Dating Wouldn't Be So Bad

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The sleet showed no signs of stopping.

With a Mushroom Egg tucked against his chest, Ye Nanxun lay on his side in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed, quietly watching the wind and snow lash chaotically against the windowpane.

After lunch, Yan Beiyou had asked him to stay awhile and get acquainted with the Mushroom Egg first. If anything unexpected happened, having an alpha nearby would make it easier to handle.

There was an empty guest room in the spacious apartment. Everything inside was brand-new, clean, and devoid of any sign of habitation.

Ye Nanxun guessed he might be the room's first guest.

Yan Beiyou was working in the study some distance away. He had told Ye Nanxun that if he needed anything, he could knock on the door.

Though the room was not his own, the moment he closed the door, the socially anxious omega let out a full breath of relief.

The room had its own bathroom, with unopened disposable toiletries laid out on the sink.

Ye Nanxun brushed his teeth, washed his face, then lay on the bed with the egg in his arms and slept for a while.

Fifteen minutes earlier, a call from his mother had woken him from a sweet dream.

Chen Mingzhu worried that Ye Nanxun, who had gone out, might be stranded in the bad weather. Ye Nanxun told her that he was at a friend's house and would head home after dinner, once the weather improved.

In truth, even by the time dinner was over that evening, the weather showed no sign of clearing.

As usual, Yan Beiyou cleaned up the dishes himself. But he had not made dinner today; when Ye Nanxun came out of his room, the delivery robot had yet to leave.

While they ate, neither of them spoke much. When they did, it was only to discuss the Mushroom Egg.

Every so often, Ye Nanxun glanced toward the window to see whether the sleet had shown any sign of stopping.

Even after dinner, the weather outside remained dreadful.

Yan Beiyou set the dishes on the kitchen island, dried his hands, and strode over. "Put the Mushroom Egg and the necklace on. I'll take you home."

The man first retrieved the coat and scarf hanging on the hook and handed them to Ye Nanxun before putting on his own coat.

After thanking him, Ye Nanxun leaned on his cane and returned to the garage entrance where they had arrived. He changed into his shoes while seated in his wheelchair, then followed Yan Beiyou onto the hovercar.

The hovercar passed through the downtown forest of skyscrapers before landing at the sparsely populated suburban estate.

When the cabin door opened, Ye Nanxun thought the biting wind and damp rain would swallow him whole.

A tall, broad figure stood before him. There was no wind, no snow; all around them remained quiet and peaceful.

Holding an umbrella, Yan Beiyou used his powerful pheromones to create a space around them untouched by wind and snow. With one hand, the alpha pushed Ye Nanxun's wheelchair all the way to the villa entrance.

The house was brightly lit. Chen Mingzhu and Ye Xiangsong, waiting behind the door, saw the handsome unfamiliar alpha behind Ye Nanxun.

Chen Mingzhu warmly invited him in. "Thank you for bringing Xiaoxun home. Come in and have a cup of tea."

Yan Beiyou smiled politely and declined with gentle tact, then left alone beneath his umbrella.

From inside the house, Ye Nanxun watched Yan Beiyou's departing figure.

The peaceful space that had surrounded the alpha earlier was gone. A few cold raindrops fell onto his overcoat.

As he walked back to the hovercar, Yan Beiyou turned and waved goodbye.

Ye Nanxun immediately raised his hand. "Goodbye."

His voice was not loud. He did not know whether Yan Beiyou had heard him.

After the front door closed, his parents circled around the subject, brimming with curiosity about that handsome unfamiliar alpha.

Knowing what his parents were thinking, Ye Nanxun said helplessly, "He's just an ordinary friend. He only brought me home because the weather was bad."

As he went upstairs, he heard his mother murmur softly behind him, "He's handsome and has such a nice bearing. It wouldn't be bad for Xiaoxun to try making more friends once in a while. Dating wouldn't be so bad either."

Ye Nanxun did not turn back. He went straight to his bedroom.

Once the door was shut, the entire room became his world.

Safe, warm, hidden.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Mushroom Egg, along with a necklace carrying an alpha's pheromones.

The New Year drew closer and closer.

The injury to Ye Nanxun's ankle had healed. He no longer needed a wheelchair or a cane.

He made several trips to the school.

The students were busy preparing for final exams, looking forward to the brief New Year holiday ahead.

He now had his own laboratory and office and was expected to begin work officially after the New Year.

Wearing a knitted cap and a scarf that covered most of his face, the tall, elegant young omega walked down the empty corridor of the experimental building.

A burst of hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

"Professor Ye, the department is holding a New Year dinner. Come too!"

Ye Nanxun stopped walking. "Sorry, I have plans that day."

A trace of regret flashed over the visitor's face, but he quickly broke into a bright smile. "All right, then. Happy New Year in advance, Professor Ye."

The corners of Ye Nanxun's lips lifted beneath his scarf. "You too. Happy New Year."

When he returned home, Ye Nanxun lowered his head and stepped into his soft fluffy slippers, only to hear his mother's concerned voice.

"Xiaoxun, does the school have any activities for the New Year? If it's just going out for a meal, you could give it a try." Not wanting her son to feel pressured, Chen Mingzhu added, "But it's fine if you don't want to go."

Ye Nanxun took off his knitted cap. A few strands of hair atop his head had fallen loose, and he raised a hand to smooth them down. "Mom, I'm not going to school that day. I've arranged to have dinner with a friend."

Chen Mingzhu's eyes lit up, and she smiled, revealing a row of white teeth. "Have fun."

The television in the living room was broadcasting the news. Having developed the habit of watching more news lately, Ye Nanxun instinctively listened to the report.

[The New Year's Eve gala will be held tomorrow at eight p.m. at the Dream Star Imperial Palace. The Star Lord has confirmed his attendance...]

His steps paused for a moment. Ye Nanxun removed the black-and-gray scarf around his neck, revealing an extremely thin silver chain.

He ran upstairs, hung up his scarf and coat.

Holding the Mushroom Egg in one hand, he took out his phone with the other and opened his chat with Yan Beiyou.

Their previous conversation had been yesterday.

Yan Beiyou: The earrings are done. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?

Little Mushroom: No.

Yan Beiyou: It's not convenient for me to go out lately. Come to the Imperial Palace on New Year's Eve. I'll have someone pick you up.

Little Mushroom: Okay.

On the morning of the last day of the year.

Ye Nanxun stared at the few clothes in his wardrobe, uncertain what to wear. He pressed his lips together, then ultimately chose an outfit he usually wore.

After lunch, the estate gate's doorbell rang through the house.

Before long, a black hovercar pulled up in front of the villa.

The refined, clear-featured alpha gave Ye Nanxun a gentle smile. "Hello, Mr. Ye. I'm Song Ren. Mr. Yan asked me to pick you up."

Song Ren's name flashed through Ye Nanxun's mind.

One of Yan Beiyou's closest friends, and the finest pheromone specialist in the star system.

"Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Song."