The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 22

When Zhou Die woke up, Jiang Yunbian had already put on his coat and run out.

 

His hasty departure looked somewhat disheveled, and Zhou Die took a while to recover his composure.

 

When he came back to his senses, his shoulder still ached. He guessed that Jiang Yunbian, upon waking and realizing he had “offended” him, had left in a fit of anger.

 

Zhou Die rubbed his shoulder and then remembered that Jiang Yunbian might not know where the bathroom was.

 

As he went downstairs, he saw Jiang Yunbian leaning against the stairway, looking somewhat distressed. Before Zhou Die could speak, he overheard the conversation between the driver and Old Master Zhou in the living room.

 

“Master only went to Mrs. Wen’s house, without going anywhere else…”

 

The Zhou family had been keeping track of his movements. Zhou Die didn’t care much, but Jiang Yunbian looked embarrassed, as if he had stumbled upon some secret.

 

When he saw Zhou Die, Jiang Yunbian’s expression changed several times before he finally averted his gaze, saying, “Sorry, I just wanted to go downstairs.”

 

Zhou Die noticed his emotional state and felt that Jiang Yunbian was like a hedgehog all curled up. Any further provocation might make him even more defensive.

 

“Get ready. We’re going back to school.”

 

*

 

That morning, Jiang Yunbian was troubled by the strange feelings he had experienced at Zhou’s house. He had never anticipated losing control and wanting to mark someone else.

 

When he was fifteen, he had seriously injured an Alpha and was sent to a quarantine facility. His physiological monitoring reports showed several abnormal data points.

 

The doctor had said he had potential criminal tendencies.

 

After receiving the test report, his mother had filed for divorce and left him with his father.

 

Since that day, Jiang Yunbian had been in a state of high self-control.

 

He had forbidden himself from having romantic thoughts and avoided Omega to prevent becoming a volatile, uncontrollable Alpha.

 

The past two years of peaceful coexistence had convinced him that his earlier behavior was merely impulsive.

 

But today, the faint thought that had surfaced in the morning made him uneasy.

 

The back window of the classroom was open, and the wind blew Jiang Yunbian’s test papers around, causing his pen to make an unintentional mark.

 

“Yunbian? Jiang Yunbian!”

 

Xu Zhan’s voice jolted him awake. Jiang Yunbian looked up at the concerned face in front of him.

 

Xu Zhan hesitated for a moment before asking, “Bro, is this question really that hard?”

 

Jiang Yunbian looked up and saw the concern in Xu Zhan’s eyes, saying, “Shut up, stop bothering me.”

 

Xu Zhan, feeling unjustly scolded, said with a hurt expression, “Your temper has ruined so much of my gentleness.”

 

“Then take three numbers of time to get lost.”

 

“What about gym class?” Xu Zhan was frustrated that such a good time was being wasted on math problems, especially since it was the first gym class after the National Day break. “Let’s go play basketball! I’ve been holding it in for seven days! I was planning to play during the team-building event, but we couldn’t even gather ten people!”

 

Jiang Yunbian then remembered they had planned an outing for National Day: “Not even ten people?”

 

“Yeah, and after you said you weren’t going, Zhou Ge also said he had things to do.”

 

Jiang Yunbian was dragged to the basketball court. Watching the group of energetic players, he couldn’t help but think—what could Zhou Die be up to? Going out with Xu Zhao?

 

Damn, why can’t I stop thinking about Zhou Die?

 

Jiang Yunbian grew increasingly irritated and didn’t even notice Xu Zhan calling him on the court until someone tapped his shoulder.

 

Coincidentally, it was Zhou Die looking for him.

 

The shadow of the trees fell over his profile, casting mottled light and shadow: “Xu Zhan is calling you.”

 

Jiang Yunbian’s gaze unconsciously drifted down to Zhou Die’s neck. Realizing where he was looking, he quickly turned his head, saying, “Oh, right.”

 

He then got up and headed toward the equipment room.

 

Zhou Die watched his clearly reluctant back and turned away with no expression.

 

While helping to put the volleyball into the equipment room, Jiang Yunbian sat on the desk, staring blankly. Some radical Alphas might lose control during their sensitive period and forcefully mark others.

 

He knew such extremists existed among his kind but never thought he might be one of them.

