What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Low Fever

“Why isn’t he pestering the school beauty today?” Hao Shanshan asked Jiang Wangshu, leaning on her desk while copying math homework.

“Man’s wise time,” Jiang Wangshu said, taking a sip of Mrs. Taitai Oral Solution. “Just like watching too much of something makes you sick of it.”

“What do you mean?” Hao Shanshan asked.

“Xiaoduan might finally realize how shameless he is. After being seriously scolded by the school beauty, he decided to stop harassing her like a brave man,” Jiang Wangshu explained.

He nudged Duan Yi, who was also leaning on the desk. “Right, Duan-bao?”

“Stop bothering me,” Duan Yi said, his tone unfriendly.

“What’s wrong with him?” Hao Shanshan asked.

“His rut’s coming. Don’t talk to him today,” Jiang Wangshu answered.

Duan Yi wore a mask, his head feeling hot. He’d had a low fever all morning.

Last night, he’d acted like a jerk and touched Sheng Yunze. As soon as he got back to his dorm, he regretted it so much his stomach turned green.

What had he done? Fuck! He must be crazy. Drinking really makes people do stupid things. How could he dare to tease Sheng Yunze like that?

Duan Yi buried his head in his elbow, too upset. He didn’t dare to text Sheng Yunze, not even brave enough to look at him.

How could he make things so awkward? Even if Duan Yi had a thicker face, he wouldn’t dare get close to Sheng Yunze now.

Fortunately, Sheng Yunze remained that untouchable flower on the high cliff. Whether Duan Yi pestered him or not, he stood firm and unmoved, maintaining his own way. Nothing showed he was different from normal.

Who knows if Sheng Yunze was secretly cursing Duan Yi’s ancestors behind his back…

After the second class ended, during the long break, it was raining outside. The running was canceled, giving students half an hour to rest.

Jiang Wangshu was studying physics with a book. He’d gotten second in the class during the start-of-term test, scoring 667 points. Sheng Yunze was 40 points ahead, scaring Jiang Wangshu’s mom so much she rushed to Lingyin Temple to pray all night.

“I told my mom last year’s final exam was only first because Sheng Yunze didn’t take it,” Jiang Wangshu grumbled while taking notes. “But she insists I suddenly became a top student and overtook him! Now I’m stuck as class rep. Damn it, I really don’t want this!”

His grades were steady. From freshman year till now, he’d stayed in the top ten. He’d gotten first a few times when luck was good, like when Sheng Yunze missed exams for competitions. Otherwise, he usually got third or fifth—always consistent.

Sheng Yunze had been the top scorer in the middle school exam. At Second High School, where talented students gathered, he still dominated—always getting first no matter what.

Third Year Class 1 was Second High School’s advanced class. Except for Duan Yi who was just filling the quota, all other students were true academic stars.

During the long break, few students went out to play. Most stayed in class, studying with books or eating snacks while reviewing.

“Duan Yi!” Nan Yi knocked on the window.

He didn’t hide. He came in through the back door.

Jiang Wangshu shouted, “What are you doing? We don’t let outsiders in!”

Nan Yi said, “Mind your own business. I’m looking for Duan Yi.”

Jiang Wangshu said, “Comrade Xiao Nan, I need to remind you—you’re now Xiaoduan’s ex-ex-husband.”

Nan Yi asked, “Why not just ex-husband?”

Jiang Wangshu sighed. “It’s a long story. The official ex-husband title went to someone else.”

“Here.” Nan Yi pushed Hao Shanshan away and took the seat in front of Duan Yi. He threw a medicine box from a plastic bag on the desk. “I brought this for you. Are you sick? Give me your water cup. I’ll make you a drink.”

Jiang Wangshu laughed. “You’re actually quite thoughtful. I made him one this morning, but he refused to drink it because it was bitter.”

Nan Yi said, “Why are you still so spoiled?”

Duan Yi, who was having ear trouble, said, “Please argue outside. Don’t disturb my sleep.”

Nan Yi noticed two more medicine boxes on Duan Yi’s desk.

Jiang Wangshu said, “This one is from Hao Shanshan, and this one is from Fang Yun. Brother Xiao Yi, your information is out of date. You’re too late to show kindness.”

“Duan Yi?” Someone knocked on the back door again.

Jian Qiao leaned out halfway. “I’m coming in.”

Jiang Wangshu quickly stood up, welcoming her with dramatic gestures. “Goddess graces us with her presence! Come, come, please, please. A troubled heart needs heart medicine. Duan Yi will be half-healed just seeing you…”

Jian Qiao pulled a chair over, still doubtful. She put cold medicine on the table. “Where does it hurt?”

Duan Yi made a soft groan.

Hao Shanshan and Fang Yun walked through the hallway, arm in arm. As they reached the back, they saw Jian Qiao’s long hair hanging down her back like a curtain.

“President Duan sure has good friends…”

Everyone knew about the sick student, all rushing to bring medicine.

