The Beta from the Countryside (22)

When Xue Ci used to live in a dorm, groups of boys would gather to chat in the washroom, occasionally tossing out a few dirty jokes.

But he thought Xie Yishu was different from those boys.

At least, while they had been roommates, Xie Yishu had been refined and courteous. He never even swore, and his manners could be called gentlemanly. Why was he saying such strange things to him now... and wearing that unusual, devouring look?

It would have been a lie to say he wasn't afraid.

Especially when Xie Yishu's fingers were still pressing against his lower abdomen. It was a vulnerable, sensitive spot, where even a slight touch caused an uncomfortable, aching pressure. And Xie Yishu wasn't pressing lightly.

Before this, Xie Yishu had rarely displayed the strength a tall Alpha possessed, and Xue Ci hadn't noticed it at all. Now it seemed the difference in strength between an Alpha and a Beta really was enormous.

That was why Xie Yishu had been able to lift him onto the desk so easily, pin him down so he couldn't move, and question him face-to-face.

Perhaps because Xue Ci had been silent for so long, Xie Yishu grew a little dissatisfied and pressed a little harder.

Xue Ci's shoulders trembled, and he instinctively pressed his legs together.

The flesh of his thighs was soft, while the muscles in the Alpha's leg were taut, pressing uncomfortably against him.

Xue Ci grew a little unhappy.

He lowered his eyes and relaxed his lips, which he had kept tightly pressed together.

"Don't be so fierce..."

His voice was soft and weak, trembling with unease. Even his little show of temper sounded clingingly sweet, yet it easily made the Alpha, who was releasing pheromones, stop.

Xie Yishu quickly let go of him, but stayed close, leaving Xue Ci only a little room to move.

"I'm sorry. I was afraid you'd get hurt."

"I'm sorry."

Xie Yishu apologized twice in a row, leaving Xue Ci embarrassed after his little show of temper. He wanted to say something, but the commotion outside carried through the door.

"Fuck! Whose pheromones are these? They're so aggressive they're giving me a headache!"

"Boss has already passed out!"

"Why did their susceptible periods have to hit at the same time? Where's that Beta? He hasn't been marked by another Alpha, has he?"

"Should we look for him? These pheromones are so strong. A Beta's body definitely couldn't take it."

Xue Ci could vaguely hear their conversation, but not clearly, and had no idea that the Alpha whose pheromones they called "so aggressive" was right in front of him. All he could tell was that the footsteps were getting closer, and he nervously grabbed Xie Yishu's clothes.

"Don't be afraid."

Xie Yishu stroked Xue Ci's back, soothing him.

Those faint, trembling breaths fell against the side of his neck, warm and tingling, carrying a fresh, sweet scent.

Xue Ci trusted him.

Xie Yishu took off his jacket and draped it over Xue Ci. "My pheromones are here, so they won't come over."

Alphas' pheromones repelled one another, and during their susceptible periods, they would attack one another. The one with stronger mental power could keep the other from approaching.

Xue Ci had read about this in the material.

Sure enough, the disorderly footsteps outside grew more distant. The Alphas had come under attack and were howling in pain as they fled.

The corridor fell quiet.

It was so quiet that all Xue Ci could hear was Xie Yishu's heartbeat as he pressed close, thumping through his chest, each beat strong and strange.

He drew back a little and asked softly, "Have they all gone?"

Only then did Xie Yishu release Xue Ci completely. He walked over to the door and glanced casually through the glass panel above. "They've all left."

After saying that, he turned around, only to see Xue Ci sniffing his jacket.

Xie Yishu's eyelid twitched hard, and a vein bulged at his temple.

Xue Ci had a small frame. Xie Yishu's jacket hung loosely from his shoulders, its sleeves covering his hands entirely and the excess fabric trailing across the desk, making him look even slimmer. The Beta was completely unguarded now, bending slightly to sniff his clothes like a little animal.

Xie Yishu's Adam's apple bobbed violently. Suppressing the excitement spilling from his eyes, he kept his tone gentle and repeated, "They've all left."

Xue Ci was no longer afraid. A little curious, he asked, "What do your pheromones smell like?"

Seeing Xie Yishu's expression turn a little unnatural, he explained, "I'm a Beta. I can't smell pheromones."

