Ao Bing felt his cheeks flush slightly, unsure of how to respond to such direct praise. He turned back to his desk, continuing his studies.
Nezha watched Ao Bing's retreating figure, a strange feeling suddenly swelling within him. Until today, he had never observed Ao Bing so closely—his delicate features beneath the light blue hair, the corners of his mouth that lifted slightly when he spoke, the furrowed brow when deep in thought, and even the tips of his ears that turned red when he was shy... All these details became strikingly clear and etched deeply in Nezha's mind.
He didn’t know what this feeling was; he only knew that every time he saw Ao Bing, a flutter stirred in his heart—a complex emotion of wanting to draw closer yet fearing rejection.
As night deepened, the dormitory was filled only with the sound of Ao Bing turning pages and Nezha's steady breathing. According to their agreement, Nezha had already turned off the game and gone to bed early, while Ao Bing remained focused on his studies.
Nezha should have been asleep by now, but he quietly opened his eyes and stole glances at Ao Bing diligently studying across the table. The soft glow of the desk lamp bathed Ao Bing in a gentle golden hue, making him appear exceptionally serene and gentle.
In that moment, Nezha suddenly realized that his heart was unconsciously racing. He gazed at Ao Bing's concentrated profile, a wave of unprecedented emotion surged within him—warmth, softness, and a hint of bittersweetness that made him want to draw near yet feel a twinge of unease.
"What is this...?" Nezha silently questioned himself. "Could it be that I like him?"
This sudden thought startled Nezha, nearly causing him to spring up from his bed. He struggled to calm himself, closing his eyes in an attempt to sort through his thoughts.
He recalled the moments spent with Ao Bing over time—the initial conflicts and opposition, the later camaraderie in battle, the mutual understanding after signing their agreement, and the enjoyable interactions throughout the day. He realized that his feelings for Ao Bing had quietly shifted from initial resistance to... attraction?
Nezha cautiously opened his eyes again and looked at Ao Bing. Unknowingly, he found himself beginning to anticipate every interaction with Ao Bing, paying attention to each word and action, and caring about Ao Bing's opinion of him. Wasn't this feeling what people commonly referred to as "liking"?
This realization left Nezha both excited and anxious. Excited because it seemed he had found the source of that unusual feeling in his heart; anxious because he didn’t know if Ao Bing felt the same way or how to face this sudden emotion.
Ao Bing remained engrossed in his book, completely unaware of the turmoil within Nezha. His slender fingers gently turned the pages as his gaze remained focused and calm, as if the world around him had faded away, leaving only the knowledge before him.
Nezha quietly watched this scene, making a decision in his heart: to temporarily conceal his feelings and take the time to understand Ao Bing better, to see if he shared the same sentiments. After all, their relationship had just shifted from being at odds to harmonious, and he didn't want to jeopardize this hard-won balance with a rash confession.
Thus, with a complicated heart, Nezha gazed silently at Ao Bing under the moonlight until he fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Ao Bing, after confirming that Nezha was asleep, gently closed the book, turned off the bedside lamp, and returned to his own bed. He glanced at the sleeping Nezha, and an involuntary faint smile appeared on his lips.
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