Xiao Shuai's POV
There was a quiet rhythm to the weekend now. No dramatic text messages, no surprise confrontations, at least, not yet.
But still, Xiao Shuai felt it: the tension beneath the surface. Not between him and Cheng Yu... but around them.
He was beginning to learn what it meant to hold something precious without crushing it. Every time Guo Cheng Yu brushed against him, every time their gazes lingered too long in the hallway—it felt like they were holding something between them they were still learning how to name.
And then there was Meng Tao.
Still around campus. Still smiling too easily. Still showing up in places he had no business being.
Xiao Shuai didn't speak to him. But Meng Tao didn't need to talk. His presence was enough to jolt Xiao Shuai back to memories he didn't ask for. And Cheng Yu noticed–of course he did.
But instead of pushing him to talk again, Cheng Yu just stayed close. Quietly protective. Steady.
It was Suo Wei who finally gave him the space to talk.
They met at the bubble tea shop off campus, like old times. Xiao Shuai had already ordered two taro slushies before Suo Wei even got there.
"Extra pearls," he said, handing Wu Suo Wei his drink with a small grin.
"You still remember?" Suo Wei blinked, delighted.
"Of course I do."
They sat under the patio umbrella outside, the air heavy but not too warm. The kind of afternoon that begged for slow conversation.
"Hey... you okay?" Wu Suo Wei asked, chewing on his straw. "You look like you've been thinking too hard lately."
Xiao Shuai laughed softly, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I've just... been feeling a lot."
Suo Wei tilted his head.
"Cheng Yu and I... We haven't exactly talked about what we are. But something's changing. He's showing me parts of himself I never expected. Like... fears. His family stuff. It's weird."
"Weird good?" Suo Wei asked gently.
Xiao Shuai nodded. "Yeah. But it scares me too. Because now that I've seen it, I don't want to lose it. Lose him."
Suo Wei leaned forward on his elbows, smiling shyly. "I know the feeling. Chi Cheng... sometimes I think I know him. Then he goes and does something that reminds me just how much he hides."
"Still doing the whole emotionally constipated alpha male thing?" Xiao Shuai teased.
Suo Wei giggled. "Mm-hmm. But he's getting better. After the Wang Shuo thing... he's trying more. Like... really trying."
"You two are really good for each other," Xiao Shuai said. "Even if he can be a broody bastard sometimes."
Wu Suo Wei blushed, sucking at his drink. "You and Cheng Yu too. I think... he's only ever soft with you. That means something."
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Just the light sip of straws, the quiet flutter of paper menus in the breeze.
Then Xiao Shuai glanced over.
"Meng Tao hasn't backed off," he said, finally.
Wu Suo Wei's mouth fell open slightly. "Still?"
"He keeps showing up. Never says anything inappropriate, just... loiters. Like he's waiting for me to break again."
"Did you tell Cheng Yu?"
"No. He'd go nuclear. And I don't want that. I just..." Xiao Shuai looked away. "I want to handle this on my own. But it helps, telling you."
Wu Suo Wei reached out and touched his hand briefly. "You're not alone, you know."
"I know," Xiao Shuai said, his voice small. "But sometimes I forget."
Meanwhile...
At the campus gym, Chi Cheng was finishing up his last set when his phone buzzed again.
Another message from Wang Shuo.
He didn't open it.
Instead, he stared at it, jaw clenched. He'd promised Suo Wei he wouldn't engage anymore. He'd promised he'd put that part of his life behind him.
But still, Wang Shuo's name made something cold crawl up his spine.
Back at Xiao Shuai's dorm...
That evening, Cheng Yu dropped by casually, throwing a bag of takeout on Xiao Shuai's desk and pretending he didn't plan it in advance.
"You okay?" he asked as Shuai unpacked the noodles.
"Yeah. Just talked with Da Wei earlier. It helped."
Cheng Yu raised a brow. "You told him about us?"
"Not everything," Shuai said with a smile. "Just enough."
Cheng Yu stepped closer, suddenly serious.
"You don't have to hide it if you don't want to."
Jiang Xiao Shuai blinked. "What do you mean?"
Cheng Yu's voice dropped to a whisper. "Whatever this is between us... I'm not ashamed of it."
There was a pause.
Then Xiao Shuai reached out, curling his fingers around Guo Cheng Yu's wrist.
"I'm not either," he whispered.
They didn't kiss. Not tonight.
But maybe they didn't need to.