After the monthly exams concluded, on Monday morning, the moment Rong Shu walked into class, he heard the class athletic rep shouting from the podium, “Sign-ups for the Intercollegiate sports meet have started! If you’re interested, come get an application form from me. Also, just a reminder, those who perform exceptionally at the sports meet have a high chance of being noticed by military academies. If you have any aspirations to join a military academy, don’t miss this opportunity.”
Rong Shu immediately thought back to the Omega who had stopped Shen Huaixiu outside their dorm, asking him to sign up for the sports meet. Sure enough, they were after his contact information and the sign-ups for the meet were only just starting now.
“The rankings are out! Go check them!” Tang Long burst into the classroom with a loud yell, completely cutting off the athletic rep mid-speech.
“So fast? Let’s go check them out!”
Chen Jing stood up and asked Rong Shu, “Wanna go see?”
“Of course!”
He wanted to see how close his ranking was to Shen Huaixiu’s.
As they walked out of the teaching building, before even squeezing into the crowd, they overheard people murmuring, “Am I seeing things? The school tyrant got fifth place, fifth in the entire year!”
“Didn’t you see that the school heartthrob is in sixth place right below him?”
“These two, one fifth and one sixth—did they plan this?”
“Am I the only one who’s shocked that the school tyrant isn’t actually bad at studying, but a top student? Damn!”
“And the school tyrant getting fifth was definitely intentional—he’s only one point behind fourth place!”
“And the heartthrob is just one point behind him!”
“Say no more, this is clearly a public display of affection. It’s obvious!”
Chen Jing hadn’t expected to be hit with a wave of PDA while simply checking the rankings.
Next to him, Rong Shu, beaming with joy, tugged at his sleeve, “I think everyone’s eyes are sharp and clear.”
Chen Jing: I didn’t hear anything. I’m deaf.
Satisfied after confirming that he and Shen Huaixiu had successfully shown off their relationship on the rankings board, Rong Shu turned to head back. When he spotted Shen Huaixiu waiting by the entrance, he ran over with a smile, “Whose Alpha is standing here so cool?”
“Yours,” Shen Huaixiu replied, handing him a custard bun and lemon tea. “Have you seen the results?”
“Yeah, you’re above me, I’m below you. I didn’t break my promise. So, I want a reward”
“Yes, I’ll give it to you later,” Shen Huaixiu said, casually holding Rong Shu’s hand as they walked up the stairs toward the classroom, completely ignoring the attention they were attracting.
“Really? You actually prepared a gift?” Rong Shu’s eyes instantly went wide with excitement. “What is it?”
“I’ll give it to you later, you’ll find out then.”
“Keeping me in suspense, huh? Fine, I’ll wait.”
Shen Huaixiu reached out and pinched his cat ears.
Back in the classroom, they found that the athletic rep had placed a registration form for the Intercollegiate sports meet on everyone’s desk.
Rong Shu picked up his form and asked Shen Huaixiu, “Are you signing up? If you sign up, I will too.”
“You’re going to follow my lead on this too?”
“Of course, you’re my Alpha!”
Shen Huaixiu marked long-distance running and high jump. Seeing this, Rong Shu checked the long jump and relay race, then smiled and said, “Let’s shine together at the sports meet.”
Shen Huaixiu took his form and said, “Eat your breakfast, I’ll hand it in.”
Rong Shu nodded and watched as Shen Huaixiu handed the forms to the athletic rep. The rep was stunned for a moment before flipping through the two forms. Looking surprised, he turned to his deskmate and whispered, “Xu Shu and Shen Huaixiu both signed up!”
His deskmate immediately leaned in, “So they’re done keeping a low profile, huh?”
“With the way they are, do you think low-key is even an option?”
*
After school that evening, Rong Shu and Shen Huaixiu went to the boxing gym. This time, Rong Shu’s mood was completely different from before—this time, he was coming as Shen Huaixiu’s Omega.
As they approached Shen Huaixiu’s older brother, Rong Shu felt a rare twinge of nervousness.
“Your second brother doesn’t know we’re dating yet, right?” Rong Shu asked anxiously as they left the school.
Shen Huaixiu smiled, slipping his hand into his pocket and taking Rong Shu’s hand with it. “He doesn’t know we’re officially together, but he knows I like you.”
Surprised, Rong Shu looked up quickly. “When did you tell him?”
“He figured it out the first time you came here.”
“Turns out you liked me that early on… If I had known, I would’ve confessed earlier! Hmph!”
Rong Shu felt a wave of regret thinking about all the time they had wasted. It seemed like such a missed opportunity—an incredible one!
