TCFGBH Chapter 67

The other party was playing a game of information disparity.

If Wu Qin had checked the forum, he would naturally assume that Shen Wenqing had helped Xia Yan, while Shen Wenqing would think it was Wu Qin who had done so. Given the relationship between the two, they would never talk to each other privately, so this misunderstanding would remain buried.

Everyone was utterly confused, unable to understand what was going on. Seeing Shen Wenqing’s serious expression, Xia Yan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Isn’t it a good thing that someone is helping?”

Shen Wenqing fell into deep thought. “No, I just feel something’s off.”

This situation felt like a poisoned pill wrapped in honey—though it seemed sweet on the outside, a subtle venom was seeping from its edges.

Wu Qin, usually carefree, also sensed something sinister. However, neither of them paid enough attention to the forum, which left them muddled and unable to connect the dots.

The temperature on this autumn night was about thirteen degrees Celsius.

Alphas could withstand the cold, but Betas had a harder time. Pullled from his warm bed by Yan Ming, the Beta, who was only wearing thin loungewear, suddenly sneezed, his nose turning red from the cold. He looked around, but no one was paying attention to him.

Eager to get home, he wracked his brain and finally remembered something, saying in a small voice, “I think some classmates are holding a grudge against Xia Yan.”

As soon as he said this, six pairs of eyes immediately turned to him.

Feeling immense pressure from everyone’s stares, the Beta panicked and clarified, “It wasn’t me! I didn’t do anything! It’s just those whose posts got deleted… Some of them didn’t even say anything too offensive, but having their accounts suddenly banned made them upset. And… and…”

Shen Wenqing urged, “Go on.”

“They might have secretly set up a forum to specifically talk about Xia Yan,” the Beta added, “I only heard about it, so it might not be accurate.”

“I think I heard something about that too,” one of Yan Ming’s Alpha roommates said, rubbing his chin. “Someone invited me to join that forum, but I was busy with basketball, so I didn’t go.”

“Now that you mention it, I recall something as well. Damn! Wait, why were they all inviting us?”

The Beta thought for a moment and said, “It’s probably because… those people think that the person posting to slander Xia Yan is one of us, and since the four of us are close friends…”

So the assumption was that their entire dorm was full of Xia Yan’s haters???

Yan Ming: “…” Have they never heard of ‘haters turning into die-hard fans’?

The other three: “…”

Shen Wenqing listened carefully, thought for three seconds, and opened the school forum. It looked peaceful, but there was an eerie stillness. Posts on the front page were taking nearly two minutes to get a reply, something that would have been impossible before.

“I’m not even a celebrity, what good does it do to hate on me?” Xia Yan genuinely didn’t understand. In the last world, it could be attributed to professional competition, but in this one… he’s just a small-time internet café singer, hardly worth the effort.

Wu Qin’s mind raced. “I’ve seen this kind of tactic before.”

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, though he didn’t light it. He just held it under his nose, letting the distinct scent of tobacco calm his thoughts.

In the distance, the bar entrance was still bustling with people. Taxi drivers kept picking up one drunk after another.

The dim light stretched people’s shadows long, merging them into a dark, seamless mass that enveloped the area.

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Wu Qin’s mind.

“A stalker!”

He explained that he would gather bar patrons into a group, rile up the simple-minded Alphas, and then incite them to harm Xia Yan. The method was eerily familiar.

Xia Yan: “…” Whoa! Seriously?

“Wait.” Shen Wenqing adjusted his sleeve, his cold eyes locking onto Xia Yan with a soft smile on his face, though no warmth reached his eyes. “Yan Yan, care to explain what this stalker business is all about?”

Though it sounded like a question, his tone left no room for ambiguity.

The powerful and oppressive atmosphere felt like a volcano about to erupt, and even the shocked Yan Ming and his three roommates wisely chose to shut up and act like they weren’t there.

Xia Yan… Xia Yan was feeling pretty guilty!

Although he had initially missed the right moment to bring it up, later on, he felt too awkward to mention it. But keeping something this big from his boyfriend? That wasn’t exactly the behavior of a good partner.

Luckily, he was already playing the part of a “scumbag.”

What should you do when you’re being confronted?

Turn it back around.

He wouldn’t be in the wrong if his attitude were natural enough.

Under the warm yellow light, the young man crossed his arms, his tall frame radiating lazy confidence. He pursed his lips and, with righteous indignation, asked in return, “You didn’t know about this?”

“…”

“As my boyfriend,” the young man took two steps forward and gently patted the man’s shoulder, complaining, “Aren’t you being a little too inattentive to me?”

Xia Yan’s words were completely unreasonable.

How could someone possibly know about something so private if he didn’t mention it?

Wu Qin looked up at the sky, relieved that he wasn’t the one being scolded.

Yan Ming, on the other hand, wore a pained expression. Though he liked Xia Yan a lot, his personality… was really awful, not something most people could tolerate.

While they were all silently sighing, someone unexpectedly flipped the situation, taking control.

“It’s my fault.” Shen Wenqing grasped the young man’s hand, gently rubbing his cold fingers. “From now on, I’ll pay more attention to you, Yan Yan.”

Xia Yan was puzzled by the change.

The man continued, “I’ll call you every day, ask you how your day went, if anything made you happy, or if anything upset you.”

“Thank you, Yan Yan, for allowing me to care for you.”

“I’m really glad you’re willing to let me be part of your life.”

Everyone turned their heads in unison, all looking stunned.

Xia Yan almost lost control of his expression.

He couldn’t understand why things had turned out this way. Weren’t they in the middle of an argument?

But what’s been said is like spilt water; there was no taking it back now. Xia Yan could only nod reluctantly, vaguely accepting the situation.

Wu Qin: “…” Cunning Omega.

Shen Wenqing slightly turned his head, his gaze landing on Wu Qin, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking smile. Under Wu Qin’s fiery glare, he gently wrapped an arm around Xia Yan and whispered, “It’s too cold out here. Let’s get in the car and talk.”

Xia Yan didn’t resist; he was only wearing a sweater and was starting to feel the chill. He nodded in agreement. “Okay.”

Wu Qin said, “I’m coming too.”

Shen Wenqing would have refused in the past, but this was about Xia Yan’s safety, and he didn’t want to miss any details. Jealousy could take a back seat for now, so he reluctantly agreed.

Shen Wenqing’s car had four seats, including the driver’s.

After a moment of thought, he pointed to the only Beta in the dorm. “I need to ask you something. Could you come with us? I’ll make sure you get back to the dorm afterwards.”

The Beta, being friendly and easygoing, agreed readily.

“Sure, though the dorm is already closed. You can drop me at a hotel.”

Inside the black sedan, the warmth of the heater quickly dispelled the autumn chill.

As they exchanged information, it became increasingly clear that the person spreading rumors and arbitrarily banning accounts in the school forum was the stalker.

“Great,” Wu Qin clenched his fists, laughing coldly. “Out in the open, it’s hard to find a target, but in the school? That’s a whole different story.”

Shen Wenqing’s eyes were filled with coldness, his face expressionless, as if contemplating how to dismember the stalker piece by piece.

Meanwhile, Xia Yan lazily leaned against the car seat, dozing off as if he wasn’t the least bit concerned about the stalker — though in reality, he was secretly listening in.

The only one truly suffering was their Beta roommate, caught between two powerful figures, trembling in fear.

Mom! He wants to go home!