Shura Field

Shen Yanlang went all the way to the library, searching floor by floor until he finally found Duan Xu in a window-side corner on the third floor. Tang Che was sitting beside Duan Xu.

There were not many people in the library at this hour. Only Duan Xu and Tang Che occupied the corner table. They sat on the same side, occasionally turning toward each other to say something. Both wore smiles, looking exceptionally harmonious together.

Shen Yanlang stood beside the bookshelves, his expression dark and his gaze deep. He stared fixedly at Duan Xu, his lowered hand clenched into a fist in restraint, veins standing out on the back of it.

Only after watching for a moment did he step over.

There was no one in this area, so the presence of an intruder was easy to notice.

Tang Che and Duan Xu looked up at the same time. Seeing Shen Yanlang, they wore different expressions.

Tang Che merely frowned slightly, clearly displeased by Shen Yanlang's arrival. Duan Xu, meanwhile, looked nervous and guilty. After just one glance, he lowered his head evasively.

Shen Yanlang gave a silent, cold laugh at the sight. Walking up to them, he tapped the table, his tone no different from usual. "Xuxu, are you busy right now?"

Duan Xu's heart tightened. He looked up at Shen Yanlang, wanting to hear what he wanted from him, but Shen Yanlang's mind was completely blank at the moment. He could not hear anything.

Before Duan Xu could answer, Tang Che spoke first. "We're doing a group assignment. It has to be submitted before ten tonight."

Shen Yanlang ignored Tang Che and stared at Duan Xu instead. "Is that so?"

"Mm." Duan Xu nodded, pressing his lips together. "What do you need?"

"Nothing urgent." Shen Yanlang smiled considerately, though no matter how one looked at it, his smile was a little chilling. "I'll wait for you."

With that, Shen Yanlang sat down across from Duan Xu and placed his book on the table. It was clear that he intended to wait until Duan Xu had finished so they could leave together.

Tang Che had not expected Shen Yanlang to be so shameless. Looking at Duan Xu beside him, who was obviously flustered and at a loss, Tang Che began to feel uneasy.

Something must have happened between them. Or perhaps Shen Yanlang had already confessed?

"Xuxu, then let's continue." Tang Che kept an eye on Shen Yanlang from the corner of his eye as he spoke.

Shen Yanlang paused as he turned a page, then lifted his deep gaze toward Tang Che. His eyes clearly conveyed warning and displeasure.

Don't call him Xuxu!

Duan Xu quietly drew a breath, feeling as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

He knew Tang Che had feelings for him too, but who could have expected them to end up in the same group? He had planned to finish early and part ways early, so Tang Che would not misunderstand.

Yet Shen Yanlang had come, and Tang Che had even called him "Xuxu." Was he not supposed to live anymore?

Tang Che pretended not to notice and looked only at Duan Xu.

So Shen Yanlang looked over as well.

Calling him so intimately, and he didn't even object. Hmph!

Duan Xu: "..."

No, let me explain!

This was the first time Tang Che had called him that. Before this, he had always called him by his name directly!

"Then, then let's hurry up and finish." Duan Xu wanted to run away right now, but things had already reached this point. If he did not finish the group assignment, he would be letting himself down too much.

Tang Che responded, but he did not actually want to finish quickly.

Duan Xu took a deep breath, forcing himself to ignore Shen Yanlang and focus on the group assignment. Before long, he became absorbed in it.

Fortunately, the assignment was not difficult. Once they finished it, all that remained was to put together the PPT.

Over an hour later, the two finally finished and sent it to the class group chat.

"Finished?" Shen Yanlang asked knowingly as he casually closed his book.

The relief Duan Xu had felt after finishing his work immediately tightened again. "Mm."

"Xuxu, it's just about dinner time. Want to go eat together?" Tang Che asked as he shut down his computer.

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yanlang said too, "Xuxu, let's go eat together?"

Duan Xu: "..."

If I said I didn't want to go with either of you, would I get beaten up?

Tang Che and Shen Yanlang exchanged a look, sparks concealed between them, before both turning their gazes on Duan Xu.

Under the pressure of their stares, Duan Xu gave a dry laugh. "Then, then let's eat together."

Tang Che: "..."

Shen Yanlang: "..."

You can hide for a while, but not forever!

Duan Xu lowered his eyes. The hand reaching for his laptop bag trembled slightly, his heart pounding.

He knew avoidance was not a long-term solution, but only a week had passed before Shen Yanlang came looking for him. He felt like he was done for tonight.

The three got up to leave. Shen Yanlang stood there waiting for Duan Xu to walk to his side, then reached out and took his laptop bag.

Duan Xu had not expected Shen Yanlang to carry it for him. By the time he reacted, the laptop bag was already in Shen Yanlang's hand. "I can carry it myself."

Shen Yanlang switched it to his other hand, avoiding Duan Xu's reaching hand. "I'll carry it for you."

His tone was forceful and brooked no argument.

Duan Xu immediately gave in. "Thank you."

Tang Che watched from ahead, silently cursing his own oversight. It was already too late to make up for it, so he could only glare helplessly.

The three left the library together. Tang Che asked, "Are we eating off campus, or..."

"Let's go to the cafeteria." During the time it took to walk downstairs, Duan Xu had mentally prepared himself. Better to get it over with sooner rather than later. The cafeteria would be fastest.

Naturally, Shen Yanlang had no objection. He was even quite pleased.

Perfect. The sooner we finish eating, the sooner we can go back to the dorm.

Duan Xu: "..."

Even if Tang Che did not particularly want to, he did not go against Duan Xu's wishes. "Then let's go."

The three headed to the cafeteria together. On Friday night, only half the service windows were open, most of them serving noodle dishes.

Duan Xu ordered a bowl of zhajiang noodles. Shen Yanlang and Tang Che ordered the same.

The three sat at the dining table and ate in silence. No one spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

Other people who came to the cafeteria noticed them and could not help casting curious glances their way.

At one table sat three female betas. When they saw them, they could not help whispering excitedly.

"The campus heartthrob and his roommate! They really are inseparable!"

"Who's that beside him?"

"I don't know!"

"They haven't seemed to say anything the whole time. Isn't that weird?"

"Ah, I get it!"

"What do you get?"

"Look, even though they aren't talking, that guy and the campus heartthrob keep glancing at the roommate from time to time. Only the roommate has been burying his head in his food."

"So I reasonably conclude that the campus heartthrob and that guy are romantic rivals!"

"Gasp—got it. It's a shura field!"

They spoke quietly, so Duan Xu could not hear them. If he could have, he would probably have been frightened by their sharp intuition.

Soon, they finished dinner and walked out of the cafeteria. Tang Che did not want Duan Xu to return to the dorm so early. Once he did, he and Shen Yanlang would have the entire evening to spend together.

Besides, Shen Yanlang had come to find Duan Xu today, and he looked like he had something important to say. Tang Che was afraid that if he did not stop it, he would lose his chance.

"Xuxu, do you want to take a walk around the track? It'll help us digest." Tang Che invited him gently.

Shen Yanlang shot him a sidelong glance, then lifted an arm and draped it over Duan Xu's shoulder. Unhurriedly, he said, "Xuxu, if you're not busy, I need to talk to you."