Chapter 52
“Uh…”
Gu Yang was momentarily stunned.
He had sensed that Lin Xiao Ran seemed to notice last night, and now it was confirmed.
He smiled gently, looking into Lin Xiao Ran’s eyes, and solemnly nodded, “Yes, I like you. I like you a lot.”
Lin Xiao Ran was taken aback. The aftermath of their recent kiss hadn’t faded, and his clear eyes were misty, his eyelashes fluttering slightly, “You really like me?”
His tone was laced with doubt.
Gu Yang felt a bit nervous; after all, he wasn’t sure how Lin Xiao Ran would respond.
But Lin Xiao Ran’s reaction was rather strange.
“Why do you look like you don’t believe me?” Gu Yang asked, puzzled. Did Lin Xiao Ran think he was joking?
Lin Xiao Ran blinked, his red lips pressed together as he replied, “I’m just a bit surprised. But… how could you like me? Didn’t you used to dislike me?”
Gu Yang: “…”
He never expected Lin Xiao Ran would respond like this after his confession.
In this situation, shouldn’t Lin Xiao Ran be considering whether to accept or reject him? Why was he questioning it instead?
And he even brought up the past.
Gu Yang awkwardly rubbed his nose, “Let’s not bring up the past, alright?”
It was embarrassing.
Noticing Gu Yang’s awkwardness, Lin Xiao Ran hurriedly added, “I don’t mean anything by it; I just can’t understand.”
He truly couldn’t understand.
Although over the past couple of days and based on Gu Yang’s recent actions, he realized that Gu Yang did have feelings for him.
But this was all too sudden for him. He never imagined Gu Yang could like him.
Seeing Lin Xiao Ran frown slightly, looking confused, Gu Yang felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
But then again, this was Lin Xiao Ran—he probably never thought about relationships at all.
He was truly dense!
Yet, despite this, Gu Yang found himself liking this dense person. What could he do?
Gu Yang’s fingertips gently traced the furrowed line between Lin Xiao Ran’s brows, smoothing it out. He then held his shoulders, leaning down to meet Lin Xiao Ran’s gaze, speaking softly yet seriously, “Lin Xiao Ran, I know this may be sudden for you, but it’s true. Please don’t ask me how I came to like you; I don’t know either. I just do, and I want to be your boyfriend. How about it? Think it over?”
Gu Yang’s words finally pulled Lin Xiao Ran back to the main topic. He looked up to meet Gu Yang’s eyes.
At that moment, Gu Yang’s beautiful peach blossom eyes lacked their usual playful smile, yet they appeared so gentle, as if the person he was looking at was the one who needed tenderness and care the most.
Lin Xiao Ran’s heart raced again, the strange feeling returning—he felt a bit nervous, yet not unpleasant.
This feeling was unfamiliar to him, and he couldn’t quite grasp it. Instinctively, he averted his gaze, his thin lips slightly parting as he softly said, “Gu Yang, you probably don’t understand, but I’m a latent omega and can’t be marked.”
Gu Yang’s eyes flickered slightly, just as he was about to speak, Lin Xiao Ran continued, “Since I found out I was a latent omega, I’ve known I wouldn’t be with anyone in my life. So you…”
“So you think I can’t mark you?”
Lin Xiao Ran was cut off mid-sentence.
“Huh?” He looked up at Gu Yang, his beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
Gu Yang couldn’t help but pinch his cheek and chuckle, “Lin Xiao Ran, what are you thinking? You don’t really believe I can only give you a temporary mark and not a complete one, do you?”
Huh?
Lin Xiao Ran stared blankly at Gu Yang, momentarily unable to process what he said.
Seeing that look, Gu Yang knew this guy had probably never considered that possibility.
Gu Yang was both amused and exasperated, holding Lin Xiao Ran’s chin and leaning closer to whisper in his ear with a laugh, “Still don’t believe me? Want to give it a try?”
Lin Xiao Ran’s body stiffened, and his face turned crimson as he angrily shouted, “Gu Yang, you idiot!” After saying that, he struggled to push Gu Yang away.
Even though Lin Xiao Ran was a bit dense, the difference between a complete mark and a temporary one was significant. Hearing such a straightforward remark in his ear made him feel embarrassed.
Gu Yang, worried that Lin Xiao Ran’s struggles might hurt his ankle, helped him sit up, chuckling as he reassured him, “I’m just afraid you won’t believe me. Think about it—why can’t latent omegas be marked? It’s because alphas can’t smell their pheromones. But I can smell yours. So, Lin Xiao Ran, you’re not a latent omega to me. Do you understand?”
