Damn it, I'm surrounded by insane Alphas!

(It's here! Are you guys still reading?! It feels like I'm writing this in a single-player mode TT)

It had been two months since Shi Ran had last seen Wen Yiheng.

The day after he escaped from Wen Yiheng's house that night, the professor who had gone abroad to attend a conference returned.

Everything returned to its original state.

Wen Yiheng never contacted him proactively, and her occasional posts on social media were only about academic lectures, as if nothing had ever happened.

He remains the beloved Teacher Wen in the eyes of his students, and his elective courses are still in high demand. Sometimes, it almost feels like everything these days is just a dream.

It was just a hallucination he made up after drinking too much.

Later, a post about Wen Yiheng appeared on the school forum.

When Shi Ran saw it, the post had already been deleted, and only screenshots were circulating in a few private groups. The content was incomplete, with only a few photos, which were said to show Wen Yiheng holding a student.

Then the post disappeared without causing any stir.

Final exam week has arrived as scheduled.

Sometimes he would bury himself in the library, sitting there from morning till night, reviewing, doing exercises, and memorizing concepts he could never remember.

On the afternoon of the day I finished my last exam, the sun was shining brightly. Shi Ran stood on the steps and took a deep breath.

Song Yu invited him to go on a trip, saying they would go to Yunnan.

However, after searching through all the software, I only had a little over two thousand yuan, which wasn't even enough for a one-way plane ticket.

He questioned the system, asking why his family wasn't providing him with living expenses.

The system replied ruthlessly: [The family background is just a setting; nobody actually sends you money.]

Shi Ran cursed inwardly, "What a piece of trash game."

[Friendly reminder: If you're short on cash, try approaching your Maybach-driving crush; your attraction level has been stagnant for two months.]

Suddenly, he fell silent.

Even now, he still feels lingering fear when he thinks about what happened that night.

The feeling was so strange, like being completely controlled by someone, like my mind wasn't my own, and he was just an observer watching me walk towards Wen Yiheng.

He had never lost control like that before.

In the days that followed, he kept thinking about whether there was any inducer in that glass of water and why he had done those things.

Those days of pain and struggle felt like a long, persistent high fever from which I couldn't wake up.

He was burning up with fever, his mind was a complete mess, and he didn't even know what he was thinking.

He didn't want to go through that again.

He knew he couldn't keep delaying. Wen Yiheng was his mission, the reason he entered this instance, but he really needed to slow down first.

He needed some time to sort out his thoughts and confirm that he was getting close to Wen Yiheng because of the mission, not because he wanted to.

He could no longer distinguish between the two.

Shi Ran ultimately rejected Song Yu.

He chose to stay on campus and found a part-time job at the school's coffee shop. Although it was called a coffee shop, it was actually run by a student club. It offered academic credits and a salary.

Kill two birds with one stone.

Shi Ran felt that she had finally done something right.

He picked it up quickly; he learned how to use the coffee machine, how to froth milk, and how to do latte art in just a few days.

The store manager said he had good talent, but Yu Dian rolled his eyes and said, "What's so great about Xin? My peaches are cute too."

Yu Dian was the Beta who was closest to him in the store.

He was from the medical school, a year below him. It was said that he was sent to work to earn credits because he failed a course.

Yu Dian was talkative, enthusiastic, and outgoing. On the first day, he asked Shi Ran about his major, hometown, and GPA.

That afternoon, there weren't many people in the store; only some students and teachers who stayed on campus came.

Shi Ran and Yu Dian sat facing each other behind the bar, their heads close together, anxiously refreshing their phones to check their scores.

Yu Dian prayed to everyone from Buddha to Jesus, from Mazu to the God of Wealth.

"You have to bail me out! Just passing is enough! I'm not greedy! Just let me pass!"

Just then, the results page finally popped up on Shi Ran's phone.

I looked through them one by one and found that I hadn't failed any courses; in fact, my scores were all around 80.

For someone with zero background knowledge who had barely attended any classes in the first half of the semester, this was already fantastic news.

He grabbed his phone and jumped up from his chair. Yu Dian had also appeared. He froze for two seconds, then jumped even higher, almost tipping the chair over.

"I actually passed! Teacher Wen really saved me! Ahhhhh, Teacher Wen, I want to marry you—"

Shi Ran was startled when she heard the familiar name. Before she could react, a customer at the front desk tapped on the table.

The two turned around simultaneously, and upon seeing the person's face clearly, they were immediately stunned: "Teacher Wen... Teacher Wen? Did my wish come true that easily?"

