He is not my Alpha! - Chapter 31
Once a person sets a goal, time seems to pass faster. Spring felt like a fleeting dream, blooming and fading instantly.
The public opinion about Ji Yifei gradually began to be dispersed by other topics. Whenever someone passed by Class One to see the person at the center of the controversy, they found him simply studying with his head down.
If his deskmate noticed them, they would only receive a cold glare and then leave.
Fewer and fewer people paid attention, as if the incident never happened. Things that happen during student life are often like this: they seem earth-shattering, but in reality, as soon as one lowers their head and picks up their pen, the hustle and bustle outside quickly passes by.
But this matter never truly passed for Ji Yifei. He understood that if he didn’t do well, some people would surely seize on this issue again.
Some people were just that idle, digging up others’ past mistakes.
Shang Yan looked at the person next to him solving problems. The faint dark circles under his eyes showed how hard he had been working lately.
Now, Ji Yifei would buy a random pastry from the cafeteria for lunch and return to the dorm to continue studying if he encountered problems he couldn’t solve. Hard work was certainly good, but the pressure was clearly too much now.
Ji Yifei said he only slept until 12:30 AM last night. If this continued, his class efficiency would be affected, and more importantly, his body couldn’t handle it.
He had lost weight these past few days. Although Shang Yan knew he was doing this to clarify the situation, it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel sorry for him.
At noon, Shang Yan returned to the dorm and called someone. The main culprits behind the slandering on the forum had been identified. Funnily enough, it was eight fixed people all along. The rest of the people only posted a few comments occasionally.
These eight people, however, were active in almost every related thread.
Looks like some people are still too idle. Shang Yan looked at the list sent to him. These people were indeed the ones who “harassed” Ji Yifei at the start of the school year.
The Alpha’s eyes darkened. What right do these scumbags have to mess with Ji Yifei?
Han Dongjun sent a message in the group, explaining that applying for proof from the Omega Association required the individual to be present in person. The group planned to go together this week to apply.
Ji Yifei hadn’t replied. He must still be solving problems right now. Shang Yan dialed his number.
He had witnessed the harassment incident at the start of the school year. They weren’t actually harassing Ji Yifei, but another Omega.
If Ji Yifei went to apply, he wouldn’t be able to get complete proof. It would require that Omega to go with him.
Ji Yifei answered the second call, but uncharacteristically, he didn’t speak.
Shang Yan wasn’t in a hurry. He held the phone without speaking. He was waiting for Ji Yifei to speak first.
Ji Yifei saw the message in the group. He knew he couldn’t get the proof. He wanted to message that Omega, but considering he had promised the person not to mention the matter, doing so now would be breaking his word.
Shang Yan’s silence reminded him of the figure he last saw that day. How could the Omega Association arrive so quickly? Someone must have reported it.
Was the person who reported it Shang Yan?
“Hello?” Ji Yifei finally spoke. He remembered the vow the two made that night. Now, he truly needed Shang Yan to “go through fire and water” for him.
Shang Yan replied with an “Mm.”
Ji Yifei: “You saw it that day, didn’t you? Did you report it to the Omega Association?”
Another affirmative sound came from the other end of the phone. Ji Yifei’s heart tightened. His hand involuntarily rose to touch his nose. He felt like a child caught in a lie.
“I can go with you to find that Omega,” Shang Yan understood Ji Yifei’s difficulty in speaking and finally decided to bring it up himself.
He was always soft-hearted toward Ji Yifei.
“But I feel… wouldn’t that be too much trouble for them? After all, this matter has nothing to do with him, and I also promised to keep his secret,” he said, waiting for Shang Yan’s answer, but there was only quiet silence on the phone.
A sense of unease rose in his heart. It felt like he was defending himself, but the judge in front of him was incorruptible.
“Besides, I feel that as an Omega, he should be protected, and I feel that the voices of doubt have also lessened a lot…” His voice gradually weakened, and he himself lost confidence.
Shang Yan listened to the words spoken by the person on the other end of the phone. Something pierced his heart fiercely, and the hand gripping the phone tightened slightly.
His voice was deeper than before: “You are also an Omega. You were willing to step out to protect him then, so why is he unwilling to step out to help you now?”
Ji Yifei was left speechless by the question.
In the end, he compromised and sent a message to the person. That person did not reply immediately.
Shang Yan hung up the phone, holding his cell phone without speaking for a long time. When will this person ever consider himself first when facing problems?
On Friday night, the person finally replied to the message. He first apologized to Ji Yifei, saying he hadn’t checked his phone during this time.
