Strawberry Lips and a Shattering Truth

Xu Yi had almost forgotten about that detail.

After all, this was his first time actually meeting someone from the internet in real life.

A tiny mole on the thigh or collarbone wasn’t the kind of thing most people would ever notice. But because of their placement—elegant, photogenic—Xu Yi had made a habit of deliberately capturing them in his pictures.

Lu Xingyan, though… he was his roommate. He might have seen them at some point already.

When Lu Xingyan’s gaze dropped directly to his thigh, Xu Yi’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

He feigned offense at the forwardness and covered himself, the gesture perfectly reasonable.

But from the look of things, Lu Xingyan was definitely suspicious now.

The server arrived with their drinks, along with a slice of strawberry mousse on a small tray.

“Hm? I didn’t order dessert,” Xu Yi said automatically.

“The gentleman ordered this before you arrived. Please enjoy.” The server gave a small nod and retreated to the bar.

Xu Yi frowned. The fact that Lu Xingyan was already onto him made him want to cut this short—fast. Ideally, they’d go back to being nothing more than gaming buddies.

“I thought you’d like it.” Lu Xingyan slid the mousse toward him.

Xu Yi was wearing lipstick. He hadn’t planned on eating anything at all.

But he also hadn’t had a single bite since yesterday, and the creamy vanilla fragrance was already curling into his nostrils.

He hesitated. Lips were lips—everyone’s looked more or less the same. Sure, he’d over-lined his a little to make them look fuller, but that was hardly a giveaway.

He wiped off the lipstick, tucked his hair behind his ears, and began to savor his favorite strawberry dessert, one tiny spoonful at a time.

Lu Xingyan propped his chin on his hand and watched him eat.

Probably afraid of smudging his makeup, Xiao Yi took each bite in impossibly small portions, eating with the slow, delicate movements of a cat. Only now and then could you catch a glimpse of a pink tongue peeking from between barely parted lips.

The smoky makeup gave his eyes a haughty, upward tilt, but now they curved slightly, utterly blissful.

Lu Xingyan didn’t care for sweets. But he had to admit—watching Xiao Yi eat them made them look delicious.

Xiao Yi ate as if he could never grow tired of it, not touching his drink once.

Only when he’d finished did he dab his mouth, then take a slow sip of his cocktail.

Deeply content.

But more importantly—Lu Xingyan had caught sight of that small mole on the collarbone.

Xu Yi finally noticed the stare. He paused. “What is it?”

Lu Xingyan’s lips curved, a roguish edge creeping into his smile. “Just wondering if your lips taste like strawberries now too.”

“Pfft—” Xu Yi barely choked back a laugh.

So this was why Lu Xingyan had insisted on meeting in person?

To think that the guy who spent every day in the dorm snapping at him was here, spouting cheesy pickup lines. Xu Yi couldn’t hold it in.

“Hm?” Lu Xingyan’s confusion seemed genuine. He’d probably never struck out with a girl before.

Xu Yi quickly reined in his amusement and put on a serious face. “I’m not interested in a real relationship.”

“So if you’re looking for a girlfriend, you should look elsewhere.”

Lu Xingyan didn’t respond right away. He glanced at the time, then lifted his eyes. “Do you want to go see a movie?”

Xu Yi had no idea what had come over him either, but somehow, he’d actually followed Lu Xingyan to the cinema.

Mainly because Lu Xingyan had offered far too much.

Who could possibly refuse an instant bank transfer?

Every time Xu Yi scrolled past those uncollected red packets in his chat history, a little pang of regret stabbed him in the chest.

Now he felt much better.

Thankfully, the lighting in the cinema was just as dim. Just as easy to avoid being made.

They’d left the bar not too late—just past nine.

The movie started at ten. At this hour, most of the audience consisted of young couples planning to spend the night out afterward.

But the pair of them—a smoky-eyed vixen and an elegant, restrained young gentleman—made for such a discordant sight that they still drew plenty of stares.

Xu Yi disliked that kind of layered, prying attention. He found himself instinctively edging closer to Lu Xingyan, letting the taller man’s frame shield him a little.

At the concession counter, a hand suddenly settled on his shoulder and pulled him closer.

Xu Yi turned his head sharply, eyes alert.

Lu Xingyan’s expression was perfectly composed, a pleasant smile on his face. “A kid just ran past.”

Xu Yi scanned the area, skeptical. He was fairly certain no children came to the cinema at this hour.

Still, he didn’t actually mind the physical contact.

Xu Yi had always been a person of intense desire—just without any real experience.

Lu Xingyan’s build, his face, his voice—all of it fell squarely within Xu Yi’s type. Any skin contact was pure enjoyment.

The only problem was that the guy was straight. If Xu Yi wanted to survive university with his normal life intact, he could never reveal his real gender.

Which meant this couldn’t go any further.

Lu Xingyan handed Xu Yi the tub of popcorn, its buttery scent wafting up between them, and carried both cups of Coke himself.

Once inside the screening room, Xu Yi noticed the crowd was sparse. Only about half the seats were filled, and most people had grabbed tickets in the corners. Whether they were actually here for the film or for something else—well, that was anyone’s guess.

