FSO Chapter 17

Jiang Wan couldn’t let them keep messing around anymore.

With a stern expression, he was ready to assert his authority as the head of the household and put an end to their nonsense.

But before he could say anything, Aunt Xue turned around, went to the kitchen, and came back with a handful of chopsticks. “You’d better mean what you say.” she said calmly, gripping the chopsticks by both ends and snapping them in half with a sharp crack.

Jiang Wan: “…”

A bead of cold sweat dripped down Dou Ming’s forehead, but his expression was oddly relieved. He nodded and said, “Okay.”

Jiang Wan: “…”

Aunt Xue tossed the broken chopsticks into the trash, clapping her hands to shake off the splinters. Her face turned gentle and kind. “Young man, we won’t keep you for dinner. You should go home and not worry your family.”

Jiang Wan: “…”

Dou Ming was taken aback for a moment, but he stood up with a good-natured smile and said, “Auntie, Jiang Wan, I’ll be going now.”

Jiang Wan panicked. Why was Aunt Xue sending him away?

He quickly grabbed Dou Ming’s sleeve. “You still need to tutor me.”

The faint scent of cedar lingered around him, and there was a hint of dependence in the way he looked at Dou Ming.

Dou Ming looked down at him, his gaze warm and soft, with a slight smile, like snow melting in early spring. “You should rest today. When you feel better, we’ll continue.”

“…” Jiang Wan couldn’t shake the feeling that these words sounded a bit suggestive, but Dou Ming’s serious expression didn’t give away anything inappropriate.

Dou Ming gently removed Jiang Wan’s hand, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked toward the door.

Jiang Wan shot a fierce look at Aunt Xue, then quickly followed Dou Ming, saying, “Let me walk you out.”

At the door, he hastily closed it behind him and nervously asked, “Did Aunt Xue scare you? She’s not usually like this. I don’t know what’s gotten into her today.”

“She’s just looking out for you. I marked you recklessly, so she needs to make sure I’m trustworthy before accepting me.” Dou Ming ruffled Jiang Wan’s messy hair, his fingers running through it like a comb, smoothing it out. “Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility. Take out your phone and save my number. If anything happens, call me. From now on, I’m your Alpha.”

Jiang Wan stared blankly as he saved Dou Ming’s number, watching as his figure faded into the distance. That one sentence echoed over and over in his mind:

“If anything happens, call me. From now on, I’m your Alpha.”

The boy’s promise was so firm, yet it cast a shadow over Jiang Wan’s heart.

But all of this was a lie.

He had deceived Dou Ming, using despicable means to fool the boy’s sincere heart.

Jiang Wan silently turned back, opened the door, and sat down at the table.

Aunt Xue came over. “For so many years, whenever someone touches your gland, you have a stress reaction. Even Dr. Hao couldn’t do anything about it. Since it’s different with him, why not give it a try? If you keep delaying, your body…”

“Stop.” Jiang Wan said in a low voice. “Aunt Xue, you know he and I aren’t right for each other.”

Aunt Xue looked at him disapprovingly. “You’re putting too many chains on yourself.”

Jiang Wan’s gaze darkened. “My father died nine years ago. At sixteen, I had to take over the Jiang family, vowing to sever ties with the past. Since then, the Jiang family has been cutting off its dark ties, shrinking from the once-immense shadow it cast, just to survive.”

He spread out his hand, looking at the blue veins beneath the thin skin, and gave a self-deprecating smile. “But what difference does it make? The blood in these veins is still the filthy blood of the Jiang family. Every pore in my body reeks of that stench. Everything I enjoy today comes from the bloody, brutal foundation laid years ago.”

“Aunt Xue, do you know why I have this cleanliness obsession? After walking through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, anyone would catch this disease. It’s not that I’m disgusted by others—I’m disgusted by myself.”

“I’ll explain everything to Dou Ming. He’s a good kid. You don’t need to interfere anymore. I doubt you’d want to join my mother overseas.”

