“Lin Ze, are you okay?” Feng Qinting asked with some concern.
Lin Ze, who was originally groggy and feeling a bit dizzy, managed to squeeze out a weak smile when he heard Feng Qinting ask.
“I’m fine.”
He was fine indeed, just overwhelmingly sleepy.
If there was a bed right in front of him at this moment, he could fall asleep the second his head hit the pillow!
Lying in bed after coming back last night, he had wanted to sleep and throw all the annoying things he had just experienced to the back of his mind.
Yet, every time he closed his eyes, fragments of Yiyan holding the back of his head and kissing him wildly flashed through his mind.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, leaving him completely without sleep.
He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep well at all.
Watching Lin Ze yawn from time to time with heavy dark circles under his eyes, Feng Qinting frowned slightly.
“Didn’t sleep well last night? You look exhausted,” Feng Qinting asked.
“Yeah.” Lin Ze replied with fatigue.
Feng Qinting sighed. “Is it because part-time work is too tiring and you aren’t getting enough rest? I bet that’s it.”
He continued talking on his own.
“Plus, since you’re renting a place outside, that area is so far from the campus. You definitely have to wake up early just to catch the bus. That’s just way too exhausting.”
“…”
Seeing that Lin Ze didn’t reply, Feng Qinting brought it up again. “Why don’t you just move back? Living on campus is pretty convenient too.”
“I can’t. My work shifts end too late, and I’ll inevitably make some noise when I get back, which would disturb your sleep,” Lin Ze said, propping his head up with one hand.
“What does that matter? The guys in our dorm sleep like logs anyway, and I’ll leave the door unlocked for you at night. Just come back!”
Feng Qinting really missed his buddy. Back when they were in the same dorm, the two of them had the closest bond.
Later on, however, Lin Ze told him he was going to take on a part-time job and rent a place outside, so he wouldn’t be returning to the dorm at night.
At first, Feng Qinting had agreed and supported his good friend’s idea.
Yet, on the second night after Lin Ze moved out, he started feeling out of place.
Every time he woke up, the empty bed opposite him was all he faced.
He didn’t know what was wrong with him, but a heavy silence settled in his heart. He slammed his palm against his still-sleepy and groggy head, muttering inwardly.
He really wasn’t used to this at all.
“Oh, it’s fine! I’m actually very comfortable living outside now!”
Lin Ze caught the flicker of worry in his buddy’s eyes and knew Feng Qinting must have made that suggestion out of genuine concern for him.
He cheerfully gave Feng Qinting’s shoulder a light pat.
“Hehe, I never expected that even after the great master has been out of the dorm for so long, my brother would miss me this much.”
Feng Qinting’s expression looked a bit unnatural as he let out an awkward, embarrassed chuckle.
Was he seeing things, or was there actually a faint, unnoticeable blush on Feng Qinting’s face?
The hand he rested on Feng Qinting’s shoulder brushed against his white T-shirt, and a wave of radiating heat emanated from the soft fabric.
He silently withdrew his arm and raised an eyebrow at Feng Qinting with a puzzled look.
“Ah Ting, are you hot?”
“Duh, it’s the middle of summer.”
Feng Qinting swallowed hard, his eyes drifting aimlessly, refusing to make direct eye contact with Lin Ze.
Hearing this, Lin Ze turned his head to look at the air conditioner behind them.
“But the classroom has the AC on, and it’s set pretty low.”
“You were sitting way too close.” Feng Qinting muttered in a low voice.
Lin Ze assumed Feng Qinting was annoyed because he was sitting so close and radiating body heat.
Lin Ze gave a hearty laugh and scratched the back of his head. “Ah, sorry, sorry, I really didn’t notice.”
Man, he really hadn’t noticed just now. They had been chatting so intently that they ended up sitting right next to each other, haha.
Watching Lin Ze proactively move away and sit an entire seat apart from him, Feng Qinting slapped his own forehead in deep regret.
That was completely not what he meant to convey!