Chapter 58
Though Gu Yang complained, he didn’t actually plan to stay the night. After all, if they slept together, he’d be the one suffering in the end.
After lingering for a bit, he leaned in, stole a quick kiss from Lin Xiaoran, and then got up to leave. As he stepped out, he ran into Gu Xiuyuan, who had just returned home.
Hearing that Lin Xiaoran was there, Gu Xiuyuan had gone upstairs to say hello when he noticed Lin’s room light still on.
Gu Yang didn’t have much to say to his father and went straight to his own room, not noticing the puzzled look in Gu Xiuyuan’s eyes. His gaze moved from Gu Yang’s retreating figure to Lin Xiaoran, as he, being an alpha, could clearly smell Gu Yang’s pheromones on Lin Xiaoran.
“Uncle Gu, you’re back?” Lin Xiaoran, still holding Bai Tang, greeted him proactively.
Standing at the doorway, Gu Xiuyuan smiled and nodded, “Just got back. Your mom’s probably working overnight tonight. I’ll pick her up tomorrow morning. From now on, whenever your mom works late, just come stay here. It’s just like home. Your grandparents and Aunt Wu are always looking forward to your visits.”
Lin Xiaoran nodded. “Okay.”
It was already late, and Lin Xiaoran, being an omega, made Gu Xiuyuan mindful of boundaries. After a brief chat, Gu Xiuyuan closed the door gently and didn’t leave right away. Instead, he turned and knocked on the door of the room opposite, stepping inside.
Gu Yang had just pulled out a few test papers, ready to start working on them, when he saw his father come in.
The two of them rarely communicated much—Gu Yang wasn’t keen on it, and Gu Xiuyuan was always too busy. They usually only met at the dining table, and even then, not much was said.
It was rare for Gu Xiuyuan to visit Gu Yang’s room, and Gu Yang, feeling slightly annoyed, looked over at him but said nothing, his expression showing his impatience.
Without beating around the bush, Gu Xiuyuan sat on the bed and asked directly, “Did you give Lin Xiaoran another temporary mark?”
Gu Yang recalled that Lin Xiaoran hadn’t used any pheromone blockers after his shower.
He still didn’t respond verbally, but his silence was enough of an answer.
Gu Xiuyuan frowned. “I know you and Lin Xiaoran are close, and his situation is quite unique. You probably did it to ease his suffering, but Lin’s mom told me she brought back a pheromone extract from abroad this time. Just one injection during his heat will have the same effect as a mark, so he won’t have to endure what he did before. You can’t keep giving him temporary marks. No matter how close you two are, he’s still an omega. Doing this puts him at a disadvantage. Going forward, stop marking him. And, it’s late—why are you still going to his room? What if it’s inconvenient for him? You need to be more mindful of these things.”
Without waiting for Gu Yang to respond, Gu Xiuyuan stood up, closed the door behind him, and left.
Gu Yang paused, the pen in his hand coming to a stop before he slammed it down on the table, feeling a surge of irritation.
What does it mean that Lin Xiaoran can get the same effect from another alpha’s pheromones? He’s my boyfriend—why should someone else’s pheromones be involved?
When Gu Xiuyuan had been halfway through his lecture, Gu Yang had almost blurted out, “I’m his boyfriend, why can’t I mark him?”
But he swallowed the words down.
Earlier, when they ran into Gu Yang’s grandmother at the villa entrance, Lin Xiaoran had quickly pulled his hand out of Gu Yang’s pocket. Later, Gu Yang had quietly asked him, “Why are you afraid they’ll find out?”
Lin Xiaoran’s answer was simple: “It’s troublesome.”
His response had been vague, but Gu Yang understood. It would indeed cause trouble if their relationship was exposed—after all, they were still in high school. Being in a relationship at this stage would be considered “puppy love,” which wasn’t exactly encouraged, especially not in their senior year with college entrance exams looming.
If their elders found out they were dating instead of focusing on their studies, they’d probably face endless lectures about it every day.
Lin Xiaoran clearly wanted to avoid that hassle, which is why he had whispered in Gu Yang’s ear later, “We’ll deal with it after the exams.”
For now, they had to keep their relationship a secret.
Still, this didn’t dampen the sweetness of their feelings. Even though they had spent plenty of time together before, the dynamic had completely shifted since they started dating.
Sometimes, just a brief, accidental glance exchanged between them was enough to make their hearts flutter, as if the entire world had been painted in dreamy colors.