 

This was his most detestable self. He absolutely didn’t want to become this kind of person.

 

Jiang Yunbian took out a bottle of suppressants from his pocket and sprayed himself. Just then, he heard someone calling his name.

 

Turning around, he saw a girl, who was shorter than him by half a head, standing in front of him with a flushed face: “Jiang Yunbian.”

 

Jiang Yunbian’s expression softened slightly as he got off the desk and showed a distant, indifferent smile: “What’s the matter?”

 

The girl blinked, clearly feeling Jiang Yunbian’s earlier despondency, but now confronted with his formulaic response, she was caught off guard.

 

Jiang Yunbian was always able to create distance with others effortlessly.

 

“Do you… do you remember me?” she asked.

 

Jiang Yunbian, with no malice, replied, “Have we met?”

 

The girl’s face turned even redder, not from shyness, but from embarrassment: “On Mid-Autumn Festival, I gave you mooncakes…”

 

So there had been a confession that day.

 

Jiang Yunbian had forgotten about it.

 

Seeing the girl’s disappointed eyes, he stepped closer: “What’s your name?”

 

The girl looked up and noticed that Jiang Yunbian seemed to have tempered his usual casual demeanor, his expression changing slightly.

 

“Chen Yining.”

 

“Thank you, Chen. I’m sorry.”

 

Jiang Yunbian didn’t say much, but his answer was clear. Chen Yining was disappointed but not particularly heartbroken; at least Jiang Yunbian wasn’t dismissive at that moment.

 

“Mm.” Chen Yining touched her eyes.

 

Jiang Yunbian thought for a moment and placed a tissue in front of her: “Goodbye.”

 

Just as he put the tissue in her hand, two familiar figures appeared outside the door—Xu Zhan and Zhou Die, both sweaty from playing basketball.

 

“We’ve been looking for you for ages. Why are you hiding here and slacking off…”

 

Xu Zhan was about to enter when Jiang Yunbian put his arm around his neck: “Alright, let’s go play basketball.”

 

“What’s going on? Not letting me in? Hiding a girl?” Xu Zhan glanced inside. “Wow, so it really is the girl who confessed to you that day!”

 

Jiang Yunbian wanted to know why everyone remembered this incident except for him: “If you can’t keep your mouth shut, I’ll sew it shut for you.”

 

As he walked away with Xu Zhan, he met Zhou Die’s gaze, smiled, and then looked at Xu Zhan: “Okay, I’ll treat you to ice cream. Let’s go.”

 

Xu Zhan was quite easy to please; just two ice creams made him happy.

 

But Jiang Yunbian clearly felt that Zhou Die’s mood was off. It seemed like Zhou Die had noticed that he was avoiding him, and his mood was bad for the entire afternoon. The connections he had established with his classmates seemed to revert to how things were at the beginning of the school year. Even when Xu Zhan wanted to grab a bite with him after school, Zhou Die left the classroom ahead of him.

 

“What’s going on with you two today?” Xu Zhan asked, confused. “Did you two secretly get into a fight or something?”

 

Jiang Yunbian thought it wasn’t exactly a fight but rather that he had developed misplaced feelings towards others.

 

Xu Zhan scrutinized him for a while, then asked, “Damn, did you really get into a fight? Who won?”

 

“Xu Zhan, I have a question for you. If one day you suddenly feel an urge to bite someone… just in that instant, what does that mean?”

 

Xu Zhan, who had been joking earlier, was taken aback by Jiang Yunbian’s serious tone and scratched his head. “It depends on whether I like them or not.”

 

“… At the level of ordinary friends, with no feelings involved.”

 

“Well, it depends on the situation. If it’s just a minor irritation, it might mean you like them. If there are no feelings but a strong desire, you might need to see a psychologist.” Xu Zhan frowned. “That’s one of the symptoms of a radical Alpha, and it’s not to be taken lightly.”

 

Jiang Yunbian pondered this.

 

Xu Zhan looked at him for a while, his expression darkening. “You… don’t tell me.”

 

“No. Impossible. I have strong self-control.” Jiang Yunbian calmly averted his gaze.

 

Regardless of what was going on, avoiding Zhou Die was the only correct choice at the moment.

