Thirty-Two

Saturday morning, the S-Class participants gathered at the Preparatory Academy gate to take a bus to another city. Gu Yunchi didn't come this time—reportedly because his family needed him at a banquet. For many at the Preparatory Academy, taking part in a purely school-organized academic exchange was far more relaxed and free than attending family or circle gatherings—at least they could breathe.

Xu Ze had run over from a bus stop some distance from the Preparatory Academy. By the time he boarded, there were basically no empty seats left. Many students were taking up two seats each, one of them for their schoolbags.

Lu Heyang and He Wei were still sitting in the last row. He Wei waved at Xu Ze, and after a moment's hesitation, Xu Ze walked over.

Five seats in the last row. Two of them held Lu Heyang's and He Wei's schoolbags. One window-side seat remained empty, next to Lu Heyang.

'Sit next to Heyang.' He Wei said. 'There's a spot just right.'

Xu Ze's first reaction wasn't to nod or shake his head—it was to look at Lu Heyang. Lu Heyang had been looking at his Mobile Phone. He raised his head and shifted his leg to the side.

The teacher was already urging everyone to get seated quickly. Xu Ze pressed one hand on the seatback in front of him, stepped past Lu Heyang's knee, sat down, and put his schoolbag on his lap.

'Give me the schoolbag.' Lu Heyang said.

Xu Ze didn't ask why. If Lu Heyang wanted it, he gave it. After Lu Heyang took it, he pulled out Xu Ze's water bottle and handed it to him, then passed the schoolbag to He Wei to put on the empty seat.

The bus started moving. He Wei called Lu Heyang online to play a game, then asked Xu Ze: 'Do you play games?'

'No.' Xu Ze shook his head. He had no interest in such things, and his Mobile Phone was old—its performance and memory only enough for receiving school documents and texts, making calls, or chatting online.

'So ascetic—are you a Daoist priest?' He Wei asked him.

Xu Ze answered: 'No.'

He Wei burst out laughing, hahaha.

Some people are like this—no humor cells, clumsy with words, rigid and earnest, immune to all jokes and teasing, and they'll seriously answer other people's nonsense—which somehow has its own strange charm.

Lu Heyang reached into the schoolbag, took out a tablet, unlocked it, and handed it to Xu Ze: 'Watch a movie, or it'll be really boring.'

The curtain wasn't drawn. Xu Ze turned to look at Lu Heyang. Sunlight slanted in just so, hitting the corner by the window. Xu Ze's eyelashes were lit up into fuzzy little tufts; the blue tones in those deep grey eyes looked richer, like a clean lake surface, and his lashes were light clouds above it.

'Thanks.' Xu Ze took the tablet, then didn't move again. He felt a tablet was a fairly personal item, so he was somewhat at a loss.

After a while, he glanced to the side. Lu Heyang and He Wei had already put on earphones and were gaming. Xu Ze remembered Lu Heyang telling him to watch a movie—then he really should watch a movie. Xu Ze opened a video app. He didn't even dare tap into Lu Heyang's watch history, just randomly picked one from the movie page.

Xu Ze kept the volume very low, afraid of disturbing others. After about ten minutes or so, Xu Ze felt Lu Heyang suddenly lean close. He turned his head, and in his line of sight were Lu Heyang's lips and chin, very near, while a faint Pheromone drifted toward him at the same time.

Lu Heyang reached across Xu Ze's body to pull the curtain tight, and asked him: 'Don't you think it's too bright? What are you watching?'

'It's fine.' Xu Ze, as was his habit, answered each question separately. 'Watching a movie.'

Lu Heyang looked down at the screen: 'An animated movie?' He took out another pair of earphones and handed them to Xu Ze. 'The sound's so low—can you hear it?'

'I can hear a little.'

'If you're tired you can listen to some music and nap.' Lu Heyang said. He Wei was urging him again over there, so Lu Heyang turned back, leaned against the seat, and continued gaming.

