Chapter 69
“Huh?”
Gu Yang’s amber eyes went blank for a moment, and then he suddenly jumped up from the bed. “Looks like I’ll have to put in some serious hard work from now on!” With that, he turned to leave, entirely forgetting that just moments ago he’d been pestering Lin Xiaoran for a little “practice session.”
But Lin Xiaoran had an idea. He called after him, “Wait, come back here.”
Gu Yang, who was almost at the door, obediently turned around and stood in front of him. “What is it? Don’t tell me you’re worried that if I get serious, you’ll lose—”
Before he could finish, Lin Xiaoran hooked an arm around his neck, pulling him close and giving him a quick kiss on the lips, chuckling, “Happy Valentine’s Day, boyfriend—mmph…”
Gu Yang was taken aback by the unexpected gift, but once the surprise wore off, he felt a burst of sweetness. He hugged Lin Xiaoran back, returning the kiss.
They didn’t break apart until both were breathless. Gu Yang gently nuzzled Lin Xiaoran’s nose. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
After the little tussle, it took them a few more minutes to pull away. As much as Gu Yang wanted to linger, he reminded himself that the true reward would come after the college entrance exams, when he’d finally get to put his own mark on Lin Xiaoran and make him fully his.
So he took a deep breath, reluctantly let go, and walked out with a look of exaggerated resignation. Watching him go, Lin Xiaoran couldn’t help but chuckle.
Now he, too, felt the need to step up his game.
He’d noticed that, while Gu Yang was all fired up to compete in their bet at first, he’d since relaxed, especially after beating Lin Xiaoran in the last exam. It was almost as if he’d forgotten that the real challenge was still ahead with the college entrance exams.
Lin Xiaoran suspected that Gu Yang might actually want to let him win—knowing how much Lin Xiaoran still minded losing in that middle school competition. If that was the case, Gu Yang could very well be holding back just to make him happy.
But Lin Xiaoran had no interest in winning against a half-hearted opponent.
So he’d thrown in that extra wager to reignite Gu Yang’s competitive drive and keep him from getting too distracted. Judging by his reaction, it was already working.
Satisfied, Lin Xiaoran finished another worksheet before heading to bed.
Since he’d napped earlier, he found himself tossing and turning for a while before finally drifting off, waking up a little later than usual the next morning. It wasn’t enough to make him late, but he did laze around in bed for a few extra minutes, hearing the faint sounds of someone cooking in the kitchen. Assuming it was Gu Yang, he slipped on some slippers and walked out without changing, curious to see what breakfast the novice chef had whipped up.
But when he reached the dining room, he was surprised to see Lin Lan.
He blinked in confusion. Wasn’t Lin Lan out last night? Why was she here so early making breakfast?
Lin Lan heard him and turned around from the kitchen. “You’re up, sweetheart? Go wash up before you eat—”
She paused mid-sentence, her gaze traveling over him with a mischievous glint. Leaning in close, she whispered playfully, “Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and I almost forgot our dear Xiaoran has a boyfriend now.”
Lin Xiaoran: “…”
His clear eyes registered brief confusion before he suddenly understood. He instinctively covered his neck with his hand, looking at Lin Lan in embarrassment.
Lin Lan was having a great time teasing him and winked at him. “Covering your neck won’t help, you know. Isn’t that Gu Yang’s shirt you’re wearing?”
Huh?
Lin Xiaoran looked down, only to realize it really was Gu Yang’s shirt.
He remembered waking up in Gu Yang’s bed the night before and had grabbed the first shirt he saw. Only now did he realize it was Gu Yang’s.
Even with his usual composure, Lin Xiaoran found himself feeling incredibly awkward and promptly tried to retreat to his room.
Just as he turned, Gu Yang came out, and they nearly collided in the doorway. Lin Xiaoran shot him a glare.
Gu Yang, quick to pick up on the situation, saw Lin Lan, noticed Lin Xiaoran’s shirt, and understood immediately.
He had noticed Lin Xiaoran wearing his shirt last night but hadn’t mentioned it, feeling an indescribable sense of joy seeing his boyfriend in his clothes.
Unfortunately, that sweet feeling was now mixed with a generous dose of embarrassment.
Facing Lin Lan’s playful, knowing smile, Gu Yang scratched his nose sheepishly and changed the subject. “So… Auntie, did you spend Valentine’s Day with my dad yesterday?”
Lin Lan, perceptive as an elder, could tell both kids were feeling a bit awkward. She eased off the teasing and nodded. “Yes, your dad wanted to invite you and Ran Ran out for a meal and apologize in person. Of course, it’s up to you two whether you forgive him or wait to see if he shows he’s really changed.”
Gu Yang chuckled. “Let’s not make this harder on him. I’m guessing he was mainly motivated to spend time with you for Valentine’s Day, Auntie.”
