The Stars In Your Eyes

That afternoon, Liu Xiang and Tang Yuxuan saw Bai Yutang knock on their dorm's door with trembling hands. His eyes rims were red and slightly wet. They say nothing. Tang Yuxuan couldn't say anything except "Ouch!" when Liu Xiang pinch his waist so hard. He had no idea why his roommate changed into a sadistic man.

They accompany Bai Yutang to the dorm's administrator. Once there, they look at their friend's face, who is still miserable even though the administrator happily told him they have several empty rooms in this dorm's building. The administrator also told him that four people are currently looking for a roommate. 

After looking for these people's background, Bai Yutang said he wanted to contact this third year student from the Computer Science and Technology faculty. The other three were either first or second year students.

"Let's contact that man right now, who knows we could visit the room." Tang Yuxuan said with a light voice, hoping his friend's bad mood slightly brightened if today's mission to find a new dorm room was accomplished..

Bai Yutang seems to want to say something, but he just hung his head low. Both Liu Xiang and Tang Yuxuan racked their brain to find something to say.

"Can.. Can I borrow your phone to contact this man?"

Liu Xiang and Tang Yuxuan immediately reach their pockets to give their phone to this skinny man who asks in a pitiful tone.

'What happened with TangTang's phone? Is that bastard asking TangTang to return all the things he gave before?'

Tang Yuxuan wants to ask, but once again his vicious roommate pinch his arms. This time surely it will be bruised. "Ouch! Why do you pinch my arms???" Tang Yuxuan can't help shouting.

Liu Xiang smiled sweetly, "This wife just wants to pinch Daddy's arm. Here, TangTang, just use my phone."

"Thank you.." Bai Yutang can only answer with a hoarse voice. He almost choked, because somehow he was grateful that his friends didn't ask him anything. The man Bai Yutang called agreed to meet and let Bai Yutang visit the room tonight. 

When they walked back to the dorm, Liu Xiang asked Bai Yutang whether he wanted to have their dinner outside, or just buy and eat at the dorm. To see Bai Yutang's state right now, Liu Xiang was sure that Bai Yutang would choose to eat at the dorm. But surprisingly, Bai Yutang chose to eat outside. At the small restaurant near their dorm.

They invite Yu Dong to have dinner together. At the restaurant that night, three of them try to make Bai Yutang eat more. They order spicy fish and tofu soup, salty egg soft shell crab, and cashew chicken. 

This cashew chicken used to be Bai Yutang's favourite every time they visit this restaurant. The tender chunks of chicken combined with the crispy roasted cashews and vegetables, tossed in a light sauce from garlic, soy sauce, and traditional hoisin sauce. It was really tasty since this restaurant used their secret recipe for their hoisin sauce. But today it looks like Bai Yutang had resentment towards that cashew chicken.

Looking at Bai Yutang eating slowly, it seems like it will take forever for him to finish what they silently put on his plate. So they order some hot chocolate for him. They also order apple and banana juice as takeout. If their skinny friend can't eat much, at least he needs to drink milk and juices.

Bai Yutang slept with Liu Xiang that night. He tries to sleep since his eyes are really tired, dried from sleep insufficiency. But he can't, he just stares at the wall before him. Finally he called Liu Xiang, checking whether he already slept or not.

"Mm? Did you call me, TangTang?" Liu Xiang thought maybe his skinny friend finally wanted to tell him what happened with him last night. Tang Yuxuan's ear also perks high up.

"Can i sleep over that side? I want to study for tomorrow's presentation. I can't sleep thinking about it."

"…."

Why? Why does this man still want to study? Clearly he had a big problem bothering his mind, thus he can't sleep. Why don't just tell them what's going on, so they won't feel like walking through a thin glass? But instead of telling them, why did he choose to study? Why?

Liu Xiang rolled his body, allowing Bai Yutang to wake up and study at his desk. Tang Yuxuan really can't hold his curiosity anymore. But somehow before he could utter any words, his savage roommate threw a pillow at him. The pillow was soft, but Liu Xiang threw that pillow as if he was Babe Ruth1. Tang Yuxuan felt his nose crooked after receiving that pillow attack.

"Ouch!" Why did you hit me again?"

Liu Xiang walked towards Tang Yuxuan and laid beside him. "Because suddenly this wife is missing you, daddy. Let me sleep hugging you tonight."

Liu Xiang really needs to guard this insensitive man. Tang Yuxuan is a really nice guy who likes to protect his friends. But sometimes, he was so dense and inflexible. Liu Xiang often jokes with him by telling him to stop being such a pigheaded boor.

