Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The words, dripping with jealousy, fell from the impassive teenager’s lips, striking like a bolt from the blue and leaving everyone dumbfounded.

The man standing beside him, clutching a plush toy, stared at Ying Xi with wide, startled eyes, then at Li Yang.

Just from the tumultuous depths of his gaze, Li Yang knew a spectacular flight of fancy must already be unfolding in the man’s mind.

“Yes,” Li Yang pursed his lips, turning slightly away from Ying Xi. “We had plans. What are you doing here?”

Ying Xi mirrored his posture, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. “Just wandering around.”

The corner of the boy’s mouth curved upward, his frosty brows and eyes softening into a gentle smile—a warmth reserved only for those he held dear.

The man gaped, fumbling for his phone to capture this miraculous scene, but the plush toy was too large; his phone slipped from his grasp the moment he pulled it out.

Li Yang, relieved to escape Ying Xi’s intense gaze, bent down to retrieve the phone for him.

The man chuckled awkwardly, noticing Ying Xi’s stare, and quickly changed the subject. “So, are we still buying the store?”

Ying Xi: “Yes.”

“No,” Li Yang blurted out instinctively.

“Not buying,” Ying Xi stated coldly, his tone unyielding—a rare deviation from his usual resolve.

The man let out a strained, dry laugh, then tried to make himself inconspicuous, sneaking glances at Li Yang.

Li Yang, sensitive to others’ scrutiny, stated frankly, “I’m a beta.”

These words were also clearly intended for Ying Xi.

The protagonist should seek out the other lead, not waste time on a mere supporting character like himself.

Li Yang lowered his gaze, his long, thick lashes concealing the bewilderment in his eyes.

From this angle, Ying Xi could see the boy’s fair, delicate skin and soft features—he found it difficult to tear his eyes away.

“I know.”

No one could tell if he truly grasped the underlying meaning of that statement.

“Li Yang!” The Vice Monitor, having secured his desired blind box, burst out of the store, overjoyed. “I got it! Let’s go to the milk tea shop, my treat!”

Then he noticed the alpha standing beside Li Yang, whose aura alone proclaimed him to be no ordinary person. His words caught in his throat, abruptly cut off.

“Ying Xi, what are you doing here?”

“Just wandering,” Ying Xi replied, his voice unconsciously growing colder, reverting to his usual unemotional demeanor.

“Oh, oh, oh.” The Vice Monitor nodded repeatedly, winking at Li Yang. “Li Yang, let’s go. I’ll open the blind box at the milk tea shop.”

Ying Xi pressed his lips together, silent, but his formidable gaze remained fixed on the Vice Monitor.

The man, familiar with Ying Xi, recognized this gesture as a sign of displeasure.

Ying Xi rarely displayed his emotions; most of the time, no one could accurately discern whether he was happy or angry.

“Hey, classmate,” the man said with a cheerful smile, pointing at the blind box store. “I saw they just brought in two new boxes. If you’re not buying, could you pick one up for me?”

“I’ll buy it! I’ll buy it!” At the mention of blind boxes, the Vice Monitor seemed to get a shot of adrenaline, turning and sprinting back inside.

The man chuckled to himself, admiring his own cleverness.

He’d ask the Ying family for a raise tonight.

Li Yang couldn’t stop the Vice Monitor.

He turned to the boy beside him. “I’ll wait for him here. You can go on and continue your stroll.”

It was an obvious dismissal, but Ying Xi seemed oblivious, remaining steadfastly by his side.

“He’s buying blind boxes. I’ll accompany you to the milk tea shop.”

“I don’t drink milk tea,” Li Yang politely declined.

“Is it that you don’t want to drink with me, or that you genuinely don’t drink it?” Ying Xi seemed to catch on. “Li Yang, you seem to really dislike me.”

That was a bit of an overstatement; it wasn’t so much dislike as a desire to avoid contact.

Li Yang deliberately offered no reply.

Ying Xi answered his own question. “You don’t truly dislike me… Is it because I’m an alpha?”

Li Yang quickly regretted not leaving sooner.

Because the boy’s next words were utterly astonishing:

“I can have my scent glands removed. I don’t have to be an alpha.”

The man beside them looked as if his jaw had dropped to the floor. “…Young Master, do you know what you’re saying?”

