The brown crocodile leather strap absorbed the warmth from the young man’s skin, feeling soft and heated to the touch, as if Wen Changming were physically touching him through the watch.
Wen Changming took off his original watch and replaced it with the new one.
A slight smile curled on his lips, and the golden frames of his glasses softened.
In the hall, the melodious sound of a violin enhanced the beautiful and romantic atmosphere. As an heir, Wen Changming had been exposed to a wide range of knowledge since childhood, and both his emotional intelligence and IQ were extraordinary. It was easy for him to make the young man smile brightly.
Dishes were served one after another, and the waiters moved back and forth, occasionally stealing glances at them.
Admiration for this high-quality couple lingered in their eyes.
The gemstone bracelet on the table sparkled, emitting a dazzling red glow. The young man was enjoying his dessert, the sweet and sour taste washing away the greasiness of the steak.
Wen Changming took a sip of water and casually asked, “You invited me for dinner today on your own? You didn’t bring your boyfriend. Did something happen between the two of you?”
The young man thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”
His one-sided silent treatment didn’t really count as a conflict.
“That’s great.” The words came out slowly as if squeezed through clenched teeth. The man smoothly shifted the topic, “Can I ask when Mr. Xia started dating?”
He chuckled, adding, “Just to satisfy a fan’s curiosity.”
“Yesterday.”
Wen Changming didn’t quite register it. “What?”
“I officially started dating him yesterday,” Xia Yan repeated.
Wen Changming: “…”
This answer hurt more than if he had said they had been together for half a month. If only he had arrived a bit earlier yesterday to stand between them, this relationship might not have worked out.
“Mr. Xia has countless admirers, yet you chose an Omega. That’s quite surprising,” the man said, lowering his voice. “Do you have any backup options?”
?
Xia Yan was stunned.
What the hell! This guy seemed so refined and courteous, speaking so charmingly, but in reality, he was a morally corrupt Alpha, subtly suggesting that Xia Yan cheat and have a backup plan.
Or perhaps… birds of a feather flock together?
Xia Yan mentally criticized him but outwardly remained indifferent, leaning back in his chair. His body stretched out, like a large cat before the hunt, his restrained muscles visible under his shirt, exuding vibrant energy.
He pursed his lips, saying arrogantly, “Do I need backup options?”
There were so many people who loved him. All he had to do was wave his hand, and countless people would willingly offer their hearts. Wen Changming’s words were essentially an insult to his personal charm.
The man quickly realized his mistake. “Apologies, I misspoke.”
After a brief pause, his gaze swept lightly over the young man. Seeing that he wasn’t angry, Wen Changming continued, “It’s just that, due to pheromones, BO couples are rare. I’m worried that, in the end, he might not be able to handle it and could hurt you.”
“So what?” The young man shrugged indifferently. “As long as he doesn’t bring up breaking up, we won’t separate.”
Ah, the life of a cannon fodder character, always the same.
Sigh! When will he finally get a world where he gets to dump the protagonist shou instead of passively reacting? That would make things so much easier.
Xia Yan was lost in his own thoughts and didn’t notice the sudden gloom in the man’s expression.
“…I see.”
“What?” He looked up. “What did you say?”
“Nothing,” Wen Changming adjusted his glasses, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, and his jawline clean and sharp. He quietly gazed at Xia Yan. “I just realized something.”
At that moment, it was as if a slumbering hunter had awakened, ready for a do-or-die battle.
Though the man’s gaze was gentle and elegant, with no hint of aggression, Xia Yan instinctively straightened his back, his heart pounding in his chest.
The young man lowered his gaze, his long, thick lashes casting a small shadow on his lower eyelids.
At some point, dark clouds began to gather in the sky, hiding the sunlight and weighing heavily on the world below.
A loud clap of thunder echoed as heavy rain began to pour, the windows rattling from the downpour.
“How odd. The weather forecast said it would be sunny today.”
“Mistakes happen. Looks like a quick thunderstorm; it should pass soon.”
“A thunderstorm in October feels a bit strange.”
“Yeah, it does, haha.”
…
In the distance, faint murmurs from the people could be heard.
Xia Yan snapped back to reality.
He glanced at his phone. Due to Shen Wenqing’s constant calls, the battery had drained quickly, and now it was down to 26%.
Ignoring the missed calls, he checked the weather forecast. As expected, the screen showed clear skies for the next three days.
A fleeting sense of unease crossed his mind, but before he could dwell on it, Wen Changming interrupted with another question. Xia Yan continued to play along with his persona, following the flow of their conversation.
—
At 5:30 p.m.
