Chapter 51

A gentle breeze blew through, and the boy’s clear eyes flickered slightly. Unconsciously, he stared at the lips of the young man beneath the wishing tree. He could see his lips moving, smiling as he said something, but the sound was too soft for him to hear.

“What did you say?” Lin Xiaoran asked.

Under the wishing tree, Gu Yang smiled and winked at him. “Take a guess!”

After speaking, he stepped forward and tied the wishing ribbon to the tree. He carefully smoothed it with two slender fingers, as if making sure he wouldn’t mistake it when he returned.

Once satisfied, he turned and walked toward Lin Xiaoran.

Lin Xiaoran didn’t know why he was being so nosy today, but he just really wanted to know what Gu Yang had said.

Pressing his slightly red lips together, he couldn’t hold back and asked again, “What did you just say?”

Sitting on a stone, Lin Xiaoran tilted his head to look at Gu Yang. His long lashes fluttered, and his clear eyes reflected a rare determination.

Gu Yang’s heart skipped a beat, almost making him repeat what he had said earlier, but the words were swallowed back down. Now wasn’t the best time. Lin Xiaoran’s foot was still injured, and getting him to the hospital was the priority.

Suppressing the urge in his heart, Gu Yang half-jokingly said, “Since we came here to pray for romance, of course, I wished for someone as beautiful as a goddess.”

“Someone as beautiful as a goddess?” Lin Xiaoran instinctively repeated.

At this point, the two were standing very close. One stood, while the other sat. From Gu Yang’s angle, he could almost see the shadow cast by Lin Xiaoran’s dense lashes under his eyes—a beauty that seemed unreal.

Gu Yang paused for a moment, nodded, and emphasized, “Yes, as beautiful as a goddess.”

Lin Xiaoran blinked his clear eyes, nodded, and leaned back onto Gu Yang’s shoulders, allowing him to carry him once more. His chin rested on Gu Yang’s shoulder as he glanced at his profile, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Someone as beautiful as a goddess must be a girl.

Gu Yang liked girls. There’s no way he would like him, right?

Coming to this conclusion, Lin Xiaoran felt a wave of relief wash over him. That girl must have been talking nonsense after all.

Little did Gu Yang know that his casual remark about a “goddess” had caused such a misunderstanding. He was too focused on getting Lin Xiaoran’s ankle checked.

The mountain wasn’t high, and the path they took wasn’t one frequented by tourists. Without the usual crowds, they made good time getting down.

Once they exited the scenic area, a car was already waiting for them.

Lin Xiaoran was a bit surprised, glancing at Gu Yang but not asking any questions. After all, the Gu family wasn’t ordinary, though Gu Yang usually didn’t flaunt that side of his life.

This seemed like a special situation.

When they arrived at the hospital, there was no need to queue or register. They were immediately taken to see a specialist.

The experienced doctor only needed to feel Lin Xiaoran’s ankle to confirm that no bones were broken. He prescribed some topical medication for blood circulation and swelling reduction.

Since the sprain was still fresh and painful, the doctor advised against massaging the injury right away. After 24 hours, gentle massage would help the swelling go down more quickly.

The doctor was quite considerate, even using Lin Xiaoran’s uninjured left foot to demonstrate proper massage techniques.

Lin Xiaoran glanced at it briefly but quickly lost interest.

As far as he was concerned, an injury like this didn’t even need a hospital visit. It would heal on its own in a few days. Why make things so complicated?

So, he only half-listened to the doctor’s instructions.

When he looked up, however, he saw Gu Yang standing beside the doctor, his amber eyes focused on the demonstration, carefully mimicking the motions with his distinct, elegant fingers—seriously trying to learn.

Lin Xiaoran was stunned, and the girl’s words from earlier came to mind again: Do you really think an alpha would be so nice to someone just because they’ve marked them?

Isn’t that the case?

Then why was Gu Yang being like this?

He lowered his head, lost in thought.

“You’ve got a good eye! Not many young men these days are as thoughtful and caring as your boyfriend,” the doctor’s friendly voice pulled him out of his reverie.

