The overt and covert rivalry between Qin Zhou and Wen Xiuyun didn’t cause Pei Yisheng much additional distress. He continued to wake up early as usual, attending classes and rehearsals as scheduled. He even went with Su Yiyi to look at off-campus apartments. The hour he spent playing “deaf and mute” back at the dormitory was truly negligible in the grand scheme of his daily routine.
Pei Yisheng brainwashed himself: That’s right, it’s not worth mentioning!
Su Yiyi, sipping on a sweet drink, gave him a knowing look. “Is that so? I don’t believe it. You say it’s not worth mentioning, but look at you you’ve got a breakout right between your brows.”
After saying this, Su Yiyi glanced at the pimple again. God really favored Pei Yisheng; even a breakout looked like a beauty mark on him.
Today, they were supposed to try on costumes for their rehearsal. The other guys looked a bit strange with their short hair; even the delicate and cute ones couldn’t escape looking affected once they put on dresses. The vibe in the room was so skewed that it felt like the only straight things in there were the handles of the makeup brushes. Yet, Pei Yisheng stood there looking somewhat dazed and blunt, making him appear both prominent and dazzling.
Even the pimple seemed to be playing along. Tian Miaomiao, who was in charge of styling, had eyes like searchlights as she hovered around Pei Yisheng. Her mouth moved a mile a minute. “Shengsheng, you’re so good-looking. Can I take a photo of you? I want to preserve the look of this pimple so I can dot it back on you during the actual makeup trial. It’s so full of character.”
Tian Miaomiao stared at Pei Yisheng, practically drooling.
Su Yiyi belonged to the same club and was all too familiar with her “can’t-walk-away-from-a-beauty” behavior. Fearing that Pei Yisheng wouldn’t be able to leave if the conversation continued, Su Yiyi grabbed him and bolted.
Pei Yisheng reached up to touch the spot. The pimple was red and painful, making his whole head feel like it was filled with mush. He pouted and asked, “Do you want this kind of ‘good fortune’?”
“I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.” Su Yiyi wasn’t the same person he was when he first arrived. “You’re the smart one. These people only care about satisfying their own selfish desires; they don’t give a damn about our lives. If you get played by them, there’s nowhere to even go for justice.”
Su Yiyi’s lament came from a sense of shared plight, mostly because of Fang Xin.
The campus forums were buzzing with rumors that Song Wen had dumped Fang Xin.
The stories were vivid and detailed, even including a posted timeline. Su Yiyi found it stifling to read because, according to that timeline, while Song Wen was flirting with Fang Xin, he hadn’t stayed idle. He went to bars when he wanted and stayed out all night whenever he felt like it.
In the photos, poor Fang Xin looked incredibly haggard.
Pei Yisheng had nothing to say about it. Fang Xin’s situation was bad, but his own wasn’t much better.
When they returned to the dorm, not only were Qin Zhou and Wen Xiuyun there, but Song Wen had also returned.
Song Wen greeted them with a beaming smile, his peach-blossom eyes blinking as if sending electric shocks toward Pei Yisheng. “Shengsheng, have you been coming back this late lately? Is rehearsal tiring? What do you want to eat tomorrow? I’ll bring it over to you guys.”
Song Wen walked over to Pei Yisheng, reaching out to take his backpack, but Pei Yisheng nimbly dodged him. Song Wen didn’t get upset; instead, he took the opportunity to lean against Pei Yisheng’s desk. While Pei Yisheng was looking down to organize his things, Song Wen secretly threw provocative glances at the other two.
He wasn’t a pretentious poser or a manic type. One was like “simmering a frog in warm water,” and the other was “washing underwear with a cold face.” Wen Xiuyun’s act had some combat power, but Qin Zhou wasn’t even in Song Wen’s sights. So what if he had a good family background? Pei Yisheng wasn’t the type to be attracted by status alone.
Song Wen was acutely aware of his own charm. He hovered around Pei Yisheng like a peacock fanning its tail.
Once Pei Yisheng finished tidying his desk and backpack, he wanted to hang his bag up. Even though it was only two or three steps away, Song Wen insisted on doing it for him. Pei Yisheng moved away, and Song Wen followed. When Pei Yisheng wanted to take off his coat, Song Wen reached out to help him. When Pei Yisheng wanted to go to the bathroom, Song Wen even escorted him a few steps.
