Jiang Xinglan stood still, his expression complicated.
He had heard of OO relationships before, but he had never actually seen one in real life.
Could Liang Yan really…?
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
He was more inclined to believe that this Omega simply spoke without much filter and liked to joke around.
Jiang Xinglan straightened up slightly, looking at the Omega in front of him with a serious and sincere expression. “I know he likes you. After all, you’re good friends, which is why I came to you.”
“…Huh?”
Why wasn’t he saying anything?
Jiang Xinglan watched as the person in front of him seemed to freeze, like someone had pressed a pause button, completely motionless.
Meanwhile, Ji Qiu was internally suffering.
Damn it.
What the hell did I just say?
Speaking without thinking felt great in the moment—until now.
He was just relieved that Liang Yan wasn’t here to hear this himself.
But now that the words were out, he had no idea how to take them back.
And yet, strangely, a secret kind of happiness stirred within him.
At least, now he was beginning to hope—hope that Liang Yan might really like him.
He didn’t need his apology, nor did he want him to accept him out of guilt.
Ji Qiu was slowly reaching through the fog of his emotions, finally grasping a key thread of thought.
Just as he was sorting through it, Jiang Xinglan’s voice pulled him back to reality.
…No matter what, he had to deal with this situation first.
He cleared his throat in an attempt to cover up the awkwardness. At first, he wanted to deny it, say it was just a casual remark. But looking at the Alpha in front of him, a competitive instinct flared up from deep within, screaming that he couldn’t back down here.
So he gathered himself and bluffed, “Yeah, Yan Yan likes me. Not that kind of like, but that kind of like.”
It was a miracle that Jiang Xinglan managed to extract any meaning from the three identical phrases. His normally composed face twisted in an unreadable expression. “…That kind?”
Ji Qiu steadied himself and reaffirmed, “Yeah, that kind.”
Jiang Xinglan recalled how Ji Qiu had always stuck close to Liang Yan, and how Liang Yan, who was usually indifferent to everything, never pushed him away.
…No way, right??
As a modern Alpha, Jiang Xinglan prided himself on being respectful and accepting of all kinds of relationships.
However.
Two Omegas together… that would be tough.
Without an Alpha, they would both have heats, neither could mark the other, and they’d have to endure double the struggles…
Jiang Xinglan imagined the harsh reality of two little Omegas trying to make it work, and his brows furrowed unconsciously.
Still doubtful, he said, “…But Liang Yan never told me that.”
Ji Qiu mentally rolled his eyes—why would Yan Yan need to tell you everything?
Outwardly, though, he put on an embarrassed expression, even adding a nervous stutter for effect. “H-he hasn’t confessed to me yet… I just, I just figured it out on my own…”
If he was going to put on an act, he had to commit to it.
From the moment he started pretending to be an Omega, he had lived by that principle.
Might as well go all out while Yan Yan wasn’t here!
His nervousness was fake, but the stuttering was real.
Because now that he had said it, he had no choice but to see it through.
As for what would happen later… He couldn’t even imagine how badly he’d pay for this.
He just had to bet that Jiang Xinglan wouldn’t go telling Liang Yan.
But Jiang Xinglan wasn’t so easy to fool. He eyed Ji Qiu suspiciously. “I don’t believe you.”
At that, Ji Qiu’s gaze sharpened with a sort of reckless determination. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll call Yan Yan right now! I-I was planning to explain it to him anyway…”
He whipped out his phone, quickly finding Liang Yan’s number.
Jiang Xinglan panicked a little—he hadn’t even made a real move yet, so if Liang Yan found out now, wouldn’t that be embarrassing? He hurriedly stopped Ji Qiu just as he pressed the call button. “Alright, forget it. I was just asking, no need to—”
Ji Qiu was even faster than him. The moment he heard those words, he immediately canceled the call before it could even ring once.
Crisis averted.
Internally, Ji Qiu breathed a sigh of relief.
But he wasn’t done. He had to go the extra mile. Looking appropriately aggrieved, he put away his phone and sighed, “Alright then… I guess I haven’t fully figured out my own feelings either.”
Jiang Xinglan’s eye twitched, his expression impossible to describe.
It wasn’t until Jiang Xinglan finally left that Ji Qiu returned to his seat.
Right then, Lai Qiutong walked in, noticing Ji Qiu staring blankly at his phone. She poked him. “?”
No reaction.
She poked him again. “??”
Ji Qiu slowly turned to look at her.
She had just seen Jiang Xinglan looking for Ji Qiu. Connecting the dots, she could more or less guess what was going on. Lai Qiutong got straight to the point: “Feeling down?”
Ji Qiu shrank his head back. “No.”
Lai Qiutong observed his expression and, seeing that nothing seemed too off, continued with her own tasks.
Ji Qiu buried his head under the desk, lost in thought.
“Jie.” After a while, his muffled voice came from beneath the desk. “I don’t want to wait anymore.”
Lai Qiutong paused, realizing what he meant.
“Yan Yan shouldn’t have to suffer from inhibitors anymore, whether it’s 2.0 or 3.0,” Ji Qiu repeated. “I don’t want to wait.”
Our power may be insignificant, even laughable.
But just because a giant hand has covered most people’s eyes, it doesn’t mean we should give up on the light like they have.
Whether it’s KB or anything else—he suddenly didn’t want to wait anymore.
For several days, Liang Yan had been rejecting Jiang Xinglan’s invitations.