The blush on Lin Xiao Ran’s face hadn’t faded, and his cheeks felt hot.
He didn’t respond, just lowered his gaze, contemplating Gu Yang’s words.
He was someone who disliked complications; since he realized he was a latent omega, he had already preemptively dismissed the possibility of being fully marked by someone.
He wasn’t someone who was very sensitive about relationships; he never really thought about such things.
So even after Gu Yang had marked him a few times, he never considered that Gu Yang was different from others—at least, different for him.
He never thought about whether Gu Yang could fully mark him just because he had marked him temporarily.
But Gu Yang was right; to him, he wasn’t a latent omega.
“That’s not a reason to refuse me.” Noticing Lin Xiao Ran was coming to a realization, Gu Yang pressed on, “So, think it over. How about being my boyfriend?”
Lin Xiao Ran still kept his head down, silent, his thoughts a bit jumbled.
Even if Gu Yang was right, he had never considered dating anyone, let alone whether he liked Gu Yang. He never imagined that he would develop a romantic relationship with anyone, Gu Yang included.
Now, with the question suddenly in front of him and Gu Yang wanting an answer, he was completely at a loss.
His dark, soft hair covered his brows and eyes, so from Gu Yang’s angle, he could only see his high nose bridge, smooth jawline, and repeatedly pressed lips.
He seemed indecisive.
“Actually, there are quite a few benefits to dating me,” Gu Yang said.
Hearing this, Lin Xiao Ran lifted his head, looking at Gu Yang with his clear eyes, waiting for more.
“Look, I’m good at games; I can accompany you for solo play anytime. My performance is steadily improving, so I can match you. Plus, I’m handsome, which is nice to show off, right?”
Lin Xiao Ran had been listening seriously, but by the end, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
Gu Yang, unbothered by his self-praise, continued, “The key point is, I can be your free suppressant. Think about how tough it is during your heat!”
Lin Xiao Ran’s eyes brightened, “Now that you mention it…”
“Hey!” Gu Yang quickly interrupted, realizing Lin Xiao Ran was genuinely considering this proposal. He smiled, slightly exasperated, “Don’t just focus on that; also think about… what do you really think of me?”
Of course, he hoped Lin Xiao Ran would agree; saying those things was meant to entice him, but he didn’t want Lin Xiao Ran to agree just for those reasons. He wanted to know how Lin Xiao Ran truly felt about him.
At that moment, Lin Xiao Ran sat on a stone bench while Gu Yang stood in front of him.
Lin Xiao Ran looked up and saw Gu Yang smiling at him. However, it wasn’t his usual calm demeanor; there was hope and a hint of nervousness in those beautiful peach blossom eyes.
Lin Xiao Ran always felt that Gu Yang exuded a very obvious trait: confidence.
This confidence likely stemmed from his upbringing, family, and personal achievements—it radiated from him, understated yet incredibly assured. It seemed that if he wanted to, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.
He had never seen Gu Yang like this; he even noticed that Gu Yang’s hand, which he had secretly stuffed into his pocket, was tightly clenched into a fist.
This version of Gu Yang looked… quite cute.
Lin Xiao Ran couldn’t help but let a small smile creep onto his lips. Just as he was about to speak, the ringing of his phone interrupted him.
He pulled out his phone and saw it was Lin Lan calling.
He raised the phone toward Gu Yang, pressed the answer button, and Lin Lan’s excited voice immediately came through, even without speakerphone, Gu Yang could hear it.
“Ran Ran, guess where Mom is right now? At the school gate! I came back early just to surprise you. Are you happy?”
Lin Xiao Ran was momentarily stunned; his beautiful eyes instantly lit up with joy, unable to hide his delight in his clear voice, “Mom, you really came back?”
“Of course! I’m right at the school gate. Hurry out so I can see you; I missed you so much!”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Lin Lan had been gone for three months. Though Lin Xiao Ran rarely voiced it, he and Lin Lan had depended on each other for many years, and being apart for so long certainly weighed on him.
Now that Lin Lan had returned out of the blue, he was genuinely thrilled.
He quickly hung up and started heading downstairs.
Gu Yang could see he was truly happy, though he still had his earlier confession on his mind; he had to set it aside for now.
“Don’t rush; your foot is still injured.” As he spoke, he moved to support Lin Xiao Ran down the stairs.
