The Beta from the Countryside (32)

The man's voice was icy, commanding respect without anger.

Perhaps his fever had muddled his brain, but Gu Xu stood his ground for once. He glanced at his older brother and said coolly, "I'm hugging the person I like. What about it?"

Gu Ling's voice held no warmth. "The person you like?"

Gu Xu said, "Not only do I like him, but we were also betrothed as children."

Gu Ling's face had turned frosty. He reminded him, "Who said the person in the betrothal letter was you?"

Gu Xu opened his mouth, apparently intending to argue further, but someone suddenly tugged at the hem of his clothes.

He turned to see Xue Ci pressing his lips tightly together, his shoulders still trembling slightly.

Helplessly caught in the middle of the brothers' argument, he looked pitiful.

"I'm sorry." After recovering a little of his senses, Gu Xu lifted him down from the sink. But then his vision went black, and his feverish head dropped straight down.

A weight fell on Xue Ci's shoulder. The excessive heat of Gu Xu's body left him unable to think much, and he called to Gu Ling, "He has a fever!"

One moment he had been arguing and competing for affection; the next, his fever had left him unconscious.

It seemed he had used up all his fighting strength.

Gu Ling supported Gu Xu, his expression cold.

Xue Ci was terribly worried. "He's burning up... Big Brother, can we get a doctor now?"

Naturally, they had a family doctor, but Alphas had strong constitutions and had rarely been sick or hospitalized since childhood. Gu Ling felt his temperature and frowned slightly.

How had his fever gotten this bad?

He didn't forget to tell Xue Ci, "I'll take him back to his room. Go back to yours and get dressed first. Don't catch cold."

Xue Ci also helped support Gu Xu. "I'll go back later."

The two helped Gu Xu into his room. Once he had fallen onto the bed, Xue Ci tucked the blanket around him. Delirious with fever, Gu Xu kept rambling, "I... serve you, want... want to kiss you..."

As he spoke, he gripped Xue Ci's hand tightly.

He was as strong as an ox.

Xue Ci tried several times to pull his hand free, but it wouldn't budge, so he finally gave up.

The little system ball used its round body to ram Gu Xu's hand, but unfortunately, it passed right through everyone except its host in its semitransparent form.

[The protagonist really has grown!]

[His body's burning up, but his mouth hasn't died!]

"..."

Seeing how red Gu Xu's face was from the fever, Xue Ci let him hold on.

He looked back. Gu Ling had just finished calling the doctor and was staring at several photos by the desk.

Xue Ci looked closely and saw that they were all photos of him. One was even the photo of his legs that he had sent Gu Xu.

Why did he print out a photo like that...?

When Gu Ling turned around, Xue Ci immediately looked away in embarrassment, pretending he knew nothing.

"The doctor will be here soon." Gu Ling had just seen the photos, and now he saw Xue Ci's hand being held. Frowning deeply, he grabbed Gu Xu's wrist and forcibly separated their hands. "Go back and get dressed."

"Oh," Xue Ci said.

Half an hour later, their doctor friend came into the villa carrying his case and yawning. He had thought the sick person was the frail Beta President Gu was concerned about, but to his surprise, it was the tough young Gu Xu.

"It isn't the flu. He probably caught a chill," the doctor kindly advised. "He'll be fine after taking some fever medicine and sweating it out. Once he's better, have him wear more clothes. Young people may be healthy, but they still need to take care of themselves."

The housekeeper gave Gu Xu his medicine, and Xue Ci also prepared a cup of medicinal granules as a precaution. He insisted on taking turns watching over Gu Xu, and Gu Ling couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he stayed in the room as well.

Gu Xu's fever went as quickly as it had come. By daybreak, it had subsided.

Finally reassured, Xue Ci returned to his room to rest.

He slept until the afternoon.

When Xue Ci woke and went to the living room, Gu Xu was already sitting on the sofa. He had changed clothes, and his cold, handsome face looked listless.

When he saw Xue Ci come downstairs, he stared at him at first, then looked away awkwardly, as if remembering something.

