MOFB Chapter 45

Shen Huaizhi’s speech was a bit faster than usual, but his voice remained gentle. Jiang Heng took a few seconds to understand what he meant. For a moment, Jiang Heng felt like a fool. Alpha’s gaze was firmly fixed on him, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

After saying these words, Shen Huaizhi’s fingertips rubbed against Jiang Heng’s forehead. Even Jiang Heng, who was usually composed, felt a bit awkward. He felt that if he didn’t do something now, he would appear even more foolish.

He lifted his eyelids slightly, but with Shen Huaizhi’s hand still on his forehead and no sign of removing it, a shadow fell over his eyes.

“Shen Huaizhi, I…” Damn, what should he say? It seemed like anything he said would make him look stupid.

“Brother, can you two stop being affectionate here?”

Jiang Heng’s words were not finished when a childish voice interrupted. Jiang Heng: “?”

Who the hell was being affectionate?

Shen Huaizhi withdrew his hand and looked down. Jiang Heng lowered his head to see a little girl, barely reaching his knees, tilting her head up at him, blinking her eyes curiously. After looking at him for a while, she looked at Shen Huaizhi, her eyes full of curiosity.

Jiang Heng cleared his throat awkwardly, “We didn’t do anything affectionate.” The little girl hummed twice. “But you two were so close just now. Daddy said when you’re this close, it means you’re doing naughty things, so you shouldn’t get this close.”

Jiang Heng: “?”

Jiang Heng restrained himself: “That’s…” As he spoke, he glanced sneakily at Shen Huaizhi. They hadn’t done anything, yet the little girl’s words made them feel embarrassed, and Shen Huaizhi remained calm. The one blushing was Jiang Heng himself.

“Brother, don’t try to argue. Look, your face is all red. I won’t laugh at you.” The little girl glanced at Shen Huaizhi again. “But could you please move? You’re blocking my chocolates.” With a knowing expression, the little girl’s initially calm demeanor suddenly turned a bit irate. Jiang Heng felt a lump in his throat, subconsciously touched his face. He wasn’t so easily embarrassed. With an expressionless face, he turned to look at the shelves.

He and Shen Huaizhi were indeed standing in front of the chocolate shelf, completely blocking the chocolates. Jiang Heng took two steps aside, only to see the little girl shake her head, looking somewhat helpless, and then immediately walk over and squat down to grab her beloved chocolates.

Jiang Heng gritted his teeth, “We weren’t kissing.” Seeing him being so serious, Shen Huaizhi couldn’t help but start laughing. The little girl squatted down, looking up, “I know you weren’t kissing, but that brother just now—” she said, holding the chocolates and pointing at Shen Huaizhi, “He looked like he wanted to kiss you.”

The little girl pondered, “When my dad kisses my dad, he has that look. I’ve seen it many times!”

Jiang Heng: “…”

Do parents nowadays have no sense of avoiding things around kids? He turned his head to look at Shen Huaizhi, the latter looking at him with a smile that couldn’t hide the laughter in his eyes, as if he didn’t care about what the little girl said. Jiang Heng’s ears suddenly started burning, his heartbeat even more unstable than before, and he awkwardly changed the subject, “Why are you alone here?” “Where are your parents?”

The little girl hugged a bunch of chocolates. “My dad and brother went over there!” She pointed towards the vegetable section. Jiang Heng looked in the direction she indicated, the supermarket bustling with people, not knowing if the little girl running alone would be kidnapped.

Jiang Heng lowered his eyes. “Shall we take you to find your dad and brother?” Clearly, just moments ago he was irritated, but now he had softened. Shen Huaizhi couldn’t help but recall when Jiang Heng comforted an injured little girl at the hospital, saying he was Superman. Perhaps from that moment, Jiang Heng’s image in his heart became more concrete, to the point where he built a castle for him in his heart.

After Jiang Heng finished speaking, the little girl bit her finger in thought. “Okay then.” She seemed a bit conflicted as she looked down at her chocolates and then up at Jiang Heng, in a childish tone she asked, “Brother, can you help me hold the chocolates?”

Jiang Heng hesitated for a moment, then half-squatted down, grunting softly as he took the chocolates from her. Eating so much chocolate, yet not afraid of gaining weight or getting cavities.

