Honestly, it would have been better if it had been the dean of discipline.
But it wasn’t.
It was Shen Yandong.
Shen Yandong walked straight over until he stood in front of him and asked, “Smoking?”
Di Zhe didn’t dare admit it. With quick reflexes, he hid the cigarette behind his back and crushed it out with his fingers in a single swift motion. The burning tip scorched his fingertips, sending a brief sting through them.
Then, completely without warning, Di Zhe saw Shen Yandong’s face draw closer.
That face, beautifully striking yet as cold as frost.
Shen Yandong leaned in toward him, lowering his head slightly and sniffing near the collar of Di Zhe’s shoulder.
Di Zhe’s face turned bright red.
He instinctively held his breath.
In his mind, he thought that if Shen Yandong said he didn’t like the smell, he would immediately promise never to smoke again.
But Shen Yandong did nothing of the sort.
He simply leaned close and took a quiet sniff, as if checking something. That single action was enough to make Di Zhe’s heart start pounding wildly once again, just like it always did whenever Shen Yandong approached him.
Yet Shen Yandong gave no explanation.
He said nothing at all.
Those pale gray eyes looked at him calmly, almost indifferently.
Then Shen Yandong spoke in a light, detached tone.
“Di Zhe, the college entrance exams are coming soon.”
“Go back and work on your test papers.”
When Di Zhe heard those words, he immediately revealed an expression that practically said, See? He really does care about me. His eyes curved into crescents as he smiled and a faint light flickered in his pupils.
Shen Yandong, meanwhile, wore the same irritated expression everyone was used to seeing. After speaking, he simply turned and walked away.
Di Zhe didn’t even have time to brag to the people beside him. He hurried after Shen Yandong, catching up to walk at his side. Tilting his head toward him, he asked, “Last time I asked you which university you were planning to apply to. You still haven’t told me.”
Shen Yandong clearly understood the intention behind the question yet he didn’t expose it. Instead, he asked calmly, “What would you do if you knew?”
Of course I’d apply to the same one as you, Di Zhe thought.
But outwardly he only kept smiling and said casually, “Oh, nothing.”
Chasing a future partner while still underage had many inconveniences. Once he became an adult, he would finally be able to unlock many new methods that belonged to adults.
Shen Yandong walked slightly faster than him, climbing two extra steps ahead on the staircase. Standing higher up, he looked down at Di Zhe and asked coldly, “I’m planning to apply to Z University. Can you even get in?”
Z University was the best political science and law university in the country.
Di Zhe thought to himself that Shen Yandong was probably planning to enter the civil service system directly after graduation. It really was a path that suited Shen Yandong well.
As expected, children from poor families learned to be responsible early.
Di Zhe felt a little heartache for him.
In the past, Di Zhe had never taken studying very seriously. His parents had never pushed him to be ambitious either. In fact, they preferred that he not become too driven, so long as he could preserve the family fortune. As long as he didn’t try to start a business or take risks, the money they had left him would be enough to last eight lifetimes.
Still, Di Zhe had suddenly begun studying hard because of his romantic obsession and his parents were more than happy to see that change.
Many people said that the college entrance examination was a turning point in life.
Di Zhe had never felt that very deeply but he had a vague understanding.
He knew that once high school ended, if he and Shen Yandong went to completely different universities far apart from each other, it would become much harder for him to pursue him.
So Di Zhe had already been subtly probing Shen Yandong for quite some time, always trying to find chances to ask which university he planned to attend.
Shen Yandong had refused to tell him every time before.
Yet today, he suddenly said it.
When Di Zhe heard it, warmth surged in his chest. He didn’t even mind the arrogance in Shen Yandong’s tone.
Ah well. He was used to it by now.
All he felt was happiness. In a single large stride, he leapt up the three steps between them and stood at the same height as Shen Yandong. Like a puppy that had finally received a precious bone, he asked eagerly, “You’re not lying to me, right?”
As he spoke, he grabbed at Shen Yandong’s sleeve and tugged on it.
Shen Yandong had always been extremely sensitive about Di Zhe initiating physical contact. Immediately, he pulled his arm back defensively and said with visible discomfort, “Why would I lie to you?”
“Let go. Don’t pull me.”
But Di Zhe had sharp eyes. He noticed that the tips of Shen Yandong’s ears had turned slightly red.
Seizing the opportunity, Di Zhe pretended it was accidental and quickly brushed his fingers across the back of Shen Yandong’s hand.
It was too fast.
So fast that there was barely time to feel anything at all.
But to Di Zhe, it still felt incredibly satisfying.
Even though he had already decided that before Shen Yandong became an adult he would keep his feelings within proper bounds, as an Alpha with far too much energy, it was impossible for him to restrain himself perfectly all the time.
Sometimes things like this happened.
Sometimes he simply couldn’t help himself and wanted to steal a small advantage.
If he couldn’t eat the meat and couldn’t even drink the soup, at least he should be allowed to smell the aroma, right?
Besides, the same thought returned again,
Shen Yandong definitely did not feel absolutely nothing for him!
Once he got accepted into the same university as Shen Yandong and proved how deeply devoted and patient he had been, Shen Yandong would surely be willing to accept him.
First, though, he had to get into the same university!
From that day on, Di Zhe was filled with determination. He buried himself in studying, writing practice papers endlessly. He stopped playing games. He stopped reading novels. The moment he returned home, he opened his books and studied.
He kept this up all the way until the day of the college entrance examination.
The day of the exam arrived.
Di Zhe’s condition was actually not very good.
