This Alpha Is So Devoted to His Wife - Chapter 42

The swimming team’s locker room.

Lu Xinghe had just entered from the natatorium, his wet hair carelessly combed back, exposing the superior contours of his mixed Chinese and Western features. His upper body was bare, and gray sweatpants hugged his long legs; his physique was tall, conveying a sense of sturdiness somewhere between a boy and a young man, having recently shot up in height.

He casually wiped his hair with a towel and walked to his own locker. When he opened it, he saw another Ultraman figure, and quietly closed the locker door again.

“…”

Who, just who is it!

This month, they’ve sent him no less than ten limited-edition Ultraman figures!

“Which kid sent you an Ultraman this time?”

Lu Xinghe heard a laugh behind him, and looked over to see Duan Yifan. He threw the towel off his shoulder: “Why are you peeking into my locker?”

Duan Yifan raised his hand to catch the towel, looking innocent: “I wasn’t, I didn’t mean to look, it would be weird not to see an Ultraman that big. So, which admirer sent you something? That’s quite unique.”

Then, after a moment’s thought, he couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

Lu Xinghe pressed the locker door shut, his expression deep in thought.

He had recently noticed that his drawer was always mysteriously filled with many love letters, all with the same handwriting. He suspected they were written by the same person, but he didn’t know who it was—the writing looked a little childish, like a kid’s.

Moreover, his locker would contain all sorts of gifts, every one of them touching his heart, basically nailing his preferences precisely. However, lately, the gifts had turned into Ultraman figures, and there were so many that he found them difficult to deal with.

He began to feel wary: Who could possibly know so much about his preferences, and perfectly know when he wasn’t here?

After pondering, he looked at Duan Yifan, who was watching the show: “Tell me, who exactly would know my favorite things and also know exactly when I’m not here?”

Duan Yifan opened his own locker and took out his toiletries: “That goes without saying. It’s an ardent fan who knows your likes like the back of their hand and has your schedule memorized. By the way, what date do you leave for the F Nation competition?”

“Next Tuesday.” Lu Xinghe opened his locker, silently looking at the transparent gift box containing the Ultraman figure lying inside. He thought for a moment and still took it out.

Duan Yifan glanced at him: “How are you going to deal with it? Throw it away?”

“That would be a waste,” Lu Xinghe lifted the gift box, looking it over. He spotted a serial number on the bottom right corner of the box—it truly was a limited edition, one of those rare ones with a price but no market: “I’ll take it to give to Zai Zai.”

Duan Yifan laughed out loud, grabbing his clothes and heading for the shower room: “You’re taking credit for others’ generosity. Zai Zai will kill you if he finds out.”

Just then, there was a commotion at the door.

Hearing the movement, Lu Xinghe looked toward the doorway and saw Duan Yu’luo. He quickly looked down at his own bare upper body, and frantically tried to find something to cover himself. He was holding the gift box, and in his rush, he could only pick up the gift box to cover his body.

Seeing that Duan Yifan was also shirtless, Lu Xinghe quickly threw the towel from his own shoulder onto him, his expression darkening: “Cover up! Aren’t you ashamed!”

Duan Yifan: “???”

Why was Lu Xinghe telling him to be ashamed? This was the Alpha locker room, for crying out loud!

Duan Yu’luo hadn’t actually planned to come in. He was standing outside the door, intending only to look for Lu Xinghe, as the guy hadn’t asked him to watch his swims lately: “I—”

“Get out!” Seeing that Duan Yu’luo looked like he might enter, Lu Xinghe frowned aggressively, pointing toward the door to signal him to leave.

Hearing his harsh tone, Duan Yu’luo didn’t get angry at all and dutifully moved to the side, leaning against the outside wall of the corridor.

Seeing Duan Yu’luo leave so obediently, Lu Xinghe wondered if he had been too harsh. The next second, however—

A head peeked through the doorway.

Duan Yu’luo held onto the door frame with his hands, his head poked into the locker room. He met Lu Xinghe’s gaze, his brows slightly curved, and he sweetly asked, “Xingxing, this doesn’t count as me coming in, right?”

The youth in the white shirt only poked his head in from outside; his clean white sneakers were, like his head, only showing a little tip. He tilted his head, a look of sincerity on his face. Behind him was the blazing summer sun; the light falling on him was backlit, outlining the clean, delicate contours of his face, where even the fine baby hair was clearly visible.

