Chapter 64
Early in the morning, Lin Xiaoran had just washed up and was about to head downstairs for breakfast when his little cousin came bursting in with a beaming smile, her head poking through the door. “Ranran-ge, Ranran-ge, we have a guest at our family inn! And he’s super handsome—really, really handsome! Ranran-ge, you have to come down and see him.”
Lin Xiaoran wasn’t especially interested in some handsome guest, but he was surprised anyone would be traveling during the New Year holidays.
Before he knew it, his little cousin had dragged him to the staircase, and he heard his older cousin sweetly saying to the guest, “Yes, our inn just opened, and you’re our very first guest. I can offer you a 20% discount and a complimentary membership card, so you’ll always get the discount when you stay here. Oh, and because you’re our first customer, we’ll also give you a free breakfast voucher. Normally, we wouldn’t do this during our soft opening, but for you, we’ll make an exception.”
Such enthusiasm—it was unexpected.
Now Lin Xiaoran was starting to believe their guest really was good-looking. His cousin was never this welcoming otherwise.
Just then, the guest spoke, his voice languid and tinged with a faint laugh. “Thanks.”
Lin Xiaoran’s eyes widened, and his lashes fluttered in shock. Was he hearing things? That sounded like Gu Yang’s voice.
No way.
By now, his little cousin had already pulled him to the top of the stairs. Downstairs, the “handsome guest” had finished checking in, and his cousin enthusiastically invited him to go upstairs.
With his bag slung over his shoulder, the guest turned and happened to look up, his gaze locking with Lin Xiaoran’s at the top of the staircase.
In that instant, the world went silent.
Separated by a short flight of stairs, the two of them stood frozen in place.
For a moment, Gu Yang couldn’t tell if this was reality or a dream. How could the person he missed most suddenly appear right in front of him?
Was he just hallucinating from missing him too much?
No, something wasn’t right.
Gu Yang sniffed lightly. That familiar scent—Lin Xiaoran’s scent—it was coming from him. If this were a hallucination, there’s no way he’d be able to imagine that detail, even down to the scent of pheromones.
It really was Lin Xiaoran!
A surge of barely restrained delight flashed in Gu Yang’s amber eyes. “Ranran!” He quickly bounded up the stairs, stopping in front of Lin Xiaoran.
Lin Xiaoran lifted his head to look at him, his dark eyes blinking in disbelief, his lips pursed as if still uncertain. “Gu Yang?”
“Yangyang?”
Just then, Lin Lan, who had come to call everyone for breakfast, spotted Gu Yang and was equally astonished. “Yangyang, what are you doing here?”
Gu Yang hurriedly stepped back down the stairs, greeting her, “Aunt Lin, I’m just here on a little trip. I didn’t expect to run into you. What a coincidence!”
Yes, what an unbelievable coincidence.
He had no idea where he would end up before he left, and certainly didn’t expect to run into Lin Xiaoran. Yet here they were, face to face.
But what was the point of such a fateful encounter?
After a fleeting moment of happiness, Gu Yang felt a pang of sadness.
Not that he showed it on his face.
Finally, Lin Xiaoran snapped back to reality, realizing the person downstairs was indeed Gu Yang.
He knew he and Gu Yang had broken up and that it wasn’t suitable for them to stay in contact. Gu Yang probably thought the same, which is why they had cut ties for the past few days.
Yet, Lin Xiaoran couldn’t lie to himself. At that first sight of Gu Yang, he had felt pure joy.
But when he thought about Gu Yang wandering out here alone during New Year’s, he felt even worse inside.
“Yangyang, you’re really too much, wandering around by yourself during the holidays. Listen to your aunt and stay here with us until the seventh day of the New Year. Then we can all head back together,” Lin Lan insisted firmly, not giving Gu Yang any room to decline. Being a bit old-fashioned, she couldn’t bear the thought of Gu Yang out on his own for the holidays, so she immediately took charge and decided he would stay.
But Gu Yang didn’t think it was appropriate, especially since he’d be staying under the same roof as Lin Xiaoran. He wasn’t sure he could keep himself in check and hide things from Lin Lan.
