What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Chapter 96

Chapter 96 – Waiting for You After Class

At first, Duan Yi thought he was just staying up too late, causing him to be sleep-deprived during the day.

Later, he realized that no matter how early he went to bed, he was still sleepy during the day, especially during English cloze exercises, when he could fall asleep instantly.

Duan Yi tended to sleep more in winter. But with spring approaching in March and the weather warming up, Hao Shanshan had already stubbornly switched to wearing short skirts despite the lingering cold snap. Duan Yi’s continued drowsiness seemed a bit odd, but then again, he was still wearing his winter uniform, so maybe it wasn’t so strange after all.

The weather in the south made dressing a real challenge. You’d see people wearing everything from winter coats to summer dresses, creating a chaotic mix. A single classroom could feel like it was experiencing all four seasons at once.

Duan Yi didn’t dwell on it much. He’d always been prone to dozing off in class anyway. Now he was just even sleepier.

He had a more pressing matter on his mind: he’d convinced himself that Sheng Yunze was preoccupied with something, something related to the National College Entrance Examination.

“Xiaoduan, are you just projecting your own anxiety onto Secretary Sheng?” Jiang Wangshu affectionately patted Duan Yi’s head.

Duan Yi called Hao Shanshan and Jiang Wangshu over immediately after class. Given that Duan Yi had been neglecting their usual strategy sessions since getting into a relationship, Hao Shanshan was actually a little touched.

“Daddy, are you and New Mother having some kind of conflict?”

“Conflict? What conflict? I’m serious, guys! Don’t you think he’s been acting really troubled lately? He used to be Little Dragon Girl, but now he’s all Lin Daiyu!”

While Sheng Yunze was at the physics office retrieving test papers, Duan Yi seized the opportunity to consult with Jiang Wangshu and Hao Shanshan. “Do you have any experience with this? Or know a psychologist? I need to give him some guidance.”

Jiang Wangshu’s expression was unreadable. “I think you should focus on guiding yourself first. You only scored 400 points? The minimum admission score for the Central Academy of Fine Arts is around 500, right?”

“I’m not worried about myself! Get lost! If you don’t have any ideas, stop meddling in my life!”

Hao Shanshan spoke up. “Could it be because he’s not getting enough nutrition? Class Eight had a case like that—a girl who studied until 3 AM every night collapsed during last week’s quiz. It was terrifying! Her face was as white as a sheet.”

Duan Yi perked up, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

Hao Shanshan explained, “It’s like… not eating properly, so their brain doesn’t work right and their nerves get all messed up! Basically, they study themselves into a nervous breakdown! Why don’t you get Secretary Sheng something nutritious to help him recover?”

“Would that even work?” Duan Yi asked.

“Well, even if it doesn’t, he’ll still eat it, right? Just think of it as a meal.”

Duan Yi found this approach more practical than consulting a psychiatrist.

As soon as he got home, he asked Xiaoduan Mom for the family nutritionist’s WeChat ID and began harassing him around the clock.

Initially, Duan Yi had planned to prepare the meals himself for Sheng Yunze, but cooking was inconvenient at school. Their dorm had already had four rice cookers confiscated, and another confiscation would likely result in disciplinary action.

So, the nutritionist prepared the soup daily and drove it to the school.

Every day, Duan Yi would bounce to the school gate to collect the soup, carry it back to the classroom, and fill the entire room with its fragrant aroma.

“What’s this?” Sheng Yunze glanced at the earthenware pot.

“It’s soup,” Duan Yi replied. “For you. Drink up!”

Sheng Yunze: ……

Duan Yi’s gaze fell on the simmering pot of soup: a bowl of Southern and Northern Almond Apple Snakehead Fish Soup. The broth, made with snakehead fish, apples, and pork ribs, was a delicate yellow, garnished with almonds. It carried both the pure, savory aroma of fish soup and the subtle, refreshing fragrance of apples, creating a sweet and invigorating flavor. The rich, lingering taste and high nutritional value made it utterly irresistible.

Sheng Yunze: “Why are you suddenly giving me this?”

Duan Yi: “You’re taking the National College Entrance Examination, aren’t you? Studying so much every day must be exhausting for your brain. You need something nourishing to keep your body from collapsing…”

He spoke to Sheng Yunze, but his eyes remained fixed on the fish soup.

Sheng Yunze: ……

Duan Yi startled awake. “Ah? What’s wrong? Did you call me?”

Sheng Yunze’s expression was subtle. “No.”

He ladled out a small bowl for himself.

Duan Yi’s gaze shifted from Sheng Yunze’s ladle to his bowl, then to his lips. He watched as Sheng Yunze raised the spoonful of fish soup to his mouth, but paused before taking a sip.

Sheng Yunze looked up at Duan Yi.

Duan Yi stared back, drool glistening at the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed on Sheng Yunze… and his fish soup: °Д°

Pfft— Sheng Yunze hastily set the bowl down on the table, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

This was the first genuine smile he’d shown since returning from Dr. He’s office.

