GBROTAH CH37

Shen Bianye’s phone was expensive and high-quality, with such clear camera resolution that when he zoomed in on the image, he could even clearly see the tiny tear mole beneath Xie Yuanxing’s eye.

It nestled under the brilliant spotlight, on his porcelain-white face, that tiny black embellishment adding an inexplicable, almost dangerous, hint of allure.

The next act was already on stage, but Shen Bianye’s phone screen was still paused on the piano piece.

The figure seated at the piano filled the entire screen. His phone was on silent, yet the melody seemed to echo in his heart with the playing of those hands on the screen.

A notification popped up at the top, his instructor asking where he was. Shen Bianye put away his phone, left the empty second floor, but instead of heading to his seat, he went straight backstage.

A University of Science and Technology was wealthy, and the back of the auditorium was also quite well-equipped, similar to a theater backstage, with dedicated changing rooms, makeup rooms, and preparation areas.

After his performance, Xie Yuanxing still had to help others move the piano from behind the curtain. When he came out backstage, Shi Tingting was still waiting for him.

Shi Tingting was still a little excited, happily saying, “Xingxing, we were awesome!”

“Are you going to return the gown? Even though it’s already past eight, borrowing it for one more day means paying for one more day.”

She gritted her teeth, “Five hundred yuan a day, why don’t they just rob people? The school only reimburses two hundred.”

Then, her tone suddenly changed, covering her heart like Xizi, “But this dress is really too beautiful, sob sob.”

Xie Yuanxing hesitated, saying, “I’m returning mine tomorrow. Are you going alone?”

“It’s a bit late, it might not be safe for you to go alone.”

Shi Tingting waved her hand: “My friend is coming with me, don’t worry. Taking a taxi back and forth will be quick.”

“Then I’ll go now, Xingxing. I’ll find you to hang out next time.”

Shen Bianye, who had just walked to the other side, paused, narrowing his eyes slightly. Xingxing?

Xie Yuanxing didn’t know that at this moment, an extra person was in this place. He nodded to Shi Tingting, “Okay, be careful on your way.”

Xingxing?

Okay, be careful on your way?

The simplest of conversations was replayed repeatedly by Shen Bianye in those few seconds, as if he wanted to chew it up and swallow it.

Everyone else could call him Xingxing, but he got cursed at every time he did?

Why?

Shen Bianye chuckled silently. He thought he was laughing out of anger, but what surged in his eyes was intense indignation. His tongue pressed against his canine tooth, causing a sharp pain.

Baby is not being obedient.

Shi Tingting had already left, and Xie Yuanxing was also about to exit backstage. He had barely taken two steps when a hand from behind suddenly grabbed him and pulled him into the adjacent changing room.

Everything happened too suddenly, in a flash of lightning. By the time Xie Yuanxing reacted, he was already pressed against the changing room door.

“Who?” The changing room was unlit, and Xie Yuanxing, facing away, couldn’t see anything.

Although he was in a pinned position, when the person behind him suddenly pushed him against the door, they cushioned it with a hand, as if afraid he would get hurt.

So Xie Yuanxing remained somewhat calm and already had a faint guess when he asked.

Suddenly, something covered his eyes. The voice from behind was gentle but husky as it said, “Baby, it’s me.”

“I came to see baby perform, wanted to give baby a surprise.”

“Is baby happy?”

Xie Yuanxing’s taut body relaxed slightly. He honestly said, “You’re like a ghost that suddenly pops out.”

X didn’t laugh, but softly asked, “Baby doesn’t want me to come?”

“Xingxing,” he almost murmured, lowering his head to kiss and suck on Xie Yuanxing’s nape, then suddenly spoke: “Baby, why is there a tooth mark here?”

Xie Yuanxing stiffened. X behind him extended his tongue and heavily licked the spot, asking in a strange tone, “Baby, who bit you?”

“Tell me, baby.”

Xie Yuanxing’s body was stiff and taut, with a hint of shame. He tried his best to remain calm, saying, “I was bitten by a perverted psychopath.”

He hadn’t put a bandage on when he changed into the tailcoat today, as it would have stuck out and looked strange.

He hadn’t expected this turn of events and was already regretting it a little.

X raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Was it baby’s roommate?”

“It seems he’s the only one baby would describe that way.”

