At noon, when school ended, Chu Tao went to find Chu Xingning for lunch, but Chu Xingning vaguely mentioned going off-campus to meet a friend.

Chu Tao blinked in confusion.

There wasn’t a friend of Chu Xingning’s that he didn’t know about, even after they were split into different classes.

The soft-spoken Xi Xun was one such friend, but whenever Chu Xingning talked about him, he always said he didn’t dare get too close, or he might end up making a move on him.

Chu Tao couldn’t help but ask, “What friend? Someone from off-campus?”

Chu Xingning casually replied, “You don’t know them, they’re from another school.”

Their family had always been more concerned about Chu Xingning, as he tended to draw attention easily. Chu Tao also worried he might get taken advantage of.

He subtly asked, “An Omega?”

He knew that while Chu Xingning was physically an Omega, his mindset was more like an Alpha’s. For him to skip lunch with his own brother, it probably wasn’t an Alpha he usually tried to avoid.

Chu Xingning shook his head. “No, they haven’t differentiated yet. Don’t overthink it.”

“Oh.” Chu Tao nodded thoughtfully.

Since Chu Xingning wasn’t around, he could only go to the cafeteria alone. Arriving early, there were still plenty of boxed lunches available.

Chu Tao liked sweet and sour flavors, so he specifically chose one with sweet and sour ribs.

He took his lunch and found a rare quiet corner in the cafeteria. He opened his lunch in peace and started eating.

Barely five minutes into his meal, he heard a sweet, soft voice call out, “Senior Chu Tao!”

Chu Tao paused, lifting his chopsticks, and looked up. “Mo Xi?”

Mo Xi held a plate of food and, as if it were the most natural thing to do, sat down across from Chu Tao. “What a coincidence, Senior!”

Chu Tao pulled his lunch box back a bit to make space for Mo Xi.

Even though Mo Xi had a plate full of dishes, the portions were small. Chu Tao doubted whether that little food was enough to fill him up.

Or maybe Omegas naturally needed less food than Alphas, considering Chu Xingning didn’t eat much either.

Chu Tao gave a slight smile. “I was just wondering how to give you the recording, and then I ran into you.”

Mo Xi held his chopsticks, gently poking at the fluffy white rice, and smiled. “I’m in no rush; however is convenient for you, Senior.”

As he lowered his head, the milky scent of his suppressant drifted out.

The suppressants used by Omegas were mild and gentle, designed to attract an Alpha’s attention without causing either to lose control.

Few, like Chu Xingning, used a sharp, mushroom-like scent. You could tell just from the scent of a suppressant if someone wanted to emit hormones or not.

Chu Tao’s eyelids trembled slightly.

He silently picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and took a bite. “Mo Xi, the recording quality is poor; it’s full of static and won’t be much help to you. How about I send you my voice acting practice materials? You can follow along with those teachers.”

The recorder was in his pocket, and saying the quality was bad was just an excuse. With a packed schedule that morning, he hadn’t even had time to check the quality.

Originally, he intended to hand Mo Xi the recorder directly, but…

Mo Xi paused, then nodded, looking a bit disappointed. “Oh, alright. Thank you, Senior.”

He was a little down. Getting Chu Tao’s recording wasn’t just about learning for him.

As Chu Tao caught the scent of Mo Xi’s suppressant, he felt a bit agitated.

Though Mo Xi had used a suppressant, sitting so close meant Chu Tao still picked up on Mo Xi’s pheromones.

An Omega’s pheromones were incredibly tempting for an Alpha. Even a slight whiff should stir some thoughts.

But it didn’t. From the same distance, with the same pheromone concentration, Mo Xi’s impact on him was far less than Jiang She’s.

Was that mental gland really so powerful?

Or maybe Mo Xi’s pheromones just had a low compatibility with his own.

Should he perhaps try finding an Omega with a compatibility score over 90% in a matching app? Maybe that could fix this unusual reaction.

While he was thinking, Mo Xi suddenly said, “Senior, is the sweet and sour pork tasty? Can I try a piece?”

Before Chu Tao could respond, Mo Xi boldly picked up a piece of pork that Chu Tao had already bitten into.

