After Breaking Up with the Alpha Villain, I was Forcibly Marked - Chapter 10

Inside a vast exhibition hall.

Third-year military cadets from the Mecha Department stood in neat rows a few meters away from an animal-type mecha, listening intently as the lecturer analyzed its performance strengths and weaknesses.

In the front row, a tall Alpha with golden hair and green eyes scanned the surrounding students before slipping into the back row. He familiarly draped an arm over the shoulder of another Alpha.

“Yang-yang, tell me quickly when did you change your taste?” Watching his absent-minded childhood friend, a look of intense gossip bloomed in Lu Yunzheng’s eyes. “Is it true what they’re saying online? Have you really decided to settle down?!”

While others might not know, Lu Yunzheng was well aware of Gao Yang’s long-standing principle: he only dated Omegas. He hadn’t expected that upon returning from the fleet two days ago, he would hear rumors that his friend was pursuing a Junior.

An undifferentiated commoner, no less.

“He’s just a late bloomer; becoming an Omega is only a matter of time.”

Gao Yang turned slightly to dodge the weight on his shoulder, clearly disagreeing with Lu Yunzheng’s “change of taste” theory. “I dare say, not only will he differentiate into an Omega, but he will also have the highest spiritual compatibility with me!”

Hearing Gao Yang admits to the rumors, Lu Yunzheng’s face stiffened slightly, and his smile became forced. “You actually have the patience to wait for him to differentiate? Have you already… won him over?!”

Even a child knew that the optimal differentiation period for Omegas was usually fifteen a year earlier than Alphas. That first-year from the Command Department had long missed the window. Even if he did differentiate one day, he would likely be a low-grade Alpha.

How could his friend have so much confidence in that “late-blooming” fellow?

“…I wish I’d won him over.”

Recalling his efforts over the past few days, Gao Yang leaned against the window, his tone despondent. Unfortunately, no matter how he tried to make his presence known sending morning and night greetings, constant sweet talk, gifts, and even a public confession on the school network Xing Xiyan remained lukewarm. The boy was unmoved and had rejected him several times.

If he hadn’t personally experienced how difficult the boy was that night, he would have suspected his target was an NPC without an emotional program.

Seeing Gao Yang’s distracted expression, Lu Yunzheng realized things weren’t going as smoothly as the internet claimed.

“Since he won’t accept you, why not find someone more sensible sooner?” Lu Yunzheng coughed lightly to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up. A faint glint flashed in his fox-like, narrow green eyes.

“No way. I’ve decided on him.”

Gao Yang shook his head without a second thought. He had searched for the “Protagonist Shou” for over ten years; how could he just swap him out?

Thinking of the information he held, Lu Yunzheng couldn’t help but remind him again: “As far as I know, the one you’ve set your sights on doesn’t seem like some innocent little white flower…”

Gao Yang disagreed. “He’s just a bit cold, but he’s good-hearted. He’s not as complicated as you think.”

Seeing the Alpha’s complete devotion to the freshman, Lu Yunzheng masked the gloom in his eyes and casually changed the subject. “I heard… Feike Li had an accident.”

“When did this happen?”

Hearing Feike Li’s name, Gao Yang was startled, and the image of Xing Xiyan being forced to drink by that man flashed in his mind.

“Word is it happened three days ago. His hovercar slammed into a billboard at the Lecan Building. Half his body was nearly blown away. He’s in a private hospital now, unconscious.” Lu Yunzheng sighed. “Even if he wakes up, he’ll be half a cripple. I’m afraid he’s out of this year’s Mecha Pilot Selection Competition.”

“That’s a pity.”

Gao Yang echoed the sentiment half-heartedly. Since that night, all his focus had been on pursuing Xing Xiyan, so he had naturally ignored the news of others. He hadn’t expected that in just a few days, that arrogant noble heir would end up in a car crash.

It seemed that anyone who offended the “Protagonist Shou,” even a high-born noble, could not escape the fate of a narrative backlash. It was a shame about the leverage he held over Feike Li; he wasn’t sure if he’d ever get to use it now.

Lu Yunzheng continued to tsk. “You know what he’s like arrogant and overbearing because of his family, constantly sabotaging others behind their backs. It’s a mercy he’s even hanging on by a thread. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief knowing he can’t participate in the competition.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Gao Yang looked toward the teaching building outside the window, his mind already drifting to what excuse he could use to move Xing Xiyan today. The tropes that worked on other Omegas clearly failed with him. Perhaps he needed a more direct approach.

Just then, a familiar figure leaped into his vision.

Amidst the lush green grass, five sturdy Alphas had surrounded the youth. Their faces were indignant, and they were gesturing wildly as if about to strike. The youth remained still, watching the leader while his lips moved. Soon, the group seemed to reach an agreement and turned into a vacant laboratory building.

“I have something to do, I’m leaving!”

After confirming the youth being led away was indeed Xing Xiyan, Gao Yang took advantage of the lecturer turning around to slip out of the hall, avoiding the gaze of his classmates.