"I know." Xie Yishu composed himself, though his voice had grown a little huskier. He walked up to Xue Ci and helped straighten his collar and cuffs. "They smell like mint."

Mint had small green leaves. Xue Ci often saw it at his grandmother's house when he was little, so he naturally knew its scent: fresh and cool, not overpowering at all.

Xue Ci murmured, "I like mint. It smells nice."

He didn't notice the Alpha's pupils suddenly contract. He was like a defenseless kitten showing its belly. If the other man wanted, he could easily pick him up and pin him in a corner. There was no one around, after all, and he could do whatever he wanted, even fill that little belly until it swelled.

Xie Yishu hid his emotions well.

"The air conditioning in the studio is cold. Put the jacket on properly." He took Xue Ci's fingers and gently rubbed their reddened pads.

They had turned red just from gripping his clothes. What if he kissed them? Or did something even more excessive?

Would Xue Ci cry all clingy and covered in his marks?

"Didn't you go back to the dorm? Why did you come back?"

Xue Ci's voice interrupted the Alpha's fantasies. Xie Yishu restrained himself as he lifted him down and made up an excuse. "I was afraid you'd get too tired in the studio, so I wanted to call you back for a nap."

"Oh," Xue Ci said. He felt like a toy, being lifted up and down. "I can jump down by myself. You don't need to carry me like that."

"All right, I'll remember next time." Xie Yishu admitted his mistake very sincerely.

Xue Ci planned to return to the studio, but he was afraid the Alphas from earlier would come back, so he glanced at Xie Yishu. "Are you going back later?"

Of course Xie Yishu saw what Xue Ci was thinking. "It's too hot. I'm not going back."

Xue Ci breathed a sigh of relief and returned with Xie Yishu. They sat side by side, chatting occasionally, and time passed quickly.

The studio gradually filled up. During class, the teacher came by, saw that everyone was behaving reasonably well, and returned to the office after a few reminders. Xue Ci was concentrating on the final part of his still life when a voice suddenly spoke beside him. "Um..."

Xue Ci stopped drawing and turned around, discovering that it was one of the Alphas from the group at noon.

Under Xue Ci's gaze, the boy's face flushed red, and he didn't dare look him in the eye. "Our boss is in the hospital right now and couldn't come. He sent me to apologize for scaring you."

He seemed quite polite.

Xue Ci showed his understanding. "It's all right."

The boy scratched his head and eyed the ill-fitting jacket on Xue Ci suspiciously.

He didn't know if it was because of the jacket, but the Beta was completely covered in the scent of a certain Alpha's pheromones, the same scent that had attacked them at noon.

Wasn't this taking advantage of the fact that he couldn't smell pheromones? It made him seem as if he'd been marked, which could easily lead to misunderstandings.

But... had he actually been marked?

The boy was very curious, but unfortunately, Xue Ci's neck was completely hidden by the jacket, so he couldn't see a thing. He had just started to lean closer when he felt a sharp, icy gaze fix on him.

Why was he looking at him as if he were already dead? That was terrifying! The boy had a good idea whose jacket Xue Ci was wearing and knew he couldn't afford to offend him. He quickly turned to slink away, but he was so nervous that he accidentally twisted his ankle and knocked over the paint palette beside him.

Xue Ci heard the noise, but before he could react, someone picked him up from behind.

The paint palette fell to the floor.

He turned around.

Xie Yishu's shirt and arm were stained with paint, but he was still shielding Xue Ci's painting.

Seeing this, the boy immediately apologized to Xie Yishu. After the other man said a mild "It's fine," he picked up the palette, paid for the paint, and slipped back to his seat.

Xie Yishu carried Xue Ci somewhere clean. "Your drawing board is dirty. Use mine for now."

Xue Ci glanced at Xie Yishu's painting. A small patch in the upper right corner had been stained.

His own painting, however, had been well protected.

He realized that whenever something like this happened, Xie Yishu never considered himself at all.

"The drawing board is fine." Xue Ci stopped him, his tone concerned. "Do you... want to change your clothes first? Have you been assigned a dorm yet? I'll go with you."

Xie Yishu lowered his eyes. "Okay."

The two left the studio. Xie Yishu's dorm was also on the third floor, the same floor as Xue Ci's.

The room was spacious and sparsely furnished, with two beds, one of which had already been made. Xue Ci opened the wardrobe and took out a white short-sleeved shirt at random. "Do you want to change into this?"

