Lu Jingran smiled again. “Good, I’m glad you like it.”
Zhou Le sensed that the Alpha pheromones around him were filled with joy.
He looked at Lu Jingran, his brows knitting tighter as he stared.
Lu Jingran gently tapped Zhou Le’s furrowed brow with his slender finger. “What’s with that face?”
Zhou Le looked down. “It’s nothing…”
Lu Jingran asked, “Are you still going to see Uncle Zhou later?”
Zhou Le replied, “Not today. I have homework to catch up on tonight.”
The math teacher gave strict orders that homework would be checked tomorrow. If it wasn’t done, students would have to stand at the back of the class for a week.
“Oh.” Lu Jingran raised his eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you actually listen to Old Tan.”
“…”
This made Zhou Le feel a bit embarrassed. When it came to math, he was usually the top student, though sometimes he alternated with first and second place. His math teacher always gave him “special attention.”
But not this time. The thought of standing in the back of the class for a week was unbearable for Zhou Le.
So he had to finish his homework tonight.
Lu Jingran nodded, “Alright, if you need help, I’ll assist you.”
?
What was there to help with?
Wasn’t it just copying answers?
Zhou Le had it all planned out, but to his surprise, Lu Jingran actually started explaining the problems to him, even turning on a video call to go over key concepts from the first unit.
By the end, Zhou Le was sleepy, but he tried hard not to let it show too obviously.
He forced his eyes open, trying not to nod off too obviously.
Lu Jingran noticed but didn’t say anything, watching Zhou Le in his drowsy state. His unguarded look gave the Alpha a deep sense of satisfaction.
Through the video frame, Lu Jingran watched him as his eyelids gradually drooped, and every time Zhou Le opened them again, he had that soft, dazed look.
It reminded him of the expression Zhou Le had when they first kissed, that look of being completely lost.
Lu Jingran’s voice slowed down as he admired Zhou Le openly, his gaze roaming over his face inch by inch.
Maybe it was because his susceptibility period was approaching, but he couldn’t control his feelings. If Zhou Le opened his eyes right now, he’d see a gaze filled with such intense longing it was almost tangible.
“Zhou Le.”
“…Hmm?” Zhou Le responded vaguely, forcing his eyes open a sliver.
“Let’s go shopping together this weekend.”
“…Mm.”
—
The weekend.
Sitting in Lu Jingran’s car, Zhou Le was at a loss.
What’s going on?!!
Why did he agree to go shopping with Lu Jingran this weekend?! Why?!!!
Zhou Le’s mind was racing with exclamations, but he remembered that day clearly. He was just too sleepy, couldn’t really hear what was being said, and thought Lu Jingran was still explaining problems. He’d just nodded without thinking, and here they were.
The key point was—
“Um… Class Rep, why haven’t I seen Chen Nan and Sheng Qian today? Are they not coming?”
“No, it’s just the two of us today.”
Zhou Le stopped in his tracks, repeating, “Just… the two of us?”
“Yes.” Lu Jingran looked at him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Why, is that a problem?”
Zhou Le wanted to kick his sleepy self from that night. “Of course not. It’s fine, really.”
Seeing the expression on Zhou Le’s face, Lu Jingran couldn’t help but laugh to himself.
Yes, he’d done this on purpose; otherwise, Zhou Le might never agree to go out with him.
But he couldn’t help it anymore.
He wanted to be closer to him, to go on a date, to have memories that belonged only to the two of them.
An Alpha’s susceptibility period is fragile, filled with a need for closeness, even if irrational, but also a need for reassurance.
He needed Zhou Le by his side, somewhere he could see and touch him, to sense the faint presence of his pheromones, to feel at peace.
“Let’s go buy some clothes. You can help me choose which ones look good,” Lu Jingran suggested.
Zhou Le was surprised. “? Sure, but… I don’t have the best fashion sense, Class Rep. Maybe we should call Chen Nan and the others…”
“Let’s go; there’s a mall right up ahead,” Lu Jingran cut him off.
Zhou Le thought his role today was just to follow Lu Jingran around like a little assistant, carrying clothes and so on. But Lu Jingran had actually brought along an assistant, so Zhou Le’s job was simply to watch him try on clothes.
The store clerk even ushered him to a comfortable couch and offered him tea, which made Zhou Le feel awkward.
This was one of the most upscale stores in the mall. The elegant decor made Zhou Le squint against the light when he walked in.
The place was busy, but the clerk seemed particularly attentive to him—or rather, to Lu Jingran, treating them with exceptional hospitality. You’d think he was some kind of VIP.
There were others in the store sneaking glances, probably wondering how someone dressed as simply as him could get such special treatment.
Before long, Lu Jingran emerged in a dark suit.
His tall, well-built frame made him look refined and powerful. He didn’t look like a high schooler at all—his mature charm was fully on display. Paired with his naturally aloof features, he was incredibly striking.
The lights and shadows of the display case fell on him, making him look like a model stepping out of a magazine. As soon as he appeared, he caught the attention of everyone shopping in the store.
