What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 46

Chapter 46 – Come, Stick Close to Me

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Back in the classroom, Duan Yi’s imagined interrogation never materialized.

Jiang Wangshu continued to joke around as usual, and Hao Shanshan didn’t mention a word about hearing Sheng Yunze’s confession in the plaza that day, leaving Duan Yi feeling uneasy.

When it was time to leave, Duan Yi stopped Jiang Wangshu, his expression complicated. “Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”

Meanwhile, Sheng Yunze had been called to the Academic Affairs Office to print test papers.

That evening, Physics Qiu would be going over the problems. He never used answer keys, preferring to use Sheng Yunze’s test papers as examples. This forced Sheng Yunze to share his paper with others.

Qiu usually had Sheng Yunze print about thirty copies of his test paper, which he then distributed to Class One for corrections. Sometimes, he even gave them to Class Two to check their answers.

Jiang Wangshu had already resigned himself to eating alone in the cafeteria when Duan Yi stopped him.

“What do you want me to say?” Jiang Wangshu countered. After a moment, he realized what Duan Yi was getting at and adopted a mysterious tone. “I approve of this marriage.”

Duan Yi: “Approve your sister!”

Jiang Wangshu patted his shoulder. “Actually, I was just a little shocked that day. But after thinking it over, I realized it’s your life. Date whoever you want, buddy. I’ve got your back.”

“You don’t mind a double-A relationship?” Duan Yi asked.

“This isn’t your first time, is it? Besides, would it matter if I did?” Jiang Wangshu replied.

He pulled a bottle of “Growth Happiness” from his desk drawer and popped a pill into his mouth.

Duan Yi had long given up questioning where Jiang Wangshu got these ancient health supplements. He asked worriedly, “Hao Shanshan and the others must have heard too.”

“If you find her a new mom, she’ll be thrilled,” Jiang Wangshu said.

After a moment of hesitation, Duan Yi asked what he really wanted to know, “Did Jian Qiao hear too?”

Jiang Wangshu’s hand froze. “That’s… a trickier situation.”

Duan Yi sighed. “I haven’t seen her all day.”

“Why the sigh? You don’t owe her anything, and neither does Sheng Yunze. You haven’t wronged Jian Qiao,” Jiang Wangshu said.

“It’s not that simple. We’re friends…” Duan Yi mumbled.

“Relax. Jian Qiao isn’t the type to dwell on things. Give her some time, and she’ll understand,” Jiang Wangshu assured him.

He paused. “If you’re worried about Jian Qiao, you should be more concerned about—”

Nan Yi.

“Duan Yi, come out here!”

Nan Yi’s voice echoed from the back door before Jiang Wangshu could finish speaking.

He finished his sentence, “Speak of the devil, and he appears.”

Duan Yi turned around. Nan Yi’s face was bruised, looking worse than Sheng Yunze’s, with a bluish tint around his eyes.

“Want me to get you some bandages?” Duan Yi offered.

They walked to the rooftop between Building C and Building D. Below them stretched a barren construction site.

Rumor had it that Second High School hadn’t used all its budget this year and couldn’t give the extra money to the students. So Old Xiao had decided to start more construction projects. This meant the school’s “traditions” of water outages from broken pipes and power outages from cut wires were happening more and more often.

The site was being dug up to expand the gym.

“Do you think I called you out here to hear about this?” Nan Yi asked, his face dark.

Duan Yi rubbed his nose. “Then what do you want to hear?”

Nan Yi grabbed his hand and demanded, “Sheng Yunze confessed to you. Did you say yes?”

Duan Yi laughed. “That’s none of your business.”

Nan Yi pressed his lips together. Duan Yi wanted to say something mean, but seeing Nan Yi’s face about to cry, he felt bad and stopped.

“Just think of me as your friend. I have a right to ask.”

Duan Yi said, “Oh, I said yes.”

Nan Yi’s hand tightened suddenly. He asked, confused, “Why?”

Duan Yi replied, “He likes me, and I like him. He told me he liked me, so why wouldn’t I say yes?”

Nan Yi paused, surprised.

Something felt different.

He looked at Duan Yi. The three years they’d been apart hadn’t changed him much. He was just taller and more grown-up than in middle school.

He still had the same easygoing personality, laughing and getting along with everyone. He was like a bright, warm sun—you knew getting too close would burn you, but you couldn’t help wanting to keep his light for yourself.

Duan Yi’s kindness was careful, but it could also hurt.

His true kindness was hidden deep inside, under his carefree personality. Many people thought his popularity came from spending money. Only those who knew him well could see the gentle person he really was.