Lin Xiaoran looked up, realizing that Gu Yang had stepped out at some point. He didn’t pay it much mind but was surprised by the doctor’s comment. “Why do you think he’s my boyfriend?”

The doctor, still typing up notes on the computer, adjusted his reading glasses and looked over them with some surprise. Then, as if he suddenly understood, he chuckled. “He hasn’t won you over yet?”

Lin Xiaoran: “…He’s not chasing me.”

Doctor: “…”

The old expert glanced at the young man through his reading glasses, chuckled softly, and didn’t say anything more, thinking to himself, This kid is so good-looking, but why does he seem a little slow?

Lin Xiaoran was completely confused by his smile and was about to ask more questions when Gu Yang returned with the medicine.

At that point, Lin Xiaoran didn’t feel comfortable asking anything further. After thanking the expert, Gu Yang carried him out of the hospital on his back.

However, Lin Xiaoran’s mind was now in turmoil.

Just a moment ago on Xiyan Mountain, he had been sure that Gu Yang liked girls and couldn’t possibly like him. But now, he wasn’t so certain.

He couldn’t figure out why everyone they encountered today seemed to think that Gu Yang liked him.

“Gu Yang, do you…” like me?

Lin Xiaoran was the kind of person who liked to be straightforward. If he couldn’t figure something out, he was inclined to just ask directly.

But as the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back down.

Maybe this isn’t something I should ask directly? he thought.

“Hmm?”

Gu Yang had no idea what Lin Xiaoran was thinking. Seeing him call his name but then say nothing, Gu Yang raised an eyebrow and looked back at him. “What’s up?”

Lin Xiaoran shook his head. “Nothing, let’s go home.”

After all the commotion, it was already past five in the afternoon. They really needed to head home.

Since Lin Xiaoran’s foot was injured, taking the high-speed train would be inconvenient, so Gu Yang arranged for someone to drive them back.

The high-speed train journey would have taken an hour, but the drive took three, and by the time they got home, it was completely dark.

Lin Xiaoran had stayed out overnight, which had worried the Gu family to no end. Now that he was finally back, but injured, the house was in an uproar.

Grandma Gu was especially heartbroken, fussing over Lin Xiaoran while still finding time to scold Gu Yang. “Yangyang, what’s the matter with you? Didn’t I tell you to take care of Xiaoran? How did he end up getting hurt like this? Look at how swollen it is—he must be in so much pain!”

Gu Yang felt even worse about Lin Xiaoran’s injury and stayed quiet as his grandmother reprimanded him.

Lin Xiaoran looked over at Gu Yang and couldn’t help but explain, “Grandma, it was my own carelessness; it has nothing to do with Gu Yang.”

Of course, Grandma was only speaking out of concern and wasn’t truly angry at Gu Yang.

But because of his sprained ankle, Lin Xiaoran became the household’s priority.

Given his unique situation as a man, the Gu family had already been extra careful around him. Now, with his injury, they became even more protective, to the point where, after finally making it back to his room, Lin Xiaoran felt like dealing with the grandparents had been more exhausting than running around outside all afternoon with a hurt foot.

But then again, Gu Yang had been the one carrying him the whole time, so it made sense that he wasn’t tired—Gu Yang should be the one who was exhausted.

Thinking of Gu Yang, Lin Xiaoran’s beautiful eyes filled with confusion once again.

He really couldn’t understand why, in just half a day, he now had to seriously consider whether Gu Yang liked him.

On top of that, his ankle still hurt—achy and swollen, and too stiff to move comfortably. The discomfort kept him awake until midnight.

Just then, there was a faint sound at the door. In the darkness, the closed door was gently pushed open, and Lin Xiaoran saw a tall figure standing in the doorway.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, wondering if he was seeing things.

Why was Gu Yang here in his room at this hour? And why was he just standing at the door, looking in without doing anything?

After a moment, Gu Yang carefully closed the door and was about to leave.

Click!

