All-Male Hostel 4+1 · Conversa

Mid-July, peak tourist season in Island City. "The Tide" Youth Hostel, 8-person dorm, 3 PM. The sound of cicadas outside surges in waves, and the air is thick with the salty fishy smell brought by the sea breeze. When you drag your suitcase into the 8-person dorm, the three men inside look up almost simultaneously. The intensity of their gaze makes your steps falter slightly, and you subconsciously tighten your grip on the suitcase handle. Four beds, a bunk bed configuration, looks no different from any other youth hostel. But the problem is—the people sitting on the other three beds are all men. Shen Xu is the first to put down the book in his hand, a gentle curve appearing at the corners of his mouth. His voice is leisurely, carrying a sense of relaxation that puts people at ease. "New roommate? Just in time, help me look at this..." He waves the pages in his hand, seemingly trying to divert attention, "Where's the best place in Island City to watch the sunrise?" The guy by the window with long black hair tied in a low ponytail doesn't look up at all, focused on wiping his camera lens. He exudes an aura that says "do not disturb". "The bed is on your right." His voice is flat, as if just mentioning it in passing, his eyes never leaving the precision lens parts. A sudden noise comes from the corner as a burly figure in a tight white tank top springs up from the bed. "Holy crap, a girl?" His voice is full of surprise, loud enough for the whole building to hear, "What's wrong with that kid Lin Xu, mixed-gender dorm?" He strides to the door in a few steps, his muscles bulging under the tight tank top as if they might burst through the fabric, with beads of sweat from a recent workout still hanging on his forehead. "Wait, don't move—" He suddenly leans in a bit closer, then stops abruptly, hurriedly rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants, "I, I'm Lu Xiao. Uh... welcome, welcome." Shen Xu gives a light chuckle, gets up, and takes a pack of wet wipes from the nightstand to hand over. Lu Xiao takes them and wipes his face haphazardly, his ears already flushed red. "Vacancies are tight during peak season," Shen Xu explains on Lin Xu's behalf, his tone as calm as a weather report. "But don't worry, we're all decent people." The black figure by the window finally moves. He carefully puts the camera into the photography bag, pulling the zipper slowly and meticulously. After a while, he turns his face, his eyes hidden behind black-rimmed glasses sweeping over coldly, his gaze lingering on you for less than a second. "Gu Yanchen," he introduces himself, his voice devoid of ups and downs, as if completing a necessary social etiquette. After speaking, he turns back to continue organizing his equipment, without another word. Lu Xiao scratches the back of his head, but his gaze can't help but drift over here. Although he tries hard to act as if nothing is wrong, that clumsy concealment unique to young men is particularly obvious. "You came to Island City alone?" he asks, then seems to feel something is off as soon as the words leave his mouth, "Uh, I'm not hitting on you, I'm just... just caring about my roommate." The curve at the corners of Shen Xu's lips deepens a bit. That gentleness of seeing through everything but not calling it out is strangely reassuring. He pushes up his gold-rimmed glasses, the look behind the lenses carrying a hint of playfulness. "Don't be nervous, it's always like this in peak season." He points to the empty bed, "You're there. Once the curtain is drawn, it's an independent space. We have regular schedules; we're not loud." Lu Xiao nods repeatedly, as if trying to prove something. "Right, right, right, I sleep opposite you. Call me if you need anything." He pauses, then adds, "I'm strong; I can help with carrying luggage or whatever." A brief silence falls in the room. The cicadas outside become even more raucous, and the sea breeze squeezes through the gaps in the poorly closed window, bringing a humid heat. The sound of a zipper comes from Gu Yanchen's side; he picks up his photography bag and walks out without looking back. "Going out to shoot." He leaves only these four words before disappearing through the doorway. Shen Xu watches him leave, and when he turns back, his gaze happens to collide with yours. His smile is still warm, but there seems to be something else hidden deep in his eyes. "You'll get used to it. This place..." He pauses meaningfully, "has quite a few interesting people." Lu Xiao listens, feeling confused, but doesn't think much of it, only focusing on helping you move your suitcase next to the bed. His actions are a bit overly attentive, yet they carry a raw sincerity. "Just speak up if you need help, don't be a stranger." He grins, showing a row of white teeth. "By the way, what are you planning for dinner? I know a food stall that's really good. Want me to take you there tonight?" Shen Xu unhurriedly closes his book and stands up to straighten the collar of his linen shirt. "Young man, don't be so impulsive." He looks at Lu Xiao, his tone carrying the composure typical of an elder. "She just arrived; she hasn't even recovered from the jet lag yet." Then he turns to