Xue Ci walked up to Gu Xu and reached out to feel his forehead, making the Alpha's body gradually stiffen.

"Your fever's gone." Xue Ci breathed a sigh of relief. "Your fever was really bad last night. You even passed out."

"..." Gu Xu felt embarrassed and gave a vague response. "I was talking nonsense last night. Don't take it seriously."

"Mm."

Xue Ci hadn't paid any attention to what Gu Xu had said the night before.

Gu Xu suddenly remembered why he had deliberately caught a chill. His upper body swayed slightly, and he played the sympathy card with the young man. "My head still hurts, and I feel uncomfortable all over."

Sure enough, Xue Ci grew anxious. "Do you want to go back to your room and rest? Have you taken your medicine?"

Of course Gu Xu refused to go back to his room. How could he play pitiful in front of Xue Ci if he went back?

"I've taken it. I want to wash my hands, but I can't stand up."

Xue Ci immediately helped him. "Then I'll go with you."

Unfortunately, Gu Ling interrupted them.

Gu Xu went to the bathroom by himself, his face cold.

Even so, this was the happiest weekend he had spent since meeting Xue Ci. Xue Ci's gaze fell on him from time to time, and he even served him porridge without being asked.

It would have been even better if he could have fed him spoonful by spoonful.

Gu Ling was there the whole time. Having just come out of his susceptible period, he was heavily dependent on Xue Ci's scent. It could even be called an addiction.

Unfortunately, he didn't have a chance to get close to him.

For the time being, the brothers' open and secret struggle had produced no winner. But Xue Ci, still frightened after Gu Ling had kissed him, decided to spend the following days at school.

If he accidentally ran into another susceptible period, he thought his mouth would be kissed raw.

It might not stop at kissing. The man might do even more excessive things to him.

Xie Yishu had indirectly taught Xue Ci about it, and he really couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have his belly filled until it bulged.

Staying with Gu Xu at school, at least he wouldn't suddenly be asked for a kiss.

Gu Ling seemed to have realized Xue Ci was avoiding him and called him every few days. Out of ten calls, he would answer two, and he took until the next day to reply to messages.

He hadn't expected being ignored by the person he liked to be such torment.

Before he knew it, the world progress had reached 95%.

[Congratulations, Host! The task is very simple now! Before those relatives of yours in the countryside call, all you need to do is cling to Xin Yue.]

Xin Yue was in the neighboring city for intensive training ahead of a competition.

To complete the task, Xue Ci sent Xin Yue messages for more than thirty days straight. Every day he sent a flurry of messages, but they were dull, a running account of daily life like an elementary school student's diary.

Xin Yue trained intensively during the day and had to hand over his phone. Xue Ci didn't wait for him to reply and sent messages whenever he had the chance.

By the end, even he thought he was annoying.

One evening, after returning from a study session with Gu Xu, he found the dorm empty.

The heating was on full blast, so Xue Ci changed into pajamas and rested. He didn't know how much time had passed when someone knocked on the door.

He thought Duan Xingyan had returned, but as soon as he opened the door, he fell into a huge embrace.

The fabric of the other person's clothes had been steeped in the winter night's wind, carrying a chill and a crisp, cold scent.

The hug was one thing, but then Xue Ci felt his feet leave the ground. After being lifted up, he was spun around several times.

Xue Ci: "?"

Only after he was put down did Xue Ci see the other person's face clearly. Surprised, he said, "Xin Yue? Why are you back?"

"You sent me so many messages, I thought you missed me a lot." Before Xue Ci could speak, Xin Yue corrected himself. "No, I missed you a lot."

"I missed you so much, Xue Ci."

"I even secretly brought some of your clothes with me, but your scent disappeared from them very quickly."

Xin Yue bent down and rested his head against the young man's slender shoulder.

Xue Ci noticed that last remark, but Xin Yue had come all the way from the neighboring city to see him. It would be too petty to make a fuss over one piece of clothing.

When they separated, Xue Ci noticed quite a few half-melted snowflakes on Xin Yue's shoulders.

