TT Chapter 16. Pink Ting Ting

It was Friday, and once again Pei Yiyao was waiting outside the dormitory for Chen Ting. It was right around the time school let out, and most of the people passing by were sneaking curious glances at the campus’s newly crowned heartthrob. Some of those more familiar with the latest gossip were explaining Pei Yiyao and Chen Ting’s relationship to their friends.

Of course, among the male students, quite a few were unimpressed by this so-called heartthrob status. No matter how handsome Pei Yiyao was, what good was it if he wasn’t into guys?

Pei Yiyao paid no attention to the chatter around him. Fortunately, Chen Ting didn’t keep him waiting long. About ten minutes later, he came dashing out of the dorm, canvas backpack slung over his shoulders.

Unlike Pei Yiyao, who always kept things simple, Chen Ting still preferred to carry a bag whenever he went out. Inside were all the essentials, such as charger, tissues, sometimes even an umbrella.

And of course, his red mitten crab keychain, which never left his side. His love for hairy crabs was as real as it got.

“Let’s go.” Today, Chen Ting had purposely put on a sapphire blue hoodie. It was a new purchase this year. Yang Shulin’s inner housekeeper had insisted he wear something brighter to get on the good side of auntie-types, and practically shoved him into a change of clothes.

Chen Ting didn’t really care either way, so he just went with it.

But the result was… him in that hoodie, with his backpack on, really did look like some snot-nosed middle schooler compared to the other college students around.

Chen Ting quietly let go of the backpack strap he had been clutching. That move alone screamed “junior high.” Then he snuck a glance at Pei Yiyao beside him, trying to observe how a real cool guy walked.

Pei Yiyao had on a trench coat, his wrists exposed, hands in his pockets, striding like the wind.

Chen Ting tried to imitate him for a second, then looked down at the two little strawberries sewn onto his sweatpants pocket and gave up.

The strawberries were his mom’s handiwork. There had been a small hole poked into the pocket by a bit of wire. It felt like such a waste to throw the pants out, so his mom sewed on the strawberries to patch it up.

To keep it symmetrical, she sewed another one on the other side.

There was no room for rebellion from Chen Ting. Unless he wanted to end up with a hoodie that had bunny ears or a dainty floral purse, he kept his mouth shut.

Today, they didn’t have to take the subway or hail a cab. Ruan Xin happened to have errands in the city, so she was swinging by to pick them up. When the two of them reached the school gate, she was already waiting there. She wore towering stilettos and oversized sunglasses, with a bright red blazer draped over her shoulders as she leaned against her silver-gray car. Her look was both stylish and eye-catching.

With half her face hidden behind the sunglasses, it was nearly impossible to tell her real age.

Chen Ting could hear the murmurs all around them. Most people were calling her “that older sister,” “this older sister,” and a few threw in some sour speculation, wondering just who she was waiting for. Was it her boyfriend?

People really had no morals anymore. Society was going downhill. Rich women had to keep sugar babies too.

Pei Yiyao seemed used to it. His expression didn’t change at all. Since the person in question clearly didn’t care, Chen Ting figured he didn’t need to either. He followed him up to Ruan Xin and was immediately caught off guard when she reached out and ruffled his hair.

“Come on, Ting Ting, get in,” Ruan Xin said as she personally opened the car door for Chen Ting. As for her own son, she didn’t spare him a glance. Only once Chen Ting had climbed in and settled down did she slowly turn around and smile at Pei Yiyao.

“…Mom,” Pei Yiyao said.

“Mm, good boy.” Ruan Xin responded. Her eyes, hidden behind the sunglasses, swept across the stunned and gossip-hungry onlookers. The smile on her lips didn’t waver one bit. As the sound of her heels echoed against the pavement, she slid into the driver’s seat, shut the door, and pulled out with elegance and flair.

Only when the car had disappeared in a cloud of dust did Chen Ting finally understand where Pei Yiyao got his cool. It clearly didn’t come from that Uncle Pei who was always posting food photos in the group chat.

Ruan Xin didn’t take them home. Instead, she drove straight into the bustling city center to take them out for a meal, a bit of shopping, and some new clothes. She had always been the one buying Pei Yiyao’s clothes, but he had zero patience for that sort of thing. Since Chen Ting happened to be with him today, she decided to drag both of them along.

“It’s about to be a change of season. You still need to get what needs getting. Boys should take care of how they dress. Looking presentable is just basic manners. Don’t you agree, Ting Ting?”

“I do.”

Chen Ting glanced at the expressionless cool guy beside him and wisely chose to side with the boss.

Ruan Xin loved this well-behaved streak in Chen Ting. He wasn’t the type to be overly enthusiastic, but being around him felt easy and natural. So, as the afternoon went on, it naturally turned into her and Chen Ting walking ahead, with Pei Yiyao trailing behind carrying their bags. Some of the items were even for Chen Ting.

Right from the start, Chen Ting had suspected she would buy him something. So he quietly messaged his mom to ask what he should do. Her reply was generous. Ruan Xin wasn’t an outsider, she said, and as long as it wasn’t anything overly expensive, it was fine to accept it.

Ruan Xin also knew her limits. She picked out one outfit and a pair of shoes for Chen Ting, and nothing else.

Pei Yiyao, on the other hand, ended up with a whole haul. Not that he had any say in it. Ruan Xin didn’t even bother asking whether he liked something. After all, when it came to clothes or anything else, Pei Yiyao had always been indifferent.

Even if someone handed him a ridiculous wig, he would just toss it into the trash with a blank face.

