Chapter 106
Gu Ximian had class in the morning, so Zhuang Chi, who didn't, took the car back to school with her.
After Gu Ximian said those words, Zhuang Chi didn't refuse again, but she didn't nod in agreement either. She only gave an ambiguous reply, "...I'll think about it seriously," before falling silent. Gu Ximian saw her hesitation and thoughtfully didn't bring it up again. By the time they reached the school, she had returned to her usual self. She checked the time and said, "I'm going back to the dorm to get my textbook, then I have to go to class. What about you?"
"I... I'll go back to the dorm too," Zhuang Chi replied, having nothing else to do. "I can walk with you a little longer."
Gu Ximian was slightly pleased by her words and certainly wouldn't refuse. She started walking side by side with her. Unfortunately, after just a few steps, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. As she reached for it, she saw Zhuang Chi also take out her phone and immediately guessed, "The Presidium?"
"Yeah." Zhuang Chi showed her the message in the group chat, frowning. "It's Lou Che. He says there's an emergency meeting and that everyone who's free should gather quickly..."
...But it looked really suspicious. After all, even for emergency meetings in the past, it was always An Chen who sent the messages. In fact, all meeting notifications related to the Presidium's work were handled by An Chen. Lou Che never put in any effort when it came to management; this was the first time he had ever called a meeting. Zhuang Chi felt a little doubtful as she thought about it. Gu Ximian had clearly thought of this too. She glanced at the screen and made a decision, "I have to go to class, I don't have time. Reply for me."
Zhuang Chi obediently sent the message to the group. Less than two seconds later, she received a reply from Lou Che: 【Why isn't Gu Ximian replying herself? Is the situation not allowing it?】
"..."
...The "situation" in his words sounded a bit improper. But being asked so abruptly, she was actually a little stumped. Zhuang Chi looked at Gu Ximian, whose hands were empty and who had no intention of taking her phone to reply. She hesitated, wondering whether to relay the message to her. But Gu Ximian knew something was wrong from her expression and leaned over to look at her phone screen. She only had a second to see it before Lou Che retracted the message, probably because he suddenly remembered it was a group chat and Gu Ximian could see it too. She sneered, and using Zhuang Chi's hand, sent a voice reply in a cold tone, "Because I want to."
Listening from the side, Zhuang Chi wanted to laugh and tried hard to keep a straight face. Gu Ximian commented neutrally, "It seems this 'emergency meeting' isn't about anything serious. Otherwise, he wouldn't have immediately focused on that angle after seeing my message about taking leave."
"It's almost time for class, I really have to go," Gu Ximian said, looking at Zhuang Chi. "If you don't want to go, then don't. It's better to go back to the dorm and rest. You slept on the sofa all night yesterday..."
As she spoke, she frowned slightly, probably worried that Zhuang Chi hadn't slept well. But Zhuang Chi herself felt she had slept quite soundly, with no aches or pains. So she smiled at Gu Ximian and said, "It's fine, your sofa is quite comfortable. As for this emergency meeting... I'll go take a look later. If it's nothing serious, I'll leave."
"...Mm." Gu Ximian still seemed to be bothered about the sofa, but her expression slowly relaxed. She said goodbye to Zhuang Chi, "Then I'll go study hard. I have to get good grades on the final exams."
...It was easy to hear the implication in her words. It felt like the bet was already on in Gu Ximian's mind. Zhuang Chi couldn't bring herself to say anything to deny it to Gu Ximian, and in the end, could only smile helplessly, watching her figure recede after saying goodbye.
Gu Ximian is really serious, Zhuang Chi thought. About living together.
Very serious, and her attitude was very clear. Unlike Zhuang Chi, who hesitated for a long time without being able to make a decision, not even knowing which side she wanted to choose. Of course, it wasn't that she disliked the idea. It was just that there were many weights pulling down the other side of the scale. Moving into someone else's home wasn't something one could decide on a whim and then easily change. The timing was rushed, there was the adjustment of living habits, and most importantly, how to handle the susceptible periods... The two of them had not yet formed a permanent mark like true AO partners. So if they lived together, every susceptible period would be like a reminder, or a hint of a loosening restraint.
Zhuang Chi didn't really like this feeling. She felt that the affection between two people should be something influenced only by their personal thoughts, not pushed together by uncontrollable external forces like this. It was a very important person, a very important relationship, so she didn't want it to seem like she was just "going with the flow." Therefore, she would expend a great deal of effort to swim against the tide of pheromones in the opposite direction—that feeling was not pleasant, as she had already experienced during her last susceptible period.
In the end, Zhuang Chi felt that feelings mixed with pheromones and instinct were not pure enough. And tragically, as an Alpha who couldn't rely on suppressants to get through her susceptible period, she didn't even know how to give Gu Ximian a purer form of affection during that time.
Gu Ximian's words were like giving her permission, telling her it was okay if it wasn't so pure. But while Zhuang Chi was moved, she also felt even more apprehensive. Her lover's tolerance was, of course, a powerful temptation—so powerful that it made her worry that her Alpha instincts might take advantage of this tolerance and do something excessive, pushing the boundaries.
