My Roommate is a Gloomy, Sensitive Guy Who Cries Over Everything - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: (Minor Revision) Blow on it for me again? …

Lin Rangchuan’s expression hadn’t changed once. In Lin Zhiyu’s memory, he didn’t seem to recall ever seeing a… sunnier expression on his face.

So, for a moment, he couldn’t tell if Lin Rangchuan was being serious or just talking.

Lin Rangchuan tucked his phone into his pocket and spoke slowly: “Not going?”

His pupils were so dark they clearly reflected Lin Zhiyu’s face, causing Lin Zhiyu to avert his eyes slightly: “I didn’t say I wasn’t going…”

Yu Hechang finally snapped out of it. He felt puzzled for a while, sensing that the interaction between the two was strange—weirdly discordant.

Lin Zhiyu looked constrained. “My friend, he…”

Before he could finish, Lin Rangchuan said in a low voice: “I don’t mind.”

Yu Hechang: “…” Is no one going to ask for my opinion?

Lin Rangchuan’s voice was very light: “I don’t know if your friend minds.”

Yu Hechang immediately said: “I don’t mind at all.”

But Lin Rangchuan didn’t look at him; his gaze remained fixed on Lin Zhiyu, as if only his word counted.

Yu Hechang looked at the person next to him blankly, his eyes signaling: Daddy, say something!

Lin Zhiyu only thought for a moment before smiling naturally: “What’s there to mind? We’re all friends; the more the merrier.”

They went to the entryway to change shoes. Lin Rangchuan followed behind them, watching Lin Zhiyu’s profile as he chatted and laughed. Lin Zhiyu introduced them to each other along the way, managing the dynamic well without neglecting either of them despite their vastly different personalities.

Lin Zhiyu was a person with strong adaptability; even if he couldn’t understand something one second, he would fully accept it the next.

The noodle shop was just a few steps away—exactly five minutes. Arriving at the door, a drifting aroma hit them. Yu Hechang was frantic from the heat and took off his sun-protection jacket to claim the coolest spot.

It was a mom-and-pop shop with no QR codes; you had to order at the counter first.

“What do you want to eat? My treat,” Lin Zhiyu turned around and flashed a smile.

Then, Lin Zhiyu unceremoniously bumped Yu Hechang’s shoulder: “Quick, pick something. Under twenty yuan, or you pay the difference yourself.”

“Damn, that’s so little. You’re too stingy.”

“It’s not stingy, it’s called living.”

Then, Lin Zhiyu turned his head again, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Lin Rangchuan.

He’s being very polite to me, Lin Rangchuan thought, lowering his eyelids.

Yu Hechang ordered exactly twenty yuan, not a cent more or less. Lin Zhiyu was like a mouse in a grain pile, wanting a bit of everything. After ordering, he asked, “What will Brother Lin have?”

“It’s your treat, so anything is fine.”

Lin Zhiyu was stunned, not expecting that answer. Hesitating, he pointed to the most expensive item in the shop: “How about this?”

“Sure.”

“Extra spicy?”

“Anything.”

“Cilantro and green onions?”

“Same as you.”

He had an attitude of “it doesn’t matter even if you serve me arsenic.” Lin Zhiyu fell into a sudden, eerie silence.

Yu Hechang, standing aside, was completely bewildered. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were dating. I’m just a third wheel.

The owner handed them their slip and told them to wait. Yu Hechang walked side-by-side with Lin Zhiyu, only to see their original seats occupied by two men and a woman. Yu Hechang’s sun-protection jacket lay lonely on the floor, marked with a few faint footprints.

Lin Zhiyu frowned, walked over to pick up the jacket, and flushed with anger, though he still said politely: “We took this spot first.”

One of the men, wearing a patterned tank top, stared at him and spoke: “Does it have your name on it? How is it your spot?”

He glanced at the jacket in Lin Zhiyu’s arms: “Who says putting a jacket down claims a seat? Who made that rule?”

These three were likely locals and regulars. The shop’s AC was broken, leaving only one large fan whirring away. There were no other customers at this hour; the shop was mostly empty.

The man in the tank top had sized them up before entering: three frail college students. He doubted they could even withstand one of his punches.

“No, the rule here is first-come, first-served. Besides, the water cups were already set out, why should—” Before Lin Zhiyu could finish, the tank-top man picked up a cup and took a few gulps. “Whose cup?”

