OAS 4

Internships for senior year were wrapping up, and Tang Zhou was among the last to return. He came back to campus two days later than the others.

When Tang Zhou stepped into the dorm, he didn’t realize anyone was there. He had just set his bag down and turned around when he saw He Ziwei stepping out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist. His skin hadn’t seen sunlight in months, glowing pale and sharp, and the two pink points on his chest stood out even more because of it.

He Ziwei clearly hadn’t expected anyone in the room either. Out of instinct, he raised the T-shirt in his hands and held it over his chest. A second later, he realized how pathetic that must have looked. They were all guys, what was there to cover up? He hesitated, unsure whether to lower his hands.

In that short pause, Tang Zhou had already walked up to him and slammed him hard against the wall. He Ziwei flinched, eyes squeezing shut when he saw Tang Zhou raise a hand from the corner of his eye. But nothing landed. After a long pause, he opened his eyes and found Tang Zhou looming over him, eyes dark, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You little princess. Go ahead. Explain. What the fuck happened this time?”

“What the hell do you mean, what happened?” He Ziwei had felt guilty at first, but that single “little princess” lit a fire under him. He forced himself to push back. “You gonna say the condoms weren’t yours? You do this shit and no one’s allowed to talk about it?”

Tang Zhou’s face darkened another shade, but he didn’t say a word. After a moment, he raised a hand and lightly slapped He Ziwei’s cheek twice. Then with a cold snort, he brushed past him and walked into the bathroom.

He Ziwei let out a shaky breath, like he had just dodged a bullet. For the next few days, he kept his head down and behaved. And oddly enough, Tang Zhou’s reaction wasn’t nearly as dramatic as he had expected. No sneak attacks, no calculated revenge, not even a punch.

After some careful analysis, He Ziwei figured maybe he had just been too tense. Ever since the condom scandal blew up, he’d been on high alert every time he saw Tang Zhou, like a mouse spotting a cat. Hair raised, nerves shot, alarms blaring in his head. Maybe, just maybe, Tang Zhou hadn’t taken it that seriously.

On Saturday, He Ziwei had a small get-together with a few people from his hometown. It was peak dining hours, and there weren’t enough private rooms, so they ended up sharing one with another group. The two tables were placed at opposite ends of the same large room. He Ziwei’s group arrived early. They were already eating when the other group came in, loud and rowdy.

He Ziwei glanced back out of curiosity, and locked eyes directly with Tang Zhou.

It was a gathering for the student union. As the former president, Tang Zhou had been invited over like some star guest. He Ziwei whipped his head back around and stared dead at the lazy Susan in front of him, not daring to spin it even once. He sat there like he was on a bed of nails. To make things worse, a guy from his hometown he barely knew was sitting beside him. The moment he heard He Ziwei was in mechanical engineering, he perked up.

“Hey, is it true someone from your department is a serial hookup guy? Some dude named Tang something?”

The guy said it loud enough for half the room to hear. He Ziwei wanted to throw him out the nearest window. He swore Tang Zhou had heard every single word, loud and clear.

He didn’t dare respond. He just buried his head and kept eating, silently wiping out half a plate of cold jellyfish.

A few minutes later, he felt someone walk up behind him. The hometown guy kept elbowing him in the ribs. He turned, and there was Tang Zhou, standing with a wine glass in his hand. He Ziwei felt the air leave his lungs.

“What a coincidence, huh? Running into you here too. Let’s have a drink.” Tang Zhou wore a bright, friendly smile, but to He Ziwei, it looked like a venomous snake coiled in his shadow, tongue flicking out, ready to strike and shut him up for good.

He Ziwei picked up his beer and managed half a bottle before Tang Zhou stopped him. Tang Zhou swirled his empty glass and said, “Beer’s no fun. Come on, we’re celebrating tonight. Be a man and drink something stronger. Let me toast you.”

He Ziwei took the baijiu cup handed to him by one of the student union underclassmen and knocked it back in one gulp. Only then did Tang Zhou seem satisfied. He smiled and waved at the crowd behind him.

“Come on, everyone. This is my roommate, your senior in fourth year. Come give your big bro a toast.”

He Ziwei shot Tang Zhou a glare and tried to walk away, but Tang Zhou caught him by the wrist. The difference in physical strength was obvious. Tang Zhou leaned in with a face full of smiles, but his voice peeled through the surface like a blade.

“What’s wrong, little princess? One shot and you’re already out?”

“You’re the one who’s out!” No guy could be called weak and not hit back. He Ziwei trembled all over. He knew it was bait, but he still walked right into it. He shoved Tang Zhou away and picked up the next glass in silence.

He Ziwei couldn’t really drink. Based on Tang Zhou’s calculations, his limit was five bottles of beer—tops. By the time Tang Zhou was half-carrying him out of the restaurant, He Ziwei was already tipsy as hell. At least his drunk behavior wasn’t messy. No crying, no yelling, still able to walk a few steps. He just kept glaring at Tang Zhou.

Tang Zhou was thoroughly amused. “Do you even know who I am right now?”

“Tang… Tang Zhou.”

He was about to think the guy was still sober when He Ziwei added, “Fucking dumbass.”

Tang Zhou’s hand under his armpit froze for a second. He Ziwei, now fully energized, kept going.

“Dumbass. I didn’t do anything wrong. Dumbass ordering condoms online.”

Tang Zhou whipped around.

Sensing the sudden shift, He Ziwei instinctively backed up like a startled rabbit, still glaring. He didn’t know why, but that usual dark stare on Tang Zhou’s face looked different tonight. Like the sharp mask had finally peeled away. Tang Zhou suddenly saw it. Everything about He Ziwei’s usual bite was fake. It was all for show. Underneath that calm little facade, the guy was afraid of him.

He Ziwei was afraid of him. That recognition made something in Tang Zhou light up. It didn’t matter if he had ever been afraid before. From now on, Tang Zhou was going to make sure he was scared shitless. Three years of bottled-up anger had reached the edge. One glass of liquor was not enough to call it even. Not fucking close.

The appetizer was over. It was time for the main course.