Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Li Yang thought he was hallucinating from insomnia; otherwise, why would he see a message about Ying Xi being afraid of thunder?

He rubbed his eyes, sat up, and confirmed the message wasn't an illusion.

The image of Ying Xi hiding under the covers, terrified of thunder, flashed through his mind, leaving him speechless.

The excuse was ridiculous, but what was even more absurd was Li Yang, on a whim, sending a message:

"Do you want to come back?"

"Okay," Ying Xi replied.

A moment later, the sound of the door opening echoed, followed by footsteps growing closer.

The bedroom door soon swung open, revealing a blurry figure at the entrance.

It was too dark to discern his expression, but the outline of a bundled blanket in his arms was visible.

Li Yang's eyes widened in surprise at his speed, and he scrambled to turn on the light.

"How are you so fast? Were you standing outside the whole time?"

The bright light made Li Yang squint uncomfortably. He raised a hand to shield his forehead as he scrutinized Ying Xi.

There wasn't a trace of fear on that smiling face.

"I couldn't sleep," Ying Xi said, making his way to the bed. Then, as if remembering his supposed fear of thunder, he quickly lay down and pulled the covers up the moment thunder rumbled.

He put on his best frightened voice: "The thunder is so loud... so scary."

His voice betrayed no fear—only the joy of having returned.

Li Yang looked down, his mood complicated. "Your acting is really unconvincing."

"Why haven't you slept yet, Yangyang?" Ying Xi tilted his head and asked.

"I couldn't sleep," Li Yang lied without batting an eye. "The rain was too loud."

The windows were well-insulated, and the rain wasn't that noticeable. Ying Xi rested his head on his hand with a knowing smile. "Really?"

"Fake." Li Yang lay down. Somehow, his restlessness had inexplicably calmed at Ying Xi's presence. "Maybe I slept too much during the day, so I can't sleep now."

He relished the calm, breathing in the familiar scent of body wash in the air, and slowly closed his eyes. Soon, he fell asleep to the sound of rain.

Ying Xi remained in that position for a long time before finally coming to his senses and getting up to turn off the light.

The downpour was soon replaced by the patter of hail.

The room was completely dark, making it impossible to distinguish any outlines.

Ying Xi picked up a stuffed animal and placed it at the foot of the bed before carefully edging closer.

The moment his head touched Li Yang's hair, he closed his eyes in contentment, the turbulent emotions in his heart finally settling.

……

Li Yang woke to a dull, prickling warmth at the back of his neck.

Ying Xi wasn't beside him. The covers were neatly folded and placed at the head of the bed, and the curtains were slightly parted.

He got up and walked to the window.

The sky was heavy with clouds, the rain still falling, and the ground covered in a thick layer of white ice.

Li Yang raised a hand to touch the back of his neck. The heat had faded, as if it had all been an illusion.

He stood there for a long moment before picking up his phone to message Dr. Xu, mentioning the strange sensation on his neck.

Dr. Xu replied instantly: "Aside from the stinging, any other symptoms?"

"A feverish feeling," Li Yang typed back.

"When an Omega is about to enter their heat, they may experience stinging at the back of their neck. However, they'd also typically have symptoms like body-wide fever, weakness, and a strong desire for their partner. Do you have any of those?"

"No," Li Yang said. "Besides, my glands are degenerated. It's impossible for me to experience what an Omega would."

"Keep observing for now. I have special suppressant patches and inhibitors here. Send me your address, and I'll have a courier deliver some to you. If you experience the symptoms I mentioned, use the suppressant patches first. If they don't work, try the inhibitors. If neither works... try spending time with your partner."

Li Yang's gaze lingered on the word "partner." "And if none of that works?"

"Come to the hospital," Dr. Xu said. "But even then, we can only provide palliative care, not a permanent solution. So I hope one of the first three methods works for you."

Li Yang thanked him and drew the curtains fully open.

Breakfast was seafood porridge cooked by Ying Xi, the savory aroma filling the room.

Standing at the kitchen door, Li Yang was stunned to see the counter clean and tidy, with no signs of a cooking disaster.

Ying Xi, wearing a dark apron and holding a spoon, laughed at his astonishment. "Did you think I'd blow up the pot again like last time?"

"Your cooking skills improved so fast," Li Yang said with a smile. "It smells delicious."

