Qiu Sui had no way to voice his bitterness. Under Qiao Keren’s concerned gaze, he took a deep breath, forcing back that sour feeling churning inside him. His voice came out unusually hoarse: “I don’t…”
Qiao Keren, catching only fragments, had no clue what he meant. The next second, he watched as Qiu Sui stared at the two strings of numbers on his phone screen like he’d seen a death warrant, backing away with rejection written all over his face as he reiterated: “I have zero interest in Shen Zhixiao. I actually hate him.”
Qiao Keren’s brain short-circuited after all the effort he’d gone through to get Shen Zhixiao’s contacts. It took him several seconds to let out a bewildered “Ah?”
Though he didn’t understand why Qiu Sui hated Shen Zhixiao, as a friend, he only needed to stand by him unconditionally. His attitude flipped in an instant.
But Qiao Keren hadn’t expected that someone could hate another person this much—just seeing their contact info was enough to nearly bring tears.
He hurriedly deleted every trace of the contacts and photos he’d begged so hard for, even wiping the screen twice with his hand before handing the phone back to Qiu Sui as proof of his innocence.
Standing tall with righteous fervor, he declared: “I-I’ve deleted everything about him now. From this moment on, I hate him too.”
Qiu Sui had only meant to clear his own name, but he’d ended up backfiring spectacularly, making Qiao Keren start hating Shen Zhixiao as well.
Qiu Shun’s supposed to date Shen Zhixiao later!
Seeing Qiao Keren ready to charge in and curse Shen Zhixiao out indiscriminately for his friend’s sake, Qiu Sui quickly held him back. With great difficulty, he backpedaled: “No, it’s not that serious. What I mean is, uh, I just don’t like any Alphas.”
Qiu Sui felt utterly torn, like he had a split personality. On one hand, he rubbed his temples against his conscience; on the other, he tried to salvage Shen Zhixiao’s image in Qiao Keren’s eyes: “Shen Zhixiao seems like a decent guy, and he’s pretty good-looking too…”
“Too bad he’s an S-Rank Alpha, haha. I don’t like Alphas, but don’t you think he’s handsome? You add him. Haha.” Qiu Sui forced a natural smile, inwardly wailing at the thought of Qiao Keren getting tangled up with Shen Zhixiao—afraid the plot halo would come knocking uninvited.
Unaware of Qiu Sui’s tangled thoughts, Qiao Keren eyed him skeptically for several seconds before his little face turned serious. With a casual “Eh,” he shrugged: “I’ve already deleted it. No big deal, I won’t add him.”
“Someone like Shen Zhixiao, an Alpha like that—he’s gotta have sky-high standards. I’ve got no shot anyway. I don’t want to end up stalking his Moments feed one day and suddenly see him announce something official.” Qiao Keren said it with a touch of embarrassment.
He knew he stood out among Omegas, but compared to a standout beauty like Qiu Shun, he paled a bit.
Qiao Keren figured that even though Qiu Sui was a Beta, he was more striking than many Omegas and Alphas, with a unique fresh-and-youthful handsomeness that plenty of Alphas and Omegas went for. He might even have a chance chasing Shen Zhixiao—if his Alpha phobia wasn’t this severe.
Hearing this, Qiu Sui breathed a sigh of relief and leaned gratefully on his shoulder, saying sincerely: “Our Keren deserves a better Alpha.”
Of course, he didn’t mean Shen Zhixiao was bad—an Alpha worthy of Qiu Shun had to be top-tier. He just meant Shen Zhixiao wasn’t right for Qiao Keren.
Playing neutral for my little brother, Qiu Sui thought.
Though Qiu Sui and Qiao Keren were in the same major, they weren’t in the same class, and their meeting rooms were on different floors. They parted ways in the elevator.
The first class meeting of the semester covered the school’s structure, major basics, and resumes of the course instructors—usually burning through half an hour on that alone. Then came student self-introductions, electing a temporary class monitor for upcoming events and military training, dragging on another half hour.
Freshmen were all brimming with pure enthusiasm, scrambling for front-row seats and raising hands to nominate themselves for class roles.
