Chu Tao and Jiang She’s relationship caused quite a stir.

After the college entrance exam, some local TV reporters would gather at the school gate to interview the soon-to-be-liberated students. The incident of the kiss, of course, was a sensational highlight. The 360-degree photos of the two of them were splashed across the local news in Huai City.

Before Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin could even react, they were bombarded with criticism from neighbors and friends.

“Xiao Song, did you see the Huai City news? Your son is on TV!”
“Song’er, I saw your son on Weibo. Is it true? What’s going on?”
“Xiao Song, your son’s quite bold, huh? Who’s that person with him? He’s pretty tall for an Omega, isn’t he?”
“Well done, Xiao Song, your son’s already got a partner after graduation, now you don’t have to worry about him!”
“This kid’s great, early love didn’t affect his studies, so what are you worrying about?”
“Your son is an Alpha, you should treat him well, don’t be so stingy. Give them some money for a graduation trip!”

—

In the Chu family’s living room,

Chu Tao and Jiang She sat closely together, while Chu Xingning silently peeled an apple. Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin were both silent.

It was the rare time that Chu Tao broke the silence.

“Mom, Dad, Jiang She and I are together.”

Chu Jiangmin coughed lightly and rubbed his nose. “We know.”

Song Mian scoffed, barely controlling her expression, trying to speak calmly, “How long have you two been together?”

Chu Tao lowered his eyes slightly, a little furrow to his brow. “It’s hard to say. We never specifically talked about a date, it just happened naturally.”

The muscles around Song Mian’s eyes twitched.

She wasn’t young anymore; the skin around her eyes had begun to sag, showing the fatigue that comes with age.

For her to show such a range of emotions, it must have been something truly shocking to her.

“Xiao Tao, did you lie to me?” Song Mian asked, unable to believe it.

Chu Tao sighed and answered frankly, “Yes. Because before the exam, I didn’t want to waste time on unnecessary arguments.”

Song Mian was left speechless.

She was slow to realize that Chu Tao had been in an early relationship, but looking back from the outcome, her perspective had changed.

Chu Tao didn’t neglect his studies. In fact, being with Jiang She seemed to have helped him improve.

After going through several events, Song Mian had developed a good impression of Jiang She, but that didn’t mean she could accept Chu Tao being with an Alpha.

Looking back now, she realized the meetings they had might have been planned, but her energy was limited, and she didn’t have the time to reflect deeply.

Jiang She patted Chu Tao’s knee, signaling him to relax, and then turned to Song Mian, saying, “Auntie, how can I make you accept me?”

Song Mian looked at Jiang She, several times opening her mouth, but it seemed no matter what tone she used, it would be inappropriate.

Jiang She had helped them out before, tutoring Chu Tao, and frankly, if it wasn’t for the transition from friendship to love, Song Mian would still be thankful to him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Song Mian finally said, “Why would you like an Alpha? Don’t you see that Chu Tao is an Alpha? Do your parents know?”

Jiang She nodded seriously. “They know.”

Song Mian: “…”

Chu Tao said seriously, “Mom, my suggestion is that you convince yourselves to accept it. Because the truth is already like this, and since we can’t change the truth, we can only change ourselves, and perhaps we’ll be a little happier.”

Song Mian was confused. “What are you talking about?”
She couldn’t imagine that such audacious words would come from Chu Tao.
At this moment, Chu Xingning happened to have finished peeling an apple, cut a small piece, and handed it to Chu Tao.

Chu Tao took it and chewed it.
He then mumbled, “Finishing the college entrance exam should be a happy thing. Isn’t it better to let everyone stay happy? Mom, as long as you’re angry, no one in the house will be happy.”

Song Mian: “???”

Chu Jiangmin gave Chu Tao a look. “I don’t think Mom is always angry. When she gets angry, it’s usually for a reason.”
Song Mian’s mood lightened a bit.

Song Mian continued to question Jiang She, “Why would your parents agree?”

Jiang She replied calmly, “Because Chu Tao is very outstanding and kind. It’s like he shines with light. He can make the people around him, like me, become better. My parents couldn’t help but notice him, and it’s hard not to like him.”

Song Mian was stunned.
She had never heard anyone describe Chu Tao like that before.
Growing up, it was always Chu Xingning who was described in such glowing terms.
But hearing Jiang She praise Chu Tao like this, Song Mian’s heart softened for a moment.

