A social phobic can also fall in love.

Chapter 5

Yan Tingmo was equally surprised.

When Qi Xing pushed the door open, he instinctively looked up and saw Qi Xing and his friend entangled at the entrance, pulling and pushing each other for no apparent reason.

Feeling uneasy, he tried to hide behind Zhou Wen, but his eyes accidentally met Qi Xing’s sharp and dark gaze. The look Qi Xing gave him was as if he was disapproving of his presence at such a late hour.

This was awkward.

What should one do when bumping into an ex at a bar after breaking up?

Nervously, Yan Tingmo clung to Zhou Wen, quickly breaking eye contact. He picked up his glass and took a big gulp.

In his haste, he choked, coughing uncontrollably as tears streamed down his face. Sitting beside him, He Shiyang panicked, quickly patting his back and wiping his tears. “What’s wrong? Did you choke? Take it slow. Why drink so fast?”

Embarrassed, Yan Tingmo mumbled softly, “Got startled.”

He Shiyang sighed helplessly. “I figured.”

“Stop drinking, Mo Zai,” Zhang Miao said, snatching the glass from him. “Whiskey has a strong aftertaste. Don’t get drunk.”

Yan Tingmo nodded obediently and sat quietly on the couch, zoning out.

Before ten o’clock, the bar was buzzing with activity. The music was loud, the lights flashy, and the drinks strong, pushing the atmosphere to its peak. The dance floor was packed with men and women, their minimal clothing and swaying bodies rubbing against each other.

Yan Tingmo had been left alone by his friends. Feeling a bit tipsy, he leaned against the backrest and closed his eyes for a brief nap. Suddenly, he felt the couch sink beside him, and a wave of alcohol hit him. Opening his eyes, he turned to see a man in gold-rimmed glasses slumped on the couch, clearly intoxicated.

Yan Tingmo didn’t know him and guessed he might’ve stumbled into the wrong seat. Wanting to remind the man, he hesitated upon meeting his deep-set eyes and decided to let it slide.

The man, swaying slightly, sat up and studied him. “Underage?”

Confused, Yan Tingmo pointed at himself. “Me?”

“Yeah.” The man smirked. “Who else?”

“I’m not.”

“Not what?” the man teased. “Be specific.”

“I’m not underage,” Yan Tingmo clarified shyly.

The man chuckled. “How cute. Got plans tonight?”

“Huh?” Yan Tingmo asked, puzzled.

“Do you have a partner?” the man asked directly.

Thinking he was asking about his friends at the bar, Yan Tingmo pointed toward the dance floor. “Those three over there.”

“Three?” The man raised an eyebrow, scanning him with an amused look. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah!” Yan Tingmo nodded earnestly.

His innocence and compliance stood out in the chaotic environment. The man pulled out his phone, opened his WeChat QR code, and said, “Add me. You can reach out when you’re free.”

Yan Tingmo was stunned. Is making friends as an adult this simple? Or did I miss something?

At a nearby table, Qi Xing watched as a pretentious-looking man hit on his ex. Irritation brewed within him. But there was little he could do; after all, he was no longer in a position to feel jealous.

Watching Yan Tingmo’s pure demeanor, he felt a wave of frustration. He wished he could shield Yan Tingmo from the world, hiding him away from prying eyes.

“How can a place like this let in just anyone?” he grumbled, the veins on his temples throbbing with anger.

Lu Ze, sitting beside him, didn’t understand his outburst. “Are you scolding yourself?”

“Ugh.” Qi Xing rolled his eyes. “Go, shoo that guy with glasses away from A-section.”

Frowning, Lu Ze looked over at the table in question. He saw Yan Tingmo, as innocent as ever, and then turned his gaze to the suave man seated across from him. The man exuded confidence and sophistication, clearly someone skilled in romantic pursuits. Intrigued, Lu Ze stood up. “Alright, leave it to me.”

Qi Xing leaned back in his seat, watching Lu Ze approach the man.

Though he couldn’t hear their conversation, he saw the man glance at Lu Ze, smile, and then leave with him.

Relieved, Qi Xing thought, Lu Ze’s seduction skills are better than I imagined.

But he wasn’t entirely at ease. A place like this always had prowling wolves. His little lamb had ventured into a den of predators, bound to attract unwanted attention.

Yan Tingmo’s three friends were nowhere to be seen, leaving him unprotected.

Unable to suppress his concern, Qi Xing called over a waiter, gave him instructions, and tipped him generously.

