Chapter Text
One early morning, in a small apartment, the ringing of an alarm clock filled one room. A 16-year-old Gao Tu, who woke up at the sound, turned it off. He got up from his bed and did light stretching.
He went to a calendar hanging in his room. He marked the date today, reminding him that it's the start of the new academic year in high school.
The A-class omega sighed. It's not that he's excited, it's just that it would be his another school year where he had to take suppressants every day, to be a beta in public.
He already missed his summer days where he took his full-time summer jobs everyday, and his occasional visits to his sister at He Ci Hospital. However, he did not miss his father meeting at home and various places, where he demanded money from his son.
A minute had passed. The sage-scented omega immediately got ready to be at school on time.
After a routine, he went to a large mirror and looked at his school uniform. He started to think about the private school he would be going into.
~•~
Last school year, after it ended, Gao Tu requested all requirements for a transfer at the school registrar. He got them after a few days.
He had to transfer to another school. He could not stay there any longer.
The previous school was too crowded in his opinion. For the first few years, he would not mind, as his goal is to study. But in the previous school year, he could not take it anymore.
He was slowly getting weak. He knew due to the constant use of suppressants. He was afraid of his pheromone scent leaking in public.
He made a choice to transfer to another school, composed of fewer students than the previous one. In order to have his own money increased, as well as continue to pay for his sister's hospital bills, he applied for two to three summer jobs.
He worked multiple jobs before, new one after new one every few months. He resigned all of them for different reasons: toxic environment, not enough time and resources, and small salaries. His current shifts were at least better than his previous ones.
During the admission process, he saw a poster about a scholarship for the below middle class and lower class students, funded by a newly enrolled student who belonged to an upper class family.
Gao Tu read all the details and was eager to enroll. After reading, his focus was shifted to the name of the newly enrolled student.
Shen Wenlang.
Gao Tu unconsciously memorized the name. 'If I got accepted here and received my scholarship, he would be the first person to greet and say my gratitude to him,' he thought to himself.
Weeks after the enrollment ended, he got accepted. When he received the scholarship money after that, he spent it on his uniform and other school essentials. He saved the remaining money for his future school expenses.
Just last week, he resigned from one of his full-time jobs. When his shift at the convenience store ended, he went to the manager. He requested a part-time, because he needed to continue his schooling as the academic year would start in a week. The manager accepted his request.
~•~
The teenager sighed. He looked at himself in the mirror one last time. His gaze shifted to a small box, tightly and safely locked, and inside is his savings. He really is grateful to the wealthy student.
He glanced at his wristwatch. Realizing he would be almost late for the next bus, he gathered his belongings and bolted outside to catch up at the bus stop.
෴✿෴
The wealthy student in question groaned at the sound of his alarm clock. A 15-year-old Shen Wenlang got up immediately from his bed. He turned the alarm off and did light stretching.
The S-class alpha grabbed his phone and looked at the date and time. "Oh right, school," he groaned.
His mind went to the roller coaster of events before coming here in Jiang Hu.
His omega father, Ying Yi, shot the omega mistress of his alpha father, Shen Yu.
Ying Yi was imprisoned and gone after three days, declaring his death.
The funeral was short and Wenlang was ignored by Shen Yu.
Wenlang was ordered to live in Jiang Hu and continue high school there, with sponsoring a scholarship to other students like him, courtesy of his alpha father.
The iris-scented alpha shook his head to clear his mind. Time went fast. Today is his first day as a student in Jiang Hu.
He looked around at his room. He was still getting used to the surroundings, as he lived here in Jiang Hu for a few weeks. After almost 16 years of living in a mostly unloving home, he got to live alone in his apartment.
Mostly. He was not on good terms with his alpha father, but he had good, albeit short, memories with his omega father.
He missed his hugs. He missed his kisses. He missed them being happy together.
In many instances, when the married couple were together, they were harsh to their only son.
Wenlang did not miss the cold and distant behavior of his alpha father. Shen Yu was the reason for his son's permanent scar below his left eyebrow.
His disdain for omegas started when he witnessed Ying Yi’s actions in the couple’s intimate moments when he was a kid. He swore to himself that he would never enter a relationship like them and reject every omega who dared to pursue him.
There's another person who considered him as both an oldest friend and part of his family. Hua Yong.
Although not fully admitting himself, Shen Wenlang missed him. They formed an unbreakable bond since they were both young. The Shen family knew the enigma’s family, especially on his mother's side since they were close. Both men kept in contact with each other for years, even after the latter transferred to his father's estate.
The recent update Wenlang got of him was that he would visit Jiang Hu from time to time, to see the love of his life, Sheng Shaoyou.
~•~
"We will meet each other again when you get there," Hua Yong stated in a call with Shen Wenlang.
"I want to see Mr. Sheng again. I miss him everyday when we're apart," he added.
The alpha scoffed. “Yeah yeah, people who know you know you're in love with him. Just don't interfere with my life there. You know I don't like any public affection, especially if you act like an omega in public and I hate omegas who get near me.”
The enigma laughed. “Of course, I will be discreetly watching Mr. Sheng. I will be very lucky when we interact again.” He let out a dreamy sigh.
Wenlang rolled his eyes. “If you say so. There must be another reason why you want to visit Jiang Hu. You want to escape again?”
He didn't know fully about Hua Yong's life with his family, but after the tiny bits of information gathered from him, he understood that he was in a similar situation to his own family: toxic and abusive.
