Lin Jianlu sent out the test report and discovered that Xie Wang had sent him a red envelope, asking him to take a taxi back to school.
He typed "Sure," but did not send it.
It wasn't aloof enough—not good.
He tried again.
[YoYo]: Thank you, Da Wang.
Very aloof, very dignified—Xie Wang would definitely like it.
On the way back to school, he realized that his social media inbox had been flooded by "Lin Jianlu's Dog."Work stolen from https://chipoholictranslations.blogspot.com/p/homepage.html
@LinJianlu'sDog2290: Nine-Colored Deer, what's up with liking someone's Weibo and then cancelling it?
@LinJianlu'sDog11: Look at me, I'm an OG fan.
@LinJianlu'sDogdog: Hahaha, YoYo, you were eating melons and accidentally hit Like, didn't ya?
He had already un-liked the post, so why were people still noticing?
Lin Jianlu ignored the private messages. Following his manager's instructions, he reposted the update about the TV drama he was collaborating on and attached a behind-the-scenes song recording from the studio.
Apparently, his songs were very popular in these projects. Several tracks had even climbed into the top three on major platforms, and netizens praised his unique vocal tone and remarked on how good his voice sounded.
It seemed—
Xie Wang had said something similar in bed.
His phone vibrated.
[Lin Ming]: How could I raise such an embarrassing son like you?
Whenever Lin Ming got angry, Lin Jianlu felt great.
That good mood lasted until the evening, when he received a call from an unknown number.
"Is this Lin Jianlu?" the caller asked. "Someone ordered takeout for you."
Takeout?
Lin Jianlu received a food delivery with all his favorite dishes—clearly hand-picked to his taste. It was obvious that Xie Wang had ordered it.
He called to thank him, but the call was answered by Xie Wang's assistant, who said Xie Wang was still on set filming.
Having experienced the life of an actor himself, Lin Jianlu understood how grueling filming could be. Xie Wang was still filming on set this late into the night.
"YoYo?" Xie Wang's voice came through as he took the phone. The alpha was slightly out of breath, his voice deep and low, and each word seemed to echo in Lin Jianlu's heart. "Just finished a scene. Ever since you ran off, this crappy crew doesn't have a single omega. All the alphas are being used as grunt labor."
Lin Jianlu: "…"
"It's all action scenes tonight," Xie Wang continued. "My clothes are drenched in sweat and sticking to me—tight and uncomfortable."
Wow, that must look sexy, Lin Jianlu thought to himself.
Why was he describing it so vividly, so evocatively? Lin Jianlu could practically see it in his mind and felt his heart skip a beat.
"It's a fight scene on the highway," Xie Wang elaborated in great detail. "My injury makeup is one slash across the cheek, a smear at the corner of the mouth, abs streaked with blood, and bandages on my wrist and legs."
Lin Jianlu: "!"
Gimme more.
"Da Wang, what are you doing? Get over here for your rock-bottom, crawling-on-the-ground scene!" the director's voice bellowed from the set.
Xie Wang: "."
"YoYo, I have to go," Xie Wang said his goodbyes before returning to filming.
Lin Jianlu hung up the phone with regret.
He had originally planned to study some professional books and catch up on his semester assignments.
But today, Lin Jianlu found it hard to concentrate. The scene Xie Wang had described earlier was undeniably erotic, and it kept popping into his mind, making it nearly impossible to focus on his studies.
He found himself thinking about Xie Wang.
Any version of him would do. As a recently marked omega, he yearned for the presence of his alpha.
Thankfully, two days later, the second episode of the escape room variety show was set to begin recording, giving him a chance to see Xie Wang again.
He arrived at the recording location about half an hour early.
When Xie Wang arrived, Lin Jianlu nearly stood up to greet him.
But he restrained himself, staying seated quietly on the sofa as usual, exuding an air of icy aloofness. He didn't even spare Xie Wang a glance.
"You're here so early." Xie Wang strode toward him. "Did you rest well yesterday?"
Lin Jianlu nodded.
"I don't have any scenes tonight. You can come over to my place," Xie Wang said in a lowered voice.
Sure! Yes!
He hadn't been there for quite a while.
If only he could live with Da Wang—he would get to see the person he liked every day.
He gave a reserved and indifferent nod.
"Tonight, I'll take you out shopping," Xie Wang added. "See if there's anything you'd like to get."
Is this… an invitation to move in together?
