“Say what?”
Kane scratched his head. “Is something wrong with your brain? Why are you asking something like that all of a sudden?”
Chu Shiye remained stoic, lips pressed tightly together.
“As for your looks,” Kane said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “not bad, I guess. You seem to be the type Su likes.”
Chu Shiye: “…I wasn’t asking about him.”
Kane: “Oh, I see.”
“In that case, forget it. If Su doesn’t like your face, just give up and resign yourself to despair.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Without another word, Chu Shiye got up and left.
—
“That’s outrageous!”
In the school office, Selena stared at Ji Mian in disbelief.
“You sound like a billionaire whining about being broke. How do you even have the nerve to say something like that?”
Ji Mian: “…Do I?”
He fell into thought.
If—just hypothetically—he wasn’t overthinking it last night… then what did that Alpha like about him?
His face, perhaps? That was one of the few qualities he reluctantly considered an asset.
Pondering this, Ji Mian asked aloud, “Does liking someone’s face make you a shallow person?”
Selena laughed. “Not necessarily.”
Flipping a curl of her hair, she winked playfully. “I like your face a lot, but I’m a kind-hearted, decent Alpha.”
“So,” she added with a sly grin, “how about a drink after work?”
Ji Mian: “No, thanks.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “Ugh, men.”
—
As they spoke, there was a gentle knock on the office door before it opened.
A tall, thin man with glasses entered, carrying a stack of books under his arm.
Selena stood up, surprised. “Well, this is unexpected—you’re back?”
The man nodded. “The principal said I’d be sharing your class.”
Selena clapped her hands. “Great! That means less work for me.”
Turning to Ji Mian, she introduced him, “This is Lin Jun, the previous teacher of your class.”
Ji Mian extended a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lin.”
Lin Jun smiled as they shook hands. “You must be Mr. Su? The principal speaks highly of you. He says you’re an excellent teacher—kind, approachable, and great with the students.”
Ji Mian shook his head modestly. “How’s your health now, Mr. Lin?”
“I’ve been recovered for some time,” Lin Jun said before pausing. Then he added, “By the way, Ye Tiancai came to apologize to me yesterday.”
Selena’s eyes widened, but Ji Mian wasn’t surprised. “Did he cause you any trouble?”
“Not at all,” Lin Jun replied. “In fact, he was very polite.”
“To be honest, I was shocked. I never thought that kid would learn what it means to admit his mistakes. I guess even the most hopeless cases can change.”
Selena quipped, “So, did you forgive him?”
“I did. He brought too much to the table to refuse,” Lin Jun said with a wry smile.
Selena: “…”
“But I still don’t want much to do with him,” Lin Jun added. “So I’ll leave that class to you, Mr. Su.”
“That’s fine,” Ji Mian assured him. “It’s no trouble.”
Lin Jun nodded. “I can tell just by looking at you—you’re no ordinary person.”
—
As they chatted, one desk in the office remained conspicuously empty.
“Where’s Mark?” Selena muttered. “He’s taken so many days off this month.”
“The principal said if Mark doesn’t show up, I’ll take over his class too,” Lin Jun said.
“Ugh, fine,” Selena replied. “But if he keeps this up, the principal will definitely fire him.”
“Anyway,” she said with a hopeful look at Ji Mian, “you’ll be staying here for good, won’t you?”
Ji Mian didn’t answer immediately.
Staying here…
The principal had mentioned several times wanting to offer him a long-term contract as a permanent teacher.
But Ji Mian knew this place wasn’t where he was meant to stay forever. Someday, he’d have to leave—return to the capital star and face those people again.
And yet…
A thought he couldn’t suppress crossed his mind.
If I leave, what will happen to Chu Shiye?
Or… would this Alpha be willing to leave with him?
Chu Shiye was deeply attached to his home, and that small house was his entire world.
“…”
Ji Mian stayed silent, lost in thought. Selena seemed ready to say more, but the school bell rang.
The three teachers headed off to their respective classrooms.
—
That morning, Nato had arrived early and was sitting in his seat.
“Good morning, teacher!” he greeted cheerfully.
Hearing the joy in his voice, Ji Mian paused by his desk. “How’s life at your aunt’s house?”
Nato’s grin widened. “My aunt made me breakfast—two fried eggs!”
“That’s good to hear,” Ji Mian said with a smile.
Then, his tone grew more serious. “Can you tell me about your father?”
Nato froze, hesitated, and finally nodded. “What do you want to know, teacher?”
“For example,” Ji Mian said, “his job and the places he usually goes.”
Nato shifted uncomfortably. “He… he used to work as a bouncer at a bar. But he drank too much and got fired.”
