59: The String Snapped.
Shen Jin got off the bike, took off the helmet, and shook out his hair, only to realize more than a dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on him.
When they clearly saw Shen Jin, the teasing and jeering smiles on their faces froze.
Some had already recognized him. The way they looked at Liu Qimai now was like they were staring at a fearless hero.
Most people hadn’t figured it out yet. The photos taken earlier had been too blurry, only enough to tell the person had a somewhat cold aura. It wasn’t until those around them kept throwing meaningful looks toward Liu Qimai that realization finally dawned.
No way. Mai-zi, you’re really something. You even dared to set your sights on Kun-ge’s person?
Liu Qimai stood there like a clock with its hands stuck, staring blankly at them.
I must not be awake yet. They’re just roommates who happen to be a bit close, right?
Right. That must be it.
Someone reacted quickly. Ji Zhen jogged over to Qian Kun, glanced at him a few times, then fixed her gaze on him.
With a slight choke in her voice, she looked deeply at the person she’d secretly liked for over a decade and asked, “Aren’t you going to introduce him?”
Qian Kun said, “Shen Jin, my roommate.”
Not far away, sharp-eyed student council members spotted Shen Jin and waved anxiously at him.
Standing beside them was Ke Minghuai, who was assigning tasks. He also saw them and smiled in this direction, gesturing for Shen Jin to come over.
Apart from being the class life committee member, Shen Jin was also responsible for student council reception and hosting.
Qian Kun understood immediately. “I’ll take the class uniforms to the changing room. You go ahead.”
Shen Jin briefly greeted everyone, while Qian Kun watched intently as he ran toward Ke Minghuai.
Shen Jin was like sand he could never hold onto. The tighter he tried to grip, the faster it slipped through his fingers.
These past few days, although he had successfully avoided Shen Jin’s attempt at a talk, the emotions he had been suppressing only kept piling up.
He was like a balloon filled to the brim with water. All it would take was a single pin, and everything would spiral out of control.
Everyone present knew what Ji Zhen had wished for since childhood. This was nothing short of a blow to the head. She bit her lip and left.
Seeing that, someone hurried after her, lest an accident occur.
Qian Kun’s motorcycle was something his brothers had tried borrowing multiple times without success.
Not to mention the back seat. Over the years, Ji Zhen had exhausted every excuse imaginable.
So they all understood that whoever was allowed to sit there, roommate or friend, was probably just Kun-ge’s smokescreen.
After parking the bike, Liu Qimai chased after him, hesitating for a long while as he searched for the right words.
Qian Kun said, “If you want to ask something, just ask.”
Liu Qimai said, “Say something that will make me give up.”
We’ve been brothers for so many years. Just be decisive and stab me once.
Qian Kun thought for a moment, then was indeed merciless. “I’m his boyfriend.”
Liu Qimai, whose heart shattered all over the ground: “……”
I believe it now. You really are my brother.
That single sentence killed without spilling blood. One strike, instant death.
*
Shen Jin surveyed the venue. Students from several schools had already arrived one after another.
He slipped into the changing room. Most students had already changed, leaving the place in disarray. A beam of light shone through a small window high on the wall.
Not far away, a boy with his back to him had just taken off his shirt. Lean muscles layered across his back, symmetrical shoulder blades, a taut waist full of explosive power. It was already the physique of a grown man.
Qian Kun had noticed someone come in long ago. After changing, he turned and saw the person behind him.
Shen Jin found his own clothes. He was hosting the morning events and wouldn’t be part of the entrance ceremony, so he wore a more formal shirt and trousers, with a tie.
Flustered without realizing it, Shen Jin buttoned his shirt wrong.
A clean, pale hand with prominent knuckles reached out to undo the buttons and fasten them again one by one. In the dim light, Qian Kun’s lowered lashes looked hazy.
“Don’t rush,” Qian Kun said. “There’s still time.”
Even though nothing improper happened, Shen Jin still couldn’t meet his gaze.
It wasn’t because of that. It was because they hadn’t spoken properly in a long time, and being this close again felt unfamiliar.
“Xiao Jin, it’s your turn to go up.”
A voice outside interrupted them. It was Ke Minghuai, calling for him. No one knew how long he had been standing there.
Blue skies stretched overhead as birds crossed the distance.
The stadium was massive and circular. At a glance, there was a long track and a carefully maintained green field in the center, said to be prepared for provincial football matches. Surrounding it were spectator stands, with four schools occupying four directions.
Staff from each school were already in position, with school flags planted everywhere.
