The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 18

Before Jiang Yunbian could compose his expression, the person in front of him smiled and said, “Can’t handle it, huh?”

 

“……Yeah.” Jiang Yunbian took a second to react and quickly covered his embarrassment with a haughty tone. “As they say, Alpha has a big temper. Isn’t that right?”

 

The first thing that came to mind for Zhou Die was that night when Jiang Yunbian was in his room, warning him:

 

“So be careful. As a high-level Alpha, I’m quite capable.”

 

Zhou Die subconsciously ran his tongue over his canine teeth and gave a faint smile. “Mm, I’ve heard that I should be afraid.”

 

Jiang Yunbian thought that this person was just getting more and more cheeky. He snorted and walked away, not noticing Zhou Die’s completely darkened expression.

 

After school, Jiang Yunbian stayed in the dormitory for once and lay on the bed, chatting with Jiang Yunyi.

 

Jiang Yunyi seemed to have recently become obsessed with fashion and sent him several pictures of accessories to ask for his opinion.

 

Jiang Yunbian chose a pair of black earrings.

 

He then received a sleepy kitten emoji from his sister, who was criticizing his taste as usual.

 

Just as he was about to retort, Xu Zhan called him on voice: “Bro, come out and listen to the broadcast. Wei Chu’s social death moment, haha!”

 

“I’m lying in bed, too lazy to move.”

 

“Lazy to death, huh?” Xu Zhan’s voice was filled with background noise, as if he had run somewhere, and then the sound of a broadcast came through.

 

“Jiang Yunbian from Class 6A, you are my dad.”

 

Jiang Yunbian instantly sat up straight from the bed, and the next line was: “Zhou Die from Class 6A, you are my grandpa.”

 

The triumphant smile hadn’t even formed when he realized he had unexpectedly been downgraded in rank.

 

What’s with this family tree?

 

The call was cut off, and Xu Zhan laughed uncontrollably. “Oh my god, Jiang Ge, what did you do to make Wei Chu read such embarrassing lines three times on the broadcast, hahaha! I heard that the broadcast room teacher is already looking for someone to settle the score!”

 

“But speaking of which, why did you willingly call Zhou Die your son?”

 

Jiang Yunbian’s feet dangled from the bed, his arm resting on it. He said slowly, “Xu Zhan, I don’t mind having an extra grandson.”

 

The call ended with a beep.

 

Just as Jiang Yunbian was about to call back, the dormitory door opened, and Zhou Die came back with dinner.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s lips curled downward as he looked down at Zhou Die with a tone that carried a hint of accountability. “What’s up with the broadcast?”

 

Zhou Die, with a calm expression, set the dinner on his desk. “Is your foot better?”

 

Jiang Yunbian wiggled his right foot, which was hanging out, and remembered that he hadn’t changed the ointment today. “I don’t know, it should be soon. Could you get the ointment from the desk for me?”

 

He was just too lazy to move and thought he could get it done while lying in bed. Unexpectedly, Zhou Die pulled out a wet wipe and reached for his foot.

 

“Wait!” Jiang Yunbian pulled his foot back. “What are you trying to do?”

 

“To change the medicine for my son,” Zhou Die replied.

 

“……Have you lost your mind? Do you really want to fight with me?” Jiang Yunbian propped his chin up and looked at Zhou Die with a cold expression, clearly saying: try touching me if you dare.

 

But he forgot that an Enigma would not be suppressed by an Alpha, nor would they be afraid of someone they had once marked.

 

Zhou Die grabbed his ankle, keeping it still, and began to wipe his foot.

 

Jiang Yunbian felt a momentary numbness in his foot, unable to carry out his planned resistance. After Zhou Die carefully applied the ointment and gently pressed on it for a while, he finished and went to wash his hands. When he came out, he picked up a tissue and slowly lifted his eyelids to meet Jiang Yunbian’s gaze.

 

“Come down, let’s fight.”

 

Jiang Yunbian: “……”

 

Although it wasn’t quite appropriate, Zhou Die’s hand strength was moderate, and to be honest, Jiang Yunbian had enjoyed it.

 

Jiang Yunbian, skilled in taking advantage, pulled his legs back and lay on his side on the bed, propping up his chin. “Seeing that your technique is not bad, I’ll spare you for now.”

 

Isn’t it just about having thick skin? Who’s afraid of whom?

 

Zhou Die seemed to regretfully say, “Is that so? I specifically touched you just to fight.”

 

“Oh, then you’d better help me with my foot every day. The faster my foot heals, the sooner I can have a good fight with you.”

 

Zhou Die slightly raised his eyebrows and gave a brief smile before quickly pressing his lips down.

 

“Come down and eat.”

 

Just as Jiang Yunbian was lying down, he sat up again. “Are you here to apologize for the broadcast?”

 

“Thank you for accompanying my mother.”

 

Jiang Yunbian realized he really couldn’t stand it when people thanked him.

 

Before he could speak, Zhou Die looked at him again and said, “Jiang Yunbian, let’s be good roommates.”

 

*

 

A week’s time was enough for the teachers at the Third High School to repeat the exam papers three times before the school leaders finally organized a grade meeting on Friday.

 

The top three students in the grade were to speak on stage. The purpose was to rein in the students’ scattered minds from the holiday and to encourage them for the next phase of their studies.

 

The teachers of the senior year thought that Jiang Yunbian, who was the second in the grade, would be somewhat affected by the result and might offer some constructive feedback.

 

But unexpectedly, the outstanding top student remained as casual as ever. His speech was: “I wasn’t very lucky.”

 

Not very lucky, encountering a real academic deity.

