MOFB Chapter 74

The rain was gradually showing signs of stopping.

In the narrow alleyway, the chaotic, unpleasant scent of Alpha pheromones mixed with the sweet, cloying scent of Omega, with a hint of something that smelled like fried skewers, making the air dizzying.

As they got closer, both He Ci and Chen Xingchi’s expressions darkened further. Although these Alpha pheromones didn’t put any pressure on them, the blend of scents was nauseating. If it was affecting them like this, it must be even worse for Jiang Heng, who was an Omega.

The moment they saw Jiang Heng slumped against the wall, He Ci’s expression turned grim.

They really shouldn’t have allowed Jiang Heng, an Omega, to go out alone. If Shen Huaizhi hadn’t arrived in time and come looking for Jiang Heng, they wouldn’t even know what might have happened to him. Thinking of this, He Ci felt a pang of guilt. He always thought of Jiang Heng as he used to be, always forgetting that he was an Omega.

Sensing He Ci’s mood, Chen Xingchi paused slightly. “Wait, He Ci, don’t you think something feels off?”

He hesitated a bit. “Why are all these Alphas lying on the ground… with such terrified expressions?”

A thought crossed his mind, but he wasn’t entirely convinced. These were Alphas, and with so many pheromones in the air, it shouldn’t be possible for Jiang Heng, an Omega, to remain unaffected.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Xingchi came to a conclusion. “So… did Jiang Heng knock them all down before he collapsed?”

He clapped his hands in amazement. “Jiang Heng, that’s incredible! Managing to knock them all down before going down himself—just amazing!”

Chen Xingchi’s comment broke the previously heavy atmosphere.

He Ci’s own thoughts began to waver. He thought it over and then said, “Now that you mention it, it’s actually possible.” He glanced over at Shen Huaizhi to gauge his reaction.

Shen Huaizhi’s expression remained as calm as it was when they’d first set out. The light rain, falling since they’d come out without an umbrella, had left small wet spots on his shirt’s shoulders, and his hair was more disheveled than usual. Still, his posture was as upright as ever, though his steps were noticeably quicker.

There was no other hint of emotion on his face, but somehow, this calm demeanor made him seem even more unsettling.

The Alphas lying on the ground exchanged uneasy glances.

“Should we get up?”

“But why did he collapse? You think he’s going to report that we bullied an Omega?”

“Then shouldn’t we run?… Hey, stop pressing down on me! Let me get up!”

The rain had soaked the ground, and after being beaten up, they were all weak and drained. The leader, lying at the front, struggled to get up, only to see a shadow fall over him.

He looked up with trembling hands, meeting a pair of calm, emotionless eyes.

There were no pheromones released, no angry expression, yet the pressure from this top-level Alpha was palpable, making his back instantly weaken, and he slumped back down to the ground.

Fortunately, the person merely glanced at him before walking over to the Omega who had just knocked them all down.

The leader secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Heng leaned against the wall, his clothes damp from the rain, droplets trailing down his cheek and disappearing into his collar. The fierce aura he had moments ago was gone, leaving him looking somewhat vulnerable, but only in appearance.

As a familiar pair of shoes appeared in his line of sight, Jiang Heng’s bowed head moved slightly. He slowly looked up, pulling a polite, almost mechanical smile on his lips. “Class President, you’re here…”

His voice was as weak as could be.

Shen Huaizhi crouched down in front of him, responding softly, and reached out to touch Jiang Heng’s cold cheek, brushing away the raindrops from his eyelids. “Are you cold?”

Shen Huaizhi’s calm tone only made Jiang Heng feel even guiltier.

Jiang Heng shook his head, then nodded, “Cold.”

This honesty nearly made Shen Huaizhi laugh in exasperation.

Although he knew Jiang Heng could handle a few Alphas and wouldn’t be affected by their pheromones, he couldn’t stop the thought: what if he hadn’t come out looking for Jiang Heng, or hadn’t noticed the unusual pheromone mix here? Would Jiang Heng be in danger?

That lingering worry didn’t ease even after seeing Jiang Heng.

Especially when he saw Jiang Heng deliberately slump down after spotting him, he almost wanted to lock him away somewhere only he could see.

But that thought lasted only a few seconds before he forced it down.

This was Jiang Heng. This was the real Jiang Heng.

“Come here.” Shen Huaizhi raised his eyes, his expression still calm, but he extended his arms toward Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng’s gaze wandered for a moment, glancing at He Ci and Chen Xingchi standing at the alley’s entrance, watching him and Shen Huaizhi without approaching. Noticing his gaze, the two of them scratched their noses and, with unspoken agreement, turned their backs without a hint of loyalty.

