My straight roommate is so good

As it turned out, Qiao Song was overthinking.

Dorm 603 was very safe tonight because Ling Jianshu didn’t come back all night.

After learning that Qiao Song was gay, the first thing he did when he returned to school was to send Pei Nian a message on WeChat.

Ling Jianshu: [Come to the boxing gym.]

Pei Nian was stunned when he received the message.

He strongly suspected that something unusual was happening today, like the sun rising from the west! Otherwise, why would his senior brother actively ask him for a sparring session?!

He would often beg Ling Jianshu to train with him, but he rarely agreed.

Everyone said Ling Jianshu was too aloof and difficult to get along with.

But he never thought that way.

He knew that Ling Jianshu avoided training with him for his own good.

After all, Ling Jianshu only had one junior brother like him. If, one day, he accidentally hit him too hard and something happened… wouldn’t his senior brother feel terribly guilty?

He was his number one fanboy.

No matter what happened, he could always come up with a thousand reasons to defend his senior brother.

As for why Ling Jianshu was suddenly acting out of character today, that was not something he would concern himself with.

His only responsibility was to agree immediately—

Pei Nian: [On my way! Five minutes, just five!]

Ling Jianshu: [.]

Pei Nian: [I’m just going to the bathroom, then I’ll sprint over!]

Ling Jianshu: [.]

Pei Nian: [OMG, senior brother, why are you so kind today! Not only did you ask me to come, but you’re also so patient with me!]

Ling Jianshu: [……]

Pei Nian: [What?! That “.” wasn’t an auto-reply?! I knew it! My senior brother is the best in the world!]

Ling Jianshu stopped responding.

Fifteen minutes later, Pei Nian arrived, panting heavily.

Ling Jianshu was already sitting on the sidelines of the training area, wearing boxing gloves.

When Pei Nian entered and saw him, his steps instinctively paused for half a second.

… Was it his imagination?

Why did it feel like his senior brother’s aura was especially strong today, and the pressure especially low?

He scratched his head and nervously walked toward him.

Hearing the footsteps, Ling Jianshu looked up at him, his gaze cold and piercing.

Pei Nian: “…?”

He shuddered and thought to himself, that look from his senior brother almost sent him straight to the afterlife.

The next second, Ling Jianshu stood up from the bench, expressionless, and coldly threw out two words: “Get in.”

“…” Pei Nian immediately felt weak in the knees, intimidated even before stepping into the ring.

He silently reflected—had he done something recently to upset his senior brother?

Otherwise, why did it feel like his senior brother genuinely wanted to end him?!

For a full two hours.

Ling Jianshu pinned Pei Nian down and pummeled him for two whole hours!

Ling Jianshu held back just enough not to actually hurt him, but he relentlessly dominated him with skill and brute force.

Pei Nian spent almost the entire time getting beaten. Forget about counterattacking—he could barely manage to block.

For the first time, he realized the vast gap between him and Ling Jianshu, even though he had been going easy on him.

He was completely drained.

Collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, he pleaded, “Senior brother, I’m done! I’ve got nothing left… Let’s continue another day, okay?”

Ling Jianshu stood over him, looking down, and nodded.

“Go. I’ll keep practicing,” he said, walking away from the ring to punch a nearby sandbag.

Pei Nian lay on the ground for a good five minutes before mustering the strength to stand up.

He walked over to Ling Jianshu, muttering, “Senior brother, are you crazy… After all that, aren’t you tired?”

Ling Jianshu didn’t reply, but his slightly labored breathing revealed that he was, in fact, tired.

Pei Nian tilted his head, thought for a moment, and came to a conclusion: “Something’s not right. You’re definitely upset about something.”

Ling Jianshu’s eyes darkened. He paused, resting his hands on the sandbag, and glanced sideways at him.

Seeing his reaction, Pei Nian immediately understood, “So I was right, huh?”

Already annoyed, Ling Jianshu felt even more irritable after being easily seen through by him.

He frowned, took off his boxing gloves, and casually hung them around his neck. “I’m done. Let’s go.”

After showering, Ling Jianshu left the gym.

Pei Nian, like a tail, followed closely behind him, persistently asking, “Senior brother, seriously, can’t you just tell me? What’s going on that’s got you so worked up?”

Ling Jianshu only said, “Shut up and go back to your dorm.”

Pei Nian, sensing he was truly in a bad mood, wisely stopped pestering him. He sighed and said, “Fine, but I’m really worried about you. I’ll walk you back.”

