The Clingy Coquette and His Straight Roommate - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Adding WeChat

While Bo Jingshi went to the public bathroom to shower, Liao You caught Yu Lan.

“What’s the situation? Is Bo Jingshi bullying you?”

“No.”

If anything, he’s the one bullying others.

Yu Lan had a smug little look on his face, which made Liao You annoyed just looking at it. “Don’t be a fool like you used to be, getting bullied and then secretly crying without telling anyone.”

“I wasn’t bullied!”

“Then who was the one complaining to me before? You said he looked fierce, looked like his punches would hurt, and had a terrible attitude when he first arrived at the dorm. He doesn’t like you, so shouldn’t you hate him back?”

Just as Yu Lan was about to explain, Liao You looked like he didn’t want to hear more. “As long as he isn’t bullying you, it’s fine. If he does, tell me, and I’ll beat him up for you.”

“I’m going to play games now.”

Yu Lan and Liao You were relatives. They weren’t in the same major, but both were art students. Very few people knew they were related because Liao You didn’t want to tell anyone.

Yu Lan was younger than him and looked more tender, yet Liao You still had to call him “Uncle.” It was too embarrassing to say out loud.

Liao You’s feelings toward Yu Lan were extremely complex. The first time he met Yu Lan, Yu Lan was eight years old.

Having grown up in Russia, Yu Lan couldn’t speak Chinese back then. With curled eyelashes, snowy skin, and a pair of deep sapphire eyes, he looked just like a doll.

Since they were the only two in the family close in age, everyone treated Yu Lan like a treasure and told Liao You to yield to and protect him.

He was just a child himself; why would he enjoy taking care of another kid?

At the time, he found Yu Lan very annoying.

But Yu Lan’s face was so white and tender, and his voice was so soft, that Liao You truly couldn’t find the heart to ignore him.

He used to leave Yu Lan alone in the toy room while he went to play video games.

Yu Lan was young, but he was sensitive. He understood he was disliked, so he always entertained himself in the toy room, playing with dolls or building blocks by himself.

Until one time they went to Jingzhou, and Yu Lan was bullied by local kids. A group of brats teamed up to bully Yu Lan because he couldn’t speak Chinese; word was he almost got hit.

Back then, as Liao You looked at that tear-stained, delicate little face and heard a string of words he didn’t understand popping out of that small mouth, a sense of belated guilt suddenly surged in his chest.

Even though it had nothing to do with him, he felt that Yu Lan being bullied was a result of his own negligence.

Yu Lan had originally planned to take the bus with Niu Tiantian to a weekend house party, but Niu Tiantian had to volunteer, and since her roommate wanted her to come along, she was in a bit of a bind.

Yu Lan said it didn’t matter and that he could take the bus by himself.

At that moment, Bo Jingshi happened to be heading downstairs to throw out the trash, and it just so happened that Niu Tiantian saw him. After a moment of thought, she took the initiative to greet him.

Surprisingly, Bo Jingshi actually acknowledged her.

Niu Tiantian said enthusiastically, “Senior, I can’t take the bus with Lanlan to the party later. Are you free? Why don’t you go with Lanlan? I’m afraid people will take advantage of him.”

Yu Lan puffed out his cheeks in anger. How could he possibly be taken advantage of?

His “fierce” look was exceptionally cute and very captivating.

Bo Jingshi looked conflicted but reluctantly agreed.

Just as Niu Tiantian left, another familiar figure appeared at the door.

Ke Yisen’s eyes softened when he saw Yu Lan, and he stepped forward joyfully. He paused when he saw the new face next to Yu Lan, then smiled and greeted: “Hello, Senior Bo.”

Bo Jingshi didn’t pay him any mind, but Ke Yisen didn’t find it awkward; it would have been a miracle if Bo Jingshi actually acknowledged him. Ke Yisen continued looking at Yu Lan: “Lanlan, is Senior Bo your new roommate? I didn’t expect you guys to be assigned to the same dorm, that really is…”

He made a somewhat conflicted expression and gave Yu Lan a helpless smile.

Yu Lan knew what Ke Yisen meant, but he didn’t speak; he just lowered his head and bit his straw. He had finished half of his milk tea and didn’t want to drink more, so he moved to throw it away.

“Lanlan, there’s still more than half left. Let me drink it.” Ke Yisen’s tone was intimate as he reached out to take the milk tea from Yu Lan’s hand. “Don’t waste it.”

Yu Lan’s eyes widened, and he protected the milk tea, refusing to give it up. “But I’ve already drunk from it.”

