Chapter 52

Chapter 52

The smile on Ying Xi's lips froze instantly as he stood there staring at Li Yang, his pupils flickering with uncertainty.

"Yangyang?"

"Yeah, just like this." Li Yang didn't notice his stiffness and continued muttering, "We can't cling to each other all the time. Right now, studying should be the priority."

Too shocked to process what he was hearing, Ying Xi glanced at Wen Yun beside him.

Wen Yun, who had caught that odd glance, shivered and spoke haltingly, "Studying is... is important, but you should balance study and relaxation. Don't overdo it, Li Yang. Remember to take breaks."

"And, you said you'd stay apart until graduation—what about after? Will you two get engaged?"

The moment those words were spoken, Ying Xi's frosty demeanor thawed considerably, his gaze turning expectantly toward Li Yang.

"We'll talk after graduation. Right now, the mission is to study hard," Li Yang said casually.

He couldn't even be bothered to think about whether he was in a book-transmigration premise—his mind was completely consumed by studying.

There wasn't much time left before the *gaokao* (college entrance exams).

At first, Ying Xi and Wen Yun thought Li Yang was just saying it and wouldn't fully commit.

But unexpectedly, his eyes truly had become single-mindedly focused on studying.

Not just Ying Xi—even Wen Yun, as his deskmate, found fewer and fewer chances to talk to him throughout the day.

Wen Yun could roughly imagine how frustrated Ying Xi, who lived with him, must be.

On the day the final exam results came out, Li Yang's ranking remained unchanged from before.

But the second-place student who had been ahead of him was now Ying Xi.

Li Yang thoughtfully rubbed his neck and turned to look at Ying Xi.

The latter didn’t care about the scores or rankings. Feeling his gaze, Ying Xi propped his chin on his hand and smiled as he met his eyes.

"Is Ying Xi a top student?" Li Yang whispered to Wen Yun beside him.

With the *gaokao* approaching, Wen Yun had replaced his novels with study guides. Hearing the question, he thought for a moment before answering.

"He's always been good."

Li Yang hadn’t paid much attention to this before, but now that he knew, they talked more often—though their conversations were all about studying.

"It's already vacation, but these days, all we talk about is studying," Ying Xi said, sitting at the desk, propping his cheek lazily as he absently studied a problem.

Li Yang replied seriously, "Anything unrelated to studying can wait until after high school graduation."

Those words instantly made the previously bored teen lift his eyes. "Really?"

The intense look in his gaze didn’t make Li Yang overthink—he assumed Ying Xi just wanted to go out somewhere.

He nodded, then pointed at the problem, urging Ying Xi to help him sort out his thoughts.

After a few sunny days, a snowstorm began falling outside the window again.

Seeing other families making preparations for the Lunar New Year, Li Yang suddenly realized that the holiday was coming.

In the past, he had spent New Year’s alone—buying couplets (traditional red banners) and eating dumplings on New Year’s Eve was the extent of it.

This year was different. He had family now.

Thinking of this, Li Yang turned to look at Ying Xi, who was sitting at the desk, absorbed in something on his phone.

The teenager sat lazily, dressed in blue pajamas, his right arm resting on the chair’s armrest to support his head while his left hand tapped out replies rapidly. His expression, usually gentle, now carried a faint trace of visible annoyance.

The wounds on Ying Xi’s face had mostly healed, leaving only faint marks near his collarbone.

Li Yang walked over slowly and sat beside him. "What’s wrong?"

"Creepy texts. Just blocked them." Ying Xi handed him the phone.

The blocked number had sent a long text:

"This is Jiang Yunzhe. Why did you block my last call? I’ll be back for New Year’s—want to meet up? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, and I miss you. Can I come to your place this New Year? Your mom and dad would be happy to have me over, right?"

Li Yang had thought it was just a junk message, but it carried a different meaning.

He blinked, puzzled, feeling the name was familiar but couldn’t recall where he’d heard it.

His memory had been spotty lately—sometimes so bad he couldn’t even remember what he’d eaten for the last meal.

He also felt always sleepy.

After winter break started, his usual seven hours of sleep had increased to ten hours.

Li Yang reported this to Dr. Xu, who told him to keep his medication on hand at all times and monitor any other changes.

"Did he call you before?" Li Yang finally had a faint memory. "What’s your relationship?"

"There is no relationship," Ying Xi said coldly. "Our families know each other. Whenever our parents met, he’d come find me, saying he liked me and wanted to be with me. I ignored him, and after a few times, he couldn’t take it, swore at me, and never came back."

Li Yang took a moment to respond. "A lot of people like you."