"Yeah."

Xie Yishu gathered the hem of his shirt in his hands and took it off in front of Xue Ci without any hesitation.

Xue Ci froze.

He wasn't shy or embarrassed. It was only natural that he still didn't have a clear understanding of the sex differences in the ABO world, but even someone as particular as Xie Yishu wasn't avoiding him when changing.

He was probably so used to being his roommate that he didn't need to worry about it.

"Xue Ci?"

Xie Yishu suddenly leaned close. His hot breath fell against Xue Ci's cheek, making it tingle and itch and turning the skin red.

Xue Ci forgot to move away for a moment and gave a puzzled hum.

"I hurt my shoulder playing ball a couple of days ago. It still hurts a little, and I can't reach the paint. Could you help me wash it off?"

Xie Yishu was always the one helping him. Now that he finally had a chance to help, Xue Ci immediately nodded, took Xie Yishu by the arm, and led him to the sink.

The Alpha was much taller than Xue Ci, so he simply squatted on the balcony and let Xue Ci wipe away the paint stains. Xue Ci busied himself fetching a towel and looking for body wash, going back and forth without noticing that, at the angle Xie Yishu was squatting, his face was directly in front of Xue Ci's thighs.

They were fair, the soft flesh jiggling when he walked. A pinch would leave finger marks.

If he squeezed hard, the soft flesh would probably bulge between his fingers.

Xie Yishu looked away and gently reminded Xue Ci, "There's still some on this arm."

"Oh... okay." Xue Ci brought over a basin of clean water. He hadn't wrung the towel out completely, so droplets rolled down the lines of Xie Yishu's broad back as he wiped him.

He had been so busy wiping off the paint that only now did he remember what Xie Yishu had said. He asked with concern, "Does your shoulder still hurt?"

Xie Yishu nodded. "A little."

"Do you want me to massage it?" Xue Ci bent over and pressed a little harder with his hand. "Here?"

Xie Yishu pressed his lips together, his body even more tense than before. Sweat gradually beaded at his temples.

His voice was strained. "Can you give me a hug?"

"Mm..."

Xue Ci hadn't expected Xie Yishu to be afraid of pain. The other man quickly stood up, water still not completely dry on his body, and leaned much of his weight on Xue Ci as he hugged him.

Their bodies pressed tightly together. Xue Ci's cheeks flushed under the pressure, and he breathed in small, shallow breaths.

He felt something pressing uncomfortably against him.

Xue Ci soon realized what it was.

Embarrassed, he touched Xie Yishu's back, and the other man quickly let go.

"Sorry." Xie Yishu's voice was low and husky. "My susceptible period just ended, and I'm still adjusting. Did I scare you?"

Although Xue Ci was embarrassed, he knew this was normal and shook his head, saying it was fine. His clothes had gotten wet from the water on Xie Yishu, who helped him get two fresh items to change into.

The two returned to the classroom, where someone had already cleaned the floor and replaced Xue Ci's drawing board with a new one.

And so the little incident passed.

Xue Ci hadn't gotten any points and was still waiting for the Alphas to provoke him again. But after that, they never came looking for him at all. They only dared glare at him behind his back, and whenever he caught them, they immediately looked away, their ears red with anger.

Xue Ci thought it might be because Xie Yishu's pheromones were so strong that they didn't dare provoke him casually.

He was a little disappointed not to get those points, but he couldn't force it, so he focused on following the plot.

But missing his nap was truly torture for Xue Ci. Without sleep at noon, he couldn't concentrate in the afternoon. His eyelids felt glued together, and his head would droop and then bob. Xie Yishu had to catch his head in time to keep him from embarrassing himself.

He didn't know that everyone had given him a nickname behind his back: "Sleepy Kitten."

The nickname and his appearance were so cute that quite a few people in the class took an interest in Xue Ci. They too skipped their naps and took the opportunity to get close to him.

They asked serious questions about painting, and Xue Ci answered carefully whenever he knew the answer.

"Xue Ci, you need to rest. Go back at noon today." Xie Yishu had caught Xue Ci dozing off more than once. "You'll be more efficient if you're well rested."

Xue Ci also understood that sharpening the axe wouldn't delay the chopping, but he didn't dare risk having his progress bar reduced.

