The Bandaged Wrist in the Strobe Lights

When Lan Yin called, Wu Qie had already finished washing up and was lying in bed.

Seeing the incoming call, he realized he wasn’t surprised at all.

“Half past nine at night is not an appropriate time to call your ex-boyfriend.”

“What? A Qie, just listen to me! Wuwuwu!”

…Nor was it appropriate to cry over the phone.

Lan Yin had no patience for Teacher Wu’s lecturing.

On the other end, the Omega poured out complaints about his current boyfriend.

A brainless rich second-generation.

A sexist.

Looked down on Betas and Omegas alike, as if being an Alpha meant he had an extra organ or could pee in splits.

“He’s only got one, and it’s average at best. Probably not even better than yours,” Lan Yin muttered.

“Too bad I never got to see yours. Otherwise I could’ve shut him up on the spot and shouted it loud enough for the whole building to hear.”

Wu Qie pinched the bridge of his nose.

He reminded him seriously not to talk like that to an ex.

Omega hooliganism was still hooliganism.

“A Qie, I miss you. I really miss you.”

Lan Yin sounded pitiful.

“I’m performing at ‘Xi Shen’ tonight. Can you come see me?”

As he spoke, a location ping popped up.

Wu Qie glanced at it.

Central district.

Not far from his place.

He rolled over and declined without hesitation.

He had to proctor a monthly exam tomorrow morning.

He needed to wake up early.

And frankly, he didn’t feel like getting dressed again.

Lan Yin continued making train-whistle sobbing noises when suddenly his phone was snatched away.

From the curses in the background, Wu Qie guessed it was the band’s lead singer, Li Ying.

Long curly hair.

Legs longer than Wu Qie’s lifespan.

Pheromones like sparkling apple cider.

A fierce Alpha woman.

“Wu Qie, come.”

Her smoky voice was low but decisive.

“I’ll introduce you to a new pretty Omega.”

Lan Yin: “Ahhh he just got dumped!”

Li Ying: “Lan Yin, I’m serious. Move or I’ll slap you. — Wu Qie, still there? If you’ve decided you don’t like Omegas anymore and want to switch preferences, there are plenty of high-quality Betas and Alphas at Xi Shen tonight.”

The call ended.

Li Ying immediately sent him a video.

The rear camera showed the venue warming up.

Stylish young Omegas with choker-style bite guards and inhibitor bracelets.

Plenty of Betas too, relaxed, drinking and laughing.

No need to worry about getting bitten.

Or biting someone.

Then the camera tilted upstairs.

That’s where the Alphas were.

Wu Qie unexpectedly recognized a few faces.

Including Lan Yin’s sexist rich-boy current.

And leaning on the railing, lollipop between his teeth, looking sullen—

Zhao Shu.

He spat out the stick and turned to speak to someone behind him.

White T-shirt.

Jeans.

Handed him a drink.

The camera flipped to Li Ying’s face.

“See? Coming?”

“Oh.”

Amid Lan Yin’s dramatic sobbing, Teacher Xiao Wu lowered his eyes and smiled.

“Fine.”

…

By nine-thirty, the club filled up.

Zhao Shu had been drinking.

When the heat in his head rose, he curled into a corner.

Unlike Alphas who caused trouble when drunk, he only caused trouble when sober.

“Pei Qingyu, get me another Sunset Tanzania—”

“You’ve had enough.”

“I haven’t.”

“Did you finish today’s homework?”

“Which subject?”

“You never do homework.”

“….”

Midway through the pointless exchange, Zhao Shu’s ears pricked.

He heard Zhang Gengxin curse.

Turning, he saw Zhang leaning over the railing, expression sour.

“Who invited him?”

Zhao Shu realized.

He’d been the joke all night.

Finally someone else was.

He dragged himself over lazily.

Below, the dance floor was packed.

Lights flashing.

Music thundering.

Lan Yin clung to someone’s arm.

The man wore a hoodie and jeans.

Ordinary sneakers.

Under shifting lights, his bangs fell slightly long across his brow.

Nose not especially tall.

Soft lines.

Sharp chin.

Pale skin.

Just… ordinary.

Average height.

Average build.

A Beta.

Not Zhao Shu’s type.

Yet he looked twice.

The black-haired young man stood out by not standing out.

Lan Yin, in a cropped top, beamed up at him.

They looked close.

Comfortable.

Untouchable by others.

No wonder Zhang bristled at the mere mention of him.

Zhao Shu patted Zhang’s shoulder.

“Relax. He’s the kind you’d lose in a crowd. Why compete with a Beta like that?”

He said “a Beta” casually.

Dismissively.

Yet that Beta seemed popular.

Lan Yin barely had him for long before Li Ying returned.

And this time, she brought another man.

Tall.

Early thirties.

A few silver streaks in his hair.

An Alpha.

Obvious.

From posture and clothing, clearly high-ranking.

Lan Yin instinctively ducked behind the Beta.

The Beta simply tilted his head slightly and assessed the Alpha.

The Alpha smiled and extended his hand.

Before he could shake it, Lan Yin dragged him back, snapping at Li Ying.

The Alpha’s gaze never left the Beta’s face.

Predatory.

Zhao Shu smelled it from upstairs.

Hunting.

A blind date.

Chin in hand, Zhao Shu grinned.

Pure spectator.

“Congrats,” he drawled to Zhang.

“Looks like your rival’s getting taken by an Alpha. Maybe he likes it.”

Detached.

It should have stayed that way.

…

Pei Qingyu finished dealing with student council complaints and set down his phone.

He stepped beside Zhao Shu and glanced downstairs.

His cold eyes paused.

Shifted back.

Zhao Shu might be brainless.

Maybe even a little face-blind.

Pei Qingyu was not.

The photo Zhao Shu had angrily sent him days ago—

The fiancé.

The plain face.

The geography teacher.

Same person.

“You’re happy about what?” Pei Qingyu asked quietly.

“Watching Zhang’s rival get stolen.”

Pei Qingyu stared at him.

“You’re an idiot.”

“?”

Before Zhao Shu could respond, movement below caught his eye.

The Alpha leaned in closer to the Beta.

Lan Yin panicked, wedging himself between them.

In the scuffle, Lan Yin grabbed the Beta’s wrist.

The Beta stiffened slightly.

Instinctively pulled back.

Lan Yin frowned and grabbed again, pushing up his sleeve—

Bandages.

Layer upon layer.

Silence fell.

“Which bastard did this?!”

Lan Yin’s shriek cut through the music.

Upstairs went dead quiet.

…

Zhang Gengxin rolled up his sleeves.

Alphas didn’t hit Omegas.

But beating a rival Beta wouldn’t land you in jail.

Before he could step forward, his collar was yanked back.

Zhao Shu had stopped smiling.

His expression was flat.

“Just hit the face.”

He said lightly.

“Don’t touch his wrist. Making it worse wouldn’t be good.”