How About You Come Back to the Village with Me Today?

When Gui Yue led Jiang Qi to Uncle Zhao's shop, his heart was incredibly conflicted.
Why had things turned out this way?
It was all the fault of Jiang Qi's two friends! The three of them were too intimate! Their different ABO genders made it impossible for him to think of them as normal friends.
Gui Yue continuously tried to explain himself, then he tilted his head to look at Jiang Qi, trying to hold back but ultimately unable to resist, he feigned nonchalance and asked, "Your two Beta friends are quite close to you, aren't they?"
Jiang Qi didn't pay it much mind, thinking Gui Yue was just making small talk, so he casually replied, "Yeah, you could say we've been friends since childhood."
Gui Yue hummed in acknowledgment, then after a moment, asked again, "That guy Ex, is he also a childhood friend? Is Ex a stage name?"
This wasn't something unspeakable, Jiang Qi smiled, "Consider it a stage name. He doesn't like his real name, so he made one up."
"Made it up himself?" Gui Yue felt even more strongly that Ex was very good at pretending.
Both of them had long legs, so in just a few minutes, they crossed the street and arrived at Uncle Zhao's shop, which was about a hundred square meters, neither too big nor too small.
Jiang Qi looked around, vaguely guessing that Gui Yue was there to buy a sachet for better sleep for him.
Although he felt Gui Yue's tone was unusual, Jiang Qi didn't dwell on it. He shook his head, "He didn't make it up, I did."
Gui Yue's triumphant smile froze. Their relationship was so good that they even named each other?!
Damn it, that idiot definitely had feelings for Jiang Qi!
Gui Yue felt uncomfortable, and sarcastically said, "Well, you're quite Western, giving people foreign names."
Jiang Qi was suddenly confused. When had he ever given X a foreign name?
Suddenly realizing something, Jiang Qi chuckled, his amber eyes veiled with a hint of moisture, the corners curving like a little fawn in the morning forest, innocent and captivating.
Gui Yue stared, his eyes now filled only with the Omega's smile.
At the time, Jiang Qi hadn't paid attention to how X introduced himself, but now realizing it, he found it truly hilarious. He took a deep breath and said with a laugh, "We usually call him X."
"But he just told me his name was Ex!" After regaining his composure, Gui Yue was still a bit annoyed but also found some schadenfreude. If X's surname was "Idiot," that would be perfect.
Jiang Qi quirked his lips and explained, "You have to make a good first impression when you meet someone for the first time."
No need, there was no good impression at all.
Gui Yue secretly sneered, suddenly feeling a sense of pride, as if he was much smarter than X.
Gui Yue felt relieved, as if a heavy stone had dropped. He pointed at the items on the shelf, tilted his head, and asked Jiang Qi, "Do you see anything you like?"
Inside the shop, there were five or six display cases lined up. A small screen stood at the entrance, and further in was a long glass counter filled with exquisite little sachets: triangular bags, gourd-shaped bags, red ones with silver trim... all kinds that made people marvel.
Deeper inside were shelves, each small compartment filled with finely ground herbs, their names and uses written above.
Just then, Uncle Zhao walked out from the back. Hearing Gui Yue's words, he immediately looked at him speechlessly.
Gui Yue: ??? Why are you glaring at me?
Uncle Zhao saw that Gui Yue still didn't understand, and sighed. This good-for-nothing nephew, he, an elder, had to try harder.
Thinking this, Uncle Zhao was filled with determination.
"Little Yue, bring your friend over here. These styles are more suitable for young Omegas." Uncle Zhao kindly called the two to the counter on the east side.
Gui Yue glanced at the Omega beside him and led him there.
"Your friend is handsome," Uncle Zhao praised with a beaming smile.
Jiang Qi lowered his head to look at the sachets, smiling shyly, his face flushed, looking embarrassed.
Gui Yue glanced at Jiang Qi's flushed face, hummed, seemingly not caring.
Uncle Zhao rolled his eyes at Gui Yue. What a blockhead! Not an ounce of his father's cunning when he pursued his mother!
"Come here, handsome boy, see if there's anything you like. You're the first Omega friend Little Yue has brought back, let him choose with you."
Uncle Zhao very naturally dropped important keywords like "first time," "Omega," hinting at Jiang Qi's special place in Gui Yue's heart, even giving Gui Yue a push. If an Alpha had any sense, he would seize the opportunity.
Sure enough, this nephew still knew how to seize opportunities.
Uncle Zhao watched with satisfaction as Gui Yue walked beside the Omega and chose sachets with him.
"How about this one?" Gui Yue pointed to a triangular blue sachet with silver trim, tilting his head to ask Jiang Qi.
The sachet Gui Yue pointed to was half the size of his palm, its opening tied with a light blue tassel, and a small jade piece attached to the end. Silver embroidery on the sachet depicted a cute, innocent cat playing with a ball.
Gui Yue instantly fell in love with this sachet, thinking that if Jiang You didn't like it, he'd take it for himself.
"Hmm, quite pretty." Jiang Qi looked around, his gaze stopping at another sachet.
It was a red sachet with silver trim, embroidered with a chubby chibi dog, on whose head sat two small kittens. One gently bit the dog's ear, scratching its nose with tiny paws, while the other curled up asleep on the dog's head, wagging its tail.
