You Feed Me

"Then we'll have 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 course, much less be looked down on by Zhou Zhou.

Shen Yanlang gave a quiet hum and glanced at Duan Xu. The excitement in his eyes had yet to fade, as if he wished they could set off to climb the mountain tomorrow.

[To watch the sunrise, they'll have to camp on the mountain. Two people per tent—just right.]

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

After deciding to go mountain climbing, they studied even more diligently, heading 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 their freshman year, and some had already been tested before New Year's Day. The rest were finished within a week.

After finishing his exams, Duan Xu finally received news from his parents.

He was standing on the balcony at the moment. He was the only one in the dorm, while the other three were either at the library or taking exams. He had been the first to finish.

"Mom, you finally came out of the middle of nowhere?"

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

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

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

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

"Mm." Duan Xu responded obediently. "Actually, it's nothing much. It doesn't feel particularly different."

"You haven't finished differentiating yet. You'll know how serious it is once you go into heat." 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 heat periods, 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, so I might get home a few days late."

"What day exactly?" Qiu Shan asked.

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

Xue Jingshu was a junior with the most classes and the most 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 answered with a couple of hums. "Then take good care of yourselves out there, and stay safe too."

"I know. 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 their departure, so Duan Xu decided to take on a part-time job. It would be enough to earn back the money he would spend on this 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 took part-time jobs only because he wanted to train himself and earn money to spend on his own.

When Zhou Zhou and the others finished their exams and discussed what to do over 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, the four dormmates all went off to work part-time during the days Xue Jingshu was still taking exams.

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

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

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

By 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.

"Brother Jing, not bad!" Du Shen wore a red casual outfit. When his fierce-looking face broke into a smile, he instantly looked like a sunny young man.

Xue Jingshu shook Han Xi's hand with a faint smile and pushed up his glasses. "A little better than Xiao Yan."

Shen Yanlang: "..."

Everyone could not help laughing softly at that.

Ye Xinyu blinked, her gaze shifting back and forth between Shen Yanlang and Duan Xu. She deliberately teased, "Cousin, hurry up already. 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, snickering.

Seeing Duan Xu's embarrassment, Shen Yanlang said sternly, "Don't talk nonsense."

Ye Xinyu pouted, looping her arm through Du Shen's and giving it a shake. "He's bullying me. Aren't you going to do something?"

Du Shen immediately said in a soft voice, "I will, I will. I'll deal with him right away."

"Xiao Yan..." Du Shen said earnestly, "Xiaoyu is your cousin. How can you be so harsh with her?"

Shen Yanlang raised his brows and gave a cold snort. "You know I'm her older brother too?"

"Uh..."

"Call me Brother."

Du Shen: "Brother."

Ye Xinyu: "..."

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

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

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 front passenger seat. Keep me company."

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

The other four rode in Xue Jingshu's car and used the navigation to head straight for the hotel.

The mountain they were climbing was called Azure Cauldron Mountain. It was in another city, four hours away by car. By the time they got there, it would probably be seven or eight in the evening.

They had bought snacks in advance, eating and chatting as they traveled.

Shen Yanlang was driving, so it was inconvenient for him. He said, "Xuxu, I want something to eat. Feed me."

Duan Xu's heart fluttered. Embarrassed, he asked, "What do you want?"

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

[Making Xuxu feed me the whole time might distract him. I should just indulge myself a little.]

Duan Xu's lashes trembled lightly. He picked up a milk candy, unwrapped it, and held it to Shen Yanlang's lips.

Shen Yanlang kept his eyes on the road and lowered his head slightly, taking the candy into his mouth in one bite. But his movement was a little too big, and he took Duan Xu's finger into his mouth as well.

Duan Xu jerked his hand back as if burned, his ears instantly turning bright 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, refusing to look at him. He stared at the scenery flashing past the window and secretly wiped his finger where Shen Yanlang could not see.

Shen Yanlang took a moment to 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 little exchange. They silently looked at each other, then pretended not to notice.

But Xiao Xu copied them. He picked up a potato chip and held it to Zhou Zhou's mouth. "E-Eat it?"

Zhou Zhou glanced at him, narrowed his eyes in a smile, and lowered his head to eat it. But the chip was so large that 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 out. "How about this one?"