He had thought that he’d already scared off that perverted Alpha last time. Tonight, he’d finally cleared things up with Shen Zhixiao, so he could kick off his university life without a care—only for the creep to come roaring back.
The timing was so precise that Qiu Sui genuinely started questioning his life choices.
As expected, without catching the perverted Alpha red-handed, the initiative was entirely in the other’s hands. And with the previous lesson learned, nabbing him would be even trickier now.
He had no idea when the guy might strike—tomorrow, the day after, a week from now, half a month later…
Unless there was irreparable damage done, even calling the cops would just get brushed off as a high-ranking Alpha harassing a Beta. They’d treat it like a joke or minor scuffle and slap it with a perfunctory resolution.
Was he really doomed to stay on high alert forever, just waiting for the creep to show his face?!
Qiu Sui flopped heavily back onto the bed in helpless frustration, holding his phone high with both hands. He glared furiously at the screen before, in a fit of “screw it,” hammering out an attack on the other side.
Qiu Sui: Sorry about that, but I hate you way more than any high-ranking Alpha.
Qiu Sui: Even if you weren’t a high-ranking Alpha, I’d never like you.
Qiu Sui: You’re sick, but I’m perfectly healthy. I’m not interested in anyone who stalks me from the shadows!
The more worked up he got, the faster he typed.
Qiu Sui: You think sending me harassing texts for three years counts as deep affection?
Qiu Sui: If you’ve got the guts, show yourself to me fair and square.
Qiu Sui: I’ll even give you a shot at forgiveness.
As long as I get to beat the crap out of you, he added viciously in his mind. He didn’t care if the Alpha took the bait—he just wanted the relief of hitting send.
He stared at the screen for a few seconds with no response. Not sure if the guy hadn’t seen the messages or was mulling over the “advice,” Qiu Sui clutched his phone and waited a bit longer. Still nothing.
The class group chat was buzzing about how the 8 a.m. classroom was a hike from the dorms. Qiu Sui had to get up early for breakfast tomorrow, so he gave up waiting, shut off his phone, and forced himself to sleep amid the chirping of crickets.
Maybe it was gnawing guilt keeping him restless—he lay there with eyes closed, brewing sleep for ages before finally drifting off. And wouldn’t you know it, he dreamed of that bench conversation with Shen Zhixiao again.
The only difference was, in reality, he hadn’t dared glance at the guy’s expression, just blurted everything out. But in the dream, he faced Shen Zhixiao head-on.
The man’s demeanor and movements were laid bare before him.
By the time he finished his last line, the polite faint smile had vanished from Shen Zhixiao’s face. His lips pressed into a straight line, expressionless as he stared him down. Those pitch-black eyes glinted with icy shards under the streetlamp.
Shen Zhixiao’s looks were undeniably striking—Qiu Sui had never seen such a flawless face. Every feature, contour, and detail was perfectly placed. Without expression, his handsomeness seemed almost inhuman, like a statue devoid of emotion.
Pinned by those sharp phoenix eyes, dark and brooding, Qiu Sui’s heart clenched. Even his breathing slowed unconsciously.
In that brief silence, a chill crept up the back of his neck.
Fortunately, Shen Zhixiao’s lips moved then. Qiu Sui knew what came next from memory—the minibus horn would drown out his words, he’d mutter a quick apology when it stopped, then bolt.
But dreams were dreams because they never followed reality’s script.
No anticipated minibus horn blared. Instead, Shen Zhixiao’s once-mumbled words rang out clear as day, his stiff tone laced with suppressed fury.
“How could you do this to me?”
Qiu Sui’s eyes flew wide at the accusation. In his shock, strong, steady hands clamped his shoulders in place, the grip so fierce it felt like fingers digging into his flesh.
Those unmoving lips parted sinisterly, inching closer as low growls escaped: “I like you so much.”
“How could you do this to me?”
“Qiu Sui?!”
The man’s face loomed larger and larger. Qiu Sui was pinned immobile by those hands, unable even to struggle, his heart pounding like it would burst through his chest straight onto Shen Zhixiao.
He gaped in terror, but his throat felt weighted with stone—no sound came out.
“I told you, if you’re not good, I’ll punish you.”
The hoarse rasp brushed his ear with hot breath on his nape. Overwhelmed by dread, Qiu Sui’s eyes darted wildly. Before he could react, searing agony exploded from the back of his neck.
