FSO Chapter 21

Jiang Wan got into the car, feeling giddy with excitement. From the front seat, [Steel Teeth] couldn’t help but say, “Something doesn’t feel right here. Could it be that Dou Ming already knows who you really are?”

“So what if he knows?” Jiang Wan casually plopped down on the headrest, not at all bothered.

[Steel Teeth] glanced at the rearview mirror in surprise. His boss’s face was glowing, eyes sparkling like spring water, giving off the vibe of someone soaking in the sweetness of love.

He quickly fished out his phone and sneakily sent a WeChat message to [One-Eyed Dragon]: “Oh my god, Brother Jiang is really in deep this time! What should we do? Dou Ming is just a high schooler!”

[One-Eyed Dragon] replied: “They’re a perfect match, an A and an O. Who are you to object, you monster?”

[Steel Teeth] silently coughed up blood. “You’re right.”

He had just finished chatting with [One-Eyed Dragon] when a three-person group chat popped up.

Its name was [Wan Wan Ming Ming’s Date Adventure].

He looked closely—oh, it was the [Father’s Debt Paid by Son] group, with the name changed: “…”

Back home, Jiang Wan rummaged through his closet, turning it upside down but unable to find anything satisfactory. He complained to Mother Xue, “Why don’t I have a single decent outfit to wear out?”

Mother Xue, calm as ever, brewed a pot of flower tea. “Right? What’s going on with that?”

“My dear Mother Xue,” Jiang Wan bounced over to her face, “Stop teasing me. I’m going on a date with Dou Ming tomorrow.”

“Huh? Weren’t you planning to break up with him?”

“It’s that irresistible pheromone scent.” Jiang Wan clasped his hands together in a sincere, repentant gesture. “I’ve just committed the same mistake that every Jiangze in the world would make.”

Mother Xue burst out laughing. “You silly boy. Fine, I’ll go upstairs and see what I can find for you.”

Jiang Wan cheered. “You’re the best. Please go ahead!”

The next day.

Jiang Wan woke up at six in the morning. He applied a face mask, trimmed his eyebrows, styled his hair, moisturized his skin, applied body lotion, and put on clear nail polish. He slipped into the perfectly coordinated and ironed clothes and shoes Mother Xue had prepared, and wore dark-colored contact lenses that made his eyes look extra pikapika. Finally, he sprayed two drops of Omega-specific perfume behind his ears.

By the time he was done, it was already 10 a.m., and if he didn’t leave soon, he’d be late!

Jiang Wan didn’t even have time for breakfast, rushing into the car in a panic.

The chef chased after him, yelling, “Young Master, I’ve been simmering some stomach-soothing porridge for a long time! Let me pack some for you to eat in the car!”

“Eat it with Mother Xue!” Jiang Wan urged the driver to hurry up while taking out a small mirror to apply his lipstick.

The chef returned home dejected. Mother Xue filled a large bowl for her. “Remember how we were back when we were young? Love was like this. It’s fine, this porridge is great. If he doesn’t have time to enjoy it, we’ll eat it ourselves.”

Jiang Wan sat primly in the car, afraid of bumping into anything that might mess up his hair or wrinkle his clothes.

The driver, understanding the situation, drove extra smoothly, but this ended up slowing them down a bit.

And just their luck, they hit traffic. It was almost 11:30, and they still hadn’t arrived.

They had agreed to meet at 11:15 by the mall entrance, eat lunch in the basement, and then head to the rooftop for an escape room.

Jiang Wan had no choice but to message Dou Ming: “I’m stuck in traffic.”

Dou Ming reassured him: “Take your time, no rush. They haven’t arrived either.”

Jiang Wan, feeling uneasy, thought Dou Ming was just being nice. But when he finally arrived at noon, he realized he really wasn’t the last one.

One of their friends hadn’t even left home yet.

“Sorry, I overslept! QAQ”

Wu Qian shook his head. “Let’s not wait for him. Let’s eat first.”

Everyone agreed and headed down to the basement.

Jiang Wan and Dou Ming walked at the back. Jiang Wan, who hadn’t eaten breakfast, heard his stomach growl softly.

Dou Ming reached over and patted his stomach. “In my eyes, you always look great just the way you are.”

Jiang Wan, though confused, blushed cooperatively.

Why the sudden cheesy pickup line?

Dou Ming took Jiang Wan’s hand, his palm warm and dry. “So don’t skip breakfast just to dress up.”

Jiang Wan blinked his bright, contact-enhanced eyes and pursed his soft, lipstick-coated lips. His pheromones were starting to overpower the scent of his perfume.

Oh no, he noticed.

In a small voice, Jiang Wan asked, “So, do I look especially good today?”

Dou Ming nodded, then shook his head, seriously advising, “This behavior is not something you should encourage.”

Jiang Wan chuckled. “No worries, no worries, I have a stomach of steel.” Seeing Dou Ming’s stern expression, he paused, his eyes curving into a smile. “But I’ll listen to you.”

“Good.” Only then did Dou Ming’s expression soften.

Wu Qian stood in front of the Japanese restaurant, shaking his head helplessly. “You two, there’s plenty of time for romance. Let’s eat first.”

“Sure.” Hand in hand, Jiang Wan and Dou Ming strutted into the restaurant, blinding their single friends with their dazzling display of affection.

Halfway through the meal, Wu Qian reported gloomily that the friend they were waiting for said he really couldn’t get out of bed and had sent someone else in his place: “Apparently, it’s an Omega.”

Tan Jun froze, glancing at Jiang Wan and Dou Ming. Another Omega might make things awkward. After all, wasn’t Dou Ming the dream Alpha of many Omegas at their school?

