The sky darkened gradually, and the dark clouds blocked the already dim light, making the entire campus look gloomy.
Behind the building where the school clinic was located, there was a piece of land that seemed nearly abandoned. At this moment, Lin Qinxu and Zhuang Lin were standing on this land, having just exchanged a few moves. They had barely stopped, and were now staring at each other with cold, even hostile expressions.
However, Zhuang Lin, being younger, couldn't contain his impatience and spoke first, warning, "Doctor, he's just arrived at Guihuai, don't scare him."
Zhuang Lin's words were vague, but they both knew exactly what he meant—what could possibly scare Yu Deng were the various strange occurrences at this school.
Lin Qinxu didn't answer directly, but instead sized up this athlete: "I didn't expect you to be so clear-headed."
Zhuang Lin clicked his tongue and reiterated, "He's different from the other students, and he's also different from us. You'd better tone it down; he's quite delicate."
Zhuang Lin spoke as if cautioning someone not to scare his own wife, unable to hide his thoughts.
"Of course, I won't hurt him. However, this classmate, it seems you don't have a legitimate position to warn me?" Lin Qinxu said with a smile. "I remember, Yu Deng has a boyfriend."
Zhuang Lin: "..."
Of course, Lin Qinxu's remark ended up backfiring—Zhuang Lin's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, and he himself wasn't feeling any better.
The two glared at each other, no longer interested in continuing the fight, and returned to the school clinic office, one after the other.
But inside, the room was empty, and Yu Deng was gone.
The delicate person who had just been crying wouldn't have sprained his ankle and run off by himself. It was obvious that someone had taken advantage of their distraction and taken Yu Deng away.
Lin Qinxu: "."
Zhuang Lin: "..."
Damn, someone stole him.
Lin Qinxu silently returned to his desk and packed the new medication he had prepared for Yu Deng. Zhuang Lin, on the other hand, opened his phone, checking repeatedly until he confirmed that Yu Deng hadn't even sent him a message before leaving.
"Oh, by the way, although Yu Deng forgot about you, it seems you're his roommate?"
Lin Qinxu knew exactly how to hit where it hurt. He spoke as if he didn't notice Zhuang Lin's dark expression and told him, "Take his medicine back."
...
Meanwhile.
Yu Deng, who was being remembered by both the school doctor and his roommate, was sitting on Lu Yan's suitcase, being pulled forward. It might be surprising, but although the suitcase looked old on the outside, its quality was quite good, and Yu Deng sat steadily on it.
Yu Deng's eyes were still wet, with the corners reddened, and his lashes dampened, clearly showing he had just cried.
However, Yu Deng had already forgotten the fear he had felt earlier and didn't notice the low pressure from the boy beside him. He was excitedly boasting about how good he was at teaching others a lesson.
"Anyway," Yu Deng concluded, "he'll never scare me again."
Lu Yan turned his head, looking at the slow-witted, handsome boy with an unreadable expression. He even calmly praised him, "Mm, Deng Deng is awesome."
Yu Deng modestly responded, "It's nothing."
Being praised by someone as smart as the top student of the year, Yu Deng became even more pleased. He stretched his legs out, swinging them while sitting on the suitcase.
The luggage cart turned a corner, about to enter another school path, and the building where the school clinic was located soon became out of sight.
Yu Deng glanced back at the building, then turned his head to look at Lu Yan's calm expression.
He suddenly became curious—did the students at Guihuai High School know about the clinic's peculiarities and its terrifying nature?
Hmm… It seemed like the students here were accustomed to the harsh and bizarre school rules, even accepting unreasonable punishments with a passive attitude.
So, they probably knew, but didn't dare to resist? Or maybe only those who had been punished knew about it but couldn't or didn't dare to speak out?
Yu Deng thought it over, feeling mentally exhausted, and glanced at Lu Yan beside him.
Should he just ask Lu Yan? He recalled that the task target had never said he couldn't ask, just that some information was not meant to be shared with him.
"Lu Yan," Yu Deng called out, "Have you guys ever been to the school clinic? I mean..." He gestured with his hands, trying to express with body language, "Have you ever interacted with the school doctor?"
Lu Yan seemed to be organizing his thoughts before he bent down and held Yu Deng's hand, which was gesturing randomly. "Deng Deng, did the school doctor scare you?"
Yu Deng mumbled a vague "hmm."
Lu Yan rubbed Yu Deng's hair before answering his previous question. "I've been to the school clinic… now I understand. As for whether other students have been there, I'm not sure, but everyone probably knows the process for seeking medical help and the punishments for breaking the rules."
After a pause, Lu Yan added, "Unless it's absolutely necessary, it's better not to go to the school clinic."
