After Transmigrating as a Man-Eater Omega, I Got the Protagonist Shou - Chapter 13

Tao Yanxi narrowed his eyes, staring at the departing figures of Qiao Xingyin and Jiang Shixu walking side by side. He muttered under his breath, “What on earth? Since when did Qiao Xingyin get so close to Jiang Shixu?”

Jiang Shixu was the Alpha he liked most in Class 8. Tao Yanxi knew very well that while Jiang Shixu appeared gentle and polite to everyone, he was distant to his core, making it difficult for anyone to truly get close to him. It was not that Tao Yanxi was particularly obsessed with chasing Jiang Shixu; after all, there was never a shortage of Alphas pursuing him. However, seeing an outstanding Alpha he favored getting close to someone else, especially his rival Qiao Xingyin, sparked a subtle spark of displeasure in his heart.

Jiang Chuyi offered some comfort. “Maybe Class Monitor Jiang is just using him as manual labor.”

Tao Yanxi gave a light huff and replied indifferently, “I hope so.”

When Qiao Xingyin walked straight into the Class 1 classroom carrying a heavy stack of military training uniforms, the entire room fell silent for a moment. The camouflage uniforms were piled so high they obscured half of his face, leaving only a pair of bright eyes and slightly reddened fingertips visible. He walked with some effort but insisted on stacking the clothes neatly next to the podium.

“There are quite a few uniforms this time,” Qiao Xingyin said, brushing the dust off his hands, his voice clear. “Next time, remember to arrange for two people to come pick them up.”

The Class 1 Alphas looked at each other, expressions of shame appearing on their faces. Having an Omega from another class carry their uniforms was indeed a bit embarrassing. Only the realization that this Omega shared a deep connection with Qi Yan helped balance their sense of guilt.

At noon, the cafeteria was bustling with noise. Qiao Xingyin and Qi Yan sat across from each other at a window seat. At first, people would whisper and gossip when they saw them together, but as time passed, everyone grew accustomed to it. They gradually got used to seeing a bright youth appearing beside the solitary Qi Yan. His smile was healing and warm, like melting spring water or the first light of the morning sun. It even made Qi Yan look a little less cold.

Today, Qiao Xingyin was eating iron-plate beef rice. The sauce was rich, and the beef was smooth and tender. He narrowed his eyes in satisfaction like a sated cat. Qi Yan, however, seemed exceptionally silent. His gaze fell on his almost untouched tray. After a long while, he asked in a low voice, “Is Jiang Shixu your friend?”

Qiao Xingyin was slightly stunned, but his tone remained natural. “He is our class monitor. We only talk when it involves class business. I am not that close to him.”

“I see,” Qi Yan responded.

Qiao Xingyin tilted his head. “Why are you suddenly asking that?”

Qi Yan looked away, avoiding the question. “It is nothing.”

Qiao Xingyin did not let him off that easily. He blinked mischievously and teased, “You are not worried that if I have other friends, I will neglect you, are you?”

The chopsticks in Qi Yan’s hand paused slightly, and the tips of his ears turned a faint red. Seeing that Qi Yan did not answer, Qiao Xingyin pressed closer. “You are not talking, which means you admit it.”

Then, Qiao Xingyin began his barrage of “sugar-coated bullets.” Resting his chin in his hand, he said, “Qi Yan, listen. You will always be my best friend. No one can replace you. I only want to talk to you. I only want to be with you. Ever since the first moment I saw you, that is what I have thought. You have to believe in the destiny that brought us together.”

The crimson color on Qi Yan’s ears spread completely. He gave a low hum of agreement, but the corners of his thin lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Qiao Xingyin asked, “During military training, will you be able to take leave from your part-time jobs at the convenience store and the café?”

Qi Yan replied, “Yes.”

“That is good,” Qiao Xingyin said with a smile. “I actually hated the idea of military training, but knowing I am going with you makes it feel like we are going on a trip together. It does not seem so bad anymore.”

