My Roommate is a Gloomy, Sensitive Guy Who Cries Over Everything - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The “First” Meeting

Lin Zhiyu scheduled the apartment viewing with his Senior for the following Monday.

He gave Xue Rong a heads-up beforehand, mostly to gauge her reaction. Lin Zhiyu wasn’t afraid of much, but he was terrified of his mother finding out his secret plans.

Sure enough, the sound of her chopping pork stopped abruptly.

After a moment, it resumed, but Xue Rong’s voice was flat: “So sudden? Don’t you still have half a month left?”

“I want to go early and get familiar with the environment,” Lin Zhiyu replied, head down as he shelled peas. He had no intention of telling her about the rental yet.

Education was the family’s biggest expense. High school left him with no choice, but university costs were high; he planned to supplement them with part-time work. If Xue Rong found out he was spending extra to live off-campus, she’d hit the roof.

Xue Rong didn’t pry further. She wiped her wet hands on her apron. “If you’re short on money, ask me. Don’t borrow from others, and don’t skimp on yourself. Mom has everything you need here.”

Lin Zhiyu’s long, curled eyelashes cast a shadow over his eyes. “I know.”

On the evening before his departure, the sunset painted half the sky. Lin Zhiyu and Yu Hechang returned from catching fish, planning one last good meal. After washing his feet, Lin Zhiyu glanced at the dining table. “Whoa, Mom, did we hit the lottery? Tonight’s a feast!”

Xue Rong walked out carrying a dish. “Go wash your hands. Can’t we eat fish, shrimp, and crab without hitting the lottery? And where did you catch that fish? Don’t tell me you stole it from someone’s pond…”

“No way, I caught it in the stream to the east. It’s just a small one, enough for one person… I’ll save it for you to nourish your strength tomorrow night.”

Xue Rong put the fish in a tank to keep it alive.

…

Getting to the nearest train station required hitching a ride. Lin Zhiyu didn’t want Xue Rong traveling back and forth, so since Yu Hechang was heading out to meet high school classmates, the two of them teamed up to leave together.

At the moment of departure, the sun was high enough to melt a person. Xue Rong stuffed some money into Yu Hechang’s hand, then placed a hat on Lin Zhiyu’s head. “Don’t get sunburnt. Report your safety once you arrive.”

The hat was one Xue Rong had bought at the market; it had a green floral ribbon tied around it. She hadn’t seen many “fine” things in her life, so she cherished it.

“I know, I know.” Lin Zhiyu didn’t dare look at his mother’s expression. He hadn’t boarded during high school; no matter how late it was, he had always gone home. This was his first time being so far away.

As the car drove further away, Xue Rong’s figure in the rearview mirror grew smaller. Yu Hechang glanced at Lin Zhiyu’s quiet, elegant profile.

“When I leave, my mom will definitely cry too,” Yu Hechang noted.

Lin Zhiyu looked down at a message from his Senior.

[Senior]: Baby, stay safe on the road.

Hearing no response, Yu Hechang leaned over to peek at the phone. For some reason, Lin Zhiyu felt a surge of panic and flipped the phone face-down. “I think the chances of Uncle Rong crying are much higher.”

Yu Hechang and Lin Zhiyu locked eyes and suddenly burst into song: “It’s not a sin for a man to cry, cry, cry…”

The driver: “…”

The ride was boring, and Lin Zhiyu felt motion-sick and nauseous. He was low on energy, so Yu Hechang kept rambling to distract him.

“Have you seen that apartment yet?”

“Senior sent a video. It looks nice, but I’m too carsick to open my phone right now.” Lin Zhiyu couldn’t take it anymore and cracked the window. A breeze drifted in.

“Are you living with the Senior?”

“No, it’s his friend. A classmate in the same major. The Senior lives in the dorms.” Speaking of this, Lin Zhiyu got excited again, momentarily ignoring his sour stomach. “The rent is only 500 a month. Utilities and internet are free for the first month. The Senior’s friend isn’t short on money; he just cares about whether he likes the person.”

