Qin Yi must not have had time to read the forum posts, because his reaction clearly showed that he was seeing Ning Song’s face for the first time. Someone next to him leaned over and said something in his ear, and Qin Yi listened, tilting his head, but his eyes stayed fixed on him. He looked at people differently from others; he didn't look at their faces so much as he looked at their bodies.
Ah, this guy was probably a man for physiques. The boy beside him looked delicate, but his figure clearly had perfect proportions.
The person beside him clapped softly.
The music in the room stopped.
Someone closed the door.
As soon as the door closed, Ning Song felt like this was a pack of werewolves about to transform.
A stout, good-natured boy with a black badge came forward to host the welcome party. He first introduced their school’s long-standing tradition and then welcomed them in. Perhaps disappointed by Ning Song’s appearance, his tone was somewhat listless: “New student, please introduce yourself.”
Ning Song steadied himself and gave a brief self-introduction. From time to time, someone would ask him a question, some filled with malice. He rolled his eyes inwardly but answered with a smile.
He wasn’t overly humble or nervous, nor was he arrogant. He maintained a balanced state, just like his personality.
In the face of everyone's disappointment and contempt, he felt a sense of security.
Just as everyone was focused on him, someone pushed open the door. The student blocking the door looked back and pulled the door open, revealing Li You and two other boys.
Seeing them, Qin Yi and the others' expressions changed significantly.
“Yo, isn’t this You-ge? What wind blew you here?”
Li You wasn’t wearing a school uniform. Dressed in a windbreaker, he looked more like a wild young man who had crashed a gathering of aristocratic students. His presence was overwhelming. He smiled wryly and asked, “I’m not welcome?”
“Of course not.”
Feeling like a fight was about to break out, the people around Qin Yi stood up.
Li You put both hands in his pockets, glanced around the crowd and finally landed on Ning Song's face. The corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. “ I came to see the new student.”
With his arrival, the atmosphere in the room changed. No one paid attention to Ning Song anymore.
A while later, another boy arrived. It was the beautiful, white-haired boy who resembled a cat who he'd seen during the day. He seemed to have rushed over, panting, but his face looked like it was made up, strikingly beautiful. Many eyes were fixed on him, including those of the black-badge young masters around Qin Yi.
But his eyes seemed to only be on Li You, and he was heading towards him. He leaned in to try and get a kiss from Li You, looking rather fawning, but the other boy dodged it.
But he wasn't the only guy looking at Li You with heated eyes.
The dim room amplified desire, and many people looked at Li You with naked hunger.
Generally speaking, the difference between campus novels and other novels is that the love and desire of teenage boys are very pure, vigorous and clean. Even when two boys were together, there was only a hint of the scent of flesh.
But the campus he was in now was clearly an exception.
Immersed in such an atmosphere, dark desires seemed to bubble up from deep within him.
He should go back to writing immediately. He was bursting with inspiration now.
Someone handed him a drink. He took a sip and immediately choked.
"It's alcoholic!" Qiao Qiao quickly said.
Ning Song heard the people around him snickering as he coughed until his face turned red. He shook his head.
Qiao Qiao hastily got him a snack. "I forgot to tell you, the only drinks here are alcoholic."
“Hey, new student, don’t break the rules, okay?”
Everyone seemed to suddenly remember him, and they decided to give the newcomer a hard time.
“One shot, that’s the old rule.”
Ning Song didn’t say anything and downed the shot in one go.
He knew he couldn’t appear too weak at a time like this.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That was the rule of survival for the weak.
His eyes watered from the kick. He didn’t know what kind of alcohol he’d drunk, but he felt a burning sensation in his chest and face, and his eyes were about to shed tears. Qiao Qiao quickly brought him the entire plate of snacks, and he took a piece of chocolate.
But the chocolate had an alcoholic filling as well, the bittersweet taste melding with the alcohol.
His eyes filled with tears, he saw Li You looking at him with a lazy, somewhat cocky smile.
His eyes held no emotion.
Compared to these pampered young masters, Li You’s skin wasn’t as fair, and his hair was shorter. He was probably about the same height as Pu Yu, but more muscular. Like everyone else, he was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, but his legs were so long that they didn’t seem to have enough room, and there was a hazy youthful feeling about him, a candid and unfettered desire that was hard to grasp.
He felt that both Qin Yi and the kittenish boy had a somewhat ambiguous attitude towards Li You. Their hostility wasn’t complete aversion, nor was their liking pure affection.
Thankfully, they left him alone after that.