Shi Ran froze. Wen Yiheng, the person who had appeared in his dreams countless times, was now standing outside the bar, less than a meter away.

Two months had passed, and Wen Yiheng hadn't changed much.

She was still wearing a light-colored shirt, and the silver-framed glasses reflected shimmering light under the coffee shop lights. Her smile was as usual.

"A glass of taro milk, please."

He was speaking directly to Shi Ran, his gaze not even lingering on her for a second.

It was as if she completely ignored him, as if she had never known him.

Shi Ran's hand slowly fell to his sides, while Yu Dian beside him nodded eagerly, like a puppy wagging its tail. "Okay, teacher! I'll make you a super-sized cup!!"

Wen Yiheng simply smiled and nodded, then turned and left.

Shi Ran thought she could at least get a glance or a "long time no see," but nothing came of it.

Yu Dian had already darted behind the coffee machine, muttering "taro milk, taro milk, taro milk," and began to ramble on, recounting all of Teacher Wen's good deeds this semester.

"Don't you think Professor Wen is exceptionally good? He's handsome, has a great temper, is academically strong, and doesn't have strict GPA requirements. Where can you find a professor like that?"

Yu Dian examined the taro milk, hesitated for two seconds, and asked, "Do you think I should add latte art?"

Shi Ran was wiping the bar nearby and didn't say anything.

"Let me make a latte art, it'll show I put my heart into it."

Yu Dian had already made up her mind and picked up the milk pitcher to start frothing the milk.

Shi Ran secretly glanced up in that direction.

Wen Yiheng sat by the window, her face turned to him, looking down at a book. Her shirt sleeves were rolled up to her wrists, revealing a section of her fair forearm.

Shi Ran stared at the severed forearm for two seconds before looking away.

He recalled that night when he gripped this wrist, his fingernails dug into the flesh, leaving faint red marks.

He lowered his eyes and continued wiping the bar.

He wiped the same spot over and over again, until the rag was practically sparking.

Yu Dian's latte art project was finally completed, but he was now holding the cup and faced with a dilemma.

"What should I do... It's too full. Shi Ran, could you take it over for me? My hands are shaking terribly right now."

"I'll deliver it myself."

"Please!" Yu Dian clasped his hands together, practically kneeling before him. "You're good-looking, Teacher Wen definitely won't be angry. Please, brother, I'll cover for you when you work overtime tomorrow night!"

Seeing that he would spill the taro milk if he continued acting, she had no choice but to agree.

It's just delivering a cup of coffee. You drop it off and leave. You don't need to say anything, you don't need to look him in the eye, and nothing will happen.

Shi Ran carefully carried the plate to the table and gently put the cup down.

"Teacher, your taro milk."

Wen Yiheng simply nodded slightly and said "thank you," without even looking up.

Shi Ran stood by the table without leaving. He couldn't tell what he was waiting for. Maybe it was a little bit of evidence that Wen Yiheng still cared, but still, there was nothing.

He turned and walked back to the bar, and Yu Dian immediately came over, nudged him with his elbow, and smiled ambiguously.

"Seriously? Why are you blushing?"

Where?

"Your ears are all red, aren't they?" Yu Dian chuckled and lowered her voice. "You like Teacher Wen, huh?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"What's the big deal? Lots of students in the whole school like Teacher Wen, and I like him too," Yu Dian said matter-of-factly. "Just because he's willing to help me this time, I'm willing to be his slave..."

"Weren't you going to refill the guests' water?"

Shi Ran interrupted him, gesturing with her chin towards the table in the corner.

Yu Dian said "oh," picked up the water bottle, and left. After taking a few steps, she turned back to look at him, her eyes filled with "you're guilty."

Shi Ran pretended not to see. He was at the bar making a latte that a customer had just ordered. He was now alone. This was a good opportunity, he thought.

Wen Yiheng probably also knew that he would come over and talk to her.

He would occasionally look around, but never glance at Wen Yiheng.

But his hesitation seemed unnecessary, because Wen Yiheng didn't look at him once all afternoon.

Shi Ran watched him from across the entire shop, watching him turn one page after another, the taro milk in his cup going from full to half, and from half to the bottom.

By evening, Shi Ran went to the restroom, and when he came out again, the seat by the window was empty.

After that day, Wen Yiheng would appear every three to five days.

Every time, he would order a taro milk tea, sit by the window, and open that huge book that he could never finish reading. He never said a word to Shi Ran, not even a glance.

Until that afternoon.

The sky looked off; it was just past three o'clock, and the clouds were already hanging very low.