Fang Yun said, “It’s all because Chairman Jiang posted on social media. When one person’s in trouble, everyone likes the post. I wouldn’t have known President Duan was sick otherwise.”

They chatted a bit more, but didn’t plan to go into the classroom.

Everyone around Duan Yi was very special.

Jiang Wangshu went without saying—he was also a rich second-generation kid. His family wasn’t as rich as Duan Yi’s, but they’d grown up together.

Nan Yi was a small-famous magazine model. Jian Qiao went without saying—anyone watching Hang City TV knew her children’s show.

They were far from ordinary students, creating an invisible distance.

When Duan Yi was alone, Fang Yun didn’t feel much different from him.

But when Duan Yi was with his friends, Fang Yun could clearly see how big the gap was between his group and hers.

School put them in the same class, but that didn’t mean they’d be the same kind of people after graduation.

The difference made Fang Yun’s heart tremble.

“…He’s always been friendly. He doesn’t act superior to anyone.”

Fang Yun walked into the classroom looking upset. Hao Shanshan pulled on her arm. “Come on, is studying so boring? Why are you staring at President Duan?”

After they left, Sheng Yunze appeared from around the corner.

“Hey, girl, what medicine are you carrying? Is it for people?” Nan Yi showed no kindness toward Jian Qiao.

Jian Qiao rolled her eyes. “It’s not for you, you jerk. What’s your problem?”

Duan Yi weakly said, “Can you two stop…?”

Nan Yi acted cute to Duan Yi. “Why are you defending Jian Qiao? She has a terrible temper. What do you see in her? No chest, no hips.”

After Jian Qiao gave him a hard slap, she shot back, “Duan Yi, if your taste wasn’t so bad, you wouldn’t have ended up with someone like him.”

Nan Yi grabbed her wrist and complained to Duan Yi, “Look, she’s hitting me!”

When they were dating, Nan Yi used to act cute with Duan Yi. Duan Yi, being young and inexperienced, thought Nan Yi’s delicate looks meant he’d grow into a beautiful Omega. He let Nan Yi’s occasional acting go.

But now seeing an Alpha with such a tough look acting cute—even if he looked like Wang Zuxian—Duan Yi couldn’t feel any affection.

Jiang Wangshu suddenly sat up, pulling his head out of his physics book.

“Commander Sheng is here!”

He meant to warn Jian Qiao, but Duan Yi was the first to look at Sheng Yunze.

His eyes moved too fast. Before Sheng Yunze could even look back, Duan Yi had already looked away, pretending to be dead on the desk like a guilty thief.

The glance landed right on Jian Qiao. She felt a bit shy, but remembering how Sheng Yunze had rejected her confession, she quickly wilted.

Nan Yi, enjoying her misfortune, said, “Oh, may you two have a happy marriage and many children. When you marry Sheng Yunze, Duan Yi and I will definitely give you a big red envelope.”

Jian Qiao burned with anger. “If I can’t be happy, you won’t either. Duan-bao, look him in the eye and shout it loud—who do you love now?”

Duan Yi was nearly driven mad by these two. “It’s you, it’s you! Miss, I’m crazy about you! Can’t you argue with Nan Yi somewhere else? When did you two even meet? You’re way too friendly!”

Nan Yi felt bitter, but it wasn’t jealousy of Jian Qiao.

He’d never taken Duan Yi’s feelings seriously. The real problem was Duan Yi’s secret—and it wasn’t about him.

It looked like unrequited love, but Nan Yi didn’t know who Duan Yi was pining after.

Jiang Wangshu kept sighing. “Seeing your tangled love problems, I don’t know whose head to put this green hat on.”

Jian Qiao looked at Sheng Yunze. He’d put on headphones as soon as he sat down, ignoring everything around him.

“Truly the Little Dragon Maiden of Second High School,” Jiang Wangshu said.

“Why do you keep giving him nicknames?” Duan Yi asked.

Jiang Wangshu: “I have no place to use my talent.” He changed the topic, “But Little Dragon Maiden has his downsides too. Look, he’s handsome and smart, but he has no friends.”

Jian Qiao defended Sheng Yunze, “He doesn’t like making friends. How could stupid humans be worthy of a fairy? Of course, except for me, a fairy.”

Nan Yi muttered, “No way. I saw on the forum they said he has a girlfriend.”

Jian Qiao’s heart skipped a beat, like falling into a deep pit. At the same time, Duan Yi’s voice asked.

“What girlfriend?”

“When did this happen?”

Nan Yi: …

He looked at Duan Yi with a hurt expression, “It’s understandable Jian Qiao is worried, but why are you so concerned?”

He wanted to say next, “Didn’t you say you don’t like Sheng Yunze? Why do you keep asking about him?”

Duan Yi didn’t know if he felt guilty or not. With Jian Qiao here, he suddenly remembered the mean thing he did the night she confessed. His face burned with shame, like he’d become a villain in a novel. Even he hated his own actions—he was afraid Jian Qiao would find out.

He quickly interrupted, “I was just asking. Don’t read too much into it.”

Jian Qiao: “Where’d you hear that?”

