Chapter 11: Kicking an Iron Plate

Lei Po suspected that Zhai Yifei’s little follower was doing this on purpose—taunting him during the weighted run and then taunting him again after finishing.

What left Lei Po completely speechless was that the kid’s results were still hanging up there for everyone to see.

Seeing that Lei Po wasn’t harboring any inappropriate thoughts, Ji Laili resumed his usual cheerful smile.

Lei Po, however, found his smile irritating. The rebellious young man shot Ji Laili a look that was anything but friendly.

The new students watching this exchange were certain that Lei Po would hold a grudge and would definitely seek revenge against Ji Laili at some point.

“That kid really kicked an iron plate.”

Instructor Aige grew interested and joined the bystanders.

“Him? An iron plate?”

The voice beside him was cold as ice.

“Hmm?” Aige raised an eyebrow in surprise. Shen Yu speaking up out of nowhere made him misunderstand. “Xiao Shen, it’s rare to see you take an interest in a new student.”

“But I have to admit, that kid has potential. With proper training, he could reach even greater heights.”

Shen Yu glanced at Ji Laili. “I’m not interested in him.”

Aige didn’t care much for the distinction and continued, “Lei Po—the top-ranked freshman this year. Even old General Zhai’s grandson lost to him. I’ve been watching these brats go head-to-head for days now.”

Shen Yu remained silent.

Aige was used to his increasingly aloof demeanor and continued talking to himself. “Too wild. He’s going to be a handful.”

“But barring any surprises, the top freshman leader will be either him or Zhai Yifei.”

“Oh, wait,” Aige glanced at the scoreboard and chuckled, “now we’ve got another contender.”

Silence remained at his side. If he had turned to look at Shen Yu just then, he would have seen an expression completely unlike his usual cold and untouchable demeanor.

Instead, what he would have seen was something sinister, almost insane. His eerily calm gaze carried a chilling beauty, cold and enigmatic.

Like a true ghost wearing human skin, staring down at those below.

Shen Yu remembered. It was these two.

He still recalled the feeling of snapping their necks, the warmth of their blood splattering onto his face, turning cold afterward.

The nauseating scent of blood, just like the repulsive presence of Alphas.

They were among the rare few whom Shen Yu had personally sent to their deaths without even bothering to give them the “gift” he usually prepared for Alphas.

He loathed the influence of pheromones, the way they evoked feelings of “protection” and “desire.”

The pain of his genetic reversal amplified his negative emotions at that moment, making him itch to dispose of those two nuisances right away.

“Hm?”

Shen Yu’s attention was momentarily drawn away as Aige muttered something in surprise.

“They’re actually doing this?”

…

At the Training Grounds

Lei Po, Ji Laili, and Zhai Yifei standing together naturally drew attention.

From their stance, it was clear to everyone that Ji Laili and Zhai Yifei were on the same side. If even outsiders saw it that way, Lei Po certainly did.

He already found Zhai Yifei insufferable—now he had to deal with Zhai Yifei’s little follower too?

Lei Po couldn’t stand either of them. His displeasure toward Ji Laili was written all over his face.

No wonder everyone thought this way.

Lei Po, as an Alpha, didn’t even bother to hide his disdain. He was a wild, untamed force, answering to no one.

Ji Laili found it amusing. He suspected Lei Po hadn’t seen his own pale complexion, the sweat on his forehead. And yet, the guy was still acting so arrogant, looking down on everyone.

Ji Laili guessed he still hadn’t fully recovered from his low blood sugar. Too prideful to admit weakness, he must’ve forced himself to sprint for first place.

Even when confronting them earlier, his face had been deathly pale. Now, after some time, he looked slightly better.

But that proud and defiant expression of his had a certain fragility to it. Ji Laili couldn’t help but smile as he shoved a piece of candy into Lei Po’s palm.

Lei Po, caught off guard, stared at the candy in shock. The moment he realized what it was, he snapped his head toward Ji Laili, his little ponytail even trembling.

“You again?”

Did Ji Laili think he was so popular that he could just make others ostracize him?

Was he trying to get everyone to “kill” him with their stares all over again?

Though such things didn’t bother him, it was still irritating. They were both Alphas—why not settle things with a real fight?

Lei Po’s gaze turned dangerous.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Zhai Yifei stepped forward slightly, sending a warning look toward Lei Po.

The tension escalated in an instant—any second now, fists were going to fly.

Ji Laili suddenly spoke. “You have low blood sugar, right? Eating candy should help.”

“…What?” Lei Po’s fighting spirit and anger froze in place, as if doused with cold water.

“Didn’t you tell Zhai-ge earlier that you have low blood sugar?” Ji Laili said. “I only remembered after finishing my run that I had candy on me.”

That was actually because he had gone to the medical office after leaving the rest area. Originally, he had been looking for a pheromone blocker.

Handing Shen Yu a tissue had reminded him of his own gender.

He was an Alpha.

Considering how much the main character despised Alphas, this was really not the best option for him.

And yet, he still wanted to save him.

If he even took one step closer, he’d probably be hated immediately.

Ji Laili, who had always been popular and well-liked, had never experienced such a thing before. To exaggerate a little, people around him always liked him.

And really, who wants to be disliked for no reason?

He hadn’t done anything wrong, and if he was going to be hated just because of his gender, that was just too unfair.

It wasn’t like he could suddenly choose to be an Omega now, so he could only try to minimize Shen Yu’s discomfort.

That’s when Ji Laili remembered—Alphas had pheromones too.

He didn’t know how to release his pheromones yet, but the system had mentioned accidental pheromone leaks could happen.

So, he had gone to the medical office and bought a small pheromone blocker, just in case.

That colorful candy wrapper?

It was something the kind Beta nurse had given him while chatting about her adorable three-year-old Omega child.

Since Ji Laili had shown interest in the candy, she had given him a few.

So… technically, that candy was meant to comfort a three-year-old child.

But looking at Lei Po’s arrogant, self-important, “I’m the toughest guy here” face, combined with his little ponytail…

Ji Laili blinked.

He decided not to tell him.

Let it remain a secret. A secret to be buried forever.