The Class Genius Sitting Next to Me Is Always Trying To Flirt With Me

Ye Cheng’s school uniform was drenched, a nasty chill permeating his skin. He shrank in the warm and steady embrace, arms wrapped tightly around the man’s waist.

Lu Xiao felt short of breath, his arms full of Ye Cheng’s cold body. His heart beat more deafening than the sound of thunder.

Ba-thump! Ba-thump!

He has lived for eighteen years, the only person of the opposite gender he has ever hugged being his mother, let alone anyone of the same.

Lu Xiao’s throat rolled. The person in his arms had lost his natural aloofness, like a wet kitten shivering in a storm as he burrowed in to his embrace. He wasn’t sure if he should push him away or hug him back in comfort. He stood there, lost.

It seems that nothing is right.

Until the voice at the end of the corridor sounded again,

“Ow- meow~”

Weak and milky.

Ye Cheng gradually came to his senses. The tone seemed.. a little familiar? Not quite like a evil baby spirits sinister cry in horror movies?

Lu Xiao gave Ye Chengs back a jerky pat, movements unsure but voice considerably gentle; “Don’t worry, it’s only a wild cat. It often comes here to hide.”

Only then did Ye Cheng realise what he had done, his face flushing red as he scrambled to release his hold on Lu Xiao and step back.

Even if he was scared, why would he hug Lu Xiao?

Lu Xiao gave his shoulder another faulty pat, then retracted his hand embarrassingly.

Ye Cheng’s brain turned, sluggishly returning his reason for being here. He glanced at Lu Xiao, temporarily forgetting the shock and asked, “Are you all right? Why did you come to the hospital?”

Originally it was Lu Xiao who questioned him, but this time it was reversed.

Lu Xiao glanced at his dripping clothes and didn’t answer, instead, with sudden enlightenment: “You… came to see me?”

“Yes,” Ye Cheng said, “Otherwise why would I fight such heavy rain to come out?”

He lifted his clothes gingerly, the wet, sticky feeling, like being entangled by some slimy creature, extremely uncomfortable.

Hearing his words, Lu Xiao’s breathing became messy, his hands hanging at his sides clenched before loosening, as if he was suppressing some untold emotions.

Ye Cheng looked around, seeing no one had come out even after all the fuss, “Is there no night shift worker?”

When Ye Cheng glanced back at Lu Xiao he saw he had come through the door with something in his hand and snapped back to reality, “ Are you feeling uncomfortable? Would you like me to call a doctor for you?”

“No, I’m fine.” Lu Xiao’s voice was slightly hoarse, a hint of tenderness threaded through that he himself didn’t notice.

Ye Cheng looked at him and asked tentatively, “Have you been in a bad mood lately?”

He tried to be as euphemistic as possible.

Lu Xiao choked, finally understanding what he meant.

“I’m fine, it’s a… relative, that’s been hospitalized.” He explained embarrassingly.

Ye Cheng heaved a sigh in relief, the stone in his heart falling to the ground, “So that’s how it is, I thought it was you.” He explained with a minute nervous laugh.

“How did you know-“

Lu Xiao opened his mouth to question him, but halfway through Ye Cheng couldn’t help sneezing.

He had been in the rain for a long time, then in an open area full of air conditioning; it was really cold.

Lu Xiao immediately took off his jacket and put it around Ye Cheng’s shoulders.

He had obviously never done such a thing before, as the jacket on Ye Cheng’s shoulder was in a mess.

Ye Cheng thanked him then maneuvered the jacket so it was on properly, zipping it up to keep the warmth in.

“Wait for me here,” Lu Xiao shook the plastic bag in his hand, “I’ll go up and put this down, and then I’ll take you to get a room.”

As soon as the words fell, both of them felt that something was wrong.

Ye Cheng touched his nose and muttered a quiet “oh”.

Lu Xiao didn’t say anything else, walking towards the elevator with an unnatural look on his face.

While waiting for him, Ye Cheng sent a message to Gao Qiulan, letting her know the rain was too much and he wouldn’t be back tonight.

Gao Quilan hadn’t gone to sleep yet, so she replied that he should pay attention to his safety and send her the location of where he would be staying as a precaution.

Ye Cheng wasn’t worried and agreed to her requests.

Five minutes later, Lu Xiao returned.

“There’s only one umbrella upstairs and I left it.” He said, showing his empty hands.

Ye Cheng modded, “Use mine then. Where are we going?”

On the way to the hospital, he vaguely remembered seeing a small hotel.

