After Transmigrating as a Man-Eater Omega, I Got the Protagonist Shou - Chapter 16

The next day, as soon as the whistle blew for a mid-training break, the students’ tense bodies relaxed instantly. They dragged their leaden steps toward the shade of the trees, grumbling and complaining incessantly.

“My goodness! My legs are going to snap; the pain is making me question my entire existence!”

“Instructor! Where are our cold drinks and ice cream?”

“A man is only as good as his word, Instructor! I want some ice-cold cola!”

Amidst the rising clamor under the shade, the instructor emerged from the equipment room carrying a military-green insulated box. The heat was sweltering; a dark patch of sweat had soaked through the back of his camouflage uniform, and condensation dripped steadily down the sides of the box.

“Attention!” the instructor suddenly barked. The command was so sudden that several Omegas who were massaging their legs nearly jumped out of their skins.

However, the instructor simply flipped the lid open with one hand, letting a cloud of cold air escape.

“Everyone, pay attention! This means everyone gets one!” The instructor gave an alternative explanation of his command as he began distributing ice cream one by one.

The crowd erupted into earth-shattering cheers.

“No way! There really is ice cream! It is even Haagen-Dazs!”

“Instructor, we have decided to settle all our grievances with you right now!”

“From today on, you are my real brother! My father! My grandfather!”

Qiao Xingyin also received a peach-flavored ice cream bar. He tore open the packaging, and his tongue lightly licked the melting syrup at the top. The sweet fruit aroma mixed with a refreshing chill.

In a daze, he noticed a gaze fixed upon him. Qiao Xingyin looked up and unexpectedly met Qi Yan’s pitch-black eyes. Qi Yan stood not far away, his military sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing firm and powerful arm muscles.

His gaze was heavy and direct, almost burning, as he stared intently at Qiao Xingyin’s glistening lips. To be precise, he was staring at the tip of the boy’s tongue and the ice cream that had been licked wet. His jawline tightened slightly.

Qiao Xingyin was clearly not in heat, so why was Qi Yan being provoked into such restless desire? Realizing what he was thinking, Qi Yan felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He clenched his fists, looked away, and his Adam’s apple bobbed heavily as if he were desperately suppressing something.

Time flew by. The military training curriculum finally progressed from tedious standing and marching to the more challenging obstacle course training. The scorching sun baked the training ground, and the plastic track emitted waves of heat.

Qiao Xingyin stood at the starting line of the obstacle course, sweat dripping down his delicate jawline.

“Last group! Prepare!” the instructor blew the whistle.

Qiao Xingyin lowered his center of gravity and was about to dash forward when he caught sight of Qi Yan being intentionally squeezed to the edge of the track by several Alphas. Among these Alphas were Chen Ming and his close friend Xu Hao.

Without hesitation, Qiao Xingyin veered off course and dashed straight toward Qi Yan. The instructor shouted, “Qiao Xingyin! You are running in the wrong direction!”

However, it was too late. Qiao Xingyin used all his strength to collide with Xu Hao, who was about to trip Qi Yan. He lost his balance and fell heavily onto the rough track. A burning pain shot through his knees and elbows, and bright red beads of blood seeped out instantly.

“Qiao Xingyin!”

Qi Yan’s voice trembled with rare emotion as he shouted. Qiao Xingyin looked up to see the youth running toward him against the light, with the stinging sun behind him.

“Are you stupid?” Qi Yan knelt on one knee, his breathing ragged and his voice low as he carefully inspected the wound. “I could have dodged it myself.”

Qiao Xingyin grinned. His beautiful face was covered in sweat and dust, but he did not look pathetic at all. “I wanted to do it.”

In the break room, Qi Yan unscrewed a bottle of iodine, and the pungent smell filled the air. Qiao Xingyin sat on the medical bed with his trouser legs rolled up. The wounds on his knees were grisly, with sand mixed into the torn flesh.

“Endure it for a bit,” Qi Yan’s voice was raspier than usual.

As the cotton swab touched the wound, Qiao Xingyin hissed and instinctively gripped the bedsheets with his pale fingers. Noticing the wrinkled sheets, Qi Yan made his movements even gentler. He leaned forward slightly, his hair falling to hide his furrowed brows.

“Actually, it does not hurt…” Just as Qiao Xingyin spoke, the door to the infirmary was pushed open.

