Even though something felt off, Jiang Wei couldn't help but feel a strange sense of "indebtedness" toward Tang Zihe. Deep down, he felt that Tang Zihe had actually helped him out, yet he had repaid him by sticking an Omega-specific scent blocker on him—something that wasn't exactly "Alpha-friendly."
Fortunately, this impulsive act hadn't caused any unnecessary trouble.
"I have to say, I’m starting to think you’re pretty impressive," Shen Yannan remarked, joining the conversation after waking up from his nap between classes. "Talk about 'dedication.' Most people would wear it for a day just to humor someone, but you? You’ve had it on for five days straight. Doesn't it feel uncomfortable?"
Jiang Wei had just returned from the pantry with water. The only ones close enough to hear were Xia Shan and Tang Zihe.
Xia Shan chimed in, "Exactly. Are you two really not developing some kind of... special relationship?"
Tang Zihe shook his head slightly. He certainly had the intention to develop one, but his seatmate was either truly dense or just playing dumb. It made his thoughts hard to read, and Tang Zihe didn't dare make a move too hastily.
However, he wasn't in a rush. After all, the temporary mark had been made, and the person was right by his side. He had plenty of time to wear him down.
As long as no "little vixens" popped up out of nowhere.
Xia Shan shot a look at Shen Yannan: *Do you believe him?*
Shen Yannan shot one back: *What do you think?*
"Hey, Tang Zihe, I brought your bottle back." Tang Wanbai placed the water bottle on the desk. "I ran into Jiang Wei at the pantry just now. A girl from our grade called him away, so he asked me to bring this back for you first."
The trio’s conversation came to a screeching halt.
Tang Zihe: "..."
"I’m guessing he was called out for a confession," Tang Wanbai said, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of someone looking for drama. "Aren't you guys curious? I saw a bunch of people heading over to watch."
The three of them exchanged looks. In the end, Xia Shan’s gossip radar reacted the fastest. He stood up and bolted out the door.
Was this a joke? Jiang Wei was already Tang Zihe’s man—the "Zi-Wei" ship thread was practically a skyscraper by now! How could anyone still have the guts to confess at a time like this?
A show like this probably only happened once in a blue moon; if he missed it, he’d never get another chance!
***
Jiang Wei followed a girl he didn't recognize at all to a corner of the hallway, feeling somewhat dazed.
*What is this about?* Jiang Wei looked at the girl walking ahead of him with her head bowed, but he couldn't bring himself to ask.
"Um..." The girl tucked herself into a corner of the turn and finally turned to face him. "Jiang Wei..."
Despite the tension of the situation, Jiang Wei’s inner comedian couldn't help but stir. "Present..."
"I..." The girl paused, then pulled out a beautifully packaged small envelope from somewhere and held it out. "I wanted to ask if you could help me... give this love... love letter to Tang Zihe..."
"..."
Jiang Wei stood there in silence, forced to accept this "hot potato."
*What kind of rotten luck is this!* Jiang Wei cursed inwardly. *Tang Zihe, you butterfly-attracting bastard. Girls are coming to me just to send you love letters!*
Tang Zihe, who had been pushed out by Shen Yannan to "watch the show," suddenly sneezed.
Despite his turbulent inner thoughts, Jiang Wei maintained his smiling facade.
"It’s just helping with a love letter, not a confession to me. No need to be so nervous," Jiang Wei said with a smile, holding the pale pink envelope. "The color of this envelope is quite nice. Too bad it’s not for me."
Hearing this, the girl’s face turned even redder. She stammered for a long time, unable to find words.
"Alright, I’ll put it on his desk for you in a bit," Jiang Wei promised. "If there’s nothing else, you should head back. It’ll be a misunderstanding if too many people start gathering to watch."
"Okay... thank you..."
"You’re welcome." Jiang Wei glanced at the gossip-seekers poking their heads around the corner and turned to leave from the other side.
By the time Tang Zihe arrived, the area was already deserted, with only a few lingering onlookers chatting.
"Looks like we missed it," Shen Yannan said with a hint of regret. "Should we ask Jiang Wei about it when we get back?"
Tang Zihe frowned, then shook his head. "Forget it."
The timing was just off. When Jiang Wei returned to the classroom with the love letter and his water bottle, he only saw Tang Zihe’s bottle on the desk.
"Where are they?"
"They went out to watch your 'show,'" Tang Wanbai replied, only realizing something was off after she spoke. She blinked. "Wait, wasn't that girl there to confess to you? Why are you back so soon?"
Jiang Wei: "..."
*Confess my ass!*
Jiang Wei didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Who told you that?"
"Huh?" Tang Wanbai was also confused. "Didn't she call you out? What else would it be if not a confession? A study question?"
