Strawberry Pop Pop Pop - Chap 26

Chap 26
Thanks to someone initiating a conversation with Gu Nuan, things got rolling.
He quickly exchanged social media accounts with everyone and became fast friends.
The morning’s two classes passed quickly because of this, and before he knew it, it was
time for the break. Gu Nuan received a call from Ji Mu, obediently waiting at the entrance of
the teaching building.
Ji Mu found out that Gu Nuan would finish class at 10:50 am and immediately scheduled his
follow-up appointment for 1:30 pm, hoping to take him out for lunch as well.
The weather in late September started to cool down, and the scent of osmanthus planted on
campus wafted through the air.
Gu Nuan focused on messaging Han Yang. Whenever Han Yang wasn’t busy, he always
replied promptly.
This time was no different.
Han Yang proactively asked, “[Is Uncle Ji coming to pick you up for your follow-up later?]”
Gu Nuan replied with an affirmative emoji.
Han Yang followed up with, “[Is it still Dr. Wang?]”
Gu Nuan replied, “[Yes, I feel he’s quite professional.]”
Han Yang asked, “[What time is it?]”

Gu Nuan sensed that Han Yang might want to accompany him and hesitated before putting
his phone down. For the first time, he intentionally didn’t respond to a message until Han
Yang sent another one. Gu Nuan then carefully worded his response, “[Dad will accompany
me, so you don’t need to worry. How about your end? Any news about the movie?]”
This time, Han Yang didn’t reply.
Gu Nuan waited and waited but eventually, dejectedly put his phone away, kicking small
pebbles by his feet. Every time he mentioned his “illness,” Han Yang’s mood always
noticeably changed.
It wasn’t even Han Yang’s fault in the first place…
As he was feeling down, someone suddenly sat down beside him and handed over a bottle
of strawberry milk.
This time it was a brand he liked. Gu Nuan instinctively took it and then raised his head
abruptly.
Why was it this guy again, the one named Yu Yi from his department?
Gu Nuan???

Three minutes later, everyone passing by the teaching building could see a sophomore
student named Yu Yi sitting in front of Gu Nuan with a bouquet of white roses and a bag of
strawberry milk. He looked at Gu Nuan with an affectionate gaze, just like a character from
an idol drama.
Yu Yi opened his mouth with a typical romantic tone, “I heard you like this brand of
strawberry milk.”
“Well, I don’t anymore.” Gu Nuan interrupted him. “Senior, please don’t waste your time on
me.”
“I hope you can give me a chance to get to know you better. Besides, pursuing you is not a
waste of time.”
Gu Nuan sighed, “But I already like someone else.” He put the milk on the bench beside him,
rejecting Yu Yi once again.
Yu Yi was left holding the roses, looking embarrassed. “Can we at least be friends?”
He had inquired, and there was no information about Gu Nuan having either a boyfriend or
a girlfriend.
Yu Yi was a straightforward person, and Gu Nuan happened to fit his ideal type perfectly.
Ever since the freshman opening ceremony when Yu Yi had seen Gu Nuan on the stage in a
white shirt, he had considered him his ideal lover.
Seeing that Gu Nuan didn’t answer, Yu Yi didn’t want to impose and changed his approach.
“Actually, today I just wanted to give you a bouquet of roses, nothing else.”

Gu Nuan had a sudden idea, “I’m allergic to roses. My family has never allowed roses inside
our house.”
Yu Yi was a bit puzzled; this detail wasn’t in the information he had gathered.
To make it more convincing, Gu Nuan added, “See, I’m already breaking out in hives.” He
rolled up his sleeve, revealing red spots.
Terrified, Yu Yi quickly looked for a trash bin to dispose of the roses. Unfortunately, the
university had recently started enforcing waste separation, and Yu Yi had no choice but to
dismantle the bouquet.
As he tossed the roses, he turned around and saw that Gu Nuan had already ran hundreds
of meters away.
Those red spots were actually from mosquito bites when Gu Nuan had bought late-night
snacks last night.
…
“Dad, you can just park the car at the school gate.”
Gu Nuan made a call to Ji Mu and rushed over. He opened the passenger’s door, got in the
car, and let out a sigh of relief. “Dad, did anyone pursue you when you were in college?
Someone who was so relentless?”
“It seems like there was someone.” Ji Mu couldn’t remember clearly; it was too long ago.
“Why? Is someone pursuing you?”
“No,” Gu Nuan replied. He didn’t want to say more. Instead, he asked, “How did you handle
it back then?”
Ji Mu thought for a moment. “Your father got into a fight with him.”
Gu Nuan’s lips twitched. “More dog food.”
After some playful banter, Ji Mu gripped the steering wheel and said slowly, “Xiao Nuan, if
something comes up that you can’t handle on your own, you must tell Daddy.”
“Okay, it was just a casual question.”

