The mushroom’s reaction was completely different from what Lu Yicheng had expected.
“So you think the photos turned out well too? I really like those two.” Shi You smiled brightly, his voice soft with genuine warmth. “That’s the family who adopted me.”
There were still traces of moisture on his eyelashes. When he blinked, they trembled lightly, catching the glow of the lamp.
The word “adopted” made Lu Yicheng pause. His throat tightened slightly before he managed to say, “I’m sorry.”
Shi You tilted his head, puzzled. “What are you apologizing for?” he asked easily. “I mean, I really was a mushroom, after all.”
He said it so naturally that Lu Yicheng was momentarily speechless. Before he could respond, Shi You tugged at his arm, hopping a little as he pulled him toward the shelf.
“Come here, I’ll show you. That’s my sister and my brother-in-law,” he said, pointing at the framed photo of three people standing together.
Then he noticed another photo frame lying face down. Picking it up, he frowned. “Oh, did this one fall over? Let me show you, this is Song Yize, my nephew.”
Lu Yicheng blinked. “Nephew?”
“Yize’s in college now,” Shi You said proudly, his tone carrying the casual fondness of an elder. “He’s studying right next door at Tsinghua. Isn’t that amazing? And he’s really handsome too! He’s also a top Alpha, and his omega partner is absolutely adorable.”
Lu Yicheng gave him a sidelong glance. Shi You looked barely older than a teenager, yet he spoke so smoothly about his nephew that it made him sound like an old family uncle.
Somehow, that tone of familiarity stirred a strange feeling in his chest, something unexplainable, a bit sour and a bit absurd.
He rubbed his forehead discreetly, suppressing the odd twist of emotion that had crept up on him. When he finally spoke again, his expression was calm as ever. “Stop bouncing around,” he said evenly. “Go sit on the sofa.”
Shi You was soon seated on the sofa, a soft blanket draped around him. Lu Yicheng, following his own quiet efficiency, plugged in the hairdryer and began drying the mushroom’s damp hair.
“Just in case, don’t walk around today or tomorrow,” he instructed, glancing at Shi You’s ankle.
“Not even tomorrow?” Shi You asked in a small voice.
“It’s better if you don’t,” Lu Yicheng replied.
“Oh.” Shi You lowered his head, looking a little deflated. “I was hoping we could spend time together tomorrow.”
That made Lu Yicheng pause for a moment before realization hit him. Right, he had promised to go with him tomorrow to buy a humidifier.
Shi You’s expression dimmed a little, his eyes drifting toward the balcony. The wind outside had picked up, and the sound of raindrops began to tap softly against the glass. “It’s raining,” he murmured.
He sat quietly, watching the rain cascade down. The color of the sky was a dull, misty gray, its tone blending with the faint damp strands of his hair.
To Lu Yicheng, the sight looked almost melancholy.
“Shanshan also said he’d take me to get chestnut cake,” Shi You added softly. “Guess that’s not happening either.”
Lu Yicheng frowned slightly. Was this little mushroom really that fond of him?
His phone vibrated before he could think further.
[Yan isn’t Bai: Lao Lu~~~]
[Yan isn’t Bai: What are you doing~~~]
The moment he saw the sender, Lu Yicheng knew that Lu Zhenheng had sent Jiang Yanbai to check up on him again.
He didn’t feel like replying, but as he looked at Shi You sitting quietly by the rain, he changed his mind and typed a message.
[-: Which place sells good chestnut cake?]
[Yan isn’t Bai: Chestnut cake?]
[Yan isn’t Bai: I think Xingjian just released a new chestnut cake today! I heard it’s delicious!]
He didn’t know much about that brand, but judging from Shi You’s earlier comment, it must have been the one he wanted.
[-: Buy two pieces and send them to 801.]
[Yan isn’t Bai: ?]
[Yan isn’t Bai: Brother, come on, I’m a vice president too, you know! It’s the weekend! Don’t I deserve a peaceful day out with a few of my long lost Omega friends?]
[Yan isn’t Bai: And you didn’t even answer my question!]
Lu Yicheng’s fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard.
[-: You haven’t figured out that Jiangzhou project, have you?]
[-: Twenty minutes. Two cakes.]
[-: I’ll handle it for you.]
The other end went quiet for a few moments.
[Yan isn’t Bai: Deal, brother!]
[Yan isn’t Bai: licks screen.jpg]
[Yan isn’t Bai: Only two cakes though? That’s way too stingy! I’ll add something extra and bring it over myself, just you wait!]
Lu Yicheng put his phone aside and turned to see Shi You holding a tablet, sketching.
“I need to finish an assignment,” Shi You said earnestly. “It won’t take long. But Yicheng, if you’re bored, maybe you can watch a movie? Or I’ve got plenty of books, you can read one if you like.”
On the tablet, a digital pencil traced shades of wet gray. The texture of the drawing program mimicked real paper so well that the strokes sounded almost like graphite scratching against rough grain.
As Shi You zoomed in, the faint lines became sharp outlines of high-rises, cold and solitary structures, their spires stabbing upward into the gloom of a painted sky.
