After Attending School A, I Differentiated into an Omega - Chapter 5

Jiang Zhao leaned in slightly, her long eyebrows arching just a fraction. Her eyes, deep and thick as the night, locked onto her. “You like me?”

Qin Fengyue: “??”

Chu Yang: “!!”

Qin Fengyue raised her hand, wanting to hook her fingers into Jiang Zhao’s collar, but Jiang Zhao avoided her with a light dodge.

Qin Fengyue smiled. Looking up with a face flushed from intoxication, she admitted grandly, “Yes.”

Chu Yang: “………..”

Jiang Zhao suddenly let out a laugh. Under Chu Yang’s completely speechless gaze, she removed Qin Fengyue from her blacklist.

Chu Yang: “…You guys actually added each other on WeChat?”

Suddenly, he realized something. His face twisted as if he were severely constipated as he stared at Qin Fengyue. “You said a few days ago that you were in love… It wouldn’t happen to be Jiang Zhao, would it?”

Chu Yang felt his entire world crumbling. “Your taste is so… so unique?”

To prevent Qin Fengyue and Jiang Zhao from thinking he was discriminating against Alpha/Alpha (AA) romance, Chu Yang chose the mildest wording possible. He didn’t know Jiang Zhao’s orientation, but Qin Fengyue had always liked soft Omegas!

Qin Fengyue “tsk-ed.” Ever since she publicly showed interest in Jiang Zhao, too many people had already discriminated against her over the height difference.

“I get it already, stop talking.”

Jiang Zhao locked her phone, took the timed-out transfer that the system had returned, and sent it back again. She looked down at Qin Fengyue.

Qin Fengyue: “Are you going to blacklist me again after taking the money?”

Jiang Zhao: “No.”

Qin Fengyue’s mood soared. “But this is my hard-earned leverage. I’ll leave it in your custody for now, okay?”

Chu Yang: “…” You’re a real piece of work, Old Dog Qin.

Jiang Zhao chuckled low, still avoiding a direct answer to the question.

Qin Fengyue glanced at the third wheel, Chu Yang, and coughed, signaling for him to beat it.

Jiang Zhao: “I still have work, I’m leaving first.”

Qin Fengyue understood the art of knowing when to stop and playing the long game. She stepped aside with great grace. “See you next time.”

Jiang Zhao nodded. As she brushed past Chu Yang, the latter bumped her shoulder.

Chu Yang whispered: “She doesn’t know you’re an…?”

An Alpha?

A smile flickered in Jiang Zhao’s dark pupils. She raised an eyebrow and countered, “What do you think?”

“………..”

Looking at Qin Fengyue’s popularity in the private room and recalling the incident at the hospital, Chu Yang figured this undifferentiated Alpha had likely made the same mistake he once did—misidentifying the other’s gender. From that perspective, her orientation was still “normal.”

However…

Chu Yang scratched his head. “When did you two even meet?”

Jiang Zhao said indifferently, “I’m the friend of a friend who almost suffered social death because of female friends fighting over her?”

Chu Yang facepalmed. “…That was her.”

Recalling what she saw and heard at the hospital, Jiang Zhao let out a light sneer.

Chu Yang was nearly scared witless by that cold laugh! Since when did Jiang Zhao become so detached and cold?

…Fine. If he were a “Sea King” Alpha who got hit on by someone who thought he was an Omega, he’d be considered generous for not throwing a punch.

The motorcycle roared down the asphalt road.

Chu Yang, worried Qin Fengyue might fall off mid-ride, shouted: “Hold onto my waist!”

“Xiao Yue-liang (Little Moon)?”

“Damn it, don’t call me by my nickname, it’s not cool enough.”

Chu Yang almost doubled over laughing. “Hold my waist.”

“I only hold the waists of little Omegas.”

Chu Yang: “…”

They finally stopped steadily outside the gates of the Qin residence. As he helped the wobbly Qin Fengyue through the iron gate, he called for the maid.

“…I still want to confirm one thing. Why on earth do you want to pursue Jiang Zhao?”

When Qin Fengyue was drunk, she got sleepy. “Why else? Obviously because she’s gorgeous.”

Chu Yang spoke pointedly: “Being gorgeous is enough?”

Qin Fengyue said solemnly: “She is just too good-looking.”

Chu Yang: “…” Fine, he was impressed. He patted her shoulder. “I’ll support you.”

Qin Fengyue was impatient. “Everything will be fine once I differentiate.”

Is this really something that differentiation can solve? Chu Yang thought to himself as he drove away.

Fang Yi had packed Qin Fengyue’s luggage; suitcases and backpacks of all sizes stuffed the car trunk.

