TAO | Chapter 70

For Wei Xiaochi, the KFC combo meal was just the right amount to fill him up. But for an alpha with a larger appetite, it might not have been enough.

“Are you full?” Wei Xiaochi couldn’t help asking. “Do you want me to get you another burger?”

Jiang Zhan thought about Wei Xiaochi’s financial situation and then about how much a single burger at KFC cost. “Forget it,” he said casually. “Not really in the mood. I’ll just have Aunt Zhou make me a bowl of noodles at home.”

A twinge of awkwardness hit Wei Xiaochi. He had invited Jiang Zhan out to eat, yet the other wasn’t full. But then again, a single burger at KFC cost 21.5 yuan—a price that was admittedly steep.

As they left KFC, stepping down the stairs, Jiang Zhan suddenly spoke up, “Wait here.”

Without offering an explanation, he turned around and pushed open the glass doors to go back inside.

Through the glass, Wei Xiaochi saw Jiang Zhan fiddling with his phone at the counter. Shortly after, a staff member handed him a small paper bag after confirming an order.

When Jiang Zhan returned, he handed the bag to Wei Xiaochi.

Looking inside, Wei Xiaochi found two egg tarts.

“They just came out of the oven,” Jiang Zhan said. “Hurry up and eat them. They won’t taste as good once they cool.”

Wei Xiaochi took one out and offered it to Jiang Zhan, but the alpha brushed past him and walked ahead, leaping down the stairs. “I don’t want any.”

Watching Jiang Zhan’s back, Wei Xiaochi slowly followed, taking a bite of the egg tart. It was hot, but the crust was wonderfully flaky.

The twins loved egg tarts, and sometimes Fang Yuan would buy a few for them. On rare occasions, if he was lucky, Wei Xiaochi might get one. But those were always cold by the time he got home from school.

This was the first time he’d eaten one fresh out of the oven.

Up ahead, Jiang Zhan suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

Caught off guard, Wei Xiaochi paused, holding the egg tart carefully with one hand while using the other to catch the crumbs.

As he bit into the soft center, the heat made him eat cautiously. The golden light from the street lamps cast a halo around his silhouette. His lashes half-lowered, his smooth eye corners softly curved upward, creating an enticing crease.

Noticing Jiang Zhan staring at him, Wei Xiaochi looked up, puzzled.

Jiang Zhan hurriedly turned his head away, a slight flush creeping up his face. He snapped gruffly, “What are you looking at me for? Just eat already.”

Taken aback, Wei Xiaochi quickly finished the rest of the egg tart in two bites despite the heat.

“Why are you rushing?” Jiang Zhan growled. “No one’s trying to steal it from you.”

Wei Xiaochi: …

After a brief pause, Jiang Zhan glanced at him and asked in a low voice, “Was it good?”

Blinking, Wei Xiaochi nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Jiang Zhan muttered awkwardly, “Good. Keep eating. I’ll wait for you.”

He didn’t know why he’d suddenly wanted to buy egg tarts for Wei Xiaochi, but it had felt like the right thing. Somehow, he thought that Wei Xiaochi would like them, and in his mind, the omega was a bit like an egg tart—soft and sweet.

For a few seconds, Wei Xiaochi stared at him, then lowered his gaze and carefully took out the second egg tart, eating it bit by bit.

Passing by a pancake stall, Wei Xiaochi pointed at the sign. “Do you like pancakes? You can add meat to them.”

Jiang Zhan glanced at it, hands in his pockets. “They’re okay.”

Without another word, Wei Xiaochi walked over and ordered a pancake stuffed with crispy layers, smoked meat, and fresh lettuce. It was hearty and satisfying, priced at 16 yuan—much more affordable than a burger.

The shop had seats and air conditioning, so they found a spot to sit.

After a few bites of his pancake, a thought crossed Wei Xiaochi’s mind. “Did you finish writing your reflection yet?”

“What reflection?” Jiang Zhan asked.

“The one for fighting on Friday,” Wei Xiaochi reminded him. “Didn’t the dean tell you to write a 3,000-word self-reflection and read it at the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow?”

Jiang Zhan frowned. “I’m not writing it.”

The confidence in his tone left Wei Xiaochi momentarily stunned. “Why not? What happens if you don’t? Won’t you get punished?”

In Wei Xiaochi’s mind, teachers held absolute authority. Disobedience wasn’t an option. He was the quintessential model student who did as he was told.

Jiang Zhan, however, was the polar opposite. A troublemaker since kindergarten, he was the bane of every teacher’s existence.

“I’ll take whatever punishment they give,” Jiang Zhan said dismissively. “I’m not writing it.”

“But… you hit someone,” Wei Xiaochi said hesitantly. “That’s wrong.”

Jiang Zhan paused mid-bite, his gaze dark and deliberate. “I’m not apologizing to that third wheel.”

The term “third wheel” struck like a thunderclap in Wei Xiaochi’s mind, echoing three times over, each more jarring than the last.

“He knew you were with me, yet he tried to worm his way in. If that’s not a third wheel, what is? Even if he didn’t succeed, he’s still a spiritual third wheel,” Jiang Zhan said matter-of-factly.

“He didn’t mean it that way,” Wei Xiaochi explained quickly. “The other day, he told me he doesn’t have feelings for me.”

That statement only lit Jiang Zhan’s fuse. “No feelings? Then why did he give you chocolates? Why did he buy you milk tea? Why’s he always hovering around you? If he did have feelings, would he be building a shrine for you?”

“I’m not apologizing to that third wheel!” Jiang Zhan declared, his voice firm.

Opening his mouth, then closing it again, Wei Xiaochi found himself at a loss for words. Strictly speaking, Xu Yang hadn’t done anything wrong, and Jiang Zhan punching him out of the blue was certainly unjustified.

Yet it was also true that Xu Yang’s behavior towards him was a bit peculiar, though it hadn’t caused any real disruption.

Ultimately, alpha instincts were hardwired with possessiveness, and Jiang Zhan took this to the extreme. He couldn’t tolerate anyone being close to his omega, even slightly.

Wei Xiaochi had originally planned to help Jiang Zhan write the 3,000-word reflection, but now it seemed… unlikely.

By the time Wei Xiaochi got home, it was already 8 PM.

He was immediately scolded by Madam Wei for being late. Saying nothing, he let her rant for a few minutes before retreating to his room.

Fang Yuan had taken the twins to her parents’ house early in the morning and hadn’t returned yet. This had put Madam Wei in a foul mood, and she vented her frustrations on Wei Xiaochi, even dragging Fang Yuan into her tirade.

Fang Yuan had left precisely to avoid clashing with Madam Wei over their ongoing mother-in-law and daughter-in-law disputes. Instead of arguing, she simply avoided confrontation altogether by leaving with the children.

Shutting his bedroom door, Wei Xiaochi ignored Madam Wei’s complaints. From his bag, he took out his accounting notebook and recorded the day’s expenses.

Under the desk lamp’s glow, the 300 yuan Jiang Zhan had earned lay flat. Carefully smoothing out the creases, Wei Xiaochi tucked the money between the pages of his notebook but didn’t add it to his income column.

Unable to resist, he flipped to that page again, staring at the bright red bills for a while before closing the notebook and taking out a blank sheet of paper.

After a moment’s hesitation, he wrote three words across the top: Reflection Essay.

Author’s Note:

I wanted to finish this arc, but I ran out of time. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.

There’s been a lot going on lately, and my mood has been rough. But when I think of all of you waiting eagerly, and my mortgage, I grit my teeth and write on. After all, how else will I make my little nest egg, right? 🐕