What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 30

Chapter 30 – White Moonlight

Duan Yi looked at him earnestly. “Who would I want to be with? You? Then I’d have to divorce Xiao Jiang first before marrying you.”

His attitude was just like when he joked around with Jiang Wangshu and others—completely nonchalant, as if it was nothing serious.

For the first time in his seventeen years, Sheng Yunze felt his fragile, glass-like heart being cruelly toyed with.

With a sharp “crack,” the black pen in his hand was snapped in two by an enraged squeeze. The fluttering in his chest vanished without a trace.

Looking down from above, Sheng Yunze’s eyes glinted with icy frost as he waved his hand dismissively. “Get lost!”

“Exactly like that.” Duan Yi sat deeply on the bed, imitating Sheng Yunze’s voice and expression for Jiang Wangshu. “Get lost~ Did you hear that? He even broke his pen!”

Two long, straight legs—slender and beautiful—rested in Jiang Wangshu’s Happy Little Lamb washbasin. “I don’t know why he got mad again. He ignored me the whole night during self-study.”

Jiang Wangshu sat on the opposite bed soaking his feet in the Mermaid washbasin, making a perfect pair with Duan Yi’s.

“I think your imitation of his voice is off. Since when does the school beauty talk with such a wavy tone? Are you wearing some kind of rose-colored glasses about him?”

Duan Yi was quite childish. To save money, he and Jiang Wangshu would buy things in pairs—one for each, or as “couple sets.” If there was a blue one and a pink one, Duan Yi would force Jiang Wangshu to use the pink one. In his macho, straight-A-cancer mindset, men should only use blue and black, while women could only use pink.

So if he used Happy Little Lamb, Jiang Wangshu had to use Beautiful Little Lamb.

Well, Jiang Wangshu’s existence was already weird enough anyway. What’s a little more weirdness?

Jiang Wangshu clutched his thermos, which contained ice-cold cola—his happiness water.

He took a sip and tasted something like wolfberries. The old man spoke up, “I think maybe the school beauty’s period came. His mood is unstable. You should tell him to drink more hot water.”

Duan Yi: “Why don’t you go tell him that yourself?”

Jiang Wangshu pretended to tear up, “You’d love it if I died so you could find a new plaything, wouldn’t you?”

Duan Yi splashed water everywhere, making a mess. Jiang Wangshu stopped him, “Are you bored or something? You’re cleaning up today.”

The Bookworm pushed up his glasses and reminded, “Chairman, it’s your turn to clean.”

Jiang Wangshu: …

By the time he finished mopping, the lights were already out.

The dorm supervisor blew her whistle three times before Jiang Wangshu finished cleaning. He washed his hands and climbed into bed.

Duan Yi was still playing on his phone, obsessed with a new game called Seductive County Magistrate. He’d found it in some obscure corner of the internet. The main quest involved a county magistrate becoming a big shot and marrying seventeen or eighteen wives. He was so hooked he’d spent over ten thousand yuan on it.

Jiang Wangshu knocked on his bed. “Still playing?”

Duan Yi held up his phone like he’d discovered a treasure. “Hey, doesn’t this Little Fairy look like Sheng Yunze?”

The Little Fairy was a high-ranking character in Seductive County Magistrate you could win over. She lived in the Moon-Shot Pavilion, all noble and cold, yet secretly cute and sharp-tongued. Duan Yi had to complete a hundred quests a day just to see her face, let alone kiss her.

Xiang Wang had intentions, but the goddess remained uninterested. He’d spent twenty thousand yuan all for this Little Fairy. Now he was determined to make her his eighteenth concubine.

Jiang Wangshu’s assessment: He’s a complete nutjob!

The next day was Saturday. Bookworm and the others went home, but Duan Yi stayed behind.

In no time, the dorm room emptied except for him. He’d made plans to play basketball with Class 4 at the field that morning. After burning off energy until afternoon, he returned to the dorm to sleep.

