Chapter 2783: The Online Game Master's 'Straight Male' Roommate 28

Soon, the current program ended, the host announced, the lights dimmed then brightened again, the set changed and the actors appeared.

The performance went fairly smoothly, and amid applause all the actors came on stage to take a bow.

Jin Chen stood up from his seat holding flowers and walked down the aisle toward the stage.

He was strikingly handsome, and even moving through the audience area drew many gazes.

The actors on stage were bowing, and the Knight saw Jin Chen walking up holding flowers and froze for a moment.

"Damn."

His presence is that huge!

Where did his brother find this beauty!

Jin Chen handed over the bouquet, brief and to the point: "Your brother had something come up, so he asked me to deliver this."

The Knight hurriedly took the flowers, overjoyed, repeatedly thanking: "Thank you! Thanks so much, classmate! You really saved me… and my brother's life!"

Back row of the auditorium.

Cheng Lang was dragged here by Xu Can, ostensibly to relax and feel the holiday atmosphere; Cheng Lang originally had little interest, but thinking that Jin Chen was also in the auditorium watching the show, perhaps they could go home together afterward, so he came as well.

He absentmindedly watched the stage performance, his mind repeatedly rehearsing what he would say to Jin Chen when he got home tonight and what he would do.

Just imagining that scene made his ears uncontrollably heat up, and his palms slightly sweated.

This afternoon he had an online graduation project meeting with his instructor; now his phone battery was low, so while there was still a little charge left he hurriedly sent Jin Chen a message to confirm he had received the Christmas gift invitation, and only after seeing Jin Chen's reply did he relax and turn off his phone.

He wasn't really paying attention to what was being performed on stage.

Until Xu Can suddenly gave his thigh a hard slap.

"Hey?! Hey! Langzi, quick look, look over there! That handsome guy giving flowers to the Knight—isn't he your little junior from elementary school?"

Oh no, is the 8 p. m. drama going to come true!

Following Xu Can's pointing finger, Cheng Lang instantly saw the figure holding flowers walking onto the stage—who else could it be but Jin Chen?

The Knight who took the bouquet from Jin Chen, though his face was obscured by armor, naturally had a fine physique since he was chosen to play the Knight.

That specially designed Knight's uniform, which accentuated his waist and leg length…

Cheng Lang's fists clenched.

Not long after, Jin Chen unexpectedly went backstage as well.

A sour, bubbling feeling rose in Cheng Lang's chest, threatening to burst from his throat.

Who is that Knight, why did Jin Chen give him flowers, are they close, why did Jin Chen go backstage with him, what are they going to do backstage?

He blamed himself for understanding too late, having wasted so much time in hesitation and retreat, and feared that while he wavered, others had already noticed Jin Chen's merits, tried to approach, and even had already done so.

Xu Can watched Cheng Lang's face darken beside him and silently thought, "What a good buddy."

"I'll go see." Cheng Lang said.

Xu Can: "Support! The time to defend sovereignty has come!"

Cheng Lang hurried down the back-row aisle toward the side of the stage, his steps fast and urgent.

—

Backstage props were piled in a corner, with actors who had changed costumes and those who hadn't yet moving back and forth.

Jin Chen lowered his head to look at his phone screen, his fingertip scrolling, reading a long string of encouraging messages from the Class Monitor, picked out a few key points, and repeated them to the students about to go on stage.

The host's voice came from the front of the auditorium, the students clapped to cheer themselves, and one by one they walked from behind the side curtains onto the stage.

Jin Chen put away his phone, not very interested in the remaining program, thinking of the Christmas gift Cheng Lang had mentioned, preparing to leave through the back door, but when he turned around he unexpectedly saw Cheng Lang entering backstage.

Cheng Lang's breathing was still uneven, his jacket open to reveal a light-colored sweater, his forehead hair disheveled, he stared straight at Jin Chen, holding back an indescribable emotion.

"Senior?" Jin Chen raised his eyebrows in surprise, "How did you get here?"

Cheng Lang took a few quick steps to stand before Jin Chen; up close, Jin Chen saw his brows slightly furrowed, his lips pressed, inadvertently revealing a hint of grievance and anxiety.

Cheng Lang's Adam's apple rolled once, "Xiao Chen, why did you give flowers to that Knight actor just now? Are you close?"

Jin Chen explained, "He is…"

"All right, all right." Cheng Lang, as if afraid to hear what came next, hurriedly interrupted.

His heart was in turmoil, a tangled mess, fearing a bad answer, he grabbed Jin Chen's hand hanging at his side, gripping it tightly, afraid that if he let go Jin Chen would run away.

"Let's go home, Xiao Chen, let's leave now, okay?"

His palm was actually somewhat cold, not like his usual warm self; Jin Chen lifted his eyes, looked at him quietly for two seconds, then returned the grip on Cheng Lang's cold fingers, "All right, let's go home."

Jin Chen knew the way to the auditorium's back door, though the lighting was much dimmer.

Cheng Lang had been at this school for four years but had never come here before; he let Jin Chen lead the way, refusing to loosen his grip even a step.

The two thus held hands, slowly walking forward down the dim hallway.

Cheng Lang let go of one hand, shoved the door open with force, and the winter night's cold wind rushed in.

Outside, a figure carrying two bulging red gift bags came running toward them, almost colliding with those about to exit.

"Jin Chen!" the Class Monitor came running, out of breath, his eyes lighting up upon seeing Jin Chen, "Great, great! I was worried you'd leave right after delivering the flowers, but I caught you in time!"

The Class Monitor looked extremely happy; his older brother had been very pleased with the flowers and even gave a big red envelope.

Without a word, he shoved the red gift bag into Jin Chen's hand, still forcing it in.

"Merry Christmas, Chen! This is a thank-you gift, plus an apple for Christmas Eve—you have to accept it!" the Class Monitor beamed, eyes nearly closed, and forcibly shoved the bag into Jin Chen's hand.

After handing over the gifts, the Class Monitor noticed the person beside Jin Chen, took a closer look, recognized Cheng Lang, and greeted with a smiling face, "Merry Christmas, senior!"

Cheng Lang: "……"

The first impression was too strong; he thought this person was the Knight actor, and the suppressed sourness welled up again.

He still hadn't been able to respond to Jin Chen's feelings, remaining just ordinary friends, so what standing did he have to question?

The Class Monitor still had in mind to go back and watch the program; he hastily thanked Jin Chen again, then swept past them like a gust and ran back backstage.

Only the two of them remained at the back door; Jin Chen lifted the gift bag and turned his head to look at Cheng Lang.

In the lamplight, Cheng Lang's face looked grim as he stared fixedly at the bag in his hand, practically wishing he could burn a hole through that red bag with his gaze just to see what exactly was inside.

"Senior." Jin Chen called him.

Cheng Lang withdrew his gaze, his stiff fingertips lightly brushing over Jin Chen's face, "... Let's go, let's go home, okay?"

Go back to the place where only they are.

Cheng Lang thought that, before he could change their ordinary friendship, he didn't want to see Jin Chen getting too close to anyone else.

Jin Chen felt both annoyed and amused, "Don't you have anything to ask?"

You're about to burst from holding it in.

Cheng Lang said nothing, stubbornly taking Jin Chen's hand.