GBROTAH CH49

The blood-stained ring was placed in Shen Bianye’s drawer. He didn’t wear it, and Xie Yuanxing didn’t mention it.

In Xie Yuanxing’s heart, that ring belonged to X. He didn’t want to see it on Shen Bianye’s hand, even now, whether one called it self-deception or pretense.

As long as he didn’t see anyone wearing that ring, it remained, in his heart, with X, and only with X.

Xie Yuanxing lowered his gaze to the items on the table—the watch, the brooch, the cufflinks. When Shen Bianye brought them over, he handled them casually, all clutched in one hand, as if they were cheap and easily acquired, without fear of them scratching or bumping into each other.

Shen Bianye could handle them that way, but Xie Yuanxing could not.

He carefully placed each item back onto Shen Bianye’s desk, saying nothing.

When Xie Yuanxing approached, Shen Bianye put his injured hand under the table. He hadn’t wiped the blood from that hand, and Shen Bianye didn’t want Xie Yuanxing to see it.

Otherwise, if Xie Yuanxing misunderstood that he was distraught over a ring, wouldn’t that be ridiculous?

He had just accidentally cut himself while taking it off, without paying attention to the force.

Shen Bianye watched Xie Yuanxing put the items down and turn to leave. He used his uninjured hand to grab Xie Yuanxing’s wrist. He didn’t look at Xie Yuanxing, only at the items, his eyes cold as an icy pool, his voice incredibly grim: “Take them away.”

“Things I’ve given out, there’s no reason to take them back.”

When choosing these beautiful, exquisite, expensive gifts, besides giving money, X thought more about how good Xie Yuanxing would look wearing them. Now, what came out of his mouth was: “If you don’t want them, any trash can is yours to throw them in.”

That Patek Philippe Celestial wristwatch, with its glittering stars and a moon hanging below, but Shen Bianye wasn’t X. He wasn’t the moon accompanying the stars.

But there was no need to emphasize it deliberately. Xie Yuanxing distinguished them even more clearly than he did.

Heh, who cares.

Since childhood, he had been pampered, a favored child, never imagining that one day, in someone’s heart, he would be far inferior to a fictional person.

He used X to coax Xie Yuanxing to get a taste of sweetness, but in the end, Shen Bianye felt as if he had dressed up someone else for their wedding.

The irony was that “someone else” should have been himself, but Xie Yuanxing had completely split them into two, and he couldn’t actually find the other person to beat them up and vent his anger.

Shen Bianye’s face was livid, anger and resentment like razor blades coursing through his blood, flaying his flesh wherever they flowed.

His pheromones were unusually subdued, but to suppress this rage, Shen Bianye still exerted all his strength, unconsciously clenching his hand tighter. The wound on his injured hand reopened, dripping blood.

Shen Bianye seemed to feel no pain, his voice calm and cold: “Say it again, take them away.”

While telling Xie Yuanxing to take the items and leave, his grip on Xie Yuanxing’s hand instinctively tightened like a restraint, as if he wanted to keep something.

Xie Yuanxing tried to pull his hand away, but couldn’t. His wrist, tightly encircled as if by welded iron, was hard to break free from, causing a faint ache.

“You can throw them away.”

“Can you let go? You’re hurting me.”

He didn’t want to make a messy scene. Xie Yuanxing had long known this day would come. He just felt a little tired and wanted to lie down and rest.

Injured, sleep it off, and he would be fine in the morning.

Shen Bianye’s hand, clenched tightly around Xie Yuanxing’s wrist, suddenly released as if burned. His gaze finally fell upon Xie Yuanxing.

The circle of red marks on Xie Yuanxing’s slender, pale wrist looked incredibly glaring. His gaze dropped further, to the silver-black ring on Xie Yuanxing’s index finger.

“If you’re returning everything, aren’t you returning the ring on your hand?”

Jealousy and anger made Shen Bianye speak without thinking. Even though he saw that Xie Yuanxing was reluctant to part with the ring, he still asked.

Seeing Xie Yuanxing’s expression instantly dim, Shen Bianye regretted it.

But his throat felt constricted, as if air was blocked, carrying a desire for an answer, which kept Shen Bianye from speaking to retract his words.

