Filament-like tendrils curled boldly around Lu Yicheng’s body, winding up his waist and brushing along his spine. One even slid up to the side of his neck, sticky and teasing.
The sensation was strange, almost ticklish, but not unpleasant. Lu Yicheng didn’t pull away. His mind was too busy processing what Shi You had just said.
Had that just been… a confession?
“Mushroom cultivation,” That phrase, when he thought about it, wasn’t it a roundabout way of entrusting oneself completely to another?
The thought alone made Lu Yicheng’s ears turn slightly red. He was about to open his mouth to confirm when one of those cool tendrils suddenly pressed against his lips, silencing him.
Shi You’s face was still flushed, his eyes darting away shyly. “Don’t rush to answer,” he said quickly. “Take your time. Think about it first.”
Lu Yicheng blinked, his lips muffled by the jelly-like touch.
He’s afraid I’ll say no, Lu Yicheng realized.
Does he really like me that much?
Seeing the man’s pensive expression, Shi You’s nerves tensed even more.
Sure enough, bringing up the idea of making Lu Yicheng his “nurturing host” at a time like this might not have been appropriate.
He had tried to phrase it gently, hadn’t outright said “Please be my host from today on,” but it was still too forward.
He just really liked Lu Yicheng’s pheromones. There was something in that scent that felt so comforting, almost like it could help him grow stronger. If it meant being nourished by that aura, Shi You couldn’t help wanting to try again.
“You can take your time to think. I’ll wait for you,” Shi You said softly, biting his lip. He lowered his gaze, eyelashes trembling as he searched his mind for something else to say.
Finally, with his pale amber eyes glimmering faintly, he added, “I’m very well-behaved.”
Lu Yicheng was speechless.
Now he didn’t even know what situation he was in anymore. The little mushroom was sitting at the edge of his sofa, cheerful and content, holding onto him like a child clutching a favorite toy, his entire body buried in Lu Yicheng’s embrace.
Lu Yicheng sat still for a long time. His throat felt a little dry. The alcohol that had almost worn off after his shower began to surge back to his head.
After those few words, Shi You had fallen quiet. Lu Yicheng’s own thoughts were a mess. It was absurd, utterly absurd.
Outside, the residential complex was silent. The night was heavy, the sky beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows starless and dark.
Lu Yicheng leaned back against the sofa, his head tilted up as he drew in a slow breath. The warmth pressed against him was still there.
Though Shi You’s body temperature had dropped a little, somehow the contact only felt hotter. His own heartbeat quickened without his permission.
He forced himself to calm down, reached for the air conditioner remote, and lowered the temperature. “Hey,” he murmured, his voice low. “How long are you planning to hold me like this?”
No answer.
He looked down.
Shi You’s long lashes rested quietly against his cheeks. The Beta was fast asleep.
He’s asleep?
Lu Yicheng almost laughed out loud. He had seen a lot in his life, but this, someone confessing their feelings and then falling asleep in the arms of the person they confessed to, was definitely a first.
Then again, Shi You always managed to surprise him in new ways.
The young man’s face was nestled against his abdomen, his hands resting loosely behind his back. The blanket that had been covering him had slipped halfway down, revealing his pale ankles.
The toes that peeked out twitched slightly in his sleep, kicking the small quilt off the rest of the way.
Helpless, Lu Yicheng sighed, reached out, and gently pulled the blanket back over him.
So innocent, yet not at all.
He even kicks the blanket in his sleep.
And somehow, Lu Yicheng didn’t dare wake him. Maybe because he’d already made the mistake of disturbing him once before.
There was nothing he could do.
He carefully slipped his arms around Shi You’s waist and lifted him off his own lap.
There was a guest room in the apartment, but it hadn’t been cleaned or fitted with sheets, so it wasn’t suitable for sleeping. Letting a guest spend the night on the couch didn’t seem right either.
Holding the soft, boneless body against him, Lu Yicheng stood up, set the empty cake plate into the sink as he passed the kitchen, and carried Shi You into his bedroom.
The Beta was weightless in his arms, his body loose and pliant, as though all the bones had melted away. Maybe it was because of the fever, but he felt soft everywhere.
His head rested against Lu Yicheng’s neck, and again that faintly sweet scent drifted out, the smell of cream and sugar, delicate and addictive.
It was dangerously tempting.
A scent that made him want to chase it deeper, yet shy away at the same time. So faint it almost felt like an illusion, a trick of his wine-addled mind.
Lu Yicheng reached the bed and drew back the quilt. He was about to lay the young man down when suddenly a strong pull yanked him forward. He stumbled and fell right beside Shi You on the mattress.
He froze.
The mushroom boy’s hands had released him, but the tendrils hadn’t. They were still wrapped tightly around his arm, his abdomen, even his thighs, clinging greedily.
When Lu Yicheng tried to touch one, it only tightened, refusing to let go.
