Don't pretend, everyone knows you're the villain!

Reminded by Xie Sicen's laughter, Yin Zhaoshu quickly added, "He's not a child either, so he doesn't look like one at all."

Xie Sicen smiled and gazed at Yin Zhaoshu.

"Then next time it rains and I don't have an umbrella, will you come pick me up? I want to be a kid for once."

Yin Zhaoshu agreed without even thinking, "I can pick you up anytime you need me."

Xie Sicen's eyes held a deep smile as she spoke in a joking tone.

"Oh, you said it's good to be my friend, and being your friend is pretty good too. We're even."

Deliberately mentioning friendship isn't about drawing a line, but rather a test. Yin Zhaoshu's expression was surprisingly calm, leaving Xie Sichen unable to decipher his true meaning.

After the two finished their meal, since they only had one umbrella, Xie Sicen, who didn't have class in the first period, accompanied Yin Zhaoshu to class.

As soon as they entered the classroom, many people looked at them. Yin Zhaoshu's courses were mostly taught by alphas, while Xie Sichen, a beta, was covered in alpha pheromones.

To outsiders, this is tantamount to asserting sovereignty.

The fact that someone who used to conceal their pheromones suddenly allowed another person to be covered in pheromones made many people realize that Yin Zhaoshu's change was not due to Xie Sicen's protection.

Rather, Yin Zhaoshu himself possessed strength, but he had previously ignored and endured the humiliation.

Yin Zhaoshu was using pheromones to tell others that this beta was his.

Xie Sicen sat down next to Yin Zhaoshu and showed no intention of leaving. Since there was no class in the first period, it wasn't bad to stay next to Yin Zhaoshu.

He's making every second count to gain attention; he's determined to win over Yin Zhaoshu.

Xie Sicen rested her chin on her arm on the table, turned her head to look at Yin Zhaoshu, and whispered in confusion, "Why were they all staring at me just now? Is there something on my face?"

"It's nothing, it's just that you're good-looking."

Yin Zhaoshu's praise was so bland and natural that Xie Sicen opened her mouth, wanting to say something but then stopped.

Do other people think I'm good-looking, or do you think I'm good-looking?

"Then why aren't you staring at me, friend? Are you tired of looking at me?"

Xie Sicen spoke without any embarrassment, which made Yin Zhaoshu feel awkward and nervous.

He had stared at Xie Sicen before, but he only dared to openly stare at her for a long time when she wasn't paying attention.

Ruan Xihe knew about this.

As Yin Zhaoshu saw the professor enter the classroom, he reminded Xie Sicen, "...I'm here to teach a class."

"I understand. I won't disturb your class; I'll be very quiet."

After Yin Zhaoshu finished the first class and woke Xie Sicen up, they prepared to go to the second class. Xie Sicen and Yin Zhaoshu arrived at the classroom door where Yin Zhaoshu was having class before Xie Sicen picked up her umbrella and prepared to go to class.

Before leaving, he smiled and told Yin Zhaoshu, "Wait for me to pick you up at noon."

"it is good."

To put it bluntly, Xie Sicen could have easily taken the umbrella back to his dorm during the first class, but he just wanted to share an umbrella with Yin Zhaoshu to get closer.

Even if it's troublesome to travel back and forth, as long as I can be with Yin Zhaoshu, I'm not afraid of the trouble.

Even if love is not reciprocated, simply getting closer in distance is a form of progress.

It wasn't until Xie Sichen went to class on his own that someone reminded him that he smelled of alpha pheromones.

It's unlikely that the smell wouldn't have dissipated after a gentle breeze.

Xie Sichen smiled gently at the other person and said thank you for the reminder, then sent a message to Yin Zhaoshu.

[Friend, have you marked me? You reek of alpha energy; you're definitely using someone else's power.]

When Yin Zhaoshu saw the marked words, his heart skipped a beat for no reason. If Xie Sicen could sense his pheromones, all his emotional outbursts would be exposed.

If you can mark the other person...

[The well-behaved kid ignores everyone in class, fine, I'll pay attention too.]

[。]

Yin Zhaoshu's period didn't get him a reply. When Xie Sicen came to pick him up at noon, Xie Sicen pounced on him with bared teeth and claws.

"?" Yin Zhaoshu hid in a panic, his eyes quickly scanning the passersby around him.

"You let me smell like you, and you still ignore me. How can you be like this?" Xie Sicen's words made the classmates who were originally looking at them smell gossip.

Yin Zhaoshu blushed and pulled Xie Sicen away.

The rain was light, but the two walked closer together.

The coolness outside dispelled some of Yin Zhaoshu's heat and shyness.

