Thus, the dream became reality. 

With great self-discipline, Ren Xingliu studied diligently in the library the majority of today.

During the process, an alumnus who recognized him secretly took a picture of him with his mobile phone. Ren Xingliu made a scissor hand gesture very cooperatively, which scared the alumnus to tremble and quickly turned the camera away.

In the middle, there was even a passing student who recognized him, took out the phone and snapped a picture of Ren Xingliu. Ren Xingliu collaborated by showing a scissor hand, which scared the crap out of the student who quickly turned the camera away in haste.

Ren Xingliu felt that the student was too much of a coward. Hurry up and post that photo in the melon seed eater group and show them the new me!

Curse those non-steel iron! 

It wasn’t until deep into the night that he was finished with today’s study plan. He packed up his things, preparing to return to the dorm.

He didn’t expect to be assaulted by a face full of cold and humid breeze the moment he entered the library’s lobby, causing his head to shiver.

He found that, unknowingly, it started raining outside.

It’s autumn now, and there isn’t much rain, so many people don’t have the habit of bringing umbrellas. Therefore, many students who were blocked by the wind and rain were stranded in the corridor at the entrance of the library.

By now, they were well into the autumn season, and these days, it rarely rains. Not many people got into the habit of carrying umbrellas. Therefore, many students were stranded on the porch right outside of the library by the wind and rain.

Some people cursed angrily at the weather forecast in a whisper, some called their classmates or roommates to bring them their umbrellas, while some simply turned back inside to continue their studies.

Ren Xingliu’s roommates have all moved away, and his relationship with his classmates is average. Naturally, no one will give him an umbrella. He is thinking about whether to go back indoors or be shameless and randomly select a classmate with an umbrella and ask him to take him for a ride.

Ren Xingliu’s roommates have all moved out, and his relationship with his classmates was passable at best. Naturally, none of them would bring him an umbrella. Thus, with a thick face, he was ready to go back inside and ask one of the students with an umbrella to give him a ride. 

This was the moment his phone rang, and it was from Bai Juanqiu.

The other person spoke in a casual tone, like this sudden rain, coming without any warning, reason, or explanation. “I just got to your campus. Where are you?”

Ren Xingliu smiled slightly, and instead of asking questions, he said, “At the library entrance.”

“Did you bring an umbrella?” 

“No.”

“I thought as much. Today’s weather forecast wasn’t accurate.”

“Yeah, there’s a student next to me who is cursing at the Weather Administration. His word choice is quite colorful. Would you like to hear them?”

The other end chuckled and said, “No, I don’t want to hear other people’s voices.” 

The two of them began to chat aimlessly, accompanied by the pitter-patter of raindrops, aimlessly and purposeless.

The damp and cold-water vapor continuously invaded under the eaves through the breeze, causing the students to quiver and retreat deeper in the corner.

Ren Xingliu’s fingertips holding the phone were a little cold, but his ears against the screen were warm. He stood alone on the outer edge of the corridor, his chin raised slightly, looking into the distance unconsciously.

Ren Xingliu’s exposed fingers were getting cold from holding his phone, but his ear against the screen was warm. He stood alone on the outer edge of the porch, raising his chin slightly and looking into the distance unconsciously.

Outside the library was a wide square surrounded by a circle of warm-colored streetlights. Their light became fuzzy by the rainwater.

The night was as dark as the deep sea, and there was a layer of mist between heaven and earth, as if everyone here entered a cold dream.

After looking at the scene for a long time, his vision seemed to blur, making it almost impossible to distinguish reality from illusion.

Until a tall figure gradually emerged out of the curtain of rain. 

The handsome young man had a tall and upright figure. The man probably came straight from work as he was still wearing a suit, making him appear more mature and composed.

In neither fast nor slow pace, he walked from afar with a large black umbrella in one hand, and a phone in his other hand.

The rain hit the wide umbrella panel, splashing water in all directions.

A small world was formed under the umbrella. 

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” 

Thus, the dream morphed into reality.

Ren Xingliu laughed, and his vision gradually turned clear, reflecting the other person’s figure.

He nodded. “It wasn’t long.”

There wasn’t any question, as there wasn’t a need to ask anything. 

The person put away his phone, then reached out with his palm spread out in front of the youth.

Ren Xingliu naturally placed his hand forward, walked down the steps and leaned side by side with the other person before walking into the rain curtain together.

