The Beta from the Countryside (15)

When Gu Xu came out of the bathroom, his body was covered in moisture. His brows and eyes were cold, and his black pupils made him look even more forbidding.

Xue Ci stood less than two meters away. "How... are you?"

His voice was plainly guilty.

Gu Xu looked away. "I'm fine."

Finger marks were faintly visible on the left side of the Alpha's face. Xue Ci quietly said, "Oh," then remembered something. "Right, I'll give back the money you transferred me."

Gu Xu frowned. To him, Xue Ci returning the money meant drawing a line between them. He'd already been slapped; he couldn't lose the chance to give him money too. "Don't give it back. That money was my apology. My susceptible period started last night, and I couldn't control my behavior."

Before Xue Ci could respond, he seemed to find another loophole in what he'd said.

"During my susceptible periods before, I always stayed alone in my room and didn't come into contact with anyone else."

"I'm actually very conservative. I don't like physical contact before marriage, and I definitely wouldn't go around hugging and kissing people. I've never even held anyone's hand, and I wouldn't just go around bullying people."

He cared a great deal about how Xue Ci reacted to these words.

The Beta pursed his lips. He looked as though he only half understood, but his expression was serious, as if he were doing his best to digest what he'd heard.

After a moment of hesitant thought, he released his rosy lips, which he had bitten until they were wet.

"I see..."

As soon as Duan Xingyan approached the bathroom, he heard Gu Xu deliberately explaining how untouched his body was and how he still had his first kiss.

How hilarious.

As if anyone else had lost their first kiss.

He couldn't be bothered to pay Gu Xu any attention. Without looking at him, he pointed to Xue Ci's hands. "Want to take the gloves off?"

Only then did Xue Ci remember. He had originally been waiting for Gu Xu outside the bathroom, but Gu Xu had stayed inside for a long time. So he had gone back and trimmed the roses for a while.

"Yes." His voice was soft and light.

Duan Xingyan naturally lifted Xue Ci's wrist and carefully removed the gloves.

It was hot, and Xue Ci's palms felt sweaty and sticky. He wanted to wash his hands in the bathroom, but Gu Xu reacted strongly and blocked his way.

"I... made a mess in there." The Alpha's voice was stiff. "Do you want to wash your hands? There's a sink in the kitchen too."

Xue Ci nodded.

He glanced at the bathroom behind Gu Xu. There wasn't a trace of steam inside, and the window had been opened to air it out.

There were water stains on the floor, but it wasn't dirty.

It just didn't smell very good.

Xue Ci couldn't quite place the smell. Before he had time to think about it, Duan Xingyan took him by the shoulders, turned him around, and pushed him away.

Xin Yue spent the entire weekend anxious. Xue Ci wasn't replying to his messages, but he couldn't keep sending them, for fear of annoying him.

It wasn't until that evening that Xue Ci's reply finally came.

Xin Yue was back in high spirits.

For a while afterward, he was very attentive to Xue Ci, but Xue Ci preferred to stick close to Xie Yishu.

Maybe it was because final exams were approaching.

That was how Xin Yue comforted himself. When they went to the cafeteria, he still lined up for Xue Ci whenever he needed to and saved him a seat out of the sun. He had also prepared a small bag with an insulated cup, stomach medicine, a sun-protection jacket, and a small umbrella inside, but he hadn't had much chance to use them.

[Host, today you need to ask Xie Yishu to go with you to watch Gu Xu's game. Please note that there are two tasks.]

[First, offer Gu Xu water and be rejected.]

[Second, after learning that Gu Xu detests Xie Yishu, start deliberately distancing yourself from Xie Yishu.]

Some time ago, 11 had given Xue Ci the latest plot details-

After developing skin hunger, he was very afraid, but Gu Xu hated being touched by others, so he didn't dare tell him and turned to his roommates for help.

Xin Yue and Gu Xu were brothers, so he might tell Gu Xu if he found out. As for Duan Xingyan, he didn't want to trouble the Gu Family, who had taken him in.

After considering it over and over, he chose the gentle and polite Xie Yishu.

Of course, he still didn't dare say he had skin hunger. He only secretly rubbed against Xie Yishu when he felt uncomfortable.

People wore less in summer, so it was easy for Xue Ci to brush against Xie Yishu's skin when he rubbed against him. Xie Yishu was oblivious to such things, and because the weather was so hot, he rarely wore a shirt after showering.

Xue Ci would deliberately ask him questions at those times, draping himself over his shoulder.

His skin hunger was effectively relieved, and the progress bar kept rising.

But after today, he wouldn't be able to secretly do those things to Xie Yishu anymore.

"Xue Ci, are we leaving now?" Xie Yishu had already packed both their schoolbags. Xue Ci had arranged with him last night to go to the basketball arena that afternoon to watch Gu Xu's game.

"Wait, wait a moment..."

The young man was frowning at his computer.

To earn credits for the Spanish class at the noble academy, students had to complete a certain number of hours online. Xue Ci had been busy keeping up with his other subjects and hadn't remembered until that morning.

The deadline for completing the hours was tomorrow.

Xie Yishu stared at the tip of Xue Ci's nose, pink and beaded with sweat. "Why don't we skip it this afternoon? I'll help-"

"I'll leave the lessons running for you." Xin Yue interrupted Xie Yishu, his tone casual. "I don't have anything to do this afternoon anyway. You go watch the game with Xie Yishu."

