Chapter 38: Then… Show You?: Lick
With the competition over, Tang Xingye dismantled the dirty delivery box and carried it back to the dormitory early.
Lu Zhi, annoyed because Tang Xingye hadn’t let him send him to the exam venue, was writing a report while inwardly cursing Pei Lian for being a cheap bastard.
Zhou Lin left, Lin Mo left, and now Pei Lian popped up; rivals in love were appearing one after another.
He couldn’t control his jealousy, maliciously speculating that everyone around Tang Xingye was interested in him—Alphas needed to be guarded against, Omegas needed to be guarded against, and Betas needed to be guarded against even more.
It wasn’t until Tang Xingye pushed the door open and entered that he paused, immediately putting away his dark thoughts.
“For you, to thank you for helping me wash clothes recently.”
The item was bought by Tang Xingye on Pinduoduo, 9.9 yuan with free shipping.
Lu Zhi was flattered. He carefully accepted it and slowly opened it, afraid of damaging the treasure inside.
Tang Xingye straight away took the cash-back-for-good-review slip from inside, skillfully opened his phone, and wrote a positive review.
Inside the box was a teething stick, its surface rough and carrying a smell of cheap processed wood chips.
Lu Zhi stared at it in silence.
“……”
He tentatively stole a glance at Tang Xingye’s expression. Tang Xingye was looking down at his phone, clicking for the Pinduoduo cash back. His fingers were slender and clean, and his pale pink fingertips turned red from pressing.
His canine teeth grew itchy again, and his Adam’s apple rolled.
Tang Xingye sensed his gaze, looked up, scrutinized his expression, and said slowly, “You don’t like it?”
“No.” Lu Zhi felt guilty for a moment, looked up, and forced a smile.
Lu Zhi held the teething stick, hesitated, then lowered his head and took a bite. The taste of inferior wood spread over his taste buds. He frowned and instinctively spat it out.
Tang Xingye stared at his reaction and suddenly laughed: “What, think it tastes bad?”
He took out the tangerine Shen Qing had given him, peeled it unhurriedly, his gaze sharp. “Then what do you like to bite?”
This sentence tightened Lu Zhi’s heart, causing instant panic.
He didn’t know if Tang Xingye meant biting the gland or the mouth?
Tang Xingye seemed to see through his thoughts: “Dare to do it but dare not admit it?”
Now there was no way to muddle through. Lu Zhi’s eyes flickered as he said vaguely, “I just touched you that night.”
“Was that just a touch?!” Tang Xingye frowned, glaring at Lu Zhi. That morning, his gland had been swollen for a whole day from the bite; even the friction of his collar caused a fine, dense pain, making him keep a cold face all day.
Thinking of this, Tang Xingye’s grudge-holding nature surfaced again.
Applying force with his hand, he accidentally broke the plump fruit flesh. Sticky, sweet juice now clung to his fingertips, half-dry.
Lu Zhi’s gaze immediately glued to the slender fingers, quietly leaning closer.
Tang Xingye frowned slightly; he didn’t like this sticky feeling.
Seeing Lu Zhi’s gaze, he tilted his chin, suddenly hooking his lips maliciously. Provocatively, he waved his finger in front of Lu Zhi’s eyes: “Since you like biting so much, then clean it for me.”
Lu Zhi was stunned, looking woodenly at the cold jade-like fingers. The sweet scent drilled into his nose bit by bit.
—Wifey is not only not angry, but also rewarding him.
Seeing Lu Zhi not moving, Tang Xingye bent his finger and flicked his lower lip, neither light nor heavy. Having achieved his goal of disgusting the person, just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Lu Zhi took it directly into his mouth, warm lips and tongue wrapping around his fingertip.
“You!”
Tang Xingye’s fingertip tingled. He subconsciously pulled his hand back, but Lu Zhi immediately grabbed his wrist, afraid he would regret it.
Tang Xingye’s breath hitched. The moment his fingertip was wrapped in the warm sensation, that wet softness moved between his knuckles like a living thing. He could even feel the tiny bumps on the tongue scraping over his knuckles, a numbing sensation burning along his nerves all the way to the back of his neck.
“Lu Zhi… let go!” His voice trembled.
The Alpha turned a deaf ear. His dark eyes held an aggression that brooked no refusal. The tip of his tongue was like a wicked snake, flicking against the prey, circling and simulating some kind of invasion.
The sizzling sound of water was exceptionally clear in the quiet dormitory.
The knuckles were sucked red, the fingertips glistening with vivid water sheen.
“Mm… Are you disgusting or what!”
He lifted his foot to kick, but Lu Zhi took the opportunity to squeeze between his legs. The Alpha’s body temperature seared through the fabric. A thin layer of sweat broke out on Tang Xingye’s back; his gland throbbed, flushing with an abnormal heat.