As he spoke, he reached out to trace the bite mark, eliciting a faint twinge of pain and itchiness.

Xie Yuanxing’s body trembled slightly, and he said shakily, “Yes, it was him.”

“He was in his susceptible period and wasn’t thinking clearly when he bit me.”

X whispered, “Baby, I’m a little angry.”

Xie Yuanxing softly said, “I’m a Beta, it’s nothing to be bitten.”

“Don’t be angry.”

X originally intended to bring up Shen Bianye, subtly asking about the nickname issue, but now…

The dark and enclosed environment fueled his desires. He touched the bite mark on his darling’s nape, feeling almost excitedly furious. “I can’t help it, baby, I can’t help it.”

Xie Yuanxing, “So are you going to blame me?”

X leaned in, pressing his lips to that small, pitiful patch of skin with the bite mark. He was silent for a moment, then whispered, “I don’t blame baby.”

“Baby didn’t do it on purpose, right? It’s all baby’s roommate’s fault for being sick.”

“But baby can’t like him, or I’ll be mad with jealousy.”

Wait…

Wasn’t he supposed to be asking about the nickname? How did it turn into slandering himself…?

Without the electric collar, without anything to block pheromones, suppressing the surging pheromones in his body already consumed half of X’s focus.

Some words came out and only then did he realize they were wrong, but upon closer thought, they seemed to have no problem.

…There was no problem. He originally didn’t want Xie Yuanxing to like Shen Bianye.

Xie Yuanxing: “I won’t like him. I never liked him from the beginning, and I won’t like him later.”

X’s movements paused, then he eagerly pressed on, “Baby, why don’t you like him?”

“Do you hate him?”

“Can you tell me why?”

“If baby doesn’t explain clearly, I’ll overthink, baby.”

“You’re in the same dorm, living together every day. Knowing why baby hates him will put my mind at ease.”

Xie Yuanxing thought for a moment and decided there was no harm in telling him.

Actually, the initial reason he disliked Shen Bianye wasn’t because of his harsh words, or his humiliation, or even because he bit him painfully.

Those were later reasons for disliking him.

It started because…

“The first day I arrived at the dorm, I saw him give a Nintendo Switch and game cartridges to someone in the dorm next door.”

It had been quite a while, but he still remembered how he felt then.

Xie Yuanxing had only recently learned what a Switch was, and then he saw Shen Bianye so casually giving one away.

In the darkness, X’s—no, Shen Bianye’s—eyes widened in disbelief. He deeply gazed at the person in his arms, facing away, and asked in a low voice, “Just because of that?”

He embraced the person even tighter, his voice, altered by the voice changer, was gentle and urgent: “Baby, don’t lie to me.”

“Could it be that baby doesn’t actually hate him that much and is just making up an excuse to put me off?”

Xie Yuanxing shook his head: “Because at that time, my aunt had just forced me to use the money I earned from working after the college entrance exam to buy a Switch for my cousin.”

“Because my cousin wanted it, I worked for two months for nothing, didn’t even keep a penny.”

Thinking back, his first bad impression of Shen Bianye was a result of displaced anger.

But Xie Yuanxing found it difficult to resist any negative emotions.

He had worked hard for two months as a tutor, hoping to make his university life a bit easier, only to be forced to buy a gaming console and a tablet for Xie Zhuowu, leaving him with nothing.

Then, he went to school and saw his unfamiliar roommate casually giving away a gaming console, which was equivalent to his two months of hard-earned wages.

For him, this was a huge sum for living expenses; for his new roommate, it was a small amount that could be given away casually.

As soon as that imbalance of心态 arose, Xie Yuanxing felt like a rat in a gutter.

He didn’t want to be like that, so he simply kept his distance from his new roommate.

Xie Yuanxing blinked, his eyelashes brushing against the fabric covering his eyes. He whispered, “Will you think I’m dark and resentful for disliking him because of that, like I can’t stand to see others do well?”

X was neither silent nor hesitant. He said almost without thinking, “No.”

“Baby is not wrong, not dark at all.”

He touched Xie Yuanxing’s eyes through the fabric. Although he didn’t feel any wetness, he somehow felt that Xie Yuanxing was crying. “Baby was just bullied too pitifully.”