Xie Yuanxing’s body stiffened, his slender, pale fingers curling slightly. The silver-black snake ring, with his movement, shrank back as if to hide itself, dodging and retreating.

Xie Yuanxing’s voice was almost inaudible, soft, more like he was speaking to himself, “I want to keep it, can I?”

Shen Bianye’s jaw clenched unconsciously, his eyes dark, as if brewing a storm. “Either take everything, or leave everything.”

Xie Yuanxing wanted to keep that ring, and he wouldn’t allow him to wear that ring. At this point, Shen Bianye couldn’t fail to understand what this meant.

X had done very well, but he didn’t feel happy.

Xie Yuanxing’s eyelashes fluttered like a wounded butterfly struggling to flap its wings, yet unable to fly.

He reached out, his fingertips pinching the flesh just below the ring, as if creating a shallow imprint of a ring there, then slowly removed the serpent ring from his finger.

Clink—

The faint sound of the ring landing on the table echoed in both their ears, making Shen Bianye’s eardrums hum.

He abruptly stood up, his face grim, and threw all the items onto Xie Yuanxing’s bed, including the silver-black serpent ring. “Meaningless.”

The thick, soft winter bed absorbed the impact. The items landed silently, making no sound. In the dorm, only the gentle hum of the air conditioner could be heard.

Shen Bianye was engulfed by anger, yet still accustomed to occasionally speaking coldly to Xie Yuanxing in this identity.

Anger led to impulsiveness; his words completely lost control. When he spoke, it was with sarcasm: “I don’t care for these things. You don’t need to pretend with me. You can accept money, but not things? What false purity is this?”

He sneered, a question yet a hint of unwillingness: “If you truly consider money as dirt, then why did you sign a contract with me?”

That contract, initially, Shen Bianye hadn’t intended to make.

The world’s top medical teams had seen his illness one after another, only shaking their heads and sighing. Shen Bianye had never initially thought that Xie Yuanxing alone could truly cure him.

He had simply seen Xie Yuanxing half-kneeling on the floor, cleaning the dirt from the cracks in the tiles with his hands, and felt pity for Xie Yuanxing, so he used this reason to help him.

That it actually had an effect was also a surprise to Shen Bianye.

It had only been a month since his 24-hour medical team was reassembled. Initially, Shen Bianye hadn’t taken this seemingly playful treatment seriously at all.

It was merely out of pity for Xie Yuanxing.

Xie Yuanxing was quiet and silent, standing still under Shen Bianye’s relentless questioning.

Only when Shen Bianye finished did he speak softly: “You don’t need to be so angry.”

Xie Yuanxing’s lips seemed to want to curl upwards, then slowly tightened, as if he couldn’t manage it. “Didn’t you say that you used X’s identity just to make me taste something sweet?”

Xie Yuanxing didn’t want to bring up why X appeared, but he couldn’t help it. Shen Bianye’s inexplicable questions made Xie Yuanxing feel tired. He just wanted to end everything today quickly.

Then go to bed, hug his blanket, and sleep.

“He’s already done it. I like him, and I’m very happy. So why are you angry now?” Xie Yuanxing’s dark eyes were clear. When he spoke of liking, his eyes were moving.

But that was for X. For Shen Bianye, there was only confusion.

“Or are you unwilling that I like him, not you?”

One sentence, like a heavy bomb, exploded in Shen Bianye’s mind. His brain vibrated and buzzed, and the world seemed to mute in his mind, with only the lingering echoes of the explosion.

A moment later, he sneered, “You are indeed narcissistic.”

After saying that, he turned and strode out of the dorm.

Xie Yuanxing paid no mind to his words, only let out a sigh of relief. His shoulders slumped slightly, and weariness washed over him like a tide.

He took off his shoes, climbed the ladder to his bed, and sat kneeling on it, tidying the scattered items and placing them aside. Only the ring was put back on his hand.

Then he pulled back the blanket and lay down in the soft bed, his fair face gently rubbing against the pillow, like a cat kneading its bed, shaping it into a comfortable sleeping form.

Xie Yuanxing’s life returned to peace. At the beginning of the semester, there were many things to do. The counselor held meetings all day, and weekends were filled with endless lectures.

