[Smoky Battlefield]：I grabbed the wrong test paper and got yelled at by the teacher.
[Smoky Battlefield]：You’re responsible.
[Zhizhi]：I’m responsible, I’m responsible.
[Zhizhi]：Put it on my tab yourself.
No. 1 High School’s Culture and Arts Week had a great atmosphere this year. Strings of colorful lanterns hung among the winter ice and snow that had yet to melt. Culture and Arts Week happened to coincide with the New Year celebration, and every class was racking its brains to decorate their bulletin boards. Grade 11 Class 3 had even asked Luo Zhiyu to come upstairs and draw theirs.
With finals approaching, the students were under quite a bit of academic pressure, but they still couldn’t bear to give up the annual New Year celebration. Everyone was taking advantage of the dinner break before evening self-study to rehearse as hard as they could. For example, while Luo Zhiyu was drawing, Zhang Shu was sitting on the podium, desperately playing the erhu while singing along, sounding absolutely miserable.
Luo Zhiyu casually flicked a coin at him, letting it land by Zhang Shu’s feet.
After changing the colored chalk for Luo Zhiyu yet again, Xiao Yan finally pointed toward the classroom door and said, unable to stand it any longer, “Go practice outside.”
Zhang Shu picked up the coin, slung his erhu over his shoulder, and walked out grumbling, “Hmph, now that you have Luo Zhiyu, you don’t want your brother anymore.”
“He’s someone I worked hard to lure up here from downstairs,” Xiao Yan said. “Of course I have to take good care of him.”
“Fine, fine, you two play. I’ll get out of the way.”
Zhang Shu shut the classroom door, walked all the way to the stairwell near the teachers’ office, sat down cross-legged, and continued practicing.
Now there were only Luo Zhiyu and Xiao Yan left in the classroom. Luo Zhiyu sat on a desk in the last row drawing, occasionally jumping down to check how it looked.
“Zhizhi, are you hungry?”
Neither of them had eaten dinner. Xiao Yan had just ordered takeout, which Fan Yue had brought over before heading back to the student council.
“Pretty hungry.” Luo Zhiyu sat on the desk. “Can’t be helped. Who told someone to sweet-talk and threaten me into coming upstairs the moment class ended, before I’d even had time to leave the classroom? Then he made me do this and that, exploiting me in every possible way.”
“Open your mouth.”
Xiao Yan speared a takoyaki with a bamboo skewer and fed it to him.
Luo Zhiyu’s hands were covered in chalk dust, so instead of taking it himself, he obediently opened his mouth. Whatever Xiao Yan fed him, he ate, without being picky at all.
“So obedient today?” Xiao Yan used a tissue to wipe the sauce from the corner of Luo Zhiyu’s lips, his fingertip lightly brushing across the corner of his mouth. “That’s rare.”
“Having food delivered straight to your mouth—that’s the dream.” Luo Zhiyu bit down on the last takoyaki and wrote his and Xiao Yan’s names in the lower-right corner of the bulletin board. “That should do it. You can handle the text yourself. I’m leaving. We have an English test during evening self-study later.”
“This is for you.”
Xiao Yan tossed him a bag of lollipops.
“Consider it payment.”
“You have a conscience after all. You didn’t make me work for free.”
Luo Zhiyu suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around Xiao Yan’s neck, rubbing chalk dust all over him before laughing as he ran away.
“Where did you go?” By the time Grade 10 Class 3 started handing out the English test papers, Jing Ximing finally saw Luo Zhiyu swaggering back from outside. “You disappeared the moment class ended.”
“I went upstairs. I helped Xiao Yan and the others draw their bulletin board.”
Luo Zhiyu split half the snacks with Jing Ximing.
“You two have gotten pretty close lately, haven’t you? You practically live upstairs now. Skip a grade, Luo Zhiyu. Look at you, sticking to him all day.”
Jing Ximing moved his desk to the side, leaving a narrow path between himself and Luo Zhiyu to prepare for the English test during evening self-study.
“No, right?” Luo Zhiyu thought about it. “Weren’t we always pretty close?”
