After being moved to tears by the sworn enemy's pheromones - Chapter 93

Three or four years of university life flew by much faster than high school. It seemed as though it was just a few emergency exam cramming sessions, attending a couple of small concerts on the sports field, watching a World Cup, and going crazy twice, calling people to eat hot pot in the middle of the night. In a blink, years had passed.

Somehow, Shen Jin and Gu Yu had become a well-known couple around the university town. Occasionally, they would be caught in a street interview on West Street, and when the video hit short video platforms, people would recognize them: “Damn, those two handsome guys from C University, are they showing off their happiness again?”

However, on social media, Shen Jin was much more diligent about sharing his game records than his daily life. Gu Yu, on the other hand, had mysteriously learned a bunch of “photography tricks” and became even more obsessed with taking photos of Shen Jin. Shen Jin could be munching on a peach, and Gu Yu would post it to his social media, not caring if Shen Jin looked like a little monkey in the photo—he thought it was cute, and that was the only standard.

If they had no classes in the afternoon and went out for a date, all their friends would be bombarded by Gu Yu’s photo spam. Even if Gu Yu had class, he would rush to Shen Jin’s building right after to “coincidentally” catch him for a meal or a library trip, more eager than a police officer chasing a thief.

Over the years, Qin Zhu’s comments had grown increasingly defeated: “Today, someone on the campus wall is talking about Gu Yu again. Watch out for the color of the halo over your head.” → “You two live together, so why is he still sending you such a big box of gifts?” → “Next time we hang out, tell Gu Yu not to drink. If he kisses you in public again, we’ll all go blind.” → “Can you break up with that idiot already?”

At the end of Gu Yu’s third year, he had completed enough credits and passed the preliminary exam for H University’s master’s program. Shen Jin had also finished his local internship in C City. After a few more months of rest, he would be off to work for a team in G Province, participating in this year’s summer tournament.

Everything was going as they had planned, but after that, they would have to be apart for a while.

On the day they received the news, Gu Yu held Shen Jin in silence for a long time, with only one sentence escaping his lips: “I don’t want to go anymore, Senior.”

If he gave up on the H University exam now, he could still apply to another school later.

“You’re over 20 years old. Can you be more mature?” Shen Jin ruffled his hair. “It was hard enough for a team from G Province to take notice of me. If you go to H University, we’ll just be separated by one border crossing. It’s not like we won’t have chances to meet.”

But G Province was huge. Traveling between the two would be quite a hassle, especially with the summer tournament underway. With Shen Jin’s work and Gu Yu’s studies both being so demanding, they didn’t know how often they’d actually get to see each other.

Gu Yu, of course, was even more aware of this than Shen Jin.

He rested his chin on Shen Jin’s shoulder from behind, like a puppy about to go off wandering: “But I could still change my application to a closer university.”

“You’re going to study, not to stick to me,” Shen Jin pretended to push him away. “What’s so scary about being apart for a year or two? When you finish your studies, you’ll buy me a big house, right?”

The stubborn alpha hugged him tighter, swaying a little: “I don’t want to study anymore. I want to go back to the F Zone with Senior and find a place to grow potatoes and catch crabs, and just be together forever.”

In the past, his mature and powerful alpha would have remained calm and told him: “Separation is a normal part of life. Just wait for me to come back.”

But somewhere along the line, this typical cool-guy alpha had learned to act cute with him. No matter how restrained he was most of the time, at moments like this, he would say such childish things.

Shen Jin turned around and hugged Gu Yu, answering sincerely: “As long as I can be with you, I’m willing to go back to the F Zone and farm. I used to love catching crabs when I was a kid.”

Of course, he couldn’t really agree to Gu Yu giving up on his studies, so he had to pretend to be pitiful: “But Senior’s health isn’t good. This life of luxury is the only one I can handle, so we both have to work hard to achieve that goal, okay?”

Gu Yu finally gave in and obediently wrapped his arms around Shen Jin’s neck, saying, “Alright… but Senior has to think of me every minute.”