Perhaps he wasn't outstanding enough, but he wasn't too weak either. People neither liked nor bullied him. He was like a glass of plain water.
And no one in this room liked to drink plain water.
Ning Song felt a little dizzy. He leaned against Qiao Qiao, listening to his idle chatter.
This wasn't a total waste of time, though.
For example, he learned that the pretty boy who was always clinging to Li You was named Lin Li.
Who in their right mind would have a name like that?
Lin Li had a teardrop mole at the corner of his eye, a common feature in the protagonists of BL novels.
He really did look like a fox.
He was very beautiful, and he knew he was beautiful. His eyes were full of coquettishness, and when boys looked at him, he would look a little smug, tilting his chin up.
Right now, he was playing with Li You's lighter.
The lighter was quite special. It was black, and the pattern on it was a bunch of roses surrounding a skull.
It was a Dupont lighter.
He had some impression of this brand, because one of his roommates in college had received one as a birthday gift from his girlfriend. It was said that one lighter cost more than ten thousand asicoins.
It was rare to see Qin Yi and Li You on each other's turf, so the atmosphere at the welcome party became very subtle. Qin Yi dismissed the boys around him and invited Li You to chat in the next room. Li You went straight over without giving Ning Song another glance.
Everyone stared at them and no one paid attention to him, a plain and unremarkable newcomer. Unable to bear the heat and fatigue, Ning Song pulled Qiao Qiao out to the balcony where there were fewer people.
He sat on the balcony and spaced out. Occasionally a classmate would come over to talk to him, and they would invariably ask about his relationship with Li You.
What kind of relationship could he have with Li You?
They had only just met.
They probably didn't think he was lying, so they only chatted for a few moments before leaving.
He was very sleepy and felt a little drowsy. When he came to his senses, it was because someone had disturbed him.
There were two familiar faces.
Lin Li was taking every opportunity to lean against Li You.
There were countless handsome guys in the school, like Pu Yu, the aloof prince, the cream of the crop; Sheng Yan, so handsome that people dared not look too closely, the grandson of the richest man in Easton Province; or Shen Lingsi from the student council, who was always the heartthrob at school events. They were rich, handsome, and well-mannered, the darlings of the day with bright futures ahead of them.
But he only liked Li You.
A hooligan who had risen through the ranks of boxing, his appearance was not particularly handsome, with a wolf-like back and a dog-like waist. He didn't know how to love someone, and it seemed like he didn't treat people like human beings, even in bed.
But he just happened to like this type.
Li You looked strong and capable, and he seemed like a skilled seducer. It seemed like everyone else thought of him as that kind of guy too. He seemed promiscuous, wild and casual, with a bunch of followers.
But no one had ever seen him with anyone.
He didn’t date or sleep with people, and he would reject others’ advances even in the most chaotic environments, with clarity and coldness. He seemed to have a lot of friends, but in this noble school, he didn’t have a single real friend.
Li You seemed heartless.
This gave him a maddening allure that made you willing to throw away your dignity just so he would like you.
But Lin Li never really had any dignity to begin with.
One should enjoy life to the fullest while one was young.
Li You dodged his kiss. “Why are you in heat?”
He didn’t give him even a little bit of sweetness.
He was such a jerk, it made him grind his teeth.
“Only this is worthy of you. Those others don’t suit you. They don’t have patience.”
Li You ignored him. He probably didn’t like these kinds of occasions. He impatiently lit a cigarette.
The flame illuminated his brows and high nose bridge.
He had a face that could easily make you lose your reason, especially his mouth, which was slightly upturned, as if always carrying a hint of disdain. Lin Li ingratiatingly grabbed his arm. Li You’s expression was ambiguous. It was impossible to tell if he enjoyed this rich boy’s obsession with him. His eyes, however, seemed inexplicably cold. The cigarette in his mouth flickered, its crimson light changing slightly as he bit down and breathed. The tattoo on his neck seemed to spread in the darkness.
Ning Song thought Lin Li was doomed.
People like Li You usually went for pure, innocent types.
With a face that seemed made for casual hookups, Lin Li was made for gay love. He was obviously a scumbag, but love tortured him.
Ning Song debated whether to continue pretending to sleep or to get up and leave.
Just as he was hesitating, he saw Li You sit down beside him.
Now he couldn’t pretend to sleep anymore. He tried to get up, but Li You grabbed him. “Want to talk?”
He turned to look at Li You. His lips moved for a moment before he called out, “You-ge.”