"This one's prettier." Gui Yue followed Jiang Qi's gaze, saw the embroidery, and his eyes lit up.
"Uncle, can you take these two out for us to see?"
Uncle Zhao opened the counter door and took out both sachets.
The sachets were of excellent quality, the fabric smooth. Though not yet filled with herbs, they carried a faint scent of plum blossoms.
Uncle Zhao was surprised by their choice, as these two were made by Grandma Zhao, and were the only ones in the shop. What a coincidence.
The more Gui Yue looked at the two sachets, the more he liked them. He glanced at Jiang Qi.
Jiang Qi was also very satisfied; this dog was super adorable.
"Then let's take these two."
Seeing Jiang Qi's satisfaction, Gui Yue made the decision.
Uncle Zhao wrapped the two sachets in a cute small paper bag and handed it to Gui Yue, not asking for money.
But Gui Yue didn't intend to accept Uncle Zhao's favor. He glanced at the price of the two sachets and quickly paid before Uncle Zhao could stop him.
"Uncle, you go back to work. I'll take Jiang You for a walk. Just call me when you're done."
Gui Yue held the small paper bag, walked to Jiang Qi's side, and led him out.
Jiang Qi occasionally glanced at the paper bag, feeling a little suspicious. "Are we going to buy herbs next?"
Weren't there herbs already in the shop? Why did they leave without buying any?
Gui Yue didn't turn his head, saying, "I already have herbs at home, no need to buy more."
Gui Yue didn't intend to tell him that he had ground the herbs himself.
"Oh." Jiang Qi nodded.
Gui Yue tilted his head: "Let's go eat. You haven't eaten anything, have you?"
Jiang Qi was startled, then curved his lips: "How do you know I haven't eaten?"
Gui Yue looked at him as if he were an idiot: "Didn't your friend say they were going to eat, and you were just coming with me? If they haven't eaten, how could you have eaten? Are you stupid?"
Jiang Qi wasn't angry at all, just curved his lips: "Brother Gui is so smart."
Gui Yue's ears turned red, and he coughed, suddenly feeling awkward for some reason: "It's nothing special."
The sound of "Brother Gui" was really nice.
Gui Yue quirked his lips, leading Jiang Qi to a nearby noodle shop. At this time, the shop was empty, with only the owner playing on his phone.
Jiang Qi ordered a bowl of clear noodle soup and obediently sat down to eat, while Gui Yue leaned back in his chair, playing on his phone, occasionally looking up to glance at Jiang Qi.
"Your phone's ringing." Gui Yue briefly saw Jiang Qi's phone vibrating beside him, so he reminded him.
Two words appeared on the phone, but before Gui Yue could see them clearly, Jiang Qi answered the video call.
Only then did Gui Yue get a good look: it was that Idiot X. His face immediately darkened.
"Are you eating?" X's voice was very gentle, behaving completely differently from usual, making Jiang Qi feel like he was a cultured rogue.
Gui Yue sat opposite, watching. Jiang Qi reluctantly humored him: "Yeah."
Gui Yue pricked up his ears, eavesdropping, deceitfully thinking that he didn't want to listen, but it was too quiet around, and their voices were too loud, so he couldn't help but hear.
X made some small talk, and before Jiang Qi lost patience, he got to the point: "Is your classmate next to you?"
Gui Yue looked tense, his expression becoming serious, pricking up his ears to listen more intently.
Jiang Qi also found it very strange why X would ask if Gui Yue was nearby. He looked up into Gui Yue's dark eyes, suddenly feeling a warmth in his heart. He hummed, "What's wrong?"
X chuckled on the other end, his voice a little louder: "Nothing, just asking when you're coming home, didn't you want to buy an electric heater instead of an air conditioner? I've already bought it and it's in my room. How about I test it out for you, and then bring it to your room later? We're only separated by a wall, after all."
Huh? When did I say that?
Jiang Qi was even more confused. Could it be Jiang You who said it?
But X clearly knew they were two different people, so he couldn't have mistaken them.
However, now wasn't the time to ask. Jiang Qi could only nod, agreeing to X's words.
The two talked a few more sentences before ending the call, but even after Jiang Qi hung up, he still didn't understand why X had called him.
Jiang Qi was bewildered. He looked up again and met Gui Yue's gaze. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt Gui Yue's eyes seemed to carry a hint of anger and a touch of grievance.
Jiang Qi: ??? What's wrong, super adorable?
"Are you living with him?" Gui Yue asked.
Jiang Qi looked at Gui Yue in confusion, then nodded: "In his living room."
Gui Yue recalled X's frivolous demeanor, looked at the bewildered Jiang Qi in front of him, and felt an indescribable anger.
"Don't you think you're bothering him like that?" Gui Yue opened and closed his mouth, then after a moment, spoke.
"No." Even if he was bothered, he wouldn't dare say it.
Jiang Qi answered Gui Yue innocently.
"Tomorrow's school, aren't you going home today? Staying here?"
Gui Yue had already booked a ticket to go home tonight, planning to finish the sachet and then leave.
Jiang Qi shook his head.
He had just escaped his cage; how could he wander for a few days and then return to face it, especially with Meng Si Zhe as a shield here?
Gui Yue scratched his head, feeling an inexplicable discomfort. He looked up at Jiang Qi, his mind heating up.
"How about you come back to the village with me today?"