Double A In Line Chapter 13
byChapter 13: Don’t Spread Rumors
What… what are you doing? The two Omegas who had been talking were startled by Cheng Yan’s sudden movement.
What did you just say? Cheng Yan said immediately, before the shock on his face had even faded. That wasn’t bitten by his boyfriend. Don’t go around spreading rumors.
What does it have to do with you? Why are you eavesdropping on other people’s conversations? one of the Omegas said, frowning in dissatisfaction.
Of course it has to do with me, that’s my… Cheng Yan’s voice carried a hint of anger. How could he possibly be that violent maniac’s boyfriend? But halfway through the sentence, he suddenly realized something and forced himself to swallow the words that were about to come out.
The expression on his face shifted from shock to inner turmoil. He wanted to say that he was the one who bit him, but he knew clearly that once he said it, there was no telling what kind of misunderstanding it would create. He could only maintain a strained, pained expression, unable to speak yet unable to let it go.
That’s what? What exactly are you trying to say? the other Omega asked impatiently when they saw that Cheng Yan remained silent.
You boys in the fifth row, what are you doing? Pay attention to the lecture. The professor’s reprimand came from the podium.
It’s nothing. Cheng Yan turned back to continue listening to the lecture with a stifled expression, his resentment toward Lin Sheng increasing once again.
What’s his deal? How bizarre, the two in the back row whispered to each other, exchanging a look.
Exactly. He even got the two of us scolded along with him.
Nothing good ever happens when I run into that guy. Cheng Yan glared at Lin Sheng, just as Lin Sheng happened to turn his head to look at him.
Psycho, Lin Sheng muttered softly as he turned back. He got caught not paying attention in class, so why was he glaring at him?
After class, Cheng Yan returned to the dormitory as usual, but he heard a familiar name in front of the dormitory building.
Li Chengyan?
Cheng Yan’s footsteps paused. He tried to act as if nothing was wrong and keep walking forward, but a hand grabbed his shoulder.
Hey, don’t go. Long time no see. I didn’t expect you to get into Typhon United University too. The person behind him spoke with a hint of a smile, but it only made Cheng Yan’s body grow more tense.
I’m Li Chengyu. Don’t you recognize me?
You have the wrong person. Cheng Yan turned around, trying his best to control his emotions and keep his expression calm. My surname isn’t Li, and I don’t know you.
After saying that, he readjusted the backpack strap that had slipped slightly off his shoulder, avoided the arm the person tried to reach out again, and went straight into the dormitory building. However, his pace was somewhat hurried.
Cheng Yan had always thought he had escaped the Li family, but he never expected to run into Li Chengyu.
In terms of blood relation, this person was his cousin.
Unlike Cheng Yan, who had been marginalized, Li Chengyu had always been the apple of everyone’s eye in the Li family.
No matter what he did, the family went along with him.
Most of his childhood memories had become blurred, except for the period when he was frequently punished because of Li Chengyu; that was something Cheng Yan could never forget.
What was the deal with that person just now? Your friend? the person standing next to Li Chengyu asked.
He looks a bit like a relative of mine. Maybe I got the wrong person. I’ll head out first. Li Chengyu curled his lips slightly as he said goodbye to his classmate.
What luck. He actually found him.
That evening while they were online grinding mobs, Lin Sheng saw that Huo Huo Huo was making constant operational errors. After he was besieged by mobs of the same level several times, Lin Sheng finally couldn’t help but say, What’s wrong with you? If you’re tired, take a break. I can grind by myself.
It’s nothing. Cheng Yan, who was still distracted, was startled and shook his head vigorously.
You should still take a rest. If you accidentally die and lose experience, all our grinding just now will be for nothing. Lin Sheng sighed helplessly and said, Don’t worry, even if you don’t fight, my speed alone is enough.
No, this is for me to level up. How could I just sit there and rest? Cheng Yan immediately refused.
Cheng Yan’s level was low and his killing speed was slow. In fact, the experience gain would be about the same if he didn’t fight and just let Lin Sheng grind alone, but Cheng Yan was naturally embarrassed to just sit back and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor, so he would also help out.
Nothing had gone wrong over the past few days, but today… after another mistake, Lin Sheng retracted his movement to release a skill and walked toward Cheng Yan.
Stop fighting. Tell me what’s going on with you first. You’ve been distracted ever since you logged on today.
After saying that, he didn’t give Cheng Yan a chance to refuse. He directly activated a teleportation skill and brought Cheng Yan to a tavern in the Holy City at the foot of the mountain.
Alright, speak! After opening a private room in the tavern, Lin Sheng pressed Cheng Yan into a seat, sat down opposite him, and spoke.
Cheng Yan: …
How did he end up looking like he was being interrogated without even noticing?
We have to solve your problem first, otherwise I can’t continue carrying you. Seeing that Cheng Yan still wouldn’t speak, Lin Sheng continued.
Actually, I’m fine. I’m better now, Cheng Yan said.
Lin Sheng didn’t speak. He just looked at him quietly, clearly intending to stay there as long as it took if he didn’t speak.
It’s really not necessary… As he said this, Cheng Yan met Lin Sheng’s eyes and froze for a moment.
Do you really want to know?
Yes. If you don’t say it, we’re staying here all day, Lin Sheng said, crossing his arms and staring at Cheng Yan.
