After Dating the President O, I Turned Into a Puppy-Like Lover - Chapter 44.1

Friday—the study tour’s final day at Qingyu.

For the past few days, the school had been unusually strict about hygiene and attendance. Any small slip was quickly caught by the discipline committee and met with a stern lecture.

With the foreign guests gone, the campus shed its restraint and returned to its usual lively chaos.

This week also marked the end of the semester. After the weekend break, final exams would be held on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the long winter holiday.

At noon, the fourth period was still in session. The campus was quiet, broken only by the loud voice of a teacher echoing from a classroom.

Zhou Yi’s group finished early. Halfway through the fourth period, they slipped off to the cafeteria. Strictly speaking, this wasn’t allowed, but everyone turned a blind eye.

She hadn’t expected her luck to be so bad. Xiao Xia told her the president was looking for her, and instructed that if anyone saw Zhou Yi, she should go to the student council office.

Zhou Yi had been planning to head back to the dorm, but upon hearing this, she trudged reluctantly to the office.

Not wanting to get caught in the crowd when classes ended, she ran as fast as she could. By the time she reached the building, she was panting, sweat dampening her back despite the winter chill.

Just then, Wu Qing came down the stairs. Seeing Zhou Yi so flustered, she called out, “Zhou Yi, why are you running so fast? What’s the rush?”

“I’m going to see the president.” Zhou Yi gasped.

At the word president, Wu Qing’s brows furrowed. “So, the only reason you come to the student council is to see her?”

She had long disliked Zhou Yi and distrusted all Alphas with ulterior motives. To her, this was harassment. She had supported Chen Qing’s decision not to let Zhou Yi join the council. Only Dan Sirou’s soft heart had made an exception.

Zhou Yi: “…”

Zhou Yi wiped sweat from her temple. “The president asked me to find her.”

“Is that so.” Wu Qing looked slightly embarrassed. “She’s in the office now. Go ahead.”

With that, she left.

Zhou Yi glanced back, fuming silently. Tch.

She climbed the stairs in one breath, slowed her pace in the corridor, and steadied her breathing before knocking on the office door.

After hearing a response, she pushed it open.

The desk was piled high with colorful packages. Dan Sirou was absorbed in examining one of them. When she looked up and saw Zhou Yi, she asked casually, “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you around.”

Her tone was calm, like idle conversation.

Zhou Yi panicked, thinking she’d been caught sneaking to the cafeteria. She stammered, “Uh, I was with Xiao Xia on the field. Then she said her stomach hurt, and she didn’t have paper, so I went to get her some. If you don’t believe me, ask Lin Shi she saw us!”

Dan Sirou didn’t look up, still focused on the item in her hand. “Mm,” she murmured.

Zhou Yi: “…”

That was it? No interrogation? The president’s reaction was far too mild. Zhou Yi was left confused.

After a pause, Dan Sirou lifted her gaze and gestured to the gifts. “Pick one you like.”

Some were from the study tour delegation, others from Marina personally.

Zhou Yi realized she wasn’t in trouble after all. She obediently began to choose, though awkwardly, hesitant to touch anything. Eventually, she was drawn to what Dan Sirou was holding and leaned closer to look.

It was humiliating. Everything was in English, exposing her as the academic slacker she was.

Still, the illustrations on the bottles were charming, and she studied them with interest.

Mostly, though the president smelled wonderful. Like standing in a sunlit field of flowers, warm and intoxicating.

“Can you read it?” Dan Sirou asked lightly, noticing her fascination.

“Mm.” Zhou Yi, dazed by the scent, leaned closer, trying to see the pictures beneath Dan Sirou’s hand. Her cheek brushed against a strand of hair near the president’s ear, closing the distance between them.

“Zhou Yi.” Dan Sirou’s eyes flicked sideways, her voice cool.

One look was enough. Zhou Yi realized she had crossed a line and quickly pulled back.

Dan Sirou’s AO awareness was sharp. Zhou Yi’s Alpha presence was weak, her demeanor harmless and silly, but boundaries had to be kept.

The bottles came in sets of three. Dan Sirou opened one package, took out two, and handed them to Zhou Yi. “Your hand was injured yesterday. This is a nutrient solution to boost immunity and healing. Take one, and give the other to Jiang He.”

“Oh.” Zhou Yi accepted, delighted, then teased, “President, I didn’t expect you to care so much about my boss.”

First helping with medicine, now giving supplements, she suspected the president’s insistence on handling yesterday’s fight herself wasn’t about protecting the school’s image, but about protecting Jiang He.

When had they become so close?

If the president hadn’t been so firm about never dating, Zhou Yi might have suspected she secretly liked her boss. After all, even the most capable Omega naturally favored strong Alphas.

Dan Sirou said nothing, neither confirming nor denying. Silence was almost an admission.

After a moment, Zhou Yi asked, “President, can I drink both bottles?”

Dan Sirou looked at her. “So greedy. You won’t leave one for your boss?”