Was it snowing outside?

Xue Ci's eyes lit up. He was from the south and had only ever seen a few snow grains at most, which never lasted once they hit the ground.

He hurried to the balcony and saw a world blanketed in white.

Xue Ci eagerly wanted to go downstairs, but Xin Yue stopped him and only let him out after bundling him up so thoroughly that only his eyes showed.

Fog City was in the north. Large snowflakes glowed under the streetlights, the ground was silvery white, and the trees on either side were draped in silver.

Xue Ci trotted outside, not expecting the snow to be so deep, and stumbled straight into it.

He wore a white down jacket, and his hat and scarf were white too. Perhaps he hadn't reacted yet, for he lay motionless where he had fallen in the snow.

How could anyone tell Xue Ci apart from the snow now?

Xin Yue quickly scooped him up. Even Xue Ci's eyelashes were dusted with snow, and his warm, moist breath turned white in the air.

He looked especially endearing.

As Xin Yue brushed the snow off him, he was afraid his movements would be clumsy and even held his breath. After brushing it off his clothes and cheeks, he finally reached for Xue Ci's eyelashes.

The snow had already melted completely in the warmth, leaving the lashes stuck together.

Against the snow, Xue Ci's lips looked even redder.

Xin Yue could almost imagine the intense fragrance coming from the tip of his tongue. Xue Ci's eyes were closed now, and if Xin Yue wanted to, he could kiss him at any moment.

But not everyone had courage.

Especially someone as innocent as Xin Yue.

Suppressing his restless heartbeat, he quickly touched his own lips with a finger, then pressed it to Xue Ci's lips.

He would count that as a kiss.

Xue Ci's face was already numb with cold, and he noticed nothing. He played wildly in the snow for half an hour, leaving footprints everywhere before reluctantly returning to the dorm.

The training camp Xin Yue was attending had strict rules. They had personal time in the evenings, but going out was prohibited.

Breaking the rules over a few messages wasn't worth it, so Xue Ci urged him to go back.

"I'll leave in the morning." Xin Yue was unwilling to leave. Instead, he took off his coat and climbed into Xue Ci's bed. "I'll warm your bed for you."

"..."

Xue Ci glanced at the thermometer, which already read 27°C, but said nothing.

Duan Xingyan had gone back to the family residence, so it was just the two of them in the dorm, sleeping in the same bed.

At first, Xue Ci thought it was cramped, but he gradually got used to squeezing together, and his eyes grew too heavy to keep open. Near daybreak, he vaguely heard Xin Yue ask in his ear if he could take some clothes, and nodded in a daze.

Xin Yue's trip back was a breach of discipline, and the coach gave him a thorough scolding. Yet Xin Yue acted as if he were possessed, grinning foolishly every now and then.

The coach could do nothing with him and simply confiscated his phone.

After that day, Xue Ci didn't dare send Xin Yue messages whenever he pleased, afraid he would come back to see him again and affect the competition. Fortunately, he had already sent plenty of messages, and the progress bar smoothly rose to 98%.

[Host, the relatives who adopted you in the countryside saw your work win an award on television. They think you've latched onto the Gu Family and want to use that connection to climb the social ladder and get some money, so they'll call and lie that Song Chengzu is sick, asking you to send money.]

In the original plot, Xue Ci hadn't sent any money. He felt the Gu Family had already done plenty by taking him in and helping him attend school, and he was truly unwilling to ask them for money. So he hurried home in a panic to see his supposedly sick younger brother.

This was Xue Ci's first trip back to the countryside since coming to Fog City, and he would return to Fog City afterward.

But his personality, which made him an outsider at the elite academy, Gu Xu's mistaken belief that he was frivolous, and the relentless pressure from his relatives all brought him to the brink of a mental breakdown. At last, unable to bear the burden, he dropped out and returned to his hometown in the countryside.

Of course, once he had cut ties with the Gu Family, the uncle and aunt who had adopted him felt he was no longer useful and treated him with disdain every day.

[Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll block out those bad people's voices for you!]

[According to the plot, the progress bar will reach 100% after you've spent just a few days in the countryside. Then you can leave once the small world has been retrieved!]

11 was a very considerate little system ball, and Xue Ci stroked its fluffy fur.

Soon, the day came when his uncle and aunt in the countryside were due to call.

After lunch, Xue Ci stayed in the dorm, resting his head on his arm as he doodled and waited for the call.

But before his relatives called, Gu Ling's call came in.

Xue Ci pondered for a few seconds, then answered.

"Xiao Ci." The man's deep voice came from the other end. After being neglected for so long, his voice sounded unsteady. "You've been avoiding me."

Xue Ci pressed his lips together and said guiltily, "No..."

"Then why haven't you replied to my messages or come home?" His tone began to turn resentful.

Xue Ci used his final exams as an excuse, but the man was sharp and wouldn't be brushed off. "I'll come to the school to see you."

A troubled look appeared on Xue Ci's face. Before he could think of a way to refuse, another call came in.

He instantly straightened up, as if he had a tough battle ahead. "Someone's calling me, Big Brother. I'll talk to you later."

Then he hung up on Gu Ling.

President Gu, on the other end, was no longer in the mood to work. He called his assistant and drove straight over to catch the little cat who was hiding from him.

Xue Ci had prepared himself thoroughly, but he still jumped when he heard the rude, nasty voice on the phone.

After he refused to ask the Gu Family for money to treat Song Chengzu's illness, the other person's attitude changed completely.

Xue Ci moved the phone a little farther from his ear.

"You latched onto the Gu Family and forgot all about us, is that it? I don't know what good it did us to work so hard raising you! We raised an ungrateful wolf! Your brother's so sick he coughs every day. How can you bear to see him suffer like this?"

"The year's almost over. Aren't you coming back to pay respects to your parents?"

The other person said a great deal, all to get him to come back so they could take turns lecturing him in person until he gave in.

Xue Ci gave a vague response. "Got it."

The young man's somewhat perfunctory attitude made them uneasy. Could he have latched onto the Gu Family and decided to pretend he didn't know them? But remembering the child's meek, submissive nature, they thought no more of it.

After hanging up, Xue Ci followed the original plot and didn't tell the Gu Family. He only sent a message to Gu Ling, who was preparing to come to the school to see him.

[I have something to take care of, so I need to go back to my hometown first.]

After sending the message, he picked up his packed schoolbag.

Inside were some change, a change of clothes, and the little umbrella that had accompanied him to Fog City.

The umbrella had originally been broken. He had opened it to test it today and was surprised to find that someone had repaired its damaged metal frame.

Gu Ling's car was stuck in traffic on a road near the academy.

His expression was sharp, and the air around him was even more oppressive than usual.

Fifteen minutes earlier, he had received a message from Xue Ci and called him countless times, but Xue Ci hadn't picked up.

Now, stuck at the entrance, he looked anxiously out the window and caught an accidental glimpse of a familiar figure.

"P-President Gu, you-" Before the assistant could finish, the car door slammed shut. He watched through the window as his boss strode toward the bus.

There weren't many people on the bus on a workday. After boarding, Xue Ci found a window seat at the back and prepared to close his eyes and rest.

It was a single seat, so he didn't have to worry about anyone coming along and disturbing him.

The bus slowly pulled away, only to stop again a few seconds later.

The front door opened, and a tall man in an overcoat boarded.

Beneath the black overcoat was an expensive tailored suit. His features were cold and stern, and he carried the natural air of someone born to command. He didn't look like someone who would take the bus.

Xue Ci stared blankly at the man walking toward him. "You..."

"I'll go back with you."

Gu Ling sat down in the seat behind Xue Ci.

Xue Ci realized that by "go back," he meant going back to the countryside.

He tried to dissuade him. "It's a long way. The ride will take a long time."

"Mm," Gu Ling said calmly. "I know the address."

After meeting Xue Ci for the first time, he had decided to take good care of this younger brother and looked into all the information about him, wanting to understand him better.

