Chapter 33
What do people do when they’re in a relationship?
Holding the signed agreement, Meng Xin fell into deep thought.
Now that Bian Ting had signed it, their relationship was different.
From this second onward, they were officially a couple.
But the problem was—Meng Xin had never dated before. He had no idea what couples were supposed to do.
After much deliberation, he finally made a suggestion. “Um… how about… I go to the library with you tomorrow?”
The moment he said it, he regretted it. That sounded so boring—what if Bian Ting thought he was dull?!
Unexpectedly, Bian Ting barely hesitated before nodding. “Okay.”
…Alright then. If Bian Ting had no complaints, that was fine.
What’s wrong with the library? Books hold golden mansions within their pages! It could be romantic in its own way.
Besides, Bian Ting liked the library. A boyfriend as thoughtful as him was truly rare.
Meng Xin made the final call. “Then it’s settled!”
After saying that, Meng Xin remembered Bian Ting’s daily routine and specifically added, “But not too early.”
“Okay,” Bian Ting agreed. “Let’s go in the afternoon.”
—
There was a reason for going to the library in the afternoon.
It wasn’t because he couldn’t wake up early—it was because he needed to prepare.
The next afternoon, Meng Xin stood in front of the dormitory sink, looking at himself in the mirror.
Back when he was straight, he had never seriously considered his appearance.
But today, he had already spent ten minutes agonizing over his outfit in front of his wardrobe.
—He had never realized just how boring his wardrobe was!
Another ten minutes later, Meng Xin pulled out a set of clothes in despair and shut the wardrobe door with a sense of resignation.
Forget it, he thought blankly. I’m only a halfway-converted gay. This is just how my life is going to be.
After changing into his outfit, Meng Xin scrutinized himself in the mirror but still felt like something was missing.
After a moment of contemplation, he rummaged through a forgotten corner of his room and pulled out a small black box.
Inside was a necklace.
It was a free accessory that had come with a clothing purchase. He had never worn it and had left it gathering dust in the corner.
Huang Wenjie had once asked him why he never wore it.
At the time, Meng Xin had given an extremely straight-guy response: “Too much hassle. If I wear it, I have to take it off when I shower. And besides, I’m going to class, not a fashion show. Why dress so flashy?”
Now, the necklace finally had a purpose.
Meng Xin put it on, checked himself in the mirror, and felt somewhat satisfied.
He was acting completely out of character, preening like a little peacock in front of the mirror as if he had been possessed. Huang Wenjie had already been watching him with a frown for ten minutes.
Unable to hold back any longer, Huang Wenjie asked, “Meng Xin, where are you going?”
“The library,” Meng Xin replied.
Huang Wenjie was baffled. “Why are you dressed so flashy just to go to the library? Is there some pretty girl there that you like?”
“What? No way,” Meng Xin stubbornly denied. “I always dress like this.”
“Cut the crap,” Huang Wenjie scoffed in disgust. “You think I don’t know what you normally look like?”
Meng Xin usually just threw on whatever was closest, slipped on his shoes, and walked out the door—never taking more than three minutes. When going to the library, he was even more casual. During exam season, he could be out the door in under two minutes. It wasn’t that he didn’t have other clothes; he was just lazy. Whatever was within reach was what he wore.
But now, from head to toe, everything was carefully chosen.
Huang Wenjie pointed at his upper body. “New clothes.”
Then at his neck. “New necklace.”
Then at his feet. “New shoes.”
Finally, he leaned in and sniffed. “You even took a shower!”
“And you’re still claiming you’re not going to flirt with some pretty girl?!” Huang Wenjie accused. “Cut the nonsense and spill the truth!”
At that moment, the bathroom door creaked open.
Bian Ting stepped out, looking like a male model.
His hair was still damp, and he casually ran his fingers through it. The movement revealed his striking features—high nose bridge, sharp jawline, and well-defined contours.
Then he pulled open a drawer, took out a bottle of cologne, and lightly spritzed it on his neck.
Meng Xin was completely stunned.
Now this—this is what a seasoned gay looks like!
Bian Ting finally noticed that everyone in the dorm was staring at him.
Especially one person, whose eyes were wide open, glowing with intensity, making his presence impossible to ignore.
Bian Ting paused mid-action and asked, “What are you looking at?”
“You two are going out to flirt with girls together?” Huang Wenjie exclaimed in shock. “Seriously? What kind of goddess is she that you guys are putting in this much effort?”
