What's Wrong with This Alpha? - Extra 16

Chapter 117 – Extra 16: School Beauty’s Secret Love Diary (2)

Here’s the story about Nan Yi:

Less than three months into the first semester of First-Year, news arrived that Nan Yi would be returning to China during the summer vacation.

Jiang Wangshu exclaimed, “Holy shit!” then added a “Hey, look at this,” and secretly passed his phone to Duan Yi.

Duan Yi, propping his chin with his left hand and holding a mechanical pencil in his right, was playing tic-tac-toe with Jian Qiao.

Upon seeing Nan Yi’s message, he rolled his eyes. “I can’t be bothered with him.”

Jiang Wangshu retorted, “If you hadn’t blocked him, would he even be contacting me?”

Duan Yi snapped, “Then tell him that no matter how many numbers he uses, I’ll block them all. Does he think I’m an idiot? Does he underestimate my intelligence? Can’t I recognize an international number?”

Jian Qiao, drawing a circle, asked curiously, “Who is it?”

“No one,” Duan Yi muttered, looking down. “Hey, that’s cheating! You only had one X just now…”

Jian Qiao burst into laughter. “Too bad! You lost, and you promised.”

Reluctantly, Duan Yi withdrew his hand and placed it on the table.

Jian Qiao pulled out nail polish and began painting his hand, coating Duan Yi’s beautifully slender fingers in a soft pink hue.

Duan Yi was speechless. As she painted, Jian Qiao asked Jiang Wangshu, “Does this color look good?” Then she reassured Duan Yi, “I just wanted to try it on your hand because it’s so pretty.”

Jiang Wangshu was very cooperative with Jian Qiao, flattering her lavishly: “Sister Qiao, anything looks good on your hands! Who wouldn’t say so? Who would dare?”

Thus, when Sheng Yunze returned to the classroom, this was the scene that greeted him.

He had been in the same class as Duan Yi for nearly two months. Their relationship wasn’t exactly good, but it wasn’t particularly bad either—just the ordinary camaraderie of classmates.

Seeing Duan Yi once again cozying up to Jian Qiao, Sheng Yunze’s nameless anger burned even hotter.

At the start of the semester, he had learned that Duan Yi had broken up with Nan Yi.

This was truly something to celebrate. For the first time ever, Sheng Yunze actually liked Duan Yi’s Koukou Space post about the breakup while inspecting his profile.

He had later re-added Duan Yi. When the teachers created class Koukou and WeChat groups at the beginning of First-Year, Sheng Yunze had panicked and immediately deleted Duan Yi’s Koukou account.

As Class President, Duan Yi had to be added by every student, Sheng Yunze included.

Moreover, Sheng Yunze had inexplicably been chosen as the League Branch Secretary at the start of the semester, giving him frequent opportunities to work with Duan Yi.

But to return to the point, Duan Yi’s breakup had been far too brief.

So brief, in fact, that Sheng Yunze hadn’t even had time to fully savor his joy before Duan Yi suddenly began showering Jian Qiao with attention in class.

At first, he didn’t pay much attention, merely curious about the cup of “milk” tea that appeared on Jian Qiao’s desk every day. He never considered it could mean anything more.

Later, during a physics class, the teacher called on Duan Yi to answer a question.

Duan Yi, never one for academic prowess, couldn’t answer. The teacher then called on Jian Qiao.

At that moment, the class erupted in a cacophony of cheers and jeers, pulling Sheng Yunze’s attention from his textbook.

He stared blankly at the blackboard, then at his classmates.

He couldn’t understand why everyone was making “ooh” sounds.

He didn’t understand the frustrated and embarrassed expression on Duan Yi’s face, nor why the physics teacher wore a knowing smirk.

Sheng Yunze felt isolated by the entire class, and it stung.

Not because he was being ostracized, but because Duan Yi had moved on so quickly. His own heartbreak always seemed so abrupt.

In reality, no one was ostracizing him.

At least half the girls in the class secretly harbored crushes on him, including Jian Qiao.

Though schadenfreude was unethical, Sheng Yunze couldn’t help feeling a sense of satisfaction.

