Chapter 7 – Jealousy
Translator: Xena
Editor: Vinny
Proofreader: Wint8
“……Sorry, Age, how are you doing now?” Cheng Yinian hurriedly asked.
“It’s okay, it’s fine now.”
Cheng Yinian breathed a sigh of relief. “There’s been an emergency here. I’ll head over to meet you right away.”
“No need,” Chen Xiangsui said calmly. “I’ve already been eliminated.”
[Hahaha how funny]
[Big Boss: no, i’m dead]
[Lmao Nian Gao you treat someone who cares about you like that? How can Big Boss not be heartbroken?]
“It’s fine.” Chen Xiangsui turned on spectator mode and sent a bunch of gifts to the live stream.
[666 Big Boss is so generous]
[Help, I’m laughing so hard that the ground is shaking and the mountains are quaking]
The puzzles in Terrible Time were not as easy as one might think. In addition to competing for clues, one might need to visit several locations to piece together clues in order to solve a puzzle. Furthermore, the passwords and locations were randomized in each game, making it difficult to find a strategy to cheat.
Despite the complicated path, Cheng Yinian relied on the small map for directions, and because of his familiarity with the scene, he hardly took any wrong turns or detours. His puzzle-solving speed naturally increased.
The game ended with Cheng Yinian’s team emerging victorious, and as usual, a string of “666” comments flew across the screen. After going offline, he immediately sent a private message to Chen Xiangsui: [QAQ Sorry Gege! I had a gunfight with someone and didn’t notice immediately]
Chen Xiangsui: [It’s okay, I understand.]
[And just like you always say, playing games is just for fun.]
Cheng Yinian: [Mm mm O3O Did you have fun Gege~]
Chen Xiangsui: [It’s okay.]
Cheng Yinian: [QAQ…]
[Gege isn’t very happy huhu]
Chen Xiangsui either didn’t say anything or he was very direct when he did. When the other person didn’t say they were happy, Cheng Yinian knew something was wrong.
Chen Xiangsui: [Just a little, nothing serious.]
Cheng Yinian: [QAQ No, I can’t just leave Gege alone]
Chen Xiangsui: [Are you trying to coax me?]
Cheng Yinian: [! What does Gege want QWQ]
Chen Xiang took a long time to reply: [Photos, is that okay?]
Cheng Yinian frowned slightly upon seeing Chen Xiangsui’s message. Does he really like cute female streamers that much? What an infuriating, frivolous man.
He stood up and picked out a skirt that Chen Xiangsui had sent him from the closet. There was a matching top, but after putting it on, he realized that the size was a little small. The top was too short, exposing a small section of his waist.
Cheng Yinian looked at himself in the mirror and decided he didn’t look too bad, so he adjusted the angle of his phone and took a photo.
Soon after, Chen Xiangsui’s phone received the photos. Cheng Yinian was still using the same wig as before. His waistline outlined by the hem of the top caught Chen Xiangsui’s attention. It was so thin that it appeared fragile.
He silently focused his gaze on the background of the photo and clicked the save button.
Chen Xiangsui thought that Cheng Yinian really liked this number one fan. He insisted on comforting him when he was unhappy and didn’t mind sending him photos. As he thought about it, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy towards the online identity, Age.
If he knew that Age’s true identity is his own boring roommate, he might be disappointed, Chen Xiangsui thought.
He glanced at the recent chat history on his phone and found that apart from work-related messages from the club, only two or three friends occasionally sent him a message. The person he chatted with the most was still Cheng Yinian.
Cheng Yinian was the complete opposite of himself. Every time they walked to and from class together, he could always find all sorts of topics to talk about. Although some were ordinary topics such as what to eat for lunch, Chen Xiangsui didn’t find it boring at all.
……
“Looks like a new store opened behind the school. Shall we go check it out?” After class, Cheng Yinian and Chen Xiangsui were walking down the street. “I saw a discussion in the campus group chat recently about how good the tiger skin chicken feet rice1 there is.”
“Okay.” Chen Xiangsui raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
“Then let’s go there and eat later. The teacher just assigned new group assignments. Do you wanna join my group? There’s Lu Yan and Xu Zitang, but we’re still two people short. I’ll figure out how to find more people later.”
“Okay, I’ll do my best to help.”
“By the way, the quiz is coming up soon, and I haven’t prepared for anything yet. You always have the highest GPA in our major. Do you read as much as Xu Zitang?” Cheng Yinian was clearly trying hard to find something to talk about.
“I don’t read often, I just remember things quickly.” Chen Xiangsui hesitated for a moment. “If you have any questions, feel free to come find me.”
Rarely able to follow up on Chen Xiangsui’s words, Cheng Yinian immediately seized the opportunity to open his mouth and talk about which professional courses he didn’t understand and which parts were difficult to comprehend, unconsciously talking on and on. Cheng Yinian was worried that Chen Xiangsui would think he was stupid, but the other person just smiled and replied, “I can help you catch up on everything before the quiz, so the final exam would be easier. Learning this well will also help you with your certification exam, so it won’t be a waste of time.”
Cheng Yinian couldn’t help but reveal his dimples. Before he could say another word, Chen Xiangsui suddenly pulled him into his arms.
“Be careful.”
Cheng Yinian turned his head and noticed that a car had just passed by where he had been standing. Chen Xiangsui’s hand somehow fell on his waist, and his chin lightly brushed against the top of his hair. He almost couldn’t resist burying his face in the other person’s chest. “Thanks, I didn’t notice.” Chen Xiangsui quickly withdrew his hand. Cheng Yinian’s waist was too thin, and it felt even thinner than it looked in the photo. He thought to himself, he must not be eating enough.