Just then—
The dorm door opened.
Tang Xingye was startled and retreated abruptly, but stumbled and fell.
With his back to the door, he fell onto the person who had entered.
“Hm?”
Ji Chen was stunned by the sudden accident.
The familiar cold fragrance stopped him from striking back instinctively. Subconsciously, he caught the person; a full and soft sensation spread from the point of contact.
His waist was tightly gripped by a large palm; the Alpha behind him seemed afraid he would fall.
In front was Lu Zhi refusing to let go of his finger, behind was Ji Chen’s arm encircling his waist. Tang Xingye was forcibly sandwiched between two tall Alphas just like that.
Alpha pheromones entangled him faintly. His breath hitched, his gland so hot it felt like it would burn up, like his lifeline was bitten by two beasts simultaneously.
“You guys…” Ji Chen’s voice rang above his head, carrying obvious confusion.
Tang Xingye’s long eyelashes trembled. He blinked, dazed for a moment; he had never seen such an absurd and awkward scene.
Tang Xingye was driven crazy with anger. He shoved Lu Zhi’s face blindly, and in his desperation, slapped Lu Zhi.
Lu Zhi finally let go. He licked his lips, a slap mark still on his face, seemingly savoring the taste, his face full of satisfaction. “Very sweet.”
This shameless behavior made Tang Xingye want to slap him again, but his hand stopped abruptly, afraid of giving him pleasure again.
Ji Chen frowned, looking Lu Zhi up and down as if knowing him for the first time.
Before Ji Chen walked forward, his foot kicked something. Looking down, he bent over to pick up the forgotten teething stick on the ground. His fingertips gently rubbed the rough surface, his tone subtle: “What are you guys playing?”
The air instantly solidified.
Tang Xingye froze in place, shame surging up like a tide. He opened his mouth to explain, but found there was simply no way to defend himself—should I say I intended to humiliate Lu Zhi but ended up being licked until my legs went weak?
Lu Zhi, on the other hand, was calm. He snatched the teething stick, twirled it in his hand, and declared sovereignty, “This is mine.” Turning his head, he smiled and asked Tang Xingye, his tone sweet, “Baby, can I lick again next time?”
Tang Xingye coldly told him to get lost and pulled out a tissue to wipe his fingers. But the wet, hot sensation still lingered on the licked spot. His gland was heating up abnormally, the skin at the back of his neck frighteningly hot.
Ji Chen frowned. No wonder Tang Xingye faced stalkers so calmly; it turned out it was all brought out by Lu Zhi.
Late at night in the dorm, Tang Xingye looked displeased. His gland was still a bit hot; he pushed the blame onto Lu Zhi.
He went online to check what these symptoms were. He typed in his symptoms: Beta gland abnormally hot… accompanied by slight stinging sensation…
Watching the spinning circle, Tang Xingye prepared for the worst in his mind—gland pathology?
The search results popped up, and a few absurd results at the bottom made his temples throb:
[Rare Case in Beta Population: Pseudo-Gland Reaction]
[Neurological Explanation of Pheromone Craving]
[How to Determine if Your Beta Partner Needs a Quasi-Omega Temporary Mark]
He was a Beta; crave pheromones my ass.
As a result, that night Tang Xingye dreamed of Lu Zhi biting his gland. He was so angry that he turned his shame into rage, cursing Lu Zhi in his notebook: “Dog thing that loves to bite people!”
“Please rest well; you can apply for discharge tomorrow.”
With the nurse’s exit, Lin Mo was left alone in the ward again. Lying on the hospital bed, he felt slightly anxious.
He thought Tang Xingye saying “come again next time” that day might have been a polite remark. Without a specific appointment for “next time,” who knew when “next time” would be? After all, with studies so busy and Tang Xingye having the competition, forgetting to visit a roommate who had a car accident was a very normal thing.
Or perhaps if others said it, Lin Mo wouldn’t take it to heart at all, but since Tang Xingye said it, he couldn’t help but look forward to it.
Since childhood, the evaluation of him had been indifferent and boring. Lin Mo didn’t care much about what they said; he had no friends and didn’t need friends. Those talkative and enthusiastic people couldn’t stand his dullness either.
He might be born emotionally indifferent; the only thing worth praising might be his talent for learning.
Lin Mo held the dried flower bookmark in his hand, fingertips gently rubbing the small violet flower that had faded but remained intact. Closing his eyes slightly, he recalled the turning point of his life again—a rainy afternoon.
He had originally planned to do something important, but a Beta who trotted under the eaves where he was to take shelter from the rain made him abandon that plan.
“Hello, can I borrow a phone? My phone broke from a fall.”
