Chapter 10: Junior He
The distance was too close. The Alpha’s scent rushed toward him, and the surrounding atmosphere shifted quietly.
However, Jiang Zhaosheng simply leaned back slightly against the chair, creating a bit of space. Hearing He Qianyu’s words, his first reaction was: Is this considered sexual harassment?
The metal pen spun deftly around his fingertips. Then, those long fingers holding the pen rose, unobservably shielding the corner of his mouth.
His flirting skills were so poor that even though Jiang Zhaosheng knew the boy might be here on a mission, he couldn’t help but let out a silent, weary breath.
“Student He,” the elder spoke slowly, his voice like the striking of jade against stone. “The primary principle of psychological counseling is honesty, but it also requires a sense of boundaries. Yours is not a sleep problem.”
Jiang Zhaosheng didn’t look at him; his intention to see the guest out was obvious:
“If your body is itchy, go run laps outside. It won’t just help you sleep; it will also benefit your major, hmm?”
He Qianyu opened his mouth to retort but said nothing. Instead, the smile faded, losing the greasy affectation he had put on when he entered, revealing a hint of sunshine appropriate for his age.
A flock of white pigeons took flight outside the window. Startled by the sound of wings, Jiang Zhaosheng flinched and turned his head to look, just missing the way the young man’s eyes suddenly darkened.
To He Qianyu, Jiang Zhaosheng was the perfect pursuit target—gentle, resilient, and beautiful.
The reason he had come here to cause trouble was that a few days ago, Shang Yan had asked him if he had any interest in “housewives.”
In He Qianyu’s understanding, Shang Yan was by no means someone who enjoyed crude jokes. Very few among their peers could even catch his eye, let alone be the subject of his proactive teasing. Only after asking around did he realize… apparently, someone had offended him, and now this lunatic was “finding a partner” for his enemy.
Dealing with an enemy… by stuffing him with a diamond-tier high school student? Is this some kind of cuckold fetish for his crush’s bad habits? He Qianyu grumbled inwardly.
Shang Yan’s bizarre behavior regarding his enemy aside, his “interrogative” stance was itself a blatant humiliation—arrogantly objectifying the people around him… it was like checking a pedigree to see if one was worthy of mating with his family’s precious female cat.
He Qianyu even admired his own endurance. Especially when Shang Yan asked in that business-like tone, “Are you a virgin?” he actually managed not to smash a fist into that face.
It was likely at the peak of his anger that Shang Yan timely handed over Jiang Zhaosheng’s photo.
This was how Shang Yan had introduced the green-eyed man to him—
[He is the parent of one of our classmates. Very young, right? Unfortunately, he had poor judgment in his youth… thinking it was love when it was actually a mistake. Abandoned by a scoundrel, he found his belly growing larger day by day. He muddled through and gave birth to a burden. A pity for such a beautiful face…]
The man in the photo looked as if he had just woken up. His gaze was scattered, his skin like a peeled egg, and his cheeks were flushed with the peach-pink hue of a deep slumber. The sharp edge of his features was softened by the lingering mist in his eyes. His lips were full, seemingly possessing a natural glossy sheen… one wouldn’t be wrong to say he was in his early twenties.
But his beauty possessed a strange, restrained quality… like the warm glow of jade.
He Qianyu had to admit, his ideal type really was that kind of gentle, warm male.
The fire of his offended dignity was miraculously extinguished by a single photograph.
He comforted himself—he would treat it as going to see Shang Yan’s legendary “precious house cat.”
The Alpha pheromones in the office suddenly grew intense, carrying an aggressive intent to win as they pressed heavily toward the person behind the desk.
Jiang Zhaosheng turned back, his eyelids slowly lifting. “Student He, is there another problem?”
He Qianyu was slightly stunned by the look. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the desk to stand up.
“Lately, I’ve heard…” He deliberately dragged out his tone, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “Teacher Jiang had a lapse in his youth, got pregnant, and was abandoned by a scumbag… Tsk, it must not be easy raising a child alone, right?”
Clack!
The fountain pen in his hand was placed onto the desk, making a crisp sound.
Shang Yan’s dog mouth truly knows how to spin a tale; even an eight o’clock soap opera wouldn’t write it like this…
Jiang Zhaosheng leaned back into his chair, his posture relaxed, yet his gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s.
“Shang Yan told you.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement.
Aside from that man, Jiang Zhaosheng couldn’t think of anyone so bored and low.
He Qianyu raised an eyebrow, taking it as an admission. “What, does Teacher Jiang think there’s a problem with this story?”
Jiang Zhaosheng stared at him for a while. Meeting those cat-like pupils, a trace of chill inexplicably rose in He Qianyu’s heart. Before he could understand where the fear came from, the beautiful man before him suddenly let out a very soft laugh.
“It truly is… eye-catching,” Jiang Zhaosheng paused, his gaze scanning He Qianyu’s face. “So, Student He’s so-called ‘interest’ is aimed at this ‘maternal’ and ‘tragic experience’?”
“Do you like this… hmm, sense of sacrifice from a pitiful person?”
“Or should I say… a mother complex?”
He Qianyu was a bit stuck by the direct question, but he quickly regained his cynical air:
“So what if it is? A single father like Teacher Jiang, who has weathered the storm and raised a child alone, shouldn’t he be the one who understands gentleness and tolerance the most?”
