My Roommate is a Gloomy, Sensitive Guy Who Cries Over Everything - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: That is My Room

Lin Zhiyu felt as if he were possessed; the person in front of him gave him the strange illusion that he was actually meeting his online Senior in person.

Lin Rangchuan stepped aside and took a pair of brand-new slippers from the shoe cabinet. “I knew it was you.”

Lin Zhiyu left his suitcase and large bag outside the door, said thank you, and scanned the layout of the apartment while changing his shoes.

The overall decor was a modern pastoral style. The floor tiles and walls were mostly warm beige tones, and the furniture consisted of natural materials, making the entire place feel clean, simple, and refreshing.

At first glance, he was very satisfied.

Just as Lin Zhiyu turned to speak, he saw Lin Rangchuan carrying his luggage inside. With a creak, the door shut, sealing out the natural light. Lin Rangchuan was tall, and with the suitcase taking up space, the entryway suddenly felt cramped—the very air seemed compressed.

There was a subtle, oppressive feeling, as if once he entered, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

Lin Rangchuan seemed not to notice. He approached. “Do you want something to drink?”

Lin Zhiyu had encountered many people on his way here. In the sweltering heat, everyone’s sweat had fermented into a variety of pungent odors lingering in the air.

Lin Rangchuan was dressed entirely in black, and the air conditioning wasn’t on, making the room a bit stuffy. Yet, he didn’t have a single drop of sweat on him. His skin was pale, and he had no strange smell at all; he was like a cold-blooded animal.

While mentally assessing his roommate’s personality, Lin Zhiyu replied casually, “Anything is fine.”

A moment later, Lin Rangchuan brought him a glass of ice water. It was freezing and incredibly refreshing. Lin Zhiyu exhaled a cool breath, the faint flush on his cheeks fading. Lin Rangchuan watched him for a while. “I’ll show you the room. If you’re satisfied, we’ll sign the contract.”

His tone was strictly business. Lin Zhiyu followed behind him, unconsciously licking his lips. He naturally hoped to be satisfied. The environment was okay, and the room…

The moment the door opened, the brightness of the space nearly blinded him.

The room was more than “okay”!

Lin Zhiyu suppressed his excitement, remembering Yu Hechang’s warning: No matter how much you like a place, don’t show it, or the landlord will fleece you.

Clearing his throat, Lin Zhiyu feigned composure. “It’s not bad.”

Lin Rangchuan didn’t turn around, but he could feel those bright eyes behind him widening in delight. He suppressed a smile.

“The Senior mentioned to me before that the rent is 500 a month, and the first month is free. Is that correct?” Lin Zhiyu asked with feigned casualness, though he was nervous inside. If only his mom were here—she was a master at haggling.

All he knew how to say was: “Ah, can’t it be cheaper? No? Oh, okay.”

“Utilities and the internet are separate.”

Lin Rangchuan leaned lightly against the doorframe, one hand in his pocket. His gaze swept over Lin Zhiyu’s fair face.

Lin Zhiyu looked down and noticed a large wristwatch on the man’s wrist. He recognized the brand; it didn’t look cheap.

Lin Rangchuan shifted his hand deeper into his pocket to hide the watch, his tone indifferent. “If you have no objections, we can sign right now.”

“Sure, I have no objections.” Lin Zhiyu flashed him a smile.

Lin Rangchuan said nothing and turned to get the contract. Looking at his dark-clad back, Lin Zhiyu thought to himself: This guy doesn’t seem to talk much.

But then he remembered—this was the Senior’s friend.

Lin Zhiyu felt he could handle it.

After pumping himself up, Lin Zhiyu moved his luggage into the second bedroom and smiled with satisfaction again. It had a small balcony, a bookshelf, a desk, and a wardrobe. The double bed was clean and comfortable. Although there wasn’t a private bathroom, sharing with only one other person was perfectly fine.

He stepped back to the doorway to film a video for Yu Hechang. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a tightly shut door at the end of the hallway—a space where light didn’t seem to reach.

“That is my room.”

Lin Zhiyu’s eyelashes fluttered reflexively. He turned to find a pair of cold eyes staring at him.

He hadn’t noticed when the boy had appeared behind him. He wasn’t standing close, but he was so tall that his shadow loomed over Lin Zhiyu. The black clothing made his features look pale and his pupils very dark. He didn’t miss the second of panic on Lin Zhiyu’s face.

Lin Rangchuan said in a low voice, “Come look at the contract. Sign if there are no issues.”