"What are you even talking about?" Jiang Wei subconsciously waved the love letter in his hand. "This has nothing to do with me."
"Nothing to do with you?" Tang Wanbai asked curiously. "Then who does it involve?"
How should he put it... On the way back to class, Jiang Wei had been thinking about this letter. If he followed his heart, he would have loved to shove the thing into the trash the very next second and curse Tang Zihe a hundred and eight times—he’d already finished the latter part in his head. But logically, he couldn't just carelessly trample on a girl’s feelings. Tang Zihe had every right to know and decide what to do with it. So, he could only return to class holding this letter that seemed to radiate a pink, heart-shaped aura.
"It’s got nothing to do with me, but it has everything to do with your 'Brother Tang,'" Jiang Wei sighed, blinking. "Still don't get it?"
Tang Wanbai’s expression shifted to one of realization. "Oh, I see, I see."
"See what?" Tang Zihe’s voice rang out behind them without warning. Jiang Wei was so startled that the breath he was exhaling got stuck, sending him into a coughing fit.
"From the looks of it, did the girl’s confession fail?" Shen Yannan looked Jiang Wei up and down. "Well, that result was expected."
*What do you mean 'failed' and 'expected'?!*
*How did every single one of them have the exact same misunderstanding? Is 'brain-rot' contagious?*
"There was no confession, what are you thinking?" Jiang Wei made a face and shoved the love letter into Tang Zihe’s arms, saying crossly, "That girl asked me to deliver a love letter to our 'beloved-by-all' Tang Zihe. I was a total tool, nothing more. You guys are overthinking it."
This development caught everyone off guard. The slight furrow in Tang Zihe’s brow smoothed out instantly.
As long as it wasn't a confession to Jiang Wei, it was fine.
"I’ve handed it over. What you do with it is your business," Jiang Wei said unceremoniously, his face still pulled into a sour expression.
"Mm." Tang Zihe hummed in response. As they returned to their seats, he casually opened the envelope, pulled out the paper inside, and unfolded it.
While listening to the lecture, Jiang Wei used his peripheral vision to steal a glance at his seatmate.
*Damn it.*
*Why did he actually open it?!*
*Didn't he just throw away the letters people used to leave in his desk drawer?!*
*Why is he actually reading this one so seriously?!*
*Is he planning to go accept her confession as soon as class ends?!*
The more Jiang Wei's imagination ran wild, the angrier he got, until even looking at Tang Zihe made him feel a bit repulsed.
But when he saw Tang Zihe finish reading and put the letter away, he felt a surge of curiosity. He desperately wanted to know what was inside, but there was no way he could swallow his pride to ask.
"If she comes looking for you again, just tell her I’ve read it," Tang Zihe whispered, leaning close to Jiang Wei’s ear while President Shi wasn't looking.
Jiang Wei pointedly shifted his chair a bit further away.
*Don't get so close! I’m still mad at you!*
Tang Zihe found it a bit funny. This guy was exactly the same as before—when he was angry, he practically wore the words on his face, yet he acted like no one could tell.
In times like these, one had to stroke the fur the right way.
"And tell her that I can't accept her confession."
Jiang Wei muttered under his breath, "Why not?"
"Do I need a reason to reject someone?" Tang Zihe asked, leaning his head on the desk as well.
"Of course you do."
"Is she pretty?"
"...I don't know, I didn't look."
Jiang Wei grumbled internally. *So Tang Zihe chooses his partners based on looks? How shallow.*
"Then the reason is... I like people who are good-looking, have good grades, and preferably have some talents in other areas. All-around development is quite important..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Wei couldn't help but interrupt. "Who picks a partner like that? You’re acting like an ancient emperor picking concubines."
"Besides, where are you going to find someone that perfect? You’re crazy." Jiang Wei rolled his eyes. "If I were that girl, I’d definitely think you were just being difficult."
A cold breeze suddenly blew in from the window, making Jiang Wei shiver. He hadn't trimmed his hair in a long time; it was much longer than it had been at the start of the semester. In a while, he’d probably be able to tie it into a small ponytail.
His hair brushed against Tang Zihe’s pen and eyelashes with the cold wind, carrying a faint scent of milk and a unique, boyish charm.
*There is one,* Tang Zihe answered silently in his heart, his eyes closed.
"Of course, there’s one more point—the most important one."
Jiang Wei was speechless. "Why save the most important part for last? Making me listen to all that nonsense first."
Tang Zihe looked at him and couldn't help but let a small smile spread across his face. The sunlight streaming through the window hit him just right, creating ripples of pale gold light. He looked as if he were gilded in a halo, appearing even more dazzling.
"Because... I already like someone."
***
