Chapter 52: Staring Closely at Him â Or Perhaps, Putting Student Jiang Back in a Cage…
“This matter… is far too uncanny.”
Shen Shiyue nodded succinctly, two words rolling from his throat: “Indeed.”
Lode wasn’t dead?
This kind of thing felt expected. How could Lode possibly commit suicide so easily?
The rumors on the Star-net about Lode were still in an uproar, switching from “jailed for crimes” to “suicide in prison,” version after version. At this moment, the person who was supposed to be buried in a grave was standing alive on the podium.
What kind of scheme was the school playing? Or rather, which high-ranking official was operating in the shadows?
To let someone identical to Lode enter.
No, more accurately, this was f*cking Lode…
Whispers spread throughout the classroom. The two heads in the front row were huddled close, their voices lowered until they were practically buried in their textbooks.
“Look… doesn’t he look exactly like that person?”
“Lieutenant Lode?”
“Are you crazy?!” The other person suddenly gripped his pen until his knuckles turned white. “Didn’t they say he mistreated Omegas at the auction, and in prison…” Before he could finish, his arm was yanked hard by his desk-mate.
“Shh, are you looking for death?” The other quickly scanned the podium and added in a low voice, “I heard someone say this is Lieutenant Lodeâs twin brother.”
The air suddenly froze.
“…”
Liar. A twin brother? How much more ridiculous could it get?
Everyoneâs gaze focused on that figure on the podium. They even lightened their breathing. Only the wind outside swirled withered leaves against the glass, making a faint sound.
His fingertips curled unconsciously. Jiang Chenyan fell into deep thought. If he remembered correctly, military personnel files were encrypted with layers of system permissions. Outsiders couldn’t even touch the cover of the file.
But if someone did the opposite and used this rule as a protective shield…
Shen Shiyue: “This is a bit tricky.”
Jiang Chenyan nodded. It was very tricky.
To specifically come to the school where they wereâwho was the person behind the scenes helping him?
Jiang Chenyan looked up, his gaze happening to collide head-on with the person on the podium.
It was as if the other man had been waiting for his gaze. The corners of his lips slowly curved up, and that faint hint of red at the corner of his eye shimmered under the light.
Jiang Chenyan gripped his pen hilt tightly, feeling a bit irritable.
At this time, the Alpha on stage let out a low laugh. His voice carried the characteristic magnetic quality of an Alpha, yet it was mixed with a bit of casualness. “Starting today, I will be the instructor for this course. Fredericâthat is my name.”
Many students in the seats quietly furrowed their brows. Their lips moved, but they ultimately swallowed back the doubts at the tips of their tongues, exchanging meaningful looks with one another.
Jiang Chenyan and Shen Shiyue were distracted throughout the entire process. The voice from the podium felt like it was separated by a layer of mist; not a single word entered their brains.
Halfway through the class, Jiang Chenyan turned his face and asked in a low voice, “So, what exactly is going on?”
Shen Shiyueâs fingertips stroked his textbook unconsciously. He responded in a volume only the two of them could hear: “Looking at it this way, even if we don’t look for trouble, trouble will actively find us.”
Tsk…
As expected, it was a hassle.
They had to find out Fredericâs true identity.
In the entire classroom, it wasn’t just Jiang Chenyan and Shen Shiyue communicating secretly. More than half the class didn’t have their minds on the lecture. Courses like Military Insights were boring to begin with; most people were either browsing the Star-net under the desk or zoning out over their textbooks, thinking there was no point in listening.
In the next second, the whispers of the students in front suddenly cut off. The originally loose classroom abruptly became quiet.
“…”
Commonly known as the most terrifying scene. Many people looked up awkwardly.
What could they do at a time like this? Just smile, I guess.
Frederic on the podium had long since stopped lecturing. His fingertips tapped twice on the lesson plan as his gaze slowly swept over the entire class. “Alright, what I just said is the task Iâm assigning. Now, complete it immediately.”
Jiang Chenyanâs eyebrow raised. “?”
He hadn’t listened to a single word.
“…”
Jiang Chenyan leaned forward and lightly bumped the back of the student in front of him with his elbow. “What did he say to do?”
The student didn’t even turn his head. His finger was still sliding rapidly over his light-brain screen. “Ghost knows. I didn’t listen.” As he spoke, he delivered a sharp elbow strike to his half-asleep desk-mate. “Stop sleeping; be careful about being caught red-handed.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, a tall shadow suddenly loomed over. Frederic had stood behind the student at some unknown time. This person was still immersed in Star-net gossip, his finger constantly refreshing the page.
