Father Shen’s voice was not low, and as soon as he spoke, there was a brief silence around him.
The two parents in front glanced awkwardly at Jiang Heng and then at Father Shen. They were a bit intimidated by Father Shen’s imposing “I’m not someone to mess with” aura and quickly turned back to whisper to each other.
Chen Xingchi’s mother had just finished complaining to him when she suddenly heard this, freezing for a moment. She then looked over at Ruan Shu’s expression.
Ruan Shu squinted her eyes as if she were smiling. She seemed to be in a good mood, watching her son intently, as though not caring about what the man next to her had said.
Chen Xingchi’s mother observed for a while, then lowered her head seriously to continue complaining to Chen Xingchi.
“Your classmate’s parents are already meeting each other at the parent-teacher conference. How can you not only fall behind in your studies but also be worse at finding a partner?”
“What use are you?”
Chen Xingchi: “???”
After a few seconds, Jiang Heng finally started to feel his ears heat up, realizing only then what Father Shen had said. He didn’t even know how to respond.
—Though the title was correct, it just sounded weird.
He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Father Shen, who had been looking at him, briefly had a slightly awkward expression, then straightened his back, cleared his throat, and seemed to want to say something more.
Just at that moment, Ruan Shu spoke up, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
Ruan Shu waved at Jiang Heng with a smile, “Xiao Heng, come over here, don’t mind him.”
As she spoke, she stomped hard on Father Shen’s foot under the table.
Honestly! It’s the first time they’re meeting, and he’s being so blunt. What if he scares the boy away?
She had sneaked into the parent-teacher conference for Jiang Heng without telling her son. Luckily, the entrance was crowded earlier, and she had blended in with other parents from different classes to avoid being spotted by her son.
Jiang Heng clenched his fingers, trying to ignore the heat in his ears, kept a straight face, and responded politely, “Hello, Uncle.”
After that, he hastily made his way from the back to Ruan Shu’s side, too embarrassed to look at Father Shen again.
It wasn’t that he was scared of him; he just feared Father Shen might come up with another startling title.
Fortunately, Father Shen didn’t seem to mind his evasive, ostrich-like behavior. Instead, there was a hint of a subtle smile on his lips.
As Jiang Heng came over, Ruan Shu removed her foot from Father Shen’s and turned to him with a smile, “Long time no see, Xiao Heng.”
Jiang Heng still wasn’t used to this way of addressing him. From childhood until now, not even Xie An had called him that.
He rarely felt awkward, but now he responded stiffly and nervously, “Auntie.”
Ruan Shu’s smile became even more loving.
“Why have you lost so much weight?” She looked Jiang Heng up and down again. “Is Huaizhi mistreating you?”
Jiang Heng was slightly stunned for a few seconds and was about to deny it, but Ruan Shu didn’t wait for his response. She continued on her own, “I’ll make a note of it. Next time, I’ll make sure to give you a good meal. How did you like those soups from last semester? Auntie has come up with some new recipes lately. I’ll let you try them next time.”
Jiang Heng: “…Auntie…”
“Oh dear, just look at your grades…” Ruan Shu said, not waiting for Jiang Heng to respond, and picked up the report card again.
The report card listed the entire class’s grades, including the total score, individual subject scores, rank, and improvements or declines in rankings. Everything was clearly marked.
Compared to Shen Huaizhi’s stable score, which far exceeded the second place, along with his glaring first-place rank in the grade, Jiang Heng’s performance seemed quite lackluster.
Although he had improved by a few spots since the midterms, in Shen Huaizhi’s mother’s eyes, it probably wasn’t impressive.
Jiang Heng became even more uneasy.
Seeing his uncomfortable expression, Ruan Shu comforted him, “Don’t be nervous. Parent-teacher conferences are all about discussing grades, aren’t they?”
“To be honest with you, I’ve been attending Huaizhi’s conferences since he was little, and I’ve never needed to check his grades. There’s no need to guess; he’s always first. Whether I attend or not doesn’t make much difference.”
Jiang Heng forced a stiff smile. Shen Huaizhi’s grades were indeed so outstanding that even the teachers had little to say about him.
Just then, Ruan Shu gasped in surprise, and Jiang Heng’s eyelids twitched.
“You’ve improved so much!” Ruan Shu exclaimed, holding the report card as if she had just noticed it. “Really impressive! To make this much progress in just one exam! You’ll improve even more next time.”
“Let me calculate… by the time of the college entrance exams, how much more will you have improved?”
Jiang Heng: “…” That’s not likely.
Ruan Shu nodded to herself, “Our Xiao Heng is amazing. Let me see, no weak subjects! That’s great, not having any weak subjects is the best.”