Xu Ze hadn't been sleepy originally, but once Lu Heyang mentioned it, he mysteriously started to feel drowsy. Xu Ze didn't listen to music, didn't use the earphones. He turned off the tablet, turned his head slightly to look at Lu Heyang, then closed his eyes to rest.

After driving through the City District for over forty minutes, the bus was about to enter the highway. When it rolled over a speed bump, the vehicle jolted violently. Xu Ze, caught off guard, swayed entirely, and his head slammed hard against the window.

Xu Ze opened his eyes. For him, this didn't really count as pain, but hitting his head while half-asleep left him unable to react for a moment, staring blankly ahead.

A hand reached through from behind his head and felt the spot that had been hit. Lu Heyang, gaming one-handed, glanced at Xu Ze and asked: 'Do you remember what just happened?'

His hand gently rubbed the side of Xu Ze's head a few times. Xu Ze hadn't been fully awake to begin with, and now even less so. After a few seconds he answered: 'Hit my head.'

'As long as you didn't lose your memory.' Lu Heyang smiled and withdrew his hand.

When they arrived at the hotel it was noon. Each person picked up a room card, went to their room to drop off their things, and after lunch everyone went to the venue. The afternoon schedule was packed full—exhibitions, lectures, meetings—leaving He Wei lifeless, walking alongside Lu Heyang like a dead man. Yet no matter when, when Lu Heyang looked toward the edge of the crowd, he could always see Xu Ze seriously reading materials and documents, quiet and detached, as if he had his own focused world.

Near dinner time, following a teacher's notice, everyone gathered at the restaurant. Xu Ze, holding a stack of materials, looked up toward the center of the crowd. Lu Heyang and He Wei were walking with several suited Alphas toward another corridor. Xu Ze recognized those backs—they were principals of several League-level key universities. One of them clapped Lu Heyang's shoulder, laughing and saying something to him.

Xu Ze put away his materials and turned to walk toward the restaurant.

Everyone here was S-Class, yet between S-Class and S-Class there were also vast differences—just like between Lu Heyang and him.

After dinner, most of the S-Class students left the hotel for free time. Xu Ze returned to his room alone, sat at the desk, and carefully read through the materials. This trip was self-funded, but Xu Ze had still decided to come, because he could get past exam papers and other information from the League's top universities' early admissions over the years.

At nine-thirty, Xu Ze finished showering and planned to do half a set of exam papers before sleeping. He hung up his towel and was about to blow-dry his hair when his Mobile Phone rang. Xu Ze went over and picked it up, and on the screen he saw the three characters 'Lu Heyang' sitting properly. He first looked up at the window, took a few seconds to collect himself, then pressed answer.

'Hello?'

'Wow.' What came from the other end was He Wei's voice. 'Hearing you through the phone, you sound a lot gentler.'

Xu Ze's shoulders relaxed a little. He asked: 'Is there something you need?'

'Oh, never mind, you're still cold.' He Wei laughed once. 'Are you in your room? Heyang and I bought desserts back—want to have some together?'

'You guys eat.' Xu Ze said. 'I won't come over.'

He knew he was dull, boring, taciturn—his presence would only spoil others' fun, so he kept himself out of the way.

A slight commotion came from the other end, followed by a voice that sounded especially low and clear over the phone: 'Xu Ze.'

Xu Ze almost instinctively touched the back of his ear, which was slightly itchy. He made an 'Mm?' sound.

'Room 1205.' Lu Heyang said, very concisely. 'Coming over?'

So close, it was almost as if he were asking right at Xu Ze's ear. Xu Ze's throat moved; he couldn't get the words of refusal out. He felt an invisible rope wrapped around his neck, and Lu Heyang, holding the other end, gave it a gentle tug—and he could only follow forward.

'Okay.' Xu Ze said.

He stood in his room for a while. His hair wasn't fully dry yet. Xu Ze roughly tidied it with his fingers, took his room card, and opened the door to go out. Outside Room 1205, Xu Ze rang the doorbell, and He Wei quickly opened it for him.

