On the bus, Duan Xu watched the scenery flashing by outside the window, feeling exceptionally cheerful.
I don't have to meet the parents for now, how could I not be happy?
While driving, Shen Yanlang glanced at Duan Xu, Duan Xu playing on his lips. When they stopped at a red light, he pulled Duan Xu close and gave him a big kiss.
[It's so sweet, I feel restless if I don't kiss you for a day.]
Duan Xu: "..."
Honestly, it's not like you can't kiss, you could at least say hello!
Wait, let's not fight.
He recalled those kisses from Shen Yanlang before, kisses that came with prior notice, which made him even more nervous and his heart race than kisses that came without prior notice.
The car started again, Shen Yanlang smiled and said, "No time today, how about we look at houses tomorrow?"
"Okay," Duan Xu replied.
They've been looking at apartments online for the past couple of days and have picked out three decent two-bedroom apartments, all new, because they don't plan to rent anymore and intend to buy directly.
One reason is that they will be living here for more than three years, and another is that the university is relatively close to the city center, so they might be able to live here after they start working.
Even if they move out, they can rent it to other college students, so it's a sure-fire way to make a profit.
Around 11 a. m., the two arrived at the school. Shen Yanlang pulled Duan Xu's suitcase with one hand and held Duan Xu's hand with the other as they walked from the parking lot to the dormitory building.
Today is the first day of school, and there are many people walking around the school. Everyone who passes by them gasps in amazement.
In the short time it took them to get to their dorm, the forum posts had already exploded, but they were unaware of it yet.
When the two arrived at the dormitory door, Duan Xu took out his key and opened the door. As soon as he opened the door, he exclaimed "Holy crap!"
Inside, at Zhou Zhou's spot, Zhou Zhou, wearing a gray-blue down jacket, was being kissed by Xiao Xu, who was wearing a dark blue down jacket, while Zhou Zhou's legs were crossed, tightly gripping Xiao Xu's legs.
OMG!
What kind of explicit and disturbing scene is this?!
Duan Xu glanced at it, exclaimed in surprise, and then Shen Yanlang covered his eyes, saying, "Don't look."
[Xuxu can only see my tongue.]
Duan Xu: "???"
In the dormitory, Xiao Xu and Zhou Zhou separated immediately after hearing the noise, but only their mouths were separated; their legs and hands were still on each other.
Xiao Xu seemed a little embarrassed and ashamed, his wheat-colored face slightly flushed.
Zhou Zhou was quite generous, even saying to Shen Yanlang, "Yan-ge, close the door quickly."
Shen Yanlang: "..."
Shen Yanlang released Duan Xu, pulled his suitcase in, and closed the door.
Duan Xu hissed as he looked at the two of them, "Zhouzhou, Xu-ge, you two have been having a wild time all winter break, haven't you?"
Xiao Xu stepped back a bit, Zhou Zhou jumped off the desk, not at all embarrassed, and even smiled, "Well, you guys are still more wild. You all went home on New Year's Eve."
Duan Xu: "..."
They lifted a stone only to drop it on their own foot.
Shen Yanlang opened the suitcase to unpack Duan Xu's things. Duan Xu, seeing this, was too lazy to do anything and wanted to sit on his own stool, but Shen Yanlang turned around and said, "Don't sit yet, it's dusty."
"Oh." Duan Xu had no choice but to stand aside, leaning against the wall, staring at the two of them with a gossipy gaze. "Come on, when did you two get together? It's time to explain."
Xiao Xu coughed lightly, glanced at Zhou Zhou, and said, "During winter break."
Zhou Zhou added, "On the day before the Lunar New Year."
"The day after we left school!" Duan Xu exclaimed in shock. "Wow, that's surprising. But last semester I saw you two seemed like you were together, and it turns out you only got together during winter break."
Zhou Zhou smiled slyly upon hearing this, "Isn't this just for fun? The most alluring thing is when things are ambiguous."
After hearing this, Duan Xu silently gave a thumbs up.
Xiao Xu scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
Shen Yanlang suddenly glanced at Duan Xu, Duan Xu noticed and met his gaze.
[So Xuxu thinks the same way?]
[It's quite alluring.]
Duan Xu: "..."
No! I didn't! Let me explain!
Duan Xu's eyes changed from puzzled to anxious, as if he understood what Duan Xu was thinking.
Shen Yanlang couldn't help but smile, then turned back to continue packing his things.
[Xuxu is really understanding me more and more.]
Duan Xu: "???"
What nonsense is this?
Does he like being hung up like that?
"Ahem, I've already confessed, shouldn't you all confess too?" Zhou Zhou's words brought Duan Xu back to his senses.
Upon hearing this, Duan Xu, unlike Zhou Zhou who was thick-skinned, was somewhat surprised, "You figured it out?"
"Otherwise what?" Zhou Zhou leaned against Xiao Xu. "The atmosphere between you two is different now."
"What's the difference?" Duan Xu asked, puzzled.
Zhou Zhou touched his chin and said, "It feels different."
Duan Xu: "..."
Then, Xiao Xu said, "Yan-ge was helping you pack your things, but you just glanced at it and didn't say anything. You must be used to it."
Duan Xu: "..."
Sherlock Holmes? His observations are incredibly accurate!
During his heat cycle Shen Yanlang took care of him the whole time, and this continued even after the heat cycle ended. He was often treated like a child, and he had gotten used to it.
"So, when did you two get together?" Zhou Zhou pressed for the key point.
Shen Yanlang put his suitcase down and said, "On New Year's Eve, at the turn of the year."
"Wow~ that's pretty romantic," Zhou Zhou exclaimed.
Xiao Xu nodded in agreement, silently noting, "That's quite romantic."
Duan Xu smiled sheepishly, about to say something, when Zhou Zhou suddenly slammed his hand on the table, "So, if that's the case, then I should treat Xu-ge to a meal since we're together, but you guys should also treat me to a meal."
"Why don't we just eat together instead of going back and forth like this? It'll be a great dorm get-together for the start of the semester."
Upon hearing this, Duan Xu decisively shook his head, "We still need to invite President Xue and the others; we should still invite those who are due."
"... That makes sense." Zhou Zhou had almost forgotten about them.
Seeing this, Xiao Xu said, "How about we have a dorm get-together tonight?"
"Okay." Duan Xu nodded.
Shen Yanlang then replied, "No problem."
At this moment, Zhou Zhou suddenly noticed a detail, "Yan-ge, if I'm not mistaken, the clothes you took out of the suitcase just now belonged to both of you, right?"
Duan Xu paused, and Shen Yanlang replied with a faint smile, "It's both of ours."
We lived together for ten days, and we'll be living together from now on.
"Oh my gosh~ You two are living together?" Zhou Zhou's eyes lit up with excitement. "Wait a minute, didn't you come from home?"
Xiao Xu then speculated, "Could it be that Yan-ge has been staying at Duan Xu's house since New Year's Eve?"
"No! How could that be?" Duan Xu immediately retorted.
Shen Yanlang went to the balcony to wash her hands and brought in the duster she used to clean the dorm room. While wiping Duan Xu's table, she replied, "He went back at noon on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and then went again on the fourth day, and stayed until the start of the new semester."
Is this considered showing affection?
[It feels pretty good.]
Duan Xu: "..."
"Holy crap!" Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu exclaimed simultaneously, "Awesome!"
"Have you met their parents?" Zhou Zhou asked again.
Duan Xu hummed in agreement, but didn't say much, because the thought of meeting the parents reminded him of that awkward social situation.