The room lights flicked on. Lin Xiaoran, who had been lying quietly in bed, had just switched on the light and pulled his hand back, turning his head to look at Gu Yang.

Gu Yang was momentarily stunned, an awkward look briefly flashing in his amber eyes before he quickly smiled and walked in. He sat down by the bed. “I was worried your ankle might be bothering you, so I came to check on you,” he said, lifting the blanket and naturally grabbing Lin Xiaoran’s pale, smooth leg, bending down to examine the injury.

The redness and swelling hadn’t subsided—in fact, it seemed worse than when it first happened.

Gu Yang’s handsome brows furrowed slightly. He looked up at Lin Xiaoran, his eyes filled with concern. “Is it so sore that you can’t sleep?”

Lin Xiaoran stared at him blankly, still processing Gu Yang’s sudden appearance. He instinctively nodded, “Yeah.”

“I’ll get some ice. It should help ease the pain,” Gu Yang said, standing up and leaving the room.

Lin Xiaoran watched him go, his mind still foggy.

Soon, Gu Yang returned and sat back down beside the bed, carefully placing Lin Xiaoran’s foot on his own thigh. He wrapped some ice in a towel and gently applied it to the injured ankle.

“Is it too cold?” Gu Yang asked softly, his head still lowered, his eyes focused on Lin Xiaoran’s ankle, diligently tending to the injury.

“It’s not too cold,” Lin Xiaoran shook his head, his clear eyes fixed on Gu Yang. His soft, pink lips pressed together briefly before he finally spoke, “Did you really come here in the middle of the night just because of my ankle?”

“Then what else?” Gu Yang looked at the fair and beautiful foot in his hand, now red and swollen, feeling only heartache. He didn’t notice Lin Xiaoran’s strange behavior, simply responding with a soft acknowledgment.

Lin Xiaoran blinked and thought, Yeah, why else would Gu Yang be here in the middle of the night, not sleeping?

But really, just because his foot was sprained, Gu Yang came over in the middle of the night to check on him, knowing he couldn’t sleep, and was now helping him with an ice pack.

Lin Xiaoran felt that in his 18 years of life, aside from Lin Lan, no one else would do something like this for him.

“Even if it’s a temporary mark, even if it’s a permanent one, if he doesn’t like you, he can still ignore you.”

The words of that girl from earlier in the day floated back into his mind.

His thick eyelashes trembled slightly as he softly asked, “Gu Yang, are you doing all this just because you marked me? Is it just your alpha instincts?”

Gu Yang’s movements froze, a flash of shock passed through his eyes, and he looked up, meeting those clear, beautiful eyes. At that moment, those eyes were staring directly at him, with a trace of unmistakable confusion.

Did Lin Xiaoran realize it?

Their eyes met, and Gu Yang’s heart suddenly started pounding wildly. He couldn’t tell if it was from nervousness or excitement, but the impulse he had been suppressing for the past two days surged again. Without thinking, he blurted out, “I…”

“Ranran, does your foot hurt?”

Suddenly, Grandma Gu appeared at the door, completely breaking the moment.

Snapping back to reality, Gu Yang could only look at Lin Xiaoran and swallow the rest of his words.

Lin Xiaoran, on the other hand, was still thinking about what Gu Yang had been about to say.

But there was no chance to ask. He obediently responded to Grandma Gu, “It’s fine, Gu Yang helped me ice it, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Even though he said so, Grandma insisted on checking it herself. After confirming multiple times that he was okay, she finally felt relieved enough to go back to bed.

Since it was late, Gu Yang couldn’t stay any longer, so he left with Grandma Gu. The confession that was on the tip of his tongue had to be swallowed back down, leaving him feeling a little disappointed.

Although Lin Xiaoran was a bit curious about what Gu Yang had been about to say, after running around all day, his foot didn’t hurt as much, and he soon fell asleep.

The next day was Monday, and although several of the Gu family elders told Lin Xiaoran to skip school, he insisted on going.