Perhaps I should have listened to the doctor back then and asked Gu Ximian for a few pieces of clothing. Then I could try to persuade Gu Ximian not to look after me during my susceptible periods even if we live together... Zhuang Chi thought. That seems less dangerous, but the possibility of successfully persuading her feels minuscule...
This wasn't the first time she'd had such thoughts, and each time she came to no conclusion. Zhuang Chi sighed deeply. Her breath turned into a white mist in the cold, dry air, becoming as hazy as her own thoughts.
I should go to that emergency meeting first. Thinking she shouldn't keep Lou Che and the others waiting, Zhuang Chi temporarily interrupted her thoughts and walked towards the Student Council Presidium's office.
Then, the moment Zhuang Chi entered the room, she was stunned by the scene before her.
Ling Jing and An Chen were sitting side by side, directly facing the door. They both sat ramrod straight, but their heads were hung low. Zhuang Chi saw at a glance that they were both holding small whiteboards in front of their chests, on which different words were written in bold black marker.
Ling Jing's board read: 【Yesterday, after getting drunk, I suddenly started acting like a crazed Xiao Ying on the way back to school】. An Chen's board read: 【I also got drunk, and after being tripped by the crazed Xiao Ying, I lay on the ground and refused to get up, insisting I was a crying little lamb】.
...Wow.
What a major tragedy. Just reading the descriptions, she could roughly imagine what had happened last night after she left. Zhuang Chi stood gaping, hesitating at the door, not daring to step inside. The two people holding their confession signs kept their eyes lowered. Even though they noticed her, they resolutely avoided looking her way, seeming to be staring intently at the floor, probably looking for a crack to crawl into. Just then, Lou Che's voice came from a corner of the room: "What about you? As the third person who got drunk yesterday, did you do anything? Zhuang Chi?"
This person had clearly hidden in the corner of the room beforehand. Anyone who came in would be captivated by the impactful scene before them, and if he hadn't spoken, it would have been hard to notice him right away. Zhuang Chi was startled. When she turned to look, Lou Che was holding a third whiteboard and looking at her, seemingly ready to write one for her too after finding out her "crime." Frightened, Zhuang Chi quickly blurted out, "No! I didn't do anything!"
"Really?" Lou Che narrowed his eyes skeptically and asked, "But you were taken back by Gu Ximian alone yesterday, and you were with her this morning—did you really not turn into... a 'hungry little puppy' or something?"
What the heck! Zhuang Chi's face flushed hot, she couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or anger. She firmly denied it, "Of course not! I went to sleep very quickly yesterday—on the sofa at Gu Ximian's house!"
She quickly added the last part before Lou Che's expression could turn strange. Zhuang Chi spoke with absolute certainty, while thinking that of course she couldn't mention the honey water incident. Besides, that couldn't be considered a "hungry little puppy," right? She wasn't that hungry...
"Oh. I see." After hearing her, Lou Che seemed to quickly lose interest, his eyelids drooping. He turned back to the two people with the signs and got angry, "Hey, why is it that Zhuang Chi just goes to sleep quietly after drinking? Can't you two learn from her? What kind of Alphas are you! If you can't learn, then don't touch alcohol again!"
Ling Jing and An Chen swallowed their anger, admitting they were in the wrong and nodding meekly in agreement. Only then did Lou Che feel slightly appeased. He sat down and beckoned for Zhuang Chi to come and sit as well. "Originally, I wanted to hold a meeting today to publicize the dangers of alcohol, but the Faculty of Arts has classes, so it can't be helped. Gu Ximian and Olivia aren't here, so let's just chat among ourselves... I'm still a little curious, did nothing really happen between you and Gu Ximian yesterday? From her voice message just now, she didn't sound like she was in a very good mood."
"..." Lou Che was surprisingly gossipy about these things, and he would quickly ask about anything he was curious about, which was quite troublesome. Zhuang Chi silently shook her head. "...If you think her voice message sounded like she was in a bad mood, then I suggest you look for the reason within yourself."
It was unclear if Lou Che took her words to heart. In any case, he calmly began to explain his reasoning without being asked: "Because yesterday, she snatched you away from your roommate. You were drunk then, so you might not be very clear about it, but I saw it all from the side. Your roommate was originally planning to take you back to the dorm to look after you, but Gu Ximian just pulled you right over to her."
"In any case," Lou Che stated his opinion on the matter with a serious face, "choosing to take a drunk lover back to her own home to care for them when there were clearly other options... logically speaking, it should mean that Gu Ximian wanted something to happen, right?"
His overall tone was exceptionally upright, but that last sentence still made Zhuang Chi uncomfortable. She couldn't help but frown at the implication behind "something." "...Don't be like that. Don't randomly guess her thoughts. A topic this personal... isn't something that should be discussed behind Gu Ximian's back. I find it very rude."
