Lin Chen took great satisfaction in his efficiency. He meticulously scheduled every aspect of his day, including study sessions, meals, and even downtime. But lately, efficiency had been replaced with one singular goal—avoid Zhou Mingyu.
He couldn't trust himself around him after the nighttime stroll and that silent confession that wasn't quite a confession.
So he took different paths to class, sat on the far side of the lecture hall, and buried himself in textbooks whenever Mingyu was near.
However, trying to avoid Zhou Mingyu was similar to trying to trying to prevent air. He was everywhere.
And worse—he noticed.
On the third day, with a knowing smile pulling at his lip, Mingyu cornered him outside the classroom. S.
"Did I do something?" he asked casually, leaning against the wall, blocking Lin Chen's path.
The spike in Lin Chen's pulse. "No."
"Really, because you feel as though you're running..."
"I'm not."
"Then take a look at me."
Lin Chen's eyes darted away, heat crawling up his neck. "I'm occupied."
Mingyu chuckled, "Preoccupied with avoiding me."
The Project Pairing
A new group project—pairs only—was announced by their professor that week. Y. Names flashed across the screen as the software randomly chose partners.
Lin Chen's stomach sank when he saw it.
Both Lin Ch and Mingy Zhouenu.
The class erupted in whispers.
"It is obvious that they are paired."
"Fate, huh?"
Lin Chen wanted to immerse herself in the water. Inside the water. "R."
Mingyu, however, appeared positively smug. You must be incapable of leaving me at this point."
When they first met in the evening, LinChen showed up. Early, hoping to get a head start, but Mingyu strolled in minutes later, dropping his bag beside him with infuriating ease.
"Slow down." Mingyu relaxed. "I'm not going to bite."
"I'm not worried about that," Lin Chen muttered.
Oh? Mingyu leaned close to him. "So, about what are you worried?"
The ears of Lin Chen burned, but he turned and then wrote in his notebook.
They worked in tense silence for the next two hours. Yours. Or rather, Mingyu watched Lin Chen work with unsettling concentration.
Mingyu was reaching for a book at the far end of the table when Lin's fingers finally touched his. Tablee, he froze.
Their eyes locked with each other. All that remained of the world was that one point of contact, electric and terrifying, warm skin against skin.
Neither moved.
Lin Chen had a fleeting suspicion that Mingyu might actually join his fingers. His breath caught, and his chest tightened—
Then a chair broke, breaking the moment. Lin Chen jerked as it creaked closed. His hand back like he'd been burned, heart hammering.
Mingyu only smirked and whispered, "You see? You didn't pull away right away."
After they wrapped up, they woke up. walked back to the dorms in silence. There was an unspoken buzz in the air between them.
Halfway there, Mingyu suddenly halted, and Lin Chen turned in confusion. "What?"
Mingyu stepped closer, looking steady. Would you prevent me from reaching for your hand again at this moment?
Lin Chen's throat went dry. Though his mind cried out "yes," his heart… His heart faltered.
He couldn't answer.
Mingyu's lips curved, but not in triumph, but in something softer. "Consider it."
He turned and moved forward, leaving Lin Chen rooted under the streetlight, pulse roaring in his ears.
That night, LiChen was lying awake.e, staring at his hand. It was the same hand that Mingyu touched.
His chest ached with a question that he was unable to silence: Would I if he reached again? Let him?