The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 16

Jiang Yunbian was not afraid of itching while traveling around, but his ankle was his weak spot.

 

As Zhou Die applied the medicine, he watched Jiang Yunbian look bashful and timid, unable to tolerate even the slightest touch. Zhou Die suddenly had a mischievous thought.

 

“Are you ticklish on your ankle?”

 

Jiang Yunbian sensed something was amiss: “If you don’t want me to reflexively kick you in response to my foot being injured, you might want to reconsider.”

 

Zhou Die raised an eyebrow and, with an expression of ‘you’re in charge,’ lifted his hand: “I’m done here. You can wrap the bandage yourself.”

 

Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Xu Zhaoruo had received a call early in the morning and left at seven. After Wen Yue saw her off, she busied herself with making mooncakes. When they went downstairs, the kitchen was bustling with the clinking sounds of cooking.

 

Wen Yue initially thought Jiang Yunbian should rest because of his injury, but he believed it wasn’t serious.

 

They had agreed to help out, and a sprained ankle shouldn’t prevent him from moving.

 

Wen Yue prepared ingredients for the two kids, each with their own set.

 

“In the past, Xiao Die and I used to make mooncakes ourselves. They taste better than the ones sold outside,” Wen Yue said as she prepared the old molds.

 

Jiang Yunbian glanced at the molds and suspected that Wen Yue wasn’t really planning to make traditional mooncakes. The molds included shapes of rabbits and small bears, but not mooncakes.

 

But he didn’t mind; after all, he didn’t get to eat these every year, so making them himself was quite a novelty.

 

“What kind of filling do you like?” Wen Yue asked with a smile.

 

Jiang Yunbian thought for a moment: “Red bean paste.”

 

He glanced over at Zhou Die, who was seriously kneading the dough. Zhou Die was handling the dough with more concentration than he did in class, as if he was working on a research project.

 

“You and Xiao Die both like red bean paste,” Wen Yue said with a smile. “So this year, we’ll only make red bean paste ones. Xiao Xu said before she left that she wanted three lotus seed paste rabbits.”

 

Jiang Yunbian lowered his gaze. So Zhou Die liked red bean paste too?

 

It made sense; he had such a sweet tooth.

 

Jiang Yunbian divided the dough into equal small pieces, carefully placing them on the table. He turned around to see Zhou Die, who was scowling at the dough as if it was his enemy.

 

Zhou Die was a strange talent. The dough seemed to have some magical quality, sticking to his hands. He struggled to shape one small piece and put it on the table, but it wobbled and wouldn’t settle.

 

Jiang Yunbian couldn’t help but say, “Hey, do you even know how to knead dough?”

 

Zhou Die straightened up, turned his face away awkwardly, and pressed the dough onto the board: “…Isn’t it just pressing like this?”

 

Jiang Yunbian said, “The dough is too wet.”

 

Zhou Die added more flour.

 

As a result, the dough turned into a pile of flour again.

 

Jiang Yunbian thought Zhou Die’s hands might have some magical power to turn everything into waste: “Forget it, you’re too precious for this. Don’t waste the ingredients.”

 

Zhou Die thought Jiang Yunbian was just looking for trouble but didn’t expect him to actually help knead the dough.

 

When the two rows of small dough pieces were arranged on the table, Zhou Die sincerely said to Jiang Yunbian, “You actually have some good points.”

 

“…Get lost.”

 

For filling and mold-shaping, Wen Yue let the two choose. While Jiang Yunbian was still debating whether rabbit heads or bears were cuter, Zhou Die placed a small dog mold in front of him: “This one suits you.”

 

Jiang Yunbian said, “Are you calling me a dog?”

 

Zhou Die’s expression softened slightly: “I’m not calling you a dog.”

 

The small dog was quite cute. Jiang Yunbian didn’t want to argue and casually grabbed the cat mold: “You take this one.”

 

Wen Yue happily made five of each—cat, dog, and rabbit. Just as she was about to bake them, Jiang Yunbian said, “Wait.”

 

He then used a small knife to cut a line on one of the dog’s eyes, marking all five.

 

“Little bully dog,” he gave a thumbs up.

 

Wen Yue laughed, and after brushing on the egg wash, she put them in the microwave.

 

During a break, Zhou Die and Jiang Yunbian stood on the balcony enjoying the breeze.

 

“You have quite a talent with your hands,” Zhou Die said.

 

Jiang Yunbian was eating candy, the grape flavor swirling in his mouth: “Otherwise, everyone would be like you, a rich young master.”

 

Zhou Die fell silent for a moment. The smile that had been on his lips darkened suddenly when he saw a car downstairs.

 

“You need to leave,” he said abruptly.

 

Jiang Yunbian, who was just about to hop out to check on the mooncakes, was startled: “What?”

 

“You need to leave.” Zhou Die collected Jiang Yunbian’s things from the sofa and put them on his own back: “I’ll take you out.”

 

“What’s wrong with you?” Jiang Yunbian, who had been forcibly brought back last night, was confused as to why Zhou Die was now trying to hurry him out.

 

Was he a bouncing ball?

 

“I’m not sending you away.” Zhou Die’s expression darkened: “There’s something going on.”

 

Ding-dong.

 

The doorbell rang.

 

Zhou Die released his grip and his gaze grew darker: “It’s too late now.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was puzzled, hearing the door open.

 

Wen Yue came out from the kitchen, her smile freezing slightly when she saw the visitor.

 

“Grandpa.”

 

Jiang Yunbian thought Zhou Die had lost his mind, suddenly being so respectful and calling someone grandpa. Wen Yue also slightly lowered her head: “Mr. Zhou.”

 

He finally saw the elderly man outside the door, leaning on a cane and with a serious expression.