He shifted his gaze uncomfortably from the person across him and turned to look at the street opposite. “No problem, it’s nothing.”
Cheng Yinian also hurriedly stepped back, subconsciously pulling up the scarf around his neck in an attempt to cover his red ears. “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go eat. If we go too late, it’ll be crowded.”
The school building was not far from the back street as it only took five minutes to get there. Cheng Yinian led Chen Xiangsui to a seat inside and asked him what he wanted to eat, then went to order at the front desk.
Chen Xiangsui thanked him. He then noticed that Cheng Yinian had left his cell phone on the table when it vibrated and lit up. Although he knew it was impolite, he couldn’t resist his curiosity and took a peek.
Little White Duck: [^V^ Mm you’re welcome~ Let’s play games together next time when we’re free.]
Little White Duck: [I’ve enjoyed chatting with you for so long. You seem very talkative. Let’s continue our conversation next time.]
Chen Xiangsui couldn’t help but frown slightly.
Who was this Little White Duck that came out of nowhere? They talked with Cheng Yinian for a long time, and even made plans to play games together. Chen Xiangsui felt inexplicably concerned and quietly noted down the nickname.
Not long after, Cheng Yinian returned to his seat and the dishes were quickly served. He ordered the tiger skin chicken feet rice that had been mentioned earlier. Chen Xiangsui probably wasn’t very good at making decisions, so when asked, he simply replied that he would have the same.
Cheng Yinian noticed that the other person’s expression was a little strange. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Chen Xiangsui hurriedly picked up his chopsticks and said, “Eat up, you must be hungry too.”
Cheng Yinian nodded and began to pick at the rice in his bowl. Before he could take a few more bites, he saw the other person put several pieces of chicken feet into his bowl.
He subconsciously looked up and noticed that Chen Xiangsui’s bowl was empty except for some side dishes, while his own bowl was piled high with chicken feet. Cheng Yinian felt a little flattered. “I can’t eat that much, don’t give it all to me.”
After hesitating for a moment, he continued, “Or maybe you don’t really like it? I’m sorry, I should have asked you in more detail.”
“No,” Chen Xiangsui hurriedly spoke up, “I just think you’re too thin and should eat more.”
“It’s okay, at least I don’t get sick much and I’m in good health. But can you manage without eating meat? I noticed you ate a lot at every meal before.”
“It’s okay to eat a little less.” Chen Xiangsui stopped Cheng Yinian from putting the chicken feet back into his bowl, saying, “I’m still pretty sturdy.”
Seeing that Cheng Yinian insisted on returning the food, he continued, “I can let you confirm it.”
Cheng Yinian nearly staged a murder incident involving tiger skin chicken feet. He hurriedly picked up the water cup on the table and took a sip. “That won’t be necessary…”
“Here.”
Chen Xiangsui took Cheng Yinian’s hand and placed it on his upper arm. “Squeeze it.”
“Hmm…” Cheng Yinian suddenly felt deeply guilty. The thoughts that had just crossed his mind were truly outrageous. He couldn’t help but silently reprimand himself a few times. Then, when he heard Chen Xiangsui’s words, he squeezed. The muscle was indeed firm and tight, completely different from the soft, flabby sensation of his own body.
“Eat.” Chen Xiangsui smiled and began to eat the food in his bowl. When his meal was almost over, he received a message saying that a package had arrived and he had to pick it up.
Cheng Yinian also happened to put down his chopsticks right then. “I’ll go with you. I have a package to pick up too.”
“No need, mine’s at an off-campus location. I’ll pick it up in the afternoon when I don’t have class.”
As soon as Chen Xiangsui said this, Cheng Yinian knew that the scarf he had bought had arrived. In the afternoon, while lying in bed, he secretly peeked through a corner of the curtain. He saw Chen Xiangsui bring back a package and take out a dark brown scarf from it.
Strangely, however, Cheng Yinian didn’t see Chen Xiangsui wear the scarf when he went out. He was worried that he had accidentally stepped on a landmine, so he hurriedly logged on and asked Chen Xiangsui a question using his Nian Gao account: [Gege, did you like the gift I sent you QAQ]
Chen Xiangsui: [Hmm, I like it very much. Thank you.]
When it came to Chen Xiangsui, Cheng Yinian felt that even if he disliked a gift, he wouldn’t just say so directly.
Cheng Yinian: [QAQ Really, Gege? Can I see what you look like wearing it?]
[Just wear it for a moment]
Chen Xiangsui: [Hmm.]
Cheng Yinian received the photo. Chen Xiangsui was still wearing the same outfit he had on when he left the dormitory that morning, except now there was a dark brown scarf around his neck that matched his clothes perfectly. His face was not visible in the photo.
Cheng Yinian: [Gege looks so handsome today~O3O]
Chen Xiangsui: [Really? Thank you.]
Cheng Yinian wasn’t sure if Chen Xiangsui was just indulging him, but after contemplating for a moment, he decided that was probably the case. Otherwise, how else could he explain why the other man didn’t wear the scarf? Next time, I’ll pick out a gift that he really likes, Cheng Yinian thought to himself.
Cheng Yinian: [^3^ Let’s play together next time Gege~]
Chen Xiangsui: [No need. Didn’t you make plans with someone else?]
Xena: I smell vinegar fufufu
Wint8: Tsk, tsk, curiosity kills the cat~
