It was nearly eleven o’clock. Li Zi’s exam was scheduled to end at noon.
Li Zhenting checked the time and decided to head to the gates of Zhennan University to wait for her.
The commercial districts surrounding any university are always bustling, and Zhennan University, located right on the city's second ring road, was no exception.
Several restaurants lined the street next to the school entrance. Li Zhenting scanned them and noticed a Sichuan restaurant with a particularly interesting sign. It was simply called "Delicious."
*What kind of owner is this confident?*
Curious, he walked over. Since it wasn't quite lunchtime yet, the shop was empty, save for a man dressed in a somewhat bohemian, scruffy style standing at the door with a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"You're not a student here, are you?" the man asked, eyeing Li Zhenting as he approached.
"Is it that obvious?" Li Zhenting asked with a frown.
"Yeah. I’ve run this place for nearly ten years. The students here have a certain... aura. It’s completely different from yours." The cigarette was nearly spent; the man flicked the ash, lowered his head, and prepared to stub it out on the bin.
As he did, the gland on the back of his neck was exposed.
Li Zhenting’s pupils contracted. He asked hesitantly, "You’re... an Omega? Why do you—"
"Why don't I look like an Omega?" The man—the owner of the shop—let out a small laugh. "You’re not the first person to say that. What, does an Omega have to look sweet and stay at home to serve a husband and raise kids?"
"I didn't mean it like that," Li Zhenting muttered, at a loss for words.
"Is your partner a student at Zhennan? Man or woman? Beta? Omega? Oh, a female Alpha, right?" Watching the shift in Li Zhenting’s expression, the owner guessed his situation with uncanny accuracy.
This made Li Zhenting uncomfortable; he didn't like being scrutinized. "What if she is?"
"Hahaha, don't get angry. I’m just a bit of a gossip." The owner didn't mind Li Zhenting’s sour face and continued chatting. "I haven't seen someone like you in a long time. A Beta and an Alpha? It’s actually not that rare these days, but it’s a pity."
"A pity?" Li Zhenting found himself following the man's train of thought involuntarily. "A pity for what?"
The owner lit a fresh cigarette. He shifted his weight, leaning into the sunlight. "A pity that it rarely ends well."
"What gives you the right to say that?!"
A surge of inexplicable anger, mixed with a fear he didn't dare face, rose within him. His voice dropped low as he questioned the owner. If the person in front of him hadn't been an Omega, he wasn't sure if he would have remained polite.
"Hey, calm down. I’m not an Alpha; I can’t beat you in a fight."
"Alphas... they’re natural-born scumbags." The owner’s lips curled into a mocking smile, perhaps remembering something from his past. "If there are pheromones involved, at least you can smell them. A partner can tell if the other is messing around outside. But a Beta who can't smell pheromones? You might not even notice if your partner is out having a fling."
"Even if you were an Omega, once you’re permanently marked, your heart and mind are completely tethered to that Alpha. They become your everything. Then one day, if they get bored, they can just find someone else, while the Omega suffers through the agony of having the mark removed. With that kind of absolute advantage, how many Alphas can actually keep a promise and live honestly with one person for a lifetime?"
It was true. Alphas could only form a bond with Omegas; only those two genders possessed those lofty, unique pheromones. Li Zhenting, who had only ever heard the term and never experienced pheromones himself, felt they were worlds away.
Except...
"Boss, you’re being a bit extreme. It depends on the person," Li Zhenting said. "A scumbag won't become a good person just because they’re an Omega or a Beta. And some people, even if they’re born with a gender advantage, won't abuse their privilege."
The owner seemed surprised by this response. He shook his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "It seems you really do love your partner."
*If only the person I once met could have made me say those words.*
"Are you from Sichuan, Boss?" Li Zhenting changed the subject, noticing the unconscious loneliness in the man's eyes.
"Yeah. My mom was a great cook. I learned from her since I was a kid. I’m decent at it, so I opened this little shop to make a living." The owner’s smile returned when he mentioned his family. "Interested in Sichuan cuisine? You should try my cooking. You’ll be a believer once you taste it."
Li Zhenting glanced inside. Though the shop was small, it was kept spotless and decorated with many personal touches. It was clearly a business run with care.
He replied, "I’m easy, but my partner likes it."
*Cooking? That seems like a nice thing to do.*
"Hahaha, then bring her by. If you want to learn, just ask nicely, and I might teach you," the owner said with a wink. "I like your vibe."
"Thanks. I'll ask her when she's done with her exam. By the way, my name is Li Zhenting. What’s yours, Boss?"
"Me? We share a surname. My name is Li as well—Li Qingliu. Like a clear, flowing stream."
*That name...* Li Zhenting looked at him, speechless.
"I know, I know. The name doesn't suit me at all. I can tell what you’re thinking just by your face." Li Qingliu laughed heartily. He seemed genuinely happy to have made a friend. He stopped smoking, letting the ash fall slowly to the ground.
In truth, he wasn't that old—maybe twenty-eight or twenty-nine at most. But because he didn't groom himself, left his beard unshaven, and spoke with a forced world-weariness, he looked like a middle-aged man. Now, with that bright smile, Li Zhenting could see a hint of youthful spirit in him.
Just then, his phone vibrated twice. He checked the screen; it was a message from Li Zi.
Li Zi: *I turned in my paper early. Where are you?*
Li Zhenting, who had been leaning casually against the wall, stood up straight immediately, a faint sense of excitement radiating from him.
Li Zhenting: *At the Sichuan restaurant by the school gate. Should I come find you?*
Li Zi: *"Delicious"?*
Li Zi: *It's fine. Wait there, I'm coming over now.*
Seeing the tall, sturdy young man clutching his phone like that, it was obvious to anyone who he was talking to. Li Qingliu felt a twinge of envy. He waved a hand and said, "Partner’s coming, right?"
"Well, I better tidy up. A big wave of business is about to hit."