“Our Xingxing baby is the best baby in the world.”

Xie Yuanxing liked X calling him “our Xingxing baby.” It felt warm, like home.

Shen Bianye’s expression was complicated as he left backstage—a mix of tenderness, fierce determination, and gnashing teeth.

He couldn’t recall how he found an excuse to escape from Xie Yuanxing using X’s persona; everything seemed to happen on instinct.

By the time Shen Bianye realized it, he was already standing at his dorm door.

Shen Bianye wasn’t sure if he could maintain his expression in front of Xie Yuanxing. He went inside, grabbed a few suppressants, and left again before Xie Yuanxing returned.

His mood was very complicated.

But the urge to find that idiot Xie Zhuowu and beat him up was incredibly strong.

His chest felt like it was burning with a ball of fire, both angry and scorching.

The case was about to go to court, and it wasn’t appropriate or realistic for him to fly to Xie Zhuowu’s school to beat someone up right now.

Xie Yuanxing seemed to have said that once the verdict was delivered, he would go to see Xie Zhuowu.

In just a second, Shen Bianye decided he would go with him.

Damn it.

Shen Bianye had lived a smooth life until now, and he had never been the subject of displaced anger because of someone else’s disgusting behavior.

Beating Xie Zhuowu was for himself; getting revenge for Xie Yuanxing was just a bonus.

Shen Bianye silently cursed again and called Zhou Chao. “Where are you? Come out for a drink.”

Zhou Chao was a good friend, and a good drinking buddy. When it came to drinking, he’d always show up if called.

But when he sat on a chair by the river, holding a can of pineapple beer, he still wanted to curse: “Dude…”

“You’re so rich, why aren’t you spending? You’re sitting by the river drinking two-and-a-half yuan pineapple beer.”

Click. Shen Bianye pulled the tab of the pineapple beer, saying gruffly, “The club’s too noisy.”

“Too many suppressants, can’t drink alcohol.”

An Alpha’s pheromones are not only related to desire; anger can also cause pheromone imbalance.

Zhou Chao’s gaze fell on the seven or eight empty suppressor syringes placed beside where Shen Bianye was sitting. His grumbling died down, and he reached out to take the pineapple beer from Shen Bianye’s hand.

“Alright, alright, don’t drink anymore.”

“Pineapple beer also has alcohol.”

Shen Bianye didn’t even look, dodged his hand, and took a big gulp. “This little bit won’t kill anyone.”

Zhou Chao frowned: “What’s wrong?”

Shen Bianye didn’t speak. When Zhou Chao pressed him, he suddenly stood up, “Let’s go get some late-night snacks.”

When they moved to the late-night snack stall, another person joined them. Zhou Chao now had someone to chat with, so he simply talked with Lu Qiang, ignoring the silent person beside him.

Some things might be hard to say out loud, and as brothers, it wasn’t good to pry too much.

Lu Qiang was still confused and asked, “What’s going on?”

Zhou Chao casually said, “Probably heartbreak.”

A peanut hit him. “Get lost.”

“I don’t like Xie Yuanxing.”

Zhou Chao spread his hands, grinning playfully, “Did I say it was Xie Yuanxing?”

Damn it.

Annoying.

Shen Bianye couldn’t be bothered with him and sat aside, hugging a can of pineapple beer and brooding.

He really didn’t like Xie Yuanxing. Even now… Shen Bianye pondered for a moment. Setting aside the pheromone reasons, at most, it was appreciation.

What annoyed Shen Bianye was that he was actually subjected to displaced anger because of such an idiot.

He, actually, was, subjected, to, displaced, anger!

No one goes to university intending to make enemies with their roommate. Those who knew Shen Bianye’s temperament for a long time knew he wasn’t bad.

The young master could give strangers some face. So many people confessed to him, and even if he was annoyed, he wouldn’t ignore them like some arrogant people, causing them embarrassment.

So, he definitely wouldn’t deliberately use cold words towards his roommate.

At first, he still wanted to get along well with Xie Yuanxing.

But Xie Yuanxing ignored him everywhere, his replies were just “Mhm” or “Oh,” he lowered his eyes when he saw him, and if Shen Bianye accidentally touched him, he would flinch away faster than anyone else, as if Shen Bianye was some dirty thing.