The more Yu Hechang thought about it, the more suspicious he felt. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Be careful you’re not being scammed.”

To be honest, Lin Zhiyu had considered that. But he couldn’t figure out what he had worth stealing. He’d found the guy on the H University Tieba, and the Senior had shown him his student ID (with the number blurred) and his official university login.

Combining that with everything else, Lin Zhiyu felt relatively safe. “I’m not a second-generation rich kid. What’s he going to steal? The most expensive thing in my suitcase is my acceptance letter.”

Yu Hechang studied his face for a moment, then said, “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

The hot wind from the window blew the floral ribbon of his hat. Under the brim was a clear, handsome face damp with sweat, his skin glowing with a slight moisture.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t catch his drift. Seeing Yu Hechang go silent, he turned his fair face toward him. The sunlight through the window highlighted his bright eyes and white teeth.

“What do you mean, ‘not so sure’?”

Yu Hechang clicked his tongue. “Do you really have zero self-awareness regarding your own looks?”

Lin Zhiyu covered his stomach with both hands and muttered peacefully, “Boys don’t like me. I only ever get love letters from girls.”

“The problem is that in our village, for a hundred miles around, you’re the only gay guy.”

“…”

Once they reached the city center, Lin Zhiyu politely declined Yu Hechang’s offer to see him off at the station. He didn’t want a snotty, tearful goodbye—it wasn’t necessary. They’d see each other at military training in a week anyway.

Yu Hechang immediately backed off. “Fine. Safe travels.”

The road to the station was under construction. The car jolted and rolled. Lin Zhiyu struggled to grab his bag as it nearly slid off his lap. “Driver, um…”

As soon as he spoke, his mouth filled with saliva—the classic sign of impending nausea. The driver glanced back at his deathly pale face and, being experienced, took it in stride.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t care about decorum anymore; he just lay down across the seat. His stomach felt better, and the bumps felt less severe. The phone he was using as a pillow vibrated.

[Senior]: Have you reached the station?

Lin Zhiyu typed with difficulty. His brain was foggy, and his words were almost unconscious.

[Xiao Yu]: Almost. I feel really sick.

[Senior]: Don’t look at your phone if you’re carsick.

[Xiao Yu]: It’s better now. I felt like throwing up earlier, but lying down makes it a bit hard.

[Senior]: I really want to help Baby rub his tummy.

Lin Zhiyu felt something was slightly “off” about that sentence. His heart felt strangely hot. He typed back haltingly:

[Xiao Yu]: Is the Senior like this with his younger brother at home, too?

[Senior]: I don’t have a younger brother.

Huh?

Before Lin Zhiyu could ask more, the car stopped. The driver turned around. “Station’s here. Remember to give a good review!”

He didn’t have time to dwell on that message. He got out, pushed his suitcase, and lugged his heavy bags through ticket control.

The station was packed with people and a variety of smells. Lin Zhiyu found a seat and once again proactively reported to the Senior:

I’ve entered the station. I’ve found a seat. I bought some water. The train is leaving.

Things that seemed trivial felt like they required a full report when it came to the Senior.

An enthusiastic old lady sitting nearby smiled at him. She had watched him since he boarded, constantly typing on his phone. “Are you chatting with your girlfriend?”

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes widened. “No, just a friend.”

He took off his hat and draped it over his bag to hide his face. He realized the frequency of their chatting was indeed absurdly high. For the rest of the trip, no matter how much the phone vibrated, he ignored it.

Lin Zhiyu slept through the journey. Just as the train was approaching the station, he woke up as if by instinct. Yawning, he checked his messages. He instinctively ignored the “Why is Baby ignoring me?” text and looked at the next one.

[Senior]: Tell me when you arrive. He will pick you up.

Lin Zhiyu was stunned. He typed quickly:

[Xiao Yu]: No need! I can go by myself. I want to learn the way.

