What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Extra 10

Chapter 111 – Extra 10: Marriage (3)

Duan Yi’s heart swelled like cotton candy, sweet to the point of bursting.

He tried not to look too overjoyed, but his lips kept curving upward. He managed to maintain a serious expression for less than a second before the smile returned to his eyes.

“Don’t you have anything to say? I already said ‘yes’!” Duan Yi blurted out.

“Oh,” Sheng Yunze replied, his own smile impossible to hide.

“Oh!” Duan Yi echoed, louder this time.

“That’s good,” Sheng Yunze said, rubbing his nose.

Even after being with Duan Yi for years, he suddenly felt shy during the proposal, as if nowhere felt right to look.

Jiang Wangshu chimed in with mock seriousness, “What comes after a proposal again?”

“I think it’s marriage…” Hao Shanshan replied, glancing at Jiang Wangshu. “Oh, I just remembered I have something I need to take care of.”

Her acting was painfully obvious.

Jiang Wangshu immediately seized the cue. “I need to use the restroom!”

“Take me with you, Chairman!” Pingtou hooked his arm around Jiang Wangshu’s shoulder.

The others exchanged knowing glances and discreetly left, giving the newly engaged couple some private time.

Duan Yi glanced around furtively, then asked, “You don’t think there are cameras in the classroom, do you?”

Sheng Yunze replied, “The forum said Second High School increased its camera count from 108 to 221 two years ago.”

“Holy crap!” Duan Yi exclaimed in shock. “No wonder we couldn’t get away with anything. Old He was ruthless!”

Then, catching himself, he asked in surprise, “How did you know they added over two hundred cameras two years ago? I didn’t realize you were so fond of our alma mater.”

Sheng Yunze shrugged. “Just a quick search on the forum.”

Duan Yi continued the casual conversation. “What were you looking for on the forum?”

“Photos,” Sheng Yunze replied.

Duan Yi, ever the curious one, pressed, “You were looking for—”

He paused, his face flushing slightly as realization dawned.

Sheng Yunze must have been searching for photos from Second High School four years ago. Otherwise, even with his prodigious memory, he couldn’t possibly remember so many details.

Duan Yi felt a surge of warmth. Though it had been four years since graduation, he often found himself reminiscing about high school with Sheng Yunze, half-expecting his words to fall on deaf ears. He never imagined Sheng Yunze had been listening so intently, storing every detail in his heart.

Duan Yi’s college life was interesting enough, but he didn’t live on campus, and his focus remained firmly on Sheng Yunze. As a freshman, he barely knew anyone beyond his own classmates.

University life wasn’t as strict as high school. Everyone did their own thing whenever they had free time, and apart from roll call and mandatory classes, they rarely saw each other throughout the day.

Even Duan Yi, who was so popular, couldn’t remember everyone’s names in his class by graduation.

Not to mention, he had spent a few years abroad for further studies.

“I thought you were getting impatient with me since you never replied,” Duan Yi said, referring to the times he’d reminisced about their high school days with Sheng Yunze.

He was a sentimental person. Sometimes, he’d wake up in the middle of the night after dreaming about forgetting to write his essay during the National College Entrance Examination or being late for the exam, and he’d ramble on and on to Sheng Yunze for ages.

Or, when singing songs from their high school era, he’d stop mid-verse and drag Sheng Yunze into reminiscing about every little detail.

It was during these moments that Sheng Yunze realized Duan Yi’s memory was terrible—except when it came to things related to him. Duan Yi remembered everything clearly, even Sheng Yunze’s exact score on the monthly exam in March of their second year.

“Who said I was impatient? Didn’t I nod?” Sheng Yunze retorted calmly.

He leaned against the table, standing in the exact same spot they used to in high school.

Duan Yi sat on a stool, propping his chin in his hand as he gazed at Sheng Yunze with bright eyes. His little dog tail wagged furiously. “So you’ve been working on this for the past two months?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Duan Yi thought his boyfriend—now his husband—was pretty damn impressive.

“How did you pull this off? You just casually changed Second High School? How did you get the approvals?”

After a long pause, Sheng Yunze finally said, “Donated a library.”