When Shen Huaixiu’s older brother, Shen Huaiqiu, saw them walk in hand-in-hand, there was no need for further explanation; he understood everything instantly.
He hadn’t seen them for just a little over ten days and his younger brother had already gotten into a relationship. That was some impressive speed.
“Xu Shu is here! Have you two eaten yet?”
“Second brother, we grabbed something on the way.”
“Good,” Shen Huaiqiu smiled, welcoming them inside. “I’ll get you some fruit. You must be tired from the exams. How did they go?”
“He got fifth, I got sixth! We’re right next to each other on the rankings, second brother!”
Talking about it made Rong Shu’s joy overflow, his cat ears twitching with excitement.
“Aren’t you supposed to be getting the fruit?” Shen Huaixiu teased from the side.
Shen Huaiqiu gave him a brief look and said, “Come help me for a moment.”
Shen Huaixiu patted Rong Shu’s cat ears. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Rong Shu nodded, pretending not to understand the real reason Shen Huaiqiu called Shen Huaixiu away.
Once in the kitchen, Shen Huaiqiu closed the door and opened the fridge. “So, tell me, when did you finally make a move?”
“He confessed first,” Shen Huaixiu replied, watching his brother’s expression falter slightly, a grin tugging at his lips. “Last weekend, during our date. He confessed and I said yes.”
Seeing Shen Huaixiu’s smug look, Shen Huaiqiu instantly regretted calling him into the kitchen. Why had he even bothered? To get roasted?
“You let him confess first? How shameless.”
“Yeah, so I’m taking him to the farm.”
“What for? What are you planning?”
“You don’t need to know the details,” Shen Huaixiu said, winking at his frustrated brother. “He’s not an Alpha; he’s an Omega. But that doesn’t matter. I love him for who he is and I want to give him the best.”
“He’s an Omega? Then how could he be…” Shen Huaiqiu trailed off, realizing the answer. “He’s from the Rong family, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t fall for him because of that.”
“I know you don’t care about stuff like that, but man, what luck. Fine, as long as you’re happy. If you need anything, just ask.”
“I won’t hold back.”
“Good, now get out of here. Stop rubbing it in.”
Shen Huaiqiu muttered a curse, but deep down, he was happy for his little brother.
Later that evening, on their way back from the gym, Shen Huaixiu stopped at a parcel station to pick up a package. Rong Shu, watching him struggle a bit as he pulled out a heavy box, asked curiously, “What did you buy that’s so heavy?”
Shen Huaixiu glanced at him. “Your gift.”
Rong Shu’s eyes immediately lit up. “What’s in it? Why’s it so heavy?”
“Open it when we get back to the dorm,” Shen Huaixiu said, clearly in a good mood.
Seeing him like this made Rong Shu even more impatient to find out what the gift was.
Once back in the dorm, Rong Shu bounced with excitement and immediately grabbed a utility knife from his drawer to slice open the box.
As the box flaps opened and the contents inside were revealed, he was greeted by thick stacks of practice books. Rong Shu: “…”
This was not what he had been expecting at all!
“Shen Huaixiu, I thought we were dating!” Rong Shu threw the utility knife back onto the desk, turning to look at the Alpha standing beside him. “You actually want me to study? Is my charm not enough for you?”
Seeing the flustered boy, Shen Huaixiu’s lips curled into a smile. “I’ll do these with you. Strengthening our practice together—wouldn’t it be great if we got first place next time?”
Rong Shu rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re not going to get away with using that same trick twice. Now tell me—what do you want more: me or studying?”
He pouted and threw his arms around the Alpha’s neck, shaking him in protest.
“Can’t I have both?” Shen Huaixiu wrapped his arms around Rong Shu’s waist, gazing at him affectionately.
Rong Shu tried his best to resist being charmed by his good looks and the pounding of his own heart. “Nope, you can only pick one! It’s either studying without me or me without studying!”
“Oh, really?” Shen Huaixiu’s eyes darted toward the practice books on the desk. Rong Shu quickly reached out and pulled him back, panicking. “Think carefully before you answer!”
Shen Huaixiu chuckled, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. “Of course, I choose you.”
Only then did Rong Shu smile, satisfied. “Smart choice. Can I sleep with you tonight? I don’t feel like climbing up to the top bunk.”
“Won’t it be cramped?”
“Cramped is better!”
Shen Huaixiu’s heart melted at the light sparkling in Rong Shu’s eyes. He chuckled, patting Rong Shu on the head. “Okay, but let’s do some practice first.”
Rong Shu: “…”
—
With the intercollegiate sports meet approaching, excitement spread across the entire sophomore year. Two days before the event, Chen Jing turned to Rong Shu and asked, “Wanna go buy a new pair of shoes this weekend?”