[Senior]: I’ll call a car for you.

[Xiao Yu]: If you were the one picking me up, I might consider it.

[Senior]: Why?

[Xiao Yu]: Because I’m more familiar with you.

The Senior didn’t reply again. Once the train stopped, Lin Zhiyu followed the crowd out, clutching his bags tightly. He hid his phone in his palm, afraid it would be knocked away.

Lin Zhiyu had a poor sense of direction. The “North, South, East, West” from textbooks didn’t work here. He followed the signs out and got into the car the Senior had called for him.

H University was hidden in the suburbs of H City. The economy was average—not exactly modern, but not backwards either. Lin Zhiyu looked curiously at the architecture and local culture outside the window. As far as the eye could see, dark mountains pressed down over the town.

It was a bit better than his village, but not by much. Lin Zhiyu took a few photos and sent them to Yu Hechang, sharing the complex feeling of “testing out of one mountain only to land in another.”

The Senior’s friend’s place was right across from the East Gate of H University. He had to cross a road, but since the car couldn’t enter the narrow alleyway, the driver dropped him off at the corner.

Lin Zhiyu dragged his suitcase across the road, looking at the crisscrossing paths. They were filled with layers of old residential buildings. Ivy covered the walls, which were plastered with rental ads and landlord phone numbers. Large trees provided shade, and the breeze dispelled the summer heat.

The environment was decent.

[Xiao Yu]: Senior, I’m here. Which building is it? The address isn’t detailed.

[Senior]: The courtyard is hard to find. Just send a photo of what’s around you, and I’ll guide you.

Interested, Lin Zhiyu followed the Senior’s instructions, walking deeper into this lively area where he would spend the next four years.

[Xiao Yu]: There’s a huge pomegranate tree here with bright red flowers. It’s beautiful.

[Senior]: Keep walking straight. [Senior]: Turn left. There’s a pebble path. It’s at the very end.

The house was a traditional residential courtyard. There was no one around; Lin Zhiyu stood there alone. An old tree stood like a silent guardian, bringing a cool chill to the air.

Lin Zhiyu tucked his phone into his pocket. Seeing a sink in the open space in front of the courtyard, he went over to wash his face, tidy his hair, and smooth out his crumpled clothes.

Appearance check: complete. He wanted to leave a good impression on his roommate, hoping it might lead to even cheaper rent.

In his mind, Lin Zhiyu thought: Nice! Let’s do this!

Puffing out his chest, Lin Zhiyu dragged his suitcase to the door and rang the bell.

The old wooden door creaked open. There were no lights on inside, making it dim. The tall figure standing before him was shrouded in shadow.

The guy looked to be at least 188cm (6’2″). He wore a black T-shirt and black pants. Even in the dim light, Lin Zhiyu could sense his lean, muscular build.

He was much larger than Lin Zhiyu. Lin Zhiyu swallowed involuntarily, feeling as if he were being enveloped by a cloud of mist. He instinctively took a step back.

The boy seemed to have been waiting at home for a long time, exuding a slightly stagnant aura. His hair was short and neat, his features sharp, and his posture composed.

He was cold, handsome—flawlessly handsome. Little Lin’s “gay soul” was about to leave his body!!!

Wait, wait. He’s straight.

Logic returned.

First impressions were vital. Lin Zhiyu forced a standard smile—the kind that was supposed to look cute and friendly. He shyly yet gracefully reached out his hand: “Hello, the Senior sent me. My name is Lin Zhiyu.”

The boy’s gaze felt like a physical snake, slithering across Lin Zhiyu’s cheek. The next moment, he lowered his gaze, putting on the expression of someone meeting for the first time.

He naturally took Lin Zhiyu’s hand, his eyes locked onto him the entire time.

“Lin Rangchuan.”

His voice was deep and magnetic. Lin Zhiyu instinctively looked up, and the moment their eyes met, his heart skipped a beat—like a balloon flying freely toward the sky that suddenly popped.