Even after mentally preparing himself, Qiu Sui still jumped when he opened the text and saw the enlarged candid photo on his screen.
0: [Photo]
0: Dear, eating too fast isn’t a good habit.
0: You need to break it.
0: Want me to help you?
0: When can we eat together?
0: Baby.
0: Why’d you suddenly touch your nape?
0: Did you miss me? [Blissful emoji]
This clingy Alpha kept chattering away to himself in his own little world, even knowing Qiu Sui wouldn’t reply—or might not even read them.
Qiu Sui didn’t linger on the nonsense for a second. He stared at the photo of his own oblivious profile, and the thought of some unknown gaze still lurking nearby sent chills down his spine.
He quickly compared the photo’s angle and craned his neck to scan where the sender might be.
The cafeteria near the Alpha Dorm Area was packed with Alphas, all of them built similarly tall and broad. Every face was a total stranger to him.
He felt helpless for a moment, then pulled himself together.
With his sharp memory, if he’d crossed paths with this guy even once, he’d have some gut feeling about it.
Plus, the photo was so clear even zoomed in—the sender couldn’t have been far away.
Qiu Sui thought, his eyes flicking over the nearby Alphas chatting and laughing, hunting for any clue. But before he spotted anything, his phone buzzed.
The text screen lit up as messages poured in from that number.
0: Dear, did you look up because you’re looking for me?
0: So happy.
0: Turns out you do read my messages.
0: Then why don’t you ever reply?
0: Hm?
0: I know you’re reading this right now. Reply to me.
The guy’s still watching me right now.
The realization hit Qiu Sui like lightning. His heart raced as he lifted his face, scanning purposefully for an Alpha typing on his phone and glancing his way now and then.
His phone kept buzzing—the sender was still typing. Qiu Sui’s gaze swept over the laughing faces to his right, then it hit him.
Wait, no.
It had been a while since that photo was taken. No way the guy was still sitting there like an idiot waiting to get caught.
The thought made Qiu Sui’s heart lurch. He whipped his head the other way on instinct—and locked eyes with a pair of icy, pitch-black ones.
That Alpha cradled his phone in one hand, his bangs slicked back impeccably to reveal sharp, defined features. His sword brows framed narrowed phoenix eyes, radiating a feral edge.
A familiar face, for sure.
Qiu Sui stared at Shen Zhixiao, sitting not far off. His brain blanked out, scalp prickling.
Shen Zhixiao hadn’t moved an inch, but Qiu Sui’s phone kept jumping with new messages. Realizing what he was doing, cold sweat broke out down his back. He ducked his head to check the flood of texts.
…
0: So you prefer chatting with the real me over the phone?
0: I’m thrilled you want to meet.
0: I’m right here beside you, dear.
0: Can you find me?
The buzzing stopped. Qiu Sui stared at the last line, his heartbeat a chaotic mess.
He raised his head slowly, unable to help sneaking a glance at Shen Zhixiao’s spot. The guy was smiling as he chatted with the Alpha next to him, then checking his phone to type.
Maybe done sending, he set it down soon after.
Qiu Sui’s phone went quiet too, save for class group notifications.
Not sure if his sneaky peeking was too obvious, but the Alpha across the way suddenly looked over, narrowing his eyes just like before. His expressionless face turned icy, as if deeply offended by the staring.
Qiu Sui snapped back to reality and jerked his face away in panic, suddenly realizing his own behavior was no better than the creep stalking him.
His phone buzzed once more, but before he could check, he met Qiu Shun and Qiao Keren’s gazes. His heart dropped.
The table had gone eerily quiet. Who knew how long they’d been watching.
Qiao Keren glanced in the direction Qiu Sui had been staring—straight at Shen Zhixiao, whom he hadn’t even noticed nearby, an S-Rank Alpha.
Everyone loves eyeing a hot guy, but Qiao Keren couldn’t quite figure out Qiu Sui’s shifty vibe. He hesitated, then asked, “Were you…?”
“No.” Qiu Sui slammed his lit-up phone face-down on the table. Seeing Qiu Shun glance at Shen Zhixiao too, panic written all over his face, he cut Qiao Keren off before he could finish.
But that just made it look even more suspicious—like the lady doth protest too much. Qiao Keren had already seen him staring at Shen Zhixiao, and this reaction? Clearly shy and stubborn.
Even Qiu Sui couldn’t explain why he’d zoned in on Shen Zhixiao like he was possessed.
Qiao Keren’s knowing, hold-your-tongue look made him miserable. Must’ve been the plot’s influence, he guessed. I was just trying to find my harasser.
When Qiu Shun pulled his gaze from the tall Alpha, he somehow sensed the unnatural turmoil in Qiu Sui’s heart.
