Guo Cheng Yu woke up with the faintest ache in his chest like he'd slept with a secret tucked under his ribs.
Jiang Xiao Shuai had already gone by the time he stirred. The sheets beside him were still warm. Not messy, not rumpled – just a dip where someone had sat for a while.
He exhaled slowly.
It wasn't just the kiss.
It was the silence after. The way neither of them had spoken. The way Shuai had rested his forehead against Cheng Yu's for a second longer than needed, before quietly grabbing his hoodie and slipping out the door like he didn't quite know what came next.
He hadn't said anything.
And neither had Cheng Yu.
Now, everything felt... heavier. Not in a bad way, but like something real had entered the space between them and was just sitting there, waiting to be named.
***
By the time Xiao Shuai reached the Media Lab, his steps were light but his brain was a mess.
What did that kiss mean?
Were they... something now? Did it need a name? Should he bring it up?
Should he pretend it hadn't happened?
And worst of all...had Cheng Yu regretted it?
He hadn't texted. But then, neither had Shuai.
He dropped his backpack onto the chair and pulled out his editing notes. Anything to distract his brain. The room was thankfully empty. Just him and the hum of the desktop monitor.
Except... not for long.
"Hey."
The voice was low, familiar. He didn't need to turn around to know.
Cheng Yu stood at the door, holding two iced coffees. One was clearly his. The other?
He held it out wordlessly.
"I figured you'd come in early."
Shuai accepted the drink slowly. "Thanks..."
A beat passed.
"Are we okay?" Cheng Yu asked, eyes locked on his.
Shuai blinked. "Yeah. Just thinking."
"About?"
"Us."
Cheng Yu raised a brow. "So there's an 'us'?"
Shuai turned back to the computer. "I... don't know. Is there?"
Another pause. And then—
"I liked it," Cheng Yu said.
Shuai's heart thudded.
"I liked it, too," he replied.
No smiles. No teasing. Just honesty.
Cheng Yu slid into the seat next to him. "We don't have to rush anything."
Shuai looked down at the iced coffee. "Can we... just figure it out slowly?"
Cheng Yu nodded. "Yeah. Slowly works."
Later That Day...
The four of them had agreed to meet up after class, Chi Cheng, Wu Suo Wei, Cheng Yu, and Shuai for what was supposed to be a group assignment discussion. But it felt more like a casual hangout, with Suo Wei bringing snacks and Cheng Yu poking fun at him just to annoy Chi Cheng.
"Did you bring that weird tofu thing again?" Cheng Yu asked, dramatically wrinkling his nose.
"It's not weird!" Suo Wei defended, clutching the lunch bag to his chest.
Chi Cheng slid closer to him protectively. "It's his favorite. Don't eat it if you don't like it."
Xiao Shuai smirked at Cheng Yu, whose eyes flicked toward him briefly noticing how Jiang Xiao Shuai looked a little softer today, a little more at ease.
Even surrounded by noise and friends, Xiao Shuai still caught Cheng Yu's hand brushing his under the table.
Not holding it.
Just a touch.
Just a reminder.
Last night happened.
And nothing was quite the same anymore.