The Beta from the Countryside (06)

Gu Xu was so angry he sneered. He had never even been in a relationship, yet Xin Yue had made him out to be a worthless secondhand man.

He practically gritted his teeth as he demanded, "Then how did you know he was here to see you?"

Only then did Xin Yue look a little embarrassed. "I... guessed."

He actually felt very uncertain, and didn't know whether the other person even remembered him.

Xue Ci stood outside the classroom and quickly spotted Gu Xu through the window, though he was a long way off. He quietly called out to a student by the window. "Excuse me, could you help me call Gu Xu over?"

The student was a boy with dyed blond hair and unruly clothes. At a glance, he looked like a school tyrant who was best left alone. But when Xue Ci spoke to him, his ears instantly turned bright red, and he stammered, "...Oh, I... I'll call him for you."

He quickly got up and rushed over to Gu Xu's seat. "There's a really beautiful Omega outside looking for you!" he said excitedly.

"He's a Beta," Gu Xu corrected him. Before leaving, he made sure to take a jab at Xin Yue. "He's the one with the engagement agreement with the Gu family. He came to see me."

Sitting at his desk, Xin Yue found the disappointment on his face even harder to hide than his embarrassment over the misunderstanding.

So this beautiful O... no, Beta was Gu Xu's fiancée.

And he smelled so good even though he was a Beta.

And Gu Xu still didn't want him? No, seriously, why not?

Xin Yue thought his friend didn't know a good thing when he saw it. But they had known each other for years, and he understood Gu Xu's temperament-he probably thought delicate, fragile people were troublesome.

And the Beta outside was obviously that type.

Forget it.

Even if Gu Xu had no intention of marrying him, as his brother, Xin Yue couldn't be interested in him anymore.

A friend's wife was off-limits.

The cloyingly sweet smell of perfume surrounded him again, a cheap imitation.

Xin Yue lay down on his desk, his usually bright, lively eyes drooping like those of an abandoned stray puppy.

Xue Ci hadn't expected Gu Xu to come out of the classroom either. He had thought he only needed to make a token effort to call him, get no response, and wait a few minutes to complete the task before leaving.

So he hadn't thought about what to say.

He stood there in a daze across from the Alpha, staring straight at him with innocent eyes.

Gu Xu looked away awkwardly and cleared his throat. "...What is it?"

Holy Spiral Academy had many teaching buildings, most of which looked alike. He didn't know how many people Xue Ci had asked for directions before finding his way here to see him.

"I came to see you." Xue Ci had chosen the same major as Gu Xu, so he would be taking most of his classes in this classroom from now on. He rose slightly on his toes and looked through the window, hoping to familiarize himself with the classmates he would be studying with. Instead, he found a crowd gathered around the window, watching him and Gu Xu.

But before long, Gu Xu's body was completely blocking him from view.

Gu Xu wouldn't even let his classmates see him with Xue Ci.

Xue Ci listened with satisfaction to the sound of points being credited.

He had no reason to stay long, so he said perfunctorily, "I'm going back now."

Gu Xu thought Xue Ci was afraid of the unfamiliar surroundings. "I'll walk you to the car."

Huh?

Xue Ci was surprised, but had no time to think it over. "...Oh."

The early summer sun wasn't too harsh, but thinking of Xue Ci's almost translucent skin, Gu Xu chose a tree-lined path anyway.

Sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled patches of light and shadow on Xue Ci.

They danced back and forth as he walked.

Gu Xu soon found himself staring in a trance.

Had he really grown up in the countryside? How did he look so delicate and pampered?

The results of Xue Ci's entrance exam came out soon, and his score was even higher than he had expected. He needed to spend the coming weekend at home packing for the start of school on Monday.

He had thought he would be busy, but Gu Ling had already taken care of everything himself.

To fit his frugal persona, Xue Ci made sure to tuck the broken little umbrella into his backpack.

He was a little surprised-

He had been staying with the Gu family for so many days, yet no one had suggested throwing the umbrella away.

Monday.

Gu Ling had a last-minute meeting, so he sent someone to drive Xue Ci and Gu Xu over.

The luggage stayed in the car, and Xue Ci got out with his backpack.

The office was on the top floor, and the classroom was on the eighth. When he saw that Gu Xu hadn't pressed the button for the eighth floor, he reminded him.

"I'm coming with you." Gu Xu stood with his arms folded. He was wearing a lightweight black windbreaker today, zipped all the way up, giving him a neat, youthful look. He casually came up with an excuse. "You might mix up the paperwork on your own and end up unable to enroll, then secretly shed little pearls again."

He put extra emphasis on "shed little pearls."

"?"

Xue Ci had no time to argue with Gu Xu over his false claim that he had cried. In the original plot, Gu Xu had class on the morning he reported for school, so he had gone to the office alone.