At the dinner table, Qiao Xingyue heard the news that Qiao Xingyin was going to military training. He put down his chopsticks and frowned. “You are going away for two weeks?”

Qiao Xingyin stuffed a mouthful of rice into his mouth and replied muffledly, “Yes. Our training is not at school; it is at a military training base. The entire grade has to go.”

Qiao Xingyue was worried. “You have just recently differentiated, and your heat cycle is not stable yet. Will you be okay being so far from home?”

“Brother,” Qiao Xingyin drawled, patting his hand reassuringly. “That is a military training base. It is the safest place I can go in Beicheng. There are Alpha officers everywhere, and the pheromone monitors are much more advanced than the ones at school.”

“Even so, you cannot let your guard down,” Qiao Xingyue’s expression became more serious. “If your phone is not confiscated, send me a message every day to let me know you are safe.”

Qiao Xingyue was always overly protective of him.

“The phones will probably be confiscated. But the teachers have the emergency contact information; I put down your number. If anything happens, they will contact you,” Qiao Xingyin said, trying to ease his tension. “But nothing will happen, do not worry. This is my first time away from home, and I will take good care of myself.”

Qiao Xingyue took a deep breath and finally yielded. “We will go to the supermarket tonight to buy some essentials.”

Qiao Xingyin nodded. “Okay. But besides sunscreen, is there really anything else to buy?”

Qiao Xingyue flicked his forehead lightly. “What are you thinking? There is plenty to buy. At the very least, you need enough dry rations. I do not want to see you come back having lost twenty pounds.”

Qiao Xingyin muttered, “Losing twenty pounds is a bit of an exaggeration.”

Qiao Xingyue, however, had already opened the memo app on his phone and started listing items: energy bars, instant porridge, vitamins, and other essentials. An hour later, the dense list was transformed into a full shopping cart. Qiao Xingyin felt his suitcase would be impossible to drag. “What if the snacks get confiscated?”

Qiao Xingyue’s tone left no room for argument. “If they are confiscated, they are confiscated. We will prepare them anyway; our family does not lack the money.”

Qiao Xingyin reflected that at this moment, Qiao Xingyue had the aura of a dominant CEO.

“The sunscreen must be SPF 50,” Qiao Xingyue said, carefully comparing the ingredients of two bottles, his side profile looking sharp. “Do you remember when I took you to the beach after the high school entrance exams? Because it was a cloudy day, you did not use sunscreen, and your skin was sunburned that night. Since you are prone to burning, you should pay more attention. Also, pack the ointment used for the last burn, just in case.”

Seeing the mountain of personal items Qiao Xingyue was getting for him, with nothing for himself, Qiao Xingyin said, “Brother, buy some things you like to eat too.”

Qiao Xingyue waved his hand coolly. “I am older now. I do not like snacks as much as when I was a kid.”

“You are only a few years older than me, but you talk as if there is a generation gap. You are always so old-fashioned,” Qiao Xingyin said with some dissatisfaction. “I think even in university, I will still love snacks.”

After paying, Qiao Xingyin immediately opened a bag of honey butter fries and handed one to Qiao Xingyue. “It is delicious, Brother. Try some.”

Their parents had passed away early, and Qiao Xingyue had proactively become the wall that shielded him from the wind and rain. To take care of him and provide a sense of security, he always displayed a maturity beyond his years. He had quit games, thrown away manga, and even lowered the tone of his voice intentionally. Qiao Xingyin wanted Qiao Xingyue to relax more. After all, he was still just a youth under the age of twenty.

Qiao Xingyue froze for a moment, habitually wanting to refuse, but changed his mind when he saw the expectant eyes of his brother. With a crunch, a long-forgotten crispness bloomed between his teeth, and the aroma of butter spread over his tongue. For a moment, he seemed to return to being the boy who would fight his brother over snacks.

“Is it not delicious? This is my favorite flavor.” Qiao Xingyin stuffed a few more bags into Qiao Xingyue’s pockets. “You can keep snacks in your university dorm. When I get back from training, we will go and pick out what you like together.”

