Chapter 14

Chapter 14

014

An equal romantic relationship.

The next day, he followed the instructions on the school forum and attended his classes.

Since his dorm was in Building Two East, he had to wake up twenty minutes earlier to make it on time. Nevertheless, by the time he arrived at the classroom, everyone else was already there.

The Omega Academy was not small, with a total of five classes. Unfortunately, Chu Li and Chu Heyang were in the same class.

The moment he entered, Chu Heyang's gaze was fixed on him. Unlike the original owner's introverted nature, Chu Heyang was like a little sun outside, having many friends. At that moment, those people were seated beside Chu Heyang, looking at Chu Li with less than friendly expressions.

However, Chu Li paid no attention. He was skeptical about the content of this course; whether he learned or not made little difference. He was just there to fulfill the requirement.

He chose the farthest corner to sit in and spread out his book on the desk.

After a while, the teacher arrived.

"Class, turn to page 35 of 'The Omega Handbook.' Today, we'll be discussing self-care after being marked."

"As we all know, an Omega's glands are among the most vital erogenous zones in their body, and being marked is an inevitable experience for every Omega. There are two types of marks: temporary and permanent. A temporary mark is..."

He elaborated on the differences between the two types of marks, which aligned with what Chu Li had learned from online forums.

When discussing permanent marks, the teacher added, "A permanent mark is a serious matter that should ideally occur after marriage. If you receive one before marriage, you'll have less leverage in your relationship. Should your Alpha cheat before tying the knot, you'll find yourself in a very vulnerable position."

Chu Li couldn't help but curl his lip. Cheating... wasn't it something that could still happen even after marriage?

Moreover, wasn't it said that Alphas and Omegas were mutually attracted by each other's pheromones? If an Omega wouldn't be attracted to another Alpha after being marked, why wouldn't an Alpha be able to get marked by an Omega, thus eliminating the possibility of cheating?

Raising his hand in class, he indicated that he had a question.

The teacher looked at him and asked, "Chu Li, what's your query?"

Chu Li replied, "Does this imply that the marking between Alphas and Omegas is unequal? Why can't an Omega mark an Alpha, preventing them from desiring other Omegas or Betas?"

His question silenced the entire classroom.

Other Omegas gaped at Chu Li in astonishment, as if he had posed an extraordinary question.

Chu Heyang couldn't hold back and whispered, "Are you insane?"

Chu Li was baffled. "What's wrong?"

The teacher frowned. "This is not a question you should be asking. The bonding between Alphas and Omegas is mutual, but even with a bond, there are still those who are unfaithful to their partners, regardless of whether they are Alphas or Omegas."

Chu Li interrupted the teacher. "Teacher, you haven't directly answered my question."

"Chu Li," the teacher's expression turned stern. "This is not something you should inquire about. If you have no further questions, turn to the next page."

With that, he flipped to the next page himself.

Chu Li raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue.

When the class ended, the teacher packed up his teaching materials and prepared to leave, casting a deliberate glance at Chu Li before departing.

Chu Li was utterly perplexed. He had only asked a reasonable question; why was he being regarded with such fear and suspicion?

The moment the teacher left, Chu Heyang eagerly stood up and exclaimed to Chu Li, "Are you out of your mind? You actually asked the teacher if the AO bond is equal? We all know that Alphas are proud creatures; how could you even consider marking an Alpha?"

Chu Li looked at him even more puzzled. "How does their pride conflict with my desire for a relationship based on mutual respect? Do you honestly wish to be unilaterally marked by an Alpha?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Heyang's face flushed red.

To be honest, he really did wish for it.

Finding an outstanding Alpha to establish a permanent bond was every Omega's dream.

Within Omega Academy, it was the ultimate goal of their studies.

Compared to Omegas who could only choose Alphas, Alphas had far more options. They could choose male or female Omegas, female Betas, or even, in some cases, other Alphas for more adventurous ones.

In this light, Omegas didn't have much competitive edge, especially when compared to female Omegas who could conceive at any time without the inconvenience of heat cycles. Male Omegas, who could only open their reproductive cavities during heat with higher birthing risks, faced even stiffer competition.

If Chu Li had observed closely, he would've noticed that the majority of Omega Academy students were males.

Given this context, Chu Heyang was about to scold Chu Li for his nonsense. But then he remembered that Chu Li had already been marked – by some unknown beggar, no less. Even if Chu Li had any intentions, it was too late now.

Resentment swiftly transformed into schadenfreude as he folded his arms, watching Chu Li with a sneer. "Haha, an idiot like you could never understand the bliss of the final Alpha-Omega bond. You won't have the chance to experience it, either."

The Alpha who had marked him still hadn't shown up. Apparently, he must think this Omega was too unworthy and had no intention of claiming him.

What an immense humiliation for an Omega!

Chu Heyang instantly 'forgave' Chu Li and shot him another cold glance before returning to his group of friends, who joined in mocking Chu Li.

Chu Li was helpless. He couldn't comprehend the workings of their minds, so he decided not to argue with them. Lowering his head, he packed his belongings, ready to leave. However, a sudden commotion at the door caught his attention.