He parted his lips, about to say something to Xie Yishu, when a classmate came over to chat and interrupted him.

When forced to choose between two people like this, people would usually ignore the one they were closer to first.

The air around the ignored Xie Yishu gradually grew cold.

He had been obedient lately and hadn't done anything out of line.

Wasn't he supposed to get a reward for behaving?

So why couldn't he even get a glance?

With so many people around him, he really wasn't on guard at all. What if his skin hunger acted up?

Xie Yishu's gaze grew dark and obsessive.

His phone album was full of photos of Xue Ci: sleeping, painting, tilting his head, looking up out the window... His favorite was still the one Xue Ci had sent him of his own accord.

His expression was a little blank, his mouth vivid and his lip pearl full.

Xie Yishu didn't know who had kissed him. Xue Ci had skin hunger, and there was an endless stream of stray dogs around him. Perhaps a few coaxing words were all it took for him to obediently offer up his cheek.

If only he were the only one by his side.

He would be good and obedient.

He wouldn't reveal any of his dark thoughts.

Xue Ci had been listless lately.

He stuck close to Xie Yishu on their way to the cafeteria and even asked whether he would be willing to let him have the other bed.

Xie Yishu was surprised. "I don't mind, but... is your room leaking? Or did the light break?"

Xue Ci fell silent.

It wasn't any of those things. He had been receiving texts from the harasser again lately.

Each message was more explicit than the last. The harasser could say exactly what color clothes he wore and what he ate each day, said that his pants were so short people could see him there, and even said he had come while looking at his photo.

Although Xue Ci knew the harasser wouldn't actually do anything excessive, he was timid and didn't dare live alone anymore, so he brought it up with Xie Yishu.

"Xue Ci?" Seeing that Xue Ci wasn't speaking, Xie Yishu waved a hand in front of him. "You look a little pale. Haven't you been sleeping well lately? Why don't you take your naps at my place too?"

Xue Ci nodded vigorously. When he discussed it with 11 last night, 11 had found a system loophole: taking a nap in someone else's dorm wouldn't reduce his progress.

This way, he wouldn't have to struggle to stay awake.

The two had been roommates to begin with, so there was nothing inconvenient about sharing a room, except that the space was smaller. When they washed up together at the sink, their arms had to press tightly together for them both to fit.

Xie Yishu gave him a strong sense of security, and when Xue Ci occasionally received more messages, he wasn't as frightened as before. But he was too careless to notice that, in this space occupied by only the two of them, Xie Yishu's gaze always lingered on him for a long time, resting on the soft pink tongue he revealed while slowly brushing his teeth or the calves he swung back and forth from the edge of the bed after a shower.

Their peaceful life came to a halt during a midday nap one day.

A tingling warmth surged up Xue Ci's back and spread freely throughout his body, drawing a murmur from him. He unconsciously hugged the soft quilt and tossed and turned. Soon, the entire quilt was imbued with the fresh, sweet scent of freesia.

This feels awful...

Xue Ci was awakened by 11.

When he sat up, the tingling sensation brought on by his skin hunger still had him curled into a ball. His rounded toes pushed weakly against the sheets, wrinkling them.

Seeing his host's little face scrunched up in discomfort, the little system ball flapped its wings frantically. Soon, it spotted someone they could make use of.

[Host! Xie Yishu is still asleep. Do you want to sneak a touch?]

Xue Ci's vision was blurred by the moisture in his eyes. He stared blankly toward Xie Yishu's bed.

The alpha's long body occupied most of the bed. He lay neatly, not even the hem of his clothes out of place.

The unbearable, trembling symptoms left Xue Ci unable to consider whether it was ethical to sneak a hug from his roommate while he slept. He took 11's advice.

Letting go of the warm, steamy covers, Xue Ci got out of bed. His pale, glossy toes stepped onto the carpet, each step exceptionally difficult.

Fortunately, Xie Yishu's bed was only a few steps away.

Xue Ci sat on the edge of the bed, the corners of his eyes red from the torment of his skin hunger. Even the skin hidden beneath his clothes had turned peach-pink. He stared at Xie Yishu, but his hazy vision wouldn't let him see the other's face clearly, so he called out tentatively in a quiet voice, "Xie Yishu?"

He didn't move, and his breathing remained even. He seemed to be sleeping soundly.

Xue Ci hesitated no longer. Bending at the waist, he edged closer to Xie Yishu.

