He Chao almost grabbed Ethan Young's hand the moment the sound effect popped up, his whole body tensing up, a curse stuck on the tip of his tongue, which he barely managed to swallow.

Damn.

It was pretty thrilling.

"I know this one, it's adapted from a novel, the original was really well written. When I read it as a kid, I didn't dare sleep for two nights," Wanda said, then realized the two big shots seemed to have said something just now. "Yu-ge, what did you just say?"

Then Henry Howard heard his heartless boyfriend beside him change his tune and say, "Nothing, this movie is pretty good."

Wanda asked again, "Right? What about you, Bro Henry?"

Ethan Young's knuckles were pressing into his palm, and Henry Howard's grip tightened a bit more.

"I don't think it's that great," Henry Howard acted flawlessly, not giving anything away. "The styling is cliché, it's so fake, there's no atmosphere at all. And you couldn't sleep for two nights because of this?"

No one else noticed anything off, listening and nodding in agreement.

Ethan Young couldn't hold back: "Before you say that, how about loosening your hand?"

Henry Howard: "No."

The dorm was pitch black after lights out, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

The glow from the phone screen shone on their faces, and with the sound effects, it actually looked a bit eerie.

Ethan Young wasn't much affected by this kind of horror plot; it was all thanks to these guys jumping at everything that the originally cheap and over-the-top horror movie atmosphere was cranked up to an unexpected level.

"Holy shit!"

"Oh my god!"

"Is this guy going to die too?"

"My hand's a bit sore, hold on, let me find somewhere to prop it up—"

Henry Howard could only act tough in front of Wanda and the others. Once everyone was fully immersed in the movie, he finally whispered, "This movie is scary as hell."

Ethan Young shot back with his own words, imitating him pretty well: "Cliché styling, no atmosphere."

Henry Howard reminded him, "That's enough."

Henry Howard held on tight.

Ethan Young didn't say anything else, eyes fixed on the phone screen, wrist moving a bit, then his five fingers slowly squeezed into the gaps between Henry Howard's fingers.

The table was too low, and the person holding the phone got tired after a while, looking around for somewhere to prop it up.

Right then, a scary ghost suddenly appeared on screen, and some guy nearby freaked out, grabbing whoever was closest. With that grab—the phone was accidentally thrown out of his hand.

Watching this hour-and-a-half-long movie was a real struggle; the phone got tossed three times in the middle.

"Hold steady, don't throw it again, do you still want this phone or not?"

"I'm steady, I don't know who's been pulling on me the whole time."

When the movie finally ended, before leaving, the group hesitated for a bit, wanting to team up to go back: "I'm on the fourth floor, anyone going that way?"

Walking back down the corridor, Wanda couldn't help but sigh, "Big shots really are big shots, those two are so calm."

However, the so-called big shot who was praised for being calm and deeply despised the idea of "not daring to sleep at night," closed the door and immediately turned to ask, "Want to sleep together?"

Ethan Young sat on the bed looking at him: "Don't tell me you're afraid to sleep alone."

Henry Howard could bend or stretch: "I am."

""

This late-night movie was probably the only entertainment these boarders had in a while.

Senior year, college entrance exams.

This topic had been brought up ever since the first year of high school, but they never really felt the urgency, always thinking there was still plenty of time, that it was still far away.

But this time, the joint ranking from the four schools made all the second-year students feel the pressure of the college entrance exam ahead of time.

It was also the first time they realized that the stage they were at now—one more step forward,

and they'd be in their final year.

"If nothing unexpected happens, we'll have to return to school early this summer. The school plans to give you extra classes, aiming to finish the first round of review during the summer break."

After the midterms, they had to start preparing for finals right away. Many students were looking forward to the holidays, but Old Thompson gave them a heads-up in advance: "If your ranking this time isn't ideal, don't worry, we still have more than a year left."

During morning self-study, Old Thompson gave a 360-degree rambling speech about summer tutoring, and in the end, the topic drifted off into other areas. Ethan Young stopped listening halfway through.

