I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 8

By the time Kong Liyan returned from his gaming session, Ji Wan was hunched over his desk studying, and Feng Jin was lying on his bed with one leg crossed over the other, scrolling through his phone. The two seemed to stay strictly in their own lanes, with zero interaction.

Kong Liyan looked left and right, saw no signs of conflict, and happily went to take a shower. Another harmonious day filled with classmate love!

In the second year of high school, exams of all sizes were so frequent that they could happen several times a day. During this break, a graded physics test and a graded chemistry test were handed back.

Ji Wan ranked first in the class for chemistry, two points higher than Feng Jin. Meanwhile, Feng Jin ranked first in physics, beating Ji Wan by a single point.

Whenever this happened, a strange silence would fall over the circle of people sitting around Ji Wan and Feng Jin.

The study representative handing out the papers nervously pushed up his glasses, trying to mediate the tension between the two top students: “Don’t fight, okay? We should… help each other and create a beautiful futu—”

Feng Jin shot a cold glance at the representative. The boy instantly shut up and walked away stiffly, looking like a penguin.

Ji Wan: “…”

Ji Wan turned back to look at Feng Jin. The two newly returned test papers were lying on Feng Jin’s desk. Originally, the chemistry paper was on top, but as soon as Ji Wan looked over, Feng Jin quickly slid the higher-scoring physics paper over it.

“What?” Feng Jin asked fiercely.

Although they had a secret cooperation agreement, it didn’t involve romance, so they had agreed to act like normal classmates—just as they did before.

“You’re amazing at physics,” Ji Wan said softly. “Can you teach me how to calculate the multiple-choice question I got wrong?”

Feng Jin crossed his arms arrogantly and let out a cold snort. It was hard to tell if he was happy or annoyed; his lips were pressed in a flat line, but he nodded.

Sitting nearby, Kong Liyan immediately looked up to witness the scene. Learning directly from the rival—is this Ji Wan’s secret method? Based on his knowledge of Feng Jin, the boy would never be able to lower his pride enough to ask Ji Wan a question.

As Kong Liyan was marveling, he saw Ji Wan turn around and place his test paper on Feng Jin’s desk, even resting his hand on it.

Kong Liyan: “!!!”

Normally, studying together at a friend’s desk was fine, but Feng Jin had an incredibly strong sense of territoriality. With Ji Wan invading his space like this, Kong Liyan expected him to be kicked out!

Kong Liyan’s shocked expression was so obvious that Ji Wan noticed. Ji Wan hadn’t had many close Alpha friends before; he mostly befriended Betas or Omegas. Plus, as a Beta who couldn’t perceive pheromones, he wasn’t particularly sensitive to an Alpha’s territorial instincts.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Wan asked, puzzled.

“Nothing, he’s just having an intermittent fit.” Feng Jin’s brow furrowed. He stared at Ji Wan’s hand and the paper for a second before finally picking up a pen and tapping the scratch paper. “Are you listening or not? If not, go back. I want to sleep.”

“Oh.” Ji Wan had noticed Feng Jin’s gaze and was about to pick up his paper, but hearing Feng Jin’s words, he instantly focused again. “Go ahead.”

As the two top students began their “friendly” exchange, Kong Liyan watched in wonder. He tentatively stretched his foot out toward the horizontal bar under Feng Jin’s desk.

The next second, Kong Liyan’s foot was stepped on ruthlessly by Feng Jin.

Kong Liyan hissed in pain and quickly withdrew his foot. Damn it, I was careless. I knew his tolerance hadn’t actually improved!

But why? Kong Liyan’s gaze darted between Ji Wan and the test paper, finally settling on the paper. Given Feng Jin’s personality, it couldn’t be some secret deal; it must be that “geniuses recognize geniuses” and “heroes recognize heroes” thing!

The final period of the afternoon was with the headteacher. For the last ten minutes, he used the time to remind them of holiday precautions.

