1
As summer approached, the rainy weather in Jing City had become increasingly frequent. The sky was hazy, and rainwater had already gathered into shallow puddles on the streets with no sign of stopping.
Jiang Banxu had just finished his last tutoring session for the semester. Now, he stood under the bus stop near his apartment complex, sheltering from the rain. The workload for a medical student was overwhelming, and although there was still more than a month left until finals, if he wanted to do well, he would have to start preparing seriously.
Ding Song arrived in a taxi and spotted Jiang from across the intersection. Jiang’s tall, slender figure, dressed in his usual plain white cotton T-shirt and casual pants, stood out even in the crowd. Despite the simplicity of his outfit, his clean, distinctive aura made him easy to recognize.
As soon as the taxi stopped, Ding Song jumped out, clutching his backpack and grumbling, “Our physiology professor loves to drag out the lessons! Even on the last day, he made us stay late. It’s so unfair!”
Jiang held two popsicles in his hand, a gift from the mother of the student he had just tutored. “Here, have one,” he said, handing one to Ding Song, who quickly shifted his attention to the treat.
It was a bit cooler today, and the popsicles hadn’t started to melt yet. As Ding Song tore off the wrapper, tiny bits of ice flew off, landing in his palm, sending a refreshing chill. Jiang took a bite of his own popsicle and squinted from the cold.
While gnawing on the popsicle, Ding Song said, “After lunch, can I come over to your place? I want to copy your notes.”
He added, looking hopeful, “And could you help me with that essay that’s about to be due? Please, Banxu?” His expression was pleading as he looked at Jiang.
Jiang and Ding Song had been desk mates throughout high school. Back then, Jiang was known as the top student in the city, consistently ranking first in every exam. Though Ding Song was more of a slacker, he somehow managed to scrape by thanks to Jiang’s help and eventually got into the local medical university with him. Ding Song’s parents often reminded him how lucky he was to have Jiang as a friend, urging him to cherish the relationship.
Though they weren’t in the same class now, they were in the same program, so their assignments were largely the same. Jiang furrowed his brow and looked a bit hesitant. “The notes and assignments are fine, but coming over to my place might be a little tricky.”
Ding Song blinked, then realized, “Oh, right! I forgot you have a new roommate now.”
He frowned and asked, “You guys still haven’t warmed up to each other yet?”
Jiang Banxu was the kindest, most easy-going person Ding Song had ever met. He was never quick-tempered, always helpful, and incredibly capable. Whether it was life or study, Jiang seemed to excel at everything. He not only took good care of himself but also always managed to look out for those around him.
Because of this, Ding Song couldn’t understand how anyone could have a bad relationship with Jiang. “It’s not that we don’t get along,” Jiang corrected him.
Half a month ago, Jiang’s previous roommate had moved out when his lease expired, and the new roommate had moved in the next day. His new roommate, Ying Tiao, seemed to be in his mid-to-late twenties, much more mature than Jiang, who was still a college student. The first thing Jiang noticed about him was how handsome he was, with strikingly pale skin.
But after living together for two weeks, Jiang started to think that there was something strange about his new roommate. The first thing was his personality—Ying Tiao was extremely cold. They crossed paths in the living room almost daily, but Ying never acknowledged Jiang’s presence, and his gaze never lingered on him. Even when Jiang greeted him, he barely got any response.
Jiang began to wonder if he was invisible or if he had somehow offended Ying Tiao, though they’d never met before moving in together. This was the first odd thing.
The second thing was that Jiang noticed his roommate always left the house at night. Jiang often studied at home all day, and a few times, he thought he was alone in the apartment, only for Ying to suddenly emerge from his room as night fell, silently leaving the house. The quietness would always startle Jiang, especially since there had been no signs of movement all day. He could confirm that Ying hadn’t left his room once during daylight.
Over time, Jiang started to wonder how his roommate handled meals. Then there was the perpetually dark bedroom and the mysterious, silent comings and goings... All in all, Ying Tiao was shrouded in an air of mystery and strangeness.
However, despite everything, his new roommate didn’t disrupt Jiang’s life. They simply existed in the same space, barely interacting. Since Jiang hadn’t even managed to have a proper conversation with him, he didn’t feel comfortable inviting friends over.
“Well, let’s just go to my place then!” Ding Song quickly suggested. “My parents won’t be home this afternoon, so we can finish our assignments and even take a nap.”
Jiang thought it was a good idea and nodded in agreement. He had a class at 4 PM anyway. After waiting for another ten minutes, their bus finally arrived. Jiang boarded first, and since it was after the morning rush, there were plenty of empty seats.
As soon as Jiang tapped his card and looked around, he easily spotted someone in the back row. It was a man in a black jacket, with long, dark hair that curled behind his ears.