However, before he could say anything, Lin Lan leaned over and whispered, “Yangyang, actually, your timing is perfect. I’ve been a little worried about Ranran these days.”
“What’s wrong with Ranran?” Gu Yang’s heart sank, and he hurriedly asked.
Lin Lan shook her head. “I’m not sure. He seems troubled, like something’s weighing on him. I asked, but he wouldn’t tell me anything. Yangyang, he’s close to you—could you try talking to him and cheer him up?”
Gu Yang looked over at Lin Xiaoran, who had come down the stairs and was now leaning against the stair railing with his head lowered. His soft, dark hair fell over his brow, concealing his eyes, leaving only the elegant line of his jaw and the tip of his chin visible.
He looked thinner.
Was it because the breakup had hurt him too?
A wave of heartache washed over Gu Yang, but Lin Lan was already pulling him along, one arm looped through his and the other reaching for Lin Xiaoran. “Alright, it’s settled then. Yangyang, you got here so early—haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Let’s go eat together.”
She ushered them both toward the back courtyard.
Gu Yang couldn’t resist sneaking a glance at Lin Xiaoran, who happened to be looking back at him, too.
Not long ago, when they were together, their eyes would meet like this, but they could never tear their gazes away. Seeing each other made them feel so happy.
Now, though, all they felt was helpless and trapped.
Lin Lan suddenly noticed something and leaned in to sniff near Lin Xiaoran’s shoulder. “Ranran, were you in heat last night?”
The two men’s eyes instantly darted away from each other, and Lin Xiaoran nodded, “Yes.”
“Huh…” Lin Lan sniffed again. “Is this the pheromone I picked out for you? I thought I got you one with a lime scent, but this smells like… cedar?”
Lin Lan wasn’t aware of Gu Yang’s pheromone scent, so she was just puzzled as to why Lin Xiaoran’s scent wasn’t the one she’d chosen for him.
Lin Xiaoran froze, regretting forgetting to use an inhibitor. Now he had no idea how to explain this to her.
Gu Yang quickly stepped in, covering for Lin Xiaoran with a smile. “Aunt Lin, you have quite the nose, being able to distinguish scents like that! To me, they all smell the same. Maybe the seller mixed up the pheromones by accident. I remember Ranran saying you bought quite a few. It’s possible one or two got mixed up.”
After buying their tickets, the three of them joined the crowd and began climbing the stairs up the mountain. The base of the mountain was packed with people, but as they climbed higher, the crowds gradually thinned, spreading out in groups of threes and fives along the path.
Despite being just a young teen, Lin Xiaoran’s little cousin had plenty of energy for the hike. While Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran took their time walking up, she dashed ahead, ran back, and then repeated the process—seemingly tireless. At the summit, she quickly made friends with some other kids her age and joined in their games, leaving Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran alone in a sudden quietness.
With the cousin occupied, the awkwardness they’d been avoiding returned, that uncertain sense of not knowing how to act around each other. Lin Xiaoran wasn’t much for talking in the first place, and when they were together before, Gu Yang had usually been the one doing the talking while he listened. Silence between them used to feel natural, but now it only heightened the tension.
Wanting to break the ice, Lin Xiaoran tried to think of something to say, but words didn’t come easily to him. He was still searching for a topic when a chill wind swept by, making him cough.
“Cough, cough…”
Gu Yang’s hand instinctively moved to pat him on the back, but he pulled back just before touching him. After a brief pause, he took off his scarf and handed it over. “It’s windy up here; don’t let yourself catch a chill again.”
Lin Xiaoran glanced at him, took the scarf, and wrapped it around his neck. The scarf had a faint scent—not quite Gu Yang’s pheromone but more like the fragrance of his shampoo or body wash. For a second, he froze, savoring the familiarity, before lowering the scarf from his face.
He looked over to see that Gu Yang had positioned himself just upwind, clearly to shield him from the cold gusts.
That was Gu Yang—always so considerate.