“What’s the rush?!” Lu Yunzheng called out, but Gao Yang had already vanished from the crowd.

The military academy was vast. It was nearly three kilometers from the exhibition hall to the laboratory building. By the time Gao Yang arrived, over ten minutes had passed.

Because it was rarely visited, the building was quiet, with the echoes of footsteps faintly audible. It took him almost no effort to locate Xing Xiyan.

To prevent a repeat of the bullying from a few days ago, he didn’t delay. The moment he heard voices; he gathered his strength and kicked the ajar metal door open without hesitation.

Bang! The door slammed against the wall with a thunderous crash.

As the dust settled, several figures hidden among the room full of equipment were revealed.

“Damn it, someone’s here to spoil the fun?!” “Who the hell is interfering?!” “I told you this place wasn’t hidden enough. The dust is choking me…”

The Alphas panicked and rushed toward the door, cursing and intending to beat the intruder.

Gao Yang’s eyes swept over the handcuffs, whips, collars, and black ropes in the Alphas’ hands. Rage surged within him.

A cold, murderous pheromone suddenly flooded the lab, filling the cramped space. The intense sense of suffocation felt like invasive mud, frantically squeezing the internal organs and nerves of the other Alphas.

Gao Yang shoved past two of them and rushed to the youth sitting on a single lab bed. “Xing Xiyan, did they do anything to you?!”

“You came…”

Xing Xiyan masked the surprise in his eyes. His gaze lingered for a moment on the hand gripping his arm before moving to the Alpha, who was panting for breath.

Likely from running too fast, Gao Yang’s cheeks were flushed, and his deep, handsome features were drenched in sweat. Droplets of perspiration traced the sharp line of his jaw and disappeared into the opening of his collar.

Beneath his neat brows, those lake-blue eyes currently reflecting the youth’s image were swirling with genuine worry.

“I saw you being taken away by several Alphas. I knew nothing good would come of it, so I followed you.”

Gao Yang glanced at the Alphas, who were now little more than muscle-bound statues under his pressure, and breathed a secret sigh of relief. Fortunately, his constitution was decent; his pheromones alone were enough to leave lower-grade Alphas defenseless.

“I’m fine,” Xing Xiyan said tonelessly.

If it weren’t for the fact that his stunning face was currently devoid of color and his lips were a sickly, pale gray, Gao Yang might have believed him.

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll teach them a lesson for you.” He patted the youth’s bony shoulder comfortingly, his gaze turning dark as he looked back at the others. “Speak up. What did you bring him here for?”

One of them, Jiang Youwu, recognized him and spat defiantly on the floor. “None of your business!”

“He’s someone I’m protecting. You tell me if it’s my business!”

Gao Yang kicked away a pair of handcuffs thrown at his face and used his polished black boot to pin Jiang Youwu’s arm to the floor. Even if he hadn’t “won” the boy over yet, Xing Xiyan was his priority. Until his mission was complete, he would protect him unconditionally.

Although the Alpha’s tone was casual, as if he were just showing off, it took on a different meaning in the youth’s ears.

Xing Xiyan’s mind wavered. He looked up blankly, his eyes half-hidden by his light-colored hair like a dense, sticky web, capturing the figure in front of him.

The Alpha was tall and lean slenderer than most Alphas yet he radiated an unshakeable vitality. It was impossible to look away.

The small section of the Alpha’s neck visible above his collar had been covered in purple bite marks two days ago; now, it was pristine and white, without a trace of the past.

It was clean. It was jarring.

It made one want to bite down again to tear through the soft glands beneath the skin and leave a permanent mark.

Behind Gao Yang, the youth’s eyelashes flickered. He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, waiting for the crawling, itchy heat to subside before finally speaking: “Let them go.”

Gao Yang froze and looked back at him in disbelief. “If I don’t teach them a lesson, aren’t you worried they’ll try this again?!”

“What do you mean? What did we even do to him?!” Jiang Youwu roared, incensed that they were discussing his punishment in front of him.

“You’re trying to bully people and you think you’re in the right?!” Gao Yang didn’t bother with excuses and released a higher concentration of pheromones, completely paralyzing the other man.

“You don’t know a damn thing! It was clearly him who—”

Jiang Youwu’s expression was twisted. He shouted in protest, but his words died in his throat as he met the youth’s icy gaze. Those deep, bottomless eyes looked like they were filled with sharp blades, ready to slice through his vocal cords.

Jiang Youwu’s scalp tightened, and his voice withered.

“I’m tired.”

Xing Xiyan stood up and walked to Gao Yang, intentionally stepping between him and the other Alphas. Beneath his sleeves, his palms trembled, betraying his lack of composure.

“…Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Gao Yang couldn’t win against the youth’s persistence. He obediently withdrew his pheromones and gave Jiang Youwu a disgusted look. “Get out of here. Don’t let me see you again!”

“Grandpa here doesn’t want to see you either” Jiang Youwu muttered. He wanted to snap back, but another warning glance from the youth made him think of the unpaid transaction fee. He wisely swallowed his words and scrambled away with his brothers.