It wasn’t until his wrist felt lighter and his light-brain was steadily taken away that he suddenly snapped back to his senses. His gaze went blank, and he froze on the spot.
Frederic curled his lips at him, his smile faint but carrying a sense of pressure. “Watching so intently. What are you looking at?”
“Nothing, haha.”
He gave a couple of awkward laughs, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.
“Regarding Lode…” Fredericâs gaze swept over the headline on the light-brain screen. A low laugh escaped his throat. “So thatâs how everyone sees me in private?”
His fingertips tapped the edge of the light-brain before he casually tossed it back onto the desk, making a light clack. “I want to clarify: I am not Lode. Although this twin matter is indeed quite a coincidence.”
Before his voice finished, he looked up. His gaze accurately locked onto Jiang Chenyanâs face. After a two-second pause, he looked at the whole class. “I hope that from now on, everyone puts their minds on the classroom and stops dwelling on irrelevant topics.”
Jiang Chenyan: “…”
“However, instances of having a ‘collision of faces’ like this are all over the Star-net if you search for them. Iâm not the only case. Thereâs truly no need for everyone to be so surprised.”
He deliberately raised his hand to tap the podium. The sound spread through the classroom via the amplification equipment.
He straightened his body, his fingertips lightly tapping the questions on the lesson plan. “Iâll read the questions one more time. Everyone, do them seriously. Iâll pick someone to answer later; don’t you dare fail to answer.”
After this speech ended, the color drained completely from the student in front’s face. He forced a stiff smile and sat back down, deflated.
Just as Jiang Chenyan finished processing Fredericâs words with a frown, a discussionâneither loud nor quietâcame from diagonally behind him. “Ah, truly. Having a similar face isn’t rare. Isn’t Jiang Chenyan an example? Didn’t they say he looks a lot like that deceased Omega?”
“Eh, not really. The pupil colors are different. Heâs not as eerie as Teacher Frederic…” He let out a hiss. “What does the school mean by this? Itâs a bit creepy.”
“Shut up. Iâm getting goosebumps.”
“…”
Never mind them finding it eerie; Jiang Chenyan found it eerie too. His textbook was spread before him, but his fingertips touching the pages had zero interest in flipping through.
Shen Shiyue turned his face to ask him, “Can’t sit still anymore?”
Jiang Chenyan made a sound of agreement from his throat. “A bit.”
“Then letâs go.”
Jiang Chenyan followed his gaze and glanced at the back door. “Stop joking. With his posture, heâs definitely going to call roll after class to check attendance.”
Shen Shiyue let out a low laugh. With a warm touch, his fingertips lightly rubbed the top of Jiang Chenyanâs head. “Since when did you start caring about these things?”
Jiang Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “What, youâre not going to be a good student anymore?”
He raised his hand to swat away Shen Shiyueâs hand, a smile hidden in his eyes. Why did this man suddenly touch his head? His hair was messed up.
Shen Shiyueâs gaze suddenly darkened. “Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about me?”
Jiang Chenyan stared at the person in front of him for a few more seconds.
He didn’t know.
He couldn’t say.
Shen Shiyue looked down at his own hand, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing together. His voice dropped even lower. “Last night toward me… you weren’t like this. You were very enthusiastic.”
Jiang Chenyanâs throat felt stiflingly blocked. “…”
What on earth was this man thinking? How could he say such words in the classroom?
He was quick with his hands, covering Shen Shiyueâs mouth. His fingertips could still feel the otherâs warm breath. He lowered his voice and said through gritted teeth, “Shen Shiyue, can you temporarily lose your memory?”
A slight vibration came from beneath his palm. Without thinking, he knew Shen Shiyue was laughing. In the next second, he clearly heard the otherâs voice escape through the gaps of his fingers: “No.”
His fingertips suddenly touched a trace of wetness. Jiang Chenyanâs expression changed, and he abruptly let go. Just as he was about to retract his hand, his wrist was grabbed by Shen Shiyue.
Jiang Chenyan froze. That hint of itchiness still lingered on his fingertips.
He gritted his teeth and turned his face away from Shen Shiyue, only to unexpectedly meet Fredericâs gaze on the podium. A surge of irritability instantly hit his heart. He frowned and looked away, staring at the textbook that had been flipped to the wrong page.
Shen Shiyue seemed to sense something and slowly let go of his hand. Jiang Chenyan instinctively looked up, and his gaze met Fredericâs again.
The man was actually still staring at him.
He was firmly locked onto him, without the slightest intention of looking away.
The hint of a perfunctory smile on Jiang Chenyanâs face collapsed. What did this mean? He wasn’t even pretending anymore?
He quietly tilted his head and exchanged a look with Shen Shiyue.
