GBROTAH CH43

Playground—

Shen Bianye ran lap after lap on the track. The hot air he exhaled formed shapes in the cold wind, his forehead bore a thin sheen of sweat, and his eyes held an uncontrollable irritation.

This was the first time he felt that an Alpha’s excessive energy wasn’t always a good thing; even exercise couldn’t fully dissipate it.

Damn pheromone disorder.

He actually kissed Xie Yuanxing.

Though it was quick, just a brush, almost a fleeting touch.

But it was indeed a kiss, and he did it openly, as himself.

What bothered Shen Bianye even more was that his regret was largely, surprisingly, over how quick it was, that he hadn’t tasted anything.

Damn, what flavor could there be?

What taste could a person’s mouth have? What was he regretting?!

It just looked a little soft, dewy, like it had been soaked in sweet water.

…Damn.

What sweet water, don’t think about it.

But Xie Yuanxing had indeed been getting sweeter recently. Sweet, sweet, Xie Yuanxing was fair-skinned, like he’d been washed in milk, and smelled entirely of milk.

The dark clouds that had been pressing down on him dissipated, beginning to emit a more enticing sweet fragrance, like an Omega’s pheromones.

The scent was like a tail, constantly hooking Shen Bianye.

Making him incredibly hungry.

Shen Bianye’s sharp brows were tightly furrowed. He twisted open his mineral water bottle and took a sip. The winter water was icy cold, sliding down his throat but landing in a volcano.

He glanced at the time displayed on his mechanical wristwatch, took out his phone, expertly switched numbers, and sent a message to Xie Yuanxing.

X: “Baby, are you awake?”

With Xie Zhuowu’s disgusting family dealt with, Xie Yuanxing’s mood was visibly improving. With X’s coaxing, he believed he would soon get a taste of something sweet.

Once he had it, he probably wouldn’t crave it so much, right?

Shen Bianye timed his message, and sure enough, a reply came quickly.

Xie Yuanxing: “Awake.”

X: “I’ve finished my run, baby. I’m all sweaty.”

X: “Image.jpg”

Clearly defined abs shimmered with a thin layer of sweat, his taut waist and abdomen completely exposed. But it wasn’t his hands lifting his shirt to display them.

A hint of his jaw was visible in the photo, and his shirt collar was bitten between his teeth. Though his face wasn’t seen, there was an unwarranted sense of eager aggression.

Xie Yuanxing’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he clenched his fingers, typing: “Aren’t you cold?”

X: “Not cold.”

Just two simple words, conveying a sense of despair, half-dead.

Xie Yuanxing got out of bed and walked to the unheated balcony. The wind made his hair tremble. Cold, he returned inside, toothbrush still in his mouth, to brush his teeth, not forgetting to send a message to X.

Xie Yuanxing: “It’s really cold, wear more clothes.”

X: “Baby’s worried about me?”

X: “Let’s meet this weekend, baby. Clothes aren’t enough, I need to hug you to stay warm.”

Xie Yuanxing refused without thinking, “I can’t, I’m very busy preparing for final exams recently.”

X: “Just an hour, baby. I’ll book a hotel next to your school.”

Xie Yuanxing: “An hour is enough for me to do a test paper and memorize three knowledge points. No meeting, no meeting.”

Xie Yuanxing: “Kitten shaking head.jpg.”

What “an hour is enough to do a test paper.” Xie Yuanxing’s grades were always stable, and he didn’t need to cram for finals. He clearly knew Xie Yuanxing was avoiding him, ever since he said he’d kiss him next time they met.

And the final exam excuse was practically foolproof, leaving no room for rebuttal.

The person on the playground gritted his teeth in anger, yet was helpless. When his phone rang, his voice was filled with irritation, “Speak.”

Lu Qiang: “Zhou Chao said because of you, he’s breaking up with his latest fling and isn’t planning on dating anymore. What’s going on?”

Lu Qiang: “Does he like you?”

Shen Bianye pulled his phone away, confirming it wasn’t some strange caller, and deeply retorted, “Are you an idiot?”

Lu Qiang: “He’s not talking to me, that’s why I asked you. I also thought it was impossible.”

Shen Bianye: “Your priority right now isn’t calling me, go register at the neurology department. I’ll pay for the consultation.”

With that, he hung up, not forgetting to transfer 8 yuan to Lu Qiang on WeChat.

However, Lu Qiang’s tone when he said Zhou Chao wasn’t talking to him reminded Shen Bianye of something: could X’s enthusiasm for Xie Yuanxing be annoying him?

