What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 39

Chapter 39 – Peacock Spreading Its Tail

What did he mean by that?

Duan Yi felt cold sweat prickle his back in waves.

Did Sheng Yunze know something? Did he actually believe the nonsense Duan Yi had been spouting?

“Duan Yi,” Yu Wenshu suddenly called out, startling Duan Yi.

Yu Wenshu raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so jumpy?”

He glanced over and saw Duan Yi had dragged his chair into the aisle, practically leaning over Sheng Yunze’s desk. Yu Wenshu immediately warned him sternly, “Hey, hey, hey! Where’s your desk? Why don’t you just move in with Sheng Yunze?”

Duan Yi protested innocently, “His desk is too small. I can’t fit in.”

Yu Wenshu chuckled in exasperation. “Are you joking?”

In a good mood, he added, “But since you did well on this exam, I’ll let it slide.”

Duan Yi finally focused on his midterm scores, his eyes shining like a puppy’s as he eagerly awaited the news. Yu Wenshu, amused by his eagerness, announced, “485—your highest score ever!”

He added, “Though you’re still dead last. Don’t get cocky. The exam was easy this time, so everyone did well. Look at your deskmate—”

Yu Wenshu, following Duan Yi’s request, had rounded Sheng Yunze up to be his deskmate.

“724.”

The class erupted in murmurs.

Hao Shanshan gazed at Sheng Yunze with awe. “Holy crap, 724 points? That’s insane! Tsinghua’s doors are wide open, and Peking University’s rolling out the red carpet!”

Duan Yi, basking in reflected glory, sidled up to Sheng Yunze and gave him a thumbs-up. “Legendary.”

The midterm exam wasn’t as tough as the final, so scoring 724 points wasn’t impossible. Sheng Yunze had aced math, physics, chemistry, and biology, with only minor deductions in Chinese and English.

However, the upcoming final exams and the joint university entrance exams were deliberately made harder, matching the difficulty of the National College Entrance Examination. Even Sheng Yunze couldn’t consistently perform at his best under such pressure.

Still, his scores hovered around 715, never dipping below 700.

Jiang Wangshu sighed enviously. “Sometimes I wonder what Secretary Sheng’s brain is made of. Did God skip a step when he made mine?”

Duan Yi retorted indignantly, “Sheng Yunze studies every day, okay? Unlike some people who don’t lift a finger.”

While Sheng Yunze was undoubtedly intelligent, he wasn’t some unparalleled genius or all-knowing prodigy.

The idea that someone could ace exams without studying or doing practice problems was absurd. Like every other student in the class, Sheng Yunze’s desk was piled high with test papers and study materials—his just happened to be a bit tidier.

“Hey, are you saying I don’t work hard?” Jiang Wangshu shook his head dramatically. “Xiaoduan, don’t be such a hypocrite.”

Duan Yi wanted to argue back, defending Sheng Yunze. He almost blurted out about Sheng Yunze’s rut the night before the midterm.

Is his exam difficulty even the same as yours? Duan Yi thought. Sheng Yunze took that test in hell mode!

Seeing his classmates so energized, Yu Wenshu decided to use the class for essay writing, spending the first half discussing midterm results.

The students loved it when Yu Wenshu digressed during class. Anything was better than actual schoolwork.

For the rest of class, Duan Yi and Jiang Wangshu honestly played with paper notes, not daring to look at Sheng Yunze.

He was very nervous. Sheng Yunze’s vague questions had made him anxious.

So when Old He called him to the Political Education Office after class, he felt relieved.

It wasn’t anything serious. A classmate had reported him for fighting on the playground.

Old He punished him by making him copy half of Divine Sword and Hero and write a 3,000-word apology with Jiang Wangshu. They also had to apologize to Scar in front of the whole school during the flag-raising ceremony.

Duan Yi wanted to tell them that Scar was illegally selling drugs to Omegas outside school and causing violence at school, but he stopped himself.

Telling the teacher wouldn’t solve anything.

Kids have their own ways of dealing with things, and students have their own ways too.

