You Feed Me

"Then we need to study even harder. Otherwise, we won't even be in the mood to have fun when we go out!" Zhou Zhou stretched lazily.

Xiao Xu nodded. He didn't want to fail a class, much less be looked down on by Zhou Zhou.

Shen Yanlang gave a quiet hum and glanced at Duan Xu. There was still some undisguised excitement in his eyes, as if he wished they could set off to climb the mountain tomorrow.

If we want to watch the sunrise, we'll have to camp on the mountain. One tent for two people—just right.

Duan Xu, who had been about to go to the balcony to wash up: "..."

*

After deciding to go mountain climbing, they studied even more seriously, going to the library on schedule throughout the three-day holiday.

Once the holiday was over, final exams finally arrived.

There were not many exam subjects in freshman year, and some subjects had already been tested before New Year's Day. The rest were finished within a week.

After Duan Xu finished his exams, he finally heard from his parents.

He was standing on the balcony at the moment. He was the only one in the dorm; the other three were either in the library or taking exams. He had finished first.

"Mom, did you and Dad finally come out of the wilderness?"

"That's not important. What's important is, are you really about to differentiate?" Qiu Shan asked over the phone.

Duan Xu gave a quiet hum. "I got checked at the hospital, and... when I went last time, the doctor said I should finish differentiating in another half month."

Every half month, Shen Yanlang accompanied Duan Xu to the hospital for a checkup, just in case anything went wrong.

Qiu Shan felt deeply guilty after hearing that. "Xuxu, you've had it hard. Your father and I will be back soon. Then we can go to the hospital with you."

"Mm." Duan Xu answered obediently. "It's actually nothing. It doesn't feel particularly different."

"You haven't finished differentiating yet. Once your heat comes, you'll know how intense it is." Duan Xu's parents were both betas. Though they could not personally relate, they had seen plenty of examples around them.

Duan Xu: "..."

His mother was seriously talking about heats, and he felt a little embarrassed.

Duan Xu gave a light cough and changed the subject. "I've already finished my exams, but I made plans with my classmates to go mountain climbing. I might be a few days late getting home."

"What day exactly?" Qiu Shan asked.

Duan Xu calculated the dates. "Probably around the fifteenth or sixteenth."

Xue Jingshu was a junior and had the most classes and exams. He would not finish until the thirteenth.

"Alright, Mom understands. We'll probably be back around then too," Qiu Shan said with a smile.

Duan Xu responded with several hums. "Then take care of yourselves while you're out there, and stay safe too."

"We will. You too."

After hanging up, Duan Xu smiled with pursed lips. Great, his parents were coming back. Once he returned home after climbing the mountain, he would be able to see them.

There were still a few days before they set off, so Duan Xu decided to take a part-time job. He could earn back the money they would spend on this mountain trip.

His family was actually quite well-off. His father was a photographer, his mother was a painter, and they lived in a small villa. His parents also gave him plenty of spending money.

He only took part-time jobs because he wanted to train himself and earn his own money to spend.

When Zhou Zhou and the others finished their exams and discussed how to spend the next few days, they heard that Duan Xu was taking a part-time job. After talking it over, they decided to do the same.

Thus, all four dormmates took part-time jobs during the days Xue Jingshu was still taking exams.

On the afternoon of the thirteenth, Xue Jingshu finally finished. He went home first, drove his car over, and picked up Du Shen and Ye Xinyu on the way.

Shen Yanlang had driven his family's car over that morning.

There were eight of them, exactly four people per car.

At the roadside outside the school gates, Xue Jingshu arrived with Du Shen and Ye Xinyu. The three got out, greeted Shen Yanlang's group, and introduced themselves to one another.

"Not bad, Jing-ge!" Du Shen wore a red casual outfit. When his fierce-looking face broke into a smile, he instantly looked like a sunny college boy.

Xue Jingshu shook Han Xi's hand and smiled faintly, then pushed up his glasses. "A little more capable than Little Yan."

Shen Yanlang: "..."

Everyone could not help but chuckle.

Ye Xinyu blinked, her gaze moving back and forth between Shen Yanlang and Duan Xu. She deliberately teased, "Cousin, hurry up. I'm waiting to call him sister-in-law!"

Duan Xu: "..."

Could they leave him a way out?

Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu hid off to the side and snickered.

Seeing Duan Xu's embarrassment, Shen Yanlang said with a dark expression, "Don't talk nonsense."

Ye Xinyu pursed her lips and hooked her arm through Du Shen's, swaying it. "He's bullying me. Aren't you going to do anything?"

Du Shen immediately said softly, "I will, I will. I'll deal with it right away."

"Little Yan..." Du Shen said in an earnest tone, "Xiaoyu is your cousin. How can you be so fierce with her?"

Shen Yanlang raised his brows and gave a soft snort. "You know I'm her cousin?"

"Uh..."

"Call me cousin."

Du Shen: "Cousin."

Ye Xinyu: "..."

Duan Xu could not help curling his lips as he watched them. They were quite amusing, but...

He had noticed at the amusement park last time that Du Shen liked Ye Xinyu. They probably had not been together then, but now they were.

Ah, everyone around him was with the person they liked. What about him?

Duan Xu was lost in thought when Shen Yanlang grabbed his wrist. "Sit in the passenger seat. Keep me company."

"Oh, okay." Duan Xu did not resist and obediently went to the passenger seat. Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu sat in the back.

The other car had just the four of them, and they set the navigation directly to the hotel.

The mountain they were going to climb was called Azure Cauldron Mountain. It was in another city, four hours away by car. It would probably be seven or eight in the evening by the time they arrived.

They had bought snacks in advance, chatting as they ate.

Shen Yanlang was driving and could not conveniently eat, so he said, "Xuxu, I want something to eat. Feed me."

Duan Xu's heart stirred, and he asked shyly, "What do you want?"

"White Rabbit milk candy." Shen Yanlang considered it for a moment before answering.

If Xuxu keeps feeding me, he might get distracted. I'll just indulge myself a little.

Duan Xu's lashes trembled slightly. He took a candy, unwrapped it, and held it to Shen Yanlang's lips.

Shen Yanlang kept his focus on the road and lowered his head slightly, taking the candy into his mouth in one bite. But he moved a little too broadly and caught Duan Xu's finger in his mouth as well.

Duan Xu jerked his hand back as if he had been burned, his ears turning completely red.

I kissed his hand. If I'd been a little slower, I could've licked it too.

Was Shen Yanlang even human? How could he be such a rogue?

Duan Xu turned away from him and stared at the scenery flashing past outside the window, secretly wiping his finger where Shen Yanlang could not see.

Shen Yanlang spared a glance at Duan Xu and smiled silently.

His ears are red again.

Duan Xu: "..."

Shen Yanlang was so annoying!

In the back seat, Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu watched their interaction, exchanged a silent look, and pretended not to notice.

But Xiao Xu copied him. He took a potato chip and held it to Zhou Zhou's lips. "Eat... want some?"

Zhou Zhou glanced at him, narrowed his eyes in a smile, and lowered his head to eat it. But the chip was large, so their mouths and hands could not touch.

Xiao Xu felt a little disappointed, but he did not lose heart. He opened a bag of Miaoduomi, took out a short, thin shrimp stick, and held it over. "Do you want this one?"