“You—”

Bang!

Before Chu Tao could finish his sentence, a loud noise erupted behind Mo Xi. A basketball had been thrown hard onto the cafeteria floor, bouncing up about three or four meters.

The lively basketball bounced around the cafeteria uncontrollably, finally rolling off to the side.

Startled students ducked and moved away, and some who didn’t have time to protect their food had their lunchboxes knocked over by the bouncing ball.

Jiang She strode into the cafeteria, followed by Fang Sheng and Xu Yuan.

Fang Sheng wore his usual cheerful expression, seemingly unfazed by Jiang She’s behavior.

He even had his arm around Jiang She’s shoulder, nonchalantly saying, “A She, how about hot pot for lunch?”

The affected students were afraid to say anything, though some grumbled quietly about Jiang She’s reckless behavior.

Mo Xi hadn’t managed to taste the pork; the scare had made him drop it.

Looking at the chaos in the cafeteria, Chu Tao felt a headache coming on.

Mo Xi muttered softly to Chu Tao, “Senior, why are they so rude? You should stay away from them.”

Chu Tao barely heard Mo Xi’s words, because before throwing the basketball, Jiang She had glared at him.

That look felt like he want to smash the basketball at them—probably aimed at him.

But Chu Tao, ever composed, still nodded as a reflex, even though he hadn’t fully heard Mo Xi’s words. “You’re right.”

Mo Xi lowered his voice further. “Senior, if you can’t provoke him, just avoid him. Everyone else has left, so let’s move somewhere else too.”

He picked up his plate, even offering to carry Chu Tao’s.

But as his fingers touched Chu Tao’s chopsticks, Jiang She grabbed him by the collar.

“Ah!” Mo Xi’s face turned pale with fear, and the charming dimples on his cheeks disappeared.

He wasn’t as tall or as strong as Jiang She, and he was a rule-abiding, well-behaved kid.

Not every well-behaved person had Chu Tao’s resilience and skills.

Mo Xi was genuinely scared of Jiang She, especially when he looked like he was ready to fight.

Unable to help himself, he turned to Chu Tao for help, looking at him with teary, helpless eyes.

Xu Yuan, standing behind Jiang She, was stunned, reaching out as if to calm Jiang She, though he didn’t understand why Jiang She suddenly acted so aggressively toward a sweet Omega.

Only Fang Sheng looked on with a complex expression, occasionally sneaking glances at Chu Tao.

Chu Tao wouldn’t just stand by and let Jiang She mess around.

With a push off the table, he easily leapt across, pulling Mo Xi out of Jiang She’s grasp and shielding him.

“Jiang She, this is the cafeteria!”

Cold sweat was forming on Chu Tao’s forehead.

Right here, in front of everyone, Jiang She dared to act like this.

How had Chu Tao ever thought the rumors about Jiang She were exaggerated?

Before he knew him, Jiang She had already been this wild and unruly.

He was just a rare case, someone who crossed Jiang She’s path without being retaliated against.

Jiang She’s gaze fell on Chu Tao’s arm wrapped around Mo Xi, and he smirked. “So what if it’s the cafeteria? You can date, but I can’t play basketball?”

Mo Xi’s face flushed red, and he clung tightly to Chu Tao’s arm, too scared to speak.

Was Jiang She talking about him and Chu Tao?

The veins on Chu Tao’s forehead pulsed.

“Let’s go outside and talk.”

Jiang She sneered, raising his eyes lazily. “Oh? And how do you plan to talk?”

The calmer Jiang She appeared, the clearer it was that his anger was at its peak.

He had just said it that morning.

He’d said he would get jealous.

Yet as soon as he entered the cafeteria, he saw Mo Xi and Chu Tao sitting together, talking and laughing happily.

Mo Xi even stretched his chopsticks into Chu Tao’s lunch box, picking up a piece of pork that Chu Tao had already bitten into.

Xu Yuan rubbed his head, struggling to figure it out. “What’s up with Jiang She?”

He knew Jiang She was reckless, and he didn’t think throwing a basketball in the cafeteria was a big deal.

