The Beta from the Countryside (12)

His body still felt uncomfortable.

Xue Ci licked his dry lips and quietly said, "I'm going to wash my face," before getting up and leaving.

The Alphas stayed where they were, full of questions. Compared with the relaxed, cheerful atmosphere just moments ago, the living room was unusually quiet. In the end, Xin Yue couldn't hold back. "I didn't see that wrong, did I? How could X-Xue Ci have th-that kind of thing..."

He was too embarrassed even to say what it was.

Gu Xu glanced coldly at the phone, which was still vibrating. "Is someone pestering him?"

"That's impossible! I'm with him every day." Xin Yue's mind was full of Xue Ci, and he didn't notice Gu Xu's expression grow even stiffer at his words.

As if contradicting Xin Yue, Gu Xu said sarcastically, "Hasn't he been spending all his time with Xie Yishu lately?"

Xin Yue was speechless.

As for Xie Yishu... he knew Xie Yishu was far from as courteous as he appeared, but he wouldn't do something that vulgar.

"Otherwise, I'll-"

Gu Xu couldn't sit still anymore, but just as he was about to get up, he was interrupted. Duan Xingyan had already risen ahead of him and was walking toward the bathroom.

He opened his mouth but said nothing, and in the end could only sit back down stiffly.

Xue Ci washed his face with cold water.

Some of the weakness in his limbs had eased, but it still hadn't done much to solve the underlying problem-he badly wanted to press himself against something or hold something tightly.

The half-closed door suddenly swung open, startling Xue Ci. His light brown pupils contracted slightly.

As a member of the Gu family, Duan Xingyan was about as tall as Gu Xu. He hunched slightly as he stood in the doorway and held out his broad palm, intending for Xue Ci to hand over the thing that had fallen out of his pocket earlier of his own accord.

If Xue Ci had been feeling more like himself, he would have noticed that Duan Xingyan's lazy smile was gone and his expression was much more serious. Unfortunately, he was very uncomfortable right now. Looking at the palm held out to him, he hesitated where he stood for a few seconds.

Then he tilted his head and pressed it against the hand.

Soft... so soft.

Duan Xingyan's fingers curled slightly.

The Beta was young, with soft, fair skin. His freshly washed face was covered in a fine film of moisture, damp and rosy. His brows and eyes were wet, and the mist in his eyes made him look as though he'd been caught in the rain.

His uneven breaths brushed Duan Xingyan's fingertips, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.

Duan Xingyan stood there in a daze for quite a while. Only when Xue Ci stepped back on his own and the damp warmth left his palm did he fully come to his senses.

And little Xue Ci, who had just pressed against him of his own accord, looked at him as if he had forgotten what he'd done, his expression saying, When did you get here?

"You..." Only when Duan Xingyan spoke did he realize his voice had gone hoarse.

He coughed. Neither his mind nor his heart was quite clear as he dazedly recalled how Xue Ci had felt against his palm.

"Hm?" Xue Ci blinked in confusion. His eyelashes were dark and wet, making him look even more like a doll than usual.

Duan Xingyan knew Xue Ci was good-looking.

But he had never had any thoughts about it.

After Hu Shenglan told him who Xue Ci was, he felt a little sorry for the kid, all alone at an aristocratic academy with such rigid class distinctions. That was why he had looked after his daily needs like an older brother.

He had thought he wouldn't have any such thoughts.

But now, his unsteady heartbeat proved him wrong.

Duan Xingyan finally remembered what he had come for. He cleared his throat, making his voice sound a little more normal. "Where did you... get the thing in your pocket?"

Xue Ci reached into his pocket and took out the little packet, then glanced at the Alpha's hand, which he hadn't yet withdrawn. "A school club gave it out. Do you need it?"

He immediately placed it in Duan Xingyan's palm.

The soft sensation made Duan Xingyan's back shiver.

He's... so well-behaved.

Once he knew Xue Ci hadn't been deceived by some disreputable person, his expression softened. "It's not that I need it. You're still young, so I'll hold on to it for you for now."

Xue Ci had only ever heard of someone holding on to another person's New Year's money. But he really had no use for this either. "You don't have to give it back to me."

As if noticing the loophole in his words, Duan Xingyan stressed, "I never use these."

"I don't make friends, either, and I've never been in a relationship."

It was as if he were deliberately explaining himself to Xue Ci.

Xue Ci slowly said, "Oh," not understanding why he was saying all this. He had been tormented by the tingling sensation earlier, and now he was completely listless.

"I'm a little sleepy and want to go to bed. Could you let them know for me?"

When Duan Xingyan nodded, Xue Ci went straight back to his room using the closer staircase on the other side.

His head was spinning, and he struggled into his pajamas before collapsing onto the bed. He didn't notice that the door wasn't fully shut.