…

There was a distance from the library to the dormitory area, with a long asphalt road connecting the two. 

Ren Xingliu drove here with the small electric donkey, but it wasn’t convenient to drive in this stormy weather. He decided not to mention it, planning to drive it back once the weather cleared up.

The two of them squeezed under one umbrella and walked back together.

Along the way, they could feel the menace of the fierce rain, and the cold wind continuously sent the rain into the umbrella’s protection.

The sky was still clear when Ren Xingliu went out, so he only wore a short-sleeved T-shirt. Now his arms were exposed, allowing the moisture to sweep away. Goosebumps suddenly appeared, and he rubbed them reflexively.

When Ren Xingliu went out today, it was a clear sky for ten thousand li. So, he wore a short-sleeved t-shirt, exposing his arms to the wet element. A layer of goosebumps appeared on them, causing him to reflexively rub his arms for warmth.

Bai Juanqiu caught this out of the corner of his eyes and stopped in place. He passed the umbrella to the youth. “Hold it for a moment.”

Ren Xingliu didn’t know what came over the other person, but he listened and took it.

With his hands free, Bai Juanqiu took off his suit jacket in a quick three-two and draped it over Ren Xingliu, saying, “Here, wear this.” 

The suit was tailored, and the lining still carried the remnants of heat from the wearer. As soon as it was on him, Ren Xingliu’s body suddenly turned toasty, smoothing out his goosebumps.

Ren Xingliu subconsciously stopped the other’s movement. “Don’t. You’re going to freeze.”

Bai Juanqiu pushed aside the youth’s hand and pressed the jacket down on Ren Xingliu with force. “I’m not cold. I’m wearing long sleeves inside.”

What he was wearing today was the standard three-piece suit, with a gray long-sleeve shirt underneath the suit, which was indeed much better than Ren Xingliu’s T-shirt in this weather. 

Bai Juanqiu was persistent, and the rain was growing heavier and heavier, so Ren Xingliu stopped resisting. “Let’s hurry up then.”

He put his hands through the sleeve and pulled the collar to wrap the jacket tighter around him. But when he put the jacket on, a few black lines appeared over his forehead.

This jacket was a perfect fit for Xiao Bai just earlier, so why would it look a size bigger when he was the one wearing it?!

… 

The rain gradually overturned basins, even the accompanied gale went on a rampage.

Although they broke an umbrella, when they got to the dormitory, they were still quite drenched.

“Hurry up and take a shower and get a change of clothes.” Bai Juanqiu pushed the youth into the bathroom. “Don’t want you to catch a cold.”

Ren Xingliu walked out of the bathroom and towards the cabinets, rummaging out his pajamas and a clean towel and handing them over. “You too. Your pants are wet, so dry yourself first.”

Bai Juanqiu glanced at his pajamas and smiled, “Alright.”

The two took turns taking showers. Now in cozy clothes, they finally dispelled the cold on them.

It was quite cumbersome to order takeout in this weather, but fortunately, Ren Xingliu stocked up some dried grain in the dormitory, so the two of them ate whatever.

After eating, Ren Xingliu leaned lazily on his chair and looked at the storm outside, which seemed like it would not stop for a while. It was also late, so he simply suggested: “Xiao Bai, why don’t you come back tonight?” Just sleep in my dormitory.” 

After eating, Ren Xingliu leaned crookedly and lazily in his seat, watching the crazy wind and sudden rain outside, which didn’t seem to be clearing anytime soon. It was also very late, so he suggested, “Xiao Bai, why don’t you sleep in my dorm tonight?”

Since it wasn’t the first time.

The lights in Bai Juanqiu’s eyes flickered as he smoothly accepted the kindness, “Alright.”

Ren Xingliu got up and as he was about to go get a blanket, lightning flashed outside, followed by a rumbling of thunder, before the dormitory abruptly plunged into darkness. ruvwiI

There was a moment of silence in the building, followed by an uproar as someone shouted, “The power is out!”

“No way.” Ren Xingliu was speechless and touched his way out of the door. It was also dark outside, and there were many students outside of their room, checking on others’ situations in the corridor.

He asked a few questions, and finally obtained the news from the group. The campus’s circuit was struck by lightning, and they were working on getting someone to fix it.

It was hard to tell in this situation, and there was nothing they could do but sigh one after another. 

Ren Xingliu retreated back into his dormitory and updated Bai Juanqiu.

Bai Juanqiu didn’t mind. “It’s fine. It’s nothing serious anyway.”

