Not sure if it was because his gaze was too intense, but Shen Huaixiu suddenly turned his head and met Rong Shu’s eyes, causing a momentary guilty feeling to rise in Rong Shu’s chest.
The other person was cooking for him, and yet he was ogling their beauty.
Feigning nonchalance, he curved his eyes into a smile, “It smells so good, I’m starting to get a little hungry.”
“Just a bit longer, it’ll be ready soon.”
The aroma of the rice steaming in the pot had already filled the air, so it would probably be done in a short while.
After finishing the minced pork stir-fried with bok choy dish, Shen Huaixiu swiftly put a pot of tomato egg drop soup on the stove and began frying salmon on the other burner.
Rong Shu walked over and picked up the cooked minced pork with bok choy. “Where are we eating? Should I bring this over?”
“There’s a round table outside, you can set it up,” Shen Huaixiu replied without pausing his movements. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly asked, “Do you know how?”
To make things easier, Shen Huaiqiu had set up an old foldable plywood table from the past.
Following Shen Huaixiu’s instructions, Rong Shu found the table outside, covered in red and green checks. The garish colors caught him off guard. He didn’t expect someone like Shen Huaiqiu, who seemed to have good taste, to own something so… tacky.
“Did you open it?” Shen Huaixiu, having waited for a while, noticed the silence outside, so he stopped what he was doing and came out to take a look.
Rong Shu had already set up the table. When he saw Shen Huaixiu, he smiled and walked over. “Did your brother buy this table?”
“Yeah, he got it from a second-hand market,” Shen Huaixiu replied casually. Seeing that the table was set, he turned back to continue frying the fish.
“Your brother sure has a unique sense of style. Red and green.”
Shen Huaixiu paused for a second. Red and green? Like a dog’s breakfast?
Ahem, no way was he going to admit that he had picked out that table. Forget it, let Shen Huaiqiu take the blame.
He had no qualms about throwing his brother under the bus1not literally.
Without any guilt, Shen Huaixiu responded, “He likes it.”
Rong Shu had only meant it as a joke, but now he turned around and suspiciously looked at Shen Huaixiu. “Really?”
Shen Huaixiu nodded seriously, “Really.”
“It really doesn’t show,” Rong Shu said as he left the kitchen with the plate of minced pork with bok choy, feeling a mix of emotions.
He thought that if things progressed with Shen Huaixiu, when it came time to give gifts, he’d need to put more thought into Shen Huaiqiu’s present. A red and green combo wasn’t easy to work with, so if nothing else, he might have to go for something custom-made.
The remaining soup and dish weren’t too complicated. By the time the salmon was done, the tomato egg drop soup was also ready. As Rong Shu placed the dishes on the table, the rice cooker let out a series of beeps, signaling that dinner was ready.
After cleaning up the kitchen, Shen Huaixiu casually made two glasses of fresh pear juice.
Rong Shu brought over chairs, sat down, and couldn’t help but smile with his eyes curved. “Thanks. You’ve worked hard.”
“No need to thank me. Let’s eat.” Shen Huaixiu’s tone seemed as calm as usual, but there was a hint of expectation in his expression. This was the first time he had cooked for anyone other than himself.
Even his own family hadn’t had the honor yet.
Rong Shu took a sip of the soup first. The seasoning was just right. The sweet and sour taste of the tomatoes whetted his appetite, making him feel a bit hungrier, even though his illness had dulled his hunger earlier.
The salmon was perfectly cooked, tender and flavorful. Though it didn’t seem like much effort had gone into it, it was incredibly delicious. The minced pork with bok choy, with the bright green leaves soaked in savory broth, was so tasty when mixed with rice that Rong Shu felt like he could finish it all.
With his mouth full of rice, Rong Shu gave Shen Huaixiu a thumbs-up. “This is way too good. You could open a restaurant. Business would be booming!”
Shen Huaixiu felt a surge of happiness at the compliment, but seeing how Rong Shu’s cheeks were puffed out, he worried he might choke. He pushed the pear juice over. “Slow down. No one’s going to take it from you, so no need to rush.”
