What's the Point of Living, when the best is Sleeping? [BL]

18

The festival grounds buzzed with energy as Ye Ming, Jing Jian, Li Wei, and Guang Kai left the 2-D classroom. Around them, students mingled, laughing and chatting, their excitement over Foundation Day palpable. Booths lined the courtyard, offering games, food, and prizes, but the lively atmosphere seemed to bounce off the group as they made their way through the crowd.

Ye Ming walked a few paces behind, his movements slow, deliberate, as if weighed down by his perpetual drowsiness. His half-lidded eyes scanned the surroundings, his mind already working through the layers of manipulation he'd need to handle today. Plan A is still in play, he thought. Let them think they've got me figured out.

Ahead, Jing Jian and Li Wei led the way, but even they seemed slightly subdued compared to the boisterous festival around them. Li Wei, always the tsundere, cast glances back at Ye Ming, trying to act like he didn't care, while Jing Jian wore his usual grin, though it was more playful than calculating.

And then there was Guang Kai—silent, distant, yet always watching. He didn't waste words or energy on idle chatter, keeping his hands tucked into his pockets as if to avoid the grime of the world around him. He had already made his displeasure clear earlier when he complained about the chaos in the classroom. But now, his cold gaze barely acknowledged the festivities as he walked slightly apart from the others, his posture pristine, his expression one of distaste for the noisy, crowded environment.

Guang Kai was not someone who indulged in trivial games. Everything about him, from his clipped steps to the sharpness of his gaze, suggested a man always thinking three moves ahead, analyzing every interaction for potential advantage.

"We've been walking around for ages," Li Wei grumbled, his usual impatience seeping through. "This festival is a waste of time."

"Don't be such a downer," Jing Jian teased, nudging Li Wei with his elbow. "Lighten up a little, Li Wei. This is fun! Besides, Ye Ming's been quiet the whole time. He could use some fun too, right?"

Ye Ming gave a small, tired shrug, but said nothing. Let them think what they wanted. Keeping quiet had always been the easiest way to maintain control. They would fill the silence with their own assumptions, and that worked in his favor.

Li Wei frowned but, as usual, tried to cover his discomfort with a defensive attitude. "It's not like I care if Ye Ming's having fun or not."

Jing Jian laughed. "Yeah, right. You're always pretending you don't care, but we know better."

Guang Kai's voice cut through their banter, cold and matter-of-fact. "Let's not waste time with pointless conversations." He barely glanced at the others, his tone dismissive. "The only reason we're here is because I couldn't stand that classroom any longer. And I have no interest in playing around."

Li Wei scowled but didn't argue, knowing better than to challenge Guang Kai when he took that authoritative tone. Jing Jian, however, merely chuckled. "You're no fun, Guang Kai. You're always so serious."

Guang Kai's sharp gaze flicked to Jing Jian for a moment, unimpressed. "Someone has to be."

Ye Ming remained quiet, letting the interaction play out. Guang Kai's cold demeanor was something Ye Ming had grown accustomed to. He wasn't like Jing Jian or Li Wei, who wore their emotions closer to the surface. Guang Kai was always calculating, always watching—he never acted without purpose. And unlike the other two, Guang Kai didn't need to chase after him; he simply waited for the moment he could use Ye Ming to his advantage.

They continued walking through the courtyard, the sound of students playing games and the hum of conversation filling the air. Jing Jian, ever the playful one, pointed to a booth ahead. "Look! Shooting game! Think you can beat me, Ye Ming?"

Ye Ming's gaze barely flickered in the direction of the booth, his lazy demeanor unchanged. "Probably," he said, his voice as indifferent as ever.

Li Wei crossed his arms, clearly not wanting to show any interest but unable to resist commenting. "Shooting games are rigged anyway."

Jing Jian laughed, slapping Li Wei on the back. "Only because you suck at them!"

Guang Kai barely spared the game a glance. "Games like that are designed to make you lose. I don't understand why any of you bother with them."

Jing Jian shrugged, his grin still in place. "Not everything has to be about winning, Guang Kai. Sometimes it's just about having fun."

"Fun is irrelevant when there's nothing to gain," Guang Kai said coolly, his gaze scanning the crowd rather than the game.

Ye Ming glanced at Guang Kai, recognizing the subtle calculation in his eyes. He wasn't here to enjoy the festival, and he certainly wasn't interested in idle games. Guang Kai's mind was always on his family, on maintaining power and control in every situation. He was just as manipulative as Ye Ming, though far less obvious about it. He used people like tools, discarding them when they were no longer useful.

"Are we really going to just walk around all day?" Li Wei muttered, his tone growing more impatient. He shoved his hands into his pockets, trying not to look like he cared about Ye Ming's answer, but it was obvious he did. "There's gotta be something more interesting to do."

Ye Ming cast a sidelong glance at Li Wei, the smallest hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He could feel the frustration building in them, the need to get something out of him. But he wasn't going to give them that satisfaction—not yet.

Jing Jian, always the peacemaker, stepped in with his usual lightheartedness. "Come on, we've got the whole festival ahead of us! Let's at least grab something to eat. Ye Ming, you look like you haven't eaten in days. You sure you're okay?"

Ye Ming blinked slowly, not bothering to dignify the comment with a response. Instead, he let his gaze drift over the crowd. Foundation Day wasn't just about fun for them—it was a perfect opportunity to observe. To manipulate.

Guang Kai's voice, cold and emotionless, broke through the idle chatter. "Enough distractions. We're here to maintain appearances, nothing more."

Jing Jian's grin never wavered. "You're always such a killjoy, Kai."

Ye Ming felt the shift in the group dynamic—Jing Jian and Li Wei were still trying to draw him out, but Guang Kai had no such intentions. If anything, his calculating presence only made the atmosphere more tense.

Plan A is working, Ye Ming thought to himself. The more relaxed they seemed around him, the more they would drop their guard. Even Guang Kai, despite his cold detachment, was bound by the need to maintain his image.

The four of them continued walking, the festival around them a blur of colors and noise. Ye Ming's mind was already moving beyond this moment, thinking of what came next. Bai Yuer's absence was a wild card, but without her interference, he had more room to maneuver.

As they passed a group of students, Li Wei broke the silence again, his voice lower, almost as if he didn't want to be overheard. "You're always so quiet, Ye Ming. It's kinda weird."

Ye Ming offered a faint smirk, his gaze sliding over to Li Wei. "I just don't have much to say."

Li Wei flushed slightly, his typical tsundere reaction kicking in. "Yeah, well, it's not like I care or anything. Just... don't disappear on us, alright?"

Guang Kai's cold eyes flicked toward them, his disinterest evident. "If we're done wasting time, perhaps we can move on. There are more important things than small talk."

Ye Ming nodded, his smile fading as he once again withdrew into his detached mask. For now, I'll let them believe we're still playing the same game.

But the truth was, Ye Ming was already planning his next move.