“It’s your first time boarding. If there’s anything you’re not used to, talk to the teachers immediately.”

Qin Fengyue held a bowl of sobering soup, a large bump on her forehead. She said nasally, “Can’t I call you?”

Qin Dong: “Do you want another bump?”

Fang Yi sighed and asked the maid to boil an egg for Qin Fengyue’s bruise. “Your dad is afraid I’ll go soft. Mom is actually going to miss you too.”

Qin Fengyue: “Give it a rest. Without me, you finally get your ‘two-person world’ back. You have no idea how happy you’ll be!”

Fang Yi: “True, it’ll finally be quiet.”

Qin Fengyue: “…”

Qin Fengyue had never attended a boarding school. To say she wasn’t nervous… was a lie! Right now, she was filled with restless irritation.

It felt as if School A was a dark prison and she was a death-row inmate about to serve her sentence. The future looked endless, cramped, and boring—staring at a bunch of “stinky Alphas” all day. Just the thought made her feel like she was going crazy!

She ate the egg she used to roll over her forehead, washed up, collapsed onto the bed, and pulled out her phone.

[Good evening~ Are you off work?]

The reply came after a while.

[No.]

The perfunctoriness practically spilled off the screen.

Qin Fengyue: [Where are you working?] Jiang Zhao: [What’s up?] Qin Fengyue: [I won’t come over. Just give me a general address.]

Once the location was sent, Qin Fengyue tinkered with a delivery app and then opened a game. She matched with a girl whose username was “Strawberry Milkshake.”

Qin Fengyue had zero resistance to such soft, sweet girls. Her protective instincts exploded as she spent the whole match rushing between killing enemies and saving the girl. Finally, she led the team to victory.

After the game, Strawberry Milkshake sent a friend request. Just as Qin Fengyue was about to accept, a message from Jiang Zhao came in.

[You bought this?]

She had ordered supper for Jiang Zhao—a low-fat, easy-to-digest nutritious porridge perfect for late at night. It was incredibly thoughtful.

Qin Fengyue struck while the iron was hot: [I was afraid you’d be too tired.]

She might as well have written “I am pursuing you” across her forehead.

After a moment, the reply came: [Are you serious?]

It wasn’t said explicitly, but Qin Fengyue understood. Jiang Zhao was asking if she was serious about her.

[Of course.] [Think about it for one more night,] Jiang Zhao replied. Qin Fengyue: [I’m not drunk. I mean it.]

Jiang Zhao didn’t reply again. Qin Fengyue waited for a while before finally surrendering to the Sandman.

At midnight, Jiang Zhao finished the inventory and closed the shop. The cafe owner called her back and handed her a thick, heavy envelope. Jiang Zhao weighed it; she knew the count and started to open it.

“Alright!” The owner smiled helplessly. “Don’t count it. The rest is a bonus for you.”

Jiang Zhao: “It’s too much.”

“Nonsense. I owe you for the help this summer! I gave you half of the night shifts; I’d feel bad if you didn’t take it. School starts tomorrow. Study hard and don’t tire yourself out.”

Jiang Zhao nodded. She wasn’t the type to be overly modest; there was no need to argue with the owner. “Then I’m off. Contact me anytime if you need something.”

Jiang Zhao walked down the asphalt road lit by streetlights. The moonlight was hazy and the lights were warm yellow. She took out her phone, her WeChat screen still on Qin Fengyue’s message.

Looking at it now, she realized her playful question had given someone a massive misconception.

She curled her lips and opened the class group chat, scrolling through a few messages.

“The Ultimate Alpha Alliance” Monitor Xu: Notice: A transfer student is coming tomorrow. Wanting Romance (sob): …I’m actually wondering if an Omega will be dropped in by parachute… I Love Veggie Strawberry @Wanting Romance: Keep dreaming. Unless School A goes bankrupt. – When will School A go bankrupt! – Plus one! – Plus ID number!

Know-it-all Jiang Da: He’s here. Just scoured other school forums. The transfer Alpha is a ‘Sea King.’ @Lovely Baby, it’s the Alpha your goddess used to chase. Lovely Baby (jumping in place): Damn! That Sea King!?

In this “monk temple” of Alphas, nothing was hated more than an Alpha who mistreated Omegas. Amidst a flurry of insults, Know-it-all Jiang Da enthusiastically exposed the Sea King’s “fish-farming” (harem-keeping) behavior.

— Damn! It’s this thread: #I Will Forever Submit to the Moon’s Gentleness#. It’s full of this guy’s fans! It has 2,000 floors! — The name alone sounds cringe enough! — Any photos? — Crap, why look at an Alpha’s photo? Doesn’t that make you feel sick?

