Diving into a frigid shower on this crisp spring evening was like a thrilling plunge into an icy stream for Su Ling. Each droplet sent shivers dancing down his spine, awakening every nerve in his body with an exhilarating jolt. Emerging from the shower, he hurriedly cocooned himself into the comforting embrace of his quilt; a series of shivers danced across his skin as he curled up for warmth.
Wrapped snugly within the newly fluffed cotton quilt, Su Ling caught a whiff of sun-kissed afternoons with soft, dry notes. Yet, it could not hold a candle to the luxurious silk quilt back home. The rough, coarse quilt cover and bed sheets only added to his discomfort, leaving him tossing and turning in search of elusive sleep. Restlessness crept in, stealing away the promise of sleep.
His senses were immediately assaulted by the unfamiliarity of his surroundings — the room, the bed, everything was alien to him. A twinge of unease and anxiety crept over him, like tendrils of mist in the early morning.
As Su Ling lay restless in bed, time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Each toss and turn only heightened his senses, sharpening his mind to a keen edge. The haunting images of the memorial tablets in the backyard’s separate building invaded his thoughts, sending shivers down his spine and beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.
In his search for security, Su Ling pulled the covers over his head. But soon, the air turned suffocating, each breath a struggle. Unable to bear it any longer, Su Ling threw off the covers, yearning for a gulp of fresh air.
In the past, whenever they watched horror movies, Su Ling would always seek refuge in Lin Feng’s protective embrace. But now, amidst the quiet of the countryside, Su Ling battled sleeplessness alone, his pillow offering little comfort. As memories intertwined with longing, a bittersweet tide swept over him, leaving behind a lingering ache in his heart and a subtle prickling in his nose.
When they were dating, their love blossomed like a field of flowers, each petal dipped in the sweetness of honey, filling their hearts with bliss. However, what exactly had turned their once vibrant love to wither away after they exchanged vows?
A heavy, suffocating unease gripped Su Ling’s heart as he fumbled beneath the pillow for his phone. With each frantic heartbeat, his anxiety mounted until he finally grasped the device and tapped open his photo album, only to be met with an emptiness. At that moment, he understood why the album bore no traces of his past — his deliberate decision to abandon his old phone had been a shield against Lin Feng’s relentless tracking.
With a few taps, he accessed the app store and installed the CoSleep app[1], enveloping himself in the soothing tunes that filled the space. As his mind drifted into relaxation, memories of his budding romance with Lin Feng during their early days together unexpectedly resurfaced, playing like a reel in his mind.
Three years back, Su Ling and Lin Feng were still two bright students navigating the halls of S University. Being his senior by two years, Lin Feng was nearing the end of his academic journey. On top of that, their academic pursuits led them down disparate roads, with one dedicating their time to the artistic sphere while the other immersed himself in the intricacies of finance. Despite sharing the same campus, their worlds seldom collided until fate intervened at the anniversary gala that year. Spurred on by his classmates, Su Ling decided to participate in the event. Little did he know, this moment would mark the beginning of an unexpected connection with Lin Feng.
As the planner of the anniversary gala, Lin Feng exhibited meticulousness in every aspect. With zero tolerance for even the slightest mistake during the rehearsal, he persistently demanded a redo and expected flawless execution at every turn. Despite his reserved nature, his presence alone was enough to compel his younger counterparts to swiftly correct any slip-ups with a mere glance.
Despite being scheduled for a much later slot, Su Ling would arrive ahead of time, finding a quiet nook where he cradled his guitar. As melodic tunes flowed from his fingertips and his gentle voice filled the air, he patiently awaited his turn for rehearsal. Every now and then, he could not shake the feeling of eyes on him, a fiery intensity that seemed to vanish whenever he dared to look up.
When it was his turn, he braced himself for Senior Lin’s critique, yet all he got was a simple nod.
Su Ling found himself in a perplexing situation, as his mind swirling with unanswered questions. For some inexplicable reason, Senior Lin, who was quick to pinpoint flaws in others’ performances, turned taciturn when it came to his own. Find the original chapter at novelping dot com.