He went to freshen up, and by the time he returned, a bowl of porridge was already set on the table, with Ying Xi blowing on it to cool it for him.

"Are we still sleeping separately?" Ying Xi asked lazily, one hand holding a mini fan over the bowl, the other propping up his chin.

Li Yang didn't answer. He took the porridge and tasted it—it was even better than the last time he'd made it.

Slowly, he said, "We won't sleep apart anymore."

Ying Xi's eyes instantly crinkled with joy.

"Aren't you afraid of thunder?" Li Yang couldn't resist teasing.

Ying Xi nodded. "Yeah, I'm deathly afraid of thunder. I need Yangyang with me to not be scared."

He never tempered the heat in his gaze.

It was so blatant that Li Yang couldn't stop his mind from racing. In the end, he could only make himself look away, avoiding Ying Xi's eyes.

The bowl of porridge left him feeling warm, and when he stepped outside, he didn't bother with a scarf.

The rain continued, turning everything into a blur.

When they arrived at the classroom, Li Yang spotted the package on his desk immediately.

A gift for Wen Yun—ten novels.

He unwrapped it and placed it on Wen Yun's desk. By the time he washed his hands and returned, Wen Yun was already reading.

"As expected of my desk mate—our tastes align perfectly." He flashed a thumbs-up.

Li Yang recalled buying the novels based on online recommendations, most of which were over-the-top dramas.

He sat down with a soft laugh. "Do you love melodramatic novels that much?"

"Not exactly." Wen Yun chuckled. "They're just the most addictive to read."

Wen Xinci entered the classroom, his enthusiasm deflated when he saw Li Yang, reminded of their recent messages. He dragged himself to his seat, deflated.

"He actually didn't come talk to you." Wen Yun couldn't hide his surprise.

"We chatted briefly on the phone yesterday. I told him we could be friends, but he can't keep messaging me nonstop." Li Yang propped his cheek on his hand. "It kinda worked."

"Hold up—since when do you wear a ring?" Wen Yun hadn't noticed before, but now that Li Yang's hand was near his face, his eyes widened as he glanced around.

Seemingly catching his gaze, Ying Xi raised his hand, deliberately flashing the ring on his middle finger.

Wen Yun caught on immediately, grinning. "Are you two engaged?"

"No." Li Yang lowered his voice. "It's a New Year's gift from Ying Xi."

"I give it three months max." Wen Yun sighed. "You'd clam up at just his name before, but now you're chill about it."

"Really?" Li Yang paused, reflecting on everything that had happened since transmigrating into the book.

It had only been a few months, yet it felt like years.

"Definitely." Wen Yun nodded seriously. "Before, just hearing his name would set you off. Now you're way calmer."

Li Yang stayed silent.

Ying Xi still got to him—just not in public.

"Never thought you'd be the fastest in class when it comes to relationships." Wen Yun glanced around. "Most others either struck out or got stuck in talking stages. Oh, and He Shi and Jiang Su's arranged marriage got called off."

Before Li Yang could ask, Wen Yun continued, "I heard Jiang Su was even grounded over New Year's—not allowed to go anywhere. Karma for his usual cocky act. Daddy finally reined him in."

Li Yang casually remarked, "Because of the heir position?"

"Sort of." Wen Yun shrugged. "I don't know the details. His dad supposedly promised him something, but Jiang Su wanted to kick out that illegitimate half-brother. His dad refused, so he threw a fit."

"In the end, the half-brother won their dad over. The He family canceled the engagement right after. Jiang Su's bound to have another meltdown when he comes back to class."

Li Yang listened quietly and gave a slight nod.

When He Shi entered the classroom, his usual calm demeanor was replaced by a bright smile.

Spotting Li Yang, his grin widened. "Happy New Year, Li Yang."

"Happy New Year." Li Yang smiled back.

He Shi's expression froze as he suddenly leaned in, staring at Li Yang's hand in disbelief. "Wait, you're wearing a ring already?"

His gaze flicked to Ying Xi, his stomach dropping. *Too fast. I was still in the game, but now? Game over.*

"You still haven't given up?" Wen Yun gaped. "Didn't your engagement with Jiang Su get canceled?"