This was pure delirium, utter nonsense.

“Do you like omegas?” Ying Xi lowered his gaze in thought, speaking earnestly. “An alpha can become an omega.”

The man’s look of utter horror was perfectly mirrored in Li Yang’s eyes.

Ying Xi’s words were so shocking that Li Yang’s brain stalled, leaving him standing there in a daze.

“Do you know what you’re saying?” Li Yang tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with confusion. “I don’t need you to do any of that for me, and it’s… strange.”

In an instant, Ying Xi transformed from a fierce beast ready for battle into a defeated, lifeless creature.

He drooped, his eyelids heavy, and fell silent.

The man, rarely seeing him so dejected, tried to ease the awkward atmosphere by initiating conversation. “Are you the Young Master’s friend?”

Li Yang almost blurted out “no,” but then he noticed Ying Xi subtly watching his reaction. Remembering his promise from yesterday—to be friends who wouldn’t take another step forward—he opened his mouth and said, “Yes.”

“Excellent!” The man seized the opportunity. “Come over tomorrow. The Young Master is really looking forward to spending time with you.”

This was clearly a case of speaking on someone else’s behalf.

The man proudly glanced at Ying Xi, and seeing little change in his expression, grew even more excited.

If this earned him a raise, from now on, he would be the Young Master’s personal spokesperson.

“No.” Li Yang’s previously somewhat gentle tone turned much colder. “We’re not that close.”

The man’s mind went blank, unsure how to respond for a moment.

“I bought several blind boxes!” The Vice Monitor burst out of the store, eager to share his spoils. “Let’s go, let’s head to the milk tea shop together. I’ll rest for a bit, open the blind boxes, and then we can go for dinner.”

He led the way, and Li Yang followed.

Ying Xi naturally assumed “together” included him, quietly trailing behind Li Yang.

The man, carrying two large plush toys, watched the trio’s retreating figures. After a brief thought, he asked a passerby to help him retrieve his phone.

The chat log was still open to the message: “Let him do as he pleases.”

The man replied: “The Young Master seems to have someone he likes… or rather, a crush.”

The other party instantly replied: “Assistant Min, don’t joke around. Does he look like the type to have a crush?”

The man gave a wry smile: “Seriously, the Young Master has been clinging to them non-stop.”

He secretly took a photo and sent it, along with all the information he had gathered: “It’s a beta, probably in the Young Master’s class, but they don’t seem very interested in him—even a bit… annoyed.”

The other party: “I like this kid at first sight.”

As the heir to the corporation, Ying Xi had been unavoidable in numerous social events and tedious interactions since childhood.

Initially, his family had hoped he would find someone he liked within their circle for a potential marriage alliance.

Later, no one dared to entertain such thoughts again.

Ying Xi was different from ordinary people; he had a degree of emotional detachment.

Many had expressed feelings for him, but he couldn’t accurately perceive their affection. Instead, he suspected they disliked him and were trying to bore him away with idle chatter.

Coupled with his cold and aloof nature, and his lack of interest in almost anything, the Ying family often worried, fearing that Ying Xi might end up alone.

Before Assistant Min could type a reply, the other party asked again: “Are you sure it’s genuine affection?”

Assistant Min: “I’ll need a raise for this.”

“No problem.”

The Vice Monitor loved to chat. Even with Ying Xi’s undeniable presence, he couldn’t resist talking at length about topics that interested him.

Ying Xi remained completely unresponsive throughout, as if surrounded by an invisible barrier.

Li Yang was better; he occasionally responded, providing emotional cues to keep the conversation from dying.

The Vice Monitor opened an app and handed his phone to Li Yang: “I’ll treat you both to milk tea. What would you like?”

Though he said “both,” he was too shy to ask Ying Xi directly, so he could only wink at Li Yang as a hint.

Li Yang ordered a fruit tea and politely handed the phone to Ying Xi.

Ying Xi added the same drink to the order.

“This one’s really good, I love it too,” the Vice Monitor said with a grin, seeing their fruit tea choices.

Li Yang nodded.

The conversation died again, and the Vice Monitor’s smile faltered as he massaged his stiff jaw.

The milk tea shop was bustling, but the trio’s corner was eerily silent, making them a peculiar sight amidst the lively atmosphere.