Jiang Heng: “…”

Seeing him still leaning there, Shen Huaizhi chuckled softly, “Do you need me to carry you up?”

There was a hint of teasing in his tone.

Without much hesitation, Jiang Heng slipped right into Shen Huaizhi’s arms.

Though soaked through, he found Shen Huaizhi’s clothes were relatively dry, if not particularly warm. Jiang Heng’s swift response caused Shen Huaizhi’s earlier annoyance to fade significantly. He tightened his arm around Jiang Heng’s waist, but before he could stand up with him, he heard Jiang Heng’s muffled voice by his ear.

Jiang Heng had buried his head against Shen Huaizhi’s shoulder, making his shirt damp. Smiling slightly, he glanced at the Alphas still lying on the ground as he whispered, “Class President… I’m scared…”

The Alphas: ???

Who’s scared here, really???

Shen Huaizhi froze momentarily, then chuckled softly, patting Jiang Heng on the back to comfort him. “Got it. Don’t be afraid.”

No matter how many times it happened, he was always undone by Jiang Heng’s display of vulnerability. Every time, it softened his heart to the core.

He wrapped one arm around Jiang Heng’s back from beneath his shoulder, the other securing his waist, and helped him stand. Pressing his forehead to Jiang Heng’s to check his temperature, he asked softly, “Ready to go home?”

Jiang Heng was about to respond but hesitated, remembering the fried skewers he’d left on the other side of the alley. After a brief, pained pause, he nodded.

Forget it. There would be other skewers, but not another life.

Angry Alphas were scarier than anything.

Noticing his hesitation, Shen Huaizhi paused, casting a subtle glance at the Alphas, his expression darkening slightly.

The Alphas remained in their prone positions, too terrified to move. It was obvious that this Alpha was just as formidable as the Omega who’d taken them down, maybe even worse.

They were just out to make a quick buck—how had it come to this? The leader slowly tried to crawl in the other direction, hoping to spot the Omega they’d tried to rob earlier. But when he turned, there was no sign of that Omega in the corner anymore.

With Shen Huaizhi’s support, Jiang Heng leaned against him in a show of “brave resilience,” clutching tightly to Shen Huaizhi’s waist like he’d never let go, practically glued to him.

He Ci and Chen Xingchi exchanged looks, both suppressing a smirk.

At the entrance of the alley, He Ci finally asked, “Nothing serious, right?”

Jiang Heng didn’t look too bad—despite leaning heavily on Shen Huaizhi with an exhausted air, his complexion seemed fine. He didn’t look weak or like he might suddenly collapse.

Jiang Heng nudged Shen Huaizhi’s shoulder, burying his face against his neck, choosing to stay silent.

Shen Huaizhi replied, “He’s fine. I’ll take him back to change. You two should go change as well.”

“We’ll see about studying together tomorrow, depending on how things go.”

He Ci nodded, about to suggest they part ways, when he noticed Jiang Heng’s right hand subtly pointing behind him.

He Ci: ?

Following his gaze, he saw a familiar little floral umbrella swaying alone in the rain on the other side of the alley.

He Ci: …

Chen Xingchi: …

So they’d worried for nothing.

“Don’t forget to bring back the fried skewers.” As Shen Huaizhi passed by, he casually left this reminder, possibly noting Jiang Heng’s gesture.

Right after he said this, he felt Jiang Heng stiffen slightly in his arms, and Shen Huaizhi couldn’t help but smile.

“Craving them?” he asked as they headed to find a car.

Jiang Heng kept his head down, too embarrassed to lift it. After a moment, he nodded honestly. “It’s been a while since I had any.” He paused, sounding slightly indignant. “But how did you even notice the skewers?”

He had no idea when Shen Huaizhi had picked up on it.

Shen Huaizhi chuckled, tightening his arm around Jiang Heng’s waist, then changed the subject. “So, what’s the reason for the fight?”

Jiang Heng’s eyelids fluttered, and after a moment of silence, he admitted, “I was just passing by and saw someone getting mugged.”

Shen Huaizhi hummed. “Playing hero?”

“… It wasn’t really my plan; I was forced by the situation… They looked like weaklings…” He trailed off, his voice growing softer. Soaked as he was, Shen Huaizhi’s hand on his waist felt almost directly on his skin, the warmth a sharp contrast. As he finished, he noticed Shen Huaizhi’s fingers lightly brushing against his skin.

