Chapter 49
Gu Yang stood by the bed, holding the towel and glancing at the sleeping omega, momentarily at a loss.
Lin Xiaoran, growing impatient, poked his head out from under the blanket and urged, “What are you dawdling for?”
Prompted by his insistence, Gu Yang replied, “Alright, I’m going,” and took the towel into the bathroom.
Under the hot shower, as the water flowed down his skin, Gu Yang finally snapped back to his senses, furrowing his brows. Was he really going to share a bed with Lin Xiaoran?
He was certainly willing, but he was also worried about losing control. His feelings for Lin Xiaoran were anything but simple. However, at this hour, with Lin Xiaoran generously allowing him to stay, leaving would seem too pretentious.
After lingering in the bathroom for a while, Gu Yang emerged wrapped in a bathrobe, contemplating whether to confirm again with Lin Xiaoran. He found that the relaxed omega had already fallen asleep, curled up under the blanket with only his eyes visible, which were peacefully closed with long lashes resembling little fans.
Unable to resist, Gu Yang gently touched Lin Xiaoran’s lashes, causing the disturbed omega to frown slightly and bury his face deeper into the blanket.
Seeing his own empty hand, Gu Yang sighed with a resigned smile. How much trust did Lin Xiaoran place in him? Was he not afraid of him doing something?
Of course, Gu Yang had no intention of doing anything inappropriate. He carefully dried his hair and slid into bed from the other side, gently pulling up the covers.
The bed was quite large, and the blankets were ample, so with normal sleeping positions, they wouldn’t touch each other.
Yet, Gu Yang couldn’t fall asleep. In the quiet room, he could clearly hear Lin Xiaoran’s calm breathing, almost like it was right next to him, which made him restless. The culprit, however, remained completely unaware, sleeping soundly.
Frustrated, Gu Yang reached out, only to realize that Lin Xiaoran was completely covered by the blanket.
How was he even breathing?
Gu Yang chuckled quietly, gently pushing the blanket away from Lin Xiaoran’s face. The moonlight filtered in through the window, casting a soft glow on his serene features, making him look even more beautiful.
Intending to pinch Lin Xiaoran’s face in a playful manner, Gu Yang’s resolve softened as he gently traced his fingers across Lin Xiaoran’s forehead and cheek, savoring the smooth, soft texture. His fingers eventually settled on Lin Xiaoran’s delicate lips.
The touch instantly reminded Gu Yang of their previous kiss. Lin Xiaoran had been so gentle in his embrace, and his lips had been sweet, like rock candy and pear. It had been delightful.
As Gu Yang remembered that moment, his hand lingered on Lin Xiaoran’s lips, contemplating whether to kiss him again. Lin Xiaoran might not even notice, but was it too shameless?
Before he could decide, Lin Xiaoran, deeply asleep, reacted suddenly.
“Mmm…” A faint sound escaped from his throat.
Gu Yang, startled, withdrew his hand, fearing he had disturbed Lin Xiaoran. But Lin Xiaoran remained asleep and did not seem to settle down again.
His breathing grew heavier, with faint, intermittent sounds coming from his throat, as if he was uncomfortable.
Gu Yang was concerned. He turned on the light and found Lin Xiaoran’s eyes still closed, his brows deeply furrowed, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Lin Xiaoran’s lips were pressed tightly, and his hands were searching aimlessly in the air.
Was he having a nightmare?
Gu Yang’s worry led him to take Lin Xiaoran’s flailing hand and gently call out, “Lin Xiaoran, Lin Xiaoran, wake up.”
Probably due to the nightmare, Lin Xiaoran was in a light sleep. Hearing Gu Yang’s voice, his lashes fluttered before his eyes slowly opened. He stared at Gu Yang for a moment, seemingly recognizing him before hesitantly calling out, “Gu Yang?”
His voice was thick with nasal tones and trembled slightly.
Gu Yang’s heart skipped a beat. He wiped the sweat from Lin Xiaoran’s forehead and replied softly, “It’s me. Did you have a nightmare?”
