TAO | Chapter 99

To save his own skin, Han Ziyang bit the bullet and said, “I think it’s better not to.”

Wei Xiaochi didn’t ask why not. He just replied with a simple, “Oh.”

Han Ziyang couldn’t read any emotion from that “oh.” He scratched his head anxiously, but he couldn’t let Wei Xiaochi see how guilty he was feeling.

Trying to act cool, Han Ziyang asked, “So are you gonna explain things to Zhan-ge or not?”

It wasn’t until several minutes later that Wei Xiaochi finally replied with a single line—

“I’ll talk to him.”

Because of that one sentence, Han Ziyang was on edge the entire afternoon. He kept thinking about confessing everything to Jiang Zhan right then and there.

But he chickened out. He just couldn’t do it.

Jiang Zhan and Wei Xiaochi were deep in that sweet honeymoon phase of their relationship. If he told Jiang Zhan the raw, ugly truth now, wouldn’t that be like digging his own grave?

Clinging to a desperate “live another second” kind of mentality, Han Ziyang nervously survived the next three periods, constantly in flight-or-fight mode.

—

On Friday, they got out of school one class early. As the dismissal bell rang, Wei Xiaochi didn’t rush home. He slowly started packing up his bag.

He and Jiang Zhan had planned to drop off the collected mineral water bottles and scrap paper at the recycling station later. Since this was peak dismissal time, they usually waited until the crowd thinned out before moving.

Most students had already left the classroom excitedly in little groups, except for those staying behind for cleaning duty.

Wei Xiaochi double-checked his stuff to make sure he wasn’t forgetting any books, then zipped up his bag.

The moment he stepped out of the classroom, he saw Xu Yang—and paused.

The alpha was leaning casually against the blue-and-white wall beside the doorframe, one hand holding his school bag, the other stuffed lazily in his pocket. His back slightly hunched, dark hair falling over his brows, like he was waiting for someone.

When he saw Wei Xiaochi come out, Xu Yang looked up, his dark eyes deep and unreadable.

Wei Xiaochi had a feeling he might be waiting for him. Instinctively, he glanced toward the stairwell, worried Jiang Zhan might suddenly show up.

Even though there was nothing going on between him and Xu Yang, if Jiang Zhan saw them together, he’d definitely be pissed.

His brain hadn’t fully caught up yet, but his body reacted first—Wei Xiaochi avoided eye contact with Xu Yang and kept his head down, walking straight ahead.

But Xu Yang had long legs and easily blocked his path in a few steps.

Wei Xiaochi’s heart jumped. He tried to go left—Xu Yang blocked left. He went right—Xu Yang blocked right.

Tightening his grip on his bag strap, Wei Xiaochi gave a quick glance toward the stairwell before nervously looking at Xu Yang. “What do you want?”

Xu Yang didn’t answer. Instead, he placed something into Wei Xiaochi’s hands.

Wei Xiaochi’s reflexes kicked in like he had a built-in defense system—he didn’t even get a good look at the item before shoving it right back, like it might bite him.

The air instantly turned chilly.

Realizing his reaction was a little too much, Wei Xiaochi quietly apologized, “Sorry.”

Xu Yang’s irises were light-colored. When he stayed silent, he gave off this cold and distant vibe. He stared at Wei Xiaochi, and the intense gaze made Wei Xiaochi super uncomfortable.

Worried that Jiang Zhan might see this awkward stand-off, Wei Xiaochi wanted to end it quickly.

“If there’s nothing else,” Wei Xiaochi broke the silence, already halfway stepping aside, “then I’ll get going.”

Right at that moment, Xu Yang spoke.

“I’m going abroad for high school.”

Wei Xiaochi froze, looking up in surprise.

Xu Yang’s face was half-lit by the sunlight, his expression calm. His eyes were like deep, still pools—dark, unreadable, impossible to figure out.

This version of Xu Yang felt so unfamiliar. It didn’t match the image of the class tyrant he used to know.

He was surprised not just because Xu Yang was transferring at such a critical point in their third year, but also because Xu Yang specifically came to tell him.

Wei Xiaochi stayed quiet for a couple of seconds, let out a soft “oh,” and looked like he wanted to say something more—but had no idea what to say. So he just nodded twice, kind of blankly, “Oh.”

Xu Yang looked at him deeply.

“Today’s my last day. I won’t be coming on Monday.”

Wei Xiaochi blinked. He met Xu Yang’s eyes for a couple seconds, opened his mouth, and somehow blurted out, “That’s… that’s good. You don’t even have to take the finals.”

