Lin Hao grinned, his bright eyes and dazzling smile lighting up the dim living room.
Shen Yu’s gaze grew even deeper.
Lin Hao didn’t notice at all—he was too busy congratulating himself on his quick thinking and clever excuse.
“GOGOGO!” Lin Hao’s sudden enthusiasm for “work” would have brought tears to Old Man Lin’s eyes if he’d seen it.
Shen Yu snapped back to reality and instantly regretted everything.
Loving someone isn’t so bad. Loving someone who’s utterly clueless? That’s real torture.
And this clueless guy? He never learns his lesson—he only remembers the good stuff, never the pain.
Lin Hao followed Shen Yu into his study and immediately asked, “Where’s the light switch?”
Before Shen Yu could answer, half the lights in the study turned on automatically.
Lin Hao was impressed. “Smart home, huh?” Apparently the rest of the place was like this too, but he’d never noticed before.
Shen Yu knew Lin Hao was afraid of ghosts—and afraid to be alone—so he simply turned on every light in the study, making it as bright as midday.
This comforted Lin Hao immensely. He finally relaxed, no longer feeling like the room was packed with monsters.
“You do your thing!” Lin Hao said. “I won’t bother you, I’ll just quietly watch.”
“Mm.” Shen Yu didn’t actually have anything urgent to do, but since he’d claimed to be busy, he might as well pretend. Besides, work was the only thing that distracted him—whenever he started thinking about Lin Hao over the past four years, he’d bury himself in work.
Endless, mind-numbing work was the only thing that could suppress the longing that threatened to swallow his heart.
With the study so well-lit, Lin Hao felt at ease, settling onto the sofa with his fruit plate.
The horror movie had been too much—he’d only managed a few cherries, but now he sat cross-legged on the couch, munching away happily.
Every now and then, he’d glance up at Shen Yu. The reason? To make sure his roommate hadn’t been dragged away by a ghost.
He stared openly, but being stared at made Shen Yu feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Work? How was he supposed to work?
Every time he looked up, he saw Lin Hao’s messy hair, his pale face, lips stained red from cherries, and those long legs sticking out from his loose shorts...
There was no way to focus.
Four years ago, before he’d torn down that last barrier, Shen Yu had imagined this scene a thousand times.
He’d wanted to be with Lin Hao, to live with him.
To breathe the same air every minute, to see him every second, to keep him by his side forever and ever.
He loved him.
He’d known it since his teenage years.
But Lin Hao didn’t know—and didn’t love him back.
Shen Yu lowered his eyes, staring at the document in his hands. The page was covered in tiny print, but all he could see was “Lin Hao,” over and over, carved into his heart.
Why did he love someone this much?
How could love make him lose himself like this?
Shen Yu couldn’t forgive himself for being so hopelessly obsessed.
Lin Hao finished his fruit and got bored.
He checked the time—it was already 10:40.
Shen Yu couldn’t sit still either. If he could just get through tonight, he’d find a way to escape... there had to be a way. If he went on a business trip, he wouldn’t have to see Lin Hao.
“All done,” Shen Yu finally said, standing up. “Go get some sleep.”
Lin Hao had come to “learn,” but all he’d learned was how many cherries he could eat in one sitting.
Now that he wasn’t scared anymore, he picked up his fruit plate, yawned, and said, “Goodnight.”
As he tilted his head back, his slender neck swayed right in front of Shen Yu’s eyes.
Shen Yu looked away, his voice a little rough. “Goodnight.”
That’s enough. Really, that’s enough.
After tomorrow, they’d go their separate ways.
Or so Shen Yu told himself.
At 1 a.m., just as Shen Yu was finally drifting off, he heard a knock at his door.
“What is it?” Shen Yu’s temples throbbed as he got up to open the door.
Standing there was Lin Hao, clutching a pillow, eyes wide open.
For a moment, time seemed to rewind.
The boy who used to sneak into his room at night overlapped perfectly with the young man in front of him.
Lin Hao just couldn’t take it anymore. The moment he’d gone back to his own room, he’d been scared out of his mind. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t shake the creepy feeling, couldn’t get comfortable.
Even with all the awkwardness from four years ago, his fear of ghosts was stronger than his pride, so he knocked on Shen Yu’s door.
Lin Hao forced a sheepish smile, trying to sound casual: “Uh... can I stay in here with you...?”
Shen Yu’s mind went completely blank, his dark eyes burning like ghostly fire in the night. “Lin Hao, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Chapter 05
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