After all, he had already taken Saturday off and had basically skipped all of Sunday. Besides, his ankle wasn’t as badly injured as it seemed. He could still limp his way around.

Since Gu Yang was in the same class and sat next to him, Grandpa and Grandma Gu eventually agreed to let him go to school.

As soon as they arrived, they immediately attracted everyone’s attention. It couldn’t be helped—after all, the video of their performance at the 4th anniversary celebration for The Seventh World was still trending online.

These days, what young person doesn’t scroll through Weibo?

When Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang both missed school on Saturday, it sparked a lot of gossip.

After all, in the eyes of those who didn’t know them well, they were already at the stage of meeting the parents, practically ready to get married after graduation.

Then suddenly, they both missed school on the same day, and everyone’s imaginations ran wild. People couldn’t help but wonder if they had really gone to meet each other’s families.

By the afternoon, someone suddenly exclaimed, “Holy crap! Lin the Genius and Yang the Bro are ‘Wu Huan Xing Yi’ and ‘Ji Du Qiu’!”

The Seventh World is a popular game, and many students at their school played it. So, of course, they were familiar with the top two players in the server.

This sparked even more excitement. People were not only impressed by their performance video but also noticed something different from the fangirls on Weibo. Online fans just thought they were handsome, but the students at their school were seeing real chemistry between them.

One by one, they waited eagerly for the two of them to show up at school so they could observe firsthand.

Finally, they arrived, but Lin the Genius had to be helped in by Yang the Bro.

At that moment, everyone’s attention shifted to Lin Xiaoran’s injured foot. Some were concerned, some were curious, and some were just plain nosy.

Usually, Lin Xiaoran wouldn’t be affected by these things, but for some reason, today his ears seemed especially sharp, and he kept overhearing people whispering.

“Hey, hey, did you see? Yang the Bro is being ridiculously attentive! He’s practically glued to Lin the Genius, not leaving his side.”

“Yeah, yeah, during the break, Lin the Genius must’ve been sitting in one position too long and shifted slightly, and Yang the Bro immediately noticed. And did you see when he asked if Lin was in pain? He was so gentle, wasn’t he? Is that really our school bully Yang the Bro? His tone, his eyes—it’s like he’s dripping with affection.”

“Are you kidding me? Come on, do you even know who Yang the Bro is talking to? Even if he’s a school bully, he still has to take care of his omega, right?”

“Of course I know, but still, doesn’t it feel like he’s spoiling him rotten?”

“Yeah, yeah, they’re so sweet together.”

…

Even during dinner at the cafeteria, Lin Xiaoran overheard people discussing him.

He wasn’t sure why, but after just one weekend, the entire school seemed to be talking about them. Maybe he just hadn’t paid attention to what others said before.

Gu Yang had just finished his meal and returned his tray. Lin Xiaoran looked up and saw him chatting with a few friends, including Chen Hongqiang.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Lin Xiaoran sent Gu Yang a message on his phone: “I’m heading out first.”

After sending it, he got up and left the cafeteria.

His right foot was still swollen, making it impossible to put any weight on it, so he limped along awkwardly. The sensation was unfamiliar to him.

Thinking back, since spraining his foot the day before, he had hardly walked by himself at all. Gu Yang had either carried him or, when going upstairs, simply held him. Even at school, Gu Yang had been by his side, always supporting him when he moved.

Just like those classmates had said earlier—so attentive.

Lin Xiaoran recalled last night, the image of Gu Yang sitting by his bed, carefully applying an ice pack to his ankle. Gu Yang’s head was lowered, his bangs partially covering his eyes, with only his sharp nose and tightly pressed lips visible.

He hadn’t noticed it at the time, but now, thinking back on it, Gu Yang seemed genuinely pained.

Could it be that Gu Yang really…?

“Senior, how’s your foot?”

Suddenly, Jiang Chen’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Lin Xiaoran looked up to see Jiang Chen, sweaty from playing basketball, standing in front of him with a ball in his arms.

He must have stayed late after school to play, as it was already evening.

