After Pretending to Be an Alpha, I Was Exposed by My Rival - Chapter 24

“It’s dark.”

Zhou Yijue’s face was expressionless, but the little person in his heart silently stomped Lu Chizhou into minced meat.

“Cough, cough. Maybe something delayed him on the way,” 2333 explained, its voice weak and powerless—probably because even it didn’t believe what it was saying.

Zhou Yijue glanced at the time, his voice growing colder.

“School ended at six. It’s eight-thirty now. I arranged to meet him at six-thirty. Tell me, what could have delayed him for two hours?”

2333 said, “Why don’t you go back first today and continue trying tomorrow?”

“Go back and let you keep messing with me?”

2333: “…There’s no such thing. You made an effort today, so you’ll definitely be fine.”

Ten minutes later.

Zhou Yijue followed a winding cobblestone path out to the roadside. Seeing a car, he was just about to wave it down.

Bang.

For some inexplicable reason, his left foot tripped over his right foot, and he performed an energetic flat-ground fall right in front of the driver.

The driver, who had been about to stop for a passenger, thought he had run into someone trying to fake an accident. His face changed drastically, and he slammed the accelerator. The car swerved away crookedly.

Zhou Yijue: “…”

Very good. He had become an unemployed young man trying to extort drivers.

2333 said, “Maybe it was just a coincidence.”

Zhou Yijue continued waiting for a car.

This time, he didn’t fall. He successfully stopped a car. But just as he reached out to pull the door open and get in, he hadn’t even used any strength when the car door broke off with a loud clatter.

The driver looked at him in terror.

“Brother, this is a new car.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Driver: “…”

Damn it. Was this guy a strongman?

If he had done it on purpose, would he have been able to dismantle the whole car with his bare hands?

The driver looked Zhou Yijue up and down. He was a clean, youthful, handsome young man who didn’t look like a bad person. But the driver also felt that appearances could be deceiving. What if he really was a psychopath? Then wouldn’t he lose both money and his life?

After considering this, the driver didn’t even dare ask for compensation. Dragging along the broken car door, he drove away with loud clanging sounds.

Unable to get a car, Zhou Yijue could only walk home in the end.

2333 said, “I can navigate the shortest route for you. You can reach Lu Chizhou’s house within half an hour.”

Zhou Yijue said, “Get lost, thanks.”

The next day, Zhou Yijue came to school with dark circles under his eyes.

The classroom had two doors, front and back. He was used to entering through the back door, but the moment he walked in, he ran into the face he least wanted to see today.

“Morning, Xiao Zhou Zhou.”

Lu Chizhou smiled incredibly brightly, the phantom tail behind him practically wagging into the sky.

Thinking of all the bad luck he suffered last night, plus being stood up by this idiot, Zhou Yijue instantly became furious. He glared coldly.

“Don’t block the way.”

“I want to talk to you properly.”

Zhou Yijue tried to pass on the left, so Lu Chizhou deliberately moved left to block him. He looked like he wouldn’t let Zhou Yijue pass unless he agreed to have a proper talk.

“There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

2333 said, “Incorrect. The two of you still need to talk about dating.”

Zhou Yijue chose to ignore the stupid system and glared at Lu Chizhou.

“Are you moving or not?”

Lu Chizhou stood firm as well.

“No. You haven’t talked to me in so long. I need to have a proper conversation with you.”

“Talk? Then what were you doing after school yesterday?” Zhou Yijue roared.

“After school? I went home. Then I cursed out that idiot Lu Yu. That dumbass called himself the universe’s number one diviner and sold me a hat for 99,999, saying that as long as I wore it, my wish would come true. What a load of dogshit. I kept my eyes open waiting until midnight, and not a single bit of good news came. But through this, I realized one truth: some things still have to be achieved through your own effort. So, Xiao Zhou Zhou, I…”

Lu Chizhou suddenly grabbed Zhou Yijue’s shoulders and looked straight into his eyes.

“I want to say…”

A faint electric current seemed to pass from the places Lu Chizhou touched, as if dispersing the chill inside Zhou Yijue’s body.

