Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Inside the bus, Hui Jiang was wearing earphones and sleeping groggily.

Several times, his head nearly bumped into Hao Tu's shoulder.

In contrast, Hao Tu's complexion was becoming paler and paler.

He looked far from well.

This feels awful.

He tightened his grip on the armrest, deliberately trying not to breathe in the murky air inside the bus.

The irritation in his throat created an urge to vomit.

Opening his eyes, Hao Tu checked the time and basically confirmed that he was suffering from motion sickness.

Fortunately, it wasn't too severe yet.

But there was still an hour left before arrival.

How was he supposed to endure that?

Just then, the bus happened to drive over a stretch of uneven road and suddenly jolted several times.

“Mm!”

Hao Tu covered his mouth and relied on deep breaths to suppress the urge to throw up.

I can't take this anymore.

I need to get off.

If this continues, I'm definitely going to vomit.

His entire body became listless.

His lips were so pale that not a trace of blood remained.

At this moment, he truly hated this bus with all his heart.

Beside him, Hui Jiang was awakened by the sudden jolting.

He had never been sleeping deeply to begin with.

The moment he sensed the change in his surroundings, he woke up immediately.

Stretching lazily, he glanced out the window.

The bus had already exited the highway.

“Are we almost there?”

he asked curiously.

But after waiting for a while, he received no answer from Hao Tu.

Only then did he turn around in confusion.

One look was enough to realize something was wrong.

The wilted appearance alone made it obvious that he was suffering from motion sickness.

“Hao Tu, are you carsick?”

Hearing his voice, Hao Tu raised his head and looked at him.

His lips moved, but no words came out.

Understanding instantly, Hui Jiang opened his backpack.

“Why didn't you tell me? Good thing I brought medicated oil.”

Covering his mouth, Hao Tu leaned over and peered into the backpack.

“Do you have motion sickness medicine?”

“No.”

Hui Jiang shook his head.

“Medicine is still medicine. Use this medicated oil under your nose first.”

He handed over the small green bottle.

“The air in here is probably too bad. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten motion sickness.”

“Maybe.”

After applying it, a burning sensation spread across his skin, making him feel slightly better.

“It helps a little. But I still really want to throw up.”

“Wait a second.”

Hui Jiang pulled out a packet of preserved plums and also took out a red plastic bag.

“Eat one of these. It helps. And keep the bag just in case.”

“Huh?”

Hao Tu stared at the contents.

“Why do you carry so many things in your backpack?”

He picked up a preserved plum, examined it briefly, and put it into his mouth.

The sourness immediately made him frown.

Hui Jiang laughed.

“I used to get motion sickness too, so I usually keep this stuff with me.”

“How is it? Feeling a little better?”

His phone showed 2:46 PM.

There was probably still another hour before they could get off the bus.

Hao Tu nodded.

“Mhm. I never want to ride a bus again for the rest of my life.”

“Haha. You'll get used to it.”

Hui Jiang patted his shoulder, not taking the statement seriously.

An hour later, the bus finally entered the station.

The moment it stopped, Hao Tu hurried off as if escaping for his life.

The instant his feet touched solid ground and he breathed the fresh outdoor air, all symptoms of motion sickness disappeared without medicine.

Hui Jiang's home was right beside the station.

Since Hao Tu absolutely refused to get into another vehicle, the two discussed it and decided to walk instead.

After entering the residential complex, Hao Tu began looking around.

Hui Jiang's family could at most be considered comfortably well-off.

They lived in an ordinary apartment building with elevators.

Compared to Hao Tu's home, it was obviously inferior.

However, he didn't care much about that.

The quality of the surroundings could not affect his mood right now.

For some reason, he felt excited.

For some reason, he felt full of anticipation.

Hui Jiang inserted the key and slowly turned it.

Click.

The door opened.

It was around three in the afternoon.

The apartment was very quiet.

Without even thinking, Hui Jiang guessed that his parents were taking a nap.

“My parents are probably sleeping. Change your shoes first.”

Lowering his voice, he found a pair of slippers for Hao Tu.

“Okay.”

Hao Tu followed him inside.

While changing shoes, he examined the interior.