But when it came time to choose between a blue or pink outfit for Chen Ting, Ruan Xin hesitated. She was still stuck when Pei Yiyao suddenly said, “Pink.”

Ruan Xin looked at him in disbelief. Did you take something today?

Pei Yiyao remained calm, as if he had never said a word.

Chen Ting was a little surprised too. He hadn’t expected someone as cool as Pei Yiyao to actually prefer pink. Still, he tried to push back a little. “I think the blue one looks pretty good.”

Ruan Xin snapped out of her daze and held both sweaters up against Chen Ting one by one. Then she said, “The pink one does seem to look better. Should we go with that one, Ting Ting?”

Chen Ting gave a reluctant nod.

It wasn’t that he disliked pink. The problem was that pink made people look soft and cute. And if there was one thing Chen Ting did not need more of, it was that.

After buying Chen Ting’s sweater, Ruan Xin went to pick out some for Pei Yiyao. So when she asked Chen Ting for his opinion again, Chen Ting looked at two options. One was a plain sweater, and the other had a little green pixelated dinosaur on it. He went straight for the second one.

All right then. If we’re going down, we’re going down together.

Ruan Xin thought Chen Ting had good taste. She looked at her son’s cold face and smiled as she told him to go try it on. Pei Yiyao seemed like he was about to refuse, but in the end, he still agreed.

“Ting Ting, you try yours on too,” Ruan Xin said, handing him the pink sweater.

“Okay.” With the dinosaur sweater in play, pink didn’t feel quite so hard to accept anymore.

Three minutes later, the two of them opened the dressing room doors at the same time. The pink sweater and the pixel dinosaur stood side by side, and somehow, the look actually worked.

Ruan Xin sat on the sofa in the store, nodding with satisfaction. She even directed them to stand a little closer so she could take a picture and send it to Chen Su. That was Chen Ting’s mom.

In the photo, the cool guy stayed cool. Ting Ting looked even softer. The pixelated dinosaur bared its teeth, breathing out a flaming red heart.

While Ruan Xin was busy sending the photo, Pei Yiyao leaned over and asked Chen Ting in a low voice, “Are you tired?”

Chen Ting tilted his head and moved a little closer. “I’m okay. What about you?”

“Not tired.”

“I used to go shopping with my mom. We stayed out even longer than this.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Ruan Xin walked over with a smile and ushered them both to go change out of the clothes. Then she turned and headed straight for the counter to pay. The sales assistant beside her complimented her sweetly, saying she had two wonderful sons. She made no effort to correct her.

By the time the three of them finished shopping and had a late-night snack, it was already past eleven. Ruan Xin simply brought both of them home and said they could return to campus the next day.

“Ting Ting, you can sleep with Yiyao tonight, all right?” she asked.

“Sure.” Chen Ting had no objections. It was just one night. They were all guys anyway. It really didn’t matter. Back in the summer when they went swimming in the river, every guy wore nothing but trunks. No one made a big deal out of it.

Pei Yiyao glanced at him but didn’t object either.

Soon, the two of them headed into the bedroom. Pei Yiyao took the initiative and handed Chen Ting a T-shirt to use as pajamas. As for underwear, he grabbed a new pair, just like last time.

Chen Ting took them and went in to shower first.

Pei Yiyao waited outside, listening to the sound of running water in the bathroom. For some reason, he felt oddly restless. And when Chen Ting finally came out, freshly changed and clean, it felt just like the first time they met.

“What’s with you?” Chen Ting noticed him spacing out and asked.

Pei Yiyao didn’t answer. He just shook his head and went into the bathroom with his pajamas. Chen Ting didn’t think much of it. It was nearly midnight, and he was starting to feel drowsy. He slipped under the blanket and got ready to sleep.

To be honest, sleeping in Pei Yiyao’s bed still made him feel a little awkward. That drunken episode had been so embarrassing. But if the other person wasn’t bothered by it, and he made a big deal out of it himself, then it would just be even more awkward.

As those thoughts drifted through his mind, sleepiness came rolling in like waves. Chen Ting let out a yawn, and in the end, the drowsiness won. He slipped into sleep.

When Pei Yiyao came out of the bathroom, what he saw was Chen Ting already fast asleep. He wasn’t that big, yet he somehow managed to sprawl across most of the bed.

Like a crab claiming territory.

Pei Yiyao found himself standing at the edge of the bed, staring for a long time without even realizing it. He slowly leaned closer, eyes fixed on him from just inches away. And once he snapped back to his senses, it only plunged him deeper into confusion.

What was he doing? What exactly was he thinking?

Under the light, Chen Ting’s flushed cheeks looked especially soft. From this close, even the fine fuzz at his temples was clearly visible. His lips were just as rosy and full as his cheeks, slightly parted, revealing a hint of his pale pink tongue.

If he were to…

Pei Yiyao suddenly stiffened. A sharp crease formed between his brows. He gave his head a slight shake and forced himself to look away. It took a while before he finally climbed into bed from the other side and lay down, keeping a deliberate distance from Chen Ting.

But in the quiet of the autumn night, the sound of Chen Ting’s breathing was impossible to ignore. It was steady, soft, and constant, reminding him, over and over again, that Chen Ting was right there.

He turned his head. Chen Ting’s slender neck was right in front of him. Because the neckline of his shirt was too loose, half of his shoulder and a small part of his back were exposed.

There was a kind of delicate beauty to his slender frame.

Pei Yiyao took a slow, deep breath and shifted even farther away. Thankfully, the bed was big enough that he wouldn’t fall off the edge.

Tonight was never going to be a restful night.