GBROTAH CH52

“The phone you brought in can’t be fixed.”

“I can’t fix it here, and no one else can either. You don’t need to waste any more effort.”

In the workshop filled with various electronic products, Shen Bianye stood silently for a moment, his voice hoarse: “What about the data inside? Can that not be recovered either?”

The shop owner pursed his lips. “No chance.”

Shen Bianye lowered his gaze to the shattered phone on the table and softly said, “Understood.”

Forget it.

No need.

After the contract ends, he and Xie Yuanxing will go their separate ways. He has his own path to take, and Xie Yuanxing will have a better life.

He stood there in silence. A moment later, he said, “Do you have a screen? Let’s replace it.”

The shop owner was surprised: “It’s a scrapped phone. Why replace the screen?”

Shen Bianye insisted: “Just replace it. At least it’ll look better.”

Replacing a screen didn’t take long. When the shop owner was about to throw away the shattered screen, Shen Bianye carefully put the shattered screen away.

The shop owner gave Shen Bianye a strange look, feeling like he had encountered an oddball.

Shen Bianye put the phone and screen together, took them back to the dorm, and placed them on Xie Yuanxing’s desk.

Shen Bianye knew all of Xie Yuanxing’s class schedules—last semester’s, this semester’s, where and when each class was held, everything was clear.

It was easy for him to pick a time when Xie Yuanxing wasn’t in the dorm to put the phone back. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to face Xie Yuanxing, but…

He didn’t know what to say.

Shen Bianye stared blankly at Xie Yuanxing’s clean, tidy, almost empty desk for a few minutes. As he turned to leave, he bumped into Xie Yuanxing, who was just walking in.

When Xie Yuanxing’s gaze fell on him, Shen Bianye’s body stiffened.

But quickly, Xie Yuanxing averted his gaze again.

He glanced at Shen Bianye, then at the phone on his desk. He walked over, picked it up, and looked at it. It seemed fine, but it still wouldn’t turn on. He tightened his grip on the phone, opened the drawer, and put it inside.

Xie Yuanxing turned to look at Shen Bianye, picking up the precarious shattered screen: “Is this… the original shattered screen?”

Shen Bianye hummed in affirmation, opening his mouth under Xie Yuanxing’s somewhat puzzled gaze.

With a family like his, Shen Bianye was accustomed to a sharp tongue. He would also mock Zhou Chao and his friends, never thinking anything of his words.

But he forgot that Xie Yuanxing was different from others. He didn’t grow up in a privileged environment. Xie Yuanxing’s life was full of abuse and scolding.

Xie Yuanxing was like a fragile, beautiful glass bottle that needed to be held carefully to prevent cracks from appearing again.

Xie Yuanxing’s tearful accusations felt like an air blade had been inserted into Shen Bianye’s throat, cutting his windpipe.

Facing Xie Yuanxing, he became a mute, unable to speak a word.

After a moment, he stammered an explanation: “I was afraid you’d want to keep it, so…”

Xie Yuanxing looked at the shattered screen. The broken liquid crystal fragments curled up, feeling a bit sharp to the touch. It wouldn’t cut him, but it was still slightly uncomfortable.

Casually, he tossed it into the trash can.

The object hit the plastic bag in the trash can with a thud, accompanied by the rustling sound of the plastic bag. For some reason, Shen Bianye’s heart felt as if it had fallen in too.

Shen Bianye looked at Xie Yuanxing, his hands clenched at his sides, trying his best to act as if nothing was wrong. “Class… Why are you… back?”

Xie Yuanxing reached for the books on either side of the cabinet and said blandly, “It’s none of your business.”

Shen Bianye’s hands clenched suddenly, his pheromones fluctuating in an instant. His body stiffened, and he frantically turned to grab the inhibitor from the drawer.

It had come to this. He shouldn’t release pheromones that would make Xie Yuanxing uncomfortable and annoying.

Xie Yuanxing saw him uncap a box of inhibitors, ready to inject without blinking, his eyes flickered, and he still spoke to stop him.

“I’m here. Bite me.”

He had taken the money, a hefty sum of five million yuan was on the table. Even if things were unpleasant last night, Xie Yuanxing couldn’t just walk away from the job.

The sooner he was cured, the sooner it would end.

