After being moved to tears by the sworn enemy's pheromones - Chapter 70

Even though Shen Jin buried his head under the covers, he felt extremely unwilling and demanded, in a muffled voice, that Gu Yu should compete again tonight.

“…” Gu Yu nervously rubbed the flattened blanket and asked in a low voice, “Are you sure, senior?”

He didn’t dare to say that Shen Jin cried out louder than a kitten in spring, nor could he admit that the tight, hot passage’s constant contractions hit his heart so intensely that all he wanted was to hold Shen Jin tightly and hear him choke out one more ‘no.’ 

He once thought he was too proud to indulge in such thoughts like other alphas, but now he realized that he was just as full of passion. After just a taste, he was eager to pull Shen Jin into his lap again, to see Shen Jin’s blushing face shyly call him “husband.”

Such an alpha, Gu Yu thought, was truly shameless and undignified.

However, Shen Jin took the initiative to say, “Of course, as long as you’re not too tired from tutoring.”

“…Ahem.” Gu Yu pridefully pinched Shen Jin’s flushed ear and responded calmly, “Not tired. I can barely accompany you for another try, senior.”

But this statement immediately made Shen Jin alert. “Barely?”

He flipped over and rolled into Gu Yu’s arms, wrapping his arms around Gu Yu’s neck and muttering angrily, “I bled so much… am I barely worth it to you?”

Gu Yu’s face turned bright red as he hugged Shen Jin tightly and asked, “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

Shen Jin came to his senses, feeling so humiliated that he nearly bit his own tongue. Gu Yu had no choice but to hold him close, and eventually, he distracted Shen Jin with breakfast.

Over the next few days, they fumbled around and tried a few more times. Shen Jin’s attitude shifted from defiant to playing coy, while Gu Yu gently coaxed him, never revealing how each time his heart was filled with countless ‘ah, ah, ah’s.’

*

As the end of the term approached, Shen Jin found himself busy running between the police station and the courthouse due to the case involving Song Yizhi and Du Jun. He firmly expressed his desire not to forgive them, and the legal process continued as usual. The policewoman from before, who had a sharp and determined look, was still handling the case. When she mentioned that the case would proceed to the court next, Shen Jin could tell from her eyes that the outcome wouldn’t disappoint him.

Thus, Shen Jin was less worried about the case and more concerned about visiting the clinic regularly and whether he and Gu Yu would both fail their exams since Gu Yu had to balance tutoring with his studies.

However, Gu Yu, a freshman, didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. “Fail? You mean we won’t even score 60?”

To Gu Yu, this was inconceivable given his high school exam scores. Shen Jin, on the other hand, sighed at his naivety. “Sometimes it’s harder to score 60 in advanced mathematics than 140 in high school math. Understand?”

But Gu Yu just stared at him blankly, completely confused. “But getting 140 in high school math wasn’t hard either.”

“…” Shen Jin was too exasperated by his innocent response to even speak, and what made it worse was hearing, after his own final exam, that Gu Yu had achieved the highest score and GPA in his department.

The automotive engineering department already received more funding, and with these grades, Gu Yu was sure to receive a scholarship worth tens of thousands. He might even be able to apply for a national scholarship.

So, on the official first day of winter break, Gu Yu’s expression was more arrogant than ever. “Admit defeat?”

“…Not a chance,” Shen Jin replied, sitting on Gu Yu’s lap with his head buried in Gu Yu’s shoulder. “I charge 3,000 a night, and you still can’t afford me.”

Gu Yu chuckled in his ear and asked, “All you do is lie there biting a pillow, and you dare charge that much?”

Shen Jin mumbled, “It’s because… you’re… shaped weirdly.”

Gu Yu suddenly got nervous. “Weird? How?”

But Shen Jin refused to answer and only muttered, “It just… keeps hitting…”

Before he could finish, Gu Yu, blushing without showing any change in expression, pinned Shen Jin to the sofa and gave a final restrained remark. “The sofa’s softer than the bed. I’ll allow you to use a pillow under your waist.”

Shen Jin insisted he didn’t need it, but in the end, he still gave in, clinging to Gu Yu like a kitten in distress, begging him to slow down. It wasn’t until 3 a.m. that Shen Jin woke up again, instinctively reaching out to hug Gu Yu’s waist.

Half-asleep, Gu Yu hugged him back and murmured, “Are you cold?”

Shen Jin’s lungs weren’t in great condition, and to avoid stuffy air, they rarely used the heater in the room. But he pressed against Gu Yu’s chest and answered, “Not cold, I just want to hold you.”

A nationwide cold wave hit as winter break began, and Shen Jin’s cough showed no signs of improvement. “Am I hugging you too tightly? Am I disturbing your sleep?”

Though high school hadn’t let out yet, Gu Yu continued his tutoring, writing many summaries to help the girl he was tutoring organize and understand key math problems. He wasn’t much more free than before the break.

This made Shen Jin feel like a useless spoiled brat, doing nothing but taking medicine and injections, and constantly interrupting Gu Yu’s rest.

Gu Yu sounded more awake as he said, “If I remember correctly, this is the 101st time you’ve asked that.”

Then, with a deliberately serious tone, he added, “Yes, you’re very disruptive.”

Before Shen Jin could feel hurt, Gu Yu solemnly continued, “Doesn’t senior know that a good omega always goes outside to sleep on the streets when they’re sick, so as not to disturb their alpha’s rest? If they can cook and clean before heading out, that’s even better.”