He could tell Jian Qiao liked him, but with so many admirers, he didn’t have time to reciprocate each one.

He was Sheng Yunze, not the Virgin Mary. Why should he love everyone like some charitable saint?

Sometimes, when Duan Yi and Jiang Wangshu went out to play basketball, they’d invite Jian Qiao along. But she always refused, preferring to stay in class and do her homework.

That was because Sheng Yunze wasn’t going. She wanted to spend time alone with him.

Whenever this happened, Duan Yi would feel utterly defeated, resorting to whining and tantrums to try to get Jian Qiao to watch him play.

But Jian Qiao wouldn’t budge.

Sheng Yunze secretly relished the situation.

He felt both sad and satisfied, thinking, Now Duan Yi knows how it feels to be heartbroken.

He deserves to taste the same pain I’ve endured.

Yet Duan Yi wasn’t just a source of heartache; sometimes he brought Sheng Yunze joy.

Though they were in the same class, they weren’t in the same dormitory, which made Sheng Yunze dread the end of the school day.

He wished Second High School would extend class hours to twenty-four hours a day, so he could see Duan Yi every moment. Sheng Yunze’s seat was by the window overlooking the sports field, while Duan Yi, notorious for chatting during class, had been assigned a “strategically placed” seat by the Old Class Teacher—one on either side of the podium—to keep him in check.

During class, Sheng Yunze pretended to listen attentively, but his eyes kept drifting to Duan Yi’s face.

It was even better when Duan Yi fell asleep, allowing Sheng Yunze to gaze at him freely for the entire period.

Once or twice, their eyes would suddenly meet.

When Duan Yi looked at him, it made Sheng Yunze’s heart skip a beat. This time, it left Sheng Yunze spending the rest of the class period pondering a question unrelated to academics but crucial to the young man’s heart: Has he noticed I’ve been secretly watching him?

In reality, Duan Yi had only glanced over by accident.

Even so, it left Sheng Yunze’s heart racing with anxiety for the entire class.

I can’t let him find out I like him, Sheng Yunze told himself. That would be too embarrassing.

He silently added in his mind: Unless he likes me too, I’ll never tell him. He’ll never find out in a million years.

Duan Yi always had many friends.

During the school sports day, he signed up for numerous events.

When class ended, Sheng Yunze would put on his headphones and pretend to sleep, deliberately avoiding looking at Duan Yi.

As Class President, Duan Yi was responsible for collecting sports day sign-ups. He moved down the rows with the sign-up sheet, tapping lightly on Sheng Yunze’s desk twice before unapologetically taking the seat in front of him.

Duan Yi sat with his legs spread apart and his hands resting on the back of the chair.

A pleasant, sweet laundry detergent scent drifted from Duan Yi, tickling Sheng Yunze’s nose.

“Hey, Secretary Sheng, what are you signing up for?”

Duan Yi looked at him, his cheeks still retaining a hint of baby fat.

Sheng Yunze pretended to notice him for the first time, removed his headphones, and calmly glanced at the registration form.

He read it slowly, while Duan Yi sat across from him, boredly twirling his book and then his pen, waiting for Sheng Yunze to finish.

This rare moment of solitude was precious. Sheng Yunze knew he might not have another chance like this for a whole month—Duan Yi so close, sitting right in front of him, talking to him.

Duan Yi didn’t leave. While waiting for Sheng Yunze, he joked around with other classmates, their laughter reaching Sheng Yunze’s ears and making his heart race. He couldn’t focus on a single word on the registration form.

When Duan Yi finished chatting and turned back, the smile still lingered on his face, and he became even more relaxed around Sheng Yunze.

They were sitting by the window, and a petal drifted in on the breeze, landing in Sheng Yunze’s hair.

As if discovering a new continent, Duan Yi’s eyes widened. “Oh!” he exclaimed, “You have a petal in your hair!”

He stood up from his stool, leaned down toward Sheng Yunze, and gently brushed the petal from his hair. The light touch sparked a cosmic explosion in Sheng Yunze’s heart.

Duan Yi removed the petal, clapped his hands, completely oblivious to the effect he was having. “Did you choose your clubs yet?” he asked casually.