Ling Jianshu replied, “I’m not going back to the dorm.”

Pei Nian paused, then asked, “It’s so late—if you’re not going back to the dorm, where are you going?”

Ling Jianshu looked at him seriously and said, “Don’t ask. Don’t follow me. I just need some time alone.”

Respectfully, he didn’t push any further. Nodding, he said, “Okay, I’ll head back, but take care of yourself.”

“Mm,” Ling Jianshu responded, then turned and headed toward the track.

After only a few steps, he heard Pei Nian calling after him again, “Senior brother!”

He stopped and looked back at his troublesome junior, asking with some patience, “Now what?”

Pei Nian, with his cute baby face, said something surprisingly wise and mature, completely at odds with his appearance.

He told Ling Jianshu, “I don’t think boxing will solve your problem. Neither will being alone. Venting is fine, and calming down is good, but in the end, you have to face the problem itself. Only then can you have a chance to resolve it. Don’t you think?”

Ling Jianshu quietly stared at him, suddenly feeling that all his care for this junior had been worth it.

Seeing him remain silent, Pei Nian thought his words might have been unwelcome, so he awkwardly smiled and added, “Of course, I could be wrong. If you don’t like what I said, just pretend I…” didn’t say it.

But Ling Jianshu cut him off, speaking calmly, “No, I think you’re right.”

“Ah…” Caught off guard by the compliment, Pei Nian stammered, “Re-really…? I’m just glad I could help!”

Ling Jianshu smiled faintly, waved, and said, “I’m off. Next time, I’ll spar with you again.”

Pei Nian watched him walk away and didn’t snap out of it for a long time.

…Was he dreaming?

His senior brother actually praised him?!

And smiled at him?!

And even promised to spar with him again next time?!

Although his senior brother was in a bad mood today, Pei Nian was sorry—he was absolutely overjoyed right now, and nothing could wipe the smile off his face!!!

He jumped up and down in excitement, scaring away a passing dog.

A little after eleven at night, Qiao Song deliberately waited until it was nearly time for lights-out before returning to the dorm.

He lingered outside the door of room 603 for about ten minutes, mentally preparing himself before finally pushing the door open.

As soon as he entered, he heard Cheng Yuan’s voice: “Oh my god! You guys are finally back. I was about to call the cops!”

He froze for a moment, subtly glancing around the room.

Cheng Yuan was there, and Junming was too.

So that “you guys” clearly referred to him and someone else. Naturally, that someone could only be…

He walked inside and said to Cheng Yuan, “It’s just me.”

Cheng Yuan had been lying on the top bunk, playing on his phone. When he heard this, he turned onto his side and looked down at him.

“What’s going on? Didn’t Ling Brother come back with you?”

Faced with the question, Qiao Song could only answer simply, “No.”

Cheng Yuan asked again, “Then where did he go?”

Qiao Song could only say, “I’m not sure.”

Clearly still confused, Cheng Yuan muttered, “That’s weird… If Ling Brother had something going on, he’d tell you, right?”

Qiao Song thought, sorry, but he does have something going on, and unfortunately, it’s probably… me.

Not knowing how to explain this to his roommate, Qiao Song suggested, “Yuan, why don’t you ask him on WeChat when he’s coming back?”

Cheng Yuan nodded, “Sure, I’ll ask.”

He sent a message to Ling Jianshu: [Ling Brother, Qiao asked when you’re coming back?]

After sending the message, Cheng Yuan turned to Qiao Song with a smug look and said, “I sent it. I even made sure to say it was you who was asking.”

Qiao Song: “…” Thank you so much for that.

Cheng Yuan waited for two minutes but received no reply, so he complained to Qiao Song, “See, I told you it wouldn’t work. Tree Brother never responds to me! He only listens to you now.”

Qiao Song tried to correct Cheng Yuan’s misunderstanding, offering an excuse for Ling Jianshu, “He’s probably busy. He’ll reply when he sees it.”

Just as he finished speaking, a message from Ling Jianshu popped up in the dorm group chat.

Ling Jianshu: [I’ve got something to do tonight. Won’t be back at the dorm.]

Cheng Yuan pointed to the message and said to Qiao Song, “See? I told you! Tree Brother only cares about you. He doesn’t want to reply to me at all! Good thing I was smart enough to say you asked, or else he wouldn’t have replied.”

Qiao Song: “…”

At this point, there was no clearing up the misunderstanding.