Lin Jianlu was stunned.
How come Xie Wang always hits the bullseye on his secret desires?
"You've already agreed to marry me, so we'll live together sooner or later," Xie Wang explained, matter-of-factly. "Besides, X Uni is far away. It's inconvenient for you to keep returning to your dorm."
Lin Jianlu: "Okay."
He just felt a little reluctant to part with Wei Lan—their days of discussing Fierce A together had been so much fun.
But he had a home now.
It was only then he realized that when two people in love are together it isn't just about physical intimacy. It was about sharing a life and doing countless things together.
Xie Wang's place was really nice.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows, a large vanity unit, plush carpets, and a spacious kitchen island—it seemed like a space where they could unlock endless plays.
Xie Wang had no idea what Lin Jianlu was thinking.
But he had been observing Lin Jianlu, whose usually stoic face showed a dreamy-eyed look as his cheeks suddenly turned a faint shade of red, with a small patch of blush spreading to his ears.
Xie Wang: "…"
Even with his toes, he could figure out it wasn't anything innocent.
When will Lin Jianlu share all this crap with him? Who knows, it might even work out.
"You two came pretty early," Pei Yan said as he shrugged off his jacket, draping it over the armrest of the couch. He glanced at Lin Jianlu. "Good morning!"
Lin Jianlu guessed Pei Yan probably already knew about his relationship with Xie Wang. So, he didn't bother moving away from Xie Wang's hand resting naturally on his lower back and greeted him calmly in return.Work stolen from https://chipoholictranslations.blogspot.com/p/homepage.html
Today's escape room was unexpectedly set in an expansive hospital scenario.
The participants were forced to split into several small groups, and this time, Lin Jianlu and Xie Wang were paired together, locked inside a dark room.
As the surroundings grew quiet, the only sound in Lin Jianlu's ears was the steady breathing of the alpha beside him. The staff had already left the space.
"YoYo?" Xie Wang called softly.
Lin Jianlu: "Here."
But the staff had secured his hands behind the chair again.
The script wasn't written by Wei Lan this time—the whole style felt unfamiliar to him.
Lin Jianlu shook the handcuffs binding his wrists experimentally.
"Bound again, huh?" Xie Wang asked. "I'll go look for the key."
The alpha struggled to free himself from the ropes and groped his way through the darkness toward Lin Jianlu.
Lin Jianlu was staring at the flickering red light outside the door crack when he suddenly felt his alpha's hand brushing over the gland at the back of his neck, as if to soothe him.
"3357, try this code," Lin Jianlu suggested. "The frequency of the different colored lights flashing."
In the darkness, Xie Wang half-knelt in front of him, his alpha breath right next to his ear.
Because it was so dark, Xie Wang occasionally brushed against Lin Jianlu's waist, his knuckles grazing the sensitive area, sending a faint electric jolt through him that left a lingering tingle.
"Doesn't work," Xie Wang said with a soft laugh. "I'll try the reverse."
His alpha's rough fingertips slid repeatedly along the inside of Lin Jianlu's wrist. Thankfully, the room was dark, so Xie Wang couldn't see the blush spreading across his face.
It's really not cold and aloof to blush at every turn.
He was usually cold to others, but in front of this man, it was becoming harder and harder to maintain his usual indifference.
"Spot on."
The handcuffs binding Lin Jianlu's wrists opened with a satisfying click.
Lin Jianlu flexed his wrists and stood up.
But something on the floor tripped him, and he stumbled, falling right into his alpha's arms.
Xie Wang: "?"
"Not now," Xie Wang said.
Lin Jianlu: "?"
What not now?
Couldn't he fall now?
The two of them found clues in the room and successfully opened the secret code door, reuniting with Chen Yimo, Pei Yan and the others.
They hit a roadblock.
The next clue was hidden in the obstetrics room, but an NPC, cold and unyielding, stood in front of the door and blocked anyone from entering.
"Da Wang, come knock out the NPC," Chen Yimo suggested.
"Go ahead, I have insurance," the NPC replied nonchalantly.
Chen Yimo: "..."
Pei Yan leaned in and whispered something into Xie Wang's ear.
Meanwhile, Lin Jianlu was examining the structure of the floor tiles in the corridor. Their colors and shapes were regular and seemed to form a pattern, possibly the code to enter the room.
Lin Jianlu: "???"
