Qiu Sui had originally planned to gather a few people by the appointed deadline and lie in wait for that perverted Alpha to show up. But if that Alpha entered his Susceptible Period on Sunday, it meant the guy probably wouldn’t appear in public that day— he’d likely get nabbed the moment he stepped out due to his Pheromones leaking.
So if that Alpha really wanted to find him, he’d probably make his move right before the Susceptible Period hit, like on Saturday…
But there was also the possibility that the guy stayed clear-headed during the day on Sunday before entering his Susceptible Period, which meant Saturday and Sunday were both days full of danger for Qiu Sui… even today.
Qiu Sui alertly clutched his textbooks tighter, his still-groggy nerves suddenly jumping.
He met the Alpha’s meek, downcast gaze, his thoughts pausing for a moment before he slowly responded along with Shen Zhixiao’s words: “Next week… I might be a bit busy this weekend…”
Busy catching him.
Shen Zhixiao’s expression looked a little downcast but understanding as he nodded at him with a smile, casually asking where he planned to hang out with friends over the weekend.
Qiu Sui was absentmindedly plotting how to catch the pervert when he heard this and blinked briefly. He was just about to make something up when a clear voice interrupted.
He turned slightly toward the source and saw Xiao Mu standing in his usual spot where he waited for them to go to breakfast together, his gaze burning intently on them.
Catching Qiu Sui’s eyes, Xiao Mu felt instantly encouraged. Clutching his textbooks, he walked proactively toward him.
Over the holiday, Xiao Mu had thought about a lot at home. He realized he’d been too hasty before. If he’d been more patient and worn Qiu Sui down a bit more, at least deepening their relationship to become good friends, Qiu Sui might have wavered more easily.
He knew Qiu Sui still had feelings for him—after all, the guy really did treat him as the only ordinary friend in their class, tolerating his occasional touches and disruptions during lessons.
This was the special treatment Xiao Mu enjoyed after getting closer to Qiu Sui, and it filled him with joy. He wanted more, but unfortunately, his impatience had ruined everything he’d built up.
Still, Xiao Mu didn’t think there was no chance to salvage it. Qiu Sui responded to gentleness but not force, and their relationship was different from that with random strangers. As long as he kept clinging to Qiu Sui like before, Qiu Sui would eventually waver.
But seeing Shen Zhixiao beside Qiu Sui made Xiao Mu feel an inevitable sense of crisis.
This damn Alpha, the one who’d wrecked everything—if he hadn’t shown up that night, their relationship wouldn’t have turned out like this.
Even if he’d really kissed Qiu Sui that night, as long as he’d apologized on the spot, Qiu Sui— in the state he was in—would’ve softened and let it slide. As long as they stayed friends, a little gentle persistence would’ve naturally taken things further.
But now, Xiao Mu’s plans were all ruined by this Alpha. He glared hatefully at that cold face, thinking Alphas were indeed the most disgusting group in the world. They had the best societal advantages tilted in their favor, yet they still competed with Betas for the scraps—and they were full of vicious schemes to boot.
The guy must’ve taken advantage of that night to win Qiu Sui over, even using Qiu Sui’s phone to delete me from his friends…
At this thought, Xiao Mu’s fingers tightened on his book, but he kept his expression natural as he stopped in front of Qiu Sui. He looked up slightly at that handsome face, his expression tinged with a subtle pitifulness as he softly called Qiu Sui’s name again.
“I couldn’t message you, so I waited here for a long time,” he said, his lashes trembling as if harboring unease. He cautiously glanced at Shen Zhixiao before asking softly, “Can I… come eat with you guys?”
Seeing Xiao Mu after a week, Qiu Sui’s mood was complicated.
When he’d told Xiao Mu last time to go back to being just classmates, it was only to stop the damage in time.
He couldn’t be friends with someone who liked him, because that unequal dynamic never ended well—either one side compromised and accepted, or the other grew restless and dissatisfied. Most of the time, it was torture for both.
