What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 15

Chapter 15 – Confession

“I’m going home this Friday,” Duan Yi announced.

Jiang Wangshu asked, “Why go home? Will you come to evening self-study?”

Duan Yi replied, “My brother’s back. Xiaoduan Mom ordered me home for a day to enjoy her ‘perfect holiday’.”

Jiang Wangshu lowered his voice, “Isn’t Duan-ge filming overseas?”

Duan Yi said, “I think he finished. Not sure. I’ll meet you at Gao Kao on Saturday. Oh, what birthday gift did you prepare for Jian Qiao?”

Jiang Wangshu answered, “Youth Treasure Beauty Capsules! My mom highly recommended them—for beauty and clearing age spots.”

Duan Yi patted his shoulder, “I hope you come back alive after Saturday.”

Duan Yi’s home was on Beishan Street in West Lake scenic area—an old villa next to West Lake Museum, backed by Baoshi Mountain. You could see Broken Bridge from the front door. It’s a 40-minute walk from Second High School, or 15 minutes by car.

The villa gate opened to reveal a flashy red Maserati in the parking lot. Inside, Xiaoduan Mom stood by the window, peering through a small gap with binoculars.

“Xiaoduan Mom, what are you doing?”

Xiaoduan Mom answered, “Watching if the neighbor’s little bitch moved her barbecue set into our yard today.”

Duan Yi was speechless. “Can’t you stop bothering your neighbor?”

Xiaoduan Mom was a wealthy lady. She spent a third of her life competing with another wealthy neighbor.

If they bought pigeon eggs, she’d buy chicken eggs.

If they got a sports car, she’d get a helicopter.

She had beautiful eyes, looked elegant, and seemed only in her thirties. Her beauty could make college students swoon.

Just as she spoke, Duan Shaoheng’s voice came from upstairs. “Sis, have you seen the handmade watch I brought back from Italy last month?”

“Sis” meant Xiaoduan Mom.

Xiaoduan Mom said happily, “I gave it to your dad.”

Duan Shaoheng got angry. “Why did you take my things without asking?”

He saw Duan Yi.

They looked at each other. Duan Shaoheng’s face was covered in a deep-sea mud mask, with a pink hairband. He had fine eyebrows, big eyes, and a handsome face. His long legs moved fast as he grabbed Duan Yi in a hug.

“Xiaoduan, miss your dad? =3= “

Duan Yi tried to push him away. “I think our family is complicated. You don’t need to be my dad.”

Duan Shaoheng looked serious. “The eldest brother is like a father. I haven’t seen you in three months. Are you fat or thin now?”

Duan Yi pushed him away. “Stay away from me—you’ve got something on your face… If not, I’ll take a picture of you right now and show your fans your ugly side.”

Duan Yi tore Duan Shaoheng off him. Duan Shaoheng squished against him. “You used my health card. What did you go to the hospital for?”

Duan Yi was underage, so he used Duan Shaoheng’s card.

Last time he used it at the hospital, Duan Shaoheng got a text.

Duan Yi mumbled. “…Nothing.”

He couldn’t tell Duan Shaoheng about changing from Alpha to Omega.

Duan Shaoheng covered his mouth, face pale. “Y-you got another Omega pregnant?”

“…I’m not messing around! Wake up!”

Mrs. Xiaoduan came in with a fruit plate. She sat on the sofa watching her two sons.

Duan Shaoheng looked like Xiaoduan’s dad—a big beauty.

Duan Yi looked like herself, with baby fat on his face. He looked delicate, like a 15-year-old instead of 17.

“Xiaoduan says he’s hearing things. There might be something wrong with his mind,” Mrs. Xiaoduan said worriedly. “Now that you’re back, take him to the hospital.” She pointed at Duan Shaoheng. “Is it from the car accident? I told him not to go back to school. We can afford to feed a freeloader, you know.”

Duan Shaoheng looked at Xiaoduan with a face covered in ocean mud. “Did you feel guilty after making an Omega pregnant?”

“…I didn’t make an Omega pregnant!” Duan Yi broke down.

Xiaoduan Mom switched her regular telescope for an astronomy one—small and white, easy to hold.

To stop the rich neighbor from invading her space, she’d gone all out, spending big.

Duan Yi complained, “That’s too much.”

He paused, remembering Sheng Yunze’s passion for astronomy. His throat moved. “Mom, let me use your astronomy telescope.”

He planned to show it to Sheng Yunze.

On Saturday, Xiaoduan Mom made Duan Gege take Duan Didi to the hospital.

