Who Wants to Be the Affectionate Cannon Fodder?! [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 19

Dark clouds pressed down on the city. The once bright azure sky turned into a gloomy night as a gale-driven torrential rain poured down.

Raindrops tapped rhythmically against the glass panes, leaving long, thin streaks of water. In the hazy mist, the leaves outside were washed to a brilliant sheen, and the fast-moving car lights looked as if they had been dyed. A damp fragrance mixed with the scent of earth seeped through the cracks of the door.

Yu Lin sat on the windowsill, a metal toy knife dancing nimbly between his fingers. The cold reflection of the blade flickered across his face, casting a heavy, ink-like shadow.

Xie Zhizhang was off today and was likely at the nursing home accompanying his grandmother. Yu Lin had forgotten his reminder from yesterday before leaving. But even if he had remembered, he probably would have still sat here all afternoon.

Having visited frequently over the past half-month, Xie Zhizhang’s colleagues had grown familiar with him. Although Xie Zhizhang had explained that Yu Lin was just in a bad mood and came to relax, most people took it as a shy excuse. To them, Yu Lin’s purpose was clearly to pursue him.

As the misunderstanding spread, the Devotion Points in the background rose uncontrollably. Furthermore, since Mother Lin knew he went out every day to find Xie Zhizhang, he had managed to accumulate quite a bit from various sources.

Yu Lin did not know when he would be able to leave. He had stayed here for ten months; truth be told, he didn’t have much lingering attachment. Yet, the thought of this life coming to an end inevitably made him feel a bit uneasy.

Because Lin He was still giving him the cold shoulder.

“Hello, I see you’ve finished your iced milk. Would you like to drink something else?”

Yu Lin did not like coffee; he found it too bitter. Every time he came, he traditionally ordered a single glass of iced milk to last the whole session.

His hands did not stop moving as he glanced at the Alpha leaning his arms on the windowsill. The man looked like a recent graduate, his face full of vibrant, youthful energy.

Yu Lin had some impression of him because he was one of the few among Xie Zhizhang’s colleagues who did not believe he was pursuing Xie Zhizhang. The man refused to contribute even a single Devotion Point to him; it was truly detestable.

The Alpha had been watching him from behind the bar all afternoon. Yu Lin couldn’t tell what his motive was, but since he sensed no malice, he hadn’t paid much attention. He didn’t expect the man to take the initiative to strike up a conversation now.

“No need,” Yu Lin replied coldly, his gaze falling on the leaves beaten down by the rain. He hadn’t brought an umbrella and was considering how he would get back later.

“Xie Zhizhang is off today; he probably won’t be coming,” the Alpha said, leaning half against a chair as he turned toward Yu Lin. “The rain is very heavy, and you didn’t bring an umbrella. Do you want to leave together later? I can drive you back.”

Yu Lin looked at him in confusion. At first, he didn’t quite understand, but combining the man’s flat Devotion Points, his afternoon-long scrutiny, and his sudden approach while Xie Zhizhang was away, he reached a conclusion.

“Do you want to pursue Xie Zhizhang?”

As soon as these words came out, not only did the Alpha’s face show an embarrassed and startled expression, but even System 007 said in wonder: “Did you never consider other possibilities?”

“What?” Yu Lin asked, puzzled.

“Is there a possibility that some Alphas also like Betas?”

Yu Lin suddenly understood.

“I actually…” The Alpha was about to deny it when he heard Yu Lin say: “Actually, were you trying to hit on me just now?”

Realizing Yu Lin understood his meaning, an excited look appeared on the Alpha’s face. He nodded like a puppy and pressed: “Can we get to know each other? I’ve been noticing you since the first day you walked in. Although everyone says you’re here to pursue Xie Zhizhang, I don’t think so. You and Xie Zhizhang… aren’t very well-matched.”

Yu Lin’s hands stopped. He tilted his head, sizing up the man’s face with interest as a sly light spread through his eyes.

“How do you know we aren’t matched?” Yu Lin’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of flirtatious mockery.

The Alpha was a bit embarrassed by his stare. He scratched his head bashfully and stammered: “You look… very obedient, like you really need someone to protect you. Xie Zhizhang is the same.”

Yu Lin suddenly lost interest. He pinched the toy blade and spun it into a metallic blur.

Seeing the warmth vanish from Yu Lin’s face, the Alpha realized he had said something wrong and hurriedly tried to fix it: “I didn’t mean it like that, I meant—”

The cafe door was pushed open. The wind chimes hanging by the door gave a crisp tinkle. The newcomer shook the rain off his umbrella, placed it by the door, and walked over steadily, carrying a chill with him.

“Lin Zhou, time to go home.”

Yu Lin lifted his eyelids to look at Lin He. He pursed his lips and said nothing.

The Alpha, on the other hand, turned around in surprise. His gaze swept over the bracelet on the man’s wrist, and he furrowed his brows imperceptibly, appearing somewhat uncomfortable. “Sir, in a public place, please…”

“Apologies.” Lin He glanced at him. “Seeing my younger brother being hit on by an Alpha, I couldn’t quite help myself.”

Alpha: “…”

Yu Lin looked toward Lin He’s car parked at the roadside. Thinking of the familiar silhouette he had been vaguely spotting over the past few days, he didn’t know how to feel.

But he truly should go back; he was getting hungry. Lin He’s arrival spared him the need to head home in the rain, yet for some reason, he felt a bit resistant.