For a certain person, every single strand of that hair was an irresistible ‘type’ target.

Ten seconds later, a certain big dog skipped his shower, quickly threw on his clothes, grabbed the limited-edition Ultraman gift box, and rushed out. He handsomely presented it to Duan Yu’luo.

“This is for you.”

Duan Yu’luo looked at the gift he had personally wrapped last night: “…”

His gaze was resentful as he stared at Lu Xinghe.

Lu Xinghe held up the gift box, indicating for him to look at the Ultraman’s serial number inside the transparent box: “Look, this is your favorite Zero. Isn’t he the one you love the most?”

Duan Yu’luo furrowed his brow and pushed the gift box down.

“?” Lu Xinghe noticed his action: “Don’t you like it anymore?”

Duan Yu’luo was speechless for a moment, turned around, and walked away. It seemed this method wasn’t working to get Lu Xinghe to make a move, so he would have to take the initiative. Continuing to test like this wouldn’t yield any results.

If he followed the online guides, constantly remaining in this passive, back-and-forth position instead of choosing to attack proactively, he might not end up getting what he wanted.

Lu Xinghe hugged the gift box and quickly followed, observing the other person’s expression. He sensed that Duan Yu’luo was a little unhappy: “What’s wrong, Zai Zai? Do you think it’s not good-looking? Fine, I also think this version of Zero isn’t good-looking.”

He was then glared at.

“…?”

Duan Yu’luo stopped, reached out and patted the gift box, and looked at Lu Xinghe with a deadpan expression: “Is this Zero not good-looking?”

His tone sounded a bit aggressive.

Lu Xinghe thought Duan Yu’luo was questioning him: “No, it’s not good-looking.”

Duan Yu’luo frowned.

Seeing the situation, Lu Xinghe immediately nodded seriously: “It’s good-looking.”

Duan Yu’luo: “It had better be.”

Lu Xinghe: “…” Seeing Duan Yu’luo walk away, he pondered behind him in confusion: So is it good-looking or not? Does he like it or not?

He lifted the gift box he was holding. Forget it, he’d better return it to the person who gave it to him later.

Back in the classroom, the air conditioning made the temperature very comfortable. During the long break, those who wanted outdoor activities were outside, while those inside were chatting and laughing together.

Duan Yu’luo walked to his seat and sat down, subconsciously glancing at Lu Xinghe’s drawer. He vaguely saw the envelope, and as Lu Xinghe sat down, he looked up and said to him: “Lu Xinghe, you have a love letter.”

Lu Xinghe’s eyes widened. He immediately sat down and, very cautiously, put his hand into the drawer, rummaging around: “No, there can’t be one! Absolutely not! Rest assured, there isn’t one!”

He knew Duan Yu’luo was already unhappy about the frequent love letters he had received recently. Seeing one again now would definitely make him angry. He quickly shoved the pink envelope, which was showing a small corner, back into the drawer, pressing it under his textbook, pretending not to see it.

A classic example of protesting one’s innocence too much.

Duan Yu’luo took a deep breath: “…” He then turned his gaze, which was faintly critical, onto Lu Xinghe, and said flatly: “Take it out and read it.”

“No, there really is no love letter.” Lu Xinghe immediately slumped onto his desk, using his waist and abdomen to block the drawer. He rested his head on his arms and turned to look at Duan Yu’luo: “I promise, there really isn’t.”

“Take it out.”

“Zai Zai, it really isn’t a love letter.”

“3—”

Lu Xinghe quickly pulled out the love letter and handed it to Duan Yu’luo, terrified of being a second too late.

“Open it.” Duan Yu’luo leaned back against his chair.

Lu Xinghe pinched the corner of the love letter, as if he were afraid of what might happen if he touched it. He observed Duan Yu’luo’s expression: “Zai Zai, I shouldn’t open it, right?”

“I want you to open it.”

“Wouldn’t that be wrong?”

“Don’t you need to know who sent it to you?” Duan Yu’luo met Lu Xinghe’s returning gaze, his eyes clear and composed: “How will you know who sent it if you don’t open it?”

Lu Xinghe’s expression froze slightly, hearing that very familiar rhetoric.

—Didn’t you tell me not to read love letters from others?

—How will you know who sent it if you don’t read it.

