My straight roommate is so good

“Ah…” Ling Jianshu inhaled sharply, his eyebrows knitting together in a slight frown.

Qiao Song was taken aback and asked softly, “…Does it hurt a lot?”

Ling Jianshu nodded, “Mm, it hurts.”

He pulled his hand back, silently wondering to himself—was he faking it? He hadn’t even applied any pressure just now…

The two exchanged a glance, and after a moment of silence, he pursed his lips, about to defend himself.

Just then, Pei Nian came running from the direction of the lounge, shouting, “Ling Brother! I’ve got the band-aid!”

Both Qiao Song and Ling Jianshu turned to look at him.

Those two gazes felt almost tangible.

Pei Nian paused in his tracks, his eyes shifting between them. He couldn’t help but feel that his presence… was entirely unnecessary.

Seeing Pei Nian standing there awkwardly, Ling Jianshu, losing his patience, said, “Stop dawdling.”

“Huh? Oh, right, coming…”

Pei Nian snapped out of it and quickly ran over to them.

“Hello, senior!” he greeted Qiao Song politely before handing the band-aid to Ling Jianshu.

Ling Jianshu: “…” This junior really needed to go. He was so clueless.

Ling Jianshu’s handsome face grew colder, and a tense atmosphere immediately surrounded them.

Qiao Song seemed to understand something and took the band-aid from Pei Nian’s hand, tentatively offering, “How about… I apply it?”

Ling Jianshu looked up at Qiao Song, his previously stern expression softening noticeably.

He nodded, saying “Sure,” and scooted over to give Qiao Song space to sit beside him.

Following the gesture, Qiao Song sat down, carefully opening the band-aid. His tone was gentle as he said, “Lift your arm a bit.”

Ling Jianshu obediently raised his arm, his eyes fixed on his delicate features as he said in a low voice, “Be gentle.”

Although Qiao Song kept his head down, not looking directly at him, he could imagine what Ling Jianshu must look like right now.

Probably like a big puppy.

A cool and fierce one in public, but one that immediately turns into a spoiled baby in front of its owner.

Though words like “cute” had no association with his outward image, he couldn’t help but think there was a bit of cuteness about him.

These tender thoughts traveled to his fingertips as he gently pressed the band-aid onto Ling Jianshu’s wound, smoothing it over with such delicate care it felt as if he were playing the world’s most expensive piano with the lightest of touches.

Feeling those graceful hands treat him with such care, Ling Jianshu’s heart fluttered, and the muscles in his arm subconsciously tensed.

He stared at Qiao Song, his gaze so soft it seemed like it might melt.

Watching from the side, Pei Nian inexplicably felt like he was being overwhelmed by this display of affection.

But that wasn’t the end of it—after applying the band-aid, Qiao Song looked up and met Ling Jianshu’s eyes, asking softly, “Did that hurt?”

Ling Jianshu pressed his lips together and said, “A little, but it’s okay.”

“…?” Pei Nian was dumbfounded.

He had seen his senior brother, veins bulging, looking fierce during boxing matches! What was going on now? Why was he witnessing this tough guy pretending to be hurt?

He was convinced that anyone could see he was faking it.

But the next moment, he saw Qiao Song pull a small, beautifully packaged item from his pocket, place it into Ling Jianshu’s hand, and coax gently, “Here, have a little cookie, and the pain will go away, okay?”

Pei Nian: “?” You can play this game?

Even more unbelievable, his tough-guy senior brother actually nodded and said obediently, “Okay, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“…???” he was completely speechless!

He understood now—these two had just lured him in to witness this dog-torturing scene! The band-aid and cookie were nothing but tools to torment him!

Ling Jianshu lowered his gaze, looking at the cute reindeer-shaped gingerbread cookie in his hand, and with a faint smile, asked, “Did you make this yourself?”

“…” Qiao Song hesitated for a moment, then replied honestly, “No, someone gave it to me.”

Ling Jianshu’s smile froze, and he lifted his eyes to look at him. “Who gave it to you? Shen Qiuyuan? Is he bothering you again?”

“No, no!” Qiao Song quickly explained, “It was from a Santa Claus handing out free treats on campus. I was on my way to practice and grabbed two.”

Ling Jianshu fell silent for a moment, then keenly picked up on the key detail: “Two portions?”

So, Qiao Song wasn’t thinking about anyone else—only about him?

Qiao Song nodded, “Mm.”

Having received the answer he wanted, his mood immediately brightened.

Qiao Song lowered his head and took out another small cookie shaped like a Christmas tree from his pocket. He held it out in his palm and asked, “There’s also a Christmas tree one. Do you want this one? I can trade with you.”

Ling Jianshu shook his head and said, “No trade. The tree is for you.”

Qiao Song didn’t catch the hidden meaning behind his words and calmly tucked “his tree” back into his pocket.

Pei Nian, who was standing nearby, couldn’t take it anymore and mumbled softly, “Playing with puns should cost money…”

Ling Jianshu shot him a sharp look.

