Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Meng Shijiu seemed glued to the sofa, not wanting to budge an inch, watching as the cold-faced Alpha walked step by step toward him.

Meng Shijiu: "Is Ah Y working for you?"

If so, then from the moment he entered NO3, every detail that aligned with his preferences—from the custom ice cream pastries to the crisp incense in the lounge and the lilies at the entrance—was likely deliberately arranged by the person before him.

It was him, after learning about his tastes, preferences, and even habits, deliberately catering to and pleasing him.

Their encounter this time was most likely Jue Ning's long-premeditated plan.

Earlier, Meng Shijiu had asked Yue Xuanli what she wanted to give him.

The moment he asked, he immediately guessed it was the Silver Cocoon.

Because if Jue Ning could anticipate his arrival, then what Yue Xuanli intended to give him must have a direct connection to him.

Coupled with the fact that it was something a battle junkie like Yue Xuanli would give, it was most likely the Silver Cocoon.

—He not only knew Meng Shijiu was the second young master of Frost, but also knew that the new student who stirred up a storm on the forum was the "Sleep God" who gained fame during the first training session.

Jue Ning had done far more than simply investigate him.

While Meng Shijiu was still lost in thought, Jue Ning had already stood before him.

The Alpha sinking into the sofa had light-colored pupils that appeared slightly unfocused from thinking, as if veiled in a layer of mist.

—He still loves to space out so much, Jue Ning thought.

Like when facing Qian Chunyan, the playful student council president, Meng Shijiu was lost in thought about the strange atmosphere inside St. Maria; or when Pei Ruji's pheromones erupted, pushing him against the door to interrogate him, he was pondering why Pei Ruji's pheromones were completely different from those in the original story...

Jue Ning smiled faintly. His features were rather stern, so his smile carried a hint of ruthless, detached cruelty and eeriness.

Meng Shijiu's spacing out was actually another form of indifference. A kind of confidence. An absolute need to control the situation.

Meng Shijiu probably didn't even realize it himself, but he had long been accustomed to bringing everything around him under his control.

Faced with his distraction, Jue Ning should have felt a bit displeased.

But the thought that this beautiful Alpha, whose emotions were always so subtle, was most likely at this moment thinking about how he had tracked down his information—

He was thinking about him. Thinking about Jue Ning.

This realization made the corner of Jue Ning's mouth twitch almost uncontrollably, nearly unable to suppress the rising excitement and desire within him.

Yet he still used a gentle tone, with a slightly stiff smile—

"You're so clever, Xiao Jiu."

Meng Shijiu's guess was correct.

From the moment Meng Shijiu left the Chris Sea, Jue Ning had never given up searching for his traces.

It was just too difficult to track.

The silver-haired Alpha was like a mermaid who suddenly appeared on the coast of Chris; Meng Shijiu couldn't be tracked easily either.

Until the first photo of a certain never-low-key Alpha spread from St. Maria.

Since then, every appearance of the silver-haired Alpha on campus had been under his surveillance.

But he never made a rash move.

Jue Ning never lost a second time.

Starting from the first time his underestimation allowed the silver-haired Alpha to slip away effortlessly, he had never underestimated this mysterious Alpha again.

He saw this Alpha's aloofness, perfunctoriness, unusually low will to live, and faint, elusive tenderness—as well as those mesmerizing eyes.

Jue Ning was the first person in this world to witness Meng Shijiu using his powers.

He was far more suspicious and cautious than Meng Shijiu imagined. Upon seeing the eerie sense of familiarity exuded by the silver-red mecha in the "So Sleepy" video, along with the chaotic flow of time, he had already suspected Meng Shijiu.

He saw the same formidable power and detachment that characterized Meng Shijiu himself.

Meng Shijiu was agitated, conflicted.

This detachment and agitation only made him more fascinated.

Even without meeting this Alpha a second time, Jue Ning's desire to possess him grew increasingly intense.