Outside, the cicadas chirped noisily. The envelope tearing open made a slight sound, surrounded by the laughter of classmates. The childish handwriting on the paper expressed the most direct and fervent anonymous affection. The summer heat was mixed with an irrepressible feeling, as if articulating some kind of emotion through sound.

【I want to have a baby with you.】

Lu Xinghe’s hand trembled. He slowly turned his gaze to Duan Yu’luo, took a deep breath, and his expression was quite subtle.

“What does it say?” Duan Yu’luo casually flipped open his economics textbook, making some kind of mark with his pen, his tone conversational.

“Ridiculous.”

Duan Yu’luo’s pen tip paused. Ink slowly seeped out from the tip due to the pressure, and his eyes gradually deepened.

“Looking at this handwriting, it’s probably a kid from the junior high section. How can someone so young dare to say such things to an Alpha?” Lu Xinghe thought back to the gifts and letters he’d received frequently this month. This was the most ridiculous one yet. He put the love letter away, pulled his chair closer to Duan Yu’luo, and lowered his voice: “Zai Zai, you can’t learn from them. We have to be good.”

“Why?”

Just as Lu Xinghe was folding the letter, he felt a leg press against his side. His movement froze. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Duan Yu’luo resting his chin on his arm, turning his head to look at him.

His posture was lazy, his eyes clear and clean, with an indescribable innocence and purity.

Yet, he was also like a cat, scratching at one’s heart.

Lu Xinghe’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The thigh that was being pressed against moved away quietly, as if it had been burned. He averted his gaze and cleared his throat, his hands fumbling as he folded the letter: “Well—”

Duan Yu’luo sensed Lu Xinghe’s avoidance but didn’t back down at all, his eyes still following him. He softened his voice and said very lightly: “Xingxing, I can, too.”

“I can also have a baby.”

Suddenly, the chair scraped against the floor, making a harsh sound.

Lu Xinghe hastily stuffed the love letter into his pocket, his face pretending to be calm. He didn’t even dare to look at Duan Yu’luo anymore. He pushed his chair in: “I’m going out to buy a bottle of water. Do you want one? I’ll buy it for you.”

He walked out of the classroom before the other person even had a chance to respond.

Duan Yu’luo slowly sat up straight, leaning against the chair back. His expression unchanged, he watched the direction Lu Xinghe had left in.

It’s okay. Keep going.

He had decided to take the initiative.

…

Consequently, in the following days, he noticed Lu Xinghe’s abnormality: Lu Xinghe was avoiding him.

“Xingxing, going to eat?”

“Oh, I… I made plans with someone. Another day.”

“Xingxing, going to play ball?”

“Let me see. I’ll finish my paper first. Why don’t you go find Duan Yifan and the others?”

“Xingxing, I want you to scrub my back.”

“…You’re an Omega, Zai Zai, you can’t.”

“Xingxing, can I sleep with you tonight?”

“…Zai Zai, stop messing around.”

Even when they were at home on the weekend, when he changed clothes in front of Lu Xinghe, the guy would quietly turn away and avoid looking.

He simply couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

During the after-school hours, there were still quite a few boys playing basketball on the school court, especially many good-looking Alphas, making it a very eye-catching sight during after-school hours. Many Omegas loved to watch them here after school.

Duan Yu’luo stood outside the court and happened to see the most eye-catching one leaping up to dunk the ball.

Tall and muscular, with fair, well-built skin. The basketball hit the rim with a ‘bang’ and dropped into the hoop. His posture was so cool that many Omegas outside the court screamed.

Lu Xinghe successfully shot the last ball, raising his hands in victory. His teammates cheered, and he laughed, pulling his jersey up over his abdomen to wipe his sweat, revealing his pale, handsome abdominal muscles. Just when he thought he had vented enough, he turned around and caught a glimpse of a familiar, slender figure standing outside the court: Duan Yu’luo.

His childhood friend, wearing a white shirt, stood under a tree. The wind slightly billowed the hem of his loose shirt. He happened to meet the gaze Lu Xinghe cast over.

In that one glance, the fire he had just vented flared up again uncontrollably.

Lately, Duan Yu’luo seemed to be particularly clingy to him. He loved that feeling, but he also had to avoid him because he knew his own lack of self-control might not be steadfast. However, if he kept avoiding him, would Duan Yu’luo get angry?