“It’s fine,” Lin Xiaoran replied, but then froze. They were standing in front of the school building, and just ahead were stairs.

His right foot couldn’t bear any weight, and while walking on flat ground was manageable, going up stairs was impossible.

He furrowed his pretty brows and took out his phone, about to dial Gu Yang. But as his finger hovered over the call button, he hesitated.

Why did he need to call Gu Yang for something like this? Couldn’t he just ask Jiang Chen to give him a hand?

“Your foot can’t take any pressure, right? Let me help you up,” Jiang Chen offered, noticing Lin Xiaoran’s dilemma.

Lin Xiaoran put his phone away and nodded, extending his hand. But before Jiang Chen could help, Lin Xiaoran’s wrist was suddenly grabbed, redirected midair, and placed into Gu Yang’s hand instead.

Gu Yang didn’t even look at him. His gaze was fixed on Jiang Chen, a nonchalant smirk playing on his lips. Though he seemed casual, the atmosphere around him had completely shifted from his usual demeanor.

It must have been an Alpha instinct, as Gu Yang exuded a subtle yet undeniable aura of dominance.

As a fellow Alpha, Jiang Chen felt it even more keenly. It was the hostile energy of a competitor.

Despite also being an Alpha, Jiang Chen always found himself somewhat intimidated by Gu Yang. He awkwardly scratched his head and said, “Yang Ge, Senior’s injured, I was just helping him up.”

“No need,” Gu Yang replied curtly before turning around and, in one swift motion, scooped Lin Xiaoran up in his arms and carried him up the stairs.

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened in disbelief as he watched them. He hadn’t expected Gu Yang to be so bold, even in school, and… Lin Xiaoran didn’t refuse.

Lin Xiaoran hadn’t rejected Gu Yang because he was too caught off guard.

Gu Yang had appeared so suddenly, and the look in his eyes when he saw Jiang Chen made Lin Xiaoran think deeply.

He remembered what that girl had said yesterday: “When he saw me holding your hand, he got so anxious, like I was trying to take you away from him. That possessiveness—how have you not noticed?”

Until just now, Lin Xiaoran really hadn’t noticed.

But now… was Gu Yang actually angry?

Come to think of it, Gu Yang had always seemed upset whenever he saw Jiang Chen. Lin Xiaoran had asked him about it a few times, but Gu Yang never gave him a clear answer. Could it be… because of him?

His mind was tangled in a web of thoughts, making him slow to react. It wasn’t until Gu Yang had carried him all the way to the rooftop that Lin Xiaoran snapped back to reality. His beautiful eyes glared at Gu Yang. “We’re at school! What are you doing?”

Lin Xiaoran typically didn’t care much about what others thought of him, but after all, they were students. He didn’t want to do anything inappropriate on school grounds.

Gu Yang chuckled, clearly amused by Lin Xiaoran’s delayed reaction. He set Lin Xiaoran down on a stone bench and couldn’t resist pinching his face lightly. “What’s done is done. It’s too late to worry about it now.”

Lin Xiaoran shot him a look but decided to let the matter drop. Instead, he asked, “Why’d you bring me here?”

Gu Yang pulled out the ointment they’d gotten from the hospital the previous day and waved it in front of Lin Xiaoran before crouching down to remove his shoes and socks.

Lin Xiaoran was stunned again. His eyes followed Gu Yang’s every move as Gu Yang carefully placed his foot on his lap and began applying the ointment. His long, slender fingers expertly massaged the area, following the technique the doctor had demonstrated the day before.

His head was bowed, fully concentrated on the task.

By now, Lin Xiaoran’s ankle no longer hurt, but the massage would help with circulation and reduce the swelling faster.

But even Lin Xiaoran wouldn’t go to such trouble for himself. Yet here was Gu Yang, carrying the ointment around with him, sitting on the floor, diligently massaging his injury.

Just like last night.

“If an Alpha treats an Omega well during the marking period, it’s either because they really like them, or they’re just a good person who feels obligated to take care of the Omega they’ve marked. But if they’re still treating them well after the marking period ends, there’s only one explanation—they must really…”

The girl’s words echoed in his mind again.