Assistant Min hurried over, just in time to see Ying Xi holding a fruit tea, sipping it expressionlessly. To put it nicely, he seemed more mature and composed than his peers; to put it bluntly, he resembled a block of wood.

Behind him stood a few people who wanted his contact information, hesitating whether to approach.

Assistant Min, using his soon-to-be-increased salary, ordered himself a milk tea, pulled up a chair opposite Ying Xi, and still managed to hold the two plush toys under each arm.

“Give them to me, please. Thank you,” the Vice Monitor said, finally recognizing the toys as his own.

“No need, they’re light,” Assistant Min waved him off. “So, where to next?”

“The Vice Monitor and I are heading back,” Li Yang said concisely.

They hadn’t discussed it beforehand, but the current awkward silence was not what the Vice Monitor had envisioned, so he nodded in agreement.

Assistant Min sighed, realizing Li Yang didn’t want to spend another moment with Ying Xi.

The Young Master was a bit pitiful; he finally found someone he liked, only to annoy them.

Ying Xi finished his fruit tea in five minutes. “I’ll treat you both to dinner,” he said, addressing the Vice Monitor.

To increase the chances of acceptance, he curved his lips into what he hoped was a warm and approachable smile.

But to the Vice Monitor, it was utterly terrifying. Under pressure, he reluctantly agreed.

“No,” Li Yang flatly refused. “I’m going to buy books. Don’t follow me.”

The Vice Monitor’s eyes widened, impressed by his courage.

“Okay.” Ying Xi nodded, tossing his empty milk tea cup.

As Li Yang left, Ying Xi was surrounded by several people asking for his contact information, completely obscuring his figure.

Li Yang withdrew his gaze, the image of Ying Xi’s dejected, puppy-like expression before he left lingering in his mind.

“Ying Xi is so strange,” the Vice Monitor scratched his head. “Why would someone like him hang out with us? And even offer to treat us to dinner? Does he need a favor? Or is it because we usually meddle too much, and he wants to teach us a lesson?”

He clutched his face with both hands, filled with dread, growing more convinced the more he spoke.

Li Yang’s feelings were complex: “I don’t know.”

“But, Li Yang,” the Vice Monitor paused, then solemnly placed his hands on Li Yang’s shoulders, staring earnestly into his eyes.

“Do you not know my name? You always call me Vice Monitor, never by my actual name.”

Li Yang: “I know, you…”

He paused, suddenly realizing he genuinely didn’t know the Vice Monitor’s name.

When he first transmigrated, Li Yang had seen the Vice Monitor’s name, but now it was completely blurred and he couldn’t recall it, only vaguely remembering it was three characters long.

“I knew it,” the Vice Monitor withdrew his hands. “My name is Wen Yun. Don’t forget it again.”

“I’ve got it, Wen Yun,” Li Yang repeated.

“So, shall we find a place to eat?” Wen Yun asked.

“I really have something to do,” Li Yang just wanted to go home and lie down; these two hours had drained half his energy.

“Buying books?” Wen Yun said. “Alright, then, see you at school.”

He stuffed the plush toy into Li Yang’s hands and watched him board the bus before lowering his head to gather his belongings.

A shadow fell over him, and the air grew taut. Wen Yun instinctively looked up.

A tall alpha stood there like an icy sculpture, motionless, his deep black pupils devoid of warmth, fixed on him.

An overwhelming sense of pressure enveloped him.

Wen Yun struggled to breathe, stammering, “Wh-what’s… what’s wrong?”

“Do you like Li Yang?” Ying Xi asked.

“Of course!” Wen Yun stammered even more. “The Class Monitor, the Class Monitor is very nice, and he even came shopping with me. I definitely, definitely like him.”

Ying Xi’s face darkened. Assistant Min, unable to bear it any longer, rushed over and interjected, “What he means is, do you like Li Yang in a romantic way? Like, wanting to marry him?”

“Oh, no!” Wen Yun breathed a sigh of relief, finally understanding. “I like him as a friend. Li Yang is so good; I’m sure many people like him.”

The words “I’m sure many people like him” echoed endlessly in Ying Xi’s ears, his gaze darkening. If that were the case, someone like him, who had been called boring since childhood, seemed to have even less of a chance.