Chapter 2783 The Online Game Master's "Straight Male" Roommate 27

Jin Chen released her hand, a slight smile curving her lips. "Okay."

He turned to the side, sat down, wrapped his arms around Cheng Lang's waist, pressed his cheek against Cheng Lang's, and closed his eyes.

Cheng Lang raised his hand and stroked Jin Chen's hair, gently rubbing it as he had done countless times before.

He lowered his eyes, but felt a little uneasy.

Jin Chen silently counted to ten in his mind.

"Hold on tight," Jin Chen said in a light tone, "Thank you, senior."

The brief warmth in Cheng Lang's arms vanished abruptly.

He was used to Jin Chen's constant rubbing and dependence, and now the hugs, which were just enough, were like a cup of lukewarm water. Instead of quenching his thirst, they aroused a deeper longing, yet he could not satisfy it. This gave rise to a kind of itchy dissatisfaction, like scratching an itch through a boot.

"It's getting late, senior, you should get some rest too. Goodnight."

“…Good night.” Cheng Lang’s voice was hoarse.

Cheng Lang stood there for a few seconds before finally turning around and walking out of the second bedroom.

Little did they know, Jin Chen behind them was supporting her cheek with one hand, a smile playing on her lips.

It seems like I'm about to lose control, honey.

-

Cheng Lang returned to his room and, after much hesitation, dialed Xu Can's number.

The phone rang for a long time before being answered. Xu Can's voice came through the other end, yawning repeatedly, "Hey... Langzi? What's up in the middle of the night... My graduation project is killing me, I just lay down."

“Can,” Cheng Lang said, unusually confused and irritable, “I have a question for you.”

"Say it..." Xu Can's voice was weak and feeble.

“Xiao Chen has been acting a bit strange lately,” Cheng Lang described, expressing his bewildered feelings.

“He’s become cold and distant towards me. He doesn’t want to hug me anymore, and he comes home late at night. He even avoids me if I touch him.”

Xu Can on the other end of the phone: "Hiss."

"...Langzi, why does that sound so familiar?"

"That sounds familiar?" Cheng Lang didn't understand. "Who else has said something similar to you?"

"It's like an 8 PM family drama!" Xu Can said, enjoying the drama. "It's the kind where a heartbroken wife suspects her husband of cheating."

Cheng Lang: "..."

"Did you go crazy from working on your graduation project?"

"You're the one who's stupid!" Xu Can retorted. "Langzi, have you forgotten? Aren't you and Jinchen currently practicing being just friends?"

"Isn't that how it is between ordinary friends? We talk when there's something to discuss, and when there's nothing to do, we each go about our own business. It's your own request."

"But I don't want this." Cheng Lang's voice lowered.

"So you don't want this, isn't it because you like him?" Xu Can yawned again.

This time, Cheng Lang unusually did not refute immediately. After remaining silent for a while, he rubbed his face and looked dejected.

"I don't know," Cheng Lang said hoarsely.

He just felt that if his relationship with Jinchen could only remain at the level of ordinary friends in this life, he would inevitably feel disappointed and regretful.

Xu Can sighed again, and said with emotion, "Langzi, do you remember what Qiu Wei said at the end that day in the multimedia room?"

“She said,” Xu Can slowly repeated, “you don’t have to give me a gift, you can just like Jin Chen, and that’s not a big deal.”

After Xu Can finished speaking, he was so sleepy that he said, "Alright, stop thinking about it and go to sleep."

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Lang took off his coat and got into bed.

The blankets were warm, but he still felt empty and cold inside.

With her eyes closed, her body still savored the sensation of Jin Chen's brief embrace, and the unsatisfying feeling of being scratched only intensified.

His thoughts drifted back.

Backstage at the comic convention that day, in that abandoned, dimly lit magic room.

A cramped space, stuffy air, and intertwined breaths.

Jin Chen's well-defined knuckles pressed against his lips on the side of his neck, biting the dull pain and tingling sensation in his earlobe.

And his whispers in my ear.

Cheng Lang suddenly opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling, his chest heaving.

After a long while, he abandoned all his principles, felt cold, and put his hand inside the blanket.

Finally admitted it.

He could never willingly remain just ordinary friends with Jin Chen for the rest of his life.

Their relationship should not, and absolutely should not, end like this.

-

On Christmas Eve, the festive atmosphere on campus reached its peak.

The college's Christmas party was held in the school's largest auditorium.

The e-tickets released in advance through the school's official WeChat account were snapped up, and the auditorium was packed with seats and brightly lit.

Jin Chen sat in the front row of the audience. His class was also performing, and the class monitor, who had become more familiar with him recently, had pulled him over to make up the numbers and be a surprise audience member.

He looked down at his phone. Cheng Lang had just sent him a message: Xiao Chen, come home early tonight. I have a Christmas present for you.

Jin Chen smiled and replied.

The message had just been sent when someone suddenly squeezed into the empty seat. The class monitor was carrying a large bouquet of flowers, his cheeks were flushed and sweat was beading on his forehead.

"Jin Chen! Jin Chen! It's an emergency!" The class monitor spoke as fast as a machine gun, shoving the bouquet of flowers into Jin Chen's arms.

Jin Chen was taken aback by this unexpected gift and instinctively accepted it, saying, "You're forcing it on me."

The class monitor clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. "Chen, please help me! Our advisor suddenly needs me urgently, and I have to go right away! But my brother, my own brother! He's in the next performance, and he repeatedly told me to rush up and give him flowers as soon as he finishes his performance! Otherwise, if he's the only one without any, he'll skin me alive when we get back!"

He took a breath and continued, "My brother looks a lot like me, you'll recognize him at a glance! He's playing the knight. Please, Chen, treat you to dinner and milk tea later! Order whatever you like!"

Just then, the class monitor's phone rang again; it seemed to be a barrage of calls from the counselor.

The class monitor, phone in hand, bowed to Jin Chen again, then turned and hurriedly ran away down the aisle, leaving Jin Chen sitting there holding a large bouquet of flowers.

Jinchen: "..."

"Wow, this kid's got a fast tongue, like he's playing a clapper." Ling Gun Gun, perched on his head, watched with great interest.

Jin Chen lowered her head and sent another message to Cheng Lang: It might be a little late. The class monitor had something come up and asked me to deliver some flowers for him.