Xue Ci was taken aback and felt embarrassed. "You're not going anymore?"

"I've been so many times already. I can't be bothered to watch him."

Seeing that Xue Ci was still hesitating, Xin Yue simply picked up his computer. "I'll leave the lessons running for you. Go on. Once they're done, I'll go back to the dorm. I'll take the clothes out of the dryer and fold them for you too. Oh, it's really hot today, and the basketball arena is pretty far away. I have a sun-protection jacket and water in my bag. Remember to take them."

Xin Yue had seen Xue Ci after he'd been out in the sun: a little pink-and-white bundle. He'd thought some glutinous rice cake had melted in the heat.

But once again, his things went unused. Xie Yishu had already prepared everything.

Xin Yue wilted a little, lowering his eyelids and turning his gaze back to the computer screen.

Looking at him, Xue Ci felt as if he were seeing the big dog that used to crouch by the door and watch him leave for school when he was little.

Listless, ears drooping.

Even its tail had stopped wagging.

Xue Ci couldn't bear it. "Then make sure you stay in the dorm. I'll bring you milk tea when I come back."

It took just one sentence for Xin Yue's eyes to light up again.

A teammate who had witnessed it all thought Xin Yue was hopelessly smitten. Of course, with someone like Xue Ci... it was normal to be so smitten he'd lose his soul.

He patted Xin Yue and said, "Bro, love is about giving."

Xin Yue didn't look at him. His gaze rested on the lower right corner of the computer. Xue Ci's computer had been custom-made by the Gu Family's eldest brother, with Xue Ci's name engraved on it and a cartoon kitten showing its belly after the name.

He reached out a finger and stroked the kitten's ear.

His own ears turned red instead.

"What do you know?"

"He said he'd only bring milk tea for me."

"..."

That didn't seem to be what he'd said.

Xue Ci wasn't exposed to the sun on the way to the basketball arena. Xie Yishu had called his family's car to take them directly there.

When they entered the court, the game hadn't started yet.

Xue Ci found a seat in the front row so it would be easier to give Gu Xu water after the game.

He couldn't stand the heat and was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. When he stretched out his legs, his lower legs were completely exposed to the air. He was very thin, yet there was a little flesh gathered around his knees, plump and pink, and the soft flesh of his calves swayed with his movements.

Just looking at them made it seem as though they gave off a sweet scent, and even a casual touch would leave a mark.

Xue Ci didn't know that the pheromones Xie Yishu was giving off had already warned some people away. Unfortunately, there were always some who were bolder.

A jacket soon appeared over his legs.

"The air conditioning is strong in here," Xie Yishu said gently. "Be careful not to catch a chill."

Xue Ci held the jacket. Afraid his skin hunger would act up halfway through, he pressed close against Xie Yishu's arm and found a perfectly reasonable excuse. "I'm still a little cold."

Xie Yishu said nothing and let him lean against his shoulder as usual.

Xue Ci watched the game intently. Gu Xu played fiercely, his movements swift and ruthless, without going easy on his opponents in the slightest. Just as Xue Ci was engrossed, Xie Yishu suddenly chuckled softly beside his ear.

"We look like we're dating."

Wh-what...

Xue Ci glanced at Xie Yishu. His dark eyes were full of amusement, along with a trace of emotion Xue Ci couldn't understand.

Was he blaming him for being so clingy that he had no time to date?

The game soon ended, and the arena erupted in thunderous applause and screams. Xue Ci joined in the applause. A group of people in the front row were preparing to rush onto the court with water, and he was wondering whether he'd be squashed out of shape when Gu Xu walked straight over.

One stood and the other sat, making Gu Xu seem even taller. Xue Ci had to tilt his face up to see him.

Gu Xu wore a black T-shirt under his jersey. Only now did he push up the sleeves, revealing his lean, well-defined muscles. His body, fresh from exercise, radiated the vigor of youth; his chest rose and fell slightly, and his breathing was uneven.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he stared at the half-drunk bottle of water by Xue Ci's feet. "Can I have that?"

Was he... asking for his water of his own accord?

Xue Ci picked up the bottle by his feet and hesitated.

He could... but Gu Xu was supposed to reject him.

Gu Xu reached for it, only for someone to intercept him.

"I bought that for Xue Ci. He's already drunk from it." The smile on Xie Yishu's face didn't reach his eyes. "I have a whole bottle here."

Gu Xu's arm stiffened in midair before he drew it back.

He was sick to death of Xie Yishu, always hanging around Xue Ci.

Then he took the water a teammate tossed him and handed it to Xue Ci instead. "There are lots of bad people. Remember not to drink water offered by strangers in the future."

Ever since that slap, he felt that his relationship with Xue Ci had grown much closer.

Xue Ci accepted it.

Soon, 11's voice rang out in his mind.

[Congratulations, host, on completing the task! Great job!]

[Starting today, you need to distance yourself from Xie Yishu.]

[I understand!]

He stuck to Xie Yishu every day. Although Xie Yishu hadn't said anything, he was probably already tired of him.

Xue Ci was full of determination: ＞v＜

Author's note:

Wuwuwu, baby still doesn't know he's attracted a pervert. Baby's going to be kissed to death, wuwu.

Baby, you're a pitiful baby.

And Merry Christmas, everyone! [Rainbow fart] [Rainbow fart] [Rainbow fart]