As the flags fluttered, they carried with them the students’ high spirits.
During the opening speeches, the principals politely deferred before selecting the principal of First High, the school with the highest annual advancement rate, to speak first.
After the usual opening remarks, the principals took turns until the microphone was passed to Nanhu’s principal. With everything already said, he could only thank Shengsi High for sponsoring the venue.
“Here, we sincerely hope that next year we’ll once again see Shengsi High sharing sports with us.”
That drew boos from Shengsi students. Don’t think we don’t know you just want to save funding. Could you be any more obvious.
Class Nine was lining up at the entrance. Hearing that, they laughed.
“Hahaha, worthy of our old principal. That shrewd trait never falls.”
“He’s definitely related to the convenience store owner.”
“Is anyone else disappointed we won’t see Ice God in our new class uniform?”
“If Jin-ge wore it, damn, pure ethereal vibes.”
Qian Kun was arranging his sleeves. Hearing this, he glanced at the Alpha who spoke.
Shen Jin had already reached the broadcast booth. His co-host was Qiao Yishan from Class Eight, someone he knew.
After a brief greeting, they began the official announcements. As classes entered one by one, Class Nine came into view.
The stadium atmosphere surged.
Amid a sea of T-shirt uniforms, Class Nine stood out.
They were wearing matching black, simplified military-style outfits. Both boys and girls wore combat boots, walking with bold, heroic strides.
At the very front, holding the Class Nine placard, was Qian Kun. He immediately became the photographers’ favorite, every lens trained on him.
His image filled the big screen. Sharp features, keen eyes softened with warmth, every movement carrying an air of nobility.
Even from afar, he was unmistakable.
Shen Jin glanced at the screen and nearly jumped when Qiao Yishan cut in beside him.
Gripping the microphone, she stood up excitedly and leaned forward. “Walking toward us now is Nanhu Senior Year Two, Class Nine. Their valiant military uniforms radiate youth and vigor… and leading them is Qian Kun, who won first place in long jump and the 1500 meters back in middle school. Today, can he break his own records? Let’s wait and see!”
It was all improvised. With years of hosting experience, Qiao Yishan showed no fear.
She rattled off Qian Kun’s past achievements like treasured facts, clearly adding her own flair.
Shen Jin glanced at her silently. She’d hijacked his script, and now he had to read what she’d added.
They swapped scripts behind the scenes. Qiao Yishan clasped her hands apologetically.
During a break, she took off her mic and whispered, embarrassed, “I got carried away. Wuwuwu, he’s so cool! That look killed me. How are you this calm?”
In a pheromone-driven world, seeing someone so overwhelmingly Alpha, she was already restrained. Hadn’t he seen the Omegas below frantically reapplying blockers.
Seeing Shen Jin unaffected, she finally understood why the school always sent him to promote the dangers of early romance. Nothing fit better than an ice sculpture like him.
To many people, Shen Jin was basically an AI. An AI with no emotions.
Shen Jin smiled faintly and continued announcing, his clear voice spreading across the field.
After finishing, he handed off the headset and script to the next hosts for the afternoon session.
He stepped down and saw Ke Minghuai smiling lightly.
“You probably don’t know where your class is. I’ll take you.”
“Thanks, Huai-ge.”
Ke Minghuai lifted a hand to pat his head, but Shen Jin dodged.
A trace of disappointment crossed his face before he withdrew naturally. People kept coming up to greet them, interrupting their conversation.
Back at Class Nine’s stands, Shen Jin didn’t see Qian Kun. He had apparently gone to substitute for Liu Qimai in shot put. No one knew how Liu Qimai had persuaded him.
Shen Jin, meanwhile, was about to run the 100 meters. He changed into athletic wear and headed to the track.
He wasn’t great at endurance, so he chose short burst events.
This was the first event of the day and drew a big crowd. Cheers rang out nonstop.
Leading them were Luo Ying and the Class Nine Omegas. They silently unfurled a banner reading: [When Ice God emerges, who dares compete?]
Students from other schools burst out laughing.
“Who’s Ice God? That nickname’s so cringe.”
“That one, the coldest-looking guy.”
Shen Jin covered his face. Under the sun, his cheeks flushed as other athletes pointed and whispered.
For a moment, he didn’t want to admit it.
“F*ck, this face-based world! Besides being good-looking, what else? No. 1 High, go!! Don’t lose to that pretty boy!!”
“Yeah, he looks so delicate. Aren’t you ashamed to lose? Shengsi, you’re here to crush them!”
“Third High, let’s go! You’re the best!!”
