Chapter 14: Misunderstanding

The last time he spotted Shen Zhixiao at the entrance to the East Canteen, Qiu Sui had brushed it off as coincidence. But this time, bumping right into him face-to-face—even if it was coincidence again—Qiu Sui couldn’t ignore it anymore.

For the next few days of military training, he was extremely cautious at noon dismissals. He avoided the second floor where he’d run into Shen Zhixiao before, dragging Qiao Keren up to the third floor of the cafeteria instead. If he spotted Shen Zhixiao anywhere nearby, he’d hurriedly pull Qiao Keren to the farthest spot possible, terrified of another awkward exchange of pleasantries.

It was only through this vigilance that Qiu Sui realized Shen Zhixiao came to the East Canteen for lunch every day. He hadn’t noticed before that the guy was right there nearby—way too close for comfort.

The Special Training Camp had intense workouts, ending fifteen minutes earlier than the other camps. Qiu Sui couldn’t figure out why Shen Zhixiao and Wen Heng didn’t grab food nearby after dismissal and head back to the dorms early to rest. Why waste that extra time trekking all the way to the East Canteen?

Exhausted from daily drills and with a deranged Alpha lurking like a time bomb behind him, Qiu Sui desperately needed solid rest and downtime to recharge and gather his strength.

That’s why he stuck to the East Canteen, close to the training grounds—it saved time. After scarfing down lunch with Qiao Keren, he could rush back to the dorms, wash up, and nap.

On afternoons when Qiao Keren went off to find Qiu Shun after dismissal, Qiu Sui would order food ahead at the Alpha Dorm Area cafeteria and pack it back to eat alone. He savored that brief solo time, catching up on novels and anime.

At first, it was just to avoid running into that psycho Alpha alone. But then he found eating in the dorm way more relaxing than the noisy cafeteria, so it became a habit. He never lingered to eat there after afternoon dismissals.

Now, with no more texts from that Alpha—who’d vanished like a ghost—and military training finally over, no longer forcing him to the East Canteen, Qiu Sui finally felt liberated.

On the Open-Air Sports Field, a bunch of students in camouflage uniforms waved reluctant goodbyes to the instructors under the setting sun.

Qiu Sui, Qiao Keren, and Qiu Shun each rented an electric scooter and headed straight back to the dorms without a backward glance, planning to shower, change, and head off-campus for a group meal.

The three of them hadn’t eaten together once in the half-month of training.

The sports field was close to the Alpha Dorm Area, so Qiu Sui got back first.

He stripped off the baggy camouflage uniform, washed away the sweat, and slipped into his own short-sleeved shirt and shorts. He felt light and comfortable.

Emerging from the bathroom, he lounged lazily in a chair, scrolling his phone while blow-drying his hair.

Qiu Sui hadn’t cut his hair in half a month of training; it had grown out noticeably.

His bangs hung annoyingly in his eyes, and the rest brushed his neck—disaster zones during sweaty drills. Now dry, he grabbed a comb and roughly swept the eye-obscuring fringe back. The long, slightly wavy strands fell naturally and fluffily behind, like he’d styled it, making him look fresh and clean.

Sea City’s mid-September weather was still sweltering. Qiu Sui grabbed his power bank, stuffed a mini fan into his backpack, and headed out.

The barbecue stall was one the seniors had recommended—tasty stuff. Qiao Keren even ordered a few cans of low-alcohol fruit wine to go with it.

Low-proof and sweet-tasting, but too much still got him tipsy. By the time Qiu Sui finished eating, his cheeks flushed faintly red as he fanned his head with the mini fan to cool off.

“The seniors said club recruitment’s coming up in a few days. Any clubs you’re eyeing?” Qiao Keren nibbled the last strand of squid, holding out his phone with the intel he’d dug up.

Qiu Shun scanned the full list of clubs on the sheet and pointed at the Computer Association. “This one.”

Qiao Keren couldn’t make it out from behind the phone. “Which one?”

“Computer Association.” Qiu Sui squinted to read the line and answered for him.

Qiu Shun had switched to biology competitions back then, but he still self-studied computers in his spare time. He had the basics down, plus all the certs, so he qualified.

Qiu Sui and Qiao Keren, being comp-sci majors, didn’t want to dive deeper into that grind.

Qiu Sui liked basketball, but only casually with good friends, so no Basketball Club for him.

Qiao Keren eyed the Tennis Club, a bit sheepish. “The senior wants me and Qiu Sui to interview for the association too.”

He meant the one who’d tipped them off about the barbecue—same major, Computer Association member. Super friendly guy; he’d steered them clear of a ton of freshman pitfalls.

Qiao Keren had initially suspected some scam to sell him a phone card, but nope—the dude just wanted to boost his club’s rep.

Qiu Sui propped his chin, mulling it over sluggishly for a few seconds, his words coming slow. “We could help promote it later.”

Qiao Keren lit up with a eureka moment and clapped. “Right! We can post on Moments and hand out flyers.”

Qiu Sui nodded smartly, parched and reaching for the soda can nearby. Qiu Shun poured him a cup of warm water instead and handed it over, checking the time. “Finish your water and head back. Classes tomorrow.”

Qiu Sui chugged it obediently, the fruity tang fading from his breath.

The barbecue spot was on Snack Street, right by A University East Gate. No need for a cab—the trio strolled back to walk off the food.

They’d left at dusk; now it was nearing nine, but the path to Snack Street buzzed with crowds.

In that lively vibe, it was easy to drop your guard. Qiu Sui and Qiao Keren horsed around, pinching and tugging at each other, occasionally ganging up on Qiu Shun for backup.

