Chapter 68: Do You Like Alphas?

Chapter 68: Do You Like Alphas?

"Did you notice Zhiyu is acting really different?" Yang Yichen couldn't hold it in the moment they got in the car, asking Liu Mian, "He was totally fine when he went out, but when he came back his face was so red, and—his lips..."

Yang Yichen looked like he'd just struck gold, unable to stop grinning from ear to ear. He wanted to say more, but wasn't sure if he should spill the beans.

Liu Mian's lips curled into a smile too. "See, I told you—Zhiyu's got a special—"

"Did Brother Yan force Zhiyu?"

Before Liu Mian could finish his sentence, Yang Yichen suddenly blurted out, then his face turned serious. "Do you think Brother Yan threatened Zhiyu?"

"..."

"But I really do think Brother Yan has changed for the better. He probably wouldn't do something like that."

Watching Yang Yichen's face go through a whole range of emotions, Liu Mian pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation, interrupting his wild guessing: "Stop overthinking. Zhiyu did it of his own free will."

Yang Yichen's eyes widened. "How do you know?"

"..." Liu Mian thought for a moment. "Maybe it's some Omega-to-Omega intuition. In any case, Zhiyu acts very differently around Qin Yan. He wouldn't let himself be forced into something like that."

"Really?"

"Mm. Zhiyu may seem gentle, but he's got a lot of pride."

Liu Mian thought back to when he'd first met Su Zhiyu. It hadn't actually been that long ago, but he just felt like this guy had a really unique vibe.

If he were water, then Qin Yan was fire.

Not like oil and water—not mutually exclusive—but rather damp water needing a fervent fire. They might seem like they don't mix, but in reality they're inseparable.

Liu Mian turned to Yang Yichen, suddenly curious. "Yichen, you've known Qin Yan for a long time. What was he like back then? From what you've mentioned a few times, their relationship was really bad after he confessed in high school?"

Speaking of that, Yang Yichen perked right up.

...

That evening.

Qin Yan waited and waited in his room, but Su Zhiyu still didn't show. His texts had also been met with silence.

Well then. The little bunny's still shy.

If he won't come to me, I'll go to him.

Qin Yan got out of bed, wearing only a bathrobe, and went next door to knock. It took a while before he heard any sound from inside.

The door opened. Su Zhiyu's hair was still dripping wet, and his pajamas hung loose and rumpled, with a wisp of steam rising off him—clearly thrown on in a rush right after showering.

Qin Yan's eyes darkened. "You're just now taking a shower?"

Su Zhiyu lowered his eyes and murmured an "mm," neither stepping aside nor coming out. He just stood there behind the door, his whole body bathed in the dim glow of the night light.

Qin Yan leaned against the doorframe with an amused look. "Why didn't you turn on the light?"

With just that tiny night light on.

Su Zhiyu glanced back at the room, then answered, "Didn't notice."

He really hadn't noticed. In fact, he'd been stuck in a daze of hesitation and confusion ever since he got back, spacing out and putting off his shower.

It wasn't until he saw Qin Yan's barrage of urgent WeChat messages that he hurried into the bathroom. He was just getting dressed when he heard the knock at the door.

That's why he'd rushed out in such a fluster, without even drying his hair.

"Your hair's wet—you'll catch a cold. Come here." Qin Yan casually stepped inside, pulling Su Zhiyu along with him, and shut the door with a click.

Su Zhiyu was guided into a chair. "Sit still. I'll blow-dry your hair for you."

Qin Yan had planned to turn on the light, but once inside, he found the night light was enough. The dim, hazy glow seemed pretty nice too.

It felt warm.

"Qin Yan..." Su Zhiyu tilted his head a little. "I can do it myself."

Qin Yan swatted his hand away. "No. I'm doing it. Sit still and don't move."

"..."

Fine.

Su Zhiyu knew when to yield. He sat obediently and let himself be taken care of. His hair wasn't long, so it dried quickly.

The small sounds in the room were all swallowed by the hum of the hair dryer.

In the dim light, Su Zhiyu secretly caught sight of Qin Yan's face through the small mirror on the table—focused, earnest.

Qin Yan...

When the hair dryer clicked off, the room suddenly felt quiet.

Qin Yan looked up and caught Su Zhiyu's gaze. He smiled, then playfully winked at the mirror.

"!"

Su Zhiyu quickly looked away, his ears starting to burn and turn red again.

Qin Yan set the dryer down and reached for Su Zhiyu's hand. "Come on, let's go to sleep."

They lay down side by side.

Qin Yan reached over and switched off the night light, plunging the room into darkness.

And darkness made people bold.

An arm wrapped around his waist. Su Zhiyu's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed, letting him hold him.

"Qin Yan."

Su Zhiyu said hesitantly.

Qin Yan hummed, nuzzling against his neck. "What's wrong?"

Su Zhiyu bit his lip, then finally worked up the courage to ask: "Can an Alpha fall in love with another Alpha? What about an Omega and an Omega? Would you look down on a relationship like that?"

Huh?

Qin Yan immediately thought of the real world. Did AA and OO relationships equal same-sex relationships there?

What era is this? Still pulling that whole discrimination hierarchy thing.

Qin Yan shot back without hesitation: "No, to me, Alpha and Omega are just ways to tell genders apart, but love knows no gender."

Su Zhiyu blinked, stunned: "No gender... really?"

"Exactly." Qin Yan spun Su Zhiyu around to face him and gave his nose a little tap. "What's with the sudden question?"

Su Zhiyu hesitated, then scrambled for an excuse: "I read a script and was on the fence about whether to take that kind of role."

"You can."

Qin Yan didn't hesitate.

He was gay himself, so of course he'd be all for championing gay stories!

Su Zhiyu looked up: "But the books say Alpha and Omega together is the ideal pairing."

Qin Yan scoffed: "Books are full of dead facts. Love is love—it just comes down to the person, not the gender. It's the soul you fall for. If you're in love, who cares if they're an Alpha, Omega, or Beta?"

"Right..."

"No matter what, they deserve respect. They haven't wronged anyone—they just fell in love with someone of the same gender. Being able to stay together under that kind of pressure is even more admirable than an ordinary Alpha-Omega relationship."

Qin Yan's words were crystal clear—he didn't just tolerate Alpha-Alpha love, he practically championed it.

So... he actually liked Alphas more?

"Then... do you like Alphas?"

"Of course I—what?" Qin Yan suddenly choked, his eyes going wide. "What did you just ask?"

Su Zhiyu silently rolled over, and Qin Yan quickly glued himself to him, replaying what he'd said until it hit him.

So the little rabbit was testing if he liked Alphas?

Did this mean...

Su Zhiyu cared about him too, and even liked him? That's why he cared whether Qin Yan liked Alphas?

Then...

"Su Zhiyu." Qin Yan hugged him from behind and whispered coaxingly, "You don't know if I like Alphas or Omegas?"

.

.

.

"Good night ahhh, everyone go to sleep! Sleep! Hug me tight!"