Rong Shu nodded, but his hands didn’t slow down. He only paused occasionally to take a sip of juice.
After dinner, Rong Shu offered to do the dishes. Shen Huaixiu handed him a cloth. “Wipe down the table while you’re at it.”
Rong Shu obediently took the cloth. By the time he finished putting the table away and came back, he saw that Shen Huaixiu had already put on gloves and finished washing the dishes.
“Why didn’t you wait for me? Your hand is still injured.”
“It’s fine, I’m wearing gloves.” Shen Huaixiu’s reply left no room for argument.
“You not only cooked with your own hands, but you also washed the dishes yourself. Why are you so nice?” Rong Shu said, feeling himself growing more and more fond of him.
Shen Huaixiu took off the gloves and set them aside. “You’re sick. Sick people have the privilege to enjoy these things.”
“If you put it like that, I don’t ever want to get better.” If being sick meant he could be pampered like this, then he wouldn’t mind staying sick forever.
Shen Huaixiu suddenly raised his hand and gave him a light tap on the head. “What nonsense are you talking about? Clean up and let’s head back.”
“Hehe, I was just thinking out loud. Of course, I want to get better quickly. Being sick is too uncomfortable.”
“Are you still feeling unwell now?” Shen Huaixiu asked as he naturally reached out to touch Rong Shu’s forehead. Seeing that his temperature was normal, he relaxed. “Go rest soon. You shouldn’t be overexerting yourself right now.”
“I’m not that fragile.” Even as Rong Shu said this, his heart felt sweet.
On the way back, Shen Huaixiu saw a message from Jiang Huan saying that Rong Shu had contacted him earlier to ask about what had happened at noon, specifically whether it was Shen Huaixiu who was responsible for Ma Sen being taken away by an ambulance.
Thinking of Rong Shu, who had come early to wait for him by the teaching building despite being sick, Shen Huaixiu felt a ripple of emotion in his heart. “Ma Sen was taken away by an ambulance. Was that your doing?”
Rong Shu blinked innocently. “Nope. Did he get taken away by an ambulance again? How many times has it been this week? He must’ve offended someone. I’m still sick—how could it be me!”
Shen Huaixiu looked at him, then his gaze suddenly shifted to the twitching cat ears on Rong Shu’s head.
Rong Shu instinctively raised his hand to cover them. “I’m not lying. It really wasn’t me. I’m really weak right now!”
Shen Huaixiu, feeling soft-hearted, didn’t expose him. He knew that Rong Shu’s actions were probably because of him. “Maybe Ma Sen really just offended too many people.”
“Yeah, yeah, too many people.”
When they returned to the dorm, Rong Shu received a call from Chen Jing checking in on him, asking if he was feeling better and if he could attend class tomorrow. Listening to Chen Jing’s motherly nagging, Rong Shu’s heart warmed, but he couldn’t help teasing him: “I get it, Mother Chen. I’ll be sure to take care of myself and follow your advice. Don’t worry, I’m feeling much better now. I’ll go to class tomorrow, so don’t miss me too much. Be good.”
Just as Shen Huaixiu finished his shower and came out, he caught that last “be good” and his eyes darkened. “Was that Chen Jing?”
“Who else? He’s reminding me to rest well and not stay up late. He’s practically becoming my mother.” Though Rong Shu complained with his words, his face was all smiles. Seeing Shen Huaixiu finished with his shower, Rong Shu picked up a clean satin robe and headed into the bathroom.
When Rong Shu came out, Shen Huaixiu noticed that he was no longer wearing his T-shirt but had changed back into his own clothes. For some inexplicable reason, it made Shen Huaixiu feel a bit irritated.
After the shower, Rong Shu looked much better, probably feeling more comfortable too. His habit of not wearing clothes properly resurfaced—his robe was loosely tied, hanging off his shoulders as he walked toward Shen Huaixiu.
Even if Shen Huaixiu wasn’t looking directly at him, the bright, bare skin was impossible to miss from the corner of his eye.
Rong Shu shook his half-dry hair, feeling thirsty after the shower. Just as he was about to get a drink of water, he saw the Alpha, who had been sitting on his bed, suddenly stand up.