Rong Shu shook his head. “Can’t. I’m going on a date with Shen Huaixiu.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Jing instantly pouted with envy. “…This guy, ditching friends for love.”
Rong Shu reached out and ruffled his hair. “Oh, come on, Xiao Jing. It’s my first time dating, and besides, he was the one who asked me out! How could I say no? If you’re jealous, you should hurry up and find someone for yourself!”
Chen Jing: “…”
“Is this supposed to be comforting or are you just showing off?” Chen Jing grumbled.
“Guess where Shen Huaixiu is taking me for our first date?” Rong Shu poked Chen Jing’s shoulder, clearly wanting to chat, but Chen Jing wasn’t in the mood.
Rong Shu thought for a long moment, his mind a bit anxious. What if Shen Huaixiu took him to the library to study?
Thinking about that box of practice books in their dorm, he figured Shen Huaixiu might very well do it.
But even though his heart resisted, he knew he’d still go along with it. He was just that spineless when it came to Shen Huaixiu.
After school on Friday, Teacher Zhang reminded them to wear their uniforms and gather at the sports hall on Monday for the event, then dismissed the class.
As Rong Shu and Shen Huaixiu left the teaching building together, Rong Shu asked, “So, where are we going later?”
“To my place.”
“Your place?” Rong Shu was completely taken aback. “You’re not… taking me to meet your parents, are you? I’m not ready! I didn’t even prepare a gift. I—”
“My Father is on a business trip and won’t be back. My Dad passed away when I was young. You’ve already met my second brother, and my eldest brother is quite busy. If you want to meet them, we’ll have to schedule another time.”
“Oh, I see.” Rong Shu relaxed a little, relieved it wasn’t about meeting the family yet. He cheekily poked Shen Huaixiu’s chest, grinning mischievously. “So what are we doing at your place? Has my Alpha finally figured things out?”
Shen Huaixiu grabbed his hand. “Just taking you home to show you around.”
He led Rong Shu to the car waiting outside. Once they got in, the driver turned around and greeted them, “Third Young Master.”
Rong Shu blinked, suddenly realizing that Shen Huaixiu probably wasn’t from the background he had imagined.
Shen Huaixiu pulled out some snacks from the car: “Have a bite first; we’ll eat dinner when we get home. It’s a long way.”
Rong Shu opened a small bread roll: “You should eat too.”
He broke the bread in half and held it up to Shen Huaixiu’s mouth.
After eating, Rong Shu felt a bit sleepy and leaned against Shen Huaixiu’s shoulder, dozing off. Shen Huaixiu wrapped an arm around him, gently pressing him onto his lap: “Sleep, I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
When Rong Shu opened his eyes again, it was just him and Shen Huaixiu in the car. Seeing him wake up, Shen Huaixiu handed him a bottle of water: “Awake?”
“Did we arrive?”
“Yeah, we’re here.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Rong Shu took a sip of water and looked out the window, only to see a vast estate and a towering Gothic castle. “Is this your home?”
“Yep, it’s one of the properties left to me by my Dad. My brother manages it for me now. Let’s go.”
With that, Shen Huaixiu opened the car door.
As Rong Shu stepped out, he said, “I think you need to reintroduce yourself.”
Shen Huaixiu smiled: “What misunderstandings do you have about me?”
“Seriously, with your background, why are you studying at the North Campus?”
Shen Huaixiu, who had intended to be honest, didn’t hide anything: “Have you heard of the Dragon Shen family? Our family raises younglings, and until they reach adulthood, they’re raised freely. The adults don’t interfere in any matters. You only take over the family business or pursue what you love after reaching adulthood, so I didn’t have any money before then. With a family background like ours, going to a place like the lower district isn’t unusual, right?”
The Dragon Shen family is a unique presence among aristocratic families. They have a significant background but remain mysterious, always hidden from view, making it hard to know where they are and what they do.
“Wow, that definitely exceeds my expectations.”
Shen Huaixiu smiled as he took Rong Shu’s hand: “Let’s go; dinner should be ready.”
As they pushed open the slightly ajar fence, Rong Shu heard a couple of bleats.
Before he could react, a dark shadow dashed toward them.
“What—”
“It’s Atuo.”
Before Shen Huaixiu finished speaking, a black alpaca ran into his arms.
Author’s note:
Rong Shu: Let go of my husband, you silly alpaca!
Moonlit: I forgot to inform you but I decided to use Dad/Daddy for the male that gave birth and Father for the male that impregnated the other. I forgot the proper term so I’m using that for now.