The rain had just stopped, and the air was thick with moisture. The sky was a dull gray, with only the setting sun in the west casting a faint red glow on the horizon.
Xia Yan walked near S University, carrying three bags, his expression blank.
[I came to settle debts, but how did I owe even more?] Xia Yan couldn’t figure it out, so he vented to the system in his mind.
[Maybe it’s… the power of money.] the system responded.
[…] Well, that wasn’t wrong.
Wen Changming appeared kind and gentle, but he always found ways to make Xia Yan accept his gifts.
If Xia Yan hadn’t found an excuse to slip away, he would still be at the department store, being showered with things.
Since he had accepted the gifts, he might make use of them.
He would take these items, which had been given by someone else, to the boyfriend, whom he had ignored all day. If things went well… perhaps he could complete Task Five?
However… fate had other plans.
Xia Yan had barely walked halfway when the system’s mission panel popped up, glowing ominously red.
???
Wait a minute! This felt oddly familiar.
[Side Mission: Help ‘Halda’ Laboratory complete the new Omega suppressant. (This is a key pillar of the world. If it’s not completed, this small world will collapse on its own.)
Xia Yan: “…” Of course.
But who is ‘Halda’? It sounded familiar, but he couldn’t remember. Does it have anything to do with the protagonists?
He looked around and found a quiet alley to stand in. He pulled out his phone, which was nearly out of battery, and searched for ‘Halda.’ Instantly, countless news articles popped up.
There was so much information, it was overwhelming.
It was difficult to navigate using only one hand, so Xia Yan placed his shopping bags on the ground and focused entirely on searching.
…
The sky grew darker, the street lights flickered on, and fewer pedestrians were out. The cold autumn air carried a hint of melancholy.
In the dim alley, the cold white light from the phone screen highlighted the young man’s furrowed brow.
There was no information about ‘Halda’ Laboratory online.
Which made sense—something that secretive wouldn’t be easily available to the public. Xia Yan rubbed his temples, and just then, his phone flickered twice before abruptly shutting off.
—The battery that had lasted all day had finally given out.
Xia Yan: “…”
When it rains, it pours.
Forget it, he’ll stick to the original plan and head to the protagonist shou’s place. He grabbed his things and continued walking towards the protagonist shou’s apartment, only to realize… he was lost.
He had always driven here before. Walking for the first time, he couldn’t get his bearings without GPS.
The system suggested helpfully: [You could hail a taxi.]
[…] After a moment of silence, Xia Yan responded dryly: [Then what, tell the driver I’m lost 600 meters from my destination?]
[…]
Both Xia Yan and the system fell into thoughtful silence.
He wandered around in circles. In the dark of night, everything looked unfamiliar, as if daytime’s familiar landmarks had donned a disguise.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing in his ears.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Tap. Tap.
Tap.
Even though the road was empty, there was an eerie echo, like someone matched his steps.
The sound gripped Xia Yan’s attention, forcing him to feel the world around him.
Several streetlights fragmented his shadow into pieces, and in the hazy light, it seemed like a new shadow had split off beside him. A gust of autumn wind blew past, and the young man shivered.
His brows furrowed, his delicate face cold and tense: [Something feels off.]
[?]
[It sounds like there’s another set of footsteps.]
The sounds overlapped in front and one behind, then separated, gradually drawing closer.
With his nerves on edge, Xia Yan suddenly thought of the stalker from before. He took a deep breath, his eyes quickly scanning his surroundings. After confirming his escape route, he bolted.
Standing at 1.81 meters tall, with broad shoulders and long legs, Xia Yan hadn’t neglected his fitness even after crossing into this world. His good physique and stamina were finally coming in handy at this moment.
Like an arrow shot from a bowstring, the young man dashed forward.
The person behind him gave chase, and the footsteps grew more pronounced.
As Xia Yan kept an eye on the side paths, he didn’t forget to speak to the system: [So I wasn’t imagining it. Someone is definitely following me.]
[…] The system responded, [Focus, don’t get distracted.]
Xia Yan’s speed would’ve easily allowed him to escape if this were the previous world. Unfortunately, Alphas were naturally stronger in this world, physically overpowering the other two genders, putting Xia Yan at a disadvantage.
Through the shadow, Xia Yan saw the person reaching out towards him.
Gritting his teeth, he suddenly twisted his body and swept one long leg backward, landing a heavy kick to the man’s calf with a dull thud. The man stumbled, nearly falling.
Nearly.
“Ow! That hurt!” The man spat, reeking of alcohol, his eyes dazed. He sniffed the air and grumbled, “Where have you been messing around? You’re covered in an Alpha’s scent.”
Xia Yan: “???” Are you out of your mind?