Nan Yi didn’t notice the strange tone in Duan Yi’s words and answered, “From the school forum. A girl said she saw Sheng Yunze and his girlfriend at Sakura Avenue last Saturday. He carried her back to their dorm.”

Jian Qiao: “Last Saturday…”

Now her face turned deathly pale. That was the day Sheng Yunze had just rejected her confession.

So it wasn’t that he didn’t like her. He already had a girlfriend.

…Who could it be?

Jiang Wangshu: “You guys actually believe forum posts? There’s even a fanfic about Sheng Yunze and Duan Yi. I follow it—right now they’re up to Duan-bao having two sons with the school’s beauty…”

Nan Yi’s face twisted, “Fuck! How is that trash on the forum?”

Jiang Wangshu looked like he was saying “See how little you know?”.

“You don’t know what those Second High School girls will do when they’re bored. The school beauty and Duan Yi are both famous at school. What’s wrong with people shipping that couple? Oh, I also have one about Duan Yi and me. Want to read it?”

Nan Yi: “Damn, is there any Duan Yi and my story?”

Jiang Wangshu calmly took a sip of his oral liquid, “No. Don’t force a long-distance relationship when we’re in different grades. But you can use your imagination and write your own story.”

He glanced at Jian Qiao and quietly comforted, “That’s why you shouldn’t take forum posts seriously. Some even say Duan Yi is a fake Alpha pretending to be an Omega.”

Duan Yi felt this topic was dangerous and quickly interrupted, “I’m thirsty. Get me a glass of water.”

He kicked Jiang Wangshu. The school bell rang. Nan Yi seemed to want to ask more, but there was no time.

In the afternoon, Duan Yi’s low fever got worse. Hao Shanshan couldn’t help but say, “President Duan, why don’t you take some medicine?”

“No,” Duan Yi mumbled.

No one could persuade him. Duan Yi just didn’t want to take medicine.

Hao Shanshan: “Do you have any other symptoms besides the fever?”

Jiang Wangshu: “No cough or runny nose. Just a low fever. Why does it not look like a cold to me?”

Hao Shanshan worried, “I feel the same. If President Duan wasn’t an Alpha, I’d suspect he was in heat. These symptoms are like an Omega’s heat period…”

Duan Yi’s head was dizzy from the fever. He didn’t hear this and said, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll feel better after resting.”

He stayed lying down all day. Teachers who came to class saw Duan Yi on the desk and each came to check on him. This showed that even though Duan Yi was mischievous, he was very popular.

Yu Wenshu brought a thermometer. “You’re usually so lively. Why are you so weak with a fever? Did you tell your homeroom teacher?”

Jiang Wangshu said, “I did. I’ll take him to the hospital tonight with a pass.”

Yu Wenshu nodded. “Good. There’s hot water in my office. If you need it, come get some.”

After afternoon classes, Jiang Wangshu went to the Student Affairs Office for a pass.

Classmates rushed to the cafeteria for dinner. Soon the classroom was empty except for Duan Yi on the desk and Sheng Yunze in his seat. The latter took off his headphones and walked over.

Duan Yi seemed to sense his approach. He lifted his head and mumbled through the mask, “Why are you paying attention to me…?”

Didn’t you want to ignore me? Didn’t you pretend I wasn’t there all day?

Since discovering his fever, Duan Yi felt more vulnerable. Seeing Sheng Yunze now made him feel deeply hurt.

Why not just burn me to death?

Sheng Yunze spoke coldly, his words dripping with mockery as if he’d been stewing in resentment all day. “Do you need me to pay you attention?”

He thought about everything he’d seen that day—Duan Yi was always surrounded by people.

Friends, admirers, ex-boyfriends, ambiguous partners—every kind of person, all doting on him.

Hmph, what does my concern even count for?

Sheng Yunze heard Fang Yun and Hao Shanshan’s conversation.

He heard Fang Yun’s words. She was right—Duan Yi had his own circle and friends.

He was close with them all. Sheng Yunze felt like an outsider, unable to fit in at all.

This made his irritation last all day.

On the surface, Sheng Yunze and Duan Yi had no connection. Even as classmates, they sometimes didn’t speak a single word to each other in class.

But in private moments, they shared secrets no one else could detect.

Duan Yi lay on the desk, his hand moving to grab Sheng Yunze’s school uniform sleeve. He said stubbornly, “I do.”

His words were fierce, but the hand holding his sleeve was gentle and obedient.

Sheng Yunze’s legs suddenly felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Duan Yi said quietly, “Sheng Yunze, sit here for a moment. It’ll be better soon.”

The back of his neck started to ache again. Duan Yi sucked in a breath. His hands felt hot, but when he touched Sheng Yunze’s hand, it was suddenly cold.

The hidden period of induced heat was two to three days. Now it was the second day.

Sheng Yunze smelled a faint milky scent in the air. He’d smelled it before, bothering him for days. He didn’t know where it came from.

It was a clean sweet smell, like coconut milk.

But this time, it was stronger than before.