Shen Bianye’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared blankly at Xie Yuanxing’s slender neck exposed to him, wanting to say no, but it seemed unnecessary and he had no standing.

He stepped forward, biting very gently, not daring to lick again. As his canine teeth pierced the skin, Shen Bianye’s expression grew increasingly shocked. His eyes almost trembled, and his pupils slightly contracted.

Drops of blood rolled down his throat, like a corrosive poison, or a destructive spark, burning him from the inside out.

The blood swallowed intertwined with Shen Bianye, inseparable. It split into smaller blood droplets, and then iron-like thorns grew within Shen Bianye’s body, entangling his heart and constantly contracting.

For a moment, Shen Bianye felt it difficult to breathe.

He couldn’t taste Xie Yuanxing anymore. Nothing at all—sour, bitter, salty, spicy, sweet—nothing, only the taste of blood itself.

Shen Bianye used all his strength to appear calm as he released his grip. “It’s done.”

“I’m leaving.”

He felt a slight urge to kiss Xie Yuanxing one last time.

But it seemed he couldn’t anymore.

What a pity.

A trace of imperceptible bitterness flowed from the corner of Shen Bianye’s lips. Then, he calmly turned, took a step, and pressed down on the dorm doorknob several times before opening the door.

He paused at the doorway, then suddenly asked, “You’re still wearing that ring. Why? I thought you were very angry.”

Xie Yuanxing’s tone was flat: “You are you, X is X. I distinguish very clearly.”

Shen Bianye didn’t look back at the words, nor did he feel his usual strange dissatisfaction. Instead, he said, “It’s good that you can distinguish.”

He left, and Xie Yuanxing also hurried to the classroom with his books.

It was almost March, and the trees on campus were still withered and yellow. Xie Yuanxing thought again of the crunching leaves underfoot at the nursing home, and of the trembling old woman.

He was actually very afraid, afraid as if he was seeing his own future.

Even now, when someone speaks loudly to him, he still instinctively flinches. Will he also be trapped in that pain, unable to find release even if he loses his memory?

Nursing homes are government-run welfare facilities, unlike retirement homes which are paid units with families and children to visit and care for.

People without homes, or without family and children to look after them, live in nursing homes.

Those people had no home, so where was his home?

Xie Yuanxing touched the ring on his finger. He truly owned very few things. Counting them, what truly belonged to him was already gone. His phone was broken, and X had also been taken away by Shen Bianye.

He hated Shen Bianye.

Looking at the yellowed, withered leaves, he thought again, he hated fallen leaves.

“Xingxing!”

Inside the library, Shi Tingting had just called out before quickly covering her mouth. She hurried over. “Xingxing, why are you in the library alone?”

“Where’s your friend?”

Xie Yuanxing smiled: “Friends aren’t always together.”

“Besides, he’s not in the same major or year as me, and he has his own friends.”

Shi Tingting nodded, not thinking much of it. “Xingxing, do you want to go out with me next weekend?”

She quickly said, “I got three free tour tickets to Fireworks City! Free, free!”

“Includes food, lodging, entertainment, and even pick-up and drop-off. It’s a company benefit from my mom’s work. She’s busy, so she told me to go with friends.”

“How about me, Tangtang, and you, the three of us go together?”

Xie Yuanxing asked again, uncertainly: “The three of us go together?”

Shi Tingting: “Yes, yes, how about it? Isn’t it great?”

She was quite excited, her tone rising as she spoke. Realizing she was in a library, she lowered her voice again.

Xie Yuanxing shook his head and refused: “You two go.”

“Or you can just ask someone from your dorm to come along.”

Shi Tingting: “Why? Xingxing, don’t you want to go out with us?”

Xie Yuanxing was silent for a moment, his eyelashes fluttering, unsure how to respond.

Shi Tingting was a good person, and they were considered friends, but Xie Yuanxing understood very well that friends also varied in closeness.

Just like during the winter break, Shi Tingting said she might visit him before the break, but then never brought it up again during the break.

Outside of school, during the winter break, their WeChat messages only amounted to a “Happy New Year” on New Year’s Day.

Xie Yuanxing had no intention of blaming her; he hadn’t actively sought out Shi Tingting either.