Shen Bianye had never been treated like this.

At first, it was novelty; later, he became angry and said hurtful, mean things.

Now he knew the reason, and it was because he was subjected to displaced anger by a piece of trash!

What was wrong with him giving away a Switch?! If it weren’t for Xie Zhuowu’s mess, Xie Yuanxing might have just thought he was generous!

Damn.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Shen Bianye fiercely gulped down his drink, feeling utterly frustrated. The aluminum can in his hand made a creaking sound, and then completely crumpled under his grip.

Shen Bianye tutted and tossed it aside casually.

The sound attracted Zhou Chao and Lu Qiang, who had been watching him. The two of them moved their stools and sat next to Shen Bianye.

Zhou Chao: “What is it, seriously? So angry, and it’s not even heartbreak. Tell us what happened.”

Lu Qiang nodded like a pounding garlic. “Exactly, we’ve trekked through uninhabited areas together, we have a life-or-death friendship. What can’t you tell us?”

Zhou Chao punched him, “Stop showing off your life-or-death friendship every day. Mention the things I wasn’t there for less.”

Lu Qiang was tall and sturdy, with large hands. He wrapped his hand directly around Zhou Chao’s, coaxing, “That’s not the point, that’s not the point, okay?”

Shen Bianye thought for a moment. Not speaking would make him seem timid, as if he cared a lot, so he simply picked and chose, stating it briefly.

Zhou Chao: “So, what you’re saying is, if it weren’t for this displaced anger, you would like Xie Yuanxing?”

Shen Bianye flared up, veins on the back of his hand bulging slightly. A new can of pineapple beer in his palm made a strained sound as he roared, “What nonsense are you spouting? Did you even pass your Chinese exams in school?”

“Is that how you do reading comprehension?”

Zhou Chao wasn’t intimidated by his anger and added, “Now that you know, why don’t you just talk it out with Xie Yuanxing?”

“Even if you don’t like him, easing the relationship would be good too.”

Shen Bianye said blandly, “Forget it, let’s just leave it at that.”

Xie Yuanxing didn’t know X was him, and there was no need for him to beat around the bush and ask for the reason again as Shen Bianye.

“Tomorrow, I’ll take him to the hospital for a check-up. Once my illness is cured, he’ll move out.”

“If we ease the relationship now, it’ll be awkward whether he moves out or not later.”

Zhou Chao nodded, then asked one last time, skeptically, “You really don’t like Xie Yuanxing?”

Shen Bianye: “I told you, I won’t like a Beta.”

Lu Qiang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly chimed in, “Are you AO-ist? AB is fine, AA is fine too.”

At that, Zhou Chao and Shen Bianye both subtly looked at him. Among the three Alphas present, two of them cursed him in unison, “You pervert.”

Compared to the lively scene with Shen Bianye, Xie Yuanxing was much quieter.

No one was in the dorm. He changed into more comfortable clothes and sat at his desk, buried in his studies.

At night, the dorm lights on the desk always appeared dim because they were blocked by the bed. He turned on a magnetic strip desk lamp.

Shen Bianye’s world had money and friends. Xie Yuanxing’s world was paved by a sea of questions, a hazy future.

The warm yellow light cast an orange glow on Xie Yuanxing. As he bent his head to write, the exposed nape of his neck was covered in faint, purplish hickey marks.

He was already tired from a day of performing, and studying was mentally draining, so Xie Yuanxing went to wash up and sleep at ten.

By the time Shen Bianye returned, Xie Yuanxing was already asleep.

Usually, Shen Bianye’s pheromones would choke Xie Yuanxing awake when he got close, but ever since he saw the scar on Xie Yuanxing’s shoulder, Shen Bianye’s suppressant dosage had doubled, and his pheromones didn’t leak out at all.

So, Xie Yuanxing was completely unaware of his proximity.

Standing by his roommate’s bed and watching him sleep felt quite strange, Shen Bianye knew, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to leave.

Xie Yuanxing was sound asleep, his black hair softly clinging to his face, his fair skin flushed with a faint blush. The thick winter blanket made him appear tiny and even softer, nestled within it.

Shen Bianye poked Xie Yuanxing’s cheek, not daring to use force, gently, like poking a ball of cotton. His voice was also very soft, almost a whisper: “Xingxing.”