“Pfft!” Duan Yi burst out laughing. “Hahahaha! Old He hasn’t changed a bit!”

He touched the ring on his finger and said, “Actually, I was planning to propose to you today. I even picked out the perfect spot and bought flowers. What a waste.”

Sheng Yunze: “How would you have proposed? Tell me.”

Duan Yi deliberately deepened his voice. “Please, please marry me! That’s how I’d propose.”

Sheng Yunze smiled. “And if I refused?”

Duan Yi slumped onto the table. “I’d jump into the river. I’ve already thought it through. If you said yes, we’d go home for dinner. If you said no, I’d jump into the river.”

Remembering his backup plan, Duan Yi suddenly wondered, “You were so sure I’d say yes? What if I hadn’t? Did you have a backup plan?”

Sheng Yunze chuckled. “Guess.”

Duan Yi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. “What’s with that expression? Every time you make that face, I feel like you’re plotting something!”

Sheng Yunze continued to smile, emphasizing again, “Duan Yi, you agreed to marry me.”

Duan Yi’s face flushed red, and he adopted an uncharacteristically coy demeanor. “Mmm… yes, that’s true, but could you be a little more low-key about it?”

He glanced at the time, then clumsily changed the subject. “Why don’t we go home for dinner? Your son must be crying for me by now.”

Duan Yi glanced at Sheng Yunze again, noticing he was still wearing his Second High School uniform.

Where did he even get that uniform? Duan Yi thought. There’s no way he’s been keeping it for four years.

Still, Duan Yi took a few steps back, openly admiring Sheng Yunze’s handsome face and well-built physique.

“You haven’t changed at all,” he remarked.

It was just like the first time Duan Yi had seen Sheng Yunze: the boy walking through the classroom door, backpack slung over his shoulder, white earbuds in, radiating an unbearable arrogance. Duan Yi had immediately thought, Damn, I hate show-offs.

Even if they’re good-looking.

Sheng Yunze retorted, “You’ve changed quite a bit.”

Duan Yi immediately retorted, “If you dare say I’ve gotten fat, you’re dead!”

Sheng Yunze suddenly fell silent.

“Damn it!” Duan Yi exclaimed. “You really think that?! I haven’t gotten fat at all!”

Sheng Yunze’s gaze swept from Duan Yi’s collar to his legs with ill-concealed intent.

Duan Yi’s suit was impeccably tailored, accentuating his slim waist and long legs. He was a handsome figure, and there was no visible sign of weight gain.

Yet Sheng Yunze knew his wife’s body well—the kind that was soft to the touch, almost dangerously so.

Duan Yi stretched lazily, unbuttoning two buttons of his suit. “It’s sweltering in this heat. Let’s go.”

He found it odd that Sheng Yunze was being so talkative today, lingering in the classroom for such a long chat.

Before leaving, Duan Yi couldn’t resist glancing at the bulletin board, the duty roster in the corner, and the grade list. Sheng Yunze had truthfully reported his past academic performance: Duan Yi had ranked dead last in the class.

Sheng Yunze pointed to the podium. “Your school uniform is there.”

“Huh?” Duan Yi paused, turning to see a black-and-white tracksuit laid out in front of the podium.

It was indeed Duan Yi’s old school uniform, covered in messy signatures from his classmates—all written during their graduation year. There was even Jiang Wangshu’s “Advertising Space for Rent” ad and Hao Shanshan’s “Missing Person” notice.

After a few washes, the signatures had faded so much that it was impossible to tell who had written what.

“Holy crap!” Duan Yi exclaimed, staring at Sheng Yunze in astonishment. “You actually found this? Where did you dig it up?”

From my closet, of course, Sheng Yunze thought. It’s the one you left behind during those nights you stayed over in high school.

Duan Yi held the uniform up for a moment, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face.

Seeing his eager expression, Sheng Yunze suggested, “Why don’t you try it on?”

“Wouldn’t that be a bit awkward?” Duan Yi hesitated. “It’s my old high school uniform. Who knows if it’ll even fit now?”

Sheng Yunze’s sharp tongue struck without mercy: “Don’t worry. You haven’t grown an inch since high school.”