"...I see. I thought all Alphas liked to show off their lovers. It seems I overstepped a bit." Fortunately, Lou Che was quick to admit his mistake once he realized it. "Sorry, but I'm really curious about the progress between you two."
"Because I feel like you two aren't like a typical couple. I mean, in terms of your behavior patterns."
Lou Che said, his gaze exceptionally sincere, "Honestly, I think if a typical Alpha were dating Gu Ximian... even considering it from an upright perspective, they would definitely get impatient—like devolving into a monkey."
"Who are you calling a monkey?" As if identifying with the "typical Alpha" Lou Che mentioned, Ling Jing retorted subconsciously, then muttered, "...But it's not like I don't understand what you mean."
"...Actually, you guys just think Zhuang Chi is too passive, don't you."
An Chen also joined the conversation, awkwardly taking the sign from around his neck. He looked at Zhuang Chi, "Like back at the Christmas Ball, it was Ximian who took the initiative, and now..."
"Don't you think so yourself? Why are you only saying 'you guys'?"
Before he could finish, he was bluntly called out by Lou Che. An Chen was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, fine, we think so, alright?"
"—That's more like it," Lou Che said, satisfied. He turned back to Zhuang Chi and spread his hands. "In a typical AO couple, the dominant Alpha usually leads the development of the relationship. But you and Gu Ximian seem different, so I've always been curious... when are you two planning to move in together?"
"..."
A group of Alphas so concerned about someone else's love life, when they were all still single themselves—Zhuang Chi had originally wanted to push back their inquiries with that thought, but she was caught off guard by Lou Che's question, which hit the nail on the head. And of course, the Alphas wouldn't miss the fleeting change in her expression. An Chen was the first to narrow his eyes, "That look on your face... it doesn't seem like you were just startled by the sudden question."
Stared at silently by three pairs of eyes, Zhuang Chi's evasive gaze was completely exposed. If they weren't still mindful of the fact that Zhuang Chi had just seriously lectured Lou Che, the three of them would have probably started grilling her relentlessly.
"...Don't you all think this is dangerous?"
Realizing she had blurted it out, Zhuang Chi bit her lower lip but continued under their confused gazes, "I mean, if you had a lover, would you choose to live together in this situation? Wouldn't... wouldn't you worry that you might lose control and hurt them? For example, during a susceptible period, what if..."
She couldn't continue. Just imagining it made Zhuang Chi's mind a tangled mess, and all her unspoken worries got stuck in her throat.
After listening, the three of them didn't answer immediately. They exchanged glances, and then Lou Che was pushed forward to respond. Instead of answering, he asked a question back, "...From the sound of it, has Gu Ximian already mentioned something about living together with you?"
Having reached this point, there seemed to be no need to hide it anymore. Zhuang Chi lowered her eyes. "...We sort of made a bet. Whoever has the higher GPA on the final exams gets to decide."
"Wow." Ling Jing let out an impressed sigh and asked innocently, "Can you get better grades than Gu Ximian?"
It was clear this sophomore hadn't paid any attention to everyone's grades. Fortunately, the other two knew how formidable Gu Ximian was. An Chen gave a dry laugh, "What's the difference between that and just listening to Ximian now?"
...That's right, it's pretty much what I thought. I can't beat Gu Ximian, so in the end, I'll definitely have to listen to her. Zhuang Chi thought melancholically. Maybe I should use the winter break to hurry up and start practicing how to control pheromone agitation and things like that. I feel like once I really move into Gu Ximian's house, it won't just be the susceptible periods I need to be careful about. After all, I'll be with Gu Ximian day in and day out. I might be overly conscious from morning till night...
"—Oh, I understand the situation now. Leave it to me."
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lou Che's voice. Zhuang Chi looked over and saw Lou Che looking at her with clear eyes, his voice bright and cheerful. "In short, you just have to get better grades than Gu Ximian, right? Then she'll have to listen to you, and you won't have to worry like this anymore."
"..."
He said it so casually that Zhuang Chi was stunned for a moment. She wondered if Lou Che also didn't know how good Gu Ximian's grades were. An Chen spoke up for her first, "It's not that easy. Ximian is outstanding academically. Saying she's at the top of the class isn't enough; she's basically been number one since she was a child—"
"So what? It's just first place. I am too."
Lou Che interjected, looking at An Chen with a calm expression. "When it comes to studying, I've never really lost. I can just teach Zhuang Chi, right? It's just first-year courses, it'll be a breeze."
Ah, Zhuang Chi thought. Come to think of it, Lou Che really does have that setting—a genius who can get first place in whatever he studies.
...Huh? Looking at it now, isn't that setting a bit repetitive with Gu Ximian's? Mainly the part about both of them always getting first place. But there's only one first place, right?
"Don't worry, Zhuang Chi. I'm here."
Unaware that Zhuang Chi was currently stumped by the careless setting she had created for him, Lou Che gave her a bright, friendly smile.
"Isn't there a saying that you already have the answer in your heart before the coin lands? So, to prevent Gu Ximian from cheating by using a two-headed coin, whether it's studying or anything else... just let me help you with it all!"
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