Qi Yun actually knew about the diary?
What's going on? How could this happen?!
Tang Ning didn't have time to dwell on it because the urgent matter was to rescue Gu Ming and the others!
But what answers did Qi Yun want? What did he hope to hear? What could make Qi Yun happy?!
Tang Ning's thoughts had never raced so rapidly. This afternoon, on the way back to the dorm, he and Qi Yun touched water simultaneously. Qi Yun took the initiative to feed him water, not minding drinking from the bottle he had used. After that, he had been guarding the diary. If Qi Yun wanted to read it, it wouldn't be during this time frame.
In other words, before Qi Yun fed him water, he already knew about his series of eccentric behaviors!
Even knowing all this, Qi Yun still willingly offered him water. Could it be that Qi Yun might have a tiny bit of affection for him?
"Because I love you," Tang Ning said desperately, a lie he had uttered too many times. He thought he could say it as easily as before, but in an instant, he remembered Mo Yunchu.
He couldn't see the other person's face, and there was no response. But the dormitory across was impatient. Trembling and urgently, Tang Ning asked, "Can you go save them?"
Then Tang Ning heard a faint tremor coming from the chest he leaned against, seemingly a joyful laughter.
A person who rarely laughed, especially someone like Qi Yun, once laughing, made Tang Ning feel uneasy.
"Hush." A finger pressed against his lips, and in the darkness, Qi Yun's cold and hoarse voice sounded, "This answer isn't just for me right now."
What does that mean?
Tang Ning was utterly bewildered; he hadn't figured out Qi Yun's meaning. In the next moment, Qi Yun lifted him horizontally!
Qi Yun carried him off the bed!
Tang Ning was completely stunned. He heard the commotion outside, and Qi Yun carried him towards the door!
Insane! Qi Yun was insane!!!
Tang Ning closed his eyes, desperately shaking his head. Tears uncontrollably streamed from his eyes. Fearful that his cries might disturb the monster, he struggled to keep them hushed, turning his nose, cheeks, and even his neck red from the effort. The tears surged down, resembling a damp powder rose.
Qi Yun continued walking unaffected. Tang Ning, relying on instinct, roughly found Qi Yun's ear. Unable to see anything and with the proximity quick and urgent, Tang Ning's lips brushed against Qi Yun's earlobe, uttering fragmented pleas, "No, don't."
Don't take me outside!
Let me go!
I don't want—
Qi Yun kicked open the dormitory door.
The loud noise silenced the commotion in Room 302. Countless curious eyes seemed to converge on the corridor in the dark night. Tang Ning was on the verge of fainting, akin to a clam forcibly pried open, exposing even more vulnerable flesh inside.
Don't look at me! Don't come closer!
Qi Yun moved effortlessly, reaching the entrance of Room 302. Tang Ning shrank in Qi Yun's embrace. He heard Qi Yun's cold voice, "Everyone in 302 is asleep."
The sharp tone nearly reached a breaking point, "Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"
But apart from the frenzied screams, that thing dared not defy Qi Yun. It could only, and would only, produce hysterical cries in the dormitory.
"Shut up," Qi Yun said indifferently.
The ear-piercing noise disappeared in an instant.
The surroundings fell silent, so quiet that Tang Ning could hear his own disordered breathing.
Suddenly, Qi Yun changed his posture. His strong hands supported Tang Ning's knees, pressing his back against the wooden door of Room 302. The butterfly-like protruding shoulder blades trembled continuously. In this position, Tang Ning was at risk of falling, so in his panic, he tightly grasped Qi Yun's shoulders.
He heard the devilish figure whisper softly, "Now, it's your turn to speak."
No, don't, not here.
Tang Ning's lips trembled, like a dehydrated fish desperately gasping for air.
How could there be someone like this?
He couldn't see anything, and he dared not open his eyes, yet he felt Qi Yun approaching. The cool fragrance enveloped him as Qi Yun's forehead and nose touched his, intimately brushing against his ear, "People in 302 are waking up."
Whether the people in Room 302 woke up or not hinged on a single sentence from Qi Yun.
More precisely, it hinged on a sentence from Tang Ning.
Even though everyone was wide awake!
Everyone!
They could all hear, they could all hear—
This awareness tormented Tang Ning, making him shiver. The legs hanging on Qi Yun's arm felt as if an invisible whip had struck them, the taut insteps unbelievably beautiful.
Qi Yun gently nudged Tang Ning's aching nose with his own, causing their breaths to entwine—one composed and restrained, the other trembling and chaotic.
"I, I," Tang Ning heard his own voice with a tearful tone, "I love you."
Qi Yun's voice was gentle, as if unusually tender, "How much do you love me?"
This devil! This devil!! I don't love you! I don't love you at all!!!
"Very much," Tang Ning used all his strength to grab Qi Yun's arm. Crying, he said, "I love you very much. No one loves you more than I do."
The person holding him kissed away his tears with satisfaction.
The corridor was incredibly quiet, so quiet that the sound of Qi Yun kissing away tears was distinctly audible.
The splashing water sound echoed, and everyone could hear it, including Gu Ming. What would his fans, who adored him so much, think of him now? Tang Ning was on the brink of insanity.
He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Gu Ming, but it seemed like the most embarrassing scene of his life was about to be witnessed by Gu Ming. Perhaps the tears stimulated Qi Yun; his breathing gradually became heavy, and each kiss was forceful, like an excited and ruthless beast unable to control its strength. Tang Ning was kissed against the old wooden door, the creaking sounds incessant, and his tears kept flowing.