“Hey! Shut up!” Duan Yi protested, his face contorting in mock outrage.

“Just change here,” Sheng Yunze insisted. “I want to see.”

Since Sheng Yunze was so insistent, Duan Yi relented.

He drew the curtains, changed into the jacket, and then swapped his pants as well. The empty space at the back of the classroom, when curtained off, made a makeshift changing room.

Duan Yi struggled behind the curtain for a while, his back to Sheng Yunze. “Hmm, these pants seem a bit long. Hey, where are my shoes…?”

He was about to complain that his current shoes didn’t match when he glanced down and saw a pair of pristine, brand-new sneakers sitting at his feet.

Duan Yi called out, “Sheng Yunze?”

No one answered. Duan Yi, puzzled, put on the shoes, pulled back the curtains, and found the classroom completely empty.

“What the hell? Where is everyone?” Duan Yi reached for his phone, but it wasn’t there.

His suit, which he had changed out of, was also gone. Thoroughly confused, he walked out of the classroom and called out again in the hallway, “Sheng Yunze? Where are you?”

He muttered to himself, “Did he go home while I was changing? That’s so uncool…”

Though he said this aloud, Duan Yi didn’t truly believe it. He was certain Sheng Yunze wouldn’t abandon him. He just couldn’t figure out what the other guy was up to this time.

Maybe he went to the restroom? Duan Yi wondered aimlessly. He decided to head there; he remembered clearly that it was at the far end of the fourth-floor hallway.

Just as he took two steps, the Second High School broadcast system crackled twice, followed by Old He’s cough.

Duan Yi froze in place, his mind racing, What’s going on now?

Old He’s voice hadn’t changed in all these years. After the dry cough, a clear voice announced, “Third Year Class 1, Duan Yi.”

Duan Yi was stunned by the broadcast, unsure whether he was truly dreaming or had actually returned to high school.

Old He’s voice rang out sternly: “Third Year Class 1, Duan Yi, please report to the school’s front plaza immediately upon hearing this announcement.”

“Repeating: Third Year Class 1, Duan Yi, please report to the school’s front plaza immediately upon hearing this announcement.”

Duan Yi’s mind raced with confusion as he stumbled downstairs.

The distance from the fourth floor to the first was short, and he figured Sheng Yunze must be up to something again, so he quickened his pace.

An hour had passed since the proposal.

Evening had turned to night, and the stairwell was pitch-black. Someone had closed the bottom door, and after a moment’s hesitation, Duan Yi pushed it open.

A blinding white light flooded his face. He instinctively shielded his eyes, which took several seconds to adjust.

The school’s front plaza had been completely transformed.

The sight left Duan Yi rooted to the spot in stunned silence.

The plaza in front of Second High School was famously spacious, lined with flowering trees that formed a wide avenue.

Now, a series of massive floral arches stretched before him, growing larger as they approached.

A lush green lawn filled the center, flanked by rows of neatly seated guests. A quick glance revealed Xiaoduan Mom, Duan Ji Huai, Father Sheng, Mrs. Sheng, Sheng Yunxi…

Even Principal He, the Old Class Teacher, some of Duan Yi’s favorite high school teachers, Bei-ge, Ah Mi, Yu Wenshu…

All were smiling warmly at him.

His two sons were being held obediently by the nanny, leaving Duan Yi completely stunned.

What’s going on?

He stood frozen in place until Jiang Wangshu clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, what are you waiting for? The bride’s entrance.”

Duan Yi froze completely. “The-the-the bride’s entrance?!”

He stared at Jiang Wangshu in shock. “Me? Who? What does this mean?”

Jiang Wangshu chuckled. “It means you’re getting married. What did you think your husband was doing these past two months—just planning a proposal?”

Duan Yi suddenly remembered Jiang Wangshu’s recent inquiries about his ideal wedding. He couldn’t recall what he had said at the time. “So you were all keeping this from me?”

Jiang Wangshu replied tactfully, “We weren’t exactly trying to hide it. You just didn’t notice.”

“You understand,” Jiang Wangshu continued. “You know how to plan your escape routes. Secretary Sheng would do the same.”