With the troublesome things in her arms gone, the little girl reached out her chubby arms towards Shen Huaizhi. “Brother, hug?”

Jiang Heng: ?

Shen Huaizhi seemed to pause for a moment too, subconsciously glancing at Jiang Heng. Seeing his eyebrows relax again and his face filled with a biting expression as he stared at the little girl, Shen Huaizhi smiled helplessly. “You need this brother’s approval.” “I listen to him.”

The little girl turned her head again, looking innocently at Jiang Heng. Jiang Heng, expressionless, said, “Go ahead and hug. It’s not good if you get separated in the crowd later.” He wouldn’t really be jealous of a little kid. After the little girl allowed Shen Huaizhi to hug her as she wished, the three of them walked towards the vegetable section.

“Over there, over there! I see Dad and Brother!” Not long after they walked past, the little girl hugged Shen Huaizhi’s neck and shouted excitedly, looking particularly thrilled. Being held by Shen Huaizhi seemed especially secure, and despite the little girl’s fidgeting, there was no worry of her falling.

Jiang Heng glanced at Shen Huaizhi’s arm supporting the girl and clicked his tongue against his cheek. “They see you. Don’t move around.” Hearing this, the little girl pouted. “Brother, are you jealous?”

“It’s okay, when we get home, brother can hug you! Just let me be hugged for a while now!” As she spoke, she rubbed against Shen Huaizhi’s neck, looking particularly affectionate.

Jiang Heng: “…”

If he weren’t someone who couldn’t even lift a radish to his knee, he would have thrown her out! Shen Huaizhi shook his head helplessly towards Jiang Heng. “Brother is right, don’t move around, or I won’t hold you anymore.” Although he still looked perfectly stable while holding her.

The little girl: “…”

The little girl pouted again, not knowing why Shen Huaizhi’s words struck a nerve with her. Before her dad and brother approached, the little girl successfully burst into tears.

Jiang Heng and Shen Huaizhi: “…”

Both big guys who had no experience communicating with children suddenly felt a bit at a loss. Jiang Heng couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you crying?” “Wahh!”

“…” Shen Huaizhi also felt a bit of a headache. Although he usually handled things very well, the kids at home dared not show any rebellious emotions in front of him, let alone cry in front of him. He also had no experience in soothing children.

Jiang Heng, unusually feeling a bit overwhelmed, scratched his head. “You can continue holding onto brother.”

“Wahh!”

Jiang Heng: “…”

Fortunately, the little girl’s dad and brother walked over at this moment. The dad was a young-looking male Omega, quite handsome, with some resemblance to the little girl in facial features.

As soon as they approached, the little girl’s dad apologized profusely as he took her from Shen Huaizhi’s arms, repeatedly apologizing to Jiang Heng and the others. “I’m really sorry to trouble you. We were just separated, it’s my negligence for not holding onto her properly.”

Once back in her dad’s arms, the little girl immediately stopped crying, cautiously tugging on her dad’s ear to complain, “Daddy, just now brother said I’m fat and can’t hold me anymore.”

Jiang Heng: “…” What strange thought process do children have?

He gritted his teeth and spoke reassuringly, “I didn’t say you’re fat.” Then, he tugged at Shen Huaizhi’s clothes and blinked, “Right, brother?”

Shen Huaizhi felt somewhat amused and helpless. Just a moment ago, they seemed like enemies, but now he was consoling someone.

Following Jiang Heng’s lead, he nodded.

Hearing this, the little girl seemed a bit embarrassed. She buried her head behind her dad’s neck, avoiding looking at Jiang Heng and Shen Huaizhi.

Ungrateful little brat.

Jiang Heng remained expressionless. After the little girl’s dad thanked them again, he patted her back and turned red as she turned to face Jiang Heng and Shen Huaizhi, thanking them in a sweet and childish voice.

“Thank you, big brothers.” After saying that, she immediately buried herself in her dad’s neck again.

Now she seemed to be getting shy.

Jiang Heng’s lips curved into a smile, his gaze unusually gentle. He bent down slightly and bid farewell to the little girl, “We’ll be going now. Don’t run around alone next time.”

He chuckled lightly, almost as if he were threatening, “Not every time will you have kind big brothers like us around.”

He boasted without feeling guilty at all.