“He’s already on his way. He said we’ll meet at the escape room after lunch.” Wu Qian added awkwardly, “If I’d known, we could’ve just played a five-person game. But since he’s coming, it’s hard to send him back.”

Wu Qian looked at Dou Ming, feeling a bit guilty, worried that the Omega might be one of Dou Ming’s admirers.

Dou Ming didn’t say anything, but Jiang Wan waved it off generously. “We’re all classmates. It’s fine.”

Jiang Wan didn’t care, but Wu Qian and the others were getting anxious. They huddled in their group chat, fearing the arrival of a drama-filled showdown.

After lunch, the group, burdened with their concerns, went upstairs. Soon, they spotted someone playing on their phone at the entrance of the escape room. The person was strikingly good-looking, with an impressive figure, turning heads wherever they went. And they looked oddly familiar.

“It’s Che Chenying.” Wu Qian was stunned.

Tan Jun gasped, “Worst-case scenario.”

Xu Wansi muttered, “It’s definitely going to be a showdown.”

The group exchanged nervous glances, certain that sparks were flying between Jiang Wan and Che Chenying, with a storm of murderous intent brewing.

As background characters in this drama, they wisely decided to step aside to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

Jiang Wan, meanwhile, was clinging to Dou Ming, acting like the delicate, helpless flower Che Chenying hated the most.

The last time Che Chenying had “bullied” Jiang Wan, Dou Ming had immediately stepped in, and all the Alpha suitors that had been trailing Che Chenying got beaten up. Furious, Che Chenying had cut ties with those weaklings.

Now, even though Che Chenying felt annoyed, all he could do was sigh and think, Alpha’s vision is really flawed. Can’t they see this little delicate flower is actually a manipulative green tea?

Feeling stifled, Che Chenying plotted to scare Jiang Wan a bit once they were inside the escape room.

The room was pitch dark. As soon as they entered, the owner quickly shut the door, leaving them with only two walkie-talkies. Dou Ming held one, and the other was with Che Chenying.

Che Chenying turned on the walkie-talkie light, shining it under his chin to make his face look ghastly pale. In a creepy voice, he said, “Is everyone inside?”

Jiang Wan gave him a look of fond exasperation, as if he were watching a clueless child.

Che Chenying: “…”

Wu Qian tried to smooth things over. “Alright, let’s start searching for clues.”

Everyone agreed and began moving around.

Except for Jiang Wan.

Everyone knew that Jiang Wan had a serious cleanliness obsession.

He had no intention of making any compromises and stayed latched onto Dou Ming’s arm, daintily directing him, “Hey Dou Ming, what’s that? It looks so scary.”

Dou Ming glanced over. “It’s just a painting. I’ll flip it over so you won’t have to look at it.”

Che Chenying: “…”

Rolling his eyes, Che Chenying was about to make a sarcastic comment when Wu Qian quickly dragged him away, putting him in charge of the light on their side.

Jiang Wan, looking around under the dim light from Dou Ming’s walkie-talkie, spotted something new. “Dou Ming, Dou Ming, I think there’s a mechanism on the wall.”

Dou Ming followed his gaze and sure enough, found a mechanism. He twisted it. “You’re really smart.”

Wu Qian turned back, puzzled. “What does this mechanism do?”

Just as he finished speaking, a human-shaped shadow suddenly dropped down behind Che Chenying. “Crap!!!”

At the same time, a cold, eerie voice echoed through the escape room, neither male nor female.

Che Chenying jumped as the shadow brushed against his back, spinning around in shock, only for the shadow to cling to his face. He panicked, screaming like a slaughtered pig: “AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”

Tan Jun and Xu Wansi clung to each other, trembling. “Who! Who’s talking!”

Jiang Wan: “…” Calm down, everyone, that voice is giving us clues.

He mentally sighed but then reconsidered. The point of playing escape rooms wasn’t just to solve puzzles.

So, he let out a dramatic gasp and burrowed into Dou Ming’s embrace, his posture delicate and endearing.

As expected, Dou Ming, distressed, furrowed his brows, gently patting Jiang Wan’s back and softly comforting him, showing not the slightest bit of impatience.

Jiang Wan contentedly snuggled against Dou Ming. Seeing that Che Chenying had been pulled away by Wu Qian but was still visibly shaken, he threw him a mocking glance to help him calm down.

Che Chenying: “…” From the moment he screamed like a pig, he knew he had lost completely.

From then on, Che Chenying, once a proud little peacock, became a defeated rooster. Jiang Wan, however, remained consistent, maintaining his delicate flower persona to the very end.

By the time they finally emerged from the escape room, Che Chenying fled in embarrassment, while Jiang Wan still hadn’t had enough.

“Let’s do this again sometime,” he waved cheerfully.

Che Chenying sped up his retreat.

Wu Qian couldn’t help but laugh.

Suddenly, Dou Ming asked, “Do you have any plans for tonight?”

“We could go to that BBQ place,” Tan Jun blurted out.

Xu Wansi quickly covered his mouth, smiling. “Nope, we’re all heading home.”

Dou Ming nodded. “Then let’s part ways here.”

Tan Jun: “…”

Wu Qian: “…”

Though they sensed something fishy, they didn’t dare ask.

Jiang Wan glanced thoughtfully at Dou Ming.

Dou Ming, face as calm as ever, said goodbye to Wu Qian and the others before leading Jiang Wan to the elevator.

Jiang Wan poked Dou Ming’s shoulder. “You have something planned, don’t you?”

Dou Ming nodded. “You’ve always wanted me to help you catch up on your studies, right?”

Jiang Wan: “Mm-hmm.”

“Well, we can do that tonight at my place.” Dou Ming’s expression was sincere, his gaze clear, as if he genuinely intended to help Jiang Wan improve his grades.