Back in the classroom, Chu Tao acted as if nothing had happened, calmly writing out the key points for the reading comprehension question for Jiang She and handing the paper back to him.

“All done.”

Jiang She took it with a pleased smile and teased, “Good boy.”

Chu Tao’s fingers paused, feeling frustrated as he thought about his reaction to Jiang She.

He ignored Jiang She’s playful remark and turned away, continuing to work on his math homework.

Fang Sheng tried to convince himself that A-She was just bored and looking for someone to pass the time with, and Chu Tao just happened to be the unlucky target.

It couldn’t possibly be that A-She was developing feelings for an alpha.

He pretended to be casual, saying, “Xu Yuan just mentioned it—some of the guys at Finance School want to get together, invited quite a few people. Let’s go; maybe you’ll meet an Omega you like?”

Jiang She, still holding the paper, was captivated by Chu Tao’s handwriting, finding it more pleasing and adorable the more he looked at it. For someone with such a stubborn personality and cold demeanor, how could his handwriting be so charming?

“Not in the mood,” Jiang She replied indifferently.

Fang Sheng waved a hand in front of Jiang She’s face. “Come on! I heard the school’s beauty will be there. She’s been after you for ages, and since you and Su Jingtong just had that falling out, she’s practically rushing to see you.”

“Are you done?” Jiang She snapped, clearly irritated. “I’m not interested in women.”

Fang Sheng, not giving up, muttered, “There’ll be guys too, you know. As soon as you say you’re going, there’ll be plenty flocking over.”

Jiang She wasn’t swayed. “You all go ahead. I’m not going.”

Fang Sheng glanced over at Chu Tao, who was absorbed in his homework, clearly annoyed by their chatter—he even had earplugs in.

“A-She, don’t tell me you’re still hung up on Su Jingtong?”

“Get lost.”

“Then… is it someone else on your mind?”

“Mind your own business,” Jiang She warned, casting a stern glance at Fang Sheng before carefully folding the paper and tucking it into his backpack. This was the first time he’d ever taken a paper home.

As the last class ended, steam from the cafeteria drifted into the air but was quickly shredded by the strong wind. Rain began to patter against the deep blue glass, water droplets clinging together and trailing down in winding paths.

“It’s raining?”

“Damn it, I didn’t bring an umbrella!”

“My mom’s car is parked outside, but how am I supposed to get there?”

“My phone didn’t even show rain at noon. My umbrella’s back in the dorm.”

“This school sucks, always blocking the signal so we can’t even check the weather forecast!”

Fang Sheng sighed. “Well, guess the gathering’s off.”

The rain meant he couldn’t tell his mom he was staying for study group.

“A-She, I’m so jealous of you. No one to nag you—you’re completely free.”

“Keep on envying,” Jiang She smirked, scrolling through his phone aimlessly with one hand propped against his temple.

With the end-of-school bell, the signal blockers were deactivated, allowing them to access the internet again. Jiang She checked his messages, his WeChat, SMS, and email repeatedly.

Nothing. No messages asking if he’d brought an umbrella, or if he’d get soaked.

The only notification was from the bank—50,000 yuan deposited this afternoon, his mom’s monthly alimony payment.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Is Chu Tao from your class here?”

A petite Omega appeared at the doorway, looking timid, blinking with doe-like eyes, and speaking softly.

A chorus of whistles erupted.

“Ooh, an Omega! A live Omega!”

“Shut up, they’re here to see the class monitor, not you.”

“What, I can’t comment? The class monitor isn’t that petty.”

“Wow, I thought our class monitor was straight-laced, but maybe he’s got some hidden charm.”

Jiang She placed his phone face down on the desk, eyes narrowed, glaring at the Omega at the door.

Unbelievable—they’d brought an Omega into the class.

He kicked Chu Tao’s chair, hard.

Chu Tao flinched, irritated, pulling out his earplugs. “What’s your problem?”

Jiang She sneered, “You’ve got company.”

Chu Tao frowned and glanced toward the door.

The small Omega, clearly unused to so much attention from alphas, blushed as his pale ears turned red. “I… I’m looking for Chu Tao.”