Bai Yutang studied until near midnight, when he finally yawned. He felt guilty to let Liu Xiang sleep with Tang Yuxuan. Clearly he is the one who is invading their room, he should sleep on the floor. But the floor is so cold, and they don't have an extra bed nor blanket. 

Tonight they already meet his roommate to be, and he seems okay. His name is Xu Chenjie. He looks decent, and they agreed to become roommates after Bai Yutang saw the room was clean and tidy enough. 

Even though Bai Yutang found the room, he could only move there on January 2nd. He still needs to fill the paper and administration's stuff tomorrow. After that, his roommate will go for New Year's holiday starting Friday evening. 

It was not possible for him to move after he took care of the administration stuff, for the room will be empty. If he moves there with his roommate's stuff inside while the person is on holiday, it will be hard to prove his innocence if something was missing and his roommate accuses him of stealing something.

It happened before in this dorm, a few years ago. Since then, the dorm administrator strongly advised them to move in while their roommate was inside. To avoid any misunderstanding and accusation between students.

When Bai Yutang closed his eyes, he could not help to think about Jian Kang Lu. For months his body became accustomed to Jian Kang Lu's arms encircling his waist while he slept. Embrace him with his warmth, shield him with his affection.

But now, all he could feel is the coldness growing within his body, wrapped him with wretchedness.

It was only one night since he decided to leave that man. And he is already lonely.

In the morning, Bai Yutang awoke first. No matter how tired he was, his body trained to wake up early in the morning. Preparing breakfast for Jian Kang Lu. Things he won't do ever again for the rest of his life. Since he already woke up, he decided to take a shower and study his presentation again.

Liu Xiang and Tang Yuxuan seemed surprised to see him already showered and sitting at the desk, studying at 6 am. They asked him to have breakfast in the cafeteria together, and he agreed. Bai Yutang tried to act like nothing happened, and tried his best to smile and laughed.

What he doesn't know, his acting ability truly sucks. Liu Xiang and Tang Yuxuan just look at his awkward smile, and they decide to keep their opinion for themselves. They need to appreciate their skinny friend's effort.

Bai Yutang was glad that he managed to get through another day, though his pain inside was still throbbing hard. He was sure that this pain would eventually subside. He only needs to hang on, manage to get through this pain day by day. Just like when his father passed away.

But that time, his pain subsided along with Jian Kang Lu's appearance at his hostel door. Once Bai Yutang remembers those memories, his pain will flare and gnaw his heart from inside. He hates himself for being sad every time he remembers all his happy memories with Jian Kang Lu.

In the afternoon, after his class, once again Bai Yutang was surprised with Jian Kang Lu's presence. That man waiting for him in front of his lecture building. Sit on the bench under the tree, with his eyes locked at him once he stepped out from the entrance door.

'This is Wednesday, no wonder he could be here at this hour. But how does he know I was in this building?'

Today's presentation is held in the different building Bai Yutang used to have classes. Bai Yutang suspects his friends, or Mu Xiaoya, as the culprit. But he also didn't tell them that he will have a presentation in this building. Bai Yutang decides that he doesn't need to know, and he doesn't need to care about it.

Once again he ignored Jian Kang Lu, and once again the scene from yesterday repeated.

"TangTang, can we just talk? I missed you…"

Bai Yutang steeled his heart while listening to that miserable tone. He could see Jian Kang Lu's complexion was no better than him. He tried his best to dodge Jian Kang Lu's hand, who tried to hold his hands again.

"It was all a misunderstanding, TangTang. That night I..."

Bai Yutang cut this man's explanation. To hear his explanation from that night will only bring awful memories to him. Memories he wished to erase from his mind.

"I told you, I don't want to hear anything from you. I don't even want to hear your voice again."

Bai Yutang turns his body and walks away from this man he hates so much. This man keeps sending him messages and calls him non stop once he turns on his mobile phone. He can't even turn on his mobile phone to check his other messages. Maybe he needs to block this man's number and WeChat tonight.

"TangTang, it's okay if you're still mad at me. But can we have dinner together tonight? I won't talk if you don't want to hear my voice."

Bai Yutang just walked away and hastened his steps. He won't be a fool the second time.

He could hear Jian Kang Lu's steps from behind, following him. Once they arrived at Tang Yuxuan and Liu Xiang's dorm area, Bai Yutang said without turning his head.

"I told you, we're over. I don't want to see you again. Save your effort to come here, and stop following me like this."

Bai Yutang could hear Jian Kang Lu halt his step and sighed. 

"Please wear your shawl and your brown jacket. This blue one is thinner. The wind has been very cold lately, I don't want you to get sick."

Then Bai Yutang could hear the man used to love so much, say his next words with a longing tone, with a gentle voice.

"I'll come again tomorrow, TangTang..."