What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Hand in Hand

“Be gentler! It hurts so much,” Jiang Wangshu howled.

“Weak!” Duan Yi said.

Seventh High School lost completely and ran away with their tails between their legs.

Duan Yi bought disinfectant and bandages. He gave each person some.

Jiang Wangshu was the first to get Duan Yi’s bandaging service. Nan Yi pushed him, “Are you done yet? It’s just a small cut. Why are you taking so long?”

Jiang Wangshu didn’t look up. “Xiaonan, don’t eat sour grapes. Small problems left untreated become big problems. And you, you dare come here for bandaging just because you got a scratch? If you wait a bit, the wound will heal itself. Want to get back together? No way. The Eastern Palace’s gates will always be closed to you.”

Jiang Wangshu, Duan Yi, and Nan Yi grew up together.

They went from wearing open-crotch pants in elementary school to middle school.

In elementary school, Duan Yi was the prettiest, so he took turns being Jiang Wangshu and Nan Yi’s girlfriend.

In middle school, Duan Yi and Nan Yi betrayed the revolution, becoming a couple and playing at early romance. They made Jiang Wangshu a third wheel for half a year.

Later, both Duan Yi and Nan Yi became Alphas. There were some conflicts in between. Nan Yi went abroad, Duan Yi went to high school, and Jiang Wangshu decided to stand with Duan Yi, joining forces against outsiders and looking down on his ex-boyfriend Nan Yi.

They’d spent nearly half their youth together. Though their romance had faded, their friendship remained strong.

Their conflicts never grew so bitter they stopped talking.

For Duan Yi, his past with Nan Yi was at least twenty years old. Now, it didn’t stir any feelings. He truly felt nothing for Nan Yi.

To outsiders, the three formed a tight circle that wouldn’t let anyone else in.

This “anyone else” was Sheng Yunze.

He put on his school jacket and left without a word.

Duan Yi hurried to chase him, but accidentally stuck a bandage on Nan Yi’s arm. The bandage was crooked, making Nan Yi gasp in pain.

“Why are you chasing him?” Nan Yi asked sarcastically. “Do you think he cares about you?”

Sheng Yunze had already disappeared around the alley corner, leaving no trace.

Duan Yi stood there feeling lost.

Seeing this, Nan Yi felt bitter. “Hey, Duan Yi, do you like him?”

Duan Yi sat down. “I like your mother’s big head! Get lost! Are you lame? If not, then leave.”

Jiang Wangshu shook his head and sighed. “Feifei truly lives up to Second High School’s reputation as an untouchable beauty. Xiaoduan, I advise you to give up now. Why must an Alpha like you chase after another Alpha?”

Duan Yi: “Who’s Feifei?”

Jiang Wangshu leaned back. “A nickname I just made for Ex-husband bro—Crown Princess. Short for ‘Feifei’. Not clever? Doesn’t it sound friendly, Your Highness?”

Duan Yi kicked him. “Fuck off. Stop spreading lies. What kind of dog eyes do you have? How did you see I like Sheng Yunze? I’m just concerned about my classmate’s health.”

Zhao Lai and Yue Chengyang didn’t join the fight. They watched from the side for a while.

Bored halfway through, they went to eat. When they returned, the fight was over.

“Where’s Commander Sheng?” Zhao Lai looked left and right.

Jiang Wangshu: “Your commander went back to school.”

Zhao Lai held a bag. “I brought noodles and rice. Who’s hungry?”

Duan Yi grabbed a bowl of rice and wolfed it down. Then he slapped Jiang Wangshu’s paws off the Lanzhou noodles and pulled them into his arms.

“Take the other food. I want these.”

Jiang Wangshu rubbed his hands. “Aren’t you full eating two portions?”

Duan Yi: “Can’t I just take this back for midnight snack?”

He ran fast with the Lanzhou noodles, passing a pharmacy. He swept up a big pile of red medicine, alcohol cotton, hydrogen peroxide, white gauze, painkillers, and more like a Japanese soldier invading a village.

Then he stood at Sheng Yunze’s dorm door.

Should I knock? Duan Yi was confused.

Sheng Yunze had been so fierce earlier. Several Seventh High students had beaten him, though they hadn’t knocked him down. He must be hurt.

