This Alpha Is So Devoted to His Wife - Chapter 23

The next day, the sun was shining brightly.

The scorching summer breeze lightly lifted the white shirt of the boy on the skateboard. The “clatter” of the skateboard’s wheels echoed on the sidewalk under the towering trees on campus, along with a “good morning” that smelled of strawberry lollipops.

He finally stopped in front of the high school building.

Duan Yu Luo bit down on the lollipop in his mouth. He slowed down as he approached the school building. His white sneakers hit the ground, and he stopped the skateboard cleanly. Then, he used his other foot to press down on the tail of the skateboard, making it pop up. He easily grabbed the board.

Just as he was about to head upstairs with his skateboard, he ran into someone he didn’t really want to see.

“What a coincidence, Yu Luo. I ran into you as soon as I got to school. We must have great chemistry.”

Jiang Yichen walked out from the hallway, pretending to be surprised to see Duan Yu Luo. He walked over with a smile and looked at the red skateboard in Duan Yu Luo’s hand. “That’s a very nice skateboard. It’s as good-looking as you are.”

Duan Yu Luo was speechless. It was the first time someone had complimented him by saying he was as good-looking as a skateboard. What could he say? “Thank you.”

He walked into the lobby with his skateboard.

“Did you have breakfast?” Jiang Yichen followed with a long stride.

“I did.”

“I was going to say that if you hadn’t eaten, we could have gone together. The new Chinese restaurant has a new window, and the food is delicious. Could we go together next time?”

“I don’t eat breakfast at school.”

Jiang Yichen said “oh” in a knowing tone. He saw Duan Yu Luo eating a lollipop, took a deep breath, and asked with a smile, “Do you like lemon-flavored lollipops?”

Duan Yu Luo was thinking of an excuse to end the conversation when he was grabbed by the wrist and pulled. Before he could react, a tall figure appeared in front of him, and his skateboard was taken from his other hand.

He froze. He slowly looked up, following the familiar voice.

He saw Lu Xing He, who was supposed to be back this afternoon, suddenly appear in front of him. His white school shirt was neat, with the collar slightly unbuttoned. He was holding Duan Yu Luo’s skateboard, and his clear jawline showed a hint of impatience and annoyance.

A little light appeared in Duan Yu Luo’s eyes.

Lu Xing He stood in front of Duan Yu Luo without changing his expression. He slightly turned his body to put some distance between them. His eyes casually swept over Jiang Yichen’s face, catching his obvious intent. He let out a soft laugh.

“What flavor he likes is none of your business.”

Jiang Yichen saw that it was Lu Xing He and frowned at what he said. “How dare you speak to me like that? I’m your senior, and I’m also the captain of your fencing club. Shouldn’t you be more polite?”

“If you were a decent senior, captain, then what I said would be wrong. But are you? You deliberately played with naive juniors in middle school, and you just broke up with a girl from your grade, didn’t you? Saying you’re a player is a civilized term. Do you even know what ‘underage’ means? And now you have the guts to come under my nose and provoke Duan Yu Luo?”

Lu Xing He took a step forward, using his height advantage and his Alpha pheromone to overpower the other person. He grabbed Jiang Yichen’s collar and said with a half-smile, “Anyone can like Duan Yu Luo, but if I see you get close to him again, I won’t be so polite.”

After he said that, he gently put his hand on the back of Duan Yu Luo’s head and said, “Let’s go.”

Jiang Yichen was left behind, gritting his teeth.

The first class today was physical education. On the sports field, boys were running freely. You could see them clearly from the sky garden on the fourth floor of the opposite restaurant.

The sky garden on the top floor of the school restaurant was not open to the public. It was a place of leisure reserved by the school’s chairman for the family’s children.

Under the parasol in the garden, there were two guys who had skipped class.

“Why are you back so early?”

“I was afraid my home would get stolen.”

“Hm?” Duan Yu Luo didn’t understand what he meant. He bit down on his lollipop and looked at Lu Xing He. Then he saw him take something out of his pocket and hand it to him.

His large palm opened, and there was a gold medal.

“Don’t get close to that Jiang Yichen anymore. This is for you,” Lu Xing He said, grabbing Duan Yu Luo’s hand and putting the medal in it.

Duan Yu Luo looked down at the warm gold medal. He raised his hand again. The shiny medal was against the sunlight, and the light outlined the body of the medal, making it dazzling. He squinted his eyes and said with a mumbled laugh, “Well, the first-place medal this time goes to Lu Xing He, one medal ahead of Duan Yu Luo.”