Pei Yisheng: “…”
“Song Wen, I can handle these small things myself.”
Song Wen played dumb. “But I didn’t really do much to help you.”
“You’re getting in my way,” Pei Yisheng said flatly.
“Pfft.” Qin Zhou couldn’t hold it in and laughed out loud. He looked relaxed, like he was watching a comedy. “The guy thinks you’re a nuisance; can’t you understand that?”
With his back to Pei Yisheng, Song Wen glared at Qin Zhou, his lips curling into a mocking sneer. “A dog catching mice mind your own business.”
The smile faded from Qin Zhou’s face, replaced by a prominent chill in his eyes. “I’m not minding your business. You really think you’re something special, don’t you?”
Pei Yisheng remained silent. For a moment, a “wicked” thought crossed his mind: Please, just start fighting. Get injured and go to the hospital so you can stop tormenting me in this dorm.
Wen Xiuyun seemed to sense Pei Yisheng’s predicament. While the two “mad dogs” were squaring off, Wen Xiuyun said softly to Pei Yisheng, “Shengsheng, go ahead and do what you need to do. It’s late; get some rest to recharge your energy.”
Qin Zhou and Song Wen’s gazes shot toward Wen Xiuyun simultaneously. Almost in unison, they thought: This old schemer is playing the fisherman catching the benefit while the two sides fight!
Not wanting to be left behind, they both tried to show concern for Pei Yisheng, but he had already listened to Wen Xiuyun and entered the bathroom, leaving them no room to perform.
Once Pei Yisheng was gone, the three of them didn’t just stop talking they wouldn’t even let their eyes meet.
Qin Zhou pulled up the WeChat contact he had added last time and sent Pei Yisheng a message. Hearing the buzz-buzz vibration from Pei Yisheng’s desk, Qin Zhou irritably slammed his phone face down on his own desk.
He had to find a time to have a serious talk with Pei Yisheng.
Both Wen Xiuyun and Song Wen were no good. Pei Yisheng could date anyone, but he couldn’t date either of them.
He didn’t stop to think why he was so anxious, or why he cared more about Pei Yisheng’s love life than finding the long-haired girl he was looking for.
Pei Yisheng intentionally dragged out his washing routine. Before coming out this time, he meticulously dried his face, straightened his pajamas perfectly, and even put on socks. He was just short of wrapping himself from head to toe. Despite this, he was greeted by three sets of eyes from different directions upon exiting.
He couldn’t help but swallow hard, though he tried not to show it. “I’m finished washing.”
“Sleep early,” Wen Xiuyun said gently.
“Goodnight,” Qin Zhou added, not to be outdone.
“See you tomorrow,” Song Wen said with a sweet smile.
Pei Yisheng nodded. “Goodnight, everyone.”
His thick, fluffy socks made the ladder steps feel less cold. Pei Yisheng suddenly found his new “fully-clothed” approach quite effective.
The other three, however, stared blankly at Pei Yisheng’s fluffy socks. Qin Zhou, in particular, had always thought Pei Yisheng’s feet were beautiful the nails were rounded, the arches slender and fair, and his toes would turn a magical shade of pink when they touched the floor.
Unaware of their thoughts, Pei Yisheng climbed into bed and swiftly pulled the curtains shut, isolating himself from everything outside. Only after lying down did he let out a deep, long breath.
Two were already trouble enough; Song Wen’s return was a disaster.
Perhaps due to the anxiety, Pei Yisheng dreamed again.
He woke from the dream in the middle of the night. The dormitory was pitch black, yet he could hear the breathing of the other three. It felt so close, as if they were right in his ear. The absurd, unspeakable scenes from his dream seemed to have formed a memory of their own, filtering through the “candidates” for him.
Qin Zhou had large palms and a fierce gaze.
Wen Xiuyun had a deep voice and knew how to say sweet things.
Song Wen had a high-bridged nose and was clingy.
His body felt hot, as if it were on fire. The moment Pei Yisheng realized what he was doing, he bolted upright and yanked open the bed curtain to gulp in the air.
With his decent night vision, he glanced at the sleeping figures. Only then did his racing heart slowly begin to steady.
He had scared himself.
He didn’t want to live in this dormitory for a single day longer!