Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The silver-haired Alpha got up, leaning back as he did so, his long legs bending to scoop See into his arms.

He slid down lazily, his back pressing against the cold wall, sinking into the shadows.

From Qian Chunyan's perspective, he could see the silver-haired Alpha's eyelashes lowered, slowly lifting as he gave a lazy glance of greeting before drooping again.

Meng Shijiu had one hand pressing down on the cat's head while the other swiped across his terminal, looking like he was replying to messages. He looked utterly drained, like an empty shell, lounging indifferently in that confined space.

Qian Chunyan raised an eyebrow and moved closer, stopping only when his calf touched the edge of Meng Shijiu's bed. "—Where were you last night?"

Before Meng Shijiu could answer, Qian Chunyan's expression suddenly tightened.

"Wait."

The blond Beta's voice became strangely distant-sounding in an instant.

The silver-haired Alpha sitting on the bed still wore a cold expression, but that coldness, combined with a face that seemed dewy and damp, created a contradictory, alluring appeal.

This vividly beautiful face suddenly took on an unspoken intimacy, much like his waist and legs.

Qian Chunyan's mind went blank for a moment, his voice tinged with something odd. "Is your heat starting?"

Meng Shijiu: ?

Seeming to realize his own bluntness, Qian Chunyan looked away. "Ahem... are you in rut?"

Meng Shijiu put down his terminal and finally looked up at Qian Chunyan.

The blond Beta stood stiffly by his bedside, looking as if he had been about to sit down but suddenly discovered a thousand needles on the bed—no, that wasn't quite right.

Meng Shijiu had half a mind to look under the bed to see if a poisonous snake had coiled around Qian Chunyan's ankle, rooting him to the spot.

Receiving no answer, Qian Chunyan turned back instinctively.

Meng Shijiu pointed to his own throat and waved a hand.

Qian Chunyan: "You..."

Qian Chunyan frowned: "You can't speak?"

Meng Shijiu nodded and flipped his terminal screen around.

—"Temporary. Not in rut."

Qian Chunyan stammered: "Oh, oh."

Qian Chunyan: "...Why is your face so red?"

Meng Shijiu nodded.

Qian Chunyan didn't get the nod, then watched as Meng Shijiu typed out a line right in front of him on his terminal—"Why is your face so red."

The silver-haired Alpha picked up the mirror See had brought over earlier and thrust it right in front of Qian Chunyan.

Qian Chunyan's focus sharpened.

The Beta in the mirror had a flushed face, his ears burning as if on fire, red and almost translucent, the color spreading from behind his ears to his cheekbones. His usually brilliant, bold face had lost all its bravado, his alluring peach-blossom eyes smoldering with agitation.

Qian Chunyan cursed inwardly and suddenly raised a hand to wipe his face.

"I... I... have good physical fitness, good circulation."

Meng Shijiu was quite satisfied, as if to say he'd learned something: "Me too."

Qian Chunyan: ...

Qian Chunyan: "You still haven't said where you were last night?"

The Beta seemed to have suddenly clued in, abruptly returning to the first question.

When Meng Shijiu couldn't speak, he would watch people closely, as if confirming they understood him. His expressions were more vivid than usual, like a kitten discovering a camera lens, making one only brave enough to look from behind the lens.

But this time, even though he hadn't typed anything on his terminal, Qian Chunyan still looked away. "Just don't do it again."

Meng Shijiu: .

Meng Shijiu: You always have this confidence to hear someone's "none of your business" as "I'm sorry, I was wrong."

Yet, as if talking to himself, Qian Chunyan suddenly muttered before walking away from his bedside: "Anyway, since you can't even talk now, I can finally watch over you from now on, right?"

Meng Shijiu: ?

Meng Shijiu said to See: "He still hasn't dropped this notion?"

See: "..."

Meng Shijiu sighed: "Ah, persistent humans."

See sneered: "Ah, foolish humans."

—

By the time training ended, Meng Shijiu had already eaten during off-peak hours. And due to various reasons, the silver-haired Alpha had neither replied to the messages from Cui Suifu that had piled up since yesterday nor to the one Shen Huaixu had sent twenty minutes ago.

