A social phobic can also fall in love.

Chapter 1
2:30 AM.
The bar seemed to just hit its peak. In the dimly lit booths, the pulsating music set the atmosphere ablaze. Drinks in hand, everyone immersed themselves in the noisy yet uniquely vibrant vibe.
Yan Tingmo stifled a yawn, rubbing his teary eyes. The mixed aroma of cigarettes and alcohol lingered at his nose. Around him was a cacophony of chatter, laughter, music, and clinking glasses.
There were seven people at their table. On his left sat his boyfriend, Qi Xing. Across from them were Qi Xing’s three roommates, and two student council members he didn’t know.
Qi Xing’s roommates were enthusiastic, and this was already the third time he was urged to drink. This kind of social setting wasn’t really his thing. He could only sip cautiously from his glass, trying to keep up.
In settings like this, there’s always someone eager to turn the gathering into a “drinking battle,” pushing everyone to drink more. They do not see drinking as a sign of insincerity.
But Yan Tingmo really couldn’t take another sip.
This was the most rebellious thing he’d ever done in his 20 years of life. From primary school to high school, he had been the quintessential “good kid,” a model student who followed every rule. His life had been so orderly that it felt devoid of any turbulence.
Drinking was no exception.
As he managed to finish the wine in his glass, Qi Xing’s roommate came around for a fourth toast, saying, “This is nothing, come on,” while casually refilling his glass.
Yan Tingmo opened his mouth to refuse but ultimately held back. He stared silently at the edge of the table, not wanting to make trouble or upset anyone. If he said too much, it might spark unwanted conversations—and the last thing he wanted was to chat. All he hoped for was for this to end quickly so he could head back to his dorm and sleep.
Just as the beer was about to be poured into his glass, a slender hand with distinct knuckles covered the cup. Qi Xing lazily glanced at his roommate.
“Enough. Don’t overdo it,” he said.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” The group immediately erupted into teasing laughter. “Would you look at that? Qi Xing’s totally whipped!”
“Jealous?” Qi Xing draped one arm casually over the back of Yan Tingmo’s chair while taking the drink himself. “If you envy me, drink up on your own. Stop picking on others.”
Laughter and banter ensued, their voices dripping with mock exaggeration.
“Oh, come on. If only I had someone to care for.”
“I can’t handle more. Too bad I don’t have a partner like yours.”
Qi Xing cursed under his breath, chuckling as he put down the glass. He turned to Yan Tingmo. “Feeling sleepy? Want to rest upstairs?”
Yan Tingmo was exhausted but didn’t want to spend the night in a hotel room with Qi Xing, let alone share a bed. Unfortunately, an hour earlier, his dorm mates had texted him saying they wouldn’t leave the door unlocked for him, implying that he should “enjoy himself.”
The implication was clear. Everyone assumed that going out with his boyfriend for a birthday celebration would lead to something “special.”
Qi Xing’s attentiveness loosened the tension Yan Tingmo had carried all night. He didn’t want Qi Xing to feel awkward or to be the center of attention. He shook his head.
“I’m fine. You stay and enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about me.”
“You sure?” Qi Xing raised a hand, almost touching the center of Yan Tingmo’s brow before holding back. “If it’s too much, tell me. Don’t force yourself.”
Yan Tingmo nodded quickly, looking so obedient that it tugged at the heartstrings.
Qi Xing balanced between entertaining his friends and keeping an eye on him.
Yan Tingmo often found Qi Xing incredible. He managed social interactions with ease, making friends as effortlessly as breathing. One moment, someone might be a stranger, and the next, they’d be planning to hang out over the weekend.
Making friends seemed like a joy to him, but to Yan Tingmo, it was just a hassle.
After a few rounds of drinks, Qi Xing’s roommates and the student council members decided to play Truth or Dare.
Yan Tingmo sat quietly in the corner, having no intention of participating. He tried to make himself invisible, silently chanting, Don’t pick me, don’t pick me.
“Yan…Tingmo,” one of the student council members called out. “Want to join us?”
He couldn’t escape. He felt like his soul had left his body. If only he could black out and wake up when it was all over.
Qi Xing came to his rescue again. “Tingmo doesn’t know how to play. I’ll join in for him.”
“Come on, Qi Xing,” another roommate teased. “First, you don’t let him drink. Now, you won’t let him play? Is he even one of us?”
Yan Tingmo felt utterly mortified. His social anxiety had sparked a series of events, causing friction even though no one was angry.
“I…I’ll play,” he stammered. “But I might not know how.”
“It’s fine. It’s simple. Just follow along with Qi Xing.”
No one meant any harm. They just wanted him to relax.
The game was straightforward: spin a bottle, and whoever it points to chooses between truth or dare.
The first round passed, and Yan Tingmo was safe.
The second round passed, and he dodged the bullet again.
His confidence grew. With seven players, the chances of the bottle pointing at him were slim. At most, they’d play ten rounds before moving on to another game.
The third round began. Yan Tingmo watched the bottle intently as it slowed down, teetering between him and Qi Xing.
He held his breath, silently pleading for the bottle to point elsewhere—anywhere but him.
Finally, the bottle stopped, pointing directly at him.
He felt his world collapse.
If I hadn’t prayed, maybe it would’ve stopped at Qi Xing…
To his surprise, Qi Xing also seemed caught off guard. Before he could say anything, one of his quieter roommates chimed in.