The sky was overcast, and after a few claps of thunder, the rain began to fall without warning.

There were only Wen Yiheng and the two of them in the store; there were no other customers. Yu Dian was behind the bar, legs crossed, scrolling through his phone. He glanced at the window, lowered his voice, and leaned closer.

"Shi Baicao, now's the time! Go ask Teacher Wen for his WeChat; he definitely won't refuse you."

Shi Ran turned to look at him, her face filled with shock, "Are you alright?"

"I'm serious." Yu Dian got excited and sat up straight. "Did you see that post before? The one that got deleted in seconds."

He looked around. "So, Teacher Wen had a crush on one of our students or something, and just took her away in front of so many people—no, no, he carried her away! Can you imagine? Teacher Wen actually did something like that..."

He shook his head and sighed, "I wonder who's so lucky to be liked by Teacher Wen. Oh well... but who knows? Some people say that student is Teacher Wen's nephew or something..."

Shi Ran almost choked on his words, glaring at him, "You're the one who's his nephew!"

Yu Dian blinked twice. "I wish he were my nephew!"

Shi Ran rolled her eyes at him, realizing she had overreacted, and muttered, "Is being liked by him such a big deal? I don't understand."

Yu Dian stared at Shi Ran in shock. "Holy crap, Shi Ran, you're such a show-off!"

Shi Ran stared at him, wishing she could tell him directly, "I have Wen Yiheng's WeChat. I was the one he took away that night. He even kissed me suddenly like a madman. What do you think?"

But he didn't say anything, he just silently looked away, and then... his bright eyes met those eyes.

Shi Ran couldn't remember how long it had been since their first eye contact.

His heart felt like it had been squeezed by someone, a dull ache spreading through it.

Wen Yiheng's expression remained unchanged, a familiar smile playing on her lips. "Excuse me, I forgot my umbrella. Can we borrow one from the front desk?"

Yu Dian jumped up, greeting him with a smile, "Teacher, I'm so sorry, we don't have any umbrellas here, and I didn't bring one today either. Hey! Shi Ran, didn't you bring one? Can you lend it to Teacher Wen?"

He frantically winked at Shi Ran as if his eyelids were twitching, but Shi Ran completely ignored him and said calmly, "But I have to go back to the dorm tonight."

"What's the big deal? It won't take up any time." Yu Dian waved his hand generously, not wealthy but magnanimous. "Teacher, you drove here, right? Why don't you take it to my car and then come back?"

Shi Ran glanced at Yu Dian, "You're quite the planner, aren't you? But Wen Yiheng is pretending not to know me right now, how could he possibly agree?"

"Okay," Wen Yiheng's voice rang out. "Then I'll trouble this student."

Shi Ran forced a smile and said, "It's no trouble at all."

Shi Ran's umbrella wasn't big; in fact, it was quite small. He was wondering what to do with the two of them.

Before I could finish thinking, a hand reached out from the side and placed on the umbrella handle. "I'll hold it."

Shi Ran immediately let go, and Wen Yiheng took the umbrella handle and tilted it towards Shi Ran.

They huddled together under one umbrella.

Shi Ran recalled the day she first went on a date with Wen Yiheng; it was also a rainy day.

At that time, he was single-mindedly thinking about how to get to Wen Yiheng's house, how to advance the mission, and how to make this person fall in love with him.

He never expected that he would escape from Wen Yiheng's house. Coincidentally, it was raining heavily that night as well.

The rain was so heavy it felt like someone had punched a hole in the sky. He sat in the back seat of a taxi, tears streaming down his face, not even knowing why he was crying.

This year there was a leap month, making spring particularly strange, and the rain was especially annoying.

Shi Ran was thinking about it and, without looking where she was going, stepped straight into a puddle on the road. Fortunately, someone pulled her back in time.

Wen Yiheng grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, causing him to stumble half a step. He looked down at the hand that was holding his wrist.

"Watch where you're going."

Wen Yiheng said in a low voice, and then let go of her hand.

Shi Ran pulled her hand back into her sleeve and looked uncomfortably at the canvas bag Wen Yiheng was carrying. The hard cover of the book inside stretched the bag into a square shape.

Wen Yiheng always reads this book; it is indeed very thick.

Wen Yiheng noticed his gaze and explained, "We're going to start a new general education course next semester, and we're currently preparing for it."

Shi Ran said "oh" and a few seconds later, he heard Wen Yiheng speak.

"Do you want to choose?"

Shi Ran gave a wry smile, as if mocking herself, "Professor Wen, it's not like I can just choose to take your class."

