Jiang She’s palm was warm.

The moment their hands touched, the heat was steadily absorbed by Chu Tao’s hand.

The memory of holding Chu Xingning’s hand could only be traced back to ten years ago, not to mention touching the hand of a strong, fully developed Alpha.

Chu Tao instinctively shook Jiang She’s hand off: “Your hand looks better!”

Jiang She chuckled, praising himself: “You have good taste.”

Chu Tao: “…” Damn.

He quickened his pace while pushing the bike, intending to shake Jiang She off.

But as soon as he stepped out from under the umbrella, the rain hit him unrelentingly on the head, and he suddenly realized the benefit of having someone hold an umbrella.

So, awkwardly, he slowed down a little, waiting for Jiang She.

For the first time, he found himself feeling so spineless.

Finally, they reached the laundromat. As expected, the door was closed, and the lights were off.

The A4 paper taped to the window had been blown away by the rain and wind, and he couldn’t tell where it had gone.

Chu Tao turned around and pushed the door of the nearby convenience store.

The convenience store lights were on, but the door wouldn’t open.

He called inside several times, but there was no response, which made Chu Tao’s heart sink.

He parked the bike by a tree and ran to the hardware store next to the convenience store: “Uncle, where’s the convenience store owner?”

The uncle craned his neck and glanced over, nonchalantly saying, “It’s raining heavily, no business, so he went home.”

Chu Tao furrowed his brows and pressed his lips together. “But I need to get the key from him.”

The uncle answered in a carefree tone, “Just pick it up tomorrow, or you can call him.”

Chu Tao took a deep breath, rubbing his hair in frustration.

He only had the laundromat’s phone number, not the convenience store’s.

His whole body was already numb from the cold, and only when his fingers touched his face did he realize it felt hot.

If he had known the store wasn’t open, he wouldn’t have bothered rushing out from the hospital, especially not getting caught by Jiang She.

Jiang She snorted lightly, pressed his finger on the laundromat’s door, felt around the keyhole, then withdrew his hand and said nonchalantly, “Do you need a key to open this broken door?”

“Can you open it?” Chu Tao turned to look at him, his eyes momentarily brightening.

Jiang She paused slightly.

Chu Tao was backlit, with the bright lights from the hardware store shining from behind, casting his figure in a stark light.

But the brilliance in his eyes was no less than the light itself.

Jiang She’s Adam’s apple moved lightly, and he said softly, “Find me a piece of wire.”

It was easy as pie to get a wire from the hardware store. Chu Tao turned around and entered the store, leaving Jiang She in the darkness, narrowing his eyes.

Chu Tao handed the thin wire to Jiang She. When Jiang She took it, their fingers brushed.

Chu Tao shivered slightly, clearing his throat, “Is this a necessary skill for you guys?”

Jiang She rolled the wire, leaving a small hook at the end.

Chu Tao was half a head shorter than him, and the two of them were crowded in the small space at the door, giving Chu Tao the strange feeling that he was leaning into Jiang She’s embrace.

Jiang She’s breath was filled with Chu Tao’s scent.

That scent, mixed with the strong wind and the night rain, had a special allure, pulling people in.

He wanted his own scent to collide with Chu Tao’s and see who could dominate whom.

Jiang She withdrew his gaze. “What?”

Chu Tao was still focused on the keyhole, unaware of Jiang She’s change.

He added, “I mean, the skills of people in your line of work.”

Jiang She couldn’t help but laugh. “Our line of work? What do you mean by that?”

Chu Tao paused, lifting his eyes, a bit surprised.

He didn’t know how to describe it.

Maybe it was like the kids at school who weren’t that serious about studying, but had other skills they were good at.

Like gaming, fighting, or something else.

It should be like that, at least in his imagination.

If he hadn’t been randomly assigned to Class 3, he felt he’d never have come into contact with someone like Jiang She.

But to suddenly say that Jiang She was good at picking locks wasn’t quite appropriate.

Jiang She couldn’t help but comment, “You watch too many cheesy gangster movies.”

He poked the wire into the keyhole, turned it experimentally, and after finding the right angle, the wire hooked onto the lock cylinder, and with a sharp pull, the door opened.