Lin Xiaoran, still not fully awake, stared at him for a while longer before responding quietly, “Mm.”
“What did you dream about?” Gu Yang asked, handing him a bottle of water from the bedside. “Drink some water.”
Lin Xiaoran took the bottle, shook his head, and said, “Nothing.” He then drank from it.
Seeing Lin Xiaoran’s pale face, Gu Yang’s lips moved, but he didn’t press further. Perhaps he was overthinking it, or maybe Lin Xiaoran had just experienced an ordinary nightmare.
Once Lin Xiaoran finished the water and settled back into bed, Gu Yang helped adjust the covers. As he reached for the light switch, Lin Xiaoran suddenly tugged at his shirt and softly asked, “Can you leave the light on?”
Gu Yang, stunned by what he thought he might have heard, turned around to look at Lin Xiaoran, who immediately averted his gaze and pulled the blanket over his face, seeming a bit embarrassed.
A pang of tenderness struck Gu Yang’s heart. He shifted to face Lin Xiaoran and reached out to hold his hand, speaking softly, “Okay, I won’t turn off the light. I’ll stay with you. Go to sleep.”
Lin Xiaoran, with half of his face buried in the blanket, revealed only his clear eyes. He blinked at Gu Yang, then moved his thumb slightly on Gu Yang’s hand as if checking to confirm he was really there. Once reassured, he finally closed his eyes again.
Gu Yang, however, could not find rest. He lay on his side, propped up on his arm, and watched Lin Xiaoran gradually fall back to sleep, his eyes betraying an unspoken concern.
What kind of nightmare had Lin Xiaoran experienced? It couldn’t be just a typical bad dream that would leave him so vulnerable.
Gu Yang gently squeezed Lin Xiaoran’s hand, silently sighing. He remained awake until dawn before he finally dozed off.
Due to the late night and being awakened by the nightmare, Lin Xiaoran, when he awoke groggily, found it was already past eight. Feeling a bit lazy after just waking up, he rubbed his head against the pillow and tried to turn over, only to realize his hand was being held.
He looked around and saw Gu Yang lying just inches away from him, his hand still tightly grasped in Gu Yang’s.
A flicker of confusion crossed Lin Xiaoran’s eyes as he remembered last night’s events. Gu Yang must have been trying to comfort him in this way.
Lin Xiaoran’s lips curved into a slight smile. He softly said, “Thanks!” to the still-sleeping Gu Yang before attempting to get up and wash up. However, Gu Yang’s grip on his hand was so tight that he couldn’t free it. Despite trying several times, Lin Xiaoran couldn’t pull his hand away. Seeing that Gu Yang wasn’t waking up, he had no choice but to lie back down, observing how tightly Gu Yang was holding on even in his sleep.
His focus soon shifted to Gu Yang’s hand.
Due to their different genders, Gu Yang’s hand was significantly larger than his, not as slender but notably long and well-defined. The hand looked very attractive.
Thinking about Gu Yang’s intention to try becoming a professional player, Lin Xiaoran found the hand quite fitting.
“Do you like it?”
While Lin Xiaoran was admiring the hand, he didn’t notice that Gu Yang had woken up at some point.
Turning his head, Lin Xiaoran met Gu Yang’s teasing gaze, and the word “handsome” he was about to say was swallowed back. Raising his own hand slightly, Lin Xiaoran said with a smirk, “Not as good-looking as mine.”
Gu Yang chuckled. “Of course, our Lin Xiaoran is so handsome; naturally, his hand is the most beautiful.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xiaoran kicked out at him, but Gu Yang was quick to jump off the bed, throwing back the covers and dashing into the bathroom, laughing loudly as he closed the door behind him.
Lin Xiaoran, watching the bathroom door, considered kicking it open to give Gu Yang a good thrashing. However, he abandoned the idea, mindful of the potential cost of damaging the door.
