No matter if it was a past life or this one, sharing a bed with a man was a first for Tang Li.
Suddenly, she felt the small bed beneath her become a temporary haven.
Tang Li nestled into the man’s strong arms without a word, casting aside all complex thoughts, just enjoying the tranquility of the moment.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when the sound of keys jangling outside the door startled her.
Tang Li was about to fall into a drowsy sleep when Wu Xuehan and Yu Sui’s voices reached her. She instantly woke up, and so did Song Baiyan.
Unlike his calm demeanor, Tang Li, who sat up, was quite startled.
The previous comfort made her forget they were at school.
Outside, Wu Xuehan was already opening the door.
"The lights are on." Yu Sui’s voice followed: "Ah Li is inside, maybe the lock is broken. Let her open it, and we’ll have someone fix it tomorrow."
Song Baiyan had already gotten up and was putting on his leather shoes.
Wu Xuehan started to call for someone outside the door, Tang Li got out of bed first, put on her coat, and then picked up Song Baiyan’s suit.
Watching her standing by like a little eunuch waiting for the emperor to change clothes, a smile appeared in Song Baiyan’s eyes: "Afraid your roommates will see me?"
Song Baiyan didn’t lower his voice, and almost instinctively, Tang Li reached out and covered his mouth.
At the same time, she whispered, "Don’t talk, you’ll be discovered."
Wu Xuehan’s suspicious voice came through, "Maybe Ah Li isn’t there? She said she was going to the library this afternoon, maybe she forgot to turn off the lights when she left?"
"Then let’s go to my place first," Yu Sui said.
Soon, the noise outside ceased.
Tang Li moved her hand away from Song Baiyan’s lips, and then said, "You go hide in the bathroom first, I’ll open the door to check. If they’re not around, I’ll cover for you to leave."
With that, she thoughtfully pushed open the bathroom door.
Song Baiyan couldn’t help but chuckle, yet he cooperated.
As if afraid he would get upset, Tang Li reassured, "Just thirty seconds."
Then, Tang Li rushed to open the door.
After ensuring there was no one outside, she was about to let Song Baiyan out when Wu Xuehan poked her head out from Yu Sui’s dorm: "Eh, Ah Li, you’re here!"
"Yu Sui, no need to call the locksmith, Ah Li is in her dorm!"
After Wu Xuehan finished shouting, she ran over with her backpack, urgently saying, "Ah Li, move aside, I’m dying to use the toilet."
"Wait!" Tang Li quickly stopped her.
Wu Xuehan looked at her, puzzled.
Tang Li explained, "I just took a shower, it’s all wet inside."
"It’s fine, I don’t mind!" Wu Xuehan said as she tried to rush in.
Tang Li stood in the doorway, refusing to let her in: "Why don’t you go to Yu Sui’s place first? I’ll tidy up a bit. If you go in and fall, what will happen?"
"But I miss the toilet."
Yu Sui was already coming over with her cellphone, noticing Tang Li wouldn’t let Wu Xuehan into the room, she tiptoed to peek inside. She noticed an unpackaged electronic cigarette and cartridge on the desk, and... a messy quilt on the bed.
But the most important thing—
She spotted the footprints of a man’s leather shoes on the floor.
In the evening, Wu Xuehan had done laundry, and being a bit clumsy, left the bathroom floor wet.
Now, with the light shining down, the footprints were all too obvious.
"Let’s go to my place," Yu Sui said, pulling Wu Xuehan towards her own dorm: "The toilet seat cover is from Japan, never been used by anyone else. You can try it today."
Wu Xuehan’s attention was diverted: "Really?"