Chapter 2 It's a bit fake to say it's acting

When Huai Xu and Jing Zheng xuan entered their first year of college, they caused quite a stir.

Handsome guys are common on university campuses, 

but it’s rare to see two like them—360-degree flawless looks and outstanding temperament.

Jincheng University selects a campus heartthrob every year, 

but for their batch, the title was shared between two people—

Huai Xu and Jing Zheng xuan had an equal number of votes.

Huai Xu is the kind of approachable and warm handsome guy. 

He looks well-behaved, with a smile that makes his eyes and eyebrows curve, 

revealing shallow dimples. 

His skin is pale with a hint of pink, like a peach, and he’s particularly popular, 

the kind of person everyone loves.

Jing Zheng xuan, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. 

He’s very aloof, with a height of 193 cm that gives off an intimidating aura. 

His gaze is sharp, and his lips are always pressed into a straight line, 

making him seem unapproachable, but impossible to resist.

The two campus heartthrobs have completely different personalities and temperaments, 

yet they have a particularly good relationship and often appear together, 

which inevitably leads people to speculate.

Aside from those who adore them, 

there’s a considerable number of students who ship them as a couple. 

In the eyes of these fans, Huai Xu is the ultimate Omega, and Jing Zheng xuan is the ultimate Alpha.

It’s widely known that the friendship between a top Omega and a top Alpha can never be purely platonic.

Therefore, when Huai Xu handed a thermos to Jing Zheng xuan on the basketball court, the shipper fans went wild.

"Wow! Water delivery!"

"It’s Huai Xu’s own thermos. I knew it! All that ‘brother’ stuff was just a trick!"

"This is the first time I’ve seen someone bring a thermos to the court so obviously. Huai Xu must be marking his territory, right?"

Shippers eagerly watched the two of them, and some admirers even tried to offer Jing Zheng xuan bottles of water.

Jing Zheng xuan’s hair was damp with sweat, his strands sticking together like they had been styled with gel, giving him a laid-back yet handsome vibe. 

His face was usually expressionless, cold and distant, as though the sunlight itself would cool when it touched him.

The sleeveless basketball jersey revealed his toned, beautiful arm muscles—

just the right size, strong but not overly bulky. 

A thin sheen of sweat trickled down his body, looking incredibly tempting.

Jing Zheng xuan held the thermos with one hand, 

his cold brown eyes fixed on his childhood friend, 

and the chill in his gaze instantly disappeared.

He ignored the others around him, not drinking the water, 

but instead suddenly furrowed his brow, bent his knee, 

and leaned towards Huai Xu as if in great discomfort, 

his breath quickening. 

He calmly said, 

"Lean on me for a moment. I’m feeling really bad."

"Hey!" 

Huai Xu was startled and quickly supported him.

Around them, water bottles were reluctantly pulled back, while the shippers' eyes sparkled with joy.

Huai Xu, supporting Jing Zheng xuan, couldn’t help but suspect, 

"Is this for real?"

Jing Zheng xuan’s head rested on Huai Xu’s shoulder, not too heavy but still leaning on him. 

"It’s real. I feel really bad."

The teammates quickly ran over: 

"Is everything okay? You should go to the infirmary."

As they approached to help, Jing Zheng xuan, with his head still resting on Huai Xu’s shoulder, 

barely lifted his eyelids, his cold eyes shooting a sharp glance at the kind-hearted teammates. 

The intense gaze made them freeze in place.

One of the players awkwardly retracted his hand and wiped his cold sweat, saying, 

"Well... I still have something to do. You should take him to the infirmary."

After the teammate left, Huai Xu, who was initially skeptical, now felt more concerned, 

remembering how energetic Jing Zheng xuan had been on the court. 

This sudden change in behavior made him suspicious, 

but seeing how his teammates were taking it seriously, Huai Xu couldn’t be careless. 

Intense exercise could lead to unexpected situations.

He quickly helped Jing Zheng xuan up. 

"Can you walk?"

Jing Zheng xuan gave a light nod.

"Lean on me if you can’t," 

Huai Xu said, guiding him toward the infirmary.

Jing Zheng xuan casually draped his arm over Huai Xu’s shoulder, 

leaning closer, rubbing his head gently against Huai Xu’s and murmuring softly.

Behind them, one of the teammates whispered, 

"Wouldn’t it be faster if two of them helped?"

Another teammate slapped him on the back. 

"It’s always like that. Besides Huai Xu, no one can touch him. Just get used to it."

The shippers watched their departing figures with glee, calling it the best meal of the day.

Despite Jing Zheng xuan’s imposing size, Huai Xu didn’t struggle much while supporting him, 

lightly patting his waist. 

"Don’t push yourself too hard, lean a little more."

As usual, even when he wasn’t feeling well, 

Jing Zheng xuan would adjust to make sure Huai Xu didn’t get too tired.

Huai Xu smiled and said, 

"I’m still pretty strong. Carrying you is no trouble."

Jing Zheng xuan lightly brushed his head against Huai Xu’s. 

"Yeah."

Huai Xu glanced at the people nearby and said meaningfully, 

"You’re really good at basketball."

Jing Zheng xuan tightened his grip on Huai Xu’s shoulder, calmly denying, 

"Not really."

Huai Xu didn’t press the issue.

He had intended to ask about Jing Zheng xuan’s ankle injury, 

but seeing how unwell he was, he decided to wait until he felt better to ask.

The infirmary was on the first floor, not far from the basketball court. 

They didn’t take long to get there.

As soon as they entered, the school doctor greeted them nonchalantly. 

"Back again? What’s the problem this time?"

Jing Zheng xuan: "..."

Huai Xu helped him sit on a chair in front of the doctor, panting lightly. 

"He just finished playing basketball and said he’s feeling bad."