So if he couldn’t respond to Shen Zhixiao’s feelings in a month, he wouldn’t become friends with him either.
But he’d spent a month alongside Xiao Mu, so it was impossible not to have any feelings for him. Facing Xiao Mu’s vulnerable posture now, Qiu Sui inevitably felt torn.
With Shen Zhixiao right there, Qiu Sui couldn’t bring up private matters with Xiao Mu on the spot.
Xiao Mu could guess as much. Seeing the hesitation in Qiu Sui’s awkward expression, he wanted to say a bit more to fan the flames.
But another voice cut into their engrossed standoff. “That might not work.”
Shen Zhixiao’s hand lightly rested on Qiu Sui’s shoulder. He looked at Xiao Mu and gave an apologetic smile. “I don’t want a third wheel on our date.”
Qiu Sui, caught in a dilemma, stiffened at his shoulders and instinctively looked toward the Alpha.
The other man lightly raised his brow at him, a faint light shimmering in his eyes. The hand on his shoulder gave a soothing pinch, as if hinting at something.
The slightly warm body heat transmitted through their thin layers of fabric, like boiling water scorching that patch of skin, making Qiu Sui’s spine tingle.
Xiao Mu’s face changed drastically. His round eyes glared at Shen Zhixiao, then at Qiu Sui, barely hiding his real emotions. Under his incredulous expression lurked thick gloom. Unwilling to believe it, he repeated, “Date?”
His eyes bored straight into Qiu Sui as he barely suppressed his tone to demand, “What do you mean?!”
Qiu Sui couldn’t help but pause briefly at that. He felt his shoulder get another light pinch from Shen Zhixiao, like a reminder.
But in just a few seconds of hesitation without responding, Xiao Mu had already pieced it together himself. His expression twisted.
Staring at the two figures pressed close together, malice and jealousy exploded in his heart. Losing his reason, he said coldly, “You’ll regret this.”
He sneered at Qiu Sui, full of unwillingness and hatred for not being chosen. Unable to hold back his sharp, biting tone, he continued, “Alphas enter the worsening phase of their Susceptible Period after twenty-four. You’re just a nothing Beta—he’ll eventually ditch you for Pheromones and end up with an Omega.”
Seeing Qiu Sui’s stunned expression, Xiao Mu savored the vengeful thrill and wanted to say more. But the next moment, he was stopped by the chilling gaze from behind Qiu Sui. Even though Betas couldn’t sense oppressive Pheromones, the pressure from an S-Rank Alpha still made one’s hair stand on end.
Those sharp eyes sliced over him like blades. Xiao Mu, suspecting the guy might actually attack, retreated two steps. He clenched his fists defensively, glaring back, heart racing as he sensed Shen Zhixiao shift forward.
Qiu Sui sensed it too and tugged at the sleeve of the person behind him, shaking his head at him when he turned.
This was his and Xiao Mu’s private matter—Shen Zhixiao shouldn’t get involved.
Xiao Mu’s words stung, no doubt. Qiu Sui’s brows lowered slightly as he watched him, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity, or perhaps he’d never really known what Xiao Mu was truly like.
But Qiu Sui didn’t want to drag this standoff out. Controlling his temper, he looked at the dissatisfied Beta and said steadily and seriously, “Xiao Mu, no matter who I like or end up with, that’s my private business. As long as it’s my own decision, I won’t regret it.”
Seeing Xiao Mu’s face still dark and gloomy, he shifted his gaze away and finally said softly, “We’re heading out first. Sorry.”
Xiao Mu stood frozen in place, watching him walk away. His fingers unconsciously dug into the paper as he stared at his back, repeating unwillingly, “You’ll regret it, Qiu Sui. He’ll definitely abandon you because of Pheromones…”
Qiu Sui didn’t respond, but the Alpha half a step behind turned his head. With a cold expression, he stared at him, lips parting slowly to spit out a few words.
Never. Fucking. Possible.
Letting Qiu Sui go because of Pheromones?
Never possible.
