The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 3

It seemed as if fate was conspiring against Jiang Yunbian. Just as he returned to the classroom door, he was caught red-handed by the patrolling grade director.

 

“On the first day of school, you made a mess of your speech, got into a fight with a new student, and now you’re late for class. Are you trying to start a rebellion?” The director stood at the podium. “You guys in A6 think you can slack off just because your grades are good, huh? Today, I’m standing right here to see who dares to be late for class!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Die walked in through the front door with an expressionless face.

 

Class 6 fell into a dead silence.

 

Jiang Yunbian thought that if you put a kettle on the grade director’s head right now, it would probably start boiling.

 

The proud young master couldn’t afford to lose face, so what was meant to be a public scolding turned into a private lesson. Jiang Yunbian was fortunate to receive the same treatment.

 

As the director led the two of them into the office, he righteously admonished them, “Zhou, the school knows about your situation, but rules are rules. Why were you late just now?”

 

Zhou Die was the quintessential top student, excelling in academics and physical fitness. The grade director had been eagerly awaiting his return, hoping to use him as an example for the top students in A6 and to curb the arrogance of the class’s number one student.

 

But what he hadn’t expected was that the impact Zhou would make wouldn’t be in academics, but in behavior.

 

Standing stiffly next to him, Jiang Yunbian felt uneasy with Zhou Die nearby.

 

“Hey, what are you fidgeting for? Can’t you just give me a break?” The director caught sight of Jiang Yunbian’s movements. “You two came in one after the other. Did you get into trouble again during the break because you didn’t get enough of it this morning?”

 

Jiang Yunbian rolled his eyes inwardly. What trouble? The guy had a little romantic rendezvous; it had nothing to do with him.

 

What he didn’t expect was Zhou Die’s response: “Yeah, we were together just now.”

 

Jiang Yunbian turned around. “Say that again?”

 

The director glared at him. “Jiang Yunbian! You’re threatening your classmate right in front of me, aren’t you?”

 

Although the Zhou family’s child couldn’t be punished, the director had visited their home many times and knew that Zhou wasn’t the type to cause trouble. Considering the incident this morning where Jiang Yunbian threw the first punch, it was clear who had provoked whom.

 

The grade director, seething with anger, jabbed a finger toward Jiang Yunbian’s forehead. “Jiang Yunbian, when will you ever give us some peace of mind? Look at the nonsense you spouted at the opening ceremony. It’s your third year—can’t you give a more inspiring speech?”

 

Zhou Die’s gaze, which had been wandering, finally settled on Jiang Yunbian when he heard this.

 

“If you keep causing trouble, I’ll give the speaking slot to the second-ranked student next time!” The director took a sip of tea. “If you had half the humility of Wei, the second-ranked student, I’d…”

 

Asking the top-ranked student to learn from the second-ranked? How exasperating.

 

Zhou Die raised an eyebrow, suddenly finding his new deskmate somewhat interesting.

 

“By the way, did you two get into a fight this morning?” The director abruptly changed the subject, focusing on both of them.

 

Annoyed by the lecture, Jiang Yunbian kept his head down, wishing he could just disappear. But to his dismay, the guy in front of him, who had no sense of timing, admitted, “Yeah.”

 

Jiang Yunbian clenched his fists.

 

Zhou Die had no intention of playing games with the teacher, so he admitted it frankly. But the faint scent of mint warned him that the Alpha behind him was probably angry.

 

As his lips curled up, pulling on a wound, he suppressed a smile, maintaining a calm and straightforward demeanor.

 

Jiang Yunbian wanted to grind his teeth at the sight of his expression.

 

Damn, this scheming Alpha.

 

A quick phone call brought Jiang Yunbian’s homeroom teacher into the office, and the two teachers proceeded to give him a dual verbal reprimand.

 

As the “victim,” Zhou Die watched Jiang Yunbian get scolded with casual indifference.

 

The ill-tempered front-seat neighbor was like a disobedient dog, cornered with no way out, yet baring his teeth defiantly.

 

Amid the lecture, Jiang Yunbian stole a glance at Zhou Die, his eyes filled with an intense desire to swallow him whole.

 

Zhou Die tilted his head slightly and stopped looking at him.

