Just after class, the path from the academic building to the cafeteria was packed with people—groups of two or three, not crowded, but not easy to run through either.
Xu Zhicheng weaved left and right through the crowd, speeding ahead.
The cafeteria was right in front of him, and he hadn’t even caught his breath when his arm was grabbed.
“Why are you running?!” Mu Chenxing seized the other’s arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing the 1.9-meter-tall guy to bend at the waist. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”
Facing the curious stares from the onlookers, Xu Zhicheng put on a pained expression: “Big bro, can you let me go? I’ve already been docked six points. One more fight and I’m done for this semester.”
Mu Chenxing snapped irritably, “Who said anything about fighting you?”
Xu Zhicheng: “Then what do you want with me—wait, let go first! I don’t want to be campus hot news again!!”
Mu Chenxing: “Stop running, and I’ll let go.”
“No running, no running.” With his back to Mu Chenxing, Xu Zhicheng sneakily scanned the surroundings, ready to bolt into the cafeteria crowd at the first chance.
Mu Chenxing stayed calm: “Run if you want. If you do, I’ll tail you all semester and make sure you lose at least a hundred or eighty points before I drop out.”
Xu Zhicheng: “…”
Mu Chenxing released his arm: “Behave, I just have a few questions.”
Not worried about him running anymore, he turned and walked to the roadside.
Xu Zhicheng slouched along behind him, threading through the crowd.
Mu Chenxing stopped in front of a grassy patch and turned: “You—” His gaze slid past the roguish man sauntering over from behind, and he frowned.
Xu Zhicheng suddenly sniffed, halting as he looked around, then locked eyes with the man in the white shirt.
Mu Chenxing: “?”
He chased after and landed a kick. “Watch your mouth! No wonder everyone hates you!”
Xu Zhicheng yelped: “Can’t you be a little gentler, you Omega? My leg bone’s about to snap.”
Mu Chenxing: “I haven’t even called you out yet for being such a cowardly Alpha.”
He grabbed the other’s collar, intending to drag him back to the roadside.
Before he could pull, his wrist was caught.
Then the fabric slipped from his grasp.
He: “?”
“Talk it out nicely.” The man’s slightly deep voice carried a hint of amusement as he draped one arm over Xu Zhicheng’s shoulder and held Mu Chenxing’s wrist with the other, wedging himself right in between. “Getting physical doesn’t look good.”
Mu Chenxing tried to yank free, but failed.
“Let go of me.”
“Oh.” The man released his hand.
The man’s height was overwhelmingly intimidating. The moment he let go, Mu Chenxing retreated two steps and glared up at him.
“Why are you following me?”
The man looked at him and smiled: “Didn’t I say? I want to fol—”
“Shut up.”
The man raised a brow but actually shut up.
Mu Chenxing turned to the silent Xu Zhicheng, trying to pull him aside.
The man blocked his hand: “I’ll handle it.” He hooked Xu Zhicheng around the neck like grabbing a chick and effortlessly steered him toward the grassy patch on the other side.
The stumbling Xu Zhicheng: “…”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
The man reached the edge of the grass and turned back to look at him.
Mu Chenxing snapped out of it and hurried over, eyeing Xu Zhicheng who couldn’t break free: “Why are you holding him like that?”
The man grinned: “Didn’t you need him for something? I’ve got him pinned for you. Go ahead and talk.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Xu Zhicheng: “…Mu Chenxing, can you control your man?!”
Mu Chenxing was speechless: “I remember not hitting your head last time—how’d you get dumber? Or does your brain only have room for Alpha-Omega hookups? If you’re this good at imagining shit, why not write novels?”
The man raised a brow.
Xu Zhicheng: “I just said a few things about Xia Weizhen—why are you hounding me? Wasn’t last time enough? Now you bring your partner along. I’ve got shit luck for eight lifetimes!”
Mu Chenxing was pissed: “I already said he’s not my partner—are your pig ears deaf or something?”
Xu Zhicheng: “You’re covered head to toe in his scent—what innocent little Omega are you pretending to be?!”
Mu Chenxing: “??!”
It hit him in an instant, and he whipped around to glare at the man.
The man’s smile widened a fraction: “Looks like you remember now.”
…Fuck, it really was that Alpha who saved him that day. Mu Chenxing’s expression softened: “Thanks for that day.”
The man beamed: “No problem. I’m honored to have helped~”
Xu Zhicheng: “…What couple games are you two playing? Can you let me go? I don’t wanna be part of your play.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He swung a fist. “If you can’t talk right, shut up. Haven’t been beaten enough? Want more points docked?”
Xu Zhicheng surrendered and clammed up.
Only then did Mu Chenxing turn to the man: “Let him go, or he’ll badmouth me later.”
Xu Zhicheng muttered: “Do I dare? I’ve got enough embarrassment.”
Curiosity flickered in the man’s eyes, but his face stayed impassive, still grinning: “Weren’t you gonna say something to him?”
Mu Chenxing: “I can ask you instead.”
The man: “?”
After a two-second pause, he released Xu Zhicheng.
Xu Zhicheng bolted like a shot.
Mu Chenxing yelled after him: “I’ll add you as a friend later—remember to accept!”
Xu Zhicheng ran even faster.
Mu Chenxing was speechless.
Coward.
He turned back and sized up the man.
Earlier, he’d only evaluated him from a fighting perspective—body build, muscles, explosiveness. Now he actually looked at his face.
Sharp, defined features, keen brows and eyes—he’d be a total cool guy if he wasn’t smiling.
But that smile softened the fierce edge, and with his sloppy clothes and posture, he even came off a bit frivolous.
If memory served, this guy was some high-up in security? And so young.
His thoughts raced, but only for an instant.
