Chapter 1

It was burning hot.

As Mu Chenxing’s consciousness slowly returned, his every breath felt wrapped in scorching flames.

But he was still alive.

After an explosion of that magnitude, he had somehow survived.

Mu Chenxing struggled to clear his mind, but his brain felt stuffed with cotton, his memories drifting in chaotic, fragmented clumps. Nearby, voices murmured, muffled and indistinct as if filtered through a heavy layer of gauze.

Given his situation at the time of the blast, anyone showing up at the explosion site was highly unlikely to be an ally.

Suddenly, he felt someone tugging roughly at his clothes.

Mu Chenxing forced his eyes open with every ounce of strength he could muster.

The sensory world rushed back instantly. Distant sirens wailed, laughter echoed from afar, and nearby voices sharpened:

“Looks like he’s waking up.”

“Waking up makes it even more exciting, heh heh.”

A finger poked into his mouth, stirring around intrusively, while someone else yanked hard at his collar.

Instinctively channeling his remaining strength, Mu Chenxing bit down with absolute force.

A dark shadow in front of him shrieked in pain and recoiled. The others jumped back in alarm. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

“My finger—this bastard bit me!”

“Tsk, it’s just a bite. What’s the big deal?”

“My finger is broken!”

“What?!”

“Damn it, he’s in this state and he still bites!”

“I don’t care if I lose my finger, I’m going to ruin him!”

While they bickered, Mu Chenxing finally took in his surroundings. He was lying in a dead-end alley nestled between high-rise buildings, right next to a row of trash bins. Several dark figures loomed over him, and flickering neon lights danced just beyond the mouth of the alley. His nose was assailed by the foul stench of rotting garbage mixed with the heavy scent of cheap alcohol.

As the shadows closed in again, someone yanked at his shirt, the sound of tearing fabric echoing near his ear.

Even in his dazed state, he knew exactly what kind of danger he was in.

Mu Chenxing bit the tip of his tongue hard. The sharp burst of pain rallied his strength, allowing him to throw a solid punch. Amid the man’s pained scream, he rolled to the side, creating distance.

“Fuck, he can still move?”

“Grab him!”

Mu Chenxing’s head swam, and his body burned with a feverish heat. That single strike had nearly depleted his remaining energy. Fighting to maintain focus, he scrambled backward, his fingers sweeping blindly across the damp ground.

The shadows lunged once more, cursing as they reached out to pin him down.

Then, his hand closed around a cold, hard object.

“Be a good boy and call me big brother, and I’ll make sure you enjoy—”

A sharp scream cut through the air, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass.

Before the thugs could react, Mu Chenxing drove the jagged edge of the broken bottle straight into his own thigh. The agonizing flash of pain successfully tore through the fog in his mind, leaving his consciousness razor-sharp.

With his hand slick with his own blood, he gripped the shattered glass and lunged at the group.

In his hands, the jagged bottle became as lethal as any blade. Within moments, the alley was filled with nothing but desperate cries of pain. In a matter of seconds, the thugs were all on their knees, wailing and clutching their wounds.

Mu Chenxing staggered back two steps. The overwhelming stench of alcohol in the air made him dizzy once more.

I can’t pass out here, he told himself.

He gasped for air, then advanced on the group again. He grabbed the collar of the nearest man, lifting him up and raising the broken bottle to strike—

“That’s enough.”

A firm hand clamped around his wrist.

Startled, Mu Chenxing twisted his body, driving the broken glass backward to stab the intruder.

“Easy there, I’m just passing by.” The man’s voice held a note of amusement as he effortlessly disarmed Mu Chenxing, plucking the bottle from his grip.

Mu Chenxing’s eyes widened.

With the light behind the stranger, his face was obscured, but his silhouette was imposing. He was exceptionally tall; Mu Chenxing barely reached his shoulder.

He struggled to break free, but his wrist felt locked in a vise of solid steel.

“Your pheromones—” the stranger began.

“I’ll fucking kill you!” one of the injured thugs roared, scrambling up to charge them.

Bang!

With a swift, powerful kick, the stranger sent the attacking thug flying backward. The man crashed hard into the brick wall, his head seemingly sticking to the surface for two agonizing seconds before sliding down with a wet, heavy thud.

The remaining thugs sucked in a collective breath of horror.

The tall man clicked his tongue. “Don’t tempt me to get rough. I’m no gentle beauty—if I’m forced to act, I can’t guarantee you’ll walk away alive.”

Mu Chenxing froze, gradually ceasing his struggles.

Another wave of heat washed over him, threatening to cloud his senses again.

The stranger pulled out a device, apparently making a call. “Send a team to 17th Street, Alley 32, Building 45. We have a group physical altercation here… Yeah, no fatalities yet, but if you take your time, I can’t promise that’ll hold.”

A cop? Mu Chenxing thought. Does that mean I’m safe?

“Hey, little beauty.” A warm palm gently cupped the back of his neck.

Mu Chenxing’s reflexes flared, and he threw a left hook.