Lin Mo originally didn’t want to pay attention to strangers. Perhaps this Beta, soaked through, looked too wretched, or perhaps witnessing the other being made things difficult for by a customer and then inexplicably fired was truly too pitiful—he handed over the phone like being possessed by a ghost.
The Beta’s gaze fell on his gloved hand, slightly stunned. He wiped his hands on his clothes before thanking him and taking it. He dialed skillfully, his tone suddenly becoming cheerful: “It’s me… Yeah, soaked like a drowned rat… The store manager let me off early… Come out in 15 minutes and bring me an umbrella…”
An obvious lie. Lin Mo felt puzzled; what puzzled him was the Beta’s unusual reaction.
The Beta lifted his wet hair, fingers encountering a small violet flower amidst the strands. He looked at it, suddenly curved his eyes in a smile, and handed the flower to him.
“This flower is very beautiful, for you.”
Lin Mo looked down at the small flower, half-destroyed by the rain, and commented objectively, “Where is it beautiful? It looks quite pitiful.”
The Beta’s hand hovered in mid-air but didn’t withdraw.
“It is very beautiful,” the Beta blinked, revealing a brilliant smile. “The flower may not be anything special, but because it was seen by you and me, it is unique.”
Those eyes were very bright, carrying vivid colors.
Water droplets dripped from his hair, falling onto the ground. Suddenly, the black and white world seemed dyed with rich, heavy colors.
Lin Mo was silent for a moment, but still accepted it. “Thank you.”
Lin Mo looked at the greenery bursting from this Beta, not expecting the other to give a boring person like him a flower.
He felt some inexplicable throb. The important thing Lin Mo originally intended to do that day was actually to end this boring life.
If he had never possessed it, he could have endured it.
Tang Xingye was in the bathroom listening to broadcast news when his phone suddenly rang.
Wrapped in a bath towel, he answered directly without thinking much, not expecting it to be a video call.
“You’re showering?” Lin Mo’s voice rarely had a bit of inflection.
In the frame, a large expanse of pinkish-white rushed into view.
Water mist on the screen blurred it for a moment. Tang Xingye frowned slightly and wiped the screen; the image became clearer.
Wet black hair stuck to his face, eyes moist, the hanging tear mole even more alluring. Water droplets slid down his neck, paused briefly at the small, pinkish gland, and finally wound downwards.
Lin Mo’s breath tightened.
Tang Xingye: “Just right, is it convenient for you now? I’ll come over to see you.”
Lin Mo: “…Up to you.”
Lin Mo paused: “You bring your phone into the shower?”
Tang Xingye felt strange. “Why can’t I bring it?”
Bringing a phone was nothing; the problem was that Tang Xingye was basically no different from naked right now.
Under the warm yellow light, Tang Xingye’s light-colored eyes appeared even more watery and bright. The rising steam added a layer of ambiguous, romantic soft light.
Perfect body proportions, muscle lines smooth but not exaggerated, waist so slender it seemed one hand could encircle it.
Tang Xingye looked down in confusion. His bath towel was properly draped over his hips. He looked up at Lin Mo again; the other seemed to pause briefly, then looked away quickly. He seemed to deliberately avoid his gaze, not looking at him.
The calm and self-possessed honor student from the lab now appeared somewhat uncomfortable. What was this?
“You…” Tang Xingye had a flash of insight, suddenly understanding the other’s reaction. “Don’t tell me you’re shy?”
Lin Mo didn’t speak, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.
Thinking of how extremely conservative Lin Mo was, wearing gloves all day and not exposing a bit of skin, Tang Xingye became more certain of this guess. Lin Mo, who buttoned his lab coat to the very top button, actually dared not look at his roommate’s body?
He had thought Lin Mo had no weaknesses; now he had caught hold of something.
He felt very triumphant inside. Knowing this secret felt like he had surpassed Lin Mo in some aspect.
“We’re both roommates, what’s the big deal?” Tang Xingye deliberately dragged out his tone, bringing the phone closer so the other could see more clearly.
“Nothing,” Lin Mo finally spoke, voice slightly hoarse. “Hurry up and put on clothes so you don’t catch a cold.”
—Lin Mo cares about him?
Tang Xingye almost laughed out loud. Who was he trying to fool with that excuse?
Tang Xingye raised the corner of his eye, his tone implying provocation: “What, you don’t dare to look?”
Lin Mo’s gaze fell on him, expressionless, voice calm: “What wouldn’t I dare?”
—Heh, stubborn mouth.
A sly smile appeared in Tang Xingye’s eyes. He lowered the camera and issued an invitation. His fingertips deliberately hooked the edge of the bath towel, water droplets sliding down his waist and abdomen into the shadows.
“Then… show you?”
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