Rong Shu turned his head to see what he was going to do, only to find Shen Huaixiu walking towards him.
Rong Shu’s height was considered tall for an Omega, but compared to Shen Huaixiu, he still fell short by about half a head. Not to mention, his frame wasn’t as broad either.
As Shen Huaixiu approached, the natural Alpha dominance over an Omega made Rong Shu instinctively shudder. “Wh-what are you…”
Before he could finish, Shen Huaixiu suddenly reached out, grabbed his loosely hanging robe collar, and gently but firmly pulled it together. After tying the belt securely, he even added, “Put your pants on.”
Rong Shu: “…”
I was fully prepared for you to make a move on me, and you’re telling me to put my pants on?!
Why is this so difficult?!
“I’m not putting them on! I’m going to bed!” Why wear pants to sleep? Pants are unnecessary for sleeping!
Rong Shu angrily kicked off his slippers, climbed into bed, and pulled the blanket over his head. Frustrated, he could only kick his legs under the covers, venting his dissatisfaction.
Idiot! Can’t he see that I’m trying to seduce him?!
After stewing under the blanket for a while, Rong Shu couldn’t take it anymore. He fished his phone out from under the pillow and found the anonymous message board. He felt like if he didn’t ask for advice soon, he might start doubting his sanity.
⌈Why am I so good-looking: I like someone and I’m working hard to pursue him. We’re not only desk-mates but also roommates. He might seem cold and distant, but I know he’s a good person. When I was sick, he took me to the doctor and even cooked meals for me. Afterward, he didn’t even let me wash the dishes. Could it be that he has some feelings for me too? Otherwise, why would he treat me so well? But when I wore a really sexy bathrobe in the dorm, showing off my legs and neck, he wasn’t moved at all. Instead, he even helped me tie my loose collar and told me to put on pants! Why did he do that? Is it just my imagination that he likes me? Or is it because I’m also an Alpha, so he just sees me as a brother?⌋
After sending the message, Rong Shu eagerly waited for responses. As the saying goes, outsiders see things more clearly than those involved.
⌈This is a real-life version of ‘I see you as a brother, but you want to sleep with me?’⌋
⌈Two Alphas have no future together. I advise you to give up.⌋
⌈I think he just sees you as a brother. You said it yourself, you’re roommates and desk-mates, so it’s probably just a close friendship, and you’re reading too much into it.⌋
⌈Even between brothers, it’s rare to cook for someone personally. I don’t think it’s just your imagination.⌋
⌈As long as you’re good-looking, I don’t think you’re imagining it. Why don’t you just confess? Secret crushes always cause anxiety. It’s better to deal with it directly than drag it out.⌋
⌈Don’t give reckless advice. If you confess now and he’s not interested, you might not even be able to stay friends afterward, especially since you’re desk mates and roommates. Wouldn’t it be awkward?⌋
⌈Try getting him drunk and kissing him. If he pushes you away, you’ll know, but if he goes along with it, then you’ll have your answer, haha!⌋
Rong Shu kept scrolling until he finally found a useful reply. Laughing to himself, he gave the comment a thumbs-up.
Rong Shu shoved his phone back under the pillow and closed his eyes to sleep. He needed to get better quickly.
The next day, when Rong Shu appeared in class, the news of Ma Sen transferring schools was already the hot topic of conversation. Along with this news was the announcement that Ma Sen’s older brother had transferred into the neighboring Class 4 of their grade, though why Ma Sen transferred out and why his brother suddenly transferred in—dropping a grade, no less—became a mystery that fueled wild speculation.
Chen Jing turned around as soon as he saw Rong Shu arrive. “How are you feeling? Better?”
“I still need two more days of IV treatment. I’ll go get one after school tonight.” Rong Shu shoved his bag into his desk and then noticed the gossip-hungry expression on Chen Jing’s face. “Ma Sen transferring has nothing to do with you, right?”
“Maybe he had a sudden pang of conscience!”
Chen Jing gave him a look that said ‘Don’t lie to me, I know you’re hiding something’. “And what’s the deal with his brother transferring here and even dropping a grade to do so?”