The night before, he had slept terribly. He had a nightmare, he dreamed that he performed poorly in the exam, failed to get into his target university and ended up separated from Shen Yandong yet he still refused to give up. He traveled a great distance to Z University, only to see Shen Yandong holding hands with a gentle and adorable Omega. When he asked Shen Yandong how he could do this, Shen Yandong replied coldly, “Whose fault is it that you failed the exam?”
Di Zhe woke up in fright.
When he woke, it was three in the morning. After that he couldn’t fall asleep again. He lay there until dawn before finally giving up and getting up to review his notes.
After staring at them for a long time, Di Zhe realized that not a single piece of knowledge had entered his mind. Everything seemed to slide right across the smooth surface of his brain and disappear.
Then he went straight to the examination hall.
He felt absentminded and distracted, checking four or five times whether he had brought his admission ticket. He stood at the side of the hall in a daze.
By coincidence, Di Zhe and Shen Yandong had been assigned to the same examination location.
Perhaps because Di Zhe looked so unusual, Shen Yandong glanced at him several times before finally walking over and asking, “Your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you sick?”
Wait.
Was Shen Yandong… actually worried about him?
Di Zhe felt unexpectedly flattered. He froze for a moment before replying, “No, no, I’m not sick. I don’t think I’m sick.”
Shen Yandong lowered his head and rummaged through his backpack. In a low voice, he muttered, “Can you stop falling apart at the most critical moments?”
Then he pulled out a thermometer and directly placed it into Di Zhe’s mouth.
“Check your temperature first. Lift your tongue.”
Di Zhe’s mind immediately began wandering in all sorts of directions.
Did Shen Yandong use this thermometer himself before?
If you round things up… doesn’t that basically count as a kiss?!
It even goes under the tongue! How is that any different from a deep kiss?!
Their homeroom teacher, who was supervising the students, noticed something was happening and walked over.
“What’s wrong? Di Zhe, are you sick?”
Shen Yandong had already taken the thermometer back and glanced at the reading before letting out a small sigh of relief.
“Looks like it’s nothing.”
Di Zhe said, “I’m fine, teacher. I’m just too nervous. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I feel a bit tired.”
After the teacher walked away, Di Zhe’s spirits suddenly rose again. Grinning shamelessly, he said to Shen Yandong, “You really care about me.”
Two years.
It had always been like this.
Whenever Di Zhe started acting shameless, Shen Yandong would look shaken for a moment, as though annoyed but unable to do anything about it.
Shen Yandong said stiffly, “We’re classmates. The college entrance exam is an important day. You’re still young. I don’t want you to ruin your future.”
Shen Yandong is really too suitable to be my wife, Di Zhe thought for the countless time.
Once they started dating in the future, Shen Yandong would manage him like this and care about him attentively. Wouldn’t his life become wonderfully sweet?
The teachers began collecting belongings, telling students to hand over anything that wasn’t allowed in the examination room for safekeeping.
Shen Yandong hesitated for a moment.
Although Di Zhe looked like he was chatting and joking with other classmates, he had actually been watching Shen Yandong the whole time. He immediately noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Yandong touched his pocket, then took out two chocolate candies and asked, “Do you want one?”
Not only Di Zhe but the classmates nearby were all stunned.
As Shen Yandong’s deskmate, Di Zhe knew that Shen Yandong had the habit of eating chocolate before exams. If the exams lasted too long, he would sometimes eat another piece afterward.
Di Zhe had asked him for some before.
Shen Yandong had never given him any.
Could it be… that I’m finally about to taste swan meat?!
Di Zhe screamed internally.
Wait, I’m not some ugly toad! I’m a handsome Alpha!
And besides, Di Zhe, what are you so shocked about?
Wasn’t your goal always to win Shen Yandong over?
Before Di Zhe could respond, Shen Yandong quickly added, “I’m only giving you one because you don’t look well.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll take it,” Di Zhe said quickly, afraid Shen Yandong might change his mind. He took the candy from Shen Yandong’s palm.
Di Zhe unwrapped the candy.
The chocolate had melted a little. He even licked the bit of chocolate stuck to the wrapper clean, sweetness filling the tip of his tongue.
Shen Yandong turned his face away awkwardly, as if embarrassed to look at him.
My wife is really shy, Di Zhe thought happily.
“Ahem.”
The principal appeared out of nowhere, clearing his throat twice before saying to Di Zhe, “The exam is about to start. Don’t let your thoughts wander. Focus on finishing the exam first and don’t disturb the other students.”
The principal had come specifically to protect Shen Yandong.
Their school had already been planning to hang a congratulatory banner celebrating Shen Yandong’s exam results that year.
They absolutely couldn’t let Di Zhe affect him.
Whether it was the effect of the candy or something else, once Di Zhe entered the examination hall, he suddenly felt clear headed and focused.
With that, he successfully completed the college entrance examination.
✦ ✧ ✦
Fleurveil
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ A tiny offering to the translator may please the spirits of the Realm. ☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Love at first sightChapter 2 · Lack of discretionChapter 3 · ShamelessChapter 4 · UnreasonableChapter 5 · PerseveranceChapter 6 · College Entrance Examination EndChapter 7 · Graduation dinnerChapter 8 · Confession nightChapter 9 · Pressing in step by stepChapter 10 · Enough is enoughChapter 11 · A huge blowChapter 12 · University start dateChapter 13 · Roommate meetingChapter 14 · Relentless harassmentChapter 15 · I’ll pick you upChapter 16 · It’s my vulnerable periodChapter 17 · Voluntary datingChapter 18 · Open your heartChapter 19 · Obedient to allChapter 20 · Not a virginChapter 21 · Swear to love meChapter 22 · Youthful DaydreamsChapter 23 · Teenage ThoughtsChapter 24 · EmptyChapter 25 · Extremely anxiousChapter 26 · Too lazy to struggleChapter 27 · From now on