But this indicated that their relationship wasn’t close enough to go out together outside of the school environment. For a free trip, Shi Tingting should have invited closer friends.

Besides, their identities weren’t suitable. It would be strange for him to go out with two girls.

Shi Tingting didn’t want to give up, pressing, “Come with us, Xingxing. Aren’t you in a bad mood? It’s a good chance to relax.”

Two days, a five-star hotel, seafood feast, and fireworks over the entire city!

Although she had a bit of a selfish motive, she really wanted to go, boohoo.

“Let’s go, let’s go, please?”

Xie Yuanxing paused, “I’m not in a bad mood. You two go.”

Shi Tingting felt like she had let something slip. She shouldn’t have known Xie Yuanxing was in a bad mood. After thinking about it, she just said, “Okay, okay, then I’ll be honest.”

“Senior Shen said you’ve been in a bad mood lately and asked me to invite you to see the fireworks. He’s covering all the expenses and arranged everything. He was worried it would be awkward if I went with you alone, so he said I could bring someone.”

“He told me not to say anything, but I thought if there’s any misunderstanding between you two, clearing it up might be better.”

Xie Yuanxing’s reaction was flat. He nodded: “I know.”

The moment Shi Tingting opened her mouth, he knew.

Shi Tingting asked doubtfully, “Are you two arguing, Xingxing?”

She lowered her voice and asked, “There’s a question I’ve wanted to ask for a long time: Does Senior Shen like you?”

Xie Yuanxing’s eyelashes fluttered, his dark eyes moist and clear, as if they could see through everything: “How could that be?”

He casually dismissed it, as if mentioning something utterly unimportant: “You’re overthinking it. Instead of idly wondering, why don’t you do some practice problems with me?”

Shi Tingting: …

She shook her head with difficulty. “Are you really not going? It’s such a shame, Xingxing.”

Xie Yuanxing thought for a moment and said, “Just tell him I was invited but don’t want to go. You don’t need to say anything more. He’ll still let you and Tangtang go.”

“He’s not a petty person. If he asked you for a favor, he’ll repay you.”

Shi Tingting muttered that it wasn’t right, but she was also a little uncontrollably tempted. She thought that if Senior Shen hadn’t mentioned it, then fine, she hadn’t helped much anyway.

On Shen Bianye’s WeChat, she explained the situation.

Shi Tingting: “Senior Shen, Xingxing doesn’t want to go. My persistent begging didn’t work.”

The reply came quickly, as if he had been guarding his phone, waiting for the result.

Shen Bianye: “Understood.”

“Then you and your friend go. Call this number, and they’ll arrange someone to pick you up.”

Shi Tingting froze, looked up at Xie Yuanxing, and suddenly felt that Xingxing understood Senior Shen very well. But what about Senior Shen? Did he understand Xingxing?

She felt a slight urge to ship them, but couldn’t quite figure out what was going on between the two. Shi Tingting sighed, thinking she’d discuss it with Tangtang later and then decide together whether to take advantage of the free trip to Fireworks City.

Xie Yuanxing watched her leave with a sigh, the smile on his lips slowly fading. He lowered his head and stared at his book for a while before resuming his studies.

Weekend.

The black curtain of night became the world’s finest, top-tier projection screen. When the first fireworks exploded in the sky, they drew countless spectators.

That single burst of fireworks seemed like a signal, followed by countless fine lines shooting skyward. The moment they all exploded, the night seemed to light up.

Bang, bang, bang—

A sleepless night of fire trees and silver flowers; dazzling and grand fireworks ignited above the entire A University of Science and Technology.

“Holy cow, why are there so many fireworks?”

“Is there some event at school today?”

“Didn’t hear anything. Does the art department’s small party count?”

“As expected of the art department, so lavish.”

On the way back to the dorm from the library, Xie Yuanxing listened to the discussions around him, walking step by step towards the dorm. Fireworks bloomed behind him, everyone chasing the fireworks, as he walked alone against the flow of people.

The dorm room door was ajar, unlocked.

Xie Yuanxing pushed the door open and saw Shen Bianye standing inside.

Shen Bianye froze, the tall man looking somewhat flustered at that moment, as if he hadn’t expected Xie Yuanxing to return so soon. He abruptly hid his hands behind his back.

A silver-black ring flashed faintly in the lingering light of the fireworks.

