What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – The Aroma of Milk

Duan Yi dreamed.

Gray sky. White single-story house. Marble courtyard. Two children.

Looked exactly alike. Five years old. Twin brothers.

One had a mole under left eye. One had a mole under right eye. No other differences.

Duan Yi sometimes couldn’t tell which son was Sheng Ming and which was Sheng Xi.

In the dream, he sat in the garden with a drawing board. Sheng Ming sat beside him, pointing at his drawing. “What’s this?”

“Stars,” Duan Yi said.

Sheng Xi asked, “Why haven’t I seen them before?”

“Look up,” Duan Yi said.

Sheng Ming hugged his arm. “Where’s Dad?”

“Dad’s right here,” Duan Yi said.

He pointed at the drawing, a copy of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”.

Duan Yi opened his eyes, heart racing.

He swallowed hard, sat up, and saw Sheng Yunze sitting on the bed. He fell off the bed.

“Fuck!” Duan Yi stood up. “What are you doing here?”

Sheng Yunze: “Sleeping like a pig. Here to check if you’re dead.”

Duan Yi turned. Outside was already light. The clock on the table showed 9 AM.

Sheng Yunze seemed to have sat there for a long time.

Duan Yi wanted water. He saw a cup on the table, tilted his head back, and drank it all. Still thirsty, he looked everywhere for more water.

Sheng Yunze asked, “What were you dreaming about?”

Duan Yi felt guilty. “What dream? I wasn’t dreaming!”

He had just had one, but forgot when he woke up and saw Sheng Yunze.

Drinking water, he remembered again.

It wasn’t anything special. He dreamed about things happening in another world.

Since coming back, Duan Yi hadn’t dreamed about that place for a long time.

The longer he stayed in high school, the fainter his memories became, as if he was forgetting that strange part of his life.

He didn’t think much about it, and his mind quickly jumped to another topic.

“Thank you for last night,” Duan Yi said, holding his water cup.

Sheng Yunze: “Don’t need to thank me. Here’s your key back.”

He put the key on the table, stood up, and walked toward the door.

Duan Yi noticed Sheng Yunze wasn’t wearing his school uniform today. He’d changed into a light and quick outfit—a zipped hooded jacket that looked pretty cool.

He’d thought Sheng Yunze would dress like a classic school drama’s ice-cold male lead in private—white shirt, black pants, and glasses. But instead, he looked more like a magazine-ready model ready to start a career.

Duan Yi laughed to himself, even school beauties know how to dress.

He glanced at Sheng Yunze and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Does it matter to you?” Sheng Yunze replied.

Duan Yi suddenly jumped off the bed. Remembering Dr. He’s heartfelt advice and that he still needed to ask about pheromones, he followed eagerly, “I’ll go with you! I have nothing to do today!”

He quickly called out to stop Sheng Yunze, “Don’t move! I need to get dressed and brush my teeth. I still need to thank you properly for bringing me home yesterday. Let’s get lunch today—you can’t refuse…”

Duan Yi moved fast, catching up to Sheng Yunze before he reached the school gate.

He panted, “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me…?”

Sheng Yunze glanced at him. Duan Yi, out of his school uniform and in casual clothes, looked even more handsome than usual.

In his busy schedule, he’d still taken time to style his hair. Now, after their run, it lay flat against his head, soft and fluffy like a puppy’s.

As they walked, Duan Yi asked, “I didn’t say anything wrong last night, did I?”

He looked at Sheng Yunze, worried.

Sheng Yunze’s mind immediately flashed to that absurd “husband” remark.

After Duan Yi’s soft call, he’d simply turned over and hugged his pillow, ignoring Sheng Yunze completely.

No beginning, no end. It was unclear who he’d been addressing.

“What do you think you might have said?” Sheng Yunze asked without turning.

Duan Yi caught up. “Well—lots of things! Let me be clear, I was drunk last night. Drunk people’s words aren’t reliable. If I said anything crazy again, don’t take it seriously!”

“Anything crazy?” Sheng Yunze echoed.

Duan Yi opened his eyes wide. “Did I say anything?”

Sheng Yunze nodded. “Yes, you called me—”

Duan Yi’s heart jumped to his throat.

Sheng Yunze’s face froze. “You insisted I call you ‘Dad’.”

“Impossible!” Duan Yi’s mouth dropped open. “Are you crazy? Are you trying to take advantage of me?”

Sheng Yunze’s face didn’t change as he got on the bus. Duan Yi chased after him, asking, “I’m sure I never said that. Why are you walking so fast? Can’t you wait for me?”

As soon as they got on the bus, they attracted a lot of attention.