Lu Xiao didn’t answer him, “Let’s go, It’s not far from here.”

Ye Cheng paused before following, asking uncertainly, “Don’t you need to accompany your relative?”

“No.” Lu Xiao lowered his head, as if he didn’t want to explain. Ye Cheng nodded without asking more and they headed towards the door.

When the automatic doors slid open at their arrival, the wind blew in, rain rushing forth to coat their legs, the chill rushing up along their hair like a ghostly hug.

“It’s raining even harder.” Lu Xiao frowned, displeasure written across his brow.

Ye Cheng passed the jacket on his shoulders back to Lu Xiao, opening his umbrella with a watery flourish, thunder rumbling in the sky as lightning cracked over their head.

“Come here!” Ye Cheng shouted over the noise. Lu Xiao moved closer, standing shoulder to shoulder as Ye Cheng raised the umbrella over their heads.

Squeezing together they stepped out of the door and into the rainstorm, the puddles on the ground immediately soaking their shoes as they trudged forward, rain and wind whipping around them torrentially.

The umbrella struggled to hold the rain back, its fabric rippling as the wind pushed against it and rain fought to break through.

With two half grown men standing beneath one umbrella, it was inevitable for the rain to sneak around the edges, soaking a corner of Lu Xiao’s shirt.

“I have to come here every summer and this always happens.” Lu Xiao muttered furiously, glancing disdainfully at the water that soaked his clothes before looking forward at the blurred road.

Ye Cheng glanced at Lu Xiao, a flash of lightning striking the sky. Ye Cheng caught sight of Lu Xiao’s face, wet hair stuck to his forehead, rain running from his cheeks like tears, eyes dark with unhappiness.

Like an angry puppy, he thought in amusement, letting out a light laugh.

Little did he know that Lu Xiao had also linked him to an animal after his little stunt from earlier, and if he did; they would’ve quarreled on the spot.

Lu Xiao shook his head, wet hair pushed back as he squinted at Ye Cheng’s smug grin he tried to hide, “What are you laughing at? You can actually laugh.”

Lu Xiao’s expression was dark, supposed to be scary but Ye Cheng felt it was more like an attempt at being scary, which only highlighted his handsomeness.

Ye Chang was distracted, lost in thought as a surge of wind came from ahead of them, knocking the umbrella unsteadily from Ye Cheng’s loose grip, causing it to drop back.

Rain poured over their heads with a vengeance. They were soaked within seconds, looking like two lost souls fished out of the sea.

“Ye Cheng!” Lu Xiao shouted, so angry his voice broke, “What are you doing?!”

Ye Cheng couldn’t help but let out a laugh, Stifling it at the look Lu Xiao sent his way.

The two looked at each other in tense silence as the rain continued to pour over them.

They couldn’t help but laugh, both of them pointing to one another like fools as they stood in the rain and laughed wildly.

The umbrella was broken and could no longer be used. Lu Xiao used the drenched jacket as a deterrent and covered both of them as they huddled together and ran the rest of the way in the downpour.

Two pairs of legs ran together, feet splashing through puddles, sending mud and water up in their wake as they ran off. Disguised in the summer rainstorm, they huddled together and ran, laughing all the way.

Soon, they arrived at the little hotel Ye Cheng had glimpsed when he first arrived.

Ye Cheng glanced at the dilapidated sign hanging at the door, the words “Ruyi Hotel” written on it crookedly. It looked like something in a red light district.

Lu Xiao walked up to the old man behind the counter, his shoes leaving water marks on the flooring.

Lu Xiao asked for an extra room, he had stayed here the night before as it was the only hotel around. Ye Cheng was worried that the old man would want to check their I.D but he only pushed forward a guest check in sheet and got them to write it down by hand.

The old Boss looked to be in his sixties, his blue eyes cloudy as his gaze looked over the two of them.

“Are you sure you want two rooms? Don’t ask me to check one out in the middle of the night because you suddenly realised it’s not worth it.” He spoke in the Qingshan dialect, his tone sharp and words rude as his age-spotted hands recorded their information down on the paper before him.

“We need another mosquito coil and a new towel.” Lu Xiao ignored his previous words, impatience thick in his voice. The old Boss threw Lu Xiao an irritated glare before turning around to look for the items.

Lu Xiao turned to Ye Cheng, “ There are a lot of mosquitos here at night.”