When Ying Canglun knocked on the room door, it was Qian Chunyan who answered.

Qian Chunyan: "What is it?"

Ying Canglun didn't understand why this young master was suddenly in the mood to answer the door himself and said instinctively: "Captain Jing is outside the dorm... he's looking for Shijiu."

Meng Shijiu heard this, recalled something, picked up his terminal, and walked to the door.

Qian Chunyan's gaze stayed fixed on him: "I'm coming with you."

Meng Shijiu said nothing, simply shutting the door behind him.

Meng Shijiu: Something's wrong with him. Stop being so clingy.

Qian Chunyan, left behind: His hand must have slipped.

...

Jing Shu, waiting outside, appeared to be alone but had actually brought along a bunch of busybodies.

It was impossible to understand how the news had leaked, but as soon as Jing Shu arrived on Meng Shijiu's dormitory floor, a crowd had gathered around the corner—all from the Combat Department.

Jing Shu couldn't fathom why simply exchanging contact information required such a grand spectacle, and a chill emanated from him.

The field ops squad members, who seemed to have nerves of steel but were really just distracted by a pretty face, all shot pleading looks at the deputy captain. The wily old deputy captain broke out in a cold sweat but maintained a dignified facade, saying to Jing Shu:

"This is a historic moment, like when two nations first establish ties; of course, it needs to be witnessed by the people."

Jing Shu said nothing, but when Meng Shijiu came out, he effortlessly turned sideways, blocking the view of the group of onlooking team members.

The squad members hiding around the corner thought to themselves: Captain, are you hogging the feast for yourself?!

Meng Shijiu handed his terminal to Jing Shu.

Jing Shu took it and, seeing the silver-haired Alpha casually lounging in the open corridor again, frowned slightly and said softly, "Come a bit closer."

Meng Shijiu glanced at the corner and took two steps toward the foyer, then stopped.

With the prying eyes gone, Jing Shu explained, "They're my team members. They mean no harm."

Meng Shijiu nodded.

Jing Shu added the contact and handed the terminal back.

Then Meng Shijiu saw this aloof and proud captain, who somewhat resembled a snow leopard, suddenly flash him a stiff smile, like a stern, traditional Chinese parent who isn't good at affection suddenly asking about a child's mental health: "Have you eaten?"

Meng Shijiu: ? You're breaking character.

Meng Shijiu looked at him suspiciously and typed on his terminal: "Do you have a toothache?"

Jing Shu: ...

*Wasn't the first step to making friends showing goodwill, smiling, and taking the initiative to show concern?*

Jing Shu looked at the words on the terminal and calmly resumed his cold expression: "Your throat?"

Meng Shijiu continued typing on his terminal: "Had a minor accident; can't talk for now. Not a big problem—doesn't affect me clinging to your coattails."

Jing Shu frowned: "How is that not a big problem? Losing your voice? Have you seen a doctor? Do you need medicine?"

Thinking about how the silver-haired Alpha hadn't shown up for nearly a day, Jing Shu hesitated.

Meng Shijiu looked into his eyes.

Meng Shijiu: "What bullying?"

Jing Shu's brows knitted together. He couldn't understand why Meng Shijiu seemed not to comprehend, finding it even more strange. His expression turned serious: "Has someone hurt you? ... Physical, mental harm, or verbal threats."

Meng Shijiu: "Do I look weak?"

Jing Shu paused: "No, you just look like you don't have much—"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Because Meng Shijiu's words were already typed out on the terminal—

Meng Shijiu: "Fighting spirit?"

Jing Shu paused for a moment, then still gave a slight nod: "Mm."

This was the second time Meng Shijiu had heard this description.

Suddenly, he didn't even feel like making a playful remark to lighten the inexplicably serious atmosphere.

Meng Shijiu said nothing, just shook his head slightly.

Jing Shu actually wanted to say more than that.

