Chapter 27
On the way back from buying food at the school cafeteria, Jiang Shiyu received a message from his club. Introverted since childhood and having limited social interactions, he wanted to expand his social circle in college. During freshman orientation, he was confused and ended up joining the overly enthusiastic performing arts club.
The club group chat was usually quiet, with hardly anyone speaking up, making him doubt its existence. However, whenever there was a significant event at school, the chat would come alive, with everyone enthusiastically signing up to participate.
This time, the normally silent club chat suddenly buzzed with messages.
The first message was a forwarded notice with a white background and black text, stamped with the university’s seal, announcing the upcoming Jiang Hua University Carnival.
Jiang Hua University, with its long history and profound heritage, was renowned not only for its solid academic knowledge and excellent faculty but also for its unique atmosphere.
The University did not follow the traditional and rigid school rules that people typically envisioned. Instead, it emphasized democracy, freedom, and respect for each student’s individuality. Various departments frequently held joint competitions and engaging activities during breaks. The university even allocated a significant budget each year to different departments and grades to enrich students’ daily lives and activities.
It also strongly supported the formation of diverse clubs. As long as students had an idea and the initiative to form a club, no matter how unconventional, the school would back them.
The annual campus carnival was the grandest and most lively event at Jiang Hua, lasting a week. It could be organized by clubs, classes, individuals, or small groups, with no content restrictions. The first three days were for independent activities, and the last two days featured a fair and carnival on the playground, celebrating for a week.
As soon as the carnival notice was posted in the performing arts club chat, the previously quiet group of eight members suddenly came alive with the enthusiasm of eighty.
Members discussed the club’s presentation for the carnival, planned activities, and even subtly recruited new members through the event, their conversation gradually diverging from the topic.
Jiang Shiyu hadn’t participated in last year’s carnival because he was out of town for a competition, accompanied by Shen Li. He had only seen photos sent by Li Muzi on his phone.
The entire campus was decorated like a candy house from a cartoon, with colorful cellophane and pinwheels flying in the air. The specially allocated streets were lined with beautifully decorated stalls. Students’ hobbies were on full display, with cosplayers in exaggerated costumes introducing figurines and card sleeves beside the stalls. Boys on skateboards weaved through the crowd with freshly baked cookies, and students dressed in ancient costumes and glasses recited Confucian texts in corners. Even through the photos, he could feel the lively atmosphere of the scene.
This year, he didn’t have any competitions to attend, so he could enjoy the carnival.
Excited, he pushed open the dormitory door. Shen Li emerged from the bathroom, his upper body bare and glistening with water droplets that rolled down his muscular abdomen, exuding a powerful hormonal presence.
Jiang Shiyu stared at his eight-pack abs, visibly swallowing hard.
Shen Li walked over and closed the door behind him. The two stood close, and the scent of his shower gel filled Jiang Shiyu’s nose.
Feeling his nose heat up, Jiang Shiyu touched it and found a wet sensation.
“Ah.”
Seeing the red on his fingers, his mind went blank for a few seconds. Shen Li reacted quickly, telling him to tilt his head back and leading him to the sink, where he splashed cold water on the back of his neck.
“Keep your head up and don’t move. I’ll get some tissues.”
With that, he turned away, leaving Jiang Shiyu standing there with dinner in hand, tilting his head back and staring at the ceiling.
Huh?
Huh??
Huh???
He realized he had a nosebleed from looking at Shen Li’s abs. Embarrassed, he felt his face heat up, wanting to find a hole to hide in.
Before he could find a hole, Shen Li returned with tissues, twisted them into a strip, and stuffed them into his nose. “Slowly lift your head.”
Supporting Jiang Shiyu’s head, Shen Li straightened it. Jiang Shiyu avoided his gaze, sneaking glances at the mirror.
Wow, how embarrassing.
In the mirror, his face and mouth were smeared with blood, and a white tissue was stuffed in one nostril, making him look comical.
He sneaked a look at Shen Li’s expression and saw him studying his reflection, lips twitching as if suppressing laughter.
“You can laugh if you want,” he said, feeling utterly embarrassed.
As soon as he spoke, Shen Li broke into a big smile, his low laughter filling Jiang Shiyu’s ears with mockery. The small, dirty-faced cat widened his eyes in disbelief.
Jiang Shiyu turned away sharply, breathing heavily, almost dislodging the tissue in his nose.
“You really laughed at me!”
He was furious. Just because Shen Li had abs, did it mean he could laugh at others?
The little cat was so angry that his fur nearly stood on end. He deliberately bumped into Shen Li, storming off, but Shen Li grabbed him from behind and pulled him back.
Still smiling, he looked at the little cat with round eyes and puffed cheeks, trying to suppress his grin.
“Alright, alright, I won’t laugh. Let’s clean your face; dried blood is hard to wipe off.”
The little cat eyed him suspiciously, unsure he would really not laugh at him.
Shen Li took a small towel hanging by the window, dampened it, and gently wiped his face.
Not having a cat himself, Shen Li didn’t realize how much he resembled a cat owner cleaning his pet. Jiang Shiyu, more beautiful than an average kitten, even with his dirty face, looked adorable.
After wiping his face and hands, they sat down at the table. Shen Li put on a sweatshirt, hiding his abs. Jiang Shiyu glanced at him, feeling a tinge of regret, but Shen Li noticed, his eyes darkening as he pretended not to see.
Jiang Shiyu had brought back a meal with two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a tofu and shrimp soup. They sat across from each other, eating. Jiang Shiyu liked to take small bites and chew slowly, often missing out on food when eating with others. But Shen Li always piled his bowl high before others could grab anything, allowing him to eat slowly.
The braised pork ribs had ginger shreds mixed in. Jiang Shiyu picked out the ribs, carefully removing the ginger and placing it on a disposable lid.
Shen Li ate quickly. When he finished, Jiang Shiyu’s bowl was still half full. He didn’t rush him, resting his head on his hand and watching him meticulously remove the ginger from the ribs, the perilla from the fish, and the scallions from the soup.
If it were anyone else, Shen Li would find them troublesome and picky. But with Jiang Shiyu, he used his own chopsticks to pick out the unwanted pieces, making sure he could eat comfortably.
Jiang Shiyu noticed this and, after a few bites, suddenly asked, “Do you think I’m troublesome?”
Shen Li put down his chopsticks and looked at him. “No. Everyone has things they don’t like to eat,” he said calmly, but genuinely.
“I don’t like perilla, scallions in soup, and I’m slightly allergic to ginger.”
Jiang Shiyu continued eating after saying this.
Shen Li watched him for a while and then said, “Got it.”
Jiang Shiyu, still buried in his bowl, couldn’t help but smile.