No one knew better than Nan Yi what it felt like to taste kindness and then not be able to have it.

It was painful.

Years ago, Nan Yi had told Duan Yi how he felt. He knew Duan Yi wouldn’t say no, because he was kind.

Being rejected meant they couldn’t be friends anymore.

They had grown up together, reaching their teens. Duan Yi wouldn’t embarrass him.

If I rejected you after you confessed, wouldn’t that leave you with no way out?

He still remembered Duan Yi saying those words.

Not a single “like” from beginning to end.

Did you ever really like me?

Nan Yi let go of Duan Yi’s hand, his expression dazed.

Jiang Wangshu secretly watched from behind a pillar, terrified they might fight.

He thought gloomily, Should I help Duan Yi or Nan Yi?

After much deliberation, he decided Nan Yi could take more of a beating. I’ll help Duan Yi!

“I understand,” Nan Yi said abruptly. Duan Yi’s attitude was clear, and all the words he had prepared stuck in his throat.

Duan Yi had been about to offer him some comforting words, but before he could, Nan Yi turned and walked away.

“Hey!” Duan Yi stopped him. Nan Yi glanced back. Duan Yi said, “I don’t care what you think. In my heart, you’re still my friend.”

Nan Yi: “Wouldn’t you feel uneasy having a friend around who has feelings for you?”

Duan Yi was surprised. “You’re different.”

Nan Yi pressed his lips tighter. “Duan Yi, has no one ever told you that if you don’t want to give someone hope, don’t say things that are so unclear?”

What’s so unclear? Duan Yi wondered.

Nan Yi muttered something and walked away without looking back. “I’ll just think I still have a chance.”

Duan Yi was completely confused. Jiang Wangshu rounded the rooftop and chased after Nan Yi through another hallway.

“Oh, heartbroken? Want some tea?” Jiang Wangshu leaned against the wall, grinning at Nan Yi.

“I’m in a bad mood. Get lost,” Nan Yi snapped.

“Don’t be angry. I’m here to give you emotional support.” Jiang Wangshu solemnly handed Nan Yi a thermos. Nan Yi unscrewed it and took a sip. Damn it, it’s ice-cold cola.

Freezing to death in the middle of winter.

“Do you really think Duan Yi and Sheng Yunze will last?” Jiang Wangshu asked curiously.

Nan Yi’s teeth ached. “Stop bringing up things I don’t want to talk about.”

Jiang Wangshu muttered to himself, “I just don’t see it happening.”

Nan Yi finally showed some interest. “Why not?”

Jiang Wangshu: “Knowing Duan Yi, his three-minute enthusiasm is a serious problem. It’s the same with you and Sheng Yunze. How long have you two been in this Alpha-Alpha relationship? How long do you think he’ll last with Sheng Yunze? He can’t even get past his parents. Does that make you feel any better?”

“Not really. Did you forget I’m also an Alpha?”

Jiang Wangshu: “My bad.” After a moment, he added, “Duan Yi is warm on the outside but cold on the inside. Getting close to him is easy, but getting him to open up—or, in other words, winning him over—is harder than climbing to the sky.”

Duan Yi’s friends all understood this well.

President Duan, who loved to joke around and act silly with them, was always cheerful and energetic, like a little sun that never stopped shining. He kept them busy all day long.

But he kept people at a distance. Once he left school—or even just the classroom—it was impossible to contact him privately, except for Jiang Wangshu.

Only then did everyone realize how vast the gap between them and Duan Yi had grown since he left school.

The Second Young Master of a major conglomerate, a prince born with a silver spoon in his mouth, had started life at a finish line most people would never reach. The distance cultivated by his privileged upbringing was practically etched into his bones.

“Do you think he changed at all when you dated him in middle school?” Jiang Wangshu asked.

Nan Yi froze.

Jiang Wangshu shoved his hands into his pockets. “Besides the title of ‘boyfriend,’ did Duan Yi’s attitude toward you change at all? He can’t even tell the difference between how friends act and how couples act. Did you ever hug him, hold him, or kiss him? After knowing him for over a decade, don’t you understand what kind of person he is? Instead of chasing the instability of a romantic relationship, you’d be better off staying friends with Duan Yi. At least you wouldn’t have to worry about breaking up.”

Nan Yi was speechless. “You’ve never even dated him. What do you know?”

Jiang Wangshu hummed. The bell rang. He suddenly glanced behind him and gave an awkward smile. “Secretary Sheng, are the test papers printed yet?”

Sheng Yunze had appeared silently behind Nan Yi.