He looked up, and found Shi You’s face inches from his own.
His heart gave a hard thud.
For a moment, his body locked up. He didn’t dare move.
Shi You smacked his lips in his sleep, licked them unconsciously, and reached up to wrap an arm around Lu Yicheng’s neck. He leaned in instinctively, seeking the comfort of the familiar pheromone that had soothed him earlier.
Lu Yicheng nearly stopped breathing.
Shi You had no idea what he was doing, sleeping peacefully and breathing softly, completely at ease.
The gentle sound of it filled the silence between them.
Lu Yicheng gritted his teeth and drew in a deep, shaky breath. Slowly, carefully, he began prying the tendrils off one by one.
But the alcohol and fatigue finally caught up to him. He wasn’t sure when his hands stopped moving. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had drifted off beside the sleeping Beta.
When Shi You woke up the next morning, he felt wonderful. His whole body felt lighter, as if a layer of exhaustion had been peeled away overnight.
He stretched his arms lazily, smiling at how comfortable he felt. Then he turned, meaning to snuggle for a bit longer, but froze when he realized, this wasn’t his room.
In an instant, he shot up from the bed like a spring, his mind blank.
Wait. What?!
He was in Lu Yicheng’s bed!
Shi You’s face turned scarlet. He didn’t dare even look at the sheets again.
He vaguely remembered showing his tendrils last night, getting a hug as a reward… and then falling asleep. The rest was a blur.
Oh no.
He had actually fallen asleep at his benefactor’s house, and on his bed!
Trying not to panic, Shi You tiptoed to the door and peeked into the living room. “Yicheng?” he called softly.
No answer.
He stepped out, scanning the room. The heating was still on, and the air was comfortably warm and moist. It was as if someone had adjusted it knowing he’d get cold if he walked out without a coat.
“Lu Yicheng?”
Still no response. The living room was spotless, everything neatly in its place. Then Shi You spotted a note left on the counter.
Beside it sat a bottle of milk and a small loaf of bread. The sticky note read:
[Morning experiment. Spare phone on the table. Property number saved, call them to unlock the door.]
The handwriting was elegant, clean, and precise.
Shi You touched the milk. It was still warm.
He felt a rush of emotion. Yicheng really was too nice.
And suddenly, guilt pricked at him. He’d blurted out that whole “host” thing last night without thinking. What if Yicheng didn’t want anything to do with mushrooms anymore?
He quickly called the property office, got the lock opened, then hurried around turning off all the lights, the air conditioner, and the humidifier before leaving.
Once he got home, he changed clothes, picked up his phone, and almost choked on the flood of unread notifications.
[Disney Escape Team: DDL tomorrow midnight, folks! Don’t forget to hand in your work〜〜〜]
[Liao Qi: Shi You, can you fill out the registration form? You’re the only one who hasn’t yet.]
[Class One Design Group: There once was a pure and noble design assignment before me, and I failed to treasure it. Now I regret it deeply. The greatest sorrow of learning is this. If I could turn back time, I would tell that assignment two words, I’ll write! And if I must add a deadline, it would be… before tomorrow dawn!]
[Bai Yuanshan: Shi You! Where did you go? You didn’t pick up my calls!]
[Bai Yuanshan: The interior perspective project is due tomorrow! You said we’d have lunch together today!]
Ignoring the chaos of messages, Shi You went straight to his contacts, where a red dot blinked beside one particular name.
Lu Yicheng’s profile picture was simple, a soft silhouette of a building. His friend request had come with just one plain note: “I’m Lu Yicheng.”
Shi You approved it, changed the contact name, and hesitated for a long moment before typing:
Good morning!
Then, unable to stop himself, he added another:
Thank you for the milk! I managed to get the door unlocked. Sorry for troubling you so much yesterday! [Apologetic emoji]
He hit send and immediately felt nervous.
This was their first message exchange since his “host” confession. He didn’t know what kind of reply to expect.
No reply came.
Maybe he’s busy.
Just as Shi You was about to send another message, the screen lit up.
Lu Yicheng had replied:
“Mm.”
…Mm?!
Just that? What was that supposed to mean?!
Shi You stared at the single syllable, at a complete loss for words. Maybe Yicheng hadn’t finished typing? But five minutes passed. Nothing else came.
Could it be… he was trying to keep his distance?
Before Shi You could finish spiraling into panic, another message appeared.
“Feeling better now?”
Shi You’s mood instantly brightened.
That was more like the Lu Yicheng he knew!
“Yes! Much better!” he typed quickly.
“Thank you, Yicheng!”
“Yicheng is amazing!”
“I like you the most!”
[Hearts and hugs emoji]
When Lu Yicheng read those messages, the tips of his ears went red. He frowned slightly, covering half his face with his hand.
A nervous student giving a presentation in front of him noticed his expression and faltered. “Um, Senior, did I make a mistake somewhere?”