The three of them took ten steps slower than nine, plenty of people weaving past.

Qiu Shun indulged them with a slight sidestep, exposing Qiao Keren to Qiu Sui’s attack. Amid Qiao Keren’s protests, he glanced sideways with a chuckle. In his peripheral vision, he sensed a still shadow not far behind.

Under the distant streetlamp, only moving pedestrians—chatting, giggling behind hands, hats, masks. Some faces sharp, others blurry.

Turning the streetlamp into a person?

Qiu Shun watched steadily for a bit before looking away. Qiu Sui and Qiao Keren had already chased each other dozens of meters ahead. He huffed an exasperated laugh and started after them—just as he brushed shoulders with a passerby, their arms colliding.

Qiu Shun stepped back half a pace. “Sorry,” he said reflexively, then looked up.

His gaze skimmed the man’s face, and he blurted the name on instinct. “Shen Zhixiao?”

The moment he was recognized, Shen Zhixiao froze in surprise but didn’t show it. He offered a polite, stranger’s smile. “Hello?”

“Huh?”

“Qiu Shun hasn’t caught up yet.”

The two halted their chase by the bus stop, suddenly realizing and calling out. They whipped around to see Qiu Shun facing off with a tall figure from afar.

Streetlight glow haloed their heads in a hazy ring.

Qiu Sui squinted. Once he made out who was opposite Qiu Shun, his faint smile stiffened.

Qiao Keren, a bit nearsighted, squinted too but couldn’t tell. He slapped Qiu Sui’s shoulder, grinning gossipily. “Who is it? Damn, that build, that height gap—I’m half-blind and still calling it a match, but if he’s ugly, disregard.”

Qiu Sui didn’t catch what they said or how long they talked. In two seconds of staring, they were already parting—one checking his phone in place, the other heading their way.

“Hey, is that Qiu Shun coming?” Qiao Keren yanked Qiu Sui’s sleeve excitedly, grinning. “I’ll just ask him.”

“It’s Shen Zhixiao,” Qiu Sui finally registered Qiao Keren’s earlier question and murmured.

Qiao Keren blanked for a split second. “Ah?”

Shen Zhixiao hitting on Qiu Shun?!

Qiao Keren blinked, processing, eyeing Qiu Sui’s face—worried he’d be hurt. Cautiously: “Maybe they knew each other before…”

Qiu Sui had no clue when Qiu Shun and Shen Zhixiao connected. Maybe even before that night he’d asked if Qiu Shun had seen him? Their camps were so close; they’d probably clocked each other ages ago.

Qiao Keren’s worried look confirmed he was still misunderstanding Qiu Sui’s crush on Shen Zhixiao. With a wry pang, he explained, “I wasn’t lying back then. I don’t like Shen Zhixiao. He doesn’t like me. He was just cozying up to me for Qiu Shun’s sake.”

Qiao Keren “Ah?”ed in shock, clamping a hand over his mouth like he’d uncovered a bombshell. He pieced it together for seconds before finding his voice. “Holy shit… for real?”

Half-skeptical but leaning toward believing Qiu Sui—Shen Zhixiao, S-Rank Alpha, did look perfect with fellow S-Rank Omega Qiu Shun.

Qiu Sui stared at the bus stop ad panel, voice low. “That’s why I told you not to tell Qiu Shun about me and Shen Zhixiao. I was afraid it’d spark a misunderstanding.”

Hearing that, Qiao Keren got it.

Qiu Shun seemed aloof but was perceptive, the type to bottle things up. If he misunderstood, none of them would catch it.

Qiu Shun spotted them chatting face-to-face from afar. He walked up after they finished—no questions, just: “Let’s go.”

Qiao Keren bit back the tease, since Qiu Shun had never mentioned Shen Zhixiao around them. He played it cool.

Qiu Shun never brought up stuff he wasn’t ready to share. Qiao Keren was nosy but knew boundaries.

Each nursing their thoughts, they switched topics and ambled past the bus stop into the East Gate.

It was late; electric scooters weren’t safe. They waited at the campus shuttle stop for the little buses.

Qiu Sui had sobered up some. He sat on the bench, seeing them off on the bus to the Omega Dormitory Area.

Qiu Shun fretted, wanting to wait with him for the next one, but their bus pulled up. Qiao Keren boarded.

Qiu Sui knew what worried him and pointed at the nearby Alphas waiting too. “Plenty of people around. That psycho Alpha hasn’t shown since the evening gala—probably scared shitless after I decked him.” He grinned softly at Qiu Shun.

Qiu Shun scanned the crowd, nodded, and boarded after Qiao Keren.

Qiu Sui watched the shuttle vanish from sight, then sagged abruptly.

He slumped on the bench, one hand clutching the mini fan, the other propping his knee as he zoned out.

His post-shower clothes now reeked of barbecue smoke. His hair stayed fluffy, courtesy of the whirring fan.

Bzzz—

Qiu Sui stared at the stalled blades, frowning as he jabbed the switch. Nothing. Dead battery.

His mind looped on those two figures under the streetlamp. Fumbling the fan back into his bag, he botched it several times.

Irritated, Qiu Sui startled when a hand entered his view. It gripped the silver zipper pull, tugged it wider, then wrapped his fumbling fingers to slide the fan inside before he could react.

Qiu Sui yanked his hand free on reflex. His gaze trailed up from the hand zipping his bag, curiosity warring with alarm until it met those smiling eyes.

Sharp and profound like their first meeting—yet lacking that aura of danger and aggression.