Then came the cruel experience of sleep paralysis. Duan Yi couldn’t rest properly. When he rolled over, he accidentally crushed the astronomy telescope he’d forcibly borrowed from Xiaoduan Mom. Suddenly, an idea struck him—he’d borrow flowers to offer Buddha, and go find Sheng Yunze to play.

He figured, It’s been a day. He should be over his anger by now, right?

Some other guys in the dorm building also stayed behind. Duan Yi got along well with them. After visiting a few rooms, he reached 306’s door with ulterior motives.

He peeked through the narrow gap, unsure if Sheng Yunze had come home or gone skating at Cultural Plaza again.

Duan Yi circled outside Sheng Yunze’s dorm door like a thief. Finally, he stuffed the telescope into his pocket, ran back to his room to grab some practice tests, then came back.

Now that he had a good reason, Duan Yi knocked on the door.

“Sheng Yunze, are you there?”

“What do you want?”

“Holy shit?”

The voice came from behind him.

Duan Yi jumped, nearly falling over as he spun around.

Sheng Yunze held a basin in his hands. Good, normal. Not Jiang Wangshu’s Happy Little Lamb look. Duan Yi didn’t know why he was relieved.

The basin contained freshly washed school uniforms. Duan Yi opened his mouth. “You were washing clothes?”

“Where else would I be?” Sheng Yunze replied coldly.

Duan Yi suddenly felt like he was dreaming, dizzy and floating. The high-and-mighty flower has to wash clothes himself? Too grounded for his image.

Then he remembered their first misunderstanding. He suddenly realized the slightly sassy system voice in his head had been gone for a long time—ever since his relationship with Sheng Yunze had improved.

Was it really just my imagination?

Sheng Yunze pushed open the door. Duan Yi hurriedly said, “I came to do homework with you!”

The other boy glanced at him, then at the blank test paper in his hand. Clearly, he didn’t believe a word.

“Seriously, we’re classmates. Can’t you be a bit nicer? Hey, don’t close the door! I swear I’ll just do my homework. I won’t bother you at all.”

Sheng Yunze still remembered Duan Yi’s sleazy remark about marrying him after divorcing Jiang Wangshu. Feeling annoyed, he snorted coldly and let Duan Yi do as he pleased.

As soon as Duan Yi entered, he took over Pingtou’s desk, which was right next to Sheng Yunze’s.

The balcony lay beyond the window. As Duan Yi sat down, he caught sight of Sheng Yunze hanging clothes.

Propping his chin up, he suddenly felt a hint of domestic charm. Duan Yi himself never washed his clothes—he’d let them pile up for a week before sending them home for the maid to handle.

Or sometimes he’d sneak them into Jiang Wangshu’s basin, hoping the other boy would wash them for him without noticing.

Sheng Yunze dried his hands and glanced at Duan Yi’s test paper. Every question remained blank.

“Weren’t you here to do homework?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know how to answer any of these.”

Truth was, Duan Yi had come to show off his astronomy telescope. But seeing Sheng Yunze’s lingering irritation, he couldn’t bring himself to produce it.

Sheng Yunze’s sharp tongue cut through: “That’s obvious.”

Duan Yi was playing with an eraser on his desk when he saw Sheng Yunze sitting across from him, putting on headphones and starting a timed test. His hands got restless again, and he couldn’t resist tugging at Sheng Yunze’s sleeve.

“Hey, when are you gonna finish?”

“I just started,” Sheng Yunze replied.

Duan Yi wanted to say, “Can’t you play with me for a bit instead of writing?”

But then he remembered he might be interrupting someone’s attempt to get into Tsinghua University, so he sheepishly withdrew his hand.

Maybe because of his sudden mood swings, Sheng Yunze took off one headphone. “What do you want?”

Duan Yi shook his head. “Nothing.”

Then he focused on playing with the eraser, occasionally taking out his phone to scroll through Weibo.