“Nanhu always comes last in sports every year. Let him just start and you’ll already be at the finish!”
Shen Jin’s striking looks and what seemed like an Omega support squad instantly drew collective hostility.
Omegas were rare, and you had a whole group? Unforgivable.
Losing to other schools was fine, but losing to the best-looking one was not.
This was the beauty of a joint sports meet. Instead of internal competition, it turned outward.
External rivalry reached a fever pitch.
The goal wasn’t to beat one’s own schoolmates but other schools. It was about school pride.
Luo Ying thought her setup was impressive, but seeing the massive turnout from other schools, she got angry.
“Sisters, show Class Nine’s spirit!”
Even if Ice God’s chances weren’t great. Hadn’t he always said he wasn’t good at sports?
Lose the race, not the presence.
“Jin-ge, can you do it or not?!”
“Jin-ge, go bravely! Class 9, Class 9, forever together!!”
Chants from long ago, suddenly nostalgic.
The Omegas shouted just as loudly as everyone else.
Last year, Shen Jin had signed up for events too but never received this kind of support.
He had planned to just do his best. Now, he had to give it everything.
He looked toward Luo Ying and flashed a rare, bold grin. “As a guy, I can’t have people calling me useless.”
Screams erupted.
Jin-ge is devastatingly handsome!
His lane wasn’t ideal, far on the outside, but he stayed calm, eyes fixed ahead.
The gun fired. Shen Jin shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Behind him, an Alpha false-started and was stopped by the referee.
Shen Jin heard nothing. When fully focused, all he could see was the finish line.
The wind tore past his ears. When he crossed the line, he finally slowed.
He and an Alpha from another school finished almost simultaneously. Even the referee hesitated, but thankfully every event was recorded.
As everyone held their breath, the referee reviewed the footage and announced Shen Jin as the winner.
Luo Ying and the others exploded with joy and rushed toward him.
Aooo! This is what “not good at sports” looks like to a top student? Seeing the other schools beating their chests was so satisfying!
Who would’ve thought Class Nine, perennial bottom in athletics, would take the opening win of the four-school meet.
As Shen Jin was surrounded on his way back, a surge of overwhelming pheromones suddenly washed over him.
Maybe he’d pushed too hard. After a long time without issues, his expression changed slightly.
Qian Kun had been coerced and enticed by Liu Qimai to substitute. Liu Qimai was so angry. You tricked my male god into your hands, fine, but you actually watched my joke for so long.
That crossed a line. Old and new grudges, pay up.
After throwing the shot put, Qian Kun spotted Shen Jin hurrying away.
Something glinted faintly from Shen Jin’s sleeve. It was an inhibitor.
Unable to find Qian Kun right away, combined with his recent semi-unreachable, distant state, Shen Jin couldn’t help feeling down.
The pheromones surged, overtaking his thoughts. His body grew hotter by the second. He couldn’t wait.
This might be the last time.
That was why the wave came so fiercely. Thinking that his lifelong wish was about to come true, Shen Jin felt both fear and excitement.
Qian Kun chased after him, but Shen Jin moved too fast and disappeared in a blink.
After searching, he spotted the former engaged pair talking on the outer stadium steps.
From the angle, only Ke Minghuai’s expression was visible. They seemed to agree on something. Ke Minghuai nodded and gave a few instructions. After they parted, Shen Jin headed toward the restroom below.
Most students were still inside the venue. Hardly anyone would use the outer restrooms.
The thing he had feared most finally came true.
From realizing his feelings until now, it had built up little by little.
Qian Kun seemed to hear the string in his mind, stretched tight for so long, snap.
Shen Jin pretended to use the restroom to send Ke Minghuai away.
He held his phone, about to message Qian Kun first. However as soon as he entered the stall, he sensed something. When he turned around, he saw Qian Kun.
For a brief moment, he felt relief, until he noticed Qian Kun’s emotionless gaze, like the calm before a storm.
Qian Kun’s voice was gentle. “Not feeling well again? Did you forget to call me?”
“I said I’d be there whenever you needed me.”
Shen Jin’s pupils contracted.
He barely heard the words. The pale glass-like eyes he knew so well were now dark, bottomless, like a deep pool.
For the first time, he felt fear toward this extremely familiar person before him.
This was absolute suppression by gender. His body instinctively stepped back.
Qian Kun smiled. “What are you afraid of, hm?”
As he spoke, he stepped into the narrow stall.
With a click, he closed the door.
Author’s Note:
Qian Qian, you vinegar demon, you’ve self-destructed!
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