Ever since that night when the power went out, when the two of them had shared a single sheet of scratch paper under the dim lights of the little convenience store, Luo Zhiyu felt like something had changed.
They still messed around with each other the same as before, deliberately provoking one another every few days just to make sure the other knew they were there.
Besides that, Xiao Yan seemed to be passing by his window more frequently. Whenever he did, he either tossed him some snacks or found an excuse to ruffle his hair.
“I’m getting some hot water.”
For example, right now, Xiao Yan passed by the window again.
“Getting ready for the test?”
“? Bro, do you need to come to the second floor to get hot water?”
Luo Zhiyu slapped Xiao Yan’s hand away.
“We’re taking a test. I don’t have time to play with you. We’ll talk after the test.”
No. 1 High School campus forum—
[I’ve been at No. 1 High School for almost a semester and want to make a move on the school heartthrob. Asking the all-powerful forum: where should I go if I want to run into him by chance? New]
1L: RT. I’ve wandered past the door of Grade 11 Class 3 several times during breaks, but I never managed to find Xiao Yan. Where should I go?
2L: Go downstairs, Grade 10 Class 3. Xiao Yan’s been showing up there a lot lately.
3L: If it weren’t for the 0%, I’d seriously think those two were dating.
4L: Are you looking for a fight, or just looking for trouble?
5L: Based on my personal experience, I advise everyone to stay out of those two’s business. Even Director Wu has compromised. As long as they don’t get into fights, they can do whatever they want.
6L: I’m the OP. Do I still have a chance?
No. 1 High School’s Culture and Arts Week came to an end amid the applause of the New Year celebration. After enduring a tense academic environment for so long, the students finally got the relaxation they had dreamed of. Once the New Year celebration ended, they had a long-awaited three-day break, and most of the students would be going home.
Backstage in the school auditorium, Luo Zhiyu found his suitcase and was about to drag it outside. One of the suitcase wheels caught on the carpet, and someone helped lift it over the obstacle.
“Thanks.”
Luo Zhiyu was still wearing two glowing little bull horns on his head. Several girls from his class had insisted that he put them on. There was also a black heart-shaped sticker under his right eye, making him look both sweet and cool.
Xiao Yan raised both hands and squeezed the glowing little bull horns on Luo Zhiyu’s head.
“In a hurry to get home?”
“Ah, I completely forgot about these. They insisted on putting them on me.”
Only then did Luo Zhiyu remember that he was still wearing the things on his head. He took the little horns off and put them on Xiao Yan’s head. After looking at him with satisfaction, he nodded.
“They’re yours.”
Luo Zhiyu dragged his suitcase away.
[Not a Cicada]：Can I ask you something?
[Not a Cicada]：I didn’t have the nerve to ask earlier. There’s no one else around you, right?
[Orange Isn’t Bad]：No. Go ahead.
[Not a Cicada]：Let’s talk about something private.
[Orange Isn’t Bad]：Go ahead.
[Not a Cicada]：We differentiated on the same day, right?
[Orange Isn’t Bad]：Right. We met in the middle of a group fight.
[Not a Cicada]：It’s been half a year now. Have you had a heat period?
[Orange Isn’t Bad]：? I’m an alpha. You should say rut or susceptible period.
[Not a Cicada]：Then have you had one?
[Orange Isn’t Bad]：Not yet.
[Not a Cicada]：Okay, then I’m normal. I don’t need to go to the hospital anymore.
[Orange Isn’t Bad]：……That’s it?
It had just been New Year’s, and Luo Zhiyu’s parents were busy attending all kinds of banquets. Since Luo Zhiyu happened to be home for the holidays, they had the driver take him along.
This was a business banquet. The entire ballroom was filled with elegantly dressed people holding wine glasses, and Luo Zhiyu, still wearing his school uniform, felt a little out of place in the surroundings.
“Why did you come wearing your school uniform…?”
Luo Zhiyu’s father, Luo Yi, was dumbfounded.
“You have so many clothes. At least pick one.”
“President Luo, I’m here to mooch a meal, not go on a blind date. I’m used to wearing my school uniform. Besides, I’m a high school student. Why would I pretend to be some business elite?”
