Shen Huaixiu pushed the breakfast in the lunchbox towards him. After Rong Shu sat down, he grabbed it and, while tearing off the plastic wrap on top, said, “Don’t worry, Xiao Jing, I’m fine!”
Then he turned to Shen Huaixiu and asked, “What did you buy?”
Seeing Rong Shu like this, Chen Jing believed that he wasn’t affected and finally relaxed.
“Radish cake.”
Upon hearing those three words, Rong Shu paused mid-action. “Really?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“I love it!” I don’t care what you… As he opened the lunchbox, inside were four round, chubby, milk-white custard buns. Rong Shu quickly looked up at him. “You tricked me?”
Shen Huaixiu’s lips curved up slightly. “Eat up; they should still be warm.”
Rong Shu was momentarily flustered by the fleeting smile on Shen Huaixiu’s face. He hadn’t even eaten the custard buns yet, but they already felt so sweet. Trying to maintain his composure, he asked, “Is there a place around here that sells these?”
How come he had never seen it before?
“Just happened to come across it,” Shen Huaixiu replied vaguely, then asked, “What was going on with that guy this morning?”
That idiot Ma Sen must have been waiting at the door for who knows how long. Shen Huaixiu probably saw him when he arrived.
Rong Shu took a bite of the custard bun. The milk flavor and sweetness were just right, and when he spoke with it in his mouth, his voice was slightly muffled, carrying a hint of the milk’s aroma. He glanced at Shen Huaixiu quickly, his lips curving up slightly as he casually said, “What could it be? He likes me and wants to pursue me. But since he can’t, he’s turned into a creep!”
Shen Huaixiu: “…”
“What, don’t you believe me?” Seeing that he didn’t respond, Rong Shu’s beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, filled with surprise that he wasn’t being believed.
“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just…” I’ve never heard anyone talk about something like this so bluntly—it’s kind of cute.
“Just what?” While Rong Shu was talking, he had already eaten all four custard buns, a bit of white flour clinging to the corner of his lips, which he licked away with the tip of his tongue.
Shen Huaixiu’s gaze darkened slightly as he looked away, shaking his head. “Nothing.”
“Alright, thanks for breakfast. I’ll treat you to lunch.” Rong Shu said, shaking the now-empty lunchbox in his hand. Shen Huaixiu replied, “Next time. I have something to do at lunch today.”
“Is that so? How about dinner then?”
Meeting Rong Shu’s expectant gaze, Shen Huaixiu nodded. “Okay.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Rong Shu stood up and tossed the empty lunchbox into the trash.
The news that Ma Sen had gone to block someone in front of Class 2-3 on his first day back at school spread through every corner of Federal No.1 Middle School almost instantly. Even those who didn’t know Ma Sen definitely knew the school heartthrob. With just a little digging, they could piece together the whole story.
Since Shen Huaixiu had something to do at noon, Rong Shu didn’t feel like squeezing into the cafeteria, so he left the school with Chen Jing to grab some beef noodles.
“Has a new breakfast place opened near our school?” Rong Shu couldn’t help but ask on the way. Chen Jing thought for a moment and said, “I don’t think so. But a new boxing gym opened up in the shopping district. I heard the owner is a young, handsome Alpha!”
Rong Shu, who had no interest in boxing gyms or young, handsome Alphas, was still thinking about the custard buns he had eaten that morning. If there wasn’t a new shop, then where did Shen Huaixiu get those buns?
The beef noodle place was pretty crowded. By the time Rong Shu and Chen Jing arrived, only one table was left in the corner.
After ordering two bowls of beef noodles, a plate of cold seaweed salad, and a side of spicy dried fish, Rong Shu stood up. “I’ll go get us two drinks.”
“I’ll go!” Chen Jing offered, but Rong Shu pressed his shoulder down. “No need.”
As Rong Shu left, Chen Jing got up to set out the bowls and chopsticks on the table, waiting for him.
Rong Shu came out of the drink bar with two cups of lemon tea in hand. The weather was getting warmer by the day, and at noon, the school uniform was already starting to feel a bit too much.
