“You want to go? Then take this ticket.”
Tong Sui lowered his head to continue eating. He saw the chubby guy put the ticket back down, “That won’t do. This was given to you blushing; how can I take your things?”
After a while, several Alphas who had been observing came over, intending to use money to exchange tickets with Tong Sui.
Tong Sui did not agree.
One particularly impatient Alpha said, “Name your price; I want it no matter how much.”
“Not for sale.”
It wasn’t about the money.
After all, it felt inappropriate to exchange something that someone had given him for free. He just thought it was somewhat disrespectful.
Seeing that Tong Sui had no defense, the Alpha pretended to reach for the ticket himself.
Just as he extended his hand, a hand from behind pressed down on his wrist, causing a sharp pain like a metal clamp.
A cold voice asked, “What are you doing?”
“You damn…”
The Alpha turned around and saw Ye Linyuan, instantly trembling as if he had seen a ghost. He stammered, “Ye, Ye Dean.”
“Trying to steal something?”
“No, I—”
The Alpha wanted to explain, but upon meeting Ye Linyuan’s icy gaze, he shrank back.
Ye Linyuan said, “Write a 4,000-word reflection and submit it to the department head by tomorrow morning. Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, no.”
Ye Linyuan loosened his grip.
The Alpha hastily slipped away.
The onlookers were stunned. Truly, Ye was like the King of Hell.
4,000 words? That’s harsh.
The Alpha probably wouldn’t get any sleep tonight.
Tong Sui pulled out a chair.
Ye Linyuan hesitated but sat down, casting a glance at the ticket. “A social event?”
Before Tong Sui could explain, Ye Linyuan continued, “That’s good; it’s a chance to meet more people. If you meet someone suitable, you can consider it; the academy doesn’t restrict relationships.”
Tong Sui was taken aback. He looked into Ye Linyuan’s deep eyes, which, though overlapping with his dreams, lacked the obsessive possessiveness.
They seemed even a bit indifferent.
Tong Sui frowned.
He suddenly felt that the special feeling he thought he had was merely an illusion he had created from his memories.
Perhaps the other person was just taking care of him out of Tong’s younger self’s request, nothing more.
Ye Linyuan was strict but responsible towards students.
And he was the same with him.
“Do you really think it’s good?”
Tong Sui replied, “Then why don’t you find a partner, Dean? What kind of Omega do you like—obedient or beautiful?”
Ye Linyuan looked at Tong Sui. “Either is fine.”
As long as they are Omega, right?
Tong Sui lowered his head, eating quickly. The meal that he had initially found decent now tasted hard to swallow.
He was sulking and eating too fast.
He choked suddenly, bending over to cough violently, face flushed.
The chubby guy beside him noticed and wanted to hand him some water.
But someone else’s hand was quicker, unscrewing the bottle and offering it.
Tong Sui glanced at the bony hand holding the water bottle.
He didn’t take it.
Instead, he grabbed a bowl of soup beside him and drank it all.
“Thank you for your concern, Dean. I’m full now.”
Tong Sui took the ticket, stuffed it in his pocket, stood up, and turned to Ye Linyuan, saying, “The social event is at 8 PM on the night of military training’s end, at the hall. I’ll be there on time. If I meet someone suitable, I will talk directly.”
After Tong Sui left, the chubby guy followed him.
“Hey, Sui, didn’t you say you weren’t going before?”
“I changed my mind.”
“Oh, then why were you so detailed with the King of Hell earlier, even mentioning the time and place? I thought you wanted to bring him along.”
“I was just saying that casually; anyway, don’t worry about it.”
Tong Sui’s ears felt hot, and his pace quickened. “I’m tired; I’m going to sleep.”
The chubby guy stood there, scratching his hair, feeling something was off.
＿＿
After washing up, Tong Sui lay in bed before lights out.
He closed his eyes but couldn’t sleep.
He turned on his side and rubbed the ticket that he had casually placed under his pillow.
If he had hinted this much, would Ye Linyuan still remain unmoved…?
Did he not care about him at all?
As he stared blankly at the ticket, he suddenly noticed the light dimming before him.
Bian Sheng stood at his bedside.
Tong Sui tucked the ticket away. “Is there something?”
Bian Sheng glanced at his action, slowly climbing onto the bed. “Nothing, just didn’t expect you to be interested in these things.”
“…”
Tong Sui couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to cover himself with the blanket.
Going to sleep.
＿＿
Meanwhile, Ye Linyuan returned to his apartment.
It was near the school.
After buying the apartment, he did only basic renovations; the color scheme was gray and dull, spacious but bare, with no extra decorations apart from necessary furniture, making it appear dreary.
He had little interest in designing living spaces.
After washing up, he opened the study door.
Ye Linyuan took out the proposal he had failed to finish modifying earlier due to distraction.
He sat down and looked at the black-and-white text. Ten minutes passed, and he was still stuck on the first page.
Would Tong Sui really go to the social event?
The thought of Tong Sui potentially developing feelings for another Omega at such an event made Ye Linyuan’s heart tighten, as it meant he would forget about his so-called crush.
Isn’t this what he wanted to see?
Ye Linyuan was frowning deeply.
What about him?
Would he also be forgotten along with everyone else?
Perhaps he should just make everyone attend training for an extra day or add a night training session.