Chapter Text
It was their first night sleeping in the same room.
Wenxi sat still on the bed, her breathing slow and even, pretending to be fast asleep. In truth, every sound felt amplified in the quiet room, the faint scratch of Chengjun’s brush against paper, the soft rustle of pages turning. Time stretched endlessly as she waited for him to finish his writing. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Chengjun set his brush down and stood. Wenxi’s heart skipped. She kept her eyes closed, willing herself not to move as she heard him walk to his clothing rack and start removing his robes.
Panic surged through her chest. “Stop!” she blurted.
Chengjun stopped and looked at her questioningly. “How can I sleep if I don’t change?”
There was a brief pause as Wenxi scrambled for an excuse. “Well, you see.. I have never spent a night outside my home, nor have I lived with an outsider. I…I’m not used to it. So keep your clothes on.”
Chengjun looked at her briefly, and smiled. “He must be really shy” he thought. “ Can I remove my outerwear at least?“ Chengjun asked calmly.
“Sure” answered Wenxin. She was glad that he didn’t question her or tease her. He simply respected the boundary she had drawn.
“Brother Wenbin, let’s prepare to sleep.” Said Chengjun as he laid down on the hard bed.
Just as Wenxi was about to lie back down, a shadow moved outside the window. Her heart skipped a beat. She nudged Chengjun and pointed discreetly toward the silhouette. He sat up instantly, alert. Without a word, Wenxi pressed herself behind him, hands clutching his shoulders. He patted her hands reassuringly, and she felt a spark of warmth amidst the panic. Wenxi and Chengjun exchanged a quick, silent glance. They grabbed a blanket, and as the figure stepped in, it was thrown over him.
“What—?!” The stranger barely had time to react before Wenxi and Chengjun launched into a flurry of swats, hitting him with everything they had.
“Are you trying to scratch my back?” a muffled voice said, tinged with amusement, as the blanket shifted over him.
The last thing Lei Ao expected when he sneaked back into his old room was an ambush. At first, he found it amusing- the clumsy weight on his back, the poorly aimed strikes landing through a blanket. But the humor quickly faded when a sharp jolt flared through his injured leg. His expression hardened. With one swift movement, Lei Ao straightened, shrugging both attackers off him with ease. They stumbled backward, breathless and startled. He rolled his shoulder once, then took in the room. It was clean—far too clean. And crowded with belongings that were definitely not his. Books, bedding, personal effects. Someone had been living here. Only then did he turn his attention to the two fools who had jumped him.
His gaze locked immediately onto the one standing closest to him—the huffing, wide-eyed twink trying very hard to look brave. Something about him tugged at Lei Ao’s memory. He stepped closer. Then closer still, until recognition struck. It was the hopeless little guy he rescued from the bandits a few days ago!
Wenxin recognised him at the same time. “Big Brother? It’s you!” she exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
Lei Ao let out a low chuckle. “So it was you,” he said, gripping her shoulders firmly, studying her face. “You’re the one who disturbed my slumber that day?”
“Yeah,” Wenxi replied lightly, not pulling away. “Your kindness has stayed with me. At least now I can thank you properly.”
Lei Ao paused. No one had ever thanked him before.
He stared at the beautiful little fool in front of him—earnest, bright, utterly unguarded—and something unfamiliar stirred in his chest. He scoffed softly, then reached out and tapped Wenxin’s head, hand lingering briefly on her shoulder. “You’re too kind,” he said, his tone rough but not unkind.
That was when Chengjun stepped forward. “Brother, it’s late,” he said evenly. “Outsiders aren’t allowed in our dorm. Please leave.” He held his ground, even as the dark stranger before him radiated danger.
The faint amusement on Lei Ao’s face vanished, replaced by something sharper—colder. He stepped forward, his presence pressing down like a storm. His eyes swept Chengjun from head to toe before settling on his face.The distance between them closed in an instant.
Wenxi hurried forward, panic tightening her chest. “Wait—!”
Lei Ao was nearly chest to chest with Chengjun now, but he stopped when Wenxi slipped between them, her smile forced but earnest. At the sight of her, he exhaled slowly and took a step back. Fatigue weighed on him—his hurried escape from the guards, the ache in his leg, all of it catching up at once.
“How ridiculous,” he muttered. He turned sharply, grabbing a pile of items from the table and tossing them onto the floor. “What are these doing in my room?”