His dejection was so obvious that it softened Sheng Yunze’s heart, while at the same time making him annoyed with his own almost non-existent resistance. He’s just acting pitiful. Do you really have to give in to him?

It’s clear that early romance really does affect your studies.

Sheng Yunze asked nonchalantly, “Which questions—”

He wanted to say “Which questions don’t you understand?” but then changed his mind and said, “Which questions do you know? Circle them.”

Duan Yi circled some basic questions. Sheng Yunze glanced at them and felt a bit relieved. At least he’s not so dumb that he can’t answer even the easiest questions.

“Come here,” Sheng Yunze ordered him.

Duan Yi sat beside him clutching his test papers, suddenly catching the faint lavender scent of Sheng Yunze’s laundry detergent. He chuckled obediently and blurted out, “You smell really nice.”

“Behave,” Sheng Yunze retorted coldly. “Don’t sexually harass me.”

Duan Yi: =O=!

“How is this harassment? I’m complimenting you.”

Sheng Yunze marked key points with his black pen, his slender jade-like fingers flashing before Duan Yi’s eyes. “Do you remember you’re an Omega?”

Duan Yi froze, suddenly recalling that night in the music classroom.

Sheng Yunze had spoken casually at first, but when he saw Duan Yi stiffen and the color drain from his face, he realized they were thinking the same thing.

Both men averted their eyes simultaneously—one to his test papers, the other to the clock—their ears tinged with pink.

The days after that music classroom incident had been chaotic, filled with the frenzy of the sports meet and countless trivialities crowding their daily lives.

Then came the mid-term exams. The endless problem sets alone were enough to fry their brains. Truth be told, though Sheng Yunze had been angry that night, he was still a seventeen-year-old boy in the throes of adolescence. That first kiss had left him replaying the memory in midnight reveries, his face flushing and heart racing with equal parts thrill and secrecy.

It felt good. He wanted more.

After that kiss, this was their first time being alone like this.

Duan Yi suddenly felt restless, like he couldn’t sit still anymore.

Sheng Yunze’s mind wandered from the kiss to the temporary mark he’d left on Duan Yi’s neck. His pen paused.

Every time he thought about it, his heart would clench with a sour, bitter ache—an indescribable feeling.

In short, it wasn’t pleasant at all.

“Figure it out yourself.” Sheng Yunze pushed the test paper toward Duan Yi and put on his headphones, clearly not wanting to interact anymore.

Duan Yi dragged the test over slowly. He stared at the highlighted sections Sheng Yunze had marked, but even after studying them, he still didn’t get it. It would’ve been faster if Sheng Yunze had just given him the answers.

He didn’t bother Sheng Yunze while he worked on the tests. By the time Sheng Yunze finished all the papers, the sky had darkened.

Duan Yi had long since collapsed on the desk, fast asleep.

Sheng Yunze took off his headphones and stared at Duan Yi’s sleeping face for a moment.

He was deeply asleep, probably dozed off while working. The pen had left a long black line across his face.

His face looked soft and pale, his slender neck hidden in the black-and-white Second High School autumn uniform.

Sheng Yunze reached out and pinched Duan Yi’s cheek. He didn’t wake up.

Without hesitation, he slid two fingers down Duan Yi’s neck, pulled open the uniform’s zipper, ripped off the collar, and touched the back of Duan Yi’s neck.

This move practically screamed sexual harassment.

Sheng Yunze remained utterly calm, as if performing some mundane task. He inspected his handiwork like a doctor checking a patient, pressing it against Duan Yi’s nape. Seeing the fading teeth marks, he felt a flicker of satisfaction.

His free hand rested on his chin, fingers drumming rhythmically. He toyed with Duan Yi’s neck, molars grinding together with primal aggression. Bite him, a voice urged. No matter if he likes it.

Hold him down. No witnesses here. Let him scream. Let him cry. He can’t fight back.

Sheng Yunze drifted into a trance, his mind conjuring unspeakable images.