Would he end up exposing himself?

Then he saw Duan Yu’luo waving at him from outside the netting.

“…”

A teammate behind him laughed and nudged his arm: “What are you doing? Go on, don’t let your darling wait too long.”

Listening to his teammate, Lu Xinghe lowered his head, pulled his shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face, and walked toward the outside of the court.

It was as if the whole world knew Duan Yu’luo was his darling. Wouldn’t Duan Yu’luo himself know?

This guy had been so smart since he was a child.

Duan Yu’luo watched Lu Xinghe run out from the court, and when he stood in front of him, Duan Yu’luo looked up slightly at him and asked with a smile: “Lu Xinghe, why are you avoiding me? Do you have time to play ball with others but no time to spend with me?”

“No, it’s just—”

Seeing that the person was about to step back again, Duan Yu’luo grabbed his waistband and pulled him closer, not letting him retreat.

Pulled so close, Lu Xinghe held up his arms, not daring to touch him, his Adam’s apple bobbing: “…Speak properly if you have something to say, don’t stand so close.”

“What’s been wrong with you lately?” Duan Yu’luo asked directly: “Are you dating someone?”

Lu Xinghe stared at the beautiful, fair-skinned face in front of him, his possessiveness growing stronger: “No.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?” Seeing that he wasn’t going to answer, Duan Yu’luo pulled him even closer.

At such proximity, the faint scent of their pheromones lingered between their noses.

Duan Yu’luo inhaled the scent. He knew he would only grow to like Lu Xinghe’s pheromones more and more, but his affection for Lu Xinghe was definitely not because of the pheromones; it was because he genuinely liked him, and the pheromones were just an assist.

And his and Lu Xinghe’s pheromone compatibility was at a peak of 120%. Could this guy really resist his closeness?

His attempts to avoid him over the past few days were perhaps too obvious.

“Answer me.”

This demanding statement rang out near his ear.

Lu Xinghe steadied himself. Seeing Duan Yu’luo’s expression suggested he was getting angry, Lu Xinghe knew how clingy this guy had been lately. But the more clingy he was, the more Lu Xinghe felt he would easily lose control.

He took a deep breath: “Zai Zai, I—”

“Don’t make any excuses about being busy. You’re not busy.”

Lu Xinghe: “…” He looked away and pondered for a long time: “Zai Zai, well, I—”

“Look me in the eye when you speak. Why are you avoiding me?” Duan Yu’luo directly pinched Lu Xinghe’s face, forcing him to look at him, his gaze intense: “Lu Xinghe, if you keep this up, I won’t talk to you anymore. I’ll never talk to you again.”

Lu Xinghe heard the displeasure in Duan Yu’luo’s tone. He took another deep breath, was silent for a moment, pursed his lips, and took hold of Duan Yu’luo’s wrist, using the action to placate him.

Seeing that he was still stalling, Duan Yu’luo frowned: “3—”

Only then did Lu Xinghe lower his eyes to look at the Omega in front of him and confessed: “Don’t be like this. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.”

Duan Yu’luo: “…?” Ripples spread in his eyes.

As Lu Xinghe spoke, he recalled the threat made by Luo Yudan on the day of Duan Yu’luo’s differentiation ceremony, when he’d pinned him against the wall.

—Lu Xinghe, if you dare to touch my brother while you’re in high school, I don’t care what country’s royalty you are, I won’t leave you with many unbroken bones. I, Luo Yudan, mean what I say.

But…

If Zai Zai kept being this clingy, wouldn’t he have his chance? If he backed off again, wouldn’t he be giving the opportunity to someone else?

Under the tree canopy, the two youths with the noticeable size difference stared at each other.

It was as if something that had been pried open in a heart concealing its feelings was no longer willing to hide.

…

Night fell.

【I’m going to the F Nation competition tomorrow. We’ll talk when I get back.】

In the bedroom, Duan Yu’luo sat at his desk. His phone vibrated with a message from Lu Xinghe. He looked at the words “F Nation,” and then thought of the seemingly careless words Lu Xinghe had spoken this morning, and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

He felt he couldn’t wait for Lu Xinghe to come back to talk.

So, he opened a ticketing app and directly bought a plane ticket to the F Nation. To avoid arousing suspicion from his family, he chose a ten a.m. flight, meaning their family driver would drop him off at school, and then he would secretly sneak out of school to the airport.