He was like a kitten that waited for its owner to fall asleep. Unwilling to come close at ordinary times, it would quietly sneak over for a cuddle when its owner didn't know.

Once its owner woke up, it would pretend nothing had happened.

His snowy hand rested against the broad palm, and his cheek pressed against Xie Yishu's exposed neck. As his skin hunger eased, Xue Ci let out a comfortable sigh. His eyes went blank for a moment, the mist in them growing thicker.

A few seconds later, he carefully changed his position, allowing their skin to make more contact than before.

He was so close that the thumping of Xie Yishu's heart made his chest tingle.

Once he was done, Xue Ci felt terribly embarrassed and pushed himself up a little.

His mouth was right in front of Xie Yishu's chin.

"I didn't mean to."

Even Xue Ci's breath carried a warm sweetness.

As if he felt that wasn't sincere enough, he repeated himself.

"I didn't mean to do this."

With his skin hunger relieved, Xue Ci moved much more nimbly than before, getting off Xie Yishu with ease.

A fine layer of sweat had left him sticky and uncomfortable. He quietly gathered his clothes and went to the bathroom, not seeing Xie Yishu's eyes slowly open.

The alpha didn't get up. He stayed in the same position, curled his lips, and took a deep breath.

It was as though he were savoring everything that had just happened.

Xie Yishu really hadn't been awake at first, but he was highly alert. He had sensed something when a small section at the foot of the bed sank.

When Xue Ci pressed against him, it had taken tremendous willpower to keep his breathing steady.

How wonderful.

Now I smell like Xue Ci all over.

When Xue Ci came out of the bathroom, Xie Yishu was gathering the laundry on the balcony. Looking more closely, he saw that the other man was holding his underwear.

Xue Ci pressed his lips together, struggling to hold back the heat in his face. "I'll get it myself."

Xie Yishu glanced at the young man's hands, still wet from the hot water, and smiled. "Your hands are wet, and I've already taken everything down. I just need to put it away."

Xue Ci drew back his fingers. "Thank you..."

"Are you done showering?"

"Mm."

"Then I'll go in. It feels especially hot today. I woke up covered in sweat."

Xue Ci didn't answer, guiltily looking away.

When he was nervous, he would clutch the hem of his clothes and lower his eyes, his lashes trembling constantly.

Xie Yishu silently curled his lips and went into the bathroom.

Xue Ci was especially attentive that day. He fetched the hair dryer, took the initiative to save seats at mealtime, and treated Xie Yishu to fruit tea. Only after seeing that nothing was amiss with him did Xue Ci quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

11 also gave him some bad news: his skin hunger would become more frequent for a while.

Sure enough, after that, his skin hunger flared up several times, mostly during the midday break.

Mid-July was the height of summer, and the midday break had been extended. Xue Ci had a painting to finish, so he planned to cuddle up to Xie Yishu for ten minutes beforehand, in case his skin hunger flared up.

Xie Yishu fell asleep quickly. His breathing became even almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Like a kitten that had gotten away with doing something naughty, Xue Ci gradually grew bolder. He went over quietly and nestled himself against Xie Yishu with practiced ease.

This time, however, he had only been there for half a minute when the world spun around him.

By the time he came to his senses, Xie Yishu had pinned him underneath him!

Xie Yishu... woke up?

Xue Ci's heart raced and his breathing went uneven, but amid his panic, he noticed that the other's eyes were still tightly shut.

What's going on...

Xue Ci's first thought was that he was sleepwalking.

Why would Xie Yishu suddenly sleepwalk?

What should I do now?

While Xue Ci was still fretting, he felt something press against his cheek, squashing it out of shape.

Before he could think, warm, wet lips closed over his own.

It was a forceful kiss.

As though he had some kind of oral fixation, he didn't spare anything around Xue Ci's mouth that he could suck or bite. Poor Xue Ci's lips soon swelled, his lip tubercle puffed up from the sucking.

Because he was lying down, the slightest pressure made his lips part on their own. Every drop of the sweet saliva in his mouth was swallowed, none of it spared.

Sticky and wet.

His chin and cheeks were soon drenched. His cheeks were pink, and even his small, plump earlobe was caught between Xie Yishu's lips.

"Mm..."

The cherry was stained with color and began to swell round and full.