Lu Yicheng lowered his phone, his face completely calm again. “Your genomic data has errors,” he said evenly. “If you want to transfer the model genes into a non-model plant, you should focus on orthologous genes instead.”
The student bobbed his head rapidly. “Right, right, I’ll fix that. Thank you!”
“You can go,” Lu Yicheng said.
The student scurried out of the room, relief bursting into laughter and chatter the moment the door closed.
“Wow, look at that,” said Zhang Beihan, gathering his papers. “You’re terrifying, you know that? I’ve never seen students so happy just to escape a meeting. If I’d had a TA like you in undergrad, I’d never have graduated.”
Lu Yicheng slipped the reports into his bag, ignoring him.
But Zhang Beihan wasn’t done. “Still… you’re in a surprisingly good mood today. Didn’t snap anyone’s head off. What’s going on?”
Lu Yicheng didn’t answer. His expression stayed neutral. “Didn’t you say there’s an interview later?”
“Oh, right,” Zhang said, checking the time. “Someone from the art college. Professor Sui recommended him. Should be here by ten-thirty.”
Lu Yicheng nodded, then glanced again at his phone.
The cheerful little avatar with the pouty cartoon face was still sending messages.
I’m heading out now!
It’s so cold outside TwT
I’ve got an interview later, then lunch with a friend!
Also, Yicheng, can I get the link for your humidifier? [Heart emoji]
Just reading them made Lu Yicheng’s lips curve slightly. He could picture the little mushroom bouncing in front of him, talking a mile a minute.
Without realizing it, he was smiling. And yes, he had to admit, he really was in a better mood today.
Meanwhile, Shi You jogged across campus, the chilly wind tousling his hair. The sun was bright and golden, casting long shadows.
The class rep collected his assignment with a grin. “Got it, thanks for coming all the way here.”
“No no, you’re the one working hard!” Shi You laughed. “I’ll see you later!”
As he ran off, the class rep watched his retreating figure. “Shi You’s a Beta, right?”
“Yeah,” a friend replied. “Why?”
“Nothing. I just thought I saw an Omega suppressant patch on the back of his neck. Must’ve been my imagination.”
Shi You was already bounding down the stairs, the wind brushing past his cheeks.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Lu Yicheng.
Golden leaves danced in the wind around him. The air was crisp, his breath turning to mist. Autumn had quietly arrived.
Lu Yicheng’s message read:
“The humidifier’s from a local store.”
“Next time, I’ll take you there.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The translator has survived another chapter. Please reward them with coffee. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · MushroomChapter 2 · Blocking The RoadChapter 3 · Pectoral MuscleChapter 4 · Delivering MealChapter 5 · CoatChapter 6 · NeighbourChapter 7 · CookiesChapter 8 · BalconyChapter 9 · MyceliumChapter 10 · Don’t PinchChapter 11 · Warmth and NourishmentChapter 12 · Speak without RestraintChapter 13 · On the bedChapter 14 · InterviewChapter 15 · InjuredChapter 16 · So WetChapter 17 · Drink WineChapter 18 · Play AgainChapter 19 · HostChapter 20 · RomanceChapter 21 · KissChapter 22 · What should Daddy do?Chapter 23 · Washing FeetsChapter 24 · MoodChapter 25 · No kissing allowedChapter 26 · Broken BridgeChapter 27 · Blind DateChapter 28 · Dinner PartyChapter 29 · FamilyChapter 30 · Heat Sensitivity PeriodChapter 31 · LickChapter 32 · AgainChapter 33 · BabyChapter 34 · SeminarChapter 35 · Matcha TroubleChapter 36 · SpankingChapter 37 · EroticChapter 38 · JealousyChapter 39 · Little Male ServantChapter 40 · I want…Chapter 41 · Deep ConnectionChapter 42 · ToothpasteChapter 43 · DifferentiationChapter 44 · A KissChapter 45 · The Taoist TempleChapter 46 · Chasing SomeoneChapter 47 · Feeding the MedicineChapter 48 · The MessageChapter 49 · Get DownChapter 50 · Soft WaistChapter 51 · HeatChapter 52 · Deep Within the ForestChapter 53 · SensitivityChapter 54 · The Little Perverted MushroomChapter 55 · Turn AroundChapter 56 · DisappearanceChapter 57 · Don’t NurtureChapter 58 · MadnessChapter 59 · The ReasonChapter 60 · Declaring OwnershipChapter 61 · I Love YouChapter 62 · KitchenChapter 63 · Sneaking into BedChapter 64 · AdulteryChapter 65 · The Muscle Show!Chapter 66 · Was It Fun?Chapter 67 · In Front of the MirrorChapter 68 · The LondonChapter 69 · Don’t Be SadChapter 70 · End of Main StoryChapter 71 · Extra 1Chapter 72 · Extra 2Chapter 73 · Extra 3Chapter 74 · Extra 4Chapter 75 · Extra 5