The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 11

Jiang Yunbian thought Zhou Die was just sending him back to school, but to his surprise, Zhou Die was accompanying him.

 

Under the rain, with both holding umbrellas, Jiang Yunbian felt like a fool.

 

“Young Master, do you really have to stay at the school dormitory when you have a home?”

 

Zhou Die stepped forward.

 

As they walked back to the dormitory with most of their pants soaked, they noticed that Room 707 was proudly lit up.

 

Wei Chu and his group, along with the dormitory supervisor, were all inside.

 

Jiang Yunbian was starting to feel irritated, and Zhou Die turned slightly and asked, “Your friend?”

 

Jiang Yunbian pointed at Wei Chu, who looked green with anger. “Didn’t you see him this morning?”

 

Zhou Die replied, “I don’t remember.”

 

Wei Chu knew that with Jiang Yunbian’s personality, it was impossible for him to stay quietly in the dormitory, which is why he had made such a big fuss to catch him, even calling the dorm supervisor.

 

And now Zhou Die had returned.

 

“Jiang Yunbian, didn’t I tell you to check in at night?” Wei Chu’s imposing demeanor diminished in front of Zhou Die.

 

Jiang Yunbian leaned lazily against the doorframe. “I’m not the only one. Auntie, he came back late too.”

 

Zhou Die glanced at him, and Jiang Yunbian tilted his chin and looked back.

 

The dorm supervisor didn’t care what the kid’s last name was. She tapped the roll call book with her pen. “As long as everyone is back, it’s fine. For the late return, a thousand words each, to be handed to the president tomorrow.”

 

Wei Chu was stunned. The punishment he had planned for Jiang Yunbian turned into a thousand words so easily.

 

Zhou Die added a finishing blow nonchalantly: “What’s this classmate’s name? How should he give it to you?”

 

Wei Chu’s face turned purple with anger.

 

He didn’t dare accept Zhou Die’s critique and regretted making things awkward with Zhou Die in the morning. He said, “I only accept Jiang Yunbian’s.”

 

He then vented all his frustration on Jiang Yunbian: “Jiang Yunbian, I wasn’t joking this morning.”

 

Jiang Yunbian thought for a moment and replied, “I don’t remember what the dog barked about.”

 

Zhou Die noticed that their new dorm mate had a sharp tongue, and anyone who crossed him would be in trouble.

 

“We’re watching you, you who doesn’t take studying seriously and relies only on talent,” Wei Chu glared at him before leaving. “Let’s see what happens.”

 

Jiang Yunbian actually couldn’t understand the source of Wei Chu’s hostility, but he wasn’t one to just take it lying down.

 

“And if I don’t pass?” he asked with a smile.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s sarcastic attitude was unmistakable, even though his tone was normal, there was a hint of mockery in his eyes.

 

Wei Chu was enraged. “Fail? I’ll go to the broadcasting room and call your dad.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was somewhat reluctant to accept such a self-proclaimed guardian. He was about to suggest a different wager when Zhou Die leisurely said, “Add me to it.”

 

Wei Chu and Jiang Yunbian both turned to look at him.

 

Zhou Die’s face was expressionless. “I find it quite interesting.”

 

Wei Chu initially thought Zhou Die looked down on him too, but then realized that if he managed to achieve it, Zhou Die might be humbled. Perhaps he could use this opportunity to gain favor and resolve everything smoothly?

 

“Fine, if you lose, don’t back down.”

 

Jiang Yunbian regretted his involvement, but Zhou Die wouldn’t back down, so the dormitory fell into a strange standoff after everyone left.

 

Watching Zhou Die unpack his suitcase, Jiang Yunbian was annoyed. “Are you really planning to stay here tonight?”

 

Zhou Die rummaged through his suitcase and then put everything back, staring at the desk.

 

… It didn’t look like he was unpacking. What was he doing?

 

Jiang Yunbian stared at him in silence for a while and then realized he was still wearing Zhou Die’s clothes.

 

Damn.

 

He opened the wardrobe, found a set of clothes, and went to the bathroom to change without looking back. After hesitating for a long time, he came out holding another set of clothes. “Zhou Die, can I put these in the communal washing machine for a spin?”

 

Zhou Die stopped searching and looked at him silently.

 

Jiang Yunbian was just trying to ask.