The insults continued until the group was put on mute by the admins.

Monitor Xu: [For the sake of class harmony, everyone remember to clap when the new student arrives tomorrow.]

Naturally, everyone moved to a smaller group without teachers to keep swearing.

— Which idiot muted the chat? F— your mother— — Where were we? Keep going, Know-it-all! — Any photos? — This guy even has a support club… it’s called… wait… While forwarding the info, the Know-it-all cursed first. — This thing is actually called “The Stars Surrounding the Moon” (Zhong Xing Gong Yue)?!!!

Jiang Zhao let out a light snort.

[Admin has enabled all-member mute.]

No wonder her feed was full of people complaining about the admins tonight.

Jiang Zhao was speechless. Perhaps she was in a good mood, but the warm supper in her hand seemed particularly fragrant and tasty. She sat on a park bench and unwrapped the package under the moonlight.

Stars surrounding the moon?

Jiang Zhao looked at the moon. A pity—the sky was full of stars, but she wasn’t among them.

The next day, Qin Fengyue was hauled into the car by Qin Dong and sent to School A to report. It was Return Day; the senior year customs at School A were similar to United Middle School. Seniors returned a week early to get into the study mindset for the college entrance exams. With only senior teachers and students on campus, the place felt exceptionally quiet.

While Qin Dong was reversing the car, Qin Fengyue was buried in her phone.

[I’ve thought it through.] [My answer hasn’t changed.]

Why isn’t she replying? Jiang Zhao had a face that made anything she did forgivable; Qin Fengyue decided to forgive her for ignoring her, for the sake of that face.

Reporting to the office, Qin Fengyue met her homeroom teacher, Chen Fang, a male Alpha who taught physics. Chen Fang was built like an ox; his post-differentiation Alpha traits were 200% qualified. While the strength of an Alpha is tied to pheromone levels, Chen Fang’s muscles were as exaggerated as a veteran gym trainer.

Qin Fengyue snarked under her breath: “What kind of class did you pick for me? Did you choose based on who looks like the best fighter?”

All morning, Chen Fang showed Qin Fengyue and Qin Dong around. Her dormitory was a newly built double room; because Alphas have strong territorial instincts, School A didn’t have four or six-person rooms.

Exercise equipment was everywhere—on campus, under the dorms—and the sports field was massive, provided for Alphas to vent their excess energy. After wandering for half the day, Qin Fengyue finally saw something she liked.

Sports were her forte. Every year, she captured countless Omega hearts through sports meets and PE class. Having been cooped up for days, her interest piqued when Chen Fang mentioned the school had four ultra-large swimming pools. School A was truly a money-burner.

At noon, Qin Dong treated Chen Fang to lunch, allowing Qin Fengyue to enjoy her last fine meal before “imprisonment.” She didn’t eat well; she was irritable all morning, mostly manifesting in spamming Jiang Zhao with messages.

[The sun is hitting your butt, wake up little pig?] [I didn’t ask, was the porridge good?] [Photo of lunch] [My dad took me for my last big meal, sob sob] [You there?] […] [I’ve placed my bets (leverage), how can you ignore me~]

After lunch, with Chen Fang accompanying them, Qin Dong took Qin Fengyue to the supermarket outside the school to stock up. It was door-to-door service the whole way. Once the phone call to Fang Yi was finished, the matter was considered settled.

Qin Dong bought half a year’s worth of supplies in one go. Afraid she’d go hungry, he bought a mountain of food—it was as if once the daughter was sent away, she was like water splashed out; he didn’t expect her back for six months!

They spent another hour tidying the dorm. Qin Fengyue was exhausted to the point of collapse. Finally, she gave a cupped-hand salute to Qin Dong: “You win. You handle the rest, I’m going to check out the classroom.”

Qin Dong: “Wait, I’ll go with you.” Qin Fengyue curled her lip: “Don’t. Stop here, or I’ll regret it in a minute.”

Qin Dong gave her a stern warning: “The environment at School A is unique. At home, your mom and I spoiled you, but here, no one will answer your cries. Don’t cause trouble, don’t fight. There are too many fully differentiated Alphas here; any one of them could crush you with their pheromones!”

Qin Fengyue knew the threat of mature Alphas well. Qin Dong sent her here for a simple environment. Nearly all seniors who differentiated in their first or second year were now fully developed. In senior year, it wasn’t just the academics that were intense. Qin Dong feared her flirtatious personality would bring trouble; School A would at least eliminate conflicts arising from fighting over Omegas.

At the start of the term, the homeroom teacher was busy as a bee. The senior department was filled with the wolf-like howls of Alphas.

“I don’t want school to start—!”

