The Alpha behind him nearly lost control of his expression upon hearing those words. Gazing at the faint smile tugging at Qiu Sui’s lips, he forced a natural tone. “Is that so?”
“I saw you at the Comprehensive Building earlier and thought you were there for the interview too.” Shen Zhixiao’s voice came out a bit stiff.
Qiu Sui hadn’t paid much attention to the other’s face. I joined the recruitment group for the association, and I went to the Comprehensive Building on interview day—yeah, it’s totally normal to misunderstand that.
He reined in his laughter and shuffled a couple steps down the hallway. Before leaving, he politely waved back at the man behind him, signaling that he was heading off first.
Shen Zhixiao stood frozen in place until the Beta vanished from sight. Only then did the gloom settle over his face. He coldly pulled out his phone, added the WeChat of an officer from the association group, and requested to withdraw his interview eligibility.
…
The first thing Qiu Sui did upon returning to the dorm was take a shower.
When he emerged from the bathroom with damp hair, it was nearly eleven. His phone had piled up with several unread messages.
In the small group chat, Qiao Keren and Qiu Shun were sharing memes. The class group had a reminder about makeup classes over the weekend holiday. Xiao Mu had privately messaged asking if he’d made it back to the dorm.
Qiu Sui replied to him. Xiao Mu’s new message came quickly, asking what fun places he’d hit up off-campus and why he was back so late.
Upon learning they’d just gone out for a late dinner, Xiao Mu subtly let out a breath of relief. He wanted to probe further about that Alpha’s identity, but Qiu Sui messaged that he was getting ready to sleep.
Xiao Mu had no choice but to drop it and instead messaged to meet up for breakfast and head to class together tomorrow morning.
Qiu Sui sent back an OK sticker, dried his hair, then sluggishly climbed into bed. He began pondering the feasibility of finding a partner.
He’d encountered plenty of Alphas and Omegas around campus lately. Back in high school, the only AO couples were the sneaky early daters. Now in university, they were everywhere.
Qiao Keren was especially eager to date—ideally a handsome Alpha. That way, his Heat Periods wouldn’t be so rough, and he’d have some eye candy.
Those single Alphas were burning with mating urges too.
Influenced by their Susceptible Periods, without a partner’s Pheromones to soothe them, they could develop Pheromone Disorder symptoms after twenty-four. Even though domestic and international medicine had poured resources into researching Pheromone Disorder, no effective treatments had been published yet.
So Alphas typically started hunting for Omega partners right after adulthood—some even snuck into relationships underage back in school.
As a Beta, Qiu Sui didn’t have to deal with Heat Periods or Susceptible Periods, but he still needed to find a partner eventually. It was just a matter of time.
If he could find one now, he could better dodge the original plot. That way, Qiu Shun and Shen Zhixiao wouldn’t end up in those bloody misunderstandings and angsty romances because of him.
Qiu Sui’s ideal type used to be an Omega, but now he was facing reality. A fellow Beta might be a better match.
Omegas had brutal Heat Periods, and without Pheromones, he couldn’t help at all.
Lost in these rambling thoughts, Qiu Sui’s mind suddenly conjured that perverted Alpha. He realized with a start that he hadn’t thought about the guy in ages.
He opened his texts. The last message was from a week ago—the photo of the stuff he’d tossed.
These past few days had been so chill; he hadn’t spared the creep a thought. Counting the days, over half a month had passed since their deal.
But the perverted Alpha’s deadline was still more than ten days out—at least after the long holiday.
Qiu Sui relaxed again, drifting off as he wondered if he should spend some cash to hire people to nab the guy when the time came.
Sure, it was a Susceptible Period Alpha out of his mind, but better safe than sorry…
Having agreed with Xiao Mu to grab breakfast and head to class together, Qiu Sui got up, freshened up, and messaged that he’d meet downstairs.
Friday morning meant just one class. Unusually, Qiu Sui skipped his backpack, grabbing only a cap and his books before heading out.
The early morning air was cool. A chilly breeze made him shiver sleepily as he quickened his pace into the building lobby, planning to blow past the crowded elevators like always without looking up.
But before he could make it far, someone lightly tugged his cap, jolting his wandering mind half-awake.
Qiu Sui halted and turned his head. The moment he spotted the Pheromone Control Ring around the other’s neck, he knew exactly who it was.
His lashes fluttered sluggishly twice before he steadied himself to look at that face.
My heart’s racing a bit, he thought. But no other effects.
Facing down a tall, imposing S-Rank Alpha would make anyone’s pulse quicken.
Qiu Sui soon noticed Wen Heng waving at him from beside Shen Zhixiao.
If memory served, they had an early eight a.m. in the Science Building today too—just like him. He’d often spotted them waiting for the elevator in the lobby before, but they hadn’t noticed him then. Didn’t expect to run into them this morning.
Qiu Sui had planned to steer clear of Shen Zhixiao after treating him to dinner last night, but since they’d spotted him first, he couldn’t just bolt. Eye contact with Shen Zhixiao felt fine anyway, so he nodded slowly at them in greeting.
He felt his cap brim dip lightly, then heard Shen Zhixiao ask with concern if he was heading to breakfast.