The main reason was Duan Yi’s reluctant gaze and the way his mouth practically watered, like a child watching someone eat candy—a mixture of wanting to taste it and trying to resist. Sheng Yunze felt a mix of helplessness and overwhelming fondness.

Unaware that his pathetic behavior was on full display, Duan Yi asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m afraid it might not taste good,” Sheng Yunze replied. “Try it for me.”

Duan Yi hesitated. “How could I? I made this for you…”

Sheng Yunze pushed his bowl of fish soup toward him. “You go first.”

The aroma of the fish soup had already materialized into a tangible temptation for Duan Yi’s taste buds. After swallowing hard, he took a sip.

…This is too delicious.

Duan Yi was so moved he almost cried.

Sheng Yunze abandoned his test papers, propping his chin in his hand as he watched Duan Yi eat.

Duan Yi ate with gusto, savoring every bite of whatever was on his plate. His elegant table manners made him a delightful sight to watch, whetting the appetite of anyone nearby.

Sheng Yunze, not content to simply observe, fetched a small bowl and began meticulously removing fish bones for Duan Yi.

The clay pot wasn’t large, and Duan Yi soon scraped the bottom. Only then did he realize he had finished the entire dish.

A milky-white fish broth still clung to the corner of his mouth. Duan Yi stared in speechless disbelief: “How did I eat it all?” He grabbed the pot in dismay, turned it upside down, and shook it vigorously, but not a drop came out.

Sheng Yunze calmly wiped his fingertips, set the pot down, and then wiped Duan Yi’s fingertips as well.

Too embarrassed to meet Sheng Yunze’s gaze, Duan Yi let him wipe the fish broth from his lips. “I don’t like fish,” Sheng Yunze said.

“…Really?” Duan Yi didn’t believe a word of Sheng Yunze’s nonsense.

“Really,” Sheng Yunze replied, his expression disarmingly sincere.

One failure doesn’t mean every attempt will fail.

Having failed to feed Sheng Yunze successfully the first time, Duan Yi instructed the nutritionist to prepare fish in a variety of ways.

Adhering to the traditional Chinese belief that the most expensive foods are the most nourishing, Duan Yi strove to make every meal cost at least 5,000 yuan per person. He insisted on delicacies like snow frog, white truffles, caviar, Brittany blue lobster, Spanish saffron, and yellow croaker.

However, Sheng Yunze seemed uninterested in these extravagant dishes. His real interest lay in tricking Duan Yi into eating them.

After two weeks, Duan Yi realized Sheng Yunze had barely touched his food, while he had devoured everything the nutritionist prepared.

One day at noon, he patted his stomach in horror to discover that the once-tenuous abdominal muscles had completely vanished!

The next morning, the entire class was stunned to see President Duan, the notorious late-sleeper, jogging around the school track at dawn.

“Damn, that’s impressive…” Pingtou, who had stayed up studying until 3 a.m. and arrived with dark circles under his eyes, couldn’t help but admire Duan Yi’s youthful vigor on the track.

The discipline committee student taking attendance announced, “The school just announced that starting tomorrow, third-year students no longer need to sign in. Just go straight to your classrooms for morning study.”

Pingtou: “Holy crap, I’m actually starting to feel the pressure of third year…”

“No way,” Duan Yi said, dragging a chair over. “Sheng Yunze didn’t eat a thing—I ate it all myself! Damn it, I even gained two pounds!”

Hao Shanshan stared at Duan Yi’s waist, which was thinner than a teenage girl’s. “Where did you gain weight?!”

Tears streamed down her face. “If you call that fat, what about us?!”

“Come on, Shanshan,” Duan Yi said. “Help me figure out how to deal with your dad’s new wife’s psychological issues. He’s been getting worse lately, always staring at me with this hesitant look. I have no idea what he wants! Do you think we’re hitting the seven-year itch?”

“No puns allowed,” Hao Shanshan retorted. “President Duan, if you’re so curious, why don’t you just ask him directly?”

Duan Yi shook his head. “He won’t tell me.”

As he spoke, Duan Yi yawned.

Even Hao Shanshan noticed. “President Duan, what time do you go to bed? You’re always dozing off.”

Duan Yi slumped onto the table. “I don’t know. I’m gonna take a nap. Don’t bother me. We still have two classes before lunch, right? I’ll wake up then.”

But Duan Yi slept right through lunch.

Hao Shanshan initially wanted to wake him, but Sheng Yunze returned to the classroom and stopped her.

Hao Shanshan shrugged, indicating that since her boyfriend was here, there was nothing for her to do.

By the time Duan Yi woke up, it was already afternoon. The classroom was empty except for the distant sounds of students playing on the sports field.

His back and waist ached from sleeping. When he sat up, he realized Sheng Yunze’s school uniform was draped over him. Turning his head, he saw Sheng Yunze’s profile.