 

Besides him, there was also a bodyguard and a well-maintained middle-aged woman.

 

The woman had a strong presence; even when she smiled, it was difficult to feel close to her.

 

She said, “Xiao Die, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Grandpa and I have been thinking about you, so we came to take you home.”

 

Zhou Die was silent for a while, then moved aside to block Wen Yue and said, “Sir.”

 

The woman observed his protection but remained silent with a smile.

 

Mr. Zhou coughed and said, “Call me ‘Uncle,’ not ‘Sir.’”

 

Jiang Yunbian frowned, noting the subtle changes in Zhou Die’s expression. He no longer seemed like an aloof young master.

 

Compared to that aunt, Wen Yue seemed like a fledgling. She lowered her head: “I wanted to keep Xiao Die here, but this child said he wanted to go back last night. I’m sorry.”

 

Mr. Zhou, with his single eyelid and commanding presence, gave a faint, almost imperceptible sneer when he heard this: “I feared you wouldn’t be able to call him back, so I came personally.”

 

When Jiang Yunbian looked up, he clearly saw the fleeting shadow in Zhou Die’s eyes.

 

There was quite a bit of conflict.

 

Wen Yue patted her son’s shoulder: “Well, there’s nothing much going on here. You should go back now.”

 

Zhou Die, with his long lashes slightly lowered, obediently accepted Wen Yue’s words and followed the woman in front of him.

 

Before the elderly man left, his gaze finally landed on Jiang Yunbian. His scrutinizing stare from head to toe made Jiang Yunbian feel uneasy.

 

Is this what they call high society?

 

After they left, Wen Yue’s mood plummeted to rock bottom. She sat at the dining table looking as if her soul had been drained.

 

Jiang Yunbian felt a pang of sympathy: “Auntie, are you okay?”

 

Wen Yue suddenly remembered there were still guests and quickly patted her face: “I’m fine, really. The mooncakes are almost ready; you should take them back to school.”

 

She forced a smile, busily preparing the freshly baked little animal mooncakes in a box.

 

When she handed them to Jiang Yunbian, she was a bit anxious, and some of the freshly wrapped little cats had crumbled.

 

“Oh dear, I’m so clumsy,” Wen Yue muttered as she bent down to pick up the broken mooncakes, but they were too thin, and none remained intact.

 

Jiang Yunbian couldn’t bear to see it: “It’s okay, Auntie. We can just make more.”

 

Wen Yue looked up at him, dazed, then nodded: “Yes, yes, we’ll make more…”

 

Zhou Die’s departure had a significant impact on her. Seeing her so distraught, Jiang Yunbian had no choice but to knead the dough and prepare the filling himself.

 

Wen Yue, with a hint of apology: “About Xiao Die…”

 

Jiang Yunbian paused briefly, pulling another lollipop from his pocket: “Auntie, do you want one?”

 

He realized it was mint-flavored as he handed it to her.

 

Wen Yue accepted it: “Ah, thank you.”

 

Jiang Yunbian smiled: “Let’s brush the egg wash now. Is this enough?”

 

His own home was chaotic, so he wasn’t too curious about others’ family matters. Wen Yue seemed hesitant to speak but wanted to tell him something out of concern.

 

But it wasn’t necessary.

 

After having dinner with Wen Yue, Jiang Yunbian returned to school, as her condition made him worried.

 

The school was still on break, with students slowly returning the next day. He carried three boxes of mooncakes back to the dormitory and, after a while, took out his phone to take a photo for his sister.

 

His sister quickly sent back a string of pitiful emoticons.

 

Jiang Yunbian smiled and promised to accompany her for Mid-Autumn Festival next time.

 

The holiday passed quickly. When students returned, half of them lamented the end of the break, while the other half feared the upcoming exams.

 

Jiang Yunbian first went to Class O to deliver Xu Zhaoruo’s rabbit mooncakes. Along the way, many classmates gathered around, and some even gathered the courage to hand him little notes.

 

He hadn’t expected to gain anything from delivering mooncakes. When he gave them to Xu Zhaoruo, she teased him a bit.

 

When he returned to the classroom, Zhou Die was already back.

 

Zhou Die seemed to bring a barrier with him, as if covered in mismatched buffs, and felt like he was separated from the other students by the Arctic Ocean.

 

Just as Jiang Yunbian was about to speak to him, Xu Zhan pulled him into a headlock: “Hey, Xiao Jiang, sneaking snacks to the girls in Class O without telling me? You don’t consider me a friend!”

 

Jiang Yunbian wanted to ask where he got all these strange rumors and pushed his hand away: “Get lost.”

 

“Not admitting it?” Xu Zhan’s quick hands snatched a note from Jiang Yunbian’s pocket: “Tsk tsk, it even smells nice. Lucky you!”

 

Jiang Yunbian genuinely wanted to make him blush.

 

“Give it back.”

 

Xu Zhan noticed the change in his tone and quickly returned the note to Jiang Yunbian’s hand.

 

“Wow, you’re serious? So earnest.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was irritated: “Yes, so stop ruining my good mood and get out of here.”

 

After saying that, he returned to his seat and placed the note in his chemistry book.

 

Unfortunately, everyone’s eyes were on him. Jiang Yunbian felt awkward, unable to turn around, and snapped, “Can’t you hear the self-study bell? Turn your heads around!”

 

Class Six fell silent immediately. Those considering changing seats stuck to their chairs, afraid to provoke the angry school bully.

 

Jiang Yunbian endured the entire self-study period. When the bell finally rang, he turned to ask the student behind him if they wanted to go back together, only to find the seat empty.

 

It was rare to have a night without truancy, but Zhou Die had skipped.