Shen Yanlang gently sniffed his scent before saying, "I saw you were asleep, so I contacted your aunt and uncle first to meet them in advance."
[Otherwise, if they meet and the topic of her heat cycle comes up, Xuxu will definitely feel awkward and shy.]
Duan Xu nuzzled Shen Yanlang's neck, "Oh."
Thanks to Yan-ge, he thought of everything so thoroughly.
However, it didn't prevent it much. If he had gone out a little later, he wouldn't have heard that embarrassing remark.
"Did Dad really hear that?" Duan Xu asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Shen Yanlang kissed his earlobe and said with a smile, "It's true, he heard it."
Aaaaaah! I can't live anymore!
Duan Xu whimpered and pleaded in Shen Yanlang's arms, acting like a spoiled child.
"Hehe..." Shen Yanlang laughed heartily.
[Xuxu is so cute!]
But after a short while, Shen Yanlang pressed Duan Xu down, his voice deepening, "Xuxu, stop teasing me."
Duan Xu: "..."
Duan Xu stopped moving, but he nudged Shen Yanlang and whispered, "Shen Yanlang, you're a real beast."
"Yes, Xuxu is right." Shen Yanlang did not deny it.
[Even more beastly later.]
Duan Xu: "???"
Dude, what dangerous thing are you thinking about?
The two hugged for a while, Shen Yanlang gradually calmed down, saying softly, "It's almost dinner time, I'll go downstairs to cook."
"I'll go with you." Duan Xu got off Shen Yanlang.
Shen Yanlang hummed in agreement, "Put on the barrier tape first."
"Oh."
Duan Xu lowered his head slightly and obediently let Shen Yanlang the barrier patch on him.
Shen Yanlang stood behind him, staring at the fully developed gland, feeling a slight itch in his teeth. He had been holding back from biting it for the past few days, afraid that he might lose control and completely mark the man.
And now, just one glance is enough to make me want to take a bite.
I really want to take a bite and leave my mark.
Duan Xu shrank his neck and turned his head to ask, "Why haven't you put it on yet?"
Shen Yanlang withdrew his gaze and said expressionlessly, "I was just about to stick it on, let's turn it over first."
"Hmph!" Duan Xu turned away again, silently thinking: I know what you're thinking!
Afterwards, Duan Xu put on barrier stickers for Shen Yanlang, and only after that did the two of them go downstairs together.
Downstairs, Qiu Shan was alone in the living room, Duan Hu was cooking in the kitchen.
So, Shen Yanlang led Duan Xu over and went to help in the kitchen.
Duan Xu sat awkwardly in the corner of the sofa and weakly called out, "Mom."
Seeing his expression, Qiu Shan covered her mouth and chuckled, then sat down beside him, patted his head, and said softly, "My child, what's there to be shy about in front of your mother?"
Duan Xu blinked at Qiu Shan, smiled sheepishly, and said, "I'm not shy..."
It was so awkward, so incredibly awkward I wanted to disappear into the ground.
Qiu Shan understood perfectly well, so she took the initiative to change the subject, "Your dad and I brought you a small gift, we'll give it to you later."
"What are they?" Duan Xu's eyes lit up at the mention of small gifts, his attention clearly diverted.
Qiu Shan smiled and said, "You'll know when I show it to you later."
"Oh." Duan Xu wasn't so embarrassed anymore. "Mom, how long are you staying this time?"
"We'll leave after the Lantern Festival." Qiu Shan said, then suddenly remembered something, "Didn't you all start school before the Lantern Festival?"
"Yeah!" Duan Xu sighed, "It would have been better if we could have let it sit for a couple more days."
Qiu Shan smiled and said, "It's alright, it's perfect timing. Your dad and I will go to City A to spend time with you and meet Little Yan's parents while we're there."
"Huh?" Duan Xu was surprised. "We're meeting so early?"
"Of course, it's best to meet as soon as possible since we have the time," Qiu Shan said, ruffling his hair. "That way, your dad and I will feel at ease."
Duan Xu gave an "oh," feeling a surge of nervousness. School was starting in just a few days, and two days later it would be the Lantern Festival, after which he would have to meet his parents!
Isn't this speed a bit too fast?
They confirmed their relationship on New Year's Eve, and on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, during his heat cycle, they did that. On the tenth day, Shen Yanlang met his parents, and on the fifteenth, he not only had to meet Shen Yanlang's parents, but both families would meet together.
In just half a month, they completed the entire process except for getting their marriage certificate and having the wedding. What couple can do that so quickly?
Seeing that Duan Xu was distracted, Qiu Shan realized he was nervous, so she pulled him aside to talk about other things.
In the kitchen, Shen Yanlang helped Duan Hu. Duan Hu noticed that Shen Yanlang was skilled and experienced in cooking, which pleased him even more, though he didn't show it much.
We cooked a big meal for dinner, and the four of us sat together. The initial awkwardness had subsided, and the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.
After dinner, Qiu Shan and Duan Hu didn't pay much attention to them and went back to their rooms, so Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang also went back to their rooms.
"When are you leaving?" Duan Xu wondered if Shen Yanlang should leave now that his heat cycle was over and he had met the parents.
But he couldn't bear to Shen Yanlang and didn't want him to leave.
Shen Yanlang sat with him on the tatami mat on the small balcony, playing with Duan Xu's hand in one hand. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow slightly, "Use and then throw away?"
"No, that's not it!" Duan Xu pinched him in return. "Don't misunderstand me."
Shen Yanlang chuckled softly, tightening her grip on his hand. "I won't go. I'll go to school with you."
How could I bear to leave?
[If I could, I'd put him in my pocket and take him anywhere.]
Duan Xu's expression was unusually strange. First, his face was full of surprise, then his surprise turned into speechlessness, and he even rolled his eyes slightly.
Shen Yanlang clicked his tongue lightly, "What's with that expression? Don't you want me to stay with you?"
[An omega who has just finished their heat cycle should be very dependent on their alpha.]
Duan Xu: "..."
When will this ability to read minds disappear?
"It's not that I don't want to," Duan Xu was still honest. "I want you to be with me."
"That's more like it." Shen Yanlang finished speaking and kissed his cheek, making a crisp sound.
Duan Xu chuckled foolishly, looked up and said, "More."
"Good."
Shen Yanlang lifted his chin and kissed his lips directly.
A crescent moon hung in the sky, emitting a faint, hazy light, with a few stars twinkling around it, adding a touch of embellishment to the dark night.
After the kiss ended, both of them were breathless and itchy, wanting to do something, but they restrained themselves, after all, their parents were still at home.
After watching the moon for a while, the two went back to their room to wash up and rest.
Shen Yanlang stayed here for the next two days. On the first day of school, Shen Yanlang drove Duan Xu back to school.
Duan Hu and Qiu Shan were originally going to go together and had told Shen Yanlang about the two families meeting, but unfortunately, Shen Yanlang's father, Shen Guofeng, and his elder brother Shen Yu, were on a business trip abroad, so they had to make another appointment.
Duan Hu and Qiu Shan didn't go with them; they even bought plane tickets in advance to go abroad in preparation for the art exhibition.