He was afraid that a deviation from the plot would have unimaginable consequences, so he tried to send Gu Xu away. "It's fine. Big Brother already helped me prepare all the documents. They're in the folder."

"Oh," Gu Xu said, but he still didn't move. Soon, they reached the top floor.

Xue Ci pressed his lips together. Seeing Gu Xu head toward the office, he immediately reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "You... you shouldn't skip class like this."

He appealed to reason, trying to persuade Gu Xu to go to class.

Gu Xu didn't think much of it. "It's just two elective periods. I can still do well on the exams without attending."

Xue Ci looked surprised. "But Auntie Hu said you often fail your exams."

Gu Xu: "?"

Was that what Ms. Hu had been telling Xue Ci about him?

He coughed, a little embarrassed, and tried to save face. "That was because I didn't study when I was little."

Seeing that he still wouldn't budge, Xue Ci had no choice but to play his trump card. "If you skip class, I'll tell Auntie Hu."

The baby fat on his cheeks hadn't completely disappeared, and when he tried to look threatening, his cheeks puffed out even more above his pointed chin.

When a weak little force tried to be fierce...

"Mm-"

No sooner had Xue Ci finished speaking than he felt someone tug at his cheek.

"So you've learned to tattle on me?"

When those clear eyes turned toward him, Gu Xu froze, finally realizing what he had done.

What was he doing?? How could he pinch someone else's cheek??

As if he had been shocked, Gu Xu reacted strongly, not only letting go at once but also taking several steps back.

Xue Ci rubbed his reddened cheek.

Was there something dirty on his face? Why else would he have scared Gu Xu so badly?

Xue Ci still wasn't completely used to ABO gender distinctions. He only felt that a boy had touched him, and didn't pay it any mind. Returning to the topic, he urged him, "Class is about to start. Hurry up and go."

"...Oh." Gu Xu couldn't calm his racing heart. It took him a long moment to squeeze out that one word before he fled into the elevator.

The elevator descended little by little.

How could anyone's face be so soft and tender? Was it made of tofu? Then what had he been doing? Eating tofu?

He thought back to Xue Ci's face, which had immediately developed a red mark after he pinched it.

He didn't think he had used much strength.

If he had squeezed harder, would all that soft flesh have spilled out between his fingers?

Gu Xu's hair fell messily over his forehead. He couldn't help rubbing his fingertips together, as though savoring that fleeting sensation.

The teachers at Holy Spiral Academy were very courteous to Xue Ci.

The Gu family's standing in Fog City was second to none. Although the boy before them seemed polite and good-tempered, they didn't dare let their guard down in the slightest.

Soon, the teacher handling Xue Ci's enrollment handed him several forms and a set of dorm keys. "You'll need these documents when you choose your courses later, so make sure you keep them safe. Your room is 3012. You'll be sharing it with the class monitor from the management department. He's very reliable, so ask him if there's anything you don't understand. Don't be afraid."

If the gender field on the paperwork hadn't said Beta, he would have thought the boy was an Omega.

Since he was a Beta, he could share a room with Alphas.

"Thank you, sir." Xue Ci politely accepted them, and afterward an assistant accompanied him to the dorm building.

The dorms at the elite academy weren't the usual arrangement of beds above desks. The bedroom for four was spacious, with four single beds neatly arranged in a row. Outside the bedroom were a living room, balcony, and bathroom. Each dorm also had a large kitchen and was fully stocked with daily necessities, so residents could practically move in with just a bag.

Probably knowing this, Gu Ling had prepared a small but carefully chosen amount of luggage. After the assistant carried everything into the dorm, Xue Ci sent him on his way.

He went to the sink, intending to wash his hands before unpacking.

Just as he finished, the bathroom door behind him opened from the inside.

Xue Ci turned around-

A shirtless man walked out.

His build was somewhere between youthful and mature, with a broad frame, wide shoulders, and a narrow waist. A long, faint scar ran across his chest, but it didn't detract from his appearance. Instead, it gave him a touch of rugged charm.

He was still wet from his shower, and droplets rolled along the lines of his firm muscles before disappearing into the towel tied around his waist.

The man saw Xue Ci at the same time and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Both stood where they were without speaking.

The next second, the man swept all his black hair back.

Only then did Xue Ci get a clear look at his face.

His features weren't overly rugged, but the lines of his face were sharp and well-defined.

Above them was a pair of distinctive peach blossom eyes.

Those eyes were half-lidded now, fixed on him with the hint of a smile.

11 promptly sent over the information: [He's Duan Xingyan, the Gu family's second son and Gu Xu's fraternal twin. He went missing when he was little and only returned to the Gu family two years ago.]

There was very little information on Duan Xingyan. His experiences with several adoptive families were summed up in just a few lines.