Rong Shu thought to himself, ‘The Ma family is truly twisted. Do they think getting rid of Ma Sen will make me interested in Ma Jinyan? What a joke! Keep dreaming!’
“Xu Shu, could I talk to you for a moment?” Ma Jinyan suddenly appeared at the door, calling out Rong Shu’s name.
The classroom, which had been noisy, fell into dead silence.
Rong Shu furrowed his brows slightly and stood up slowly, walking out with a cold attitude. “What is it?”
Ma Jinyan’s eyes no longer held the previous hesitation and suspicion; instead, they were filled with an intense, burning eagerness. This gaze made Rong Shu feel nothing but disgust.
Irritated, his cat ears flicked unconsciously.
“I’m here to apologize on behalf of Ma Sen. He was out of line. He won’t bother you anymore. If you’re willing, I’d like to treat you to lunch to make amends.”
Rong Shu scoffed, “If your family really felt sorry for me, you and your brother would both disappear. I’m not having lunch with you. Stop bothering me.”
Fed up, he turned to head back into the classroom, not wanting to waste another word.
“Wait a minute.” Ma Jinyan suddenly stepped forward. The sharp, unpleasant scent unique to the lizard clan made Rong Shu feel nauseous. “According to the family pact, before a Beast Coming-of-Age Day, any family has the right to fair competition. I’m just asking for a fair chance.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Rong Shu shrugged innocently. “You can compete with whoever you want, just don’t bother me. Anything else? If not, I need to get back to my studies.”
Seeing that Rong Shu was unmoved, Ma Jinyan, unwilling to give up, said, “I’ll come find you again.”
But Rong Shu acted as if he hadn’t heard and walked away without looking back.
As Ma Jinyan turned around, a sudden chill ran through him. He instinctively raised his eyes and met a pair of cold, deep black eyes. The air around him seemed to fill with a faint scent of blood, thick with danger and murderous intent.
Shen Huaixiu walked past him without pausing, but Ma Jinyan froze in place, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
‘It’s him.’ This was the one Ma Sen had mentioned, from the North Campus—the source of the intense, bloody scent clinging to Rong Shu.
Rong Shu understood that Ma Jinyan’s appearance here meant his identity was beginning to be revealed. It wouldn’t be long before more people knew.
In the Interstellar Federation, genetic defects were a major problem for all species. For nearly a century, scientists had failed to solve this issue, but there were rumors that male Omegas from the Rong family had the ability to give birth to offspring with perfect genes. In the past, this had made the Rong family’s male Omegas targets for many aristocratic families, until the Family Pact came into effect. The pact stated that as long as a Rong family male Omega found a partner before their Beast Coming-of-Age Day after reaching adulthood, the other families would have to give up their claims. If not, the right to choose would fall to the aristocratic families.
Rong Shu was the first male Omega of his generation in the Rong family, which meant he had to find a suitable mate before his Beast Coming-of-Age Day to escape this fate of being fought over.
When Shen Huaixiu entered the room, he immediately noticed Rong Shu, who was resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought. Recalling the Alpha he had just encountered, Shen Huaixiu’s gaze darkened. He tapped lightly on the table, drawing the boy’s attention.
“You’re here?” Rong Shu quickly suppressed his irritation and greeted the Alpha with a smile.
Shen Huaixiu nodded, noting that Rong Shu’s voice no longer sounded hoarse, a sign that his cold was improving. He pulled out a familiar lunchbox and a bottle of freshly pressed pear juice from his bag and handed them to Rong Shu. “Had breakfast yet?”
“No!” Rong Shu’s eyes lit up as he saw what Shen Huaixiu was offering. Without thinking, he answered immediately, and his cheeks flushed. “Is this for me?”
“Yeah, it’s still warm. Go ahead and eat.”
Rong Shu took the lunchbox. The gloomy mood brought on by Ma Jinyan’s appearance instantly lifted. “This looks like something from the boxing gym. Did you go there?”
As he spoke, he opened the lunchbox and saw the custard buns inside. His heart skipped a beat. It turned out that the custard buns he had eaten last time weren’t from some breakfast shop—they had been personally steamed for him by Shen Huaixiu in the boxing gym’s kitchen.
