IWHBDR Chapter 32

The young man in Shen Huaixiu’s arms was light, yet soft like delicate feathers, carrying a pleasant and refined rose fragrance that made his heart tingle.

Rong Shu was gently placed on Shen Huaixiu’s bed. The tall Alpha crouched down, grasping his ankle to inspect the area where he had twisted it.

Looking at the top of his head, Rong Shu felt a bit guilty, afraid that Shen Huaixiu might notice he was faking it. He shrank back slightly, “It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt much now.”

Shen Huaixiu glanced up at him, disapprovingly saying, “Don’t push yourself.”

Rong Shu thought to himself that he really wasn’t pushing himself; after all, he was pretending.

Shen Huaixiu stood up and retrieved the spray he had used on Rong Shu’s wrist last time. He sprayed it around his ankle, “It seems fine for now, but don’t use this foot tonight.”

“Okay, thank you,” Rong Shu said as he hooked his left leg to stand up. However, he wobbled due to unsteady balance and was quickly supported by Shen Huaixiu, who wrapped an arm around his waist.

“Be careful,” Shen Huaixiu tossed the spray onto the bed, “What are you trying to do? Let me help you.”

“My hair isn’t dry yet and the bathroom hasn’t been tidied up,” Rong Shu said as he tried to head toward the bathroom, but Shen Huaixiu pressed him back onto the bed. “The bathroom can wait, dry your hair first.”

Shen Huaixiu grabbed the hairdryer. Rong Shu’s eyes sparkled with undisguised anticipation, “You’re going to help me?”

Shen Huaixiu plugged in the hairdryer, shaking it slightly as he asked in a deep voice, “Do you mind?”

Rong Shu hurriedly shook his head. How could he mind? He wished Shen Huaixiu could handle drying his hair for him forever.

The sound of the hairdryer soon filled the room. Shen Huaixiu’s fingers gently combed through his black hair, while the soft, fluffy cat ears twitched in sync with the direction of the airflow, forming a charming smile at the corners of his lips.

When the whirring stopped, Rong Shu opened his eyes. Shen Huaixiu smoothed out his messy hair, “All done. It’s late, get some rest.”

Rong Shu nodded. After a long day, to be honest, he had been sleepy since Shen Huaixiu started drying his hair.

Shen Huaixiu set the hairdryer aside and helped him up. Although Rong Shu initially planned to use his “fall” to increase the ambiguity between them, he now felt bad for troubling Shen Huaixiu so much. “I can manage by myself. It’s late, you should wash up and get some rest too.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Shen Huaixiu replied. Suddenly, his hand rested on Rong Shu’s waist, and he felt the slight tremble from the person beneath his palm. “Don’t worry, I’ll carry you up.”

Before Rong Shu could refuse, the Alpha lifted him with strong yet steady hands.

Rong Shu sat down on the bed, his face flushed red, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Get some rest,” Shen Huaixiu said, raising the corner of his lips. His usually cold, black eyes softened with a hint of warmth.

When Shen Huaixiu went to wash up, he considerately turned off the bedroom light. Rong Shu lay down, pulling the blanket up to his chin. The smile on his lips wouldn’t fade no matter how hard he tried. Even though he couldn’t be entirely certain of Shen Huaixiu’s feelings yet, he was sure that he was special to him.

Realizing this made Rong Shu so excited that he kicked his legs under the blanket and rolled over to hug it tightly, rubbing his face against it with glee.

*

The next morning, when Rong Shu woke up, Shen Huaixiu was still there. Surprised, he asked, “Why didn’t you go for a run today?”

“I already went and came back. Stick out your foot, let me take a look,” Shen Huaixiu replied as he walked over, holding the spray in his hand. Rong Shu paused for a moment before understanding what he meant. He hadn’t expected Shen Huaixiu to remember his “injury” even after a night had passed. His guilt was mixed with sweetness.

He extended his left foot and said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore. I don’t feel anything, it’s definitely healed.”

Shen Huaixiu grabbed his ankle and took a look. The boy’s ankle was slender and fragile, so delicate that it seemed like the slightest pressure could break it.

“Mm, it looks fine, but still, be careful.” After saying this, Shen Huaixiu put down the spray and stretched out his arms, “I’ll carry you down.”

Rong Shu was almost dizzy from the unexpected delight, his cheeks heating up uncontrollably. “I can get down by myself.”

Even though he said that, his body reacted faster than his words. He leaned over, wrapped his arms around the Alpha’s neck, and let Shen Huaixiu support his back as he carried him down.

As he was released, Rong Shu felt his heart racing. He wasn’t sure if Shen Huaixiu noticed, so he snuck a quick glance at him, then hurriedly turned and dashed into the bathroom. “Wait for me, let’s leave together.”

“Mm, no rush,” Shen Huaixiu said, a smile tugging at his lips as he happily placed the spray back into the cabinet.

They left the dorm together and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast. Rong Shu had been in a great mood, but that all vanished the moment he saw Ma Jinyan standing at the entrance of their classroom.

Shen Huaixiu and Ma Jinyan locked eyes, both immediately sensing the hostility in each other’s gaze.

Ma Jinyan smirked provocatively, “Xu Shu, have you had breakfast?”

Rong Shu glanced at the offered breakfast, his beautiful peach blossom eyes filled with obvious disdain. “I’ve already eaten, thanks.”

Without wanting to say more, he followed Shen Huaixiu into the classroom, but Ma Jinyan, seemingly oblivious to his irritation, smiled and continued, “It’s fine if you’ve already eaten. How about we chat for a bit, Xu Shu?”

“I have nothing to say to you. Just leave.”