Then he turned to Meng Xin and asked, “How did you even convince your godfather to go with you? He’s always been such a virtuous and disciplined guy.”
“Uh… uh… it’s not like that! We’re just going to the library to study, okay?” Meng Xin struggled to explain, then simply asked, “Are you coming or not?”
“Hell no.” Huang Wenjie waved him off with disdain, already convinced that the two were heading out to pick up girls. He sneered, “With you two dressed like this, you’re already the ultimate power duo. What’s the point of me tagging along? I’d just be a third wheel.”
“…”
Good. At least he wasn’t coming. If Huang Wenjie had actually agreed, Meng Xin wouldn’t have known how to handle it.
Before Huang Wenjie could change his mind, Meng Xin quickly grabbed Bian Ting and slipped out of the dorm.
“Alright, you said it yourself—you’re not coming,” Meng Xin emphasized as they stepped outside. “We’re just going to study!”
—
It was obvious that Bian Ting had noticed Meng Xin’s new outfit.
As soon as they left the dorm, Bian Ting kept staring at him, his gaze completely unfiltered.
Meng Xin wasn’t thick-skinned enough to handle such blatant scrutiny. Feeling self-conscious, he rubbed his face awkwardly.
“You—”
As soon as Bian Ting opened his mouth, Meng Xin took the lead and threw Huang Wenjie’s words right back at him: “Why are you dressing so flashy just to go to the library?”
Bian Ting paused for a moment, then casually hooked his finger around the necklace on Meng Xin’s neck. “You’re not bad yourself.”
“…”
“…”
“You’re even wearing new clothes!”
“And you’re wearing new shoes.”
“…”
“…”
First day of dating, and they were already taking jabs at each other. Was this how relationships were supposed to work?
Meng Xin huffed, “You even secretly sprayed on cologne. I saw you.”
Bian Ting corrected him, “Not ‘secretly.’ I did it right in front of you.”
“Then why put on cologne?”
“To attract my boyfriend. Can’t you tell?”
With that, Bian Ting took a step forward, leaning in closer to Meng Xin.
The cologne Bian Ting had used today was a light fragrance with a short-lasting scent. By now, it had already settled into its middle and base notes—a blend of citrus and green leaves, with a faint hint of orange blossom. It smelled like a dewy forest in the early morning.
Bian Ting barely leaned in before straightening back up. The fragrance was subtle—once he pulled away, the distance made it difficult for Meng Xin to catch the scent again.
But Meng Xin liked it. Without thinking, he instinctively leaned forward to chase after the lingering scent.
The moment their faces drew close—so close that Bian Ting could easily wrap an arm around his waist—Meng Xin suddenly realized this was all part of Bian Ting’s plan.
His face heated up. Avoiding Bian Ting’s gaze, he turned away and muttered, “…You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Yep,” Bian Ting admitted shamelessly. Then, answering Meng Xin’s previous question with another, he added, “Now do you understand why I put on cologne?”
—
Meng Xin had intended to be a supportive and virtuous boyfriend—one who would wholeheartedly encourage Bian Ting’s academic pursuits. His goal was to help his boyfriend remain among the top 0.04% of students in the school, standing proudly above the masses, instead of letting love become a distraction that would send him plummeting from academic excellence.
So he genuinely came to the library with the intention of studying.
However… he had seriously overestimated his ability to focus.
Every now and then, he’d sneak a glance at Bian Ting. And each time he did, a thought popped into his head:
“I’m dating Bian Ting.”
“I’m actually dating Bian Ting.”
“Oh my god, I’m really dating Bian Ting!”
With no outlet for his excitement, he propped up his book, hid his phone behind it, and texted Fan Da.
Meng Xin: Oh my god, I’ve achieved something even harder than making it into the top 0.04% of the school—I’m dating the 0.04%.
Meng Xin: I’m actually dating the top 0.04% of the school—aka Bian Ting. Can you believe it?!
Fan Da: [Can’t argue with that, this really wasn’t easy.]
Fan Da: [But honestly, your relationship is mostly because Bian Ting has a niche taste. I told you—he’s into your type.]
Meng Xin: [What do you mean ‘niche taste’?! Take that back and say it again properly!!]
Two minutes passed with no response.
Meng Xin: [Hello? Where’d you go?]
Meng Xin: [Hello??]