“Of course not.” Zhou Yi grinned. “For her, it’s just a bonus. My boss is a top Alpha—her recovery is amazing. That little injury is nothing. She’s had worse and healed in days. I think I need it more, since I’m just a weak little Alpha.”

Dan Sirou chuckled softly at her antics. “No. The effect is too strong. Better not overdo it.”

“Why?” Zhou Yi blinked.

“Do you know the side effects of Alphas taking too much?” Dan Sirou asked.

Zhou Yi shook her head.

“It’s like an aphrodisiac,” Dan Sirou said calmly.

“Ah.” Zhou Yi’s eyes widened, instantly deflated. “Then forget it.”

When Zhou Yi returned to the dorm, Jiang He was just spreading her quilt.

Seeing her bounce in cheerfully, Jiang He asked dryly, “Is the student council getting more fun?”

“Yeah.” Zhou Yi beamed. “Pretty girls, free gifts, and sometimes special privileges. I think I’ll stick around.”

Jiang He straightened up, nodding in agreement. “As long as you’re doing something useful.”

Zhou Yi used to be worse than her at slacking. At least Jiang He kept decent grades. Zhou Yi, on the other hand, caused trouble and always ranked at the bottom.

So, Jiang He was genuinely glad to see her change.

But then her sharp nose caught something. She frowned.

Omega scent. A faint floral fragrance.

It was unmistakably Dan Sirou’s.

It was unmistakably Dan Sirou’s scent.

“Were you just with Dan Sirou?” Jiang He asked.

“How do you know?” Zhou Yi said in surprise. “Did you see us?”

“No. You smell like her.” Jiang He’s tone carried a faint displeasure, though she explained calmly, “That can easily cause misunderstandings. You’re an Alpha, you can’t just think it doesn’t matter because you’re both girls.”

Zhou Yi nodded. Her boss was right.

But it wasn’t only blurred AO awareness. She truly felt an Alpha’s instinctive pull toward the president, a primal urge that made her want to be close. Perhaps it was because the president’s level was so high—she, as a small Alpha, had no resistance.

Still.

“Boss, how can you be sure it’s her scent? What do her pheromones smell like? I don’t even know. How are you so certain?” Zhou Yi pressed, asking the question that cut to the heart.

Jiang He: “…”

Her cold, composed face faltered, panic flickering visibly.

“You’re hiding things from me,” Zhou Yi said slyly, narrowing her eyes as though catching her in the act.

Jiang He avoided her gaze, embarrassed for the first time in front of Zhou Yi.

“Alright, alright.” Zhou Yi laughed, suddenly emboldened, almost triumphant. “I was heading back to the dorm, but the president called me over and told me to give you this.”

She pulled out two small bottles.

“She cares about you,” Zhou Yi said deliberately, drawing out the words. “She told me to give you one because you were hurt yesterday. It’ll help you heal faster.”

She exaggerated the story, adding flavor to the plain truth.

Jiang He took the bottle, stunned.

Zhou Yi shared her confusion openly. “And yesterday, the president said she didn’t want to damage the school’s image. But why bother? Just handle it privately. Maybe, just maybe she wanted to protect someone in particular. Not that Omega. Or maybe she does like Omegas, but Marina confessed and failed. So, if not her, then it must be—”

Jiang He swallowed hard, caught between disbelief and a strange, dreamy hope.

“That first-year Alpha boy,” Zhou Yi said mischievously.

Jiang He: “…”

She couldn’t tell if Zhou Yi had suddenly developed a sense of humor or genuinely believed it.

“Shut up. Dan Sirou’s taste isn’t that bad,” she said irritably.

Her steady face and clear, low voice concealed the agitation beneath.

“What’s so bad about him?” Zhou Yi said earnestly. “Mature charm in his acne, a sense of security. Deep, retro black glasses that scream scholarly aura. If the president doesn’t like that kind of Alpha, then does she like you instead?”

Jiang He’s lips pressed tight, frozen like a statue.

She wanted to refute it but couldn’t. She wanted to admit it but felt she wasn’t that special.

She was almost convinced by Zhou Yi’s nonsense.

Seeing her flustered, Zhou Yi burst out laughing. She’d never seen her boss doubt herself like this.

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing,” Zhou Yi said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes before turning serious. “I think the president cares about you. My boss is excellent too. Maybe I don’t have the fate to be her partner, but if one day she became my sister-in-law, that wouldn’t be bad.”

She smiled brightly.

Jiang He fell silent.

Zhou Yi didn’t know about her private encounters with Dan Sirou, so she assumed the president’s concern was simply for Jiang He as a person.

But Jiang He knew better.

Was it truly about her? Or was it just to keep things “clear” between them? Jiang He couldn’t tell.

The dorm was quiet. Some hadn’t returned, others were asleep. Lying in bed, Jiang He could hear her own restless thoughts.

Thinking and thinking, she drifted into sleep.

Final exams ended on the sixth. On the eleventh, students returned to collect grades and attend closing activities. Then came the long winter break.

This holiday, Jiang He would spend on the long-missed island.

