When the evening finally came, Xiao Zhan 's classmates devised a plan for an off-campus party to celebrate that their program had won first place in the founding anniversary exhibition. Xiao Zhan wanted to refuse, thinking of his business with Wang Yibo, but before he could speak up, he received a message from Xiao Xiao:

[Liu Han said your class is going to tonight's party? Look after him for me, don't let him drink too much.]

Xiao Zhan glanced over the excited Liu Han who was shouting about not returning home until he was drunk. Headache pulsing already, he replied with just the word "Okay".

The bar selected by the class was near the school. Dusk came early in the winter, so the bar opened early. When they arrived, the place was already full of people. Most of them were familiar T University students.

Xiao Zhan didn't like to come to this kind of place. The bad and good were all mixed in together1 and some of the alphas with no control over their lower bodies would indiscriminately release their pheromones. It was really dangerous for the omega on the eve of their heat. However, since he was surrounded by almost 20 of his classmates, as long as he didn't drink, nothing ought to happen.

He followed closely as Liu Han went to the bar without stopping. He ordered himself a glass of juice and calculated that after Liu Han finished his first big drink, it would be time to take him back to Xiao Xiao.

"Ai, Zhan , you and Wang Yibo, you really going there?" Liu Han took a sip of his cocktail and began to gossip.

Expressionless, Xiao Zhan drank his orange juice. "Please pay attention to your next words. If you dare to say that he's weak or whatever, our friendship is over."

Liu Han felt wronged, "Isn't that what you originally said? Why are you now threatening me?"

"Only I can mock him, no one else."

Despite the double standard, Liu Han continued, "Okay, okay, I never thought he was weak in the first place. Didn't I add him on social media? Seeing how fast he can run, I asked him how he exercises. He was very enthusiastic and explained to me which muscles to pay attention to while exercising. He even sent me some selfies. That figure, tsk tsk, I was so envious I almost exploded. "

Xiao Zhan frowned, "He gave you a nude pic?"

Liu Han replied, "....we're both alphas, are you crazy? Just the upper body, that's all."

Xiao Zhan said, "Show me." He still hadn't seen Wang Yibo shirtless yet.

Liu Han teased him, "Can't you see it all the time? Not only see it, but you can touch and lick it!"

Xiao Zhan gave him an angry stare, "Fuck off. Give it to me quickly."

Liu Han laughed and pulled his phone out to open his chat history. After scrolling for a second, he found the pictures. Xiao Zhan took a look and blurted out, "He found this online, right?"

In the picture, Wang Yibo wasn't showing his face. He'd lifted his t-shirt all the way up to his neck, exposing the entirety of his naked upper body, with wide shoulders and bulging biceps and what seemed to be firm pecs and a full six pack of abs. A strong, capable2 waist, a sexy V-line (mermaid line)......it was practically the perfect, healthy physique of a Greek sculpture. He was pointing at a muscle on his body with one finger, probably trying to explain something to Liu Han, while holding his phone in the other hand.

In other words, he took the picture with his t-shirt held in his mouth?

Just imagining the image had Xiao Zhan about to explode.

Liu Han glanced at the photo, "Of course not, isn't this background your dorm?"

"Fuck......" Xiao Zhan 's throat went a little dry, "This silly dog's body is so good?"

Liu Han replied, "So I wouldn't say he looks weak. Maybe he just hides his strength, so don't look down on him."

Xiao Zhan said, "How could I look down on him? I'm just afraid that his pheromone won't be effective and won't be able to last through the heat."

Liu Han glanced around and then leaned in to whisper, "I don't know about the pheromone, but the waist of your guy, at first glance, it's awfully amazing......"

Distracted, Xiao Zhan went blank for a second before lifting his leg and kicking Liu Han off the bar stool. Liu Han nearly fell to the ground, but was able to hold his position and didn't get angry. Knowing that Xiao Zhan wasn't really offended, he sat back in place with a giggle.

"Zhan , although everyone says you two don't match, I don't think so! Your names go together like water and fire, very well-suited!"

Xiao Zhan said mercilessly, "I thank you, Ge. Since I was young, I've only heard 'as incompatible as fire and water.' Now for the first time, I've heard someone say that water and fire are well-suited."

Torn into, Liu Han felt a bit awkward. In order to disguise his lack of culture, he took his glass and boldly drained it in one gulp, "Come! Zhan ! Down your juice!"

Xiao Zhan replied, "Five more at most. Otherwise I'll tell Xiao Xiao. You do as you see fit."

Liu Han: "......"

Bored to death, Xiao Zhan left the bar holding the juice and went to a sofa seat to watch his classmates play cards and chat mindlessly. A few of them were already drunk, hugging the classmates next to them and spilling their every thought, regardless of the other's willingness to listen.

He was struck by sudden inspiration, opening his phone to send a message to Wang Yibo:

[I'm next street over at the bar, you coming?]

Contrary to his expectations, Wang Yibo quickly called him.

"Xuezhang, why did you go to a bar? By yourself? It's too dangerous. I'll come quickly and find you right away."

"Plenty of my classmates are here, we came out to celebrate. I haven't been drinking, don't panic."