“Well, that’s not the whole story,” Lin Lan smiled. “Your grandparents have been pressuring him nonstop, saying that if he doesn’t bring you, his firstborn grandson, back home, he might as well forget about coming in the door. But at the end of the day, he’s come to realize that your happiness matters the most.”
Gu Yang smiled quietly and rolled up his sleeves to help Lin Lan in the kitchen.
By the time Lin Xiaoran finished washing up and changed clothes, breakfast was ready. Seeing the two of them chatting casually over breakfast in the dining room, he relaxed, sat down, and began eating quietly.
Lin Lan didn’t tease him any further; after all, both kids had to head to school early, and time was tight. Once they’d all eaten, Lin Lan headed to the TV station, while Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang biked off to school.
It was a weekend, but the school held classes for the senior year only. They just managed to make it through the gates in time and sprinted all the way to their classroom, practically right behind the teacher.
By mid-February, the weather was already warming up. Having run all the way to the classroom, both of them had broken into a light sweat. Lin Xiaoran, feeling a bit uncomfortable, tugged at the fuzzy high-necked sweater he was wearing under his uniform.
He’d had to wear it to cover up the marks on his neck from yesterday, but it was getting a bit hot.
Unexpectedly, that one little tug was enough to catch the eye of the sharp observer sitting in front of him.
The next second, the class group chat for Class 3 went wild.
Top Student’s Deskmate: So…no guarantee here, but when I looked back just now, I think I saw something on our top student’s neck.
Gossip Guru: Something on his neck? Like what?
Top Student Stan: Is our top student hurt?
Bubble Tea Lover: Geez, you two, what do you think it is? Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. Today, he’s got marks on his neck—what else could it be?
School Tough Guy Fan: Seems like our bro Yang had a great Valentine’s Day!
I Could Use More Sleep: Ugh! See, this is why comparing yourself to others is so rough. I was up all night grinding away at practice problems and totally forgot it was even Valentine’s Day!
Bubble Tea Lover: Oh, please, even if you remembered, it’s not like you had someone to celebrate with, did you?
Top Student Stan: Wait, what? What are you guys even talking about? What does Valentine’s Day have to do with marks on his neck? Is our school’s tough guy into weird hobbies now or what?
School Tough Guy Fan: Oh, wow—are you for real? Can someone explain this to him?
Gossip Guru: Okay, I get it now. Listen, top student fan, Yang doesn’t have any weird hobbies. As for the marks…you’ll understand once you find an Alpha of your own someday.
Focused in Class: Now I get why he’s wearing that high-neck sweater today. But hey, doesn’t it actually make him look extra good?
No Distractions: The sweater looks great, sure, but honestly, I’d rather see his neck without it—I’m curious how intense last night was.
Don’t Text in Class: Same here! Hey, Top Student’s Deskmate, the responsibility is yours. Get us a sneak peek if you can.
Top Student’s Deskmate: Whoa, how would I even do that? What, just yank down his sweater collar and snap a pic? Do you want him to toss me out the window?
Gossip Guru: Okay, okay, let’s not go overboard. Let’s just talk among ourselves for fun—no need for any secret snapshots. Where’s our dignity?
After that, the group chat settled down, and no one mentioned it again.
But by afternoon, the two of them were summoned to the office of Director Gao, their head teacher.
Director Gao sat behind his desk, rubbing his shiny bald head and eyeing the two students who held the best chances of winning top honors in science for their school. He looked, unmistakably, as if he didn’t quite know where to begin.
Zhao Tianhua, being the more straightforward one, turned to face the two students directly. “Gu Yang, Lin Xiaoran—you both assured us last time that you weren’t dating. And now?” He pulled out his phone and showed them a couple of photos.
The two took a look. Lin Xiaoran didn’t react much, but Gu Yang’s face instantly darkened. “Who took these?”
On Zhao Tianhua’s phone were two photos. The first showed Gu Yang carrying Lin Xiaoran up the stairs—taken months ago when Lin Xiaoran had sprained his ankle. At that time, only the senior class had stayed for after-school study sessions, and most students were off at dinner, so Gu Yang had helped him upstairs. The second, however, was clearly from today: it showed Lin Xiaoran resting his head on his desk, and his high-necked sweater had shifted slightly, revealing the back of his neck, where obvious kiss marks and bite marks could be seen on his gland.
Gu Yang didn’t care much about what these photos implied; what truly angered him was that someone had taken a photo of Lin Xiaoran’s neck, his private gland area, without permission.
Despite his reputation as a tough guy, Gu Yang had never caused trouble within the school itself. He always cooperated with the teachers, and his easy-going, smiling nature gave the impression that he was quite approachable.
But at this moment, his smile faded, and although his tone remained calm, the natural aura of an Alpha in him created a palpable tension that both Zhao Tianhua and Director Gao Wei felt immediately.
