What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 50

Chapter 50 – Let’s be Romantic!

Then, at this very romantic moment—

At the villa entrance, the Maybach’s engine sound drew closer.

Duan Yi’s ears twitched, hearing it clearly.

He skipped any transition, going straight from the ambiguous atmosphere to exclaim, “Holy shit?”

Sheng Yunze was confused, “……”

After kissing for so long, you come up with this conclusion?

Just this? Just this? Just this?

Sheng Yunze was annoyed, “You better have a good explanation. Tell me your ‘Holy shit’ actually means ‘Gege is amazing’.”

Duan Yi: =口=!

The Maybach’s engine sound grew louder. Duan Yi had no time to argue with Sheng Yunze.

He lightning-fast removed Sheng Yunze’s jacket, then fanned himself wildly with his hands, simultaneously sniffing his sleeves and collar.

“You didn’t get my pheromones on you, did you?”

Sheng Yunze: “What do you think?”

“Dead, dead…” Duan Yi explained, “Did you hear the Maybach’s engine sound?”

Sheng Yunze raised an eyebrow, “I heard it.”

Duan Yi looked at him seriously, holding his arms. “Xiaosheng, since we both agree our relationship isn’t proper, I’ll tell you the truth. That is my dad’s 34th concubine—a Maybach 62S. She’s 15 years old, has 612 horsepower, and a twin-turbo engine. Even a Bugatti would look dull next to her. Oh, and the Bugatti is my dad’s 25th concubine. Do you have anything to say now?”

Sheng Yunze: …

“How can Uncle have relations with a 15-year-old car?”

“It’s a family tradition. When my dad was 20, he used this car to win over Xiaoduan Mom. It’s very special.”

Duan Yi paused, then said in a scary way, “Is this the time to discuss my dad’s affairs? The concubine’s presence means my dad’s back! He’ll break my leg first, then yours. We won’t need a wedding—we’ll be married in death!”

While talking, Duan Yi tried to roll in the snow to get rid of Sheng Yunze’s pheromones.

Sheng Yunze stopped his puppy-like rolling, grabbing his arm, “No need to roll. You can’t smell them anyway.”

His pheromones smelled like frost and snow, only colder, sweeter, and better.

Duan Yi suddenly understood, speaking quickly, “Right, right, right, you’re right. Now, on my command, we’ll run in two directions. You go left, I’ll go right. Today’s work is done. Tonight we’ll stay late to talk about our relationship, upgrading from offline work to online dating. Don’t forget to check in when you get home. Late arrivals mean wage deductions. If my dad kills me tonight, remember it’s a work injury. Buy me a grave and put my WeChat QR code on the tombstone. Scan it for joint burial…”

Sheng Yunze remained expressionless. “I won’t.”

He said: “I’ll volunteer for overtime.”

Two minutes later, Duan Ji Huai saw his son’s familiar figure.

Then he stopped the car, then opened the door, then got out, then—

saw his son shivering in the heavy snow, in the biting wind, writing homework.

A lonely pavilion, a lonely Duan Yi.

A lonely backpack on the table, lonely test papers scattered across the floor.

Duan Yi sometimes frowned, sometimes had sudden insights, rubbed his nose, bit his pen, acting so exaggerated it insulted Duan Ji Huai’s intelligence.

Duan Ji Huai was silent.

Duan Ji Huai had never been so silent before.

“Duan-er.”

Hearing his father’s affectionate call, Duan Yi’s acting instantly elevated from the melodrama of a Chinese soap opera like “The Temptation of Home” to the emotional depth of “The Shawshank Redemption.”

With a look of surprise, he asked, “Dad, you’re back?”

Duan Ji Huai: …

This familiar scene, this strikingly similar expression—

It resembled the middle school Duan Shaoheng and elementary school Duan Yi avoiding the nanny to secretly play games on his computer.

Then, three minutes before his father’s return, they would frantically unplug the computer, scramble into the bedroom, and pretend to be asleep—

The dazed expression they wore when woken up.

The brothers’ behavior was identical.

Just like Duan Yi’s current foolish expression.

The computer’s residual warmth matched Duan Shaoheng’s palm heat.

The hastily pulled cord draped over Duan Yi’s calf created a beautiful line.