He immediately mimicked zipping his lips.

Qiao Song glanced at him with some apology in his eyes and said, “I won’t interrupt your training anymore. I’ll head out first.”

Before Pei Nian could say anything, Ling Jianshu had already stood up from the bench, speaking first, “You’re not interrupting. No training today.”

Qiao Song looked up at him, concerned. “Is your arm hurting?”

Ling Jianshu lied with a straight face, “Yeah, I’m injured and need to rest.”

Pei Nian almost rolled his eyes. “Sure, sure, go get some rest! Any longer, and you’ll be fully recovered!”

Ling Jianshu reached out his hand to Qiao Song.

Qiao Song looked at his slender, well-defined hand, a little confused, but still obediently placed his hand in his.

He pulled him up, a smile on his lips, “Let’s go, we’re heading back.”

The school heartthrob said this, casually holding his roommate’s hand and walking away, completely oblivious to the fact that the arm he just used was supposedly the injured one needing rest.

Qiao Song, who had quietly figured out the truth: “…”

Ling Jianshu, this dog, his acting skills were surprisingly good, huh?

Earlier, he had come running straight from the piano room. By all logic, he should be heading back to continue practicing now. But for some reason, perhaps a crossed wire in his brain, as soon as Ling Jianshu said, “Walk me back to the dorm,” he obediently did just that.

When the two reached the dorm entrance, they happened to run into Liu Junming.

He was just about to head out. Seeing them, he didn’t stop, just hurriedly called out, “Ling Brother, Qiao Qiao, I’m in a rush, so I’ll be off first!”

Ling Jianshu: “Mm.”

Before Qiao Song could even finish saying “Okay…” He had already disappeared from sight.

He was a bit puzzled, but he quickly refocused and followed Ling Jianshu into the dorm room.

Cheng Yuan was sitting at his desk playing on the computer. Hearing the door open, he thought it was Liu Junming returning, so without turning around, he asked, “Forget something?”

Qiao Song replied, “Are you asking about Junming? He just left.”

He put down his mouse and turned to look at them, asking, “Why are you back so suddenly?”

“There was something that came up,” Qiao Song replied, not getting into specifics, worried that Ling Jianshu’s “injury” would be too difficult to explain.

After a moment of silence, he changed the subject and asked Cheng Yuan, “What’s Junming up to that he’s in such a hurry?”

“Oh, he’s rushing to go on a date!” Cheng Yuan chuckled.

Qiao Song raised an eyebrow, “His girlfriend came over?”

“Yep, it’s Christmas after all. She wanted to surprise him and said she’s already waiting downstairs at the dorm,” Cheng Yuan remarked, clicking his tongue, “That’s the smell of romance!”

As if on cue, Qiao Song’s phone rang. It was a voice call from Xia Zhe on WeChat.

Without thinking much of it, he answered.

Xia Zhe’s loud voice boomed through the speaker, “Qiao Qiao, I’m back in the country! Guess where I am right now?”

Qiao Song suddenly had a bad feeling. Glancing nervously at Ling Jianshu, he asked cautiously, “You’re not… at my school gate, are you?”

Xia Zhe: “Of course not!”

He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But then Xia Zhe added, “I’m already downstairs at your dorm!”

“…?!” his relief was short-lived as anxiety shot right back up.

Ling Jianshu was emitting a cold, intimidating aura beside him, and the already limited space in the dorm felt stifling under the heavy atmosphere.

He didn’t even dare to sneak a glance at his expression.

Instinctively, he covered his mouth with his hand and whispered to Xia Zhe, “Wait for me a moment. I’ll come down right now…”

He hung up the call.

He could feel both Ling Jianshu and Cheng Yuan staring at him, their gazes practically tangible.

It wasn’t their fault—Xia Zhe’s call couldn’t have come at a worse time. Right after Cheng Yuan mentioned Liu Junming’s girlfriend’s surprise visit, Xia Zhe showed up.

Qiao Song remembered how he had once casually used Xia Zhe as a cover when Ling Jianshu asked what kind of guys he liked. Now he felt even more guilty.

Under no circumstances could he let Ling Jianshu meet him, or who knew what might happen.

He took two seconds to compose himself, then forced a calm smile and casually said, “My friend just returned from abroad, so I’m going to grab lunch with him.”

He thought he could get away with it, but Ling Jianshu, keenly sensing something, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is this the friend you used to learn piano with?”

“…!” Alarm bells went off in Qiao Song’s head.

Cheng Yuan, looking curious, asked, “Ling Brother you know Qiao Qiao’s friend?”

Ling Jianshu vaguely replied, “I’ve heard of him.”

He didn’t elaborate on who told him or what was said, but Qiao Song knew exactly what was going on!

Sensing the imminent danger, Qiao Song quickly threw out a “I’ll head downstairs first” and made a beeline for the door.

Unfortunately, “escape” wasn’t an option here.

With his long legs, Ling Jianshu caught up to him in two steps, slung an arm over his shoulder, and said, “Let’s go. I’m coming with you.”