How did this happen...

Do people kiss others when they sleepwalk?

He had read in a book that you apparently shouldn't wake someone who was sleepwalking, or they wouldn't wake up.

Poor Xue Ci was dazed by the kiss but didn't dare struggle recklessly. Only an occasional soft whimper escaped his mouth. His whole body was wet and soft, like a piece of melting cream cake.

Even a single taste was sweet.

After an unknown amount of time, Xie Yishu decided this bout of "sleepwalking" could end.

If he kept kissing him, Xue Ci might really start crying softly.

Sated, he rolled over and lay down beside him, pretending to fall asleep again.

After quite a while, he felt movement beside the pillow. He guessed Xue Ci was getting up. The movements were clumsy; his arms and legs were probably weak, leaving him with no strength at all.

A small section at the foot of the bed sank.

With his eyes closed, he couldn't see Xue Ci. He could only hear the young man's voice.

His breathing was uneven and shaky, mixed with a whimper or two.

Then, in a tearful, aggrieved voice, he said, "My tongue is so sore..."

Xie Yishu's whole body tensed. He used every ounce of willpower he had to restrain himself, warning himself not to move.

He really wanted to get up, pull him onto his lap, and kiss him hard for another half hour.

But if he did that, Xue Ci would know he'd been pretending.

He might never pay him any attention again.

The wicked liar had left Xue Ci feeling terribly uncomfortable. The poor beta sniffled, and, afraid the other man would sleepwalk again, hurriedly grabbed his bag and fled back to his own room.

Back in his room, Xue Ci felt awful. Xie Yishu had swallowed all his saliva, yet his face and body were covered in Xie Yishu's.

After taking a shower, he had just come out of the bathroom when Xin Yue called.

The two had agreed the previous day to meet that afternoon. Xue Ci's voice was very nasal, and, afraid the other man would hear it, he hung up and sent him a message instead.

Just then, other messages came in too-

[Baby, did you just come out of Xie Yishu's room?]

[Baby's mouth is so red. Did Xie Yishu kiss you? Your eyes are so red too. Did he kiss you until you cried, baby?]

[Are you very angry, baby? Are you uncomfortable?]

[Does baby really like Xie Yishu?]

Whether it was from lack of oxygen from the kissing or because the messages were too obscene, Xue Ci's shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

He put down his phone and wrapped himself in the covers.

Xin Yue hadn't seen Xue Ci for many days.

Every day had become especially boring, and he couldn't summon any enthusiasm for anything.

Finally, after pestering Xue Ci for several days, he got his agreement to let him visit the training program's dormitory.

He had long since asked for Xue Ci's room number. After showing his student ID to the building's dorm supervisor, he found even the elevator too slow and took the stairs two or three steps at a time.

Stopping at Xue Ci's door, Xin Yue ran a hand through his hair and knocked solemnly.

He knocked for a long time before he heard someone getting out of bed inside.

The door opened from within, but only a crack. Xue Ci showed less than half his face. His voice was very quiet and a little hoarse. "Xin Yue."

Xin Yue leaned his tall frame against the doorway and checked the time. "Don't you have to go to the studio today?"

"I'm not feeling very well." Xue Ci's fingers were pink against the doorframe. "I can't go to dinner with you tonight."

Xin Yue could see that something really was wrong with Xue Ci. "What's wrong?"

"Just... not feeling very well."

Xue Ci held the door, keeping most of his face hidden the whole time. "I want to rest."

Xin Yue could tell he was being asked to leave. "All right. Get some rest, and call me if you need anything."

"Thank you..." Xue Ci let out a quiet breath and started to close the door, but just before it shut, an arm slipped in and blocked it.

"I'm still a little worried about you." Xin Yue was strong, and he easily leaned through the gap. He was about to say something else, but froze when he saw Xue Ci.

"You... what happened to your mouth?"

Blood rushed to Xue Ci's head, and his cheeks quickly grew hot.

Xin Yue closed the door and took a few steps toward Xue Ci, his gaze fixed on his face.

His mouth was very red, and his eyes were damp... Had someone kissed him? Or had someone forced a kiss on him?

The alpha's expression froze. "When you said you weren't feeling well, did you mean someone bullied you?"

His voice was very different from usual, each word coming out distinctly.

Xue Ci fell silent and looked away.