“When did the cough start?” Gu Yang asked gently. “Didn’t you get over that cold before the New Year?”
“These past couple of days.”
“Maybe you should see a doctor?”
“No need; it’ll go away soon.”
Gu Yang sighed softly, gazing into the distance without really taking in the scenery. “Lin Xiaoran,” he said, “if we have to stay apart, let’s at least try to let go and not keep hurting ourselves over it, alright?”
Aunt Lin had been right; Xiaoran was carrying a heavy heart, struggling inside.
He probably was trying to let go, but he was clearly still hurting. Watching Xiaoran stifle another cough, Gu Yang’s heart ached even more. Lin Xiaoran couldn’t move on because he still cared deeply, and Gu Yang was glad for that—but he didn’t want him to be in pain.
Lin Xiaoran turned and looked at him, but all he could see was the defined side profile of his face. After a moment, he asked quietly, “What about you?”
“Me?” Gu Yang gave a slight smile. “A few more days, and I’ll be fine.”
“Then I’ll give it a few more days too,” Lin Xiaoran replied.
Gu Yang turned, noticing the competitive glint in Xiaoran’s eyes. He resisted the urge to reach out and pinch his cheek, chuckling instead. “What’s there to compete about?”
Lin Xiaoran glared at him, gave a little “hmph,” and turned away.
Gu Yang couldn’t help it—his gaze lingered on Xiaoran’s face. A crazy part of him wanted to grab him into a tight hug. But he held back, all that longing condensing into a soft, helpless sigh.
Just then, a cheerful voice interrupted, “Well, what a coincidence! Running into you two again.”
They turned to see the photographer they’d bumped into downstairs at the inn.
Lin Xiaoran barely remembered the man but recognized the camera around his neck.
Clearly delighted, the man walked over, his gaze glued to Lin Xiaoran’s face. “This is too perfect! I wanted to say hi earlier at the inn but didn’t get a chance. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon! I’m Xia Ze, a freelancer—mostly photos and a bit of writing. And you two are…?”
Though he asked them both, his attention was obviously fixed on Lin Xiaoran, his eyes openly admiring him.
In an instant, Gu Yang’s frustration flared up. He took a step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Xiaoran. His amber eyes held a polite smile as he extended his hand to Xia Ze. “Gu Yang.”
Despite his friendly expression, the air around him filled with an unmistakable Alpha intensity.
Xia Ze, also an Alpha, instinctively shrank back under Gu Yang’s silent pressure, even though Gu Yang was younger. He nodded quickly, saying, “My apologies—I didn’t mean to intrude.”
With that, he turned and made a quick exit.
As Gu Yang’s anger began to dissipate, he realized what he had just done and immediately felt a little embarrassed. He and Lin Xiaoran had already broken up, so what right did he have to keep other Alphas away from him? Wasn’t he just being selfish?
But he couldn’t help himself.
He turned to explain, only to see that Lin Xiaoran didn’t seem bothered at all. He’d gone back to admiring the scenery as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, his little cousin had somehow appeared by his side, tugging on his hand with a serious look on her face.
“Brother Gu Yang,” she asked, tilting her head up, “do you like our Brother Xiaoran? Is that why you got mad when that other guy was looking at him?”
Uh…
The girl’s blunt question hit right on the mark, leaving Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran unsure how to react. They exchanged a quick, awkward glance, then both looked away—Lin Xiaoran pretending he hadn’t heard anything, and Gu Yang trying his best to distract the little girl with some harmless chatter.
But she remained unconvinced. No matter what Gu Yang said, she was certain that he liked Lin Xiaoran.
That evening, after they’d returned home and finished dinner, she sidled up to Aunt Lin and began whispering to her.
“Auntie, I’m telling you, Brother Gu Yang likes Brother Xiaoran. Really!”
Amused, Aunt Lin played along, asking, “Oh? And how did you figure that out?”
