Coming to his senses, the blonde immediately fumbled with his pockets and stood up in a hurry. “Don’t you run!”
Xie Yun didn’t listen. With a swift sidestep, he slipped out and locked the door behind him.
Meanwhile, at the new library on the other side of campus.
Slender fingertips tapped against the table with a hint of impatience. The second school bell echoed through the halls, yet not a single soul had stepped inside.
Cui Yiyang knit his brows tightly.
Damn it!
Did that Xie Yun actually dare to stand him up?
The asphalt path was flanked by a dense canopy of emerald trees, leaving the road damp and glistening after the rain.
Summer birds hopped among the branches. Holding his books, Xie Yun walked into the adjacent self-study building.
He had no classes for the entire afternoon and could finally enjoy some private time to study in peace. Humanities and Philosophy was his strongest elective; whether in his original world or this one, he found great enjoyment in the subject, which made time pass much faster.
He circled a few questions, intending to use his phone to ask the professor for clarification.
L: Requests to add you as a friend.
Opening his phone, Xie Yun was baffled.
His pale fingers curled slightly as they rested on the screen. He raised an eyebrow and searched through all the academy’s group chats but couldn’t find anyone named “L.”
It appeared the source of the request was a group chat search.
Who is this?
The profile picture was a solid black background. Aside from the letter “L,” there were no other clues as to the person’s identity.
After staring at the interface for a second, Xie Yun simply ignored it.
『Felod Forum』
OP: Does anyone know where that transfer student, XY, went? I’m willing to pay for info.
2L: Not gonna lie, XY actually looks pretty good in photos, but OP asking for his whereabouts is a bit creepy, don’t you think?
3L: What’s so creepy about it? OP is just looking for someone. It’s normal.
4L: I don’t buy it. Money is involved; I bet it’s not that simple.
5L: So, does anyone have info? If you do, I want it too.
6L: …Are you all creeps? You’re this obsessed over a transfer student?
7L: If you’re not obsessed with his face, you should be obsessed with his money… Do you have any idea how rich the Xie family is?
8L: It’s really a waste on that LYB.
9L: Isn’t everyone saying the eldest young master of the Xie family has returned to the country? LYB, that illegitimate son, is definitely going to die a miserable death. I smell a good show coming. Just wait and see.
10L: Camping here for updates.
Seeing his thread gradually veer off-topic, Cui Yiyang angrily typed out another line.
OP: Can we stay on topic? Has anyone actually seen him or not?
50L: Oh, OP, what’s the rush? I seriously suspect you have ulterior motives for XY, being this frantic.
51L: …Honestly, if I could, I’d want to know too. Just a distant glance would be enough. He’s just too beautiful. If he were an Omega, I’d definitely.
52L: Isn’t a Beta better? You can play around without worrying about pregnancy.
53L: That’s a young master of the Xie family. Are you guys insane?
54L: Why is the person above acting so high and mighty? No one clicking on this thread is a “good” person. We’re all chatting anonymously; if we get reported, we’re all going down together.
The OP, seeing the thread derail again: “……”
Failing to achieve his goal, Cui Yiyang deleted the post in a fit of rage.
By the time Xie Yun finished reading the literature in his hand, thick, damp clouds had begun to interweave across the horizon.
Overcast days always brought an early darkness. Xie Yun rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a slight ache.
His reading speed had always been fast, and because studying had become a habit, he naturally developed a photographic memory. He had finished comprehending a piece of literature half the thickness of a pinky finger in just one afternoon.
There was no evening self-study today. Stepping out and heading downstairs, he prepared to go home.
The self-study building wasn’t very tall, and few people came here normally; students only sat here when they needed to cram at the last minute.
The empty corridor was deserted. Holding his books, Xie Yun walked downstairs and passed the teaching building.
“Brother?”
A tall youth holding a bag turned his head slightly. Once he saw who it was, he asked, “Where did you go?”
Xie Yun blinked. “?”
“Reviewing in the study room. Why?”
“It’s nothing. I went to look for you after the elective class ended, but I didn’t see you.”
Lu Yibing quietly lowered his eyelashes, a faint, light smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Why does the atmosphere feel so heavy?
Could he have waited for me all afternoon?
Probably not, Xie Yun thought.
The other party spoke again: “You didn’t accept the friend request either.”
The moment the words left Lu Yibing’s mouth, Xie Yun finally realized who the “L” from earlier was.
However, was the original Xie Yun so distant from him that they weren’t even friends on social media?
In truth, Xie Yun had forgotten many plot points of the original book. He was too lazy to use his brain to remember things he considered trivial and useless entertainment. He made up an excuse: “I was reading all afternoon and didn’t have time to check my phone.”
Lu Yibing smiled. “It’s fine, Brother. But… what made you decide to take the exam for this school?”
Previously, he had refused no matter what was said. Why the sudden change of heart after not seeing each other for years?
.Because the system told me to.
Xie Yun was speechless. He lifted his gaze and asked a dismissive, unrelated question: “By the way, does Cui Yiyang often bully you like he did during the lunch break?”
At this, Lu Yibing laughed. “Since when did Brother care so much about my affairs?”
Xie Yun hadn’t expected to be questioned in return. It seemed the original host’s relationship with his younger brother was indeed not close. So why was he later labeled as a meddler?
