FENG YU'S POV, FRIDAY NIGHT
The party is at an off campus house, already crowded when Feng Yu and Zheng Yi arrive at nine.
Music pulses through the walls. Bodies everywhere, dancing, drinking, shouting over the noise.
"This is insane," Zheng Yi yells over the music.
Feng Yu nods, scanning the crowd.
He spots Yishui almost immediately. Hard to miss: tall, wearing a black t-shirt that shows off his athletic build, surrounded by people. Laughing at something someone said.
"There's your boyfriend," Zheng Yi teases.
"He's not…"
"I know, I know. Go say hi. I'll get us drinks."
Feng Yu makes his way through the crowd. Several people bump into him, drunk already, or just careless. He's small enough that he gets jostled easily.
"Feng Yu!"
Yishui's face lights up when he sees him. He waves him over.
"You made it! I was worried you'd bail."
"Almost did," Feng Yu admits. "Not really a party person."
"Me neither, honestly. But it's good to show up sometimes." Yishui leans closer so Feng Yu can hear him over the music. His breath is warm against Feng Yu's ear. "Want a drink? Fair warning, the punch is lethal."
"I'm good. Not much of a drinker."
"Smart." Yishui grins. "Chen Yi and Kai Fang are around somewhere. Probably arguing about something stupid. Come on, I'll introduce you to some people."
Yishui puts a hand on Feng Yu's shoulder, guiding him through the crowd. The touch is casual, protective. His hand is large, warm even through Feng Yu's shirt.
Feng Yu lets himself be guided.
The next hour passes in a blur of introductions and small talk. Feng Yu plays his part, shy freshman, grateful for inclusion, laughs at jokes, nods at the right moments.
He's good at this.
Always has been.
Around eleven, Yishui leans close again. "Want to get some air? It's getting stuffy."
They escape to the back patio. It's quieter here, cooler. A few people smoking in corners, couples making out against the walls, but mostly empty.
They lean against the railing, looking at the city lights.
"Thanks for coming," Yishui says. "I know this isn't really your scene."
"How do you know what my scene is?"
"I don't. I guess I'm assuming." Yishui smiles. "Am I wrong?"
"No," Feng Yu admits. "This isn't my scene. Too many people. Too loud."
"What is your scene?"
"Quiet places. Libraries. Small cafés where nobody bothers you."
"That sounds nice. Peaceful." Yishui is quiet for a moment, then: "Can I ask you something personal?"
Feng Yu's stomach tightens. "Sure."
"Earlier this week, in the cafeteria. You said it's just your mom. No family. What happened? If you don't mind me asking."
This is it. The moment Feng Yu decides how much truth to give.
The real answer, orphan, foster care, completely alone, sits on his tongue.
But he swallows it.
"My father died when I was young," he says quietly, mixing truth with lies. "My mother works in a factory back in Shijiazhuang. We're... not close. She didn't want me to come to Beijing. Thought I was abandoning her."
The lie tastes easier now. He's told it before. Will tell it again.
It's safer this way. Orphans invite pity. Pity invites questions.
Questions he can't answer.
Yishui's expression shifts. Something painful. "Shit. I'm sorry. That's complicated."
"It's fine. I'm used to being alone."
At least that part is true.
"Still." Yishui is quiet, then: "For what it's worth, I'm glad you're here. At X University. You deserve this opportunity."
"Thanks."
They stand in comfortable silence. The party continues inside, with muffled music and laughter.
"Yishui!" Someone calls from inside. "We're starting beer pong! You in?"
Yishui sighs. "I should…"
"Go ahead. I'm good here."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Yishui hesitates, like he doesn't want to leave. Then: "Okay. But don't disappear on me."
He goes inside.
Feng Yu stays on the patio, alone with his thoughts.
He told lies. Again.
But what else could he do?
I'm an orphan. Foster care. Nobody wanted me. I've been watching you for five years because you were the first person to ever defend me.
Yeah. That would go over well.
The door opens again. Not Yishui.
Kai Fang.
"Mind company?" Kai Fang asks, joining him at the railing.
"No."
They stand in silence. Kai Fang lights a cigarette, offers one to Feng Yu.
"Don't smoke."
"Probably smart." Kai Fang exhales slowly. "So. You and Yishui."
"What about us?"
"He likes you."
Feng Yu's heart skips. "We're friends."
"Maybe. But he likes you." Kai Fang's voice is casual, but his foxlike eyes are sharp in the dim light. "He doesn't usually take to people this fast. You're different."
"I don't know about that."
