Before meeting Zhuang Yiyun today, his direction was just a vague idea. In the time it took to finish a meal, it became an opportunity to intern at a law firm. Yan Yan was still a little confused by the time he came back to his senses. Wasn’t Zhuang Yiyun too decisive?
“Haven’t you thought that even if I really like it, I might not pass the judicial examination due to lack of foundation? The judicial examination is so difficult, I heard the pass rate is the lowest nationwide.”
“If you don’t pass, you’ll study harder.”
“In that case, do I need a formal education in this field? Do I need to pursue a master’s degree?”
Yan Yan’s words were somewhat urgent, tinged with anxiety. Thinking about these things made him very uncertain. He was smart, but he had never truly dedicated himself to studying. He didn’t know if he had the determination, or how far he could go if he worked hard.
Sensing his emotions, Zhuang Yiyun slowed down and said, “You can prepare for both the postgraduate entrance exam and the judicial examination simultaneously. After your internship, we can make a study schedule together.”
“It seems so simple in your eyes, but I… I’m not that good at studying.”
“Study methods, self-discipline, and intelligence are the main factors determining academic performance. Which one do you think you lack?” Zhuang Yiyun smiled, “I can teach you study methods, if you lack self-discipline, I can enforce it, I’m very strict. You don’t think you lack intelligence, do you?”
Yan Yan sneered and snorted dismissively.
“Don’t sneer, I can get quite hard.”
Yan Yan suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with incomprehensible shock. He had just been thinking that Zhuang Yiyun didn’t look so perverted when he was serious. But now, right after discussing serious matters, Zhuang Yiyun seamlessly switched back! Sure enough! As expected of him!
Yan Yan felt like he understood a bit. Zhuang Yiyun had been overly restricted by his mother since childhood, so the rebound was fierce. She used to even monitor whether he went to the study room or not. He wondered if she had someone tracking him at that time. Truly toxic; she must be mentally ill.
“I’ll sneer if I want to, you can’t stop me.” Yan Yan said, grabbing the paper spread out on the table and standing up. “I’m going back to the dorm.”
“Well, I’ll escort you.”
Zhuang Yiyun also stood up. Yan Yan could avoid him in the dorm, but he couldn’t let him go out alone again.
Yan Yan didn’t refuse; he was planning to go back to the dorm anyway, and now he wouldn’t have to take a taxi. Although the relationship with Zhuang Yiyun was a bit unclear now, they had shared a bed many times and had touched each other. It would be hypocritical to act prude about getting into a car together.
Due to the route, the nearest gate they would arrive at was the main gate, which required an entry permit. When they were about to reach the main gate, Yan Yan told Zhuang Yiyun to drop him off at the school gate. However, Zhuang Yiyun’s car turned and directly entered through the main gate.
Without any hindrance, the license plate recognition system beeped once, and the entrance barrier was lifted.
Yan Yan looked back when the car entered the school gate; he wondered if there was something wrong with their school’s license plate recognition system.
“How did your car get in?”
“I got a pass.”
“Of course, how could you get in without a pass? The key is how did you get the pass? Students’ cars aren’t allowed, so how can students’ spouses get one?”
“You’ll find out soon.”
Zhuang Yiyun chuckled, creating suspense which was a rare thing for him.
After dropping Yan Yan off at the dormitory building, Zhuang Yiyun didn’t get out of the car. He still had work to do and had to rush off to work overtime. He had put off a lot of things today because of Yan Yan.
Yan Yan had initially intended to be cool and go straight upstairs, but he couldn’t restrain his feet and circled to the driver’s side, saying, “Thanks for today.” A person could be arrogant, but they shouldn’t lack basic courtesy.
“It’s my duty.”
Zhuang Yiyun remained seated, so Yan Yan had to tilt his head slightly upward to look at him. The light from the streetlamp downstairs reflected in his eyes, creating a hazy glow. After the eagle soared high, it landed outside his window. Though it was a fierce predator, when it looked at him, it exuded a tranquil sense of returning home. Very beautiful, very captivating – a gentleness that emerged after subduing it’s sharp edges.
Startled, Yan Yan took a step back and awkwardly waved his hand before running off. It wasn’t until he had reached the stairs and couldn’t see Zhuang Yiyun anymore that he slowed his pace. Damn it, this man was truly bewitching, he had nearly leaned in to kiss him just now. His lips were so attractive, practically begging to be kissed. No, they were always inviting.
He patted his slightly heated cheeks and traced an imaginary rising curve with his hand. His heart-rate meter had shot up today.
After returning to the dormitory and taking a shower, he began to revise his paper. It was already past ten o’clock, but he didn’t feel tired at all. He kept busy until the lights were turned off. His roommates He Xing and Li Mingsheng were surprised but didn’t disturb him because he seemed engrossed. However, Hu Cong, who was preparing for the civil service exam, came over to peek. He then made plans with Yan Yan to go to the library together the next day: Hu Cong would review while Yan Yan researched and revised his paper.
