04 : New roommate

 A familiar face and figure walked in from outside. Song Shi saw Chen Zhoumu with his head down, holding his phone, casually tossing his backpack onto the table, before realizing there was someone else inside. He looked up,

somewhat confused.

The next second after seeing Song Shi, Chen Zhoumu deleted the message in the chat box, "[Don't like my roommate, give me a single room]", and then put his phone in his pocket.

Song Shi was originally squatting on the floor, intending to take out the blanket from the bag first, but seeing his new roommate stride over and stand in front of him,

he bent down, placed his hands on his knees, and looked him straight in the eye: "What a coincidence, don't you think we're already familiar? Even God can't stand it."

"..." Familiar my foot.

Chen Zhoumu smiled and didn't continue the conversation. He was afraid of pushing the other person too far and causing the warmth he had finally built up to shrink back. He reached out and pulled the blanket out of the bag, placing it on his bed. He

skillfully unfolded the blanket and tucked it into the duvet cover.

Song Shi watched the other person's actions without saying anything because he really didn't know how to put on those covers. He should have just bought pre-made ones.

His phone vibrated, and Song Shi picked it up to see a message from Tang Ze.

Ze Shao Zui Shuai: [By the way, I forgot to tell you, your blanket isn't a one-piece set. Do you know how to put it on?]

Ze Shao Zui Shuai: [Do you want me to come down and help you?]

S: [You do?]

Ze Shao Zui Shuai: [No...but many hands make light work.]

Song Shi watched as the person in front of him steadily arranged the blanket and put on the pillowcases as well. He looked down and replied to Tang Ze

S: [No need, someone helped.]

Watching Chen Zhoumu spread the blanket out on top and then lean against the ladder looking at Song Shi, he thought, "A roommate I couldn't find even with a lantern."

Song Shi pursed his lips and said thank you emotionlessly, then took his clothes and went to the bathroom without expression.

Chen Zhoumu watched his retreating figure, chuckled softly, and tidied up the bags on the floor, putting them in the closet.

Song Shi looked at the not-so-small bathroom. Fortunately, it wasn't cluttered. After hanging his clothes on the wall, he adjusted the water temperature, and the warm water slid down his body. It was

a bit too hot to wash.

Before he could even grab his clothes, he heard a splash, and everything went black. The ink-like blackness slowly enveloped him. There was a small window above the bathroom, but no light came in.

Song Shi's breathing became rapid. His hands gripped the sink tightly, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

Chen Zhoumu had planned to go to the balcony to collect the dry clothes, but after collecting only a few, the entire school's power went out. However, he was used to it; this sometimes happened at Xia Cheng No. 1 High School. He

was about to continue collecting when he heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from the bathroom, followed by a muffled groan. Without thinking, he grabbed the clothes and rushed to the bathroom door. Song Shi collapsed to the floor, curled up, his hands clenched tightly, his heart pounding as if it would burst out of his chest, and

he felt a wave of suffocation wash over him. 

The door was violently kicked open with a "bang," and the familiar scent of gardenias wafted in. 

He was then lifted up, his naked skin directly touching the other's arm. 

The unfamiliar sensation made Song Shi feel nauseous, but the only thought in his mind was that he was still naked . 

Chen Zhoumu placed the person in his arms on the lower bunk, only then realizing that the other was naked. 

He hastily put a piece of clothing on him, the smooth touch still lingering on his hands; this person's skin was as smooth as an egg. With the clothing covering him, Song Shi breathed a sigh of relief. 

Chen Zhoumu's breath was on his face: "How are you? Are you alright?" Song Shi didn't want to speak, reaching out to shield Chen Zhoumu's face, hoping he wouldn't get so close. But the other seemed to misunderstand. 

The other grasped his hand; Song Shi's hand was cold, while the other's was warm. His heart tightened, and he tried to struggle free, but the person in front of him held his hand tightly. "Is your hand hurt? Where does it hurt?" 

A light, gentle pressure came from his palm and the back of his hand, the hands holding him seeming to absorb his burning heat. Song Shi abruptly pulled his hand away: "It's nothing." With a "snap," the light suddenly shone, blindingly brightening his eyes. Chen Zhoumu looked at his new roommate, his hair disheveled, wearing his pajamas, his face pale but his ears red. 

He reached out and tucked the other's legs under the covers. He casually said, "Are you afraid of the dark?" The other remained silent, his face expressionless. Chen Zhoumu, seeing his roommate's indifference, didn't get angry: "What's wrong with being afraid of the dark?" "Shut up!" Having received the scolding, Chen Zhoumu went to the bathroom. 

His phone vibrated incessantly beside him. Song Shi waited before casually pulling on a pair of pants and sitting down. 

The message was from Tang Ze. 

Ze Shao Zui Shuai: [Damn, the power tripped!] 

Ze Shao Zui Shuai: [Are you alright! How can the circuit here be so weak!] 

Ze Shao the Most Handsome: [ Hey, Lao Song, Song Shi, reply! You're not in any trouble, are you? Isn't this a double room? Where's your roommate?] 

[...] Song Shi ignored the other messages and replied: [I'm fine.] 

Ze Shao the Most Handsome: [Oh my god, you finally replied! I thought something really happened to you.] 

Ze Shao the Most Handsome: [How can I live without you?]

 S: [...Asleep.] 

Just as Song Shi was about to get into bed, the bathroom door opened, steam came out, and someone walked out. 

He looked up. The other person had just finished showering. The first thing he saw was his upper body, still wet. Chen Zhoumu wasn't wearing a shirt, his healthy skin wasn't very white, and he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Further down, he wasn't wearing a shirt either. 

His muscular legs were well-distributed. Chen Zhoumu was very tall, so wearing only underwear made his legs look even longer. 