Just thinking about it made Duan Yi’s leg ache reflexively.

The whipped sensation.

Memories flooded back, one after another.

This brat Duan Yi had been able to distinguish between the housekeeper’s footsteps and his own since first grade, allowing him to calmly choose between two options: continue playing games or flee with his tail between his legs.

He couldn’t believe he hadn’t heard the Maybach’s engine.

Duan Ji Huai felt he might get high blood pressure at his age. He said coldly, “What are you doing here?”

He steadied himself and said to his dad, “Can’t you see? I’m doing homework.”

Duan Ji Huai said with a serious face, “I can see there’s something wrong with your head.”

It was Sheng Yunze’s idea.

To make them act like third-year students who study even in a midnight snowstorm.

So unreliable!

Duan Yi complained in his head.

Even Sheng Yunze couldn’t escape the destructive brain damage that comes with falling in love.

How stupid was Duan Ji Huai to believe they were doing homework in the snow?

Too hardworking, too showy. Even Wanghouxiong would type “tearful eyes” on the screen.

Duan Yi put away his homework book. “I don’t understand a question. I’m humbly asking my classmate for help.”

He pulled out his trump card and introduced, “The top student in our third year, Sheng Yunze. We met by chance tonight. I never expected he was taking a walk nearby. What a coincidence!”

The words “top student” deeply moved Duan Ji Huai, even making his voice become much warmer.

At least he had transformed from Stallone into Ye Wen.

The former would beat people up in English, leaving Duan Yi no room to argue.

Ye Wen could speak Chinese. That was good enough. There was room for negotiation, room for compromise.

Duan Yi let out a sigh of relief.

Sheng Yunze spoke up at the right time, “Hello, Uncle Duan. I’m Duan Yi’s classmate.”

Sheng Yunze had grown up with a face that made him look like someone else’s child.

Duan Ji Huai glanced at him, thinking the boy had good manners and looked mature. He immediately approved of Duan Yi’s friend.

Xiaoduan Mom stuck her delicate head out of the car, her eyes lighting up when she saw Duan Yi—clearly, his dad wouldn’t let her get out. To Duan Ji Huai, Xiaoduan Mom was like a glass doll, precious and fragile, needing protection from wind and snow.

Seeing Xiaoduan Mom, Duan Yi felt wonderful. He used two tactics: acting pitiful and using his mom.

First, he acted pitiful, “Dad, I’m so cold…”

His coldness didn’t matter!

He needed to use his mom: “Mom must be cold too…”

Duan Ji Huai’s expression softened, temporarily giving up on asking why Duan Yi was doing homework with his classmate in the snow at midnight.

He brought the two home with him, and only then did Sheng Yunze feel a slight nervousness.

Suddenly meeting the parents like this.

Even a school beauty couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

Xiaoduan Mom was secretly watching him, while Xiaoduan Dad told him to make himself at home.

Xiaoduan’s brother came down from upstairs, slightly surprising Sheng Yunze.

After all, he had recently seen a post on his feed where a female classmate from middle school was wailing about the whole world persecuting her brother. Sheng Yunze wondered who was persecuting her own brother, but it turned out to be a photo of a male celebrity—Duan Shaoheng.

Apparently, last month during a charity concert, he had performed an entire set holding the microphone upside down and lip-syncing. After the show, he gave an enthusiastic hug to a fan—who wasn’t actually a fan but a staff member. The staff member’s boyfriend was watching nearby. The next day, they filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment in front of 10,000 people at a stadium.

That wasn’t all—rumor had it that he got into a huge fight with his teammates at the hotel that night, beating up one of them—yes, Zhang Jie locked the door.

He’s been hiding at home ever since.

Considering Duan Shaoheng’s collection of entertainment industry scandals could circle the globe.

This minor interruption didn’t affect his mood much.

Duan Shaoheng narrowed his eyes as he watched from upstairs. Clutching a pig-shaped pillow like a crab, he waddled across the living room with tiny steps, making “biubiubiubiu” sounds as he approached Duan Yi.

“Who’s this?”

“My classmate, Sheng Yunze,” Duan Yi answered.