 

Finally, under the patient guidance of the two teachers, Jiang Yunbian gritted his teeth and forced out the words, “I’m sorry.”

 

Telling himself to keep calm, Jiang Yunbian tried to calm himself as he walked out of the office, silently repeating a mantra to himself.

 

But the young master seemed to take pleasure in making things difficult for him.

 

Not entirely blocking his way, Zhou Die merely stood in front of Jiang Yunbian.

 

A subtle hostility crackled like sparks between the two seventeen-year-olds.

 

Zhou Die slightly tilted his head, saying nonchalantly, “Jiang, your apology sounds better than your tough talk.”

 

*

 

The incident involving the two repeat offenders from Class A6 spread throughout the school. Everyone was wondering if they’d end up fighting again after school.

 

Rumor had it that when Alphas fought, their pheromones would be released, which had many Omegas eager with anticipation. But when the end of the school day came, the two of them oddly left each other alone, as if the morning’s fight had never happened.

 

The situation de-escalated so strangely that many who had planned to approach Class 6 suddenly backed off, and the remaining few who lingered quickly scurried away when they saw Jiang Yunbian storm out of the classroom with a dark expression.

 

Judging by the school prince’s demeanor… anyone who got too close would be dead meat.

 

“You’re Jiang Yunbian, right?”

 

Just when the firecracker didn’t go off, someone who was almost a firecracker showed up.

 

At the school gate, Xu Zhaoruo stopped him.

 

Jiang Yunbian didn’t speak but didn’t show any impatience or annoyance toward the Omega in front of him.

 

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Xu Zhaoruo didn’t beat around the bush and pulled out his phone. “Is this video what you were talking about this morning?”

 

The screen displayed a Weibo post with a video of the car accident from that night, captioned:

 

“Two handsome guys fighting over me, what should I do QAQ.”

 

“…”

 

Jiang Yunbian glanced at the profile picture; it was the girl who had been in the car accident that night.

 

Tsk.

 

“Are you doubting yourself, or questioning my taste?” Jiang Yunbian sneered. “Worried he’ll run off? Just buy a collar to keep him tied up.”

 

Xu Zhaoruo hadn’t expected him to be so openly hostile towards Zhou Die. Watching his back as he walked away, she smiled, “Wow, what a bad temper.”

 

She put away her phone and walked over to the black sedan parked at the school gate.

 

Opening the car door, she saw that Zhou Die was already inside, wearing earphones.

 

“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Zhou Shao(Young Master Zhou),” Xu Zhaoruo said without a hint of remorse. “Listening to music again? Is it another cover by your ‘Ten Star’ boy?”

 

“Ten Star” was a cover artist who had gained some popularity on Weibo a few years back. He was about thirteen or fourteen at the time, with a clear and pure voice that could captivate listeners with just a few notes.

 

Zhou Die had somehow discovered this singer. Xu Zhaoruo admitted that his voice was indeed beautiful, but unfortunately, he had very few cover songs, and his videos only ever showed half of his face, always with a hat on.

 

Several marketing accounts had tried to dig up information on this “Ten Star” boy over the years, but nothing ever came of it.

 

There were no full-face photos of Ten Star, and all his videos were recorded in dim lighting. The most memorable feature was his slightly pointed right ear, which had a Ten Star earring.

 

For someone who had sung only four or five songs and then quickly disappeared, Xu Zhaoruo treated him like a passing fad. It was only someone like Zhou Die, who had no interest in any trends, who could listen to those few songs from the age of fourteen to seventeen.

 

“Oh, by the way, I just ran into Jiang Yunbian,” Xu Zhaoruo mentioned deliberately.

 

She originally thought Zhou Die would ignore her, but she noticed that he actually frowned.

 

These two really can’t stand each other, huh?

 

Xu Zhaoruo added fuel to the fire, “No wonder he’s the school prince, he’s really something.”

 

Zhou Die changed the song. “Mm, next time I’ll let him give you a harsh speech on stage.”

 

Noticing his subtle shift in mood, Xu Zhaoruo decided to change the subject. “Are you free this Saturday? I want to go out.”

 

The Xu and Zhou families had a close relationship, and the elders had long intended for the two younger ones to spend time together. It was almost taken for granted that they were bound together.