“Why are you being shy? What’s our relationship? I don’t mind your saliva.”

“No, I think that’s disgusting.”

Ke Yisen was exceptionally indulgent: “Okay, whatever Lanlan says.”

They talked as if no one else were there, forgetting Bo Jingshi was even present.

He stood there, tall and upright, his aura cold and heavy like a black statue devoid of emotion.

Bo Jingshi had a habit: the more chaotic his inner world, the calmer his expression. This was why others always thought he was heartless and harsh.

In reality, very few emotions could make him chaotic, but right now, a very unfamiliar emotion was breeding. He felt extremely irritable, bordering on violent.

Inside the chest cavity wrapped in skin and flesh, boiling water seemed to be churning; his limbs felt scalding, yet his gaze remained incomparably still as he took in the scene of the two interacting.

The distance between the two was getting closer. They were close—a different kind of “close” than the relationship between Yu Lan and Liao You.

Bo Jingshi could clearly sense that this man had desire for Yu Lan. Beneath eyes as gentle as water lay a dense, domineering possessiveness and obsession, just like the pursuers who chased after him.

Equally nauseating.

As the man’s hand was about to touch the back of Yu Lan’s, Bo Jingshi felt an impulse to tear them apart and give the man a hard punch.

But such violence was barbaric.

Reason made him restrain the noisy impulse, preventing the thoughts in his brain from turning into reality. But not doing it didn’t mean he didn’t want to.

Ke Yisen asked Yu Lan a few more questions about his studies. After a while, he suddenly wore an apologetic expression: “Sorry, Senior, I forgot you were still here.”

“Since you’re in the same dorm as Lanlan—Lanlan has a childish temper sometimes and has been spoiled; he must be a bother to you.”

“Is that so? I don’t find it bothersome.”

Bo Jingshi said indifferently, “Maybe it’s a bother to you.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. How could Lanlan be a bother?” Ke Yisen hadn’t expected such a reply and took a long time before continuing. “Is Senior Bo also going to the Mixology Club event tonight? Want to go together? I’ll be picking Lanlan up later tonight…”

“No thanks.” Bo Jingshi’s tone was flat. “I’ll be going with Yu Lan.”

“We already made plans.”

Ke Yisen was completely silenced, his usually gentle face nearly unable to hold its composure. His warm smile gradually became stiff, and cracks began to appear on his handsome face.

He looked at Bo Jingshi, his gaze completely different this time—not the dismissive warmth from before, but full of scrutiny and wariness.

Like a beast whose territorial ownership had been challenged, he was assessing the opponent’s combat power and observing their intentions before deciding on the next move.

Unfortunately, that cold face showed nothing but indifference.

Ke Yisen’s gaze scanned meaningfully between Yu Lan and Bo Jingshi: “It seems Senior Bo and Lanlan get along very well. That puts my mind at ease.”

But it shouldn’t be.

Bo Jingshi hated gay people and hated delicate people. Anything that Bo Jingshi found troublesome was something he loathed.

And Yu Lan had been spoiled since childhood. Many details of his life, including his way of speaking, exuded an unconscious delicateness. While it wasn’t annoying—on the contrary, it was very cute—it was definitely not something this kind of sophisticated, egoistic, homophobic straight man could appreciate.

They were not the type of people who would hang out together.

As Ke Yisen was thinking, a younger female student came up to ask for his WeChat. He put on his trademark gentle smile and generously brought out his phone for her to scan.

Coincidentally, at almost the same time, a younger male student was approaching from the other side. Bo Jingshi caught sight of the person taking out their phone and opening the “Scan” page, and said expressionlessly: “Busy.”

With his deep-set eyes, high nose, and sharp profile, his cold gaze was so oppressive it instantly scared the student away.

Only after the student had clutched his phone and walked far away did he suddenly remember he wasn’t even there to ask for his WeChat!

Ke Yisen smiled and said, “Senior Bo is indeed very aloof. The student who wanted your WeChat must be sad now.”

“Just because he wants it, I have to give it?” Bo Jingshi curled his lip. “That would be too cheap.”

Ke Yisen, who was letting someone scan his WeChat, paused. He looked up, his eyes meeting a pair of pitch-black, cold eyes through the soft, warm sunlight.

Ke Yisen was still smiling. His pupil color was on the lighter side, giving him a gentle aura, but now those light pupils had an inorganic coldness under the sun.

The female student who had just scanned the WeChat rubbed her arm, feeling inexplicably cold.