“Xu Shu, right now you can still refuse me, but that’s only because it’s just the two of us here. Once—”

“Why do you talk so much?” Shen Huaixiu, who had already taken half a step into the classroom, suddenly stopped. He turned his head and coldly looked at Ma Jinyan. Then, without a word, he pulled the lagging Rong Shu into the classroom and warned in a deep voice, “He will never like you, so stop pestering him.”

Ma Jinyan hadn’t expected Shen Huaixiu to be so blunt. His previously polite and gentlemanly expression instantly cracked. “He doesn’t like me, but do you think that means he’ll like you?”

Shen Huaixiu’s lips curled into a cold, thin smile. “At least he likes me more than you.”

Ma Jinyan: “…”

The surrounding onlookers who had been passing by: “!!!”

Rong Shu, standing just behind them, had overheard every word of their exchange. His heart raced uncontrollably. What did Shen Huaixiu mean by that? Had he already figured out that Rong Shu liked him?

Rong Shu had no idea how Ma Jinyan felt when he left, but his own mood was fantastic.

“What were you guys doing at the door just now?” Chen Jing asked curiously as Rong Shu came over.

“Nothing.” Rong Shu tried to suppress his grin, but the happiness on his face was impossible to hide. It was obvious that it was more than “nothing”.

Chen Jing tilted his head to look at Shen Huaixiu. As usual, Shen Huaixiu’s expression remained unreadable, making it clear that trying to glean anything from his face was futile.

After sitting down, Rong Shu reached out and poked Shen Huaixiu’s arm. “Thanks for speaking up for me earlier.”

“You don’t mind me meddling in your business?” Shen Huaixiu turned his head slightly to look at him, a faint smile in his dark eyes.

“How could that be called meddling? It’s called standing up for justice,” Rong Shu said with a proud tilt of his chin. “Besides, you were completely right. I like you way more than I like him.”

Shen Huaixiu hadn’t expected Rong Shu to be so direct. His heart tightened, trembling with an unshakable feeling. He lowered his gaze and softly replied, “Mm.”

Just then, Zhang Zhicheng walked in and placed a book on the podium. “The project for this weekend’s spring outing is confirmed: we’re going hiking. But don’t get too excited. Right after that is the first monthly exam, so don’t let your minds wander…”

Shen Huaixiu felt a tug on his sleeve again, followed by a quiet voice next to him. “Hiking, huh?”

He stayed still, waiting for what Rong Shu would say next.

“So tiring! How about we both take a day off and sneak out to have fun instead?” Of course, it wasn’t going to be that simple, just as he expected.

Not bothering to reclaim his sleeve, Shen Huaixiu whispered back, “Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s go to an amusement park, then watch a movie. After that, we can head to Starlight Square to see the fountain fireworks…”

“Xu Shu, if you have any thoughts, feel free to say them out loud. We’d love to hear them too, not just Shen Huaixiu,” Zhang Zhicheng suddenly interrupted, cutting off Rong Shu’s words and instantly drawing the whole class’s attention to him.

The boy quietly let go of the sleeve he was holding and curled his lips into a sweet yet playful smile. “Teacher, what if I was whispering sweet nothings? Sweet words are only meant for the one you like to hear.”

The crowd, initially waiting for a good show, seemed to freeze in place. Even Zhang Zhicheng, with all his life experience, had never encountered such a bold student. He raised his hand to cover his mouth, coughing lightly. “I highly suspect you’re causing trouble, but as your homeroom teacher, I have to remind you—romantic words aren’t appropriate in the classroom.”

“Then I’ll say them back in the dorm.”

Shen Huaixiu: “…”

Once again, his sleeve was tugged and he heard the boy beside him say, “So, will you join me for my spring activity?”

While everyone else around them was in shock, Rong Shu still had the presence of mind to care about that.

Shen Huaixiu felt a ticklish sensation in his heart, like a soft feather brushing against it. Outwardly, he might seem unchanged, but inside, he was filled with an indescribable softness.

“Will Old Zhang give you leave?”

“If he gives me leave, will you go?”

A hint of amusement sparkled in Shen Huaixiu’s eyes. He realized that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape Rong Shu’s tricks. Not that he wanted to, anyway.

“Mm, if he gives you leave, I’ll go.”

“Then it’s settled!”

Satisfied with Shen Huaixiu’s promise, Rong Shu finally let go, looking utterly content.

After the first class ended, Chen Jing finally found the answer he’d been looking for on the forum. He had known something must have happened while they stood outside the classroom for so long that morning—he just hadn’t expected it to be so thrilling.

Chen Jing turned his head, wanting to say something, but hesitated in front of Shen Huaixiu. Instead, he poked Rong Shu’s arm. “Aren’t you going to eat after class?”

Rong Shu smiled. “I already had breakfast today.”

Chen Jing: “…”

He absolutely would not ask who he ate with. Nope!

As Chen Jing turned his head away, Rong Shu sighed regretfully. Xiao Jing’s not playing along today at all.

His phone buzzed twice in his pocket. Rong Shu pulled it out and saw that Chen Jing had sent him a link, along with a message: ⌈Is what it says true?⌋

Rong Shu clicked the link and skimmed through it. Oh, so this morning’s events had already been posted on the school forum! Now everyone thought Shen Huaixiu was pursuing him!

Of course, the post title wasn’t phrased that way. The actual title was: ⌈Shocking! Transfer student MJY and North Campus tyrant SHX both chasing after school heartthrob XS! Miss out and you’ll regret it!⌋

He conveniently chose to ignore the part about the other person.

⌈Xu Shu: Oh, what’s there to be shocked about? Isn’t it obvious? ^_^⌋

Heh heh heh heh heh!

 

Author’s note:

Shen Huaixiu: Go on, I’m all ears.

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