The basketball team’s one-and-a-half-hour training session ended, and the players left one after another, leaving the first-year recruits to clean up.

After mopping the wooden floors of the basketball area and putting the basketballs back into the storage room, the handsome alpha sitting in the corner still showed no intention of leaving.

A few first-year students nudged each other for a while before one of them finally mustered up the courage, took a deep breath, and walked over.

The boy spoke, “Brother Zhan, we’ve finished cleaning.”

The alpha leaned lazily on the backrest with both hands, his posture completely relaxed. Without much care, he replied, “You guys go ahead. I’ll turn off the lights and lock the door later.”

The boy responded, “Thanks, Brother Zhan. We’ll leave now.”

The group left cheerfully together.

Wei Xiaochi went back to the classroom to grab something, and when he returned, he realized the large indoor training hall was now empty—except for Jiang Zhan.

“Everyone’s gone?” Wei Xiaochi quickly walked over, his face showing a hint of apology. “Sorry, I’m a bit late.”

He hastily stuffed the tutoring book in his hand into his backpack, zipped it up, slung the strap over his shoulder, and said, “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Jiang Zhan didn’t move.

Wei Xiaochi was puzzled. “Not leaving?”

Jiang Zhan withdrew his arm from the backrest and placed it on the bench beside him. He raised his eyes to glance at Wei Xiaochi, the orange light casting a glow on his perfectly straight nose.

The alpha’s fingers tapped lightly on the bench as he awkwardly said, “Didn’t you say you’d let me smell your pheromones when no one was around?”

“…”

Earlier, when Jiang Zhan was in a bad mood, Wei Xiaochi had indeed thought of releasing his pheromones to comfort him.

But now, hearing Jiang Zhan bring it up, Wei Xiaochi suddenly felt like some kind of pheromone-exhibitionist lunatic, forcing others to sniff him like some deranged pervert.

It was akin to those streakers who made others look at their bare bodies—equally mortifying.

Wei Xiaochi clutched the strap of his backpack nervously, his face flushing crimson at Jiang Zhan’s words.

Jiang Zhan lowered his head, a few strands of black hair falling over his delicate eyebrows. His hands rested obediently on his knees as he mumbled, “No one’s here now.”

The implications were as clear as day.

Wei Xiaochi tensed his shoulders and back, glancing at Jiang Zhan, only to catch him sneaking a glance from the corner of his eye.

As soon as Jiang Zhan noticed Wei Xiaochi looking, he immediately turned his face away.

Wei Xiaochi sighed inwardly and sat back down on the bench. He released a small amount of pheromones for Jiang Zhan to smell.

They sat a polite distance apart, Wei Xiaochi staring straight ahead while Jiang Zhan kept his head down in silence.

After a long pause, Jiang Zhan spoke up. “Sitting that far away…I can’t smell it.”

How could that be? At this distance, even a half-blind alpha would be able to pick up the scent.

Wei Xiaochi opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He scooted closer until their shoulders almost touched, then stopped.

The air carried a faint, elegant scent, serene and tranquil, like moonlight scattered across the sea, rain-washed greenery, or the rosy glow over snow-covered plains at dusk.

Jiang Zhan’s fingers twitched slightly, inching closer until they brushed against Wei Xiaochi’s arm.

Feeling Jiang Zhan’s touch, Wei Xiaochi stiffened like a prey animal with a predator’s fangs grazing its neck. His breathing halted, and his back froze.

Then, Jiang Zhan pulled him into a firm embrace. His chin rested on Wei Xiaochi’s shoulder, and his nose lightly grazed Wei Xiaochi’s ear as he took in the scent with a soft sniff.

Wei Xiaochi awkwardly turned his neck to look at Jiang Zhan.

The alpha’s face was full of infatuated tenderness, his eyes dreamy and rimmed with a faint blush.

Wei Xiaochi’s eyelashes fluttered, and before he could react, Jiang Zhan leaned in, pressing their foreheads together. His nose brushed against Wei Xiaochi’s nose, sliding downward bit by bit, until their lips met.

Wei Xiaochi’s heart pounded wildly, threatening to burst apart.

Wei Xiaochi and Jiang Zhan’s interactions had always followed a familiar rhythm.

Second Period.

During the long break between classes, Jiang Zhan often treated Wei Xiaochi in the grove. Sometimes it was fruit, other times it was exquisite pastries or high-protein, high-carb snacks.

After ensuring Wei Xiaochi was full, Jiang Zhan would hug him and steal a kiss before they each returned to their classrooms.

At lunchtime, they’d eat together, stroll down the street hand-in-hand, and part with Wei Xiaochi giving him another kiss.