They agreed to meet at the school gate after school on Saturday.
Ji Yifei told Shang Yan about this, and Shang Yan nodded in confirmation.
Ji Yifei was rewarded with a new black pen refill, a “token of praise.”
In return, Ji Yifei immediately put the refill into the black pen casing and solved two physics problems, calling it an “inaugural writing ceremony.”
He told the other three that he could handle the Omega Association matter himself. Zou Duquan, as a free person outside of school, quickly replied with an “Okay.”
Saturday’s dismissal time arrived quickly. Ji Yifei’s parents were scheduled to return this week. He messaged them to say he would be a little late before heading to the school gate for the appointment.
He met the Omega. He remembered the person’s name from the last incident: Zhang Huan.
Zhang Huan was constantly looking around at the school gate. Seeing Ji Yifei, he actively ran over, his face showing a joyful expression that made Ji Yifei feel a bit shy.
“Hey, let’s go to a milk tea shop! I’ll buy you milk tea! I haven’t been able to thank you properly for the last incident!”
Ji Yifei nodded in agreement. Along the way, Zhang Huan kept expressing his gratitude to Ji Yifei. Ji Yifei could only repeatedly say, “You’re welcome.”
He mused that this person was so lively, he would probably get along very well with Jiang Jie.
The two arrived at the milk tea shop and found a corner table. Zhang Huan scanned the code to order and asked Ji Yifei what he wanted to drink.
Ji Yifei didn’t particularly like milk tea, but it didn’t feel right to refuse at the moment. He said Zhang Huan could order the same thing he was getting for himself.
While waiting for the milk tea, Zhang Huan went out to call his parents, saying he would be home a little late.
To ease the awkwardness, Ji Yifei opened his phone and aimlessly scrolled through his Moments. Just as he was about to comment on a landscape photo posted by Li Jiang, he received a message from Shang Yan.
Shang Shisui: Have you met yet?
Ji Sansui: [yes.jpg]
Ji Sansui: So nervous… why is it suddenly so hard to speak?
Shang Shisui: You can do it. I believe in you.
Shang Shisui: [cheer_up.jpg]
Ji Sansui: Okay.
Looking at the words “I believe in you” on the screen, a feeling started to take root and sprout in an unexpected corner of his heart.
Zhang Huan returned with two cups of milk tea, inserted the straws, and handed one to Ji Yifei. Ji Yifei said, “Thank you.”
Ji Yifei took a sip of the milk tea and found it was taro flavor, which he also liked. The sweetness instantly filled his mouth, boosting his confidence a bit.
“Ji Yifei, may I call you that?” The person opposite put down his phone and spoke first.
“Yes,” Ji Yifei nodded. His mental preparation was almost done, and he was about to address the main issue, but the other person beat him to it.
Zhang Huan slowly said, “Actually, I can guess why you’re looking for me. Is it because of the forum?”
Ji Yifei nodded, looking at the other person’s expression. Truth be told, Zhang Huan was also from the school. The incident had been so widely discussed at the time, he must have heard some rumors.
“I know you’re definitely not what they say! Your willingness to help me at the start of the school year proves you’re a good person!” He finished speaking, moved closer to Ji Yifei, grabbed Ji Yifei’s hand resting near the milk tea, his genuine eyes sparkling.
“Just tell me! Whatever you need me to do, I, Zhang Huan, will go through fire and water, no questions asked!” His voice suddenly grew a little louder and firmer. His words penetrated Ji Yifei’s ears.
Ji Yifei hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly. He processed it for two seconds and then said, “Actually, I need your help to go to the Omega Association to get a proof, proving that those people initiated the contact before I retaliated…” He spoke while observing the other person’s expression.
The scene of Zhang Huan holding his hand and begging him not to tell anyone was still vivid in his mind. The tears that fell then felt as if they were still on his hand, unwashed.
The exposure of the proof would also mean that Zhang Huan’s name would be revealed. His purpose in begging Ji Yifei then was precisely to prevent others from knowing he had been harassed.
Zhang Huan agreed without hesitation after hearing it. Looking at the person’s expression, he explained, “I thought about it for a long time after going back, especially when I heard you were being talked about on the forum because of this. I figured it out.”
He cleared his throat, tightening his grip on Ji Yifei’s hand: “The ones who are truly wrong are those people. You helped me. Since you were willing to step up to help me then, I should also step up to help you.”
“They are the ones who are wrong. We are not wrong. There’s no need to be ashamed of this. On the contrary, we need to protect ourselves.”