“Even after getting fired, he still drinks a lot,” Nato continued, his voice growing quieter. “He goes out every evening and comes back late at night…”
And when he came back, Eren would force Nato to serve him hand and foot. Any resistance, no matter how small, would result in a brutal beating.
In Nato’s memories, that stinking, alcohol-filled house—a place that couldn’t even be called a home—was full of scars, pain, and endless bruises.
His aunt had tried to take him in, but Eren would always drag him back, not out of love, but because he needed someone to vent his frustrations on.
“Recently, he’s been going out more often—sometimes he stays out the entire night and only comes back at dawn…”
And when he did, Eren would drag his still half-asleep son out of bed, starting another round of yelling and beatings.
Sunlight streamed through the windows as Nato recounted his story. Despite the warmth, he shuddered at the memory.
A slender hand gently landed on his head. It was warm, like the embrace of his aunt when he had left the house this morning.
Ji Mian said softly, “Don’t be afraid. It will all be over soon.”
Nato looked up into Ji Mian’s eyes and nodded firmly. “Mm.”
Ji Mian withdrew his hand and walked to the front of the classroom.
As he passed the middle row, Ye Tiancai suddenly straightened up and blurted, “I apologized!”
Ji Mian glanced at him, and Ye Tiancai added quickly, “I won’t do those things anymore. I promise.”
Ji Mian’s voice was calm as he replied, “I hope this isn’t a promise made just to me.”
Ye Tiancai huffed in response but said nothing more.
The day’s lessons ended quickly.
As Ji Mian descended the steps outside the school, his eyes met Chu Shiye’s, who was waiting at the bottom.
They looked at each other for a moment.
Then, as if on cue, Chu Shiye hastily looked away.
Ji Mian: “…”
Why is he still acting like this?
Is this Alpha made of wood?
Without exchanging a single word, they began walking out of the school together.
Ji Mian stole a few glances at Chu Shiye along the way, but the Alpha just kept his eyes fixed forward, walking silently.
Ji Mian thought: He’s ignoring me.
…Looks like this Alpha doesn’t feel that way about me after all.
I must’ve really overthought things…
Lesson learned: don’t be so full of yourself.
Ji Mian turned his attention back to the road, his expression unreadable.
Unbeknownst to him, Chu Shiye was stealing glances at him in return.
Did Su Lan notice I was sneaking looks at him just now?
He hasn’t said a word since we started walking… Does he dislike me now?
Chu Shiye opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but hesitated and closed it again, his spirits sinking even lower.
He was terrified that if he spoke, Ji Mian would bring up his spiritual entity—and then uncover everything else.
What if those hidden, unspeakable feelings of his were exposed under the light?
What would Ji Mian think?
What if Su Lan really starts to hate me? What do I do then?
A heavy weight pressed on Chu Shiye’s chest. He had so much he wanted to say but couldn’t get a single word out.
He wanted to reach out to Ji Mian, but he didn’t dare. What if even a small gesture of his drove Ji Mian further away?
All he could do was trudge along beside him, a gloomy cloud hanging over him.
At the fork in the road, they would normally turn left to head home.
But just as Chu Shiye was about to take a step, Ji Mian silently veered to the right.
Chu Shiye quickly caught up. “Where are you going?”
Ji Mian didn’t answer and instead quickened his pace.
Chu Shiye: “!”
Panicking, Chu Shiye reached out and grabbed Ji Mian’s sleeve. “What are you going to do over there?”
Finally, Ji Mian replied, “To drink with someone.”
Chu Shiye froze, his fingers tightening instinctively. “With who?”
Ji Mian shrugged nonchalantly. “Whoever. But not with you.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Su Lan is going to drink with someone else.
Su Lan said he’s not drinking with me.
…Su Lan doesn’t want me.
Each thought hit Chu Shiye’s heart like a hammer, sharp and unrelenting.
He clung to Ji Mian’s sleeve but couldn’t stop him from walking away. Lowering his head, Chu Shiye’s voice came out small and helpless: “You… you can’t drink.”
Ji Mian raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
Chu Shiye fumbled for a reason, finally blurting out, “Drinking is bad for your health.”
Ji Mian: “…”
The thought of Ji Mian drinking with someone else filled Chu Shiye with a bitter, overwhelming sadness. His voice was filled with quiet dejection as he muttered, “You can drink juice instead.”
Ji Mian: “…”
Chu Shiye stared at him with hopeful, pleading eyes.
Can you not go? Please?
Ji Mian sighed internally: This Alpha…
“…”
Ji Mian rubbed his temples.
Forget it.
This really is a… not-so-bright block of wood!
R : Yea.. not really smart
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