"I do." Kai Fang turns to face him fully. "Look, I'm not trying to scare you off. Yishui deserves good people in his life. He's had enough fake friends who just want something from him. Family connections, money, status."
The words land like a warning.
"I don't want anything from him," Feng Yu says.
Liar. You want everything.
"Good." Kai Fang studies him for a long moment. Those sharp eyes seem to see too much. "Just know that we're protective of him. Chen Yi and I. His family's complicated. He acts tough, but he's not. If someone hurts him…"
"I won't hurt him."
"Everyone says that."
"I mean it."
Kai Fang doesn't look convinced. But he nods. "Okay. Just... be careful with him. He bruises more easily than people think."
He stubs out his cigarette, goes back inside.
Feng Yu is alone again.
The warning is clear.
Kai Fang suspects something. Maybe not the full truth, but something.
Feng Yu wonders if he can see through the performance.
Decides it doesn't matter.
He's not hurting Yishui. He's not.
Loving someone isn't hurting them.
Even if they don't know the whole truth.
Right?
1 AM, LATER
The party winds down. Feng Yu ends up in a group playing some card game he doesn't understand, but Yishui is there, so he stays.
Yishui is drunk. Not sloppy drunk, just loose. Happy. He keeps touching Feng Yu's shoulder when he talks, leaning close, his body warm and solid beside him.
"You're good," Yishui says at one point, words slightly slurred. He pokes Feng Yu's chest gently. "I like you. You're genuine. Hard to find that."
Feng Yu's chest tightens with something complicated. Guilt? Satisfaction? Both?
"Thanks."
"I mean it. Everyone here…" Yishui waves vaguely at the room. "Everyone wants something. Connections. Status. Whatever. But not you. You're just... real."
I want everything. I want you to see me the way I see you. I want you to need me as I need you. I want you to love me.
"I try," Feng Yu says instead.
"You succeed." Yishui's smile is soft, genuine. The rare one.
Feng Yu commits it to memory.
Later, when Zheng Yi says they should leave, it's past one, and they have morning classes. Yishui walks them to the door.
"Text me when you get back safe," he says to Feng Yu. His words are clearer now, the drunk haze fading slightly.
"I will."
Yishui pulls him into a hug. Brief, warm, smelling like alcohol and cologne and something uniquely him.
Feng Yu's arms come up automatically, wrap around Yishui's waist. He barely reaches Yishui's shoulders. Feels small, protected, wanted.
"Thanks for coming," Yishui mumbles into his hair. "Really. Made the night better."
"Anytime."
When they pull apart, Yishui is smiling. That soft, genuine smile.
Feng Yu wants to see it every day for the rest of his life.
WALKING HOME, FENG YU & ZHENG YI
They walk in silence for the first few blocks. The campus is quiet at this hour, just a few drunk students stumbling back to dorms.
"He's into you," Zheng Yi says finally.
"He's drunk."
"Drunk words are sober thoughts."
Feng Yu doesn't respond.
They walk more. Zheng Yi seems to be working up to something.
"Feng Yu," he says carefully, "are you going to tell him? About your crush on him?"
"Who says I'm crushing on him?"
"You follow him on all social media platforms… You think I don't know?"
Feng Yu stops walking. Looks at his friend. "How do you know that?"
"Isn't it obvious, you stare at him like he's made of ice cream, everyone who isn't blind can see that you like him, in fact, I won't be surprised if you applied to X university because of him."
Feng Yu stares at him, shocked, but Zeng Yi suddenly giggles, "Just kidding…"
Feng Yu's jaw tightens. "I do like him very much, so what?"
At the dorm, Zheng Yi stops him.
"So you finally admit it."
Zheng Yi sighs. "Just be careful, and I wish you luck in your love life."
He goes inside the room, leaving Feng Yu alone in the hallway.
Feng Yu enters his room, closes the door, and leans against it.
His phone buzzes.
YISHUI: You make it back safe?
FENG YU: Yeah. Thanks for tonight. It was fun.
YISHUI: Good. Sleep well. See you on Monday?
FENG YU: Definitely.
Feng Yu lies in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Zheng Yi's words echo in his head.
Just be careful, I wish you luck in your love life.
He doesn't need luck.
What Feng Yu needs is to be careful enough, strategic enough. If he makes Yishui fall hard enough, by the time the truth comes out, it won't matter.
Yishui will love him too much to care.
Right?
Feng Yu closes his eyes.
Chooses to believe it.
Has to believe it.
Because the alternative is unthinkable.