Gu Qingqiu deeply understood what it meant to "lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot." She stared wide-eyed at Ji Xingqiao, her eyes filled with strong accusation.

Ji Xingqiao seemed to suddenly realize something and quickly added, "I like you too."

However, what she had just said clearly did not calm Ji Xingqiao's parents down. Their eyes seemed to be glued to Gu Qingqiu. If it weren't for Zhang Xin'ai being there, Gu Qingqiu would have even suspected that they were going to directly examine her glands.

But Zhang Xin'ai's expression wasn't much better. Gu Qingqiu saw her clenching her fists, trying to control herself from saying anything inappropriate.

Gu Qingqiu closed her eyes with difficulty, then suddenly stood up. "Ji Xingqiao, let me show you around my room!" She then pulled Ji Xingqiao back to the bedroom and locked the door.

Ji Xingqiao seemed somewhat surprised, his tone tinged with doubt, "What do you want me to see?"

Gu Qingqiu put her hands on her hips and said in a fierce tone, "What nonsense are you talking about? My mother is still here!"

"I'm not talking nonsense, I'm serious." Ji Xingqiao blinked, looking a little aggrieved.

Gu Qingqiu hardened her fist, struggling to control herself, and managed not to punch Ji Xingqiao twice.

Although Ji Xingqiao didn't know what he had done wrong, he belatedly realized Gu Qingqiu's emotions. He leaned in and kissed the top of Gu Qingqiu's head. "You smell so good."

"Thank you," Gu Qingqiu said irritably, "I just washed my hair last night."

Ji Xingqiao laughed, "I wasn't talking about the smell of shampoo."

What does that taste like?

Gu Qingqiu took two seconds to react, then suddenly remembered the scene of pheromones intertwining yesterday, and her face turned red, feeling as if the temperature in the room had risen considerably.

"Knock knock knock—"

The knocking at the door startled Gu Qingqiu. Aunt Jiang said in a subtle tone, "Xingqiao, we're getting ready to go back. Are you... coming with us?"

Before Ji Xingqiao could answer, Gu Qingqiu opened the door first, as if afraid that Aunt Jiang would misunderstand what they were doing in the room.

Aunt Jiang seemed stunned as well.

Gu Qingqiu smiled and said, "Auntie, Xingqiao will go back with you. See you on our graduation trip."

Ji Xingqiao's lips moved, as if he wanted to refute, but under Gu Qingqiu's glaring gaze, he still nodded in compromise.

However, the two still met before their graduation trip because the class monitor planned to arrange for Gu Qingqiu to share a room with the other beta girls in the class when booking the rooms in advance.

When Ji Xingqiao learned of this, he expressed strong opposition, which put the class monitor in a difficult position, although the class monitor was somewhat puzzled as to what stance Ji Xingqiao was taking in opposing the matter.

Everyone is treated the same. Even if Gu Qingqiu is an omega, we can't use the funds to book a room for her alone. That would be unfair to the other students.

Ji Xingqiao said he could be with Gu Qingqiu, and the class monitor finally understood what he meant, so he immediately refused—AOs should not be too close!

So Ji Xingqiao immediately dragged Gu Qingqiu to register a "temporary partner certificate." It is said that this is the most powerful proof of a couple before formally registering their marriage, because many AOs have engaged in temporary marking behavior under the influence of pheromones before marriage. However, this behavior is often beyond one's control and therefore cannot prove the relationship between the two.

However, an Alpha who has registered a temporary partner certificate can assume corresponding protection responsibilities for an Omega, and only the Omega can apply to have this certificate revoked on their own.

Zhang Xin'ai had no objection to this. "When Mom isn't around, Xingqiao can also help take care of Nannan." She seemed to realize that Gu Qingqiu actually had feelings for Ji Xingqiao, but perhaps because she was a young girl, she didn't show it too obviously, so she didn't object to their relationship.

So Ji Xingqiao very confidently sent his and Gu Qingqiu's temporary partner certificate to the class monitor. The class monitor was silent for a while, feeling like he had been inexplicably fed a mouthful of dog food, but in the end he still agreed to his request to change rooms and arranged for him and Gu Qingqiu to be in the same room.

The city we visited was a blend of modernity and natural beauty, so the itinerary was to spend three days in the mountains and then two days exploring the bustling city center.

The bus bumped along the mountain road. Ji Xingqiao wore a mask the whole way, his brows furrowed, and he didn't look too good.

Gu Qingqiu felt a pang of heartache seeing this, knowing that Ji Xingqiao had fallen ill again, so she quietly squeezed his hand to comfort him.

Unexpectedly, Ji Xingqiao immediately gripped Gu Qingqiu's hand, interlocked their fingers, and pulled her into his arms.

Gu Qingqiu's face was turning red. Fortunately, she and Ji Xingqiao were sitting in the last row, and the back of the car seat was very high, so from the front, you could basically only see the top of Ji Xingqiao's head.

Even so, Gu Qingqiu still felt a little embarrassed.

Ji Xingqiao, however, didn't care at all. He even put his arm around Gu Qingqiu's shoulder. Ever since he got a temporary partner, he's been making more and more little moves.

Before leaving, Gu Qingqiu took a moment to ask the male protagonist system a question and learned that the current experience bar progress was 30%. According to the background of this world, it would probably take completing the entire permanent marking process to get the experience bar progress to 100%.

Thinking about the permanent marking process demonstrated in various textbooks, Gu Qingqiu was still somewhat frightened.

...

By the time the bus arrived at its destination, it was already getting dark.

The nights in the mountains were not safe, so the squad leader stopped everyone from finishing dinner and arranged for everyone to go back to their rooms to rest.

After a long and tiring journey, no one was in the mood to make a fuss anymore.

As soon as Ji Xingqiao arrived at the guest room, he put down his suitcase and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. Gu Qingqiu followed him in and patted his back to comfort him.

Ji Xingqiao's back stiffened. He didn't turn around. "It's disgusting. Get out of here. Don't look."

Gu Qingqiu hugged Ji Xingqiao from behind like a koala, hanging her whole body on him. "It's okay, you're just sick, it's not your fault."

Ji Xingqiao was initially somewhat helpless, but it seemed that the discomfort he felt was significantly relieved after Gu Qingqiu got closer, so he didn't chase Gu Qingqiu away, until...

"Do you want to wash first or should I?" Ji Xingqiao asked while rummaging through his suitcase. "If you want me to help you wash, I don't mind."

Gu Qingqiu quickly rolled off Ji Xingqiao, but judging from Ji Xingqiao's tone and serious expression, he seemed to be asking a question, like asking if she wanted an apple, without any other meaning. She breathed a sigh of relief but also felt a sense of disappointment.

"You go take a shower first, I'm so tired, I need to relax for a while," Gu Qingqiu said in the end.

Ji Xingqiao nodded, picked up his toiletries, and went into the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of rushing water coming from the bathroom, Gu Qingqiu began to imagine the relaxing feeling of hot water pouring over her body. She couldn't help but yawn and close her eyes sleepily.