They stood close. Qiu Sui eyed the subtle roll of the other’s throat as he spoke, shifting back half a step uncomfortably before nodding honestly.
He gave the two Alphas a polite half-smile, his voice still thick with that just-woke-up nasally tone. “My friend’s waiting downstairs. I’m heading out.”
“Hey, since we bumped into each other, let’s share a table.” Wen Heng exclaimed enthusiastically, not giving Qiu Sui a chance to respond. He strode toward the stairs like old pals, his tone warm and genuine. “Come on, come on—don’t keep your friend waiting.”
After the guy had yelled Shen Zhixiao’s name in the crowded Science Building hallway last time, Qiu Sui was once again dumbfounded by this shameless energy.
Shen Zhixiao hesitated beside him, lowering his head apologetically. His long lashes drooped with his gaze, veiling most of the light in his eyes.
With a soft smile laced with faint hope yet considerate, he said, “If you’re not comfortable, we can go to another cafeteria after we head down. No problem.”
Qiu Sui met his eyes for a brief two seconds before flicking his gaze away.
He mumbled an awkward acknowledgment, twisting his head to fix on Wen Heng’s beaming face ahead in the stairwell. Even so, he couldn’t shake the image of Shen Zhixiao’s earlier look.
Feeling that scorching gaze from above, Qiu Sui embarrassedly gripped his textbook tighter. Shuffling forward, he mumbled vaguely, “Sure, whatever.”
It’s just breakfast…
Shen Zhixiao caught up a beat later, chuckling as if caught off guard. In a light voice, he asked, “Does that mean yes?”
Qiu Sui kept walking ahead, pretending not to hear.
Shen Zhixiao watched the Beta’s cap-obscured strands triumphantly, trailing behind and lightly inhaling his scent. Last night’s thick Green Tea Pheromone had completely faded.
His budding pleasure soured. Staring at the nape of Qiu Sui’s neck, he greedily wondered: How much longer until I can mark there?
He was already struggling to endure this deliberate distance.
Xiao Mu arrived downstairs a minute before Qiu Sui. His delight evaporated the instant he learned two more were joining them for breakfast.
Breakfast alone with Qiu Sui was Xiao Mu’s favorite quality time. Qiu Sui was always a bit dazed then, ate slowly, answered whatever, and was super agreeable.
Xiao Mu had planned to invite him to spend his birthday together on Tuesday, but these two Alphas had ruined it.
Listening to that Wen Heng chatter, Xiao Mu gripped his chopsticks darkly, claiming the seat beside Qiu Sui. He pressed his shoulder against Qiu Sui’s, hunching over his food.
Unlike Shen Zhixiao’s slow chewing, Wen Heng didn’t care about image—he devoured his food like a whirlwind. Grinning at the two Betas across, he asked where they were headed for class.
Xiao Mu ignored him with open hostility, but Qiu Sui absently replied, “Science Building.”
“What a coincidence!” Wen Heng set down his chopsticks. “Us too. Perfect— we can head over together.”
Qiu Sui admired how the guy could keep yapping so energetically. He finished his last few bites of noodles, his head clearing up. Lifting his face, he suddenly locked eyes with the gaze across from him.
The other had been propping his chin on one hand, watching who-knew-how-long. Caught, his expression stayed frank as he smiled and asked with concern, “All done? Want another soy milk?”
With that, Shen Zhixiao slid his untouched soy milk—straw inserted, still warm—toward him.
Qiu Sui stared at the cup, pausing mid-motion, a bit baffled as he met those innocent eyes. Hesitant, he ventured, “Can’t finish yours?”
The words barely left when he felt Wen Heng and Xiao Mu’s stares. Suddenly awkward, Qiu Sui nudged the cup to the table’s center. “I can’t finish mine either. You guys want it?”
“…” Under the icy stares, Wen Heng squinted a smile at the Beta and waved it off. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
“I’ll take it.”
Xiao Mu smiled dramatically, ignoring the Alphas as he took the soy milk from Qiu Sui’s hand. He raised it toward the stone-faced Shen Zhixiao. “Thanks. Just thirsty.”
Shen Zhixiao fixed on Xiao Mu, his flat lips twitching faintly upward. No mirth in his eyes—it was a statement. But when Qiu Sui turned, his smile turned genuine, forcing out syllable by syllable, “You’re welcome.”
Before leaving, Xiao Mu crushed the empty paper cup flat and chucked it into the non-recyclable trash.
He headed to the sink to find Qiu Sui, only to see that Shen Zhixiao standing in his spot beside him. The Alpha leaned down, lightly patting Qiu Sui’s shoulder as if by accident.
Suddenly, the man lifted his lids. Those stark black-and-white eyes locked on him with chill contempt. The innate Alpha aggression flared obviously now—like a territorial warning to an intruder.
Xiao Mu kept his expression cold, ignoring the posturing.
An Alpha who can’t even control his own Pheromones—how could he possibly suit Qiu Sui better than a Beta unaffected by any scents? Betas belong with Betas.
If Qiu Sui really had to choose, he’d think the same.
![The Tower Will Fall [Apocalypse]](https://i2.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/93.jpg?resize=151,215 "The Tower Will Fall [Apocalypse]")