The two had spent quite a bit of time on the rooftop, and evening classes had already started.
As they descended, they realized they wouldn’t have time for evening study, so they headed directly to the school gate.
Just as they stepped outside, Gu Yang didn’t see clearly and suddenly someone rushed over to hug Lin Xiao Ran tightly.
With his foot injured, Lin Xiao Ran couldn’t withstand the force of the embrace and slightly stumbled back, but Gu Yang caught him around the waist from behind.
In the past, Lin Xiao Ran wouldn’t have cared about Gu Yang’s actions, but for some reason now, he felt a bit stiff and instinctively turned to glance at Gu Yang.
However, Lin Lan was already hugging him tightly. “Ran Ran, I missed you so much! Do you miss me?”
She was naturally tall for a woman, but still shorter than Lin Xiao Ran. As she hugged him, her hair brushed against his chin.
Lin Xiao Ran found it ticklish, and being embraced so publicly felt strange, but he didn’t want to dampen Lin Lan’s excitement, so he obediently allowed her to hold him, softly calling out, “Mom.”
Gu Yang stood nearby, supporting him, and didn’t miss the slight awkwardness in Lin Xiao Ran’s eyes, unable to help but turn his head and chuckle.
Though he had seen Lin Xiao Ran in video calls with Lin Lan and knew that Lin Xiao Ran would comply whenever faced with her, it couldn’t compare to witnessing it in person.
In front of Lin Lan, Lin Xiao Ran was obedient and even exuded a childlike charm, looking very lively.
Having not seen her son for three months, Lin Lan was eager to catch up. She held him tightly, rubbing against him, and if she hadn’t suddenly remembered that Lin Xiao Ran’s foot was injured, she might not have let go at all.
“I’m so happy, I completely forgot what Uncle Gu said about your sprained foot. Let me take a look.” Remembering this, Lin Lan quickly released him and bent down to examine his ankle. Seeing it was still swollen, her brows knitted in concern. “Oh no, how did it get so serious? Does it hurt, sweetheart?”
Lin Xiao Ran’s tightly pressed lips moved slightly. He felt a bit helpless about Lin Lan calling him that in this situation, but he simply shook his head, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Gu Yang noticed the embarrassment in Lin Xiao Ran’s eyes, a hint of frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
Unable to help himself, Gu Yang let out a light laugh.
With this laugh, Lin Lan finally shifted her attention to him, her almond-shaped eyes scanning him up and down as she smiled, “You’re Gu Yang, right? You’re even more handsome than in the videos!”
“Hello, Auntie. I’m Gu Yang,” he replied politely.
“I heard from your dad that Xiao Ran has made a lot of progress in his studies recently. He’s very pleased! Oh, I almost forgot; your dad is still waiting in the car for us. Let’s go grab a bite to eat together.”
As she spoke, she pulled both of them toward the car.
Although Lin Xiao Ran and Gu Yang had already had dinner, this meal was meant to celebrate Lin Lan’s return, so they naturally had to go.
Once in the car, Lin Lan sat in the backseat with Lin Xiao Ran, holding her son’s arm and chatting endlessly.
Lin Xiao Ran mostly listened, occasionally responding.
Still, it was clear he was in a good mood, a slight smile gracing his lips.
“Wait?” As Lin Lan spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Lin Xiao Ran, staring at his lips. “What happened to your lips? They look red and swollen.”
Uh-oh.
Lin Lan’s sudden question left both Gu Yang and Lin Xiao Ran momentarily stunned.
Gu Yang felt a bit guilty and glanced back at Lin Xiao Ran, who happened to be looking at him too.
Their gazes met briefly before they quickly looked away.
Lin Xiao Ran pressed his lips together and awkwardly lied, “I had spicy food for dinner.”
“Ah!” Gu Yang hadn’t expected Lin Xiao Ran to respond so quickly. He found his awkwardness endearingly cute and couldn’t help but laugh.
This immediately earned him a sharp glare from Lin Xiao Ran.
You jerk! How can you still laugh?
If you hadn’t kissed me so hard, it wouldn’t be like this!
Fortunately, Lin Lan wasn’t suspicious and completely believed her son’s words. She gently touched Lin Xiao Ran’s beautiful face, saying sympathetically, “Next time, don’t eat such spicy food. Look at your lips; they’re swollen, it looks painful.”
In the front seat, Gu Yang couldn’t help but think to himself, I actually think they look delicious.
