The Marked Alpha Is Extremely Hard to Coax - Chapter 59

The new student orientation was on the last two days of August, and Jiang Yunbian realized that the day before school started was his last night working part-time.

 

“From today, our academic top student will be returning to campus,” the lead singer said with a frown. “The pretty faces in the audience are leaving, and I’m back as the strong performer.”

 

Jiang Yunbian patted his shoulder, looking serious. “University doesn’t have night study sessions.”

 

The lead singer looked puzzled. “Really? Isn’t there still early morning reading or something?”

 

The keyboard player looked pitifully at him. “Did you think there would be monthly exams?”

 

The lead singer was suspicious and turned to ask Jiang Yunbian what major he had chosen. When told it was medicine, the lead singer was so shocked he forgot to drink his beer.

 

“I thought you’d end up majoring in media or something.”

 

Jiang Yunbian decided not to press him on the topic.

 

“By the way, a few bands came by when you were on stage. It seems like some of them are university students. I heard one of them is a senior of yours,” the keyboard player said, pushing a WeChat contact toward him. “They seem to be a club or something and are really interested in you. I agreed on your behalf.”

 

“He’s talking nonsense,” the guitarist said, taking a sip of beer. “It’s just that the girl who asked him that night was cute. He was swayed!”

 

The keyboard player was exposed but didn’t react much. “What can I do? The girl is pretty. I was just considering Yunbian’s interests. Who doesn’t date in university?”

 

Jiang Yunbian sighed and added the contact. “Thanks for the gesture, but I’m already in a relationship.”

 

The band was shocked. Just then, Zhou Die’s call came in.

 

Jiang Yunbian grunted, “My partner is calling, bye.”

 

Zhou Die had been interning at the Zhou family business for a month. The first half of the month was relatively easy, just getting familiar with the environment and workflow. Recently, however, he seemed to be starting formal work and had been working overtime even before officially joining.

 

Jiang Yunbian had his hands in his pockets, listening to music with one earphone in. Xiao Min had recorded a video for him, and he was about to watch it when a new message popped up.

 

[Quvii: Hey there, I just added you! Hi, I’m the lead singer of the C University #0 band～ a sophomore from the School of Foreign Languages, Qu Ling!]

 

[Quvii: I found you in the new student group a while ago and saw your high school New Year’s Eve performance video. Your voice is great～ I was wondering if you’re interested in joining the band?]

 

Jiang Yunbian wasn’t good at handling messages from strangers, but since she was a senior and shared similar interests, he decided to be polite.

 

[Cloud: Thank you for the invitation, but I’m not considering joining a club at the moment.]

 

Then, Jiang Yunbian opened a message from Xu Zhan and sent him the band’s name.

 

Xu Zhan was studying finance at C University and had mentioned earlier that he was investigating various university clubs.

 

[Xu Zhan: Damn, I was going to tell you about this band. Do you know the singer Yu Jiu? He’s a senior three years above us, and he was in this band before debuting.]

 

#0 was somewhat famous among university students, having appeared on several local TV stations. Their annual recruitment was popular, with many students eager to join. It was the first time they had personally contacted a new student.

 

Jiang Yunbian hadn’t replied yet when a car stopped in front of him.

 

Opening the car door, he saw that Zhou Die was wearing a white shirt today.

 

“Sorry, did you wait long?” Zhou Die handed him a candy, his voice a bit hoarse and tired. “I had a meeting, and the partner overseas had a time difference, so it dragged on.”

 

Jiang Yunbian had some idea that this contract was something Zhou Die had been working on during his internship, and it had taken a lot of effort.

 

He unwrapped the candy, and after the mint flavor spread in his mouth, he leaned in and kissed the corner of Zhou Die’s lips.

 

“Thanks for your hard work.”

 

Before Zhou Die could leave, he lifted Jiang Yunbian’s chin and nipped at his lower lip.

 

“Not a big deal.”

 

Just as Jiang Yunbian fastened his seatbelt, he received another message from the senior.

 

[Quvii: If you’re interested, you can let me know. We’ll have a performance at the orientation event, and I hope you’ll pay attention to it.]

 

Jiang Yunbian wasn’t planning to reply, but the senior sent another message.

 

[Quvii: By the way, I have one more question. Do you know about the Ten Star?]

 

Jiang Yunbian stared at his phone for three seconds, then turned off the screen.

 

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Die noticed his slight unease and teased, “Talking to someone you don’t want me to see?”

 

Jiang Yunbian rolled down the car window and squinted as the wind came in.

 

“Who would dare, with such strict rules at home?”

 

Zhou Die laughed lightly. “If you want, I can’t control you either.”

 

Jiang Yunbian smiled but his brows were furrowed.

 

If he remembered correctly, it had been over two years since he last mentioned “Ten Star,” and besides Xiao Min, no one else knew.

 

How did a senior he barely knew come to know that name and get in touch with him?

 

Jiang Yunbian thought about this question seriously while showering but suddenly realized he hadn’t come clean with Zhou Die.

 

Though he was reluctant to admit it, he had been a minor internet celebrity for a few months.

 

Jiang Yunbian organized his thoughts and approach, and when he came out, Zhou Die was lying on the bed reading.

 

Jiang Yunbian was curious about what he was reading but discovered that Zhou Die’s eyes were closed.