Yu Deng felt a bit confused, trying to interpret what Lu Yan meant. It seemed to align with his earlier guesses.
But when he twisted his ankle a few days ago, they had all told him to go to the school clinic. Now, it seemed like they were somewhat reluctant?
Yu Deng couldn't figure it out, so he decided not to dwell on it. He blinked and brought up another topic.
"By the way, have you been to the library? Does Guihuai High School's library have a lot of books?"
"I've been there. Guihuai's library is divided into various sections," Lu Yan replied, listing the sections, then added, "The school's archives are also in the library."
Yu Deng's eyes lit up, planning to check it out tomorrow if he had the time.
After a few more minutes of sitting on Lu Yan's luggage, Yu Deng remembered that he had forgotten something.
Earlier, Dr. Lin and Zhuang Lin had left, and he forgot to let them know he was leaving.
Just as he was thinking about this, his phone in his pocket vibrated. It was several crying emojis from Zhuang Lin and a text message from an unfamiliar number.
[Yu Deng, remember to take your medicine. The capsules should be taken after meals, and the ointment can be applied directly.]
Yu Deng scratched his cheek. The tone seemed like Dr. Lin, but how did Dr. Lin get his phone number?
It was as if the person on the other end knew what he was thinking, and immediately sent an explanation.
[The medical records included your contact information. You left too quickly earlier, so I had to send the instructions this way.]
Yu Deng understood and tapped the screen, replying to Dr. Lin, saying he got it.
Lu Yan glanced over and noticed Yu Deng was chatting with someone. He kindly reminded him, "Deng Deng, be careful when using your phone, don't let the teachers see you. It's better not to use it outside the dorm."
Yu Deng obediently stopped texting. "Oh, okay."
---
Yu Deng continued to ride on the luggage cart back to the dorm. Along the way, he saw a few students—some walked by, coldly reciting their notes, while others gathered in groups chatting.
However, compared to when Yu Deng first arrived at the campus, they seemed much more lifeless, and even those talking appeared to lack the usual youthful energy.
In contrast, Yu Deng, sitting on the luggage cart and swinging his legs, seemed exceptionally lively.
Lu Yan glanced at Yu Deng, a smile unconsciously appearing in his eyes.
Knowing that Yu Deng didn't like eating in the cafeteria, Lu Yan left after sending him back to the dorm and went out to bring food back for him.
On his way, Lu Yan stopped by the school clinic and had a civil but unfriendly conversation with Dr. Lin.
Yu Deng, being pampered, naturally stayed in the dorm waiting for them to return.
Soon, Lu Yan came back with the food and handed the bag to Yu Deng. "Deng Deng, it's time to eat."
Meanwhile, Zhuang Lin opened the dorm door with a dark expression, carrying two meals.
But when he walked in, he saw a large suitcase by the dormitory door, and that annoying top student was also in the dorm. The other person seemed to have just returned as well, holding two meals in their hands.
Zhuang Lin looked at Lu Yan with displeasure: "You don't seem to be from our dorm, right?"
Lu Yan replied indifferently: "I am now. My application has been approved, and I just picked up the key from the dormitory manager."
"…" Zhuang Lin clicked his tongue lightly. "With so many vacant dorms, why did you come here?"
Lu Yan lowered his head without speaking, quietly glancing at Yu Deng, a faint hint of being excluded in his gaze.
Yu Deng looked back and forth between them, softening his tone to mediate: "Zhuang Lin, don't be so petty. The dorm is so big, one more person won't make a difference."
Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly, while Zhuang Lin clenched his fists in annoyance, his words laced with sourness, like an unwanted stray dog: "Are you just waiting for him to be your roommate? What am I then?"
Does this mean that because he got to know Yu Deng a step too late, he will always be left behind?
"What are you talking about?" Yu Deng was confused. "Of course, you're my roommate too."
Zhuang Lin, without much dignity, was easily cheered up by Yu Deng's words.
Lu Yan glanced at the boy at the door, then opened the lunchbox, redirecting Yu Deng's attention: "Deng Deng, I brought you some food. Tonight's meal isn't too greasy, you can try it."
Zhuang Lin wasn't going to lose out: "Baby, I also brought food back."
Lu Yan: "…?" What was this person calling? He never used that term with Yu Deng.
Lu Yan furrowed his brows, and without a word, picked up a piece of meat and offered it to Yu Deng. At the same time, Zhuang Lin quickly stepped over, also eagerly feeding him.
Yu Deng opened his mouth in confusion and bit into the food they offered: "…?"
Wait a minute, isn't something off here? His injury was on his leg, not his hands.