Yu Lan was slow to perceive these things. He looked between the two of them and suddenly looked up at Bo Jingshi: “Senior, I don’t think I have your WeChat either.”

Only then did Bo Jingshi withdraw his gaze. He opened the WeChat scan page, lowered his head, and said, “Add it now. I’ll scan you.”

Bo Jingshi planned to drive Yu Lan to the house party location, but Yu Lan wanted to take the bus.

The bus went there directly, while the subway required a transfer. More importantly, Yu Lan wanted to collect “Ant Forest” energy to plant trees; if they drove, he wouldn’t get any energy.

Yu Lan forgot his small fan and had to go back to get it. Bo Jingshi planned to wait for him downstairs at the dorm.

Yu Lan, who had just reached the elevator, jogged back and looked up with his clean white face: “Senior, I suddenly really want to drink the milk tea from campus.”

His little motive was written all over his face; he didn’t have any intention of hiding it.

Bo Jingshi frowned and said expressionlessly, “Got it. I’ll go buy it.”

“Then let’s meet at the school gate!”

A new handmade milk tea shop had opened on campus. Bo Jingshi was standing in line. He didn’t know what Yu Lan wanted to drink, so he took a photo of the menu.

The milk tea shop also sold small desserts, like mini cheesecake, egg tarts, and ladyfingers.

Little Bear: Senior, I want to eat this!! (JPG of several circled desserts)

Don’t Bother Me: ?

Little Bear: So hungry so hungry (Pity emoji) (Pity emoji), Lanlan’s stomach is flat from hunger!

Little Bear: (Grin emoji) (Grin emoji)

Don’t Bother Me: Stop grinning.

Don’t Bother Me: Bought them all. Checking out now.

When he saw the first message, Yu Lan’s little face wrinkled as he clutched his phone, starting to sulk.

But seeing the next message, his brows smoothed out. His “glutinous rice ball” apple cheeks puffed up softly, and his two little tiger teeth looked sweet and energetic.

Little Bear: Senior!!!!

Little Bear: (Kiss emoji) (Kiss emoji)

The corners of Bo Jingshi’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch upward, but he quickly pressed them down. He returned to his frozen, cold face, as if the previous smile had been a mere hallucination.

He looked down at the screen at the yellow cartoon sticker pouting for a kiss, and his brow furrowed again.

Why was he acting spoiled again?

Even asking for a kiss.

He’s dreaming.

“Hello, that will be 152.8 yuan total. WeChat or Alipay?”

“Alipay.”

Bo Jingshi’s gaze swept past the checkout counter. On a shelf, there were transparent boxes filled with small “3”-shaped cookies.

The kiss emoji Yu Lan sent, the cartoon character’s mouth was also pouting in a “3” shape.

As he was about to scan the code, he took a few more small cookies. “Add these too.”

Hua Die happened to need a car, so Bo Jingshi gave him his car keys.

Hua Die looked moved to tears and reached out for a hug: “I said I didn’t need the keys, I could just take a taxi back to the studio. I knew you were cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and that you have a place for your brother in your heart. I’m so touched that you specifically drove back to give me the keys…”

“What are you carrying in your hand?”

Bo Jingshi kept his distance: “For my roommate.”

“…” Hua Die said, “Dope.”

Bo Jingshi looked at his phone again. Logically, Yu Lan should have arrived at the gate before him. Yu Lan had sent a voice message saying he was almost there.

Afterward, Yu Lan didn’t reply for fifteen minutes, and Bo Jingshi waited there for those fifteen minutes as well.

Hua Die found it bizarre.

He and Bo Jingshi had known each other for years; he might not know everything about him, but he at least knew his temperament. Bo Jingshi hated people who weren’t punctual and hated waiting for others most of all.

If someone were late, Bo Jingshi would usually just turn and leave without a second’s hesitation.

But now, Bo Jingshi was not only waiting patiently but was repeatedly looking down at his phone, looking exactly like a man in a relationship who hadn’t received a message from his girlfriend.

Bo Jingshi replayed the voice message from ten minutes ago.

“Senior, Senior, I’m almost there! But I have something to do right now, I’m talking to Tiantian. Wait for me just a little longer!”

The soft, spoiled tone settled Bo Jingshi’s irritable heart. Hua Die, standing nearby, let out a snorting laugh. “He told you he’s with a girl? Give me a break. I saw him with Ke Yisen before I came out.”

“Do you know who Ke Yisen is? Yu Lan’s class monitor. He’s been hopelessly infatuated with Yu Lan since freshman year, but Yu Lan never agreed and has been stringing him along for a year.”