Aunt Xue fell silent for a long time. Even as Jiang Wan stood up and walked upstairs, she remained quiet.

At that moment, [Steel Teeth] popped up out of nowhere, crouching beside Aunt Xue like a big dog, staring up at the second floor with a confused look. “Aunt Xue, are we really the bad guys?”

“You know too much.” [One-Eyed Dragon], who had somehow settled at the dining table, didn’t hold back his critique. “Steel Teeth, you’re such an idiot.”

“You’re the idiot! Idiot! Idiot!” [Steel Teeth] muttered under his breath when his phone suddenly rang. “Huh? Dou Ming? Why’s he calling me?”

[One-Eyed Dragon]: “Didn’t he say he was going to deal with his troubles? Maybe he wants to cancel the contract.”

[Steel Teeth] jumped up. “I better go find Brother Da Jiang—I can’t make that call on my own.”

He dashed upstairs and shouted from outside Jiang Wan’s door, “Dou Ming’s on the phone!”

The room was eerily silent, without a single sound.

[Steel Teeth] crouched at the door in frustration, watching as the phone continued to ring.

[One-Eyed Dragon] suggested, “Just answer it for now.”

“Fine.” Hesitantly, [Steel Teeth] picked up the call. Dou Ming’s calm voice came through the line, “Hello, I’d like to speak with Brother Da Jiang.”

[Steel Teeth] glanced at [One-Eyed Dragon], who shook his head.

In a gruff voice, he replied, “Brother Da Jiang isn’t someone you can just see whenever you want.”

“Then pass along the message—I’m terminating the contract.”

The call ended abruptly.

Scratching his head, [Steel Teeth] muttered, “He’s got guts, huh? Not even scared we’ll toss him in the river to feed the fish.”

[One-Eyed Dragon] knocked him on the head. “Don’t say stuff like that anymore.”

“Why not?”

[One-Eyed Dragon] nodded toward the room.

Jiang Wan was standing by the window, lost in thought.

The Alpha’s scent still lingered on him, the cool cedar flowing through his veins, washing away years of repression and exhaustion.

Just thinking of the cedar scent’s owner filled his body with joy and satisfaction.

Even though it was just a temporary mark, the connection between an Alpha and Omega was undeniable.

The happiness from marking and being marked was imprinted in the genes of every Alpha and Omega pair.

I’m sorry.

Jiang Wan whispered softly.

He picked up his phone and dialed Dou Ming, ready to end everything.

“Jiang Wan?” The boy’s voice was playful. “You miss me already after we’ve just parted?”

Jiang Wan, usually so carefree, suddenly choked on his words, his face turning bright red. “What are you talking about?”

“I kinda miss you.” Dou Ming said, his voice low, almost like a sigh.

Jiang Wan’s ears burned. Trying to stay calm, he lectured Dou Ming with a bit of biology knowledge. “That’s just the pheromones affecting your emotions. Your rationality is being overwhelmed by the chemicals in your brain, and neurotransmitters are sending signals of excitement…”

Dou Ming gave a pampered hum. “I can still smell your scent. Plum blossom, very sweet.”

Damn, not this again.

Jiang Wan held the phone further away from his ear, rubbing his burning face as he stiffened his tone. “I have something serious to talk to you about.”

After a brief silence, Dou Ming asked, “Is it about the betrothal gifts?”

Jiang Wan: “…Of course not!”

Dou Ming thought for a moment. “Then is it about whose surname the child will take? I don’t mind either way.”

Jiang Wan: “…That’s not it either.”

“If you don’t want kids, that’s fine too. We can just enjoy life as a couple…”

“No, no, no, none of that!” Jiang Wan cut off Dou Ming’s wild guesses. “You’re thinking way too far ahead!”

Dou Ming chuckled. “It’s always good to be prepared in advance.”

“I’m done talking to you.” Jiang Wan hung up the phone, threw himself onto the bed, and let out a long sigh, feeling frustrated.