None of the rental traps Lin Zhiyu had researched beforehand were present.

There was no “emotion” in this contract—just pure trust.

Lin Zhiyu only looked closely at the column regarding money. Once he confirmed everything was correct, he signed. Only after putting the pen down did he realize someone had been standing beside him the whole time.

This time, he was standing close.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t move, letting the other man hover. He wondered: Is he nearsighted?

“We’re roommates from now on. I look forward to working with you. You’re a year ahead of me, so is it okay if I call you ‘Senior’?”

Lin Rangchuan’s expression shifted slightly. “Better not.”

Lin Zhiyu blinked, then realized it made sense—it would be confusing with his online Senior. “Then I’ll call you…”

He trailed off, tilting his head back to look at him while holding his glass. “Lin-ge (Brother Lin), is that okay?”

Lin Rangchuan was silent for two seconds. “What?”

Lin Zhiyu repeated it. “Lin-ge.”

“Yeah. That’s fine.”

Lin Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. He’s surprisingly easygoing.

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes were bright, and a faint smile always played on his lips. Lin Rangchuan turned his head slightly to avoid looking and flipped the contract to the last page. “You might not have read the details closely. There are some specific rules I need to clarify.”

Lin Zhiyu stood opposite him and nodded obediently.

Lin Rangchuan noticed the empty glass. Half a minute later, Lin Zhiyu started gulping down water again.

Lin Rangchuan said, “Neither of our rooms are en-suites, so the bathroom is shared. My mysophobia isn’t severe, but you must at least be clean.”

Lin Zhiyu: “Don’t worry, don’t worry!”

“I know you can’t cook and have had ‘incidents’ before. So, stay out of the kitchen. I can cook, so I’ll handle it. If there’s something you want to eat, tell me in advance. There will be a monthly food fee, and I’ll set the price.”

“Okay, okay!”

“Finally—my room. Do not enter without my permission.”

“OK, OK!”

“Anything in the fridge is fair game. I usually shop twice a month.” Lin Rangchuan paused. “You have to come with me.”

“Understood, understood.”

Lin Zhiyu answered so quickly it seemed like he hadn’t even thought about it, making him appear a bit flippant. Lin Rangchuan raised an eyebrow at him.

Lin Zhiyu suddenly froze. Looking closely, he realized the boy’s eyes were incredibly dark and his features were sharp. Being stared at so directly was a bit intimidating.

He unconsciously gripped his glass tighter, his face tensing up. Only then did Lin Rangchuan speak: “What do you want for dinner?”

Starting already?

Lin Zhiyu was a bit dazed. He felt like something was “off,” but he loved the room so much and the contract was already signed, so he tossed his logic aside.

“I’m still a bit carsick and don’t have an appetite. You eat, Lin-ge. I’ll just have whatever.”

Lin Rangchuan lowered his eyes and said nonchalantly, “How about Hot and Sour Rice Noodles?”

Lin Zhiyu’s mouth practically watered. “…I’ll have some of that.”

…

The noodles were sour, spicy, and perfectly coated in sauce. After one bite, he almost wanted to call out for his mom.

You really couldn’t judge a book by its cover. Lin-ge’s cooking was better than a professional chef’s. As he ate, Lin Zhiyu even tasted a hint of his hometown—maybe he was just that hungry…

Lin Zhiyu slowed down his pace and made small talk. “There’s a little shop in my hometown that makes noodles that taste just like this. It always smells amazing when I walk by.”

“As long as you use enough seasoning, it’s hard for it to taste bad.”

Lin Rangchuan’s response was curt and final.

Lin Zhiyu scratched his cheek, feeling a bit insulted. He was the type who could never make anything taste good; he was only fit for prep work.

Lin Rangchuan ate slowly, his long eyelashes casting shadows. He ate without expression, like an AI—unapproachable.

Every attempt Lin Zhiyu made at conversation was shut down by Lin Rangchuan.

Gradually, the atmosphere at the table thinned. It felt like two strangers just happened to be sharing a table—which, essentially, they were.

Once his bowl was empty, Lin Zhiyu felt he wanted more. He couldn’t help saying, “You’re really amazing.”

Lin Rangchuan paused. A chopstick slipped from his fingers and hit the table. He nonchalantly grabbed a new pair. “It’s alright.”

Lin Zhiyu: “…”

Fine. Talks little, seems decent, doesn’t smile, is hard to approach.