He couldn't explain it. He had done something bad to Xie Yishu first, and hadn't expected him to sleepwalk, which had set off a chain of events.

If he told Xin Yue the whole truth, the other man would surely keep questioning him until he got to the bottom of it, and his skin hunger would be exposed.

Xue Ci had rested for a while, and his mind was working a little better.

Lying would be OOC, so he could only lower his eyes and respond with silence.

Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Xin Yue asked no more. The alpha bent down, bringing his face close to Xue Ci's. His surprise faded, and his voice grew somewhat gentler.

"Besides your mouth, is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable? What about your tongue?"

Though this kind of comfort was embarrassing, Xue Ci, who felt aggrieved at the moment, found it helpful. He lowered his eyes and said quietly, "The inside of my mouth is all sore and numb. My tongue feels uncomfortable too."

Xin Yue frowned deeply and carried Xue Ci to the bed.

"Let me take a look for you."

In the clear, bright room at a summer midday, every color and shape could be seen plainly.

Xin Yue bent down and brought his face close to Xue Ci's mouth. It was his first time being so close to Xue Ci, and he could almost smell the rich fragrance drifting from the tip of his tongue.

His lip tubercle was very swollen; it must have been bitten.

The force had clearly been restrained, or the skin would have broken long ago.

There were no wounds on his tongue, but it was very red.

Xin Yue could imagine how intense the kiss had been, leaving him wet and soft, letting out faint whimpers but too weak to resist.

His Adam's apple bobbed, but his voice still came out hoarse. "Did he only kiss your mouth? Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?"

Xue Ci knew Xin Yue meant well, but he still felt embarrassed. "N-no, nowhere else."

The young man's lie was obvious at a glance.

"Some alphas mark people when they enter their susceptible period. Did he mark you?"

Even if a beta was marked, there would be no scent of pheromones, so Xin Yue couldn't tell. He was very worried that Xue Ci, as a beta, had a vague understanding of secondary genders.

"Do you know what marking is? Did he bite your neck, or-"

The corners of Xue Ci's eyes were already pink. Afraid the other man would say something strange, he immediately said, "I know... He didn't mark me."

Xin Yue checked the back of Xue Ci's neck and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was smooth and fair.

If there wasn't even a temporary mark, then there certainly wouldn't be a deeper mark.

He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he accidentally caught sight of a vivid red patch showing through the loose collar.

A moment later, he patted Xue Ci's shoulder, as if to comfort him.

Xue Ci's head was spinning. Fortunately, Xin Yue said nothing more after asking that last awkward question.

"Wait for me."

Xin Yue left and returned with a bowl of ice.

"Keeping this in your mouth will make it feel a little better."

He washed his hands, picked up a piece of ice, and slipped it into Xue Ci's mouth.

The chill eased the heat, and Xue Ci felt much better. His cheeks bulged as he mumbled a muffled "thank you" to Xin Yue.

The next moment, a weight settled on his shoulder.

Xin Yue leaned his head against him and suddenly asked, "Was Xie Yishu the one who kissed you?"

Xue Ci froze.

But he saw Xin Yue's face; Xin Yue finally refused to look up, seemingly deliberately avoiding eye contact during this conversation.

"I know Xie Yishu joined the training class too, and he even sat next to you. You must like him, right? You're always sticking close to him, and even when your lips and that place were kissed swollen, you still wouldn't say a bad word about him."

Xin Yue had just shaved his head, and the stubble tickled Xue Ci's neck.

Without caring whether Xue Ci could speak with ice in his mouth, he carried on talking.

"He must've felt so damn good. Your lips must be amazing to kiss. Even your spit is sweet."

"I saw him suck your tongue red."

Xin Yue suddenly sat up straight and stared at Xue Ci face-to-face.

"I want to know what it feels like to kiss you too. What you taste like."

Xue Ci's shoulders trembled slightly.

With ice in his mouth, he couldn't speak, so he could only stare at Xin Yue in surprise, his eyes wide.

But Xin Yue's breathing suddenly grew much heavier.

His tone was faint.

"I really want to kiss you, Xue Ci."

Xue Ci was completely dumbfounded.

What on earth was Xin Yue saying...

Seemingly realizing his words were inappropriate, Xin Yue stopped talking such nonsense and immediately held out his palm. "Are your lips better now? Spit the ice out here."

