After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 22

Early the next morning.

There was still about half an hour before departure when Dan Sirou called Zhou Tingchen. The night before, they had agreed to meet at eight near her neighborhood, have breakfast together, and then head to the hospital.

The call was answered almost instantly.

“Hello, Rourou.” Zhou Tingchen’s voice was bright and warm.

“I’m nearly ready. Have you left yet?” Dan Sirou asked. Her voice was gentle and elegant, always calm even when dealing with students who broke rules at school. People often mistook her usual kindness as something special directed at them. And when speaking to Zhou Tingchen, a childhood friend, her tone carried a touch more warmth—enough to sound like genuine affection.

As an Alpha, Zhou Tingchen found this especially gratifying.

He was thankful that the nightly phone calls hadn’t been in vain. Since their reunion, her attitude had visibly shifted from distant and reserved to the friendly warmth she now showed. He believed that if he kept at it, she would soon grow even closer to him.

“You’re already ready? I just left school. But it’s not far from your neighborhood, I’ll be there soon.” He walked out of the dormitory, weaving through the busy campus square toward the school gate.

He attended an international high school, which had monthly breaks but allowed students to manage their weekends freely. Usually, weekends were filled with extracurricular lessons, and leaving campus required a signed permit from a teacher.

Zhou Tingchen had already prepared one in advance.

“No need to rush. I’ve only just finished getting ready myself,” Dan Sirou said. “Be careful on the road.”

“Alright,” Zhou Tingchen replied.

He didn’t hang up. He never did, always waiting like a gentleman for Dan Sirou to end the call first.

This time was no different. Just as she pressed the button to end the call, a sweet, coquettish voice rang out nearby:

“Tingchen-senpai.”

Zhou Tingchen lowered his phone and turned. Approaching him was a stylish, strikingly beautiful female Omega.

She greeted him with fiery enthusiasm, patting his shoulder. But his stride was too long, and she stumbled forward, nearly falling into him. Zhou Tingchen quickly caught her arm, steadying her before she could hit the ground.

The collision of youth, her face flushed instantly, almond-shaped eyes gazing dreamily at the gentlemanly Alpha.

Zhou Tingchen smiled faintly. They remained in that embrace for a moment before he realized how inappropriate it was in such a public place. Calmly, he set her upright. “Careful, will you?”

“Thank you, senpai.” The Omega rubbed her arm where she had twisted it, then asked casually, “By the way, where are you headed so early?”

“A friend’s mother had surgery. She’s going for a follow-up today,” Zhou Tingchen explained as they walked.

The Omega followed close behind. “A friend? Senpai, have you found someone? An Alpha or an Omega?”

Zhou Tingchen stopped, looked at her, and smiled. “Whether she’s mine or not is still uncertain, but it won’t be long.” His eyes gleamed with confidence.

That light stung the Omega, and her tone turned faintly sour. “I’d really like to see the person you like, senpai.”

Zhou Tingchen only smiled, saying nothing.

Her name was Qiao Zhi. Among the Omegas at school, few ranked higher than her. Beautiful and admired, she was pursued by countless Alphas, and even ordinary Beta boys longed for her. Yet she always carried herself with aloof superiority.

Until Zhou Tingchen transferred here, only then did she feel the thrill of youthful infatuation.

As they neared the school gate, Qiao Zhi suddenly squealed softly. “Oh no, senpai, I just remembered, did you forget something important?”

“The rehearsal for the Star Cup is today, isn’t it? You’re in charge of guitar, and it starts at ten.”

Her reminder jolted Zhou Tingchen. He had signed up for the event when he first transferred, and the date had been announced long ago. But with everything happening lately, he had forgotten that it clashed with his promise to accompany Rourou to the hospital.

In those few seconds, he made a decision.

“Skipping it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”

“Not necessarily. I think the school is taking it seriously this time, I heard they invited several media outlets.” Qiao Zhi added, “Besides, you just transferred. If you miss your first event, it won’t look good.”

Zhou Tingchen hesitated.

He was a vocal arts student, and his teacher, an experienced examiner valued him highly. The teacher would certainly be present at the event. Backing out now would indeed be troublesome.

Qiao Zhi leaned closer. “Senpai, is your friend’s situation very serious?”

He shook his head. “Not really. It’s just a routine monthly check-up.”

“Oh, I see.” Qiao Zhi nodded. “Then why not ask her if you can go in the afternoon instead?”

Zhou Tingchen fell silent, then glanced at her awkwardly. “But I already promised to go with her. Canceling last minute doesn’t feel right.”

“That’s up to you.” Qiao Zhi smiled sweetly. “If you explain your difficulty, she won’t hold it against you. And check-ups usually aren’t a big deal. This is only the second one, isn’t it?”

“The second, yes,” Zhou Tingchen admitted.

“Exactly. It won’t be serious. Call her, see what she says. If she insists, of course your Omega comes first. But if she doesn’t mind, you should think about yourself too.”

His eyes darkened. He nodded slowly, agreeing.

He stepped aside, pulled out his phone, and dialed.

The call connected quickly.

“Hello?” Dan Sirou answered. “You’re here already?” She sounded surprised. She knew the school was close, but not that close.

“No, Rourou.” Zhou Tingchen’s voice faltered, embarrassed. “Listen to me.”

He repeated his conversation with Qiao Zhi. “That’s the situation. If I skip my first school event, it might be impolite. But if you need me, I’ll come right away without another word.”

“It’s fine.” Dan Sirou’s tone was full of understanding. “Go handle your business. I can manage on my own.”

Zhou Tingchen felt even more guilty. “Maybe I should explain to my teacher. He’d understand.”

“No need.” Dan Sirou smiled gently. “If you miss something important because of me, I’d feel terrible.”

Zhou Tingchen sighed. With things said this far, he could only relent. “Alright. Once I’m done here, I’ll head straight to the hospital.”