Shen Bianye’s steps paused on his way out of the track. He ground his teeth and snorted coldly. He, the one doing the coaxing, wasn’t annoyed, so why should Xie Yuanxing be?

Unwillingly, he thought, exam week, huh?

Then he’d wait until this period was over.

Or maybe he should just stay away from Xie Yuanxing himself. To put it simply, X’s enthusiasm was still due to pheromone craving. If he stayed away and couldn’t see him, it might get better.

Shen Bianye’s direction changed from going back to the dorm to heading straight out of school.

…

X: “Then baby, study hard. We’ll talk after your exams.”

Xie Yuanxing saw the message and sent a nodding cat emoji, then picked up his backpack from the chair and walked out of the dorm.

It was getting colder and colder. Outside, his ear tips would turn red from the cold. He exhaled into his hands and rubbed his ears.

A hand patted his shoulder from behind. Xie Yuanxing turned around and saw the smiling Shi Tingting and Tangtang.

The two girls walked arm in arm, then walked side by side next to him.

Shi Tingting: “Xingxing, why aren’t you wearing your bear hat? I saw you rubbing your ears from behind just now.”

Tangtang: “Exactly, it must be cold.”

Xie Yuanxing shook his head, “Today’s outfit doesn’t look good with it.”

Shi Tingting and Tangtang exchanged glances and burst out laughing. Xie Yuanxing blinked blankly beside them.

Shi Tingting: “Xingxing has become so much more cheerful! When I first met you, you wouldn’t care what clothes looked good, you always wore black and grey.”

Tangtang nodded in agreement, smiling shyly but also mischievously, “Is it your boyfriend’s doing?”

Xie Yuanxing’s ear tips flushed hot in the cold wind. He pursed his lips and said nothing.

Shi Tingting playfully patted Tangtang’s hand and changed the subject, “It’s almost vacation, Xingxing, have you thought about how you’ll spend your winter break?”

Xie Yuanxing: “I want to stay at school for the winter break.”

“But I don’t know how to apply yet.”

He had no place to live anyway. Staying at school would save him rent money, and he could find a part-time job around the school.

He wondered if the cafeteria would have any windows open during the winter break.

If so, he could save even more on food.

Shi Tingting looked a little surprised but didn’t press. Instead, she said, “I know a senior who stayed over once. I’ll help you ask.”

“Let me tell you, this senior is amazing. He started following his advisor in his sophomore year and wasn’t around for a while. He only just came back for final exams.”

Xie Yuanxing: “It’s fine, I can just ask the advisor.”

Shi Tingting smiled, “Asking the advisor is so scary! And Xingxing, you’re socially anxious. I’ll ask clearly and then tell you.”

As they spoke, they had already reached the teaching building. Shi Tingting pointed in another direction, “We’re going to Building B for class, gotta go!”

The two girls walked arm in arm, laughing and chatting, into another building. Xie Yuanxing continued walking towards a teaching building further inside.

There were many students attending morning classes. Xie Yuanxing wore a green down jacket, his figure tall and slender, still lean even in the puffy jacket, like a bamboo shoot that had secretly sprouted among a crowd of black and white.

It was probably a coincidence, or perhaps because they were all first-year students, and their classes weren’t too far apart.

After a day of classes, Xie Yuanxing ran into Shi Tingting again after the last class of the afternoon.

Shi Tingting was talking to someone else. That person had their back to Xie Yuanxing, who didn’t know who it was. When a familiar person was with a stranger, his subconscious reaction was not to disturb them.

But Shi Tingting was facing him, and while Xie Yuanxing hesitated, she had already looked at him and waved, “Xingxing, what a coincidence, come quickly!”

Shi Tingting pulled Xie Yuanxing over, saying, “This is the senior I told you about. He just returned to school recently. Since we met, you can ask him directly. The senior is really nice.”

She secretly stuck out her tongue and whispered, “At least it’s less nerve-wracking than going directly to the advisor, right?”

Xie Yuanxing pursed his lips, “Mm,” but didn’t speak for a long time.

The atmosphere was quiet.

Shi Tingting looked left and right, preparing to speak and rekindle the conversation, when the person opposite them spoke.

“Xingxing, long time no see,” he said.

Shi Tingting’s eyes widened like a hamster’s. Just as she was shocked, she heard Xie Yuanxing speak: “Long time no see.”

Shi Tingting: O.O, she was stunned, “You two know each other?”

Then came surprise, “What a coincidence, could it be high school classmates?”

Lin Xiuming chuckled, “Neighbors. Not-so-good neighbors.”