Sheng Yunze said, “Can you be quiet? I don’t want to be treated like a zoo gorilla.”

Duan Yi said, “That’s because they’re looking at me, right?”

The bus was full of different pheromones. With two Alphas standing near Duan Yi, he felt uncomfortable.

He pressed close to Sheng Yunze, and only then did the discomfort ease. Sheng Yunze caught a faint milky scent.

Sheng Yunze got off at Xihe Cultural Plaza. The weekend square was full of people shopping, strolling, and couples everywhere.

Duan Yi bought a milk tea and drank happily. “I asked you earlier. You’re the one who didn’t drink. So, what are you doing here?”

Just as he finished speaking, someone waved. “A-Ze!”

It was a group of skateboarders in the square. Duan Yi watched Sheng Yunze walk over to them, eyes wide. “How do you know them?”

“From your tone, should I not know them?” Sheng Yunze replied.

Duan Yi continued in disbelief. “How come I never heard you had a skateboard hobby?”

“Why should I tell you?” Sheng Yunze asked.

Duan Yi was speechless. “Can we have a normal conversation without this?”

He really wanted to say, “We’ve been married for years, and I’ve never seen you skate before.”

Duan Yi stood confused for a moment before following them.

The one who called Sheng Yunze “A-Ze” was the club founder, Da Hui, also the president.

The vice-president was a second-year college girl, with the rest being around 20-year-old enthusiasts. The whole club was young.

When Sheng Yunze arrived, the vice-president’s eyes stuck to him. She started random conversations, clearly showing interest in his husband. Duan Yi could see it, but he didn’t want to make a big deal.

He was almost numb. Sheng Yunze was like a walking spotlight, never lacking admirers.

Duan Yi found a place to sit, legs crossed, and watched Sheng Yunze’s “side affair” play out.

Da Hui said excitedly, “Are you A-Ze’s friend?”

Duan Yi: “Friend? I guess.”

Da Hui: “Do good-looking people only hang out with other good-looking people?”

Duan Yi thought Da Hui was a real chatterbox. If he wasn’t an “Alpha” now, he’d suspect Da Hui was hitting on him.

Seeing Duan Yi staring at Sheng Yunze, Da Hui laughed, “A-Ze’s got great charm with women.”

Duan Yi: “I can see that. When did he join your club?”

Da Hui: “Freshman year. He skates so well I can’t keep up.”

Duan Yi felt annoyed. Sheng Yunze never mentioned anything about him, even though they were married in their old world.

After being married for over a decade, he’s still playing mysterious? Duan Yi wondered. Is he worried about his charm? Keeping distance? Playing hard-to-get?

Duan Yi kept his eyes on Sheng Yunze, feeling uneasy.

Sheng Yunze was indeed popular. Not just popular—he stood out like a star.

With so many people in the square and him being so handsome, girls soon crowded around the long stone bench. They excitedly took pictures of Sheng Yunze with their phones.

They talked, some loud, some quiet. The braver ones wanted to ask Sheng Yunze’s name and phone number.

Duan Yi clicked his tongue.

Da Hui said, “Every time A-Ze comes, girls crowd around us in layers.”

Duan Yi gritted his teeth. No wonder he didn’t let me follow. He’s so full of himself, showing off here like a peacock!

Da Hui added happily, “Actually, many in our club like A-Ze too. Too bad he’s so cold and hard to talk to.”

Sheng Yunze got off his skateboard. His hair was slightly damp, and he wore a headband that made him look less cold than usual, more like a young boy his age.

Duan Yi sighed. No wonder they call him the school’s heartthrob…

Sheng Yunze’s face was truly perfect. Ah, but what’s the point of being a heartthrob? He’s just some guy who got bewitched by this brother and now stays home being a househusband.

After a moment, Duan Yi added. Well, in a parallel world anyway.

“What are you looking at?” Sheng Yunze asked with a strange look at Duan Yi.

Duan Yi said, “Can’t I look? Do you charge for it?”

Sheng Yunze said, “Water? Give me some.”

He took Duan Yi’s water directly.

“Hey, I drank from that—”

Sheng Yunze put down the water bottle, “?”

Duan Yi: ……

“Whatever, you already drank it.”

Da Hui was surprised inside but didn’t show it.

He muttered. Doesn’t Sheng Yunze have a germaphobia?

Duan Yi kicked Sheng Yunze’s leg gently, like a cat’s claw.

“Hey, Commander Sheng, when did you learn this girl-wooing skill? Teach me too?”

Sheng Yunze: “You want to learn skateboarding?”

Duan Yi wasn’t interested, but sitting here watching Sheng Yunze with the other girls made him feel annoyed.

