Chapter 48

Going to the cafeteria together after school had become their routine these past few days.

When Shen Zhixiao had classes, Qiu Sui—either with no classes or fewer—would hole up in the dorms. Then, when Shen Zhixiao messaged the invite after his classes ended, he’d head out to the cafeteria near the Alpha Dorm Area to wait.

They occasionally bumped into Wen Heng and ate together, the meal filled with the other guy’s hilarious chatter.

Shen Zhixiao always chatted and joked with Qiu Sui in a way that hit just the right note—stopping short of going too far. Wen Heng was even more perceptive, a real shrewd operator when it came to reading the room.

Though he was sort of in the know, he’d never teased Qiu Sui about his relationship with Shen Zhixiao to his face. He treated him like any other friend, chatting casually without those subtle, knowing jabs that hinted at the ambiguity between them.

It was only back in their dorms, doors closed, that the guy showed his true gossipy colors, relentlessly ribbing the no-holds-barred Shen Zhixiao.

This setup never made Qiu Sui feel repulsed. If anything, it felt… comfortable. Relaxed.

Back when he was on his own, he’d often grab takeout on the way back to the dorms. Or occasionally eat with Xiao Mu, but if they ran into Xiao Mu’s roommates on the way, he’d have to endure their uncomfortable jokes during greetings.

Qiu Sui had never held his dislike for Xiao Mu’s roommates against Xiao Mu himself. Still, even in normal hangouts with Xiao Mu, he’d vaguely sense a subtle rejection.

Qiu Sui had always chalked it up to his own low interest in socializing—until Xiao Mu’s confession made him realize the source of that faint repulsion.

It stemmed from treating Xiao Mu seriously as a friend, only for the guy to keep probing beyond friendly boundaries in unclear ways.

Whether it was his roommates’ suggestive jokes or Xiao Mu’s calculated touches, it all clashed with Qiu Sui’s view of their friendship, sparking instinctive aversion.

If Xiao Mu had been upfront about his intentions from the start, Qiu Sui would’ve handled their interactions differently—instead of realizing mid-friendship that something was off.

But everyone handled relationships their own way. Xiao Mu wasn’t necessarily wrong; Qiu Sui just couldn’t quite accept it.

Lost in thought, Qiu Sui didn’t notice his footsteps lagging half a beat—until a hand slowly waved in front of his vision, snapping him back.

“What’re you thinking about?” The Alpha withdrew his hand, eyes holding a soft, concerned smile as he asked.

Qiu Sui blinked in a daze, lips pressing together in a tiny motion. “Nothing,” he said vaguely.

Shen Zhixiao clearly didn’t buy it but didn’t press. Instead, he dropped his gaze in that obedient, mild-mannered way, which pinged Qiu Sui’s brain with the words Shen had said over the weekend.

Ever since agreeing to try chatting more with Shen Zhixiao, Qiu Sui had diligently shared bits of his day—like doodles he scribbled while zoning out in class, or screenshots of getting wrecked at Doudizhu with Qiao Keren in the dorms, losing all his beans…

Boring stuff, really. Qiu Sui figured Shen Zhixiao would find it dull, but the guy had doodled one back. That afternoon, they’d spent half a class “talking” in scribbles across phone screens, and Qiu Sui couldn’t help finding him kinda funny.

Shen Zhixiao seemed so serious on the surface, but he had this childish, goofy side.

Qiu Sui’s mind wandered off-track again. Staring at Shen Zhixiao’s downcast, kinda pitiful look, he suspected it was a ploy.

Which high-level Alpha pulls that weak-and-pitiful act like this? Alphas are the most competitive, win-at-all-costs types in society!

Unless he’s the exception…

Qiu Sui glanced up at his expression, a smile tugging at his lips as he lightly bumped Shen Zhixiao’s shoulder. Remembering he had plans with Qiao Keren and Qiu Shun that afternoon, he fibbed, “I was just thinking about grabbing lunch with friends later.”

Qiu Sui only had one class that afternoon, while Shen Zhixiao had two. Normally, like yesterday morning, Qiu Sui would head back to the dorms and wait for him and Wen Heng to finish up before eating together. But today lined up perfectly with Qiao Keren and Qiu Shun’s schedules, so he’d meet them instead.

Shen Zhixiao’s expression shifted subtly, as expected. “Right after class?”

Qiu Sui nodded with a hum, then heard him ask where. He honestly replied it was the cafeteria near the Omega Dormitory Area, blurting out half-jokingly, “You wanna come find me?”

The words slipped out before he realized Shen Zhixiao might take them seriously. Qiu Sui inwardly groaned in regret, scrambling for a save—only for Shen Zhixiao to chuckle low, shoulder leaning slightly toward him.