Zhou Le, in particular, glanced at him once and dared not look again.
“So, how is it? Does it look good?” Lu Jingran asked, adjusting his sleeve with a simple gesture that was somehow captivating.
“It looks good.”
After his compliment, Zhou Le hid his nervousness by taking a sip from the paper cup in his hand, trying to act natural but avoiding glancing in Lu Jingran’s direction.
Lu Jingran chuckled.
The shop assistant noticed Lu Jingran’s arrival and rushed over to shower him with praise, her eyes practically sparkling.
But Lu Jingran’s gaze stayed fixed on Zhou Le, paying no mind to the shop assistant’s words.
Then, the assistant brought over a few more outfits to recommend to him, even trying to assist him directly, but Lu Jingran’s assistant subtly intervened. The shop assistant got the hint and didn’t approach, merely offering enthusiastic suggestions.
Lu Jingran unbuttoned his collar and glanced briefly at the outfits the assistant had brought over. He turned to Zhou Le and asked, “What do you think? Do they look good?”
Zhou Le glanced at them. “Pretty good, they look nice.” They were obviously high-quality—usually, he wouldn’t even dare to look at such clothes.
Hearing Zhou Le’s approval, Lu Jingran decided to try them all on.
He looked stunning in everything. Whether it was an anorak, a sports outfit, or even a simple hoodie, Lu Jingran looked like a male model, radiating a cold elegance that kept people at a respectful distance.
Zhou Le sat on the couch, watching him try on one outfit after another, like he was accompanying a bride-to-be. He occasionally gave a two-word evaluation—“looks good,” “not bad,” “okay,” “quite nice.”
It wasn’t that he was being perfunctory; he just lacked the vocabulary to describe what he felt.
But he meant every word.
Looking at Lu Jingran, he thought to himself that there probably wasn’t a single piece of clothing in the world that wouldn’t look good on him.
After trying on a few outfits, Lu Jingran pointed to Zhou Le and told the shop assistant, “I’ll take everything he said looked good.”
Zhou Le: “?”
Lu Jingran walked over, noticing Zhou Le’s surprised expression. “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Le stammered, “Are you buying… everything?” That’s way too much.
He had complimented almost every piece, so wouldn’t that mean taking nearly ten items?
Lu Jingran replied, “What? Didn’t you say I look good in them?”
Zhou Le hesitated, “Well, yes… you do look good…”
Lu Jingran responded, “Then why not buy them?”
Zhou Le: “Uh…”
Lu Jingran leaned in, gazing into Zhou Le’s eyes. “You’re lying. I don’t look good in them.”
“No! No, I’m not. Even if you wore a sack, I’d think you looked good!” Zhou Le blurted out.
They locked eyes, both momentarily stunned.
The atmosphere grew a bit awkward—
Zhou Le’s face turned red, and he quickly looked away, scratching his head.
Lu Jingran lowered his gaze, laughing softly. “I didn’t know I ranked so highly in your eyes.”
Zhou Le felt like an ant on a hot pan, sweating nervously.
“I didn’t mean it that way; I was just—” He turned his head, only to find Lu Jingran leaning close, their faces almost at a kissing distance.
Zhou Le froze, his breath catching.
“Thank you,” Lu Jingran said in a low voice, close enough to kiss.
Zhou Le’s face turned bright red.
He retreated quickly, taking a step back. “I… I’m going outside. The air in here is a bit stuffy. I’ll… be outside for a bit.”
He made his escape.
Watching his retreating figure, Lu Jingran’s lips curled upward. Slowly, however, his gaze grew colder, a deep, dark look in his eyes.
No Alpha enjoys seeing their Omega flee their presence, especially during their susceptibility period, when they’re sensitive and prone to doubt. The moment Zhou Le turned away, Lu Jingran had to summon all his strength not to reach out, pull him close, and hold him.
When he leaned in just now, he could almost taste Zhou Le’s pheromones radiating from his skin.
Chamomile.
If only that scent belonged exclusively to him.
—
At lunchtime, Lu Jingran treated Zhou Le to a meal, saying it was a thank-you for spending the day with him.
This wasn’t a big deal to Zhou Le. Lu Jingran had helped him so much; spending a day with him was the least he could do. Time was a small price to pay.
So when Lu Jingran invited him to see a movie afterward, Zhou Le didn’t refuse.
To be honest, he hesitated for a moment. After all, watching a movie alone with someone could feel a bit intimate, but he didn’t have a reason to decline.
The movie was a sci-fi action flick that was currently very popular. It was Zhou Le’s first time in a cinema, and it was so dark he almost tripped. At the critical moment, Lu Jingran reached out to steady him.
Their seats were perfect—right in the middle, not too close or too far from the screen.
Lu Jingran even bought him popcorn and a Coke, treating him like a kid.
As soon as they entered the theater, the smell of popcorn was so enticing that Zhou Le couldn’t take his eyes off it. He even walked over to check the price, assuming it wouldn’t be too expensive, but a small bucket cost 30 yuan—enough for two pounds of meat.