“They’re my clothes,” Wenxi said quickly.
Lei Ao’s gaze shifted immediately—to Chengjun. The room seemed to shrink. “Do you have a death wish,” he asked quietly, holding Chengjun’s eyes without blinking, “or are you simply tired of living?”
Wenxi’s breath caught. She could feel the tension crackling between the two men, sharp and volatile, like a blade drawn but not yet swung.
“Who let you into my room?” Lei Ao demanded, his voice low and threatening.
Wenxi and Chengjun froze. “Hold on—you’re… Lei Ao?!” Wenxi exclaimed, eyes widening. Chengjun stiffened beside her. “We didn’t know you were coming back.”
Lei Ao frowned. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” Despite himself, his gaze softened each time it fell on the shorter one.
“We… stay here too,” Wenxi whispered, a trace of amusement creeping into her voice.
“What!?” Lei Ao stared at them, disbelief flashing across his face. The academy would actually dare assign him roommates? He had thought his reputation alone was enough, his intimidation sufficient to keep anyone from sharing his space. Yet when his eyes landed on Chengjun’s stubborn expression, he realized something unsettling. They weren’t afraid of him. And worse—they weren’t going to leave. His jaw tightened. “How dare you,” Lei Ao snapped harshly.
Wenxi flinched at his tone, her smile faltering, and for a brief moment Lei Ao felt a twinge of irritation—not at her, but at himself. After a pause, he exhaled slowly and looked away. “Your names,” he demanded curtly.
“I’m Wenbin,”said Wenxi, bowing politely.
“Save me your pedantic manners,” Lei Ao muttered, swatting her hands aside, his attention already shifting to the taller figure beside her.
“I’m Feng Chengjun.”
Lei Ao’s eyes narrowed. “From the Feng family?” So an aristocrat. He knew it—the arrogance gives it away. He scoffed inwardly. “Shouldn’t you be staying in the superior rooms?”
“A freshman should live in a common dorm,” Chengjun replied evenly. “From now on, the three of us will be living together.”
Lei Ao let out a short, humorless laugh. “Did I allow you to stay here?”
“I don’t need your consent.” replied Chengjun harshly.
That single sentence snapped the fragile calm. Lei Ao surged forward, gripping Chengjun by the collar and yanking him close. Their faces were inches apart.“Is this amusing to you?” Lei Ao growled. “Abandoning your fancy room to play house with commoners?”
Chengjun didn’t look away. His gaze traced Lei Ao’s face—not with fear, but understanding. He gently pried Lei Ao’s fingers from his collar.
“Who says nobles can’t live in common rooms?” he said calmly. “It’s not against the rules. You have no right to evict me.”
Lei Ao laughed again, this time sharp and bitter. He stepped forward once more, invading Chengjun’s space, his eyes drifting—just for a second—from Chengjun’s eyes to his lips.“Of course I have no rights,” Lei Ao said quietly. “I’m powerless. Only people like you have them.” He jabbed a finger into Chengjun’s chest. “Our rooms. Our lives. All decided by people like you.”
The words settled heavily in the air.
Chengjun lowered his gaze, shame flickering across his expression. Wenxi shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet Lei Ao’s eyes.
“Big Brother,” Wenxi said softly, forcing a light tone, “why are you being so unreasonable?”
Lei Ao reached out and tugged teasingly at her headpiece. “Say that again.”
Before Wenxi could react, Chengjun shoved Lei Ao’s arm away. The two men grabbed each other’s forearms, tension snapping into violence once more.
“Enough!” Wenxi cried, trying desperately to pull them apart. She shoved Lei Ao back—and kicked his leg.
Lei Ao crumpled instantly.Pain flashed across his face, sharp and unmistakable. Wenxi and Chengjun froze, exchanging alarmed glances. That kick hadn’t been nearly strong enough. Something was wrong.
Breathing hard, Lei Ao straightened with effort, his voice low and resigned. “Either the little one stays here with me, and you leave… or both of you leave.”
His injury throbbed now, the adrenaline fading fast.
“Ha!?” Wenxi blurted. “You want me to sleep with you?”
Lei Ao looked at her intensely.
“No—no, that won’t work,” Wenxi said quickly.
“Why?” Lei Ao asked darkly. “Is it beneath you?”
Wenxi didn’t answer him. Instead, she shoved Chengjun forward.
“Let him sleep here.”
The room went silent.