Besides, the worst punishment for school fights, unless they’re too bad, is usually just an apology and a scolding.

It was useless.

Duan Yi pouted. Jiang Wangshu was already skillfully copying two apologies, pretending to be sad about his “sins.”

Hao Shanshan sighed, “Chairman, you guys really walked into a trap.”

“Oh? Comrade Hao Shanshan seems to have something to say. Please speak,” Jiang Wangshu said without looking up.

Hao Shanshan cracked sunflower seeds as she spoke. “It’s Second High School’s open day soon. Lots of middle school classes are using the science building. How are they going to choose us after this?”

Second High School’s open day—or rather, all high schools in Hang City had open days.

For a month, middle schools could pick any high school and use its science building or sports field for classes.

Most chose art or cooking classes, but some did PE. The goal was to let middle schoolers visit high schools and get a taste of their top choices.

When Duan Yi was at Cai He Middle School, he visited Second High School and loved its basketball court.

But after working hard to get in as a special student, the basketball court was being fixed. It took a whole semester, which made him really mad.

“Old Xiao cares a lot about his image and takes open day seriously. You two are lucky you didn’t get punished,” Hao Shanshan grumbled.

Old Xiao, Principal of Second High School.

Duan Yi suddenly understood. “So that’s what it’s about.”

Jiang Wangshu: “What’s wrong?”

Duan Yi: “Old He just told me to wear my uniform next Wednesday for a photoshoot. I thought my student ID photo was blurry again, but he said it’s for promotional pictures.”

Jiang Wangshu was taken aback. Hao Shanshan exclaimed in surprise, “Promotional photos for the Admissions Office? They’ll probably make a video too. They haven’t updated it in two years!”

Every year, the Admissions Office at Second High School produces a beautiful video showcasing the school’s scenery, highlighting its caring atmosphere and excellent reputation.

For the past two years, Sheng Yunze and Jian Qiao had starred as the male and female leads—a scheme the Admissions Office couldn’t deny. Sheng Yunze’s good looks alone had lured countless junior girls to apply.

Duan Yi never imagined he’d be involved in the promotional video. “What would I even do? What kind of image do I have? When new students come to our school and see me, they’ll think everyone at Second High School is like me—getting 400 on tests and getting into fights.”

Jiang Wangshu: “Maybe Uncle Duan donated another library this year. Old He probably feels guilty he can’t repay your dad properly, especially since he raised his own precious son to be such a mess. He’s probably trying to make you look like a good student as much as possible.”

Duan Yi: ……

After the midterm exams, the atmosphere in class gradually relaxed as students looked forward to club activities during the school’s open day.

Second High School had a very humane approach to education. Even for third-year students preparing for the National College Entrance Examination, the school didn’t push them too hard, encouraging a balance between work and rest. They understood that students needed to unwind even under the pressure of studying—mainly because too many students had taken their own lives before the exam in recent years, which had deeply shaken the school.

Soon, the weekend arrived. Sheng Yunze unexpectedly went home because his younger twin sister, Sheng Yunxi, had returned from England.

Sheng Yunxi was Sheng Yunze’s twin sister, but their personalities were completely different. She was a cheerful and outgoing Alpha, studying at Eton College in England and living abroad with their maternal grandmother for most of her life.

Sheng Yunze disliked his sister, mainly because she always used his face to do foolish things, which annoyed him greatly.

As soon as he reached the gate, before he could even take off his shoes, he saw a girl in the yard.

She looked about seventeen, around 1.78 meters tall, with a slender figure and thick, shiny black hair that cascaded down her back in wavy curls like seaweed. Combined with her delicate and beautiful face, she easily reminded one of a mermaid from a fairy tale.

“Stupid kid, even got a perm,” Sheng Yunze muttered, his tongue as sharp as ever.

Seeing Sheng Yunze, Sheng Yunxi grinned and waved wildly. “Lao Sheng!”

Oh.

Still as annoying as ever.

Sheng Yunze was already counting down the days until Sheng Yunxi got kicked out of the house.

Sheng Yunxi’s nose twitched. “Why do you smell like an Omega?”