Yu Deng wanted to explain that his hands were perfectly fine, but the rhythm at which the two were feeding him quickly made him forget about the need to explain.
In the end, Yu Deng never got the chance to eat on his own. After the meal, Lu Yan fed him one more bite than Zhuang Lin, so he considered it a win.
[Alright, alright, my favorite competitive rivalry is back (eating sunflower seeds)]
[Hehe, I love watching men fight for their wife.]
[Though I must say, these two are young, their methods are so childish and funny hahaha. (Baby: confused but eating heartily.jpg) ]
[They are childish, but they know how to pamper the baby... The cute baby is being courted by two bad dogs, completely dazed.]
Zhuang Lin, who had been fed one less bite, was upset about it.
After thinking for a while, he looked at Yu Deng and deliberately took off his jacket, revealing slightly immature but well-defined muscles, along with a wound on his shoulder from his encounter with the school doctor. He silently fiddled with the medical kit, but didn't apply the ointment to himself.
"What happened to your shoulder?" Yu Deng was attracted by the movement and glanced at it curiously.
"It's just a small injury, nothing to worry about." Zhuang Lin said, but as he fiddled with the ointment, he seemed unable to reach his back. He lowered his voice, asking, "Can you help me?"
Zhuang Lin's attitude was very humble, far beyond a typical request for help. It even seemed somewhat subservient, as if he wasn't just asking Yu Deng to help with the ointment, but was also seeking Yu Deng's acceptance.
Remembering the earlier favor of feeding him, Yu Deng agreed—though he wasn't particularly thrilled about being fed.
He tilted his chin: "Give me the ointment."
Zhuang Lin didn't expect such a simple agreement, and immediately, with great joy, handed it over, squatting down in front of Yu Deng.
Yu Deng's fingertips dipped into the ointment, spreading it evenly along the line of the wound on Zhuang Lin's back.
His movements were gentle and somewhat slow, his soft hand resting on the shoulder, like a little cat gently patting with its paws.
Zhuang Lin's heart fluttered, feeling that this was enough for him.
Beside them, Lu Yan rolled up his sleeve, revealing a small cut that would heal on its own in a little while. He stared at it for a few seconds before deliberately tearing the wound open, then softly called out, "Deng Deng, I don't have any medicine."
Huh? Why is Lu Yan also injured? What happened to them?
Yu Deng turned his head and saw the noticeable wound, then applied some medicine to Lu Yan as well. After doing this, he felt a bit dizzy.
For some reason, he felt like he was overwhelmed with too many tasks.
Yu Deng glanced at both of them and decided to tactically escape into sleep. "I'm going to sleep!"
...
The lights in the dormitory went out exactly on time.
Not only was Zhuang Lin in the dorm tonight, but Lu Yan was there too, so Yu Deng could say that his sense of security had doubled—although he wasn't sure whether these two mission targets would turn bad later, for now, they seemed obedient.
After finishing his routine, Yu Deng was picked up by Lu Yan and tucked into bed, closing his eyes and quickly falling asleep. However, the other two people in the dorm clearly couldn't sleep.
Only the two lower bunks were empty in the dorm, and Lu Yan naturally chose the lower bunk near Yu Deng's bed as his own sleeping spot.
As the night deepened, Yu Deng had already fallen into a deep sleep, but the other two were still wide awake. Zhuang Lin in the upper bunk couldn't fall asleep after a long while and finally couldn't resist. He once again quietly climbed onto Yu Deng's bed.
During his movement, the bed creaked softly.
Lu Yan, alert, lifted his head, then without hesitation left his bed, stepping on the edge of the bed frame and quickly and lightly climbed onto Yu Deng's bed.
Sure enough, he saw that annoying sports student had climbed onto Yu Deng's bed, and it seemed like he was quite familiar with the process.
Lu Yan closed his eyes.
This was a miscalculation; he had underestimated the thick-skinned nature of his rival. He should have submitted his application to stay on Friday.
Yu Deng had no idea that his bed was about to be occupied by two other people. He was still comfortably curled up in his blankets, fast asleep.
Lu Yan's gaze turned cold, and his voice dropped as he drove away the shameless sports student: "Get down."
Zhuang Lin, caught in the act, remained unmoved: "He didn't ask me to leave. What about you? Why did you come up? Are you planning to bully him?"
Lu Yan delivered the fatal blow: "I'm his boyfriend. No matter what, it has nothing to do with you."
Even if Yu Deng only saw him as a dog, he still had that title.
The beds in the dorm were already very narrow, and squeezing two people in was already quite difficult, let alone squeezing in three.
