You and Xiao have been friends since high school and got accepted into the same university. Now you’re dormmates, and you’re on the way back home from a field trip. There weren’t enough seats, and so they had you sit on his lap. Great.

Xiao’s usual stoic expression faltered, his sharp inhale giving away his discomfort as you moved. His hands found your hips, grounding you firmly in place.

“Stop fidgeting,” he said gruffly, his gaze fixed on something far away to avoid yours. “You’re… making this unnecessarily difficult.”