I Like Your Pheromones 15: Strawberry Candy
The marking speed of First Middle was famous.
The next morning following the test the day before, most of the subject scores were already announced the morning following the test day; by the afternoon, the studentsâ total score and grade ranking table were also calculated.
Duan Jiayan went to see the results.
When he found out that he was in the bottom 100 of the grade, Duan Jiayan blinked to make sure he was not mistaken.
Song Yi was also stunned: âDid you secretly sneak on a study bus behind my back?â
âOnto a bus? Thereâs no such thing.â Duan Jiayan pointed at the test results stuck on the classroom wall: âThis is the result of my strength.â
Song Yi looked towards the top of the score sheet.
Lu Xingci still held first place in the grade.
âMy God.â Song Yi saw that stunning score. Even if he was used to it, he was still surprised: âThe total score of the class president is more than twice that of mine.â
âThatâs your problem. Reflect on it,â Duan Jiayan casually answered. He took out his mobile phone, took a picture of the results, and sent it to Fu Yuan.
Fu Yuan quickly replied to his WeChat.
Seeing his achievements this time, Fu Yuan was surprised and encouraged him. Then she asked him if he still wanted to live in the dormitory.
Duan Jiayan replied with a confirmation.
Fu Yuan saw his firm attitude, so she agreed to let him move into the dormitory. If he needed help, she offered to ask Uncle He to help him with his luggage. However, Duan Jiayan politely refused her kindness.
After every monthly exam, the class seating is rearranged.
Zhao Minjun decided on the seating chart. She separated the students who often gather together and to have side-chatter, and adjusted some seats based on what the students wanted.
While shuffling seats, Zhao Minjun announced from the platform: âThe school will be holding the autumn sports meeting next week. Students who want to participate can register with the Sports Committee after moving seats.â
The classroom responded with spaced agreements. Zhao Minjun said with a smile: âLast year, we lost our first place by only a few points. If you guys just push a bit harder this year, perhaps our class can overtake the sports class.â
A few boys raised their hands: âTeacher Zhao, is it true that the class president of the class that wins will receive a scholarship?â
âThatâs right,â Zhao Minjun confidently continued: âif you win the scholarship, Iâll take all of you out to eat.â
Once she finished speaking, the boys all started to converse noisily:
âTo receive this meal from Teacher Zhao, letâs all sign up together.â
âWhoâs going to do the 3000-meter run? Why donât you do it, Zhou Xingchen? You got second place last year.â
âBrother Lu can run the Relay Race. Heâs the most stable.â
âThe class president will definitely sign up for many different events.â Song Yi parted Duan Jiayanâs shoulder: âOur Xiao-Duan is pretty good too. Xiao-Duan, do you want to do the long jump or high jump?â
Someone else added: âMatching the prettiest classmate with the most studious classmate of the school makes for a pretty strong battle array.â
It was followed by loud laughter.
After the seats were rearranged, Duan Jiayanâs and Song Yiâs seating did not change, but the boys who were one row behind them switched away. Song Yi asked curiously:
âWhere do you guys move to?â
Before any of the boys could answer, a clear male voice interrupted. Chen Yue said to the two boys: âThere are so many books. Do you want to help?â
âNo need, no need.â The boy saw who asked, so he quickly replied, âmoving it twice is enough for us.â
Chen Yue stood frozen and suddenly realized something.
He looked to the side and saw that Lu Xingci had also pulled over his table and chair. He was now leisurely leaning on the table, waiting for the two boys to move away.
As soon as Song Yi snapped back awake, he asked Chen Yue, âdo you want to sit here?â
âYes.â Chen Yue nodded: âIâve never sat in the last row. Is it safe to play with mobile games here?â
âItâs safe. Remarkably safe.â Song Yi watched as Lu Xingci set his table behind Duan Jiayan and his eyes almost popped out of his head.
After the seats were rearranged, he tugged on Duan Jiayan in a hurry and yelled in what he thought was a quiet voice (in reality, it wasnât quiet at all): âtheâclassâpresidentâisâbehindâus!â
ââŠâ Duan Jiayan: âYour father saw it already.â
âSay⊠Do you think I should cut the hair on the back of my head so itâs shorter?â Song Yi was so excited that he turned towards Duan Jiayan and said, âXiao-Duan, your hair is pretty short, so your neck is exposed. Did you know? Omegas have a gland on the back of their neck. In an Alphaâs eyes, the temptation is no inferior to that of oneâs absolute territory. â
âWould you like to spray some more perfume?â Duan Jiayanâs tone was cold: âYou can spray it on your absolute territory.â
âThat makes sense, brother.â Song Yi thought the idea was exciting: âhow did you know to do that?â
Duan Jiayan was too lazy to care anymore. He didnât sleep well last night. He was about to lie down to catch up on his sleep when, suddenly, he saw Song Yi holding up his phone and pretending to take a selfie. He clicked the shutter several times towards the direction behind him.