When Gu Yang emerged from the bathroom after his shower, Lin Xiaoran “accidentally” stepped on his foot. The sudden pain made Gu Yang gasp, but Lin Xiaoran casually said, “Not on purpose,” and slipped into the bathroom.
Gu Yang, clutching his foot, couldn’t help but laugh despite the pain.
Was it necessary to hold a grudge just for saying someone was handsome? It was the truth.
After all the commotion, the two managed to leave the room around ten o’clock. Luckily, the hotel’s breakfast was served all day, so they headed downstairs to the restaurant together.
Upon entering, they saw Mo Mo Chun Han waving at them, “Gods, over here!”
At this hour, the breakfast crowd was sparse, with only Mo Mo Chun Han and a few others sitting at his table—high-end players from the Seventh World.
Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang took some food and joined them at the table.
As soon as they sat down, Mo Mo Chun Han leaned in and asked, “Can you two reveal anything? Did Sister Ling talk to you about the professional league yesterday?”
The other players at the table also looked on eagerly.
This wasn’t surprising, as the esports industry in China had been booming in recent years. Professional players were no longer seen as internet-addicted teenagers but were increasingly admired, making it a desirable career path for many young people.
Mo Mo Chun Han and his friends were also relatively young and skilled, so it was natural they would want to pursue this path.
Gu Yang didn’t hide anything. However, since the information from Sister Ling wasn’t firsthand, it wouldn’t be particularly helpful.
So, he shared a few details. After finishing breakfast, Mo Mo Chun Han and the others bid farewell and left.
Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang quickly finished their meal. With no other plans for the day, Lin Xiaoran intended to head straight to the high-speed rail station to go home. However, Gu Yang insisted they visit a local tourist spot, Xiyan Mountain.
Gu Yang mentioned there was a temple on the mountain called Xiyan Temple, known for its effectiveness in blessing people’s romantic relationships. He wanted to go and pay a visit.
Though Lin Xiaoran rolled his eyes inwardly, he couldn’t resist Gu Yang’s persistence and agreed to go.
Unfortunately, it was the weekend, and the autumn weather had brought out a large crowd. From the very first step of the mountain path, it was packed with people.
To make matters worse, their performance video from yesterday’s Seventh World event was still online. Although personal information had been removed, their faces, recognizable in the crowd, had been visible all night. It was inevitable that people would recognize them.
Especially the younger female fans, who reacted very enthusiastically upon seeing them. Some even approached them for photos or subtly tried to get their contact information.
This was far from what Gu Yang had imagined. He had thought it would be a rare opportunity for a nice outing with Lin Xiaoran, but now it was turning into an unexpected ordeal.
As they were unable to turn back due to the crowd behind them, Gu Yang, noticing Lin Xiaoran’s slightly furrowed brows, felt a pang of regret for being so impulsive. He noticed a less conspicuous side path that seemed less crowded and immediately pulled Lin Xiaoran towards it.
Entering the path, they found a map of the scenic area. This route also led to the mountain top but took a longer detour, so it was less traveled and thus more peaceful. They wouldn’t have to worry about being recognized.
However…
Gu Yang glanced at Lin Xiaoran, his lips moving as if to speak, but Lin Xiaoran suddenly said, “Let’s go. Otherwise, you’ll blame me if you don’t find a partner in the future.”
After saying this, Lin Xiaoran turned and began to ascend the stairs ahead of him.
Gu Yang was momentarily stunned but then couldn’t help but smile. He caught up with Lin Xiaoran, half-jokingly saying, “That’s right. If I don’t have a partner in the future, I’ll really have to blame you.”
Blame you for being a blockhead!
Gu Yang had been worried that Lin Xiaoran didn’t want to continue up the mountain, especially since he had been reluctant to come in the first place and was dragged here by Gu Yang. The situation had likely annoyed him, and he might have wanted to leave.
But Lin Xiaoran had seen through his thoughts and was so understanding.
The narrow path made it a bit cramped for two people walking side by side, so Gu Yang walked behind Lin Xiaoran.
Watching the slender and neat figure of Lin Xiaoran in front of him, Gu Yang couldn’t help but smile.