It wasn’t overly bold, but it sent a shiver down his spine. And it felt like Shen Huaizhi was doing it unintentionally.

“Did I… say something before?” Shen Huaizhi asked as they neared his car, slowing his steps.

Jiang Heng: “…”

With a bit of reluctance, Jiang Heng replied, “You did.” He’d promised before too. After a moment of hesitation, he admitted, “I was wrong… Shen Huaizhi, I’m sorry.”

Surprised at how quickly Jiang Heng apologized, Shen Huaizhi paused, then leaned down to press a kiss to his brow.

The street was nearly empty, and the rain had stopped.

“I didn’t say you were wrong; I just worry about you.” He sighed softly. “But there still has to be some consequence.”

Jiang Heng’s heart sank a bit, and he felt even guiltier.

Shen Huaizhi must have been really worried.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Heng said solemnly, “From now on, I’ll let you know everything so you don’t worry. I knew I could handle it, and I could tell they weren’t much of a threat.”

“Please don’t be angry. I know you’re worried about me.” Letting go of Shen Huaizhi’s support a bit, Jiang Heng adjusted his balance. Although he was a little cold, he still found himself unwilling to pull away completely. “If you’re not around, I’ll take care of myself and only do what I can handle.”

His voice softened, almost as if he was looking forward to the future. “But if you are by my side, I’ll just cheer you on.”

Shen Huaizhi nodded in response, his gaze deepening as he watched Jiang Heng’s face.

Then, after a pause, he gave Jiang Heng’s waist a gentle pinch. “Let’s go.”

“… All that aside, you’re still getting a punishment.”

Jiang Heng: “…”

Shen Huaizhi laughed, and it seemed he wasn’t really angry—mostly just worried. Seeing this, Jiang Heng’s heart softened too.

To have someone openly worry about him, to feel cared for… why did it feel so nice?

He thought to himself that he really needed to be worthy of Shen Huaizhi’s kindness.

As he was lost in thought, Shen Huaizhi’s gentle voice broke in again, “So, you need to grow up quickly.”

Jiang Heng: “…?”

Then Shen Huaizhi nudged him forward toward the car.

For a second, Jiang Heng’s expression went blank.

Fine, he took back everything he just thought.

All it took was once, and he might never be able to act like a decent person again.

The college entrance exams passed in the blink of an eye. Afterward, First High returned to regular classes, though now the school felt emptier with one grade missing. In the sophomore classrooms, teachers seemed to move in sync, writing “Countdown to College Entrance Exams” on the blackboards, with the number starting from 363 and ticking down day by day.

In those first few days seeing the countdown, everyone seemed burdened by a new layer of invisible pressure; even the usual jokesters became much quieter during breaks.

On the morning of the seniors’ return, Jiang Heng was lying on his desk, practicing English sentences from memory. Despite all his efforts, scoring well in English essays had been a challenge, so Shen Huaizhi had come up with a strategy: he wrote out past English essays for Jiang Heng to memorize, a few lines each day. Once Jiang Heng had mastered them, Shen Huaizhi would write new ones for him. With another year until the college entrance exams, this approach should help him accumulate enough phrases to piece together an essay.

Shen Huaizhi was seated beside him, going over Jiang Heng’s previous test answers. With finals around the corner, Jiang Heng had intensified his study efforts, even reviewing material on the way home.

“Class Rep,” Jiang Heng mumbled, nudging Shen Huaizhi’s foot, “how do you pronounce this word?”

He bit his pen, having memorized the spelling but unsure of the pronunciation. Just as Shen Huaizhi glanced down to help him, a sudden cheer erupted from outside the classroom.

Annoyed by the interruption, Jiang Heng looked out the window.

Within seconds, a flurry of test papers fell from the upper floors like oversized snowflakes, accompanied by the sound of running and more cheers.

Several classmates ran outside to watch the spectacle.

“Freedom at last!” someone yelled from above, followed by another round of paper “snow.” But before long, the sound of the Dean’s angry shouts filled the air.

“What are you looking at? Are you graduating yet?” The Dean stormed down the hallway, scolding the students peeking out at the scene. After shooing everyone back into the classroom, he stood by the balcony, adjusted his glasses, glanced up, and, hands on his hips, stomped upstairs in a fury.

“The Dean’s so fierce.”

“Sigh, I envy the seniors. When will we get to graduate?” A few students shoved each other back into the classroom, glancing wistfully at the countdown on the blackboard before reluctantly returning to their seats.

Before long, the seniors upstairs received a similar scolding. But to those who were now officially graduates, the Dean’s angry shouts were meaningless.