In front of him, the snow leopard beastman hesitated for a long time before finally speaking slowly: I ran into someone today who used to bully me.
School bullying? Lin Sheng asked with a frown.
Yeah. His family situation was complicated and hard to explain in detail, so Cheng Yan gave such a vague answer.
Li Chengyu had indeed bullied him frequently in elementary school, so it wasn’t entirely a lie.
Are you afraid of him? Lin Sheng asked.
No, I’ve never been afraid of him. But his family has a very powerful background. I’m afraid they’ll do something to my father. We worked so hard to leave that place; I have to protect my dad. As Cheng Yan spoke, he became more agitated, and his originally dull voice gradually began to turn sharp.
But Lin Sheng couldn’t quite process it. Had the school bullying he faced been so serious that it involved his family?
Although he didn’t quite understand, it didn’t stop him from speaking: If they are threatening your family, you can go to the security bureau and report it to the police.
It’s useless. Cheng Yan lowered his head. Someone in their family is a military officer. It’s useless.
How could it be useless? Military officers should be even more bound by military discipline. If they threaten civilians, the higher-ups will definitely take care of it, Lin Sheng immediately countered.
What do you know! Do you think I haven’t tried? Cheng Yan’s voice rose again. Those people only protect their own. How could they care about the life or death of ordinary people?
It’s not like that. Most people… Lin Sheng wanted to continue persuading him, but was immediately interrupted by Cheng Yan.
What do you know! Cheng Yan suddenly shouted loudly, startling Lin Sheng. The words he was about to say were blocked back, and he could only open his mouth soundlessly.
I was wrong to think otherwise. How could you understand if you haven’t experienced it? The snow leopard’s voice returned to its initial dullness, but the urge to confide that had just been forced out had disappeared under Lin Sheng’s clear attitude. Why did you insist on asking me? You clearly can’t solve my problem at all.
The air stagnated for a moment.
A long time later.
You’re right. I’m indeed not fit to continue playing the game right now. I’m sorry, I’m logging off first.
A white light flashed. Lin Sheng looked silently at the empty seat opposite him. He hadn’t expected this exchange to have such a large impact on Huo Huo Huo, who had always seemed very optimistic.
Had he been too forceful just now?
And, what exactly had happened to him?
After logging off, Cheng Yan hugged his knees and leaned against the wall in a daze. What should he do? He didn’t know if Li Chengyu believed what he said. If he believed it, that would be fine, but if he didn’t, would that scumbag come looking for him?
If he kept avoiding Li Chengyu, would it work?
Cheng Yan closed his eyes and buried his head between his knees, his already clenched hands tightening again.
He didn’t know. What exactly should he do?
Over the next few days, Cheng Yan paid attention to whether that familiar figure was at the dormitory entrance whenever he returned.
As for the game, he temporarily had no heart to play.
That new internet friend probably had no interest in talking to him anymore either, after he had acted so out of line yesterday.
Not running into Li Chengyu for several days caused Cheng Yan’s tense nerves to begin to relax slightly.
But…
Cheng Yan! The voice full of laughter rang out again. This time, Li Chengyu had actually waited specifically outside the classroom where he had class. You changed your name? You actually pretended not to know me last time. Are you still holding a grudge over things from when we were kids?
I said you have the wrong person. Cheng Yan turned to leave after saying that, but Li Chengyu grabbed his wrist.
Don’t go. I wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you.
Let go. Can’t you understand human speech? Cheng Yan struggled hard, flinging off Li Chengyu’s hand.
What felt strange to him was that in the past, once Li Chengyu encountered something that didn’t go his way, he would cry, make a scene, and pester him relentlessly. This time, for some reason, he let go very quickly.
Don’t be so angry. I didn’t do anything. Li Chengyu withdrew his hand, acting as if he had a particularly good temperament.
Cheng Yan ignored him, turned around, and left in a hurry.
Li Chengyu watched Cheng Yan’s hurried but steady pace and raised his right hand in confusion.
Strange, it actually didn’t work. Is it because Cheng Yan’s gland is defective?
How boring.
On the way back to the dormitory, Cheng Yan frequently raised his wrist. Ever since Li Chengyu grabbed him just now, a wave of strange sour swelling and stinging pain had begun to emanate from his wrist.
But he observed it carefully several times and found nothing at all.
Was it psychological?
Inside the dormitory, Lin Sheng took off his helmet and sighed. Huo Huo Huo still hadn’t come online today.
Lin Sheng and Cheng Yan were in the same department but different majors. Lin Sheng was in Mecha Maintenance, while Cheng Yan was in Mecha Design. Aside from the large public lectures in the department, their professional course schedules were actually staggered.
Lin Sheng had no classes this afternoon, so he went online to play for a while and checked his friends list.
Just like the previous days, Huo Huo Huo’s avatar was still gray, and the time since his last login continued to increase.
Although the two of them had parted on bad terms last time, and Lin Sheng inevitably felt a bit of resentment that his good intentions were treated like dirt.
But he would still worry when he should worry. School bullying was no small matter.
A slight click sounded. Without looking, Lin Sheng knew it was that annoying roommate of his returning.
But immediately afterward, he smelled a strange bitter scent, like something was burning. Then, there was a loud thud.
What’s going on? Is there a fire? That was a lot of noise.
Lin Sheng quickly opened his partition, only to see Cheng Yan leaning against the dormitory door with a flushed face, his body swaying as he slid downward.