Behind The Mask

Chapter 4 : Shadow of Suspicious

Li Xin woke up early again, trying to steady his breath as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. The past few days had felt like a blur of tension, whispers, and near discoveries. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up the charade.

With a sigh, he pulled on his uniform and adjusted the collar, still not entirely used to the routine of living as a boy. He couldn’t let his guard down. Not yet.

---

Classroom - Morning

The bell rang for the start of class, and Li Xin quickly took his seat at the back, as usual. He was trying to stay unnoticed, but it wasn’t easy. The boys around him were always talking, joking, or casually teasing each other. Zhao Wei and Liang Chao were practically inseparable, while Chen Lei was busy reading a book in the corner. It was like they all had their own little world, and he was just… a part of the background.

“Hey, you,” Zhao Wei’s voice called out, snapping Li Xin from his thoughts.

Li Xin looked up to see Zhao Wei grinning at him. “What’s with the brooding? You’re looking more and more like you’re plotting something.”

Li Xin forced a smile. “I’m just tired. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately.”

Zhao Wei chuckled. “Sounds like a lame excuse. You sure you're not hiding something? You’re always alone.” He winked. “Come on, man, at least talk to me. It’s boring when you keep acting all mysterious.”

Li Xin forced himself to laugh along, but his mind raced. Could Zhao Wei be onto him?

---

Across the room, Liang Chao, who had been watching the interaction, rolled his eyes. He wasn’t one to get into other people’s business, but he couldn’t help but smirk. “Zhao Wei, stop being so dramatic. He's just shy, that’s all,” Liang said, leaning back in his chair with a relaxed grin. His laid-back attitude never seemed to change, no matter what chaos surrounded them.

Zhao Wei threw a paper ball at him. “Shy? We don’t do shy here, man. You’ve seen how many girls are practically stalking this guy,” he said, pointing at Li Xin. “I’m telling you, he’s got secrets.”

Liang Chao leaned forward with interest. “Secrets? Like what?” he teased, enjoying the drama unfolding around him.

“I don’t know yet,” Zhao Wei muttered, eyeing Li Xin suspiciously. “But I’ll figure it out.”

---

Meanwhile, Chen Lei, who had been silently reading a book, finally looked up at the two of them. His glasses were perched low on his nose, and he spoke in his usual calm, logical tone. “You’re both making a fuss over nothing. Focus on your work,” he said. But his gaze lingered on Li Xin for a moment longer than usual. Chen Lei wasn’t as loud or obvious about his curiosity, but even he couldn’t ignore the fact that something about the new guy seemed... off.

Li Xin met his gaze briefly and nodded in acknowledgment. He was grateful that at least Chen Lei wasn’t actively making things difficult for him.

---

Outside School Grounds – Midday

After class, Li Xin decided to step outside for some fresh air. He needed a moment to clear his head and get away from the pressure building around him. As he passed by the gates of the school, he saw a familiar face: Jan, his best friend from back home. Li Xin's heart lifted at the sight of him.

“Jan!” Li Xin called out, waving.

Jan looked up, and a smile spread across his face when he saw Li Xin. He walked over to him, eyes scanning the surroundings before pulling him into a quick hug. “Man, you look so out of place here. How’s it going?”

Li Xin grinned. “It’s... okay. Trying to survive.”

Jan raised an eyebrow. “Survive? What’s going on? Are they treating you well? The guys at the dorm, they giving you trouble?”

Li Xin sighed. “I’m fine. It’s just... weird. I think they’re starting to suspect something.”

Jan’s face grew more serious. “What do you mean?”

“Zhang Wei...” Li Xin hesitated, his eyes darting around to make sure no one could hear. “He’s... I think he knows. He’s acting all suspicious, and the others—well, they’re not exactly being friendly either.”

Jan frowned. “Zhang Wei? That guy’s trouble. You need to keep your guard up. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

Li Xin nodded. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Jan gave him a playful punch on the arm. “Hey, you don’t need to thank me. We’ve been through worse, right?” His tone shifted to something more serious. “Just don’t let them get to you. If they’re getting suspicious, just lay low for a while. You know I’ll help with anything you need.”

Li Xin smiled gratefully. “I’ll try.”

Jan gave him a quick nod and turned to leave. “I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself, alright?”

“Thanks, Jan. I’ll talk to you soon.”

---

Dormitory – Evening

That evening, the dorm was quiet. The four boys had all retreated to their own corners, each wrapped up in their own activities. Liang Chao was playing a game on his phone, Chen Lei had his nose buried in a book, and Zhao Wei was watching a movie on his laptop.

But Zhang Wei—the ever-suspicious Zhang Wei—was still a problem. He hadn’t let go of his earlier suspicions about Li Xin. As usual, Zhang Wei entered the room, his piercing blue eyes immediately scanning the room before locking onto Li Xin.

“Still not talking much?” Zhang Wei’s voice was colder than usual. “You’ve been quieter than normal. Something going on, huh?”

Li Xin was quick to answer. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

Zhang Wei smirked, clearly unconvinced. “You don’t look tired. You look like you’re hiding something. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” He leaned in closer, his voice lowering. “You’ve got something to hide, don’t you?”

Li Xin forced himself to stay calm. “I’m not hiding anything,” he said firmly, though his heart raced.

Zhang Wei’s eyes narrowed as he walked past Li Xin, muttering under his breath, “We’ll see.”

As Zhang Wei moved to his bed, the tension between them thickened. Li Xin could feel the weight of Zhang Wei’s gaze on him, but he refused to break. He couldn’t afford to.

---

Zhang Wei’s Girlfriend – After School

Across town, Li Xin’s thoughts drifted to Zhang Wei’s girlfriend, Jia Li, who attended the all-girls school just a few blocks away. She was a popular girl, the type of person everyone noticed when she entered a room. Her long black hair framed her delicate face, and her flawless skin and bright smile made her the center of attention wherever she went.

Today, as always, Jia Li was visiting Zhang Wei, bringing him lunch like she did every day after school. She had a slight frown as she walked up to the dormitory gates, knowing her boyfriend was probably busy with his friends.

The moment she arrived at the gates, she was greeted by Zhang Wei’s friends, who were always a little too friendly toward her. She had been dating Zhang Wei for almost a year now, but she couldn’t help feeling like there was something off about him lately. He’d been distant, even when she visited.

“Zhang Wei’s in his dorm,” one of the boys said, smirking at Jia Li. “But he’s got some new guy living with him now. You should check it out.”

Jia Li’s eyes widened. “New guy?”

“Yeah, some quiet kid who barely talks to anyone. Doesn’t seem to fit in.” The boy chuckled. “You should go meet him.”

Jia Li hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her. She walked to the dorm, her heels clicking on the pavement. Little did she know that the new guy was none other than Li Xin, the one person who could turn her world upside down.

Cliffhanger: Zhang Wei’s suspicions grow stronger, and Li Xin finds himself caught in a dangerous web of lies. Meanwhile, Jia Li’s curiosity about the “new guy” in the dorm is piqued. Will her arrival complicate things even more for Li Xin?