Chen Xingchi’s mother had just finished arguing with her son, lost the argument, and looked up only to hear Ruan Shu showering her son with a stream of praise. She glanced at the report card, remembering that this Omega’s name was Jiang Heng.
After finally finding his grades, Chen Xingchi’s mother twitched her lips and sent another message to complain to Chen Xingchi over WeChat.
[Your classmate’s mom is way too indulgent with her kid.]
[Chen Xingchi: Mom!! Stop texting! Can you just focus on the parent-teacher meeting?! If not, can I attend it myself? I just started a game! If I don’t reply, you’ll get mad again!]
Father Shen, who had been silent all along, glanced at the report card and gave a light cough. As if casually, he said, “It’s still a bit lacking. Keep studying hard, and aim to do even better next time.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ruan Shu clicked her tongue and whispered, “Shut up.”
Father Shen rubbed his nose and looked at Jiang Heng again. Seeing that Jiang Heng didn’t show any signs of discomfort, he let out a cold snort, “You’re spoiling him blindly. With grades like these, he won’t go far. If you keep praising him like this, he’ll get too proud!”
Ruan Shu rolled her eyes and softly reassured Jiang Heng, “Don’t listen to him. You did great.”
Father Shen snorted again and straightened his back, staring at the blackboard without saying another word.
Jiang Heng made a small sound of acknowledgment, and a faint smile gradually appeared on his lips.
It was a very unique experience—something he had never felt before.
The initial nervousness and slight discomfort seemed to fade away, replaced by a small sense of satisfaction. The only regret was that the two people in front of him weren’t his biological parents.
Even so, he was finally experiencing the feelings he had once envied in other children.
Seeing him smile, Ruan Shu playfully winked as if she was about to say more, but just then, Wang Yong and several class officers who had gone to the school gate came into the classroom.
Wang Yong glanced around the room and said, “Parents, please stay behind. Students, please wait outside. This year’s first parent-teacher meeting is about to begin. Sorry for keeping everyone waiting.”
As soon as Wang Yong finished speaking, the few remaining students in the classroom quickly left with visible relief.
Ruan Shu said, “Oh dear, it’s time for the parent-teacher meeting. Xiao Heng, why don’t you head out for now? We can talk again when it’s over.”
After saying that, she winked at Shen Huaizhi, who had entered behind Wang Yong.
Shen Huaizhi’s expression was calm. His eyes were half-lowered, and his gaze landed directly on their side, without any hesitation. He seemed a little surprised that Father Shen had also come, furrowing his brow slightly.
Father Shen didn’t avoid his son’s gaze either, as if they were having some sort of silent exchange.
Jiang Heng wasn’t paying attention to the people near the podium. After hearing Ruan Shu’s words, he obediently left the classroom without looking back at Shen Huaizhi.
Although it was a sunny day, there was still wind outside.
Once he stepped out of the classroom, Jiang Heng finally felt like he could breathe more easily. He didn’t dare glance back at how Ruan Shu and Father Shen were handling the parent-teacher meeting, feeling as though the whole scene was like a dream. If he touched it too much, the dream might easily fade away.
Now, however, his desire to play had disappeared. So, he simply leaned against the balcony, watching the people below come and go. Because of the ongoing parent-teacher meetings, the students were quiet, and the entire hallway fell into a rare silence.
As Jiang Heng stared into space, a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside him.
“Sorry,” Shen Huaizhi spoke with a hint of apology. He truly hadn’t expected Ruan Shu to take the initiative and attend Jiang Heng’s parent-teacher meeting, and he was worried that Jiang Heng might feel uncomfortable about it.
Jiang Heng paused briefly, then quickly responded, “It’s fine.”
He smiled slightly, almost ready to say something heartfelt, like how a long-held wish of his had finally come true. But just as the words were about to leave his mouth, he swallowed them back, feeling they weren’t necessary. After hesitating for a moment, he casually asked, “Class monitor, does this mean we’re… tying the knot?”
Shen Huaizhi leaned against him, both of them looking down at the scene below. Hearing this, he turned his head, a bit surprised.
Jiang Heng pretended not to notice his gaze and continued, “I mean, we have the same mom now…”
After saying that, he felt a little awkward himself.
Why did it sound like he and Shen Huaizhi were already married?
Shen Huaizhi was silent for a moment before laughing softly, “I guess it counts.” After thinking for a bit, he asked, “Are there any next steps?”
His tone was less serious than before, with a playful hint.
Jiang Heng didn’t catch on right away, but Shen Huaizhi wasn’t in a hurry. He slowly added, “Like, maybe… moving into the bridal chamber or having kids early?”
Jiang Heng: “…”
Jiang Heng’s expression froze for a second. In that moment, a flood of ideas for silencing Shen Huaizhi crossed his mind. But when he opened his mouth, the words took a turn, and he ended up saying, “…Study hard, make progress every day.”