Some people might appear cold, but when they show tenderness, it can be truly overwhelming.
“I went for a run this morning, so I just picked it up on the way,” Shen Huaixiu said casually as if it was no big deal. But Rong Shu knew that he was just trying not to make him feel any pressure.
Rong Shu didn’t say much, only offering a soft “thank you”.
“You’re welcome. That person this morning—did he come to see you?”
Rong Shu’s heart tightened, and the cat ears on his head twitched slightly. “Yeah, that was Ma Sen’s brother, Ma Jinyan. He came to apologize.”
Shen Huaixiu acknowledged with a simple hum, his tone giving nothing away.
Rong Shu had already arranged with the school doctor to come by after school for an injection. As soon as the bell rang, Chen Jing turned around and said, “I can’t come with you for the shot tonight—I have something to do. Should I… Shen, Shen Huaixiu, do you have time? Could I trouble you to go with Rong Shu for his injection?”
Rong Shu hadn’t expected Chen Jing to be so considerate and immediately gave him a grateful look. Chen Jing returned the look as if saying, ‘This is all I can do for you.’
Shen Huaixiu, who had already planned to accompany Rong Shu to the medical office, nodded. “Sure.”
“Is it too much trouble?” Rong Shu asked, though his face was all smiles. Chen Jing took one look and practically wanted to blind himself.
Could you not be so…
Before heading to the medical office, Rong Shu and Shen Huaixiu grabbed a quick dinner. When they arrived, the school doctor had just finished eating and smiled when he saw the two of them together. “You’re here fast. I thought I’d have to wait a bit longer. Have you eaten?”
“We ate,” Rong Shu said. “I’m feeling much better now. Can I skip tomorrow’s shot after this one?” Although Shen Huaixiu could keep him company during these times, he much preferred spending time alone with him back in their dorm room rather than in the medical office with the school doctor.
“Three days make a full course; you can’t cut it short. Go lie down. Find a spot for yourself,” the school doctor said seriously, immediately making Rong Shu nervous. Instinctively, he glanced at the Alpha, fearing he might say, ‘Well, then, I’ll just head back.’
“No need. I’ll wait here for him,” Shen Huaixiu replied calmly, sitting down in the chair beside the bed. He then asked gently, “Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
Rong Shu shook his head. “Do you want to…”
In his heart, he really wanted Shen Huaixiu to stay with him, but he didn’t want to tire him out. Thinking about how Shen Huaixiu would have to sit there for two hours while he got his IV drip made his heart ache.
“I’ll wait for you to finish and we’ll go back together,” Shen Huaixiu interrupted him, pulling out the new set of exam papers they had been given before school let out. “I’ll do some practice problems.”
Rong Shu, who had just been feeling touched: “…”
Are you a soulless practice machine?
The school doctor came over to hook up the IV and happened to hear Shen Huaixiu’s last comment, chuckling as he prepared the medication. He wasn’t at all fazed when Rong Shu shot him a glare. “Let’s use your left hand today so your right hand is free for practice. That way, you won’t miss out.”
Rong Shu: “…”
Thanks a lot!
What he had imagined would be some nice, quiet time alone with Shen Huaixiu had turned into a study session instead.
He was exhausted. Mentally exhausted. Don’t ask—just exhausted!
By the time the IV was done, Shen Huaixiu had already finished all the backlog of assignments from the past two days. His efficiency was almost unreal. As Rong Shu nursed his bandaged hand, he asked, “Are you going back to the dorm after this or heading to the gym?”
“The gym,” Shen Huaixiu replied.
“Is second brother back?” Rong Shu’s eyes lit up when he heard Shen Huaixiu mention the gym. Now that he had finished all the problems, he didn’t want to go back to the cold dorm alone.
“Yes, do you want to come along?”
“Sure. But I can’t participate today.”
“You can watch from the sidelines.”
“Alright!”
So, the two of them left the infirmary and headed straight to the gym. As soon as Shen Huaiqiu saw them come in, he immediately approached and said, “Why are you so late today? And Rong Shu is here too.”