The decoration was simple, but everything was kept exceptionally clean.

Satisfied, he dragged his suitcase into Hui Jiang's room.

Before Hui Jiang could enter, the door of the neighboring room opened.

A black-haired teenage boy stepped out.

His appearance resembled Hui Jiang's by about seventy percent.

“Brother, you're back. Mom steamed dumplings for you.”

The boy was carrying a cup, clearly planning to get some water.

“Perfect. I'm hungry anyway.”

Hui Jiang patted his younger brother.

Peeking into the room, he added,

“You're playing Ark again? Once I'm free, let's play together online.”

Inside the room, Hao Tu heard the voices.

After putting down his luggage, he walked back out.

When Hui Heng saw him in person, he froze for a second.

Apparently, he found it difficult to believe that his slacker older brother could have a friend like this.

Seeing Hao Tu emerge, Hui Jiang hurriedly introduced them.

“Hui Heng, this is my roommate, Hao Tu.”

Then he rubbed his brother's head.

“And this is my younger brother, Hui Heng.”

Hao Tu smiled.

The expression was perfectly measured.

Neither distant nor overly flattering.

“Hello. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, me too.”

Hui Heng had never encountered a boy like this before.

It took him several moments before he finally regained his senses.

After Hui Heng went to the living room for water, Hui Jiang led Hao Tu into the room.

Oak flooring.

Light blue walls.

The layout was simple.

Fortunately, the bed was one and a half meters wide.

Two people sleeping on it would not be a problem.

During that brief period earlier, Hao Tu had already figured out the house's layout.

As an architecture student, he could draw a floor plan in his mind after only a few glances.

So he knew that Hui Jiang's house had only three rooms.

The realization caused his gaze to linger several times on the double bed in the corner.

Hui Jiang casually tossed his backpack onto the bed.

Closing the doors and windows, he turned on the air conditioner.

In his mind, Hao Tu was a delicate person.

He absolutely couldn't let him get overheated.

Unexpectedly, Hao Tu immediately exploded.

“Hui Jiang, how can you throw your backpack onto the bed?”

He grabbed the laptop bag and placed it on the desk.

“Who knows how many bacteria are on that thing? Can't you be a little hygienic?”

“Uh... okay. I'll pay attention in the future.”

Hui Jiang found it strange that Hao Tu's cleanliness obsession had suddenly flared up.

“I'm going to get you some water. Rest for a bit first.”

Hao Tu nodded.

“Mhm. Go ahead.”

The moment Hui Jiang left, Hao Tu lost control and began touching things around the room.

Looking at the books on the shelf, he discovered several web novels and glamour photo collections.

Immediately, he looked down on them.

Hmph.

His taste is really terrible.

What a troublesome situation.

To think that someone like this would secretly be in love with him.

Hao Tu pulled open a drawer and continued searching through Hui Jiang's belongings.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

After all, in his understanding, Hui Jiang was his admirer.

Therefore, Hui Jiang certainly wouldn't blame him.

Naturally, he became spoiled by this assumption.

There wasn't much in the drawer.

Most of it consisted of pens and notebooks.

After rummaging through it for a while, Hao Tu lost interest.

Closing the drawer, he took out his own laptop and domineeringly occupied the desk.

Just then, Hui Jiang came back.

Carrying two cups of hot tea, he walked over.

“Here. Be careful, it's hot.”

“Mhm. Thanks.”

Hao Tu blew on it twice.

Finding it too hot, he casually set it on the desk.

Seeing the laptop, Hui Jiang immediately asked,

“We're not starting the design work now, right?”

“We've already spent several hours traveling. You should rest properly. We can work on it tonight.”

Just thinking about design drawings was enough to make his stomach hurt.

Hao Tu saw straight through him.

“Mhm. Then we'll do it tonight.”

Still, he followed Hui Jiang's suggestion and closed the laptop.

“Mhm.”

But then Hui Jiang got stuck.

The two stared at each other for a while without knowing what to say.

After several seconds of thought, he finally proposed,

“Let's watch a movie. We don't really have anything else to do.”

Since Hao Tu didn't object, Hui Jiang opened his laptop and searched for a film online.