Sheng Yunze’s usually calm and sharp mind was in utter chaos. He couldn’t even remember what he’d selected. Seeing that Sheng Yunze had finished filling out the form, Duan Yi grabbed it and dashed off.

The boy’s heart was like summer peach soda, bubbling with sweet, fizzy anticipation.

A little sour, a little swollen.

He desperately wanted Duan Yi to know he liked him, to like him back.

He longed to confess, yet dreaded hearing the answer.

Unrequited love was truly nerve-wracking and unsettling.

Sheng Yunze never imagined their next intimate encounter would come so soon.

As mentioned earlier, his relationship with Duan Yi was lukewarm at best. Outside the classroom—whenever they crossed paths on campus—they wouldn’t even acknowledge each other with a nod.

Adding to Sheng Yunze’s inherent “High Mountain Flower” aura, his aloofness and solitary nature in class made everyone a little afraid of him.

On the day of the sports meet, Sheng Yunze discovered he had signed up for the 3,000-meter long-distance run.

His physical fitness was decent, thanks to the genetic advantages of being an Alpha, so he didn’t give it much thought.

Duan Yi, on the other hand, showed an unexpected enthusiasm for the sports meet. He was full of energy, organizing the class’s marching formation and arranging the order of participants.

Sheng Yunze spent the morning being dragged away by the Student Union Disciplinary Committee to inspect the discipline of the second and third-year classes, preventing him from returning to his own class.

When he stood near the spectator stands, the Senior Sisters from the second and third years went wild. Since phones were allowed at the sports meet, Sheng Yunze nearly went blind from the constant flashes of camera lights.

The Disciplinary Committee Chairman grumbled jealously, “No wonder he’s the School Grass—he’s really popular…”

Sheng Yunze didn’t share that sentiment. Being popular meant nothing to him.

He just wanted to get back to his class and see what Duan Yi was up to.

Sheng Yunze loathed Second High School’s sports field. Why was it so vast and empty?

Why did the students have to wander around aimlessly? Why did everyone have to wear the same uniform? When his “princess” temper flared, he became cold and unapproachable, his icy demeanor deterring anyone from speaking to him.

In the afternoon, when the Student Council finally released them after the 3,000-meter run, Sheng Yunze, already famous and popular at school, became even more conspicuous. The Second High School’s sports meet combined both the First and Second Divisions, doubling the crowd.

The girls from the Second Division were particularly bold, directly stopping Sheng Yunze to ask for his WeChat ID. When annoyed, Sheng Yunze would simply retort, “I don’t have WeChat.”

He was the quintessential ice-cold handsome guy—the kind you could only admire from afar, never dare to approach.

Jiang Wangshu watched Sheng Yunze being swarmed by girls, then saw him return with a sour expression. He clicked his tongue in mock sympathy. “Look, look at our Secretary Sheng! So popular!”

Duan Yi, sipping a can of Wangzai Milk, asked, “Does he have a girlfriend?”

Jiang Wangshu replied, “I bet countless girls asked for his WeChat on the way here. Secretary Sheng really went all out, rejecting every single one!”

“I don’t know. He wasn’t in our middle school,” Jiang Wangshu said. “Are you interested?”

“Of course! Haven’t you noticed Jian Qiao likes him?” Duan Yi retorted.

“I don’t see you being particularly fond of Jian Qiao either,” Jiang Wangshu countered. “You’re just doing this to spite Nan Yi.”

“Spite my ass!” Duan Yi punched him lightly. “Don’t mention him again, or I’ll beat you to a pulp.”

For Sheng Yunze’s 3,000-meter race, the number of Omega spectators and Senior Sisters was unprecedented.

The Student Council members struggled to hold back the crowd surging down from the stands, all clutching water bottles and eager to offer them to Sheng Yunze as a gesture of support.

Sheng Yunze changed into lightweight athletic gear. Duan Yi leaned over the railing and shouted, “Go, Secretary Sheng!”

He paused and glanced back at Duan Yi.

Backlit by the sun, Duan Yi grinned casually, as if tossing out a random remark: “Want me to bring you some water?”

“Yes,” Sheng Yunze nodded without hesitation.

Duan Yi stared, dumbfounded. “Huh?”

