The Beta from the Countryside (21)

Gu Xu thought he would charge straight in and confront Gu Ling, but when the moment came, he lost his nerve.

He did nothing.

Or rather, he simply stood there, frozen.

He had sensed, more or less, that Gu Ling had unusual feelings for Xue Ci, but... how could he possibly compare to Gu Ling?

Gu Ling had a successful career and was steady in everything he did. Ever since he was little, parents had held him up as "someone else's child." And what did Gu Xu have? He didn't even earn the pocket money he gave Xue Ci.

Standing there for so long left Gu Xu stiff all over. When he finally came to his senses and heard Gu Ling's footsteps approaching, he fled downstairs.

The training course began on July 7 and lasted three weeks, ending at the end of the month.

When Hu Shenglan asked Xue Ci to go shopping with her, he told her he was going to take part in a competition.

Hu Shenglan praised him after hearing that. "You can paint too? That's impressive! If I'd known, I would have helped you transfer to the art department."

She also took the opportunity to scold Gu Xu. "Look at little Ci! He can even paint! Did you know all along? No wonder you suddenly wanted me to hire a foreign tutor to teach you English. I thought you were possessed."

"..." For once, Gu Xu stayed silent. Xue Ci really was the reason he wanted to learn English. Ever since that day, he had been deeply insecure, feeling that he had nothing to show for himself. What would he have to compete with Gu Ling in the future?

Of course, he didn't dare ask Gu Ling to his face whether he had those kinds of feelings for Xue Ci, either.

He simply chose to avoid the matter.

As long as he didn't ask, Xue Ci wasn't with anyone.

Xue Ci had only meant to mention that he was going to the training course, but the Gu family took it very seriously. They bought him paints and took him to art exhibitions. Gu Ling even took him to an auction and asked which painting he liked, saying he could bid on it for him.

Xue Ci stopped him in time and accepted only the paints.

He had indeed studied painting as a child, and his teacher had praised him a few times. But as he grew up, the hobby was buried beneath his schoolbooks, and he never picked up a paintbrush again.

Xue Ci felt he needed to practice in advance, afraid he would end up being nicknamed the master of abstract art.

So every morning, Gu Ling would see a little painter wearing an apron, sitting at the entrance to the garden and practicing still lifes.

Gu Ling had assumed Xue Ci simply liked painting, but when he came closer, he discovered that Xue Ci did have a foundation. He must have practiced before; his composition and shading were both very conventional. He probably hadn't been able to continue after being fostered by relatives.

Gu Ling ruffled the little painter's hair tenderly and reminded him, "Don't sit for too long. Get up and move around often."

"And your painting is very good."

At the praise, Xue Ci tilted his face up and responded with a smile.

During his time at home, he had been afraid Gu Ling would try desensitization therapy like last time. Luckily, Gu Ling seemed to think it hadn't worked either and never mentioned it again, though he hugged Xue Ci every day when he came home from work.

The week passed relatively peacefully, with few tasks. Gu Xu went to foreign language classes, Gu Ling had to go to the company, the harasser didn't send any more messages, Xin Yue chatted with him on WeChat, and Duan Xingyan occasionally came to the villa to ask if he needed a human model.

Xue Ci tactfully told him he was painting scenery.

Duan Xingyan said, "Whatever you want to paint, I can hold it in my hands."

Seeing Xue Ci's somewhat blank expression, he smiled helplessly. "I'm too lonely. I want an excuse to spend time with you."

Sometimes, when someone joked too often, no one took them seriously. Duan Xingyan also thought Xue Ci wouldn't take it to heart.

But soon, a vase appeared in front of him.

"This is heavy."

The young man reminded him slowly.

Duan Xingyan froze, then took the vase and scooped Xue Ci up with his other arm, spinning him around in a quick circle.

Xue Ci said, "?"

He said softly,

"The paint..."

But Duan Xingyan didn't care, even though his white shirt was already filthy.

After spending a week at home, Xue Ci set off for the academy.

The painting course was in the southwest corner of the academy, a half-hour walk from the student apartments, so separate accommodation had been arranged for the students.

According to the plot, Xue Ci took the competition very seriously and practiced even during the lunch break, so he couldn't return to his room to rest at noon.

Xue Ci was used to taking a midday nap. He tried going back, but after the progress bar slipped back one notch, he didn't dare indulge himself again and obediently stayed in the studio.

On the third day, the teacher said another person would be joining the course. Xue Ci looked up and met Xie Yishu's eyes.

Had Xie Yishu signed up for the painting class too?

Surprised, Xue Ci checked the plot information 11 had given him again. It only said that Gu Xu and Xin Yue weren't there.

But Xie Yishu was so capable that it was only natural he could paint too.

As soon as Xie Yishu stepped down from the front of the room, he greeted Xue Ci and took the seat beside him.