His usually calm face flickered with rare complexity. His hand unconsciously stirred his chopsticks as he softly called, “Bro.”
Qiu Sui, mind in chaos, tensed like he was on trial and mumbled back. He met Qiu Shun’s eyes anxiously, fists clenched under the table.
Qiu Shun could feel his brother’s fidgeting—they’d had this eerie emotional sync since childhood.
When Qiu Sui was hyped, Qiu Shun’s mood lifted too. When Qiu Shun was pissed, Qiu Sui got irritable. But only at emotional peaks.
Qiu Shun faltered, unsure how to continue. He dropped his gaze, expression neutral again, and nudged the shrimp dumplings his way. “Can’t finish. Want them?”
Qiu Sui’s nerves were frayed, his brain prepped with denials about liking Shen Zhixiao.
The offer short-circuited him. “Huh?” he blurted, staring blankly at the pinkish dumplings for seconds before repeating, “You can’t finish?”
Qiu Shun hummed, setting down his chopsticks. Still cool as ever, but a faint displeasure shadowed his brows.
The brothers often polished off each other’s plates—it was normal.
Qiu Sui relaxed, sliding the dumplings over.
Whether from lingering panic or being stuffed earlier, he ate slower this time, shoving the stalker texts from his mind.
Qiao Keren finished while he was still picking at food.
Class meetings started at 7:30 in the department buildings. By the time Qiu Sui wrapped up, it was nearly seven.
Qiu Shun’s School of Computer Science building was the opposite direction. He took the shuttle alone. Qiao Keren and Qiu Sui waited at the stop for the one to the School of Computer Science.
Stuffed to the brim, Qiu Sui paced uncomfortably.
Under the streetlamp, Qiao Keren sat quietly glued to his phone—a rare sight.
Ever since that Shen Zhixiao glance, the vibe felt awkward, Qiu Sui thought.
Rubbing his belly, he broodingly upped the dream’s credibility, replaying Qiu Shun’s expression.
Some things only click in hindsight, after the chance to fix them is gone.
That was Qiu Sui now.
He finally clocked Qiu Shun’s oddness back then. That “bro” wasn’t just about the dumplings.
His mind replayed Qiu Shun’s face after eyeing Shen Zhixiao—the fleeting complexity. Peeling it back layer by layer, it hit him.
Qiu Shun’s interested in Shen Zhixiao too.
He racked his brain for dream fragments, snagging a thread of the original story.
…Qiu Shun had fallen for Shen Zhixiao at first sight, just like him.
Early on, their drama stemmed from Qiu Sui. Qiu Shun noticed his brother liked the same Alpha and held back. But Shen Zhixiao fell for Qiu Sui instead. For his brother’s sake, Qiu Shun rejected him.
Qiu Sui’s repeated confessions got shot down. Catching Shen Zhixiao confessing to Qiu Shun flipped him into enemy mode…
Classic villain cannon fodder.
He tried digging for more early Qiu Shun-Shen details, but his mind drew a blank—either unconnected to him or too minor to remember.
Qiu Sui stood ramrod straight under the lamp, pale light draping his wavy hair and fair profile like fine gauze…
More like drenched in dogblood.
He shut his eyes helplessly, aching at Qiu Shun’s feigned calm. He’d sworn not to let his brother get hurt like in the book, yet here he was, sleepwalking into the plot.
The shuttle pulled up. Qiao Keren stood and found Qiu Sui behind him, practicing parade rest.
He burst out laughing, tugging him aboard. “How long you been standing like that?” he asked, puzzled but chill.
Against Qiao Keren’s beaming grin, Qiu Sui looked even more tragic. He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Few minutes? Dunno.”
Qiao Keren had thought he’d stood so long he was dizzy and listless. Now he saw something was off and pressed, but Qiu Sui clammed up.
No choice—Qiao Keren went for a mood-lifter.
He clapped Qiu Sui’s shoulder, voice bursting with energy. “C’mon, it’s fine! Got something that’ll cheer you right up!”
So confident, Qiu Sui cracked his lids to look.
Qiao Keren grinned, waving his phone and whispering, “Hey, I get you like Shen Zhixiao—totally normal, he’s a total hunk Alpha. No need to be shy around us!
“I went through hell to snag his WeChat and QQ for you from some folks. Wanna add him and creep on his feed? Don’t worry, I won’t. I’d never crush on the same Alpha as a friend—no matter how hot…”
Then he noticed Qiu Sui’s eyes reddening.
Qiao Keren froze. “Whoa,” he yelped, thumbing Qiu Sui’s eye corner. “No need to get this touched…”
![Hundreds of Assassination Attempts on the Immortal Venerable [Transmigration Book]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tr.jpg?resize=151,215 "Hundreds of Assassination Attempts on the Immortal Venerable [Transmigration Book]")