He really was just saying that casually, Sheng Yunze thought.

He turned and walked toward the track. Duan Yi scrambled to grab a bottle of mineral water from his bag and rushed after him. “You should have said so earlier! I thought someone else had already offered you some.”

Sheng Yunze appeared calm, but he was actually a little nervous. “I don’t want anything someone else gave me.”

Since the start of the semester, he hadn’t spoken this many words to Duan Yi in one go.

But once the conversation started, he realized their relationship wasn’t as strained as he’d thought.

At least, Duan Yi seemed happy to take this opportunity to bridge the gap between them, suddenly closing the distance between them.

Even though Sheng Yunze knew Duan Yi just wanted to make a new friend.

Duan Yi’s mind hadn’t quite caught up, and he continued to laugh. “Right, who knows if your crazy fans might secretly take a sip before giving it to you? I’m different…”

Sheng Yunze: “You could take a sip first and then give it to me.”

Duan Yi: “Hahahaha!” He burst into laughter. “You’re quite the comedian!”

I’m not funny at all, Sheng Yunze thought.

His steps quickened, his heart soaring. He’d never felt so happy about going to school.

Duan Yi waved and went to wait for him at the finish line. Sheng Yunze made a decision: he was going to fake a fall.

Of course, he didn’t actually fall. Duan Yi caught him in a hug as he crossed the finish line. After Sheng Yunze caught his breath, Duan Yi helped him back to class.

Sheng Yunze remembered Duan Yi’s scent. He wondered if Duan Yi had used an inhibitor. His heart skipped a beat. Alpha pheromones aren’t supposed to smell like this, he thought. Why does Duan Yi’s pheromone smell like an Omega’s?

By the time Nan Yi returned, Duan Yi and Sheng Yunze’s relationship had already thawed.

Through Sheng Yunze’s deliberate yet subtle hints and calculated “accidental” encounters, Duan Yi frequently found him alone in the cafeteria, walking back to the dormitory alone, getting water alone, and even doing laundry alone.

After seeing him so often, Duan Yi began inviting Sheng Yunze to walk to class together. On their first morning walking to class together, Jiang Wangshu woke up earliest. After washing up, he saw the school beauty leaning against their dormitory door and was so startled he thought he was still dreaming.

Duan Yi hadn’t expected Sheng Yunze to actually wait for him, and he felt a strange mix of flattered and overwhelmed.

From that day on, Duan Yi and Sheng Yunze often walked to and from school together.

Occasionally, Sheng Yunze would bring him breakfast or buy him Milk Tea, acting as naturally as if he had done it a thousand times before.

He cherished every moment spent with Duan Yi, feeling that each second was hard-won, earned through countless trials and tribulations.

After their relationship thawed, Duan Yi would occasionally share personal stories during meals, inevitably leading the conversation to romance.

Whenever Duan Yi mentioned Nan Yi, Sheng Yunze’s extraordinary intellect would shine through. He would relentlessly and effortlessly smear Nan Yi’s reputation, leaving no stone unturned.

The green tea was remarkably talented, having mastered the art of passive-aggressive remarks without any formal training.

Of course, he didn’t spend every day with Duan Yi.

He would sometimes reject Duan Yi, disappear for days at a time, act coldly toward him one moment, and then shower him with affection the next.

This emotional roller coaster left Duan Yi’s heart in turmoil. Eventually, Duan Yi mentioned Nan Yi less and less to Jiang Wangshu, until their daily conversations consisted of:

“…Sheng Yunze is such a psycho! He promised to walk me home tonight, but then he vanished this afternoon. What’s wrong with him?!”

“…Last time, Sheng Yunze told me there was something behind the playground…”

“Sheng Yunze must have taken some explosive pills today. He’s acting like a complete idiot, ignoring me all morning. I’m speechless—what did I even do to provoke him?”

“Can’t he at least give me a heads-up when he’s angry? Is he sick or something?”

“Oh, I went to buy medicine for him yesterday because he said he wasn’t feeling well…”

“Hey, have you seen the exam results yet? Sheng Yunze told me…”

“Sheng Yunze…”

“Sheng…”

“Don’t you think you’re focusing on him too much?” Jiang Wangshu gently reminded him. “And Nan Yi is coming back tomorrow. Has he called you to meet up?”

