I've Got Nothing to Say to You Bunch of Singles

The director came back from his phone call in high spirits.

With a sweep of his hand, he announced that they would take today off and resume the livestream tomorrow.

The viewers wailed.

Xie Lin sprang three feet into the air, darted up to the director, and held out his hand.

"My phone!"

It wasn't just him. The other guests all got their phones back too.

After breakfast, the staff led them upstairs to assign their rooms.

Xie Lin got a room facing the sea, with a sea of roses right below.

He slid open the door and stepped onto the balcony, narrowing his eyes as he stretched. Then he turned his head and froze mid-stretch.

Lu Ye was leaning over the railing of the neighboring balcony, watching him with a smile in his eyes.

"Wifey, shall I take you for a walk later?"

"I have legs of my own!"

"Then will you take me along? Pretty please?"

Xie Lin gave a soft huff and went back inside to get ready for a shower.

He had stripped down to his underwear, but after a moment's thought, he pulled on a loose short-sleeved shirt before taking his pajamas to the bathroom.

He had only just pushed the door open and hadn't had time to step inside when a pair of arms wrapped tightly around him from behind.

Xie Lin stumbled and staggered as he was pushed into the bathroom.

Instinctively, he raised an elbow to strike, but stopped when he caught a faint trace of sandalwood scent.

"...What are you doing? This counts as sexual harassment, you know?"

"Wifey~"

Lu Ye bent slightly, resting his chin in the hollow of Xie Lin's shoulder and nuzzling him like a big dog. His voice was muffled, with a hint of grievance.

"I won't do anything. My rut's just coming up, and I feel awful. Could you release some pheromones to soothe me? Please?"

Xie Lin sneered.

"Really? Then how did you get through the past ten-odd years?"

"There's a special scenting room at home. There isn't one here."

"..."

Xie Lin's fingertips curled slightly, his eyes lowered, and, despite himself, his face began to grow warm.

"Could you have a little shame? What other alpha acts like you?"

Despite his words, a strand of fresh, sweet orange scent slowly drifted from his body, gently enveloping the man behind him.

Lu Ye's breathing gradually grew heavier. His formerly savage black sandalwood scent grew milder as the blood orange scent soaked into it.

There was even a faint trace of sweet honey scent.

What was this?

Xie Lin froze.

Lu Ye let out a low laugh. His chest vibrated, making Xie Lin's heart tremble along with it.

"You're so good to me, wifey~"

Suddenly, Xie Lin went rigid and began struggling fiercely.

"Lu Ye, let go!"

"...Bastard!"

"Wifey~ I like you so much!"

"Get lost!"

Lu Ye quit while he was ahead.

"I'll wait outside!"

"I said, get lost!"

The door slammed shut. Xie Lin leaned against the wall and raised a hand to cover the back of his neck.

His breathing was already in disarray. He closed his eyes briefly and waited for that fluttering sensation to slowly subside before turning on the shower with a stony face.

The water had only just started running when a voice begging for a beating came from outside.

"Wifey, don't get your gland wet!"

Bang!

Xie Lin kicked the bathroom door hard!

"Piss off!"

It finally went quiet outside.

He closed his eyes and tipped his head back, letting the warm water wash over his body.

Traces of sandalwood and honey still lingered in the bathroom, mingling with the blood orange scent, like afternoon sunlight filtering through a pine forest, warm but not stifling.

Xie Lin's restless blood gradually settled, and his whole body relaxed. He felt so comfortable that his eyes narrowed slightly.

He turned to face the misted mirror.

The person reflected in it had the corners of his mouth slightly raised, wet black hair clinging to his temples, and droplets hanging from his lashes.

He looked impossibly soft.

Xie Lin stared at that face, pressed two fingers to the corners of his mouth, and pulled them down.

"Hmph! Learn your lesson. Alphas are all pigs!"

In the living room, Lu Ye grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, and climbed back to his own room via the balcony.

Then he climbed back with his phone, opened the four-person group chat, and sent a message.

Lu Ye: "My rut's coming up..."

Mu Huazhang: "How long are you planning to shut yourself away this time?"

Jiang Si: "Shut himself away, my ass. He's off doing a variety show. Don't ask how I know. Our friendship is over!"

Yan Su: "Little Si, aren't you in the hospital?"

Jiang Si: "Yep. I'm bored to death. Come keep me company, big brother!"

Yan Su: "Get lost. Alpha-alpha romance never ends well!"

Lu Ye: "Shiba Inu Smile.jpg. I won't ever have to shut myself away again!"

Mu Huazhang: "Why?"

Jiang Si: "No way, you really found an omega? Why do I find that so hard to believe!"

Yan Su: "??? What's that supposed to mean? You're not single anymore? Why do I find that so hard to believe!"

Lu Ye: "I've got nothing to say to you bunch of singles. Puppy Goodbye.jpg."

Mu Huazhang: "..."

Jiang Si: "..."

Yan Su: "..."

Lu Ye curled his lips in satisfaction and tossed his phone aside, utterly unconcerned with the storm he left in his wake.

After showering and changing into his pajamas, Xie Lin walked toward the living room, drying his hair.

A certain someone was sprawled across the couch, his long legs dangling over the edge and swinging back and forth.

Xie Lin stopped short.

"Why are you still here?"

Lu Ye sprang up and darted over to him like lightning, taking the towel.

"I said I'd wait outside. A man has to keep his word."

"...You really didn't need to be that true to your word!"

"Wifey-"

A soft knock interrupted what he was about to say.

"I'll get it."

The door opened. He Jianing stared at the tall figure before him and froze.

He looked past Lu Ye into the room-

Xie Lin had just showered. His fair skin was tinged pink, and the loose neckline of his pajamas hung slightly open, revealing a broad expanse of beautiful collarbone.

Lu Ye shifted sideways, blocking He Jianing's view.

He frowned slightly and looked down at him.

"Need something?"

"Huh? Oh, well, I'm not familiar with Shattered Star Island, so I came to ask Xie Lin to look around with me."

"He's busy!"

Bang!

The door slammed in his face, making He Jianing flinch.

Busy?

Why was he busy?

Had those two hooked up already?

How was that possible?

It was only the second day of the livestream. Could they have known each other before this?

At that thought, he took out his phone and dialed Fu Yunxi's number.

Fu Yunxi had just finished calling his mother. As expected, she had given him a thorough scolding, and he was in an extremely foul mood.

Seeing the caller ID, he hung up without a second thought.

But He Jianing persisted and kept calling.

Radiating gloom, Fu Yunxi answered irritably.

"What is it?"

"Yunxi, did Xie Lin and Mr. Lu know each other before this?"

"Why do you say that?"

"I came to ask Xie Lin to go out shopping, and Mr. Lu was in his room. The two of them looked like they'd just... done something."

He Jianing's voice grew quieter as he spoke, as though he found it somewhat difficult to say.

"What?"

Fu Yunxi abruptly sat up, yanked out his IV needle, and headed out.

Qin Zheng leaned against the corridor wall and adjusted his glasses.

"Mr. Fu, you'll have to settle your hospital bill before you can leave!"