Fell asleep on my shoulder
The streetlights gradually lit up, casting halos of warm yellow light in the cool evening air. The walk to the library wasn't long, but Lin Xiyan felt like it took a century.
Jiang Yibai's arm was still loosely wrapped around his shoulders, his body heat constantly transmitting through the thin school uniform, making his presence surprisingly strong. He could almost feel the slight vibration of his chest when he spoke, and the occasional, smiling breath that brushed against his ear.
"...It's just behind the old locust tree, just turn around. No one usually goes there, so it's very quiet..." Jiang Yibai was still enthusiastically introducing the "treasure land" he had discovered, his tone light and cheerful, like a large dog that finally brought its beloved baby back to its nest, its tail almost wagging out a shadow.
Lin Xiyan didn't hear most of what was said. His attention was focused on the skin on his shoulder, which burned intensely. His heartbeat never slowed down, the thump-thump-thump of a drum making his ears numb. He lowered his head slightly, staring at the shadows of the two people stretching and shortening at their feet, his fingers unconsciously picking at the strap of his schoolbag.
"We're here." Jiang Yibai stopped.
Lin Xiyan looked up. Before him was the school's old library, its red brick walls covered in ivy, appearing quiet and solemn in the twilight. There was indeed a small, unassuming door on the side, and next to it stood a massive locust tree, its branches and leaves lush.
Jiang Yibai released his hand, stepped forward, and pushed open the heavy wooden door. A unique scent of old book pages, mixed with a hint of dust, hit him in the face.
It was indeed quiet inside, almost too quiet. The light was dim, with only a few old wall lamps emitting a dim yellow glow. Fine dust particles floated in the air. Rows of tall wooden bookshelves, like silent giants, cast deep shadows.
"This way." Jiang Yibai lowered his voice, took Lin Xiyan's wrist naturally, and led him through several rows of bookshelves as if he was familiar with the place, and walked to the innermost corner by the window.
It was indeed a quiet place. There was a large, old desk, two chairs, and outside the window, dense locust tree branches and leaves, almost blocking out the outside world. On the desk sat an old-fashioned green lamp.
"How is it?" Jiang Yibai said with a little pride in his tone. He let go of his hand, pulled out a chair, and motioned Lin Xiyan to sit down.
Lin Xiyan nodded, put down his schoolbag, and sat down on the chair. The chair was a bit hard. He felt a strange sense of relief. He had been held and held all the way, and the places where their skin touched felt like they were on fire. Now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Jiang Yibai sat down next to him, with the corner of the table between them. He took out his homework and exercise book, spread them out, and looked like he was really going to study hard.
Lin Xiyan also took out his own book. For a moment, the only sounds were the rustling of the pen across the paper and the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.
The silence lasted less than five minutes.
Jiang Yibai's chair made a slight, harsh dragging sound. He moved nearly half a person's distance towards Lin Xiyan, their elbows almost touching.
Lin Xiyan's writing hand paused for a moment, without looking up, her eyelashes trembled slightly.
"This question," Jiang Yibai's voice suddenly sounded from a very close distance, with a warm breath brushing Lin Xiyan's earlobe, "How do I do it? I don't understand."
He pointed to a trigonometric problem in the exercise book that was obviously not very difficult, his brows furrowed, and his expression of confusion was very realistic.
Lin Xiyan tilted her head. Jiang Yibai's face was very close, and his purple eyes looked particularly deep in the dim light of the desk lamp, clearly reflecting his shadow and the undisguised expectation of seeking advice.
"...This is the formula. Substitute it in here..." Lin Xiyan picked up a pen, trying to ignore the close distance, and wrote down the steps on the draft paper. His voice was very soft, as if he didn't want to disturb the silence.
He explained it carefully, his steps clear. Jiang Yibai hummed in response, his head moving closer and closer, almost resting on Lin Xiyan's shoulder. His gaze wasn't on the draft paper at all, but on Lin Xiyan's lips moving and her slightly fluttering eyelashes.
"Do you understand?" Lin Xiyan asked after he finished speaking.
Caught off guard, their eyes met head-on. They were so close, so close that they could see themselves clearly in each other's pupils.
Jiang Yibai seemed to be caught, his Adam's apple rolled, his eyes wandered for a moment, and then he immediately became confident: "...It seems that you still don't understand. Can you say it again?" His tone was so sincere.