Qiu Sui jolted awake in agitation, vision blurry as he stared at the desk ahead. He blanked out for several dazed seconds before shaking off the nightmare’s horror.
He actually dreamed the stalker Alpha and Shen Zhixiao as one. Must be from that twisted train of thought before bed.
Heart still racing, he reached to touch his nape—and a drilling pain made him yelp in surprise.
In the early morning light, Qiu Sui stood grudge-bearing at the sink, one hand cradling his stiff neck, the other listlessly brushing his teeth.
The nightmare plus a crick in his neck had woken him eight minutes before his alarm—a catastrophic blow for someone who’d gone to bed late.
After brushing, he gingerly turned his neck to splash water on his face, figuring this was punishment for repaying Shen Zhixiao’s kindness with ingratitude.
His phone buzzed on schedule—he’d forgotten to silence the alarm. Yawning, Qiu Sui shuffled inside, changed out of pajamas, then silenced it and disabled Do Not Disturb after leaving it on all night.
He scanned the new timetable for class locations while yanking books from the shelf and stuffing them into his bag. Only then did he grab his hat and backpack and head out.
Elevator rush hour was packed, so he beelined for the stairs. He chatted a bit with Qiao Keren and Qiu Shun in their little group first, then finally tapped the ignored text thread.
The Alpha had fired off over a dozen replies at some point last night.
Qiu Sui descended with the crowd, dimming his screen in the lit stairwell for a sense of security. His eyes locked on the preview of the last message under that number, a vague dread stirring.
Tense, he opened the thread and scrolled to the first reply, his steps slowing unconsciously.
0: Haha.
0: Baby, are you joking?
0: Or do you really want me to show up?
0: But I’m in my Susceptible Period right now. If I saw you, I’d just want to mark you hard.
0: You sure you wouldn’t get scared?
0: Hm?
0: Why don’t you come find me instead.
0: Darling.
0: I’ll give you a month to track me down.
0: I won’t bother you through other means this month.
0: But I’ll be right by your side, completely unmasked.
0: Hope you spot me successfully.
0: Succeed, and I’ll never bother you again.
0: Fail…
0: Next month’s Susceptible Period.
0: I’ll mark you.
0: Baby.
0: Want to be my Beta?
The messages rambled like sleep-talk, sporadic timestamps from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Qiu Sui hit the last one, adrenaline surging instantly. His fingers clenched the phone white-knuckled, temples throbbing.
Fuming, he typed a confrontation—but no reply came.
This wasn’t a game with options; it was a unilateral ultimatum. Cooperate or not, next Susceptible Period, the Alpha would come for him.
Qiu Sui stormed out of the dorm, a bitter laugh escaping as fury boiled over.
He’d been plotting how to catch this Alpha, and now the idiot handed him the timeline?
I won’t just find you—I’ll beat you senseless.
Even if he failed, a Susceptible Period Alpha lost rational control. He’d get nabbed like a rabid dog by the Omega Protection Association before stepping out, let alone finding Qiu Sui. If he did show, it’d be to get pummeled.
Qiu Sui glared at the arrogant texts, firing off a barrage of taunts to rile him up.
But as the Alpha had said, no other disturbances this month—no reply.
In a way, Qiu Sui had scored a month of peace.
Classes the next couple days brought a campus sighting of Wen Heng, but no Shen Zhixiao. Awkward tension lingered, but without him, a strange relief settled in.
Savoring this unprecedented campus chill, four days slipped by unnoticed—weekend holidays especially flew. Blink, and it was early rise for 8 a.m. again.
Grimacing, he snatched his bag and headed out as usual toward the stairs. Passing the elevator hall, he caught sight of Wen Heng and Shen Zhixiao waiting there.
They hadn’t spotted him, but Qiu Sui’s heart still raced uncontrollably.
Like some awkwardness hangover—even days later, seeing Shen Zhixiao yanked his brain back to that night’s embarrassment.
He quickened his pace, ducking into the stairwell before they noticed.
Descending with the flow, tension easing, he exhaled. His mind replayed that fleeting glimpse, picking up on something off about Shen Zhixiao this time.
The guy was wearing a metal Bite Guard on his face.
The device Susceptible Period Alphas used to physically and mentally curb unstable emotions and Pheromones from turning aggressive on those nearby.
In severe Susceptible Periods, even with a Bite Guard, they weren’t allowed in crowded public spots. Only clear-headed ones could wear it for normal activities.
So Shen Zhixiao… was in his Susceptible Period?