Lu Xing He put his arms behind him. His eyes fell on the slight curve of Duan Yu Luo’s lips. He felt a soft spot in his heart. “Little one, do you remember the bet we made this year?”

“Whoever gets the most gold medals gets one wish granted by the other,” Duan Yu Luo said, hearing the tone of Lu Xing He’s voice. He put down the medal. “It’s only June. There’s still plenty of time. I might win. Don’t worry.”

Lu Xing He laughed. “Why are you in a hurry? I’m not doing anything.”

Duan Yu Luo yawned and glanced at him. “How would I know what you’re up to?”

Duan Yu Luo’s intentional or unintentional glance made Lu Xing He’s heart melt. He saw that he was sleepy, so he patted his thigh. “What time did you sleep last night? You can lie on me for a bit.”

“One a.m.” Duan Yu Luo yawned again, and he lay down, putting his head on Lu Xing He’s lap.

The parasol blocked most of the light. The hot breeze blew under the umbrella, ruffling the hair of the two boys.

“Are you organizing your CTB materials?”

Duan Yu Luo took the lollipop out of his mouth. “No. My grandpa told me to start attending the monthly senior executive meetings next month. I was a little restless.”

Lu Xing He looked at the school building in the distance. “They want you to take over the Galaxy Group so soon?”

“They said my other two uncles want to take a step back.”

“Why?”

“They want to spend more time with their families.”

Lu Xing He hummed. As far as he knew, all the Alphas in that family loved their family and their wives very much. “So, what does your grandpa want you to do now? He wants you to get involved in management?”

“They haven’t said if it’s management or business yet. They probably just want me to get a feel for it first.”

“Are you scared?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m scared. I don’t know what kind of situations I’ll be facing. But it’s going to happen sooner or later. You know my brother probably won’t be back anytime soon.” Duan Yu Luo thought of his twin brother, who had joined the army and had been gone for two years.

“Then you’ll be the first heir to the Galaxy Group, Young Master Duan.”

Duan Yu Luo heard Lu Xing He’s teasing and gave him another glance. Then he remembered what he had been thinking about all night. “Lu Xing He, I have a question for you.”

“Just ask. Why are you calling me by my full name?”

“Are you going to go back to D Country in the future?”

There was no quick answer to this question. It was clearly a question that required thought and planning to answer.

Duan Yu Luo was not in a hurry. He changed his lying position from his side to lying on his back, facing the umbrella. He bit his candy and glanced at Lu Xing He, who was sitting with his hands behind him, deep in thought. He didn’t realize he was being watched.

“I’m not sure, either,” Lu Xing He said, lowering his eyes and meeting Duan Yu Luo’s gaze.

Duan Yu Luo was caught looking at Lu Xing He. The atmosphere was a little awkward. He casually looked away, pursed his lips, and put the candy back in his mouth. “Oh.”

“Why are you suddenly asking that? Are you worried that I might go back?” Lu Xing He looked at Duan Yu Luo, who was resting on his lap. He stared at his mouth as he ate the candy. It was probably a little sticky. His lips were covered in a layer of sugar, looking a little darker than their original color.

“So, are you going to go back?”

“What if I do?”

This time, it was Duan Yu Luo who was silent. He took the lollipop out of his mouth, looked at Lu Xing He thoughtfully, as if he was contemplating the possibility. What if Lu Xing He really did go back? What could he do?

And what would happen if he didn’t go back?

It seemed there was no conclusion to this question at the moment. After all, everything about the future was unknown.

He just cared. As for why he cared…

While he was spacing out, he was completely unaware that the gaze on him was getting hotter. He felt a shadow fall on his face. Maybe the sudden closeness made him feel an indescribable sense of being hunted.

Especially when he met that gaze that was now so close.

At that moment, their eyes locked on each other.

Lu Xing He slowly lowered his head. But just as he was about to lose his mind to a moment of impulse, he saw Duan Yu Luo’s surprised eyes. He suddenly realized what he wanted to do. He quickly bent down and ate the lollipop out of Duan Yu Luo’s hand.

The remaining half of the lollipop, which still held the other’s warmth, was bitten into pieces in his mouth. The sweet lemon flavor spread, but it couldn’t suppress the overly excited heartbeat in his chest.

Duan Yu Luo’s eyes widened in shock. “Lu Xing He!!!”

He looked at the stick in his hand and jumped up, furious.

Lu Xing He chewed on the half-eaten lollipop. He saw Duan Yu Luo stand up, but he stayed sitting. He spread his long legs and pulled him in between his thighs. He looked up at him. “Little one, you have to promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“If you ever fall in love with someone, you have to tell me.”