 

Xu Zhaoruo came from a strict household and was rarely allowed to go out freely. So if she wanted to go out, she had to use “going out with Zhou Die” as an excuse. In reality, they would go their separate ways once outside and meet up later in the evening to return home together.

 

Xu Zhaoruo and Zhou Die didn’t share a particularly close relationship; if anything, they were like two grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

 

Zhou Die didn’t reply, but Xu Zhaoruo knew that this meant he agreed, so she sent over the details of where and when to meet.

 

*

 

Saturday, Qingyue Restaurant.

 

Jiang Yunbian sat in the lounge with earphones on, trying to familiarize himself with the rehearsal schedule he had missed the day before.

 

The door was pushed open, and a young woman walked in. Seeing him, she smiled, “Good evening.”

 

Jiang Yunbian nodded. “Good evening, Xiao Min.”

 

Xiao Min was a server at the bar. The place had a resident band with everything from piano and guitar to drums and bass, as well as two lead singers, one of whom was Jiang Yunbian.

 

Seeing his earphones, Xiao Min excitedly asked, “Is the ‘Ten Star’ boy going to sing again?”

 

Jiang Yunbian froze for a moment when he heard “Ten Star.” “How do you still remember that name?”

 

Xiao Min had accidentally discovered that Jiang Yunbian was “Ten Star.”

 

At the time, Xiao Min had been trying to organize some kind of fan voting campaign and asked Jiang Yunbian to help. He didn’t understand it at all and asked her for help, not realizing she would see his ID.

 

Jiang Yunbian deeply regretted his carelessness and ended up uninstalling Weibo and thoroughly discarding his alternate identity.

 

Reluctantly, he had admitted to Xiao Min that he had done some cover songs and asked her to keep it a secret.

 

Realizing that her silent idol of over two years was right in front of her, Xiao Min had almost lost her mind that day.

 

Although Jiang Yunbian had always sung well, the difference between his voice at thirteen or fourteen and at seventeen or eighteen was noticeable, and his ears were now clean, with no earrings at all, so it wasn’t surprising that Xiao Min hadn’t recognized him earlier.

 

Xiao Min gestured excitedly. “Do you think any of your old fans will be here to listen tonight?”

 

“No.” Jiang Yunbian looked down. “No one remembers me.”

 

“I remember.” Xiao Min said proudly, “I’m a die-hard fan. I record all your live performances! Oh, by the way, that girl who’s been bothering you came by again a few days ago. She…”

 

Before she could finish, someone outside called Jiang Yunbian’s name urgently.

 

“Time to go on stage,” Jiang Yunbian sighed. “We’ll talk after work.”

 

“Alright, go ahead, do your best!” Xiao Min waved him off with a smile.

 

Jiang Yunbian put on his glasses, tousled his hair slightly, and went on stage in the outfit provided by the band.

 

Xiao Min stood there and sighed, feeling a bit sorry for him.

 

She had only learned after his identity as Ten Star was revealed that Jiang Yunbian’s parents had divorced, and he lived alone in a rented apartment, struggling financially.

 

Although he could earn some extra money working at the bar, and the band even considered promoting him to gain some fame—after all, with his good looks and great singing voice, how could he not attract attention?—Jiang Yunbian was very resistant to the idea. This had led to quite a few conflicts with the band.

 

However, the videos of Jiang Yunbian’s performances always drew the most attention, making it clear who the band’s cash cow was.

 

In the end, they came to an agreement: both lead singers would use a single name and share the same outfit and style.

 

Jiang Yunbian and the other singer were about the same height. He was also an Alpha, and their voices were about thirty percent similar. The performances were mixed with some truth and some illusion, and with few regular audience members and the distance of the internet, the fans had no idea that there were two lead singers.

 

Jiang Yunbian only wanted the money; he didn’t care about fans, fame, or anything else, so he maintained this strange, mutually beneficial relationship with the band.

 

But that would all end tonight.

 

Just before going on stage, Jiang Yunbian accidentally knocked over a table of drinks.

 

Orange juice spilled all over the person sitting there, and when Jiang Yunbian looked up to apologize, he realized who it was.

 

Zhou Die looked down at the stain spreading across his white T-shirt, his face expressionless. “What exactly is your problem with me?”