39: [Hate Rabbits]
When Qian Kun noticed Shen Jin’s gaze, his brows drew together. “Want more?”
Shen Jin finished what was left in his bowl. “No, I’m a bit full.”
A thought had barely taken shape before it dissipated the moment it brushed against Qian Kun’s cool, distant look.
Still, once a thought has appeared, it leaves a faint trace as it passes through the heart.
Qian Kun gathered the bowls and chopsticks and put them into the dishwasher, starting it with a single press.
He checked the time, unplugged the charging cable, and handed the phone back to Shen Jin.
On the way to school, Shen Jin assumed it would be the motorcycle again, but Qian Kun chose to have the driver take them instead.
Using a private car meant taking a detour, at least ten minutes longer than the usual route.
When Shen Jin slid into the back seat, he instinctively left an empty space beside him, only to see Qian Kun choose the front passenger seat.
Shen Jin glanced at him a couple of times. He could feel that this coolness wasn’t aimed at him. At least, that was what he thought when he received the hangover candy someone had deliberately gone to a convenience store to buy.
The change in Qian Kun’s attitude clearly started last night.
What had happened?
The only possibility left was me getting drunk.
Did I… act improperly toward him?
Shen Jin had never drunk alcohol before. Even he didn’t know what he was like when drunk.
When that possibility surfaced, his ears flushed red.
Qian Kun returned to the convenience store once more, opened the car door again, and handed Shen Jin a small cake.
Seeing Shen Jin look over, Qian Kun realized he genuinely didn’t remember. He reminded him, “Your birthday. October 24. You forgot?”
Qian Kun knew plenty of people would celebrate Shen Jin. He wasn’t the earliest, nor the most special.
As classmates, a convenience-store cake wasn’t extravagant or expensive. Shen Jin wouldn’t feel burdened by it.
“How did you know?” Shen Jin was a little surprised as he took the cake. It was tiny, topped with white cream and a ring of fresh strawberries. A dusting of cheese powder sat on the strawberry tips. It looked adorably miniature.
Qian Kun didn’t answer. He settled back into the front seat and left Shen Jin to piece it together himself.
It was from when they’d first met, back when they were still at odds.
Students from the original Class Nine and Liu Qimai’s group had exchanged birthdays. Shen Jin remembered that he was the first day of Scorpio, while Qian Kun was the last day, November 22.
When the car reached the school gate, Shen Jin had been holding it in the whole way. Just before getting out, he finally asked, “Did I do anything to you yesterday?”
Qian Kun looked at Shen Jin’s almost self-sabotaging expression and laughed. “Why don’t you do one thing right now and show me?”
It sounded like a joke.
Then he added seriously, “You have great drinking manners.”
Then why did you suddenly become so distant?
It felt like you were gradually drawing a line between us. That premonition lingered in Shen Jin’s heart.
Shen Jin had a very obvious flaw in his personality. When he noticed someone familiar pulling away from him, he’d pretend not to see it and maintain the illusion instead of confronting the truth.
This was another manifestation of an avoidant personality.
As Shen Jin opened the door to get out, he noticed someone pacing at the school gate.
Shen Xie’an had been waiting there since five o’clock. He yawned, tears glimmering at the corners of his eyes.
Shen Jin hadn’t taken more than a few steps when he was almost knocked over by a small projectile charging from afar.
The reason it was almost was that Shen Xie’an’s backpack strap was hooked by Qian Kun’s fingers, leaving him stuck in place.
Shen Xie’an flailed weakly, panicking. “CAT-ge, let go, quick!”
Ever since Shen Jin ran away from home last time, Shen Xie’an had acknowledged Qian Kun as his real older brother.
Cat was Qian Kun’s online handle. Hearing it, Qian Kun chuckled and released his grip.
Shen Xie’an checked Shen Jin from head to toe. He trusted Cat-ge, but before seeing Shen Jin with his own eyes, his heart had been hanging in suspense.
It had been too late last night to disturb their eldest brother, so he waited here early this morning.