“Second brother,” Rong Shu greeted with a smile, “He came late because he was with me for the injection.”
As he spoke, Shen Huaiqiu noticed the bandage on Rong Shu’s hand that hadn’t been removed yet and asked with concern, “How did you end up needing an injection? Are you sick?”
“Just a cold. I’m fine. Another day of the injection and I’ll be okay. I’ve been grateful for his care these past two days.”
Rong Shu’s cheeks flushed a bit when talking about the care he received and his cat ears twitched awkwardly with embarrassment.
Shen Huaiqiu: ‘My goodness, this iron tree might finally be blooming!’
“I’m going to change clothes. Sit here for a while. Second brother, take care of him. Don’t let him sit by the door and catch a cold.”
Shen Huaixiu, after instructing his brother, glanced back at Rong Shu. Seeing him nod obediently, he felt reassured and went to change clothes.
Rong Shu, worried about causing trouble for Shen Huaiqiu, quickly said, “Second brother, go ahead and get busy. I’ll be fine here, you don’t have to go out of your way.”
“You’re just right. Don’t catch another cold. The remote for the air conditioning is here; if you feel cold, adjust it yourself. I’ll get you some fruit, so wait a moment.”
“Second brother, you really—” Before he could finish, Shen Huaiqiu had already hurried off.
Tonight, Shen Huaixiu was going to spar with a burly Alpha whose left arm had a black flame tattoo extending up to his chest, giving him a more feral look. Not to mention, the Alpha had a patch of dark brown fur on his back. Rong Shu sat there eating the banana Shen Huaiqiu had prepared for him, guessing that this Alpha’s beast form was likely something like a black bear.
As the clear sound of a wind chime rang, Rong Shu glanced over and saw Ma Jinyan walking in with a cup of milk tea.
Rong Shu immediately lost his appetite for the banana.
Rong Shu: Such an annoying presence, it’s ruining my mood.
Ma Jinyan, seemingly oblivious to Rong Shu’s disdain, walked over with a smile and sat down beside him, his gaze fixed on the two Alphas fighting in the ring. “Do you like this kind of rough sport?”
Rong Shu glanced at the milk tea he was handed and replied, “Maybe this roughness is just what Mr. Ma lacks. Sorry, I’m allergic to milk tea.”
Ma Jinyan, unperturbed, casually placed the milk tea on the table. “I should have been more considerate. If you let me know what you like, I won’t make this mistake again next time.”
“I like peace and quiet.” So, could you possibly shut up?
Ma Jinyan said with a patronizing tone, “You don’t need to be so hostile towards me. I’m different from Ma Sen; he still doesn’t know your true identity, does he?”
Ma Jinyan glanced at the Alpha in the ring. He had to admit that, based purely on aura, Shen Huaixiu was indeed a very powerful Alpha. However, no matter how strong he was, without a reliable family background, it was still insufficient. Ma Jinyan had investigated him and found that he was merely an orphan from the lower district who grew up on charity.
The thought that someone like this could win the favor of the Rong family’s male Omega made Ma Jinyan’s gaze turn dark and gloomy.
“What exactly are you trying to say? If you’re ill, remember to take your medicine on time.”
Ma Jinyan, seeing that Rong Shu neither admitted nor got angry, smiled, “I’ve looked into him; he has no background. You mentioned he’s fortunate to be studying in the upper district and this opportunity might change his fate. If he knew your identity, wouldn’t he consider you a trouble? After all, I’m just the first. Once your identity is no longer a secret, you should be able to anticipate, without my saying, that places where the Rong family’s male Omegas appear are never peaceful.”
“What does this have to do with you? Aren’t you a bit overly concerned?” Rong Shu smirked, lifting his chin slightly. Sitting there, his eyes were disdainful, as if looking down on Ma Jinyan like an ant. “You’ve been eliminated now, so get lost!”
Ma Jinyan’s usually composed, gentlemanly demeanor cracked slightly but quickly returned to normal. He smiled and said, “Don’t speak too soon. Since you’re in a bad mood today, let’s call it a day. I’ll take my leave now.”
In the ring, Gu Ke shouted, “Stop, are you trying to kill me?”
