Do You Like Him?

Zhao Shu thought something might be wrong with his ears.

His gaze dropped to the two phones—one raised, one lowered—almost overlapping in front of him.

His body reacted before his brain did.

He reached out and grabbed Wu Qie’s wrist.

“Ah—” Wu Qie made a small sound.

A Beta’s speed and strength were generally inferior to an Alpha’s.

Caught off guard, his hand wobbled, and his phone nearly slipped into the hotpot.

Fortunately, Pei Qingyu reacted quickly and caught it midair.

He placed the already-unlocked phone on the table and calmly scanned it with his own.

Looking up at Zhao Shu—whose eyebrows were practically flying into his hairline—he said flatly,

“I told him to add me.”

Exchanging contact information with Pei Qingyu had been purely accidental.

When they first sat down, Pei Qingyu had barely given Wu Qie a full glance.

For a moment, Wu Qie had thought him just as lacking in manners as Zhao Shu.

Then he reconsidered.

Who among them wasn’t some kind of young master?

With his father heading the regional enforcement system, the Pei family was hardly inferior to the Zhao family.

Security guards in their neighborhood always said it was rare to find a wealthy young master as polite as Teacher Wu.

They weren’t exaggerating.

Having reasoned that out himself, Wu Qie found Pei Qingyu’s indifference unimportant.

Besides, students had been crowding him nonstop with toasts and small talk.

He barely had time to eat.

Let alone worry about where Pei Qingyu’s attention lay.

Until Zhao Shu answered Lin Zuwen’s call.

The topic shifted instantly.

Alpha-Omega stories never grew old.

Gossip was irresistible.

Voices rose around the table.

As they speculated about Zhao Shu and his Omega, Wu Qie finally seized the chance to put down his drink and shovel scalding meat into his stomach, already saturated with cold alcohol.

While eating with his head lowered, he noticed from the corner of his eye a slender, pale arm extending across the table.

A freshly opened can of Calpis was placed by his bowl.

Wu Qie paused and looked up.

Pei Qingyu met his gaze, expression unreadable.

“Hm?”

“Your pen,” Pei Qingyu said.

Wu Qie blinked again, more confused this time.

“I didn’t bring it. I can’t return it today.”

The alcohol had begun to dull his reactions.

It took him a moment to recall the exam pen.

He was about to say it didn’t matter—

But then their eyes met.

And suddenly he understood.

Pei Qingyu was probably the only person here who knew about the so-called engagement between him and Zhao Shu.

He saw it in the other’s calm gaze.

From Pei Qingyu’s perspective, Teacher Wu was listening to others enthusiastically tie his “fiancé” to another Omega.

Silent.

Without room to speak.

Perhaps awkward.

Perhaps pitiful.

So for the first time that evening, Pei Qingyu had spoken to him directly.

Understanding this, Wu Qie nearly laughed.

Was Pei Qingyu too kind?

Too meddlesome?

His lips curved slightly.

He did not reject the rare goodwill.

After all, Pei Qingyu had always been that kind of person.

“Oh,” Wu Qie nodded.

“It’s fine. I have other pens.”

Pei Qingyu looked briefly speechless.

“Let’s add contact information.”

When Zhao Shu slid the door open and reentered amid laughter and noise, Pei Qingyu’s calm voice sounded again near Wu Qie’s ear.

“I’ll be out of town next week for a competition. We can arrange a time for me to return it.”

The explanation took only a few sentences.

Clear.

Straightforward.

Unfortunately, Young Master Zhao was not easily fooled.

After hearing it, he sneered.

Instead of releasing Wu Qie’s wrist, he tightened his grip.

“I didn’t know Hongtie was so large that Pei Qingyu can’t find the faculty office himself.”

The pressure hurt.

Wu Qie’s wrist had only recently been freed from bandages.

He struggled.

Failed.

Annoyed, he frowned.

“Not everyone treats being summoned to the office like a second home, Zhao Shu.”

“….”

He was silenced again.

Wu Qie yanked his wrist back.

Overcompensated.

Nearly toppled from his chair.

Zhao Shu caught him instinctively.

But the gratitude he expected did not come.

Wu Qie pushed him away the moment he steadied himself.

Zhao Shu hissed, ready to snap—

But Teacher Xue approached.

“What’s wrong, Teacher Wu?”

Zhao Shu swallowed his curse.

He exchanged a few empty pleasantries.

When Teacher Xue asked again if Wu Qie was alright, Zhao Shu turned to glance behind him.

Wu Qie was seated properly now.

Head lowered.

Phone glowing faintly against his pale neck.

He looked almost obedient.

While very obviously scrolling through Pei Qingyu’s social media.

In mere moments, he had reached posts from half a year ago.

Even liked an advertisement about the psychiatric department at Pei Qingyu’s grandfather’s private hospital.

“….”

Zhao Shu snatched the phone away.

Wu Qie made a small sound.

Looked up.

Saw nothing.

Zhao Shu blocked him from view and said calmly to Teacher Xue,

“He’s had too much. I called the driver. I’ll send him home.”

After a pause, he added,

“My brother insisted.”

He brushed off Wu Qie’s reaching hand and slipped the phone into his own pocket as naturally as breathing.

The dinner was ending.

Drivers were arriving.

Teacher Xue left after repeated reminders to stay safe.

Zhao Shu settled the bill.

Wu Qie, drunk and pressing his temples, still remembered.

“Pay! Use my phone! The unlock and payment password are both 123456!”

Zhao Shu did not believe anyone was that stupid.

He ignored him.

Paid with his own phone.

…

Inside the Zhao family’s Rolls-Royce, leather and faint tequila-like pheromones mingled in the air.

Wu Qie sobered slightly.

He opened the window and let the cold air hit his face.

Then turned to look at Zhao Shu sitting beside him, arms crossed, expression sour.

“If you say you’re going to vomit, I’ll throw you out the window.”

“…I’m not.”

He slid back into his seat like a boneless creature.

A stray lock of hair fell across his eye.

Through it, he looked at Zhao Shu.

“Zhao Shu. Can I have my phone back?”

Polite.

Zhao Shu did not move.

Silence thickened between them.

Then Zhao Shu’s own phone began ringing inside his pocket.

“Lin Zuwen,” Wu Qie murmured.

Zhao Shu ignored it.

The phone vibrated persistently.

He crossed his legs.

“Why are you adding Pei Qingyu?”

Wu Qie genuinely suspected Zhao Shu was slow.

Hadn’t he already answered?

“He’s returning my pen.”

Silence again.

The ringing continued.

Wu Qie grew irritated.

“Why do you care so much? What I do isn’t something you need to—”

“Do you have my contact information?”

He stopped mid-sentence.

Confused.

Zhao Shu leaned closer suddenly, like a mountain tipping forward.

A mocking half-smile curved his lips.

“You don’t even have your fiancé’s contact saved. But you’re eager to add another Alpha.”

He tilted his head.

“Teacher Wu. Do you like Pei Qingyu?”