Though the distance wasn’t far, the physical exertion still took a toll.

He poked Jing Zheng xuan’s shoulder. 

"Tell me, where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Jing Zheng xuan tilted his head back. 

His cold brown eyes were emotionless, his lips tightly pressed, 

and without saying much, he extended his hand toward Huai Xu.

Huai Xu shook his head in frustration and gently took his hand.

Finally, Jing Zheng xuan turned his face to the doctor and simply said, 

"My legs."

"Left leg or right leg?"

"Both."

The doctor furrowed his brow. 

"Both your thighs and calves hurt?"

Just as Jing Zheng xuan was about to continue, 

Huai Xu shook his hand, seriously saying, 

"Be more specific."

Jing Zheng xuan glanced at him and then described his symptoms in detail.

Huai Xu listened carefully.

As a second-year student, 

Huai Xu had mostly studied basic theoretical knowledge 

and hadn’t yet reached the level to diagnose or treat patients. 

So every time he visited the hospital or infirmary, 

he made sure to observe how the doctors examined patients.

Especially now, he was curious about what could have caused Jing Zheng xuan to suddenly feel so bad, 

so he paid extra attention.

After a thorough check-up, the doctor diagnosed him with dehydration and low blood sugar, 

suggesting he drink an electrolyte drink or eat some sugar to recover.

Huai Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

The temperature in Jincheng was still over 30°C in October, 

and Jing Zheng xuan had been playing basketball outdoors, so feeling unwell was normal.

With the sun still blazing outside, 

Huai Xu didn’t want to expose Jing Zheng xuan to the heat any longer, so he decided to let him rest in the infirmary for a while.

The infirmary was spacious, with the large classroom divided into a treatment area 

and a resting area, and the air conditioning was running at full blast.

Huai Xu led Jing Zheng xuan to sit in the rest area and handed him the thermos. 

"Drink some ginseng tea first."

Jing Zheng xuan pressed his lips together, still holding onto Huai Xu’s hand with one hand, 

while easily twisting open the thermos with the other. 

He drank a sip and then, holding the thermos, said casually, 

"Good thing you're here. I feel much better now."

Huai Xu set his backpack aside and leaned back in his chair. 

"Stay here and rest for a bit. The sun outside is too hot. I don’t want you to get worse."

"Okay," 

Jing Zheng xuan shifted and naturally rested his head on Huai Xu’s shoulder.

Huai Xu didn’t push him away; 

after all, he was unwell.

As the two enjoyed the peaceful moment, 

someone suddenly approached and stood in front of Huai Xu. 

"Huai Xu? What’s going on here?"

The person glanced at Jing Zheng xuan and then at the hand they were holding. 

After a brief pause, his expression returned to normal.

Huai Xu looked up, smiling with two dimples showing. 

"Senior, it’s nothing. I’m just here with my childhood friend."

Huai Xu’s senior, Xie Kai yan, was a clinical medicine graduate student, 

just like Huai Xu, enrolled in a combined bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program.

Xie Kaiyan was a typical academic powerhouse, winning scholarships every year, 

and was also a former campus heartthrob. 

He was good-looking, academically excellent, and friendly, 

well-liked by both his professors and peers.

"Oh, is your friend alright?" 

Xie Kai yan asked.

"He’s fine. He just needs a rest. Senior, what brings you here?"

Xie Kai yan adjusted his glasses. 

"I was passing by and saw you here through the window, so I came to check."

Somehow, Huai Xu noticed that Jing Zheng xuan’s grip on his hand seemed to tighten.

"Oh, by the way," 

Xie Kai yan added, 

"I found my second-year lecture notes while organizing my stuff. Do you need them?"

Lecture notes from an academic genius? 

That’s a treasure!

Huai Xu nodded eagerly. 

"Yes, please! Thank you, Senior."

Suddenly, Jing Zheng xuan spoke up, 

"I feel dizzy."

Huai Xu’s attention snapped back to him, and he quickly opened the thermos again. 

"Drink some more."

Jing Zheng xuan drank from the thermos, as if Huai Xu was feeding him.

Xie Kai yan observed this quietly.

After drinking the ginseng tea, Jing Zheng xuan resumed leaning on Huai Xu’s shoulder.

Huai Xu smiled apologetically. 

"My friend is feeling unwell. Senior, please don’t mind."

"It’s fine," 

Xie Kai yan replied with concern. 

"Do you need to go to the hospital? The infirmary doesn’t have many resources."

"No need, Dr. Zhang already checked him. It’s nothing serious."

Xie Kai yan nodded. 

"Alright. How about dinner later? I’ll give you the notes."

Before Huai Xu could respond, Jing Zheng xuan spoke again, 

"Still dizzy."

"Then eat a piece of candy." 

Huai Xu pulled a fruit candy from his bag and placed it in Jing Zheng xuan’s hand.

Jing Zheng xuan nudged Huai Xu’s neck lightly. 

"I have no strength."

Helpless, Huai Xu unwrapped the candy and fed it to him.

"Do you want to go to the hospital?" 

Huai Xu asked.

Jing Zheng xuan shook his head. 

"Just let me lean on you for a bit."

Seeing this, Huai Xu didn’t insist and, feeling a bit embarrassed, turned to Xie Ka iyan. 

"Sorry, Senior. How about we discuss this on WeChat later?"

"Alright, I’ll leave now." 

Xie Kai yan said, then walked away.

After a while, Huai Xu let Jing Zheng xuan lean on him some more before saying goodbye to Dr. Zhang.

Before leaving, Dr. Zhang told Huai Xu, 

"You’re a medical student, you should know that psychological factors affect the body. 

When the mind is sick, the heart must heal."

Huai Xu: "?"

Jing Zheng xuan: "..."

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