Ye Cheng gave a vague sound of acknowledgement as he looked around the receding room, eyes taking in the moldy walls covered with cobwebs, a ceiling riddled with cracks, the whole place oozing with disrepair.

The old boss turned back to the counter, dropping the mosquito coil and towel onto the counter roughly as he muttered, his expression looked as if he was cursing them.

Ye Cheng avoided his gaze stiffly, goosebumps rising on his arms.

He leaned closer to Lu Xiao, whispering softly, “Isn’t this a black shop?”

Lu Xiao glanced at him with faint amusement, “You have a very vivid imagination.”

Ye Cheng rolled his eyes as the old boss’ voice interrupted.

“Ten Yuan.” He said, sliding the mosquito coil and towel forward as Lu Xiao scanned the QR code to pay with his phone before picking up the two items and leading Ye Cheng up the stairs.

Behind them, the old man watched them go, his cloudy eyes sharp, body as motionless as a statue. If Ye Cheng looked back now he would be sure that the old man was possessed.

**

The corridor of the hotel was covered in lush red carpet, mottled with oil stains and clumps of unidentifiable hair throughout. The smell of moisture and mold in the air clogging the senses uncomfortably.

As Lu Xiao led the way, Ye Cheng observed his surroundings, unknown to him if it was because of the rain or the creepy environment that made his heart cold and his head groggy.

Lu Xiao took him to the last room, swiping the door card to open the door, leading Ye Cheng in.

“This is your room, I’ll be next door if you need anything.”

Ye Cheng nodded, gaze traveling around the old and motley hotel room. Goosebumps rising with a vengeance, Shit! This is the most haunted room he has ever seen!

He was hesitant to speak, the words stuck in his mouth as he remembered his earlier situation with the cat in the hospital weighed on his mind.

If he changed rooms right now, it would be too embarrassing. It would be basically admitting he was scared of ghosts.

It was estimated Lu Xiao would laugh at him for the next ten years… but that’s fine…

Behind him, Lu Xiao had helped him turn on the lights, skillfully taking the small iron plate from the cupboard and lighting the mosquito coil before dropping the towel on the bed and retreating to the door as the smoke started to curl and rise, the pungent smell spreading quickly.

Ye Cheng coughed, the smell breaking him out of his thoughts.

“It’s almost enough to burn for an hour, remember to put it out before you go to sleep.”

Ye Cheng gave him a nod.

The room fell into silence, the two of them left staring at each other, the awkwardness that had been suppressed now surging up with a fury.

Lu Xiao couldn’t help feeling nervous, unsure where to put his eyes and hands.

“I’ll leave first then, call me if you need anything.” He left in a hurry, closing the door behind him.

Ye Cheng stood still for a minute, his mind slowly catching up. Frowning, he looked to the door before glancing around him again.

Actually, he would’ve preferred if Lu Xiao stayed for a little bit longer, at least until he had showered.

Many people who love to watch ghost movies are timid and have a common problem, that is- they will fantasize when they close their eyes.

It’s not that he likes to think wildly, but he can’t help it.

Ye Cheng suffered through his shower, almost collapsing when the water forced him to close his eyes. He always had the sticky feeling of being spied on by multiple eyes, feeling as though he was going to be swallowed up in the next second.

After a quick shower, he almost fled from the bathroom, only to realise he did not have any clean clothes to change into.

Ye Cheng was thankful that Lu Xiao wasn’t here, otherwise it would be an extremely embarrassing situation even more so.

Wearing the bare minimum, he kept all the lights on as he sat on the bed with half dry hair, his skin itchy as it came into contact with the poor quality sheets.

As he laid there, obviously sleepy but not able to sleep, he reached over to his phone but found that the signal was extremely poor, only able to keep searching in circles without picking anything up.

Putting the phone back, he gazed up at the cracked ceiling and willed himself to sleep, trying to ignore the ghostly sounds coming from the bathroom as the shower leaked in a steady stream.

Without warning, a loud pop! Sounded overhead before the lights blinked out, plunging Ye Cheng into darkness.

Startled, he rolled off the bed and sat against the wall in shock, reaching for his phone to see that it was no longer charging. Obviously the power had gone out.

The sound from the shower was extra ghostly in the dark, the slow and steady drip drip drip of the water seemingly getting louder as it fell.

Ye Cheng gripped his phone with pale hands, the hair on his arms raising ominously.

After two minutes, he was unable to bear it and stood in a haste as he fumbled to put his clothes on, stumbling out of the room with his shirt on backwards and barefoot. But he really couldn’t wait.