“Got a dog’s nose?” Sheng Yunze snapped.

Sheng Yunxi dramatically crossed her arms. “A year apart, and you’ve caught the early romance bug? That’s not like you, Lao Sheng!”

“If you keep making that stupid face with my face, you’re getting punched,” Sheng Yunze warned coldly.

Sheng Yunxi wasn’t afraid of her brother’s punches. She’d taken plenty as a kid. Female Alphas were tough as nails, after all!

She slung an arm around Sheng Yunze’s shoulders. “We haven’t seen each other in ages. We’re practically brothers! Why start a fight and hurt the poor plants?”

Sheng Yunze shrugged her off. “Where’s Dad?”

“In the study, with a guest.”

The study door opened, and Sheng Yunxi’s eyes lit up.

Father Sheng emerged, a middle-aged man with a face similar to Sheng Yunze’s. With him was a young man who looked only twenty-eight or twenty-nine, strikingly handsome and with an extraordinary presence. He shook hands with Father Sheng and chatted warmly.

“Do you know him?” Sheng Yunxi’s eyes sparkled. “I think I’ve just met the love of my life!”

Given that Sheng Yunxi claimed to meet about a hundred “soulmates” every month, Sheng Yunze dismissed her remark as nonsense.

Still, he couldn’t resist a jab, “The son of your ‘soulmate’ is about your age. Show some self-respect.”

Only after the young man left did Sheng Yunze ask his father, “Is that Lu Tong?”

Father Sheng’s demeanor softened considerably upon seeing his son. “He’s a friend of mine. Come, let’s forget about him. You and your sister have finally reunited. What would you like for dinner tonight? I’ll cook…”

Sheng Yunze dropped his backpack and headed toward the study.

Sheng Yunxi intercepted him halfway. “Lao Sheng, you still haven’t told me whose Omega pheromone you’re having. Is it my future sister-in-law’s?”

“Your future sister-in-law?” Sheng Yunze repeated, his expression unreadable.

He recalled the bizarre, fantastical events surrounding Duan Yi and couldn’t help but sneer. “Who knows which of your brothers’ wives he’s after!”

Then it struck him, if Duan Yi liked him because of “Sheng Yunze,” didn’t that mean he only liked his face?

Sheng Yunze’s expression darkened further.

Especially when he looked up and saw Sheng Yunxi, that idiot, wearing the same face as his and making such stupid expressions, Sheng Yunze’s face turned so dark it could drip ink.

Unaware of her brother’s silent fury, Sheng Yunxi patted her cheek and sighed dramatically. “Lao Sheng, you don’t need to be so vain. Why keep staring at my face? You’d be better off looking in a mirror.”

Then she seemed to remember something. “Oh, Lao Sheng! I heard your school’s having an open day. Can I visit? Can I? Can I?”

“No,” Sheng Yunze said firmly, determined to keep her away from Duan Yi.

Duan Yi seemed to prefer girls over boys.

That idiot was already obsessed with his face. If he found out there was another face exactly like his, and it belonged to a girl, Duan Yi would immediately transfer his affections.

Fuck.

Don’t even think about it.

Sheng Yunze smacked her sister on the head. “Get lost.”

“Ouch!” Sheng Yunxi rubbed her head. “Hey, what are you doing in the study?”

Bang! The study door slammed shut, forever closing Sheng Yunxi out.

She rolled her eyes, went to the gym, grabbed Sheng Yunze’s skateboard, and skated off to have some fun.

Meanwhile, in the study, Sheng Yunze found several books on “Quantum Space” and placed them on his father’s bookshelf. When he pulled one out, several others tumbled down with a whoosh.

The quantum physics papers were tucked away in the farthest corner of the study. Either they were old papers stored there, or important ones.

Sheng Yunze picked them up and noticed the handwriting was fresh. Sandwiched between two blank sheets was a small newspaper clipping, as if cut from the Hangzhou Daily.

How did a clipped news article end up here?