Their body heat seeped through thin fabric, stirring a strange sensation like warm water flowing through Qiu Sui’s veins. His lashes fluttered uncomfortably.

Shen Zhixiao dipped his head a bit, eyes teasing as he watched him, voice deliberately soft and drawn out. “So… do you want me to come find you?”

Qiu Sui’s spine stiffened at the breath brushing his hair. His throat bobbed instinctively, lips pressing tight in tension as he held back a reply.

He could just say it was a joke. But with Shen Zhixiao asking like that, Qiu Sui blanked, stalling for seconds.

From the corner of his eye, he watched the other guy, licked his lips casually. “If you came after class, I’d probably be done eating already.”

No response from the corner of his vision. Tension coiled inexplicably; he added quietly, “But I could keep you company while you eat.”

Silence lingered. Heart thumping, Qiu Sui flicked his gaze sideways—to find the Alpha’s lips curved, eyes glinting with amusement, tracking his every move.

Meeting those glowing eyes, Qiu Sui suddenly clocked the issue. Heat flooded his neck; he bristled, swinging a light punch. “What’re you laughing at?”

Shen Zhixiao swayed with the not-too-heavy hit, chuckling. “Nothing.”

Sensing Qiu Sui’s growing annoyance, Shen Zhixiao quit while ahead, toning down the grin. “It’s fine—go hang with your friends. Wen Heng and I will grab class two and head out.”

It was the answer Qiu Sui had expected all along, but hearing it now felt oddly hollow.

He withdrew the hand on Shen Zhixiao’s shoulder, muttering a dry “Oh” as he walked toward the dorms. It hit him belatedly: they were even reporting their after-school plans now. Felt kinda like checking in…

…

Qiu Sui’s afternoon class was in Building 2; Shen Zhixiao’s second one was too. When Qiu Sui reached the first-floor lobby after it ended, he ran straight into Shen Zhixiao and Wen Heng.

After a quick greeting, Shen Zhixiao didn’t bolt. He reached for the textbook in Qiu Sui’s hand. “Carrying books to meet friends? Inconvenient. I’ll take ’em back for you later.”

Qiu Sui hesitated. It was inconvenient for him, but Shen Zhixiao and Wen Heng heading to eat after class with books wouldn’t be much better.

Shen said they were going straight back to the dorms after anyway, so Qiu Sui relented, handing over the book and pen.

Qiu Sui’s public class textbook brimmed with neat notes—every line precise, with random doodles only when bored.

Shen Zhixiao flipped through page by page, like perusing vital documents.

Wen Heng leaned in for a peek but found Shen’s evasion hilariously petty.

He cracked open his own swapped public class textbook with his actual partner. No-label side characters can only get this pitiful.

[Wah, spotted szx waiting for qs after class again—third day straight, bros!!! Pure friendship or AB Romance???]

Probably not?

Unsure, he rubbed his face with his handback.

Meeting Qiao Keren’s curious stare, he paused two beats. “We’re… still just friends…”

As long as they weren’t official, friends it was. Qiao Keren knew—he cared about how things were going, if Shen seemed off morally or in dealings…

He and Qiu Shun only knew Shen’s looks and rank, not his character.

Qiu Sui stirred his soup with chopsticks, licking his lips lightly. Thinking aloud slowed his words. “I think he’s a good guy…”

Qiao Keren braced for the nice-guy card, but Qiu Sui continued: “Being around him feels… comfortable.”

Even dull topics turned fun with Shen Zhixiao—no need to overthink what to share; he’d always pick up the thread, keeping Qiu Sui hooked.

Shen was an attentive Alpha, subtly clocking his moods and likes. Jokes, flirty bits—always perfectly timed, never overstepping.

Gentle, considerate, poised. Almost too perfect. But sometimes, he’d drop the childish act, playing pitiful.

Qiu Sui felt great around this Shen Zhixiao, yet something nagged—like something missing.

Not fair to think it, but maybe he’s just showing his best side to keep things comfy. Like with Xiao Mu—I never saw the real him.

Cute.

That was the ultimate compliment when it came to expressing affection.

It might dilute the praise if used elsewhere, but on a potential love interest? No way.

Qiao Keren gripped his bowl tight, itching to call Qiu Sui out on it, but he settled for jabbing at his phone screen instead—where an alpha profile stared back—pressing for the truth: “You really weren’t interested in him from the start? Not even a little?”

Qiu Sui was sweltering in his thin jacket, sweat beading on his forehead. He grabbed a napkin to dab it away, feeling those two pairs of eyes zeroed in on him like spotlights, making him extra jittery.