After four years of university, Yan Yan unexpectedly threw himself into his studies when he was nearing graduation. After a busy week, he finally completed the first draft of his paper. He Xing and Li Mingsheng thought Yan Yan would finally relax, but they were surprised to find him teaming up with Hu Cong, and their study partnership became even stronger. Yan Yan even borrowed some law books and immersed himself in them.
Within a few days, Li Mingsheng left early for work, and He Xing, who secured a recommendation for further studies, was taken away early by his mentor. The dormitory now only housed the dedicated study duo of Yan Yan and Hu Cong.
Zhuang Yiyun arranged an internship opportunity for him starting on the first of next month, lasting for a month. Yan Yan didn’t want to go in unprepared, so he practically lived in the library and had little internet access. He forced himself to focus, although it was difficult at first. He wanted to play, to relax, but each time he considered slacking off, he remembered Zhuang Yiyun’s unwavering trust in him.
Compared to Zhuang Yiyun, he was just an average student from a 985 university, so why did Zhuang Yiyun seem to have so much faith in his academic abilities? When he thought of Zhuang Yiyun late at night, a faint yet firm determination grew in his heart: he didn’t want to disappoint him.
Yes, Yan Yan would involuntarily think of him now, and not just about their past intimate encounters. Yet whenever Zhuang Yiyun messaged him, he often didn’t reply promptly. He didn’t have time for flirtation, time for romantic pursuits, or time to contemplate their relationship.
So, Zhuang Yiyun came looking for him at the school several times.
The first time Zhuang Yiyun found him was on a Saturday, in the library. At that time, he was discussing something with Hu Cong in a low voice when there was a sudden shadow.
Hu Cong was preparing for a civil service exam, and there were some legal-related questions in the administrative competency test. Every time he encountered such questions, he would show them to Yan Yan. The two of them were discussing the topic seriously, but all Zhuang Yiyun saw were their close heads.
“Yan Yan.”
Yan Yan looked up and was surprised.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I just tried my luck. You didn’t reply to my messages.” Last time he happened to run into Yan Yan on the way to the library. Given Yan Yan’s recent claims of studying, it wasn’t hard to guess where he’d be.
Yan Yan’s gaze fell on Zhuang Yiyun, and he couldn’t help but stare for a while. In fact, despite being busy lately, he found himself missing Zhuang Yiyun, secretly yearning for him. His arm was still touching Hu Cong, yet he was staring fixedly at Zhuang Yiyun. Hu Cong felt Zhuang Yiyun’s gaze on him, and he shivered inexplicably and nodded stiffly in greeting.
Only then did Yan Yan notice that he and Hu Cong were too close, and Zhuang Yiyun was jealous. He felt a sudden sense of happiness and his mind escaped from the repetitive days of studying, finally relaxing. Since he was happy, he decided to stir things up; only by doing so could he relax more.
“This is my roommate, Hu Cong,” Yan Yan said with a smile, introducing them to each other. “Hu Cong, this is my cousin.”
Yan Yan smiled cunningly. His demeanor was so dazzling that Zhuang Yiyun, who wanted to get angry, found himself unable to and could only calm himself down. They had been roommates in university for four years; if something were to happen, it would have already. Moreover, this classmate could only be considered decent-looking, he didn’t meet Yan Yan’s standards.
However… roommates… It was common for male students in university dorms to go shirtless, and he heard that they would watch those movies together too. Just thinking about it made Zhuang Yiyun’s teeth itchy; he wanted to give him a bite on the neck right now, so that hos roommate would know that he belonged to him and to keep a good distance.
Actually, he didn’t need to be so jealous. They had different orientations; Yan Yan could never watch adult movies with his roommate.
Stamped with the label of “cousin,” Zhuang Yiyun didn’t refute him directly. He sat down in front of them and greeted Hu Cong, “Hello, Zhuang Yiyun.”
“Hello, hello, gege.” Hu Cong was intimidated by Zhuang Yiyun’s aura, not only speaking without thinking but also saying things that made no sense. “Your family’s genes are really good, both the big brother and little brother are so handsome, even though they don’t look alike much.”
‘Coward!’ Yan Yan almost burst into laughter in the library, nudging Hu Cong lightly with his elbow. Zhuang Yiyun lowered his eyes, his expression cold and stern, making a mental note of this incident. Laughing so happily when someone called him “gege,” he needed some education.
“It’s getting late; how about gege takes us for lunch?” Yan Yan continued teasing, oblivious to the danger.
“You guys go, I’ll eat at the canteen.” Hu Cong waved his hands, afraid of saying more embarrassing things after addressing Yan Yan’s “gege.” His face was crimson; he had really embarrassed himself earlier, complimenting others and emphasizing how dissimilar the two cousins looked.