Having said that, he hadn’t made the bed yet. Although he could do it with a flashlight while touching the dark, it was a bit of a hassle.

And probably due to the power outage, it felt even colder in the dormitory. 

At first, Ren Xingliu planned to get Bai Juanqiu the blanket he used for summer, but it might be too thin with the rain, and the drop in temperature.

Ren Xingliu was frustrated. “I didn’t bring the thick blanket from home yet. It might get too cold tonight…”

In the darkness, Bai Juanqiu remained silent for a moment, as if pondering something. After a while, he suggested, “If you don’t mind, we can squeeze in together.”

Ren Xingliu was taken aback before saying very gentlemanly, “I don’t mind, but I like men. Won’t that be bad for you?” 

Bai Juanqiu interrupted in a faint voice, “It’s fine.”

He paused for a moment and slowly added, “I also like men now.”

Ren Xingliu: “…”

Why did this logic sound so strange? Why use ‘now’ and ‘also’? 

Moreover, Xiao Bai had never explicitly mentioned his sexual orientation in the past. To suddenly mention it in this situation, it felt as if there were words within words.

Ren Xingliu felt that he should ask more, but for a moment, he didn’t know which angle to approach.

During this indecisiveness, Bai Juanqiu reached out and gently mussed Ren Xingliu’s hair before deciding, “Since you don’t mind, then that’s settled.”

Another white light flashed outside the window, followed by the roar of thunder. 

It was as if Ren Xingliu also heard a rumbling sound in his head. Before he could mull over this, he and Bai Juanqiu had already got under the cover together.

The dormitory bed wasn’t that big, and neither of them were small in stature. After lying down together, it made turning over very difficult.

Bai Juanqiu lay on his side to make room for Ren Xingliu.

Ren Xingliu’s brain was still feeling heavily dizzy. He didn’t think much into it, mainly because he wasn’t in the mood to think. 

Speaking of which, this was not the first time that he slept with others. When he was in the military camp, he always slept in a big bunkhouse. Dozens of people were crowded together, and there were often people snoring loudly.

Speaking of which, it wasn’t the first time he had to share his bed with others. When he was in the barracks, he slept on a long connecting plank bed, with dozens of people crammed together. Oftentimes, there would be people snoring enough to shake heaven.

In theory, he should be used to sharing a bed, but at this moment, for some reason, there was an indescribable restlessness inside.

He couldn’t toss and turn either. The bed was too small, and the bed frame was also very thin. Any movements would definitely bother the other person.

The more agitated he was, the less sleepy he became. As time passed little by little, his eyes were still wide open, and his back stiffened. Feeling helpless, he could only sigh lightly.

“Still awake?” Then he heard a commotion nearby, then this soft question.

“Are you still awake?” Ren Xingliu was overjoyed and quickly flipped over, changing to a more comfortable position while complaining, “I can’t sleep.”

“Me too.” Bai Juanqiu said. He wasn’t able to see the young master’s expression clearly in this darkness, but he could picture the pout. 

He imagined for a moment, chuckled softly and suggested, “I still have some power in my phone. Why don’t we watch a movie together?”

Ren Xingliu blinked and thought that wasn’t a bad idea, so he went along, “Alright.”

Fortunately, Ren Xingliu’s bed was against the wall, so the two of them could prop the pillows. They huddled their heads together and looked at the phone.

The sound of rain outside continued to drag, making the night dark and cold.

They were actually quite warm, leaning against each other. It was just that they weren’t lucky, as the film they picked on the spot wasn’t that interesting.

After watching for a while, Ren Xingliu began to feel drowsy. Without realizing it, he tilted his head onto Bai Juanqiu before falling asleep.

Listening to the steady breathing against his chest, Bai Juanqiu finally locked his phone and carefully supported the person’s head, helping the person to lay flat.

Afterward, he also lay down and pulled up the blanket. 

For a moment, his body’s reaction made it impossible for him to find sleep, so he silently traced the silhouette in front of him in the darkness.

At this moment, he had finally come to a decision after days of hesitation.

“Good night, young master.” He whispered, moved his hand that was under the blanket and gently placed it over the other person’s hand.

Then, the person across from him suddenly moved, and a fist suddenly came at him, accompanied by a loud shout. 

“You dog thief has the audacity to ambush this general!”

Bai Juanqiu spit out a mouthful of old blood. “Oof—”