Yan Zhun had been drinking. His lips were cool, and the tip of his tongue felt a bit rough. Pei Ran wasn't thinking about anything else at all; he just felt that his neck, ears, and cheeks were too hot, as if his head was about to explode.

He had never felt like this before, even holding his breath. With his eyes half-closed, he vaguely stared at Yan Zhun's eyelashes, his back pressed tightly against the sofa, not daring to move.

His eardrums were about to be shattered by his heartbeat.

Finally, Yan Zhun lowered his eyes and, with great patience, gently bit his lip.

When Pei Ran spoke, his breathing was erratic: "Just how much... did you drink?"

Yan Zhun stopped, looked up at him, his eyes reddened by the alcohol. "I'm not drunk."

Pei Ran asked, "Why did you get into a drinking contest with him?"

The distilled liquor was too strong, and Yan Zhun had a persistent headache. Hearing this, he tugged at the corner of his mouth.

As if they were in a drinking contest.

When he saw Luo Qingshan's expression in the private room, he had almost smashed the bottle on his head.

Suddenly, a phone rang. Due to the earlier large movements, the phone had slipped out of Pei Ran's pocket and was now lying on the sofa.

Lin Kang had sent two messages, asking where Pei Ran was and if he needed someone to come out and get him.

Yan Zhun's back tensed, his face expressionless.

'Smash the phone. Lock him in here,' Yan Zhun thought.

The warmth spreading from his abdomen interrupted his thoughts. Yan Zhun froze, his body stiffening for a moment.

Pei Ran's palm was covering his stomach. He kept his eyes downcast, not looking at him. "Does your stomach hurt?"

Only then did Yan Zhun seem to register the feeling, as waves of pain surged up.

Ever since growing up, Yan Zhun had never complained about hardship in front of anyone. During his training period, he never once complained about being tired. If he hadn't suddenly collapsed in front of the computer back then, no one would have known how serious his condition was.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and then he said in a hoarse voice, "...It hurts a lot."

Pei Ran frowned. His face was still red, but his expression had become much more serious. "I'll call a car, let's go to the hospital first."

Getting no response, Pei Ran looked up in confusion, only to find that Yan Zhun had been watching him the whole time.

Yan Zhun's gaze flickered slightly, and he asked, as if for confirmation, "Go to the hospital?"

"Mhm," Pei Ran said. "Or did you bring medicine with you?"

Yan Zhun asked, "...You're not going to pick him up?"

"Pick who up..." Pei Ran paused for a moment, then realized. "Luo Qingshan? He has a lot of friends there, he doesn't need me to pick him up."

Yan Zhun was silent for a moment, then his deep voice changed slightly. "Then who did you come to pick up?"

Pei Ran: "..."

"Who did you come to pick up?" Yan Zhun asked again. "Me?"

Pei Ran moved his hand from Yan Zhun's abdomen, pursed his lips, and finally mumbled a vague "Mhm." "Does it still hurt here..."

Before Pei Ran could finish, Yan Zhun suddenly leaned against him. His sweater was loose, leaving a large area of Pei Ran's shoulder and collarbone exposed. Yan Zhun buried his face in Pei Ran's shoulder and squeezed his eyes shut.

Their posture was like an embrace, but not quite. Pei Ran could feel his temperature and his heartbeat, which were in no better state than his own.

Pei Ran was startled, thinking he had fainted. He patted his back a couple of times. "Yan Zhun? Is it really bad? Hang in there, I'll call an ambulance..."

"Don't."

Yan Zhun's breath ghosted over the shell of Pei Ran's ear. A sudden numbness shot through his right ear, and he sat still, not daring to move.

"Let me breathe you in for a bit," Yan Zhun said lazily, his whole body relaxing.

Pei Ran blinked a couple of times, and only after a long moment did he say, "I'm not a cat."

Pei Ran had a clean, cool scent on him, like shower gel.

'If he were a cat,' Yan Zhun thought, 'he'd hold Pei Ran's hands and legs and bury his face in his belly all night.'

Yan Zhun didn't stay like that for long. His head was too heavy, and his stomach genuinely hurt. When he got up, he even swayed a little. Worried he might fall, Pei Ran instinctively reached out and grabbed his clothes.

Yan Zhun raised a hand and put the mask back on for him, then used the back of his hand to wipe the outer layer of the mask, right where he himself had bitten.

Yan Zhun said, "There's a pharmacy outside. Go buy a new one."

"No need, I have some in my dorm," Pei Ran said. "Let's go back to the school."

Across the corridor, private room 103 was still bustling with noise.

Luo Qingshan had been slumped on the sofa for a long time. He turned his head and asked with a frown, "Why isn't Pei Ran here yet?"

"I don't know, I sent a message but got no reply," Lin Kang said while cracking sunflower seeds.

"Then give him a call," Luo Qingshan said. "Quick... call him."

Unable to refuse him, Lin Kang put down his snacks. "Fine, fine, I'll call... Hey, where are you going?"

"To take a leak," Luo Qingshan said.

"Are you gonna be okay? I'll go with you."

"No need, I've barely had anything... I can walk." Luo Qingshan waved his hand. "Hurry up and call Pei Ran."

Luo Qingshan stumbled out of the private room, leaning against the wall as he slowly shuffled toward the restroom. Hearing a phone ring, he subconsciously turned his head for a look.

He saw two boys walking side-by-side. The shorter boy was supporting the one next to him, their proximity intimate. The phone continued to ring, but no one paid it any mind. After a few steps, they disappeared around the corner.

After coming out of the restroom, Luo Qingshan washed his face. He leaned his hands on the sink, his head bowed in silence.

A moment later, he took out his phone and made a call.

The other person answered quickly. "Brother Qingshan, what's up?"

Luo Qingshan's throat was dry. "Su Nian, come pick me up. I'm drunk."

-

In the car back to school, Pei Ran was looking down, replying to messages, telling Lin Kang he wasn't coming anymore.

[Lin Kang: Then why did you ask me for the room number just now...?]

[Pei Ran: I was picking someone else up.]

[Lin Kang: ???]

The light inside the taxi was dim, with only the streetlights filtering in.

Yan Zhun had been leaning against the window to rest. Hearing the constant WeChat notifications, he propped himself up and looked down at the person beside him. "I didn't bring my dorm key."

Pei Ran was still replying to the message. "Hm?"

Yan Zhun's shoulder pressed against his. "Take me in."

Back in the dorm room, Pei Ran settled the man onto a chair and went into the bathroom.

Yan Zhun endured his discomfort, his eyes scanning over the objects on Pei Ran's desk one by one.

It was very tidy. The computer's standby light was on, next to it was a drawing tablet, and next to that was a gray insulated mug.

Yan Zhun stared at it for a while, then suddenly noticed something and reached out to turn the mug around.