After parting ways at the aquarium, Xu Jiu’s condition improved significantly.
His family’s fortune also began to turn around. Projects came one after another, bringing in considerable profits. The persistent Alphas were driven away by their newly hired lawyer. Everything was getting better, and soon after, Xu Jiu officially returned to school.
When the first ray of morning light broke through the clouds, Xu Jiu arrived at the classroom with his schoolbag. It was still early, so he dozed off at his desk.
He sat by the window, which was cracked open slightly. Sunlight slanted across the bridge of his nose, and a gentle breeze caressed his slightly curled hair. The Alpha had long eyelashes, like black butterflies fluttering their wings in a forest. His features were striking, and Xu Jiu rarely wore his school uniform properly. The fitted DK jacket made the Alpha look exceptionally dignified, like a prince from a fairy tale.
The seat next to Chen Songyan, which had been empty for so long, finally welcomed back its owner.
When Chen Songyan arrived, Xu Jiu was sleeping deeply, so he quietly sat down in his seat.
Seeing no one else around, Chen Songyan laid his head down too. They faced each other, and Chen Songyan gazed deeply at Xu Jiu’s sleeping face, as if trying to engrave every contour of his features into his heart. But somehow, Xu Jiu’s sleeping face held a special magic that made Chen Songyan lose his senses for a moment.
He inched closer to Xu Jiu. In Chen Songyan’s eyes, Xu Jiu’s reflection grew larger. Their breaths intertwined, and the scent of white camellia drew Chen Songyan’s rationality into a quagmire. Past memories collapsed like an avalanche. His heartbeat blocked his ears, shutting out the outside world. His world contained only Xu Jiu.
Chen Songyan held his breath and placed a gentle kiss on Xu Jiu’s forehead, light as rain. His gaze held affection, love, tenderness, and longing for Xu Jiu, but Chen Songyan thought:
[This is enough.]
Being able to see Xu Jiu return before leaving – this was enough.
A relationship beyond friendship – this was enough.
He wasn’t left with nothing; he had photos with Xu Jiu – this was enough.
Chen Songyan’s thoughts acted like an alarm clock, and Xu Jiu instantly woke up.
He jerked his head up before Chen Songyan could react, and Xu Jiu’s forehead crashed directly into Chen Songyan’s chin. Xu Jiu hissed in pain, and Chen Songyan quickly reached out to massage Xu Jiu’s forehead.
Chen Songyan rarely frowned. He lowered his head and carefully asked about Xu Jiu’s injury, “Does it still hurt?”
Xu Jiu hastily pulled Chen Songyan’s hand away. “It stopped hurting a while ago.”
[Liar]
As if trying to prove something, Xu Jiu looked up at Chen Songyan, blinking his big eyes and patting his chest. His hair was still curly and tousled, just like a fluffy little otter.
“I’m an Alpha, how could I be afraid of pain? It really doesn’t hurt, and besides, you’re not that hard.”
Chen Songyan gave a soft laugh but didn’t answer. Although solving problems no longer had much effect on him, he still picked up his pen and began calculating slowly. Each stroke of his pen was accompanied by glimpses of Xu Jiu’s profile. He thought doing problems was still blissful this way.
However, before class started, the grade dean suddenly called Xu Jiu away. Chen Songyan began to worry, fearing the dean might bring up some of Xu Jiu’s painful memories, especially since Xu Jiu had only just recently recovered. He also worried that Xu Jiu might find out about the things he had done.
Chen Songyan never let those who hurt Xu Jiu off easily.
He knew the home address of every Alpha who had hurt Xu Jiu, even their parents’ full names.
While Chen Songyan’s father handled the legal punishment, Chen Songyan personally dealt out his own lessons.
The school always told students the security cameras were broken, but Chen Songyan later found out they worked, just with blurry footage.
So he obtained the video of He Ranran drugging Xu Jiu. He Ranran had already dropped out, and even if he was lucky enough to avoid jail, he would face a costly lawsuit.
Those Alphas were only detained for a few days before being released. Chen Songyan went door to door beating them up, leaving several Alphas bedridden for months.
They couldn’t catch Chen Songyan because, like them, he hid in dark alleyways. When they passed by, he would drag them into the alley. The strength of a military school Alpha was no joke.
But Chen Songyan was still young. For days, his hands were covered in bruises and scrapes. Teachers always showed concern when good students got hurt, especially since the grade dean was so fond of Chen Songyan.
The grade dean knew Chen Songyan would never voluntarily explain his injuries, so he didn’t ask.
Since the military school was built on a renovated old district, many old alleys remained where the grade dean often caught students dating.