Duan Jiayan: âWhat are you doing? Taking selfies? â
He didnât say it quietly. Song Yi, who is secretly photographing Lu Xingci, was shocked. He felt a bit guilty, so he crazily waved silent gestures at Duan Jiayan.
Duan Jiayan was very cooperative and lowered his voice: âyou secretly photographed him?â
Song Yi whispered back: âI want to take some pictures to share with the sisters in our text group. We agreed to share the good fortune. Itâs a crime to appreciate the handsome face of the class president on your own.â
Duan Jiayan doesnât really understand Song Yi and his sisters. He was just about to encourage him when Song Yi frowned.
âI canât get his whole face from this seatâŠâ As he said this, Song Yi looked at Duan Jiayan, who was sitting in front of Lu Xingci. His eyes lit up: âCan youââ
âNo, I canât.â Duan Jiayan interrupted him: âXiao-Duan doesnât do furtive things.â
ââŠâ Song Yi was blocked back by him. After a little thought, he pinpointed the other sideâs weakness with his understanding of Duan Jiayan: âArenât you moving into the dormitory soon? If you let me photograph him secretly, I will make your bed for you on the day you move into the dormitory.â
Duan Jiayan has never made his own bed since he was young, and, indeed, he doesnât know how to do so.
Itâs troublesome just thinking about it.
Duan Jiayan: âCan you help me carry a suitcase upstairs too?â
Song Yi: âNonsense, if youâre moving your suitcase, will I just stand around simply watching? Shen Chilie and I will help you move in together.â
Duan Jiayan was satisfied. He made a sound of agreement.
âLu Xingci,â Duan Jiayan turned back, âlet me take a picture of you.â
Song Yi was shocked by Duan Jiayanâs directness.
Lu Xingci, who had lowered his head to play with his mobile phone, took a look at him and turned off his phone: âWhy?â
Duan Jiayan opened his mouth: âbecause you are beautiful and handsome. I have never seen a more handsome man than you. If I canât photograph you, my camera will suffer from loneliness from today onwards.â
âIs it this pitiable?â
Lu Xingci laughed carelessly. The sense of estrangement became a lot lighter when he laughed, in particular when his eyes were slightly curved, which made him seem more tender and soft. Duan Jiayan had just thought he agreed when, unexpectedly, Lu Xingci, this dawg, suddenly stopped smiling and said the next second: âthen let it suffer from autism.â
ââŠâ Duan Jiayan thought for a moment and added: âItâs because I want to record your beauty. Can you give me a chance?â
Chen Yue was holding the textbook. His hand slipped and he heard the sound of his textbook hitting the ground. Song Yi had no courage to face this disastrous scene. He closed his eyes and recited the Qingxin mantra and the great compassion mantra in his heart.
Lu Xingci responded with an âOh.â He pulled out his mobile phone. When he spoke slowly, one couldnât tell whether he was serious or joking.
âI also want to record your beauty.â
âIf you let me take a picture, Iâll let you take one too.â
Chen Yue saw it now and finally couldnât help but ridicule: âWhy donât you two just take a picture together?â
Song Yi sent a new photo to Holding Up First Middleâs Sky.
[My god! Is Song Yi sitting one row in front of Lulu? How many good things have been done in the past life for you to be able to sit in front of this handsome boy!]
[I can. This face matches the books and papers on his table. I can really feel this youthful feeling! ]
[Isnât this the best shot yet? His whole face is well photographed. Brother Song Yi is so awesome.]
[I donât think it was secretly shot. Heâs looking at the camera. ]
[It looks to be a group photo. Was the person next to him cropped out? I think I barely see the arm of the person next to him?]
There was a heated discussion in the chat group. Duan Jiayan, who had been cropped out, looked at the original photo on his mobile phone screen. After thinking about it, he still saved it.
After all this, Duan Jiayan was even more sleepy. Then, the bell rang in class, which was a blessing to his soul.
Once the bell rang, the surrounding evil spirits all quieted down, and only the teacherâs voice was heard in the whole classroom.
On the platform, the physics teacher patiently explained the charged electrons and the electric fieldâŠ
It fell into Duan Jiayanâs ears like hypnotic music.
He slowly lowered his head and simply lay down on his desk. Because of this, the absolute territory, as referred to by Song Yi, on the back of his neck was clearly exposed in front of Lu Xingciâs eyes.