But he also understood more clearly that the impression he left on Meng Shijiu during their first meeting was definitely not a good one.

He restrained himself, waiting only for the right moment.

A patient hunter deserves the prey he desires.

...

...

"How did you know Yue Xuanli is my brother?"

Jue Ning: "I didn't know. It's just that your brother also has the surname Meng." He was merely guessing.

But coincidentally, he happened to know Meng Shiyan.

Meng Shijiu blinked lightly.

NO3 was right under Jue Ning's nose. He knew about Meng Shijiu's relationship with Yue Xuanli and the existence of the Silver Cocoon.

He had known all along that he would come to NO3.

—Perhaps he couldn't be certain, but he still prepared everything.

Only waiting for him to take his seat.

Meng Shijiu asked the most crucial question: "Why did you bet on time with me?"

"You seem to have some kind of ability to control time?" Jue Ning no longer beat around the bush, his gaze heavy as he looked at him.

"I guess you must want to know to what extent I understand you?"

He looked like a devout believer who, having found faith, selflessly offered everything without seeking anything in return.

But in Meng Shijiu's eyes, he seemed like a very typical businessman.

Calculating every step.

Luring Meng Shijiu into his territory, then handing the choice back to him.

It wasn't that he so much wanted Meng Shijiu to forget the slight unpleasantness of their first meeting—he wanted him, even after knowing his true intentions, to willingly walk toward his fangs, to expose his vulnerable neck to them, to submit.

He regarded Meng Shijiu as a prized catch he was satisfied with at first sight, but no matter how much he liked him, it was all just a lofty pretense.

But often...

Meng Shijiu thought of that person.

But often, in the end...

If he couldn't have him, he only wanted to destroy him.

And when he truly destroyed him, he regretted it.

See mused: "Host, you don't dislike him?"

Meng Shijiu: "With his smarts, he'd probably avoid approaching me in a way I'd dislike."

See: "Really? You don't dislike him at all?"

Meng Shijiu simply said: "My dislike is also precious."

Meng Shijiu was someone who judged himself by his intentions and others by their actions.

Some came with pure intentions, others hid knives behind their smiles.

In any case, they were all outside his door.

Mentioning the bet, Meng Shijiu suddenly wanted to raise the stakes.

"—Can you promise me two things?"

Jue Ning, who was leaning in at some point, was too close, his black eyes beneath silver-gray hair unfathomably deep.

His hair was much darker than Meng Shijiu's; seeing him up close was like facing some cold, slimy creature.

Jue Ning: "What does Xiaojiu want?"

Meng Shijiu: "First. Go find Shen Huaixu, tell him I sent you, and no matter what he asks you to do, agree to it."

This was what he had planned from the start.

"The second?" Jue Ning raised an eyebrow, taking it in stride.

"The second."

Meng Shijiu's jade-green eyes suddenly shimmered with a tenderness so sweet it was almost affectionate—an expression rarely seen on his face, making Jue Ning's heart waver.

He said.

"Take me to see the sea."

"..."

"Now?" Jue Ning quirked his lips in surprise.

"Of course not." Meng Shijiu lazily pushed Jue Ning away and stood up from the sofa, his silver hair slipping softly with the movement.

"Let's owe it for now."

...

When Meng Shijiu came out, only Cui Suifu stood outside the door.

The red-haired Alpha looked gloomy. Seeing Meng Shijiu emerge, he pulled him over and checked him over, confirming he was unharmed.

"Patting a dog?" Meng Shijiu slapped his hand away again with a "smack." He took out his terminal, preparing to send a message to Yue Xuanli, and casually asked: "Where's A-Y?"

"Dragged off by your brother for a 'chat,'" Cui Suifu glanced at the time. "If you want to see him at this hour—"

"You might have to go to the hospital."

Meng Shijiu decided against messaging Yue Xuanli, simply replying with "I'm heading back first" before turning off his terminal and continuing forward.

Cui Suifu didn't speak, silently following behind him like an oversized shadow.