A Beta appeared at the entrance and called out to the classroom, "Chu Li, someone's looking for you."

The room fell silent, all eyes on Chu Li. Confused, he didn't recognize anyone here. Who could be looking for him?

Since the person had already come this far, Chu Li finished packing and stood up, preparing to go down and see who it was.

To his surprise, it turned out to be someone he knew.

It was Peng Zihao, the one who had escorted him to his dorm earlier.

Peng Zihao was an Alpha, and his presence attracted the attention of many Omegas. He was likely a prominent figure in school. As Chu Li approached him, he could clearly sense the chilly glances around him.

He had just engaged in a debate with Chu Heyang about the fairness of the AO bonding. At this moment, he felt resistant to the societal gender divisions. Standing before Peng Zihao, he couldn't help but purse his lips. "You were looking for me?"

Leaning lazily against a tree by the dormitory entrance with a ball in his arms, Peng Zihao exuded the scent and hormones of an Alpha. Gazing at Chu Li with a faint smile in his eyes, he said, "Yes, it's almost noon. I wanted to ask if your offer to treat me to a meal still stands?"

Chu Li paused. It was his own promise, and since Peng Zihao had come to him, he couldn't renege on it. He replied reluctantly, "It still counts."

Peng Zihao glanced at what Chu Li was carrying and suggested, "Shall we go, then?"

Chu Li: "..."

Initially, he had only intended to thank the senior who had helped him, but the stares from others made the situation awkward. He sighed inwardly, realizing that he had let his guard down and failed to fully grasp the differences between his gender and that of this young man.

He shouldn't have so easily agreed to go out for a meal with Peng Zihao.

Reflecting deeply on himself, Chu Li decided to put an end to this peculiar relationship right here. He smiled generously and said, "Let's go. My treat, as thanks for Senior helping me find my dorm earlier."

He spoke loudly enough that the curious glances around them lessened slightly – it turned out they were just thanking each other, and people had mistaken their relationship for something more!

The news reached Chu Heyang's ears soon after: "Yang Yang, it seems they only went out to eat together. Your brother said Peng Zihao helped him."

"Who do you think you're calling my brother?" Chu Heyang shot an annoyed glance at the speaker. "You actually believe such an excuse?"

As expected, he hadn't misjudged Chu Li. His brother didn't seem to care about being permanently imprinted; he was a wild soul at heart. Now that there were no constraints, he was starting to make his moves on those around him! Hooking up with Shu Chengxian was one thing, but to have already found a second person so quickly!

Peng Zihao seemed to be from the military district. The military district was different from other departments – it served as a reserve force for the Empire's Expeditionary Army! Joining the Expeditionary Army was an honor for any Alpha.

Sitting by the window, Chu Heyang glared down at the scene below with resentment. Walking side by side, Chu Li and Peng Zihao were oblivious to how blind Peng Zihao must be to find Chu Li attractive!

——

Outside, Chu Li walked with Peng Zihao towards the cafeteria entrance under the watchful eyes of others. They were headed to the internal cafeteria for Omegas, where everyone was an Omega. Upon seeing the two approach, the Omegas inside stopped eating, their gazes fixed on the pair.

It wasn't that they all had feelings for Peng Zihao; it was simply unusual for an Alpha to visit the Omega Academy, and thus, everyone was curious and intrigued.

Chu Li wasn't usually socially anxious, but even he was starting to feel uncomfortable in this environment. Just as he was feeling uneasy, a soft 'meow' came from beside him.

Chu Li had only heard such a mournful and melancholic voice from a cat before. He turned his head and saw the little Li Hua Cat lying in a flower bed not far away, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

Chu Li: "…" What should he do? He felt like he had been caught playing with another dog.

The way the little Li Hua Cat was staring at him seemed to be questioning why he didn't let it be his cat but was willing to go out and have dinner with someone else.

Chu Li: "…"

He shifted uncomfortably, and this movement caught Peng Zihao's attention. Peng Zihao, thinking himself considerate, glanced into the nearby bushes and noticed the still-present Li Hua Cat.

The little cat was furious. Its two-legged creature was mingling with stinky humans! It was unhappy and was about to cause a scene!

The cat in the grass didn't leave even after being discovered. It sat upright, its ears perked up, with the two tufts of black fur at the tips especially noticeable. Besides, its tail swished irritably against the ground while its emerald-green eyes fixated on Peng Zihao, giving Peng Zihao an illusion that he was being hunted by the cat.

But it was so small and soft-bodied. What could it possibly do?

Peng Zihao chuckled and looked away. "There are actually stray cats in the Omega Academy. I'll report this to the principal later. What if these unassuming creatures accidentally hurt you?"

Chu Li knew that some people disliked cats and felt uneasy with strays around, considering them dangerous and troublemakers.

But Li Hua Cat had come with him, and it was very obedient, rarely appearing in places with people. It probably stationed itself by the canteen entrance just to catch a glimpse of him.

Feeling uneasy at Peng Zihao's words, he responded, "What cat? You must be mistaken. Here's the canteen; let's go in."