My Straight Roommate Is Always Making Up Scenarios in His Head

[It's ready to read! I'd love to see ratings from everyone who finishes it (bows). Kisses to all my lovely readers!]

[1. My upcoming sweet entertainment-industry romance, We're Really Just Acting, has a blurb at the very bottom. I've revised it, hehe! If you're interested, please add it to your favorites!

2. My upcoming historical danmei, Spring Banquet. If you're interested, visit my author page and add it to your favorites, mwah!]

In his previous life, Cen Zhi trusted the wrong person. His only boyfriend, Pei Tan, hid the fact that he was dating two people at once. After cheating on Cen Zhi, he also caused him to die at a young age.

When Cen Zhi opens his eyes again, he finds himself reborn on the day of the scumbag's birthday.

This time, Cen Zhi doesn't even look at him. He simply says they're breaking up and turns away with a carefree stride. Who could have guessed that after the breakup, Pei Tan would pester him every day, constantly harassing him and asking to get back together?

Cen Zhi: I'm only interested in studying. Don't bother me.

In this new life, he decides to keep his eyes open and steer clear of romance!

By chance, Cen Zhi gets a new roommate: Shen Yuting, the campus heartthrob, who's famous around school. He's handsome, tall, and well-built, with a great family background and excellent grades.

More importantly, Pei Tan is wary of him!

Cen Zhi makes up his mind: I have to get along with my new roommate!

On the first day in the dorm, Shen Yuting learns that he's gay and says expressionlessly, "I'm straight."

?

Cen Zhi blinks. "I know."

But the more time they spend together, the more he wonders: Is there something a little off about this roommate of mine?!

Cen Zhi plans to shower and change. His hand has just reached the hem of his shirt, and he hasn't even started taking it off, when Shen Yuting turns red and glares at him. "Keep your clothes on!"

?? He hasn't taken anything off yet, has he?

Cen Zhi has a habit of drinking a glass of milk before bed. As he pours, some splashes onto the rim of the cup. It would be a waste of paper to wipe it up, so he licks it with the tip of his tongue. Shen Yuting snaps his pen in half with a crack and looks furious. "What are you doing?!"

Come on, man! I'm just drinking milk!

Cen Zhi is afraid of the dark. One time, the power goes out in the dorm. His roommate, whose words say one thing and whose actions say another, frowns as he switches on his flashlight and pulls Cen Zhi into his arms. His voice is almost fierce. "Stop rubbing against me!"

...You're the one who's been feeling me up and rubbing against me!

Isn't this less homophobic than closeted?!

Shen Yuting thinks his new roommate is always trying to seduce him.

He's already told him outright that he's straight. Does he not understand?

He shows off his collarbones in the shower to tempt him, licks his tongue after drinking milk, and, as a grown man, claims to be afraid of the dark and insists on burrowing into his arms.

Hmph. So fussy.

Until one day, Cen Zhi gets drunk and Shen Yuting goes to pick him up. He thinks he hears Cen Zhi say the word "love," and his face turns red. "Fine. I suppose I could be persuaded to bend."

Cen Zhi: "?? I said I love the hot pot we had today!"

A grumpy, straight guy who talks himself into falling in love × a gentle bottom who doesn't realize he's flirting

[Upcoming novel blurb]

Xi Zhuo is a young screenwriter with dreams.

He's written countless scripts, always believing that one day a discerning talent scout will recognize their worth and bring one of them to life.

He never expected a famous director to take an interest in his script. One day, the director calls and tells him to bring it over to discuss.

Xi Zhuo: I'll bring the script right over.

When he arrives and hands over the script, the director doesn't even look at it. With a serious expression, he says he's already read it, then looks Xi Zhuo up and down. "Take off your glasses and let me have a look."

Confused, Xi Zhuo takes off his glasses, revealing a pair of alluring eyes framed by thick lashes. A beautiful little mole at the end of his long, delicate eye, usually hidden from view, is finally revealed.

The director slaps his thigh and grabs his hand with a bright smile. "Perfect! You're playing the second male lead!"

?? Wait, he's just a screenwriter!

Newly crowned Best Actor Qi Hanzhou has been in the industry for three years, with no rumors or scandals. He's a top-tier beauty and a talented actor. He's also Xi Zhuo's costar.

The day before Qi Hanzhou joins the production, someone kindly tells Xi Zhuo about a long-standing rumor in the industry: Anyone who acts in a romance with him will fall into character and mistake the performance for reality.

This is the first romance Qi Hanzhou has accepted in many years.

The director also pats Xi Zhuo on the shoulder and warns him: It's only acting. Don't take it too seriously. If you get carried away, you'll be the one who suffers.

Xi Zhuo doesn't believe in that sort of thing.

At the time, he is putting goji berries into his thermos. He nods seriously at the warning. "Don't worry. I'm not professionally trained, and my acting is terrible. There's no way I'll get carried away."

Xi Zhuo faithfully remembers the director's warning and stays on guard against Qi Hanzhou's charm. He's just about to make it through unscathed when things suddenly take a turn.

Scene One:

The two leads share their first kiss in the show. That evening, someone knocks on Xi Zhuo's door. Qi Hanzhou is holding the script and looks completely serious. "Today's scene wasn't very good. I want to practice it again."

The next day, Xi Zhuo arrives on set with swollen, red lips.

The director gives him a complicated look. "...Did a mosquito bite you?"

Scene Two:

In one scene, Xi Zhuo's character is injured. Qi Hanzhou performs the scene normally, but after filming, he shows up at Xi Zhuo's door with bags of supplements. His eyes are red, and he looks ready to cry. "I won't let you get hurt again."

Xi Zhuo: "...Is there a chance that the person who got hurt was just my character?"

The crew, who had been worried that Xi Zhuo wouldn't withstand the Best Actor's charm, stare in shock at Qi Hanzhou clinging to him off-camera.

The director pretends to be calm and takes a sip of the health tea Xi Zhuo gave him. "Don't panic, don't panic. It's all acting. It's all acting."

Everyone else: "...Your hands are shaking, Director! That's not convincing at all!"

He really did get carried away, but how did he get carried away with the wrong person?

The scenes are all fake. The feelings that arise within them are just illusory bubbles, and one day they'll burst.

Qi Hanzhou has always believed that people who get carried away by their roles are fools.

Paying the price for such a fleeting, unreal feeling is just too pitiful.

Until he meets Xi Zhuo and becomes a fool himself.

A dark, calculating top who acts differently on and off camera × a proper, earnest, old-fashioned bottom

Theme: Love helps people grow.