Looking at the grim buildings and the nearly tangible Alpha pheromones in the air, Qin Fengyue suddenly felt an infinite worry for her future.

But fortunately, Jiang Zhao finally replied.

[Was busy just now.]

Qin Fengyue typed while walking: [Work?]

Jiang Zhao, who was a bit impatient because she had caught a cold from staying out late at work recently, gave a perfunctory “Mhm.”

Qin Fengyue: [So hard. Should I accompany you today?] [No need.]

One word. Three words. Qin Fengyue narrowed her eyes. Why did the person on the other end suddenly become so cold?

[Do you remember what you said to me last night?] Qin Fengyue asked. [What?] Qin Fengyue: [I’m serious. About pursuing you, I’ve thought it through clearly! My attitude hasn’t changed.]

Qin Fengyue’s entire attention was focused on the palm-sized phone. As she turned the corner on the stairs, she slammed straight into a wall of flesh!

“Ow!”

Jiang Zhao’s chin was red. She had been coming around the corner and caught the reckless, non-looking Qin Fengyue in her arms. Her phone “pinged”—the notification for a WeChat message.

Qin Fengyue’s message was hanging right there in the notification bar, visible at a glance.

Behind Jiang Zhao, a group of Alphas poked their heads out. “Zhao-zhao, why’d you stop?”

“???”

After the initial surprise, Qin Fengyue’s head was full of question marks. The two stood in a silent stalemate.

Another person, after sizing up Qin Fengyue, immediately started swearing. “Damn! The transfer student?!”

“…” A ridiculous idea began to form in her mind.

“Transfer student, which class are you in?” someone asked.

“Coach, I want to learn how to fall in love!” a figure pounced out, only to be blocked by Jiang Zhao’s arm.

Qin Fengyue’s scattered gaze began to refocus. She answered subconsciously: “Class Two…”

“Yo! You’re in our class.” An arm draped over Jiang Zhao’s shoulder. “Comrade Jiang, do you know this shorty—f—!”

Jiang Zhao: “…”

The hand on Jiang Zhao’s shoulder was swiped away. Suddenly, her collar was grabbed tight. Jiang Zhao looked down calmly at this little Alpha who was standing on her tiptoes to grab her collar.

“What does this mean?” Qin Fengyue’s eyes were bloodshot.

Jiang Da: “………..”

The group of Alphas led by Jiang Da all retreated three steps in unison! Friends turned to arch-enemies? How did the new student change faces faster than a book?

Jiang Zhao: “It’s not what you think… Ugh!”

Qin Fengyue was flying into a rage; she simply used her position to give Jiang Zhao’s chin another headbutt!

Jiang Da: “…” Lighting a candle for you.

Jiang Zhao’s chin was now red and swollen. She was stunned for a moment before being laughed out of anger, her mockery fully enabled.

“What’s wrong?” “Regretting it?” Qin Fengyue: “F— your— Shut—”

Jiang Zhao interrupted her, saying nonchalantly: “Serious?” “Pursuing me?” “Thought about it all night?”

With every sentence Jiang Zhao spoke, Qin Fengyue’s grip on her collar tightened. Behind them, the mouths of Jiang Da and the others fell open a bit wider with each word.

“A… AA romance!?” “Holy s—!” “Forbidden love!” “Coach, I want to learn—”

“Learn my ass!” The “upbringing” Qin Fengyue prided herself on shattered into pieces. “You’re an Alpha?”

“Obviously.”

“I’ve been playing the attentive suitor for so long, and you didn’t say anything?!”

Jiang Zhao: “I saw you were enjoying yourself.”

The causes and effects suddenly connected like a cleared meridian.

“You’re really good at dodging the main point,” Qin Fengyue said viciously.

Jiang Zhao looked to the side. “The ‘main point’ you wanted is here.”

Qin Fengyue looked back. Her homeroom teacher was standing at the bottom of the stairs, books under his arm and a teaching pointer in his hand.

She looked back again; Jiang Da and his crew had vanished into thin air. From a distance, words like “AA romance” and “so exciting” pricked Qin Fengyue’s ears like needles.

Chen Fang, though used to big storms, was also astonished. “Reporting as a new student and already forcing a classmate into an AA romance?”

Jiang Zhao let out a very low laugh. Even with her collar gripped, she remained leisurely, elegant, and moving.

As for Qin Fengyue…

Qin Fengyue looked like a lustful ghost kidnapping a commoner woman. She could imagine that in less than a day, a rumor would spread through School A: the transfer student from United Middle School was a pervert obsessed with Jiang Zhao and forcing an AA romance.

“…”

Her entire next year would likely be spent trying to debunk rumors…

Qin Fengyue wanted to cry.