—The silver-haired Alpha had a stunningly beautiful face, looking incredibly likable. Who knew if those Alphas with strong jealous tendencies would secretly retaliate against him? Moreover, Meng Shijiu was so easygoing, with such a good personality, and seemed very easy to bully.

Jing Shu warned: "Don't trust the Alphas around you so easily. Alphas are predatory, violent, and savage by nature."

This came out of nowhere. Meng Shijiu looked at him and suddenly understood: A total Alpha.

*Meng Shijiu: So rare.*

Jing Shu was still concisely and pointedly, seemingly drawing on his rich experience from writing reports, earnestly explaining the dangers of Alphas to him. Meng Shijiu, however, found it amusing.

But this laughter couldn't make a sound.

Only his fine, dense eyelashes trembled slightly, his eyes like mint candies, sparkling.

Jing Shu narrowed his eyes: "Is it funny?"

Meng Shijiu quickly shook his head in a small motion.

Meng Shijiu: "You seem very experienced."

Jing Shu gave a faint smile: "Mm, I have a lot of experience tricking others."

Meng Shijiu's face instantly turned cold: "." He got shown up.

Other team members eavesdropping: Yes, this bastard even tricks his own teammates when he's being ruthless!!!

Meng Shijiu: "Then I'm leaving."

Jing Shu: "Mm. See you in a bit then."

Meng Shijiu waved, preparing to go back, when Jing Shu suddenly called out to stop him.

Jing Shu: "Let's go to the training field together. It's almost time anyway."

Meng Shijiu checked the time and nodded slightly.

The silver-haired Alpha walked over again, eyes downcast, long hair falling, very quiet.

The more Jing Shu looked at him, the more pitiful he seemed—unable to speak. The students of St. Mary's each looked so cold and full of arrogance. Meng Shijiu was so outstanding, yet there was no information to be found about him at St. Mary's. Who knew how he was usually bullied by the St. Mary's students?

Thinking back to the first training match, Jing Shu grew increasingly suspicious.

—Maybe it was because the St. Mary's students didn't follow orders that No. 32 forfeited.

—That's why Meng Shijiu later had to ask for his help and cling to his coattails.

Jing Shu understood everything now.

The more he thought about it, the colder his face became, his expression growing increasingly unpleasant. Seeing Meng Shijiu look over, he forced the corners of his lips up again.

"Let's go." He raised his hand and draped it over the silver-haired Alpha's shoulder, pulling him close in a protective gesture.

Meng Shijiu: ?

Meng Shijiu was surprised for a moment.

Meng Shijiu lifted his face slightly.

The two of them made eye contact.

In fact, Jing Shu rarely made this kind of move, so his limbs felt somewhat stiff and awkward.

Jing Shu remained calm:

“What?”

Meng Shijiu: *Is this what a straight Alpha is like?*

With a respectful and understanding mindset, Meng Shijiu shook his head.

The two of them headed out together.

Around the corner.

“…What is the captain doing??”

“I’m so jealous…”

“Is this right? Is the captain really the type to take advantage of others?”

“—I remember now,” the vice-captain suddenly blurted out.

“No wonder… no wonder.”

The vice-captain punched his palm: “No wonder the captain DM'd me in the middle of the night asking how an Alpha makes friends!!”

The rest of the team: “!!!”

The rest of the team: “…What did you tell him?”

The vice-captain: “I said… to make friends you have to be sincere, uh, throw an arm over their shoulder, give them a pat on the back, have a drink and open up…”

His voice trailed off, and silence fell around them.

Never expecting that Jing Shu would actually take his words to heart, the vice-captain lost his smile—but he hadn't meant for Jing Shu to act *this* way—right?

…Watching the cold and distant Alpha casually sling his arm around the silver-haired Alpha’s shoulder like they were buddies, the vice-captain was utterly confused.

This isn’t right, is it??

Not only did it not suit Jing Shu’s situation at all, but also… Alphas usually look at each other with disdain, thinking the other is crazy, maintaining a strong sense of boundaries and territorial awareness.

Combat Department: “When we train later… will we get beaten to death by the students from St. Mary’s?…”

The vice-captain: …