Chapter 59: Cornered

On Saturday morning, before heading out, He Siheng did a final check of the small pocket in his backpack. He made sure he had fruit hard candies to stave off boredom on the road, along with Pheromone Barrier Drug for any emergencies.

He woke up naturally that day, surprisingly earlier than his alarm. When he arrived at the meeting point, there weren’t many people on the bus yet.

He Siheng picked a middle-row seat by the window, placed his bag on the overhead luggage rack, and was about to sit down when he suddenly thought of something. He shifted outward and sat in the aisle seat instead.

Bored as he waited, he still didn’t see a familiar figure outside the window. He Siheng simply took out his phone, put on his wireless earbuds, and played a game to kill time.

Classmates from Class 1 arrived one after another, sitting with their familiar friends and chatting.

As soon as Zhou Yu got on the bus, he spotted He Siheng in the middle row by the aisle. Seeing the empty window seat next to him, Zhou Yu walked over excitedly. “Heng Bro, you’re here so early today.”

He Siheng was in the middle of a rhythm game, his hands still operating without pause. He didn’t even lift his head as he replied, “Morning.”

Zhou Yu knew he didn’t like being disturbed while gaming, so he put his backpack on the overhead rack and waited for the round to end before sidling toward the inner seat.

But unexpectedly, He Siheng extended his long arm, propping his phone-holding hand against the back of the front seat, blocking him entirely.

He Siheng looked baffled. “What are you doing?”

Zhou Yu was equally baffled. “Sitting down?”

He Siheng tilted his head toward the side. “Go sit somewhere else. There are plenty of seats on this bus. Why squeeze in?”

“It’s a two-hour ride,” Zhou Yu said. “Wouldn’t it be boring sitting alone?”

He Siheng insisted, his tone carrying a hint of disgust. “You fall asleep the moment you get on the bus, then slump into my lap later and drool all over me.”

Zhou Yu did have a history of that, so he mumbled awkwardly and went to sit in the empty seat behind him.

Once he’d brushed him off, He Siheng quietly let out a breath of relief and lowered his head to continue gaming.

The game had just started when, over the music blaring in his earbuds, his sharp ears caught the greeting, “Morning, Class Monitor.”

He Siheng’s fingers paused. Without hitting pause, he looked up toward the front door of the bus.

A boy in all black clothes and pants slung a bag over one shoulder, wearing a baseball cap pulled low. The brim cast shadows that hid most of his face, revealing only a smooth, handsome jawline and thin lips pressed into a cool line.

He Siheng stood up, coughed casually as if by accident, and before the other could look over, he lowered his head pretending to game while shifting to the inner window seat, freeing up the one beside him.

He kept his head down, seemingly focused on finishing this now-pointless interrupted round.

Hurried, heavy footsteps approached, bringing a gust of wind. Someone sat down in the empty seat next to him.

He Siheng’s lips curved upward secretly, but the person beside him suddenly leaned in, a unfamiliar scent brushing his shoulder. “Heng Bro, gaming again?”

“…”

He Siheng whipped his head around like he’d seen a ghost, staring at Wang Yizhou’s bright, honest face. “How is it—”

He slammed the brakes on his blurted words.

Fortunately, Wang Yizhou hadn’t caught it. He rubbed the eye gunk he hadn’t washed off properly and complained openly. “Damn it, this morning I closed my eyes and shut off my alarm by accident. Nearly made me late.”

He Siheng had no patience for his tardiness woes. He craned his neck forward, scanning most of the bus until he spotted a familiar back-of-the-head next to Song Lin.

After staring for a while, he pressed his tongue against his front teeth and let out a heavy “tsk.”

The resentful gaze was too palpable. Song Lin felt a chill on his back, shivered, and inwardly cursed Wang Yizhou a hundred times.

That oblivious idiot wouldn’t read the room at all. With so many empty seats, he had to rush ahead of Tan Jing to sit next to He Siheng. Now Song Lin was dragged into it too—collateral damage.

But he was puzzled too. Tan Jing clearly could have stopped Wang Yizhou and taken the seat himself, but he did nothing, letting Wang Yizhou go first and calmly sitting beside Song Lin.

Song Lin hesitated, then leaned over and whispered to the guy beside him. “Jing Bro, want me to drag Wang Yizhou back so you can swap seats with him?”

Tan Jing had a headache all night and barely slept, so he wasn’t in great spirits. He’d leaned back against the seat with his eyes closed to rest as soon as he sat down. “Nah, I can’t sit too close to him today.”

Song Lin blinked, noticing the fatigued pallor under his cap up close, and instantly understood.

After arriving at the guesthouse at the mountain’s base, the first order of business was room assignments and dropping off luggage—mostly two per room, arranged by the Homeroom Teacher.

The Class 1 Homeroom Teacher was a peacemaker. Mindful of the “fight” between He Siheng and Tan Jing, he deliberately paired them first to force some reconciliation.

As their names were called together, the class turned to look at them in unison.

Tan Jing’s baseball cap was pulled low, hiding most of his face and expression.

He Siheng’s lips were pressed tight, his face tense and clearly displeased as he reluctantly took the key.

Zhou Yu worriedly sidled up to He Siheng and whispered, “Heng Bro, how about talking to Maitreya Buddha and getting you separated from Jing Bro?”

He moved to raise his hand, but He Siheng quickly pressed it down. “What are you saying? We’re staying like this.”

Zhou Yu blinked. “Huh?”

He Siheng coughed, putting on a magnanimous front. “Relax, I won’t fight him. I’m here to have fun, not brawl.”