Xue Ci's gaze settled on the last line-the Alpha's gland was damaged and unable to produce pheromones.

He pressed his lips together and subconsciously looked at the scar on the other man's chest.

The next second, Duan Xingyan casually slipped on a white shirt. The corners of his lips curved as he looked at Xue Ci with an unreadable expression.

"Isn't it a little inappropriate to stare at your fiancé's older brother for so long?" The Alpha's gaze was gentle, but his voice was seductive, the final syllable drawn out lazily. "Your name is Song Xueci, right?"

Gu Xu was distracted throughout the entire class, constantly looking out the window. He had thought Xue Ci would come looking for him after leaving the office, but he never saw that familiar head.

It looked like he had already reached the dorm. Betas could share a dorm with Alphas. Gu Xu was aloof and didn't like having roommates, so he was currently the only one in his dorm.

If Xue Ci didn't get along with his other roommates, Gu Xu could reluctantly take him in.

Putting that thought aside, Gu Xu opened WeChat.

He and Xue Ci hadn't chatted since adding each other as friends.

The chat window was empty, and with the sleeping cat in Xue Ci's profile picture, it looked a little desolate.

Gu Xu edited his message several times before finally sending a very short one.

[Which dorm?]

Two seconds later, Xue Ci's reply arrived: [3012]

3012.

All three of the other people in that dorm were Alphas.

Gu Xu frowned: [What are you doing?]

Xue Ci: [Unpacking.]

Xue Ci: [Kitten peeking.jpg.]

...Why had he suddenly sent such a cute sticker?

[Have you eaten?]

[I'll go eat after I finish unpacking.]

Thinking of how slow Xue Ci was, Gu Xu figured it would be afternoon by the time he finished. Just then, the bell rang for the end of class. Gu Xu turned down Xin Yue's invitation to play ball, picked up two lunches from the cafeteria, and headed straight for 3012.

Standing at the door, he briefly fixed his windblown hair before knocking twice, neither too lightly nor too hard.

Xue Ci soon opened the door.

But before he even had a chance to look at Gu Xu, he disappeared from sight.

As though he had someone hidden inside.

"..." Gu Xu put aside his jumbled thoughts and pushed the door open, only to find that there really was someone else inside besides Xue Ci.

"You're here?" Duan Xingyan glanced at the figure in the bedroom doorway, then quickly looked away. He took another hanger from Xue Ci, hung a piece of clothing on it, and placed it in the wardrobe.

His movements were completely natural.

Gu Xu was silent for two seconds before responding.

Duan Xingyan was his older twin brother. They had both been little when he went missing, so Gu Xu's impression of him was hazy. All he knew was that Duan Xingyan had suffered a great deal while he was away.

Gu Xu felt he owed him, so he had taken the initiative to try to grow closer to him.

But his and Duan Xingyan's personalities simply didn't get along.

The other man's warmth and courtesy were only a facade; in truth, he kept everyone at a distance. Though they were the same age, he was like a slick old fox.

Gu Xu stopped trying to force him to fit into the Gu family, and Duan Xingyan kept his original surname.

Two years had passed, and they hadn't grown much closer.

"Big Brother will go check whether the noodles are ready." Duan Xingyan closed the wardrobe and smiled at Xue Ci.

...Big Brother???

Gu Xu's expression froze.

Soon, Xue Ci followed him into the kitchen, hovering around Duan Xingyan like a little clingy shadow.

Gu Xu casually tossed the packed lunches onto the table and watched coldly.

A delicious aroma drifted from the kitchen.

Duan Xingyan reached for the apron hanging on the wall and slipped it over his head.

"Help Second Brother tie it."

"Xue Ci."

A vein throbbed sharply at Gu Xu's temple.

What kind of Alpha talked like that? Wasn't it disgusting? Sickeningly sweet? And he even called himself "second brother."

But Xue Ci seemed to fall for it, obediently tying the apron on him.

Then Duan Xingyan lifted the lid off the pot. "Your brother's pretty good at making noodles. You can try some."

The man who said it meant nothing else by it and hadn't even noticed anything wrong.

Gu Xu, however, snorted inwardly.

Why did that sound so wrong?

What was all that about making noodles?

He glanced at Xue Ci.

The kitten was leaning over the pot, his face enveloped in white steam. His little nose could just be seen twitching.

So stupid.

Someone was saying lewd things to him, and he didn't even notice.

Later on, someone will definitely be able to pin his wrists down, coax him with a few words, and get him to obediently open his mouth and let them suck on his tongue, until he can't even keep his drool in.

Author's note:

You little punk...

All the slices are here.

About their character types:

Eldest brother: daddy-type CEO

Second brother: scheming fox

Gu Xu: cool guy secretly enjoying himself

Xin Yue: sunshine big dog

A certain Xie: crawling braided pervert