[User10557880: So, do you think I fit your ideal type?]
Pei Xi stared at this message for a long time, his mind blank, his eyes unfocused as he gazed at the ceiling.
User-ge was probably just joking with him, right?
Time passed slowly. Pei Xi’s fingers hovered over the phone screen, the words in the input box typed and deleted repeatedly, until finally, he sent nothing at all.
He didn’t even have the courage to ask if the other person was joking.
Moreover, he didn’t think the other person was joking. Having known User-ge for so long, he clearly understood that he wasn’t someone who liked to joke around, and today wasn’t April Fool’s Day either.
Just as he was at a loss, the other person sent another message.
[User10557880: I was joking. Don’t take it seriously.]
Pei Xi: QAQ
This didn’t sound like a joke at all—it was clearly testing his feelings.
As his top supporter, [User10557880] had already spent over a million yuan on him, boosting his streaming career to new heights. Even if User-ge were to disappear now, with his current popularity and traffic, it wouldn’t be difficult for Pei Xi to make a living on the platform.
So, Pei Xi didn’t plan to deceive him. Instead, he tactfully revealed his sexual orientation. He quietly peeked in Lu Li’s direction, his slightly guilty gaze wandering over him.
[Xixi: My ideal type should be around 188 cm tall, with well-defined muscles due to self-discipline, fair skin, clean and tidy, with no noticeable body odor. Instead, he might wear a bit of cologne, pay attention to his appearance, have good grades, be outstanding enough, and have a social circle free of messy people.]
As he wrote this, Pei Xi felt a stir in his heart. No wonder he felt drawn to Lu Li—the other person was outstanding enough to capture his attention.
To make [User10557880] back off, he added two more requirements for a partner.
[Xixi: I hope he can openly acknowledge our relationship on social media and give me enough sense of security.]
[Xixi: I also hope he can accept and support my streaming career.]
After telling User-ge all his requirements, he breathed a sigh of relief. In his view, it was rare for someone to meet all his conditions.
Wanting everything, with high standards—User-ge should understand that this was his way of tactfully rejecting him, right?
He anxiously waited for User-ge’s response, worried that he might become angry or embarrassed by the indirect rejection, leading to an unpleasant end.
[User10557880: I think that’s good.]
Pei Xi stared at this line, slightly furrowing his brows. What did that mean?
Before he could figure it out, the other person sent another message.
[User10557880: You deserve the best.]
[User10557880: I also believe you’ll definitely find your ideal type.]
Pei Xi: “??”
The more he read, the more confused he became.
Why was User-ge’s reaction different from what he had imagined?
Not only was he not angry, but there was also a strange sense of pleasure between the lines.
[Xixi: Secretly observing.jpg]
【Xixi: Brother, are you angry?】
【Xixi: Pitiful bean.jpg】
【User 10557880: Why would you think that? I’m not angry, and everything I said earlier was true.】
After hearing this, Pei Xi felt even more uneasy.
Could Brother User be so angry that he’s gone crazy?
Pei Xi carried this anxious feeling all the way to the next afternoon. The long elective class had left him utterly exhausted. He glanced at the clock—there were still half an hour left before class ended.
He was about to take out his phone, planning to slack off a bit and play some small games to pass the time until the end of class, when he unexpectedly noticed his notification bar was flooded with messages.
Scrolling through the messages, he realized that 【User 10557880】 had posted a new video.
He initially thought it was just an ordinary fan-recorded video, but when he swiped his finger and tapped into it, he discovered that what Brother User had posted wasn’t a fan recording of him, but a shirtless selfie where the face wasn’t visible.
The background looked familiar. Pei Xi recognized it as the style of the male dormitory at their Ningcheng University.
The boy in the photo seemed to have just finished showering, with a thin layer of mist covering the mirror.
The boy had a cool, fair complexion, and under the dim yellow light of the bathroom, his skin seemed to shimmer with a golden glow.
His collarbones were deep-set, and in the hollow between them, droplets of water remained, sliding down along the texture of his skin.
Below his well-defined chest muscles were eight neatly arranged abs, each one clearly outlined, as if meticulously sculpted, sharp and full of strength.