Shen Jin nodded, coaxing him like a child: “I’ll think of you every second, okay, little one?”

Hearing the words “little one” made Gu Yu bolt upright, as if suddenly remembering that he was supposed to be the alpha: “Ahem, why is Senior so childish? I still need to pack up some things I don’t use often. I’m not renewing my lease this year, so I’ll be moving out soon.”

Shen Jin, puzzled, wanted to ask who was the childish one, but Gu Yu changed the topic to maintain his cool image, asking only whether certain items should be kept or thrown away.

To provide Shen Jin with better living conditions, Gu Yu had worked part-time jobs and won scholarships throughout his university years, covering rent and tuition. However, studying at H University would require a hefty sum of extra money. Shen Jin had tried to convince him several times to use the bank card his family had left for him, but Gu Yu had always refused, planning to apply for a loan to cover his education and pay it back later.

As the days of their separation approached, Shen Jin grew more worried by the day, so he tried a different approach: “Didn’t we always disagree about money? How about we open a joint account in the future, and both of us can put our salaries in it? Whoever needs to use it can, and we’ll be able to keep track easily.”

Gu Yu looked up from the pile of clothes, clearly not falling for it. At present, only Shen Jin had a job, so wouldn’t a “joint salary” just mean Shen Jin’s salary?

Seeing his silence, Shen Jin quickly added, “The G Province team is pretty well-funded. They cover meals, housing, and bonuses. Everyone gains at least ten pounds after joining the team, and there really isn’t much to spend money on.”

Gu Yu quietly folded his clothes, then sat back down beside Shen Jin after a while, saying, “Senior, don’t worry about me. And don’t think about supporting me through school. I’ll handle it on my own.”

Faced with his alpha’s stubborn streak, Shen Jin sometimes felt helpless. He tried persuading him for a long time but got nowhere, nearly crying out of frustration: “But the cost of living there is really high…”

Gu Yu hugged him, patting his back but standing firm: “Even in the most expensive city, there’s always a way to live cheaply. I’m not going there to enjoy life; this is what all those years of studying were for.”

“Hmph…” Shen Jin pouted, rubbing his shoulder. “All those years of studying? You didn’t stay a minute after school in high school, and you moved out as soon as you started university. When exactly did you ever study hard?”

Caught out, Gu Yu chuckled and teased him: “I used to study math by candlelight under the covers at night. You just didn’t see me. By the way… how does Senior know I left school right on time every day in high school?”

“…” Shen Jin turned his shoulder away, pouting, “I’m not talking to you anymore.”

Certainly! Here’s the translation of the passage into English:

—

Gu Yu poked Shen Jin’s slightly puffed cheek, his eyes filled with a smile: “Mind me, please, senior.”

Besides acting coquettishly, this alpha seemed to have also learned to seduce.

Shen Jin couldn’t help but blush and pushed him away, simply saying, “Hurry up and pack your things.”

The remaining days in the university town passed quickly. Shen Jin, Qin Zhu, and Xu Tingyun went to handle the remaining graduation-related procedures. Many people were dragging various sizes of luggage, just like they had a few days ago.

The farewell from university was different from high school. There were no swearing-in ceremonies, no graduation ceremonies, no commemorative photos before the college entrance exams, and even no farewell dinners. Everyone left the campus in scattered groups, and this period of time ended hastily.

“Back when you were sick and couldn’t attend military training, I had to have Lao Xu and I bring you food every day. I don’t think you’ve paid for the errands yet,” Qin Zhu glanced at the employment registration form in his hand, feeling like the scene of queuing in the cafeteria to bring food for Shen Jin was just yesterday. “We won’t be able to eat the clay pot rice from the third floor of the cafeteria anymore.”

Shen Jin had been noticed by professional team coaches for his performance in the university student championship and had decided to go to G Province, Xu Tingyun planned to stay local, and Qin Zhu chose to pursue a career in game commentary, which would likely have him traveling to various cities for main events.