Shen Jin was stunned, but just as he was about to respond, Gu Yu hugged him tighter and said earnestly, “If you head outside now, I guarantee every matchmaker within 500 miles will say you’re perfect for marriage.”

“…More like if you slept on the streets, you’d turn into a freeze-dried strawberry,” Shen Jin retorted, clinging to Gu Yu like a crab. “Sooner or later, you’ll catch this from me~”

He always became particularly pessimistic whenever he felt especially happy, fearing that all the warmth was nothing more than a fleeting illusion. But Gu Yu always noticed this pessimism and wouldn’t allow him to wallow in it.

Gu Yu said, “I’m not taking any extra classes over the winter break. After that high school finishes its finals, I plan to deliver takeout. It pays a bit better than other part-time jobs. Plus, with the national scholarship and my tutoring income, it should cover our basic living expenses for next semester.”

Nowadays, Gu Yu already knew how to make two thousand yuan last a month, but he still planned to earn as much as possible to lighten Shen Jin’s burden.

Yes, this was money he had earned himself. He didn’t take Jiang Lan or Tao Yan’s advice to borrow money from them or sell old things. He just wanted to calmly tell his father that he could support both himself and Shen Jin through their studies and living expenses without any reliance on the Gu family.

Gu Yu hoped that Shen Jin would never have to live through another day of worrying about the next meal.

“But why should I spend your money? I have my own.” Shen Jin tried to pull away, but Gu Yu forcefully held him back in his arms. “You really think I don’t know what’s on your mind?”

Without any hesitation, Gu Yu exposed Shen Jin’s thoughts: “You’re afraid that one day, when I hear you cough because you’re sick, I’ll stop being anxious and start being annoyed. You’re scared that I’ll wake up and realize I shouldn’t have gone against my family at such a young age. And you’re even more afraid that one day I’ll fall out of love with you, decide to leave you, and you’ll be alone again. Isn’t that right?”

Shen Jin was struck to his core, frozen by Gu Yu’s words. But Gu Yu continued, “So what are you waiting for? Spend more of my money while you can! At least you won’t lose out.”

Shen Jin struggled, protesting, “What kind of twisted logic is that? I’ll keep writing analysis reports for the team over the break. Our living expenses will be fine. Besides, I’m not taking the grad school exam. I’ll be looking for a job in the second half of junior year. It’s freezing outside, and it’s dangerous. You’re not allowed to run around like that.”

“Running around? I’m just exercising and earning some money on the side,” Gu Yu poked Shen Jin’s face. “I’ve said it before: I have my own mind. I’m not the kind of alpha who listens to everything you say.”

Shen Jin’s breathing became erratic, and his cough grew violent. Gu Yu quickly patted his back, panicking, “Except for this and the fact that celery doesn’t taste bad, I’ll listen to everything else you say.”

Shen Jin, frustrated, burrowed his head against Gu Yu, who let him “abuse” him without complaint, expressionlessly asking Shen Jin to go easy on him.

The winter night’s moonlight was hazy, and in the midst of their playful tussle, Gu Yu was careful to protect Shen Jin’s head, always gentle when he leaned down to kiss him.

He understood that Shen Jin did trust him. It was just that Shen Jin’s extremely loveless upbringing had caused this deep sense of insecurity, a pessimism that could only be soothed with a lot of love.

Gu Yu felt heartache but wasn’t afraid. He knew that Shen Jin, at least now, was willing to show what he truly wanted: his love.

He had plenty of time to give Shen Jin lots and lots of love.

So he tilted his head, observing Shen Jin’s defeated expression, and leaned in a little closer. “Still not sleepy?”

The angry pretense on Shen Jin’s face dissolved, and he curled into Gu Yu’s arms with full reliance, giving up. “Not really… maybe I should just put on a breakup playlist and cry till dawn.”

Shen Jin’s ears were burning with embarrassment over his “melodramatic” behavior, making him look like a wine-soaked little peach, pink and soft. Naturally, Gu Yu didn’t let him off the hook. “Who knows, maybe you really do cry every night after I fall asleep?”

Shen Jin lowered his head, lips pursed, as if silently admitting it, causing Gu Yu to suddenly panic. “Shen Jin?”

But Shen Jin suddenly lifted his head, giving him a doting kiss on the forehead with a smile. “Gotcha!”

Gu Yu was stunned, then, in anger, wrapped his arms around Shen Jin and began tickling him. Shen Jin couldn’t take it and eventually begged for mercy, and only then did they declare a truce and close their eyes to sleep.

The moonlight was as gentle as ever, and so was Shen Jin, resting in Gu Yu’s arms. The happiness in his chest could no longer be contained, and he felt just a little more at ease.

*

After the high school’s final exam results were released, Gu Yu’s tutoring job received high praise. The parents of the student even called to give Gu Yu a red envelope. Shen Jin, curious, asked, “How much did that little girl improve?”

“I went through the question types twice and explained them to her in simpler terms. I also taught her some tricks for quick calculations, and she seemed to catch on quite well,” Gu Yu said. “She improved by over 20 points in math and physics combined. As for the other subjects, I’m not sure.”

Gu Yu hadn’t been tutoring for long, so the parents’ satisfaction was understandable.

“Over 20 points?” Shen Jin, impressed, took the opportunity to nudge, “To celebrate, how about you quit the delivery job? It’s too dangerous. I’ll play games with you, and it’ll count as material for tactical reports.”

But Gu Yu saw through him in an instant, calmly and firmly replying, “It’s not dangerous. The platform has already given me a temporary uniform. You might as well give up on that idea.”