His hand rested lazily on the edge of his waistband. That hand was also incredibly beautiful—with distinct knuckles, long and clean fingers, and even the veins beneath the skin were clearly visible.
The subject of the video seemed to have taken the photo casually, with a relaxed posture, yet it was intensely captivating, making it impossible to look away.
Pei Xi stared at the screen, gradually forgetting to breathe.
Suddenly, he understood why Brother User had been so confident in his answer.
It turned out he perfectly matched the “ideal type” Pei Xi had described.
Vague memories of Lu Li shirtless flashed through his mind. At this moment, the image in his mind seemed to gradually overlap with the boy in the photo. Could there really be two people in the school who looked so similar?
Pei Xi looked at the photo over and over again, his heart pounding like a drum, each beat echoing in his chest and reverberating in his ears.
Thump-thump—
【Is this something I’m allowed to see??】
【Is this Brother User himself?! Oh my god!!】
【@XixiXiao Bao, just marry him already? I approve of this match!】
【Brother User, why didn’t you show off this body sooner? (drooling dog.jpg)】
【Suddenly getting flirty (dog head for protection.jpg), what does this mean?! (side-eye smile.jpg)】
【Oh wow, wow, wow, is Brother User really not gay?】
Pei Xi blushed even harder as he read the comments. How were there still fans insisting on shipping the two of them?
He silently gave the video a like.
【User 10557880 poked you】
【User 10557880: Keep the streak alive.】
Pei Xi tapped the “Keep the streak alive” shortcut.
【User 10557880】 treated him just as usual, without any particular warmth or special attention, making Pei Xi feel that everything that had happened before was just him overthinking things. The other person clearly had no intention of pursuing him, and asking about his ideal type seemed to be nothing more than a playful tease.
With this awkward feeling weighing on him, Pei Xi returned to his dorm in low spirits.
In the afternoon, there was a basketball match at the school—a departmental competition between their Computer Science department and the Foreign Languages department. Apart from him, all three of his roommates had signed up to play.
He had never been particularly athletic and wasn’t interested in basketball, but since all three of his roommates were participating, he decided to go watch the match as a gesture of friendly support.
By the time he arrived, the gymnasium was already packed. Not only were students from the Computer Science and Foreign Languages departments there, but students from other majors had also come, filling the gymnasium to the brim. They sat in small groups, chatting and laughing.
“Third Bro, over here!”
Seeing Pei Xi standing alone at the entrance looking lost, Zhai Jiarui waved at him, calling him over to sit in the front row in the “family and friends” section—a seat they had specifically reserved for him.
Under the envious gazes of the crowd, Pei Xi slowly took his seat in the reserved area.
His three roommates were already warming up. Lin Shaojun, wearing a white jersey, was practicing shots. His movements were fluid, and his accuracy was almost perfect.
Zhai Jiarui and Lu Li stood by the court, deep in conversation about something.
Pei Xi’s gaze lingered on Lu Li for a moment before he quickly looked away.
The match began.
Lin Shaojun took on the role of forward, aggressively fighting for the ball. Zhai Jiarui, with his agile playing style, acted as a midfielder, passing the ball with unpredictable precision. Lu Li caught the ball decisively and shot with remarkable accuracy, sinking several three-pointers that sent the crowd into cheers.
The score remained tight, with both sides putting on an exciting performance that had the audience on the edge of their seats.
After Lu Li scored yet another three-pointer, the gymnasium fell silent for a moment before erupting into even louder cheers.
As the referee’s whistle blew, signaling halftime, Lu Li lifted the hem of his jersey to wipe the sweat from his face. As he did so, his abs were exposed, drawing a wave of screams from the crowd.
“Coming today was totally worth it! Wow! No wonder he’s been at the top of the confession wall for two months straight. My god, he’s so handsome!”
“I heard he’s still single. I really want to add him on WeChat!”
“Who doesn’t? The problem is, no one can get through!”
Pei Xi watched as Lu Li continued to wipe away his sweat, his eyes sweeping over the well-defined eight-pack abs. Lu Li’s pale skin seemed to glow under the bright lights, almost dazzling.
