Song Yi’s breathing suddenly became erratic.

In such a beautiful setting with the lights casting a dreamy glow, Gu Xingchuan’s suggestive actions created a tense atmosphere as if something was about to spiral out of control at any moment.

He abruptly withdrew his hand, feeling the pulse in his wrist pounding like fire. Quickly, Song Yi grabbed a few tissues from the coffee table to wipe his wrist, trying to act nonchalant as he said. “Thank you for celebrating my birthday. I’m really happy.”

This part was genuine; it was the first time someone had gone to such lengths for his birthday, and Song Yi felt touched, though a bit uncomfortable at the same time.

Their relationship wasn’t particularly strong—they had been intimate twice, both times driven by instinct. Once, he couldn’t even remember it, having ended up in a chaotic situation.

With Shen Li caught in between, the awkwardness made their ambiguous connection feel even more complicated.

Gu Xingchuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning slightly predatory as he looked at Song Yi’s profile. “I don’t want your thanks. I want you to kiss me—right now.”

From an angle where he couldn’t see, Song Yi gently touched the pulse on his wrist, feeling his heartbeat gradually steady. He smirked and teased. “Are you some kind of frog, insisting that I kiss you?”

Gu Xingchuan straightened up, seriousness etched on his face. He clasped his hands together and fixed his gaze on Song Yi, his tone a mix of complaint and sincerity. “We’ve slept together twice, and I’ve never had a proper kiss with you. What a shame.”

“…”

Twice…

Song Yi’s heart raced as he stared at Gu Xingchuan in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.

When did Gu Xingchuan find out!?

And why hadn’t he mentioned it before?

“I guessed it last time we were on the island; you were just too shy to admit it.” Gu Xingchuan said, a smug smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He shot Song Yi a playful glare. “If you don’t admit it, I’ll ask Shen Li to confirm.”

Song Yi’s head buzzed with confusion. It wasn’t so much shyness as it was a wave of awkwardness crashing over him, exploding in his mind like a series of fireworks.

The most humiliating thing he had ever done had just been laid bare in front of someone.

Yet, having cultivated a strong mental fortitude over the years and being adept at maintaining appearances, he had even imagined how he would handle it if Gu Xingchuan discovered the truth. He took a moment to gather himself and feigned calmness as he replied. “What a pity. I guess I’ve disappointed you.”

Gu Xingchuan had always believed he had slept with Shen Li and enjoyed flaunting that fact. Now that the truth was out, he felt uncomfortable, and Gu Xingchuan could hardly stand to lose face.

“Not disappointed.” Gu Xingchuan replied, standing up and moving closer to him. He leaned slightly forward, his breath warm against Song Yi’s neck as he carefully inhaled the scent near his collarbone.

Today, Song Yi wasn’t wearing any perfume; instead, there was a faint aroma of dry body wash mixed with a hint of salty sweat. The two scents intertwined, creating an indescribable tension in the air.

Song Yi’s back stiffened like a small animal experiencing a stress response, he froze in place.

Gu Xingchuan breathed in greedily. Although he couldn’t detect any pheromones, the genuine scent of Song Yi excited him, igniting a fire deep within his chest. He felt an overwhelming urge to strip Song Yi down just to savor his scent completely.

He licked his parched lips, his voice coming out raspy and unintentional. “This is my hope.”

Song Yi’s heart skipped a beat, akin to an antelope sensing a lion nearby. The topic was perilous, and if they continued down this path, it could lead to trouble.

He shifted his neck and took a step forward, creating distance between them. “Alright, let’s put a stop to this. It was a misunderstanding; it’s in the past now, and you don’t need to dwell on it.”

If he knew, he knew. At this point, there was a sense of relief washing over him. Although it was embarrassing, at least he didn’t have to hide anything anymore.

Whatever would happen next would happen.

Gu Xingchuan narrowed his eyes, slowly steadying his erratic breathing. “Can’t I be your alpha?”

“You, my alpha?” Song Yi adjusted his glasses, noticing that Gu Xingchuan didn’t seem to be joking. He couldn’t help but laugh a little. “I know you were frustrated with Shen Li and are disappointed in him, but you can’t just shift your focus to me. We’re not suited for each other.”

Gu Xingchuan paused, his breath catching as he pressed his lips together and asked bluntly. “What makes us unsuitable?”

Song Yi replied earnestly, “First, I won’t be anyone’s backup plan.”

“Second, we have no feelings for each other. Looking for a hookup with a classmate? That’s just inappropriate and would make things awkward later on.”

“Do you think I’m looking for a hookup?” Gu Xingchuan’s expression darkened, conveying his frustration.

“Otherwise, what are you looking for?” Song Yi smiled, maintaining eye contact. “Whether you want a hookup or a stranger, even a rabbit wouldn’t eat in its own burrow. We all need to have our boundaries.”

Gu Xingchuan studied him intently for a long moment, as if he were trying to etch him into his heart. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said. “It’s your birthday today, so I won’t hold this against you.”

If he were to truly hold a grudge, he would be furious right now.

By the time Song Yi got home, it was already ten o’clock. The journey had been quiet, the sky transitioning from a muted gray to deep black, speckled with stars as the trees blurred by outside.

The parking lot was nearly empty. Song Yi got out of the car, brushed off his clothes, and politely bid farewell. “Goodbye, and thank you for celebrating my birthday today.”

Gu Xingchuan, still sitting in the car, turned his head to glance at him. He leaned down to retrieve a small box from the glove compartment and handed it over.

>>