Luo Zhiyu found a sofa and pulled out a math test paper.
“You guys talk. Don’t worry about me.”
“Fair enough.”
Luo Yi thought that made sense. As long as Luo Zhiyu was happy, that was all that mattered.
Everyone knew that President Luo had a young omega son, but the child rarely appeared in front of them. As Luo Zhiyu worked on his homework, he gradually realized that these people seemed to be surrounding him like he was a panda at the zoo.
[Not a Cicada]：Cover me.
[Orange Is Kind of Interesting]：?
[Not a Cicada]：Ugh, I came out to mooch a meal with my dad, but I didn’t get any food. Instead, I turned into a panda.
Xiao Yan called him on voice chat.
“Why is it so noisy over there too?”
Luo Zhiyu tapped open the video call.
“Why do I feel like you’re in the same hotel as me?”
“I checked the location. I should be upstairs from you.”
Unlike Luo Zhiyu, who had been dumb enough to show up at a banquet wearing his school uniform, Xiao Yan was dressed properly and neatly.
“It looks like people from all the related companies in the city are here tonight. Maybe your family wants you to get familiar with some connections.”
“I’m not inheriting the family business.”
Luo Zhiyu held up his phone.
“I just want to be an artist.”
“How about I come upstairs and find you?”
Luo Zhiyu suggested it.
“People keep staring at me. I’m uncomfortable. I’m even getting a little headache.”
“You’re good-looking. Of course they’re all looking at you.”
Xiao Yan laughed.
“Coming upstairs to find me? Aren’t you afraid that dealing with me means you’re an unfilial descendant?”
“My dad doesn’t have time to care about me right now.”
Luo Zhiyu took a sip of juice.
“Several people have him cornered, talking about partnerships and resources and platforms. I don’t understand any of it, and I don’t particularly want to.”
“Are you… Luo Zhiyu?”
Someone stopped beside Luo Zhiyu.
“Huh?”
Luo Zhiyu was chatting happily, the smile still lingering at the corners of his lips.
“Yes.”
The newcomer handed him a glass of fruit wine.
“Your uncle asked me to come over and talk to you.”
Luo Zhiyu froze for half a second before taking the glass of fruit wine.
“Don’t drink it.”
The voice in his earphones spoke.
“At a banquet like this, if you didn’t pour the drink yourself, don’t drink it. Don’t eat anything anyone else gives you, either.”
“Put it down.”
Xiao Yan said.
“Be good.”
Luo Zhiyu nodded at the alpha who had approached him, then placed the glass to the side, clearly having no intention of continuing the conversation.
“Why did you come wearing your school uniform?”
The man asked again.
“Although it looks good, it’s not exactly appropriate for the occasion.”
“You’re really nosy.”
Xiao Yan said.
“Yeah.”
Luo Zhiyu was answering Xiao Yan, but the alpha thought he was responding to him.
“Do you remember Uncle Zhang?”
The alpha sat down beside Luo Zhiyu.
“I’m Uncle Zhang’s son, Zhang Qi. I’m studying at T University. I met you when you were little. You were quite a well-behaved kid.”
“Well-behaved my ass.”
Xiao Yan’s voice came through the call.
“Leave him alone for three days and he’ll tear the roof off the house.”
“Go away, go away, you talk too much.”
Luo Zhiyu said.
Zhang Qi: “?”
“Want me to get you something to eat?”
Zhang Qi asked.
“I’ve seen you sitting here for a long time. Or I could take you around for a bit?”
“No need, no need.”
Luo Zhiyu patted the test paper on the armrest of the sofa.
“As high school students, there’s only one thing on our minds: studying.”
Xiao Yan laughed in his earphones.
The alpha paused for a moment, then smiled.
“It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Our families have grown distant. Back when you were predicted to be an omega, your father even joked about arranging a marriage between our families. Now that I’ve seen you, I still find you quite likable.”
“Let’s not.”
Luo Zhiyu cut him off.
