After Shrinking Down and Hiding in My Nemesis's House

Synopsis

Why is there someone like Yan Ling, who copies everything people do? That's the only impression Jian Yu has of him.

It all started when Yan Ling transferred into their class. From that day on, whatever color clothes Jian Yu wore, Yan Ling wore the same color. Whatever game Jian Yu played, Yan Ling played too. If Jian Yu skipped class to play basketball, Yan Ling skipped class to play basketball. Even when Jian Yu took part in the New Year's event as Snow White, Yan Ling had to play the prince!

People around them had always compared the two, and now the rivalry was fiercer than ever.

Did the guy not know that Dolly the sheep only lived for six years?

What made it even more infuriating was that Yan Ling, who had a deadpan expression for everyone else, smiled whenever he saw Jian Yu. He might as well have written "I'm provoking you" across his face.

Jian Yu was furious. So he loved copying him, did he?

From that day on, Jian Yu focused on both gaming and school. He climbed to an extremely high rank in the game while keeping his grades in the top ten of his year. He wanted to see how Yan Ling would copy him this time!

But Yan Ling seemed to have cheats enabled. His game rank was just below Jian Yu's, and his grades were just as good.

In the final exams, their scores were exactly the same, tying for sixth in their year. Jian Yu couldn't believe it and tried to sneak a look at Yan Ling's answer sheet. But Yan Ling suddenly came back, and before Jian Yu could think of an excuse to get away, he shrank...

In his panic, he made the mistake of climbing into his rival's backpack, and Yan Ling carried him home.

Jian Yu had no idea why he had shrunk. Unable to get out, he could only cautiously try to survive at his enemy's house, sneaking a bite of Yan Ling's bread in the morning and a sip of water from his cup at night.

He went undiscovered for two whole days. Then, on the third night, he saw his rival playing a game, controlling his character as he crouched in a hidden patch of grass and picked up a workbook!

He could do that?

Jian Yu watched in shock as Yan Ling worked through the questions, only occasionally moving his character into the safe zone. He was careful every step of the way, hiding whenever he saw someone. He never gave away his position or even showed his head. He might as well have crawled into the zone.

Jian Yu wasn't friends with Yan Ling in the game, so he couldn't see Yan Ling's average kills per match. Now he realized the guy was a total camper! What a coward. If he was going to be this timid, why play a shooter? He should go play a match-three game!

Thinking that he had actually considered someone like that his rival, furious Jian Yu huffed and puffed his way onto the bed that night. He threw punches and kicks at Yan Ling from afar until he exhausted himself, then groggily rolled into the blankets and closed his eyes.

The next morning, Yan Ling woke him up. Why was Yan Ling calling his name first thing in the morning? Was he beating him up in his sleep?

He angrily threw off the blanket, and suddenly found himself staring Yan Ling right in the eye.

His eyes were tiny. Even if he opened them as wide as saucers, compared to Yan Ling's giant eyes, they were tiny.

Was he done for? Would he be mistaken for a monster or some kind of filth? At his current size, he could fall from the bed and die. If he were killed and his body disposed of, nobody would ever know.

Yan Ling raised a hand, his expression cold.

Jian Yu stiffened, waiting to die, only to find Yan Ling gently take his hand.

?

Wait...

Could it be...

His rival had been hit in the head by Jian Yu's imaginary punches last night!

Wait again... Something didn't seem right... He looked down, and his eyes really did go wide as saucers!!

★ A short story, about 100,000 words

★ Blurb dated 2025/11/12

Theme: When the heart feels, the mind follows