This Alpha Is So Devoted to His Wife - Chapter 34

During the self-study period.

The air conditioning was on indoors, and the subtle sunlight filtering through the window fell upon the handsome face of the youth sitting by the window.

The youth, Duan Yuluo, was supporting his head while drawing a mind map on his tablet. Perhaps encountering a puzzling point, he furrowed his brows and habitually touched his lip with the tip of his pen. The pen tip gently tapped his lip again and again. His lips were well-formed and felt slightly springy; when the pen tip pressed down, it seemed to have a soft, ‘QQ’ bouncy feel, like a soft candy.

Soon after, perhaps having thought of something else, the hand supporting his cheek began to pinch his own face idly, making the originally fair and tender area turn a little red.

The person next to him couldn’t help but swallow, an expression of distress on his face, as if he were looking at something delicious that he couldn’t eat.

Duan Yuluo was focused on his tablet, jotting down new ideas regarding the topic choice for the CTB competition, planning to discuss them with Duan Yifan and Jiang Nianqiao that afternoon.

In his state of complete concentration, he failed to notice that Lu Xinghe beside him had been staring intently at him.

It wasn’t until Lu Xinghe reached a hand over and pressed down on the hand holding the pen that Duan Yuluo looked up in confusion. “What are you doing?”

“If you’re thinking, then think. Why all the little movements?” Lu Xinghe finally gave in to his impulse. He pressed down on Duan Yuluo’s pen-holding hand and earnestly tried to correct him. “Hold your pen properly. Why do you keep touching your mouth? Be serious.”

Duan Yuluo thought, This guy is intentionally picking a fight, isn’t he? He pulled his hand away. “Mind your own business.”

He then continued to idly tap his lip with the pen tip.

It was his habit; he felt like he lacked inspiration if he didn’t do it.

Lu Xinghe ‘tsk’ed.

The noise made Duan Yuluo look up and glance at Lu Xinghe. “What? Do you want to argue?”

Lu Xinghe met Duan Yuluo’s slightly displeased eyes and realized his reaction might have been a bit much. The other person hadn’t done anything, so why was he letting his mind run wild? He took a lollipop out of his pocket, unwrapped it, and tried to placate him.

Just as he was about to hand the candy to Duan Yuluo, he saw Duan Yuluo lean closer and lower his head to take the lollipop into his mouth right from Lu Xinghe’s hand.

As he lowered his head, his soft hair brushed Lu Xinghe’s hand. The rhythm seemed deliberately slow, and the spot the hair swept over tingled with a faint electric current, spreading from his hand to his fingertips. Then, Duan Yuluo looked up, his long eyelashes fluttering.

Lu Xinghe’s heart trembled with them.

The next second, he saw Duan Yuluo’s eyes curve into a smile, his expression radiating happiness.

“That’s better,” Duan Yuluo said, contentedly biting the strawberry-flavored lollipop. He lowered his head and continued drawing his mind map. He had to list the points today, or everyone’s ideas would get stuck at the laboratory step.

Lu Xinghe’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He remained in the same position, holding his hand out as if still offering the candy, his gaze never leaving the curve of Duan Yuluo’s lips.

Why can’t I look away?

No, I should look away.

But Cub’s smile is so pretty. I want to look at it two more times.

Hmm, I’ll look two more times then.

Tsk, two looks are up.

Right, just one more look. It’s just looking, after all; it’s not like I’m going to kiss him.

He was completely unaware that he had begun to sit sideways, propping his head up, watching Duan Yuluo in fascinated trance. His eyes narrowed slightly into a smile. Inside his head was an argument between himself and another self, but his eyes betrayed him completely.

The window reflected the image of the tall youth propping his head up and gazing at the boy next to him. That mixed-race, superior face looked handsome and noble, but when he smiled, he was like a large dog—the kind whose tail would spiral up to the sky if he had one.

Duan Yuluo felt it.