Qiu Sui sat in an unremarkable corner of the back row, evading even the senior sister’s camera lens for promo shots. He kept his head buried in his phone, staring at the text messages.
0: Darling, have you found me yet? [Happy]
0: Why lower your head? Not planning to keep looking?
0: Looks like you’ve completely forgotten me.
0: Why should you?
0: It really hurts.
0: Fine then. From now on, I won’t give you any more hints or chances to find me, baby.
0: Giving up on finding me now? Hope you don’t regret it. [Smile]
0: Wait, no.
0: Qiu Sui!
0: Don’t eat from someone else’s bowl!
0: Not even your own brother!
0: Spit it out! Spit it out! Spit it out! Spit it out! Spit it out!
0: Why aren’t you checking my messages?!
0: You’re so disobedient.
0: I’m very disappointed.
The latest message stopped at the one from the cafeteria earlier—no new activity since.
The dead-silent screen sent an inexplicable chill of crisis through Qiu Sui. At the same time, he knew this Alpha was likely to show up again. This was his chance to catch them.
After what they’ve done to me, I’ll make them pay every bit back.
Qiu Sui clenched his fist fiercely.
As the meeting ended, Qiu Sui waited at the stairwell for Qiao Keren to come down, scanning his surroundings vigilantly the whole time.
From the texts, he was even more certain now that he’d met this person before. So, when they crossed paths, he’d definitely recognize them.
When Qiao Keren came down, he spotted Qiu Sui furtively glancing around again. He scanned too but saw no sign of Shen Zhixiao, so he naturally assumed Qiu Sui was looking for him. Grinning, he bounded over, hooked an arm around his neck, and chirped: “Were you waiting for me?”
Qiu Sui was half a head taller than Qiao Keren. To make it easier, he bent slightly at the waist and nodded without telling the truth.
The elevator was packed, so they took the stairs instead.
Qiao Keren chatted about the meeting. Qiu Sui listened while warily observing their surroundings.
Logically, with the dim evening light and crowded stairs, this should’ve been prime time for the stalker to strike. But they reached the shuttle stop downstairs without incident—no trace of anything suspicious.
University A had shuttle buses for on-campus travel, plus highly convenient little electric scooters that many swept up and rode off instead of waiting.
With night falling, the two deemed scooters unsafe and stuck to waiting for the shuttle.
Qiao Keren was heading to the Omega Dormitory Area—a different route from Qiu Sui’s. Qiu Sui saw him off first, waiting in the pavilion for the next shuttle alone.
Now by himself, Qiu Sui’s nerves sharpened even more.
Plenty of people around made it lively, but Qiu Sui tuned them out, sensing every subtle shift like a breeze or rustle. He kept startling, whipping his head back.
He wasn’t sure if he was being oversensitive, but he kept feeling a sticky gaze—like the cold flick of a snake’s tongue coiling around him, sending shivers down his spine.
Qiu Sui didn’t dare let his guard down, clutching his phone tightly and staring at the still-silent text screen. His fingers were slick with sweat.
Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching from the side. He whipped around, fingers twitching to grab them—but upon seeing who it was, he deflated, eyelids drooping slightly.
The newcomer eyed him with disdain, an Alpha on each arm. Arrogantly, he whistled and feigned surprise: “Oh ho, it is you.”
Qiu Sui recognized two of the three Alphas from the dorm roster: Li Lianxuan and Zhou Cunhao.
He hadn’t paid close attention to their faces that afternoon in the dorm, but their hairstyles and what they’d let slip in conversation helped him ID them.
The one speaking to him now, face-to-face, was Zhou Cunhao.
He had a dark face with upturned eyes, his hair in the trendy side-parted messy crop that perfectly hid the acne across his forehead. His speech and mannerisms dripped with ill intent, utterly repulsive.
Qiu Sui averted his gaze uncomfortably, murmuring indifferently: “Something you need?”
Qiu Sui’s attitude irked Zhou Cunhao. Stepping closer, he realized this Beta was actually a tad taller and straightened up, squinting in contempt: “That Omega just now—your boyfriend or your friend?”
Qiu Sui could tell the guy’s intentions from his tone alone. His gaze flicked back to that sleazy face.
