Chapter 45: Giving It a Try

Qiu Sui’s plan to catch the guy wasn’t complicated—it was just about creating an opportunity for that Alpha to come to him on his own.

They hadn’t nabbed anyone last night, probably because the stalker hadn’t followed. So, Qiu Sui planned to head back to school and hang out there, luring the guy out in the evening.

The deadline the stalker had set was Sunday. An Alpha couldn’t control their Pheromones leaking during Susceptible Period, so if the guy wanted to find him, it had to be before the period hit. Given the stalker’s habit of striking when least expected, he’d likely show up right at the deadline.

In the worst case, Qiu Sui figured the Susceptible Period might start Sunday night. But daytime was too crowded and conspicuous for a move, so he guessed tonight was the most likely time for an appearance.

If the guy didn’t show tonight, though, Qiu Sui would only have Sunday daytime left to catch him.

Shen Zhixiao propped his chin on his hand as he listened to Qiu Sui talk, nodding along cooperatively without offering any opinions. He just curved his eyes and said, “Wanna grab lunch at school together?”

Qiu Sui’s original plan had been to head back to school, order takeout, hole up in his dorm until evening, and head out then. His spoon paused mid-bite at the question.

His gaze flicked quickly across the table, meeting Shen Zhixiao’s faint smile. He bit down on his spoon subconsciously and let out a short, muffled “Mm.”

He swallowed the porridge and forced a casual tone. “Sure… My treat…”

The Alpha across from him quirked his lips ever so slightly at the awkward phrasing but didn’t call it out.

Qiu Sui hadn’t eaten since a little after nine, so he wasn’t hungry when lunchtime rolled around proper. Shen Zhixiao didn’t mind, content to wait and head out with him.

As Qiu Sui ate lunch, he occasionally scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision. The cafeteria wasn’t crowded at one-thirty in the afternoon, especially with most students out and about off-campus for the weekend.

He swept his eyes over the whole area. Aside from the S-Rank Alpha sitting across from him, there weren’t any other high-rank Alphas in sight.

Weekends were prime time for high-rank Alphas to head out and hook up with Omegas—nine out of ten were out on dates.

But what Qiu Sui couldn’t figure out was why that perverted Alpha still hadn’t shown. Hadn’t the guy said he’d appear by his side as much as possible?

Shen Zhixiao watched his every move with a slight curve to his eyes. As Qiu Sui’s gaze returned to his bowl and he prepared to dig in, the Alpha asked with concern, “How’s it going? Spot any suspects?”

Qiu Sui bit into a potato slice with a depressed huff of denial, but he quickly straightened up, looked the Alpha in the eye, and said, “Yeah.”

Shen Zhixiao looked genuinely surprised. He glanced around, leaned in slightly with his hands on the table, lowered his voice cooperatively, and asked curiously, “Which one?”

Under the Alpha’s serious gaze, Qiu Sui smiled faintly, pointed his chopsticks at the suspect, and said in a tone that blurred truth and joke, “You.”

The man across from him missed half a heartbeat. His composed expression stiffened for an instant, but Qiu Sui didn’t notice. Propping his chin, he kept a stern face and drawled, “You’re the only high-rank Alpha around here, so you’re the prime suspect right now.”

Shen Zhixiao held his position, staring fixedly at Qiu Sui. His tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and he broke into a faint, amused smile. “Is this a joke?”

Qiu Sui’s deadpan delivery cracked, and he couldn’t help laughing along, his tone lifting. “Yeah.”

“Oh.” Shen Zhixiao watched his bright, handsome smile as he slowly sat back up, sighing softly, “You almost scared me there…”

Qiu Sui had thought it was an obvious joke and let out an “Ah?”

Shen Zhixiao’s brow twitched faintly, his expression turning somewhat serious as he explained slowly, “I don’t hear you joke much, so I took it at face value without thinking.”

Qiu Sui blinked awkwardly, suddenly realizing their relationship wasn’t quite at the level for casual joking…

Soon, Shen Zhixiao spoke again, his gentle tone carrying a hint of hope. “It’d be nice if you joked around or chatted with me more often.”