Though it was just a simple observation, Ying Xi stared at him strangely for two seconds before drawing him into a hug, breathing in deeply his scent.

"Their feelings are all fake. Only Yangyang is real. Have you ever liked anyone else?"

"No," Li Yang answered matter-of-factly. "You’re my first love."

Nothing could have made him happier than those words.

Ying Xi nuzzled against Li Yang’s neck like a clingy golden retriever.

Li Yang tried to shove his head away. "You’re acting like a pervert."

He had long gotten used to Ying Xi’s physical affection, taking it in stride.

"I *am* a pervert," Ying Xi admitted outright. Tilting his head, he murmured, his lips nearly brushing against the fair skin of Li Yang’s neck.

His cheek rested on Li Yang’s shoulder, and even through the fabric, he could feel the softness of his skin. Ying Xi’s eyes darkened as his arms tightened around Li Yang.

A new message came in, and Li Yang lowered his head to check it, not quite catching Ying Xi’s words—only feeling the tickling sensation of his breath. "Let go, it’s itchy."

"I’ve already gotten three new numbers. If you have something to say, say it directly. Stop blocking me."

"I talked to your mother. She mentioned you're engaged? That can’t be true. Other than me, who else could possibly deserve you?"

"Ying Xi, what I said about liking you before still stands. Are you sure you won't give me a chance?"

"......"

Li Yang was so absorbed in reading that he didn't even notice Ying Xi moving from his side.

With long fingers, Ying Xi picked up the phone, deleted and blocked the contact in one quick motion right in front of Li Yang, couldn't be bothered to reply, and set it to reject all unknown calls.

"Don't mind him," Ying Xi said. "It's just us now."

The statement made Li Yang chuckle.

Since vacation began, they had barely gone out, spending all their time together.

"Mom told me in advance. If you feel uncomfortable during New Year's, we can just have our own celebration here."

Ying Xi mussed his hair, his gaze sweeping over Li Yang's porcelain-smooth complexion before lingering on those rosy lips.

Li Yang's lips were perfectly shaped, naturally curved even at rest, giving the illusion of a constant smile.

When pressed tightly, the corners would dip slightly, making him appear cold and unapproachable.

For some reason, Ying Xi recalled the sensation of those lips brushing his cheek long ago—soft, cool, like gelatin.

His hand paused mid-motion before he withdrew it, pressing a hand to his forehead and exhaling slowly.

"Let's spend it together," Li Yang murmured, oblivious to Ying Xi's emotional shifts in that brief minute. Noticing Ying Xi's lowered lashes, he couldn't resist giving them a playful poke.

A tingle raced from his fingertips straight to his heart. Before Li Yang could process it, Ying Xi caught his hand and pressed it firmly against his own cheek.

"What else is Yangyang thinking?" Ying Xi tilted his head, cradling Li Yang's hand, his eyes brimming with indulgence as he teased gently, "You can do anything."

His smoldering gaze burned like fire, stirring an itch deep in Li Yang's chest. His throat bobbed as he stared at that face so close to his, nearly lost in its tender smile.

His hand was held gently, warmth radiating from Ying Xi's cheek. Flustered, Li Yang pulled away, turning his head as he mumbled, "Nothing."

"I won't do anything," Li Yang said, eyes darting before landing on a test paper. He hurried over to pick it up. "I want to study."

*Studying again.*

Ying Xi sighed, his low voice slightly hoarse from failed seduction attempt. "Alright, let's study."

*

On Little New Year's Eve, Li Yang and Ying Xi moved into the Ying household.

They shared a bedroom on the third floor, sleeping on the same bed—though still separated by a pillow divide.

Li Yang had brought Lingdang along.

The cat lazily leaped onto the pillow, stretched, and flopped down, rolling onto its back occasionally to play with Li Yang.

Seeing this, Ying Xi opened the door and handed Lingdang to the auntie, asking her to take the cat to the living room downstairs.

At the sight of the auntie, Li Yang was reminded of his last visit to the Ying residence and couldn't help smiling.

The auntie knew Ying Xi had a partner but hadn't expected it to be Li Yang, whom she'd met before. She greeted them warmly.

"I'll take Lingdang downstairs, then."

Once the door closed, Li Yang flopped onto the bed, kicking his legs idly as he grinned at Ying Xi.

"Remember last time you brought me here and showed me a backflip?"

"I remember," Ying Xi lay beside him. "I still can. Want to see it now?"

"No," Li Yang's smile widened. "Just reminiscing. Time flies—it feels like forever since we first met."