When he caught the scent on his brother that belonged to someone else, his expression changed.
The school uniform Shen Jin wore was several sizes too big, clearly not his own.
Judging from the signs and the fit, it probably belonged to the Beta standing nearby.
Omega senses were always sharp, especially toward the scent of the opposite sex.
It wasn’t pheromones. It was more like a male staking out territory.
“Ge, you’re like…” Shen Xie’an swallowed. “Marked really hard.”
Noticing classmates looking over, Shen Jin tugged his brother into a corner.
Shen Xie’an gauged the distance. From this far, Cat-ge probably couldn’t hear. He leaned close and whispered, “Ge, you should keep a bit of distance from him. I think he’s dangerous.”
“Didn’t you say last time that he’s a Beta and especially safe?”
“It’s different now. Ge, trust me.”
It really was different. Even ordinary Alphas didn’t give off this kind of danger.
That was an Omega-exclusive intuition, like a volcano that had endured too long. Once it erupted, there’d be no stopping it.
Shen Jin flicked his brother’s forehead and said with certainty, “No matter who’s dangerous, it won’t be him. He’s not interested in me.”
You could tell when someone had designs on you. Qian Kun’s attitude and behavior toward him were extremely gentlemanly. He seemed casual, but actually had very clear boundaries.
Even back when they were enemies, he’d never crossed a line.
“Ge, that cake looks really good,” Shen Xie’an said, noticing the box in Shen Jin’s hands. He’d been waiting on an empty stomach.
Shen Jin glanced at the person waiting in the distance and tightened his grip on the bag. “This one’s not for you. I’ll send you some money. Go buy your own. Don’t get unhealthy fried stuff.”
Shen Xie’an didn’t mind. Food was food.
He noticed there were quite a few breakfast shops along the high school route.
Shen Xie’an left reluctantly, being chased off by Shen Jin, turning back every few steps.
Shen Jin added, “Don’t wait that long next time. Make sure you catch up on sleep at noon. Send me this week’s quizzes too.”
Shen Xie’an’s happiness lasted only a few seconds before deflating.
Did they really have to mention studying at a beautiful moment like this?
He already noticed that as he grew up and lost his baby fat, he wasn’t as squishy anymore. Recently, even head pats were going extinct. A crisis of favor had quietly emerged.
After sending his brother off, Shen Jin walked side by side with Qian Kun toward the school. Qian Kun said, “Your brother really likes you.”
Talking about his brother, Shen Jin’s tone lightened. “I raised him. When he was little, he even called me ‘Dad’.”
Qian Kun pictured Shen Jin’s eternally frigid, ascetic face and thought that he really did have paternal authority.
The corners of his mouth lifted, then his gaze froze. Among the people on duty ahead, he saw Ke Minghuai.
Qian Kun suddenly fell silent.
Shen Jin saw him too. Ke Minghuai was smiling at him, with Senior Yu Pingling beside him, blinking in greeting.
As the two of them passed the school gate, someone called out, “Wait.”
Shen Jin stopped. Qian Kun said quietly, “I’ll wait for you in the classroom.”
Shen Jin was about to speak when his arm was grabbed. Ke Minghuai stepped closer and asked, “What happened to you yesterday?”
Ke Minghuai noticed Shen Jin frown and immediately let go of his wrist.
Shen Jin didn’t like being touched. Even when they were engaged, it had been the same. They agreed to be each other’s shields and always kept their distance.
Ke Minghuai was usually very mindful of that, except…
If it were before, Shen Jin would’ve at least explained.
This time, there was nothing. Shen Jin’s head still ached faintly from the hangover. He said as if nothing was wrong, “Nothing. It’s been handled.”
Looking again, Qian Kun was nowhere to be seen.
Ke Minghuai pressed his lips together and didn’t ask further.
He pointed at Shen Jin’s badge. “It’s crooked.”
Shen Jin lowered his head and adjusted it. “Mm.”
Ke Minghuai had noticed earlier that Shen Jin was wearing an ill-fitting uniform and carried a faint, unfamiliar scent.