Lin Xiyan: “…”
He patiently repeated his explanation. This time, Jiang Yibai was more obedient, following his pen with his eyes, occasionally asking a question or two, as if he was really listening.
After explaining the problem, the two continued to do their homework, but Jiang Yibai was obviously unable to calm down.
After a while, he poked Lin Xiyan's arm with the pen cap again. Lin Xiyan turned to look at him.
"Are you thirsty?" Jiang Yibai took out a carton of milk from somewhere, inserted a straw, and handed it to him. "Drink some?"
Lin Xiyan was stunned as he looked at the milk that suddenly appeared at his lips. This... was too much. He subconsciously shrank back and shook his head: "...No need."
"Oh." Jiang Yibai didn't force it, took his hand back, and drank from the straw himself. His eyes were still on Lin Xiyan. He gulped down two mouthfuls and asked, "Are you hungry? I think I brought some chocolate..."
"I'm not hungry." Lin Xiyan quickly interrupted him, lowering her head and pretending to concentrate on the questions, but her heartbeat began to accelerate again. What on earth... did he want to do?
Jiang Yibai seemed a little disappointed, curled his lips, and was quiet for a while. But soon, he found a new trick.
Lin Xiyan was concentrating on a math problem, unconsciously tapping his chin with the end of his pen. Suddenly, the sensation changed. It wasn't the hard pen, but... the warm, calloused tips of his fingers.
Jiang Yibai reached out at some point and, replacing the pen with his fingertips, lightly touched his chin. The movement was so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
Lin Xiyan shuddered violently, as if struck by a weak electric current, and nearly dropped the pen in his hand. He looked up in astonishment.
Jiang Yibai had already withdrawn his hand and was pretending to look out the window. His face was tense, and his ears were suspiciously red. He coughed dryly and changed the subject in a stiff tone: "...Well, it looks like it's going to rain."
The moon is bright and the stars are sparse outside the window.
Lin Xiyan watched him, his attempt to conceal his true intentions only making them more obvious. Suddenly, the panic in his heart strangely subsided. He even felt like laughing. He lowered his head, took a very gentle breath, suppressed the unruly curve at the corner of his mouth, and picked up the pen again.
"Do the questions." He whispered.
"Oh." Jiang Yibai touched his nose, finally calmed down, and picked up the pen.
The soft glow of the desk lamp enveloped this small space. The rustling sound of writing resumed, interspersed with the occasional flip of pages. The air was filled with the faint sweet aroma of old books and milk.
As Lin Xiyan was writing, she suddenly felt her shoulders sink.
He tilted his head slightly. Jiang Yibai had unknowingly tilted his head and rested it on his shoulder. His eyes were closed, his breathing even, as if he were asleep. His thick lashes cast a light shadow under his eyes, making him look defenseless, even a little childishly obedient.
The warm body temperature and weight can be felt through the fabric, bringing a reassuring sense of security.
Lin Xiyan's body froze, and the fingers holding the pen tightened slightly. The sound of her heartbeat was amplified in the silence.
He should have pushed him away. This was... too intimate.
However, looking at the other person's peaceful sleeping face and feeling the weight of complete dependence, he raised his hand, but in the end, it fell very lightly, hanging in the air. He hesitated for a long time, and finally, he carefully helped him brush away a strand of hair that had slipped to his forehead.
The movement was so light that it felt like touching a fragile dream.
After doing this, he seemed to have exhausted all his courage and quickly withdrew his hand, his heart pounding and his cheeks burning. He didn't dare to move again, maintaining that stiff posture, even breathing lightly.
The person leaning on his shoulder seemed to be sleeping soundly, with the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a tiny, contented arc.
The wind outside the window seemed to have died down, the leaves no longer rustling. It was as if the entire world was left with only this lamp, a table, two young men cuddling together, and the intertwined, steady sounds of their breathing.
Time seemed to be stretched infinitely, becoming slow and sticky.
Lin Xiyan looked at the densely packed words on the homework book, but couldn't concentrate on any of them. All her senses were focused on the heavy, warm touch on her left shoulder.
So... this is what it feels like to be depended on.
It seems... not bad.
He very gently relaxed his tense shoulders, allowing the other person to lean more comfortably.
The night spreads silently outside the window.
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