'Heyang and I just got back and showered too.' He Wei said. 'We bought ice cream.'

Xu Ze nodded and walked in. Lu Heyang was draping a towel he'd used to dry his hair over a chair, his half-dry hair falling casually across his forehead. He turned his head, glanced at Xu Ze, then picked up his Wristband and put it on. He Wei sat down on the sofa and asked: 'Why wear a Wristband at night? Aren't all the Alphas in this room?'

'Is it because you drank and you're afraid you can't control yourself?' He grinned mischievously. 'Were you thinking about that Omega from the bar earlier? Regret not giving him your number?'

'Has Chi Jiahán been bothering you lately?' Lu Heyang asked.

He Wei immediately stopped laughing.

'Eat the ice cream.' He Wei turned to Xu Ze and said. 'I originally wanted to invite you to the bar too, but I figured you wouldn't like it.'

Xu Ze asked: 'Did you guys drink?'

'Go to a bar and not drink—are we supposed to drink milk?' He Wei laughed indifferently. 'We don't gather until ten tomorrow morning, so it's fine to sleep in.'

Xu Ze nodded, then turned to look behind him. Seeing the water dispenser wasn't on, he walked over and pressed the hot water button.

Then he returned to the sofa, sat down in the empty seat next to He Wei, and said: 'If you've been drinking, a cup of hot water before bed will make you feel better.'

'So thoughtful.' He Wei pushed the ice cream toward Xu Ze and asked him: 'Xu Ze, what kind of Omega do you like?'

Xu Ze's instinct was to look toward Lu Heyang, but halfway through lifting his head, he forcibly stopped himself, looked at the coffee table, and answered: 'No particular type I prefer.'

'Impossible, there must be one.' He Wei didn't believe him, nudged Xu Ze's shoulder. 'Come on, tell me, satisfy my curiosity.'

He Wei was an extremely clingy Alpha, and alcohol only made him more relentless. Xu Ze had no choice but to reach over and open the ice cream lid, but He Wei was still bumping his shoulder, nearly knocking the ice cream out of Xu Ze's hand.

'Cuter ones.' Xu Ze had to say. If anyone else had asked him this question, he would have kept his mouth shut and stayed silent, but Xu Ze knew He Wei meant no harm, so he still tried his best to answer.

He figured no one wouldn't like cute people, so this answer shouldn't be wrong—broad and universal.

Lu Heyang sat in the single armchair, propping his chin up and looking at his Mobile Phone. Hearing this, he raised his eyes to look at Xu Ze.

'Yes!' He Wei nodded heavily, took out his Mobile Phone. 'Let me introduce you to a few—I guarantee cute to the max.'

He was even more eager than a pimp. Xu Ze immediately said 'no need,' but He Wei threw an arm around his shoulder, afraid he'd run off, while showing Xu Ze photos: 'This one, cute right? He plays piano especially well.'

'And this one…'

'Xu Ze.'

Hearing Lu Heyang call him, Xu Ze immediately raised his head and saw Lu Heyang looking at him, saying: 'The ice cream's going to melt.'

Xu Ze looked at the plump, round scoop of ice cream in his hand, nodded, and dug out a piece to put in his mouth.

He Wei was still scrolling through his Mobile Phone. Lu Heyang reminded him: 'Didn't your aunt ask you to call her tonight?'

'Huh? I almost forgot.' He Wei took his arm off Xu Ze's shoulder and checked the time. 'It's almost ten—I should call my mom first.'

As he said this he stood up, but then bent down close to Xu Ze's ear, his tone very mysterious: 'I'll keep showing you on the way back tomorrow.'

Without waiting for Xu Ze to react, He Wei cheerfully winked at him and left.

The door closed, and the air went quiet in an instant. Xu Ze belatedly realized he should have left with He Wei—every second alone with Lu Heyang made him especially nervous.