Xu Yi felt his heartbeat pick up.

In an atmosphere like this… maybe he could still sneak a little enjoyment out of Lu Xingyan’s muscles before they parted ways. That would be thrilling.

Xu Yi had always known he craved that kind of excitement.

He followed Lu Xingyan to their seats.

As expected. Couple’s seats. Last row.

Like a tiny loveseat.

Xu Yi settled in and set the popcorn aside.

He was already looking forward to it.

If Lu Xingyan tried to touch his thigh, he’d have to keep his head and stop him before his gender was discovered.

But the opening score swelled, and Xu Yi saw no movement from Lu Xingyan whatsoever.

He couldn’t help glancing over. Lu Xingyan was simply watching the screen, utterly absorbed.

Xu Yi felt a spike of irritation.

Dangling the bait only to do nothing at all.

“Do you still remember what the dessert tasted like?”

Xu Yi leaned in close to Lu Xingyan’s ear, his lips nearly brushing that cold sapphire stud as he whispered.

He’d barely finished delivering the line before he tried to pull back—but a pair of large hands clamped down on his waist, holding him in place.

The grip was firm, almost forceful, as if restraining something.

“I don’t remember.” Lu Xingyan’s voice had gone hoarse.

He turned his head, looking down at the restless figure in his arms. “Can I have a taste now?”

Xu Yi didn’t answer with words. He just tilted his head up and met his gaze.

Their bodies pressed tight together. Lu Xingyan’s mind flashed to that dream.

This exact angle. Identical to the dream.

So… is it you? Xu Yi.

The moment their lips touched, it was exactly as soft as he’d imagined.

Neither of them had done this before. There was no finesse. At some point, someone’s lip split—neither knew whose—and the metallic tang of blood mingled between their teeth.

Lu Xingyan tightened his hold, his other hand coming to rest, feather-light, on Xiao Yi’s thigh.

The touch made Xiao Yi’s body go rigid for a split second. But Lu Xingyan’s movements were growing bolder, more practiced by the moment, and soon Xiao Yi was melting, dazed and pliant, into his arms.

Lu Xingyan’s breathing grew heavier. He remembered exactly where his roommate’s mole was—right at the edge of the waistband.

While Xu Yi was still unguarded, Lu Xingyan took the risk and let his fingers wander.

Xu Yi was someone with no intimate relationships, practically no physical contact with anyone at all.

So his reactions were intense.

Just a single fingertip, pressed against cool skin beneath the tight leather skirt, was enough to raise goosebumps all over his body.

His limbs moved on their own, pressing, clinging, tangling with the other’s without permission.

This had already far exceeded anything Lu Xingyan had anticipated.

And then, at last, his fingers grazed that tiny raised bump of a mole.

That mole.

It was as if lightning had struck directly through his skull, leaving his entire body numb.

He broke the kiss. Xu Yi collapsed against him, boneless.

But now, it was Lu Xingyan who had gone rigid.

Xiao Yi… was his roommate, Xu Yi.

Lu Xingyan felt himself losing his mind.

Before all the evidence had lined up, he’d been lying to himself. Maybe there really were two people in the world who looked so alike. After all, how could a guy possibly produce a voice that sweet, that sultry?

“What… what’s wrong?” Xu Yi’s own voice had gone hoarse, equally affected.

And Lu Xingyan, now that he knew, was in absolute chaos.

His sharp-tongued roommate—the one who always clashed with him—was now curled up, soft and pliant, in his arms.

And yet.

He still wasn’t going soft.

Lu Xingyan knew he was finished.

Lust was a blade hanging over every man’s head.

The first time in his life he’d ever flirted online, and it had turned out to be his own roommate.

His hand was still braced against Xu Yi’s waist. The thin fabric had ridden up during their earlier frenzy, and now his fingers rested directly on cool, silken skin. He couldn’t quite bring himself to let go.

Bewitching. That was the only word for it.

His mind was a tangled mess.

Which did he actually like—Xiao Yi’s personality, or Xu Yi’s body?

“Be good. Watch the movie.” Lu Xingyan gave Xu Yi’s lower back a gentle pat, then withdrew his hands and sat up ramrod straight in his seat.

Xu Yi could only stare at him, utterly dumbfounded.

But then he noticed the tent, still standing tall.

A hand reached out, experimental, brushing against it for a heartbeat before snatching back.

Now there were two of them sitting ramrod straight.

Two people with zero experience, heads full of filth, and absolutely no courage.

It was only after they’d separated that Lu Xingyan could slowly cool his thoughts.

He had no idea what the movie was about.

But suddenly, many things made sense.

Why both Xu Yi and Xiao Yi had such volatile, unpredictable tempers.

Why Xiao Yi had suddenly wanted to cut ties after that first day of military training.

Probably the little bastard had felt a twinge of conscience and didn’t want to keep deceiving him.

But then why had Xu Yi come tonight? Why had he let things go this far?

Huang Mao’s words surfaced in Lu Xingyan’s mind.

Xu Yi likes men.

Did he… actually like him?