AD Chapter 8

[°: I saw that.]

[Y: There’s no bed in the second bedroom.]

[°: I know.]

Above the chat, the “typing” indicator appeared in the remarks section, intermittently disappearing and reappearing. Shen Du waited for a long time but didn’t receive a reply.

[°: ?]

[°: Speak.]

[Y: In the future, you don’t need to ask me about things like this.]

[Y: I’m not interested in my tenants’ personal lives for now.]

For now? Did that mean there’d be a “later”?

This was the first time Shen Du saw Qin Yi type so much—it was rare.

[°: What are you thinking? This is my roommate.]

[°: I just wanted to ask if it’s okay to add a bed to the second bedroom.]

[Y: Sure.]

“Anything is fine, so why sign that contract?”

He clicked into Qin Yi’s profile card and changed the remark to [Sure to Blame].

Then, he exited and found the chat window with his roommate, pressed the voice button, and said, “I just moved in and haven’t unpacked yet. Why don’t you check if Xiao Huang’s place works? If not, then come over.”

Xiao Huang was also their roommate, a local, with two older sisters and a younger brother.

If there weren’t many people, it could still be manageable to stay there.

Shen Du didn’t particularly like living with others, especially since he wasn’t very familiar with this roommate.

The roommate quickly replied: [Okay, I’ll ask him if it’s convenient.]

Shen Du sent back an “OK.”

*

Two days later, Shen Du went to the tattoo shop again for a final check-up, but Qin Yi wasn’t there.

“Brother Qin went out of town. He left just yesterday,” Niao Niao said while pouring him a glass of water. “Did he not tell you?”

Why would he be obligated to tell him that?

Shen Du accepted the glass and asked, “When will he be back?”

“Not sure. Brother Qin didn’t say,” Niao Niao replied. “But I noticed he cleared his schedule for the next week. No appointments.”

Niao Niao brought up the shop’s appointment schedule to show him.

For the upcoming week, Qin Yi’s time slots were completely open.

Shen Du handed the iPad back. “So, was my trip here a waste?”

“Of course not,” Niao Niao smiled. “It’s just a follow-up check. Any of the artists here can handle it.”

Shen Du tilted his head slightly to glance at his tattooed area but didn’t say anything.

Niao Niao noticed his expression. “Does it hurt a lot?”

Shen Du thought for a moment and still nodded. “A bit.”

“That’s normal for a first tattoo,” Niao Niao said as she led him upstairs. Stopping at the first door by the staircase, she knocked. “Xiang Nan, are you in? Brother Qin’s client is here for a follow-up. Can you take a look?”

Standing behind her, Shen Du glanced down the hallway. Except for the innermost door, which was closed, all the other doors were ajar.

A not-so-friendly voice responded, “Which client? Brother Qin didn’t tell me anyone was coming.”

The door swung open with a whoosh. A burst of cold air hit him, revealing a buzz-cut youth standing behind the door, wearing a loose tank top. Tattoos resembling flying birds adorned his neck and arms.

“This is Mr. Shen Du, Brother Qin’s client,” Niao Niao introduced.

Shen Du nodded slightly at him. “Hello.”

His voice was pleasant, like a clear spring in the mountains, inexplicably calming.

Xiang Nan stared at him for a moment, his expression softening slightly, though his tone was still harsh, as if someone owed him money. “Did you have an appointment beforehand?”

Shen Du shook his head.

“I’m Xiang Nan.” The youth with the surname Xiang opened the door wider. “Come in.”

The air conditioning in the room was intense. As soon as the door opened, Shen Du felt it. He rubbed his arms through his sleeves and instinctively surveyed the room’s layout.

His first impression: a bit messy.

Not in terms of clutter, but the tools, drawing boards, paints, and layout—everything felt mismatched. Having been to Qin Yi’s studio, Shen Du had subconsciously assumed every tattoo artist’s workspace would be like that. Stepping into Xiang Nan’s room now, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

He started doubting the young man’s skills.

Xiang Nan, unaware of being judged, plopped onto a low sofa and asked, “In no rush, right?”

Shen Du noticed the game screen on his phone and thought, No wonder he was so irritated when he opened the door earlier.

“Not in a hurry,” Shen Du gestured. “You play first.”

“Then find a spot to sit,” Xiang Nan said.

Except for the small bed, every other seat in the room was piled with stuff. Shen Du retracted his gaze and replied, “No need, I’ll stand for a bit.”

Without lifting his eyes, Xiang Nan said, “Suit yourself.”

This round was tough.

Xiang Nan had just maneuvered his hero out of the base crystal when he was ambushed by the enemy’s jungler and marksman.

“Damn.” He cursed, checking the stats on the economy board.

0/5/0.

Two more deaths, and he’d be beyond saving.

As he pondered what items to buy next, a faint and pleasant fragrance wafted over. Before he could react, darkness obscured his view, and a voice said, “You’re building your gear wrong.”

Xiang Nan looked up. “?”

How could someone with such a nice voice say something so unpleasant?

Care to repeat that?

Shen Du really did repeat it. “Wrong gear. Since the enemy has a lot of tanks, instead of building Black Cleaver, go for Serrated Dirk.”

Xiang Nan stared at his face in silence.

The frown on the youth’s face looked genuinely fierce, as if he might pull a weapon from his pocket any second.

Shen Du met his gaze calmly, showing no fear.

But upon closer observation, one could detect a faint hint of provocation in the slight downward tilt of Shen Du’s eyes.

The two stared at each other, neither backing down, their eyes almost sparking with electricity.

Seconds passed.

“What’s Black Cleaver?”