In the evening, Wei Xiaochi would accompany Jiang Zhan until his training ended, then they’d hug and kiss before Jiang Zhan walked him home.

Jiang Zhan’s clinginess far exceeded Wei Xiaochi’s expectations, but once he got used to this level of intimacy, it wasn’t so bad.

Wei Xiaochi was highly adaptable. Once he understood Jiang Zhan’s preferences, he quickly adjusted to match his rhythm. As long as he met Jiang Zhan’s needs, the alpha rarely got angry. Even if he did inexplicably lose his temper, he was easy to appease. A bit of initiative from Wei Xiaochi would calm him down in no time.

But early relationships were undeniably risky, offering almost no tangible rewards. The only benefit Wei Xiaochi could think of was that during his heat, letting Jiang Zhan take a bite would save him 79 yuan in suppressant costs.

As for the downsides? There were far too many. Leaving aside the potential impact on his studies and earnings, the consequences of getting caught by Wei Minzhen were beyond what Wei Xiaochi could bear.

Fortunately, Wei Xiaochi had mastered the art of early-dating strategies. He balanced his time well while minimizing uncontrollable risks.

For example, if he wanted to go home early after school, he could settle things with Jiang Zhan by giving him a kiss and a hug. If that didn’t work, he’d add another kiss.

The most unpredictable variable was Jiang Zhan himself. With his bad temper and eccentric behavior, Wei Xiaochi always feared the day Jiang Zhan might explode.

But now he had a backup plan. The “Early Dating Formula” was highly effective in managing Jiang Zhan’s emotions, saving Wei Xiaochi from the frantic scrambling of previous days.

– Jiang Zhan Level 1 Anger: Hold hands proactively.

– Jiang Zhan Level 2 Anger: Hold hands + Kiss.

– Jiang Zhan Level 3 Anger: Hold hands + Kiss + Hug / Hug + Release Pheromones.

– Jiang Zhan Level 4 Anger: Hold hands + Kiss + Hug + Release Pheromones.

This was Wei Xiaochi’s “Apology Template 2.0,” otherwise known as the “Early Dating Formula.” So far, Jiang Zhan had only shown Level 1 anger. The higher levels were devised through experimentation.

If Jiang Zhan ever surpassed Level 4 and even this formula failed, it would only mean one thing—he was fed up and wanted to break up.

Thus, Wei Xiaochi only designed four levels of response.

At the moment, Jiang Zhan was enjoying himself. His clinginess and affection often made Wei Xiaochi mistakenly believe Jiang Zhan really liked him.

But the truth was, they were incompatible. Their personalities clashed like night and day, and their values were worlds apart.

Even the people around them hinted at the mismatch. Han Ziyang, for example, still couldn’t believe Jiang Zhan had chosen Wei Xiaochi. And Wei Minzhen, who caught them together in the sports room, dismissed the idea of them dating outright, inadvertently letting them off the hook.

Jiang Zhan was simply infatuated due to pheromone influence. How could such feelings possibly last?

Sigh.

Jiang Zhan was not only clingy but also possessive, repeatedly asking Wei Xiaochi who had given him chocolates.

Initially, it was nothing, but Jiang Zhan’s constant questioning made Wei Xiaochi start doubting his own innocence with Xu Yang.

To avoid provoking Jiang Zhan, Wei Xiaochi reluctantly distanced himself from Xu Yang.

One morning, Xu Yang walked over as usual and placed a milk tea on Wei Xiaochi’s desk.

Wei Xiaochi pursed his lips, then slowly pulled out his homework and handed it to Xu Yang. As Xu Yang turned to leave, Wei Xiaochi called out, “Wait.”

Xu Yang paused, turning back. “What is it?”

Wei Xiaochi pushed the milk tea toward him. “You don’t need to give me this. Thanks, but you can have it. I don’t drink it.”

He would still let Xu Yang copy his homework but wouldn’t accept any rewards.

Xu Yang gave him a deep look but didn’t take the milk tea, instead returning to his seat.

From that day on, Xu Yang never asked for Wei Xiaochi’s homework again.

Wei Xiaochi wondered if returning the milk tea had offended him, but then dismissed the thought. It was just a small matter.

To Wei Xiaochi, it was a minor interlude. Zhang Mingyang, however, had to make snide remarks.

“Heartbroken? Your admirer gave up?”

Wei Xiaochi was organizing his past test papers, sorting them into piles and gluing them together to review his mistakes later. Hearing Zhang Mingyang’s sarcasm, he paused, turned around, and pretended to call someone.