He watched Shen Jin’s retreating back, thoughtful.
Yu Pingling said, “Why didn’t you tell Ice God you rushed back just so you wouldn’t miss his birthday?”
Ke Minghuai shook his head. “Do you think this is a melodrama?”
Besides, Shen Jin was smart. He could connect the dots.
Shen Jin had simply shut him out again.
This familiar coldness was Shen Jin.
“The guy with Ice God just now, that was the Crown Prince, right? Didn’t expect them to be so close,” Yu Pingling mused. “Feels like I’ve seen him somewhere. Not his face… ah!”
Yu Pingling remembered it.
Once, when he and Shen Jin were leaving after duty, he wanted to say a few words for Ke Minghuai. Shen Jin, however, kept staring at a platform across the way, at a figure smoking.
Yu Pingling had wondered who was bold enough to smoke openly at school and took a few extra looks, leaving a strong impression.
Just now, seeing Qian Kun’s back, it all clicked.
The person Shen Jin had been watching back then was Qian Kun.
Ice God had never paid special attention to anyone outside.
Yu Pingling patted Ke Minghuai on the shoulder. “Brother, you’re in danger.”
Ke Minghuai ignored him. He realized it too. The person coveting Shen Jin in yesterday’s phone call.
Because it was over the phone, the voice had been distorted. He hadn’t recognized it at the time.
Now, he did.
*
Shen Jin walked quickly and didn’t see anyone along the way.
Even after reaching the classroom, Qian Kun still wasn’t there. Shen Jin scanned the room. Liu Qimai, Zhou You, and several other Alphas were absent as well.
When Luo Ying came over, Shen Jin asked, “They’re not attending morning self-study?”
Luo Ying realized Shen Jin had actually spoken to her. Her sugar-shipping soul, which had already given up on the rich couple, burst back to life.
She said excitedly, “I think Kun-ge and the others went to play basketball. So early in the morning. That’s rare!”
Shen Jin glanced at his deskmate’s spotless desk and the backpack left behind.
He thought, Liar. You didn’t wait for me at all.
He focused on finishing his duties, led the morning reading session, then went to the corridor where he could see the field in the distance.
There really were figures playing basketball.
Shen Jin returned to his seat. He didn’t notice that the entire class was tapping away on their phones, glancing at him from time to time.
During second-period Chinese, the homeroom teacher, Hu Shengqiang, walked in and announced that there would be a health check later. It was conducted by the province’s top pheromone hospital. All genders were told not to rush or take spots randomly and to go in order.
The students had been typing excitedly on their phones. Now they looked up, faces full of reluctance.
“Ugh, does that mean releasing pheromones again?”
“It always takes forever. One by one is so annoying!”
“This is when I really envy Betas. They’re the simplest. Just basic measurements, and they don’t have to smell pheromones!”
“Remember to bring blockers later. I don’t want Alphas smelling me.”
“Every physical has a few Alphas losing control. It’s kind of scary.”
In school checkups, aside from basic items, both Omegas and Alphas had to enter separate rooms alone to release pheromones and confirm levels and hormone conditions.
Betas were the fastest to check because they weren’t affected by pheromones.
Shen Jin’s expression changed slightly. His ID information hadn’t been updated to Beta yet. He was still in the differentiation period. Relevant agencies wouldn’t cheat for him.
What gender did he count as now?
Hu Shengqiang noticed several empty seats and asked, “Where did they go? Did they skip last period? Those brats!”
Ever since they transferred in, they hadn’t caused much trouble. Their monthly exam scores had even boosted the class’s overall performance, giving him plenty of bragging rights in the office.
Considering everything, Hu Shengqiang didn’t plan to make things hard.
“Who’ll go call them?”
Many hands shot up. Hu Shengqiang could feel just how popular Qian Kun’s group was.
While he was hesitating, he noticed Shen Jin at the back, looking conflicted. He nodded to the class. “Since everyone wants to go, I’ll choose… Shen Jin. You go to the field and call them.”
Shen Jin hadn’t raised his hand at all.