Zhang Huan’s firm voice touched Ji Yifei again. Ji Yifei also reached out and gripped his other hand. Both tightened their hold on each other’s hands.
Shang Yan’s phone screen was still on the chat interface with Ji Yifei. An hour had passed since his last message.
He had already arranged for someone to find out who the Omega was at the time. If Ji Yifei failed, he would go and talk to him.
Dīng The phone vibrated. He quickly looked at the screen and saw the message from the other party.
Ji Sansui: Done.
Ji Sansui: [low_profile.jpg]
Shang Shisui couldn’t help but smile at the expression. He could imagine the other party’s proud look right now.
He knew he could do it.
Shang Shisui: [thumbs_up.jpg]
Shang Shisui: I knew you could do it.
The atmosphere of the mid-term exam intensified. Students in Class One were studying intensely. Ji Yifei was also more serious and diligent. He no longer looked at his phone, which he used to glance at a few times. If he felt sleepy during class, he would ask Shang Yan to pinch him.
In math class, Ji Yifei felt his eyelids fighting against each other. He quickly stretched out his hand to Shang Yan with his last bit of willpower and said, “Quick, quick, pinch me.”
Shang Yan had already noticed the head bobbing up and down next to him. He quickly reached out, held his hand, and gently squeezed it up and down.
He simply couldn’t bear to pinch him hard.
It was strange. Shang Yan didn’t pinch him hard, but as soon as their palms touched, the drowsiness disappeared.
Only a sense of tingling spread from his palm to his brain. The numbing sensation drove away the sleepiness.
Ji Yifei named this method “Numbing Therapy.”
Li Jiang smiled without saying anything, just gripping the other person’s hand tighter.
The night before the mid-term exam, under Shang Yan’s repeated insistence, Ji Yifei climbed into bed at 10:30 PM to sleep. Looking at the practice tests he had done during this period, Lin Ling and Jiang Jie commented: Are you trying to kill yourself?
Chen Ken looked at Ji Yifei’s dark circles, handed him a cup of warm milk, and explained, “It’s heated with hot water. It helps with sleep. Sleep well and good luck with the exam tomorrow.”
Ji Yifei thanked him, took the milk, chugged it down, thanked the class monitor, and lay in bed, thinking about his efforts during this time. He took a deep breath and let himself drift into a dream.
Perhaps the milk truly helped with sleep. Ji Yifei didn’t have any strange dreams that night and slept until morning, entering the exam in the best condition.
But at this time, the discussion about Ji Yifei on the forum was ongoing.
[1F] The exam is tomorrow. Our school bully, be careful. This joint exam will have cameras and increased supervision.
[2F] To be honest, I’m in Class One. The school bully has always done well in exams before, and he’s been studying harder lately. I feel…
[3F] I support the above post. I often see the school bully go to the office to ask questions. I also feel…
[4F] The two above, stop pretending to be good people. We’ll know if it’s true or false when we see the report card.
[5F] We’ll know when we see the report card.
…
The discussions continued to increase, but the subject of the matter was sound asleep.
The next day, upon entering the examination room, Ji Yifei was assigned to the first row, right in front of Shang Yan. The two entered the examination room together.
The examination time always passed quickly, in the tip of the pen, on the answer sheet. Students were like automatons, constantly repeating the cycle of exams and review.
Two days later, the exams were over. Ji Yifei stretched after coming out of the examination room. Shang Yan stood by, waiting for him.
Returning to the classroom, Ji Yifei began moving his books to the back of the classroom. After his last trip, he looked at Shang Yan’s desk and realized the person hadn’t moved a single book.
He turned and asked Li Jiang. Li Jiang replied, “Young Master Shang was called away by the teacher. It seems to be about some kind of competition.”
Ji Yifei nodded. He knew there was a physics competition coming up. Shang Yan’s physics was number one in the school and highly ranked in the city.
He decided to be a good person, reclaim the title of “good brother,” and “go through fire and water” for his buddy.
He walked to the office door and ran into Wu Yiheng again.
He saw Wu Yiheng and turned to leave, but then heard an “Oh dear!” He turned back and saw Lin Daiya’s books had been bumped and scattered all over the floor.
Lin Daiya was still holding a stack of books with nowhere to put them. She could only stand there. Ji Yifei sighed and ran over to help her.
Lin Daiya hadn’t expected Ji Yifei to come to her aid. She had participated in the forum discussions about him several times over the past few days and had silently cursed him quite a bit.
But Ji Yifei was still willing to help her. She felt a twinge of guilt.