They hadn’t actually fought anyway—just took the heat for a big misunderstanding.

Hearing the assurance, Zhou Yu looked at him with relief. “Heng Bro, you’ve grown up.”

He Siheng: “…”

Once everyone was assigned, the Homeroom Teacher droned through the precautions, and they all grabbed their bags to head to their rooms.

He Siheng glanced at Tan Jing, who was talking to Song Lin about something, giving instructions.

Before being noticed, He Siheng withdrew his gaze, grabbed his bag without waiting, and went to their assigned room alone.

The class outing was large, so the guesthouse was chosen for size and safety over luxury. The rooms were simple: two beds, nightstands, a basic clothes rack. The bathroom was tiny, with a frosted sliding door offering little privacy.

The view outside was nice though—trees right at the door, and the suburban air much fresher than downtown.

As usual, He Siheng picked the bed farther from the window. He dawdled unpacking, then checked out the bathroom.

Studying the door, He Siheng felt a subtle mix of emotions. What was the owner thinking? Installing such a see-through glass door was one thing, but no latch? Didn’t that mean he’d have to stay on high alert even for a shower, guarding against wolves?

Unbidden, certain unspeakable images flashed in his mind, and red crept up his neck inch by inch.

He Siheng snapped back. Pah, pah, pah! They hadn’t made up yet—what was he thinking!

He hurried out of the bathroom and lingered in the room a while longer until he finally heard a knock.

He Siheng immediately straightened up pretentiously, calling out in a cold tone, “Door’s unlocked.”

The door opened from outside, and Wang Yizhou strode in huffing. “Heng Bro, I’m so pissed!”

“…” He Siheng stared at him like he’d seen a ghost. “How are you here again?”

Wang Yizhou tugged at his collar fanning himself, venting furiously. “That stingy Song Lin is still holding a grudge from our fight the other day. He refused to room with me and kicked me out!”

He Siheng’s face remained wooden, devoid of sympathy. “So?”

Wang Yizhou took it for granted. “So I’m crashing here!”

A vein throbbed at He Siheng’s temple. Forcing a smile, he gritted out, “There are only two beds here. Can’t fit three.”

Wang Yizhou slapped his forehead. “Oh, right, forgot to say—Jing Bro swapped with me. He’s rooming with Song Lin.”

He Siheng paused, lips pursing as he asked, “Did you ask him to swap, or did he offer?”

Wang Yizhou looked clueless. “What’s the difference?”

Before He Siheng could respond, Wang Yizhou explained honestly. “Obviously I begged him. Song Lin flat-out refused me. I couldn’t sleep in the yard, right? Jing Bro’s the best—happy to help out.”

…So he’s the nice guy now? I’m about to explode!

No jealousy this time?

He Siheng ground his teeth. “Couldn’t you just make up with Song Lin?”

Wang Yizhou cried injustice. “He’s the one who won’t.”

“Besides, I think the swap’s great,” Wang Yizhou argued righteously. “You and Jing Bro just fought, right? Rooming together would be awkward. Consider this my good deed.”

“…”

He Siheng took a deep breath, his fists clenching hard.

To prevent actual violence, he stood with gritted teeth. “I’m stepping out for air.”

In the other room.

Song Lin had just finished cooperating with Tan Jing’s act to boot Wang Yizhou to He Siheng’s room. The more he thought about it, the shadier it seemed. “Really letting Wang Yizhou room with He Siheng?”

Tan Jing hummed, took off his baseball cap, and ruffled his stuffy hair.

He Siheng was still publicly an undifferentiated Alpha, so he couldn’t room with Zhou Yu or other unfamiliar betas.

Wang Yizhou had just passed his Susceptible Period, making him a safe Alpha choice. Blunt and oblivious, he wouldn’t notice anything off about He Siheng for just one night.

Song Lin eyed Tan Jing’s lingering fatigue and hesitated.

“Spit it out,” Tan Jing said, sensing the words he’d held back the whole way.

Song Lin wavered before speaking. “Maybe I shouldn’t say this—you’ll probably get mad—but as a friend, I have to warn you. AA relationships are torture for both sides, unless…”

He paused, reluctant to voice the harsh solution. “One of you removes the Gland.”

Tan Jing neither denied nor agreed, just lowered his eyes in silence, lost in thought.

Song Lin was good at reading people, but even he couldn’t always decipher Tan Jing’s mind.

He knew he was stating the obvious. Tan Jing had surely considered it, yet still pursued He Siheng—must have steeled himself mentally.

Song Lin just felt unwilling on his behalf, unable to grasp love. How deep did it have to be to willingly excise a Gland, especially for an envied S-Rank like Tan Jing?

Alphas had subtle hierarchies—not outright discrimination, but humans admired strength. Even thick-headed Wang Yizhou owed half his popularity to his A-Rank.

Despite Wang Yizhou whining about being single, he was popular with Omegas; he was just too dense to notice signals.

As a C-Rank Alpha, shaped by environment and experience, Song Lin held strong to rankings. The thought of one of them sacrificing their Gland was a pity.

Song Lin sighed. “If only He Siheng Differentiated into an Omega.”

Realizing he’d voiced his inner thought, he backpedaled. “Sorry, I…”

Tan Jing shook his head. No harm done.

A throbbing pain pulsed at his temples one wave after another. The Precursor Symptoms heralded a fierce Susceptible Period ahead.

Tan Jing closed his eyes briefly. “For him to Differentiate into an Omega just to be with me—that would be the real unfairness.”

The sigh-like words rang especially clear in the quiet room.

Outside the door, He Siheng’s dangling fingers trembled faintly before clenching into a fist.