Fate

[Aaaaaah! I don't believe it, I don't believe it!]

[The campus heartthrob really has someone? Who is it? I'm just curious!]

[Look at those legs, those ankles—definitely a sweet little Omega!]

[Was he carried out of the little pavilion? So what happened for him to be carried out like that? /doge]

[Ah! I've already imagined a hundred-thousand-word pavilion play!]

Duan Xu slapped his phone facedown on the desk. What the hell was all this?

What sweet little Omega? What pavilion play? These people's imaginations were way too wild!

No, no, the most important thing was that Shen Yanlang had carried him back princess-style last night?

OMG! Shen Yanlang was courting death! Seriously courting death!

Duan Xu was alone in the dorm right now. The other three all had classes.

Duan Xu picked up his phone again and took another look. At first, those people had been disappointed and regretful, but later on, they had actually started shipping them!

"This is going to be difficult!" Duan Xu frowned in worry.

Although he was on pretty good terms with the male lead now and had no feelings for the protagonist, surely he couldn't break up the official pairing?

He worried through two classes, and even after his roommates returned, he still hadn't figured anything out.

"Yeah! Going home, going home!" Zhou Zhou excitedly packed his clothes.

Xiao Xu was packing too. "Zhou Zhou, are you going out during National Day?"

"Not sure. Depends on the situation," Zhou Zhou replied.

Xiao Xu gave an oh and fell thoughtful.

Shen Yanlang was packing as well. He glanced at Duan Xu, who was sitting there spacing out. "You're not going home for National Day?"

"No." Duan Xu came back to himself and shook his head.

Zhou Zhou looked surprised. "Huh? It's seven days, and you're not going back at all?"

Zhou Zhou and Xiao Xu knew that Duan Xu was from the neighboring city. Going back wasn't troublesome; it only took an hour by high-speed rail.

"My parents are abroad. I'd be alone even if I went back." Duan Xu shrugged. "I happened to find a part-time job."

At that, Zhou Zhou gave an understanding sound. "You're really hardworking, but I'm not following your example."

Duan Xu: "..."

[A part-time job?]

Shen Yanlang asked, "What kind of job? How long?"

"Five days." Duan Xu looked up at Shen Yanlang. Did he want a part-time job too?

Hmm... Was living in a luxurious mansion uncomfortable, or were the butler and servants not attentive enough?

Shen Yanlang hummed and did not ask further, but he said, "If you get bored, you can come find me."

"Me too, me too!" Zhou Zhou eagerly waved a hand.

Other than Duan Xu, the other three were all locals from A City, so it was convenient for them to go home.

Seeing that, Xiao Xu awkwardly said, "You can find me too, I guess."

Duan Xu could not help smiling. "All right, got it. I'll come hang out with you when I have time."

Shen Yanlang frowned slightly when he heard that. I don't want to be with Xiao Xu and the others.

Duan Xu: "???"

Bro, they were all roommates. He couldn't play favorites like that!

Half an hour later, his roommates had all left. Duan Xu stayed alone in the dorm and was perfectly content.

Starting the next day, he went to his part-time job. He played a bear mascot at Fantasy Amusement Park. It was hot, but the pay was good.

Today was his fifth day on the job.

Duan Xu wandered around the amusement park in the mascot costume, holding balloons. Whenever he saw children, he went over and gave them one, only to be pulled into taking photos with them.

It was hard enough waiting until after six. Just as Duan Xu was about to find somewhere to rest, he suddenly spotted someone familiar.

Shen Yanlang!

Shen Yanlang wore a black T-shirt and white sneakers. His tall figure stood out in the crowd.

There were two other people beside him, a man and a woman. The man looked fairly tall, probably an Alpha. The woman was petite and cute, with a baby face.

But when Duan Xu saw that baby face, he was startled. Wasn't this... the girl who had been close to Shen Yanlang in his dream?

So they had already been this close at this point?

No, that was not right. If that were the case, then he must have misunderstood in the dream. This girl should have had some other relationship with Shen Yanlang.

Thinking of that, Duan Xu could not help giving a self-mocking smile. So the dream version of him really had something wrong with his head. He had gone looking for trouble before figuring things out, and ending up like that was entirely his own fault.

The three of them chatted and laughed their way to the carousel. Neither Shen Yanlang nor the other guy got on; the girl rode it and asked them to take pictures for her.

Duan Xu was at least ten meters away from them. At that distance, he could not hear Shen Yanlang's thoughts.

However, after they got off the carousel, they headed in his direction. Duan Xu did not want to be recognized, so he diligently continued pretending to be a mascot.

But the girl ran over when she saw him. "The little bear is so cute! Can we take a picture?"

Duan Xu nodded to show that they could.

So the girl stood beside Duan Xu and said to Shen Yanlang, "Cousin, hurry up. Take a picture of me and the little bear. Make it pretty."

Duan Xu let out an inward ah. So she was his cousin! No wonder!

The other guy looked a little fierce, but his gaze when he looked at the girl was very gentle. "My photography skills aren't bad either."

"Then you do it." Shen Yanlang had already found it troublesome. It's so hot. I wonder if Duan Xu has finished his part-time job yet.

Duan Xu was touched when he heard that. The male lead was worrying about him even while out having fun. That meant Shen Yanlang really considered him a good brother.

After they finished taking pictures and left, Duan Xu looked at the sky. It was almost time to get off work, so he simply headed to the amusement park staff lounge.

As he walked, he took off the mascot head and casually pushed open the door.

Half an hour later, he came out wearing a white T-shirt and black pants. The hair at his forehead was damp with sweat, and his cheeks carried a faint flush, making him look a little like he had just gotten out of the shower.

The moment he stepped out, he was startled by the person in front of him. "Shen Yanlang?! Why are you..."

"I saw you."

Shen Yanlang and the others had been heading this way too. He had casually glanced over and happened to see Duan Xu take off the mascot head and enter the lounge.

We really are fated.

Hmm... There was nothing wrong with that, but why did it somehow feel strange?

"I..." Duan Xu had barely opened his mouth when Shen Yanlang raised a brow at him. "Why didn't you say anything earlier? I was right in front of you, and you didn't even greet me."

"I was working. It wasn't convenient," Duan Xu said.

After thinking about it, Shen Yanlang decided that made sense and let it go. "Haven't had dinner?"

Duan Xu shook his head. "Not yet."

"Come with me." Shen Yanlang turned and walked out.

Duan Xu followed him and looked around. "Where are your friends? Aren't you eating with them?"

Shen Yanlang's tone was calm. "They went back first."

I sent them away with a fancy meal.

Duan Xu turned to look at him, unable to understand why Shen Yanlang had done that, but he did not think too much about it.

The two of them left the amusement park together. Shen Yanlang had driven there, so he took Duan Xu straight to a Chinese restaurant.

Shen Yanlang thought, After working all day, he must be starving. He needs some rice to really fill up.

Hearing his thoughts, Duan Xu could not hold back a smile. He was touched. Becoming friends with Shen Yanlang really had been the right choice.