My Roommate is a Gloomy, Sensitive Guy Who Cries Over Everything - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: You Are Free, No Need to Report to Me…

[Xiao Yu: Was that you?] [Xiao Yu: Why did you retract it?] [Senior: If I sent it to the wrong person, why can’t I retract it?]

Lin Zhiyu curled his lip, thinking to himself: I’ll believe you when ghosts start walking the earth.

[Senior: You saw it?]

Lin Zhiyu switched into “praise-flattery” mode.

[Xiao Yu: Brother, your body is really good, I can’t even hope to catch up, I’m so envious of you.] [Senior: If there’s a chance, I’ll let you touch it.] [Xiao Yu: Haha, if there’s a chance.]

Typing carried no expression and even less emotion; there was only the professional dedication born of a desire to make money.

[Senior: Baby looks a bit forced, don’t you like touching guys?] [Xiao Yu: Brother, I’m a guy too. At most, I’m just envious. Feeling it once is enough to get the gist; it’s not about liking or not liking it.]

In reality, Lin Zhiyu was weeping inside. No, he was joking! He loved this kind of physique—big abs, beautiful fingers, and a nice voice! He had to admit, the Senior’s body was doing a full tap dance right on his aesthetic “sweet spot.”

[Senior: Time to prepare for the video.]

Lin Zhiyu instantly snapped into “corporate drone” mode and propped his phone back up. Before long, he accepted the other party’s video invitation.

The Senior’s avatar was a pitch-black void—nothing could be seen, not even a faint silhouette.

“Such a thin waist… I could probably grab it with one hand.” It was that same unusually raspy voice, sounding more and more like aged wine being warmed over a fire.

Lin Zhiyu moved back a bit uncomfortably.

“Don’t move.”

Lin Zhiyu found the tone slightly familiar. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted: “We’re starting.”

“Okay.” Lin Zhiyu got into a ready stance. “Do you want me to do poses based on your instructions?”

“Yes, there are a few poses I want you to demonstrate for me. Sit down first.”

Lin Zhiyu sat on the chair and tilted the camera downward so his face wouldn’t be visible. At most, a bit of his chin might accidentally show, which made it feel slightly less embarrassing.

“No need for shoes.”

Lin Zhiyu only realized after sitting down that his shorts and apron would ride up, making them look even shorter, barely covering his thighs.

Following the Senior’s instructions, he pressed his knees together and spread his calves, resting his hands between his thighs. The apron was a dark color with a ring of small lace trim, making the skin of his thighs look creamy and pale, like smooth butter spread thin.

What’s going on? he wondered. He wasn’t doing any large movements or exposing much skin, yet it felt strangely suggestive.

But before Lin Zhiyu could overthink it, a low, murmuring chuckle came from the phone. With flushing cheeks, he ended the pose.

“Lift both legs up.”

Lin Zhiyu looked down at the position. The shorts were truly short; he almost exposed half of… “How do I lift them? Bent?”

There was a long silence on the other end. “Let’s change it. Pull your thighs up and hug them with your hands.”

This pose was quite open. Lin Zhiyu tugged at his clothes, hoping to cover himself, the leg openings stretched to their limit, revealing delicate white flesh.

When he heard “that’s enough” from the other side, Lin Zhiyu let out a sigh of relief. His legs were cramping; he was exhausted. This modeling gig wasn’t something just anyone could do.

The sound of rustling came from the other side of the phone. Lin Zhiyu sat slumped in the chair, frowning in thought. He didn’t even notice the camera had tilted down further.

His eyes were round—classic “peach blossom eyes”—yet his gaze held a sense of innocence, creating a “pure yet sultry” contrast. At this moment, he was so tired his lips were slightly parted as he rested.

“The baby’s legs are truly beautiful.”

Lin Zhiyu smiled proudly. “Do they meet your standards for a model?”

“One hundred percent.”

Lin Zhiyu made a silent “O” shape with his mouth, his mind spinning quickly. “Then I might consider doing part-time modeling. I heard the daily rate is really high.”

There was no response from the other side.

After a while, Lin Zhiyu stood up from the chair, pointing his chest toward the camera: “If there’s nothing else, this video benefit is over.”

“One last one.”

Lin Zhiyu stood up, his right hand gripping the back of the chair, left knee on the seat, right leg standing straight, leaning forward slightly with his waist arched down.