Of course, this change didn’t go unnoticed by the gossip-prone students at Seventh High. People still hadn’t forgotten about the drama between Gu Yang and “Biying Liunian” (碧影流年). Forum posts accusing Gu Yang of being a scumbag were still pinned on the homepage, and topics like “Heartbroken for the study god, don’t cry, study god” were still floating around. So how did the two of them suddenly reconcile, and now seem even sweeter than before?
It was all a mystery to the masses.
Meanwhile, the gossip group chat for Class 3, Senior Year, was buzzing…
Gossip Expert: “Let’s be real here. Don’t you guys think those two seem a little different lately?”
Milk Tea No Sugar Still Sweet: “A little different? More like so sweet they’re blinding my poor eyes!”
Study God’s Desk Neighbor: “Just dropped my pen earlier, bent down to pick it up, and saw something I shouldn’t have.”
Won’t Change My Name Until I Lose 20 Pounds: “No way! That juicy? Did they…?”
Study God’s Desk Neighbor: “They were holding hands.”
Front Row Spectator Eating Popcorn: “Uh… that’s it? I thought it’d be something more… inappropriate.”
Won’t Change My Name Until I Lose 20 Pounds: “Holding hands? That’s so pure, though.”
Study God Is My Idol: “What’s that supposed to mean? Can we not lower the bar like this? Also, holding hands is no big deal—they could’ve just accidentally brushed hands.”
School Bully Is My Idol: “Oh, right, ‘accidentally’ with glue on their hands, huh? Some people just don’t want to admit their idol is dating someone else, so they’re out here making up stuff.”
Study God Is My Idol: “Yeah, I don’t want Study God dating that scumbag. What’s your point?”
School Bully Is My Idol: “What evidence do you have that Gu Yang is a scumbag?”
Study God Is My Idol: “The post about him cheating is still up on the forum. Go read it yourself.”
…
This kind of gossip usually fades over time, especially when everyone at school witnesses the daily PDA between Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran that blinds anyone nearby. Soon enough, people forget all about “Biying Liunian” (碧影流年).
But Biying Liunian herself hadn’t given up. The Seventh World secondary league had already started online, and it was clear that Gu Yang still cared about the team. So, she persisted in messaging him daily on WeChat—not about personal matters, only about the issues the team faced in the competition.
Gu Yang never replied. She kept at it for three days until her messages wouldn’t go through anymore—she was notified that she was no longer on his friend list.
Gu Yang had blocked her!
At the time, she and her team had just finished a match and were out celebrating with hotpot. Eager to message Gu Yang, she’d taken out her phone and, after agonizing over the right wording, found herself blocked. Instantly, her anger flared. She felt Gu Yang had gone too far!
Right then and there, she opened the player group chat for Seventh World and publicly @’d Gu Yang.
@Qiduchou (幾度秋): Don’t you think you’re being too petty? I just like you and want to pursue you—I haven’t done anything over the line. Was it really necessary to block me? Did @Wuhuanxingyi (物換星移) make you do it? Is he really so afraid that I’ll steal you away? You might’ve blocked me on WeChat, but I can still reach you in the game. Worst case, I’ll find you in the guild channel. What’s next, is Wuhuanxingyi going to force you out of Xuanyumen (玄羽門)? Doesn’t he know that in a relationship, you need to give each other enough space and freedom?
Most of the group had already caught wind of the drama before, and many were of the opinion that Biying Liunian was a bit shameless. Gu Yang had a boyfriend now, but she still clung on and even had the nerve to play the victim when she was blocked.
She was a public figure, always presenting herself like a goddess during her livestreams, yet in private, she was so brazenly unbothered by her reputation. It was surprising she didn’t find it embarrassing.
However, no one responded to her message. Since everyone knew each other, no one wanted to stir the pot publicly.
After she sent the message, the chat remained quiet.
A few minutes later, someone suddenly spoke up.
“Holy crap, Qiduchou quit Xuanyumen!”
The group exploded instantly.
“No way! Are you serious? Qiduchou has been with Xuanyumen for four years. She’s one of the veterans!”
“She’s contributed so much to the guild over the years, and most of the members are her long-time friends. It must’ve been hard to leave.”
“Of course! If I were forced to leave Bihai Pavilion, I’d absolutely hate whoever caused it.”
…
What had been just a spectacle for most of the group now hit home as they imagined themselves in her shoes. They began subtly and not-so-subtly criticizing Biying Liunian.
Even Biying Liunian herself hadn’t expected Gu Yang to really quit the guild. His move was a clear sign that he wasn’t leaving her any room for hope. As the leader of Xuanyumen, she knew exactly how much his departure would impact the guild.
Panic set in, and she tried to think of something to say, but her mind was a mess.