Shen Huaizhi chuckled at the sight of Jiang Heng’s reddened ears and patted him on the head.
From behind them, they could faintly hear Wang Yong’s voice coming from the classroom.
“This time, I must give special praise to our classmate Jiang Heng for his significant improvement.”
Jiang Heng instinctively glanced back. Wang Yong, having likely recognized Ruan Shu, looked slightly startled when he saw her accepting the praise on Jiang Heng’s behalf. The look on his face was somewhat amusing, but it was only a fleeting moment before he regained his composure.
Jiang Heng turned back around, remaining silent for a while before asking, “Class monitor, are you almost an adult?”
Shen Huaizhi didn’t expect the sudden change in topic and took a few seconds to react, “Next month.”
Jiang Heng nodded seriously, as if giving advice, “It’s fine if you’re almost an adult, but I’m still not. Can you try… to behave like a decent person?”
Shen Huaizhi: “…I’ll try my best.”
—
After the parent-teacher meeting, everything returned to normal.
The weather gradually warmed up, and the flowers planted around the school began to bloom. Where there were once occasional glimpses of students during class breaks, now the senior year hallways were almost empty.
The college entrance exams were just about a month away.
Class Three’s classroom.
Jiang Heng returned from the office holding a test paper, yawning slowly, looking utterly exhausted.
Chen Xingchi glanced at him and observed for a moment before asking, “Did you and the class monitor do something shameful last night?”
Jiang Heng lazily lifted his eyelids and let out a cold laugh, “Yeah.”
Seeing him admit it so readily, Chen Xingchi’s curiosity flared up. He was just about to ask more when Jiang Heng continued, sounding somewhat sarcastic, “We worked all night on sealed exam papers from the neighboring school.”
“Isn’t that shameful?”
Chen Xingchi: “…”
Unable to hold back, Chen Xingchi remarked, “I never thought the class monitor was such a weirdo, focusing on your studies so much on the eve of adulthood.”
Jiang Heng gave a dry smile but didn’t respond.
Chen Xingchi added quietly, “Maybe he’s planning something big.”
“Alphas are all weird like that.”
This time, Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow at him, “Are you insulting yourself?”
“I’m not that weird, but maybe I’ll be a little strange on the night I come of age,” Chen Xingchi paused here. “You’re not planning to go to the class monitor’s house tonight, are you?”
Last weekend, Shen Huaizhi had already treated them to dinner in advance, as a kind of birthday celebration with friends. But today, Shen Huaizhi’s coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t just a simple birthday party. It was also a formal event where the Shen family would introduce him to the public, which was why he had taken the whole day off.
Jiang Heng’s expression froze for a moment.
Seeing this, Chen Xingchi instantly understood and fell silent, deciding not to say more.
A few minutes later, Jiang Heng received over a dozen messages from He Ci.
– “How does an underage Omega protect themselves?”
– “Underage Omega glands are fragile! These things must be avoided!”
– “The top ten dangers to underage Omegas!”
– “…”
– “I’m not yet an adult, and my Alpha has fully marked me. Now I feel like the walking dead…”
Jiang Heng: ?
– “Wang, the plumber: Are you sick?”
– “He Ci: *smiling.jpg*”
Shen Huaizhi’s birthday banquet was held at a villa in the Yujing area.
By the time Jiang Heng arrived after school, the sky had already darkened.
Shen Huaizhi and his father were busy entertaining guests, and it was Ruan Shu who came to pick up Jiang Heng.
Ruan Shu was wearing a long, water-red dress today. Compared to her usual gentle and elegant demeanor, she appeared more regal and dignified.
“Huaizhi is next door at the villa with the guests. He might not be able to step away for a while,” Ruan Shu said as she pointed out the building next to them for Jiang Heng.
Jiang Heng nodded, and a vague memory surfaced. He recalled that the first time he came here, there had been a woman who showed him the way into that very villa.
Jiang Heng: …
No wonder he always felt that Ruan Shu looked familiar.
Noticing his dazed expression, Ruan Shu guessed that he had remembered something, and she covered her mouth with a laugh. After a moment, she tactfully shifted Jiang Heng’s focus, saying, “Is there anything you’d like to eat? I can have the kitchen prepare something for you. You don’t know those people, so I won’t take you over there.” She was worried that he might feel uncomfortable among the guests.
As she spoke, she led Jiang Heng inside. The main banquet hall was in the neighboring villa, while the one they were in remained as it was normally.
Jiang Heng’s attention successfully diverted, he shook his head. “No, I’ll just eat whatever.”
Ruan Shu sighed, “Alright, I’ll have something prepared for you. You can stay in the study or here, whichever you prefer.” She paused, then added with a slight complaint, “It’s all Huaizhi’s fault. It’s so late, and he still insisted you come. It’s just a birthday, after all.”