Jiang Wangshu awkwardly wanted to bang his head against the wall. He’d come to comfort Nan Yi, but now Duan Yi’s actual boyfriend was eavesdropping behind them! The hallway they were in led straight to the Academic Affairs Office.

Nan Yi gave Sheng Yunze a cold look, but the conflict Jiang Wangshu feared didn’t happen. Sheng Yunze simply walked down the stairs.

Jiang Wangshu cleared his throat. “Secretary Sheng, I swear to heaven, on my conscience, I would never report your secret relationship with Xiaoduan to the Political Education Office!”

Sheng Yunze suddenly asked, “How did Nan Yi and Duan Yi get together in middle school?”

“Huh?” Jiang Wangshu stammered. “Well, he confessed, and Duan Yi said yes.”

It sounded too easy, as if Duan Yi would say yes to anyone who confessed.

“Did you all go to Cai He?” Sheng Yunze asked.

Jiang Wangshu nodded. “We were in the same class. Duan Yi and I were desk partners, and Nan Yi sat by the window.”

Sheng Yunze didn’t say anything. Jiang Wangshu tried to recover, “I only said that to comfort Nan Yi earlier, Secretary Sheng! Don’t doubt Xiaoduan’s feelings for you! Their love is as clear as the sun and moon—it’s like Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, Romeo and Juliet!”

Sheng Yunze said coldly, “They’re all dead. Anything else you want to say?”

Jiang Wangshu immediately dropped to his knees. “No, sir. Please, go ahead.” He then eagerly moved the trash can out of Sheng Yunze’s way.

Before evening self-study, Duan Yi rushed to finish his last bite of dinner.

Physics Qiu walked into the classroom just as Duan Yi was choking himself with food. He chewed quickly, desperately looking for water.

During the first evening session, they had physics class. After checking their papers, Qiu handed out three more worksheets, saying it was like “applying one principle to many problems” in math. The class groaned.

In the second evening session, Sheng Yunze finished his test first, followed by Jiang Wangshu. Their notebooks were popular in class—whoever finished first could borrow them, but you had to be quick.

Pingtou stood by the trash can, sighing loudly. “Secretary Sheng, can I borrow your physics test to check my answers? I couldn’t figure out the last question.”

Duan Yi was still struggling with multiple-choice questions. He thought all four options seemed right, but the teacher clearly disagreed.

Hearing Pingtou’s words, Duan Yi scoffed inwardly. What a show-off! He has to point out he only missed one question. I didn’t even finish!

Sheng Yunze replied calmly, “Someone already borrowed it.”

Pingtou shouted, “Holy shit! Someone’s faster than me? Who is it?! Step forward!”

The class burst into laughter at his ridiculous outburst, shattering the quiet atmosphere of studying.

By this point, most students had finished their homework. Those who couldn’t complete certain problems simply left them blank—they truly didn’t know how to solve them.

Duan Yi glanced sideways and noticed Sheng Yunze’s physics test paper lying untouched on his desk.

“Why did you tell Pingtou your paper was borrowed? It’s right here,” Duan Yi said, making this only the second time he’d spoken to Sheng Yunze today.

He realized a serious problem: even though they were in the same class, their time together was limited.

Especially now, with less than a hundred days until the National College Entrance Examination, Sheng Yunze was spinning like a top, constantly being called away by teachers for tutoring or by the principal for “heart-to-heart talks.”

The third-year academic director had practically crowned Sheng Yunze as this year’s Science Top Scholar for Zhejiang Province, demanding he secure this honor for Second High School.

Even someone praised as a genius since childhood would struggle to squeeze in time for romance under this intense academic pressure. Every second counted.

Fortunately, Duan Yi was easily satisfied.

He wasn’t clingy.

This was both a blessing and a curse.

The good thing was that it didn’t disrupt Sheng Yunze’s daily routine. Everything continued as it had before he started dating.

The bad thing was… damn it.

Why isn’t Duan Yi clinging to me? Is he already tired of being with me? He wasn’t like this before. He used to sneakily try to hold my hand even during a power outage.

Fuck.

He was furious.

Hearing Jiang Wangshu and Nan Yi’s conversation earlier today, Sheng Yunze felt like he was developing a fear of relationships.

He spent the entire night brooding like a jealous wife, wondering if Duan Yi had just agreed to date him casually or if he truly liked him.

“I’ll give you the answers. Who did you borrow the test from?” Sheng Yunze asked calmly.

Duan Yi looked a little embarrassed but also smug. So he saved the test for me after all.