In fact, Lin Xiaoran didn’t like to talk much, but he was often very perceptive.
Just then, someone suddenly burst out from the bushes beside the path and collided with Lin Xiaoran, who stumbled backward on the uphill slope.
Gu Yang reacted quickly, catching Lin Xiaoran just in time. Fortunately, the mountain path wasn’t too steep, and Gu Yang managed to stabilize himself despite the momentum. He hurriedly asked Lin Xiaoran, “Are you okay?”
Lin Xiaoran, leaning against Gu Yang, struggled to stand up but winced in pain when he put weight on his right foot.
Noticing Lin Xiaoran’s discomfort, Gu Yang’s amber eyes flashed with concern. “Are you injured?” He leaned down to check.
Lin Xiaoran tried several times to get up but finally gave up and looked at Gu Yang. “I twisted my ankle.”
“I’ll check,” Gu Yang said, wrapping his arms around Lin Xiaoran’s waist and helping him sit on the steps. Only then did he notice a young woman standing nearby, her hand still being held by Lin Xiaoran.
Gu Yang: “!”
Acting on instinct, Gu Yang quickly separated their hands, holding Lin Xiaoran’s waist with one arm and his hand with the other, as if to claim possession.
Only then did he look at the girl.
The girl, finally noticing the opportunity to speak, had been trying to get their attention. Although she was a living person standing right there, it seemed like the two had been completely oblivious to her presence.
She raised her hand to wave at them, her expression a mix of embarrassment and guilt. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come charging out like that. It was too dangerous. And…” She looked at Lin Xiaoran and bowed deeply. “Thank you for saving me after I bumped into you. Really, I don’t know whether to apologize or thank you. In any case… you’re injured, so let’s go to the hospital first?”
The girl had come charging down so quickly that even though Lin Xiaoran had been caught by Gu Yang, the girl’s momentum carried her forward, causing Lin Xiaoran to instinctively pull her to prevent her from falling badly.
In this situation, the girl’s guilt and gratitude were secondary.
Gu Yang, however, was entirely focused on Lin Xiaoran’s injury. He barely glanced at the girl before helping Lin Xiaoran onto the steps. Ignoring Lin Xiaoran’s instinct to withdraw his foot, Gu Yang firmly but gently removed his shoes and socks. Lin Xiaoran’s pale foot, with a large swollen area on his ankle, was now exposed.
Gu Yang’s brow furrowed deeply as he lightly touched the swollen area, eliciting a faint shiver from Lin Xiaoran. His concern was palpable as he looked up and softly asked, “Does it hurt a lot?”
Lin Xiaoran, avoiding eye contact, simply nodded. “A little.”
For some reason, Lin Xiaoran felt a bit embarrassed seeing Gu Yang so attentively caring for his foot. He wasn’t sure why he felt this way; it was just his foot, after all.
Gu Yang, lost in his worry for Lin Xiaoran’s injury, was oblivious to Lin Xiaoran’s feelings. He glanced around and spotted a flat rock. He carefully placed Lin Xiaoran’s foot on it and said, “According to the map, there should be a place to buy things not far from here. I’ll go get some ice to reduce the swelling. Wait here for a bit.”
“Okay,” Lin Xiaoran replied softly, still not looking up.
Gu Yang cast one last glance at the girl. Sensing his intent, the girl immediately raised her hands in a placating gesture. “I’ll just stay here and won’t get in the way.”
With that, Gu Yang hurriedly went up the path.
As soon as he left, the girl felt much more at ease. She sat down next to Lin Xiaoran and apologized again, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize there would be people here too.”
“It’s okay,” Lin Xiaoran said.
The girl turned to him, noticing he really didn’t seem angry. This reassured her somewhat, but she couldn’t help but comment, “Your boyfriend seems really upset.”
Lin Xiaoran was momentarily taken aback before realizing she was referring to Gu Yang.
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
The girl looked surprised. “Oh? Then he must really like you!”