“…”

Lin Zhiyu’s expression turned very ugly. Although he hadn’t drunk from it yet, he felt it was now “dirty.” As the atmosphere flared toward a fight, Yu Hechang pulled at his clothes from the side: “Forget it, forget it. If it’s hot, it’s hot. Let’s just eat quickly and go.”

The tank-top man made a motion of loosening his shoulder muscles. In a fit of pique, Lin Zhiyu gave up and pulled Yu Hechang toward a different table.

Lin Zhiyu wasn’t good at fighting, and he hadn’t eaten yet—his pig trotter noodles… so he could only swallow his pride.

The very next second after they turned around, a loud clatter echoed from behind, followed by a pig-like shriek that startled the owner and his wife out of the kitchen.

Lin Rangchuan had picked up a chair and slammed it toward the man with reckless abandon. The tank-top man clutched his arm, howling in pain, while the other man and woman jumped up in fright. Lin Rangchuan used the chair to trip them both.

The chairs here were made of iron. For the current Lin Rangchuan, they were very handy weapons. He lifted one easily, looking down at the two tripped people as if looking at corpses.

He was tall, with dark pupils. When he had no expression, his features naturally exuded a sense of ruthlessness. It was just a dispute over a seat, yet he acted with the intensity of a mutual-destruction pact.

The woman suddenly let out a sharp scream. She had enjoyed the benefits of the men bullying others just a moment ago, but now she was pale with terror.

The three of them scrambled away in a panic without even placing an order. The couple running the shop watched, dumbstruck.

Lin Rangchuan hadn’t damaged any shop property; he even straightened the chair that was slightly askew. He looked back at the two “little cowards” standing close together.

Lin Rangchuan remained composed: “We have seats now. It’s cool here.”

No one replied.

Lin Rangchuan glanced down coldly: “Don’t like it here?”

Lin Zhiyu’s suppressed rage instantly vanished into thin air: “I like it… right?”

Yu Hechang was stunned: “Love it, love it.”

The two little cowards were nearly scared witless. They sat down slowly, and all three remained silent. You could hear a pin drop in the shop. Before long, the owner’s wife brought out the three bowls of noodles.

During the meal, Yu Hechang was so hungry he buried his head in his bowl, slurping away. Lin Zhiyu, however, glanced at Lin Rangchuan across from him, who was unhurriedly twirling rice noodles with his chopsticks.

He looked very carefully, but his eyes were large and couldn’t hide his emotions. Lin Rangchuan cooperated by keeping his head down, even relaxing his brow unhurriedly.

Lin Zhiyu recalled the scene just now—he fought so fiercely. He must have encountered many things like that before. The Senior’s friend is really… really impressive. I have to get along well with him.

With a lingering sense of trepidation, Lin Zhiyu finished a large bowl of pig trotter noodles with extra egg and sausage.

The post-meal satisfaction reached its peak, allowing him to push the unpleasantness aside. Lin Zhiyu went to the convenience store to buy two bottles of drinks. Yu Hechang wasn’t shy; he unscrewed his and gulped it down.

As he handed a bottle to Lin Rangchuan, Lin Zhiyu noticed a clear red mark on his palm. It wasn’t bleeding, but it looked severe.

Lin Rangchuan: “Aren’t you drinking?”

It was likely from grabbing the chair earlier. Lin Zhiyu answered with a question: “Does your hand hurt?”

He wanted to touch it, but didn’t reach out. Lin Zhiyu suddenly looked up at him. It was a flushed, satisfied face, but with eyes full of worry.

After a dozen seconds of silence, Lin Rangchuan said in a very light, low voice: “It hurts a little.”

…

Because Lin Zhiyu had to take Lin Rangchuan to the clinic to treat his wound in the afternoon, Yu Hechang’s plan to stay overnight was regretfully scrapped. He could only return to his lonely school dorm to “experience life.”

The three split up at the intersection.

The wound on the palm had indeed opened up. After the nurse disinfected it, she wrapped it in gauze. Her technique was good, and the entire palm was tied up tightly. She advised not to let it touch water and to come back the next day for a dressing change. For someone with a good constitution, it would be fine in three days.

The doctor operated the computer: “You’re his younger brother, right?”

The “younger brother” was stunned for a moment then nodded: “Uh-huh.”