With a serious expression, the little girl explained, “Brother Gu Yang was jealous! Today, when that guest with the camera saw Brother Xiaoran, he looked totally smitten. And then Brother Gu Yang did this…”
She pursed her lips, knitted her brows, and did her best imitation of someone trying to hide their anger. “See, he was totally mad because someone else liked Brother Xiaoran. Doesn’t that mean he’s jealous? That’s what happens in the dramas when the guy starts liking the girl—he doesn’t even know it yet and just gets all jealous and grumpy. So…”
She nodded emphatically, as if unveiling a great secret. “I’m positive! Brother Gu Yang definitely likes Brother Xiaoran! I mean, they probably thought I was busy playing with other kids, but I saw everything. When Brother Xiaoran started coughing, Brother Gu Yang looked really worried and even gave him his scarf. Plus, he kept sneaking glances at him. Auntie, look—”
She excitedly poked Aunt Lin’s arm, pointing over to where Gu Yang and Lin Xiaoran were sitting. “See? Brother Gu Yang is peeling shrimp for Brother Xiaoran!”
Aunt Lin looked over just in time to see Gu Yang place a peeled shrimp in Lin Xiaoran’s bowl. Lin Xiaoran glanced up at him, and Gu Yang, looking a bit self-conscious, quickly stopped peeling and picked up his chopsticks to eat his own food instead. But, as the little girl pointed out, Gu Yang’s eyes continued to wander toward Lin Xiaoran.
“Auntie, am I right? Brother Gu Yang keeps sneaking looks at Brother Xiaoran. That must mean he likes him, right?” She looked up, seeking confirmation as though she’d uncovered a hidden truth.
Aunt Lin chuckled. “You might be onto something. But let’s keep it a secret for now. If we bring it up and Brother Xiaoran doesn’t feel the same way, it might make Gu Yang lose face.”
Satisfied, the little girl nodded solemnly. “Alright, I won’t tell anyone.”
And with that, she settled down and went back to eating.
But Aunt Lin had tucked the observation away in her mind. She glanced over at Gu Yang a few times after that, noting that his gaze only stayed put once Lin Xiaoran had finished eating and left the table. When Gu Yang finally got up, Aunt Lin followed, hoping for a chance to probe him a bit. But as she reached the front hall, she saw him stiffen.
Lin Xiaoran was there, chatting with Xia Ze.
In a flash, Gu Yang darted over and grabbed Lin Xiaoran by the wrist, pulling him to his side and fixing Xia Ze with an intense look.
Xia Ze instinctively took a step back, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. “Uh, sorry… I didn’t mean to intrude. No need to worry.” With that, he quickly turned and headed upstairs.
Gu Yang, a little stunned, turned to look at Lin Xiaoran.
“He just wanted to take a few photos with me,” Lin Xiaoran shrugged.
Oh?
Now Gu Yang felt even more awkward. He quickly let go of Lin Xiaoran’s wrist and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Sorry.”
Lin Xiaoran blinked at him with his clear eyes, said nothing, and went upstairs.
Gu Yang watched him walk away, pressing his fingers to his brow in frustration. He’d known he should keep his distance, that he wasn’t ready to treat Lin Xiaoran as an ex. But being around him, he just couldn’t keep his emotions in check.
Sighing, he turned to head to his room for a shower and some sleep, only to be stopped by Aunt Lin as she entered through the back door.
“Yangyang, could I have a word with you?” she asked gently.
Surprised, Gu Yang nodded and followed her to a table in the lounge. They sat across from each other, and Aunt Lin folded her hands, gazing at him with a soft but serious expression.
“Yangyang, be honest with me,” she said gently, “do you have feelings for Xiaoran?”
Gu Yang’s heart sank.
Had Aunt Lin caught on?
This was exactly what Lin Xiaoran had feared. Gu Yang knew he probably should have left sooner; being near Lin Xiaoran had only given him away.
Even though his heart was racing, his expression remained calm. Smiling lightly, he said, “Aunt Lin, what are you talking about? Xiaoran and I are just good friends.”
“Really?” Aunt Lin pressed, her smile never fading. “Because I saw the way you reacted just now—you were definitely jealous.”