As soon as the words left his mouth—boom, silence again.

Realizing how dumb that sounded, Wei Xiaochi awkwardly pushed up his glasses and tried to patch things up, “I hope everything goes smoothly with your studies abroad.”

Xu Yang’s brows drew together slightly, like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself at the last second.

Wei Xiaochi really wanted to leave. He wasn’t sure if he just didn’t know how to hide it or didn’t want to—his desire to bounce was written all over his face.

Xu Yang’s lips pressed into a tight line. He hid whatever he was feeling, and with a blank expression, he placed a neatly wrapped box into Wei Xiaochi’s hands.

He simply said, “For you.”

It felt like holding a hot potato. Without hesitation, Wei Xiaochi shoved the red velvet box right back.

“No need, thank you.”

“I hope everything goes well for you overseas. That you get into a good university. That you will meet more amazing new friends.”

Wei Xiaochi racked his brain to spit out all these polite parting words—but not once did he say “let’s keep in touch.”

Partly because it never even occurred to him, and partly because he didn’t think Xu Yang would want to contact him. He didn’t want that either.

They were from totally different worlds. Over the past two years, their relationship was just plain, nothing special. Barely interacted outside of class.

Even if Xu Yang made an international call someday, they’d probably end up in this same awkward silence.

Who knew how Xu Yang felt, but for someone like Wei Xiaochi, who was mildly socially anxious, this kind of forced small talk was a nightmare.

Back then when he and Jiang Zhan started hanging out, he’d also felt like they were from two different worlds—but with Xu Yang, it was something else.

With Jiang Zhan, it was more like feeling a social gap.

But Xu Yang? It was just… nothing to talk about. Zero common ground.

Thinking about it more, Wei Xiaochi realized that he and Jiang Zhan didn’t even share the same hobbies or interests—but somehow they always ended up chatting anyway.

That probably had a lot to do with how Jiang Zhan was ridiculously good at making a fuss.

From the very beginning, Jiang Zhan kept picking fights with him—over the weirdest, most random things. There was nothing Wei Xiaochi could imagine that Jiang Zhan couldn’t turn into a grievance.

So all Wei Xiaochi could do was keep explaining himself, making promises. Honestly, he couldn’t even count how many things he promised during that time.

“Anyway, I get it. Thanks for the thought, but I really can’t take the gift. Wishing you safety and good health. I’m leaving now.”

Wei Xiaochi said everything in one breath, then lowered his head and quickly stepped around Xu Yang.

This time, Xu Yang didn’t stop him. He just stood there, watching the Omega’s figure disappear down the stairs, never once turning back.

Xu Yang kept his eyes half-lowered, standing still for a long time. The sunlight cast a vague, murky shadow over his body.

His feelings for Wei Xiaochi were like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water—hazy, beautiful, but fleeting.

Even if he really did like Wei Xiaochi now—even if it was hard to let go of this quiet, unanswered first love—his rational mind still stood tall above his emotions, already able to imagine what he’d be like ten years from now.

With time, his feelings for Wei Xiaochi would slowly fade. Maybe one day, flipping through old photos of his teenage years, he’d remember that tiny flutter in his heart.

But that memory would come with a nostalgic smile for his youth—because Wei Xiaochi was like a shimmering glow in that chapter of his life.

Beautiful, yes. But ultimately, just a unique sight on his path to growing up.

Ten years from now, if they ever met again, they might’ve both started families. At most, they’d exchange a polite nod across the crowd—and that would be the end of it.

Or maybe he wouldn’t be married, and by chance, neither would Wei Xiaochi.

Their eyes would meet across a sea of people, and his heart would flutter once more.

By then, he’d have broken away from his parents’ shadow. He’d be independent, more mature and steady than he ever was as a teenager.

If the timing was right, maybe he’d try to pursue Wei Xiaochi.

Xu Yang had imagined all kinds of futures—but not this one.

He never imagined Wei Xiaochi would suddenly differentiate into an Omega… and fall for someone else.

The way Wei Xiaochi had acted just now made it crystal clear—he’d crushed even the tiniest hope Xu Yang had been secretly holding onto.

His rational mind was still watching coldly from above, mocking this whole situation, like it found the idea of clinging to this hope ten years from now utterly laughable.

But Xu Yang couldn’t be reasoned with right now. No matter how logical it all sounded, there was still this aching pain in his chest that wouldn’t go away.

—

Author’s Note:

Unless something unexpected happens, Xu Yang’s story ends here.

I believe every character should have a beginning and an end.