Chapter 40

Chapter 40

"Yes," Li Yang answered without hesitation.

Wen Xinci froze, shooting Ying Xi a disbelieving glare before turning back to Li Yang with an innocent smile. "He’d actually accept you? No way."

He had always assumed Li Yang was the one pursuing, but it seemed Ying Xi was the proactive one.

Wen Yun raised his hand as proof. "I can confirm they've been together for a long time. They’re just talking like any normal couple—why are you butting in? And tomorrow, they're going on a date. Don’t stalk them like some creepy third wheel."

Wen Xinci finally spat out, "They’re really together? I’ll report you two for dating underage."

Despite his words, he didn’t leave. Instead, he stormed back to his seat, almost knocking all the books off his desk in frustration.

No one knew what Wen Xinci was really thinking.

Li Yang took a sip of his milk tea, mentally lumping him in with the other weirdos in the classroom.

He glanced at the snack bag, set down his drink, and returned it to Wen Xinci.

"I got those for you. Why return them?" Wen Xinci frowned. "If we can’t date, can’t we at least be friends?"

Li Yang smiled faintly, his dark eyes sharp and unyielding. "But right now, I don’t really want to be friends with you."

The blunt rejection stung Wen Xinci. He took the snacks and shoved them at his deskmate, crossing his arms with fake arrogance. "I was just saying it casually. Even if you wanted to be friends, I wouldn’t agree."

Li Yang didn’t respond, maintaining his smile as he walked away.

Opening his phone, he realized Wen Xinci had sent him nearly a hundred messages during his "Do Not Disturb" mode.

How pathetic—using him for entertainment?

Li Yang deleted the chat.

His phone vibrated—a message from Ying Xi, pinned at the top: "Don’t let someone like him bother you."

Li Yang recalled his earlier "Yes," wondering if Ying Xi had heard it. Glancing over, he saw Ying Xi’s amused expression and guessed he had.

His ears burned, prickling like ants were crawling over them, nibbling occasionally, bringing faint, barely noticeable stings.

He scratched them and borrowed a novel from Wen Yun to distract himself.

"Right now, you need a romance novel," Wen Yun mused before handing him one titled *The Love Guide*.

Flipping it open, Li Yang was hit with a barrage of cheesy love lines. Uncomfortable, he returned it. "Get me something less corny."

Wen Yun pulled out ten newly bought novels for him to choose from.

Li Yang eyed the bland titles skeptically. "Are you sure these are all—"

Wen Yun cut him off. "I’ve read every one. No cringe, guaranteed."

Li Yang picked one and got sucked in immediately.

"Li Yang is really with that Alpha?" Wen Xinci couldn’t stand how differently Li Yang treated Ying Xi compared to him. He grabbed his deskmate and demanded, "Is it true?"

"Yeah," his deskmate said offhandedly. "It’s been all over the school. Word is Ying Xi was into Li Yang first and chased him."

"That Alpha chased *him*?" Wen Xinci thought he misheard.

"What’s the big deal?" His deskmate scarfed down the snacks Wen Xinci bought, shrugging. "It’s normal. Who cares if they last past graduation? In a few years, they might not even remember each other."

"So you think Ying Xi’s just playing around?" Wen Xinci narrowed his eyes, catching the implication.

His deskmate didn’t want trouble. "I didn’t say that. If you’re curious, ask him yourself."

Wen Xinci’s obsession with Li Yang only grew.

What the hell did he have to snag a top-tier Alpha like Ying Xi?

Remembering Wen Yun’s words, Wen Xinci smirked.

He *needed* to crash their date tomorrow.

"You guys are weird, though," his deskmate muttered, unable to hold back his curiosity. "Why’s the whole class obsessed with the class prez?"

Because compared to the classmates always itching for a fight, Li Yang—acting like he couldn’t care less—stood out way too much.

Wen Xinci didn’t bother explaining, just stared at Li Yang.

The novel was short. Li Yang finished it during the morning break.

Returning it to Wen Yun, he asked expectantly, "Well?"

"Good," Li Yang answered honestly. "Now I get why you stay up late reading."

The plot twists were gripping.

Pleased his taste was validated, Wen Yun looked ready to wag an imaginary tail, eagerly handing Li Yang two more books.

"These even better!"

Li Yang thanked him and took them.

At lunch, Wen Xinci sat behind Li Yang, burning holes into the trio with his glare.

Wen Yun had it the worst.

Ying Xi and Li Yang had their backs to Wen Xinci, but Wen Yun kept locking eyes with that creepy stare.

"He’s *so* bored," Wen Yun concluded. "Only a total loser would fixate this hard on someone else."

Even the annoying Jiang Su hadn’t been this bad.

Wen Xinci seemed to hear him. Eyes blazing, he grabbed his knife and fork, viciously hacking into his steak like it owed him money.

The nails-on-chalkboard scraping pissed everyone off until glares forced him to stop.

Li Yang didn’t give him the time of day.

After dealing with worse crazies, Wen Xinci barely registered.

After school, Wen Xinci’s jaw dropped as the two got into the same car. He yanked Wen Yun aside.

"They’re not just together—they’re *living* together?"

"I don’t know," Wen Yun said, shaking off Wen Xinci’s grip. "Get a life. You’re full-on stalking now."