Hu Cong quickly packed up his books, but Yan Yan grabbed him. “That won’t do. My gege rarely comes over, and we’re about to graduate. If we don’t join him for this meal, we might not get to eat his food again in the future.”
Zhuang Yiyun was already sneering inwardly. Was he intentionally trying to provoke him? If he didn’t teach him well later, he wouldn’t have another chance in the future either.
So the three of them left the library together and got into Zhuang Yiyun’s car to go eat near the school. Normally, one should ask what the “little cousin” and his classmate wanted to eat, but Zhuang Yiyun didn’t bother. He drove directly to a seafood restaurant he had been to before. The taste was decent, and the atmosphere was suitable.
While Zhuang Yiyun parked the car, he let Yan Yan and Hu Cong go inside to order. When he entered, the two of them were already seated, facing each other at a four-person table by the window. Yan Yan and Hu Cong sat on the same side.
Zhuang Yiyun sat down calmly and asked what they had ordered. Yan Yan recited the dishes, but Zhuang Yiyun, with an IQ of 200, claimed he couldn’t remember.
“Come here and show it to me. I’ll see what to add.” In a slightly commanding tone, he pushed the menu towards Yan Yan. Coupled with his cold and stern gaze, the atmosphere was intense. Yan Yan felt the urge to refuse; he felt it dangerous to agree. But before he could say anything, Zhuang Yiyun raised his eyes, and half of Yan Yan’s soul was captivated.
The past was the past anyway, maybe Zhuang Yiyun really couldn’t remember. After all, the New Year had passed, and he turned one year older.
He got up to sit closer, and Zhuang Yiyun pushed the menu towards him. It seems to make it easier for him to browse the menu, but actually…
Yan Yan’s breath was stagnated. Zhuang Yiyun’s hand slid beneath the table, covered by the tablecloth . Yan Yan reacted almost instinctively, clamping his legs tightly together. He turned his head to glare at Zhuang Yiyun, who maintained a serious expression. Opposite him, Hu Cong was playing with his cell phone. Soon, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. Yan Yan guessed Hu Cong was sending messages in their dorm group, probably discussing about meeting his “cousin.”
However, this cousin was touching his leg. After he glared at him, Zhuang Yiyun not only didn’t stop but the slender and powerful hand expanded the sphere of influence.
The age of twenty-one is the prime of youth. Moreover, he was with someone he felt a connection with and had even been intimate with. Yan Yan couldn’t withstand this kind of teasing.
He was on the verge of losing his mind, he felt excited and afraid. The forbidden brought a unique pleasure, almost clouding his judgment. He was afraid Zhuang Yiyun would touch a sensitive area, and he was afraid of being discovered and teased afterward. He twisted his waist to evade, but Zhuang Yiyun insisted on advancing, his fingers making gentle caresses.
Yan Yan’s face turned red and there was a faint mist in his eyes. His phone in his pocket vibrated continuously, but Hu Cong was still focused on his screen. Just thinking that his roommate was talking about his “cousin” and his good “cousin” was acting out like this, Yan Yan’s breath grew damp.
Damn it, he was wrong; he wouldn’t intentionally provoke this madman again.
“Yan Yan, what other dishes did you order?”
Zhuang Yiyun’s voice came to his ear, jolting him back to the present like thunder.
“Yan Yan, why is your face so red? Is it hot? Is the air conditioning too high?” Hu Cong asked in confusion, his face puzzled.
Unable to think straight, Yan Yan momentarily forgot what dishes he had ordered. He couldn’t speak either, afraid his voice would sound hoarse, giving away his odd state.
“Did you order the peppered prawns?” Zhuang Yiyun’s finger brushed over his leg before bringing it back from under the table. He pointed to the photo of the peppered prawns on the menu and said, “With salt and pepper, lively ones are better. What do you think, Yan Yan?”
What did he think?
He thought: Nonsense! Liveliness has nothing to do with the taste!
That’s what he thought, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.
Seeing that he didn’t answer, Zhuang Yiyun turned to look at him, his gaze landing on his lips. Yan Yan was shocked; this madman wouldn’t kiss him here, right? He quickly nodded and shouted to the waiter, “Ahem, add an order of spicy crispy shrimp! Salt and pepper!”
Yes, he’s the shrimp; he deserved to be salted and peppered, wuuu!
Just like Hu Cong, Yan Yan also chickened out. He didn’t dare laugh at his roommate anymore. Whoever messes with this madman ends up scared!
Yan Yan ate so much seafood that day he couldn’t digest it. On the way back, he consciously distanced himself from Hu Cong. Likewise, he didn’t show Zhuang Yiyun a good face, accepting defeat made him angry, he didn’t even want to give him a smile.