He glanced at it. It wasn’t anything special—a report about a car accident where the driver died instantly and the passenger remained unconscious. Without even checking the date, he scanned it and put it back.

He spent the entire afternoon in his study, and Sheng Yunxi still hadn’t returned by evening.

Mrs. Sheng called twice to hurry him home. The second time, she lingered in the kitchen a little longer and added another dish to the meal.

Sheng Yunze pulled out a chair. “This is too much for four people. You made too much.”

“Xiaoxi said she made a new friend today and wants to bring them home for dinner,” Mrs. Sheng replied. “I just added one more bowl. It’s fine.”

Sheng Yunxi had always been outgoing. Since childhood, he’d been making friends everywhere he went.

Sheng Yunze wasn’t surprised and didn’t pay much attention. His mind was occupied with how to get Sheng Yunxi out of the country quickly, to prevent Duan Yi from meeting him.

Knowing Sheng Yunxi’s curiosity about his sister-in-law, even if Duan Yi didn’t approach him, Sheng Yunxi would definitely find a way to track him down at First High School.

At 6:15 PM, the doorbell rang.

Sheng Yunze went to answer it in his slippers. From the kitchen, Mrs. Sheng called out, “A-Ze, stop dragging your feet! It sounds awful. You need to break that bad habit.”

“Okay,” Sheng Yunze mumbled, but he continued to drag his feet, making an unpleasant “scuffing” sound on the floor.

Mrs. Sheng sighed. “Oh dear, put on something nicer! Xiaoxi’s friend is a guest. How can you meet a guest looking like that?”

Sheng Yunze dressed casually at home: a white T-shirt, gray shorts, and flip-flops. A stray hair stuck up on his head—he’d been too lazy to comb it after his afternoon nap, just giving it a half-hearted swipe. He looked utterly disheveled and world-weary.

If someone took a photo and posted it on the school forum, revealing the school beauty’s true off-duty appearance, countless hearts would shatter.

It seemed he carried quite the idol burden at school, only to completely let loose the moment he stepped through the door.

Despite his slovenly attire, Sheng Yunze’s striking good looks saved the day. He managed to pull off a deliberately disheveled look, like a handsome model in a fashion magazine.

The door swung open impatiently, and Sheng Yunze’s condescending gaze fell upon Sheng Yunxi.

“Hey! Lao Sheng!” Sheng Yunxi greeted.

Then, his eyes skipped past Sheng Yunxi to the friend she’d just made today—

“Hey—”

Bang!

The door slammed shut with a deafening crash, sending a cloud of dust swirling into the air.

Duan Yi’s greeting hung unfinished as he found himself choking on dust, a smile still plastered on his face. He froze.

Startled by the noise, Mrs. Sheng rushed to the living room. Before she could speak, she saw her son Sheng Yunze bolt upstairs, closing the door behind him. He moved so fast she barely caught a glimpse of his back.

Less than five seconds later, he came tearing back down, having changed his clothes, pants, and combed his hair. Mrs. Sheng even thought he’d managed to spritz on some cologne.

Mrs. Sheng: …What’s going on?

Then she watched Sheng Yunze brake a meter from the door, take a deep breath, and with a casual yet deliberate motion—an Oscar-worthy performance of effortless naturalness—casually opened the door.

Duan Yi was still waving. Sheng Yunze calmly asked, “What are you doing here?”

Sheng Yunxi stared in disbelief. “Holy shit?! How did you change clothes in five seconds?!”

Sheng Yunze lied without a flicker of expression, “I’ve always worn this. If you have time, get your eyes checked. You should also consider cosmetic surgery. Put it on my card.”

Sheng Yunxi: “What the fuck? Do you think I’m stupid? You were just wearing a t-shirt and shorts! Now you look like you’re about to walk a Paris fashion show, Lao Sheng! Even Victoria’s Secret Angels don’t dress this extravagantly!”

Before she could voice her thoughts, she suddenly felt something strange.

Her brother.

Sheng Yunze.

The High Mountain Flower, who always wore a face like a coffin, as if the world owed him money.

Now he seemed to be…

Spreading his feathers like a peacock?