Fan Da: [Why are you texting me while you’re on a date? Do I seem like a masochist to you?]
Meng Xin: [Aaaah, it’s not a date! We’re here to study!]
Fan Da went silent for a moment.
Then he asked: [You guys aren’t at the library, are you?]
Meng Xin: [Yeah, of course. We’re studying.]
Fan Da: [You two went to the library… on a date?]
Meng Xin: [I told you, it’s NOT a date!!]
Fan Da: [I take back what I said earlier.]
Fan Da: [You’re also into niche things. You two really are a perfect match.]
Meng Xin: [This is called mutual academic growth, okay? Do you even realize how many people slack off in their studies because of dating?]
Fan Da: [Like you, right now?]
Meng Xin: [Of course not! I just wanted to share this with you—we’re best friends, aren’t we?]
Meng Xin: [Besides, other than Bian Ting, you’re the only gay person I know. Who else am I supposed to talk to about this?]
Fan Da sent a speechless emoji.
Fan Da: [If you’re that bored, just go kiss Bian Ting. That way, your day will be very eventful.]
Veteran gays always had the boldest and most direct vocabulary, and Fan Da was the worst offender.
As a newly minted gay, Meng Xin couldn’t handle it. [What the hell are you talking about!!!]
Fan Da: [Oh, right. Speaking of which—I forgot to ask last time. What did it feel like when you kissed?]
This was an even more explosive question.
Meng Xin panicked and immediately pressed his phone’s lock button.
With a loud “thud,” his phone fell face-down onto the table.
Even after that, his phone still vibrated twice.
Fan Da was still sending messages.
Fan Da: [Come on, say something. Weren’t you in a sharing mood? I wanna hear the details.]
Fan Da: [Why’d you go silent? Not feeling chatty anymore?]
Bian Ting looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
Meng Xin pointed at his phone, shook his head, and mouthed: “It’s nothing, nothing. My phone just glitched—I’m restarting it.”
Three hours later, Meng Xin had made exactly zero progress on his studies.
At last, he gave up on being the virtuous, supportive boyfriend.
In just three seconds, he abandoned his noble aspirations and decided to embrace his new role as a seductive, troublemaking consort.
He sent Bian Ting a WeChat message to tease him.
Meng Xin: [Do we really have to keep studying?]
Meng Xin: [Starry Eyes.jpg]
Bian Ting hadn’t really learned much—three hours in, and he had only flipped through two pages. His efficiency was abysmal.
Bian Ting: Not studying anymore.
Meng Xin sent over a celebratory emoji and echoed: Let’s go!!!
—
They had spent three completely unproductive hours at the library—meaning, apart from sneaking glances at Bian Ting and sharing relationship tips with Fan Da, Meng Xin had accomplished absolutely nothing. By the time they stepped outside, the sun was already setting.
“Bian—”
Meng Xin was about to suggest grabbing dinner when he abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
They had just started dating, and honestly, Meng Xin had no idea what to call Bian Ting.
Calling him by his full name, “Bian Ting,” felt too distant—everyone else called him that, which made their relationship seem no different from an ordinary friendship.
Calling him “boyfriend” felt too soon. They had only been together for a short while, and the word just wouldn’t roll off his tongue.
Pet names like “baby,” “sweetheart,” or “darling” were way too cringeworthy—he couldn’t say those either.
As for a nickname like “Ting Ting”… well, damn it, wasn’t that the name of Fan Da’s digital pet dog?
Luckily, Bian Ting didn’t seem to notice his hesitation. “What?” he asked.
“Uh,” Meng Xin quickly improvised, “how about we grab a drink and then eat outside the south gate?”
“Sounds good.”
Meng Xin let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Bian Ting hadn’t picked up on anything.
But seriously, what should he call him?
At one point, Meng Xin pretended he needed the bathroom, only to lock himself inside a stall and frantically Google: What do you call your boyfriend when you just started dating?
To his surprise, plenty of people had the same dilemma, and he found a variety of answers.
“I call my boyfriend ‘Concubine’—makes me feel like an emperor.”
“I call mine ‘Little Beauty’—feels like a wandering swordsman from a historical drama.”
“I use his phone number’s last digits—makes me feel like I’m the prison warden and he’s the inmate.”
“I address him as ‘some people,’ ‘a certain individual,’ or ‘a select few’—feels like I’m a high-ranking official in the system.”