At that moment, Gu Yang finally spoke in the chat.
“Saying I was forced to quit isn’t quite accurate. I haven’t done guild tasks or participated in activities for a long time. For me, playing the game is more about having fun than treating it like a chore. So, whether I’m in a guild or not doesn’t really make a difference to me. Of course, I mainly left to avoid any misunderstandings with my boyfriend. I can’t let a game make my boyfriend unhappy, right? Looks like I’ll just have to rely on you from now on, @Wuhuanxingyi.”
After being tagged multiple times in one evening, Lin Xiaoran was also looking at the group messages. When she saw Gu Yang mention her, she paused briefly, contemplating whether she should reply. Just as she was about to decide, Gu Yang sent another message:
“@Biying Liunian, I hope what I said today helps you understand that I have a boyfriend, and we’re doing great. So please stop bothering us. If this happens again, I can’t guarantee I’ll have the patience to explain myself. I know your family is wealthy, and they can probably smooth things over for you, but sometimes money isn’t everything. I hope you remember what I said today.”
After sending that message, the system notified her that Qiduchou had left the group chat.
Right after, Wuhuanxingyi left the group chat too.
At this point, everyone in the group was still absorbed in Gu Yang’s words, which had a clear threatening undertone.
“Wait, what’s Qiduchou’s family background?”
“I don’t know. He seems pretty down-to-earth, so maybe he doesn’t have much of a background? At most, just a decent family?”
“If he didn’t have a background, how could he say something like that? He’s clearly telling Biying Liunian that her family background isn’t enough!”
“Is he just putting on a show?”
“I don’t think Qiduchou would stoop that low.”
“Uh, just a random guess, but you guys do know Qiduchou’s last name is Gu, right? There are a lot of people with the last name Gu in the country, but it seems there’s only one wealthy family with that surname, and they happen to be in the same city as Qiduchou.”
“No way! You’re talking about that Gu family?”
“Wait! Now that you mention it, I remember seeing something in a gossip magazine before that said the heir of the Gu family is really handsome and seems pretty young.”
“If Gu Xiuyuan is that handsome, then his son must be too!”
“The more I think about it, the more I feel that Qiduchou’s looks resemble Gu Xiuyuan’s a bit.”
“No way! If that’s true, then he definitely has the guts to say those things.”
“I think he was actually pretty restrained. If it were me, I’d be bragging about it!”
…
While the group was lively with discussion, the Seventh World game was also buzzing. The world channel was flooded with messages debating why Qiduchou had left Xuanyumen.
However, the parties involved weren’t even glancing at it. Lin Xiaoran, after leaving the group chat, logged into the game and immediately accepted a battle invitation from Wuhuanxingyi.
Just then, Gu Yang’s message popped up: “Let’s not play anymore. I’m exhausted. Why don’t you come with me to Starfall Lake to stargaze?”
Lin Xiaoran, sitting at her computer, pursed her lips slightly. Here we go again!
This guy had promised her before that he wouldn’t complain about being tired during solo matches anymore, yet he still ended up pulling her to Starfall Lake.
Considering they were dating, Lin Xiaoran decided not to refuse. She clicked to follow, letting Wuhuanxingyi tag along with Qiduchou while she took a moment to work on some math problems.
After a while, Gu Yang sent another message: “Do you remember that year in the third year of middle school? I was feeling down and asked you for a solo match, and you stayed up with me all night without asking anything. It’s the same now.”
Lin Xiaoran put down her pen and replied: “So, are you feeling down now?”
Gu Yang replied: “Not exactly, just feeling a bit regretful.”
Lin Xiaoran understood. Even he would feel bad about suddenly leaving Bihai Pavilion; it would certainly weigh on his heart, but it wasn’t like he was devastated—it was just a game after all.
Lin Xiaoran: “It’s okay. Even without Xuanyumen backing you up, I won’t think any less of you!”
On the other side, Gu Yang couldn’t help but smile when he saw her message on the screen. His long fingers swiftly tapped the keyboard as he replied: “Boyfriends are great!”
Lin Xiaoran’s lips curled into a slight smile: “Of course! But I’m done for now; I still haven’t finished my homework.”
Although their romance was sweet, the pressure of their senior year still loomed. With the mid-December monthly exams approaching, they had to buckle down and study for a couple of days.
After Gu Yang’s surprising performance last time, he was under close scrutiny this time. Some people suspected he had cheated and were eager to see him exposed, while others believed in his true abilities and were curious to see if he could outperform Lin Xiaoran this time.
When the results came out, Lin Xiaoran remained at the top of the rankings, with Gu Yang in second place. However, his total score improved by about ten points, closing the gap between him and Lin Xiaoran.