That day, hearing such a commotion, he assumed it was young lovers, but instead found a badly beaten Alpha. He kindly called an ambulance.
While helping the Alpha into the ambulance, something seemed off. The Alpha looked like one who had hurt Xu Jiu. The grade dean deeply regretted his help.
The next morning, seeing fresh injuries on Chen Songyan’s hands made everything clear.
He had a talk with Chen Songyan but chose to indulge both him and Xu Jiu.
This was also what Chen Songyan worried about. If the grade dean bragged about these things to Xu Jiu, he didn’t want to use them to bind Xu Jiu to him.
He did what he wanted to do, punished those who hurt Xu Jiu because he wanted to, not to gain anything.
Using one’s efforts to coerce love in return was essentially a transaction built on lies.
His unrequited love had lasted ten years; he didn’t want to disturb Xu Jiu or undo everything.
Chen Songyan was extremely worried. The grade dean taught math and had his own office, plus a desk in the math department’s main office, but he rarely used his private office.
So Chen Songyan, who hadn’t collected homework in a long time, ordered everyone to turn in their math homework, including yesterday’s corrections. His expression was so dark that no one dared to question or provoke him. They quietly copied each other’s work, completed it, and quickly handed it to Chen Songyan.
Chen Songyan didn’t even know how he walked out of the classroom. His chest heaved as his mind ran through countless scenarios of Xu Jiu awkwardly smiling after learning of Chen Songyan’s efforts, or guiltily bowing and asking if he could treat Chen Songyan to a meal, scenarios that felt deeply offensive to someone harboring unrequited love.
Chen Songyan entered the office. Fortunately, the math teacher was there. Chen Songyan placed the thick stack of homework on the math teacher’s desk.
“Teacher, this is our class’s homework.”
After speaking, Chen Songyan’s eyes fixed on Xu Jiu in the distance. Even from the back, Chen Songyan could tell that Xu Jiu was relaxed, his hand casually resting on the back of his head.
It seemed the grade dean hadn’t mentioned anything about him. Chen Songyan let out a long breath.
“Alright,” the teacher said, noticing Chen Songyan hadn’t left. “Is there anything else, Student Chen?”
Chen Songyan shook his head and turned to leave the office. As he left, he noticed the office curtains weren’t drawn tight, leaving a small gap.
After checking that no one was around, Chen Songyan stood by the gap in the curtains, quietly watching Xu Jiu.
Although it was Xu Jiu who had been called away, it was Chen Songyan whose palms were sweating with nervousness. He’d forgotten something else. The grade dean also knew about his transfer, and he didn’t know if he would tell Xu Jiu. But Chen Songyan didn’t want Xu Jiu to know yet.
About half an hour later, Xu Jiu came out. Seeing Chen Songyan, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
“Chen Songyan, what a coincidence! Are you here for the office too?”
“Yeah, I just turned in some homework.”
Xu Jiu looked up, his eyes twinkling like beautiful stars. “Are you free tonight? Want to walk home together?”
It seemed Xu Jiu didn’t know about his transfer. That was for the best.
Xu Jiu assumed Chen Songyan would agree, after all, he knew Chen Songyan liked him.
Chen Songyan hesitated. Although he wanted to walk with Xu Jiu, he had other things to do tonight.
He’d just seen the message from his father. Dragon Island Military School started early this year, and he had to leave tomorrow.
This was the only time Chen Songyan ever refused Xu Jiu. He forcefully suppressed the reluctance in his eyes, but his heart couldn’t help drawing closer to Xu Jiu. His throat felt bitter as he struggled to speak, his fingertips trembling.
“I have something tonight. Maybe next time.”
Xu Jiu did not expect Chen Songyan to refuse, but he had nothing to say. He couldn’t expect Chen Songyan to drop everything just to accompany him.
Xu Jiu realized he didn’t have Chen Songyan’s contact information. He usually asked Omegas for their contacts. This was his first time asking an Alpha. His ears turned slightly red as he said, “Then let’s exchange contact information, so we can keep in touch… to hang out with Gu Ji.”
Chen Songyan nodded and gave Xu Jiu his phone number. The two stood facing each other in silence.
Chen Songyan stood in the corridor, the sunlight cascading over his hair, cheeks, and shoulders like a waterfall. His expression was as stoic as ever, his tall frame straight as a pine tree on a mountain peak. But when his gaze met Xu Jiu’s, his breath quickened.
Thinking of what he was about to say, Chen Songyan’s hands trembled uncontrollably. He looked down at Xu Jiu and said, “Xu Jiu.”
“Hmm?”
“Want to skip class with me this afternoon and go somewhere?”
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