But his feelings for Xue Ci had long since changed.

Perhaps he had never seen him as a younger brother to begin with.

Xue Ci thought for a moment. "Don't you need to go to the office?"

"I left it to my assistant. It's time he learned to handle things on his own." Gu Ling had no idea that the assistant he had entrusted with this important task was still stuck on the road.

Xue Ci pressed his lips together and said no more.

He was actually a little pleasantly surprised that Gu Ling was accompanying him.

He had already been in Fog City when he transmigrated into this world and had never met his uncle and aunt. He had no idea how these people might make things difficult for him.

Gu Xu's appearance came just in time for him.

Xue Ci opened his mouth, then finally said softly, "Thank you, big brother."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Ling took off his scarf and wrapped it around Xue Ci's neck.

The man's scarf was long, covering most of Xue Ci's little face. His cheeks soon warmed up and turned rosy.

Big brother was still so good to him and hadn't been angry about his willful behavior some time ago.

Xue Ci suddenly felt guilty.

He lowered his eyes, struggling to figure out how to naturally make up with Gu Ling, when the bus driver took a sharp turn, and momentum sent his head crashing toward the glass window.

Thud-

It was a deep, dull sound.

But... his head didn't hurt.

Xue Ci sat up straight and realized that the man had put his hand against the window, providing a cushion for his head.

Then that sound just now had been...

Xue Ci turned around.

There was little expression on Gu Ling's face, and there was no sign at all that he had just hit the glass.

Was an alpha's head made of iron?

As Xue Ci wondered, he noticed something-though it wasn't very obvious, Gu Ling's brows were furrowed.

Apparently, it had hurt after all.

Soon, as if sensing something, Gu Ling stiffly looked away and pretended to watch the scenery outside.

Hmm...

Xue Ci gave him plenty of face, pretending not to know anything as he turned back around.

Gu Ling's head throbbed faintly.

He stared at Xue Ci's profile reflected in the window.

A second later, the corners of the lips on that profile curved upward.

It wasn't a mocking smile. He looked... happy.

For some reason, Gu Ling found his own lips curving upward too.

After about forty minutes, the bus reached its final stop at the coach station. There were very few people inside. Gu Ling bought two tickets, and it took a four-and-a-half-hour ride to reach the county. From there, they had to find a car to hire for the hour-long drive to the village.

Gu Ling glanced at the time. By the time they arrived, it was past seven, and darkness had long since fallen.

He stared at Xue Ci's obedient profile and thought with lingering fear about what might have happened if he hadn't made that call.

Would Xue Ci have had to travel alone in such a remote place?

He didn't dare think too deeply about it.

Fortunately, he had made it in time.

Gu Ling gently supported the head of the youth sleeping soundly against his shoulder.

It was much colder in the countryside, and Xue Ci's face was frozen stiff when he got out of the car. There were no shops nearby, so Gu Ling walked several hundred meters before finding a small store, where he bought bread and asked the owner for hot water.

After Xue Ci drank the hot water and rested in Gu Ling's arms for a while, his complexion improved.

His home was next to his uncle and aunt's, at the far end of the village. Following 11's directions, Xue Ci led Gu Ling along for ten minutes before they finally saw a light.

A child who looked about ten opened the door.

[This is Song Chengzu. He has a terrible temper and often throws his weight around and bullies people because of his parents. He even took all your paintbrushes.]

"Why are you back?"

Song Chengzu didn't even call him brother. His tone was nasty, and he didn't seem to welcome him at all.

Xue Ci glanced inside. It was a typical self-built village house. Incense burned in the main room, with a portrait of the God of Wealth hanging in front of the incense burner. The room was messy, with clothes strewn over the chairs and Song Chengzu's toys all over the floor.

Xue Ci asked, "Where are your parents?"

"What's it to you?" Song Chengzu snapped. He was about to say more, but when he saw the man behind Xue Ci, he was so frightened that he immediately shut his mouth.