Duan Yi refused his red Maserati. They drove an old Audi from last century to Second Hospital.

Duan Shaoheng wore a mask and veil, covering his pretty face like a Middle Eastern woman.

“Will they recognize me?” Duan Shaoheng asked, acting sneaky.

“Keep walking like that and you’ll be on 1818 GoldenEye soon,” Duan Yi teased.

Duan Shaoheng finally stood straight. He and Duan Yi reached the gynecology door, both looking puzzled. “Hm?”

Duan Yi said firmly, “I didn’t go to the wrong place.”

He pushed open the gynecology clinic door like he knew the way. Dr. He’s slightly annoying voice came out, “Welcome.”

Then Duan Shaoheng’s loud cry came, “He Yu?!”

Dr. He smiled at Duan Shaoheng, but his smile froze for a moment.

He quickly called security, fast as lightning, “Hello? A male Alpha broke into the gynecology clinic. Please get him out.”

Duan Yi looked around, confused. He asked his brother, “You know Dr. He? He’s not a gynecologist. He’s a psychologist who works at the gynecology clinic.”

Duan Shaoheng gritted his teeth. “He might as well write ‘evil doctor’ on his face. Damn! So that’s where Mom got your psychologist! I should’ve known she only knows one male doctor—this fox spirit He Yu! How did Mom let him treat your mental problems? He probably has problems himself!”

Dr. He casually added to security, “This Alpha is trying to insult me.”

Duan Shaoheng said angrily, “Why are you acting as annoying as you did in high school?”

Dr. He smiled, “We’re both the same. You flatter me.”

Duan Yi’s face showed nothing. So they really do know each other.

Duan Shaoheng was dragged out by security, waving his fists and cursing. His angry voice grew faint as he disappeared through the elevator doors.

Dr. He smiled. “I hope that didn’t scare you.”

Duan Yi struggled to find words. “You know my brother?”

Dr. He smiled. “We were unlucky to be in the same high school class. Good that those dark days are over. What’s done is done. The future is still bright.”

Duan Yi: Wow, a high school classmate…

“I’m not here to talk about hallucinations. I want to know why I’m resisting the Omega inhibitor?”

Dr. He thought for a moment. “I’ve never seen this before.”

Duan Yi got nervous. “Is that bad?”

Dr. He said, “You should find your marked Alpha. Use his pheromones to calm yourself. I don’t recommend using the inhibitor.”

Duan Yi thought of Sheng Yunze and scratched his head. “He doesn’t like me. Our relationship isn’t close enough to borrow pheromones.”

Dr. He said, “You might be too dependent on his pheromones. This could make you reject the inhibitor, causing your body to react.”

Just as she spoke, a tall “woman” suddenly appeared at the door.

She wore a scarf over her head, sunglasses on her face, and carried a bag taken from somewhere. Dressed like an Arab woman, she walked in swaying her hips.

Duan Yi: ……

Duan Shaoheng looked down at Dr. He. “What are you staring at? Never seen a tall woman before?”

Dr. He was speechless.

Duan Shaoheng took off his sunglasses. His handsome face could indeed look like a woman’s. He chuckled. “What excuse will you use to kick me out now? Planning to take advantage of my cute brother while I’m gone?”

Duan Yi covered his face.

Duan Shaoheng kept asking. “What’s wrong with my brother?”

Dr. He pretended not to hear. He took Duan Shaoheng’s medical record and wrote on it. “Miss, you can get your medicine downstairs.”

Duan Shaoheng: “Are you pretending to be dumb with me?”

Duan Yi: ……

He couldn’t get his checkup today.

Dr. He probably thought the same. He pointed at Duan Shaoheng and said, “It’s Duan Shaoheng!”

The women in the gynecology clinic got excited. “Duan Shaoheng? Where is Duan Shaoheng?”

The whole hallway was blocked. Duan Shaoheng, the popular heartthrob known as the “women killer,” had been caught in a photo by paparazzi and posted on Weibo.

Shocking—Duan Shaoheng appears at a gynecology clinic in woman’s clothes!

[Duan Shaoheng’s Embarrassing Photo 1] [Duan Shaoheng’s Embarrassing Photo 2] [Duan Shaoheng’s Embarrassing Photo 3] [Duan Shaoheng’s Embarrassing Photo 4]

Several topics quickly trended.