Wang Yibo seemed a little relieved after hearing that, but his tone was still pretty urgent, "I'll come right away, wait for me and don't mess around, Xuezhang."

"Wang Yibo, can you drink?" Xiao Zhan asked suddenly.

"I've never drank, probably not......why?"

"Nevermind, I'm hanging up."

"Okay......"

Xiao Zhan ended the call, the corners of his mouth quirking up a bit.

This silly dog can't drink, great, I can pour him a cup or two in a bit and maybe his courage will increase, making him do what he'd usually never dare to. Maybe he could reap the results of the previously-unimaginable passionate little boyfriend.

Xiao Zhan began to think more and more that this method was feasible, unknowingly finishing his glass of juice. The bar gradually filled with more and more people. The air became a little stuffy, heavy with the scent of alcohol. The fragrance gave him a headache.

He wanted to go outside for some fresh air, but before he could exit, the door of the bar opened and a few people walked in. Xiao Zhan took a quick glance and his face sank instantly.

Zou Rui, hugging Yao Yi to his side, came in while laughing and joking with a few friends. When they looked up and caught sight of Xiao Zhan , the group stopped and the atmosphere sank into awkward silence.

When Yao Yi saw him, it was like a mouse catching sight of a cat. With exaggerated acting skills, he shuddered and shrank into Zou Rui's arms, "Zhan Ge......I didn't know you'd be here. I was wrong. Don't hit me again......"

Pitiful and weak like a delicate, frail flower.

From such an obviously deliberate act, this little omega was clearly really diligent about catching Zou Rui.

Xiao Zhan stood idly by, watching his performance, and couldn't help but laugh, "Then if you kneel down and beg me, I'll have a soft heart."

Zou Rui frowned in annoZhan ce, "Zhan , don't go too far. I used to favor you, but it's different now."

Zou Rui's words seemed like those of an emperor declaring to one of his concubines "you've fallen out of favor", spoken from a lofty position with a sense of superiority. Xiao Zhan simply couldn't keep from bursting into laughter.

"Favor? Do you deserve to say those words?"

Just as the two were deadlocked, the door of the bar was pushed open again. This time, it was Wang Yibo who hurried in. He still wore an anxious expression, but when he caught sight of Xiao Zhan , a smile broke out on his face. However, he then froze again upon seeing the person standing opposite him.

Xiao Zhan beckoned to him, "Come here."

Wang Yibo came over, looking a little uneasy, "Are you okay, Xuezhang?"

"No problem." Xiao Zhan turned his head to Zou Rui and said disdainfully, "I'll trouble you to learn from my man here how to write 'favor' and come back for an encore."

Zou Rui snorted coldly, "What you want is not an alpha, but an obedient dog."

"What are you talking about?" Xiao Zhan instantly lit up with rage, immediately rolling up his sleeves for a fight, but he was pulled to a stop by Wang Yibo.

"What I am doesn't matter." Wang Yibo pulled Xiao Zhan into his arms and hugged him from behind, putting a check on his impulses, "Xuezhang needs me so it's okay."

Zou Rui looked at him up and down with disdain, "You think he needs you? He's just using you, treating you just like a dog that comes when he signals. In any case, you're too weak to control him. Just wait for him to find a new alpha and he'll immediately kick you out, don't you know?"

If Wang Yibo weren't hugging him, Xiao Zhan might've already been fighting with Zou Rui, this individual he couldn't coexist with, at this moment.

Contrary to expectations, Wang Yibo was actually very calm as he replied, "So what? At least until Xuezhang finds a more suitable person, I'm his alpha and you've already lost your chance." He paused, then added, "Even if I'm his dog, it doesn't matter."

Xiao Zhan 's heart stung and the anger that filled him exploded due to those words .

"......are you crazy? He just says that about you and you agree right away?" He turned and stared at Wang Yibo fiercely, "Who the fuck gave you the right to say that about yourself!"

His last sentence came out at a near-roar, shocking the others in the bar. The students in his class had originally been far away, but they gathered close when they heard this disturbance. Liu Han pushed his way through the crowd and came over immediately when he saw this situation, saying, "Zhan , need a hand?"

"No need." Xiao Zhan took a gasp to calm his violent emotions, his body faintly burning with anger.

He put his hands forward and pushed with all his strength, shoving Wang Yibo away.

Wang Yibo didn't try to stop him this time, not resisting at all, so he was pushed back until he staggered. He knocked into a bar table and chairs and the alcohol bottles on the table fell to the ground, shattering into countless fragments with an ear-piercing sound.

Wang Yibo's expression seemed to be broken like these shattered bottles, "Xuezhang......"

Angry, Xiao Zhan said forcefully, "You talk like if I'm abusing you. Just get lost if you're not happy with me! Laozi absolutely doesn't care!"

After speaking, he looked away from both Wang Yibo and all the surrounding crowd, violently throwing the door open to rush out.

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Footnotes:

1. The bad and the good mixed together (鱼龙混杂): idiom, the fish and the dragons mixed together ↩

1. Strong and capable (精悍): literally violent energy, adjective describing strength and capability/efficiency, also slang for sexually powerful/capable ↩

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