Suddenly, Pei Xi remembered the video updated by User Ge. He realized that even though he knew Lu Li was homophobic and couldn’t possibly be his top fan, he still found himself comparing the two every time.
Was it because User Ge resembled the Lu Li he knew too much, or was it because he secretly hoped that Lu Li was User Ge?
He didn’t know.
By the end of the first half, the Computer Science department was temporarily in the lead.
Lin Shaojun ran over, drenched in sweat, and Pei Xi quickly handed him a bottle of water.
Lin Shaojun gulped down most of the water before catching his breath. “Third Bro, you’re so thoughtful. Good thing you’re here.”
Zhai Jiarui grabbed a clean towel next to Pei Xi and wiped his face, letting out a long sigh. “That’s why I said we should have Third Bro handle our logistics.”
Lu Li walked slowly behind, taking the water Pei Xi handed over and saying calmly, “Thanks.”
Lin Shaojun and Zhai Jiarui slumped on the ground without a care for their image, panting heavily.
Although the Computer Science department was temporarily leading in points, the Foreign Languages department was catching up closely and could overtake them at any moment.
The serious expressions on the other teammates made Pei Xi tense up as well. He leaned closer to Lin Shaojun and Zhai Jiarui, hoping to hear if they were discussing any strategies, but instead…
Lin Shaojun: “Want to go eat barbecue after the game?”
Zhai Jiarui: “I think the captain mentioned earlier that we’d eat at a nearby food stall after the match.”
“What a shame,” Lin Shaojun sighed regretfully. “I heard the grilled eel at XX’s place is famous. I wanted to try it. How about we go tomorrow?”
Zhai Jiarui: “Sure, if you want to eat it, let’s go.”
Pei Xi listened for a while, but their discussion had already shifted from what kind of barbecue to eat to what dipping sauce to use—there wasn’t a hint of tension in the air.
Standing beside them, Lu Li hadn’t participated in their conversation at all, quietly looking down at his phone.
It wasn’t until the referee’s whistle blew again that this food-related topic finally came to an end.
Lin Shaojun shoved his phone and water bottle into Pei Xi’s hands. “This is my phone, and that other one is Lu Li’s. Keep them safe for us.”
Pei Xi nodded.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but starting from the second half, Lu Li was playing particularly aggressively, as if he wasn’t in a good mood.
His movements were swift, leaving defenders behind him, and his layup was effortless—the ball brushed the backboard and rolled into the basket.
Cheers from the sidelines continued without pause.
With only five minutes left in the game, the score was tight.
Pei Xi’s heart felt like it was stuck in his throat. Time was running out, and this was a crucial shot.
His fingers tightened nervously, accidentally pressing the power button on one of the phones. The screen lit up, catching part of Pei Xi’s attention. He only glanced briefly before turning his gaze back to the intense game.
But the next second, Pei Xi froze in place. The wallpaper photo he had just glimpsed flashed through his mind.
That photo was all too familiar, even though he had only glanced at it and hadn’t even clearly seen the girl’s face in the picture.
A bold thought flashed through his mind. He no longer had the attention to spare for the fierce competition on the court. Lowering his head, his fingers trembling, he pressed the button on that phone once more.
The screen lit up again. In the photo, the person was wearing a pink-and-white Lolita dress, with sweet double buns. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on their profile as they smiled sweetly at the camera, the dimples at the corners of their lips faintly visible.
Pei Xi stared fixedly at the photo, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly they turned white.
Because the person in that photo was none other than himself.
At that moment, he abruptly looked toward Lu Li, who was still sweating on the court, his mind completely blank.
Lu Li’s figure moved through the crowd, his jersey soaked with sweat.
He recognized Lin Shaojun’s phone—the one with the white case in his right hand. And the black phone in his left hand was undoubtedly Lu Li’s.
The phone was set to automatically lock, and Pei Xi didn’t have the courage to turn it on again.
His mind was in turmoil, his heart weighed down as if by a massive boulder, pressing so heavily he could barely breathe.
