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

19

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." John Milton's words echoed in Ye Ming's thoughts as he navigated the festival's vibrant chaos. The juxtaposition of the outwardly festive atmosphere against the simmering tension within their group was not lost on him. The festival's colors and laughter masked the underlying currents of discord that were rapidly converging on him.

The air between them was taut, and Ye Ming sensed it would soon snap.

Jing Jian turned with a grin, attempting to lighten the mood as he pointed toward a brightly lit booth. The light-hearted suggestion of a maze challenge, made with an exaggerated flourish, seemed innocent enough. "How about a maze challenge? It's a test of skill and wit. Let's see who can get to the center first."

Yet, the response was immediate and tinged with frustration. "What's the point? You act like this is just a game, something to pass the time."

For Ye Ming, the maze was more than a simple test of skill. It had come to symbolize the escalating tension that had been building over time. His gaze remained steady and dispassionate, observing the reactions of those around him. His calm demeanor, far from being an emotional shield, was a carefully maintained facade designed to provoke and manipulate.

Ye Ming remained silent, observing the dynamic between his companions. Jing Jian, as usual, was the playful distraction. Li Wei, on the other hand, was close to snapping—his frustration was palpable, though poorly contained. Guang Kai remained stoic, his cold exterior a mirror of Ye Ming's own carefully curated detachment. 

 Jing Jian, oblivious to the rising tension, nudged Li Wei. "Come on, don't be such a downer. A little competition might be good for you. Besides, Ye Ming here is probably the only one who'll give me a real challenge, right?"

As Ye Ming contemplated the maze challenge and the reactions it elicited, he found himself reflecting on the nature of obsession and complex emotion. He mused that obsession often manifests as an intense fixation on a particular object or individual, driven by a deep-seated need to understand or control. This psychological fixation, he noted, can compel individuals to pursue their object of obsession with relentless determination.

In his own experience, Ye Ming recognized that his presence and demeanor had become a focal point for others' fixation. Their reactions to his calm detachment were not mere irritations but reflections of their deeper, often unconscious, motivations. To him, the maze challenge had evolved from a trivial diversion into a revealing stage for these underlying dynamics. The frustration expressed by one individual was not just about the game but about the need to break through Ye Ming's emotional reserve.

Ye Ming observed that the maze challenge had become a lens through which deeper emotional currents were exposed. What began as a playful test of skill had transformed into a battleground for personal and emotional conflicts. His own detachment, rather than being a simple personal trait, had become a strategic tool that heightened the others' fixation. The maze was a symbol of their struggle to penetrate his calm, an embodiment of their desire to confront and understand his aloof demeanor.

Guang Kai, ever the cold voice of reason, cut through the tension. "If you're going to throw a tantrum, Li Wei, do it somewhere else. Your emotions are clouding your judgment."

Li Wei whipped around to face Guang Kai, his frustration shifting from one target to the next. "Of course you'd say that. You two are just the same. Cold, emotionless, treating everyone around you like pieces in a game."

The accusation hung in the air, but neither Guang Kai  nor Jing Jian flinched but the red dyed haired whistle as if he's confirming it. Guang Kai's dispassionate gaze remained fixed on Li Wei, while Ye Ming simply waited, letting the silence stretch out. The more Li Wei fumed, the clearer it became that his emotions were getting the better of him.

Jing Jian, sensing that things were spiraling, tried to interject again, this time with more force. "Hey, this is getting ridiculous. Let's just— I'm hungry, do you guys know about that?"

The interplay of obsession and strategic considerations added layers of complexity to the situation. Ye Ming noted how his own calm was perceived as a challenge, an impenetrable barrier that drove others to greater levels of fixation. This obsession was not merely about personal irritation but about a deeper need to engage with the object of their fixation. The festival, as a backdrop, amplified these emotional dynamics, turning a casual competition into a significant psychological and strategic engagement.

A loud announcement blared over the festival speakers."Attention, students! Please proceed to the main hall for an urgent assembly." 

 The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Ye Ming glanced up toward the speakers, already feeling the his sleepiness returning. This abrupt shift in their environment was exactly what he needed to deescalate and reset his current mood on his terms.

The announcement for the urgent assembly provided a temporary respite from the escalating confrontation. Ye Ming saw this interruption as an opportunity for a strategic reassessment. The shift in focus to the main hall allowed him to recalibrate his approach and consider the broader implications of the day's events. He recognized that while the festival had exposed deeper emotional dynamics, the real complexity of their interactions was only beginning to unfold.

In reflecting on the maze challenge and the reactions it provoked, Ye Ming understood that obsession and complex emotion were intricately linked. The fixation on his demeanor, driven by deeper psychological needs, revealed the complexities of human interaction. The maze, once a simple challenge, had become a stage for exploring these themes, offering insights into the nature of obsession and the strategic dynamics at play.

As he entered the main hall, Ye Ming felt a sense of quiet satisfaction. The festival was over, but the true complexity of their interactions—and the broader implications of their fixation—was only just beginning to be understood.

Sue: Ochi is crying while typing, saying that (    ) feel so hungry and sleepy but still needs to study about genes and chromosomes while editing this chapter... (    )doesn't  like the current flow.