The probing intent was obvious, but out of respect for his father, he couldn’t refuse too bluntly. Besides, Jiang Xinglan was tactful—if Liang Yan showed even the slightest reluctance, he would immediately back off with a casual “Let’s meet next time.”
It was giving Liang Yan a headache.
He had been pursued by Alphas before, but most of them gave up after he completely ignored them. However, Jiang Xinglan seemed different from those clueless Alphas—he was… tricky to deal with.
Before figuring things out, Liang Yan, who usually avoided the school forum, happened to glance at a post while Yin Tongguang was in the shower.
[Shocking!!! One A, Two O’s!! The famous law school Alpha is actually this much of a player?]
The post’s author was clearly someone well-versed in web novels and internet gossip. Their writing was dramatic, their phrasing impeccable, and their ability to stir up controversy outstanding.
The post vividly detailed how the well-known law school Alpha had been frequently spotted at the medical school recently. At first, he persistently pursued the cold and aloof Liang Yan. But perhaps realizing that the unattainable flower was indeed hard to reach, he quickly shifted his attention and started courting the sunny and angelic little O, Ji Qiu.
Skipping the author’s colorful exaggerations, Liang Yan’s eyes landed on one particular sentence:
“Jiang Xinglan used to ask Liang Yan out only during break time, but when it came to Ji Qiu, he couldn’t even wait! He had someone call him out in the middle of a lecture! My god!”
Liang Yan felt… complicated.
Below that, forum users had mixed reactions, with some excitedly investing in their favorite “ships.”
“I told you! Bet on Qiuqiu! No losses, only gains! Look at our Qiuqiu!!”
“Even though I invested in Qiuqiu, I still somehow support Liang Yan, sigh.”
“Why is no one calling out this Alpha?! Sure, he’s charming, but switching targets so quickly isn’t a great look! Plus, Qiuqiu and Liang Yan seem to have a pretty good relationship!”
“1, I guess I’ll never understand how top-tier Alphas think.”
“Shut up. If you had Jiang Xinglan’s conditions, wouldn’t you go for it? Why so bitter?”
“Yeah, and pheromones play a big role, okay? What if he’s just choosing the one that matches him best?”
“Whispering… isn’t Lai-jie a great choice too? She’s not this flashy, though.”
“Soft whisper, 1.”
“Tiny whisper, 1.”
“Tiniest whisper, 1.”
…
Liang Yan wasn’t sure how he felt about all this.
Before he could sort it out, a long-silent contact suddenly sent a message.
[Ji Qiu: Yan Yan, long time no see!!]
[Ji Qiu: Are you free today? Wanna go to the library with me?]
[Ji Qiu: Cute emoji.jpg]
Liang Yan had just returned from the library and was planning to work on his internship report. But after reading the messages, he somehow found himself replying: “Okay.”
[Ji Qiu: Yan Yan, long time no see!!]
[Ji Qiu: Are you free today? Can you come with me to the library?]
[Ji Qiu: Cute emoji.jpg]
Liang Yan had just returned from the library and was about to work on his internship report in the dorm. But after seeing these messages, he somehow found himself replying, “Okay.”
Half an hour later, Liang Yan saw Ji Qiu at the library entrance.
Ji Qiu usually dressed casually, always opting for comfort. But today, it seemed like he had put in some extra effort. He wore a dark green collared trench coat, straight-leg pants, and a pair of vintage high-top Doc Martens. The usual laid-back vibe was completely gone. Leaning against a pillar with his legs crossed, his expression neutral, he exuded a refined yet striking presence.
Liang Yan found himself staring.
He had never seen Ji Qiu like this before.
Not that it didn’t suit him.
On the contrary, it was incredibly attractive.
But the sudden change in style caught him off guard.
As Liang Yan approached, Ji Qiu seemed to sense it and lifted his head. Their gazes met.
Ji Qiu was the first to smile, though the curve of his lips was subtler than usual. “Yan Yan, you’re here.”
Liang Yan still felt a bit uneasy.
“Why are you dressed like this today…?”
Ji Qiu paused. “You don’t like it?”
“It’s not that,” Liang Yan replied. “It just… doesn’t really feel like you.”
Ji Qiu let out a soft “ah” and then smiled again. “I couldn’t find anything else, so I just threw this on.”
But under his breath, too quiet for Liang Yan to hear, he muttered, “Didn’t you like elite-type Alphas?”
And while Liang Yan was busy looking for a seat in the reading room, Ji Qiu mumbled again, “I can be one too.”
He recalled when Jiang Xinglan was leaving earlier. The guy had already reached the staircase but suddenly turned back, hesitating before speaking.
“I won’t tell anyone what you told me today, but there’s something I really want to ask you.”
Ji Qiu had simply hummed. “Go ahead.”
“Do you like him? That kind of like.”
A brief silence followed.
Ji Qiu hadn’t even realized it, but his heart had jumped to his throat.
If someone had said “Liang Yan likes you”, he would’ve just laughed it off—even if it meant getting punched.
But having to answer the question himself…
Ji Qiu closed his eyes for a moment.
The answer was obvious.
Yet, those simple words felt like they were weighed down by a thousand-pound stone, pressing against his throat.
He opened his mouth but embarrassingly failed to make a sound.
This was supposed to be a lie, meant to fool Jiang Xinglan.
But Ji Qiu knew—he needed an answer too.
Jiang Xinglan was still waiting.
And in that moment, the initial nervousness and embarrassment in Ji Qiu’s expression faded, replaced by something softer, something unintentionally tender.
With his gaze lowered slightly, he curled the corner of his lips on the left side. His voice was light, quick.
“Mm. I like him.”