He turned to Sheng Yunze. “This is my brother, Duan Shaoheng.” After a moment’s thought, he added, “If you want to know more about him, check Baidu Encyclopedia. Don’t look at Weibo trending.”

Sheng Yunze calmly accepted this, nodding politely. “Brother Duan.”

Duan Shaoheng made his living off his looks.

In other words, his face was his most satisfying, most beloved weapon.

Whenever a guy appeared who was about as handsome as him, or even a little more handsome, Duan Shaoheng felt a strong sense of danger. His mental alarm would go off loudly.

“Hello. I’ve never seen a baby bring a classmate home before. You’re the first,” Duan Shaoheng said, still watching Sheng Yunze warily.

Sheng Yunze didn’t say anything, but Duan Yi exploded first. “Holy shit! Can’t you stop calling me ‘baby’ in front of my classmate? Who’s your baby? Unbelievable.”

Then Xiaoduan Mom approached from a distance. “My baby, want an apple?”

Duan Yi: …

Sheng Yunze stared at Duan Yi with an enigmatic smile. Duan Yi, unwilling to disrespect Xiaoduan Mom, reluctantly answered, “What do you want?”

After two minutes, Sheng Yunze witnessed the Duan family’s hospitality—a sight that made him slightly nervous.

His conversation partner was Duan Ji Huai, with Xiaoduan Mom seated beside him.

Sheng Yunze remembered Xiaoduan Mom’s appearance after one glance—Duan Yi resembled his mother.

Duan Ji Huai asked about school courses, grades, and third-year workload. Sheng Yunze answered each question, satisfying Duan Ji Huai completely.

The more Sheng Yunze displayed his young talent, the more Duan Ji Huai felt his own son was utterly useless.

After covering general topics, Duan Ji Huai finally asked the crucial question, “Does Duan Yi cause trouble for teachers and classmates at school?”

Duan Yi’s puppy radar “biubiubiubiu” stood up, trying to send Morse code to Sheng Yunze to praise him.

Sheng Yunze didn’t even look at him, lying without hesitation: “No, Duan Yi never causes trouble at school.”

He silently added, “Only brings me trouble.”

Duan Yi’s heart, suspended in his throat, dropped back into his chest.

Proudly, he said, “Dad, why do you ask? I’ve told you before—don’t be too outstanding at school, okay?”

Sheng Yunze added, “Duan Yi’s mid-term exam scores improved by 120 points.”

Duan Ji Huai looked slightly surprised and turned to Duan Yi, “Why didn’t you mention this?”

Duan Yi, embarrassed, said quietly, “Even with over a hundred points improvement, I still only got 400… What’s there to mention? I’m still dead last.”

Duan Ji Huai nodded in satisfaction, “It seems you still have some self-awareness.”

With Sheng Yunze’s cooperation, he actually managed to have a decent conversation with Duan Ji Huai.

Xiaoduan Mom, feeling drowsy, went upstairs to sleep. Judging by the situation, Duan Ji Huai probably wanted to keep Sheng Yunze up for a night-long talk.

Damn, what’s with this intergenerational friendship?!

Duan Yi yawned, starting to daydream.

Duan Ji Huai suddenly changed the subject, “Oh, there’s one more thing I need to ask you, Xiaosheng.”

Duan Yi thought: We’re getting pretty familiar, calling him Xiaosheng now.

Duan Ji Huai suddenly asked, “Is there any early romance happening in your class?”

“Pfft—” Caught off guard, Duan Yi sprayed his lemon water all over the coffee table.

Duan Ji Huai looked at him. “Duan-er, why are you so nervous?”

Duan Yi was scared stiff. “What Zhang? What nervous? I’m not nervous, it’s a misunderstanding. Dad, my surname is Duan, not Zhang.”

He was talking nonsense, completely confused.

Duan Ji Huai: …You’re afraid I will discover your early romance, aren’t you?

Sheng Yunze spoke up: “Yes.”

Duan Yi’s skin broke out in goosebumps. For a moment, he couldn’t decide whether to beg Duan Ji Huai first, or to bravely insist that if he wanted to punish someone, he should break his own leg instead of Sheng Yunze’s. After all, Sheng Yunze’s leg was innocent!

But maybe they could get a second half-price deal—each breaking one leg would be eighty-five percent off, leaving one leg to walk with. They still had class tomorrow…

Duan Yi silently calculated.