Jiang Shixu stood at the door holding a medical bag, clearly having rushed over. His gaze fell on Qiao Xingyin’s injury, and he frowned immediately. “Let me handle it. I have had some medical training; I will be more professional.”

“No need,” Qi Yan rejected him coldly. His hand holding the cotton swab did not move an inch. “He was injured because of me. It is only right that I handle it.”

Having said that, he continued his somewhat clumsy attempts to treat the wound. Jiang Shixu did not back down and stepped closer. “Your technique is wrong. If you do not clean it thoroughly, it will get infected. Moreover, rubbing it like that will only hurt him more.”

Qiao Xingyin forced a smile. “It is fine, it does not hurt. I have never been afraid of pain.”

Qi Yan’s hand froze in mid-air. Eventually, he handed the iodine-soaked swab to Jiang Shixu. He stepped back, looking down as Jiang Shixu skillfully cleaned and dressed the wound. Jiang Shixu’s movements were gentle and efficient; he was indeed much more professional.

Qi Yan’s jaw was clamped shut.

“If it is not cared for properly, it might leave a scar. Do not let it touch water for a few days,” Jiang Shixu said in a reassuring, gentle voice as he applied sterile gauze. “Those Alphas have already been punished. The punishment is severe, so do not worry.”

Jiang Shixu’s words were important, but Qiao Xingyin did not hear a word. His entire focus was on Qi Yan, who stood as silent as a statue. A sudden, inexplicable surge of frustration blocked his chest.

Why did Qi Yan just hand him over to Jiang Shixu? Qiao Xingyin turned his head and looked directly at Qi Yan. Out of spite, he said, “To repay me for today, you must grant me one request.”

Qi Yan lowered his eyes, hiding the turbulent emotions within. “Okay.”

Qiao Xingyin added, “No matter what the request is.”

Qi Yan agreed without hesitation. “Fine.”

Qiao Xingyin no longer knew why he was angry. He only thought that Qi Yan was a man of few words, as stubborn as a block of wood.

Because of his leg injury, Qiao Xingyin could not continue training. He joined the military publicity team, taking over the photography duties. His peers joked that Qiao Xingyin was actually the one most suited to be in front of the camera. However, with Qiao Xingyin roaming between the companies with a camera, many students felt that the boring military training became more bearable. Qiao Xingyin himself was a highlight of the training base.

When Qiao Xingyin returned to the dormitory, Lin Tang excitedly described the scene to him. “You have no idea! While you were taking photos of us training, another Alpha from the publicity team was taking photos of you. It was a literal manifestation of the poem: ‘You stand on the bridge looking at the scenery, while the person looking at the scenery watches you from the balcony.'”

Qiao Xingyin sent the photos he had carefully taken of Lin Tang to him. Lin Tang, who loved editing photos, was thrilled by the beautiful lighting in the raw shots. He almost wanted to kiss Qiao Xingyin.

“My goodness, thank you for making me look so good! Once I get my phone back, I am going to brag about this on social media!”

Despite his injury, Qiao Xingyin efficiently captured countless photos and videos of the students and shared a link to the cloud drive. Many people found their “photo of a lifetime” among them. Qiao Xingyin had his favorites; the person he photographed the most and best was Qi Yan.

These photos were inevitably posted on the campus forum. In the photos, the youth wore his camouflage uniform, his features as exquisite as a sculpture. The words “peerlessly handsome” were not an exaggeration. His posture was upright, and his figure was flawless. He possessed a cold aura that discouraged approach, which was palpable even through a screen.

“My god, is this Qi Yan? If I did not know better, I would think this was a military-themed photoshoot for a newly debuted Alpha celebrity.”

“Let me emphasize again, Qi Yan is a Beta, not an Alpha.”

“What is wrong with being a Beta? People always say we are not attractive. We are not like Alphas and Omegas who have nothing but that stuff on their minds all day.”

“To be honest, Qi Yan really is quite good-looking.”

“This must be the first time high-definition candid photos of Qi Yan’s face have been posted on the forum. If I had known he was this handsome, I would not have said those things before. Good looks are everything!”

“Are you joking? If he were not handsome, would the school beauty have fallen for him?”

“Now that you mention it, the school beauty chasing him feels like a story from the last century.”

“Wait, when did everyone start hating on Qi Yan?”

“I think it started right after the school beauty failed to win him over.”