 

But having to hand wash clothes for this person was truly… a psychological challenge.

 

“If you don’t want to wash them, just throw them away.” Zhou Die pulled open another drawer.

 

“What are you looking for?” Jiang Yunbian was irritated. “You’ve only been here once. What could you possibly have lost?”

 

Zhou Die remained silent for a long time, finally pulling a red string from the pocket of his coat and dropping it in front of Jiang Yunbian. “The half of the jade pendant.”

 

Jiang Yunbian looked at the half-circle swaying in the air, and all the ambiguous memories of that day in the dormitory suddenly flashed back.

 

That day he was very hot, always feeling something cool sticking to his face from a red string. It was uncomfortable, so he bit it out of frustration.

 

He was also shocked at how good his teeth were.

 

“… Who knows?”

 

Zhou Die glanced at him. “Sorry, but until I find it, I might have to stay here.”

 

Jiang Yunbian wanted to punch that face that said “take good care of me.”

 

A tiger cannot share its mountain with another tiger. Jiang Yunbian was in the wrong for breaking the jade pendant, so he grabbed his pillow and pushed open the door to Room 705.

 

At that moment, Xu Zhan was on a voice chat with his roommates, and the door being kicked open nearly scared the life out of him.

 

“Bro, you could have knocked on the door! I thought you were here to confiscate my ranking tools.”

 

Xu Zhan’s roommate looked at Jiang Yunbian and then took a small stool, stepping back a few paces. “Xu Ge, I’m not playing anymore. I need to go to the bathroom urgently.”

 

Xu Zhan gave Jiang Yunbian a push. “Look at what you’ve done, scaring away my wild dad. What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

 

“Student Xu, please demonstrate your virtue of helping others and share the bed with me tonight,” Jiang Yunbian said, shaking his pillow.

 

Xu Zhan stared at the yellow electric rat on it for a moment, unsure whether to complain about Jiang Yunbian’s taste or to respond to his surprising request.

 

“This bed is 210 cm long and 120 cm wide. Even when I sleep alone, I can barely fit. Do you think we can both sleep on it?”

 

Jiang Yunbian replied seriously, “I think it’s possible. You can sleep on top.”

 

Xu Zhan said, “…Don’t go crazy. Why are you coming here to make trouble when you have your own dorm? If you’re afraid of being alone, I can join your voice chat, just help me buy some data.”

 

“There’s Zhou Die over there.”

 

“Shit, he didn’t run away from you?”

 

“Yes,” Jiang Yunbian said with a smile, “so I’m preparing to leave.”

 

Xu Zhan was feeling a headache and, in agony, pulled at his hair while dramatically exclaiming, “Ah, ah, ah…”

 

Just then, a roommate opened the balcony door. “Bro, if you don’t mind, would you like to switch beds with me?”

 

Jiang Yunbian was stunned and looked at the classmate by the door who was wearing glasses.

 

He was slim, tall, and had a scholarly air. He seemed to have a good personality, the kind of person who wouldn’t interact much with Jiang Yunbian.

 

“I’m Zheng Xinglin from A5 next door,” he said with a smile. “You probably don’t know me.”

 

Not just unfamiliar, Jiang Yunbian had no impression of him whatsoever.

 

But Zheng Xinglin, doing a good deed, took his pillow and bedding and headed towards Room 707.

 

“My wild dad,” Xu Zhan patted his chest and gave a thumbs up, “is all about righteousness.”

 

Jiang Yunbian found it strange. Before he could decide whether to take that bed, the door was kicked open.

 

Zhou Die grabbed Zheng Xinglin by the collar, placed him in Room 705, and then walked to Xu Zhan’s bed to take away Jiang Yunbian’s yellow pillow.

 

“I see now, Brother Zhou doesn’t seem keen on changing dorm mates.”

 

Zheng Xinglin lamented, “Brother, I can’t help you.”

 

After everyone left, Zheng Xinglin sat on a chair and looked at Xu Zhan. “I didn’t expect you to be on such good terms with him.”

 

“Ah, although it might not seem like it,” Xu Zhan smiled, “I’ve known him for six years.”

 

Zheng Xinglin adjusted his glasses and pondered, “Oh.”