With a 'beep,' the hot water was ready. Lu Heyang stood up and walked to the water dispenser to pour water. Xu Ze ate his ice cream somewhat absent-mindedly; the ice cream had a rich milky fragrance mixed with vanilla.

'You like cute Omegas, do you?' Lu Heyang asked suddenly while filling the water.

Xu Ze was startled, not understanding what Lu Heyang meant. After a second or two, he began to realize—guessing perhaps Lu Heyang had taken inspiration from He Wei's words and planned to introduce Omegas to him, this impure-minded Alpha, in order to get rid of the unclear, lingering entanglement.

It was a tactful, roundabout, and effective method—most suitable for dealing with someone like him, who had never made things explicit yet haunted on like a ghost.

Xu Ze lowered his head, looking at the ice cream in his hand, and said nothing. He felt Lu Heyang walk to his side, then Lu Heyang's hand descend from above, brush past Xu Ze's right cheek, fingertips resting at his jaw, lifting his head up.

Having just held the cup of hot water, Lu Heyang's palm was warm. Xu Ze looked up at him—even from this angle, Lu Heyang's face still looked flawless. Xu Ze moved, wanting to turn his head away from his hand, but couldn't bear to and hesitated, so in the end it seemed more like he'd nuzzled his face against Lu Heyang's palm.

'Does this question make you unhappy?' Lu Heyang asked, looking down at him.

Xu Ze licked away the small bit of ice cream remaining on his lip and answered: 'No.'

'I won't ask again.' Lu Heyang said, his thumb pad brushing once at the corner of Xu Ze's mouth.

He withdrew his hand, letting it hang at his side, and with his other hand picked up the cup and took a sip of warm water.

Xu Ze's gaze fell on Lu Heyang's hand. He had always thought Lu Heyang's hands were beautiful. He had only touched Lu Heyang's fingers when teaching him the billiards grip—only briefly, over a small area, for a few seconds.

He drifted off like that. Lu Heyang, not knowing he was interested in his hand, thought Xu Ze was looking at the Wristband, so he raised it in front of him and asked: 'Looking at this?'

Xu Ze certainly wouldn't say he was actually looking at his hand, so he nodded.

Lu Heyang said: 'Then take a look at it.'

With his permission, Xu Ze touched the Wristband. The screen lit up responsively, then Xu Ze's finger accidentally hit some button, and the Wristband made a 'beep.' Xu Ze wasn't sure what he'd pressed, and was just about to say sorry, but quickly—within about a second—he realized it was the button to lower the setting.

Because Xu Ze smelled Lu Heyang's Pheromone—the dominant, oppressive Pheromone of an S-Class Alpha.

Pheromones are honest things, just as Xu Ze always felt grateful in front of Lu Heyang that Lu Heyang's Wristband was good enough to completely block his own Pheromone.

Xu Ze frowned. His own Wristband's effects were mediocre in every respect—it couldn't withstand Lu Heyang's Pheromone. The feeling of two Alphas' Pheromones clashing wasn't pleasant.

He tried to adjust the setting back, but couldn't find the button. Lu Heyang also didn't react. After a moment of quiet, Xu Ze looked up and asked: 'Does it feel uncomfortable?'

After drinking, an Alpha's Pheromone would be somewhat less controllable. If Lu Heyang had been keeping it at a high setting, he should be quite uncomfortable now.

Lu Heyang sat down next to Xu Ze and asked, calm and even: 'Which aspect do you mean?'

His words reminded Xu Ze, because Xu Ze hadn't actually been thinking in that direction to begin with. Xu Ze turned to glance at Lu Heyang. Lu Heyang was drinking water. Xu Ze felt the ice cream was about to be warmed to mush by his hand. Lu Heyang's Pheromone, like something with physical substance, battered his reason and thoughts, making him restless and uneasy.

Before he could sort out his thoughts, Xu Ze heard his own voice—uncensored by his brain—jump out ahead of him: he asked, 'Do you want me to help you?'