Vacation began officially on the eleventh; she would depart on the thirteenth.

The day before leaving, Jiang He wanted to see Dan Sirou.

On the twelfth, she sent her a message:

[Can we meet today?]

After a short wait, Dan Sirou replied, asking why. Jiang He said she just suddenly wanted to see her.

Her heart raced guiltily, wondering what excuse she’d use if pressed. Luckily, Dan Sirou asked nothing more and agreed.

She asked where to meet.

Jiang He said, “Near your place. I’ll come find you.”

Around ten in the morning, the weather was perfect. Sunlight spread across the earth, warm and bright.

Not long after Jiang He left home, Dan Sirou messaged again, saying she might be late. If Jiang He arrived first, she should wait at the little black cat’s spot.

Jiang He replied, “Okay.”

On the way, she stopped at a shop near home to buy a few things—not expensive, just small tokens of thought. She didn’t want them to feel like a burden.

Carrying two gift bags, she arrived at the meeting place.

She expected to wait, but Dan Sirou was already there, bent at a ninety-degree angle, feeding the cat.

White shirt, light blue jeans—youthful and fresh.

Her hair fell loose, tucked behind her ear with practiced ease.

Sensing eyes on her, she turned. Against the sunlight, her peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly.

Jiang He felt shy. She stepped forward and handed over the bags. “This one’s for Auntie, and this one’s for you.”

Tall and slender, the Alpha stood before her, blocking the sun, her clean, crisp aura stirring something deep inside.

Dan Sirou seemed a little overwhelmed by the gesture. She smiled faintly to ease the awkwardness. “Why did you buy things? You didn’t have to.”

Jiang He said nothing. She glanced at the cat eating happily. “You’re feeding it?”

“Mm.” Dan Sirou nodded. “I made it myself. Didn’t expect it to like it so much. I had time today.”

Jiang He thought for a moment, then said, “Wait here. I’ll go buy something.”

“Jiang He, you!” Dan Sirou tried to stop her, but she walked off without looking back.

Watching her tall, slender figure retreat, Dan Sirou sighed helplessly and crouched again to play with the cat.

Ten minutes later, Jiang He returned, breathless, carrying several bags.

She steadied herself and handed them over. “Here.”

Dan Sirou took them. The oversized plastic bag couldn’t even hide the contents—cat food. She sighed. “Why did you buy so much? And it’s all cat food.”

“I saw you liked it,” Jiang He said earnestly. “This way, if you want to feed it again, you won’t have to cook.”

Dan Sirou laughed softly at her seriousness. “You didn’t need to buy so much. There’s nowhere to put it.”

Jiang He glanced down, frowning. Maybe it was a bit too much.

“I’ll go home first,” Dan Sirou said, pointing at the pile of bags. “It’s inconvenient to carry all this.”

“Alright,” Jiang He agreed.

Before leaving, Dan Sirou turned back.

Jiang He stood there, pure and obedient. Catching her gaze, Jiang He asked softly, “What is it?”

Dan Sirou shook her head. “Do you want to come up?” Her eyes carried a gentle warmth.

Jiang He’s heart fluttered.

Of course she wanted to.

But she stayed clear-headed and declined. “No. That wouldn’t be right.”

Dan Sirou didn’t press. It had only been a passing thought, a polite offer.

Ten minutes later, Jiang He saw her return.

She hadn’t planned to bring the cat, but animals understood. It bounced and meowed insistently, refusing to be left behind. In the end, Dan Sirou had no choice but to bring it along.

The cat was lazy and drowsy. Wrapped in Dan Sirou’s warm, soft clothes, it nestled in her arms, eyes half-closed in languid comfort. Whether it was truly asleep or simply shielding itself from the sunlight was hard to tell.

Jiang He glanced at the little creature from time to time.

What a blessed life it has.

Without realizing, they wandered into a small park and sat down on a stone bench.

Dan Sirou kept stroking the cat. Each touch of her slender fingers made the animal shiver with pleasure.

The breeze lifted strands of her fine hair. She gazed at the cat with tender affection, while Jiang He gazed at her with quiet longing.

“Why don’t you keep one yourself?” Jiang He couldn’t help asking again.

Dan Sirou smiled faintly. “Liking something doesn’t mean you have to own it.”

Perhaps it was the sunlight, the scenery, or her mood, but her answer was different from last time.

“A cat’s life is too short. Once you grow attached, it’s hard to let go. Rather than endure the pain of parting, it’s better not to own one at all.”

Her voice brushed Jiang He’s ear like a soft breeze. Jiang He nudged a stone with her foot, nodding thoughtfully.

After a pause, she said, “By the way.”

“When you helped me at school, was it because I saved you during that pheromone riot?” she asked earnestly.

It was a question she had carried for a long time, one of the reasons she had come today.

She wanted to know what Dan Sirou truly thought of her. Was it gratitude for that moment, or something about her as a person?

Dan Sirou turned her head, her eyes reflecting the girl’s delicate face. She didn’t answer immediately.

She had never thought deeply about the reason.