After a brief pause, Zhao Tianhua cleared his throat. “Never mind who took them. The question is—are you two dating?”
“Yes.”
Gu Yang was just about to reach for his phone to ask his friend Chen Hongqiang to investigate, but Lin Xiaoran was already admitting it, clear and direct, his voice ringing coolly in the room as he looked straight at Zhao Tianhua.
Neither Zhao Tianhua nor Gao Wei had expected such an open acknowledgment, and it left them momentarily speechless, their planned reprimands forgotten.
Gu Yang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
That was Lin Xiaoran for you—whatever he believed was right, he would face it openly, regardless of the situation.
Lin Xiaoran noticed his laugh and shot him a glare that made him quickly suppress it. Then Gu Yang turned to Zhao Tianhua and Gao Wei, “Yes, we’re dating. Did you call us here to discuss the dangers of early relationships? We’re adults now, so technically it’s not early dating anymore.”
Uh…
Zhao Tianhua and Gao Wei, just recovering from Lin Xiaoran’s candid answer, had been ready to launch into their warnings about the perils of early dating, but Gu Yang’s retort left them stumped.
Gao Wei took a sip from his thermos, buying a moment to regroup, and tried a different approach. “Yes, technically you’re both adults, and we don’t have any authority over that. But…consider this. With the college entrance exams just four months away, this is a critical period. You both should be fully focused on studying, and if anything distracts you and affects your grades…”
“It won’t,” Lin Xiaoran interrupted firmly. “Gu Yang and I have been together for a while already, and as you can see, our grades haven’t dropped.”
“You did drop—last time, you came in second,” Gu Yang interjected with a playful grin.
Lin Xiaoran shot him a look. “I’ll beat you next time!”
Gao Wei and Zhao Tianhua: “…”
Were they seriously flirting in front of them? No…it didn’t look like flirting—it looked more like a friendly competition.
In fact, if Lin Xiaoran’s words were true and they’d been together for some time, then their grades hadn’t slipped at all. Quite the opposite—Gu Yang’s improvement had been phenomenal, leaping from last place in the grade when he entered to the very top recently. It was nothing short of remarkable.
From the way the two of them acted, it seemed that their relationship wasn’t a distraction; if anything, it might actually be motivating them to push even harder.
However…
Gao Wei found himself in a bind. Every argument he had prepared had been countered. Unsure of what else to say, he told the two of them to go back to class while he discussed with Zhao Tianhua what to do.
For Lin Xiaoran and Gu Yang, the matter was no big deal—they left the office and quickly put it out of their minds. But it wasn’t long before the news spread among their classmates.
Someone, it seemed, had overheard Gao Wei and Zhao Tianhua discussing how to handle the “early dating” situation and passed it on, and soon enough, everyone in their grade knew about it.
“Damn! Who would snitch to Old Gao? Seriously, what century are we living in? How can you call dating at eighteen ‘early dating’?”
“And the worst part is the secret photos. Hey, did anyone figure out who took them?”
“It seems like they were taken during lunch break—I wasn’t even in the classroom at the time.”
“Neither was I.”
“Come to think of it,” someone said, “there were a few students from other classes who came over to discuss questions with our classmates. Oh right, Zhang Zhihe! I remember he stood next to Study God for a while before leaving. Think it could’ve been him?”
“Damn, it must be him! Everyone knows he’s always held a grudge against Study God for keeping him in second place for so long. Now he can’t even get second—of course he’s bitter!”
“Now that you mention it, I heard from someone in Class Seven that Zhang Zhihe has a notebook where he’s written tons of stuff about Lin Xiaoran, and now Gu Yang’s name too. It’s like some weird curse ritual or something.”
“Oh my god, that’s just creepy. Did he study himself into lunacy?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Otherwise, why would he do something like this? What, does he think that if he reports Gu Yang and Study God for dating, the school will actually expel them? And then he’ll be number one? What kind of twisted thinking is that?”
…
The whole school was buzzing about it, and the students of Class 1 in the senior grade were having an equally lively discussion.
The conversation succeeded in reminding Gu Yang that there was, indeed, someone in the school named Zhang Zhihe.
Back before he and Lin Xiaoran were even together, Zhang Zhihe had already held a grudge against Lin Xiaoran, frustrated every time he couldn’t beat him on exams. He’d even once secretly taken a photo of Lin Xiaoran’s marked gland and reported it to Director Gao Wei.
At the time, while Gu Yang had been annoyed, he didn’t feel he had much of a right to be angry on Lin Xiaoran’s behalf, so he’d only responded by taking second place in the next exam himself, making Zhang lose his coveted “perennial second” spot altogether.
But he’d quickly forgotten about the whole thing—Zhang Zhihe didn’t exactly have a strong presence.
Who would’ve thought he was still at it?
But this time was different. This time, Zhang Zhihe had secretly photographed his Omega’s gland. Hmph!