“Wait, I have a bold theory. It is a bit of a conspiracy theory, so I am not sure if I should say it…”

During those fourteen days, they spent their youth freely, and military training gradually came to an end. Qiao Xingyin recalled a passage from his favorite author: “The entire spring, until summer, is the season for life to enjoy its own vitality. Great winds and rain, bright sun and moon—at that time, the fields are filled with joy, the world is filled with the pride of living, and the wind and dreams are full of unyielding desire.”

The fourteen days of sun and moon at the military training base brought a perfect conclusion to the summer.

When the bus returned, Qiao Xingyue was at the school gate to pick up Qiao Xingyin.

“I see everyone else has tanned, but you have not,” Qiao Xingyue teased. Having been apart for two weeks, he could not hide the smile in his eyes. “Did you slack off?”

“Nonsense! Do you even remember what the others looked like before they left?” Qiao Xingyin exposed him. “I bet you do not recognize a single one of them.”

Qiao Xingyue coughed. “Regardless, you are the whitest one in the crowd.”

Qiao Xingyin huffed. “So what if I am white? Is that a bad thing?”

“Of course not,” Qiao Xingyue wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “My brother is the most handsome.”

Qiao Xingyin pushed him away. “I am covered in sweat.”

Qiao Xingyue pulled him closer. “When have you ever smelled bad?”

Qiao Xingyin decided not to tell Qiao Xingyue about his injury to avoid making him overly anxious. He shared stories about his roommate Lin Tang, a new friend who was a bit spoiled but had a good heart. He also mentioned his Beta friend—Qi Yan—and how he had been awarded the title of “Model Trainee.”

Over the weekend, at Xingyu Coffee. Qiao Xingyin sat across from Qi Yan, feeling unusually silent. He slowly stirred his cooling coffee with a spoon, watching the milk foam ripple in dark brown swirls until the bubbles dissolved.

Finally, Qi Yan’s voice came from across the table. “Is it not good?”

Qiao Xingyin snapped back to reality and smiled. “Of course not. The flavor and texture of this latte are better than those of many professional baristas. The coffee you make can only be described as perfect.”

To prove his words, Qiao Xingyin finished the coffee in one go. He was as bold as if he were knocking back a glass of liquor at a dinner party.

Qi Yan watched the milk foam remaining on the boy’s lip and handed him a tissue. After much deliberation, Qiao Xingyin decided to launch the plan he had been considering for a long time. “Qi Yan, do you remember what you promised me during military training?”

Qi Yan nodded.

“I have a request now. I am not sure if it is convenient for you to agree,” Qiao Xingyin said as naturally as possible. “I want to visit your home.”

The background music in the café switched to the next song. The lingering notes of a gentle piano piece faded, and for two seconds, the world felt like a vacuum. Qi Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He struggled to find words before finally squeezing out a sentence. “My home is very simple.”

Qiao Xingyin reached out and rested his fingertips on the back of Qi Yan’s hand, his thumb brushing over Qi Yan’s knuckles. “I have no ill intentions; I just want to understand your life.”

He wanted to see his home and where he grew up. More importantly, he wanted a legitimate reason to change Qi Yan’s living environment. Qi Yan instinctively wanted to refuse, but he had promised he would not. He knew Qiao Xingyin would not mock him. If the boy left because of disappointment, perhaps that would not be a bad thing.

The tenement building where Qi Yan lived was like a rusted tin can squeezed into the oldest district of Beicheng. The plaster on the building’s surface had long since peeled away, revealing yellowed cement and rebar. Black water stains from years of rain meandered down from the roof like ugly scars. A few rusted bicycles were piled at the entrance, their chains dragging on the ground and their baskets filled with rotting leaves.

Weeds grew at the base of the walls, and a few resilient dandelions pushed through the cracks. The telephone poles were covered in layers of small advertisements, their rain-soaked corners drooping to reveal older missing persons notices underneath.

The lock on Qi Yan’s door was rusted. The key had to be turned twice with force to open it. The living room was tiny, dominated by a faded fabric sofa. The springs had collapsed, and it was covered with an old, washed-out bedsheet. The bedroom was even simpler: a narrow single bed with sheets so flat they had no wrinkles, and a second-hand desk with legs leveled by old newspapers.

The only decoration was a glass jar on the windowsill containing a small pothos plant, growing stubbornly in the dim room. This home was like him—dilapidated and simple, yet possessing a stubborn cleanliness, as if silently resisting something.