#Duan Shaoheng’s Gynecology Visit#

#Duan Shaoheng Suspected Omega#

#Duan Shaoheng Out of Entertainment Industry#

#Duan Shaoheng’s Mental State#

#Duan Shaoheng’s Crossdressing#

“Aaaaaah!” Duan Shaoheng sat deeply on a roadside bench, all hope lost. “Do you think it’s too late to grovel and apologize to my manager?”

Duan Yi mirrored his slumped posture, equally despairing. “Now I understand where all your dark history came from. You should upload some filtered photos to Weibo to save your pretty-boy image. And don’t accidentally send the original unfiltered ones.”

Duan Shaoheng suddenly sat up, looking wronged. “I never expected to see He Yu here! And with how squished I was, how could I possibly strike a good pose? Those paparazzi are so sneaky—they must have done it on purpose…”

He suddenly made a questioning sound, pulling out a crumpled medical record from his pocket. “He Yu, this sneaky bastard, gave me a medical note. Could it be some kind of poison?”

Opening it, the note read, “Can’t be cured. Wait for death.”

Attached was a crudely drawn smiley face: ^-^

The doctor’s sarcasm was top-notch. To make sure Duan Shaoheng—this slip through the cracks of nine years of compulsory education—could understand, Dr. He even avoided using fancy medical jargon.

Duan Shaoheng gritted his teeth, his face darkening like storm clouds, clearly ready to kill.

Duan Yi was speechless. “What grudge do you have against him?”

“Betrayal of my wife. Old wounds best left unmentioned. Duan-bao, let’s get you some good food.”

“No thanks. I’m going to Jian Qiao’s birthday party tonight and staying at school.”

His mind was still buzzing with Dr. He’s words.

Dependent on Sheng Yunze’s pheromones? He was indeed dependent, but never thought it would lead to needing suppressants.

A call from his manager summoned Duan Shaoheng back to the company, killing his plans to join with Duan Yi to the party.

Even a hundred meters away, Duan Yi could hear his brother’s furious curses about Dr. He.

Cheers!

Night neon lights danced as seven glasses clinked together, sparkling wine splashing onto Duan Yi’s fingers.

Jiang Wangshu teased, “Did you bring a present for our Princess Jian Qiao?”

Duan Yi gave a fancy gift—a full set of YSL spring limited edition lipsticks, a mini Eau de Parfum bottle, and a single-shoulder bag from Celine. This won Jian Qiao’s heart, who gave him a big hug.

The girls looked at Jian Qiao with envy, making her stand up straight.

Jiang Wangshu nudged him. “You got it right. You know what women want.”

Compared to Duan Yi’s big gift, others gave single bottles of perfume, lipsticks, or small toys—not impressive.

Jian Qiao was busy thanking everyone, so she didn’t pay attention to Duan Yi.

Jiang Wangshu saw the telescope in Duan Yi’s hand. “What are you bringing that for?”

Duan Yi put it in his backpack and answered awkwardly. “I need it for school tonight.”

He looked around. “Nan Yi isn’t here?”

Jiang Wangshu said while eating skewers. “His mom is back from America. He can’t care about us now. Do you think he’d come if you were here?”

Duan Yi: “Stop it! Watch your words. What do you mean ‘if I were here’? I’m not friends with Nan Yi anymore.”

After that, he casually asked, “Where’s Sheng Yunze? I came late, and you guys were already halfway through eating. Did he leave early or not come at all?”

Jiang Wangshu said happily, “He didn’t come. It would’ve been trouble if he did.”

Duan Yi asked, “Why?”

Jiang Wangshu said, “Jian Qiao plans to confess to him tonight.”

Duan Yi’s heart stopped for a moment, then started beating fast. He quickly picked up his cup and drank it all, trying to hide his expression.

His face burned, and his head felt hot.

After drinking with friends, Jian Qiao borrowed the barbecue shop owner’s speakers and two microphones to sing. They sang from “The Person I Love” to “Unrequited Love,” then from “Unrequited Love” to “He Doesn’t Love Me.”

The song’s mood, alcohol, and friends’ encouragement made Jian Qiao confess to Sheng Yunze by sending a voice message.

Jian Qiao was far away and surrounded by noise, but Duan Yi still heard those words.

Jian Qiao’s face turned bright red, her expression slightly drunk. She picked up her phone and scrolled through it.

Jiang Wangshu gasped, “She really did it? Your goddess is clever. Even if Sheng Yunze is cold, he can’t embarrass her in front of so many people.”

Duan Yi hummed, took out his phone, checked it, then put it away.

Jiang Wangshu nudged him. “Hey, you really let Jian Qiao call him?”