Ever since that trash system had revived and forced him to follow the plot—dating Lu Chizhou, marrying him, and having children in the name of “repairing the storyline”—Zhou Yijue’s luck value had been constantly dropping. As his bad luck increased, his body had gradually started showing signs of turning cold. At night, he didn’t even dare turn on the air conditioner, afraid he would freeze to death.

Zhou Yijue didn’t hear what Lu Chizhou said. His brain was still in shock.

It seemed that as long as he was in contact with Lu Chizhou, nothing bad would happen.

To verify this, Zhou Yijue agreed to have a proper talk with Lu Chizhou. He actively pulled Lu Chizhou’s hand over—straight-man style handholding—and dragged him forward without caring whether the person being held was uncomfortable.

“Come with me.”

Zhou Yijue pulled Lu Chizhou out of the teaching building and went to the place where he often fell flat on the ground. He walked back and forth three times.

Nothing happened.

Then he went to the place where he had been chased by a dog. He stood so close to the dog that he was practically right in front of it, but still nothing happened. Yesterday, he would have been chased and bitten long ago.

After continuously testing several places where he often had bad luck, Zhou Yijue discovered that he was no longer unlucky.

On the way back, he even deliberately let go of Lu Chizhou’s hand. But as soon as he let go, he immediately felt the little warmth in his body begin to drain away. Seeing that the large wolfdog was about to chase him again, Zhou Yijue quickly grabbed Lu Chizhou’s hand. The wolfdog, halfway through barking, suddenly became obedient and lay down.

Zhou Yijue couldn’t help smiling proudly.

The gloom that had hung over him for days was swept away. His smile was sunny and dazzling, enough to confuse people’s hearts.

Beside him, Lu Chizhou’s heart was about to melt.

What was going on?

Why was Xiao Zhou Zhou suddenly so obedient today?

And so cute?

He had actually taken the initiative to hold his hand and even brought him for a walk. Could it be that Xiao Zhou Zhou had finally realized his feelings and was preparing to express his position?

Was he about to stop being single soon?

Just thinking about it made him excited.

“Cough, cough. Xiao Zhou Zhou, do you have something you want to say to me?”

Lu Chizhou really wanted to act calmer, but he was too excited. Maintaining a composed expression had already exhausted all his strength. In the end, he still couldn’t resist asking first.

“Let’s go home together after school,” Zhou Yijue said.

“…T-together? Go home together? Then, then, then…”

Can I go to your house for tea? Just drink tea and chat, nothing else.

“Forget it if you don’t agree.”

Zhou Yijue shook off his hand.

“No, I agree. One hundred percent agree.”

Lu Chizhou was delighted. Before Zhou Yijue could fully pull his hand away, he immediately turned his palm over and took the initiative to hold it.

The two of them walked back to the classroom hand in hand, shocking everyone so badly their jaws nearly dropped.

Former mortal enemies, now walking hand in hand—what was this?

Zhou Yijue pulled his hand back, shook it off in disgust, and returned to his seat with a tense face.

“Xiao Zhou Zhou, y-you haven’t been possessed by something dirty, have you?” Yuan Datou looked at Zhou Yijue in horror, as if looking at some kind of monster.

“Mm. You got it right. I’ve been possessed by something dirty.”

2333: “…”

After school.

Before Zhou Yijue had even packed away his books, Lu Chizhou rushed over like an arrow and blocked the path Zhou Yijue had to take to leave his seat, as if afraid he would suddenly change his mind and run away.

“Before going back, should we go eat dinner first?”

“No… no need to eat outside. Let’s go to the supermarket and buy something to cook at home.”

Zhou Yijue’s habit was to refuse, but just as the words reached his mouth, his stomach growled loudly.

He remembered that he hadn’t been able to eat properly for several days. Ever since his luck value dropped sharply, he often choked when eating. In the end, it had almost formed a psychological shadow. Unless he was hungry enough for his hands and feet to go weak, he didn’t dare eat even a bite. He even drank less water than usual.

If Lu Chizhou was around today, he should be able to eat a good meal.

Thinking that, Zhou Yijue changed his words to buying groceries and cooking at home.

After hearing this, Lu Chizhou became even more ecstatic.

Buying groceries and going home—didn’t that mean he could also follow Xiao Zhou Zhou home?

Hehehe.