Shen Bianye stiffly turned around, his back to Xie Yuanxing, removed the ring, and, as he tucked it into his clothes pocket, pulled something else out.

His movements were as natural as possible, as if he was simply reaching for something.

The sounds of fireworks exploding continued in bursts. Shen Bianye walked up to Xie Yuanxing and handed him what was in his hand. “My illness is cured. You can apply to move out of the dorm yourself.”

“This is compensation for you moving dorms. It’s not near the school, so you can only live there during holidays or after graduation.”

In the future, the two of them probably wouldn’t have any contact, and he wouldn’t be able to give Xie Yuanxing a sea-view house when he was old.

The last thing he could do was to ensure that Xie Yuanxing wouldn’t have to live alone in a unit dorm during the New Year, which would be too pathetic.

“This is the address.”

A key, a piece of paper.

Seeing that Xie Yuanxing didn’t reach out, Shen Bianye casually placed them on Xie Yuanxing’s desk. “Tomorrow is Sunday. There’s an empty bed in 603 across the hall. I’ve already spoken to them. You can move tomorrow.”

He actually didn’t want Xie Yuanxing to live with others, but Xie Yuanxing was always alone, too lonely.

The people in 603 were all quite nice and easy to get along with. Xie Yuanxing should be able to integrate quickly.

This was the last consideration he, as a former roommate, could give Xie Yuanxing.

Xie Yuanxing nodded, congratulating him politely: “Your illness is cured, congratulations.”

“No need for compensation. When will the contract money be transferred to me?”

Shen Bianye paused, then seemed to smile, returning to his usual self, “I knew you were a money-grubber.”

“The transfer has already been arranged. Just wait for it to arrive.”

His phone buzzed. Zhou Chao’s furious roar came from the other end: “Aren’t we drinking? Where the hell are you?!”

“We’ve been waiting for your damn self for almost an hour!”

Shen Bianye scoffed: “Will you die if you wait a bit?”

“Are you a spoiled princess? Can’t wait for anyone?”

As he spoke, he walked out of the dorm room, without pausing, without asking if the fireworks were beautiful or if Xie Yuanxing disliked them.

Xie Yuanxing didn’t even know those were the fireworks he had set off. If he didn’t like them, he didn’t like them.

Shen Bianye’s voice faded, and the sounds of the fireworks exploding also gradually died down.

Xie Yuanxing walked to the desk. The small note was pressed down by the key. He unfolded it, revealing an address.

“No. 381 Wutong Road, Tonghua District, Z City.”

That was Xie Yuanxing’s home.

He froze, picking up the small note with both hands, gently touching the words on it, as if afraid to touch it, the force so light that the paper would crumble if he pressed harder.

Xie Yuanxing knew better than anyone how much that house was worth on the market now, but it was too expensive; he couldn’t accept it. And it wasn’t listed for sale. How did Shen Bianye get the key?

Xie Yuanxing’s hand clutching the note tightened. He abruptly stood up and began packing his belongings.

He would pack today, move dorms tomorrow. If he was quick, he might even have time to go home and take a look.

He couldn’t accept the house, but he wanted to see it.

It had been a very, very long time since Xie Yuanxing had stepped into his home. His heart suddenly leaped with joy. Just thinking about being able to see it, a tiny firework bloomed in his heart.

He was like a tiny hamster, diligently collecting his belongings.

Meanwhile.

The lights of the club flickered suggestively. Zhou Chao was a party animal, and since Shen Bianye wanted some excitement, he called a large group of people.

A champagne tower was stacked on the table. Omegas with exquisite makeup and graceful figures danced around the table. Glasses clinked with crisp sounds, and joyful, uninhibited voices echoed throughout the private room. “Cheers!”

Zhou Chao sat down next to him and asked Shen Bianye: “What’s up today? Why so happy?”

Shen Bianye: “Perhaps the illness is gone. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”

Zhou Chao shouted out of character: “What?”

“Say that again?”

Shen Bianye clicked his tongue: “Deaf?”

Zhou Chao didn’t care about his attitude, his face alight with uncontrollable joy: “Why didn’t you say something sooner about this?”

“Then what are you still doing hanging out with us? Shouldn’t you hurry back and tell your dad?”