If someone asked him on Zhihu, “What’s it like having a genius boyfriend?” Duan Yi could now answer fluently.

“Actually, I…”

Sheng Yunze leaned back slightly. “Don’t call that ‘checking answers.’ That’s just copying the test.”

Duan Yi’s earlier warmth vanished instantly. “You little shit… I can do multiple-choice questions too!”

Sheng Yunze snatched the test. “Let me see.”

He had expected Duan Yi to fail completely, but to his surprise, he had only gotten half the questions wrong.

Sheng Yunze raised an eyebrow. Duan Yi, looking nervous, asked, “How is it?”

“This question is wrong.” Seeing Duan Yi’s expression, Sheng Yunze realized his boyfriend was serious about studying. He straightened his posture and pulled Duan Yi’s chair closer.

Sheng Yunze was strong. Duan Yi, though a seventeen-year-old boy, was pulled chair and all right next to him.

The move was aggressive and possessive, radiating an undeniable dominance.

Duan Yi blushed, his eyes darting around as if remembering something. He then stared fixedly at the test paper, refusing to look up.

“Let’s assume that at the moment the spring is released, the speeds of A and B are vA and vB respectively…”

Sheng Yunze’s voice was cool and clear. When he lowered his voice, it carried a hint of tenderness.

Duan Yi studied his profile. When explaining the problem, Sheng Yunze’s expression was focused. When he wasn’t being sarcastic, he looked like a perfect romance novel hero, his profile as handsome as a magazine cover.

After Sheng Yunze explained three problems, he turned to Duan Yi. “Why are you staring at me? Look at the question. Did you understand?”

Duan Yi snapped back to reality and rubbed his nose. I was too busy looking at Sheng Yunze’s face to listen to the explanation.

No wonder they say beauty can ruin the world and love makes you stupid. It’s true.

By the end of class, Duan Yi still hadn’t understood many problems.

Sheng Yunze had barely paid attention in class since his first year of high school. Combined with the dozen years he’d spent in a parallel universe, even after transmigrating back, he’d essentially forgotten everything he’d learned.

It was said that teaching students knowledge was like teaching them to swim.

Some swam straight to the finish line—like Sheng Yunze and Jiang Wangshu.

Others treaded water in the middle—like Pingtou.

Still others swam to the next pool—like Abbot, who was currently researching how to establish a party branch in North America.

And then there was Duan Yi—swimming backward, now practically back at the starting line.

The more Duan Yi fell behind, the harder it became for Sheng Yunze to explain problems.

He discovered that each question was like a Russian nesting doll: explaining one concept would reveal another, which Duan Yi also didn’t understand. Sheng Yunze had to backtrack from second-year physics to first-year material, then work his way back to the original problem.

If Jiang Wangshu had asked the question, it would have been easy. Sheng Yunze could simply rattle off a couple of formulas, and Jiang Wangshu would immediately grasp the concept, have an epiphany, and solve the problem himself.

Teaching Duan Yi was like hand-holding a kindergartener. Worse, Duan Yi kept staring at Sheng Yunze’s face with a lovesick expression, showing zero seriousness. By the time they finished the multiple-choice questions, Sheng Yunze’s notorious temper had undergone a sudden transformation, reaching a state of profound enlightenment. At that moment, even if someone spat in his face, he wouldn’t have gotten angry.

“Got it?” Sheng Yunze repeated for the sixty-seventh time.

Duan Yi had heard it so many times, but he still didn’t understand. Admitting it now would be too embarrassing.

Forcing himself to nod, he said, “Oh, oh, oh, I get it now.”

Sheng Yunze scoffed, “You don’t get shit.”

Duan Yi pouted, feeling a little hurt. “Do you think I’m really stupid?”

Sheng Yunze paused. Normally, he would have jumped at the chance to tease him, but seeing Duan Yi’s mood, he held back. “No.”

Duan Yi slumped onto the desk. “Fine, I’m just stupid, okay?”

Sheng Yunze lowered his voice, teasing him. “Only one of us needs to be smart. If you were too smart, I’d feel useless.”

Duan Yi’s face flushed. He quickly glanced around to see if anyone had heard Sheng Yunze’s words. Finding the classroom buzzing with students comparing answers after class, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“How are you so bold?” Duan Yi complained.

Sheng Yunze grinned. “I have even bolder ideas. Want to find out?”

Duan Yi shook his head. “Let’s not mess around in the sacred classroom.”

Sheng Yunze gathered his test papers, suddenly remembering Jiang Wangshu’s words from earlier that afternoon. Jiang had implied that Duan Yi hated physical intimacy and meaningless exchanges of saliva.

