Chapter 37: Seduction Part 3

Song Lin had no time for nonsense. He grabbed one dummy by the collar in each hand. “Run now, or tomorrow you’ll play confession games on stage!”

He dragged the two out of the classroom just as the patrolling security guard returned to the building. The flashlight beam swept toward them. “Students over there! Why are you still hanging around!”

“We’re busted!”

“Less talk, more running!”

The three bolted in a panic.

He Siheng had meant to run too, but someone grabbed his collar from behind and yanked him to the door’s side.

He glared at Tan Jing. “What the—”

“Shh—”

The guy’s index finger pressed to his lips, signaling silence.

Urgent footsteps echoed outside, the flashlight beam stabbing straight into the classroom.

He Siheng held his breath involuntarily. Luckily, he and Tan Jing stood behind the door, a perfect blind spot.

As the footsteps faded, He Siheng exhaled in relief. He understood Tan Jing’s ploy to divert the others.

“You even screwed over your bros. You’re ruthless,” He Siheng said with a look of disdain.

Tan Jing admitted openly, “Guilty as charged—heavy on looks, light on friends. So what?”

He Siheng’s disdain deepened. “And you’re proud of it? Wait—who’s the one being seductive here?”

He suddenly realized Tan Jing had miscast his role.

Tan Jing said matter-of-factly, “Haven’t you always boasted about your good looks?”

He Siheng: “…”

This seduction isn’t that seduction, okay? And you’re supposed to be the Chinese teacher’s prized pupil.

…Casual much?*

He Siheng snapped irritably, “Don’t touch an Omega’s nape randomly. Basic ABO knowledge?”

Young Master He, who usually ignored such basics, was now lecturing on it. Tan Jing laughed. “You’re suddenly an expert.”

He Siheng snorted coldly. “People learn to adapt to changes.”

He’d been through several Heat Periods already and fully accepted being an Omega.

“Adapt to changes…”

Tan Jing repeated thoughtfully, a smile tugging at his lips. “The security guard’s gone far. Shall we continue?”

He Siheng blinked in confusion. “Continue what?”

“The game.”

“?”

He Siheng hadn’t expected Tan Jing to be even more eager than Wang Yizhou for this superstitious game. “You really want to play that bad?”

Tan Jing hummed affirmatively. “I want the answer to that question.”

“What question?”

He Siheng was genuinely curious what this guy was so desperate to know that he’d turn superstitious.

Tan Jing’s gaze roamed his face before settling on his eyes. His voice was soft and low. “Will the person I like, like me back?”

He Siheng paused slightly.

He never imagined, after all that circling, it boiled down to the one he liked.

This guy who seemed so breezy usually cared this much about one thing. He must really like that person.

“Didn’t peg you for the lovesick type, bro.” He Siheng gave him a thumbs-up.

Tan Jing pressed his thumb back down.

“I don’t need praise like that,” Tan Jing said flatly.

He Siheng grew more convinced his love life was rocky. Amid schadenfreude and a touch of sympathy, he ignored the attitude and grinned. “Don’t mope. Spill to Heng Bro how you struck out—er, how you chased ’em. Heng Bro’ll give advice.”

Tan Jing glanced at him skeptically. “What good ideas could you have?”

“The simplest, most direct way: seduction.” He Siheng blurted it out. “Wasting that face otherwise.”

Something hit Tan Jing’s funny bone. He chuckled lowly. “As expected, a rotten idea.”

He Siheng bristled. “How’s it rotten? People are visual creatures.”

Tan Jing’s amusement faded, turning serious. “If I don’t gauge it right, what if he thinks I’m a creep?”

Fair point…

He Siheng pondered silently for seconds and conceded it was a bad idea.

Tan Jing watched him a moment, then spoke. “Actually, I have an idea, but I need your help. Willing?”

He Siheng’s first instinct was to capitalize and charge him, but Tan Jing’s downcast eyes and lovesick melancholy hit him.

Before Tan Jing could finish sighing “Forget it…”, He Siheng cut in. “Forget what? I haven’t said no yet.” He felt guilty delaying another second would ruin his sleep.

