In the hallway, even though Sheng Wang had already walked away to his destination, Jiang Tian stayed rooted to the spot where his Xiao Wang had left. A look of fascination was clear on his face, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes that he couldn't quite put into words.
He wanted to call out to Sheng Wang and ask him about his phone, but somehow, the right words never seemed to come out of his mouth. When they'd been staring into each other's eyes moments ago, all he could think about was how much he missed the way Sheng Wang's eyes would light up whenever he saw him. Now, those eyes kept looking anywhere but at him, evading his gaze.
Damn, he'd give anything to go back to those days when Sheng Wang would casually invade his personal space, marking it as if it were his own territory, too.
But no matter how badly he wanted to be close to Sheng Wang again, he knew he couldn't force it, especially when he had no idea what might be going on in that pretty little head of his.
Did Sheng Wang hate him now?
Had he done something to upset him?
Whatever it was, Jiang Tian would do anything just to bring back the ease they used to share. He'd give up everything he had if it meant Sheng Wang would cling to him again. He'd be anything or anyone Sheng Wang needed him to be.
That was how much he missed him.
So much, in fact, that it felt like his heart was breaking a little every time Sheng Wang pulled away, despite all his promises to always be there for him, to be his home, and never to leave.
From the beginning, Jiang Tian had known that what he felt for his stepbrother was different. Something deeper, something far more intense than just a simple friendship or brotherly love. The truth was, he didn't even want Sheng Wang as a brother. He wanted him to be his, and his alone. And that desire was precisely why he couldn't bring himself to tell Sheng Wang how he truly felt. Because once he admitted his feelings openly, he knew he wouldn't want to share him with anyone else. He'd want Sheng Wang by his side, always, and he knew that kind of possessiveness was the last thing Sheng Wang would want. Sheng Wang deserved freedom, not to feel caged or obligated to spend all his time with him.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Jiang Tian sighed once more, chuckling softly at his own foolishness before finally turning to leave the hallway.
***
Later that evening, almost everyone had finished their evening study sessions, and Sheng Wang was quickly gathering up his things so he could head back to their dorm. His encounter with Jiang Tian earlier had left him rattled, so he had buried himself in his books to distract himself. But now, he realized he hadn't eaten since lunch, and it was already twenty minutes past nine. His stomach growled in protest, and he decided to grab a snack on the way back to their dorm.
Unfortunately, by the time he reached the stores, they had all closed for the night. All he managed to find was a box of milk. "Well, this will have to do," he said to himself, feeling a bit disappointed but resigned.
When he got to the dorm, the lights were still on, but everything was silent. It seemed like everyone was either asleep or in the showers. However, when he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Jiang Tian, engrossed in a book. Both Shi Yu and Gao Tianyang were already asleep.
Jiang Tian was sitting there, looking effortlessly attractive in a loose white T-shirt and black shorts. His hair was tousled, likely from the breeze blowing in through the open window, and his posture was relaxed as he leaned back in the chair. As he turned a page, the muscles in his arms flexed slightly, catching Sheng Wang's attention.
Unintentionally, Sheng Wang found himself staring until Jiang Tian noticed him and looked up, a slight look of confusion on his face. "Sheng Wang?" he called out.
"Ah… I didn't realize you were still awake," Sheng Wang mumbled, barely able to keep his voice steady. His thoughts were racing, his heart pounding. What on earth was that reaction? Why had he been staring so openly?
Sheng Wang quickly crossed the room to his bed, trying to collect himself. He placed his bag on the top bunk, thinking he'd write down some notes later, and reached into his pocket for his phone. It was only then that he remembered he still had Jiang Tian's phone.
Reluctantly, Sheng Wang took out Jiang Tian's phone and, despite his hesitation, walked over to him. "Hey," he called softly.
Jiang Tian turned to look at him, his expression calm. "Hmm?"
Without another word, Sheng Wang held out the phone, and Jiang Tian reached for it. Their hands brushed, and a jolt of something intense shot up Sheng Wang's spine, almost making him jump.
But he managed to keep his composure—or so he thought.
In truth, Jiang Tian saw everything. He noticed the slight widening of Sheng Wang's eyes, the way a single vein on his forehead became visible, the nervous swallow, and even the subtle way Sheng Wang nearly pulled his hand back as soon as the phone changed hands.
And just like earlier, they found themselves locked in each other's gaze again. This time, though, Sheng Wang was quick to break the tension. "There… there was a notification," he stammered, unsure of what to say.
Jiang Tian raised an eyebrow, amusement showing in his eyes as he waited for Sheng Wang to continue.
"I didn't look at it, I swear!" Sheng Wang added defensively, his cheeks flushing slightly.
Jiang Tian chuckled softly, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth that he managed to stop from growing into a wide grin. "I didn't say you did," he replied.
Sheng Wang hurriedly turned back to his bed, pretending he hadn't heard anything, but Jiang Tian noticed the hesitation. He watched as Sheng Wang stood by the bunk bed's ladder, almost as if he were unsure whether to climb up or not.
After a few moments, Jiang Tian stood up and approached him. As he got closer, he leaned in just a bit, stopping mere inches from Sheng Wang's back. "And I don't mind even if you look at it," he said, his voice low and teasing. "It's no big deal. I could even give you my password if you want."
Sheng Wang froze, surprised by Jiang Tian's sudden nearness. He turned around quickly, not realizing how close Jiang Tian was until he found their faces mere inches apart. His breath caught and his heart began to race even faster.
Trying to regain his composure, Sheng Wang put on a nonchalant expression, attempting to seem unaffected. "I… I didn't say I wanted it either! What if it was a private message from… a friend of yours?" he stammered.
Jiang Tian let out a soft chuckle, taking a step forward, which only made Sheng Wang more flustered. "H-hey! What are you—" he began, but his words were cut off as Jiang Tian placed a hand on the ladder's top rung, holding his gaze.
Sheng Wang's heart was pounding so hard, he was sure Jiang Tian could hear it. Just as he was about to say something else, Jiang Tian stepped back, revealing that he had simply reached for his phone charger that was hung from the top bunk's frame.
"I think I forgot to turn off my mobile data," he explained casually, a playful glint in his eye. "My battery's almost dead." He went back to his seat, plugging in his phone as though nothing happened.
Sheng Wang let out a shaky breath, unable to believe what had just occurred. He was caught so off-guard that Jiang Tian's next words nearly went unheard.
"Oh! The message was from the shop where I ordered a blanket," Jiang Tian said, his tone neutral. "They were having a buy-one-take-one sale, so we can each have one if you want."
Sheng Wang nodded absently, his mind still whirling from the closeness they'd shared moments ago. He wondered if Jiang Tian had any idea how much these small gestures meant to him—or if he even noticed how flustered they made him.
In the silence that followed, Sheng Wang tried to steady himself, but his mind keep replaying the way his Ge's eyes were focused on his just a few seconds ago.
At that moment he realized that he's now completely fucked up. How can he even continue keeping his distance when his heart definitely disagrees with that decision?