Looking at the boy’s beautiful smile, Qiao Xingyue suddenly realized that the brother who needed his protection had now learned to warm his heart in his own way. He ruffled Qiao Xingyin’s hair, his voice softening. “Fine. I will wait for you to come back.”

Monday morning arrived. Qiao Xingyue should have been in his university dorm preparing for morning classes. Instead, he was at home. Qiao Xingyin was wearing macaron-colored pajamas that made his porcelain-white skin look even clearer. His voice still held the huskiness of sleep. “Brother, why did you take leave again?”

Qiao Xingyue said as a matter of course, “You are going on a long trip. Should I not see you off?”

Qiao Xingyin coughed twice. “Is this really a long trip? I am not even leaving Beicheng.”

Qiao Xingyue frowned. “Are you not taking a bus for several hours?”

Qiao Xingyin laughed. “That just means Beicheng is too big.”

Qiao Xingyue added, “Have you forgotten how heavy your luggage is?”

“You were the one who prepared it. How could I forget?” Qiao Xingyin was jolted awake by the aroma coming from the dining table. “What are we having for breakfast?”

“Black sesame and red date sourdough,” Qiao Xingyue said.

“Another new item I have never tasted,” Qiao Xingyin remarked. “You still have time to study baking at university.”

Qiao Xingyue replied, “We have a communal kitchen in the dorm.”

Qiao Xingyin said, “How lucky. I want to be your alumnus in the future.”

“You will definitely get better grades than me,” Qiao Xingyue pinched his cheek. “When you were a kid, you asked me whether you should go to Huaqing University or Beicheng University. You can start reconsidering that question now.”

After finishing breakfast, Qiao Xingyin wanted to pack some for Qi Yan. “Can I take some to eat on the way?”

Qiao Xingyue said, “Of course. Take more. The food at the base is bound to be bad. I do not want you to faint from low blood sugar.”

“I am not that fragile. Have you forgotten? I was the champion of the 1,500-meter race at the Grade 10 sports meet,” Qiao Xingyin said. “But your skills are truly amazing. Teach me more in the future.”

Qiao Xingyue asked, “Are you interested in cooking too?”

Qiao Xingyin replied, “It is in the blood. Fine food and beautiful scenery are the two things in life that must not be wasted.”

Qiao Xingyue drove him to the school’s west gate. Before parting, he gave another warning. “Do not accept any late-night invitations from Alphas. Do you hear me?” He added, “Betas are not allowed either. And be wary of the friends around you. Anyone who wants excessive physical contact with you has ulterior motives. Do you understand?”

Qiao Xingyin said, “That is an exaggeration.”

Qiao Xingyue raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“I remembered! I remembered!” Qiao Xingyin changed his tune.

At seven in the morning, dew still clung to the playground. Qiao Xingyin wore a slightly oversized military uniform. The dark green fabric made his neck look even whiter. The belt cinched his slender waist, and his trouser legs were neatly tucked into his combat boots. He walked forward, his face tilted slightly upward. The morning breeze brushed the black hair on his forehead, revealing his exquisite features. He looked clean, bright, and untouched by dust.

The students lining up to board the buses began to grow restless. The Alphas instinctively craned their necks. Some accidentally bumped into the shoulders of those in front of them and forgot to apologize. For a moment, they were so stunned by the Omega before them that they even lightened their breathing, afraid of disturbing an exceptionally beautiful dream in the morning light.

“Goodness, Qiao Xingyin, you are the only one who can make a camouflage uniform look this good.”

As his seatmate, even though Wen Ke saw Qiao Xingyin every day, he was still deeply impressed and full of praise. Beicheng No. 1 High School was one of the best schools in the city, and even the school uniforms were designed with fresh and attractive colors, often imitated by film and television crews. Now that everyone was wearing plain camouflage uniforms, the difference in appearance was obvious. Previously, some freshmen in camouflage uniforms had gone viral online. Looking at him now, Qiao Xingyin was not inferior to anyone.