The little girl muttered discontentedly, then remembered something. She kicked her legs in her dad’s arms and exclaimed, “Brother! My chocolate!”

This shout was directed at her actual brother. Hearing this, the boy who had been standing silently beside them glanced towards Jiang Heng, holding the chocolate in his hand. He looked gentle as he gazed at the little girl.

Jiang Heng’s attention had been focused on the little girl and her dad, so he only noticed the boy now. When his gaze fell on the boy’s face, Jiang Heng clearly paused for a moment.

“Do you want some of this?” Shen Huaizhi asked, holding a packet of new flavored chips. He didn’t usually eat snacks and wasn’t sure what boys of this age liked to eat, but he had noticed some boys in the class often ate puffed snacks.

Jiang Heng followed him, absent-mindedly responding as if he didn’t care what Shen Huaizhi was holding.

Shen Huaizhi furrowed his brows subtly. Since he escorted the little girl, Jiang Heng seemed a bit detached. Initially, he thought it was because of what he said earlier, but after observing for a while, he realized it wasn’t the case.

Jiang Heng seemed to rely on him more now. Even when they walked, Jiang Heng occasionally grabbed his clothes, and Shen Huaizhi didn’t know whether to be happy or not. It was as if Jiang Heng was making sure he was still by his side even when he seemed distracted.

Seeing this, Shen Huaizhi sighed and put the chips back on the shelf. “Jiang Heng, is it really that tiring to go shopping with me?”

He rarely used this tone, which sounded somewhat annoyed and resentful.

Jiang Heng’s response was delayed for a few seconds. Subconsciously, he grabbed onto the shopping cart and immediately denied, “No!”

After speaking, he lowered his eyelids, looking somewhat conflicted. Shen Huaizhi patiently waited for a while.

After a moment, Jiang Heng pursed his lips and said somewhat stiffly, “The boy just now looks a lot like my dad.”

Jiang Jin’s appearance is also on the gentler side, and Jiang Heng didn’t inherit the strengths of him and Xie An.

Shen Huaizhi was also a bit surprised. He knew about Jiang Heng’s family situation but wasn’t very clear about the specifics, only hearing about Jiang Jin from his mother.

Before he could speak, Jiang Heng tilted his head and looked at him. Perhaps because he had just bitten his lip, Jiang Heng’s lips looked slightly vibrant. His brows and eyes were also slightly downturned, indicating that his mood had indeed been affected. However, it wasn’t clear if it was because of what he had said, but there was a hint of a smile in his eyes now.

Although he had a naturally aggressive appearance, he now seemed a bit forlorn.

“It’s probably just a coincidence that he looks similar,” Jiang Heng comforted himself, then looked at Shen Huaizhi. “Monitor?”

“I’m just not used to it,” he concealed his feelings deep inside. After being accustomed to it for so long, even though he knew this person was by his side, he found it difficult to speak about it.

It seemed as though speaking out would make him appear very fragile and foolish. Just because of a boy who looked a bit like Jiang Jin, he found it hard to concentrate.

Despite not having seen Jiang Jin for so many years, he still remembered his face. Perhaps it was the bond of blood and family that made him unable to forget, abandoning Xie An to marry an Omega.

“Well, is there anything else?” Shen Huaizhi asked patiently.

Jiang Heng hesitated for a moment before firmly saying, “No, there isn’t.”

Shen Huaizhi lowered his gaze, and the smile in his eyes faded. His emotions were concealed, making him seem a bit distant.

For a moment, Jiang Heng felt a bit flustered.

Seeing Shen Huaizhi indicating that he wanted to proceed alone pushing the shopping cart, Jiang Heng’s eyelids fluttered, and his brain reacted faster than his limbs. “And also, hold hands!” His tone was a bit stiff, tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

As the words came out, Jiang Heng’s expression momentarily went blank. His voice wasn’t low, and people around them looked in their direction. Two big guys, holding hands while grocery shopping. Both still wearing school uniforms, they stood out in the crowd.

Noticing the stares, Jiang Heng’s face stiffened, then he anxiously looked at Shen Huaizhi. The latter’s expression remained aloof, devoid of the gentle look from before.

Jiang Heng gritted his teeth and without waiting for Shen Huaizhi’s response, he directly grabbed Shen Huaizhi’s hand. The Alpha’s palm still carried a coolness, even in the crowded and stuffy supermarket, it felt the same.