It was still a shared circle, so they wouldn’t part ways completely, but it wouldn’t be like the years in campus life, where they were together every day.

“You’re feeling sentimental, son?” Xu Tingyun said, “When I make a lot of money, I’ll bring all of you over so we can stay up all night together.”

This was probably a promise many make to friends at graduation. Qin Zhu was the first to doubt: “Give it up, don’t end up unable to even gather a team for a match… People always have to move forward.”

Before he finished speaking, someone blocked their path. Xu Tingyun knew without looking that it was He Senzhou again.

Over the years, He Senzhou had often followed Qin Zhu, trying to make up for past mistakes, but Qin Zhu was always steadfast, showing no signs of looking back until graduation.

He heard that He Senzhou’s family planned to send him abroad for further studies, and it would likely be hard to meet again.

“Senior…” He seemed rarely brave enough to block Qin Zhu’s path like this, “Can I come back to find you in three years after studying abroad?”

“Do you believe that yourself?” Qin Zhu responded coolly, “Out there, avoid talking too much, your health is more important.”

He Senzhou quickly shook his head: “I won’t, I only like you—”

But Qin Zhu didn’t even want to hear his words and quickly walked away. Shen Jin and Xu Tingyun had no choice but to pat He Senzhou on the shoulder and hurry after Qin Zhu, none daring to ask what he was thinking.

The youth behind seemed to want to follow but had to stop at Qin Zhu’s unrelenting gesture, left alone in the harsh wind.

Shen Jin and Xu Tingyun dared only to discuss in very low voices, “Poor junior,” “I wonder if it’s the last time we’ll see him,” while Qin Zhu’s eyelashes fluttered but ultimately did not lift his gaze as he changed the subject: “Have the swimming team arrived yet?”

As night fell, they were scheduled to meet the sports department people at the south gate.

The message from there came just in time: “Come quickly, the boss agreed to let us have the place to ourselves.”

In the barbecue restaurant, Yan Ze, usually so unruly, was now quietly drinking, occasionally reminding them to label him as the C University campus heartthrob (upgraded version) on WeChat so they wouldn’t forget who he was in a couple of years.

“Just you?” The others laughed, “Even if you wanted to forget, you definitely wouldn’t!”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” Yan Ze poured them drinks, then turned to Shen Jin, “Can you drink?”

Since learning that Shen Jin was an omega with a weak constitution, he had been quite considerate.

But Shen Jin waved his hand, indicating there was no need for further words: “Stop talking, tonight everyone drinks until they’re out.”

Glasses filled with bubbling drinks were poured one after another, intertwining the years of time, seemingly more intoxicating.

The road ahead was still long, but everyone knew this was likely the last time they would gather together.

Whether it was the passion when they first entered school or the misunderstandings and reconciliation later, all youthful exuberance was left in the wine, with the moonlight reflecting in, still as clear as when they first met four years ago.

The next day, a few of them packed up the remaining items and prepared to leave the dormitory.

At the final moment of closing the door and pulling out the key, Xu Tingyun tapped the doorplate and said, “Let’s go. I hope the new juniors can figure out that the hook I hung on the bedpost is for charging cables.”

The neatly arranged beds, desks, and the sunset coming through the balcony disappeared from their view. This door might soon be reopened by another group of youths, but after this, the space behind the door would no longer hold their青春.

*

In October 2032, 

The autumn wind blew south, and the cold air almost swept across the entire country. Yet the temperature in G Province still reached 30 degrees. The S City Sports Center was entirely surrounded by the deafening cheers of the crowd.

Years later, the Global Finals were held here again, and the trending searches heated up to a climax along with the match results.

[Karin’s expression during the pentakill]

[lonesay’s career grand slam]

[certain’s tears]

[ATG’s incredible comeback in the finals]

[ATG team wins the 2032 World Championship]

The event was attended by many celebrities and well-known retired players, and among them was the ATG team’s head coach Shen Jin’s husband, the young CEO Gu Yu, known for his place on the emerging young tycoon list.