Song Shi watched Chen Zhoumu come out drying his hair, then suddenly stood up and stood opposite him. 

Chen Zhoumu was startled: "Still not asleep?" "What kind of pervert are you, not even dressed!" Chen Zhoumu paused in drying his hair, somewhat stunned by the words. 

He had lived like this for over a decade; in public bathhouses, which guy was still dressed? Besides, it was too hot to put on clothes right after a shower. 

He only wore underwear because he couldn't show off his manhood in front of his new roommate; it wouldn't look good. The difference between North and South was evident here. 

Song Shi insisted that Chen Zhoumu put on his clothes, but the other guy felt too hot and pulled on the only pajamas he had, leaving no other reason to wear anything else. 

Finally, Song Shi coldly threw his pajamas at Chen Zhoumu, who also backed down, wearing only pajama bottoms, still without clothes. 

"It's so short, it's a bit tight in the crotch..." Before Chen Zhoumu could finish speaking, 

Song Shi had already turned off the light. "..." I might as well strangle you.

Originally sleepy, Song Shi lay in bed but couldn't fall asleep at all. Perhaps it was because the bed was too hard, or perhaps it was because he was in a new place; in any case, he just couldn't drift off.

He closed his eyes, slowly trying to fall asleep. He could hear even breathing below him. Song Shi turned over, listening to the deep and shallow breaths, and slowly drifted off.

Song Shi's sleep quality was poor; he rarely had a dreamless night. But this time, he slept very comfortably, though in the latter half of the night, he kept having dreams.

In his dream, he was walking alone on the street, with vendors around him calling out. When he got closer, he realized they were selling jianbing (Chinese crepes).

Then he saw the auntie selling jianbing turn into... Chen Zhoumu's face.

Song Shi's breath caught in his throat.

Looking around, he realized that everyone around him had turned into Chen Zhoumu. The scene was extremely bizarre, and everyone was holding... "Big Brother Jianbing."

Everyone stared at him, saying, "Want to buy some jianbing guozi?"

Then he felt a tap on his shoulder. Song Shi turned around abruptly and saw it was the real Chen Zhoumu. He wasn't wearing any clothes, just his underwear, and a gray towel was draped over his shoulder. He grinned, "Want some... jianbing guozi...?"

"Ah!..." Song Shi opened his eyes abruptly, realizing it was already daylight. Something poked his face.

Chen Zhoumu's face was pressed against the headboard. For a moment, Song Shi thought he was still dreaming. If the other person actually said what he'd dreamed about, he would punch him in the face without hesitation.

Thankfully, he wasn't.

"What's wrong? Had a nightmare?" Chen Zhoumu tilted his head and looked at him.

"Get up, don't be late."

Only then did Song Shi hear the deafening wake-up call outside. He rubbed his slightly damp hair. If this continued, he would not only develop an allergic reaction to jianbing guozi but also develop a phobia of the person's face.

After washing up and getting ready, Song Shi came out of the bathroom and saw Chen Zhoumu sitting in a chair, looking down at his phone, holding something in his hand.

When Song Shi approached, Chen Zhoumu looked up and handed him the thing: "By the way, do you want some jianbing guozi?"

Song Shi: "..."

Looking at Chen Zhoumu's sincere eyes, Song Shi replied expressionlessly, "If I hear those words again, I'll tear your mouth apart."

The man in the chair paused, and Song Shi felt a strange sense of relief.

"If you don't want it, you don't have to, why are you being so fierce?"

Song Shi slung his bag over his shoulder and turned to see Chen Zhoumu munching on his jianbing.

A surge of resentment welled up inside him. Thinking of Chen Zhoumu's appearance in his dream, Song Shi walked over and snatched the jianbing from him: "Don't eat your lousy jianbing, let's go."

Looking at Chen Zhoumu's somewhat blank expression, Song Shi felt a surge of amusement.

Chen Zhoumu, despite his exceptionally good temper, only had it for his new deskmate and roommate. He simply grabbed his bag and chased after him, attributing Song Shi's unusual behavior that morning entirely to the latter's morning grumpiness.

As the last bell rang, the two entered the classroom. Jiang Man was already waiting at the classroom door for the latecomer.

Watching them enter one after the other, she exclaimed, "Hey, Chen Zhoumu, what made you up so early?"

"I just wanted to see you as soon as possible! This dress suits you perfectly today!" Chen Zhoumu said, giving a thumbs-up.

Song Shi: "..." Idiot.

"Go, go, go inside." Jiang Man couldn't bear to look and turned to Song Shi, asking, "Are you adjusting well?"

Song Shi nodded.

Then she saw Chen Zhoumu leaning lazily against the door: "Can't you learn from others? Can't you be serious for once? What are you standing there for?"

"Didn't you ask me to take care of my new deskmate? Of course I have to stay by his side." Saying that, he put his arm around Song Shi's shoulder and grinned as he pulled Song Shi into his arms and went inside.

Jiang Man felt much more at ease watching the two of them get along. Don't be fooled by Chen Zhoumu's thuggish appearance; she knew he was kind-hearted and a good person, which complemented Song Shi perfectly.

Turning around, she saw the latecomer trying to sneak out the back door. Jiang Man yelled, "He Xi! Where the hell do you think you're going! You're late on the first day of school! You come here!"

After scolding him, He Xi ran to his seat, but before he could even sit down, he saw Chen Zhoumu already sitting there, and he almost dropped his jaw in shock.

With a resentful look on his face, he said, "No, brother, why did you secretly get up so early and leave me behind?!"

Chen Zhoumu slowly lifted his eyelids: "Tsk, when haven't I gotten up this early?"

He Xi: "?"

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