Sheng Yunze seemed to be working on a test paper. Still groggy, Duan Yi didn’t feel like talking. He slumped weakly against the desk, watching Sheng Yunze.

Their seats had been rearranged, placing Sheng Yunze by the window. As the sun set, the sky blazed with fiery hues, the clouds shifting between golden yellow and crimson red. The light flooded into the classroom, bathing the white tiles in an orange glow that reflected off Sheng Yunze, enveloping him in a gentle warmth.

Duan Yi frowned, squinting. He felt like he couldn’t quite see Sheng Yunze clearly.

He reached out and grasped Sheng Yunze’s hand. Sheng Yunze glanced at him. “Awake?”

“Mmm…” Duan Yi didn’t want to get up. “Still sleepy.”

“You can’t sleep anymore,” Sheng Yunze said.

Duan Yi blinked. “What?”

Just then, Abbot’s bizarre, ghost-like shrieks echoed from the classroom doorway.

The classroom’s quiet was shattered.

It turned out they were back from dinner. Pingtou was chasing Abbot, pressing Abbot’s head against his chest. Hao Shanshan and Fang Yun followed closely behind, carrying hot water kettles, apparently returning from the hot water room.

A while later, Xiaobudian and Bookworm also returned from dinner, immediately filling the classroom with lively chatter.

Jiang Wangshu was the last to enter, holding a video camera. He filmed from the hallway into the classroom.

“Welcome to Third Year Class 1! Let’s see what our National College Entrance Examination contenders are up to. This is Classmate Fang Yun, our renowned physics representative…”

When Fang Yun was filmed, she shrieked, both laughing and scolding, immediately covering her face with a test paper. “Jiang Wangshu!”

Jiang Wangshu dodged her playful punches with a grin and ran to film Pingtou and Abbot. The boys, more relaxed, flashed V-signs at the camera. “He’s my son!” Pingtou declared.

“I’m his dad!” Abbot retorted.

“Chairman, where’d you get that camera? Let me play with it!” Xiaobang called out.

Jiang Wangshu spoke up, “The Old Class Teacher wants us to film a video for the graduation ceremony. Hey, stop messing with the buttons! You’ll delete everything I’ve recorded!”

Xiaobang was even more energetic than Jiang Wangshu, filming everything in sight. As the classroom filled with students, the girls huddled together, burying their faces in their deskmates’ shoulders while laughing and scolding. The boys, shameless as ever, flaunted their presence in front of Duan Yi.

When the camera reached Duan Yi, he was already awake, leaning against Sheng Yunze’s shoulder with a grin.

Xiaobang, always eager for drama, shouted, “Look, Old He’s coming to catch them! These lovebirds think they’re above the law!”

Pingtou was still arguing with Abbot, while Bookworm pointed at the guitar hanging on the TV cabinet at the back of the classroom and yelled, “President Duan, why don’t you play us something?”

The guitar had been brought by Jiang Wangshu and was rarely used, but with the early dismissal, it was the perfect time.

The pressure of the third year was immense, and the students of Class One hadn’t enjoyed such a relaxed atmosphere after class in ages.

Duan Yi didn’t refuse. He already knew how to play, so he simply took the guitar from Jiang Wangshu and sat down with it.

After tuning the instrument, a smooth, flowing intro filled the air, dancing from Duan Yi’s fingertips as he strummed the strings.

It was Jay Chou’s “Waiting for You After Class,” perfectly capturing the mood.

Duan Yi sang with a smile, “Three years of high school, why, oh why, didn’t I study harder…”

When Hao Shanshan and the others heard Duan Yi was going to play guitar, they immediately gathered around. The moment they heard the lyrics, they burst into laughter, nearly falling over.

Soon, everyone was laughing along.

Almost the entire class had gathered around Duan Yi, some sitting close, others further away.

Closest to him were Sheng Yunze, followed by Jiang Wangshu and Hao Shanshan…

Then came Xiaobang, filming the scene with his camera…

And Pingtou and Abbot, sitting backward on their chairs, leaning over the backs…

And Xiaobudian, squeezing her way through while still working on her test paper…

The Bookworm tapped his foot to the rhythm…

In the corridor, students from other classes, curious about why Third Year Class 1 was gathered around the windows, paused by Class One’s windowsill, drawn in by the music and the boy’s clear humming.

Distant sounds drifted from the sports field, and the broadcast system played Old He’s safety reminders…

The blackboard listed the evening’s homework assignments for each subject, with a corner note indicating who was on duty tonight…

The bulletin board displayed the results from the last test, with a mischievous “So-and-so likes So-and-so” scrawled in an inconspicuous corner…

The classroom echoed with the guitar accompaniment and the boy’s voice.

His classmates listened intently, swaying gently in apparent enjoyment.

Everything was captured by the small camera, forever freezing the youths’ fleeting youth on that particular afternoon in their third year.

The song and melody continued:

“At the plaza by the school, I’m waiting for the bell to ring, hoping we can walk home together after class…”