Fortunately, Shen Huaizhi didn’t pull away.

Jiang Heng glanced down at their joined hands and felt a twinge of regret. When he thought about it, he realized that he couldn’t hide any emotions from Shen Huaizhi. Shen Huaizhi had been doing so well, and Jiang Heng trusted him completely. Yet, when it came down to it, Jiang Heng couldn’t help but hold back.

Damn it, he was such a fool.

As they exited the supermarket, He Ci and Chen Xingchi clearly noticed that something was off between the two. They looked back and saw them still holding hands. However, Shen Huaizhi seemed to become a bit distant again.

On the other hand, Jiang Heng kept talking non-stop throughout the journey, not much different from his usual self.

He Ci pondered for a moment. “Where should we go for dinner?” It was still early, and if they waited until after the school event to eat, it would be too late. Snacks wouldn’t suffice as a meal.

Chen Xingchi chimed in, squinting slightly. “Didn’t they open a new barbecue restaurant near the school? We should have enough time to eat there within an hour and a half, right?”

Jiang Heng glanced at Shen Huaizhi’s expression and, seeing no response from him, couldn’t help but say, “Let’s not have barbecue; it’s too greasy.” Shen Huaizhi probably wasn’t used to eating those kinds of foods.

After some thought, Jiang Heng chuckled lightly, seemingly mocking Chen Xingchi without good intentions. “Chen Xingchi, if you keep eating like this, you’ll become fat soon.” Although his words were directed at Chen Xingchi, his gaze couldn’t help but linger on Shen Huaizhi.

Chen Xingchi: ???

“I feel offended.”

Just as He Ci was about to make a sarcastic remark, he heard Shen Huaizhi calmly say, “I won’t eat; it’s time for the rehearsal.” After speaking, Shen Huaizhi withdrew his hand, leaving Jiang Heng momentarily stunned.

Before Jiang Heng could react, Shen Huaizhi had already pulled his hand back.

Jiang Heng opened his mouth, feeling a sour and unprecedented sensation welling up from his heart. It felt as if something had grabbed his heart, not tightly enough to cause pain but enough to make him feel its grasp and pull.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“I’m going back.” Shen Huaizhi lowered his eyes, glanced at Jiang Heng, and without giving Jiang Heng any time to react, took the shopping bag from Jiang Heng’s hand. “I’ll put it in the classroom for you.”

After saying that, he remembered something else and handed his phone to Jiang Heng before turning and leaving for real this time.

Despite his tall stature as an Alpha, he somehow seemed a little lonely at the moment.

Jiang Heng suddenly remembered that over the years, Shen Huaizhi had lived such a disciplined life. Was he also accustomed to hiding his emotions? But when it came to himself, he seemed to lay everything bare.

After the others left, He Ci glanced at Jiang Heng’s expression and, seeing no particular expression on his face, couldn’t help but ask, “Did you two really have a fight?”

Although Shen Huaizhi appeared indifferent, he had still arranged everything before leaving. While it did seem like they had a quarrel, their actions didn’t match what people usually do during a fight.

Most Alphas like to dominate in relationships, especially top-tier Alphas. The higher their pheromone level, the harder it is for them to control their emotions.

But Shen Huaizhi’s demeanor didn’t show much signs of losing control of his emotions. Jiang Heng stared at Shen Huaizhi’s back and muttered to himself.

“Forget about arguing, let’s go eat. After eating, I need to go back to see the rehearsal.”

Seeing his expression that clearly said, “I’m not happy right now, don’t mess with me,” He Ci and Chen Xingchi exchanged glances, confirming that they indeed had a fight.

They didn’t expect these two to quarrel. They wondered what happened in the supermarket just now.

Seeing them hesitate, Jiang Heng raised his eyebrows. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

He Ci felt a bit sorry. “Today’s rehearsal probably doesn’t allow outsiders.”

Jiang Heng froze for a moment, his expression wooden.

That meant he had to wait until the end of the event to be alone with Shen Huaizhi.

Damn it.

Jiang Heng, you’re such an idiot.

Maybe because he was feeling down, Jiang Heng ate more than usual during this meal, leaving He Ci and Chen Xingchi, both Alphas, a bit stunned.

