I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 19

Feng Jin was extremely satisfied with the new sleeping arrangement. He slept soundly, and even attending classes felt more refreshing.

Not all their classes were core subjects; elective periods like Music and Art hadn’t been forcibly requisitioned by other teachers, allowing them the occasional chance to relax.

At the front of the room, the Art teacher turned on the projector, casting an image onto the screen.

It was a famous oil painting by a master titled The Omega in a Dream. It depicted a pure, youthful boy dressed in white, holding a green apple, his face radiating a smile even more bashful and “green” than the fruit itself.

The Art teacher explained, “This painting debuted two hundred years ago and caused an immediate sensation. Many Alphas were captivated by it… I see quite a few Alpha students in our class staring at it with rapt attention right now.”

A wave of good-natured laughter rippled through the classroom. Bored, Feng Jin twirled his pen and, lacking real interest, shifted his gaze from the screen to Ji Wan, who sat directly in front of him.

Ji Wan held a pen, busy scribbling something on a piece of paper, occasionally looking up at the painting before lowering his head again. The wound on the back of his neck was hidden by his collar; from the outside, Ji Wan appeared to have no special connection to anyone.

Only Feng Jin knew that beneath that fabric lay the bite marks he had left behind.

Feng Jin’s eyes darkened slightly. He licked his teeth the very ones that had marked Ji Wan’s skin and forced his gaze back to the teacher’s presentation. Objectively, the painting was well-executed and the subject was delicate and lovely; otherwise, it wouldn’t be famous.

The teacher continued with a smile, “Of course, it’s not just Alphas; many Betas consider him their dream partner as well. This painting has a very broad appeal.”

Hearing this, Feng Jin’s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt the person in the painting looked quite ugly. He stopped looking at the “mediocre” masterpiece and instead kicked Ji Wan’s chair.

Ji Wan turned around: “?”

As Ji Wan turned, Feng Jin caught sight of the paper on his desk. It was a blank sheet where Ji Wan had used a pencil to sketch a simple human figure. Looking closer, Feng Jin realized he was drawing the boy from the painting.

Ji Wan knows how to draw?

In all fairness, the sketch was actually quite good. But why was Ji Wan drawing that guy? Was it because he considered him a dream partner?

Angered, Feng Jin kicked the chair again. The force wasn’t heavy, but it fully expressed his dissatisfaction.

While Ji Wan was sensitive to the emotions of others, he couldn’t possibly fathom the source of such a random outburst. He looked at Feng Jin, his head full of question marks.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Wan whispered.

“You—” The words at the tip of Feng Jin’s tongue took ninety-nine detours before he finally pointed at the sketch and said coldly, “It’s a good drawing.”

“Thanks,” Ji Wan smiled. Sensing that Feng Jin’s gaze was different than usual, he tested the waters: “Should I draw one for you too?”

Back when he used to doodle out of boredom, classmates would often beg him to draw “Chibi” (cute, miniaturized) versions of them to use as personal avatars. He wondered if Feng Jin shared that interest.

Sure enough, Feng Jin gave a slow nod. Ji Wan turned back and began to draw.

He wasn’t sure what style Feng Jin liked. If he drew Feng Jin as others saw him, he’d be arrogant and fierce, perhaps surrounded by a crowd of trembling little figures.

But he didn’t want to draw him that way.

In a few strokes, Ji Wan sketched a Chibi character. The little person captured Feng Jin’s spirit in its features but was grinning widely, eyes crinkled into slits, holding up a ‘V’ sign for victory toward the viewer.

Satisfied, Ji Wan gave it a final look and handed the paper back to Feng Jin.

Their interaction wasn’t particularly secretive and soon caught Kong Liyan’s attention. Kong Liyan leaned over to peek. When he saw the adorable little character in Feng Jin’s hand, he nearly spat out his water.

Damn, Wan-wan is too bold! He’s actually making fun of Feng Jin? Everyone knew Feng Jin would never make such a goofy expression. This was practically a blatant character assassination right to the man’s face!

What now? Is Ji Wan going to get hung up and beaten by Feng Jin?

Kong Liyan watched nervously, only to see Feng Jin fold the paper, tuck it into his pocket, and almost imperceptibly curl the corners of his mouth. He looked… satisfied.

Art class was a prime time for “slacking off.” After finishing his sketch, Ji Wan felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Avoiding the teacher’s eye, he pulled it out. It was a message from a friend at his old school.

Da Mao: [Wan! Our school has Friday off for physical exams. We’re coming to see you this weekend since it’s on the way! Let’s go out for a meal.]

Ji Wan welcomed the visit. He sent an affirmative reply, asked for their arrival and departure times, and began looking up suitable restaurants where they could all gather.

Da Mao: [Six of us are coming!]