“Xiao Qiang, that’s favoritism!!!”
“Yeah! Strongly condemn this unreasonable behavior! You already picked someone and still asked. Too much!”
Hu Shengqiang scolded them jokingly, then waited by the back door for Shen Jin.
“You’ll go in last. Your situation’s special. I’ve already reported it.”
Shen Jin froze and looked at him. “Teacher…”
Kindness in daily life always appeared unexpectedly.
Hu Shengqiang smiled. “You didn’t think I’d make you handle something that important on your own, did you? It’s just that your differentiation period is a bit long. Last time I called your home, why did your parents think you already finished differentiating?”
“They don’t know. Did you tell them?”
“No. I left it for you to handle.”
Hu Shengqiang didn’t blame Shen Jin. It was obviously parental negligence.
“Alright, it’s not a big deal. Go call them first,” Hu Shengqiang added, then remembered something else. “Oh, and the restroom door on the ninth floor seems to have been kicked off yesterday. That door uses special materials. Does the student council know a repair specialist? See if you can call one.”
Shen Jin’s gaze flickered. He asked innocently, “Do we know who kicked it?”
“Still investigating. That door isn’t cheap,” Hu Shengqiang said. Treating Shen Jin like a favored student, he shared more. He lowered his voice. “Police came this morning to collect evidence. Might’ve been a serious case. We’ll know soon. For now, pretend you don’t know. Be careful going home tonight.”
Shen Jin knew the case had no room for reversal. Zhao Haotian wouldn’t be getting back up.
What he cared about more was that restroom door, the one even Alphas couldn’t break. Shen Jin kept his expression neutral and left quickly. If you looked closely, there was a hint of guilt.
He should probably ask Qian Kun about it. As for the broken door, maybe they could split the cost?
He went to the field and called Liu Qimai and the others, who were already fired up, back.
Shen Jin looked around and didn’t see Qian Kun. After asking, he learned Qian Kun had gone to the gym showers, his usual routine after working out.
The others weren’t that particular and went straight back to class.
Shen Jin headed to the gym. With no classes at the time, the corridor was completely empty.
As he neared the showers, Shen Jin recalled that Omega showers were on the top floor, while Alpha and Beta ones were crammed together more casually. He heard intermittent spray sounds from one section.
He didn’t know which stall Qian Kun was in and didn’t plan to look.
Something crossed his mind. He stopped short, deciding to wait outside instead.
Qian Kun shut off the faucet and wiped the cold water from his face.
The restlessness lurking in his body still boiled over, even after intense exercise.
He knew why.
Because he knew, he understood just how despicable his behavior was.
The moment he saw Ke Minghuai at the school gate.
There actually have been a flicker of fear.
Fear that Ke Minghuai would lay all of his ugliness bare before Shen Jin.
The man in the mirror was tall and powerful, strong without exaggeration. Lean muscle packed with explosive force.
His lips pressed into a straight line. The refined phoenix eyes lifted, stripped of their usual laziness. In their place surged violence and frantic desire.
Like a trapped beast pacing endlessly, trying to break free.
Staring at the reflection that no longer hid anything, Qian Kun let out a cold scoff.
“Disgusting.”
Shen Jin had been spacing out when a wave of pheromones filled with brutality and ferocity swept over from nearby, like frost settling on his skin.
The scent was faint, possibly just a brief leak.
Shen Jin closed his eyes in discomfort and clenched his jaw, legs locked straight.
There was pride in his bones. He didn’t want to submit to any Alpha’s presence.
This kind of pheromone that seemed capable of suppressing everything should’ve caused him pain.
It did.
Yet at the same time, there was a trace of familiarity stirring his own pheromones.
If you removed the aggression and softened it a little, this frost-like sharpness was simply another form of flowing water.
Shen Jin lifted his head in a daze and looked toward the two shower rooms.
[Hate Rabbits], you’re not in there, are you?
Author’s Note:
I am.
Hehehehehe, the disguise is about to come off. Didn’t see that coming, did you?
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