Everyone hopes their child is well cared for and treated as a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Jiang She’s attitude made it feel worth it for Chu Tao to go against the grain and do something like this.

Song Mian met Chu Tao’s determined, unhesitant gaze.
She had long known that Chu Tao had already moved beyond her control.
Since the day he locked himself behind that door, her opinion no longer had any power over his choices.

Song Mian felt powerless and lost.
The old Chu Tao had been patient and obedient, even when he didn’t agree with her views, he would still follow her words.
Song Mian had become accustomed to controlling her two children.
But since the class split, Chu Tao gradually had other sources of support.
This support shifted his focus from family to himself.
He was his own person now.

Chu Xingning divided the apple into five pieces and handed one to each person. Since he had already given Chu Tao a piece earlier, there was one small piece left in the plate.
After finishing the apple, Chu Xingning stared at the remaining piece and said, “Mom, in the future, I want to find an Omega. I don’t like Alphas.”

Song Mian, hearing this, immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, stunned in place.

Chu Xingning mumbled to himself, “I should be able to find one.”
He had promised Chu Tao that they would face things together, and he wouldn’t back down. But it was a pity—there was no one they could openly be with anymore.

Chu Xingning picked up the last piece of apple and put it in his mouth.
He ate more than anyone else.

He had always been so lucky, so he had no right to complain about anything.

Song Mian was mentally exhausted, overwhelmed with mixed emotions, and eventually just gave up, letting them do whatever they wanted.
She knew deep down that once the children grew up and developed their own will, she could no longer control them.

After the family meeting ended, Song Mian kicked them all out, saying she was annoyed by the sight of them.
Chu Tao asked Jiang She to wait off to the side and then pulled Chu Xingning aside.

“Bro, you and Pei Jiang…”
“We broke up.” Chu Xingning said directly.

Chu Tao had actually guessed it, but still furrowed his brows in sympathy.
“Actually…”
“Actually, Pei Jiang had been lying to me. He had already differentiated into an Alpha. He always knew he was an Alpha.” Chu Xingning shrugged casually, speaking with indifference, and there was no anger in his eyes.

Chu Tao lowered his gaze and apologized, “Actually, Pei Jiang is Jiang She’s cousin. He told me about it on his birthday. I was afraid it would affect your studies, so I was going to tell you after the exams, but… I didn’t expect…”

Chu Xingning froze for a moment, then smiled. “Oh, I see. That’s really unfortunate. He differentiated into an Alpha the night before the exam.”

Chu Tao explained everything he knew about Pei Jiang—the background, the deception, and his character.
Chu Xingning listened carefully, but it seemed like he was hearing a story that had nothing to do with him, his emotions untouched.

After hearing everything, he murmured, “So, not only did he lie to me a little, but the person I liked was completely fictional.”

“Sorry, bro.”
“It’s fine.” Chu Xingning shook his head. “The college entrance exam is always a sign of change—the end of one journey and the start of the next. I’m too happy for the upcoming break to waste time complaining about something like this.”

Chu Xingning was sometimes carefree and indifferent to small matters. He didn’t seem hurt at all, which reassured Chu Tao.
“Big bro, you’re so good-looking, there will definitely be more choices for you in the future.”

Chu Xingning raised his chin, leaned against the railing in the hallway, and absent-mindedly looked at the gray ceiling. “Yeah, when have I ever lacked luck in love?”

“And thanks for standing by me today, bro.” Chu Tao leaned against the wall and smiled at Chu Xingning.

Chu Xingning blinked, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, and in a gentle tone, said, “Be happy, little bro.”

Chu Tao nodded earnestly. “Mm.”

The intense heat outside seeped through the half-open building door into the cool hallway.

Jiang She shouted from the entrance of the hallway, “Baby, I want to pick some flowers for you, but I scratched myself!”

Chu Tao sighed, “You’re so childish!”

Before Chu Tao could go out and check on Jiang She’s injury, a plastic bag containing disinfecting wipes and Band-Aids was thrown down from the window above.

With a “bang,” the window slammed shut again.

(END)

———————————————————————————————————————

Author’s note: Originally, the college life would have been written in more detail, but after many revisions, I feel that Chu Tao and Jiang She’s relationship no longer has any conflicts and is quite complete, so the main text ends here.
The college and career parts will be written in the extras.
Also, the secret about the mental glands hasn’t been revealed yet, and I will write about that later.

Lhaozi’s note: I will post the extra later, please be patient because I am busy right now. Thankyou✨