Jiang Wangshu had also delayed his dinner. He definitely wasn’t full.

Duan Yi paced at the door. He raised his hand, then put it down. Raised it again to touch the door, then put it down.

He paced back and forth, creating a physics miracle: 3,000 WeChat steps outside Sheng Yunze’s dorm door without ever entering.

He tried once, then twice, then gave up—finally losing his courage.

Aaaaahh!!

Why am I so confused?!

Duan Yi took a deep breath, then suddenly knocked hard on the door.

Who knew the dorm door would suddenly open? Duan Yi’s knock hit Sheng Yunze’s chest, making him hiss in pain.

Duan Yi jumped in surprise. “Why did you suddenly open the door?”

Sheng Yunze looked down at him. “Won’t you open the door to watch your outdoor Victoria’s Secret fashion show?”

Duan Yi: =口=!

“What fashion show?”

Sheng Yunze: “Then why are you pacing back and forth? Performing some secret ritual?”

Duan Yi choked. “I— How do you know I was pacing?”

His face turned red.

Sheng Yunze chuckled. “You’re overthinking. I’m not spying on you. Your footsteps sound like a monster. My hearing isn’t that bad.”

Duan Yi’s red face quickly turned into anger. “I’m not that heavy, okay? I’m very light!”

After saying this, his eyes wandered, and he asked reluctantly, “Are you… hurt?”

Sheng Yunze looked down at the medical supplies in his hand.

Duan Yi retorted confidently, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just checking on a classmate. I’m the class president.”

Sheng Yunze then saw the Lanzhou noodles in his hand.

Duan Yi insisted stubbornly, “This is for me.” He pushed Sheng Yunze. “Let me in quickly. I’m tired of standing.”

Sheng Yunze saw a bruise on his waist. He took the alcohol Duan Yi brought without asking and calmly treated himself.

In the small space, Duan Yi smelled Sheng Yunze’s pheromones, and his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat.

What cats do after smelling catnip, he now wanted to do.

He wanted to roll on the floor.

Duan Yi’s eyes darted around, not daring to look at Sheng Yunze.

Soon he realized his own behavior, suddenly deflating. He felt a strange sadness for no reason.

In this room, only he was confused by his feelings, his mind wandering.

Meanwhile, Sheng Yunze remained calm, not guarding against him at all. After wiping the alcohol, he put on short sleeves. His hair was messy from the shirt, making his face look softer.

Right. Why would he guard against an “Alpha” like him?

Duan Yi sighed, scratching his head.

Sheng Yunze went to the bathroom to wash his hands. When he came out, he saw Duan Yi taking off the plastic bag from the Lanzhou noodles.

After taking it off, he looked at the bag in disgust, then tied it into a tight knot.

Sheng Yunze walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat across from Duan Yi. Before Duan Yi could react, he pulled the Lanzhou noodles toward himself. With a snap, he broke the chopsticks, opened the plastic bag, and saw the tangled noodles.

The chopsticks couldn’t even poke through.

Duan Yi looked at him guiltily, feeling embarrassed. He was about to say they shouldn’t eat it.

Yet Sheng Yunze showed no reaction. He picked up a clump of noodles—lifting the entire bowl of Lanzhou pulled noodles—and took a bite. He started eating as if no one else was there.

Duan Yi’s disappointment vanished. He chuckled to himself and watched Sheng Yunze from his desk.

His eyes were round, with slightly upturned corners, like natural eyelashes that made his eyes look like chrysoberyls.

When focused on someone, his eyes sparkled as if reflecting the entire Milky Way.

“Xiaoduan, you’re in a good mood? What are you humming?” Jiang Wangshu asked, holding a blue bottle cap, his head tilted back.

The evening self-study hadn’t started, so the classroom was empty.

“Uncle Li wants to join the Red Army.” Duan Yi took a bottle of Mrs. Taitai Oral Solution from him, took a sip, then frowned. “Ugh, what’s this weird taste?”

Hao Shanshan was handing out English listening test papers when Jiang Wangshu let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to do the listening test. Let me copy yours.”

Listening test.