Lin Rangchuan looked down. The “brother” had slightly curly black hair, clear eyes, and long, curled lashes like a doll. He blinked at him playfully. His skin was very fair and he looked soft and cute.

Doctor: “Hey, hey, hey, don’t pick at the gauze. Young man, doesn’t it hurt?”

Lin Zhiyu looked back and instinctively touched his hand: “What’s wrong? Does it hurt a lot? Is it unbearable?”

Lin Rangchuan gave a faint un.

After all, he got hurt because he stood up for them. Lin Zhiyu blew on it like he was comforting a child: “Endure it. It won’t hurt after tonight.”

Doctor: “…”

Lin Zhiyu took the payment slip to the self-service machine. When he handed the mineral water over, he brushed against Lin Rangchuan’s fingertips. The cold made him shiver; perhaps the clinic’s AC was too low. Lin Zhiyu draped his sun-protection jacket over him.

“Don’t run off, wait for me here.”

Using a tone like he was coaxing a child, Lin Rangchuan’s lips curled into a slight arc: “Okay.”

Once he left, Lin Rangchuan pulled the jacket over his head. He smelled a rich fragrance—it was the scent of Lin Zhiyu’s body.

He closed his eyes and breathed it in, his soul seemingly floating. His breathing slowed as he tried to inhale even more deeply. Lin Zhiyu had worn this jacket for half a day, so it was “marinated.” Even the sweat smelled good—soft and fragrant.

By the time they left the clinic, the sun had set, leaving behind deep, heavy colors in the twilight.

Because Lin Rangchuan’s hand was injured and he couldn’t cook, the two simply ordered takeout. Money was flowing like water, making Lin Zhiyu even more determined to work hard at his job.

Re-energized, Lin Zhiyu hopped and skipped to take out the trash. When he returned, he saw Lin Rangchuan standing at the door with a cigarette in his mouth, seemingly looking at him, yet perhaps not.

Lin Zhiyu walked up to him in the dusk. This man was tall; his silhouette loomed over him, mixed with a masculine scent. His heart skipped a beat. “You take a shower first tonight.”

Lin Rangchuan’s thin lips parted: “You first.”

Lin Zhiyu suspected Lin Rangchuan might have some kind of OCD, even the shower order had to strictly follow “you first, then me.” However, he didn’t dwell on it. After a quick shower, he returned to his room to do quests in his game.

Since they didn’t have many clothes and were both men, they basically put everything together. Lin Zhiyu threw his clothes into the hamper, planning to take them to the washing machine once Lin Rangchuan was finished.

Renting a place was great. Yu Hechang had just messaged saying the school washing machines were 2.50 yuan for thirty minutes and 3.50 yuan for drying. It was so expensive he couldn’t bear it.

Lin Zhiyu joked: Then pile your clothes up and bring them to the rental to wash.

[Shitting Smoothly: Really?] [Little Fish: Em, why don’t you add Brother Lin on WeChat and ask?] [Shitting Smoothly: I don’t dare.] [Shitting Smoothly: Senior Lin’s fighting aura today was too strong. Us commoners dare not approach.]

Lin Zhiyu scratched his head. [If you don’t dare, who does?] [Shitting Smoothly: You do.]

Lin Zhiyu was always easygoing, but he had his initial preferences. Brother Lin and the Senior were completely different personalities. He preferred the Senior’s type, though it was a pity he was too shy to meet in person.

[Little Fish: He’s actually okay.] [Shitting Smoothly: Only you would think that. If I were his roommate, I’d have a nervous breakdown every minute, no joke.]

Having just finished blow-drying his hair, Lin Zhiyu saw Lin Rangchuan coming out of his room. The door wasn’t open wide, and it was dark inside—nothing could be seen.

“Brother Lin, I’m done.”

Lin Rangchuan: “Un.”

A drifting fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose, constantly teasing his strained nerves. Even though Lin Rangchuan didn’t look over, he knew the person hadn’t left.

“Is it convenient for you?”

Lin Zhiyu had a towel draped over his head. “Do you need me to help you?”

Help me?

An indiscernible smile flashed in Lin Rangchuan’s eyes. He said neutrally: “No need.”

He was deathly hot today. He was hot everywhere.

How could he help? Like at the clinic today… by blowing on it for me again?