They painted that morning. During a break, Xue Ci glanced at Xie Yishu's canvas and his eyes widened.

How could he paint so fast? And so well, too.

Amazing.

Xue Ci couldn't help looking at him with admiration.

Beside him, the corners of Xie Yishu's lips lifted imperceptibly.

The studio was quiet all morning, but as soon as the teacher left, several Alphas gathered to discuss whether they should ask Xue Ci out. For the past two days, they had only stolen glances at him, but after discovering he didn't return to the dormitory for his lunch break, they wanted to ask him to eat with them at the cafeteria.

But the newcomer beat them to it.

The two seemed to know each other. After only a few words, Xue Ci went to the cafeteria with the tall Alpha.

The group was disappointed.

"Let's try again at noon. I don't think he goes back to the dormitory for his lunch break."

"Oh, I see."

"At least get his WeChat."

Xie Yishu heard every word of their conversation.

Xie Yishu was well practiced at lining up to get food for Xue Ci. After telling him to stay at the table, he picked out several dishes Xue Ci liked and didn't forget to grab a bottle of yogurt.

Xue Ci ate slowly, and Xie Yishu deliberately slowed down too.

"Are you going back to rest at noon?"

Xue Ci shook his head.

Not only would the progress bar decrease if he went back to the dormitory, but today was different: he also had a task. According to the plot, several Alphas would come to provoke him at noon. All he had to do was stay silent, and he would earn points.

Xie Yishu said nothing more and cleared away both their trays.

After leaving the cafeteria, Xue Ci returned to the studio alone. During summer vacation, no one was particularly interested in extra classes. Even at the usual start time, not everyone showed up, let alone during the lunch break, which was meant for rest.

The studio was empty, and Xue Ci sat obediently in his seat and waited.

About five minutes later, a jumble of footsteps sounded outside. Soon, several Alphas entered the room and headed toward him.

One of them, a very tall boy who looked particularly hard to mess with, stared at him for a long time without saying anything.

Xue Ci grew embarrassed under his stare and asked, "Can I help you?"

The boy immediately looked away, the tips of his ears bright red. "Um... well... I, I wanted to..."

He stammered for ages without getting to the point. In the end, the person beside him spoke for him. "Our boss wants your WeChat. He wants to be friends."

Xue Ci understood. Provocations usually started with the pretext of making friends. Soon, they would turn nasty.

They might even snatch his phone.

Xue Ci silently retrieved the phone hanging from his easel and tucked it behind his back, then lowered his head.

None of the Alphas had ever been so close to Xue Ci. After catching that fresh, sweet scent, they started talking among themselves.

"Why does he smell so good?"

"But didn't people say he was a Beta?"

"Maybe it's not pheromones. Huh, I think I can smell someone's pheromones! Holy shit! It's the boss's pheromones! Boss, what's wrong? Don't tell me your susceptible period is starting?!"

Everyone panicked. None of them had expected their boss's susceptible period to be triggered just by smelling Xue Ci's scent.

"Holy shit! Does anyone have an inhibitor shot?"

"The boss is so strong! If he starts hitting me, I won't be able to take it!"

Xue Ci was very sensitive to the words "susceptible period." He still remembered what Gu Xu had been like last time.

Without further hesitation, he got up and ran out through the studio's back door.

The corridor was empty. Apart from the Alphas' shouting, all that could be heard was Xue Ci's hurried footsteps.

To be safe, Xue Ci planned to run to another building.

But as he passed a classroom, someone clapped a hand over his mouth and dragged him inside-

"Mmph..."

The other person was very strong, and Xue Ci couldn't resist at all.

His vision swayed back and forth. By the time he realized what was happening, he had been lifted onto a desk, and Xie Yishu was facing him.

He wore that frightening expression again, as though he wanted to devour someone.

Xue Ci instinctively pushed him, but he didn't budge.

"Class monitor..."

Xie Yishu quickly resumed his usual gentle expression. "It's dangerous outside. Do you know what will happen if you go out now?"

Xue Ci gave a soft "Mm?" with a questioning rise.

Xie Yishu's arms enclosed him on either side, his legs pressed apart.

It was a position that left him nowhere to escape.

Xie Yishu's scorching breath fell against the fair cheek opposite him, turning it peach pink.

He raised a hand and gripped the back of the young man's pale neck. "When an Alpha enters their susceptible period, they're like a wild dog."

"They'll bite the gland here until it's raw and force all their pheromones into it."

His fingers, cool yet warm, made Xue Ci's back tremble uncontrollably.

He felt Xie Yishu release the back of his neck.

"Xue Ci is a Beta. You don't have a reproductive cavity, so when the knot forms-"

Then his flat lower belly was pressed hard.

"It'll bulge out to here."