The summer heat had melted the ice Xue Ci spat out to a quarter of its original size. Feeling awkward because of what Xin Yue had just said, he got up and went to the balcony, pretending to wash his face while actually asking 11: [What's going on with Xin Yue?]

11: [It must be because you're so popular, Host. It's normal for the plot to deviate! It's fine. You and Xin Yue really are close at this point. We'll have more chances to correct things later. Once Xin Yue finds out you have skin hunger, he'll stay away from you!]

Xue Ci gave a thoughtful "mm."

In the plot, Xin Yue found out about his skin hunger sometime around winter.

Meanwhile, Xin Yue stayed where he was, and while Xue Ci was away, he took the opportunity to pop the two ice cubes from his palm into his mouth.

Xue Ci asked the teacher for leave and gave himself half a day to rest. He left his phone behind and went straight out of the dorm building with Xin Yue.

Xin Yue had actually made a special effort to get ready today. He had brought his car, put on a watch and styled his hair, and he had even prepared a trunk full of flowers for Xue Ci.

But he felt the timing wasn't right today.

He had said so much to Xue Ci just now, and the fact that Xue Ci hadn't shown disgust or resistance was already a big step forward for him. If he showed any more, he might make Xue Ci dislike him.

This was the first time Xin Yue had fallen for someone, and he took every step with great care.

They went to the restaurant Xin Yue often mentioned. He had booked ahead, and their private dining room was a distinctive, elegant space in the Chinese restaurant.

As Xin Yue cracked the crab shells for him, he asked, "Oh, didn't I say I'd take you to the hot springs? Let's go after your competition, okay?"

Xue Ci nodded.

With his agreement, Xin Yue couldn't keep the smile off his face. He struck while the iron was hot. "Do you want to go skiing? There's still plenty of time left in summer vacation anyway. Let's go together."

Xue Ci was tempted. He really had never tried skiing before.

But skiing was probably expensive.

"I have to place in the competition first."

According to 11, his skin hunger would affect him the day before the competition, but there was no specific requirement concerning whether he placed and won prize money. That counted as a small loophole.

Ever since finding one loophole, 11 had devoted itself to helping him exploit loopholes for points every day.

"You're so good. You can definitely do it." Xin Yue had seen photos of Xue Ci painting, and to a layman like him, Xue Ci was very good.

Besides, he didn't paint people, so he didn't need those models who wore no clothes.

"Thank you..."

Besides the money, Xue Ci thought for a moment and said, "I also need to ask Big Brother."

What Big Brother? They weren't even related by blood, so why did he have to approve even a trip for fun?

That was what Xin Yue thought, but he said, "Okay. I'll ask Big Brother with you when the time comes."

11: Heh.

Xue Ci ate his fill, and after resting for a while, he didn't go straight back. Xin Yue really wanted to go to an amusement park with him. He thought Xue Ci would look incredibly cute wearing one of those plush headbands sold in stores.

But the weather was too hot, so he chose an indoor arcade instead and exchanged money for a basket of game tokens. Only after dark did he reluctantly take Xue Ci back.

After an afternoon of wild fun, Xue Ci had long since forgotten what had upset him. His cheeks were rosy, and he carried the big teddy bear Xin Yue had won all the way upstairs.

This was a date, right?

This had to be a date.

Xin Yue accompanied him to the third floor but still didn't want to part. "Xue Ci, how about I stay here tonight? Is that okay?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a man's voice, low and sharp.

"Xiao Ci."

Xue Ci raised his face and saw Gu Ling's displeased expression over the big teddy bear.

"Do you know how many times I called you?" In the darkness, the corridor light left the man's face half in shadow, and his voice was lower than usual.

Xue Ci hadn't brought his phone, nor had he told Gu Ling beforehand.

Like a troublesome child who had gotten into trouble, he lowered his head and stared at the tips of his shoes.

Xin Yue had only met Gu Ling a few times. He knew Gu Ling had long held a position of power, so it was normal for him to be intimidating. But today, he sensed hostility.

It was like a warning-

Get the hell away from Xue Ci.

The author had something to say:

On New Year's Eve, Xie got to kiss those lips and the little red tip, Xin got a date, Big Brother is about to get a kiss, Gu Xu is improving his English, and Second Brother is earning money to buy Xue Ci a gift.

Everyone has a bright future. Happy New Year!