12: Who Said That?
Although you couldn’t really tell from the outside, Shen Jin was actually someone who cared a lot about his image.
He always carried a small mirror with him. Before going out, he had to inspect himself from head to toe, hair, clothes, shoes, making sure there wasn’t a single flaw. Everything had to look perfect.
So sometimes, his inner monologue would be absolute chaos, while on the surface he remained unshaken and calm.
Like right now.
He didn’t look flustered at all. If anything, he looked a little too calm.
This was his first time doing something unrelated to class during a lesson, and also the first time he’d been caught red-handed, dragged out as a negative example and publicly flogged.
And the culprit was the completely self-unaware guy sitting next to him.
Ah. I hate this.
The math teacher finally saw that they’d realized it was still class time and smiled faintly. “So you finally noticed me? In that case, I’ll trouble you two to work a bit harder. Why don’t you stand up.”
According to Class Nine, the math teacher was a classic smiling tiger. Usually humorous and approachable, but when it came to assigning homework, she turned into an absolute extermination nun.
They instantly became the center of attention.
Qian Kun glanced at Liu Qimai in the front row, making faces, he then covered Liu Qimai’s head with his palm and spun it halfway around.
Do you think my head is a spinning top?
Liu Qimai was furious. He decided to temporarily switch sides and cast his vote for the enemy boss.
Shen Jin, get him!
“Seeing how relaxed you two look, I assume you’ve mastered everything in this lesson,” the math teacher said, then remembered something. “Oh, right. Bring up that carrier-pigeon letter too. As the teacher you blatantly ignored, I’d like to see what was so fascinating.”
Shen Jin’s fingers tightened slightly around the paper ball.
When he stepped forward, the person behind him smoothly took the paper ball from his palm. Their fingertips brushed for only a moment before another similar-looking paper ball was slipped back into his hand.
Shen Jin’s fingers trembled faintly, then stilled.
Right in front of everyone, the switch was completed.
Someone was truly lawless, utterly fearless, and Shen Jin had been dragged into becoming an accomplice.
Which meant he couldn’t report it.
The math teacher erased two sections of the blackboard already filled with solution steps and wrote up two extremely difficult problems. Most of the class got stuck halfway through just looking at them.
These problems were deliberately brutal, specifically designed to humble the two big shots up there. If they weren’t hard enough, how else would their arrogance be crushed?
The math teacher said, “They’re different problems, so there’s no point in peeking. You’ve got ten minutes. That’s fine, right?”
Shen Jin replied, “No problem.”
He felt like his rapidly crumbling image could still be salvaged.
Qian Kun smiled. “No problem for me either.”
When Qian Kun smiled, there was a hint of elegance to it, even something vaguely bewitching. Several Omegas flushed without realizing it.
The math teacher opened the paper ball taken from Shen Jin’s hand.
Inside was nothing but a crudely drawn pig head.
Around it were five or six arrows of different lengths, all pointing at one another, like they were accusing each other. The teacher couldn’t help but laugh.
It was childish, yes, but it really did dissipate most of her anger.
Then she looked at Shen Jin, silent and expressionless, and Qian Kun, steady as a rock. Thinking back to the murderous intensity with which they’d been throwing paper balls earlier, she wondered if this was their way of secretly fighting each other.
With just a few seconds and a simple doodle, Qian Kun had quietly defused a crisis.
His upturned phoenix eyes carried a hint of arrogant sharpness.
Class rep, convinced?
The class rep refused to acknowledge him and offered a cold, indifferent side profile instead.
Both of them began writing on the board at lightning speed. The teacher stepped down to check the students’ papers, occasionally glancing back up at the stage.
Shen Jin wasn’t fast at solving problems. In exams, he always dragged things out until the final minute. He was the type who would die if he didn’t check his answers at least once.
But when he caught sight of Qian Kun’s progress out of the corner of his eye, a sense of urgency crept in.
Unconsciously, Shen Jin sped up.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The entire classroom was filled only with the sound of chalk scraping against the blackboard.
The whole class stared at their backs.
They’re going at it. They’re really going at it! Is this the grand spectacle we pretend not to care about but secretly hope to see?
The bell rang, and students from other classes began pouring out.
Class Nine, however, showed no signs of ending. Students from other classes noticed and gathered at the back door to watch.
Everyone could sense the tension on the stage.
These two definitely don’t get along. That’s basically confirmed.
They finished almost at the same time.
A tie.
The class felt oddly unsatisfied.