Lin Xiaoran looked at Gu Yang for a long time before finally speaking, “Gu Yang, do you… uh…”

Before he could finish, Gu Yang’s fingers accidentally brushed his arch, sending a shiver through Lin Xiaoran’s body. He couldn’t help but laugh.

Gu Yang blinked, surprised, and looked up at him.

It wasn’t that Lin Xiaoran never laughed, but Gu Yang had never seen him laugh like this. Normally, Lin Xiaoran’s smiles were subtle, just the faintest curve of his lips.

But right now, he was laughing so brightly that it made Gu Yang’s heart skip a beat.

Feeling mischievous, Gu Yang lightly tickled the sole of Lin Xiaoran’s foot again.

“Gu Yang, stop it… Let go!” Lin Xiaoran was extremely ticklish, and when his foot was touched, his whole body would tremble in response. He couldn’t stop laughing, and his body instinctively struggled, causing him to lose his balance and fall off the bench.

Gu Yang hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. He lunged forward to catch him, and they both ended up tumbling to the ground.

Afraid Lin Xiaoran might hit his head, Gu Yang quickly cradled the back of his skull and asked anxiously, “Did you hurt yourself?”

But Lin Xiaoran froze.

He hadn’t even noticed their awkward position—Gu Yang was practically lying on top of him, so close that Lin Xiaoran could feel his breath on his face.

All he could see were Gu Yang’s eyes.

Yesterday, that girl had said Gu Yang looked like he felt Lin Xiaoran’s pain more deeply than his own.

At the time, Lin Xiaoran hadn’t really believed her.

But now, with Gu Yang’s eyes so close, he could see it clearly. Those typically smiling eyes were now filled with concern and pain, as if Lin Xiaoran’s fall had hurt him more than if it had happened to Gu Yang himself.

Lin Xiaoran’s heart began to race, and his cheeks flushed with warmth. He lowered his gaze, feeling an unfamiliar tension.

He didn’t know what was happening, only that he instinctively wanted to avoid Gu Yang’s gaze.

Seeing his silence, Gu Yang thought he might have hurt himself somewhere. Just as he was about to get up and check, he noticed the flush creeping up Lin Xiaoran’s pale face. His long lashes fluttered shyly downward.

Gu Yang wondered if he was dreaming. Lin Xiaoran, who had never been affected by pheromones, was blushing?

But the sight of him like this was irresistibly tempting.

Gu Yang’s throat felt dry, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His voice came out hoarse. “Lin Xiaoran,” he whispered softly.

The Omega’s lashes trembled, and he looked up at Gu Yang, only to quickly drop his gaze again. His slightly swollen, red lips nervously pressed together.

Snap!

Something inside Gu Yang broke. He leaned down and kissed those tightly pressed lips, gently coaxing them to relax, to open, to let him in.

Lin Xiaoran’s mind exploded. He couldn’t think at all, only responding instinctively to the gentle guidance.

All he could think was, Gu Yang is kissing me.

But there was no scent of pheromones in the air, meaning Gu Yang hadn’t lost control; he was kissing him without being overwhelmed…

“Mmm…”

The young alpha, facing the omega he liked, still lacked self-control. Lin Xiao Ran was too compliant, so much so that Gu Yang couldn’t contain his excitement, and the kiss grew more intense. Lin Xiao Ran’s lips began to hurt, and a soft protest escaped his throat.

The quiet sound successfully pulled them both back to reality, and they jolted apart, eyes meeting in an awkward atmosphere.

Gu Yang immediately wanted to apologize; after all, he hadn’t confessed yet, and this was a bit inappropriate. But seeing Lin Xiao Ran’s swollen lips, which he had just kissed, instinctively pressing together again, he found he didn’t want to apologize at all. Taking a deep breath, he declared, “Lin Xiao Ran, I like you.”

Almost simultaneously, Lin Xiao Ran spoke up, “Gu Yang, you like me?”

 

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