The voice changer had long been removed. It was his voice, Shen Bianye’s voice.

But it was spoken so softly, as if afraid of waking someone.

Yet, a trace of triumphant smile appeared in Shen Bianye’s eyes, a bit childish. He wasn’t allowed to call him that, but he still did.

He suddenly remembered something.

The last time X and Xie Yuanxing met, Xie Yuanxing had agreed that next time they met, he could kiss him.

The smile in his eyes turned into annoyance, and his hand gripping the ladder tightened, making his knuckles white.

Backstage, he was so infuriated by that idiot Xie Zhuowu’s matter that his head hurt, and he actually forgot.

How! Could! He! Forget?!

Damn it, he was going to die of anger.

Maybe, he could just sneak a kiss to make up for it…

But now it was Shen Bianye, not X.

His pheromones were becoming unstable again. Shen Bianye pressed the needle marks left from injecting the suppressant, using the pain to keep himself clear-headed.

Struggle and conflict flashed in his eyes as he gazed deeply at the sleeping Xie Yuanxing.

Knowing the reason, and without the prejudices that Xie Yuanxing had angered out of him, Xie Yuanxing became less and less annoying in his eyes.

Shen Bianye couldn’t help but begin to reflect on his own behavior.

He didn’t like Xie Yuanxing, but pretending to be someone else and having an online relationship with Xie Yuanxing just to get a taste of sweetness was one thing. But taking Xie Yuanxing’s first kiss? Wasn’t that a bit bad?

Although it was because of the pheromones, X found it difficult to resist Xie Yuanxing’s allure when he was around him.

But this, it really wasn’t good.

Even though it was his first kiss too, Xie Yuanxing wasn’t at a disadvantage.

But this was, after all, deception.

Although Xie Yuanxing’s lips looked soft, with small, delicate philtrums, and should taste sweet, if he chewed them in his mouth, would the texture be like eating soft jelly…?

Xie Yuanxing’s lips seemed a bit dry. If he licked them during a kiss, he could help moisturize Xie Yuanxing’s lips. He wouldn’t need thanks, just let him lick a little deeper…

What would it taste like? Could he taste milk…?

His finger had gone in a little, it was very wet, very hot…

Shen Bianye completely forgot what he had been thinking just a moment ago and was utterly unaware of what he was thinking now.

He was lured by one phrase after another in his mind, his brain becoming excited, his gaze fixed on Xie Yuanxing’s lips, faintly tinged with obsession.

He really, really, really wanted to taste them.

But not secretly; that wouldn’t be polite.

When Xie Yuanxing woke up the next morning, the sky outside was still hazy, making it look as if dawn hadn’t broken yet.

The dorm air conditioner was still whirring softly, and the blankets were warm, making him reluctant to get up.

But he couldn’t.

He had something very important to do today.

He reached for his phone under the pillow. His sleepy expression slowly gave way to wide eyes as he read a string of messages.

X: “Baby, you promised I could kiss you next time we met.”

X: “I actually forgot.”

X: “How could I forget?!”

X: “I can’t sleep at all, baby. I’m going to die of anger.”

X: “Baby, Star Baby, shall we meet today?”

X: “Is baby awake yet?”

X: “I really want to kiss baby. Baby’s lips are so soft, pouting when you sleep. They want to be kissed too, right?”

X: “Baby, are you up yet? Let’s meet, baby, please, baby.”

Xie Yuanxing’s face was flushed, he couldn’t tell if it was from the warmth of getting out of bed or from being embarrassed by such direct yearning.

He thought of what he was about to say and couldn’t help but want to laugh a little. His lips curved slightly as he typed: “No, I have to take the CET-4 today.”

“Aren’t you taking the CET-6 this afternoon?”

Shen Bianye, who was venting his energy by jogging on the playground, stared at his phone, his steps slowly coming to a halt.

His school’s rigid requirement was to pass CET-4, which he had already done in his freshman year. His major didn’t require CET-6, so he hadn’t paid any attention to it at all.

It was only to completely separate and not arouse Xie Yuanxing’s suspicion that he had told Xie Yuanxing that X’s major was different.

Shen Bianye lost the mood for running, his handsome face sour as he walked off the track.

He hated the CET-4 and CET-6 exams.