Xie Yuanxing: “Mm.”

Shi Tingting: …

As cheerful as she was, there were times she wanted to run away. Why did she stop Senior Lin on the road? Why? Couldn’t she just ask on WeChat?

If she hadn’t stopped Senior Lin, she wouldn’t have stopped on the side of the road. If she hadn’t stopped on the side of the road, she wouldn’t have run into Xie Yuanxing. If she hadn’t run into Xingxing, she wouldn’t have called out to Xingxing, and then none of this would be happening now.

Lin Xiuming: “It’s not a coincidence. I saw his photo playing the piano on stage in the school forum, that’s why I told my advisor I needed to come back early.”

Xie Yuanxing clenched his fingers, his lips slightly pursed, a little surprised, and a little complicated.

Shi Tingting was simply amazed. She didn’t expect Xie Yuanxing playing the piano on stage would lead to him being recognized by his old neighbor.

Thinking about it that way, their meeting today didn’t seem so unexpected.

Even without her, Senior Lin would probably have come looking for Xingxing.

Lin Xiuming looked at Shi Tingting, “He and I have some things to talk about, you see…”

He paused cleverly, and Shi Tingting quickly said, “I just remembered I have something to do for my club, I’ll leave first.”

After walking a few steps, Shi Tingting couldn’t help but turn back for a look, only to see Xie Yuanxing’s lips tightly pressed together, his eyes downcast.

Oh no.

If they fell out and started fighting, wouldn’t she be the culprit?

Senior Lin was an Omega, Xingxing was a Beta. In terms of physical strength, Xingxing might not lose.

Wait… even if he could win, he shouldn’t fight.

Shi Tingting hesitated repeatedly, then sent a message to Shen Bianye on WeChat, “Senior Shen, urgent help! Xingxing met his enemy!”

Thankfully, Senior Shen had added her WeChat during the last social event.

And Tangtang’s WeChat too.

If he hadn’t added both of them, and both were good friends with Xingxing, she almost got a little excited. Although she did get excited after finding out, that was a different kind of excitement.

After Shi Tingting left, Lin Xiuming said to Xie Yuanxing, “Let’s not talk here. There’s a coffee shop outside the school, let’s go there.”

Xie Yuanxing: “Okay.”

The two walked in silence. Xie Yuanxing’s mood was complex, not knowing what to say, so he remained quiet.

At the coffee shop, Lin Xiuming handed the menu to Xie Yuanxing, “What do you want to drink?”

Xie Yuanxing: “You order first.”

Lin Xiuming: “You first. You always used to order first when we were kids.”

Xie Yuanxing lowered his gaze: “You first.”

“I’ll go first.” A voice came from behind. Almost as soon as the words fell, Shen Bianye appeared beside Xie Yuanxing.

The uninvited guest showed no politeness and sat directly on the sofa where Xie Yuanxing was.

Shen Bianye: “One Americano, one milk.”

He handed the menu to Lin Xiuming, “What do you want to drink? My treat.”

Lin Xiuming: “Xingxing isn’t ordering?”

Shen Bianye’s expression darkened for a moment, then he quickly said, “He has a sensitive stomach, coffee makes him nauseous. Milk is fine.”

Xie Yuanxing, who had just slightly opened his lips next to him, closed them again. He had nothing to say.

Two coffees and one milk were placed on the table. Before anyone had taken a sip, Shen Bianye said, “If you two have nothing to talk about, I’ll take Xingxing back.”

Xie Yuanxing turned his head to look at him, his brows slightly furrowed.

Shen Bianye caught it in his peripheral vision, his face as gloomy as ink, and he sneered inwardly.

He’s called him baby, so why can’t he call him Xingxing?!

X can call him that, Shi Tingting can call him that, and now this dried-up monkey who appeared out of nowhere can also call him that. Why can’t he?!

Why was he so obedient? Who was Xie Yuanxing, and why was he allowed to control him?

He’d call him anyway!

Lin Xiuming looked at Xie Yuanxing, “We haven’t said a word. Are you going back already?”

Xie Yuanxing took a deep breath, “No, not going back.”

Shen Bianye scoffed, “Haven’t said a word? Were those few sentences just now monkey-speak?”

Xie Yuanxing turned to look at him, his brow slightly furrowed, “Are you sick? Why are you calling us monkeys?”

Shen Bianye clearly heard his own teeth grinding, his expression dark, gnashing his teeth: “Not calling you.”

“Why are you defending him?”

Xie Yuanxing opened his mouth, then said nothing, but Lin Xiuming spoke up, “Probably because of guilt.”