Sheng Yunze said calmly, “I have an early romance.”

Duan Ji Huai froze, unable to ask more. What could he say when another family’s child admitted to an early romance so openly? He could only say, “At your age, romance might be a bit early, but not too late. As long as it doesn’t affect your studies. You’re almost an adult, so your parents probably won’t stop you.”

Duan Yi’s ears perked up at the prospect. “Me too?”

Duan Ji Huai replied calmly, “Try it.”

He added, “Choose one leg—left or right. Ninety-five percent discount, no bargaining.”

Duan Yi stormed out in anger!

“It’s so late, and you’re still leaving?”

Half an hour later, after Xiaoduan Dad and Sheng Yunze finished their talk, Sheng Yunze insisted on leaving. Duan Yi reluctantly saw him to the door.

“I can’t stay,” Sheng Yunze said.

Duan Yi’s parents now trusted him completely. Before leaving, they even asked him to help Duan Yi with his homework.

They were indeed dating, but Sheng Yunze didn’t want to deceive Duan Yi’s parents—at least not until they made their relationship public. He couldn’t stay overnight at Duan Yi’s home tonight.

Otherwise, when he eventually told Duan Yi’s parents about their relationship, would his impression points even reach 0.5?

Duan Yi felt very disappointed. “I wanted to show you my room. It’s full of figurines.”

Sheng Yunze politely declined. “Iron Man PTSD. Don’t show me any for half a year.”

Duan Yi: …

He enthusiastically suggested, “Why don’t I walk you home?”

Sheng Yunze said sharply, “Thanks. You think this is fun? I’ll take you home first, then you’ll take me home. No sleep tonight. Just contribute steps to WeChat?”

Duan Yi, unwilling to part, even endured Sheng Yunze’s sharp tongue. He calculated, “Then I’ll walk you to the neighborhood gate.”

Sheng Yunze enjoyed this. “Did you bring an umbrella?”

“I did.” Duan Yi shook the umbrella. “You can use it to go home later.”

He worried, “Is that okay? Maybe we should stay at a nearby hotel.”

Duan Yi wanted Sheng Yunze to stay at his home instead.

Sheng Yunze, too embarrassed to mention his driver, decided to play it cool. “No need. There’ll be other chances.”

Duan Yi made a noncommittal sound, kicking a pinecone on the ground.

At the neighborhood gate, Duan Yi stood, still not saying goodbye, not moving, looking upset.

He wouldn’t even look at Sheng Yunze, just stared at his shoes.

Sheng Yunze felt a bit soft. “We’ll see each other tomorrow morning.”

Duan Yi spoke sharply, a bit like he was sulking, sounding hurt, “That’s still twelve hours.”

Sheng Yunze asked, “What do you want to do?”

Duan Yi mumbled, “Don’t know.”

He stared at his feet.

“I’m leaving,” said Sheng Yunze.

“Oh,” replied Duan Yi.

“Really leaving.”

“Mm.”

“Taken one step.”

“Mm…”

“Two steps now. Next is a big step.”

The gloom around Duan Yi was so thick it could’ve turned to mist.

He played with snow, head down, clearly not enjoying it.

Sheng Yunze suddenly felt his steps grow heavy.

Duan Yi’s small voice whined, “Can’t you take tiny steps? Each one’s so big…”

Sheng Yunze’s footsteps in the snow stopped. After three seconds, he took two steps back, undoing all his previous effort.

Before Duan Yi could look up, a cold wind hit him. In the next moment, he fell into a warm, dry embrace.

Sheng Yunze buried his face in Duan Yi’s neck, arms tightening. His voice was rough as he said, “I can’t walk like this.”

Duan Yi felt happy—this was exactly what he wanted. He grinned foolishly. “I don’t want you to leave either.”

He lived in the moment, unaware that young and heavy love had suddenly pressed down on him.

Putting all the emotions of a seventeen-year-old boy, he finally surrendered without hesitation.

Duan Yi only felt this was an ordinary night. The snow fell thickly. He wanted to pick up the umbrella, but Sheng Yunze held him so tightly, refusing to let go.

The two could only stand stiffly, wind blowing, snow drifting, white hair fluttering.