Then there was Zhou Chuan. He and Zhou Chuan didn't have much interaction, but Tang Ning could feel Zhou Chuan's gaze on him, similar to how many others regarded him as a mere ornament. He didn't care about being seen that way anymore.
But after tonight, how would Zhou Chuan view him?
Tang Ning wanted to push away this monster in human skin, but once he let go, he would lose his balance. Therefore, he could only grip Qi Yun's shoulders even tighter, forced to endure this person's scorching kisses.
Tears slid from the corner of his eyes to his jaw, then splashed onto his neck. Qi Yun buried his head in Tang Ning's neck, fervently kissing.
It was a world of difference from the image of keeping people at a distance during the day.
Tang Ning even doubted that if his tears fell to his toes, this guy would also imprint hot kisses on the top of his foot.
How could there be such a person?!
Tang Ning was on the verge of losing it. He was forced to lift his head, his slender neck resembling a dying swan.
Then, he shockingly discovered that this person seemed unsatisfied with the brief kisses. Sharp teeth clamped onto his throat, gradually teasing. Tang Ning was terrified; he feared the other would bite off his neck, feared blood would gush from his arteries. This fear overwhelmed his shame, and Tang Ning choked out, "Qi Yun, Qi Yun."
He repeatedly called out that name.
"I'm in so much pain."
Soft fingers clung to Qi Yun's shoulder as Tang Ning cried, "Qi Yun, it hurts so much, Qi Yun, Qi Yun."
Clearly, this person was the one inflicting pain, yet Tang Ning found himself holding onto the other tightly.
Qi Yun.
Qi Yun. Qi Yun. Qi Yun.
As Tang Ning kept calling, he couldn't help but start to hate. He despised this guy for pretending to be righteous, clearly more wicked than anyone else, yet portraying the image of a gentleman. If that's the case, why couldn't he continue this pretense forever? Then, Tang Ning could also pretend not to know anything.
After shouting for who knows how long, until his throat was hoarse, the person finally stopped sucking on his throat. Affectionately kissing away the tears on his jaw, Qi Yun expressed satisfaction, "So sweet."
This jerk, this devil, this monster!
"How can there be such a tearful sweetheart?" A chillingly melodious voice echoed in the quiet night, as if a deity was judging a vulnerable soul.
Stop it, stop it!
"Call my name once more," the devil bit his earlobe, "I still want to hear it."
Call what?
Is it Qi Yun or "I love you"?
Tang Ning's head was muddled; he cried out, "I love you, Qi Yun."
"I love you too." That voice laughed, saying, "You have no idea how much I love you."
Tang Ning embraced the other's neck, burying his weeping face in the chest. He sorrowfully realized that when this person tenderly said "I love you," his tense and trembling nerves actually relaxed. The long-lost sense of security enveloped him.
There must be something wrong, surely this monster had influenced him somehow. It couldn't be because of the repeated fanatic kisses—
It reminded him of Mo Yunchu.
The gentle Mo Yunchu, the malicious Qi Yun—how could he associate them together?
Intense self-blame swept over Tang Ning. Every inch of skin once kissed by Mo Yunchu was now invaded by this unreasonable person, even the faint fragrance had tainted him.
Mo Yunchu would surely be angry.
Mo Yunchu would surely scold him in his dreams, refusing to kiss him or hold him again.
But now, without Qi Yun's embrace, he wouldn't even have the chance to enter the dream realm and meet Mo Yunchu.
How annoying.
Annoying Qi Yun, annoying Mo Yunchu.
Most annoying of all was Tang Ning himself.
Why are you so fragile, so fragile that a kiss, a hug, and an "I love you" can reach your true heart?
Crying and wet, Tang Ning was carried back to that narrow bed, embracing himself as he sobbed like a broken-hearted child.
In the pitch-black darkness, Qi Yun's silhouette could vaguely be seen. Click, that was the sound of the switch. Qi Yun turned on the small night light he held, a tiny warm yellow light dispelling the thick darkness. Qi Yun placed the light between their pillows and sat down at the edge of the bed. The light, like a pool reflecting moonlight, illuminated his handsome face. Under this halo, Qi Yun's gaze seemed to carry a hint of warmth.
He gently wiped away the tear streaks on Tang Ning's face with a soft towel. Tang Ning kept his eyes closed, refusing to look at Qi Yun.
He could sense Qi Yun getting on the bed. The small night light was placed between their pillows.
The faint fragrance Tang Ning smelled was from Qi Yun.
The light from the night light filtered through his closed eyelids, turning into orange-red hues in the darkness, making Tang Ning inexplicably think of the afterglow of the setting sun.
The fragrance grew stronger, as if delicate branches were extending around gently and firmly, blooming fragrant flowers. Tang Ning felt like he was lying on a huge branch, and the orange-red light pierced through the layers of branches, casting various-sized spots of light on him.
Turning over, sturdy vines were entwined around his waist, as if afraid he would fall from the branches. The vines also carried the fragrance.
Providing a sense of security.
Tang Ning held onto the vines, held onto the full bloom of flowers, held onto Qi Yun. He buried his face in Qi Yun's chest, hearing one strong and steady heartbeat after another, like the buzzing of cicadas on a summer day.
In the end, he fell into the web.