Gu Yang’s performance was enough to silence those who had been spreading rumors about him cheating. The teachers at No. 7 Middle School were all smiles, especially the grade director, Gao Weixuan. In the past, whenever he spoke at meetings, he would always use Lin Xiaoran as a model student; now, he had another example in Gu Yang.
The students at No. 7 Middle School were already dazzled by the two’s unintentional display of affection, and now they were also being overshadowed by their academic achievements, leaving them feeling quite demoralized.
However, life had to go on. With New Year’s Day approaching, not only would they get a day off, but the school was also hosting a New Year’s cultural performance. All the classes and clubs were encouraged to participate actively. The teachers would not interfere and left everything up to the students, which greatly motivated everyone. The cultural committee members of each class were busy preparing.
During this time, the forum was buzzing with discussions about the New Year’s cultural performance. A video of Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang performing at a Seventh World offline event had been reposted by someone, and the calls for the two “school gods” to perform together flooded in. Some even claimed that, despite their lack of talent, just watching their handsome faces for five minutes would be worth it.
The crowd’s enthusiasm couldn’t be ignored. The cultural committee of Class 1 of Senior Year was struggling to find participants and, with no other option, approached Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang, hoping they could put together a performance.
A soft-spoken girl stood by their table, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes brimming with tears as she begged them for help. Gu Yang felt a bit embarrassed.
Actually, Gu Yang didn’t mind, but he thought Lin Xiaoran would definitely not be interested.
Before he could refuse, Lin Xiaoran spoke up: “Sure.”
“Huh?”
Gu Yang turned back in surprise, and the girl immediately burst into tears of gratitude. “Thank you, thank you, academic god and Yang Ge! What kind of program do you want to perform? Just let me know, and I’ll register it. If you need any help, just ask!”
Lin Xiaoran nodded: “Okay.”
With that affirmation, the girl was practically over the moon, and everyone in Class 1 was excited too.
Although they weren’t keen on participating themselves, having Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang perform would certainly be a matter of collective pride, even if they just stood there and did nothing; it would create quite a buzz.
Moreover, many of them had heard Gu Yang sing before and knew he had a beautiful voice.
It seemed that Class 1 would be the star of this cultural performance again, though they were curious about how Lin Xiaoran would sing—hopefully not too badly.
The group began to discuss excitedly, and Gu Yang, curious, leaned over and asked softly, “Why did you suddenly agree?”
Lin Xiaoran, seriously working on her problems, blinked her clear eyes at the test paper and casually replied, “She was almost in tears.”
Gu Yang paused for a second, then chuckled softly, “So, what program are you preparing?”
Only then did Lin Xiaoran turn to look at him. “You’ll sing.”
“Okay! What about you? A duet?” Gu Yang had never heard Lin Xiaoran sing and was looking forward to it.
Lin Xiaoran shook her head. “I’ll accompany you. But it’s been a while since I played the piano.”
Gu Yang remembered seeing Lin Xiaoran’s trophies from piano competitions at her home, and there was also a piano in the corner of the living room, covered with a cloth, indicating it hadn’t been touched in a long time.
After the gender divide, Lin Xiaoran probably hadn’t had the chance to play the piano much.
Gu Yang disliked seeing Lin Xiaoran bound by these constraints; she was clearly capable of so much more, yet had to give up many of her passions because of her gender.
“Let’s go to your house tonight and practice. We still have two days before the cultural performance, so we can rehearse properly.”
Lin Xiaoran nodded. “Okay.”
It was Saturday, and they didn’t have evening self-study sessions, so after having dinner outside, the two went to Tianjun Peak and uncovered the long-dusty piano in the corner.
It was well-maintained; when Lin Xiaoran casually played a few notes, he found there was no problem. However, his own playing wasn’t very good since it had been several years since he last touched a piano. He couldn’t remember the sheet music, and his finger placements were unsteady, causing his playing to be halting and, at times, hitting the wrong notes.
Gu Yang accompanied him, practicing repeatedly.
Perhaps due to muscle memory from his youth, Lin Xiaoran gradually found his rhythm after a few rounds of practice. His long, slender fingers danced deftly over the black and white keys, producing beautiful, flowing music that spilled from his fingertips and filled Gu Yang’s ears.
Gu Yang stood by, watching him become more absorbed in the music. His lips unconsciously curved into a beautiful arc, and memories of Lin Xiaoran’s younger self floated in his mind: during middle school and elementary school, he had a youthful innocence but was just as beautiful, sitting at the piano and playing the most enchanting melodies.
