No Talking

Passing through the woods and walking a bit further down, the view suddenly opened up. The surroundings were no longer trees, but a patch of grass.

This area also seemed to be the summit, with the grass covering a slope. Looking further into the distance revealed other mountains, though the heavy mist made the peaks loom in and out of sight.

"Wow—" Duan Xu gasped. "This mist looks just like a wonderland."

Shen Yanlang stared at Duan Xu's face and smiled. "Yeah, it really does."

[Then Xuxu must be a little fairy boy?]

[Mhm... fair-skinned, clean, and so cute. More like a little angel.]

Duan Xu: "..."

If he was a little angel, then Shen Yanlang was a grand archfiend!

No! A lecher! A massive lecher!

"Want to take a picture?" Shen Yanlang asked with a placid expression.

Duan Xu nodded decisively, wanting to reach for his phone with his right hand, only to realize the moment he lifted it that his hand was being held.

Shen Yanlang did not let go, taking out his own phone instead. "I'll take it."

Duan Xu didn't say anything. Shen Yanlang took out his phone, snapped a picture of the scenery first, and then flipped the camera to frame himself and Duan Xu. "Take one together?"

[Save it to the album after taking it, so I can take it out and look at it later.]

Because of those words, Duan Xu felt a sweetness bloom in his chest. Afraid his gaze would be too obvious, he didn't dare look at him, giving a soft, "Okay."

When looking at the camera, he even closed his eyes briefly to keep his feelings from being discovered.

Shen Yanlang held up the phone, using the mist-filled grassland as a background. The frame captured the two of them, and then they simultaneously curved the corners of their mouths into a smile.

With a snap, the scene of this exact moment was recorded and kept inside the phone.

After taking the photo, the two continued walking forward and discovered that after climbing a flight of stairs, they were on the path back down the mountain. Shen Yanlang then said, "Let's head back."

"Mhm." Duan Xu nodded, turning to leave, but was caught by Shen Yanlang.

Duan Xu looked back at him. "Aren't we leaving?"

"I want to spend some time alone with you." Shen Yanlang's voice was gentle, his gaze focused.

[Such a good opportunity shouldn't be wasted.]

Duan Xu blinked his eyes, too shy to look at him, and stared at the grass beside him without speaking.

The two of them stood hand in hand, face to face. One was staring blankly at the grass, while the other gazed affectionately at the person across from him.

Mist wrapped around the two figures. Seen from a distance, their silhouettes flickered in and out of view.

A moment later, Shen Yanlang couldn't help pinching the hand he was holding and stepped half a step closer. "Xuxu."

[This setting and mood call for a kiss.]

Duan Xu's heart tightened, his hand involuntarily gripping harder. He raised his gaze, about to say something, when his lips were sealed by Shen Yanlang closing in.

Duan Xu: "!!!"

He was kissed! He was kissed again!

How could Shen Yanlang just kiss whenever he felt like it this time!

Duan Xu's clear, almond-shaped eyes widened as he stared straight at Shen Yanlang. Shen Yanlang also kept his eyes open, looking at him with affection and a hint of probing.

Duan Xu couldn't help blinking. It was the first time he had looked at Shen Yanlang from such a close distance. His eyelashes were also very long, and his pupils weren't the pure black he had imagined, but carried a faint brown hue.

This time, Shen Yanlang lingered on Duan Xu's lips for a long time. His other hand even seized the opportunity to wrap around Duan Xu's waist, pressing him into his arms.

[He didn't push me away this time either, so I...]

Thoughts and actions happened in a single instant. Duan Xu felt his lips get licked, and only then did he abruptly realize what Shen Yanlang wanted to do.

His breath hitched, and he gave Shen Yanlang a push, though he didn't use much force.

Shen Yanlang was still pushed back by him—or rather, the moment he felt Duan Xu's movement, he smoothly released Duan Xu, though he kept holding his hand.

"Xuxu," Shen Yanlang said in a low voice. "You didn't push me away either time. Still not going to admit it?"

[Lately I feel like Xuxu's attitude toward me has changed. It should be enough.]

[I'm going to confess again.]

Hearing this, Duan Xu reacted with lightning speed to cover Shen Yanlang's mouth, glaring at him as he said, "You're not allowed to speak!"

Shen Yanlang was stunned. "Hm?"

"You're not allowed to speak until we get back!" Duan Xu was still glaring at him, wearing an expression that implied he wouldn't let go unless Shen Yanlang agreed.

Shen Yanlang was extremely surprised, raising an eyebrow at him. Then, under Duan Xu's glare, he slowly extended the tip of his tongue.

Duan Xu: "!!!"

Duan Xu instinctively pulled his hand back, and Shen Yanlang opened his mouth to say, "I—Mmph..."

He had barely uttered a single word before his mouth was covered by Duan Xu again.

Shen Yanlang: "..."

He wanted to laugh inwardly. What is he doing? He won't even let me confess?

Or... is he intentionally using this as an excuse to get close to me?

Duan Xu: "???"

Stop talking nonsense! I just don't want you to confess right now!

Duan Xu had already planned it out. When he completely underwent his omega differentiation—right after the Chinese New Year before the semester started—Shen Yanlang would come find him, and then he would solemnly confess to Shen Yanlang in return.

That way, with one confession from each of them, it wouldn't let down Shen Yanlang's feelings for him. How wonderful!

Shen Yanlang licked his hand again. This time Duan Xu didn't move, just glaring at him. "You nod and I'll let go."

Shen Yanlang couldn't figure out what Duan Xu was up to, but seeing this stance, he had no choice but to nod.

Seeing him nod, Duan Xu released his hand. It was just that his hand had been licked twice and was wet, so he unceremoniously wiped it on Shen Yanlang's down jacket. "Giving it back to you."

"Heh..." Shen Yanlang was in a quite good mood. Just as he was about to speak, he was glared at by Duan Xu again, so he obediently shut his mouth.

[Still quite fierce. Even cuter.]

Duan Xu: "..."

"Let's go back." Duan Xu pulled Shen Yanlang back, and Shen Yanlang obediently followed.

Although he wasn't allowed to speak out loud, the inner monologue never stopped.

[Taking the initiative to pull me along. Looks like he already likes me a lot.]

[Tsk, why won't he let me speak?]

[If I confessed right now, we might just become boyfriends.]

[Hm... Did Xuxu realize I was going to confess just now?]

[Then why stop me?]

[Could it be that it's still not enough?]

Duan Xu was speechless and rolled his eyes, turning back to glare at Shen Yanlang again. Shen Yanlang was clueless.

[Why is he still glaring at me when I didn't say anything?]

[Though his glare is quite pretty. I want to kiss him.]

Duan Xu: "..."

Duan Xu quickened his pace. The trip there had taken ten or twenty minutes, but the return trip took only half the time.

"Haha..."

"Let me try, I can definitely hit it!"

"Yo! Not bad!"

They heard laughter and chatter from afar. Drawing closer, they saw that the others were playing archery in the open space.

Duan Xu let go of Shen Yanlang's hand and ran over in a few strides. "Zhouzhou, where did you guys find bows and arrows?"

Hearing the sound, the few of them turned around, all wearing astonished expressions. Ye Xinyu even asked directly, "Back already?"

Duan Xu's expression flickered evasively, and he feigned calmness as he replied, "Yeah, there wasn't anything fun over there, so we came back."

Shen Yanlang walked over behind him, finally able to speak. "Bow and arrows from the shop?"

"They're from the shop," Xiao Xu replied.

Shen Yanlang understood and didn't say anything else, going straight to Du Shen, who was holding the bow and arrows. "Give it to me."