“National Day is a seven-day break. You know what I’m going to say—no swimming in the river alone! Don’t brag about your skills; those are the ones who drown…”

As the teacher droned on, Ji Wan froze. National Day holiday already? No wonder there was so much homework.

The excitement in the class was irrepressible. Ji Wan gripped his pen, his mood growing heavy. He didn’t want to go home at all.

“The dorms won’t be open during the holiday. Boarders must go home. Don’t stay in school secretly to date or play games.” The bell rang just as the teacher finished. “Class dismissed!”

The students cheered and threw their books. Many had packed their bags in secret; the second dismissal was announced, they sprinted out, vanishing within seconds.

Ji Wan finished packing and received a text from the family driver.

[Mr. Ji asked me to pick you and Young Master Ji Ke up. I’m waiting at the gate.]

…The time to return home had been moved up again. Ji Wan sighed silently, replied to the driver, and walked out. The cars picking up students had blocked the gate. After searching for a while, he found his family’s car.

The driver rolled down the window and waved. His half-brother, Ji Ke, was lounging in the back seat, yawning with boredom. His schoolbag was tossed aside, hogging the entire back seat.

Ji Wan opened the front door and sat in the passenger seat. As the car started moving, Ji Ke sat up. “My aunts are coming over for a few days for the holiday. I’ll be playing with them, so I might not have time for homework. Write mine for me.”

Ji Wan looked out the window. “I don’t have time either.”

“No time? Why?” Ji Ke frowned. He suddenly leaned forward over the back of the passenger seat, his pretty face darkening. “Hey, you’re not in a relationship, are you?”

Ji Wan remained motionless. “No. I have a lot of my own homework. I don’t have time to write yours.”

“Fine.” Ji Ke slumped back, twirling his hair. “If you won’t, you won’t. The teacher won’t do anything to me if I don’t turn it in. Only people like you do homework every day. Boring.”

Ji Wan didn’t reply. He watched the trees on either side of the road race backward, the distance to his house growing shorter and shorter.

The aunts arrived on the second day of the holiday. Ji Wan was in his room reading when someone knocked. It was Auntie Li, the housekeeper.

With a look of helplessness and concern, she said softly, “Xiao Wan, your aunts are here. Your father wants you to come down and accompany the guests.”

Ji Wan thanked her and went downstairs, just in time to see his Second Aunt pulling Ji Ke into a hug.

These aunts weren’t Ji Wan’s relatives; they were his stepmother’s kin. He wasn’t close to them, and every meeting resulted in unpleasant memories. Both aunts were Omegas and their partners were Alphas. The air was thick with “socially friendly” pheromones. As a Beta, Ji Wan was like a transparent person in this setting—out of place and redundant.

In fact, everyone else treated him like air.

“Keke, let Auntie look at you.” Second Aunt, wearing fur and gold rings, cupped Ji Ke’s face. “You’re getting prettier. You’re the best-looking young person in this house. Who knows which Alpha will be lucky enough to marry our Keke.”

Ji Ke wasn’t shy at all; he lifted his chin. “Of course it’ll be a handsome and rich Alpha. That goes without saying.”

“Your Second Aunt is confused, ignore her. Come look at the gift I brought you…”

While the room was lively, Ji Wan sat in the corner of the sofa, his mind blank, staring at the floor. No one was near him. He hated these scenes, but if he didn’t appear, Father Ji would scold him for being rude and claim his birth mother hadn’t raised him well. He wasn’t afraid of his father’s scolding, but he couldn’t stay calm when his mother was criticized. So he sat there as a background prop.

He didn’t know how long he dazed off until his stepmother called his name.

“Ji Wan.” She wore a smile and a delicate beige dress completely unsuitable for work. “The kitchen auntie is too busy. Could you go help out?” She glanced at the surrounded Ji Ke and added, “They haven’t seen Keke in so long and insist on chatting with him. He can’t get away to help, so I’ll have to trouble you. You don’t mind, right? I’m not being partial, I just have no choice.”

“Okay,” Ji Wan said, heading to the kitchen. He began washing vegetables skillfully.

