The living room was bathed in soft, flickering light from the TV screen, now long forgotten. Clothes lay scattered—some on the floor, some caught awkwardly between the couch cushions. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, skin, and something heavier: unspoken emotion.
Li Ming lay curled slightly into Wang Yang's bare chest, their breaths slowly settling into sync. For the first time, neither of them moved, joked, or tried to break the silence.
Wang Yang's fingers absentmindedly brushed through Li Ming's hair. He wasn't sure why he was doing it—but it felt…right.
Li Ming blinked sleepily. "That…wasn't just sex, was it?"
Wang Yang didn't answer right away. His throat felt tight.
"No," he said finally. "It wasn't."
Li Ming let out a shaky breath, half a laugh. "Damn it."
Wang Yang turned his head slightly. "What?"
Li Ming looked up at him, lips twisted in a crooked grin. "We're screwed."
Wang Yang stared at him for a beat—then let out a low chuckle. "Yeah. We really are."
---
The Next Morning – Huaxi University
Wang Yang arrived first.
He sat on the same bench near the campus fountain, wearing his usual all-black outfit. Sunglasses on. Cold coffee in hand. But today, he was distracted—checking his phone every other minute, watching the main gate like he was waiting for someone.
Li Ming showed up ten minutes later.
He looked…different. Same confident walk, same effortless charm—but his eyes met Wang Yang's across the courtyard, and for a second, the mask slipped.
Just for a second.
They didn't say anything. Not at first. They just walked side by side toward the lecture hall, close—but not too close.
"You okay?" Wang Yang asked under his breath.
Li Ming gave a lopsided smile. "Depends."
"On what?"
Li Ming tilted his head, leaning just slightly toward him. "On whether you're gonna pretend nothing happened."
Wang Yang stopped walking.
He looked at him—really looked. The way his voice cracked slightly at the end, the way he stood just a bit too still, like he was bracing for rejection.
"I'm not," Wang Yang said finally.
Li Ming nodded once. "Good."
And just like that, they kept walking. Not hand in hand. Not like lovers. But not just friends either.
Something had shifted. And neither of them wanted to go back.