Was he just slow to warm up, or naturally silent? Lin Zhiyu felt uneasy and decided to suppress his curiosity so as not to seem too pushy. After all, they had to live together for four years.

After eating, Lin Rangchuan went to the balcony to take a call. Lin Zhiyu proactively cleared the dishes. Just as he entered the kitchen, a voice came from behind him.

“There’s a dishwasher.”

Lin Zhiyu turned around. Lin Rangchuan tucked his phone into his pocket and walked away.

He leaned down and found the manual tucked into a gap. It looked brand new. When he was cleaning earlier, he noticed the washing machine and air conditioner were new, too.

Something was very wrong. This didn’t look like a place someone had lived in for a long time.

As the dishwasher started, Lin Zhiyu took advantage of Lin Rangchuan being in his room to sprint to the bathroom. After his shower, he sprawled out on his bed like a starfish and started messaging his friends and family.

[Pooping Smoothly (Yu Hechang)]: Holy crap, that size! That lighting! That layout! It’s a dream house!

[Xiao Yu]: I told you the Senior wouldn’t lie to me.

[Pooping Smoothly]: Ugh, I don’t want to live in the dorms anymore. Are you sure there aren’t extra rooms?

[Xiao Yu]: [Cat shaking its head meme]

[Pooping Smoothly]: Fine. You didn’t message me all afternoon—what’s the roommate like? Easy to get along with?

[Xiao Yu]: I think he’s okay. He keeps his distance. I think I’ll have to talk to him less in the future.

[Xiao Yu]: I’ll try my best not to offend him. Besides being my roommate, he’s my landlord. I still want him to lower the rent, and the contract is only for one semester. What if he doesn’t renew it next semester?

[Pooping Smoothly]: You’ll be fine. Everyone in our village likes you.

Lin Zhiyu hummed with pride at the compliment.

[Pooping Smoothly]: Is he from our school?

[Xiao Yu]: Yeah, a Law major.

[Pooping Smoothly]: What does he look like?

[Xiao Yu]: Super handsome.

[Pooping Smoothly]: Damn, for you to give such a high rating… be careful or you’ll lose your principles.

[Xiao Yu]: [Cat punching meme]

Lin Zhiyu switched to another chat and made a voice call.

“Mom, I’m at school. Yeah, the environment is good. Not all the roommates are here yet.” Lin Zhiyu rolled over, twirling the ears of a plush rabbit while kicking his legs in the air. “I ate. I’m full. It’s only the first day, I definitely have enough money. Go to sleep early. Mhmm, bye-bye~”

Only after finishing the call did he message the Senior. In fact, since he had entered the house, it was the Senior who hadn’t replied.

He seemed busy today, though Lin Zhiyu didn’t know what.

[Senior]: Was dinner good?

[Xiao Yu]: It was delicious.

[Senior]: Are you satisfied with the surroundings?

[Xiao Yu]: Super satisfied!

[Senior]: If anything makes you uncomfortable, just let me know.

[Xiao Yu]: Nothing so far. [Xiao Yu]: I am pretty sleepy, though. I want to go to bed.

The other side seemed to stall. Ten seconds later:

[Senior]: How was your chat with him?

[Xiao Yu]: It was pretty good!

Lin Zhiyu felt like the Senior was asking a lot of questions today.

The other side waited a moment…

[Senior]: That’s it?

[Xiao Yu]: Was there something else?

Half a minute later:

[Senior]: Go to sleep.

[Xiao Yu]: I’m going to sleep then. Goodnight, Senior.

[Senior]: Goodnight, Baby.

Lin Zhiyu’s ears felt hot again at the nickname. He pulled the plush rabbit’s ears over his eyes.

Don’t overthink it. Go to sleep.

The living room light outside suddenly clicked on. Lin Rangchuan stepped out of his room and entered the bathroom, which still held a faint, refreshing citrus scent.

His quiet eyes swept over the sink. There were two sets of tooth mugs, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. On the shelf, there were two sets of body wash and shampoo. Beside a deep blue towel hung two small pinkish-blue towels…

And many, many, many more items in pairs.

Lin Rangchuan closed his eyes briefly and took a cigarette out to the balcony.

In the dark of night, all was silent. A puff of smoke was exhaled, dissipating into the air.

Lin Rangchuan held the cigarette between his slender fingers, glancing sideways at the closed bedroom door. Ash fell to the ground, unnoticed.

In less than two seconds, he stubbed out the cigarette, lowering his eyes to hide the surging waves of pleasure.