Shen Huaiqiu, standing below the ring, laughed and said, “He’s already gone. Just let it go for now.”
Shen Huaixiu, with an expressionless face, retracted his fist and apologized, “Sorry, Brother Gu, that’s enough for today.”
After stepping down from the ring, Shen Huaixiu walked towards Rong Shu. After intense exercise, the pheromones around the Alpha were more intense than usual.
Rong Shu looked at Shen Huaixiu with a pounding heart and smiled, “You’re done?”
“Yeah.” Shen Huaixiu seemed somewhat indifferent as he raised a hand to grab a water bottle from the table, tilting his head back and drinking half of it. The water spilled over, trickling down his chin and sliding into his shirt.
Rong Shu, who had been watching him intently, suddenly felt thirsty. After Shen Huaixiu finished drinking and put the bottle back on the table, Rong Shu suddenly said, “I’m thirsty too. Can I have some of your water?”
Shen Huaixiu glanced sharply at him, his dark eyes swirling with a storm.
“You’re not being petty, are you? It’s just a bit of water.” Before Shen Huaixiu could respond, Rong Shu had already snatched the bottle from the table, unscrewed the cap, and drank the remaining water.
“Hey…” Shen Huaixiu didn’t even have time to stop him. By the time he was about to say something, Rong Shu had already finished drinking and playfully winked at him.
The Alpha, who had been inexplicably annoyed by Ma Jinyan’s appearance, felt his mood instantly calm. He could only manage to say, “This water, I’ve already drunk it.”
“I know, but you’re not going to mind, are you?” Rong Shu’s expression shifted to a pitiful one as he turned the tables on Shen Huaixiu.
“No, I’ll go take a shower. Wait for me,” Shen Huaixiu said, cutting off Rong Shu before he could say anything more, and quickly headed to the bathroom.
Shen Huaiqiu, who had been watching, followed closely behind.
“Knock, knock!” The bathroom door, just closed, was suddenly knocked on. Shen Huaixiu’s muffled voice came through, “Who?”
Shen Huaiqiu leaned against the wall, “It’s me, your brother. I saw everything just now. You two shared a bottle of water.”
Shen Huaixiu: “……”
Thanks for the reminder.
“How far along are you two now? You’ve cooked for him, kept him company while he was sick, and now he’s even drinking your water willingly. You might as well confess. What are you waiting for? That Alpha’s intentions were pretty obvious.”
Shen Huaiqiu didn’t mind giving Shen Huaixiu a bit more encouragement.
Shen Huaixiu, who had been silent for a while, replied coldly, “He doesn’t like him.”
“Well, he likes you. He even drank water you’ve had. So if you have any feelings, you should act quickly. The kid is quite good. We’re not picky about Alphas or Omegas in our family. Hurry up, or someone else might take him. You’ll be the one crying then,” Shen Huaiqiu said, sensing the situation was ripe enough, and then got up to leave.
Shen Huaixiu stood under the shower, his gaze suddenly becoming resolute.
Rong Shu, feeling a bit full from the fruit, was stretching when Shen Huaixiu came out of the shower.
He turned around and immediately smiled, “All done? Shall we head back?”
“Yeah.”
“Then, we’re leaving now, Second Brother.”
“Be careful on your way back. Xu Shu, come again next time.”
“Okay, Second Brother.”
As they left the gym, Rong Shu turned to Shen Huaixiu and asked, “Why did you finish so quickly today?”
“Quick? I didn’t pay attention to the time.” Shen Huaixiu’s expression was natural, but after answering, he quickly asked, “What did Ma Jinyan want from you?”
“Do you really want to know?” Rong Shu’s eyes glinted with a hint of mischief.
Shen Huaixiu looked at him, not immediately answering. Just as Rong Shu was about to give up hope, he heard a “Yes.”
“Thump, thump.” Rong Shu could hear his own heartbeat, pounding more intensely than usual.
He managed a smile, which was quickly suppressed, and said with a face full of grievance, “He wants to pursue me. I rejected him, but he’s persistent and still wants to cling to me.”