The shorts looked a bit tight, the curves rounded and full, the leg openings squeezing out a hint of “creamy” flesh. The apron strings dangled down, landing right in the middle of his rear.

After ten minutes or so, Lin Zhiyu’s muscles were too sore to stand. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. From holding the chair with one hand to supporting himself with both, his spine slowly softened and slumped.

“Does this one take a long time to sketch? Not done yet?”

The Senior’s side was very quiet, save for the sound of light breathing.

Lin Zhiyu was so tired his neck was drooping, blood rushing to his head. “Can you hurry up?”

The person on the other end laughed. “Done.”

“You were so slow this time.” Lin Zhiyu “accused” him with a look across the screen.

“It’s the line where the waist and hips connect to the thighs. Baby’s body proportions are very standard, and you look very soft. I wanted to draw it better.”

Lin Zhiyu, who had been slightly dissatisfied, peeked through his eyelashes, his eyes brightening. “Then I can arch a little lower.”

But after a moment, he straightened up out of exhaustion, turned his head, and whispered to ask if that was okay.

“If I licked you, Baby would cry, wouldn’t he?”

It was too quiet. Lin Zhiyu turned around sharply. “What did you say?”

“I said your poses are very standard.”

“Professional model.” Lin Zhiyu slumped back into the chair, sliding down like a liquid until he almost fell off, then propped himself back up, repeating the cycle.

“Models out there are all liars, especially in this field.”

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes widened slightly, a “gossip-seeking” expression on his face as he cupped his cheeks. “How are they liars? Don’t they all sign contracts?”

“Contracts are traps. In reality, it’s about accompanying clients.”

Lin Zhiyu looked confused, sitting cross-legged on the chair. “Isn’t that what I’m doing now?”

“You provide emotional value. Those people provide physical services, even group-p.”

Lin Zhiyu, ever the humble student, asked: “What is group-p?”

“Several people playing.”

This was truly beyond the scope of Lin Zhiyu’s common sense. “How do they play? What do they play?”

The other side went silent for an unusually long time.

“Playing WeChat mini-programs.”

Lin Zhiyu had a flash of inspiration: “I know! It’s ‘Happy Mahjong,’ right? You need four or more people to play. That is very ‘group’.”

The other side seemed to be amused.

“Want to play?” Lin Zhiyu had already taken the phone down, not even caring about showing his face anymore. The video was filled with Lin Zhiyu’s blushing, smiling face.

And so, they played Happy Mahjong all night.

…

The Aftermath and the “Gift”

After a half-day of modeling and a whole night of Mahjong, Lin Zhiyu felt like his shoulders weren’t shoulders and his wrists weren’t wrists. He was completely spent.

On Monday morning at 8:00 AM, Lin Zhiyu barely made it out of bed. He dragged his creaking skeleton to class, and afterward, he went for a run. The fresh air made him feel much lighter.

Then, at a corner, he came face-to-face with Qin Rui.

Qin Rui’s gaze was sharp, making Lin Zhiyu’s back feel sore. He suddenly bent over and thumped his lower back.

A curly-haired boy with a blushing face, painfully thumping his waist, and trembling legs…

Qin Rui’s expression changed drastically: “What happened to you?”

Lin Zhiyu, being someone who valued his dignity: “Nothing. I’m preparing for the sports meet. I signed up for the 3000-meter run. I’ve been training hard these last few days.”

If Qin Rui believed that, he’d be a fool. “Have you broken up?”

“…”

“So that’s a no.” Qin Rui scoffed. “You’re going to be eaten alive by him sooner or later. What’s the excuse this time?”

Lin Zhiyu blinked. “Have you ever seen that TVB drama called Old Time Buddy?”

Qin Rui raised a hand. “At most, we are brothers; we aren’t in the same ‘buddy’ situation.”

“No, I mean there’s a line in it.” Lin Zhiyu suddenly straightened his chest and spoke with vigor, “I possess the defining trait of a Chinese person: Poverty!”

Qin Rui was speechless.

“Advice from someone who’s been there.” Qin Rui handed him a bottle of mineral water he’d just bought. “Get some rest. You definitely didn’t sleep well last night.”

Lin Zhiyu washed his face, his smile clear. “Thanks, brother.”

…

The Sports Meet and the “Nude Model” Proposal

After heart-to-hearting with Qin Rui, Lin Zhiyu knew Yu Hechang definitely wouldn’t have time for breakfast, so he brought him some light snacks.