Gu Nuan fastened his seatbelt, looked out of the window, and changed the topic. “Dad, I
want to eat shrimp dumplings.”
He took out his phone from his pocket and opened a food app, searching for several
restaurants that served shrimp dumplings. Ji Mu noticed that Gu Nuan was trying to change
the topic, so he didn’t press further. After all, Gu Nuan was already eighteen, and when it
came to matters of the heart, it was better for parents not to get too involved.
The two chatted and laughed all the way, and Gu Nuan finally got to enjoy some incredibly
delicious shrimp dumplings.
He packed a portion to give to Han Yang later.
Ji Mu parked the car in the paid parking area, and the two of them walked towards the main
entrance of the hospital. Just as Gu Nuan took a few steps in, he spotted Han Yang in the
appointment area.
“Brother!” Gu Nuan rushed over in a hurry, his two tufts of black hair on top of his head
swaying.
Han Yang was carrying a bag of things and had been waiting there for quite a while.
Anxiously, Gu Nuan asked, “Why did you come here? If you were planning to come, you
should have told me in advance. How long have you been waiting? Have you eaten?”
“I already had lunch.” He had eaten a convenience store sandwich.
Han Yang said, “Let’s get your appointment number first.”
Gu Nuan usually had a follow-up appointment every two months for regular injections of
pheromone inducers, gland checks, and medication changes.
Although he could come by himself for such a small matter, the injection was different from
regular ones; it had to be administered directly into the gland. Omega glands were the most
sensitive and fragile part of the body, and the hospital usually required the presence of a
family member during such procedures.
Gu Nuan always felt uncomfortable for a long time after the injection. He didn’t want Han
Yang to see him like that, so he kept delaying the procedure. He even hoped to keep Han
Yang away when it was time for the injection.
“Brother, I want strawberry milk. Can you go get it for me?”
“I already bought it.”
“Brother, I’m thirsty. I don’t want strawberry milk. I want water.”
“I bought water too.”
“Brother, then I want…”
Han Yang raised the bag he was holding. “I bought everything.”
Gu Nuan was determined to let Han Yang not accompany him. However, before he could
say anything, Ji Mu was interrupted by a phone call from work.
Seeing the situation, a nurse asked, “Do you need to reschedule? We can arrange an
appointment for an hour later without the need for a new registration.”
Ji Mu and Gu Nuan were about to agree when Han Yang spoke up, “No need, I’ll stay with
him.”
Gu Nuan was bewildered. “I think I can do it alone.”
Ignoring Gu Nuan, Han Yang turned to Ji Mu. “Uncle Ji, you can go ahead and take care of
your work. I’ve researched how to take care of him.” Previously, when Gu Nuan had this
injection, they tried to avoid having Han Yang accompany him.
This time, he had followed without notifying anyone.
Ji Mu thought that maybe Han Yang was trying to overcome his past. Anyway, as the
children grew up, it was better not to interfere too much as a parent.
And when it came to Han Yang, Ji Mu was always confident. He half-covered his phone and
whispered softly, “I’ll be back soon.” He left the room.
Gu Nuan was at a loss, and when he saw the nurse preparing for the procedure, he felt like
his butt was covered in oil and couldn’t sit still.
He closed his eyes in fear but still tried to sound strong, “Bro, you can go out. This shot
doesn’t hurt at all. I’ll call you in when it’s done.”
The nurse reminded him, “It’s better to have a family member present.”
Gu Nuan stood up hesitantly.
The nurse said, “Hey, sit down; it’s inconvenient for me to give the injection while you’re
standing.”
Gu Nuan sat down, lowering his head. He clutched his pants tightly. He consoled himself; he
had been doing this for so many years, he was already “used to it.”
But just as the needle was about to approach, Gu Nuan’s shoulders involuntarily trembled.
In the next second, Han Yang was standing in front of him, extending his hand to let Gu
Nuan rest his head on him. He emitted a hint of minty soothing pheromones to comfort Gu
Nuan. His voice was gentle as he spoke to the nurse, “Please be gentle.”
The nurse simply nodded.
She said, “It’s time for the shot.”
Gu Nuan frowned, and his nails left marks on his palm. Han Yang’s voice was somewhat
hoarse, likely from staying up late last night. He said, “Xiao Nuan, hold onto me.”
He rarely called Gu Nuan “Xiao Nuan.”
Hearing this term of endearment, Gu Nuan couldn’t help it and obediently hugged Han
Yang.
A cotton swab with alcohol was used to disinfect Gu Nuan’s gland, and the icy sensation
brought back memories of the excruciating pain he had experienced before. Fear once
again filled his heart.
“Brother!” Gu Nuan didn’t even realize he had called Han Yang.
Han Yang’s heart was touched, and he subconsciously held Gu Nuan tighter. “Don’t be
afraid, big brother is here.”
As the needle pierced Gu Nuan’s gland, a faint strawberry fragrance seemed to fill the air,
fleeting and elusive. Han Yang couldn’t even capture it in time.
It disappeared, just like back then.