“Truth or Dare?”
After a long hesitation, Yan Tingmo tentatively replied, “Truth?”
The question came quickly. “What’s one thing you absolutely can’t tolerate in a partner?”
Subconsciously, he glanced at Qi Xing.
Qi Xing smiled at him. “Don’t worry, just answer honestly.”
Yan Tingmo thought carefully and then said, “Drinking too much.”After his answer, he raised Qi Xing’s cup and downed it in one go.
As the alcohol coursed through his body, his face flushed red, a thin layer of pink spreading across his cheeks. The warmth of the drink clouded his mind, dulling his senses and making the room feel distant and blurry.
Uh-oh. He’d overdone it.
Qi Xing noticed immediately. Concern etched across his face, he leaned closer. “Tingmo, are you okay? Do you feel like throwing up?”
Yan Tingmo wanted to say he was fine, but before he could respond, he felt a hand gently pat his back. He vaguely registered that Qi Xing had gotten up and walked away from the booth.
He sat in a daze, unsure of where he had gone. Maybe to the restroom? Or perhaps he’d wandered off to the dance floor because he found him boring?
Before he could think too much, Qi Xing reappeared, carrying a glass of warm water. Supporting Yan Tingmo’s head, Qi Xing carefully helped him take a few sips.
Yan Tingmo instinctively leaned into his embrace, obediently sipping the lukewarm water.
After ensuring he was comfortable, Qi Xing kept one arm around Yan Tingmo’s shoulders while halfheartedly joining in the games with his friends. After two more rounds, he announced they were leaving.
“He’s tired. I’m going to take him back to rest,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
A few teasing remarks followed, but the group ultimately waved them off. Yan Tingmo, half-asleep, was guided through the noisy crowd and into an elevator.
They ended up in a luxurious suite Qi Xing had booked earlier.
Qi Xing helped Yan Tingmo onto the bed before heading to the bathroom to fetch a wet towel. But before he could return, he heard a dull thud. Rushing back, he found Yan Tingmo sprawled awkwardly on the floor.
“Whoa, careful!” Qi Xing quickly supported him.
In his drunken haze, Yan Tingmo flopped against him, ending up in an awkward position on his lap. As his blurry vision adjusted, he caught sight of a small square box on the nightstand.
His eyes widened in shock. Stammering, he pointed at it. “Y-you! What’s that for?”
Qi Xing followed his gaze and sighed, exasperated. “It’s not what you think.”
“You brought…that?” Yan Tingmo’s voice was a mixture of panic and accusation.
Qi Xing immediately denied it. “No! It’s part of the hotel’s amenities! I swear!”
Yan Tingmo refused to believe him. Scrambling out of Qi Xing’s hold, he crawled back onto the bed and buried himself under the blankets, as if the thin fabric could shield him from the awkwardness.
Qi Xing chuckled softly, shaking his head.
How had he ended up dating someone who was so…innocent?
At first, Qi Xing found his shyness endearing. But as time went on, he couldn’t help but wonder: was he the one being impatient, or was Yan Tingmo just not that into him?
For now, he sighed, tucking the blanket snugly around Yan Tingmo before retreating to the bathroom for a shower.
Buried under the covers, Yan Tingmo listened closely to the sounds outside. He heard Qi Xing leave the bathroom, walk around the suite, and then felt the lightest pressure on the top of his head.
Was that…a kiss?
The thought made his face flush even more. He peeked out from under the blanket, gasping for air after nearly suffocating himself.
Still, he couldn’t stop overthinking. Had Qi Xing kissed him? Did he imagine it? And most importantly, how had they ended up in this situation?
The last thought lulled him into a deep sleep.
The Next Morning
Yan Tingmo groggily emerged from the bedroom, only to find Qi Xing lying on the couch, playing a game on his phone.
“Morning,” Qi Xing greeted casually, not even looking up.
“Morning,” Yan Tingmo mumbled, suddenly feeling awkward.
He stood there for a while, unsure of what to do. Qi Xing’s game dragged on, and by the time he finally put his phone down, he was still standing frozen in place.
“Hungry?” Qi Xing asked, walking over. “What do you want to eat? I’ll order something.”
Yan Tingmo hesitated, his fingers curling at his sides. “I…I want to go back to campus.”
Qi Xing studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll take you back.”
The campus was quiet, with only a few people wandering about. Qi Xing walked a few steps behind Yan Tingmo, neither of them saying a word.
After dropping him off at his dorm, Qi Xing left without lingering.
Yan Tingmo returned to his room, where his roommates immediately bombarded him with teasing questions and knowing looks. Feeling overwhelmed, he ducked under his blanket.
This time, though, he left a small gap for air—he’d learned his lesson about suffocating himself.
As he lay there, he pulled out his phone and opened the anonymous forum, “Sillyhub.” He wasn’t very familiar with the platform but managed to navigate it after some trial and error.
Finally, he typed out a question:
“What should I do if my boyfriend keeps wanting to sleep with me?”
The post garnered thousands of views and replies within minutes:
1L: Dump him. Men who only think about that aren’t worth your time.
2L: If you’re asking this, you already know the answer.
3L: Figure out if he loves you or just your body.
4L: Run. Real love isn’t about sex. Find someone better.
5L: Break up. He doesn’t respect you at all.