Duan Yi had been ranting non-stop about how Sheng Yunze, the Eldest Miss, was throwing another one of his princess tantrums today—putting on his headphones and ignoring everyone, giving him the cold shoulder. But when Jiang Wangshu mentioned Nan Yi’s name, it suddenly felt like Nan Yi and he were both relics from a past life.

“Oh,” Duan Yi mumbled, his mood darkening. He turned his head and asked, “Where’s Jian Qiao?”

“She probably went to find Sheng Yunze,” Jiang Wangshu said. “Tomorrow’s a holiday, right? She probably wants to ask him to hang out.”

Duan Yi felt a strange discomfort at this, but he didn’t say anything, muttering instead, “What’s so fun about that? Couldn’t she ask someone else? Sheng Yunze has homework to do on weekends.”

After evening self-study ended, Sheng Yunze stayed behind for cleaning duty.

Jiang Wangshu said goodbye to Duan Yi and left first. Jian Qiao sat on the teacher’s desk, playing on her phone, clearly intending to stick around until Sheng Yunze finished so they could walk back to the dorm together.

Duan Yi dawdled packing his bag, the repetitive sounds of Jian Qiao’s match-three game grating on his nerves. He forced a casual tone and asked, “Jian Qiao, are you free tomorrow?”

“Depends on Secretary Sheng,” Jian Qiao replied, switching off her phone screen and glancing at Sheng Yunze, who ignored her.

Duan Yi pressed, “So you two are going out tomorrow?”

Jian Qiao blinked. “Guess.”

Sheng Yunze remained silent, but this time it seemed like tacit confirmation.

Jian Qiao spoke up, “Oh, by the way, I heard Jiang Wangshu mention in class today that your ex-boyfriend is back in the country. Are you meeting him tomorrow? What’s this? Giving up on me already? Planning to rekindle old flames?”

Sheng Yunze paused his hand as he was wiping the blackboard, his back view radiating cold indifference.

A sudden pang of anxiety gripped Duan Yi’s heart, though he couldn’t pinpoint its source. He blurted out, “Damn it! Jiang Wangshu, that blabbermouth, why does he have to tell everyone everything?!”

Jian Qiao’s interest was piqued. “A real ex-boyfriend?”

Duan Yi grew impatient. “Ugh, stop talking about it! It’s annoying.”

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted in the classroom.

Sheng Yunze yanked his backpack out of his desk, causing the desk and chair to clatter loudly. Without a backward glance, he strode out the back door.

Jian Qiao was startled, clearly sensing Sheng Yunze’s anger. She hesitated to follow.

Duan Yi, however, reacted instantly, sprinting after him.

He finally caught up with Sheng Yunze on the tree-lined path leading back to the dorms.

“Hey!” Duan Yi grabbed Sheng Yunze’s arm. “What’s wrong?”

Sheng Yunze’s expression remained icy. “Let go.”

Duan Yi persisted, “What’s with the sudden temper?”

Sheng Yunze remained silent, ignoring him as he walked ahead with his backpack.

Duan Yi followed in silence, unsure why he had chased after Sheng Yunze or why they were now walking together without exchanging a single word.

After a long while, Duan Yi finally asked sullenly, “Are you going out with Jian Qiao tomorrow?”

Sheng Yunze ignored him.

“Do you know she likes you?” Duan Yi persisted.

“I know,” Sheng Yunze replied coldly.

Duan Yi flared up. “You know she likes you, and you’re still going out with her?”

Sheng Yunze suddenly stopped, causing Duan Yi to bump into him. His nose throbbed painfully, and he was about to curse when Sheng Yunze glared at him and snapped, “You know Nan Yi is your ex-boyfriend, and you still went out with him, didn’t you?”

Duan Yi was stunned by the accusation, stammering, “W-what does that have to do with anything? It’s different…”

For the first time, Sheng Yunze spoke to him with such coldness. “Exactly. So what business is it of yours who I go out with?”

Duan Yi was speechless. “I—!”

Sheng Yunze walked away without looking back.