Chu Tao stood up. “That’s me. Sorry, I had earplugs in and didn’t hear. How can I help you?”

Behind him, Jiang She muttered with a hint of mock relief, “Good, a stranger.”

The Omega licked his lips nervously and said, “I’m Xi Xun from Class 7, the class secretary. Chu Xingning has a fever; he said you’re his brother and asked me to find you.”

Chu Tao’s face filled with concern. “He has a fever?”

Chu Xingning had been feeling unwell all day, and now he’d finally succumbed to a fever.

But with the school clinic closed and the rain pouring outside, it was a problem.

Whispers broke out in the class—

“Whoa, Chu Xingning?”

“The alpha everyone dreams of?”

“The class monitor’s his brother? Talk about a plot twist!”

“Actually… the class monitor’s really good-looking too. He does kinda resemble Chu Xingning.”

“Great, new knowledge acquired.”

Chu Tao grabbed his backpack, thanking Xi Xun and saying, “Thanks. I’ll take him to the hospital right away.”

Xi Xun let out a sigh of relief and quickly slipped out of the alpha-filled classroom.

Jiang She watched Chu Tao hurry out.

To the hospital?

The rain outside was getting heavier, and it was a long way to the gate with no way to hail a car easily. Even if his family came to pick him up, there was still over 200 meters between the school building and the entrance.

One of the students in the front row muttered wistfully, “That Omega’s suppressant smells so nice, like jasmine tea.”

Fang Sheng clicked his tongue. “A-She, with Chu Xingning sick, maybe we should do something to help?”

Jiang She glanced at him. “You got an umbrella?”

Fang Sheng rummaged through his desk, surprised. “Yeah, got one from that hotpot raffle.”

Jiang She snatched it up, annoyed. “And you didn’t say so earlier?”

Fang Sheng blinked. “Wait, don’t be so hasty! Hey, wait for me!”

He stumbled out of his seat, racing after Jiang She.

The Omega and Alpha classes were separated by a fifty-meter-long transparent corridor, usually only traversed by teachers going back and forth for classes.

Jiang She rarely went over there, but when he found Class 7, he was told that Chu Xingning had already been picked up by his brother.

Fang Sheng, however, began to back out. “Ah, forget it. If we give the umbrella to Chu Xingning, we won’t have one ourselves. There’ll be plenty of chances to get to know him later, no rush.”

Jiang She didn’t reply and turned to head downstairs.

“What? You’re really this eager? Just now, you said you weren’t in the mood!”

On the large platform on the first floor, quite a few students were gathered, held up by the rain. The crowd was noisy, complaining about the weather and about the school’s habit of blocking signals.

The air was filled with the thick scent of rain, and the dampness lingered with each breath.

The sky was dark and overcast, streetlights brightening the scene. Fine rain lines slanted across the stone bricks, creating a clear line where the ground was dry and wet at the entrance of the building.

“Hey, someone ran out!”

“Running in this heavy rain?”

“Wait… that’s Chu Xingning!”

“He’s got a high fever, rushing to the hospital.”

Fang Sheng patted Jiang She on the shoulder excitedly. “A-She, the slightly shorter one—that’s Chu Xingning! Do you see him?”

But Jiang She wasn’t looking at him.

His gaze was fixed on someone else.

The person who had taken off his own school jacket to cover Chu Xingning’s head.

Rain poured down relentlessly, quickly soaking through Chu Tao’s thin short-sleeved shirt, his neatly folded collar growing heavy and drooping as it absorbed water.

Droplets slid down his hair, tracing his neck, disappearing into his shirt.

It was a cold night.

Only wearing a short-sleeved shirt, he must have felt chilly.

Damn, it made one’s heart ache.

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Author’s note: Thank you to the lovely readers who voted for me or gave nutrient support from 2020-03-02 07:15:02 to 2020-03-03 16:13:36~

Thanks to the angels who gave nutrient support: Nonri (10 bottles); Maru (5 bottles); Yan Lu (3 bottles); Wu Jing (1 bottle);

Thank you so much for your support! I’ll keep working hard!