He hopped off the chair, but without saying a word to Lin He, he headed straight for the door.

Lin He didn’t want him to get soaked, so he didn’t delay. He opened his umbrella and followed silently behind him.

It wasn’t until he sat in the driver’s seat and buckled his seatbelt that Lin He looked up and saw Yu Lin’s shimmering eyes through the rearview mirror.

“Are you finally planning to acknowledge me?” Yu Lin spoke neutrally, yet his tone carried a trace of nearly imperceptible grievance.

“I…” Lin He’s heart was thrown into disarray by his bluntness. He wanted to explain but didn’t know where to start.

“Do you think I’m in the way? Or do you find me a nuisance?” Yu Lin turned his head, staring directly at Lin He’s cold face. His speaking pace was steady; rather than an interrogation, it sounded more like a genuine doubt. “Is that why you were so eager to send me home? Then why come find me now? Mm, the car I saw the other day was yours, too.”

Caught off guard by the truth, the expression on Lin He’s face gradually stiffened.

“I’m so tired, Brother.” Yu Lin looked away, his thumb rubbing the dull edge of the toy knife. “How can human thoughts be so hard to understand?”

Lin He’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. He took two deep breaths and slowly turned his head to gaze at Yu Lin’s profile. The rain was still falling outside, drumming against the car windows with a pitter-patter that matched his chaotic thoughts.

A pair of headlights flashed by, the light sweeping across his flickering eyes. Lin He hesitated for a moment, his lips moving slightly as he said: “That’s not it.”

“What?”

“I don’t think you’re in the way, and I don’t find you a nuisance.” Lin He’s throat was dry. He had wanted to stop this conversation several times, but seeing Yu Lin’s eyes, he forced himself to continue. “I sent you back because of my Rut. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself and might hurt you.”

“Why would you think you could hurt me?” Yu Lin asked with a frown, sounding confused. “Even when you’re sober, you clearly can’t beat me in a fight.”

“…” Lin He was almost moved to frustrated laughter by the boy’s lack of romantic awareness. He controlled his emotions, sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose helplessly. “During a Rut, an Alpha’s pheromones are very overbearing. Even a Beta is likely to be affected. Moreover, we aren’t biological brothers; you have no immunity to my pheromones.”

Yu Lin blinked. He didn’t get it.

“Forget it,” Lin He said helplessly. “It was my fault. It won’t happen again. Forgive me, okay?”

Yu Lin was silent for a while. Just as Lin He thought he wouldn’t answer, he suddenly nodded.

“Brother, I don’t like it when you ignore me. It makes me sad.”

Lin He froze. After a long pause, he finally replied, “Okay.”

After that day, Yu Lin and Lin He returned to their previous way of interacting. However, to squeeze out more Devotion Points, Yu Lin still went to the cafe where Xie Zhizhang worked every day, waiting for Lin He to pick him up after work.

Xie Zhizhang’s colleague wanted to approach him again the next day, but halfway there, he seemed to sense something. He stopped abruptly, gave Yu Lin a look of complex emotion, and retreated sulkily to the bar.

Yu Lin found it strange but didn’t pay it much mind. However, Xie Zhizhang also seemed hesitant to speak in front of him lately, sitting further away than before during their conversations. He wondered if Xie Zhizhang had heard something.

“Is Big Brother Lin He’s Rut still not over?” Xie Zhizhang asked tentatively.

Yu Lin replied, “I’m not really sure.”

“I think I heard before that during a Rut, Alphas exhibit territorial marking behavior, much like an Omega’s nesting.” Xie Zhizhang glanced at Yu Lin’s hand playing with the knife. “But you’re a Beta, so you probably can’t smell it.”

Yu Lin gave a casual “Mm,” his mind entirely occupied by the seafood buffet compensation for tonight.

On the day the college entrance exam results were released, Yu Lin and Xie Zhizhang checked their scores together at the cafe.

The loading bar on the website spun several times. Finally, on the sixth attempt, it refreshed successfully.

Xie Zhizhang scored 673, thirty points higher than the previous year’s cutoff for University A’s medical department. This score was more than enough to aim for prestigious schools in other provinces, but since his grandmother was here, Xie Zhizhang did not want to leave, nor could he.

As for Yu Lin, his score composition was still exceptionally bizarre. He nearly got full marks in Physics and Mathematics. Under Xie Zhizhang’s daily “drilling,” his English was passable. Only his Chinese score dragged down all his other subjects.

“596. Last year’s international cooperation program at University A was around this score,” Yu Lin said flatly.

Xie Zhizhang was somewhat shocked and advised: “With this score, you could get into other schools. There’s no need to waste money on that program.”

“But wherever you are, I will be there.” Yu Lin looked at him steadily, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Devotion Points in the background jumped another thirty points, coming from Xie Zhizhang’s eavesdropping colleagues.

Yu Lin was very satisfied and continued: “I don’t want to be apart from you.”

But Xie Zhizhang said nothing.

He had actually never sensed “love” from Yu Lin; he also couldn’t fathom why Yu Lin always insisted on putting on this act of being deeply in love.

However, none of that mattered.

“Thank you.” Xie Zhizhang took a step forward and gave Yu Lin an embrace, devoid of any eroticism.

He didn’t expect to look up and meet the eyes of Lin He, who was standing just outside the door.