Gu Ling was tall and imposing, and his presence was strong. His cold expression alone was enough to frighten a child, even without a word.

Song Chengzu immediately ran back into the room, shouting, "Dad, Mom! He's back!"

Soon, a middle-aged couple came out of the room. Their faces looked just like the mean relatives Xue Ci had pictured.

The two glanced at Xue Ci and looked surprised.

The youth wore a white down jacket. His complexion was rosy, and his skin was fair and smooth. He looked every bit like a pampered, delicate young master.

Had Song Xueci looked like this before? How had he become a completely different person after only half a year away?

Apparently, money really could nourish a person.

Even though Xue Ci didn't like the two of them, he still greeted them.

They responded, and Li Jianming soon noticed the man behind Xue Ci. "Xue Ci, this is..."

Gu Ling gave his name.

Hearing the surname Gu, Li Jianming immediately understood. His manner changed, and he told Song Cui to make tea. He also pretended to be close to Xue Ci, while constantly trying to curry favor with Gu Ling.

Unfortunately, Gu Ling's presence was too imposing. He was a man of few words, and his expression was cold, so Li Jianming had no choice but to make awkward small talk with Xue Ci.

Xue Ci gave a few perfunctory replies, then glanced at Song Chengzu, who was hiding behind the door and staring at him. "Didn't you say little brother was sick? He doesn't look sick to me."

Li Jianming stammered, "He... your little brother missed you a little. Now that you've come back to see him, he's better."

Xue Ci yawned, looking reluctant to talk. With an important member of the Gu Family present, Li Jianming told Song Cui to get a room ready for Xue Ci to rest in at once. He also ingratiatingly asked Gu Ling if he needed to stay at a hotel in town.

Gu Ling said calmly, "I'll share a room with Xue Ci."

The place Song Cui got ready was Xue Ci's parents' house next door. Xue Ci was glad he didn't have to stay with them.

There was a water heater in the countryside, but the door let in drafts, so the bathroom wasn't very warm. Xue Ci took a quick shower and burrowed under the covers.

Gu Ling warmed his palms for him and suddenly asked, "Have they always treated you badly?"

Xue Ci nodded. To keep the Gu Family from spending money on this family in the future, he decided to say a few bad things about them. His tone turned fierce. "They were mean to me when they called today, and they said I was an ungrateful wretch."

"The umbrella they gave me when I went to Fog City was broken, too."

At the mention of the umbrella, Xue Ci didn't look quite so angry anymore. "But it's been fixed now."

Gu Ling rubbed his face against Xue Ci's cheek with tender affection. "Stay with the Gu Family from now on. I... we'll take good care of you and won't let anyone wrong you again."

Xue Ci smiled. "I know you're good to me, big brother."

The youth was too alluring. One look at him made Gu Ling's breathing grow heavy. He wasted no more time and left the room for the bathroom.

By the time he returned, Xue Ci was already asleep.

Gu Ling had just lifted the covers and lain down when the sweet, white glutinous rice dumpling squeezed over toward him.

At first, he thought the youth was cold, until Xue Ci kept pressing his hands and feet against his bare skin. Only then did he realize.

His skin hunger was acting up.

"Xiao Ci?"

He called softly.

Xue Ci seemed to regain a little awareness. He hummed twice and nuzzled farther into his arms. "Uncomfortable..."

Gu Ling's Adam's apple bobbed.

He said in a husky voice, "Let me help you, all right, Xiao Ci?"

Xue Ci didn't know why the desensitization therapy had changed from long kisses to kissing other places.

With someone holding him by the waist, he sat on something soft.

Something pressed against him uncomfortably, and soft whimpers and sobs kept slipping from his throat.

His trembling, soft tongue could be glimpsed from time to time.

His neck was arched back, while his legs were bent at the knees against the coarse bedsheet.

His whole body trembled, and his toes curled tightly with effort, pressed close together.

In the moonlight, the man's face appeared from time to time.

His straight nose was covered in sweet-smelling juices.

The author has something to say:

Wuwuwu, having baby sit on his face felt so good again.