“No need,” Lu Yicheng said, resting his chin on one hand. He leaned back against the sofa, half watching the drawing, half watching the young man beside him. “I’ll just watch you draw.”
Shi You worked quickly.
When he drew, he was unexpectedly serious and meticulous, absorbed entirely in his work. The friction of the stylus against the tablet filled the room, a soft rustling sound, and under his fingers the sketch gradually deepened into a rich play of light and shadow.
Lu Yicheng studied his face. The first word that came to mind was seductive.
It was strange, such a word didn’t seem to suit someone as pure-looking as Shi You. Yet his high cheekbones, the pale skin at his collarbone where the neckline slipped low, and the faint blue veins pulsing beneath that delicate skin, all of it together created a quiet, unintentional allure.
If he didn’t call it seductive, there was no other word that fit.
Maybe Shi You could sense being watched, because his cheeks slowly turned pink, his lashes fluttering like nervous wings.
Adorable.
But in Shi You’s mind, there were only two thoughts.
One, he was running out of time on his assignment.
And two, Lu Yicheng was the project supervisor he wanted to work under, if he was watching this closely, he was probably evaluating his skills. He had to perform perfectly.
Lu Yicheng watched him for a full twenty minutes.
And Shi You, as if on cue, worked with complete focus for those twenty minutes.
Then the doorbell rang.
Right on time. Jiang Yanbai arrived exactly twenty minutes later.
“Hey, Lao Lu,” came his voice over the phone. “Didn’t you live in 802? Why’d you give me the address for 801? Did you make a mistake, ”
Before he could finish, the door to 801 opened.
Jiang Yanbai stopped short.
Standing in front of him was Lu Yicheng.
Lu Yicheng took one glance at the pile of food in Jiang Yanbai’s hands, said nothing, and calmly took the bags from him.
“Wait, Lao Lu, did you move? You used to live next door, didn’t you?” Jiang asked in confusion.
And then, from inside the apartment, a soft, sweet voice drifted out.
“Yicheng, is someone at the door?”
Jiang Yanbai froze.
“…?”
“?!”
Jiang Yanbai was utterly speechless. He gaped, stammering incoherently, “You, you, you’re not… you and your neighbor, ”
Lu Yicheng didn’t even let him finish. He shoved a few red bills into his hand and said curtly, “Thanks. You can go now.”
*Bang*
The door of 801 slammed shut with no trace of hesitation.
Jiang Yanbai stood frozen in the hallway. For a long moment, not even a single sound came out of him.
So this was what people meant when they said best friends were destined to suffer in each other’s messes.
But what shocked him even more was that Lu Yicheng, of all people, had made him deliver cake to someone else’s apartment.
He fished out his phone and immediately started ranting in their private chat group.
【Yanbai: Guys, you will not believe what I just saw.】
【Yanbai: Lu Yicheng! That guy! He’s with his neighbor again!】
【Prince of Beijing: Can you stop with the cursing for once?】
【Kibo: Wait, wasn’t he taking care of that little Beta?】
【Prince of Beijing: What, he changed again?】
【Yu: No way. You’re kidding. He’s with his neighbor?】
【Yanbai: I swear! I just dropped off the stuff. He opened the door from that apartment! And I heard someone inside calling him, so sweetly too!】
【Prince of Beijing: !】
【Yu: !】
【No More All-Nighters: !】
【Kibo: Didn’t Lu always hate staying over at other people’s places…?】
【Prince of Beijing: Seriously, whose idea was it to tell him to find a fake partner to ward off suitors? He’s taking that way too seriously.】
【Kibo: I kind of feel bad for that pretty Beta from before.】
【Prince of Beijing: Same.】
【Yu: Same here.】
【Yanbai: Wait, wasn’t Uncle Lu supposed to return from abroad today? Why didn’t he go to the airport?】
………..
Inside, Lu Yicheng carried the bags in.
Shi You had already finished his drawing. He put his tablet away, and when he looked up, the sight of Lu Yicheng holding an armful of takeout made his eyes light up.
A faint fragrance drifted in the air. He leaned forward eagerly, like a curious sea lion.
“Wow… what’s all this?”
“I ordered takeout,” Lu Yicheng said casually, setting the boxes on the table.
Jiang Yanbai’s family ran a luxury hotel, and of course, he hadn’t stopped at cake. He had sent an entire high-end meal.
“Chestnut cake!” Shi You’s voice rose in delight, his eyes curved with a smile as he turned toward Lu Yicheng, pure surprise flashing in his gaze.
Lu Yicheng placed the cake neatly in front of him. “We couldn’t get the humidifier today, but at least you’ll get your chestnut cake.”
Outside, the rain fell in thin, whispering lines, swept by a cool wind. Inside, the heater hummed softly, wrapping the room in a cocoon of warmth.
Shi You’s gaze lingered on him, light and tender. His eyes gleamed like amber under the warm lamp. When he smiled, his lips curved in a soft, radiant arc. “Yicheng, you’re really good to me.”