The delinquent facade instantly crumbled.

“I’ve never heard of the Black Cleaver you mentioned,” Xiang Nan continued, his expression remaining stoic but his eyes brimming with curiosity.

“Uh,” Shen Du was briefly speechless. His fists, which had been clenched in his pockets, suddenly had no place to go. He awkwardly adjusted his bangs.

“It’s the purple axe.”

Due to being down one damage dealer, the team lost the fight. Shen Du heard Xiang Nan’s teammate yelling into the mic, “What the hell, marksman, are you even trying? A bot would play better than you!”

Xiang Nan’s expression visibly darkened, looking scarier than before.

Before he could open his mic to start a fight, Shen Du snatched his phone and declared confidently, “Don’t mind him. I’ll win this game for you.”

*

An hour later, Xiang Nan personally walked Shen Du to the door. “Thanks for helping me rank up.”

Shen Du waved it off, gesturing toward the tattoo on his left arm. “It’s all good now, right? Can I get it wet?”

“It’s been fine for a while.” Xiang Nan, blunt as ever, said whatever was on his mind. “You actually didn’t need to come today.”

Shen Du froze mid-gesture.

Realizing he’d misspoken, the boy hastily tried to make amends. “Uh, the cat tattoo is really cute. Brother Qin’s skills are amazing.”

“Wait, no, I mean—the cat is very cute.”

“I named it Shen Yuanyuan,” Shen Du said softly.

Xiang Nan seemed to connect the dots, hesitating. “So, it’s…?”

“Yeah, it’s gone.”

“Oh… sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.” Shen Du looked at the boy, whose demeanor was such a contradiction to his appearance, and found him rather fascinating.

“No need to see me out. You can head back. Oh, right, here.”

Xiang Nan watched as he pulled a candy from his pocket.

“For me?”

No one had ever given him candy before.

“Yeah.” Shen Du suddenly smiled and tilted his head down slightly. “If you lose at a game again, you can call me. I’ll guarantee a win.”

Xiang Nan felt like an angel had kissed his ears.

He stood there dumbfounded for a couple of seconds. Once Shen Du disappeared from sight, he turned around and walked back inside, calling Qin Yi. “Brother Qin, your client is amazing.”

“?” Qin Yi had just retrieved his phone from a locker after finishing up at the basketball court. He locked the door, confused. “Which client?”

“Shen Du! He’s so handsome, has a great voice, and, most importantly, is awesome at gaming.” Over the internet, Xiang Nan didn’t pick up on the shift in his brother’s mood. “Hey, do you have his WeChat? Can you share it with me? I—”

Qin Yi cut him off. “Shen Du came to the shop today? And gave you candy?”

Xiang Nan didn’t know why he fixated on that, but he had to swallow all the things he wanted to say. “Yeah.”

“…” Silence on the other end.

“Brother?”

Just when Xiang Nan thought the call might have dropped, he finally heard Qin Yi’s voice.

“You want his WeChat?”

Xiang Nan opened his mouth.

“—Ask him yourself.”

Xiang Nan: “…”

*

When Shen Du got home, he stood in front of a mirror and took a selfie.

He had deliberately worn a white tank top with a slightly loose neckline that revealed a small section of bare chest—pale and eye-catching.

From the time he got the tattoo until now, he hadn’t really taken a good look. Examining it closely now, he had to admit that Qin Yi’s work was exceptional. That Xiang kid wasn’t just throwing out empty compliments.

After appreciating the photo for a bit, he remembered his promise to Dreamy Affection and opened the Cool Cat app. Before he could send the picture, a WeChat message from Qin Yi popped up.

[Blame: Went to the shop for a follow-up?]

That was quick.

Shen Du replied: [Yeah.]

[Blame: Why didn’t you tell me?]

[°: How was I supposed to know you weren’t there?]

He figured it was such a minor thing that it didn’t matter whether he made an appointment or not. How could he have known Qin Yi wouldn’t be there?

At least it was the last check-up.

When Qin Yi didn’t reply for a while, Shen Du sent him exactly what Niaoniao had said, word for word: [It’s no big deal. Just a follow-up. Anyone at the shop could’ve done it.]

[°: That Xiang tattoo artist of yours is pretty good.]

Qin Yi sent back a voice message, which Shen Du opened. The cold, low tone boomed in his ears.

“Really.” Qin Yi’s response was indifferent, but his next question had nothing to do with the previous topic. “By the way, Xiang Nan told me you gave him candy?”

[Yeah.] Shen Du replied, a bit surprised that Xiang Nan had even mentioned that.

Qin Yi shook off the people tailing him, got into his car, and told the driver to start. “Xiao Shen, I have a question.”

“What question?”

“—Do you think my skills are bad?”

Bad enough that I don’t even deserve a piece of candy?

Shen Du stifled a laugh: [Well, according to Xiang Nan, your skills are excellent.]

“According to Xiang Nan?”

So he still thought it hurt too much?

“And what does Shen Du think?”

The driver glanced at the rearview mirror, surprised by Qin Yi’s two voice messages. The man sat casually by the window, one arm propped against it, head slightly lowered, eyes reflecting the cool glow of the phone screen. His expression was unreadable.

His phone vibrated, and a notification popped up.

[Cool Cat—Shen° sent you a message.]

Qin Yi’s gaze flickered as he opened it.

Inside the chat box was a single image.

It was a mirror selfie of a young man, cropped from the neck down.

In the photo, the young man stood sideways, his neck slender and his Adam’s apple slightly pronounced. The fingers holding the phone were long and delicate, the wrist thin yet strong. And on the toned left arm was a very familiar tattoo of a cat.