“If this photo were posted online, it would definitely go viral,” Wen Ke said sincerely, pulling his phone from his pocket as if to take a picture. “This is truly a face that can earn a living just by looks.”

Qiao Xingyin pressed his hand down. “You are starting to overpraise me again, classmate Wen Ke. Keep a low profile.”

“With a divine face like yours, it is hard to keep a low profile,” Wen Ke pouted. “Look, the kids from the class next door are all staring at you.”

Qiao Xingyin turned his head. He did not pay much attention to the others, but he met Qi Yan’s gaze in the crowd. Qiao Xingyin mouthed “Good morning” to him and gave a bright smile.

Qiao Xingyin asked Wen Ke, “Do you not think Qi Yan is also very handsome?”

Qi Yan was cold and elegant, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall frame. His features were like a sculpture, with a sharp jawline and thin lips pressed together. All the words others used to praise him, he wanted to use on Qi Yan.

Wen Ke said helplessly, “Handsome, of course he is handsome. Anyone praised as handsome by someone as beautiful as you must be handsome.”

Qiao Xingyin glared at him. “If you keep talking like that, I will ignore you.”

Wen Ke looked innocent. “What? I am just telling the truth.”

Qiao Xingyin said nothing.

Qi Yan was far away and could not hear their conversation. However, he was clearly aware of the displeasure in his heart. He saw the countless gazes glued to Qiao Xingyin. Those looks felt substantial, as if they were about to burn a hole through the snowy-white back of the neck exposed above the collar. This made his chest feel sour and swollen. Perhaps because the boy was too clean and beautiful, he did not want others to covet or desecrate him.

The students of Class 8 were soon all accounted for. After counting the numbers and communicating with the driver, Xu Changqing said to everyone, “Each bus is limited to 50 people, including the driver and the teacher. Our class has two extra people, while the elite class has two fewer. Therefore, two people from our class need to sit on the Class 1 bus. Is anyone willing?”

The trip to the military base would take several hours. If surrounded by familiar classmates, they could chat and sing to pass the time. If they went to a strange class, especially Class 1, the school’s elite class, everyone was reluctant. It was said they were arrogant, difficult to get along with, and liked to be sarcastic. Plus, their class teacher was the Exterminator Nun, Li Ren.

“Teacher Xu, how could Class 1 be missing two people? Did someone take leave? Did you not say no one could take leave from military training?”

“Is that the point?” Xu Changqing rubbed his temples. “The point is, who is willing to go?”

Only Qiao Xingyin, knowing Qi Yan was in Class 1, raised his hand without hesitation. “Teacher Xu, I will go.”

Xu Changqing was touched by his courage for less than a second before remembering the confrontation between Qiao Xingyin and Li Ren in the office. He could not help but feel worried and reminded him, “Do not talk back to Teacher Li.”

“I will not,” Qiao Xingyin replied obediently, maintaining his model student face. “As long as she does not do anything too excessive.”

Xu Changqing thought that the way the student described the teacher felt a bit strange.

Qi Yan was alone, sitting in the second-to-last row of the bus. No one had taken the initiative to sit beside him. However, as soon as Qiao Xingyin boarded, he saw him at a glance. Qiao Xingyin did not care if he was the most beautiful in the eyes of others; he only knew that Qi Yan was the most beautiful in his eyes.

When Qiao Xingyin walked into the bus, the students of Class 1 all caught their breath. After the recent incident, their criticism of him had lessened significantly. After all, they had been proven wrong once before; what if it happened again? The boy’s features were beautiful from afar and even more flawless up close. Even his figure was perfect, with an exceptionally thin waist. He looked both pure and alluring, as if he were God’s proudest masterpiece.

But such a perfect Omega walked straight to Qi Yan’s side with a very calm expression. It was as if becoming friends with him was the most natural thing in the world.

This left the students of Class 1, who had always ostracized Qi Yan, with very complicated feelings. The moment Qi Yan saw Qiao Xingyin, his usually cold and handsome face showed a clear expression of shock.

Support After Transmigrating as a Man-Eater Omega, I Got the Protagonist Shou