He stared gloomily at the silver-haired Alpha's back the whole way, but Meng Shijiu paid him no mind.

Suddenly, Cui Suifu spoke up coldly.

"—Where's your mask?"

Meng Shijiu took a moment to process.

"...Stolen by a thief."

Realizing who Meng Shijiu meant by "thief," Cui Suifu immediately started cursing Jue Ning under his breath, keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing Meng Shijiu.

Like a buzzing insect in Meng Shijiu's ear, droning on until he felt drowsy.

Meng Shijiu: Angry.JPG

As if a gust of wind had blown by.

Time stood still once more.

By the time Cui Suifu reacted, Meng Shijiu had already vanished.

A corridor somewhere in NO3.

See screamed in Meng Shijiu's mind: "Ahhhhh—"

See wiped away tears: "We agreed you'd use your ability less!"

Meng Shijiu felt guilty: "Next time, next time..."

Amid See's chattering voice, the silver-haired Alpha twirled a strand of silver hair between his fingers, his long eyelashes half-lowered, as he wandered leisurely toward the exit.

The side door wasn't crowded, with little light.

A breeze blew in, carrying a chill.

The moonlight swayed like gauze, honing the shadow of the person at the door to a sharp edge.

It laid a layer of frost as thin as a cicada's wing upon the ground.

...

For a moment, the wind and moonlight seemed to stretch on forever.

Yue Xuanli had waited a long time.

He watched as Meng Shijiu walked toward him, step by step.

This corridor was so long he could see clearly how Meng Shijiu's long hair swayed behind him in lingering arcs, see his fair hand twirling the ends of his hair into a flower, and see the light fall upon him as his shadow lengthened.

Bit by bit, he discerned his brows and eyes, his lips, and his faint, elusive smile.

He saw him finally notice the black-haired, green-eyed Alpha waiting at the door, and saw the faint, gentle smile turned his way in those light-colored eyes.

Until he stood right in front of him.

"The Silver Cocoon key," Yue Xuanli heard himself say.

He saw himself place the key into Meng Shijiu's palm, his fingertips brushing against the other's cool skin—a fleeting touch.

Yue Xuanli: "You promised me."

Yue Xuanli didn't finish, but Meng Shijiu knew what he meant.

He had casually agreed to spar with Yue Xuanli today.

Meng Shijiu: "..."

Meng Shijiu didn't speak.

Meng Shijiu just looked at him.

A hint of resentment shone in his eyes.

Meng Shijiu's verdict on Yue Xuanli: "An autistic kid with no life."

Meng Shijiu chose to just slump against him.

The silver-haired Alpha leaned straight into him, using no force at all, yet soft as a cloud, melting into rain upon touching the black-haired Alpha's chest.

Meng Shijiu closed his eyes.

"Spare me..." A long sigh brushed against Yue Xuanli's chest like a feather.

The soft, cool sensation solidly met his embrace, the air filled with the cold, indifferent pheromones of the person in his arms, released restlessly, as if he couldn't be bothered to hold back.

Yue Xuanli lowered his gaze.

Meng Shijiu's rut period wasn't over at all.

The black-haired Alpha rested his chin lightly on the silver-haired Alpha's soft hair, his inscrutable eyes betraying no emotion.

The pheromones unconsciously attacking him stirred a restless heat within, yet Yue Xuanli chose to tighten his arms, holding him tighter and tighter, like a drowning man clinging to a piece of driftwood.

As if to press the man into his very heart.

Meng Shijiu cracked his eyes open, whispering: "What's wrong?"

Yue Xuanli also whispered: "I don't know."

Meng Shijiu closed his eyes again, his voice muffled against Yue Xuanli's chest: "I'm going to break my promise."

Yue Xuanli: "You can keep breaking it."

The moonlight was gentle.

Tree shadows swayed.

Meng Shijiu chuckled softly: "Is that a promise?"

Yue Xuanli:

"This is my wish for you."