"Don't look now," Guo Cheng Yu whispered, leaning over the library table, "but your best friend just smiled at Chi Cheng like he'd give him his kidneys."
Jiang Xiao Shuai rolled his eyes without lifting his head from the open notebook. "You're being dramatic."
"No, I'm being observant," Cheng Yu said, chin resting on one hand, watching Suo Wei from across the reading room with narrowed eyes. "That boy is blushing again. Third time today."
Xiao Shuai finally glanced up, gaze flicking toward the pair huddled at the far table. Chi Cheng was explaining something in low tones while Suo Wei nodded, clutching his pen like it was a lifeline. Their heads were very close. Again.
He quickly looked away. "They're always like that."
"Not like this." Guo Cheng Yu leaned in closer, his lips nearly brushing Xiao Shuai's ear. "Something's different."
Xiao Shuai didn't flinch but the tip of his ear went noticeably pink. "Stop whispering like that. It's creepy."
Cheng Yu grinned. "I like when you get defensive. It's cute."
"Flirt with someone else," Xiao Shuai muttered, going back to scribbling notes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Cheng Yu stretched back lazily in his chair, hands behind his head. "Nah. You're my favorite."
"You have a strange definition of favorite."
"I bought you lemon candy last week."
Xiao Shuai glanced up, feigning annoyance. "That doesn't mean anything."
"You hid it in your drawer so no one else would take it."
"That's just smart resource management."
Guo Cheng Yu chuckled. "You're such a tsundere."
Before Xiao Shuai could retort, Suo Wei and Chi Cheng stood up from their table across the room. Suo Wei was carrying Chi Cheng's water bottle again which was weird, because Chi Cheng had two perfectly functioning hands.
Xiao Shuai frowned slightly.
"They always leave together," Cheng Yu mused out loud. "They always arrive together, too. And don't you think Suo Wei's been glowing more lately?"
"Glowing?"
"Yeah, like… post-cuddles glowing."
Xiao Shuai choked on a laugh. "What even goes on in your head?"
"Genius observations," Cheng Yu said proudly. "Don't act like you haven't noticed. Something's up with those two."
Xiao Shuai didn't reply at first. He just watched their retreating backs as Chi Cheng gently took the bottle from Suo Wei's hands and said something that made the younger boy beam.
Then he said, quieter this time, "I think they're hiding something."
Guo Cheng Yu leaned his elbows on the table again, voice softer too. "Would it bother you if they were… y'know… together?"
Xiao Shuai blinked. "No. Of course not."
Cheng Yu smirked. "Good. Because I'm planning to tell them we know. Then watch them panic. Should be fun."
"Don't tease them too much."
Cheng Yu tilted his head. "Why? You getting soft?"
Xiao Shuai didn't answer. He just stood and gathered his books.
Guo Cheng Yu followed, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
As they exited the library, Cheng Yu fell into step beside him and said, "You're walking too fast. It's like you're running away from me."
"I'm not," Xiao Shuai replied quickly, a little too quickly.
"You know…" Cheng Yu added with a slight smile, "I wouldn't mind if you got as flustered about me as Suo Wei does about Chi Cheng."
Xiao Shuai stopped walking, his face heating.
"…Don't push your luck," he muttered but his voice was softer, his eyes lingering a second longer than necessary on Cheng Yu's.
Cheng Yu grinned. "Too late. Luck pushed me right into you."