Back then, he must have been carefree, never thinking he would one day have to give up the things he loved, whether it be the piano or basketball. Those hobbies he picked up in his youth were never something he thought he would have to let go of later.
Suddenly, Gu Yang felt a pang of heartache. As Lin Xiaoran played the last note, he couldn’t help but lean in and place a gentle kiss on those rosy lips, holding those beautiful, fair hands and looking into Lin Xiaoran’s eyes. “Lin Xiaoran, from now on, do whatever you love, and don’t ever give up on the things you like because of gender issues, okay?”
Lin Xiaoran’s clear eyes paused slightly in surprise, looking at Gu Yang. A smile gradually spread across his face. He didn’t say anything but stood up and wrapped his arms around Gu Yang’s neck, leaning in for a kiss.
Gu Yang understood him.
Lin Xiaoran had once had to give up certain things because of the uniqueness of his gender. He never brought it up, but it was not without regret.
But then he thought, even if he were an ordinary omega, capable of being marked, could he really do the things he wanted to do?
Not necessarily!
This society offers many privileges to omegas but also imposes numerous restrictions. Once an omega gets married, it’s almost an unspoken rule that they shouldn’t work outside.
Especially for a male omega like him, who was already quite rare, they were typically treated like canaries, as if they were born merely to be admired.
Clearly, Gu Yang didn’t think that way.
Gu Yang wanted to give him freedom.
While Gu Yang felt sympathetic, he didn’t expect Lin Xiaoran to suddenly throw himself into his arms, making it hard for him to hold back. He wrapped one arm around Lin Xiaoran and used the other to support the back of his head, reclaiming the initiative. His tongue skillfully slipped between Lin Xiaoran’s soft lips, teasingly tangling with his.
Lin Xiaoran was obedient and cooperative, tilting his head back to receive him. The sweet scent of his breath brushed against Gu Yang’s face, making his heart race with a pleasant itch. Gu Yang’s large hand slid down Lin Xiaoran’s dark, soft hair to the gland at the back of his neck, causing Lin Xiaoran to tremble slightly. The information pheromones, reminiscent of rock candy and snow pears, curled around Gu Yang’s fingertips.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open with a bang.
Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan walked in, chatting.
The two quickly pulled apart; Lin Xiaoran dashed into the nearby bathroom as Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan stepped into the living room.
“Yang Yang is here? Hey? Who opened the piano?” Lin Lan immediately noticed the open piano, while Gu Xiuyuan frowned slightly. He sensed Gu Yang’s pheromones, though they were faint and he wasn’t entirely sure.
Gu Yang’s heart was still racing, but he managed to keep a calm expression. Smiling, he responded, “We have a cultural performance at school for New Year’s Day. I’m going to perform with Xiaoran. He plays, and I sing. Xiaoran was just practicing.”
Lin Lan’s eyes lit up. “Really? It’s been so long since Xiaoran played the piano! I’ve always thought it was such a pity. I’m so happy he can pick it up again.”
Lin Lan had always felt sorry that her son had to give up so many things because of gender discrimination. Now that her son was returning to the piano, she couldn’t contain her joy and eagerly asked Gu Yang what piece they would perform.
In the bathroom, Lin Xiaoran frowned at himself in the mirror, realizing his lips were still slightly swollen from Gu Yang’s kiss.
He couldn’t understand why he always seemed to have lingering effects after their encounters, while Gu Yang appeared unfazed.
If he walked out like this, wouldn’t Lin Lan and Gu Xiuyuan be able to tell something was off?
But he couldn’t just stay in there forever.
After hesitating for a while, he waited until Gu Yang and Gu Xiuyuan left the living room before finally stepping out of the bathroom, thinking about what excuse he could come up with to fool Lin Lan. However, Lin Lan was completely focused on something else, pulling him in excitedly. “Xiaoran, you’re amazing! I always said you played the piano so well. It’s such a shame to give it up when you love it. But I’m still surprised! What made you suddenly willing to participate in this kind of event?”
Seeing that Lin Lan hadn’t noticed his swollen lips, Lin Xiaoran breathed a sigh of relief and obediently replied, “It’s because of Gu Yang; it’s no big deal.”
Because of Gu Yang?
Lin Lan watched him thoughtfully, having noticed that her son had grown closer to Gu Yang in the past few months and seemed significantly happier.
“Xiaoran, what do you think of Gu Yang as a person?” Lin Lan asked.
“Huh?” Lin Xiaoran was taken aback by the sudden question but answered honestly, “He’s pretty good.”
Lin Lan smiled and winked at him. “Then… how about being his boyfriend?”