“@All members: Today at 4 PM, everyone come to the auditorium for the lecture ‘Poetry for Soaring, Literature for Future Dreams.’ No absences. Class monitor organize class committee to take attendance.”

Below a string of “received” messages were complaints filled with resentment.

Xie Yuanxing replied “received” to each message. After exiting the class group, he saw a new message pop up.

Shen Bianye: “What are you doing?”

Shen Bianye stared at his phone screen. Time passed minute by minute in the upper left corner. The chat box, which filled the screen, showed no change.

He darkened his face and pressed the phone off, then got up and sat back down.

Lu Qiang next to him pulled his arm helplessly, “Do you have ADHD, Young Master?”

“Are you going to play or not? It’s your turn.”

Shen Bianye casually tossed his cards to the person next to him. “You play. If you lose, it’s on me. If you win, it’s yours.”

He didn’t really want to chat with Xie Yuanxing, but habit was truly a terrifying thing. He tried to resist, but couldn’t help sending a message to Xie Yuanxing.

Five minutes passed, no reply.

Ten minutes passed, no reply.

Half an hour passed, the dark phone showed no sign of lighting up.

Shen Bianye was utterly annoyed, switching back and forth between apps, even pulling down the control panel from the top of the screen, turning mobile data off and on again.

Shen Bianye: “Pretending not to see?”

Xie Yuanxing calmly deleted the new message that popped up. He checked the time; there was still a little while before the lecture started. He thought for a moment, then took out his ideological and political education homework and started writing.

When it was almost time, he took his notebook and walked towards the auditorium.

The entrance to the auditorium was packed with people. In twos and threes, clusters formed, and all you could hear were complaints.

“Another lecture. Where do all these lectures come from every day? The only day this week that isn’t fully booked, and we’re dragged to a lecture. So annoying.”

“Let’s sneak out after attendance is taken.”

Gao Yufei walked over and patted Xie Yuanxing’s shoulder, “I told them you were here. I’m planning to leave halfway through. Are you leaving or staying?”

Xie Yuanxing shook his head, “I won’t.”

Gao Yufei chuckled, “Then remember to keep an eye out for me. If the counselor comes, tell me, and I’ll rush back quickly. Though it’s usually impossible, better safe than sorry.”

Xie Yuanxing, helpless, still agreed: “Okay.”

The lights in the auditorium were dim. Seats were assigned by class, with each class having designated rows. This was all arranged before entry.

Most people from the same dorm sat together. Xie Yuanxing, being alone, sat directly at the very end of a row.

“Xingxing.” Someone next to him called softly. Xie Yuanxing turned his head and saw Shi Tingting waving at him.

Xie Yuanxing was a little surprised, “Why are you here?”

For this type of lecture, the auditorium couldn’t hold that many people, so usually only one major attended.

Shi Tingting: “I’m in the student union, so I was called to help.”

“Oh, by the way, Xingxing, aren’t you trying to get a scholarship? Come join me for social practice this weekend.”

“Practical experience points are quite a bonus in scholarship evaluations.”

Xie Yuanxing was a little tempted and asked, “Okay, but isn’t this kind of thing usually just for student union members?”

“Is it okay if I go?”

Shi Tingting: “Hey, what’s there to it? This kind of social practice activity is fine; it’s not exclusive to student union members.”

“We’ll go to the nursing home together then. It’s good to have one more person helping out. I’ll let you know the specific time and details on WeChat.”

Xie Yuanxing nodded, “Okay, thank you.”

Shi Tingting winked playfully, “Why be so polite with me? I’ll go now.”

The lights in the audience section dimmed completely. The unknown teacher on stage had already begun the lecture. Xie Yuanxing sat in the back row, pulled out the simple desk board from the chair armrest, and began to work on problems.

The open door behind him cast a rectangular block of light, enveloping his figure, making him appear soft, his profile porcelain white, as if glowing.

Further away, outside the door, Shen Bianye’s steps halted as he was about to enter. Less than ten meters away, he watched Xie Yuanxing.

After a moment, he, feeling his actions inexplicable, realized what he was doing and stepped inside.

A tall figure stopped in front of Xie Yuanxing, completely blocking the dim overhead light. The brightness of Xie Yuanxing’s notebook on the desk board darkened, and he looked up blankly.