Lu Xingci eyelids twitched. His line of sight could not help but fall on that section of the neck that attracted too much attention.
It was both white and straight.
Because he was lying down, Duan Jiayanâs vertebrae protruded very clearly, making himself look more meager.
Lu Xingci looked at it for a while and retracted his eyesight.
In the evening, the evening left a layer of Warm gold light that shone on the desk through the windows.
It was time to leave school in the afternoon. There were not many people left in class ten. Gu Li saw Zhou Xingchen sitting on Chen Yueâs table and trotted over to them.
She saw the application form on Lu Xingciâs table, with at least one event following the names of Lu Xingci, Chen Yue, and Zhou Xingchen.
Zhou Xingchen saw her and patted her head: âGu Li, wait a minute. Weâll discuss who will run the relay. After that, weâll have dinner.â
Gu Li hummed. Chen Yue looked at the little coupleâs love, canât help smiling, and asked: âYou two were quarreling last time. Who gave in first?â
They answered at the same time. Zhou Xingchen added: âI canât even touch her hand if I wasnât going to coax her. The skin on my hand was so itchy those days.â
Gu Liâs face was gentle: âThat metaphor is a bit disgusting.â
Gu Li took his eyesight back and looked at the man who had not spoken. She asked softly, âBrother Lu, did someone take a picture with you yesterday?â
Lu Xingci wrote his name under the 800 meters event. He looked up at her and nodded.
Chen Yue was a little strange: âHow do you know?â
Gu Li: âOmegas in First Middle have a group. I saw it in the group chat. Whoâs the guy taking pictures with Brother Lu?â
Gu Li concealed the crazy speculation in the group chat about which lucky sister could take a picture with the school grass, and the whole group forcibly congratulated that fact with tears.
Chen Yue didnât understand her intention at all and said casually, âDuan Jiayan.â
Gu Li covered her chest and tried to keep her sanity: âCan I have a look at the picture?â
âThereâs one in Lu Dawgâs cell phone. Let him show you.â Chen Yue finished, then he looked over at the Lu Xingci and needed to confirm: âDid you delete it?â
Lu Xingci pulled up the photos in his mobile phone album and gave it to her.
Gu Li: âOh, my Goooooooodââ
What a beautiful wedding photo!
She exhausted all her reason to not yell out âGOOD MATCHâ in Lu Xingciâs face.
Can not be in front of the Lord KY, is her CP powder* basic literacy.
*T/N: Fan of a romantic ship. CP = couple; powder = fan.
But Gu Li couldnât keep a straight face. Her mouth was smiling; her eyes were almost full of expectation: âBrother Lu, can you send me this picture?â
Zhou Xingchen was very alert: âWhat do you want this for?â
Gu Li: âI am Brother Lu and Duan Jiayanâs fan. I like to see them together.â
Zhou Xingchen: âBrother Lu, donât send it to her. Does she have me in her eyes? â
Gu Li was about to speak when someone came in from the door of the classroom.
He was tall and thin, with light brown hair and transparent amber pupils.
He had a basketball and a wrist guard on his slender white arm. Duan Jiayan went straight to his seat and picked up his mobile phone from the desk.
Gu Li looked at Duan Jiayan and then at Lu Xingci. The more she looked, the more elated she became.
These two men matched so well.
âDuan Jiayan.â Lu Xingci suddenly said: âAre you running in the relay race?â
Duan Jiayan turned back: âWhoâs in it?â
âChen Yue and me. Weâre still missing two.â
Duan Jiayan thought for a moment and agreed, âPlease add my name.â
After he said so, he started headed out. He had just taken two steps when he stopped and turned back.
He thought of something. He took a box of candy out of his drawer, grabbed a handful, and dropped them on Lu Xingciâs desk.
âThese taste delicious.â Duan Jiayan said while making eye-contact: âI forgot to tell you before. Thanks for helping outline the important points.â
After he left, he saw Lu Xingci tear open a wrapper and pop the candy in his mouth. Gu Li couldnât help it for a moment: âWedding Candies?â
Zhou Xingchen was almost driven crazy by this woman: âDaughter in law, please donât say it. Do you know who youâre joking with? â
This sentence makes Gu Li wake up from her dream. Faced with the sight of Lu Xingciâs forced smile, she quivered and wanted to apologize subconsciously.
âDonât scare her.â Lu Xingci looked away, bit the sugar in his mouth, and said with a smile: âItâs no worry.â
The candy left a clear and light fruit aroma in his mouth. The candy on the tip of the tongue felt a little cold because of the added mint.
It was strawberry flavored.