Curious, he propped his chin on his hand and turned to Ying Xi. "How did you fall for me at first sight?"

"Not exactly at first sight. I knew who you were but hadn't really seen you. After school started, I was absent a lot. Then, the first time I saw you properly, I just... liked you." Ying Xi held his gaze, speaking slowly and earnestly. "Fate works in mysterious ways."

After their senior year began, Ying Xi frequently visited the hospital and had only attended class a handful of times before actually meeting Li Yang.

He knew Li Yang was the class monitor but paid little attention—perhaps because Li Yang was too quiet back then, as if trying to vanish.

Once all his medical tests were done, Ying Xi returned to class and immediately noticed Li Yang's unusual presence.

He was the only one in the classroom wearing a mask, dragging in slowly through the front door.

Amid the noise, weariness and annoyance flashed in those beautiful dark eyes before he hurried to his seat, first tightening his mask.

Ying Xi never forgot those eyes.

During class, he spent most of his time watching Li Yang.

His slender frame sat ramrod straight, the pale, delicate nape of his neck, its graceful lines shifting with every movement.

He observed him for two weeks without ever interacting, and Li Yang remained entirely unaware of his existence.

Ying Xi could tell Li Yang disliked Alphas. Whenever conflicts arose, a flicker of distaste would appear in his eyes—though he hid it well.

That flawless face only softened into a rare smile for teachers. Otherwise, his lips stayed pressed into a line, his cool demeanor like a wall sealing all emotions away.

"Actually..." Li Yang averted his gaze, hesitating as he considered bringing up the topic of transmigration.

But the door suddenly swung open.

"You said you weren't home, yet I hear voices?" A peeved voice cut in the moment the door opened.

Li Yang's dangling legs stilled as he and Ying Xi both turned toward the entrance.

A figure stood in the doorway, apparently surprised to see two people in the room. His frown deepened as his eyes swept over the bed.

"Ying Xi isn't here?"

The intruder either failed to recognize Ying Xi or couldn't connect the cold, aloof person from his memory with the gentle youth before him.

"Get out." Ying Xi's smile disappeared, turning icy. He sat up, looking stone-faced at the newcomer.

Only then did the person at the door recognize Ying Xi by that familiar, unapproachable expression. Leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms, he said airily, "No way. You ignored my messages and blocked me. I had to come find you myself."

His false-friendly tone seemed deliberately aimed at Li Yang. Raising a brow, he smirked at Li Yang.

"So this is the Beta? Doesn't look like anything special. Auntie says you're head over heels. Ying Xi, when will you wake up?"

"An Alpha can't be with a Beta."

Confronted with that openly taunting smirk, Li Yang's mind emptied.

What should he do now?

Mark his territory?

All these thoughts flashed by in an instant. The next moment, Li Yang’s hand was grasped and lifted by someone.

Ying Xi smiled. "I'm completely sober. It took me so much effort to finally get together with Yangyang. If you have any decency left as a human being, shut up and get out of here."

"You’re calling me inhuman?" The delicate Omega widened his eyes in anger, taking deep breaths to steady himself. "I’m just stating facts. How often do Alphas actually stay with Betas? What you have with him is just temporary."

Li Yang was still dazed, unsure whether he should respond.

Feeling the warmth of Ying Xi’s palm, he hesitated for a moment before tilting his head to look at the other. His bright, dark eyes shimmered with faint amusement as he countered gently,

"Ying Xi and I are a perfect match. No need for your concern."

Ying Xi chuckled, clearly pleased with the answer, his previously cold gaze softening.

Jiang Yunzhe had never seen Ying Xi like this before. The memory of doggedly pursuing him years ago, only to be met with indifference, made him instantly burn with anger.

He strode up to Li Yang, sneering down at him. "What you just said is a complete joke in the face of an Alpha’s nature."

Leaning down, he let his pheromones flood out right in front of Li Yang, gritting out each word, "My pheromones can affect Ying Xi. What can you do?"

Before he could get an answer, Ying Xi knocked him back hard.

Jiang Yunzhe stumbled back several steps, barely catching his balance before lifting his head to meet the young man’s icy, menacing glare.

Ying Xi’s expression was grim as he raised a hand to cover his nose and mouth, his eyes filled with undisguised revulsion.

Jiang Yunzhe was supposed to be a top-tier Omega.

The pheromones Li Yang smelled were cloyingly intense, like dozens of pungent perfumes mixed together. There was no time to discern which scent was more dominant—only the urge to retch remained.

Yet before he could even open his mouth, a loud *thud* echoed beside him. Ying Xi had collapsed to the floor, unconscious.