Don't Understand

Shen Yanlang's eyes shifted as he said, "Let's make a bet. Let's see when Xiao Xu figures it out."

[What should I make him do if I win the bet?]

Duan Xu: "..."

Heh. If he hadn't been able to hear Shen Yanlang's thoughts, he really would have taken that bet.

"No bet," Duan Xu refused.

Shen Yanlang raised his brows slightly. "Why?"

Just as Duan Xu was about to answer, someone called from the side, "Shen Yanlang."

The two of them looked over and saw a cool-looking boy. He had slightly upturned phoenix eyes that gave him an aloof, superior air whenever he looked at someone. His entire presence was icy, like a living ice beauty.

When Duan Xu saw his face clearly, he sucked in a breath and was startled once again.

The protagonist's love interest! The protagonist's love interest had appeared!

Duan Xu's gasp was quiet, but it could not escape an alpha's hearing. Shen Yanlang turned to look at him and saw those startled deer-like eyes again.

[Why was he so easily startled?]

[Besides... what was so scary about an omega who looked decent?]

Looked decent? You called that looked decent?

That was your future omega. Wasn't he supposed to be the most beautiful person in your eyes?

Duan Xu only knew that the plot began sometime in the past few days, but he did not know the exact day. He knew even less about how they met, how they crossed paths, or how they ended up together, because the dream had mainly followed his perspective.

The boy walked over and introduced himself, his voice as cold as his appearance. "My name is Han Xi. I'm a first-year student from the School of Management."

Shen Yanlang's expression remained indifferent. "What do you want with me?"

Hearing that, Han Xi glanced at Duan Xu, clearly signaling for him to leave.

Duan Xu immediately said, "You two talk. I'll head back first."

With that, he ignored Shen Yanlang and turned to run off.

Shen Yanlang frowned slightly at the sight, suddenly growing impatient. "What exactly is it?"

"President Xue said..." Han Xi had barely started when Shen Yanlang immediately guessed what he was about to say and cut him off. "I'm not going. Tell him to stop wasting his time."

After saying that, Shen Yanlang strode away to chase after Duan Xu.

Han Xi watched his retreating figure without the slightest flicker in his eyes, then left as though nothing had happened.

At the entrance to the dormitory building, Shen Yanlang caught up to Duan Xu and called out, "Duan Xu."

Duan Xu turned around in surprise. "You finished talking so quickly?"

"Mm." Shen Yanlang nodded.

[We didn't talk at all.]

Duan Xu: "..."

So they had not fallen for each other yet?

Fine. It was their business, anyway. He would not meddle.

*

On Saturday, Duan Xu went to his part-time job. Xiao Xu went training every day without fail, Zhou Zhou had dance practice, and Shen Yanlang went out after being invited by a childhood friend.

That evening, Duan Xu returned from his part-time job and walked along the tree-lined path leading to the dormitory, thinking about finding work during the National Day holiday.

The path ran beside an artificial river, and an octagonal pavilion had been built by the riverbank. It was a popular dating spot for couples.

As Duan Xu passed by, he glanced inside and found people there—two boys, one tall and one short. The light was too dim to make out their faces, but he clicked his tongue inwardly. Sure enough, a couple.

Just then, Duan Xu suddenly heard Shen Yanlang's voice. It was low and impatient. "I really don't have that kind of intention. Don't come looking for me again."

Duan Xu paused and could not help looking over a few more times. One look, and damn—weren't those Shen Yanlang and Han Xi?

Yesterday, they had not even talked. Only one day later, they were already at a dating hotspot?

Things were moving fast!

No, wait. Shen Yanlang had just said he did not have that kind of intention. What kind of intention?

"I understand." Han Xi's voice was crisp and cold. After saying that, he walked out of the pavilion.

Duan Xu had no time to hide. He could only look at them awkwardly.

When Shen Yanlang looked up and saw him, his dark eyes flickered. His tone was much lighter than before. "You're back?"

"Mm." Duan Xu glanced at Han Xi. Han Xi still showed no expression and did not look at Duan Xu before leaving directly.

Shen Yanlang walked over to Duan Xu's side. "Let's go. Back to the dorm."

[What a coincidence. I'd just finished rejecting him.]

Rejecting him?

Duan Xu was dumbfounded. What kind of plot was this?

Had Han Xi just confessed to Shen Yanlang? And gotten rejected?

Seeing that Shen Yanlang had no intention of bringing it up, Duan Xu was dying of curiosity and took the initiative to ask, "He was that person from yesterday, right? Did he come to you about something important?"

"Not important." Shen Yanlang truly did not want to join the Student Council. It was boring.

[I've rejected it already. He won't come looking for me again in the future.]

Duan Xu: "..."

If that really had been a rejected confession, then wouldn't there be a future crematorium chase?

*

It was another new week, no different from before, except Shen Yanlang had been named the new campus heartthrob.

#A fresh campus heartthrob has been crowned—don't miss him as you pass by!#

[Ahhhhhh! His smile is so captivating! I'm dead!]

[Does the campus heartthrob have an omega? If not, I'm making my move!]

[Don't discriminate against betas! What if the campus heartthrob likes betas?]

[Stop dreaming, person above! AO is the proper path!]

[Hey, you know what? There's a beta right by the campus heartthrob's side, inseparable from him all day long!]

[Huh? No way? The campus heartthrob is taken?]

[Come on, come on, here's the picture!]

The photo had been taken Friday night on their way back to the dormitory after dinner. They had not run into Han Xi yet. Shen Yanlang had been turned toward Duan Xu as he spoke to him, and they stood very close together. With the filter added, the picture looked extremely suggestive.

Duan Xu opened the picture and hissed. The image itself looked great, but he found it a little terrifying.

Would Han Xi get jealous if he saw it?

Had he unknowingly made it harder for Shen Yanlang to chase his wife in the future?

Beside him, Shen Yanlang was also looking through the post. When he saw the same photo, he casually saved it three seconds later.

[Not bad. I'll save it as a keepsake.]

Duan Xu: "???"

Was something wrong here?

"The photographer was really good!" Zhou Zhou had also scrolled to the picture. "It even makes me want to... Ahem!"

Want to what? Say it clearly! Duan Xu was frantic.

Xiao Xu was not looking at his phone. He had opened his laptop and was writing something, though no one knew what. Assuming Zhou Zhou meant Shen Yanlang, he said, "Isn't it normal for Yan-ge to be named campus heartthrob?"

"You don't understand." Zhou Zhou gave a meaningful smile, then looked at Duan Xu and raised his brows at him.

Duan Xu: "..."

I don't understand either.

Shen Yanlang did not understand either: [What are they talking about?]

Hearing that, Duan Xu felt relieved. At least he was not the only one who did not understand.

*

At the end of the month, freshman welcome parties were held one after another by the various schools. Zhou Zhou's Academy of Fine Arts held theirs on the twenty-eighth, while Shen Yanlang's School of Computer Science held theirs on the twenty-ninth.

On the evening of the twenty-eighth, Duan Xu and the other two entered with their tickets after dinner. Their seats were in the middle, with a decent view, though they were somewhat far back.

After sitting down, Xiao Xu started chatting on his phone. No one knew who he was talking to.

Duan Xu had just taken his seat when the person beside him arrived as well, patted him, and said with a delighted expression, "Duan Xu, what a coincidence."