"So, do you want to?"

Wen Yiheng lowered her voice by half a degree, and Shi Ran suddenly felt a surge of anger.

What's this all about!

A plea for peace? Or just another unintentional provocation?

Didn't you pretend we weren't close? Why are you asking me such ambiguous questions now...?

What do you want to hear? Do you want me to say "yes" so you can continue to pretend to be gentle, polite, and clueless, and say with a smile, "Then you're welcome to come"?

Shi Ran's temper flared up. Staring at the familiar car not far away, she muttered, "Teacher, the car has arrived."

Wen Yiheng followed his gaze, her expression subtly changing.

He didn't ask the question again, but bent down and got into the driver's seat. In the rearview mirror, Shi Ran had already turned and left.

He left without waving goodbye or seeing him off.

Wen Yiheng looked at the increasingly smaller figure in the rearview mirror, then turned her head to look at the canvas bag on the passenger seat.

Underneath that large book was a neatly folded black umbrella.

Wen Yiheng did not appear again after that day until the start of the new school term.

At first, Yu Dian would grumble, "Why hasn't Teacher Wen come lately? Did you scare her off last time because you didn't give her a friendly look?"

Shi Ran wiped the cup without even looking up, saying, "He can come or not, it's up to him."

Yu Dian thought that Shi Ran had made a move, and that Teacher Wen had been scared away. Afraid of touching on his sore spot, he didn't even dare to mention the name "Teacher Wen" anymore.

Two days into the new semester, someone posted a message on the school wall.

[Gold-medal proxy for securing a spot, including Wen's general selection course from three different schools, 300 RMB per attempt, money-back guarantee if unsuccessful, limited spots available, first come first served]

I was curled up in my dorm bed when I saw it. Three hundred yuan, that's too expensive.

His monthly living expenses are only two thousand yuan, and three hundred yuan is enough for him to eat in the cafeteria for half a month.

He held his phone to his chest and stared at the upper bunk.

He remembered the question Wen Yiheng had asked him that day, "So, do you want to?"

He didn't answer then, but now, lying on this creaking bed, he silently replied with one word: "Want."

Shi Ran couldn't tell whether she wanted to take his class, sit in his classroom, or sit in the classroom that countless people were fighting tooth and nail for, but the person on stage only had eyes on her.

Shi Ran took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and added that person on WeChat.

He had never used a proxy to snatch a prize before, and he wasn't familiar with the process.

He joined the group as soon as the other party asked him to. The group name was even "Wen Male God Global Fan Club Group 3". Before he could even investigate, a familiar voice suddenly rang out in the dormitory.

"Hey? Shi Ran, what are you doing here?"

Song Yu clung to the railing of the upper bunk, peeking out half his head.

Then his back stiffened for a moment, and he forced a "thump" out.

Song Yu chuckled and said, "You're also trying to snag Professor Wen's class? You're so close to Professor Wen, why not just ask him to pull some strings for you? Why waste this money?"

Song Yu's voice was loud enough for the entire dormitory to hear.

Before Shi Ran could even shut him up, Zhou Lin, who had been wearing headphones, suddenly took them off.

"Does doing a presentation together mean we're close?" Zhou Lin turned around and delivered a powerful punch. "Teacher Wen might not even remember you now."

Song Yu immediately understood the implication in those words and chuckled.

"Look at you, getting anxious again. You haven't seen what happened when Teacher Wen and Fei Shenxiong were competing. Teacher Wen just appeared out of nowhere and, without saying a word, took Shi Ran down—"

As he spoke, he even made a gesture of picking Song Yu up horizontally, but Shi Ran quickly coughed, cutting off the rest of Song Yu's sentence.

"Stop talking nonsense, okay?"

Song Yu glanced at him and shut his mouth in a huff.

Zhou Lin stared at Shi Ran's bed for two seconds, then looked away.

He had seen the post about Teacher Wen and the student, and to be honest, he had wondered if the student might be Shi Ran.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. How could that be? What right would he have?

Shi Ran had no idea what he was thinking; he was completely absorbed in his phone, haggling with the proxy bidder.

This unscrupulous proxy robbery service only offers a regular robbery service for 300 yuan, with a very low success rate.

He also launched a VIP help-buying service, costing 1,000 yuan per try, guaranteeing a win.

Shi Ran stared at that line of text. All the entanglements of the first twenty-odd years of his life combined did not last as long as these three minutes of hesitation as he held his phone in bed.

Then, gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and transferred the money.

I'm going all in.