Even in sleep, Duan Yi’s brows furrowed in discomfort. The moment before waking, Sheng Yunze withdrew his hand, straightening into an innocent pose as if nothing had happened.

Omega instincts kicked in. Duan Yi’s first action upon waking was to check his neck. The uniform zipper was secure. He stared at himself in disbelief. How the hell am I having wet dreams in someone else’s dorm?

Sheng Yunze casually played with his phone, while Duan Yi’s stomach growled loudly. Sheng Yunze ordered two takeouts, and Duan Yi refused to leave his dorm room. After finishing their meal, Duan Yi made his small request, “Can I sleep in your dorm tonight?”

Sheng Yunze had just finished clearing the table. He froze momentarily at the question, but quickly masked his surprise, “Why?”

“My dorm’s empty. I got bedridden by a ghost at noon today, so I’m too scared to sleep there.”

Since Sheng Yunze already knew about his fear of ghosts, Duan Yi decided to drop the act. What’s the point of pretending when he could play it up?

He still had countless other acts to put on in life. Losing this one wouldn’t matter.

“Oh.”

Sheng Yunze maintained his calm facade, but his mind was screaming alarms.

He wants to sleep in my dorm?

Where exactly?

On the same bed as me?

That can’t happen.

We’re both single, after all.

Sheng Yunze’s mind raced through these thoughts before he finally decided, his heart cold. He’s an Omega who got marked by another Alpha within a month. Theoretically, Duan Yi’s even worse than someone cheating on two partners—he’s practically a sea king.

I absolutely won’t let him sleep in the same bed as me.

Not even if he really wants to.

If, Sheng Yunze thought, if he tries to act cute, I still won’t agree right away.

I’ll at least make him wait a bit.

Duan Yi pointed at Pingtou’s bed. “I’ll sleep here. Tonight I’ll text Pingtou and say President Duan needs to borrow his bed for the night.”

Sheng Yunze: …

“Heh!” Still just one word, but now it’s practically bitten through his teeth.

Duan Yi sensed the tension. “What’s wrong?”

Sheng Yunze replied coldly, “Aren’t you ashamed to sleep in an Alpha’s bed?”

Duan Yi completely missed the sourness in Sheng Yunze’s voice. “It’s not like it’s a big deal. If I don’t mind, how could he possibly object?”

Sheng Yunze finally couldn’t take it anymore. He asked sharply, “What about the Alpha who marked you? Does he not care?”

Duan Yi froze in place. After a long moment, he heard himself say, “You saw that?”

Sheng Yunze snorted. “You weren’t exactly hiding it. You were practically flaunting it in public. I’d have to be blind not to notice.”

Duan Yi rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sad. “Even if he cares, there’s nothing he can do about it.”

Now it was Sheng Yunze’s turn to be surprised. “Why not?” He even sounded a little excited.

“We might never see each other again,” Duan Yi said.

Seeing Duan Yi’s almost tearful yet smiling expression, Sheng Yunze’s excitement vanished completely.

Never see each other again? he thought. Does that mean he’s dead?

He wanted to say something like, “Good riddance,” or “Serves him right,” or “His death has epoch-making significance,” or “His death benefits the people.”

But Sheng Yunze quickly realized that Duan Yi’s expression wasn’t one of relief, but rather lingering resentment and lingering affection.

Fuck.

Is this his white moonlight?

Sheng Yunze’s mood plummeted. How many “good brothers” did Duan Yi actually have?

Ex-boyfriend, goddess, white moonlight… He said sarcastically, “Your seventeen years have been quite eventful.”

Especially when it came to love affairs.

Duan Yi’s mood shifted quickly. He snapped out of it and laughed. “Not really.”

He’s so humble he took the offered exit.

Sheng Yunze shot him a cold glance before slamming the dorm door shut with a bang.

The impact made Duan Yi flinch. “Hey, Sheng Yunze! Where’re you going?” he blurted out.

“Does it matter to you?” came the frosty reply.