A daily test was added to prepare for the high school exam. One of the tasks all third-year students must complete during evening self-study. Even on weekends, they had to come back to school for the test—except those who lived far away.

The English teacher graded the tests right away and explained the answers immediately.

Before the classroom was full, Amy came.

Ah Mi, English name Amy, was a Second High School English teacher. She created her own version of Fujian English with a unique accent. During her first self-introduction, she pronounced “Amy” as “Ah Mi”, and from then on, no one at Second High School remembered her English name.

As soon as Ah Mi arrived, she looked for Duan Yi, “Duan Yi, have the tests been handed out?”

“Hao Shanshan did it. Ah Mi, I’m not the class president. Why do you always make me do things?”

Ah MI’s eyes widened, “If you’re not the class president, then who? Everyone, listen up—the broadcast is about to start. Back to your seats.”

Duan Yi kept looking back. When the bell rang, Sheng Yunze finally appeared from the classroom’s back door.

Duan Yi quickly turned around, glaring at the English test with a bitter expression. He pretended to chew on his pencil while doing the test.

Jiang Wangshu kindly turned the English test around for him, “Just saying… but you’re holding the English test upside down.”

Duan Yi: ……

Jiang Wangshu moved two meters away, “Just a reminder—getting angry and killing someone in a fit of shame is illegal.”

Duan Yi was about to hit him when the lights went out. Second High School’s traditional event since ancient times: construction workers digging up water pipes caused a power outage.

Ah Mi froze. A wave of voices rose.

“Don’t need evening study anymore? Can we go home?” That was Hao Shanshan.

“Power cut? A real power cut? Chairman, the organization assigns you to check!” That was Pingtou.

“Fuck! I told you not to call me Chairman. Why don’t you ask President Duan to go?” That was Jiang Wangshu.

“Don’t grope me in the dark.” That was Duan Yi.

[ Choose. ]

A cold voice cut through the noisy classroom. Only Duan Yi could hear it. This—

This was the fucking voice of death descending!

Duan Yi’s hair stood on end.

[ A.) Find Sheng Yunze in the chaos and secretly hold his hand.

B.) Hide in Sheng Yunze’s arms during the chaos. Tell him the night is dark, the lights are dim, and this empty me is lonely~

C.) Stand in front of Sheng Yunze during the chaos. Perform a black dance in the dark. ]

Fuck…

Duan Yi broke down.

What the fuck were these options? Was there no choice a normal person could pick?

What made him collapse even more was the countdown starting faithfully.

“Pick A! A is fine!” Duan Yi gritted out through clenched teeth.

In the dark, he bent over and crept toward Sheng Yunze.

The classroom was a mess. Ah Mi had no authority among the students. She shouted for a long time, but nobody paid attention.

The most trouble-making students caused a commotion, making it easier for Duan Yi to move.

He swallowed hard, his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. He saw Sheng Yunze sitting straight and proper.

A husband was a husband, a boss was a boss. Even in this dark and chaotic environment, he could stay calm and maintain his cool.

Sure enough, a true poser king had reached the level of being one with his poser-ness. All he needed was the courage to stay calm in danger.

Duan Yi quickly found his hand. In this darkness and chaos, I’ll just take his hand while nobody’s looking. He won’t be able to tell who did it later.

After comforting himself, Duan Yi mustered up the courage. He suddenly grabbed Sheng Yunze’s hand, then precisely interlaced their fingers.

As expected, Sheng Yunze started struggling. But just as he was about to shake off Duan Yi—

The lights came on.

Bright lights—

The lights came on.

The classroom went silent. All eyes landed on Duan Yi, then on his hand, on his right hand interlaced with Sheng Yunze’s—clearly showing Duan Yi had taken advantage of the darkness to force the hand-holding.

Duan Yi kept a crouching position on the ground, his face still showing unreacted panic.

Sheng Yunze’s struggles vanished instantly, leaving only an unspeakable expression on his face. “……”

Duan Yi: ……

“Don’t ask anything.”

“Don’t say anything.”

After saying these last words, Duan Yi slowly closed his eyes.

At that moment, he left peacefully, a smile still on his face.

Author’s Note:

Xiaoduan: Just give me a quick knife, I don’t want to live anymore