Jiang Zhaosheng didn’t immediately refute. He looked at He Qianyu quietly for a few seconds, let out a sigh, and said helplessly:
“Student He, your understanding of me seems to be built entirely on Shang Yan’s description. He told you about my ‘tragic experience’ and even hinted that you could do whatever you want with me… fundamentally, he’s just using you as a tool to test me for him.”
The sense of being scrutinized from above by Shang Yan was laid out on the table by Jiang Zhaosheng, causing He Qianyu to feel a strong surge of humiliation. The cynical mask on his face began to slip.
Jiang Zhaosheng knew he had gotten the point; the boy wasn’t completely beyond saving. He shifted his tone, guiding him gently:
“You are young, excellent, and from a distinguished family. This should be the age where you are full of spirit. Why wade into these muddy waters to be used as a spear by Shang Yan? You could be free at this age.”
He leaned forward slightly; this was the first time he had proactively approached He Qianyu.
“Shang Yan regards rules as nothing and plays with people’s hearts. He will have his retribution.”
He Qianyu’s heart skipped a beat. He understood Jiang Zhaosheng’s hint, but the potential danger made him hesitate:
“…What do you want me to do? Be your blade? To deal with him? Teacher Jiang, you think too highly of me.”
He tried to hide his inner hesitation with mockery.
“No.”
Jiang Zhaosheng denied it flatly. He leaned back into his chair again, regaining his distant elegance, yet his gaze carried a vibrant, spirited light.
“Student He, you misunderstand. I don’t want you to be my blade. I am just… providing you with a choice.”
He picked up the fountain pen with the ruined tip, spinning it deftly between his fingers. The pen-spinning move popular among middle schoolers looked like he was handling a work of art when he did it.
Perhaps it was because the man’s hands looked more like art.
As if fearing He Qianyu was too close to Shang Yan, Jiang Zhaosheng decided to add more fuel to the fire.
“I think I have a choice that can help you escape Shang Yan’s control, regain the initiative, and even… grant you an unexpected status in their circle.”
Is it working? Jiang Zhaosheng paused. Seeing the light in He Qianyu’s eyes suddenly ignite before being suppressed, he continued slowly:
“Since Shang Yan found you, then you should continue to be used by him.”
“You can perform. Show an infatuation for me in front of him—even more than that—as long as he feels he has succeeded. As for me? We’ll each mind our own business.”
The smile on He Qianyu’s face completely faded; he seemed to be seriously considering the words.
The more cold and dehumanizing Shang Yan was, the more Jiang Zhaosheng had to use a “soft” approach. After all, on his side… he could only play the emotional card.
“You are still so young; sooner or later, you will meet someone you truly fall for. When you pursue your lover then, what will you think when you remember you were once entangled with a ‘tainted’ man? Is it worth it?”
“…Specifically, what do I do? To what extent should I play the role?” He Qianyu proactively pulled the topic back to Jiang Zhaosheng’s layout, his attitude already different.
It wasn’t until Jiang Zhaosheng took out another ballpoint pen to leave him a phone number that He Qianyu realized the fountain pen Jiang Zhaosheng had been playing with was actually broken.
Is there some sentimental value to it? Like a gift from his child… he thought distractedly.
“This is my ‘private number.'”
Jiang Zhaosheng made a phone gesture by his ear. He Qianyu noticed that although the man was older than him, he had many such quick, agile movements. Especially when he made such a lively gesture with his cold face, there was a strong sense of “gap moe.”
He Qianyu picked up the card, knowing it was time to leave. He took a deep breath, propped both hands on the desk, and leaned in close—
The Alpha’s sudden move made Jiang Zhaosheng narrow his eyes warily.
…What are you doing? He doesn’t really have a mother complex and wants to take a bite out of me regardless of his dignity, does he?
“You are not a ‘taint,'” He Qianyu locked his burning gaze on the man across the desk. The initial flirtatiousness and hesitation were gone, replaced by a nearly stubborn seriousness. “Don’t disparage yourself like that.”
This sudden negation, filled with a strong protective urge, made Jiang Zhaosheng pause slightly. A flash of extreme surprise passed through the depths of his lake-blue eyes, followed by deeper contemplation. He looked quietly at the young man who had suddenly turned serious, re-evaluating his value in his mind.
He Qianyu also seemed to realize his reaction was a bit excessive. He left Jiang Zhaosheng with a flurried view of his back, his neck and ears turning a deep red… Jiang Zhaosheng poked the green plant on his desk—was he allergic to something?
Meanwhile, in a room filled with surveillance monitors, Shang Yan was watching this scene in the office with great interest through a hidden pinhole camera.
However, when He Qianyu’s words, “You are not a taint,” blurted out, the corners of Shang Yan’s mouth gradually flattened. The wine glass in his hand was thrown to the floor, making a crisp sound as it shattered into pieces.
Translator’s Note: “Gap moe” (反差萌 – fǎnchā méng) is a term used to describe when a character acts in a way that contradicts their usual personality, making them more endearing. Jiang Zhaosheng is a master at this! Poor He Qianyu is falling into the “maternal” trap Shang Yan set up, but Zhaosheng is turning it to his advantage. And “O裝B” (O pretending to be B) refers to an Omega pretending to be a Beta—a common trope in ABO novels.
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