 

*

 

Jiang Yunbian suspected that the urge to fight Zhou Die was somehow ingrained in his DNA, as it kept popping up in his mind.

 

He returned to Room 707. “What’s wrong with you?”

 

Zhou Die was sitting on a chair, reading a book. “Enigma has a strong sense of territoriality. Just because I can tolerate you as an exception doesn’t mean others can harmoniously coexist with me.”

 

“Enigma really has too many problems,” Jiang Yunbian thought, feeling goosebumps on his arms.

 

Realizing the scent of cedar from Zhou Die, he grabbed a can of barrier spray from the drawer and sprayed it around.

 

He could hardly tolerate the smell himself, and Zheng… Zheng Fangxing probably couldn’t either.

 

Zhou Die was indeed a troublemaker.

 

After spraying, Jiang Yunbian angrily went to the balcony to freshen up.

 

After sorting himself out, he pushed open the balcony door. “It’s fine if you want to be roommates. As long as we don’t interfere with each other and I spray the barrier well, I can tolerate you.”

 

Without waiting for a response, Jiang Yunbian climbed into bed and quickly covered himself with the blanket.

 

Zhou Die closed his book, sighed in weariness, and walked through the barrier spray’s chocolate mist to the power switch. “Turn off the lights.”

 

No one responded, so Zhou Die turned off the lights and walked out of the balcony.

 

Holding the half of the jade pendant, he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and squinted his eyes as he watched the spark.

 

His phone on the platform lit up with a message from Xu Zhaoruo.

 

[ I heard from Wei Chu that you’re staying in the dorm. Have you resolved your conflict with Jiang Yunbian? ]

 

Zhou Die tapped on the screen but took a long time to reply.

 

[ Maybe you should explain to him that you were rushing back to celebrate Auntie Wen’s birthday and it was a misunderstanding? ]

 

[ With such a compatible pheromone and being in the same class and dorm, your relationship is making me uncomfortable. ]

 

Zhou Die replied with just a period.

 

[ Alright then, I’ll take my leave. Don’t smoke half the night in the dorm again. It won’t be good if you end up stinking out some sensitive-nosed dog. ]

 

Zhou Die extinguished the cigarette, and the male A dorm faced a range of mountains.

 

He put on his headphones and pulled out a folder named “Ten Star.”

 

*

 

Jiang Yunbian’s biological clock was set to wake him up at 6 a.m. When he got up, he glanced at the opposite side.

 

Zhou Die was asleep, facing the wall.

 

Jiang Yunbian stretched, and after washing up and changing clothes, he shouldered his backpack and left.

 

Sharing a dorm with Zhou Die was a settled fact. Since it couldn’t be changed, he wouldn’t dwell on it. He had more important things to do, such as making Wei Chu call him “Dad” in the upcoming monthly exam.

 

Although Jiang Yunbian was a legendary academic prodigy in the school’s history, he didn’t rely solely on talent.

 

During his three years in junior high, he was always at the bottom of his class. What others thought was easy was achieved through his own hard work.

 

But Jiang Yunbian wasn’t studying for himself; he was doing it for Jiang Yunyi.

 

Jiang Yunyi, who was the same age as him, was currently on leave from school, and the progress of his private tutoring was slow. Jiang Yunbian was the only one who could help him return to normal life.

 

He didn’t want Jiang Yunyi to miss out on university.

 

Behind the library, there was a row of stone tables. In the morning, when it was damp and almost deserted, he sat there to memorize English vocabulary and then reviewed some difficult science problems.

 

When he had roughly worked out the solutions, it was almost time for class.

 

As he timed his arrival back to the classroom, he ran into a familiar figure at the entrance of the sixth A class stairs.

 

Zheng Xinglin from Class 5 was standing at the door with a breakfast from the canteen, and when he saw Jiang Yunbian, he waved. “Hey, Jiang Ge!”

 

Jiang Yunbian tilted his chin up. “Looking for someone?”

 

“Yeah, breakfast for Xu Ge,” Zheng Xinglin said as he handed over the breakfast. He also added a portion of fried noodles. “I bought too much this morning. If you don’t mind, you can have it.”

 

Just as Jiang Yunbian took it, Zhou Die walked into the classroom, just as the class bell rang.

 

As they brushed past each other, Jiang Yunbian felt Zhou Die glance at him and Zheng Xinglin.