“Sure. I have a car. Oh, no, my car broke. Let’s walk back.”

Lu Chizhou had wanted to say he had a car and could drive directly back, but suddenly thought that if they drove, they would reach Zhou Yijue’s house in just a few minutes. Wouldn’t that waste this wonderful time for nothing?

Better to walk.

If they walked, they could walk for half an hour.

Walking hand in hand for half an hour—just thinking about it made him feel delighted.

A few minutes later, Zhou Yijue sat in the driver’s seat and waved at Lu Chizhou.

“A secondhand car I just bought. Get in if you don’t mind.”

Lu Chizhou: “…”

Damn scientific progress. It was interfering with his normal dating life.

A few more minutes later, the two arrived at Zhou Yijue’s residential complex. Zhou Yijue put the car away, then walked with Lu Chizhou to the supermarket.

Along the way, Lu Chizhou kept eagerly testing the waters, trying to hold Zhou Yijue’s hand. After brushing against him a few times and discovering that Zhou Yijue didn’t refuse, Lu Chizhou’s face turned red as he held Zhou Yijue’s hand.

His entire face became so red it looked like it could drip blood.

Even his nostrils and ears seemed to be giving off heat.

His palm was so nervous it kept sweating. This handholding was even more stimulating to his fragile little heart than the one in the morning.

Too exciting.

His heart was about to stop.

The two arrived at the supermarket. Their combined appearance was far too outstanding, drawing frequent glances from people. Their interlocked fingers attracted even more attention.

“What do you want to eat?” Zhou Yijue asked.

“Whatever you eat, I’ll eat.”

Lu Chizhou walked stiffly. If he hadn’t been holding Zhou Yijue’s hand, he might have moved his arms and legs on the same side like a robot. He mechanically followed beside Zhou Yijue. Wherever Zhou Yijue went, he followed.

“Anything you can’t eat or don’t want to eat?”

Zhou Yijue believed that he was using Lu Chizhou to survive a tribulation. To repay this kindness, he decided to personally cook something delicious for him.

“No. I love eating everything. I’m not picky. I’m very easy to raise.”

Lu Chizhou hurriedly forced in another round of self-promotion.

“Mm. Then I’ll buy some shrimp.”

Lu Chizhou, who was allergic to seafood: “…”

“You don’t eat it? I prefer seafood, but if you don’t eat it, I can choose something else,” Zhou Yijue said, raising an eyebrow.

“No, no. Seafood is fine. I like seafood the most.”

“Then two jin of shrimp. And one fish. Do you want steamed fish or fish soup?”

Zhou Yijue brought Lu Chizhou to the seafood section, picked two jin of shrimp, and then chose a lively fish.

Lu Chizhou followed behind him, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

After choosing the ingredients, they went home.

This was Lu Chizhou’s first time visiting Zhou Yijue’s home, so naturally he was incredibly excited. He looked left and right, feeling satisfied no matter where he looked. Even when he saw a wad of tissue fallen beside the trash bin on the floor, he thought it was extremely cute.

This damned love filter was probably already a thousand meters thick.

“Find somewhere to sit. I’ll go cook.”

Each of them was carrying a bag of groceries, and their hands were still clasped between them.

After Zhou Yijue finished speaking, he tried to break free. Lu Chizhou instinctively chased after his hand and held on tighter. Zhou Yijue couldn’t pull away and raised an eyebrow at him.

Lu Chizhou smiled ingratiatingly.

“I’ll help you.”

“That works.”

Zhou Yijue was also afraid that if he stayed too far from Lu Chizhou or left him for too long, some accident might happen in the kitchen. So he suppressed the urge to chase Lu Chizhou away and agreed.

In the kitchen, the two divided the work.

Lu Chizhou was responsible for washing vegetables and dishes. Zhou Yijue was responsible for cooking.

The former was in complete chaos.

The latter was calm as usual.

At the sink, the clanging sound of Lu Chizhou washing dishes rang out. Beside him, at the cutting board, came Zhou Yijue’s rapid chopping. He cut quickly and accurately, comparable to an international chef.

It also made Lu Chizhou’s heart flutter chaotically.

His hands followed his heart into chaos, and he accidentally smashed a bowl.