Ying Xi's killer glare pinned He Shi, who shuddered before sighing. "Yeah, it's canceled. I'm just shocked, that's all."

Their discussion drew attention, and soon the whole class was staring.

The classroom's laser focus had Li Yang squirming. He lowered his hand, hiding the ring.

"It's a gift from Ying Xi."

Hearing him mention Ying Xi so casually—nothing like before—He Shi finally gave up.

"So graduation equals engagement now?"

Li Yang hadn't thought that far ahead and didn't answer.

From the back row, Ying Xi's gaze turned stormy at those words. He pulled out his phone to text his parents.

"Engaged after graduation? Sure, but you'll need Li Yang's approval first," Li Xu replied. "Shacking up ≠ relationship status. No engagement unless you're dating."

Ying Sui added bluntly, "Zero chance Li Yang says yes to that."

Ying Xi: *His exact words: 'I like you.' Post-grad = us.*

"Grind harder. Maybe one day he'll propose to you," Li Xu sent an encouraging sticker.

Ying Xi's face gave nothing away. *Do you two seriously not believe I can be with Li Yang?*

"Not at all!" Li Xu bombarded him with 'nope' stickers.

Ying Xi opened his camera, snapped a photo of the ring, and sent it. *Li Yang accepted the ring I gave him.*

Ying Sui: *Doubt.*

Li Xu: *Doubt.*

Ying Xi: "..."

He was starting to realize his parents clearly thought he had the appeal of soggy toast.

"Chin up! Don't lose heart—just seduce him harder," Li Xu said. "You missed your chance back then, but this time, seize it."

Ying Xi raised a brow. *What do you mean 'back then'?*

His childhood memories were hazy, with only a few key moments standing out.

"Your personality back then was... not great," Li Xu explained. "Wherever we went, people called you cold, antisocial, even 'the human repellant.' Only one child ever got along with you."

Ying Xi's mind flashed to Li Yang asking: *Did we meet as kids?*

He looked up, watching the straight-backed figure in front of him, fingers flying across his phone keyboard.

*Who was it?*

Too lazy to type, Li Xu voice-noted him a novel instead of typing.

"That was years ago. You used to stay at your grandma's place sometimes, but your dad and I weren't around much. Your grandma mentioned it once. I think I saw the kid—really cute, but it's been too long to remember clearly. Your grandma might have photos if you're curious."

"That kid was the only one you ever got along with. You ignored everyone else, and people called you rude all the time. But after you stopped visiting, they moved away, and you lost contact. Total waste."

Ying Xi was certain he had no memory of this. *Why can't I remember?*

"It's completely normal that you can't remember," Li Xu suddenly @'ed Ying Sui.

"When you were thirteen, your dad got it into his head to take you out on a bike ride, but he didn't know how to ride properly and wiped out. Both of you tumbled down a long slope, and you banged your head, so you basically forgot everything from before."

Ying Xi: "..."

He typed expressionlessly, "Guess I'm lucky to be alive then."

Li Xu: "You are lucky—just lost some memories. Your dad was hospitalized for months before he could leave, and he limped home, got mocked by everyone for years."

Ying Sui, feeling embarrassed, cut in, "Let's not dredge up my embarrassing past. The point is that kid from back then, right?"

Ying Xi exited the group chat and opened his conversation with Assistant Min.

"Go to this place and find my old photos. Snap pics of the group photos and send them to me."

"Who is Li Yang?" There was a knock at the door. The school security guard up front was holding a package. "There's a delivery for you. Come sign for it."

Li Yang raised his hand, confirmed it was from Dr. Xu, signed his name, and thanked him.

Returning to his seat, he noticed Ying Xi with his head lowered, lost in thought, his expression hard to read.

Meanwhile, Assistant Min, who was nearby, quickly dug up the old photos Ying Xi wanted and sent them over.

"There are only three group photos. The rest take up a whole album. Should I take them with me?"

The first two were photos with adults, while the last one showed two children around the same age.

The backdrop was winter, with snow covering everything.

Two children around ten years old stood behind a snowman, each extending a hand to act as the snowman's arms, throwing up peace signs.

The child on the left pursed his lips, staring blankly at the camera.

The child on the right had cheeks and fingers chapped red from the cold, tilting his head as he gazed at the camera, his smile bright and beaming.

It was a younger Li Yang.