Mu Chenxing calmly extended a hand: “Hi, I’m Mu Chenxing—Mu from shepherd, Chen from silent, Xing from star. Thanks again for stepping in back then.”
“My pleasure.” The man’s gaze lingered on his hand before he shook it lightly, releasing immediately. “Pei Yao.”
Mu Chenxing took it as politeness and didn’t mind, asking, “Yao from dazzling?”
The man: “…”
His lips curved into an ambiguous half-smile, looking at him meaningfully. “No, Yao as in sun and stars.”
“Oh.” Mu Chenxing nodded. “Got it.”
Pei Yao raised a brow: “That’s it?”
Mu Chenxing thought for a second and opened his wristband: “Let’s exchange contacts. I’ll send you a thank-you gift later.”
Pei Yao’s smile grew, not standing on ceremony: “Sure.”
…He really wants a gift, huh. Greedy official? Mu Chenxing wondered. But regardless, the guy had saved him.
They swapped contact info.
Pei Yao’s request popped up, and Mu Chenxing paused for two seconds.
ID: Falcon 01.
Profile pic: An eagle soaring against a blue sky.
Just like his retired old man’s style.
His dad’s ID was Mu Ge 007.
Maybe his silence made Pei Yao misunderstand—the man glanced at him a few times.
Mu Chenxing: “…Why are you staring? Can’t I add a note?”
Pei Yao: “…That’s not it. Just rare.”
“Oh.” Good enough.
Mu Chenxing quickly edited the note: Benefactor Pei Yao.
Pei Yao: “…”
Amusement flashed in his eyes.
Note set, Mu Chenxing asked him: “I’m grateful and all, but your pheromones affect me too much. If it’s convenient, could you give me your pheromone report? I’ll ask our professor to help fix this.”
Remembering the gift request, he added, “You can make demands—I’ll do what I can.”
If he couldn’t, oh well.
Like money.
Pei Yao’s grin widened, countering with a question: “What kind of effect? Hasn’t your pheromone surge settled?”
Mu Chenxing was straightforward: “Your pheromones are too aggressive. Alphas near me feel shitty, and Omegas aren’t comfortable either.”
His three roommates had both gotten dosed with suppressants.
Pei Yao stared at him for a few seconds: “You’re not uncomfortable?”
Mu Chenxing was puzzled: “Isn’t that what suppressed my surge? Why would I be?”
Pei Yao paused, then laughed: “Then there’s no need to fix it.”
Mu Chenxing: “…But it affects my life.”
Pei Yao: “Just makes others uncomfortable, right? Ignore them.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
That tone.
No wonder he’s an official.
“It also messes with my workouts. My daily exercise is capped at one hour now.”
“…One hour not enough?”
Mu Chenxing frowned: “What can you do in one hour? You barely warm up before it’s over—no strength training, no combat drills, not even endurance qualifies.”
Pei Yao’s smile faltered: “If I remember right, you’re an Omega?”
Mu Chenxing: “So? Does Alliance law ban Omegas from training?”
“…No, it doesn’t.”
Mu Chenxing: “So, can you help?”
Pei Yao tilted his head, then said: “Dinner together.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He almost agreed.
Good thing he remembered at the last second—he wasn’t a “guy” anymore; he was an Omega, different from this Alpha.
“…To be honest, I’m just a poor student. Treating you to dinner would starve me this semester.” He said tactfully.
Pei Yao leaned in slightly, grinning: “Why would I make a cute little Omega pay~? My treat.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Wolfish ambitions, clear as day.
Couldn’t train more? He could endure another twenty days.
Face blank, he said, “Got it. I understand. Goodbye.”
Pei Yao chuckled: “Scared?”
Mu Chenxing nodded: “Not now. In a bit, then.”
Pei Yao raised a brow: “Why later? Good at making money?”
“I’m better at fighting.” Mu Chenxing stayed cool. “Once my training hits standard and I can take you down, I’ll dare to.”
Pei Yao: “…”
He burst out laughing, doubling over, tears coming out.
Mu Chenxing pursed his lips.
Laugh it up. Xu Zhicheng laughed at first too.
Pei Yao laughed for a while, wiped his eye, and asked: “So, when can you treat me?”
Mu Chenxing eyed his build and suddenly leaped into a side kick—
His calf was caught.
Now stuck in a one-legged crane stance: “!”
Pei Yao: “Speed’s solid—explains how you beat that Alpha earlier. But power’s way off. You win with blitz attacks, right?”
Nailed it from one kick.
Mu Chenxing glared: “Let go.”
The fingers on his calf squeezed once.
He jolted, instinctively kicking to break free.
Pei Yao let go smoothly.
Mu Chenxing jumped back two steps, eyeing him warily.
Pei Yao chuckled lightly: “What? You tried to kick me—I can’t collect a little interest?”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
Changing the subject: “With my current strength, high-intensity training—how long to beat you?”
Pei Yao grinned: “I’ve got money. I’ll treat you to dinner.”
Meaning: Don’t even think about it this lifetime.
Mu Chenxing: “…”
“Got it.” He turned. “I’ll prepare your thank-you gift properly—”
His neck was hooked from behind.
Pei Yao loomed over him, arm around his neck, tone amused: “Didn’t we say dinner together?”
Mu Chenxing pried at his arm: “I said I don’t need help anymore.”
Pei Yao: “Oh. I didn’t say I’d help.”
Mu Chenxing: “…Then why eat?”
“Because we’re perfect for bonding, of course.” Pei Yao ignored the subtle stares around them, holding the wriggling Omega close, grinning. “Two choices: One, I carry you out. Two, walk out with me yourself.”
Mu Chenxing: “…”
He picked the second.
