In the end, Dou Ming didn’t agree to Jiang Wan’s outrageous request. Before entering the classroom, he even put Jiang Wan down and made him walk in by himself.
It was clear Dou Ming didn’t want to be associated with Jiang Wan.
Still trying to cling on, Jiang Wan shyly tugged at Dou Ming’s sleeve, asking innocently, “Are you afraid of getting caught up in rumors with me?”
Dou Ming, dead serious, replied with just one word, “Yes.”
Jiang Wan: “…”
Dou Ming left Jiang Wan behind and walked into the classroom alone. Jiang Wan leaned against the wall, contemplating for a moment before understanding.
He’s a young man going through puberty, Jiang Wan thought. Of course, he’s feeling something but is just too shy to admit it, which is why he’s acting cold.
Recalling Dou Ming’s subtle expressions—his eye movements, the curve of his lips—it all supported Jiang Wan’s conclusion.
Nodding confidently to himself, Jiang Wan brushed off his clothes and strode into the classroom, full of optimism.
It was math class again, of course.
Jiang Wan couldn’t help but think how high school math seemed endless.
The math teacher, seeing Jiang Wan enter late, gave him a stern glare and threw in a sarcastic remark, “I’ve always believed that even Omegas need to be independent. They shouldn’t think they can just coast through life because of their gender advantage.”
The entire class turned to look at the only Omega in the room—Jiang Wan, who was making his way to his seat.
Jiang Wan blushed furiously, lowering his head in embarrassment, looking like he wanted to disappear into the ground.
The delicate Omega’s shoulders trembled, making him look like a fragile flower swaying in the wind. This sight instantly stirred feelings of pity among the students, both boys and girls alike.
The class directed subtle but accusatory glances at the math teacher.
Teacher, you just made the Omega cry!
The math teacher huffed coldly but then, surprisingly, softened his tone. “Alright, Jiang Wan, don’t be late next time. Go sit down.” His final words were so gentle, they almost sounded like he was coaxing a child.
Jiang Wan, who had failed to produce any real tears, looked up with bright, sparkling eyes. “Thank you, teacher. I won’t be late again.”
At that moment, it felt like there were little stars twinkling in the Omega’s eyes.
The entire class felt their hearts collectively skip a beat.
Even the math teacher coughed awkwardly, his face slightly flushed. He quickly picked up a piece of chalk and resumed teaching on the blackboard.
Jiang Wan, feeling triumphant, quietly made his way to his seat.
Every step felt like a grueling journey to him, as if crossing a vast desert.
He kept an eye on Dou Ming, but Dou Ming was sitting upright, fully focused on the lesson, not sparing him even a glance.
“…” Jiang Wan finally reached his seat. Just as he sat down, a small note appeared on his desk, written in neat and beautiful handwriting, almost like it came from a cute girl.
——Wan Wan, are you hurt?
Jiang Wan looked up to see where the note came from.
Across the aisle, Zhou Kui was grinning sheepishly at him.
Jiang Wan: “…” Never would have guessed. Respect, respect.
He flipped the note over and quickly wrote a reply: I’m fine, just bumped myself a bit.
Just as he was about to crumple the note and toss it back to Zhou Kui, Zhou Kui reached over and snatched it with his long arms.
Jiang Wan: “…” Okay, my arms and legs may not be long, but they’re definitely cute.
Zhou Kui furrowed his brow, scribbled another note, and passed it back.
——You could barely walk. How are you getting home tonight? Want me to carry you?
Jiang Wan responded with a firm rejection.
——No need, my driver will pick me up.
Zhou Kui: “…”
As expected, this adorable Omega is actually a rich young master.
Zhou Kui silently tore up the new note he had started writing.
——I could lend you a ride on my tricycle, though.
Since Zhou Kui had stopped passing notes and Dou Ming definitely wasn’t going to write to him, Jiang Wan, bored out of his mind, half-heartedly started listening to the math lesson.
High school math is way too easy and boring.
With that thought, Jiang Wan tried paying attention for a while but soon fell into deep contemplation.
How did I even get into college back then?
Refusing to believe he’d forgotten so much, Jiang Wan flipped open his textbook and seriously started following along with the lesson.
A few minutes later, Jiang Wan was stunned.
How could I have forgotten all of this high school math? Series, geometry… I don’t remember any of it!
This can’t be right.
Determined, Jiang Wan dove into the math problems, his competitive spirit igniting. He wasn’t some random student who had lucked his way into college. Back in the day, he’d been one of the top students. How could he not understand these questions?
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Jiang Wan was still deep in thought, but he was on the verge of drowning in the sea of problems.
The math teacher, satisfied to see Jiang Wan so focused, walked over to him, assigning the homework. “If you’re struggling, feel free to come by after school.”
Jiang Wan nodded absentmindedly, still absorbed in his notes, determined to figure out the problems.
His knowledge wasn’t gone; it was just buried deep in his memory, waiting to be unlocked.
As time passed and the other teachers assigned their homework, the homeroom teacher eventually came in to announce the end of the school day.