The lightbulb-like stare made it hard for him to concentrate. What was the big deal with him staring and smiling like that? He suppressed the momentary distraction and returned to focusing on his mind map, but he realized that this conspicuous guy next to him was making so much noise and staring that he couldn’t concentrate at all.

A quick look was fine, but the self-study period was almost over, and he was still staring.

Finally losing patience, he stomped hard on Lu Xinghe’s foot under the desk.

“Aah—” Lu Xinghe, caught completely off guard, yelled out in pain. The movement was too big, and his long legs meant his knee directly hit the desk drawer. Clapping his hand over his knee, he looked at Duan Yuluo in shock, wanting to cry but failing. “…Why did you step on me?”

The surrounding students all looked over curiously.

Duan Yuluo realized the commotion was too loud—or, more accurately, the big guy next to him always caused such a stir, like a show-off, and always drew attention. His forehead throbbed.

Just then, the bell for the end of class rang.

The small incident served as a bit of fun before the class ended.

“Little nephew, are you coming to play basketball?”

Less than thirty seconds after the bell rang, a head poked in through the back door of the classroom. It was Duan Yifan.

Duan Yuluo was stuck in his writing. Hearing the invitation to play, he nodded, and then casually asked Lu Xinghe, “Are you coming?”

“No,” Lu Xinghe said, leaning back in his chair with his hands in his pockets, his demeanor aloof.

Who knows what he was being aloof about—perhaps trying to salvage his dignity from before.

Hearing him say that, Duan Yuluo moved his chair back, stood up, picked up his water bottle from the desk, and went to Duan Yifan. “Let’s go.”

Lu Xinghe: “?” He watched Duan Yuluo leave so abruptly, eyes wide in disbelief. What was going on? How could he just leave? Couldn’t he have invited him one more time? Was he the kind of person who wouldn’t play basketball?

Clearly, Duan Yuluo had changed! He changed after differentiating into an Omega!

He immediately stood up. Who said he wasn’t playing basketball? He was absolutely going to play!

The St. Pauli High School campus had twenty-one basketball courts scattered across every corner. During long breaks or P.E. classes, the courts were undoubtedly a happy haven for the boys.

“Duan Yuluo, hurry! Ahhh, it’s all up to you for the last ball!”

It was currently the long break. On the court, Grade 10 Class A and the neighboring Class B were playing a friendly game. With just 30 seconds left, Duan Yuluo managed to steal the ball. Although he wasn’t tall, his agility allowed him to dodge defenders and rush toward the basket.

Naturally, Lu Xinghe was there helping to shield him.

Duan Yuluo caught sight of danger next to him out of the corner of his eye and instinctively tossed the ball to Lu Xinghe, then sprinted forward. Lu Xinghe extended his long arm and caught the ball. Seeing Duan Yuluo sprint to a good position, he dribbled and spun around.

The opponent preparing to steal the ball was clearly fooled by Lu Xinghe. Lu Xinghe quickly recovered from his spin-fake and immediately tossed the ball back to Duan Yuluo.

Duan Yuluo jumped up, caught the ball, and immediately drove toward the hoop.

Only ten seconds left!

With a ‘thwack’, Duan Yuluo, relying on his powerful jump, accurately sank a two-point shot!

The youth’s waist, momentarily exposed as the hem of his sportswear fluttered while he leaped into the air, was fair, well-proportioned, and finely sculpted, causing many Alphas on the court to take a second look. After all, such a strong Omega was rare in their school.

Moreover, this Omega was Duan Yuluo.

Since elementary school up to Grade 10, he had maintained an A-grade average. He excelled not only academically but also in sports. Therefore, who wouldn’t like a student who was both brilliant and prominent? They practically wanted to hang their eyes on him.

Just as he was about to land, Lu Xinghe wrapped an arm around his waist and scooped him up. Duan Yuluo instinctively pressed down on Lu Xinghe’s head, a little helpless. “What are you doing now?”

The one-armed embrace made the girls watching from the sidelines shriek, but those who played often with them were used to it. The depth of the bond between these two was evident to any observant person.