 

“Radical Alphas are usually psychologically twisted from a young age. How could you be one?” Xu Zhan said with a grin. “You have so many friends, and a cute sister like Yun Yi…”

 

“I’m going back now.” Jiang Yunbian cut him off, shouldering his backpack. “Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll switch dorms with you tonight.”

 

“Hey,” Xu Zhan quickly followed him. “Why are you taking away my right to sleep in my own bed just because I said something wrong? Are you human? Wait up!”

 

*

 

Xu Zhaoruo was sitting in the infirmary, feeling an unprecedented tension in the air between her and Zhou Die.

 

“Big Brother, if there’s something you need, don’t keep me in the dark.” Xu Zhaoruo thought for a moment. “Is it something about your family?”

 

A few days ago, Old Master Zhou had approached the Xu family about terminating their relationship. Although Xu Zhaoruo was pleased with the outcome, she felt that Old Master Zhou had acted too swiftly.

 

“Did your family say something to Jiang Yunbian? Hiss, although your elders don’t mean any harm, I always feel so much pressure when I see them,” Xu Zhaoruo started to complain as she walked.

 

Zhou Die watched her for a while and suddenly asked, “After being marked, would you avoid the person who marked you?”

 

Xu Zhaoruo responded with a puzzled “Hmm.” “Although I haven’t been marked, I don’t think so? Omega usually becomes very dependent on the person who marked them and would want to stay close to them. Of course, some Omegas who are forcefully marked might fear the Alpha.”

 

Zhou Die leaned back, resting against the chair.

 

Xu Zhaoruo blinked. “Is someone afraid of you?”

 

The “someone” was understood by both of them without needing to be named.

 

“Perhaps it’s not avoiding,” Zhou Die said softly.

 

Jiang Yunbian, being an Alpha, had feelings of possession and control towards his partner. For him to develop and recognize pheromone dependence like an Omega was not easy.

 

Zhou Die felt that the person did not seem to be afraid of him but rather was avoiding him.

 

Zhou Die had no expression on his face as he asked Xu Zhaoruo, who looked confused, “When Jiang Yunbian brought you mooncakes, who did he meet?”

 

“Chen Yining? I saw her today. The girl seemed quite down; she must have been rejected.”

 

Xu Zhaoruo noticed that Zhou Die’s gaze had shifted to the window.

 

Zhou Die had a unique aura, like a pampered pet cat at home. When interested, he might give you a look, but when displeased, no amount of treats would help.

 

Xu Zhaoruo never tried to amuse herself when Zhou Die was absent-minded. She waved her hand. “If you don’t have any more issues, I’m going to eat now.”

 

One benefit of chatting with Young Master Zhou was that no matter the outcome, the meal was always covered. Xu Zhaoruo happily left the school infirmary and received a call from the delivery service.

 

The delivery person was waiting for her behind the equipment room.

 

When Xu Zhaoruo arrived at the specified location, she was surprised to find not the delivery person but Jiang Yunbian.

 

Seeing that he was empty-handed, Xu Zhaoruo blinked. “Skipping class again?”

 

Jiang Yunbian glanced around, not spotting the young master, and responded casually, “Yeah, just saving the world.”

 

Seeing his previous look, Xu Zhaoruo grabbed his coat as he started to climb. “Wait!”

 

Jiang Yunbian, nearly pulled down, tightened his grip on the railing. “Sister, let’s talk. Let go of me.”

 

“I have a question! You’re not allowed to run away!” Xu Zhaoruo tried to climb up with him but found herself unable to reach.

 

“Don’t strain yourself because of your height.” Jiang Yunbian pulled his coat back slowly and then jumped down from the wall. “Speak.”

 

Xu Zhaoruo took out her phone while he was pulling his coat and secretly recorded a voice message.

 

“Jiang Yunbian, did you reject Chen Yining?” she asked.

 

Jiang Yunbian brushed the dust off his pants. “Where did you hear such gossip? Right now, what we need to do is study well.”

 

With an answer, Xu Zhaoruo continued, “Zhou Die has been acting strange today. Did you notice?”

 

Jiang Yunbian was silent for a moment. “Yeah, I had a bit of a falling out with him.”

 

“Jiang Yunbian, you’ve been marked by Zhou Die, right? Do you hate him?”