Lu Yicheng’s hand froze midair. His breath caught. He quickly lowered his eyes to escape that dazzling smile and stood up, dusting his sleeve. “Where’s your glass? I’ll pour you something to drink.”
Shi You pointed to the cabinet. Lu Yicheng took two glasses and filled them with the juice Jiang Yanbai had sent.
Shi You was thirsty and downed the first one quickly.
Lu Yicheng refilled it for him.
They ate together, chatting casually as the rain continued to fall outside.
After a while, Lu Yicheng noticed something moving near his leg.
“Why did you let your tendrils out?” he asked.
“Oh, they’re more active when it rains,” Shi You explained truthfully. He even used one to pick up a piece of chicken and fed himself with it, looking perfectly at ease.
When Lu Yicheng saw that there were no tissues left, he got up to fetch a new pack.
“They’re in the drawer,” Shi You said helpfully.
Lu Yicheng opened it but didn’t find any. When he pulled open the other side, his hand paused. Inside lay an assortment of medicine bottles, injection vials, and used ampoules, half a drawer full of pharmaceutical supplies.
His mind went blank for a moment.
“Couldn’t find them?” Shi You’s voice came softly from behind.
Lu Yicheng frowned faintly. He turned back and quickly closed the drawer without a word, taking a fresh pack from beside it.
Why would he have so many injections and reagents?
Was it because of what he’d once called his “nurturing phase”?
Shi You looked as cheerful as ever, eating and drinking with that same gentle smile.
Lu Yicheng had never been the type to pry into others’ lives, but something about this person stirred both curiosity and concern. He finally asked, “How did you used to live before?”
That question was harder to answer than it seemed.
Shi You thought for a moment. “I used to be an ordinary mushroom… but also a strange person.”
He talked about how he had always loved rain. As a child, he would refuse to use an umbrella, letting the rain soak through him. Other kids laughed and called him odd.
He caught a terrible fever once, only then learning that humans could fall ill from something he found so comforting.
Being a Beta hadn’t made things easier. He had a peculiar condition that mimicked an Omega’s “heat,” and everyone thought he was pretending. No one believed him; no one played with him. He could only endure the pain alone.
Back then, there were no sprays or treatments to ease it.
It hurt so much he had once thought he might die from it.
But he didn’t say that part aloud.
A silence settled between them, subtle, charged, the kind that tingled faintly beneath the skin.
“I’m a mushroom,” he said with a small laugh. “I don’t need much. Water, warmth, a place to grow… that’s enough. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll find a host I can rely on.”
He hugged his knees lightly. A loose strand of hair brushed his ear, revealing the faintest pink along his skin, spreading slowly across his cheeks and down his neck like watercolor.
His almond eyes lifted toward Lu Yicheng, shining softly.
“I think I’ve found one.”
Lu Yicheng’s heartbeat stuttered. He clenched his hand slightly against his sleeve, a strange feeling stirring inside him, warm and confusing.
Shi You leaned forward, blinking. “That thing I told you about last time… have you thought about it?”
“If you agree,” he whispered, “I’ll treat you well. I don’t ask for much, just to stay by your side every day. The nurturing process might be troublesome, but if you accept, you’ll be the most important person to me.”
“I really like your scent.”
He spoke softly, his head lowering as his voice faded to a murmur.
Lu Yicheng caught a faint trace of sweetness in the air, tinged with warmth and the rhythm of Shi You’s breath.
“Shi You?” he called quietly.
Something felt off.
Shi You’s head drooped slightly, his face flushed. The drink he’d had earlier seemed to burn through him now, a faint heat rising beneath his skin.
Lu Yicheng thought he was just embarrassed after confessing, and he reached out, brushing his knuckles gently under Shi You’s chin to lift his face.
“Don’t…”
Shi You flinched away, catching his hand on his own, turning his face aside.
“I just thought…” Lu Yicheng hesitated, noticing the faint tremble in his expression. “You look like you’re about to cry.”
But Shi You wasn’t sad. He wasn’t about to cry. He loved the rain, and he loved being here, with Lu Yicheng. There was no reason for sadness.
Then Lu Yicheng caught it, the faint scent of alcohol. He glanced at the bottle and realized it was a deceptively sweet cocktail, one that went down smooth but hit hard later.
So mushrooms couldn’t handle alcohol, apparently.
He sighed inwardly, cursing Jiang Yanbai in his heart for sending such a drink.
Shi You’s cheeks were glowing red, his eyelids drooping, his eyes misty at the edges. Drunk, his expression was impossibly tender.
Lu Yicheng found himself murmuring, almost to himself, “You’d look beautiful if you ever cried.”
It came out of nowhere, and he immediately regretted it. Sheer impulse. The boy hadn’t even shed a tear, and yet,
He froze, hoping Shi You hadn’t heard. But the little mushroom tilted his head, eyes hazy, lips curving faintly as he answered, voice soft as mist.
“Shanshan said that too,” he murmured dreamily. “He also said that it would be more beautiful if I cried after being fucked…..”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
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← 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