Way too gross. If Qiao Keren knew some creep like this was eyeing him, he’d probably lose his appetite.
Seeing Qiu Sui stare blankly without reacting, Zhou Cunhao tsked impatiently, his suppressive Pheromones leaking out.
Onlookers glanced over, pinched their noses, and shuffled several steps away.
Zhou Cunhao smirked at the effect, but when he looked at Qiu Sui, the guy hadn’t budged. Reminded that he was just a plain Beta, he lost interest, his expression twisting viciously: “I’m talking to you. Hear me? Give me that Omega’s contact info now.”
Qiu Sui didn’t budge. Zhou Cunhao shoved at his shoulder with force—but Qiu Sui dodged nimbly, darkening the Alpha’s face instantly.
Many Alphas scorned Betas, believing they were born to submit and obey. Any hint of defiance from a Beta earned nothing but disdain.
Zhou Cunhao cracked his neck and knuckles, glaring ferociously: “You looking for a beatdown?”
His two buddies straightened up too. The three similarly built Alphas blocked half the streetlamp light in front of Qiu Sui—but none reached his 1.84-meter height.
Though a Beta without an Alpha’s innate physical edge, Qiu Sui had trained in jiu-jitsu for over a decade, excelling at using softness to overcome hardness. He wouldn’t lose to three average Alphas; he just hated getting their filth on him.
Zhou Cunhao wasn’t dumb. Most people had scattered, but he couldn’t brazenly jump Qiu Sui under surveillance. He planned to drag him to the college building’s public restroom.
The three Alphas cracked their knuckles, itching to move—when suddenly, a crushing pressure slammed into them. The air thickened with an incoming bitter-clear scent, weighing them down like tons of stone. They couldn’t straighten up; even breathing choked under the intense tea fragrance, faces turning ashen.
Qiu Sui watched the three Alphas suddenly hunch over in place. Sensing something, he turned.
His gaze caught on the open shirt collar, then tilted up to the concerned face behind him. His calm expression froze; hands and feet went numb, rooted to the spot.
He’d braced for three Alphas without a second thought, but now his mind flashed clear words:
Done for. The plot halo’s here again.
Seeing no reaction, the man stepped closer, his expression kindly as he asked again: “Classmate, you okay?”
Qiu Sui stared at Shen Zhixiao’s face looming larger. Even as his body glitched out, his leaden legs inched back on survival instinct.
The Alpha paused his approach, assuming his S-Rank suppressive Pheromones had hit Qiu Sui too. He reached up to adjust the Neck Ring around his neck.
The leaking Pheromones retracted. The three Alphas scrambled away on all fours.
Qiu Sui barely restrained his terror, aching to flee hand-in-hand with them—but his conscience held him back.
Even muddled as he was, he knew Shen Zhixiao had just helped him. With grim resolve, he slapped a hand over his eyes to avoid the guy’s face—especially eye contact, lest it trigger something stupid.
Head down, he mumbled a quiet “Thanks” to Shen Zhixiao, inwardly begging him to finish this “good deed” and leave.
But Shen Zhixiao didn’t oblige. He stepped even closer.
Qiu Sui’s crisis meter spiked; his feet turtle-shuffled backward. Then came the man’s low voice:
“You alright? Did you hurt your eyes? Need me to help you report it to your counselor?”
The proximity wrecked Qiu Sui instantly. Despair gripping him, he clamped his eyes shut tighter and restated: “I’m fine. Thank you.”
The other party fell silent, and Qiu Sui thought the exchange was over. But in the next second, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
The hand he’d been clamping over his eyes was effortlessly pried away with a light exertion of force. At the same time, Shen Zhixiao’s concerned voice drifted into his ear: “Are you really okay? Let me take a look…”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Shen Zhixiao met Qiu Sui’s perfectly fine eyes. His gaze quickly skimmed over Qiu Sui’s perky nose tip before landing on those slightly pursed pale lips. It was only for a brief moment before it flicked back to Qiu Sui’s eyelashes.