“Inherit the family business, young master. We’re all second sons in our families, out of luck with the family enterprises.”

His tone was fast and urgent, and as he spoke, he suddenly realized: “Celebrating is right. Come on, come on, let’s have a drink.”

Zhou Chao was genuinely happy for Shen Bianye. He stood up and encouraged others to clink glasses. Shen Bianye lazily reached out, clinking his glass against the pile of wine glasses.

Expensive, good-tasting, bad-tasting, drink after drink, Shen Bianye’s consciousness was already a bit blurry, but he kept drinking.

Zhou Chao patted him on the side, “Oh, right, you should really thank Xie Yuanxing for this. Why didn’t you invite him along?”

Shen Bianye suddenly laughed, his eyebrows slightly raised, revealing a hint of Alpha’s wild unrestrainedness: “We’re not from the same world. It was unavoidable to have contact with him before, but now, even more so, no.”

Zhou Chao said helplessly, “Sometimes I really don’t understand whether your relationship is good or bad.”

Shen Bianye scoffed, his eyes unfocused with alcohol. “I also have a question I don’t understand.”

“Shen Zheng said, was my mother driven to death by my illness or by my words?”

He half-closed his eyes, staring at the flickering disco ball, not knowing who he was asking, “I never argued with her, never said harsh words. Tell me, what’s the answer to that question?”

Shen Bianye spent two days at the club, and when he returned to the dorm, he still reeked of alcohol.

The bed on the other side was empty. The room was spacious, quiet, almost suffocating.

Xie Yuanxing had packed very neatly, leaving nothing behind, as if he had never lived there.

Shen Bianye sat on Xie Yuanxing’s chair for a moment. When he stood up, his steps were a little unsteady. He looked up, and then suddenly saw a piece of clothing hanging on the balcony outside.

It was just a thin item, clinging to the corner, almost unnoticeable, and thus forgotten by its owner.

It was Xie Yuanxing’s short-sleeved shirt, used as sleepwear. Repeated washing had made it thin and soft. Shen Bianye still remembered how it looked on Xie Yuanxing.

Shen Bianye took it down, thinking he should remind Xie Yuanxing that he had forgotten some clothes.

That’s what he thought, but he just stared intently at the shirt, not reaching for his phone to tell Xie Yuanxing.

His distinctively jointed hands crumpled the shirt. Shen Bianye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He slowly lowered his head, burying his face in the fabric.

He inhaled deeply, craving like a pervert, or like an addict longing to smell a hint of Xie Yuanxing’s scent.

But there was nothing; the washed clothes only carried the faint scent of soap.

“We can’t determine if he no longer affects you, or if your illness is truly cured.”

“But you also need to be mentally prepared. Repeated estrus periods exhaust your vitality. You’ve had too many estrus periods over six years. No one can guarantee your future lifespan.”

Self-esteem and self-pity dragged Shen Bianye down. Only when his mind was blurred by alcohol, in the empty dorm, did he dare to admit that he was a little reluctant to let go.

What a pity.

Why was the shirt washed?

There was no trace of Xie Yuanxing’s scent at all.

Z City. After moving out of his dorm, Xie Yuanxing rushed to Z City. He had tried to be as quick as possible, but by the time he arrived, it was already getting dark.

Perhaps it was the timidity of being close to home, but as he stood at the door with the key, he felt a little afraid to open it.

Xie Yuanxing’s eyelashes trembled, but he still aimed the key at the keyhole and opened the door.

The motion-sensor light behind him flickered off and then on again. Xie Yuanxing stood frozen in place.

He stared blankly, then slowly took a step forward, reaching out to turn on the light by the door. As his hand touched SpongeBob’s dangling feet, his tears fell the moment the light came on.

Before opening the door, Xie Yuanxing had been afraid of seeing unfamiliar decor or the signs of strangers living there. After opening the door, everything inside was almost exactly as he remembered it.

It was clear that an effort had been made to restore it. The SpongeBob decoration on the light switch was new, and Shin-chan, with his butt sticking out next to the shoe cabinet, was placed in the wrong spot.

Xie Yuanxing didn’t know how Shen Bianye had managed it, how he had communicated little by little with the family who bought the house, asking them to try and recall what it looked like when they first moved in.

But anyone could feel the depth of this thoughtful gesture.