After finishing the meal, Jiang Heng instinctively reached for his phone, wanting to ask Shen Huaizhi if he wanted him to bring back food. But when he took out his phone, he realized it was dead, and Shen Huaizhi had given him his phone.

That sour feeling rose up again, making Jiang Heng feel like he was immersed in it, even feeling a bit flushed all over.

Unable to watch the rehearsal, the three of them wandered around outside the school for a while before returning to the school near 7 o’clock.

Timing was just right as they arrived at the classroom, where the homeroom teacher Wang Yong was organizing everyone to go to the school auditorium.

Seeing many people with snacks, Wang Yong reminded them, “Don’t leave any trash! Don’t litter! Maintain order on the scene! The front rows are all school leaders! I don’t want to be criticized!”

“Oh! Okay, teacher! But what about this New Year’s assignment?” Someone joked, but it was unclear who.

Wang Yong glared fiercely at the person. “Once it’s over, if you all behave well, I’ll give you one less assignment!”

The temptation of having one less assignment was much greater than a verbal warning.

The bustling crowd suddenly turned into conversations like “trash bag, trash bag” and “I have plastic bags! Throw them here later!” When they reached the auditorium, these voices stopped.

The auditorium at Yizhong High School was indeed very large, capable of accommodating students from all three grades.

When Jiang Heng came to watch the rehearsal before, he didn’t have much feeling, but now that the students had all entered, he felt a sense of how huge it really was.

The seating arrangement was already predetermined for each class, but students could choose their seats within their designated area. The sophomore seats were in the middle, offering a much better view than the farther-back senior seats, allowing them to see everything happening on stage.

“Jiang Heng! Over here!” Seeing Jiang Heng wandering aimlessly, Chen Xingchi shouted to him.

Jiang Heng scanned the stage. The host hadn’t taken the stage yet, probably still backstage preparing. A few stagehands were confirming the stage lights and props.

Jiang Heng withdrew his gaze and walked over to Chen Xingchi.

Chen Xingchi saved a middle seat for him, and on his right side was a female Omega from their class. When she saw him sit down, with a slightly flushed face, she greeted him.

“I’ve tested this seat, and the view is excellent. You’ll be able to see the class monitor from all angles without any blind spots,” she said.

Jiang Heng raised his eyelids and chuckled at Chen Xingchi’s self-assured demeanor. Seeing his disbelief, Chen Xingchi continued to boast, “Seriously, I’ve tried it. Just now, I stood where the stagehands were standing, right where the class monitor will stand later.”

Jiang Heng lifted his eyes with acknowledgment, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to the stage due to Chen Xingchi’s words. Even though the stagehands had moved from the center of the stage, as Chen Xingchi said, his seat indeed had a good angle.

Jiang Heng’s expression became wooden. “Thanks.”

Chen Xingchi, somewhat terrified, asked, “So… I accept?”

Jiang Heng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Idiot,” he said, then couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing his expression improve a bit, Chen Xingchi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn, who knows why he got scared when he saw the message from the director just now, only to find out it was sent by Shen Huaizhi.

As expected of the class monitor, even without a phone, they could use the director’s phone to send a message, and it was a message reminding them to pay more attention to Jiang Heng’s emotions. Making another Alpha pay more attention to one’s Omega’s emotions, one couldn’t help but wonder what kind of worry prompted such action.

The auditorium buzzed with noise for a while until the lights suddenly dimmed. The previously noisy chatter gradually quieted down as four hosts simultaneously stepped onto the stage from both sides.

The ones who could be hosts didn’t lack in looks or stature. As soon as the four of them stepped onto the stage, the previously quiet auditorium erupted into screams once again. This prompted the leaders in the front row to couldn’t help but look back.

But Jiang Heng’s gaze remained fixed on Shen Huaizhi.

Among the four on stage, he could only see Shen Huaizhi. Shen Huaizhi was the tallest of the four, and also the most conspicuous. He had shed his school uniform for a form-fitting black suit, which accentuated his perfect physique. With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his figure was impeccably outlined. His long and straight legs were on full display, and his typically subdued expression now bore a perfectly timed smile, making him appear more mature and dignified than usual. There was an added hint of restrained allure.

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The author has something to say: So, what are you going to do to please him?