The call stood silent for a moment. Hua Yong replied, “You know me very well, Wenlang.”
~•~
The sudden ringing of his phone shook the teenager out. He looked at the time and got ready within minutes.
He hoped that the day would be a bit better than his entire life in Country P.
Gao Tu went inside the gates of the campus. It was one of the elite schools in Jiang Hu, so he was surprised when he looked around for the first time.
He looked around. 'Fewer people than I imagined. Thank goodness, I chose this place.' He sniffed his wrist and touched his patched nape that was hidden under his collar discreetly. 'No smell, better.'
He attended ceremonies and other mandatory activities. He checked his schedule for the first semester and visited the rooms where they would hold his classes.
After a tiring but fun day, he walked towards the main exit. Suddenly, he heard whispers and small talks from several students. He looked around, and thought to himself that they were likely students similar to his age.
He went near them. The tall figure caught his attention.
"So, that's why this place was crowded," he whispered to himself. That must be him. "Shen Wenlang, I finally get to see you."
෴✿෴
The aforementioned alpha entered the campus with an unbothered look on his face. He was fully aware of the attention surrounding not just students, but also the teachers and staff.
Shen Wenlang released his dominant pheromones on purpose. People around him immediately fled away, and continued their own business. He attended the school events alone and in peace.
After the day ended, he immediately bolted outside. He barely reached the main gate when several students surrounded him.
He scowled. When he unintentionally smelled omega pheromones that were released by many students, his expression darkened.
'Tsk, needy omegas. Do they know what they are?' He wanted to say out loud.
He tried to get away from the crowd. Every five steps, he kept getting stuck.
Nearing the main gate, he glanced one last look at the crowd. One figure caught his attention.
Wenlang studied the person's features. Slim but masculine build, tan skin, mushroom hair, and the facial expression looking like a curious rabbit.
'Cute and attractive,' Shen Wenlang had in mind. He got outside the gates after finally releasing himself from the crowd.
He went inside the car, his personal driver getting ready to start the engine, and drove off to his apartment.
Absent-mindedly, Wenlang thought back to the person that caught his interest.
"Who is he?" he said unconsciously. He flinched at his voice. He didn't expect to say it out loud.
He looked at the driver, thankfully focused on his driving. Wenlang grabbed the privacy screen, and closed it between the two of them.
He resumed talking to himself. "Is he the same grade level as me? If so, then I hope we're classmates."
He adjusted himself to his seat. “His expression looked like a bunny. I bet his name sounds like one.” He chuckled. “Tomorrow, I will approach him. And see if we get along.”
He leaned against the window. He let out a small smile. "Just one person made my day better."
෴✿෴
Gao Tu felt like he was in a dream.
Shen Wenlang glanced back at him. The omega jolted slightly at the sight.
He could not look away. Instead, he lingered for several seconds.
As if time slowed for a moment. The crowd blurred and disappeared, and only the two men were in the picture.
Gao Tu asked himself: 'Did... did he just stare at me?' The scenario continued when he studied Wenlang's features. Tall and broad shoulders, aloof but calm demeanor.
His daydream ended abruptly when Shen Wenlang was no longer among the crowd.
The omega looked around. He realized that the students were unaware of the stiffness of both males, as they were busy admiring the alpha.
After the commotion faded, Gao Tu went outside the gates and reached the bus stop. When he went inside the bus, he sat down, alone in his seat. He had a lot in his mind on his way home.
Shen Wenlang's eyes on him. The unreachable high-levelalpha's body stood motionless. His facial expressionmirrored his own.
'Does he have… an interest… in me?'
"No way!" Gao Tu whispered loudly, but not heard enough to the passengers around him.
He covered his mouth. He continued his train of thoughts.
'That's impossible, isn't it? He is way out of my league. He probably has friends in school. He won't make me his friend, let alone notice me throughout high school.'
He sighed. He doubted if he really had the chance to talk and express his gratitude to him.
When the bus stopped at the point, Gao Tu got off and went to reach the apartment. He cooked and ate his early dinner. He changed his school uniform to work uniform and proceeded to a convenience store to start his weeknight shift.
Inside the apartment, Shen Wenlang ate dinner and washed up. After changing into his nightgown, he lied down on his bed. He grabbed his phone and checked the time. He sighed, thinking it was too early to sleep.
The alpha marveled back to the man he saw a while ago. He searched for his name in different social media apps, but he couldn't find any results he was looking for.
“Maybe all of his accounts are private? Or he used a different name?” He asked while rummaging through various profiles and posts. An hour later, he gave up. He put down his phone on the bedside table and lied back facing the ceiling.
On the same night, Gao Tu got out of the bathroom, freshly bathed. He got back to his apartment after his shift, tired and sleepy. He wore his nightgown and sat on his bed.
He grabbed his phone, checking for new messages and emails. The latest ones were reminders for hospital and rent bills. Thankfully, no new messages from a certain father.
He thought back to Shen Wenlang. He searched his name on different aforementioned apps, and he found one, certainly his account. He contemplated, “Should I follow him or not?”
He was about to press the button, but he retracted his thumb. “It doesn't matter. He's famous, he won't see notifications. Especially from a stranger like me.”
He sighed. With a last look at his phone, he put it on his bedside table. He removed his pair of eyeglasses and put it in the same place. He lay down on his bed, facing the ceiling.
The two men stayed awake for a long time, thinking about each other. Their eyes closed slowly. They slept peacefully through the night.