Then he retracted his gaze and casually made a few messy strokes in his textbook, trying to shift his attention. But when he looked up again, Fredericâs gaze was still firmly nailed to him.
Jiang Chenyan truly couldn’t take it anymore. Was this man sick?
“One student has been staring at me the whole time. Since youâre looking so seriously, you surely have the answer. Letâs have him answer it.”
When this voice sounded, many people looked up.
Jiang Chenyanâs eyelid jumped. He had an ominous premonition.
“Let me look at the seating chart.” Frederic slowly picked up the seating list. His finger paused on the paper, then he looked up at Jiang Chenyan. “Found it. Jiang Chenyan, you answer this question.”
Jiang Chenyan immediately frowned, knowing clearly that the other was doing this on purpose.
BANGâ
Just as he stood up, a crisp sound suddenly exploded in the back row of the classroom. A student had accidentally knocked his light-brain off the desk, the body tracing a piercing arc as it slid across the floor.
The originally tense atmosphere was instantly made even more eerie by this accident. Several gazes instinctively drifted toward the source of the sound.
Fredericâs gaze, however, didn’t shift in the slightest. He was still firmly locked onto Jiang Chenyan, his tone as cold and hard as to allow no delay: “Answer.”
Jiang Chenyanâs Adamâs apple rolled. He simply picked a few words heâd sporadically heard in class and threw them together for a few sentences, barely managing a response.
Frederic nodded slightly, his tone unreadable. “The answer… is indeed very mediocre.”
He raised his hand and tapped the podium. “Clearly, you haven’t put your mind on the lesson. Student Jiang, you can’t be like this.”
The classroom was deathly silent before he slowly added: “Iâm a bit of a strict disciplinarian. After class, stay behind. Weâll have a private chat.”
Jiang Chenyan looked expressionlessly at Frederic. Wasn’t this clearly targeting him?
For the first class to be like thisâit was impossible to say the two of them were strangers, wasn’t it?
Just as he suppressed his emotions, the bell ending class suddenly rang.
Frederic checked the time and said plainly, “That’s it for the rest of you. We’ll continue next class.”
The students felt as if theyâd received a great pardon. They picked up their books and walked out one after another. In no time, the room was empty.
Ultimately, only Jiang Chenyan was left standing in place, along with Shen Shiyue, who hadn’t moved from his seat.
Shen Shiyueâs eyes had already turned cold, the pressure around him dropping a few levels. “Why is it you?”
Frederic had just finished organizing his lesson plan. Hearing this, he looked up, a faint smile curling on his lips.
“Student Shen, watch your attitude. Is that how you speak to a teacher?”
Then he looked at Jiang Chenyan. “Student Jiang, come over here for a moment. Tell me yourself, what kind of garbage was that answer just now?”
Jiang Chenyan didn’t move. Instead, he simply sat back down, leaning his back against the chair. “I think I answered quite well. No problem.”
Frederic raised a hand to his forehead, his fingertips lightly rubbing his temple, like a teacherâs helplessness toward a naughty student. “Do the two of you have an issue with me from the very beginning?”
Without even thinking, Jiang Chenyan returned two words: “Indeed.”
“Mm.” Shen Shiyue nodded from the side.
Truly…
Frederic was angered into a laugh. After a few low chuckles, he started walking toward Jiang Chenyan step by step.
He stopped in front of Jiang Chenyanâs desk, looking down at the person in the seat. “Openly disrespecting a teacher. Tell me, should I punish the two of you properly? Or perhaps… put Student Jiang back into a cage?”
Translator’s Note:
Oh man, that cliffhanger! Frederic (or is it Lode?!) definitely knows something. The mention of the “cage” is a direct reference to the traumatic events at the auction on Planet Jinchen.
Some things to note:
- “Full of color, fragrance, and taste” (č˛éŚĺłäżąĺ ¨ – Se xiang wei ju quan): This is usually a compliment for gourmet food. Using it to describe a person in this context is highly suggestive and emphasizes the “allure” of Jiang Chenyanâs pheromones.
- “Overturning heaven and earth” (é˘ é¸žĺéłł – Dian luan dao feng): A classic literary idiom for sexual intercourse. The System is being quite cheeky here!
- Information/Pheromone Rejection: In many ABO novels, if two Omegas (or two Alphas) try to mark each other, their pheromones will often reject each other violently because they aren’t “compatible” in that way. It causes intense physical pain.
- The “Bug”: The System reveals that Jiang Chenyan has a special constitution where his pheromones are aggressive toward everyone. This makes him a “challenge” to conquer, which is a classic trope for the main characters.
See you in the next chapter!
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