A strong smell of laundry detergent wafted out from the room.

Chu Tao waved his hand in front of his nose, murmuring, “Thanks.”

Just as he was about to enter, Jiang She blocked the door, leaning against it with a teasing smile, asking in a somewhat cheeky tone, “So, how are you going to thank me?”

Jiang She’s voice had a mischievous edge to it. He was standing close, his voice lowered, and if Chu Tao hadn’t stopped, he might have bumped into Jiang She.

Chu Tao’s thick lashes fluttered, and the darkness concealed his nervousness.

“Stop joking around.”

Jiang She was relentless. “Who’s joking? Hurry up and say it. Say it and I’ll let you in.”

Chu Tao clenched his fists, his palms slightly sweating.

His throat felt dry, and he replied firmly, “I’ll let you copy my homework next time. And if you’re not too much of a jerk, I won’t tell Teacher Yang.”

Jiang She burst into laughter. “Copy homework? Are you a kid?”

“What exactly do you want?” Chu Tao asked, growing frustrated.

He was eager to return, afraid that Song Mian might notice something was off.

The rain had completely stopped, and the air was unusually quiet.

Jiang She inhaled sharply, “Are you going to yell at me again?”

Chu Tao stared back at him, not flinching.

Jiang She grabbed Chu Tao’s collar, lowering his voice, “Don’t think you can just….”

Before he could finish his sentence, a flashlight beam shone directly at their faces.

The light was so intense that it temporarily blinded both Chu Tao and Jiang She.

From not far away, the sound of hurried footsteps approached: “What are you doing? Stealing?”

Due to the bad road conditions from the rain, the traffic police were patrolling the main streets. By coincidence, they were near the school and saw two people suspiciously standing by the door, pushing and shoving.

Inside the police car, Chu Tao couldn’t help but defend himself for the eighth time, “You could just call the laundromat owner!”

The police officer driving the car sneered, “I don’t need to call the owner, I’ll just call your parents. First, we’re taking you to the police station to make a statement.”

Chu Tao didn’t dare let Song Mian know, so he shoved Jiang She, “Aren’t you going to say something?”

Jiang She lazily leaned back, taking his time: “What he said is true.”

The traffic officer sarcastically responded, “Right, you two are wearing school uniforms, the owner suddenly got back home because one of his family died, so he gave permission for you to enter the Laundry shop. And your school uniforms must be taken out on a rainy day, so you go to the convenience store to get the key. The convenience store just happens to be closed, and you can’t reach them. So, you go to the hardware store, get some wire, and easily break into the door. Keep making stuff up.”

Jiang She shrugged. “He doesn’t believe you.”

Chu Tao’s eyes turned red.

He had never even walked past the police station in his life, let alone gone inside.

The officer threw them into the station and told his colleagues, “Have their parents come pick them up. They’re high school students from Huainan No. 1 High School, caught stealing.”

Chu Tao was furious: “I didn’t steal anything!”

The lights in the police station were bright, and Jiang She finally saw the tears welling up in Chu Tao’s eyes.

Tsk.

He was an alpha, but he cried more than an omega.

After shouting that, Chu Tao couldn’t say another word.

No matter how stubborn or strong someone is, they are always fearful of the unknown, and they are intimidated by the authority of the police.

He was only sixteen.

Chu Tao was on the brink of breaking down.

The duty officer yawned, his face cold. “Enough chatter, what’s your name?”

The air conditioner in the station was blowing cold air on such a chilly day.

Chu Tao kept his lips tightly pressed, his body trembling uncontrollably. He tried to keep his eyes open, his back pressed hard against the wall.

It was a posture of seeking protection.

A tear fell unexpectedly, and Jiang She couldn’t stand it.

He took off his jacket and draped it over Chu Tao.

The school jacket still carried his body heat, and the biting cold was instantly alleviated.

Jiang She took a moment to steady himself, then lightly patted Chu Tao on the shoulder. He stood in front of him, unconsciously creating a small, secure space around Chu Tao.

Jiang She gave a half-smile, a hint of mischief in his voice: “You really want to call our parents?”