The math teacher examined their solutions, found nothing wrong, and sighed.
“They answered very well. If anyone has questions, copy it down first and ask them after class.”
What a life, being this handsome and this smart. Luo Ying and the other Omegas were practically ready to applaud. We’re all students here, so why are you two showing off like this?!
The teacher waved them back to their seats. She’d originally intended to scare them into paying attention in class by using problems they couldn’t solve.
Now that intimidation was gone, so she switched tactics.
Extra homework.
Everyone else gets two papers a day. You two are capable, so you get four.
If four isn’t enough, I’ve got more.
Extermination Nun indeed.
Not long after Shen Jin returned to his seat, another paper ball flew over. It was break time, so no one cared.
There was a knot of lingering irritation in his chest. He ignored it for a bit, but eventually opened it.
Inside was a piece of orange candy.
On the back was a detailed solution for the last math problem.
He froze slightly.
Liu Qimai’s voice came from beside him.
“Boss, let’s take it easy, yeah.”
Seeing Qian Kun throw another paper ball to Shen Jin, Liu Qimai felt Shen Jin was truly unlucky. Of all people to offend, he had to offend Brother Kun. Clearly their their eight characters didn’t match.
The note was swapped again and quickly tossed back.
Qian Kun opened it.
Inside was an analysis of his classical Chinese mistakes, more detailed than the teacher’s explanation.
Qian Kun’s grades were basically dragged down by Chinese. He was firmly science-oriented.
Growing up abroad, classical Chinese was an entirely unknown field. He’d been scraping by on blind guesses.
He read the exclusive explanation with interest for a while. By then, Shen Jin at the neighboring desk had already collapsed onto the table, asleep.
Qian Kun glanced at Shen Jin’s pale neck. Over the past couple of days, the scent of inhibitor on him had been unusually strong.
Sometimes his eyes looked like they were covered by a thin layer of mist. The Alphas in class had been giving him strange looks, but he himself seemed completely unaware.
Tsk. No sense of danger at all.
Zhou You called them outside, and they went into the hallway.
Liu Qimai said, “Brother Kun, there’s something I don’t know if I should ask.”
Qian Kun sounded distracted. “Go on.”
“Do you hate Ice-Block Shen?”
Zhou You: “……”
Qian Kun rolled the fruit candy over his tongue. His gaze was cool and thin, carrying only the faintest smile.
“Who said that?”
*
Once the monthly exams ended, the atmosphere in the class relaxed considerably.
During the second period in the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the windows, reflecting into the room. With the gentle breeze, everyone’s mood lifted.
This was the cooking class Omegas looked forward to the most, and once it ended, it also became the time Alphas anticipated the most.
If an Omega had someone they liked, they’d give their food to that person. This scene played out at least once every week.
A faint pink atmosphere filled the classroom.
Omegas went to cooking class, while the remaining Alphas and Betas stayed behind for self-study.
Qian Kun returned later than most. The other Alphas had come straight back after playing ball, reeking of sweat, and were chased away by the Omegas.
Only Qian Kun strolled in leisurely, carrying a fresh scent of shower gel.
Unlike the others, his stamina was excessive. After long exercise, the sticky discomfort of sweat made his mood plummet, so he always showered afterward.
When he passed Shen Jin’s seat, he paused.
From lunch break until now, Shen Jin’s posture hadn’t changed at all.
Like a corpse.
This guy hid things too well.
Even after being unconscious for so long, everyone had just assumed he was sleepy. His keep-your-distance aura remained fully intact.
Qian Kun stepped closer. There was no noticeable pheromone scent, but a faint restlessness lingered. He raised a hand to check Shen Jin’s forehead.
The moment his fingers brushed Shen Jin’s hair, he was locked onto by a pair of eyes.
Shen Jin’s gaze was still drowsy, yet sharp as a blade.
“What are you doing?”
Qian Kun let out a breath.
“As long as you’re not dead.”
Shen Jin replied coolly, “Sorry to disappoint you.”
You curse your classmates like this every day. Do your admirers know?
Shen Jin’s guard was strong. Even a slight approach triggered an immediate counterattack.
Yet, that coldness only stirred desire instead.
Truly… a sharp and beautiful creature.
Qian Kun said nothing more. He withdrew his hand, a trace of heat rising in his chest.
Shen Jin took something resembling a syringe from his bag, went to the restroom, and returned looking much better.
When the Omegas came back, the air filled with the sweet smell of baked cake. Qian Kun’s seat was quickly surrounded.