“This one seems pretty good. The rating is high too. Have you seen it?”

“Not yet.”

Hao Tu had been busy with the design competition recently.

He simply hadn't had time to go to the cinema.

“What about you?”

“Me?”

Hui Jiang sighed and looked helplessly at the ceiling.

“Without a girlfriend, going to the cinema alone is way too depressing.”

It seemed as though he was recalling past experiences.

“Cinemas have always been packed with couples. Endless displays of affection. Who would want to go?”

“Especially when I see guys shorter than me and uglier than me who still have girlfriends. That's when I feel truly hopeless.”

The movie had already started.

But Hao Tu wasn't paying attention at all.

Frowning, he said,

“You want a girlfriend that badly? Aren't you...”

“Aren't I what?”

Seeing him stop halfway through the sentence, Hui Jiang couldn't help feeling confused.

“Nothing.”

Hao Tu shook his head and looked toward the computer screen.

He found it increasingly difficult to understand Hui Jiang's thoughts.

Doesn't this guy like me?

Could I have been mistaken?

Impossible.

What normal guy would secretly kiss his male roommate at night?

Hao Tu raised a hand and touched his cheek.

His eyes deepened slightly.

So Hui Jiang must have said those things on purpose.

He was deliberately lowering his guard.

A cold laugh sounded in Hao Tu's heart.

If that weren't the case, then why would Hui Jiang invite him over during National Day?

Although he had convinced himself, a trace of doubt still remained.

“What's this movie about?”

Hao Tu took a sip of tea.

“Looks like it's a thriller-horror movie,” Hui Jiang said. Although he was timid, he loved watching horror films, and besides, Hao Tu was accompanying him now. “Can't you tell? The color grading and sound effects are so oppressive.”

“That's true.”

The two fell silent again. About half an hour later, just as the film reached a small climax, the bedroom door behind Hui Jiang was suddenly pushed open. With a loud bang, it startled him so badly he almost jumped up.

“Holy shit!” He turned around and saw that it was actually Time Zeqing. Only then did he relax. “What are you doing? Sneaking around like a ghost. Trying to scare me to death?”

Hearing the voice, Hao Tu looked over and discovered a boy about their age. Ink-black short hair that reached his ears, a pair of likable cat-like eyes, a tall and refined nose bridge. When he smiled, two little tiger teeth were revealed. He looked to be over 1.8 meters tall. Clearly he was a handsome person, yet Hao Tu disliked him from the very first glance.

“Haha, you're really useless. Still as cowardly as before,” Time Zeqing said. The moment he entered, he noticed Hao Tu sitting beside Hui Jiang. His eyes flickered slightly, and he selectively ignored the other man. “Hey, I've seen this movie too. The ending is—mmph!”

Hui Jiang sprang up and covered his mouth.

“If you dare spoil it, I'll beat you to death.”

“Mmph.” Time Zeqing nodded repeatedly in promise before being released. “Cough, cough. Were you trying to suffocate me?”

“You deserved it.” Hui Jiang behaved very naturally around him. “I only just got back, and you already came running over... Right, this is my roommate Hao Tu, and this is my childhood friend Time Zeqing.” He raised a hand and introduced them to each other.

Time Zeqing smiled and said, “Hello.”

“Mm, hello.” Hao Tu returned to his cold demeanor and immediately turned to Hui Jiang. “Still watching the movie?”

“Of course. Why wouldn't we?” Hui Jiang's desk wasn't long enough to fit a third chair. “What about you, Time Zeqing?”

“You guys watch. I've already seen it anyway.” Taking advantage of Hui Jiang turning his head, he narrowed his eyes and sized up Hao Tu. “Hui Jiang, I'm a little thirsty.”

“Ahhh—” Hui Jiang sighed. Left with no choice, he paused the movie again. “What do you want to drink? Is plain water okay?”

“What kind of treatment is that?” Time Zeqing immediately became dissatisfied. “I want juice.”

“A grown man still drinks juice.” Although Hui Jiang complained verbally, he knew how troublesome this guy was. Obediently, he opened the bedroom door and went out to find some juice.