Duan Yi didn’t quite grasp the implication.

My escape route was threatening to jump into the river if my proposal failed, he thought. Sheng Yunze’s escape route is just… marrying me if the proposal doesn’t work out?

Jiang Wangshu held out his hand. “Come on, Class President. Let’s go.”

Duan Yi’s mind was still reeling. He never imagined Sheng Yunze would combine the proposal and wedding into one grand event.

Years later, when he looked back on this day, he would still consider it the most surreal day of his life—a wedding ceremony on fast-forward.

Jiang Wangshu pulled Duan Yi along, both still in their school uniforms, as they walked across the Second High School plaza. For a moment, it felt like they had truly returned to their student days.

Duan Yi fell silent as he passed through the first floral archway and saw Sheng Yunze standing beside the master of ceremonies.

Sheng Yunze had already changed into a suit. Though Duan Yi couldn’t get a close look, he recognized the style he had once suggested. He even remembered being tricked into getting a custom fitting under the flimsy excuse that Sheng Yunze needed it for a business trip.

Duan Yi owned the same suit, but now—he was in his school uniform, while Sheng Yunze wore a suit. Duan Yi stopped in his tracks, gazing at him from a distance.

The scene evoked a strange sense of time passing, as if four years separated them.

The makeshift stage required climbing three steps to reach Sheng Yunze’s eye level.

Hao Shanshan, seated nearby and eager for drama, whispered, “President Duan! Go on!”

Her words prompted Pingtou to chime in, “Go ahead! We’re all watching!”

Xiaobang chimed in, “President Duan, go on! Get over there!”

Duan Yi couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. He glanced at Xiaoduan Mom, whose eyes were glistening, as if she were about to cry.

When Duan Yi went to see Jiang Wangshu, Jiang Wangshu walked him to the flower-covered archway, leaned against it, and smiled as he watched him leave.

Duan Yi turned to look at Sheng Yunze, who was gazing at him with unwavering focus.

His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst, and his love threatened to overflow. He took a step forward, abandoning all caution, and walked toward him.

From high school to adulthood.

From school uniforms to suits.

As he walked the short distance, Duan Yi was suddenly flooded with fragmented memories: his first-year self, leaping over the wall with his dog-bitten bangs; his first time living in the dorms; his first roommate change; his first date; his first kiss; the first time he scored 520 on a test. His palms grew clammy with nervousness. He hadn’t realized how many memories he shared with Sheng Yunze over the years, how deeply they were etched in his heart.

By the time he reached Sheng Yunze’s side, he was still lost in his memories.

Sheng Yunze watched him, feeling a surge of nervousness himself.

It had been years since he’d seen Duan Yi in his school uniform. Just as Duan Yi cherished those early years of their relationship, Sheng Yunze had never forgotten their chaotic high school days.

Memories seemed to give him courage. Sheng Yunze spoke, “Duan Yi, we’ve known each other for seven years, and been together for six.”

Duan Yi’s mouth was dry, his face flushed. “Ah… oh, yes.”

Sheng Yunze tried to remain calm. “Do you want to stay with me until the day we die?”

Without hesitation, Duan Yi jumped up and down, waving his hand enthusiastically. “I do! I really do!”

Please, Duan Yi prayed fervently in his heart.

Let me be with Sheng Yunze forever.

In this life, the next life, and the life after that, please let me always be with Sheng Yunze.

He felt like he had never loved anyone this deeply before.

Part of him knew he was doomed, yet he indulged in his own destruction.

Duan Yi strained to keep his eyes wide open, wanting to memorize every expression on Sheng Yunze’s face.

“Sheng Yunze, I really like you,” Duan Yi whispered secretly before the officiant began the ceremony.

Feeling that “like” wasn’t enough, Duan Yi paused, then said sincerely, “I really love you.”

Sheng Yunze had no choice but to mimic him, leaning in to whisper, “Me too.”

But feeling that “me too” wasn’t enough either, he added competitively, “Anyway, I’ll always love you a little more.”

Whether in the past or now.

I love you a little more than yesterday, and a little less than tomorrow.