He sighed suddenly and changed his expression, “Being good-looking and attracting attention can also be troublesome. Sigh!”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but sneak a look at Shen Huaixiu, his expression quite expressive.
Shen Huaixiu felt that Rong Shu always managed to evoke his emotions so easily: “It does sound quite troublesome.”
“Yeah, what do you think I should do?” Rong Shu’s beautiful peach blossom eyes twinkled as they darted towards Shen Huaixiu. “Should I find someone to date so that those people will give up?”
Shen Huaixiu’s heart tightened. His lips pressed into a thin line and his expression suddenly became stern: “It’s best not to be perfunctory with these matters.”
“True,” Rong Shu nodded seriously, then looked up with a smile, “What about you? What kind of Omega do you like? A soft and cute one, or a more assertive one, or perhaps someone who can be both soft and assertive?”
His eyes were filled with anticipation, hoping to glean some insight from Shen Huaixiu’s answer to better align with his preferences.
Shen Huaixiu was caught off guard by the question. Meeting the boy’s expectant gaze, he replied solemnly, “I don’t mind what kind of person I like.”
Rong Shu blinked: “That answer is just like playing games.”
Shen Huaixiu was momentarily startled by the words “playing games”: “I’m not playing games.”
“You like anyone no matter what they’re like? How does that count as an answer? I still don’t know what kind of person you like. Saying that is like saying nothing.”
“And you, what kind of person do you like?” Shen Huaixiu, with a slight smile, looked at the cute boy whose eyes were almost rolling with dissatisfaction at his response. He really wanted to reach out and ruffle his soft, fluffy cat ears.
“I like someone aloof and with class, and most importantly, someone who can handle multiple opponents without breaking a sweat.”
After saying that, Rong Shu glanced at Shen Huaixiu, then turned and shook his head, indicating that the hint was pretty obvious.
Shen Huaixiu, still smiling, asked, “Does such an Omega even exist?”
Rong Shu turned back and huffed, then angrily walked away, calling him a fool and an idiot in his heart.
Such an Omega might not exist, but isn’t that exactly what Shen Huaixiu is!
If he can’t even figure that out, then he deserves to be single.
Back in the dormitory, Rong Shu went straight to the bathroom with his bathrobe.
Standing in front of the mirror after undressing, Rong Shu thought that although the online suggestions were good, he couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to pull out a big move for Shen Huaixiu, the clueless Alpha, and then combine it with the drunken strategy from the internet. There’s no way he wouldn’t get the hint.
If he still doesn’t get it, then he’s not the Rong family’s male Omega!
Rong Shu turned on the shower, planning to give himself a thorough wash and then apply the fragrant rose water.
However, feeling a bit shy, he ended up putting the bathrobe back on, though it was loosely tied and covered only the key areas. He then found a spot in the bathroom, sat down, and deliberately knocked a few items off the glass shelf onto the floor, accompanied by a sound of: “Ah!”
Hearing the noise, Shen Huaixiu, who was changing clothes, hurried over: “Rong Shu, are you alright?”
“Could you come in for a moment? I think I’ve sprained my ankle.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Huaixiu pushed open the door and saw the boy sitting on the floor with his bathrobe half-draped, exposing a lot of smooth, white skin. Shen Huaixiu instinctively looked down, but unfortunately, an Alpha’s senses couldn’t be blocked just by not looking.
His throat involuntarily tightened as he walked in and crouched beside Rong Shu to examine his foot: “Which foot is sprained?”
Rong Shu pointed to his left foot with a pitiful look: “This one, it hurts so much!”
“Can you stand up?” Shen Huaixiu looked at the boy, whose eyes were reddened by the pain, with concern.
Rong Shu bit his lip and tentatively tried to push himself up. Seeing this, Shen Huaixiu frowned: “Forget it.”
The next second, Rong Shu was suddenly lifted off the ground.
The sudden move startled Rong Shu, but he quickly felt a thrill of happiness. He gently wrapped his arms around Shen Huaixiu’s neck, rested his head on his shoulder, and softly said: “Actually, I could walk by myself.”
Author’s note:
Rong Shu: Kisses, hugs, and with rounding up, Zai Zai can already be considered as part of the mix ^_^.