Shen Bianye’s expression changed slightly, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two. He could smell the faint scent of pheromones from this Omega, a rotten banana smell.

Xie Yuanxing had already attracted an Alpha, wasn’t that enough? Now he was attracting an Omega too?

A Beta, with such charm?

Impossible.

He just couldn’t see what was so attractive about Xie Yuanxing.

Lin Xiuming: “After all, when I comforted him back then, he said things like, ‘It wasn’t your mom who got hit by a car and died.'”

At that time, Xie Yuanxing even laid hands on him, but he didn’t want to bring that up in front of Xie Yuanxing’s current friends.

Shen Bianye’s jumbled thoughts cleared, and he instinctively looked at Xie Yuanxing.

Xie Yuanxing’s face was pale, his lips tightly pressed, but he sat quietly, like a prisoner bound to an invisible rack, suffering torture.

Shen Bianye said in a deep voice, “He was only in elementary school then. He suddenly experienced a family tragedy. What he said might have been a bit much, but you don’t need to come and judge him after all this time.”

Under the table, Shen Bianye’s hand silently rested on Xie Yuanxing’s, gently prying open his fingers and putting his own hand inside, letting him pinch.

Shen Bianye unsuitably thought of what Xie Yuanxing had said to X.

When talking about practicing piano, his mother would say he would cry but still hold his head high, like a little peacock.

Only children who grew up pampered had the right to be willful. At that time, Xie Yuanxing must not have had this personality. He must have spoken so harshly to his friend after suddenly encountering a tragedy.

Shen Bianye knew Xie Yuanxing’s words were unpleasant, but he thought, so what?

He couldn’t help but wonder again, his mother was taken by a car accident, his friend was driven away by harsh words, how did Xie Yuanxing survive all these years alone?

He hadn’t seen Xie Yuanxing have many friends. Was it because he had hurt others and dared not make friends again, or had he been so worn down that he no longer had the ability to make friends?

Shen Bianye’s heart ached silently for a moment.

And he felt even more annoyed looking at Lin Xiuming.

Xie Yuanxing was just a child then. Was it necessary to remember a wrong word a child said until now?

Lin Xiuming: “This is between him and me.”

Shen Bianye was about to speak, but under the table, Xie Yuanxing gently squeezed his hand.

Alphas had good physiques, and their hands were warm even in winter, as if one could gain strength from them.

Xie Yuanxing didn’t pull his hand away. He looked up at Lin Xiuming and softly said, “I’m sorry.”

Shen Bianye frowned, completely oblivious to his own extreme favoritism. He heard Xie Yuanxing’s apology, but instead of agreeing, he frowned.

Lin Xiuming took a sip of coffee. It was slightly bitter, but he smiled, “I’ve waited for this apology for years.”

“I’ve also wanted to apologize to you for many years. I shouldn’t have just walked away that day. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t expect you to move out the next day and never show up again.”

“I didn’t know where to find you. You said you wanted to study in A City back then. There are so many schools here, I didn’t know which one to choose. I didn’t expect to actually meet you in A City.”

“Xingxing, we haven’t seen each other in a very long time.”

Xie Yuanxing pursed his lips and smiled softly: “Brother Xiuming.”

Brother… Xiuming?

Just as things were getting tender, Shen Bianye suddenly scoffed from the side, “Shi Tingting said she was afraid you two would fight, that’s why I came over.”

“Boring.”

“Now you’re talking as if your relationship is so good, even coming to A City specifically for Xie Yuanxing. But back then, didn’t you leave just because Xie Yuanxing said one thing to you?”

Lin Xiuming: “I was only in junior high then.”

Shen Bianye sneered: “Junior high isn’t small.”

“But monkeys develop late. If you think a junior high IQ is still small, fine.”

Heh, Brother Xiuming.

His pheromone scent was like rotten bananas, and his name sounded like a monkey.

Lin Xiuming frowned and looked at Xie Yuanxing. Xie Yuanxing pulled his hand, which had been holding Shen Bianye’s under the table, into a fist and lightly punched him, “Brother Xiuming didn’t offend you. What are you doing?”

“And he’s an Omega, show some respect.”

Shen Bianye: “So what if he’s an Omega? I’m a straight Alpha, I don’t like male Omegas.”

Lin Xiuming changed the topic and brought up Xie Yuanxing: “I thought you would also differentiate into an Omega.”

“Your birth tendency report indicated a predisposition towards Omega.”

