You Can't

A flicker of surprise passed through Duan Xu's eyes as he obediently greeted, "Hello, Senior."

Tut!

Duan Xu looked up in confusion. Shen Yanlang happened to be looking at him too, and the two stared at each other without speaking.

Shen Yanlang's peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly. From now on, make sure you call me Senior too.

Duan Xu: "???"

What was wrong with him?

Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu were standing nearby. Seeing this, they greeted him as well, and Zhou Zhou added, "The two of us are also Yan-ge's roommates."

Xue Jingshu first glanced at Shen Yanlang, then smilingly greeted them and introduced Han Xi.

Han Xi truly lived up to the title of icy beauty. He merely nodded at the few of them, yet no one found him rude.

"President, I thought you weren't coming!" Huang Yonghe walked over. "Didn't expect you to come after all."

"I happened to want to come out and relax." Xue Jingshu replied with a smile.

Among the crowd, both betas and omegas were excited.

"The Student Council president came too? What special day is it today?"

"The president and the campus heartthrob seem pretty familiar. Did they know each other before?"

"I heard both their families are quite well-off. They probably knew each other through their families, right?"

"They're both top-tier alphas! Sisters, anyone interested should go for it!"

"There's an omega over there too. He looks incredible as well!"

While they chatted, Duan Xu secretly observed Han Xi. Han Xi was about the same height as him, standing more than half a head shorter beside Xue Jingshu. He seemed unconcerned with what the people around him were saying, standing there like a snow lotus untouched by the world.

Ever since they had arrived, aside from when they greeted each other, Han Xi had not looked at Shen Yanlang even once. Duan Xu found it strange.

Could it be that confession last time had not been a confession? Or was he playing hard to get?

No, no, no. Han Xi was genuinely aloof. He probably would not play hard to get.

Why are you constantly sneaking looks at Han Xi?

Does he like Han Xi?

Duan Xu sucked in a breath and hurriedly shifted his furtive gaze away. Afraid Shen Yanlang would see him as a romantic rival, he turned to ask Yu Qingqing beside him, "Senior Yu, when are we leaving?"

Yu Qingqing checked the time, then looked over the little sign-in notebook. She smiled at Duan Xu. "We can leave now."

With that, she gave Huang Yonghe a pat. "Everyone's here. We can set off."

"Oh, okay." After Huang Yonghe greeted Xue Jingshu, he turned around and clapped his hands at the crowd. "Everyone, listen up. I sent the route to the group chat, so follow that. If you really don't know the way, follow me. You can use navigation too."

"I'll ride at the front, and the vice president will ride at the back. No need to worry!"

Everyone said they had no problem with that, and the group of over forty people set off one after another.

Zhou Zhou was excited and had already ridden off, so Xiao Xu followed him.

Once most people had left, Xue Jingshu asked Han Xi beside him, "Shall we go?"

"Mm." Han Xi responded and got on his bike, following the main group.

Xue Jingshu swung his long leg over his bike and turned back to Shen Yanlang. "We're heading out."

Shen Yanlang nodded. He and Duan Xu were at the very back, with Vice President Zhu Lin and another senior behind them.

Shen Yanlang rode alongside Duan Xu and reminded him, "If you feel uncomfortable, tell me. We're not in a hurry."

"Got it, got it." Duan Xu nodded perfunctorily without looking at Shen Yanlang, focusing on the road ahead so he would not hear any more thoughts that left him speechless.

Shen Yanlang's gaze darkened slightly at that, but he said nothing. Still, part of his attention remained on Duan Xu the entire time.

The weather was quite nice today. Though there was some sun, it was not scorching like summer. A breeze blew by, bringing an especially refreshing coolness.

There were quite a few cars on the road, but before long they entered a dedicated cycling greenway. Not only did they no longer need to worry about traffic, they could also slow down and enjoy the scenery along the way.

Facing the wind, Duan Xu lifted one hand and grasped at the air. "Woohoo~ This feels so good!"

Shen Yanlang rode half a bike length behind him. Watching Duan Xu, he could not help curling his lips. He was too cute!

"Be careful," Shen Yanlang reminded him.

Without turning around, Duan Xu replied, "I know!"

Before long, Duan Xu picked up speed, and Shen Yanlang accelerated to keep up with him.

Half an hour later, Duan Xu's earlier excitement had faded. He had not ridden a bicycle in a long time, and after riding for so long, his legs were sore and his butt hurt.

"I want to rest for a bit. Is that okay?" Duan Xu finally spared Shen Yanlang a glance over his shoulder.

Shen Yanlang had been worried that Duan Xu might be tired. "Xiao Xu and the others are up ahead. There are benches there too, so we can rest there for a while."

Xiao Xu and the others were indeed up ahead. Xue Jingshu and Han Xi were there as well.

"Okay." Duan Xu turned back and continued pedaling forward.

His stamina isn't very good. It needs improvement.

Duan Xu: "..."

He knew he should not look at Shen Yanlang. Whenever he heard the man's thoughts, all he felt was speechless.

This greenway was very long and fairly straight. Xiao Xu and the others looked close, but it still took them a minute or two of cycling to reach them.

"Why are you guys so slow?" Zhou Zhou stood beside Xiao Xu with a bottle of water in hand.

Xiao Xu tipped his head back and took a sip, watching as they parked their bikes to the side. "We've been resting for over ten minutes already."

Xue Jingshu and Han Xi had been sitting on a bench three meters ahead. Upon seeing Shen Yanlang, they walked over.

Xue Jingshu gave a mocking smile and said to Shen Yanlang, "Shen Yanlang, you can't handle it."

"Pfft, hahaha..."

As soon as he shouted that, everyone who heard burst out laughing.

Shen Yanlang's expression darkened. Seeing Duan Xu laughing too, he glared at Xue Jingshu before telling Duan Xu, "Don't listen to him. I can handle it just fine."

There was still laughter in Duan Xu's eyes. "Mm-hm, mm-hm, you can handle it just fine."

Shen Yanlang: "..."

Hmph! One day, you'll know that I can handle it just fine!

Duan Xu: "???"

What did that have to do with me? How ridiculous!

Xue Jingshu raised his brows slightly at this, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them. Then he smiled and pulled Han Xi aside to sit down and rest.

"Drink some water." Shen Yanlang took a bottle of water from his backpack and handed it to Duan Xu. Duan Xu accepted it. "Thanks."

Duan Xu twisted open the cap and gulped down nearly half the bottle. His small Adam's apple bobbed up and down with every swallow.

Shen Yanlang stared at that bobbing Adam's apple, his gaze darkening. He had not felt thirsty before, but now his mouth was dry and parched.

I really want to lick it.

Huh? Lick what?

After finishing the water, Duan Xu looked at Shen Yanlang in confusion, but Shen Yanlang had already withdrawn that hungry gaze.

"Give me the water." Shen Yanlang's voice seemed a few shades lower than before.

Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang had brought only one backpack, which Shen Yanlang carried. Once Duan Xu finished drinking, he was supposed to give the bottle back to Shen Yanlang to carry.

Yet to Duan Xu's surprise, Shen Yanlang did not put the bottle into the backpack after taking it. Instead, he twisted the cap open and directly tipped his head back to drink from the mouth of the bottle.

Duan Xu: "!!!"

His light-brown almond eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Y-you... How could you... Isn't there another bottle in the bag?"

Wasn't this... this... an indirect kiss?

At the thought, heat rushed to Duan Xu's cheeks, and he guiltily glanced in Han Xi's direction.