“But when I had my birthday back then, I insisted that his father be with me too. I guess he inherited that trait from me.”
Jiang Heng was unintentionally fed a bit of “dog food” and felt less awkward than when he first arrived.
After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’ll go to the study and do some homework.” He then politely added, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Seeing him so reserved, Ruan Shu smiled and didn’t linger, not wanting to add to his pressure.
Once she left, Jiang Heng quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he said he would do homework, he couldn’t calm down. He checked his phone several times before giving up and playing a game instead.
It wasn’t until an auntie came upstairs to bring him food that he stopped obsessing over his puzzle game.
Next door.
When Ruan Shu arrived, Shen Huaizhi, who had been chatting with some guests, started to become a little distracted.
Ruan Shu smiled and greeted the people nearby, then leaned close to her son’s ear and whispered, “Hang in there. We still have to eat later.”
Even though the Shen family was a large family, it wouldn’t make sense for the birthday boy to disappear halfway through.
Shen Huaizhi nodded and didn’t say anything further.
Seeing this, Ruan Shu patted her son’s arm twice before moving on to socialize with the female guests.
After Shen Huaizhi finished dealing with a few of his father’s business associates, he was about to change locations when a shadow suddenly fell across his path.
Jiang Jin came today with his current partner. Both were dressed in well-fitted suits, and whether it was Jiang Jin or his companion, they were both quite striking in appearance.
Shen Huaizhi lifted his eyelids slightly, his expression becoming a bit more distant.
“Congratulations on becoming an adult,” Jiang Jin said with a smile, raising his glass.
Shen Huaizhi responded politely but distantly, “Thank you.”
Seeing his unwillingness to engage further, Jiang Jin furrowed his brow slightly but quickly smiled again, trying to be friendly. “Feeling tired, aren’t you?”
Shen Huaizhi took a step back, maintaining his aloofness. “It’s to be expected.”
Jiang Jin seemed to want to say more, but Shen Huaizhi’s father, who had been mingling with other guests, approached and patted his son’s shoulder. “Your Uncle Lu and the others want to discuss the proposal you mentioned earlier.”
For once, Shen Huaizhi didn’t decline the way out his father had provided. He nodded politely to Jiang Jin before heading over to his Uncle Lu.
It wasn’t clear what Shen’s father said to Jiang Jin afterward, but by the time Shen Huaizhi returned from making his rounds to toast the guests, Jiang Jin’s expression had noticeably darkened.
When it was time for the meal, Ruan Shu quietly informed him that Jiang Jin and his partner had left.
After a brief silence, Shen Huaizhi turned to his father and said, “Thank you, Dad.”
His father gave a curt “hmm” in response, his face still stern.
Perhaps it was because Shen Huaizhi had reached adulthood, but the elders he had previously met were especially persistent in making him drink. No matter how well he could hold his liquor, he couldn’t keep up with their relentless toasts, and by the end, it was clear he was on the verge of getting drunk.
Even Ruan Shu felt sorry for her son, but her attempt to shield him from drinking was stopped by his father.
Now that Shen Huaizhi was an adult, he had to experience what adults go through. All the previous nurturing had merely laid a foundation; true growth came with adulthood and real-life challenges.
By the time the guests had left, it was nearly ten o’clock.
Though Shen Huaizhi didn’t show any signs of being drunk, still standing tall and straight after seeing off the last guest, his exhaustion became apparent only once things settled down.
Ruan Shu, noticing her son’s weariness, said compassionately, “You should go home now. We’ll take care of the rest.” Some relatives from far away were staying the night, and they still needed to host them.
Shen Huaizhi didn’t argue with his mother and left without hesitation.
—
After the meal, Jiang Heng gradually shifted his attention back to his studies. As the temperature dropped that evening, an auntie brought him a blanket to keep him warm.
When Shen Huaizhi opened the door, the sight that greeted him was Jiang Heng, wrapped in a blanket, diligently working on his homework at Shen Huaizhi’s usual desk.
It seemed that Jiang Heng had encountered a difficult problem, as he started spinning his pen again. After a moment, his pen-twirling paused. As if sensing someone had entered, he glanced back.
He froze for a moment.
The Alpha’s suit collar was undone, a few buttons left open, giving him a slightly disheveled appearance. Yet, despite the messiness, it only accentuated his calm and composed aura, with an added hint of restrained allure.
Shen Huaizhi, seeing that Jiang Heng had noticed him, didn’t stay by the door any longer. Feeling a bit warm after drinking too much, he tugged at his collar, removing his suit jacket as he walked toward Jiang Heng.
“Jiang Heng.” Even his voice was much deeper than usual.
1You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you and Enjoy reading! ❤️” -TL: Ysiad
