The campus buzzed with noise and energy. Students carried suitcases, parents hovered with cameras, and clubs handed out flyers like confetti.
Wu Suo Wei stood at the main gate, clutching a wrinkled paper with his dorm number. His heart raced.
He was finally here.
A whole year behind, thanks to repeating classes, but still… university.
His eyes scanned the crowd. He wasn't looking for his dorm. He was looking for him.
And then – there he was.
Chi Cheng.
Tall, broad-shouldered, black T-shirt clinging to his back, basketball tucked under one arm. A group of girls followed behind him, laughing, handing him snacks and energy drinks like offerings to a god.
Suo Wei's heart thumped.
He waved. "Chi Cheng!"
Chi Cheng stopped walking. His eyes landed on him. For a moment, Suo Wei thought he saw a flicker of surprise… or maybe warmth?
Then it vanished.
Chi Cheng looked away.
He didn't wave back.
He walked past.
Suo Wei's smile wilted.
But he ran after him anyway, grabbing his bag tighter. "Hey! wait! You saw me, right? It's me–"
Chi Cheng stopped and turned slightly. His voice was quiet, sharp.
"Don't act like we're close."
Suo Wei froze.
Behind them, a few girls giggled.
Chi Cheng glanced over his shoulder at the attention and lowered his voice even more. "People talk here. Don't give them a reason to."
Suo Wei's chest tightened.
He looked down at his shoes, heat rising behind his eyes. "Right… sorry."
Chi Cheng didn't say anything else. He just walked off.
The girls followed him like shadows.
Suo Wei stood in the middle of the path, surrounded by strangers, trying to convince himself he didn't care.
That evening, when Suo Wei opened the door to their shared apartment, Chi Cheng was already there barefoot, hair wet from a shower, scrolling through his phone like nothing happened.
They didn't speak for a moment.
Then Chi Cheng glanced up. "You unpacked?"
Suo Wei bit his lip. "Why did you ignore me?"
Chi Cheng looked at him for a long time. Then:
"It's better this way."
Suo Wei blinked fast. "Better for who?"
Chi Cheng didn't answer.
But that night, when Suo Wei climbed into bed with his back turned, he heard a soft sound in the dark.
A whisper. Barely above silence.
"…Da Bao."
He turned. "What?"
Chi Cheng didn't say it again.