Hearing him call him “ge,” the restlessness on Li You’s face dissipated a little.
Lin Li didn’t leave. He just stood there, arms crossed.
Qiao Qiao returned after answering an urgent call and stopped when he saw Li You and Lin Li. He looked at Ning Song worriedly.
Li You looked at Ning Song in the dim candlelight.
The alcohol had taken away some of the pallor from Ning Song's face, but his face was still too thin, and his eyes were so dark they looked almost black. Against the flickering candlelight, they seemed moist from the alcohol.
He really did look pitiful.
Just by looking at him, you could imagine what kind of life he had led in the Lower Harbor.
“How did you get into this school?”
“I took part in the spring special admission period,” he said.
“What’s your special talent?” Li You asked, then added, “You’re a good student?”
Ning Song murmured in agreement.
“Where in the Lower Harbor did you live?”
“Shallowsea Port.”
“What a coincidence.” Li You’s eyes lit up. “I know that place well.”
He leaned in a little too close, giving off warmth. Or maybe Ning Song just felt hot from the alcohol. But he smelled a fragrance on Li You, different from the colognes the other boys wore. It was the scent of body wash or soap. Ning Song leaned back slightly, but knowing that Li You was also a special admit, his heart skipped a beat. He asked, “You know it well?”
Could it be that he lived there too?
Li You grinned. He was so charming, a casual glance felt like a fuse brushing your face. “I often went there to collect debts for people.”
Ning Song: “…”
Yesterday, when he went out to eat soup dumplings in the Lower Harbor, he saw some debt collectors. They were a few tough-looking young men chasing after someone.
Li You saw the instant change in expression on his face and narrowed his eyes, laughing softly.
It seemed like he was teasing him again.
But his eyes were still devoid of laughter.
Ning Song wasn’t good at dealing with people like Li You. When he saw Qiao Qiao, he immediately stood up. “You were looking for me?”
Qiao Qiao nodded quickly. “I’m leaving. Are you coming?”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s go.” Ning Song said hurriedly.
Seeing that Li You didn’t stop him, he quickly pulled open the glass door to the balcony and went out. There were far fewer people in the hall, and many had moved to the adjacent room.
What welcome party was this?
It was simply a way to add a bit of freshness and atmosphere to the playground for these rich young masters.
He followed Qiao Qiao out, and as they passed the door of a suite, through the half-open door, he saw someone sitting on top of another person. His naked back was swaying, illuminated by the lights, seeming like a Western oil painting.
The person sitting below him suddenly tilted his head and looked over. It was Qin Yi.
His forehead was covered in sweat, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he was going mad.
Dazed, Ning Song almost thought that this scene was a dream.
A chaotic dream.
Qiao Qiao raised an eyebrow at him, seeming to want to complain or explain something to him, but afraid of being overheard, he pulled Ning Song towards the exit.
Just as they were about to reach the fire escape, an arm suddenly reached out.
Ning Song jumped in surprise and saw Qiao Qiao being pulled away.
Qiao Qiao exclaimed, "Hey!" And Ning Song immediately grabbed the arm that was closest to him, turned and saw a stern face in the dim light.
"What are you doing?" he shouted.
Even in an all-boys school, there should be mutual consent, right?
How could they just kidnap people in public?!
He reached out to pull him away, but he heard Qiao Qiao quickly say, "It's okay, it's someone I know."
Hearing that, Ning Song immediately let go.
Someone he knew.
The other person looked to be in their twenties or thirties, wearing a suit. He was tall and mature-looking.
"You've gotten quite bold, haven't you, Qiao Qiao?" The other person was clearly a master of sarcasm, their voice tinged with a bit of bitterness. "You've even been drinking? You're getting quite capable."
Qiao Qiao shook off his arm. "Don't tug on me. I only had a little."
But it was useless, and he was dragged away.
Ning Song ran a few steps forward, unsure whether he should get involved in someone else’s dispute. Qiao Qiao turned around. "I'll be leaving first. See you tomorrow! Remember the way to your dorm, okay?"
Ning Song stopped and watched Qiao Qiao get dragged away.
***
Such a fierce guy.
Ning Song stood by the road, looking at the white wattle flowers that had fallen all over the ground. They were as white as snow, blowing away in the wind.
Ning Song scratched his head.
What a mess of a school this was!
He checked the time and hurried towards the overpass.
He was a little afraid of walking alone at night now, afraid that someone would jump out from the roadside and corner him.