Then, calmly and earnestly, he explained to Xie Sicen, "You spend all day with me, so it's normal for you to pick up my pheromones."

"Who would get pheromones from just being close to you? Aren't you supposed to be forbidden from releasing pheromones indiscriminately?" Xie Sicen asked, somewhat skeptical.

Yin Zhaoshu suddenly grabbed Xie Sichen's wrist, which was holding the umbrella, almost causing Xie Sichen to retaliate. She restrained herself and gripped the umbrella handle tightly.

"Xie Sicen, don't use 'you guys,' I don't want to be categorized into another group by you. We... I want to be on the same side as you."

Xie Sichen was taken aback. Was that the point? Wasn't it about pheromones?

Yin Zhaoshu then answered Xie Sicen's question.

"I don't want anyone else to get close to you, and I won't release my pheromones on you anymore. Please forgive my recklessness this time, okay?"

They don't usually release pheromones randomly; it's just that their possessiveness makes them want to stop others from coveting them.

"Oh dear, you're making me lose out big time. I don't have any pheromones, so next time I'll stick a note on your forehead that says 'Xie Sichen's friend, keep away.' That way, no one else will come near you, hahaha."

"..." Yin Zhaoshu thought Xie Sicen would be angry, but this reaction was a bit unexpected.

Xie Sicen smiled and held the umbrella firmly before continuing her speech after a long while.

"Why are you more anxious than I am? I should be more worried about losing my title as my only friend."

"You said I'm different from the store manager. You originally wanted to be friends with me, and the store manager was just a side thing. You're very sensible." Yin Zhaoshu said, biting her tongue, almost saying that she was the one who was special to him.

"Ah, you know I'm drunk."

Yin Zhaoshu thought Xie Sicen was going to say that this wasn't true, and a sense of disappointment welled up in her heart.

"Keep this a secret. It would be so upsetting for Sister Xihe to hear it."

"Xie Sichen, I..." Yin Zhaoshu suddenly stopped. Could he say it? Even if saying it led to a path of no return, did it matter?

What if Xie Sicen dislikes me because of this?

He dare not.

Xie Sicen smiled and said, "Let me guess, you seem to be about to confess your feelings to me?"

Yin Zhaoshu was visibly panicked, even though Xie Sicen seemed to be joking.

“Yin Zhaoshu, what I said to Qi Zhiyu wasn’t to smooth things over; I just like you. Strange, wasn’t it obvious enough? Even Sister Xihe noticed and mistakenly thought I was trying to interfere in your relationship with Qi Zhiyu.”

"Yin Zhaoshu, do you think I approached you with ulterior motives, just to be your friend? I'm far more greedy than you think... Want to try being greedy with me?"

"I really like you. Even though I don't have pheromones to soothe your sensitive period, I will be very responsible towards you."

Yin Zhaoshu didn't expect Xie Sicen to be so open about her feelings for him. Xie Sicen was much braver than him. And it's true... when she encountered those alphas, Xie Sicen didn't back down because she was a beta.

He's always been a very courageous person.

Always passionate and fearless, moving forward with a sincere heart.

"I don't need you to flatter or fawn over me, and I won't pretend with you either. How about we try being the most authentic version of ourselves?"

"If you reject me, just pretend I said nothing today, and we can continue being friends. If you don't like me, I can't force you; I can only keep trying. Anyway, I won't give up..."

Xie Sichen was suddenly pressed down and kissed by Yin Zhaoshu. Before 0561 could even be shocked that the two of them were kissing at school, he saw his love value soar to 63%.

Passing can happen in an instant.

No, that's an exaggeration. What was Yin Zhaoshu Ke Cheng like before? He suppressed his affection points so they wouldn't increase.

The kiss left Xie Sicen feeling dizzy before they finally separated.

"Xie Sichen, my answer is that you confessed to me first. My pheromones aren't a sign of possessiveness towards my friends, but rather a sign of possessiveness towards Xie Sichen."

“I’m afraid I’m not being sincere. My relationship with Qi Zhiyu ended not long ago, and I’m already trying to get involved with you… I’m afraid you’ll hate me.”

In the past, Xie Sichen would never have been indifferent to Qi Zhiyu's existence. But now he felt that Qi Zhiyu was insignificant compared to their 96% compatibility in this other world.

Even without Qi Zhiyu, Yin Zhaoshu is still standing here perfectly fine.

"Yin Zhaoshu, don't be afraid, I'll give you confidence. Heaven has destined you to be mine, so I've come to find you. Qi Zhiyu was just an unpleasant little episode. From now on, for countless days and nights, you will belong to Xie Sicen."