Behind the Shower Door

Xu Shuche sat on the long bench by the basketball court, wearing earphones.

He blocked out the lively noise of the team practicing in the distance, which sounded as chaotic as Flower-Fruit Mountain every time they trained.

Staring at the small screen of his phone, he focused on replying to his advisor’s email, completely immersed in his own world and losing track of time.

After typing the final period, he let out a long breath.

He narrowed his eyes and stretched lazily, tugging the hem of his shirt upward and revealing half of his waist.

“Senior, I’ve told you many times.”

Jian Yixun had just finished morning training and hurried over to find him.

He happened to see the exposed waist caused by that stretch.

“Wear your clothes properly.”

Xu Shuche made a soft sound, his voice languid.

“What’s wrong with stretching?”

“Your waist is showing.”

Jian Yixun looked like the class monitor of a moral conduct class, speaking seriously.

“You don’t know how scary those gay guys are. They love tricking innocent boys like you. Be careful.”

Xu Shuche thought to himself that he was one of those “scheming gay guys.”

Tilting his head up at him, he changed the subject.

“I’m hungry.”

Jian Yixun quickly washed his hands at the side and dug something out of his backpack, tossing it into Xu Shuche’s arms.

“Eat this first to fill your stomach. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

Xu Shuche tore open the cream bun wrapper and took a bite.

He subtly turned his head as if watching students walking or jogging on the track.

In truth, he was secretly studying Jian Yixun.

He hadn’t expected Jian Yixun’s bad temper to actually improve after listening to him.

Compared to before, this less irritable version of Jian Yixun really did look more pleasing to the eye.

“Senior, how can you manage to get cream all over the place just from eating bread?”

Xu Shuche froze.

He instinctively stuck out his tongue to lick the cream from the corner of his lips—

—and brushed against something warm.

Jian Yixun had meant to wipe the cream away.

He hadn’t expected to touch the tip of Xu Shuche’s tongue instead.

It was moist and unguarded, lightly sliding across his fingertip, leaving behind an indescribable tickle.

A roar seemed to explode in his ears.

Xu Shuche, still unaware of the seriousness, tentatively licked again.

Only then did he sense something was off.

He looked up slightly.

“What are you doing?”

Jian Yixun’s entire attention was fixed on that small flash of crimson tongue.

His mind felt like it was stuffed with paste.

“I… I wanted to help you wipe the cream…”

“Cream?”

Xu Shuche blinked blankly.

He stuck out his tongue once more and finally cleaned it off.

The vivid red against the pale cream created a striking contrast.

“Senior, you… eat properly.”

He said it quickly and awkwardly.

Xu Shuche raised a brow, puzzled.

How was that not eating properly?

Jian Yixun lowered his head like an ostrich.

“Senior, want to grab lunch together later?”

Xu Shuche unbuttoned his collar slightly.

“I sweated a lot just now. I want to go back and shower.”

“Don’t go back.”

The distance between the court and the dorm was enormous.

A round trip would take nearly an hour.

The food stall Jian Yixun planned to take him to was always packed.

If they were late, they’d have to queue forever.

“Our locker room has showers.”

“It’s right next door. Super convenient.”

Xu Shuche glanced toward the court.

The others were still practicing.

He didn’t particularly want to use a public shower.

But thinking about the long walk back to the dorm, he eventually compromised.

“Fine. I’ll rinse off quickly.”

“I’ll wait outside.”

The locker room prepared for the basketball team was spacious.

There were dozens of lockers and several shower stalls.

Each stall was large enough for a comfortable wash.

Using Jian Yixun’s locker key, Xu Shuche opened it.

Instead of the smell of sweat he had imagined, a familiar fresh toner scent greeted him.

The locker was tidy, holding only two sets of spare clothes.

Xu Shuche changed and carefully folded his clothes beside Jian Yixun’s.

He chose the stall closest to the door and turned on the water.

Just then, the locker room door opened and closed.

“Senior, are you showering?”

Jian Yixun knocked lightly.

“I brought you a new towel. Want it?”

Xu Shuche had removed his glasses.

Everything looked blurry.

Without them, he felt instinctively less secure.

“No need.”

“Alright. I’ll wait outside.”

He fell silent.

Before Xu Shuche could fully relax, the door opened again.

“Jian Yixun, what are you doing here? Finished training?”

A rough, unfamiliar voice.

“Coach, I…”

Jian Yixun’s tone tightened.

Xu Shuche had just turned off the shower, so he heard everything clearly.

“I have lunch plans, so I came early to shower.”

“Then why are you standing here? Go shower.”

“I…”

After some awkward laughter, he stripped down to his tank top and underwear, grabbed a towel, and stepped into the first stall—

Meeting Xu Shuche’s gaze directly.

Steam had flushed Xu Shuche’s cheeks pink.

Without glasses, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

When he recognized Jian Yixun, they widened.

“You—!”

A large hand covered his mouth.

“Shh, senior.”

Jian Yixun turned on the adjacent shower, letting the sound of water drown them out.

“That’s our coach. If he finds out I brought someone in, I’m dead.”

Water soaked through his tank top, clinging tightly to his skin.

Xu Shuche made muffled sounds, lips brushing against Jian Yixun’s palm.

The sensation reminded Jian Yixun of earlier, when that tongue had touched him.

The heat from the water made everything feel hotter.

“Once coach leaves, I’ll go out.”

He released him reluctantly and pressed himself against the door to listen.

Just as he was about to leave, loud chatter erupted outside.

“Where’s Brother Xun?”

“Probably showering.”

“Good thing coach didn’t catch us slacking.”

Jian Yixun exhaled in relief.

He gestured that he would go out—

—but Xu Shuche grabbed him.

Wrapped in a towel, eyes misted and pleading, he shook his head.

He was afraid of exposing himself before strangers.

That fear was carved deep into him.

He needed someone beside him for security.

Only now did Jian Yixun truly see him.

A faint scar crossed his pale abdomen.

More coin-sized scars dotted his forearm.

Almost without thinking, Jian Yixun reached out and touched the scar on his stomach.

A tingling sensation spread upward.

Xu Shuche’s legs weakened.

He stumbled forward.

Jian Yixun caught him in a fluster, smooth skin pressing into his palms.

“Don’t touch.”

Xu Shuche’s voice trembled softly.

“It tickles.”

Jian Yixun’s heartbeat thundered painfully fast.

Xu Shuche reached out instinctively to steady himself.

His movement halted suddenly.

Heat rushed from his ears to his cheeks.

Outside, the noise continued beyond the thin wall.

Inside, only their uneven breathing filled the stall.

“Senior, I…”

His voice burned near Xu Shuche’s ear.

“Brother Xun still not out?”

“Forget it…”

Jian Yixun swallowed and gently pinched Xu Shuche’s flushed earlobe.

A soft sound escaped him.

His body trembled.

Just as Jian Yixun had guessed.

Soft.

“Senior, you also…”

Xu Shuche shook his head weakly.

“Don’t…”

He bit down on Jian Yixun’s firm shoulder to stifle any sound.

“Senior,” Jian Yixun whispered hoarsely.

“Help me one more time.”