The stranger caught it easily, though he did withdraw his hand from Mu Chenxing’s neck.

The man let out a low chuckle. “Impressive instincts, but ultimately useless.” With a single hand, he pinned both of Mu Chenxing’s wrists and gave a gentle tug.

Dizzy and exhausted, Mu Chenxing tumbled forward, nearly collapsing against the man’s chest.

His heart sank.

“You’re in a highly volatile state right now, and I don’t have any suppressants on hand. So, my apologies in advance,” the man murmured.

Unable to comprehend, Mu Chenxing parted his lips. “You—”

Before he could finish, a wave of cold, powerful energy washed over him, momentarily paralyzing his senses. In the next instant, the man leaned close. Mu Chenxing felt a sharp sting at the back of his neck, followed by a cool, soothing sensation that spread rapidly down his spine. It instantly doused the burning heat in his body and cleared the fog in his mind, but a profound, overwhelming fatigue immediately rushed in to take its place.

“Get some rest, and you’ll be fine. What a shame…” the voice drifted off.

Mu Chenxing’s world went entirely black.

The cool, soothing sensation lingered, easing him into a deep, dreamless sleep.

By the time the cooling effect fully dissipated, his consciousness began to drift back. During his slumber, he vaguely registered muffled conversations around him and the sensation of his body being moved, but he lacked the strength to wake.

Only when the room finally fell silent did he drift back into a quiet rest.

When he finally opened his eyes, it was to the sound of soft sobbing nearby.

Mu Chenxing blinked, staring blankly at the garish fabric hanging directly above him. It was a pink bed canopy decorated with cartoon animals, draped in delicate lace bows and glittering accessories.

He stared in absolute bewilderment. Where on earth am I?

“They really went too far this time, sob…”

“Next time, just avoid that route entirely.”

“Don’t let them get to you. The most important thing is focusing on graduation.”

“Who… who are you?” Mu Chenxing rasped, his voice dry.

The three youths speaking immediately whipped around.

Mu Chenxing sat up, propping himself against the edge of the bed, and repeated his question with a frown. “Where is this?”

“Oh my gosh! Xingxing!”

“Xingxing, you’re finally awake!”

“Thank goodness! You’ve been asleep for two and a half days!”

The trio instantly swarmed his bed, chattering away in excitement.

“You scared us half to death!”

“I kept telling you not to hang out with that crowd.”

“None of those guys are up to any good.”

Mu Chenxing remained silent. His old military squad mates had occasionally called him “Xingxing” or joked around, but these youths were entirely unfamiliar. He massaged his temples, trying to organize the chaotic rush of unfamiliar memories in his head.

“What exactly happened? Someone explain this to me clearly.”

The three immediately began talking over one another again in a chaotic chorus.

“Stop,” Mu Chenxing commanded, pointing a finger at the brown-haired youth. “You. Speak.”

The brown-haired youth blinked, then quickly explained, “Wei Zhen was on his way to the library when he was cornered and bullied by those awful trash Alphas from Class F. It was terrible! Wei Zhen was scared to tears, and they even put their hands on him! No wonder those jerks are stuck in Class F.”

Mu Chenxing looked over at the youth named Wei Zhen, who was still sniffling. He had pale skin, large expressive eyes, soft black curls, stood at about 5’8″, and possessed a very delicate frame. He certainly looked like an easy target for bullies.

Rubbing his temple, Mu Chenxing asked, “How many of them were there?”

Wei Zhen sniffled, wiping his nose. “Three.”

Mu Chenxing replied flatly, “Next time, just fight back and beat them up.”

Wei Zhen froze. “Huh?”

The brown-haired youth gasped. “What?”

The third youth, who wore a simple hairband, stared in disbelief. “Huh?”

Mu Chenxing frowned. “I said, fight back. Didn’t you hear me? Identify the ringleader, target him, and beat him to a pulp. Even if you end up taking some hits, make sure you injure the instigator badly enough that they think twice before ever bothering you again.”

The three youths stared at him in stunned silence.

After a long pause, the brown-haired youth was the first to find his voice. “But… we can’t just—”

Mu Chenxing waved his hand to dismiss the topic. “First, tell me what happened to me.”

He checked his thigh; there wasn’t even a bandage on it, and he felt only a faint, dull ache. Had he not felt that pain, he would have assumed the alleyway brawl had been nothing more than a vivid nightmare. But how had he ended up in that alley in the first place?

“Oh,” the brown-haired youth replied. “Two days ago, you went out with Shen Mingshu and his group. Late that night, medical staff brought you back. You were injured and covered in dirt, and none of us knew what had happened to you.”

Mu Chenxing raised an eyebrow. “Who is Shen Mingshu?”

“He’s from Class A! You have that massive crush on his older brother—you’re constantly buying him snacks and drinks. Did you forget?” The brown-haired youth looked deeply concerned. “Did you injure your head?”

Wei Zhen stopped crying, his expression shifting to worry. “The medics didn’t mention any head trauma.”