I can’t keep up with these young people anymore. He buried his face in the pillow, cooling his overheated brain. Replaying Dou Ming’s words in his mind, he suddenly had a thought.

“It’s always good to be prepared in advance.”

Was Dou Ming planning something?

The next day.

Jiang Wan marched into the classroom with a determined stride, his face set as he headed toward Dou Ming, ready to drag him outside for a proper talk.

Originally, he had thought of explaining things gently.

But now, he felt like he needed to be firm and direct.

He had to coldly and ruthlessly tell Dou Ming that there was no future between them. The temporary mark was just a fleeting moment, nothing to dwell on.

Maybe Dou Ming would call him a scumbag or accuse him of playing with his feelings, but Jiang Wan was ready to accept it all.

With this resolve, Jiang Wan stood in front of Dou Ming.

The temporary mark would last for 3 to 5 days, so he still carried the Alpha’s scent.

In his mind, this was just part of being an adult. Two people mutually consenting—it wasn’t a big deal.

But to a bunch of eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds, this was huge!

Even hearing about who held hands with whom or who kissed whom was enough to spark excitement and gossip for days among these students, whose lives were consumed by endless study.

And now an Alpha had marked an Omega!

Marked!

It was practically the same as… well, you know! Make love!

The entire Class Two was buzzing with excitement, the single people in the class staring at the two of them with bright, eager eyes.

Dou Ming was sitting by the window, holding a book. The ever-stoic face that could’ve stayed frozen for 800 years now bore a slight smile. “You’re here?”

The cedar scent naturally wrapped around Jiang Wan from head to toe, as if embracing him.

That familiar, intimate feeling almost made Jiang Wan’s knees give way on the spot.

Faced with the Alpha who had marked him, the Omega couldn’t help but feel an instinctive sense of trust and submission.

Hold on, Jiang Wan! Don’t let his good looks deceive you!

Jiang Wan steeled himself, taking a deep breath, and said with a serious face, “Dou Ming, come with me for a second. I need to talk to you.”

Dou Ming glanced over Jiang Wan’s shoulder, his smile fading as he frowned slightly. “Can it wait? We should start morning reading.”

“No, we need to talk now.” Jiang Wan insisted, ready to get everything off his chest.

Dou Ming’s expression turned strange.

Just then, a middle-aged man’s voice rang out from behind Jiang Wan. “Yes, it’s better to talk now.”

Jiang Wan: “???”

He turned around in confusion and found himself face to face with the familiar sight of his homeroom teacher.

The teacher stood with his hands behind his back, bent over slightly, smiling kindly. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Though the teacher looked friendly, Jiang Wan felt an inexplicable sense of dread. He weakly responded, “I…”

“What do you mean ‘I’!?” The teacher’s face changed faster than a June storm, his tone suddenly stern. “Jiang Wan! What are you doing here!? Huh!? Dating already, are you!? How am I supposed to explain this to your parents?! Do you know how to take responsibility for yourself?! Do you even know what’s appropriate and what’s not!?”

Straightening up, the teacher’s scolding left Jiang Wan pale, almost making him collapse on the spot.

Dou Ming immediately stood up, pulling Jiang Wan behind him, his pheromones forming a protective wall around his Omega.

“Teacher, it’s my fault.” Dou Ming said, taking responsibility.

“Of course it’s your fault! You’re an Alpha—you take full responsibility!” the teacher bellowed. “And you, Jiang Wan! Both of you, to my office! The rest of you! What are you looking at!? Is it so fascinating?! Get back to your morning reading!”

Under the overwhelming pressure of the teacher, the entire class fell silent, including Jiang Wan.

He meekly followed Dou Ming to the office, still in shock. Even though he was hiding within Dou Ming’s pheromones, he could still feel the ringing in his ears, as if the teacher was right next to him.

Who would’ve thought… after all these years, the teacher’s intimidation still has a 99% success rate on me.

As an adult, this was unbelievably embarrassing.