Zhang Mingyang became wary. “What are you doing?”

Wei Xiaochi gave him a cold look. “Telling Xu Yang you said he’s chasing me.”

Zhang Mingyang deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping back onto his desk without another word.

Wei Xiaochi was just bluffing. No way would he escalate a kids’ argument into something serious.

Seeing Zhang Mingyang shut up, Wei Xiaochi returned to his desk to continue sorting his papers.

This weekend, Wei Xiaochi planned to continue working at the milk tea shop. Unfortunately, Jiang Zhan had a match on Saturday.

It wouldn’t have been a problem—they could go about their own schedules. But since they were now in a relationship, Jiang Zhan insisted he come to the sports hall to watch.

If it were up to Wei Xiaochi, choosing between 100 yuan and his boyfriend was a no-brainer—he’d pick the money without hesitation.

But faced with a domineering alpha, Wei Xiaochi had no choice but to comply.

The match against Yiyang Vocational High was at 10 a.m. The coach had the team gather at school at 6 a.m. for the usual warm-up: running laps and practicing shots.

Wei Xiaochi also arrived at 6 a.m. While the alphas ran laps, he studied English vocabulary. When they practiced shooting, he kept studying.

After an hour and a half of training, the coach clapped his hands at 7:30, signaling the team to assemble.

Holding the roster, he called out names one by one. Once done, he closed the list and scanned the team members.

“Nervous?” he asked.

“Our opponent today is Yiyang Vocational High, the reigning champion of the basketball league for five consecutive years. They’re practically the uncrowned kings.”

“This year, are you ready to challenge the kings?”

Wei Xiaochi finally looked up from his English book, glancing at the coach.

He couldn’t help but feel the atmosphere was strange. His imagination wandered, picturing their homeroom teacher asking if they were ready to challenge the king’s school.

So embarrassing.

Yet, the basketball team, as if injected with adrenaline, loudly replied, “We’re ready!”

The coach, satisfied with their morale, declared, “Good. Today, we’ll send Yiyang home.”

The team quickly formed a circle, shoulder to shoulder, stacking their hands and shouting in unison, “No. 2 High! Go, go, go!”

Their voices echoed through the empty sports hall, each cheer louder than the last.

Stunned, Wei Xiaochi held his book, still unused to such passionate scenes. It felt like something out of a manga.

After the team dispersed, everyone was brimming with energy. The prospect of facing Yiyang filled them with excitement.

Alphas were naturally competitive. The stronger the opponent, the more thrilled they were.

Nowadays, even the NBA had become a battlefield of top-tier alphas. It wasn’t just about basketball skills but also the intense physical clashes, igniting the viewers’ adrenaline.

Jiang Zhan approached with his usual blank expression and dragged Wei Xiaochi from the corner onto the school bus heading to the gymnasium. With over two hours left before the game, everyone on the bus began eating their high-calorie breakfasts, specially prepared by the school’s cafeteria to ensure optimal nutrition before the match.

Since Wei Xiaochi wasn’t part of the basketball team, he technically wasn’t allocated a meal. However, Jiang Zhan had made special arrangements with Aunt Zhou to prepare one just for him. Sitting together in the back row, the bus cruised steadily along the road, providing a relatively comfortable dining environment.

The alphas, fresh from their morning workout, exuded a heady, almost boiling mix of hormones. It was as if a cabinet of cologne samples had shattered, filling the bus with an overwhelming variety of scents. Within minutes, Wei Xiaochi was feeling light-headed. Suddenly, a large towel dropped over his head.

It was Jiang Zhan’s.

The towel wrapped snugly around Wei Xiaochi, blocking out all other sensations except Jiang Zhan’s scent. The alpha leaned down, his face inching closer to Wei Xiaochi’s, and deftly tied a knot beneath his chin, cocooning the omega in the fabric.

Underneath the makeshift hood, Wei Xiaochi looked like a brooding chicken mom—complete with glasses. Amused by the sight, Jiang Zhan’s eyes sparkled with laughter, and his shoulders shook ever so slightly.

Staring blankly at Jiang Zhan, Wei Xiaochi instinctively reached to remove the towel, but Jiang Zhan stopped him.

“Don’t move,” Jiang Zhan ordered, gripping his hand firmly. “You’re not allowed to take it off.”

Gritting his teeth, Wei Xiaochi silently retracted his hand, opened his meal box, and began eating in sullen silence. Moments later, Jiang Zhan bumped his shoulder against Wei Xiaochi’s. The first time, Wei Xiaochi ignored it. When it happened again, he still didn’t respond.