Alpha, Beta, Omega—although differentiation typically occurs at eighteen, a genetic test is performed at birth to predict the differentiation.

Xie Yuanxing shook his head and smiled, “It’s possible it was a failed differentiation due to malnutrition.”

Bang!

With a loud crash, Shen Bianye’s coffee cup slammed heavily onto the table, cracking with a pa sound. His face was ashen as he stood up, “You two chat.”

He was going to kill Xie Zhuowu’s entire family.

Shen Bianye still had some sense. He paid the bill, compensated for the cup, and walked out. He didn’t go far, stopping at the entrance to make two phone calls.

One was to Lu Qiang.

Shen Bianye: “Do me a favor, and I’ll analyze what’s going on between you and Zhou Chao.”

Lu Qiang firmly stated: “We’re brothers. Your business is my business.”

A hint of ferocity flashed in Shen Bianye’s eyes as he said, “A-city’s lower district, the prison.”

Lu Qiang: “Can do.”

Smart people don’t need to be so direct, which meant that certain people’s lives in prison wouldn’t be pleasant.

Lu Qiang: “About Zhou Chao not dating, has he really settled down? No more messing around?”

“I don’t mean anything else, it’s just that we’re all brothers, I’m just concerned.”

Shen Bianye: “Don’t be concerned. He’s just annoyed with me. He’ll have girlfriends and boyfriends in the future.”

Lu Qiang said with difficulty, “Good to know he’s not traumatized. You know, we’re brothers, I’m just not used to him suddenly changing, even if it’s…”

He didn’t finish his sentence before Shen Bianye hung up. He had felt something was off with Lu Qiang since last time. Outsiders see clearly. This kind of talk was only fooling himself, and it was pointless to try and fool another brother with it.

The second call was to Dr. Li.

Shen Bianye stated directly, “Is it possible for malnutrition to lead to differentiation into a Beta?”

Dr. Li: “There is such a possibility, but there are very few malnourished people in this society. Are you talking about Xie Yuanxing?”

Shen Bianye pinched his brow, “Hmm, is there any way to make him…”

He paused, not continuing.

Dr. Li sighed, “Differentiation only happens once. Once it’s set, it can’t be changed, just like someone who missed their growth spurt and is short. No matter how much they eat and supplement as an adult, they won’t grow taller.”

“He’s destined to be a Beta.”

Shen Bianye hung up the phone, his heart heavy. He returned to the coffee shop and saw Xie Yuanxing reaching out to touch Lin Xiuming’s stomach, his face turning even darker, almost livid.

X had to lead, guide, and even forcefully press Xie Yuanxing’s hand to let him touch his abs.

Heh.

His boyfriend’s abs, he wouldn’t touch.

Brother Xiuming’s, he was eager to touch?

Xie Yuanxing didn’t notice Shen Bianye entering, still absorbed in his astonishment, “How amazing, is there a cavity here?”

He exclaimed in surprise, “Similar to a uterus?”

He and Lin Xiuming used to be very good friends. It seemed they didn’t need much re-acquaintance; once they talked it out, they found their old comfortable dynamic again.

Lin Xiuming nodded, “It grew after I differentiated into an Omega. My stomach hurt for a long time, that’s when this thing was growing.”

“My neck gland also itched and hurt back then. Do you want to see? You can touch it too.”

Xie Yuanxing: “Can I?”

Lin Xiuming: “You’re a Beta, it’s fine to touch.”

He tilted his head, about to show Xie Yuanxing.

Shen Bianye strode quickly to stand in front of the two, his voice almost squeezed from his throat, a guttural, furious whisper: “What’s-so-great-about-a-rotten-banana-scented-gland-to-look-at?!”

“Don’t look. Omegas aren’t that fascinating.”

“Betas are better.”

His clenched fists audibly creaked at the knuckles. He didn’t want Xie Yuanxing to look at someone else’s gland, and even more, he didn’t want Xie Yuanxing to reach out and touch it.

Even if the other person was an Omega, it wasn’t allowed.

Especially an Omega named Lin Xiuming.

Brother Xiuming, heh!

At that moment, Shen Bianye’s aversion to this Omega surpassed his annoyance with Gao Yufei, that sea salt-scented Alpha.

Mainly,

Why touch when you’re just talking?

First letting Xie Yuanxing touch his stomach, then letting him touch his gland.

The thought of giving Xie Yuanxing the cold shoulder had long been tossed aside. Shen Bianye even wanted to just take Xie Yuanxing away and watch him twenty-four hours a day, more carefully than his own eyeballs, not allowing him any physical contact with this Omega.