“Why?”

“I’ll be really sad if you don’t tell me.”

Duan Yu Luo looked down at Lu Xing He’s gaze, unable to tell if this guy was serious or joking.

He stared gloomily at his candy stick and nodded anyway. “Okay.”

“Then I’ll answer your question now. I won’t go back,” Lu Xing He said, staring at the handsome boy who was obediently nodding between his legs.

One looked up, and one looked down. The answer was in their eyes.

The early summer breeze carried the sweet scent of lemon candy. It was fragrant and bittersweet.

Just like a young man’s thoughts.

…

And then they got caught by the gym teacher.

The two were caught red-handed under the restaurant. The gym teacher lectured them and made them run five laps around the track.

On the sports field, the other students in physical education had changed into their sportswear, but only the two boys in white shirts were running laps. It was obvious they were being punished.

Although the summer morning wasn’t as hot as noon, it wasn’t much better. In the 30-degree weather, they were both drenched in sweat after five laps.

“…I’m so thirsty,” Duan Yu Luo said, glancing at the gym teacher standing nearby. He panted and lowered his voice. “I should have known better than to skip class. This is your fault.”

Lu Xing He saw that he was drenched in sweat and used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his nose. “Yeah, it’s my fault. Our good little Duan Yu Luo would never skip class.”

“…” Duan Yu Luo’s face was disgusted by the nickname. He dodged Lu Xing He’s hand and bolted, sprinting the last lap.

Lu Xing He was stunned for a few seconds before he quickly chased after him.

This guy is so small, but he has amazing athletic abilities. He runs so fast.

After they finished the five laps, they walked up to the gym teacher and sincerely promised they wouldn’t do it again. Only then were they let off the hook. After the teacher left, the two of them walked toward the school supermarket.

During the break, students were walking in groups of two or three to rest or go to the store.

“It’s so hot. I want some cold water.”

“I told you you can’t have it.”

“Then why can you have it?”

“I’m not drinking it.”

“Then I’ll get you a cup of hot water later.”

“…”

Lu Xing He and Duan Yu Luo walked into the supermarket. The two were standing in the beverage aisle, bickering over a bottle of cold water.

“It’s so hot today, I can definitely drink it,” Duan Yu Luo said, opening the fridge and reaching for a bottle of cold mineral water.

“I’m worried you’ll get diarrhea,” Lu Xing He said, unable to do anything since he was determined to get it.

“Why can’t I drink it when everyone else can? I work out often. What’s wrong with me drinking a bottle of cold water with my physique?” Duan Yu Luo held the cold mineral water in his hand and gave Lu Xing He a look. “You’re so long-winded.”

After that, he grabbed a room-temperature bottle for Lu Xing He from the shelf below.

Lu Xing He saw how mean he was being. He reached out and pinched his face. “You’re only mean to me. Only to me.”

Duan Yu Luo dodged his hand and walked toward the cashier. But he wasn’t looking where he was going and accidentally bumped into someone at a blind corner.

Lu Xing He’s eyes suddenly darkened. He saw the collision and quickly grabbed Duan Yu Luo’s arm, pulling him in front of him.

“Yu Luo?”

Of all the people he could run into, it was Jiang Yichen.

Lu Xing He silently rolled his eyes. What a ghost.

Duan Yu Luo also didn’t expect to run into Jiang Yichen. He subconsciously looked at Lu Xing He and saw that his expression was already very unpleasant. He wanted to unscrew the bottle cap and drink some water for a tactical retreat, but his hand was so sweaty he couldn’t open it.

Jiang Yichen saw it and reached out to help him unscrew it, but another hand was faster.

With a click, the bottle cap was unscrewed.

Lu Xing He handed the water to Duan Yu Luo. “Just take two sips. The water is too cold.”

“Okay.” Duan Yu Luo wiped the sweat from his palm on his shirt. He took the cold water, tilted his head back, and took two sips. He really did just take two sips before Lu Xing He took it away. He looked at him in surprise.

Lu Xing He saw that Duan Yu Luo had taken two sips, so he took the cold water from his hand and drank it all himself.

In just two or three seconds, the remaining water was gone.

Duan Yu Luo was speechless. I only had two sips.

Lu Xing He put down the empty bottle. He smiled at Jiang Yichen, who looked speechless. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Duan Yu Luo’s shoulder, patting his thin shoulder. “This is how we are. We’re very close. We often drink from the same bottle of water.”