…
Plenty of answers, yet not a single useful one.
In the end, Meng Xin still didn’t know what to call him. So he resorted to avoiding the issue altogether. When he absolutely had to, he just said, “that” instead.
That strategy even extended to meeting classmates along the way.
One of their classmates greeted Meng Xin and then, noticing Bian Ting, gave a polite, “Hey there.” Afterward, he turned to Meng Xin and asked, “Who’s this?”
Bian Ting tilted his head slightly, waiting with an amused expression for an introduction.
“He’s my… uh, that.” Meng Xin, still not used to saying the word boyfriend after just one day, mumbled vaguely, “Yeah, that.”
The classmate, whether he actually understood or just didn’t care to, nodded along. “Ohhh, that, got it, got it.”
“I’m in a hurry, so I’ll catch you guys later. Have fun!”
Meng Xin strongly suspected the guy didn’t get it, but since he had already walked away, explaining further was pointless.
—
Meng Xin thought Bian Ting hadn’t noticed the whole naming hesitation.
That was, until they walked into a coffee shop.
Bian Ting ordered according to Meng Xin’s usual preferences.
Then, the barista picked up a marker to write on the cup. “And your name?”
Bian Ting: “That.”
Bian Ting said, “I’m called That.”
The barista, holding a cup and marker, blinked in confusion. “Huh?”
It was only then that Meng Xin finally realized something was off.
“Haha, he’s joking!”
Meng Xin quickly slapped a hand over Bian Ting’s mouth and turned to the barista with an awkward laugh. “His name is Bian Ting. Bian as in ‘border,’ Ting as in ‘courtyard.’”
The barista still had no idea what was going on, but the way the two interacted—so naturally close—made it clear their relationship was not ordinary. She gave them a knowing smile and wrote “Bian Ting” on the cup.
“I’ll call the name when it’s ready.”
“Great, thanks!”
As soon as they stepped aside, Meng Xin yanked Bian Ting over and whispered, “What was that?!”
“You’ve been calling me ‘That’ all day,” Bian Ting said. “I thought it was my new name.”
“No, no, no…!” Meng Xin panicked. “It’s just that… I’ve never dated before… I don’t know what to call you.”
“You can just use my name like before.”
“But our relationship is different now. Calling you by your name doesn’t feel right…” Meng Xin muttered. “Anyone can call you by your name.”
Bian Ting nodded, as if he understood. Then he asked, “So you want something different?”
“Yeah.”
“Then just call me ‘husband.’”
“…”
“…”
“Y-y-y-y-you—” Meng Xin stuttered so hard he couldn’t even form a complete sentence.
Bian Ting lowered his eyes and asked, “Is that not okay?”
“It’s not that it’s not okay… it’s just, um, just a little…” Meng Xin fumbled for words before finally whispering, “We just started dating… don’t rush it.”
After saying that, he worried Bian Ting might be unhappy, so despite his embarrassment, he quickly added, “Maybe later… in the future… we’ll see.”
Bian Ting found his flustered expression far too adorable and decided to stop teasing him. He reached out and gently pinched Meng Xin’s cheek. “I was joking. Call me whatever you want.”
Just then, the barista leaned against the counter and called out, “Bian Ting, your drinks are ready!”
“Would you like them to go or drink them here?”
“To go, please. Thanks, sis.” Meng Xin replied.
“You’re welcome.”
After packing up their drinks, the barista handed them over with a friendly smile. “You two must be really close friends, huh?”
“No,” Bian Ting said. “We’re—”
Before he could finish, Meng Xin cut him off, blurting out, “We’re that… that… uh… mutually acknowledged boy love partners!”
Well. He had managed to say the awkward term “boy love” out loud just fine.
Surely, the next difficult word would also come out smoothly—
“He’s my…” Meng Xin bit his lip, shut his eyes tight, and finally said it: “Boyfriend.”
He let the scorching word settle on his tongue, then reaffirmed, “Yeah. He’s my boyfriend. And I’m his boyfriend.”
Bian Ting gave him a slightly surprised glance.
After saying it once, the next time was much easier. Meng Xin nudged Bian Ting with his elbow and repeated the somewhat unfamiliar word, “Right, boyfriend?”
He tilted his chin up at Bian Ting, a silent demand for praise: Look, I just did something really hard. Compliment me.
Bian Ting nodded. “Right.”
Then he smiled and said, “You’re a very good boyfriend.”