Before he could make sense of it, he was abruptly lifted into Xie Wang's arms, carried bridal-style toward the NPC.
"What are you doing?" he whispered in Xie Wang's ear.
"Borrowing you for a moment," Xie Wang replied.
Xie Wang marched up to the NPC and said, "My wife is about to give birth. Open the door!"
Lin Jianlu: "…?"
Heat crept up his cheeks, and he buried his face in Xie Wang's shoulder, too embarrassed to see anyone.
The absurd part? The door actually opened.
No password needed.
That sense of embarrassment lingered all the way until the escape game ended.
As usual, the staff led him into the confession room to ask about the most memorable moment of this round.
"None," Lin Jianlu replied.
I dare not have it.
The cold wind blowing outdoors gradually dissipated the lingering heat on Lin Jianlu's face.
After the show finished recording, Xie Wang mentioned taking him to pick out home furnishings and decorate their room together.
In these aspects, his alpha was much more mature and thoughtful than him.
But they didn't get the chance. Lin Ming called, demanding that Lin Jianlu return home immediately.
Such urgency was nothing more than making things difficult.
"It's a bit sudden," Xie Wang remarked, idly playing with his car keys. "The car I drove today isn't expensive enough, and the watch I'm wearing isn't the priciest one I own."
Lin Jianlu: "..."
A stormy confrontation was brewing.
"Let's go. The sooner, the better," Xie Wang said casually. "Inform them that I'm marrying you."
Lin Jianlu got into the car and was just about to tell Xie Wang the address when the alpha drove out of the garage and onto a road without waiting for directions.
Are we making a stop somewhere else first?
Lin Jianlu fell silent, watching the road.
However, half an hour later, the car rolled to a stop on the Lin Residence's driveway.
Did Xie Wang ask for directions to the Lin Residence beforehand?
Maybe.
The housekeeper wasn't particularly welcoming and asked them to wait on the first floor.
Xie Wang kept his mask and hat on, turning instead to play with a parrot perched on its stand. His movements were practiced, coaxing the bird to flap its wings enthusiastically.
"You like parrots?" Lin Jianlu asked.
Xie Wang didn't really like it. But before his rebirth, he had accompanied Lin Jianlu to the Lin Residence a few times. Each time, Lin Jianlu seemed to treat the parrot better than his own family.
Feeling mischievous, Xie Wang teased, "Are you jealous I'm teasing the parrot?"
Lin Jianlu raised his voice slightly: "Be my guest."
Xie Wang chuckled.
It seemed Lin Jianlu hadn't noticed yet—he was starting to show a little temper.
"Lin Jianlu," Lin Zhi's voice called from upstairs. "You're here with your broke A, huh?"
"Just sit tight," Lin Zhi continued, not even bothering to come downstairs. "Your dad is negotiating a big deal today, and it seems to be with the Xies. It's an opportunity he fought hard to get. You'll have to wait."
Lin Jianlu ignored him and acted as if he didn't exist.
Annoyed, Lin Zhi cussed the broke A out a few more times before returning to his room.
After waiting half an hour, Lin Ming finally returned, his face alight with joy. Walking in with Lin Yang, he chatted enthusiastically, "We actually secured a deal with the Xies. From now on, we must treat anyone from the Xie family with the utmost respect—no room for negligence."
Lin Yang: "Of course."
But as soon as the two spotted Lin Jianlu in the living room, their smiles vanished.
"You're back, huh," Lin Ming said, "And this is the… alpha you found for yourself?"
Lin Jianlu's older brother, Lin Yang, added mockingly, "You've got some nerve showing up here. I suggest we break one of his legs before we even start talking. And Lin Jianlu should be locked up for a few days."Work stolen from https://chipoholictranslations.blogspot.com/p/homepage.html
Lin Jianlu: "He is my alpha."
Xie Wang smiled.
"Hello," he said, rising to his feet and pulling off his mask. "Xie Wang, from the Xie family."
Lin Ming froze. He had once caught a distant glimpse of Xie Wang at a banquet. "You—you—you're that Xie…"
Xie Wang: "I'm exactly that 'destitute, ungrateful, alpha who makes YoYo pay for hotel rooms and bring his own protection.'"
Lin Jianlu: "…"
Cracking his knuckles loudly, Xie Wang added, "I marked him, and I'm here to propose. If it's a fight you want, just let me know which of you is going first."
--------------------
YoYo: ???
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