Seeing that Jiang Shu had already fallen fast asleep, Ling An gave up on the idea.
Looking at Jiang Shu’s peaceful sleeping face, Ling An couldn’t help but press a light kiss to his forehead.
Both of them slept well, especially Jiang Shu—it was the most comfortable sleep he’d had since he could remember.
No one yanked him awake, no one splashed water on him, and he woke up feeling warm all over.
When Jiang Shu woke, he felt incredibly warm.
Not just the warmth of the blanket, but the sense of safety radiating from Ling An.
He instinctively wanted to check the time, slowly pulling away Ling An’s arm and sitting up from his embrace.
He went to the foot of the bed and pulled back the bed curtain, only to discover that it was already dark.
The bell for the last evening study period rang.
The quiet night suddenly became noisy.
But Jiang Shu couldn’t be happy, he had actually skipped an entire afternoon of classes.
Just as Jiang Shu was staring outside, feeling uneasy, Ling An pulled him into his arms in one motion.
Jiang Shu was startled by the sudden grab.
By the time he came to his senses, he was already lying in Ling An’s arms.
Facing the handsome young man, with those smiling eyes and that childish look of someone whose prank had succeeded, Jiang Shu’s face couldn’t help but flush red.
“Perfect timing, no need to go to class. We can go get a late-night snack.”
Jiang Shu had eaten lunch and wasn’t hungry at all; he was about to say he didn’t want to go.
But Ling An wouldn’t listen to a word of it, dragging him downstairs.
The cafeteria’s late-night options were limited, just some fried noodles, steamed dumplings, wontons, and sweet soup.
Ling An bought nearly fifty yuan’s worth, and Jiang Shu felt a pang of pain over the money.
Seeing his distress, Ling An affectionately tapped Jiang Shu’s nose.
Once the apocalypse came, this money would just be worthless paper thrown on the ground, no one would even bother to pick it up. Food was what mattered most.
You’ll have plenty to feel sorry about later, so don’t worry about the money.
He stuffed a dumpling into Jiang Shu’s mouth, and Ling An saw Jiang Shu’s eyes light up as if glowing.
One look and anyone could tell he’d never eaten anything good.
“What’s your name?”
Ling An’s question made Jiang Shu freeze.
Only then did Jiang Shu suddenly realize Ling An had helped him so much today.
Yet he hadn’t even told the other his name.
Jiang Shu suddenly felt very awkward.
“My name is Jiang Shu.”
As he said it, Jiang Shu shyly lowered his head.
This bashful look left Ling An staring, stunned.
Of course Ling An knew what Jiang Shu’s name was, he just wanted to find a topic to probe into Jiang Shu’s family background.
To figure out why this little villain would eventually turn dark.
But he hadn’t expected the little villain to be so shy.
It made Ling An want to hold him and kiss him wildly.
But they were still in the cafeteria, and Ling An didn’t want to be gawked at like a monkey.
After the late-night snack, Ling An firmly dragged Jiang Shu off to walk around the sports field.
There were many couples on the field not only running on the track, but pairs of couples sitting on the lawn in the middle as well.
Jiang Shu felt awkward at first, but gradually relaxed.
Walking slowly at Ling An’s pace, enjoying the gentle breeze.
Looking up at the star-filled sky, Jiang Shu felt that this moment was incredibly comfortable.
His mood lifted for no reason; all the things that had weighed on his heart seemed, in this moment, to drift up into the sky along with his gaze, vanishing without a trace.
This was also Ling An’s first time walking around the field hand in hand with a partner.
In his first life, he seemed to have been about this age too.
But back then, he hadn’t been so relaxed.
The heavy coursework had left Ling An gasping for air back then, he’d had no time to walk around the track at all.
Back then he couldn’t understand why anyone would like walking the track. Now he understood.
After asking about Jiang Shu’s family situation, Ling An finally realized his mom and dad really hadn’t fed him at all.
Growing up under those conditions, there was no reason he wouldn’t have turned out twisted.
Ling An hugged Jiang Shu with a heart full of ache.
What a pitiful little villain. But thankfully, he was here now, he wouldn’t have to live so bitterly anymore.
Maybe he wouldn’t even have to be a villain anymore…
Seeing that the time was about right, Ling An tried to let go of Jiang Shu and pull him back to the dorm.
But Jiang Shu refused to let go.
Buried in Ling An’s chest, his tears had already soaked through Ling An’s school uniform.
Jiang Shu didn’t know what was wrong with him when had he become such a crybaby?
He just wanted to hold onto this kind of care forever.
This time, Jiang Shu calmed down quickly, and returned to the dorm with Ling An.
Back at the dorm, Ling An saw that the other two beds were empty.
He gave them a single glance and no more, then pulled Jiang Shu into the bathroom to wash up.
After washing, Ling An fell asleep hugging the sweet, soft little villain.
When the morning wake-up bell rang, Jiang Shu tried to wake Ling An, but every attempt ended in failure.
In class, Jiang Shu could feel that things were very different.
The people mocking him had noticeably decreased, but the gazes lingering on him were growing more and more numerous.
Ling An slept until fourth period before leisurely strolling to the classroom.
After class, he’d go eat with the little villain.
After nap time, Jiang Shu went to class while Ling An slept straight through until the afternoon, rising punctually at mealtime to wait outside the classroom for class to end so he could go eat with the little villain.
After eating, they’d go for a stroll. During evening self-study, Ling An slept while Jiang Shu attended it.
When evening self-study ended, Ling An rose right on schedule again, waiting in the classroom for Jiang Shu so they could go get a late-night snack.
The two of them spent a whole week clinging to each other like this, already drawing plenty of attention.
Ling An didn’t notice at all. How had he never realized before that campus life could be so comfortable?
When Saturday came, Jiang Shu wanted to go back and help at the noodle shop, but Ling An held him back.
His hand slid onto Jiang Shu’s face; the delicate texture made every stroke an exquisite pleasure for Ling An.
He said flatly, “No need to go back. The noodle shop is gone. Your relatives have moved away too.”
At those words, Jiang Shu’s pupils contracted. “You… you…” For a long while, he couldn’t get a single sentence out.
Ling An lowered his head and kissed his panicked little face.
“Don’t overthink it. That plot of land is in a prime location, it’s already been bought.”
“They got a hefty compensation and left without hesitation. They weren’t thinking of you at all, so don’t think of them either.”
“Come with me.”
Ling An pulled at Jiang Shu, only to find him still frozen in place.
“I don’t have a home anymore.”
Hearing Jiang Shu murmur this, Ling An pulled him into his arms at once.
He lowered his head and kissed him, gently prying open Jiang Shu’s teeth, their tongues intertwining, going deeper and deeper.
Only when Jiang Shu felt like he was suffocating his amorous peach-blossom eyes rimmed with red, tears swirling within, the corners of his eyes flushing ever redder did Ling An reluctantly release him, wiping away the tears that had fallen with a tissue.
Ling An said slowly, “You haven’t had a home for a long time now, have you?”
“Stay with me. Wherever I am, that’s your home. Okay?”
“But…”
Jiang Shu tried to say something, but was firmly cut off by Ling An.
“I know what you want to ask. The answer you’re looking for, time will tell you. Give time some time, okay?”