“What else?” Duan Yi said. “I’ll go take her phone now. Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” Jiang Wangshu said. “Just wondering if you really like Sheng Yunze or if you can’t let go of Jian Qiao.”

“I like his ass,” Duan Yi said.

Jiang Wangshu’s smile vanished. He patted Duan Yi’s shoulder. “I think Jian Qiao’s good for you, Duan Yi. You’re an Alpha. It’s one thing to talk to Nan Yi in middle school, but messing with Sheng Yunze is different.”

He drank from his cup. “You two… it’s not right. Even if he likes you, Commander Sheng doesn’t seem to like you. Besides, if you want two Alphas, do you think your parents would let you?”

“I don’t like him,” Duan Yi said. “Don’t overthink it. Can’t I just be friends with him?”

Jiang Wangshu clinked glasses with him. “That’s good. You scared me. I thought you were serious about this.”

Duan Yi and Jiang Wangshu looked at each other, then laughed.

It seemed liking Sheng Yunze had become a joke, like something from a fairy tale.

Duan Yi drank his wine, not moving. On the back of his neck, the marks from that world’s Sheng Yunze had almost completely faded, leaving only a tooth mark.

An omega’s neck would get people’s attention, but an alpha’s neck would get no likes even if posted online.

Jiang Wangshu, who was very observant, hadn’t even noticed Duan Yi’s neck.

After all, the idea of an alpha turning into an omega only existed in novels and TV shows. How could Jiang Wangshu suspect Duan Yi?

Also, to protect students’ safety, the school banned pheromone attacks, bullying, and forced behavior. All alphas on campus had to spray suppressants, so Jiang Wangshu didn’t notice any change in Duan Yi’s scent.

With a “glug-glug” sound, the wine bottle by Duan Yi’s feet rolled onto the ground.

“Wow—confession! Confession! Confession!” The crowd’s cheering reached new heights as they pushed around Jian Qiao. Duan Yi saw through the haze that Jian Qiao stood in the middle of the crowd, struggling through the waves of cheering to pull up Sheng Yunze’s WeChat.

Oh…

She also had Sheng Yunze’s WeChat.

Duan Yi thought quietly. That’s normal. They’ve known each other for years. Who wouldn’t have his WeChat?

Jian Qiao took a deep breath and pressed the voice call button.

Dial tone. The sound echoed with Jian Qiao’s heart pounding like thunder.

At the same time, Duan Yi pressed the voice call button for Sheng Yunze.

“Huh… why isn’t he answering?” Jian Qiao’s friend asked anxiously.

Jian Qiao’s face turned red. “Maybe his phone isn’t with him…” She took another deep breath. “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

In the corner, Duan Yi’s call connected.

“What do you want?”

It was Sheng Yunze’s voice.

Feeling like he’d done something really bad, Duan Yi didn’t dare look at Jian Qiao.

He buried his face in his arm, holding the phone in his left hand. The screen clearly showed the call time.

If I keep this call open, Jian Qiao can’t get through. He knew this very clearly and hated himself for it.

Duan Yi’s fingers tightly gripped the phone, turning his knuckles white, but he didn’t speak.

Sheng Yunze called out, “Duan Yi?”

Duan Yi buried his face in his arm, remaining silent.

The noisy sounds around him traveled through the phone to Sheng Yunze: friends’ teasing “confession” shouts, clinking glasses, singing voices, barbecue vendor calls, and the song “Back Shadow” by Lin Youjia playing from speakers—

“My heart’s secrets evaporate into clouds.”

After a moment of silence, Sheng Yunze asked, “Are you with Jian Qiao?”

The only response was Duan Yi’s quiet breathing.

Jian Qiao tried calling several times but couldn’t get through. A friend suggested, “Why don’t you send a WeChat to Sheng Yunze? Ask him to come over so you can confess face-to-face.”

“…Okay,” Jian Qiao said.

The voice seemed to reach Duan Yi’s ears through water. Drunk and dazed, he leaned against the table, clutching the phone tightly.

Sheng Yunze spoke, “Duan Yi, if you don’t talk soon, I’ll end the call.”

His phone beeped. A message from Jian Qiao: [ A-Ze, can you come to Gao Kao? I need to tell you something important.]

Before he finished reading, he heard Duan Yi’s muffled voice, “Don’t come over.”

Sheng Yunze’s hand froze.

Duan Yi mumbled, “Don’t… agree to her.”

Author’s Note:

Sheng Yunze: Do you really like Jian Qiao that much?

Misunderstanding! Sheng-ge!