Qiao Xingyin’s heart tightened with a sharp pang of pain. Qi Yan should not live in a place like this. Even though he knew Qi Yan would eventually break free from the mud on his own, Qiao Xingyin wanted to take him away right now. It was like seeing a stray cat in a rainstorm; even if you knew it was strong enough to survive, you still wanted to wrap it in a warm towel and provide shelter.

“You have seen it. This is my living environment,” Qi Yan’s low, raspy voice broke the silence. “My father is not a lunatic, but he is crazier than one. So, it is not convenient to host you. I am afraid he might hurt you if he loses control. Go back; I will see you out. This is not a place where you should be.”

Qi Yan spoke more than usual, but his voice sounded distant and cold. Qiao Xingyin’s eyes felt a bit hot. “I am sorry for causing you trouble, Qi Yan.”

He suddenly realized how cruel his request was. He was forcing Qi Yan to expose his hidden wounds and secret hardships. He felt a suffocating sense of guilt. However, Qi Yan reached out and gently ruffled his soft hair. The movement was a bit stiff and clumsy, but comforting. “You told me not to say thank you; you do not need to apologize for trouble either.”

On the way home, Qiao Xingyin made a bold decision. He was going to rent an apartment for Qi Yan. As soon as he arrived home, he took out his phone and opened a rental app. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he swiped rapidly through the screen with very clear criteria.

It had to be within a 15-minute walk of the school. It required strict security and 24-hour surveillance. It had to be fully furnished with high-quality decor. It had to face south for good lighting. Every condition was non-negotiable.

Qiao Xingyin searched for a long time. Finally, his attention stopped on a page for a high-end apartment. It was the same brand as the complex where he lived and was very close to his home. It had two bedrooms, a living room, floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen, a gym, and a sky garden. The monthly rent was expensive, but his parents had left him an inheritance he could not squander in a lifetime.

Without hesitation, Qiao Xingyin dialed the number for the leasing manager. He got straight to the point: “When can I see the apartment?”

There was a two-second silence on the other end, followed by the clattering of mahjong tiles and a hurried male voice. “Anytime.”

Qiao Xingyin asked, “Is now okay?”

The leasing manager was stunned. Qiao Xingyin added, “Is the owner not in a hurry to rent? I like the place very much, and I can transfer the deposit right now.”

If there was ever a moment to be startled into action, this was it. The leasing manager scrambled up from the mahjong table, nearly dropping his phone. He did not even bother to pick up the tiles scattered on the floor. He changed his trousers at record speed, grabbed his keys, and dashed out. His wife yelled from behind, “What is wrong with you in the middle of the night?!”

The leasing manager shouted back without looking, “Fortune has smiled upon me!”

Twenty minutes later, Qiao Xingyin met the leasing manager in the apartment lobby. Seeing the high school student, the manager initially thought he was being pranked. However, although the youth was young, his appearance was exceptionally stunning and noble. His skin was as white as porcelain, and his features were exquisite. His posture was upright, and even in a simple hoodie and light-colored jeans, he exuded a remarkable aura. He looked as clean as the sky after rain.

The manager’s professional instincts kicked in. He put on a professional smile and stepped forward. “Are you Mr. Qiao? A pleasure to meet you.”

As he led Qiao Xingyin toward the elevator, he gave his pitch. “The owner bought this place and left it vacant. This is the first time it is being rented, so it is in brand-new condition. The materials used for the renovation are all top-quality; feel this wall…”

The viewing process went unexpectedly smoothly. Qiao Xingyin looked very carefully. He walked into the master bedroom and checked the solid wood closet doors; the hinges were smooth. He checked the second bedroom—it was a bit smaller, but the view was excellent. In the kitchen, he checked the storage space, the water pressure, and even the door of the built-in oven.

Throughout the process, he said very little, occasionally nodding or asking practical questions about property fees and network ports. He was not being difficult; his focus was quiet and serious, as if evaluating something significant.

Finally, he returned to the living room. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a sea of city lights. The outlines of distant skyscrapers were lit with warm yellow, and the streets below were rivers of traffic. The city skyline rose and fell in the night. The light passed through the glass and reflected in the boy’s calm eyes.

Qiao Xingyin turned to the leasing manager and said, “I want to finalize this as soon as possible.”

“Excellent! If you wish, you can move in right away! I will prepare the contract!”

The agent had never seen such a decisive client. If it had not been so late, he would have wanted to treat Qiao Xingyin to a grand meal.

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