Wen Xinci smirked coldly. "I’m just as good as Ying Xi. Why shouldn’t I get a shot?"

He actually wants to rival me.

Wen Yun was completely baffled, completely unable to figure out what he was thinking. He bolted out, afraid Wen Xinci would follow.

*

Christmas classes proceeded as usual, but the school was decorated with holiday cheer. Many students carried cameras, taking photos around the campus.

Li Yang was still trying to decide on a Christmas present.

Running out of time, there was no time for online shopping. He could only choose to give Ying Xi a gift in person when they went out later.

As soon as school ended, the classroom cleared out fast.

The moment Li Yang and the other two stepped out of the classroom, Wen Xinci was hot on their heels.

"He really followed us," Wen Yun muttered in warning.

"Don't pay him any mind," Li Yang replied calmly.

With so many people around today, Wen Xinci probably wouldn't be able to keep up with them.

The three got into the car, and as Wen Yun buckled up, he said, "He saw you two going home together yesterday and cornered me demanding to know if you were shacking up. He even said something about wanting to compete with Ying Xi."

The moment the words left his mouth, the previously normal atmosphere instantly went ice-cold.

In the back seat, Ying Xi, with his legs crossed and his cheek resting on his hand, remained expressionless, still smiling faintly—yet somehow, it was downright creepy.

The air grew thick, making it hard to breathe.

The driver coughed twice, trying to tip Wen Yun off to change the subject.

Wen Yun missed the cue and didn’t dare speak carelessly again.

Sometimes, he wondered why some people were born with such an intense aura.

Li Yang leaned against the window watching the scenery, resting his chin on his hands, and said softly, "No matter what he thinks, I won’t like him."

The oppressive atmosphere instantly returned to normal. The stone-faced guy’s eyes softened with a gentle smile as he muttered a soft "Yeah."

Both the driver and Wen Yun finally breathed easy.

Not long after the car started moving, a tail picked them up.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and asked what to do.

Ying Xi replied in a low voice, "Shake him."

The driver acknowledged and easily shook off the pursuer, coming to a smooth stop at their destination.

As soon as they stepped out, the wall of sound rushed over them like a tide.

Looking at the crowded, lively streets, Li Yang automatically sidled up closer to Ying Xi. "Stick close."

Ying Xi lowered his gaze, his eyes locked onto Li Yang’s hand hanging at his side. His lips pressed together slightly as he bit back the impulse to hold it.

"No problem," Wen Yun answered, waggling his phone. "We’ll stay in touch."

"Let’s go," Li Yang said, stepping into the street.

He was almost instantly swept up in the throng but didn’t rush around aimlessly. Instead, he stopped and turned to look for Ying Xi.

Spotting him standing behind, Li Yang let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and moved to a less crowded side.

Joyful music echoed around them, and the vibrant reds and greens of decorations blazed all around them.

Li Yang glanced at the shop windows on either side, searching for a perfect present for Ying Xi.

"I haven’t picked a Christmas gift yet. What would you like?"

"Can I choose any gift?" Ying Xi’s gaze remained fixed on Li Yang’s delicate side profile.

Li Yang nodded, his eyes soon settling on a pair of gloves.

The image of Ying Xi wearing them flashed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but smile, thinking they’d suit him well.

The next second, a low, velvety voice sounded beside his ear.

"I want you to be my Christmas gift."

The winter chill suddenly vanished, and even the surrounding noise seemed to fade away. It was as if the world held only the two of them.

Li Yang stood rooted to the spot before the shop window, staring at his reflection in the glass. After a long moment, he tilted his head just a fraction.

Meeting those gentle eyes, he self-consciously looked himself over, blinking uncertainly. His long, dark lashes cast a faint shadow, veiling his fluster.

"You want me gift-wrapped?"

Ying Xi said, "I want you to like me."

The streetlights on either side shone brightly as the towering figure took two steps closer. The angular features of his face were outlined by the warm glow.

Li Yang’s heart hammered against his ribs, unceasing, his blood roaring in his ears.

His pupils widened a fraction. He felt he should say something—whether acceptance or refusal—but his mouth worked soundlessly without a single word.

People moved around them, yet they existed in their own private bubble.

Li Yang could see Ying Xi's barely-contained tension, the uncertainty of his answer.

*Wanting you to like me* could also be interpreted as *wanting to confess*.

Li Yang took a deep breath, his lashes fluttering lightly.

All coherent thought had long since fled, leaving only instinct.

Meeting Ying Xi’s dark, love-filled eyes, something inside Li Yang suddenly gave way.

Slowly and earnestly, he spoke: "Ying Xi, I like you."

The music swelled to its climax, and somewhere in the distance, an event was underway. The crowd around them cheered.

The boy’s eyes were liquid-bright, reflecting a blurred image of Ying Xi’s face. He smiled, this time without hesitation—open and unreserved.

All tension and unease dissolved like snow. Ying Xi froze for a moment before finally uttering the words he’d longed to say: "I like you too, Yangyang."

No one knew that beneath his composed exterior, his heartbeat pounded loud enough to drown out everything.

Ying Xi could even feel his soul trembling wildly within his body, desperate to pull Li Yang into his arms and crush him close until they fused.

But he couldn’t do that.

It would frighten Li Yang, who had only just stepped closer and given him this chance.