 

Looks like today’s work has worn him out.

 

“Zhou Die,” Jiang Yunbian said, pressing his hand on the bed and leaning in with a soft voice. “Are you asleep?”

 

The book on Zhou Die’s chest gently fell, and Jiang Yunbian watched for a moment before licking his lip.

 

“If you don’t wake up, I’m going to kiss you.”

 

Zhou Die’s breathing was steady, and he didn’t respond.

 

It seemed he was really asleep. Jiang Yunbian turned to go to the living room but was gently pulled back by Zhou Die.

 

Zhou Die’s forehead rested lightly on his back, his hoarse voice softly whispering in his ear. “Didn’t you say you were going to sneak a kiss? Why are you breaking your promise?”

 

Jiang Yunbian was a bit startled but then patted his hand. “Don’t pretend to be asleep. You scared me.”

 

Zhou Die hummed in response, his wrist tightening as he pulled Jiang Yunbian closer.

 

Jiang Yunbian lay down and was pulled into Zhou Die’s embrace without needing to adjust his position.

 

Zhou Die seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep, each word trailing off softly. “When did you change the body wash?”

 

“A while ago. I just changed it after finishing the old one,” Jiang Yunbian didn’t expect him to notice. “It’s the same brand, but it used to be milk flavor and now it seems to be peach flavor.”

 

Zhou Die chuckled softly behind him.

 

“Why, don’t you like it?”

 

“Just feels like you’ve become someone else.” Zhou Die’s breath traced along his nape, his thin lips pressing against the gland.

 

Jiang Yunbian would shiver involuntarily every time Zhou Die touched him so gently.

 

Before he could react, Zhou Die’s teeth lightly nipped at the most sensitive area of skin, leaving a warm imprint.

 

Jiang Yunbian couldn’t move.

 

Zhou Die let go only after tasting the familiar mint flavor.

 

“Hmm, still Yunbian candy.”

 

Jiang Yunbian turned around, pulling him into his arms and gently rubbing his head.

 

“You’re tired, just sleep. I’ll stay with you.”

 

Zhou Die felt the warmth of his hand on his neck, which initially felt a bit uncomfortable, but Jiang Yunbian’s scent soothed his emotions well.

 

Jiang Yunbian gently stroked him, reminded of his sick younger sister from childhood, and unconsciously began to hum a song.

 

After a few lines, he realized it was late.

 

“Keep going.” Zhou Die tightened his embrace, his face pressed against Jiang Yunbian’s chest. “I like listening to you sing.”

 

Following his cue, Jiang Yunbian hummed softly.

 

Just before losing consciousness, Jiang Yunbian suddenly remembered there was something he hadn’t told Zhou Die.

 

*

 

On the first day of the new semester at C University, the confession wall was flooded by two new students.

 

One from the East District named Zhou, and the other from the North District named Jiang.

 

Xu Zhan, bored, took screenshots of the confession quotes from the wall and shared them in a small group, while Gao Zining spammed with lemons.

 

Jiang Yunbian’s classroom was in Building Li, 703. He wandered through most of the North District, passing through Zhengyang Building to Weixin Building, but still couldn’t find Building Li.

 

Holding an umbrella, surrounded by phones pointed at him, Jiang Yunbian was feeling a bit impatient.

 

He disliked this situation.

 

“Junior?” A tentative female voice came from behind. When Jiang Yunbian didn’t turn, she called again: “Junior Jiang?”

 

He turned around to see a stranger’s smiling face approaching.

 

“It’s me, the one you chatted with last night, Qu Ling!”

 

Jiang Yunbian connected the dots, remembering it was the senior who knew his Star Cross pseudonym.

 

“…Senior.” He responded awkwardly.

 

“Aren’t you freshmen supposed to have a class meeting today?” Qu Ling said. “You couldn’t find the teaching building?”

 

It was better to have someone guide him than to search in vain, so Jiang Yunbian quietly said “Sorry for the trouble.”

 

Qu Ling, a student union officer, was there for orientation. Although she was in charge of the foreign languages department, she came over to help when several new students got lost in the East District.

 

“What a coincidence, meeting on the first day of the semester,” Qu Ling said, leading him to the entrance of Building Li. “Look for the entrance to the upper floors; there’s an AB area.”

 

Jiang Yunbian softly thanked her and turned around before heading upstairs.

 

“Senior, what about the Star Cross you mentioned last night?”

 

“It was you,” Qu Ling said with a light laugh. “I recognized your singing as soon as I heard it that night.”

 

Jiang Yunbian looked at her.

 

“This Friday, the band is recruiting new members at the East District Changyin Building. Remember to come.”

 

Jiang Yunbian noted the Changyin Building and, upon reaching the seventh floor, saw the class sign-in board.

 

After signing in, Jiang Yunbian found a corner to put down his bag.

 

He arrived late, and the sign-in names had already reached number 39.

 

“It looks like two students are still missing,” the person in charge of sign-in counted and decided to use the most basic method of checking.

 

“We’ll call out the names to see who’s not here. Chen Yu, Duan Rao Xuan…”

 

When Jiang Yunbian heard his name, he responded lazily.

 

“The last one, Wen Lin.”

 

The class was quiet for a moment, then a figure appeared at the door.

 

“Here.”