Da Mao sent over a list of names. It included Betas and Omegas Ji Wan was close with, as well as two Alphas who had been in the same class but whom Ji Wan wasn’t very familiar with. The two Alphas said they rarely had the chance to visit this area and wanted to take the opportunity to look around.

Ji Wan didn’t think much of it and booked a hotel based on the head count.

Time flew by, and the weekend arrived. Kong Liyan had gone home, but Feng Jin stayed behind in the dormitory.

Since there was no need to wake up early on weekends, Feng Jin remained in bed, with only one hand dangling over the side to signal his existence. Ji Wan got up and prepared for the meeting. For once, he actually put some thought into his outfit instead of just mixing and matching pieces of his school uniform.

Feng Jin poked half his head out from under the covers, watching coldly for a long time before speaking up. “I’m going to play ball. Coming?”

Ji Wan shook his head. “No, I’m going to meet some friends.”

“Friends? Or a boyfriend?” Feng Jin’s voice turned even colder.

Ji Wan: “…”

Ji Wan: “Former classmates.”

Feng Jin huffed and pulled his head back in. After finishing his preparations, Ji Wan headed out.

The group arrived at 2:00 PM. Ji Wan picked them up, took them to the hotel to drop off their things, and after a quick bite and some sightseeing, evening arrived. Ji Wan led them to the restaurant he had reserved.

The atmosphere was lively, with warm yellow lights creating a cozy environment. Ji Wan’s close friends surrounded him, chatting affectionately.

“Who is our Wan-wan? The moment he transfers, he’s bound to be the center of attention!” Da Mao gulped down a glass of orange juice and began his usual exaggerated boasting. “The original ‘Study God’ and top student of that school probably knelt at our Wan-wan’s jeans and called him ‘Daddy’!”

Ji Wan thought of Feng Jin and nearly choked on a piece of green vegetable.

“Are you used to it here? Is anyone bullying you?” A-Shu, who wore glasses, leaned toward Ji Wan. “Are there any… you know, school bullies? Are they fierce? Have they targeted you?”

Ji Wan gave a helpless smile. “…There is a ‘school bully,’ but he’s actually a pretty good person.”

The friends breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Ji Wan was doing well, they finally relaxed. Just as they were about to resume their playful banter, one of the Alphas who had been silent finally spoke.

“Ji Wan…” One of the Alphas sitting in the corner asked softly. He murmured Ji Wan’s name with a hint of lingering affection. “Are you dating anyone?”

The Alpha asking was average-to-good-looking the kind of face that was hard to remember. Despite the warm yellow lighting, he seemed to carry an eerie, somber aura.

“Studies come first,” Ji Wan replied.

“Is that so… that’s good then.” The Alpha smiled slowly. “But even if you aren’t dating, you should keep your guard up against Alphas.”

The other Alpha’s lips also curled into a smile as he broke a piece of tofu in his bowl with his chopsticks. He whispered, “Not a single Alpha is a good person.”

The only Alphas present were the two of them. Hearing them suddenly curse their own kind left the Betas and Omegas exchanging confused glances, unsure of how to respond. Eventually, everyone just brushed it off, saying there were many good people among Alphas and one shouldn’t generalize.

The atmosphere returned to being harmonious. The restaurant introduced a new drink, placing them on a service counter as a free treat for customers.

“We’ll go get them for everyone,” the two Alphas volunteered. They stepped out and returned a moment later with drinks for the group.

As the night wore on, Ji Wan began to feel an overwhelming sense of drowsiness. He endured it until the party ended, saw everyone back to the hotel, and then turned to call a taxi.

His sleepiness grew heavier by the second; with every step, he felt like he was about to pass out.

Strange… why am I so tired?

The question surfaced in his sluggish brain, but before he could process it, his phone rang. It was Feng Jin.

Ji Wan answered. Feng Jin’s voice came through: “Are you back yet?”

“Mm… I’m on my way now.” Ji Wan let out a yawn, his voice carrying a dullness he didn’t even notice himself.

Hearing that tone, Feng Jin instinctively sensed something was wrong. He frowned. “Find a safe place to sit down there. I’m coming to get you.”

Ji Wan scratched his cheek. “No need… why go to such trouble? It’s embarrassing.”

“Address,” Feng Jin’s voice dropped.

Ji Wan rubbed his eyes again. “I’ll send it to you.”

Ji Wan sent his location to Feng Jin. As time passed, he didn’t just feel sleepy; his legs were starting to feel weak.

The night was pitch black. The hotel wasn’t in the central district, and there were no pedestrians on the road. Ji Wan walked to a bench under a streetlamp and sat down, staring at his elongated shadow.

Originally, that shadow was solitary. Ji Wan closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw a second dark figure standing next to his shadow.

It wasn’t Feng Jin.

Ji Wan turned his head and saw that “old classmate,” the unfamiliar Alpha.

His mouth was stretched into a grin that looked even more sinister in the dark.