But the main person wasn’t there, so Zhou You said he couldn’t accept things on his behalf.
The Omegas were a little disappointed. They didn’t notice Liu Qimai’s desperate little eyes, and instead turned toward Shen Jin, who was battling a stack of math papers.
The math teacher had already declared it. If you’re this lively in class, it means you’ve got too little homework.
It was Shen Jin’s first time skipping cooking class. Many Omegas found it strange. After all, Shen Jin was practically unmatched in that area. Without him, cooking class felt like it had lost its soul.
Someone from the Nanhu Omega group reminded them.
What are you thinking? Shen Jin’s already a Beta. OO relationships have no future, but what about BO?
One sentence awakened the dreamers.
Right.
According to the legal marriage age, next year they could even have a little chick baby for Brother Jin!
And so, little cakes and cookies flooded in. Shen Jin experienced firsthand just how enthusiastic Omegas could be and felt momentarily at a loss.
Ahhhhhhh!
Gap moe! Brother Jin spacing out is cool too!
I’m fine, I’m so fine again!
The Alphas who’d waited an entire class period: “……”
Their class’s Alpha status was so low it was practically zero.
This must be the legendary inequality of the world.
Luo Ying sharply noticed Omegas from other classes sneaking in.
“Hey, hey, hey, you over there, that’s too much!”
“Handsome guys are public resources! Class Nine’s Omegas don’t get to monopolize them!”
Only when the bell rang and eye exercises began did the Omegas finally disperse and return to their seats.
Students on duty ran off to their assigned classes to check exercise compliance.
Qian Kun, stirred up earlier by Shen Jin, went to the rooftop to smoke a suppressant cigarette to get himself under control.
The taste was mild, but the effect was good.
Still, after holding back for three months, it was all for nothing.
He exited the elevator, crossed the skybridge, and stood by the glass railing, watching the garden below as he slowly suppressed the surging emotions.
A cry of pain rang out nearby.
A very pretty girl had fallen not far away. She had a fluffy bun hairstyle and looked over pitifully.
Qian Kun recalled she might be from the neighboring class, someone who’d been compared to Shen Jin before.
Qiao Yishan had searched the entire building before finally running into Qian Kun here.
Delighted beyond measure, she thought she might be the only one able to personally deliver her cake.
She held it nervously and looked up at the tall boy in front of her.
“Qi… Qian Kun, would you be willing to accept this?”
Qian Kun concealed the impatience in his eyes and replied slowly,
“I’m afraid I can’t. I don’t eat sweets.”
“Oh… I see. Then I’ll make something savory next time.”
Qiao Yishan was a bit awkward, but Qian Kun’s gentle attitude spared her much embarrassment.
She was also on duty today and had delayed her tasks just to find him.
Blinking playfully, she said, “Since the cake didn’t make it, I’m feeling a little down. Could you help me with something?”
The broadcast started, and everyone closed their eyes.
Shen Jin had just adjusted his posture when he heard a soft notification from his desk.
He lowered his head and opened his phone. Nanhu High’s rules banned phone use, but as long as you weren’t openly using it during class, teachers tended to look the other way.
It was a friend request.
[Xiao Jin, did you accidentally delete me?]
The profile picture was a pink chubby rabbit, its big eyes staring out at Shen Jin adorably.
Had Madam Ke not told him that their engagement was already canceled?
Shen Jin was debating whether to respond when he felt a shadow loom over him.
The moment he looked up, he met a handsome face gazing down at him. Their noses were only a few millimeters apart.
The newcomer had deep features that always gave off an illusion of affection. When he looked at someone seriously, it made them feel completely exposed.
“!”
Shen Jin remained cold as frost. Not even his gaze wavered, but his Adam’s apple rolled involuntarily.
Qian Kun had just turned down a girl, and helping with duty was simply good manners.
But when he reached the classroom doorway, one glance told him something was off.
He walked over and tapped the desk to get Shen Jin’s attention. No response.
Shen Jin seemed completely absorbed by whatever was on his phone. Qian Kun caught a glimpse of the pink chubby rabbit avatar.
He bent down and whispered something that threw Shen Jin into chaos.
“You might need an Alpha.”
From Luo Ying’s angle, hearing the noise behind her, it looked like Qian Kun was force-kissing Shen Jin!!
That’s way too explosive!!
Author’s Note:
Kun-kun: Want to see? Too bad, none for you.
Happy New Year, everyone! 😽
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