Just as he was debating, Lu Jingran paid from behind him, buying two buckets and a Coke, in case he got thirsty.
The Coke was ice-cold, just like Zhou Le’s heart at that moment.
Lu Jingran had bought the tickets, the popcorn, and the Coke. He’d also paid for the medicine last time, which Zhou Le hadn’t yet repaid. It was likely a few hundred yuan, and he hadn’t been able to work much in the past two weeks due to being sick.
He wasn’t intentionally thinking about all this; it just crossed his mind. The longer he spent with Lu Jingran, the clearer the gap between them felt.
Lu Jingran noticed his shift in mood. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like this movie?”
“No, it’s quite good.” Zhou Le looked at the screen in front of him, blinking.
Lu Jingran observed Zhou Le’s face, illuminated by the movie screen, sensing he didn’t want to say more, so he didn’t press. “Try the popcorn.”
“Mm.”
It was indeed tasty; before long, Zhou Le had eaten half the tub. Meanwhile, the movie reached its climax, with the main villain appearing. The scenes grew increasingly grand, and the battles intensified.
The cinema’s amplified sound system boomed with the roar of explosions, nearly rattling everyone’s eardrums. People’s emotions followed the tense and suspenseful background music, becoming more nervous and fearful.
Zhou Le suddenly felt as if he were watching a horror film and instinctively shrank back.
Just then, Lu Jingran extended his hand toward him.
Zhou Le: “?”
Lu Jingran softly said, “If you’re scared, you can hold my hand.”
Zhou Le replied, “It’s not that bad.”
Lu Jingran leaned closer to his ear and whispered, “I’m the one who’s scared. Can you hold my hand?”
?
An Alpha… scared? And asking so cautiously?
Zhou Le gave him an uncertain look as if to ask: Are you serious?
Lu Jingran blinked back at him, as if saying: Yes, I am.
Zhou Le hesitated… But his expression didn’t look like fear—it seemed more like… excitement.
But he held Lu Jingran’s hand anyway, just in case he was genuinely scared.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s just the music that’s a bit frightening. There’s really nothing there,” Zhou Le whispered, leaning close to his ear to reassure him, just as Lu Jingran had done.
“Mm, I’m not afraid,” Lu Jingran replied, yet he tightened his grip.
Zhou Le thought he must be really scared and held his hand tighter as he focused tensely on the screen.
Lu Jingran glanced down, noticing Zhou Le’s hand still bore the red thread he had given him that day.
After a few suspenseful minutes, the eerie atmosphere faded away.
The male and female leads appeared, and in the space capsule, their relationship warmed, leading to a kiss.
The scene suddenly became intimate. Zhou Le was still holding Lu Jingran’s hand, and it felt slightly inappropriate.
He wanted to let go, but doing so at that moment might seem too obvious.
So, he tried loosening his grip. The next moment, his hand was gripped tightly, fingers interlocked.
Zhou Le’s eyes widened.
Meanwhile, Lu Jingran’s profile remained calm, his gaze fixed forward as if watching the leads kiss was no different from watching a showdown.
On screen, the male lead had the female lead pressed against the space capsule seat, kissing her while his other hand slipped under her skirt.
Zhou Le, flustered, averted his gaze, his heart pounding as his palm began to sweat.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
This time, Zhou Le mustered enough strength to pull his hand away. Lu Jingran seemed to sense his intent and, instead of releasing him, pressed his hand down on the armrest, holding it there.
He couldn’t move at all.
Zhou Le panicked, about to say something when Lu Jingran turned to look at him, his handsome face visibly displeased, as if scolding him for being so restless.
How could he stay calm? How was Lu Jingran so composed?
Zhou Le felt like the clueless one here, though he really was inexperienced.
From the screen came sounds that were less than harmonious. Were the leads starting to…?
??? What? How could this movie have such explicit scenes? Wasn’t it supposed to be a sci-fi action film? Is this the “battle” they meant?
Zhou Le squirmed in his seat, wishing he could disappear on the spot.
But Lu Jingran kept a firm hold on him, and he was left feeling like a fish about to be thrown into a boiling pot.
Eventually, this fish gave up, slumping in his seat, closing his eyes, and waiting for the ordeal to end.
Just then, he heard a quiet chuckle beside him.
Zhou Le cracked an eye open and found Lu Jingran looking back at him.
The dim lighting from the screen cast a soft glow on Lu Jingran’s face, making Zhou Le’s heart skip a beat.
Perhaps it was the lighting, but there was an inexplicable hint of something intimate in Lu Jingran’s eyes.
On-screen, the male lead gently caressed the female lead’s back, whispering sweet nothings into her ear.
At the same time, Zhou Le felt something brush against the back of his hand.
Softly, warmly.
An Alpha’s thumb was slowly stroking the back of his hand, lightly, repeatedly, stirring something deep inside him.
As the screen darkened, only the two of them could see each other clearly.
Lu Jingran leaned closer.
Zhou Le froze, unsure of his intentions.
Before he could react, something soft pressed against his lips.
Holding Zhou Le’s hand down, Lu Jingran kissed him in the dark.