“Oh… Xiao Wan, put those down. Why are you doing this?” Auntie Zhao, the cook, tried to stop him, but he dodged.

“It’s fine. I can’t just stand here and watch you work,” Ji Wan smiled. “You should be used to me helping by now.”

Auntie Zhao sighed. This wasn’t the first time. Every time there were guests, Ji Wan was called in. Meanwhile, Ji Ke had never stepped foot in the kitchen. She felt a surge of frustration. They just take advantage of Ji Wan’s good temper! They only treat him this way because he has no one to back him up.

At lunchtime, the table was crowded. Ji Wan stood at the kitchen door and, as expected, saw there was no seat left for him.

“Xiao Wan, I saved some food for you. Go eat,” Auntie Zhao said pityingly.

“Thanks, Auntie Zhao.” Ji Wan returned to the kitchen. Eating by the counter, his mind wandered. He had to finish those new test papers; he’d have to stay up late to feel at ease.

The weather was turning cold. He had grown a few centimeters since last year; his autumn clothes wouldn’t fit. He’d use the money from his summer job to buy clothes, and find work over the winter break to save more.

After washing his bowl, he heard someone calling him from the dining room.

“That… what’s-his-name… Ji Wan! What are you hiding in there for? Looking down on us?” Second Uncle-in-law had been drinking; his face was flushed and he leaned back drunkenly. “Come here, let’s compare and see how ‘impressive’ you are!”

Ji Wan frowned. The “degrade Ji Wan to praise Ji Ke” segment of the family gathering had begun. He didn’t want to go out, but fearing his father might cut off his meal card money, he adjusted his mindset and walked out.

The men at the table had all been drinking heavily. Ji Wan became the focus. Second Uncle-in-law sniffed the air and sneered, “Not even a hint of sweet pheromones. What’s the use of being so good-looking?”

The Third Uncle-in-law nodded. The stepmother feigned concern: “Oh, Ji Wan is a Beta, how could he have sweet pheromones? Don’t talk nonsense, what if the child gets sad?”

“He just doesn’t smell as likable as Keke,” Second Uncle-in-law said, downing half a beer. “He’s inferior to Keke in every way.”

“Ji Wan’s grades are good. He has his merits,” the stepmother added.

Third Uncle-in-law scoffed. “So what if grades are good? I didn’t finish primary school, yet I have a bunch of university and grad students working day and night in my company.”

This family had all become “nouveau riche” by luck. Bragging about good students working for them was a favorite dinner table topic. Finally, Third Aunt concluded, “So, Keke is just superior. At least Keke will have elite Alphas pursuing him. Ji Wan will just have to settle for a mediocre Beta. Sigh, Sister really raised a good son; I’m so envious.”

Ji Wan was experienced in emotional control. As long as they didn’t hit his “landmines,” he wouldn’t get angry. He stared expressionlessly at a small black spider on the shoulder of the drunkenly giggling Ji Ke.

Second Aunt got even drunker. She wobbled with her glass. “Speaking of which, that woman back then was considered a ‘talented woman,’ but she ended up dazed by Old Ji. A Beta thinking she could compete with Big Sister, an Omega… if she hadn’t quit early, what an idiot—”

Second Aunt’s voice cut off. Her glass was held down. Ji Wan was standing in front of her.

“Have you said enough?” Ji Wan’s voice was icy. When he didn’t smile, his dark eyes seemed to hold ancient frost. He said softly, “Are you insulting someone else’s mother because you don’t have one of your own?”

The table went silent. Ji Wan pressed down. The glass tipped, and dark red wine poured out, staining the white tablecloth and soaking into Second Aunt’s lap.

She screamed and jumped up, knocking over dishes. Bowls and plates shattered on the floor. Everyone stood up to avoid the mess; the scene was instant chaos.

“Ji Wan, what are you doing? Apologize!” Father Ji roared.

Ji Wan looked coldly at the mess. He curled his lips into a smirk, turned around, and walked toward the front door.