He and Duan Yi had been close, but their physical intimacy had mostly been limited to hugs and cuddles, with only two instances going further.

The first time was during Sheng Yunze’s rut, when he marked Duan Yi.

The second time was during Duan Yi’s heat, when they kissed in the music room.

Since then, Duan Yi hadn’t kissed him again, not even after they became a couple.

Does he hate me?

Sheng Yunze put away his test paper, having made up his mind. He casually asked, “Why are you suddenly studying so hard?”

The unspoken message was: Your family’s rich. You don’t need to study. Just inherit the family business and live happily ever after.

Duan Yi replied bluntly, “I want to go to Beijing to study with you.”

Sheng Yunze’s heart skipped a beat. He’s thinking about our future.

He felt happy.

“How do you know I’m going to Beijing?” Sheng Yunze asked. “What if I go to Shanghai?”

Of course you’ll go to Peking University, Duan Yi thought. It’s your alma mater!

“Old He said you’d either go to Peking University or Tsinghua,” Duan Yi lied. “I definitely can’t get in, but if we’re in the same city, we can see each other every day.”

“You want to see me every day?” Sheng Yunze asked.

“Isn’t that obvious?!” Duan Yi replied, even adding a touch of playfulness. “Of course I do…”

Sheng Yunze finally voiced the question that had been bothering him all day, “Then why aren’t you clingier?”

“What?”

Sheng Yunze pressed him. “Aren’t couples in love supposed to want to be glued together? You only said ten sentences to me today, 132 words—not even enough for a Weibo post—before evening self-study.”

Duan Yi: =口=!

“Damn it, you even counted the words!”

Sheng Yunze said quietly, “Don’t change the subject.”

Duan Yi hesitated, then finally admitted, “I was afraid of distracting you from studying.”

If Sheng Yunze’s grades dropped, Duan Yi would feel like he’d let him down even if he died.

It felt better to say it. Duan Yi blurted out, “I really want to be with you, but if I’m always around, you won’t be able to focus on your work.” He picked at the corner of the desk. “I already wasted one of your study periods tonight. If you don’t help me with this problem, you’ll finish the other two practice tests…”

Sheng Yunze’s face darkened. “Just because of that?”

Duan Yi nodded. “We’re in our third year now… Our early romance feels a bit rebellious. I’m afraid Old He will find out and break us up. He’d definitely send me to another class. Knowing him, he’d make us live out the Divine Sword and Hero story. Then we’d be like Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl, unable to see each other for sixteen years…”

By the end of his speech, Duan Yi had moved himself to tears. Sheng Yunze would have beaten him up if he hadn’t been moved to tears too.

Tears welled up in Duan Yi’s eyes as he gazed at Sheng Yunze with deep affection. “Little Dragon Girl could endure sixteen years without seeing Yang Guo, but I can’t. Can you?”

Sheng Yunze replied calmly, “I could go my whole life without seeing Yang Guo.”

Duan Yi: ……

Sheng Yunze: “Anything else you want to say?”

Duan Yi humbly admitted, “I haven’t figured out how to counter your superior wit yet.”

Sheng Yunze: “Good. I have something to say.” He ordered Duan Yi, “Stick to me.”

Unseen by Duan Yi, Sheng Yunze’s hand tightened slightly around his pen. His ears flushed faintly, and he felt a nervous flutter in his chest, afraid Duan Yi might refuse.

Duan Yi’s heart raced for a few seconds. Then, silently, he scooted his chair closer to Sheng Yunze. Under the desk, he secretly took Sheng Yunze’s hand.

“Is this okay…?” he whispered.

“It’s fine,” Sheng Yunze said, his voice trembling slightly with nervousness, though he managed to keep it from being noticeable.

Duan Yi was even more nervous than Sheng Yunze. Even though they were dating openly, it felt like a secret affair. This must be the thrill of early romance…

He whispered, “Thank goodness we’re sitting by the window. If other classmates saw us, I don’t know how to—”

He looked up instinctively.

Five pairs of eyes were staring intently at their intertwined hands.

Their eyes were wide like copper bells, and their ears were perked up like antennas.

They were stacked like cats at the window:

Hao Shanshan, Jiang Wangshu, Pingtou, Abbot, and Bookworm:

Stare—

“…Explain,” Duan Yi finished his sentence expressionlessly.

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Author’s Note:

Is the legendary schoolyard tale of the Class President and Youth League Secretary finally coming true?

If you two keep this up, you’ll have to treat the whole class to dinner!