“Xu Shu, I knew we were meant to be!” Ma Sen approached with two of his followers in tow.
Rong Shu suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. “I thought my actions made my attitude clear enough.”
Ma Sen pulled back his lips and licked his teeth with his tongue, thinking it looked cool, but it only disgusted Rong Shu, who turned his head away, now wishing he could go back and wash his eyes.
“Xu Shu, I really like you, but I didn’t expect you to be so ungrateful!” Ma Sen’s smile disappeared. His expression twisted into something ugly at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Rong Shu, unfazed by Ma Sen’s menacing look, smirked and said with a hint of mockery in his eyes, “Your legs aren’t hurting anymore, huh?”
Hearing this, Ma Sen’s face darkened even more. Last time, when he tried to ambush Rong Shu, he ended up getting beaten up instead. Who would have thought that even with backup, he couldn’t take down someone who appeared weaker than most Alphas?
Suddenly, the air was filled with the bitter, burnt smell of dry grass. Rong Shu frowned, his gaze cold as he watched the idiot Alpha in front of him release his pheromones.
The unpleasant odor was just like the person it belonged to—disgusting.
A surge of irritation welled up inside Rong Shu, making him want to beat the person in front of him to a pulp.
But before he could make a move, a powerful wave of bloodthirsty pheromones slammed into Ma Sen, knocking him to his knees with a scream as he clutched his head.
The sudden reaction sent the two people behind him into a panic.
Shen Huaixiu, holding a black bundle, strode toward Rong Shu.
Seeing him, Rong Shu instinctively relaxed, leaning lightly against the wall, a smile tugging at his lips as his gaze settled on the Alpha.
Shen Huaixiu turned to meet Rong Shu’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
Rong Shu nodded with a smile, indicating he was fine.
After confirming that Rong Shu wasn’t hurt, Shen Huaixiu glanced at Ma Sen, who was crouching on the ground clutching his head, and then coldly addressed the two bystanders who were frozen in place. “Do you want to join him?”
“We…we were just passing by…just passing by…” They stammered, then glanced at Ma Sen, who was so overwhelmed by the pheromones that he couldn’t even lift his head, before turning and fleeing.
Ma Sen knelt on one knee, his black eyes full of terror. It was as if he had suddenly been transported back to that night when the person who had chilled him to the bone was none other than this Alpha standing before him now.
“Don’t bother him again. Get lost!” Shen Huaixiu grabbed Rong Shu’s arm, tossed out these words, and led him away.
Not long after they left, Ma Sen fainted on the spot.
After walking a short distance, Shen Huaixiu released Rong Shu’s arm and gave him a once-over with his dark eyes. “Are you really not hurt?”
Sensing the concern from the Alpha in front of him, Rong Shu smiled, clearly pleased, and teased, “Do you want to check for yourself?”
Rong Shu’s beautiful peach blossom eyes sparkled with playful mischief. Shen Huaixiu, caught off guard by his teasing, cleared his throat awkwardly. “As long as you’re okay!”
Just as he was about to ask why Shen Huaixiu was nearby, he noticed the package in Shen Huaixiu’s hand. “Did you pick something up?”
“Yeah, my father sent it to me,” Shen Huaixiu explained softly when he saw the question in Rong Shu’s eyes.
“Then you haven’t eaten yet, right? Chen Jing and I were about to grab some beef noodles. Come with us, my treat as a thank you for helping me earlier!” Rong Shu insisted, not giving him a chance to refuse as he grabbed Shen Huaixiu’s sleeve and pulled him toward the noodle shop.
Shen Huaixiu didn’t resist, letting Rong Shu lead him. He only remarked, “Even if I hadn’t shown up, you could have handled it. After all, he couldn’t beat you.”
Hearing this, Rong Shu realized that Shen Huaixiu probably knew about the time he broke Ma Sen’s leg. He blinked innocently and said, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand. Ma Sen is so big and strong—I was really scared at the time!”
Shen Huaixiu chuckled softly and reached out to pinch his cat ears. “When you lie, your cat ears twitch!”
Author’s note:
Rong Shu: “You can touch my cat ears, but only if you’re nice to me!”