Lu Xinghe looked up, gazing at the profusely sweating youth in his arms. He playfully bounced Duan Yuluo’s body and smiled. “Nothing. I was just afraid you’d fall.”

Only then did he put the guy down.

Duan Yuluo landed, pulling his shirt to wipe his sweat. He laughed at Lu Xinghe’s words. “Is this the first time I’ve played basketball? How could I fall? You, on the other hand—you said you weren’t playing, but you’re the most enthusiastic player here.”

Inadvertently, when he lifted his jersey to wipe his sweat, the flash of white skin around his abdomen was perhaps too eye-catching. Lu Xinghe discreetly reached out and pulled Duan Yuluo’s shirt down, then grabbed his own jersey and pulled Duan Yuluo close, pressing him into his embrace to wipe the sweat from his face.

“…What’s wrong?” Duan Yuluo was taken aback, his face smothered by a sweat-soaked jersey. He looked annoyed and turned his face away. “Ugh, your clothes are full of sweat!”

“Don’t casually lift your shirt to wipe your sweat. You’ll expose yourself,” Lu Xinghe muttered in a low voice. After wiping the sweat, he pulled his own shirt down. Seeing Duan Yuluo’s face, which he had rubbed red—fair with a hint of blush—his Adam’s apple bobbed.

That’s why he had to keep an eye on him. There were Alphas everywhere. His little doll had just differentiated into an Omega, and now he was surrounded by enemies.

“What do I have to expose?” Duan Yuluo was speechless at his comment. He bent down, picked up his basketball, and then raised his hand to wave to his teammates. He also called out to the opposing Class B. “I’m heading out. My treat for food. Order whatever you want.”

“Yay!”

“I love playing ball with Duan Yuluo!”

“Good food for us, good food!”

Duan Yuluo walked forward, dribbling the ball and laughing with his classmates, glancing back at Lu Xinghe, who was a few steps behind.

Lu Xinghe’s eyes darkened. It wasn’t until someone bumped his arm that he collected himself and turned his head.

“Why aren’t you moving?” Duan Yifan wiped the sweat from his face with his collar and raised an eyebrow at the unpleasant look on Lu Xinghe’s face. He then followed Lu Xinghe’s gaze to where Duan Yuluo was talking happily with the others. “Oh, my little nephew is making good friends. Is someone feeling heartbroken?”

Lu Xinghe’s expression was inscrutable. After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a sentence. “He’s slinging his arm around people again. How can he not be careful with so many Alphas around? He’s an Omega now.”

“What about being an Omega? Are you being sexist?”

“No, I just think he needs to be careful. He… shouldn’t be that close to other Alphas.” Lu Xinghe saw a student put an arm around Duan Yuluo’s shoulder, and his eyes practically shot fire. His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into fists.

“Then just tell him not to sling his arm around people.”

“That would make me seem too possessive.”

“And by not saying anything, you think you don’t seem possessive?”

“When am I ever possessive?”

“You constantly want to monopolize him. You wish he only had you as a best friend, only had eyes for you, and only played with you. You call that not possessive? Bro, you can’t act so possessive just because you’re childhood friends with him. Be mature.” Duan Yifan put his arm around Lu Xinghe’s shoulder, adopting the air of an experienced older brother, and pointed toward Duan Yuluo ahead.

“Look, Cub is happy without you, and he’s happy with you. Friends should have freedom, right, brother?”

Jiang Nianqiao, walking beside them, noticed Lu Xinghe’s face getting darker and poked Duan Yifan, motioning for him to stop rambling. “You’re one to talk.”

Duan Yifan grabbed Jiang Nianqiao’s poking hand. “Oops, I was just making a point.”

Lu Xinghe didn’t feel convinced by that statement, and he certainly couldn’t convince himself. Seeing Duan Yuluo about to disappear from his sight, he immediately strode forward to catch up, leaving one sentence behind:

“His best friend can only be me.”