—Yu Deng curled up in the middle of the blanket, Lu Yan squeezed to his left, and Zhuang Lin, who had climbed up, was pressed against the iron frame on Yu Deng's other side.
The two who climbed onto the bed dared not make too much noise, fearing they might wake Yu Deng, but neither of them was willing to leave first.
In their eyes was the same obsessive infatuation with Yu Deng, one that was pathological, unconstrained by moral boundaries, and so intense it could not be suppressed. When confronted by a rival, it almost felt like they wanted to eliminate each other.
After a few minutes of this tense standoff, Yu Deng murmured something in his sleep, turning his head and bumping into Lu Yan, his palm lightly brushing against his hand.
Lu Yan felt a softness in his heart. He gently caressed Yu Deng's slightly flushed cheek and leaned down to kiss it.
Zhuang Lin, feeling more jealous, slyly took Yu Deng's hand as well, wanting to be close to him.
However, Yu Deng wasn't sleeping as deeply as the previous night. He vaguely sensed someone kissing him and, half-awake, opened his eyes: "Hmm?"
The two boys immediately froze, not daring to move.
Yu Deng blinked for a few seconds, then closed his eyes again.
This was so strange. How did Lu Yan and Zhuang Lin end up in his bed? He must be dreaming.
Thinking this, Yu Deng drifted back to sleep, mumbling in his sleep, scolding the two boys in his dream: "You... can't bite me, okay?"
Both of them scrambled to please the still-sleeping beauty, each wanting to leave their mark on him while trying to push the other rival away.
Faint waves of power rippled through the air, and the electronic voice of the main system buzzed. No one noticed the bed frame creaking louder, starting to crack.
Just as Lu Yan was about to lose his temper and throw Zhuang Lin off the bed, there was a loud "crack!" The bed frame, bearing the weight of life itself, finally broke.
Bang! The upper bunk collapsed.
Lu Yan: "..."
Zhuang Lin: "..."
This was bad, they'd wake up Yu Deng. How could the school's bed frame be of such poor quality?!
"What... what happened?"
Yu Deng woke up from the sudden fall, his messy hair a disheveled mess, blinking in confusion.
He looked around, still not understanding what was going on.
How... how did he end up on the lower bunk after sleeping? And why were Lu Yan and Zhuang Lin next to him?
At this moment, Yu Deng was sitting on the ruined bed frame. Lu Yan was holding him in his arms on the left, while Zhuang Lin, unwilling to back down, was shielding him from debris and holding his hand tightly.
He was being protected, but the posture looked incredibly awkward.
Just then, heavy footsteps were heard outside the door. The dormitory supervisor's eerie voice sounded at the door: "Who is not following the rules and resting properly?!"
The next second, the supervisor broke through the door.
The skinny dormitory supervisor had somehow transformed into something as large as a small mountain, squeezing her bloated, distorted body into the room.
But when she saw the scene in front of her, she froze, unsure where to start with her scolding.
After a long silence, her many words turned into a few puzzled questions: "What are you three doing, staying up so late? Especially you two, why are you sandwiching him in the middle?!"
Yu Deng stared blankly, finally noticing the dormitory supervisor's appearance.
Her thin, wrinkled skin was stretched tight over her bloated body, the staff uniform hanging awkwardly on her, and her head seemed oddly normal-sized, creating a strange and unsettling image.
Yu Deng, startled by the transformed supervisor, rubbed his eyes and trembled as he spoke: "I... I don't know either..."
The two beside him, aware they were in the wrong, scrambled to take responsibility... or rather, they competed to showcase their ability to bend the rules.
"We didn't break any rules, Auntie. We weren't talking or messing around. The bed just collapsed," Zhuang Lin said.
Lu Yan, remaining calm, added: "We didn't talk, and we didn't leave the dorm, Auntie. It's just that the bed's quality is too bad."
Yu Deng, hiding behind the two boys, nodded along: "Yeah, Auntie. I was sleeping just fine, then fell down. It really hurt."
Supervisor: "..." If they hadn't been squeezing together, would the bed have collapsed?!
The supervisor was full of doubt, confusion, and frustration.
But after thinking about it, they hadn't technically broken any rules.
After a long, suffocating silence, the supervisor instructed them to clean up the wreckage. During this, she looked at Yu Deng, who was still being held in a daze, with a hint of pity, before leaving without saying a word, her back exuding a sense of helplessness.
Downstairs in the dormitory, on the glass window of the supervisor's break room, a new line appeared on the poster detailing the dormitory rules.
[Guihuai High School Dormitory Rules (Supplement):
After lights out, all students must rest in their designated beds. Leaving your assigned bed is strictly prohibited!!!]