you, his gold-rimmed glasses glinting in the afternoon light. "Rest first. Call me when you want to go out for a stroll." His voice isn't loud, but it carries a certainty that's hard to refuse. "I'm quite familiar with this area." The sea breeze sneaks in through the window gap, making the curtains sway gently. Lu Xiao's gaze is direct while Shen Xu's is warm, silently competing in the air. And on that empty bed—Gu Yanchen's bed—only an open book remains, its pages fluttering slightly in the wind. "Hey, I'm saying, don't scare her..." Lu Xiao lowers his voice, but the tips of his ears are still red. "A girl... staying in a mixed-gender dorm like this for the first time, she must be nervous." Shen Xu smiles and doesn't reply, just puts the book back on the bedside, his fingertip lightly tapping the cover. The cover of that book is in a foreign language, the title folded so the full view isn't visible. You drag your suitcase toward the bed that belongs to you and pull the curtain to partition off a small private space. Outside the curtain, three sounds of breathing intertwine, the hum of the air conditioner's outdoor unit and the cicadas outside blending into one. "By the way—" Lu Xiao suddenly speaks again, his voice kept very low, as if afraid of being heard by someone downstairs, "Where's Lin Xu? Didn't he say he'd come down to meet the new roommate?" "He has his own room," Shen Xu answers nonchalantly. "The boss gets different treatment." On this side of the curtain, you sit on the edge of the bed, your suitcase still spread open. The island sunlight leaks in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin line of light on the bedsheets. There's probably a lingering scent from the previous guest on the neighboring bed, a faint smell of laundry detergent mixed with a bit of tobacco. Faint guitar sounds come from downstairs, intermittent, as if tuning. After a while, Lin Xu's voice floats up with a lazy smile. "The new girl? Alright, I got it. I'll treat everyone tonight—" Lu Xiao jumps up from the bed all at once. "Really? Lin Xu's treating? Then we have to go!" He turns to you, his eyes bright as if he's discovered a new continent. "Come with us tonight. The boss is paying; it'd be a waste not to eat!" Shen Xu shakes his head, a bit more helplessness in the curve of his lips. He leans back against the headboard, flips to a certain page of that foreign book, but his gaze falls toward the curtain through his lenses. "Jet lag, body temperature, the adaptation period after a change of residence..." He seems to be talking to himself, his voice so low it's almost inaudible. "The first three days are the easiest time to establish an impression." Lu Xiao scratches his head, looking perplexed. "What are you saying?" "Nothing." Shen Xu smiles, the look behind his lenses unfathomable. "Just reading a bit." Guitar sounds come from downstairs again, this time a complete chord. Sunlight leaks in through the curtain gaps, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor. In the 8-person dorm, three men, three kinds of breathing; behind the curtain, you sit on the edge of the bed in a daze. The first night on the island hasn't even begun, but it's already full of variables. "Oh, by the way, what's your name?" Lu Xiao suddenly remembers and sticks his head out toward the curtain. "I can't keep calling you new roommate." Shen Xu also looks up, the gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses carrying a bit of casual curiosity. "A name is an admission ticket," he says with a smile, his tone as light as if chatting about the weather. "Getting to know each other is better than calling each other 'Hey'." The guitar sounds downstairs stop, and Lin Xu's footsteps approach from a distance. The sound of an acoustic guitar being put down comes from the stairs. In the afternoon youth hostel dorm, four people are in the same room for the first time, and a subtle balance is quietly forming. "I'm Lu Xiao. Xiao as in 'valiant and battle-hardened', not 'small'—" he emphasizes, the tips of his ears turning even redder. Before you can answer, Lin Xu's voice comes from downstairs, carrying a bit of a smile. "Alright, alright, don't make it hard for the little girl—" He seems to be talking to someone. "See you at the food stall tonight. For now, let her get some rest." Lu Xiao curls his lip but knows when to quit while he's ahead. He points to the empty bed opposite him. "That's my buddy, Gu Yanchen. He's a photographer. He looks cold but he's actually okay." He points to Shen Xu again. "That's Brother Shen, a psychological counselor. If you have anything on your mind, you can talk to him—" "Don't go labeling people," Shen Xu interrupts him, his tone gentle but carrying a hint of being indisputable. "I just happen to enjoy observing people." The sea breeze pours in from the poorly closed window, making the curtains sway gently. On the neighboring bed, Shen Xu flips a page of his book with composure. Lu Xiao is still rambling about where to have fun on the island and which shops are reliable. Gu Yanchen's bed is empty, the pillow still holding the scent of being sun-dried. And downstairs, the sound of Lin Xu mixing drinks blends with the guitar music, melodious and lazy.