 

Zhou Die, standing below the stage, was surprised by Jiang Yunbian’s awkward personality and how he could still be so frank in some respects.

 

Jiang Yunbian lazily walked down from the podium, moving through the crowd toward his class. He didn’t feel anything awkward, only thought the sun on the playground was very hot.

 

As soon as he reached the end of the line, he heard the teacher call Zhou Die’s name.

 

“Next is the new number one in the grade, Zhou Die.”

 

Someone, disregarding the rules, secretly took out their phone.

 

Jiang Yunbian slightly tilted his head back and unexpectedly made eye contact with the person on stage.

 

Even though they were so far apart and had switched places, it was still as accurate as it was back in the small auditorium.

 

Unfortunately, Jiang Yunbian had forgotten most of what he had said on the podium more than half a month ago and what kind of image he had projected.

 

Zhou Die had considered whether to give a serious speech, but when he saw Jiang Yunbian’s figure lazily looking back at him, he suddenly smiled.

 

That barely audible laugh spread through the entire playground via the microphone. It wasn’t clear which girl lost control first, but it soon triggered a wave of excitement and screaming.

 

Jiang Yunbian was caught off guard by the commotion, unable to understand why such a trivial sound from the person on stage would cause such a ridiculous effect.

 

Among the chaos, he heard a girl from the neighboring class discussing, “Wow, is that Zhou Die? He’s so handsome and cool! Oh my god, why did he suddenly smile? Did he see someone? Ah!”

 

“As an Alpha, I think I heard a hint of desire… or is that just my imagination?”

 

“In short: I’m dead, I’m alive, I’m dead again.”

 

Jiang Yunbian thought to himself that if they were going to resurrect like this, he might consider helping them nail the coffin shut.

 

“Quiet down, everyone quiet down!” The teacher came out to calm the crowd.

 

Turning around, Jiang Yunbian noticed that Zheng Xinglin from the neighboring class was watching him with a complicated expression.

 

He curiously mouthed, “What’s the matter?”

 

Zheng Xinglin glanced at him, shook his head, and then looked back at the podium.

 

Zhou Die adjusted the microphone, his eyes lowered, not looking at the audience. His words were extremely official: “We will continue to strive.”

 

After those five words, he gracefully walked off the stage.

 

The crowd erupted again.

 

Zheng Xinglin’s peripheral vision was fixed on the two of them. Zhou Die returned to stand behind Jiang Yunbian. Despite keeping his distance and not interacting, Zheng Xinglin felt that the atmosphere between them had changed.

 

And those few words, though seemingly unremarkable, from his expression seemed to be…

 

Responding to the provocation from more than half a month ago in the same place and in the same manner.

 

Jiang Yunbian had said, “Don’t provoke me.”

 

Zhou Die replied, “We will continue to strive.”

 

The instigator of the commotion stood quietly behind the crowd, his gaze drifting over various inquisitive looks, landing on the person in front of him.

 

Under the sunlight, Jiang Yunbian’s neck looked even whiter, and there was a slightly pinkish area of soft flesh at the collar.

 

Only Zhou Die knew that this was a mark he had left.

 

He raised his gaze.

 

Jiang Yunbian was completely unaware of the kind of look he was receiving. He was happy that after the top student’s speech, the disciplinary review was next.

 

Wei Chu had also received a reprimand for his behavior in the broadcast room.

 

“Wei Chu really looked like a dead dog on stage. I almost died laughing.” Back in the classroom, Xu Zhan showed Jiang Yunbian the video, “I recorded it. Next time he dares to provoke you, just throw it back in his face!”

 

Jiang Yunbian accepted the file while seriously praising, “That’s really ruthless.”

 

“No, that’s not the worst part. The worst part is Zhou Ge!” Xu Zhan, with his usual familiarity, called him “Ge” again and again, “He’s the first in the grade and still says ‘we’ll strive harder.’ What do you expect from the sixteenth place?”

 

Zhou Die was working on practice problems and replied, “That’s motivation.”

 

“You two are truly from the same class, equally ruthless.” Jiang Yunbian put on his coat and stood up from his seat.

 

The class bell rang, and Xu Zhan cheerfully said, “We’re celebrating today. Let’s go eat in the city!”

 

The Third High School was in a remote area, so “the city” meant a small plaza two stops away.

 

Zhou Die quietly listened to the chatter about which new restaurant was good and heard someone agree in front of him.

 

Then his slender, beautiful fingers tapped on his own desk.

 

“Top of the grade, are you treating us to a meal?”

 

Not only Zhou Die but even Xu Zhan beside him was stunned.

 

Jiang Yunbian actually took the initiative to invite Zhou Die to dinner?

 

Had these two roommates finally adjusted to each other?

 

Seeing that there was no response, Xu Zhan also hooked his arm around Jiang Yunbian’s neck and added, “Yes, Zhou Die, in our class, there’s a custom that the top student has to treat everyone!”

 

Jiang Yunbian was about to question where this custom came from when a few shameless people from the neighboring class approached.

 

“Yes, yes, yes. The listeners and viewers share in the fun.”

 

He helplessly said, “Enough already. Are you extorting me?”

 

Zhou Die looked at Jiang Yunbian’s half-hearted rebuttal and suddenly remembered that evening when he asked Jiang Yunbian if he could be a roommate. Jiang Yunbian hadn’t answered.

 

Perhaps even Jiang Yunbian himself hadn’t realized that the person he used to argue with more than half a month ago was now being unintentionally defended by him.

 

Maybe this was Jiang Yunbian’s answer.

 

Zhou Die picked up his phone and casually said, “So, what do you want to eat?”