Shen Bianye: “Excuse me, I need to get in.”

Xie Yuanxing nodded, silently put away his desk board, and shifted his legs, making way for Shen Bianye to pass.

Once Shen Bianye had entered, he pulled out his desk board again and continued to bury himself in his work.

Shen Bianye, beside him, frowned. They hadn’t seen each other in days, and Xie Yuanxing’s cold reaction particularly annoyed him.

When Shi Tingting called him just now, Xie Yuanxing even asked “Why are you here?” But when he came, he didn’t ask a single question?

Xie Yuanxing knew it was abnormal for Shi Tingting to be here. Was it normal for him, a sophomore, to be here listening to a lecture?

He just wouldn’t ask?

Was he mute?

Having gone out of his way to find out Xie Yuanxing would be at the lecture, only to be ignored, Shen Bianye didn’t know what he was doing here, but he was unwilling to leave like that.

He didn’t believe Xie Yuanxing wouldn’t speak, so he somewhat awkwardly tried to make conversation, “What are you writing?”

Xie Yuanxing didn’t even lift his head: “Homework.”

Shen Bianye chuckled in exasperation, “Nonsense, what homework?”

Xie Yuanxing’s pen didn’t stop moving: “Ideological and political education homework.”

The next second, a hand reached across and pressed down on the notebook in front of Xie Yuanxing. Long fingers with distinct knuckles spanned the entire notebook, almost completely covering it.

Xie Yuanxing had no choice but to turn his head and look at Shen Bianye, saying nothing, but his eyes were puzzled.

Shen Bianye’s face was angry, and he said in a deep voice, “Do you have to be like this?”

?

Xie Yuanxing blinked blankly, “What’s wrong with me?”

Shen Bianye sneered, his heart heavy. “I’m talking to you. What’s your reaction? What do you mean, Xie Yuanxing?”

His voice wasn’t suppressed. People around them vaguely looked at him, their eyes surprised, whispering. But Shen Bianye ignored everyone, putting no one in his eyes, only looking at Xie Yuanxing, with an irritation he hadn’t even noticed himself.

Xie Yuanxing’s eyes flickered. He still wasn’t used to being stared at by a crowd. Now his voice was even lower, soft, but his words were cold, “Haven’t we always interacted this way?”

“Is something wrong?”

They had a contractual cooperation. He fulfilled his part of the contract, even taking the initiative to ask Shen Bianye to bite him when he delayed, doing everything he was supposed to.

Knowing from the doctor that he was effective in Shen Bianye’s treatment, Xie Yuanxing also felt no unnecessary shame or unease about taking the treatment fees he deserved, despite Shen Bianye’s previous taunts.

But beyond that, they were also distantly related roommates. Shen Bianye looked down on him, and he was unwilling to approach someone who looked down on him. Unnecessary communication was naturally kept as simple as possible, lest he say something wrong and be met with another taunt.

Shen Bianye’s spine stiffened. On the back of the hand pressing the notebook, veins bulged, knuckles strained as if to break through the skin, faintly turning white.

Xie Yuanxing was right. This was how they had always interacted.

It was X’s presence that made him mistakenly believe that his relationship with Xie Yuanxing was now closer than before, at least as harmonious roommates.

But in reality.

Without X, their indifferent, almost silent reactions were normal.

Damn.

Why?

Xie Yuanxing’s attitude reminded Shen Bianye of their interactions during the first month of the previous semester.

Young Master Shen had never been ignored like that before. After discovering that only taunts would elicit a response from Xie Yuanxing, he only escalated his behavior.

Now, as the taunting, sarcastic words were about to escape his lips, Shen Bianye saw the ring on Xie Yuanxing’s hand.

Shen Bianye’s hand, hanging at his side, unconsciously clenched into a fist. An Alpha’s physique meant the wound on his palm had long healed without a trace. Yet, as he clenched it now, he felt a faint, decaying pain emanating from it.

He retracted the hand that had been pressing the notebook, preventing Xie Yuanxing from writing. He leaned back in his seat, seemingly casual. “Nothing. You continue.”

