My Handsome Roommate Is Always Flirting with Me Through Tears

New book: The Little Shopkeeper of Republican-Era China, currently updating. Upcoming book: The Republican-Era Diva Reborn and Becomes a Star (Please add it to your reading list!) (First love for both leads, sweet.) Blurb: Jiang Mingche found out that his roommate, Lu Heng, was gay quite by accident. Basically, he planned to confess to his crush, only to find her with Lu Heng in the woods. "Sorry, I like men." At the time, Jiang Mingche could only think, Holy crap. The shock of finding out that the top student at Jiang University was gay completely eclipsed the sadness of being rejected. From then on, he would have one less powerful rival! Could anything be happier than that? Nope! Jiang Mingche had little experience with gay people. So when he accidentally clicked the wrong webpage and a video of two men fighting popped up, Lu Heng happened to climb down from the top bunk. Jiang Mingche pretended to be calm and invited him, "Want to... watch it together?" It was too hot, so Jiang Mingche took off his shirt after coming back from basketball. He was just about to put it back on when Lu Heng came in. Worried that getting dressed would look too deliberate, he held the T-shirt in his hand and went over to greet Lu Heng bare-chested, draping an arm over his shoulder like they were brothers. "You're back?" Jiang Mingche was quite pleased that he'd turned his former rival into a good buddy. Lu Heng knew Jiang Mingche was straight. He never touched straight men. But Jiang Mingche was just too good at flirting. He invited Lu Heng to watch videos with him, pounced on him right after a shower, and even asked him for a massage. "Lu Heng! Lu Heng! I think I pulled something in my shoulder. Hurry! Come rub it for me!" Lu Heng returned from the lab and looked up to see his roommate bare-chested on the top bunk, the corners of his eyes flushed red as he gazed at him with tear-filled eyes. When Lu Heng realized that he had fallen for Jiang Mingche against his will, he started avoiding him. You shouldn't touch straight men, and trying to turn one gay was just too immoral. On Jiang Mingche's birthday, Lu Heng had to leave early. Jiang Mingche cornered him in the hallway. "Lu Heng! Why have you been avoiding me lately?" "You're drunk..." Jiang Mingche spoke with a sob in his voice. "I've told you I like you this much! What is it about me that you don't like?!" Lu Heng: "?" Maybe the one whose birthday it was today was him. (Blurb captured on 2022.8.19) Blurb for The Little Shopkeeper of Republican-Era China The young master of Changqing Restaurant in Fucheng would never have trouble finding a wife, even if he was mute. No matter how eloquently the matchmakers pleaded their case, A Sheng only smiled and shook his head, rejecting them all. Shopkeeper Sun from the Zheng family's eatery next door asked curiously, "A Sheng, what kind of girl do you like?" A Sheng pointed toward the tallest building in Fucheng, in the direction of the Fucheng Military Governor's Office. Shopkeeper Sun clicked his tongue. Good heavens! The daughter of the Military Governor's Office was no ordinary family's daughter to set your sights on! If this were still the previous dynasty, a daughter of the Military Governor's Office would surely be matched with a noble from the imperial court or a minister's son. In any case, she could never marry the young master of a restaurant. When his father found out, he flew into a rage and cursed him without thinking. "A toad dreaming of eating swan meat! A penniless bachelor dreaming of marrying a beauty! Nothing but daydreams!" A Sheng smiled and touched his fair, round cheeks without arguing. Wasn't that the truth? But he just couldn't help how he felt. What could he do? And his father and Grandpa Sun were both wrong. The person he liked wasn't the young lady from the Military Governor's Office. He liked the gentleman who lived in the old-fashioned garden next door to it! For the first half of his life, Xie Fang lived freely and happily, believing that a gentleman should seize the day and enjoy life. If his eldest brother wanted power, he could have it. If his third brother wanted his share of the family business, he could take it. All Xie Fang wanted was to listen to opera, tend his flowers, and live like a carefree hermit. That was until his younger brother's schemes got him hooked on opium. His property was sold off, and when his addiction kicked in, he was chased out like a dog, snot running down his filthy face. The bones in the hands he had once been so proud of were crushed underfoot. His clothes and hair were covered in foul water. Flies buzzed in his ears. He despised himself so much that he wanted to end it all. Only one person came to him, held him, and carried him home on his back. In the tenth year of Qinghe, on an ordinary evening, Xie Fang, who sat on the stone steps of his house every day, no longer waited for his little mute. Only then did Xie Fang understand that in this chaotic world, without power, influence, or money, he couldn't even protect himself, let alone protect his A Sheng in the end... Note: The top is reborn. The bottom was mute until his death in his previous life, but will be cured in this life. Theme: Face storms and other people's judgment without fear. Be brave and let your own light shine.