Duan Yu Luo felt the hand on his shoulder holding him with a bit of a vengeful force. He tried to shake him off and glanced at him. “I only had two sips.”

“Don’t you have another bottle in your hand?” Lu Xing He said, acting all gentle and caring. He took the mineral water from his hand and unscrewed the cap. “Room temperature is better.”

Duan Yu Luo’s forehead was twitching. I’m so annoyed.

Jiang Yichen, on the side, found that he couldn’t fit in with the two of them at all. He tried to start a topic. “Um, Yu Luo, the fencing hall this afternoon—”

“Sorry, we don’t have time to go to the fencing hall to train this afternoon. He and I have other plans,” Lu Xing He said, directly cutting off Jiang Yichen. He wasn’t giving him any chance to talk to Duan Yu Luo. Then he pulled Duan Yu Luo away.

Before being pulled away, Duan Yu Luo insisted on buying an ice cream.

Jiang Yichen gritted his teeth. These two don’t care about me at all.

The two of them left the supermarket.

“You’re not obedient at all with me, but you can’t even say a single mean thing to other people. If you don’t like someone, just refuse them directly. Got it?”

Duan Yu Luo was eating his ice cream. Lu Xing He put his palm on the back of his head. He looked at him with a sad look. “How am I supposed to refuse? He didn’t say anything to my face, and he didn’t do anything to my face. Do you want me to just say, ‘Sorry, I don’t like you’? Wouldn’t that be awkward for me?”

Lu Xing He looked at his eyes. They had no offensive power at all. They were so cute and feisty, like he was pouting. “You speak so loudly to me. When you feel that someone is making you uncomfortable by getting close to you, you have to trust your feelings. When you should refuse, you refuse. Being polite to them at that point is just giving them an inch to take a mile.”

He saw some ice cream on his lips and reached out to wipe it off.

“I know,” Duan Yu Luo said, licking the melting ice cream off the top.

“So when you need to be mean, be mean. A firm refusal is the best way to protect yourself. Got it?”

“Got it.”

On the sidewalk under the towering trees on campus, the sunlight passed through the dense branches, casting dancing shadows on the ground and on the figure of the young man.

“And you also know he wrote you a love letter. His intention is very obvious. He wants to pursue you, but I won’t allow it.”

Duan Yu Luo heard the domineering tone in Lu Xing He’s voice. He licked the ice cream that was about to drip and glanced at him again.

He saw Lu Xing He swallow.

Lu Xing He stared at him as he ate his ice cream. Especially at the moment when his tongue licked the ice cream. His eyes were fixed on his tongue, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Do you want a bite?” Duan Yu Luo thought he was staring at his ice cream because he wanted to eat some. He held the ice cream out to him.

Lu Xing He saw the ice cream being offered. Of course, he wanted to eat it. Just as he was about to lower his head to take a bite, the ice cream was pulled away. His eyes looked sullen.

“Just teasing you,” Duan Yu Luo said, his eyes crinkling in a smile. He saw Lu Xing He lower his head to eat and quickly pulled the ice cream back to eat it himself. He walked two steps ahead.

But after two steps, Lu Xing He grabbed the back of his neck from behind.

“Duan Yu Luo, that’s not bad. You dare to tease me now? I drove Jiang Yichen away for you. Aren’t you going to thank me?”

Duan Yu Luo felt the warm and slightly rough palm on the back of his neck. It was a little ticklish. He licked the ice cream from his lips, looked to the side at Lu Xing He, and leaned in a little. His eyes, which reflected the other person’s, were filled with a playful smile.

“Brother Xing Xing, you’re so amazing. Thank you.”

The warm breath and the strawberry-flavored ice cream landed on the side of his cheek. The teasing tone was light. The clear voice, like that of a jade-like young man, was teasing, yet it also sounded like he was pouting.

That voice was no different from being tickled by a feather for him.

Not to mention that “Brother Xing Xing” that would always work on him.

Lu Xing He’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He nonchalantly moved his gaze away and put his hand down, pretending to be calm. He was completely unaware that his lips were almost smiling as brightly as the sun. He cleared his throat.

“Ahem, you’re welcome.”

Duan Yu Luo smiled and didn’t say anything else. He ate the melting ice cream in one bite.

“Give me a bite.”

“No.”

“Then call me ‘Brother Xing Xing’ again.”

“No.”

Lu Xing He saw that Duan Yu Luo was deliberately teasing him, and he was completely wrapped around his finger. This indescribable feeling made him both excited and satisfied.

He didn’t bother him again and just watched him finish the ice cream.

In the end, he only managed to get the last piece of chocolate at the end of the stick.