But he was completely clueless; it seemed like Jiang She was mad at the class president.

The two had been fine during the first class with no conflicts, so why did things suddenly blow up at lunchtime?

Did Jiang She really dislike the class president that much?

Fang Sheng kicked him, muttering, “You talk too much.”

Xu Yuan: “…”

Chu Tao took a deep breath, gently pushed Mo Xi’s hand away, shielding him behind him. He then walked straight up to Jiang She, looking him in the eyes. “Say what you need to say however you want.”

Jiang She gave a dangerous smile. “Are you sure?”

Chu Tao squinted slightly, not arguing with Jiang She.

He tossed his half-eaten lunch into a nearby trash can, wiped down the table with a napkin, and smoothed out his sleeve that Mo Xi had wrinkled. Calmly, he said, “Let’s go.”

Mo Xi looked at Chu Tao, wanting to say something, but Chu Tao had already left the cafeteria without looking back.

Mo Xi’s eyes filled with tears as he began to cry softly, tears sliding down his cheeks in a way that tugged at the heart.

He had provoked Jiang She by stopping him at the school gate, angering him, and now his senior had to stand up for him, to take the blow.

He knew that Chu Tao probably couldn’t win against Jiang She, but at this moment, he was truly afraid—afraid of Jiang She’s aura, afraid of his influence.

He knew he should stand by his senior, but in reality, he couldn’t take a single step forward.

Jiang She gave Mo Xi a cold glance, hands in his pockets, then turned and walked out with Chu Tao.

The basketball court was close to the cafeteria; if Jiang She and his group had just been there, it meant it was now empty.

Chu Tao walked to the basketball court and stood under the hoop, waiting for Jiang She.

The noon sun was intense and blazing, its light streaming into his eyes, causing a slight dizziness.

Jiang She approached under the sunlight, his school uniform half open, with a clean white T-shirt underneath.

He had a great build and a striking face; he would’ve looked handsome if not for his dark expression.

Jiang She walked over and pushed Chu Tao against the iron frame of the hoop.

The hard metal dug into Chu Tao’s back painfully, but he only frowned slightly without resisting.

Jiang She gripped his arm tightly, holding him in place.

The pulse in Chu Tao’s neck beat softly, his skin glowing under the sunlight.

He raised his head a little, resting the back of his head against the cold metal, exposing his neck to Jiang She without hesitation.

His lips pressed together lightly, his eyes lowered, lashes casting a faint shadow in the sunlight.

His shirt was tugged out of place by Jiang She, making the normally neat collar crooked. Chu Tao looked like he was surrendering completely.

Jiang She lowered his eyes, leaning in even closer, his chest nearly touching Chu Tao’s.

In a mix of grievance and defiance, he muttered, “If you were an Omega, I’d mark you right now.”

Chu Tao’s soft gaze turned sharp instantly as he jerked himself free, making Jiang She stagger a bit.

“If I were an Omega, I sure as hell wouldn’t have met you.”

If only he were an Omega. Though he dreamed of being one.

Jiang She’s anger flared up again, his chest rising and falling. “So you’d rather meet that little Omega instead of me?”

Chu Tao rolled his eyes, trying to stay patient. “There’s nothing between me and Mo Xi. He asked for my help, so I helped him. And I don’t want to date in high school. My mom wants me to get into a good college. Nothing is more important than that.”

Jiang She’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he muttered, “Dating in high school isn’t a big deal.”

Chu Tao impatiently pushed him away. “Maybe for you. Us regular folks are counting on the college entrance exam to change our lives.”

Jiang She had already loosened his grip, so he didn’t mind being shoved, but instead, he asked, “You’re really going to wait until after college entrance exam to date?”

Chu Tao replied with a disgruntled “yes.”

Jiang She paused briefly. “Then can I get in line now?”

Chu Tao: “Are you nuts?!”

He shook out his shirt, reaching behind to rub the sore spot on his back.

Jiang She, this jerk, really didn’t hold back.

The impact hurt so much he almost felt like crying.

Jiang She leaned closer, placing his hand on Chu Tao’s back and asked cautiously, “Does it hurt? Want me to massage it?”