He'd squeezed into bed with Henry Howard for the night, and woke up feeling uncomfortable all over, wishing he could kick the guy back to his own dorm.

But Henry Howard was especially clingy in the morning, grinding away all his irritation.

Not only did he habitually stay in bed, but even when Ethan Young called him up, he'd stand behind him with a toothbrush in his mouth, eyes half-closed, chin resting on his shoulder, mumbling "sleepy."

They used to crash each other's dorms all the time, but after actually moving in together, it felt a bit different.

Ethan Young propped his head up and glanced at the guy beside him, thinking of what Henry Howard said while moving his stuff in: "Open my eyes and the first thing I see is you."

------------

106. Chapter 106

After talking about the extra classes, Old Thompson opened the Chinese textbook, thinking there was plenty of time and wanting to go over some classical poetry with everyone, completely unaware that morning self-study was almost over.

"Has that much time passed?"

Old Thompson felt lost and confused, having to take his tea cup and head out: "I only said a couple of things—"

Henry Howard stretched, raising his hands, then simply rested them behind his head, smiling as he said, "Teacher, that was way more than a couple of things. You really don't know yourself well enough."

"Don't be cheeky," Old Thompson laughed too, then added, "Remember to bring your and Ethan Young's homework over later, I'll grade yours separately."

Once Old Thompson left, Henry Howard lowered his hands and tapped his desk: "I didn't finish mine, can I borrow yours?"

At the mention of homework, Ethan Young frowned and said, "You think I did it?"

Henry Howard: "You didn't?"

Of course you didn't.

And you have the nerve to ask.

Ethan Young cursed in his heart.

It was already late after watching the movie last night, and as soon as Henry Howard closed the door, he started pestering, "Let's sleep together." Ethan Young couldn't shake him off and finally gave in: "Fine, fine, fine. Stop making noise."

Even after getting his boyfriend's approval, it wasn't enough. Ethan Young just went to take a shower, and Henry Howard wouldn't leave, standing guard at the bathroom door the whole time.

The dorm was too dim.

An 185cm tall boy, phone flashlight on, leaning against the bathroom door.

"Are you done yet?"

"How about this, I'll come in and wait for you?"

""

Ethan Young was so annoyed, he closed his eyes, water streaming down his face.

Then he turned his head, suddenly pressed the shower switch, reached for the dry towel beside him, and said, "Come in, try coming in and see if you can make it out alive."

He wanted to finish his homework before bed, but this idiot never gave him a chance.

Henry Howard obviously remembered what he did last night too, cleared his throat, and changed the subject: "How about this, let's split the work. You do math, I'll do the rest."

Ethan Young had no objection to this arrangement.

The two of them made up their homework quickly, and by halfway through the first chemistry class, most of the assignments were done.

Henry Howard only had two English translation questions left, and while writing, still tried to justify himself: "I'm still pretty tough, but life is full of surprises. Maybe heaven just doesn't want me to be too perfect—"

Ethan Young was using an eraser to help draw a new line of thought.

The questions Old Warren had been giving them lately were as hard as possible, almost like he was out to get them. Ethan Young got stuck on the last question for nearly ten minutes, and just as he was struggling, he heard that line and threw his eraser over: "Perfect my ass, can you shut up?"

After chemistry class, as soon as the teacher packed up and left, the back of the classroom erupted.

"Fighting again?" Luke Carter was about to get up to collect homework, heard the commotion, and glanced at the back row. "The two big guys are still so passionate today."

Logan Wright folded his test paper to fan himself: "Aren't they hot?"

Luke Carter: "Then go turn on a fan for them?"

June was approaching, and the weather was getting hotter.

Another blazing summer.

Henry Howard usually wished he could strip down in the dorm, always lounging around half-dressed in front of him. Ethan Young used to say something at first, but later just let him be.

Can't out-flirt him.