“I’m not interested in you. Give up on that idea while you still can. Our high school health class taught us not to make jokes like that about omegas. Maybe you need to go back and retake the class? I did pretty well in health class. Don’t even think about tricking me.”
“Come upstairs.”
Xiao Yan said.
“I have a lounge here. Let’s go do our homework.”
“Coming.”
Luo Zhiyu stuffed the test paper into his backpack and stood up. As he rose, he paused slightly, feeling dizzy. The ballroom was too noisy, with all kinds of voices blending into one another. He normally liked lively places, but today he felt a little uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong?”
Xiao Yan sensed his hesitation.
“I’m coming downstairs. I’ll wait for you by the elevator.”
“I think I’m hungry. Maybe my blood sugar is low.”
Luo Zhiyu wound up his earphone cable and went to find the elevator upstairs.
“Find me something to eat.”
“Where are you going, Luoluo?”
Zhang Qi received a meaningful look from someone in his family and followed after him. There was a faint scent of sweet peach in the air.
“Let’s talk. You’re still young and don’t understand these things. I’ll explain some connections and networking to you.”
He reached out to stop Luo Zhiyu, but someone stepped between him and Luo Zhiyu.
“Whether he understands these things or not isn’t for you to lecture him about.”
Xiao Yan stood very close. There was a brief delay between Xiao Yan’s actual voice and the voice coming through Luo Zhiyu’s earphones, making the latter sound slightly unreal.
“Don’t bring the tricks you people play at business banquets over here.”
“His name is Luo Zhiyu—‘knowing my heart, giving me peace.’ That’s the Zhiyu I’m talking about. Don’t call him whatever you feel like. It’s rude.”
Zhang Qi had been about to argue, but then he recognized Xiao Yan. Realizing the standing their family held in the industry, he swallowed the words he had been about to say.
“I’m giving you a chance to save face. Don’t make me regret it.”
Xiao Yan glanced toward the door. The alpha’s pheromones pressed down with a faintly intimidating force.
“Get lost.”
The elevator slowly ascended. Xiao Yan grabbed Luo Zhiyu by the wrist and led him all the way into the lounge upstairs. Only then did Luo Zhiyu let out a sigh of relief.
“Someone like him actually wants to sleep with me.”
Luo Zhiyu looked utterly disgusted.
“He should at least take a look at whether he’s worthy.”
“This big brother looks really A when he kicks people out.”
Luo Zhiyu patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.
“I approve.”
“If you run into someone like that again, just hit him. Got it?”
Xiao Yan placed the fruit platter in front of Luo Zhiyu.
“After you’re done, exaggerate the story and tell your parents. Then exaggerate it again and tell me.”
“I’m not coming out to mooch food anymore.”
Luo Zhiyu looked a little listless.
“It’s too noisy. It’s giving me a headache. I don’t even have the energy to beat anyone up.”
Yesterday, Luo Zhiyu had been laughing exuberantly at the New Year celebration while wearing those little bull horns. Now he was slumped on the sofa with little energy. For some reason, Xiao Yan felt a pang of heartache looking at him, and he was also a little angry at the alpha from earlier.
Luo Zhiyu held his phone and typed into a search engine while Xiao Yan held the box of sushi someone had just sent over and fed him.
“Stop playing with your phone. Eat something first.”
“No, I’m really dizzy.”
Luo Zhiyu held the phone screen out toward Xiao Yan.
“I’m dizzy and I have a headache. It’s been like this since earlier, and I’m also shaking a little. I looked it up, and it says I’m about to die.”
He rested his head against Xiao Yan’s shoulder. His body temperature was a little high. The faint orange scent lingering on Xiao Yan’s clothes eased his headache, so he moved closer, wanting to get more of his pheromones.
“Orange.”
Luo Zhiyu said disappointedly.
“Why don’t you smell like anything anymore? Let’s peel your orange skin off.”
Xiao Yan: “……”
In the small lounge, the sweet scent of peach pheromones suddenly filled the air.
“Don’t randomly search your symptoms when nothing’s wrong. You’re not about to die. You’re in heat.”
Xiao Yan pushed Luo Zhiyu away with difficulty.
“Where’s your suppressant?”