Chapter 95: Make You Call Me Brother (15)
The freshman speech was a school-wide event.
All freshmen, dressed in camouflage, gathered in the auditorium.
But there were only three freshman representatives.
An Omega from the Arts Department, a Beta from Science and Engineering, and Gu Yinnian.
The criteria for choosing speakers were simple: top entrance exam scores, presentable appearance, and standard Mandarin.
Barring any accidents, after the speeches, these three would become the hot topics of the school.
The Omega representative was a girl. She wasn’t the sweet and cute type, but dignified and elegant with outstanding poise.
As soon as she took the stage, she became the focus of whispered discussions among the freshmen.
Xiao Ji seemed absent-minded.
He stood in the crowd within the Beta formation. His cap brim was pulled low, yet he still stood out like a crane among chickens.
Many eyes around him fell on him, sizing him up with curiosity.
Unless necessary, Xiao Ji disliked being the center of attention.
He pulled his brim lower, trying to reduce his presence.
Only when the first two representatives finished and Gu Yinnian took the stage did Xiao Ji lift his brim slightly to focus on the podium.
Sure enough, as soon as Gu Yinnian appeared, a low commotion rippled through the crowd.
Xiao Ji could clearly hear the conversation of the Omegas in the adjacent formation.
“Can you believe it? I haven’t seen such a high-quality Alpha in eighteen years. And he’s in our department! Just looking at him is a win.”
“So handsome. He looks like a top-tier Alpha. Good goods don’t stay on the shelf; he’s probably taken.”
“Not necessarily. School just started. Ask around and see if anyone’s going to ask for his number. Strike first!”
“I don’t dare. He looks the domineering type; I’d be too nervous to talk to him.”
“Forget it. Doesn’t anyone think he and the Omega representative match? I saw them talking earlier.”
“…”
Xiao Ji looked at Gu Yinnian in the distance and narrowed his eyes.
After the speeches, there was a half-hour break before all freshmen were to assemble on the playground for formal military training.
Xiao Ji originally planned to see if Gu Yinnian would talk to that Omega again.
Not out of jealousy.
He just wanted to gauge Gu Yinnian’s reaction—to see if he’d look guilty like he’d been caught.
Through this, he could verify how far Gu Yinnian’s “enlightenment” had progressed.
But plans never keep up with changes. Before Xiao Ji could catch Gu Yinnian, he was caught by Gu Yinnian.
After the speeches and school leadership addresses ended, the orderly formations dissolved into chaos as students drifted toward the playground in twos and threes.
Xiao Ji silently navigated the crowd, heading toward the steps where Gu Yinnian had exited the stage.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and saw a message from Gu Yinnian:
[Wait a few minutes for me.]
Xiao Ji didn’t stop walking. But after a few steps, someone blocked his path.
Xiao Ji kept his head down and brim low. He casually replied [Okay] to the message, then stepped around the person to continue forward.
However, after he dodged left and right twice, the person blocked him perfectly each time.
It was clearly intentional.
Only then did Xiao Ji put away his phone and look up at the person.
Their eyes met. An Jing grinned at Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji was expressionless.
An Jing’s smile gradually faded. After waiting a long time for Xiao Ji to speak, he had to take the initiative:
“No way? Forgot me so soon?”
Xiao Ji didn’t know what this guy wanted, so he simply stated his stance:
“Doesn’t club recruitment start after military training?”
After sending that video last night, An Jing had been waiting for Xiao Ji’s reply.
Honestly, whether Beta or Omega, he had never met anyone who hit his aesthetic preferences so perfectly.
He was both expectant and anxious, checking his phone every time it rang.
After receiving messages from another Omega in his class twice, he muted that person.
He was afraid the third notification would give him hope only to disappoint him again.
Eventually, he fell asleep without a reply from Xiao Ji.
He slept poorly. The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was check his phone.
There was one message.
But when he opened it, Xiao Ji had replied with:
[You’re celebrating too early.]
An Jing couldn’t sit still. He crawled out of bed and hunted him down to the auditorium.
He spotted Xiao Ji from afar and waited until now to finally intercept him.
“It’s not about the club. I couldn’t sleep, so I came to see the excitement. Just happened to see you here.”
He paused, then looked at Xiao Ji cautiously.
“That message you sent this morning… what did it mean?”
Xiao Ji knew nothing about it.
Gu Yinnian hadn’t mentioned it, and he hadn’t asked because he didn’t care and wouldn’t ask 037 to investigate.
Hearing An Jing now, he realized An Jing and Gu Yinnian must have exchanged words.
Xiao Ji frowned slightly.
He had intended to test Gu Yinnian’s progress, but he had never planned to use anyone to make Gu Yinnian jealous to force an epiphany.
First, he wasn’t in a rush.
Second, he had no intention of involving irrelevant people.
Third, such petty tricks were unnecessary for him.
So he asked nothing and simply said coolly:
“Excuse me…”
Before he could finish, a whistle sounded nearby, interrupting them.
Gu Yinnian appeared in Xiao Ji’s line of sight, striding over. He stood beside Xiao Ji, looking An Jing up and down.
The defensiveness and hostility unique to Alphas began to spread silently between them.
“Do you need something?”
Gu Yinnian asked An Jing.
An Jing looked a bit odd. He ignored Gu Yinnian and asked Xiao Ji:
“Your Alpha?”
Your Alpha.
The moment those words left An Jing’s mouth, Gu Yinnian’s heart skipped a beat.
In that instant, he subconsciously hoped Xiao Ji would say yes.
But in reality, Xiao Ji remained as indifferent as ever:
“None of your business.”
He didn’t admit it, but he didn’t deny it either.
Gu Yinnian couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart. He wanted to state his position, but he realized he and Xiao Ji were no longer children.
Back then, Gu Yinnian could say “I’m his brother” and make decisions for him with righteous confidence.
But now, they were adults.
The identity of “brother” was clearly insufficient to justify interfering in Xiao Ji’s private affairs.
However, as an Alpha, Gu Yinnian would absolutely not show weakness before another Alpha in front of Xiao Ji.
He stared at An Jing, his expression unkind:
“I’m asking you—do you need something?”
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