One by one, the students packed up and headed home.
Jiang Wan, however, stared blankly at the scattered pieces of scrap paper on his desk.
I can’t figure it out. I really can’t.
His expression had grown noticeably haggard, and he even considered smoking a cigarette to calm himself down.
The refreshing scent of mint wafted over to him.
Looking up, Jiang Wan saw Zhou Kui standing beside him, volunteering, “Is this problem giving you trouble? I can help.”
Jiang Wan pushed the paper toward Zhou Kui. “Sure, help me figure out where I went wrong.”
Zhou Kui nodded and took the paper, only to see it filled with advanced calculus equations and Green’s theorem squeezed between complex limit problems.
Zhou Kui: “…”
Sorry for bothering you, big boss.
Jiang Wan’s face was full of eager curiosity. “I’ve gone through it thirteen times, but I can’t get the correct answer from the book. Where did I go wrong?”
Zhou Kui, still in shock, muttered, “You’re using college-level calculus… This isn’t the right approach.”
Jiang Wan blinked in confusion.
At that moment, a long, slender hand reached out and took the paper from Zhou Kui. The crisp scent of cedar immediately replaced the mint in the air.
Dou Ming, without a word, stepped in front of Zhou Kui and began explaining the problem to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan nodded along attentively, pausing only to throw Zhou Kui a triumphant look, as if to say, See, I knew calculus was the way to go.
Zhou Kui: “…”
Realizing he was no longer needed, Zhou Kui glanced between Dou Ming and Jiang Wan, watching as they got lost in the world of math. Sighing, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the classroom, feeling oddly lonely.
Now, the only people left in the classroom were Jiang Wan and Dou Ming.
Dou Ming’s voice, low and smooth, filled the empty space. The calming scent of cedar lazily swirled through the room. Jiang Wan, slowly zoning out, sneakily tried to immerse himself in the unguarded pheromones around him.
Suddenly, Dou Ming tapped the table lightly with his knuckle. “Did you get it?”
The sharp knock snapped Jiang Wan back to reality. He nodded quickly, like a little chick pecking at grains. “Yes, I got it.”
Dou Ming gave a brief nod, straightened up, and with a casual flick, pulled his pheromones back. Jiang Wan could only watch helplessly as the scent vanished, leaving him empty.
I just wanted a little sniff…
Dou Ming’s lips twitched briefly into a smile before returning to his usual neutral expression. He grabbed his backpack and headed toward the door.
Jiang Wan quickly stood up. “Wait for me!” His little mushroom still hurt, and thinking Dou Ming had already seen him crab-walking earlier, he didn’t bother hiding it this time. He waddled after Dou Ming, asking, “You know so much. Can you be my tutor?”
Dou Ming, already walking down the stairs, replied flatly, “No.”
“Why not, why not?” Jiang Wan pressed on, hopping behind him like a stubborn crab, trying to act cute.
Dou Ming glanced at him. “I don’t think you need tutoring. You’re already solving college-level calculus.”
“That’s not true, not true!” Jiang Wan whined, deliberately pitching his voice higher. “I’m really bad at this, pleaseee help.”
Ignoring him, Dou Ming walked into the bike shed and unlocked his bicycle.
Without missing a beat, Jiang Wan jumped onto the backseat and hugged the front seat tightly. “Fine, then I’ll go to your house, and we can do homework together.”
Dou Ming’s pupils contracted slightly, and Jiang Wan realized he had said something wrong. Dou Deli, Dou Ming’s father, had borrowed money from every shady lender imaginable, and their home had been reduced to almost nothing. Calling it a shell of a house would have been generous.
Jiang Wan awkwardly straightened up, still clinging to the backseat, while his toes barely touched the ground, ready to leap off and escape if Dou Ming got angry.
The cold scent of cedar brushed past Jiang Wan’s bitter plum scent as Dou Ming, with a calm expression, said, “Get off.”
Jiang Wan obediently slid off the backseat, staring blankly at Dou Ming. However, the tense pheromones around them betrayed his emotions.
“Are you scared?” Dou Ming’s pheromones crashed down on Jiang Wan like a storm, the cold cedar scent overwhelming, as if it would consume everything.
Inside, Jiang Wan was ecstatic, eagerly absorbing the Alpha’s pheromones. But he needed to maintain his facade of being a weak, helpless Omega, so he suppressed his excitement. His legs clamped together, and his little mushroom flared in pain, causing his face to pale.
Shaking his head, Jiang Wan stammered, “I-I’m not scared. You’re a good person, I know it.” His face radiated innocence as he attempted to play the part of the sweet, naïve Omega.
Dou Ming, however, wasn’t buying it. Coldly, he said, “The Alpha instinct is to possess and destroy. You might think I’m a good person, but all I want is to f—”
Jiang Wan froze, stunned by the bluntness of Dou Ming’s words.
Seeing Jiang Wan’s wide-eyed shock, Dou Ming shook his head, retracted his pheromones, and rode away on his bike.