“I just… thought he was good-looking, y’know? Couldn’t bring myself to hate him…” Even back when he’d been dodging Shen Zhixiao because of those dreams, Qiu Sui had never truly disliked the guy.

Maybe some connections were just down to chemistry. Qiu Sui couldn’t spit any harsh words at that face—even if he tried, it’d leave him feeling guilty and uneasy. And besides, Shen Zhixiao had been nothing but gentle and patient from start to finish…

Hearing that, Qiao Keren figured Shen Zhixiao had this in the bag. The two of them were bound to end up together sooner or later. With that face and his personality? No doubt. He couldn’t help but point out, “You used to say your ideal type was a pretty, gentle omega. But now you’ve gone and picked a handsome, gentle alpha. Isn’t there something glitchy in that process?”

Qiu Sui nearly choked on a dumpling at that, coughing until his cheeks flushed bright red. “What… We’re not… I mean, it’s not set in stone or anything…”

He said it vaguely, thinking to himself that while he did feel super comfortable around Shen Zhixiao these days—and yeah, there was that faint, fluttering spark—he wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship. Not yet. He needed more time to mull it over, weigh things out before deciding.

Qiao Keren didn’t tease him further. He and Qiu Shun were only worried because they didn’t want Qiu Sui getting played—Shen Zhixiao didn’t have a shady history or anything.

Qiu Sui figured he should probably share updates about Shen Zhixiao in their little group chat from now on, just to keep them from overthinking.

He’d lingered with Qiao Keren and Qiu Shun a bit too long. Only when Shen Zhixiao messaged asking when he’d be back at the dorm did he check the time.

Shen had already taken his books back for him. Hell, the guy had even eaten dinner already.

Seeing Shen Zhixiao’s WeChat message inevitably dragged Qiu Sui’s thoughts back to those Campus Wall posts. On his way downstairs, he couldn’t stop himself from scrolling through a few. He bailed out almost immediately, before he’d even finished.

By the time he headed to Shen Zhixiao’s dorm to grab his stuff, those weird-ass comments were still burned into his brain.

Come to think of it, Shen Zhixiao’s dorm was almost directly across from his own. Qiu Sui double-checked the room number, glanced back instinctively at the building opposite, and quickly spotted his own dorm.

Maybe on normal days when they headed out together, they could even catch glimpses of each other like this.

The thought popped into Qiu Sui’s head unbidden. He pursed his lips in a smile and raised his hand to knock—but the door swung open on its own before he could.

Shen Zhixiao peeked out cautiously, then pulled the door wide open when he saw who it was, his eyes crinkling in a gentle smile. “I thought I heard footsteps stopping outside. Figured it was my imagination.”

Caught off guard by the sudden sight of him, Qiu Sui tensed up for a split second. Then he blinked, meeting Shen Zhixiao’s gaze, and mumbled a slow “Mm,” his voice coming out unnaturally low as those Campus Wall posts lingered in his mind. “I was just about to knock…”

Shen Zhixiao suggested he come in and wait, but Qiu Sui figured grabbing the books wouldn’t take long. He leaned against the doorframe and shook his head.

Wen Heng, munching on an apple inside, greeted him enthusiastically and pulled a fresh one from their contraband appliance, holding it out with a smug grin. “My boyfriend got it for me. Super sweet—wanna try?”

Qiu Sui could tell the guy was just showing off his relationship. It nearly made him laugh. He didn’t eat apples much, but he thanked him and took it anyway.

Soon enough, Shen Zhixiao emerged with the books, carrying a box of cut fruit in his other hand. He shut the dorm door behind him.

Qiu Sui blinked in surprise as Shen came out. The next second, that fruit box was pressed into his hands.

Shen Zhixiao took the books for him, lips curving in a faint, almost shy smile as he gazed at Qiu Sui. His voice was soft: “I cut this fruit earlier. It’s kinda ugly, sorry…”

Qiu Sui eyed the strawberry-and-banana snowman on the platter, doubting that was true at all. “Nah, it looks great.”

He caught Shen Zhixiao’s smile deepening and felt his fingers tighten around the box. His heart swelled with a sudden warmth. Desperate to change the subject, he blurted, “My books…”

But Shen Zhixiao cut him off, glancing at the stuff in Qiu Sui’s hands and offering thoughtfully, “Here, let me carry those for you.”

They walked side by side for a stretch, no chit-chat, just syncing their steps in perfect rhythm. The quiet between them carried an indescribable vibe.

Qiu Sui kept stealing glances at the figure beside him, unable to help it. His own walking felt clumsy now—each step careful and slow. Even unlocking his dorm door felt stiff.

He took his books and pens back, sensing Shen Zhixiao still lingering in the doorway instead of leaving. It made even sliding the books onto the shelf feel awkward and fumbling.