While sitting in class, the class sports representative turned around: “Yu… I’ll call you Brother Yu.”

Lin Zhiyu froze: “That sounds terrible…”

“Zhi-ge, Yu-ge, Lin-ge, Lin Zhiyu-ge, Zhiyu-ge…”

Lin Zhiyu’s head was thumping. He made a “stop” gesture. “Cease, cease. Just tell me what it is. I’ve already signed up for the 3000 meters.”

“I know, but the 4×100 relay is short one person, and there’s the high jump…”

Yu Hechang was the first to complain: “You guys are just薅 (plucking/exploiting) Little Yu alone! Have you no shame?”

The representative was also frustrated. Their class (Class 03) was the worst; hardly anyone was physically fit. He was desperate.

“And there’s prize money for first place! This year is different; there’s actually cash.”

At this, Lin Zhiyu’s expression became very serious. He asked, “What is the maximum number of events one person can sign up for?”

…

Later, during class, a text notification popped up. His bank balance had increased by over 10,000 yuan.

[Senior: Did you receive it?] [Xiao Yu: Why did you send it directly to my card?] [Senior: Withdrawing from WeChat has transaction fees.]

Lin Zhiyu recalculated. Working for the Senior was way more profitable than the milk tea shop.

[Senior: Renewing?] [Senior: It could be more next month.]

But then, the Senior dropped a bombshell.

[Senior: Shall we meet?] [Senior: I love the lines of your body. I want to invite you to be my model in person once, okay?] [Senior: You don’t wear anything, wear a blindfold, lie on the sofa, and hug a plushie. Can you let me see?]

Lin Zhiyu typed with difficulty: [What do you mean? Nude modeling?] [Senior: Can I?]

Lin Zhiyu refused without a second thought, his face burning with shame.

The conversation spiraled. The Senior claimed “all men except you are no good,” and Lin Zhiyu got so angry he stopped replying.

…

The Counterattack

Lin Zhiyu went to Qin Rui’s place (a small villa with a studio) to hide and seek advice. Qin Rui, while livestreaming, gave him “expert” advice on how to handle “predatory” gay men: Hard-counter them. Don’t back down. If he wants to see you, make him show himself first.

Lin Zhiyu decided to implement the “ordering” system.

[Xiao Yu: Want to see me?] [Senior: Yes, I want to so badly. I’m begging you, Baby.] [Xiao Yu: Transfer me 100 yuan, and send me some photos of yourself. I want to see abs.]

The Senior actually sent a photo—a highly provocative, moody shot of his torso with his pants unzipped halfway. Lin Zhiyu saved it, claiming it was for “professional” reference.

Eventually, they reached a compromise.

[Senior: Baby, wear a blindfold, don’t turn on the lights. In a dark environment, don’t look at me, okay?]

Lin Zhiyu realized the Senior was desperate for inspiration but also afraid of being “ugly” and losing him.

[Xiao Yu: If it helps you, okay.] [Xiao Yu: But I won’t be a nude model. The only person who gets to see all of me is my lover.]

The Senior sent a two-second voice clip. Just two words, whispered with longing and a hint of lowliness: “Lover.”

…

The Confrontation with Lin Rangchuan

While Lin Zhiyu was still at Qin Rui’s place, he received a call from his roommate, Lin Rangchuan.

“Where are you?” Lin Rangchuan asked, his voice devoid of emotion. “It’s late. Are you at someone else’s house?”

Lin Zhiyu panicked. “I’m coming home… I’ll be back right now!”

Lin Rangchuan’s voice turned strangely gentle, yet bone-chillingly sad. “It doesn’t matter. Where you eat is your freedom. You don’t need to report to me. Even if you want to eat at two different houses, I can be last in line and wait for you to come back and eat with me. Don’t rush. Stay safe on the road. Remember to come back.”

He hung up. In the dark room, Lin Rangchuan lay on Lin Zhiyu’s bed, burying his face in the pillow and quilt, soaking in the “Baby’s” scent while silently crying.

Then, he called again. “Are you done eating? I’ll come pick you up.”

Qin Rui, hearing the loud volume, scoffed. “Why leave? It’s just a meal; it’s not like it’ll kill him.”

But Lin Zhiyu looked at the dark window, felt the chilly night wind, and shouldered his bag.

“No,” he said quietly. “I have to go back.”