A perfect plan.

Meanwhile, at the F Nation Olympic Swimming Complex.

With a ‘beep’ signal for entering the water, the young swimmers dove into the pool like arrows. The tallest and fairest of the muscular youths was like he was born for the water, like the fastest sailfish in the sea, instantly closing the hundred-meter distance.

On the LED board displaying the results, XingHe Lu from China had once again broken the fastest record for the International Youth Champion in the 100-meter freestyle, reaching the level of a Grade 1 athlete.

The lights high above the competition venue were bright as day, yet they couldn’t conceal the tall youth who shone brilliantly on the first-place podium.

Duan Yu’luo sat in the audience, watching Lu Xinghe, who had just won first place again on the podium, smiling so brightly that the sunlight couldn’t outshine his radiance.

So, he was indeed a proper fan who was following his star.

He put on his baseball cap and quietly left the audience area. Time to go, to avoid being discovered.

Lu Xinghe was stepping off the podium with his bouquet and trophy when his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a familiar, slender figure. However, the moving person flitted past, and a look of confusion crossed his eyes. He quickly dismissed the speculation from his mind.

How could that guy possibly be here?

Duan Yu’luo left the swimming complex. He had planned to take a taxi back to the hotel but had a sudden urge to walk around the vicinity. He happened to pass a pink church where a new couple was getting married. His eyes lingered for a long time. He looked up, then stepped back a few paces.

A pink church…

【nice to meet you.】

This was a church in the F Nation.

So, the love letter he received last time had a postcard of a local building in the F Nation. Lu Xinghe had been so anxious for him to look at it. At the time, he had asked Lu Xinghe if he knew where it was. How could he not know? It was clearly near the swimming complex.

A light ignited in his eyes.

Hotel—

Duan Yu’luo walked out of his room, preparing to check out, but as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he ran directly into Lu Xinghe. His heart skipped a beat.

“Yes, I’ll be flying back home this afternoon. Someone is waiti—” Lu Xinghe was carrying his gym bag and chatting with his coach in English. The elevator doors opened, and he was about to step in when he saw someone who shouldn’t be there. His face suddenly darkened: “Duan Yu’luo, what are you doing here?”

Duan Yu’luo: “…” He calmly adjusted his baseball cap: “Following a star.”

This statement made Lu Xinghe explode.

“Are you crazy, Duan Yu’luo? You’re only sixteen, and you dare to skip school and run abroad to follow a star? What kind of love-struck idiot are you? And you came to a hotel! Did he tell you to come here? Aren’t you afraid of being tricked??”

Duan Yu’luo didn’t speak.

Lu Xinghe was furious. He never imagined his Zai Zai would do something so crazy and dangerous. He threw his bag down and grabbed Duan Yu’luo’s shoulders: “Duan Yu’luo, look at me right now. Do you know what you’re doing? Did you talk to your family about coming here? Are you skipping school to come here to follow a star?!”

Duan Yu’luo slowly looked up at Lu Xinghe: “Yes, I skipped school to come here to follow my star.”

Lu Xinghe took a deep breath, his heart aching from anger. He reached out and lifted Duan Yu’luo by the back of his collar: “You come up with me.”

Duan Yu’luo: “…”

He was carried into the elevator like a little chick.

Seriously, I should have walked two steps faster.

The hotel hallway was long and dimly lit. The carpet muffled the sound of footsteps.

“Duan Yu’luo, I really underestimated you. You actually dared to run off this far to follow a star! Did anyone protect you when you dared to run out of the country? If your dad finds out—”

Lu Xinghe stood in front of his hotel room door. He was holding the doorknob, preparing to swipe his key card, when he felt a head rest against his back.

This act, akin to a cuddle, made his movement pause.

The door made a ‘drip’ sound and opened a crack. Then, Duan Yu’luo’s voice came quietly from behind him.

“I came here to follow you.”

Lu Xinghe’s expression froze instantly. In that split second, his brain seemed to stop thinking; even his ability to analyze the statement paused.

Then, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist from behind, his cheek pressed against Lu Xinghe’s back, a deeply intimate gesture.

“Lu Xinghe, I like you.”

Boom! Something felt like it was about to explode.

It felt like his heart was about to explode.