The youth with the hairband asked timidly, “Should we call the medical clinic?”

Mu Chenxing exhaled slowly. What was this absurd situation?

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why did the medics bring me back to a dormitory?”

The brown-haired youth blinked. “Well, your wounds were already treated. There was no arterial or bone damage, and they said the cuts would scab over in a couple of days. Of course they sent you back to the dorm.”

Wei Zhen added, “They wouldn’t send you all the way home for minor scrapes.”

The youth with the hairband nodded in agreement.

Mu Chenxing’s frown deepened. Dormitory? He hadn’t slept in a school dormitory in years.

“And then there was the issue with the pheromones,” the youth with the hairband said softly, nervously twisting his fingers. “When you were brought in, you were completely covered in a dense, overwhelming Alpha pheromone. The medics said your own pheromones had gone completely haywire, so they had to ask a high-ranking Alpha officer to temporarily suppress them for you. The residual scent was so strong it affected the three of us too.”

Wei Zhen’s eyes welled with tears again. “And those jerks in Class F used that as an excuse to mock me.”

The youth with the hairband immediately placed a comforting arm around Wei Zhen’s shoulders. “Just ignore them.”

Mu Chenxing sat in silence. He understood the literal meaning of every word they were saying, yet the concepts felt entirely foreign.

Moreover, he realized something else. The language they were speaking wasn’t Mandarin, English, French, German, or any regional dialect he recognized. Yet, he understood it perfectly.

He cast his eyes around the room. It was an exceptionally large space. Four tall wardrobes divided the room into four distinct quadrants. Each section contained a desk, a chair, and a bed. Every bed was decorated with colorful, ornate drapes, and plush toys were scattered across the desks and mattresses. At the far end of the room, sliding glass doors opened to a private bathroom and vanity area. It certainly resembled a student dormitory.

But it was absolutely not a military barracks.

A highly unsettling realization began to dawn on him.

“Xingxing, are you alright?” the brown-haired youth asked gently.

“Are you feeling pain anywhere?” Wei Zhen added.

Mu Chenxing cleared his throat and composed himself. “Do you have a mirror?”

“Yes, right here!” The youth with the hairband ran over to his desk with small, quick steps.

Mu Chenxing watched his gait, his forehead twitching slightly.

The youth returned quickly and handed him a small compact mirror. Mu Chenxing took a breath, held up the glass, and looked.

The face staring back was undeniably his own.

However, his eyes appeared slightly rounder, the outer corners tilting upward in a softer curve. His nose was more refined, and his lips were slightly fuller. Crucially, his skin was remarkably fair. During his actual youth, he had spent every free moment outdoors playing basketball or soccer, leaving him deeply tanned. He had never looked this porcelain-pale in his life.

Because he stared at the mirror for so long, the three youths began to panic.

“Xingxing, what’s wrong?”

“Is there a scar on your face?”

“There shouldn’t be. I helped clean your face when you got back, and there weren’t any cuts there.”

Mu Chenxing calmly set the mirror aside. “I’m fine. What time is it?”

“Just past one in the afternoon.”

He had slept straight through the morning. “Is there anything to eat?”

The brown-haired youth looked surprised. “Are you hungry? The medical team gave you a nutrient injection. They said it should keep you full until tomorrow.”

Mu Chenxing cleared his throat. “…I was just asking.” He quickly changed the subject. “You mentioned… Alphas earlier?”

“Are you talking about Xu Zhicheng and his crowd?” the brown-haired youth asked.

Mu Chenxing kept his expression neutral, playing along. “Yes.”

“Those horrible people!” Wei Zhen cried, his eyes turning red once more. “Even if I remain single for the rest of my life and never have children, I would never marry an Alpha like him!”

Mu Chenxing blinked. “Excuse me?”

The brown-haired youth patted Wei Zhen’s back comfortingly. “Don’t let them get to you. We still have four years of school left. We’ll definitely find decent, responsible Alphas eventually.”

The youth with the hairband pumped a small fist in the air. “Exactly! We just need to study hard and aim to get married right after we graduate!”

Wei Zhen wiped his tears, a dreamy look appearing in his eyes. “I want to have two babies. An Omega just like me, and an Alpha who takes after their father.”

The brown-haired youth grinned competitively. “I want three! Betas are wonderful too—my father is a Beta, and he’s amazing.”

The youth with the hairband offered a shy smile. “I think I want four. I’ve always loved big families.”

Then, all three of them turned their gaze toward the silent Mu Chenxing.

Wei Zhen nudged his shoulder gently. “Xingxing, how many children are you planning to have?”

Mu Chenxing’s mind went entirely blank. “Have… what? Who is having children?”

Wei Zhen rolled his eyes playfully and let out a soft huff. “You, of course! Who else is going to carry them for you?”

Mu Chenxing stared at them, his expression completely rigid.

“…Haha,” he said flatly. “You guys have a very unique sense of humor.”

He then added with absolute, unwavering certainty: “I am not having children. Not in this lifetime—and absolutely not in the next.”