That night, Duan Yi still ended up on Sheng Yunze’s bed.

Sheng Yunze insisted on using the Pingtou bed, claiming Duan Yi was an Omega and shouldn’t sleep in another Alpha’s bed.

Duan Yi, having already claimed Sheng Yunze as his husband in his mind, didn’t find this rule unreasonable. Besides, Sheng Yunze’s bed carried his pheromones. For Duan Yi, sleeping there was like a cat rolling in catnip—he wriggled around in bliss, sprawling across the bed in a mess of limbs. The pheromones lulled him into a gentle, hidden heat.

Commonly known as—being in heat.

Just the thought, no actual action required.

It had been ages since Duan Yi last satisfied his physical needs. But even with his boldness, he wouldn’t dare mess around on Sheng Yunze’s bed.

After lying there for a while, Duan Yi remembered the treasure he wanted to show. As Sheng Yunze sat down, Duan Yi jumped up eagerly. “Commander Sheng, I’ve got something cool to show you!”

Sheng Yunze wore a white cotton short-sleeved shirt, his hair still damp from a shower, looking particularly handsome.

Duan Yi studied Sheng Yunze’s face with pure admiration before starting to rummage through his pockets.

The movement nearly made Sheng Yunze flinch, but he steadied himself. Fortunately, Duan Yi didn’t pull out anything inappropriate.

“Not bad, huh?”

Sheng Yunze raised an eyebrow. “Where’d you get this?”

It was a handheld astronomical telescope.

“Don’t worry about that,” Duan Yi said. “It’s a gift for you.”

“Trying to buy my favor?” Sheng Yunze retorted.

He’d bought plenty of telescopes himself—many more expensive than this. But since Duan Yi had gifted it, the meaning changed.

“Think of it as payment for tutoring me,” Duan Yi suggested.

Sheng Yunze set it on the table without accepting or declining, his expression dark as if calculating something.

Yawning, Duan Yi rubbed his eyes and lay down. Suddenly, Sheng Yunze moved—not toward the Pingtou bed, but onto his own.

Duan Yi naturally made room for him, as if he’d done this thousands of times before. Sheng Yunze had only been testing the waters, but now he was certain. He boldly climbed into his own bed.

That earlier vow of “I’ll sleep on Pingtou’s bed” vanished from the seventeen-year-old’s youth, along with men’s promises of “I’ll just rub against you, won’t go in.”

Sheng Yunze thought with self-righteous calm. What’s wrong with sleeping in my own bed?

The first half of the night passed without incident. But in the second half, Duan Yi’s body moved in its habitual way, entangling with him.

Thankfully, they’d both sprayed barrier agents. Duan Yi’s entanglement didn’t lead to anything, and crucially, Sheng Yunze remained asleep, snoozing until dawn.

Duan Yi woke up to something hard pressing against his lower back, like a piece of iron.

He reached to push it away, but Sheng Yunze’s hand caught his mid-motion. The grip was slightly firm—when had he woken? His pale face showed an unusual flush, tinged with nervousness.

Duan Yi opened his mouth to ask, “Did you leave a book on your bed?” But remembering men’s natural morning reactions, the words died on his tongue.

His neck flushed crimson. Duan Yi stammered, “You…”

“Telescope,” Sheng Yunze said, his face deadpan.

Duan Yi: …

Sheng Yunze’s expression remained unfazed. “It’s an astronomical telescope.”

Absolutely certain.

The astronomical telescope on the table stared back at him in silent judgment.

Duan Yi: I fucking believe this.

He took a deep breath. “So… is your telescope the folding kind? Can you put it away? It’s poking me.”

Sheng Yunze fell silent.

Duan Yi felt like he’d been thrown into an awkward void. What now? Getting up would just make things worse—this is clearly meant to embarrass Sheng Yunze.

Damn it. Who at seventeen doesn’t care about their dignity?

But staying still? That wasn’t an option either. Duan Yi could feel the skin where they were touching practically burning.