He needed to make himself noticed.

“Yes. Will you teach me?” Duan Yi looked up at him.

Sheng Yunze turned away under his intense gaze, stepped onto his skateboard, and said, “Come here.”

Da Hui was surprised. “You’re really doing it?”

Duan Yi: “Why not? Can’t I skate?”

Da Hui thought, it wasn’t that he couldn’t skate, it was just he’d never seen Sheng Yunze teach anyone before.

He tried to copy Sheng Yunze’s stance on his skateboard, but the board suddenly slipped from his control and flew out by itself.

Duan Yi: ……

“Your skateboard seems to have become a spirit.”

Sheng Yunze raised his eyebrows. “Since the founding of the nation, spirits aren’t allowed anymore. Should we still learn?”

Duan Yi rolled up his sleeves. “Before it grows a human form, I must conquer it today…”

After five falls, Duan Yi gave up.

With knees and elbows scraped raw, he whined in pain. Sheng Yunze couldn’t handle him, so he said, “Stand up. I’ll hold you.”

“Can you do it?” Duan Yi asked.

Sheng Yunze pulled him over. Duan Yi carefully stepped onto the skateboard. Suddenly, one hand held him steady while the other wrapped around his waist.

Duan Yi shrank back. “Why are you grabbing my waist?”

Sheng Yunze was speechless. “Should I grab your neck instead?”

Duan Yi’s ears turned red. “Just hold my hand. I’m not unstable.”

Sheng Yunze immediately let go of his waist. In the next second, Duan Yi fell to the ground. The spirit-like skateboard raced across the square, enjoying its freedom.

Duan Yi picked himself up, grumbling. “You should still hold my waist.”

Sheng Yunze smiled, shaking Duan Yi’s vision. He turned his head, not pressing the matter, though the skateboard still refused to learn.

The vice-president casually asked, “Da Hui, is that really A-Ze’s friend?”

“Seems like a classmate,” Da Hui replied slyly. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous of an Alpha now?”

The vice-president had a woman’s intuition. “Why do I feel they’re more than classmates? Is he really an Alpha?”

Sheng Yunze showed unusual care for his classmate, their posture so close it looked like an ordinary young couple from afar.

The vice-president had never seen Sheng Yunze treat anyone this well—more precisely, he’d never let anyone get so close to him before.

Da Hui nudged her. “If you want him, act fast. A-Ze’s very popular.”

The vice-president smiled embarrassedly. “Do you think Sheng Yunze would agree? He seems uninterested in everyone.”

Duan Yi clung to Sheng Yunze, acting spoiled. “I’m not learning anymore! Carry me while you skate.”

Sheng Yunze looked awkwardly at the watching girls. Hearing almost screams from the crowd, he lifted Duan Yi. “Don’t cling to me.”

Duan Yi also noticed his awkward position and straightened up, embarrassed. “Oh, I didn’t mean to do that.” After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Are you really that uncomfortable being close to an Alpha?”

“Just fine,” Sheng Yunze replied.

Duan Yi misunderstood, his face turning pale. He protested, “Then you’re only targeting me, not all Alphas?”

Sheng Yunze was taken aback. “What nonsense are you thinking?”

Hostility between Alphas was natural.

They competed for resources, fought over mates, and had conflicting natural pheromones. Both had strong desires to control and possess. It was hard for two Alphas to get along peacefully.

Before this, Duan Yi had also been hostile towards Sheng Yunze.

But since the start of third year, he suddenly changed. He kept clinging to Sheng Yunze, like he’d suffered brain damage in a summer car accident.

Duan Yi kept chattering beside him, insisting that even Alphas should be friendly and supportive.

Sheng Yunze smelled that milky scent again, faint but irritating. He felt an urge to grab Duan Yi and shake him.

A disturbance occurred near the square. Duan Yi jumped off his skateboard, puzzled. “What’s happening?”

A trace of Omega pheromones hung in the air.

Da Hui suddenly stood up, expression serious. “An Omega might be in heat.”

Just as he spoke, chaos erupted at Xihe Cultural Plaza. Crowds surged together. Duan Yi saw a tightly packed crowd ahead, and heard someone shout, “An Omega’s in heat! Call the O-Rights Association!”

Sheng Yunze smelled another Omega’s pheromones. Before he could tell what it tasted like, he quickly covered his nose and took a cautious step back.

When Duan Yi smelled the pheromones, his neck suddenly prickled like needles. Someone ahead suddenly shouted, “It’s too late! Who has suppressants?”

The Omega’s sweet pheromones flooded the air.

The Alphas in the square became restless.

Author’s Note:

Xiaoduan: You can’t discriminate against Alphas!