After learning it was a misunderstanding, both Gu Xu and Xin Yue looked relieved.

They put the Ludo game away. Without Xue Ci, they couldn't be bothered to keep playing.

The butler came over to ask whether Xin Yue would be staying the night, so he could prepare a guest room.

Gu Xu said with disdain, "Your home isn't far away. Why stay here? I can just have someone take you home, can't I?"

"You won't even let me stay one night?" Xin Yue refused to leave. He also told the butler there was no need to prepare a guest room. He and Xue Ci were roommates and were used to sleeping in the same room, so he could just make a bed on the floor in Xue Ci's room.

Gu Xu gave him a look of disgust.

Did he think I was dead?

But Hu Shenglan had just called and told him and Duan Xingyan to go to the old residence, so he didn't have time to haggle with Xin Yue. He told the butler to prepare a guest room, specifically asking for one on the first floor, as far from Xue Ci's room as possible.

The spacious living room immediately fell silent, becoming unusually quiet.

Xin Yue checked the time. It was only a little after seven in the evening, so he wasn't in a hurry to go back to his room and wash up.

He deftly returned the cushion Xue Ci had been sitting on to the sofa, only to discover that Xue Ci had even forgotten his phone. Messages were still flashing on the screen.

It's probably that Xie Yishu again.

Ever since the tennis ball hit him in the back, he had shamelessly kept pestering Xue Ci. Xin Yue hadn't wanted to call him out on it, but an Alpha with such a minor injury was acting as though half his body were paralyzed.

He just wants attention, and now Xue Ci doesn't even have time for me.

Xin Yue wanted nothing more than to delete all the messages. Of course, he wouldn't do something that would make Xue Ci dislike him.

"Young Master Xin Yue, your room is ready." The butler spotted the familiar case on the phone in the Alpha's hand. "Is that Young Master Xue Ci's?"

"...Yeah. I'll take it up to him."

They had only been apart for half an hour, and Xin Yue was already missing that little pink-and-white face.

He took the phone, asked the butler which room was Xue Ci's, and made his way quietly upstairs.

The butler was left downstairs alone to worry.

Young Master Gu seems to have another rival.

Xin Yue soon found Xue Ci's room.

The door wasn't fully closed, and light and cool air slipped out through the gap. He knocked twice, and though he hadn't used much force, the door swung inward, opening from a narrow crack to halfway.

It was a little too cold.

Xin Yue took a few steps into the room, intending to remind Xue Ci that he could easily catch a cold at this temperature. But when his gaze fell on the bed, every muscle in his body tensed.

The first thing he saw was a pair of straight, fair legs, glowing pale and smooth under the light.

Xue Ci wore only a loose top and was hugging the blanket. His position was rather unruly, and the top, which could have covered his upper thighs, had ridden up and twisted around his lower back.

The atmosphere in the entire room was... excessively suggestive.

From the back of his neck down his spine, his entire body was so tense that his veins stood out. Xin Yue knew what he should do now-turn up the air conditioner's temperature, turn off the light, shut the door, and leave.

Not stand there, staring unblinkingly at his buddy's fiancé.

But... he was too captivated to think.

Xue Ci's little face was half buried in the pillow. He seemed hot, a fine layer of sweat beading on his skin. His cheeks were rosy pink, and his lips let out a few murmurs now and then, his breath damp and sweetly fragrant.

Xin Yue could also see his pearly white teeth and a little of his soft, red tongue.

The whole room was filled with Xue Ci's scent.

Xin Yue looked even hotter.

After staring for a long time, he finally realized what he was doing.

Forcing himself to look away, he quickly raised the temperature, turned off the light, and shut the door, as though he had done something wrong.

Once outside, Xin Yue felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He leaned against the wall, the bulging veins on his neck still not entirely gone.

His bangs were damp with sweat, which dripped down his nose.

Xin Yue touched it, almost thinking it was a nosebleed.

His heart had nearly jumped into his throat, and his temples throbbed incessantly.

The image of Xue Ci just now kept replaying in his mind.

So beautiful.

So beautiful it's killing me.

Xin Yue took a deep breath.

He really was guilty. He had just had some very impure thoughts.

He badly wanted to pull Xue Ci into his arms like that, have him straddle his lap, and gaze at his trembling eyelashes and then his bright red tongue.

It must taste delicious.

The inhibitor bracelet on his wrist seemed to have stopped working, and agave-scented pheromones stirred wildly inside him.

If only Xue Ci would let me taste his lips.

If he really could kiss him, Xin Yue couldn't imagine what a cheerful little male Alpha he would be.

Author's note:

Every last one of them wants to taste those lips. Baby's going to be exhausted.