The library had become their refuge.
It sat away from the main campus bustle, tucked behind the humanities building with tall windows that filtered afternoon sunlight into soft bands across the wooden tables. The quiet suited Yu Zhen. It allowed his senses to breathe without the constant hum of attention.
He sat by the back shelves with a stack of sheet music and psychology textbooks, fingers drifting idly over the pages while his thoughts wandered.
Across the table, Lian Xuan pretended to read.
The word "pretended" was not unkind. Yu Zhen knew the Alpha well enough now to see when his attention hovered someplace else.
At the moment, that place was Yu Zhen.
Every few minutes, Lian Xuan's gaze lifted from the book and rested on him with quiet intensity. No one else in the room noticed. They were buried in notes and deadlines, blissfully unaware of the bonded tension just a few feet away.
Yu Zhen felt that stare like heat along his skin.
He looked up.
"What?"
"You frown when you're thinking hard," Lian Xuan replied.
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Yu Zhen smiled in defeat and closed one of his books. "And you pretend to study when you're actually watching me."
Lian Xuan didn't deny it. He simply leaned his elbow against the table and rested his chin on his hand.
"Someone needs to."
The meaning wasn't playful.
Yu Zhen softened. "You still think something will happen here."
"I never stop thinking that."
Not paranoia.
History.
Yu Zhen reached for Lian Xuan's hand over the tabletop. Their fingers slid together easily, fitting as if moulded for the purpose. Neither of them released the contact.
[SYSTEM RESPONSE][PHYSICAL CONTACT CONSISTENT][SOUL THREAD LOW PULSE SYNC]
For a little while, they worked in silence.
Until the library door opened with sharper footsteps.
Three students entered together, voices loud, energy distinctly Alpha tinted. Yu Zhen frowned slightly but kept his attention on the notes.
One of the newcomers paused mid-sentence.
"Hey… that's the piano guy."
Yu Zhen stiffened subtly.
Lian Xuan already had his eyes trained on the voices.
The trio lingered longer than natural curiosity allowed. Their gazes settled on Yu Zhen far more than on any bookshelves.
Finally, one approached their table.
"Are you really that good," he asked casually, "or was the festival just hype?"
Yu Zhen met the Alpha's stare calmly. "The piano answered better than I can."
The student chuckled. "You were tied up with him then?"
He nodded toward Lian Xuan with a clear challenge in his tone.
Lian Xuan stood slowly.
He didn't raise his voice.
He simply positioned himself slightly in front of Yu Zhen, blocking the Alpha's line of sight entirely.
The room felt colder instantly.
"He is with me," Lian Xuan said quietly.
The Alpha scoffed. "This isn't the Empire you came from, dude. No one belongs to anyone."
Yu Zhen felt the tension spike along the soul-thread.
[SYSTEM WARNING][ALPHA TERRITORIAL RESPONSE RISING]
Yu Zhen slipped his hand into Lian Xuan's sleeve and tugged gently.
"Xuan," he murmured. "Let it go."
Lian Xuan's jaw tightened, but he obeyed, stepping back just enough to no longer loom overtly.
Yu Zhen rose.
"I don't belong to anyone," Yu Zhen said softly. "But who I choose to stand with is very clear."
He reached for Lian Xuan's hand deliberately, weaving their fingers in public view.
"I'm with him."
The watching Alpha coloured faintly, muttered something under his breath, and retreated with his friends.
The library returned to its gentle hush.
Afterwards, Yu Zhen sank back into his chair and laughed quietly. "I suppose I just marked our territory socially."
Lian Xuan looked at him intently. "You don't need to fight for me."
Yu Zhen squeezed his hand.
"I'm not fighting. I'm choosing."
Silence stretched between them.
Lian Xuan leaned forward suddenly and kissed Yu Zhen.
Not aggressively.
Not even fully publicly.
Just a quiet, brief press of lips against lips before parting again.
Enough to say everything.
Yu Zhen's breath slipped unsteadily. The system chimed faintly into silence.
[MEMORY FRAGMENT 2 NINETY PERCENT SYNC]
"You're dangerous," Yu Zhen teased.
"To anyone who looks at you wrong," Lian Xuan replied without hesitation.