A while later, the waiter returned, reporting that the young man in A-section was drunk and asleep at the table.

“Thanks.” Reluctantly, Qi Xing got up and made his way to Yan Tingmo. He unlocked his phone using his fingerprint and sent a message to his friends, telling them not to worry since Yan Tingmo had left early.

He didn’t take advantage of his vulnerability. Instead, he quietly sent him back to his dorm and covered him with a blanket before returning to his own room.

When Yan Tingmo finally woke up, his head throbbed. Sunlight poured in through the window, and he sat up in confusion. How did I get back?

Struggling to recall, he rubbed his temples and decided to ask his friends about last night.

He leaned halfway off the bed, peering downward, but his roommates were nowhere to be found.

“Zhou Wen?” he called tentatively. The raspy sound of his voice startled him.

Clearing his throat forcefully only made the irritation worse, causing a fit of coughs that left his chest aching. Great, now I have a cold, too.

Feeling defeated, he slumped back into bed. His jacket from the previous night was still on his pillow. Reaching for it, he fished out his phone and checked the time.

Ah! 10:30?!

Panicking, he scrambled out of bed. Despite his discomfort, he rushed to the bathroom to wash up as quickly as possible.

He had two morning classes, and it was already well past the first one. Without sparing a second thought to blame his roommates for not waking him up, he hurried to get ready and dashed out the door, hoping to make it to the second lecture.

On the way, he bumped into Zhou Wen and the other two, who were rushing back to the dorms just as frantically.

He came to a screeching halt, staring at them in confusion and shock.

“Uh…” Zhou Wen looked equally awkward, scratching his chin. “You’re late too?”

Yan Tingmo was silent. Good question. Yes, I’m late. Clearly, I overslept. But here’s the bad question: If you’re just coming back now, how did I get back to the dorm last night?

“Uh…” Yan Tingmo hesitated.

“Uh…” Zhou Wen also faltered.

They both spoke at the same time:

“You first,” Zhou Wen said, smiling sheepishly.

“How… did I get back last night?” Yan Tingmo asked, perplexed.

Zhou Wen’s confusion matched his own. “You don’t know?”

Yan Tingmo countered, “Should I know?”

“Uh…” Zhou Wen turned to glare at He Shiyang and Zhang Miao, signaling for them to explain.

Zhang Miao, feigning nonchalance, cleared his throat. “We don’t know. Didn’t you send us a message saying you had something to take care of and left early? You told us not to worry.”

“Huh?” Yan Tingmo was stunned. “I sent you that message? I don’t even remember leaving the bar. What about you guys?”

“About that…” Zhang Miao nudged He Shiyang with his elbow, prompting him to speak.

He Shiyang, though composed, sounded slightly defensive. “We all got drunk and didn’t realize we left you behind until this morning. When we couldn’t find you, we came back here, figuring you’d already returned to the dorm.”

Yan Tingmo: …

Roommates. Absolutely unreliable. What if I’d been kidnapped?!

The atmosphere grew awkward. Zhou Wen, feeling guilty for dragging Yan Tingmo to the bar and then leaving him behind, apologized sincerely: “Mo Zai, I’m so sorry. That was my fault.”

Yan Tingmo wanted to brush it off, but He Shiyang interjected, “Where are you headed now? Class?”

“Oh, right!” Realizing he was running late, he quickly said, “Gotta go! Bye!”

For the first time, he overcame his social anxiety and slipped quietly into the classroom under the professor’s disapproving gaze, taking a seat in the back row.

The lecture dragged on, and by the end, he felt utterly drained. Resting his head on his desk, he was reluctant to move. His cold had worsened, with his temples throbbing and the pain radiating through his nerves.

His throat was parched and itchy, and he couldn’t stop coughing. Gathering his things, he prepared to leave.

The classroom was still half-full, and many of the students knew him, as well as his recent breakup with Qi Xing.

While most kept their distance, there were always a few who thrived on drama. As Yan Tingmo was organizing his notes, someone deliberately bumped into him, sending his books scattering to the floor. Without apologizing, the person muttered a sarcastic “Oops” before darting off.

Yan Tingmo couldn’t fathom their childish behavior, but he wasn’t the type to confront others.

It’s not worth it. Let it go.

He quietly bent down, collected his belongings, and left through the back door, suppressing the urge to dwell on it.

If this happens again, I’ll speak up next time. For now, maybe it wasn’t intentional. There’s no point in overthinking it.

Trying to console himself, he trudged toward his next destination, still unsure of who had helped him home the night before.