“To be able to string Ke Yisen along for a year—he’s no simple character. Big bro, wake up. Don’t lose your mind just because someone looks good.”

He hadn’t interacted with Yu Lan much, but he had heard the rumors—in the gossip, Yu Lan was no different from a “fish-pond manager” (a player).

Hua Die was truly afraid Bo Jingshi was being conned. After all, Bo Jingshi only looked tough; in reality, he had never been in a relationship.

Bo Jingshi’s expression didn’t change.

Yu Lan wasn’t that kind of person at all.

Yu Lan wasn’t smart and didn’t know how to hide his emotions. He expressed what he liked directly and passionately.

The reason he kept sticking to him and acting spoiled was very simple.

He really did like him.

Or to put it another way, he wanted to use constant acting spoiled to make Bo Jingshi like him back.

Bo Jingshi gave his friend a faint look and said, “You don’t understand.”

Hua Die rolled his eyes: “I don’t understand you ‘love-brains.'”

But Hua Die also felt it was exaggerated. He knew better than anyone how harsh and cold Bo Jingshi usually was; he hadn’t expected Bo Jingshi to be like this once he was caught—a 100% pure love-brain.

Next, Yu Lan still didn’t reply to Bo Jingshi’s message. Bo Jingshi suddenly realized that the man today must be Ke Yisen.

So Yu Lan was with that man right now?

“Are you sure you saw them together?”

“Yeah, near the cafeteria. My friend is still at the cafeteria, let me ask… see, he says yes, he even has a photo.”

In the photo, the two were at the cafeteria entrance. Although the image was blurry, their appearances and temperaments were so outstanding that they couldn’t be mistaken.

Bo Jingshi fell instantly silent.

His appearance was truly desolate and a bit pitiful.

Hua Die clicked his tongue and shook his head. Bo Jingshi looked remarkably like a poor guy who had just defended his cheating girlfriend, only to suddenly find out she was on a date with his brother.

It was indeed quite tragic.

Never having experienced the feeling of love, only to encounter “Hell Mode” difficulty the moment his heart was stirred by a flirtation.

Getting a green hat (being cheated on) right out of the gate—who could take that?

“Don’t be sad. It’s just being ‘fished.’ What’s the big deal? Which college student hasn’t been fished before? A college life without heartbreak or being cheated on is incomplete.”

“I don’t care.”

Bo Jingshi interrupted indifferently, looking as cool and detached as if nothing mattered.

But in his heart, he couldn’t stop questioning.

Why lie to him? Why not reply to the WeChat?

Forget it. It’s just nearly twenty minutes without a reply. It’s just lying about being with Niu Tiantian when he’s actually with another man. What of it?

A small matter, not worth mentioning.

He didn’t care.

“You’re still waiting? Are you even listening to me?”

“I heard you.”

“What did you hear? Summarize it.”

“He’s gay, he’s fishing a gay guy, but he hasn’t replied to my message.”

Hua Die frowned. The summary wasn’t wrong, but something felt off.

Bo Jingshi had broad shoulders and long legs, his brow was cold, and he exuded an aura that warned people not to come near; he looked like he truly wasn’t affected.

He looked down at his phone again, scrolling through the chat history, stopping at the kiss emojis. He slowly rubbed his thumb over them, his touch softening a few degrees.

He scrolled down further. The last message was from himself ten minutes ago.

Still no reply.

What was he to him? Why act spoiled to him but still lie to him?

Are Yu Lan and Ke Yisen really that close? Close to this extent?

Can’t he even take a moment to reply to a WeChat?

Making him wait here like a fool—would that give Yu Lan a sense of accomplishment?

The more Bo Jingshi thought, the more irritable he became, his brow darkening accordingly.

Just as his mood hit rock bottom, a soft voice called from behind: “Senior!”

Yu Lan came running over. He was wearing light colors today.

The milky white set off his red lips and white teeth; his skin looked transparent, and his exposed, smooth white legs were particularly eye-catching in the heat of summer.

A milky white small fan—matching his clothes—hung from his neck. He carried a small bag. When he raised his hand to wave, his hem lifted slightly, revealing a snowy, narrow waistline.

He had run in a hurry, so he was a bit out of breath when he reached Bo Jingshi. He rested his hands on his thighs, tilting up his pink face under the scorching sun. Panting and anxious, he said, “Senior, have you been waiting long? I just…”

Bo Jingshi stared at his pink-and-white little face and said, “Not very long.”

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