Their shouts only grew more cheerful. Jiang Heng bit his pen, exchanged a glance with Shen Huaizhi, then slowly turned his attention back to his notebook, muttering softly, “Ah, I don’t want to graduate.”

With his current grades, catching up to Shen Huaizhi in just one year seemed impossible. He wondered if the school would let him stay for another decade or so. Hearing this, Shen Huaizhi looked at him, a bit puzzled. “Why not? Once you graduate, you can play games, right? Didn’t you always say studying is too much?”

Recently, under the intense study load, Jiang Heng had taken to venting about studying multiple times a day, yet he still kept at it diligently.

Jiang Heng thought for a moment. “Well, when I graduate, we won’t be desk partners anymore, right?” He glanced out the window. The July heat pressed down, with not a hint of wind. Now that the seniors’ cheers had faded, the air felt stifling and heavy.

Shen Huaizhi found his response amusing, knowing this probably wasn’t the real reason but didn’t press him. “It’s okay,” he said after a pause, “we could live together then.”

Jiang Heng: “…?”

“Just keep it in mind,” Shen Huaizhi chuckled and went back to reviewing his sentences. They continued in silence, Shen Huaizhi marking papers while Jiang Heng studied.

The finals came and went quickly. With them over, the second-year students welcomed their last summer break of high school—and their last mountain of summer homework. Amidst complaints, the teachers waved them off with smiles.

When the exam results came out, Jiang Heng was at the Shen household, eating ice cream in the living room with Ruan Shu. Shen Huaizhi was out with his father and wouldn’t be back until evening. Ruan Shu, bored at home alone, had called over Jiang Heng, who had been spending most of his time absorbed in homework.

The living room was cool, so both of them wore long sleeves. Jiang Heng glanced at his phone, looking a bit secretive, and Ruan Shu, noticing, smiled warmly, “Is it your final exam results?”

Jiang Heng froze for a moment. He hadn’t experienced the tension of parents asking about scores right after exams, and biting his spoon, he felt an unexpected bit of nervousness.

Seeing his reaction, Ruan Shu’s smile grew even kinder. “No need to worry, Jiang Heng. Auntie won’t scold you.”

Jiang Heng forced a half-hearted smile, thinking, *You might not, but Uncle will.*

Probably because he’d never had the experience of raising a son, Shen’s father nearly took the whole “strict father” approach and applied it to Jiang Heng. Although every time he tried to put on a stern face, he couldn’t last a minute before Ruan Shu would send him off, Jiang Heng still felt the pressure a little. He even wondered if, as a child, Shen Huaizhi had been as mischievous as he was in his dreams—would he have gotten scolded every day?

But it was just a thought; he didn’t dare bring it up in front of Shen Huaizhi.

“Let Auntie have a look?” Ruan Shu smiled again. Jiang Heng hesitated for a moment but obediently handed over his scores. Compared to the midterms, his grades had improved a bit, though he felt he might be reaching his limit. He could clearly feel how challenging it was becoming.

Still, in senior year, the focus would be all about comprehensive review. Maybe then he could solidify his fundamentals.

Ruan Shu studied his report thoughtfully. “Very good, you’ve improved again! How about I make some braised pork trotters for you tonight?” She immediately abandoned her ice cream, stood up, and said, “I’d better go pick out the best ingredients. Is there anything else you’d like?”

Jiang Heng paused, then shook his head slowly. “Anything’s fine with me.”

Ruan Shu laughed. “Alright, let’s make it a feast.” She was about to head to the kitchen but stopped and turned back, as if suddenly remembering something. “Almost forgot—your birthday is coming up in a few days, isn’t it?”

Jiang Heng took a moment to react. He had actually forgotten about his own birthday. No one had reminded him; he used to just remember on his own, waiting for others to say something, though even his parents, Xie An and Jiang Jin, rarely did.

Seeing his expression, Ruan Shu’s face turned a bit more serious. “For us Omegas, the coming-of-age ceremony should be a grand occasion.”

Jiang Heng let out a faint “Oh.” Around Ruan Shu, he truly had no words.

“Oh, I’ll discuss it with Huaizhi when he gets back tonight. You just relax and eat your ice cream for now. Otherwise, he’ll come back and put on that serious face again,” Ruan Shu teased, “He’s the spitting image of his dad with that look.”

Jiang Heng couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, thank you, Auntie.”

It seemed like his life was entirely different from before. Taking another spoonful of ice cream, Jiang Heng’s smile was impossible to hide.

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

• 1
  You 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