Seeing the undisguised shock in Qiu Sui’s eyes, Shen Zhixiao seemed to belatedly realize his rudeness. He released Qiu Sui’s wrist and offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that…”
In the instant their eyes met, Qiu Sui’s ears went numb, leaving him unable to make out a word Shen Zhixiao said. He could only feel the frantic pounding of his heart reverberating through his eardrums.
His thin chest felt like it was about to shatter from the vibrations. A intense sense of crisis shot straight to his brain.
Am I being controlled by the plot?
Qiu Sui’s breathing grew rapid, his mind a whirlwind of chaos.
In that very moment, a powerful survival instinct exploded in his brain, forcing him to wrest back control of his body. He dropped his gaze to avoid Shen Zhixiao’s stare.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck. The sweltering summer night breeze felt piercingly cold as it brushed over him. Qiu Sui’s chest heaved dramatically as he struggled to pull himself together.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted the shuttle bus pulling up. The tension in his nerves eased slightly, a glimmer of victory dawning.
He quickly steadied himself, opened his mouth toward Shen Zhixiao, and spoke at breakneck speed: “I’m really fine, thank you so much. The shuttle’s here—I have to go.”
Without giving the Alpha a chance to reply, Qiu Sui bolted, hurrying away from the scene.
Shen Zhixiao stood rooted to the spot. The streetlamp cast down, illuminating his chiseled features in half-shadow.
He tilted his head slightly, watching that figure blend into the crowd and board the shuttle. It drove off, vanishing from sight.
Shen Zhixiao stood there motionless for a few seconds. Then he raised his right hand—the one that had touched Qiu Sui—curling and uncurling his fingers before slowly lifting it to his nose and inhaling lightly.
Betas had no Pheromones; there was only the scent of Shen Zhixiao’s own. But that lingering body heat seemed to remain on his skin, the tactile sensation exactly as he’d imagined.
The false smile on his face gradually widened, his lips curving to an extreme. If anyone had stumbled upon him then, they’d have been startled by that overly perfect smirk.
…
Ever since that face-to-face encounter with Shen Zhixiao, Qiu Sui slept poorly every night—muddled and restless. Nearly every dream ended with him suffering through the agony of Omega transformation rejection, dying a miserable death. During the day in class, he startled at every shadow, dodging Shen Zhixiao and staying on guard against the pervert.
Just three days had worn him down to exhaustion.
Qiu Sui had to admit Shen Zhixiao was an Alpha of decent character. Even though he’d insisted he was fine that night, Shen Zhixiao had still reported it to the counselor.
The guy didn’t know Qiu Sui personally, but he did know Zhou Cunhao from the same major.
That night, when Qiu Sui returned to the empty dorm and saw his trashed desk—evidence he’d planned to report the next day—Shen Zhixiao’s heads-up had prompted the counselor to check the dorms that very evening. He caught sight of the mess on Qiu Sui’s desk and learned the full story.
Compared to the myriad conflicts around campus, this wasn’t particularly severe. But causing a scene on the first day of school meant the three of them couldn’t stay together. The counselor asked Qiu Sui’s opinion that night and reassigned him to a vacant double room on the seventh floor.
Zhou Cunhao and Li Lianxuan didn’t face mandatory dorm expulsion, but they were hit with reflection essays and apologies.
Aside from a new cup and storage rack that got smashed, Qiu Sui hadn’t lost much.
Covering the replacement cost netted him a clean double room—bigger than the quadruple, solo occupancy, no awful roommates. On this front, Qiu Sui felt like he’d come out ahead.
The counselor mentioned the other empty bed might get filled later, but that was a problem for another time.
Qiu Sui hadn’t gone into detail with Qiu Shun or Qiao Keren about the incident. For one, he didn’t want them getting angry; for another, he feared they’d probe if they learned he’d crossed paths with Shen Zhixiao, stirring up plot details he couldn’t reveal.
These days, Qiu Sui was paranoid to the extreme—sidestepping anyone with a build remotely like Shen Zhixiao’s.
The stalker hadn’t shown up, and no new texts had come in. It was like he’d vanished into thin air. But Qiu Sui feared he was just biding his time for something big, so he never let his guard down.
![I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth]](https://i0.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BROKE.jpg?resize=151,215 "I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth]")