That should scare him off for good, Dou Ming thought.
But as he pedaled away, Jiang Wan watched his retreating back, holding out his hand as if in a dramatic gesture of longing. You could’ve just said so! If I’d known, I would’ve tossed you my room key right away!
Jiang Wan felt heartbroken, realizing he had been wasting time taking the long route when things could’ve been so much simpler.
Just then, [One-Eyed Dragon] and [Steel Teeth] emerged from the shadows, sneaking up behind Jiang Wan.
“Big Brother Jiang.” [Steel Teeth] said, poking Jiang Wan’s stiff back sympathetically. “Don’t be too upset. As an Alpha myself, I have to admit, some Alphas are just beasts. The next one will be better, don’t worry.”
Jiang Wan turned around, his expression melancholy. “But I only like this one…”
[Steel Teeth] clutched his chest in frustration. Why does Big Brother Jiang have to get hung up on this particular bad apple?
“…I mean, I only like his pheromones.” Jiang Wan added after a pause.
[Steel Teeth]: “…” So, just a pheromone tool?
Jiang Wan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “If I run after him now and say, ‘Sure, go ahead and fill me up with your pheromones,’ do you think he’ll agree?”
[Steel Teeth]: “…” What Alpha could possibly resist that?
He crossed his legs instinctively, reminding himself not to develop any inappropriate thoughts about his boss.
But [One-Eyed Dragon] shook his head and offered a serious analysis. “Big Brother Jiang, we’ve looked into this kid before. He’s got good grades and high ambitions. If it weren’t for his family situation, he’d be at a top-tier school. He’s got lofty goals, not like Steel Teeth over there. He probably only said what he did to scare you away. If you take him seriously, you might never get his pheromones.”
[Steel Teeth] waved his fists indignantly: What’s wrong with guys like me?
Ignoring him, [One-Eyed Dragon] continued, “From what we saw today, Dou Ming seems like the type who hates injustice. An Alpha like him would prefer a soft-spoken, well-mannered, and kind Omega. If you reveal your true identity, he might actually beat you to a pulp.”
Jiang Wan took out a small mirror and studied his reflection, dissatisfied. “Where am I not soft-spoken, well-mannered, and kind?”
Scratching his head, [Steel Teeth] muttered, “Well, today kind of gave you away. What proper Omega walks like a crab? If it were me…”
Jiang Wan shot him a warning look.
[Steel Teeth] continued smoothly, “If it were me, I’d definitely prefer such a cute Omega!”
Jiang Wan nodded approvingly. “You have good taste.”
[Steel Teeth]: “…” Close call!
Jiang Wan summed it up, “Sneaking into this school was the right move. With an Omega as perfect as me, landing an Alpha who hasn’t even entered the real world yet is just a matter of time.”
Not sure where their boss’s confidence came from, [Steel Teeth] and [One-Eyed Dragon] exchanged a look and sighed in resignation. “Big Brother Jiang is right, of course.”
Jiang Wan loosened the top button of his shirt. “What a day. Let’s go and have some fun.”
“But your…” [Steel Teeth] began, only to be met with a sharp flick to the head.
Jiang Wan glared at him with a look that said, Go ahead, finish that sentence if you dare.
Wisely, [Steel Teeth] closed his mouth and quickly followed [One-Eyed Dragon] to bring out the car, chauffeuring Jiang Wan to his usual hangout—an A-Class café.
Once Jiang Wan was in the car, he raised the partition, drew the curtains, and changed out of his school uniform to apply his medication.
Unbeknownst to him, at that exact moment, Dou Ming rode by on his bike, passing their car.
Dou Ming was heading to the café for work. He earned all his school fees and living expenses himself. While construction jobs paid well, they were physically exhausting. Just yesterday, a Beta had approached him, offering a job at a café. The pay was double what he earned from construction work, so Dou Ming had accepted the offer.
Dou Ming was aware that the café might involve some unsavory business, but he didn’t care. Even if the clientele consisted of sleazy, overweight old men, he was determined to stick it out.
If he could just save a little more money, he could continue his martial arts training.
And then, he’d be able to personally bring down all the loan sharks and scumbags like them.
Jiang Wan sneezed suddenly.
Who’s badmouthing me?
He stashed the ointment, pulled his pants back up, and lowered the partition, asking cautiously, “Anything going on?”
In the front seat, [One-Eyed Dragon] nodded. “Yes, something’s up.”
Jiang Wan frowned. “Someone not paying their debts again?”
“No.” [One-Eyed Dragon] chuckled. “Big Brother Jiang, good news. The café owner says a new guy started today. Handsome, tall, legs for days, and as fresh as they come. A few clients have already pre-booked him, but the boss saved him for you, knowing how picky you are. If you’re not interested, he’ll give him to someone else.”
“Oh.” Jiang Wan leaned back against his duck-shaped pillow, looking uninterested. “A newbie, huh? What do his pheromones smell like?”
“I’ll ask for you.” [One-Eyed Dragon] replied.
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