Xie Yun narrowed his eyes. Before he could speak, Lu Yibing added, “But thank you for today, Brother, for helping me out.”
The youth wore the blue-and-white academy uniform neatly—a white shirt tucked in, a tie, and a bauhinia school badge pinned to his chest. The uniform jacket highlighted his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His dark eyes seemed somewhat murky.
His thoughts were impossible to read.
He is quite good-looking, Xie Yun thought as he watched him.
However, the F4 and Xie Yun were all senior students; why would Lu Yibing be bullied? Was the distinction of power in this world determined by ABO status?
Looking at the two thugs in the library earlier, it seemed so.
But…
Xie Yun cast another indifferent glance at Lu Yibing, who was half a head taller than him.
Are Omegas really this tall?
“It was nothing.”
Xie Yun turned his back to him. “You are my brother. How could I ignore it after hearing about it?”
His mind wandered as he voiced the thought unconsciously.
A cool breeze mixed with the scent of summer brushed past the corners of the two youths’ clothes. It was comfortable; the weather after the rain was exceptionally refreshing.
Lu Yibing heard the unintentional words clearly, and a flicker of light even crossed his eyes.
He changed the subject. “The butler is waiting for us at the South Gate. Let’s go, Brother.”
Xie Yun gave a hum of agreement.
Surprisingly, there were very few people at the South Gate today. The butler saw the young masters and opened the car door for them.
The black car drove out of the academy, passed through a commercial street, and soon the boundless sea came into view. Their home was a sea-view villa situated right on the beach.
The tide-like azure sea washed over the reefs, splashing into white foam. The sky was covered in dark clouds, and the car tires made a dull, rustling sound as they rolled over the sand.
The group got out of the car.
The grey-and-white, ins-style sea-view house stood two stories high and was perfectly square. Flowers and plants grew behind the floor-to-ceiling windows. On the side of the first floor, a rectangular swimming pool sat adjacent to the house, with beach chairs lined up by the water.
From the inside out, the place exuded an aura of luxury.
Xie Yun didn’t have much of an appetite today. Lu Yibing watched as he ate only a small portion of pasta before heading into his bedroom.
The next morning was another gloomy day.
The two were dropped off at Felod early by the butler. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate. As soon as the car drove away, the sky began to pour. Xie Yun had left his umbrella at his seat during yesterday’s lunch break.
They ran to a nearby eave to take shelter for a moment.
Before them, the fine rain turned into white lines, brushing down diagonally and obscuring their vision.
The greyish rain enveloped the entire academy, and the mist dampened Xie Yun’s lowered eyelashes.
Lu Yibing looked at him from the side, the rainwater blurring the gaze of both.
The heavy rain kicked up ripples in the puddles, splashing and wetting the hem of Xie Yun’s dark trousers. Hearing a rustling sound beside him, Xie Yun turned his head.
“You?”
Just as he spoke, he saw the person beside him take off his jacket.
A snow-white shirt was revealed. The youth lowered his gaze and gave him a beaming smile. “It doesn’t look like this rain is going to stop anytime soon. Use my jacket to cover up for now; class is about to start.”
Xie Yun stared at him for a second.
How could I let the protagonist’s jacket get soaked?
But then he remembered he was only wearing a grey checkered overshirt, and he dismissed the thought.
Fine, this works too.
Seeing his silent consent, Lu Yibing smiled and spread out the jacket. His lean arm reached over Xie Yun’s shoulder, and the deep blue jacket huddled the two of them together.
Patter.
Patter.
The rain splashed rhythmically against the jacket, and their black leather shoes were stained with mud.
Lu Yibing looked again at Xie Yun, who was right beside him.
A little rain had dampened his ink-colored bangs. The youth’s long lashes fluttered, and the bridge of his nose was high and straight.
A faint scent of cedarwood drifted from his body.
Strange.
He’s clearly a Beta, so why does he have a scent?
His gaze moved downward, pausing on the other’s thin, pale-red lips.
A subtle sensation rushed to his head once more. He froze, and at that moment, Xie Yun happened to look over.
Their eyes met.
Beside them was the continuous, dense rain, the pattering sound hitting their ears incessantly. Warm breath intertwined as the other’s gorgeous face, moistened by the mist, appeared before his eyes.
Frowning slightly, Xie Yun looked into his eyes with confusion. “What’s wrong?”
His whole body felt scorched by his own breathing. A flush crept up Lu Yibing’s cheeks, and the tips of his ears grew hot.
“Nothing.”
He quickly looked away, his voice deepening as he forced out a few words: “Brother is standing too close to me. It’s hot.”
The frowning “Brother”: “?”
But because of the falling rain, the two ended up walking closely together anyway.
On the way to the teaching building, students in pairs or small groups passed them, holding transparent umbrellas. The sounds of laughter from under the umbrellas made the two under the jacket seem out of place.
7:30 AM was the peak time for students to enter the building. Groups of uniformed students gathered together. Xie Yun’s tall stature was very eye-catching in the crowd.
The grey checkered shirt wrapped around his slender upper body. His bangs swept over his eyes, and his gaze was indifferent as his long, straight legs stepped up the stairs.
“Holy crap, look! Who is that? Is that Xie Yun? A living Xie Yun!! He’s so tall… is he really a Beta?”