The auditorium was noisy and lively. The teacher on stage reached a crescendo. Shen Bianye, along with the crowd, clapped his hands, once, twice, thrice. His gaze grew colder and colder, and his heart seemed to sink into an ice cellar with each beat.

He didn’t want to sit here, nor did he want to leave. The people around him seemed to pin him to his seat, yet he was vaguely afraid to look over.

Afraid of receiving another indifferent gaze, as if he were a stranger.

When the lecture ended and the lights came on, the crowd squeezed by the back door, eager to leave. Xie Yuanxing tidied his desk board and walked to the door, with a silent Shen Bianye following behind him.

They returned to the dorm, one in front, one behind. Though they were roommates, there was no communication between them throughout the entire process.

Xie Yuanxing walked into the dorm, and Shen Bianye subsequently closed the door behind him.

The scent of burnt embers spread through the dorm. It wasn’t strong, nor was it raging, but like smoldering ashes after being doused with water, carrying a hint of withered disappointment.

“My rut is here, Xie Yuanxing.” Shen Bianye spoke, his gaze dark as ink, intently fixed on Xie Yuanxing, like on some predetermined prey.

It didn’t matter.

Xie Yuanxing’s attitude didn’t matter.

With the contract in place, even if Xie Yuanxing was unwilling and silent, he would still have to be bitten.

Shen Bianye initially hadn’t taken the treatment seriously in that contract, setting the duration at four years of university. If there was no effect, the money would still be paid. If there was an effect, whenever he was cured, that’s when it would end.

Now, the treatment effect, according to the doctor, was better than ever. It probably wouldn’t take much longer, and he wouldn’t have to see Xie Yuanxing again.

Their two lives were never meant to have so much interaction.

So now, Xie Yuanxing’s attitude didn’t matter.

Xie Yuanxing smelled the scent in the dorm; it was a bit acrid, but fortunately not strong enough to make him unable to breathe.

He nodded, walked over, lowered his head to expose his nape, and smoothed his scattered hair back. As he raised his hand, he touched the smooth edge of his down jacket hood again.

The inner label of the down jacket hood kept popping up, rubbing against his neck, bouncing back and forth. Xie Yuanxing pressed it down repeatedly, but couldn’t keep it down, so he simply took off his outer coat.

He was wearing a white cashmere sweater underneath. With his back to Shen Bianye, he lowered his head obediently, revealing his slender, long nape, like a gentle, adorable lamb.

Shen Bianye’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He took a step forward and pressed down on the prominent spinal bone below the nape.

His fingertips slid and rubbed on the round bone, like caressing a lamb, kneading and rubbing it again and again until it turned red. Then, he leaned down and bit the prominent spinal bone.

Xie Yuanxing’s body stiffened abruptly. He bit his lip, swallowing the cry of pain that was about to escape. He gasped softly, his eyelashes blinking continuously.

He noticed that the person behind him had stopped moving after biting. He asked in confusion, “Are you done?”

As he spoke, he was about to pull away, but Shen Bianye didn’t let go.

A hand had appeared on his waist at some point, and the hand on his shoulder tightened, drawing closer. The person behind him pressed against him, like a tight embrace.

Shen Bianye felt the trembling of the body beneath his hands, his voice muffled, like a dream, “Say something to me, Xie Yuanxing.”

All those repetitive words he had used to convince himself seemed unimportant now. His heart pounded in his eardrums, waiting for Xie Yuanxing’s answer.

Xie Yuanxing was silent for a moment, then said faintly, “Can you let go now?”

No one spoke, but the hands on his waist and shoulders slowly tightened simultaneously. Xie Yuanxing struggled, using all his strength, and broke free from the restrictive embrace.

He didn’t look back. As he walked towards his bed, he said calmly, “If you’re done, please put away your pheromones.”

Shen Bianye at the door slowly retracted his hands. He said in a low voice, “Does it have to be like this, Xie Yuanxing?”

“Before the contract ends, can’t we avoid making things so ugly? Isn’t it better to maintain a normal roommate relationship?”

Xie Yuanxing frowned, his eyes confused: “I’m normal. You’re the one who isn’t.”

The dorm was quiet. The pheromones bowed their heads before their master.

They rubbed against the slender, soft person, like a wagging tail begging for attention, frantically seeking notice, yet gradually suppressed by their master.