He cleared his throat. “Fine, for your pathetic sake, I’ll help a little. What do you need?”

“Let me run an experiment on you.”

“What experiment?”

Before he got an answer, He Siheng’s shoulders were grabbed and pinned against the door.

Tan Jing’s hands braced the door behind him, his broad frame enveloping him completely.

Warm grass-wood scent invaded his nose. The Alpha presence overwhelmed, imprinting the awareness that the guy before him was a top-tier Alpha.

Tan Jing leaned down, staring intently.

His dark eyes sharp-lined, gaze piercing—nothing like the downcast loser from before. Now, Tan Jing resembled a wolf long lurking in the dark.

And He Siheng was the lamb stumbling into the trap, wrapped in the wolf’s oppressive possessiveness.

He Siheng swallowed unconsciously.

The gulp rang clear in the silence, mingling with breaths and heartbeats.

Dim light blurred vision.

Chests heaved, breaths hot.

“Disgusting?”

In the hazy, quiet classroom, the guy’s voice was low and distinct.

He Siheng’s voice rasped. “Seems… okay?”

Tan Jing’s head dipped closer, distances shrinking.

Breaths mingled, noses nearly brushing.

“A bit closer—okay?”

T-too close…

He Siheng stiffened all over, nearly holding his breath.

His hand pressed Tan Jing’s chest, pushing lightly.

The push wasn’t forceful. Surprisingly, though Tan Jing acted dominant, he retreated at the gentle shove, keenly aware of boundaries, respecting any resistance.

With distance restored, his heart settled. He Siheng exhaled. “Th-that your experiment? Warn a guy! That was sudden—who could handle it?”

Tan Jing chuckled lowly. “Hate it, or heart fluttering?”

He Siheng coughed. “No fluttering, obviously. Why would I flutter for you? But… not hating it either.”

Tan Jing nodded solemnly. “So my sacrifice of looks wasn’t enough?”

“That’s not enough?” He Siheng feared he’d go astray. “That’s plenty! You gonna strip naked on his bed next? Total creep move!”

Tan Jing laughed at his frantic worry. “Not quite…”

“Who’s there!”

A sudden voice cut him off.

“Damn, why’s the security guard circling back!”

He Siheng cursed. He reached to grab Tan Jing and bolt, but Tan Jing clasped his hand first.

Warm, dry palm, bony and firm, long fingers strong—gripping tight, oddly reassuring.

He glanced sideways instinctively.

The youth’s profile blurred in the night, soft black hair stirring in the wind. The dim night couldn’t dim his bright brows and eyes, or the smile on his lips.

He Siheng stared blankly.

By the time he snapped out, he and Tan Jing were hand-in-hand fleeing the building.

Wind whistled past ears, white breaths scattering instantly. Running footsteps thumped like erratic drumbeats on his heart.

They reached the locked school gate, vaulted over one after the other, dashed to an empty street, leaving the security guard far behind. Both panted raggedly, hair windswept and messy, utterly disheveled.

Cold air stung throats, breaths tinged faintly metallic. Yet He Siheng inexplicably wanted to laugh—and did, gasping between chuckles. “Should let folks see the mighty Student Council President scaling walls at midnight to dodge security.”

Tan Jing shot him a helpless look, probably amused too, and ducked his head with a low laugh.

Chest vibrating, laughter blended into the winter night wind, soon dispersed.

“Hey, Tan Jing!”

He Siheng called suddenly. Tan Jing turned.

Un guarded, he met those amber eyes brimming with delighted mirth.

Like childhood, when the boy tapped his window at night, sharing instant joy amid illness.

“Look, it’s snowing—the first snow of the year!”

Snow fell from the sky.

He Siheng tilted his head skyward. The deep blue night outlined his clean profile. Fat snowflakes drifted onto his chestnut hair, slim shoulders, open palm.

Crystalline flakes whisked past Tan Jing’s eyes too, but he ignored the snow.

He only looked at him.