But the persistent nudges continued until eating became impossible. Wei Xiaochi frowned, lifting his head to glare at Jiang Zhan.

“No frowning,” Jiang Zhan said sternly. “And don’t get angry.”

Wei Xiaochi muttered internally, You get mad all the time, but I’m not allowed to?

Another bump from Jiang Zhan. His tone hardened. “Say something. What’s with the silence?”

Recognizing the futility of resistance, Wei Xiaochi gave in. “Got it.”

Jiang Zhan tugged the towel back slightly, revealing Wei Xiaochi’s delicate brows. With a touch of awkwardness, he said, “You don’t even look bad. Why are you upset?”

Wei Xiaochi picked at his food and replied softly, “I’m not mad.”

Not really angry—just a little… annoyed.

If it weren’t for Jiang Zhan, Wei Xiaochi would have slept until 6:40, leisurely gotten up, eaten breakfast, and gone to the milk tea shop to earn a nice 100 yuan. Instead, he’d been dragged out of bed at 5-something to be at school by 6 a.m. No sleep-in, no work, and now he was wrapped in a towel being laughed at.

Still, even with those minor grievances, he would have come. Losing 100 yuan stung, but he could tell how important this game was to Jiang Zhan. The team trained hard every day, and it felt right to show his support.

Jiang Zhan had been treating him so well lately. Really well.

With a soft nudge to Jiang Zhan’s arm, Wei Xiaochi said, “Hurry up and eat. The game’s at 10, and eating too late might upset your stomach.”

Jiang Zhan hummed in agreement but leaned over and kissed Wei Xiaochi.

Startled, Wei Xiaochi’s eyes widened as he nervously glanced around. Luckily, everyone else was engrossed in their meals and didn’t notice. While he had grown used to Jiang Zhan’s frequent kisses since they started dating, it was still nerve-wracking when others were around.

After that, Jiang Zhan focused on eating, and Wei Xiaochi’s tension gradually eased. Though still wrapped in the towel, he pulled it back slightly to keep it from getting food stains. Seeing this, Jiang Zhan chuckled again and playfully pinched his earlobe.

“…”

Wei Xiaochi quietly resumed eating, choosing not to scold the mischievous alpha.

Forty minutes later, the bus pulled up steadily at the gymnasium entrance. Everyone tossed their meal boxes into the garbage bin near the driver’s seat before filing off the bus and into the venue.

A staff member led them to the locker room. The coach instructed Li Suilin to stay behind and supervise while he went with the staff to meet the game organizers.

With over an hour before the match, Li Suilin took the opportunity to share intel he’d gathered on Yiyang’s players. Wei Xiaochi, who didn’t understand basketball, kept to himself, pulling out an English practice sheet to work on in a quiet corner.

Time passed unnoticed until the coach returned to discuss strategies for the first half. The previously noisy locker room fell silent.

At 9:40, a staff member entered to call the players onto the court for warm-ups. The teams would also have to introduce themselves.

“Stay put in the audience. Don’t wander off,” Jiang Zhan instructed Wei Xiaochi before heading out. “Sit somewhere I can see you.”

Wei Xiaochi nodded. “Got it.”

Jiang Zhan draped his towel around Wei Xiaochi’s neck. “Keep this on. Don’t take it off.”

“I know. Good luck,” Wei Xiaochi replied.

Jiang Zhan leaned in for another kiss, letting out a soft “Mm” from his nose before holding Wei Xiaochi’s hand as they exited the locker room.

The crowd at today’s game was even larger than before. The front rows were completely packed, not a single seat available. After wandering through the aisle, Wei Xiaochi eventually found a decent spot in the fifth row with a clear view of the court.

The starting players were warming up, and Jiang Zhan, half-heartedly stretching his arms, scanned the audience. His sharp, dark eyes darted through the crowd, searching for Wei Xiaochi.

Noticing this, Wei Xiaochi awkwardly stood up and waved stiffly to get his attention. Satisfied, Jiang Zhan’s gaze softened, and Wei Xiaochi sat down quickly, his face burning as he avoided the curious looks from nearby spectators.

When the attention faded, he glanced back toward the court. Both teams had finished warming up and now stood 30 centimeters apart, facing each other. One by one, players introduced themselves by position—power forward, small forward, center, and guard—shaking hands afterward.

Wei Xiaochi had always thought No. 2 High’s basketball team was tall, but compared to Yiyang, they were dwarfed. The player opposite Jiang Zhan was about two meters tall and stood out like a giant.

Not knowing much about basketball, Wei Xiaochi felt a twinge of worry. Was this guy Jiang Zhan’s direct opponent? If so, it could spell trouble—he was massive.