How could it be?
How could Lu Li be his top fan?
“Lu Li hates gay people.”
“Lu Li is straight and homophobic. He could never be gay.”
“Everyone knows Lu Li hates it when guys confess to him.”
“Lu Li definitely likes girls.”
“I’ve never seen Lu Li talk to any guy.”
Lin Shaojun’s words echoed in Pei Xi’s ears, one by one, clear and distinct even amid the roaring crowd in the stadium.
Pei Xi lowered his head, took a deep breath, and reminded himself that a lock screen photo didn’t necessarily mean Lu Li was his top fan. Maybe Lu Li had just stumbled upon the photo online, saved it casually, and set it as his phone wallpaper. Or maybe it was a photo his online crush had sent him…
He thought of many possibilities, but without exception, all of them felt far-fetched.
Lu Li wasn’t the type to randomly save a photo from the internet and set it as his wallpaper. Nor would he be foolish enough to be deceived by someone using fake photos to play with his feelings.
Pressing his lips together, he opened his own phone, tapped on the pinned chat window, and stared at the message sent by [User 10557880]. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating.
If Lu Li had enabled notifications for Douyin messages, all he needed to do was send a single message even just a period to [User 10557880], and he could confirm whether his top fan was Lu Li or not.
After wrestling with the decision, Pei Xi couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. He opened his saved stickers, randomly selected one, and sent it.
The next second, the black phone in his left hand vibrated faintly, its screen lighting up.
[Xiao Bao: kitten lying down.jpg]
Seeing the message, Pei Xi’s suspended heart finally came back to life.
A surge of joy flooded his entire being, a faint electric current tingling through his limbs. The boulder pressing on his chest vanished abruptly. His fingers, still gripping the phone, trembled uncontrollably, and the corners of his mouth lifted in an unstoppable smile, the happiness nearly spilling from his eyes.
The cheers erupting from the stadium snapped Pei Xi back to reality. Watching Lu Li approach him, a wave of complex emotions washed over him.
All those labels attached to Lu Li—”homophobic,” “straight,” “hates gay people”—shattered in an instant.
Because he had believed Lu Li was straight, every time he doubted whether Lu Li could be his top fan, he quickly dismissed the idea, sinking into gloom.
But the truth had been so close all along. He had almost missed it.
Pei Xi suddenly remembered his first encounter with Lu Li in the livestream. Lu Li hadn’t spoken, just silently watched him stream. When Pei Xi needed help, Lu Li casually tipped him hundreds of thousands, never asking for emotional reciprocation, never even replying to his messages. His cold demeanor had left Pei Xi uneasy for a long time.
But Pei Xi persisted, sending messages to Lu Li every day. After all, Lu Li had spent so much money on him—no matter what, he felt he should maintain the connection. He even tried to see if he could warm Lu Li’s heart.
And in the end, he had succeeded.
That top supporter who used to leave messages on read now actively maintains their chat streak every day, greets him with good morning and good night, saves his reaction images from video comments, stays in his livestreams, helps him win PK battles, and acts as his guardian angel.
Pei Xi closed his eyes, feeling like his head was about to explode.
The match ended, and their computer science department won.
Lin Shaojun and Zhai Jiarui collapsed onto the ground.
“Haven’t played such an exhilarating game in a long time—it was so satisfying.”
“Didn’t expect the foreign languages department to be this strong.”
“Yeah, they didn’t show it at all during practice matches.”
“Were they hiding something? That’s so sneaky.”
“Who knows? I’m starving. When are we eating?”
“Let’s go, let’s go shower first. We’re drenched in sweat and stink.”
“Lu, let’s go shower.”
“Third brother, wait here for us.”
“Mm.” Pei Xi nodded lightly, pretending to listen attentively to their conversation while his gaze remained fixed on Lu Li, secretly observing his every move.
Lu Li wiped his hands with a towel, and the moment he saw his phone, a faint smile flickered at the corner of his lips, as if he was replying to someone’s message.
Then, Pei Xi’s phone screen lit up.
“Ding dong—”
[You have a new message. Please check.]