It was already midnight, and there were no cars on the road under the overpass. The sound of waves came from afar, and the surface of the sea had a deep radiance under the moonlight. He heard the sound of running footsteps and turned to glance behind him.
Lin Li stopped, panting, and asked with a smile, "Where's your friend?"
"He went back on his own," Ning Song replied.
Lin Li was still smiling. "Then let's walk together for a while."
He really did look like a sleek red fox, especially his eyes. They were vixen eyes, with dark, shiny irises. Even when he smiled, his eyes held a hint of cunning and contempt, as if you were just a toy to him.
He looked at Ning Song with a somewhat amused expression.
Ning Song looked straight back at him, his thin face as white as snow in the streetlight.
Lin Li suddenly reached out and touched his face.
Ning Song dodged. It felt ticklish.
Lin Li laughed. "Actually, your features are quite good-looking."
This startled Ning Song.
He smiled and said, "Not even a tenth as good-looking as you."
Lin Li raised an eyebrow. "Well, there's no need to compare yourself to me."
Damn.
Lin Li laughed lightly. "Li You seems to care about you a lot."
"Ah?"
"Do you like him?"
"It's my first day here," Ning Song replied, smiling. "How could I like someone I don't even know? Do you like him?"
Ning Song's smile was woebegone, and it seemed to carry a hint of ingratiation. But his eyes caught Lin Li off guard, because Lin Li thought they looked strangely similar to Li You's.
There was no amusement in those eyes.
He was very thin, yet somehow exuded a feeling of toughness. This toughness seemed to come from his body, as if he were a weed that would never die, no matter how withered. Or perhaps it came from his soul. His malleability was merely an illusion created by the shallow creases at the corners of his lips.
Lin Li didn't continue but simply smiled at him. "Let's be friends. We might see each other often in the future."
Ning Song nodded perfunctorily, his gaze fixed on the mole under Lin Li's right eye. He smiled. "Sure."
They parted ways at the crossroads.
Lin Li had a gold name plate and lived in the Second Tower.
Ning Song returned to the Fourth Tower alone.
He was exhausted, and the smell of alcohol hadn't completely dissipated from his body.
But thank god, his first day of school was finally over.
He quickly washed up, lay down on his bed and started browsing the school forum.
Almost the entire homepage was filled with posts about him.
He clicked on a few at random. Some people were digging into his family background, some were digging into his special admission scores, and of course, most were disappointed.
It wasn't that they were disappointed he was too bad; even being too bad would be interesting. The problem was that he was just average, neither too good nor too bad. Just like his appearance, he was unremarkable, without any distinctive features.
Being the first special admission student from the slums in the history of Easton Boys' School was such a great selling point. If he were extremely handsome or extremely ugly, he would have brought so much excitement to this closed-off boys' school in need of fresh blood.
These overused clickbait titles were making his eyelids heavy. In the end, he picked a post that didn't involve him.
"My whole family was shocked! Li You went to the welcome party!"
...Do your parents even know they’re shocked? It’s the middle of the night.
Ning Song clicked on the post drowsily and watched them discuss the past entanglements between Li You and Qin Yi, starting with Li You's welcome party. He couldn't read more than a few lines before feeling he couldn't hold on any longer.
No matter what, this day was finally over.
He felt a sense of complacent peace. At this time every day, he was most at peace. There was a sense of happiness that no matter what tomorrow would bring, he at least had an entire night to himself, undisturbed and unconfronted. This sense of happiness had supported him through countless stages of his life.
The dorm didn't have curtains, and the window revealed the hallway lights. But there was a hook on the bed frame left by the previous senior. He hung his clothes on it, blocking the light, but leaving a patch just right for seeing the moon outside.
He stared at the moon outside the window for a while. He heard a cat meowing lazily, its sound dispersed by the spring night breeze. The fragrance of the white wattle flowers was as hazy as the moonlight, seeming sweeter than during the day. The two blended into a soft, peaceful haze of sleepiness.
Then he heard a rhythmic knocking sound from upstairs. Something was banging over and over again.
Ning Song: ...Help!!
***
cela’s notes:
Lín Lí’s name is 林狸, with the characters for “forest” and “fox.” It suits his personality.
1 hour and 2 minutes for 3,929 words, or 1.6 minutes for every 100 words. An increase by 0.1 minutes.
A total of 5 hours and 39 minutes for 16,874 words, or 2 minutes for every 100 words. A decrease by 0.1 minutes.
Thanks for the translation, I can't wait to see his transformation hopefully it's not too far off
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