After sharing this with Lin Zhou, he chuckled and teased Su Ling for making a fuss over nothing.
“Xiao Lingling, you’re not just beautiful, but you’ve also got this mesmerizing voice and killer guitar skills! The moment you step onto that stage, you shine like a true star. You wouldn’t believe how crazy and infatuated the female and male students in the audience become when you start singing! I swear, if Lin Feng swung that way, he’d be head over heels for you!”
On the other hand, Su Ling reckoned that Lin Zhou was simply being overly dramatic!
At first glance, Lin Feng gave the impression of being a person of uprightness and seriousness. So, how could he possibly succumb to the allure of mere “beauty”?
Considering that the Su and Lin family were business rivals, it was commendable that Lin Feng did not resort to derisive comments toward him.
On the grand night of the anniversary gala, Su Ling graced the scene in a glamorous and elegant attire, meticulously chosen to create a striking stage presence. As the last notes of the performance faded into the air, the audience burst into thunderous applause.
After Su Ling gracefully bowed and stepped off the stage, he made his way backstage to remove his makeup. Out of nowhere, a large bouquet of roses materialized before him. Startled, Su Ling looked up to meet the gaze of a stunningly attractive man standing mere inches away.
“Your performance was a great success.” Lin Feng’s deep voice enveloped Su Ling like a warm embrace, each syllable dripping with praise and affection. The tender cadence of his deep voice echoed in Su Ling’s ears, sending shivers of joy down his spine.
“Th-thank you,” Su Ling stammered, as his hands eagerly reached for the roses. A flush of pink spread across his cheeks, adding to the bloom of the flower he now held close.
“Shall we go out for a walk together?” Lin Feng inquired.
Ensnared by the mesmerizing depths of his obsidian eyes, Su Ling found himself unwittingly drawn in, nodding in agreement without even realizing it. When he finally snapped back to reality, he was startled to find himself standing in the campus’ romantic hotspot.
The words he uttered that evening had long since blurred into a distant haze within Su Ling’s mind. Yet, what remained vividly etched in his mind was Lin Feng’s ruggedly handsome features, towering stature, and impeccably straight, elongated legs. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
Despite being pursued by many at school, Su Ling remained unfazed, as he was uncertain about his own sexual orientation. Thus, he chose not to plunge into relationships blindly. But then, Lin Feng stepped into his world and changed everything. With a bouquet of roses and a gentle grasp of his hand, they wandered through the campus in tranquil silence. It was as if a cello was playing softly in Su Ling’s ears, as his heartbeat was dancing to an erratic rhythm. In that moment, love bloomed like a delicate flower, filling the air with its sweet fragrance.
Before returning to his dormitory, the dazed Su Ling blurted out, “Um, would you… be my model?”
The shared characteristic among art students was their pursuit of all things beautiful, using their brushes to meticulously document, savor, and admire. Among them stood Su Ling, a virtuoso in traditional Chinese painting, sketching, and oil painting. With features and form that could inspire a masterpiece, Lin Feng was an embodiment of inspiration for artists far and wide.
“Of course.” Lin Feng nodded with a hint of a smile.
With a radiant smile, Su Ling strolled back to his dorm, arms wrapped around a vibrant bouquet of roses. Just as he stepped through the door, Lin Zhou, ever the playful spirit, could not resist teasing him.
And so, they began to slowly develop a relationship, taking their time to get to know each other.
Lin Feng was not one to frequently whisper sweet nothings; instead, he preferred to convey his love through his actions.
With a heart full of generosity, he shed his attire to become Su Ling’s exclusive model, surprising him with an expensive branded watch and dutifully delivering him breakfast each morning. Even as Su Ling toiled in the art studios until the wee hours, he would wordlessly settle himself in a chair nearby, lost in the pages of a book.
Within a short span of time, they became the envy of all at S University as the epitome of a match made in heaven. However, only Su Ling was aware that even after confirming their relationship, they had not shared a single intimate moment.
[1] 小睡眠 (xiǎo shuì mián): It is a sleep-enhancing app designed to help users relax and improve their sleep quality. You can check it out here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cosleep-white-noise/id1194338569