiao Yu: A bit later. But the intimacy points are enough; we can move in together tonight.] [Senior: Then I’ll wait for Baby to come home.] [Senior: Don’t stay out too late.] [Senior: Don’t drink.] [Xiao Yu: Okay.]

Lin Zhiyu didn’t really want to go back to the room yet.

[Xiao Yu: Senior is so busy today, you don’t even need me.] [Senior: I’m in the studio.] [Senior: Just because I didn’t message you, doesn’t mean you can’t message me.]

The message reeked of resentment. Lin Zhiyu couldn’t hide his smile as he typed.

[Senior: Roughly what time are you coming back?] [Senior: I miss you.] [Xiao Yu: Around ten. I’ll leave early.] [Senior: 32 minutes and 6 seconds left.] [Senior: I’m timing it.] [Xiao Yu: [Stunned Cat.jpg]] [Xiao Yu: Senior, how can you play like this?] [Senior: How am I playing?] [Xiao Yu: You’re playing with me.]

After typing that, Lin Zhiyu realized how it sounded and quickly withdrew it.

[Xiao Yu: You didn’t see that.] [Senior: Okay, I didn’t see it.]

Lin Zhiyu covered his eyes and slowly crouched down. His ears and cheeks were burning, as if he’d put his face right next to a furnace.

“So you really were here. Why aren’t you going back?” Ning Xingzhou walked toward him with one hand in his pocket. Lin Zhiyu quickly locked his phone and stood up. “Coming out without telling me…”

“…”

Lin Zhiyu: ? None of your business.

Ning Xingzhou looked down at Lin Zhiyu’s fair, flushed face. His lips were a watery red, and the dim light highlighted the bright, liquid shimmer in his eyes. The “little kid” from his memory had suddenly grown into this; the impact was substantial.

“Actually, you saw it all back then, didn’t you?”

At this cryptic question, Lin Zhiyu’s pupils trembled slightly. His lashes fluttered as his Adam’s apple bobbed. He gave a quiet “Mm.”

Ning Xingzhou leaned against the wall beside him. “Any thoughts?”

“No thoughts.”

“I thought you were the same as me.”

Lin Zhiyu: “Huh?”

“You are the same as me,” Ning Xingzhou said with certainty.

Lin Zhiyu went silent. What a confident gay guy. Who gave you the right?

Unable to continue the conversation, Lin Zhiyu turned and went back to the room. He and Ning Xingzhou entered one after the other. Someone teased them, asking if they were “secretly catching up,” and then started talking about old embarrassing stories.

To be fair, Lin Zhiyu and Ning Xingzhou had been quite close in middle school. He was one of the few seniors Lin Zhiyu was genuinely friends with, but since Lin Zhiyu didn’t have a phone back then, they had no way to stay in touch, and the friendship faded.

Lin Zhiyu tugged at Yu Hechang, who was waiting for his turn to sing. “Are you leaving? If not, I’m heading out first.”

Yu Hechang: “What? Why so early? It’s only nine.”

“Going back for my part-time job,” Lin Zhiyu reminded him. “The Senior.”

Yu Hechang realized. “Oh! Go ahead then, I’ll stay a bit longer.”

“Alright.”

As Lin Zhiyu stood up, Ning Xingzhou’s long leg blocked his path. “Leaving so soon?”

With classmates all around, Lin Zhiyu couldn’t say much. He gave a fake smile. “Yeah, I have something to do.”

“Is it urgent?”

Someone else helped Ning Xingzhou try to make him stay. “We haven’t seen each other in so long! Let’s go get a barbecue together later. It’s rare for us to be gathered like this.”

Lin Zhiyu’s scalp felt numb. “I really have things to do.” He couldn’t exactly say he had to go home to log into a game and move in with someone. In his confusion, he suddenly thought of Brother Lin.

“I need to go buy strawberries. It’s urgent.”

Ning Xingzhou stood up, his jacket over his arm. “Perfect. I know a place that sells very authentic, delicious strawberries. I’ll take you.”

Naturally, Yu Hechang, who knew nothing of the tension, chimed in. “Wow! You guys chatted outside and your friendship is back to being this good already?”

“…”

Before Lin Zhiyu could react, he was cheered on by his classmates and ushered into Ning Xingzhou’s car. Ning Xingzhou had been drinking, so he had called a designated driver.

Once in the car, Yu Hechang sent a flurry of messages.

[Poop Flowing Smoothly: Woah, Ning Xingzhou is driving a Maybach! Holy cow, man, how does it feel to sit in a luxury car?] [Xiao Yu: I want to puke.] [Xiao Yu: It’s worse than the bus.] [Poop Flowing Smoothly: OK, tell me when you get home.]

As soon as Lin Zhiyu got in, he went into silent mode. Unless someone else initiated, he wouldn’t speak. Unfortunately, someone lacked situational awareness.

Watching Lin Zhiyu’s tense face reflected in the window, Ning Xingzhou couldn’t help but smirk. “Xiao Yu must be very popular at school. Anyone you like?”

“No.”

“Don’t you want to try dating someone?” Ning Xingzhou casually patted his own thigh and shifted positions. “There are more opportunities in the big city.”

“I have no such plans,” Lin Zhiyu frowned.

He liked guys, but it wasn’t like he’d die without a man. Was dating a necessity in life? Loving oneself was the most important thing. Some people not only had their heads full of romance but also felt the need to point fingers at others’ lives. Lin Zhiyu really didn’t understand what Ning Xingzhou was trying to fish for; this behavior was starting to irritate him.

They soon arrived at the strawberry place. Ning Xingzhou had been chosen well—it was a wholesale market. Lin Zhiyu had planned to come here originally, but it was just too far. Having a car was indeed convenient.

Lin Zhiyu momentarily forgot the misery of motion sickness. He bought two crates: one for Yu Hechang’s family and one for Senior. He also bought a small bag for himself to eat at home.

Ning Xingzhou stood with one hand in his pocket, leaning down slightly. “Buying so much? Give me one.”

He reached for a crate. Lin Zhiyu moved it away quickly. “If you want one, I can give you one, but this crate isn’t yours.”

Ning Xingzhou stared at him for a long while before laughing. “So protective.”

Lin Zhiyu ignored him. He was busy bending over to move the crates. His clothes got a bit dirty from rubbing against the boxes, so he didn’t notice the phone in his pocket vibrating incessantly.

[Senior: It’s ten o’clock.] [Senior: Baby didn’t keep his promise.]

Ten minutes later: [Senior: You’re being naughty.]

Fifteen minutes later: [Senior: You ran into some dog of a man at the reunion, didn’t you?] — “Senior” withdrew a message. — [Senior: Are you having that much fun chatting?] — Withdrawn. — [Senior: Baby didn’t even drink and yet some pervert is pestering you. So pitiful.] — Withdrawn. — [Senior: Waiting for you.]

On the game screen, a female character in a small dress was standing at the entrance of the house belonging to the ID “Fishy Blowing Bubbles.”

[Bubbles has sent a cohabitation invitation to Fishy Blowing Bubbles] [Bubbles has sent a cohabitation invitation to Fishy Blowing Bubbles] [Bubbles has sent a cohabitation invitation to Fishy Blowing Bubbles] … [Bubbles has sent a cohabitation invitation to Fishy Blowing Bubbles]

With red eyes, he slumped over the desk, sending the invitation over and over again.