Then his voice turned a bit downcast. “But things are already way better than before. I shouldn’t ask for too much…”

Qiu Sui gripped his chopsticks, staring at the meek, downcast Alpha across from him. He had no idea how the mood had shifted and was still a bit stunned.

He’d never been good at comfort words or handling scenes like this. Seeing Shen Zhixiao’s eyes droop in disappointment, he floundered for several seconds before saying stiffly, “I’m… not great at chatting…”

Shen Zhixiao let out a soft “Hm?” He propped his face up slightly and looked over, his sharp features appearing almost harmless.

Qiu Sui licked his lips uncomfortably, averting his gaze from that distracting face. In a low voice, he explained, “I’m not used to initiating messages or chats… I suck at finding topics.”

His senses weren’t sharp for some things. Outside of close friends, he rarely found common ground in conversations and preferred others messaging him nonstop.

Shen Zhixiao seemed to understand his difficulty, his expression less downcast. With gentle guidance, he said, “You don’t need to find topics for me. Share your daily stuff—worries, bad days, good ones, anything…”

He pursed his lips in quiet satisfaction, a faint light glimmering in his eyes as he added, “Like how you told me about this worry and let me help. I’d love to do that.”

Qiu Sui’s fingers twitched almost imperceptibly around his chopsticks. He ducked his head unnaturally and took a bite, not replying right away.

He wasn’t used to opening up like that. Even with Qiu Shun and Qiao Keren, he only shared bits and pieces, stopping short. He didn’t broadcast every little thing in the group chat like Qiao Keren, bluntly airing his feelings. He picked and chose what to share, preferring to listen and stay in sync.

If Qiu Shun was the silent type who hated expressing himself, Qiu Sui—who hid half his thoughts even when sharing—wasn’t much better. As twins, they shared a certain style and tacit understanding.

He didn’t see anything wrong with it, and neither did his friends. So Shen Zhixiao’s words left him at a loss.

But the Alpha across from him waited patiently for a reply. Qiu Sui mechanically stirred the vermicelli in his mouth. He could easily refuse things that crossed his boundaries, but under that expectant gaze, saying no felt hard.

Perhaps realizing he was asking too much, Shen Zhixiao reined in his hope and gave an apologetic smile. “It’s fine, I—”

“I’ll… give it a try…”

Shen Zhixiao’s words cut off abruptly. Qiu Sui stared awkwardly at the soup in his bowl and added slowly, “Chat with you more.”

He couldn’t share everything, but half? That he could manage.

It was a privilege he reserved for close friends, and Shen Zhixiao had just earned a version of it.

But it’s temporary, Qiu Sui thought in a heated impulse amid the Alpha’s stunned expression. It has an expiration date.

Come on out already, Qiu Sui thought resentfully, hoping for the first time that the guy would appear right then.

He typed a reply. Shen Zhixiao promptly pulled off his mask and approached, reaching for the shopping bag.

Qiu Sui loosened his grip to hand over the snacks he’d bought for the Alpha, but Shen Zhixiao took everything. He tried to grab them back, but the Alpha smoothly switched hands, leaving him grasping air.

The Alpha chuckled softly at the move, his faint breath lost in the autumn breeze.

Qiu Sui glanced over, but Shen Zhixiao looked normal, lightly jingling the car keys and saying warmly, “Follow me.”

Shen Zhixiao’s car was parked far off. Qiu Sui had long forgotten the way and trailed obediently behind. The two temporary bodyguards they’d hired hung back at a distance of several dozen meters.

Shen Zhixiao walked slowly, asking with concern if his legs were tired.

Qiu Sui’s steps faltered at the question. He was about to say he was fine, but remembering their lunchtime talk, he opted for honesty—he was a bit tired. His lips parted, but then he heard a couple emerging from the mall’s side door.

“Baby, tired after all that shopping?” The Alpha’s arms were laden with bags as he gazed fondly at his Omega.

The Omega nodded with a couple of whines, starting to say “Tired—” when the Alpha scooped him up princess-style in one arm.

They strode off toward the open parking lot under the stares of passersby, the Omega shyly flushed.

Qiu Sui: “…”

Noticing Shen Zhixiao’s gaze shift from the pair back to him, he kept his face straight, blinked once, and said deliberately, word by word, “I’m fine.”