Jiang was surprised to see his new roommate, Ying Tiao, sitting there. His skin looked even paler than Jiang remembered, almost unnaturally so. His cold aura made him look out of place in the cramped bus seat.
Jiang hadn’t expected to see Ying here, especially since he had never seen him out during the day. The two made brief eye contact, but with the dim light inside the bus due to the rainy weather, Jiang couldn’t quite make out Ying’s expression. Considering his roommate’s usual aloofness, Jiang hesitated to greet him.
To his surprise, Ying Tiao gave him a subtle nod—so subtle it almost felt like an illusion. Jiang quickly smiled back and found a seat at the front with Ding Song. He placed his backpack on his lap and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Ding Song nudged him, typing something on his phone. Jiang’s phone buzzed with a message:
[Ding Song: That handsome guy—is he your new roommate? His gaze gave me chills.]
Jiang glanced at the message and nodded slightly. It was indeed his roommate. But as for the supposedly scary gaze, Jiang didn’t feel anything other than strangeness. Then again, there were plenty of strange things about his new roommate.
Jiang didn’t look back for the rest of the ride. When they finally arrived at their stop, Ying Tiao was nowhere to be seen. He must have gotten off without Jiang noticing.
Ding Song had been holding it in for the entire bus ride. The moment they got off, he grabbed Jiang’s arm, wide-eyed. “Banxu, I swear, your new roommate is not normal.”
Jiang agreed silently.
“What makes you say that?”
“If this were a suspense movie, he’d definitely be the serial killer,” Ding Song said, feeling satisfied with his analogy. “He has that look, you know?”
“And he glanced at me when we got on the bus—it gave me the creeps,” Ding Song shuddered, rubbing his arms. “I’m telling you, you should definitely lock your door at night.”
“...”
After class that evening, Jiang stayed in the library until around 9 PM, then headed home.
Jing City wasn’t a particularly developed city. The few universities in the area were still using old campuses from years ago. Dorm rooms were limited, and most local students couldn’t get one, so they had to find their own housing. Luckily, the school provided some housing subsidies.
Jiang rented a place in an old neighborhood, far from the school. It took him nearly 40 minutes by bus, followed by another 10-minute walk down narrow alleyways. The area wasn’t very safe, which was one of the reasons the rent was so cheap.
When Jiang finally got home, it was nearly 10 PM. The house was completely dark, and he guessed his roommate was probably not home. Feeling exhausted after a long day, Jiang relaxed as soon as he stepped inside.
Having lived there long enough to be familiar with the layout, he switched into his slippers in the dark and reached for the light switch. The room brightened, and Jiang set down his backpack, ready to grab something from the fridge. But as he turned around, he almost jumped out of his skin.
Ying Tiao had been standing by the counter, motionless, for who knows how long.
The tall man was dressed in loose-fitting loungewear, but rather than looking relaxed, his presence seemed even more eerie, as if his clothes didn’t match his aura. He held a cup in his hand, standing there with a casual posture, but Jiang could clearly feel his intense gaze fixed on him.
There was something deeply unsettling about that look—like a sticky, cold substance enveloping him, pressing down with an overwhelming sense of dread.
Had Ying been watching him since the moment he walked in?
The thought sent a shiver down Jiang’s spine. His mind flashed back to what Ding Song had said earlier that day. At the time, Jiang had dismissed it as his friend’s imagination running wild. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
For a few tense seconds, the room was silent. Jiang clenched his fists without realizing it. But then, as if nothing had happened, Ying Tiao averted his eyes and took a sip from his cup. Jiang couldn’t see what he was drinking through the opaque cup.
When Ying looked up again, the strange atmosphere had disappeared, replaced by a faint, friendly smile.
“Good evening,” he said calmly, as though he had just been grabbing a drink and happened to run into Jiang.
He was undeniably handsome, with a high nose bridge and sharp, defined features. Despite his unnaturally pale skin, his lips were a healthy shade of red—perhaps too red.
Normally, Jiang would have smiled and returned the greeting, but all he felt now was fear.
“Good evening,” Jiang managed to respond awkwardly. He could feel how forced his smile was. Trying to remain composed, he quickly added, “It’s getting late, so I’m going to bed now.”
“Good night,” Ying replied.
Jiang retreated to his room, clutching his backpack. As the house fell silent once more, Ying’s gaze followed Jiang until the door to his bedroom closed.
His senses were sharp enough to hear the rapid, shaky breaths coming from behind the door. He could tell Jiang was leaning against it, afraid to move.
Ying stood still for a moment longer, then calmly finished his drink and turned off the living room lights, creating the illusion that he, too, had gone to bed.
Meanwhile, in his room, Jiang continued to stand by the door, waiting until he heard the sound of the neighboring bedroom door opening and closing. Only when he was certain that his roommate had gone to bed did he exhale a long sigh of relief.
Recalling the strange look Ying had given him, Jiang turned and quietly locked his door.
